asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Committee appointed by the Board of Trade under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act has yet given its decision on the inclusion of the fabric glove industry; and, if so, when will such decision be announced to the House?

The Report of the Committee has been received, and the question what action should be taken in regard to the matter referred to is under consideration. The decision arrived at will be announced in due course, and I would remind my hon. Friend that any Order made under Part II of the Act is subject to confirmation by resolution of this House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act have been made; how many have been referred to a Committee; how many have been heard; and upon how many cases formal decisions have been given?

Including formal complaints and inquires with a view to formulating complaints, approximately 100 trades or branches of trades have communicated with the Board. Eight complaints have been referred to Committees: in one case the Committee have reported, and their report is under consideration. No formal decision has yet been taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons in his Department are engaged in the administration of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, and what is the total amount of their salaries?

The administration of the Safeguarding of Industries Act is being carried out by the staff of the Department in addition to its previous duties. No additional staff has been engaged for the purpose. This was rendered possible by the winding up of certain other work.

Does that mean that if we had not had this Measure these persons would have been dispensed with and the staff reduced, and that, consequently, there has been no real saving, but extravagance?

I do not go so far as that.

Could the right hon. Gentleman, if asked, give the House an estimate of the expenses in salaries and otherwise that the Act involves?

Yes, I should be prepared to do that as far as I can.

How far will the right hon. Gentleman go?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many additional officials have been added to the Customs Department, or how many Government officials have been diverted from other Departments to discharge duties in connection with the administration of the Safeguarding of Industries Act?

The work falling on the Customs and Excise Department in connection with the Safeguarding of Industries Act is being performed by the existing Customs and Excise staff, supplemented by seven extra temporary clerks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the names of the gentlemen appointed by him to consider applications under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act for the imposition of duty on imported goods; and can he at the same time state what professions, businesses, or organisations these gentlemen are connected with?

I am having printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the members of the Permanent Panel appointed under Section 7 of the Act, from which Committees of five are selected from time to time to hold inquiries under Part II of the Act. Of the 45 members of the panel 33 are persons of commercial or industrial experience, while the remainder are specially fitted for this kind of work by their legal, economic, or administrative qualifications. All the members are appointed on their personal qualifications, and not as representing any particular interest, and I think it might be misleading to publish officially a list purporting to label them as connected with particular professions, businesses, or organisations.

As these inquiries concern these particular businesses, why is the right hon. Gentleman not willing to publish the trades and professions to which they belong?

I think the names are very familiar to those who move in the businesses—

No, no!

I think so; but I will consider the question, though I can assure my hon. Friend that there are difficulties in labelling people officially.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman see that this means instability? If the result of these inquiries is to convince people whose businesses are being inquired into, they ought to know that they are not being exploited by people in the same business.

I quite recognise that; but I should have thought my hon. Friend desired stability in any case.

Has the right hon. Gentleman had any complaints about these names?

Not yet

Following is the list mentioned:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Reports of the committees appointed by him under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act will be published; whether he can state if, in the event of a disagreement, the Report of the majority will be accepted; and whether, if the evidence is only heard by two or three Members of the panel, the absent Members are entitled to vote on evidence which they have not heard?

It is proposed to present the Reports to Parliament, and to publish them in the ordinary course. With regard to the second part of the question, it will be the duty of the Board of Trade to consider the Reports, and due weight will of course be attached to any disagreement. With regard to the last part, I would remind the hon. Member that shorthand notes are taken of the evidence heard before Committees, and Members who have been absent from any meeting or meetings are able to make themselves fully acquainted with the evidence at those meetings by means of the written transcript.

Has the right hon. Gentleman arrived at an estimate of the cost of the shorthand notes of these proceedings before these Committees?

It would be very easy to ascertain it if my hon. Friend desires.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the statement made before the referee that the day following the publication of the Board of Trade list wherein Santonine was included as a fine chemical and subject to a duty of 33⅓ per cent. the wholesale dealers increased their price by 30 per cent.; can he give the number of other commodities on which similar in- creases were imposed; if not, can he take any action to ascertain the number; and would he consider the advisability, on any other fresh articles being included, of providing legislation to prevent an increase in price except on goods on which duty has actually been paid?

I am aware that the statement mentioned by the hon. Member was made in the course of the Santonine case. I am unable to state in how many cases advances were made, but I may point out that in a number of instances the prices of chemicals have fallen since the Act was passed. An inquiry into the price movements of all commodities covered by the Schedule to the Act would involve so much labour that it would not be justified by the utility of the results obtained. The suggestion made in the last part of the question is, in my opinion, impracticable.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman even attend to these people, and make them aware, say, of the opinion of the Minister of Health, that every man who benefits by the tariff is a robber, and that, therefore, a man who benefits by a prospective tariff is worse than a robber?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can explain why the decision of the referee under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, imposing a duty of 33⅓ per cent. on certain parts of gas mantles, has not been put into operation?

The referee has been asked by the complainants, the manufacturers of gas mantles, to state a case for the consideration of the High Court. The referee has acceded to that request, and in the meantime the award has not been signed. Consequently, there is no decision which can be put into operation.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any idea as to when a conclusion will be reached?

I am afraid I cannot.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in addition to the 540 commodities to which objections have been taken under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, over 300 applica- tions have been made, representing over 100 different trades, for the imposition of a duty; if so, what arrangement he proposes to make to deal with the same; if he is aware of the serious difficulties caused to trade by the delay in dealing with these applications, as manufacturers are reluctant to make contracts, which have to be made many months in advance for their raw materials, and traders are reluctant to print their price lists and also to approach their overseas buyers owing to the uncertainties that might arise in the event of a duty being imposed before they could complete their contracts?

The answer to the first part of the question, which I assume relates to Part I of the Act, is in the negative. The number of 540 commodities mentioned by the hon. Member includes complaints under Section 1 (5) both as to inclusion in and exclusion from the lists issued by the Board of Trade, as indicated in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Lambeth North on the 13th February. I am not aware of the difficulties to which the hon. Member refers, and I have received no representations on the subject. As I have previously stated, it is only in a very limited number of cases that complainants have indicated their intention of proceeding with the complaints.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether an estimate can be prepared of the German balance of trade on lines similar to those adopted by the Board of Trade for estimating the British balance of trade, which is published periodically in the "Board of Trade Journal"?

On two occasions rough estimates of the balance of trade of the United Kingdom have been published in the "Board of Trade Journal," but, as pointed out at the time, these estimates were based on information which, although the best obtainable, was imperfect. I regret that I am not in possession of information which would enable an estimate, however rough, to be prepared of the balance of trade of Germany.

Is the Intelligence Department of the Board of Trade keeping in touch with what is happening in Germany?

We are trying to.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the

STATEMENT showing the trade of the United Kingdom with Portugal by values, in the years 1919, 1920, and 1921.
Branch of Trade.	1919.	1920.	1921.
	£	£	£
Imports from Portugal:—	10,797,000	6,899,000	4,195,000
Exports to Portugal:—
United Kingdom Produce and Manufactures	6,435,000	10,555,000	3,396,000
Foreign and Colonial Merchandise	1,203,000	1,497,000	755,000
Total Exports	7,638,000	12,052,000	4,151,000
NOTE.—The figure for 1921 are provisional and subject to slight amendment on final examination of the returns.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total value of the exports and imports of this country with Germany for the year 1921; and whether the figures show an increase or decrease on the previous year's figures?

The answer involves a statistical table which, with the permission of the House, I will have printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The answer involves a statistical table, which, with the permission of the House, I will have printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the table:

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value and weight of imports from Germany for the month ending January, 1913, 1920, 1921, and 1922?

Particulars respecting our total imports from individual countries are available only for quarterly periods and not for separate months. The value of imports into the United Kingdom registered as consigned from "Germany" during the first quarter of each of the years 1913, 1920, and 1921 (and the last quarter of 1921) were as follows:

			£
January-March, 1913	…	…	19,220,284
January-March, 1920	…	…	4,123,021
January-March, 1921	…	…	8,023,745
October-December, 1921	…	…	4,965,367

The weight of merchandise represented by these values cannot be stated. The foregoing particulars do not, however, relate to trade with the same areas. The figures for 1913 relate to pre-War Germany; those for 1920 to pre-War Germany, exclusive of Alsace-Lorraine; while those for 1921 are further exclusive of Memel, Danzig, the part of Poland formerly German, part of Slesvig (now Danish) and Luxemburg.

Are iron and steel products kept separate with regard to imports from Germany?

I am not sure, but my impression is that they can be traced in the lists.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Power, Transport, and Economic Department of the Board will be amalgamated with the Industries and Manufactures Department in order to effect economies in the staff in accordance with the recommendation of the Geddes Committee?

The recommendations of the Committee are all under consideration, and I do not think it advisable to discuss them in detail at the present time.

Can these recommendations be carried out as soon as possible, so that their effects may be seen in the coming financial year?

Whatever recommendations can be given effect to without legislation will appear, I hope, in the forthcoming Estimates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is his intention to issue any memorandum commenting on the findings of the Geddes Committee?

No, Sir.

In that case does the right hon. Gentleman agree with the findings of the Geddes Committee?

I think it is premature to say whether I agree or not.

If the right hon. Gentleman does not agree, will he follow the precedent inculcated by the Leader of the House, and issue a counter-statement?

I do not always like precedents.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is making arrangements, in accordance with the recommendation of the Geddes Committee, to transfer the functions of his Department to those Departments originally responsible for them?

No, Sir. The recommendation in question could not be put into effect without an Act of Parliament, and His Majesty's Government have not come to a decision upon the matter.

Can my right hon. Friend indicate when a decision will be arrived at?

No, Sir. I think that question should be addressed to the Leader of the House.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what the delaying of this decision is costing the country?

No, Sir; I cannot.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is his intention to issue any memorandum commenting on the findings of the Geddes Committee?

I have already taken such steps as seemed to me fitting to place before H.M. Government my views on the recommendations of the Committee on Public Expenditure about the Mines Department; I have no present intention of taking any further steps myself in the direction of publication.

Why is it that my right hon. Friend has sent his report to the Government, and has not published it in the same way as the Admiralty? I do not see the Leader of the House here, but I should like to ask, as a supple- mentary question, where the House stands in these matters, and why we are to have one report issued direct to the public, while another Minister, like my right hon. Friend, sends his to the Government, and it depends upon them whether we are to get it or not?

I cannot answer for the Leader of the House. But this is a free country, and I took the step which seemed to me to be most suitable.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take note that the official Opposition are very anxious to get a brief against economy?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the sacrifices which are and will be required from all classes of the community, by reason of the necessity for drastic curtailment of expenditure in every direction, he will consider the desirability of temporarily reducing the salaries of Ministers and of Members of Parliament by, say, 10 per cent. as a practical example to the people of the country, and as evidence of the belief of Members of Parliament in the urgent need of reducing expenditure and of their willingness to share in the sacrifices they impose on others?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the general cut in salaries and wages, he can see his way to recommending a reduction of 25 per cent. in the salaries of Ministers and of Members of Parliament as evidence of the anxiety of the people's representatives to share with the general body of workers the burdens they at present have to bear.

The proposals of the Government in reference to expenditure for the coming year will be laid before Parliament in the course of the next few days, and it is not advisable to make fractional statements as to the character of the new Estimates.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his instruction of the 20th August, 1919, that Ministers who cannot economise must make room for those who can, he intends to insist on the reduction of expenditure of £175,000,000 in the next financial year, which is the sum the Chancellor of the Exchequer requested the Geddes Committee to aim at?

The Government will insist upon every feasible reduction of expenditure. The precise amount of that reduction is still under consideration.

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to back up the Geddes Committee by insisting that this £175,000,000 shall be saved?

We are doing our best.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is making arrangements to transfer the functions of his Department to the Board of Trade in accordance with the recommendation of the Geddes Committee?

The proposed transfer, with the necessary incidental changes recommended, is receiving the consideration of the Government.

Did the hon. Gentleman's Department cause the issue of any memorandum as to the incompetency of the Committee to make such a recommendation?

Would not special legislation be necessary before a change is made?

Yes, it would involve legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the costs of production upon which the standard prices in the Newcastle and Gateshead Gas Company's Order of 1920 was based; whether any reduction has occurred in these costs up to the present date; and, if so, to what extent?

The new standard prices were based upon detailed Schedules submitted by the company, showing the costs of, and incidental to, the production and supply of gas in the last financial year prior to the War, and at the date of the inquiry. The additional cost was found to be 7.8 pence per therm. I am not aware what are the costs at the present time.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of coal exported for the three months ending 31st December, 1913, and the amount exported for the three months ending 31st December, 1921?

The quantity of coal exported in each of the three months ended 31st December, 1913, and in the corresponding period of 1921 was as follows:

Month.		1913.	1921.
		Tons.	Tons.
October	…	6,759,473	3,405,972
November	…	5,913,404	3,593,864
December	…	6,229,453	4,309,162
Total	…	18,882,330	11,308,998

asked the Prime Minister whether it is intended to introduce a Bill for the better regulation of industrial insurance during the present Session, as a result of the findings of the Parmoor Committee; whether such a Bill has been prepared; and what is being done in the meantime for the protection of poor policy-holders?

I have been asked to reply. As the Home Secretary stated, in reply to a question last Monday, that it is hoped to introduce a Bill at an early date.

Why was this Bill not mentioned in the Gracious Speech from the Throne?

asked the Prime Minister whether the arms and ammunition taken from loyal subjects in Ireland during the past two years or thereabouts by order of His Majesty's Government will now be restored to them; and what steps they should take to get back the arms and ammunition so taken?

This matter is under consideration, and I hope that it will shortly be possible to make an announcement in the Press.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these arms were taken from loyal subjects by His Majesty's Government for the purpose of safe custody, and does he know that the failure to restore them is causing very great inconvenience to those from whom they were taken?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a considerable number of the arms taken by the police have subsequently been stolen by the Sinn Feiners, and will these also be restored?

This is a matter for the three Governments to consider. The Northern Government has already prohibited everybody having arms except under a licence.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not also include the Government of Mr. de Valera?

What about Page Croft?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Irish Provisional Government is bound by the decision of the Washington Conference with reference to poison gas?

The agreement will, when ratified, become legally binding on the Provisional Government. When the Irish Free State has been finally constituted, it will, of course, be represented at the Conferences in the same way as Canada, Australia, and other parts of the British Empire.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a proclamation of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State given on the 11th of this month by the Secretary to the Provisional Government that all proceedings in connection with claims in respect of malicious and criminal injuries in the High Court or County Courts must be immediately stayed; and will he say whether, having regard to the fact that the settlement of these claims is a matter to be dealt with between the Government of this country and of the Free State, this proclamation has been issued after consultation with His Majesty's Government?

I have seen the proclamation in question. The proposal to which it relates, namely, that proceedings in respect of criminal injuries suffered during the recent period of acute conflict should be stayed, and that claims in respect of such injuries should be dealt with under special arrangements, has been the subject of agreement with the Provisional Government. The effect of this agreement will be fully explained in connection with the Indemnity Bill to be introduced at an early date.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the number of attacks which have been made on British soldiers or on members of the Royal Irish Constabulary in Southern Ireland since the Provisional Agreement setting up the Irish Free State was signed?

The number of attacks on police since the signing of the Treaty Agreement (6th December, 1921) is 82, and upon military 34. The casualties sustained in these attacks have been 11 police and two military killed and 32 police and four military wounded.

Will those figures be brought before Mr. Collins before any further decisions are arrived at?

No, Sir, I do not think we ought to allow the figures to affect any further decisions, but I am taking steps to bring them before the Irish Provisional Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House any information to show how it was that Lieutenant Genochio, of the Royal Engineers, came to be detained by Republicans in the Cork Lunatic Asylum and was afterwards murdered by them; and whether the Irish Provisional Government is in any way responsible?

The only information yet available in regard to the death of this officer is that he left his quarters in Victoria Barracks, Cork, on the even ing of the 15th inst. in plain clothes, to go for a walk, and that nothing more was heard of him until 11 a.m. on the 17th inst., when he was shot dead on the public road near the Cork Lunatic Asylum, about three-quarters of a mile outside the borough boundary. No clue as to his murderers has yet been obtained, but investigations are being actively pursued.

Since the above answer was prepared, I have received the following message from Dublin:

"The Provisional Government are making exhaustive enquiry into the circumstances of this officer's death. They say that we may rest assured that justice will be done. They have not yet received the full facts of the case, but they expect them to-day."

Can His Majesty's Government express sympathy with the relatives, and horror that a British officer has been shot down in the street in this way?

I have already telegraphed in appropriate terms to the father of this officer, expressing sympathy. I quite agree with the Noble Lord it is a detestable outrage.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information from the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland as to the people who are still being shot in Belfast?

No. I hope there is no attempt to try to settle this Irish difficulty by competitive crime.

I think that is a most uncalled for observation. A question has been put in regard to this murder in the South of Ireland, and the right hon. Gentleman has shown no resentment. Am I not entitled to put a question when my own constituents are being murdered in Belfast?

Notice should be given to me of any questions which hon. Members desire to put after the usual time for questions has expired.

asked the Prime Minister whether the necessary legislation for the amendment of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, as agreed at the Imperial Conference, will be introduced during the present Session?

I can add nothing to the answer which I gave on Thursday last to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for South East St. Pancras.

While thanking the Prime Minister for the personal interest he has taken in the matter, would it not be possible to introduce this Bill into the House, having regard to the fact that our fellow-countrymen have been so long waiting for it, and also to the fact that our Colonial Ministers have approved of it, leaving the details to be settled by a Committee?

I think this is pre-eminently a matter in which we should act with the Dominions, and I deprecate the zeal of my hon. and gallant Friend to anticipate the decision of the Dominion Governments.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look up this matter to see if it is not a fact that I received a pledge from the Government two years ago that negotiations would take place and were actually in progress?

I need look it up, because I know that negotiations have been going on for a long time. I think we must wait until we receive an answer from them.

Is two years too long?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that seven years ago I obtained a similar pledge?

I had no responsibility for it seven years ago.

asked the Prime Minister for what reason the Government has decided to introduce into the House of Lords their Resolutions for constitutional reform?

Because it is customary to originate a Measure for the reform of one of the Houses of Parliament in the House which it is proposed to reform.

Was that the course taken in the case of the Parliament Act, and are we to understand that in this case proposals respecting the powers of the House of Commons are first to be submitted for the approval of the House of Lords?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman evidently forgets what the Parliament Act was, and perhaps I had better explain it. There was nothing in it about, the reform of the House of Lords, except in the Preamble. The operative part of that Act had reference only to the relations between the two Houses.

Are we to understand that these proposals do not affect the powers of the House of Commons?

They do not affect the powers of the House of Commons, but the relations between the two Houses, and the reform is to be confined exclusively to the House of Lords.

Can the right, hon. Gentleman give the House any precedent for introducing legislation by way of Resolutions in the House of Lords relating to the relationship of the two Houses?

It does not merely relate to the relationship of the two Houses. It is a proposal for the reform of the House of Lords, and we shall first proceed in the Chamber which is to be reformed.

Is the question of the Lords Veto to be submitted to the House of Lords?

Have the Lords to dig their own grave?

This is becoming a Debate.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now give instructions for the Notes exchanged between His Majesty s Government and the Russian Soviet Government, since 21st September last, regarding the breaches of the terms of the Trade Agreement by the Russian Soviet Government, to be published; and if no reply has yet been received by His Majesty's Government to their Note of the 2nd November last?

After careful consideration, in view of the opportunity which will be afforded at the Genoa Conference of reaching an understanding on this matter, His Majesty's Government do not feel that any useful purpose would be served by publishing at this late date the two Notes exchanged between His Majesty's Government and the Soviet Government since 21st September. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

Is it the intention of the Government to revert to the old and pernicious system of secret diplomacy? If not, why not publish the Notes?

On the contrary, the Government is attacked for being too open. There is a demand that we should revert to the old diplomacy.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the urgent need for assistance to the famine areas in Eastern Europe, His Majesty's Government will place any obstacle in the way of the immediate raising of a loan in this country by the Soviet Government if suitable guarantees are given in return?

Government permission is not required for the raising of loans by foreign countries in the London market, and it is not the practice of His Majesty's Government to interfere in such matters, but it will be recognised by anyone conversant with the facts that there is no chance of the Russian Government being able to raise any loan in foreign countries until they have given the assurances indicated in the Cannes resolutions.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know of any single case in which the guarantees given by the Soviet Government to this country have been honoured?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is in a position to give reliable facts regarding the reported famine in Russia; how many people are affected in the stricken area; how many have died from starvation; and whether any of the food and money contributed by the Allied natiore has been diverted and used to feed the Bolshevist Army, and to the upkeep of the Soviet Government?

I am unable to give any reliable figures in regard to the number of people affected by the famine in Russia or of those who have died of starvation. There can be no doubt, however, that the situation in some parts of the famine area is one of extreme gravity and that a population of many millions is affected. It is hoped that Sir Benjamin Robertson, who has just returned from a tour in the famine areas on behalf of the Russian Famine Relief Fund, will be able to give valuable information in his report on the extent of the disaster. As regards the last part of the question, the answer is in the negative so far as contributions from British sources are concerned, and this also applies, so far as His Majesty's Government are aware, to contributions from other countries.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that Sir Benjamin Robertson reports that 33,000,000 people are affected and 19,000,000 are in danger of starvation, and probably a large proportion of them, whatever is done, must die?

Would it not be possible for His Majesty's Government to suggest to the Soviet Government the saving of the enormous expense in maintaining an army of nearly 2,000,000 men, by disbanding the army, so that they might devote the money to the suffering people of the country?

I should prefer to await the publication of Sir Benjamin Robertson's Report before dealing with isolated questions. I saw Sir Benjamin Robertson on the day after he arrived. While there is no doubt as to the very grave dimensions of the famine, and the fact that succour appears to be reaching the right quarters, it is only fair to say that Sir Benjamin Robertson informed me that, in his opinion, the inadequate facilities of the Russian transport was such that the transport system was inadequate to deal with any more imports of feeding stuffs than had already been arranged up to the beginning of April.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how soon he will publish the correspondence which has passed between His Majesty's Government and the Russian Soviet Government on the subject of Mrs. Stan Harding's wrongful imprisonment in Moscow?

A White Paper containing the full correspondence exchanged between His Majesty's Government and the Soviet Government regarding Mrs. Stan Harding's imprisonment is now in course of preparation, and I hope to be able to lay it on the Table of the House very shortly.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government has had before it proposals to permit Greece to obtain credits under the Trade Facilities Act with a British guarantee; and whether, in view of the hostilities between Greece and Turkey and the urgent necessity of concluding peace with the Turkish people and not estranging Moslem sentiment, he will assure the House that no further financial assistance will be given to the Greeks until peaceful relations are established between Greece and Turkey?

In answer to the first part of the question, I understand that the application of the Greek Government is before the Advisory Committee under the Trade Facilities Act. I cannot anticipate the decision of the Committee upon the application. In answer to the second part of the question, there is no intention on the part of His Majesty's Government to make a loan to the Greek Government.

What has the Trade Facilities Act to do with a loan?

Applications must be made to the Trade Facilities Committee.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the best way of bringing about peace with Turkey is to put a stop to financial assistance to the Greek Government?

We do not propose to offer any financial assistance to Greece.

Have we not guaranteed any loans to Greece under the Trade Facilities Act?

We do not propose any Government guarantee except to the extent that the Trade Facilities Act involves it. We have definitely pledged ourselves in the House of Commons not to interfere with the action of the Committee under that Act.

That is direct assistance to the Greek Government.

Is it not a condition with regard to the Geek loan that the greater part of the money received shall be spent in this country—

On munitions.

My hon. Friend, the latest Turcophile addition to the Radical party, suggests munitions, but is it not the fact that munitions have been supplied by Allied Powers to the Kemalists, in order to make war on Greece in Asia Minor, thus subjecting the Christians in the Near East once more to butchery by the Turks?

The Trade Facilities Act was passed with a view to promoting British trade, and it was solely to meet the object of the Act that it was possible to consider the application at all, as it might lead to orders being placed in this country. With regard to the latter part of the question, I can only say that such a statement has undoubtedly appeared.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before sanctioning the loans the Greek Government propose levying in this country, proper guarantees have been accepted with regard to the loan of £15,000,000 made by His Majesty's Government to the Greek Government?

I am not aware of any loan of £15,000,000 made by His Majesty's Government to the Greek Government, and accordingly I fear that I do not understand to What the question refers.

How does the hon. Gentleman reconcile that with the reply to a question at the end of 1920, wherein I was told that the British Government have made a loan of £15,000,000 to the Greek Government?

If the hon. Gentleman will give me a reference, I will look it up. As a matter of fact no loan of £15,000,000 has been granted to Greece.

Are we to understand from that reply that the Greek Government do not owe us any money?

asked the Prime Minister the reasons why the sum of 2,576,000,000 gold marks, representing in cash and in kind the amount of German reparation still undistributed, has not yet been divided amongst the Powers entitled; when it is proposed that distribution shall take place; and what is the amount to which Great Britain is entitled?

With the exception of a small amount of cash since distributed, the amount in question consisted simply of book credits to Germany for such items as property ceded to Poland, namely, for which payment has not yet been received by the Reparation Commission, and cannot yet in most cases be received. The account will eventually be cleared, when Inter-Allied agreement has been reached as to the method in which these items are to be dealt with.

asked the Prime Minister the date of the Genoa Conference; whether the question of Turkey will be discussed; whether representatives of the Turkish Government will be invited to attend; and whether, as promised to Russia, Constantinople will be placed under Russian jurisdiction?

The date of meeting provisionally fixed at Cannes has not so far been changed, action depending in the main upon the formation of an Italian Government. The answers to the last three parts of the question are in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister what were the conditions upon which the Allied Conference decided to ask Russia to take part in the Genoa discussions; and whether these conditions have been accepted by the Soviet Government?

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the resolution of the Supreme Council at Cannes, which defined the conditions on which States were invited to the Conference at Genoa. In reply to the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert) on the 13th February.

Having regard to the statement made by the Secretary of State for India in the recent Debate, that the present unrest in India was largely caused by Soviet propaganda, will the right hon. Gentleman state what reliance can be placed on any assurances given by the Soviet Government?

That does not arise here.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the British representatives to the Genoa Conference have yet been chosen and, if so, what are their names; whether any explanation of the Government's proposed line of policy at Genoa will be made to Parliament; if so, when this will be; and whether this House will be given any opportunity of expressing its opinion on the problems involved at Genoa?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Further explanations of the Government policy can be sought, if desired, on the Estimates, or on the Appropriation Bill.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that an opportunity for discussing the Government's policy at Washington was given to the House, with very beneficial results, and why is that course not being followed by him in regard to this equally important Conference?

I have told the hon. and gallant Member that if discussion is desired, it can be taken on the Estimates or on the Appropriation Bill.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when and where the preliminary conference of experts will take place, and who are those experts?

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been directed to the statements of the chairman of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway that the company has full plans for a suburban scheme of electrification; that it is ready to set to work at once, but is prevented by the paralysing effect of the Railways Act, which prevents any large schemes of electrification being executed without the consent of four other railway companies; and whether, in the interest of railway enterprise and the urgent need for providing employment, he will announce the early repeal of The Railways Act, 1921?

I have been asked to reply to this question. My attention has been called to the statements made at the meeting in question, and I may point out that other reasons were given besides that mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Has pot the chairman of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway Company stated that he was ready to go on with the work, but was held up by some Government Committee? Is the right hon. Gentleman not in a position to dispense with this Government Committee, and let the Brighton Company get on with the work?

The chairman of the company stated exactly the opposite.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Trans- port whether, if application be made by the City of Edinburgh Council for leave to set up central standards for overhead trolley electric trams throughout the length of Princes Street and other parts of that city, he will see that no leave be granted until the opinion of the residents of Edinburgh has been ascertained and careful inquiry made on the spot into the whole matter?

A scheme for equipping the Edinburgh tramways for electrical traction, which involves the erection of central standards in Princes Street, has been submitted for approval. Any objections communicated to the Ministry by residents of Edingburgh will be carefully considered before a decision is given, and if after such consideration it seems necessary, an inquiry will be held.

Is the Edinburgh Town Council an elected representative body, or is it a hotly of irresponsible dietators?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport what have been the aggregate reductions of wages on the various railway systems of the United Kingdom during the past nine months; and what reductions the said companies have made to the public in the matter of passenger fares and the charges for the carriage of goods?

I am not in a position to supply the information asked for in the first part of the question. No general reductions have been made in passenger fares or goods rates, but the railway companies have, during the past nine months, re-introduced a number of cheap travelling facilities. As from the 1st of November, 1921, reductions were effected in the rates on iron ore, ironstone and limestone for blast furnaces and steel works. From the 1st of January last the railway companies in England and Wales also reduced the rates on coal, coke and patent fuel, on lime in Class B for iron and steel making purposes, limestone for chemical works, and iron and steel in Class B. I understand that the Scottish companies have just reduced their rates on lime and on coal, coke and patent fuel for the iron and steel industry, and on iron and steel in Class B.

When will the hon. Gentleman be in a position to answer the first part of the question?

I do not think I shall be able to answer that. It would involve a very detailed inquiry into the accounts of each railway company, which I am not in a position to enforce.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a statement appeared in the Press recently that first-class fares are to be reduced? Has he seen that statement?

I have seen a statement that one company intended to do that. I have no further information on the subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if his attention has been called to the fact that the men employed on the Underground and electric railways of London have, during the past seven months, submitted to three reductions in wages aggregating 13s. per week per man; that the managers of such companies were allowed to increase fares by over 30 per cent. on account of such advanced wages; and whether, since an obligation rests on them to reduce their fares to the public pro rata to the men's reductions, and the Minister of Transport, in conjunction with the Railway Commissioners, sanctioned increased fares for the reasons stated, he will call the attention of the directors and managers to the matter in order to have it revised, and to give the public the advantage or, failing that, will he raise wages to the level of last spring?

The London Electric Railways (Fares, etc.) Act, 1920, provides for certain increases in fares in order that the charging powers of the companies may provide for working expenses, efficiently maintaining and renewing the undertakings, and a reasonable return on capital. The hon. Member will thus see that factors other than wages have to be taken into account in determining the fares to be charged, and that the increased fares were not sanctioned solely on account of advances in wages. The financial position of the companies has been under consideration by the Minister from time to time, and I have already been furnished with copies of the annual accounts for 1921 in order that the position which arises under Section 6 of the Act may be again considered.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that workmen's tickets have increased nearly 300 per cent. and that wages are now corning down to nearly pre-War?

I am aware that there have been increases in workmen's tickets. They were strictly limited in amount, and I have no reason to think they are unreasonable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport of how many members the Railway Rates Tribunal consists; how many cases they have yet considered; whether they are being paid; if so, how much and since what date; and whether their pay, if any, falls upon the railway companies or upon the public?

The three permanent members of the Railway Rates Tribunal were duly appointed, in accordance with the provisions of the Railways Act of last Session, at the beginning of November last and are receiving salaries at the following rates:

The President	…	…	£5,000 per annum
One member	…	…	£3,000 ""
One member	…	…	£2,000 ""

The salaries and other expenses of the Tribunal are recoverable from the Amalgamated Railway Companies. The Railways Act requires the Tribunal to deal with such matters as the conditions of carriage and the fixing of standard charges, upon the submission of the railway companies, which are to be made by prescribed dates. Apart from these matters and from the functions to be exercised after the appointed day for the introduction of standard charges, it is open to the railway companies and traders to make applications to the Tribunal for a modification of charges under the transitory provisions of the Act, but I understand that the Tribunal has not yet been called upon to hear any such application. I may remind the hon. Member that all three members of the Tribunal are also members of the Rates Advisory Committee upon which falls the statutory task of settling the classification of merchandise for the purposes of Part III of the Railways Act, and on this work they are at present engaged. No duplication of salary is being made.

Is their time fully occupied?

I believe they are fully occupied with the work for which they are engaged.

Can individual traders make application for reduced rates, or are they supposed to wait until trade associations act on their behalf?

There is nothing to hinder individual traders from making application.

If these officials at £10,000 a year are new officials, what has become of the Railway and Canal Commissioners, who were also in existence before the Act and were paid large salaries?

The Rates Tribunal is discharging new duties of the greatest possible value to the traders of the country and are being paid by the railway companies.

What duties do the Railway and Canal Commissioners discharge?

Many of their old duties remain.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he has received representations from the London County Council as to the danger of other traffic passing tramcars which have stopped for the purpose of landing or embarking passengers at regular stopping-places fixed by the police for these purposes; whether he has any power to make regulations to deal with this matter; and, if not, will he consider whether such powers should be obtained in view of the great danger of accidents in London owing to the increase of fast motor traffic on all tramway routes?

Representations to the effect stated have been received, and it has been suggested that a Regulation should be made requiring vehicles passing on the near side of a stationary tram- car to slow down whilst so doing. It is doubtful whether the Ministry of Transport has power to make such a Regulation, and in any case it seems undesirable to do so. It would be difficult to enforce it effectively in view of the large number of tramcar stopping places, and in the opinion of the police authorities, whom I have consulted, would probably lead to more accidents than would be prevented.

Are any steps being taken to do away with difficulties owing to the general congestion of the streets in London?

Seeing that this suggested rule is being carried out throughout the whole of the British Empire and the United States, should it be difficult to enforce in London?

The police have a very clear view that it would lead to more accidents than it would prevent, and, there being very great doubt whether there is any legal authority in the Ministry to interfere, I do not feel it incumbent upon me to take any action.