asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the substantial proportion of applications for alien workers advertised in the National Clearing House Gazette; and whether, before such advertisements are inserted, every attempt is made to ascertain from the employers whether British workers would fill their requirements?

Out of over a thousand vacancies circulated in this way during the last three months, only two were for aliens. In one case the employer had applied for a permit to bring in an alien from abroad and in the other for an extension of an existing permit; the circulation of the vacancies was part of an effort to find someone with the necessary qualifications from among persons already resident in this country. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will order the repayment of their contributions to individuals who have been refused unemployment benefit on the ground that their employment has been seasonal and in respect of whom contributions have, nevertheless, been paid and deducted from their wages by employers, either because the trade had not yet been declared to be a seasonal one or because the insured persons were unaware of the fact that they could claim exemptions?

The Unemployment Insurance Acts do not authorise me to repay contributions paid in the circumstances described, since, in the absence of a certificate of exemption, the contributions were properly paid.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, arising out of the decision of the umpire that a person who takes up temporarily a seasonal job does not thereby lose his normal claim to benefit and that the Anomalies Regulations do not apply to persons unemployed through fluctuations in trade, such as in the coal, distributing, building, or tailoring trades, he can state how many persons to whom this decision would apply were deprived of benefit prior to the decision being given; and whether any steps are being taken to ensure that the claims of those so deprived shall now be met?

The principle that the Regulation relating to seasonal workers does not apply to a person who for one or two seasons has been able to obtain only seasonal work, despite his desire for employment which is not seasonal, was established by the umpire in a decision given on 26th November, 1931. This was very soon after the Regulations came into force, and I have no reason for thinking that any claims have been disallowed contrary to the principle so stated.

Have any new regulations under the Anomalies Act been issued since the umpire's decision which is referred to in the question?

No, but what I will do is this, and I think that it will meet the hon. Gentleman's point, which I fully appreciate: If there are any such cases I will certainly bring them to the notice of the authorities, but, having regard to the fact that the umpire's decision was so soon after the regulations, I cannot think that there are any cases. If there are any, I will bring them to the notice of the statutory committee.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any action of his Department has in any way made the anomalies regulations stricter or harsher than the Government that passed them intended them to be?

No, Sir, I think that there has been very little complaint.

Is it not the case that the Royal Commission on Unemployment Minority Report drew the attention of the Government to the conflicting regulations that were issued by the Minister, and that under them thousands of women who were entitled to it have been refused benefit?

That is not the same question which was asked by the hon. Member for Gorbals (Mr. Buchanan.) So far as I can see, the regulations now in force are exactly the regulations which carry out the obvious intention of the Act that was passed a few years ago.

Did not the Royal Commission actually state that the regulations issued by the Minister and submitted to the Advisory Committee did not carry out the terms of the Act, but were stricter and put out of benefit women who were entitled to it under the Act?

That is a matter of argument.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can now make a statement in respect of agricultural labourers being included in a scheme of unemployment insurance?

I am not yet able to make a statement on this subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as far as the county of Norfolk is concerned, this is a matter of extreme urgency?

I know that it is a matter which is exciting very great interest in the county of Norfolk.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that 35 women operatives have recently been thrown out of work in one textile mill in the township of Westhoughton consequent upon the adoption of the six-looms-per-weaver system; and whether, in view of the ease whereby industry can throw liabilities upon the unemployment insurance and public funds, he will state the Government's policy towards the consequences of this displacement of labour by machinery?

I understand that a certain amount of labour has been displaced following upon the introduction of the six-looms-per-weaver system. One of the objects of this system was to improve the competitive position of the industry which as the hon. Member is aware, has been seriously affected by the lower prices of foreign manufacturers. The matters raised in the last part of the question cannot be satisfactorily dealt with by way of question and answer, but the hon. Member will no doubt have an early opportunity of raising the point in Debate.

In view of the fact that there are several thousand textile mills in Lancashire, cannot the right hon. Gentleman see that there must be an increasing number of unemployed very soon if 35 women in one textile mill are thrown out of work by the adoption of this new system; and have not the Government any policy at all to meet a situation of this kind?

Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that nearly one out of two women are wage-earners, and that the question of unemployment affects them seriously; and will he bear in mind that the late Government did really nothing for unemployed women, and that we expect the National Government to do something?

Is it not a fact that if we do not increase the efficiency of the cotton industry all the workers will lose their employment?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of calling a conference of industrial experts to consider the prac- ticability of absorbing more workers into industry by a reduction in the working day or, alternatively, the adoption of a system of each worker having one day off in five without any alteration in the existing daily hours of work; and to consider what would be the increased cost of production and distribution as a result?

I have already had some consultation on this subject with the National Confederation of Employers' Organisations and the Trades Union Congress General Council, and I propose to take early steps to discuss with them the most appropriate methods by which the question of the absorption of more workers into industry may be examined in a practical manner.

asked the Minister of Labour what particular provisions have been made to provide work for unemployed women; what number it is estimated have been, or will be, absorbed under such schemes; and the total cost?

The Central Committee on Women's Training are carrying out training schemes which result in the placing, chiefly in domestic employment, of 4,000 women and girls in the course of a year. The cost of this training is approximately £70,000. Further, a number of centres have been opened by voluntary organisations throughout the country where unemployed women and wives of unemployed men attend for various types of domestic occupation.

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed men were during the last 12 months taken from the Employment Exchange in order to operate the totalisators?

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons have been found employment in connection with totalisators at dog-racing tracks through the medium of Employment Exchanges; and how many such persons are insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts?

The number of persons placed in employment by the Ex- changes in connection with the operation of totalisators during the last 12 months is approximately 1,400. Separate figures in respect of dog-racing tracks are not available, nor can I say how many of the jobs were insurable under the Unemployment Insurance Acts.

Did any of these men who got jobs come from Dumbarton?

asked the Minister of Labour what number of British workers are now employed in the factories recently opened in Great Britain by foreign firms?

The number of workpeople employed in factories established by or with the assistance of foreign firms since September, 1931, was about 9,700 at January, 1933.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of these factories in Buckinghamshire employing several hundred people has closed down, and, as the figures which he has given represents only .003 of the total of unemployed, does he think that these factories are contributing very much to the solution of unemployment?

That is a matter of argument.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in determining the assets of an applicant for transitional payment, the capital assets of a brother living with the applicant are in some cases added to the available cash of the applicant and, if the total exceeds £300, a nil determination is made; and if he will circularize public assistance committees with a view to discouraging this practice?

I have no power to issue instructions in this case. Under the present law, where an authority in determining the need of an applicant takes into account the money and investments of more than one person in the household, such money and investments must be considered in the aggregate.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the case of unemployed workmen living at Wheat- bottom, Crook, county Durham, and in receipt of supplementary benefit; that when an official calls at their homes to see them and they are absent instructions are left that they must go to Bishop Auckland the following day, a distance of 12 miles; and whether it is intended to pay the omnibus fares for these men?

I am not aware that any such case has arisen, but if the hon. Member can furnish particulars of any case I have no doubt that the Commissioners for transitional payments in Durham will be prepared to give the matter their consideration.

Will the Minister himself look into this matter?

No, Sir; the obvious course for the hon. Member to adopt is to put this matter before the commissioners.

In the event of an hon. Member not getting satisfaction from the commissioners will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry himself?

That is a purely hypothetical question. The first course to take, obviously, is to put the matter before the commissioners.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will ascertain and state the number of cases where the commissioners in county Durham have written to the employers of miners' daughters in domestic service to ascertain the amount of wages they were earning?

I am not aware of any such cases. If the hon. Member knows of any case I have no doubt that the commissioners would be glad to have particulars.

Will the Minister cease recommending us to go to the commissioners, because we are not going there? Is not the Minister responsible to this House, and will he not inquire whether the officers in this district did not take the names and addresses of the employers of these servant girls for the purpose of ascertaining their wages?

The hon. Member should adopt the course which I recommend, and put this question to the commissioners. My relations with the commissioners have been frequently explained in this House.

Then does the Minister suggest that we should ask the Prime Minister to abolish the Ministry of Labour?

That is not my suggestion at all. My suggestion to the hon. Member is that if he has a grievance he should approach the commissioners, who, I am sure, will look into it.

Is it the duty of the commissioners to apply to the employers of a person in domestic service to find out the income even when she is not living at home?

That is the same question put in a different way. If the hon. Member has any grievance or complaint let him go to the commissioners.

Is it not the case that there is a regular drive being made against these commissioners, who are remarkable men?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men applying for transitional payment in Canterbury are being required to perform tasks at the unemployment occupation centre; that the public assistance committee are opposed to this practice; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter?

I am making inquiries and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the whole amount of £15,000 required for the National Council of Social Service is to be voted by this House; and whether this sum includes the £10,000 in the Supplementary Estimate adopted last December?

The sums of £7,500 and £15,000 mentioned in the reply given to the hon. Member on the 13th February relate to the period up to 31st December, 1933. In so far as any payment is made up to 31st March next it will be covered by the sum of £10,000 already voted. Any payments after 31st March will be provided for in the Esti- mates for 1933–34 to be introduced in due course.

Is it not strange for the House to be asked to vote a definite sum of £10,000 and then for the Minister to commit the House to £15,000?

The hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. No sum further than the amount voted a month or two ago has been spent. A further sum will appear in the Estimates in the usual course.

The right hon. Gentleman says that the £l0,000 was voted only until the 31st March, and that £5,000 was again in anticipation of what the House is going to vote?

I do not think that the hon. Gentleman has got it quite right. The sum voted two months ago, £10,000, was up to the 31st March next. Any further sum which will be required will, of course, appear in the Estimates and be subject to discussion.

asked the Minister of Labour the average monthly increase in the number of unemployed persons throughout the period of the last Labour Government and the corresponding average monthly increase from the time the National Government first took office up to the latest convenient period?

Between 24th June, 1929, and 24th August, 1931, there was an average monthly increase of 62,153 in the numbers of unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain. The corresponding figure for the period between 24th August, 1931, and 23rd January, 1933, was 9,958.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the most recent figures in his possession tend to show that the country is beginning to recover from the disastrous policy on unemployment followed by the late Labour Government?

asked the Minister of Labour how many juveniles between the ages of 14 and 16 were unemployed during the course of the last year?

I regret that there is no information available on this subject. Such information as is available on the subject of juvenile unemployment is published monthly in the Ministry of Labour Gazette.

asked the Minister of Labour what increase or decrease in unemployment took place in Blackburn between January, 1932, and January, 1933?

Between 25th January, 1932, and 23rd January, 1933, there was a decrease of 5,252 in the number of unemployed persons on the registers of the Blackburn Employment Exchange and Juvenile Employment Bureau.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the comparative figures of unemployment in the towns of Glossop and Hadfield for the last month for which figures are available, and the corresponding figure for the previous year?

Between 25th January, 1932, and 23rd January, 1933, the numbers of unemployed persons registered at the Glossop Employment Exchange decreased from 2,540 to 1,766. During the same period the numbers registered at the Hadfield Employment Exchange decreased from 1,746 to 1,344.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he has any information to show the average number of men per annum employed in skilled occupations who lose one eye and later return to the same or another skilled occupation; and what average period elapses before they return;

I regret that I have no information on the points raised in either of these questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home De- partment whether there has been an appreciable increase recently in the use of dummy weapons for purposes of intimidation in cases of burglary and housebreaking?

I regret that figures are not available which would enable me to express a definite opinion on this matter.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received complaints from His Majesty's justices as to the increase in crimes of this nature in recent months?

I should require notice of that question; but I may say that I am having observation kept upon this problem.

asked the Home Secretary whether the circulars of advice to benches of magistrates as to the penalties in motoring offences constitute precedents or whether they are part of an established practice?

I presume that my hon. Friend is referring to a circular issued to courts of summary jurisdiction by my predecessor in July last with a copy of the Return of Street Accidents caused by Vehicles and Horses in 1931. Attention was drawn in that circular to suggestions which had been made in Parliament and elsewhere as to the means of securing a reduction in the number of such accidents. These suggestions were on the one hand that amendments of the law were required to create new offences or to impose additional penalties and, on the other, that the existing law was sufficient, if effectively enforced. It is not unusual to issue circulars directing attention in general terms to points connected with the administration of the law, but care is always taken to avoid any appearance of attempting to interfere with the discretion of the courts as to the penalties to be imposed in individual cases which may come before them.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that there is a little danger in the tone of this circular, which rather hinted to the magistrates the nature of the penalties which should be inflicted?

I think I had better read an observation on this subject made in another place:

"You could do an immense amount of good if the Home Office were really to address, not a remonstrance, but a memorandum to the justices generally, pointing out the appalling toll of life and the extreme importance of administering the law firmly in this respect."

asked the Home Secretary whether it is intended to make it compulsory for all taximeter-cabs plying for hire in the Metropolitan area to have only safety-glass windows?

The requirement as to the fitting of safety glass is the same for taxi-cabs as for other motor vehicles, namely, that vehicles registered after 1st January, 1932, must have safety glass fitted to windscreens or windows facing to the front on the outside, and that vehicles registered before that date must be so fitted before 1st January, 1937. It is not proposed at the moment to make any additional requirements for cabs. Most of the new cabs presented for licensing in London are, however, fitted with safety glass throughout.

asked the Home Secretary the number of British-born women, the wives of aliens, deported under his orders or by his authority since the passing of the Naturalisation and Status of Aliens Act, 1870, or subsequent legislation?

No figures are available. Since the passing of the Aliens Act, 1905, which was the first enactment in recent times to confer a power to expel an alien, it has not been the practice to subject British-born women to expulsion or deportation orders save in a few exceptional cases, such as those in which the procedure of an order has been used for the purpose of paying travelling expenses and so enabling a women to join her husband abroad.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us when the British Government are going to give British-born women the right to retain their nationality after marriage? Is it not about time that British-born women got the same justice as men?

asked the Home Secretary if he can state the number of aliens recommended for deportation during 1932 and the number who actually left this country?

The number of aliens recommended for deportation in 1932 was 200, and the number of aliens deported in that year was 146.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of alien deck hands employed by British merchant shipping companies; and whether, in view of the number of British-born men in the merchant navy who are unable to obtain employment, he will take steps to prohibit the employment of any save English subjects on English ships?

The number of seamen employed in British ships is ascertained only at a date when a census of seamen is taken, and the latest information relates to 26th April, 1931. On that date the number of seamen of foreign nationality (other than lascars) employed in sea-trading vessels registered at ports in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, who were classified as "Deck Hands," was 2,001. The number of lascars who were not of British nationality is not known. I deeply regret the unemployment among British Merchant Service Officers and Seamen, but I am not aware of any action that can usefully be taken in the direction suggested.

Is not it possible for the Minister to take action with the Board of Trade and ask them to employ British sailors, seeing that most of these men are employed at under rates?

The question was considered, and I would point out that last year the percentage of British subjects employed as seamen in- creased as compared with the previous year.

With all due respect, are you aware that public relief is being paid in the City of Liverpool to many seagoing men; that these men are unemployed and that we are paying money from the public rates when we could be employing our own seamen?

Yes, Sir, these considerations are being borne in mind, but, as I said in the original answer, the proposal to take steps to prohibit the employment of all save British subjects is not considered desirable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he will state whether it was on the advice of the Board of Supervision that he took into consideration the proposal to close the Chester Training College; and upon how many occasions and on what dates he consulted with the governing body?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can now make any statement on behalf of the Board with regard to the closing of the three Church training colleges in view of the adverse vote to the proposal to close those colleges last week in the Church Assembly?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he will state the present position as regards the proposal to close the Chester Training College?

As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member for the University of Wales (Mr. E. Evans), on 22nd December last, it was after consultation with the Board of Supervision that the Board of Education proposed the temporary closure of the Chester Training College. The governing body of the college were consulted in an official letter of 30th November, and a deputation of their representatives to discuss the matter was received by the Board on 7th December, 1932. In view of the resolution adopted by the Church Assembly last week, further consideration has now been given to this matter and it is not proposed to proceed with the temporary closure of the three Church training colleges. A notification to this effect was sent to each of the colleges on 14th February.

Will my hon. Friend in order to clear up the misapprehension which exists in some quarters make it clear that this is not a reprieve, but that the matter has been finally settled?

No definite period has been mentioned by the Board of Education. There is no question therefore of a reprieve, definite or indefinite.

Are we to understand that the question will not be again raised, and that these colleges will not be closed during the present year?

The question is in the hands of the Church Assembly and the Board of Supervision. How they may decide to meet the problem in the future I cannot say.

Will the hon. Gentleman take the necessary steps to let those responsible for the colleges know at an early date what their ultimate fate is to be?

The policy of the board, involving a reduction in the number of entrants to the colleges, will have to be carried out, and it will be for the Church Assembly, or indirectly the Board of Supervision, to see in what way they will meet the financial problem involved.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what is the total number of children who entered school at the age of five last year after attending open-air nursery schools; and what proportion of these were free from mental or physical defects?

I am afraid no information is available which would enable me to give the figures in question, but I am aware that certain data may be obtained by individual authorities in the course of their administration of the School Medical Service, and I should be happy to send the Noble Lady any information on the subject which may be available.

Is it not true that, of the children entering in the ordinary way, 37 per cent. are physically defective in some way or other, while, of those who come from open-air nursery schools, only 7 per cent. have any physical defect; and would it not be a very good thing for the Government to go on encouraging open-air nursery schools during this terrible depression?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he has received an application for a grant in respect of the debates organised by the Lincoln branch of the Workers' Educational Association; and whether it has been granted?

No application of the kind mentioned by my hon. Friend has been received by the board. They have, however, recognised for the purposes of grant a Tutorial Class in Economic History under the control and direction of the Oxford University Joint Committee, which is held at the Common Boom of the Lincoln Branch of the Workers' Educational Association.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the memorandum prepared by the health section of the League of Nations on economic depression and public health and to the fact that the League of Nations Health Committee, with the approval of the Assembly, has undertaken an inquiry into the effects of the crisis in so far as they lower the level of health among the masses, produce serious psychological results, and involve a diminution of public health activities, which constitutes a menace to public health; and whether he will undertake to make a thorough and comprehensive inquiry on these lines in Great Britain, with a view to the publication of the results as soon as may be for the guidance of His Majesty's Government and the information of the Health Committee of the League?

I am aware of the memorandum and inquiry. I do not think it necessary to attempt to supplement by means of another inquiry such as is suggested in the question, which might be both prolonged and costly, the substantial body of information available from official and other sources as to conditions in England and Wales which has, as the memorandum referred to shows, already been communicated to the Health Section of the League of Nations.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the maternity and child welfare centre in Cumming Street, Finsbury, has been given up, and the municipal midwifery scheme has been abolished on grounds of economy; and whether, in view of his pledges to set the maternal mortality rate in the forefront of national health services, he will inquire into this reduction of the services of Finsbury?

I am informed that the facts are that early last year the borough council decided not to proceed with the erection of a proposed maternity and child welfare centre, and to substitute for the services of the municipal midwives a midwifery service provided by arrangement with the hospitals and nursing associations which serve the borough. I am not aware that there has been any reduction of maternity and child welfare services in this borough, but I have arranged that in ordinary course a review should be made of the working of the midwifery scheme recently instituted.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to encourage local authorities to embark upon economic schemes of water supply; how many schemes have been prepared or submitted in the last six months; and with what result?

I am always ready to entertain applications for sanction to loans for schemes of water supply which are remunerative or urgently needed on public health grounds, and my staff are constantly advising local authorities on such schemes. The information requested in the second part of the question would have to be specially prepared, but during the six months ended 31st January last loans amounting to £484,500 were sanctioned.

Is the Minister aware that there is an apprehensive atmosphere among these councils, who are of opinion that schemes put forward will not receive a favourable reception; and will he endeavour to remove that atmosphere?

Perhaps I might call the attention of the local authorities to which my hon. Friend refers to my observations in the House yesterday.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the recent discovery by a county analyst of harmful bacteria in imported tins of Russian herrings and in condensed milk; and whether periodical analysis of such imported goods are undertaken by his Department or what steps are taken to check the imports of impure tinned goods?

I understand that certain brands of herrings and condensed milk have recently come under suspicion and I am making urgent inquiries into the matter. In answer to the second part of the question, imported foods are examined by the local authorities at the ports of entry, and, together with home-produced articles, also by inland local authorities.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that these are not red herrings?

asked the Minister of Health whether in view of the fact that recent samples of Russian condensed milk have been found to contain bacillus staphylococci, he will take steps to prevent the importation of Russian condensed milk in the future?

I understand that certain brands of imported condensed milk have recently come under suspicion, and I am making urgent inquiries into the matter. I may add that the presence of staphylococci in condensed milk does not necessarily make it injurious to health.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage increase of taxation on each of the following articles in 1931–32, as compared with 1913–14: beer, tobacco, coffee, cocoa?

The present taxation of the articles in question shows the following percentage increases as compared with the taxation in force in 1913–14, namely;

Does not this disproportionate increase in the taxation upon beer constitute a monstrous injustice to the few Englishmen who still have the courage to drink beer?

Could the Chancellor of the Exchequer tell us what is the revenue derived from the Super-tax due to the excess profits made by the brewery trade? [Interruption.] Think of that!

May I have an answer to my supplementary question?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total payments made to Northern Ireland up to 31st December, 1932; and whether the British Exchequer has any outstanding liabilities in respect of the Parliament buildings in Northern Ireland?

I would refer to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Members for Walthamstow, West (Mr. McEntee) and the Govan Division of Glasgow (Mr. Maclean) on the 27th June and 6th July, 1932, respectively, which bring the figures down to the last completed financial year. In reply to the second part of the question, it is estimated that the charges which will remain to be met after the end of the current financial year in respect of the Parliament buildings in Northern Ireland are about £7,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total net receipts from the Beer Duty in the last quarters of 1930, 1931 and 1932, respectively?

The total net receipts from the Beer Duty (Customs and Excise) in the three quarters mentioned were respectively £18,806,000, £19,048,000 and £17,692,000.

Can my right hon. Friend give any indication of better results at the present time?

No, Sir; I am not able to make that statement.

Is the 1d. going to be taken off beer? That is what really matters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any estimate of the decline in revenue under Schedule A owing to the reduction of assessments on public houses during the present financial year?

I regret that the statistics collected regarding the Income Tax do not distinguish different kinds of business, and I am unable, therefore, to furnish any information regarding the Income Tax, Schedule A assessments on public house property.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the report of the committee of inquiry on co-operative societies and Income Tax has been returned to the committee for further consideration?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the reason for the delay in the publication of the report of the committee appointed to inquire into the position of co-operative societies under the Income Tax Acts?

The report has not been and will not be returned to the committee for further consideration. As the Financial Secretary stated in reply to a question on Monday, it has not yet been considered by the Government.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the fact that over 6,500,000 families are intimately connected with the matter and are desirous of hearing the result of the committee's inquiries, and will he hasten its report?

I think they are still more interested in the Government's decision.

When are we likely to have this report?

I cannot say definitely, but I dare say it will not be very long.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the present position of the National Fund for the Redemption of the National Debt; and the amount of money contributed for this purpose during the year 1932?

The assets of the fund as shown in the last audited balance sheet amounted on the 31st March,. 1932, to £644,407 9s. l0d. The amount contributed to the fund in the calendar year 1932 was £304 12s. 7d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the aggregate value of net National Debt created by this country from 1915 to 1920, inclusive; and the value of the same debt to-day in terms of the wholesale price level of 1913 in each case?

Between 31st March, 1915, and 1st April, 1921, the nominal amount of the National Debt was increased by £6,723,812,000. So many changes, by way of conversion and repayment, have taken place since that date that a calculation of the nature suggested in the last part of the question would have no value. The real burden of the debt is the interest charge and not the nominal capital figure.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think we are today able to bear the charge on a Debt of double the real value of that of the boom year 1920 and, if not, what steps is he taking to meet the situation?

I have pointed out that the burden of the Debt does not lie in the capital but in the interest charges. As for the second part of the Supplementary Question, I could not answer that by way of question and answer.

Is it not a fact that, if the capital has gone up in real value, the interest charges have also gone up in the same proportion?

Do I understand that that is the financial policy of the Government, that the Debt may be of any amount as long as the rate of interest is low?

The hon. Member is not justified in drawing any such conclusion.

If that is carried to its logical conclusion, what is the point of a sinking fund? What is the point of trying to reduce the capital value of the Debt?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the recent fluctuations in sterling, his Majesty's Government proposes to increase the resources of the Exchange Equalisation Fund?

No necessity has arisen for considering such proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the practice of including dock rates and charges in the value of goods for duty is now uniform at all United Kingdom ports?

The principle of the inclusion of dock rates and charges in the value of goods for duty is uniform but its application in practice necessarily varies in accordance with the varying conditions at different ports.

Is it not the case that these charges have been included in some cases and not others, with the result that some ports have been favoured at the expense of others, and is it not desirable to secure uniform treatment?

It is not possible to introduce a uniform practice, because the conditions vary at different ports. If the hon. Member will give me any particulars of any difference to which his attention has been directed I will look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to raise the embargo on private financial transactions?

There is no general embargo on private financial transactions. The restrictions on issues of capital in certain cases are constantly under review but I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

Is it not a fact that, since the right hon. Gentleman refused permission to the purchase of some £5,000,000 worth of Boots' Drug Store shares in America, he has allowed the Bank of England to buy £10,000,000 worth of gold, and does he think that is the best way of enhancing commodity prices?

The alternative to buying gold would have been to allow the exchange to go up, and I do not think that would have been very satisfactory.

Is it not a fact that, if the Bank of England can afford to buy £10,000,000 worth of gold, credits are available to allow a party of business men to buy £5,000,000 worth of shares?

I do not really think it is possible to argue the matter by question and answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that shipments of Canadian-grown wheat consigned to this country from Canada have not been admitted by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to the preference accorded by the Ottawa Agreements Act; and if he will now cause specimen documents to be issued which will satisfy the commissioners and enable these shipments to be made?

Certain shipments of Canadian wheat which arrived in this country from the United States of America have failed to qualify for preference under the Ottawa Agreements Act because satisfactory evidence that the wheat was in fact consigned to the United Kingdom from Canada was not produced, but I am not aware of any case in which preference has been refused on Canadian wheat shown to the satisfaction of the commissioners to have been definitely consigned to the United Kingdom from Canada. As regards the second part of the question, I am sending the hon. Member a copy of an official leaflet on the subject of Imperial Preference, which explains the types of documentary evidence ordinarily accepted in substantiation of claims to preference, but I would remind him that as stated in the Press statement which I sent him on the 7th February the Customs will always be ready to consider carefully any evidence which may be produced to them with the object of showing that the statutory conditions governing the grant of preference have been complied with.

Is it not a fact that surprise was expressed at Winnipeg at the decision?