asked the Postmaster-General whether any steps are being taken to develop the possibilities of telephonic communication from railway trains in this country?

Experiments have shown that telephonic communication from railway trains is practicable; but at present the demand for such communication does not seem likely to be sufficient to justify the expense involved to the railway companies in the provision of facilities.

asked the Postmaster-General the revenue from the letter post for the financial year ending April, 1929, as compared with the year ending April, 1922, when the higher charges came into operation, and excluding Southern Ireland in the latter case so as to make the comparison exact?

Separate figures for letters alone are not available. In 1928–29 the revenue from letters, printed papers, newspapers and postcards was £30,850,000. The corresponding figure in 1921–22, excluding Southern Ireland, was £31,350,000.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of staff reductions contemplated, or that have taken place, in the telephone exchanges in the London area where automatic telephone installations have replaced the previous system?

To a considerable extent, the automatic exchanges in London are new exchanges which meet growth of work; and whilst automatic telephone installations call for the employment of fewer telephonists than manual installations, the general growth of work is such that no reduction of telephone staff has taken place or is at present anticipated.

asked the Postmaster-General in detail which are the several radio links terminating in London and New York over one of which a wire- less telephonic call despatched by the British Post Office would pass on its journey from London to Canada?

The four existing Transatlantic radio links terminating in London and New York are all available for public telephone communication between Canada and this country or the Continent of Europe. One of these links is long wave and the other three are short wave. All our transmitters are at Rugby. Long wave reception is cither at Cupar, Fifeshire, or at Wroughton, Wiltshire, the station used depending on the technical conditions at the time. The three short wave receivers are all at Baldock, Hertfordshire.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of fatal accidents in the Royal Air Force, month by month, for the year 1929?

There were 31 fatal accidents, involving 42 deaths, in the Royal Air Force during 1929. The monthly figures are given in the following table:

Fatal Accidents in the Royal Air Force during 1929.
Month.			Accidents.	Deaths.
January	…	…	2	4
February	…	…	3	4
March	…	…	2	3
April	…	…	—	—
May	…	…	5	6
June	…	…	3	4
July	…	…	5	6
August	…	…	2	5
September	…	…	2	2
October	…	…	5	5
November	…	…	—	—
December	…	…	2	3
Total	…	…	31	42

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any reason for still further delaying the scheme of reconstruction in permanent form of the officers' quarters and other Royal Air Force buildings at the Milton depot; whether he is satisfied with the present condition of these structures; and when is it intended to put the work in hand?

No scheme of reconstruction at Milton is at present contemplated. The buildings are of Wartime construction, but I am advised that, while not entirely satisfactory, the accommodation at the station is reasonably, good. In any case reconstruction must wait until financial considerations allow and more pressing needs have been satisfied.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the numbers of established and unestablished men, respectively, employed in naval armament depots and factories in 1913 and in each year since 1920?

The numbers of established and unestablished workpeople (exclusive of police and crews of naval armament vessels) are approximately as provided for in the Navy Estimates for each year, as follow:

Naval Armament Depots and Factories at Home and Abroad.
Financial Year.			Established.	Hired.
1913–14	…	…	695	4,106
1920–21	…	…	1,193	6,677
1921–22	…	…	1,290	6,314
1922–23	…	…	1,264	5,665
1923–24	…	…	1,303	5,760
1924–25	…	…	1,268	7,216
1925–26	…	…	1,232	7,758
1926–27	…	…	1,243	6,151
1927	…	…	1,227	6,559
1928	…	…	1,223	7,148
1929	…	…	1,204	7,014
1930	…	…	1,195	6,878

asked the Minister of Agriculture the conditions under which tithe rent-charge payable to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners becomes subject to remission in the same way as that payable to Queen Anne's Bounty?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to the remission of tithe rent-charge under Section 8 of the Tithe Act, 1891, where the tithe rent-charge exceeds two-thirds of the Schedule B annual value. This Section applies to all tithe rent-charge no matter who is the owner.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the views expressed in the Food Investigation Report (No. 37), issued by the Department of Scientific Research, to the effect that the present day landing of large quantities of stale fish is detrimental to the fishing industry; and whether he proposes to take any steps in restrict this practice?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave to questions by the hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. A. M. Samuel) on 24th February, copies of which I am sending to him.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the estimated amount of stale fish imported annually into this country and sold for public consumption?

It is obviously impossible to make such an estimate having regard to the number of gradations of quality between fresh and stale. I would remind the hon. Member that in the Report on the Handling and Stowage of White Fish at Sea, to which he presumably refers, it is pointed out that the term "stale' is used in the economic sense and that it does not denote that the fish is unfit for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he contemplates taking any steps to produce, in a more accessible form than the one in which it now appears, the Report by the Ministry describing in a concise and simple form how purchasers can detect if fish is not fresh?

I presume that the question refers to a Report on the Handling and Stowage of White Fish at Sea, recently published by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and that the hon. Member contemplates the issue of a leaflet directing attention to the symptoms of staleness in fish. In my opinion, the issue of such a leaflet would create a false impression in the minds of the general public with regard to the quality of fish usually exposed for sale in respect to which there is in general a high and improving standard of excellence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of horses exported for butchery to the Continent during the month of February?

According to information supplied to the Ministry's inspectors at the ports of shipment, the number of horses exported to the Continent for immediate slaughter during February, 1930, was 307.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the number of horses and ponies exported from this country to European ports for butchery slaughter during the month of November, 1929?

707 horses and ponies were, according to information supplied to the Ministry's inspectors at the ports of shipment, exported from Great Britain to European ports for immediate slaughter during the month of November, 1929.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the estimated cost of producing one acre of wheat on a rent basis of 25s. per acre?

My right hon. Friend regrets that information is not available upon which the estimated average cost of production of an acre of wheat could be calculated. Certain investigations into costs of production are carried out by the universities and agricultural colleges in the ease of a limited number of farms, but these results naturally differ according to the locality in which the farms are situated and owing to other causes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that in the next few weeks the grass seeds will be sown, with the barley, which will convert arable into grass land after this year; and whether an early statement of policy may be expedited to retain and increase arable cultivation in this country?

My hon. Friend will be aware that the agricultural question is receiving the earnest attention of the Government, and I can assure him that the considerations to which he refers are appreciated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he intends to introduce proposals to enable arable farmers to obtain a regular market and a profitable price for his product?

Proposals designed to achieve the purpose indicated by the hon. Member are being examined by the Government. I am not in a position at present to make any further statement.

asked the Prime Minister when it is intended to introduce the Government's proposals to make arable farming pay?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to him on 3rd March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount of the sugar-beet production in Scotland during each of the last seven years?

The following statement gives the tonnage of cleaned and topped sugar beet (delivered to the factories) grown in Scotland during each of the last six years. No information is available for the year 1923, in which year there were only four acres under sugar beet in Scotland.

Year.				Tons (of cleaned and topped beet).
1924	…	…	…	869
1925	…	…	…	3,833
1926	…	…	…	27,545
1927	…	…	…	53,175
1928	…	…	…	10,869
1929	…	…	…	4,061

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the manner in which fees for valuation of farms under the Agricultural Credits Act, 1928, are charged; that they have regard only to the value of a farm and not to the amount to be advanced; if he is aware that this is not in accordance with the ordinary custom with regard to private mortgages; and if he can make any alteration in this matter?

My right hon. Friend is aware of the scale of fees charged by the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation for valuations of properties, and that their fees are based upon the value of the property and not upon the amount of the mortgage loan. With reference to the last part of the question, he is informed that this practice is in accordance with the usual custom. In any event, the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation is not under State control and my right hon. Friend would not be in a position to make any alteration in the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that pig carcases are being imported into this country in a frozen state, are then cured according to English methods, and sold as English bacon; what steps he proposes to deal with the matter; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made into this practice?

My right hon. Friend is aware that it is the practice of some bacon curers to sell bacon made from imported pig carcases as "English bacon." Foodstuffs which have undergone a process of curing in the United Kingdom are expressly excluded from the operation of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926. I see no prospect of further legislation in this matter in the near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of men employed in agriculture in July, 1914, and in July, 1929?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely (Mr. de Rothschild) on 20th February, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, now that the conference of agricultural interests has met, he is in a position to announce the Government's agricultural policy?

I would remind the hon. Member that the conference of agricultural interests has not yet completed its deliberations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if it is his intention to proceed with legislation compelling the brewing of beer from hops and barley?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have recently been taken by officers of the Ministry, in consultation with the local authorities, to increase the number of allotments; and whether he can state generally the contents of the Reports he has received concerning the matter?

The District Land Commissioners of the Ministry, in the course of their ordinary duties, inspect and report on all land proposed to be purchased by local authorities for allotment purposes. During the past 12 months 41 such Reports have been received relating to an area of 490 acres. The Commissioners also inspect all land proposed to be reserved for allotments in town planning schemes, and in this connection they take into consideration the adequacy or otherwise of councils' proposals and report to the Ministry if any action is needed. Certificates as to the suitability of land proposed to be reserved for allotments were issued last year to 28 local authorities in England in respect of a total area of 1,072 acres. In addition to these routine duties the Commissioners also visit and report specially in any case where it is represented that the intervention of the Ministry is needed in the interests of allotment holders. A general indication of the contents of the Commissioners' Reports will be gathered from this answer.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many persons were employed in the coal mines, at banks and underground, respectively, during 1913, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929?

The figures are as follow:

Year.	Average Number of Persons employed at Coal Mines (excluding clerks and salaried persons).
	Surface.	Underground.
1913	200,000 (Approx.)	890,700
1925	205,000	878,700
1926*—13th March	206,800	890,000
11th December	180,400	744,200
1927	190,900	814,100
1928	176,300	745,000
1929 (provisional)	178,000	755,000
* Owing to the national dispute average figures for the year 1926 are not available.

asked the Secretary for Mines if a doctor has been detailed to study the conditions in the anthracite district of South Wales, with special reference to the increase in the number of cases of silicosis and anthracosis during recent years?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to him on 18th November, 10th December and 20th February last. Medical research is being instituted into the whole question of pulmonary disease from silica and other dusts; but I have no information pointing to an increase in the number of cases of silicosis in this particular district or any evidence of cases of disablement due to anthracosis. May I repeat again the suggestion that my hon. Friend should furnish me with the information on which the statement in the last part of his question is based.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) whether he will give information as to the number of pit-head baths in this country and South Wales, respectively; the number of mines at which there are no pit-head baths; and the number employed in those mines;

The number of pithead baths completed and in course of construction by the end of 1925 was 31 (of which 17 were provided from the Miners' Welfare Fund). The number which have been completed and put in hand since the passing of the Mining Industry Act, 1926, is 54, making a total at the present time of 85. In addition, several of the earlier installations have been considerably extended. The number of men employed at these 85 pits amounts to 121,300. The number of pits in South Wales which have baths, or for which baths are now in hand, is seven, employing a total of 9,150 workpeople. In order to give figures of any value as to the number of pits for which baths have not yet been provided, it would be necessary to exclude all those at which, for any of a variety of reasons, baths would not be a practicable or reasonable proposition, and this I am unable to do. I am not aware that any baths have laundries or repair shops attached. The views of the Miners' Welfare Committee on this subject are stated on pages 19 and 20 of their Annual Report for 1929. The weekly cost of maintenance land the proportion subscribed by owners and workmen respectively vary in each case in accordance with local conditions and arrangements, and I cannot give any general answer to this part of the question. This subject has been very fully explained by the Miners' Welfare Committee in successive Annual Reports.

asked the Secretary for Mines the pre-War and present day deductions from miners' wages that are made on account of explosives in the Northumberland coalfield?

Returns made in 1920 and 1926 showed that deductions made for explosives, lamps, tools and tool-sharpening amounted to 10d. to 11d. per week per person employed. I have no separate information for the cost of explosives alone, nor have I any comparable information for the pre-War period.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to be able to announce the decision of the Government as to conditions of test work?

I have published a draft Relief Regulation Order which makes modifications as regards the relief of the able-bodied, with the object of bringing the regulations more into relation with modern conditions. This Order embodies the views which I have arrived at provisionally as regards test work and I am not yet in a position to make any further statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health where the Poor Law children in the county of Dorset have been housed hitherto by the boards of guardians; whether he is aware that it is proposed by the public assistance committee of Dorset to place them in buildings which have been Poor Law institutions; and whether he intends to sanction this course?

I am forwarding to my hon. Friend a statement showing in detail the various means by which children in the county of Dorset are being relieved by the boards of guardians. I am aware that the proposal mentioned in the second part of his question has been put before the public assistance committee of the county, but I understand that the committee has not yet considered the matter. If the county council should submit to me any proposals on the subject which required my sanction my decision would depend upon the suitability of the premises and of the arrangements proposed.

asked the Minister of Health what will be the position of the lunacy observation wards, which at present form a part of the Poor Law infirmaries, after the Poor Law guardians have been abolished; and will they be annexed to asylums or to voluntary hospitals?

The position of the observation wards will depend mainly upon the decision of the local authority in regard to the purposes for which the infirmary will be used; but I would remind my hon. Friend that a provision is contained in the Mental Treatment Bill now before the House which will facilitate the use of these wards for mental patients.

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to his Circular 74077, Poor Relief (England), 11th February, 1930, and to the decision of the Ministry of Labour to insist on training centres for young able-bodied men in receipt of unemployment benefit, he will consider an arrangement whereby such training centres may be used both for those receiving unemployment benefit and for those in receipt of outdoor relief?

This, with other points which arise, is being considered by my Department in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a memorandum on ready-money houses, prepared by Councillor Palmer, of Norwich, and forwarded with the approval of the finance committee of the Norwich City Council; whether he notices that under this scheme the local authority is to receive interest-free money for 40 years for clearing slums and building houses, with the result that the charge per house is one-third of the cost under the present method, and houses can be let at a rent of 6s. 2d. per. week, inclusive of rates and water charges; and whether, after consultation with the Treasury, he will consider the desirability of adopting this scheme?

I have seen the proposal to which the hon. Member refers of substituting for the present method of direct Exchequer aid to local authorities a method of indirect subsidy by means of loans free of interest. I very much doubt whether it would be practicable to find such large sums of capital money out of current revenue as is suggested, but quite apart from this consideration I am of opinion that the present method of direct subsidy is preferable to the one proposed.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons are living in Devonport in houses in respect of which closing and demolition orders have been made, respectively?

I am informed that the number of persons living in Devonport in houses in respect of which closing and demolition orders have been made are 163 adults and 65 children and 95 adults and 33 children, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any statistics and can state the number of houses built by private enterprise during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date that were offered to let?

No statistics are available on the matter referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to make grants to enable urban district or county councils to provide medicated baths for the treatment of rheumatism and kindred complaints at such public baths or hospitals as may now be in existence or to erect special baths for the purpose?

I have no funds at my disposal from which grants could be made for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that more than half the parents in this country withheld their children from vaccination, he will bring before the Cabinet the question of the repeal of the Vaccination Acts?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on this subject on 12th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Freeman), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the question of the present state of the law which permits private owners of water supplies, not being private water companies, to impose onerous terms on local authorities for the acquisition of water rights; and if he will consider the introduction of legislation to enable local authorities who are placed under that position compulsorily to acquire water rights under the safeguard of arbitration?

I have this matter under consideration, and I hope to deal with it when a favourable opportunity occurs.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated total of the employers' contributions for the present year under the National Health Act and the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act?

The share payable by employers of the joint contributions under the Acts referred to is estimated at £25,400,000 for the present year.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider issuing instructions to employers on their liability to pay health and pensions contributions in respect of their employés when on holidays with pay on the lines of the Ministry of Labour leaflet U.I.L. 16?

Instructions on this matter are already contained in paragraph 12 of the official memorandum explaining the duties of employers under the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Acts. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the memorandum.

asked the Minister of Health what is the amount of relief in rates which was made in the case of the china clay industry in October, 1929?

Information as to the amount of rate-relief enjoyed by particular industries under the Local Government Act is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what countries, if any, attached to the International Labour Organisation have included other than industrial workers within the scope of any legislation or decree to ratify the Washington 48-Hours Convention; and what classes of other workers have been so included?

Of the countries that have unconditionally ratified the Convention, the following have included in their hours' legislation other classes of workers besides those employed in industrial undertakings.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps she proposes to take with regard to the representations she has received from the Bristol Employment Exchange Committee with reference to the proposed new premises in that city, urging that the plans should be expedited?

I share the view of the Bristol Local Employment Committee that it is urgently necessary to acquire a new site for the Bristol Employment Exchange. My immediate efforts are necessarily being directed to the disposal of the existing site, and I can assure my hon. Friend that I am taking a personal interest in the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women employed in the asbestos industry in Great Britain with the number insured for unemployment?

Separate statistics of the number of insured persons in the asbestos industry are not available, as that industry is included with others in the group "Textile industries not separately specified." At the population Census of 1921, the number of "occupied" persons classified as belonging to the asbestos industry in Great Britain included 2,550 males and 1,327 females, aged 12 and over.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women registered for unemployment insurance as engaged in the catering trade; and whether the figures include men and women employed as waiters?

The estimated number of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to hotel, boarding-house, restaurant and club service in Great Britain at July, 1929, was 329,260, including 112,050 men, 194,160 women, and 23,050 juveniles. These figures include persons employed as waiters.

asked the Minister of Labour the present position concerning the Channelsea instruction centre in the West Ham area; and whether its work is to continue?

The West Ham education authority have informed me that they have decided to close the junior instruction centres in their area on 31st March next. I have appealed to them

Date.				Men.	Boys.	Women.	Girls.	Total.
3rd March, 1930	…	…	…	618	27	217	49	911
4th March, 1929	…	…	…	772	34	138	53	997
5th March, 1928	…	…	…	355	28	118	28	529
7th March, 1927	…	…	…	296	32	90	36	454
1st March, 1926	…	…	…	305	39	100	44	488
2nd March, 1925	…	…	…	253	23	128	36	440

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total unemployment in rural areas at the present time?

I regret that for the reasons given in my reply to the hon. Member for Cathcart (Mr. Train) on 27th February, statistics of the total amount of unemployment in rural areas are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated average monthly income and expenditure of the Unemployment Insurance Fund based upon the present level of unemployment and under the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930?

If the present figures of unemployment were taken as an average, the estimated monthly income and expenditure of the Unemployment Fund under the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1920–1930, would be £4,780,000 and £6,110,000, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she will take to reconsider this decision, and am in negotiations with them at the present time.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men and women registered at the Employment Exchange at Oxford at the latest convenient date; and the corresponding figures for the previous five years?

The following table shows the numbers of persons on the registers of the Oxford Employment Exchange at the dates in question:steps to arrange that the Devonport Juvenile Employment Bureau is not merged with the Plymouth Employment Bureau, seeing that great inconvenience to Devonport people will be caused, particularly as the Devonport Bureau has always been well administered and fills a real want?

The Juvenile Employment Bureau at Devonport is under the control of the Plymouth local education authority who have recently informed me that they propose to close the Bureau and centralise the work for the authority's area at the premises at present used as the Plymouth Bureau. I am arranging to have the question discussed with the authority, and will bear in mind the hon. Member's representations.

asked the Minister of Labour the percentage of unemployed on the registers at the Leyton Employment Exchange and the approximate average period of unemployment of claimants?

At 17th February, 1930, the persons on the register of the Leyton and Walthamstow Employment Exchange represented 6.9 per cent. of the estimated insured population of that area. I regret that statistics of the average period of unemployment of claimants to benefit are not available in respect of individual Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour, (1) how many miners have been found employment in London and the Home counties from each of the British coalfields over the period the transference scheme has been in full operation to the end of January, 1930, or latest available month; how many of the said transferred men and boys are still employed in London and the Home counties; how many of them are now out of work in London and the Home counties; and how many have been sent home due to no employment being available for them;(2) how many miners have been transferred from each British coalfield to London and the Home counties during each of the four months October, November, December, and January last; and can she state what steps are being taken by her Department to place the miners previously transferred to London and the Home counties now unemployed in employment before transferring additional unemployed miners into these two areas?

I regret that the records kept by the Department do not enable me to give the detailed figures for which my hon. Friend asks. As regards the last part of question number 2 there is no evidence of any substantial amount of unemployment among transferred men in these areas. In any event the process of transferring further men is governed by the amount of employment available for them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is taking any steps to ascertain the number of agricultural workers out of employment?

As my right hon. Friend has already explained, no machinery exists for recording the actual number of agricultural workers out of employment and the period during which such unemployment continues. In view, however, of the prevalence of unemployment in the agricultural industry during recent months, he has taken steps to secure that local officers of the Ministry should supply as full information as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the growing practice of carrying non-certificated engineers in coast passenger steamers; whether he is aware that such engineers take a watch in full charge or the engine-room; and what steps he proposes to take, if any, to stop this practice?

A home trade passenger steamer going to sea from a port in the United Kingdom is required by law to carry a certificated engineer; the other engineers may be uncertificated. I am not aware that the practice of carrying uncertificated engineers on vessels of this class is increasing, and I do not think that there is any need for me to intervene.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of wheat and of flour imported into this country from France during the week ended 1st March; and whether such wheat and flour has had the benefit of any drawback or subsidy, direct or indirect?

192,596 cwts. of wheat and 88,923 cwts. of wheat meal and flour imported into the United Kingdom and consigned from France were registered during the week ended 1st March. These figures are probably in excess of the quantities that actually arrived at United Kingdom ports during the week in question; these arrivals are not recorded. As regards the second part of the question, I have no information whether any refund of duty was made in connection with the above quantities of wheat and flour.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of machines for use in hosiery and artificial silk which have been imported from Germany during 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928 and 1929?

The precise information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available. The table appended shows the total quantities and declared values of hosiery and knitting machinery and parts thereof imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and registered as consigned from Germany during each of the years 1925 to 1929. Particulars of machinery imported for use in the manufacture of artificial silk are not separately recorded.

Year.			Quantities.	Declared Values.
			Tons.	£
1925	…	…	342	102,404
1926	…	…	355	103,670
1927	…	…	582	128,816
1928	…	…	1,286	303,737
1929	…	…	1,536	342,569

NOTE.—The figures for 1929 are provisional.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has any information as to the proposal of the Australian Federal Government for an all-round increase in existing Import Duties from 10 to 20 per cent., and the adoption of a schedule of articles declared to be luxury articles to be heavily super-taxed or, in some cases, prohibited?

I have read certain statements in the Press, but I have no information that His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia has put forward any such proposal.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the large importations of silk goods from Czechoslovakia and other countries into British Colonies on the West Coast of Africa; if he is aware that many of these silk goods are made to registered British designs; and what action he intends to take to bring these orders back to British manufacturers?

According to the latest reports available, those for 1928, the values of silk goods imported into the three principal West African Colonies were: Nigeria, £173,917; Gold Coast, £542,936; and Sierra Leone, £23,918. Of these amounts £75,417, £331,182 and £21,104 respectively are credited to this country. My Noble Friend has not received any information as regards the designs of such goods and no action is considered necessary. I am aware that some of the goods described as imported from the United Kingdom may be of foreign origin shipped through this country.

asked the President of the Board of Education what the school-leaving age and the average size of the classes are in the elementary schools of the following countries: Belgium, England, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States of America; and the estimated and comparable figures for this country after the school-leaving age has been raised and become effective?

The school-leaving age in the countries named is as follows:

• Belgium—14.
• England—14.
• France—13.
• Germany—14.

United States of America—varies from 14 to 18 in different States, with varying provisions as to exemption in special circumstances.I have no information in regard to the school-leaving age in Russia. The information at my disposal does not enable me to give reasonably accurate and comparable figures with regard to the average size of classes in these countries. The average size in England and Wales is 36, but it is not yet possible to estimate with any degree of accuracy what the position will be after the leaving age has been raised.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Government have altered their intention of imposing a means test in connection with claims for maintenance under the Bill providing for the raising of the school-leaving age?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is yet able to state the date upon which the Second Reading of the Education (School Attendance) Bill will be taken?

My right hon. Friend can add nothing to what Has already been said in reply to questions on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware of the feeling in urban districts that non-provided schools should be treated on exactly the same basis as provided schools in respect of any extra financial outlay entailed by the raising of the school-leaving age; whether he has received any resolutions from town councils to this effect; and what action he proposes to take as a result of these resolutions?

I have received a certain number of resolutions from local authorities in the sense of the first part of the question. In regard to the last part of the question, private conversations have been taking place on the subject of the non-provided schools, but it would not be helpful for me to make any public statement at present.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that borough, county and district councillors who freely give their time for the public benefit are not exempted from jury service under the Juries Acts, 1825 to 1922; and whether he will consider the question of procuring an amendment of the law so as to exempt them from jury service so long as they serve as such councillors?

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to a similar question last Thursday.

asked the Home Secretary when the first report, for 1929, of the Betting Control Board will be issued; and whether an opportunity for its discussion will be given?

The report will be presented without any avoidable delay, but it is obvious that a little time must elapse. Perhaps the hon. Member would be good enough to renew his question after the Easter Recess if the report has not been presented meanwhile. I cannot at present state what opportunities will be available for its discussion.

asked the Home Secretary what is the total number of taximeter-cabs licensed in the Metropolitan police area; and how many of these are of British construction?

The total number of taxicabs licensed on 28th February, 1930, was 7,983. With regard to the latter part of the question, as I have explained to the hon. and gallant Member in reply to previous questions, this information is not recorded and could only be made available at very considerable expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he intends taking any action with regard to the complaints he has received from urban authorities in regard to the cost of maintenance of the roads in their areas due to the damage done to them by heavy transport vehicles, from which the said authorities receive no revenue?

I have pointed out to the urban authorities from whom I have received representations that no local authority derives any revenue directly from motor vehicles of any kind, and that on the other hand every local authority, including urban districts, will participate in the general Exchequer grant payable as from 1st April next, to which a substantial contribution is to be made from the Road Fund. Part IV of the Fourth Schedule to the Local Government Act, 1929, provides that the amount to be allocated to an urban district under Rule 1 of that Part of the Schedule per head of the population shall be five times the corresponding amount to be allocated to rural districts, and I understand that in fixing this ratio regards was had to the responsibilites of urban district councils for the maintenance of unclassified roads in their areas.

asked the Home Secretary whether, when he sanctions the use by a police authority of the employés of outside organisations to control traffic, it is stipulated that the police working week of 48 hours must be observed, and that the wages paid these men must correspond with the payments made from the police fund for their services?

No, Sir; there is not as a rule any such stipulation in the arrangements made between the police authority and the organisation concerned.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the small number of local authorities that have exercised their optional powers under the Land Registration Act, 1925, and made compulsory the registration of land on sale in their areas, he will consider the desirability of taking steps to remind them of their powers under the Act?

I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by taking the steps suggested by my hon. Friend. I have no reason to suppose that local authorities are not aware of their powers in this respect.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the total capital involved in the Harrow and Pocock Street printing establishments; and what return the profits show on this capital?

The total capital involved in the case of the Harrow works is £258,928 11s. 5d., of which £148,420 9s. 5d. represents plant and £110,508 2s. the value of the buildings. The profits for the year ended 31st March, 1929, were £80,117 18s. 4d. The total capital involved in the case of the Pocock Street works is £56,933 6s. 10d., of which £43,621 6s. 10d. represents plant, and £13,312 the value of the building. The profits for the year ended 31st March, 1929, were £6,608 13s. 5d. The figures of profit in both cases have been arrived at after charging interest on amounts advanced by the Treasury for the purchase of plant, and after deduction of the annual rent value of the buildings as assessed by the Office of Works.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Treasury now accepts advertisements for the Government pamphlet entitled, "Instructions to applicants for patents"; and, if not, for what reason?

It has recently been decided that it is undesirable on general grounds that Government forms should be used for private advertisements. Such advertisements are accordingly no longer accepted for the pamphlet to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Board of Inland Revenue has laid down that a person domiciled in a Colony who visits this country for a period of more than three months in any one year, after a first visit, is to be regarded as ordinarily resident in this country for Income Tax purposes, whether a place of abode is maintained here or not; and whether he will take steps to remove this hardship from such Colonial visitors, who will be driven if the Regulation is maintained, to curtail their visits to this country or to enjoy their holidays abroad?

The suggestion contained in the first part of the hon. Member's question must, I think, be based on a misapprehension, but, if he would care to let me have particulars of any case which he has in mind, I will cause inquiry to be made and communicate the result to him in due course. The liability to United Kingdom Income Tax of visitors from the Dominions and foreign countries was explained in a circular which was issued by the Board or Inland Revenue in February, 1929, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to a case tried at the Guildhall, on 24th February, concerning a married man who, being separated from his wife, was allowed only a single man's Income Tax abatement and was summoned by the Income Tax officials accordingly, and that their summons was dismissed; and if he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have made inquires into this case and I do not think that any action on my part is called for. The primary cause of the episode was the neglect of the taxpayer to furnish information asked for by the Revenue authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amounts due in respect of Income Tax from each company of the Hatry group now in liquidation for which the Inland Revenue appear as creditors, and the years to which such liabilities relate?

The Commissioners of Inland Revenue are debarred from giving particulars of the liability to Income Tax of individuals or companies, and I am therefore unable to give the hon. Member the information that he desires.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the receipts of the Exchequer to date this year from the Bank of England in respect of the fiduciary issue of bank notes?

The amount of these receipts will be found in the annual Finance Accounts which will be published in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether now that it is possible to treat white spirit for use in the paint trade so as to distinguish it from white spirit for any other use, he will consider the abolition of the duty on this spirit?

On my present information I am afraid that I cannot accept the hon. Member's assumption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to a proposal by the Finance Member, speaking in the Indian Legislative Assembly, to cooperate with other countries in the regulation of the supply and purchase of silver; and whether he will approach other silver-using countries to see if joint action on these lines can be arranged?

I have seen a telegraphed summary of the speech in question in which the Finance Member is reported to have offered to co-operate with other important interests in the world if they showed any desire to consider the possibility of joint action for the regulation of sales of silver in accordance with world demand. The next step appears to be for those interests to consider whether any action is practicable on the lines suggested. I do not understand why the hon. Member suggests that I should approach them.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any further statement to make concerning the railway strike on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway; and can he now state what are the present wages and hours of each class of worker on this railway?

So far as my information goes, there has been no material change in the situation since I replied to my hon. Friend on the 24th February. I have asked for a statement of the wages of the various classes of workers, but it has not yet reached me. I am sending my hon. Friend a communique issued by the Government of India regarding this strike and a memorandum containing information regarding hours of work on Indian railways.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the friction between Estonia and Lithuania; and if he proposes to take any steps through the League of Nations or otherwise with a view to bringing the matters in dispute to a satisfactory settlement?

I am aware that some displeasure has been manifested in Lithuania at the action of the Estonian State Elder in stopping at Vilna on his return from his recent visit to Warsaw; but this is obviously not a matter which calls for any action by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps have been taken under the protocol to secure a repayment by the Soviet Government of debts incurred to British nationals?

Preliminary discussions with a view to the settlement of this question are in progress.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, although, when the King of the Fijians handed over the islands to Great Britain, it was a condition that the Fijians should be protected from the liquor traffic by a system of permits or exemptions or by other means, liquor is now reaching the peoples, and an application has been or is being made for the granting of further facilities in the shape of a new licence on or near the wharf at Suva for the sale of liquor; and, in the interests of the native races, will he cause an inquiry to be made and, pending an inquiry, stay the granting of further facilities for the sale of liquor in Fiji?

The attention of the Secretary of State has not previously been drawn to the condition referred to in the first part of the question, but it is the policy of the Government of Fiji to maintain a careful watch over the issue to Fijians of permits to obtain intoxicating liquor. The Secretary of State is communicating with the Governor in the matter.