asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that some manufacturers are unwilling to extend their business owing to the high rates of Income Tax and Sur-tax; and whether he will consider the question of allowing some concession to profits earned by a new business for the first five years?

I am afraid that high taxation is not the sole obstacle to expansion of industry. In any case I could hold out no hope of adopting my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Shaftesbury Homes and Arethusa Training Ship Society were recently compelled to purchase a new ship to replace their old training ship which was worn out, and that no British ship being available they were forced to buy a foreign ship on which they have been charged Import Duty to the extent of £668; and whether, in view of the fact that the society does a national service in training boys for the Royal Navy, this duty may be remitted?

My attention has been drawn to the facts of this case. General ad valorem duty is chargeable in respect of the vessel in question in the circumstances under which she was imported, and as there is no provision in the law for the exemption from Customs duty of goods on the ground suggested, I regret that I am unable to remit the duty chargeable in this case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will furnish particulars of the amount of interest paid in this country, during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1931, on Government stock and on local government loans; and any estimate of the amount paid on building society mortgages, and other interest charges that were payable?

The amounts in question are: for the internal National Debt, £271,812,796; for Local Government Loans, £59,350,000; and for building society mortgages, £19,846,749. In the case of local government loans the figure is for the interest paid during the financial year ending 31st March, 1931, being the latest period for which figures are available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will consider taking steps to reduce the interest charged on existing loans to local authorities from the Public Works Loan Board; and what is the interest now charged upon loans granted by this board?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for the Loughborough Division (Mr. Kimball) on 16th November, and to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for East Woolwich (Mr. Hicks) on 10th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in future before any foreign loan is floated on the British market the Government will consider the desirability of issuing an official statement as to the financial liability already existing to British subjects of the Government which is sponsoring the loan?

As the flotation of any foreign loan in the London market is at present discouraged, there would appear to be no reason for taking the course suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health how soon the report of the Committee on Local Expenditure, which was expected to be available by the end of October, will be ready for publication?

The report has been received, and is being printed for publication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to make any statement with regard to negotiations in connection with the debt of this country to the United States of America?

No, Sir. I have nothing at present to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Tuesday last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any serving State employés, and, if so, how many, have attained or passed the age of 70?

The number of serving State employés within the category referred to is not available in the Treasury and could not be obtained without an undue expenditure of time and labour. Retention beyond the age of 70 is quite exceptional.

asked the Minister of Labour how many trade unions have entirely dropped the political levy?

It is not possible to give the number of trade unions which have entirely dropped the political levy. It can be stated, however, that the number of trade unions as at 14th November, 1932, which had power by rules to make political levies was 131, and the number which actually collected levies during 1931 was 114.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will cause to be published particulars of the various activities undertaken in different parts of the country on a voluntary or State-supported basis for the benefit of the unemployed?

I will consider this suggestion.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of State establishments which exist for training young men in the art of catering and waiting at table; and what is the cost to the taxpayer of such establishments?

Training as waiters is being given to about 20 young unemployed men in an annexe attached to one of the Ministry of Labour's training centres. The present cost of a 13 weeks course is about £21 per head.

asked the Minister of Labour the principal trade categories of persons registered as unemployed at the Employment Exchanges at Redhill and Dorking, respectively?

The following table gives the numbers of insured persons recorded as unemployed at the Redhill and Dorking branch employment offices at 24th October, 1932, with separate figures for the principal industries:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons, the moneys contributed to the Unemployment Fund by the Exchequer both in respect of covenanted and un-covenanted benefit, the moneys contributed by employers and by employed persons, and the number so contributing, together with any other contribution made to the fund, and the figures to be assessed during the month of October, 1932, on a basis of average per week?

Statistics of the number of persons registered as unemployed during the month are available only for the date 24th October, 1932, when the total was 2,747,006. The average weekly contribution income of the unemployment fund during October amounted to about £1,125,000 which was contributed in equal shares by employers, employed persons and the Exchequer. In addition, the Exchequer paid into the unemployment fund the cost of transitional payments and their administration, amounting on the average during October to about £1,020,000 per week. The number of insured persons in employment on 24th October, 1932, is estimated at 9,397,000. It is not possible to give an estimate of the number of employers who paid contributions.

asked the Minister of Labour if, when the Transitional Payments Bill becomes law, he will advice all public assistance committees that they should review applications of ex-service men in receipt of war disability pensions to whom transitional payment has been refused on the ground of the existence of such pensions?

It will be the duty of all public assistance committees to consider as soon as possible all applications for transitional payments which are affected by the change in the law. I am issuing a circular to local authorities drawing their attention to these changes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the aircraft and aircraft engines, etc., exported from this country during the present year; and whether there has been any increase in such exports since British aeroplanes secured the world speed and height records?

During the first 10 months of 1932, the total declared value of aeroplanes, airships and balloons and parts thereof manufactured in the United Kingdom and exported therefrom was £1,440,050. As regards the second part of the question, the corresponding figures for the first 10 months of 1930 and 1931 were £1,721,121 and £1,577,989 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the 6,610,793 cwts. of apples imported into this country in the first 10 months of this year came from Empire sources; and if he will supply details as to the principal countries of origin and amounts in each case?

The following statement shows the total quantity of raw apples imported into the United Kingdom and registered during the first 10 months of 1932 as consigned from foreign and British countries, respectively, distinguishing the principal countries whence these apples were consigned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the recent disaster to the British trawler "Golden Deeps," he will consider making it compulsory for all sea-going vessels to carry a life-throwing apparatus?

Under the Statutory Rules for Lifesaving Appliances, all seagoing vessels making any voyage or excursion from the United Kingdom must, if of 500 tons gross or over, be provided with an approved line-throwing appliance but the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, provides that these rules shall not apply to fishing vessels and on such information as we at present have it seems very doubtful whether such an appliance would have been of any use in the recent regrettable disaster to the trawler "Golden Deeps."

asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures for the year 1925 of the total nett tonnage of British vessels and the total nett tonnage of foreign vessels piloted inwards and outwards of the following pilotage districts: Port of London, Tyne, Liverpool, and the Clyde?

It is doubtful whether the information is available, but I am making inquiries of the pilotage authorities and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of wheat which has been handled month by month by the grain markets since the inception of the 1932 Wheat Act?

I regret that I have not sufficient information to answer fully the question of my Noble Friend. The returns collected by my Department under the Corn Returns Act, 1882, relate only to a number of scheduled markets and do not represent total sales. I am, however, informed by the Wheat Commission that the quantities of homegrown millable wheat, of this year's harvest, which have been sold by registered growers, and in respect of which deficiency payments under the Wheat Act, 1932, have been claimed during the period ending on 11th November, are as follow:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider the advisability of calling a conference of representatives of the meat-exporting Dominions and of meat producers in this country to consider what measures, either by tariffs or an extension of the Ottawa Agreements, should be adopted to provide for remunerative prices being obtainable for British and Dominion meat after the present proposed voluntary restrictions come to an end at the beginning of 1933?

It is the intention of the Government to keep the meat situation under constant review and to consult, as may be necessary, principal suppliers of this market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make any further statement concerning negotiations with Scandinavian countries respecting the reduced imports of bacon and hams?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to a question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Cumberland, North (Sir F. Graham).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many commissions have been appointed under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899, since the Act came into operation; how many Bills have come before the commissioners; how many commissions have sat in Scotland; how many commissions have sat at Westminster; and the names of the promoters of the Bills considered at Westminster?

Since the Act came into operation, commissioners appointed thereunder have held 76 inquiries and have had referred to them 220 draft Provisional Orders. In accordance with the terms of Section 6 (1) of the Act, all such inquiries were held in Scotland. The total number of applications for Provisional Orders made to date is 680. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, it was decided that procedure ought to be by Private Bill and not by Provisional Order in the case of 122 draft Orders, and in the case of certain provisions in 27 draft Orders. Some of these cases, however, did not result in a hearing by a Select Committee owing to the fact that the provisions were not proceeded with or to the absence of opposition. I am sending to my hon. Friend particulars relating to the Measures dealt with as Private Bills.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that applications have been made in February and August of this year by citizens in Blanefield, Stirlingshire, for an inquiry into the housing conditions of the village by the Department of Health under the Act of 1930; and when that inquiry is likely to be held and what is the cause of the delay?

I am informed that communications were received by the Department of Health for Scotland on 2nd December, 1931, and 18th May, 1932, from householders in Blanefield regarding the condition of their houses. The Department have been in communication with the local authority and the defects in some cases have been remedied. In regard to the other cases, the Department are still in communication with the local authority and, as the defects complained of are remediable and the matter is engaging the attention of the local authority, it does not seem to be necessary to hold a formal inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any information to show to what extent the British air service to Africa is appreciated by the Governments and settlers in British East African dependencies; and what representations have been made to him with a view to increasing the number or size of aircraft used on the service in order to provide for those who wish to travel by the service but who cannot get accommodation?

I have every reason to believe that the British air service in Africa is much appreciated by the Governments and settlers of the British East African dependencies. I understand that over 300 passengers have been carried over the northern section of the route, i.e., between Cairo and Kisumu during the last five months. The present average weekly figures for mails carried to and from the East African dependencies are as follow:Outward—170 lbs., representing approximately 5,500 letters;Homeward—160 lbs., representing approximately 5,200 letters.It may be of interest to mention that Sir Hubert Young, the new Governor of Nyasaland, together with Lady Young and their family, are travelling by air from Cairo to Salisbury en route for the protectorate. As regards the latter part of the question, I understand that Imperial Airways are fully alive to the need for extra capacity on the East African section of the route and are, in fact, operating the North African section for the first time this week with one of the Hannibal class of aircraft, and are now considering how best to provide the required capacity for the future.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the latest figures of the personnel of the Officers Training Corps; the annual cost; and the names of the schools which possess a contingent of the junior division?

The strength of the Officers Training Corps on 1st October, 1932, was: senior division, 163 officers, 4,481 cadets; junior division, 618 officers, 27,163 cadets. The hon. Member will find the estimated cost during the current financial year on pages 64 and 65 of Army Estimates, and the names of the schools furnishing a contingent of the junior division on pages 839–859 of the current monthy Army List.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that his Department has issued instructions that the rain-water, soil, and special pipes required for the new military barracks at Aberdeen are to be supplied from English manufacturers; and for what reasons Scottish firms capable of meeting his Department's requirements on this job have been refused the right to tender?

No, Sir. My Department has issued no such instructions. The pipes in question are furnished by the main contractor, a Scottish firm with registered office at Aberdeen.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of local education authorities, if any, providing instruction in farriery, including the anatomy and physiology of the horse's foot, proper methods of shoeing horses, foot diseases and their treatment, and cognate matters, including first aid, in evening technical or other classes, with special reference to colliery horses and ponies; and whether he will take steps to encourage the formation of such classes by local education authorities in the various coalfields?

In the session 1930–31 classes in farriery were provided by the local education authorities for London, Halifax, Manchester, Sheffield and the West Riding of Yorkshire. The class provided by the last-named authority is held at the Castleford, Normanton and District Mining and Technical Institute, where a class in the anatomy of the horse's foot is also provided, and it can be assumed that the instruction here given has special reference to colliery horses and ponies. The board's information does not enable them to say whether this aspect of the subject is specially studied in any of the other classes. The board would always be ready to consider favourably any proposals for the establishment of farriery or similar classes in mining areas where horses and ponies are largely used.

asked the Minister of Health what steps, if any, have been taken to redress the grievance of the residents of Eastern Enfield who have petitioned against the nuisance caused by grit and filth ejected by the power station of the North Metropolitan Electric Supply Company at Brimsdown; and whether he is aware of the damage done to property and health by this nuisance?

My right hon. Friend is informed that the company do not admit that there is a nuisance, but have installed plant to reduce any possible cause for complaint and that still further improvements are being made.

asked the Minister of Transport the average distance between two pylons over the proposed route over the New Forest; and how the Electricity Commissioners propose to fix these pylons to the ground?

The normal span between the towers proposed to be used by the Central Electricity Board is about 300 yards. The method of fixing to the ground depends upon the nature and condition of the soil. The ends of the four legs are anchored in concrete foundations and care, I understand, is taken to plant turf or shrubs round the base where that is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health which, if any, town planning authorities have included clauses in their schemes regulating the use of tents and caravans; whether any such schemes have been approved by the Minister; and what general policy he is adopting in this connection?

Clauses regulating the erection and use of tents and caravans have been included in three schemes submitted to my right hon. Friend, two prepared by the Cardiff Rural District Council and one by the Rayleigh Urban District Council. My right hon. Friend has announced his intention to approve in two of these cases; the other is being considered. He is prepared to consider the inclusion of such clauses in other schemes submitted to him.

asked the Minister of Health the extent to which housing authorities are now endeavouring to confine the tenancy of their subsidised houses to tenants of the type which really need State assistance; and whether he has received any information showing that changes in tenancy have been brought about as a result of this policy?

Local authorities are not required to report to my

asked the Secretary for Mines the approximate monthly amount of benzol which is now being extracted from coal in this country on a commercial basis?

Particulars of monthly production of benzol are not available. For the average annual production during the past three years I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question asked on 15th November by my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Lewis).

asked the Home Secretary whether permission has been applied for by the police to hold their annual meeting at the Albert Hall; and, if so, the reply given? right hon. Friend the action which they may take in this matter, and he has no information, other than the reports which appear from time to time in the Press, as to changes in tenancy which may have been brought about by them in connection with it.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses under construction by local authorities in England and Wales under the provisions of the Housing Acts, 1924 and 1930, respectively, at 30th September, 1931, 30th March, 1932, and 30th September, 1932?

The following statement contains the desired particulars:

The annual conferences of the Police Federation, attended by representatives of all forces in England and Wales, were held in London last week, and no question of holding those conferences at the Albert Hall has ever arisen. The hon. Member may, however, have in mind a request made to my right hon. Friend by the Joint Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Police Branch Boards that a further meeting, open to all police, might be held at the Albert Hall. Such meetings have been held occasionally, but they form no part of the constitution or regular procedure of the Police Federation as laid down by Statute, and having regard to the ample opportunities for discussion afforded by the regular federation procedure, my right hon. Friend has not been able to comply with the request to hold another meeting this year.

asked the Home Secretary whether any payment for their services or expenses was made to the special constables on duty in London on 29th October and 1st November?

I am glad to have this opportunity of making clear the position as to payments which may be made to members of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary Reserve in respect of occasions when they perform duty. Members of this Reserve give their services voluntarily and they are not entitled to any remuneration in respect of their services as such: a special constable may, however, be reimbursed his out-of-pocket expenses necessarily incurred in the execution of duty, and if he loses wages when required for duty or while temporarily incapacitated for following his ordinary employment as a result of injury or illness due to duty, he may be reimbused the wages lost up to a maximum of 10s. a day. As regards the employment of the Metropolitan Special Constabulary during the period 18th October to 1st November, none were employed on 29th October, 3,000 were employed on 30th October and 1st November, and smaller numbers on three previous days. Nothing has been paid to them for their services or by way of allowances for wages lost, and the total payments in respect of travelling expenses and transport, and of horse hire over the whole period are not likely to exceed £200.

asked the Minister of Transport details of the net revenue of what now constitutes the four main railways in 1921; and similar figures for 1925 and 1932, with tonnage losses in the most important classification aggregates?

I am having the desired statement prepared, and will send it to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of commercial motor vehicles, privately owned, licensed in the years 1921, 1925 and 1932, and the number of commercial vehicles available for public hire in the same years, with the aggregate licensed carrying capacity of both?

The approximate numbers of goods vehicles for which licences were current on 31st August, 1921, 1925 and 1932, were as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the action of the Soviet Government in withdrawing from foreign diplomats in Moscow the opportunity of purchasing supplies at the controlled prices at which they are available to Russian nationals?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a statement on this subject, as the action of the Soviet Government has raised serious issues which require careful consideration in consultation with His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow and with other interested Governments.

asked the Home Secretary if, in view of the congestion in Berwick Market, Soho, owing to the number of stalls and of the trouble caused to pedestrians by the solicitations of the stall-holders and shopkeepers, he will instruct the police to keep this street clear for the public to pass through?

The stalls in Berwick Market are licensed by the Westminster City Council who are responsible that the by-laws made under the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1927, are observed. As regards obstruction and annoyance to pedestrians through solicitation by stall-holders and by shopkeepers and their touts, the police are fully alive to this, arid where the necessary evidence for prosecution s forthcoming proceedings are taken. There have been a large number of such prosecutions in recent years. It is part of the ordinary duty of the police to take steps to prevent undue obstruction of the highway and no special instructions on the point are necessary.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the present practice with regard to the re-naturalisation of those Englishmen who go to foreign countries and there become naturalised, but who subsequently wish to return and settle in this country; and the number of such applications for re-naturalisation he has had within the last 12 months?

The law makes no distinction between such persons and other aliens for the purposes of naturalisation. They must fulfil the statutory requirements, including those as to residence within His Majesty's Dominions. It is the practice to grant a certificate of naturalisation to any applicant who satisfies the Home Secretary that he fulfils those requirements and is a desirable candidate. Sixty-one certificates of naturalisation were granted last year to men who had formerly been British subjects. No separate statistics are kept of applications from such men.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state which courts have hitherto failed to avail themselves of the power of placing previously unconvicted youthful offenders on probation; what steps, if any, he is taking to urge justices to avail themselves more frequently of this power; and whether, in the case of older offenders, he can state which prison authorities, besides those at Wakefield, are at present investigating reformatory systems of training?

The question whether a court has or has not made full use of its powers under the Probation Act cannot be considered by reference merely to cases of youthful offenders who have not been previously convicted. Some such offenders are not suitable subjects for probation, and there are many older offenders for whom probation may properly be used. Ea.ch case must be considered by reference to all the circumstances, including the nature of the offence and the character of the offender. As the hon. Member will be aware, a. great deal has been done by the Horne Office, especially since the passing of the Criminal Justice Act, 1925, to secure the efficient organisation of the probation system and to encourage the use of probation in all proper cases. As regards its use in cases of youthful offenders, I would refer especially to the Home Office circular letter to Justices of 20th July, 1928, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. There is no reason to believe that generally speaking the courts are not fully aware of their powers or fail to use them. As regards the last part of the question, the Prison Commissioners have constantly in mind the value of reformatory systems of training, and the special arrangements made at Wakefield for the treatment of a selected class of prisoners form only one amongst a number of schemes, including schemes in operation at Maidstone, Wormwood Scrubs and Chelsmford prisons.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the total number of pilots' licences issued during the year 1931 by subsidised flying clubs; and the total cost of the subsidy for the year 1932 to date?

As regards the first part of the question, the number of pilots' licences issued during 1931 by the Air Ministry to members of subsidised light aeroplane clubs was 284; in addition, 91 licences were issued to members of clubs affiliated to National Flying Services. As regards the second part, the subsidy paid to approved light aeroplane clubs during the current financial year (up to 16th November) amounted to £4,630; the subsidy paid to National Flying Services amounted to £1,350.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of new pilot licences issued during the year 1931, the number of new licences m respect of women pilots for the year 1931, and the total number of women pilots in this country?

The numbers are 996, 49 and 127, respectively.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of submarines now in the British Navy; and what is their annual cost?

The number of completed submarines now in the British Navy is 53. The annual cost of their maintenance, including non-effective liability, is £1,417,250. In addition, five submarines are under construction.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of submarines in the French, Italian, United States, and Japanese navies?

The numbers of submarines in the French, Italian, United States and Japanese Navies are:—