asked the Secretary of State for India whether any records are kept in this country of the amounts paid during the previous 12 months or near date in Great Britain to officers in the Indian civil or military services; and can he state the amount recovered or to be recovered from the Imperial Government or other employers and the amount chargeable to Indian revenues?

If I may, I will circulate the figures for 1928–29.

asked the Secretary of State for India what amount of silver is now held by the Government of India; and how this amount compares with the totals, respectively, of each of the three previous years?

I am having these figures circulated.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to give the House any information as to the probable date of publication of the Report of the Simon Commission?

asked the Secretary of State for India when the Report of the Statutory Commission under the Government of India Act will be published?

asked the Secretary of State for India when he expects to receive the Report of the Simon Commission?

In reply to these questions the Chairman of the Commission has been good enough to inform me as follows:

"The Commission would be very glad to find themselves able to put their Report in the Secretary of State's hands, for submission to the King, soon after Easter; and no time is being wasted; but the work is so laborious and the range of subjects so large that it is as yet impossible to make a definite statement."

Will the Government consider making some declaration as early as possible of the probable date of the Conference?

This matter, of course, is engaging our constant attention. I can-not say more than that at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether arrangements are being made for the simultaneous publication of the Report of the Statutory Commission in India and this country?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for India when it is proposed to commence the training in India of suitable Indian gentlemen for commissions in His Majesty's Indian Army and Air Force?

A comprehensive answer to this question would be long, and I think the most helpful thing I can do is to refer my hon. and gallant Friend to Sir W. Birdwood's sympathetic examination of the problem in a speech in the Assembly on 8th March, 1928.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this matter is causing uneasiness among many of our best friends in India among the Indians, and can he assure me that he will really have this matter sympathetically considered?

I am well aware of the importance of this matter, and it is being sympathetically considered.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be very careful not to allow himself to be influenced by the fugitive impressions of "Paget M.P.'s?"

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he was good enough to answer a question before I went to India?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is considering the extension of the present scheme of Indianising eight units of His Majesty's Army in India?

I am ready to consider an extension as soon as the Government of India feel justified in recommending one on the results actually achieved.

Will my right hon. Friend, looking at this matter in the light of the Viceroy's Declaration, about which we have heard so much, see that there is a speeding up of the Government's policy?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that this matter will always receive sympathetic attention.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that immediate action is necessary?

In view of the fact that the Indianisation of the Army has not been a success, owing to the difficulties in the matter, will the right hon. Gentleman consider giving our own young non-commissioned officers a chance of training for the Indian Army?

That is too big a subject to be answered in reply to a supplementary question.

asked the Secretary of State for India the causes of the delay in granting permission to the Dutch aircraft to Batavia to carry out a further series of flights over that portion of the route which lies over Indian territory; and whether permission has now been given for these flights to be continued?

It has not yet been possible to authorise a regular service across India owing to the incompleteness of the ground organisation, though some trial flights have been permitted. The question of permitting further flights is now under reference to the Government of India and until I am in possession of their views I am not in a position to make any more definite statement.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is yet in a position to state when the Conference between representatives of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain and representative Indians will be held; and, if so, whether he is in a position to amplify the information already given in regard to the procedure which the Conference will follow?

I fear I can say nothing in reply to the Noble Lord beyond what was stated by the, Viceroy when recently addressing the Assembly.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he is likely to be in a position to make a statement and will he also have regard to the importance of making his announcement to Parliament simultaneously with the announcement made by the Viceroy?

I am aware of the importance of simultaneity; and I will try to observe it. I am conscious of the necessity of keeping Parliament fully informed, and I have done my best to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any information as to attempts made to start a no-tax campaign or to resistance to the regulations governing the manufacture and sale of salt in India; and whether he can state under directions of which party such attempts have been made?

In certain districts of Bengal attempts have been in progress for some weeks to organise resistance to the payment of Union Board taxes with the assistance or at the instigation of the local Congress party. My latest information is that except at one place—Bandabilla—they have met with no success, and that at Bandabilla where the movement began as long ago as November last the tax is now being collected with less difficulty. In certain villages in the Tharawaddy district of Burma there has been a recrudescence of resistance to the Capitation Tax, but this has now collapsed, I have no information of any incidents in connection with salt.

Will the right hon. Gentleman let this House have an opportunity of judging the so-called manifesto sent by Mr. Gandhi to the Viceroy, and particularly the reply?

If the hon. Member means, shall a debate take place, obviously he should not address that question to me.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can give information showing the progress made in the last five years in the Indianisation of the superior grade establishment and the upper subordinate staff of the Government-owned Indian railways?

I will circulate these figures from which my hon. and gallant Friend will see that progress is being made in this matter.

May I ask whether the Indianisation in question is being effected in the interests of efficiency, and whether the support of the European managers of the railways has been given?

The hon. and gallant Member is aware of the pledges which have been given in reference to Indianisation. By those pledges we stand; we intend to implement them.

That is not an answer to my question. Is the Indianisation in question in the interests of efficiency?

The hon. and gallant Member must form his own private opinion about his own private doubts.

asked the Secretary of State for India the original estimated cost of erecting India House in London; whether work on the building was finished within the period stipulated in the contract; and, if not, whether any additional expenditure from Indian revenue has thereby been incurred?

The original estimated cost of the building, including furniture and fittings, was £324,220. The building has not been completed within the contract time, but it cannot at present be stated whether this will involve any additional expenditure from Indian revenues. The matter is primarily one for the High Commissioner for India whose responsibility is to the Government of India and Legislative Assembly.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these figures include the architect's fee?

I am afraid I cannot say. This is a matter which concerns the High Commissioner of India and the Indian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps the Government propose to take with regard to broadcasting in India; and whether it is proposed to take over the Indian Broadcasting Company and to establish communal loud-speakers in the larger villages?

The Government of India intend, subject to the assent of the Legislative Assembly, to purchase the property of the Indian Broadcasting Company and to carry on experimentally for a year the services hitherto offered by the company. Pending the result of this experience no new developments will be attempted, but the Government intend next year to appoint a Committee to examine the position in the light of the experience gained and the possibilities of further development.

asked the Secretary of State for India how long the magisterial inquiry lasted in the Meerut case; on what date it was brought to a close; what was the total cost of the inquiry on the prosecution side; and from what fund the cost will be defrayed?

The magisterial inquiry at Meerut opened on 12th June and closed on the 16th December. The magistrate passed orders on 11th January. I have no information as to the total cost of the inquiry, which will be met from Indian Revenues.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India proposes to give facilities, in connection with the trial of the Meerut prisoners, for free travelling for the witnesses whom the defence may call; and whether, seeing that witnesses have already been sent from Europe to give evidence on behalf of the prosecution in the magisterial inquiry, the prisoners will be allowed to call witnesses from Europe without cost to themselves?

I do not know whether the Government of India have had occasion to consider this matter, but I am making inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Consul at Buenos Aires has reported any recent cases of single British women who have been engaged in this country for positions in the Argentine, and who have been dismissed immediately on their arrival without compensation or their return fares paid back to Great Britain, and consequently been left stranded; and can he say whether full investigations as to employment are made by the Passport Office before passports are endorsed available for single women to visit South American countries?

My attention has recently been called to four cases of single British women who obtained domestic situations with families in the Argentine, but subsequently found the conditions unsatisfactory. In accordance with the usual practice, inquiries were made as to the status of the employers and the terms of the engagement before passports were issued. I am considering whether any additional safeguards can be adopted.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider providing these women with the safeguard of some sort of contract?

I am quite prepared to consider that question.

May I ask whether in cases of this sort there is a fund available to assist the return of these women to this country?

I am afraid I must have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make available, as a White Paper, the information furnished to the British Ambassador at Moscow by the Soviet Government respecting the legislation in force in the Soviet Union on religious questions; and when the Report from the British Ambassador on such matters is expected?

I am prepared to lay as a White Paper a translation of the Soviet decree of the 8th of April last regarding religious associations. The Ambassador's Report has only reached me to-day, and I have not yet had time to consider it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider making some statement to the House on this matter as soon as possible?

I am quite prepared to consider that matter.

When he issues the White Paper, will the right hon. Gentleman also let us know from what sources the British Ambassador has obtained his information?

I do not want there to be any misunderstanding. I was referring to the Decree, which is a published document.

When the right hon. Gentleman has perused this document, will he also tell us the sources from which the British Ambassador obtained his information?

It must be obvious that anything I gay on that subject must be largely dictated by the interests of those concerned and by the interests of the public service.

On a point of Order. Is it in order for a right hon. Gentleman to cast doubts on the veracity of the British Ambassador in Moscow?

I am not aware that any doubt has been cast on his veracity.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will include in the White Paper information regarding the prohibition of religious teaching in schools in Australia, the United States, France, and other countries?

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Anglican Church in Petrograd is being used for secular purposes; and whether he will make representations to the Soviet Government on the subject?

No, Sir. According to information which reached me on Thursday last, the Church is closed and is not used for any purpose.

Is not the second step to close the Church, the first step being the forbidding of prayers?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will appoint an official of the Foreign Office to examine affidavits by five refugees who have escaped from Russia to Finland, sworn to before the public notary of the city of Helsingfors, in the Russian and Finnish languages, with certified translations by the public translator, in order that the Foreign Office may be satisfied as to the numbers of prisoners that are employed in the Soviet Russian timber trade in lumbering and carting work, sawing as well as loading timber into British and foreign ships?

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade stated on the 21st January that he had not received any complaint from any section of industry in this country on this matter. Should any such formal complaint be forthcoming, I would be willing to submit to the competent authorities in this country any relevant evidence which may be brought to my notice.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not answering Question 27 instead of 26?

No; I am answering No. 26.

I am asking whether the Government will send an official to examine the affidavits, and the right hon. Gentleman invites me to supply him with evidence. I am willing to supply it.

I have nothing to add to the answer that I have given.

Since when has it been the practice of the Government only to attend to representations made by industries and not those made by hon. Members of this House?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will communicate with other countries with a view to the exclusion of products sent from Soviet Russia that are the product of prison labour or that come from the segregation camps into which the peasants are being drafted under compulsion?

No, Sir. I do not propose to make any such communication.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now come to a decision with regard to issuing from time to time a statement on the progress of his negotiations with the Soviet Ambassador?

There is nothing that I could usefully add at the present time to the reply I returned to the hon. and gallant Member on the 12th February.

As these negotiations have now lasted nearly three months, may I press the right hon. Gentleman to say when he will be in a position to give a definite reply to the question as to whether or not he will give us a report from time to time with regard to them?

The negotiations are still going on. I have nothing to hide, but we must get the negotiations to a stage at which there is something to report before I can make any statement.

If there is nothing to hide—

Order!

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question at an early date on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Germany, Poland, Roumania and Czechoslovakia have yet ratified the Geneva Convention of 8th November, 1927, for the abolition of import and export prohibitions and restrictions?

I have been asked to answer this question. Poland and Czechoslovakia have not yet ratified the convention, while Germany and Rumania have ratified it. Under the terms of the Protocol which brought the convention into force, the latter countries need not remain bound by the provisions of the convention after 1st July, 1930, if Poland and Czechoslovakia have not ratified the convention by that date.

Then I understand that Germany has not recognised or signed the convention at all?

The hon. and gallant Member had better read my answer. I said: "Poland and Czechoslovakia have not yet ratified the convention, while Germany and Rumania have ratified it."

Is it in order, Mr. Speaker, for an hon. Member to put four starred questions for oral answer on the Paper?

I did not propose to call the fourth question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the dates of the signature by this country of the International Convention for the Abolition of Import and Export Prohibitions and Restrictions and of the agreement supplementary thereto?

The International Convention for the Abolition of Import and Export Prohibitions and Restrictions was signed at Geneva on 8th November, 1927, and the Supplementary Convention on 11th July, 1928. The Protocol bringing the Convention into force was signed on 20th December, 1929.

Is it a fact that the late President of the Board of Trade, the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Hendon (Sir P. Cunliffe-Lister), signed that Convention on behalf of this country?

I do not know who signed it, but it was approved by the late Government.

Can the hon. Member say whether this Convention is actually binding on His Majesty's Government at the present time—whether a sufficient number of countries have expressed their adherence to it to make it binding?

I understand under the Protocol, it was agreed to carry out the Convention if put in force, although the actual number of countries required originally for that purpose was one or two short of the number first agreed upon.

Can the hon. Member say how many countries are carrying it out?

Is it to be understood that this agreement is not actually binding at the moment?

No, Sir, it is binding for 18 months from the commencement of this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, under the International Convention for the Abolition of Import and Export Prohibitions and Restrictions, this country is precluded from prohibiting the import of cereals from foreign countries on the ground that they are bounty-fed?

The Convention precludes prohibitions or restrictions on imports on the ground that they are bounty-fed.

In view of the importance of this matter to agriculture, will the hon. Gentleman be good enough to send a copy of his reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bewdley (Mr. S. Baldwin), so that he will be able to explain to the agricultural workers how the late Conservative Government were responsible for handicapping the farmers and farm workers?

Order!

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is yet in a- position to give detailed information of the new appointments foreshadowed by the Lord Privy Seal to the Trade Commissioner or other overseas trade service?

It is proposed to create eight new posts in the Commercial Diplomatic Service, one in each of the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, China for service in Manchuria, Colombia, Egypt, Finland, Persia and Switzerland, and two new Trade Commissioner posts, one each at Montreal and Durban. While for any of these appointments special consideration will be given to members of the Commercial Diplomatic, Trade Commissioner and Consular Services, as well as of the Civil Service generally, it has been decided to consider also applications from outside the Government service. An announcement giving details will appear in the Press at an early date. Particulars will also be obtainable from the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Overseas Trade. The recommendations for appointments will be made by a Selection Board consisting of a Member of this House, three representative business men, and one representative each from the Foreign Office, Board of Trade, Civil Service Commission and the Department of Overseas Trade. The Chairman of the Board will be the First Civil Service Commissioner.

Will there be any additions to the staff at home in connection with the new organisation.

Yes, Sir.

What will be the cost to the State of these 10 new appointments?

rose—

Answer!

Hon. Members prefer that their questions should be answered, before the intervention of another hon. Member with another supplementary question.

The payments will be according to the regular scale which, as the hon. Member is probably aware, is somewhere in the neighbourhood of about £1,600 with certain additions and allowances.

For each?

For each appointment.

Does the list which the hon. Gentleman has given exhaust the number of possible appointments or those likely to be made, in view of the large number of countries not yet covered adequately by consular representation?

I do not consider that it exhausts the possible appointments, but for the moment, these are the appointments which we regard as urgent.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are in Persia, more consuls and vice-consuls than there are in Germany.

That question ought to be put on the Paper.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department when the Report of the commercial attaché at Vienna on the trade and industrial conditions of Austria will be presented to Parliament?

The report on economic conditions in Austria prepared by the Commercial Secretary at Vienna was published by His Majesty's Stationery Office on 30th January. It is not customary for these reports to be presented to Parliament.

Has the report been made merely for the information of the hon. Gentleman's Department, or is it not to be submitted to the House, for the use of the whole country?

The report, has been published by the Stationery Office, and no doubt the hon. Gentleman can get a copy.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he has been provided with a recent Report on the output of steel in Germany during the past year; whether the actual production is equal to the best record of the pre-War period; and if he can furnish information on the extent to which technical improvements and the higher productive capacity of labour have contributed to this result?

The published official figures show an output for 1929 of 16,246,000 metric tons as compared with 17,147,000 metric tons for 1913 which was the year of greatest pre-War output within the former territorial limits. If the comparison, however, were confined to the territories within the present boundaries of Germany, it would be true that the pre-War production had been exceeded. My information shows that great technical progress has been made in recent years; but I am unable to measure the effect of the individual factors which have influenced the growth of the industry.

Has not the fiscal system of Germany been an important contributory factor in this connection?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that, in connection with the British Industries Fair, the occupiers of stalls who make any sales of tobacco or other commodities by way of samples to visitors have to pay 10 per cent. of all takings to Messrs. Lyons and Company, who hold the catering contract, and, in addition, exhibitors are limited to the size of the articles they sell; and whether, considering that the exhibition is a national undertaking, he will take steps in future to ensure that no such conditions are allowed to exist?

My Department, as tenants at Olympia, are bound by a contract between the landlords of the premises and Messrs. J. Lyons and Company under which the latter have the sole right of sale at Olympia of food, beverages and tobacco. A special arrangement such as is mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member was the only means by which facilities for the sale of samples could be given to exhibitors of these commodities. I am satisfied that during the term of the contract these or analogous conditions must continue to exist.

Has not the hon. Gentleman received a great many complaints with regard to this arrangement from the Dominions and Colonies, and from representatives of the trades concerned?

No, I have received none at all.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, if his attention has been called to the German and American exhibits at the British Industries Fair; and what steps he is taking to confine the fair solely to British goods?

Yes, Sir, the matter is one which is watched by the organisers of both sections of the Fair with the utmost vigilance. Every exhibitor signs a declaration that the goods he proposes to exhibit are of British manufacture, and every effort is made both in London and Birmingham to see that this undertaking is carried out. During the present Fair my attention was called to two or three cases in which it was alleged that goods of foreign origin were being exhibited. In each case the matter was immediately looked into and appropriate action taken.

Will the hon. Gentleman investigate the several cases which have been brought to my notice, and see that publicity is given to the action that he takes?

I shall be obliged to the hon. Member if he will give the information, because both Committees are anxious to see that nothing of this kind occurs in future.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the number of invitations sent to Russia to attend the British Industries Fair, the number of acceptances he received, and the number of Russians who actually attended the fair?

In view of the fact that foreign trade in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics is a Government monopoly, invitations were sent to the Soviet Embassy in London. According to our records, one Russian attended the fair.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can make any statement as to the results of the British Industries Fair?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can make any statement as to the attendance and business done this year at the British Industries Fair by comparison with other years?

The figures for the London section of the fair were in round numbers as follow:

Visits of home buyers 150,000, against 111,000 in 1929. Visits of overseas buyers 4,800, against 3,700 in 1929. The public 51,000, against 32,000 in 1929.

The Birmingham figures for all classes are 150,000, against 120,000 in 1929.

Reports from both London and Birmingham indicate results comparing very favourably with business done last year.

Has the decision taken last year by the hon. Gentleman's predecessors to hold this year's fair at Olympia been a wise one?

Certainly, it has been most successful, and has in every way worked very satisfactorily.

Can we hope that orders have been placed by the Russian Soviet delegation in Birmingham, in the heavy engineering section, for agricultural machinery?

I am afraid that I have no information on that point.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the terms and conditions under which facilities under the exports credit scheme can be granted to exporters of goods to Soviet Russia, particularly as regards the time limit, the percentage of the risk which the exporter will have to carry, and the rate of interest charged per annum for the accommodation?

It is not the practice to publish the terms and conditions on which facilities under the export credits guarantee scheme are given in the case of particular countries or importers.

Is the hon. Gentle man aware that, because these figures are not made known, it is very detrimental to those who want to export goods to Russia; and is he also aware that Russian buyers are asking for five years' credit, and his Department is offering only 12 months?

In answer to the first part of the supplementary question, I would point out that if they apply to the Department, they can get the terms, but it is not considered that a public announcement is advisable.

Did they not apply in the case of the order for 3,000,000 pairs of boots from Northampton?

My information is that there was no definite application.

May I ask for an answer to the second part of my supplementary question?

The hon. Gentleman is trying to ask, in other words, the question which I have told him cannot be answered.

Is it not the policy of the Government to consider each individual application on its merits, and to treat Anglo-Russian transactions exactly the same as those of other countries?

Yes, that is the policy on broad lines, but it is rather different, seeing that the trade is in the hands of the Government in the case of Russia.

Is it not a fact that the hon. Gentleman and his Department have no confidence whatever as regards giving trade facilities to Russia?

Can the hon. Gentleman say why the same length of credit is not given to Russia as to other countries?

Yes, but that would mean my going into the reasons which actuate the committee.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has received any reports from our trade commissioners in Russia; and if so, whether it is intended to publish them?

Up to the present my Department has received from the Commercial Counsellor at Moscow seven despatches. They all deal with the specific business of individual firms, and as such are not suitable for publication.

Does the hon. Gentleman intend to publish the periodical reports issued by his Department in regard to Russian trade, as he does in regard to other countries?

I think that I must wait until I see the reports.

Is it the hon. Gentleman's intention to circulate these reports to manufacturers interested in Anglo-Russian trade?

I understand that, so far, these reports deal only with special applications made by firms, and I do not know that they would be of general interest to manufacturers.

In view of the importance of this matter, will the hon. Gentleman circulate as early as possible a re- port from the Trade Commissioners to those firms interested in Anglo-Russian trade?

I will certainly give careful consideration to that suggestion.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has yet personally discussed with British makers of railway rolling stock methods by which to secure orders for cars and locomotives such as those recently placed by the Council of Jamaica in the United States of America and by the South African Railways administration in Germany?

No, Sir, but I am in communication with British makers about the matter.

In view of the immense value of these rolling stock orders, does the hon. Gentleman not think that he might, on his own personal initiative, go down to see the manufacturers at Leeds, Manchester, and Glasgow in order to see if something can be done?

I am in communication with them, and I think that it is quite likely that there will be a meeting on the matter, but, if needful, I shall be quite prepared to do what the hon. Gentleman suggests; I will give it my careful consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of raw wool exported from and imported into each of the Dominions, into and out of India, and of each foreign country for which returns are available for each of the last three years?

The particulars regarding quantities desired by the hon. and gallant Member are shown on pages 454–8 of the International Yearbook of Agricultural Statistics published by the International Institute of Agriculture. As long tables of figures are involved, with the concurrence of the House I will forward a copy of the tables to the hon. and gallant Member. The institute do not publish information regarding values of raw wool.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the date of the ratification of the existing commercial treaty between England and Germany; and whether under the Anglo-German Commercial Treaty the Government is prohibited from imposing a countervailing duty on bounty-fed cereals imported into this country from Germany as distinct from non-bounty-fed cereals of a like nature from other countries?

Ratifications of the Anglo-German Commercial Treaty were exchanged on 8th September, 1925. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

Do I understand that the Convention has tied the hands of the present Government and that this is due to the action of the previous Tory Government?

I cannot allow further supplementaries to this question, as the hon. Member has extended the scope of it far beyond the original question.

But may I raise the point on the Adjournment?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the numbers of Consuls and Vice-Consuls there are in Persia to-day?

There are in Persia at present, including officers of the Indian Political Service who staff certain posts, three Consuls-General, eight Consuls, 14 Vice-Consuls and three Acting Vice-Consuls. His Majesty's Minister at Tehran also holds the rank of Consul-General.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are more Consuls and Vice-Consuls in Persia than in Germany, in spite of the fact that the trade with Persia is only £1,000,000 compared with £40,000,000 in the case of Germany?

asked the First Commissioner of Works what is the arrangement by which a representative of his Department travels abroad to visit buildings occupied by British representatives and officials in overseas countries; whether any official of his Department has made an inspection since June last, and, if so, what countries he visited and what the cost was; and whether it is proposed to send a member of his staff to make a similar inspection during the coming 12 months, and to what countries?

The reply to the hon. Member's question is somewhat long, and I propose with his permission to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

The arrangement by which officers of my Department visit public buildings overseas is designed to ensure that, as a general rule, all such buildings are inspected by an architect not less than once in seven years, the frequency of the vists being determined by the importance of the buildings, the larger Continental Embassies being inspected annually; Legations so far as possible every two years, and Consulates at less frequent intervals.

Since June last, inspections have been made by architects at Riga, Berne, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Rome and Paris, at a cost of £138, Washington and Ottawa (£230), and a further visit to Paris and Rome at a cost of £60. Officers are at present visiting Moscow and Berlin, the cost being estimated at £70 or £80, and also various posts in South, Central and West Africa, at an estimated cost of £400.

It is proposed to make vists during the next financial year to The Hague, Brussels, Prague, Rome, Vienna, Riga, Washington, Lisbon, Madrid, and certain posts in North Africa.

In addition to visits by architects, visits are occasionally made by engineers, in connection with the heating and lighting installations, and by technical officers in connection with refurnishing schemes. An officer of the Supplies Division is about to make a tour of inspection to China and Japan in connection with the furnishing of the new Tokio Embassy, and the supply of furniture to various Consulates, and also to investigate various matters connected with Supplies services generally in the Far East.

asked the First Commissioner of Works the total number of staff that can be accommodated in the existing offices at Acton and the number of staff at present using the building?

The maximum number of staff of a routine character that can be accommodated in these premises is approximately 5,000 without allowance for record space. The number of staff at present in occupation is 4,085, which will be increased to 4,285 by the end of the present month. Owing to the abnormal amount of space required exclusively for records, no further staff can be housed in the building.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information of the meeting arranged to take place in Moscow between Soviet and Chinese representatives to finally settle all outstanding questions of the Chinese Eastern railway; and whether he can give the House particulars of the present position in Wuchow?

I have no information about this meeting, and do not know whether it has yet taken place. So far as I am aware, the West River is still temporarily closed to traffic and martial law remains in force at Wuchow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether at the forthcoming conference with the Egyptian Government the terms of negotiation will be strictly adhered to as set out in the White Paper; and whether he will give the names of the Egyptian delegates and the date of their arrival in this country?

The Egyptian delegation will be headed by the Prime Minister, and will, I understand, include the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Public Works. They are due to arrive in London during the week beginning the 24th March. As stated in the official communique which was published in the Press on the 25th February, the delegation is coming for the purpose of negotiating on the proposals in the White Paper referred to by the hon. and gallant Member.

Have any further matters arisen in the negotiations, and, if so, will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House?

I do not recognise any fresh matters that have arisen, but, if the hon. and gallant Member will put a question on the Paper, I will answer it.

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to make any further concessions other than those set out in the White Paper?

The hon. and gallant Member had better wait and see.

But surely this House is entitled to know beforehand the nature of this concession and to ask the right hon. Gentleman what his views are on the subject?

There has already been a Debate on the subject. The White Paper has been issued, and I have already answered questions and said that negotiations are to be conducted on the White Paper.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman say that he had reached the extreme limit of concessions?

I never said anything inconsistent with that.

Then why does he tell us that we had better wait and see?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any communication from the Italian Government with reference to Mr. Gialdini; and what is the present position of this matter?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any communication from the Italian Government respecting the position of John Gialdini; and, if so, whether he will state its purport?

I have been asked to reply. No communication has been received, and I can only repeat that it is not in the public interest to state publicly the present position of this matter.

Is the Under-Secretary not aware that there appeared in the official Labour organ last week a statement that the Italian Government had refused to assist us in the matter? Is there any truth in the statement?

I am not familiar with everything that appears in the Press.

rose—

The Under-Secretary is not responsible for what appears in the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the total cost of the Prime Minister's visit to the United States and Canada last autumn?