asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered just recently the need of altering the datum period as it affects the retailers of coal; can he state the decision; and, if not, is he aware of the unfairness of this old datum period regulation that needs revision immediately?

I regret that I cannot add anything to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on the 23rd February.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the diversity of rates for coal in the country districts where the facilities for cartage are the same; why in some villages coal is 10s. 6d. more than in adjoining villages which happen to be in the district of a different fuel controller; and can he take any steps to rectify this?

The retail prices of house coal depend upon many factors besides the cost of cartage, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish particulars of cases where there is a difference of 10s. 6d. per ton in the price of coal in adjoining villages, I will cause inquiries to be made.

As this coal question is one which the Government is more or less controlling, will the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of trying to introduce a standard rate?

I do not quite understand what the hon. Member means by a standard rate, but if he will communicate with me as to what is in his mind, I shall be very glad to consider it.

asked the President of the Board of the Trade whether his attention has been called to suggestions which have been made, as a result of certain figures given on page 8 of the Independent Accountants' Report on the Coal Industry, that colliery owners have sold coal to other departments of their undertakings at less prices than those charged to outside consumers; whether any difference between the average prices of coal sold by a colliery to works connected with the colliery and to outside consumers, respectively, is due to differences in the average quality of the coal in the two cases; and whether the prices charged by a colliery to works connected with the colliery are fixed on a commercial basis by the Coal Controller under the Coal Mines Agreement (Confirmation) Act, 1918, and not by the colliery owners, and are the same as those at which the works would be able to obtain the coal as ordinary purchasers from other collieries?

There is no ground for the suggestion that colliery owners have transferred coal to other departments of their undertaking at a price less than that obtainable for coal of similar quality in the open market. Clause 17 of the Coal Mines Control Agreement (which Clause is embodied in paragraph 2 (1) of Part II. of the Second Schedule to the Coal Mines (Emergency) Bill provides that the Controller shall fix the transfer prices in all such cases "on a commercial basis," and in each of the composite concerns in question the Controller has fixed them at the market price at which the non-colliery department could have brought the coal from other collieries. These market prices are governed by the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act, and the subsequent Orders of the Board of Trade affecting inland prices. As suggested by the hon. Baronet, the average transfer price is below the average price of coal sold for inland use because the average quality is poorer. The bulk of the coal transferred is slack, which is used for coke ovens, iron and steel works, and kindred purposes; and its average market price during the period covered by Messrs. Alfred Tongue and Company's report was not only below the average market price of other coal sold for inland purposes, but below the average cost of raising all coal, large and small.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, having regard to the more stabilised conditions, not alone of the coal, but of other industries in the country, he can say whether the shortage of coal by which the householder is being increasingly harassed is due to any other reason than loss of output occasioned by reduction of working hours, loss of working time, and a policy to force the elimination of private ownership in the coal industry by placing hardship on the private consumer; (2) whether he is aware of the inconvenience and hardship entailed by the shortness of supply and bad quality of coal supplied to the northern Metropolitan districts of London and parts of Middlesex; and what immediate action does he propose to take?

The difficulties as regards supplies of coal for home consumption were dealt with in the statement made by the Leader of the House on the 16th February in answer to the question of the hon. and gallant Member for Holborn. The steps which it was then indicated were about to be taken to improve supplies for household and domestic purposes are in operation, and, I believe, are having the desired effect.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the delays in the development of the coal resources of this country; and, if so, what steps he is taking to stimulate this development?

Uncertainty as to the future of the industry has no doubt been inimical to some extent to development, but I hope that this will be removed by the proposals for the future ordering of the industry which will shortly be laid before Parliament. Meantime every encouragement is being given to capital expenditure on development, and for some months past the industry has been absorbing fresh labour at the rate of about 7,000 persons a month.

What is the name of the technical adviser?

I can give the whole staff if the hon. Gentleman will give me notice, but I do not know to which particular adviser he is referring to.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Reports of General Maybury's two Committees and the Advisory Committee on London traffic will be presented; and whether an opportunity will be given to the House to discuss them before any action is taken?

The Departmental Committee appointed to consider and report on lights and road vehicles has now presented a further Interim Report, and the desirability of the publication of both Reports is receiving consideration. I anticipate that the Committee dealing with the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles will be in a position to present its Interim Report within a fortnight. When legislation is required, the answer is in the affirmative. When action by Regulation is possible, I cannot give an undertaking until I have seen the Reports.

When will the right hon. Gentleman present the two Interim Reports of the Lights Regulation Committee, and will a similar opportunity be afforded to the House of discussing those Reports?

I think the same reply applies to that. If legislation be necessary, we shall have to come here.

When?

As soon as the legislation is prepared. Whether it can be done by Regulation I cannot say without seeing the Report.

Is it the intention to proceed by Regulation or legislation?

Legislation, I think, is necessary.

In the event of Regulations making radical change, will the right hon. Gentleman give the House an opportunity of debating them before he takes any action?

That depends on the Leader of the House. If Regulations can carry out the recommendations and Parliament authorise the Regulations, we shall proceed by Regulation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the cyclists in all parts of the United Kingdom have protested against the recent increase in railway fares for the carriage of cycles accompanied by passengers; if he is aware that the rates for cycles have been twice increased, once in March, 1919, and again in January, 1920, making a total increase of 100 per cent. against the 50 or 60 per cent. for other goods; if he can see his way clear to make some arrangement with railway companies for the convenience of cyclists who for the purpose of health and recreation wish to leave the populated parts for a time, and so put their bicycles on the train to enable them to reach the country districts; if he is aware that at the present time if a bicycle is only carried two miles it costs 1s. 2d.; and if he will take action in the matter?

asked the Minister of Transport why the railway rates for bicycles and tricycles accompanied by passengers have been twice raised within a period of 12 months, so that, instead of the lowest pre-war rate of 6d. for a bicycle and 1s. for a tricycle, the minimum charges are now 1s. 2d. and 3s. 9d., respectively, which charges are often actually in excess of the passenger fares; whether he is aware that such charges bear very harshly on a class who in the main are quite unable to incur such expense when they go on holiday or wish to reach the fringe of the country without riding through the traffic and outskirts of towns; and whether he will forthwith direct the reduction of the railway rates for bicycles and tricycles, especially in view of the fact that cyclists rarely take any other luggage than their machines and therefore do not avail themselves of the privileges of the ordinary railway traveller?

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer given to a similar question put by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough West on the 15th March. I have arranged that a deputation from the Cyclists' Union shall be received tomorrow.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, why, in spite of the pledge that the rates for cycles would not be raised without the cyclists' case being heard beforehand, the Rates Advisory Committee has had no cyclist witnesses before it, and has persistently refused to hear evidence from the Cyclists' Touring Club? And may I further ask whether he will see fit to restore the original minimum distance of one to twelve miles at the rate of 6d., instead of the first stage being one to thirty miles?

The Rates Advisory Committee have discretion in regard to the question of rates, and I have no authority over it. When I have received the deputation, which I am seeing to-morrow, I shall do whatever I can to meet them.

Are any members of the Advisory Committee cyclists?

Not so far as I know; not professional cyclists.

asked why goods for Nottingham ex Denton and Manchester are sent via Rugby, where they are delayed from three to ten days before being delivered by the London and Northwestern Railway Company; and why cannot this traffic be sent by the Great' Central Railway, who have a far better and more direct service?

With regard to goods from Manchester to Nottingham, I am informed that all routes are available and traders can utilise whichever is most convenient. As to traffic from Denton to Nottingham, traffic handed in at Denton Station, which is on the London and North-Western, would travel by that company's route. As regards the complaint of delay at Rugby, if the hon. Member will furnish more specific information, inquiries will be made. Traffic from Denton to Nottingham is not normally despatched via Rugby.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the service by the Great Central is so very much better that it is not likely that anyone will voluntarily despatch goods by the Northwestern Railway, and that the matter needs explanation?

I was not aware of that.

asked the Minister of Transport what instructions, if any, he has issued to the ports, harbours and docks in possession of the Ministry to enable the operating bodies to increase their rates, tolls and charges to the same extent as Parliament has recently authorised increases in the case of ports, harbours and docks in the possession of other authorities; and, if instructions have been issued, when were they issued?

No such instruuctions have been issued, and the latter part of the question therefore does not arise.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state for comparison the total of the rates, tolls, and charged other than charges for handling merchandise, collected by the dock owners at the Liverpool and the Hull docks, respectively, from a ship of 10,000 tons cargo capacity entering with a full cargo of wool, of wheat, and of cottonseed, respectively, from the most distant ports?

I regret that it is not possible to make the detailed calculations desired on such hypothetical data.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider them if I make the calculations for him?

I shall be glad to see any calculations made by my hon. Friend.

asked when the system of charging for admission to the platform of the Midland Railway station at Nottingham was first adopted; and what is the amount which has been received by the railway company up to date from this charge?

I am not aware of the date when the Midland Railway Company's Station became a closed one, nor of the amount received by the Company for platform tickets.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the exact amount of money that has been put into the hands of the Government from this system all over the country?

That would be a very extensive inquiry, and would involve a great deal of time and labour.

Is this the station from which facilities have recently been withdrawn on the ground of expense?

Not recently—a considerable time ago. We have had many questions on thy subject.

asked the Minister of Transport if it is his intention to develop the railway-owned canals of the country that are now derelict?

asked whether any steps are being taken to improve the canal system in Essex?

The future of all canals is engaging my attention, but hon. members will appreciate that it is intimately bound up with that of other means of transport, and cannot be considered as a separate problem. As has already been stated in reply to a question by he hon. Member for Lincoln, the matter has been submitted to the Cabinet. At its request I have undertaken the elucidation of certain points arising on my Report, and hope to report further upon them shortly.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the last General Election the Prime Minister made a special point of the fact that he would develop the canals of the country, and is it under his administration and advice that this policy is being altered?

I am not aware of any alteration of policy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is yet in a position to state his intentions as to taking possession of canals under Section 3 of the Ministry of Transport Act?

The whole subject of the position of the canals has been engaging my attention for a considerable time, and if any canal undertakers desire that possession of the undertaking should be taken under the powers of the Ministry of Transport Act, I am prepared to favourably consider each case upon its merits upon application being made.

May I ask why the right hon. Gentleman wishes to wait for applications, and why should he not take possession of all the independent canals which at present are controlled under D.O.R.A. and as provided by the Act?

My desire was not to act in a coercive way at all, but to consider applications to take possession.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to give effect to the resolution of the House that it is desirable that the statutory pensions of superannuated railway servants retired before or during the Government control of the railways should be increased to such an extent as will meet the increased cost of living?

As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary stated in the Debate the Government most heartily welcomed the motion, and offered no objection to its terms, but clearly stated that the matter was one for the Railway Companies to consider, and I trust they are doing so.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will lay upon the Table of the House a Railway Return for the year 1918 or 1919 giving the following information: number of tons of goods conveyed by goods train, including military traffic; number of tons of parcels conveyed by passenger train; number of passengers conveyed, including military traffic, season ticket holders, and workmen; the total receipts from all sources; the mileage covered by all railways controlled by the Ministry of Transport; and the total number of employés, distinguishing salaried staff from wage staff, employed on all railways?

I am arranging to lay before the House in duo course a copy of the Railway Returns for the year 1910 in a somewhat similar form to those presented annually prior to the War, but suspended since 1913. It will not, however, be possible to give figures for 1918 or to include for 1919 all the particulars for which the hon. Member asks. I am also arranging for a census of railway employés which will distinguish salaried staff from wages staff.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken to improve the means of transport to the outlying districts in Eastern and North-Eastern London, either by electrification of existing permanent ways or other means?

As regards electrification, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my answer to his question on this subject on the 23rd February. Other means for extending and improving suburban transport facilities are engaging the attention of the Technical Committee of the Advisory Committee on London Traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now give the travelling public any information as to when it is proposed to re-open the stations in South London and work the Victoria to City line on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway?

I regret I am not yet in a position to add anything to my reply on 1st March.

asked the Minister of Transport how many special establishments he has under Government control for the manufacture and repair of railway engines and wagons on the same or similar basis as Woolwich and Rich-borough; and can he make any general statement as to the results of "work in such establishments towards relieving the pressure on the railways at the present time?

There are no special establishments of the class mentioned under the control of the Minister of Transport. The repairing shops at Rich-borough, which are under the Ministry of Munitions, have enabled wagons returned from France to be put into running repair more speedily than would otherwise have been the case, and have thus contributed to the relief of the pressure on the railways.

May I ask how long these repairs have been carried on at Richborough?

That is a question for the Ministry of Munitions. It is not under the Ministry of Transport.

Is it intended to be the permanent policy of the Government to repair and supply railway engines and wagons?

I think that question should be addressed to the Ministry of Munitions and to the Transport Ministry.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now issue instructions that the current railway fares should be printed on all tickets, in view of the fact that the present rates have been in operation for a very long period and that the stock of the original tickets must be a negligible one?

It has already been arranged that the actual fares now chargeable shall be marked on all ordinary railway tickets when new supplies are required. Some of the railway companies, however, have still in hand considerable stocks of tickets showing the pre-War fare which it would be undesirable to waste.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any proposals are being formulated in order to utilise the surplus light railway material from France for the transportation of agricultural produce in flat districts, such as the eastern counties?

The existence of this material has not been lost sight of, and persons who wish to make use of it can obtain full particulars from the Disposals Board.

Has the right hon. Gentleman yet formulated a complete transport scheme for the whole of the country and when will it be announced?

I have already replied to that in an answer to a question to-day.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the time has now arrived when all necessity for the special speed restrictions of 10 miles per hour upon motor vehicles should be inquired into in the light of experience gained since their imposition, with a view to removing those which may not now be considered to be necessary.

The question of restrictions on the speed of motor vehicles is one of the matters still to be considered by the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles. The need for the removal of existing restrictions which may now be unnecessary will be considered by the Committee.

May I ask whether in the event of the speed limit being abolished he intends to refund the fines imposed upon Cabinet Ministers and noble Lords who are Members of this House for exceeding the speed limit?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet received any information as to the trial of former Ministers of the late Soviet Government in Hungary on charges of minder and forgery; whether every member of the former Soviet Government is charged with murder in 200 cases, which is the number of persons said to have been killed or executed under the Soviet Government; whether they are charged with forgery For printing paper money; whether he is aware that some of these Ministers only held purely technical and scientific posts and had no say in general policy; and whether His Majesty's Government will take any steps to save the lives of these men?

Under the Soviet Government in Hungary there were no regular Ministers, the administration being carried on by so called People's Commissaries of whom there were upwards of fifty. According to reports received from H.M. High Commissioner at Budapest, the principal Commissaries escaped; of the remainder some fourteen are in prison. They are charged with murder, forgery, robbery, extortion by threat, sedition, teaching immorality in schools, and other crimes. The number and nature of the charges in each case varies with the information in possession of the authorities. The prisoners are all charged with forging-paper money, which I am advised is a true and legal charge. While some of them may have held purely technical and scientific posts, I am not in a position to form an opinion as to the weight which any particular People's Commissary may or may not have had in general policy. As regards the last part of the question I can only say once more that H.M. High Commissioner in Budapest has instructions to exercise a moderating influence, and is doing so, but that it is no part of his functions to interfere with the ordinary course of judicial proceedings in Hungary, and indeed the Hungarian Government are themselves debarred by the Constitution from interfering directly with the administration of justice.

While thanking the hon. Member for the answer, may I ask whether it is not the fact that the Allied representatives under the Bela Kun Government did, with success, intervene in the direction of amelioration in the trials under the Soviet Government, and cannot our representative in Hungary now take some drastic steps, in view of the fact that we are directly responsible for setting up this Government?

Why should they?

Do yon want murder to go on?

The hon. and gallant Member is correct in the first part of his question. As regards the second part, I can add nothing to the answer which I have given.

May I ask the Prime Minister, to whom this question is addressed, whether something cannot be done to save the lives of men who are subject to these awful crimes?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will circulate, before the Second Reading of the Government of Ireland Bill, a White Paper explaining its financial provisions and giving, amongst other details, the gross tax revenue per head that is being drawn from Ireland, Scotland and England.

A White Paper will be circulated very shortly, but it is not proposed to include in it comparisons with England and Scotland. Such comparisons will be found for 1918–19 in the Financial Relations Return (House of Commons 163 of 1919) which gives the total revenue as contributed by each of the three countries. The corresponding return for 1919–20 will be issued when the complete returns for the financial year are available.

asked whether it is the intention of the Government to send the Home Rule Bill to a Committee of the whole House?

asked whether, in the event of the Government of Ireland Bill being read a second time, it is proposed to deal with it in Committee of the whole House?

I am not in a position to give a reply at present, but the intention of the Government in this respect will be made clear in the Second Reading Debate.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that large numbers of Members of this House look upon it as essential that far-reaching changes in our constitution should be discussed on the floor of the House?

All that will be taken into account.

Could the right hon. Gentleman make a statement on this before the Second Reading is decided, as possibly the votes of Members on the Second Reading may depend on the decision of the Government on this matter?

A statement will be made before a Division on the Second Reading is taken.

In view of the amount of the finances involved is it not entirely unprecedented that a Bill such as this should be taken in Committee upstairs?

Before giving a decision does the Government propose to take a vote of the House as to what course shall be adopted?

The Government will consider the question fully.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now say if the White Paper explanatory of the finance of the Government of Ireland Bill will contain figures showing the estimated true revenue and local expenditure of northern and southern Ireland respectively?

Yes, Sir; the White Paper will contain the best estimates of present revenue and expenditure that circumstances allow.

Can the hon. Gentle man tell us on what basis these Estimates will be calculated?

I cannot answer that.

I did not think you would.

asked the Prime Minister whether information has come to the Government that a rising has been planned in Ireland for the 5th April; whether information has come to the Government that local risings have been planned for the same date in Liver-pool, Manchester, and Glasgow; whether any seizure of arms and ammunition from Germany has been made by His Majesty's Navy; and whether the Government have any reason to suppose that the German secret service is behind the planned rising?

I regret that my hon. Friend should have seen fit to ask this question, and obviously it would not be in the public interest to answer it.

I desire to ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether it is not a well-established rule of this House that any Member putting a question on the Paper should make himself personally responsible for the truth of the statement he puts into it? In view of the mischievous character of this question, I wish to ask you whether there is any means open to this House to compel the hon. and learned Gentleman to disclose the name of the official from whom he got the information?

I cannot make a statement. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this information did not come from an official quarter?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a white blackbird was caught this morning on Hackney Marshes?

I think the hon. Member (Mr. MacVeagh) has correctly stated the general rule of the House. I am not aware of any method by which you can extract information from a Member who is not willing to give it.

As a censorship is very properly exercised at the Table with regard to mischievous questions, may I ask whether that censorship should not have been exercised in the case of a question of this character?

As a matter of fact this question was held up. The hon Member was determined to put the question on the Paper, and I have no power of censoring in the sense of Stopping a question.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the activities of the accredited representatives of the Irish republic claiming a diplomatic status in the capitals of certain countries friendly to Great Britain, noticeably in Paris and Washington; and whether, through His Majesty's ambassadors, he will inform the Governments of these countries that the Irish republic is not recognised by His Majesty's Government.

I have no reason to suppose that any foreign Government is in ignorance of the political status of Ireland, and representations of the character suggested by the hon. and learned Member are therefore not called for.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in the district of Ballymacilroy, near Randalstown, County Antrim, which comprises over 50 families, there is only a three day per week delivery of letters: that great inconvenience is thereby caused to the inhabitants; that the furthest point of this district from Randalstown is only live and a half miles, and the distance from the nearest sub-post office at Whitesides Corner is only four miles; that on the day when there is no delivery the postman reaches Whitesides Corner at 11 o'clock and stays there till three, during which time he has nothing to do; that an hour or an hour and a half would suffice to deliver his letters; and whether, under these circumstances, he will arrange for a daily delivery in this district?

I am having enquiry made, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

(by Private Notice) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can give the House any information with regard to the murder of the Lord Mayor of Cork, and particularly whether he can throw any light on the cause of the crime?

I regret very much that I have no further information to give the House than has appeared in the newspapers.

May I ask whether it is correct that a number of soldiers, very shortly after the commission of this terrible crime, visited the house, and, in spite of the protest of the bereaved family, insisted on examining the whole premises; and whether that does not give rise to the suspicion that this was meant to destroy the evidence of the crime?—(HON. MEMBERS; "Shame!" and "Withdraw!"]

I feel sure that the country and the House will resent the last part of the hon. Gentleman's question. It is obvious that it is the duty of the Government to go to the scene of any deplorable murder of this kind, but I have no information as to whether the military went there at once or not. If they did, it is obviously a thing they should do. But, before I sit down, I should like to say again it is a monstrous suggestion that soldiers, who were merely obeying a duty, and acting under orders of superior officers, should be condemned in this way by an hon. Member in this House.

It was a police murder.

May I ask if it is legitimate that any body of men should go into a household still suffering the horrible pangs of a murder committed within sight of the family, without that family having any option to admit them or not, or consulting legal opinion?

It is the duty—the painful duty—on many occasions for those who are responsible for law to enter into scenes of this kind. It is very regrettable, but they have got to do it. If they had not done it, the accusation would then have been that because this man happened to be a Sinn Feiner, the Government in Ireland made no attempt to defect the murderers.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why, in this case, the military and not the police authorities were sent to find evidence of the crime?

The hon. Member must remember that a few hours before one of the most respected and gallant officers of the Cork police was murdered.

Was it not possible that, if unarmed police had gone there, they would have been shot down like other unarmed police?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is a fact that the military went there on the orders of the competent military authorities to search the house, and that they searched every room from top to bottom?

I cannot say under whose orders the soldiers went there. They went there, undoubtedly, under orders, I am not surprised that they searched the house. This is a very remarkable and deplorable murder, and it was the duty of the British Government to search every hole and corner of the house where the murder had taken place, in order to find out any sort of evidence which would help them to trace the murderers.

If you had searched the police barracks you would have got the evidence.

asked when it is proposed to introduce and pass the Bill for the ratification of the Austrian Treaty?

asked when the exchange of ratifications of the Peace Treaty with Austria by the Austrian, British, French, and Italian Governments, respectively, may be expected?

The Treaty has already been ratifed by the Austrian Government and by Italian Royal Decree. The French Government have not yet ratified, and I have no information to show when they will do so. I fear that it will hardly be possible to deal with this matter before Easter.

Are we to understand that the British Government has ratified?

We have promised a discussion in the House of Commons.

Shall we have an opportunity of seeing it?

asked the Prime Minister whether any Government in Germany which maintains order, undertakes to carry out such terms of the Peace Treaty as are required by the Allied and Associated Powers, and which does not propose to re-establish the Hohenzollern dynasty in Germany will be recognised by His Majesty's Government?

The Government established in Germany is a question for the German people. The concern of the Allies is to see that, whatever Government there is in Germany, the Peace Treaty is respected.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has now received information regarding the reported mobilisation of several classes of Hungarian conscripts; and what action is contemplated by His Majesty's Government?

When the national army was first formed in August last, men between the ages of 25 and 35 were called up. In December last all men over 25 were released, and service was restricted to those between the ages of 21 and 25, the period for service being two months. The total effectives of the Hungarian army will be limited by the Treaty of Peace. At present they appear to be below the strength which it is proposed to fix.

Is there any truth in the report that some twenty classes have been recently called to the Colours?

I believe not.

asked when the Assembly of the League of Nations is to meet?

No date has yet been fixed for the meeting of the Assembly of the League of Nations.

Is it part of the policy of the British Government to press for an early meeting?

I should like to confer with my right hon. Friend our representative on the League of Nations before I can answer that question.

Before the right hon. Gentleman does so, will he give the House an opportunity of debating the question of the League of Nations?

That is entirely in the hands of the House. There will be a Vote, I understand, and if it is generally desired that the Vote shall be debated the Government will certainly put it down for discussion.

asked the Prime Minister whether under the penultimate paragraph of Article 22 of the Covenant it now falls to the Council of the League to define explicitly the terms of the mandates for those territories which were German colonies before the War; whether such terms have been yet defined; and, if not, whether he, as representing the British Empire, will urge on the Council the desirability of dealing with this subject as soon as possible?

The answer to the first part of my Noble Friend's question is that the penultimate paragraph of the Covenant of the League of Nations states that the terms of the mandates for those territories which were German colonies before the War will be defined by the Council of the League, if not previously agreed upon by the members of the League. As regards the remainder of the question, the whole matter is engaging the earnest attention of His Majesty's Government, and I hope before long to be in a position to give my Noble Friend further information in regard to it.

Is it not true that the mandate for the Tanganyika Territory was agreed upon by the members of the League at the time of the signing of the peace, and when will it be published?

I do not believe it was agreed to as a separate thing. There was an agreement entered into with regard to the whole of the German colonies in Africa at the time of the signature of peace.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the fact that a printed memorandum is being circulated to all Members of Parliament containing an account of the occurrences after the Greek landing at Smyrna in May, 1918, supplied by British eye-witnesses; and whether, in view of the grave allegations contained in this Report, His Majesty's Government will now press the Allied Governments to allow the Report of the official commission of inquiry into these occurrences to be published?

I have heard that a pamphlet such as that described has been circulated to Members of Parliament. His Majesty's Government, however, consider it inadvisable to allow the Report of the Commission in question to be published owing to the conditions under which the inquiry was conducted. As the Commission was investigating charges against the Greek Army, the Supreme Council decided that a Greek officer should be allowed to follow the proceedings, but not to vote or take part in the preparation of the Report. The Com mission, however, when it began its inquiries decided not to allow any Greek representative to be present on the ground that Turkish witnesses might be afraid of giving evidence. M Venezelos immediately protested against this proceeding on the ground that it was contrary to the rules of justice in every civilised country that charges should be investigated and witnesses heard without the accused person being allowed to know the charges and the evidence against him. The Supreme Council were of opinion that M. Venezelos's protest was justified, but before it could alter the procedure the inquiry was completed. Inasmuch as it has not been possible to communicate to the Greek Government the evidence against them, upon which the Commission's Report has been based, owing to pledges given to witnesses, the British Government think it inadvisable and unfair to publish the Report itself.

Are we to understand that the Report is not to be published because it is an impartial report?

The reasons have been given by me very fully in my answer.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is an impression that atrocities are visited with condemnation only when Christians are the victims, and as that is so, does it not point to the desirability of something being published?

That would be a most unfortunate impression, but even Christians are entitled to a fair trial.

asked whether any progress has been made with the negotiations for the repatriation of German, Austrian, Czech and other prisoners and ex-prisoners from Siberia, and whether the Supreme Council is taking steps to send relief to these men while awaiting tonnage for their repatriation?

With regard to the first part of the question the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea was informed on 19th February that the relief and repatriation of ex-enemy prisoners of war was submitted by the Supreme Economic Council to the League of Nations, who have now taken the matter in hand, and His Majesty's Government will render all the assistance they can as soon as concrete proposals are put before them. The answer to part two of the question is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister if he will circulate the information upon which his several statements have been made to the effect that trade union regulations are preventing the entry of workmen into particular trades and retarding the development of housing schemes; and if he will give the general nature of the regulations and the trade unions involved?

I am circulating a very full statement in the OFFICIAL REPOET.

had given notice of the following Question:—To ask the Prime Minister whether he is now prepared, having regard to the ever-increasing prices of building materials, to regard the building of workmen's dwellings as a war measure and effectively control the prices of materials and the distribution of materials; and whether he is aware that building contractors are afraid of entering into contracts, owing to prices continually soaring, with the result that in a great number of districts building schemes have been indefinitely postponed, and that this state of affairs is creating great social unrest?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers this question, is it not a fact that the increased price of building materials has been caused by the rise in the cost of manufacture?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. As regards the first part, the whole question of the costs and profits made in the production of building materials is now being inquired into by a committee appointed under the Profiteering Act by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. As to the last part of the question, the form of contract being entered into by local authorities provides for adjustments in respect of rise or fall in the cost of material, and I am not aware of building schemes being indefinitely postponed on account of rising prices of materials.

When will the findings of this committee be published?

I hope very soon.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that since July last year the price of materials has increased enormously, that, for example, the price of turpentine has increased by 100 per cent., and that since 1914 the price of that commodity has increased by 494 per cent., and that the price of slates—

Ministers cannot be expected to carry all those figures in their heads.

In view of the fact that it costs now £100 to purchase the timber which £30 purchased before the War, is it desirable that the Government should sell their stocks of timber to private timber speculators?

I do not know anything about speculation. No one would rejoice more than I if the price of building materials fell.

Could we not have a system of priority with regard to building materials such as we had during the War in the Ministry of Munitions?

Large quantities of building materials have been purchased on account for the purposes of housing. To that extent there is priority; otherwise not.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether, in view of the fact that the number of apprentices now engaged in the building trade is estimated to be only about one-half that authorised by existing joint working agreements between the unions and employers, and the danger of serious delay resulting in building under the Housing Acts, he will appoint a committee to report what steps should be taken to require employers to make adequate arrangements for recruiting and training skilled labour for the building trade and on wage and other conditions as bearing upon the deficiency; (2) whether he will take steps to ensure that no contracts are let by Government Departments or local authorities to any contractors who fail to employ the maximum number of apprentices agreed on under existing joint working agreements between the unions and the employers?

I have been asked to answer these questions. As stated in answer to a previous question by the hon. Member on the 11th March, the Resettlement Committee of the Joint Industrial Council for the Building Industry is already considering matters connected with apprentices in that industry. In these circumstances I do not anticipate that it will be necessary to appoint a further Committee as suggested, and it would be premature to commit the Government to any particular course pending a decision by the industry itself as to the steps to be taken to give effect to the recommendations already made for increasing the number of apprentices.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this Resettlement Committee is not hearing evidence in public, nor is there any facility for the general public to know what is going on? In view of the importance of the question, does he not feel that it is necessary to strengthen the hands of those who want to get houses built by allowing this information to be made public?