asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the total amount collected in respect of licence duties on road vehicles for each of the years 1935 to 1939, respectively?

The gross and net proceeds of the excise duties on motor vehicles, etc., are published annually in the House of Commons Paper, Finance Accounts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the gross expenditure on roads and bridges of highway authorities for each of the years from 1934 to 1939, respectively?

The total expenditure of highway authorities on roads and bridges for each of the years ended 31st March, 1934 to 1936, inclusive, is published in Appendix 12 of the Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for the year 1936–37 and the expenditure for the year ended 31st March, 1937, is published in Appendix 4 of the report for the year 1937–38. The figure for the year 1937–38 is £64,705,000, which will be published later in the year in the Road Fund Report for 1938–39. The figure for 1938–39 is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an instance in which any foreign stone used for road-making has been imported by highway authorities within the last six months and state whether alternative British supplies were or were not available in each case?

No such instance has been brought to my notice during the last six months. It is one of the conditions of a grant from the Road Fund that all materials used shall, so far as practicable, be of United Kingdom origin.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have enlisted under the Military Training Act in the division of Stalybridge and Hyde; and what was the number of conscientious objectors?

244 men have registered at Stalybridge and Hyde; none of them registered as conscientious objectors.

asked the Home Secretary what reports he has; had from Liverpool as to the activities 0f German propaganda bodies such as the Link or the Labour Front?

I regret that I am unable to comply with the hon. Member's request. Disclosure of information would only frustrate the close watch which is kept on any organisation engaged in activities of this nature.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is yet in a position to issue a. further return of refugees, bringing up to date, the return issued on 24th March, and whether the return will include all those who can properly be termed refugees?

- The number of German, Austrian and Czech refugees who entered this country between 28th February and 20th May was 7,177 men, 6,482 women, and 2,197 children under 18 years of age. During the same period the number of refugees of these nationalities who left the country was 517 men and 304 women.The number of German, Austrian and Czech refugees in the United Kingdom on 20th May was 15,548 men, 12,760 women, and 6,601 children under 18. These figures cover all persons who so far as is known to the Home Office and the voluntary associations can properly be classified as refugees from Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the existing rates of Income Tax, and also of

Rates of Income Tax, Surtax and Death Duties in certain Colonies.
BARBADOS.
Income Tax.			£		s.	d.
On every complete pound of taxable income up to			200	at	0	3
	£
On every complete pound of taxable income beyond	200	and up to	400	at	0	6
On every complete pound of taxable income beyond	400	and up to	600	at	0	9
On every complete pound of taxable income beyond	600	and up to	800	at	1	0
On every complete pound of taxable income beyond	800	and up to	1,000	at	1	3
On every complete pound of taxable income beyond	1,000	and up to	1,500	at	1	6
On every complete pound of taxable income beyond	1,500	and up to	2,500	at	2	3
On every complete pound of taxable income beyond	2,500	and up to	5,000	at	3	0
On every complete pound of taxable income beyond	5,000	and up to	7,500	at	4	0
On every complete pound of taxable income beyond	7,500			at	5	0

Estate Duty.

On the death of any person whose property in Barbados would be liable to a duty in England under the Finance Act, 1894, a duty called "estate duty" shall be payable to the Colonia Treasurer for the benefit of the general revenue in respect of all property of such person which is ituate in this Island and passes on the death of such person.

The amount of such duty shall be the same as if this Act had not been passed and section twenty of the Finance Act, 1894, of the United Kingdom had not been applied to this Island, would have been payable in England in respect of such property under the said Finance Act, 1894, or any Act or Acts which may hereafter be passed altering or amending the same.

CEYLON.
Income Tax.
Subject to the authorised allowances, income tax is charged as follows:
Resident Individuals.
				Per cent.
1st Rs. 6,000	…	…	…	6
Next Rs. 30,000	…	…	…	12
Remainder	…	…	…	18
Miscellaneous.
Companies	…	…	…	12
Mutual Life Insurance Companies	…	…	…	6
Societies, Clubs, Trustees, etc.	…	…	…	12

Estate Duty— Class.	Where the value of the total estate of the deceased—						Estate duty shall be payable at the rate per cent. of Rs.
1.	Exceeds	Rs.	20,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	50,000	1
2.	Exceed4	Rs.	50,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	75,000	2
3.	Exceeds	Rs.	75,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	100,000	3
4.	Exceeds	Rs.	100,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	150,000	4
5.	Exceeds	Rs.	150,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	300,000	5
6.	Exceeds	Rs.	300,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	600,000	6
7.	Exceeds	Rs.	600,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	900,000	7
8.	Exceeds	Rs.	900,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	1,200,000	8
9.	Exceeds	Rs.	1,200,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	1,500,000	9
10.	Exceeds	Rs.	1,500,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	2,500,000	10
11.	Exceeds	Rs.	2,500,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	3,000,000	11
12.	Exceeds	Rs.	3,000,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	3.750,000	12
13.	Exceeds	Rs.	3,750,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	4,500,000	13
14-	Exceeds	Rs.	4,500,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	5,250,000	14
15.	Exceeds	Rs.	5,250,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	6,000,000	15
16.	Exceeds	Rs.	6,000,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	7,500,000	16
17.	Exceeds	Rs.	7,500,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	9,000,000	17
18.	Exceeds	Rs.	9,000,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	12,000,000	18
19.	Exceeds	Rs.	2,000,000	and does not exceed	Rs.	15,000,000	19
20.	Exceeds	Rs.	15,000,000				20

The following statement contains the information desired by the hon. Member:

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give the figures of the Palestine immigration schedule for the five months May to September, 1939, inclusive, showing how many are for capitalists possessing £1,000, lesser capitalists, labour, rabbis, students and children and dependants of settlers, respectively; whether there are any certi-

Category.	Allocation
	Ordinary.	Refugee.
A (i) (Capitalists—£1,000)	450	500
A (iv) (Persons of secured income of not less than £4 a month)	35	35
A (v) (Small capitalists — £500)	Nil	35
B (ii) (Persons of religious occupations)	Nil	35
B (iii) (Students)	960	900
C (Labour immigrants)	400	200
D (Dependents, including children, of permanent residents or ofimmigrants in Categories A, B and C.)	1,800	2,500
	3,645	4,205
	7850

Four hundred are reserved for non-Jewish immigrants. These will be issued as occasion arises to suitable applicants in this category, among whom some will no doubt be Arabs. As regards the third part of the question, the allocation as between the ordinary and refugee quotas is indicated in the total above.With reference to the fourth part of the question, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him on 20th June. The 1,300 illegal immigrants were allowed for before the immigration quota was fixed; consequently the number may be said to have been deducted from the quota as a whole and not from individual categories.

The figures, as allocated among categories, are as follow:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will publish a list of educational films passed by the Board of Education?

The Board are only concerned with the certification of films as educational for the purpose of their exemption from Customs duty under Section 7 of the Finance Act, 1935. Some 250 films have been certified under this Section. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by publishing a list of them, but if my hon. Friend desires it and will communicate with me I shall be glad to have a list sent to him.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state the number of schools, specifying whether elementary, senior, or secondary, registered as listening to school broadcasting programmes, giving separate figures for Lancashire; also whether it is the policy of his Department to encourage local education authorities to provide the necessary facilities?

I am informed by the Central Council for School Broadcasting that the number of schools in England and Wales registered on 16th June as listening to the school broadcast programmes was 9,816. Of these 7,300 were elementary schools (including 1,790 senior schools or departments), 1,024 were secondary schools and 1,492 were other types of schools.In Lancashire 871 schools were registered. Of these 752 were elementary schools (including 202 senior schools), 86 were secondary schools and 33 were other types of schools.With regard to the second part of the question, the Board welcome the increasing use of wireless in schools and their Handbook of Suggestions for Teachers contains references to the value of broadcasting as an aid to instruction.

asked the First Commissioner of Works by what authority the public are permitted to bring motor cars into Richmond Park, or to park them there on the parking-places provided; and whether it is proposed that motorists should continue indefinitely to escape a charge for these privileges in view of the fact that riders are now to be asked to pay for their right of admission?

Motor cars are permitted to be brought into Richmond Park under the general powers of the Commissioners of Works acting on behalf of the Crown as the owner of the park. Regulations dealing with the parking of cars have been made and published under the Parks Regulation Acts, 1872 and 1926. No proposals are under consideration for making a charge to motorists.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he can state the estimated cost of the upkeep of Richmond Park for the current financial year; how this compares with that for the financial year ending last April; and what is the approximate cost of maintenance for the current year of the riding track in that park and of the roads therein?

The cost of the upkeep, under all heads, of Richmond Park during the current financial year is estimated to be £25,100. The cost during the previous financial year was approximately £27,100. The expenditure to be incurred on the riding track during the current financial year will depend upon the funds available, but is expected to amount to about £1,000. The maintenance of the roads, during the same period, will cost approximately £2,000.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, as the increase in the business at the Stratford Third District Tax Office is largely due to the growth in the Woodford area, he has considered a proposal to re-house the Stratford Tax Office in this area, whereby there will be greater convenience to the taxpayers who now have to travel several miles if they warn: to call at the Tax Office; and whether negotiations have yet taken place with a builder on the subject of accommodation?

I am aware of the advantages of removing the Stratford Third District Tax Office to the Wood-ford area, and my Department is at present considering the offer of a firm of builders to provide premises to meet their requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether all aircraft employed by Imperial Airways, Limited, directly or indirectly are required to carry wireless?

I am informed that, with the exception of one small aircraft operating on a local service, all aircraft employed directly or indirectly by Imperial Airways, Limited, are equipped with wireless apparatus.

asked the Postmaster-General whether negotiations are continuing with the Association of Cinema Technicians respecting salaries and conditions in the Post Office, General Post Office film unit; and when it is possible that salaries will be beneficially adjusted in conformity with the scale of the association and the best standards prevailing for cinema technicians?

Yes, Sir, negotiations are continuing and agreement has been reached on certain points. On other points, including the salaries of various individuals, further representations which have just been received from the Association are being considered, but I can give no undertaking as to the result of such consideration. A number of the persons concerned have had their salaries increased in April last.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the delays in the trunk call services between London, South Wales, and the North; and whether he will state the reasons why it takes as long as an hour to put through a call on these services?

I am fully aware of the delays on trunk calls to which the hon. Member refers; they are the result of a marked increase in business activities since Whitsuntide, which has produced a sudden rise in the level of telephone traffic. Additional circuits to relieve the congestion on the routes concerned are being provided as rapidly as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made with the establishment of a commodity council to deal with the imports of milk products; and what parallel action is being taken to bring into being as soon as possible the Milk Products Marketing Scheme for this country in accordance with his recent proposals so as to ensure that British interests in connection with the commodity council are properly organised?

The various countries concerned have been asked to nominate representatives to serve on the proposed Commodity Council for processed milks, but full replies have not yet been received. The question of the representation of home producing and manufacturing interests is under consideration. The draft Milk Products Marketing Scheme is now receiving my personal consideration and I am on the point of conveying my modifications to the promoters in accordance with the Act.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the total income into the Unemployment (Agricultural Workers) Insurance Fund; the total amount paid out in unemployment benefits; and the total administrative expenses?

From the commencement of the scheme up to 31st March, 1939, the approximate total receipts of the Agricultural Account of the Unemployment Fund, the amount paid out in benefit and the charge apportioned in respect of administration were as follow:

	£
Total receipts (including income from investments)	5,000,000
Benefit paid	1,614,000
Administration	614,000

Contributions became payable as from 4th May, 1936, and benefit as from 5th November, 1936.The charge for administration includes the cost of the initial operations in setting up the agricultural scheme and, in accordance with the recommendation of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee, is calculated at one-eighth of the net contribution income of the Agricultural Account.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the number of juveniles between 14 and 18 years of age registered as unemployed in Lancashire; and whether this aspect of the problem of unemployment is receiving special attention?

At 15th May, 1939, there were 11,207 unemployed juveniles, aged 14 and under 18 years, on the registers of Employment Exchanges and Juvenile Employment Bureaux in Lancashire. With regard to the second part of the question, special attention is always given to unemployment among juveniles, particularly through the Authorised Courses of Instructions for unemployed boys and girls, and the Juvenile Transference Scheme.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make it clear that the objections of Estonia to being guaranteed are not to be allowed to jeopardise the formation of a front promoting the general security of Europe?

Estonia is not the only country in question, as my hon. Friend's question seems to imply. If the general security of Europe is to be promoted, account must be taken of the susceptibilities of individual States.

asked the Prime Minister what is the position at Swatow, and especially as to how far events there are likely to prejudice the interests of British shipping and of British trade with Hong Kong?

The Japanese forces completed their occupation of Swatow on 22nd June. So far as can be ascertained, all the British subjects there are safe.As regards British shipping, the situation is still obscure, but the British naval authorities are doing their utmost despite local difficulties to secure the unrestricted movements of British ships.It is still too early to form an opinion about the possible impact of these operations on British trade with Hong Kong, but the position is being closely watched.