asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any information as to how many British subjects were recently captured by Chinese bandits after derailing a train; and what steps are being taken to obtain their release and to prevent a further occurrence of such outrages in China against Europeans?

One British subject was killed, and five were captured, of whom three have since been released. Negotiations between the Chinese Authorities and the brigands for the release of the remaining captives are in progress, and according to the latest report from His Majesty's Minister at Peking on the 3rd inst. they appear to be proceeding satisfactorily. Military operations have meanwhile been suspended. The captives are being made as comfortable as possible by the despatch of supplies and are in daily communication with the military and consular representatives of the foreign Powers who have been sent to the spot to investigate and watch the situation. Measures to prevent the recurrence of such outrages are now being considered by His Majesty's Minister at Peking in consultation with the representatives of the other Powers concerned.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has been approached by any British representative in China with the suggestion that the reintroduction of opium into that country is necessary to the protection of China from financial collapse; and whether he can give an assurance that this method of assistance will not be countenanced by His Majesty's Government?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. There has been a great recrudescence of poppy growing in China and the revenues therefrom are utilised by local military leaders. The Central Government is not making use of this source of revenue, nor has any proposal that it should do so been brought to the attention of His Majesty's Government.

Is there any suggestion that there should be a reimportation of opium into India?

Not that I am aware.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether representations have again been made to the Chinese Government with regard to its default in the payment of interest on loans made in good faith by investors in this country and to the Powers forming what is known as the Consortium on the attitude which for some time past they have seen fit to adopt to British financial interests in China?

His Majesty's Minister at Peking continues to take all possible action on behalf of British holders of the loans to which the hon. Member refers.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the revenue from the salt tax alone would give an ample margin to pay the interest on these debts, and that the Chinese are anxious to pay and it is only the action of the Consortium which prevents them doing so?

I think that that is a misconception.

Is it not a fact that for all practical purposes the Consortium may be looked on as dead?

I would not like to go so far as that.

Is it not the fact that the Consortium has vetoed any such arrangement as the question suggests?

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in seeking, in conjunction with other Powers interested in China, some means of averting imminent financial collapse, he will take into consideration the possibility of the establishment in China of a tobacco monopoly partly for the purpose of providing revenue and saving the financial situation and partly to counteract the desire for opium indulgence?

The Consortium representatives at Peking are at present examining the security available for meeting foreign obligations which are in default, and will no doubt consider the possibility, not only of improving existing sources of revenue, but also of suggesting new ones to the Chinese Government, in this appears feasible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Bulgarian Government has given satisfaction to His Majesty's Government in its attempt to carry out the provisions of the Treaty of Neuilly since the ratification of that Treaty; and when and how it is proposed to carry out the obligations of the Allies to provide an outlet for Bulgarian trade to the Ægean Sea under Article 48 of the same Treaty?

In spite of the important concessions which have, since the ratification of the Treaty of Neuilly, been made to Bulgaria in regard to the application and execution of the reparation and military Clauses of that Treaty, there remain several points where the Allied Powers have still to complain of evasion or obstruction on the part of the Bulgarian Government. Very generous proposals, going far beyond the obligations in the Treaty, were made to the Bulgarian Government, but were rejected by them. His Majesty's Government, however, have not abandoned the hope that the undertakings in the Treaty may still be carried out by common agreement.

Does the hon. Gentleman say that we have assured Bulgaria an outlet to the Ægean Sea?

It was not specified in what manner the economic outlet that was promised was to be made. We still hope that the undertaking will be carried out by common agreement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that British subjects who were owners of property destroyed by the Germans in Northern France during the War have been, and are, unable to get compensation from any source, whether French, German or British, although German nationals whose property was confiscated have been compensated by Germany; and whether the Government will give an assurance that in any modifications of reparations the interests of the above-mentioned British subjects will be safeguarded?

I am exceedingly sorry. I understand that the question was transferred from the Foreign Office to the Treasury. It has not reached the Treasury, and if the hon. Member will put it down for to-morrow, I will try to give an answer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the text of the British Government's Note of 29th May to the Russian Government was as published in the Press on 4th June last; when it will be laid before Parliament; and whether any reply has yet been received from the Russian Government, and what is the nature of this reply?

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on 4th June.

Are we to understand that the text as published in the "Manchester Guardian" on Monday is the correct text of the British Note?

If I were to answer that question I should, obviously, be going beyond what I have already said—that I am bound by an honourable agreement to give no information as to what has taken place.

Have we had any reply?

No reply has yet been received.

asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs if, having regard to the method adopted by the Soviet Government of publishing the contents of our official Note prematurely in this country and also of replying to it through a telegram to the Labour party, it is still considered possible to carry on diplomatic relations; and what steps the Government propose to adopt in consequence?

The telegram from Moscow to which the hon. Member presumably refers did not purport to have been sent by the Soviet Government; and as the publication of the Note referred to cannot with certainty be attributed to any responsible agent of the Soviet Government, the incident would not justify the discontinuance of our efforts to bring about a settlement.

May I ask whether it would be possible, except through a Russian source, for this information to have leaked out?

I really cannot say whether that is possible or not.

Is it not a fact that the Government's Note differs in text from the telegraphic Note sent from Moscow?

I do not know.

Is it not a fact that very often communications are published in the Press, purporting to be official, in relation to the British Government and other Governments? Is there anything extraordinary in it?

I do not know why hon. Gentlemen should suggest that there is. I have not suggested anything extraordinary.

Is it possible that the Papyrus just discovered in the vicinity of Epsom may throw some light on the subject?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any representations have been made to His Majesty's Government in regard to the telegrams sent from the Italian representative at Moscow to the Foreign Office in Rome, to the effect that the British policy towards Russia is actuated by a desire to bring about the rupture of the Trade Agreement, with a view to causing a crisis in the internal affairs of Russia; and whether he will make a statement on the subject?

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

Is it not desirable that steps should be taken to remove the unfortunate impression made by the Italian telegrams?

I do not think that, I was going to say, any sensible person attaches any credence to them.

Has the Italian representative been withdrawn from Moscow?

Not so far as I am aware.

asked the Prime Minister whether a resolution unanimously passed by a meeting recently held under the auspices of the Association of British Creditors of Russia has been brought to his notice, and what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take; whether it is now possible to inform the House if this question of compensation to British nationals was raised during the conversation between His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and M. Krassin, and in the subsequent Note to the Soviet Government of Russia; and whether the Government is now determined that the responsibility for payment of adequate compensation shall be recognised by the Soviet Government before further negotiations are inaugurated?

It is not clear whether the hon. and gallant Member is thinking of claims for compensation for personal injury, such as those of Mrs. Stan Harding and Mr. Davison, or of the wider category of property claims, referred to in the resolution of the Association of British Creditors of Russia, which has been brought to my notice. I think there has been considerable confusion of the two categories, and I should like once more to make it clear that the former class of claims is alone involved in the present negotiations. Property claims, as I informed the hon. and gallant Member on the 30th of May, could not advantageously be introduced into their scope, but remain, as before, reserved for separate discussion.

asked the Prime Minister whether any protest was made by His Majesty's Government against the policy of the persecution of the Jews during the period in which His Majesty's Government were supplying arms to the forces of General Deniken?

During the period in which a British Military Mission was in South Russia, that Mission had instructions to do all in its power to prevent the ill-treatment of Jews; and His Majesty's High Commissioner (Sir H. Mackinder), on his departure for Russia, took with him instructions to investigate and report on such excesses as were alleged to be occurring.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the hard-lying money paid to crews of certain vessels, which has been applied for on behalf of the crews of the vessels employed on special duties with the Murmansk patrol, has been refused?

The matter is under consideration.

Is there any dispute as to whether hard-lying money should be granted to these men?

Yes, considerable dispute.

In the conditions in which they have to serve?

Yes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a number of shipwrights, who have only just concluded their apprentice ship are being discharged from the Chatham dockyard; and whether it is possible to absorb these men in the employment for which they have been apprenticed in anticipation of secure work?

The discharge of the 25 ex-apprentices was due to the necessity for adjusting numbers in the different classes, the number of shipwrights having been disproportionately large. The ex-apprentices were selected for discharge in preference to older men of long service. I am sorry it is not possible to adopt the suggestion in the last part of the hon. Member's question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether naval cooks employed in bakeries in ships steaming in the tropics are entitled to receive tropical pay; and, if not, will he arrange that they should do so?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and the Regulations will be altered to make this quite clear.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that special trains are now provided for naval men with a view to rushing them away from the port of landing when returning home on leave without giving them an opportunity of making any purchases, and that this is affecting the trading community of Devonport; and can he see his way to restore the old practice by which these men, after being away for so long, may have the opportunity of obtaining such things as they require for their immediate use?

The special trains are run for the convenience of the men themselves and of the travelling public, but no man is compelled to travel by these trains if he does not wish to do so.

Is not some pressure put on these men to compel them to travel by these trains?

I am aware of no pressure. I imagine that it is in the interests of the men themselves to get home rather than to dally in Devonport.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Royal Sailors' Rest was established partly to assist these men, and that the men are now debarred from taking their food in the Royal Sailors' Rest, with the result that the Royal Sailors' Rest is suffering very much materially?

Seeing that the majority of these men wish to leave Devonport as soon as they can, is there any reason why they should not make their purchases where they like in their own home towns?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty to what classes of workpeople in the Royal Dockyards he compares the wages paid to motor drivers; and will he issue a comparative table showing the wages paid to these workers?

As the reply is of a detailed nature, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The reply is as follows:

The above rates include 17s. a week War increases.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the Bill proposed by the French Minister of Marine to provide for some 60 naval air squadrons for the French naval air fleet; whether this Bill, if carried into effect, will affect the relative standard of strength of the air arm of the French and British Fleets; and, if so, to what extent?

I understand that the new French naval air squadrons will consist chiefly of aircraft employed on local and coast defence, and as such connot be compared with the British naval air units, which are part of the Fleet.

Is it a fact that one whole division of 12 squadrons is to be attached to the French Navy?

I would like separate notice of that question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of officers, previously pensioned and retired, who are now employed in the Admiralty?

Fifteen pensioned and retired officers are now employed at the Admiralty, of whom one only draws retired pay in addition to the appropriate emoluments of the position which he holds.

Why is this gentleman drawing retired pay?

He is employed in a temporary position and it is not worth while consolidating the pay.

Are there not other Navy men who are not on active service, and are competent to do this work to whom this money would be a God-send?

As I have explained this only applies to one man.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the case of one of the admirals?

He is not an admiral. He is a commander who is specially suited for the job.

An admiral surely can do a commander's job.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the nature of the work at the Admiralty which justifies an increase of 50 per cent. in the personnel of that Department as compared with the pre-War establishment?

The expansion of the Naval Staff and the development of all technical and experimental services due to the introduction of new weapons and forms of defence necessarily involve an increase in the staff of the Admiralty, which inevitably in all branches reflects the increasing complexity of modern warfare. Apart from the new duties, old duties are of greater complexity. As I stated in reply to a Supplementary Question by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on the 16th May, the numbers are constantly under review, with a view to effecting reductions.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War the number of officers, previously pensioned and retired, who are now employed in the War Office?

The number of such officers at present is 31.

Should not these duties be performed by civil servants?

No, it is a long-established practice, which is both an economy to the State and of advantage to the officers themselves.

Is it economy to allow ex-officers to walk about the streets starving and in rags?

The first consideration must be the public service, and it is an advantage to have certain functions performed by what is a variety of civil servant with military experience which is of great value in the War Department.

Is the hon. And gallant Gentleman not aware that Earl Haig has said that quite competent and qualified military men are walking about starving, and why cannot the hon. and gallant Member consider their claim to work instead of people on half-pay?

Earl Haig has never said that such men as those could do the work as well as the men who are at present employed.

May not inquiry be made whether they are capable or not? You do not know whether they are capable or not. It is a libel on the men.

What would the Department do if one of these men were to die?

There are many applications.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the Board of Inland Revenue have sent to the Inspectors of Taxes a letter on the rearrangements for taking over the D and E collection, in which the Board say that they will expect the appointment to be accepted or declined, but they will not be prepared to appoint separate collectors for D and E simply because the existing local collectors may not think it worth while to undertake the work in the changed conditions, and, if the appointment be refused in any case, immediate steps are to be taken to obtain nominations to fill the vacancy which will arise; and, as this peremptory manner of threatening the dismissal of public servants because they do not consider they are to be properly remunerated for additional work is not calculated to promote good relations and to secure a body of contented officials, will he appoint a small committee to consider the grounds of the widespread discontent among the local tax collectors with the new conditions?

The circumstances governing the transfer in 1921 of the collection of Income Tax under Schedules D and E from collectors of Customs and Excise to the local collectors in certain areas were explained in a reply given by my predecessor to the hon. Member for the Manchester Exchange Division (Sir E. Stockton) on the 18th April. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that reply.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the reorganisation of the Board of Inland Revenue has yet been completed; if so, what steps have been taken during regrading to put into operation Clause 2 of the Resolution of the House on 5th August, 1921, as to equality of opportunity for women; what branches of Inland Revenue work previously closed to women have now been open to them; whether women have now been excluded from any branch in which they were employed on 5th August, 1921; and what steps have been taken to ensure that women have an opportunity of training for the higher posts in the Department irrespective of those posts which involve solely supervision of staff?

The reorganisation of the Inland Revenue Department is approaching completion. In filling vacancies on the reorganised staff, women have been and are being appointed to posts for which they have qualified at examinations held by the Civil Service Commissioners, in accordance with the arrangements adopted for the Civil Service generally. No women have been excluded from employment in any branch in which they were employed on the 5th August, 1921. Women appointed to posts in the Department have an equal opportunity with men for qualifying for promotion to higher posts.

May I ask whether in the Inland Revenue the higher posts will be open to the less senior officials by promotion, or whether the higher posts are being confined to those of specific educational qualifications?

Really I cannot carry all the Regulations in my head. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a question?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will expedite the appointment of the Committee to inquire into the working of, and the desirability or otherwise of continuing, the State Printing Works at Harrow, so that the inquiry may proceed with the least delay possible?

I am taking steps to set up the Committee.

Will my right hon. Friend put this in order—at least, it is about time?

Really, I am a little surprised at my hon. Friend. I have been in office only about 10 days. I think I have got the consent of five or six gentlemen to serve on the Committee, and I hope to secure others.

It is because the right hon. Gentleman is doing so well that we expect so much.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the works are being conducted at a considerable profit by the State, and will he inform the House why any further inquiry is necessary?

I think it would be improper for me to prejudge the views of the Committee. Any evidence as to whether the works are being conducted at a profit or a loss will be before the Committee, and they will advise me when they have heard the evidence.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applicants for unemployment benefit have been denied benefit for the six months ending 30th November last and the six months ending 30th May this year who have been informed they are not genuinely seeking full-time employment; and whether this number are included in the reduction on the Exchanges' registers week by week?

These statistics have only been compiled since 1st May last. Between 1st and 28th May, 1923, the number of claimants in Great Britain who were refused benefit on the ground that they were not genuinely seeking full-time employment was 6,959. They would be removed from the Live Register if they failed to maintain registration, but not otherwise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the committees return these men as not genuinely seeking employment they have to resort to the guardians? Is there no possible chance of an appeal against the decision?

There is an appeal, in the case of uncovenanted benefit, through the Minister, but, generally speaking, the Minister is guided by the views of the committee. It is true that when they are removed from benefit other sources of help are open to them, but I do not think it would be reasonable to suggest that those who have refused to seek full-time employment should continue to receive benefit.

Who is the deciding factor on the question whether men are genuinely seeking employment or not?

All the circumstances are taken into consideration in each case.

Has an instruction been sent out to the Exchanges instructing the committees that those who have been two years out of employment are to be considered as not genuine?

No.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a circular has been issued to the managers and advisory officers of Employment Exchanges in structing them to reduce by all means the number of people to whom unemployed benefit is being paid?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that William Carey, 24, Fairfield Street, Govan, has received no benefit since 15th March and has now been refused benefit on the ground that he was not genuinely seeking employment; that he handed three certificates from firms to whom he had applied to the Exchange officials, who mislaid them; and that he produced two others when he went before the unemployment committee; and whether, in view of the fact that evidence was produced by him that he was genuinely seeking employment, his case will be re-opened and benefit paid?

I am having inquiries made in the case, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that applicants for unemployment benefit are being asked to obtain certificates from firms to whom they apply for work to prove that they are genuinely seeking employment; whether he is aware that a number of men in Govan who produced such certificates are still being refused benefit on the ground that they are not genuinely seeking employment; and whether he will issue instructions to have such certificates when asked for recognised or, if they are not to be recognised, to issue instructions to discontinue the request for the production of such certificates?

I am not aware of the circumstances in the cases referred to by the hon. Member, but I am having inquiry made and will communicate the result to him. I may, however, point out that the production of a certificate of the kind in question is not sufficient in itself to show that an applicant is genuinely seeking work; it is a piece of evidence to be considered with all the other facts in the individual case.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is the general practice to ask the unemployed men to get a certificate, and that it is impossible in many cases to get it, and could not a better arrangement be made?

It is, as I have said, a piece of evidence, and obviously a very important piece of evidence, if it is available. If it is not available the committees are entitled to take evidence of another character, and indeed it is proper that they should do so.

Are they not penalised if they do not produce a certificate, and it is not the sole evidence they can give?

Would it not be better for an arrangement to be made with the employer for him to give the men a certificate or a signed paper to show how he stands?

We rely upon the assistance of the public, including both sides, employers and workmen, in the administration of this great Act, and as a rule we do get the assistance in this direction from the employers. In regard to the other point I am not aware, though allegations have been made, of any actual case such as that mentioned by the hon. Member; if any are brought to my notice I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the amount of the receipts of the Unemployment Insurance Fund from employers' contributions, workpeople's contributions, and the State contribution, respectively, during the four months ended 30th April, and the amounts of the expenditure during the same period on benefits and administration, respectively?

The figures for the four months ended 30th April, 1923, are as follow:—

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Ministry of Labour recently sent a party of skilled British workmen to France for employment in French motor and locomotive works; whether it is proposed to send a further number with the same object; whether he is aware that the lack of employment in the British commercial motor-vehicle industry is mainly due to the unrestricted importation of commercial vehicles as war surplus and as the exports from protected countries; and whether he will support the proposal to put commercial vehicles on the same footing as private cars and cabs as regards import duty in order to assist in retaining skilled British workmen in this country rather than assist them to find employment abroad?

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that up to the present 31 men have been sent to employment in France through the agency of the Ministry of Labour, 23 to railway workshops and eight to motor works; the question of sending further parties is under consideration. As regards the third part of the question, I am aware that representations have been made in the sense suggested, and as regards the fourth part, I regret that I am unable to adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal.

With regard to the third part of the question, will the right hon. Gentleman state his views?

The third and fourth parts of the question together suggest that an alteration in our tariff system should be made, in order to prevent these commercial vehicles coming in, and I am bound by the decision of the Government not to make any alteration of tariffs at present.

asked the Minister of Labour what is his present estimate of persons unemployed, or partly unemployed, in Great Britain; and what steps he is taking, or proposes to take, to deal with the situation?

The only figure I can give is the number of persons on the live registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain, which, on 28th May, was 1,221,300. The policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to unemployment has been frequently announced in this House during debate.

Has the right hon. Gentleman no estimate of the number of persons who are unemployed but not on the register?

It is very difficult to get the figure. I have dealt with the point several times in debate. The hon. and gallant Member knows as well as I do the difficulty of arriving at a figure.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed males, females, and young persons registered in the County of London at the end of May; and how the figures compare with the same date in 1922?

The numbers of men, women, and juveniles under 18 on the live registers of Employment Exchanges in the County of London on 28th May, 1923, were 100,107, 23,223 and 7,407, respectively. The corresponding figures for 29th May, 1922, were 109,452, 25,576 and 6,498.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the reduction in unemployment is reflected in the returns of unemployment from the areas which furnished the most serious statistics on 1st January, 1923; and whether, if this is not the case, he will consider the desirability of dealing with the grave position of affairs in those areas which are admittedly entitled to preferential treatment?

At 1st January, 1923, the numbers registered as unemployed in the 12 areas showing the most serious unemployment amounted to 210,560. At 28th May, 1923, the numbers in those areas had fallen to 179,240. There was a reduction in each of these areas, except one, where the increase was not large.

I assume that the one area referred to is Barrow. The conditions there are becoming absolutely appalling. Can nothing be done to deal with it?

As a matter of fact, Barrow is not the case in point.

asked the Minister of Labour what reduction there has been during each of the last four weeks in the number of men and women, respectively, who were totally unemployed; and whether he can state the trades or districts in which the greater reductions have taken place?

Owing to increases during the last two weeks, the number on the live registers of the Employment Exchanges at the end of May was about 3,000 more than at the beginning. There was a net increase of 29,000 in textiles, chiefly cotton, and 10,000 in shipbuilding. In most other trades there was a decrease, or no increase, the most pronounced decrease being one of about 15,000 in building.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the men employed by the City Glass Bottle Works, Ford Park Road, Canning Town, are standing off one week in five, and have been refused unemployment benefit for the week they are unemployed under the six days' waiting period Regulation; whether this Regulation was meant to apply to such a case; and if he could make arrangements for these men to receive unemployment pay, as otherwise they will be out of work for 10 weeks in a year without receiving any benefits?

Under the new rule governing the continuity of unemployment as laid down in the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1923, benefit is not payable for the weeks of unemployment in the case of persons standing off one week in five. After employment for three weeks or more a fresh waiting period of six days is invariably required. The rule is statutory, and I have no power to vary it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received representations from Somerset and other areas to the effect that the leaflets issued by his Department in respect of covenanted and uncovenanted unemployment insurance benefit are too complicated to be understood; and whether he will take steps to remedy the defect?

I am not aware of any representations of this kind with regard to leaflets issued to the public. Certain of the local employment committees have suggested that the directions issued to them might be put in simpler language. I will endeavour to meet this request in the codification of these directions which is now being prepared; but I am afraid a certain amount of complication is inevitable owing to the wide extent of the unemployment insurance scheme and the various restrictions which are necessary in order to prevent abuse.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of men employed in the building trades who were registered as unemployed in the County of London at the end of May; and can he give any details of the numbers in the principal trades, such as bricklayers, carpenters, and plasterers?

The number of men in the building trades registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in the County of London on 31st May was 13,728. I am circulating certain details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the details referred to:

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that before the lock-out of the boilermakers on the north-east coast instructions were circulated by the employers' federation to their associated firms that in the event of their being approached by managers of Employment Exchanges as to the reason their workmen are unemployed the Employment Exchange should be informed definitely, in the case of members of the Boilermakers' Society, that the men are taking part in a trade dispute, and in the case of other men who are not members of the said society who have been suspended or paid off the Exchange should be informed that such men have been paid off in consequence of a trade dispute; and, as such information has acted prejudicially against the claims of workers on Tyneside, what action does he propose to take in the matter?

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, prior to the lock-out of the boilermakers on the north-east coast on 30th April, the North-East Coast Ship-repairing Employers' Association privately made arrangements to inform the local Employment Exchange officials that all members of the Boiler makers' Society in the district were now taking part in a trade dispute, and that all other men who were suspended or paid off because of the lock-out had been paid off because of a trade dispute; and if he will issue instructions to the Employment Exchange as to the manner in which such representations should be dealt with?

I have seen a copy of a circular issued on 3rd May by the North-East Coast Ship-repairers' Association. Employment Exchanges are bound to make inquiry from employers as to the reasons why an applicant for unemployment benefit lost his last employment, and I have no power to control the reply given by the employer to such inquiries. The applicant is safeguarded by the instruction that a copy of the employer's reply must be sent to him by the Exchange. Any counter-statement which the applicant or his association may wish to make is submitted with the employer's reply to the Insurance Officer, who, if he thinks it necessary, makes further inquiries before giving a decision. The decision of the Insurance Officer is subject to the applicant's right of appeal to the Court of Referees, and, in certain cases, to the Umpire. The procedure I have indicated secures, in my view, the impartiality of the Exchanges.

Is there any law which can be used to prosecute people who make false statements in reply to the Government in cases of this sort?

That is a question of law which I am not prepared to answer off-hand.

Will the Minister have these matters referred to the committee which was appointed under the Act to consider such questions?

I do not quite know to what committee my hon. Friend refers. There is no committee to deal with this question of employers' replies.

asked the Ministry of Labour whether the committee appointed to consider the payment of benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act to persons rendered idle by virtue of a trade dispute in which they are not directly concerned has met under the presidency of the new chairman; and, if not, can he say when the committee will be called together?

The Trade Dispute Disqualification Committee has been called together twice, on the 15th May and on the 29th May, under the chairmanship of Mr. W. B. Yates, who was appointed to succeed the late Sir Thomas Munro. On the last occasion the Committee did not proceed with the matters before them, as there was only one mem- ber present other than the Chairman and the two official members. A further meeting has been called for 29th June.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that the case of J. Dunderdale, of 16, George Street, Preston, who died in penury in 1920 as a result of the refusal of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners to pay benefits due to him from that society because in 1918 he had refused to leave his job in the gun-packing department of Dick, Kerr, and Company in order to join in a strike, was submitted to the then Prime Minister, and that the latter pledged himself, by letters dated the 27th October and 27th November, 1919, to communicate the result of the Government's deliberations how best to help this man as soon as a decision is arrived at; whether, since no communication has since been received although Dunderdale is now dead and his widow in poverty, he will state when he expects that a decision on the question will be reached; what hopes he can hold out in this matter;

(2) whether he is aware that in March, 1918, the representative of the Ministry of Munitions at Manchester promised, on behalf of the Government, that, if the men then employed on gun-packing at Messrs. Dick, Kerr, and Company's works, Preston, remained at work during a strike in the aircraft section of such company, they would be indemnified against loss; that this promise was repeated in August, 1918, at Preston; and that five of these men are to-day deprived of all sick-pay, pensions, and out-of-work benefit, in spite of having paid contributions for over 20 years, by the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners expressly because of their action during the strike in question; and if he has now decided whether the promises made in 1918 will be kept?

The questions appear to relate to circumstances which arose five years ago and to have come under the cognisance of the Ministry of Munitions which has now been wound up. I will cause inquiry to be made into the cases referred to and will communicate further with my hon. and learned Friend.

Are we to understand that undertakings given by one Prime Minister are not continued by a subsequent Government, if they be personal pledges to a particular man?

That question assumes a set of facts about which I am not certain, because the matters are not within my cognisance, and I must make inquiries. I cannot presume that there was any pledge, but I will inquire into the whole of the circumstances forthwith.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, if necessary, obtain information on this point from the five men whose names I have given and who are still being victimised for their loyalty during the War?

Can the right hon. Gentleman use some influence with the hon. Gentleman who asked the main question in order that the hon. Gentleman might secure accurate information before he makes statements in this House?

I shall be very glad of assistance from any source to secure accurate information on the point, including the help of the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled men are at present receiving training, the trades for which they are being trained, and the numbers allotted to each trade; whether any men are being trained as tinkers; and, if so, will he give the House the details of such training?

There are at present 13,655 disabled men receiving training in 332 different trades. Men are trained as travelling tinkers if they are prepared to work on their own account in the repair of household utensils, sharpening of knives, saws, scissors, etc., riveting china and repairing simple household machines, such as knife-cleaning machines, mangles or lawn mowers. The course is one of 12 months, during the first part of which the men are trained at the bench in the use of tinsmiths' and millwrights' tools, and in the latter part are given practice and instruction in actual repair work.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many of the men trained in these particular industries have become self-supporting?

I cannot answer without notice. All I can say is that the success of those men who have been trained in what might be called the smaller industrial avenues has been, on the whole, very encouraging.

32. To ask the Minister of Labour what is the present position with regard to the re-opening of the diamond works at Brighton and, in view of the fact that unemployed diamond cutters are at present costing the State some £70,000 per annum in doles and that there are many cases of distress amongst ex-service men in Brighton formerly employed at these works, can a definite decision be come to at an early date; and, if so, when this will be done?

I desire to ask this question on behalf of my hon. Friend.

May I remind the House that as a rule, on the second round, questions can only be asked on behalf of an hon. Member in his absence, and after a specific request by him.

Are you aware, Mr. Speaker, that there is a little understanding between myself and my colleagues that if one be away, and there be a second round of questions, the question is put on behalf of one or the other of us by one present?

That question was raised some time ago, and I gave an answer that it must be a specific request for the day on which the question is down.

Does that mean that we must get permission from the hon. Member the same day the question is on the Order Paper?

Questions are on the Paper in sufficient time for a communication to be made from one Member to another, and, as I say, there must be a specific request.

Can you make an exception to-day, seeing that it is Derby Day?

I did notice on my left that there was an unusual number of absentees to-day!

This question was discussed between my hon. Friend in whose name this question stands and myself, and, in effect, it is the question of both of us.

The Government, decided, subject to their obtaining the necessary powers from this House, to guarantee a sum of £150,000 on certain conditions to enable the Brighton diamond factory to be re-opened. Heads of agreement embodying the conditions were signed on Monday by the firm concerned, and steps are now being taken to prepare a formal argument and to obtain the necessary sanction of this House. In the interests of the ex-service men whom the guarantee is intended to assist, I hope that no time will be lost in completing the arrangements. So far as I am concerned, there has been, and shall be, no avoidable delay. I am surprised to find that the hon. Member does not yet realise that unemployment benefit is paid, not by the State alone, but out of a fund to which employers, workers and the State all contribute, the State being the smallest contributor of the three.

asked the Minister of Health what is the authority for the statement contained in the Report of Dr. Bruce Lowe, issued by the Local Government Board in 1918, that out of 1,093 cases of small-pox in Germany amongst re-vaccinated persons 67 died; who is responsible for the issue of a pamphlet by the Ministry of Health, entitled Small-Pox Vaccination, for which a charge of 3d. is made; for what years are the figures given in the case of London, Paris, Vienna, and Austria; and will he have them brought up to date and statistics for Italy included?

My right hon. Friend is informed that the statement referred to in the first part of the question was made on the authority of German official statistics. He assumes that the pamphlet mentioned in the second part of the question is that entitled "Small-pox and Vaccination," which was issued in 1921 by direction of his predecessor, the right hon. Baronet the Member for West Swansea. The figures given on page 7 of the pamphlet for London, Paris, Vienna and Austria are, as stated in the pamphlet, the small-pox death rates for the years 1870 to 1881. I will send the hon. Member a statement giving such figures relating to these places and to Italy as are available for the years from 1881 onwards.

asked the Minister of Health what is the percentage of vaccinated and unvaccinated cases in the City of Leicester for the past five years; how many cases of small-pox have been notified for the city during this period; and the number of deaths, if any, from small-pox during the same period?

I assume that the first part of the question relates to the children born in Leicester during the past five years. Particulars are not yet available for 1922, but during the previous five years only 3·5 per cent. of the newly-born children were vaccinated, the bulk of the remainder being exempted from vaccination by reason of their parents or guardians making statutory declarations of conscientious objection. No cases of small-pox have been notified in Leicester and there have been no deaths from that disease during the past five years.

asked the Minister of Health what was the age of each of the fatal cases of small-pox that occurred in the recent London outbreak; and whether the cases entered as doubtful as regards vaccination in the hospital register have been included by him in the unvaccinated class?

I will send the hon. Member statement giving the age of each of the fatal cases. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister whether the inquiry as to the Regulations made under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Act has yet been instituted; who will make the inquiry; and what are the terms of reference?

Owing to the illness of the Lord Chancellor I have been unable to consult him on this subject, but I hope shortly to be in a position to announce the names of the Committee and the terms of reference.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the strong feeling among Lancashire trade unionists and among the great majority of their representatives in Parliament in favour of repealing the Trade Disputes Act, 1906, Section 4 (3) ( a ) of the Trade Union Act, 1871, and the Trade Union Act, 1913; and whether he will consider the desirability of legislation next Session in order to give effect to this desire?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer which I gave on the 19th April last in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Mr. Clarry). I hope that the conference referred to may be arranged at an early date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, as well as consulting the leaders of the trade unions on this question, also consult Members who actually represent industrial constituencies?

Will the right hon. Gentleman have an examination made of the Election addresses of the hon. and learned Member who asked the question and those supporting him, to ascertain how far they pledged themselves to this, before proceeding with any legislation?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the County of Durham was made the cockpit at the General Election on this question by the party of the hon. and learned Member for Moss Side Division (Mr. Hurst), and that Labour gained two seats for every one they had before the Election?

Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that to go on with this question means interfering with the principle of tranquillity?

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to ensure that the scientific research efforts now being made in Britain in the direction of discovering the cause and cure of cancer are not hindered by lack of funds?

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the fact that profound public anxiety has been aroused by the knowledge that nearly 15 per cent. of those living beyond 30 die from cancer, and that during the last three decades an alarming and progressive increase has taken place in the deaths from this disease, that not only has no cure been discovered, but also the cause and causation of the malady is still a mystery, he will endeavour to procure a large increase in the present inadequate subsidy granted by the Treasury for the furtherance and encouragement of cancer research; and will his Department take control of such research, so that it may be co-ordinated so far as notification and clinical information as to incidence are concerned?

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the increase in the number of persons suffering from cancer; and whether any, and, if so, what steps are being taken by his Department to prevent the spread of this disease?

I will, with permission, answer these questions together and in reply refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Alfred T. Davies) on the 4th June.

asked the Minister of Health whether in cases where a local authority is satisfied it can secure from abroad a satisfactory cement for road making and other purposes at a cheaper price than that quoted by the British cement trust it will receive payments from the Unemployed Grants Committee to which it would otherwise be entitled?

The question of the powers of the Unemployment Grants Committee in such a case as that referred to by the hon. Member is under the consideration of my right hon. Friend.

Will the Noble Lord ask the Committee to re-consider the relative advantage to the local authority, under the Unemployment Grants Committee, of getting a satisfactory cement at 46s. as compared with 59s. charged by the British combine; and will the authorities be penalised if they continue to go to the cheaper market?

These are, of course, elementary considerations which will be taken into account.

Are they before the Committee?