asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and declared values of the exports from the United Kingdom of aeroplanes and parts thereof during the year 1932?

300 aeroplanes of United Kingdom manufacture, valued at £641,428, 452 aeroplane engines valued at £467,409, and other aeroplane parts valued at £632,594 were exported from this country during the year 1932.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform us whether the exports of 1932 are much better than those of the previous year?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the imports in 1932 by various parts of the British Empire from Japan; and the proportion which these bear to the total export trade of Japan?

As the answer involves a tabular statement, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the effect on home trade of Japanese imports into Empire countries and the failure of any attempt to stop it, he will consider giving a compensating bounty to the industries in this country?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given him on the 6th March, to which I have at present nothing to add.

Are we to understand from that reply that, however abnormal the circumstances of Japanese competition may be, no help will be forthcoming in this difficult situation?

No, Sir. That would be a wrong deduction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of the china ware imported from Japan during the months of January and February; and how such imports compare with those for similar months in 1930–31?

As the answer involves a number of figures I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware of the seriousness of Japanese competition with English pottery, owing to the fact that the tariff to-day is considerably lower than it was under the Safeguarding Act; and is he also aware that an order given to one of our English firms was cancelled, and that it was an order for one thousand dozen cups and saucers and Japan got the order?

We shall take into consideration any facts which my hon. Friend cares to lay before us.

asked the Presi dent of the Board of Trade the progress made with Denmark in the negotiations for a trade treaty; and whether he will suggest to those concerned the need for expedition in reaching a settlement?

Substantial progress has been made in the trade negotiations with Denmark, and I can assure my hon. Friend that they are proceeding without any avoidable delay.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the volume of retained manufactured imports in 1923 and 1924, respectively, compared with that in 1932?

Eliminating the effect of price changes, the volume of the retained imports into the United Kingdom of 'articles wholly or mainly manufactured was in 1923 about the same as in 1932. In 1924 it was greater than in 1932 by about 18 per cent.

Do not these figures indicate that more protection for our best industries is required if they are to succeed?

My hon. Friend is quite capable of drawing his own deductions from my statement.

But will my right hon. Friend take suitable action?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints have been received that foreign countries have infringed the spirit of the most-favoured-nation clause in our commercial treaties with them during the last three years by special sub-division of their tariff schedules, lead ing to virtual discrimination against British goods; what foreign countries were concerned; and what action, if any, has been taken by His Majesty's Government in each individual case and with what result?

I cannot recall any important cases of this kind which have arisen during the last three years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that the trade of this country is getting full benefit from the operation of the most-favoured-nation clause; and whether he will propose to the World Economic Conference the adoption of more directly reciprocal measures as a means of reaching agreement to lower tariffs all round?

I am satisfied that the most-favoured-nation clause in this country's commercial treaties has been an invaluable safeguard to its external trade. As regards the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to the answer that was given to the hon. Member on the 21st February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of naturalised aliens who have been declared bankrupt during each of the past 10 years, including those who may have during that period anglicised their names?

The information desired is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is paying the expenses involved in the work of the Committee on Economic Consultation and Co-operation for the British Empire; and, if so, under what Vote it will appear?

Each of the Governments represented on the Committee is bearing any necessary expenses of its own representatives. The Committee have accepted an offer by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to arrange for any assistance required from this country in the way of secretarial assistance and office accommodation. Any expenditure not met from existing services will be charged to the Dominion Services Vote.

Is there any reason why this country should pay these expenses for secretariat and staffs for the representatives of the other countries which are coming here?

There is no reason why except this—that this is a committee founded as a result of the Ottawa Agreements to see whether it is possible to co-ordinate the whole of the existing agencies. Canada is responsible for calling the committee, and all the Dominions are paying the expenses of their representatives and the least that the British Government could do would be to offer secretarial facilities when the conference is being held in our own country. That is the least we would be expected to do, and that we are doing.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the recent alteration in the New Zealand rate of exchange from £110 to £125 New Zealand currency for £100 sterling; and whether, in view of the effect such alteration is likely to have on exports from the United Kingdom to New Zealand and in view of the tenor of the Ottawa Agreements, he has made or proposes to make representations upon the subject to His Majesty's Government in New Zealand?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a similar question on 14th February, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that at the British Industries Fair a purchaser of what he thought was a British-made clock found, on reaching his home, that it was made in Switzerland; and whether he willtake steps to see that clocks of British manufacture are sold at the British Industries Fair and not those of foreign origin?

Under the regulations governing participation in the British Industries Fair, all goods to be eligible for exhibition must have been manufatured or produced mainly within the British Empire, and in conformity with this condition, it may have been possible for a clock to be sold at the fair containing a movement of foreign manufacture. The general regulation governing the admissibility of goods for display at the fair as applied to watches and clocks was decided upon some years ago in consultation with the trade associations concerned. In view of developments in the United Kingdom clockmaking industry, it is now proposed to review the position in order to determine whether modification of the regulations is desirable.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this clock was bought by Admiral Sir Lewis Clinton-Baker from the Riverside Manufacturing Company and that it had the words "Made in Switzerland" on the face of it?

I shall be glad to have any further information which my hon. and gallant Friend can give me, but, as I have said, we are examining the general question with a view to considering whether any modifications of the regulations are desirable.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he proposes to take any action with regard to the American device manufactured at Holyoke, Massachusetts, advertising a product of Detroit, United States of America, and exhibited on Stall B 102 at the British Industries Fair, with a view to keeping a closer check in future on foreign exhibits?

My hon. Friend will be glad to know that the specimen of paper which he sent me, obtained from Stand B 102 at the recent British Industries Fair, was not displayed there as the advertisement of the product of a foreign firm. One of the exhibits upon this stand was that of a British manufacturer of "dandy rolls" which are used for producing water marks in paper, and the specimen in question illustrates the use of the British firm's rolls by paper makers in the United States of America. A close check is kept to prevent infringement of the regulations of the fair in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can make any statement as to the restrictions placed by the Treasury upon the raising of capital needed for the construction of the Falster Zealand Bridge?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the fact that a contract has recently been awarded by the Danish Government to Messrs. Dorman Long for the construction of a £2,000,000 bridge; and if, in view of the importance of this contract, involving an order for £1,000,000 of British steelwork, he will be prepared to make an exception in this case to the general embargo on foreign loans, so that the conditional proviso that part of the sum required is raised in this country can be fulfilled?

My right hon. Friend has this question under consideration, but is not yet in a position to make a statement about it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the country's nett adverse balance of trade for 1932 is calculated at £39,000,000; and whether, as the restriction of imports of manufactured goods and agricultural produce has so far been achieved more by the reduction of the value of sterling in terms of gold than by the Import Duties, he will take steps to ensure that the Import Duties on manufactured goods and agricultural products are raised correspondingly to the rise in the value of sterling in terms of the currencies of countries still on the Gold Standard?

The adverse balance of payments for 1932 has been estimated by the Board of Trade at £59,000,000. My right hon. Friend must not be taken as agreeing with the assumption underlying my hon. Friend's question that the fall in imports is due more to the reduction in the value of sterling than to Import Duties. As regards the last part of the question, there is a procedure laid down by the Import Duties Act for dealing with changes in the rates of duties and my right hon. Friend sees no reason for modifying it.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that already in several industries the Import Duty is insufficiently high to effect the purpose for which it was imposed?

If that be so, the Import Duties Advisory Committee is the proper body to deal with it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the 20 per cent, duty payable on British-owned vessels built abroad if conveyed to British ports for breaking up purposes has resulted in ships being taken for demolition to countries where no such tax exists, and a consequent loss of employment for British shipyards; and whether he will revoke the order imposing the said duty?

I am not aware that the imposition of a duty on ships imported for the purpose of breaking up has had the effect referred to by the hon. Member. It is, however, open to the interests concerned to make representations to the Import Duties Advisory Committee in regard to the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet been able to make arrangements to overcome the effect on our export trade of the frozen remittances regulations in many countries; and, if not, what action he proposes to take?

The lines on which His Majesty's Government are endeavouring to meet the position are indicated in the replies given to my hon. Friend on the 20th October and 13th February.

Can my right hon. Friend say when the report from the committee which is looking into this matter may be expected?

No, Sir, I am afraid I cannot say, but I have no doubt that they are pressing on with their work as rapidly as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if, in view of the recent cut in the pay of the reservists, and taking into account that payments are not made in advance and that many reservists are now suffering privations, he will arrange for the payment to be made monthly?

In view of the extra work and expense that would be involved in making these payments 12 times a year instead of four as at present, I regret that I am unable to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office (1) if he will give the names of the officers in receipt of grants from the Distinguished and Meritorious Service Fund; and the amount of the grant in each case;

The list of rewards to officers was removed from Estimates in 1925 at the same time as the list of rewards to Warrant Officers and Non-Com-missioned Officers and Victoria Cross annuitants. This was done as a measure of economy both in printing costs and in clerical labour. I cannot put an exact figure on these costs, but I should be unwilling to restore them, and I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to note that the rewards to officers are now confined to those with limited means which provides an additional reason for not making them public.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if in order to support the claims of the unemployed ex-service men, he will issue instructions that those taking part in the present recruiting campaign should recommend to employers that they should give preference to ex-service men and Territorials in offering employment?

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the recruiting tour for the Territorial Army undertaken by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and the Director-General of the Territorial Army. This tour is not directly concerned with the employment of ex-service men, but every opportunity is being taken, I understand, to press the claims of the Territorials upon employers.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that his Noble Friend is leaving out of his calculations altogether the claims of ex-service men?

This particular tour is concerned with recruiting for the Territorial Army, and my Noble Friend cannot take into consideration every claim that may be put forward but of course he is in favour of ex-service men as much as Territorials.

asked the Prime Minister when it is intended to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance; and whether such legislation will give additional assistance to the depressed areas?

The recommendations of the Royal Commission are under consideration by the Government. The position in the distressed areas is very closely related to certain of them and must be considered with them. I am unable at the moment to say when legislation will be introduced.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the report of this Commission was published in November last, and that the dalliance of the Government in dealing with it is causing grave dissatisfaction in the depressed areas?

I am aware when the report was published, and, if the hon. Gentleman had any responsibility for promoting legislation in this House, he would not consider three months dalliance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the wage cuts imposed upon shepherds and ploughmen, which reduce the wages of married men to £30 per year with the usual small perquisites, he will take steps to bring such classes under the provisions of the Agricultural Wages Act?

I think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension as to the current rates of remuneration of married shepherds and ploughmen in Scotland. So far as I am aware the cash wages are not as low in any district as the figure mentioned in the question and in most districts are much higher. Further, in the districts where the cash wages are lowest the value of the allowances or perquisites such as house, meal, milk or potatoes is relatively high and represents a substantial addition to the cash wages. I have no evidence that there is any general desire on the part of Scottish farm servants for amending legislation to extend the provisions of the Agricultural. Wages (Regulation) Act of Scotland.

If I put before the right hon. Gentleman facts regarding the shepherds in Caithness-shire, who are living under the conditions stated in the question, £30 a year with small perquisites, will he go into the matter and see what he can do to alleviate the terrible conditions which prevail in Caithness?

I shall be glad to look into any facts on the subject which the hon. Member will bring before me.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of prosecutions instituted by His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines during the year 1932 for alleged breaches of the 7½ Hours Act, and how many have resulted in convictions?

Proceedings were taken against one colliery company during the year 1932 in respect of breaches of the law in regard to hours of work, and & conviction was obtained in respect of failure to keep a register in the prescribed manner.

Is the Secretary for Mines aware that a large amount of overtime is being worked with which, apparently, the inspectors cannot deal? Will he see that the Act is strengthened in order to deal with this matter?

It depends entirely on what is meant by overtime. It may be-emergency overtime, and that is an entirely different matter. If it is a breach of the law, and the hon. Member has any facts he can put before me, I shall be glad to have them brought to my notice and to act upon them.

It is the weakness of the present Act, which I want altered.

Will the Secretary for Mines give close attention to this and find whether what is regarded as overtime by his inspectors is not a violation of the law?

There again the issue is determined, as in every case, by facts-Unless hon. Members can bring facts before me, I am not able to make up my mind as to whether there has been a breach of the law or not.

Has the hon. Member looked into the case of the Ollerton Colliery, where 7.3 per cent, overtime has been worked?

I will have that assertion looked into, but I cannot vouch for the facts. The hon. Member must be responsible for his statement.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he has yet caused inquiries to be made from the secretary of the Scottish Board with regard to the recent sale of Ayrshire coal in Liverpool; whether the price paid was in accordance with the terms of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the administration of the schemes is in the hands of the coal owners, and I have no power to intervene. The Central Council of Coal Owners have under consideration an amendment of the central scheme to provide for inter-district co-ordination of prices which would enable cases of this kind to be dealt with. While I have heard allegations that the Scottish pithead price was much below Lancashire prices, there has been no suggestion, so far as I am aware, that the sales of Ayrshire coal in Lancashire have been at prices below the minimum prices fixed by the Scottish Executive Board.

Has there been anything in the nature of a breach of the Coal Mines Act as a result of Ayrshire coal being sold in Liverpool?

I have already said that, as far as I know, prices are not below those fixed by the Scottish Executive Board.

Are the Ayrshire coal producers entitled to develop their Lancashire markets?

The hon. Member is now entering upon a subject which admits of a good deal of argument.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the amount contributed by each Dominion towards the upkeep of the Navy?

Apart from the contribution made by New Zealand towards the cost of the Singapore Naval Base, the Dominions do not contribute directly towards the upkeep of the Royal Navy. Most of the Dominions do, however, maintain at their own cost naval forces and establishments. Particulars will be found on pages 295–300 and 463–485 of the current Navy List.

Is there any prospect of obtaining a contribution more in keeping with the services rendered by the British Navy?

If the hon. Member will look at the amount of their contribution towards their own Navy, he will be able to make the right deduction.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he proposes to recommend additional measures to raise the sum of money equivalent to the sums of money received by the Irish Free State from the land annuities and now confiscated by the Government of the Irish Free State?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 7th March to my right hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mr. Churchill) and to previous questions on the subject, to which I cannot at present add anything.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs which of the Dominions have enacted legislation on the lines of the Visiting Forces (British Commonwealth) Bill now before Parliament; whether any other of the Dominions have intimated that they propose to do so; and whether such legislation contains provisions which would deprive members of United Kingdom forces which may visit those Dominions in future of the right they have hitherto enjoyed, if it is alleged that a military court has exceeded its jurisdiction, or otherwise acted illegally, of recourse by writ of habeas corpus to the civil courts of part of the British Commonwealth?

As regards the first part of the question, legislation on the lines of the Visiting Forces Bill has already been passed by the Parliament of the Union of South Africa. As regards the second part of the question, I understand that similar legislation has recently been introduced into the Canadian Parliament; the question of legislation in other Dominions is still under consideration. As regards the third part, the legislation already passed by the Union Parliament is in terms substantially identical with the terms of the Visiting Forces Bill. I have not yet seen the text of the Bill introduced into the Canadian Parliament, though it is understood that it was the intention of the Canadian Government to introduce legislation in identical terms.

Will the right hon. 'Gentleman answer the last part of the question, namely, whether such legislation would deprive members of United Kingdom forces visiting these Dominions of the right of recourse by writ of habeas corpus to the civil courts of the Dominions?

The object of this particular legislation was clearly to give the Dominions the power of governing their own particular forces according to the circumstances of their own agreements but if my right hon. Friend puts specifically to me whether the legislation denies the right to which he refers, that is a legal point which I cannot answer.

That is precisely the question which is on the Paper.

It is because we have no reason to anticipate that that right will be interfered with that I have given the answer which I have given.

asked the Postmaster- General whether, in the interests of national economy, he will take steps to reduce the amount of the grant to be made to the British Broadcasting Corporation out of public funds in the coming financial year, as recommended by the May Economy Committee?

The British Broadcasting Corporation have agreed to make a contribution of £250,000 in respect of the coming financial year; and I desire to add that their action in this matter is appreciated by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this question was first submitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and was transferred without any word to me, or any authority; and, in view of the very unsatisfactory replies to this and many other questions, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Adjournment.

Was the right hon. Gentleman's visit to Glasgow last week on behalf of the British Broadcasting Corporation or in connection with his ordinary duties as Postmaster-General?

It has nothing to do with the British Broadcasting Corporation.

asked the Attorney- General the total cost for 1932 of the Department of the King's Proctor, and also the number of eases in which the King's Proctor intervened during the same year?

It is not possible to state exactly the total cost of the Department of the King's Proctor as it is a branch of the Treasury Solicitor's office and there is one staff common to both. The total salaries of the staff who are engaged from time to time on the work of the King's Proctor's Department amounted in 1932 to £4,083 4s. 2d. The net expenditure apart from salaries was £5,122 14s. lid. During that period the King's Proctor intervened in 30 cases.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that, quite apart from the question of economy, certain eminent judges of the High Court have expressed themselves in favour of the abolition of this department, and, in those circumstances, will he consider the advisability of abolishing it?

I am aware that judges of the High Court from time to time direct the King's Proctor to intervene in cases, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General is not prepared to consider the abolition of the King's Proctor.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received the annual reports of the traffic commissioners as provided by Section 65 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930: and whether it is his intention to publish such reports or otherwise to make them available to Members of both Houses of Parliament?

The first annual reports of the traffic commissioners covering the period up to the 31st March, 1932, were published last November and copies were then made available for hon. Members through the usual channels.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a considerable number of the policies of insurance purporting to be issued in accordance with the provisions of Part II of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, do not afford a full cover to the owner of the motor vehicle in respect of which the policy is issued; and whether he will take such steps as he may deem desirable for inquiring into the administration of this part of the Act?

I am aware that there are insurance policies which do not undertake to cover the policy holder in the event of his using 'his vehicle in a manner or for a purpose excluded by the terms of the policy. It would be impracticable to make all motorists take out policies which afforded them unconditional and universal cover, and it is a matter for the insured person to satisfy himself that the use to which he proposes to put his vehicle is covered by the terms of his policy.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that cases are constantly occurring in which persons who have been injured on the road find when they endeavour to recover from the driver and owner of the car which has caused the injury that his policy does not cover the case; and will some inquiry be made into the terms of these policies with a view to making them cover, if possible, all the risks on the road which the Road Traffic Act intended should be covered?

As I have told the hon. Member, I do not think that it would be practicable to cover all risks, but there are one or two aspects of the matter which I am considering now.

asked the Minister of Transport the policy of the Government in relation to the final report of the Severn Barrage Committee?

The report of this committee, which gives the result of a long and intricate inquiry, is at present under consideration by His Majesty's Government. Before coming to any decision the Government naturally desire an opportunity of learning the views of local authorities and other interests concerned.

Before the hon. Gentleman spends any valuable time in considering this doubtful scheme, will he give consideration to other more useful schemes, in which no financial assistance is required and by which employment can be found, such as the Humber Bridge scheme?

I cannot specify any particular scheme, but clearly this scheme will have to be considered in conjunction with other schemes for Government assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in certain licensing districts the licensing justices have in the exercise of their powers under Section 1 of the Licensing Act, 1921, fixed permitted hours for the sale of in toxicating liquor during the period of summer time different from the permitted hours during the remainder of the year; and whether he can inform the House of the number of licensing districts in which this course has been adopted and under what statutory authority the licensing justices have made this differentiation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I am afraid that I have no information as to the number of licensing districts in which the action mentioned has been taken. The last part raises a question of interpretation of the terms of the Statute in regard to which, as the hon. Member may be aware, some difference of opinion exists, and which can only be settled by the decision of a court of law.

With regard to the dilemma in which licensing justices are placed in various parts of the country, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to have this matter cleared up, in the courts if necessary?

I do not think that that is my province.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give, for the latest possible year, the five highest and five lowest maternal mortality rates in county councils and county boroughs, respectively?

I have been asked to reply. The information asked for for the latest year for which figures are available, namely, 1931, will be found in Table 10 of the Registrar-General's Statistical Review for 1931 (Tables, Part I).

asked the Minister of Health if he will furnish a statement for the latest possible date of the numbers and beds in hospitals the lines of the statement given in the House of Commons on 4th December, 1930, giving in addition the average cost per patient per week in each type of hospital?

My right hon. Friend will furnish the hon. Member in due course with such information as is available on these points.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now received any recommendation from the Central Valuation Committee as to the desirability of issuing a communication to local authorities regarding the assessment of houses upon which work has been done as a result of local campaigns to relieve unemployment?

My right hon. Friend's suggestion to the Central Valuation Committee was that they might themselves consider it desirable to address a communication to local authorities and he understands that they have decided to do so.

asked the Minister of Health the number of years that a crofter-fisherman would require to serve before he could reasonably expect to be granted a pension under the scheme of pensions now being administered by the governing body of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund?

The conditions governing the award of pensions out of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund are contained in the scheme for the administration of the benefits out of that fund, a copy of which has been placed in the Library in accordance with the hon. Member's request. There is no reason to think that the governing body of the fund, who are responsible for its administration, have departed from the terms of the scheme. If, however, the hon. Member is aware of any case in which he considers that the terms of the scheme have not been observed, and will furnish my right hon. Friend with particulars, he will see that inquiry is made into the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that when a pension is refused by the governing body of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund the applicant is not in formed of the reason for such refusal; and whether steps can be taken to ensure that such reasons are given in all cases?

My right hon. Friend is informed by the governing body of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund that it is their normal practice to inform an applicant of the reason for the failure of his application for a pension.

If I have cases in which no reason is given for refusing an application, may I draw them to the attention of the Minister?

I am sure that my right hon. Friend will be only too happy to receive them.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is open to an applicant who has been refused a pension by the governing body of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund, on the ground of an insufficient number of pensions being available, to renew his application on a subsequent occasion?

asked the Minister of Health whether applications for pensions from the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund are entertained from applicants who have been unsuccessful with previous applications; and, if so, whether he can state for the guidance of seamen the conditions under which such subsequent applications are permitted?

My right hon. Friend is informed by the governing body of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund that it is their normal practice to advise unsuccessful applicants for pension of their right to submit a subsequent application if there is any probability of such an application being successful.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any information as to the principal classes of foreign materials which local authorities find it necessary to use, especially in regard to schemes of housing and slum clearance?

The Ministry of Health have urged local authorities to make use, to the utmost extent practicable, of goods and materials of home and Empire origin, and any right hon. Friend has reason to believe that this practice is being very generally observed, but no general information of the kind suggested is supplied to him.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what communications he has received from local authorities in the Don Valley area relating to floods; and will he state the nature of his reply?

Various communications have been received from the urban district council of Bentley-with-Arksey as to the recent flooding in that area. I do not think, however, I can say more than that every effort is being made to secure the passage into law of the Doncaster Area Drainage Bill with" as little delay as possible.

In the reply to the communication from the Bentley Council, was any promise of financial assistance from the Treasury made, or any other assistance promised that may secure an early undertaking of this work?

No promise of any financial assistance from the Treasury has been made. The main desire of the council which it pressed upon us, was that the law should be put into force as quickly as possible.

asked the Prime Minister whether consideration will be given to the question of effecting large economies in expenditure by substituting the Royal Air Force for the Territorial Army for the defence of the country from invasion?

The defence of this country from invasion is a matter of cooperation between the three defence services, and is kept constantly under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the estimated loss of revenue in a full year if one penny were taken of the Beer Duty;

My hon. Friend will realise that to estimate the gain or loss involved in changes of taxation it is first necessary to estimate the yield of taxes on the existing basis. This is usually reserved for the Budget statement and my right hon. Friend is not prepared at the present time to commit himself to figures in regard to next year's estimates of revenue: still less to the effect of hypothetical changes of taxation.

Can the hon. Gentleman state what it would cost the Exchequer if we took a penny a pint off beer?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in order to counter the heavy decline in beer consumption, he will consider reducing the duty upon the standard barrel by such a sum as would enable the price of beer to be reduced by 2d. a pint if the brewers are prepared to bear 25 per cent, of the estimated loss of revenue to the Exchequer?

My right hon. Friend has noted the suggestion.

In considering this question, will the Chancellor of the Exchequer bear in mind that it would be well worth while to deal with the matter boldly, for whereas a reduction of one penny a pint would be a step in the right direction, a reduction of 2d. would so enormously increase consumption as to make good a large proportion of estimated loss of revenue?

I will call my right hon. Friend's attention to what my hon. Friend has said.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government propose to adopt the recommendations of the committee appointed to inquire into the position of co-operative societies in relation to Income Tax?

Questions involving taxation are Budget matters and my right hon. Friend cannot anticipate the Budget statement.

In the interests of the safety of the National Government, can the hon. Gentleman make an early statement?

That interest is well preserved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the restrictions on optional conversion issues which rank as trustee securities and involve either underwriting or an invitation to the public to subscribe new cash will be removed?

New issues of securities of the trustee class are being made rapidly; there have been about a dozen in the last six or seven weeks. The limited restriction referred to in the question is necessary to prevent congestion of the market and my right hon. Friend is not in a position to indicate when it can be withdrawn. I take this opportunity of indicating that the restriction does not prevent local authorities in this country from issuing stock for the purpose of funding mortgages, subject to agreement with the Bank of England as to date and amount of issue.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the prices of wheat in local currency and in terms of gold at the latest date for which figures are available in Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy?

I desire to ask you, Mr. Speaker, a question of which you will have had notice, and that is whether you have an announcement to make to the House about the recommendation made by the Select Committee on Procedure that a technical committee should be appointed to revise the Standing Orders?

In accordance with the recommendations which were made by the Select Committee on Procedure, I have appointed a small technical committee composed of the following: Sir Dennis Herbert, Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, who has consented to act as Chairman, Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson, Sir John Ganzoni, Mr. Neil Maclean, Sir Murdoch McKenzie Wood, and Sir Horace Dawkins, Clerk of the House of Commons. Their terms of reference will be the following:

" To examine the Standing Orders relating to Public Business, and to make such sug-

As the answer involves a table of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May I also ask you, Mr. Speaker, a question arising out of one that I asked 10 days ago, namely, whether you have yet had an opportunity of consulting the parties in the House as to the adoption of the recommendation of the Publication and Debates Committee that in the interests of economy Division Lists should not be printed in the Votes and Proceedings of the House?

Since the hon. Baronet put that question to me a short time ago I have, in accordance with my promise, ascertained the views of the various parties in the House as to whether they would agree to the suggested economy by discontinuing the printing of Division Lists in the Votes as well as in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I have failed to get agreement to this change from all the parties, and so I am afraid that that economy cannot be effected.

May I ask whether, in your opinion, the terms of reference will give the Committee power to examine and to report as to what time the House shall meet and at what time it shall adjourn?

The terms of reference which I have given to the Committee will not enable them to alter the Standing Orders, but merely to clarify them and to bring them into conformity with present practice. It would not enable them to make any such recommendation.

Would they be entitled to recommend that the House should meet earlier and adjourn earlier?

No.

I think they ought to be able to do so.

Arising out of the announcement of the appointment of the Committee, may I ask you, Sir, if there will be a Motion on the Paper in the ordinary way setting up this Committee, and if it will be in order for those of us who sit in this part of the House to move that one other person be added to the Committee, so that the very definite views which we have upon the Standing Orders may find expression in that Committee?

No, this will not appear on the Order Paper. It was a recommendation to me personally to set up a Committee.

Will you be prepared to receive privately representations on the lines of my suggestion?

I am always prepared to receive representations from any quarter of the House.

With regard to the proposed economy in not printing the Division Lists in the Votes and Proceedings, will there be any opportunity for the House to express an opinion as a House on that most desirable proposal?

That would hardly be for me to say. A Motion dealing with this question could no doubt be put down.

Would it be possible for the House to know which party it was that did not agree to this economy being introduced; and may I also ask whether the question was considered of discontinuing to print the Division List in the Votes and Proceedings but to continue them in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

The latter part of the question is exactly the point upon which I asked the views of the different parties. As regards which party did not agree, that does not concern me—as long as one party did not agree.

Is there any way in which the House can know as a House which party it was?

Not from me.

May I have the leave of the House to make a personal statement? My attention has been drawn to a statement which I made in the Debate on Carlton House Terrace about Messrs. Pinchin Johnson and Co., to the effect that that company was controlled for all practical purposes by foreign capital. The managing director of the company has informed me that the statement was not justified, and has shown me facts which convince me that the information on which I made it is incorrect. I should dislike to be the author of any inaccurate statement in this House, and not to correct it when asked to do so by those whom, it affects, and I therefore wish to withdraw that statement unreservedly, and to say that only a very small fraction of the shareholding is in foreign ownership, and therefore I am satisfied that the control of the company is for all practical purposes wholly British.