asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Russian Government has, through its trading organisations, obtained by means of the Export Credits Department the guarantee of the British Government; and whether steps will be taken to prevent the credit of the British Government being thus enjoyed by the Russian Government in respect to its purchase of British goods?

Under the Export Credits Scheme the guarantee of the British Government is given, not to foreign Governments, but to British exporters in respect of certain of their transactions with foreign countries. Exports to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which were previously excluded from the operation of the scheme, were brought within it as from the 1st August, 1929, as stated by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in reply to a question in this House on the 25th July.

Can the right hon. Gentleman deny that the British Government are giving their guarantee under the Export Credits insurance scheme to the holders of Soviet Government bills and that if the Soviet Government default upon those bills the British Government will be called upon to pay?

I have given my answer.

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that the answer he has given is contrary to the facts stated by the Secretary of Overseas Trade Department yesterday?

Is it not the case that the present situation is that the Soviet Government is placed in precisely the same position as any other, and that past experience shows that there is considerably less liability to default on the part of that Government than on the part of others?

That is so.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House any indication of the amount of these guarantees?

I must have notice of that question.

This is a matter of very great importance. In the event of the Russian Government failing to pay for any of these goods, will the British Government be responsible?

No, Sir.

May I be allowed to press the right hon. Gentleman on this point? After what he has just said, will he tell us the position of the British holders of insured Soviet bills in case of default, if the British Government are not responsible?

That is a hypothetical question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance—

These questions do not arise out of the answer which has been given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether it is the policy of the Empire Marketing Board to advise the public not to purchase any goods from outside the confines of the British Empire except when this cannot be avoided; and whether this policy has the approval of the Government?

The policy of the Empire Marketing Board, which is approved by the Government, is to invite the public, in so far as price and quality are satisfactory, to choose first the produce of the home country and next the produce of the Empire countries overseas.

Do I understand from the hon. Gentleman's reply that, if articles can be purchased from within the British Empire, no purchases should take place from any foreign country?

The hon. Member will understand quite clearly that preference should be given to home or Empire goods.

May I ask whether, supposing that all the articles can be purchased in the British Empire, then the Government advise that no purchases should take place from foreign countries?

Provided that the price of the article and the quality are satisfactory, we think that all purchases might be within the Empire.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of inviting people to sell British goods as well as to buy them?

Will the Under-Secretary ask the right hon. Gentleman who puts that question to give that advice to his own supporters?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received definite information that the 16 or 17 Jewish colonies, which at the time of the recent outbreak were in possession of their arms under the colony defence scheme, still retain this means of defence; and whether he is yet in a position to make a statement as to means which are to be adopted for the future defence of the colonies and for the maintenance of law and order throughout Palestine?

The High Commissioner for Palestine has reported that with five exceptions, the Jewish Colonies in question still retain the arms which were in their custody in sealed armouries at the outbreak of the disturbances. As regards the five Colonies no longer retaining their original armouries, in one (Ekron) the number of arms has been reduced from 10 to 6; three Colonies (Hulda, Artuf and Kustinieh) have been evacuated, and in one of these three cases the arms have been transferred to a neighbouring Colony (Katra); in the other two cases the arms have been returned to police headquarters; as regards the fifth Colony (Jisr Majamie) the armoury is no longer necessary as troops are now stationed there.

As regards the second part of the question, detailed proposals for the future defence of Jewish colonies in Palestine are now under consideration. In the meantime, measures of immediate urgency are being concerted, and the High Commissioner has authorised Government grants towards the cost of providing roads to give access to outlying Colonies. In connection with the Palestine Police, for which an additional 200 British constables are now being recruited, the Secretary of State has decided to send Mr. H. L. Dowbiggin, Inspector-General of Police, Ceylon, on temporary deputation to Palestine for the purpose of advising on police organisation. Mr. Dowbiggin is due to arrive in Palestine on the 27th January.