asked the President of the Board of Trade which countries British made morphia was exported during the year 1919; the amount and value of the morphia so exported to each country; what precautions are taken to secure the restriction of such morphia to medical or legitimate purposes; how many factories for morphia there are in Great Britain; and whether they are controlled and supervised in accordance with the provisions of the International Opium Convention of 1912.

I am sending the hon. Member a statement of the recorded exports of morphia which will be printed in the Official Report, but I regret that those figures do not include exports through the post, particulars of which are not available. Licenses are granted by the Board of Trade on the basis of the estimated legitimate requirements of the country of destination, and an arrangement is already in force in regard to certain destinations—and will, I hope, be extended to others—under which an application for a licence must be accompanied by a certificate from the appropriate Government authority in the country of destination that the drug is required exclusively for legitimate medicinal or scientific purposes, and will not be re-exported. I am aware of only three factories in Great Britain producing morphia. When the Dangerous Drugs Bill at present before the House is passed into law, control over such factories will be exercised in accordance with the provisions of the Opium Convention.

Does the Government intend or endeavour to control the disposal of morphia all over the world?

No; we do not hope to accomplish any such vast undertaking as that.

There was a reference to controlling the amount of supplies from British factories to other parts of the world.

From British factories, certainly.

asked how many separate pits are now working in the Kent coalfield area; how many pits are soon expected to be working; and what is the weekly average output of coal from this district at the present time?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on 3rd May to my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of coal were mined in the United Kingdom during the months of April and June, 1913; how much coal was mined during the month of April, 1920, and how much does he estimate will be mined during the month of June, 1920; how much coal was exported from the Humber ports during April and June, 1913, and how much from the United Kingdom; how much coal was exported from the Humber ports during April, 1920, and how much from the United Kingdom; and what does he estimate will be the respective figures for June, 1920?

I will have the information asked for, as far as it is available, published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the information referred to:

At the present rate of production the output of coal during June, 1920, may reach 20 million tons, but I cannot say at present whether it will be possible by that time to raise the existing embargo on exports from the Humber ports.

Does the hon. Gentleman see any likelihood of an increase in export coal from the Humber ports during the coming summer, and is he aware of the very great distress—

The and gallant Member is raising new matter in his supplmentary question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is awere that for a considerable number of months past London coal consumers have been supplied with a large amount of slate and slack mixed with the coal which has been sent to them by London merchants; whether he is aware that the public are compelled to pay the same price for the slate and slack as for the coal; and whether he will at once take steps to issue an order that the coal is to be thoroughly selected and screened before delivery, An order that consumers may pay only for coal that they are able to burn?

I am aware that part of the supplies of coal to London have not been of the best quality during recent months, but this has been due to a general shortage of best quality coal. The attention of the various District Coal and Coke Supplies Committees has already been drawn to this matter, and all collieries instructed that every endeavour must be made to improve the quality of the coal produced.

If a man sells margarine as butter is he not summoned; and does the hon. Member not think that steps should be taken to protect people who have to pay high price for coal and who are getting slate and slack which they cannot use? Will the Government take steps to mitigate that?

It is a very serious question, and we are doing what we can to see if we can deal with it.

Are steps being taken at the collieries to see that slack is not mixed with the coal?

asked the effect of the increase in the price of coal upon the cost of silk, cotton, and woollen goods, tinplates, glass, and paper?

My hon. and gallant Friend will realise that it is impossible to arrive at any precise figures, but I am having the question examined and will communicate with him later.

asked what will be the effect on the wages of the railwaymen of the increase in the price of coal?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The wages of railwaymen in the Conciliation Grades are reviewed periodically in accordance with the provisions of the recent agreement under which the wages of these men vary by one shilling for every five points in the cost of living as shown by the figures published in the "Labour Gazette."

Can the hon. Gentleman give an answer to the question which I have put down?

That will appear when the figure of the cost of living appears in the "Labour Gazette." I cannot anticipate that.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many points increase in the cost of living will be produced by this increase in the price of coal?

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the increase in the price of coal will affect passenger and goods rates on the railways?

I have been asked to answer this question. The increase in the price of coal involves a considerable addition to the working cost of the railways, and this additional expenditure will have to be taken into account in the systematic revision of all railway charges.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the names and occupations of the persons who form the Coal Control Committee at Wrexham, and whether he is aware, that, in spite of repeated applications to that committee for coal for Holyhead, no steps were taken by it to alleviate the sufferings of the poor people in that town who for over three weeks have been entirely without, firing?

The District Coal and Coke Supplies Committee at Wrexham consists of 13 members and a secretary, all the former except one being connected with the collieries in the North Wales area. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a list of their names. The question of the shortage of supplies of house coal to Holyhead has been receiving the close attention of the Coal Mines Department. Since the 7th May the Supplies Committee at Wrexham have placed orders for a considerable quantity of emergency coal for Holyhead and Anglesey.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, after the introduction of the Coal Controller's scheme in 1917, a railway rates rebate was granted to firms in the Barrow district in consideration of their being obliged to purchase coal from collieries other than those from which it was obtained prior to the introduction of the scheme; whether, although this rebate has now been withdrawn, the restrictions which prevent the supply of local coal have not been removed; and if, under these circumstances, he will consider either the restoration of the rebate or the withdrawal of the restrictions complained of?

The rebate to which the hon. Member refers was granted by the North Eastern Railway Company purely as a War Emergency measure, and has recently been withdrawn. I am informed that there is no longer any justification for continuing the allowance in question. I regret that no variation in the source of supply to the Barrow District can be authorised at present, but the question will be reconsidered at the earliest possible opportunity.

( be Private Notice ) asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Scottish coalowners have threatened to raise by 4s. 2d. per ton the price of bunker coal supplied to fishing vessels; whether they are within their rights in making this increase, and will he say what measures he is taking or has power to take to prevent this action?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. An arrangement was made last December under which bunker coal for fishing trawlers is chargeable by collieries at fixed prices, which correspond with the prices for industrial coal. In the circum- stances it is not practicable to exempt fishing trawlers from the scope of the recent increase of 4s. 2d. per ton.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why export licences to European Russia are not being granted, in view of the Prime Minister's declarations on this subject after the last conference at San Remo; and whether this embargo is extended to cover drugs, medicines, anesthetics, surgical instruments, and other hospital and Red Cross supplies?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make his promised statement on the subject of trade with Russia?

I hope to make a definite announcement on the subject in the course of a few days.

Will it be before the House adjourns for Whitsuntide?

I am afraid that will not be possible.

Does the right hon. gentleman persist in the statement that there is no blockade of Russia?

I did not make that statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether the British members of the Council of the League of Nations will be instructed to propose the sending of a Commission of Inquiry to Russia on the terms suggested by the Russian Government?

The question of the despatch of a Commission of Inquiry to Soviet Russia is being discussed by the Council of the League of Nations which is at present sitting in Rome.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will circulate among Members, or cause to be published, all Foreign Office and War Office despatches to Russia and instructions to our military missions since the Bolshevik revolution?

The Government are not prepared to accept the hon. Member's suggestion.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the publication of these despatches when peace is finally made with Russia?

They are despatches which will no doubt be of great historical interest, but I cannot see why Russia should be put on a different footing from other powers.

All despatches, not merely Russia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) in what directions danger from unrestricted imports of commodities is anticipated during the next few months so as to render necessary the revival of the system of prohibition and licences;

(2) whether the provisions of Clause 4 of the Indemnity Bill were considered by the Board prior to the introduction of the Bill; and, if so, for what reason the Board desire to resume the practice of restrictions and licences in respect of our import trade?

I cannot anticipate the statement as to the general policy of His Majesty's Government, which I hope to make at an early date. As regards Clause 4 of the Indemnity Bill, this was considered by the Board of Trade prior to the introduction of the Bill, but I would point out that it only proposes to validate any proclamation or Order in Council issued or purporting to be issued under Section 43 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, during the War; that the final words of the Clause are "nothing in this Section should be construed as rendering valid the continuance in operation after the termination of the War of any such proclamation or order in council "; and that the Attorney-General in the course of the Debate on the Second Reading of the Bill made a statement in which he indicated that indemnity would be limited to acts done under the Orders and Proclamations which were made before the introduction of the Bill.

Does that give not merely absolution for the past, but carte blanehe for the next few months?

No. That would be an erroneous assumption.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the average price for best quality, British made, worsted suits is now approximately, and allowing for exchange, in New York £60, in Paris 50 guineas, in Berlin £200, and in Montreal £35; and how these prices compare with those charged for similar suits to British consumers in this country?

The price for best quality worsted suits made by high-class tailors in this country is approximately 16 to 18 guineas, though prices vary to some extent according to the locality. I have no information bearing out the statement in the question as to prices abroad, but I understand that the prices of British made suits are very considerably higher in foreign markets than in this country.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make overtures to these people to introduce a scheme under the Profiteering Act?

I have done so

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a Member of this House is supplying suits at much lower prices?

Yes. There is an opportunity for everyone.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether London tailors are now being offered 19-ounce fancy worsted suitings of good quality at from 40s. to 45s. per yard; whether this means that next winter's suits will cost from 20 to 25 guineas, as compared with the pre-War charge of from five to eight guineas; and will he explain the reasons for this increase?

I understand that fancy worsted suitings of best quality are being offered to London tailors at the price mentioned by my hon. Friend. The prices charged for suits made therefrom depend, to some extent, upon the locality and class of tailor employed, but I am advised that a suit made of the material mentioned should not cost more than 20 guineas next winter. The increased price is due to a number of factors, including the increase in the price of all merino wool and of other materials, the rise in wages and reduction in the hours of work, and the much increased cost of repairs and renewals of plant. I may point out, however, that the figures quoted refer to the highest quality of tailoring and the highest quality of suitings, and that suits of good and sound quality can be obtained at much lower prices.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state what is the price from the manufacturer to the warehousekeeper, the warehousekeeper to the seller, and the seller to the consumer?

asked whether an export licence was issued for the munitions of war which Messrs. Walford, of the Walford Line, Limited, had loaded aboard their ship, the "Jolly George," recently in the London Docks?

The anwser is in the affirmative.

Was this going on Government account or on private account?

On account of the Polish military mission.

Are we to understand that these things were being exported through the British Polish mission?

Nothing I have said gives reason for that understanding. There is lower down on the Paper a question to the Leader of the House dealing with a similar matter, and I shall leave it to be answered by the appropriate authority.

Did not my right hon. Friend use the words "on account of the Polish military mission"? What exactly does he mean by that? Is it the British military mission in Poland or is it the military mission of Poland in England?

I am afraid that I have not got details of the transaction before me. If my right hon. Friend will put down a question, I should be glad to answer it.

What firm manufactured these munitions?

I have not got that information either.

Has the "Jolly George "been taken over by the Government?

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he can yet give any explanation respecting the origin of the contract for consignment of war munitions for Polish aggression in territory outside the limits prescribed to that country last year at Paris; and if he can give an assurance that no help, financial or otherwise, will issue from this country in the future for any such aggression?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he will state the amounts of munitions of war, e.g, guns, rifles, revolvers, shells, tanks, aeroplanes, poison gas, bombs, etc., transferred to Poland since the Armistice?

In October of last year, when it was feared that the Russian Border States would be attacked by the Soviet Government, a request was addressed by the Polish Government for assistance in their military equipment. In consequence of our commitments elsewhere, the British Government were unable to give any financial assistance, but they offered to supply a certain quantity of surplus stores on condition that the cost of moving them, as well as the arrangements for transport, should be undertaken by the Polish Government. This offer was accepted. In consequence of that gift the material in question became the property of the Polish Government, and part of it is now being shipped by that Government. Beyond this no assistance has been, or is being given, to the Polish Government.

Does not my right hon. Friend think the position is altogether different now from what it was last year, having regard to the declaration of the Prime Minister made much more recently than last October?

Yes, but as a matter of fact the bargain was made, the material was actually given to the Polish Government, it is their property, and to have gone back on it would have been to break a bargain. In any event, I think this whole subject is one which can better be dealt with in debate than by question and answer, and I understand that it will be raised on Thursday. next.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an answer to the last part of the question, that apart from these contracts, at all events, no assistance, financial or otherwise, will be given?

I have answered that. My answer was that, beyond what I have described, no assistance has been or is being given to the Polish Government.

May I ask whether at the time the bargain was made any condition was placed on the Polish Government as to the use they were to make of this material?

Certainly not.

In any consideration of this matter, will the Cabinet remember that the Poles have been our most faithful Allies all through these last few years?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state if, in agreeing to recognise the independence of Poland, the Allies placed any limitation on the strength or equipment of a Polish Army?

The answer is in the negative.

May I ask why they should go out of their way to assist the extension of this Army in its equipment and strength?

As regards the general question, that was debated in this House, and it was recognised you could not have one law for small States and another for the big States, and that you could not lay down a limitation of armaments for one without the other.

Is Poland not bound by the terms of the Covenant of the League of Nations to restrict her Army within the limits necessary for National safety?

All Powers are.

Has the League of Nations laid down any restriction for any nation whatever

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the League of Nations Council has been approached by the Polish Government in regard to international action to prevent the spread of typhus; whether Poland is itself ravaged by typhus; and whether the Polish attack on Russia is the international action recommended for the suppression of the typhus epidemic?

At the public meeting on 13th March of the Third Session of the Council of the League of Nations, it was decided, on the motion of the British member, to instruct the International Health Conference to consider what measures should or could be taken to prevent the spread of typhus in Poland and the neighbouring countries. The present situation in Poland as regards typhus is certainly serious, but in no sense can it be said that the country is ravaged. With regard to the third part of the question, the recent military advance of the Poles eastward does not modify the proposal before the League of Nations. On the contrary, the medical authorities interested are of opinion that to the extent that the advance secures better conditions of government in the Ukraine, it will increase the opportunities of controlling epidemics.

Do we understand from the reply that the Government is supplying arms to Poland in order to stamp out typhus in Russia?

Was the medicine carried by the "Jolly George" for the treatment of typhus?

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether there are as many as 250,000 cases of typhus in Poland, and whether it is five times greater than this time last year?

No, Sir, I have not in mind the exact figures.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take into consideration the fact that the wreckage, masts, etc., of the "Traveller," which ran ashore some months ago off the village of Beesand, Start Bay, South Devon, are a serious obstruction to the net fishermen, thereby prevented from hauling their seines at this point; and whether he will bring about the removal of the same either by the owners (if still claiming to be proprietors) or by the Government's local representatives?

Under Section 531 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, a wreck can be removed by the general lighthouse authority only if in the opinion of the authority it is or is likely to become an obstruction or danger to navigation or to lifeboats engaged in the lifeboat service. Mere is thus no power to remove this wreck on the ground that it is an obstruction to fishing operations. I am making inquiries whether the wreck can be considered as a danger to navigation or to lifeboats, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result.

Are we to understand that this obstruction is to continue and that there is no power to get rid of it, in view of the fact that the fishermen themselves who were trying to deal with it have been summoned to court by the Receiver of Wrecks?

I have no power to order its removal, but there may he other means of dealing with it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman get in touch with the Receiver of Wrecks on the subject, or is he the responsible authority?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the conditions prevailing in the glass making industry of the Midlands through the serious shortage of supplies of carbonate of potash imported from abroad and on which the industry almost entirely depended prior to the War; whether he is aware that manufacturers of the finer qualities of glassware are unable to secure satisfactory results from the use of such material as is obtainable from makers in this country; whether he realises that, owing to this scarcity, British glassmakers are finding it increasingly difficult to recover their pre-War eminence in both home and international markets, where foreign manufacturers are rapidly occupying that position through being able to secure larger supplies of essential carbonate of potash from Germany as compared with British manufacturers; and can he see his way to order a speedy inquiry into the matter with the view of preventing damage and loss to this key industry?

:I am aware of the position in respect of the supplies of carbonate of potash for the glassmaking industry, and in my opinion no inquiry at this moment would add to our information. As regards supplies from Germany, I would point out that there are no restrictions on the importation from that country and that British manufacturers are at no disadvantage as compared with foreign manufacturers in this respect.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the approximate quantities of carbonate of potash exported from Germany to Belgium, France, the United States of America, and Great Britain since the date of the Armistice; and whether he can state the approximate quantity of natural deposits of potash in Germany from which the carbonates are derived, and also the extent to which the process of this conversion has increased during the past 18 months in that country?

I regret that I have no official statistics which show the exports of carbonate of potash from Germany to Belgium, France, or the United States. The quantity imported from Germany into the United Kingdom since 11th November, 1918, amounts to 20½ tons. I am not aware of any approximate esti- mate of the extent of the natural deposits of potash in Germany, but they are unquestionably very great, running into many millions of tons. I have no definite information as to the extent of the production of carbonate of potash since the Armistice, but I understand that it has been very much less than the normal production.

asked the Prime Minister whether preferential treatment has been accorded any of Great Britain's Allies on the continents of Europe or America, as against the United Kingdom itself, in regard to supplies, large or small, of carbonate of potash any of them shall be allowed to procure from Germany under peace treaty, indemnity, or fiscal arrangement; and, if not, can he say whether Germany is permitted without restriction to conclude contracts with any of the Allied Governments for supplying this essential article of glass manufacture to any extent it chooses, even to the deprivation of supplies to the United Kingdom either partially or altogether?

I am not aware that Germany has discriminated in this matter against the United Kingdom. By Article 267 of the Treaty of Peace, Germany is required to extend to all the Allied and Associated States every favour, immunity, or privilege in regard to exportation which she may grant to any foreign country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will cause to be collated and issued at the earliest possible moment for the information of the public the evidence upon which he bases his statement that the children in public schools are better fed and better clothed than in the years before the War; that there are fewer free meals needed for badly nourished children than ever before; and that in these respects, as in that of unemployment, a marked improvement has taken place in the general condition of the wage-earning community?

As regards the feeding of school children, the most recent Report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Board of Education, published in 1919, gives, on page 175, a Table which shows that for the year 1918–19 the number of school children fed by Local Education Authorities under the provisions of the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906, was 52,490, as compared with 156,531 in 1913–14, and 358,306 in 1912–13.

As regards improvement in the clothing of school children, there is no published information for the country as a whole, but I would refer to the statement made by the School Medical Officer for London, on page 13 of the Report to which I have referred, in which he says that in 1918 the number of children found insufficiently clad was less than half the number discovered in 1913. I understand that the general impression gained by the inspectors of the Board of Education has been that a similar improvement was to be found in other parts of the country.

As to unemployment, there is less at the present time than in an average pre-War year. The percentages of trade union members reported as unemployed in January, February, and March, 1920, were 2·9 per cent., 1·6 per cent., and 11 per cent. respectively. In 1919 the mean annual trade union percentage of unemployed was 2·4 per cent., whilst during the last 40 years (excluding the War period) the mean annual percentage has only once fallen as low as 2 per cent., and on only four other occasions was it lower than 2·5 per cent.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when we can have information for later years?

I have given the latest figures with regard to unemployment. With regard to the feeding of school children I have not the exact figures, but I am informed that what the school inspectors have to say on the subject bears out what is said in the Report of 1918.

Have the Board of Trade any scheme to absorb even the 2 per cent. Surely the 220,000 ex-service men can have some steps taken to absorb them, even if it means conflicting with private enterprise?

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any and, if so, what action has been taken since the 24th April last to call upon the German Government immediately to comply with the provisions of the Peace Treaty relating to the setting up of a Clearance House for the collection and settlement of enemy debts?

Notification of the establishment of the German Clearing Office has been received and the first batch of British claims, to the number of 34,806, was despatched by the British Clearing Office to Berlin on the 12th instant.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make any statement with regard to the proceedings or decisions of the San Remo Conference with regard to the trial of the ex-Kaiser and other War criminals and those German officers now in the hands of the Allies and awaiting trial; whether the number of the latter can in each case be given; whether the Leipzig Court has as yet held any sittings; if not, when will it commence its proceedings, and if any have been commenced; what are the results to date; and if and when the Court begins its proceedings, will they be conducted in public and the proceedings fully reported in all Allied countries?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the statement appearing in the Press to the effect that the Allies have now presented to Germany an agreed list of those persons charged with breaches of the laws of war; whether he can state when and where the said persons will be brought to trial; what arrangements have been made for the attendance of English witnesses on such trials and for the payment of their expenses; and what precautions have been taken to ensure that upon publication of the list those persons named in it will not flee the country before trial?

As regards the ex-Emperor, I can add nothing to the statement made in the House on 19th April. In accordance with the policy outlined in their Note of 13th February, the Allied Governments on 7th May forwarded to the German Government a first instalment of the list of war criminals containing 45 names. The list was compiled by the mixed Inter-Allied Commission on which the Lord Chancellor is the British representative. The Allied Governments at the same time requested that the trial of these persons by the Leipzig Court should begin without delay.

They also pointed out to the German Government that, although there would be no compulsion upon Allied witnesses to attend the Court, should they do so 'it would be necessary for the German Government to give adequate guarantees for their protection and to allow Allied Delegates to be present at all sittings of the Court, whether Allied witnesses were present or not. The Allied Governments declared their readiness to furnish all evidence which might be demanded by the Leipzig Court. I need hardly add that in their Note of 7th May, the Allied Governments reserved all their rights under Articles 228 and 229 of the Treaty of Versailles, should the procedure of the Leipzig Court not prove satisfactory.

Is any date actually fixed for the proceedings of the Leipzig Court, and have any discussions taken place with regard to this at Lympne during the past few days?

With regard to the last question, I do not know whether it was discussed or not. This is not the time for the first part of the question to take effect, as the list was sent in only recently.

Have the Government given up all idea of bringing the ex-Kaiser to trial, and if that is so, cannot we stop all these useless questions?

When will the House receive a statement of what took place at Lympne?

:That does not arise out of the main question.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Turkish Peace Treaty contains any demand for the trial of Turkish war criminals, in particular of those Turks who ordered and carried out the Armenian massacres or were responsible for the ill-treatment of British or Allied prisoners?

I would refer the hon. Member to Part VII. Penalties, in the official summary of the Treaty of Peace with Turkey, which was published in the Press on 12th May.

asked the Prime Minister whether the special Commission to be appointed in Palestine by the Council of the League of Nations under the terms of the Turkish Peace Treaty to deal with holy places and religious questions will be confined to nationals of the mandatory Powers; and what will be the precise composition and functions of this commission?

The special Commission referred to by the hon. and gallant Member is to be appointed by the mandatory; the mandate itself has not yet been issued, nor its terms determined, and it is therefore premature to consider the composition of the Commission.

When may we expect the terms of the mandate will be issued?

Certainly not until the observations of the French Government on the Treaty have been made.

asked the Prime Minister when the House will have an opportunity of discussing the Treaty of Peace with Turkey?

asked when an opportunity will be given for discussion of the Turkish Treaty?

The Turkish Government, as the House is aware, have been given a month to consider the terms of peace presented to them, and it would not, I think, be right to have a discussion until the Treaty has been signed; but an opportunity for its discussion in this House will be given before it has been ratified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the decision of the Government that household and industrial coal shall now be sold at the same price, he will take steps in the national interest so that the same principle should be applied to the price of sugar, so that sugar for industrial purposes shall be fixed at the same price as that used for household purposes?

I have been asked to reply. The answer is in the negative. The retail price of sugar for domestic consumption has to-day been advanced to Is. 2d. per lb., an advance of 4d. per lb. on the previous price, and the. Government are not prepared further to raise the price at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of condensed milk was imported during the first four months of this year direct from the country of origin; what quantity was Imparted indirectly through other countries to which it had been shipped and where there was no consumption; and what proportion of the said imports can be said to be of the standard composition recognised in this country before the Government control as defined by the Government chemist in his annual report on condensed milk, namely, milk reduced to 2½ to 3 times its original bulk by the evaporation of water?

As the answer involves a statistical table, I will, with the permission of the House, have a statement published in the OFFICIAL REPORT when the necessary figures have been prepared.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the inquiry as to the alleged glut of sweetened condensed milk in this country has been completed; if so, with what result; whether recently an application for licence to ship 100 cases of sweetened condensed full-cream milk to a British colony, which is dependent upon imported condensed milk for its milk requirements, has been made and has been refused on the grounds of scarcity, and that a licence for only 20 cases has been granted?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second part in the affirm ative. Licences have in several cases been issued recently for a smaller quantity than that applied for owing to the monthly ration allowed for export being inadequate to meet the quantity for which applications have been received. The export ration has, however, now been increased, so that it is possible to issue licences in the case of export to British Colonies for the full quantity applied for.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture what progress has been made, since the proper restrictions obtaining during the War had been removed, in raising the hygienic standard of milk and milk products?

As a result of the control exercised during the War, valuable experience has been gained in many directions in the improvement of the hygienic standard of milk. The results of this experience have been used in the framing of the Milk and Dairies Bill introduced last week.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture what progress is being made in respect to the elimination of deleterious vitreous gases in the towns adjacent to farmsteads, which affect the fodder of milch cows and affect as a result the purity of milk?

I have been asked to reply to this question. A Departmental Committee has been appointed to consider and advise what steps are desirable and practicable to diminish the evils arising from pollution of the atmosphere by smoke and other noxious vapours.

asked the Prime Minister what steps are to be taken to protect insurance policy holders and to provide that the recommendations of Lord Parmoor's Committee are carried into effect?

I have been asked to reply. As the hon. and gallant Member is probably aware, the Committee of which Lord Parmoor was Chairman recommended that in the future the control of all industrial assurance business, whether conducted by companies or societies, should be vested in the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies. I have accordingly referred the matter to the Treasury.

Will any action be taken with regard to the very large number of policies of soldiers and sailors which lapsed during the War?

That is a question which must be put to the Treasury.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government can and will take such action as may be practicable to save from threatened destruction a large number of churches, many or most of which are highly valued by those who frequent the City of London?

This is not a matter in which the Government can take any action.

Can my right hon. Friend refer me to any authority which can and will act in the matter?

I hardly like to suggest the Archbishop of Canterbury.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the interruption of factory processes and the consequent loss of output from the absence of territorials at annual training are avoided by firms who employ no territorials the Government will consider the desirability of partially compensating those who do employ territorials by granting them a rebate of income tax of £5 for each employee who attends training for the full period on condition that the firm pays each such employé the difference between his Army pay and his average wage, if the former is the lower, and allows him a week's holiday in addition to leave of absence for the full period of training?

Such a provision as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests would be quite inconsistent with the basic principles of the Income Tax code, and I cannot see my way to adopt it.

asked the Prime Minister why it was necessary to acquire the lease of a hotel, such as the Hotel Petrograd, in the heart of a most expensive area in the West End, on a 31 years' lease, for rehousing the Registry of Friendly Societies; where was the Registry accommodated prior to the War; what is the present number of the staff and number of rooms; whether any alternative suggestion was considered; who are the lessors; who is the ground landlord; what are the rates and taxes; what will be the total payment per annum; has the arrangement been submitted to Parliament; and under what Vote will it be found?

I must apologise to the House for the length of my reply. [HON. MEMBERS: "Circulate it."]

It appears to be the desire of the House that the reply should be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it not the growing habit of Ministers to say that their answers are long and should be circulated, being adopted as a very easy way out of giving an inconvenient answer to a difficult question?

I did not say I did not wish to read the answer.

I think it is the desire of the House that the answer should be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT. There are many more questions on the Paper yet to be asked. [HON. MEMSERS: "No," and "Agreed."]

May I suggest that, with the leave of Mr. Deputy-Speaker, my right hon. Friend read the answer at the end of Questions, when it would not interfere with the answers to other questions?

Does the House desire the answer read? [HON. MEMSERS: "Yes," and"

( reading ): The lease of the hotel was, after consideration of all possible alternatives acquired by my Department to house the Registry of Friendly Societies because, as the Noble Lord is no doubt aware, great pressure was brought to bear by the trustees of the British Museum and by Members of this House, for the return of the galleries of the British Museum which were occupied by the Registry during the War. It was impossible to remove the Registry to its former offices in Cromwell House, Westminster, as these offices are occupied by the large headquarters staff of the Ministry of Pensions. The hotel, containing 109 rooms, is held on lease from the Duke of Westminster, and my Department has taken an assignment of the lease, the annual payment in respect of which may be put at £7,450, inclusive of the ground rent of £3,850, but exclusive of rates and taxes which are not payable by the Government. The usual ex gratin contribution in lieu of rates has, I understand, not yet been determined. The purchase money, which I was advised was quite reasonable, was defrayed out of the general provision in the Vote for Public Buildings, 1919–20, Class I., Vote 10.

I should like to explain to the Noble Lord that the registry, the staff of which numbers 167, performs most important functions in connection with the Building and Friendly Societies Acts, trades unions, Workmen's Compensation, etc., and is in constant and intimate communication with the friendly societies and the legal profession generally. The Registrar's duties include the holding of Courts dealing with matters arising under the Building and Friendly Societies Acts, and robing and waiting rooms with the usual offices have to be provided in addition to the accommodation for the staff of the Registry. Considerable space is also required for a large number of records which are being continually consulted. For these reasons it will be seen that premises centrally situated somewhere in London are essential to the Registry.

May I ask why it was necessary to choose the most expensive area in the West End for housing the Registry of Friendly Societies?

Why was the unoccupied part of Earl's Court building not used?

Earl's Court is much too inaccessible for an office which has to hold courts at which members of the legal profession have to be represented and where constant consultations of members of the Friendly Societies from all over the. country have to take place. There are no premises at Earl's Court in the least bit suitable. With regard to the question of the Noble Lord, we can only acquire such premises as exist, and as these came into the market and no others could be acquired we had to take them.

With regard to the legal profession, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that county courts and police courts exist all over London and that members of the legal profession find no difficulty in attending them?

asked the Prime Minister what services the British Mission to the Vatican rendered during the War; what services it is now rendering; and whether he can state when it will be withdrawn.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Lincoln on 15th April, to which I have nothing to add.

The answer to which the right hon. Gentleman refers was to a quite different question?

The whole subject will be considered shortly by the Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the distress existing amongst pensioned members of the teaching profession, many of whom are existing on pensions of from £30 to. £45 a year; whether he will bring in a, measure to make the new scale of pensions. for teachers retrospective; and whether, if this be not at present possible, this class of pensioner can participate in the concessions to pre-War pensioners recently announced by the Government

It is not intended to make the new scale of pensions for teachers retrospective beyond 1st April, 1919, but teachers who are now in receipt of pensions awarded on a pre-war basis will participate in the concessions referred to in my hon. Friends question.

asked the Prime Minister whether any officers are employed on publicity duties in Government Departments, and, if so, how many; and what is the annual total of the salaries paid to these officers?

I cannot add anything to the answer which I gave on this subject to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Clackmannan and Eastern on the 26th April.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can say that the Agricultural Bill will be introduced in this House and not in another place?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that dissatisfaction amongst ex-soldiers, owing to unemployment, has reached such a pitch in the city of Bristol that serious breaches of the peace have occurred; and if the Government intends to take any steps to inquire into the alleged grievances of these men?

I have been asked to take this question. I am fully aware of the seriousness of the position at Bristol, and the matter has been, and is, engaging my close personal attention. As I have already said, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary is paying a personal visit to Bristol this week in order to confer with the responsible authorities there.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether they mean to take really effective steps to absorb these men, and whether great dissatisfaction exists outside Bristol and even in the City of London?

There are, roughly, 218,000 ex-service men still unemployed, and I hope we may get the King's Roll very largely developed and that we may get assistance from every quarter, including my hon. Friend, I am sure, to get these men absorbed, as they wish, into civil occupations.

Would the right hon. Gentleman kindly put a stop once and for all to these irresponsible interjections, and state exactly how far the trade unions have stood in the way of employment?

Are any of these men receiving Unemployment Donation?

I should say that the great majority have not exhausted their right.

May I ask whether it is not absolutely true that trade unions have in many cases stopped these people getting employment.

That does not now arise.

May I ask whether it is not the fact that very large numbers of these ex-service men would be immediately employed if the restrictions with regard to dilution—

Order, Order. That is the very same question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is still the policy of the Foreign Office that the claims of candidates who have served in His Majesty's military forces during the War shall receive every consideration; if so, whether an officer who qualified for consular service in July, 1914, enlisted as a private and was promoted an officer in the same year, entered the Intelligent Department in 1915 and is still serving therein, but was born before 2nd August, 1892, is debarred from competing again for the consular service by Foreign Office Rules for General Consular Service, dated November, 1909; and whether it is due to mistake or misunderstanding that an officer with so meritorious a record and deserving of special favour has been informed that no post is available for him in the consular service?

It is the policy of the Foreign Office that the claims of candidates who have served in His Majesty's Naval and Military forces during the War shall receive every consideration, and the conditions of the examination to be held in August next have been specially framed to this end. Before the War, the examination for the Consular Service was a competitive and not a merely qualifying one—that is to say, only a limited number of vacancies were available, and candidates whose names appeared on the list, but who were not sufficiently high on it to obtain one of the vacancies, had no claim to special treatment subsequently.

As regards the specific case referred to, there is every desire to give full consideration to officers with meritorious records, but on practical grounds it is undesirable to fix a higher age limit than 28 for new entrants into the lowest grade of the Service. Successful candidates undergo, on entry, a two years' course of special training as probationers and therefore may not attain the effective rank of Vice-Consul until they are 30. It would be in the interests neither of the candidates nor of the public service that Consular Officers should commence their career in this rank at a higher age.

How does the hon. Gentleman reconcile the result in this individual case with the desire of the Foreign Office to give favourable consideration to officers who have served in the War, because the gentleman I have in mind, and whom, I think, he has in mind also, would have got an appointment but for his action in fighting for his country in the War? Could he not have some consideration?

I have given very special personal consideration to this case, and I only regret that a more favourable answer is not possible.

Will the hon. Gentleman not look into this case once again, as it is an extremely hard case, and shows that the Foreign Office do not give preference to such cases?

Yes, Sir, I will do that.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether, in view of the fall in silver, whereby any loss on issuing coins of the old standard fineness has been removed, it is the intention of the Government to make the recent Coinage Bill operative and issue depreciated silver money;

(2) whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Indian Government, under the advice of the recent Currency Commission, are maintaining the rupee at its old standard of fineness; and whether he could see his way to maintain silver coinage in the African and other Colonies affected by the Bill where silver is full legal tender at the old standard fineness, which has existed without interruption for over 100 years, so that British coins may preserve all over the world the same credit and confidence of those using them which they have hitherto enjoyed?

I certainly propose to proceed with the change in the fineness of British silver coin authorised by the Coinage Act. The considerations which apply in India are not relevant to other parts of the Empire. I do not share the apprehensions of my hon. Friend with regard to the use of the new silver in such parts of the Empire as use British silver coin, nor have I any reason to suppose that they are shared by the Governments of the Dominions and Colonies concerned.

May I ask why it is necessary to proceed with legislation the reasons for which have now disappeared, and as there will not be a gold currency in our Colonies for a considerable period will the Government consider the advisability of maintaining the intrinsic value of the coins which are legal tender and thus preserve their position as high as possible with the natives?

That is the question already answered.

asked the Prime Minister when the Hunter Report will be published?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will give an early day after the recess to discuss the Report of the Hunter Commission regarding the Amritsar incident; and whether, if a definite Motion is placed on the Paper, he will allow the discussion to take place on that Motion and not on a Motion for the Adjournment?