asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with a view to assisting China, His Majesty's Government propose to give any guarantee for the purchase of United Kingdom goods by the Chinese Government on the lines of agreements made between His Majesty's Government and other foreign Governments?

As stated by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary on 6th March, and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Department of Overseas Trade on 14th July in the Debate on the Overseas Trade Guarantees Bill, a proposal to give guarantees for the benefit of British manufacturers in respect of exports to China has been under negotiation for some time. Certain technical and legal questions are still under consideration.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects to be able to make a statement on this matter?

I cannot say when. There are these technical and legal questions, the settlement of some of which depends on the answers received from China.

Is it not the fact that the question is of great importance to the Chinese Government because of the very limited purchases they have been able to make during the last 18 months; and is it not of great importance that this matter should be expedited?

As I have said, the settlement of some of the questions at least depends on the answers received from them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the munitions, non-ferrous metals, rubber, and oil imported by China in the last two years, and the sources of supply?

As the answer involves a tabular statement, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the Official Report.

Is it not a fact that the bulk of these imports come from the axis Powers?

My hon. and gallant Friend will see a long list of figures. He can make his own deductions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount and particulars of exports from the United Kingdom to Japan for the 12 months ended the last convenient date?

As the answer involves a table of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the figures are for regular intervals during the year?

The hon. Member will be able to see from the answer.

Will the statement which the right hon. Gentleman proposes to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT contain all particulars of munitions exported from this country?

I have given particulars in response to previous questions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that guns on the three Japanese planes brought down in Chungking on 3rd May were Lewis auto-guns, serial number A52016, made by the Birmingham Small Arms Company; and whether he will state the number of licences granted for the supply of such guns to Japan since January, 1937?

I am not aware of the source of the report to which the hon. Member refers but I am informed that the number he quotes is that of a gun supplied to Japan in 1933. As regards the latter part of the question, it would be contrary to the public interest to state the number of export licences which have been granted for a particular country for weapons of a particular description. I can say, however, that no licence for Lewis guns or machine guns destined for Japan has been issued since September, 1937.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in arriving at the standard or official price of flour which is announced from time to time, the price of blended flour is taken into this calculation; and whether he will make inquiries from some of the larger bakers in this country and find out at what price they have been buying flour;

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the official price of flour in London. I understand that this price relates to flour made from a hypothetical blend of the wheats available at the time. My hon. Friend is aware that at his instance the Food Council are making certain inquiries into the relationship between the official price of flour and that paid by the bakers.

:Is my right hon. Friend aware that, by pressure, the Millers Mutual Price-Fixing Association compels bakers to buy flour at uneconomic prices, and as a result the bakers in turn have to pass on these uneconomic prices to the consumers of bread; and is he further aware that the Food Council is a voluntary body with no powers, and is it not simply being used as a smoke-screen to lull the public into a state of false security?

The hon. Gentleman's question is extremely unfair. Because of what he asked me, and in order to assist him, and at his suggestion, I have asked the Food Council to inquire into this matter, and, therefore, we ought to await the result of that inquiry. I should like once again to contradict the statement which the hon. Gentleman always makes in the form of a question, that the Millers Mutual is a price-fixing organisation.

Is not it the fact that at the moment the Food Council has a representative inspecting flour invoices of bakers, and that this inspection includes those of the Co-operative Societies, who are not in the combine?

That is so.

Is it not vitally necessary that this policy of laissez faire and unawareness should cease?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will ask the Food Council to ascertain from the Millers Mutual Association what percentage of American subsidised flour is contained in the grist of the flour which is being sold to the bakers in the London area?

Imports of flour from the United States are negligible compared with our consumption. The matter is not one that concerns the Millers Mutual Association.

Is it not a fact that Kansas wheat is being blended with other wheat, and that the Millers Mutual do derive great benefit from that 5s. American subsidy?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will, with a view to preventing a complete monopoly, have some inquiry made regarding the practice which has become prevalent during 1939 of the milling combines purchasing bakery businesses throughout the country at inflated prices in order to have an outlet for the flour which is produced by the Millers Mutual Association?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to communicate to me any evidence he has in support of his allegations.

If I do see the right hon. Gentleman, will he really conscientiously go into this matter? Is it not in the interests of the public that the matter should be inquired into? I cannot sit still here day after day and see nothing done.

The hon. Member must remember that we all have to sit here day after day.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the existence of a quota for the import of canned meat is operating to restrict the amount of food stored against a national emergency; and whether he will take steps to remove or enlarge the quota?

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to canned beef. I have seen no evidence that the quantities recommended for importation from time to time by the International Beef Conference have been inadequate to meet the demand.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as the result of the advice given to house wives to store canned food there is likely to be a considerably increased demand for these goods?

I can only say what has happened so far. At the moment the supply is equal to the demand. The whole purpose of the council is to see that the supply meets the demand. If the demand increases they will take the necessary steps to increase the supply.

Is that answer given in spite of the fact that adequate reserves are being accumulated for emergency?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade particulars of the total declared value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United Kingdom in trade with Germany and/or Austria for each of the years 1937 and 1938?

The hon. Member will find the desired particulars on pages 188 and 191 of the issue of the monthly Trade Accounts for January last.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether there is a very large adverse balance against Great Britain?

Perhaps the hon. Member will look at the figures.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement indicating the quantities and destination of the scrap iron and scrap steel exported during the past three months from the United Kingdom, and the quantities and origin of the scrap iron and scrap steel imported into the United Kingdom during the same period; and whether he is satisfied that the arrangement between the British Iron and Steel Federation and the Scrap Merchants Federation, under which the latter have agreed to offer to the former all available

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken by the Rumanian Government to implement their undertaking in the Protocol, dated nth May, 1939, to introduce the legal conditions likely to lead to an expansion of the oil industry in Rumania and to simplify machinery of export control with a view to stimulating the exports of oil products?

I am informed that the drafting of a comprehensive Mining Law has reached an advanced stage. As regards the machinery of export control, I understand that some difficulties have already been removed and that other possible measures are under consideration.

Is it not a fact that the Rumanian Government promised definitely that a modification of the mining law would be promulgated within six

As the answer to the first part of the question involves a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the desired particulars. As regards the second part, I have no reason to suppose that the arrangements to which he refers are not effectively preventing the export of scrap required for purposes of national importance.

I am sure the Rumanian Government are as anxious as we are that they should implement their promise by introducing legislation, and I have said that it is already in an advanced stage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has taken or proposes to take action to prevent film studios from being closed down in a time of national emergency, either through being taken over as office accommodation for London firms, or for similar reasons; and whether he will ensure that film production will not unnecessarily be curtailed?

Discussions as to the appropriate use of studio space in time of war are at present proceeding.

:Is the right hon. Gentle-man aware that at least one studio has already been provisionally secured by a city concern for office use in an emergency? Does it not appear that the cinema industry just then might be very useful to the country?

All these matters have to be considered from the relative value of the purpose for which any premises could be put. I do not think that anyone could contemplate that in time of war the cinema industry is likely to continue completely unaffected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, when considering applications by liner companies operating Atlantic routes for inclusion in the provisions of the Shipping Defence Bill, he will give an assurance that he will endeavour to obtain better, more frequent and cheaper communication between this country and Newfoundland, Bermuda and the West Indies, and to make it a condition that more of the liners sailing to Canadian ports shall call at St. Johns on the outward and home-ward voyages; and will he refuse assistance where agreements exist with foreign shipping companies which limit the nature of the services which may be made available to British Dominions and Colonies?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state for the last available date, the annual total exports of cotton apparel from this country; total imports under the same heading into this country; and value of such imports from Japan?

I regret that it is not possible to furnish the precise information desired, as the official trade returns only distinguish certain descriptions of apparel made of cotton; but I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the particulars available for the year 1938.

If the occasion arises, the considerations referred to by my hon. Friend will be kept in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether the Imperial Shipping Committee is considering the present services to and from the West Indies and this country; whether their attention has been drawn to the new British competition with the existing British lines; and whether they have made any report;

(2) whether his attention has been drawn to the intrusion of the Blue Star Line into the West Indies trade with serious results for the existing lines; whether he is aware that this line serves the trade only in one direction and that the existing lines cannot maintain their full services in face of this competition and are withdrawing the only British passenger service that has for long competed with foreign passenger services; can he say in what country these Blue Star Line vessels were built; and whether he will investigate if this recent development is in the interests of British shipping as a whole?

I am aware of the developments in the West Indies trade referred to. According to the advertisements in the Press, the new outward cargo service from the United Kingdom by Blue Star Line is carried on by nine vessels, five of which were built in the United Kingdom. The Imperial Shipping Committee is at present engaged upon an inquiry into West Indian shipping facilities, and I am informed that their attention has been drawn to the new service and that they are considering its effects. I am not in a position to comment on the matter in advance of their report, which I understand may be expected in the autumn.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the existing passenger service is being withdrawn in the next month, and may be withdrawn before the report is published?

When a matter of this kind is under consideration by a committee of this importance, it cannot be dealt with before the report is issued.

Does not this give the lie to the statement that competition is essential?

Is it not a fact that the principal competition in the West Indies service is by larger and faster foreign vessels?

That is another point which the committee is considering.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any second-hand tonnage has been

Negotiations for the purchase of six vessels for the Merchant Ship Reserve have been completed, and I expect that the contracts will be signed shortly. With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate details of the vessels in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will it include the price paid by His Majesty's Government for these vessels?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why it is that one vessel which was offered some months ago for £17,500 has been purchased by the Government at £20,000, and it is a vessel 20 years old?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a question.

Did I not ask that question in the course of the recent Debate and did not the Government fail to reply?

If the hon. Member will put down a specific question I will reply.

If what the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) says is correct, what action are the Government going to take in the matter?

Very careful arrangements are made for these ships to be valued, and I am perfectly prepared to trust the valuation of those who advise us.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say on whose advice he acts in these purchases?

I have an advisory committee, and I have the Board of Trade surveyors.

What do they know-about values?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the assistant-adjutant of a Territorial unit, the Queen's Westminsters, is a prominent member of the British Union of Fascists and participates in public demonstrations of that body; and whether he proposes to relieve this officer of his commission?

I am informed that this officer is not a member of the British Union of Fascists, but that he attended a meeting in which he took no active part.

Is it not notorious that he did and does take an active part, and is it desirable that members of Hitler's fifth column should hold commissions in the Army?

I have answered the question in accordance with the particulars supplied to me by the commanding officer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make an effort to get better information, because the information he has is somewhat similar to that given to the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any men of the Regular Army have been moved out of their barracks and put under canvas in order that the barracks may be occupied by members of the Militia, and whether instructions have been given that militiamen are not to carry out the ordinary fatigues usually performed by private soldiers of the Regular Army?

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes, Sir." As regards the second part, the instruction is that the employment of militiamen on fatigues will be restricted as far as possible, and the object is to enable the maximum amount of time to be devoted to training. Militiamen will, however, be trained in administrative and sanitary duties in the field, which are part of the education of every soldier.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the militiamen are only too anxious to share all the phases of Army life as well as those of the Regular Army?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that the Fourth Green Howards, during the period of their summer camp at Halton, were fed on eggs produced in the United Kingdom, and that during the week ending 23rd July, the eggs they consumed were produced in Lancashire and Yorkshire; and whether he will direct the attention of messing officers to the fact that the cash messing allowances are sufficient to provide the troops with home-produced eggs for their breakfast;

(2) whether any Territorial or Militia camp is supplied with home-produced meat; and whether any of the units in these camps are permitted to commute their meat allowance into a cash allowance wherewith to purchase home-produced meat?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered a communication from the Glamorgan Branch of the National Farmers' Union making a request that the forces should be fed on home-produced meat; and what steps he proposes to implement this request?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that the new Militia shall be fed on home-grown beef, so that their period of compulsory service will not be putting into the pockets of Argentine beef- producers money which might otherwise be going into the pockets of United Kingdom farmers?

asked the Secretary of State for War the weight and value of home-produced meat supplied to the Militia during the period of training; and the quantity and value of fresh milk supplied by the Government to the Militia in the same period?

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what would be the additional expense, if any, if the Army serving at home was supplied, wherever possible, with home-produced food;

(2)whether it is the policy of the War Department to provide the forces serving at home with home-produced eggs, and what is the proportion of home-produced eggs at present being supplied;

(3)what is the proportion of home-produced beef supplied to the Army serving in the United Kingdom; and whether it is the policy of the War Department to provide home-produced beef wherever possible?

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what arrangements have been made to provide the services with beef and mutton from British-produced cattle and sheep;

(2) whether he will take steps to prevent the danger that, if the men now called up for service are fed on imported beef and mutton it will diminish the call on home-grown supplies, as in civil life many of these men were supplied from home-grown sources?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will ensure that the largest possible proportion of food supplied to the military forces in the United Kingdom is home-produced; and that definite instructions are issued to units to that effect?

All these questions relate to the purchase of home-produced in preference to imported supplies of food, and I hope it will be for the convenience of hon. Members if I make a comprehensive reply.

As has been stated on previous occasions, financial and administrative considerations make it impossible to depart from the present policy of relying mainly on Dominion supplies of meat, and it is not practicable to make a new departure in the case of the Militia. The extra cost involved in supplying home-produced meat to the Army and the Royal Air Force would probably rise to approximately £1,000,000 a year. There was a recent trial of Argentine frozen meat in the Aldershot Command at Tidworth for one week only. Otherwise, supply of meat from South America is at present limited to preserved meat, and this is the only source from which it can be obtained with satisfaction as to quality, quantity and price.

The proportion of fresh to frozen beef supplied to the Army in the United Kingdom is about 1 to 1,000. Apart from small local purchases, notably for hospitals, the only home station at which fresh meat is supplied is Aberdeen. There are about 150 militiamen at this depot, and the amount of meat involved to date is some 2,000 lbs. It would be contrary to practice to disclose the price. The suggestion that units might be permitted to use the cash value of the meat in the ration scale for the purpose of buying home-produced meat is impracticable owing to the difference in cost.

In the case of the other items in the ration scale, preference is given to home-produced supplies, so far as this can reasonably be done. As regards eggs and milk, it has previously been explained that these are purchased by units from a cash allowance. Information as to the prices of the various commodities is available at the messing stores in all barrack and camp institutes, and it is not proposed to interfere with the discretion of units. I have no information as to purchases of milk, but the proportion of home-produced to imported eggs used for all purposes is about 1 to 2.

On a point of Order. A number of questions have been put down dealing with different branches of food supplies, and the right hon. Gentleman has taken the unusual course of answering all of them, or attempting to answer them, in one answer. Is that in accordance with the ordinary procedure of the House? Is it not rather awkward to put a question about Estonian eggs and for the right hon. Gentleman to give an answer on an entirely different subject of meat?

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that he has answered question No. 38?

On a point of Order. As so many ex-soldiers have started poultry farming ought not the right hon. Gentleman to deal with eggs as a separate question?

The right hon. Gentleman has dealt with the question of home-produced food.

Arising out of the reply, may I ask in regard to Question 33 and the position of eggs, whether the Secretary of State thinks it fair that some units should be fed on stale Estonian eggs while others are receiving fresh newly-laid eggs from this country?

I have already disposed of that suggestion on a previous occasion. The statement is most unfair to Estonia and to the unit concerned. The eggs were not stale and I informed the hon. Member that a number of officers and men cat the eggs with very good results.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that eggs from Estonia must be stale compared with newly-laid eggs from this country? Is he also aware that since he gave me his last reply I have had a large number of letters from those in camp complaining about these eggs?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to deal with Question 38?

The hon. and gallant Member will recollect that I gave the figure, that the cost would be £1,000,000 or more. I could not give the cost of each commodity—they vary from week to week—but I gave it for meat because it was an available figure.

As the Government are subsidising British beef to the extent of £5,000,000 does not the right hon. Gentleman think that militiamen and Regular soldiers ought to be able to get some of this commodity? Is he aware that the sale of beef during this year, and for some years previously, shows a continuous decline?

I have already said that there are certain administrative difficulties. It is desirable that there should be uniformity.

On a point of Order. Does not a new point arise regarding these militiamen? Questions have been asked with regard to the Regular Forces, but is it the same thing when you are compelling militiamen to serve their country that they should have to eat somebody else's beef?

May I ask a supplementary questions—

There must be a limit to supplementary questions.

On a point of Order. There are 10 Questions down, and if an hon. Member objects to this procedure surely the right hon. Gentleman is not in a position to deal with all these questions at once?

If there are 10 questions on the same subject it is permissible for the Minister to answer them together.

That was not quite my point of Order. If an hon. Member objects surely the right hon. Gentleman is not in a position to answer all the questions en bloc? They deal with different aspects of the same problem.

That does not seem to be a point of Order.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these militiamen have fed, reared and looked after beasts all their lives and now are not to have the pleasure of eating them?

asked the Secretary of State for War in how many Territorial camps this year the canteens are being or have been run by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes; how many units run their own canteens and how many units let the running of their canteens to contractors?

I regret that the information asked for is not readily available, and could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and labour.

Is it not very important that this fact should be known so that we could feed the troops as cheaply and as well as possible?

In view of the great labour involved in obtaining this information I hope the hon. Member will not press me to get it as a great deal of labour is now cast upon the authorities, and I have not the information readily available.

In view of the fact that we are having many complaints of a general shortage of food in certain Territorial camps, particularly in the East Riding, will the right hon. Gentleman consider sending a representative of the Army Catering Advisory Department to look into this matter during the current period of training?

Yes, Sir, with a great deal of pleasure. If the hon. Member will specify the units he has in mind I will see that an inspector goes at once. That practice has invariably been followed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that widows, whose sons who were their only support and are now receiving training under the Military Training Act, are being subject to the means test in respect of dependant allowances, so that in order to live widows possessing small savings are being compelled to draw upon these small amounts and, in addition to the loss of the son and his earnings for six months, are being called upon to make the additional sacrifice of having to pay for it; and whether he will give the undertaking that in cases where children are the sole support of either or both parents the full dependants allowances will be granted irrespective of any small savings the parents may possess?

The extent to which other means of a dependant are taken into consideration in determining the rate of allowance issuable is shown in the White Paper (Cmd. 6043). It will be seen that only income, and not capital, enters into the calculation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly inquire into this matter, because I have a case in my own constituency where the capital has been taken into account and has been assessed, that is, capital invested in the Post Office Savings Bank?

If the capital has been wrongly taken into account and the hon. Member will be good enough to furnish me with the particulars, I will make immediate inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of applications received for dependant allowances under the Military Training Act, 1939; the numbers of the respective rates that have been granted; and how many of such applications have been refused?

The latest returns received indicate that approximately 14,000 militiamen have applied for grants of dependants allowance. Of these, some 5,300 have received awards at the rates of 7s., 12s., 17s., or 20s. 6d. a week (each inclusive of an allotment of 3s. 6d. from the militiaman's pay). In the remaining cases, the applicants were not found to be eligible for awards under the conditions prescribed (which are shown in the relevant White Paper, Cmd. 6043), but an allotment of 3s. 6d. a week from the militiaman's pay is being made in each case. I regret that particulars as to the numbers in receipt of awards at the 7s., 12s., 17s., and 20s. 6d. rate, respectively, are not available at the War Office.