asked the President of the Board of Trade the exports from Great Britain to the United States of America upon which the United States Government increased the tariff during 1955.

The United States Government increased the tariff on bicycles in 1955. I am aware of no other tariff increase in that year affecting United Kingdom exports.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any representations were made to the United States Government about this increase, in tariffs? Is he not aware of the increased tariffs on underground pipes? Will he not make it clear that the time is coming when we shall have to restrict our dollar imports to what our dollar exports are?

Without commenting on the last part of that question, the matter of underground pipes is separate and was related to dumping. It was not a straight tariff increase. We have made representations about bicycles, about which many Questions have been answered, and we are still negotiating compensation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the comparative prices per lb. paid for tobacco shipped from the United States of America in 1955 and 1939, respectively; and how this increase compares with the increase in the price per bottle of whisky shipped from the United Kingdom to the United States of America at the same dates.

The average c.i.f. value per lb. of unmanufactured tobacco imported from the United States in 1955 was roughly four times and the average f.o.b. value per proof gallon of whisky exported was roughly double the corresponding 1939 average.

Does the Minister not think that the price we are charging for whisky is far too low? Is he aware that United States consumption of whisky is 300 million gallons a year and that we supply only 2½ per cent. of it? Scotch whisky is only a snob drink in the United States—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I said in the United States. If we doubled the price of whisky, the price of a tot would go up by only 15 per cent. Snobs would have to continue being snobs and the volume of whisky exported to the United States would, therefore, not go down.

The right hon. Gentleman is himself a manufacturer and knows how to get the best price for his products. I have no doubt that whisky producers know how to get the best price for their product.

That is not the point. The Board of Trade continually evades this. It is perfectly obvious to everybody who studies the figures that prices generally increased by three times and yet these brilliant Scotch distillers get only 10 per cent. more for whisky. Will the right hon. Gentleman take over the export of whisky to make sure that we get a proper price in dollars for our exports?

The answer to the last part of the supplementary question is "No." I must ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has ever met a Scotsman who sells something at a price lower than he can get for it?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can yet make a statement about the Anglo-Japanese trade talks.

Yes, Sir. The mid-term review of the arrangements made last October has been concluded and the agreed record of the results is being initialled this afternoon. It was decided that those arrangements were working satisfactorily and that no change in them was necessary. Provision is being made for additional trade over the next six months amounting to about £150,000 each way.

The new quotas secured for our exports cover chemical products, manufactured foodstuffs and light engineering goods; and the new quotas conceded for imports are additional canned salmon—which covers more than half the £150,000—canned peaches and loquats, artificial pearls, some plastic goods and slide rules.

I thank the Minister for his reply and congratulate him on the successful conclusion of the trade agreement. Would he agree that, in view of our present balance of payments difficulties, it would be better if we had not taken the least essential goods?

No, Sir, because we have made arrangements for increased exports to Japan which will maintain the balance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to give some details concerning the voluntary agreement reached by the laundry organisations, the British Standards Institution and the representatives of his Department on the problem of textile labelling for washing and cleaning purposes; or when he expects to be able to do so.

I am glad to say that full agreement has been reached between representatives of the laundries and textile and clothing associations, under the aegis of the British Standards Institution, on a code of recommended laundering instructions, which will be published as a British Standard very shortly.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that hon. Members on this side of the House are very glad that these years of negotiation have at last reached a successful conclusion? May I ask whether the hon. and learned Gentleman would consider publishing the terms of this agreement in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I will certainly give consideration to that as the hon. Lady requests, but, of course, the publication of the Standard is a matter for the British Standards Institute, as she will appreciate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of public concern at the restrictive practices now being put into effect in petrol distribution; and if he will now refer the matter to the Monopolies Commission.

My right hon. Friend is aware of public concern in this matter. He is considering further references to the Commission, but he is not in a position to make any further statement at the present time.

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether, if I send to him documentary evidence on this matter from both sides, it may perhaps hasten the President's decision?

I am always very glad to receive communications of any sort from the hon. Lady.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what decrease in exports of passenger cars and of commercial vehicles and tractors, respectively, occurred in the first quarter of 1956, compared with 1955.

The information is not yet available. I would ask the hon. Member to await publication of the Trade and Navigation Accounts for March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what approximate increase in motor car exports he expects in 1956.

I would expect the motor car industry, as any other industry, to increase its exports as much as possible. The motor car manufacturers have expressed their determination to do so, but neither they nor I would venture to forecast in April their exports for the year.

Is the Minister aware that the whole country realises now that the right hon. Gentleman is indulging only in platitudes when he makes remarks like that and that no one really believes that the Government expect that there will be a substantial or even significant increase in motor car exports this year? [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] Because of the figures already given. Why do not the Government put a sense of urgency into the meeting of the National Advisory Council, and any other bodies which they have, in order that the country as a whole may know whether the amount of steel, investment and so on in the industry is being used properly at present?

I am certain that the motor car manufacturers have plenty of drive and that they also have more confidence in themselves than the hon. Gentleman has in them.

If the motor car manufacturers have not the slightest idea of what they are to export, how can they plan for production at all?

A motor car manufacturer may well have a very good idea of what he is planning to work on. The Question relates to the industry as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now considered the representations made by the executives of 20 trade unions, meeting in conference in Birmingham on Monday, 9th April, that a full Government inquiry should be made into the extent of the difficulties of the motor car industry, its organisation and distribution costs and its export prospects; and whether he will arrange such an inquiry so that the full position may be known.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply he has given to the representations of the Amalgamated Engineering Union for a Government inquiry into the motor industry; and, in accordance with the Government's general policy of restraint in wages and profits, if he will make it clear to both sides of industry that both profits and wages will have to come down unless, by greater productivity, the quality of our cars is improved and the prices reduced.

My right hon. Friend has just received the representations to which these Questions relate. He will, of course, study them carefully. But he will have in mind that the motor car industry consists of a number of individual companies competing strongly with each other and with other overseas competitors and that the circumstances of the motor car industry have been very fully discussed at recent meetings of the National Advisory Council for the Motor Manufacturing Industry. Both sides of the industry are represented on the Council and are fully aware of the matters referred to by my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne).

Is the Minister aware that this demand for an inquiry is now backed by the Confederation of Shipbuilders and Engineering Unions, representing well over a million workers in this country who are, in fact, expressing the very gravest doubt about the conduct of the industry and the refusal of the Government to do anything about it? Does not a demand from an organisation of workers as big as that mean anything to the Government?

The hon. Gentleman will have noticed in the answer that my right hon. Friend will study representations made to him. He will also have noticed, and should be aware of the fact, that there is good consultative machinery already through which trade union representatives can make known their views.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that the more information about the industry that responsible trade union leaders can have the better, particularly if we are to get their co-operation to increase production; and will he do his utmost to see that they get the information for which they are asking?

That is the importance of the National Advisory Council for the Motor Manufacturing Industry, which has been in existence for some years and on which there are two trade union members.

Two trade union members!

asked the President of the Board of Trade from which countries, and to what value, imports of wheat for the years 1953, 1954 and 1955, respectively, are included under

asked the President of the Board of Trade what he proposes to do about the import at unfair prices of the special baskets largely used in East Anglia and known as potato pickers.

I have no information which would enable me to compare the prices at which baskets of home manufacture and imported baskets are being sold.

Is the Minister aware that the production of these baskets occupies

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say from the figures what purchases were made behind the Iron Curtain in the three years in question?

I should have to add up the figures and I would rather that the hon. Gentleman did that for himself.

I have no evidence that imports have recently increased very substantially. There are quotas and, with one small exception, they are no bigger than last year. Although it would be entirely inconsistent with our general policy and international obligations to re-impose quantitative restrictions for protective purposes, if the hon. Member will produce evidence of hardship to blind basket producers, I will examine it to see whether any case merits exceptional treatment.

Is the Minister aware that blind basket makers in many rural areas who make baskets for six to eight months of the year are losing their employment because Dutch baskets are being imported at little more than the bare cost of trade union rates of wages, and that this is a new development? Will the Minister see whether there is a concealed export subsidy, or will he receive a deputation from the blind basket makers?

I have said that I will examine any evidence of special circumstances.

Are there any Russian baskets coming in?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what advice and help he has given to British exporters who have been threatened with boycott by Arab countries as a result of their trading with Israel.

How far the Board of Trade or Her Majesty's Commercial Diplomatic Officers in the countries concerned can usefully give help or advice depends on the circumstances of each case, which may vary widely. It is, of course, for the firms themselves to decide in the light of their own views and interests, whether or not they will comply with the requirements of the Arab boycott.

Is the Minister aware that certain Arab countries, encouraged by their success in stopping flights of B.O.A.C. to Israel, are putting every pressure they can on British exporters to stop British trade with Israel? Will he consider what positive steps can be taken to protect those exporters from this form of blackmail?

As regards protests made by Her Majesty's Government to those countries, that of course is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary. We neither accept nor condone this practice, and we have been able to give help to individual exporters, particularly if they have been wrongly blacklisted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider reopening the Hemerdon mine if it can be shown that there are reasonable prospects there of the economic production of wolfram.

Negotiations are proceeding for the transfer of the Government's mining lease at Hemerdon. If these negotiations are successful, decisions about the future of the mine will rest with the new owners.

Will my hon. and learned Friend keep me informed of developments when he is in a position to do so?

I will certainly co-operate with my hon. Friend in his customary zeal for the good of his constituents.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the need for restraint in respect of imports, what consideration has been given to steps to encourage a greater effort to increase the collection in this country of scrap for use in the production of steel.

The Iron and Steel Board have no reason to suppose that there is any large amount of ordinary scrap not being collected by scrap merchants, whose business it is. The recovery of some kinds of scrap presents special difficulties, in particular the separation of old tins from household refuse. The scrap merchants and the iron and steel industry are setting up district committees to deal with the problem of old tins, and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is about to send a letter to local authorities asking them to renew their efforts to help in the recovery of iron and steel scrap from household refuse.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the saving to be effected in the importation of wood-pulp by making better use of the waste paper that is available in this country, if he will consider reintroducing an intensive Government waste paper salvage campaign to replace the present inadequate local campaigns.

The Waste Paper Recovery Association already co-operates with most of the local authorities and continues to achieve valuable results. I do not consider that any significant extra saving in imports of woodpulp would result from an intensive Government salvage campaign for waste paper.

Do we need or do we not, more scrap metals and more waste paper? If we do, is the hon. and learned Gentleman not aware that there are substantial quantities that are not being reclaimed? Will he ask his right hon. Friend to take a more active leadership in putting it over to the nation that what the country needs today is to avoid the waste which is at present taking place?

I do not think the hon. Gentleman has the situation accurately. Stocks of waste paper are at present unusually high for this time of year. What we have to do is to get the maximum salvage of waste paper without creating storage difficulties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has formed of the potential demand for farm tractors in China; and to what extent British manufacturers are now permitted to supply this demand.

I have not the information necessary to form such an estimate. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs informed the House on 11th April, licences to export a limited number of tractors have been issued.

May we take it that this limited number of tractors represents samples and that it is hoped that business will result? Will my right hon. Friend assure us that if there are offers of business from China the Government will give every facility for the export of the tractors and agricultural machinery so long as they have no strategic or military importance?

All we know at the moment is that the Chinese want small numbers of various types, probably to try them out. That is the position at the moment. We have not yet got as far as the position which my hon. Friend has mentioned.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that he has not given the real reason for the diminution in the export of agricultural machinery? Does he realise that the real reason is the shortage and bad allocation of steel? Will he consult the Minister of Supply with a view to rectifying that situation, particularly in Aberdeen?

I do not think that is the real reason. The hon. and learned Gentleman has forgotten that the responsibility for steel was transferred from the Minister of Supply many months ago.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of his decision to grant licences for sample tractors to be exported to China, he will now permit British marine engines of similar power to be exported as samples in response to outstanding Chinese inquiries.

Marine engines are not in the same category as agricultural tractors.

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that many of the engines are precisely the same as those used on tractors and, furthermore, that a large group of our exporters are already exporting marine engines of from 7 h.p. to 4,000 h.p. to both the Soviet Union and satellite countries? What difference is there between them and China?

The difference lies in the purposes for which the engines would be used.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) which Government Departments have to be consulted by his officials before a licence can be granted for the export of galvanised sheet to China; and what steps are being taken to reduce time from the submission of the application to the granting of the licences; and

(2) how many officials within his Department have to consider or scrutinise each application for a licence for the export of galvanised steel to China.

Galvanised sheets are on the embargo list to China. Applications have to be considered carefully before exceptions are approved and extra information may have to be asked of the applicant. There is consultation with interested Departments in the normal way. Decisions on applications giving complete information take about a week.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases applications take considerably longer than that, and that certain questions are asked which his Department knows perfectly well exporters cannot answer? Why is the treatment of British shippers so markedly worse than the treatment which other countries allow to their own shippers in the export trade?

I do not accept that our treatment is markedly worse. We have a procedure to go through. I have personally investigated a case about which the hon. Gentleman wrote to me, and I am satisfied that, although there was a mistake in part of that case, the ordinary procedure is working quite well.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to ensure that British companies are not frustrated in competing with Japanese companies by the lengthy consideration of applications for licences to export to China goods on the permitted list or goods which may be the subject of quantitative controls.

There is no quantitative control list for China. Licences for goods on the permitted list are issued within about two days of the receipt of the application, apart from exceptional cases where the information available is insufficient to establish the facts readily.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that British shippers receive parity of treatment as compared with Japanese shippers, and is he aware that at present orders to a total of 15,000 tons of galvanised sheeting are being supplied by Japanese shippers while his Department is holding up the licences for British shippers?

I repeat that I have looked into the case about which the hon. Gentleman told me, and I am satisfied that we do all we can to hurry up our decisions.

Is it not a complete farce that Japan, Belgium and other countries which desire to be associated with the West should be permitted to export what are regarded as strategic goods to China when our own traders are prevented from doing so?

I think the right hon. Gentleman has misunderstood the Question. This refers to the exceptions procedure, and exceptions are allowed in certain cases.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman seek to cover up the refusal of the Government to relax the present position by talking about procedure? Do the other countries which I have mentioned have regard to procedure, or are we the only one which does?

All countries have regard to the exceptions procedure.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, and of my belief that the right hon. Gentleman is thoroughly misinformed, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how far the agreement to abolish artificial aids to exports has now been carried out by member countries of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation.

The reports submitted by those countries to which the Organisation's agreement applied are being studied within the Organisation and I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to await the completion of these studies. Of the other member countries, Greece and Turkey are exempt from the agreement. In the case of France, it was agreed that a date should be fixed after which she would be bound by the Organisation's agreement to discontinue these artificial aids to exporters. It has not yet been possible to agree a date. Meanwhile, Her Majesty's Government will continue to impress upon the French Government their concern that all her artificial aids to exporters should cease.

As the negotiations have been going on so long, can the right hon. Gentleman say that Her Majesty's Government are not responsible for the delay? If that is the case, ought not more energetic action to be taken to stop these hidden export subsidies?

Her Majesty's Government have made representations energetically and, as the House will be aware, have had some success in that at the end of last year the German Government discontinued their artificial aids.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what amount of delay is experienced in finding shipping space for exports to Mombasa; and what steps he is now taking to assist exporters in that direction.

About twelve months for ordinary commercial cargo; goods classified as essential by the East African authorities can be shipped without delay. The remedy for the present difficulties lies in the expansion of the port and railway facilities at Mombasa and I am glad to say there has been some improvement in recent months.

Will the Minister have another look at the matter? I have a letter from a member of his own political party, the manager of a well-known firm in the Midlands, who states that he has a number of orders awaiting shipment, and says:

"As these orders are mainly for the Mombasa market it would be very interesting to know for what reason nearly two years …"

Not one year.

"… elapses before goods can be shipped owing to lack of space, which is the answer always given by the shippers."

In view of the discrepancy between the period of one year mentioned by the Minister and the period of two years mentioned by that person, would the Minister have another look at the matter?

I am constantly having a look at this matter, which is obviously of great importance to our trade, but the hon. Member will find—so will his friend—that the delay has shortened this year from 16 months in January to about 12 months now.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the anticipated decline of coal production in central West Fife in the course of the next few years; and what steps he intends to take to encourage the introduction of alternative industry.

I am informed that the National Coal Board expect in the next five years some decline in mining employment in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area and a considerable expansion at neighbouring coalfields some ten miles away. The need for other employment will continue to be kept under review.

Has the Minister had access to figures supplied by the National Coal Board for a longer period than five years? Is he aware that over the next 20 years or so employment for coal miners in that area will be virtually non-existent? Will he look at those figures and, in the light of them and figures for other parts of the country, re-draft or modify his policy for the distribution of industry?

I have not got the figures for 20 years ahead. The figures for the next ten years, however, show a net increase of 4,780 jobs in the coal-mining areas to which I have referred. I will certainly continue my researches beyond that point in response to the hon. Member's invitation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total quantity and value of imports from Hong Kong during March; and the figures for March, 1955.

Figures of the total quantity of imports of all kinds are not available. I would ask my hon. Friend to await publication of the value figures he requires in the Trade and Navigation Accounts for March.

Is it not a fact that there has been a large increase? Can my right hon. Friend say whether a large proportion of the goods are of Japanese origin?

There certainly has been a substantial increase in the first two months of this year, but our imports from Hong Kong are still substantially below our exports to Hong Kong.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the high price of lettuce, he will suspend the import duty of 20s. per cwt.

No, Sir. It would not be appropriate to vary the tariff on short-term changes in the level of supplies or prices.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in London lettuces are fetching 1s. 6d. each and have been doing so for some time? Is it not absurd to call this a protective duty if it cannot be varied according to whether or not protection is necessary? Does it not merely become a tax on food?

As my right hon. Friend has frequently said, it is important to have tariff stability. It would be a great mistake to vary tariffs from time to time according to the conditions of supplies and prices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present position regarding the export of capital goods to the Republic of Indonesia.

The export of capital goods to Indonesia is not restricted. United Kingdom exports to Indonesia last year amounted to £11.2 million of which about one-third were capital goods.

In view of the large potential market represented by Indonesia's 80 million population, will he consider granting extra credit facilities to enable Indonesia to purchase capital equipment? Might I draw attention to the article in The Times today which says that Russia is offering Indonesia economic aid on the same basis as she has done to India and Afghanistan? Will my right hon. Friend consider what he can do?

Credit facilities are available for our exports for Indonesia. It would be wrong to consider any special arrangements for that area alone.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will refer gramophone records to the Monopolies Commission.

My right hon. Friend is considering further references to the Commission, but he is not in a position to make any further statement at the present time.

Is the Minister aware that there is a widespread feeling among the public that they are not sharing in all the benefits that have accrued from recent technical developments in recording? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider including gramophone recordings in his references to the Monopolies Commission?

I do not think I can usefully add to the answer that gave. In so far as the hon. Lady refers to the restrictions on the public use of gramophone records

I had in mind the cost.

If the hon. Lady is concerned with the cost, I cannot usefully add to my previous answer. In so far as the costs stem from agreements between two or more manufacturers, that is, of course, a matter dealt with under the present Restrictive Trade Practices Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to give figures for the exports by the United Kingdom for the years 1954 and 1955 to Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Roumania, respectively; and the percentage increase or decrease in respect of each country.

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of Western European countries are rapidly increasing their trade with the satellite countries? Can he tell the House at the moment whether the figures which he has got show an increase? Will he do all he can to step up, having regard to military security considerations, our exports to those countries?

There are substantial increases for some of the countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further representations he has received from growers of natural rubber within the Commonwealth and from Malaya, in particular, in respect of co-operation between them and the manufacturers of synthetic rubber with a view to ensuring an expanding market for both commodities.

My right hon. Friend has not recently received representations on this point. But I am informed that a mission of United Kingdom rubber manufacturers has this month visited Malaya, where frank and cordial discussions on these problems took place.

Do I presume from the Answer that, in fact, some representations have been received, and that some effort has been made? Can the right hon. Gentleman say what steps are being taken by his Department to encourage this co-operation and co-ordination?

This visit took place, and that was a step to encourage explanation and co-operation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the number of people working for wages in 1938 and 1955, respectively; and what percentage they took of the national income; and

(2) the number of people working for wages and salaries in 1938 and 1955, respectively; and what percentage they took of the national income.

Information on the numbers of wage-earners and salary-earners is, I regret, not available for either 1938 or 1955, and separate figures of wages and salaries are not yet available for 1955. In 1938, wages took 37 per cent. of the gross national product and salaries 18 per cent., totalling 55 per cent. In 1954, wages took 39 per cent and salaries 20 per cent., totalling 59 per cent. In 1955, wages and salaries together took 60 per cent.

In view of the considerable increase in the numbers of wage-earners and salary-earners between 1938 and 1955, would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the share which they are taking of the national cake is not the share to which the Government should direct their attention, but that their attention should be directed to the 40 per cent. which has been taken by the non-earners?

I think the hon. Member is swinging to conclusions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what organised suggestion scheme is in operation in his Department; how many suggestions are received from employees through that organisation annually; how many are adopted; what awards are made for such suggestions; and what he estimates to be the savings made by the adoption of employees' suggestions.

A permanent suggestions committee consisting of members of the official and staff sides of the Departmental Whitley Council receives and considers suggestions submitted by members of the Treasury staff. During the past nine years 27 suggestions have been received, of which seven were adopted. Small monetary awards for suggestions adopted have been made in three cases. It is not possible to assess the value of the savings effected.

Having regard to the fact that these figures do not seem very good as compared with the results of other organised suggestions schemes, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he would consider appointing some person to rejuvenate the scheme, not only in his own Department but also in other Departments, in view of the fact that great economies can be achieved from these organised suggestions schemes?

I am only responsible for the Treasury, but I do not think that we need rejuvenating. As people who have to deal with the Treasury discover, the Treasury is a very efficient Department already.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received in favour of the reduction of entertainments tax on cinemas, with particular reference to the plight of the small cinema proprietor and the need to find greater financial resources for film production.

My right hon. Friend has had representations from the various associations concerned with the film industry and also from individual cinema proprietors. These representations dealt with the situation in the film industry generally, including the position of the smaller cinemas and the financial resources of British film production.

Without wishing to anticipate any proposals, may we expect that entertainment will be a feature of the forthcoming Budget statement?

I would advise the hon. Gentleman to wait and see.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of theatres now paying entertainments tax.

It is estimated that about 350 places of regular theatrical entertainment now provide dutiable entertainments.

Will the Minister set against that figure the figure of about 50 theatres which have closed down during the last few years because of the burden of Entertainments Duty, and will he convey to his right hon. Friend the Chancellor what a bad thing it will be for Britain if the Entertainments Duty is now to destroy the living theatre?

It is quite true that about 50 of these places have closed down, but I think again that the hon. Member is jumping to conclusions if he states that they have been closed down because of the burden of Entertainments Duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why property income paid abroad, as shown on page 10 of Command Paper No. 9729, has increased from £251 millions in 1950 to £382 millions in 1954 and £446 millions in 1955; and what are the chief items in last year's figures.

A major factor in the increase is the rise in interest on foreign Government loans from £1 million in 1950 to £41 million in 1955, due almost wholly to payments on the United States and Canadian Lines of Credit and the Lend Lease Settlement Loan. Nearly alt the rest of the increase is due to interest on sterling liabilities, profits earned lit the United Kingdom by foreign controlled companies, and taxes paid to foreign Governments on income accruing to United Kingdom residents.

Is it possible to have these detailed figures given in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I have answered my hon. Friend's Question, and I will see whether I can give him any further information.

Is not the increase in the Treasury bill interest to overseas holders this year one important factor in this rise?

I said that one factor was the increase in the interest on sterling liabilities, and about one-third of the total increase is in taxes paid to foreign Governments on income accruing to United Kingdom residents.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the present total indebtedness of the principal nationalised industries to the banks and to the Exchequer.

The total amount authorised for temporary bank borrowing by nationalised industries on 31st March, 1956, was £89 million. Exchequer advances are to the National Coal Board only, and amounted to £267 million on the same date.

May I take it from that answer that those are the amounts actually outstanding or authorised? Secondly, how do they compare with the amounts outstanding at the beginning of the credit squeeze?

Those are the amounts authorised. They were not wholly taken up at that time. I would require notice with regard to the second part of the supplementary question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of money raised by the local authorities on the market and by mortgage since 7th February.

Four local authorities raised a total of £8 million by issues of stock. As my right hon. Friend explained to the House on 7th February, we have no precise figures for loans raised on mortgage, but it is estimated that such loans raised and already arranged amount to about £35 million.

Can the Minister say whether any local authorities which have been forced to approach the market have been refused accommodation, or have been unable to obtain accommodation upon suitable terms?

The arrangements announced in the autumn by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal, when Chancellor, was that an authority would have access to the Public Works Loan Board if it were unable to borrow upon reasonable terms in the market.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for the minting of groats.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increase to 4d. of call-box telephone calls and the inconvenience to the public in having the requisite number of coins available, he will reintroduce the fourpenny groat.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now consider the minting of fourpenny pieces.

The addition of a further coin denomination to those already in use would be attended by various practical difficulties, and it would complicate the giving of change and checking of accounts. I would therefore prefer to await evidence that there is serious need for a groat.

Does not my right hon. Friend consider that it would be a very great convenience, in many ways, to have 4d. pieces in circulation, particularly if we could have a lot of them?

As under this Government's policies 4d. now only has the value of 3d. could not the right hon. Gentleman transfer the 3d. bit to a 4d. bit? Would not that get over his difficulties?

I think that that might complicate matters still further.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether his decision has been influenced by the belief that, owing to this Government's policy, before the coins could be minted the minimum charge for a telephone call would be 6d.?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the present internal purchasing value of the £ sterling, taking the value in October, 1951, as 20s.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ as 20s. in October, 1951, it is estimated that the corresponding figure for February, 1956, is 17s. 9d. This estimate is based on the consumer price index between 1951 and 1955 and the index of retail prices since then.

Is not the internal purchasing value of the £ about the only thing that the Government have brought down in the last few years? Should we not give debit where debit is due—to the present Government?

We have not allowed the value of the £ to dive as it did under the Labour Government in 1951.

Will my right hon. hon. Friend confirm that the value of the £ fell by 6s. between 1945 and 1951?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases in the last five years land in Wales has been accepted for the National Trust in satisfaction of death duties; and if he will make a statement.

Two properties in Wales, both part of the Penrhyn Estate, were transferred to the National Trust in 1951, after acceptance in satisfaction of death duties. There have been no other cases in the last five years.

Has my right hon. Friend noted that some people in Wales have advocated the setting up of a separate National Trust for Wales? In his future consideration of this problem, will he bear in mind that however strange it may seem to some critics, it is possible that some people in Wales would be more likely to leave property to such a a separate Welsh body?

I had noted that my hon. Friend has a Question on the Order Paper to the Minister for Welsh Affairs for Thursday. I had much better not anticipate my right hon. and gallant Friend's answer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has now signed an agreement with India for the avoidance of the double imposition of Estate Duty; and in what way details will be published.

Yes, Sir. A draft Order in Council with the text of the Agreement scheduled to it was laid before the House on Friday last.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether by this agreement sterling companies will no longer have to pay death duties on the estates of their shareholders?

I should not like to give an answer on specific points in the agreement without notice. Perhaps my hon. Friend will study the agreement and then put down further Questions to clarify any matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an investigation into the extent of tax evasion being engaged in by parents who make mutual arrangements to use seven-year covenants to obtain tax relief on the cost of their children's school fees.

All practicable steps are taken by the Inland Revenue to detect attempts at evasion of tax in this and other ways. It would not be in the public interest to go into details, but I assure the House that they can be safely left to watch over this matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is evidence of considerable tax evasion in this respect? Is he aware that the Evening Standard recently published interviews showing that there were several hundred covenants of this nature at Marlborough School and 1,300 at Shrewsbury School? Is this not sufficient evidence for his Department to take action?

If the hon. Member has evidence, I shall be grateful if he will give it to me. I assure him, however, that the Inland Revenue goes into these matters with great care and that it is not possible to deceive the Inland Revenue except by telling lies.

Would it not be wiser if, later in the afternoon, we could be told that it is no longer illegal for parents to enter into deeds of covenant with places of education for the benefit of their children?

Would the right hon. Gentleman care to explain how, apart from Inland Revenue inspectors, a man can deceive anybody except by telling lies?

I am certainly not prepared to say anything which would help evildoers to discover in advance the methods used by the Inland Revenue to detect their misdoings.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) when he expects to complete the review of the boundaries of the present areas of London, intermediate and provincial, into which the country is divided, for salary purposes of non-industrial civil servants;

(2) in view of the special accommodation difficulties, and consequent expense, to which civil servants employed at London Airport are liable, if he will consider bringing that area within the London boundaries for salary purposes, and thus bring the non-industrial civil servants into line with the industrial civil servants employed at the airport.

The boundaries of these areas are covered by an agreement with the National Whitley Council. If the staff side ask for a review, their proposals will be considered through the normal machinery.

Is it not the fact that requests have been made and, further, that in the case of the industrial civil servants the cost of living around London Airport is accepted as being as high as in the London area? Will the right hon. Gentleman therefore look into the matter as one of urgency?

I was not aware of any request being made by the staff side. If a request for a review is made, certainly it will be considered.