asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated profit which will accrue from the administration of the British air-mail services during the current financial year if the weight of mail carried by such routes continues to increase at present rates; and whether, if such profit is greater than in previous years, he will consider allocating therefrom a pro rata increased amount for advertising British air-mail services in post offices and elsewhere, or otherwise placing such profits for the benefit of British air-mail services and not foreign ones?

If by British Air Services my Noble Friend means services maintained by a British company as distinct from services used by the British public, the profit is estimated at present at about £13,000 per annum, which is derived entirely from 'foreign postings. I am considering whether any further measures are practicable to bring to the notice of the public the advantages of air transport, but I must have regard to the interests of the British public who desire to correspond with foreign countries as well as those who may correspond with countries served by British companies.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the case of letters sent to foreign countries by airmail a charge of 2½d. is made in respect of collection and delivery alone, in addition to the air-mail fee, whereas in the case of letters sent by ordinary routes the fee of 2½d. has to cover not only collection and delivery but also transport charges; and whether he will take an early opportunity to abolish this anomaly?

The air mails to practically all foreign countries outside Europe and a considerable proportion of the air mails to European countries are conveyed for part of their journey by rail and steamboat and have to carry the same transport charges as ordinary letters. The postage and air fee have been combined in a single charge and there is at present no margin of profit which would justify a reduction.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the recent successful introduction of air-mail postcards, he will consider permitting at an early date the use of letter-cards on such routes?

Letter-cards can be sent by air mail at the rates advertised for letters. A reduced rate for letter-cards would necessarily entail a considerable diversion of light letters and consequent sacrifice of revenue without any corresponding reduction in transport charges.

asked the Postmaster-General if, when taking into consideration the naming of a new telephone exchange in the London Eastern area, comprising Stepney and Mile End, he will be guided in his decision by the expression of local opinion?

The local bodies concerned are being again approached on this matter.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Edgar Turner, of 17, Churchward Road, Paignton, formerly private Royal Welsh Fusiliers, No. 242,551, who has been refused a pension and treatment for arthritis in the left knee, although the Ministry have accepted responsibility for arthritis in the left ankle following frost bite; and whether, as two doctors who have been treating Turner continuously are of the view that the knee condition is an extension of the ankle trouble, the Ministry will refer the case for final decision to an independent medical expert?

The fact that treatment provided locally in 1925 for the accepted disability was allowed in error to include another condition which has never been accepted by the Ministry for compensation, affords no reason for assuming liability for a further manifestation of a like condition at a later date. I am however arranging to have the case reviewed in consultation with an independent medical expert.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to a recommendation of a subcommittee of the Somerset Standing Joint Committee that the length of police service required to qualify for ordinary pensions should be extended from 25 to 30 years; and whether, having regard to the fact that the police pensions payable by the Somerset County Council now amount to more than one-half of the total police pay of the county, he will give the recommendation in question generally his early consideration?

I have not seen this particular resolution: but the proposal that 30 years' police service should be required before ordinary retirement on pension has been considered on various occasions. Legislation would be required to put it into effect: and it would have no effect on the cost of pensions for many years unless it were applied to men now serving. A proposal to extend the service of men now becoming entitled to retire was considered at the Police Council a year ago, but my predecessor did not adopt it. It should be remembered that all men who have joined a police force since the end of June, 1919, have to serve 30 years to earn full pension, although they can retire after 25 years' service with pension at a lower rate.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give, to the latest available date, the number of convictions in connection with the civil disobedience movement; and the number of those still undergoing imprisonment?

At the end of September the total number of convictions was 61,551. On that date the number of convicted persons undergoing imprisonment was 19,858, a decline of 1,564 on the figures for 31st August and of 12,600 on those for 30th April.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who have been put in employment through the Deptford Employment Exchange during the past year?

The numbers of vacancies filled by the Deptford Employment Exchange and the Deptford Juvenile Employment Bureau during the 12 months ended 26th September, 1932, were as follow:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Argentine Government refuse to allow money to be remitted in payment for British goods supplied to the Argentine; and whether he will consider stopping payment to the Argentine for our imports from that country until such time as they permit payment for our exports, or by other means secure that our exporters can receive payment for their goods?

While it is true that business in foreign exchange is controlled in Argentina, the position in this respect is easier than in some other countries. If the hon. and gallant Member has in mind any particular complaint and will give me full particulars of it, I will have it looked into.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of bankruptcies of butchers in each of the years 1929, 1930 and 1931 and in the first eight months of the present year?

The numbers of bankruptcies of butchers in the years 1929, 1930 and 1931 were 108, 141 and 99 respectively, and in the first eight months of this year the number was 60.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that considerable damage is being done to the trade in Empire butters by the practice of dyeing foreign butter with anatta dyes in order to imitate the characteristic yellow colour of grass-fed New Zealand, Australian and Cornish butter; and whether he will consider prohibition or restriction of the use of these dyes?

I am aware of the practice referred to, which I am advised is a common one both at home and elsewhere, but I have received no representations that it is prejudicial to the trade in Empire butters. There is no power to prohibit or restrict the use of annatto in butter under the existing law. I would point out that the Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) No. 1 Order, 1932, provides that imported butter shall bear an indication of origin on sale or exposure for sale.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of proof gallons of spirits distilled in England and Scotland, respectively, during the year ended 31st March, 1932, and the number of distilleries actually at work during the year ended 30th September, 1931?

The number of proof gallons of spirits distilled in England and Northern Ireland and Scotland, respectively, during the year ended 31st March, 1932, and the number of distilleries at work during the year ended 30th September, 1931, were as follow:

asked the Minister of Health the names of those local authorities which have obtained powers, by private Acts or otherwise, to establish capital reserve expenditure funds out of revenue or a special rate raised for that purpose, and the names of those authorities which have established funds of this nature?

The following local authorities have been authorised by local Acts to establish reserve funds for general capital purposes:—Coventry, Liverpool, Rotherham, West Hartlepool, Cambridge, Wolverhampton and Bury. I have not information how many authorities have established funds. The earliest powers date only from 1930, and in three cases powers were given as lately as this year. Thirteen other authorities have obtained power to establish reserve funds for the purchase of lama. Power to establish reserve funds for the purpose of trading undertakings is common.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of officials now engaged at the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue Department and elsewhere in analysing, recording, indexing, and otherwise in connection with the particulars filed of sales and leases and other transactions in land; what the annual cost thereof is; and whether, having regard to the circumstances that the filing of such particulars is in connection with and for the purpose of the Land Value Tax, now in abeyance, he will consider the desirability of discontinuing the expenditure in the future?

No additional staff has been engaged in the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue in connection with the production of instruments relating to transfers of land. Additional staff to the number of 32, at an annual average cost slightly in excess of £6,000, has, however, been engaged on this work in other branches of the Department. As I stated, in reply to a question on 13th June last, the information derived from the particulars of transfers of land is required for various purposes and is of considerable value. In these circumstances, I cannot agree to the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.