asked the Secretary of State for India why, in the recent measures passed for the retention of the 5 per cent. cut in the salaries of the services in India after the restoration of the original 10 per cent. cut, the Govern- ment imposed a 25 per cent. surcharge on the existing Income Tax?

The retention of the reduced pay cut of 5 per cent. in the Indian Budget of 1934 was not associated with any increase of Income Tax. If the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the withdrawal, in 1933, on reduction of the pay cut to 5 per cent. of certain Income Tax concessions granted in connection with the imposition in 1931 of a 10 per cent. cut, I would refer him to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for India in his speech of 23rd February, 1933, on the Second Reading of the Indian Pay (Temporary Abatements) Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for India what were the sums paid directly from Indian revenue in the years 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, arid 1933 for the cost of the British Army and Air Forces in India and the contributions paid in respect of the training costs and maintenance of His Majesty's ships in Indian waters; and what was the percentage of these payments to the total revenue of India in each of these years?

No figures are available showing separately the cost of the British Army in India, as distinct from the total military expenditure borne by Indian revenues. The distribution of defence expenditure under the various heads is shown in the annual Finance and Revenue Accounts, and in the Indian defence estimates, of both of which copies are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Transport whether special inspection is made when licences are requested for motor vehicles of unusual shapes, such as bottles, fish, trunks, or cottages, in many of which there appears to be insufficient observation facility for the driver?

There is no provision in the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, for goods vehicles to be inspected before licences are issued, but it is an offence against the Construction and Use Regulations to use a motor vehicle which does not allow the driver a full view of the road and traffic ahead.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the grounds upon which the catering industry, as a very large consumer of milk for manufacture into various milk products, is not permitted to obtain its milk supplies for manufacturing purposes at the manufacturers' price?

The conditions under which manufacturers of milk products may claim rebates from the regional prices in respect of milk purchased for manufacturing purposes are set out in the current form of contract prescribed by the Milk Marketing Board. Any manufacturer who can comply with these conditions is entitled to the appropriate rebates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) what is the present total number of bacon factories in Great Britain which are working and idle, respectively; what is the approximate annual output of each; and what were the comparable figures at 1st July, 1933, or the nearest available date thereto;(2) which of the bacon factories in this country employed the tank-curing process in whole or in part, and to what extent, before the bacon marketing scheme came into operation; whether any have adopted or extended such process since that time; and how the proportion of tank-cured bacon to the total output of bacon by British bacon factories at the present time compares with such proportion in the period immediately prior to the introduction of the said marketing scheme?

I regret that the information which my hon. Friend desires is not available.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the strong feeling that exists among many airmen that Commander Colmore, a skilled pioneer airship pilot, should not have his pension cancelled without an inquiry, he will cause an inquiry to be now held to hear Commander Colmore's case and the medical evidence to ascertain the nature of the injury, this officer's conduct when shot, etc.?

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the injury sustained by Commander Colmore in 1915, such as the hon. and gallant Member suggests, would, as a matter of service discipline, not be within my functions, but would be one for the Service Department or Departments concerned.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware of the inconvenience to Members of the House owing to the slow-moving lifts to the Committee floor; and whether a more up-to-date service and better acceleration can be devised?

The lifts in this building run to the normal speed of 200 feet per minute, with the exception of the large Committee lift, which has a total height of 24 feet only and a speed of 150 feet per minute. A new lift to the Ladies' Gallery was installed last year. I do not think that existing demands call for the installation of faster lifts, which would involve considerable expense.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can give any information in connection with the two wagon loads of men that were sent from the Army vocational centre, Aldershot, to the Pressed Steel Works, Cowley, near Oxford, at which there is a strike of men and women; and whether the men in question were engaged by the firm?

Three men reported at these works on 17th July and three more men on the 18th seeking employment in the normal course. It was then ascertained that a strike was in progress and the works were informed that no more men would be sent while the strike continued.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain day nurseries refuse to admit unvaccinated infants, some of whom have been legally exempted from vaccination by the statutory declaration of their parents; and whether he will take action in any such cases that are brought to his notice?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, this is a matter within the discretion of the authorities of the day nursery, and I could not undertake to intervene.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the death of Leonard George Jennings, 18 years old, who died from encephalitis resulting from vaccination, performed as a condition of employment with the Gas Light and Coke Company; whether he is investigating this case; and whether he will call the attention of employers of labour to the possible dangers of vaccination?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the opinion has already been expressed in circulars issued by my Department that it is not generally expedient to press for the vaccination of children of school age or of adolescents who have not previously been vaccinated, unless they have been in personal contact with a case of small-pox or directly exposed to smallpox infection.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to issue to local authorities the promised further circular on maternal mortality?

As stated in the House on 3rd July, I hope to issue this circular in the early autumn.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to consult local authorities in this country before introducing the Housing Bill in the autumn, or whether there are any objections to this course?

I am now in consultation with the London County Council and the representative associations of local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the usual procedure in the various Colonies is that the Attorney-General should be the responsible head of the Bar in the Colony?

Yes, Sir. So far as my information goes, the Attorney-General is generally so regarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he is aware that the Government of the Irish Free State claim that they have failed to secure from His Majesty's Government a declaration that their association was free and voluntary and that, in the event of the Irish Free State deciding to leave the Commonwealth, it will be in no worse position, from a fiscal point of view, than Denmark or the Argentine; and if any correspondence has passed between his Ministry and Dublin on this matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the despatches exchanged with Mr. de Valera, which I read to the house on 5th December.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that there has been a lightning strike at the Usworth Colliery arising out of pit ponies being worked continuously for 16 hours, so that the putters on the night shift found the ponies too fatigued to draw the tubs; what action he proposes to take; and if he has any statement to make?

I am aware that a small number of putters employed in one district at Usworth Colliery stopped working for one shift last week because of a complaint about one pony, which, in exceptional circumstances, it was proposed to work for a second shift. There is no truth in the allegation that it was the practice at this colliery to work any ponies continuously for 16 hours. Normally the length of a pony's shift is 7 or 7½ hours with 16½ or 17 hours' rest. Occasionally the rest period is 9½ hours. The ponies have been recently inspected and are reported to be in good working condition, and to show no sign of overwork.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet considered the Report of the Departmental Committee appointed to consider imprisonment by Courts of Summary Jurisdiction; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to implement such report?

There has not yet been time to consider this report, and I am not in a position to make any statement.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the growing practice of attaching posters, both newspaper and general, to trees in the countryside; and whether he will take steps, by regulations or otherwise, to stop this practice in the interests of local amenities?

Local authorities have already power by means of good rule by-laws to deal with the unauthorised posting of bills. A by-law on the subject is in force in 49 counties and 233 municipal boroughs.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the declared value of foreign-made cartridge cases imported into this country during the 12 months prior to the last available date; and what was the duty paid thereon?

The declared value of foreign-made cartridge cases imported into this country during the 12 months ended 31st May, 1934, was £10,480, and the net amount of duty collected thereon was £2,616.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average weekly expenditure upon the relief of able-bodied persons for the six months beginning 12th November, 1933, in respect of each of the following counties: Caithness, Sutherland, Aberdeenshire, Berwickshire, Lanarkshire, and Dumbartonshire, and in respect of each of the following cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow?

The following statement shows the average weekly expenditure on the relief of the able-bodied poor and their dependants incurred by Poor Law authorities in the areas referred to for the six months beginning 12th November, 1933:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of cases and the estimated amount of damage to cod-nets reported as having been caused by British and by foreign trawlers, respectively, in the Moray Firth in each of the years 1931, 1932, and 1933?

No damage to cod-nets in the Moray Firth during the years 1931, 1932 and 1933 was reported as having been caused by British trawlers. The following cases of damage were alleged to have been caused by foreign trawlers:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the draft of the Bill on the subject of the control of deer has yet been completed; and if he is in a position to state when it will be introduced?

The draft of the Bill is not yet complete. As a result however, of further discussions which have taken place this week with the parties interested, I hope that a satisfactory measure of agreement will soon be reached.