asked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that provisional lists have been prepared by bridge authorities showing more than 2,000 bridges on Class I and Class II roads where notices may be placed prohibiting the use of the bridge when Section 30 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act is brought into operation, he will state how many priority lists showing the order of recommending the reconstruction or strengthening of these bridges he has received as a result of the county conferences now being held on the subject, and how many bridges are included in those lists; and whether he is satisfied with the progress which is being made by the bridge authorities in calculating the weight which may be allowed with safety on the bridges where they propose to place these notices?

The number of bridges on Class I and Class II roads in the lists to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is 1,180. The remainder are on unclassified roads. Nineteen priority lists have been received as a result of the county conferences so far held. These priority lists cover 169 bridges. As regards the second part of the question, I have no reason to think that any unnecessary delay is taking place in calculating the weight which individual bridges will bear.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has noticed that most of the mud splashed on to motor cars comes from the preceding car and that at any distance up to 30 yards the following car receives spume or mud on its windscreen from the rear wheels of the car it is following; and will he cause observation and experiments to be made with a view to encouraging or legislating that the rear wing of cars should reach to within eight inches of the road instead of approximately 18 as at present, and thus effect a much better visibility for drivers?

I am bringing the point raised by my hon. Friend to the notice of manufacturers of motor vehicles. Until I have their observations, I cannot well consider the question of more stringent regulations with regard to mudguards.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that an order has recently been made authorising the construction by the London Passenger Transport Board of a subway for foot passengers under Cock-fosters Road, Enfield, and that it is proposed that the use of the subway shall be limited to the passengers on the board's railway and omnibuses; and if he will give an assurance that, in the interests of public safety on the highway, the subway will be made available for general pedestrian traffic?

The board are under no statutory obligation to allow the subway, which they propose to construct, to be used by general pedestrian traffic. I will, however, bring my hon. Friend's suggestion to their notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of revenue collected or due to the Treasury to date from the tax of 1d. per gallon on heavy oil, which was imposed by the Finance Act of last year?

The amount of revenue collected or due to the Treasury from 25th April, 1933, to 31st January, 1934, from the duty on heavy hydrocarbon oils was approximately £2,282,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the net gain to the Exchequer for the current financial year arising from the conversion of the 5 per cent. War Loan?

The direct gain to the Exchequer this year resulting from the War Loan Conversion operation is nearly £32,000,000 gross, or, if account is taken of the loss of Income Tax and Surtax, it may be about £24,500,000 net.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much alcohol was added to wines in bond during each of the last three years; how much duty was paid in respect of it during each year; and how much duty would have been paid if it had borne the same rate of duty as alcohol in whisky?

With regard to the first part of the question, the quantities of spirits used in fortifying wines in bond during the three calendar years 1931, 1932 and 1933 were respectively 63,610 proof gallons, 67,440 proof gallons and 81,411 proof gallons. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, I regret that the information is not available, as wine fortified in bond is delivered partly for home consumption and partly for export. In the latter case, no duty is, of course, payable, but the official statistics in regard to such wine do not disclose for which purpose it is eventually delivered.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give, to the latest convenient date, the revenue collected in the current financial year under the Import Duties Act, 1932?

The approximate amount of revenue collected under the Import Duties Act, 1932, from 1st April, 1933, to 31st January, 1934, was £19,320,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the United Kingdom purchased from Chile during 1933 goods to the value of £3,758,656, whereas Chile purchased from the United Kingdom goods to the value of £731,390, he will say why arrangements have not yet been made so that the exporters of British goods may be paid for what they have sent to Chile, including the liquidation of frozen debts for goods already delivered?

Discussions with the Chilean Government on exchange questions are now proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the tin production of French Indo-China rose from 584 tons in 1929 to 1,302 tons in 1933, that the quotas of the countries in the international control agreement are based upon the actual production of 1929, that the quotas are at present 40 per cent., and that at this rate the French Indo-China quota for the current year would be 234 tons, he will state what, under the agreement of October, 1933, between the French Government and the International Tin Committee, the minimum production of French Indo-China will be for the years 1934, 1935 and 1936; and whether he will press for an early increase of the quotas in the interests of the Malayan and Nigerian producers?

It is assumed that information is desired as to the maximum (not minimum) production of French Indo-China. The minimum production clearly cannot be estimated. The maximum production for the years 1934, 1935 and 1936 has been fixed at 1,700, 2,500 and 3,000 long tons of metal respectively. The question whether the statistical position justified an early increase in the quotas allotted to the Malay States, Nigeria, Bolivia and the Netherlands East Indies is primarily a matter for the International Tin Committee, and will, I understand, be discussed at the meeting of that committee on 5th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total quantity of coal-tar oil produced in this country in the years 1932 and 1933, giving the amount refined by the producers and the amount sold to oil companies in crude form?

The estimated quantities of oil produced from coal during the years 1932 and 1933 were given in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon (Mr. Martin) on 21st February, to which I would refer the hon. Member. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the large number of British subjects who, through recent economic difficulties, have been repatriated to this country owing to the loss of their employment; and whether he will consider issuing local overseas announcements in favour of the re-engagement as soon as possible of such men who desire reemployment?

It is not quite clear whether the question refers to officials in the service of Colonial Governments or to persons in private employment. So far as the latter are concerned, the engagement of staff rests with the private employer, and I do not think that any purpose would be served by such announcements as my hon. Friend suggests. As regards ex-officials of Colonial Governments, I can assure my hon. Friend that it is the practice to offer appointments in the Colonial Service to retrenched officers whenever circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that on the claim for unemployment benefit made by Mr. W. G. Redman, of 27, Westwood Lane, Welling, the court of referees have given two contradictory decisions; and if he will see that this man's appeal is re-opened for a fresh decision?

The court of referees found that Mr. Redman had left his employment without just cause, and did not grant leave to appeal to the Umpire. Owing to a clerical error, however, Mr. Redman was informed that such leave had been given. In the circumstances, the insurance officer has decided to appeal on Mr. Redman's behalf.