Sir Louis Smith: Does my right hon. Friend fully realise that the several Acts of Parliament passed during recent months will increase the demand for service from the Customs offices, and that industry may well on many occasions require information after five o'clock in the evening?
Sir Louis Smith: 52. asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the cost of the Civil Service and of the redundancy of certain Departmental staffs, he will arrange to have all extra posts which may be created, either in the Customs and Excise or in the Revenue Department, filled by serving civil servant's and not by outside entrants?
Sir Louis Smith: Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that many of these experienced valuers engaged on the valuation of land might well have suitable experience for checking the values of imported goods?
Sir Louis Smith: 51. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can yet make any announcement with regard to the duties that are to take the place of those imposed under the Abnormal Importations Act in order that the trades which benefit by these duties may be enabled to consolidate their position as soon as possible?
Sir Louis Smith: Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the great difficulties that the industries which benefit by these duties are having in settling forward contracts, not knowing whether the duties are likely to be modified?
Sir Louis Smith: 41. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the liability to general ad valorem duty of ships imported for demolition in this country is productive of increased unemployment, since such ships are now being sent for breaking-up purposes to foreign countries; and whether he will take this fact into consideration in the Finance Bill?
Sir Louis Smith: Is it possible for Customs officers to treat a ship coming into this country as one large piece of scrap, to be broken up into smaller pieces? It could then come in under the words of the Act.
Sir Louis Smith: 11. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any consideration has yet been given to the question of policy that is to be adopted in connection with the Dyestuffs (Importation Regulation) Act; and, if so, what decision has been reached?
Sir Louis Smith: 3. asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire whether, in order to reduce expenditure, he will take steps to convert some of the posts now held by Consul-Generals into Consulates, and, similarly, certain Consulates into Vice-Consulates, temporarily if not permanently?
Sir Louis Smith: 23. asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the benefit to the Colonies of an airmail service to and from Great Britain, he can state the extent to which the Colonies are co-operating with Imperial Airways in the provision of aerodromes and wireless services?
Sir Louis Smith: May I ask whether during the short period before the boat reaches Canada something more will be done to help this mission on behalf of our Scottish friends?
Sir Louis Smith: While I strongly support the plea which has been put forward by my hon. Friend, I should like to ask the Financial Secretary whether it is not the fact that if a director, having received during, say, the last three years a certain salary, voluntarily gives up a portion of that salary—say 10 per cent.—an arrangement is made under Schedule E for him to be assessed on the lower amount? If...
Sir Louis Smith: Having regard to the large number of children who visit this area, is there not an added danger owing to this practice of bombing?
Sir Louis Smith: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the manager of this particular colliery is able to see one of the principal miners' leaders every day?
Sir Louis Smith: 22. asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the success of the enterprise of Scottish trading interests in sending the steamship "Letitia" on a trade mission to Canada, any steps have been taken by his Department to ascertain whether this success will justify similar trade mission ships being sent on behalf of English manufacturers to Canada and the other...
Sir Louis Smith: In view of the desirability of encouraging such missions in the near future, owing to the depression in trade, will the hon. Gentleman communicate with one or other of the trade associations, such as the Federation of British Industries, and suggest that such matters should receive their consideration?
Sir Louis Smith: 45. asked the Prime Minister how many copies of the report of the expert sub-committee on the Severn barrage are necessary in order to enable this report to be considered by the Economic Advisory Council; for what reason it has been found necessary to incur the expense of having this report printed; and whether, in the event of the Economic Advisory Council concluding that the Severn barrage...
Sir Louis Smith: Is the right hon. Gentleman not satisfied that sufficient time has elapsed and sufficient money has been spent for exploring all the possibilities of this scheme; and, in the interest of economy, will he definitely consider whether any further expenditure should be made?
Sir Louis Smith: 39. asked the Minister of Agriculture the average difference between the price paid to the farmer and that paid by the public for mutton and beef during the past six months?
Sir Louis Smith: Having regard to the desperate position of many farmers at the present time could not the right hon. Gentleman supply the information? The difference in the prices is very wide?