asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the setting up of a Royal Commission to consider the conditions prevailing in industrial life assurance?

The whole position of industrial assurance was considered by a Departmental Committee of the Board of Trade in 1919–1920, and their recommendations were embodied in the Industrial Assurance Act, 1923. I do not think that there is any necessity for further inquiry at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total sum paid in ordinary dividends by the electricity companies in the County of London for the years 1924 and 1925, together with the amount of money which was placed to reserve by them in those years?

The desired particulars are as follow:

asked the Minister of Transport when the Bill for the better regulation of road traffic is likely to be brought before this House?

I regret that I am not able to say when it will be possible to introduce this Bill. I fear that the recent additional claims upon the time of the House render the consideration of the Bill during the present Session out of the question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any method is employed by his Department to ascertain the amount of wrong numbers with which telephone subscribers are connected in the various exchanges throughout the country; what means are being taken to make these mistakes more uncommon; and whether there has been any improvement in this respect during the past 12 months?

The daily observations recorded enable the percentage of wrong numbers to be estimated with fair accuracy at all the larger Exchanges throughout the country. The means adopted to reduce the number of errors include the careful training of operators in enunciation and in the method of passing numbers; the clearer marking of junction and subscribers' lines on switchboards, and improvement in the transmission qualities of order wires between Exchanges. The observations indicate a general improvement throughout the country during the past year.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephone installations completed during the last 12 months to the last convenient date, together with the number for the preceding 12 months?

The number of new telephones installed during the 12 months ended the 30th April, 1926, was 225,352. The number installed during the preceding 12 months was 216,980.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider increasing the rate of interest now being paid on Post Office Savings Bank deposits, with a view to encouraging small traders and others to make greater use of the facilities provided?

I am not prepared to adopt this suggestion for the reasons which the hon. and gallant Member wilt find set out in paragraph 11 of the Report of the Committee on War Loans for the Small Investor (Command Paper 8179, of 1916).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many proof gallons of home-made spirits were, during the year ending 31st March, 1926, distilled in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, re-warehoused on re-importation, retained for consumption in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, exported, exported as medical preparations, used for ships' stores, fortifying wines, etc., used in arts and manufactures, methylated, and allowed as deficiencies, respectively; the number of proof gallons of home-made spirits remaining in bond on the 1st April, 1920; the number of proof gallons of imported spirits duty paid and retained for consumption during the year ended 31st March, 1926, namely, brandy, rum, geneva and other unenumerated spirits, tested, not tested, and perfumed; and the number of proof gallons of imported spirits used during the year ended 31st March, 1926, for methylation and for arts and manufactures, respectively?

The particulars required, which include spirits received from, and exported to, the Irish Free State, are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that British commercial travellers embarking at Southampton and Weymouth with British-made samples of dutiable goods which they are taking with them for the purpose of obtaining orders, and which they purpose to bring back with them on their return, are frequently kept waiting for several hours whilst such samples are being certified for- the purpose of getting them through the British Customs on the return journey; and whether he will take steps to avoid this annoyance in the future?

The information which I have received as the result of very full inquiry does not hear out the statement in the first part of the question. But if my hon. Friend will supply me with particulars of any actual cases that he may have in mind, I shall be glad to have them investigated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of perpetual pensions paid by the Government at 1st May, 1926, with particulars thereof as to the amount paid per annum, the date of establishment, and the relationship of the present. recipient to the person in whose interest the pension was originally given?

The only perpetual pension remaining is that of £5,000 per annum granted by Parliament in 1806 to Earl Nelson and to his heirs male and such other persons on whom the title of Earl Nelson may descend. The present holder of the title is the grandson of the nephew of the first Earl.