asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he is taking or proposes to take with reference to those Colonies where the cotton goods are now largely imported from Japan?

As the Secretary of State informed my hon. Friend on 9th November last, further action in respect of Japanese competition in textile goods in the Colonies is being deferred pending the discussions between British and Japanese industrialists, the arrangements for which were reported by the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade in reply to questions on 29th and 30th January, and in the Debate on the Motion for the Adjournment last night.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has had an opportunity of considering the recent Report on the financial and trading conditions in the Seychelle Islands; and what action the Government propose to take?

Yes, Sir. The Report has been discussed with the new Governor of Seychelles who sailed yesterday to take up his appointment. Further action will be deferred until he has arrived in the Colony and has had time to make considered recommendations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the signature by the French Government of a fresh trade agreement with the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics; and whether he will obtain from the commercial attaché to His Majesty's Embassy in Paris at the earliest possible date a report on the effect of this agreement on Franco-Russian trade?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In the ordinary course, His Majesty's representative will report on the agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government intend to take action on the lines of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce suggestion to appoint a special committee to examine the operation of the most-favoured-nation clause in commercial treaties with foreign Powers?

I have already informed the Manchester Chamber of Commerce in two letters, which have been published, that in my opinion, the appointment of such a committee by the Government is not called for, but that if the chamber themselves wish to appoint a committee, I shall be happy to put at their disposal all the information and assistance which the Board of Trade can give.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the dumping of subsidised flour from France and other countries; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take to protect the British producers and the milling industry?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to-day to the hon. and gallant Members for Cardiff, South (Captain A. Evans) and Maldon (Colonel Ruggles-Brise).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can make any further statement as to the progress of the trade negotiations with the Baltic States?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement with regard to the negotiations with Estonia and Latvia which are now in progress. Negotiations with Lithuania will be opened to-morrow.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the number of countries whose currency has depreciated in terms of sterling since the passage of the Import Duties Act, what further action is to be taken to prevent the excessive importation of goods from the countries concerned?

No course of action could be laid down which would be applicable to all such cases as are mentioned in this question. His Majesty's Government will continue to hold each case under constant observation, and from time to time will consider whether, and if so what, action is necessary in the interests of the country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the proportion of United Kingdom-born seamen, of British citizens from overseas and of foreigners, serving on British ships in 1923 and 1933, respectively?

The information asked for cannot be given for the years 1923 and 1933, but particulars are available in respect of the years 1921 and 1931. Of the total number employed on 19th June, 1921, and 26th April, 1931, on sea going vessels (except yachts) registered at ports in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, under Part I of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, seamen other than Lascars were recorded in the following proportions:

—	1921.	1931.
	Per cent.	Per cent.
Born or naturalised in the British Islands.	61·1	65·0
Other British Subjects	5·2	4·2
Foreigners ……	7·1	5·0
Note.—"British Islands" include Great Britain and all Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will enter into negotiations with shipping federations with a view to the formulation of a scheme for contributory pensions or superannuation for officers of the mercantile marine?

This is primarily a matter for the shipping industry itself, and I do not think that the Board of Trade could usefully initiate negotiations of the kind suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether a circular, similar to that sent by the Secretary of State for the Home Department to chairmen of English quarter sessions, has been sent to the corresponding authorities in Scotland inviting their opinions on the law regarding the suspension of driving licences in cases of dangerous and careless driving?

The answer is in the negative. The issue of similar circulars would not be appropriate in the case of Scotland, but I have asked my right hon. Friend the Lord Advocate to inquire into the matter and to advise me about it.

asked the Minister of Transport the present position with regard to the scheme for the running of motor vessels on the Thames which has been prepared by the Thames Water-Bus Committee; and what decision has been arrived at in the matter by the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee?

I understand that the committee have not yet reached any conclusion on the scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he is aware that the bridge over the River Towy at Carmarthen has been scheduled as an ancient monument; and whether this decision affects the Ministry's suggestion of a composite bridge to replace the one in question;

(2) Whether he proposes to take steps to end the disagreement between his Department and the Carmarthenshire County Council concerning the type of bridge to be erected over the River Towy at Carmarthen?

I see no reason to depart from my decision that I could not recommend a grant to the costly scheme for a high-level bridge which has been advocated by the county council, but I have indicated the alternative improvement which appears to me to be technically, as well as financially, preferable. I have also informed the county council that due consideration will be given to any definite proposal they wish to submit for repairing the old bridge, and I am awaiting their reply. The old bridge has for some years been scheduled as an ancient monument, and I should consult my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works before agreeing to any proposal for its alteration or replacement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that, following a visit from one of his wage inspectors to a farm at West Tanfield, Ripon, where he discovered that the workers were underpaid, the farmer immediately gave notice to the underpaid labourer; whether the farmer has been prosecuted for evading the law; and what was the result of the prosecution?

I am aware that in the case to which my hon. Friend refers, one of two workers who were found to be underpaid was subsequently dismissed. Proceedings were not taken against the employer for contravening the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, since the circumstances did not appear to warrant such a course; the arrears of wages were paid in full.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the proposal to send to South Wales from Canada consignments of cattle for tacking; and, if so, will he state the view of his Department as to the consequences of this policy on the home market for livestock?

I am aware that statements in the Press indicate that a proposal of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend is being considered, but I should be reluctant to express views as to the implications of any such proposals at this stage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can make any further statement with regard to the possibility of taking joint action with the Dominions to restrict further supplies of meat to this country in the interests of British producers?

I am not in a position to make a statement at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total quantity, in tons, of oats produced in Great Britain; the amounts imported and exported; and the

UNITED KINGDOM.
Estimated Supplies and Average Price of Oats in each of the undermentioned cereal years (i.e., 1st September to 31st August).
—				1929–30.	1930–31.	1931–32.	1932–33.
Home Production:				000 tons.	000 tons.	000 tons.	000 tons.
England and Wales	…	…	…	1,522	1,341	1,239	1,251
Scotland	…	…	…	755	647	622	746
Northern Ireland	…	…	…	287	278	226	289
United Kingdom	…	…	…	2,564	2,266	2,087	2,286
Gross Imports into United Kingdom(c)				424·5	476·1	378·5	283·7
Exports from United Kingdom(c)			…	13·7	17·7	9·1	1·1
Net Imports(a)	…	…	…	410·8	458·4	369·4	282·6
Total Supply	…	…	…	2,974·8	2,724·4	2,456·4	2,568·6
				s. d.	s. d.	s. d.	s. d.
Average price per cwt.(b)	…	…	…	6 8	6 1	7 2	5 10

(a) Not allowing for re-exports, figures for which are not available monthly. Re-exports in the calendar years have been as follows:
						000 tons.
1929	…	…	…	…	…	·7
1930	…	…	…	…	…	2·4
1931	…	…	…	…	…	9·4
1932	…	…	…	…	…	1·3
(b) Average price of British oats in England and Wales calculated from returns received under the Corn Returns Act, 1882, and the Corn Sales Act, 1921.
(c) Separate figures for Great Britain are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of loss to this country each year by the funding of the War loans to France and Italy; and whether the loss is charged up each year to the current year's expenses or is the amount lost added to the National Debt?

The sums advanced to France and Italy were borrowed by His Majesty's Government and these borrowings form part of our National Debt on which the interest is discharged each year out of the Budget. It is impossible to state the precise cost of this particular portion of our National Debt, but it is of course greatly in excess of the amounts we have received from France and Italy.

The following table contains the information desired:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in consultations regarding the proposed Empire monetary and economic policy, as laid down in the declaration of 27th July last after the World Economic Conference?

The principles laid down in the joint declaration by the British Commonwealth Delegations have continued to govern the monetary and financial policy of this country and of the other signatory Governments since last July, and have undoubtedly contributed to maintain the remarkable steadiness of the Inter-Imperial Exchange rates which has prevailed during that time. Generally speaking, the recovery in the Dominions with the exception of the Irish Free State has kept pace with that which is manifest in the United Kingdom. No occasion has yet arisen for further consultation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the sums received by the Treasury from collectors of taxes stationed in Wales and Monmouthshire, during each of the last seven years?

Tax receipts are not classified so as to show separately the amount collected in Wales and Monmouth.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the approximate annual cost of reducing the present twopenny tax on cheque forms and receipts to one penny?

Estimates cannot be furnished in advance of the Budget Statement of the cost of reducing existing taxation. Reference may, however, be made to Table 28 of the 75th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Command Paper No. 4196) which gives particulars of the net receipt in recent years from the Stamp Duties in question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage of revenue during the past three years that has been derived from Import Duties?

The percentages of Customs revenue to total tax revenue in the last three complete financial years have been:

	Per cent.
1930–31	17.29
1931–32	18.47
1932–33	23.00

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can now take steps to have compiled the number of surviving pre-war Civil Service pensioners and the total amount payable at present in respect of their pensions, in view of the fact that such figures are available in the case of teachers and police?

Statistics are not kept for these three services on identical bases, and I regret that, as I informed the hon. Member on 20th December last, the compilation of this information for the Civil Service would entail a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Attorney-General what action it is proposed to take with regard to the Wisbech magistrates who recently, sitting as a juvenile court, illegally sentenced five boys to go to an industrial school?

From the inquiries which have been made into this most unfortunate case, it appears that the decision of the magistrates referred to in the question, was quashed on appeal to Quarter Sessions. In these circumstances, no further action is proposed.

asked the Attorney-General whether there is to be an appeal in the Harman case; and, if not, can be now consider setting the law in motion against those members of the London Stock Exchange who were involved in the Chosen-Harman-Rock Agreement of June, 1929?

Formal application has been made to my right hon. and learned Friend for his certificate under Section 1 (6) of the Criminal Appeal Act, 1907, to enable an appeal to be made to the House of Lords. He is, however, still awaiting a statement of the grounds on which the application is based to enable him to come to a decision. In the circumstances, the second part of the question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of boys and girls that are unemployed at the latest convenient date?

At 18th December, 1933, there were 43,107 unemployed boys and 29,287 unemployed girls, under 18 years of age, on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the inconvenience occasioned by the lack of lavatory accommodation for those attending at the Fulham Employment Exchange; and whether he will take steps to have suitable accommodation provided?

My right hon. Friend has stated on several occasions that the responsibility for the provision of lavatories for members of the public attending at Employment Exchanges is not one that can be accepted by his Department. I may point out that every possible step is taken, by means of timing systems and otherwise, to deal with applicants without unnecessary delays. Moreover, notices are exhibited in the Exchanges giving the addresses of the nearest lavatories. As regards the Walham Green Exchange, representations have been received on the subject, but no complaints have been made by the applicants themselves.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance that the Exchequer should come to the aid of the Unemployment Fund in the case of disabled ex-service men by making a payment to the fund equal to the cost of benefit paid to such ex-service men who qualify by reason only of the special relaxation in their favour; and what has been the Government's decision on the point?

To give effect to this recommendation would have meant maintaining special records at a cost disproportionate to any sum likely to be found to be payable to the Unemployment Fund, and for this reason my right hon. Friend decided not to adopt it. My hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware that this decision in no way affects the rights of disabled ex-service men.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of young persons under 21 who have made application for transitional benefit in the Wales division, with the percentage of full benefit, reduced benefit, and nil awards in such cases?

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what action, if any, has been taken, or is contemplated, on the recommendation of the Royal Commission that in respect of the control of methods of engaging labour the dock industry should be the first to receive his attention?

My right hon. Friend has been in consultation with the Standing Advisory Committee of the port labour industry to which the Royal Commission refer in paragraph 602 of their report. As a result of such consultation, Clause 27 has been included in the Unemployment Bill.

asked the Secretary for Mines how the wages per shift, output per shift, and hours of labour below, by British and Polish miners, respectively, compare?

During the nine months ended September, 1933, the average total earnings per manshift worked in Great Britain, were 9s. 6d. and in Poland 8.70 zloty or 4s. at the par of exchange, and the average output of coal per manshift worked was 22¼ cwts. in Great Britain and 29¾ cwts. in Poland. The authorised hours of labour below ground in Great Britain are 7½ hours plus one winding time, totalling on the average eight hours per day, and in Polish Upper Silesia a total of eight hours two minutes per day.

asked the Secretary for Mines the railway rates per ton of coal from any important mining centre in Poland to Gdynia and how this compares with the rates in the United Kingdom for an equal distance?

The railway rate per ton of coal from Kattowitz to Gdynia is 3s. for a distance of 340 miles. I cannot give a comparable figure for this country since no rail traffic in coal passes over such a long distance.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what proportion of the recruits at present joining His Majesty's Army are of unsatisfactory educational attainments at the time of enlistment?

No man may be enlisted who fails to reach the educational standard laid down for the arm of the Service which he desires to join. The educational attainments of recruits for 10 years past are shown in the General Annual Report on the British Army for 1932. (Command Paper 4257.)

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if there is any liaison between the War Office and the Board of Education of such a nature that, when a recruit is found to be of an unwarrantably low standard of education, the Board is informed, with a view, where necessary, to their bringing the matter before the education authorities concerned?

There is liaison with the Board of Education. Specimen examination papers written by recruits have at various times been submitted to the Board.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the broadcasting stations at the Eiffel Tower and Luxemburg have failed to comply with the Lucerne wave-length plan; if he has addressed protests to the Governments concerned; and what replies he has received?

I am aware that the Eiffel Tower and Luxemburg broadcasting stations are using wave-lengths which are not allotted to them in the Lucerne Plan. Representations have been made to the French Administration as regards the Eiffel Tower, but although a slight change has been made, in order to avoid interference with Daventry, the Eiffel Tower station is still using a wavelength to which it is not entitled under the Lucerne Plan; and my right hon. Friend is still in communication with the French Administration on the subject. The Luxemburg Government refused to sign the Lucerne Convention; and its insistence on using a long wave-length, contrary to the provisions of the Lucerne Plan, is causing difficulty in several countries. The position is under consideration by my Department in consultation with the British Broadcasting Corporation, but my right hon. Friend has not yet made representations to the Luxemburg Administration on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health, whether it is intended that the estimates of expenditure of local authorities incurred during the year 1932–33, to be made under Clause 44 (2) of the Unemployment Bill, shall be based on an analysis of cases in which poor relief was granted in the said year or on an analysis of cases arising during some future period; and, if the latter, what is the period to be selected, and will directions, prescribing the basis on which estimates are to be prepared, be issued to local authorities before the commencement of that period?

It is proposed that the estimates under the Bill shall be based on an analysis of cases arising in a future period before the scheme comes into operation, the results of such analysis being then applied to the expenditure in the year ended 31st March, 1933. The necessary arrangements, which have already been tentatively discussed with local authorities, will be made in consultation with them.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in exempted employment who became voluntary contributors under the Widows', Orphans,' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, late in life and who, though not eligible for the full pension or any pension between the ages of 65 and 70, will be eligible for the full pension of 10s. a week, irrespective of any test as to means or income, on reaching the age of 70?

I regret that I am not in possession of the figures asked for in the question, which is presumed to refer to persons who by the terms of their employment enjoy superannuation rights at least as favourable as the old age pension rights conferred by the Act and whose employment has on that account been certified as excepted from compulsory insurance for old age pensions. Where such persons have become voluntary contributors after a specified age they are given certain modified rights to pensions under the Act, but as these differ in some respects from those stated in the question, I am sending the hon. Member particulars.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, in view of the recent air accidents caused by aircraft colliding with wireless masts and overhead tension cables, whether negotiations have yet been concluded between the Air Ministry and the Electricity Commissioners with a view to the immediate adoption of increased safety measures to prevent similar occurrences; and whether he is satisfied that the existing regulation requiring suitable signals to be placed as far as possible on fixed obstacles dangerous to flying within a zone of 500 yards of all aerodromes is sufficient safeguard against possible collisions between aircraft and such obstructions during conditions of bad visibility?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Duddeston (Mr. Simmonds) on 20th December. The whole question raises involved technical issues, and I am communicating with my hon. and gallant Friend in writing on the subject. I may add, as regards the last part of the question, that the 500 yards' zone is based on the Convention for International Air Navigation. The extension of this zone to 1,000 yards in this country is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health the total paid in respect of public assistance in Wales during 1933 and the portion thereof which was disbursed to able-bodied unemployed persons and their dependants?

The total amount of out-relief in money and kind paid by Poor Law authorities in Wales (including Monmouth) during the calendar year 1933 was £1,690,107. The returns made to my Department do not distinguish the amounts paid to able-bodied unemployed persons and their dependants.

asked the Minister of Health the number and names of those local authorities who have not appointed co-opted members on their public assistance committees?

In 37 counties and county boroughs the administrative scheme provides for a specially constituted public assistance committee without co-opted members. Their names are as follow:

Caernarvon.	Halifax.
Kent.	Lincoln.
Merioneth.	Manchester.
Monmouth.	Merthyr Tydfil.
Montgomery.	Norwich.
Pembroke.	Reading.
Southampton.	Rotherham.
Staffs.	Salford.
East Sussex.	Sheffield.
Warwickshire.	Smethwick.
Barnsley.	Stockport.
Barrow-in-Furness.	Swansea.
Bolton.	Wakefield.
Burnley.	Walsall.
Bury.	Warrington.
Canterbury.	West Bromwich.
Derby.	West Ham.
Eastbourne.	Wigan.
East Ham.

In 11 other areas, named below, the scheme provided that some other committee of the council should act as the public assistance committee, and so far as my information goes, that other committee does not include any co-opted members.

Beds.	West Suffolk.
Berks.	Darlington.
Denbigh.	Hastings.
Hereford.	Huddersfield.
Middlesex.	Middlesbrough.
East Suffolk.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the arrest of two innocent men named Street, of Stratford, in the West End of London, on 14th December last; that they were taken to Marlborough Street Police Station, searched, finger prints taken, and kept in cells for five hours; whether, as the charges were dismissed, he will compensate these men for the inconvenience and expense entailed in their appearance at court; whether he will ensure that the finger prints of these innocent men are destroyed; and what action he proposes to recommend in respect of the two detectives who made these wrongful arrests?

I have made inquiry regarding this case, which had not previously come to my notice. From a report which I have obtained it appears that the men in question were arrested at 1.30 p.m. on 11th December and were taken to Tottenham Court Road Police Station where they were charged with being suspected persons loitering for the purpose of stealing from motor cars. At the station they were searched in the usual course and their finger prints were taken. After it had been ascertained that the charge could not be dealt with at the court that day, inquiries were made at Stratford with a view to bail, which was eventually forthcoming at 5.55 p.m. The defendants were thereupon released to appear at Marlborough Street Police Court at 10 a.m. the following day. The evidence then placed before the court was to the effect that they had been kept under observation for some 20 minutes, and during that period had been seen to look into and try the handles of unattended

Name.				Age.	Date of execution.		Prison.
Haubury, Jeremiah	…	…	…	49	2nd February	…	Birmingham.
Puttnam, Jack Samuel	…	…	…	31	8th June	…	Pentonville.
Hetherington, Richard	…	…	…	35	20th June	…	Liverpool.
Morse, Fred	…	…	…	33	25th July	…	Bristol.
Antorka, Varnavas Loizi	…	…	…	31	10th August	…	Pentonville.
Kirby, Robert James	…	…	…	26	11th October	…	Pentonville.
Burtoft, William	…	…	…	48	19th December	…	Manchester.
Parker, Ernest Wadge	…	…	…	25	6th December	…	Durham.
Hobday, Stanley Eric	…	…	…	21	28th December	…	Birmingham.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is intended to hold a Government inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining the reasons for the collapse of Messrs. Gillyot's warehouse in Hull on 18th January last, which resulted in the loss of several workmen's lives and serious injury to others?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to-day to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, East (Brigadier - General Nation).

asked the Home Secretary the name and age of the persons executed in England and Wales during the year 1933 and the dates on which, and the prisons at which, each execution took place?

The particulars are as follow:

asked the Home Secretary if he is now in a position to state when the Government Measure deal- ing with lotteries and betting is to be introduced?

I cannot give any definite undertaking, but I hope to introduce the Bill before very long.