asked the Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs whether he can state, in regard to the importation of spirituous liquors into certain territories under British control in Africa, what is the importation per head of population in each case; and whether the total amount imported is consumed within the territory or, if not, what becomes of it?

The importation per gallon per head of population is as follows: Nigeria, .019; mandated Cameroons, .003; Gold Coast, including mandated Togoland, .296; Sierra Leone, .019; Gambia, .013; Somaliland, .003; Soudan, .009; Zanzibar, .059; Kenya and Uganda, .013; Tanganyika, .006; Nyasa-land, .007; Northern Rhodesia, .016; Southern Rhodesia, .095; Basutoland, .008; Bechuanaland, .014; Swaziland, .026. Except in the case of Zanzibar, where part of the spirits imported are in transit, practically the total amount is imported for consumption within each territory.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation to abolish special juries?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any pressing need for such legislation at the present time.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that the accommodation provided for the City 26th tax district, Salisbury House, London, E.C., is the subject of dissatisfaction on the part of the staff; and whether he can take any steps to remedy the overcrowded condition of the offices, the shortage of storage accommodation and the defective lighting which exists in these offices?

I am aware that the accommodation provided for the City 26th Tax District, Salisbury House, is not wholly satisfactory. A reallocation of the Inland Revenue staffs in Salisbury House has been delayed pending consideration of a scheme for the regrouping of certain City tax districts, but if this scheme is unduly delayed the First Commissioner will consider the possibility of affording temporary relief to the staffs in question.

asked the Minister of Pensions after what interval will pensioners who have been given an award for 12 months and until further instructions be given an award of a permanent pension?

The question at what date a final award will be found suitable in cases of the class referred to will be determined by reference to the circumstances of each individual case.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will give a list of funds and associations to which hard cases can be referred which have failed to get help from the Ministry of Pensions?

A list of funds and associations of the character referred to was published by the War Office in 1922. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that instructions have been issued to the patients in the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Grangethorpe, Manchester, that from 27th July onwards they are to surrender their civil clothing and wear hospital blues; and whether, seeing that the men, as civilians, have objections to the wearing of an uniform that distinguishes them from other civilians, he will withdraw the order and allow the men to wear their own clothing, as is the custom in the civil hospitals of the country?

I find that a notice has been posted in the hospital referred to, which was primarily designed to secure that the private clothing of patients, previously kept in the several wards, should be deposited for greater convenience and safety in a central store. Incidentally, the notice called attention to the rule which is in force throughout all Ministry hospitals, that patients are expected to wear special hospital clothing. This rule, which has been repeatedly considered, has been found both by myself and my predecessors to be of material advantage in the interests of the patients and of their treatment. I see no reason, therefore, to withdraw the instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men likely to be transferred to the Army Reserve during the present year; and what action, if any, is taken by the Army authorities to secure such men civilian employment on leaving the service?

The number of men transferred to the Army Reserve during the current year will be about 12,000. The second part of the question cannot be dealt with fully within the limits of a Parliamentary answer, but I would point to the opportunities for manual and vocational training which have been provided for the soldier during his service in the Army, and to the steps which are taken to instruct all men on discharge concerning the classes of employment which are reserved for ex-soldiers or for which they are particularly qualified, and to place those who have no employment awaiting them in the care of the various societies and institutions which exist for promoting the interests of soldiers on return to civil life.

asked the Secretary of State for War the percentage increase per week in the number of men now being recruited into the Regular Army over the figures for last year; and whether such figures will make up the full complement of men required for the Service during the current year?

The percentage increase in the number of recruits enlisted during the period 1st April to 27th July, 1925, over the number for the corresponding period last year is 15.86. If this percentage increase is maintained, the full complement of men required for the current financial year will be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of soldiers who have been released from the Army during the past year on compassionate appeals by their parents; and how many have, in the period in question, been allowed to buy themselves out?

The figures for the period 1st July, 1924, 30th June, 1925, are as follow: Discharged, or transferred to the Army Reserve, on compassionate grounds 1,068 Discharged by purchase 1,444

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount of shipping tonnage which has been handed over to the Government in the way of reparation under the Versailles Treaty; and to whom the vessels have been sold?

The total amount of tonnage received in the way of reparation under the Treaty of Versailles is 1,974,628 tons gross. The names of the purchasers up to 27th March 1923, are given in a Return which was laid on the Table of the House on that date. I am to-day laying a Supplementary Return relating to the remaining ships.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount of German shipping tonnage which has come into the possession of this country both under the Versailles Treaty and in any other way for each year since the Armistice?

The figures in the form desired by the hon. Member are not at the moment available, but they are being prepared and will be sent to him as soon as they are ready.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government propose to deal with the control of petrol pumps in coming legislation; and, if so, in what fashion?

Yes, Sir. I hope to obtain powers to make petrol measuring pumps subject to the provisions of the Weights and Measures Acts, as to examination and testing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider an amendment of the Merchandise Marks Act to substitute the words foreign made for the name of the country of origin which is now required to be stamped on imported manufactured goods?

I will consider this proposal in connexion with any general measure that may be introduced for the amendment of the Merchandise Marks Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the increase in exports of manufactures from the United States and Great Britain since 1922, and the increase in the imports of manufactures to both countries during the same period?

The following statements show the increase in the recorded exports and imports of manufactured goods from and into the United States and the United Kingdom in the 12 months ended May, 1925, over those in the year 1922: 1. UNITED STATES. Exports and Imports of manufactures for further use in manufacturing and manufactures ready for consumption. Period. Value of Domestic Exports. Value of Total Imports. £ £ 1922 390,598,000 274,457,000 12 months to May,1925. 498,135,000 314,993,000 Excess in latter period 107,537,000 40,536,000 2. UNITED KINGDOM. Exports and Imports of articles wholly or mainly manufactured. Period. Value of U.K. Exports. Value of Total Imports. £ £ 1922 568,524,000 229,750,000 12 months to May, 1925.* 631,414,000 319,907,000 Excess in latter period 62,890,000 90,157,000 * The trade of the United Kingdom with the Irish Free State, precise figures of which are not available for the latter period, is included in the totals given above for that period. The approximate values of the United Kingdom exports and imports of manufactured goods to and from the Irish Free State during the 12 months ended May, 1925, were £25,000,000 and £2,500,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in the case of foreign imports into this country competing with home products, it is the practice of his Department to indicate to home producers the reasons for such successful competition; and, if not, whether he will consider the adoption of the policy of supplying such information?

Detailed information as to the precise reasons why foreign goods are bought instead of British products in any specific instances could be obtained only as the result of elaborate investigations by trade experts; but much information as to the nature and general causes of foreign competition with British manufacturers is contained in the published trade reports by British commercial representatives abroad.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give the aggregate profits of the brewing companies for the year 1913, and for the last complete year for which the figures are available, to include any profits ancillary to the main businesses.

The estimated profits of brewing concerns, whether owned by individuals, firms, or companies, for the accounting years ended within the Income Tax years 1913–14, 1922–23, and 1923–24 (the latest year for which figures are available) are as follow: £ 1913–14 … 9,971,000 1922–23 (revised figure) … 18,400,000 1923–24 … 17,840,000

These estimates represent profits (including those arising from the carrying on of any trade ancillary to the main business) as computed for the purpose of Income Tax, Schedule D (adjusted where necessary to exclude the effect of payments or repayments of Excess Profits Duty), less the amounts allowed in respect of the wear and tear of machinery and plant. For the year 1923–24 they are based upon the ascertained results of about one-half of the trade.

asked the Minister of Labour the average figures of unemployment in Devonport for each of the months April, May, and June of this year?

The average weekly number of persons on the registers of the Devonport Employment Exchange was 1,457 in June, as compared with 1,657 in May, and 1,751 in April, 1925.

asked the Minister of Labour when the Employment Exchange at Barking will be opened?

It is in tended to open the Barking Exchange on Monday, 10th August.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Registrar-General will revise his figures for 1924 in regard to small-pox deaths, in the light of the in formation given in the recent Report of Sir George Newman, in which five of the small-pox deaths are transferred to other classifications, it being the opinion of the certifying doctor that small-pox was not the cause of death?

I understand that in the case of all the deaths in question, small-pox is certified by the certifying doctor as being one of the causes of death. In such cases, the selection from among several certified causes of the particular cause under which the death is classified for statistical purposes is governed by general rules, based upon international agreement, which in this country provide that deaths should be classed to small-pox if this disease is included among the certified causes. I see no reason for revising the classification in the case of these particular deaths, especially since full information regarding them is already given in the Chief Medical Officer's Report.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he proposes to introduce a new Rating and Valuation Bill for Scotland; and, if so, when?

This subject is receiving my attention and I hope to be able to introduce a Bill in the Autumn.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the scales of salaries paid to the staffs of the three Scottish agricultural colleges, whose remuneration has shown no percentage increase in basic salary from 1916 to 1925 while, during the same period, the officials of the Board of Agriculture have received an average increase of 23 per cent.; and whether he will now put into operation the recommendation with regard to the salaries of the Constable Committee?

I am aware that in the majority of cases the members of the agricultural college staffs have received for a number of years no increases in basic salary apart from normal scale increases and bonus. I am considering in what way and to what extent it may be possible to meet the views of the colleges with respect to the remuneration of the staff.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether Section 4 of the Currency and Bank Notes Act, 1914, which makes the bank notes of Scottish and Irish banks of issue legal tender in Scotland and Ireland, respectively, is still in force or whether it has been modified or revoked by proclamation?

Section 4 of the Currency and Bank Notes Act, 1914, was revoked as from the 1st January, 1920, by proclamation of the 20th December, 1919.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps his Department takes, before incurring responsibility for payment of the subsidy to sugar-beet factories, to ascertain that full trade union rates of wages in accordance with the Fair Wages Clause are being paid to the workpeople engaged in the erection and working of the factories: and what steps have been taken in regard to the Ipswich factory and the Bury St. Edmunds factory?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which was given to him yesterday, and I would add that the provision in the Act as to the payment of fair wages applies only to persons employed in connection with the manufacture of sugar or molasses, and such manufacture has not yet commenced at the factories referred to.

asked the Secretary of Stale for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to enter into any agreement with Imam Yahya, of the Yemen; and whether His Majesty's Government acquiesce in his recent seizure of Hodeida?

I have been requested to reply to this question. As I informed my noble Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Viscount Sandon), in reply to a question asked by him on the 31st of July, negotiations for a treaty with the Imam of the Yemen are at present proceeding. His Majesty's Government do not feel disposed to make any objection to the seizure by that ruler of the port of Hodeida, which he claims as part of his ancestral dominions.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has received the Report of the investigation he has instituted into the conditions at Montagu Colliery; and what action he is prepared to take in the matter?

I have now received this Report. Its conclusion is that the water remaining in the mine can be pumped out without undue risk to the men engaged, provided that certain precautions are taken. I have communicated this to the owners, but have not yet received a reply from them.

asked the Secretary of Mines whether he can state the tonnage and quality of coal supplied to colliery owners, agents, managers and engine-wrights, without payment, during the year 1924 for residential purposes; and whether such coal was included in the 6,134,040 tons stated in the Report of His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Mines?

No, Sir; I have not information about this. Coal supplied for this purpose is not included in the figure of "Miners' coal" quoted by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the coalowners' published statement that no profits were made in the coal-mining industry in any district for June last; and whether he can arrange the completion and circulation of the quarterly summary statement, 1st April to 30th June, 1925, having regard to the pending crisis?

I have seen the statement referred to. The statistical summary for the June Quarter will be published as soon as possible after the receipt of the necessary figures from the Joint Accountants. I will do what I can to expedite it.

asked the Prime Minister the average cost of an aeroplane for use with the Army or Navy and the cost of the smaller submarines; and whether the Cabinet, before committing the country to expenditure in the building of cruisers, v, ill consider whether better defence of this country and its trade could be effected by a larger use of submarines and aircraft at less cost to the taxpayer?

The average price of a Service aircraft, including engine and accessories, is roughly £7,000; that of a small submarine of the ocean-going type about £400,000; but a comparison of initial cost is misleading, as various other factors have to be considered. As regards the last part of the question, I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that all relevant considerations were borne in mind by the Government in coming to a decision in this matter.