asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the importance in connection with infant welfare of preserving food from infection, he will consider making it a condition of the grant of any future subsidy to the construction of blocks of working-class tenements that apparatus for the refrigeration of food be installed?

I have no authority to impose such a condition, and I am inclined to doubt whether it would be either justifiable or practicable.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses that have been completed each month in 1931 under the Housing Acts, 1924 and 1929?

The following is the answer:

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have reduced their housing programmes since the end of August, and to what extent?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given last week to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for South-East Leeds (Major Milner), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether, and, if so, when, the Government propose to reintroduce the Town and Country Planning Bill of last Session or legislation on similar lines?

I would refer to the answer given to similar questions on the 12th instant, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can tabulate a statement showing what warships of all categories are under construction or projected by the five signatory Powers of the London Naval Treaty?

Following are the tables asked for:

asked the Minister of Health whether any local authorities have restricted their health services since the end of August; and, if so, in what direction have the economies been effected?

I Shave no complete information as to the action which has been taken by local authorities generally after consideration of the circular on the review of local expenditure, which was issued in September last, but the information at my disposal does not suggest that local authorities have restricted the provision already made under their existing health services.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a person residing in Haverton Hill, whose health insurance card containing 26 stamps has been lost, is being refused credit for these stamps, although proof has been obtained that the same were affixed to the card during a period of employment with the Furness Shipbuilding Company, Limited; and, as the person can ill afford to pay for these stamps again, will he inquire into the matter?

If my hon. Friend will give me the full name and address of the person concerned, and, if possible, the name of his approved society, I will look into the case and write to him on the matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the details of the contracts placed by the Admiralty for tea during the last 10 years, stating the amounts of these contracts and the names of the successful firms tendering?

The quantity of tea purchased during the last 10 years has averaged about 1,200,000 lbs. per annum, all of Indian or Ceylon origin. It is not in the public interest to publish details of the contracts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that imports of coal from this country into France have been restricted under the decree issued in July last to 80 per cent. of the monthly averages in the three years 1928 to 1930, and that this restriction has now been supplemented by the enforcement, without any warning, of a new Sur-tax of 15 per cent., which represents 3s. per ton on coal imported from this country; and, as this will fall with peculiar hardship on the export trade of this country, especially South Wales, what steps, if any, the Government are taking to deal with the matter?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, His Majesty's Government have addressed representations to the French Government.

asked the Secretary for Mines what measures have been taken by Continental countries to protect their own coal industries and their coal export markets; what form the measures have taken; and the value per ton of any concession made by the Governments on the export of coal from those countries?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on Tuesday by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the Noble Lord the Member for Lanark (Lord Dunglass). As regards the remainder of the question, preferential rates for the movement of coal consigned to contested markets are granted by the State railways in Poland, France, Belgium and Czechoslovakia, and by the railway company in Germany. In Czechoslovakia the coal tax is remitted on export coal. The coal industries in Poland and Germany also assist the sale of coal in contested markets, Poland by charging much lower pithead prices for coal for export than for coal for inland consumption, Germany by drawing on the proceeds of a levy on all coal sold. I regret that I have no data available by which to measure the value per ton of the Governmental concessions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the volume and value of imports of lead, coloured and copying pencils in wood, pipes (tobacco), finished, pipes (tobacco) unfinished, and wall papers, in the 10 months 1st January to 31st October, and in the single month of October, respectively, in the years 1930 and 1931, together with figures showing the quantities of such goods sold in Great Britain and manufactured in Great Britain, respectively, during the same periods?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of cotton hosiery and lisle hosiery, respectively, imported into this country during 1931 to the latest available date and the corresponding imports between the same dates in 1930; and whether he will include such imports in the next schedule of duties under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act, 1931?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Government to include needles, fish-hooks, and latch-needles in orders issued under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider including foreign hats and hoods in his list of 20th November; and if he can give the figures of import for the year 1930 as compared with the year 1924?

The following table shows, in respect of the under-mentioned commodities, the total quantity and declared value of the imports into the United Kingdom during the 10 months ended October, and the month of October, 1930 and 1931, respectively. Separate particulars are not available in regard to coloured, lead and copying, pencils in wood or wall papers as such, nor do the trade returns distinguish between finished and unfinished pipes for smoking. I regret that information is not available in my Department regarding the sales and production of these goods during these periods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will take immediate steps to amend or include within the Customs Importation Order (No. 978), 1931, all manufactured articles mainly consisting of wool or linen, in order to prevent foreign manufacturers escaping the duty by sending in manufactured goods in place of tissues?(2) whether he will observe the principle, in the imposition of all future duties, that fully manufactured articles shall bear duties at least equal to any imposed on the semi-manufactured article from which such goods are made?

I will refer my hon. Friends to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Members for Barnstaple (Sir B. Peto) Ealing (Sir F. Sanderson) and South-East Leeds (Major Milner). The desired figures relating to the imports of cotton hosiery and hats will be found in the Trade and Navigation Accounts for October last (p. 59) and in Volume II of the Annual Statement of Trade for the years 1924 (pp. 267–8) and 1230 (p. 232) respectively; particulars as regards lisle hosiery are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the total amount and value of cellophane imported into Great Britain for the years 1928 and 1929, and the first nine months of 1930 and 1931;(2) the total amount and value of transparent paper imported into Great Britain for the first nine months of 1930 and the first nine months of 1931; and the total value and amount of manufactured middles imported into Great Britain during the same period;(3) the total amount and value of glazed transparent wrapping paper imported into Great Britain for the years 1928 and 1929, and the first nine months of 1930 and 1931?

I regret that the desired information is not available as these articles are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the area and value of cotton ducks between the weights of 8 oz. and 33 oz. per square yard which were brought into the country for the first 10 months of 1930 and also of 1931; and the figures of imports of these goods during the first three weeks of November, 1931?

I regret that the desired information is not available, as the imports of cotton ducks are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of fresh liquid milk has been imported into this country during the last week; and what is the declared value per gallon and to whom has it been consigned?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on Tuesday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. Herbert) respecting the objections to statistics for shorter periods than one month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been made for drawbacks on the export of goods which have paid duties under the Abnormal Importations Act; and whether he will publish a list showing the conditions and terms upon which drawback will be allowed to manufacturers on goods made out of materials which have been subject to tax under the provisions of this Act?

The Act contains no provision for drawback, but Section 5 expressly provides that it

"shall not apply to articles imported for exportation after transit through the United Kingdom or by way of transhipment."

asked the President of the Board of Trade in respect of the articles included in the order under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act, 1931, on 21st November, the total in value imported in October and to the latest available date in November anterior to the order for each of the last three years, and in general the extent in value to which the importation was abnormal, and the total imports for 1930?

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent of the recent imports of gloves, other than rubber gloves, wrapping and other paper, men's and boys' suits, overcoats and mantles, tissues wholly or partly of linen, linen and partly linen handkerchiefs, tyres and tubes for cycles other than motor-cycles, toilet requisites, perfumery and cosmetics other than essential oils, perfumed spirits and soap, electrical vacuum cleaners, manufactures wholly or partly of wool, cutlery, domestic glassware, furniture, pottery for domestic use, glazed wall and hearth tiles, typewriters and parts thereof, stockings or hose wholly or partly of silk or artificial silk, wireless sets and component parts, heels and soles wholly or partly of rubber, tools for carpenters, engineers, joiners, and mechanics, saw drills, bits for machines, metal vices, cramps, and lino- leum, oilcloth, and similar floor coverings, respectively, exceeded the normal imports of these articles in past years?

A White Paper will be published shortly giving information for a number of comparable periods as to the importations covered by the Order made on 20th November. For most of the articles covered by the Order further information is available in the Monthly Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet approached any other country with a view to having its tariffs against us reduced?

I would refer to the answer given on 24th November by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to a question by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the growth in the import of tea from outside the Empire, he will impose a duty on such tea, both in the interests of the industry in India and Ceylon and to the advantage of the revenue of this country?

I am unable to make any statement on this subject at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any subsidy will be paid to National Flying Services, Limited, after next July, in view of the need for national economy and in view of this company's failure to carry out their agreement with the Government over the provision of aerodromes and landing places?

Under the terms of the agreement with National Flying Services, Limited, payments of grants after 31st July next are conditional on the company's fulfilment of their undertaking to provide a stipulated number of aerodromes and landing grounds; the agree- meat also provides for a reduction in the rate of grants after 31st July next in any event.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that 10 American film-producing companies, operating through their agents in this country, remit in the aggregate to the United States of America each year between £7,000,000 and £8,000,000, after paying their agents selling expenses in this country; is he aware that these sums remitted are not subject to Income Tax in this country though they are mainly profits made in this country; and will he take steps to deal with this?

I am unable to confirm the correctness of my hon. Friend's figures. He will, of course, appreciate that the full amounts remitted abroad in respect of the hire of cinematograph films will not normally represent profits within the meaning of the Income Tax Acts. I can assure him that steps are taken in the ordinary course to secure the assessment of the tax which is legally due in these cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total cost incurred by the Government on the sale of three months' Treasury Bills since the increase of the Bank Rate to 6 per cent.; and the total amount of such bills sold to the money market up to and including the week ending 21st November, 1931

The total amount of three months' Treasury Bills issued by public tender from 21st September, 1931, to 21st November, 1931, is £353,935,000, and the amount of the interest thereon for three months, £4,784,283 2s. 6d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount collected in Scotland for national revenue for the last financial year; and what proportion of that sum is earmarked for purely Scottish services?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Cathcart Division (Mr. Train) on 24th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why inspectors of taxes are requiring of small shopkeepers that their accounts for the purpose of assessing Income Tax should be prepared by a qualified accountant, which involves a considerable expense; and is he aware that the statements made by the persons concerned are not accepted, and that the assessments have been raised as much as over 50 per cent. without any evidence as to the accuracy of the increase?

I am not aware that such requirements as are suggested in the question are being made. If, however, the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, I shall be pleased to loots into the matter if he will communicate with me. I would remind him that the Income Tax assessments in these cases are made not by the inspectors of taxes but by the various bodies of Income Tax commissioners.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in relation to the forthcoming International Conference on Currency, he will examine and take into consideration the question of the adoption of a system of symmetallism?

As regards the question of an International Conference on Currency, I would refer the hon. and gallant. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for the Colchester Division (Mr. Lewis) on 12th November. If and when such 'a conference is held, any proposals that may be put forward will, of course, receive the full consideration of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the proportion, respectively, of hotels and restaurants which now pay their annual licence according to 25 per cent. of the annual licence value or according to the proportion that receipts from intoxicating liquors bear to total receipts; and whether he will consider the desirability of grading all hotel licences according to the status of each such hotel and restaurant, thereby affording an indication to visitors as to prices and comfort such as exists in most other countries on the Continent?

I regret that statistics on the subject of the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question are not available, and the figures for which he asks could only be obtained at the cost of disproportionate labour and expense. With regard to the second part, I do not think this suggestion comes within the province of the Treasury.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, with a view to making available to raisers of stock supplies of cheaper wheat-feed and at the same time increasing employment in the milling industry, he will consider taking steps to admit ground wheat-flour into this country by licence only, to be followed by total prohibition as soon as British mills are capable of milling the whole quantity of home requirements?

Under our treaty obligations it would only be possible to regulate, by a system of licensing, the importation of flour as part of a comprehensive scheme for regulating also the marketing of the output of flour from United Kingdom mills.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that imported potatoes, intended primarily for consumption, are frequently used as seed by smallholders and allotment holders, and that these potatoes are not submitted to any sort of Government inspection, and may be attacked by wart disease or other diseases common to potatoes imported from abroad; and whether, as their use as seed potatoes increases the risk of the spread of such diseases in this country, he intends to take any steps to prevent this?

The Wart Disease of Potatoes Order of 1923 prohibits the planting in England and Wales of any potatoes grown outside Great Britain and Ireland unless such planting has been authorised by my Department. I am arranging for renewed publicity to be given to this requirement before the commencement of the next planting season. I would remind my hon. Friend that imported potatoes are required to be accompanied by an official certificate of health, and that uncertified consignments are not allowed to be distributed until they have been officially examined And passed as healthy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any steps have been taken or are in contemplation towards the appointment of reorganisation commissioners under the Agricultural Marketing Act?

No steps have yet been taken in the appointment of reorganisation commissioners, but I am prepared to consider any representations from the industry upon the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any active steps are being taken by the Government to make the Agricultural Marketing Act effective?

No, Sir. Only the agricultural producers of England, Wales and Scotland can make the Agricultural Marketing Act effective.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of farmers in England who have been declared bankrupt during the past three months?

Sixty-three farmers were declared bankrupt during the three months August, September and October.

asked the Prime Minister the intentions of the Government with regard to the London Passenger Transport Bill?

Certain discussions are proceeding in regard to this Bill and, until they are completed, I can announce no decision.