asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what loss of revenue has resulted from the disappearance of dividends on the shares of colliery companies since nationalisation.

The National Coal Board remains liable to tax on its profits in the same way as any ordinary trading concern. The question of loss of revenue does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the overwork enforced on members of the officer grade of the Customs and Excise department, due to shortage of personnel in that grade; and what steps the Government proposes to take to improve the conditions of service in the grade in order to attract an immediate and sufficient increase in recruitment.

I am aware that post-war recruitment has not so far restored the strength of the officer grade of the Customs and Excise Service to a proper level. This shortage need not be attributed to the conditions of service, in which improvements have been introduced since the war with the agreement of representatives of the staff. Current hours of work are not above the level of the Civil Service as a whole, and measures which have been taken to stimulate recruitment are expected to improve the situation during the present year.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the position as regards the scheme for allocating ex-Service cars to disabled ex-Service men.

I have reviewed the position with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. We have decided that, in view of the reduced number of cars becoming available, the scheme should be closed when the present waiting list is exhausted. Not more than five suitable cars could be provided each month and the work involved in allotting them fairly among the large number of applicants, the great bulk of whom would be disappointed, would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made in finding suitable accommodation for J. Teffelskirch, of Bad Eilsen, to carry on his work as an oculist, in view of the fact that he now has only a small unheated hut for consulting patients and no operating theatre.

It has not been possible to find alternative accommodation for Dr. von Tippelskirch in Bad Eilsen or Buckeburg and search is being made in the surrounding locality.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of London taxi cabs licensed in December, 1938, for purposes of comparison with the 5,720 in December, 1947.

7,684.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the total air mail revenue received by the British Post Office for the fiscal year 1946–47; and what are the mail payments made during the same period to B.O.A.C., B.E.A. and B.S.A.A., respectively.

As I explained in answer to my hon Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Ivor Thomas) on loth March, the receipts in 1946–47 from overseas air mail correspondence, which have to cover Post Office handling costs estimated at £991,000, amounted to £6,097,000. During 1946–47, £147,000 was paid to B.E.A.C., £188,000 to B.S.A.A.C., and £3,983,000 was paid, under a wartime arrangement then in force, to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Air Ministry for mails conveyed by B.O.A.C., B.E.A.C. and Transport Command. I have no information regarding the exact apportionment of this sum of £3,983,000 between the Corporations and Transport Command.