asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now make any statement regarding the researches recently made into the problem of bracken?

The committee which has been set up to investigate and report on this subject is at present carrying out tests with different types of machines designed to eradicate bracken. A demonstration test was carried out last week with cutting machines and a spraying machine. A further test by spraying from the air will take place very shortly. When the tests are completed and the effects can be fully judged, the committee will report their conclusions on the subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office (1) whether authority was given to the chief officer commanding, Scottish Command, to use military stationery in connection with the recent Scottish military pageant.; and, if not, whether he will take steps to prevent the misuse of such stationery in future;(2) whether the accounts of the recent Scottish military pageant have yet been audited; whether they were audited by a non-military auditor and, if so, by whom; and whether he will arrange for their publication in full:(3) what were the total income and total expenditure of the recent Scottish military pageant; what proportion did the expenses bear to the income; and what evidence will be given that the available income will be well administered and distributed?

The stationery used for all correspondence relating to the pageant which emanated from the Scottish command headquarters or the pageant office was purchased from the funds of the pageant. The accounts have not yet been closed. Arrangements have already been made for them to be audited by a civilian firm of accountants. In addition, the Army auditor examines the accounts to ensure that the pageant funds pay for any public stores consumed or damaged. I understand that, subject to audit, the income was £4,754 and the expenditure £2,275; the proportion of expenses to income being approximately 48 per cent. The object of the pageant was to create a trust for the welfare of troops in Scotland. Trustees have been appointed to administer the fund, and the United Services trustee is custodian trustee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of brewers, for sale or private, in England and Scotland paying licence duty during the year ended 31st March, 1934; and the amount of duty paid in each country?

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the amount of Legacy Duty which has been paid in respect of charitable bequests and devises during each of the past five years;(2) whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation in the near future reducing the rate of Legacy Duty payable on charitable bequests?

The receipts of Legacy Duty on charitable bequests are not accounted for separately from other receipts of the duty at the same rate, but it is estimated that the annual receipt is about £750,000. I would remind my hon. Friend that the question of altering the rate of duty on charitable bequests has been debated on more than one occasion in Finance Bill Debates, and I am afraid I can hold out no hope of adopting his suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of registered clubs in England and Scotland, respectively, paying Club Duty during the year ended 31st March, 1934; and the amount of Club Duty paid in the respective countries?

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can now give any indication if it is intended to introduce legislation arising out of the report of the Committee on Industrial Assurance; and whether such legislation will be introduced during the current Session?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 19th July to a question by the hon. Member for Walsall (Mr. Leckie).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the importation of blank cinematograph film increased from 15,625,588 linear feet in the first six months of 1932 to 27,064,984 linear feet in the first half of 1933, and to 29,812,877 linear feet in the same period of this year; and what steps be proposes to take to deal with the situation?

I am aware of the figures of the importation of blank cinematograph film to which my hon. Friend refers. The duties on cinematograph films, in common with other Budget duties, will come up for review in the ordinary course before the next Budget, and all relevant considerations, including those to which my hon. Friend has drawn attention, will be borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the imports of optical instruments increased from £118,654 in the first half of 1932 to £197,961 in the same period of 1933, and to £223,012 in the first half of 1934; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this rapid growth of importation?

I am aware of the increased imports to which my hon. Friend refers. Optical glass and optical instruments are subject to a duty of 50 per cent. ad valorem under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, and any representations regarding goods not covered by that Act should be made to the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General how many licences have been issued by him to wireless exchanges up to date; what is the approximate number of subscribers; what is the number of staff employed by him to ensure that the terms of the licences are adhered to; and what methods are adopted by such staff for that purpose?

The number of licensed wireless exchanges in operation at the end of last month was 295, and the number of subscribers to these exchanges was 151,685. No special staff is employed to ensure that the terms of the licences for wireless exchanges are duly observed; but exchanges are from time to time inspected by a local officer of the Post Office. Any serious irregularity in the conduct of a wireless exchange could hardly fail to come to the knowledge of my Department through complaints from subscribers or otherwise, and would render the licence for the exchange liable to withdrawal.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he will give an assurance that, before a settlement of the Irish question is arrived at as a result of further discussions, he will ascertain the wishes of the inhabitants of Fermanagh and Tyrone, as provided for in Clause 12 of the Articles for an agreement for a treaty, dated 1921?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 19th July.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any men and, if so, how many have been transferred from depressed areas to Gillingham and Chatham, Kent, during the past 12 months?

There were no transfers of men from depressed areas to employment in the Gillingham and Chatham area through the Employment Exchanges during the 12 months ended 25th June, 1934.

asked the Minister of Labour how many naval dockyard employes were registered as unemployed at the Chatham, Kent, Employment Exchange on the last available date and within what categories such persons respectively come?

I regret that the statistics relating to unemployment are not compiled on a basis which would enable me to give the numbers and occupations of unemployed persons registered at the Chatham, Kent, Employment Exchange whose previous employment was in the Naval Dockyard.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons unemployed in the jute industry in each of the months January to June, 1934, and the corresponding figures for the same months in 1933, 1932 and 1931?

The following table gives the information desired:

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements are made for the searching and care of women prisoners at police stations in areas where no women police are employed, and who conducts such women prisoners from the police stations to the gaols of detention; and whether he is satisfied with the adequacy of such arrangements?

These duties are generally performed by full-time or part- time police matrons, though they may be undertaken by policewomen. Special attention has been paid to this question by His Majesty's inspectors of constabulary, and they have taken steps to ensure that suitable women are available when- ever required in every police force.

asked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the suffering caused to wild animals such as monkeys, lions and tigers which, being caught after they are of mature age, are subsequently kept in captivity in cages, he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation making the keeping of such wild animals in such captivity illegal in this country?

It is not the intention of the Government to introduce legislation on the lines suggested.