asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, with regard to the moratorium granted on payments exigible from sheep-stock clubs in the Highlands of Scotland, which moratorium was designed to meet the serious situation arising from the collapse in sheep prices, whether he is aware that the Inland Revenue authorities are now negativing its effect by levying Income Tax upon these sheep-stock clubs upon the ground that they are co-operative societies; and what action is proposed to preserve the benefit of the moratorium?

The moratorium to which the hon. Member refers covered payments due to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland in respect of loans advanced to credit societies for the purchase of sheep stocks. The assessment of Income Tax is a different matter, and in the case of the societies referred to is governed by the terms of Section 31 of the Finance Act, 1933.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the estate of Scorry Breck has yet been acquired by the Department of Agriculture and, if so, when; whether any applications for holdings have been received on this area; whether there were any reservations attached to this purchase; and when it is proposed to allocate the area and receive a return?

This estate was acquired by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland at Whitsunday, 1921. Apart from small areas extending to approximately 120 acres, mainly reserved for potential feuing for housing, the whole estate, which covers about 16,000 acres, has been utilised for the constitution of 34 new holdings and 52 enlargements of existing holdings. The sporting rights and minerals were reserved by the former proprietor.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will inquire into the circumstances attending the sentence of four months' hard labour to Leslie Adams, aged 32, at Westminster Police Court last week; whether he is aware that at a previous hearing, when his previous convictions were mentioned, Adams said that on every occasion when he had found employment, and was trying to make good on his release from prison, a woman betrayed his past to his employers, thus getting him discharged; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to the alleged victimisation of this man?

I have made inquiries into this case and I can find no grounds for recommending any interference with the sentence imposed by the court. I am satisfied that there is no justification for the suggestion that the prisoner has been unfairly treated by his employers as the result of disclosure of his past.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will inquire as to why the pension under the contributory scheme is not being paid to Mrs. Susan E. Evans, 101, Mayer Road, Stratford, case No. O 5,397,181?

Mrs. Evans has now been advised that an old age pension has been awarded to her with effect from the 17th January last, and the necessary papers to enable her to obtain payment from that date have been issued. The delay in reaching a decision was due to difficulty in establishing Mrs. Evans' age.

asked the Minister of Health whether any local authorities make use of the Infectious Disease (Notification) Extension Act, 1899, to extend its powers to cases of venereal disease; and, if so, how many local authorities have taken such action?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, although houses and bungalows have been built in Landseer Avenue, Chapel St. Leopards, for 12 or 13 years, the Lindsey County Council refuse to make a proper road; and whether he will make representations to the local authority as to the advisability of engaging unemployed men on this useful and necessary work?

The matter is one within the discretion of the county council, but my right hon. Friend is making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the dissatisfaction of trade and industry with the present reliefs for obsolescence of plant, machinery, and buildings, he has any information showing what encouragement is given to industries in other countries to provide themselves with the latest and most efficient equipment?

The taxation developments in certain other countries are kept under review, but I would remind my hon. Friend that, where the taxation system is different as it is generally in foreign countries, one particular item cannot reasonably be selected for the purpose of comparison. I may add that I do not admit the implication in my hon. Friend's question that the existing Income Tax allowance for obsolescence is not adequate.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Glacier Metal Company, Limited, of Greenford, Middlesex, are contractors to any Government departments and, if so, which; and whether the Fair Wages Clause is attached to all their contracts?

This firm do not hold any direct contracts from Government Departments, but it is understood that orders from Government contractors have been placed with them, and inquiry is being made into the matter. In regard to the second part of the question, the Fair Wages Clause forms a part of all Government contracts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the number of new factories established in this country, with the number extended from 1930 to the latest date; and the trade classification of these factories, the region in which they are located, the amount of employment provided, and also the number of factories closed down in the same period?

The earliest year for which such information is available is 1932. The particulars desired by the hon. Member for that year and for 1933 are contained in the "Survey of Industrial Development, 1933," of which I am sending him a copy. Corresponding particulars for 1934, together with revised figures for 1933, will be published shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will in all future returns of road accidents publish separate figures showing the number of motor car drivers killed and injured other than drivers of motor cycles?

The detailed analysis of fatal road accidents in 1935 will show the number of motor car drivers (excluding the drivers of motor cycles) who have been killed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any further schemes are under investigation by his Department with reference to the electrification of railways?

The Southern Railway Company are carrying out a scheme for adapting for electric traction further sections of their railway to Newhaven, Eastbourne and Hastings. The whole question of the improvement of the travelling facilities, including the electrification of lines, in the London area is under consideration by the Standing Joint Committee of the Main Line Railway Companies and the London Passenger Transport Board.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information as to the area of land in the United Kingdom lost by coastal erosion during the past 10 years?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the total sum and the percentage of the total allotted to reconstruction, large scale repairs, and alterations of His Majesty's ships spent with the private trade and with His Majesty's dockyards during each year from 1924 to 1933, respectively; and the total sum forecast to have been spent daring 1934 and the percentage of that sum, the total sum estimated to be spent during 1935 and the percentage of that sum, to be spent with the private trade and His Majesty's dockyards, respectively?

The figures are as follow:

	Total.
Expenditure:	£
1924	2,501,384
1925	2,677,844
1926	2,862,568
1927	2,922,472
1928	2,449,390
1929	2,318,709
1930	1,896,673
1931	1,627,249
1932	1,174,788
1933	1,362,977
Estimated Expenditure:
1934	1,787,635
1935	2,628,584

Oncosts and services have been excluded. All the repairs and alterations concerned have been or are expected to be carried out in the Royal Dockyards.