asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if his attention has been drawn to a recent case in Bombay, when the Courts granted an injunction restraining members of the Sholapur Textile Union from inciting workmen by speeches, meetings, or any other way, to strike or continue to strike; and if, in view of the fact that this is the first action of the kind instituted in India, he will, for the information of the House, state the Act under which this action was taken?

My attention has been drawn to this case. So far as my information goes the suit is a civil suit and one of the points at issue appears to be whether or not the defendants are members of a registered Trades Union. Under Section 18 (1) of the Indian Trades Union Act, 1926, officers and members of Trades Unions are only exempt from civil proceedings on grounds such as those now alleged in the plaint if the Union is registered under the Act. There was at least one similar case before the Act of 1926, but this is the first case that I have heard of since that Act wag passed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India for what purpose the Foreign Secretary of the Government of India has recently again visited Persia; whether, during his stay in Persia, he entered into negotiations with the Persian Government or with His Imperial Majesty the Shah of Persia; what was the object of these negotiations; and what is the reason for their being conducted by Sir Denys Bray rather than by His Majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Persia?

Sir Denys Bray merely landed in Persia for a few hours on his way from India to England. He entered into no negotiations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Sir Denys Bray has developed this habit of always landing for a few hours in Persia and that it makes the public mind rather uneasy?

It is only right, in view of the charge which the hon. Member has made, to explain that most of the time was spent at Jash when he was flying with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Air. Unfortunately they had a forced landing there.

I want to assist the Under-Secertary in this matter. Can we now take it, from his answer that neither the previous visit of Sir Denys Bray nor this visit were anything more than a temporary landing for a few hours?

Yes, I have already explained in my answer that Sir Denys Bray entered into no negotiations of any sort.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the location, area, and total population of territories placed under the direct administration of the Western India States Agency; are the people in these territories considered British subjects purely or do they owe allegiance to any other sovereign authority; what rights of representation do these people possess as British subjects; what voice have they in the matter of taxation and general administration conducted by British officials; and to whom are these British officials responsible for their policy and conduct of affairs?

The total area of the territories included in the Western India States Agency is about 35,000 square miles and the population about 3½ millions. The people of these territories are not considered British subjects, but owe allegiance to the Rulers of the various States, and no question arises therefore of their having rights of representation as British subjects. The British officials employed in the Agency are responsible, through the Agent to the Governor-General, to the Government of India. If the hon. Member's question is intended to be limited to petty estates or other areas in which the functions of the officers of the Agency may for various reasons be more directly administrative, I regret that I have not the detailed information that would be required to answer the question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make it clear, if the British political agents are responsible to the Governor-General, the British Viceroy, what right the people in these Agencies have to approach the same officer with regard to their grievances or to mal-administration?

:I think that I have answered the question on the paper fairly fully in my original answer. It is impossible within the compass of a parliamentary answer to explain the divergent and varying conditions in this Agency.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, if the Government is taking any steps to ascertain the condition of government in the Native States of India before committing this country to any fresh obligations regarding the future of these states?

Information on this subject is obtained in the ordinary course, through Political Officers.

Does the Noble Lord think that the present means of obtaining information are sufficient Is he aware that citizens of these Native States have not any means of getting their grievances before the responsible authorities?

That really deals with an entirely different matter. As the hon. Gentleman's colleague, the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil (Mr. Wallhead), is not present to ask his question—I am not complaining of it, but only referring to it—I have not had the opportunity of explaining what is the exact position of these States vis-a-vis the Indian Government. I do not think that the particular point which the hon. Gentleman asks arises out of this case.

Is it not a fact that the position is largely one regulated by Treaty in this case?

I think the hon. Gentleman is aware that I always endeavour to give all the information there is in answer to questions, but I rather deprecate attempting to answer questions on matters of high constitutional importance in reply to a supplementary question. The answer which I had prepared in reply to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil's question which was not asked deals with the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of Indian States in which representative institutions for the enactment of laws exist; in which liberty of person and freedom of speech, meeting, and association exist; and the number in which there is a fixed civil list, subject to independent audit, for the rulers and their families?

In the absence of fuller information than is available here, I regret that I cannot give the figures for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will inform the House of the nature of the responsibility of the Paramount Power for the good government of the Indian States and the conditions of intervention by the Paramount Power in the internal administration of the States; and whether machinery exists in any of the States whereby the grievances of the peoples of a State may be made known by them to the Paramount Power or whereby, in case of necessity, they may invoke intervention to obtain the redress of such grievances?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the explanation of the rights and duties of the Paramount Power given in the letter from the Viceroy to His Exalted Highness the Nizam of Hyderabad of the 27th March, 1926, of which a copy was included in the papers presented to Parliament at the time (Command Paper No. 2621 of 1926). As regards the second part, the Political Officers appointed to the various States or groups of States are responsible for keeping the Paramount Power supplied with whatever local information is necessary for the proper discharge of its functions.

Are we to understand from that answer that a citizen of one of these States has the right to approach the Political Officer with a grievance which he may have against the Ruler of that State?

It is really impossible, within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question, to explain exactly what the position is. It is a matter of the highest importance, as it affects the relations of the Crown with these States. If the hon. Gentleman wants information on a specific point, he must put a question down. If he will read this letter from the late Viceroy to which I have referred, he will find the case stated there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Kenya Colony has recently suffered from a serious plague of locusts whether anyone was available on the spot to advise the Government of Kenya on the most experienced methods of fighting locusts: and what steps have been taken or are being taken to exterminate the locusts and to prevent a repetition of a similar visitation?

Yes, Sir. I understand that all possible measures were taken by the authorities in Kenya to deal with this plague. Special expenditure amounting to £6,500 was sanctioned for an anti-locust campaign which was vigorously prosecuted by the Department of Agriculture, which includes a staff of entomologists. Also, with the generous co-operation of the Government of Portuguese East Africa, it was arranged that Dr. Fuller, who is now entomological adviser to that Government and who previously had many years' experience of locust work in the service of His Majesty's Government in the Union of South Africa, should visit Kenya. I understand that Dr. Fuller has visited the principal areas affected, and submitted a full report to the Government. In his speech to the Legislative Council on the 14th August last, Sir Edward Grigg stated that the Government of Kenya agreed with Dr. Fuller that some permanent organisation is desirable for studying the origin and movements of swarms, and that the suggestions which Dr. Fuller had made in this respect would be considered in connection with next year's estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a Water Bill for Kenya Colony has been submitted to him for approval containing Clauses requiring every British subject, native or immigrant, to obtain a licence before he is allowed to take any water in the Colony, whether from streams or wells of his own construction, except in utensils which can be carried by hand; and whether he has yet given sanction to this Bill?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative. I understand that a Bill dealing with water rights was introduced and read a Second time in the Legislative Council of Kenya on the 22nd of August and was then referred to a Select Committee of the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Kenya Colony has accepted a resolution of the unofficial members of the Legislative Council calling for the alienation of more land for white settlement; whether any Bill to this effect has been submitted to His Majesty's Government for approval; and whether, before accepting the proposals, he will take note of the fears of the representatives of the native interests that the land available for the future extension of native reserves will thereby be restricted?

I understand that the resolution referred to was carried in the Legislative Council of Kenya. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The hon. Member may rest assured that in the consideration of any such proposals the interests of the natives would not be overlooked, and I may point out that the mover of the resolution made it clear that the motion confines itself entirely to those areas which could be made available without involving any question of native rights.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the appreciation expressed by the mom- bers of the League of Nations during the recent Assembly at the action of the British Government with regard to domestic slavery in Sierra Leone and to the invitation to the British Government to submit next year to the League of Nations a Report upon the results which have accrued to this action; and whether it is proposed to accede to this invitation?

Yes, Sir. The Governor recently stated that it was not yet possible to estimate the full effect of the Ordinance, but he is being requested to furnish a Report on its results in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps have been taken to call a meeting of the special commission entrusted with the drawing up of a draft convention on the manufacture of arms and ammunition and of implements of war before the next Session of the Council of the League of Nations, in accordance with the resolution passed at the last Assembly and confirmed by the Council?

Yes, Sir. The Third Session of the Commission will open at Geneva on the 5th December.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the items of expenditure in the budget of the International Labour Office to which he took exception at the recent meetings of the League of Nations Assembly?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West-houghton (Mr. Rhys Davies) on the 15th instant.

In view of the growing importance of the work of the International Labour Office and in view of the opinion expressed on all sides of this House on Wednesday last is it not a calamity that the right hon. Gentle- man should have sought to reduce the budget of the International Labour Office?

There was no reduction in the Estimate.

But is it not a calamity that the budget of the International Labour Office should be reduced?

The hon. Gentleman is under an entire misapprehension. He had better wait until the White Paper is issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Empire Marketing Board is taking any steps to develop trade and commerce with the Irish Free State?

The Empire Marketing Board is limited, by the terms of its Vote, to the furtherance of the marketing of Empire products in this country. So far, therefore, as the development of trade with the Irish Free State is concerned, the Board's activities in the fields of scientific research, economic investigation and publicity are directed to promoting the marketing of Free State products in the United Kingdom in common with the products of other parts of the Empire, including home agricultural produce.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Imperial Economic Committee on Tobacco has reported; and, if so, whether the Empire Marketing Board has taken the Report into consideration, and with what result?

The Imperial Economic Committee have lately issued a report upon Tobacco, and this Board is now engaging the attention of the Empire Marketing Board. The Board have already issued, in accordance with the Committee's recommendation, a comprehensive list of Empire smoking tobaccos, cigarettes and cigars on general sale in the retail shops. Copies of this list are obtainable post free on application to the Board. Some Press advertising on behalf of Empire tobaccos is being undertaken and a special set of posters is being prepared.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any samples are going to be obtained and placed in the Smoke Room?

Could not the hoardings which are used for pictures at the present time be used for Empire tobacco advertisements?

The pictures on the hoardings are continually being changed. A new set is about to be issued, and a set of Empire tobacco posters will be there very shortly.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the British House of Commons about 3 ozs. of Empire tobacco are sold per week?

As a non-smoker, I am not aware of that fact, but I will draw the attention of the Kitchen Committee to it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I smoke nothing but Rhodians?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, (1) whether he will bring to the notice of the Imperial Shipping Committee, with a view to their taking action, the fact an attempt is being made to restrict shipments to Britain of Canadian and Nova Scotian apples to certain steamship lines in order to force up freights to a higher level than those operating from New York;

(2) whether he is aware of the pressure that has been brought to bear upon a large number of growers of Canadian and Nova Scotian apples, and that the growers who refused to sign the agreement are being penalised by an extra 20 per cent. freightage; and will he draw the attention of the Imperial Shipping Company to this action of one or two particular steamship lines sailing under our flag, with a view to their taking action in the matter?

Representations from persons interested in the trade, on the points raised in my hon. Friend's two questions, have been received by His Majesty's Government in Great Britain and are under consideration.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is due to the attempt mentioned in the question that the apples offered for sale in the dining rooms of the House are not English?

I can give no information about that.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, (1) whether he is prepared to take steps with a view to simplifying the present complicated procedure for obtaining a certificate of origin for British herring exported to Poland;

(2) whether the Government have made further representations to Poland regarding the preferential duty at present accorded to Norwegian over British herring?

Since the answer which I gave the hon. Member on July 16th, H.M. Minister at Warsaw has received instructions to make further representations in connection with the forthcoming revision of the Polish Customs Tariff. As regards certificates of origin, I am afraid that. it would be useless to ask the Polish Government to dispense with their present requirements so long as Poland continues to prohibit the import of herrings (except under licence) from Germany whilst not prohibiting them from other countries.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of urging the acceptance of a certificate granted by one of our own fishery officers?

We have made that representation before, and I am afraid without success.

Will you make it again?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is aware that at the annual motor show recently held in Christchurch, New Zealand, only three English makes of motor cars were exhibited, and those not 1929 models; and whether he can take any action to stimulate British participation in motor shows of this nature?

I have obtained a telegraphic report from His Majesty's Trade Commissioner's office in New Zealand on this matter and am informed that at the motor show held at Christchurch from the 3rd to the 10th of the current. month, 20 British motor cars were exhibited as well as two commercial vehicles and ten motor cycles. The date on which cars for exhibition would have to be shipped from this country would prevent the exhibition of 1929 models.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether those 20 care were of 20 different makes?

No, I have not that information, but, if the hon. Member desires it, I will obtain it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the common desire of all parties to prevent the competition or consumption of sweated goods in this country; and whether he will therefore cause a Report to be made on the conditions of wages, hours, and health conditions in the dried fruit trade of the Levant?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any representations have been made to the German Government at any time by, or on behalf of, His Majesty's Government on the subject of the grant of credits to Russia?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the Department for Overseas Trade employs canvassers and commercial travellers; and, if so, what is the number of such employés and the purpose of their employment?

We employ no canvassers nor commercial travellers in the ordinary meaning of the words in connection with the London Fair. We do, however, place each Section of that Fair in charge of a permanent official of the Department of Overseas Trade whose normal work is to handle questions relating to the industries included in that Section. These officers have a great deal of specialised knowledge of the industries with which they deal and they of course use their best endeavours to make their Section as fully representative as possible.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have finally decided not to abolish the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Mines, and the Department of Overseas Trade, as suggested in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement and in his own statement of 21st December, 1927?

asked the Prime Minister whether it is still the policy of the Government to abolish the Ministry of Transport and the Departments of Mines and Overseas Trade as soon as Parliamentary opportunity permits?

I am not prepared to add anything to what I have already said on this subject.

Does the light hon. Gentleman not realise that it must be very unsatisfactory for those who are employed in these Departments not to know whether they still remain under sentence of death?

If the hon. Member will look at the last paragraph of the answer that I gave on 21st December last, he will see that I said that the matter to be dealt with must be treated as a non-controversial question. There is no chance of that, and there is therefore no chance of anything being done in the lifetime of the present Parliament. If the hon. Gentleman or those behind him will put a question to me in the next Parliament, I will endeavour to give him an answer.

Will the Prime Minister add to the information that he has given us by saying definitely whether it is still the policy of the Government to abolish the three departments?

Yes, but from the answer the hon. Gentleman will see that it is impossible to demolish them before the House rises and that, therefore, the question does not arise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that last week he stated that he had replied to this question on 21st December, 1927, and that he was kind enough to send me a copy of the reply, which was no reply at all; and is he aware that the country is rather anxious to know what he proposes to do with these departments in the unlikely event of the Conservatives returning to office?

We shall consider whether we shall put it in our election address.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the reason for discharging men during the last few months from the industrial staff of the Supplies Division of the Office of Works; and whether the circular sent out to employers was taken into consideration before these discharges were made?

Sixteen men have been discharged from the Supplies Division since August. Four of these were dismissed for unsatisfactory conduct, while the remainder had been engaged on work of a temporary nature, on the completion of which there was no further opportunity of utilising their services. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether confidential reports are kept on officials in the diplomatic or consular service or connected with his Department; whether these reports are communicated to the individuals concerned; and whether the individual has any means of redress similar to the procedure in force in the Army and Navy?

The responsible authorities are kept fully informed as to the services of all officers connected with the Foreign Office. Where circumstances render it desirable any reports received are communicated to the individuals concerned; no action is taken on an adverse report without the individual concerned being given an opportunity of stating his own case.

asked the Prime Minister when the Government last considered the Forth and Clyde canal project; whether a survey has been under taken; and, if so, and by whom, and on, whose behalf?

I have been asked to, answer this question. Schemes for the construction of a ship canal between the Forth and Clyde have been considered on numerous occasions since the conclusion of the War and up to the present time. As has previously been explained, it is for the advocates of any such scheme to carry out any necessary surveys if they consider that any useful purpose would be served thereby, but so far as I am aware they have not yet carried out any such survey.

In view of the Prime Minister's sympathetic expression that the West of Scotland was an area which should receive attention will the Minister of Transport have a survey made of the proposed line of this canal and an estimate of the cost?

Surveys have been made in the past and the estimated cost for the post-War period varied from £14,000,000 to £50,000,000.

Will the right hon. Gentleman now consider another survey in view of the extreme unemployment in the district, which is calling urgently for some consideration?

I think a survey was carried out in the not very distant past, and the hon. Member must realise that any survey could not be successfully concluded in order to give employment immediately.

As it is eight or 10 years since the last survey was made, does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that the present circumstances demand a further consideration?

I do not think that the estimate which was made then is likely to be decreased now.

Neither has the unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of juveniles and young people who have been transferred from other districts to employment in the London area within the last four months?

The total number of juveniles transferred from the distressed mining areas to London during the past four months was 195. Separate figures for young people above 18 years of age are not available.

Has this meant a smaller number of London juveniles being placed in employment?

No, Sir.

What steps does the hon. Gentleman propose to take in order to ensure that this increase in the juvenile population of London will

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that it was not a survey at all, but a guess?

Oh, no. It was a survey.

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated number of insured persons in employment in October of this year and in October, 1924?

As the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

There is no reason to anticipate any such result.

Does the hon. Gentleman know whether there is any juvenile unemployment in London?

Undoubtedly there is a certain amount, but that does not in the least mean that the boys who are being transferred will take the places of others who would otherwise have got employment.

Does that answer suggest or mean that special jobs have been created for these lads? Where have they come from? Out of the sky?

No, Sir. We have been successful in finding in London jobs for 195 boys from distressed areas, who would not otherwise have got jobs.

Can the hon. Gentleman explain why these jobs have not been produced before for the youths of London?

Because, by a special effort, we have been able in many cases to get jobs for these boys which otherwise would not have been given to them.

Why should not jobs be found for boys already out of work in London?

Will the same staff that was engaged for finding these places for boys in distressed areas continue in operation, so that the London boys may have the benefit of their services?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many acres of arable land have been put down to grass during the last four years; and how many farmers have purchased their holdings during the same period?

The decrease in the area of arable land during the last four years is 817,500 acres. The bulk of this has been laid down to grass, but some part has undoubtedly been taken for building or other non-agricultural purposes. I regret that I have not the data which would enable me to answer the second part of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any estimate of the stock of wheat in Great Britain at the ports and in stack at the end of October?

According to trade estimates, the stocks at ports in the United Kingdom of wheat and wheat flour expressed as wheat on 1st November last were 3,171,000 cwt. Estimates of stocks remaining on farms in England and Wales are made by my Department only on the 1st January and 1st April of each year, and I regret that I am consequently unable to furnish the second figure asked for by my hon. Friend.