asked the President: of the Board of Trade if he will enumerate the articles or purchases actually dealt with under the Profiteering Act and whether he will indicate the articles which have been the subject of a reduction in price in: consequence of the operation of the Act?

I am sending the hon. Member copies of the Schedules which have been issued attached to the Orders made by the Board of Trade which will give him the information he desires. With regard to the last part of the question, the factors which determine. price are always numerous and complicated and not infrequently indirect in their action. I am, however, quite satisfied that the price of all the articles scheduled has been affected by the operation of the Act.

asked how many cases have been dealt with by local profiteering tribunals and how many by the Central Committee?

The reports which have been received from 1,020 local committees show that such committees have dealt with 908 complaints of profiteering. The Central Committee has dealt with thirty-two complaints.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state how many towns and districts have refused or neglected to appoint profiteering tribunals; what are the reasons given for such refusal; and what action he intends to take to compel recalcitrant bodies to perform what is admittedly a public duty?

Out of 2,042 local authorities to whom invitations were sent 214 have not appointed local committees under the Profiteering Act. As regards the remainder of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for South Islington on the 27th October last.

Having regard to the complete failure of these local tribunals to serve any useful purpose, does the right hon. Gentleman think it worth while to take any further action?

I could not possibly agree that they have failed to serve any useful purpose. They have been and are most useful.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the constitution of such profiteering tribunals as have 'been appointed; if he will give the percentage of professional men, local manufacturers, local tradesmen, persons of independent means, women, and labour representatives; and what instructions have been issued by his Department as to the proceedings of such tribunals in order to secure a full, free, and disinterested consideration of each case?

Copies of the Regulations governing the constitution, powers and procedure of local committees were laid upon the Table of this House on 22nd October last. These Regulations provide that two members of each local committee shall be women, and that labour in the district shall be adequately represented. I do not consider that it would be justifiable to incur the expenditure which would be involved in obtaining figures showing percentages of the various classes represented on the 1,777 local committees already established by local authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many charges of profiteering had been brought before the various tribunals and the number of convictions; in how many cases had retailers been compelled to return money to customers, and what was the aggregate of the money so returned; how many manufacturers and wholesalers had been shown by retailers to be heavy profiteers; and how many such primary offenders had been summoned and how many had been imprisoned?

Of the 1,777 local committees established by local authorities, only 646 have at present rendered a Report to the Board of Trade. These Reports show that 334 complaints have been heard (in 195 of which the retailer was held to be guilty of profiteering), and refunds to customers have been ordered in 169 cases. I am not in a position to state the aggregate amount refunded in these cases. In some 60 cases the local committees have suspected profiteering on the part of the wholesaler or manufacturers, and have referred the cases to the Board of Trade. These are now being dealt with. From Reports received, local committees have ordered prosecution of 41 cases. No case of imprisonment has as yet been reported.

When is it expected to have a decision in the first case the Board of Trade has investigated in regard to wholesalers or manufacturers?

Some decisions are already on the point of being arrived at. The investigation in regard to manufacturers is necessarily long.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, of the forty-six members of the Central Committee of the Profiteering Act who attended the meeting during the railway strike, only two were able to attend from the provinces out of a total of 143 members; whether he is aware of the feeling caused by the fact that these forty-six persons, almost wholly Metropolitan and official members, should have arrogated to themselves the functions which the President of the Board of Trade invited the whole 143 to assist him in carrying out; whether he is aware that the chairman of the meeting on 1st October publicly admitted he had gone behind the members' backs to privately discuss with Mr. Sidney Webb how the work of the Central Committee was to be cut and dried; that a promise was wired to one member stranded at Penzance that another meeting should be shortly be held to complete the meeting of 1st October, but that such promise has been openly ignored; whether he is aware that those members of his committee who have been ignored by the minority are about to commence a public Agitation against the methods he has adopted; that these protests were also repeated at the consumers' council of the Food Ministry; and whether he will at once call a meeting -of the Central Committee under the Profiteering Act to complete the work improperly attempted on 1st October?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, owing to the railway strike, about two-thirds of the members of the Central Profiteering Committee were prevented from attending its meeting on 1st October; whether all the functions of the Committee were at such meeting delegated to various standing committees; whether he is aware of the resentment felt in the North of England at the consequent exclusion of its representatives from the standing committees; and what action he proposes to take?

I am aware that owing to the railway strike a large number of the members of the Central Committee were unable to attend the meeting held on 30th September last. I would, however, remind the, hon. Members that, as I have already explained in answer to questions on this subject, the functions of the Central Committee are merely to appoint its three standing committees and to act as a panel from which members may be chosen for the various sub-comrnittees to deal with certain specific subjects. Every member of the Central Committee, whether present at the first meeting or not, has boon appointed to one or more of the standing committees and these committees have all been actively at work.

asked if it is the Government's intention to restrict the price of goods exported from this country?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his statement that Great Britain had nothing to fear from Japanese trade competition was based OH comparative equality of labour costs in the two countries; if he will state what is the average daily wage of a skilled worker in this country, including war wages, compared with the daily wage of 6s. now generally prevalent in Japan; what are the weekly hours of skilled workers in Japan compared with the forty-seven hours' week now in force here; and if he will state in, what way the Government proposes to ensure that British manufacturers shall be enabled to hold their own in the face of Japanese competition in home and foreign markets while labour costs in Japan remain upwards of 150 per cent, lower than those obtaining in Great Britain?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The daily rates of wages of skilled time-workers in this country range in the majority of cases from about 10s. to 15s. on the basis of an eight-hour day. It is understood that skilled workers in Japan work on an average from ten to twelve hours a day, and I may perhaps add that, according to information not yet officially confirmed, some of the highest-paid skilled Japanese workers are now in receipt of wages equal approximately to 9s. a day, though I understand this is by no means general. There are, however, other factors to be taken into account, and I see no reason at present to fear that British manufacturers will be unable to hold their own in. competition with the Japanese.

In view of the right lion. Gentleman's statement in answer to the first part of this question, is the statement which he has made that he did not shiver at the competition between this country and Japan correct?

It is quite right. I am not shivering at all.

How can the wages in one country be 150 per cent. lower than in, another, and is the percentage calculation based on the new rules of arithmetic announced by the Secretary for War or is it the usual Tariff Reform figure?

I am not responsible for the arithmetic of my hon. and gallant Friend.

In what the right hon. Gentleman is referring to as my arithmetic I am simply quoting the statement of the right hon. Gentleman himself.

Can the right hon. Gentleman take some measures or seek for powers by which we can reduce British wages to the level of those of Japan, in order to give these unfortunate manufacturers a chance?

Is it not a fact that the imports from Japan are increasing enormously, and at the prices at which we make we are unable to compote, and is not this due entirely to the very low rate of wages for which the Japanese workman works?

No. These things are not as simple as that. During the last five years this country practically was not producing at all certain lines of goods, and supplies were bought when demanded from the only place where they could be obtained. That led to an enormous in crease into this country of goods from Japan, but there is a very great difference between a wholly artificial increase of that sort and the permanent retention by these goods of this market and the other markets when they are once again subject to British competition. There is every indication already that the great markets which Japan has got hold of already are thirsting and hungering for British goods.

May I ask my right hon. Friend—

I think that (his Debate had better be:now adjourned.

asked the President of the Hoard of Trade whether he can state the value of the dyes which have been received by this country from Germany; and on what basis their price is fixed for sale to consumers?

No dye stuffs have so far been received from Germany under the Eeparation Clauses of the Peace Treaty, though consignments are now on the way. The values to be credited to Germany are to be fixed by the Reparation Commission, aubject to certain conditions, but I understand that the Commission have not yet conic to a definite decision on the matter.

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of the question as to price?

It is governed by part of the answer I have given.

To consumers?

Surely the hon. Member understands that these dyes are really the property of the Reparation Commission and are to be sold in this country on their behalf. We cannot fix prices here until we know what the prices are.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he was aware of the grave shortage of coal in North London, particularly in the districts of Tottenham and Edmonton; whether he was aware of the serious hardships owing to the irregular transport service; and whether he would take steps to instruct the Metropolitan divisional coal officer to give the coal supplies in the districts referred to his personal attention?

I am aware of the serious shortage of coal in the parts of London to which the hon. Member refers, and regret that these conditions, which are due to the inability of the Great Eastern Railway Company to transport the coal, should have arisen. The Metropolitan divisional officers have had the matter under their notice for some time, and efforts are being made to relieve the situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence of the Coal Industry Commission would be published?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence of the Coal Industry Commission will be included in the Third Volume of the Proceedings. It is expected that the volume, which is now being printed, will be ready for issue shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he was in a position to state if any reduction was to be made in the price of coal; and, if so, the amount?

The Government have reviewed the whole question of the price of coal in the light of all the information available.

The salient facts are:

The actual obtained output from July to date is less than the rate of 217,000,000 tons per annum, though the output in recent weeks has shown a marked improvement.

The prices ruling for export coal are, however, unprecedentedly high, and the fall which was regarded as inevitable is certainly postponed by events in the United States of America.

The prices for coastwise and foreigngoing bunkers are so high that, in conjunction with other charges, there is danger of the average level of freights rising unless some corrective is applied.

It is from these sources, export and bunkers, that profits are now being made. Coal used for inland purposes is being sold at a loss—that is, the average price is below the average cost of production. This is a very unsatisfactory and very dangerous position for the coal industry. Industrial coal, at any rate, must as much as possible be sold on an economic basis.

In the light of these facts it is desirable at an early date to modify profoundly the present system of coal control, which is, in my opinion, now that more coal is becoming available, unnecessarily hampering.

We propose, therefore, gradually to transform the coal control machinery until it consists of three parts only:

1. A limitation on the amount of coal allowed to be exported;

2. A limitation on the owners' profits;

3. A special limitation on the price of coal supplied for domestic purposes.

Steps to secure these modifications will be taken as rapidly as circumstances permit.

As a direct aid to the cost of living in these exceptional and abnormal times we propose to fix the price of domestic and household coal at a level 10s. per ton below the present price, thus letting the general householder share in some measure in a privilege which the workers in the industry have for long enjoyed and receive some benefit from the present high value of this national asset. We also propose to reduce the price for coastwise bunkers to the industrial level. This will also be effective from Monday next. We are further exploring the position with regard to foreign-going bunkers, but I am not in a position at present to make any announcement on this point

I desire to warn most seriously all householders not to postpone the purchase of necessary coal because of the reduction of price which will become effective next week. If they do and if they expect on next Monday to get unlimited supplies of coal at the now price they will be disappointed. This change can only be made without confusion if we secure the cooperation of all concerned.

The necessary orders and instructions to give effect to these decisions with regard to price will be issued in the course of this week.

Will this involve the Exchequer in any financial loss?

No. We estimate that, approximately, these reductions, with certain other changes contemplated in the near future, will leave the account about square.

Will coastwise traffic include deep-sea fishing vessels?

All non-foreign-going.

Is it the intention of the right hon. Gentleman to lay before the House some figures relating to the industry upon which these results are based?

That has already been announced, and an undertaking given to that effect. We are having them prepared.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any idea as to when they will be ready?

It is very difficult to say, as it is a long job.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise the vital necessity of increasing the quantity of our export coal from the financial point of view?

Yes, from the financial point of view, but I also realise the vital necessity of having enough coal in this country.

Do I understand that whilst the price of domestic coal is to be limited, the amount to be allowed to private consumers is not to be limited?

I said nothing about the amount being free at the present moment. I spoke of the direction in which we were moving with regard to coal control, and when we reach the goal of having only the three-parts of coal control to which I referred, then rations will be off, but in the meantime we shall continue them.

Will those who give orders this week participate in the reduction coming into force next week?

Not if they get the coal this week.

Will there be a reduction in the price of domestic coke corresponding with the price of coal?

We will work out the necessary figures and give the necessary instructions as to the corresponding reduction in the price of coal purchased by gas and electric undertakings, so that allowances may be made in respect of the amount of coal used in producing gas and electric energy for light and power supplied for domestic and household use.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in many districts there is a shortage of coal in spite of the increase in output; it he can state whether the cause of this is due to bad transport, the holding up of stocks, or any action on the part of coal owners in piling up stocks against the eventuality of a dispute in the mining industry; and whether he will have inquiries made into this matter, and take whatever steps are necessary to secure a sufficient supply to householders?

The shortage of supplies of coal which exists iii certain districts is due mainly to lack of transport facilities. I have already had inquiries made, arid everything possible is being done to secure a satisfactory distribution of supplies of household coal. The Ministry of Transport have the matter in hand.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what quantity of coal was stacked during the railway strike, and whether that has been allowed to remain?

If the hon. Gentleman will put down a question, I have no doubt I can get the information.

In view of the fact that the difficulty is partly due to the shortage of trucks, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the production of rolling stock is proceeding as rapidly as it possibly can?

It is very difficult to say I am satisfied with the rate of production of rolling stock, but a great deal is being done to get rolling stock, but there are great difficulties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the grave situation existing at Stony Stratford and at Hanslope, in North Bucks, owing to the shortage of coal; and whether he will arrange with the Coal Controller to take urgent steps to remedy the shortage?

A representative of the Coal Controller has recently visited the districts referred to by my lion, and gallant Friend, with a view to ascertaining the position as regards coal supplies, and steps will be taken to remedy the shortage as far as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the situation brought about in the Welsh anthracite coalfield owing to the shortage and distribution of wagons whereby over 50,000 tons of coal has been lost to home consumers during the last two months, and to the official statement issued to the effect that anthracite collieries are actually in a position to largely increase supplies by thousands of tons per week; whether he will forthwith take such steps as will remedy this condition of things; and, having regard to the urgency from a national point of view of the further production of coal and of keeping the collieries working, will he cause an immediate inquiry to be made as to the distribution of wagons in the anthracite district and adopt means to mitigate the grave difficulties existing?

I am aware of a shortage of wagons in the Welsh anthracite coalfields, the principal reason being that owing to scarcity of shipping a large proportion of coal which was formerly seaborne has been diverted to the railways, necessitating the use of railway wagons over long distances and thus causing a shortage of wagons. The Ministry of Transport and the railway companies concerned are making every effort to improve the situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as laid down by the Railway (Accounts and Returns) Act, the Minister of Transport would supply the management of the various railway systems with the necessary, data to enable them to furnish the stockholders with information as to the present and future prospects of their property?

The data required by the Railway (Accounts and Returns) Act are prepared by the Railway Companies themselves, and require nothing of the Minister of Transport. In view of the arrangement between the Government and the railways, under which the net receipts of the year 1913 were guaranteed to the railway companies, the Board of Trade authorised the variation in the form of Statutory Accounts, to which the hon. Member presumably refers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the Government proposals to divide the control and management of the railway systems of the country between those em ployed on the railways and the management as representing the Government, an appeal board, was to be constituted consisting of four representatives of the employés with two representatives of the trade union and co-operative interest and four representatives of the management with two representatives of the travelling and trading public; and would he say how these two latter representatives were to be chosen or would they be Government nominees?

As the Prime Minister stated in an answer to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh on 20th November, I am discussing these questions with the rail way companies and the unions, and I hope to make statement at an early date. The hon. Member has apparently misunderstood the unofficial utterances on this subject, however. The two boards roughly constituted, as in the question, are for the discussion of matters relating to wages and conditions of service only.

When may we have an official utterance?

As soon as I have something definite to say. At present we are trying to see things eye to eye.

Would the right hon. Gentleman see that no definite engagement is entered into to hand over any part of the control of the railways to the trade unions without the concurrence of this House?

There is no proposal being discussed at all to hand over the control of the railways. The control exists in the hands of the Ministry of Transport, in so far as it is exercised.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether representatives of those employed on the railway systems of the country are to have places in equal proportion to the owners on the boards of the various railways; and, if so, would regulations be made enabling railway shareholders to have representation on the management of the National Union of Railwaymen or other unions which might be represented on the share holders' boards?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The answer to the first part is in the negative, and the second I part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Transport how many open wagons on an average are requisitioned each week from the railway companies for the purpose of removing salvage from Richborough; and whether there is the same urgency for wagons in this connection as at the ordinary commercial ports?

The average demand at Richborough for common user wagons over and above those available from inwards traffic is only about 120 per week. The hon. Member will appreciate that the distribution from Richborough of salvaged and returned material from overseas is a, matter of national importance. It is the property of the State.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of the question as to whether the disposal of this salvage is more important than getting out stocks which are accumulating at our ports?

The value of the salvage is very great, and if it were left to rot at Richborough I think it would outweigh the advantages of moving goods from the other ports at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport what amount, if any, was paid by the Government during the War and since for the transport of troops, ammunition, etc., for war purposes to the railway companies of this country?

No sum has actually been paid to the railway companies for such purposes, but the estimated amounts which would have been payable for all Government traffic are shown in the recently issued Command Paper 402. As from the 1st April last, charges for Government traffic are to be made against the votes of the Departments to which the service is rendered, but the amounts actually payable are still under discussion.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is in a position to state the names of the Committee which is advising him upon the necessity for new legislation to deal with the use of the motor and other road vehicles, together with the terms of reference; and, in view of the urgency of the matter, when the Report may be expected?

I am circulating the, names of the Advisory Committee and the; terms of reference in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state how many times Members of Parliament, or their drivers, have been convicted for offences against the Motor Car Acts?

Records of offences against the Motor Car Acts are not matters for the Ministry of Transport, but I understand that if there have been any convictions of Members of Parliament or their drivers they are not specially tabulated.

asked the Prime Minister if he can see his way in the future: to announce matters of such great importance to the nation as the offer to the railway men through Parliament?

I cannot add anything to the replies which the Prime Minister gave on this subject on Thursday last.

asked the Minister of Transport if Mr. C. H. Merz is at present employed by the Ministry of Transport in any, and if so, in what capacity and on what terms; if he was formerly employed in a consulting or any other capacity by the North Eastern Railway Compay; if so, whether his connection with the company has now, ceased entirely; if he will state whether it was intended to make use of the services of Mr. Merz for the carrying out of the arrangements under the Electricity (Supply) Bill should it become law, and: should it provide for the transfer of the powers given thereunder from the Board of Trade to the Ministry of Transport; and, if so, whether any undertaking on this point of any kind has been given to Mr. Merz by or on behalf of the Government, or by the Minister himself unofficially?

No, Sir; Mr. Merz is not employed in any capacity by the Ministry of Transport, and it is not and never has been the intention to employ him in the administration of the Electricity (Supply) Bill should it become law, the Chief Commissioner-designate being Sir John Snell. I have, however, asked Mr. Merz, whose knowledge of the application of electricity to traction is unrivalled, whether in certain circumstances he will assist the Ministry of Transport in questions of electrical traction. As Mr. Merz is now, I believe, in Australia, the matter cannot be carried further at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Department has full powers and Regulations to deal with the safety and prevention of overcrowding of passengers in open ferry boats; and, if so, whether he will see that such Regulations are enforced in respect of the ferry boats plying between Llanstephan and Ferryside in Carmarthenshire?

The only ferry boats which come directly under the jurisdiction of the Board of Trade are steam or motor boats; but any serious complaint that is made about any ferry is investigated by a Board of Trade surveyor, and the surveyor's recommendations are nearly always adopted. A complaint has been made about the Llanstephan ferry, and it is being investigated.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the decisions arrived at by the Congress of the United States of America, he can make any statement as to the present position of the League of Nations, and as to whether any change will be made in the policy of the United Kingdom with reference to it?

I can add nothing to the answer which I gave on Friday last to my lion. Friend the Member for Widnes.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the action of the Senate of the United States of North America towards the portion of the: Treaty of Peace with Germany dealing with the Covenant of the League of Nations, he will now consider the granting of an opportunity to this House for the discussion of policy with regard to the details of the Covenant of the League of Nations?

I do not think any useful purpose would be served by such a discussion

Is he aware that the League of Nations idea has never been discussed in this House as such, and could he consider giving a day for its discussion, in view of its immense importance and the interest taken in it in the country, before the House rises for Christmas?

I do not think it will be possible to find time before Christmas in any case, but though it has not been brought before the House officially, the subject has really been discussed over and over again, and the House has clearly shown its wishes in the matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is now the intention of his Majesty's Government to recognise the independence of any of the border States of the former Russian Empire other than, the Republics of Finland and Poland?

His Majesty's Government can only act in concert with their Allies, and are not in a position to make any announcement on the subject at present.

asked the Prime Minister how much the other Allied and Associated Powers have respectively contributed to the operations in Russia?

The Government have no information which would enable me to state the amount of the contributions of each of the Allied and Associated Powers to the operations in Russia.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any in formation with regard to the negotiations for peace or for an Armistice between the Baltic provinces of the former Russian Empire and the Soviet Government of Russia; and whether any member of any British mission in the Baltic provinces will attend at these negotiations in any capacity?

The Baltic Conference attended by representatives of the Provisional Governments of Esthonia, Latvia and Lithuania, is at present taking place at Dorpat to discuss the question of negotiations for a cessation of hostilities between the Baltic States and the Soviet Government. As regards the second part of the question, the British Commissioner in the Baltic States is likely to be at Dorpat in the course of the week, but it is not contemplated that he should take any part in the negotiations.

He will be on the doormat!

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received copies of the replies to the Notes addressed by the Supreme Council to the German and neutral Governments, requesting their co-operation in a form of blockade of Soviet Russia; and, if so, what is the nature of such replies?

The only reply of which I have received a copy is that of the German Government, it is a refusal to co-operate in economic pressure on Soviet Russia. I am informed that the Governments of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Holland, Spain and Switzerland have made replies, summaries of which I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

What is the Government's policy now with regard to economic pressure, as Germany has refused to co-operate?

Questions of policy must be addressed to the Leader of the House.

Questions of foreign policy?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in the event of hay for which the full purchase price has not been paid by the civil bureaux or other Government authority being sold the following year, interest on the 1918 price is charged; and whether such interest is paid to the dealer or to the farmer?

I have been asked to answer this question. In the case of all hay of the 1918 crop, of which delivery has not been taken, interest is paid, calculated on the actual purchase price. The farmer is given the full benefit of this interest.

Will my right hon. Friend say what the interest is?

I think it is 5 per cent.

asked (1) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether any 1918 bay has been sold by dealers in 1919 at a price higher than £8 per ton plus commission, which price was paid under the Defence of the Realm Act in 1918;

(2) The Secretary of State for War what steps are taken to see that 1918 hay, which was purchased under the Defence of the Realm Act in that year, and which has passed into the hands of dealers, will be sold at the 1918 price?

I have been asked to reply. A number of cases of over-charging for hay by dealers have been reported to the Forage Department, and in every case the offenders have been prosecuted and fined. Similar action will be taken in any further cases that come to notice.

In the case of serious offences, has the question of imprisonment been considered?

I am not sure that the question of imprisonment has been considered. I will undertake that it shall be.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the Ministry have received for purposes of disposal any typewriters set free by the recent reduction in the staffs of Government Departments; and, if not, what has become of the typewriters so released?

All typewriters issued by the Stationery Office to Government Departments for use remain the property of the Stationery Office, and when no longer required by the Department to I which they have been issued they are returned to the Stationery Office for reissue. The only Government Department, therefore, which holds typewriters is the Stationery Office. No machines have been notified to the Disposal Board as surplus to requirements by that Office, since all those returned from Government Departments are required for reissue to other Departments. I am advised by the Stationery Office that the stock of machines actually ready for reissue which is held by them is not more than a few days' supply.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware of the feelings that are being expressed by contractors to his Department at the delays in settlement of accounts owing them, while at the same time they are being pressed by the Treasary for the payment of excess profits almost entireiy payable on amounts owing to them by the Ministry of Munitions; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The officers of the Ministry of Munitions are doing everything possible to expedite the settlement of accounts, and on this point I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Ashford, and to the hon. Member for North Newcastle, on 17th November. Certain cases of hardship such as my bun Friend suggests have recently been brought to my notice, and I am communicating with the Inland Revenue authorities on the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what precautions will be taken to see that the clothing and cloth sold, by tender will not be retailed at excessive profits?

The Disposal Board is in, constant communication with the Profiteering Department of the Board of Trade, and keeps that Department informed as to the particulars of sales effected.

Cannot this House be informed as to the course that is taken?

I have informed my hon. Friend of the course taken. The Profiteering Department of the Board of Trade has given full information of all the sales effected, the names, and the prices charged.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he can state the total amount contributed, since the Armistice, by his Department towards; the extensions of certain large steel and other works; whether such contributions are due to the absence of a break clause in the contracts; if so, whether he will state the names of the firms receiving benefit and to what extent in each case?

Until a final settlement has been arrived at with the Inland Revenue authorities for depreciation and allowances for redundancy in each case, it is impossible to state the total liability of the Ministry of Munitions on account of guaranteed contributions to contractors towards capital expenditure undertaken at the instance of the Government. These contributions have nothing to do with the absence of a break clause in the contracts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that no action was taken on its being reported by a Ministry official that boxes were being sold to a contractor for 6d. each and bought back by this Department of the Ministry for 5s. 6d each; and whether the official to whom this was reported and who should have taken the matter up has since been honoured in the recommendation of the Ministry of Munitions by a knighthood?

I am aware that the statement contained in the first part of my hon. Friend's question has been given currency by certain newspapers. No details have ever been supplied which would enable the alleged transaction to be identified. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with any information on the subject I shall be very grateful