asked the Home Secretary the number of persons, both male and female, apprehended or summoned with the result of the proceedings in Courts of summary jurisdiction in the Metropolitan police area for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

During the year 1926, 68,853 persons were apprehended and 104,260 were summoned in the Metropolitan police district. Of the total of 173,113, 150,388 were males and 22,725 were females. 495 were discharged, 168,647 were dealt with summarily, the charge being withdrawn or dismissed in 12,315 cases, the charge proved and an order made in 17,255 cases and a conviction recorded in 139,077 cases. 2,010 were committed for trial and 1,961 were otherwise dealt with.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Government is now in possession of the recommendations of the Shop Hours Committee; and what action he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of wireless telephony calls between England and the United States and vice versa?

The figures up to the 6th instant are as follow:

Total calls from Great Britain … 830 Total calls from United States ‖ 991

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of pedal bicycles that were imported into Great Britain for the years 1925 and 1926; from which foreign countries were those bicycles imported; and the amount or quantities of part of bicycles, and from where imported, for either replacement parts or for assembly into complete machines?

The following statement shows the total quantity and declared value of (a) Cycles and (b) Parts thereof (not including rubber Tyres and Tubes) imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland during each of the

(a) Pedal Cycles. Countries whence consigned. 1925. 1926. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. No. £ No. £ From Germany … … 64 225 223 322 From Netherlands … … 17 104 28 140 From Belgium … … 38 237 51 169 From France … … 447 2,134 472 2,360 From Other Foreign Countries … … 31 162 15 81 Total Foreign Countries … … 597 2,862 789 3,072 Total British Countries … … 491 3,336 462 2,849 Total Imports … … 1,088 6,198 1,251 5,921

(b) Parts of Pedal Cycles. Description and Countries whence consigned. 1925. 1926. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Ball Bearings: Tons. £ Tons. £ Total Imports … … 40 15,641 13 3,896 Of which from— Germany … … 33 12,584 2 1,289 Chains, Steel Transmission: Total Imports … … 26 4,370 62 8,608 Of which from— Germany … … 15 2,609 35 5,365 Wheels, Rims and Spokes: Total Imports … … Recorded by value only 41,746 Recorded by value only. 40,660 Of which from— Germany … … 22,639 28,271 Netherlands … … 6,225 5,624 France … … 10,702 5,501 Other Parts and Accessories: Total Imports … … Recorded by value only. 312,324 Recorded by value only. 332,870 Of which from— Germany … … 181,513 169,722 Netherlands … … 37,793 27,107 France … … 37,589 86,893 Switzerland … … 29,114 24,524 Belgium … … 4,740 19,412 United States … … 6,470 2,170 Canada … … 9,612 —

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of imports from the United States, France, Germany and Italy, respectively, to this country, and the chief commodities, in sterling, since 1st January, 1927?

years 1925 and 1926, distinguishing the principal countries whence the goods were consigned.

The total value of the imports registered during the first nine months of 1927 as consigned from the countries named in the question. was as follows:

Consigned from £ United States of America … 147,532,000

Consigned from £ France … … … … 46,619,000 Germany … … … 43,575,000 Italy … … … … 12,400,000

Particulars of the principal descriptions of goods imported from individual countries in a calendar year are given in the Annual Statement of Trade, Volume IV. For certain classes of goods, however, the figures are given in the Monthly Trade Returns.

asked the Postmaster-General the approximate cost of the erection of the new short-wave station at Daventry; and when it is expected that this station will be completed?

The British Broadcasting Corporation has no short-wave station at Daventry, and it therefore is not clear whether the hon Member's question has reference to the medium wave station known at Daventry Junior (5GB) which works on a wave length of 491.8 metres or to the short-wave (24 metres) station which is being erected at Chelmsford for carrying out experiments in connection with Empire broad casting. Programmes have been regularly broadcast from the former station since August last, whilst the short-wave station at Chelmsford is practically ready to commence transmissions. I am not aware of the cost of either station as the responsibility in this respect rests primarily with the British Broadcasting Corporation, but if the hon. Member will indicate which station he has in mind, I will ascertain the cost from the Corporation.

asked the Minister of Health if he can make any statement as to when he proposes to introduce legislation to afford fair compensation to owners of buildings included in areas scheduled for demolition by local authorities under slum clearance orders?

The whole subject of slum improvement is receiving my immediate consideration, but I am not yet in a position to state when it will be possible to introduce legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport what, if any, counties in England prohibit the use of spot-lights on motor vehicles?

I am not aware that any county council in England has prohibited the use of spot-lights on motor vehicles.