asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Mr. R. Bevan Edwards, of Maes Gwyn, Pen-y-Pyllan, Holywell, made a claim for personal allowance in March, 1933; that he produced a document from the railway company and from an authorised agent of the trustees, showing that Income Tax had already been deducted at source; that, despite this considerable delay took place in meeting the claim; and whether he will take steps, to see that similar delay does not recur in future?

Every effort is made to deal quickly with claims to repayment of Income Tax, but my hon. Friend will appreciate that it must sometimes happen that inquiries have to be made or additional information has to be obtained, and in such cases some delay is unavoidable before repayment can be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what were the average ground rents fixed for Crown property in Regent Street during the five years before the War, the years 1919–21, 1922–1927, 1928–1930, and 1930 to the latest available date, respectively?

The average ground rents per square foot for the periods in question in respect of the whole of Regent Street were as follow:

asked the Minister of Agriculture the numbers and particulars of the steers, calves, and other cattle, respectively, recently imported into this country for employment at the intended rodeo contest advertised to be held at the White City; what proportion of them appeared to be wild or semi-wild; and whether he is aware if any difficulty has been experienced in handling them on or since their arrival in this country?

The cargo of cattle recently imported in connection with the proposed rodeo contest consists of 149 steers, comprising 49 yearlings partly Black Polls and partly Herefords, 50 Black Polls, 2½ years old, and 50 Herefords, 2½ years old. None of these animals evinced any sign of wildness while being unloaded from the vessel and while under detention in the landing place under the charge of the Ministry's inspectors, and during the whole of this time were managed and controlled without difficulty. They were licensed out of the landing place on 31st May. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister how many of those appointed to the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire have had their names erased from the register in consequence of having been convicted by the civil power or for some other reason?

There have been 16 such erasures since 1917 when the Order was instituted. This figure covers India, the Dominions and Colonies as well as the United Kingdom. With one exception, an award of the M.B.E. in 1926, all the appointments were made before the introduction of the more severe standards which govern selection at the present day.

asked the Home Secretary if he will report what progress has been made in replacing stools by chairs in the cells of male convict prisons?

Chairs have now been issued for all male convicts in the highest stage. The replacement of stools by chairs in all prisons is being carried out as funds permit.

asked the Home Secretary the number of ex-Borstal inmates at the present time, or at the nearest convenient date, who are serving sentences in prisons, and the number who are in the prisons having had their licences revoked?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 10th May to a similar question by the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Potter). Former inmates of Borstal institutions whose licences are revoked are removed, in the case of males to Wandsworth Borstal Institution, and in the case of females to Aylesbury Borstal Institution. On 29th May there were 81 and nine such cases at these institutions respectively.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that tinned cream, labelled "thick cream" but containing only about 20 per cent. of cream, is being sold in different parts of the country; and whether this practice is approved by his Department?

I am aware that tinned cream containing about 20 per cent. of milk fat is sometimes labelled as thick cream. The question whether this is a false description is one for the consideration of the courts in the event of proceedings being taken under the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act. The matter is not one in which I am empowered to take action.

asked the Minister of Labour how many alien waiters there were in employment and out of work, respectively, in this country at the last available date?

I have no information as to the number of alien waiters in employment or out of work in this country.

asked the Minister of Labour how many permits he has issued during the past 12 months for the immigration of alien waiters; the nationality of such respectively, and what his reasons were for so issuing them; and whether he is satisfied that facilities were provided for an equal number of British waiters to obtain work abroad?

A permit was issued during the year 1933 for the employment of an Italian first head waiter. In addition, 345 permits were issued in respect of foreign student-employés who desired to take up employment as waiters in this country with a view to learning English and increasing their experience. These permits were granted in most cases for a period of 12 months, and the majority were under reciprocal arrangements with foreign countries or on a head for head exchange basis. I have no reason to believe that facilities were not equally available for British student-waiters desiring to go abroad.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many British ships were permitted to proceed to sea during the year 1933 without having a full complement of wireless operators on board or with only incomplete wireless staffs; and what were the circumstanstances in which they were respectively so permitted?

Relaxations from compliance with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Act, 1919, and the appropriate Statutory Rules were granted in 1933 to 30 British ships proceeding to sea from ports in the United Kingdom. In each case the relaxation was in respect of a single voyage only. In 21 of these cases the voyage was undertaken for the purpose of transferring the ship from a laying-up berth to a breaking-up yard; in six cases the voyage was made to enable laid-up ships to be inspected in a neighbouring dry dock; and in three cases the ships were proceeding from their final port of discharge in the United Kingdom to a laying-up berth.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will state, in terms of British currency based on the present rate of exchange, what is the fixed annual rental charge per telephone installation payable in France, Belgium, Germany, Norway and this country, respectively?

The principal fixed annual rental charges per telephone installation in the countries named are shown on the attached statement. The equivalent in British currency has been calculated at the present rate of exchange in each case.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he has considered the resolutions passed by the British Legion, Scotland, on 26th May, with regard to disabled ex-service men and relative matters; and whether he proposes to adopt the suggestions contained therein?

The resolutions referred to only reached me on 30th May in the form of a general circular. They will receive due consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he has received a report in connection with the bomb that was thrown over the walls of the Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow; and who threw the bomb?

I have received a report of the damage caused to military property; and understand that inquiries by the local police are proceeding.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the terms of No. 12 of the King's Regulations, Article 1,417, relative to vaccination, it is the practice to allow persons to enter the Service who are conscientious objectors to vaccination?

No, Sir. All candidates on entry are required to declare their willingness to be vaccinated or revaccinated and inoculated if necessary. Otherwise they are not accepted for entry.