asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any allowances or expenses are paid by the Government to the members of the advisory committee appointed under the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927; and can he give particulars?

No remuneration is paid to members of the advisory committee appointed under the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927, but travelling and subsistence expenses at the rates applicable generally to members of committees are allowed to those members who claim them.

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of the question which asks how much has been paid?

No, and it would be very unusual to give the amounts, but the payments are on the usual scale. I could not, in a Parliamentary reply, particularise among the members.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the case brought before the Oldham justices under the Cinematograph Act, 1927; and if he will state on what grounds the Board of Trade opposed the successful defendant's application for costs?

Yes, Sir. The Board of Trade opposed the defendant's application for costs on the ground that, in their view, the case was a proper one to bring before the court; and as the magistrates refused the application it is to be presumed that they concurred in that view.

If the applicant had been unsuccessful would he not have been charged with considerable costs by the Board of Trade?

No doubt, if he had been unsuccessful it would have added to the costs; but that is a matter which rests entirely with the court, and the court gave the decision to which I have referred in the reply.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, if the Commissioners have yet considered the question of granting to their workmen, whether on datal or piecework, an annual holiday with pay?

The Commissioners have discussed the matter and still have it under consideration.

May I ask whether it is possible for the Commissioners to come to a decision soon so that the men may have an opportunity of having a holiday this year?

I would not like to say that, as I do not know how long the inquiry may take. The Commissioners are engaged in ascertaining certain facts, and I hope that a decision will be arrived at soon.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the case in the King's Bench Division, Westby v. Noyes, in which it was shown that an agent, who was not disclosed to probable purchasers, enhanced the bidding at an auction sale for the benefit of the vendor as if the agent were a legitimate would-be purchaser; and will he take steps to amend the law so as to bring such proceedings in future within the description of conspiracy and therefore illegal, and also to make it compulsory that auctioneers shall openly declare reserve prices, if any, on behalf of vendors in order to prevent prices being put up by undeclared agents of the vendor?

I have seen a newspaper report of the case in question, from which I observe that the jury found that the plaintiff had not been employed for reward to bid on behalf of the vendor. An Amendment to make it illegal for any person to agree on behalf of the vendor to bid up the price at a sale by auction was negatived on the Third Reading of the Auctions (Bidding Agreements) Bill in 1927, and the Government cannot consider the introduction of legislation on the subject at the present time.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the case in question involved a book which is at present in the British Museum, and for which the trustees had to pay £7,000 more than they ought to have paid?

I am quite aware of the fact that the case referred to a book in the British Museum.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the village of Cranham, near Painswick, Gloucestershire, is not yet supplied with electricity by the West Gloucester Power Company; and whether he will ask the Electricity Commissioners to allow the city of Gloucester electricity department, who already supply electricity to a place 1½ miles away, to extend their territory so as to include the village of Cranham?

I am informed that the Electricity Commissioners are already investigating the question whether a supply could be given to Cranham from the mains of the Corporation of Gloucester and are at the present time in communication with the Corporation on the subject. I will inform the hon. Member of the results of these investigations as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of prisons at present closed which are available for re-opening as required and the accommodation in each?

There are seven such prisons and a small part of an eighth. Accommodation is available for a total of approximately 2,000. My right hon. Friend will circulate the particulars in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Home Secretary the number of exemption orders sanctioned by the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police under the Licensing Acts during 1930; and whether he will consider the reference of all such applications to the licensing justices of metropolitan divisions for their consideration, as in provincial areas?

The number of special orders of exemption granted by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis during 1930 was 13,264. Similar matters are not dealt with by licensing justices in other parts of the country, but in any case any amendment of the licensing law must await the report of the Royal Commission on Licensing.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any information of any extension during 1930 of the five-day week principle in works under the Factory and Workshops Acts; and, if so, whether he can state the nature of the processess, areas, and approximate number of workers affected?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has received a good deal of information on this subject, but as the reports are too long to summarise in a reply to a question he would ask his hon. Friend to refer to the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1930, which he is about to present to Parliament and which will be published very shortly. It gives a full account of the present position and contains a table showing the number of firms adopting this system, and the number of workers employed, grouped according to industry. It also gives information as to the localities chiefly affected.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to two accidents which have occurred at Wolsingham Steel Works, Durham, resulting in loss of life; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the cause of such accident with a view to measures being adopted to prevent such occurrence?

My right hon. Friend has received reports on two recent accidents at these works, but he is glad to say that in only one case was there any loss of life. In that case the accident which has been carefully investigated was the first of the kind that had happened at the works and was due to an unusual combination of circumstances; and it would seem that the only method of avoiding a similar accident would be by turning off the air blast. The firm has undertaken that if similar circumstances arise in future this course will be followed.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government are prepared to give favourable consideration to the passage of a Bill into law after the Summer Adjournment for the legalisation of wages rates on the lines of the agreement reached recently between representatives of employers and employed?

I am unable to make any statement as to the possibility of time being made available for such legislation this Session.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether ho will include in the terms of reference of the committee to be appointed to re-examine the Companies Acts power to consider proposals that the London clearing banks and Scottish banks should show in their published accounts the average daily amounts held by them of deposits, sterling bills, and acceptances outstanding, on account of banks with head offices abroad, oversea Governments, and oversea customers, as shown in table 9 (page 299) of the appendix of the Macmillan Report?

No, Sir. The actual proposals of the Macmillan Committee for the collection and publication of these statistics are contained in paragraph 413 of their report and are under consideration. But they make no suggestion for the publication of such returns by individual institutions, and I can see no connection between this subject and the Companies Acts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can say what is the substantial contribution members of the Cabinet propose making to the cause of economy?

The answer is in the negative.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the reason for the delay, and say whether it is because each member of the Cabinet thinks that his own salary ought to stand and that of others ought to be reduced?

I do not know whether I ought to answer a question which has not been put in very courteous terms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will be in a position to reply to the communication he has received from a number of leading men in finance, industry and commerce calling his attention to the need of rigid economy in public finance, and to indicate the policy of the Government on the measures they propose to adopt in the limitation of State and local expenditure?

I am not clear precisely to what communication the hon. Member refers. As regards the second part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that as the result of a Resolution of this House, a committee was set up to consider the whole question of national economy, and that the report of that committee is about to be published.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman receive a communication a few days ago from an influential body of financiers and industrialists in the City, submitting to him certain proposals in relation to public economy?

I am not aware of it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can announce the decision of the Government with regard to the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service on the subject of consolidation of pay?

No, Sir. The matter is now under consideration.

Is not the delay caused by a promise of the right hon. Gentleman to see the staff side before deciding, and, if so, when will the conference be held?

There has been no delay. This report was received only three or four days ago, and hon. Members seem to give the Government credit for an expedition in dealing with these matters which I do not think they deserve.

Surely, the right hon. Gentleman will say whether he has given a promise to receive a deputation before he comes to a decision, and, if so, when it will be?

Is it in order for a member of the Commission to heckle the Chancellor of the Exchequer in this manner?

May I say, as a matter of personal explanation, that the Royal Commission having reported, I have ceased to be a member of the Commission, and I am perfectly correct in asking questions in the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to paragraph 386 of the Macmillan report, which states that 284 companies were floated on the public in 1928 for more than £117,000,000, that three years later the market values showed a public loss of £50,000,000, that 70 of those companies had been wound up, and that the capital of 36 others had no value; and whether, in view of the fact that the report records that those 106 companies alone involved the public in a loss of £20,000,000, he will take steps to protect the public by preventing Stock Exchange quotations from being granted in future to industrial companies until remedies outlined in paragraphs 388, 389, and 390 of the Macmillan report have been adopted?

I am aware of the statement in the Macmillan report, but I cannot find any suggestion that the procedure suggested in the second part of the question was in the minds of the committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will so amend the Companies Act that in published accounts the words profit and balance shall be understood to mean the profits and/or balance resulting from trading operations during the period covered by the accounts in which they appear?

As I have already stated, I am not in a position to promise legislation to amend the Companies Act, but my hon. Friend's suggestion has been noted.

(for Mr. MARCUS) asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will compile a record as from 1st January next, and for five years onwards, of every security under the Companies Act, 1929, to which a quotation from that date is granted for the first time by the committee of the London Stock Exchange, and keep for the same period a record of interest and/or dividend paid in respect of such securities, in order to ascertain whether the facilities afforded by the stock exchange for the public flotation of such securities are a source of profit or loss to the investors?

No, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total cost of the recent Select Committee on Capital Punishment; and how much of that cost was due to the expenses of official and other witnesses from other countries?

The gross expenditure incurred in respect of the Select Committee on Capital Punishment amounts to approximately £1,500, of which £351 represents the travelling, etc., expenses of witnesses from other countries. The receipts from sales of reports amount up to date to approximately £230.

On a point of Order. I put this question down to the Lord Privy Seal, as it obviously affects a number of Departments such as Transport, Home Office, and so on, and it has been altered without my consent to the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department. I fail to see what the Overseas Trade Department has to do with this question at all.

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member had better wait and see what the answer is.

If I wish to ask the Lord Privy Seal a question which I think comes within his province, what means have I of questioning him?

Questions are obviously answered by the Ministers whom they most concern.

I am sorry to press this matter, but may I draw attention to the fact that at the beginning of this Parliament, questions affecting policy on unemployment were almost invariably answered by the then Lord Privy Seal, but recently it has been exceedingly difficult to put any questions on policy affecting unemployment to the Lord Privy Seal.

Did not the Lord Privy Seal announce this policy as part of the Government policy?

Is not the Minister for Overseas Trade the right Minister to reply to this question?

Is it not the case that this question in no way refers to overseas trade, but to tourists in this country?

The hon. Member cannot expect me to reply to that question.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Gainsborough (Captain Crookshank) on 23rd July, of which I am sending him a copy.

Does not that answer show that I am fully justified in my protest?

Can any portion of the money appropriated for the Empire Marketing Board be applied for the purpose of advertising tourist traffic?

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state for the last year for which the figures are available the total capital sum invested in the telegraph service, the gross operating income, and the net operating loss?

The figures for the year ended 31st March, 1931, are:

Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to take every opportunity to make the figures public as an illustration of the benefits of State trading?

The matter has been made public.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated number of persons employed in industry over the age of 65; and what has been the effect of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act upon employment in this age group?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 15th instant to the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Marcus) on the same subject.

In view of the difficulty of men over 65 obtaining employment, is my hon. Friend seeking legislation with a view to increasing the pension of such men to an amount on which they can live?

That question had better be put to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps are being taken in British Colonies and Dependencies to carry out the recommendations of the report of the commission of inquiry into the control of opium consumption in the Far East?

The recommendations have been carefully considered by the Governments concerned, but it is considered advisable to defer any changes in the existing system of control until the commission's recommendations have been fully discussed at the International Conference which is to be held at Bangkok in November.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that a large proportion of the inhabitants of Rodriguez are suffering from under-nourishment; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

My Noble Friend has received no information as to the existence of a state of under-nourishment among the inhabitants of Rodriguez, but the Governor is visiting the island in the course of the next few days and he is being asked to report.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it would be a good thing to send them some bounty-fed sugar from England?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when the report on Mauritius will be available?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the annual report for the year 1930. This has not yet been received from the Colony, but inquiry is being made as to when it may be expected.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will be prepared to extend the publicity given to coffee from Kenya Colony in this country; and if he will recommend preferential treatment in Great Britain as against the foreign product?

Action is already taken by the Eastern African Dependencies Trade and Information Office to advertise Kenya and other East African coffee at exhibitions and in other ways as opportunity offers. If additional funds could be made available, that office would be glad to extend the publicity given to East African coffee. As regards the second part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that there is already a preferential duty on Empire-grown coffee.

Is the hon. Gentleman's Department getting any assistance from the Empire Marketing Board towards giving publicity to Kenya coffee?

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the Empire Marketing Board mainly concern themselves with background advertising rather than with advertising specific commodities. This matter has, however, been before them. They are unable to do anything at present, although they may later.

Will the hon. Gentleman exercise a little further pressure on the Empire Marketing Board in order to give Kenya coffee a little more publicity?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take under Section 182 of the Companies Act to fix financial responsibility upon those who induced the public to be parties to the expenditure of more than £1,000,000 sterling upon the building of Gamages (West End), Limited, in view of the fact that the market value proved at auction to be no more than £330,000 and below the reserve placed upon it by the court under the bankruptcy proceedings?

Under Section 182 the Official Receiver is required to report to the Court and not to the Board of Trade. I understand that in the case mentioned the Official Receiver has not yet reported.

asked the Prime Minister in view of the fall in world prices of cereals and the effect this has had on the British farmer, whether he will ask this House to appoint a Select Committee to consider and recommend immediate remedies to avert a financial collapse of arable farming?

This is not a matter which could be most advantageously dealt with in the manner suggested.

As the situation is so serious, could not the right hon. Gentleman give a reassurance that something is going to be done during the Recess?

I think a considerable amount has been done by the legislation that has been undertaken.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made up his mind about the home quota?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of farms will go out of cultivation entirely in East Anglia and the East Riding of Yorkshire during the time that Parliament is in Recess?

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment of the House.

asked the Prime Minister whether in view of the increasing number of unemployed persons he will give facilities for the passage of the Standards of Labour Bill?

No, Sir; it is not possible to hold out any hope of time being found for the discussion of this Bill.

(for Mr. WILLIAM NICHOLSON) asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the correspondence which has taken place between the Droxford Rural District Council and the clerk to the commissioners of taxes for the Portsmouth fourth district with reference to the new Schedule-A (Income Tax) assessments which have recently been made in this district; whether he is aware that a number of small houses, consisting of five or six rooms, which are let at rents of 7s. a week plus rates, assessed for rating purposes at the gross value of £18, have been assessed under the new Schedule A at the gross value of £36; and whether he will have a full inquiry made into this matter?

I have inquired into this matter. At the time of making the assessments of annual value no particulars of the rents of these houses had been received and the annual values were assessed at estimated amounts. The owners have now given particulars of the rents and the assessments have been adjusted accordingly.

(for Colonel HOWARD-BURY) asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to stimulating employment in the British theatrical industry and assisting it to compete with the cinematograph industry, he will consider making a readjustment in the British Entertainments Duty in his next Budget on lines similar to those in Section 22 of the Irish Free State Finance Bill, which exempts from Entertainments Duty all entertainments in which the performers are personally present?

I have noted the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion but he must not ask me to anticipate next year's Budget Statement.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to lottery tickets being transmitted to England from foreign countries by post; and if he will take such steps as may be necessary to stop this practice and so discourage money from being sent out of England for this purpose?

Communications relating to lotteries are received from time to

May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what business he proposes to take to-night?

It is proposed to-night to dispose of the Local Government (Clerks) Bill, the Motion relating to Greenwich Hospital and Travers' Foundation, and the Gas and Electricity Orders on the Paper. If a communication is received from another place relating to the Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Bill and the Smallholders and Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Bill this afternoon, we propose to consider those Measures to-night.