Written Answers
Trade And Commerce
Russia
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the whole question of Russian trade is under the Government's consideration, he is now in a position to state when decisions on the continuation, or otherwise, of the exports credits scheme and the trade agreement are likely to be reached?
I am not yet in a position to snake an announcement on these matters which are now under consideration.
Insolvent Traders
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many insolvent traders inform their creditors in the Bankruptcy Court that they realised they were insolvent at a much earlier date; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation to penalise all trading which may be carried on after any firm or trader knows that the business or trade is insolvent?
Many bankrupts have to admit under examination in the Bankruptcy Courts that they have continued to trade after knowing themselves to be insolvent. Such action is already one of the grounds for refusal of an unconditional discharge from bankruptcy, but my hon. Friend's suggestion that it should be further penalised will be noted for consideration when any amendment of the Bankruptcy Acts is contemplated.
Russia (Claims, British Subjects)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the value of claims for property filed in his Department by British subjects concerning property previously held in the territory now known as the Ukranian Republic of Soviet Russia; and, if so, whether he can give these particulars in classifications such as land, industry, etc.?
I have been asked to reply. I regret that it is not possible to furnish my hon. and gallant Friend with the information he requires, as the claims recorded in the Russian Claims Department are not classified according to Russian territorial areas.
Northern Rhodesia
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if plans and estimates for the new capital at Lusaka had been received before the decision to remove from Livingstone was confirmed by the Colonial Office?
The decision to remove the capital from Livingstone, as part of the general policy of development in Northern Rhodesia, was taken early in 1929; but Lusaka was not chosen as the most suitable alternative site until later, when plans and preliminary estimates for a new capital at that place had been received and considered.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what medical reasons exist for moving the capital of Northern Rhodesia from Livingstone to Lusaka; and if he will publish any reports on the matter in his possession?
I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Chief Secretary to the Government of Northern Rhodesia in Legislative Council on 24th July, 1931, which appears on page 64 of the Legislative Council Debates of the Fifth Session of the Third Council. General information regarding the matter is to be found in the reports of the Legislative Council Debates of the Sixth Session of the Second Council, on 22nd March, 1929, and of the Fifth Session of the Third Council, on 23rd July, 1931. These are in the Library of the House. No reports have been published dealing specially with the medical aspect of the question. References to the health conditions at Livingstone may be found in the annual medical reports of the Protectorate.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if reports have been received in his office of the protest meeting in Livingstone against the removal of Government headquarters from this town; and whether any records are available for consultative meetings in Northern Rhodesia urging the development of a capital at Lusaka?
The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I would refer him to the reports of the Debates of the Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia. A copy has been placed in the Library.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the depressed state of the copper industry and the need for economy, he will consider the possibility of postponing for a time the development of a new capital at Lusaka and sanction the small capital expenditure for the erection and repair of administrative offices at Livingstone?
I have come to the conclusion that the most economical course is to develop the new capital. A sum of at least £200,000 would be necessary for the erection and repair of administrative offices, and the new quarters required, at Livingstone.
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give particulars of the annual output from the Broken Hill and other copper mines in Northern Rhodesia, together with the amount of taxation paid by them for each of the last five years and the amount collected in poll tax for each of these years?
The figures of copper production and native tax are as shown in the accompanying statement. The statistics of taxation paid by the various mining companies are not available.
| Year. | Copper (including Concentrates). | Year. | Native Tax. | |
| Tons. | £ | |||
| 1927 | … | 3,319 | 1926–27 | 119,238 |
| 1928 | … | 5,930 | 1927–28 | 120,345 |
| 1929 | … | 5,466 | 1928–29 | 126,235 |
| 1930 | … | 6,269 | 1929–30 | 124,386 |
| 1931 | … | 36,253 | 1930–31 | 143,907 |
British Empire (Natural-Born Southern Irish)
asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can form any estimate of the number of natural-born Southern Irish living in Great Britain or in the Empire at the present time?
So far as Great Britain is concerned, I understand that the figures for the census taken in 1931 are not yet available, but that the published figures for the census taken in 1921 show that 351,813 persons enumerated in Great Britain stated that they were born in the area now forming the Irish Free State. It is not possible to make any estimate of the whole number of persons born in the Irish Free State who are living in the British Empire at the present time. In the majority of cases the published figures for the census taken in 1921 do not distinguish between persons born in the Irish Free State and in Northern Ireland; in many parts of the Empire for reasons of economy no census was taken in 1931.
British Army (Bread Supply, Beachley Camp)
asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office to whom the contract for the supply of bread to Beachley Camp, Monmouthshire, has been given; the quantity of bread supplied; and the period over which the contract runs?
The contract for the three months commencing 1st April is held by the Chepstow Co-operative Society, Limited. The estimated requirements are 750 lbs. a day.
Whiskey And Wines (Revenue)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the annual amount of duty on Scotch whiskey and on wines from foreign countries, respectively?
Separate records are not kept under the heading of "Scotch Whiskey" but in the year 1930–31 the revenue from home-made spirits was £35,137,000 and that from wines from foreign countries £3,592,000.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total consumption of whiskey and the revenue accruing therefrom for the years 1914, 1923, and 1931, respectively?
No separate records are kept under the heading of "whiskey"; but the quantities of homemade spirits duty paid and retained for home consumption together with the amounts of revenue derived therefrom during each of the calendar years 1914, 1923 and 1931 were as follow:
| Year ended 31st December. | Quantity retained for home consumption. | Net revenue received. |
| Proof gallons. | £ | |
| 1914 | 25,940,000 | 18,911,000 |
| 1923 | 12,501,000 | 43,803,000 |
| 1931 (approx.) | 9,416,000 | 32,267,000 |
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the loss of revenue arising from the operation of the Customs Tariff Act, 1876, in relation to the fortifying of wines in bond, he proposes to make an amendment of the Act?
I cannot at present add anything to the reply which was given on 14th April to a, similar question by the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. McEntee).