asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that many British firms with interests in foreign countries are being assessed twice or more for Income Tax on the same profits, both in this country as well as in the foreign countries where they operate; and what steps are being taken to obtain a conclusion of this matter at the earliest possible moment?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the question asked by the hon. Member for East Willesden (Mr. D. G. Somerville) on 29th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any information to show how many foreign artistes have left this country during 1931 and 1932 without paying the British Income Tax to which they are liable; and in how many cases the amount of their tax has been recovered from them subsequently?

I regret that this information is not available for any year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when considering the establishment and stability of an Empire currency, he will take into account some mean value so as to make the £ uniform in Australia, New Zealand, etc., and the stabilisation of the rupee in terms of sterling easier?

There are no proposals under consideration at present to which the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's suggestion would be relevant.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the protest of the Walsall War Pensions Committee against the reduction in the dependants' allowances paid to the father and mother of Seaman Carless who fell in action at Heligoland Bight, and whose bravery was recognised by the award of the Victoria Cross posthumously; and whether he will restore the allowances to the maximum, and thus prevent the parents going to the Poor Law?

I am making inquiries into the facts of this case, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Lord President of the Council how much money has been received to date from allocations under the Sunday Entertainments Act for the benefit of the National Film Institute; and what has been accomplished by the latter organisation?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the sums received by the Cinematograph Fund, which amount to £2,480 12s. 2d. I would point out, however, that the Sunday Entertainments Act does not restrict payments from the fund to any specified body, and I am unable to give him the information he desires with regard to the British Film Institute to which no grant has been made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many short-service Royal -Air Force officers have been retired during the past 12 months; and how many of these have obtained employment directly through the Air Force Officers' Employment Association?

During the year ended 30th September last, 153 short-service or medium-service officers left the active list of the Royal Air Force; in the same period 88 such officers secured employment through the Air Force Officers' Employment Association. It should be added that not all the officers leaving the Service register with the association, while some of those who-do register find employment independently.

asked the Minister of Labour the increase or decrease in unemployment figures for each month since 1st October, 1931, for Scotland and England, respectively; the towns or areas where an increase or decrease has taken place; and the trades where there is an increase or decrease?

The increase or decrease in the numbers employed or unemployed in each month since October, 1931, for England and Scotland respectively can be obtained from the figures published each month in the Ministry of Labour Gazette. The changes between October, 1931, and October, 1933, in the rate of unemployment in each of over 700 towns, and in each county in Great Britain can be obtained from the Local Unemployment Index; while the issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette for November, 1933, includes on pages 414 and 415 figures which show the corresponding changes in each of 101 industry groups. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

asked the Minister of Labour the figures of unemployment at 31st October for each year from 1919 to 1933?

The following statement gives the information desired:—

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons

Between 13th October, 1931, and 31st October, 1933, 286,446 claims were disallowed under the Anomalies Regulations by Courts of Referees in Great Britain. The corresponding figures for Scotland and for Glasgow were 37,600 and 11,800 respectively. The figures relate to claims and not to separate individuals.

asked the Minister of Labour what the approximate cost would be to the Treasury of restoring the cuts in unemployment benefits, apart from transitional benefit, taking the present number of those in benefit as the basis of the calculation?

The restoration of the rates of benefit in operation prior to October, 1931, would increase the amount of benefit payable in respect of the present number of claimants by about £4,000,000 per annum. This figure does not include transitional payments.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in Glasgow who have been refused benefit under the means test, the number allowed part benefit, and those allowed full benefit?

The following statement gives the particulars for which the hon. Member asks:

asked the Minister of Labour the total contributions of Great Britain to the International Labour Organisation since its inception; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing a summary based on past reports of his Ministry as to the extent to which the recommendations of this organisation have been carried into effect?

The total contributions of Great Britain to the International Labour Organisation in the period of about 14 years since its inception are approximately £453,000. With regard to the second part of the question, I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of a printed table issued by the International Labour Office which shows the subjects on which Draft Conventions have been adopted at the International Labour Conferences and the countries by which they have been ratified.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether arrangements have been concluded for the employment of an architect to prepare plans and designs for the proposed building for the National Library of Scotland; and whether those arrangements involve any substantial financial liability?

It is hoped that the appointment of an architect to prepare plans and designs for the proposed building for the National Library of Scotland will be made shortly. The draft agreement provides for a first payment to the architect of £1,500 on approval of the sketch plans. The necessary financial provision will be made on the Estimate for Art and Science Buildings, Great Britain, for the forthcoming financial year.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether arrangements have been concluded for the employment of an architect to prepare plans and designs for the proposed Government offices in Edinburgh; and whether those arrangements involve any substantial financial liability in advance of the Government reaching a decision whether to proceed with the erection of the building?

It is hoped that the appointment of an architect to prepare plans and designs for the proposed building for the National Library of Scotland will be made shortly. The draft agreement provides for a first payment to the architect of £1,500 on approval of the sketch plans. The necessary financial provision will be made on the Estimate for Art and Science Buildings, Great Britain, for the forthcoming financial year.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether arrangements have been concluded for the employment of an architect to prepare plans and designs for the proposed Government offices in Whitehall; and whether those arrangements involve any substantial financial liability in advance of the Government reaching a decision whether to proceed with the erection of the buildings?

It is hoped that the appointment of an architect to prepare plans and designs for the proposed Government offices in Whitehall will be made shortly. The draft agreement provides for a first payment to the architect of £10,000 on approval of the sketch plans. A decision will then have to be taken whether to proceed with the erection of the building or not. Should the decision be not to proceed with the scheme, a further sum estimated not to exceed £5,000 would be payable to the architect. The necessary financial provision will be made on the Estimate for Public Buildings, Great Britain, for the forthcoming financial year.