asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the resolution sent to him, passed at the Easter Annual Conference of the National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers, relative to unemployment benefit and to the extension of the scope of the unemployment insurance scheme; and if he will state his attitude towards the requests contained therein?

I have received a resolution protesting against the cut in unemployment benefit and urging the inclusion of all workers under the unemployment insurance scheme, regardless of income. With regard to the first point, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hems-worth (Mr. Price) on the 10th March, of which I am sending him a copy, and with regard to the second point, I must await the report of the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance.

Is it the intention of the right hon. Gentleman to send a reply to the secretary of the union?

No doubt the union will see a copy of the answer that I have just given.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the distress now prevailing amongst English actors, actresses, and musicians who have been largely displaced from engagements in this country owing to the admission of alien artistes into Great Britain during a period of depression; and will he exercise greater stringency relative to the admission of alien artistes into Great Britain?

I am aware that there is unemployment among British actors and musicians, but I do not agree that it is due to the admission of foreigners. In my view, the present restrictions on the admission of foreign actors and musicians go as far as is desirable in the interests of British artistes themselves, many of whom, it must be remembered, seek to obtain engagements abroad.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that on Saturday last five plays were withdrawn from London theatres, causing extreme unemployment, and that while this is taking place aliens are permitted to come into this country?

Is it not the case that excessive restrictions in this country may have the effect of damaging the prospects of our people getting employment in other countries?

That is the purport of the answer that I have just given.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the heavy percentage of unemployment in the London area, he is prepared to designate it as a depressed area; and whether he is prepared to discontinue the present practice of making it a condition for grant that men shall be brought in from other districts now designated as depressed, thus causing the dismissal of London men who are already employed?

Although the level of unemployment in certain parts of the London area is regrettably high, it is not such as to justify its inclusion in this schedule, which is limited to areas where unemployment has been especially severe and prolonged and where there is a definite surplus of unemployed workpeople in certain of the heavy industries. As regards the second part of the question, no further schemes carrying the condition referred to are at present being approved for State grant. I am not aware that the introduction of depressed area men in existing schemes has resulted in the dismissal of London men already employed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the delay in hearing cases for transitional payments in the County of London, he will make provision, where the hearing is delayed for two or three weeks, for retrospective payment back to the date of the cessation of unemployment insurance benefit?

I have no evidence of such delay in the County of London. In cases of this class the committees' determinations, both in the County of London and elsewhere, would have retrospective effect under existing provisions, but any interval is usually covered by interim payments or by payments under an interim determination by the committee's officer.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that payment is not made between the period of the determination of standard benefit and the determination of claims under the public assistance committees? If I give him evidence, will he look into it?

I will most certainly look into it, because I want the facts just as much as does the hon. Gentleman, and, if he will give me any case illustrating the point that he has in mind, I will certainly look into it.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he will give the figures of unemployment in the area of the Leyton Exchange for the month of October, 1931, and the figures in the same area for April, 1932;

(2) if he will give the latest unemployment figures for the district covered by the Leyton Employment Exchange and the increase or decrease from the previous month?

At 25th April, 1932, there were 9,883 persons on the registers of the Leyton and Walthamstow Employment Exchange, a decrease of 81 as compared with 21st March. The corresponding figure at 26th October, 1931, was 9,026.

Are not these figures published in the index of employment that is placed in the Library, and, if so, is it necessary to put such questions on the Order Paper?

Yes, these figures do appear, I think, in the publication to which my hon. Friend refers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Conservatives, when in Opposition, made excessive use of this same method?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the latest unemployment figures for the Swansea area and the increase or decrease compared with the figures for the previous month?

At 25th April, 1932, there were 15,323 unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Swansea, an increase of 401 as compared with 21st March.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied with the present result of the efforts of the King's National Roll Committee in finding employment for disabled ex-service men; and whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a limited number of the disabled to interview employers of labour so as to secure better results?

I am never satisfied, particularly in a matter of this sort, but I think the King's Roll National Council and the local King's Roll Committees have done, and are doing, very valuable work. The percentage of unemployment among disabled ex-service men is, I may say, less than half that among insured men generally. As regards the second part of the question, it is the business of the local King's Roll Committee to suggest the best method of enlisting the support of employers in its particular area.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give figures showing how the amount of unemployment pay given in this country, together with the period for which it is given, compares with that paid by the Governments of France, Germany, Italy, the United States of America, the Dominion of Canada, South Africa, and the Commonwealth of Australia?

Particulars of the systems of unemployment insurance in overseas countries and of unemployment relief in Australia and New Zealand were given in the Memoranda published last September as Part IV of the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence given before the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance. The rates and periods vary so much that it is scarcely possible to make a summary comparison of the kind asked for. I should add that since those memoranda were prepared, the period during which ordinary benefit is paid in Germany has been reduced from 26 weeks to 20 and the period during which emergency benefit normally is paid has been increased from 32 to 38 weeks.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a Rus- sian subject who can hardly speak English has been substituted at the Russion Oil Products depot at Hamworthy, East Dorsetshire, for a local man, who is now thrown out of work; whether he can state the number of permits to Russian subjects issued in connection with employment by the Russian Oil Products organisation; and whether he will consider preventing British subjects being thrown out of work in circumstances of this nature when they are fully qualified to fill the posts concerned?

I am not aware of the circumstances referred to in the first part of the question. I will gladly have inquiry made if my hon. Friend can furnish me with particulars. In regard to the second part, the number of Soviet nationals now in employment with the Russian Oil Products, Limited, under permit from my Department is 39. I may add that the position is being kept constantly under review.

Will my right hon. Friend inquire into the employment of this whole organisation, and is it not a fact that the key men in this industry are appointed, not by knowledge of the oil industry, but solely as Soviet propagandists?

As I have already said, in answer to the original question, I can assure my hon. Friend that this matter is kept constantly under review, and the matter to which he refers is also under review.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry into Chinese, instead of English sailors, being placed in English ships?

asked the Minister of Labour how many German instructors there are at the B.C.N. radio factory, Waddon, Croydon; how many British subjects have been trained; and whether he is aware that some of the trainees have been dismissed and their places taken by Germans?

The hon. and gallant Member is perhaps referring to the radio factory of the British N.S.F. Company recently established at Waddon. Permits have been issued for a total of 23 German technicians for the purpose of instructing British workers. The per- mits are for a period of six months. As the period of training started only a few weeks ago it is not possible yet to state how many British workers have been trained. In regard to the third part of the question I have no reason to suppose that the British persons in training have been replaced by German workers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed persons are being subjected to the deduction of a day's unemployment benefit when they have been admitted for a night into a casual ward; and if he will take steps to put an end to this?

By Section 8 (3) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, an insured contributor is disqualified for the receipt of unemployment benefit while he is an inmate of any institution supported out of public funds. I am sending the hon. Member copies of certain decisions given by the Umpire upon the point raised in his question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that men who are starting in search of work owing to the shortage of accommodation are sometimes compelled to stay just one night in the casual ward and are therefore penalised in the way stated in the question?

No, I am not aware of that fact, but in any case the hon. Member knows that all questions arising under the Act of 1920 come up before the Umpire, whose decisions are binding on me. Perhaps my hon. Friend wall look at the Umpire's decisions and see if there is any point that he requires to ask me about further.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Thomas O'Reilly, a native of Ireland, who was brought to Slough in 1931 to undergo a course of instruction as a bricklayer at the Government training centre and has since been convicted of burglary; and whether he will take steps to protect the Slough district from the importation of men of this type?

I have no knowledge of this case. The class of men admitted to these centres is in general of a good type and I do not think any further special precautions in this connection are either necessary or practical.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the obvious plan would be to give a percentage of the vacancies in this training centre to local unemployed youths?

I fully appreciate the point that my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, but I must remind him that the primary object of this centre is to give a chance to men from the very depressed areas in the north and elsewhere.

But did not this man come from Ireland?

I say that I have no knowledge of the case at all, but, judging from his name, I should think that he probably did.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons who are registered as unemployed but receiving neither benefit or transition payments?

At 28th April, 1932, there were 480,438 persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain with no claim admitted either for insurance benefit or for transitional payments. This number included 129,919 uninsured persons, and 67,724 insured persons with claims under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any of the organisations which had made representations to him against a permit of entry to this country being given to the Circus Gleich have now withdrawn their objections; and, if so, on what grounds?

Two organisations have withdrawn their opposition to the admission to this country of the Circus Gleich, on account of revised offers of employment made by the Circus.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the feeling in Germany and this country is that this circus has not been treated with the traditional fairness which has always been regarded as characteristic of this country; and, in the changed circumstances, is he prepared to review the situation?

No. I am not. I came to my decision after receiving a deputation which consisted not only of Members of all parties in the House, but of representatives of the industry, both employers and employed, and they were all definite in their opposition to the admission of this circus.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, basing their arrangements on the promise of his Department, this organisation has been put to serious damage and loss; and in the circumstances does he not think that he ought to reconsider the position?

I am glad that the hon. Gentleman put that supplementary question, because I want to make it plain that these permits are revocable, and consideration can at all times be given to the effect that they have on employment in this country. In this and every other case the interests of our own nationals must come first.

I am not questioning the decision of policy, but would it not be wiser for the Department in cases of this kind to make up their minds on the first application instead of misleading people and encouraging them to embark on heavy expenditure?

I must point out that circumstances sometimes change during a rather long period.

Is it not a fact that in present circumstances the advent of this circus, while employing a few people, would indirectly put out of employment a considerably greater number?

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state to what holidays per annum civil servants in the Ministry of Labour are entitled according to their grades; and for what period of such holidays they receive full salary?

As regards the staff of the Ministry, other than Departmental Class Officers, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis) on 5th May. Officers of the Departmental Class are eligible for periods of annual leave corresponding to those for which the clerical and executive grades at headquarters are eligible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to what holidays per annum officers of excise in the Customs and Excise Department are entitled according to their grades; and for what period of such holidays they receive full salary?

Subject to the exigencies of the Service, members of the outdoor staff of the Customs and Excise Department are eligible for the following periods of annual leave with full pay:

Is it a fact that, in addition to these holidays, every Excise officer is expected to take six days' sick leave, whether he is sick or not?

I am afraid I should require notice of any such question as that.

Is it not a fact that the leave now given to the junior ranks, particularly in the Customs and Excise Services, is much in excess of what was given before the War?

I should require notice of that question also.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of the staff employed in the Local Government Board in 1913 and the total of their salaries in that year; and what was the number of the staff employed by the Ministry of Health in the past year 1931 and the total of the salaries paid in that year?

The Local Government Board staff in 1913 numbered 947; the expenditure on salaries was £250,846. The staff of my Department in 1931 was 6,464 with a. salary cost of £1,850,972.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of civilians brought on to the Ordnance Survey in August, 1931, to augment the staff for the purpose of expediting the work of that Department consequent upon the land valuation proposals passed into Law last year by the late Government; the number whose services were dispensed with in January of this year; the number of Royal Engineer officers added to the strength of the Ordnance Survey during the above period; and the number whose services are still retained in that Department?

The numbers asked for by the hon. Member are, respectively, 46, 46, 1 and 1.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of the staff employed by the Ministry in 1913 and of the total of the salaries paid; and the total number of the staff in 1931 and the total of the salaries paid in that year?

The number of non-industrial staff employed by the Ministry in 1913 was 659, and the total of the salaries paid was £131,552. The respective figures for 1931 were 1,640 and £537,199.

What does my right hon. Friend mean by non-industrial staff?

The figures I have given represent the staff actually on the Ministry's Vote. They are inclusive of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, but exclusive of the Ordnance Survey. The industrial staff are on a separate basis, and are employed at Kew and in connection with things like the National Stud and so on.

asked the President of the Board of Education what would be the estimated economy involved by raising the age for admission to elementary schools from five to six years; and whether it is the intention of the Government to take any action on such lines?

Unless legislation was passed excluding all children under six from the schools for all purposes the amount of saving would be difficult to estimate, but would probably be small. On the assumption that such legislation was passed and that no steps were taken to replace the educational and social facilities thus withdrawn, the total saving to the Exchequer is estimated to be about £2,000,000 a year. In some areas, and especially in the counties, an increased burden would be thrown on the rates, as the saving to the authorities in expenditure would be less than the loss in grant. While the effect would vary in different localities, the authorities as a whole would lose to the extent of about £125,000 a year. I have not at present in contemplation any change in the law of school attendance.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his reply. In view of the fact that some 160,000 children under the age of five are going to school in England and Wales, does he not think that, in the interests of economy, the parents might be asked to pay, or, alternatively, that the children should be prevented from going to school?

Do I understand from the reply that, owing to the fact that the building and staff are already in existence, there would be no real economy to the rates and a very small economy to the taxpayers if the course suggested were adopted?

I have already pointed out that local education authorities would not benefit, that, indeed, they would lose, on balance, to the extent of £100,000 a year. The loss would apply particularly to the county areas where possible economies would generally be small compared with the loss of the per capita grant. In reply to the hon. and gallant Member's supplementary question, I have already indicated that there is no intention of altering the existing practice.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether education authorities who have secondary schools without sixth forms, but possess a municipal college where facilities for this tuition are provided, are required to establish sixth forms in all secondary schools as well as the municipal college in order to be officially recognised by the Board of Education and to render scholars eligible for State scholarships to the universities?

The development in recent years of sixth form work in grant-aided secondary schools, which has resulted in remarkable successes of pupils from such schools at the Universities, is a notable feature of the public system of education, but the absence of such work does not render a school ineligible for recognition by the Board.

asked the Minister of Health whether the public health officials are able to carry out satisfactory tests in regard to the boneless meat not in carcase form imported into this country, in view of the fact that the internal organs wherein frequently the only traces of disease exist have been removed from such meat?

I am advised that while it may be possible to detect disease in boneless meat, the only satisfactory way of ascertaining that meat is free from disease is by inspection of the whole carcase at the time of slaughter. I am accordingly proposing to amend the Imported Food Regulations so as to require an official certificate of inspection with any imported meat less than the whole of the carcase. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the existing Regulations and the draft amending Regulations.

asked the Minister of Health how often in the last 12 months under the control of the health authority of the county of London pregnancy has been terminated operatively in cases of tuberculosis; and has the written consent of the parents been sought and obtained

I have no information on the subject to which the hon. Member refers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make such inquiries as he can?

Inquiries would be prolonged and costly, and it is entirely a matter, in the first place, for the discretion of the local authorities.

If I confine it to the London area, is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to send out a circular saying that he is not in agreement with such murders taking place?

I really cannot give any tacit assent to the implication of the hon. Member's supplementary question. If there is any case in which there are circumstances to which the hon. Member thinks attention should be called, perhaps he will favour me with particulars of it.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that no case of psittacosis has been reported in Argentina for over a year and the inconvenience the present restriction on the importation of parrots is causing the public, he can see his way to modify the present regulations regarding the introduction of parrots into this country?

This question is receiving continuous attention in my Department in the light of all the information available on the subject, but I am not satisfied that the risk of the spread of psittacosis through the importation of parrots has so far diminished that the restrictions on their importation, which apply generally and not only to Argentina, could safely be relaxed at present.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in order to reduce the unemployment among workers in the building material industries, he will insist to a greater extent on the use of British materials in building contracts of public authorities?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a question on this subject on the 19th ultimo, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give particulars of the loans at present sanctioned and applied for, respectively, in connection with housing?

The total amount of loans sanctioned for housing purposes in England and Wales since the War is approximately £571,000,000. No precise figures of the amount of borrowing involved by the various proposals before my Department can be given, but the average amount of loans sanctioned for housing purposes in England and Wales in each of the first four months of this year was approximately £1,211,500.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to introduce during the present Session the projected Rents Bill?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Lord President of the Council yesterday to the hon. Member for Wigan (Mr. Parkinson).

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider introducing legislation to give Government support to mortgages on houses built by housing societies in order to give a stimulus to construction and provide the type of cheap house which is especially needed?

I am afraid I cannot undertake to consider housing legislation at the present time. I may inform my hon. Friend that 130,903 houses were erected without State assistance in the last financial year, this being the greatest number in any year since the War. I am sending him a copy of a recent circular dealing with the type of houses to be provided by local authorities with State assistance.

Did that extra large construction of houses by private enterprise take place during the term of the late Labour Government?

It was in the last financial year.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether they were houses of the type which rank for subsidy or not?

Is the hon. Member referring to the types of houses among the 130,000?

Yes.

I am afraid I should require notice of that question in order to give full particulars with an analysis.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that in some cases under Section 26 of the Housing Act of 1930 charges incurred during the construction of houses, such as loan charges on the land and interest on money paid to building contractors, are being disallowed in arriving at the ultimate capital cost of the houses, he will make it clear to local government auditors that such charges during construction must be taken into account?

There is no authority for the payment out of moneys raised under loans sanctioned for the purposes of the Housing Act, 1930, of charges in respect of interest and repayment of capital.

asked the Minister of Health the present position as to the publication of the report on the Census Returns and, in particular, when he anticipates that the Census particulars as to housing will be published?

I cannot at present add to the information contained in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member of the 26th November last, that the County Part series of Census Reports containing housing statistics will begin to issue about the middle of the present year, but that it is impossible to state when publication of all Census Reports will be completed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the monthly yield of Entertainments Duty on 4d. and 6d. seats in cinemas during each month from April, 1931, to April, 1932, and for the similar period of April, 1930, to April, 1931?

No figures are available showing the yield of Entertainments Duty for particular classes of entertainments. Even if they were, I am afraid that the information asked for by the hon. Member could not be supplied, as the admission prices to which he refers have been chargeable with duty only since 9th November last.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give the figures for that period?

It is not given for a particular class of entertainment, as I have stated in the earlier part of my answer.

asked (1) the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can estimate the probable loss of revenue to the Exchequer from a total remission of the beer duty applied to beer brewed in the United Kingdom from ingredients, including malting barley, grown entirely in the United Kingdom in the next financial year;

(2) the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can estimate the loss to the Treasury of revenue that would be caused by the remission of the beer tax on beer brewed in the United Kingdom from malting barley and hops grown in the United Kingdom?

It would not be possible to frame any reliable estimate, but I must point out that quite apart from the loss of revenue I fear that any such proposal would be impracticable in view of our obligations under commercial treaties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider introducing legislation to require the gravity of beer to be indicated on every cask and barrel and on every invoice relating thereto?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 28th April to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Pontefract (Captain Sotheron-Estcourt).

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman indicate to which Department this question should be addressed?

I am afraid that it might create trouble if I indicated what Department I thought ought to do some particular piece of work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the amount of revenue which would be obtainable from a 10 per cent. duty imposed for revenue purposes on foreign pitprops?

Statistics of importations do not distinguish pitprops, which are included with all other classes of pit-wood, and therefore material is not available for framing such an estimate as my Noble Friend desires.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of the payments made by and paid to Great Britain on account of War debts and reparations to the latest available date?

The total of the British War debt payments to the United States Government to date is £32(5,200,000. The total of the British receipts from Allied War debts and reparations (including the United Kingdom share of the proceeds of the German Government 5½ per cent. Loan, 1930) is £200,782,000. The deficit (including interest at 5 per cent. on both sides of the account) is about £200 millions.

If the British Government have had to pay this amount of money for winning the War, how much does the right hon. Gentleman consider that we should have received if we had lost the War?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if arrangements are being made to pay to the United States annuities after the expiration of the Hoover moratorium and also the annuities held up during the suspension period?

I would refer the right hon. Member to what was said on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Speech on the 19th April, and to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. and gallant Member for the Limehouse Division of Stepney (Mr. Attlee).

Are we to understand that no further arrangement has been made for payments to the United States except such as has been stated in this House before?

Yes, Sir, up to the present time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply has been sent by His Majesty's Government to the representations from the Dutch Government on the subject of claims made by the Netherlands Bank for recovery from this country of alleged losses through the suspension of the Gold Standard by Great Britain?

The Dutch Government have been informed that His Majesty's Government greatly regretted the loss suffered by the Netherlands Bank as the result of the suspension of the Gold Standard by this country, but that, after the fullest and most sympathetic consideration of all the circumstances of the case, they found it impossible to accord any preferential treatment to the sterling assets of the Netherlands Bank.

Does that mean that, in point of fact, there is no claim of any substance whatever against the British Treasury in this matter and the Netherlands Bank?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will read my answer.

Did the Netherlands Bank receive the apology of the Government in a proper spirit?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the committee appointed to inquire into the present position of co-operative societies in relation to Income Tax will meet in public or in private?

This is a matter for the committee itself to decide.

Will the Financial Secretary consider the desirability of giving power under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act or any other special powers?

I should have certainly liked to see that suggestion put down in writing.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider allowing this committee to broadcast through the talkies?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the number of the present holders of Five per cent. War Loan Stock whose addresses are unknown and to whom therefore interest is not being paid; what is the amount of the stock held by them; and what will become of this unclaimed money?

The number of warrants for payment of the dividend on Five per cent. War Stock due on 1st December, 1931, that are retained to-day is 2,316, representing approximately £500,000 of stock. It would not be possible, without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour, to say what fraction of this stock is likely to remain permanently unclaimed. As regards the last part of the question, the provisions of the law are shortly as follows: Dividends on Government Stock which are unclaimed for more than five years are transferred to the National Debt Commissioners, and if no claim is received for 10 years the stock itself is so transferred. Every effort is made to trace the holders and the stock and dividends are retransferred to them on proof of claim. The actual transfers to the National Debt Commissioners in connection with Five per cent. War Loan average less than £4,000 annually for dividends and £2,000 annually for stock.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of incomes upon which Surtax was paid for the year 1930–31; the number of incomes exceeding £5,000 but less than £10,000, exceeding £10,000, £30,000, £50,000, and £100,000, respectively, for that year; and the comparative figures for the years 1920–21 and 1928–29?

No statistics are yet available of the classification of the Surtax assessments for the year 1930–31. My hon. Friend will find a classification of the Super-tax assessments for the year 1920–21 in Table 73 of the 67th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cd. 2227), and of the Surtax assessments for the year 1928–29 (the most recent year available) in Table 63 of the recently published 74th Report (Cd. No. 4027).

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he is taking with regard to the request of the National Association of Master Bakers, Confectioners, and Caterers to have appointed on the Wheat Commission a representative of the bread-baking industry?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to make any announcement with regard to the constitution of the Wheat Commission under the Wheat Act, 1932?

In accordance with the provisions of the Statute, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, and I, acting jointly, are about to appoint the Wheat Commission. We have been fortunate in obtaining the services of Lord Peel as Chairman. The other members of the Commission will be as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the recent abnormal importations of Russian and Dutch table poultry and whether he is prepared to introduce emergency legislation in the interests of the home producer?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the recent abnormal importations of Dutch and Russian chickens, he will take steps to protect the home producer from these arrivals of foreign poultry which render the home-produced consignment practically unsaleable?

Although the volume fluctuates considerably from time to time, the information at my disposal does not confirm the statement that recent importaions of table poultry from Russia and the Netherlands have been abnormal. In these circumstances, the second part of the questions does not arise.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the importation from Russia is going to be sold at from 5d. to 9d. a pound; and does he consider that that is fair to poultry producers in this country?

All I can say is that the matter is receiving my careful consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider poultry eaters as well as poultry producers?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what answer has been given to the applications made by some of the evacuated residents of St. Kilda to be returned to their native territory:; and if he can make any statement on this matter?

My right hon. Friend has received no applications of the kind referred to by the hon. Member, and, therefore, the remainder of the question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Transport the result of the inquiry recently held by his Department into the causes of the delay of the installation of electricity by the Grampian Electrical Company into the village of Errol, Perthshire?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend has received the report of the inquiry recently made on his behalf into the application of the company referred to for certain wayleaves, and he hopes shortly to be in a position to announce his decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that the Canadian Government is imposing upon British goods entering Canada a surtax as a result of the depreciation of the pound sterling in relation to the Canadian dollar; and whether a similar surtax is imposed on goods from other Empire countries with a depreciated currency?

Particulars of the duty in question were published in the Board of Trade Journal in the issue of the 8th October, 1931, and details of subsequent modifications have appeared in the journal from time to time. The special duties were extended to Northern Ireland and to the Irish Free State by an Order-in-Council of the 9th May; a notice to this effect appears in to-day's issue of the Board of Trade Journal.

Is the duty extended to all Empire countries with depreciated currencies?

I do not think it is extended to all. I understand that there are special arrangements between different Dominions.