asked the Minister of Labour for what reasons he refused permission to the Chicago Orchestra of 100 marimba players to enter this country to give two concerts at the Albert Hall; and whether such refusal was decided as a result of consultations with the British Musicians Union?

It has been brought to my notice that the effect of immigration regulations recently introduced in the United States of America is to preclude British bands from taking engagements in that country. In these circumstances, I am not prepared to continue the policy of granting permits freely for American bands to come to this country to take engagements of the variety hall type. It was on these grounds that the application for the Marimba Orchestra was refused. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary what arrangements are to be made regarding the extension of hours to licensed premises throughout the country during the Jubilee celebrations?

I would refer the hon. Member to my answers to questions on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain P. Macdonald) on 11th February and by the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Sandys) on 28th March.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the grant at Brewster Sessions of extended hours with regard to licensed premises, especially those in the Romford area, his attention has been called to the fact that a certain percentage of such premises come under the Metropolitan area and the rest under the local licensing authorities; and whether, to avoid conflict of hours, he will take steps to impose a uniform terminal hour for the closing of licensed premises?

The permitted hours for the sale of intoxicating liquor are fixed, both in London and elsewhere, by the licensing justices for each licensing district. The hours so fixed apply to all licensed premises in the district, and there is no overlapping of jurisdiction. I have no powers which would enable me to act on the suggestion in the second part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the widespread alarm at the increase in the importation of German rayon products, hosiery and underwear; the amount of such increase for the year 1934 compared with 1933, and for the first three months of 1935 as compared with a similar period in 1934; and what effect such increase has upon employment in this country?

My right hon. Friend has received representations from the Hosiery Manufacturers' Federation regarding the imports of hosiery from Germany. I am having a statement prepared in answer to the second part of the question which I will send to my hon. Friend. As regards the last part, I am informed by the Ministry of Labour that separate particulars of the employment afforded by hosiery manufacturers using artificial silk are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the alarm caused by the increase in the importation of German rayon goods, hosiery, and underwear, he will consider the desirability of abrogating or amending the most-favoured-nation clause with France, in view of the trifling exports of these goods to this country from France, but whereby Germany, taking advantage of the clause, is enabled to flood this country with cheap productions which compete unfairly with British manufacturers to the detriment of our workpeople?

The rates of duty on rayon goods were imposed as recently as July last on the recommendation of the Import Duties Advisory Committee. As at present advised, my right hon. Friend is not prepared to take action on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have, respectively, adopted and not yet adopted the Local Government and other Officers Superannuation Act, 1922?

The Act has been put in force by 48 out of 63 county councils, 65 out of 83 county borough councils, 134 out of 273 borough councils, 6 out of 29 Metropolitan borough councils, 321 out of 739 urban district councils, 243 out of 592 rural district councils, 25 out of 7,058 parish councils, and 179 miscellaneous authorities. Of the authorities which have not put the Act in force, two county councils, two county borough councils and 21 Metropolitan borough councils have local Act superannuation schemes.

asked the Minister of Health the cause of the heavy increase in cases of diphtheria and deaths from that disease recorded in Leeds during the year 1934, the mortality from diphtheria that year being the highest registered since 1913; whether his statistics show if the increase in immunisation at Leeds have produced large numbers of carriers who have conveyed the disease to other children while not suffering themselves or, alternatively, if there are any sanitary conditions in Leeds which account for the heavy increase in diphtheria?

I am advised that the recent experience as regards diphtheria in Leeds accords with the general upward trend in the incidence of the disease which has recently affected all the large urban centres, especially those in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses in the country which have been acquired by local authorities for demolition purposes as uninhabitable are still undemolished and still contain tenants who are paying rents to the local authorities concerned?

It is regretted that this information is not available. My right hon. Friend may, however, take this opportunity of saying that in cases which have been brought to his notice and investigated it has been found that it has been necessary for the local authority to expend any rents received by them in order to keep the property even temporarily in tolerable condition.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the members of the Sea Fish Commission were consulted as regards the election of the members of the Herring Board or if any representations were received from members of the Commission with reference to its composition?

No, Sir. The recommendations in the Report of the Sea Fish Commission as to the composition of the Herring Industry Board were kept closely in view by my right hon. Friend the Secertary of State for Scotland and myself in considering the constitution of the Board. We did not, however, think it desirable to consult the Commission with regard to the individual appointments.

asked the Minister of Pensions why permission has been granted for permanent civil servants of his Department, who are not ex-service men, to obtain treatment at institutions provided soley for disabled ex-service men, and in particular at Roehampton and Bulinga Street clinic, in view of the fact that disabled ex-service men have been in difficulty in obtaining treatment at Roehampton or Bulinga Street?

It is not the practice of the Ministry to give treatment to members of the permanent lay staff of the Department, not being ex-service men, at any of its own clinics or hospitals. Exceptionally, in a very few cases occasional out-patient treatment has been permitted at Bulinga Street, but always at the patient's own charge. Roehampton Hospital belongs to an independent voluntary committee whose own arrangements provide for the treatment of a small number of non-ex-service men. One member of the Ministry's permanent staff was recently admitted by the committee under these arrangements, but at the cost of the patient and not of public funds. The suggestion in the last part of the question is not in accordance with the facts. The accommodation at Roehampton and Bulinga Street is ample for the treatment of all ex-service men found to be in need of treatment for their war disabilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when his Department last received a report on the state of the antiquities on the island of Cyprus; and whether the report indicates any great need of restorative and protective measures?

In May of last year I received a "Report on the condition of antiquities in Cyprus" from Sir George Hill, the director of the British Museum. Sir George Hill prepared this report after a visit to the Island at the invitation of the Governor and myself. He was accompanied by Sir Charles Peers, president of the Society of Antiquaries and late chief inspector of ancient monuments under the Office of Works. A separate report entitled "A report on the present position of the ancient and historical monuments of, Cyprus" was prepared separately by Sir Charles Peers for the Cyprus Committee, an unofficial body under the chairmanship of Lord Mersey, formed to interest the public in this country in the antiquities of Cyprus. The reports of both these distinguished experts indicated that there was a considerable field in which, owing to lack of funds, it had been impossible in the past to take adequate measures to preserve and maintain the antiquities of the Island. The concrete recommendations for improvement contained in the reports have in the main been adopted; and, with the assistance of funds collected by the Cyprus Committee, steps are now being taken which should put the matter upon a satisfactory basis. I should like to take this opportunity again to thank Lord Mersey and his colleagues and Sir George Hill and Sir Charles Peers for their generous and valuable work.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will inquire into the position of the medical officer of the York City School Medical Department who, having been denied the salary recommended by the Askwith memorandum on salaries of whole-time public health officers, will now, on retirement, be further penalised by a consequent reduction in the amount payable to him by way of superannuation?

The rate of salary paid to a school medical officer is a matter primarily within the discretion of a local education authority, and my Noble Friend is not prepared to interfere with that discretion unless the salary paid appears to be either unduly extravagant, or so low as to be likely to endanger the efficiency of the service. There is no ground for supposing that the latter is the case in York.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which theatres hitherto paying Entertainments Duty have made application to the Treasury during the past 12 months for exemption from tax on the grounds that they provide entertainment of a semi-educational nature and that by an alteration of their articles of association they can provide that they are not conducted or established for profit.?

It is not the usual practice to make public the names of individual persons or firms in such connections.