asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can make any statement as regards the ratification of the International Convention providing for the international enforcement of load lines?

It is proposed to ratify the International Convention on Load Lines so soon as it has been possible to pass the necessary legislation to enable effect to be given to it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any idea as to when this legislation will be introduced?

We would like to see the Safety of Life and the Load Line Conventions embodied in one Bill, and promoted at an early date in the other House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the finding of the Board of Trade inquiry on the master of the steamship "Highland Hope" for the wreck of that vessel on 19th November last, in which attention was called to the age of this gentleman and strictures passed on the owners for employing him at over the age of 70 years; if he is aware that there are a number of masters in command of British ships whose age makes it desirable that they should retire, but that owing to the absence of any pension or superannuation scheme in many companies they are not able to retire for financial reasons; and whether any progress is being made in the adoption of a general pension scheme for the Royal Mercantile Marine?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have no information as to the second part. For the rest, I am not aware that any proposals are at present under consideration for a special pension scheme for the mercantile marine apart from the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund with which I am sure that my hon. and gallant Friend is acquainted.

With regard to the last part of my question, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the majority of the shipping companies and of the officers are in agreement as regards a pensions scheme, but a minority hold out; and will he look into the question again?

It may be as the hon. and gallant Member suggests, but, plainly, if there were any question of compelling a minority to come into a scheme, that could not be done without legislation, and I am not in a position at the moment to make any promise in that respect.

But is the right hon. Gentleman aware that by his answer he gave the impression that he did not know of these facts; and will he look into the question again with a view to legislation?

I trust that I did not convey an impression of that kind. As a matter of fact, I was familiar with the questions put by my hon. and gallant Friend in the last Parliament.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the published accounts of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company for 1926 to 1929 showed profits from controlled subsidiary concerns which had been neither earned nor received, but that losses had in fact been incurred, and seeing that the auditors certified the correctness of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's accounts for those four years, he will take legislative steps to ensure that auditors shall, in future, specifically exclude from their certification such entries in accounts as have not been certified by the auditors who certify the accounts in which such entries are embodied?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, in view of the failure of the auditors certificates on the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's accounts to inform shareholders of the non-receipt of money-which was proved after investigation not to have been received, although brought into the certified accounts of the company, he will consult the various accountants' societies for the purpose of drawing up a formula to ensure that auditors' certificates on published accounts shall become effective as a protection to the public;

(2) whether, pending the framing of a form of certificate that shall guarantee to the public that the accounts represent the actual financial condition of concerns operating under the Companies Act, 1929, or under royal charter, he will take steps to forbid the attachment of an auditor's certificate to such accounts?

As the House will be aware, all the circumstances in connection with the affairs of this company are being investigated by the voting trustees, and no statement can usefully be made at the present time. Meanwhile I would point out that the form of auditor's report which is prescribed by Section 134 of the Companies Act, 1929 was considered by the Company Law Amendment Committee which included three eminent accountants, and that committee reported in 1926 against any amendment of the law as it then stood and now stands. It is open to the auditors to make in their report any observations which they think fit, and under the present Companies Act the auditors are given the right to attend any general meeting at which accounts examined or reported on by them are to be laid before the company and to make any statement or explanation they desire in respect of the accounts. As regards the manner in which items relating to its subsidiary companies have to be dealt with in the balance sheet of a company, I would refer to the new provisions which are contained in Sections 125 and 126 of the Companies Act, 1929, especially Subsection 2 from the latter section.

Is it proposed to allow the company to retain the charter while directors who are responsible for the present position remain members of the board?

I am afraid I could make no statement regarding that matter this afternoon, because the work of the voting trustees and others will have to be completed, and the hon. Member will also recall that yesterday the Attorney-General said that everything would be considered by him at the appropriate point.

Will the matters under review include the legal liability of the auditors for the correctness of their certificates?

That also is a point which plainly I could not deal with in reply to a supplementary question in the House. I must await further developments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make a statement as to the progress, if any, which has been made in connection with the reorganisation of industry under the new Department of the Board?

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave him on 27th January last.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say whether any progress or development has taken place since, as that is now some little ago?

The right hon. Gentleman knows that this is a subject which involves constant negotiations with the individual industries, and I could not weigh in with an interim statement, without, possibly, doing serious damage to the objects which we have in view.

But cannot the right hon. Gentleman say if progress is being made? I am not asking for particulars.

Certainly, in this, as in other subjects under the present Government, progress is continually being made.

In what direction?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received any replies in relation to the communication he has made to various countries suggesting a reduction of tariffs?

I have nothing at present to add to the answer I gave on this subject on 24th February to the hon. and gallant Members for Paddington, South (Vice-Admiral Taylor), and Dulwich (Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. Hall), of which I am sending the right hon. Gentleman a copy.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman answer whether, in fact, he has received any reply?

:I explained to the right hon. Gentleman a week ago that requests or representations had only just been addressed to these Governments, and the right hon. Gentleman knows that these negotiations always take time.

Is not the reply to the question in the negative, and would it not be better to say so?

There has been no time for a reply.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the protected industries in the engineering trade are already demanding increased hours and lower wages?

Is it not a week since this question was put down previously, and surely there has been time for a reply?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many British ships are being held up by the American embargo on timber and timber products from the northern camps of Soviet Russia; whether any British ships are now on their way with cargoes of Russian timber to American ports; and to what extent the question of demurrage is provided for?

I am not aware that any British ships are being held up in this way or are now on their way with cargoes of Russian timber to American ports.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the embargo placed on Russian timber by Canada and the United States?

Is it true that there is any embargo on this timber in America?

These questions do not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the amount of the cash balances held in this country to the credit of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics or any of its trading organisations?

No, Sir, I have no information of the kind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what proportion of the world's mercantile shipping tonnage was under construction in Great Britain in 1913; and what is the corresponding figure of tonnage under construction to-day;

(2) what was the total world mercantile shipping tonnage under construction at the end of 1930, and what proportion of this was British, German, French, Italian, and American, respectively; and how do these figures compare with those at the end of 1929?

With the hon. and gallant Member's permission I will circulate the answer to these questions in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The information asked for is contained in the following statement:

According to the quarterly shipbuilding returns published by Lloyd's Register of Shipping the tonnage of merchant vessels of 100 tons gross and upwards, under construction in the world at the end of 1913, was 3,331,143 tons gross, at the end of 1929, 3,110,880 tons gross and at the end of 1930, 2,326,086 tons gross.

Information as to the intended nationalities of the vessels under construction is not available, but the following table shows the proportion of the world total which was under construction in the countries specified at the end of 1913, 1929 and 1930:

—		1913.	1929.	1930.
British Countries	…	59·9	50·9	39·6
Germany	…	16·4	8·1	9·4
France	…	6·9	5·4	7·5
Italy	…	1·6	2·5	7·7
United States	…	4·4	5·8	10·0

The proportion under construction in Great Britain and Ireland alone was 58.7 per cent. at the end of 1913, and 39 per cent. at the end of 1930.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether it is proposed, after the closing of the present British Empire Exhibition in South America, to organise another similar exhibition in one of the principal industrial areas of this country

I am not aware of any such proposal. The British Empire Exhibition in Buenos Aires had been organised by private enterprise under the auspices of the British Chamber of Commerce in the Argentine Republic. The responsibility of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom towards the exhibition is limited to the organisation of an official exhibit. The hon. Member will be aware that in the British Industries Fair, held each year in London and Birmingham, we already have a comprehensive display of the products of British industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) through what agency was the film entitled "Storm over Asia" introduced into this country;

(2) how many films have been imported into this country through the agency of Arcos, Limited, since 30th June, 1930; and what is the total length in feet?

I regret that the information desired is not available.

Have the Government any power to restrain the West Ham Corporation or similar bodies—

That does not arise out of the question.

On a point of Order. May I respectfully submit that this film has been introduced into this country—

We cannot go into the merits of the question now.

asked the Secretary of State for War the present rate of wages, including both the basic rate and the bonus, paid to barrack labourers; the number of hours worked per week for this wage; whether overtime has ever to be worked in addition; and, if so, the rates of pay for such overtime?

The basic rates of wages for barrack labourers vary according to the stations from 29s. in London to 24s. in certain provincial centres, which at the present cost-of-living figure of 55 per cent. will carry a bonus of 16s. and 13s. 3d. respectively. These wages cover all time worked and overtime pay is not admissible since the duties of barrack labourers do not permit of a regular timetable of working hours. It is understood that the average number of hours normally worked throughout the year is about 48 a week.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied as to the fairness of these conditions; and, if not, what does he propose to do about it?

Yes, Sir, I am satisfied that these rates are as good as the rates paid by any employers for similar work.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the desirability of abolishing the rule which prohibits young men who have been in Borstal institutions from joining the Army?

There is no rule prohibiting the enlistment of such men. Provided they are otherwise qualified and are able to produce a testimonial of good character covering at least 12 months prior to date of enlistment and subsequent to leaving such an institution, each case is considered on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that of the 13 cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis at Aldershot, of which eight have already proved fatal, 12 sufferers had been recently vaccinated, he will consider the desirability of suspending compulsory vaccination in the Army?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. If he will refer to the answer which I gave him on 24th February, he will see that only two of the patients had been vaccinated within six months. The remaining 10 were vaccinated at dates varying from six months to more than four years before they fell ill of cerebro-spinal fever. The fact that only one of the patients was unvaccinated can be accounted for by the rule that no recruit is accepted unless he has been vaccinated or is willing to be. I am advised that there are no grounds in the present outbreak for suspending the rule.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the sentries have been withdrawn from the Royal palace of Holyrood House; and, in view of the fact that with the exception of a brief period there has been a military guard there ever since the building has been a Royal residence, can he give any assurance that immediate steps will be taken to restore this ancient privilege and right?

The decision to withdraw the guard from the palace of Holyrood House, except when their Majesties or the King's representative were in residence, was taken on the ground of the very low strength of the only battalion stationed in Edinburgh. But I fully appreciate Scottish sentiment in this matter, and I have arranged that the guard shall be restored during the hours from reveille to sunset.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for the steps he has taken and the answer which he has given, may I ask for an assurance that, when the battalion in garrison is at strength, the ancient custom will be reverted to; further, in view of what has been revealed of the weakness of the forces in this instance, will he prosecute the present recruiting campaign with continued vigour.

asked the Secretary of State for War what special inducements are offered to suitable time-expired soldiers to re-enlist?

Time expired soldiers, if in other respects eligible and unmarried, are permitted to re-enlist up to the age of 30, compared with the normal age of 25. They are also allowed to reckon previous service for pension purposes provided that re-enlistment takes place within five years of their last discharge and that their former service is declared on re-enlistment.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken into account the difficulties put in the way of three-year men re-enlisting without a record, especially in the Artillery?

I would rather have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any reduction has taken place since October, 1929, in the number of classes in Scottish elementary schools with more than 40 pupils on the roll; and, if so, the amount of the reduction?

In the returns obtained prior to October, 1930, figures were not given in respect of classes of different sizes where the number of pupils on the roll was 50 or under, nor were primary schools separated from the primary departments of secondary schools. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to make the comparison which my hon. Friend desires. In a reply given to my hon. Friend last week, I gave the figures for 1930.

Is the Secretary of State aware that there seem to be no figures available by which people interested in the question of the size of classes can measure the progress in the last 18 months, and will he consider supplying us the figures in some form?

Major McKenzie Wood.

I am sorry, but if the Secretary of State replied, I did not hear his reply.

Major McKenzie Wood.

May I ask your help, Mr. Speaker. As this is a matter which is of primary importance to the elementary schools of Scotland, can I get a reply?

I consider it of such importance that I informed my hon. Friend that I was prepared to consider any suggestion which she has to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many two-roomed houses with kitchenette and bathroom have been built in Lanarkshire under the various Housing Acts since 1921?

According to the records of the Department of Health for Scotland, 2,319 two-roomed houses with kitchenette and bathroom have been built in the landward area of Lanarkshire with State assistance under the various Housing Acts since the 1st January, 1921.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the average rent of these houses?

Not without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses in Lanarkshire have been condemned by the medical officers of health since 1921; and for how many of them have closing orders been granted and put into operation?

I am informed that in the landward area of Lanarkshire between 1st January, 1921, and 31st Decem- ber, 1930, the Medical Officer of Health reported 8,076 houses as fit for closure. During that period closing orders were made by the local authority in respect of 3,622 houses of which 3,355 have been closed.

In the light of the information which we had on the same subject from the hon. Gentleman last week, is he now satisfied that the County of Lanark is doing its duty?

The hon. Gentleman has asked only for figures of two-apartment houses. If he had asked for the figures of all classes of houses built by Lanarkshire since 1921, he would have Been that they had built more than the number officially scheduled as fit for closure.

My supplementary question referred to question 32, and not to question 31.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to cases where the county council of Stirlingshire employ men on State-aided relief works, and at the end of the first week withhold the wages they have earned as payment or part payment of arrears of rates; and, seeing that some of these men with wives and families are ineligible either for Poor Law relief or unemployment benefit, owing to their being employed during the week, will he when approving any such State-aided schemes insert conditions prohibiting this method of rate-recovery in order to mitigate the hardship caused?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The question of the conditions of State-aided unemployment relief schemes is not one that is within my province, but from inquiries I have made, I understand that arrangements have been made whereby a recurrence of the state of affairs indicated in the question will be prevented in the future so far as Stirlingshire county rates are concerned.

Does this apply only to county rates and not to burgh rates?

The whole matter is to be further explored, but the basis of this question was arrestment for county rates, but we have that assurance.

asked the Secretary for Mines what, if any, equivalent for his surrendered Civil Service pension rights was given or promised to the recently appointed Chairman of the Reorganisation Commission?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the Chairman of the Mines Reorganisation Commission has definitely surrendered for good any pension rights to which his service in the Civil Service entitled him or whether, on relinquishing the position of Chairman of the Commission, he will be eligible for a Civil Service pension?

The exact position of the Chairman of the Reorganisation Commission with regard to pension rights involves a long, complicated and detailed explanation, which, with the permission of the hon. and gallant Members, I will give in moving the Report stage of the Supplementary Estimate, Class VI, Vote 6, which is on to-day's Order Paper.

In the meantime has this gentleman given up all pension rights?

That is precisely the question I propose to answer on the Supplementary Estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what date the Treasury assented to the appointment of the chairman of the Coal Mines Reorganisation Commission at a salary of £7,000 per annum; and whether this salary is exclusive of expenses incurred in the performance of the duties?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The date of the Treasury authority is 3rd December last. With regard to the second part of the question, the holder of this post is entitled to travelling and subsistence allowance when travelling on the business of the Commission.

asked the Secretary for Mines the tonnage of coal used in the production of by-products for the years 1928, 1929, and 1930?

Figures for 1930 are not yet available. The amount of coal used at gas works and by-product coke ovens was approximately 34,500,000 tons in 1928 and 37,500,000 tons in 1929. In addition, several hundred thousand tons of coal were used in the production of pig iron by processes which include the recovery of by-products. Coal used at low temperature carbonisation plants at gas works is included in the above figures. For plants situated elsewhere no figures are available, but they would not materially affect the total figures I have quoted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the amount of coal exports for the months of January and February, 1931, as compared with the same months of 1930?

As stated in the latest issue of the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" the total quantity of coal exported from the United Kingdom and registered during the month of January, 1931, was 3,271,331 tons, as compared with 5,493,410 tons during January, 1930. Similar particulars for the month of February, 1931, are not yet available, but during February, 1930, exports amounted to 4,735,657 tons.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the figure would have been larger this year but for the operation of the quota?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that at a large number of pits in Durham which export coal the workers have been given notice, and a lot of them have been working short time during the whole of the year?

I regret the difficulties in the export trade of this industry, but it is quite wrong to attribute those difficulties to the Coal Mines Act.

What does the right hon. Gentleman attribute the difficulties to, and what steps are being taken to increase the exports?

asked the Secretary for Mines how many mines in Durham and Northumberland are being compelled to shut down or work short time owing to the exhaustion of their quota?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 24th February to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many districts have now fixed minimum prices for coal; and if any of these fixed prices apply to coal sold in the home market?

In all districts schedules of minimum prices have been drawn up, applying both to the inland and shipment trades. I am informed, however, that in some districts these schedules are not being put into operation pending negotiations in progress with adjoining districts with a view to co-ordination of prices, or consideration that is actively being given by the central council.

asked the Secretary for Mines if any countries have applied the draft convention adopted by the last session of the International Labour Office, limiting hours of work in coal mines; and if he can state which countries at the present, time have a working day of seven and a-half hours or more on the British method of calculation?

The draft convention regarding hours of work in coal mines was not adopted at the last International Labour Conference, as it narrowly failed to secure the two-thirds majority necessary for adoption. According to the latest figures published by the International Labour Office, the European countries which work eight hours bank to bank—the equivalent of seven and a-half hours on the British method of calculation—or more are Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland.

asked the Secretary for Mines the rate per 1,000 at which boys and youths under 21 years of age employed below ground in the coal mines of Great Britain were killed and injured during the last 10 years, giving separate figures for each of the divisions into which the coalfields are divided?

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of mining disaster funds now in existence throughout Great Britain; and the total balance of the said funds?

The latest information in my possession about colliery accident funds is contained in a Parliamentary Paper issued on 30th July, 1925, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

Will the hon. Gentleman try to get information more up-to-date?

The information which I propose to send to the hon. Member terminated on the 30th July, 1925. I shall do what I can to get more useful and up-to-date figures.

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate such information as is available in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The only information available relates to persons under 20 years of age and is as follows. This information was not collected prior to 1925, and is not yet available for 1930.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has information of companies with headquarters formerly in Great Britain having been transferred abroad; and, if so, what is the amount of capital involved?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many overseas trading companies, previously registered in this country, have dropped their registration here and become registered abroad during the current financial year; the amount of capital involved; and the estimated consequent loss to the revenue?

The statistics collected under the Companies Acts give no information as to changes of registration of companies or the trans- fer of headquarter offices. I may point out that a company, wherever registered, is liable to Income Tax on all its profits if its business is controlled in this country, and where the control is abroad, the Revenue receives tax on such part of the income of the company as arises to residents in this country.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the question as to whether he has information of companies with headquarters formerly in Great Britain being transferred abroad?

I have said that I have no information as to changes of that kind.

Is it not important, when the hon. Gentleman is considering taxation, to have an idea of the movement of companies abroad?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the realised revenue during the first nine months of the present financial year from taxes or duties on imported goods?

The approximate net amount of revenue derived from the duties on imported goods during the first nine months of the current financial year was £92,644,000.

May I ask, without wishing to anticipate the Budget statement, whether it is the policy to sweep away these iniquitous taxes?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give a list of the commissions and committees appointed by the present Government, giving the name and nature of each committee, the names of the members, the terms of reference, the date on which instituted, the number of sittings, and in the case of any commission or committee not now in existence the date on which they submitted any report or reports and the date on which they ceased to exist?

I will send this information to the hon. Member.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many civil servants are entitled to travel first-class in this country; and what would be the estimated saving if the regulations were altered and third-class travelling substituted?

I am unable, without long investigation in every Department, to state the precise number of civil servants entitled to travel first-class when on duty in this country and the probable saving from substituting third-class travel. Those so entitled correspond to the commissioned ranks of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Can the hon. Member not even give me an approximate figure, saying whether it amounts to hundreds of thousands or tens of thousands?

Certainly not the former.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many male civil servants of 21 years of age and over are at present paid £3 a week or less; and how many of these are in the London area?

The number of male full-time non-industrial civil servants of 21 years of age and over at present in receipt of wages or salaries of £3 per week or less—inclusive of bonus based on a cost-of-living figure of 55—is estimated at 58,000. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the question is not available.

Can my hon. Friend give us the information regarding industrial employés as well as non-industrial? The question is not limited to one or the other.

If my hon. Friend will put down that question, I will endeavour to give him an answer.

Is it not possible to give the information asked for in the last part of the question? Have they not the addresses where they live? Cannot he tell us whether they are in the London area or not?

We have not the information which would enable us to give the answer.

But surely you know where they live?

Is the hon. Member aware of the seething discontent in the Civil Service arising from these difficulties, and is he prepared to take some steps to alleviate the difficulties which these figures demonstrate?

I am quite sure that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer regrets that it has not been possible for him to take the steps which he has taken in previous years, but he has already pointed out that the state of the national finances prevents him from taking that course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will postpone the reduction of bonus in respect of civil servants with a salary of less than £4 a week until there has been an inquiry into the computation of the cost-of-living index figure in its relation to civil servants?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not able to adopt this suggestion.

Is the Financial Secretary aware of the very widespread opinion that the basis of the index figure does not pay due regard to the great increase of rent and travelling expenses; and, in fact, is not a suitable basis for the civil servants who are forced down under the Government to the poverty level in the lower grades?

I am not aware of the facts mentioned by the hon. Member. Perhaps I might remind him of the answers given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 3rd February to the hon. Member for Willesden East (Mr. D. G. Somerville) and by the Minister of Labour on the 19th February to the hon. Member for Hallam (Mr. L. Smith).

Will the Financial Secretary inform the Chancellor of the Exchequer that it is desirable that if the application of the index figure brings the wages of these people down to below a reasonable level the matter should be considered?

Has there been any inquiry at all as to the appropriateness of the cost-of-living index figure being applied to the Civil Service?

I am not aware of any inquiries particularly directed to that point, but, if the hon. and learned Member will read the answers to which I have referred, he will see that the matter is under consideration.

Is not this matter being considered by the Royal Commission and is it not one of the subjects before them?

I am not in a position to know what the Royal Commission is considering, but I should imagine that it would be within their province to consider the question, and I think it might be taken that they would consider it.

Does the Financial Secretary not think that this was a loose basis adopted for casual purposes before the War, and that there ought to be some scientific basis arrived at after adequate consideration?

I have already stated that the matter is under consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, for some years past, there has been considerable discontent with the application of the cost-of-living index figure, the simple fact being that the Civil Service, like other people, do not believe in the foundation of it at all?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount that he anticipates would be saved during the fiscal year 1931–32 if provision were made for Members of the House to travel between London and their constituencies third-class instead of first-class?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 17th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Gains-borough (Captain Crookshank).

Will the hon. Member seriously consider the desirability of recommending this alteration to the House as a temporary measure, on the ground that it will be a demonstration of the sincerity of the desire of this House for public economy?

We had a long Debate on this question the other day, and I do not feel inclined in answer to a question to add to what was then said.

Is it not a fact that this rather unworthy agitation springs entirely from certain hon. Members who are quite wealthy enough to pay the difference between first and third-class fares?

Like you.

Can the hon. Member tell us how many Members have voluntarily relinquished the claims on the fares fund and paid their own expenses?

I could not give that information without notice, and then I should have to consider whether it was desirable to give it.

Is there anything to prevent any sincere Member from travelling third-class, and how many have done so?

It has already been said that there is nothing to prevent any Member travelling third-class if he chooses to do so.

Are there third-class carriages on the trains to Gainsborough?

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state how many grants were allowed by the Ministry in 1930 for road improvements under schemes submitted by county authorities; and what was the total value of these grants?

This information could only be obtained at a considerable expenditure of time. I hope, therefore, that the hon. Member will not press for if, but he will find a considerable amount of information concerning grants made from the Road Fund during the financial year 1929–30 in the recently published report on the administration of the Road Fund for that year.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman give me the total of these grants?

Accounts are settled on the basis of the financial year and not the current year, and I think the hon. Member will find those figures in the returns to which I refer him.

If I put down a question asking for the figures for the financial year, will the right hon. Gentleman be able to answer me then?

In that case, I should refer the hon. Member to the report dealing with the Road Fund, which is accessible to Members in the Library, and is put there for them to see.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the numbers of people of limited means who apply for wireless licences, he will consider the desirability of issuing a half-yearly licence where desired or allowing applicants to pay in two instalments?

There are at present more than three and a-half million wireless licences in force; and the cost of collecting and accounting for the fees and securing the renewal of the licences is already considerable. The introduction of a system of half-yearly licences would practically double this work; and the additional expense would, I think, be out of proportion to the benefit derived by the public.

Is it not a fact that there is a large number of people who would be able to take advantage of wireless if they had the opportunity of paying 5s. for the six months but cannot afford to pay the 10s. for the year?

This question has been thoroughly explored by myself and with every sympathy for the course suggested. It is quite within the range of anyone to adopt the instalment system by opening an account with the Post Office Savings Bank, thereby depositing their shillings until the total of 10s. is reached.

Is not the licence fee only a very small addition to the cost of the apparatus, and, if people can afford to buy the apparatus, cannot they afford to pay for the licence?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the estimated saving to be effected by the reduction in the standard rates of naval officers' pay from 7 per cent. to 8 per cent. as from 1st July, 1931, to 30th June, 1933?

The estimated amount of the saving in question is £128,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the estimated saving to be effected under the scheme whereby 1,044 officers are to be given the option of retiring, at the discretion of the Admiralty, on 1st April next?

The number of officers to be retired under this scheme is limited to approximately 150, the retirement being in batches spread over about two years, commencing 1st April, 1931. On the assumptions that the number of retirements desired will be effected and that the officers would otherwise have remained in the Service until eligible for the maximum retired pay of their rank, it is estimated that the ultimate saving to be effected under this scheme will amount to approximately £750,000.

Is it not a fact that there will be a loss for the first two years?

No, I do not think so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps are at present under consideration by his Department for the purpose of making reciprocal arrangements between travellers from foreign countries and British subjects travelling to foreign countries for reduction in visa fees on passports; and will he give particulars?

As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, within recent years visa fees have been abolished in the case of a number of countries and reduced in certain other cases. As my right hon. Friend has stated on several occasions, His Majesty's Government are unable, for financial reasons, to consider any general abolition or further reduction of visa fees at the present time.

Are any conversations taking place with the American authorities with a view to securing a reduction?

No, Sir. Financial reasons preclude us from proceeding further for the present.

What is the position with regard to Russia?

Just as it was a long time ago.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can state the number of women who have died in childbirth each year since the War; what percentage of these deaths are estimated to be preventible; whether he has any information showing the number who received no pre-natal supervision; and what is the proportion of deaths compared to those who did receive assistance?

As the answer is long and contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the recent visit of Professor Julian Huxley to Tanganyika involved any charge upon Imperial or local government funds; and, if so, what was the cost and the official object of his visit?

Professor Huxley visited Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika to advise the Governments as to the form which biological teaching should take in African schools. He agreed to waive the question of remuneration, and the refund of the cost of his passages and the only assistance given him was the grant of free travelling and maintenance in the territories visited. It is not possible to say, without reference to Tanganyika, what expenditure in connection with his visit was incurred by the Tanganyika Government. No expenditure fell on the British Exchequer, except for a gratuity of 15 guineas which was paid to him from the Empire Marketing Fund for a special report on the possibility of using films in parts of the Empire where ordinary methods of publicity and propaganda have only a limited appeal.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the decline in the public revenue of Jamaica during the past year; if a readjustment of import tariffs is now proposed in order to meet this deficit; if the subsidy to the sugar industry is to be discontinued; and how the Government propose to deal with the situation which has been created?

Yes, Sir. My Noble Friend is aware that the estimates for the current financial year of the Colony allowed for a deficit largely if not entirely due to the heavy commitments of the Government in respect of the subsidy to the sugar industry. Specific proposals for meeting any deficit which may eventuate have not recently been submitted, but on the information before him my Noble Friend is assured that the Colonial Government is fully alive to the possibility that it may become necessary to impose additional taxation; and this question, together with that of any further extension of temporary assistance to the sugar industry, continues to engage the anxious consideration of the Government of Jamaica. No official information has reached him regarding any proposal to readjust import tariffs, but no doubt that and other possible sources of increased revenue has been or will be considered by the Governor and his advisers.

Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to consider any proposals which the Government of Jamaica may submit with reference to their economic condition?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the names of the members of the committee which he has appointed to consider the report of the National Fuel and Power Committee?

With the permission of the hon. and gallant Member, I propose to circulate the desired information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it correct that there are three Members of this House on the committee, and that they are all members of the Labour party; and, if so, what is the reason for that departure from precedent?

I think that is correct, but they represent one side of the gas industries, and that accounts for the way in which this committee has been made up.