asked the Home Secretary the number of prosecutions that have taken place in the County of London for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date for cruelty to animals, and the number of convictions recorded, giving the particulars of such prosecutions and the penalties imposed?

The particulars available relate, not to the County of London but to the Metropolitan Police District, and also the City of London. In 1926, 2,058 persons were prosecuted; 1,213 were convicted; 1,190 were fined; 23 were imprisoned without the option of a fine.

asked the Home Secretary the number of prosecutions that have taken place for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date for bets made on a race track otherwise than on horse racing?

I regret that the available statistics do not enable me to give the figure desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary the number of deaths caused by motor-car accidents in the streets of the Metropolitan Police Area for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The number of deaths caused by motor vehicles (excluding motor cycles) in the streets of the Metropolitan Police District and the City of London during the year ending 31st March last were 783 and 10, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it was with his sanction that the Commissioners of Inland Revenue took such action as caused the Rayon Artificial Silk Company, Limited, to go into liquidation?

I am not aware of the causes which led to the liquidation of this company, but the information available does not support the suggestion that the liquidation was due to the action which the Commissioners of Customs and Excise found it necessary to take to safeguard the interests of the Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that tobacco manufacturers have increased the price of dry snuff by 10d. per pound, which is an addition of 2d. per pound on the increased duty on this commodity; and, seeing that this increase in the price of dry snuff is in contrast with no increase in the wholesale or retail price of cigars and cigarettes, and with the increase in wet snuffs of only 6d. to 8d. per pound, whether, in the interests of old people, many of them pensioners and, in some parts of the country, Irish poor, he will take any action in the matter?

I have no information in regard to this particular case. But I would point out to my right hon. Friend that the amount of duty represented by a given quantity of dry snuff would be greater than the amount of duty borne by an equal quantity of wet snuff. I am also informed that, as the moisture content of dry snuff may be actually less than that of the tobacco leaf of which it is made, the incidence of the increased duty upon a pound of dry snuff as sold to the public may be heavier than that upon a pound of unmanufactured tobacco on which the increase of duty is 8d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to avoid fluctuations in the interest payments falling due on the encashment of national savings certificates, he will consider making to the National Debt Commissioners monthly payments equivalent to the interest accrued during each month, together with additional payments, so as to accumulate a reserve against interest already accrued?

No, Sir. The matter was considered by the Colwyn Committee, who agreed that, subject to the maintenance of a substantial general sinking fund, no alteration in the present practice of budgeting only for actual cash requirements for interest payments is called for.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the altered conditions of modern building and estate development, he will consider the hardship produced by a continuance of the Metropolitan Water Board's policy of placing mains down one side of a road or street only, thereby forcing the owners of property on the opposite side to be liable for maintenance of about 30 feet of service pipe, against about six feet on the main side, while having no control either of the main or over the road and whether he will consider the advisability of promoting legislation to vary Section 8 of the Metropolitan Water Board (Charges) Act, 1907, so as to transfer to the Board the cost of maintaining the difference in length of the service pipe exceeding six feet from the boundary of the premises served?

This question is not peculiar to the Metropolitan Water Board, and I am referring the matter to the Advisory Committee on Water for their consideration and advice.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of small-pox cases that have been reported from Hendon and Golders Green to date in the recent outbreak; the number of deaths resulting; and what, if any, special precautions have been taken to prevent any further cases occurring?

Eight cases have occurred in the Hendon Urban District, which includes Golders Green, and four deaths have resulted. As soon as the nature of the disease was determined, all the usual preventive measures were adopted by the local authority, and a medical officer of my Department has rendered assistance.