Written Answers
Department Of Scientific And Industrial Research
asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will state for each group of scientific officers' shown in the Estimates of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, as on 1st May, 1934, the total numbers employed; the numbers of those who were receiving basic salaries exceeding £450; and the numbers of those who were receiving and had, for 12 months or upwards, received a basic salary of £450?
The following table gives the information desired :
| — | Number of Scientific Officers, Grade I. | Number receiving more than £450 basic on 1st May, 1934. | Number receiving £450 basic on 1st May, 1934, and for not less than 12 months previously. | |
| National Physical Laboratory | … | 51 | 17 | 5 |
| Building Research Station | … | 10 | — | — |
| Road Research Laboratory | … | — | — | — |
| Chemical Research Laboratory | … | 7 | 2 | — |
| Pood Investigation Stations | … | 7 | — | — |
| Forest Products Research Laboratory | … | 7 | — | — |
| Fuel Research | … | 9 | — | — |
Trade Negotiations
asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of the trade agreements which are now being negotiated with different countries; and whether any specific proposal for such an agreement has been received from the United States?
With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Reading (Dr. Howitt). The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
Burmans (King's Commissions)
asked the Secretary of State for India how many Burmans have been granted King's Commissions since the War; how many are now serving; and whether there are any Burmans or other races indigenous to Burma attending the Indian Sandhurst, Dehra Dun?
Complete information is not available as to the number of Burmans who have been granted King's Commissions. From such information as is available, it appears that six have been granted commissions of whom one is still serving, but this cannot be taken as exhaustive. There appears to be one Burman cadet at the Indian Military Academy.
Dog Licence Duty
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider the desirability of providing, by legislation or otherwise, that a licence to an individual to keep a dog shall expire 12 months from the date of its issue, and not at the end of the year in which it is issued, as at present?
The Dog Licence Duty in England and Wales is not an Imperial, but a local taxation duty. The conditions affecting dog licences are such that I doubt whether my hon. Friend's proposal would be practicable or desirable, but in any case I could not consider the initiation of the legislation which would be necessary to give effect to it unless it were supported by the various local authorities concerned.