asked the Minister of Transport when he expects that the first loan will be raised under the Electricity Supply Act; and what amount it is then proposed to raise?

If my hon. Friend refers to loans to be issued by the Central Electricity Board, I can only point out that the matter is one for the Board, and I am not in a position to make any statement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the estimates of cost prepared by the Electricity Commissioners in connection with the Southeast England electricity scheme include any allowance for the compensation which will be payable for loss of office to staffs dismissed as a result of the closing down of generating stations under the scheme; and, if so, how much?

I understand that, although, as in the case of the scheme for Central Scotland, the estimates do not show as a separate item any allowance for this purpose, the Commissioners are satisfied that there is sufficient margin in the estimates on which the savings are based to cover any payments which may have to be made.

asked the. Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the growing dissatisfaction of electric light consumers in the Metropolis in consequence of the delay which is taking place in carrying out the provisions of the Third Schedule to the London Electricity (No. 1) Act, 1925, which ( inter alia ) enacts that the dividends of electric lighting companies operating in London shall be regulated in accordance with a sliding scale of prices and dividends; and whether he can give an approximate date when the settlement of the details of the sliding scales may be expected?

It falls primarily to the London County Council to approve the standard prices for the purpose of regulating the dividends payable by the electricity supply companies. Before, however, this can be done, it is necessary for a settlement to be reached upon cer- tain matters between the companies, the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority and the London County Council. I understand that prolonged negotiations between the parties have taken place, but that the stage has not yet been reached at which the matter can be finally determined.

asked the Minister of Transport the estimated expenditure out of the Road Fund during the present year in respect of new construction, of improvements, and of maintenance, respectively?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the allocation of the revenues of the Road Fund for the current financial year. If so, I would refer him to paragraph 78 of the Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for 1926–27, where the allocation of the current year's revenue of the Fund is shown in considerable detail.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any further consideration has been given to the adoption of the Gattie goods clearance scheme since the reception of a delegation by the Director-General of Roads?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received representations from various trade organisations on the condition of canal bridges in the Midlands; and, in view of the inconvenience to traders caused by the bridges not being strong enough to carry loads in excess of certain weights, whether he will intervene with the highways authorities so that they will take speedy action?

I am aware of the inconvenience caused to road users by the weakness of numerous canal bridges in the Midlands and elsewhere. I have received representations from various deputations on the subject, and the matter is engaging my close attention. While there would, obviously, be great difficulty on financial and other grounds in dealing immediately and comprehensively with all weak structures of this kind. I am always ready, in appropriate cases, to give assistance to highway authorities from the Road Fund towards the cost of bringing bridges on important roads up to a modern standard. As my hon. Friend is probably aware, negotiations are proceeding between the public bodies concerned for the promotion of legislation to facilitate the reconstruction of weak bridges on important roads and a suitable agreed measure would certainly receive my support.

asked the Minister of Transport the reason for delay in opening the new bridge for traffic over the Clyde at Glasgow, seeing it was formally opened some time ago; and when the bridge will be available for general use?

The hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that this bridge has been formally opened. The bridge structure was only completed last month, and work is still proceeding in the formation of the approaches, involving the alteration of numerous underground services. Progress is unavoidably retarded by the need for keeping the streets open for traffic while work proceeds, and no date can yet be fixed for completion.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been demolished during the past 12 months under the slum clearance schemes under the Housing Acts?

Statistics as to demolitions in connection with slum schemes do not distinguish between houses and other buildings, but during the 12 months ended in September last, 1,383 properties included in such schemes were demolished.

asked the Minister of Health the capitalised value of all the subsidies payable by the Exchequer on houses in England and Wales completed, under the Housing Acts of 1923 and 1924, before 1st October, 1927?

The capitalised value of the Exchequer subsidies payable in respect of the houses in question is approximately £48,000,000.

asked the Minister of Health how many contracts have been approved and how many houses sanctioned to be built by local authorities since the subsidy was reduced at the end of September last; and whether the figures show a reduction as compared with a similar period in the year 1926?

During the months of October and November this year, 10,297 houses were authorised to be built by local authorities in connection with subsidy schemes under the Housing Acts, and contracts were let during the same period for 8,368 houses. The corresponding figures for the months of October and November, 1926, were 9,278 and 16,544 respectively.

asked the Prime Minister in view of the important developments in fuel research, if the Government will consider the advisability of granting special financial facilities for the erecton of plants for the production of oil from coal?

If my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the machinery of the Trade Facilities Act, I would refer him to the statement made on the 1st December by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to a question by my Noble Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck). I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Government are already making a substantial contribution towards research in these matters, both on the scientific and the commercial side. As soon as any process or processes are shown to be commercially practicable, I have no doubt that private enterprise will develop them without the necessity for any financial assistance from the State.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any comparable figures showing the importation into this country of foreign breeze slabs and bricks this year and in 1926, respectively?

Figures relating to the imports of breeze slabs and bricks are not compiled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities of cotton cloth sent abroad to be bleached and finished in each of the 12 months ended November last?

The following statement shows the total quantity of unbleached cotton piece-goods exported from the United Kingdom in each of the last 12 months and the quantities exported to Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France and Italy. I am unable to state what proportion of the exports to these countries may afterwards have been bleached, dyed or printed either for use in these countries or for re-export.

Quantities of grey, unbleached, cotton piece-goods, of United Kingdom manufacture, exported in each of the 12 months ended November, 1927 ( a ) to all destinations, ( b ) to Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France and Italy.

Month. ( a ). ( b ). Thousand sq. yds. Thousand sq. yds. December, 1926 67,463 15,760 January, 1927 87,278 19,540 February, 1927 83,707 17,630 March, 1927 125,351 21,990 April, 1927 115,031 18,232 May, 1927 144,960 31,002 June, 1927 117,165 20,086 July, 1927 111,571 21,675 August, 1927 115,952 24,004 September, 1927 101,393 26,966 October, 1927 93,311 26,043 November, 1927 124,096 31,891

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to how many blast furnaces the steel cartel of Europe had at its disposal; and how many were in operation at any recent date?

The following statement shows the latest par-

Country, etc. Date. Number of Blast Furnaces. Total. Of which report as in operation. Germany … … End of October, 1927 … … 192 113 France … … End of September, 1927 … … 220 141 Saar Basin … … September, 1927 … … 30 26 Belgium … … End of October, 1927 … … 56 55 Luxemburg … … Average for year 1926 … … 47 40 Austria … … Fourth quarter, 1925 … … 9 3 Czecho-Slovakia … 1924 … … 31 16

I have no information as to the number of blast furnaces in Hungary, which country is also included in the Cartel.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will supply the figures of the imports of iron and steel from France and Germany, respectively, and the nature of such imports, for the year 1913 and for each succeeding year from the beginning of 1919?

Years. Total Imports consigned from France. Total Imports consigned from Germany. Quantities. Declared Values. Quantities. Declared Values. Tons. £ Tons. £ 1913 … … … 38,800 297,600 1,207,600 8,439,800 1919 … … … 8,000 101,200 500 28,700 1920 … … … 74,700 1,238,400 31,900 1,531,000 1921 … … … 262,200 2,344,100 172,800 2,589,100 1922 … … … 157,800 1,201,600 134,000 1,951,000 1923 … … … 248,000 1,827,300 142,400 1,809,600 1924 … … … 438,900 3,002,100 337,200 3,492,500 1925 … … … 598,300 3,781,000 367,600 4,425,400 1926 … … … 625,400 3,697,100 599,400 6,086,300 NOTE.—From 1st April, 1923, the table excludes the direct imports into the Irish Free State. From 1919, trade with Alsace-Lorraine has been credited to France. From 1921, Germany excludes Memel, Dantzig, the part of Poland formerly German, part of Slesvig (now Danish) and Luxemburg.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that traders, who are compelled to

titulars available as to blast furnaces in the countries included in the International Steel Cartel, but I am unable to state how many of these blast furnaces are controlled by members of the cartel.

The following table shows the total imports of iron and steel and manufactures thereof into the United Kingdom consigned from France and Germany, respectively, in the year 1913 and in 1919 to 1926. For detailed particulars of these imports I would refer the hon. Member to the information given in Vol. II of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom for 1922 and for 1926:

deposit with the Customs authorities sums of money in respect of cameras and other optical instruments sent to this country for repair, are required to affix a stamp to the form of receipt sent when this money is returned; why such receipt stamp is required when no actual payment is made; and whether this practice has his sanction?

The Stamp Acts require that a receipt given for or upon the payment of money amounting to £2 or upwards shall bear a twopenny stamp. There are certain exemptions, but these do not apply to the case described by the hon. Member. Such a receipt is none the less chargeable with the duty if the payment is a return of money deposited, and not a settlement of a debt.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any special precautions are being taken to prevent the overcrowding of cross-Channel steamers during the Christmas holiday season, in view of the conviction on the 11th October of a company for carrying passengers 50 per cent. in ex-

The NUMBER of RECRUITS taken on strength of the British and Territorial Armies during the past five recruiting years, and the corresponding total during the five recruiting years prior to the war were as follow:— Pre-War. Post-War. Recruiting Year. Regular Army.* Territorial Army. Total. Recruiting Year. Regular Army.* Territorial Army. Total. 1908–9 … 33,897 120,593 154,490 1922–23 … 31,549 34,921 66,470 1909–10 … 26,551 45,630 72,181 1923–24 … 30,355 32,608 62,963 1910–11 … 29,592 41,289 70,881 1924–25 … 31,802 37,105 68,907 1911–12 … 30,468 61,144 91,612 1925–26 … 29,035 31,769 60,804 1912–13 … 28,230 71,938 100,168 1926–27 … 27,195 22,934 50,129 Totals … 148,738 340,594 489,332 Totals … 149,936 159,337 309,273 * Includes re-enlistments, but excludes enlistments into Colonial Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for War when and in what circumstances the licensed houses of prostitution were closed throughout the area in Germany which is in the occupation of the Allied forces?

I am informed that in the area occupied by the British Army of the Rhine there are, and have been, no licensed brothels since such occupation.

cess of their licensed complement, and also having regard to the usual rush of traffic during the holiday periods?

There is no reason to think that the ordinary means for checking and preventing overcrowding on cross-Channel steamers are insufficient, and it is not considered necessary to institute special measures for checking the cross-Channel Christmas traffic. The case to which my hon. Friend refers occurred on a summer excursion steamer in the Thames.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of recruits to the British Army, including the Territorial Army, during the past five years, and the corresponding total during the five years prior to the great War?

The information asked for is contained in the following table:

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that, although the price of wheat this year is 45s. against 58s. at the same time last year, the price of offals is now, £10 5s. per ton against £8 5s. per ton this time last year; if he is aware of the effect on British farmers caused by these high prices; and if he can state the amount to which these offals are being exported?

I am aware of the fall which has taken place in the price of wheat and the rise in the price of offals as compared with the corresponding period of last year. I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the price of offals is not necessarily determined by the price of wheat, but by the prevailing demand for offals and by their value in relation to the price of other feeding-stuffs. Taking all feeding-stuffs together, including offals, the general price level, though higher than last year, is not unduly high, the index number for November last being 41 per cent. above the pre-War level. The exports of milling offals for the first 10 months of the current year amounted to 52,000 tons, or rather under 3 per cent. of the total available supplies. This export is more than balanced by an import of 155,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of the Departmental Committee appointed by the Government of Northern Ireland to consider the transit, prices and marketing of agricultural produce; and whether he is taking steps to give effect to the particular recommendation that the detention period for Northern Ireland livestock entering ports in Great Britain should be substantially curtailed, if not cancelled altogether?

My attention had not previously been drawn to the Report referred to by my hon. Friend. The 10 hours' detention at ports of arrival in Great Britain was imposed to enable the Ministry's inspectors to examine the animals as a precaution against the introduction of disease and on humanitarian grounds to give them necessary rest, food and water after the voyage. In some cases the inspectors find that the animals do not recover from the fatigue of the crossing within the 10 hours, and further detention is necessary before they are fit to travel to inland destinations. I regret, therefore, that I cannot contemplate any reduction of the detention period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give par- rticulars to show how the beet-sugar subsidy for the seasons 1928–29 to 1930–31 will be divided between factories and growers under the new contracts recently agreed between the National Farmers' Union and the beet-sugar factories?

The price to the grower for beets delivered at established factories in each of the seasons 1928, 1929 and 1930 agreed between the National Farmers' Union and the Factories Committee is 46s. per net ton of 15i per cent. sugar content. Taking past results as a guide, the following calculation shows how the receipts of the sugar factories are related to the price which the beet grower receives for the raw material. The average extraction of sugar for the last three seasons for factories in Great Britain was 13.3 per cent. and the average sugar content in beets was 17.01 per cent. The white sugar extraction in a sugar content of 15½ per cent. would therefore be about 12.12 per cent., or about 2.4 cwts. of sugar for each ton of beet delivered to the factory.

s. d. The world price of 1 cwt. sugar at present is approximately 17 0 Add subsidy (at October, 1928-September, 1931, rates) 13 0 Add preference 4 3⅓ 34 3⅓ Amount obtained by factory on 1 cwt. of sugar after allowing for marketing charges 33 0 2.4 cwts of sugar from 1 ton of beet at 33s. 79 2 4/5ths cwt. of molasses which with subsidy gives 6 0 1 1/7 cwt. of dried pulp 5 8 90 10 The factory pays the grower for beet 46 0 Leaving the factory share of the receipts per ton of beet 44 10

This statement does not enter into the relative costs of growing beet or of manufacturing sugar.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider the formation of a committee to inquire into the sentences passed in the various courts in Scotland, particularly on first offenders and young persons?

The answer is in the negative. This subject will no doubt be considered in the Report of the Committee on the Treatment of Young Offenders in Scotland, which I expect to receive shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of, and the amount of profits made by, companies, not being private companies within the meaning of the Companies' Acts, 1908 to 1917, but which come within the scope of Section 31 of the Finance Act, 1927–28, as being companies in which the public are not substantially interested, as there defined?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the receipts from Income Tax under Schedule B in each of the last five financial years?

Under the present system of graduation and differentiation of the Income Tax, the personal allowances, deductions and reliefs are related, not to the various sources of income charged under each schedule, but to the total income of the taxpayer. Therefore the total yield cannot be divided between the respective schedules.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the districts in Glasgow where the proposed new schools in Glasgow are to be erected; and if he is aware of the urgent need for the replacing of the Greenside Street School?

The answer to the first part of the question is given in a tabular statement below. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on the 22nd November last.

Following is the tabular statement: Division of Education Area. Number of Schools. Number. Name. I Scotstoun, Yoker, Partick and Whiteinch. 8 II North Kelvinside, Maryhill Cowcaddens. 1 III Anderston and Woodside 1 IV Townhead 1 V Keppochhill, Possilpark and Springburn. 6 VI Dennistoun 2 VIII Bridgeton, Parkhead, Shettleston and Tollcross. 2 X Govanhill and Cathcart 1 XI Pollockshields, Langside and Pollokshaws. 2 XII Tradeston and Kinning Park. 1 XIII Govan, Craigton and Mosspark. 3 28

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that in connection with plans for a new girls' school at Grays, to which a hostel is attached, on 17th November the Essex County Council were notified that the Department would only approve the proposal if the charges made to the teachers residing in the hostel and the fees paid by the pupils would be sufficient to cover the cost of providing and conducting the hostel, so that no part of the cost would fall upon public funds, and that the chairman of the governors of the hostel has since reported that, arising out of an interview with the Department, he had ascertained that in calculating the grant it was not proposed to differentiate between educational purposes and the provision of the hostel; and whether he will state if the policy expressed in the original letter of the Department to the County Council has been modified?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. At the interview to which the hon. Member refers, it was explained that the Board's letter of 17th November did not imply that the Board would not countenance a loan being raised in respect of the capital cost of the hostel, but that they would expect the charges made to the teachers residing in the hostel and the boarding fee normally charged to be fixed at economic rates sufficient to cover the proportion of the loan charges attributable to the hostel. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the counterfoils of postal orders of the value of 2s. 6d. and under are no longer available for identification, and consequently the statement on the counterfoils of postal orders, namely, "quote counterfoil," is misleading; and, as the knowledge that small postal orders cannot be traced facilitates their improper use, will he undertake that, where a specific case of fraud is alleged, he will trace the postal orders in question?

My hon. and gallant Friend appears to be under some misapprehension as to the details of the procedure involved, and perhaps he would be good enough to confer with me on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the inconvenience caused to manufacturers or wholesalers by the discontinuance of the Thursday afternoon postal delivery in Norwich, and in view of representations by the local chamber of commerce, he will take steps to have this delivery reinstated as early as possible?

The delivery has been suspended since July last in order to afford the postmen a weekly half-holiday. In accordance with the usual practice, the assent of the city council was obtained, on the understanding that the arrangement should be experimental for six months. No complaint has been received other than the representations referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend; and before considering the question further, I should prefer to await the opinion of the city council at the end of the' experimental period.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the German telegraph department to accept photographs for transmission by telegraph; and whether his Department is investigating the adoption of a similar system in this country

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a similar question asked by my Noble Friend the Member for Shrewsbury (Viscount Sandon) on the 8th December.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that subscribers to the London telephone service are still experiencing a considerable amount of difficulty in getting numbers on the new Holborn automatic telephone exchange; and whether all steps are being taken by his Department to remedy the defects in the apparatus?

I am not aware that the difficulties encountered are greater than were inevitable with so complete a change in mechanism and methods of operation; and practical experience has not brought to light any serious defects in the apparatus. In order to ensure the best possible results, special attention is being given to the maintenance of all plant concerned and to the operating procedure of the staff and of subscribers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the nature of the provision for public telephoning at Chaddesly Corbett, Worcestershire, Post Office; and whether he will take steps to provide better facilities in that office?

I am aware of dissatisfaction with the arrangements referred to, and consideration is being given to the question of providing a street telephone kiosk outside the Chaddesly Corbett Post Office.