asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Spain has recently placed a very high tariff on English manufactured motor cars; and was this tariff, which is having a serious effect on the English motor export business with Spain, imposed without discussion between the countries concerned?

:The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Discussions took place between representatives of His Majesty's Government and the Spanish Government before the recent introduction of the provisional Spanish Customs Tariff, and I am now collecting information from exporting interests with a view to further discussions prior to the adoption in Spain of a revised tariff of a more permanent character.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the values and quantities of British exports in the first five months of the years 1913 and 1921, respectively?

:The total values and estimated weights of the exports from this country of produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom, registered during the periods specified, were as follow:

Five months ended May, 1913, £214,223,000 of 37,108,000 tons estimated weight.

Five months ended May, 1921, £330,743,000 of 9,438,000 tons estimated weight.

These totals are inclusive of coal, coke and manufactured fuel of an aggregate weight of 30,781,000 tons (value £21,373,000) in the five months of 1913, and of 6,505,000 tons (value £16,955,000) in the five months of 1921.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the domestic exports of the United Kingdom, in quantities, for the quarter ending March, 1921, as compared with the same quarter of March, 1913?

:The estimated aggregate weight of the exports of United Kingdom produce and manufactures registered during the quarter ended 31st March, 1921, was 7,660,000 tons, including 5,811,000 tons of coal, coke and manufactured fuel, and 1,849,000 tons of other articles. During the corresponding period of 1913 the estimated aggregate weight of such exports was 21,655,000 tons, including 18,028,000 tons of coal, coke and manufactured fuel and 3,627,000 tons of other articles.

asked whether the value of the domestic exports of the United Kingdom for the quarter ended March, 1921, shows a decrease of 46·5 per cent. as compared with the corresponding quarter of 1913, when allowance is made for the difference in price values measured by the Board of Trade index number; and what are the similar comparisons in the export trade of the United States, France, and Belgium?

:The comparison of the volume of exports during January-March this year with those of the corresponding months of 1913 is as stated in the question. Similar comparisons for the trade of the foreign countries specified are not available.

:May I ask whether, as a matter of fact, each one of these countries has not got the same method of comparison—a similar method, at all events?

:I am not aware that any figures of the kind have been taken out in other countries. I have not seen them myself.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman consult the publications of the Economic Council?

:Certainly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of inspectors employed by the Food Department of the Board of Trade who are engaged throughout the country in endeavouring to convict persons for infringing the Regulations of the Prices and Descriptions Order, 1920?

:The number at present employed is 36.

:Is it not time the Food Department of the Board of Trade was abolished?

:It will abolish itself as soon as it can, but these particular inspectors cannot be finally dispensed with until the revocation of all the liquor Orders.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in how many towns in the United Kingdom his Department provides offices and staff for the purpose of giving information on foreign and colonial trade to merchants and manufacturers in this country; whether all these offices are conducted on the same lines as the one in the City of London; whether all, or any, of them show samples; and if they are provided with foreign and colonial trade directories?

:The Department does not maintain any offices in the United Kingdom outside London, but members of its home staff, as well as officers of the Commercial Diplomatic and Trade Commissioner Service when in this country, make frequent visits to chambers of commerce and firms at important towns, for the purpose of interviewing traders and answering inquiries. Temporary exhibitions of special collections of samples are also frequently held by the Department in provincial towns.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons are employed in his Department in the section dealing with the annual British trade exhibitions held in London and elsewhere; what offices they occupy; and what is the estimated cost of this staff during the present year?

:The Exhibitions Division of the Department of Overseas Trade deals with all matters requiring official action in connection with exhibitions at home and abroad, and is responsible for the organisation of the London Branch of the British Industries Fair. The total number of officers employed in the Division, including typing and messenger staff, is 40. Their annual salaries amount, at present rates, to approximately £15,000, inclusive of bonus. Temporary staff for work on the British Industries Fair is also engaged for a few months each year, the cost representing about £6,000 per annum. This latter item is chargeable to the fair, which is organised on a self-supporting basis. The Division occupies offices at 2, Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, and also maintains an exhibition of foreign samples in the City, at 7, Old Bailey.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the cause of the continuous increases in the staff and expenditure of the Foreign Office, which has risen from a staff of 185 before the War, costing £65,500, to a staff of 705 in 1919–20, costing £172,000, and has been further raised in 1921–22 to a staff of 898, costing £300,500, notwithstanding the fact that a large part of its responsibilities in the Middle East have now been transferred to the Colonial Office; what steps are being taken to secure an immediate reduction of staff and expenditure; and what saving in respect of each will be effected?

:With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the reply:

The increase in staff and the consequent increase in cost are due in a large measure to the fact that innumerable questions arising out of the Peace negotiations and Treaties fall to the Foreign Office to deal with and involve much additional work and correspondence. It is in the years following a war that the greatest burden is thus laid upon the Foreign Office.

The matters forming the subject of diplomatic discussions, often of the most complicated kind, which have to be carried on with the foreign representatives in London and with His Majesty's Embassies and Missions abroad are more extensive and call for more departmental study and work than at any time in our history. I may call attention incidentally to the creation of a number of new independent States under the Treaties of Peace, each of which adds appreciably to the burden of work.

A large proportion of the increase in the staff and the cost, referred to by the hon. Member, is due to the enormous recent increase in the issue of passports. In this Department in 1913 there was a staff of two. In the present year the staff numbers 281. The number of passports dealt with in the three years 1913, 1919, 1920 respectively, was 12,700; 335,727; and 442,909. However, the fees taken during the financial year 1920–21 amounted to £111,611, or considerably more than twice the cost of the staff of the Passport Office.

Deducting the personnel of the Passport Department from the total for the present year of 898, there remains a staff of 617. There are other factors which have made the employment of so large a staff essential. The Peace Treaties, for example, have necessitated the setting up of more than 50 Plebiscite and other Commissions on all of which there are or were British representatives responsible to and receiving their instructions from the Foreign Office. These Commissions include such important bodies as the Upper Silesia Plebiscite Commission, the Rhineland High Commission, and the Administration of the city of Danzig. Again, the total number of papers dealt with by the Foreign Office is nearly three times as large as that dealt with in the year before the war, and it is estimated that there is a fivefold increase in the telegrams exchanged between the Foreign Office and His Majesty's representatives abroad. Further, in order to deal adequately with the increased volume of work, it has been necessary to introduce a new and more effective system of registering and indexing papers, which necessitates a larger Registry staff as well as the larger staff to deal with telegrams.

As regards the Middle East, the Foreign Office had administrative control of Palestine, but only political responsibility for Aden and some other portions of the Arabian Peninsula, as well as partial political responsibility for Mesopotamia. It is the case that these responsibilities have been transferred from, the Foreign Office to the Colonial Office, but the transfer does not completely terminate the work of the Foreign Office in connection with those portions of the Middle East, since the Foreign Office remains responsible for diplomatic correspondence and negotiations with foreign Governments on questions of international concern arising in these countries. While a saving of part of the comparatively small staff employed in the Foreign Office in connection with the responsibilities transferred has been effected, the remainder of that staff is fully occupied by the work still falling to the Foreign Office and by the increase of Departmental work in other directions already referred to.

I should add that the sum of more than £88,000 included in the total cost of salaries for the year 1921–22 represents bonus, as against about £59,000 in the year 1920–21. It is anticipated that with the fall in the cost of living a reduction of over £20,000 will be possible under this head next year.

In reply to the second and third parts of the hon. Member's question, no opportunity is being lost or will be lost of effecting a reduction of staff and expenditure, and while it is hoped that it will be possible to effect certain economies in the course of the present year, it is essential to bear in mind that the strength of the Foreign Office staff must always be proportionate to the amount of work to be performed and that this depends on factors entirely beyond the control of the British Government or Parliament. The problems raised by our foreign relations depend on what goes on and what is done in the rest of the world, and so long as confusion and 'strife and generally abnormal conditions prevail in foreign countries, which affect British interests, heavy work is automatically entailed on the Foreign Secretary and his staff, for which provision must be made.

It would be no true economy, even if it were feasible, to effect a saving by placing a greater burden on individual members of the staff of the Foreign Office, very many of whom are already heavily overworked.

asked the hon Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he will state the reason for the present high rate of discharges from the industrial staffs of the Office of Works in view of the work requiring to be done; whether he is aware of the Government's declared policy to carry out all necessary work in order to obviate discharges in this time of depression; that men are being discharged from the Office of Works, although Parliament has voted the necessary money to keep them in employment; and whether he will reconsider the policy of his Department in this regard?

:In accordance with the general policy of the Government, and the urgent need for economy, my Department is proceeding with none but the most essential services, and the reduction of staff is an inevitable consequence. Special works for the relief of unemployment are being carried out in the Royal Parks, with funds voted by Parliament for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Health how many women in his Department, or in Departments now comprised in the Ministry, were receiving a salary of £500 a year in June, 1914; and how many are receiving such a salary now?

:The number of women employed in 1914 in the Departments now comprised in the Ministry of Health who were receiving a salary of £500 a year or over was three. The corresponding number for 1921 is seven.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it will be necessary to increase the staff of the Revenue Department in connection with the work to be cast upon them by the Safeguarding of Industries Bill; if not, by whom such work will be done; and whether he has formed any estimate of expenditure in connection with that matter, including the expenditure of the Board of Trade Committee, referees, etc.?

:I understand that the Board of Customs are not at present in a position to form any estimate as to what increase of staff, if any, may be necessary to enable them to carry out their duties under the proposed legislation. I fear it is impossible to form any useful estimate as to expenditure by the Board of Trade which will be involved, as this must depend very largely on the number of inquiries to be made under Part II of the Act; but it does not seem likely to be at all considerable.

:Does the right hon. Gentleman think it likely that a Supplementary Estimate will be needed this year for the performance of these duties?

:It is impossible to give a definite answer to that question.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that about 42 Members, representing the British steel re-rollers industries in all parts of the country, have issued a memorandum in which they state that if the Safeguarding of Industries Bill is carried into effect the British re-rolling industry will be practicaly ruined, and that will be making a gift to the foreign competitors of an export trade valued at millions of pounds sterling per annum and which has remained in our hands for many years owing to our higher skill in pro- ducing the lighter gauges and more difficult products and to the unrestricted supplies of the necessary semi-raw steel; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

:I am aware that such a memorandum has been issued, but my experience is that anticipations of ruin which so often accompany the introduction of legislation are seldom realised.

:Will it not be ample compensation to the steel re-rollers industry to know that the glove industry is protected?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give any figures showing the cost of operating the German Reparation (Recovery) Act at the ports and centrally, including the cost of the Committee set up in connection with it?

:As to the general work of collecting the levy, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on the 13th June to the hon. Member for Whitechapel (Mr. Kiley). As regards the Committee, the only expenditure out of public funds is £6 13s. 0d. paid to shorthand writers, in addition to a sum of approximately £270 in respect of the salaries of officials seconded for the secretarial work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the figures of imports into the United Kingdom from Germany since the coming into force of the German Reparation (Recovery) Act, and figures for the same period prior to that date?

:The figures of imports into this country from Germany are compiled quarterly, and I hope to be able to furnish the information asked for by the hon. and gallant Member in the course of the current month.

:When the right hon. Gentleman furnishes that, will he give comparable figures for the period preceding the enforcement of this Act?

:I will consider that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when individual sufferers from air raids may expect to receive compensation?

:I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies given respectively by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for the Finchley Division of Middlesex (Colonel Newman) on the 8th March, and by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain W. Benn) on 20th June, copies of which I am sending him.

:When can these claims be settled? I was not here on those dates.

:Then I think the hon. and gallant Member will be very interested in reading the answers. It is a very complicated matter, and the answers deal with it fully.

:I do not agree that it is a complicated matter at all.

:Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this is an integral part of the platform of the Anti-Waste party?

:What salary do you get for these questions?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many claims are still waiting to be heard by the Inventions Board, and on how many days the Inventions Board sat during May and June?

:I assume that the hon. Member refers to the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors. The Royal Commission sat on nine days during May and June, and in addition the Investigating Committee, which normally consists of the Chairman and Secretary of the Royal Commission, sat on seven occasions. There are at present 180 cases listed for hearing before the Royal Commission, and 144 other cases are still under investigation.

:Cannot something be done to augment the number of sittings, otherwise these cases will go on for years?

. My hon. Friend will bear in mind that I have dealt with that once or twice before. There are two specific difficulties. The first is that very highly specialised gentlemen sit upon this Commission, and their time is, unfortunately, very much occupied; secondly, these are cases of very great elaboration and technical difficulty, and it is only possible to get them ready for investigation after rather long and elaborate prior preparation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average price at which industrial and household coal was sold at the pit's mouth in 1913; and whether he can give any estimate, and, if so, what estimate, at which similar coal will be sold after the resumption of work in the coalfields?

:The average value at the pit head of all coal raised in the United Kingdom in 1913 was 10s. l½d. per ton. I regret that separate figures distinguishing between industrial and household coal are not available. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Percy) on Friday.

:Will my right hon. Friend tell us in a word with what figure now he can compare the figure of 10s. l½d. before the War?

:I cannot tell what the figure will be immediately after the 13 weeks' stoppage, and I think my right hon. Friend will agree with me that it is very unwise to prophesy. I can tell him what it was just before this stoppage, if that is any use.

:Did not the Government, when they promised the £10,000,000 to settle the coal dispute, have some idea of what the price of coal would be?

:They had some idea—

:That question was asked and answered last Friday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he anticipates that coal will be again available without restriction for fishing vessels; and when the export of coal from this country will be permitted?

:All restrictions are removed as from to-day.

asked the Secretary for Mines what has been the total expenditure to date on the importation of coal; how much has been sold and for what amount; and what loss, if any, is likely to be incurred in connection with the whole transaction?

:I regret that it is impossible as yet to give the required information. Sales and cancellation of purchases are still proceeding; and, pending completion of the transaction and adjustment of the accounts, of which many items such as demurrage are not yet definitely ascertainable, I cannot undertake to forecast the final result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government are still holding any stocks of timber in this country; if so, can he state approximately what quantity is still held and what steps are being taken for its disposal; whether the special timber Department still exists; if so, how many officials are still employed in it; and what is the estimated cost for this year?

:The stocks of timber unsold at present held by the Government in England and Wales are approximately 1,414,000 cubic feet of standing, felled, and sawn timber, and 28,200 tons of pitwood and fuel wood. Steps are being taken to sell these stock by auction and otherwise as opportunities occur, but it is difficult to effect sales at present. The Timber Supplies Department is still in existence, and the number of officials employed is 290. The estimated cost of the Department for this year is £42,085.

:Does the right Gentleman find any difficulty in disposing of this timber, in view of the great demand from the building and other trades at the present time?

:I am told there is very great difficulty in getting rid of it at present. I would remind the hon. Gentleman that the greater part of this timber is either standing or felled, and lying at various woods and plantations all over the United Kingdom. It is very troublesome stuff to dispose of.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the manager of the British Empire Exhibition was appointed at a salary of £5,000 a year with the approval of the Board of Trade, and with unlimited powers to arrange for staff and administration expenses at a time when the committee had no funds; whether the appeal for funds made at the Mansion House in June, 1920, met with the success expected of it and necessary to the whole enterprise; and what is now the financial position of the undertaking?

:The selection of the general manager of the British Empire Exhibition was approved by the Board of Trade. The terms of his appointment, as I stated on the 10th May, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for North Islington, were settled by the Executive Council. All questions of expenditure, including cost of staff and administration, are submitted by the general manager for the scrutiny and approval of the Administrative and Finance Committees before final sanction by the Executive Council. No general appeal for the guarantee fund has yet been sent out, but I understand that one is on the point of issue which it is hoped will ensure the financial success of the undertaking.

:In lieu of the funds not being forthcoming from the public, am I to understand that the Government will be responsible for the expenses of the manager and staff?

:No, Sir, I have answered that question several times. The provision is this: that the Government obligation only comes into force if the other guarantees are forthcoming. The Government undertook to join the guarantee fund provided £500,000 was put up from other sources. Unless this is done the Government incur no responsibility whatever.

:Does not the hon. Gentleman think that £5,000 a year for, I think, three years at least is rather a big salary for an undertaking in which the Government will have a financial interest—is it not rather too large?

:I should hesitate to express an opinion on this matter, in view of the fact that it was considered by the Executive Council, which includes very distinguished bankers; and I do hesitate to say that a salary approved by them was not reasonable.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Ministry of Agriculture is contributing financially, directly or indirectly, towards the cost of counsel and their advisers who are appearing before the Royal Commission at present inquiring into the embargo on Canadian cattle; whether he is aware that the Irish Department of Agriculture is officially represented by counsel; and why Scottish interests concerned were not informed before the first meeting of the Commision that counsel could appear?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second part in the affirmative. As regards the third part of the question, the Commission held its first meeting for the hearing of evidence on the 30th May. On the 11th May a Press notice was issued by the authority of the Commissioners, and was printed in the leading newspapers of England and Scotand, to the effect that parties appearing before the Commission could, if they so desired, be represented by counsel. I may add that the Free Importation of Canadian Cattle Association, which, I believe, represents most of the bodies in Scotland interested in the raising of the embargo, is represented by counsel.

:Is my right hon. Friend not aware that, in view of the Irish Department of Agriculture being represented by counsel, it is very strongly felt in Scotland that the Scottish Board of Agriculture should likewise be represented, and may I ask him whether he is aware—

:That, I think, is a question for the Secretary for Scotland.

:Is it not a tremendous waste of public money for two bodies with special knowledge of this question to go to the expense of employing counsel?

:That is a matter of opinion.

:If this be a matter for the Secretary for Scotland to answer, why is it that the Leader of the House has replied to the question, which deals with representation by counsel of the Irish Agricultural Department?

:Is not the reason why Scotland has not been represented—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order ! "]

:It was the supplementary question that I said should be addressed to the Secretary for Scotland.

:Exactly—the Irish Department is represented by counsel; that is the point put here.

:The answer was that the Scottish Department might have been represented had they so desired.

:Is it not a fact that the reason Scotland was not represented before this Commission was that the Scottish Members who were interested in this were too busy defending the Irish policy of the Government?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can state approximately the date upon which the Report of the Commission upon the Embargo on the Importation of Canadian Cattle may be expected to be presented; and whether he can promise Parliamentary time for the discussion of this Report before the end of the Session?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on Thursday last to a question by the hon. Member for Dudley. As regards the last part of the question, until the Report has been received, I am not in a position to reply to it.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any further statement regarding the military and political situation in Asia Minor, particularly in the neighbourhood of Ismid?

:With regard to the general situation in Asia Minor, there is nothing to add to previous statements and to the news published in the Press. General Franks proceeded to Ismid with representatives of France, Italy, the United States, and the Turkish Red Crescent on 28th June. He has reported that the situation is quiet and the discipline of the Kemalist troops who entered the town on the morning of the 28th, good.

asked the Prime Minister if it is a fact that the Greeks have closed the Dardanelles to all shipping; if His Majesty's Government has consented to this action; and if such consent is compatible with our neutrality?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the rest of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the latest information with regard to the position in the Ismid peninsula; and whether the Russian Soviet trade delegation have been arrested and a seal placed on their offices by the British military police at Constantinople?

:In answer to the first part of the question I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer just given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Stafford. As regards the second part, I understand that General Harington, the Allied Commander-in-Chief at Constantinople, has arrested about 60 dangerous individuals, who were plotting against the security of the city. The names of these persons have not been received, so that I cannot say whether any members of the Russian trade delegation are among them. I am making further inquiries on this point and as to the alleged closing of the delegation's offices.

asked the Prime Minister whether the recent session of the Council of the League of Nations at Geneva is now concluded; when and where the next meeting of the Council will take place; whether the President of the Board of Education will make a statement regarding the decisions of the session of the Council which he attended as British representative; and whether a copy of all the conclusions arrived at will be placed in the Library?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have not yet been informed as to the date of the next meeting of the Council, but I understand that it will be held at Geneva before the next meeting of the Assembly in September. I cannot promise that the business of the House will permit of a statement. It is the practice to place in the Library of the House copies of Reports and Resolutions adopted by the Council as soon as they are received.

:How are we to know what has been done?

:As soon as they are received, copies of the Reports will be placed in the Library.

:Who wants to know about it?

:Have they been received yet, does the right hon. Gentleman know?

:I speak subject to correction, but I do not think that copies have yet been received.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an early opportunity to discuss Civil Service Estimates, Class 5, Vote 5 (Grant-in-Aid of the Expenses of the League of Nations)?

:I regret that I am not in a position to name a day for this discussion.

:Shall we have an opportunity of discussing the Vote before the Session is over?

:I cannot say. It is not wholly within my control how the time shall be allocated.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great interest which was taken in this question by certain hon. Members of this House at Hyde Park on Sunday?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the practice of officials and other persons who conduct employment exchanges of endeavouring to force young persons of both sexes to join the Domestic Workers' Trade Union, and of advising employers to join a similar association or union of employers; whether this is done in order to find work for, and justify the existence of, the scheme of State Employment Exchanges; and, in the interests of national economy, will he cause an end to be put to such ultra vires action of the officials and other persons concerned?

:I have been asked to reply to this question. Any practice such as that described in the question would be entirely contrary to the instructions of the Department, and I am not aware that it exists. Nor do I know of any association bearing the name of the "Domestic Workers' Trade Union." If, however, my hon. and gallant Friend will supply me with any facts in his possession I will make inquiry. I should add that there is no foundation whatever for the suggestion that any functions are being undertaken in order to find work for the Employment Exchanges.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the attempt that is being made by minor officials at State Employment Exchanges to establish a system of State control of domestic service by laying down conditions of employment and rates of pay, by ordering young persons when in service to report themselves from time to time to the State Employment Exchanges, and asking mistresses to report on the young persons' work; and, in view of the Government's decision to abandon the policy of State control in any shape, will he communicate with the appropriate Government Department on the subject?

:I have been asked to reply to this question. No such attempt is being made. Special rules, dated 19th April, 1913, authorise Juvenile Advisory Committees to give information, advice, and assistance to boys and girls and their parents with respect to the choice of employment and other matters bearing thereon. I may inform my hon. and gallant friend that the Juvenile Advisory Committees are voluntary bodies, consisting largely of representatives of the Local Education Authority. In accordance with these rules certain of the Juvenile Committees have formulated standard conditions for the guidance of Employment Exchanges in dealing with boys and girls under 18, and in certain cases these committees further offer to assist the boys and girls by means of subsequent interviews, and invite employers to cooperate. The whole of this procedure is entirely voluntary, and relates only to boys and girls under 18.

:Is it not the fact that these Advisory Committees use Government or Board of Trade notepaper, and, therefore, when an employer or a mistress gets this paper with the Government stamp on it they think it is an official order?

:Of course, I cannot say what may be in the minds of the people who receive these letters. It is perfectly true these Advisory Committees —which do extremely valuable work—are set up in connection with, and assist, the work of the Employment Exchanges.

:Will the hon. Gentleman see that every effort is made to prevent sweated wages being paid to these young people?

asked the Prime Minister whether the payment out of public funds of two Patronage Secretaries is to be regarded as a permanent arrangement or only as a temporary one?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to what I said in Debate on the 23rd June, when I dealt expressly with the precise point raised in the question.

:Without in the least questioning the competence of the holders of these offices, would it not be possible to pay one of them out of the party funds?

:I dealt with the matter fully in Debate recently, and if my hon. and gallant Friend will be good enough to look up my speech he will then know the view of the Government.

:Is it intended to continue these two offices during the winter, when the House will not be sitting?

:I can only refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the speech I made on this subject in the Debate.

:The right hon. Gentleman said it would only be a temporary appointment.

:That is all I have to say on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to bring the Ministry of Transport to an end?

:I am not yet in a position to add anything to the answer which I gave in reply to questions on this subject on the 22nd June last.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to give me an answer if I put down another question in a fortnight?

:If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will repeat his question towards the close of the Session, I shall be in a better position to reply to it.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the excep- tional circumstances under which the House has agreed in principle to contribute £10,000,000 of the taxpayers' money to subsidise the coal industry, he can give an assurance that the declared policy of the Government with regard to subventions and subsidies will not further be departed from?

:His Majesty's Government adhere to the general principles of the policy which has been declared in this House in regard to the cessation of Government subsidies.

asked the Prime Minister whether, when he makes his promised statement on the decision of the Imperial Conference with respect to the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, he will state what steps have been taken to ascertain the opinion of other countries affected by it, such as the United States and China?

:When my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister submits his promised statement, he will try to make it as complete as possible.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman not tell us what is the present position in view of the statements appearing in the Press, which are rather obscure?

:No, Sir. I am not in a position to answer that question.

asked the Prime Minister when it is intended to disband the Defence Force?

:My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. Orders for the dispersal of the Defence Force were issued on Friday evening last.

:In addition to disbanding the private soldiers will the staffs and the clerical staff be disbanded as soon as possible?

:Certainly, as soon as possible.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will give details of the following publications issued by His Majesty's Stationery Office during the past eight weeks: Living-in on Canal Boats, minutes of evidence taken before Department Committee (12s. 6d., post free 12s. 9d.); Board of Education classification for works on pure and applied science in the Science Library, Science Museum (18s., post free 18s. 3½d.); Peace Handbooks, Vol. 21, North Central and South America, Atlantic Islands (15s., post free 16s. 0½d.), Vol. 22, Pacific Islands (15s., post free 16s. 0½d.); Wreck Reports, No. 7,765 Wreck of the "David Lloyd George"

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any communication has been received by His Majesty's Government from the Government of the Far Eastern Republic; and, if so, what was its contents and what answer has been returned?

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if a Note has been received from the Republic of the Far East, Krasnoschtschekov, stating that, having been elected by universal suffrage, they claim to be a de facto Government, and asking for commencement of commercial relations;

(4d., post free 5d.); and will the Government state the cost of preparation, the names of the compilers, who authorised the works, how many copies have been printed, how many have been sold, and the loss or profit in respect of each publication?

:The answer is in tabular form, and, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

:In view of the present popularity of the last work mentioned here, will the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of advertising it extensively, and thus securing a big profit?

The following is the table:

(2) if a Note has been received from the Republic of the Far East protesting against the interference by Japanese forces with the peoples of this Republic and asking this Government and America to induce the Japanese to evacuate their territory?

:Two communications have been received by His Majesty's Government from the Government of the Far Eastern Republic. One contained a declaration by the Constituent Assembly that it represented the whole people of the Republic, and appealed to the Powers for the establishment of normal relations. The other raised various questions, in- cluding that of the continued presence of Japanese troops in Eastern Siberia. His Majesty's Government are not in diplomatic relations with the Far Eastern Republic, and no reply has been sent to either of these communications.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a number of grades employed on the railways on dining cars and in refreshment rooms, stores, and cellars, who do not come within the conciliation grades, have not had their conditions standardised, notwithstanding promises made by the standing committee of railway managers that this shall be done; and whether, in view of the failure of that committee to carry out their promises, he will take immediate steps to see that it is done?

:As the answer is rather long, I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the answer :

I am aware that the rates of pay of the grades referred to have not been standardised. The railway companies consider that in view of the differing circumstances in which these men are employed on different railways, the fact that on some lines the dining car staff is employed by outside caterers, and that the appropriate rates of pay necessarily depend largely on the rates of pay received locally by men employed in similar positions in the hotel and catering industry, it would be impracticable to fix standard rates of pay for the men in railway employment. I have been informed by the National Union of Railway-men that in 1919 a statement was made on behalf of the General Managers' Committee that some machinery would be set up to deal with these grades, and I understand that the companies would be prepared to take part, in conjunction with employers in the catering trades generally, in setting up machinery which would deal with the rates of pay and conditions of service of these men together with those of the catering industry as a whole. In this connection I may men- tion that a proposal has been made to set up Trade Boards for the catering trades, and that negotiations are understood to be proceding with this object.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been called to the increasing number of accidents on the public highways due, for the most part, to the popularisation of motor traffic; whether the net results show the need for any further regulation; if so, in what direction; and what steps he is taking to keep his Department in close touch with all developments in road transport?

:I have no information to show that the suggestion in the first part of the question is correct. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wallsend on 24th February, a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the many recent prosecutions of drivers of heavy motor cars in the County of Somerset, especially passenger-carrying vehicles, for exceeding the local speed limit of 12 per hour; whether, in the interests of trade transport and the travelling public, he is prepared to consider an early revision of the speed limit; and whether he will use his influence with the Home Office to stay any further police proceedings except in cases of alleged driving to the danger of the public?

:My attention has been called to the fact that drivers of chars-à-bane have been prosecuted for exceeding the 12 miles per hour limit. This is not a local limit but the general law. I propose to await the report of the Departmental Committee, who are now considering the question of speeds of all vehicles, before taking any steps with a view to amending the existing law.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question?

:No, Sir; the existing law has to be obeyed.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date it is proposed to re-instate the full schedule of trains which existed before the recent coal dispute on all railways; and what decisions for an immediate improvement have been taken?

:The railway companies are re-introducing their normal train services as rapidly as the position of their coal supplies permits, and as the stocks of individual companies vary the date of full resumption will not necessarily be the same for all railways. Increased train facilities have already been provided and many railways are advertising full services from Monday, 11th July.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Don Cadet School, which was removed to Ismailia, is still in existence; and, if so, when is it going to be disbanded?

:The Don Cadet School, the status of which I explained in my letter of 27th May to the hon. Member, is still in existence, and I regret that I cannot give any date by which it will be disbanded, or will cease to be a charge an His Majesty's Government.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will consider whether preferential treatment can be given to efficient ex-service men in his Department when making reductions therein?

:As I stated in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Edinburgh East on 30th June, I shall, in making reductions in the staff of the Department of Overseas Trade, give the fullest consideration to those who have served in His Majesty's forces. Subject to the requirements of efficiency and to considerations of special hardship, ex-service men will receive preferential treatment.

:As the hon. Member's first two questions involve additional expenditure will there not be, when the fact becomes known, some searching of Herts?

:Can my hon. Friend say whether in making the necessary reductions ex-service men with knowledge of overseas trade will have preference over civil servants who possess no such knowledge?

:The hon. Member with his longer experience knows the difficulties in this matter and that it is impossible to discharge established civil servants with pensionable rights in order to make way for discharged soldiers who are temporarily employed only. But I certainly can give the assurance that in all reductions of staff I shall carry out the principle embodied in the Lytton Report, not only in the letter, but in the spirit. In reply to the hon. Baronet I can only hope I shall have the support of the Anti-Waste party in at any rate a reasonable consideration of this matter.

:Other things being equal, do I understand that senior hands will have preference?

:I do not quite understand what the hon. Member means by "senior hands."

:Those who have been employed longest, of course.

:No, Sir; if it comes to a question of the temporary officers in the Department, I shall certainly give preference, other things being equal, to men who have served with His Majesty's forces, as against a man, also a temporary, who has not so served, although the service of the latter in the Department may have been longer.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the hardship caused to ex-service men who let their houses to tenants for the duration of the War and are now unable to regain possession on account of the delay in ratifying the Turkish Treaty; whether he is aware that in most cases the present interpretation of the phrase the duration of the War has defeated the true intention of contracting parties; and whether he will consider the advisability of declaring by legislation or otherwise that, as between landlord and tenant, the War is now to be treated as at an end?

:The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. With regard to the third part of the question, I understand that the Order in Council declaring the termination of the War may shortly be expected.

asked the hon. Member for Cheltenham, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he is prepared to substitute ex-service men for the female assistants in the dining-rooms, tea-rooms, and Terrace of this House; and if he will at once take steps to that effect?

:In reply to my hon. and gallant Friend, I would say that since the termination of the War, the Kitchen Committee has employed a considerable number of ex-service men, and we propose to add to the number when suitable opportunities occur. But I do not think that it would be either just or desirable to dismiss summarily all our female servants, who have worked for us faithfully and efficiently during the last five or six years, and some of whom are widows of ex-service men.

:Is the hon. Member aware that many of these women have husbands who are occupying well-paid posts?

:No, Sir, I am not aware of that.

:Will the hon. Member inquire?

:I will certainly inquire.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present position of his negotiations with the Belgian and Dutch Governments for the slaughter in this country of horses intended for food on the lines of the agreement which he has already concluded with the French Government?

:There has already been one meeting in Paris between representatives of the Ministry and the Dutch and Belgian Governments. A further conference has now been arranged to take place in London on the 19th July between the Ministry's representative and the representatives of the Belgian, Dutch, and French Governments.

:In view of the great interest taken in this matter, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the progress made in the negotiations?

:Yes; the proposals we have made were very well received by both the Belgian and the Dutch representatives at the meeting held in Paris.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has reached a decision in regard to the proposal recently made to the Ministry that a special committee of inquiry should be set up to examine the whole question of allotments, and to consider the expediency of revising the powers under which Defence of the Realm Act and other allotments are now held?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has decided to grant the request of the National Union of Allotment Holders to set up a committee of inquiry; and, if so, whether he is in a position to announce the constitution of the committee?

:I have decided, in conjunction with the Secretary for Scotland, to appoint a committee of inquiry into the whole question of allotments, subject to the approval of the Treasury to the cost. I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend as to the constitution of the committee, but I am not in a position at present to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, owing to the exceptional drought not experienced for a generation in Bedfordshire, serious losses have been incurred by old and new smallholders alike on the light lands in that county; and will he, therefore, instruct that in the case of the old tenants all suggested rent increases be abandoned, and in the case of the new or ex-service smallholders, that a portion of their already heavy rents be remitted this season?

:I am satisfied that the Bedfordshire County Council may be relied upon to deal fairly with their small holding tenants, and to take any steps necessary to meet cases of hardship arising from the present drought., I see no reason, therefore, to issue special instructions on the subject as suggested by the hon. Member.

further asked the Minister whether he is aware that, in reply to the increasing number of protests made to the Bedfordshire Agricultural Committee against the increases in the rents of smallholders in that county, the Committee's reply is to the effect that they are powerless to act otherwise, as being only agents for the Ministry they have no alternative but to carry out its instructions; and, in these circumstances, will he issue to the Committee such instructions as will effectively prevent many smallholders being ruined and turned off their holdings by rent increases which make intensive and remunerative cultivation quite impossible?

:The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Ministry has asked county councils to review the rents of their pre-War holdings so as to bring them into closer relation with the present value of agricultural land. Each case is to be dealt with on its merits, and it is explained to each tenant that he has the right to submit his case to arbitration if he considers the new rent fixed by the council excessive. So far as I am aware, there is no ground for the suggestion contained in the last part of the hon. Member's question, and I see no reason for issuing any further instructions on the subject.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in regard to small holdings in Bedfordshire the trouble arises from the heavy charges put on for the ingoing valuation? Can he do something to meet that difficulty?

:I do not think that in that respect Bedfordshire differs from any other county.

:Is it not a very hard case, then, for the whole country?

asked the Postmaster-General if the cost of official postages is credited to the Post Office accounts, and, if so, to what account it is debited and under what Vote of Supply it is shown?

:As I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member on the 16th June, credit is taken in the Commercial Accounts of the Post Office. ( See pages 6–7 of House of Commons Paper No. 218 of Session 1920.) The figures appear also in the Appendix to the Appropriation Account. ( See pages 427–434 of House of Commons Paper No. 4 of Session 1920.) No inter-Departmental payment is made and a Vote of Supply is not therefore required.

asked the Postmaster-General if, taking each of the new increases in postal rates, he will state how the public use of the facilities thus afforded has been affeected?

:For the reason given in my reply to the hon. Member for the Acton Division on the 21st June, it will not be possible to form any estimate for some time to come.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is proposed to abolish the Bristol and Penzance travelling post office; whether the "Daily Mail," "Daily News," "Times," "Daily Chronicle," the "Financier and Bullionist," the "Financial News," the "Financial Times," "Morning Post," and "Daily Telegraph" make up direct bags, whilst the "Daily Express, "Daily Mirror," "Daily Graphic," "Bristol Times," and "Mirror" make up direct bundles for this mail; whether the abolition of this travelling post office will cause all correspondence for Cornwall to miss delivery for the day if this travelling post office is abolished; and whether, since serious delay will occur to many places in Devonshire, this question can be reconsidered?

:The abolition of this sorting carriage, which runs between Bristol and Plymouth only, is under consideration. Bags of newspapers addressed to the carriage are, amongst other bags, conveyed to Bristol by the newspaper train from Paddington, which runs on to Exeter and Plymouth. I do not accept the hon. Member's suggestions as to delay to these newspapers or as to letters for Cornwall and Devon. I hope it will prove practicable to effect a substantial saving without any appreciable worsening of service.

:Why is one class of papers done up in bags while the picture papers are sent in bundles? Is there any special reason for that?

:I cannot say.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the action taken against agitators in India consists merely in prohibiting them from addressing meetings or whether they have been prosecuted and sentenced under the law?

:No, Sir. Prosecutions have been undertaken with good results in several instances.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the editors and proprietors of newspapers published in India are now registered under the Law as well as the printers and publishers?

:The Law requires registration of declarations only in the case of the printers and publishers of newspapers.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the Annual Report of the Board of Superintendents of the Dublin hospitals issued last week; whether he is aware that the Report states that the Board are satisfied that all the hospitals are conducted in an economical and thoroughly efficient manner, but that all are in a more or less critical condition financially; whether he is aware that the indebtedness of each hospital is as follows: Westmoreland, £7,946; Meath Hospital and County Dublin Infirmary, £6,688; Cork Street Fever Hospital, £5,882; House of Industry Hospitals, £5,843; Rotunda, £5,014; Coombe, £4,355; Royal Victoria Eye and Ear, £7,500; Royal Hospital for Incurables, £7,279; and whether he will take immediate action to have grants made to these and to other hospitals in Ireland out of the £500,000 which has been allocated for the relief of voluntary hospitals in the United Kingdom or an equivalent grant to relieve their financial difficulties?

:The Chief Secretary for Ireland will answer this question.

:Where is he? On a point of Order. I have put down a question to the Minister of Health dealing with a purely health subject and the Minister of Health has passed it on to the Chief Secretary for Ireland who knows nothing about health in Ireland. The Chief Secretary is not here. What am I to do under the circumstances?

:In the Minister's absence, I will call on the hon. Member again at the end of the questions.

:He is not present now.

:I will call on the hon. Member again shortly.