asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the delay in the ratification of the Commercial Treaty between His Majesty's Government and Poland is depriving exporters from this country to Poland of the benefit of most-favoured-nation treatment; and whether he can take any steps to expedite the ratification of this Treaty?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the President of the Board of Trade on the 13th instant to the hon. Member for Southport. His Majesty's Government have been, and are, doing everything possible to expedite ratification.

Is the ratification of this Treaty being kept back owing to pressure from the Russian Government on our Government?

I require notice of that question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of lieutenant-commanders in the Royal Navy who are unemployed, and the number who have been unemployed for more than two years?

The number of lieutenant-commanders at present unemployed is 91, of whom two have been unemployed for more than two years.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, during the General Election of 1918, an Admiralty instruction was issued permitting naval officers on full pay to run as candidates for Parliament; whether the instruction has been revoked; and, if so, when?

Rules for the 1918 Election were issued soon after the Armistice in November, 1918, when a very large proportion of the community were still under naval or military discipline. The rules then issued provided that officers and men might be given leave lo stand for Parliament, and that if elected they would "not during the continuance of the War be placed on half-pay," but would be allowed to fulfil their Parliamentary duties subject to the exigencies of the Service. It was added that at the end of the War, officers elected would go on half-pay and be subject to the ordinary rules of retirement for non-service. On 2nd January, 1919, demobilisation of temporary officers having proceeded further, this rule was amended to read that officers when elected would go on half pay. In short, a temporary exception to the ordinary rule in this matter was made, and was notified as being temporary in November, 1918; and the ordinary rule of naval officer candidates going on half pay was resumed on 2nd January, 1919.

Will the Minister send me a copy of the present instructions?

Certainly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when it is proposed to publish the official account of the Battle of Jutland; and what it is proposed to publish?

The date for publication depends on the time taken to produce and check certain diagrams. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the printing of these diagrams by the first firm employed, it has recently been found necessary to employ a second firm. It is, therefore, not possible to forecast the exact date of completion. The letter press is complete. The publication will be a plain statement, in narrative form, of all the available facts, and their relation to each other, which bear upon the action known as the Battle of Jutland. Lord Jellicoe has criticised some of the statements in the narrative, and his criticisms are being published in the form of an appendix to the narrative, with explanatory notes by the Admiralty giving briefly the reasons why the conclusions published in the narrative differ from the opinions expressed by Lord Jellicoe.

Are we to understand that the printing troubles have accounted for the last three or four years' delay in the publication of the Report, and may we take it that there will now be no undue delay in publishing this document?

The Noble Lord will understand that I am not in possession of the details of this matter, but I will pass his question on to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty.

Who represents the Admiralty in the House?

The Parliamentary Secretary is engaged on other business.

Is he playing a golf match?

As the letterpress is already in existence, can that be published without the diagrams?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of acres of land purchased by the late Government from the Bukit Sembawang Rubber Company, Limited, with the object of establishing a naval base at Singapore; the price paid per acre; the number of acres of land recently purchased now leased to the Bukit Sembawang Rubber Company; when the lease contract was formed; the terms of lease; the monthly rental realised; and as to whether the land leased was fully cultivated for rubber production?

The reply to the first part of the question is none, as the land for the projected naval base was acquired by the Government of the Straits Settlements. We have no information as to what transactions have passed in the Colony with regard to it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will consider the setting up of an independent tribunal similar to the appeal boards of the Ministry of Pensions to whom naval invalided ratings may state their case if they are dissatisfied with the degree of disability assessed by naval medical boards, observing that under present naval regulations a naval attributable disability pensioner has no right of appeal against the degree of assessment?

The matter is under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that considerable delay occurs in the payment of bonuses granted to dockyard workmen who are discharged after 10 years' service; and whether he will take steps to remove the causes of delay?

I am not clear as to the precise cases of men discharged after 10 years' service to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. Hired dockyard employés are eligible for gratuities under the Superannuation Acts after seven years if discharged on reduction, and after 15 years if discharged on account of age or infirmity, and these are normally paid without unnecessary delay. The recent transfer of 7s. a week from industrial bonus to substantive pay, however, has given rise to difficulties as to the correct method of calculating superannuation awards in certain cases. These difficulties, I am glad to say, are now in course of being surmounted, and I hope that it may shortly be possible to issue full awards to the men affected, the majority of whom have already received substantial advances, in accordance with the usual practice when final awards are delayed. Should there be any cases of apparent delay still outstanding I shall be glad to inquire further into them if I can be furnished with full particulars.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can state the number of jobs which have been found for the unemployed by the Employment Exchanges during the last 12 monthly periods?

During the 12 months ended 7th April, 1924, the number of vacancies filled by Employment Exchanges in Great Britain was 962,063. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the details for each month in the period.

Does the right hon. Gentleman expect the same number of jobs to be found in future?

The figures show that since the present Government took office a great many more jobs have been found than before.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether the jobs that have been found since the present Government took office are due to the efforts of this Government or of the previous Government?

The facts are there.

Following are the details: 4 weeks ended 7th May, 1923 … 76,290 4 weeks ended 4th June, 1923 … 65,684 4 weeks ended 2nd July, 1923 … 62,830 5 weeks ended 6th Aug., 1923 … 81,331 4 weeks ended 3rd Sept., 1923 … 58,312 5 weeks ended 8th Oct., 1923 … 77,738 4 weeks ended 5th Nov., 1923 … 70,173 4 weeks ended 3rd Dec., 1923 … 80,049 5 weeks ended 7th Jan., 1924 … 97,138 4 weeks ended 4th Feb., 1924 … 84,584 4 weeks ended 3rd March, 1924 … 89,714 5 weeks ended 7th April, 1924 … 118,220 Total … 962,063

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, owing to the Middlesbrough Corporation having already expended £1,102,585 on unemployed relief works and owing to their local rates being 20s. in the £, they have passed a resolution declaring their inability to proceed with further schemes unless they receive an increased rate of financial assistance from the Government; and will he favourably consider this request in view of the large percentage of unemployed in that town?

I have no exact information as to the total amount spent by the Middlesbrough Corporation on works to relieve unemployment, and although I am informed that the local rates are approximately the figure mentioned by the hon. Member, I was not aware of the resolution he quotes. It would not be possible, I am afraid, to vary the general terms of financial assistance in favour of particular localities.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it is possible to vary the scale for those towns that have abnormally heavy rates due to unemployment?

Would the right hon. Gentleman not support this Corporation in carrying out the official labour policy of providing work rather than doles?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. A. J. Scott, of 3, Clarence Cottages, The Square, Purton, having made application for the position of postman at Purton, received a communication from the Swindon Employment Exchange asking him to call at 9 a.m. on 12th May; that when Mr. Scott called, in response to the official request, he was informed that the post for which he applied had been filled; and if the Employment Exchange was carrying out Regulations laid down by the Ministry of Labour in asking an out-of-work ex-service man to make a journey of 12 miles in order to convey to him information which could have been sent by letter?

I am having local inquiries made and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the persons employed on schemes for the relief of unemployment on 25th April, 1924, owe their employment to schemes initiated in the first instance by the present Government?

I would remind the hon. Member of the reply I gave him on Wednesday last. Figures showing the information asked for are not available, but, as stated in that reply, the number employed on relief works on 25th April was 15,669 greater than at the beginning of the year.

Is it a fact that not one single person has been put into employment by the present Government?

Hon. Members opposite will have a better opportunity of getting my scalp to-morrow.

Why cannot the Minister give a definite reply in view of the Debate to-morrow?

Hon. Members do not want the scalp of the right hon. Gentleman, but want to know whether the Government have made any arrangements to increase employment in this country?

I shall be glad in my speech to-morrow to show that the phenomenal decrease in unemployment is directly due to the policy of the Government.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men have so far obtained employment out of schemes entirely initiated by the present Government; and whether he can state how many men have so far lost employment as a result of the decision to do away with the McKenna Duties?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the Noble and gallant Member to the reply given earlier to-day to the hon. Member for East Hull (Mr. Lumley). As regards the second part of the question, I would refer to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Bucks (Captain Bowyer).

Is it not the case that the right hon. Gentleman has not answered the question of the hon. Member for East Hull (Mr. Lumley) at all—that he has not answered the specific point raised—and may I ask him for these figures which are required for use in the Debate to-morrow?

I have already said the Department has not got the figures.

May we take it that the Government have no ideas on the subject of obtaining employment for those now out of work?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the great dissatisfaction existing among insured persons in Shoreditch on account of the refusal of uncovenanted unemployment benefit in many cases in which, according to the Regulations, it should be allowed; and will he take such steps as may be necessary in order to ensure that such benefit is allowed by the Shoreditch Employment Exchange in accordance with the letter and spirit of the existing law and Regulations?

I am not aware of the position to which my hon. Friend alludes, but if he will give, me details of any specific cases in which it is alleged that uncovenanted benefit has been wrongly refused, I will gladly have inquiry made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware it is not a matter of a specific case or a small number of specific cases, but of a large number of cases where self-respecting unemployed men who are entitled to uncovenanted benefit have been refused that benefit, and have been insulted by being told—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]

Will the questioner attend to the discrepancies and injustice in his own Department before coming into another?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the growing unemployment in the motor industry in this country owing to the repeal of the McKenna Duties and to the great demand in French factories for skilled workmen, where they are at present short-handed, he will take steps to see that the British skilled artisans that are being displaced are given information as to vacancies for similar jobs in France?

I am not aware of any great increase in unemployment in the motor industry. As regards bringing vacancies in France to the notice of workmen in this country, arrangements for this purpose in conjunction with the French Ministry of Labour have been in operation for the last 14 months. During that period more than half the men sent to France under these arrangements were motor mechanics, and for various reasons nearly all of them have since returned to this country.

In view of the extra unemployment, will the right hon. Gentleman do his best to bring, to the notice of men dispossesed of work the fact that there is employment in France, and will he do his best to see that these men secure employment?

I will give any applicant all the facts and leave him to judge for himself on the facts as to whether France is better than this country.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that 300 men were dismissed last Friday at a large motor works in Lancashire? [HON. MEMBERS: "Which one?"]

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, to the last convenient date, the total amount of grants from national funds to juvenile unemployment centres?

The total amount of grants accrued to local authorities in respect of juvenile unemployment centres since the beginning of 1923 is about £67,000.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has been able to give further consideration to the arrangement whereby unemployed dock workers are obliged to sign at the Employment Exchanges twice daily; and if he can now see his way to modify this Regulation?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the questions put to me on this matter on the 12th March. While the general requirement of signature twice daily must be maintained, I am always ready to consider any special cases of difficulty.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the unemployed in that district have to sign at the Alexandria (Dumbarton) Exchange four days a week; that this reacts against the men seeking employment, as it necessitates travelling to Dumbarton, Clydebank, and Glasgow, the, latter 20 miles away; and that the only hopeful days of visiting works are Monday and Tuesday, on which days the register has to be signed; and if he will consider reducing the number of days when signing is necessary or, alternatively, change the days for signing to the later days of the week?

I am having inquiries made, and will communicate the result immediately to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour when he proposes to introduce a Bill to ratify the Washington Convention concerning hours of labour?

I am not yet in a position to indicate the precise date on which I shall introduce this Bill.

Why should not this Bill deal with employés in the distributing trades, and particularly in shops?

That point does not arise.

asked the Minister of Labour the number and nature of the home-training classes proposed and now in existence; and whether there has been any objection and, if so, of what nature to this policy?

The Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment inform me that the existing number of home-training centres is 57, with accommodation for 2,530 women and girls. 12 more are about to open and a further 13 are under consideration. They provide instruction for unemployed women in domestic and allied subjects. I am not aware of any recent objection to this training.

Are these centres taken advantage of?

My information is "Yes."

asked the Minister of Labour the number of officials employed in the Statistical Department of the Ministry of Labour in the years 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924, respectively?

The number of officers employed in the Statistics Branch of the Ministry of Labour on the 1st April in each of the years referred to in the question is as follows: 1920 … … … … 252 1921 … … … … 391 1922 … … … … 241 1923 … … … … 153 1924 … … … … 162

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider his staff is large enough, in view of the appetite of Members of this House for statistics?

I am positively certain the staff would have to be materially strengthened if I had to give the information asked for by hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, bearing in mind the heavy and growing expenditure incurred in the maintenance of the statistics division of the Ministry of Labour, amounting now to nearly £60,000 a year, he will appoint a Departmental Committee to inquire into the organisation of the division with a view to adding to its usefulness and ensuring that information of obvious interest to the House and to the public, such, for instance, as particulars of the extent to which aliens participate in unemployment benefit, shall be readily available?

The expenditure upon the statistics division of the Ministry of Labour in 1921–22 was £97,337 as compared with the estimate for the current year of £59,602. This much reduced figure shows a comparatively small increase over last year's estimate, which is principally due to an anticipated additional expenditure in connection with Trade Boards Acts. I am entirely satisfied with the method and results of the work which the division has been able to carry out with the reduced staff at its disposal, and I see no reason for the appointment of such a committee as is suggested.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it advisable to get the information in regard to aliens?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why, as there are nearly 200 still employed in this Department, he cannot give the information asked for in this House?

If the hon. Member will consider the work of this Department and the ramifications of the Ministry of Labour, he will find that they are worked to the top of their bent.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it is sometimes penny-wise and pound-foolish to adopt such a policy?

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the dispute existing between the men employed at the India stores depot, who are in receipt of wages amounting to from 44s. to 48s. per week, and the Indian Government; if his Department has offered its services to try and secure a settlement; and, if so, with what result?

The dispute has been reported to me by the Union, and I am at present in communication with the High Commissioner for India in the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to cases in which trade unions in the engineering industry have placed limitations on the number of automatic lathes and other automatic machinery which may be operated by individual workmen in the motor and other similar branches of the trade whereby the output of the industry is handicapped as compared with the freedom from restraint possessed by American and other foreign workers in engineering trades; and whether he proposes to take powers to deal with the matter?

My attention has not been drawn to cases of the kind to which the hon. Member refers. As the hon. Member is probably aware, there are agreed arrangements for the discussion of working conditions in the industry by the employers' and workers' organisations, and I see no reason to interfere in the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the facts are as stated in my question—that there is interference with a number of men working with automatic instruments—

Rubbish!

On a point of Order. When an hon. Member puts a perfectly proper question to a Minister, is he not entitled to ask that question without an hon. Gentleman on the other side calling out the most offensive term "rubbish"?

Is it not to be presumed that an hon. Member of this House asking a question in relation to a particular industry should know the elementary facts about that industry?

Hon. Members will please allow me to conduct these proceedings. The interruption was quite irregular, and should not have been made.

I disregard the interruption. May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the facts stated in the question are not within his knowledge, and does he not think it desirable, in view of the urgency of getting the largest possible output from our factories, that he should take some steps in the matter to stop these restrictions?

—

That is a repetition of the question on the Paper.

On a point of Order. The Minister said there were certain means of dealing with this matter, and my supplementary question was whether he, as Minister of Labour, did not think it desirable that he should take some steps to deal with it.

Deal with it as a sweated industry.

I understood the Minister's reply to cover that point.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to consider the desirability of amending Section 1, Sub-section (1) of the Poor Law Act, 1899, by substituting 21 years for 18 years of age as the limit of age of vesting of parental powers in the guardians where the guardians consider that, in the interests of the person with respect to whom a resolution of vesting is passed, the extension of the age limit is necessary or desirable?

As I have said in reply to previous questions. I am not aware of any sufficient ground for introducing legislation for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Middlesbrough Corporation, having regard to the slow rate of progress in their existing housing schemes, have recently held conferences with the local building trade operatives who have guaranteed to find the necessary labour for a scheme for providing houses by direct labour; and, under these circumstances, will he reconsider his refusal to allow the Middlesbrough Corporation to erect 30 houses by direct labour?

I am prepared to reopen this question, and have arranged for my officers to discuss the question raised with representatives of the local authority.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has refused permission to the Bethnal Green Board of Guardians to build rooms over their existing building to provide accommodation for their nurses; whether he is aware that it is necessary that they should have accommodation near their work so that they can tend their patients; and whether he will receive a deputation from the board on the subject?

I understand that the need for this additional accommodation is not very urgent, and I have accordingly suggested that in view of the shortage of building labour it should be postponed. I am, however, quite prepared to consider any further representations which the guardians may desire to submit to me.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are no rooms where these nurses can be accommodated, owing to the overcrowded conditions in the neighbourhood, and will he consider the use of concrete instead of bricks, if bricks are not available, for the upper floor?

Yes, I am prepared to consider that and any other point that may be raised in this connection.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can explain why a term of years of apprenticeship is specified in the report on the building industry, while adopting the principle of admission to these trades by test; and whether, if a man applied for a test and could perform it without being able to specify any consecutive number of years as an apprentice, he would be employed in any of these trades?

I will make inquiry from the Housing Committee on the point mentioned and inform my hon. Friend in due course.

Arising oat of this somewhat serious question, I want to ask for an assurance from the Minister, if that be possible, that nothing will be done to interfere with the present method of apprenticeship in our trade. I want that assurance now.

I have no intention of submitting legislation that would interfere with industrial relations and the apprenticeship system in this country. That is a matter for the trade unions and the employers themselves.

Then why is it that what I have stated in my question is contained in the report; if it be wrong, why is it there, and if it be right, why should the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry?

What is the Housing Committee of which the right hon. Gentleman is going to make inquiry, and if it is the Building Committee, is he prepared to accept the decision of that Committee as controlling the building industry of this country?

No, I am not prepared to accept that, and it is as a matter of courtesy to the hon. Member who puts the question and to the House that I will endeavour to obtain the information for my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health whether the proposed Government Housing Bill will enable a local authority, which has received sanction for a scheme under the 1923 Housing Act, to carry out the scheme under the provisions of the proposed Bill?

I would suggest that the hon. Member should await the introduction of the Bill.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he will introduce that Bill?

I think I state, in reply to a subsequent question on the Paper, that, without giving any definite pledge, I hope to introduce it before Whitsuntide.

Introduce it?

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to introduce any further legislation relating to rent restriction or evictions?

I can add nothing to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member in reply to his question of the 19th May.

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate when he will be able to deal with this important matter?

asked the Minister of Health if he can give the reason for the increase in the cost of building parlour-houses from £386 in January last to £425 in April; and when he anticipates the cost of building houses will be reduced correspondingly with the cost of living to about 75 per cent. above pre-War prices?

The increase, due to the actual increase in market price of materials and in rates of wages since January last, is equivalent, on the average, to about £5 10s. per non-parlour house. I hope that with the adoption of the Government's proposals difficulties of shortage of labour and materials will be removed, and that the excess cost may be sensibly reduced.

How can the Minister of Health say that the increase, due to labour and material, is only £5 10s., when the houses have gone up £40 a piece?

I can only say that that is the amount of increase due to the increase in the price of materials. I have no doubt the other part of the increase is due to the vigorous operation of private enterprise.

What is the right hon. Gentleman going to do to prevent these prices continuing to rise?

Are we to understand that the attitude of the Government is that of being entirely opposed to private enterprise?

I take it that the attitude of those who are questioning the increase in prices is opposed to private enterprise!

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my question as to what the Government propose to do to check this rise in prices?

The question of the Noble Lord is hardly one to be answered at Question time; it is a matter for debate.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why private enterprise has only begun to operate vigorously since he became Minister of Health? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer!"]

These points, no doubt, are very interesting, but they are hardly suitable for dealing with by question and answer.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to introduce a Housing Bill or make any statement on the Government's housing proposals before the Whitsuntide Recess?

While giving no pledge on the matter, I may say that I hope to be able to introduce the Bill before the Whitsuntide Recess.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, if he is unable to introduce a Bill before the Whitsuntide Recess, make a statement concerning the whole of the Government programme in this connection?

That is a purely hypothetical question.

Does the main reply of the Minister mean that the Bill will be debated before the Whitsuntide Recess?

I am hopeful that the Leader of the House will be able to arrange for a discussion.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the delay in announcing the Government policy is actually stopping building almost all over the country? Local authorities do not want to embark upon the old scheme before they know what the new scheme is?

I can appreciate the fear of that, but if building is stopped tradesmen will be unemployed, and I have no information that they are unemployed.

asked the Minister of Health what action, if any, he is taking to augment the supply of bricks by British manufacturers?

The question of brick supply is under consideration in connection with the Government's housing proposals, and I am not at present in a position to make a statement.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that one of the most important factors of the building of houses is the production of bricks, and what are the Government doing to get some?

Have the Government any intention at all of controlling the brickfields?

The difficulty—and many other difficulties associated with the problem of housing—is due to the breakdown of private enterprise.

What is the Government policy?

The Coalition Government told us what they wanted and put it on paper, but when they started to build there were no bricks, and—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]

The hon. Member had better let me see that question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that ex-service men in receipt of a pension and receiving training at Government instructional factories are being paid National Health Insurance benefit by some societies and are being refused by others; and whether he will issue general instructions to the societies on the matter?

The fact that an ex-service man in receipt of a pension is undergoing a course of training at a Government instructional factory does not in itself afford any evidence that he is entitled to receive sickness or disablement benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts. The condition for the payment of these benefits is that the insured I person should be rendered incapable of work by some specific disease or bodily or mental disablement, and it rests with the approved society of which any individual trainee is a member to decide whether or not this condition is satisfied in his case during any period in respect of which benefit is claimed. A member who is dissatisfied with his society's decision has a right of appeal in accordance with the procedure laid down in the rules of the society. An official Circular explaining the position has already been sent to all approved societies.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can inform the House as to the precise, or approximate, number of aliens who are in receipt of relief from guardians in the East End and in other parts of London?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

Have these guardians any power to prevent the payment of relief to aliens?

Is there any necessity to confine this to the East End of London? Would it not be possible to give an interesting list of aliens living in idleness in the West End?

I can only say that if the guardians exceed their powers, they are subject to the ordinary laws.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have adopted the Local Government and other Officers Superannuation Act, 1922?

Sixty-six authorities have adopted the Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether the consultative councils, authorised by the Ministry of Health Act to advise him upon matters relating to public health administration have ever been set up; if so, upon how many occasions have they met; and when was the last meeting?

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes." Four consultative, councils were set up for England and one for Wales, under Orders in Council made in 1919. With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the particulars asked for in the remainder of the question.

Is the advisory body which brought out the extremely useful interim Report on the hospitals scheme two or three years ago continuing its labours?

I would like the hon. and gallant Gentleman to give me notice of that question.

The particulars are as follow: CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS. Consultative Council on No. of Meetings held. Date of last Meeting. England . Medical and Allied Services. 31 1st July, 1921. National Health Insurance (Approved Societies' Work). 34 14th March, 1924. Local Health Administration. 12 7th July, 1921. General Health Questions. 24 7th December, 1921. Wales . Welsh Consultative Council. 15 18th March, 1924.

asked the Prime Minister whether any agreement has been come to with regard to the constitution of the Committee of Inquiry into the question of Home Rule for Scotland, Wales, and England, and the date when they will commence their work?

This matter is being dealt with, but a little time must elapse before the Government are in a position to make a statement.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this will be a Committee of this House or a Joint Committee of the two Houses?

That is one of the matters which is under consideration. There is a great deal to be said for this House and a great deal to be said for the other.

Is it the intention of the Government to place the whole subject of devolution back to where it stood before the Lowther Committee sat and reported most valuably upon it?

That is one of the matters under consideration.

If I put a question down in a fortnight's time, has the Prime Minister any hopes of being able to give a definite answer then?

Yes, I think that will be all right.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what good he expects this Committee to do?

To clear the air.

asked the Prime Minister how many members of the Council and States members of the League of Nations, respectively, have accepted Article 36 of the Protocol of the International Court of Justice; whether he is prepared to indicate a date by which he anticipates being in a position to make and publish a decision on this subject; and, if not, will he provide some early opportunity for a discussion upon a matter of such importance to world peace?

I regret that I cannot at present add anything to the answer given last week to the hon. Member on the subject.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that I have been asking ques- tions on this subject for three months, and that we are no further than we were at the beginning?

The hon. Member will realise that this is a very important question, which requires careful investigation, and that the Government have only been in office for a short time. No undue delay has occurred.

I quite realise the importance of it, and for that reason I give notice that I will take the earliest possible opportunity of raising this question in debate.

asked the Prime Minister if he can now make any statement as to the official legislation which the Government intends to endeavour to pass into law before the Summer Recess?

No, Sir. It would be impossible for any Government to make such a statement at this stage of the Session.

Will it be possible to give the information before the Recess?

There is a usual time for making these melancholy announcements.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any idea as to when the Summer Recess will be?

I hope when summer comes.

Does the Prime Minister intend to adhere to the view frequently expressed by Members of the Labour party that the House should rise before 31st July?

I should like it very much if the House would do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, in consequence of the unwillingness of His Majesty's Government to maintain the effective preference upon Empire sugar at the figure previously existing, the elected members of the Legislative Council of Jamaica have in conference unanimously resolved to propose in council that the preference given by Jamaica to British cotton goods be halved, and that Jamaica be permitted to negotiate reciprocity agreements with countries outside the Empire; and whether His Majesty's Government propose to give instructions to the official members of the Legislative Council as to the attitude to be assumed by them towards such proposals of the elected members?