asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of imports and exports, respectively, dealt with at the port of Goole in 1913, 1920 and each year up to and including 1929?

The following table shows the total declared value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United Kingdom at the port of Goole (including Blacktoft) during each of the years 1913 and 1920 to 1929:

asked the President of the Board of Trade in respect of what goods, and by what countries, export bounties or subsidies are paid?

I would refer to the answer given on 10th November to the hon. Member for Blackpool (Sir W. de Frece), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. Some information in regard to subsidies on cotton goods was given yesterday in reply to a question put to my right hon. Friend by the hon. Member for Lancaster (Mr. Ramsbotham), and I am also sending the hon. Member a copy of this.

asked the Minister of Health the number of valuations for the third quinquennial period which have been issued to approved societies up to the last convenient date; what is the approximate insured membership covered by such valuations; how many societies are shown to be in deficiency; and how many societies, with approximate membership, have been compelled to reduce or abandon additional benefits consequent upon reduction of State grant under the provisions of the Economy Act, 1926?

On the third valuation, 4,907 reports have so far been issued in respect of approved societies and branches in England and Wales, the number of members concerned being about 4,150,000. In 176 of these cases with 135,000 members the valuation shows a deficiency. No information is available on the point raised in the last part, of the question. In practically all cases, however, in which the disposable surplus was insufficient to maintain the existing additional benefits the valuers reported an experience of heavy claims for benefit; accompanied frequently by a serious loss of contributions resulting from abnormal unemployment. It is thus evident that in these eases the reduction of the State grant is only one element, and not the primary one, in the position shown by the valuations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the use of chemical dyes in connection with the manufacture of explosives, he has called for an opinion from technical officers of his Department as to the position which will be created by the lapsing of the Dyestuffs Act?

I can assure the hon. Member that this aspect of the matter was not lost sight of when the decision of His Majesty's Government was arrived at.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of civilian employés, male and female, discharged from War Department establishments at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, between 1st January, 1930, and 8th November, 1930, other than those discharged on reaching age limits, on medical grounds, or cases of transfer from one War Department establishment at Woolwich to other Government establishments at Woolwich or elsewhere, for misconduct or unsuitability, and excluding deaths or resignations?

The figures are: Non-industrials, 20; industrials, 135. These figures include discharges of casual labour taken on for temporary jobs, some of whom may have been re-engaged at a later date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount payable to members of the county councils in Scotland in respect of the personal, travelling, &c., expenses, and time allowances claimed since the date when the new county councils began to function, and giving the total amount for each county in Scotland?

The following table gives the information desired for the period from 16th May to 31st October as far as it is available. In counties which are not mentioned in the table the payments, if any, that will fall due have not been finally ascertained. In these cases a further return will be asked for and the result will be communicated in due course to the hon. Member. Any corrections in the table due to further payments in respect of the period will be notified at the same time.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that lieutenant-commanders, ex-mates, have recently been promoted to commanders at three years seniority, he will consider reducing the lower limit of the zone from three to two years, as it was from December, 1926, to December, 1929, to enable these officers to be in the zone for 12 months prior to promotion, and thus get three half-yearly recommendations sent in instead of one, i.e., at two years, at two and a-half years, and at three years seniority?

As I stated in my reply of 5th November to my hon. Friend OFFICIAL REPORT, col. 835–6] the point of this suggestion is not clear. Officers are not selected for promotion only on the basis of the number of recommendations received whilst they are within the promotion zone, as seems to be implied in the question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the practice of His Majesty's dockyard at Gibraltar of declining to undertake repairs to merchant vessels which did not necessitate dry docking and could be performed by local ship-repairing firms has been departed from; and, seeing that this departure is contrary to the practice of all other Admiralty dockyards, whether he will direct that the usual Admiralty practice will be reverted to in Gibraltar?

The policy now being followed at Gibraltar Dockyard as regards repairs to merchant ships was introduced by the late Government. I understand it is welcomed by the Colony and the shipping firms chiefly concerned. Such merchant ship repair work as the dockyard carries out would otherwise almost certainly go to foreign ports.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the telegraphic statement relating to the native question received from the Acting-Governor of Kenya was in reply to an inquiry or to a despatch; and whether the comprehensive statement expected from the Acting-Governor is in confirmation of the inquiry or whether it will be in answer to a subsequent despatch?

The telegraphic statement from the Acting-Governor of Kenya was sent in reply to a telegraphic inquiry from my Noble Friend. The comprehensive statement which the Acting-Governor will send by despatch was asked for by my Noble Friend in a further telegram dated 27th November following the reply which I gave on 26th November to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Elland (Mr. C. Buxton).

asked the President of the Board of Education if any cases have been brought to his notice where League of Nations lecturers in elementary or secondary schools have introduced political propaganda into their lectures?

No such case has been brought to my notice.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the basis for assessing officers' pensions in connection with the airship R.101 has been calculated on the basis of officers being employed on active service or peace-time service; and whether, for pension purposes, he will consider recognising experimental flying as active service?

Pensions awarded to relatives of officers killed while carrying out experimental or other flying on duty are assessed on the scale applicable to deaths in action; and, as stated in the reply given to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, North (Sir B. Falle) on 19th November, the pensions awarded to the relatives of the officers who lost their lives in R.101 were on this scale.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties of increasing farm electrical development owing to the fact that compensation for such improvements is not obtainable under the existing law; and if he is considering the matter

The matter to which the hon. Member refers has been considered by the Electricity Commissioners in consultation with the Departments and representative bodies concerned. In the case of Scotland, provision has been included in Part II of the First Schedule to the Small Landholders and Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Bill with a view to the amendment of the existing law. In the case of England and Wales the question has been noted for consideration in connection with any future electricity legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport the position of the work on the south circular road at Woolwich; and when it will be completed?

The section from Well Hall Road to Eltham Road has been completed, except for the railway bridge for which tenders have been invited. The construction of the roundabout at Well Hall Road has also been commenced. Negotiations for the acquisition of the land required for the remainder of the scheme are now in hand, and it is anticipated that the whole of the works will be completed within 18 months.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he will consider issuing a regulation making it obligatory upon all concerns operating passenger vehicles in the London area to provide special accommodation during the morning and evening rush hours for season-ticket holders only;(2) whether he will introduce regulations to compel omnibus and char-a-banc proprietors to give the holders of return journey tickets priority in securing vacant places on vehicles for the return journey?

I have no power to make the regulations which the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in making the final draft of his proposals for dealing with London traffic, he will give special attention to the possible use of the River Thames as a highway for passenger transport?

I have the matter to which the hon. Member refers under consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in drafting the transport regulations under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, he will consider the case of the travelling showman who is compelled to draw his living-caravan behind a heavy motor car in addition to a trailer with equipment or goods; whether he will so draft the regulations that in these few special cases the home-on-wheels of the travelling showmen may still be attached to the one trailer allowed under the Act; and whether he has considered the case of the showman who must have two living-caravans to accommodate his family and who desires to transport them with one heavy motor car but with no trailer attached?

The number of trailers which may be drawn by a motor vehicle on a highway is governed by Section 18 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930. That Section came into operation on 1st December, and under its provisions a heavy motor car cannot draw more than one trailer. I have no power to make regulations relaxing the requirements of this Section of the Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that, by an Order in Council dated 28th January, 1929, the Saskatchewan legislature extended the provisions of Section 6 of their Succession Duty Act to Great Britain and that the entire law of that province with regard to succession duties was revised and consolidated in a Statute which came into force on 27th March last; whether it is his intention to reciprocate this action by issuing an Order in Council applying Section 20 of the Finance Act, 1894, to Saskatchewan; and, if so, when it is proposed to issue the necessary Order in Council, in view of the fact that British subjects are discouraged from investing their capital in Saskatchewan until reciprocity between that province and Great Britain with regard to succession duties has been arranged?

I am aware of the facts stated in the question. Subject to the clearing up of a small point of detail, I anticipate that it will be possible shortly to issue an Order in Council applying Section 20 of the Finance Act, 1894.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the desirability of making the renewal fees for licences to keep dogs pay- able on 1st May instead of 1st January in each year, and of altering the law so that such licences shall be operative for one year from the date of issue instead of only to the 31st of the following December?

The Dog Licence Duty is not an Imperial, but a local taxation duty. I have some sympathy with the hon. Member's suggestion; but I doubt whether it would be practicable. In any case I could not consider the initiation of legislation to give effect to it unless it were supported by the various local authorities concerned.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the dismissal of two postmen, Messrs. Hunt and Edwards, who were employed at the Post Office, Portishead, Somerset; and whether he will be prepared to mitigate the penalty of dismissal that they have suffered in view of the fact that both these men have a record of very long service?

I am aware of the circumstances. In view of the serious nature of the offences, I regret that I am unable to modify the penalty.

asked the Minister of Labour whether her attention has been called to the case of a sub-contractor carpenter of St. Mary Cray, Kent, who was fined £15 at Bromley on 28th November for failing to pay insurance contributions for five workers; and whether, in view of the difficulty the Ministry is experiencing with sub-contractors who come on building estates, take on local workmen, and then either go bankrupt or clear out leaving the local men stranded, she will state whether she intends taking any action in the matter?

The inspectors are keeping a special watch for this class of case, and proceedings will be taken wherever the evidence appears to be sufficient, as was done in the case to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (1) how many estates of deceased persons between £1,000 and £1,010 6s. 3d. have been sworn in each of the last five financial years; in how many of the estates between the above-mentioned figures has either the 5 per cent. or 10 per cent. legacy duty been paid; and whether he is prepared to consider making a modification as regards duty in order to obviate hardship in numerous cases;(2) how many estates of deceased persons between £15,000 and £15,161 5s. 10d. have been sworn in each of the last five financial years; in how many of the estates between the above mentioned figures has the 1 per cent. legacy duty been paid; and whether he is prepared to consider making a modification as regards the duty in order to obviate hardship in numerous cases?

No statistics are kept of the estates falling within the limits mentioned or of the legacy duties paid in connection therewith. I would, however, draw the hon. Member's attention to Section 13 (2) of the Finance Act, 1914, which provides for a reduction of the full amount of duty in small cases such as he refers to in his first question. I am not prepared to ask Parliament to extend the application of that provision to the larger cases to which the hon. Member refers in his second question