asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the quantities of butter, cheese, and other milk products that were imported into Great Britain for the years 1929 and 1934 and the first six months of 1935; and also the countries of origin?

The following table shows the total quantity of the under-mentioned milk products imported into the United Kingdom during the years 1929 and 1934 and the first six months of 1935, distinguishing the principal countries of consignment (which are not necessarily the countries of origin).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider seeking Parliamentary powers to provide him with the same authority to secure periodical census of distribution, as is now the case relating to production?

I fear that I cannot propose legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary bf State for Foreign Affairs whether any discussions or negotiations are taking place regarding the suggestion that very heavy tanks and very heavy artillery should be abolished?

No such discussions are taking place at the present time: but the mater has not been lost sight of.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any discussions or negotiations are taking place regarding the suggestion to prohibit the bombing of civilian populations, and the further suggestion to abolish aerial bombing altogether?

No discussions are at present taking place on this particular question. As stated by my predecessor in this House on 31st May, it is hoped that it may be possible to deal with the subject in the proposed Air Pact.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give an assurance that the British Government has no intention of concluding a separate bilateral air pact with Germany?

The nature of the air pact—a mutual assistance arrangement between the five Locarno Powers—is defined in the London Declaration of 3rd February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the elections in Poland under the new constitution are being held in September of this year, he will instruct the British delegate to the forthcoming meeting of the Council of the League of Nations to expedite the inquiry into the petition concerning the treatment of the Ukrainian minority in Poland, which was signed by a number of British Members of Parliament and others, and is now under consideration by a committee of three, and which dealt, inter alia, with certain features of the new Polish Constitution?

I think that the committee of three is in the best position to judge whether the circumstances referred to by the hon. Member render it desirable to expedite the conclusion of the inquiry.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the estimated additional cost in the current financial year and in the financial year 1936–37 of increasing the increments, as from 1st July, 1935, of all women civil servants in common classes in non-industrial establishments at the rates received by men in these classes, provided that women were placed on the minimum of the men's scale where this is greater than their present salary, and that women who have been on the maximum of their scale for three years were granted an immediate increment on the men's scale of the same class?

Before a reliable estimate on the lines suggested could be framed, it would be necessary to ascertain the present salary etc. of each of the women concerned. My hon. Friend will, I feel, agree with me that the expenditure of the considerable amount of time and labour involved in the collection of such data for the thousands of women in question, would be difficult to justify.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the gross amount of income that is assessable for Income Tax for the year ended March, 1930, and for the following years up to March, 1935, respectively; and if he can give separate figures for each year?

I would refer the hon. Member to Tables 40, 41 and 42 of the Seventy-seventh Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Command Paper 4739 of 1935) where he will find particulars of the income assessed to Income Tax in each year from 1929–30 to 1933–34. Estimates for the year 1934–35 are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that orders are being held up in the hosiery trade owing -to uncertainty as to the future position of the duties on raw silk and artificial silk; and whether he is able to make a statement to relieve that uncertainty?

As regards the first part of the question I have no official information. As regards the second part it is impossible for me at this early date to forecast the financial position next year, and I regret accordingly that I cannot add anything to the announcement on this subject which I made in Manchester last November. But I think it right to add that that announcement must not be interpreted to mean that I was committing myself to the removal of the remainder of the duties on raw silk and artificial silk in the Budget of 1936.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the amount of revenue that will be lost to the country by the exemption from Excise Duty of the 90 million gallons of petrol estimated to be produced in this country during the ensuing 12 months?

On the assumption that the Customs Duty on imported light hydrocarbon oils remains at its present rate of 8d. a gallon and that no Excise Duty is imposed on home-produced light oils, the figure would be £3,000,000. It will be recalled that in any event, under the British Hydrocarbon Oils Production Act, 1934, there must be a margin of at least 4d. a gallon between the Customs Duty and any Excise Duty that might be imposed on home-produced light oils.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that traders in different parts of England refuse to accept Scottish pound notes as legal tender, and in certain cases where they are accepted charge 6d. per pound as commission; and if he will introduce legislation with a view to securing that such notes are accepted as legal tender on similar terms to those issued by the Bank of England?

Notes of the Scottish banks of issue have never been legal tender in England and Wales nor, save during the War, in Scotland itself, and I see no reason for legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport how many authorities have responded to his circulars Nos. 419 and 420, dealing with road improvements, by submitting proposals as suggested; how many plans have been approved; and what is the approximate cost of the schemes approved?

The answer to the first part of the question is 229. Pending the final total being struck, the best interim answer which I can give the hon. Gentleman is that I have already approved schemes to be put in hand during the current financial year at a cost of over £9,000,000. This compares with a figure for the corresponding period last year of £4,000,000.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the total expenditure involved in the preparation, compilation, printing and distributing of the Highway Code; and whether any grant is being made to the Safety First Association in this connection?

The cost of printing the 16½ million copies of the Highway Code is £15,000; the cost of distribution involves an adjustment with the Post Office of about £20,000. The preparation and compilation of the Code has involved no special expense. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that more than 4,000 blind persons have purchased or been given white walking sticks for use when walking alone to indicate to motorists that they are blind; and if he will help to make the significance of these white sticks more widely known among the motoring public by giving instructions that a query with regard to them should be included in the driving tests now being given, and by including a reference to them in any future editions of the highway code or other propaganda which he may issue?

I have tried to assist the object which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, and I have let it be known that the carrying of white sticks by the blind has my approval and support. I am always ready to advance the project to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers by any means open to me and it will certainly be relevant to consider, when the Highway Code comes to be revised, whether it would be appropriate to include advice on this subject. On the other hand it should be borne in mind that there are certain possible objections to this course; for example, blind people might rely too much on their sticks, the sticks might be used by people who are not blind, and people who are blind or nearly so and did not wish to use the sticks might be prejudiced in the event of an accident.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give particulars of all the weak bridges contained in the priority lists which have been prepared following upon the various bridge conferences, details of the steps being taken in each case, and the dates by which it is anticipated that the work will be completed?

The number of weak bridges contained in the priority lists prepared by highway authorities after conferences with the other interests concerned is about 1,200. The five-year programmes already submitted provide for the reconstruction of 357 weak bridges to be commenced in the current financial year. I hope that within the period of the five-year programme it will be possible to deal with the remainder of the bridges on the priority lists, and so far as I am concerned every effort will be made to secure that result.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the position of the work of reconstructing weak bridges; and whether steps are being taken to ensure that all the bridges placed in the programme will be reconstructed within the five years period of the programme?

The five-year programmes of highway authorities submitted to date include 357 weak bridges on which work of reconstruction is to be commenced during the present financial year. I hope to secure the reconstruction, within the five years, of all privately owned bridges to a standard of strength which will secure the maintenance of adequate communication by road.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the report of his inspector into the accident at the level crossing on the Nottingham-Boston line of the London and North Eastern Railway Company that the crossing equipment was old-fashioned and dangerous to the public; and whether he will take steps to ensure that all such crossings which cannot be eliminaaed in the near future are at least modernised, so as to render their operation as safe as possible?

I am in communication with the Railway Company.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will place in the Library of the House a copy of the report made to the Board under Article 18 of the Educational Code of 1926 by the education authority on the dismissal of Mr. Lomax?

Article 18 of the Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools states that where a teacher is convicted of a criminal offence or his engagement is terminated on account of misconduct or grave professional default, the facts must be reported to the Board. In the case of Mr. Lomax no such report was called for or made.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the resolutions passed at annual conferences of the Association of Education Committees and similar bodies during the past two or three years requesting the appointment of a suitable committee to consider the principles of the grant formula for education and the distribution of grants for education among the various local education authorities; and whether he can state when he proposes to set up such an inquiry, in view of the fact that the present formula for the distribution of grants is unrelated to existing circumstances?

My attention has been drawn to the resolutions referred to, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state the number of additional class and specialist teachers needed for the raising of the school age to 15 and for complete reorganisation of the advanced divisions on the lines recommended in the Hadow Report; how long it would take to train the additional teachers required; the estimated cost of the additional staff, buildings, and equipment required; and the estimated cost of maintenance allowances for the additional school year?

The board's experience suggests that there should be little difficulty in securing the majority of the teachers required in about two years from the passing of an Act raising the school age to 15, especially as the number of teachers at present being admitted to the Training Colleges is about 20 per cent. below their capacity. As regards the first and last parts of the question, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by attempting to prepare fresh estimates except in connection with specific proposals for legislation.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of diphtheria have occurred in Liverpool during the last seven years in children who had been previously inoculated against that disease; and whether any of the cases have proved fatal?

The following is the information supplied by the local authority:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the number of cruisers under 16 years of age built, or building, by Italy and the United States of America, respectively, giving the aggregate tonnage possessed by each country, and distinguishing between 8-inch and 6-inch gun vessels?

The numbers and tonnages are as follow:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he will state the number of flotilla-leaders and destroyers under 12 years of age, built or building, by the United States of America and Italy, respectively, giving the aggregate tonnage possessed by each country, and similar figures respecting submarines under 12 years of age possessed by these countries?

The numbers and tonnages are as follow:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he will state the number of capital ships under 20 years of age, built or building, by Italy and the United States of America, respectively, giving the aggregate tonnage possessed by each country?

The numbers and tonnages are as follow:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is intended to supplement the Anglo-German Naval Agreement with provisions for supervision, in order to provide that the ratios laid down shall not be exceeded?

The answer is in the negative. It is proposed, for the purposes of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, to rely upon arrangements for publicity of naval construction similar to those included in the Washington and London Naval Treaties. In this connection, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Carlisle (Brigadier-General Spears) on 24th July, 1935.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the nature of the controversy which has arisen in Kenya over the proposed issue of the exclusive licences for the marketing of produce; whether there have been any objections by the Indian community to the proposal; and whether any assurances and, if so, of what nature have been given by the Colonial Office to the Government of India?

I understand that the passage of the Native Marketing Bill through the Legislative Council in Kenya has been attended with some controversy, but I have not yet received either the final text of the Ordinance or the official report of the debates. I have assured my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for India that the Ordinance will not be brought into operation until I have had an opportunity of considering it in consultation, if necessary, with him; and that exclusive licences will be issued in a non-racial spirit, and will be subject, in each case, to my prior approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will favourably consider representations from the Indian community of Zanzibar for the appointment of a third member on the Legislative Council which has long remained vacant, particularly as the Arab community has got three representatives; whether he has considered the joint representation from Arabs and Indians in Zanzibar for the introduction of the electoral principle for the constitution of the Legislative Council; and whether he proposes to accede to this request?

I have received no representations from the Indian community regarding the constitution of the Legislative Council: such representations would, of course, receive my careful consideration. In reply to the second part of the question, in 1933 my predecessor considered representations from the Indian National and Arab Associations in favour of the introduction of the electoral principle, but he was not prepared to authorise the British Resident to suggest any such change to His Highness the Sultan. I see no reason to differ from that view.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the proportion of the diversion of the trade of Zanzibar cloves with India and with the United Kingdom to Madagascar, since the creation of the Clove Growers' Association in its present form?

I am afraid that no figures are available which would either confirm or disprove the suggestion that there has been a diversionn in the clove trade.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that the land alienation legislation was permitted to be-undertaken in Zanzibar on the ground that indebtedness was extensive, he will state why the publication of the report of the agricultural indebtedness commission in Zanzibar is withheld by the Zanzibar Government; and when it is likely to be published?

The report of the commission to which the hon. Member refers is still under consideration by the British Resident, who wishes to review carefully the various important issues which it raises. Publication has been deferred until he has fully considered these, and I am not therefore yet in a position to say on what date the report will be published.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of unemployed persons registered at the Heaton and Welbeck Road Employment Exchanges, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in May, 1929, October, 1931, and at the present time?

The numbers of unemployed persons, aged 14 years and over, on the registers of the Heaton and Walker (Welbeck Road) Employment Exchanges were as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour how many officers have been appointed by the Unemployment Assistance Board; what are the terms of their employment as to pensions; and what is the total cost of the salaries in question?

On 1st July, 1935, the total staff of the Unemployment Assistance Board (excluding cleaners) numbered 6,201. Of this total, 4,515 were employed in a temporary capacity and 1,686 were pensionable under the provisions of the Superannuation Acts 1834–1935, or under these Acts, as modified by the Unemployment Assistance Board (Supperannuation) Rules, 1935, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. As regards the last part of the question the actual expenditure on salaries, etc., for the first quarter of the current financial year was at the rate of approximately £1,250,000 per annum.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give a list of the occupations to which the regulations on seasonal employment now apply?

I would refer the hon. Member to page 11 of the Report of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee on the Seasonal Workers Order.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the accounts of the Scottish military pageant at Edinburgh in June, 1934, have been closed and audited; whether the Report of the civilian firm of accountants will be published or, alternatively, opened to public inspection; what are the final figures for the income and expenditure of the pageant; and what is the total sum, free of all charges, handed over to the trust for the welfare of the troops, to which fund it was distributed, and what proportion the expenses of the pageant bore to the income?

The accounts of the pageant were closed and audited in August, 1934. No report has been published, but the accounts are open to public inspection. The final figures were: Income £4,744, expenditure £2,320, leaving a sum of £2,424, which was handed over free of all charges to the Scottish Command Trust. The expenses represented 48.9 per cent. of the income.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has completed his consideration of the report of the Cattle Diseases Committee of the Economic Advisory Council; and what steps he proposes to take with a view to the eradication of tuberculosis from dairy herds?

The proposals contained in the report, which raises many important questions of policy, are continuing to receive my consideration in consultation with other Ministers concerned. As regards the second part of the question, I trust that the Attested Herds Scheme under Section 9 of the Milk Act, 1934, will have the effect of encouraging the eradication of tuberculosis from dairy herds. I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government attach great importance to the problem of dealing with this and other diseases of cattle.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were built in Scotland during the year ended 30th June, 1935; and how many of these were to be let at rents of 10s. a week, including rates, or less?

During the year ended 30th June last the number of houses built in Scotland was 22,749. The approval of the Department of Health is not required to the rents of individual houses, and I am unable to say how many of the above houses were to be let at the rents mentioned in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the costs of construction, excluding land and roads, of tenement houses of three apartments, and also of those of four apartments, in Glasgow and Edinburgh, respectively?

According to recent tenders submitted to the Department of Health, the cost of construction on a normal site, excluding land and roads, of three-storey tenement houses, each containing three and four apartments, was £240 and £273 10s., respectively, in Glasgow, while in Edinburgh the cost of three-apartment tenement houses was £254. No tenders have been received recently for four-apartment tenement houses in Edinburgh.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the acreage under potatoes in Scotland in the years 1932, 1933, 1934, and in 1935 if available?

The acreage under potatoes in Scotland in the four years 1932 to 1935 is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the promised legislation to deal with the depredations of deer will be introduced?

I hope that it may be found possible to introduce a Bill in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the number of smallholdings of one acre and up to 50 acres existing in Scotland on the last available date, and comparable figures for 1931?

The number of agricultural holdings in Scotland exceeding one and not exceeding 50 acres of land under crops and grass, according to the returns made to the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, was 49,438 in 1934, and 50,495 in 1931. The apparent decrease of 1,057 is mainly due to a change in classification, a large number of pieces of grazing land being no longer reckoned as separate holdings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the vice-chairman of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board has stated that the Board were sympathetic to the request of hospitals and infirmaries for a special rate for milk supplies, but were restained by the fact that legislation bound them only to apply special rates to what could be termed a new demand; and if he will take steps to amend the Act so as to permit public institutions to have the advantage of special terms for milk?

The statement referred to has not come under my notice but it is doubtless the case that the Scottish Milk Marketing Board are not in a position to give special terms to the hospitals and other such institutions in the absence of provision for Government assistance for such a purpose in the Milk Act, 1934. As stated in reply to previous questions, the matter raises large issues of policy, which will have to be considered in conjunction with the report of the Milk Reorganisation Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make any further statement as to negotiations between the corporation of the City of London and His Majesty's Government for the rebuilding and extension of Billingsgate Market?

I am not in a position to make any further statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the dissatisfaction which exists at the present time in relation to the proposed further expenditure by the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Joint Committee of the sum of £27,000 in respect of a new fisheries protection steamer, he will cause an inquiry to be made into the necessity for such expenditure in view of the fact that the Board have now a number of well-equipped modern patrol vessels which can quite effectively deal with all matters of fishery protection in the area covered by this joint committee?

The expenditure of this Committee is not subject in any way to my control.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to state how the 700 tons of potatoes recently consigned from Scotland to the London docks were sold for human consumption; how many tons were taken to the Stepney refuse destructor; and how many tons were carted to Edmonton?

There is nothing which I can usefully add to the reply given on my behalf on 23rd July to a similar question by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in all cases of foot-and-mouth disease inquiries are made as to whether any foreign meal has been used on the farms concerned; and, if so, whether he can state in what percentage of these farms such foreign meal has been used?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Out of 136 initial or new outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease which have occurred in Great Britain during the last 10 years it was ascertained that imported meal was on the premises in 58 cases, or 43 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that he has sufficient powers to prevent the importation of any article which might cause foot-and-mouth disease; and, if not, whether he will obtain such powers?

I am advised that Section 30 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, confers upon the Minister all the necessary powers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the representations received from agricultural organisations regarding the excessive imports of rabbits, he will introduce regulations ordering imported rabbits to be marked with their country of origin?

I am unable to trace the receipt of representations from agricultural organisations with regard to excessive imports of rabbits, and, as a matter of fact, the relative statistics show that imports in the first six months of 1935 were substantially less than in the corresponding periods of the two previous years. The issue of an Order in Council under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, to require the marking of imported goods of any class or description, including rabbits, would depend in the first instance upon an application to that end from those substantially representing interests such as producers, traders or consumers.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give a list of the names of the collieries in Nottinghamshire at which no inspections were made by workmen's inspectors during the year ended 28th June, 1935?

The following are the names of the collieries in Nottinghamshire where there were no inspections by workmen's inspectors during the year ended 28th June, 1935:—Babbington, Harworth, High Park, Sutton, Lowmoor, Ollerton, Clifton, Cossall, Firbeck Main, Grange, Lodge, Linby, Annesley, Bentinck, New Hucknall, New Selston, Pye Hill, Langton No. 8, Hucknall No. 1, Shireoaks, Steetley, Teversal, Warsop Main and Manton.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will state how many accidents took place in the 12 months ended 28th June in the 22 Nottinghamshire mines in which workmen's inspections took place; and how many accidents in the 24 mines in which no such inspections took place?

At the mines in which workmen's inspections took place, the number of fatal accidents was 20 and of immediately reportable non-fatal accidents 58. At the remainder, the numbers were 19 and 83 respectively. Figures are not available for accidents of kinds not required to be reported forthwith.

asked the Home Secretary whether the gas-mask which is being advised by the Government for use by the civilian population will be able to resist the action of suffocating vesicant and corrosive gases; for how long the masks will offer protection in use; and whether materials are available for the making of such gas-masks in quantities for the whole civilian population, with quantities sufficient to allow for reserves and for deterioration and damage?

The Government will only recommend the use of respirators which will afford protection against all known forms of gas which it would be practicable to use in war, for periods believed to be sufficient for the wearers to reach safety. Persons who might have to remain at work in gassed areas would need respirators giving a longer period of protection. It is not at present possible to quote precise figures of the duration of protection of different types of respirators. There is no reason to anticipate any difficulty in the supply of materials for the full number of respirators required.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has reviewed the latest census returns with the object of ascertaining to what extent there has been specially increased disparity in the number of electors in the various constituencies; and, if not, whether he will do so at an early date?

Particulars of the electorate of each constituency in England and Wales are published in Part II of the Registrar-General's Statistical Review and my Department is aware of the alterations referred to.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information with regard to the collision of a private motor-car and a Deal mail-van at the cross roads near Walmer Castle, Kent; whether he can state the cause of the accident and the number of persons injured?

The accident occurred at 1.15 p.m. on 27th July at the junction of Liverpool Road and Gransville Road, Walmer. Three persons were injured, of whom two are now out of hospital and the third, who received injuries at the base of the skull, is progressing satisfactorily. Police inquiries are proceeding and I am not in a position to make any statement as to the cause of the accident.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is no public telephone box in Strathkinnes, Fife; that the local residents urgently demand such facilities; and if he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to confirming the need and justification for such a service?

I am arranging to provide a telephone kiosk at Strathkinnes.