asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Government will now take into consideration the question of the advisability of arming the vessels of the Royal Indian Marine, to enable them to take their share in police and patrol work in the Persian Gulf and Indian Seas?

The whole question of the future of the Royal Indian Marine has been under investigation by a Committee the Report of which is now under the consideration of the Government of India. Until that Report and the recommendations of the Government of India reach the Secretary of State, the question of arming the vessels cannot be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the increase of the price of meat in Germany; whether he has received Consular information on this subject; if not, whether he will ask for Reports on this matter from our Consuls; and, if such Reports have already come to hand, what reasons are assigned for the steady upward tendency in the cost of meat in Germany?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am aware of the increase in the price of meat in Germany. My hon. Friend will find references to the subject in recent Reports from His Majesty's Consuls in Germany which have been laid before Parliament. The causes of the rise are a matter of controversy in Geramny. It may be noted that the Prussian Government have recently decided upon some relaxation of the regulations concerning the importation of meat, and that the Imperial Government are considering a proposal for the grant of a rebate of 4½ or 8½ Pfennige per lb. of the Import Duty in cases where municipalities import fresh or frozen beef at their own cost for sale to consumers.

asked what was the duty levied by Turkey on Manchester cottons and Yorkshire woolen goods imported into Tripoli; what is the Italian tariff upon such articles; and which tariff will not prevail?

The duty levied by Turkey on Manchester cottons and Yorkshire woollen goods imported into Tripoli was 11 per cent, ad valorem. The Italian tariff upon such articles varies with the classes of goods in question, and the duties imposed are severally set forth in the Return of Foreign Import Duties, which is published annually by the Board of Trade. With regard to the last part of the question, I can make no statement at present.

Having regard to the importance of the duties to Lancashire and Yorkshire, will the Government make representations on the subject?

That has already been done.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Chinese premier informed the six-Power group on 12th June, 1912, that he would require about 19,000,000 taels during the month of June, 1912, and that, unless he received that sum through the group, he would consider himself free to borrow elsewhere; that on 17th June, 1912, the six-Power group advanced 3,000,000 taels; will he say whether any and what further sum was advanced by or through the six-Power group during that month; whether be is aware that on 9th July, 1912, the Chinese Minister of Finance informed the six-Power group in writing that, by reason of the failure of the group to advance money to meet China's urgent needs, China must seek other means of raising money; will he say whether any and what reply was made to this communication; whether he is aware that on 5th August, 1912. the Chinese Minister of Finance informed the six-Power group in writing that, having failed to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion with the six-Power group with regard to the loan negotiations, the central Government after long delay had decided to negotiate loans with other banking groups; whether he is aware that the Crisp loan agreement was not signed until 30th August, 1912, and that no money was to be provided there-under until a later date; and whether any and what protest was made against the action proposed to be taken by the Chinese Government between 5th August, 1912, the date of the announcement of their intention to borrow elsewhere, and 30th August, 1912, the date of the Crisp loan agreement?

The Minister of Finance wrote to the agents of the six-Power group on 12th June, stating that the urgent needs of the Chinese Government for the month of June amounted to 24,143,000 taels; of this sum 3,000,000 taels had been already received from the group, leaving the amount still required 21,143,000 taels. The Minister requested that, should the group be unable to guarantee the amount in question, he might be informed definitely to that effect before 15th June, so that the Chinese Government might be enabled to apply to other financial groups to arrange for a large loan. The six-Power group advanced 3,000,000 taels on 13th June, and a like sum on 21st June. No other advances were made during the month of June. On 9th July the Minister of Finance informed the agents of the group in writing that, if a further advance, which had been requested the previous day, were not made, the Chinese Government would be obliged to tell the provinces to find assistance themselves, or the central Government would have to seek other means of meeting urgent needs. No written reply appears to have been made to this communication, but we understand that the Chinese Government were informed that the group were prepared to extend the advances to the sum required, and negotiations were continued in regard to the terms. I am not aware of any communication made by the Minister of Finance to the agents of the group on 5th August. It is correct that the Crisp Loan agreement was signed on 30th August. The agreement stipulated that the first payment (£500,000) should be made to the Chinese Government on or before 30th September. No protest was made by His Majesty's Government against the conclusion of this loan between the dates indicated, but the attitude of His Majesty's Government was fully explained to Mr. Crisp on the 23rd August, and no information as to the signature of a definitive agreement was received until the 4th September. I think that the circumstances of the Crisp loan will be best explained if Papers were to be laid. I therefore, propose to lay Papers as soon as possible.

asked whether, as the result of his promised inquiry, he can say whether the, Danish Government are now making a subsidy to the Union Steamship Company for the conveyance of agricultural produce to this country; what is the amount, if any, of such subsidy; and what the Union Company actually give in return in the way of facilities or encouragement to Danish export trade?

I communicated the result of the inquiry to which reference is made, to the hon. Member by letter on the 21st of April last year. As the information I obtained involves a considerable number of figures, I will circulate it with the Votes. As regards the inquiry conveyed in the latter portion of the question, T understand that, in addition to the facilities afforded by the United Steamship Company in the shape of regular tri-weekly services to British ports, proper cooling machinery on board the vessels employed, etc., the actual freight rates charged for the conveyance of agricultural produce to the United Kingdom have to be submitted to the Danish Minister of Agriculture, and to be approved of by him. [See Written, Answers this date.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the United States of America have any claim to any coal depot at Kingston, Jamaica, at the present time, and, if so, what?

No such claim has been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men are now employed at the Royal Aircraft Factory; and what proportion of them are engaged in inventing, and what proportion in manufacturing aeroplanes?

Three hundred and sixty-one men are employed at the factory, all on experimental work or at the repair or reconstruction of Service aircraft. None are employed in manufacturing new aeroplanes.

asked how many machines of the type B E2 are now on order in private firms; how many are under order for construction in the Royal Aircraft Factory; how many private firms have recently received orders for parts only of aeroplanes; and how many aero planes will such parts make up?

Thirteen aeroplanes of B E 2 type are on order, and are now due from private firms. No aeroplanes are under order for construction in the factory, and no orders have been given to private firms for parts only.

asked how many effective aeroplanes are now owned by the British Army, and how many of them are of English manufacture?

Thirty-six effective aeroplanes are in the possession of the British Army, of which twelve are at the Central Flying School. Of these nineteen are of English manufacture. In addition, four machines are under reconstruction at the Royal Aircraft Factory.

How does that compare with the number owned by foreign Powers?

I should like to have notice of that question.

How many are monoplanes and how many biplanes?

The question of monoplanes and biplanes is the subject of an inquiry by a Committee. I am answering a question on this later on.

asked how many officers and men are now actually enrolled in the Army branch of the Royal Flying Corps, and how many of them are efficient pilots?

The figures are as follows:—

How many applications for officers and men to be enrolled are still pending?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for War (15) whether, in consequence of the recent Army tests of aeroplanes, he and his advisers have arrived at any decision as to the best form of machine for use in the Army Flying Corps; and whether his prohibition of monoplanes is intended to be permanent; and (17) whether any decision has been arrived at with regard to the use in future of monoplanes by the Army aviation branch?

As a result of the competition, valuable information as to suitable types of aeroplanes for military use have been obtained, but the Army Council does not propose, at the present stage, to decide upon any particular type for exclusive use. As regards monoplanes, a scientific committee is now considering certain structural questions, and monoplanes will not be used in the military wing until the Committee has reported.

Will the decision be announced1 as soon as possible in the interests of the firms which at the request of the War Office went in for the manufacture of monoplanes?

The decision will, of course, be arrived at as soon as possible. But there must be considerable experiments.

How many have we actually built?

I stated in answer to the previous question that we have thirty-six.

Exclusive of monoplanes?

Yes, I imagine so. I am not sure.

asked why officers from the unattached list of the Territorial Force were posted in the "London Gazette" of the 6th August, to the unattached list of the Indian Army, when there are a large number of fully qualified officers in the Regular forces who are desirous of entering the Indian service, and were induced to enter the British service by the prospect of being allowed to transfer to the Indian service under the Regulations?

The officers mentioned are the university candidates for Army Commissions, nominated according to regulation by the university authorities for the Indian Army. Incidentally they were members of the Officers' Training Corps holding Commissions on the unattached list of the Territorial Force.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Frederick Ribbens, an ex-sergeant of the York and Lancaster Regiment; whether he is aware that Ribbens served for more than thirteen years in the Army, and, having contracted rheumatic fever in India his feet became so weak that in June, 1909, he was discharged as medically unfit for further service, his conduct and character while with the colours being declared to have been exemplary; whether he is aware that if he had served for another eight months he would have been entitled to a pension for life; that he was awarded a temporary pension of 10d. a day for thirty-nine months, which has now expired; that he has applied to be further examined medically in order to determine whether he is competent to earn his living; and that he originally enlisted in the Army as a band boy at an age which prevented him learning a trade: and whether, in view of the fact that Ribbens has a wife and family, and is totally incapacitated by an ailment contracted while serving with the colours, he will undertake that a pension be awarded to this veteran?

The disability for which F. Ribbens was invalided cannot be attributed to the effects of climate or military service and in these circumstances the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital have granted him the maximum pension which the Royal Warrant provides. It is regretted that this pension cannot be increased.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether records are kept of all objections made to provisional valuations; and, if so, in what form such records are drawn up?

Records in the form of the objector's letters are kept of all objections made to provisional valuations.

asked what means are taken to expedite the valuations for Estate Duty cases; and are instructions given for their completion at the earliest possible moment, with priority over all other valuations?

Estate Duty cases are regarded as valuations to be dealt with promptly. It is, however, impossible at the present time to give them priority over all other valuations without adding considerably to the time and cost of the original valuation. They are made concurrently with the provisional valuations for the same properties, and in determining the order in which the original valuation is proceeded with the existence of an Estate Duty case is a factor.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the whole of the evidence given before or collected by the Committee appointed by him to inquire into the land system will be made public as soon as its labours are concluded; if he can give the names of the officials who are assisting the Committee in their deliberations; and whether the services of any officer of any Government Department are being utilised in any way in connection with the work of the Committee?

asked how many paid agents are now being employed by the Land Inquiry Committee in connection with their inquiries?

asked whether any, and which, of the recently appointed Small Holdings Commissioners have been employed by his secret Land Inquiry Committee to collect evidence?

I am not aware of the names and number of the persons employed by the Committee. That is a matter wholly within the Committee's discretion, as is also the question of the publication of their Report. I can, however, assure hon Members that no Government servant is being employed by them.

Does the right hon. Gentleman include the Small Holdings Commissioners as Government servants?

Certainly.

Does he say that no Small Holdings Commissioner has been employed by this Committee in making inquiries?

Certainly.

Can the right hon. Gentleman ascertain the figures I ask for and communicate them to me?

Perhaps the hon. and learned Member will apply direct to them.

To whom may I apply?

I will supply the name of the secretary and the address of the office to the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the names of those who are finding the money for the expenses of the Land Inquiry Committee?

This seems to me to be an essentially private matter.

Is it the right hon. Gentleman who objects to giving the information or the members of the Committee who object to their names being published?

I think it is entirely a matter for them. If they choose to give their names, of course they can do so.

This is a private matter, but will the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether any of these gentlemen contributed £1,000 to dine with the Duke of Westminster?

Has it occurred to the right hon. Gentleman that the source from which this money comes would enable us to judge of the bona fides of this inquiry?

Certainly, I should say so.

In order that we may judge will he not give the names?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a Royal Commission, a Departmental Committee, a Select Committee of this House, or some other impartial and open method of inquiry into the land system of this country?

I must refer the Noble Lord to the answer which I gave yesterday to the question put to me by the hon. Member for South Wiltshire.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that an open and impartial inquiry would be more likely to arrive at the facts of the case than a secret, partisan, and underhand inquiry?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he does not think that we have had sufficient inquiry into this question, and whether the time has not come to act?

asked the Prime Minister if he will state why the promised announcement of the Government's land policy has been postponed; and whether he is in a position to state when it will be made, and by whom?

I am not aware of any promised announcement having been postponed. The policy of the Government will be announced in due time.

Are we to understand that the announcement that the Chancellor of the Exchequer's speech at Swindon was postponed owing to the crisis in the Near East was entirely without official foundation?

I know nothing about it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the present proposals made by various Members of the Government have caused a great deal of insecurity throughout the country, and will he allay that feeling of insecurity at the earliest possible moment by announcing what the policy of the Government is?

I do not think the country is in any state of insecurity.

had given notice of the following question: "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the figures upon which it is estimated that the distribution of the Improvement Fund has resulted in a saving of 4d. in the £ on agricultural rates?" I have been asked to postpone this question, but in view of the fact that the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated three years ago that he had these figures, am I to wait another three years?

The real reason why I asked the hon. Gentleman to postpone the question was that I have been busy with the Advisory Committee, and had no time to get the information. I will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that at the office of the Special Commissioners of Income Tax, 49, Welling-ton Street, Strand, typists have access to the figures contained in the especially confidential returns of gross income made to the Special Commissioners of Income Tax for the purpose of the assessment of Supertax, and also to the names of persons making such returns; and whether he will undertake to see that this is discontinued?

The whole of the clerical work in the Special Commissioners' office, including the typing, is performed exclusively by established officers who have taken the oath of secrecy. In these circumstances I do not think it necessary to make special arrangements to prevent the ladies who do the typing having access, in common with the remainder of the staff, to information of a confidential nature.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman use numbers instead of names to represent the people concerned?

That appears to be a very sensible suggestion.

asked (24) whether any allowance for the purpose of Income Tax is now made to directors of public companies or clerks in respect of the expense of travelling from and to their residences to and from their work; and (25) whether there is any, and, if so, what case other than that of Members of Parliament where a uniform allowance is made to hundreds of persons in respect of expenses for the purpose of Income Tax, though such persons incur expenses varying greatly in amount?

asked whether any rebatement of Income Tax such as has been granted to Members of this House in consideration of their travelling expenses is granted to solicitors, doctors, business men, and others whose profession also entails travelling expenses?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who suggested the figure of £100 in arriving at the Income Tax rebatement to be allowed to Members of Parliament; whether the same amount is applicable whatever the constituency a Member may represent and its distance from Westminster; and if he will lay upon the Table the Papers relating to this arrangement, including any correspondence with regard thereto between the Treasury and the Inland Revenue Commissioners?

The answer to the hon. and learned Member's first question is in the negative; but, as regards the Noble Lord's question, it is the fact that expenses of solicitors and others in travelling in the performance of their professional work are allowed as a deduction in arriving at their liability to Income Tax. Other examples of an uniform rate of allowance are the allowance made to certain classes of manufacturers in respect of depreciation of machinery, such depreciation being a necessary expense of their business, and the uniform allowances laid down by Statute in connection with repairs to lands and buildings. It would be wholly contrary to established practice to lay Interdepartmental correspondence as suggested by the hon. Member for Dul-wich. As regards the other points raised in his question, I would refer the hon. Member for Dulwich to my previous replies, on the subject.

are these reductions to solicitors and others made on statements made by them or are they a flat rate, as in the case of Members of Parliament?

I should doubt very much whether it is a flat rate.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think the amount of expenses of a London Member can be as much as those who have to come from across the Channel; and under these circumstances does he think it reasonable that the same amount of reduction should be given to-London Members?

I had considered that and I do not mind admitting that that is how it struck me at first, but when I looked into the matter I found there was not very much in it except in the case of Members who came from very long distances.

Under ordinary law may travelling expenses to London be included in this deduction, seeing that the officials expressly refuse it—travelling expenses, from home or from constituencies?

This amount covers expenses of that character.

Are travelling expenses from home or constituencies allowed under the ordinary law irrespective of this present allowance?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give facilities during this Session for the discussion of the rebatement of Income Tax allowed to Members of this House on their salaries?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will grant a day for the discussion of the remission of Income Tax on Members' salaries?

I will answer these questions together. I fear I cannot see my way to provide special time for the discussion of this subject at present.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer said, I think, yesterday, that he was in the hands of the House in regard to this matter, and will not the House be given an opportunity of having a discussion upon it?

I shall be glad to receive any expression of opinion from the House generally as to what they desire.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that provisional valuations of land are being issued to owners in Ireland without setting out the total and assessable site values; and whether he will state the Section of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, under which the Valuation Department is relieved from the duties imposed on them by Section 26 of setting out the values above mentioned in the case of land which has not come under the purview of the Estates Commissioners?

I am not aware that any provisional valuations have been issued in Ireland which omit to set out the total and assessable site values. If, however, the hon. Member will furnish me with specific cases, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what Acts give the local authorities powers through his Board to make regulations for the movement of cattle; whether these regulations are now necessary; and, if not, when he intends to rescind them? I may state that I put the question down before having heard of the Mullingar outbreak.

Section 22 (34) of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, empowers the Board to authorise a local authority to make regulations for any of the purposes of the Act, subject to such conditions as the Board think fit to prescribe, and Article 12 of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Order of 1896 empowers a local authority to prohibit or regulate the movement of animals into their district with a view to prevent the introduction of the disease under the conditions set out in the Order. The necessity of the regulations depend in some measure upon the local conditions, and under existing circumstances I do not propose to interfere with the exercise of the discretionary power which the local authorities at present possess.

Has the right hon. Gentleman actually power to rescind these regulations?

I can only rescind them by rescinding Article XII. of the Order of 1895, which remains in force.

Is it the fact that the local authorities have no power to interfere with railway traffic through their areas when they impose an embargo of this sort?

I take it the hon. Member is referring to the case of Gloucestershire. Gloucester has no power to prevent through traffic passing through their area.

I should like to ask what is the rule in regard to all counties in England as regards through railway traffic?

The hon. Member should put the question down.

Will the right hon. Gentleman enforce his embargo against cattle shipped before his new Order was made known in Ireland—cattle now due in England?

The Order applies to all animals which may have come from an infected area.

Even if shipped before the Order was made known and the cattle are sound?

The exact date on which they were shipped does not very much matter. If they are likely to bring disease over the Order must operate against them, naturally.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the expressed difference of opinion which has existed between two Ministers or His Majesty's Government, the one President of the English Board of Agriculture, the other Vice-President of the Irish Department of Agriculture, and presumably shared by their respective departmental veterinary and official experts, with regard to the restriction imposed on the landing of Irish cattle in England in consequence of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, and having regard to the effects on the cattle trade of Ireland, bringing in its train something little short of national bankruptcy if the restrictions of this year become the normal policy under similar conditions in future, and to promote concerted action between two kindred departments within the United Kingdom charged with administering the same law, and to alleviate the mistrust generated in Great Britain by unfounded statements reflecting on the inspection of animals before shipment from Ireland, and to the magnitude of the interests, affecting both British and Irish agriculturists, involving a turnover of between ten and fifteen millions annually, he will consider the advisability of appointing a non-party committee to receive evidence and report whether the present attitude towards Irish cattle is equitable or necessary, and what regulations might fairly be imposed by one country against the other in the event of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in either?

I have been in communication with my colleagues on this subject, and I have no reason whatever to suppose that the different points of view which they respectively represent cannot be reconciled by the usual ministerial machinery. There is no necessity for the creation of any special tribunal for the purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that in a report of an investigation of Johne's disease of cattle, part of the expenses of which have been defrayed by the Board, appearing in the Journal of Comparative Pathology for September, the whole of the section dealing with the cultivation of the bacillus of this disease, which is essential for the preparation of a specific diagnostic vaccine, is a repetition of the work of Messrs. Twort and Ingram, read before the Royal Society in February, 1912; whether he is aware that without Dr. Twort's initial discovery of a medium on which to cultivate the bacillus, this section of the report, read before the Royal Society on 17th November, 1910, could not have been written; whether in the Report upon Johne's disease lately issued for the research laboratory of the Royal Veterinary College, or in any other publication the Government investigators into this disease have been able to adduce any evidence to disprove Messrs. Twort and Ingram's claims as to the efficacy of their specific diagnostic vaccine; and, if so, whether he will explain why a subsidy out of the Development Fund for the further investigation of Johne's disease has been granted to the Royal Veterinary College and none to the original investigators?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. A large part of the work described in the section dealing with the cultivation of the bacillus was carried out before February, 1912. With regard to the second part, it is impossible to state what would have been the result of independent attempts to cultivate the bacilli if Mr. Twort had not previously described a method by which this could be done. With regard to the third part, I am advised that the conclusions drawn by Messrs. Twort and Ingram regarding the relative value of different methods of diagnosis in Johne's disease are premature, and that they are not warranted by the evidence which has been published. The question of diagnosis forms an important part of the investigations in progress at the Royal Veterinary College. I feel bound to add that the question of the hon. Member seems to me to suggest that those who have been engaged on the investigations at the Royal Veterinary College have been less scrupulous than they should have been of the rights of other workers in the same field. I can find no evidence which justifies such a suggestion, and I hope that the hon. Member will be willing to disclaim it.

I made no such suggestion. I should like to know who will enjoy the commercial profit to be derived from the discovery of this medium?

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the width of Piccadilly is to be increased by throwing into it a strip of the Green Park?

The First Commissioner does not intend to sanction any scheme to give up any portion of the Green Park for the purpose of widening Piccadilly.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been drawn to the suggestion that the air throughout the House should not, as at present, be kept at the same uniform temperature; and whether he will direct that the temperature in the Inner Lobby should be at least eight degrees lower than that inside the Chamber?

There has not been a general complaint on this score, and the present system of ventilation does not permit of my hon. Friend's suggestion being carried out.

Having regard to the complaints which have been made with respect to the ventilation of the House during the last six or seven years, will the hon. Gentleman appoint a small Committee to consider and report to the House?

I should be very glad to convey the hon. Gentleman's suggestion to the First Commissioner, but I may remind him that several Committees have sat on the same subject during the course of the last ten years.

No Committee has sat in the last seven years.

Has not every Committee that has sat recommended further inquiry?

The suggestions of the last Committee have been fully carried out at considerable expense.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will undertake that the terms of the Financial Resolutions relating to the Government of Ireland Bill shall be placed on the Paper at least two clear days Before entering upon the Committee stage of such Resolutions?

Yes, Sir, I shall be glad to do this.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to a speech by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury at Bethnal Green last Friday, in which he expressed sympathy with the Balkan League in their present war with Turkey; whether this represents the attitude of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, whether the other Powers of Europe have been informed that England no longer occupies a position of strict neutrality?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question so far as it refers to myself. I assume the hon. Gentleman refers to an alleged report of a lecture which I delivered last week, at the request of the members of a working men's club in my Constituency, upon the situation in the East. I gave then an account of the issues as they presented themselves to both combatants: I emphasised strongly the neutrality of this country: and upon some discontent being expressed with that neutrality, I declared that sympathy might be legitimately expressed by subscription to the funds for the sick and wounded. I think I have reason for complaint that four days afterwards, without any reference to myself for verification, distorted fragments purporting to be a report of this lecture should appear in a daily newspaper with such affirmations as those of our neutrality deliberately or carelessly omitted; and I am grateful for the opportunity of making this explanation to the House.

Are we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman expressed no sympathy with one side or the other?

May I ask whether my right hon. Friend received any communication from the hon. Gentleman opposite before he addressed his letter to the "Times"?

I may say that it is usual for Members, if attacked in this House, to receive notification of the subject, and I should have thought the hon. Member would have had the courtesy before attacking me to have given me notice. I may have expressed sympathy with all the countries at war, and I specially emphasised the neutrality of this country.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware that any Member of the Government is open to any criticisms in the public Press, and whether he is not aware that in a grave crisis of international affairs like this one who is a Member of this House is perfectly entitled, without discourtesy to another Member, to criticise his conduct in the public Press?

I am only expressing what I think would be my own standard of courtesy.

May I ask the Prime Minister, in reference to these questions which are addressed to him, whether it is not a fact that ever since the time of Lord Althorp, in 1831, when he protested against this practice, Leaders of the House have repudiated the method of questioning Ministers and trying to fix responsibility on the Cabinet for utterances of Ministers who are not Members of the Cabinet?

That raises a large question of general policy of which I should like to have notice. My right hon. Friend has conclusively disposed of the allegation made.

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman took any steps to contradict the statements which appeared in the papers at the earliest possible moment?

Immediately the question was put on the Paper I took steps to answer the statements here.

But did the right hon. Gentleman contradict them when they appeared in the Press?

I am responsible to this House and not to any section of the Press.

asked the Prime Minister whether the reference contained in the speech delivered recently by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the war now proceeding in the East, and asking for support and sympathy for the Balkan States in their attack upon Turkey, correctly expresses the views of the Cabinet as a whole with regard to this war?

That is already disposed of.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will request Members of the Government to keep their sympathies with one of the combatants in the present war under control as long as this country remains neutral?

I do not think that question arises after the explanation which has been given.

May I ask whether the Prime Minister is aware that the statements of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury are calculated to increase animosity between Christians and Moslems; whether he is aware that the right hon. Gentleman's statements have been repudiated by Members of the Government; and whether, looking at the deplorable effect of such unusual procedure, he will now repudiate it?

That question is obsolete. I have only to say—and I say it emphatically—that the attitude of His Majesty's Government in the war is one of strict neutrality. Of course, it is the duty of a Minister as well as anybody else to use no language inconsistent with that attitude.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is now in a position to state the steps that he has taken with a view to prohibiting the use of cut-outs or open exhausts on motor cycles?

An Order on the subject has been drafted, and I hope to be in a position to come to a decision in the matter at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends to publish a Report of the investigations by the chairman of the industrial council in Canada as to the results of the working of the conciliation and arbitration legislation in the Dominion?

The Chief Industrial Commissioner has not yet returned from Canada and no Report of his inquiries has yet been made. My right hon. Friend is not therefore at present in a position to consider the question of publication.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any communications from bodies of seamen urging him to re-establish the old Plimsoll line; and, if so, whether he contemplates taking any action in the matter?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability of instituting an inquiry into the results of the alteration in the Plimsoll line?

The Board have received copies of resolutions on the subject to which the hon. Member refers which have been passed by various branches of the Dock, Wharf, Riverside, and General Workers' Union; and, as my right hon. Friend has already stated, the question whether any action in the matter should be taken by the Board of Trade is being carefully considered in connection with the findings of the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the s.s. "North Briton."

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the number of deaths caused by the tramcars in the city of Glasgow, and particularly on some of the high gradients; and whether he will take any action to reduce the speeds permitted there by his Department, which are as much as sixteen miles an hour?

Thirteen fatal accidents have been reported to the Board of Trade as having occurred on the Glasgow Corporation Tramways during the present year, eight of which were due to persons being knocked down by a car. None, however, of these accidents occurred on steep gradients, and in no case does the speed appear from the reports made by the corporation, to have exceeded twelve miles an hour. A speed of sixteen miles is, as my hon. Friend states, permitted on certain portions of the corporation tramways, but on steep gradients lower limits of speed have been imposed.

Can the hon. Gentleman give us any comparison between the death rate due to tramcar accidents in London and the rate in Glasgow?

I should require notice of that question.

asked what was the total value of British exports of cotton yarn to Germany in 1911; and what was the total value of Germany's export of finished cotton goods to Great Britain during that year?

The value of the exports to Germany of cotton yarn spun in the United Kingdom was £5,173,000 in 1911. In the same year the value of the imports of cotton manufactures of all kinds (other than yarn) from Germany was £6,875,000, or, deducting the re-exports of such German goods during the year, £5,723,000.

Do I understand that the value of the exports of finished cotton goods by Germany to this country were nearly £1,000,000 more than the value of the exports from this country to Germany?

Cotton of all kinds other than yarn.

asked what was the value of the total cotton export trade from Germany in 1911; and what was the value of the total production of cotton goods in that country during that year?

The total value of cotton yarns and manufactures exported from Germany to all destinations in 1911 was £22,159,000. No official information is available as to the total quantity or value of such goods manufactured in Germany.

What is the total value of the exports of cotton goods from this country?

That can be easily given. The figures are accessible to all Members of the House.

Are these figures a proof that cotton is going?

asked the total value of our total imports and exports to and from Japan in the years 1900 and 1911, showing the percentage increase and actual increase in the value of imports and exports during that period?

The imports from Japan have increased from £1,541,000 in 1900 to £3,382,000 in 1911, i.e., by £1,841,000, or 119 per cent. The exports of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom to Japan have increased from £9,775,000 in 1900 to £11,870,000 in 1911, i.e., by £2,095,000, or 21 per cent.

asked the value of the total exports of the United Kingdom to countries within the British Empire in 1900 and 1911, respectively?

The value of the exports of merchandise, the produce and manufacture of the United Kingdom, to all other parts of the Empire was £94,435,000 in 1900 and £156,733,000 in 1911.

asked the value of wine exported to England from Cape Colony in the year 1911?

The value of such wine at the place of shipment was about £900.

asked how many pounds of butter were exported from Australia to South Africa in the years 1900 and 1911, respectively; and how many hundredweights of chilled meat for the same periods?

The quantity of batter exported from Australia to South Africa was 6,048,000 lbs. in 1900 and 2,661,000 lbs. in 1911. The quantity of frozen and chilled beef, mutton, lamb and pork exported to South Africa was 424,000 cwts. in 1900 and 89,000 cwts. in 1911.

asked the wine production for Australia for the years 1881, 1891, and 1911, respectively; what was the wine and chilled meat production, respectively, for the same periods; and what was the export of each product to England for the same periods?

The quantity of wine produced in Australia in 1911 was 4,936,000 gallons. Exclusive of the small production of Western Australia, for which figures are not available prior to 1893, the production in 1881 was 1,450,000 gallons and in 1891 3,431,000 gallons. Particulars for the total output of the meat freezing works in the Commonwealth are not available. The imports of wine from Australia were 21,000 gallons in 1881, 387,000 gallons in 1891, and 963,000 gallons in 1911. The total imports of refrigerated meat from Australia in 1881 (if any) cannot be given. In 1891 they amounted to about 212,000 cwts., and in 1911 to 2,136,000 cwts.

Were this wine and chilled meat provided at the recent dinner in favour of Colonial Preference, and what was the profit on them?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the use of the "Board of Trade Journal" of 17th October to advertise gratis a Danish cooperative potato export society by inviting importers of potatoes and other agricultural producers to use its facilities has his sanction; and if he is prepared to secure from foreign countries similar free advertising for British societies of a like kind?

asked the right hon. Gentleman who is responsible for the insertion in the "Board of Trade Journal" of the goods of a certain Danish potato grower; and whether, before the article in question was published, he took any steps to ascertain if on the score of quality, or on any other grounds, the potatoes supplied by this foreign merchant were superior to those available from British sources?

The notices inserted in the "Board of Trade Journal" as to openings for British trade refer for the most part to openings for British exports in foreign or Colonial markets, but a discretion is exercised as to inserting other classes of notices where an important British interest is involved. In the present case, in view of the known shortage in the home potato crop, of the importance of this article of food to the general mass of consumers, and of the inquiries which have recently been addressed to the Commercial Intelligence Branch as to sources of supply, the notice to which attention is called was admitted to the "Board of Trade Journal," and I see no reason to question the propriety of this course.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of my question?

That is scarcely a question to be put in this connection. I am not quite sure how far it is serious.

It is serious.

The hon. Member will perhaps refer it to the Foreign Office.

May I ask why the Board of Trade gives a preference to Denmark over all other foreign countries, let alone the Colonies?

Will the hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the first part of my question as to who is responsible?

It is answered in the usual way by the Department.

Is it expected in the ordinary course of events to give gratuitous advertisements to foreign countries, while there are growers of potatoes in our own country? Is this part of the Free Trade policy of the present Government?

The answer says "in view of the known shortage of the home potato crop."

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any proposals for the increase of taxation on motor cycles have been submitted to the Secretary to the Treasury and is now under his consideration, and if he proposes to take any action thereon?

The recent Committee on the horse-power rating of motor cars in paragraph 9 of their Report (Cd. 6414) suggested certain alterations, which could not be carried out without legislation, in the present system of taxation. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has no present intention of taking action in the direction indicated.