asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount of barley imported into this country for the years 1924, 1925, and 1926?

The information is given on page 9 of the December, 1926, issue of the Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of applications he has received under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926?

Seven applications for the issue of marking Orders have been received up to the present. The hon. Member will recollect that before referring an application to the Committee the Board must, under the Act, be satisfied that it is substantially representative. Two applications have also been received under Section 1.

Are we to understand, then, after all the money that has been spent, that only seven firms have thought fit to take advantage of the provisions of the Act?

No, Sir, the hon. Member ought not to draw any such inference. Up to the moment seven applications have been received, but I have no reason to suppose that there will not be a considerable number of others.

What commodities are there in addition to eggs and oatmeal?

I was not including eggs and oatmeal in this. Applications have also been received in respect of woven labels; gold and silver leaf; cab tyre sheathed cable; crepe paper; briar pipes, bowls and stems; shaving brushes; shaving sets and mirrors. In regard to some of these we are inquiring whether the application is representative or not. From inquiries which have been received it would be quite erroneous to suppose that that is at all an end of the list of likely applicants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of lace imported from Malta for the year 1924 and the two subsequent years?

The recorded imports of lace of all kinds consigned from Malta were as follow: In 1924, nil: in 1925, £1,011; in 1926, £1,024.

Are we to understand that the figures for Maltese lace account for all the lace imported from Malta into the United Kingdom?

I should like notice of that question. I have given the Customs returns for consignments of lace from Malta. I imagine that that is, in fact, all Maltese lace, but I do not know, and I doubt whether I could find out.

Is this lace subject to taxation?

There is another question to the Treasury about that.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of revenue derived from Customs on lace imported into the United Kingdom from Malta during the year 1926?

Particulars of the Customs revenue derived from lace imported from Malta are available only in so far as such lace is admitted at the preferential rate of duty. The amount of duty at the preferential rate received in the calendar year 1926 in respect of lace consigned from Malta was £173.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell ns how that compares with the imports for the previous year?

I could not say without notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total oil and motor spirit imports in the several ascertainable grades for the years 1910, 1920, 1925, and 1926, respectively?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the particulars for which he asks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why his Department is persistently referring applicants under Section 10 (5) of the Finance Act, 1926, for orders exempting key industry products from liability to duty under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, on the grounds that they are not made in any part of His Majesty's Dominions in quantities which are substantial, having regard to the consumption of the articles for the time being in the United Kingdom, to certain chemical manufacturers in this country who are not in a position to offer the products in question of their own manufacture: and is he aware that lactic acid B.P. is an example of the action complained of?

Before an article can be exempted from duty under Section 10 (5) of the Finance Act, 1926, the Board must be satisfied not only that the article is not being made in His Majesty's Dominions, but also that there is no reasonable probability that it will be so made within a reasonable period. As regards the particular product mentioned in the question, applicants were given the name of a manufacturer who proposes to produce it in the near future, and is setting up the necessary plant for the purpose.

With regard to the first part of the answer, dealing with the probability of its being manufactured, is there a Permanent Committee of the Board of Trade which makes decisions as to probabilities?

No, there is not a permanent Committee of the Board of Trade, but there is a permanent Board of Trade, and if a colleague of the hon. Member had been present to ask Question? I should have answered about that.

Would the right hon. Gentleman define more closely "the near future"? How many months or years?

The "near future" means the near future, and the prospect is drawing rapidly nearer, because this firm have, in fact, ordered the plant, and the whole of the first consignment of the plant for the earlier process has been delivered and set up as one of the results of the Act.

That may be all right so far as lactic acid is concerned, but will the right hon. Gentleman go into the whole question?

Of course, not only will I go into it, but I have gone into it, and every single application received has been dealt with on its merits and an Order has been made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he treats manufacturers who purchase imported chemicals of technical or commercial quality and purify them as being manufacturers of the purified or B. P. quality, the manufacture of which is protected under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1291; and, if not, will he direct his Department to grant exemption orders against all applications where such a position arises?

No application has been made to me, under Section 10 (5) of the Finance Act, 1926, which involves consideration of the particular point to which the hon. Member refers. If, and when, such an application is made, it will be dealt with on its merits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the failure of his Department to deal with the large number of applications made since last August under Section 10 (5) of the Finance Act, 1926, for orders exempting key industry products from liability to duty under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, on the ground that they are not made in the British Empire, he will set up a committee representative of manufacturing and consuming interests to deal with them so that consumers may be relieved at an early date from having to pay 33 ⅓ per cent. duty on products that have to be imported, as they are not made here, after six years of safeguarding?

There has been no such failure as the hon. Member suggests. All the applications which have been received have been fully considered by the Board of Trade. An Order under Section 10 (5) of the Finance Act, 1926, giving effect to the recommendations of the Board and exempting certain articles from duty, was made by the Treasury yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether General Frank Sutton is in receipt of any form of payment or pension from the British Government?

I have been asked to answer this question. There is no officer recorded in my Department as General Frank Sutton, but if (as I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War) the question relates to Lieutenant Francis Arthur Sutton, late Royal Engineers, this officer was wounded in Gallipoli. An award in respect of his wounds was made to him on retirement, and is still in force. I am informed, however, that no payment has been drawn since 30th September, 1925.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will be prepared to postpone for one year the calling up of the £200 bond, or security, which the War Office hold over the drill hall, Penicuik, Midlothian, providing efforts are made by the ex-service men who occupy the hall to raise sufficient money to purchase the bond?

I have now heard that the trustees hope to raise the necessary funds to pay off the bond, and their solicitor has asked for the title deeds, which are accordingly being sent to him, to enable him to prepare the necessary discharge. I assume, therefore, that a period of grace is no longer required, and if it is, I hope the hon. Member will communicate with me.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men passed fit for service and the number rejected as medically unfit during 1926; and the nature of the principal physical defects responsible for their rejection?

As regards the first part of the question, figures for the recruiting year 1925–26 will be found on page 12 of the General Annual Report on the British Army for 1926. As regards the latter part, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the numbers rejected for the principal physical defects.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the regulation under which an officer of the quartermaster class, who has attained the rank of major but who is compulsorily retired under the age limit before he has served one complete year in the rank, is causing considerable hardship in many cases to such officers, whose promotion depends not, as in the case of other officers, on a vacancy in the rank, but on the completion of a specified period of service; that it is possible for an officer of this class to have served from 37 to 42 years, to have attained the rank of major, and yet, for the lack of a few days required to complete one year in the rank, to be retired with the retired pay granted to lieutenants and captains; that cases can be quoted where the higher rate of retired pay is lost by the inability to serve for one day to complete the year; and that, in consequence, years of commissioned service, although ordinarily allowed to count for retired pay, are unproductive owing to the above-quoted regulation; and whether he is prepared to consider the matter, with a view to the removal of this hardship by amending the regulation, so that these officers shall be granted the retired pay of the rank in which they retire?

I regret that I am unable to alter the decision given in the reply to my hon. and gallant Friend on 15th February. The fact that promotion is by time and not by establishment affords no ground for making an exception to the general rule.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that men in this class, for the sake of one day's service, lose as much as £60 or £100 of pension, and does he consider that that is a proper thing?

They are under the same rules and regulations as all other officers in the Army.

But they do not obtain their promotion till they are well advanced in years and in service.

I am afraid it is impossible to agree to the suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, by order of the Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General, London District headquarters, under date 17th March, 1924, one or more London hotels in the vicinity of Victoria station were placed out of bounds to all troops; and whether he will cause this and any other similar instructions to be so modified that Territorial soldiers proceeding to, or returning from, military exercises or shooting practices may obtain necessary and reasonable food and refreshment at hotels?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to a communication made to the winter general meeting of the National Rifle Association on Monday, 28th February, to the effect that on a Sunday a party of Territorials belonging to a distinguished London unit, on returning hungry, thirsty, and tired from practising at Bisley, were refused refreshment at a hotel and a railway buffet on the ground that they were in uniform; and whether he proposes to take any action to prevent a recurrence of such incidents?

I will answer these questions together. Five hotels or public-houses in the vicinity of Victoria Station have been placed out of bounds for troops in uniform as undesirable, but I am unaware that any London railway station buffet has been so dealt with. I am satisfied that the military authorities were justified in placing the hotels or public-houses in question out of bounds. There is sufficient accommodation at Victoria Station and elsewhere in the neighbourhood for soldiers to obtain refreshment.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether, when hotels are placed out of bounds by the military authorities, representations are also made to the police, on the ground that if a hotel is unsuitable for soldiers in uniform it is equally unsuitable for anybody else?

The same thought occurred to me when I was considering the question this morning, and I am going to sec what steps ought to be taken in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of issuing a free travelling warrant to and from a British port to all British soldiers serving with the Army of Occupation in Germany when they become entitled to their annual leave?

The general Army rule is that free travelling on leave is not provided at the expense of Army funds, and I regret that I cannot agree to exceptional treatment in this respect for the troops on the Rhine. Arrangements are, however, in force under which these troops have the benefit of considerably reduces fares when travelling on leave to this country.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is a great hardship on the men in the non-commissioned ranks to have to pay their fares for annual leave?

It is a hardship to any of us to have to pay anything, but for some of the things we pay we get some return.

But in view of the low remuneration of the non-commissioned ranks, ought not these men to be placed on terms of equality with other units?

I am afraid if we were to go into questions of remuneration there would be a lot of other claims.

Is it not a fact that officers do not get their fares paid when they go home?

No.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the soldiers now serving overseas in China have any special allowance for their dependants; and what provision will be made for them in case of death or accident due to service?

As regards the first part of the question, marriage allowance is issued, under the conditions laid down in the Regulations, in respect of wives and children of soldiers serving with the Shanghai Defence Force. In addition, families of soldiers on the married quarters roll have either been allowed to remain in public quarters or been granted lodging, fuel and light allowance in lieu. As regards the last part of the question, families and dependants will be eligible, under the usual conditions, for the benefits laid down in the Pay Warrant.

Are those conditions similar to the conditions during the Great War? Do they get the same pension rights, or equal pension rights?

These are not war conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the two Chinese wounded in the bayonet charge by British marines at Hankow on 3rd January subsequently died of the wounds inflicted upon them; and whether other Chinese were seriously wounded on that occasion?

My information is that only two Chinese were wounded at Hankow on 23rd January and that neither of them has died from his wounds. I would point out that there was no bayonet charge by the British naval detachments, who remained strictly on the defensive throughout the attack on the concession.

May I ask whether the British marines are now well out of danger after the unprovoked assault upon them by the Chinese?

I do not think they are in any danger at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any negotiations have been commenced with the Cantonese authorities to meet the situation in the neighbourhood of Shanghai?

As was stated in the reply given on 21st February to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Platting and to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff East, declarations were made by Mr. Chen and Mr. O'Malley on 19th February regarding the policy of the Nationalist Government towards British and other concessions and international settlements in China. Apart from this there have been no negotiations with the Cantonese authorities regarding Shanghai.

Has the hon. Member given up the idea of attempting a settlement by negotiation, and can he say whether there is anyone on the spot who is empowered to treat with the Cantonese authorities?

We are always ready to negotiate, but I do not think we can possibly shift the responsibility of protecting the lives of our own subjects upon the shoulders of anyone else. In regard to the last part of the Supplementary Question, I would say that our Consul-General in Shanghai will be on the spot to carry out any negotiations that may be necessary.

I did not suggest that the responsibility should be shifted. I want to ask whether the Consul-General or anyone else is expressly empowered to negotiate with the Cantonese authorities? Is he a plenipotentiary?

Does the Minister regard it as the proper thing to negotiate with people in regard to a city when, they are not in possession of that city?

rose—

The hon. and gallant Member's questions are hypothetical.

With respect, I have not put hypothetical questions. I want to know whether there is anyone on the spot empowered to negotiate, and I have not had an answer.

I am ready to answer that question. Our Consul-General in Shanghai is empowered, if he thinks fit and it becomes necessary, to carry out negotiations with either of the contending parties.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will explain the terms agreed upon between the White Star Liner Company and his Department for the transport of troops to China on the ship "Megantic"?

I have been asked to reply. The ship was engaged as a transport under the Regulations for His Majesty's Transport Service, by which the ship is entirely at the disposal of the Government. The owner is responsible for the ship and its upkeep, deck and engine room stores, crew, victualling of crew and marine insurance. The Government provides fuel, pays dock and harbour dues, and accepts war risk. The owners victual the passengers at agreed rates per head.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the Board of Agriculture paid for the furniture in the lodge of Erribol; how much has since been spent upon additional furniture for the lodge; and how much the arbiter has awarded the Board of Agriculture for the furniture?

The Board paid £600 for furniture taken over from the former tenant at Whitsunday, 1921. The cost of additional furniture purchased by them was approximately £175. The amount awarded by the valuer for furniture taken over by the present owner at Martinmas, 1926, was £453 13s. 6d.

Then what has happened to the difference between the £775 obtained for this furniture and the £453 received for it?

That is a matter of opinion on which I could not venture to say anything.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say whether the furniture was new or secondhand?

Would the right hon. Gentleman suggest to the Prime Minister that we ought to have a day for discussion of this subject?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Treasury were consulted and approved the exposure of the estate of Erribol for sale by public auction subject to the valuation of the sheep-stock at Whitsunday; whether they were consulted before it was decided to sell by private treaty with a Martinmas valuation only a portion of the ordinary sheep-stock of the farm; whether they considered the terms of the bargain which were contained in the missives of sale to the present purchaser and in the terms of reference to the arbiter in the sheep-stock valuation; whether they appreciated the difference between the new terms and those on which the sale had been advertised by auction; and whether they approved the decision to sell on the news terms by private treaty without inviting competitive offers?

I have been asked to reply. The Treasury were consulted on the financial aspect of the various proposals for the sale of this property and gave such approval as was required to authorise the steps taken.

Did the Treasury know at the time this negotiation was going on for eventual purchase that there were other people inquiring about the farm and making offers to buy it?

No, obviously as no one had direct information no definite offer was made.

Will the right hon. Gentleman allay the widespread discontent in connection with the matter and arrange for a Select Committee of the House to inquire into it?

No, Sir.

Will the hon. Member buy it himself to save further trouble?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any churches and manses have been handed over to the trustees of the Church of Scotland; and, if so, how many?

The churches and manses of three parishes have been transferred from the heritors to the Church of Scotland General Trustees. I regret that more rapid progress has not been made, as it is obviously in the interests of both parties that as many cases as possible should be settled by agreement before 28th May, 1928, so as to avoid the necessity for contested proceedings before the Sheriff under Section 28 of the Church of Scotland Act, 1925, which would require to be initiated before that date.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the reports made by and issued to the Glasgow Town Council, by a committee appointed by the council, regarding the condition of certain tenement property situated in Marlow Street, Tradeston, Glasgow, where a disaster occurred involving the death of several persons; whether the procurator-fiscal of the city of Glasgow was aware of the reports of the above-mentioned committee; and, if not, will he order the procurator-fiscal to reconsider his decision not to take proceedings at law against the municipal authority or the owners of the property in question?

No reports regarding the property referred to by the hon. Member were made by or issued to the Glasgow Town Council by any committee appointed by the council. In August, 1922, an unofficial committee consisting of certain members of the Building Trades Federation, the Glasgow Trades Council, and Housing Association, made a report recommending that a chimney stack at 26, Marlow Street, should be rebuilt, which was afterwards done. That was not the chimney stack which caused the disaster referred to by the hon. Member, and no report regarding the latter was made by the body in question. In these circumstances, I see no reason to reconsider the decision arrived at by Crown Counsel, on a report by the procurator-fiscal, that no proceedings should be taken.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the report concerning the property referred to in the question was sent to the town clerk, Sir John Lindsay, and was well known to the town council and to the owners of the property, and in the circumstances is he not prepared to have an inquiry into the whole question of this disaster in Marlow Street?

If the hon. Member had paid closer attention to nay answer he would have appreciated that the only report made was the one referred to relating to the chimney stack at 26, Marlow Street, and that particular chimney stack has been repaired and it is not the one that caused the disaster.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Motion for the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

(for Sir R. HAMILTON) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of convictions for illegal trawling in Scottish waters during 1926, showing the number of previous convictions in each instance?

There were eleven convictions in 1926 for illegal trawling and seine net fishing in Scottish waters; of these seven were for first, offences, two for second offences and two for third offences.

asked the Secretary for Mines if, in view of the health advantages claimed for even a short exposure to ultra-violet rays and, further, in view of the work of miners, necessarily at times debarring them from enjoying daylight and sunlight, the natural source of such rays, he will consider the desirability of establishing experimentally installations for the production of ultra-violet rays in one or more of the baths provided for miners?

I understand that the Miners' Welfare Committee have this matter under consideration in connection with the provision of pithead baths under the Mining Industry Act, 1926, but that the proposal is not free from difficulty.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that it is absolutely necessary to have expert

The extent to which that is true—and within limits it is true—is one of the many difficulties which attend the adoption of what on the face of it is an attractive proposition.

Is the Miners' Welfare Committee going to discuss the possibility of putting these installations down the pit so as to avoid the necessity of the men coming to the surface at all?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that no amount of artificial rays, ultra-violet or otherwise, can make up for the absence of natural sunlight caused by the extended hours under the Miners' Eight Hours Act?

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the total of fatal and non-fatal accidents in mines reported in December, 1925, and January and February, 1926, respectively, and the number reported for December, 1926, and January and February, 1927?

I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary for Mines the total number of coal-cutting and conveying machines in British coal mines; and what number are of foreign production?

In 1925, the latest year for which information is available, 6,650 coal-cutting machines and 1,513 conveyors were in use in British coal mines. I do not know how many of them were of foreign production.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can give the number of mines in England and Wales still using the guss for coal-haulage of wheelless tubs; and the number of persons so engaged?

The number of mines is 17, and the number of persons approximately 800.

On the basis of the Coal Measures Reconstruction Act that we heard so much about, has any part of that Measure been applied to cases like this, of men working underground and drawing tubs without wheels?

I do not follow the connection between the two questions.

I want to know if any part of the Measure passed in this House during the six months of the stoppage for the reorganisation of the mining industry has been applied to places where there are no wheels on the tubs?

The hon. Member had better give notice of that question.

It is on the Paper. The reference here is to existing conditions, and I am asking if that Act has been applied?

Any question as to the application of the Act should be put on the Paper.

Has the Mines Department ever asked the inspectors of mines to interview owners to try to put a stop to this bad practice?

The hon. Member will probably recollect that in 1914 there was an Inquiry into all this, and the result of the evidence then obtained was that there had never been any known case of anyone suffering in his health.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the production of metallurgical coke in this country is equal to the country's needs; whether there is a surplus; and, if so, is it exported?

Yes, Sir, in normal times. But production has not yet recovered from the effect of last year's stoppage, and exports at present are very small.

Is it not a fact that, apart altogether from the stoppage, there was an abnormal number of coke-ovens shut down which have not opened up yet; and is it not a fact that that is causing great difficulty in getting through pig-iron orders for this country owing to the shortage of coke?

After a long stoppage it is a difficult matter to re-start every coke-oven rapidly and I have no reason to suppose that that is not progressing as quickly as possible.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that there are several coke-producing collieries already closed down in Durham and coke-ovens as well?

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House any idea of how long it takes to bring a coke-oven into active working order after it has been closed down for even a month or two?

It would be very dangerous to give a general answer which, as the hon. Member knows from his technical knowledge on this subject, varies in different circumstances.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state the reduction in pit-head prices of coal which have taken place during the last month; and whether these have been passed on in all cases to the consumer?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Plaistow by the Parliamentary Secretary, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will ascertain the times of the commencing and ending of the various shifts worked by boys of from 14 to 18 years of age in the mines of the county of Durham and the country?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him on the same subject on 9th December and 14th December.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the reply to which he refers gives the information asked for in this question?

I have read with great care the hon. Member's question and my right hon. Friend's answer, and both of them convey a very definite impression and a considerable amount of information.

Has the Secretary for Mines or any other member of his Department approached at any time a colliery company with a view to getting more humane hours more suitable for the needs of the people?

I really think it would be impossible to deal with the whole problem of how a settlement of the hours of work should be arranged in the coal industry by means of Supplementary Questions.

asked the Secretary for Mines what were the total exports of coal from Great Britain during last month, and the corresponding figure for February, 1926?

4,172,856 tons of coal were exported during last month, and 4,340,006 tons during February, 1926.

asked the Minister of Transport (1), if he is aware of the continuous delays, congestion and inadequate railway service now obtaining in the Eastern Counties served by the Great Eastern section of the London and North-Eastern Railway Company; that, in consequence, many gas undertakings are unable to get regular and adequate supplies of coal, thereby jeopardising the local gas supply; and what steps he proposes to take to assist these public utility undertakings;

I am aware of the difficulties that have arisen in connection with the conveyance of coal on the Great Eastern section of the London and North Eastern Railway, and I am in communication with the railway company on the subject. So, far as the difficulties in connection with the supply to gas undertakings are concerned, I am informed by the company that these have now been practically surmounted.

Is it not the case that the right hon. Gentleman has been receiving representations on this matter for at least six weeks, and some of us are still waiting for any satisfactory reply?

I think that that is not quite a fair way of putting it. Conditions are still unsatisfactory, I admit, but they are improving.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we have had notification of hundreds of wagons being sent away from the collieries five and six weeks ago, which have not yet been delivered, so that we are being asked to pay for coal which we have never seen?

The fact is, that a certain number of wagons got at the bottom of the siding, and wagons which were despatched long after these are being delivered before them. It is not until the trouble of the importation of foreign coal has been finally surmounted that we shall get things right.

Has not the experience of the last six weeks confirmed the right hon. Gentleman in the conviction that the only solution of this problem is the pooling of coal wagons?

That is rather argumentative.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet received from the London Traffic Advisory Committee a Report on crawling taximeter cabs; what is its nature; and whether he intends to publish it?

I have not yet received the Committee's Report on this subject. I have, therefore, nothing to add to the answer which I gave to a similar question addressed to me by my hon. and gallant Friend on the 15th February last. Until I have received and considered the Report I cannot arrive at any decision with regard to its publication.

asked the Minister of Transport whether legislation restricting the use of dazzling lights on motor cars in public highways is operative in France and/or other European countries; whether his Department has knowledge of any anti-dazzle lighting system fulfilling the requirements laid down by the Committee which reported on this subject to his predecessor; and whether he will consider the introduction of legislation governing the use of lights on motor cars?

Regulations restricting the use of dazzling lights on motor ears are operative in France and certain other European countries. As regards the second part of the question, I am not aware of any headlight which provides an adequate driving light without some degree of dazzle. As regards the last part, I am considering the question of seeking additional powers to deal with the lighting of road vehicles in the Bill which I hope to introduce when Parliamentary time is available.

Will my right hon. Friend consider the reassembling of the Committee which investigated this matter, to look into any new improvements in anti-dazzle lights that may have been brought to notice since?

I do not think that that is necessary. We went very carefully into it at the time, and my Department are in close touch with the question. Any satisfactory devices that may appear on the market we shall at once look into.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether this Measure will be introduced before Easter?

No, I could not say that; it depends on circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he could arrange for driving licences to be taken out on 1st January every year?

I cannot see my way to introduce legislation to put this suggestion into effect. The existing system has the advantage of spreading the work of issue over the whole year.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that even Members of this House sometimes happen to forget the date at which they should take out their licences?

They have to pay for forgetting.

They forget their promises as well!

asked the Minister of Transport if he intends to circulate the proposed Bill affecting the motor industry before its introduction in the House; if so, when he anticipates he will be able to do this; and whether it is intended that the Measure should be passed this year?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer, of which I am sending him a copy, which I gave on the 24th February to my hon. and gallant friends the Members for Faversham (Sir G. Wheler) and Clitheroe (Captain Brass).

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the overcrowding, with the resulting danger to the public, that takes place during the peak hours on trains leaving Charing Cross and London Bridge stations; and will he take steps with a view to the augmentation of such services in the South-East London area?

My attention has not been drawn recently to this matter, but I have communicated with the railway company, who inform me that, in spite of recent improvements in the services, certain trains are still somewhat overcrowded, and that they hope to introduce some further improvements when the time-table is next revised.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider making representations to the railway company that the trains which leave Charing Cross should not stop at London Bridge, because that is where the greater part of the overcrowding takes place, after the trains are full?

I will make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the approximate surplus in the Road Fund, and how much of the surplus of £19,000,000 existing on 31st March, 1926, will have been expended in the current year?

It is estimated that the cash balances and investments of the Road Fund will amount to about £12,000,000 at the 31st March, 1927, but liabilities will be outstanding to a considerably greater amount.

asked the Minister of Transport the total mileage of canals in England and the number of miles actually open to traffic?

The total length of canal and inland waterways in England and Wales, as shown in the Report of the Royal Commission of 1906, is 4,080 miles, of which 19 miles were closed at that date. Recent figures of the total mileage of canals in England and the number of miles actually open for traffic are not available, but the abandonment of 50 miles has been authorised since my Department was formed in 1919.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the danger of the new upright curb-stones along the sides of the new arterial and main roads; and whether he will consider whether it would be more advantageous and less dangerous if the edges were rounded off and sloped down to the road at a more gentle angle?

I do not consider that vertical curbs are dangerous, but in certain circumstances splayed or rounded edges, as used in many districts, are preferable, and I gave instructions some time ago to the engineering staff of my Department that local authorities should be encouraged to extend the practice where suitable.

Does not this practice add to the cost, as well as to the obstruction?

I do not think that that is so. It would be more expensive to have a curved than an upright curb.

Is it not much safer?

Is it not the case that upright curbs are more likely to afford protection to pedestrians on the footpath?

That is exactly the point. In urban areas, where pedestrians are in evidence, the upright curbs are preferable, but in the country, where there are none, I think the curved ones are preferable.

asked the Minister of Transport how many separate companies and undertakings have been absorbed by the London General Omnibus Company, or a controlling interest obtained in their shares, since the passing of the London Traffic Act; and whether any difference has been made in the allocation of routes or in the disposal of licences since the companies, now controlled by the London General Omnibus Company, have lost their independence?

According to the returns furnished to me under Section 14 of the London Traffic Act, the number of omnibus undertakings of which the London General Omnibus Company has acquired control since the passing of the Act is 48. Some of the omnibuses owned by these undertakings have been withdrawn from service. There has been no alteration, however, in the operation of the remaining omnibuses so far as concerns routes through streets, or parts of streets, which have been declared to be "restricted" under Section 7 of the London Traffic Act. Other routes are not subject to restrictions.

Does not this justify the allegation that I made, that the result of the London Traffic Act would be that there would be practically one big combine of all the omnibuses under the London General Omnibus Company?

I do not think that this is the time for justification.

asked the Minister of Transport how many men are employed on road schemes financed out of the Road Fund; and whether he anticipates an increase in the number of men so employed during the present year?

Assistance from the Road Fund is given to nearly all the 2,000 local authorities of the country, but as their roadmen are engaged partly on grant-earning and partly on non-grant-earning works, it is not possible to give the particulars for which the hon. and gallant Member asks; nor is it possible for me to predict whether the local authorities will increase or decrease their staffs during the present year.

Is the right hon. Gentleman going to increase the assistance to local authorities this year?

I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman had better wait and see.

Has the right hon. Gentleman given any further consideration to the suggestion made by one of his colleagues that he should raise a loan on the security of the Road Fund in order to provide more employment?

I do not think that arises out of the question.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the evidence given at the coroner's inquest on Mrs. Elizabeth Waterworth, of 1, Beaconsfield Road, W. 4, who received injuries, which resulted fatally, in an explosion at her home, to the fact that the electric feeder laid down along the road by the district council was over 25 years old and encased in bitumen, and that the feeder was burnt away for about 18 inches; and if he can state whether a periodical system of overhauling was carried out,, in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry?

I understand from the Electricity Commissioners that they have been informed by the Electricity Supply Company concerned that a gas explosion was the cause of the damage to their cables, and that the damaged cable where the accident took place was in no way connected to the adjacent mains encased in bitumen, which are situated on the opposite side of the street at a distance of 30 feet from the premises in which the explosion took place.

As the road in question is in my constituency, may I ask when I may receive the report on this subject, which was promised to me some days ago, from my right hon. Friend's Department?

I will try to let my hon. Friend have it as soon as I can.

asked the Prime Minister whether, as only 683,272 members out of a total of 3,003,373 members of registered trade unions voted in favour of a political levy, he will consider making provision in the proposed Trade Union Amendment Bill for another ballot to be taken of the members of all registered and unregistered trade unions?

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the introduction of the Bill.

In view of the fact that only 36 per cent. of the electorate voted in the last election, will the right hon. Gentleman consider having a fresh election?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Bills likely to be introduced?

There is another question about that.

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to introduce legislation for the reform of the House of Lords?

I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of the duties levied on beer in this country in the years 1924, 1925, and 1926?