asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the system of trading at a leading West End store, under which a customer buys a Christmas voucher, price 1s., entitling him to attend a performance in the store, after which part of the voucher is exchangeable for goods; whether Entertainments Duty is levied upon such tickets of admission to the performance; and, if not, what steps will he take to collect the tax?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with particulars of the case he has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury with what foreign countries arrangements have been made for relieving from double Income Tax shipping and air transport profits and other profits derived from business carried on through agencies; with what countries negotiations for such arrangements are now under way; and what are the prospects of their reaching a successful conclusion in the near future?

Arrangements for relief from double Income Tax have been made or are under negotiation with the following foreign countries:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether as on previous occasions, he will set up an ad hoc committee for the purpose of consultation with the Civil Servants' Joint Committee on Bonus regarding matters arising for settlement in 1934?

It is not proposed to adopt the suggestion contained in my hon. Friend's question, but it is open to the committee referred to to make representations on behalf of the membership of the associations for which they act. These representations will receive the fullest consideration, and will be borne in mind in' connection with any negotiations which may be entered into between the parties to the existing agreement.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will include in the Bill for regulating the hours of young persons employed in the distributive trades provisions to amend the existing law in relation to sanitation in shops?

As I informed the hon. Member yesterday, the terms of the Bill have not yet been finally settled, and all I can say is that the inclusion of provisions to the effect indicated in the question is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is no Employment Exchange within the Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green;

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if it is the policy of the Department to allow non-commissioned officers of the Royal Air Force to re-engage for pension; and, if not, if he will give the reason?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air under what conditions men of the Royal Air Force are permitted to re-engage on completion of their original term of service; and what rank they must have attained before such permission is granted J and whether he will, for the convenience of the unemployed in the borough and especially in view of the provisions of the Unemployment Bill under which increased numbers will be required for various purposes to attend at the Employment Exchange, take steps to establish an Employment Exchange within the boundaries of the borough?

The borough of Bethnal Green is served by three Employment Exchanges, situated in Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, Mansell Street, Stepney, and Mare Street, Hackney, respectively, all of which are within a mile of the centre of the borough, and provide adequate facilities for dealing with any increase in numbers which may reasonably be expected to arise from the operation of Part II of the Unemployment Bill. In these circumstances, I am unable to adopt the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered, men and women separately, at the West Ham Employment Exchanges for the last available dates of 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933, respectively?

The following table gives the information desired.

The policy of the Air Council is to allow re-engagement to such numbers of men as can be employed during their re-engaged service in ranks appropriate to their experience and qualifications. Men of the same trade and length of service, whether non-commissioned officers or aircraftsmen, are considered in competition for the number of vacancies available, and the additional value of the non-commissioned service is one of the factors in determining selection. The attainment of a specific rank is not in itself essential for re-engagement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why Charles W. Parker, of Norlington Road, Leytonstone, was refused the right to use the title "Empire Collect (London), Limited," or to use the word "Empire" in his patented file invention, whereas the word "Empire" was allowed to be used by other companies in connection with various processes both before and after his application?

Each application for the registration of a company with a title coming within Section 17 (2) of the Companies Act, is treated on its merits, and the object and nature of the company referred to by my hon. Friend did not justify the Board of Trade in sanctioning the title desired. Applications for the registration of the word "Empire" in a trade mark, or in the case of an application for a patent, if the title contains the word "Empire," are refused, and no recent application for the registration of a trade mark in the name of Charles W. Parker or for the grant of a patent to him can be traced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in various London shops Polish goods are being sold that have been produced by sweated labour and with a Government subsidy, such as grey flannel trousers at 3s. 11d. per pair (wholesale price 1s. 8d.), or bib-and-brace overalls at 2s. per pair (wholesale price 1s. 0½ d.); and whether he will take steps to prohibit all kinds of sweated goods coming into the country?

My attention has been drawn on a number of occasions to the importation of clothing from Poland and from other countries 'at low prices. These articles are chargeable with duties under the Import Duties Act, and if the duties are considered inadequate, the matter is one for consideration in the first place by the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many companies have become bankrupt or gone into liquidation, and how many mills have been closed down as a result, in the cotton industry in Lancashire between October, 1931, and October, 1933?

Thirty limited companies and one firm in the cotton industry centred in Lancashire have gone into liquidation or become bankrupt in the period named. Thirty-one mills owned by these concerns have closed down.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the reason for the delay in entering into trade negotiations with foreign countries in addition to those with whom trade agreements have recently been concluded?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension; the programme is being followed according to plan, and without delay.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that coal is being transported by rail from Monmouthshire to Cardiff docks for shipment although the Newport docks are nearer, with the result that there is less employment at Newport docks; and whether he will have inquiry made as to the possibility of adjusting this matter so that the men at Newport may get 'a share of this employment?

I am aware of the fact set out in the first part of the question. I have already been approached on this matter, but, as the coal trade is free to ship where it pleases, I have no power to intervene.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of colliery companies which have gone into liquidation since 1925; and will he give separate figures for Lancashire and South Wales?

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member could not be obtained except with an amount of labour and expense which could not be justified.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is now in a position to state what have been the results of the commercial hydrogenation of coal in Germany; and what is the present output and protection given?

Inquiries which I have made indicate that the first plant on a commercial scale for operating the hydrogenation process was erected by the I.G. Farbenindustrie at Leuna in 1926, and commenced operating in 1927 on brown coal or lignite. This material was used until 1929 when, for a time, it was found more economic to utilise tars obtained by the low temperature carbonisation of brown coal, and still later to include also indigenous crude petroleum. In 1932 brown coal was again used directly as a raw material for the hydrogenation process. I have been furnished by Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, with information on the authority of I.G. Farbenindustrie which indicates that the production at Leuna has, during the past 12 months, been between 100,000 to 120,000 tons of petrol per annum, 25,000 tons being obtained directly from brown coal and the balance from crude petroleum, tar, etc. The experience of Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, is that bituminous coal is technically a better raw material than brown coal, and I.G. Farbenindustrie agree that many bituminous coals are as satisfactory as the brown coals they are using, and which they hope to make their major raw material. In commercial enterprise, other factors have to be taken into account besides the purely technical amenability of the coals, and the proximity of the already existing I.G. Farbenindustrie works to the very large German brown coal deposits was, it is understood, one of the main reasons for the establishment of their hydrogenation plant to operate on this material. Information from official sources indicates that the preference granted to petrol produced from indigenous materials has varied from time to time. The present rate of Customs Duty on petrol imported is 17RM. per 100 Kg. In assessing duty the weight of containers is included in the case of petrol imported in cans, and in the case of bulk supplies the duty is increased by 25 per cent. or 29 per cent. according to the density of the petrol. This would give a total rate of duty on bulk supplies of 21.25 RM., or 21.93 RM. per 100 Kg. The present Excise Duty is 3· 8 RM. per 100 Kg. The present rate of preference is thus 17.45 RM., or 18.13 RM. per 100 Kg.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will review the forms which candidates for temporary employment during the Christmas season are required to fill in, with a view to eliminating many of the questions which candidates are at present required to answer?

I will consider the possibility of simplifying these forms before next year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the delay in the delivery of newspapers and correspondence which occurs whenever the down special travelling post office misses the Highland connection at Perth; that this happens on an average eight times a year and has occurred four times in a fortnight; and whether, as the public and the newspaper companies and the railway staff all suffer by the recent diversion of traffic from the Highland travelling post office to the down special travelling post office, he will revert to the former arrangement?

I am aware that delay to correspondence occurs when the down special travelling post office reaches Perth too late to connect with the Highland travelling post office, but I am informed that during this year only one such failure of connection has occurred, and that this was due to a railway accident. The recent alteration by which the handling of a certain amount of correspondence from the South was transferred from the Highland travelling post office to the down special travelling post office resulted in appreciable economies without any adverse effect on public facilities, and I regret that I am unable to revert to the former arrangement.

asked the Minister of Health the number of underground rooms, habitually used as sleeping places in the administrative county of London, that are unfit for human habitation within the meaning of Section 18 of the Housing Act, 1925?

I regret that this information is not in my possession.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in response to his Circular 1331, dated 6th April, 1933, he has now received from the London County Council any definite programme and time table showing the unhealthy areas to be cleared or improved by the London County Council and the Metropolitan borough councils under the Housing Act, 1930, during the next five years?

As I informed the hon. Member in reply to an earlier question, the general programme of the London County Council was received in August last. I am still awaiting the more detailed particulars to which he refers.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses, apart from those being constructed in connection with slum clearance, which have been built or are being built by municipal authorities since the abolition of the housing subsidy?

The number of houses constructed by local authorities in England and Wales with State assistance, other than in connection with action under the Housing Act, 1930, during the period between 1st December, 1932, and 31st October, 1933, was 37,331. The number of such houses under construction at 31st October, 1933, was 21,906. In addition, 3,690 houses were under construction at the same date which will be allocated when completed either for the purposes of the Housing Act, 1930, or for those of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924. During the year ended 30th September, 1933, 1,236 houses were erected by local authorities in England and Wales without State assistance. Information as to the number of such houses under construction is not available.

asked the Minister of Health the annual amount spent in the area of the Brecon County Council in maintaining at present the able-bodied unemployed who come within the operation of the Poor Law; what rate this sum represents; and what will be the county rate necessary under the Unemployment Bill to raise the sum to be contributed by the Brecon County Council to the aggregate contribution of £2,400,000 by local authorities as a whole to the State?

The returns of expenditure on poor relief made to my Department do not distinguish the expenditure on the relief of the able-bodied unemployed. No trustworthy estimate can at present be given of the amount which the Brecon County Council or any other local authority will be required to contribute under the Unemployment Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether in the past 12 months there has been any extension of benefits accorded to members by approved societies; and, if so, along what lines?

The only new benefit which has been added during the past 12 months to the list of benefits which can be provided by approved societies to their members is the total or partial remission of arrears of contributions due to unemployment. This new additional benefit may be given by any approved society which has a disposable surplus, and societies with a total membership of over 6,000,000 have already adopted the benefit.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Women's Reserve, which is now in course of formation, is officially recognised by his Department?

No. Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the reasons which actuated the War Office in deciding not to sell the property at Irvine which was about to be acquired for the purposes of a coal-distillation scheme; whether he is aware that this industrial utilisation would have given work to hundreds of unemployed in the district: and if he will state the use to which the War Office now intends to put this derelict site, and when it proposes to commence operations?

I regret I am unable to add to the answers which I gave to similar questions on 12th December.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the petition of the inhabitants of the Panch Mahals district of the Bombay Presidency, on the amalgamation of their district with the Broach district, asking that they should not be deprived of the residence of a British deputy-superintendent of police within their district, has been granted?

I have not seen the petition referred to. Arrangements for the policing of the amalgamated districts are in the hands of the local Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, with reference to the recent public inquiry as to a catchment area in North Lincolnshire, what action is now proposed to be taken; whether he proposes to make any alteration in the existing drainage boards; and how the area from Saltfleet Haven to Tetney Haven is proposed to be dealt with?

The resumption of the public inquiry to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was postponed at the request of the Lindsey County Council, and I understand that the council propose to invite the Commissioners of Sewers within the North-East Lincolnshire area and the Tetney Commissioners to confer with them with a view to the formulation, if possible, of an agreed scheme for the reorganisation of the present land drainage authorities within the area. Before taking any further steps in the matter, I propose to await the result of this conference.

asked the Home Secretary how many employers have adopted the permissive provisions of Section 1 of the Shops Act, 1913; the num- ber of employés affected; and whether those provisions are still in operation in those cases where they have been adopted?

I regret that the information asked for is not available. I understand that there are between 500 and 600 occupiers of refreshment establishments in London who have adopted the 1913 Act, but I have no figures for the rest of the country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, from how many county agricultural societies he has recently received communications urging that the grant for light horse breeding should be restored on adequate lines at an early date, and whether, in view of the decision that this grant is not to be re-transferred to his Department, he will pass on these communications to the War Office authorities?

Since 1st January, 1933, I have received communications with regard to grants for light horse breeding from 16 county agricultural committees, 12 county councils and 7 other interested bodies. I will bring these communications to the notice of the War Office as suggested by my Noble Friend.

asked the Secretary for Mines what are the principal reasons for the decline in British coal production at the present time as compared with pre-War years?

It is not possible, in answer to a question, to deal fully with the causes of this decline, but among the most important factors are the industrial depression both at home and abroad, which affects not only the consumption of industrial fuel but also of bunkers; the development abroad of native sources of fuel and power: the artificial restriction on the importation of coal into certain countries; the more economical use of coal; and the competition of oil and other sources of power. Further information on these points is contained in the 12th Annual Report of the Secretary for Mines.