asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons whose cases have been referred to the public assistance committees in South Wales, including Monmouthshire; and the number whose transitional benefit has been disallowed?

During the period 12th November, 1931, to 2nd April, 1932, the number of initial applications for transitional payments referred to public assistance authorities in the Counties of Glamorgan, Monmouth, Brecknock, Carmarthen and Pembroke (including County Boroughs), was 119,919. The total number of determinations given by these Authorities in which it was held that the needs of applicants did not justify payment being made, was 6,734 out of a total of 384,343 determinations (including renewals). The number of separate individuals concerned is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons upon the unemployment registers at Maesteg, Pontycymmer", Ogmore Vale, Bridgend and Aberkenfig, respectively; the number of persons who have been subjected to the means test provisions; and the number who have been disallowed transitional benefits at the respective Employment Exchanges?

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) to the nearest convenient date, the numbers of wholly and partially unemployed dyers, glass workers, and linen workers in the city of Perth;

(2) to the nearest convenient date, the numbers of wholly and partially unemployed bleachers in the county of Perth, together with the corresponding figures for the same date in 1931?

As the replies to these questions include, in each case, a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate statements in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can now state the decision of his Department with regard to the unemployment benefit of coal trimmers working short time?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these questions dealing with figures would not be put down for oral answer if hon. Members were certain that they would get their written reply at the same time as oral replies were received?

The hon. Gentleman has raised a point of real substance. As he knows, we are entitled in respect of all answers to 48 hours notice, and I undertake to do my utmost to ensure that answers to written questions shall be given within the same period of time as they would if they were put down on the Paper as oral questions. By that means I hope to save a considerable amount of time.

Claims for unemployment benefit are decided not by me but by the independent statutory authorities. A number of claims by coal trimmers have come before the Umpire, who is the final authority, and I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of his decisions.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider what action can be taken to restrain employers who, for purposes of propaganda, persuade their workers to state on their cards that they are unemployed as a result of the withdrawal of the Abnormal Importations Act; and what action is being taken by Employment Exchange officials with regard to payment of benefit in such cases?

I am not aware of any such cases and shall be glad if the hon. Member would give me particulars. Defacement of an unemployment book renders the persons responsible for it liable to prosecution. The right to unemployment benefit would not be affected.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at least one Tory employer, and a Tory Member of this House, has given that instruction to his workmen?

No, Sir, I am not aware of that, and, as I have told the hon. Gentleman, I shall be glad if he will give me particulars.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of the fee paid to the chairman of a court of referees for each sitting; whether a chairman who presides over two courts in one day is entitled to draw a fee in respect of each; what is the total amount of fees paid to chairmen of courts of referees in Sheffield for the three months of this year; and the total amount paid to chairmen throughout the country during the same period?

The fee paid to the chairman of a court of referees for each sitting is £2 7s. The normal sitting is approximately three hours and a chairman who presides at two sittings in one day is entitled to a fee in respect of each. The total amount of fees paid during January, February and March, 1932, to chairmen of courts of referees was approximately £360 in the Sheffield area including Attercliffe and about £24,000 for the whole of Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Labour how many insured persons were employed in Great Britain on the 1st January, 1931, and the 1st of each subsequent month to the latest date?

As the reply includes a Table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour if be will state in how many cases applications for re-examination in connection with the means test have resulted in increased allowances, in no change, and in reduced allowances in respect of Wolverhampton, Willenhall, Wednesfield, and Short Heath?

I undertook on Tuesday to consider whether these figures could be compiled for particular areas. I regret that I could not do this without being prepared to do the same for all areas and the cost of this could not be justified.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that subcommittees of the Essex county public assistance committee in the Romford area are making a second determination of allowance to those in receipt of transitional payment where any odd pence were included in the first determination, and in each such case reducing the benefit to the nearest lower number of shillings; and whether such reductions are made for the convenience of, and at the request of, the officers of his Department?

These determinations were made on the authority's own initiative. No request has been made by my Department in the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman intimate to the authority concerned that, if there is a difference between the first and second determination, it should be altered to the nearest shilling and not always to the lowest.

No, Sir. I am afraid that I have no power to do anything of the kind. I have no control over the authorities in the matter, which is entirely within their discretion.

Is it not the case that, if it is found that any authority is paying more than is considered the proper scale, one of the Departments will interfere and send down a permanent official, and so do away with the public representatives? If the right hon. Gentleman has that power when he thinks they are paying too much, surely he has the same power to increase the amount when they are paying too little?

No, Sir. I can only add to the statement which I have already made that I have no control over the authorities. If they choose to adopt the method which has been suggested in the question, it is entirely a matter for them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in connection with the closing of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway shops at Newton Heath, Manchester, and the consequent increase of local unemployment, he is investigating the possibility of transferring at least some of the men concerned to similar work elsewhere?

According to my information, a considerable proportion of the men employed at these works will be offered employment elsewhere by the company, and the discharges that will be necessary will be spread over a period. My hon. and learned Friend may rest assured that every effort will be made by the Employment Exchanges to place in suitable employment, either locally or elsewhere, those workpeople who are not absorbed in the company's other establishments.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has any more definite information to give us as to what the company proposes to do in the matter?

Quite recently I have seen a report of the proceedings at a deputation which took place either this morning or yesterday' between the company and the representatives of the men, and the repreesentative of the company says:

"About two-thirds of the staff will be given jobs at other centres, and the remaining one-third will be offered jobs in accordance with their service with the company. I think every displaced worker will be offered employment of some kind. We have done our best."

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these men will be brought from Scotland to London and offered jobs here, and the London men displaced, and is he aware that that is the usual practice of the railways?

I really could not add to the statement of the representative of the company yesterday, which shows, I think, that the company is doing its utmost to provide these men with other employment.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when this particular works was moved into Scotland?

I could not say without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour what action it is proposed to take to give effect to the new Draft Convention on the protection of children prohibiting the employment of children under 14 years of age adopted at the sixteenth session of the International Labour Conference?

The official text of this Draft Convention has not yet been received from Geneva, and the action to be taken by the Government in regard to it has accordingly not yet been considered.

Has it been provisionally approved by the Government?

No, Sir, I cannot say that. Until I have seen the official text of the Draft Convention, of course, I cannot offer an opinion one way or the other.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what was the attitude of the representative of his Department in the discussion?

The attitude of my representative there was that he abstained from voting because the Draft Convention did not contain certain provisions which we regarded as important.

Are we to understand from the reply that the Government have no policy with regard to the employment of children under 14?

Oh, no, Sir. The hon. Gentleman must not assume anything of the kind.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the representative of his Department was not given instructions to vote for the Draft Convention?

Yes. I have already given the reason. It was because the Draft Convention did not contain certain provisions which we regarded as important.

Surely it is the policy of the Government, long established, not to approve of the employment of children under 14?

As it raises a question of policy, I cannot answer the question without notice, but the decision will be communicated to the House in the usual way by means of a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether steps have been taken to ascertain from the rank and file of the special constabulary their views on employment on ordinary duties, having regard to their enrolment in the force for emergency duties; and, if so, with what result?

No, Sir. I have already explained that the question of employment on ordinary police duties does not arise.

asked the Home Secretary the names, dates of appointments, and salaries of the personnel of New Scotland Yard, uniform, Criminal Investigation Department, and public carriage branches above the rank of superintendent; and whether any hold appointments in other branches of the public service, and under what conditions?

As the reply to the first part of the question entails a somewhat long statement, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. AS regards the second part of the question, Lieut.-Colonel Laurie, a Deputy-Assistant Commissioner, receives £300 (less 10 per cent.) a year as Adviser to the Admiralty on police matters.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any officers in the public carriage branch also hold civil appointments.

The officer I have mentioned is, I understand, the only one.

asked the Home Secretary whether the police officers responsible for licensing taximeter cabs, chars-a-banc, omnibuses, and tramcars pay visits to the workshops in which the annual renovation of vehicles is undertaken to examine the vehicles before completion, or whether they wait until vehicles are completed before the test is undertaken?

Premises of licensees are visited frequently by examining officers, and any vehicles which are being overhauled there are inspected in the course of such visits before being presented for test.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am a coach body builder and know what I am saying; and is it true that his officers actually visit the tram yards except upon the days when the vehicles are licensed?

Yes, I understand that they do. If the hon. Member, from the wealth of his personal experience, can give me further information, perhaps he will be good enough to see me on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Advisory Committee of 12, which he recently appointed to function in connection with the board of film censors, is a body with frequent and regular fixed meetings, or whether it is to be called in to advise the board of film censors at their desire; and whether the names of the 12 members can be given?

The Consultative Committee on Film Censorship which consists of representatives of the local licensing authorities arranges its own meetings. I understand that the Committee has already held four meetings and is likely to meet regularly. The names of the members were published when the Committee was appointed. I will send my hon. Friend a list.

Can my right hon. Friend say, in the event of a clash of opinion between the Board of Film Censors and the Advisory Committee, which has the ruling power?

The Committee is only a consultative committee, but they can make representations to the Home Office. But my hon. Friend's question is pessimistically hypothetical.

Do I understand that this body has no power or authority over the censors whatever?

No, Sir, it has no statutory authority.

asked the Home Secretary the reason for the police attack on Mayday demonstrators in the London area when banners were seized; and how many persons were arrested?

I cannot accept the hon. Member's description of this incident. At the meeting in Hyde Park the chief marshal of the gathering announced that a procession would march to demonstrate at the Chancery of the Japanese Embassy. Although a warning was given by the police that this would not be allowed, part of the procession leaving the Park endeavoured to carry out this intention. Disorder resulted, in the course of which missiles were thrown, injuring several police officers. Eight persons were arrested, and the charges against them were dealt with at the Marylebone and Marlborough Street Police Courts on the following day. Some banners and banner poles were discarded by the demonstrators and some poles were seized by the police because they were being used as weapons. One other person had been arrested at an earlier stage on the Victoria Embankment and charged with disorderly conduct and assaulting a constable.

asked the Home Secretary what was the number of the permanent staff at the Home Office in the year 1913 and the total amount of their salaries; what was the number in 1931 and the total salaries in that year; and if there was any temporary staff employed in either of the two years and, if so, will he state the numbers and the total salaries in the respective years?

As. the answer contains a number of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the policy of the Government with regard to the establishment of all the unestablished and temporary ex-service clerks as dealt with by the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, in view of the recent announcement to hold a further open competitive examination for the appointment of recruits from outside to the established general and departmental classes of the Civil Service?

Discussions on the matter referred to in the first part of the question will, I hope, shortly be initiated with the staff interests concerned. My hon. Friend may rest assured that consideration of the Royal Commission's recommendations will not be in any way prejudiced by the holding next autumn of the normal open competition for recruitment to the clerical classes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the staff of the Treasury in 1913 and the total amount of their salaries; and the number of the staff in 1931 and the total of their salaries?

Information for 1914 is more readily available than for 1913. The staff of the Treasury of all grades was 144 on 1st August, 1914, and 304 on 1st April, 1931. The expenditure on salaries and wages was £39,703 in 1914 and £138,488 in 1931.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the posts of con- suiting engineer and adviser to the Ministry on road and traffic questions, and chairman of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, are honorary posts, or whether the holders are in receipt of any remuneration or fees commensurate with the tasks imposed?

I have been asked to reply. These two positions are occupied by Sir Henry Maybury. As consulting engineer and adviser to the Ministry on road questions he receives a fee of £l,000 a year, subject to the special economy deduction of 10 per cent. He holds the position of chairman of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee by the election of that committee, on which he serves as the Minister's representative and this position is honorary.

With regard to the first position, for which I understand this gentleman receives a fee, may I ask whether he is also in receipt of a Civil Service pension, and whether the same gentleman is connected in any way with any company or combination of companies engaged in the production of road material?

I will convey the Noble Lord's supplementary question to my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary what number of adult offenders is considered by his Department as the maximum any probation officer can successfully deal with at a time?

The experience of the Home Office leads to the conclusion that no definite figure can be suggested. The classes of the offenders dealt with and the nature of the officer's district, and the frequency of the sittings of the courts, are among the many factors which would make it impossible to suggest a maximum number.

In view of the increase in offenders in London, will the right hon. Gentleman see that more probation officers are appointed?

I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons have been killed or injured in the Metropolitan area in road accidents in which heavy road vehicles have been involved between 1st January, 1932, and 10th March, 1932, and from 10th March, 1932, to the last available date?

The figures for April are not yet available without calling for a special return, so that I regret that I cannot supply any information later than the figures which I gave in reply to the hon. Member's question on the 7th April last.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any evidence of an improvement in the observation of the law as to speed limits by heavy road vehicles in London and in the provinces since the new instructions to the police were issued?

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police reports that the effect of the instructions issued by him has on the whole been satisfactory. As regards the rest of the country, the matter was discussed at the recent Central Conference of Chief Constables. I shall be issuing a circular to Chief Officers of Police shortly. I am not yet in a position to say to what extent any local measures already taken have been effective.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will ascertain and state in comparable figures the average annual cost to the state from national and local funds of educating the elementary child in France and Germany, and England and Wales, during the year 1930?

I am afraid that I am not in a position to give comparable figures of the average cost of elementary education per child in England, France and Germany because, amongst other things, no information is available as to expenditure from local funds in the foreign countries concerned. I refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave him on the 2nd of this month that, so far as the national exchequer is concerned, the figures are £7 3s. 4d. in England and Wales, about 443 francs in France, and about 100 reichmarks in Prussia.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many teachers have been awarded gratuities on retirement under the Burnham scale during the year ended 31st March, 1932, and also during the 10 years ended 31st March, 1982; what is the total amount of those gratuities; what is the total sum paid by those teachers into the superannuation fund; and what is the total annual amount of pension which those teachers were entitled to on retirement for the same period?

The award of superannuation benefits to teachers is regulated by the Teachers (Superannuation) Acts and not by the Burnham Scale. Under those Acts lump sums (additional superannuation allowances) were awarded to 3,695 teachers during the year ended 31st March, 1932, and to 31,255 teachers during the 10 years ending on that date. The amounts were £1,493,275 and £11,891,786, respectively. In addition, annual superannuation allowances were awarded to these teachers, amounting to £549,475 and £4,375,816, respectively. The exact sum paid by these teachers by way of superannuation contributions cannot be ascertained without an inordinate amount of labour. It may, however, be taken that the total contributions paid by the 3,695 teachers who were pensioned in the year ended 31st March, 1932, did not exceed £600,000. As contributions under the Acts were not required before 1st June, 1922, the teachers who were pensioned earlier had paid proportionately less.

In view of the urgent need for national economy, will the Minister take into consideration the taking of steps to do away with these superannuation payments altogether?

No. There is no intention of doing away with any of these pensions or these lump sum payments.

Are not these superannuation payments deferred payments of wages?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is intended to take any action in connection with the report of the committee set up by the late Government to inquire into the conduct of private schools?

This report is receiving my careful consideration, but there can be no question of proceeding during the current Session with the legislation which would be required to give effect to its main recommendations.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state when the Committee on Local Government Officers, appointed 15th September, 1930, will present its report; and the coat of this Committee to date?

I understand that this Committee hope to present their report early in 1933. The cost to date is £215 10s.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of bringing pressure to bear on this Committee to present its report prior to 1933, seeing that it has been sitting about 19 months?

To do justice to the members of the Committee, who are very assiduous in their task, I ought to inform the hon. Member that it was temporarily interrupted for motives of economy and has only recently been resumed.

asked the Minister of Health when the Committee on Local Government and Public Health Law Consolidation, appointed 8th December, 1930, will present its report; and what is the cost of this Committee to date?

I understand that this Committee hopes to issue an interim report covering the consolidation of the law of Local Government by the end of the present year. I cannot, at present, state when its final report will be presented. The cost to date is £150.

asked the Minister of Health what recent action has been taken to provide employment for workmen in the building trades by promoting or accelerating housing schemes; and how many additional persons have been employed as a result?

Local authorities are continuing to submit proposals for the erection of houses and these proposals are regularly approved where they comply with the policy laid down in the circular letter of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. I regret that the information sought in the last part of the question is not available.

Has the right hon. Gentleman the figures for the unemployed building trade workers?

I am sorry to say that those figures are not available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that public health authorities are held up in condemning a great amount of property because of the lack of houses, and will he attempt to speed up the housing programme in order that these diseased houses may be cleared away?

Whenever an application is made for approval for a housing programme and houses are required for reasons such as those referred to, the application is approved.

That is not what I asked. I asked the right hon. Gentleman if he was aware that there was joint co-operation between these bodies to prevent the building of houses, where needed, and will he take action in that case?

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built by the London County Council, with the aid of the subsidy, which are actually at the present time completed but not tenanted on their different estates in and around London; and the reasons for such houses not being tenanted?

The number of houses and flats built with the aid of subsidy by the London County Council is 48,411. Of these 295 or 0.61 per cent. are, I understand, unoccupied, consisting of properties being redecorated for incoming tenants, properties reserved for families displaced in connection with clearance schemes and new properties for which applications are under consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the occupants of these houses are taken from the congested areas of London and that it is impossible for the children of the occupants of these houses when they get married to obtain houses on these various estates?

I do not think that arises out of the question, which referred to unoccupied houses.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in London to-day there are 20,000 people who want houses and cannot get them and that there were never more unemployed house builders in and around London than there are to-day? What action does he propose to take?

That matter does not arise out of the question.

asked the Minister of Health what steps, if any, are being taken by the Ministry to enforce or promote the carrying out by local authorities of the instruction given to them in Ministry of Health Circular, No. 1138, that, since it is the clear intention of Parliament that the benefit of the new grant shall not enure to persons for whom it is not needed, rent relief should be given only to those who need it and only for so long as they need it; and whether the Ministry has reason to suppose that this instruction is in fact being observed?

As the hon. Member is aware, the circular letter which she cites was addressed to local authorities, and I have no reason to suppose that the guidance it gives is being disregarded, but the authorities are not required to report to me the action which they may take in this matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman supplement his reply by saying whether the Ministry would consider the advisability of setting up an inquiry so that the House may be satisfied as to whether his instructions are or are not being carried out?

The hon. Member knows that local authorities have certain powers under the Act of 1930. I have no reason to believe that these powers are not being properly exercised.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the grants given by the Government for the relief of people who have children who are suffering from malnutrition are not being used for supplying food because they are taken by house owners for rent?

I do not think that the hon. Member's question arises out of the original question, which deals with the tenants occupying houses provided under the Act. The answer is that I have no reason to suppose that local authorities are not acting in accordance with their powers under the Act.

Will the Minister say whether he has any reason to suppose that the authorities are taking such action. He tells us that he has no reason to suppose that local authorities are not acting in accordance with their powers under the Act; has he any reason to suppose that they are? Should not the House know whether the instructions issued by the Minister of Health are being obeyed?

asked the Minister of Health what are the accumulated funds in hand under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Pensions Acts, 1925 to 1929; the total income from the same source for the year ended 31st March, 1932; and the total expenditure during that year under the same heading?

The accumulated funds in hand on the 31st March, 1932, amounted to £40,500,000. The total income for the year ended 31st March, 1932, including the Parliamentary Grant of £10,000,000 and interest on the accumulated funds, was £35,000,000, and the expenditure on pensions and administration was £39,700,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to state the composition of the Committee to inquire into the position of the co-operative societies; and by what date he anticipates that the report will be made public?

The Committee will be composed of Mr. W. N. Raeburn, C.B.E., K.C. (Chairman), Sir Geoffrey Corbett, K.B.E., C.I.E., and the present President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Mr. H. L. H. Hill, who have very kindly consented to serve at my request.

The terms of reference are as follow:

"To inquire into the present position of Co-operative Societies in relation to the Income Tax and to report whether any modification of that position is desirable and, if so, what alterations of the law are required for the purpose."

I cannot, of course, say when the Committee will report, but I do not imagine that the inquiry will take very long.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us what are the qualifications of the Chairman?

The Chairman of the Committee is a gentleman of considerable reputation. I think he has a judicial mind, and he has had the sort of experience which will enable him to fulfil the duties of chairman with impartiality and justice.

Can the Tight hon. Gentleman tell us what is meant by the phrase "desirable change?"

The Committee will consider whether there is anything in the position which makes it desirable that there should be a change.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean desirable for getting in more money or is it a question of equity as between them and other citizens? It is important to know whether they are going to decide on justice or on expediency?

It is not a question of revenue that is concerned; it is a question of equity.

May I ask whether it is a condition precedent to any action being taken in this matter that such a report should be unanimous?

Will a time limit be fixed?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the decline in the yield of the stamp duties, he will now consider amending the Medicine Stamp Acts with the object of rendering all medicines protected by registered names or trade marks liable to duty, even if they be of a known, admitted, or proved nature?

I do not think that my hon. Friend's suggestion can be accepted, but I am having the present position under the Medicine Stamp Acts examined in order to see whether some amendment of those Acts is desirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of standard barrels of beer brewed in April, 1931, and the number in April, 1932?

The figures asked for are 1,438,000 standard barrels for April, 1931, and 1,038,000 for April, 1932. The latter figure is provisional and subject to slight correction.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that cinema houses in the Kelvin-grove district of Glasgow have closed down within the past six months owing to the entertainments duty upon seats under sixpence; and whether he is prepared to reconsider the alteration of the tax upon the lower-priced seats?

I have no information as to the closing down of the particular houses referred to in the first part of the question. With regard to the second part, the answer is in the negative.

If the right hon. Gentleman will make inquiries in this and in other parts of the country he will find that, owing to this tax, many cinema houses are being closed down. Therefore, will he take into consideration the removal of this tax on the lower price seats, especially in those houses which are situated in working-class districts?

That is more a question for the Committee stage of the Finance Bill.

The Chancellor of the Echequer has already intimated that he proposes to make certain remissions of duty, and I am asking whether he will make a remission in this case.

I have answered that question.

In view of the accumulated evidence of the effect of this tax on the lower price seats, would it not be desirable to remit a portion of it, and, if necessary, increase it in other directions?

That, again, is a question for consideration on the Finance Bill.

Seeing that the right hon. Gentleman is giving concession to certain powerful influences in this House, surely he can make this concession to the poorest of the poor. We never get any concessions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the amounts of Estate and Succession Duties collected by the Treasury from agricultural lands and estates for the last three years, respectively; and what were the similar figures in 1913?

These payments are not specially recorded, but it is estimated that the Estate Duty paid in respect of agricultural land for the years 1929, 1930 and 1931 amounted to £2,900,000, £2,100,000 and £1,700,000 respectively, and that the annual receipt of Succession Duty in respect of agricultural land is in the neighbourhood of £260,000. As regards the year 1913, it is estimated that the Estate and Succession Duties amounted to about £1,250,000.

Can my right hon. Friend say if these figures include duties on timber?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider a revision of Notice 163, issued by the Customs and Excise Department, in order that bona fide trade samples may be imported without delay and without having to pay duties equivalent to 68 per cent. of the value of the sample?

I recognise that the imposition of the new import duties has altered the position in regard to the admission of dutiable goods by sample post, and the question of the revision of Customs Notice No. 163 is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give comparative figures showing the total of British exports plus re-exports, together with the sum total of German exports plus re-exports, and the United States of America exports plus re-exports, respectively, to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the year 1931?

The value of the exports and re-exports of merchandise from the United Kingdom to the Soviet Union during 1931 was £9,044,000 and from the United States £21,300,000. The corresponding figure of the aggregate exports from Germany is not available, but the value of the produce and manufactures of that country exported to the Soviet Union in 1931 was £37,308,000. Conversions from dollars and reichsmarks into sterling have been made at the approximate par rates of exchange.

Has the hon. Gentleman any knowledge of how much English money was provided for the purpose of advancing this Russo-German trade?

No, Sir.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the re-export figures include transhipments in bond or not?

I could not say without notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the figures published by his Department showing the amount of tonnage entered and cleared by British and foreign vessels, respectively, in British possessions and foreign countries, are based on the net tonnage?

The statistics of navigation published by the Board of Trade are based on net tonnage.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that returns made on the basis of net tonnage are entirely misleading and do not enable an accurate judgment to be made of—

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can make any statement as to the steps being taken by his Department to investigate the possibility of establishing a clearing-house system for discharging debts between this country and those countries in which currency restrictions are in force?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Platting Division of Manchester (Mr. Chorlton) on 28th April.

Could not special pressure be brought to bear on those countries which have a balance of trade in their favour and consequently have no difficulty?

That is one of the points which is under consideration.

Cannot this inquiry be speeded up, as traders are suffering seriously in connection with this matter?

We are moving as quickly as we can, but I would remind my hon. Friend that any Government action in this matter necessitates State interference with private interests on a large scale, and, while this may be necessary, it cannot be done without careful examination.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount yearly has been paid in rates for the past 10 years to the county of Devon by the Department responsible for the Dartmoor prison; and whether the prison authorities have received amenity advantages in common with other ratepayers?

Amounts ranging from £2,226 to £2,791 per annum in respect of rates on Dartmoor Prison have been paid during the last 10 years to the rating authority in whose area the prison is situate. The prison authorities have, no doubt, benefited in common with other ratepayers from the services rendered by the county and district authorities.

Why should the County of Devon be mulcted in a large sum in costs for the recent trial of prisoners at Dartmoor prison?

If I may say so that is an entirely different question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of persons employed as a result of the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act of 1925; and the number of persons employed in British sugar refineries in 1924 and 1932 respectively?

The average number of persons employed in beet-sugar factories each year since the beginning of the subsidy period is about 7,130, of whom 5,360 have been employed during the manufacturing seasons and the remainder whole time. No precise information is available as to the number of persons employed in the cultivation of sugar-beet crops and in ancillary industries (transport, building and machinery, factory supplies, etc.), but it is estimated that roughly 170,000 man-years of employment have been afforded indirectly by the beet-sugar industry during the subsidy period. I regret that I have no information as to the number of persons employed in British sugar refineries, but it is estimated that the refining of one ton of white sugar from raw sugar provides about one-third of the factory employment required for the manufacture of one ton of white sugar from beets.

How many "man-years" of wages has the subsidy actually cost?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if the Government's policy for dealing with pigs, meat, barley, and oats is postponed until after the Ottawa Conference?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that grants in respect of horse breeding have recently been greatly reduced in the interests of economy and that such reductions may cause harm to certain types of horse breeding in this country, he will consider the advisability of recommending the imposition of a tariff upon horses imported into this country other than for breeding and racing purposes, and hypothecating a part of the revenue therefrom to the encouragement of horse breeding in this country?

My hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware that it is proposed to authorise the Import Duties Advisory Committee to recommend the removal of items from the First Schedule of the Import Duties Act. When this proposal becomes law it will be open to any interested party to make representations to that body.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any information is available as to the extent to which the reduction of the grant for horse breeding will adversely affect that industry?

In spite of the reduction in the rate of grants to heavy horse societies the number of stallions being travelled this year by subsidised societies is the same as in 1931, and on present information, I have no reason to suppose that the reduction of grant will have an adverse effect on the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of failures among fanners and smallholders in the areas of the Great Grimsby, Lincoln and Boston bankruptcy courts, under the Bankruptcy Act and the Deeds of Arrangement Act, since the 1st January this year?

The number of failures in the areas mentioned up to the 30th April was 42.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average yearly acreage of agricultural land, over a period of the last 10 years, which has been lost to agriculture by being built upon or absorbed by local authorities, or by local legislation, for schemes of planning, development, drainage, etc.; and whether he will in future procure that information for inclusion in the annual agricultural statistics?

I regret that the information desired is not available. With regard to the second part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question, I may say that in accordance with a promise given to him by my predecessor on 21st July, 1930, the question raised has been fully considered, but no satisfactory method of obtaining the information has so far been devised.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it is very important that the amount of agricultural land which is going out of cultivation, not on account of the industry but on account of building development, should be known?

It all depends on whether it is worth the cost which it would entail.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to a recent case in the Chancery Court in which a woman applied for a committal order against her husband for non-compliance with an order of the Divorce Court to pay alimony, and in which the judge said that he had no jurisdiction in the matter but considered that it was time the law was altered; and whether he contemplates legislation in the early future to deal with this class of case?

Yes, Sir; my attention has been called to the case in question, and I am giving the matter close consideration.