asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the advisability of terminating the Anglo-French Convention relating to our West African Colonies, in view of the large proportion of foreign exports going into these Colonies?

The position is receiving careful consideration, and steps are being taken to consult the trade interests concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in 1929, the latest year for which I have the statistics, the foreign imports into Nigeria and the Gold Coast amounted to some £18,000,000 in value, and from this country to some £10,000,000, and, in view of that fact and in the interests of British trade, will he not take steps in order to give this country a free hand in fiscal matters with our own Colonies?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the welfare of the natives of these Colonies and not simply the interests of the traders?

Can I have an answer?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that three cargoes of Belgian furnace coke have recently been shipped, discharged, and sold in London; whether he will state the selling price as compared with the price of British coke; and whether, as foreign importation is possible even in the face of the low rates prevailing at home, the facts and figures will be laid before the Tariff Commission?

Yes, Sir. Three cargoes totalling about 1,700 tons have been brought over in the last two months. I understand that the price of British coke in the area affected has been reduced by 1s. 6d.—2s. 6d. a ton to meet this competition. I do not think any action on the lines suggested is necessary at present.

Can the Minister say who got the coke? Was it some of the gas companies?

I cannot say without notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received any reports as to the reorganisation of the Lancashire cotton industry; and if he will state what part the Lancashire Cotton Corporation has played in those reports?

A matter in relation to the reorganisation of the Lancashire cotton industry on which I have received representations is the scheme which the industry has under consideration for concentrating production through a levy for the purchase of redundant machinery. As I have already stated in the reply which I gave on the 5th April to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Ehys Davies), I have been in communication with the Joint Committee of Cotton Trade Organisations in regard to that scheme. The Joint Committee is representative of all sections of the industry, and I have had no separate negotiation with the concern to which the hon. Member refers.

May I ask if the best means of preventing redundancy in Lancashire would not be the closing down of the Lancashire Cotton Corporation?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking with regard to the representations of the Manchester Cotton Association relating to the desirability in the interests of the trade of raw cotton lying in accredited Manchester warehouses being made tenderable against the Liverpool futures contract?

I have received a communication on this subject from the Manchester Cotton Association. As the matter seems to me to be one for settlement between the interests concerned, and as the Manchester and Liverpool Cotton Associations and the other interests concerned are all represented on the Joint Committee of Cotton Trade Organisations, I am suggesting in reply that the Joint Committee should be invited to deal with this matter on behalf of the trade as a whole.

In view of the fact that on an earlier occasion when there was a conflict of opinion between Liverpool and Manchester in connection with this matter, the representations of the Board of Trade were the decisive factor, will my right hon. Friend look into it and see whether or not those representations could not be made in this case?

I hope that an agreement will be reached between Manchester and Liverpool without the intervention of the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount of bromine has been imported into, and exported from, this country since May, 1931; and what proportion, if any, has been consigned to Germany or Russia?

During the 12 months ended the 30th April, 1932, the total imports of bromine and bromides into the United Kingdom amounted to 12,410 cwts., and the exports to 1,093 cwts. (including re-exports 664 cwts.). No exports of bromine or bromides were registered during this period as consigned to the Soviet Union, and the only consignments to Germany consisted of 5 cwts. re-exported.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, since the system of export licences for arms and ammunition from this country has been in operation any permits have been refused; if so, when and to which firm; and for what country were the materials destined?

Yes, Sir; in numerous cases, but I am not prepared to give the detailed particulars for which the hon. Member asks.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the particulars cannot be given?

It has never been the custom to give these particulars, and it is undesirable to do so.

In view of the profound interest in all parts of the world in this question, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that such information ought to be available?

Some information is available, but we cannot make it available in the form which the hon. Member suggests.

Can the right hon. Gentleman suggest any other method whereby the information can be given?

I do not know of any other.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the origin of the system of licences for the export of arms and ammunition; whether arms and ammunition manufactured by the overseas branches of British firms and subsequently exported have to be licensed in the same manner; and in which other arms-producing countries there is a similar system of export licences?

The control of the export of arms and ammunition was first instituted on the outbreak of the Great War, and has continued ever since. The control exercised by this country applies only to exports shipped from United Kingdom ports. As regards the last part of the question, I have no complete information, but I understand that a system of export licences exists in most, if not all, of those arms-producing countries which were signatories of the International Convention for the supervision of the International Trade in Arms and Ammunition and in Implements of War, of 17th June, 1925.

Do I understand from the reply that where English people have firms abroad producing munitions of war they are subject to these licences?

No, Sir; licences can only apply to exports from this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the extent to which customs duties or other exactions are levied upon goods in transit up the Yangtze River or other parts of the interior of China either by officials of the recognised Chinese Government or by agents of the various generals or bandit chieftains for the time being in control of districts in the interior of the country?

Various exactions of an irregular character upon goods in transit have been reported from time to time, such as, for example, escort fees in bandit-ridden areas, but it is impossible to give an estimate of the extent to which such exactions are levied.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that as many as 14 such illegal exactions have been made on one parcel of goods, and that there are many such instances?

That may be, but the Chinese Government did make an attempt to amend this procedure last year, though I cannot say how far they have been successful.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how soon the list will be prepared of registered shipbuilding yards within the meaning of Section 11 of the Import Duties Act, 1932?

The conditions relating to the registration of shipbuilding yards under Section 11 of the Import Duties Act have recently been the subject of discussion with the interests primarily affected, and it is anticipated that it will be possible to proceed with registration in the near future.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of duty which had been imposed previous to the Import Duties Act on foreign spelter imported into the United Kingdom and on spelter from the British Empire, with the date of the imposition of the duty and of any variation in the rate since the duty was imposed?

Prior to the Import Duties Act there was no duty on spelter imported as such. Since the 1st March last the duty has been 10 per cent. ad valorem on foreign spelter, but spelter satisfying the conditions as to Preference is admitted duty free.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the management of a foreign factory at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, is importing in a semi-manufactured condition silk and artificial silk hosiery, which is afterwards sold in shops in London and elsewhere with the claim that their factory is at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire; and if he will inquire into the matter and take steps to stop goods being sold under such a misleading description?

If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of the case he has in mind I will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he contemplates the introduction of legislation designed to protect the interests of British policy holders in insurance companies and corporations registered out-with this country?

No, Sir. Insurance companies registered abroad which do business in this country are already subject to the same general requirements in this country as insurance companies registered here.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the references in regard to such companies in the "Economist" and the "Investors Chronicle," and also in the Canadian Press; is he aware that one such company has been precluded from doing business in an American city, for the protection of its citizens; and, if so, do the Government contemplate legislation in this country?

I should require notice of a question of that nature.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received the report of His Majesty's Ship "Flinders" on the estuary of the River Exe; and whether he is now prepared to grant permission to men from Topsham to dredge for sand and gravel?

It is hoped that prints of the chart resulting from the recent survey will be available during this month. The question of dredging will then be examined by my Department in conjunction with the authorities concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total number of the staff employed by the Board of Trade in 1913 and the total of their salaries; and what was the number of the staff in 1931 and the total of their salaries, in the latter case not including the Mines Department and the Overseas Trade Department?

I regret that there are no figures readily available relating to the year 1913, but the staff of the Board of Trade, excluding the branches later transferred to the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Transport and the Department of Overseas Trade, numbered on the 1st August, 1914, 2,502, and the salary cost of this staff was £466,317 per annum. The average number of staff serving during 1931–32 in the Board, excluding Mines Department and the Department of Overseas Trade, but including Sea Transport Department and the Coastguard transferred since 1914 from other Government Departments, was 4,015, and the total salary cost of staff during that year was £1,159,870. The staff numbers now about 3,930.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give me the numbers of the staff of the coastguards and other services which have been transferred to the Board of Trade, if I put down a question?

I shall be glad to do so.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many have been added to the staff as a result of the Import Duties?

None.

asked the Financial Secre- tary to the Treasury whether every excise officer is expected to take six days' sick leave whether he is sick or not; and whether he will state what are the regulations governing sick leave in the Civil Service generally?

There is no foundation whatever for the suggestion that every excise officer is expected to take six days' sick leave whether he is sick or not. Any officer who absented himself from duty on a plea of illness which could not be justified would be regarded as guilty of a serious breach of discipline. As regards the second part of the question the position in the established Civil Service generally is that sick leave may be granted by the head of a department to an officer subject to the following conditions:

(a) after two days continued absence a medical certificate is required;

(b) if the number of days of sick absence without certificate exceeds seven a year the number of days absence in excess of seven is deducted from ordinary leave.

If the hon. Member desires to have copies of the actual regulations governing sick leave in the Civil Service (Treasury Regulations dated 6th June, 1929, made under Article 6 of the Order in Council of 22nd July, 1920, and Treasury Memorandum of 24th April, 1925), I shall be happy to send him copies.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, with regard to the proposed transfer of the record and pay office of the Royal Tank Corps from Barnet, if he will consider the possibility of utilising the accommodation which exists at Mill Hill Barracks in order to avoid the inconvenience to the staff which would be caused if a more distant locality is selected?

I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that, in the event of it being decided to move, the possibility of using Mill Hill Barracks will not be overlooked.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the India Tyre and Rubber Company, Inchinnan, is on the list of contractors to his Department?

No, Sir, but the question of placing the firm upon the Department's list of contractors is under consideration.

I did not quite hear the answer to my question. Is this firm on your list?

No, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the fact that there is nothing in the Regulations to prevent the appointment of Territorial Army officers; to the command of Territorial Army divisions, he will issue instructions to commands that the qualification and recommendation for such appointments should be entered in the annual confidential reports for Territorial officers in a similar manner to that for Regular officers?

The point raised by my hon. and gallant Friend is already met by existing Regulations.

In view of the reply, may I ask whether, as there are a number of Territorial officers now commanding brigades, it would not be possible for at least one Territorial officer to be given command of one Territorial Army division?

Does the hon. Member realise that the number of Territorial officers who can accept this position is negligible, and that the number who want it is even less?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the increasing number and magnitude of military tattoos and the time given to their preparation, the Army Council are satisfied that there is no curtailment of training for those of all ranks employed in these annual displays; and can he assure the House that there is no loss of efficiency in the Army as a result of its undertaking this kind of work?

My hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension in thinking that the number and size of the military tattoos are increasing. I am satisfied that tattoos are not permitted to curtail the training of the Army and that the work in connection with them has considerable value for training purposes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that, as a result of the recent economy proposals of the Government, the military authorities have ordered all bandages to be re-used after boiling, and all lint dressings worn by patients which are not unduly soiled to be used a second time, the purchase of antiseptic boracic lint is forbidden, and plain white lint is to serve for the same purpose; and whether, in the interests of the health of the troops, he will have these instructions withdrawn?

I am aware that the notice of all concerned has been drawn to the substantial economy which can be effected by the washing of bandages and the further use of unstained dressings, and that, in the interests of economy, boracic powder and plain lint will in future be issued in place of boracic lint. The Army Medical authorities are satisfied that these economies will in no way affect the health of the troops.

Will the hon. Member consult his medical officers again, because I have had representations from a number who say that this economy is most detrimental to the persons concerned.

I have consulted the medical authorities and their answer is definite, and their views quite plain. I see no reason to consult them again on the subject.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us how much his Department hopes to save by this somewhat disgusting economy?

Not without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that Miss Dunnett, 44, Cook Street, Glasgow, was on the 25th February visited by a sick visitor, and as a result was called to a medical board on 4th March to be examined by the regional medical officer of the Department of Health; that the girl attended although very ill; that her sickness benefit was stopped on 1st March, and that she was taken ill at the board and sent home by taximeter cab, and subsequently died on 13th March; and if he will cause full inquiry to be made into all the circumstances?

According to a report which I have received about this case, Miss Dunnett, who was suffering from rheumatism, was seen by her insurance doctor on the 1st March, when he considered that her condition was such as to justify his certifying her as fit to attend for examination by a medical officer of the Department of Health for Scotland on the 4th March. Between these dates, however, unknown to her doctor, she developed influenzal bronchial pneumonia, and on her arrival at the regional medical office of the Department for examination, her condition was observed and she was immediately sent home in a taxicab. I am sorry to say that Miss Dunnett died nine days later. It is a matter for regret that she was allowed to leave home on the 4th March, but I am satisfied that no responsibility for this can reasonably be attributed either to the insurance doctor or to the arrangements for the examination of insured persons under the regional medical service. I may add that the approved society have informed me that sickness benefit was paid to Miss Dunnett until the 12th March.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that sickness benefit was only paid subsequent to the death, and has been stopped, and that this girl was afraid to refuse to go to the medical board after being visited by the sick visitor, and that the panel doctor was afraid that he would be censured if she did not attend?

As to the payment of sick benefit, my information is the opposite of that of the hon. Member. In regard to the other allegations, I have absolutely no foundation for any of them.

I give notice that I shall raise this matter at the first possible opportunity on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that wheat offals have recently been so scarce in Scotland that they have been selling at £7 a ton, which is higher than the price of wheat; and if he will state whether this scarcity is due to exportation licensed by a recognised millers' association?

I am aware that the price of wheat offals in Scotland is as stated by my Noble Friend, but the suggestion made in the second part of her question is not supported by the statistics relating to the exportation of wheat offals from the United Kingdom, which show no increase in the current year as compared with previous years.

Does not the Secretary of State remember the assurance given by the Minister of Agriculture in one of the Debates on the Wheat Quota Bill, to the effect that he hoped there would be little or no export of wheat offals except under licence. I do not think that I have had an answer to that part of my question.

Yes, but that undertaking has hardly come into operation yet, and my figures refer to the first four months of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is prepared to introduce legislation limiting the hours of drinking clubs in Scotland to the same as other licensed premises, and providing for police inspection of the same, as recommended by the chief of police in Glasgow in his annual report?

The recommendations referred to will be kept in view in connection with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Licensing in Scotland. I would remind the hon. Member that the number of hours during which exciseable liquor may be sold or supplied in clubs on weekdays is the same as in the case of licensed premises, namely, eight hours. In regard to police inspection, the recommendation of the Royal Commission for Scotland was of a more limited character than the proposals of the chief constable. I am not in a position to make any pronouncement as to legislation.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication of an early desire on the part of his Department to give the police facilities for inspecting these clubs as desired by the chief constable?

As to the possibility of introducing legislation on this question, I can only say that it is quite impossible at the moment, and I cannot make any announcement now.

Have not the police of Glasgow plenty to do without interfering in this matter?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the costs to the Crown of the recent Silk trial at Edinburgh up to the date of the sentences; and the total amount of money involved in the frauds?

The account of the costs referred to is in course of preparation and will be completed on the conclusion of the Appeals which are now pending. The amount involved in the first charge was £439,348, and in the second charge £362,733.

Is there any minute by which the right hon. Gentleman can tell me the number of persons who had money invested in this business?

I am afraid I could not give an answer. Certainly I could not without notice.

Does that figure include only the costs of the Crown? There is no cost of the defence in this £750,000?

That is the amount involved in the charge; the cost is nothing like that.

I have put this question on the Paper three or four times. Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication of the amount within a reasonable time if I put a question on the Paper again?

I will let the hon. Member know as soon as I am in a. position to inform him. I cannot do better than that.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the names of the county and burgh local authorities who have failed to comply with the terms of Section 22, Sub-section (2), of the Act of 1930, requesting them to state the number of houses required to meet the needs of their areas?

The county and burgh local authorities who have not yet submitted to the Department of Health for Scotland the general statement of the housing needs of their areas as required by Sub-section (2) of Section 22 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930, are the county councils of Aberdeen, Dumfries, Inverness, Orkney, Ross and Cromarty, and Roxburgh, and the town councils of Cromarty, Falkland, Grantown-on-Spey, Kirkcudbright, Lerwick, Lochgilphead, Stonehaven, Tain, Tayport, and Wick.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the rise in the price of glazed fireclay goods and also in the price of bricks; will he state the date when the attention of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Prices of Building Materials was drawn to the matter; whether they have inquired into the complaint; and with what result?

I am aware of the rise in prices referred to. The attention of the Inter-departmental Committee on Prices of Building Materials was drawn to the matter in June and August of last year. That Committee made inquiries and decided that the circumstances did not warrant any action on their part meantime.

Will any information which is derived from the inquiry be cir- culated so that we may know exactly what are the reasons for the increase of price?

I shall have inquiry made into that question.

The question asks whether inquiry has been made.

I dealt with that when I said that the committee had made inquiries, but that the circumstances did not warrant any action on their part in the meantime.

asked the hon. Member for Central Leeds, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, if the Commissioners will now consider a reduction in the amount charged by them for royalty rents for coal in Durham, and for the amount remitted to be used directly for the benefit of the miners at the particular collieries?

It is not in the power of the Commissioners to deal with a portion of their revenues in the manner suggested, the whole being devoted by Act of Parliament to other clearly defined purposes.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of money that has been paid into the Miners' Welfare Fund; the amount allocated to each area separately and the amount paid into the central fund; and the balance in hand at the central fund and area funds at the last available date?

The total amount paid into the Miners' Welfare Fund, up to the 31st May last, was £12,626,664, of which £8,650,415 had been credited to the Districts Fund, £1,809,245 to the General Fund and £2,167,004 to the Royalties Welfare Levy Fund. The balance of the Welfare Fund at that date was £2,650,467, divided as follows: Districts Fund, £1,354,990; General Fund, £394,925; Royalties Welfare Levy Fund, £900,552. Of this balance £1,433,722 has definitely been allocated for pithead baths and other purposes and a substantial portion of the remainder earmarked for specific purposes either by the Central Committee or by the District Committees. I am sending the hon. Member the other details for which he asks.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the balance remaining?

The balance is here stated at £2,650,000. Of that, £1,433,000 has been allocated and, by a hasty calculation, it will be seen that the difference is about £1,200,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines what progress is being made with the Committee of Inquiry into the Miners' Welfare Fund; and when is the report likely to be published?

I am informed that the committee expect to complete their taking of evidence this month, and hope to present their report in the early autumn.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the Medical Research Council is still inquiring into the effect of coal dust upon underground workers who are suffering from anthracosis; and, if so, when will the report be published?

The matter continues to receive the attention of the Industrial Pulmonary Diseases Committee of the Medical Research Council, but I am advised that serious difficulties are still being met in finding trustworthy methods of investigation. There is at present no question of a report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the output of British breweries, in standard barrels, for the first three months of 1931 and for the corresponding months of 1932, and state the extra sum obtained by the increased tax in this period?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given on 6th April to the hon. Member for East Woolwich (Mr. Hicks). As regards the second part, it is not possible to state what additional revenue the increased duty has produced, since this depends on what the consumption would have been had there been no increase.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will explain why the Government has agreed to pay 4 per cent. interest on the postponed debts to the United States under the Hoover plan in view of the prevailing low rates for borrowed money?

I assume that my hon. Friend has in mind the low rates on three months bills, but I would point out that the proposal to which he refers was authorised by the United States Congress on 22nd December, 1931, on the basis that the period of repayment was 10 years.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, in a reply recently given, it was stated that the rate of interest was arrived at, not by a unilateral statement but by agreement? Have not the Government made any protest in respect of the rate of interest charged by the United States? That is my question.

No, Sir. My hon. Friend's question is not that at all. If he will read it, he will see that the question is different. I have answered the question on the Paper.

Arising out of that reply, would my right hon. Friend now say whether or not any protest was made or any representations made in respect of the rate of interest?

No, Sir; no protest was made.

No representations?

No protest.

In view of the possibility that this House may not consent to the renewal of the War Debt payment to the United States, why make the position more difficult?

That is entirely hypothetical.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether our agreement to pay 4 per cent. interest on the postponed debts to the United States under the Hoover plan was arrived at after consultation with France and Italy?

His Majesty's Government gave instructions in regard to the signing of the agreement on the subject of the amounts due to the United States and suspended under President Hoover's Plan in the knowledge that similar action was being taken by the French and Italian Governments.

Has my right hon. Friend any knowledge as to when France and Italy propose to sign?

I require notice of that question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what revenue would be obtained from a tax of 2s. 6d. on bicycles; and whether any proposal for the taxation of bicycles has been under consideration?

As indicated in the answer given on the 3rd May by my right hon. Friend to the hon. and gallant Member for the Ashford Division (Captain Knatchbull), the information available is not sufficient to enable me to estimate the revenue which would be derived from a tax of 2s. 6d. on bicycles. It is safe to say, however, that the cost of collection and administration of such a tax would be comparatively high and the net yield, after allowing for probable exemptions and withdrawals from use, comparatively small.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that potato dealer-growers are escaping from Income Tax and Super-tax upon their profits owing to the fact that their Income Tax is based on the rent paid to the farmer for his land and not on their profits; and what steps he proposes to compel payment on profits?

The position is not exactly as stated by the hon. Member. It is the case that under the provisions of the Income Tax Acts potato growers are assessable under Schedule B on the annual value of the land they occupy and not upon profits. Where, however, they also deal in potatoes, any profits arising in the course of such business are assessable under Schedule D. Any alteration of the basis of assessment would, of course, necessitate legislation.