asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that since the application of Entertainments Duty to lower-priced seats at band performances in the City of Glasgow, both the income and the attendance have fallen until now a severe loss takes place, and will he consider abolishing the tax up to the figure of 6d.?

All relevant considerations will be taken into account by my right hon. Friend in framing the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider including in the next issue of the Return of Expenditure on Public Social Services ah annual statement of the expenditure out of loans for capital purposes under the various headings and a statement of the total of such expenditure since the Armistice, either in the form of a prefatory note or as an appendix to the Return?

I will consider before the next issue of the Return whether the information given can be expanded to meet my hon. Friend's wishes, at least as far as relates to current expenditure.

asked the Postmaster-General if his Department has been able to persuade users of electrical equipment and appliances to take suitable steps to prevent unnecessary interference with wireless reception, or whether he contemplates introducing legislation to give effective legal authority to enforce the recommendation of the Post Office engineers dealing with such interference?

In the majority of cases owners of electrical apparatus which causes interference with wireless reception are willing to fit remedial devices when their attention is called to the need for such action. The whole subject is at present under consideration by a committee appointed by the Institution of Electrical Engineers, on which the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Post Office are represented, in addition to the electrical and wireless interests concerned. The question whether there is any need for legislation will be considered when the committee's report is received.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he proposes to reduce telephone rentals in the near future and, if so, to what extent?

As I informed the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) on 27th November last, the question of reducing telephone charges is under constant review; but I am not yet in a position to say when it will be possible to make reductions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any statistics have been published showing the cancer death rate among Jews and Arabs in Palestine?

So far as I can ascertain, no such statistics have been published.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the fact that the Air Ministry is negotiating to take over foreshore rights from the Board of Trade North of Maplethorpe, he will indicate the southern limit and give an assurance that none of the foreshore rights that are the subject of negotiation will be taken over in front of the Maplethorpe town-planning area?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that only a negligible fraction of the foreshore at its northern extremity is likely to be affected by the Air Ministry proposals. The outer boundary of the contemplated range area crosses the high-water line some 200 feet within the northern limit of the town-planning area.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of promotions of "P" class clerks, writing assistants, and shorthand typists to the established clerical classes in each Department of the Civil Service for the years 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932; and the number of promotions of "S" class clerks, writing assistants, and shorthand typists to the established clerical classes in each department of the Civil Service for the year 1933?

As the answer involves a large number of figures in tabular form, the reproduction of which in the OFFICIAL REPORT would involve disproportionate expense, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, communicate them to him in writing.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury for what reason only 75 per cent. of the bonus part of the wages of industrial Civil Servants is taken into account for the purpose of calculating pension?

The full amount of the bonus part of wages is taken into account for the purpose of calculating annual pensions. The limitation referred to is confined to the calculation of the additional allowance, which is a lump sum, and other lump sum awards. Industrial employés are treated in this respect on the same basis as Civil Servants generally. The method of computing bonus for awards of pension, etc., is prescribed by the Treasury Minute of 20th March, 1922, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by how much the value of British exports to the following countries was increased during the periods stated: Finland, for the period 1st December, 1933, to 31st January, 1934, as compared with December, 1932, and January, 1933; Sweden, for the period July, 1933, to January, 1934, as compared with the corresponding period in 1932–33; Norway, for the period July, 1933, to January, 1934, as compared with the corresponding period in 1932–33; Denmark, for the period July, 1933, to January, 1934, as compared with the corresponding period in 1932–33; Germany, for the period May, 1933, to January, 1934, as compared with the corresponding period in 1932–33; the Argentine Republic, for the period November, 1933, to January, 1934, as compared with the corresponding period in 1932–33?

I regret that the precise information desired is not readily available, as the aggregate value of the trade in merchandise with individual countries is normally compiled in respect of calendar years and quarterly periods only. The following statement shows the declared value of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom exported to the specified countries during the

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the imports of manufactured goods, excluding vehicles, increased by approximately 25 per cent. during February, 1934, as compared with February, 1933; and what steps he proposes to take?

I am aware of the figures to which my hon. Friend refers. I cannot, however, accept the implication that the increase to which he draws attention is in general an unfavourable sign. Many of the goods in question undergo further manufacture in this country, and the increases in the imports of such goods which have been recorded in recent months are a gratifying sign of increased trade and industrial activity. It is, of course, open to the interests concerned, if they wish to do so, to apply to the Import Duties Advisory Committee with a view to increased duties upon goods which compete with the products of industry in this country.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the disproportionate amount of costs in county courts in connection with very small debts; and whether the committee

I have no information regarding the matter referred to in the first part of the question. Proceedings in county courts are not within the terms of reference of the committee to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of county councils in Scotland who were operating the Housing (Rural Workers) Act on 1st March, 1934, distinguishing, in each case, between those operating it in whole and those who have revised their schemes since they were first framed, with a view to limiting their financial liabilities?

The following statement contains the information asked for:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount of the rateborne subsidy per house in respect of each scheme for the construction of houses under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act, 1933, with the help of the £3 subsidy and the number of such schemes approved since the commencement of the Act?

The amount of the rate-borne subsidy per house in the 20 schemes so far approved under Section 1 of the Housing (Financial Provision's) (Scotland) Act, 1933, cannot be ascertained until the schemes have been completed and the final all-in costs of the houses determined. None of the schemes has yet been completed. I am, however, sending the right hon. and gallant Gentleman a list showing in the case of each approved scheme the rate-borne subsidy per house estimated as accurately as may be on the available data.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in view of the representations made to him and to his predecessor at different periods by the hon. Member for Brentford and Chiswick, acting on behalf of local authorities concerned, he can now make any statement in regard to the reconstruction of Ealing Road bridge at Brentford?

I am glad to be able to assure my hon. Friend that a grant will be issued for this scheme at an early date.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in order to reduce traffic congestion, he will increase the number of places where traffic, controlled by light signals, may filter to the left when the road is free; and if he will particularly consider fixing filtration arrows to the lights at the point where traffic turns to the left to Albert Gate from Hyde Park towards Knightsbridge and at the top of Sidney Street, Chelsea, to turn left into the Fulham road?

The Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs advised that left-hand filtration should not normally be allowed, because it was dangerous to pedestrians. I share that view. Due regard must be had to the interests of pedestrians in designing any scheme of traffic signalling, and I do not therefore expect to see any substantial increase in the number of installations with green arrows allowing left filtration, but I will have inquiries made as to the two points to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that there are no danger signals at the points where Grove End Road and Lisson Grove are crossed by St. John's Wood Road; and whether he will have signals installed either by lights or by notices sunk into the bed of the road to warn drivers of the proximity of the cross-road?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the junction of St. John's Wood Road, Grove End Road and Grove Road. I understand that no danger signals have yet been provided at this junction, but that the responsible highway authority are taking steps for the installation of traffic control signals.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that at the Fulham Road-Sloane Avenue cross-roads vehicles are frequently held up for a considerable time by the red-light signals although no traffic is in fact crossing; and if he will order a reduction of the length of time that the red light is on in any one direction?

The installation to which my hon. Friend refers controls the signals at the junction of Fulham Road and Sloane Avenue as well as the junction of Fulham Road with Pelham Street with Draycott Avenue, and is of the vehicle-actuated type worked on a three-part cycle. No complaints regarding the working of this installation have reached me so far, but, in view of my hon. Friend's question, I am having the matter inquired into.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement as to the situation on the frontier between Yunnan, in China, and Burma; whether the frontier is still not delimited in that part; and whether he can state the nature of the Burma prospecting expedition which has crossed the British frontier and entered the disputed territory, and whether it is armed?

The greater part of the frontier between Burma and China is laid down by the Anglo-Chinese Convention of 1897, and has been demarcated. On the small section of this frontier which lies to the east of the Wa States, after an unsuccessful attempt at demarcation by a joint boundary commission, a frontier conforming as closely as possible to the line prescribed by the convention was ascertained by the British Commissioner, and this was communicated to the Chinese Government in 1904. The Government of Burma have recently sent a surveying party to investigate certain areas in the Wa States within the British frontier. It is accompanied by an escort of military police for protection against the tribesmen.