asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost for the year 1933-34 of the following subsidies: housing, sugar-beet, civil aviation, Western Islands transport, light horse breeding and mechanical transport?

The information for which the hon. Member asks is given in the following table:

	Cost in 1933–34.
Subsidy.	£
Housing	15,298,000
Beet Sugar	3,333,000
Civil Aviation	400,000
Western Highlands and Islands Transport Services	31,000
Light Horse Breeding	—
Mechanical Transport	1,800

Number of Licences issued and the Net Receipt of Duty in the Financial Year ended 31st March, 1934.
—		England and Wales.		Scotland.
		No.	Net Receipt.	No.	Net Receipt.
Dealers:			£		£
Spirits	…	4,196	36,173	592	6,260
Beer	…	3,550	26,673	355	2,580
Wine	…	4,265	26,879	366	2,793
Retailers:
Spirits "On" (Publicans)	…	56,960	2,815,548	5,737	203,508
Spirits "Off"	…	8,901	167,912	2,377	36,508
Beer "On"	…	19,813	400,053	114	415
Beer "Off"	…	17,043	59,178	2,462	7,652
Wine "On"	…	3,380	28,394	10	39
Wine "Off"	…	12,030	55,239	2,387	8,742

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for each month for the years ended 30th September, 1932, 1933, and 1934, the number of standard and bulk barrels of beer produced and re-

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the calendar year ended 31st December, 1933, the net revenue derived from spirits, beer, imported wine, sweets (including British wine), hops and hop extracts?

The following table gives the particulars for which the hon. Member asks:Article and Approximate Net Revenue Calendar Year ended 31st December,

Article and Approximate Net Revenue Calendar Year ended 31st December, 1933.
	£
Spirits	34,291,000
Beer	62,028,000
Wine, Imported	4,069,000
Sweets, including British Wines	291,000
Hops and Hop Extracts	131,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for England and Scotland, respectively, the number of spirit dealers, beer dealers, wine dealers, publicans, retailers of spirits off, retailers of beer on, retailers of beer off, retailers of wine on, retailers of wine off, and the net receipts of duty in respect of such licences for the financial year ended 31st March, 1934?

The following table shows the particulars for which the hon. Member asks:tained for consumption in England and Northern Ireland, and Scotland, respectively?

The following table contains the information required:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the difficulties which have arisen in the administration of the Scottish milk marketing schemes, he proposes to take any action towards unification of the Scottish boards or the creation of a milk marketing scheme for Great Britain?

Under existing legislation I have no power to take action as suggested. It is open to the existing boards, if they think fit, to submit a substitutional scheme in the manner provided in the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is intended that the Educational Endowments (Scotland) Bill is to be passed through all its stages before the end of the current session?

I regret that it is not possible to make any statement at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities of artificial silk produced in Japan and in this country, respectively, during the year 1927 and during the year 1933?

The production of artificial silk in Japan in 1927 was 10.5 million lbs. and the preliminary estimate for 1933 is 97.9 million lbs. The production of artificial silk (yarn and waste) in Great Britain in 1927 was 40.2 million lbs. and in 1933 84.1 million lbs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the countries whose balance of trade with us is adverse to them, and those countries whose balance of trade is adverse to us, with the figures stated in millions in each case?

The desired information in respect of tale first six months of this year is available from the particulars of the aggregate trade of the United Kingdom with each British and foreign country which are set out on pages 279 to 287 of the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" for July last. The corresponding particulars for the first nine months of this year will be published on 14th November in the issue of these accounts for October.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value per head of the population of the domestic exports of manufactured goods from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States of America during the calendar year 1933, foreign currencies being converted at par?

The following table shows, for the countries specified, the values per head of the population of the domestic exports of goods classed as wholly or partly manufactured, during the year 1933:

Country and Value of Exports per head of the population.
			£	s.	d.
United Kingdom	…	…	6	2	6
France	…	…	2	3	0
Germany	…	…	2	16	10
United States	…	…	1	7	5

NOTES.1. The range of articles included as "wholly or partly manufactured" varies according to the classifications adopted in the trade returns of the respective countries. Figures based throughout on a uniform classification are not available. The classes of goods included are described in the trade returns of the respective countries as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the value of pottery imported into this country during the first nine months of this year was £1,148,470, as against £500,612 for a similar period in 1932, and £824,712 for that period in 1933; and whether he is satisfied that this increase in imports is necessary?

I am aware of the figures to which my hon. Friend refers. With regard to the last part of the question, the increase in imports is not unexpected having regard to the increased activity in the building industry.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what countries have adopted a system of marking of their imported manufactured imports; whether such countries demand a general or a specific place indication; and whether the marking covers the whole or part of the manufactured imports?

The following is a statement of the position according to the information of my Department.In most countries, legislation exists under which the country of origin must be shown as a counter-indication to any other mark which is regarded as liable to give a false impression as to the origin of goods. Apart from this requirement the countries in the list given below have legislated specifically so as to require all or certain imported goods to bear an indication of their origin.Argentine: All goods must be marked.Australia: Regulations have been issued affecting certain large classes of goods.Canada: Marking orders have been made for only a few goods.Denmark: Decrees have been issued affecting certain classes of goods.France and French Colonies: Decrees have been issued affecting a large number of articles.Norway: Decrees have been issued affecting certain classes of goods.Sweden: A long list of goods is affected.United States of America: All goods must be marked.

asked the Home Secretary the number of proceedings and convictions for drunkenness during 1933 in England and Wales, Northern England, Southern England (including Greater London), Greater London, and Wales, respectively?

The figures asked for are as follow:

	Proceedings.	Convictions.
England and Wales	42,492	36,285
Northern England	19,525	16,450
Southern England (including Greater.London).	21,109	18,353
Greater London	17,123	15,132
Wales	1,858	1,482

asked the Home Secretary whether he will extend the privilege granted to London Transport for omnibuses to travel over Waterloo Bridge from south to north to taximeter-cabs which are actually hired, in order to prevent unfair competition and to meet the convenience of the public?

The matter is one which falls to be dealt with by the Commissioner of Police of the metropolis, and, after consultation with him, I regret that the present experiment cannot be extended to include hired taxicabs.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the fatalities recorded each week include accidents in which motorists themselves lose their lives by running into inanimate objects without colliding in any way with any other vehicle or person; and, if so, what is the total of such accidents in the last six weeks in relation to aggregate amounts?

The weekly returns of road accidents do not specify the nature of the accident, and I am therefore not in a position to give my hon. Friend the figure for which he asks.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is proposed ultimately to light the amber beacons indicating pedestrians crossings; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to make them reasonably visible after lighting-up time?

The amber beacons are generally placed in proximity to street lamps and should thus be clearly visible to motorists after lighting-up time. In exceptional cases it may be necessary to illuminate the beacons internally, and I am prepared to consider such cases on their merits in consultation with the local authorities concerned.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has reached any decision on the considered recommendations laid before him on 17th July for an inland water survey, under the control of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, as a necessary preliminary to administrative or executive action?

Measures are in train for a survey of water resources, and I hope to be in a position shortly to announce them.

asked the Minister of Health whether any 'statistics exist to show if any increased maternal mortality in Liverpool is caused by malnutrition of mothers and whether he can give the annual figures for maternal mortality in Liverpool and Birkenhead for the past six years as compared with those for the whole of England and Wales?

There is no evidence from statistics that any increase in the maternal mortality rate in Liverpool is caused by malnutrition of the mothers. The Liverpool rate is still well below the rate for the whole country. The answer to the second part of the question is given in the following statement:

Maternal mortality per 1,000 Total (Live and Still) Births.
For 1928 and 1929, only the rates per 1,000 live births (shown in brackets) are available.
—		Liverpool.	Birkenhead.	England and Wales.
1928	…	(3·76)	(5·13)	(4·42)
1929	…	(3·29)	(2·03)	(4·33)
1930	…	3·62	4·09	4·42
1931	…	2·79	3·17	3·94
1932	…	2·68	4·01	4·04
1933	…	3·41	5·07	4·32

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the adverse criticism contained in the Fifth Annual Report of the Radium Commission (Cmd. 4711) on the state of affairs at the Bristol Centre (University of Bristol and Bristol Royal Infirmary) and the Newcastle Centre (University of Durham and Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary), and to the concern felt by the Commission about the position at these centres; and what action it is proposed to take on the Report in the interest of insured persons dependent for treatment on these centres?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is the duty of the Radium Commission to distribute the radium at their disposal to the best advantage, and it appears from the reports of the Commission that they have transferred some radium from certain centres where it was not being fully used to others where there was an unsatisfied demand. As regards the second part, I have no power to instruct radium centres how they should make the best use of the radium supplied by the Commission, but my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware that one of the conditions of the loan of national radium to a hospital is that it shall accept and treat suitable and properly accredited patients from any source.

asked the Minister of Health as on the latest convenient date the number of houses completed under the Slum Clearance Scheme, and the number now under construction?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 30th ultimo to a question on the subject by the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. McEntee), a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a number of houses were purchased by his Department at Ilford for the widening of the new Southend Road, but that the Ministry decided in 1931 not to proceed with the widening; that, consequent upon this decision, the houses were relet; and that 4, Stainforth Road, Newbury Park, Ilford, which was, since 1914, let at lls. 6d. per week, inclusive, has been now let at 25s. per week, the tenant to execute internal repairs; and whether, as the tenant is in difficulties, he will re-assess the rent and restore the original claim?

No. 4, Stain-forth Road, Ilford, together with other houses, was acquired in 1924 in connection with the proposed construction of Eastern Avenue, and is being retained pending the widening of Newbury Park railway bridge. The rental at the time of purchase was 15s. a week inclusive. The house was. relet in 1932, at a rental of 25s. a week inclusive. I am advised that this rent is not excessive, and see no reason for any re-assessment of the rent. The tenant referred to vacated the house on 29th August, 1934, and it has been relet at the same rental.

asked the Minister of Health if his atention has been drawn to the increasing disfigurement of the countryside by ribbon building; and if it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation in the near future to prohibit such development?

Yes, Sir. The question of ribbon development is being actively considered in all its aspects, but the Government are not in a position to make any further statement at present.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will consider the advisability of so amending the law that a means of appeal would be open to complainants who are dissatisfied with the constitution of the Investigation Committee, or any ultra vires decision of that committee, acting under the Coal Mines Act, 1930, in any district?

Section 5 (10) of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, already provides for appeals from decisions of the Committee of Investigation in certain cases. I am not prepared to extend the grounds for appeal.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has considered the complaints from the appellants in the recent case heard by the Investigation Committee for the Midland district constituted under the Coal Mines Act, 1930, against the constitution of that committee; and whether he is satisfied that a committee so constituted has given decisions with impartiality?

Yes, Sir. This committee is constituted strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Statute, and I am satisfied that its decisions are given with impartiality.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied with the free admission to Palestine of Jews who can bring with them £1,000 of capital, owing to the conditions imposed by the German Government that such capital must be in the shape of German goods; and whether he will endeavour to promote both British trade and British traditions by throwing Palestine open to poor as well as to rich immigrants?

The Immigration Regulations require that a person of independent means applying for an immigration certificate on the ground that he is in possession of not less than £1,000 must have that amount of capital in his bona fide possession and at his free disposal. The extent of immigration permitted at any given period, as has been frequently stated, must be determined by the High Commissioner in relation to the economic absorptive capacity of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the recommendation of the Morris Carter Commission that £50,000 should be awarded as compensation in respect of the men of the Carrier Corps who disappeared or were killed in the War will be adequately met by the decision of His Majesty's Government to allot £50,000 for the expenses of carrying out the Commission's recommendations or whether deductions for other expenses will be made; and, if so, what sum will remain over for compensation?

The hon. Member will recollect that the Commission did not recommend the award of any compensation, but that this sum, which was in dispute between the Government of Kenya and His Majesty's Government, should be paid to Kenya and used to assist in carrying out the Commission's various proposals for development of the native lands. In the summary of conclusions issued by His Majestys' Government, and printed as a White Paper, it was stated clearly that the question of this liability had been consistently challenged but that His Majesty's Government had decided to ask Parliament to make an ex gratia grant of £50,000 to the Government of Kenya. The total cost of carrying out the Commission's recommendations is impossible to estimate at present, hut it will undoubtedly be in excess of £50,000 and there can, therefore, be no surplus available for any purpose.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the delay in obtaining long-distance telephone calls after 7 p.m. since the introduction of cheaper rates, he will consider granting preference for urgent calls on payment of an extra express charge?

The delay after 7 p.m. to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is confined to a few long-distance routes, and is being steadily reduced. I hope that, before long, the service on all the routes will Ire sufficiently speedy to make it unnecessary to introduce a, system of preferential calls.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make arrangements to extend the age of entry of juveniles into the service of the Post Office in those areas where the school-leaving age is 15 years?

This is already the practice in those areas where the school-leaving age is 15 years.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he sends any part of the British air mails for the Far East at the present time by the Dutch air services; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of drawing attention in the air-mail leaflets to the need for using the British service as far as possible in view of the fact that the Dutch service is no faster than the British?

British air mails for places in the Far East to which there is a British air service are sent at present by the Dutch air service only when the sender asks specifically for this to be done; the Dutch service is not advertised in the air mail leaflet as available for countries served directly by the British service and the amount of British correspondence sent to these destinations by the Dutch service is comparatively small.

asked the Minister of Labour if any permits have been granted during the past year allowing aliens to enter this country for the purpose of entering employment as terrazzo workers, and of the total how many firms in Scotland applied for such permits; what number of aliens was involved; what number of Scottish firms received such permits; and what number of men was introduced?

Permits have been issued during the past 12 months to a firm, whose headquarters are in London, for two foreign terrazzo workers who had previously been employed by that firm. No Scottish firm has applied for, or received, any permits during this period.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of trainees in Government instructional factories who have completed training as terrazzo workers in the last five years?

This form of training is given at one of the Government training centres, namely, Springburn. Since the, class in terrazzo work was opened on 28th June, 1932, 65 men have completed training, of whom all but seven have been placed in employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take in respect to the representations of the public assistance committee of the county borough of Stockport on the subject of seasonal workers?

My right hon. Friend has received the committee's representations and hopes to reply to them shortly. He will send my hon. Friend a copy of his letter.