asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the reason for the Increase of the National Health Insurance Panel Committee of the borough of Glasgow from 30 to 51, in view of the provisions of the National Health Insurance Panel Committee Regulation?

I am sending the hon. Member a, copy of amending Regulations made by the Department of Health for Scotland on 21st April last which, as he will observe, provide that the panel committee for the burgh of Glasgow should consist of 56 persons instead of the former number of 30. The increase was authorised to provide, among other things, for the fuller representation of medical practitioners in the city, whose numbers have very considerably increased since the original regulations were made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the cost of building three-, four-, and five-apartment houses at Sandyhills, Glasgow, during 1923–24 and the estimated cost of three- and four-apartment houses that are in course of construction at Amulree Street and Strathord Street, Sandyhills; and what is the local and national subsidy on each house built in 1923–24 and those under construction at present, the rate of interest on borrowed capital, and the length of period for repayment in each case, and the owners' present rate per £ of rent?

I am informed that the all-in cost of the three-, four- and five-apartment houses built by the corporation of Glasgow at Sandyhills during 1923–24 was £501, 2650, and £750 per house, respectively, and that the estimated all-in cost of the three- and four-apartment houses in course of construction at Amulree and Strathord Streets is £396 and £477, respectively. The annual local and State subsidies, payable over a period of 60 years, for the earlier scheme are estimated at £7 8s. and £33 per house, respectively, for the current year. The State subsidy, payable over a period of 40 years, for the latter scheme is £9 per house annually, but the local subsidy is not yet ascertainable as the rents have not been fixed nor has the final cost been determined. The rate of interest on borrowed capital in the earlier scheme is £4 18s. 2d. per cent., and in the later scheme £4 15s. per cent. In the earlier scheme the periods for repayment of loans are 60 years for land and houses, 40 years for sewers, and 20 years for streets. In the later scheme the periods of repayment are 40 years for sewers plus the capitalised value of the national and local subsidies, 20 years for streets, and 60 years for the balance of the expenditure. Local rates on owners are at present 5s. 6d. per pound of rental.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can make ally statement as to the volume of business transacted at this year's British Industries Fair?

I am glad to be able to state that, so far as my information goes, the first week of the British Industries Fair in London and Birmingham has been successful. The attendance of overseas buyers has been satisfactory, visitors from no less than 65 countries having registered during the first four days of the fair. The change in the conditions of admission in London has caused the number of home buyers to drop somewhat as compared with last year, but it is believed that, so far from harm being done, a useful purpose is being served by helping to ensure that only bona fide trade buyers gain admission during trade hours. Orders and inquiries are understood to have been on a satisfactory scale at all sections.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will issue a

The profits of statutory gas undertakings (companies and local authorities) as shown in the Board of Trade Return relating to all Authorised Gas Undertakings in Great Britain for 1929, 1930, and 1931 (Part II Finance and Prices) and similar particulars as regards authorised electricity undertakings (supplied by the Ministry of Transport) for 1929 and 1930, are given below. The corresponding information for later periods is not yet available. No similar information as to the coke oven industry is available. As regards the price paid per ton for coal by the undertakings referred to, figures are given below for 1929 and 1930, in respect of electricity undertakings. For the other industries no particulars are available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the slow rate of promotion prevailing in the Royal Artillery, his Department contemplates taking any steps to equalise, as nearly as possible, the rate of promotion in the different arms of the service?.

No new steps are under consideration, but when suitable opportunities arise, selected captains and subalterns of the Royal Artillery are considered for vacancies in cavalry regiments. I would also remind my hon. and gallant Friend that subalterns in the Royal Artillery are promoted on the completion of 13 years' service.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated increase in the rates in 1933 in each of the 12 most populous towns in Lancashire?

The following statement shows the estimated increase or decrease in the rate income in the year ending 31st March, 1933, as compared with the preceding year, in each of the 12 most populous county boroughs in Lancashire.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can give an index figure to indicate the general wages level for the year 1932 on the assumption that the general level of wages in 1924 was 100?

The information in the possession of the Ministry of Labour, which relates mainly to industries or occupations in which rates of wages are regulated either by collective agreements between organised groups of employers and workpeople, or by arbitration awards, or by statutory orders, indicates that the average level of full time weekly rates of wages in 1932 was approximately 4 per cent. below the average level of 1924. The available statistics do not enable me to compare the average levels of actual earnings in these two years.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can furnish any statistics to show the actual amounts of the annual income received in the form of wages and salaries in the years 1924 and 1932?

I regret that the available information is insufficient to enable me to estimate the actual amounts of wages and salaries paid in these two years.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he proposes, in accordance with the report of the International Labour Office dealing with the night work for women Convention recommending the adjournment of the examination of the question till the next session with a view to considering any information or suggestion which might be submitted in the interval, to submit any such information or suggestions; and what reply has been made to the request to receive a deputation in connection with this subject?

The point before the International Labour Organisation is what action, if any, it should take in consequence of the opinion of the Permanent Court of International Justice that the Convention applies to women who hold responsible positions of management in the industrial undertakings covered by the Convention. When the proposal of His Majesty's Government to revise the Convention was rejected by the Inter- national Labour Conference in 1931 a doubt existed as to the interpretation of the Convention on this point, and it is now considered to be necessary to revise the Convention in respect of such women. This course, therefore, will be suggested to the Governing Body. The question of receiving a deputation primarily affects my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, who is dealing with the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of agricultural labourers unemployed in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire, respectively?

I regret that no statistics are available of the numbers of agricultural workers who are unemployed, but according to such information as the Ministry possesses the situation in each of the counties mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend is broadly as follows:Norfolk.—As compared with last year unemployment has increased slightly. Although the total number of workers affected is reported to be considerable they are understood to be mostly of the casual type.Suffolk.—Unemployment is reported to be somewhat widespread and much more considerable than a year ago.Essex.—Unemployment is reported as considerable and appears to be rather worse than last winter.Cambridge and Isle of Ely.—Unemployment appears to be slight except perhaps among casual workers in Isle of Ely.Lincolnshire (Holland). — Position thought to be better than in neighbouring counties, and there is perhaps less unemployment than a year ago.Lincolnshire (Kesteven and Lindsey).—Unemployment is reported as considerable and worse than a year ago.Yorkshire (East, West and North Ridings). — Unemployment considerable and worse than last winter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increase of unemployment among orchestral musicians due to the use of mechanical music in theatres and cinemas, he will consider imposing further taxation upon mechanical music instruments?

I have considered my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I do not think that it would be practicable to impose such taxation upon mechanical apparatus for the reproduction of music as would ensure its abandonment in favour of the employment of orchestral musicians.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the figures indicating the proportion of Income Tax payable by public and private companies as opposed to individuals, and as to the proportions in the first group applicable to profits distributable as dividends and profits reinvested or applied to reserve and if he will consider differentiating between the tax payable by companies on profits distributed as dividends and profits reinvested or otherwise put to useful development schemes which create employment?

It is not possible to divide up the receipt of the Income Tax in the manner desired by my hon. Friend. I might however refer him to an answer given on 9th February last year in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Macmillan) in which it was estimated that in a normal year the cost of relieving the undistributed income of companies from the standard rate of 5s. would be in the neighbourhood of £60,000,000. I am afraid that I cannot undertake in question and answer to discuss the merits of the issue raised by my hon. Friend as to the incidence of the Income Tax on the reserves of companies. It has been debated in this House on numerous occasions, and I have no doubt that it will be again. All that I can say at the moment is that, apart altogether from financial considerations, the difficulties—both of principle and of administration—inherent in a differential rate for reserves have hitherto been found insuperable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of British hops consumed in British breweries in 1914, 1930 and 1932, respectively!

Information is only available as to the total quantity of hops used in brewing, and it is not possible to give the separate quantities of British hops used. The total quantities used in the years ending 30th September, 1914, 1930 and 1932, were respectively 559,424, 307,299 and 219,587 cwts.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of depositors, and the amount deposited, in the Post Office Savings Bank during the years 1929, 1930, 1931 and 1932, and the amounts withdrawn during the same years, respectively?

The figures required are:

asked the President of the Board of Trade the date upon which the papers were first available for the use of the Official Receiver to enable him to investigate the affairs of the Parent Coal Corporation and provide a report to be laid before the court?

Most of the books and papers of the company were handed to the Official Receiver on 1st July, 1932, but the books were returned to the secretary to enable him to prepare the Statement of Affairs and were retained by him for that purpose until 30th September, 1932. Since that date great difficulty and delay have been experienced in obtaining further papers relating to the company's business, and one of the most important documents was made available to the Official Receiver only a few days ago. I understand that the Official Receiver's report has now been made.