asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many inquiries by the Committee have been held under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921; in how many cases have reports been made;

Eight complaints have been referred to Committees, and five Reports have been received. No Order has yet been made.

In view of the unfortunate results which have followed from Part II, may it be considered to be almost a dead letter now?

I do not know of any unfortunate results.

Will the right hon. Gentleman either confirm or deny the report published in the newspapers on Saturday that the Government intend to repeal this Act?

That was a piece of pure invention.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the silk industry has complained to the Board of Trade under the provisions of Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921; if so, what is the position of their case; and if he is aware that the large imports of silk manufactured goods are largely owing to the fact that they come from countries where the currency is depreciated seriously?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. No primâ facie case has been made out for reference to a Committee, but certain further representations by the manufacturers concerned are under consideration. With regard to the last part, the records of the countries from which imports of silk manufactures were consigned last year show that only a relatively small proportion (certainly less than one-eighth part) are derived from countries the depreciation of whose currency furnishes a special stimulus to export to the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can explain why Piano and B. I. convex lenses, worked and used in connection with motor and other lamps for illuminating or magnifying purposes, are admitted under the key section of the Safeguarding of Industries Act without being liable for duty, whilst at the same time a duty is levied on ordinary low-grade lenses, illuminating or magnifying, used for spectacles; and can he explain on what standard or definition these two decisions are based?

All types of lenses which have worked surfaces, or are made of optical glass, are liable to duty under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, irrespective of the use to which they are to be put. I am not aware that any lenses to which either of these descriptions is applicable have been admitted free of duty.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has personally read the judgment given by the official referee in regard to the cream of tartar, tartaric acid, and citric acid complaints under the Safeguarding of Industries Act; whether he is aware that this case occupied nine hearings, involving the expenditure of many thousands of pounds, part of which will fall upon the taxpayers of the country; whether the santonine case, which was heard last December, was also a very protracted one; and whether he will take steps whereby the representatives of the chief interested parties should be called together in conference, with a view to eliminating the necessity for further costly proceedings which, apart from the expenditure of time and money, operate very injuriously upon the business of the country.

I am aware of the judgment in the cases mentioned by my hon. Friend, and that the hearing was a protracted one. The santonine case occupied only two hearings. Steps are being taken to shorten the proceedings in future cases, and I may add that the last five cases which have been dealt with by the referee occupied together only six short hearings. As regards the last part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Whitechapel on the 23rd March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the date when he received the complaint that a duty of 33⅓ per cent. was being improperly levied on cream of tartar, tartaric acid, and citric acid; the date when the complaint was handed to the referee to be dealt with; is he aware that the referee has now decided that this duty should not have been levied; what amount has been collected by the Customs authorities on these commodities; and is he prepared to take any action to secure the refunding of such amount?

A large number of formal notices of complaint under Section 1 (5) of the Safeguarding of Industries Act were received in respect of the commodities mentioned. A joint case was submitted on behalf of a number of complainants on the 5th December; amended statements were subsequently submitted and placed before the referee, who called for further particulars, which were furnished on the 19th January. The decision of the referee was signed on the 25th March and the commodities mentioned were withdrawn from the dutiable list as from that date. The amount of the duties collected is £5,718. As regards the last part of the question, I would draw the attention of the hon. Member to the provision of Section 1 (5) of the Act, which is to the effect that any decision of the referee shall be without prejudice to anything previously done.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these delayed proceedings are causing uncertainty in trade and crippling industry? Why should not Genoa begin at home?

Does the Treasury appreciate the position, that there are traders who have paid this duty, whereas their competitors next month will be able to sell their goods 33⅓ per cent. cheaper?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints have been received by his Department, under Part II (1) (a) of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, alleging that goods are being dumped into this country below the cost of production; and, if he has received any, what action has he taken?

In three cases evidence has been adduced by complainants in support of the allegation of dumping, under Section 2 (1) (a) of the Act, but in no instance has a primâ facie case yet been made out for reference to a Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the date when he received the Report of a Committee appointed under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act to deal with glassware used by the electro-plate and silversmiths of Birmingham, London, and Manchester for the purposes of mounting; whether he is aware that these firms have to make contracts for such glass many months in advance; and if he realises that the uncer- tainty now prevailing as to whether a duty will be imposed or not is hampering the industries concerned?

The Committee referred to reported on the 18th February. I have received no representations from the industries mentioned to the effect indicated by the hon. Member. The Report of the Committee is under consideration, and I hope to be able to make an announcement with regard to it very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received the Report of the Committee appointed by him under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act to consider a request for a duty on imported gold leaf; if so, on what date the Report was received; and what decision he has come to on the subject?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Committee reported on the 21st February to the effect that the necessary conditions specified in the Act are not fulfilled. Consequently no further action can be taken by the Board of Trade in regard to this complaint.

Will those who make complaints be advised accordingly?

They have been.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether steps will be taken with his active support and that of his Department to counteract the impression now being made in the Brazilian aniline dye trade by officially supported corporations of German traders; and whether he will consider the desirability of investigating the means by which such steps might conveniently be taken, and of reporting upon the same, for the benefit of British traders to whom the Brazilian dye trade is of so much importance, having regard to its prosperity in 1919 and 1920?

I shall be glad to consider any information and suggestions on this matter which my hon. and gallant Friend may care to send to me, and to draw the attention of British dye manufacturers to the importance of the Brazilian market. I would point out, however, that the present depreciated state of the German exchange gives the German manufacturers a very substantial, though it may be only temporary, advantage in respect of export trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is able to give any information as to the prospects of this country's establishing a successful cotton trade with Brazil; whether the Federation of Master Cotton Spinners, who sent a representative to Brazil in 1921 to report upon the possibilities of cotton development in that country, have given any information to the Board of Trade which might be of value to British traders in general; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of obtaining information upon this matter, having in view the importance of the cotton trade to this country and the necessity of regaining our pre-War prosperity?

The latest figures available indicate that while the Brazilian cotton crop is increasing, the local consumption is also increasing, and there has been a considerable drop in recent years in the exports of Brazilian cotton in this country, namely, from 30,000 metric tons in 1913 to 9,000 tons in 1920. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part of the question I shall be glad, subject to considerations of expense, to make investigations on the matter if there is any representative demand for such investigations by the British interests concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that up to December last lists of licences granted under the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act, marked confidential, were circulated to members of a certain organisation represented on the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee, and that directly complaint was made about this the issue of such lists ceased; and can he say how this official information was obtained by the organisation in question?

The lists in question were distributed to members of the Licensing Committee, four of whom are representatives of the association mentioned and communicated the lists to that association. When it appeared that such communication was causing inconvenience to the Committee it was discontinued.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds it is considered necessary to compel an applicant to the Dyestuffs Act Licensing Committee for a licence to import a dye to disclose the name and address of his customer; and whether, in view of the presence on the Committee of trade rivals of the applicant, the necessity of giving this confidential information might be dispensed with?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 27th February to the hon. Member for Whitechapel.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in neither of these answers does he give the ground upon which this has been done?

I do not think the ground is difficult to see. It is my unwillingness to interfere with Committees which have been set up to do a certain work.

Is there any reason why a man should be compelled to give away his business goodwill for the benefit of his competitor?

I am afraid I do not know what the element of compulsion is.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that an application was recently made to the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee for a licence to import 6 cwts. of acid alizarine, grey G, a dye not made in the United Kingdom, which was required by consumers in three different industries; that the Licensing Committee granted a licence for 3 cwts. on the express condition that it was to be used in one industry only; and, if so, on what grounds this preference is given to one over other industries?

The reason for the distinction was that in the opinion of the Committee in the one case an entirely suitable substitute of British manufacture was not available, whilst for the other purposes an adequate substitute was available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Government have imported quantities of dyes from Germany under reparations and are selling them through their agents in this country, while at the same time they are, through the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee, refusing to allow merchants to import the identical materials; and, if so, since the Government's action of selling German dyes in the United, Kingdom is seriously affecting the dye industry of this country, and, in fact, nullifying the effects of the Dyestuff (Import Regulation) Act, will he consider the desirability of immediately withdrawing this Act to enable dye merchants in this country to compete with the Government who, under the prevailing conditions, have a monopoly of trading in German dyes?

I am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question. The stocks of reparation dyestuffs held by the Government were mainly obtained at a time when there was no reason to anticipate any immediate or prolonged decrease in requirements in this country, and were intended to supplement domestic production. Any additional supplies taken under the continuing option given by the Treaty of Versailles will be restricted to dyestuffs not produced in this country, and for which adequate substitutes are not obtainable from British manufacturers. No doubt the slow liquidation of the original stocks, in consequence of the general trade depression, is causing some difficulty to British manufacturers, but that does not appear to be a reason for the course suggested by the hon. Member.

Is there any reason why these dyes could not be distributed among firms who have been accustomed to handle them for many years instead of giving a monopoly to one firm while others are destroyed?

Doubtless there were alternative courses, but I am not in a position to judge without examining the question closely.

Will you look into it?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that on the 29th November, 1921, the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee refused to recommend the issue of a licence to import a quantity of a dye not made in the United Kingdom named alizarine direct blue E3 B O, and suggested that a British-made dye named alizarine blue L A should be used by the applicant's customer as a substitute; that the user stated the substitute was altogether unsuitable, as it would not stand fast under certain processes it had to undergo; that since December last the Licensing Committee have repeatedly refused to recommend the issue of the licence despite the strongest evidence from the user that he could use no other dye than that for which a licence had been asked for, and that it would mean sending some hundreds of pounds worth of business abroad where the dye could be obtained; and, if so, does he approve of this action by the Licensing Committee?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Messrs. Zimmermann and Company (Photographic), Limited, of London, applied to the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee, on the 18th December last, for licences to import certain dyes used for tinting purposes by kinematograph film, printers; that on the 9th December the Licensing Committee refused to recommend the issue of such licences unless evidence was produced from the actual consumers showing that similar British-made dyes were not satisfactory for this particular process; that on the 20th and 21st December Messrs. Zimmermann forwarded to the Licensing Committee eight original communications from their customers, the film printers, who stated that unless they were permitted to obtain supplies of the foreign dyes their industry would be seriously handicapped in competing with American and other foreign film-printing firms, and that they had tried all the British-made dyes, which had proved to be entirely unsatisfactory; that, after receiving this definite evidence, the Licensing Committee again on the 22nd December refused to recommend the issue of the licences; that on the 1st February Messrs. Zimmermann forwarded to the Licensing Committee a further six original communications from their customers the film printers, in which strong complaint was made against the Licensing Committee's refusal to allow them to obtain these dyes; that on the 3rd February the Licensing Committee again refused to recommend the issue of the licences, and gave no reason for such action; and, if so, does he approve of the Licensing Committee's action in thus forcing industries such as the film industry to use British-made dyes which are stated by consumers to be unsatisfactory and detrimental to the business when meeting foreign competition?

I am in communication with the Committee in Manchester about these cases, and will inform the hon. Members of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the difference in this country in pounds sterling of our import and export trade in 1913 and in 1921?

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

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion of the decrease of trade is due to the Treaty of Versailles?

asked the President of the Board of Trade who is the, present representative of the British Government on the Central Rhine Commission; and, in view of the decisions to be taken on the 25th April regarding the proposed lateral canal, what steps are being taken to appoint the second representative on the Commission to which the British Government are entitled?

The present representative of Great Britain on the Central Rhine Commission is Mr. J. G. Baldwin, C.B. The question of the appointment of a second British representative on the Commission is under consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a feeling that there ought to be a second representative appointed who is not an official, and it is very important that he should be appointed before the Conference?

I am quite aware of that feeling, but I may perhaps be allowed to state to the House that our representative cannot act on important matters without obtaining instructions from us, and that he has two votes in the Conference. I have hesitated to appoint a second member to that Commission so far, because it would mean an extra salary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the chambers of commerce are particularly anxious that a commercial man should be appointed if a second man is appointed?

Will the right hon. Gentleman also come to a decision before the Conference meets?

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings of the Supreme Council have been held since the signing of the last of the Treaties of Peace arising out of the 1914–1918 War; at how many of these conferences was agreement reached between the representatives present; and what was the total number of days occupied in these several conferences?

There have been 11 Sessions of the Supreme Council, with an aggregate of 215 meetings since the signing of the last of the Treaties of Peace arising out of the 1914–18 War. I have no recollection of any occasion on which a Session of the Supreme Council terminated without an agreement. The total number of days occupied in these several conferences is 116.

What has been the result of these meetings?

asked the Prime Minister what is the present position in the difficulty between Poland and Lithuania over Vilna; and whether any reply has been received from either of those countries to the resolution of the Council of the League of the 13th January last?

An act of union drawn up by the Polish Government, including a Clause for the creation of a statute for Vilna, received on 22nd March the signatures of the 12 Vilna delegates who had hitherto opposed it. This is thought to be equivalent to the acceptance by the Vilna diet of the act which will now presumably be ratified. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative, both countries having replied. I am sending my Noble Friend a copy of the relevant League of Nations' document.

Was the Diet of Vilna, which is said to have ratified this arrangement, packed by the Polish Government?

I think that the facts are well known. I should not like to comment on them.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is now proposed that the next meeting of the Council of the League of Nations should take place earlier than 25th April; who will represent the British Government at that meeting; whether any reply has been received from the American Government with regard to the submission of the amended draft mandates for the ex-German African colonies to the next meeting of the Council; and, in the event of no reply having been received from Washington to the representations made by the British Government on 22nd December, 1921, in this connection, whether he will request the British Ambassador at Washington to point out the desirability pf receiving the reply of the American Government in time for the disposal of the mandates in question at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of the League?

A meeting of the Council of the League of Nations was held in Paris during the past week-end, but the question of mandates was not on the agenda. The next meeting will, I understand, be held towards the end of April, but I cannot state the date, nor can I say yet who will represent His Majesty's Government. No reply has yet been received from the United States Government to the Note of the 22nd December last. His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington has been instructed in the sense mentioned in the question.

When was the instruction referred to sent?

I would be glad to have notice of that question. I am not sure.

asked the Prime Minister whether he authorised the publication, on Friday last, of a memorandum circulated by him to the Peace Conference on 25th March, 1919, as a Command Paper, No. 1614; what is the purpose of publishing this confidential document now, seeing that so many of its proposals were superseded by the Treaty of Versailles; and whether he now proposes to revert to the policy outlined in the memorandum?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Repeated requests for presentation of the document to Parliament were made in this House in consequence of its publication abroad in a book written by an Italian statesman.

Are we to understand that the publication had no connection with the Genoa Conference?

No connection whatever. After the publication of Signor Nitti's book, I was asked if I would lay Papers in this House. My first answer, I think, was that the Government, in view of the publication of various papers in various countries abroad, were considering the publication of documents on the subject. Then the hon. Gentleman opposite pressed me for the publication of this particular document, and I accordingly laid the Paper giving this document.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question?

The spirit which informs the document which has been laid is the spirit which animated His Majesty's Government throughout the whole of the negotiations.

Can the right hon. Gentleman also have published the reply to that Memorandum by the Prime Minister of France at the time?

It is not customary to publish international documents of this kind without previous consultation with the other Powers concerned, and I believe that it was understood at the time of the Peace Conference that all these matters should be treated as confidential. Certain publications having taken place abroad, including the publication of the Memorandum of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, we thought that it was proper that this should be published.

Are we to understand that other Powers broke confidence?

I do not want to be involved in a rather invidious controversy. Partial publication has taken place in various other countries of documents laid before the Conference.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the unrest created in the country by the Geddes Committee recommending serious cuts in the cost of education, and the serious effects such economy will have upon our educational system if adopted, he will set up a Select Committee to inquire and take evidence and report before any action is taken to carry out the recommendations?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the public interest and anxiety as to the proposals of the Government to secure economy in the expenditure on education, he will consider the advisability of appointing a Select Committee to consider these proposals and report?

The recommendations of the Committee on National Economy with regard to educational expenditure were very carefully examined by the Government, and the proposals for reduced expenditure in the coming financial year, which are embodied in the Civil Services Class IV Estimates, represent the decision which the Government has taken, after a survey of the educational needs of the country and of the resources available from taxes and rates. In the circumstances I do not think that any advantage would be gained by the appointment of a Select Committee for the purpose suggested.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the far-reaching effect of this Report in its various details, apart from the question of salaries of teachers, and other things, and the extensive nature of its effect on children who cannot help themselves, and would it not be advisable to inquire into that aspect as well as the economic aspect?

So far as the Government are concerned, they are very well informed, after careful examination given to the matter, of the results that may be expected to follow upon their decision.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he would consider the desirability of the appointment of a Select Committee to go fully into the education question as it affects the exclusion of scholars from the schools, the closing of schools and consequent dismissal of teachers, the ques- tion of teachers' pensions, and other measures affecting education, so that local education authorities and the teachers can place their views on these matters before the Committee for report before the Government brings in legislation dealing with any or all of these important questions?

asked the President of the Board of Education if ho is aware of the strong feeling in the country against the proposed reductions in the Estimates for Education; and whether, before these cuts are made operative, he will propose the appointment of a Select Committee to consider the proposals of the Geddes Committee and to receive evidence from education authorities and the teaching profession with reference thereto?

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer given to-day by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House to the hon. Members for the Forest of Dean and Pontypool (Messrs. Wignall and Thomas Griffiths).

Is it not a fact that the Government are the employers of the teachers, and will they refuse to give the teachers an opportunity of stating their case before any of these alterations are made?

The answer is that the Government are not the employers of the teachers. The teachers are employed by the local aducation authorities, who have the power of appointment and dismissal.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can make any further statement as to any actual steps now taken or about to be taken to effect any reduction in the outlay on education; and whether, in the case of important changes of policy, the House will have an opportunity of discussing them before they are put into force?

If, as I hope, the discussion on the Board's Estimates for the coming year takes place at an early date, I will make a full statement on the subject.

With all the cuts that are taking place, will what are known as necessitous areas lose some of the grants they received in days gone by?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that up to the time of the Training of the Teachers (Superannuation) Bill, 1918, all applications from teachers under the London County Council for extension on reaching the age of 65 were refused, and the applicants compulsorily retired under the age limit regulation of the council, but that after the new Bill appeared all similar applications for extension were granted and the applicants thus made eligible for, and admitted to, the benefits of the new Act, while their colleagues whose application for extension had been refused were debarred from its benefits; will he say on what principle was such differential, treatment based; what compensation does he propose to give to those teachers who sustained heavy loss by being refused the same extension of service as that granted to their colleagues; to how many teachers under the London County Council was extension of service granted during the year ended 31st March, 1918; and to how many during the year ended 31st March, 1919?

I understand the hon. and gallant Member's question to refer to the action of the London Local Education Authority in a matter which was completely within their discretion, and in which I cannot intervene. The number of teachers in the employment of the London County Council whose certificates were extended by the Board on the application of the council was, in the year ended the 31st March, 1918, 56, and in the year ended the 31st March, 1919, 135.

asked the President of the Board of Education what further measures he has in view to secure the closer co-ordination necessary in the great majority of cases between inspectors of the Ministry and the county inspectors?

It is one of the duties of His Majesty's Inspectors to co-operate closely with the officials of local education authorities and to make arrangements which will, as far as possible, prevent duplication and overlapping, and in the great majority of cases such arrangements exist and are, I believe, successful. The functions performed by inspectors of local authorities are very miscellaneous and are usually supplementary or complementary to those of the Board's inspectors. The Board have no authority to prescribe the functions which local inspectors should or should not perform; but I am as anxious as the hon. Member to prevent duplication and unnecessary expense, and if I see any opportunity of improving the existing arrangements I will certainly take it.

I heard of a case where one schoolmistress had eight -inspectors at her school in one week. Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these were local inspectors and how many not?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will give me particulars, I will inquire into them.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, seeing that the majority of schools in the big towns of England and a large number outside the towns are generally classed as efficient, he will consider whether the number of inspectors could be reduced by one half if schools were enabled to win a certificate of excellence, which would exempt them from inspection for, say, three years?

The Board cannot divest themselves of responsibility for ascertaining the efficiency of the schools and the return which they yield for public expenditure. As regards elementary schools the Board aim at such inspection as will enable a proper report to be made on each school once in three years, but I must admit that, owing to the limitation of the Board's staff and the heavy burden of administrative business which, in order to avoid delay and diminish official correspondence, inspectors transact personally with local education authorities and their officials, this object is not attained, particularly in the large urban areas. As regards secondary schools, the Board for similar reasons are unable to undertake a full inspection of each school even once in every five years. The hon. Member's suggestion would involve a very substantial increase of the inspectorate.

Could the right hon. Gentleman not leave a little more discretion to the local authorities in these matters and so carry out his own great wish for economy in regard to education?

I am very anxious to leave as much discretion as possible to the local authorities. In fact, there is very little inspection in the whole of the London area. We leave it almost entirely to the inspectors of the London County Council. But we do find in many cases that when we propose to reduce our inspecting staff we receive protests from the local education authorities, who rely very much on the judgment of our inspectors as to the efficiency on many points of their schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of inspectors of schools or scholars who will be borne on the Estimates of his Board for the coming financial year; and, having regard to the recommendations of the Committee on National Expenditure, what will be the deduction in point of numbers and cost to the taxpayer as compared with 1921–22?

The number of inspectors of all grades borne on the Estimates for the coming financial year is 413. Provision has been made in the Estimates for savings on vacancies to the amount of £10,000, and I expect to make a saving of about 20 posts. The net total for salaries and allowances of the inspectorate in the year 1922–23 is estimated at £314,659, as compared with £366,195 for the year 1921–22, i.e., a saving of £51,536, due partly to reduction of war bonus. The estimated cost of administration and inspection for the year 1922–23 is below the figure of £850,000 to which the Committee on National Expenditure recommended that it should be reduced.

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of the question as to what the reduction in the number of inspectors is to be?

I have given the answer. I said there would be a saving of about 20 inspectors.

Is it not the case that the total cost of administration since 1914 has increased enormously, although a very large part of that administration has been handed over to the local authorities?

It is true that the expenditure has increased, because salaries have increased.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that he has handed over a very large part of the work of the Department to local authorities, and still it is costing the nation more for central administration?

We shall debate that on the Estimates.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Government will appoint a Select Committee to consider the superannuation of teachers, with a view to introducing such modifications into the present system as will enable the teachers to accept a new scheme on a contributory basis?

As has already been stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Government propose to investigate further the question of the superannuation of teachers, but I am not in a position to state the precise form which such investigation will take.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer intimated that the question of teachers' pension system was to be investigated; whether, seeing that he himself has since declared that the Government has decided upon its policy in regard to the matter, the investigation referred to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer was made in consultation with the Ministry of Education: whether the investigation involved the taking of evidence from teachers' representatives; and, if not, whether, having regard to the great importance of this question and with a view to securing the highest degree of efficiency in schools, he will recommend the appointment of a Select Committee of the House, with a view to the examination of witnesses who may be called to give evidence in regard to the economies suggested by the Board?

I think the hon. Member has misconceived the position. As was announced by my right hon. Friend on 1st March, the Government propose that, pending the further investigation of the question of the superannuation of teachers, the teachers should contribute 5 per cent. of their salaries. The manner in which this further investigation will be conducted is under consideration?

As the teachers have to contribute 5 per cent. towards their superannuation, is not that tantamount to a reduction of salary, and is it not another way of going back on the Burnham Report?

It is not exactly tantamount to a reduction of salary, because it is obvious that the contribution will be demanded only from teachers of those classes which are pensionable. The whole matter will, of course, come up for discussion when the proposals are before the House, and it would be much better to defer discussion until then.

I am sorry to press the right hon. Gentleman. Was not this superannuation to be on a non-contributory basis for the teachers?

We are now debating the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that teachers are being dismissed in various parts of the country, through no fault of their own, on the ground of economy; and whether, in such cases of compulsory unemployment, he proposes to make any provision for such teachers?

I am aware that in some areas reductions of staff are being made, but I have no power to compensate teachers for unemployment.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not recognise that these teachers have made a good deal of sacrifice in order to fit themselves for this profession, and does he not think that their case demands special consideration?

It must not be assumed that because the services of a teacher are dispensed with in a particular area the teacher will not be able to find employment in other areas. I am certain that local authorities who find it necessary to dismiss teachers will be fully alive to the desirability of exercising discrimination in the matter in order to avoid, as far as they can, the infliction of any real hardship.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, on grounds of economy, a number of the special schools in London for physically and mentally defective children are being closed; and whether, in view of the certain injury that will fall to the children as a result, he will take steps to maintain all such existing special schools?

The only proposal, of which I am aware, for the closure of a special school in London relates to a small school for physically defective children conducted in the premises of a voluntary hospital. In this case the children are to be transferred to other schools. I am not aware of any other proposals to close special schools for physically and mentally defective children in London on the grounds of economy.

If I supply the right hon. Gentleman with particulars of schools, is he prepared to look into them?

Certainly.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in spite of his statement that the law age limit would not be raised, by the closing of the smaller schools large schools are being overcrowded and children cannot go to the special schools until they are seven years of age?

I was not aware of it. If the hon. Member will bring me the particulars he has in mind, I shall be pleased to meet him.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the proposal of the Education Committee of the Kent County Council to purchase a motor-car for the delivery of stores to various districts within its area; how many motor-cars are to be employed in this service at the public expense; and whether it is his intention to take steps to prevent this extension of county council trading which is carried on to a very large extent at the cost of the ratepayers and to the serious disadvantage of individual enterprise within the area of the County Council?

I am not aware of this proposal, but will communicate with the local education authority.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport how many of the by-pass roads around the County of London which were commenced by grants of money from his Department in order to relieve unemployment have been completed; if any of them have still to be finished; how many men have been employed on the various jobs: and how much money has been granted by his Department towards the cost of the various roads?

A section of the Western Avenue in Acton is the only one of the arterial road works in the metropolitan area which has actually been completed. Excluding the Great West Road, it is anticipated that all other sections representing complete contracts in themselves will be completed at various times within the next 18 months. As the information in reply to the last two parts of my hon. Friend's questions contains a large number of figures, I will, with his