asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what economies in expenditure on the Territorial Army are being made in the present financial emergency?

It is proposed to suspend all annual training in camp by the Territorial Army and the Supplementary Reserve in 1932. Owing to the suspension of camps there will be a considerable saving in the wear and tear of clothing and accoutrements, and the grant for their maintenance which is paid to Territorial Army Associations will be reduced accordingly. A limitation will be placed on recruiting for the Territorial Army so that the strength during the financial year 1932 will not exceed that for which provision was made in the Estimates of 1931.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the immediate amounts of the reductions in pay, respectively, of an infantry private soldier and an infantry battalion commander?

The reduction in the pay of an infantry battalion commander from 1st October, 1931, amounts to 1s. 4d. a day. The pay of an infantry soldier who enlisted on or after 26th October, 1925, is not reduced. In the case of an infantry private who enlisted or re-enlisted before 26th October, 1925, his pay will be reduced by 1s. a day if he is in receipt of the increment granted after two years' service, or by 9d. a day if he is not in receipt of the increment. The hon. Member will appreciate that the pay of the majority of private soldiers will not be affected, and that all officers have been subject since 1924 to successive reductions in their pay in accordance with variation in the cost of living.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what action he intends to take to deal with the grievances existing in the lower ranks of the Army arising from the reductions in the rate of pay?

The Army Council are considering all questions of particular hardship that may have arisen.

asked the Home Secretary what it costs per head per annum to keep prisoners in the principal gaols and penitentiaries of the country?

A statement showing the annual average charge per inmate in each of the several classes of establishments is published in the annual reports of the Prison Commissioners. The last published figures—for the financial year ended 31st March, 1930—will he found in Appendix 8 (Table B) to their report for the year 1929—Cmd. 3868.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can give an estimate of the increase of revenue that would result if the privilege of free telephone facilities in the House of Commons were withdrawn?

The revenue assessed at the public tariff rate from local calls originated at the House of Commons is about £325 per annum, and this amount is paid over by the House of Commons Vote to the Post Office revenue. I have no means of estimating what proportion of this sum is represented by free calls originated by Members themselves. The decision whether Members should be charged for local calls rests with the House, and not with the Postmaster-General, and it would appear that the possible saving if Members paid for their calls individually would not be great.

asked the Postmaster-General what, at the latest date when aggregate figures are available, is the total number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank; and what is the total amount of their deposits?

The number of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank at 31st August was approximately 10,292,000, and the total amount of their deposits with accrued interest £294,584,000.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the total number of separate holders of 5 per cent. War Loan who have purchased their holdings through the Post Office; and what is the aggregate amount of capital represented by these holdings?

The total number of holdings of 5 per cent. War Stock on the books of the Post Office on 31st August was approximately 1,006,000. The aggregate amount of capital represented by these holdings is £66,442,000.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the number of separate holders of War and National Savings Certificates; and what is the total capital value of such certificates at present issued?

It is estimated that the present number of separate holdings is 8,000,000. The amount of capital and interest outstanding is approximately £500,000,000 (£378,000,000 capital and £122,000,000 accrued interest).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the total amount of debt owing to this country by Italy at the time when die terms of settlement of that debt were made by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer; the amount received by this country from Italy since the terms were agreed to; and the total amount to be received when the payments are completed;(2) the total amount of debt owing by this country to America at the time when terms of settlement of that debt were made by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer; the amount paid by this country to America since the terms were agreed to; and the total amount to be paid when payments are completed;(3) the total amount of debt owing to this country by France at the time when the terms of settlement of that debt were made by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer; the amount received by this country from France since the terms were agreed to; and the total amount to be received when the payments are completed?

The net War Debt due to Great Britain by Italy as at the date of the signing of the Funding Agreement was £560,000,000. The net amount received since the terms were agreed to is £23,000,000. The total net amount to he received under the Funding Agreement, to the completion of the payments, is £254,550,000. The total amount of debt owing by Great Britain to the United States of America at the date of the signing of the Funding Agreement was $4,600,000,000; the amount paid since the terms were agreed to is $1,351,720,000; and the aggregate amount to be paid under the terms of the Funding Agreement to the completion of the payments is $11,105,965,000. The War Debt due to Great Britain by France as at the date of the signing of the Funding Agreement was £600,000,000. The amount received since the terms were agreed to is £43,625,000. The total amount to be received under the Funding Agreement to the completion of the payments is £799,500,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is proposed to ask the Government nominees on the board of the Suez Canal Company to assist the national Exchequer by contributing a percentage of their existing fees to the State?

The three directors in question are paid by the Suez Canal Company out of the company's funds, and I see no ground on which I could intervene in the manner suggested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of person entirely relieved from Income Tax by the operation of allowances and abatements and the number chargeable with tax before and after the operation of the new regulations?

On the existing basis of taxation it is estimated that about 5,250,000 persons come under review for Income Tax purposes of whom about 3,000,000 are entirely relieved by the various allowances, leaving 2,250,000 actually paying tax. It is very difficult to forecast the effect on these numbers of the changes proposed in the Budget, but it is estimated that the effect will he to increase the numbers actually paying tax by between 1,500,000 and 2,000,000 persons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what way, if any, the Exchequer will recoup itself from the Bank of England in respect of the foreign credit taken up by the British Government and made available by it to the bank?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Bank of England or the Treasury is defraying the cost of the £50,000,000 credit obtained in July for use by the Bank of England in supporting the exchange; whether the recent credits of £80,000,000 are to be used by the Bank of England for similar purposes; and what are the reasons for the costs of this operation being borne by the taxpayer instead of by the Bank of England?

As I informed the hon. Member for Ilkeston (Mr. G. Oliver) on 15th September, the recent credits are not for the purpose of maintaining the credit of the Bank of England, but are for the purpose of maintaining the credit of the country. The foreign currency obtained is Bold to the Bank of England and the sterling sums credited to the British Government are used to reduce the amount of our floating debt at home. The previous credit of £50,000,000 was a Bank of England credit, and any profit is taken or any cost is borne by the Issue Department of the Bank of England. As by Statute all the net profits of the Issue Department belong to the State, it makes no practical difference whether that particular credit was a Bank of England credit or a Treasury credit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what services the commission of 1¼ per cent., amounting in all to nearly £500,000, is being paid to certain New York bankers in connection, with the credits recently obtained by the Treasury for possible use by the Bank of England in supporting the exchange; whether, under the agreement, this amount would have to be paid even though no credits at all were in fact used; and what are the names of the firms to whom these sums are being paid?

The commission of ¼ per cent. represents the consideration for the option granted to His Majesty's Government to draw amounts up to $200,000,000 at any time during the period of one year. This commission is payable whether or not the credits are used. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the names of the participants.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the national emergency, he will abolish the free issue of bound volumes of Parliamentary Debates to Members of the House, and charge Members of the House the price which the public have to pay?

The suggestion made by my hon. Friend is under considera- tion, but I am consulting the Chairman of the Select Committee on Publications in the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number, if any, of additional appointments to the Land Valuation Department made under the Finance Act, 1931, and their cost to the Exchequer?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether staff is still being engaged in connection with the machinery of the land-tax proposals?

The engagement of staff required in connection with Part III of the Finance Act, 1931, is now proceeding. The number so far engaged is 205 and their cost during this financial year is estimated at £27,713. I may say, however, that it is proposed to reduce the expenditure on the valuation during its initial stages and thus to effect a considerable saving on the sum provided by Parliament for the current financial year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when he anticipates being able to put into operation the recommendations of the Tomlin Commission Report regarding the establishing of temporary clerks, typists, and shorthand typists in the Civil Service?

These recommendations are now under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any announcement on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can furnish particulars of the number of works and the work-people employed tinder the Factory and Workshops Acts in which the five-day week system has been discontinued?

I regret that I have no complete information on this point. Only some half dozen cases have been reported by the inspectors in which the system has been discontinued. Generally, their reports are to the effect that once the system has been adopted it is very unusual for firms to revert to a six-day week.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that one of the men who received imprisonment arising out of the disturbance in Manchester on 16th August had gone to the place to search for one of his children when he was assaulted by the police; and if, in these circumstances, he will order an inquiry into the conduct of the police?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, inquiry into the circumstances has been made, and I could find no ground for the complaints of the conduct of the police; there is no ground for ordering further inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Government propose to proceed with the Sunday Performances (Regulation) Bill?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Eye (Mr. Granville) last Monday.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the proposed changes with regard to the inspection of boilers have now

The points raised by the federations have been considered, and I shall be able substantially to meet them. I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as the matter is settled.

asked the President of the Board of Education when the accounts of the Naseby (Northants) Church of England school were last presented to the managers of the school; and how many meetings of the managers have been held since 1st January, 1930?

I regret that I am not in a position to supply the information for which the hon. Member asks, but I am making inquiries.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of wage-earners employed at the St. Hilda, Whitburn, Boldon, and Harton pits, respectively, of the Harton Coal Company, South Shields, on the last date for which the figures are available, and on the corresponding dates in each of the last 10 years?

The information, so far as it is available, is as follows:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government contemplate taking any action with regard to hydrogenation of coal other than by research; and, if so, the nature of such action?

The Government have not yet had an opportunity of considering whether it would be desirable or practicable for them to take any action in regard to the hydrogenation of coal, and I am not therefore able to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Attorney-General if he has considered the memorandum and supplementary memorandum on the high cost of litigation prepared on behalf of the London Chamber of Commerce for submission to the Lord Chancellor; and what action it is proposed to take thereon?

The matter is receiving consideration, but in the present state of public affairs it is not possible to take immediate action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider placing the question of the prohibition of the import of powdered milk before the committee dealing with the prohibition of imports?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by the Prime Minister on 15th September, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many persons became bankrupt in Lancashire between 10th May, 1929, and 22nd August, 1931;(2) how many limited companies having registered offices in Lancashire went into liquidation between 10th May, 1929, and 22nd August, 1931?

1,138 persons became bankrupt in Lancashire between the dates mentioned. It will take some time to get out the corresponding figure for companies going into liquidation, but I will send it to my hon. and learned Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now make a further statement as to the negotiations between His Majesty's Minister to China and the Nanking Chinese Government regarding the disappearance of Mr. John Thorburn last June; and, seeing that, since the representations were made to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek regarding Mr. Thorburn, the European secretary of the Pan-Pacific Trade Union and his wife have been handed over to the Chinese military authorities by the authorities of the international settlement at Shanghai for court-martial on the charge of having carried on Communist propaganda, whether measures will be taken to safeguard the lives of these Europeans?

The report of the new inquiry into the disappearance of Mr. John Thorburn has not vet been received, and His Majesty's Minister has been instructed to press the Chinese authorities to expedite it. With regard to the second part of the question, there could be no justification for the intervention of His Majesty's Government on behalf of the persons referred to since, though they have had many aliases, they are at all events not British subjects.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action, if any, the Foreign Office has taken in regard to the incident at Hankow, on 4th August, when British and American subjects were at tacked by Chinese coolies and were taken to a Chinese prison, where they were refused permission for some time to communicate with their respective Consuls; if he will give the full facts of this incident; and whether any of a similar nature have occurred in other parts of China?

I cannot give the full facts of this incident, since there has not been time for a detailed report by despatch to reach the Foreign Office, but telegraphic summaries bear out my hon. Friend's general description of it. Repeated and energetic representations have been made to the Chinese authorities, as the result of which a Chinese police officer has been punished and dismissed, and further disciplinary action is contemplated. No incidents of a similar nature have been reported from other parts of China.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total amount of the loans made by British investors to States and cities in the United States which have been repudiated; whether any further effort has been made by the British Government to have these loans repaid; and whether he will now reconsider the decision previously arrived at and make representations to the United States Government to secure the repayment of those loans and the unpaid interest which is outstanding?

I would refer the hon. Member to the annual report of the Council of Foreign Bondholders, which gives such information as is available as to the total amount of loans outstanding. His Majesty's Government have not addressed, and do not at the present time propose to address, representations to the United States Government on the subject of these debts, since it is not considered that any useful purpose would be served thereby.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his Department is prepared to co-operate with local authorities in rural counties in order to provide work for unemployed farm labourers and others during the coming winter; and, if so, to what extent?

The proposals of the Government are set out in the White Paper Cmd. 3952, to which I would refer the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men are being asked to accept employment; as surface workers at mines in West Lothian at. 5s. 8½d. a. shift; that many of these men must travel over five miles to the place of employment; and, in the event of their refusal to accept, what action his Department proposes to take in such cases?

I am making inquiries into this matter, and will communicate with the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health how many areas have now been cleared under the Housing Act, 1930; and how many houses have been constructed up to date under this Act?

The returns made to me do not show the number of areas cleared. Up to 30th June last 87 unfit houses in clearance areas and 13 unfit house in improvement areas had been demolished. Up to 31st. August last 278 houses had been completed under the Housing Act, 1930.

asked the Minister of Health what number of houses have been built by each rural district council in Norfolk since 1921; whether he is aware that certain councils are now proposing to stop further building of houses; and whether, since this will increase unemployment in rural areas, he will take steps to prevent it?

I am sending the hon. Member a statement giving the statistical information for which he asks. I am not aware of any such proposal as is mentioned in the second part of the question.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is the intention of the Government to continue the Rent Restrictions Act by means of another Expiring Laws Continuance Act or to initiate fresh legislation; and, if the latter, whether the proposals they will introduce will follow the recommendations of the recent Committee on Rent Restriction

It is proposed to extend the existing Acts by means of the Expiring Laws Continuance Act.

asked the Minister of Health the proportion of preservatives in the Soviet Russian fruit pulp sent to this country; and whether the Ministry is considering the prohibition of all imports of a deleterious character?

The proportion of sulphur dioxide preservative allowed in fruit pulp under the Preservatives Regulations, which apply equally to imported and home-produced fruit, is 3,000 parts per million in cherries, 2,000 in strawberries and raspberries and 1,500 in other fruit. My Department has not received any reports showing that these limits have been exceeded in any samples of Russian pulp imported into this country. As regards the second part of the question, I may say that while under the Imported Food Regulations the importation of certain objectionable articles is specifically prohibited, those regulations also contain general provisions for the seizure and destruction of any articles of food which are found to be diseased, unsound, unwholesome or unfit for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Health, approximately, for each year since 1921, the number of insured persons, male and female, respectively, who have been retained in membership of approved societies without any contribution income from employer and employed under the provisions of the Prolongation Act?

The information asked for by the hon. Member is not available. The desired particulars could only be obtained by a detailed examination of the registers of every approved society and branch over the past 10 years.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons in Great Britain were either killed or injured in road accidents during the month of August in 1929, 1930, and 1931, respectively?

I regret that monthly figures are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the time St. James's Street, S.W., has been under repair, what further period is necessary before the work is completed; and, in view of the congestion of traffic which results therefrom, whether he will consider making this street temporarily into a one-way street, as the half of the road at present available is insufficiently wide to cope with the double flow?

I am informed that the work will be completed by 5th October, and that it would not be desirable to make this street temporarily a "one-way" street, as there is no suitable alternative route for traffic proceeding in the reverse direction.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that complaints are being made that express coaches and commercial vehicles are frequently exceeding the statutory speed-limit, to the danger of pedestrians and motorists; and whether he will bring in an amending Bill to increase the penalties in such cases where convictions are recorded?

The penalties for driving a motor vehicle in excess of the speed allowed by law are for a first offence a fine not exceeding £20 and for a second or subsequent offence a fine not exceeding £50 or imprisonment, for a term not exceeding three months, and I see no reason for increasing these penalties. I may add that so far as public service vehicles are concerned section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, provides that the traffic commissioners shall not grant a road service licence in respect of any route if it appears to them, from the particulars as to journey times required to be furnished under that section, that the speed-limit provisions of the Act are likely to be contravened.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there were cases in the month of June of illegal inshore trawling by Fleetwood trawlers off the coast of county Londonderry; and whether he will take steps to prevent a recurrence of such incidents?

I am aware that one Fleetwood trawler was convicted for illegal fishing off the coast of county Londonderry in June last and was fined £100 and £20 costs. With regard to the second part of the question, the responsibility for policing the fisheries off the coasts of Northern Ireland does not rest with me, but with the Government of Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government have any proposal for dealing with the difficulties in agriculture?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister on Monday last to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Buckrose (Major Braithwaite) on this subject.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the number of acres it is proposed to afforest during the current year; and whether the modified programme will involve a reduction in the number of afforestation workers of all kinds and, if so, how many?

The number of acres it is proposed to afforest next season is not yet definitely fixed, but it will not be less than 20,000. During the last 12 months the average number of State afforestation workers was 3,400. Under the modified programme the number is not expected to fall appreciably below 3,000.