asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take the necessary steps as a contribution to our social services to give assistance to blinded and disabled soldiers and other blind persons by placing a tariff upon foreign imports of baskets, wooden toys, fibre mats, nets, wool rugs, and leather work, without rigid insistence upon economic considerations?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on 8th December to my Noble Friend the Member for Newark (Mar- quess of Titchfield) and other hon. Members.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of rags imported into this country during the months of September, October, and November in 1930 and 1931, respectively; and whether he is prepared to deal with these imports by legislation in the near future?

My hon. and gallant Friend will find particulars of the imports into the United Kingdom of woollen rags on page 37 of the monthly "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom," and of linen and cotton rags for paper-making on page 44 of these Accounts. The figures for September and October have already been published, while those for November will be published to-morrow. These articles are included in Class II of the trade accounts and do not therefore come within the scope of the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of soap imported from Russia during the years 1929, 1930, and 1931, respectively?

During the years 1929 and 1930 and the first 10 months of 1931, the quantity of soap of all kinds imported into the United Kingdom and registered as consigned from the Soviet Union amounted to 20 cwt., 34,365 cwts., and 28,540 cwts., respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total imports from foreign countries of newsprint paper during the past 10 months and the total imports for the previous 10 months; and similar imports from British Empire countries?

During the 10 months ended 31st October, 1931, the total imports of news printing paper into the United Kingdom consigned from foreign countries and British countries amounted to 1,645,000 cwts., and 3,570,000 cwts., respectively. During the 10 months ended 31st December, 1930, they were 2,027,000 cwts. and 4,166,000 cwts., respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the number of cream separators imported into this country during the year 1930;

My hon. Friend will find the particulars in respect of cream separators on page 31 of Volume I of the "Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom" for 1930. Statistics of the imports of stationary petrol and Diesel engines, as such, are not separately recorded in the trade returns, but my hon. Friend will find particulars of the imports of internal combustion engines of various descriptions on page 32 of the same publication.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the recent imports of tinned barns and tongues, he will take steps to amend the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act so as to include these articles?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the abnormal importation of cork, especially during the past two months, he will consider the extension of the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act, 1931, so as to include the cork industry?

My hon. and gallant Friends' suggestions have been noted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of Christmas trees imported annually, and of hedging and screens for housing work, such as rhododendrons, privet and laurels?

Complete information in regard to Christmas trees is not available, but the value of the imports into the United Kingdom of Christmas trees, declared as such on importation, amounted to £8,980 in 1929 and £8,092 in 1930. I have no information regarding the imports of the other items mentioned, as these are not separately enumerated in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the imports of manufactured granite, monumental and architectural, for the months of August, September, and October, 1931?

During the months of August, September and October, 1931, the total declared value of the imports of monumental and architectural granite into the United Kingdom amounted to 221,371, £19,460, and £21,201, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the abnormal imports of manufactured box boards or shooks, he will consider their inclusion in an order under the Act at an early date?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the amount of imports of rabbit skins and furs, he will be prepared to include these in an order under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the imports of binder and reaper twine in October, 1931, were 3,135 cwts. as against only 562 cwts. in October, 1930, he is prepared to include this industry in the next list of duties under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take early steps to stop the abnormal importation of artificial silk into this country, particularly in regard to the fact that artificial silk produced in this country bears an excise duty of 1s. per lb.?

I will refer my hon. Friends to the reply given on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland (Mr. L. Thompson) and several other hon. Members on 8th December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether cotton sheets are included among quilts, counterpanes, and other bed-coverings, and, if not, in what group they are included; what are the quantities and values of the goods comprised in this group imported into this country in August, September, October, and November in each of the years 1924, 1930, and 1931; and if he can give any comparative figures concerning past and present imports of cotton sheets;

The imports of cotton sheets and cotton blankets into the United Kingdom are recorded by value only under the general heading "Made-up cotton goods for household purposes—Quilts, counterpanes and other bed coverings." The following table shows the value of the imports recorded under this heading during each month from August to November, 1930 and 1931. Similar particulars in respect of 1924 are not available. As my hon. Friend was informed on Tuesday last, I am unable to give any information concerning the imports of cotton sheets and cotton blankets.Total declared value of the imports into the United Kingdom of made-up cotton goods for household purposes—Quilts, counterpanes, and other bed-coverings, during the months of August, September, October, and November, 1930 and 1931.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will lay a White Paper giving in tabular form the deputations received by him and the Parliamentary Secretary during the last five weeks; the nature of the trades and industries represented; and the amount of protection asked for in each case?

I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by adopting the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if there is any commercial treaty with any foreign country that will interfere with any preferential agreements with regard to tariffs that we may want to make with the Dominions?

There are no treaties under which His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom would be required to extend to any foreign country any privileges in the matter of Customs Duties which are or may be accorded to another part of the Empire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider taking steps to safeguard persons who have purchased houses and furniture on the hire-purchase system and are now in difficulties owing to cuts in salaries and increased Income Tax, in view of the fact that similar steps have been taken by the naval authorities to safeguard the interests of members of the Navy?

I understand that in the case of the naval personnel certain firms engaged in selling goods under hire-purchase agreements have expressed their willingness to meet the altered circumstances of those with whom they have contracts, and I hope that this example will be followed in other cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the price of paper used for the purpose of manufacturing paper bags that was ruling on 1st December, 1930, and 1931, respectively; and the number of people employed in the trade at the same periods?

I regret that the desired information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to put a stop to the coupon gift system which is being adopted by traders in Glasgow and other parts of the country?

No undertaking can be given as to the introduction of legislation, but the subject is under observation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government propose to ask for powers to impose special or prohibitive duties on the exports into Great Britain of countries which impose discriminatory duties upon British goods?

This possibility will not be overlooked.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that British export trade to Denmark, Finland, Austria, Hungary, Greece and Latvia is likely to cease forthwith owing to the fact that the nationals of these countries are refused permission to export currency in payment of trade debts; and whether His Majesty's representatives have been instructed to make representations to the several Governments for the protection of British interests in this matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on Tuesday last to questions by the hon. Members for Stroud (Mr. Perkins) and Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make any announcement as to the result of steps taken with regard to the 15 per cent. Surtax imposed by the French Government on British coal imported into France?

Full representations with regard to the Surtax have been addressed to the French Government. Their reply is still awaited.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that certain of the woollen yarns that are subject to duty are essential raw material for the Leicester knitting and other hosiery industries and are not made in this country, and that there was no abnormal import of yarns up to the end of October; and whether he will consider exempting from duty a limited quota of such yarns, in older to enable hosiery manufacturers to fulfil contracts made before the passing of the Order?

The statement of the imports of commodities included in the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties), No. 2 Order, gives the figures for woollen and worsted yarns, and they show a considerable increase in October. I have no power under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act to do as my hon. Friend suggests, but I will not lose sight of the considerations which he has put forward.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a certain quality of paper (which is the raw material of the printing and other industries), which previously cost 19s. per cwt. both British and foreign made, has, since the operation of the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act, increased in price to 27s. per cwt. for the British-made article; and whether, in consequence of this increase in price, he will consider reducing the duty on the foreign imports?

If my hon. Friend will be good enough to send me the particulars in his possession, I will have inquiry made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as crepe paper is not manufactured in this country, and as it constitutes the raw material for certain cheaper forms of toilet paper, he will consider its exemption from the 50 per cent. duty under the Abnormal Importations (No. 1) Order?

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I am informed that creped paper is produced in this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware of the harm done to the tea industry of the Empire by the removal of the Tea Duty in 1929; and, as the duty was in operation from 1660 to 1929 will he, when framing his Budget proposals, consider the re-imposition of the Tea Duty with a preference for Empire-produced tea;(2) in view of the estimated marketing of 70,000,000 lbs. of tea in this country during the next few years, chiefly from Sumatra, what steps he proposes to take to protect the interests of Empire producers?

As I have already stated in reply to similar recent questions, I am unable to make any statement on this subject at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether his attention has been called to the resolution passed by the European Commission of the League of Nations regarding the adverse effect of the multiplicity of Customs barriers in Europe and urging their reduction; and whether he will enter into immediate negotiations with this object;(2) what reply the Government propose to send to the request from the Secretary-General of the League of Nations for their views on the recommendations which the European Commission last September decided to submit to the various Governments, and, in particular, that which points out the injury done by the multiplicity of Customs tariffs in Europe and urges their reduction?

The Committee of Economic Experts set up by the European Commission were in favour of Customs Unions in Europe, or, having regard to the practical difficulties attendant on the formation of Customs Unions, arrangements in the nature of regional preferences. As regards Customs Unions, many of the commercial treaties concluded by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom make provision for an exception from most-favoured-nation treatment in favour of such unions. As regards regional preferences, however, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom hold that it would cause conflict with the spirit of the most-favoured-nation clause if any countries were to conclude arrangements with each other which they did not extend to other countries. It is proposed to reply in this sense to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations. As regards the hon. Member's suggestion that negotiations should be undertaken to secure the reduction of European Customs tariffs, I would refer him to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 1st December to my hon. Friend the Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take, prior to the complete amendment of the Companies Act, 1929, in view of the fact that, owing to a flaw in drafting, although the 1929 Act is applicable to subsidiary companies, it is not applicable to subsidiaries of those same subsidiary companies, with the consequence that the provisions of the Act can be evaded by means of sub-subsidiary companies?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the light of recent criminal and civil court cases, he is aware of the weakness of the wording of auditors' certificates to be given under the provisions of the Companies Act, 1929; and whether he will take steps with a view to the strengthening of such certificates?

My hon. Friends' suggestions have been noted for review in connection with any subsequent legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give statistics showing the number of passengers leaving the United Kingdom for countries other than European during the years 1904–31, and the number of emigrants included in the figures?

Particulars of the number of passengers that left the United Kingdom for countries out of Europe, and the balance outward or inward of such passengers, in each year from 1904 to 1929, have been published in the Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom. The balance of the passenger movement is the only measure of the net emigration available for the whole period mentioned, but the 74th Number of the Statistical Abstract (page 11) gives certain migration statistics (i.e., changes of permanent residence) for the years 1924–29. Comparable figures for the year 1930 and for the first nine months of 1931 were published in the "Board of Trade Journal" for 5th March and 19th November, respectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if the camp at Warminster is to be established on a permanent basis; and, if so, whether local advice has been taken as to the suitability of a site?

The site is on War Department land, and was selected with local advice. It will be used for training during the summer months when required, but some alteration is contemplated in the lay-out of the camp, and local investigation is now proceeding.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of officers on the strength of the Regular Army on the latest ascertainable date; and how this number compares with the establishment on the same date?

The actual regimental strength of officers of the Regular Army on 1st November, 1931, was 9,891, equivalent to a deficiency of 195 on the establishment.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what percentage reductions in the retired pay of commissioned officers of each rank have been imposed during the past three months; and whether the percentage is the same as that imposed on the reserve pay of non-commissioned officers and men?

The standard rates of officers' pensions were reduced by 8 per cent. as from 1st July last in respect of the fall in the cost of living. An additional 3 per cent. deduction was made as from 1st October. As regards the reductions in the reserve pay of Army reservists, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 17th November.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has any recent figures for the number of deaths caused annually at level crossings in the United Kingdom?

Particulars of such casualties during the past five years will be found in Table A on page 12 of the Report on Railway Accidents for the year 1930 (Cmd. 3939).

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that long stretches of new highway are being much reduced in their traffic value by the obstruction caused by level crossings; and what steps he is taking to facilitate the removal of such obstacles?

It is not the practice to give assistance from the Road Fund towards the construction of new highways which will be subject to obstruction by level crossings, apart from temporary works crossings in exceptional cases. But if my hon. Friend will furnish me with any specific instance he has in mind, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Minister of Transport how many appeals from the traffic commissioners have come before him; how many have been allowed by him; and in how many cases he has ordered the applicants to pay the costs of the appeal?

Up to 5th December the number of effective appeals lodged was 667, of which 154 have been withdrawn. Of the remainder, decisions have been arrived at in 178 eases, 40 of which involve orders on the traffic commissioners reversing or modifying their decisions. Costs incurred by me in connection with the inquiries into these appeals will be recovered in 118 cases, including six where the appeals were withdrawn during the course of the inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport the total estimated cost of the road schemes approved of, whether in operation or completed; the cost of land purchase and property compensation involved; and the cost of the labour involved, giving separate figures for Lancashire?

A great deal of time and labour would be involved in obtaining the particulars asked for by the hon. Member, and I hope that he will not press for a detailed answer. If he will let me know what schemes or districts he particularly has in mind in Lancashire, I shall be happy to give him whatever information is available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has come to a decision on the proposal to appoint a departmental committee to examine all questions affecting road signs, including light signals; and, if so, can he state the terms of reference and the personnel of the committee?

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 9th December, 1931; col. 1848, Vol. 260], supplied the following list:

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the irregularities in the case of Messrs. Maconochie's application for a licence for their omnibuses running on the Machrihanish route, whereby they were refused the opportunity of leading evidence in rebuttal of the objections tabled against them, both in the tribunal below and on appeal, he will now order a rehearing and allow Messrs, Maconochie to state their case?

I cannot accept the suggestion made in the first part of the question. But if Messrs. Maconochie wish to submit a fresh application to the traffic commissioners, I will ask the commissioners to give it the earliest possible hearing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the effect of the sale and purchase of foreign securities upon the exchange position, he will take steps to enable an accurate record of the transactions to be kept?

The purchase of foreign currency by British subjects for the purpose of buying securities is prohibited by the Treasury Order of 22nd September, 1931. I do not, therefore, consider that any useful purpose would be served by adopting the suggestion referred to in the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of British investments abroad divided into countries now on and off the Gold Standard, respectively?

I am not in a position to frame any reliable estimate of British investments abroad in countries on, and off, the Gold Standard respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his pledges to enforce economy, he will seek power to rescind Class III of the Finance Act, 1931, and will meanwhile suspend forthwith all operations authorised by it?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement on this subject which I made to the House on Tuesday last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he intends to take to see that the Commissioners of Inland Revenue carry out their duties and obligations under Section 11 (1) of the Finance Act, 1931?

I have nothing to add to the statement which I made on Tuesday last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider introducing legislation for the reorganisation of the Bank of England, taking as a basis the recommendations of the Bank of England to the Australian and New Zealand Governments for the reorganisation and administration of proposed central reserve banks?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider introducing legislation having as its object the legalising of sweepstakes under proper safeguards as a means of reinforcing the revenue and so assisting the taxpayers of this country?

As the hon. Member will no doubt appreciate, the question of legislation for the purpose of legalising sweepstakes is not one which could be considered solely, or indeed primarily, from the point of view of the revenue.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the opinion expressed by the Westwoodside Haxby Parish Council in the resolution sent by them to him, he has reconsidered the question of erecting telegraph poles on the Haxby road?

I have not yet completed my inquiries into the matter, and I will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of wireless licences issued at the last date for which the information is available, giving separate figures for England, Wales and Scotland?

The number of wireless receiving licences in force on 31st October was about 4,101,000, made up as follows: England, 3,682,000; Wales, 140,000; Scotland, 244,000; and Northern Ireland, 35,000.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in order to accelerate the development of the telephone service, he will consider making a reduction in the charge for rental, so that the advantages of telephone service might be brought within the means of a larger proportion of the population?

In view of the relatively small surplus on the telephone account, I regret that a reduction in the rental charges is at present impracticable. During the past 10 years, reductions in telephone rates have been made amounting in the aggregate to over £6,000,000 a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate of the yearly saving to the Exchequer were third-class season railway tickets given to Members of Parliament whose constituencies are under 120 miles from London in lieu of the present vouchers?

There are no recent data for estimating the difference in cost, for constituencies within 120 miles of London, between the system of third-class season tickets and the present arrangement of vouchers available for first or third-class; but on the evidence available it is doubtful if third-class season tickets would be more economical even within this area. In any case it would not be practicable to confine the use of season tickets to particular areas or particular cases, or to third-class travelling, and I am satisfied that the general issue of season tickets would result in a substantial increase in the cost of Members' travelling facilities.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the number of promotions in the Civil Service from the P-class to the clerical class in each department since the P-class was instituted; and what has been the number of promotions within the last two months?

The information desired is as follows:

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will cause further inquiry to be made into the application of Mr. F. M. Horsfield, of 64, Wimpole Road, Colchester, for a continuance of his disability pension, which has been discontinued despite the fact that his condition is now worse than it was when the pension was originally granted?

This case has been fully investigated. The degree of disablement resulting from war service has been fixed by final awards made under the War Pensions Act, 1921, which constitute a statutory settlement of the case. A recent investigation has revealed no ground on which special action by the Ministry would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether British residents in Egypt are subject to full taxation or whether, as foreigners, they are free of any taxes normally levied in that country?

Under the regime known as the Capitulations, direct Egyptian taxation cannot be made applicable to British subjects, or to the nationals of any other capitulatory Power, without the specific consent of that Power. In the case of minor taxes, generally levied in direct return for services rendered, this right of assent or vote has been delegated by the Powers to the General Assembly of the Egyptian Mixed Courts. Egypt has at present few major direct taxes, and British subjects pay their share of such taxes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement before the House rises as to the latest developments in the negotiations of the Russian Debts and Claims Committee and sub-committees; and whether any definite offer has yet been made by the Soviet Government or any progress made?

My right hon. Friend saw the Soviet Ambassador yesterday, and reminded him of the situation in which, as he understood, this matter had been left in July last. I regret to say that the Soviet Ambassador was unable to make any definite offer or any proposal likely to lead to a satisfactory settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if there is any possibility of an early settlement of the claim for compensation by the Spies Petroleum Company, Limited, against the Soviet Government to the amount of £3,470,822; and whether he will make representations to the Soviet Government on the subject?

The claim of the company is registered with the Russian Claims Department of the Board of Trade, and comes within the scope of the Anglo-Soviet debts and claims negotiations. I fear it would serve no useful purpose to make separate representations on behalf of any individual claimant.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the approximate amount of money invested in Manchuria by British subjects and the value of British financial interests in the Peking-Mukden Railway?

As regards the first part of the hon. Member's question, I regret that I am unable to form an estimate. As regards the Peking-Mukden Railway, the outstanding amount of construction loans from British sources is approximately £1,000,000. There are also certain other loans of British origin which are collaterally secured on the surplus earnings of the railway.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the present position of the Manchurian dispute?

So far as military operations are concerned, there is nothing material to add to the reply return to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chippenham (Captain Cazalet) on 30th November. It is now approximately three weeks since actual fighting occurred. The Council of the League are still using every effort to find a solution, and discussions to that end are actively proceeding in Paris.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men normally employed on private pleasure craft at Cowes, Isle of Wight, have been refused unemployment benefit during each of the past three months?

I regret that statistics of the number of persons in particular occupations whose claims to benefit have been disallowed are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many firms or authorities the exemption certificate from unemployment payments has been granted; and the names of the firms or authorities so affected and the amount lost to the fund in consequence of this exemption?

I assume my hon. Friend refers to certificates of exception from unemployment insurance. Approximately 1,480 bodies hold such certificates. If employers' and employés' contributions at the adult rate were paid in respect of all persons excepted under these certificates, the annual total would be about £2,000,000. I am afraid I could not justify the labour involved in preparing it a nominal list of the bodies concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the anomalies prevailing in the amounts awarded by various public assistance committees, he will define a fixed scale of awards?

asked the Minister of Labour if he will issue a circular recommending that where an unemployed person on transitional benefit lives in a house occupied by more than one family the income of each family shall be treated separately under the means test?

As already stated in the House, my right hon. Friend has no power to issue instructions to local authorities on these matters.

asked the Minister of Labour if the figures of unemployment so far as they are classified take into account the theatrical profession; and, if not, has he any means of ascertaining the number in that, class so affected?

I am having some figures specially taken out for 26th October, and will send them to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that under Section 2 of the Unemployment Insurance (Anomalies Regulation) Act, 1931, many hotel waiters, because of the seasonal nature of their employment, may be disallowed benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act even though they have paid regular contributions into the fund equal in number to those which entitle a casual worker to receive standard benefit; and whether he will take steps to remedy this?

Regulation 2 of the Unemployment Insurance Anomalies Regulations, 1931, applies to persons whose normal employment is in an occupation or occupations of a seasonal nature. It follows closely the recommendation made by the Royal Commission, and while I have undertaken to watch the way in which it works, I am not prepared to alter it at present.

asked the Minister of Health with regard to workmen's houses built on the Corolite system, what is the saving in cost of such houses of the flat-roofed type and having the same accommodation as workmen's brick houses built with slated-timber roofs?

I regret that there are no figures in my Department on which a comparison of the kind referred to can be made.

asked the Minister of Health if he will furnish a statement showing under what Housing and Town Planning Acts the expenditure was incurred which made the outstanding loan debt of local authorities of England and

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of applications for pensions under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1929, have been decided by the Minister of Health under the powers conferred on him by Sub-section (4) of Section 1 of the Act relating to eligibility of doubtful cases?

Decisions under the Sub-section referred to have been given in 142 cases up to 30th November last. These are not actually decisions upon the applications for pensions. They are decisions of questions regarding the insurability of the employment followed by the deceased person. The final adjudication of the pension claim involves other considerations, and in the event of the Minister rejecting the claim, the final award is made by the Referees in the light of the Minister's decision on insurability.

asked the Minister of Health if he will circulate to the chair-

The following statement gives the desired information so far as it is available.men of other public assistance committees the answers that he gave to the four questions put to him by a deputation from the Sheffield Public Assistance Committee on 7th December?

I have nothing to add to the agreed statement of the result of this interview circulated to the Press, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in appointing a district auditor for the north-western area, which includes the North Wales counties, he will appoint a person fully conversant with the Welsh language?

Many considerations must be taken into account in making appointments to the district audit staff. I can give no undertaking, but I will bear in mind the qualification referred to in appointing staff for the northwestern area.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has yet received the report from the Government of India with reference to the resolution recently passed in connection with the boycott of British goods by the working committee of the Bengal Provincial Congress?

The meeting, at which the resolution in question was passed, was a meeting of the Bengal Provincial Political Conference. According to my present information, the resolution has not yet been endorsed by the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee, and no action to give effect to it has yet been taken. If the resolution is endorsed by the Provincial Congress Committee, or action taken on it by Congress organisations, this would represent a definite breach of the Delhi settlement. The Government of India and the local Government are watching developments, and any measures that may be necessary to meet them will be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that bail granted to one of the Meerut conspiracy case prisoners over 18 months ago on account of his failing health has now been cancelled, despite the filing of medical certificates recommending that the prisoner should not be taken back to gaol owing to his ill-health; and whether he will make a statement as to the general physical condition of the prisoners?

The cancellation of a prisoner's bail is not a matter of which I should normally be informed by the Government of India, and I have therefore no information with regard to the first part of the question. As regards the second part of the question, I will call for a report from the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can make any statement as to the present position in Kashmir?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 30th Novem- ber to a similar question by the hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. A. Bevan).

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can make any statement as to the present position in Burma?

I am unable at present to add to the statement circulated on Monday. During the recess, similar statements will be issued to the Press each week.

asked the Secretary of State for India the figures of population classified according to occupation returned in the Indian census taken early in the present year; and when the complete census returns are expected to be available?

The figures for occupations are not yet available. I have not heard when the Government of India expect the complete report to be published, but they expect to supply me in about a year's time with a summary of it similar to the summary of the 1921 Census that was presented to Parliament. This will include statistics of occupations.

asked the Secretary of State for India the present establishment of the military forces in India, including Burma; and separately the present establishment of the military forces in Burma?

The present establishment of the fighting troops in India, including Burma, is 60,288 British and 131,209 Indian troops. The establishment of the garrison at present maintained in Burma is 2,487 British and 6,893 Indian troops, the normal establishment being 1,863 and 2,482 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for India if any decision has been taken by the Government of India and the provincial Government concerned regarding the place of detention of persons arrested under the recently promulgated Bengal Ordinance?

I presume the hon. Member is referring to detenus under the Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Act and the amending Ordinance issued on 29th October, who are at present detained in camps or jails in Bengal. The question of transferring a certain number of the detenus elsewhere outside Bengal has been under consideration, but no decision has yet been reached.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has granted a licence under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 39 and 40 Vic., to any experimenter in this country to conduct experiments upon animals with the Calmette or B.C.G. vaccine?

Any licence accompanied by certificate A, with some exceptions, would permit experiments of this character. I understand that some research work on the subject has been done in this country. I will send the hon. Member references to some recent publications.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will lay upon the Table the Naval Order, issued at Portsmouth on 21st October, safeguarding naval ratings who had purchased houses and furniture on the hire-purchase system; and whether insurances are also being protected from lapsing by the Commander-in-Chief?

The following is the Order referred to by the hon. Member:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in view of the fact that the Legislative Council of Ceylon by a large unofficial majority rejected the Income Tax Bill less than a year ago, he made its reintroduction a condition of his assent to a proposed levy on the salaries of Government servants?

I am in communication with the Governor of Ceylon in regard to the terms of the letter to the Board of Ministers on which I presume this question is based. I think it possible that there has been some misunderstanding, since I am not aware that my predecessor made his consent to the proposed levy on salaries conditional on the prior introduction of an Income Tax Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he proposes to take with regard to the protest he has received from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce against the imposition of Income Tax?

The imposition of an Income Tax in Ceylon is a matter for the consideration of the Board of Ministers and the State Council, and I do not think I should be justified in taking any action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement regarding the present situation in Palestine?

While I would gladly endeavour to reply to any particular inquiry which my Noble Friend wishes to make with regard to affairs in Palestine, I do not feel that the present situation affords an occasion for a general statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade particulars of agricultural products exported from Australia to this country on which bounties are given by the Australian Government, and the amount of the bounty in each case?

I understand that bounties are given by His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia on the following agricultural products exported from Australia to the United Kingdom and at the following rates:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the decrease in the acreage to be placed under sugar beet in the coming season owing to the uncertainty as to the intentions of the Government with regard to the industry; and whether he proposes, before the House rises, to make a statement of Government policy on this matter, so that farmers may be enabled to make arrangements without delay in respect of next year's crops?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The question of the future of the beet sugar industry will continue to receive my earnest consideration, but I must make it quite clear at once that there can be no question of repeating the special assistance by way of extra subsidy which was afforded by the British Sugar Industry (Assistance) Act, 1931

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he proposes to take any measures to check the importation of plants, trees, and shrubs, other than roses, that are being dumped into this country?

My immediate proposals with regard to horticultural products are, as my hon. Friend is aware, contained in the Horticultural Products (Emergency Customs Duties) Bill. I am not prepared at present to make any further statement with regard to agricultural and horticultural imports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many imported Dutch trees or shrubs on sale in auction markets have recently been condemned by his inspectors for disease; whether cases of rust in berberis aquifolia have been reported; if so, from what markets; and whether this disease in berberis is danger to wheat crops grown in this country?

Disease has been found recently on Dutch trees or shrubs on sale or intended for sale in auction markets at Bedford and Northampton: all the affected bushes were burned, but I regret that I am unable to state the precise number. In each case a species of rust was discovered on Berberis Aquifolium. Only in very rare cases does Berberis Aquifolium act as a host plant in one stage of the life history of one of the three rusts which attack wheat.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will constitute a, body to investigate the present incidence of tithe rentcharge pending an amelioration in agricultural prices?

I do not see any necessity for an inquiry into the incidence of tithe rentcharge, and I am not, therefore, prepared to adopt the suggestion of my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture on what acreage the 4 per cent. tithe rentcharge on hops is levied; and what the amount of it is annually?

I presume that the 4 per cent. rentcharge to which my right hon. and gallant Friend refers is that imposed under the Extraordinary Tithe Redemption Act, 1886, not only in respect of hop grounds but also of orchards, fruit plantations and market gardens. The total amount of such rentcharge payable in England and Wales is approximately £18,500 per annum, but there are no available statistics as to the total area on which this amount is charged.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made inquiry into the case of the complaint regarding the case of Mrs. Wilson, 303, Thistle Street, Glasgow, against the Greenock Public Assistance Committee; and, if so, with what result?

I am informed that the amount of aliment payable by the Greenock Public Assistance Authority to Mrs. Wilson has been increased from 7s. 6d. to 15s. per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that public assistance committees in Scotland do not in all cases make 7s. 6d. allowance to insured persons when in receipt of Poor Law assistance; and if he will take steps to see that such money is not taken into account when fixing scales?

A circular was issued by the Scottish Board of Health on 22nd October, 1920, to Poor Law authorities in Scotland drawing their attention to the statutory provision which requires that, when considering applications for poor relief, they shall not take into consideration any benefit under the Health Insurance Acts except so far as such benefit exceeds 7s. 6d. a week. From time to time the Department of Health have had reason to doubt whether all Poor Law authorities in Scotland were paying due regard to this requirement and occasionally the Department's general inspectors have, in the course of investigation, had to call the attention of authorities to the terms of the statute. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any individual case in which an authority have disregarded the statutory provision referred to, I shall have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made inquiry into the question of the able-bodied unemployed in Montrose being forced to do test work; and, if so, with what result?

My inquiries into this matter are not yet completed, but I shall communicate the result to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland under what authority the police deducted a fine from the belongings taken from Harry McShane, of Glasgow, after he had on conviction refused to take advantage of the option of a fine?

The course followed by the prison authorities was in accordance with the provisions of Sub-section (1) of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Administration Act, 1914

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends taking any action in connection with the danger to health and life of the tenants at Clyde Ironworks rows, Tollcross, Lanarkshire, due to the cutting off of the water supply and lighting, and the defective state of drainage; and whether this property is now condemned?

I am having inquiries made into the matters referred to in the hon. Member's question, and shall communicate with him as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Health Insurance Department of the Ministry of Health is proposing to alter the relationships between panel doctors and their patients; and whether it is the intention of his Department to follow suit in this connection?

I am aware that, as stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health in answer to a recent question by the hon. Member, certain minor amendments in the English Medical Benefit Regulations are proposed. The proposed Scottish Regulations will differ from the English Regulations in certain respects, and if the hon. Member will furnish me with details of the particular point which he has in mind, I shall be glad to give him further information.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether his Department has been consulted about the designs for a room to contain the Elgin marbles at the British Museum; and if he will explain why the preparation of designs for the work was not entrusted to a British architect?

Yes, Sir. My Department is being consulted. The appointment of the architect was a matter for the donor, Sir Joseph Duveen, who selected an eminent American architect (Mr. Pope). The design, of course, is subject to the approval of the Trustees.

asked the Secretary for Mines the output of coal in the counties of Lanark, Ayr, Fife, Stirling, Mid, East, and West Lothian for each month in 1931, with the output for the corresponding months of 1930; the number of men employed in each of the above counties during the same period, with the amount of quota allocated to each county; whether any of the counties have exceeded or failed to produce their quota; and, if so, will he name the counties?

I am sending the hon. Member a statement of the output for these counties. As the allocation is made to Scotland as one district under the Coal Mines Act, and not in respect of the separate parts of that district, I am unable to give the information asked for in the latter part of the question.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he has considered the effect on employment in oil-refining industries of affording relief from excise duty to hydrocarbon oils refined in this country; and whether he will recommend this course?

I can assure the hon. Member that every proposal or suggestion which has a bearing on employment is receiving the earnest consideration of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that the operations of the Coal Mines Act are restricting the coal export trade; and if any proposals are under consideration for revising the Act, especially in regard to minimum prices?

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald) on 1st December, I find opinion as to the effect of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, on industry and on the export trade much divided, and I am asking the organisations concerned for their views on the effect of the Act. I propose to take no further action until I have received and considered their replies.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that while United Kingdom exports of coal for the nine months ending 30th September, 1931, fell from 41,700,000 tons in 1930 to 31,600,060 tons in 1931, in the same period German exports only fell from 18,000,000 tons to 17,300,000 tons, while Polish exports actually rose from 8,900,000 tons to 10,000,000 tons; and what the policy of the Government is to deal with this decline of the British coal industry?

The hon. Member's figures for the United Kingdom are not quite comparable with those quoted for Germany and Poland. Exactly com- parable figures are given below. I agree with his conclusion that our exports have fallen disproportionately, but the many factors contributing to this cannot be

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of referring the administration of justice in the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice to a committee drawn from both Houses of Parliament, which shall have full powers of taking evidence and calling for documents for inquiry and report?

I am unaware of any reason for an inquiry into the administration of justice in the Chancery Division, but if the hon. Member will supply me with the information on which

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he will press the governments and interests concerned to put forward suggestions as soon as possible for the control of the production of rubber so that a comprehensive scheme may be brought into operation with the minimu mof delay.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Forfar (Captain Shaw) on the 25th November.