asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware of the great difficulty which doctors are experiencing in obtaining new motor cars; and if he will consider allowing the import of motor cars from abroad in cases where the absence of a reliable motor car is having an adverse effect on the work of a doctor.

As explained by my right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton) on 10th July, import licences are only granted where the cars are genuine gifts.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware of the difficulty of obtaining separators; and what steps he is taking to improve the supply.

No. My information is that the supply of separators is adequate to meet the needs of all firms who are allocated milk for butter making. Cream separators are only produced for export, as the sale of cream in this country is prohibited.

asked the Minister of Supply how many persons are employed centrally and regionally in the operation of each individual raw material control of his Department; what is the total annual payroll in each case; and what proportion this bears to the cash value of the material controlled.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Supply what prospects there are of increasing the production of tinplate during 1948.

If adequate fuel supplies are available, an increase of between 5 and 10 per cent. above the present level of production should be possible.

asked the Minister of Supply if he is aware that a receiver has been appointed to East Pool and Agar, Limited; and what instructions have been given to him.

Yes. The receiver has been instructed to proceed with the realisation of the assets against a debenture thereon held by the Ministry of Supply.

asked the Minister of Works what steps he is taking to meet the cement shortage in Livepool.

More shipping space has recently become available and has enabled the industry to double its shipments to Liverpool.

asked the Minister of Works what is the current rate of cement production in South Wales; how far this falls short of requirements; and what steps he is taking to increase supplies.

The average weekly production of cement in South Wales is now 7,500 tons. The production in South Wales itself cannot meet all the requirements of the area; but arrangements have been made for a further increase in production of 1,500 tons a week, and this, taken in conjunction with supplies from elsewhere, will I hope go far to satisfy demands.

asked the Minister of Works if he will give information about the level of cement production in recent weeks.

Yes. The weekly production of cement has risen from 144,000 tons at the beginning of June to nearly 163,000 tons for the week ending 28th July. Production in the last fortnight is at a higher annual rate than the average annual rate in 1938, but whether it can continue at this high level depends, of course, on the continued supply of coal to the industry. The detailed figures of recent production are as follow:—

asked the Minister of Works if he is satisfied that the supply of bricks is adequate to avoid the use of breeze blocks in new house building.

The supply of bricks should be adequate to meet the needs of new house building given a sufficient supply of fuel for the brickworks. Clinker blocks of British Standard specification are, however, of particular value for the inner leaf of external walls and for partitions.

asked the Minister of Works what is the increase or decrease in the number of building contractors during the past year; and the average number of employees employed by each.

During the period July, 1946, to June, 1947, 41,298 new firms registered as building and civil engineering contractors, and the increase in the number of firms reported to be in actual operation was 22,187. Information as to the number of persons at present employed by these newly registered firms is not available.

asked the Minister of Works what quantities of tables, chairs, blankets and beds are stored in R.A.F. hangars which were formerly used by the Forces and which could be used for civilian purposes.

The stock fluctuates, but the quantities are at present about 89,000 tables, 76,000 chairs, 215,000 blankets and 52,000 beds. All this furniture is required for re-issue either to Service or Civil Departments and is not available for disposal to the public.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that the Cwmdu Brickyard, Skewen, Glamorganshire, is still idle in spite of an assurance given last year that it would be reopened; what stage has been reached in the negotiations for re-opening it; and if he will now give a definite date when this undertaking will be in production.

Continuous efforts have been made without success to obtain finance to re-open the brickyard. The owners have now agreed to submit to arbitration a claim for war damage and, if they receive a satisfactory award, they will reopen the brickyard. In the circumstances, no definite re-opening date can be given.

asked the Minister of Works what are the percentages of Welsh, English, Portuguese, Newfoundland and French slates now used in building and repair works in this country; and what, is he advised, is the comparative life of each type of slate.

So far as can be ascertained, approximately 72 per cent. of the slates are from Wales, 26 per cent. from England, and 2 per cent. from Portugal; there are no imports from Newfoundland or France. It is generally agreed that the best type of Welsh slate has the longest life, but it is difficult to assess with any accuracy the extent to which other slates fall short of this standard.

asked the Minister of Works if he is aware that several tinplate mills in West Wales are unable to employ Polish labour because of lack of living accommodation for the Poles; and what steps he is taking to provide such accommodation.

Yes, living accommodation for the first batch of Polish labour is ready, and it is hoped that the work to complete the most urgently needed premises will have been carried out by 1st September next.

asked the Minister of Works when he proposes to hold the next zonal conference for the Glasgow area.

The next zonal conference for the Glasgow area is to be held on 12th August.

asked the Minister of Works what action he is taking, or proposes taking, to give full publicity to the mechanical aids and scientific methods which may be used to economise labour in the house-building industry and accelerate the erection of houses.

The normal channel of publicity for these items is through the technical Press. In addition, my Department organises, or assists in organising, exhibitions of mechanical aids intended to economise labour in building. These mechanical aids are also brought to the notice of one of my Advisory Committees on which both sides of the industry are represented, so that they may draw the special attention of their members to them in suitable cases.

asked the Minister of Works whether he is satisfied with the progress of the building of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell.

Yes. A number of factors contributed to setting back the work as compared with the original programme. It was necessary, in order to avoid injuring local housing programmes, to build up a large imported labour force; the project suffered, in common with all other building construction, and more heavily than most, from the difficult weather conditions of last winter; and the novelty of the project introduced other elements of difficulty and delay. I am, however, satisfied with the present position and I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply shares my view that the work is making good progress. I am satisfied that the contractors, the sub-contractors, their men, and my own staff are giving of their best.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many officers in the British Families Education Service in the British zone of Germany have been allotted to accommodation in which it is possible to have their families; and what percentage this number represents of the total number of officers of the British Families Education Service who are entitled to have such accommodation.

The number is 20; the percentage is 46.4.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the growing practice adopted by hoteliers and restaurateurs of making a 10 per cent., 15 per cent. or 20 per cent. service charge on customers' bills, whereas this money is often kept by the managements in order to assist them in avoiding food regulations; and what action he proposes to take to obviate this.

Caterers are allowed to make a service charge of up to 10 per cent. of the bill and may dispose of the money as they wish. If my hon. Friend will send me the name of any establishment making a higher service charge, I shall be glad to have the matter investigated.

asked the Minister of Food the quantity of fats allocated to South Wales in the first six months of 1946 and 1947, respectively.

The quantity of edible fats allocated to trade users in South Wales was 3,492 tons in the first six months of 1946, and 3,325 tons in the first six months of 1947.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of Turkish eggs has been imported into the United Kingdom and what percentage of these eggs was found to be unfit for human consumption on distribution in this country.

360,000 dozen shell eggs were imported from Turkey in June. This was an experimental shipment and, on test before distribution, some 6 per cent. were found to be unfit for human consumption.

asked the Minister of Food if he will name the members of the committee that has been set up to inquire into the distribution of fruit and vegetables.

The committee will be inter-departmental but the precise terms of reference are not yet complete. I hope to make a general announcement later.

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of the total goods on points is allocated to those retailers who have no registrations.

The proportion is probably less than 8 per cent.

asked the Minister of Food what proportions of fresh and frozen meat, respectively, have been issued during the past six months for domestic and catering consumption in Aberdeenshire and Banffshire; and whether this proportion is maintained in the issues to every butcher in the area.

Ignoring canned corned meat all butchers have in the same proportion, the proportions of fresh and frozen carcase meat respectively issued during the six months ended 25th July for domestic and catering consumption in Aberdeenshire and Banffshire were 67 per cent. and 33 per cent. I am satisfied that all butchers in the counties of Aberdeen and Banff have had as fair a distribution of home killed and imported meat as is reasonably possible.

asked the Minister of Food why the extra cheese ration is not granted to building workers in the New Milton district of Hampshire.

The extra cheese ration is allowed to building workers who are regularly and solely engaged on building work in rural areas situated more than two miles from the nearest town. A number of claims from the New Milton area have been disallowed because these conditions were not fulfilled.

asked the Minister of Food why a catering licence was refused to Mr. T. H. Nicholls, Morwylfa, Ivevor, Caernarvonshire, in view of the fact that no catering establishments are available in that area, and having regard to the considerable tourist and holiday-making requirements for catering facilities in this area at the present time.

Mr. T. H. Nichols application for a catering licence was refused by the local food control committee and by the divisional food officer after an appeal because they do not consider a further establishment necessary to meet consumer need.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of mackerel has been dumped in the North Sea during 1947; and if he will take steps to prevent, such waste of food in the future.

Up to 1st August, the quantity dumped was about 216 tons. I regret that, because mackerel landings are so small and so scattered, the scheme for the purchasing of herring surpluses for oil and meal cannot be extended generally to cover mackerel; but my right hon. Friend is considering whether, at the ports where arrangements for buying herring surpluses already exist, it would be practicable to buy mackerel also if factory capacity is available.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that on 31st July in a London market marrows were sold at three for 1d., beans at ½d. per lb., and peas at 1d. per lb.; that these low prices were not sufficiently reflected in retail shops; and if, in order to avoid wastage and give the public the benefit of increased food supplies, he will impose maximum profit margins.

My information is that the most usual wholesale prices at the main London markets on 31st July were 2d. each for marrows, 3d. per lb. for runner beans, and 3½d. per lb. for peas, but retail price information is collected weekly and the figures for the past week are not yet available. It is, I am afraid, quite impracticable to impose maximum profit margins for vegetables of such a highly perishable character and subject to such fluctuating quality and prices.

asked the Minister of Food what action has been taken in respect of petitions addressed to him by the Housewives Association of Arbroath and other similar associations in Scotland with regard to increased allocations of sugar for jam-making.

The hon. Member will by now have received my letter dated 30th July, to which I have nothing to add at present.

asked the Minister of Food how many children are entitled to receive orange juice; and in how many cases advantage is taken of this facility.

The number of children entitled at 28th June, 1947, to receive orange juice was 3,960,153. Although the actual distribution in June, 1947, to children and expectant mothers was 49 per cent. of their full entitlement, the number of individuals participating is not known, as many do not take their full quantities.

asked the Minister of Food what amount of orange juice' would be needed each month if all children entitled to it took full advantage of this facility; and how much orange juice is distributed to children each month.

Just over nine million 6 02. bottles of orange juice would be required each four weeks if all children and expectant mothers took full advantage of their entitlement. The actual quantity distributed varies from month to month but in June, 1947, it was 49 per cent. of the potential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why letters addressed to British subjects care of the British Embassy in Tokio are opened by the U.S. Military Censor of Civil Mails.

All civil mails to and from Japan are handled by the Japanese postal authorities who must deliver them before transmission to the Allied censorship authorities for examination. These regulations are not applicable to diplomatic or forces mail.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the volume of trade passing through the principal Humber ports in the first six months of this year, expressed as a percentage of the pre-war trade.

The total tonnage of imports and exports through Hull, Goole, Grimsby and Immingham in the first six months of this year was about 70 per cent. of that in the first six months of 1938.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that goods purchased in this country and which are, on points are sold without restriction in the canteens of troopships returning from the Far East; whether a system of rationing points goods can be introduced in troopships; and what, steps are taken to prevent such goods being purchased by passengers and landed for their own- use when the ship arrives in this country.

Goods on sale in the canteens of troopships are intended for consumption on board. If brought ashore in the United Kingdom, they are subject to the usual Customs control. I will consider with the other Ministers concerned whether the present procedure requires alteration.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, as promised, a reexamination has been made of ventilation in the older District Railway cars used on the line between London and Barking; and whether any improvement has been found possible.

I am informed that the L.P.T.B. are experimenting with ventilating fans in order to improve conditions in the older cars.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the regulations allowing reduced fares and reserved accommodation only applies to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during the summer, which particularly hits the working boys' clubs of Brighton and elsewhere who go camping and can only start their holidays during the week-end, as distinct from those still at school who can leave any day of the week; and whether he will consider making special concessions for working boys and girls.

I regret that the restoration of these weekend cheap fare facilities is not possible at present because the depleted railway resources are insufficient to handle the traffic that would result.

asked the Minister of Transport, whether in view of the raising of the school-leaving age with the consequent loss of earning power to children between the ages of 14 and 15 years, steps will now be taken to extend to them cheap travel facilities, now available only to children up to the age of 14 years.

After a careful review of the situation I have come to the conclusion that, in existing circumstances, I should not be justified in asking the transport authorities to extend the age up to which travel is allowed generally at half-fares.

asked the Minister of Transport why, in view of the fact that reservations for railway journeys are restricted, seats were reserved on the 10.57 a.m. train, which was crowded from Waterloo to Portsmouth on 18th July, 1947, for officials of the Racecourse Betting Control Board travelling to Esher, particulars of which have been sent to him; and if he will take steps to ensure that the regulations are observed in future.

The regulations in force permit the railway companies to make reservations by prior arrangement for organised parties.

asked the Minister of Transport on how many occasions in the past two months the 11.35 p.m. train from London, Euston, to Glasgow (St. Enoch) has stopped at, or or just outside, Dumfries Station.

Seventeen.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in the interest of road safety, he will abolish the amber light after the green, while retaining it after the red on all traffic lights.

No. The amber signal gives a warning to traffic that the lights are about to turn from green to red, and its omission would not, in the view of my right hon. Friend, be in the interests of road safety.

asked the Minister of Transport the estimated cost and labour involved in breaking up the Canadian by-pass road, Redhill; and the estimated cost and labour involved in repairing this road.

I am advised that the cost of breaking up this road would be about £12,000 and that 10 men would be required for three months. The cost of repairing it to provide a satisfactory carriageway, one footpath and the necessary drainage works, is estimated at £25,000 and the number of men required at 50 for six months. In addition, it would be necessary to acquire the land.

asked the Minister of Transport the estimated cost and labour involved in constructing the Canadian bypass, Redhill, which it is now proposed to break up.

I regret that I have no information about the cost and labour involved in the construction of this road, which was carried out by the Canadian Army.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the discomfort caused to omnibus travellers from Cardiff owing to the absence of shelter at Scott Street, Cardiff, terminus of the Rhondda Transport Company and at Cathays Park, terminus for the Western Valleys Transport Service; and what action he proposes to take.

I am informed that the omnibus operators have had no complaints from passengers. I have no general powers to compel the erection of shelters.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider making the necessary provisions for Road Fund grants to continue to be available to such local authorities who make the post of safety officer a permanent one so that salaries of such safety officers shall not become the sole concern of the local authority.

The conditions of employment of a local road safety organiser are for the local authority to determine, and as Road Fund grants are made on a year-to-year basis, I cannot make specific provision for the future as suggested by my hon. Friend. I would point out that the same conditions apply to the grants towards the salaries of the engineers to highway authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now prepared to restore the Traffic Commissioners (Scotland) Northern Area to its full status, having its own chairman and commissioners.

The present arrangement whereby the whole of Scotland is one Traffic Area, with headquarters in Edinburgh and a sub-office in Aberdeen, is adequate for the purposes of the Road and Rail Traffic Acts.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now able to relax the general administrative instruction to Regional Transport Commissioners that, except in proved cases of extreme hardship to passengers, omnibus stops should not exceed four to a mile.

We must maintain the general rule so long as the present difficulties in bus operation continue, but Regional Transport Commissioners consider sympathetically cases of hardship.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why firms are often required to accept, as part of their allocation and at the full price, coal containing more than 40 per cent. of ash; why accumulations of incombustible coal are treated by fuel officers as stock when authorising future deliveries; and when allocations and prices will be related to quality.

Under present conditions it is not possible to avoid using a certain proportion of inferior quality fuel, and prices are adjusted in cases of serious departure from contract specifications. The general question of the price structure for the various qualities of the fuel supplied is one which the National Coal Board has under immediate consideration. As regards the second part of the Question, allocations for firms in the summer scheme for industry are fixed on the basis announced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 1st May under which stocks are not taken into account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will reduce and simplify the procedure which has at present to be followed in order to obtain supplies of timber of less than £10 value.

I am afraid that, with the severe shortage of timber, we cannot afford to relax.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of the salvage collected by the Cardiff City Council during the period April, 1946, to April, 1947.

3,343 tons of salvage, returning a gross income of £13,590.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken by his Department to preserve in good condition stocks of surplus rubber boots and to ensure that these are distributed as soon as possible in this country for civilian use.

Arrangements have been in in operation for nearly three years to avoid any waste of surplus rubber boots, whether new or part worn, and to recondition those requiring it. Over 3 million pairs of boots have been handled through the Board of Trade, and those fit for wear have been distributed through ordinary trade channels to the public or to other users.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for business firms who have had their plant and machinery destroyed, to receive interest on advance payments made before 21st October, 1946, under the War Damage Business Scheme in view of the fact that the replacement value in most cases amounts to more than 200 per cent. of the original value of the goods destroyed.

No. In my statement after Questions on 21st October, 1946, of which I am sending the right hon. Member a copy, I pointed out that the War Damage Act made no provision for the payment of interest on advances, and I explained the reasons why the Government had decided to allow interest exceptionally in respect of advances made against Business Scheme claims after that date. I then said that the Government were not prepared to re-open cases in which advances had already been made, and I see no reason for modifying that decision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, in view of the cut in newsprint enforced upon British newspapers, the Soviet News continues to receive, undiminished, an allocation of newsprint which allows it to continue the issue of a four folio page journal daily; and if he will review this position.

The allocation for this publication, in common with other foreign Government-sponsored journals which have been specially licensed to be published under the Paper Control Orders, is fixed on the advice of the Central Office of Information at the minimum quantity considered appropriate, and this quantity is constantly under review.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Shoreditch employment exchange is refusing to forward industrial clothing coupons through the post and insists on the attendance of an employer's representative to collect them; and whether this procedure is adopted on his instructions.

I am informed that the manager in this case suggested, but did not insist, that employers should collect the coupons from the exchange because of rather frequent losses which had occurred in transit. In matters of this kind, I feel that the manager must be allowed to exercise his discretion and he appears to have done so reasonably.

asked the Minister of Health if he will call the attention of local authorities to their powers under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, Section 22, and the amended Food and Drugs (Milk and Dairies) Act, 1944, Section 3, to serve a notice on those offenders who adulterate milk to attend before them and show cause why their registration should not be cancelled.

I have no reason to believe that local authorities are not exercising these powers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India why the Indian Ordnance Service has not been included in the list of services detailed in Command Paper 7116; and whether he will ensure that the due interests of members of this service will not be overlooked during forthcoming negotiations.

The Indian Ordnance Service was not included in the list of services detailed in Command Paper 7116, because it is not one of the Secretary of State's services. The due interests of European members of this service will not be overlooked during the forthcoming negotiations.

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the large number of young people wishing to make exchange visits here and abroad, he will give financial support to all competent societies who are willing to undertake the organisation of this service, in view of the chaotic conditions now existing; and if steps will be taken to co-ordinate such services.

I cannot undertake to give financial support to all the organisations which are concerned with arrangements for these exchange visits. I recognise, however, the need for co-ordinating these services and with this object in view I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, with representatives of the local education authorities, the teachers' organisations and with other Departments concerned.

asked the hon. Member for West Walthamstow, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he will say from which rooms the 2,259 pieces of cutlery have disappeared, and in which months.

I regret that it is not possible to say from which rooms, nor in which months the cutlery, etc., referred to in the hon. Lady's Question, were missing. There are 16 places under the control of the Kitchen Committee, where refreshments are regularly served to Members, visitors, the Press, and the staff. In addition, refreshments are served occasionally in other parts of the Palace of Westminster. Cutlery is frequently used more than once during meal periods, being used, washed in a central washing department, and passed on for use again in any room where it may be required. Stocks are taken at regular intervals. Whilst it is probable that losses occur in all places under the Committee's control, and in each month, it is not possible to give details. The number of missing articles is not higher than in previous years, when related to the number of persons and meals now being served, and to the number of staff employed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many investigational officers were employed on 30th June by each of the Government Depart ments to visit manufacturers, farmers, merchants and retailers, in order to discover offences; and the annual cost of their activities.

Government Departments do not, in general, employ officers solely to discover offences, and it has not been found practicable to classify investi-

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give an assurance that fully-trained and qualified scientists on production duties in the Ministry of Supply and the Admiralty, who are excluded from the Scientific Civil Service, will receive pay, prospects and ultimate promotion to senior posts comparable with their colleagues of similar training and qualifications who have been assimilated to the Scientific Civil Service, as laid down in the White Paper for Reorganisation and Recruitment to Scientific Civil Service, September, 1945.

Officers employed on duties which do not fall within the scope of the Scientific Civil Service will receive the pay and other conditions applicable to the class and grades appropriate to their work; these matters are being or will be discussed with the appropriate staff representatives.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps are being taken to expedite work in his Department in connection with probate and Estate Duty, in view of the fact that cases of hardship arise outside London,

The delay to which the hon. Member refers arose through the dislocation of work caused by the transfer of the Estate Duty Office from Llandudno to Harrow. The time taken to deal with these cases is being rapidly reduced and the position should be satisfactory in a week or so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is meant by "Chancellor's Cash Payment"; and if he is satisfied that members of the Forces understand the circumstances in which they may be entitled to a cash payment in respect of overlapping Income Tax payments.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a Parliamentary statement by my predecessor: [OFFICIAL REPORT, 14th June, 1945, Vol. 411, cols. 1805–8], from which he will see that application forms are to be issued to members of the Forces who seem likely to be entitled to such a payment. I have no reason to think that these arrangements are not working satisfactorily.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long is now required for the adjudication of transfers which attract ad valorem Stamp Duty; and what was the usual period in 1938.

Some seven weeks at present owing to shortage of trained staff as compared with about a week in 1938. I am seeking to shorten the period without increasing staff. The vast majority of documents are, of course, stamped without any need for adjudication.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he has taken to constitute the committee on agricultural valuation, to advise him as to the provisions to be included in regulations under Clause 25 of the Agriculture Bill; and what are its membership and terms of reference.

As it will not be possible to bring Part III of the Bill into operation until this committee has made its first report I have now constituted the Committee on Agricultural Valuation so that it can start its work immediately. The committee will consist of 14 members under the chairmanship of Mr. R. R. Ware, M.A., F.S.I., F.L.A.S., the Director-designate of the Ministry's Agricultural Land Service, and will have the following terms of reference:

"To advise on matters relating to agricultural valuation, and in particular to make recommendations as to the provisions to be included in regulations under the Agriculture Bill prescribing the method of calculating the measure of compensation, namely, the value to an incoming tenant, claimable by an outgoing tenant in respect of improvements or other matters included in the Fourth Schedule of the Bill."

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that specialised training for forecasters in tropical regions has been non-existent during the war and after; that discontent is caused by the posting from the United Kingdom to tropical regions of independent forecasters, freshly promoted for the purpose of being sent overseas; and whether this situation has been rectified.

I am advised that the best possible training for forecasters who are new to tropical meteorology is for them to work in their regions under the guidance of an experienced officer; and this can almost always be arranged. In addition, many special memoranda on the meteorological problems of different tropical regions have been prepared for the information of forecasters who are going on tropical service: these were issued during the war and are still issued. It is 12 months since any officer in the Meteorological Service was promoted before being sent overseas, and the experience and ability of the officer concerned warranted his promotion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to put a stop to cruelties perpetrated upon performing animals.

This matter is governed by the Protection of Animals Act, 1911, and the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act, 1925, and I have no reason for thinking that, in general, they do not work satisfactorily.