asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an undertaking that in any future trade agreements affecting agricultural products provision will be made that if a marketing scheme is set up the importing country will agree to conform to such minimum prices which may be prescribed from time to time by a board or boards administering the scheme of the regulated marketing of such products?

As I informed my hon. Friend on a previous occasion, I have taken note of his suggestion. I am unable to add to the answer I gave him then, when I pointed out that under Section 1 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1933 the Board of Trade have certain powers to regulate the volume of imports of agricultural products when a marketing scheme in respect of those products is set up in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any reliable information which shows that orders received from abroad by British firms are going abroad owing to the inability of manufacturers in this country to cope with them; and whether the Government has any proposal for the subsidisation of factories for the export trade?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative. I do not doubt that United Kingdom manufacturers generally are alive to the vital importance of maintaining and developing their export trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has reached a decision on the matter of the proposed restrictions on the entry of American magazines to this country?

I received a deputation on this subject recently and their representations are now under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the value of the sales of British typewriters in 1933, 1934, and 1935?

According to the results of the Import Duties Act Inquiries, the selling value of typewriters manufactured in the United Kingdom was £268,000 in 1933 and £319,000 in 1934. Corresponding information for the year 1935 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any information is available as to the success of the Empire Exhibition now being held in Johannesburg?

I am not in a position to give any detailed information as to the financial or commercial results of the Exhibition. I have, however, recently visited Johannesburg, where I had an opportunity of inspecting the Exhibition, and I have no hesitation in assuring my hon. Friend from personal observation, that it is achieving a conspicuous success. The United Kingdom Government Pavilion, which was erected and equipped by the Department of Overseas Trade "as a tribute of esteem from the people of the United Kingdom to the people of the Union of South Africa," has earned the enthusiastic appreciation of all visitors to the Exhibition.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increasing association between foreign interests and large picture-theatre circuits, there are any steps being contemplated to protect the individual and independent exhibitors, who are in danger of being crushed out of business?

I have received no representations on this subject, but, as my hon. and gallant Friend may know, I appointed a, Departmental Committee a few months ago to consider the position of British films and their report will be available in due course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has seen the comments of the Committee of Public Accounts that the sum of £1,300 per annum spent by his department in providing statistical information to only one section of the Press might be better disbursed; and whether it is intended to implement that suggestion?

I have read the Report of the Committee of Public Accounts to which the hon. Member refers. The Report deals with the question of a sum of £1,300 per annum not spent but received by my Department for the supply of certain statistical information to the "Farmers Weekly". There is no question of the supply of exclusive information; the same information is circulated widely to other sections of the Press. The payment in question arises from the fact that additional expenditure is incurred by the Ministry in making the information available to the "Farmers Weekly" by the time that paper goes to press. Similar facilities on appropriate terms are available to any other agricultural paper that may desire them. I see no reason for making any change in the existing arrangement, which I am satisfied is in the general interest of the agricultural community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the arbitration on the pig quotas allotted to the Shaburn and Malton bacon factories for 1937 will be resumed; and at what date it is anticipated that the decision of the arbitrator will be made public?

I am informed that the arbitration to which may hon. Friend refers has been adjourned pending the decision of the Courts on a case stated by the learned arbitrator. I cannot therefore say, pending the result of the case stated, when the arbitrator's award will be given, but I understand it is hoped that the case will be heard in the Courts at an early date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the number of prosecutions instituted by the Milk Board; the amounts of fines or penalties imposed; what proportions of such sums have been paid; whether any petitions have been presented at the instigation of the Milk Board which have resulted in the adjudication of any of the defaulters as bankrupts, and what offer of payment, if any, was made by the persons so adjudicated; and whether any persons adjudicated as bankrupts were ex-service men?

I am informed by the Milk Marketing Board that since the inception of the Milk Marketing Scheme they have imposed penalties upon registered producers for infringements of

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether statistics are now available as to the extent to which a greater proportion of British barley is being used in the brewing of British beer during the past two years; and whether he is satisfied with the existing arrangements to ensure that the maximum possible proportion is used?

The Brewers' Society has recently furnished the following statement to the Import Duties Advisory Committee regarding the quantity of British barley purchased in each of the past four years by brewers representing from 95 to 97½ per cent. of the total barrelage brewed:—

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the importation of potatoes from Northern Ireland for the years 1934, 1935 and 1936?

The quantities of potatoes shipped to Great Britain from ports in Northern Ireland have been as follow:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has considered a memorial from the Rani Shashank Manjari Devi, of Ramgarth Estate, India, praying that her son, Kumar Basant Narain Singh, may be nominated, in accord-dance with the wishes that his grandfather, the Raja Narpat Singh, expressed before he died, to succeed him in the possession of the Porahat estate which has been in the possession of the Porahat family for over 50 generations; whether he has corns to any decision in the matter; and when may the Rani reasonably expect a reply to her prayer?

This memorial is now under consideration and my noble Friend hopes to be in a position to take a decision on the matter shortly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will state the number of persons under 21, and over 21, flogged in British India, under sentence of the court and for offences against prison discipline, respectively, in each of the three years 1933, 1934 and 1935?

I regret that the information in my possession does not enable me to give separate figures for juveniles.

asked the Financial secretary to the Treasury whether facilities could be afforded to residents in this country receiving Christmas presents from America to have Customs concessions at Christmas time on these parcels, in the same way that residents in America are allowed Customs concessions from the American Customs on Christmas presents and parcels sent from this country to America?

My hon. Friend's suggestion has been noted, but I would point out that there is no provision in the existing law under which presents as such, from whatever country imported, could be exempted from Customs duties.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of men in 1909 in the Preventive Officers and Preventive Men Class and the number of men to-day in the Preventive Officers and Assistant Preventive Officers Grade; and whether the duties now discharged are substantially the same as those discharged in 1909?

The authorised establishment of Preventive Officers in 1909 was 510 and at the present time is 613. The corresponding figures for the Preventive Men, as they were called in 1909, or Assistant Preventive Officers as they are now called, are 1,000 and 930 respectively. The duties performed by these officials are substantially the same now as in 1909.

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether he is satisfied with the monthly output of aeroplanes in Great Britain; and, if not, when he expects to be satisfied?

The difficulties which are inevitable in the production of new types of aeroplanes have caused some delay in deliveries of those types and these difficulties have to be overcome. Having regard, however, to all the circumstances, the monthly output so far attained has been, in my opinion, reasonably satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Labour whether anything is being done to carry out the recommendation of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee, 1935, that seasonal workers should not be debarred from drawing Unemployment Assistance Board allowances?

I regret that after full consideration it has not been found practicable to adopt this recommendation.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men are being deprived of benefit by the Unemployment Assistance Board in Barrow-in-Furness on the ground that they have brothers earning sufficient to render them liable to pay Income Tax, and that nevertheless the brothers are refused Income Tax rebate in respect of those they are forced to maintain; and whether he will take steps to remedy this anomaly?

As I explained in answer to the hon. Member for Central Edinburgh (Mr. Guy) on 29th June last, provision is already made for deducting Income Tax in calculating net earnings. Where it is claimed that Income Tax paid by a wage-earning member of an applicant's household should be deducted from the amount of wages taken into account, the amount so paid is allowed by the Unemployment Assistance Board as a special expense by an appropriate reduction of the amount of wages taken into account.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there are numerous cases of men whose unemployment benefit is suspended while claims of the statutory authorities against the claimant are being investigated being refused retrospective payments after their claims have been upheld; and whether, as this causes hardship, he will cause it to be understood that retrospective payments must be made in all cases where claims are upheld after being challenged by the statutory authorities?

No, Sir, I am not aware of such cases. The Unemployment Insurance Acts provide in effect that in cases of the kind described a person claiming unemployment benefit shall not be worse off because the decision of his claim has been delayed. If the hon. Member will send particulars of any cases which he has in mind I shall be glad to have inquiry made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a report has recently been received from the Commissioner for the special areas of England and Wales; and will he state whether it is the intention to publish the report at once?

Yes, Sir. The report will be available in the Vote Office to-morrow evening.

asked the Postmaster-General why Patrick McShane, a clerk in the Banbridge Post Office, County Down, was prohibited from transferring to Newry Post Office on four different occasions; and whether this man is to be banned permanently from being appointed to Newry?

Mr. McShane was previously employed at Newry, but his conduct there in relation both to his official superiors and to the staff was such that I am satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of the service to re-transfer him there in present circumstances.

asked the Postmaster-General how many female adult full-time manipulative employés receive less than 40s. a week, between 40s. and 50s., between 50s. and 605., and between 605. and 70s.?

The desired information is approximately as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General what has been, the gross revenue and net surplus on wireless telephone services in 1930–31 and each subsequent year?

During the financial year 1934–35, which is the last year for which figures are available, the total cost of the radiotelephone services was about £174,000 and the revenue about £137,000. During the period of five years ended the 31st March, 1935, the average annual cost of the services was about £181,000 and the average annual revenue about £131,000. The services are in an early stage of development.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of part-time employés, excluding scale-payment sub-postmasters; and the number of those who receive less than 20s. a week, between 20s. and 30s., between 30s. and 40s., and over 40s., respectively?

The total number of part-time employ£s of the Post Office is approximately 25,500. Precise information regarding the numbers included in the wage groups mentioned in the hon. Member's question is not available, but it is estimated that 10,500 are in receipt of less than 20s. a, week, 13,000 in receipt of from 20s. to 30s. a week and 2,000 in receipt of from 30s. to 40s. a week. The number of part-time employés in receipt of more than 40s. a week would be negligible.

asked the Postmaster-General how many male adult full-time manipulative employés receive less than 40s. a week, between 40s. and 50s., between 50s. and 60s., between 60s, and 70s., between 70s. and 80s., and over 80s., respectively?

The desired information is approximately as follows:—

asked the Postmaster-General when it is proposed to lay the new charter of the British Broadcasting Corporation; whether any interested bodies have been consulted before this document was drawn up; and whether there will be an opportunity for the revision of any of its clauses after it is laid?

The work of preparing the new charter is not completed, and I am, therefore, not yet in a position to say when it will be laid before this House. As regards the second part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question, the Ullswater Committee afforded all interested parties an opportunity of expressing their views as regards matters covered by the charter, and I have since received representations in relation to certain of those matters from various sources, as well as having had the advantage of hearing the views of this House on two occasions. As regards the last part of the question, the new charter will be laid in draft.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the medical profession in Nairobi have petitioned the Governor of Kenya Colony against the removal of Dr. F. W. Vint from his present service in the medical research laboratory, which was especially praised in the Pim Report; and whether, as the removal of Dr. Vint would cripple the activities of the research laboratory and would destroy the prospect of inaugurating the inquiry into the causes of native backwardness, he will reconsider the possibility of retaining Dr. Vint where his co-operation is essential?

Yes, Sir, a memorial has been received by the Governor, who has consulted me regarding it by telegram and has sent me a copy by mail. I should first mention that Dr. Vint applied in July last for a transfer from Kenya, and I was proposing to select him for an appointment in Mauritius, which would have meant promotion to him.Upon receipt, however, of the Governor's telegram regarding the memorial I caused the Medical Research Council to be approached, in accordance with a suggestion of the Governor's, with a view to securing a grant which could be used to augment Dr. Vint's salary in Kenya, but the Medical Research Council did not feel justified in using their funds for such a purpose. I have consequently suggested to the Governor consideration of the question of increasing Dr. Vint's emoluments so as to enable his services to be retained in Kenya without loss to himself if that is possible. But it would not, in my view, be fair to him to retain him in his present position in Kenya to his own detriment.