asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the outcome of the proceedings at Geneva with regard to the suggested tariff truce?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the abstention of all the British Dominions from the Tariff Truce Conference and the rejection by that conference of the Government's proposals, he intends to take further part in its discussions?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any statement to make regarding his negotiations for a tariff truce at Geneva?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the result of his recent negotiations with the European Powers at Geneva as to a tariff truce?

The House will be aware that I recently visited Geneva and took part in the discussions which have for some time been in progress for the conclusion of an international convention on this subject. I am glad to state that a Convention was signed yesterday, as well as a Protocol regarding future negotiations for reducing trade barriers. Both documents were signed on behalf of Great Britain; the former also by 10 other countries, and the latter by 14. The text of these documents will in due course be laid before the House.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that the chairman of this committee, as reported in the daily Press, stated that, if they had taken a first hesitating step, it was all that they had taken; and does that justify the optimism that the right hon. Gentleman has always shown in regard to this matter?

Certainly. While it is true that the Convention now signed falls short of the original draft, it is nevertheless, in my opinion, a very valuable document.

Will this document which was signed yesterday preclude the taking of any step at all by His Majesty's Government during the next two years to safeguard any enterprise in this country?

I think the effect will be to give a basis on which to proceed with negotiations for the discussion of the reduction of tariffs in Europe, and I believe that that will be of very great importance to the trade of this country.

rose—

None of the questions to which the right hon. Gentleman has replied suggested a Debate on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the fact that convict labour is being employed in Russia in the production of timber; and, if so, will he take steps to prevent its importation into this country under the powers conferred upon him by the Foreign Prison-made Goods Act, 1987?

The Foreign Prison-made Goods Act, 1897, is administered by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, who have power to take the necessary action in the matter on evidence being tendered to them proving to their satisfaction that the goods in question arc prison-made goods within the meaning of the Act. Any representations in regard to any particular consignment should, accordingly, be addressed to the Commissioners.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Government to set up an inquiry into the engineering industry on the lines of those now being held into the cotton and iron and steel industries?

There is no present intention of appointing such a Committee.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the extent of the unemployment prevailing in the engineering industry, especially on the North East Coast?

Yes, that is unfortunately true; but various committees are investigating,, at all events, allied subjects, and just at the moment we do not propose to appoint another on this subject, but the condition of the industry is constantly before us.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the engineering industry, as regards the number of unemployed, compares unfavourably with either of the two industries which are at present being investigated by committees?

I could not, off-hand, reply on that point, but I can assure the hon. Member that we have the condition of engineering under constant review. It is, unfortunately, serious.

Are the other two industries really being considered?

Oh, certainly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in order to allay uncertainities in industries, he can now state the intention of the Government with regard to the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act when it expires at the end of this year; and whether it is intended to renew it in any form?

I have at present nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on the 17th December.

Could the right hon. Gentleman give any indication of the date when he will be likely to make a statement about this very important matter?

No, Sir. I think, speaking from memory, that the Act expires in January, 1931. The matter is at present under consideration, and a statement will be made as soon as possible, but I could not at the moment promise a date.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to receive a Report from the committee which is examining the position of the steel industry in this country; whether this Report will be published; and whether he will also publish the evidence upon which the Report is based?

I understand that the committee hope to be in a position to submit their Report to the Government shortly after Easter. The question of publication cannot be considered until the Report is received. The evidence taken by the committee will not be published, as it has been submitted on the express understanding that it would be treated as confidential.