asked the Secretary for Mines if pension schemes for miners are in operation in other countries; and, if so, will he give the names of such countries?

According to the information in my possession regarding European countries, old age pension schemes for miners are in operation in Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Germany.

Can the Minister say if any of the schemes to which it refers were State-aided?

I will give the information in respect of each country and send it privately to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make a further statement as to the result of the negotiations with the German Government in connection with the recent additional restrictions which have been placed on the importation of British coal into Germany?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the statements which I have already made on this subject.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he will be in a position to make a statement on this important matter?

No, I am afraid that I cannot give any definite date. Communications are still passing between us and the German Government on the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to make a statement when the House meets again?

Yes, I hope to be able to do so then.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that this is retaliatory action, or only in the normal course of restricting imports?

So far as I know, there is nothing retaliatory about the action of the German Government. They have taken this step for other reasons.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Rye, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, if he can state what steps, if any, are being taken by the Forestry Commissioners to enable coal mining companies in Great Britain to obtain their supplies of pit timber from sources in the United Kingdom?

The commissioners have appointed a Homegrown Timber Committee to consider how best the utilisation of homegrown timber may be promoted. The committee have had meetings with the Central Committee of the Mining Association of Great Britain, the railway companies and other bodies interested in the supply, transport and use of mining timber.

Can the hon. and gallant Member tell us the result of the meeting?

I prefer not to express an opinion in view of the negotiations which are taking place.

Is it not a fact that British pit props are better timber than anything else, and will my hon. and gallant Friend see that every endeavour is made to get more of them used?

I think they are of equal quality to any pit props in the world.

Can the hon. and gallant Member say whether there has been any increase in the demand for British pit props since the inauguration of the Buy British Campaign?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of cases of miners' nystagmus which have occurred in the Lancashire coalfields for 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931, respectively?

The number of cases of nystagmus in Lancashire and Cheshire certified under the Workmen's Compensation Act during the years in question was: in 1928, 319, in 1929, 302, and in 1930, 306. This information is not available for 1927, and the returns for 1931 are not yet completed.

asked ale President of the Board of Trade the number of cotton spinning and weaving companies which have, within the last 12 months, been compelled to call up the balance of unpaid shares and the numbers of shareholders thus affected?

I regret that the information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the dollar value of sterling fixed by the Canadian Government for the payment of special duties on British imports into Canada; and how such fixation of sterling values affects the preference given to British manufacturers over those of the United States?

The fixed value of the pound sterling for special duty purposes is $4.40 for imports from the United Kingdom entitled to entry under the Canadian preferential tariff. So long as the current rate of exchange of sterling into Canadian dollars remains below $4.40 the effect of the special duty is that United Kingdom goods do not enjoy in Canada, as compared with the goods of the United States and certain other countries, the whole of the benefit which they would otherwise enjoy as a result of the present position of the currency exchanges. I ought perhaps to add that so far as the ordinary duty, as distinguished from the special duty, is concerned the value of United Kingdom goods is converted into Canadian currency at the par rate of exchange, and they therefore enjoy some advantage in this respect over United States goods so long as the United States currency is appreciated in relation to that of Canada, as the value of United States goods is calculated at the rate of exchange between the two countries current at the time.

Does not that emphasise the necessity for an Imperial marketing policy?

I cannot see that it has any bearing on that matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is the intention of the Government to introduce a comprehensive Bill to prevent dumping; and, if so, whether he can state the approximate date?

Various meanings have been attached to the word "dumping" and I do not know which meaning my Noble Friend has in mind. In any case the Government would prefer to watch the working of the Import Duties Act before embarking upon further fiscal legislation of a general kind.

Will the right hon. Gentleman indicate to the House what he means by the word "dumping," because the dumping continues all the time?

He certainly cannot do so now.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the representation made to him concerning the price of crude tar charged by the Scarborough Gas Company to road makers and repairers; and, if so, will he state what action he has taken?

I have received a communication regarding the price charged by the Scarborough Gas Com- pany to tradesmen for tar. Tar prices in general have increased since 1931, when extremely low prices were ruling. Under the systems of controlling the dividends of statutory gas companies any profit made from tar or other residuals are allocated to the companies' general revenue from which increased dividends may be paid only as gas prices are reduced.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Scarborough Gas Company, between October, 1931, and March, 1932, have increased the price of crude tar from £2 5s. to £3 10s., and is he also aware that the same gas company have a Bill before this House in which they are asking for permission to dispose of £15,000 of surplus profits over and above their normal dividends? What action does he propose to take?

I cannot undertake to debate a Private Bill at Question Time.

The right hon. Gentleman must be aware—

The hon. Member is making a speech.

On a point of Order. In view of the fact that this commodity is a raw material, has not the right hon. Gentleman some responsibility to see that the price of the raw material is not excessive?

The hon. Member has had his answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to assist the preservation of peace, he will now consider discontinuing the licence of the export of arms and ammunition to the Far East?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I gave him on the 4th and 9th February, to which I have nothing to add.

Has the right hon. Gentleman conceived the possibility of these arms and ammunition being used against our own nationals?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of offerings of Dutch tea in public auction from 1st January to 19th March, 1932, as expressed in chests, and how the total compares with the chests of similar tea offered for the same period last year?

According to the reports of the Tea Brokers' Association of London, 150,801 packages of Java and Sumatra tea were offered in auction in the period 1st January to 16th March, 1932, as compared with 146,087 packages in the corresponding period of 1931. Particulars up to the 19th March are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the quantity and value of the following imports into the United Kingdom in 1931: builders' woodwork from the Soviet Union, Sweden, and the United States; liquid glucose from the Soviet Union and the United States; confectionery from the Soviet Union, sheep and lamb skins, woolled, from the Soviet Union, Spain, Chile, Argentine, South Africa, and Australia; maize starch, edible, from the Soviet Union, the United States, and the Netherlands; maize starch, not edible, from the Soviet Union, the United States, the Netherlands and Germany; skins and furs, not enumerated, dressed, not leather, from the Soviet Union, France, Germany, British India, and Canada; canned salmon from the Soviet Union, the United States, Japan, and Canada; matches, safety, containers over 20, from the Soviet Union, Sweden, and Belgium; and glue and size from the Soviet Union, Germany, Belgium, and France?

I am having a statement prepared which I will forward to the Noble Lady.

May I ask whether the statement will be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I have not undertaken to have it printed, because it is a large and expensive return.

This is a question which is asked for the purpose of receiving an oral reply, and is it not in the interests of the House generally that the information should be available to hon. Members?

It is an expensive business to print in the OFFICIAL REPORT a large and elaborate statement, and I cannot undertake to put the Department to that expense.

Is not the short reply that the information asked for can be obtained in the Board of Trade Statistical Abstract?

Why should a woman have a privilege over men in this House?

If the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Maclean) is so anxious to have this information, cannot a copy be sent to him?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has examined the text of the decree issued by the French Government on the 17th instant, which introduces quotas for the import into France of machine tools and various articles produced by iron and steel firms in this country; and if the effect of this action on British export trade will be brought to the notice of the Imports Advisory Committee?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The task of the Import Duties Advisory Committee is to recommend rates of duty applicable to goods imported from all foreign countries and it is no part of their function to consider any impediments which may be placed in the way of United Kingdom trade by individual foreign countries.

But what is the attitude of the Board of Trade? May I ask whether it is not the function of the Board of Trade to take some definite action when discrimination is placed on British products going into France or into any other foreign country?

Yes, that is a part of their duties, and those duties the Board of Trade perform.

But will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how he is going to perform his duty in this case?

Is not this a form of bullying on the part of the hon. Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon)?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount representing gross earnings of foreign and colonial shipping in carrying goods to and from the United Kingdom for the years 1929, 1930, and 1931?

The desired information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any figures are available of the estimated amount of interest paid to foreign and colonial owners of capital invested in the United Kingdom for the years 1929, 1930, and 1931?

My hon. Friend will find, in the article on the balance of trade published in the "Board of Trade Journal" for 18th February, a statement that the amount of interest and dividends paid on long term investments in the United Kingdom to persons not resident in this country had been estimated at about £15 million in 1929 and that in 1931 a somewhat smaller amount may have been payable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the Abnormal Importations Act ceases to operate on 19th May and that manufacturers are refraining from entering into new contracts on this account, so that valuable trade which has been recovered under the protection of the Act may now be lost, he will make some statement as to the continuance of the Act beyond 19th May before the House rises for the Easter Recess?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on this subject yesterday to the hon. Member for Sheffield Central (Mr. Boulton) by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken by his Department to satisfy the foreign demand for factory sites in this country?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Conant) on 25th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the import duties advisory board has made any report to him in regard to its policy, or if he has any information as to when it will do so?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 9th March last in reply to a question put by my hon. Friend the Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander), of which I am sending him a copy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the business and commercial community are having very great difficulty in making their future arrangements, because they do not know whether this Board will support a general policy of tariffs or a particular policy of tariffs or any policy of tariffs at all, and will he use his influence with the Board to get an early declaration of policy from them?

I might remind my hon. Friend of a notice issued by the Committee to the Press on 9th March, in which they said:

"In view of the short period remaining for the expiration of the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act, 1931, the Committee will obviously have to be guided at the outset mainly by considerations of a general character, leaving for later review the detailed circumstances affect rig particular industries and trades and individual classes of articles."

But will the right hon. Gentleman have in mind that the business community is very seriously disturbed by the fact that the Government have now been in operation for five months without succeeding in getting rid of industrial depression, and will he personally make an endeavour to give the business community the information necessary?

The Committee has not been appointed for five months. It has been in operation only a short time, and I do not think there is any call for me to interfere at this stage.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will issue regulations directing that the method of assessing duty, under the Import Duties Act, on grain coming into the ports of the United Kingdom shall be changed from an ad valorem basis to a weight basis, in view of the fact that grain traders at some ports are placed at a disadvantage with competitors at other ports in the Kingdom?

In view of the wide range of grain prices I do not think a specific rate of duty could be devised which would not produce inequalities as between different importations.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what proportion of the milk imports into this country are subject to the new duties imposed under the Import Duties Act on the basis of the trade figures for 1931?

It is estimated on the basis of the trade accounts for 1931 that the general ad valorem duty will be paid on approximately 22 per cent. of the milk imports.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that duty is not being charged under the Import Duties Act on imported sweetened condensed milk because such milk is already taxed on its sugar content; and if he will state for what reason this decision was reached, in view of the fact that double duties in respect of the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act and under legislation previous thereto are being charged on a number of other important manufactured articles?

There is no analogy between the Abnormal Importations Act and the Import Duties Act since the object of the former was expressly to prevent the influx of certain goods into this country. I may point out that it is open to the advisory committee to consider the case of any composite goods and to recommend additional duties in respect of them.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the great dis- appointment caused to home milk producers by this decision; and is he also aware that unless it is rescinded no increase in the home production of condensed milk is likely to take place?

This decision in no way specially applies to milk. It is a general decision applying to all manner of goods which were recently brought in under the Import Duties Act.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there is an ample surplus of milk in this country to provide for our total requirements of condensed milk; and why is it necessary to import from abroad millions of pounds worth of a product which has to be marked "unfit for infants"?

No doubt, those matters will be brought under review by the committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the case of imports the volume of which is not affected by the Import Duties Act, or by the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act and the Horticultural Products (Emergency Customs Duties) Act, his Department is making inquiries to ascertain whether such imports are assisted or subsidised by the Governments of the countries from which they come?

I am not aware of any case in which the imposition of a duty under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act or the Horticultural Products (Emergency Customs Duties) Act has not resulted in a diminution of imports, and it is too early to judge of the results of the Import Duties Act. There is no evidence to show that any imports to which my hon. Friend refers are being maintained by export subsidies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of staff of the Scottish Education Department, other than typists and messengers, employed in London, and the annual cost?

The staff of the Scottish Education Department employed in London, other than typists and messengers, consists of 55 officials, and the annual cost is £22,926.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been called to the wording of the regulations governing the appointment of third-class valuers in the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue Department, wherein it is laid down that preference will be given to candidates who served in His Majesty's Forces between 4th August, 1914, and 11th November, 1918, but wherein it is also laid down that candidates must be between the ages of 25 and 30 years; and, seeing that even, although a candidate for the purpose of determining his age may deduct from his age time served in His Majesty's Forces between 4th August, 1914, and 11th November, 1918, it would appear impossible for those who are old enough to have served between those years to now come within the age limit laid down, will he cause these regulations to be re-drafted so that a preference may be given to ex-service men in making these appointments?

The age rules for the recruitment of third-class valuers in the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue Department were framed in 1926, when the first selection under the present rules was held; the provisions of age extension for Great War service and preference to ex-service men were included for that selection, and also for subsequent selections held in 1929 and 1930. I am aware that with the lapse of time the concession to which my hon. Friend refers is now very limited in effect. The application made in response to the recent advertisement indicate, however, that the provision continues to be of advantage to certain ex-service men who would otherwise be excluded. The general age limits prescribed for these appointments have been fixed with regard to the interests of the public service, and I regret that I cannot see my way to modify them.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give an example of how an ex-service man can come within the scope of this arrangement?

I would refer the hon. Member to the second paragraph of my answer, which states that we are still getting applications, in response to the recent advertisements, from men to whom this concession is an advantage. I should be very happy to show him some if he desires.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the medical officer in the office of director of stamping who receives £380 from the revenue of Britain and a pension of £231 from Nyasaland funds has a full-time appointment; what is his age; and whether his duties consist in giving medical attendance when required in the Department to the 413 members of the staff?

The hon. Member is evidently under a misapprehension. The medical officer in question acts for the whole Inland Revenue Department and not for the Stamping Branch only. The appointment is a part-time one and the present holder is 54 years of age.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will arrange that in future estimates the number of women in each grade shall be shown separately with their scale of pay from the number of men in the same grade?

In cases where men and women are employed in the same grade, it is already the practice to show the men's and women's scales of pay separately in the annual Estimates, but it would not be possible, at the time when the Estimates are prepared, to make an accurate forecast of the number of men and women who would be employed in each grade during the ensuing financial year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the number of temporary women pension officers; and whether it is proposed to put them on the establishment of the Customs and Excise Department?

The number of unestablished women pension officers employed in the Customs and Excise Department is 65. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the anxiety of the temporary staff in the Civil Service as to their future position; and whether he is prepared to assure this House that the recommendations of the Tomlin Commission, made some eight months ago, that an immediate establishment should be granted to those with long service will be given effect to?

The recommendations referred to by the hon. Member are under the consideration of the Government, and I hope that it will be possible at an early date to initiate discussions upon them with the staff organisations concerned.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the object of the questionnaire which has been issued to the staff of the Land Registry, map branch department, on the subject of their educational record and experience; and whether any reduction or transfer of staff in this department is contemplated?

The questionnaire referred to was issued in the normal course in order to ascertain the professional or other qualifications possessed by certain grades of the staff with a view to promotion. Apart from variations in the temporary staff due to fluctuations of the work, no reductions or transfers of the mapping staff are at present contemplated.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether proposals are under consideration for improving the accommodation in the public offices of the probate and registry departments, Somerset House?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what premises in London are covered by the provision of £103,800 for rent, etc.; and by what Department is each building occupied?

If, as I assume, the hon. Member refers to the provision made in Subhead L of the Vote for Revenue Buildings, 1932, Class VII (10), the provision of £103,800 covers the rents of 107 premises in the London postal area. All the premises covered by this provision are occupied by the Inland Revenue Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now given consideration to the protests made by and on behalf of the Scottish burghs against the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Bill which place a further limitation on their status and powers; and what action he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As the result of a meeting which my right hon. Friend has had with representatives of the Convention of Royal Burghs, he is hopeful that it may be possible by means of certain Amendments to make the Bill more acceptable to the small burghs than it is at present. The precise wording of the Amendments is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any education authorities, in their replies to the Circular issued by the Scottish Education Department on the 30th January of this year, intimated their intention of reducing the grants made by them to the Scottish agricultural colleges; and, if so, will he state the names of the authorities and the amount of the reduction proposed in each case?

The replies received by the Scottish Education Department to the Circular issued to education authorities on 30th January last do not contain any intimation of this nature.

Is the right hon. and gallant Member aware that I have received a, communication from one authority in the North of. Scotland intimating that such a reduction has been made by at least one county and that a copy of that communication was sent to the Secretary of State?

No, I think the position is that in the case the Noble Lord has in mind the education committee has come to a provisional decision in favour of a reduction, but their conclusion has not yet been reviewed by the education authority of the area, which is the county council.

Is it not a fact that the reply of the right hon. and gallant Member is scarcely accurate?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prosecutions there have been in Scotland in each of the last five years under the Sale of Food Order, 1921, for imported meat sold as home-killed meat?

I am making inquiries and I shall communicate the results to my hon. Friend as soon as they are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the acreage under wheat in Perthshire in each of the years 1911, 1921, 1929, 1930, and 1931?

As the reply consists of a table of figures I propose, with my Noble Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that many drivers of motor cars disregard the speed limit in Regent's Park, especially after dark; and whether he will take steps to se that the law is enforced?

Special attention is already given by the police to this class of offence, and 422 cases, including 190 arising after dusk, were reported during the three months ended 19th March, 1932. 144 of these cases are still pending, in 243 convictions were obtained, and the remaining 35 were dealt with by a caution.

asked the Home Secretary how many prosecutions have been instituted since 10th March, 1932, against drivers and/or proprietors of Green Line and other similar heavy passenger coaches for exceeding the speed limit of 30 miles an hour in Central London and, in particular, on the Bayswater Road, the Edgware Road, the Embankment and Whitehall?

In the period 10th to 19th March, inclusive, proceedings have been commenced against two passenger coach drivers for exceeding the speed limit in this area. Neither case was on one of the four roads mentioned. Two further cases, both on the Victoria Embankment, have been reported with a view to proceedings.

Is my hon. Friend aware that these heavy passenger vehicles continue to treat the 30 miles speed limit with contempt, and that the slaughter of the innocents continues unabated?

Perhaps the result of the two further cases now pending will have some effect.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the loss of educational value which the music festival movement is likely to sustain through a charge of Entertainments Duty being imposed upon single-entry classes, he is prepared to remit the charge?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my Noble Friend the Member for Perth. (Lord Scone) on the 23rd February, of which I am sending him a copy.

Do we understand that that decision will deprive choirs of an opportunity of getting outside criticism, which is such a valuable part of a musical festival?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that one of the conditions upon which certain educational entertainments are being exempted from Entertainments Duty is that no music, not even the national anthem, shall be played at them; and whether he will reconsider the matter and allow a limited amount of music at such entertainments?

I am aware that in the case of certain classes of entertainments where exemption from Entertainments Duty is claimed on educational grounds exemption is granted subject to the condition that musical items are not included in the programme. This condition would not apply to the playing of the national anthem, but I cannot undertake to widen the scope of exemption from the Entertainments Duty in the manner proposed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the national anthem was specifically prohibited at one of these entertainments?

No, Sir. I am not aware of that, but if the hon. Member will give me particulars I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the bottling of beer in this country gives employment to British labour, he will consider, when considering the Beer Duty, allowing the importation of beer for bottling at a lower rate than beer imported in bottles?

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider a lower rate of interest being charged on beer proved to be made of British malt?

That is really my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount paid in Income Tax by farmers under Schedule D assessment during each of the last three financial years?

I regret that I am unable to furnish the information desired by my hon. Friend as no separate statistics are collected in respect of Schedule D assessments on farming.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will incorporate in his Budget provisions to continue by law in future the arrangement made by Income Tax collectors for the granting of special facilities in the payment of Income Tax in the first quarter of this year?

I regret that I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total contribution paid by the Exchequer to the Government and administration in Northern Ireland during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1931; and what was the total revenue received by the Exchequer from Northern Ireland?

The latest figures at present available are those for the year ended 31st March, 1931. In that year the total payments made by the British Government to the Government of Northern Ireland amounted to £801,434, and the provisional Imperial contribution paid by the Government of Northern Ireland was £507,000. The latter figure is subject to adjustment in the light of the actual figures of revenue and expenditure for the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the economic financial position of this country and the Empire, the decline of the national income and commodity values, the state of unemployment and the consequences arising therefrom, he will consider the setting up of a committee, comprising representatives of this House, the Treasury, the Board of Trade, the Bank of England, trading banks, in- dustrialists, export merchants, and trade unions, to examine the position in regard to the complexity of Britain's domestic and overseas interests and to review all proposals relating to the reform of our monetary system and to crystallise into a practical scheme to be submitted to this House before the holding of the Imperial Economic Conference?

The questions to which my hon. Friend refers are receiving the constant attention of His Majesty's Government. The fullest advantage is taken of the existing arrangements for keeping in close contact with representative opinion, and I do not think that the setting up of a, special committee would be either necessary or desirable.