asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount realised, in each financial year since its re-imposition in 1928, from the duty on imported hydrocarbon oils, and the amount estimated for the current financial year?

The net amount of Revenue derived from the duty on imported hydrocarbon oils during each of the financial years since the re-imposition of the duty in 1928 was as follows:

asked the Home Secretary the number of tote clubs opened in the London County Council area during the past 12 months; and the number in the Provinces?

While precise information is not available, I understand that in the London County area the police are aware of upwards of 60 tote clubs which have been opened within the last 12 months. I have no information as to the numbers in the Provinces.

asked the Home Secretary what is the present position in connection with the proposal for fixing the date of Easter; and whether he will take steps to expedite its consideration?

In view of the desirability of securing as large a measure as possible of general agreement on this subject, it was decided to await the result of the communications made in May last by the Council of the League of Nations to the religious authorities. The Council were asked to notify Governments before 30th April, 1933, of any views expressed by the religious authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the maximum quantities of bacon and ham that may be imported from foreign countries according to the voluntary agreement entered into recently?

The maximum monthly quantities to which certain exporting countries have agreed to limit, so far as practicable, their exports of bacon and hams to the United Kingdom, during the period of two months beginning 23rd November, 1932, are as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will reconsider his decision only to grant permanency to 2,000 temporary clerks in his Department and to leave about 10,000 still employed upon a temporary basis, in view of the fact that there is no prospect of such early diminution in the volume of unemployment as to render improbable the need for retaining about four-fifths of these staffs.

The number of temporary clerks to be granted permanency is in accordance with the provisions of the recent Report of the Temporary Staffs Committee, consisting of official and staff representatives, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. The report is applicable to all Departments and I am unable to go beyond its provisions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that representations have been made to his Department on various occasions since 1928 regarding the inadequacy of the unemployment figure of four per cent. as a basis for staffing arrangements, why so long a period has been required for the consideration of such representations; and when his conclusions may be expected.

The staff of the Employment Exchange service, permanent and temporary, corresponds to the requirements of the present figure of unemployment; and the permanent staff alone corresponds to a figure considerably higher than four per cent. Such representations as have been made have been dealt with by a statement of these facts.