asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he can present a statement showing the various key industries which have been enabled to continue and extend their activities in consequence of the operation of Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and whether he can also show a similar statement giving approximately the number of persons who have been enabled to continue in permanent employment consequent upon the application to the industry upon which they have been engaged of Part II of the same Act?

My present information indicates that the industries affected by Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act have been enabled to continue, and that the range of production has been considerably extended. With regard to the second part of the question, I have recently requested the trade associations concerned to furnish my Department with periodical information as to employment in the industries covered by Orders made under Part II of the Act, but returns are not yet available. In this connection I would remind my hon. Friend that the Orders have only been in operation some three months, and in one case for a still shorter period.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say that in point of fact this Act has conferred certain distinct advantages on the industries of this country?

Without doubt, Sir.

Oh, oh!

Will the right hon. Gentleman publish to the House the official information after making an ex parte, statement?

I have not made an ex parte statement. I was asked what was the deduction from the information in my possession, and I have given that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also inquire how many men have been thrown out of employment by this legislation?

I have no reason to suppose that a single man has been thrown out of employment.

Is it not a fact that since the Fabric Gloves Order was made the export of cotton yarn from Lancashire to Germany has been reduced by very nearly one million pounds weight?

Notice should be given of a question of detail like that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much has been received by way of duty up to the latest date available in respect of each class of articles or commodities in which Orders have been made under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act?

The amounts of -duty collected under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act up to the 24th instant, in respect of the various classes of articles included in the Orders made there under, are:

	£
Fabric gloves	50,695
Glove fabric	—
Domestic glassware	995
Illuminating glassware	3,599
Domestic hollow-ware	8,370
Mantles for incandescent lighting	35
Total	£63,694

The Order under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act in respect of all the above commodities except incandescent gas mantles was dated 8th August, 1922; that in respect of incandescent gas mantles was dated 9th October, 1922.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any idea of the expense of collecting those trifling sums?

I could not answer that without notice, but not so much as the amount received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has made in the Recess any Orders under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and, if so, for what articles?

One Order has been made during the Recess, relating to mantles for incandescent lighting and their component parts, manufactured in Germany.

When will that be laid on the Table for discussion?

I think it is on the Order Paper to-day.

What is the general result of that Order on the value of the shares of the Welsbach Company?

As that is not a relevant question, I must ask for notice of it.

Is it proposed to hold any further inquiry?

That will depend upon the necessities of the case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the approximate loss in British shipping tonnage and the value of ship repair work which has been placed in foreign yards during the past two years which normally would have been carried out in this country: and the approximate number of workmen normally engaged in this industry who are in consequence unemployed?

There is no obligation to report the cases in which ships are repaired or reconditioned abroad, and it is not possible, therefore, to give even approximate figures which would be more than the merest conjecture.

Would not the diversion of British ships back to British yards have a far-reaching effect on trade and employment, without any dislocation of the shipping industry, and do the Government contemplate taking any steps to solve this problem?

Undoubtedly the transfer of work now done abroad in reconditioning ships to British yards would be a most admirable thing, but I think the possibility of that rests rather with all sections of the trade concerned than with His Majesty's Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage above pre-War figures the present cost of living is in Germany, France, Belgium and Italy: and if the figures are at all comparable with the cost of living in this country?

I have been asked to reply. As the answer includes a number of detailed figures, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the present standard of cost of living is above pre-War in Great Britain: if the last ascertained figures show an increase or decrease; and, if so, what percentage?

I have been asked to reply. At 1st November, the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living of working-class families, as indicated by the statistics prepared by the Ministry of Labour, averaged approximately 80 per cent, above the level of July, 1914. The figure for the previous month was 78.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is his intention to bring in a Bill making if. compulsory to compensate house and other property owners, and also local authorities, for loss caused by subsidence through the working of coal or other minerals?

The question of introducing legislation to deal with this matter in a comprehensive way on the lines suggested by one or other of the various Committees and individuals who have studied the subject has been the subject of prolonged consideration by my Department, but it is clear that any scheme which would give the surface occupier any additional relief to that to which he may already be entitled under the terms of his title deed or otherwise under the existing law must involve the imposition of an additional financial burden either on the taxpayer or on the ratepayer or on the mining industry, and in present circumstances I see no prospect of being able to propose legislation of this character.