asked the Attorney-General what is the age of retirement for Mis Majesty's judges, county court judges, stipendiary magistrates and justices of the peace?

There is no retiring age for judges of the Supreme Court or for justices of the peace. County court judges retire at the age of 72, but the Lord Chancellor may extend the period of service up to the age of 75. This does not apply, however, to a few judges who were appointed before the passing of the County Court Judges (Retirement and Deputies) Act, 1919, who have not accepted the provisions of that Act. Metropolitan Police magistrates retire at the age of 70, though it is within the discretion of the Home Secretary to retain any magistrate whose services are of exceptional value, until he attains the age of 72. There is no general rule for stipendiary magistrates in other parts of England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Health the number of National Health insured persons who have been deprived of sickness and maternity benefit since January last; whether such persons apply to public assistance committees for medical assistance; and, if so, whether they are subject to the means test?

The number of persons who ceased to be entitled to cash benefits under the National Health Insurance scheme on 31st December, 1932, was approximately 70,000. These persons are still entitled to medical benefit under the Act.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount deducted from the contributions of National Health insured persons per annum for the administrative costs of insurance committees and the cost of such committees per annum; whether there is a credit balance in this account and, if so, for what purpose the money is allocated; and whether he will consider the advisability of continuing o medical benefit to unemployed insured persons from this fund?

Under Section 2 of the National Health Insurance Act, 1926, a sum not exceeding 13s. per member per annum is payable by approved societies in respect of the provision of medical benefit, and out of this sum a sum not exceeding 6d. per member per annum is available for the administrative expenses of insurance committees. During the last few years the actual amount spent by insurance committees on administration has been slightly less than the product of the 6d. available, but in far As the cost of the service is less than the maximum sum of 13s. per member, any such unexpended amount falls to be taken into account in determining the future charges to be made to approved societies. I have no power to utilise any such balance for the provision of medical benefit for persons who cease to be insured under the Acts.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that a petition, signed by 200 residents in the neighbourhood of the Peninsula Firing Range, Orford, has been received by the Warrington Town Council, complaining of the danger and annoyance caused by the firing; that most of the signatories are shift-workers and the firing commences when they are about to retire for rest; that a ricocheting bullet went through the window of a house behind the range; that, after firing, spent bullets are often picked up in the gardens of the houses behind the range; whether a report has been submitted by the police who investigated these complaints; and who will be responsible for any injury or loss of life that may be caused by bullets hitting persons in the gardens or in the road behind the range?

A petition by residents was addressed to the town council in April last complaining of the noise caused by firing on the range. It has received very sympathetic consideration, and the local military authorities have been instructed to do everything in their power to mitigate the disturbance. As regards danger from bullets, I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which was given him on the 6th instant. There is no danger to life or property to be apprehended, and the question of compensation does not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the London bakers are increasing the price of bread from 7½d. to 8d. a quartern loaf on Monday next; what increases have taken place in the selling price of flour since January last; and whether the decision come to by the London master bakers is within the regulations of the Food Council?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware of this increase in the price of bread, which is in accordance with the scale recommended by the Food Council. Under this scale the price of bread rises to 8d. per quartern loaf when the published price of standard grade flour plus the quota payment under the Wheat Act rises above 31s. per sack. The following statement gives the prices of flour in London since 1st January:Prices of Standard Grade Flour per sack of 280 lbs. as announced by the London Flour Millers' Association.

			s.	d.
On January 1st, 1933	…	…	22	6
January 9th, 1933	…	…	23	6
January 18th, 1933	…	…	23	0
January 23rd, 1933	…	…	22	6
February 3rd, 1933	…	…	22	0
March 6th, 1933	…	…	22	6
March 13th, 1933	…	…	23	0
March 17th, 1933	…	…	24	0
March 22nd, 1933	…	…	23	0
April 3rd, 1933	…	…	22	6
April 10th, 1933	…	…	23	0
April 12th, 1933	…	…	23	6
April 24th, 1933	…	…	24	6
May 8th, 1933	…	…	25	6
June 12th, 1933	…	…	24	6
June 23rd, 1933	…	…	2r,	0
June 26th, 1933	…	…	26	0
June 28th, 1933	…	…	27	6
July 12th, 1933	…	…	28	6
July 19th, 1933	…	…	29	6
July 21st, 1933	…	…	28	6

asked the Minister of Agriculture with what countries, other than Germany, he has concluded agreements for the restriction of imports of sea-fish; what is the maximum quantity in cwts. which each country will be allowed to import in each of the next three years; and whether there will be any restriction upon the imports of sea-fish from countries other than those with which these agreements have been concluded?

The countries with which agreements have been concluded for the restriction of imports of sea-fish are given in the following statement, which also shows the amount in cwts. which each country will be allowed to import in each of the next three years:

		Maximum Annual Quantity.
Country.		Cwts.
Norway	…	740,000
Denmark and Faroe	…	412,000
Iceland	…	354,000
Sweden	…	43,000
Germany	…	693,000

These maximum quantities are equivalent to 90 per cent. of the average annual imports into the United Kingdom from the respective countries during the three years 1930–1932. Imports from other countries will be restricted on a similar basis.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he was consulted before the British Broadcasting Corporation made representations to the French Government with a view to having Radio Fecamp, Normandie, closed down;(2) whether he will use his powers under the charter to prevent the British Broadcasting Corporation openly attacking foreign broadcasting concerns such as Radio Fecamp and Radio Luxembourg, in view of the fact that such attacks are calculated to cause unfriendliness among other nations?

My hon. Friend appears to have been misinformed. The facts are as follow: At a meeting in May last of the International Broadcasting Union the representatives of the principal European broadcasting organisations discussed the practice of broadcasting advertisements in a foreign language contrary to the wishes of the broadcasting organisation of the country whose language was used; and a resolution was unanimously adopted urging that any such practice should be discontinued. So far as this country is concerned, it has always been the practice to exclude advertisements from the broadcasting programmes. The view has been taken by successive Governments and by the British Broadcasting Corporation that it is in the public interest to keep the broadcasting service free from advertising matter; and both the Post Office and the corporation have regarded with disfavour the development of the practice of broadcasting advertisements in English from continental stations. In these circumstances, a communication has been addressed to the French Government calling attention to the resolution of the International Broadcasting Union, and asking whether they propose to take any action in regard to the practice adopted at certain stations owned by French companies of broadcasting advertisements in English for reception in this country. No reply has yet been received to this inquiry, which was made by the British Government, and not by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what was the cost of establishing a rural telephone exchange in 1925; what is the cost to-day; and what were the charges to subscribers in 1925 and what they are to-day; and(2) what was the cost of erecting a mile of rural telephone line in 1925; what it is at the present time; and how much of those costs are represented by materials and labour, respectively?

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th July, 1933, col. 1529, Vol. 2801, supplied the following information:(1) Rural telephone exchanges provided in 1925 were generally of a manual type, whereas to-day new rural exchanges are mainly of automatic type, and a comparison between the costs of installation of these two types would be misleading.The charges payable in 1925 and at the present time by subscribers served by rural exchanges are as follows:1925—Where the number of subscribers was 15 or more—£7 (business), £5 10s. (residential).Where the number of subscribers was more than seven but less than 15—£28 (business or residential).Present Day—Where the number of subscribers is eight or more—£7 £5 10s. (residential).The rental charges shown for 1925 covered a radius of one and a-half miles from the exchange; the present-day charges cover a radius of two miles. The fees payable in respect of local calls are the same now as in 1925, but there have been reductions since that date in the charges for long-distance trunk calls. I should perhaps add that at the present time there is a considerable annual loss on the rural exchange system.(2) In 1925 the average cost of erecting a mile of rural telephone line carrying one circuit was £90 (materials £34, labour £56). At the present time a similar line could be erected for £60 (materials £25, labour £35).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the ad valorem equivalent on import values of the new tax on fuel and gas oil?

Taking the average c.i.f. values of imported fuel oil and gas oil as declared by the importers during the first six months of 1933, the ad valorem equivalents are approximately 50 per cent. and 40 per cent., but I would point out that if the prices to consumers are taken, the percentages, based on prices in force before the Budget work out substantially below 40 per cent. and 30 per cent. respectively.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for the Rye Division of Sussex as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether, in view of the destruction of surplus nursery stocks which landowners and trade nurserymen do not need for their own requirements, he will consider enabling local authorities to obtain some of these surplus stocks for such purposes as the planting of slag heaps in the Black Country?

The Forestry Commissioners' surplus plants are conifers, which are unsuitable for planting on slag heaps in the Black Country.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the appointment of a committee to increase the number of overseas students coming to this country, the Government intend mainly to encourage those who desire to devote themselves to technical education and trade; and whether suitable steps will be taken to decrease the number of those students who come to this country merely to study for the professions?

It has been the policy of successive Governments to facilitate the admission of bona fide foreign students to this country without discrimination as to the objects of their study on the understanding, of course, that in the absence of special circumstances they will be expected to leave the country when their studies are completed. The committee to which the hon. and gallant Member refers was appointed, not to consider the imposition of restrictions upon certain classes of foreign students, but to consider what further steps could usefully be taken to encourage suitable students to come to the United Kingdom for education and training—general, commercial or technical. The Government propose to await the recommendations of the committee before considering what further steps should be taken.