asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Depart- ment if he will obtain a Report from the Trade Commissioner in Australia as to whether the foreign tonnage entering and leaving Australian ports has increased; and what are the figures for the first nine months of 1925 compared to 1926?

I have given instructions for the information required by my hon. Friend to be obtained, and will communicate with him on receipt of it.

asked (1) the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps, if any, have been taken to bring to the notice of the Portuguese Government the subject of the proposed discrimination against the British flag?(2) The President of the Board of Trade if he has observed the proposals for discrimination in the treatment given to British and Portuguese vessels in Portugal; and whether, as this is in contravention of the treaty rights of British vessels in Portuguese ports, he will say what steps, if any, have been, or are being, taken to prevent this and similar flag discrimination?

The attention of the Government has been called to the various measures adopted in Portugal which are regarded as discriminating between national and other ships, and representations are being made to the Portuguese Government on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what preferences are given in Empire markets overseas to cinema films, photographic films, and other celluloid or cellulose products if manufactured in Great Britain?

The preferences given in the chief parts of the Empire overseas to cinematograph films made in Great Britain (and elsewhere in the Empire) are summarised in paragraph 4 of the Report of the Imperial Conference on the Exhibition of Empire Cinematograph Films which is published at pages 550–1 of the "Board of Trade Journal" for 25th November last. The other products mentioned in the question cover a wide range of articles, and perhaps my hon. Friend will be so good as to let me know what particular articles and what particular parts of the Empire he has in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is now intended to introduce legislation with a view to the abolition of blind booking of cinematograph films?

I am not at present in a position to make a statement on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can furnish figures as to the quantity and value of manufactured cotton goods imported into this country in the six months ending 30th September, 1926?

The particulars of the imports of cotton manufactures for the first nine months of 1926 are shown on page 61 of the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" for September, and those for the first three months on page 61 of the March issue of these accounts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of imported motor tyres during the year 1925 and the first nine months of 1926?

The figures are as follow:

Imports into Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
	Year 1925	Jan.-Sept., 1926.
Rubber tyres:	£	£
Pneumatic outer covers for motor cars	2,823,574	2,734,571
Solid tyres for mechanically propelled vehicles.	392,057	234,421

Figures showing the values of the imports during these periods of inner tubes for motor-car tyres are not available separately from those relating to inner tubes for motor-cycle tyres.

asked the Minister of Labour the amounts paid out in unemployment benefit for each year from 1918 to 1925; and the value of any tangible work which has resulted from such payments?

The amounts paid out in unemployment, benefit for each year from 1918 to 1925 are approximately as follow:

Calendar				Amount.
Year.				£
1918	…	…	…	84,000
1919	…	…	…	423,000
1920	…	…	…	2,216,000
1922	…	…	…	58,546,000
1992	…	…	…	47,932,000
1923	…	…	…	39,366,000
1924	…	…	…	37,874,000
1925	…	…	…	45,815,000

As regards the last part of the question, it is a requirement of the Unemployment Insurance Acts that unemployment benefit shall only be paid to persons who are unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is yet in a position to inform the House of the personnel of the Union delegation to the forthcoming round-table conference on the Asiatic question in South Africa?

So far as I am aware, no announcement on the subject has yet been made by the Government of the Union of South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can give any indication as to the approximate date when the scheme for group settlement in Western Australia will be reopened; and whether he will consider the establishment of a testing and training camp in this country for families on the lines of the Catterick scheme for soldiers?

No decision has yet been arrived at by the Western Australian Government with regard to the resumption of recruiting for the Group Settlement Scheme. The whole question of providing facilities in this country for preparing persons for settlement upon the land overseas is at present under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have received the Report of the Skeen Committee; and whether he is yet in a position to make a statement as to whether it is proposed to publish this Report for the information of Members of this House?

I fear I cannot add anything to the reply I gave the hon. Member on the 25th November.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state the conclusions or recommendations of the Flood Inquiry Committee in connection with the floods of the Pegu River, Burma; and will he lay the Report upon the Table of this House?

So far as I am aware, the Committee, which was appointed by the Government of Burma, has not yet submitted its Report. When the Report is received by the India Office, a copy will be placed in the Library.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, seeing that it has been customary for the Reports and recommendations of the Royal Commissions on Indian Affairs to be announced first by the Indian Government and afterwards by the Imperial Government, and that these arrangements were the result of recommendations by a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament appointed by the late Mr. Montagu when Secretary of State for India, he will state the reason for the departure from this recommendation in the case of the Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance by His Majesty's Government before a statement had been made to the Indian Legislature?

I am not aware of any recommendation by the Joint Committee in the sense indicated. The Report of the Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance was published simultaneously in this country and India last August together with an announcement of Government policy. A further announcement of policy was made by my Noble Friend in another place on the evening of 18th November, and arrangements had been previously made for the publication of a communique to the same effect in India on the morning of the following day, that is, practically simultaneously. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that the Indian Legislature will not be meeting till early in 1927.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what measures have been adopted to reduce the consumption of opium in India, following the conference of Ministers of Excise from various provinces held at Simla?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Southwark Central (Colonel Day) on 15th November last, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will make inquiries as to the reason for the departure, in the ease of the nominated seat for the special representation of Labour in the Punjab Council, from the Government of India's policy of not filling nominated seats until after the elective seats have been filled?

I think that it is a matter of normal practice rather than of fixed policy, but, if the hon. Member attaches importance to the point, I shall be glad to inquire. The filling of nominated seats in a Provincial Legislative Council is a matter entirely for the discretion of the Governor himself.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, for the information of British traders, he will ascertain in how many instances during the 12 months ending June, 1926, the India Store Department has accepted the tenders of firms other than British for the requirements of the Government of India?

Following are the particulars asked far, for the year ended the 30th June, 1926:

Tenders from firms other than British	156
Tenders from British firms, or agents, for foreign goods	433
	589
Total number of contracts placed by the Department during this period	8,891

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths for 1925 among shipbuilders, ironfounders, dock Labourers, iron and steel workers, miners, clergymen and medical men, and the average age of the deceased in each class?

My right hon. Friend regrets that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Health how many working days were lost through illness by contributors towards the National Health Insurance schemes, with the total amount of benefit paid in the year 1925?

The total amount of sickness and disablement benefit paid in the year 1925 to contributors to the National Health Insurance Scheme in England and Wales, during periods of illness which rendered the contributors incapable of work, was approximately £13,849,000. Exact particulars are not available as to the number of working days for which sickness and disablement benefit were paid, but it is estimated that the total number of weeks of sickness represented by the above payment is upwards of 25,000,000. In making this estimate, account has to be taken of a number of uncertain factors, and the result can only be regarded as a rough approximation.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that boards of guardians are advised that they have no power under the existing law to refuse the admission to Poor Law institutions for the purpose of medical or surgical treatment of persons who can afford to pay for the necessary treatment; and whether he will introduce legislation giving boards of guardians convenient powers to take, where necessary, legal steps to recover from the estates of the patients the whole or a suitable proportion of the cost of their treatment and maintenance both in cases in which the patient is in receipt of an old age pension or of sickness or disablement benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts, and in cases in which the patient is not in receipt of any such moneys?

It is the duty of a principal officer of a Poor Law institution to admit an applicant, without any order for relief, in any case of sudden or urgent necessity, but the guardians have powers in certain circumstances to recover the cost of relief.As regards health insurance benefits, it is an essential feature of the National Health Insurance Act, embodied in the original scheme of 1911 and repeated in subsequent enactments, that money payable by way of benefit shall not be diverted to Poor Law authorities or otherwise used to relieve local rates. The intention of the Act is that sickness benefit should primarily be devoted to the necessities of the individual and his family and benefit. is not assignable.As regard old age pensions, the relevant part of the Contributory Pensions Act re-enacts Section 3 (1) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919, which provides that a person shall be disqualified for receiving or continuing to receive a pension while he is an inmate of any workhouse or Poor Law institution—with a saving proviso which raises the disqualification for three months where recourse is had to a Poor Law institution only for the purpose of surgical or medical treatment. A suggestion that inmates of Poor Law institutions should not, as such, he disqualified for receiving old age pensions but that the pensions should be appropriated by the guardians was considered, but rejected by the Departmental Committee on whose recommendation Section 3 (1) of the Act of 1919 was based.

the Minister of Health the totals paid out in Poor Law relief for each year from 1918 to 1925?

Particulars of the expenditure of Poor Law authorities in England and Wales on relief of the poor are as follow:

Year ended	Total Expenditure on Relief of the Poor and purposes connected therewith.	Expenditure on out-relief in money and kind (included in the preceding column).
	£	£
31st March, 1918	17,039,623	2,765,245
31st March, 1919	18,423,883	3,053,974
31st March, 1920	23,501,241	4,109,278
31st March, 1921	31,924,954	5,793,383
31st March, 1922	42,272,555	15,443,084
31st March, 1923	41,934,437	17,909,869
31st March, 1924	37,882,282	15,066,059
31st March, 1925	36,841,768	13,374,653

asked the Secretary of State for War what, if any, steps are taken by the military authorities to safeguard the health of troops arriving in this country from India and other tropical countries during the winter mouths after several years' service abroad?

Suitable articles of clothing are provided.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of employés of the Imperial War Graves Commission in Tanganyika, indicating whether they are military or civilian, the rate of pay for each class, and how this scale compares with that of other civilian employés serving in the same Colony; and whether he will investigate a complaint that the officials of this Commission in Tanganyika are not able to live on their pay?

It is not possible to give separate figures for Tanganyika, but the number of white employées of the Imperial War Graves Commission in East Africa is 24, all of whom are civilians. The annual rates of pay of these employés, which are based on those payable in East Africa for similar type of work, are as follows:

	£	s.
1 Deputy-Director of Works	1,500	0
3 Principal Assistants	650–800	0
1 Chief Clerk	650	0
1 Accounts Clerk and Store-keeper	500	0
1 Registration Officer	320	0
1 Typist (Male)	350	0
1 Typist (Female)	250	0
1 Junior Clerk (Female)	200	0
9 Clerks of Works	475–682	10
5 Handymen	360–400	0

Any complaint which the hon. and gallant Member may bring to my notice will be carefully investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in cases where a man is discharged from the Army as the result of an accident arising out of his employment, but which is not accepted as directly attributable to service, it is the practice of his Department to admit a claim under the Workmen's Compensation Act, seeing that the man would receive no compensation by way of pension?

The Workmen's Compensation Act, 1925, is not applicable to the military forces of the Crown. Pension is payable where a soldier is discharged in consequence of disability attributable to his service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he is aware that in the United States of America every assistance is given to American film producers for the purpose of filming incidents occurring in public places; and will he consider adopting a similar attitude to requests for reasonable facilities to be granted to British producers' to film incidents in the Royal Parks at times, in the summer months, when the parks are not generally open to the public?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Kensington South (Sir W. Davison) on Monday last.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he will cause an underground subway from either side of Whitehall facing the Cenotaph to be constructed in order that persons laying wreaths and visiting the Cenotaph can do so free from the disturbance of the traffic proceding up and down this thorough-fare?

My right hon. Friend is not of opinion that the need for a subway is such as to warrant the considerable expenditure which would be required for its construction at this spot.

asked the Home Secretary the number of dogs which have been used for vivisectional experiments at physiological schools in the London Metropolitan area during the past 12 months?

Since the 1st January of this year, 823 dogs have been used for experimental purposes in premises within the London area which are registered under the Act. All but a very few of the animals were kept under complete anæsthesia during the whole time of the experiment and were destroyed before recovering from the anæsthesia.

asked the Home Secretary how much money has been sent to this country from Russia during the late coal dispute?

My information is that up to the beginning of this month £1,150,000 had been received, and that a further remittance of about £40,000 has been sent within the last few days.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of Income Tax paid in respect of mining royalties during the year ended 31st March, 1926, together with the estimated amount of Super-tax payable in respect of income derived from mining royalties; and the average amount per annum paid during the last five years in respect of Death Duties on the capital value of minerals?

I regret that it is not possible to earmark any part of the produce of the Income Tax and Super-tax as contributed by any particular source of income. The amount of income tax and super-tax borne by any individual depends upon total income and personal factors independent of the particular source of income. As regards death duties, it is estimated that the average Estate Duty paid for the last five years in respect of mines, minerals and quarries in individual ownership is £540,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is considering the advisability in his forth-coming Budget of removing some of the disabilities that lie on the male sex, principally in regard to income tax; and whether, seeing that a husband is responsible for the return of his wife's income and for the payment of the tax upon it, he will supply the husband with legal means of recovering the amount from his wife in the event of her refusing to indemnify her husband?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Colonel day) on the 30th November.

asked the financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a shortage of cash copper exists in the Preston district; and, in view of the inconvenience which this causes to traders, can he undertake to augment the supply of cash copper from the Mint to meet the requirements of the Christmas trade?

I understand that a request for additional bronze Coln was received by the Mint from the Preston district, on the 30th November and that this is being dealt with.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give an estimate of the total expenditure which will be incurred as a result of the Government Bills passed and which it is intended to pass this Session, giving in each instance the name of the Bill and the estimated amount?

The following statement shows the estimated actual or contingent charges on the State arising under Bills which have been passed in the present Session and by Bills at present before Parliament in the event of their being passed. The particulars of estimated expenditure and contingent liabilities have been extracted from the White Paper circulated in connection with the Financial Resolutions of the Bills in question:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount per head of the population expended in respect of each of the public services undertaken or contributed to by the State in 1925–26.

The amounts issued from the Exchequer to meet expenditure in 1925–26, divided in each case by the population taken as 44,000,000, work out as follow:

	Exchequer Issues, 1925–26.	Per head of Population.
	£	£	s.	d.
National Debt Services.	358,229,000	8	2	10
Other Consolidated Fund Charges.	39,921,000		18	2
Army, including Ordnance Factories.	44,250,000	1	0	1
Navy	59,657,000	1	7	1
Air Force	15,470,000		7	0
Civil Estimates	243,263,000	5	10	7
Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue.	11,360,000		5	2
Post Office Services	53,950,000	1	4	7
	826,100,000	18	15	6

If my hon. Friend desires further information as to the expenditure on public

asked the Minister of Agriculture the cost of combating foot-and-mouth disease during the present year and the total cost for 1925?

The total cost of combating foot-and-mouth disease during the financial year ending 31st of March, 1926, was £311,980, and for the period during the present financial year up to the 30th of November last, £169,983.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many cases of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred last week; and whether any progress has been made in discovering the origin of recent outbreaks where contact with diseased animals has not taken place?

Two outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease were confirmed during the week ending 4th December, namely, at Chester and Weekly, Northants, both on 29th November. The origin of these outbreaks is obscure. Nothing further has been discovered since my answer to my hon. Friend's question on 17th November, which would account for the origin of recent outbreaks where contact with diseased animals has not taken place.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average yield per acre of sugar-beet in this country in each of the last five years?

The average yield per acre of sugar beet in England and Wales in each of the last five years has been as follows:

				Tons.
1922	…	…	…	6½
1923	…	…	…	6¼
1924	…	…	…	8
1925	…	…	…	8
1926	…	…	…	8 to 9

More definite information as to this year's yield will be available when the manufacturing season is over.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any action has been taken by his Department with a view to the provision of thief-proof parking places in London?

am not very clear what the hon. and gallant Member means by "thief-proof" parking places. My only powers are to make Regulations permitting, in certain circumstances, the parking of vehicles in certain public streets. Vehicles and their contents are, however, left in the parking places entirely at owner's risk.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the danger to pedestrians crossing the Haymarket, a one-way thoroughfare with a taxicab rank in the centre of the highway, he will consider the advisability of Regulations restricting the right or off-side of the street to fast moving traffic only?

The suggested restriction of the west side of the Haymarket to fast moving traffic only is not practicable under existing conditions. Even if it were practicable I am satisfied that the risks to pedestrians crossing the street would, under such an arrangement, be increased rather than diminished.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the reasons given by the mail steamer company to justify their reducing the mail services to the islands of Tiree and Coll, and to the districts of Ardnamurchan and Ardrishaig and the Kyles of Bute, and elsewhere in Argyll, by, in some cases, over 66 per cent.; and has any deduction from the usual payments to them in respect of the restriction of services been made by him?

The supply of coal which the contractors had laid in became exhausted early last month, and the only coal which they could then obtain was of inferior quality and the price was very high. In these circumstances it was considered reasonable to acquiesce in a temporary restriction of the services without a reduction of the normal payment.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has considered advertising the cash-on-delivery system by using a cancellation stamp which would bring the service to the notice of the public; and, if so, what are the considerations against the adoption of this form of publicity of a Post, Office function?

The Postmaster-General has considered this suggestion, but does not propose to adopt it for the reasons given in his reply to a similar question on the 16th of November last from the hon. Member for East Bristol (Mr. W. Baker).

asked the Postmaster-General the number of ex-Service temporary clerks who received no disability pensions subsequent to their entry into the Government service and have been selected for appointments to the permanent unestablished class in his Department; and the number of ex-Service temporary clerks who received disability pensions subsequent to their entry into the Government service and have not been selected for appointments to the permanent unestablished class in his Department?

The number of temporary clerks employed in the Post Office who were in receipt of a disability pension which lapsed before the 12th January, 1925, and who were selected for appointment as permanent non-pensionable clerks was 22 and the number who were still in receipt of a disability pension on that date, and were not selected, was 24. It is not possible, without extensive inquiry, to give the information in the form desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average estimated cost of issuing a wireless licence?

The average cost of issuing wireless licences, including all recording, accounting and administrative work, and also the work necessary to secure the renewal of licences and the prevention of evasion, is estimated to be about 1s. 3d. per licence.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the British Broadcasting Company, Limited, recently altered its arrangements so as to deprive the licence holders in the London area who own only a crystal receiving set from receiving the Greenwich time signal; and whether, in view of its importance, he will endeavour to restore this service at least twice a day, say at 13 and 22 o'clock?

I am informed by the British Broadcasting Company that the Greenwich time signal is broadcast regularly from the Daventry station three times a day, being superimposed if necessary on any item of the programme which may be in course of transmission, and that it is also sent out from the London station at 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. whenever there is an interval in the programme at those times, but not otherwise. It is understood that users of efficient crystal receiving sets in London can receive the time signal from the Daventry station.