asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to protect the public from such manipulation of the Stock Exchange as was disclosed in the recent winding-up of companies floated during the 1927–28 boom?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to specify the particular matters which he has in mind, and the nature of the remedies which he would suggest.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total quantity of motor spirit, other spirit, and other mineral oils on which Customs and Excise duties were paid in the financial year ended 31st March, 1931, and the total amount raised?

There is no Excise duty upon hydrocarbon oils. The total quantity of such oils upon which Customs duty was charged in the financial year 1930–31 was approximately 955,450,000 gallons, and the net Revenue received, £15,908,000.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, with a view to encouraging the increased use of telephones, he will consider abolishing installation charges and annual rentals of instruments in all cases where prospective subscribers indicate a preference for a higher scale of call charges as an alternative?

The Post Office (unlike many other telephone administrations) makes no installation charge when providing telephone service. As regards the suggested abolition of rental charges, I am unable to adopt this proposal, which would mean in effect that all subscribers making few calls only would be heavily subsidised at the expense of subscribers making extensive use of the telephone service. So far as I am aware, no telephone undertaking offers service on such terms.

asked the Attorney-General if he can announce any addition to the Kent County Advisory Committee; the date of the last appointment; and the ratio of representation of the population of the county in its personnel?

The last appointment to this committee was made in 1929, but my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has recently sanctioned the appointment of a new member. When this appointment is made, the ratio of representation on the Committee will be one to 115,000 of the population.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mrs. Jessie Truscott, of 46, Lower Pyke Street, Barry Dock, Glamorgan, made a claim on 7th November, 1929, for a widow's pension; that on the rejection of this claim she made application for determination of a question under Section 89 (1, a) of the National Health Insurance Act, 1924; and that she has since answered a number of questions put to her bearing on this application, but is still awaiting a decision thereon; and whether he can take steps to expedite a decision in this case?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. On the rejection of her claim Mrs. Truscott appealed to the referees appointed under the Contributory Pensions Acts, but as a material question was whether her late husband was required to be insured when serving as a ship's officer, and this question was one to be determined under Section 89 of the National Health Insurance Act, 1924, she was invited to apply for a decision under that section. As her husband was employed on English and Scottish vessels, a decision was required from the Department of Health for Scotland as well as from the Minister of Health, and two applications were accordingly completed in November, 1930. Since that date it has been necessary to obtain a number of written statements from the shipowners and from Mrs. Truscott. Difficult legal questions are involved in the case, but every effort is being made to expedite the completion of the evidence required for a decision.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities in England and Wales have adopted a by-law requiring the stunning of sheep and of pigs, respectively, by either manual or mechanical methods prior to sticking; and how many local authorities, having adopted such a by- law, have afterwards rescinded it as regards either sheep or pigs?

The figures are: for sheep, a by-law has been adopted by 360 local authorities, of whom two afterwards rescinded it; for pigs, by 490 local authorities, of whom four afterwards rescinded it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the policy of the Government as to the conditions under which guarantees are given to the Dominions; and if he proposes to attach to these guarantees a condition as to the purchase of British goods by those Dominions?

I do not understand the hon. Member's question. So far as I am aware, there is no question of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom being asked to give financial guarantees to His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the maximum and minimum prices per unit at which electricity is at present being sold for domestic consumption; and whether he is taking steps to bring about a reduction in such prices where they appear to be excessive?

In the case of some of the smallest and most isolated undertakings, the charges for electricity, for lighting purposes only, range up to 1s. per unit. I am not in a position to indicate the minimum price charged per unit for an all-in domestic supply, but there are a number of cases where the unit rate of a two-part domestic tariff is as low as ½d. With regard to the last part of the question, my right hon. Friend has power to revise authorised maximum prices on application being made to him in the manner prescribed by the Electricity (Supply) Acts.

asked the Home Secretary if he will explain the arrangements which are made by periodic inspection of factories and the standard of inspection now aimed at by his Department?

The standard of inspection now aimed at is that recommended by the recent Departmental Committee on the Factory Inspectorate, who go very fully into the question in paragraphs 26 to 44 of their report. They considered that the more important works should be visited at least once a year, but that a standard of at least one visit every two years would be sufficient in the case of works in which only a small number of persons are employed, no dangerous or injurious process is carried on, and the conditions generally can be regarded as satisfactory. They recommended further that works coming under certain codes of Regulations should be visited every quarter. In accordance with the views of the committee, the inspector in charge of the district is left responsible, subject to the general standard laid down, for making such arrangements for the inspection of works in his district as, having regard to the particular circumstances, he may think best.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is now able to state the approximate date of commencement of the Dartford-Purfleet tunnel?

It should be possible to accept a tender for the pilot tunnel as soon as the county councils of Essex and Kent have approved the terms of the agreement relative to the execution of the scheme. My right hon. Friend has urged the councils to intimate their approval with the least possible delay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants is not affiliated to the staff side of the National Whitley Council, and that in conversations preliminary to arbitration between the Treasury and the Temporary Staff Confederation with regard to conditions at Kew representatives of the Civil Service Clerks' Association were received as a separate deputation; and whether he will therefore reconsider his decision as to receiving a deputation from the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants with a view to their discussing with him any cuts in the cost-of-living bonus?

I am aware that the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants is not affiliated to the staff side of the National Whitley Council, and that deputations from this association have been received in appropriate cases. But I see no reason on these grounds for revising the decision referred to in the last part of the hon. and gallant Member's question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the fact that the form in which Schedule A taxation is available for the drainage authorities is not such that they can use it; and if he will take steps, on the coming into force of the Land Drainage Act, 1930, and the definite setting up of drainage authorities with their defined boundaries, to amend the way in which Schedule A taxation lists are shown, in order to avoid double valuations with their consequent expense?

No, Sir, I have not had my attention called to any difficulties arising in this matter. The hon. and gallant Member will, of course, appreciate that the form in which assessments to Income Tax, Schedule A, are made is necessarily determined by the provisions of the Income Tax Acts, which, besides being of general application, are designed solely for the purpose of charging Income Tax.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Territorial officers have resigned their commissions in the last two years; and how many fresh officers have been appointed?

During the two years ended 30th June, 663 officers have retired or resigned from the Active List of the Territorial Army, and 974 officers have transferred from the Active List to the Reserve of Officers. During the same period, 1,498 officers have been appointed to the Territorial Army.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of pension claims which have been reviewed by his Department as the result of the relaxation of the operation of the seven years' limit?

In the 19 months which have elapsed since my announcement in November, 1929, some 25,700 applications are recorded as having been received, though this figure includes twice over a substantial, but not precisely determined, number of renewed applications. During the same period, 1,519 applications have been recognised by the Ministry by way of medical treatment or award of compensation in the form of pension or other pecuniary grant.