asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement of the present position of affairs in China and particularly at Shanghai and Nanking?

My information is that the general condition in China is at the moment peaceful, and that the situation in Shanghai and Nanking is normal. It is reported that fighting has broken out again on the Tientsin Pukow railway, but the extent and significance of this is not yet known.

Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to make any statement with regard to the rather grave question that has arisen in China, the question of extra-territorial rights?

That question does not arise out of the answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the reason for the delay in settling the question of the disposal of the Boxer Indemnity, the balance of which is to be returned to China; and whether he intends to take any steps to expedite this matter?

The conversations of last June between His Majesty's Minister and the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs were inconclusive. The Chinese Government expressed the desire to invest the bulk of the funds in the completion of the Canton-Hankow Railway. This proposal brought to the fore questions of pre-existing agreements and obligations which have required careful consideration and have delayed progress towards satisfactory arrangements regarding the indemnity. New proposals are now under discussion between His Majesty's Minister and the Chinese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, consequent upon the exchange of ambassadors with Soviet Russia, it is now proposed, in the case of applicants for passports desiring to proceed to Russia, to withdraw the general warning that such applicants enter the territories of the Soviet Union at their own risk?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if it is now proposed to withdraw the prohibitive notice hitherto tendered to business men and others who contemplated visiting Russia, in view of the resumption of diplomatic relations with the Union of Soviet Republics?

As a result of the resumption of full diplomatic relations with the Government of the Soviet Union, instructions have been issued to the effect that the passports of British subjects desiring to proceed to the Union can now be endorsed for that country: the prohibitive notice in question has been withdrawn.

Do I understand that the right hon. Gentleman has satisfied himself that people will be able to enter Russia with perfect liberty and freedom and without the apprehension of any harm coming to them?

May I ask whether there is in the records of the Foreign Office any instance of any business man who has gone there who has not come through with perfect safety to himself?

May I ask for a reply to my question?

I do not think there is anything to reply to.

Perhaps I may put it in another way. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable apprehension, having regard to things that have taken place in Russia, and has he satisfied himself—

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, I would like to ask him if it is not the case that the relations between us and Russia never were more friendly than they are to-day? Next question?

May I ask for a reply-to my question?

Answer!

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now satisfied that the Soviet Ambassador and Soviet Government put the same interpretation as His Majesty's Government on the mutual agreement concerning propaganda; and if there has been, as a result, any definite improvement in this respect?

With regard to the first part of the question I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on the 23rd December. With regard to the second part of the question, it is too early as yet to form any conclusion as to the definite effect of the agreement concluded about propaganda.

I should, however, add that, although His Majesty's Government are not without hope that the agreement recently entered into will result in a permanent improvement, a message from the Third International, which appeared in a daily paper on the 1st January, led me to inform the Soviet Ambassador that such action was calculated to impede that improvement in the relations, between the two countries which the impending negotiations had as their object. For the present His Majesty's Government do not propose to take further action.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what connection there is between the Third International and the "Daily Worker"?

I am afraid I cannot.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether the Soviet Ambassador agreed with the suggestion made by him that they were responsible for the activities of the Comintern, as shown in the periodical which he quotes?

No, I have not asked him that question.

Has any answer been given on behalf of the Soviet Government to the right hon. Gentleman's stern reprimand?

No; I did not give a stern reprimand.

Was there any answer?

May we know if any answer was given?

How many supplementaries is the hon. Member to get?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Dominions have expressed satisfaction with the declarations regarding propaganda in their territories made by the Soviet Government?

I have been asked to reply. The notes exchanged with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics regarding the applicability to the Dominions of the undertakings in respect of propaganda were framed after consultation with His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions.

Will the hon. Gentleman arrange to have this correspondence published?

That question has been put on a number of occasions and the answer was given on 6th, 11th and 19th November. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman looks in the records, he will find that we have no intention of publishing the correspondence.

Can the hon. Gentleman, when he says that this was done after consultation, say whether the Dominions approved of it or not?

The Dominion Governments were not asked to express satisfaction or otherwise.

Did they?

Does the hon. Gentleman approve of secret diplomacy?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have been made for housing the British Ambassador in Moscow?

The Embassy offices and clerical staff are at present housed in a building taken by His Majesty's Government on a lease expiring annually and renewable on the 31st July next. The Ambassador and his diplomatic staff are at present living in the Savoy Hotel. Negotiations for a suitable residence and office accommodation are now in progress.

In the interval, is special care being taken of the records of the British Government?

Is it not a fact that the diplomat and his staff in Moscow are extremely comfortable?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the British Ambassador is satisfied with his present position in the matter of housing?

rose—

Mr. Cocks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Indians are eligible for appointment as diplomatic representatives in any Asiatic country or elsewhere; and whether any Indian has been appointed to any such post?

The Regulations prescribe that candidates for the Diplomatic Service must be natural-born British subjects, and born within the United Kingdom or in one of the self-governing Dominions of parents also born within those territories.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what percentage of the personnel of the Foreign Office and diplomatic services consists of ex-elementary schoolboys?

Inquiries respecting members of the Service admitted before the War would entail an excessive amount of labour, but I have caused inquiries to be made regarding candidates admitted since the War and I have found that roughly six per cent. were ex-elementary schoolboys.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to formulate such conditions of entry to the Service as will ensure that it shall be more representative of the entire people and less of one class?

I think the examination is exactly on all fours with other kinds of examinations for the Civil Service, except for one subject, and that is languages.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether in view of the opposition, not only in Edinburgh but throughout Scotland, to his proposal that only one design, that of the chief architect of his Department, should be submitted to the Scottish Fine Art Commission, he will consent either to hold an open competition or himself to appoint an architect, after consulting the Commission, the Edinburgh Corporation, and representative bodies interested in the architecture and amenities of the city?

The decision to entrust the design of the building on the Calton Jail site, Edinburgh, to the chief architect of my Department, was taken nearly two years ago, and I am not prepared, at this late stage, to reverse that decision either in favour of an open competition or an independent architect. I should like to point out that the policy of selecting an architect for important national buildings by open competition has been adopted only in four cases during the last 150 years. In only one instance has the successful design been carried into execution. The appointment of an independent architect would not appear to meet the objection to the consideration of only one design to which the hon. and gallant Member refers.

Is it not the fact that evidence was given before a Committee of this House that, in the case of buildings of great importance, an official architect was not insisted upon by the right hon. Gentleman's Department; is it not also the fact that, although this decision may have been come to, as the right hon. Gentleman says, two years ago, it is only within recent months that the public have become aware of it, and that very strong feeling has developed upon it in Scotland; and will not the right hon. Gentleman, therefore, give the question further consideration?

I think that the hon. and gallant Gentleman is really misinformed on the matter. There were considerable negotiations many months ago with the Edinburgh Corporation on this subject, and, at the end of those prolonged negotiations, an agreement was arrived at by which the work of preparing plans and so on was to be proceeded with. The plans are to be submitted to the Scottish Fine Art Commission for their advice on them—not for their approval, because they are only an advisory body—but there is also an agreement with the Edinburgh Corporation that these drawings will be submitted to them, and, if they are not approved by the Edinburgh Corporation, either the Government accept that disapproval or they go to arbitration. I do not think that any fair-minded person would want us to go back on that position.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this is a very exceptional site, and that arrangements made with regard to other buildings should not and do not really apply to this particular site?

I have read this matter up at very great length, and I would like to assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that all these considerations were taken into account before the agreement which I have mentioned was come to; and I would like again to assure Scottish Members of this House that the Office of Works and their officials have no intention whatever of injuring the amenities of the City of Edinburgh.

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.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what arrangements have been made for more intensive milk publicity under grant from the Empire Marketing Board?

No further arrangements have been made for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any proposals to make with regard to the importation of bounty-fed wheat from Germany?

Advantage was taken of a recent meeting of agricultural experts at Geneva, invited by the Economic Committee of the League of Nations, to raise through the British representative the question of the effect of the import bond system as applied to cereals on agricultural producers in this and other countries. I am informed that the statement by the British representative was sympathetically received by the representative of Germany, who promised full co-operation with any inquiry which the Economic Committee of the League will institute.

Does the right hon. Gentleman still consider that any wheat that is imported from Germany can properly be described as bounty-fed?

The term is inaccurate, but is used to convey the sense.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the provision of parachutes for crews of sea-going service aircraft is considered a matter of urgency; and if he will state for how long experiments with this equipment provision have been carried on, and when the present trials are likely to be concluded?

The provision of parachutes for the crews of aircraft when flying over the sea is regarded as a matter of great importance, but a difficult mechanical problem is involved, namely, to devise a form of parachute harness enabling the wearer to divest himself of encumbrances in a confined space in the least possible time if his machine falls into the water. Exhaustive trials and experiments extending over more than four years have been carried out with forms of quick re ease to enable the wearer to get rid of his parachute equipment. I am hopeful that the latest design of quick release will be adequate for sea-going aircraft other than those flying on and off ships' decks, and that one of the types of equipment recently under trial in the Fleet, although not fulfilling all the desired conditions, will be found sufficiently satisfactory for these latter aircraft. If this is confirmed, provision will be made as early as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when R. 101 is to make her first commercial flight; and what will be its nature?

I am not in a position to add anything to the replies given to my hon. Friends the Members for Northampton (Mr. Malone) and for South-East Southwark (Mr. Naylor) on 6th and 29th November last, respectively.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will take steps to see that aircraft firms carrying out Government contracts give recognition to the trades unions of their employés?

I am not altogether clear in regard to the scope of my hon. Friend's inquiry. As he is aware, all Government contracts embody the House of Commons Resolution requiring a contractor to pay rates of wages and observe hours of labour not less favourable than those commonly recognised by employers and trade societies in the district. The insertion of a condition of wider import than this would have to be considered from a more general point of view than that of aircraft contracts, and as a question of Governmental contract policy as a whole.

asked the Minister of Transport how many prosecutions, if any, have taken place since the issue of the order relating to the noise of road vehicles on 1st August, 1929; whether there has been any diminution in the amount of noise as a result of such order; and whether he intends to introduce legislation dealing with noises on railways, tubes, and other traffic?

With reference to the first part of the question I am informed that the numbers of prosecutions which have been instituted from the 1st August to the 31st December, 1929, are:—

Has the hon. Gentleman's Department discovered any machine yet for measuring noise?

asked the Minister of Transport to how many rural district councils are powers of road delegation being granted and refused, respectively, under the Local Government Act, 1929, and the reasons for any such refusals?

The number of rural district councils who applied to county councils under Section 35 of the Local Government Act, 1929, for delegation of the county council's functions in respect of unclassified roads, was 518, out of a total for England and Wales of 643. Of these applications, 174 were granted by the county councils, and 344 refused. Of the rural district councils whose applications were refused, 229 appealed to me. I have allowed 79 of these appeals and disallowed 100, and 26 are outstanding for various reasons. Twenty-four appeals were withdrawn or not proceeded with. The grounds on which delegation in respect of unclassified roads may be refused are set out in the Act, and are that the county council are satisfied that, having regard to the best means of promoting economy and efficiency in highway administration throughout the county and to the particular circumstances of the district in respect of which the application is made, the application ought not to be granted.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether there is any general standard to be applied in the case of these refusals, with regard, especially, to the efficiency of a rural district council in its road work?

I conceive that the Statute requires that each county and each rural district shall be taken on its merits, and that I have done, in accordance with the directions of the Statute.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will state the total estimated cost of the schemes of work approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee to the latest convenient date?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to a number of similar questions yesterday.

Is the hon. Baronet aware that his right hon. Friend made no reply?

My right hon. Friend said that a White Paper would shortly be issued conveying the whole of this information.

Is the hon. Baronet aware that his right hon. Friend made that statement at the beginning of last Session and the White Paper produced was only at the end of the Session? He stated that it was in the House, but it was not in the House at the beginning of Questions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to introduce any legislation this Session to extend unemployment insurance to agricultural workers?

asked the Minister of Labour what steps she has taken to prepare an unemployment scheme for agricultural workers; and when she proposes to lay such a Measure before this House?

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the Member for South-West Norfolk (Mr. W. B. Taylor) yesterday, of which I am sending them copies.

Is the Department taking any steps to ascertain what the exact problem is and what amount of unemployment exists in agricultural districts?

All relevant facts of that description are being taken into consideration.

Has the Department any figures on the question at all?

asked the Minister of Labour if she will give the total number of claims for unemployment benefit in the Bath Employment Exchange area for the three months ended December, 1929, together with the number of claims refused, and the corresponding figures for 1928?

During the three months ended 9th December, 1929, 3,507 fresh and renewal claims to unemployment benefit were made at the Bath Employment Exchange. During this period 155 claims were disallowed by insurance officers and 15 claims were recommended for disallowance by courts of referees on review after payment of 78 days' benefit The corresponding figures for the three months ended 10th December, 1928, are 3,395 fresh and renewal claims made, 269 disallowances by insurance officers and 36 by courts of referees.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies has approved any further amendments to the Kenya Native Lands Trust Bill; and whether monetary compensation is to be substituted for alternative land in the case of land in the reserves acquired compulsorily by Government for public purposes?

No Amendments to the Native Lands Trust Bill have been approved by my Noble Friend additional to those referred to in the reply returned to the right hon. Gentleman on the 6th of November. It is not intended to substitute monetary compensation as an alternative to adding to a reserve an area equal in extent to any land taken for public purposes, but the Bill provides that compensation in money shall be payable in respect of any difference in value between any area excluded and the area added.

Are we to understand from that, that, if land in the reserves is required for road or railway, equivalent acreage elsewhere has to be allocated?

No, except in the case of roads and railways which were definitely stated in the reply given to the right hon. Gentleman on the 6th November.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the finance committee of the Kenya legislative council proposes to reduce the estimates for the departments of public health, road construction, and education by £9,000, in order to render this sum available for further military expenditure; and what instructions have been sent to the Governor of Kenya by the Secretary of State for the Colonies in this matter?

My Noble Friend has seen a report in the Press to the effect stated in the question; but he has not yet received from the Governor of Kenya the despatch dealing with the Colony's estimates for 1930, which no doubt is on its way. Pending the receipt of that despatch the matter cannot usefully be considered.

I beg to give notice that, this day four weeks, I shall call attention to the present position and, powers of the Committee dealing with bank amalgamations, and move a Resolution.

I beg to give notice that, this day four weeks, I shall call attention to the incidence of taxation on the development of industry, and move a Resolution.

I beg to give notice that, this day four weeks, I shall call attention to the attitude of the present Government on the Safeguarding and the McKenna Duties, and move a Resolution.

I beg to give notice that, this day four weeks, I shall call attention to the question of agriculture, and move a Resolution.