asked the Minister of Labour how many aliens are employed by the Enfield Cable Works, Limited, Enfield, Middlesex; and the duration of their licences and in what capacity they are employed?

Permits for the employment of aliens by the Enfield Cable Works, Limited, have been granted at various dates during the past 18 months. The number at present employed is 12, and their cases come under review during the present year. They are technical experts employed in connection with specialised metal processes.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that 23 men from Scotland who, as the result of an arrangement with the Employment Exchange, were engaged at this works, have been dismissed recently, before the introduction of the aliens, because they joined a trade union and because they asked for an increase of pay; and will the hon. Gentleman make some inquiry as to what steps can be taken in the matter?

I do not know whether the whole of the details which the hon. Member has given are in accordance with the information that I have, but I know that there is a dispute, and I understand that the union is endeavouring to get in touch with the firm.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware of the continued practice of a certain London hotel to engage only alien girl artists; and, in view of the large number of equally efficient English girls now seeking engagements, whether he will endeavour to restrict that practice;

(2) how many foreign entertainment artists have been granted permission to enter this country to take up engagements during the past 12 months; whether he is aware of the large number of equally efficient English girls at present seeking engagements; and whether he will consider the granting of permits only in exceptional cases?

The number of foreign artists admitted last year for variety hall and cabaret performances was 1,199. This figure covers all kinds of entertainers, including a very small number of foreign girl dancers. I assume that the particular instance which my hon. Friend has in mind is that of a company of American dancers and entertainers for a cabaret performance. My right hon. Friend was satisfied on the merits of that ease that the issue of permits was justified, but in the event of any further similar applications for cabaret troupes of this kind, each case will have to be considered on its merits.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is more than one case in London in which this practice is being followed? I was not thinking of the particular troupe of American girls to which my hon. Friend has referred, but of another hotel with regard to which I might, perhaps, be permitted to give him information privately. Is he aware that, in the first three months of this year, no fewer than 150 alien turns have been given in this country, which, computing on an ordinary average of four weeks, would represent something like £30,000 paid in salaries to alien artists when we have artists in this country who are quite as capable of doing this work?

That hardly seems to be a matter for a question, but rather for debate. Obviously, my hon. and gallant Friend's supplementary begs the whole question.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that other countries, including America, refuse to admit the same proportion of British artists under any conditions?

I am afraid that that information is not correct.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary bear in mind the fact that there is a great demand for English artists in other countries, and that, if we begin to do this, they may do the same?

That is precisely the consideration which my right hon. Friend had in mind in granting these permits.

Is my hon. Friend aware that, of 503 variety turns in Germany at the present time, only one is British?

May I ask whether there is an exchange of artists—that is to say, whether, when foreign artists come to this country, an exchange is made by arrangement with the Ministry of Labour?

Not in individual cases, but there is a rough balance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department at whose instance he issued and subsequently withdrew instructions for an American student, Frank Meyer, to leave this country in connection with subversive political activities; and if he will consider renewing them?

Mr. Meyer was admitted to this country for the purpose of study and had been given permission to prolong his stay until 31st July, 1934, for the purpose of completing some research work on which he was engaged at the London School of Economics. Subsequently I was informed that his connection with the school had been terminated and an intimation was therefore sent to Mr. Meyer that he must make arrangements to leave the country. This instruction has not been withdrawn, but as I am given to understand that the question of the termination of his work at the School of Economics will be reviewed by the governors of the school in the course of two weeks, I have agreed that Mr. Meyer may remain in this country until the end of the month.

May I bring certain features of this young man's record as an agitator before my right hon. Friend?

May we have an assurance from the right hon. Gentleman that this man is being dealt with under the ordinary regulations, and that there is no individual political significance relating to the action of the Home Office?

It is under the ordinary regulations. Anybody coming from a foreign country for purposes of study has permission to remain so long as he continues that study, but when the period of study finishes he returns to his country of origin.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this gentleman is engaged on research work at the British Museum; and is there any reason why, even if he has ceased his studies at the School of Economics, he should not be allowed to continue his research work in the British Museum?

I am aware of all the circumstances. This case is being dealt with in the normal manner

Is it not the case that every Member of this House is an agitator in some form or another?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons in receipt of benefit from the Unemployment Insurance Fund at the Shepherd's Bush Employment Exchange, and the number in receipt of transitional payments?

At 23rd April, 1934, the numbers of persons on the registers of the Shepherd's Bush Employment Exchange with claims admitted for insurance benefit and transitional payments were 3,736 and 2,437, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any statistics are available showing the average annual amount of employés' contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Fund which can be regarded as untouched profit owing to the inability of the contributors to keep up contributions, either through passing the insurable limit of income or owing to their taking up business on their own account?

I regret that there are no statistics of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will issue regulations that, where a person has been unemployed and is successful in obtaining work but is unable to accept the work owing to the fact that he has not the means to travel, he will make a grant to such individuals?

Facilities are available at Employment Exchanges for advancing the cost of travelling to employment at a distance, on certain conditions and subject to repayment of the whole or proportion of the cost. If these provisions do not meet the necessities of the cases the hon. Member has in mind, I shall be glad to consider them if he will send me particulars.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider the issuing of regulations to ensure where a person has been off work more than two years, due to an injury or an industrial disease such as miners' nystagmus, that when he has been certified fit for light work by a medical referee, under Section 12 of the Workmen's Compensation Act, such person shall have a claim for his standard benefit for 156 days, and shall not be subject to the means test as his Department is now doing?

If I understand the question aright, the point the hon. Member has in mind is already met. The period of two years within which 30 contributions must have been paid in order to satisfy the first statutory condition may be extended to four years in case of sickness. If the hon. Member knows of any case in which this provision appears not to have been observed, I will have inquiries made if he will let me have particulars.

The question refers to persons on compensation for more than two years.

Yes, up to four years.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, arising out of the statement that there is a lack of men qualified to erect Neon electric signs, he has received a communication from the electrical trades union pointing out that a large number of such men are unemployed, and that this type of labour recruited from the training centres has been chosen on account of its cheapness; whether he has made further inquiries into the facts; and whether it is the settled policy to provide cheap labour through the medium of training centres?

Yes, Sir; I am inquiring into the representations made by the union and will communicate with them and the hon. Member in due course. I may say, however, that I should have referred to the manufacture, not the installation of Neon electric signs. With regard to the last part of the question, the purpose of these centres, as explained on many occasions in this House, is to give unemployed young men from the depressed industrial areas a course of training in skilled trades which should enable them, not to compete with fully skilled men, but to earn a wage sufficient to maintain them while they add to their skill and experience, and consequently to their earning power.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary see that when men are taken from training centres, whatever may be their technical skill, they will comply with the rate of wages prevailing in the trade?

In general the answer to that question is in the affirmative.

If we are able to show that trainees are displacing skilled men because they are cheaper, what action is the hon. Member prepared to take?

I should like to see the details of the cases to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Labour what information he has with reference to the establishment both in this country and abroad of a 40-hour week with or without reduction of wages?

I would refer the hon. Member to recent publications of the International Labour Office on this subject.

Will the hon. Gentleman send me a copy?

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the whole of the trade unions connected with the shipbuilding and engineering industry are pressing at the moment for this idea of 40 hours per week without reduction of wages? I would like to ask the representative of the Ministry of Labour what party is opposed to it?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons employed whole-time and part-time on greyhound tracks in Glasgow?

I regret that this information is not available.

In view of the fact that this information will be of some importance when the Betting and Lotteries Bill comes before the House, could my hon. Friend obtain it for me later?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will have a word with me on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, although the Government have introduced a Bill for the clarification of the laws of gaming, many proprietors of amusement arcades and fun fairs in and around the Metropolis are being prosecuted for the use of innocent amusement machines and games which in their operation are in no sense gaming or betting; and will he direct that, until Parliament has decided the position of such machines in the new Bill, those prosecutions are discontinued?

The Bill does not deal with automatic gaming machines or with gaming. I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that it is not the practice to interfere where the machines or games in amusement arcades and fun fairs are used for amusement only, or where the element of betting or gaming is trivial.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the past month there has been a prosecution in Fleet Street, London, where the proprietor of what I call a pin-table used it for the purpose of supplying ordinary cigarettes; and will he consider putting into the Bill some alteration of the Betting Act, 1853, whereby we may be allowed to amuse ourselves without being prosecuted?

asked the Home Secretary if he will inquire how many accidents have been caused through the sides of lorries overlapping the pavements, whereby injury has been done to pedestrians; and what action is taken in these cases to prosecute drivers who are guilty of this offence?

I regret that no statistics are available of the number of injuries to pedestrians attributed to this cause, but the special returns of fatal road accidents during the year 1933 furnished by the chief officers of Police to the Ministry of Transport show that in that year there were four such fatal accidents in Great Britain. Should an accident of the kind referred to occur, I have no doubt that the police would consider the question of instituting proceedings for careless or dangerous driving.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of localities where speed limits are at present in force?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of Transport to my hon. Friend the hon. and gallant Member for Blackpool (Captain Erskine-Bolst) on 14th February last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many of the 206 cases in which persons were convicted for dangerous driving in Scotland last year were their driving licences suspended?

Driving licences were suspended in 51 of the 206 cases in which fines not exceeding 10 guineas, and in 21 of the 38 cases in which fines exceeding 10 guineas, were imposed in respect of convictions in Sheriff Courts and the High Court of Justiciary on charges of contravention of Section 11 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, or on common law charges of dangerous driving. In addition, one licence was suspended in a case where imprisonment was imposed without the option of a fine.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the intention of the London County Council to reduce the percentage of the profits from Sunday cinema entertainments that shall be applied to charitable objects; and whether he will consider the amendment of the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, to provide for a fixed proportion of such profits being applied to charitable objects in future?

I have ascertained that no such proposal is before the London County Council or in their contemplation. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that at the Mansion House Justice Room, on 25th April, over 100 persons were summoned by post and only two appeared; and whether he will take steps to amend the Service of Process (Justices) Act, 1932, to avoid further expense being entailed in future cases?

I have made inquiry, and am informed that 62 Income Tax summonses for the day in question were served by post. Of the defendants so summoned, only 13 failed to appear or to communicate with the Court, and eight of these paid the collector before the hearing. Service by post failed, therefore, in only five cases. I understand that at this Court service of summonses by post has been a definite success, and I see no need for amending legislation.

asked the Home Secretary the number of courts of summary jurisdiction in the Metropolitan area which have used or attempted to use the method of service of summonses by post permitted by the Service of Process (Justices) Act, 1932; and in how many cases have such attempts to serve summonses proved unsuccessful?

I understand that this method has been experimentally tried at four of the Metropolitan police courts. The experiment has proved very successful in certain classes of cases, and is accordingly to be extended to other Metropolitan courts in the near future. Statistics are not available.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to a Communist organisation entitled the League Against Imperialism; whether he is aware that, having been expelled from Germany on account of subversive activities, the headquarters of the league are now established in London; and whether he is satisfied that its present activities are within the law?

The answer to the first two parts of this question is in the affirmative. In reply to the last part, the activities of this reorganisation are kept under observation, but, so far as I am aware, there is no evidence that the League since its removal to this country in November, 1933, has committed any breach of our law which could be made the subject of a criminal prosecution.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the secretary of this organisation has been decorated by His Majesty; and would he recommend that that decoration should be withdrawn?

In view of the Imperial policy of the Government, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that no Members of the Government belong to this organisation?

Will the right hon. Gentleman reply to the question of the hon. Member for Edmonton (Mr. Rutherford), and state the view of His Majesty's Government on such a question?

The right hon. Gentleman showed no inclination to reply.

May I ask if it is in order to bring the name of His Majesty into a question of this kind? Is it not outside the Rules of the House?

The right hon. Gentleman, in his reply, said that he had this organisation under review. I would like to know the reason why he has this organisation under review?

Undoubtedly, it is my duty, and particularly the duty of those who work with me, to keep organisations of this kind under review.

I should like to know if the Secretary of State can give the House any information that he has been able to glean anything of a detrimental character to this country as a result of his investigation into this organisation?

That has all been replied to in the answer given.

The right hon. Gentleman's reply has been anything but clear. May I ask him precisely what he means by keeping a special eye on this kind of organisation? Why does he make distinctions and what are the distinctions that he makes between this and other voluntary political organisations?

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the Junior Imperial League?

This organisation has a definite Communist connection. It has come to this country, and I have, as is my duty, to keep my eye on such organisations. I have told the House that my observations have not led to my finding anything irregular, and therefore there is no complaint on the part of anyone.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will inquire into the methods adopted by bogus auctioneers who victimise the public, with a view to seeing whether the provisions of the law as it exists at present are sufficient to protect buyers against trading of this type?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Chatham (Sir P. Goff) on 12th December last.

If the right hon. Gentleman can find time to provide facilities for members of the force detecting irregularities with regard to the speed limit, could he not find time to go into these bogus auction sales and discover persons who are employed to buy things which they return after the auction?

If the hon. Member reads the answer given on the previous occasion, he will see that the matter is fully covered.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce a Bill to regularise the extension of licensing hours at seaside resorts during the summer months, especially in view of the importance of this step to the well-being of such resorts?

I am not in a position at present to make any statement, but this question is receiving the close consideration of the Government, and there will be no avoidable delay in reaching a decision.

Was not the candidate at Hammersmith the great hero of extending the hours of drink and did he not get his answer?

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that if we have arbitrarily lengthened the day in respect of the hours that the sun remains above the horizon in the evening, it is only reasonable that we should have the means of altering our habits in the matter of the consumption of drink or in other respects?

asked the Home Secretary how many officers have been passed over for promotion to the rank of principal officer at Holloway Prison during the last year to the nearest convenient date?

During the year ended 30th April last the number was seven, of whom five are at Holloway and two elsewhere.

asked the Home Secretary how many appointments to matronship have been made from candidates outside the prison service during the last two years to the nearest convenient date; the number of applicants for each of the posts from established female officers; and if in future appointments he will take into consideration the experience gained by years of contact with all classes of female prisoners on the part of existing female officers?

During the two years ended 30th April 10 appointments were made to the post of matron in male Borstal institutions, seven of them being filled by persons from outside the prison service and three by prison officers. In the course of making selections for these appointments, 13 applicants from among prison officers were considered. The qualifications and experience of such officers are always taken into account, but service in a women's prison is not necessarily a qualification for the very different work of matron in a Borstal institution for boys and young men.

asked the Home Secretary the percentage number of Borstal inmates who have passed through the Borstal institutions during the past five years, to the nearest convenient date, and who are reported upon as having been reformed; whether the figure representing the number of ex-Borstal inmates reformed includes any beyond the period of two years from the date of discharge from the Borstal institution; and the approximate number of ex-Borstal inmates undergoing sentences in ordinary prisons to-day or to the nearest convenient date?

During the five years ended 31st December last, 3,407 lads were discharged on licence from Borstal institutions. It has not been possible since I received notice of this question to check their subsequent records in detail, but approximately 60 per cent. of those discharged have not been re-convicted; though many have been at liberty for more than two years. On 1st February, 1934, the number of ex-Borstal inmates undergoing sentences of imprisonment on re-conviction was 614, but no inference as to the success or otherwise of Borstal training can be drawn from this figure. Nearly 11,600 young men have been licensed from Borstal institutions since the system was brought into operation.

Is the system of education more efficient than that in most schools for fitting the boys for after life?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he will consider the advisability of assisting distressed areas like Glamorgan by increasing the grant for the conveyance of children to school up to 50 per cent.?

Provision is already made in the Elementary Education Grant Regulations for the payment of additional grant to necessitous areas. The Glamorgan local education authority received in 1932–33 more than £47,000 in respect of this extra grant, and the total grants paid to them amounted to more than 57 per cent. of their expenditure on elementary education. My Noble Friend is not in a position to consider any proposal for the alteration of the existing grant formula which would involve an increased charge on the Exchequer.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if the cut in teachers' salaries imposed under the Economy Act, 1931, will affect their rate of pension upon retirement within the next few years?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education to what extent teachers who reach the retiring age during the operation of the emergency salary reductions imposed in 1931 will be prejudiced in regard to their pension rights?

Generally speaking, pensions of teachers are calculated on the average salary received during the last five years of service, and reductions of salary during that period will, therefore, affect the amount of pension payable according to the extent to which the reduction in salary falls within those years.

In view of the fact that these cuts were not made by arrangement with the Burnham Committee, will the right hon. Gentleman give special consideration to this point so as not to penalise the teachers who retire during the next few years?

Will not the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to reconsider the matter so that these people shall not be permanently prejudiced?

In view of the fact that the cuts in salary are admittedly temporary, is it fair to make the cut in pension permanent for those who have retired recently? Would it not be better to exempt the pension?

There is no question of their being penalised, because the Act in question never guaranteed any particular pension to any particular grade of teacher. As regards the position of the teachers generally, though there may be cases of individual hardship, it should be borne in mind that a teacher retiring this year after 40 years' service has contributed only for 12 years to the pension and the State has made the remaining 28 contributions. In fact, the Emmott Committee estimated that the value of the State contribution to the teaching profession as a whole is the equivalent of a free gift of an annuity of £4,500,000 spread over 40 years.

Is it not the case that the pensions of the police were not allowed to be affected by the temporary cuts? Ought that not to be the rule in this case?

The position of the police is somewhat different. They are pensioned on their salary for the last year of their service only.

Is it not the case that the teachers got their pay raised in 1919?

asked the Minister of Health if he possesses any statistics showing the number of tenant-owners of houses in slum-clearance areas who have been deprived both of their home and their living without compensation; and whether he can take steps to ensure sympathetic treatment of these cases?

No, Sir. The question for consideration in assessing compens- ation is the condition of the house, so that no distinction can be drawn between tenant owners and other owners of houses in slum-clearance areas. Local authorities have, however, power under Section 41 of the Housing Act, 1930, to pay allowances towards expenses of removal or loss resulting from disturbance of trade or business, and I have already brought this Section to their express notice.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any examples of the amount of compensation which has been paid by local authorities, and is it not so low as to impose a hardship?

Of course I can give the hon. Member examples if he will give me an opportunity.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that some authorities are administering the Act much more harshly than others, including Sheffield, and in such a way that very great hardships are being caused not only to small owners but to shop-keepers, who are being compelled to close their business without reasonable compensation or an opportunity of obtaining other business premises? Does he not think it necessary and wise to give local authorities more definite guidance and make it quite clear that the Government would deprecate any action that did not carry out the spirit of the Act?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the case of notices issued in connection with the demolition of slum-clearance property, the statutory notices to owners, lessees, and others that their property is condemned are sent by registered post; and, if not, what guarantee have the authorities applying for the slum-clearance order that the property owners interested have been properly notified in ample time?

Yes, Sir. Notices sent by post are required by the Act to be sent by registered post.

Has it not yet dawned upon the Minister that in all these attempts to re-house the people of this country, this Government has made a gigantic failure?

Will Mr. Speaker remind the hon. Member of the efforts of the last Government?

This is the great Government, the one with the great majority.

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 170,000 houses which were built last year by private enterprise have been laid out in accordance with approved town-planning arrangements; and how many have been built in what amounts to ribbon development?

The returns made to me do not enable me to distinguish between houses which have and those which have not been laid out under the conditions referred to.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider asking for returns in such a form as it will be possible to state whether the houses are for sale or to let, and at what rents, in view of the importance of discovering whether private enterprise is meeting the need for the supply of cheaper houses?

I must point out that this question has nothing whatever to do with houses to let or for sale, but relates to houses erected under town planning arrangements.

Is it not possible to get accurate information on this point so as to prevent ribbon development extending as it is at this time?

I am entirely in sympathy with the spirit of my hon. Friend's question. I do not think statistical information of this sort is obtainable, but if my hon. Friend will afford me an opportunity, I will give him such information as I possess.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the Town and Country Planning Act is effective?

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 170,000 houses which have been built by private enterprise last year are for rent and how many for sale; and how many of these are capable of being rented at an all-in rent, including rates, of 10s. or less per week, as essential for the use of the lowest-paid workers?

Assuming the proportions shown in the returns for the second six months of the year to hold good, about 40,000 of the 208,000 houses erected by private enterprise without State assistance in the year ended 31st March, 1934, were occupied by persons other than their owners, and about 77,000 were of a reateable value not exceeding £13 (£20 in Greater London).

asked the Minister of Health the estimated number of working-class houses required to be built as on 1st January, 1933, or other convenient date; and the number so far built and proposed to be built?

As I stated in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, South (Mr. Stourton) on 22nd February last, it is not possible, owing to uncertainties in the basis of an estimate in such matters of standards of accommodation, number of effective families and possible limits of area of residence, to arrive at a trustworthy arithmetical estimate such as the hon. Member desires. With regard to the second part of his question, I would refer him to the answer given on Tuesday last to the hon. Member for South-West St. Pancras (Mr. Mitcheson) in which the most recent figures of housing progress were given.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the serious slum conditions and the high rentals charged for accommodation in overcrowded working-class properties in the village of Cobham, Surrey, and to the report of the medical officer of health thereon; and if he will institute a public inquiry into the matter?

I have received correspondence in relation to this matter, though I am not aware of any report of a medical officer of health in relation to it. I am at present in communication with the urban district council.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he is satisfied that the steps taken to deal with infant mortality in Kensington are adequate;

(2) what steps are being taken by the Kensington Borough Council to reduce the infant death-rate in North Kensington?

I am informed that the subject of infant mortality in Kensington has at all times received careful attention and study by the borough council, and has recently been the subject of a special investigation by them. The council have provided a comprehensive maternity and child welfare service, which has recently been augmented by the appointment of a special whole-time medical officer, and my information is that the service is constantly under review by the borough council. I am satisfied with the nature of these measures.

Does not the Minister consider that the mortality rate in Kensington of 120 per 1,000 is a disgrace and a scandal to the biggest borough in London?

The hon. Member cannot make use of such expressions in a supplementary question.

Does not the Minister realise that the abnormal death-rate in Kensington of 120 per 1,000 is largely due to the overcrowding slum conditions in Kensington, and does he think that the Kensington Borough Council have done their duty in this respect? If he does, nobody else does.

As regards the last part of the supplementary question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have given. As regards the remainder of the question, while not accepting the implications of his question regarding this particular borough, undoubtedly the effects of slum conditions upon infant mortality are direct.

Does the Minister realise that 55 per cent. of the total deaths in North Kensington were babies of the unemployed?

asked the Minister of Health if he has any statistics showing the number of domestic servants who do actually make use of the services of panel doctors in any given year; and, if so, what is the percentage of those insured servants who do so?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases in which old age pensions have been refused to applicants with 10 or more years' contributions on the grounds that a break has occurred during the period of insurance?

I regret that I am not in possession of any statistics on the point raised in the question. I would point out that 10 years have not yet elapsed since pensions contributions first began to be payable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total sum paid in interest and sinking fund on the National Debt since 1918?

The hon. Member will find particulars of interest and sinking fund payments in each of the years up to 31st March, 1933, in the National Debt Return (Command Paper 4415 of 1933). For the year ended 31st March, 1934, the amount paid in interest and new sinking fund was £224,000,000 and the surplus revenue devoted to debt redemption was £31,148,000.

In order that the hon. Member may draw no false deductions from the figures, will my right hon. Friend send him the other figures which show that the debt services have been provided by those who paid Income Tax, Surtax and Death Duties?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total War Debt in 1919 and in 1934?

I would refer the hon. Member to the particulars of the National Debt since 1914 given in the National Debt Return (Command Paper 4415 of 1933). The approximate figures for 31st March, 1934, are given in the Financial Statement (House of Commons Paper 67 of 1934). I would, however, remind him that a comparison of nominal totals of the deadweight debt is misleading for several reasons, of which the principal are as follow. First, during the War a large portion of the debt shown at par was redeemable at a premium. Secondly, the series of Conversion and replacement operations carried out between 1919 and April, 1934, has involved increases in the nominal amount of the debt, although large savings of annual interest have been effected thereby. Thirdly, the nominal debt at 31st March, 1934, includes £350,000,000 borrowed for issue to the Exchange Equalisation Account, and covered by assets. The figures for War Debt cannot be isolated.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury as regards the amount represented by the restoration of half the cuts in remuneration, the average sum received by each of the civil servants benefiting and the average sum received by each of the teachers similarly benefiting?

Precise figures are not available but the average benefit in the case of teachers may be estimated at about the rate of £13 a year and in the case of civil servants at about £3 a year. I should explain that these figures are obtained by dividing the estimated cost of half-restoration of the emergency cut in the Autumn, 1931, by the number of persons concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of Income Tax for the year 1933–34 payable by civil servants by deduction from their official pay, under Rule 11 of the rules applicable to Schedule E; and whether the whole of such Income Tax had been deducted from official pay by 31st March, 1934, and included in the total revenue for 1933–34 referred to in his Budget statement?

The Exchequer Receipt in the year to 31st March last from Income Tax Schedule E due on the emoluments of civil servants amounted to about £4,100,000. I cannot give the amount of tax charged for the year, but it may be assumed to be roughly the same as the amount received by the Exchequer.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask him whether the whole of this amount is taken into account for the year which is closed, having regard to the fact that the tax is payable in advance under the rule?

The hon. Member may have that assurance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the public gambling in rubber shares and in rubber on the English stock exchanges and commodity markets; and will he, so as to encourage genuine business and in order to prevent a repetition of the disasters which resulted from similar gambling in rubber shares and rubber in 1925, seek legislative power to provide that transactions of the kind mentioned above shall only be for cash with order?

A rise in the price of the commodity and, therefore, in the shares of producing companies following the announcement of the recent scheme was not unnatural. I see no reason for the Government to seek power to intervene in the manner suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on what date His Majesty's Government were notified that Greece would default on the Guaranteed Greek Loan of 1898; and what steps have been taken by His Majesty's Government to obtain repayment of moneys paid under the British Government guarantee?

His Majesty's Government were informed in the latter part of March, 1932, that the Greek Government regarded it as impossible for them to continue the full transfers of the service of their foreign loans, including the Guaranteed Loan of 1898. As from 1st April, 1932, the full service of the loan has been paid by the British and French Governments in accordance with their guarantee, each Government bearing half the cost. Under an agreement reached with the bondholders, the Greek Govern- ment paid and transferred 30 per cent. of the interest on other loans during the year 1932–33, and has repaid to the British and French Governments a corresponding proportion of the service of the Guaranteed Loan for that year, the amount received by His Majesty's Government being £21,992 5s. 4d. The conclusion of a similar arrangement in regard to the years 1933–34 and 1934–35 is at present under discussion with the Greek Government.

May I ask my hon. Friend whether the Russian Government were not also a party to this guarantee, and whether any arrangement has been made with them?

I must have notice of any matter arising out of the answer.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that any industrial assurance company or society can refuse consent to the jurisdiction of the commissioner on a matter in dispute with regard to a policy of industrial assurance, and that in that case the insurers who cannot afford to take the matter to court are unable to obtain redress; and whether he proposes to amend the law so as to give protection in these cases?

Consent to the jurisdiction of the Commissioner is not required unless the amount in dispute exceeds £50 or the legality of the policy is questioned or fraud or misrepresentation is alleged. The Departmental Committee on Industrial Assurance recommended that these limitations should be removed and that recommendation will be taken into account in considering the Committee's report.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the apprehension excited in the agricultural community of this country by the proposed treaties with Holland and other countries, he will arrange for a statement of the Government's policy as to which of the articles of agricultural and horticultural produce it is proposed to make ourselves self-supporting and which to import in part from the Dominions and foreign countries?

My hon. and gallant Friend will, I am sure, appreciate that it would not be practicable within the limits of question and answer to deal with the wide issues raised in the latter part of his question, but he can rest assured that in the commercial negotiations to which he refers a continuation of the general development of home agriculture which the Government has already done much to encourage will not be jeopardised.

May I ask the Prime Minister to bear in mind that a great deal of necessary increase in production is being held up on account of a want of knowledge of what the Government's policy is, and that if the Government will make a statement a great many people can be settled on the land?

With the first part of the Supplementary Question I profoundly disagree. As regards the second part the Government have these matters constantly in mind.

May I ask if it is the purpose of the Government to make this country self-supporting in agricultural products?

I have covered that in my answer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if the scheme for the voluntary restriction of the imports of condensed milk, milk powder, and cream announced by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade has now been accepted by the foreign governments concerned; and whether the acceptance has been without any qualification?

The proposals referred to for the regulation of imports of processed milks have been accepted by three of the seven foreign Governments concerned. In two cases acceptance is qualified by reservations of a minor character.

Is the Government of the Netherlands one of them?

No. The Governments that have accepted are Belgium, Switzerland and Germany.

What hope is there of the Netherlands accepting, seeing that nearly all this skimmed milk comes from that country?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the percentage by which the personnel of the Customs Department in Northern Ireland has been increased in order to cope with the smuggling of livestock from the Irish Free State?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave on 8th May to the questions on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox).

Can the right hon. Gentleman give some information that will reassure the House that the steps taken by the Customs to prevent this smuggling are really effective?

It may have escaped the hon. Member's notice that there are Clauses in the Finance Bill which will considerably strengthen the hands of His Majesty's Government.

to ask the President of the Board of Trade, having regard to the failure of the negotiations with the Japanese Government, what action he intends to take to deal with the growing menace of Japanese competition in the textile trades?

Owing to the statement made by the President of the Board of Trade in the House on Monday last, I beg leave to withdraw this question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage increase in the volume of the exports of British manufactures in the first three months of the present year, compared with the last corresponding period prior to the passage of the Import Duties Act, that is to say, the first quarter of 1931; and what change took place between the first quarter of 1929 and the first quarter of 1931?

Eliminating the effect of price changes, it is estimated that the volume of domestic exports of articles classified as wholly or mainly manufactured was 8 per cent. greater in the first quarter of 1934 than in the corresponding quarter of 1931, in which period the volume was 39 per cent. below that in the first quarter of 1929.

Are we to understand that the decrease in exports, to which Free Traders are always referring, nearly all happened before we introduced tariffs?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give information as to the quantity and value of apparel, other than boots and shoes, imported from Poland into the United Kingdom during the first quarter of 1934?

During the three months ended 31st March, 1934, the total declared value of apparel, other than boots and shoes, imported into this country and consigned from Poland (including Dantzig) was £40,982. I am sending my hon. Friend a statement showing detailed particulars of the quantity and value of these imports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he has sought and/or received from the Danish authorities any explanation of the sale in this country of Danish produce at prices below those charged in Denmark; and what steps are being taken to safeguard the interests of British and British Empire producers;

(2) if the attention of the Government of the Netherlands has been called to the effect of the sale in Great Britain of Dutch produce at prices which are in some cases less than half those charged in Holland itself; and what action the British Government are taking to safeguard British and British Empire interests?

I do not know to what products my hon. Friend refers, except butter. That question, which he has already raised with me in correspondence, is being examined, and I hope to write to him in a day or two.

Cannot the answer also cover the question of Holland, with whom we are having negotiations at the present time?

Certainly. The answer will cover Holland, but I do not know of any commodities other than butter. My answer will deal with butter coming from Denmark and Holland.

Will the hon. Member answer the last part of the question, and say what steps the Government have taken to safeguard the interests of British producers?

That is not a matter one can deal with by question and answer, but I think my hon. Friend will find my answer quite satisfactory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the quantity of manufactured goods imported and retained in this country during the first three months of this present year were approximately 20 per cent. higher than the quantity which was imported and retained in the year 1933; and what further measures the Government contemplate for the purpose of diminishing the competition of foreign manufactured goods in the home market?

I am aware of the increase to which my hon. Friend refers. I would, however, point out that imports in Class III consist largely of materials on which further manufacturing processes are carried out in this country. For instance, over one-quarter of the whole increase for the three months in question was in non-ferrous metals, including such items as copper, zinc, lead and tin. For the rest, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 8th May to the hon. Member for Ealing (Sir F. Sanderson).

Notwithstanding the exceptions quoted by my hon. Friend, does not the fact stated in my question reveal a serious state of affairs in regard to our import trade?

On the contrary, so far from revealing any unsatisfactory state of affairs, it reveals a healthy increase and revival in trade. There is no one-way traffic in trade. We have rising exports and failing unemployment figures. In order to have an increase in total trade we must expect an increase of imports as well as an increase of exports.

rose—

It is impossible to have a debate on this matter at Question Time.

I do not want to debate. I want to put a question.

The debate had already begun before the hon. Member rose.

I do not want to debate. I have a very important question to put.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the desirability of setting up an inquiry into the adequacy of the provisions of the Import Duties Act to counteract spasmodic or prolonged dumping of goods into Great Britain; and, if so, with what result?

I have no reason to think that the existing machinery is not adequate to give all necessary protection to the home market, and I can assure my hon. Friend that the question receives constant attention.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can make any statement with regard to the progress of the Levant Fair at Tel Aviv, Palestine, which opened on 26th April; and whether he has any information with regard to the orders for British goods obtained there?

According to the preliminary reports which have reached the Department of Overseas Trade, the British Pavilion is attracting a great deal of notice, and the prospects of satisfactory business are consequently encouraging. It is understood that the attendance on the opening days exceeded anticipation.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the scale upon which leading European Powers are arranging participation at the International Universal Exhibition to be held at Brussels next year, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to participate in this commercial event?

Yes, Sir. Having regard to the importance of this exhibition, both from a commercial and political standpoint, His Majesty's Government have decided to participate. The Belgian Government are being informed of this decision, and that it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to erect an official pavilion.

Can the hon. and gallant Member say what efforts are being made to interest industrialists in this country in the exhibition, the number of countries that will participate, and when the exhibition is likely to be held?

We are getting into touch with the Federation of British Industries, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and other industrial bodies, for the purpose of interesting industrialists in the exhibition. As to the second part of the supplementary question, 18 countries are participating, including France, Germany and Italy, and the exhibition will be held next, year.

Can the hon. and gallant Member say which member of the Government will be in charge of the pavilion at the exhibition?

asked the Attorney-General whether he will suggest to the Director of Public Prosecutions that, where it is considered desirable for the purpose of saving expense with regard to formal proof that preliminary inquiries with the object of obtaining admissions of responsibility for alleged commission of acts should be made, such inquiries should be made in writing and not verbally by police officers?

The advisability of the course outlined must depend on the circumstances of each individual case, but I will consider adopting the suggestion of my hon. Friend where it is practicable.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will have reduced the rental charge to the lessee of the franchise for chairs in Hyde Park, and other Royal parks, to the pre war figure so as to enable the charge for chairs to be reduced from 2d. to the pre war charge of 1d., as on ordinary days many elderly and infirm people desire to rest for a few minutes and find the post war tariff burdensome; or, alternatively, will he increase the number of the free seats, which are now overcrowded?

The question of the charge for chairs owned and provided by a contractor has been under consideration from time to time since the War, but, neither in the Royal parks nor in those places controlled by local authorities in London, has it been found possible, for financial reasons, to make a reduction in the charge. Additional free seats have been, and are being, provided as funds are available.

Will the right hon. Gentleman go to Hyde Park? He will see that the chairs are practically never occupied. Does he not see that it would be a commercial gain to reduce the charge?

asked the Postmaster-General if he can give an estimate of the cost of restoration of the shilling telegram on Sunday; and whether he is aware that the Sunday telegram now involves an extra payment of threepence when sent over the telephone in addition to the extra sixpence at present charged?

The estimated cost of restoration of the shilling telegram on Sunday is approximately £5,000 a year. The telephone fee is one penny if the telegram is dictated over a subscriber's rented line, or twopence if it is dictated over a public call office circuit.

Is the hon. Member aware that, in spite of the extra charge for telegrams on Sunday, these telegrams can only be sent between the hours of 9 and 11 in the morning, and that there is no guarantee that a telegram sent off by 9.30 on Sunday morning will reach its destination before the Monday?

The question of the abolition of the surcharge on Sunday telegrams and other points connected with it are under consideration at the present time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the Air Ministry will consider sending a detachment of the Royal Air Force to Canada in order to participate in the centenary celebrations to be held at Toronto in July?

I am glad to state that in response to an invitation from His Majesty's Government in Canada, my Noble Friend has been able to arrange that a flight of four "Fury" aircraft will take part in the celebrations.

I am sure that the decision will arouse the utmost enthusiasm in Canada. Will the Under-Secretary also consider a visit to Melbourne?