asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether as the establishment licences for male servants show a continued decrease during the past five years and in order to encourage the employment of male servants, he will consider legislation to abolish these restrictive duties?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement which I made on this subject on 11th June last during the progress of the Finance Bill when an amendment to abolish the Male Servant Licence Duty was under consideration in Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there is no provision in law for the exemption from Stamp Duty of receipts for the refund of money deposited as security for Entertainments Duty; and whether he will consider giving such exemption by the Finance Bill, 1935, or otherwise, just as receipts for repayments of Income Tax and Surtax are not liable to Stamp Duty?

I am aware that there is no exemption from Stamp Duty in favour of the receipts described in the question, and that consequently such receipts have to bear a 2d. stamp if the amount of the refund is £2 or more. I do not, however, consider that the matter is one involving hardship which would warrant the introduction of the special legislation necessary to make such receipts exempt from duty.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that female prisoners on remand at Liverpool police court are transferred to the goal at Manchester; and whether, with a view to the avoidance of expense and inconvenience, he will arrange for such prisoners while on remand to be accommodated as formerly at Walton gaol, Liverpool?

The women's wing at Liverpool Prison has been closed since 1st September, 1933, and committals of women prisoners, whether on remand or on conviction and sentence, have been diverted to Manchester Prison. The result of concentrating women prisoners from the north-western area of England in one prison instead of in two has been to facilitate not only a considerable economy in administration but also improved methods of treatment for the prisoners themselves; and after fully reviewing the working of the existing arrangements I can find no sufficient reason for reverting to the former system.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons certified as suffering from miner's nystagmus during 1933 and 1934?

During 1933, certifying surgeons in Great Britain gave 1,645 certificates of disablement in respect of this disease. The figures for 1934 are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the total imports and of re-exports and the tonnage of goods handled at the ports of Leith and Glasgow, respectively, during the years 1932, 1933, and 1934?

The total declared value of merchandise imported and re-exported in the foreign trade at the ports in question during 1932 and 1933, the latest years for which the information is available, is given on pages 229 and 230 of Volume I of the "Annual Statement of the Trade of the United King- dom" for 1933. Particulars of the aggregate tonnage of goods handled at these ports are not compiled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of the imports mainly comprising the imports of eggs in shell in the heading "From other Countries" for the years 1932, 1933, and 1934?

The required particulars in respect of the years 1932 and 1933 are shown on page 22 of Volume II of the Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom for 1933. Corresponding particulars for the year 1934 are being compiled, and I will send them to the Noble Lady as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the recent trade agreement with India will still extend to Burma if Burma obtains separation before the conclusion of the Ottawa Trade Agreements?

Yes, Sir, so far as it is applicable to the case of a separated Burma.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, having regard to their long connection, in the majority of cases, of supplementary teachers with the local education authorities concerned, to the fact that such teachers are not at present eligible to membership of the superannuation schemes of the authorities in whose services they are engaged, and to the hardship suffered in consequence thereof, he can see his way to introduce legislation providing for the admission of these cases to the superannuation schemes on the same terms and conditions as other teachers?

The question of the admission of supplementary teachers to the benefits of the superannuation schemes conducted by the local authorities employing them is one for the authorities concerned. I believe that a number of authorities have admitted such teachers. The question of their admission to the benefits of the Teachers (Super- annuation) Acts, which are of national scope and apply to the majority of teachers in schools aided with grant by the board, was fully considered both in 1918 and 1925 during the passage through Parliament of the Acts of those years, and my Noble Friend does not see his way to introduce legislation in the sense desired.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received a satisfactory report from the Croydon Corporation regarding the progress of the Beddington sewage scheme; if not, will he make full investigation into this matter and take the necessary steps to relieve the Croydon Corporation of this duty and end the foul smells which are a menace to the health of the citizens of Croydon?

The Croydon Corporation have recently furnished me with a report which shows that satisfactory progress is being made in this matter. A scheme for further remedial works will shortly be submitted to me.

asked the Minister of Health by what authority under the Vaccination Acts and Orders a public vaccinator can call on a parent after that parent has been prosecuted and fined under the Vaccination Acts and offer once more to vaccinate his child; and, if such a practice is not sanctioned by the Vaccination Acts and Orders, whether he will inform the employers of any public vaccinator acting in this way that their servant is going beyond his powers and duties?

I am advised that action by a public vaccinator such as that described in the first part of the question does not contravene the Vaccination Acts and Orders. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider differentiation in the compensation of landlords' property under the slum- clearance schemes, having regard to the fact that many owners of these properties have been unable, because of taxation, to keep them in an adequate state of repair, as against persons who have purchased these properties for speculative purposes?

I see difficulty in the acceptance of my hon. Friend's suggestion, but no doubt he will take an opportunity of elaborating it in the course of the discussion of the Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office how much is obtained from advertisements in the "British Army List"; and what is the loss to the State on the publication?

I have been asked to reply. The "British Army List" is taken to include the monthly Army List, the half-yearly Army List and the half-yearly Supplements to the Army List. The net revenue from advertisements is approximately £1,150. There is no loss to the State on this publication.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the only available landing ground near Weymouth, known as Chickerell Field, is to be built over; and whether he proposes to take any action to prevent building taking place on this field?

I understand the buildings now being erected are of a temporary nature, in connection with the Western Counties Show, and are unlikely to damage the landing surface to any serious extent.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent it is regarded as a part of the duties of a medical officer of health to carry out medical examinations under the Local Government and other Officers' Superannuation Act; and whether any medical officers of health have been or are permitted to refuse to make such examinations in cases where no mention was made of doing so in the terms of appointment?

The carrying out of medical examinations under the Act referred to is not one of the duties imposed on a medical officer of health by Statute or Order, but I understand that it is not uncommon for this work to be performed by medical officers of health. I have no information as to the second part of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, in the year ended 31st December, 1934, imports of eggs in shell rose from 18,372,647 great hundreds to 18,785,447 great hundreds, while the average price dropped from £7,306,408 to £7,071,917; and what steps he proposes to take to secure an effective reduction of imports and to ensure that, imports do not enter this country at prices with which it is impossible for the British producer to compete?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the fact that his proposal to foreign egg producers to limit their imports has proved a failure and that the British egg industry is in danger of being ruined, he will take any fresh steps to deal with this situation?

I am aware that total imports of eggs in shell in 1934 were greater in quantity and rather lower in value than in 1933. While the proposals put forward to foreign countries for the reduction of imports of eggs in shell have not so far had the full effect aimed at, I have no doubt that they have resulted in an appreciable check in total foreign imports. I cannot, therefore, accept the statement of the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Sir P. Dawson). Imports of foreign eggs in shell are already subject to Customs duties, ranging from 1s. to 1s. 9d. per 120, and the control of imports either by quantitative regulation or by other means is one of the subjects for consideration by the Reorganisation Commission set up on 25th January under the chairmanship of Mr. Francis Blundell.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, he has any figures to show how the purchase of British barley by brewers compares with last year?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease during the last six months; if the source of infection has yet been traced; and how far the steps taken to prevent the spread of the disease were satisfactory?

During the past six months, 93 separate premises were infected with foot-and-mouth disease, situated in 21 different areas, between which no connection could be traced. In none of the areas was there definite evidence identifying the source of infection, although in 12 of the areas the incidence of disease may have been associated with the disposal of household refuse, including, in some cases, materials of foreign origin. In the case of six of the remaining nine infected areas no evidence of a suggestive character was forthcoming; investigations are still proceeding in the remaining three areas. The steps taken in each area to prevent the spread of infection followed the established procedure which has been found to be the most effectual method of achieving this object, namely, compulsory slaughter of affected animals and those in direct contact with infection, accompanied by stringent restrictions on movement of animals in each infected area (which normally extends to a radius of 15 miles from the initial outbreak), and followed by a thorough disinfection of the premises. It was possible to release 10 of the infected areas within the normal period of about 28 days from the date of the first case. In nine areas the period of maintenance of the restrictions varied from five to nearly nine weeks. The two remaining areas (Weymouth and Glasgow) were only declared on 12th and 17th January, respectively, and are the only areas now under foot-and-mouth disease restrictions in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received the report of Mr. Wilfrid Greene, K.C., upon the beet-sugar industry; and, if so, when it will be published?

As I indicated in a reply I gave to-day to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol North (Mr. Bernays), I understand that the Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. Wilfrid Greene, K.C., hope to present their report by the end of February. It will be published without delay after it is received.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the recent scheme tried at Bishop Auckland for supplying potatoes at reduced rates to the unemployed also proved of any benefit to the farmers responsible for the production of those potatoes; and if he will make a statement on the subject?

The scheme to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is being initiated by the Potato Marketing Board as an experiment designed to ascertain, over a period of a few weeks, the extent to which the consumption of potatoes would be increased in the selected area by a reduction of price. I understand that it will not start until 1st February, and it is therefore not possible to say whether it will prove beneficial to the growers. I shall be happy to give further information at a later stage on learning from the Potato Marketing Board of the results of the experiment.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will consider an inquiry into the question of repairing leaseholds whereby speculative purchasers thereof use their powers for the expulsion of the old tenant in order to instal a nominee of their own?

Under the existing law the Courts have power to prevent any oppressive use of the exercise of the right of forfeiture. If, however, my hon. Friend has any information as to cases of hardship of the kind suggested and will furnish me with particulars, they will be considered.

asked the Attorney-General the names of the committee to which names for justices of the peace are submitted for recommendation in the county of Suffolk?

The following are the names of the Advisory Committee for the appointment of justices of the peace in the county of Suffolk:

The Lord Loch, C.B., C.M.G., M.V.O., D.S.O.

Alderman Robert Bilsland, O.B.E.

The Earl of Stradbroke, K.C.M.G., C.V.O., C.B., C.B.E.

The Marquess of Bristol.

Lady Owen Mackenzie.

The Right Hon. Lord Somerleyton, G.C.V.O.

The Lord Cranworth.

R. Eaton White, Esq.

Alderman William Wade.

Dr. Jane Walker, C.H.

W. J. Alexander, Esq.

The Chairmanship is vacant, as no appointment has so far been made to fill the vacancy in the Lord-Lieutenancy caused by the death of Sir Courtenay Warner.

asked the Home Secretary the number of convictions for drunkenness in the years 1933 and 1934 in each petty sessional division in the county of London and for the county as a whole?

The convictions for drunkenness in the county of London in 1933 amounted to 13,140. I am not yet in a position to give the figure for 1934. Separate figures for the individual petty sessional divisions in the county of London are not available and could not, I am afraid, be obtained without a considerable expenditure of time and labour.