asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in assessing the duties payable on selected imports under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act, he has taken into consideration any assistance which may be given by the different importing countries to stimulate their export trade to this country; and whether, in all these cases, he will consider, if necessary, an increase of duty to counteract the effect of measures such as indicated which may have the result of nullifying such import duties as we have imposed?

There is power under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act to impose duties up to 100 per cent. ad valorem. If any less duty that is imposed fails to reduce the abnormal imports, I shall, of course, consider what further action I can take within my powers under the Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give any information as to the amount of frozen fresh milk imported into this country from abroad?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on 12th November to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Newbury (Brigadier-General Clifton Brown).

asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures of the total imports into the United Kingdom of iron and steel products during the first three weeks of November, 1931, as compared to the figures of 1930 for the same period?

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 the value of importations of vegetable parchment and of paper for newspapers during the months of September and October, 1931, respectively?

The total declared value of the imports of vegetable parchment and greaseproof paper (including substitutes therefor) into the United Kingdom registered during September and October, 1931, was £186,381 and £184,791, respectively. The value of the imports of news printing paper during these months amounted to £413,364 and £358,031, respectively. Separate particulars in regard to the imports of vegetable parchment are not available, as such information is not compiled by the Customs authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the imports of glazed kid from France from 1st November to the latest date available; and what was the percentage increase on the imports during the same period of 1930?

Particulars of the imports of glace kid dressed upper leather into the United Kingdom consigned from France are published monthly in the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" and figures for November will be contained in the next issue (on 11th December). As regards imports during the expired portion of November, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on Tuesday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. Herbert).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to state the value of foreign combs, under Class III, Group T, imported into this country between the dates 1st and 10th November and the dates 11th and 20th November, 1931?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on Tuesday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. Herbert) as regards statistics for shorter periods than one month. I may add that in any case combs are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of foreign slates imported during the 12 months ended 31st October, 1931; and whether, having regard to the depression in the slate-quarrying industry, it is the intention of the Government to take any action to protect this industry?

During the 12 months ended 31st October, 1931, the total imports of roofing slates into the United Kingdom registered as consigned from foreign countries amounted to 35,443 cwts. valued at £209,278. As regards the second part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 25th November to the hon. Members for Barnstaple (Sir B. Peto), Ealing (Sir F. Sanderson) and South-East Leeds (Major Milner).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of fresh milk imported from Ireland, Denmark and Holland separately into this country during the last three months, separately, to the most convenient date?

During the months of August, September and October, 1931, the total weight of fresh milk imported into the United Kingdom was 4,935 cwts., 3,330 cwts., and 4,589 cwts., respectively, all of which was consigned from the Irish Free State, principally over the land boundary into Northern Ireland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the desirability of excluding from participation in our coastal trade ships bearing the flag of those countries which exclude our ships from their coastal trade?

I am not satisfied that such action in regard to the coasting trade of the United Kingdom would be of any real benefit to British shipping as a whole.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that decolourising carbon for use in subsidised British beet sugar factories is purchased from foreign sources; and, seeing that British carbon is suitable in quality and in price, what steps he proposes to take with a view to encouraging the use of British activated carbon?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Of the 18 sugar-beet factories in Great Britain, only five use decolourising carbon in the manufacture of sugar from home-grown beet, and while I have no power to impose on the factories any condition as to the source of the materials they use, I should be glad to consult with my hon. Friend as to the steps which might usefully be taken to encourage the use of the British product.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the inflow of recruits has been affected adversely by the recent reductions in Army pay?

For reasons of economy it has been decided to restrict the inflow of recruits. Under the higher standards that are now in force the numbers recruited have been completely satisfactory.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of horses purchased by the military authorities for each of the past five years from Great Britain, the Irish Free State, and foreign countries; and whether in future he will arrange for such purchases to be made solely from Great Britain?

The figures asked for in the first part of the question are given below. As regards the second part, it is the policy to purchase horses in Great Britain whenever possible, but at present the supply is not sufficient to meet requirements, and a, proportion of the horses are obtained from the Irish Free State. Horses are only purchased from foreign countries for troops stationed in or near those countries.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses demolished in connection with improvement and reconstruction schemes during the years ended 30th September, 1930, and 1931, and the number of persons housed or rehoused under such schemes during those years?

During the years ended 30th September, 1930, and 30th September, 1931, respectively, the number of houses demolished under the Housing Act, 1930, and under improvement and reconstruction schemes confirmed under previous legislation were 1,930 and 2,290, but the number of persons actually rehoused during these years cannot be stated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have been reconditioned under the Housing (Rural Workers) Act in each of the counties of Aberdeen and Kincardine up to the most convenient recent date; and how many have been reconditioned in the whole of Scotland up to the same date?

At the 30th September, 1931, the latest date for which returns are available, work had been completed on 849 houses in the county of Aberdeen and on 87 houses in the county of Kincardine. At the same date work had been completed on 6,810 houses in the whole of Scotland.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of coloured seamen who are normally employed in the ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and for what purpose they are necessary?

The total number of coloured seamen normally employed in the ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service is 554 made up as follows:

• 382 Chinese
• 139 Lascars
• 33 West Indians.

Of these numbers 166 Chinese, 94 Lascars and all the West Indians are employed in vessels which are based on foreign stations for attendance on the Fleet, and do not come to this country. The remainder, namely: 216 Chinese and 45 Lascars are in vessels employed freighting oil in Eastern waters which only come to this country occasionally for repairs.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, having in view the fact that His Majesty's Ship "Revenge," now refitting at Devonport, is manned by a Portsmouth crew, he will consider the possibility of this vessel making a visit to Portsmouth before proceeding on foreign service for 2½ years on 11th December?

His Majesty's Ship "Revenge" paid a special visit to Portsmouth for six days on her return from the Mediterranean last May. She has since re-commissioned a week ago, and her new ship's company were granted 10 days' drafting leave before leaving Portsmouth to join their ship at Devonport. I regret that the programme for the return of His Majesty's Ship "Revenge" to the Mediterranean Station will not permit of her visiting Portsmouth again.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is satisfied that the coal quota system will facilitate the revival of British industry and export trade; and, if not, whether he will consider the early introduction of amending legislation?

The effect of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, upon industry and upon the export trade is a matter on which I find that opinion is much divided, and, as I informed the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Remer) on 19th November, I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware of the danger of the scheme for the hydrogenation of oil from coal by Imperial Chemical Industries being abandoned owing to its cost; and whether he will consider taking steps to assist in having this process continued?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part of the question therefore does not arise.