asked the President of the Board of Trade whether foreign-built ships are subjected to duty on first becoming registered in the United Kingdom; and, if not, whether he will consider the practicability and advisability of imposing such a tax?

No, Sir. As regards the second part of the question, I am satisfied that it would be neither practicable nor advisable to impose such a tax.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the amount of butter released from cold storage in Great Britain during October, 1935, and the comparable figure for the same period of 1934?

Information in regard to butter released from cold store is not available for calendar months. According to figures published by the Imperial Economic Committee, the net movement of butter out of cold storage in Great Britain during the four weeks ended 26th October, 1935, amounted to 221,950 boxes, as compared with 329,500 boxes in the four weeks ended 27th October, 1934.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will endeavour to convene a conference of all the European Powers concerned, with a view to securing the enforcement of an international agreement that no country shall permit any matters to be broadcast by wireless by way of propaganda on behalf of any political party or similar body in another country?

The Council of the International Broadcasting Union passed on the 13th May, 1933, a, resolution on the subject of "inadmissible propaganda," to the effect that the Council

"holds that the systematic diffusion of programmes or communications specially intended for listeners in another country and which have been the subject of a protest by the broadcasting organisation or organisations of such country, constitutes an inadmissible act from the point of view of good international relations and calls upon the members of the Union to avoid such transmissions, which constitute an improper use of broadcasting."

I do not think that a special international conference is called for to deal with the matter to which my hon. Friend calls attention. The League of Nations has summoned an international conference to meet at Geneva on the 3rd September next to consider a draft International Convention for the Use of Broadcasting in the Cause of Peace.

asked the Secretary of State for War, what were the receipts and expenses incurred in connection with the recent military tattoo at Aldershot; how is the profit balance, if any, allocated; and what charitable and other institutions benefit?

A statement of accounts in respect of the recent Aldershot Tattoo, which ended only on Saturday last, will not be available until October, when perhaps the hon. Member will put down a further question. I would explain, however, that no expense falls on public funds in connection with this display, and accordingly the allocation of profits is left entirely in the hands of the trustees. They are, in point of fact, always distributed to Service charities in the area from which the troops taking part in the tattoo are drawn.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in the court-martial of Lieut.-Colonel Sandford the summary of evidence was taken under the provisions of military law prior to his being claimed by the military authorities for trial under military law and prior to the suspension of proceedings initiated by the military authorities against him in the civil court; and under what provision of military law a civil police officer was present in his official capacity when the summary of evidence was taken?

I understand that a summary of evidence was commenced but not concluded by the military authorities on the day prior to that upon which Mr. Sandford was formally charged before a civil court in India, and that the charge before such civil court was not proceeded with on Mr. Sandford being claimed for trial by court-martial under the Army Act. I am not aware if a civil police officer was present in his official capacity at the taking of the summary of evidence, but there would be no legal objection to his presence with the sanction of the military authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that under the Army Act, Section 53 (1), if a court-martial, after the commencement of the trial is, by death or otherwise, reduced below the legal minimum, it must be dissolved; that during the court-martial in India of Major H. R. Sandford, he was promoted lieut.-colonel and that three officers, junior rank, continued to adjudicate in the case; and why the provisions of Section 53 (1) were not complied with?

As I have already explained in correspondence with my hon. and gallant Friend, there is no provision in the Army Act which requires that the rank of a member of a court-martial should be equal if not superior to that of the accused.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Lieut.-Colonel Sandford, who was dismissed the service by sentence of a general court-martial, was granted an award of retired pay after the quashing of four out of his five convictions; whether this award of retired pay was made in mitigation of the original sentence, or for what other reason; is he aware that the award of retired pay was subsequently cancelled and replaced by a compassionate allowance granted by the Secretary of State for India in Council; and will he state under what authority this was done?

I am aware that Mr. Sandford was granted an award of retired pay after the quashing of four out of his five convictions. This award was not made in mitigation of the original sentence. The case was one for decision by the Army Council under Article 548 of the Royal Warrant for the Pay, etc., of the Army, 1931, and the Army Council considered that to deprive Mr. Sandford entirely of his retired pay, in addition to his dismissal, would have been too severe a punishment. Had Mr. Sandford retired in normal circumstances he would have been eligible for an Indian addition to his British rate of retired pay and the total award would have been administered by the India Office. He was granted an award at half the total rate which would normally have been made. I am aware that the award of retired pay was subsequently cancelled and replaced by a compassionate allowance granted under the authority of the Secretary of State for India in Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered the copy sent to him of the resolutions unanimously passed at the meeting of the combined East African sections of the British Medical Association, at Kampala on 28th May, urging an immediate inquiry into the causes of mental and physical backwardness in African Natives; whether, in view of the return of Sir Malcolm Hailey from his tour of inspection of racial conditions in Central Africa, his report may now be made public; and whether action will now be taken in accordance with the opinions of responsible medical authorities in Africa?

I have received from the hon. Member a copy of the resolutions mentioned, but have no other information. As regards the second part of the question, Sir Malcolm Hailey's report will not be made to me, but to the African Research Survey and the question of publication is a matter for that body. As regards the last part of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on this subject on the 11th July last.