asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made inquiries into the complaints sent to him of the prevalence of illegal trawling on the west coast of Scotland; and if he proposes to take any steps to stop a practice which is causing hardship to the local fishing community?

The complaint recently sent to me by my right hon. Friend is being investigated. This is the only complaint of illegal trawling on the West Coast which I have received, but I can assure my right hon. Friend that all possible steps are being taken for the suppression of illegal trawling; and that every complaint reaching the Fishery Board will receive prompt attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of inspectors who have been appointed to inquire into transitional benefit cases in the Burghs of Airdrie, Coatbridge, Hamilton, Motherwell and Wishaw, and Rutherglen; and the number appointed for the County of Lanark outside the burghs named?

The additional staff which it was proposed to engage for this purpose, according to the latest information available was

• 4 in Airdrie,
• 7 in Coatbridge,
• 6 in Hamilton,
• 7 in Motherwell and Wishaw,
• 4 in Rutherglen,

and 26 in the county exclusive of the burghs. These numbers include staff employed wholly or mainly on clerical and typing duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will have an inquiry set up into the action of the Glasgow police in connection with the unemployed demonstration on 1st October, 1931, in which a large number of people were batoned in the streets and arrested?

I am not aware of any circumstances which would call for action on my part on the lines suggested in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Glasgow Corporation were during the summer threatened with a withdrawal of the housing grants if they changed tenants from steel houses to ordinary corporation houses; and whether objection is still taken to this proposed change?

The Department of Health for Scotland have no power to withhold housing subsidy, on the ground that the corporation have transferred tenants from steel houses to corporation houses, and no suggestion that this would be done was made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now considered the memorial addressed to him by the Ayr and Troon Town Councils with regard to the position of Ayr and Troon harbours; and what acion he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received a memorial addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to which my hon. and gallant Friend presumably refers. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company have made application for a renewal for one year of the order authorising the charges at present in force at the harbours of Ayr and Troon. The application will be referred to the Rates Advisory Committee, and I must await their report before coming to a decision in the matter. I may add that persons affected, who lodge objections to the application, will have an opportunity of being heard by this committee.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the communication from a conference of local authorities in North Wales calling attention to the depression in the slate industry, and urging the desirability of making it a condition of all housing grants that all materials used in connection with housing schemes should, as far as practicable, be of United Kingdom origin; and whether he can see his way to give effect to the policy suggested in the communication?

I have received the communication to which my hon. Friend refers. A circular has been issued to local authorities urging them to make the fullest use possible of British goods and, as my hon. Friend is aware, a national campaign to this end has been inaugurated. Special legislation would be necessary to give effect to my hon. Friend's proposal as to the imposition of a condition.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the overcrowding in the city of Liverpool and lack of internal sites, he will be prepared to receive a deputation from the Liverpool housing committee who are desirous, with the sanction of the city council, of securing the Regent Road site, a scheme for the acquisition of which was recently turned down by the Ministry?

I have not received any request for such an interview from the corporation of Liverpool, but if such a request is made, it will, of course, receive all proper consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will, before disposing of any complaints from British trawlermen fishing off Iceland, consult the British Consul in Iceland as to the means sometimes employed to evade the legal restrictions respecting the three-mile limit in operation in Icelandic waters?

My right hon. Friend proposes to maintain the practice followed by his predecessors, and to avail himself, when necessary, of the assistance of His Majesty's Consul-General at Reykjavik in determining whether any complaint by a British trawler engaged in the Icelandic fisheries is justified, before causing representations on the subject to be made to the Icelandic Government.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit in each of the Employment Exchanges in the county of Lanark at the end of July, 1931, and the number in receipt of unemployment benefit at the end of October, 1931?

Statistics showing the number of persons on the registers at a given date who are actually in receipt of benefit are not available, but the following table shows the numbers with claims to benefit admitted or under consideration at the end of July, and the end of October, 1931.

Employment Exchange.	Persons with claims to benefit admitted or under consideration.
	27th July, 1931.	26th October, 1931.
Aidrie	5,838	5,063
Cambuslang	3,145	3,009
Carluke	1,442	1,165
Coatbridge	7,418	7,013
Bridgeton	16,499	16,474
Finnieston	5,535	6,108
Glasgow Central	9,139	10,248
Glasgow South Side	17,367	18,925
Govan	9,045	10,308
Kinning Park	6,112	6,418
Kirkintilloch	1,152	1,325
Maryhill	7,160	7,942
Parkhead	10,685	10,764
Partick	9,058	10,192
Rutherglen	2,701	2,669
Springburn	9,616	10,194
Hamilton	5,722	5,179
Lanark	624	807
Larkhall	1,686	1,630
Lesmahagow	859	801
Motherwell	9,681	8,770
Shotts	3,298	1,784
Uddingston	2,016	1,699
Wishaw	4,810	4,385
East Kilbride	176	182
Strathaven	251	237
	151,035	153,291

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who have gone off the unemployment register at the various Exchanges in the county of Lanark in consequence of their having found employment between 31st July and 14th November, 1931?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of juveniles registered as unemployed at the Chatham, Kent, Employment Exchange at the last convenient date?

There were 442 boys and 339 girls on the registers of the Juvenile Employment Bureau at Chatham at 16th November, 1931. The register of this bureau includes applicants from Rochester and Gillingham.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men between the ages of 60 and 65 who are registered as fully unemployed; the total number of men of all ages who have been on the unemployed register for the six months ended 31st October last as totally unemployed; the number of men over 65 now on the unemployed register; and if the latter category are included in the weekly return?

Figures relative to the first three points are not available for any date later than 2nd February, 1931. As the result of an inquiry by way of sample made on that date, it was found that there were on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain approximately 100,000 men aged 60–64 wholly unemployed; 340,000 men of all ages who had been continuously unemployed for six months or more; and about 2,000 men over 65 years of age. Persons aged 65 or over who register for employment are included in the weekly statistics of unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed men, women, and juveniles in Bethnal Green at any convenient date in October and November, 1928, 1929, 1930, and 1931, respectively?

The following table gives the information desired.

asked the Minister of Health the total income during the last financial year from employers, employés, and the Exchequer under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, and the amount expended in benefits during the same period?

The finances of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, are not kept separate from those of the Contributory Pensions Act, 1929. The amounts under both Acts for the year ended 31st March, 1931, are as follow:

	£
Receipts from contributions (of which the portions payable by employers and employés are estimated to be £12,061,000 and £11,377,000 respectively)	23,438,000
Receipts from the Exchequer	9,000,000
Amount expended in benefits (including expenses of administration)	34,607,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government propose to accept and put into force the recommendations made by the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations with regard to Iraq and the protection of minorities on the entry of that country into the League?

The Permanent Mandates Commission has not yet made its recommendations so far as I am aware. In any event, its recommendations will be made not to His Majesty's Government but to the Council of the League of Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will issue a statement showing the total income and total expenditure of the League of Nations since its inception; and the detailed contributions, both in amount sterling and percentage to the total income, of the League from each country for the last financial year, with details of contributing countries, if any, who are in arrear with their payments?

The total income and total expenditure of the League of Nations since it was founded are £11,290,079 and £11,079,090, respectively, the difference between income and expenditure being accounted for by what is called the Working Capital Fund, which is a fund kept in hand by the Secretariat of the League of Nations to meet current expenses. The contributions paid by various States, members of the League, for the last financial year, that is, the 13th financial period (1931), are as follow:

	Gold Francs.
Albania (on account)	823.12
Abyssinia (entire contribution)	62,090.74
Australia (on account)	680,822.35
Austria (entire contribution)	249,438.23
Belgium (on account)	388,695.00
China (on account)	719,427.80
Colombia (on account)	37,408.84
Czechoslovakia (entire contribution)	822,105.09
Denmark (entire contribution)	363,555.96
Estonia (on account)	68,799.00
Finland (on account)	227,824.15
Prance (on account)	1,816,861.38
Germany (on account)	1,853,315.94
Great Britain (entire contribution)	3,225,042.12
Greece (entire contribution)	211,473.22
Hungary (on account)	184,361.76
India (entire contribution)	1,705,811.54
Irish Free State (on account)	155,226.86
Italy (on account)	1,374,207.01
Japan (on account)	914,639.03
Latvia (entire contribution)	91,270.39
Lithuania (on account)	114,017.20
Luxemburg (entire contribution)	29,640.32
Netherlands (entire contribution)	700,763.83
New Zealand (entire contribution	306,163.02
Nicaragua (on account)	9,198.92
Norway (entire contribution)	270,318.51
Panama (on account)	162.68
Poland (on account)	699,651.00
Portugal (entire contribution)	177,315.85
Rumania (entire contribution)	664,865,02
Siam (entire contribution)	274,883.42
South Africa (entire contribution)	449,923.88
Spain (entire contribution)	1,219,851.15
Sweden (entire contribution)	545,333.76
Switzerland (entire contribution)	515,506.04
Venezuela (entire contribution)	152,184.84
Yugoslavia (on account)	151,783.84
	21,494,762.31

The total income of the League of Nations for that period is 30,141,679.67 gold francs (25.22 gold francs equals £1 at par of exchange). As the contributions for 1931 have not yet been fully paid it is not possible to give the percentage figures asked for. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall) on 16th November.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of definite orders for telephone installations which are not executed at the present moment; the maximum amount of time which has elapsed since any individual order was placed; the number of complaints of inefficient telephone service received in the past year; and the distribution of such complaints between the automatic and the ordinary service?

There were 9,244 orders in course of execution on 31st October last. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available; but of the 19,630 new services provided during October, 59 per cent. were completed within one week, and 78 per cent. within two weeks. Every endeavour is made and will continue to be made to complete orders within a week. I may say when delay of more than a fortnight occurs it is usually due to causes outside Post Office control, such as the need for obtaining wayleaves. I am giving special attention to this matter with the object of speeding up the provision of the telephone service. During the year ended September, 1931, one written complaint was made for every 25,000 originated calls. Separate figures for the manual and automatic systems are not readily available, but in the last seven years, during which there has been a considerable development of the automatic system, the proportion of complaints has steadily decreased each year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will consider the reinstatement of the rights, status and uniform granted to the cadets affiliated to the British National Cadet Association prior to 1930, providing this will not involve a charge on public funds?

The position of the cadet corps is receiving the consideration of the Secretary of State, and, as I stated last Tuesday, I hope to be able to announce a decision a little later on.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the number of writing assistants appointed to his Department during the current financial year; whether it is intended to make any further appointments of female writing assistants between now and 31st March, 1933; if so, what number; and how many retirements of established male officers are expected to occur between DOW and the end of the current financial year?

Twenty-four writing assistants have been appointed to the Admiralty service since 1st April, 1931. Further appointments of writing assistants will probably be made before 31st March, 1933, but it is not possible at present to state the number. The retirements of established male officers of all grades from the Admiralty service between the present date and the end of the current financial year are expected to number 47.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures of manufactured imports taken by England, America, France, Germany, Holland, Russia, Poland, and Denmark during the years 1929 and 1930?

The following statement shows the value of goods classed as manufactures imported into the under-mentioned countries during the years 1929 and 1930, so far as the particulars are available:

—	On International Classification.	On National Classification.
	1929.	1929.	1930.
	£'000	£'000	£'000
United Kingdom	235,100	306,702	284,352
United States of America.	235,300	387,978	280,507
	(a)		(a)
France	94,900	79,937	90,425
	(a)		(a)
Germany	111,100	111,077	87,993
Netherlands	94,600	95,813	89,744
Soviet Union (Russia).	35,100	35,120	60,097
Poland	32,900	32,876	23,803
Denmark	Not available	45,582	Not yet available
(a) Provisional figures

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities and values of the imports from the Soviet Union for the 10 months ended 31st October, 1931, of the following: Barley, oats, maize, maize starch, bacon, ham, frozen pork, canned salmon, other fish, raw fruit, canned or bottled fruit, confectionery, glucose, pulp wood, raw cotton, linseed, rapeseed, mohair, plywood, doors and window frames, woollen carpets and rugs, petroleum (refined), maize starch (not for edible purposes), copper (bars, blocks, slabs, ingots, and cakes), copper (plates, strips, and rods), and crude zinc?

I regret that the precise figures asked for by my Noble Friend cannot be made available without an expenditure of labour and money which, I am afraid could hardly be justified at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the weight and value of the imports of iron and steel during the 10 days ended 20th November, 1931, and, for comparison, the corresponding figures for the comparable period for the month of October, 1931?

Import figures for short isolated periods are liable to give a misleading impression as to the course of trade, and consequently I do not propose to give statistics for shorter periods than one month in respect of any individual categories of goods, except so far as may be desirable in connection with the making of an Order under the Abnormal importations (Customs Duties) Act relating to such goods.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will ask the traffic commissioners to review the transport facilities of the village of Otterburn, Northumberland, in view of the fact that there is no railway within seven miles, and that the compulsory reduction of omnibus services makes it more difficult for Otterburn people to get into Newcastle?

As I have already informed my hon. and gallant Friend in answer to previous questions, the licensing of road passenger services is a matter for the traffic commissioners set up under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, and I have no jurisdiction in regard to any particular case except an appeal being made to me under the provisions of Section 81 of the Act. So far as I am aware, no appeal has been lodged up to the present in respect of services between Otterburn and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I have caused inquiries to be made, however, and am informed that even the reduced winter service proposed by the commissioners will allow for four services in each direction on the direct route between Otterburn and Newcastle on ordinary week-days and an extra service on Saturdays. In summer the service is to be substantially increased.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes now or in the near future to take any steps to diminish or control the importation of bacon and pig products?

The question raised by my hon. and gallant Friend will certainly come under review in the consideration by the Government of its agricultural policy, but I am not at present in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department will compile a record of the volume of products of an agricultural nature which have been imported into this country in excessive quantities during the past year, and especially in the last month; and whether he will take steps to ascertain in each case the effect of such importation on the well-being of British agriculture?

The inquiries on which my Department is engaged on this subject cover both the suggestions put forward by the Noble Lord.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the serious position of the bulb-growing industry in this country by reason of abnormal imports of foreign bulbs; and whether he is prepared to take any immediate action to protect this industry?

I am not aware that the recent increase in the number of bulbs imported into this country has adversely affected the sale of home-grown bulbs. On the contrary, I understand that English growers have experienced a satisfactory demand for bulbs this season. I am, however, giving careful consideration to the position generally of the bulb and flower industry in connection with the Government's agricultural policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can now state whether the Government expect to be able to make a statement on its proposals for the relief of agriculture before the House rises for the Recess?

I have nothing to acid to the replies I gave yesterday to questions by my hon. Friend the Member for the Forest of Dean (Dr. Worthington) and others on the subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the present approximate amount being paid out weekly in wages and salaries to the staff engaged under Part III of the Finance Act, 1931?

The amount payable in wages and salaries to the staff in question is, approximately, £2,900 per week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is aware that co-operative society funds are freely used for political propaganda; and if he will take steps to make this expenditure liable to Income Tax;(2) whether, in view of the favoured trading position of certain co-operative societies when compared with other traders, he intends to give instructions that Income Tax be collected from these societies in precisely the same way as is done from all other traders?

The changes suggested would involve legislation. They are therefore matters, not of administration, but of Budgetary policy, and I am afraid that I cannot anticipate the Budget Statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will include on the agenda for the forthcoming Imperial Economic Conference any proposals for the unification and simplification of trade statistics throughout the Empire?

The Imperial Conference, of 1930 recommended that a Conference of the statistical officers of the various parts of the British Commonwealth should be held at Ottawa, and when it assembles, I hope that the subjects mentioned by the hon. Member will come under consideration.