asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of raw cotton used in China compared with this country and Japan for 1933?

The latest comparable figures relate to the year 1932. For that year the estimated consumption of raw cotton in China was 1,161 million lbs.; in the United Kingdom, 1,245 million lbs.; and in Japan, 1,293 million lbs.

asked the Prime Minister if he will grant a day to discuss the position, in all its aspects, of the cotton industry?

The position of the cotton industry has been the subject of Debate on several occasions recently and, as my hon. Friend will be aware, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has very recently visited Lancashire in order to obtain for the Government first-hand information regarding the problems of the industry and the views of those engaged in it. I do not think, therefore, that a further Debate on the subject at this moment would be helpful.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reasons why it was necessary to allow the French Government 10 days before the British Government adopted retaliatory measures, in view of the fact that 29 days had elapsed since the French quotas became operative; and whether there has been any increase of French exports to this country during the last week?

The period was proposed in order to enable discussions to take place. Discussions are in fact still proceeding. With regard to the last part of the question, the information desired is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that the 10 days' grace referred to by him on 29th January expires on 7th February, what retaliatory step the Government propose to take against French exports to this country?

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, how many countries other than Great Britain are arranging for official or unofficial representation at the forthcoming Levant Fair at Tel Aviv; whether British representation will be on a larger scale than that of any other country; and what degree of representation is already assured?

According to the most recent information available in the Department of Overseas Trade, eight countries, in addition to the United Kingdom, have decided to participate officially in the forthcoming Levant Fair at Tel Aviv. It is understood that all of these will be erecting national pavilions. It is not yet possible to give the relative sizes of these national displays, though I am informed on good authority that the British Pavilion is likely to be the largest of the individual national buildings. It is believed that six other countries are contemplating participation, but official information of this has not yet been received. I am informed by the Federation of British Industries, which is organising the United Kingdom representation, that exhibits will be on a satisfactory scale not only in the national pavilion but also in other sections.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the fact that three British Consular representatives are still maintained in Manchukuo despite the fact that this country is not officially recognised, he will consider the desirability of appointing a trade commissioner, in order that no opportunity for maintaining and developing trade relations may be lost pending further developments?

In August, 1930, a commercial secretary was appointed to reside at Harbin, but it was found in practice that there was more urgent need for his services elsewhere, and he was accordingly withdrawn and transferred to Peking. British trade interests in Manchuria are, however, adequately represented by His Majesty's Consular officers. I fully appreciate the importance of the point raised by my hon. and gallant Friend, but I can assure him that the position will be carefully watched.

asked the Minister of Health the total cost to the country for the last completed year of the institutional treatment of mental defectives?

The total cost falling upon public funds in respect of the mental deficiency service may be taken as having been approximately £1,875,000 in the year 1931–32, but exact information as to the amount included in this figure in respect of institutional treatment is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the sanitary by-laws in London still forbid improved methods of building and sanitation which are permitted elsewhere; and whether he will urge upon the county council the importance of simplifying and modernising those by-laws?

I am in communication with the London County Council as to the best way of attaining the object desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can account for the increase in the price of baths referred to by the Inter-departmental Committee on the Prices of Building Materials in their last report, and into the cause of which inquiries were being made?

My right hon. Friend has not yet received the report of the Inter-departmental Committee on the Prices of Building Materials on the inquiries to which reference is made in the latter part of the question. He hopes to receive their comments after the meeting of the committee which is to be held on the 22nd of this month.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any information and can give details of the cases of small-pox notified and deaths recorded in Japan for the last 20 years for which the figures have been issued?

The following are the figures asked for:

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the successful results of selling stamps in books if customers so desire, he will consider introducing a system under which postal orders of low denominations can be sold in books to the value of £1 or over in order to provide additional convenience for those persons who are frequently obliged to send small sums by post?

I am giving the matter my consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether letters at express rates are accepted for districts where there is only one delivery a day and where in no circumstances are any letters specially delivered; and whether he will consider the issue of instructions that the public making use of this service should be advised as to whether express letters are likely to be delivered the same day?

I am afraid that the suggestion of my hon. Friend would not be practicable, but I will look into the matter again and communicate with him.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to announce to the House the date upon which he will introduce the Bill to regulate the hours of labour of young persons?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 1st February to a question by the Noble Lady the Member for Sutton (Viscountess Astor) on this subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of officers and men of the British Army and the Royal Air Force now in Egypt, and comparative figures covering five years ago?

The establishment of the British Army in Egypt on 1st January, 1934, was 500 officers and 9,610 other ranks; on 1st January, 1929, it was 493 officers and 9,627 other ranks. I am informed by the Air Ministry that the corresponding figures for the establishment of the Royal Air Force in Egypt are 209 officers and 1,910 airmen in 1934, and 238 officers and 1,807 airmen in 1929.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of revenue yielded by the Excise duties on English-grown tobacco; and whether he will consider removing the Excise duty on all tobaccos grown in this country in order to stimulate the employment of British labour?

The total net revenue yielded during the financial year 1932–33 by the Excise duties on English-grown tobacco was approximately £1,560. As regards the second part of the question, tobacco grown in this country already enjoys a preferential reduction of duty of 2s. 2½d. per lb. The entire repeal of the Excise duty would have an adverse effect on the very important tobacco revenue owing to the resulting tendency for imported tobacco to be displaced by home-grown tobacco. My right hon. Friend is afraid that in the circumstances he cannot see his way to adopting my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the annual wholesale and retail turnover of the co-operative societies in England; and, assuming that 7 per cent. net profit is a reasonable estimate on their turnover, what would be the percentage of tax payable by the retail trading concerns of this country were the same trade done by the retailer and the large stores?

My hon. Friend will find particulars of the wholesale and retail turnover in Part III of the Annual Reports of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies. I am unable to furnish the estimate asked for in the second part of the question, and would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to his question of 1st February in which it was stated that no Income Tax statistics are collected as to the amount of tax payable by persons engaged in wholesale and retail business.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he proposes to investigate the extra taxation which will be thrown upon the rest of the community by the intended extension of the co-operative retail movement, and its effect upon competitive retail private trade which pays a large proportion of existing taxation?

All matters of public fiscal concern are naturally under constant review, but it is not considered that the developments contemplated by my hon. Friend call for the inquiry he suggests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total number of persons in receipt of a pension and/or superannuation allowances, other than disability and War pensions, and the annual cost to the Exchequer and local authorities; and what would be the annual cost of granting pensions of 20s. a week to all persons at the age of 60 if all other State or local government pensions were abolished, such pensions at 60 to be granted only to persons not following remunerative employment?

The hon. Member will find figures as to the numbers and cost of Civil Service, Navy, Army and Air Force, police and teachers' pensions in a reply given by my right hon. Friend the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury, to the hon. Member for West Walthamstow (Mr. McEntee) on 8th February, 1932, of which I am sending him a copy. As regards the second half of the question, I am not clear whether the hon. Member has in mind that the rights of existing members of the Crown and other services to pensions at the prescribed ages of retirement or on invalidity, should be limited to the uniform figure of 20s. a week, commencing not earlier than age 60. Nor do I understand whether he proposes that in the case of contributory schemes, e.g., those for local government officials, teachers and police, the contributions already paid should be confiscated. I am afraid that the nature of the proposal is such that I can form no estimate of what its cost would be.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he intends to take in connection with the proposal of the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Joint Committee, with regard to the desirability of permitting the landing and sale by inshore fishermen of plaice over eight inches in length?

I recognise that some inconvenience may be caused temporarily to inshore fishermen in some areas by the operation of the Order limiting the size below which certain classes of fish may not be sold or exposed for sale in this country. I am, however, advised that a lower minimum size than the nine inches prescribed for plaice would be ineffective as a limit for general application, and since I have no power under the Sea Fishing Industry Act to prescribe different minimum sizes in relation to the same description of sea fish, I am unable to accept the committee's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet anything to report with regard to the default of the obligations of the provincial authorities of Brazil; and, if no arrangement has yet been arrived at, will he request the co-operation of the United States Government, with a view to obtaining an agreed settlement between British and United States creditors and the Brazilian Government?

In a report presented to the Provisional President of Brazil on 15th November last, the Brazilian Minister of Finance recommended a scheme for the consolidation of all the foreign debts of the Federal Government, the State Governments, and the Municipalities. In the preparation of this scheme use was made of the result of the investigations which a Brazilian Commission has been making into this question for some time past. No final decision has yet been reached by the Brazilian Government, and I do not consider that at the present moment any useful purpose would be served by approaching the United States Government as proposed.

asked the Attorney-General if he is now in a posi- tion to state whether he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect to any of the proposals of the Hanworth Committee on Legal Reform?

I am not in a position to add anything to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr. Touche) on 29th January last, a copy of which I enclose.