§ Sir A. Wilsonasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the continuous increase in convictions for drunkenness in England and Wales, from 33,100 in 1932 to 52,425 in 1937; the incidence of convictions per million being over three times as great in Greater London as in the rest of England and Wales; and whether he will institute special inquiries with a view to ascertaining how far this increase is attributable to the greatly increased consumption of cheap wines?
§ Sir S. HoareIn the years from 1924 to 1932 there was a steep fall in the number of convictions for drunkenness. Since 1932 the figure has risen each year, though the total is still substantially lower than in 1930. The question of what steps can usefully be taken to elucidate the causes of the increase is at present engaging my attention and I am not in a position to say whether the factor to which my hon. Friend refers has contributed materially to the increase.
Total quantities of coal exported as cargo, bunker coal shipped for the use of steamers, etc., engaged in the foreign trade and of fishing vessels and coke exported from the specified groups of ports in the United Kingdom during the first To months of 1937 and 1938. — North-East Coast Ports. Humber Ports. Scottish Ports. Bristol Channel Ports. Thousand tons. Coal Exported as Cargo: January-October, 1938 9,875 2,775 3,637 12,419 January-October, 1937 11,161 3,441 4,566 13,490 Increase (+) or decrease (-) in 1938 as compared with 1937. -1,286 -666 -929 -1,071 Foreign Bunkers: January-October, 1938 1,323 1,920 1,497 2,283 January-October, 1937 1,487 2,129 1,660 2,454 Increase (+) or decrease (-) in 1938 as compared with 1937. -164 -209 -163 -171 Coke Exported: January-October, 1938 921 182 117 88 January-October, 1937 1,141 400 186 73 Increase (+) or decrease (-) in 1938 as compared with 1937. -220 -218 -69 +15