asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to make the telephone and telegraph services more popular?

The following are some of the steps which have been taken within the last two years to make the telephone and telegraph services more popular:

asked the Postmaster-General what was the total receipt from wireless licences in the year ended 31st March last; what amounts accrued in respect of this to the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Post Office, respectively, distinguishing in the case of the latter between the 12½ per cent deducted for expenses and the balance percentage; and what was the total income of the British Broadcasting Corporation from all sources during the same period; and whether he can give an estimate for the current year of similar receipts and income?

The total receipts from wireless receiving licences during the year ended 31st March, 1930, and their distribution, were as follow:

	£
Total receipts	1,537,377
Deduct 12½ per cent. (for Post Office expenses of management) …	192,172
Deduct contribution to cost of conversion of "spark" stations, etc.	6,686
	1,338,519

asked the Postmaster-General what is the total number of post offices in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; the number of Crown offices; and the number of scale-payment offices?

The total number of post offices in Great Britain and Northern Ireland is approximately 22,420–1,520 Crown offices and 20,900 scale payment offices.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will give a table showing the names of the local education authorities for higher education in the geographical county of Durham; the number of elementary school children between the ages of 9 and 11 on 31st March, 1930, in the area of each such higher education authority; the number of secondary school places and of free secondary school places, respectively, in each such area; and the proportion which the secondary school places and free places, respectively, bear to the number of elementary school children included in the second part of this question?

The following table gives the information

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will withhold his approval from the Oxfordshire Education Committee's scheme for breaking up the only undenominational school in Henley-on-Thames and transferring all scholars over the age of eight years to two Church of England schools?

The managers of the existing undenominational school at Henley are unable to remedy the defects in the premises of the school, and the education authority propose to replace it by a new council school for infants. It is proposed at the same time to carry out a reorganisation of the public elementary schools in Henley on the lines of the Hadow Report, and as this will be greatly to the advantage of the children, I see no reason to take exception to the proposal.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the increased school accommodation which will be required if the Education Bill, now before Parliament, becomes law, the Government propose to introduce proposals for meeting the expenditure in school extensions for the purpose which may be undertaken by the managers of non-provided schools?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on this question in my speech on the Second Reading of the Education Bill now before the House.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she will instruct Employment Exchanges that employment should only be offered to women workers in domestic situations in which the wages, together with the value of board and lodging received, are at least equal to the general rate of women's wages prevailing in industry?

I am afraid it would not be practicable to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion; there is in fact no general rate of women's wages. I am in sympathy, however, with my hon. Friend's view, and I should add that there are many domestic posts available in which these conditions are satisfied.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts have lost their status under those Acts by the acceptance of employment in private domestic service?

I regret that there are no data upon which it would be possible to form an estimate.

asked the Minister of Labour the average number per week of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit who automatically drop out of benefit through non-eligibility; and in how many of these cases recourse is had to Poor Law relief?

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what were the rates of remuneration and conditions of employment offered by the Dunoon Employment Exchange to unemployed married men on work under the Forestry Commission; and whether refusal to accept such employment has been made a reason for the refusal of claims for benefit?

Vacancies were notified for a number of men to undertake work at Benmore; wages £2 2s. 11d. per week, with the deduction of 6s. per week for attendance if staying in a bothy; this was later amended by the offer of accommodation in a bothy without attendance, free of charge. The married men who were offered this employment declined to accept it. Their cases were referred to the court of referees, who allowed the claims understand the payment of benefit was not interrupted. The vacancies were subsequently filled by single men.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of British musicians out of employment in this country and the number of alien musicians at present in employment here?

At 27th October, 1930, there were 3,417 applicants for employment as musicians registered as wholly unemployed at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain, including 2,662 men and 755 women. I am unable to say how many of these were of British nationality. I have no information as to the number of alien musicians at present in employment in this country.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of married women on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the Tyneside area now receiving benefit, and the number a year ago?

At 13th October, 1930, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 2,505 married women claimants for benefit on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the Tyneside area. Corresponding figures are not available for October, 1929.

Months			Persons insured under the Unemployment insured Act who are unemployed and holding Card U. I. 40 issued by an Employment Exchange.	Wives and dependent children of persons shows in column 2.	Total
(1)			(2)	(3)	(4)
April, 1930	…	…	88	251	339
May, 1930	…	…	63	186	249
June, 1930	…	…	44	127	171
July, 1930	…	…	50	151	201
August, 1930	…	…	54	161	215
September, 1930	…	…	64	163	227

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have considered what would be the effect on unemployment, if any, of the removal by statute of all persons from remunerative occupations who are now in receipt of a reasonable amount of pension or retiring allowance; if so, will he state the results; and, if not, will he cause such an inquiry to be made and issue a report thereon?

From such inquiries as have already been made by the Government, I am satisfied that such a proposal would be administratively impracticable.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she can give any information as to the effects in Darlington of the amended Unemployment Insurance Acts as regards the increase in the number now registered at the Employment Exchange and the decrease in the number now receiving Poor Law assistance?

The average numbers of persons on the registers of the Darlington Employment Exchange were:

April, 1930	…	…	2,982
May, 1930	…	…	3,061
June, 1930	…	…	3,222
July, 1930	…	…	3,351
August, 1930	…	…	3,972
September, 1930	…	…	4,485

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health has furnished the following statement regarding the number of unemployed insured persons in the Darlington county borough in receipt of outdoor relief:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, if his attention has been called to the work of the Midland Re-afforesting Association in the Black Country prior to the War; and whether it is proposed, in connection with the unemployment problem, to plant areas in this district with proper protection against damage?

The Forestry Commissioners are aware of the work of the Midland Re-afforesting Association, which was mainly with a view to improve the amenities of the Black Country. The Association has been wound up. It is not proposed to extend afforestation operations to this district which is unsnitable for the purpose.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the British Government have as yet replied or are about to reply to the questionnaire sent out by the International Labour Office last August regarding the proposed revision of the Night Work Convention in respect to a distinction to be made between working women and women employed in a supervisory capacity, and, secondly, regarding the question of the beginning and end of the period during which the employment of women is prohibited; and if she will inform the House what reply has been sent or is intended to be sent?

His Majesty's Government propose to reply to the questionnaire, but the terms of the reply have not yet been settled.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any estimate has been formed by her Department of the effect upon the average earnings of railway workers of the proposals for wage reduction and reorganisation of duties put forward by the management of the four group railways?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will ask the British Ambassador to make inquiries concerning certain decrees of the Hungarian Government giving detailed instructions for the manufacture and dumping of a large number of commodities?

My right hon. Friend has no information regarding the decrees said to have been issued by the Hungarian Government, but he is prepared to make inquiries of His Majesty's representative at Budapest.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any information concerning the evidence included in a petition by Mr. Ochmann to the League of Nations; what was the nature of that evidence; and whether it will be used in any further examination of the petition?

Mr. Ochmann, in July last, received from the Polish Government permission to resume his legal functions, the refusal of which was the cause of his petition. In view of this settlement of the question raised in the petition, there was no necessity for the Council of the League of Nations to consider further the points to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Home Secretary the number of voluntary homes or institutions containing children and young persons which are not open to inspection; and what is the total population of such places?

I regret that I am unable to give the information asked for by my hon. Friend. The Child Adoption Committee, in its third and final report issued in 1926, drew attention to the fact that this information was not available, and recommended amendments of the Children Act which will be incorporated in the Children Bill now being prepared.

asked the Home Secretary when he proposes to authorise the issue of a standard manual of instructions and advice for the use of police officers throughout the country?

An instruction book is in course of preparation, but I regret I cannot say as yet when it will be ready for issue.

asked the Home Secretary if it is proposed to proceed with the erection of the police college at an expenditure of £150,000; and whether he has received any communication from the county borough of Wolverhampton protesting against the expenditure?

A scheme for the institution of a police college is before me, and I have received a number of representations on the subject, including a resolution from the watch committee of Wolverhampton. I am satisfied that there is a real need for some such institution, but I shall not arrive at any decision to adopt this or any other scheme until I am more fully informed as to the views of police authorities, chief officers of police and others who are concerned, and have considered the problem in all its bearings.

asked the Secretary of State for War the numbers of warrant officers and staff quartermaster-sergeants, respectively, serving in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in July, 1914, in each of the following sections: armament artificer section, armourers' section, clerks' section, storemen's section, and artisans' section and the total strength of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1930, together with the numbers of warrant officers, Class I and Class II, respectively, serving in each of the following sections: armament artificer section, armourers' section, clerks' section, artisans' section, and storemen's section?

The regimental establishment of warrant officers and staff quartermaster-sergeants of the Army Ordnance Corps in 1914 was:

—	Warrant officers.	Staff Quartermaster Sergeant
Armament Artificer Section.	25	82
Armourer Section	27	64
Store Section (comprising Clerks, Store men and Artisans.	94	42

The present regimental establishment of warrant officers Class I and Class II of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps is:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total number of lieutenants (ex-mate) and mates who are drawing less pay per annum than ex-cadet officers junior to them under the revised pay regulations of 19251?

The number of lieutenants (ex-mate) is 15. The reply as regards mates is "none," since the pay of mates exceeds that of sublieutenants on either scale.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, as the last four out of five lieutenant-commanders (ex-mates) promoted to commander were serving in flagships or temporary flagships, recommendation from personal observation by a flag officer is necessary for promotion or whether officers serving in other vessels are on an equal footing with those in flagships.

A recommendation from personal observation by a flag officer is not necessary for promotion. Officers serving in other vessels are on an equal footing with those in flagships.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the present position with regard to the concession for minerals held by the Chartered Company in the Bechuanaland Protectorate; whether the Bamangwato tribe have recently had another new offer made to them; and, if so, what decision has been come to in the matter?

I have been asked to reply to this question. As explained in the reply given by my hon. Friend the Tinder-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, in answer to a number of questions addressed to him on this subject on 19th February last, there has been discussion recently as to the grant of a revised concession to the British South Africa Company in substitution for that granted by Chief Khama in 1893. Information has, however, now been received that the Bamangwato tribe have decided to give the British South Africa Company formal notice of the termination of the 1893 concession.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how the cost of the proposed bridge over the Zambesi river is to be met; whether the Portuguese Government has been invited to take part in making the necessary advance of money; whether any arrangement has been come to for handing over the bridge to the Portuguese Government at a later period; and, if so, for what consideration?

The cost is met by the Central Africa and Trans-Zambesia Railway Companies out of funds provided from the East African Guaranteed Loan. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The concession for the bridge granted to the Central Africa Railway Company provides for handing over the bridge to the Portuguese Government without consideration after a period of 99 years dating from the grant of the concession on 10th July, 1912.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is intended that the interest payable in respect of the cost of the bridge over the Zambesi river is to be met by raising the railway freights upon goods; arid whether, considering the effect of the great fall in commodity prices upon the traffic receipts between Beira and Nyasaland, he will take steps to provide for suitable rebates upon railway freights in order to stimulate the production of commodities in that Colony?

The freight charges proposed for the Zambesi bridge are likely to involve, in the case of certain classes of high-priced goods, an increase of the present freight charges between Nyasaland and Beira, but a decrease in the case of certain low-priced commodities, some of which it is difficult to export under present conditions. Further, risks and delays will be greatly decreased. When the bridge is approaching completion the question of the grant of rebates, with the object mentioned by the hon. Member, will be a matter for the board of the new company, Nyasaland Railways, and of the Trans-Zambesia Railway Company, on which the interests of Nyasaland are represented by Government directors.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average cost to-day of a parlour and kitchen and three-bedroom type of dwelling-house for erection in the area of Berkshire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire and in the area of Yorkshire; and what are the comparable figures for 1925 and 1920, respectively?

The available figures as to costs do not differentiate between different types of parlour houses, but the parlour houses built by local authorities with State assistance are normally of a three-bedroom type. The average cost of a parlour house during the six months ending 31st October, 1930, was £394 in the area of Berkshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, and £366 in the area of Yorkshire. The corresponding figures for the year 1925 are £500 and £496 respectively. Comparable figures for the year 1920 are not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any information as to the progress of the work of the clinic for the treatment of rheumatism established by the British Red Cross Society; and if he is taking any steps to encourage the establishment of similar institutions in other localities?

I understand that this clinic is making satisfactory progress. I am always prepared to consider any schemes put forward by local authorities or otherwise for the treatment of rheumatism.

asked the Minister of Health whether the number of mentally deficient persons in this country has increased in recent years; if so, to what extent; and what is his present estimate of their number?

During the last five years the total number of mental defectives ascertained by local authorities under the Mental Deficiency Act has increased from 48,778 to 71,439 (Le. from 1.29 to 1.81 per 1,000 of the total population of England and Wales). The ascertainment is not complete and results vary in different areas. In these circumstances, it is impossible to say whether the number of defectives is increasing in proportion to the total population, or to frame a conclusive estimate of the present number; but in certain areas the ascertainment by local authorities has reached five per 1,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether any deaths occurred amongst the small-pox cases quoted in columns A, B, C, and D of the report of the chief medical officer; and, if so, what was the number, also the ages, in each class, respectively?

Thirteen deaths occurred among the small-pox cases tabulated on page 70 of the report of the chief medical officer of my Department for the year 1929. These deaths, following the classification adopted in the tabular statement, were distributed as follow:Column A (successfully vaccinated).—Three deaths of persons aged 14, 34 and 42 years respectively.Column B (successfully revaccinated).—No deaths.Column C (unvaccinated).—Nine deaths of persons aged three days, three weeks, one month, eight months, two, nine, 13, 37 and 63 years respectively.Column D (vaccinal condition doubtful). —One death of a person aged 74 years.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is yet in a position to state the approximate cost of providing a national maternity service covering the services of a doctor, midwife, and anesthetic administration, or, if not, when will this information be available?

I regret that it is not possible to give even an approximate date by which this information is likely to be available.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the continued occurrence of deaths from post-vaccinal encephalitis and other post-vaccinal diseases, notwithstanding the changes which were made in the method of vaccination on 1st October, 1929, he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation at an early date to repeal the compulsory Clauses of the Vaccination Acts, particularly in view of the fact that for many years past vaccination has been a greater cause of death amongst children than small-pox?

I have under consideration the whole subject of vaccination, but I cannot in present circumstances undertake to introduce legislation dealing with this question.

asked the Minister of Health what is the accommodation of the three casual wards that have been closed in Berkshire, at Abingdon, Faringdon, and Hungerford; what are the distances from each of these wards to the next nearest in each direction; and what is the accommodation in each of the latter before and since the closing of the other wards?

In answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question, none of the three wards he mentions is at present closed, but the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Joint Vagrancy Committee have applied for my permission to close the wards at Abingdon and have stated their intention to apply at a later date for sanction to the closure of the wards at Faringdon and Hungerford. The only matter, therefore, before me at present is the closure of the Abingdon wards. The accommodation at Abingdon, which is unsatisfactory, is for 14 casuals. The nearest wards are Oxford, 6 miles to the North, with accommodation for 90; Wallingford, 10½ miles to the South-East, with accommodation for 60; and Wantage, 9 miles to the South-West, with accommodation for 40. I should, however, point out to my hon. Friend that Abingdon does not lie on the direct route between any of these three places. I have no reason to believe that the closure of the Abingdon wards would entail additional pressure at any of these three wards.

asked the Minister of Health which vagrancy committees have established training centres for casuals or are in course of doing so?

I am not aware that any of the recently constituted joint

Number of persons in receipt of poor relief on Saturday, 25th October, 1930.		Average number of persons in receipt of domiciliary relief doing the month of October, 1930.	Average weekly amount of relief in money and kind paid during the month of October, 1930, to persons in receipt of domiciliary relief.
Institutional Relief.	Domiciliary Relief.
			£
2,302	8,894	8,824	2,660

The corresponding figures for 1928 and 1929 cannot be given as prior to 1st April, 1930, the figures related to a union area the boundaries of which were not coterminous with those of the county borough.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider a revision of the present method of charging approved societies for regional medical and dental services, in view of the fact that some approved societies are utilising these services to a much greater extent than others, thus causing inequalities in the charges on the funds of the several societies?

I do not think any revision of the present method of charging approved societies is required; the services in question are equally available to all societies and proper recourse to vagrancy committees have themselves yet established, or have under consideration the establishment of, training centers for casuals. All the 18 committees have in their statutory orders power to subscribe toward the maintenance of any institution calculated to render useful aid in the administration of the relief of casuals.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of poor relief, and its cost, in West Ham at the last convenient date, and similar information for approximately the same date in 1928 and 1929?

The following statement gives the desired information for the county borough of West Ham on the latest date for which information is available:these services is desirable in the interests of good administration. The point to which my hon. Friend calls attention is, in my opinion, sufficiently met by the payment by the society of a. fee for each case referred.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that applicants in England and Wales have been refused pensions on the ground that the reference to entry into insurance in Section 5 (a) of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, means the last entry into insurance, whereas in Scotland such reference has been held to mean the original entry into insurance; and whether, in view of these conflicting rulings, he will introduce legislation at an early date to define the position in accordance with the interpretation adopted in Scotland?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have to-day given to the hon. and gallant Member for Banff (Major Wood) on the same subject.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the recent sinking of the s.s. "Continental Freighter," and that several of the crew, including fireman George Henry Saunders, of 6, Central Street, Landport, Portsmouth, went down with the ship leaving a widow and two Children of 13 and five years of age; and if, pending the grant of a widow's pension, he can make some money advance to the widow, who is in straitened circumstances?

Up to the present no claim for a widow's pension appears to have been received from Mrs. Saunders, and until such a claim is received and investigated it is not possible to determine whether Mrs. Saunders is entitled to a pension. It is obviously in Mrs. Saunders' interests that her claim should be made without avoidable delay. I have no funds at my disposal from which assistance can be given in such cases.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the equity of making the provisions of Section 123, Sub-sections (1), (2), (3), and (4), and the Eighth Schedule of the Local Government Act, 1929, apply to such members who elect to relinquish their paid appointments in order to remain members of such county and county borough councils?

This proposal would require legislation, and it does not appear to me that such an extension of the Section as is contemplated could be justified.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the representations from county boroughs urging the amalgamation of the East and West Suffolk County Councils; and, if so, what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received a resolution from one town council but no representations from a county borough council. The matter is one for the county councils, and I have no power to act unless an application is made to me.

asked the Minister of Health what reply he has made to the request of the local authority representatives of West Ham, East Ham, and the Essex County Council, asking that the period of certain loans should be extended for 20 years; and whether he has sanctioned such extension?

The period for the repayment of the loans is fixed at 15 years by Section 114 of the Local Government Act, 1929, and I have no power, therefore, to sanction any extension.

asked the Minister of Health the present value to West Ham of the remission of interest for 15 years on the loan debt of the late West Ham guardians provided under Section 114 of the Local Government Act; and what this remission of interest and the spreading of the repayment of the loans for a period of 15 years instead of over the shorter period ending in July, 1936, within which such loans were formerly repayable, taken together, would be if expressed at a rate for the parishes which were comprised in the late Poor Law union?

The present value of the remission of interest for 15 years which has been granted under Section 114 of the Local Government Act, 1929, in respect of the portion of the loan debt of the late West Ham board of guardians falling to be dealt with under that Section is about £500,000. The present value, included in this sum, of the remission, so far as it applies to the County Borough of West Ham alone, is about £186,000. The remission of interest and the spreading (also provided for in Section 114) of the repayment of the above-mentioned portion of the loan debt of the late board of guardians over a period of 15 years instead of over the shorter period ending in July, 1936, within which that portion of the debt was formerly repayable, taken together, would, if expressed as an annual rate, be equivalent to about 1s. 0½d. per £ for the parishes which were comprised in the late Poor Law union, for each unexpired year of the period within which the loans were originally payable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of the year 1928–29, the total amount of the grants paid to local authorities in England and Wales for each of the following services, viz., grants made on the recommendation of the University Grants Committee; intermediate education (Wales); London Fire Brigade; registration of electors (compilation of registers and printing of registers); grants from the Consolidated Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Tithe Rent Charge (Rates) Act, 1899, and the Tithe Act, 1925?

The amount of the grants for 1928–29 to local authorities for each of the services named in the question was as follows:

	£
Grant made on the recommendation of the University Grants Committee (Manchester College of Technology)	13,000
Intermediate Education (Wales)	29,008
London Fire Brigade	10,000
Registration of Electors (compilation and printing of registers)	307,321
Grants under the Tithe Rent Charges (Rates) Act, 1899, and the Tithe Act, 1925	640,000

asked the Minister of Agriculture what institutions for the promotion of veterinary science exist in the United Kingdom other than the Royal Veterinary College; whether his attention has been called to the danger that the college may have to close down for want of financial support; and whether, to avert this, he is able to offer more help than he has hitherto promised?

Besides the Royal Veterinary College, the following institu- tions in Great Britain provide veterinary education: Liverpool University, the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College, Edinburgh, and the Glasgow Veterinary College. In addition, the University Department of Animal Pathology at Cambridge, the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Laboratory at Weybridge, and the station of the Scottish Animal Diseases Research Association, near Edinburgh, exist for the purpose of research in animal diseases. I am fully acquainted with the financial position of the Royal Veterinary College. As the hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware, the Government have offered to the college on certain conditions a grant of £150,000 towards a scheme of reconstruction costing £250,000, and are further prepared to contemplate an increase of the present maintenance grant when the reconstruction is completed. I sincerely trust that, with the help which the college may be able to obtain from other sources, these grants will be sufficient to avert the closing down of the college, an event which I should deeply deplore.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress is being made with respect to the experiments being carried on in connection with the flax-growing industry?

The Flax Industry Development Society, which acts as the agent of the Ministry and the Government of Northern Ireland for the development of flax-growing and fibre production in England, made contracts for the past season amounting to 1,200 acres, as compared with 600 acres in 1929 and 300 acres in 1928. Notable progress has been made in the quality of flax produced, and there will be further improvement as increased quantities of the most suitable seed become available, and as the growers gain experience in handling flax. The two factories at Bunford and Lopen, in Somerset, have recently been enlarged and improved and the most modern machinery installed. It is hoped that the industry can be placed upon a permanent footing in this country, and these experiments are being conducted with that end in view.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many local and drainage authorities have made representations as to the difficulties of marking the geographical boundaries of the catchment areas?

Six authorities have made such representations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the largest number of families successfully supported on any 300-acre farm in Essex recently converted to smallholdings; and the name and location of any such farm?

The 300 acre farm to which I referred in my speech on the Second Reading of the Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Bill is at Boxted, about three miles from Colchester which, as I stated, had formerly one farmhouse and three cottages but is now supporting 51 families on smallholdings. Inadvertently I said it was established last

STATEMENT showing the Volume of Exports (Domestic Merchandise) of the undermentioned countries, expressed as percentages of 1924 for each of the years 1913, and 1924 to 1929; and the respective monthly average values for the first nine months of 1930, expressed as a percentage of the corresponding monthly average value for 1929.
(Based mainly on figures published by the League of Nations in the Memorandum on International Trade and Balances of Payment).
Country.			Index numbers of Volume of Exports.							Average Monthly Percentage, January—September, 1930.
			1913.	1924.	1925.	1926.	1927.	1928.	1929.
										Monthly Average 1929 = 100.
United Kingdom	…	…	131 (a)	100	99	89	102	105	108	81
Germany (b)	…	…	197	100	129	143	149	169	187	90
(c)	…	…	—	—	136	153	157	188	199	90
France	…	…	75	100	102	(d)	(d)	(d)	(d)	87
Belgium	…	…	No information.							83
Italy	…	…	72	100	111	110	97	95	106	81
Czechoslovakia	…	…	—	100	110	111	121	127	(d)	83
Sweden	…	…	107	100	107	108	126	115	(d)	85
Denmark	…	…	75	100	99	105	124	130	126	95
Netherlands	…	…	No information.							89
Norway	…	…	94	100	105	110	113	116	134	94
NOTE.—The percentages in the last column are based on Values, no account being taken of price changes. The only countries for which information on a volume basis is available for the first nine months of 1930 are the United Kingdom and Germany, for which the respective percentages are 84·4 and 96·6, as compared with the corresponding period of 1929.
(a) Based upon a comparison of the trade of the British Isles as a whole in 1913 and 1924.
(b) Excluding the value of deliveries on account of Reparations, the value of which in 1924 is not available.
(c) Including the value of deliveries on account of eparations—not included in the base year, 1924.
(d) Not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the approximate volume of exports, namely, values after eliminating changes in price, expressed as percentages of 1924, of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, respectively, for the years 1913, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929; and of the monthly averages for each of the same countries for the first nine months of 1930, expressed as a percentage of the monthly average for 1929.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 26th November, 1930; col. 1338, Vol. 245, supplied the following statement:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the refusal of the Commissioners of Crown Lands to recommend a grant to the Amalgamated Slate Association, Limited, and that this refusal involves the placing of approximately 300 men permanently out of employment; and whether, in view of their circumstances, he will make recommendations to the Commissioners to reconsider their decision?

The Commissioners of Crown Lands are aware of the misfortunes which have befallen certain quarries in Carnarvon, which have been worked for many years by the Amalgamated Slate Association, Limited, but while they deplore the unemployment caused by the closing of these quarries, they regret that they have no power under their Statutes to accede to the company's request for a grant.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the amount charged to workmen on their smallholdings for outbuildings; and whether the rent charged by the Commissioners for their houses to the workmen is inclusive of rates or whether the Commissioners call upon the workmen to pay the local rates?

An inclusive rent is charged for forest workers' holdings including house, outbuildings if any and land. If outbuildings are added to holdings already let, the rent is increased by an amount not exceeding 6 per cent. on the outlay. The rent does not include local rates for which the tenants are liable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the specific economies which have been effected as a result of the continuous examination of State expenditure which is engaging the attention of himself and his Department?

It would obviously be impossible for me to deal adequately with this matter within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the present value, in terms of purchasing power, of each of the principal classes of security comprised in the National Debt compares with its value at the time when the indebtedness which it represents was incurred?

Owing to the very numerous conversions which have taken place, I fear that it is impracticable to make the calculations for which the hon. and gallant Member asks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the public debt per head in this country, and in France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy?

I regret that owing to the difficulty of capitalising the various obligations for inter-Government War debts and reparations, both as debts and credits, a significant comparison could not readily be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of increasing old age pensions at 65 by 5s. per week assuming that the State paid the whole increase?

The cost of increasing old age pensions by 5s. a week, with a consequential increase in the widows' pensions between 65 and 70 by a similar amount, would be £27,750,000 rising to over £37,500,000 in 10 years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that, as a result of Rule 8 of Schedule A, Income Tax Act, 1918, and according to the Inland Revenue officials, a lessee of vacant leasehold property has no legal right to a reduction of tax from annual ground rent paid to a lessor, whether such lessor be the Crown or a private person, nor has a lessee a legal right to a deduction of such ground rent from his own income in arriving at his assessable income for taxation, and that as a consequence the lessee is made to pay tax on a sum in excess of his real income because the rule referred to provides that a lessor is obliged to allow deduction of such tax only on the production of a Schedule A receipt, which is impossible because on vacant property yielding no income no Income Tax is payable; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation in the coming Finance Bill to meet the specific grievance thus existing?

I am aware that the difficulty to which the hon. Member has drawn attention, occasionally arises. It is closely connected with the general question of deduction of tax on payment of rents, which is under consideration by the Committee engaged in codifying the Income Tax law, and I cannot undertake at present to introduce legislation specifically directed to this single point.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer Whether he has under consideration proposals for checking the present fall in commodity prices by readjustment of the part played by gold in international payments or otherwise?

The implications of the hon. Member's question raise difficult issues ranging far beyond this country. I fear that we need in the first instance more general agreement between authorities in all important countries both as to the causes of the recent fall in world prices and as to the extent to which that fall can be and should be counteracted by monetary adjustments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Colonial Stock Act and the question of trustee securities is under his consideration; and whether he has any announcement to make or does he contemplate altering or removing restrictions at present imposed on trustees?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. A. M. Samuel) on 11th November, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons in Great Britain enjoy a net income of over £5,000 a year after the deduction of Income Tax and Surtax; what is the total amount of such net incomes; and what are the comparable figures for a convenient pre-War year?

; The hon. and gallant Member will find in the annual reports of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue statistics of the distribution of the incomes of Surtax payers showing in particular the numbers of individuals and the aggregate income assessed in each range of income. No statistics are compiled of the net income remaining after payment of Income Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that until the question of War Debts has been dealt with trade cannot be expected to revive, His Majesty's Government proposes to initiate a conference of the world's economists and bankers with a view to examining thoroughly the whole question?

No, Sir. The views of His Majesty's Government on this subject of War Debts are well known and need no reiteration. I do not think any useful purpose would be served by the action proposed by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the pre-War service of pre-War pensioners in His Majesty's Navy and Marines who served during the Great War is now reckoned for qualifying service for retired pay and pensions, whereas the pre-War service of pre-War Army pensioners who became officers in His Majesty's Army during the Great War is not so reckoned; and whether, having regard to the circumstance that the conditions of service and pay of both branches of the service during the War were identical, he proposes to take steps to secure uniformity in principle as re- gards pensions payable for pre-War service to officers in His Majesty's Navy, Marine, and Army, respectively?

The claims of Army pensioners who became officers during the Great War were considered by the Barnes Committee in 1924. The committee's report was adopted by the House of Commons after debate on 27th May, 1925, and I am not prepared to re-open the question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, on his own initiative, enforces prompt compliance with and takes proceedings to punish infringements of the Assurance Companies Act, 1923?

Yes, Sir, acting as Industrial Assurance Commissioner under the Industrial Assurance Act, 1923.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the cost to date of the Royal Commission on Licensing Laws; and what it is estimated to cost by the time its deliberations are concluded?

The expenditure to date in respect of the Royal Commission on Licensing (England and Wales) is approximately £10,000. I understand that it is not yet possible to forecast with certainty when the Commission will conclude its labours. An estimate of the total cost is not therefore possible at this stage.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the amounts of the present grants of money per annum from His Majesty's Government for the carrying out of research work entailing vivisection experiments on animals; and whether he has the figures of such grants from the local authorities

It is not possible to analyse the expenditure from Government or local authority funds on grants for research so as to isolate the expenditure on research work involving animal experiments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that he has received advice from representatives of the Dominions at the Imperial Conference to the effect that the horsepower tax on motor vehicles had not prejudiced the British motor export trade, he is willing to receive a deputation of British motor manufacturers so as to ascertain their views on the matter as well?

The Government have always been willing to consider altering the formula governing the taxation of private motor cars, provided that the alteration did not lead to a loss of revenue, and was agreed among the interests concerned. Unless there are any proposals, consistent with these conditions, which manufacturers now wish to bring forward, I do not think any useful purpose would be served by a deputation.

asked the Minister of Transport what schemes in respect of road work have been submitted by the Plymouth City Council to his Department for assistance from the Road Fund since June, 1929; the estimated cost; which have been approved; and how much the grant has been in each case?

Eight schemes of road improvement works have been submitted by the Plymouth City Council to my Department for assistance from the Road Fund since June, 1929, estimated to cost about £275,000. Six of these have been approved for grant from the Road Fund, details of a bridge improvement are awaited from the city council and in respect of another scheme the council has been advised to apply to the Unemployment Grants Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport under what power the Southern Railway Company imposes a charge on persons; and whether, in the public interests, steps can be taken to secure free passage over the level crossing at Warn-ham Station for the use of which the railway company at present imposes a charge?

I am not aware of the circumstances in which the railway company make a charge for the use of this crossing. I will, however, communicate with the company in the matter, and inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Prime Minister what steps the Government intend to take to carry out his assurance that there would be no reduction of wages of miners consequent upon the coming into operation of the new Mines Act?

My hon. Friend is mistaken. No such assurance was given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the names of the members of the committee recently set up to inquire into the question of granting certificates of airworthiness to civil aircraft, when this committee first met, and how frequently meetings have since taken place?

The committee consists of the following members:Representing the Air Ministry:Air Commodore F. V. Holt, C.M.G., D.S.O. (Chairman).Lieut.-Colonel H.W. S. Outram, C.B.E.Mr. R. L Megarry, O.B.E.Mr. W. W. Burkett, M.C.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will give an undertaking that, until the Royal Commission on the Civil Service present their report on their case, no ex-service P-class or temporary salaried officer of the Ministry of Pensions shall be brought below the salary grouping in operation in respect of each member of this class at the date of the presentation of their case to the Royal Commission?

I have informed representatives of the permanent unestablished and temporary salaried officers that the recurring redundancy in the staff of the Ministry as a whole renders some reductions in the grading of these officers inevitable. While downgrading will be reduced to the minimum possible, I regret that I cannot undertake to maintain officers in grades which are no longer justified by the responsibilities of the duties to be performed.