asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the total value of meat contracts placed by his Department with British supplies of home-produced meat; and whether he can. take any steps to increase such contracts?

Purchases of borne-killed meat for the troops in the United Kingdom are limited to very small quantities for hospitals and to one or two small camps. It is not practicable to give the value. As regards the latter part of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Tiverton (Lieut.-Colonel Acland-Troyte) by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries on 27th October.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will issue instructions that in future the woods used in building contracts entered into by his Department shall be from the Empire, and, if these be soft woods, the usual scant Canadian standard sizes of such timbers shall be accepted in place of the corresponding, but slightly larger, usual European sizes?

In all major building contracts for which my Department is responsible, a certain preference is being given for the use of suitable Dominion soft woods for carpentry and internal joinery. Where Canadian wood is used, the standard Canadian sizes are accepted.

asked the Minister of Health what are the figures for the six months since 1st April, 1932, and for each of the last three completed financial years, of capital expenditure sanctioned in respect of all services other than housing, roads and electricity?

The number of applications for sanction to loans made during recent months has been very much less than in previous years The total of loans sanctioned, excluding the services mentioned, are:

asked the Minister of Health what are the figures for the six months since 1st April, 1932, and for each of the last three completed financial years, of capital expenditure sanctioned in respect of housing?

I regret that exact information in the forum desired by my hon. Friend is not available, but the following amounts were included in loan sanctions issued by my Department to local authorities in England and Wales for housing purposes during each of the periods in question:

asked the Minister of Transport what are the figures for the six months since 1st April, 1932, and for each of the last three completed financial years, of capital expenditure by local authorities on electricity undertakings which has been sanctioned?

The Electricity Commissioners have sanctioned the borrowing by local authority undertakers (including joint electricity authorities and joint boards) during the period 1st April, 1929, to 30th September, 1932, for capital expenditure the following amounts:

asked the Minister of Health whether he can furnish a copy of the report made by the doctor who carried out the post-mortem examination of the child Joan Brady, who died in the City Hospital, Fazakerley, Liverpool, in November; and what was the cause of death as shown by the post-mortem?

The post-mortem report is a confidential document, and I could not therefore undertake to furnish the hon. Member with a copy. The cause of death was stated in my answer of the 15th instant.

asked the Home Secretary the number of assistant commissioners and chief constables employed at Scotland Yard in 1924 and at the present time?

In 1924 there were employed in the Commissioner's Office at New Scotland Yard:

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the official envelopes used by the Metropolitan Police, particularly as compared with those used by the Post Office, are large and heavy; and if he will take steps to effect economies by reductions in both respects?

The Commissioner decided some time ago that envelopes of a cheaper quality should be used in his office, and they are being taken into use as existing stocks are finished. He is considering whether further economies can be effected by using smaller envelopes.

asked the Home Secretary how many officers from the discipline and clerical ranks of the prison service have been promoted to the rank of governor or deputy-governor during the past three years to the nearest convenient date?

During the last three years, 12 governors have been appointed. Of these, one was appointed from the clerical ranks. There have been no appointments from the subordinate discipline ranks during this period.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the figures for the six months since 1st April, 1932, and for each of the last three completed financial years, of capital expenditure sanctioned in respect of the Central Electricity Board?

The Electricity Commissioners have sanctioned the borrowing by the Central Electricity Board during the period 1st April, 1929, to 30th September, 1932, of the following amounts:—

asked the Minister of Transport how many island refuges have been erected in the London area in the last 12 months?

No separate record is kept of the island refuges erected by highway authorities, but my Department has been consulted with regard to the erection of 72 new refuges And the re-siting of 19 refuges in the area of the administrative county during the last 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Westminster City Council have recently obtained from the Savings Bank of Glasgow a loan of £120,000; and whether, in view of the terms offered to the city of Westminster, he will take steps to ensure in the future that Scottish local authorities may have their attention drawn to the advisability of using Scottish savings for Scottish purposes?

I am aware from statements which have appeared in the Press that an offer was made of a loan as described in the first part of the question. With regard to the second part, I have no reason to doubt that Scottish local authorities are fully alive to the possibility of obtaining loans from Scottish savings banks, and no action appears to be called for on my part.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the complaints made by many burghs in Scotland that the Local Government Act, 1929, has resulted in increased taxation in the burghs, he will take steps to repeal this Act in so far as it transfers functions from the burghs to the county and to widen the powers of the town councils to include areas adjoining the burghs?

I cannot promise legislation on the lines suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend. The effect of the working of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, is being closely watched, and upon the knowledge gained thereby will depend the course of future action.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer details of the amount of Excise Duty paid by the sugar-beet factories in this country since they were first established, and the amount realised by the State by payment of Income Tax on the profits made?

The total amount of duty collected in respect of home-grown beet sugar and molasses from 22nd September, 1915, to 31st March, 1932, was £9,544,000. This amount includes the duty paid by refiners in respect of such sugar removed from beet-sugar factories under bond for refining. As regards the second part of the question, I regret that I am unable to furnish any figures for the Income Tax yield, as the receipt of the Income Tax is not earmarked according to trades and industries.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount of Post Office funds lent for investment in each quarter, stated separately, from 1st January, 1930, to date, setting forth the names of the borrowers in respect of each sum?

The hon. Member will find full details of the investments held for the Post Office Savings Bank Fund to the end of the years 1929, 1930 and 1931 in the Accounts of the Savings Bank presented to Parliament, of which I am sending him copies. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by publishing the voluminous quarterly particulars for which he asks, but I am sending him a statement which, I hope, will be sufficient for his purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the losses in recent years incurred by the public subscribing to Stock Exchange flotations, he will maintain the embargo upon Stock Exchange new issues under limited liability until better protection against exploitation of the public has been afforded by a strengthening of the provisions of the Companies Act, 1929?

Questions as to the provisions of the Companies Acts are for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. I do not think that they have any direct connection with the question of the restrictions,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of applications for drawbacks under the Import Duties Act, 1932, now under consideration and the number granted?

Drawback under the Import Duties Act has been granted in the case of a wide range of textile and other goods, details of which are set out in the Schedule to the Import Duties (Drawback No. 1) Order, 1932. Four other definite applications are under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that large numbers of holders of industrial assurance policies in distressed areas are unable to continue payment of

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will furnish figures showing the amount of gold in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States of America?

I assume that the hon. Member desires particulars of the amount of gold available for monetary purposes. The following is the information issued by the authorities in the countries named:the premiums and are having to accept paid-up policies for small amounts; and whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that the holders will receive payment of part of the premiums corresponding to the actuarial value of the policies?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Where, however, the owner of a policy of industrial assurance ceases payment of premiums owing to distress or other reason the Industrial Assurance Acts of 1923 and 1929 provide for the issue of a free paid-up policy in the circumstances therein provided calculated in accordance with the Acts. This calculation is based on the actuarial value of the policy. As regards the second part of the question, I am unable to make any statement pending the publication of the report of the Committee on Industrial Assurance.