asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can inform the House as to what nations have representatives permanently stationed at Geneva for work in connection with the League of Nations; whether these representatives also deal with questions connected with the International Labour Office; whether any nations have special Departments connected with their Foreign Offices for work connected with the League of Nations; and what arrange- ments are now made or contemplated by the present Government to ensure that work connected with the League of Nations receives full attention here?

The following countries have representatives permanently at Geneva. Except in the cases of Austria and Venezuela they deal both with League work and with the International Labour Office:

Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, China, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Hungary, Irish Free State, Japan, Poland and Venezuela.

Brazil recently decided to establish a permanent representative at Geneva. I am not aware whether he will deal with Labour as well as with League questions. I understand that Chile, Italy and Norway have representatives dealing with Labour questions, but not with League work. I am making inquiries covering the third part of the question. As regards the last part, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Ormsby-Gore) on the 3rd March.

Have the Government contemplated having a permanent representative at Geneva, and have they considered the advisability of having a representative to speak in this House, as in another place?

I shall require notice of that.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the New Guinea Mandate will come up for consideration by the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations.

The hon. and gallant Member presumably refers to the Mandatory's Annual Report. This is no doubt, as usual, being considered by the Mandates Commission at its present session.

Have any instructions been given to our representatives to look into this Mandate, in view of the very serious allegations that are being made now in Australia by a former officer of health in this area of New Guinea?

We shall no doubt get a report from the Mandates Commission in due course.

Can I be informed of the instructions to our representatives? Are they instructed to look into this matter?

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that it is now the practice of the Council of the League of Nations to hold most of its sittings in public, and that the results of this practice have been wholly satisfactory, he will recommend the approaching Inter-Allied Conference to follow this example of open diplomacy in international affairs?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and I believe that, on the whole, the results have been satisfactory. The proceedings of the forthcoming Conference in London are not, however, similar to those of the Council of the League, and I cannot, therefore, adopt the recommendation suggested by the hon. Member.

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate shortly in what respect these questions differ from the international problems submitted to the Council of the League?

It must be obvious that there are cases which could not be conducted in public.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements are proposed for safeguarding the water supply of Egypt drawn from the portions of the Nile outside Egyptian jurisdiction and control?

The water supply of Egypt can be safeguarded by an agreement.

Is this matter one of the subjects to be discussed?

Yes, this is one of the subjects which will be under discussion if the Egyptian Prime Minister comes over here.

May I ask whether, in the event of the British Administration remaining in the Sudan, there will be any danger to the water supply of Egypt?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to the reported decision of the Egyptian Government to default upon the instalments in respect of the Turkish tribute loans after 15th July; will he inquire whether the instalments on the 4 per cent. bonds, due 31st July next, will be paid; and what does he propose to do with a view to safeguarding the interests of the bondholders

I have not received any official confirmation of the alleged intentions of the Egyptian Government, as stated in the newspapers, but Lord Allenby has been asked to Make inquiries, and to report by telegraph.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the employment of the British Military Attaché in Paris to advise the Ambassador on military matters with out, as at present, submitting questions to the Inter-Allied Military Committee, in view of the fact that His Majesty's Government have no control over this body?

I have been asked to reply. The hon. and gallant Member appears to be under some misapprehension. The British Military Attaché occupies a dual position, as Attaché and as British representative on the. Inter-Allied Military Committee. The duties of the latter appointment in no way interfere with the effective discharge of those of the former, which include advice to the Ambassador on all military matters.

May I ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he considers the Inter-Allied Military Committee, which is presided over by Marshal Foch, is a suitable body to advise the Ambassador?

That is a matter of opinion.

What is your opinion?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the arrangements made by him from time to time for interviews with representatives of the Allied Governments for the preliminary discussion of matters of common interest follow the practice in this respect which was established between 1918 and 1922 when the Prime Minister of the day was acting as de facto head of the Foreign Office?

I am afraid I do not precisely understand to what the hon. and gallant Member is referring. I am not aware of any deviation that has been made from the usual practice of the head of the Foreign Office in this matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister has always been opposed to what he calls secret diplomacy, yet is he not adopting the same attitude as was adopted by Prime Ministers before, and does he not find it necessary to do so?

No; the Prime Minister has declared himself against secret diplomacy, and his actions show that he is.

May I ask whether he has not found it necessary to adopt the same principles as the Prime Ministers who have preceded him?

Can the Under-Secretary tell us in what respect the present Prime Minister's position differs from that of the right hon. Gentlemen who preceded him? There is no answer to that.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any intimation has been received from the German Government that it proposes in any further negotiations which may take place with the Allies to raise afresh the question of Germany's responsibility for the War; and if he will state whether the Allied Governments have come to any agreement on the question whether this subject shall be allowed to be re-opened in connection with the discussion of reparations and other matters?

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

Then may I ask the hon. Gentleman if he has seen the resolution that was passed when Herr Marx, the German Chancellor, was present only a few days ago, in which the intimation was made that the question of guilt was withdrawn from Germany, and whether he will take steps to communicate with the German Government on the point, and not have a misapprehension hanging over us?

Is it not the case that if the Under-Secretary communicated with the German Government, his communication would be to the effect that he was in agreement with the German Government?

May I ask if the Under-Secretary agrees with the hon. Member for Penistone (Mr. Pringle).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he proposes to publish in the form of a White Paper the correspondence and memoranda which have led up to the Inter-Allied Conference; and, if so, whether publication will take place prior to the meeting of the Conference?

Publication took place last night.

Are we to understand that this represents the whole of the correspondence?

Yes, Sir; that is so.

Have no communications of any kind been sent to the Dominions? There are no Dominion documents in this at all.

I shall require notice of that.

asked the Prime Minister whether questions dealt with by the Ambassadors' Conference have been first submitted to the League and only referred to the Conference if the League is unable or unwilling to deal with them; and, if not, will he undertake that in future this shall be done

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

Would it not be a mistake to hand over to the League these and possibly other questions now being dealt with by the Ambassadors' Conference?

I would prefer that the hon. and gallant Member should await the further statement on this point by the Prime Minister.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the collection of pre-War documents known as the Russian Orange Book, purporting to contain the accurate text of the despatches of the late Imperial Russian Government to various Governments and of its agents abroad to the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs in the months of July and August, 1914, are proved to have been falsified in many vital particulars and that the inaccurate text was issued by His Majesty's Government as a State Paper, he will consider whether the time has come when this unwitting deception of the British public should be remedied by the issue of an amended State Paper containing the accurate text of these documents?

My hon. Friend's proposal opens up a prospect which His Majesty's Government could not entertain, of again laying before Parliament, in the light of subsequent publications in foreign countries, the whole of the diplomatic correspondence on the outbreak of the War. If a revised edition of "The Collected Diplomatic Documents on the Outbreak of the War" were to be issued, it would be necessary to include in it not merely the new documents contained in the publication referred to by the hon. Member, but also the very much more voluminous collection of documents published in Vienna and Berlin. The proper way to deal with this is by the publication of that part of the Russian Orange Book which consists of correspondence between His Majesty's Government and the Russian Government in the publication of pre-War records which is now being arranged, as the hon. Member knows from my reply to him on the 2nd July.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether any falsifications have taken place, and whether they are the work of the present custodians of the Russian archives?

I shall require notice of that.

Is it the intention of the Foreign Office to bring these records up to date? At present they do not go beyond 1832, I believe.

I think if the right hon. Gentleman refers to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Morel) on 2nd July, he will see exactly what is the view of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Committee to inquire into the withheld retired pay of naval officers have as yet reported; and whether the Government intend to adopt its recommendations?

I understand that the Committee may be expected to report within the next week or two.

Will it be the next week, or the week after? The matter is very urgent.

I cannot control the Committee. We hope it will be next week, or the week after.

Could the hon. Gentleman communicate with the Chairman of the Committee, and ask him to report, if possible, before we adjourn for the holidays, so that we may have a discussion in this House?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether at the forthcoming naval review a destroyer or flotilla leader can be detailed to embark those Members of Parliament not so far provided for, got under weigh, and proceed down the lines with other ships already detailed; and whether, in any event, arrangements can be made for Members to go on board some of the ships at anchor, travelling at their own expense?

Owing to their limited accommodation, destroyers or flotilla leaders would hardly meet the purpose; to provide adequate accommodation for all Members of Parliament one or more passenger ships would have to be specially chartered, but the financial limitations imposed do not permit of such chartering. As regards the second part of the question, it has been arranged that certain of the ships at anchor shall be open to visitors at certain hours on the 24th, 25th and 27th July, but it would not be convenient for Members to go on board during the actual day of the review.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the suggestion in the first part of the question was intended merely as supplementary to arrangements already made? It was not intended that the destroyer should convey all Members of Parliament, but only those not already provided for in the ships already detailed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that there are a number of veterans in Portsmouth; and if he can make some arrangements, such as have been made in past years, to allow their seeing the naval review and following the same in one of His Majesty's ships?

No record can be found of arrangements having been made as suggested at former reviews of the Fleet, and I regret that there will not be any of His Majesty's vessels available on this occasion for the service in question.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that His Majesty's ship "Sea- horse" has previously performed this function, and is it not possible that one of the destroyers or flotilla leaders should take these old veterans, as has been requested?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman has any information he thinks will help, I shall be glad to have it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he has received the report of the officer commanding the gunboat "Cockchafer" relative to the incidents connected with the murder of an American citizen at Wan Hsien, and the execution of two men alleged to be the murderers; and, if he has received the Report, will he lay copies upon the Table of this House?

The Report referred to has not been received. Assuming that the written report was despatched at the time the telegraphic report was sent, it should arrive about the middle of August. The question of publishing the report will then be considered.

In the telegraphic report that states that these two men were executed, does it say that they were put on trial first'.

I am afraid I cannot give any information about that until I receive the full report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will authorise vocational training during the last three months of service before pension for naval ratings who are specially recommended by their commanding officers or, if the number of ratings available will not permit of this, whether he will consider the payment of marriage allowance for three months after discharge to pensions for those ratings who are recommended for and undergo an approved course of vocational training?

I regret that the reply must be in the negative. The Admiralty orders on the subject are designed to employ the limited funds available to the best advantage of the men of the lower deck.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is no difficulty in the sister Service, where the men are given this privilege, and why should it not be done here?

I am not concerned with the other Service; what I have to do is to make the best use of the limited fund at my disposal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when it is anticipated the Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the resettlement of naval ratings on return to civil life, presided over by Captain E. M. Bennett, O.B.E., R.N., will be published?

It is not intended to publish the Report, which was intended for the confidential information of the Board of Admiralty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what official duties will be performed by the Admiralty yacht "Enchantress," or to what uses will she be put, apart from conveying the Board of Admiralty round the lines of warships at the review; and whether there are no official or unofficial buildings at Ports-Mouth which could be used for the accommodation of their Lordships instead of this vessel?

I have nothing to add to the replies already given to the House with regard to the first part of the question. It is obvious that the hiring of hotel accommodation with its attendant disadvantages is possible, but the Board prefer to use the vessel which was constructed for the purpose required and is now available for it.

So that rather than go to an hotel a ship has to be specially commissioned at a cost of £ 1,100?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the general view it is highly desirable that the Lords of the Admiralty should have every facility in visiting the Fleet?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what accommodation, if any, is provided for the crews of His Majesty's ships on the China station during the periods they are undergoing refit at the Hong Kong naval yard; if the whole of the crews be accommodated on board their ships during these periods, is he aware that such such procedure must cause much inconvenience to the officers and men and at the same time be a hindrance to the workmen employed in the ships during the refit; and whether he can make arrangements for the crews of His Majesty's ships undergoing refit at Hong Kong to be accommodated in quarters other than their own ships in a similar manner to the procedure which was in force at the port in question prior to 1918, or on similar lines to the arrangements made for crews of His Majesty's ships of the East India squadron?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon Member for Central Portsmouth (Sir T. Bramsdon) on the 15th April and the 5th May last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, with reference to the examination which is contemplated for ex-service men employed as temporary civil servants under the Admiralty, whether he is aware of the, great hardship which such examination imposes upon those who have done good service to the country over long periods of time and under very difficult conditions, having done five years or more of good work under the Government since the War; and whether he will state why they have now to submit to an educational, Departmental and medical test to ascertain whether they are fit for retention in their present capacity, although they have given every satisfaction and have demonstrated their ability; and whether he can see his way to exempt these men from the examination proposed or their dismissal as the result of such examination?

The examination which was held on the 3rd July was of a comparatively simply character and suited to the age of the ex-service competitors, and should not have imposed great hardship on any of he candidates. Appointments of temporary clerks to the clerical grades of the Civil Service are made by examination, and this practice has been endorsed by Lord Southborough's Committee in its final Report. No person can be given an established post until he has satisfied the Civil Service Commissioners of his physical fitness, amongst other factors. As T have already explained to the hon. Member, there is provision for the medical standard to be relaxed in the favour of men whose health has been impaired as a result of service in the forces in the late War.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that these ex-service men are not displaced, seeing that they have done long, continuous, and satisfactory service for many years; will he give the House that assurance?

if the hon. and gallant Gentleman looks at the reply which I have given, he will see he has that assurance.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can yet state when the land reclamation scheme on the Wash is going to be started?

I have been asked to reply. The land reclamation work and certain ancillary works (roadmaking, etc.) in connection therewith, have been put out to tender, and it is hoped that tenders will be received by the end of next week. There will then be very little delay before the work is started.

If I repeat the question this day fortnight, will the hon. Gentleman be able to give me an answer?

Is the hon. Gentleman relying entirely upon private enterprise in this matter?

asked the Minister of Labour if he will issue an instruction to all employment exchange managers and staff that bonâ fide skilled men registering for employment are entitled to the minimum rate of wages recognised as the district wage, and that length of unemployment, especially in the branches of the engineering trade, shall not, in view of the long-continued depression in that industry, be regarded as an excuse to refuse benefit if the skilled man refuses work at less than the established rate?

The Employment Exchanges cannot undertake to decide the rate of wages to which an individual workman is entitled. When it is a question of disallowance of covenanted unemployment benefit, statutory rules which, if necessary, are interpreted by the Insurance Officer, Courts of Referees and the Umpire, are laid down by Section 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920. Even where uncovenanted benefit is claimed and where the worker may be required in certain circumstances to accept work other than that to which he has been accustomed, such work must still be on terms and conditions which arc fair for that work.

Will the Minister of Labour say whether there are any rules that instruct the officials of the Employment Exchange to enter on a man's notepaper that in their opinion, having been out of work for two years, they think a skilled man should accept a lower rate of wages even than that ordinarily paid in the district?

If my hon. Friend will supply me with particulars I will have inquiry made.

asked the Minister of Labour why contribution for unemployment insurance is levied in respect of apprentices during the period of their apprenticeship seeing that there is no liability to the fund; and whether he is aware that unemployment is caused be- cause small employers are unable to bear the cumulative burden of compulsory State insurances?

It is not the case that all apprentices are free from the liability to be unemployed. A suggestion that indentured apprentices whose employers undertake to give them permanent employment should be excepted, has recently been urged upon me, and I have promised to examine it, but the question is full of difficulty, and I cannot undertake to propose any change in the present Unemployment, Insurance Bill. As regards the second part of the Question, I have received no evidence which would lead me to believe that unemployment is being caused by the inability of employers to bear the cost of unemployment insurance contributions.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, as a result of representations made to his Department, the cases of men attached to the Eastville Employment Exchange have been reconsidered for benefit by the Eastville Employment Exchange Rota Committee, and have been recommended for benefit; whether he is aware that in the case of many men who were recommended for benefit as long as a month ago no payments have been made; and whether. having regard to the urgent nature of the cases, he will issue immediate instructions authorising the payments which have been recommended by his local advisers?

Certain cases at the Eastville were reviewed by the local committee during June and July. The recommendations of the committee had to be specially considered by the Department, and this led to a certain amount of unavoidable delay, but in the result all the recommendations for allowance of benefit were accepted, save in three cases. Payment has been made, except in two cases which were dealt with by the committee on 7th July, and four other cases in which the claimants have not attended for payment.

Is it not a fact that that payment has only been made since this question was put on the Paper?

That may be the case.

Is it not often the case?

I am not aware that it is.

I will press the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Foot Mitchell.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of men over 60 years of age were struck off uncovenanted unemployment benefit during the month of June this year?

I regret that no statistics are available on this point.

Is it a fact that these men over 60 when paid off are removed to the workhouse? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me if there are any cases of the kind?

I have no information. If the hon. Gentleman will supply me with particulars I will look into them.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a woman who voluntarily leaves her employment in order to be married can, after three months, apply to be placed on the register for employment and, pending further appointment, draw unemployment benefit; whether he can state how many married women are at present receiving such benefit who have not been in employment since their marriage or who have only qualified for unemployment benefit by adding their pre-marriage insurance contributions to their post-marriage contributions; and what measures he proposes to adopt to safeguard the unemployment Insurance Fund in such cases?

As regards the first and third parts of I he, question, any insured contributor, in order to be eligible for benefit, must be available t' or work and unable to obtain suitable employment. These conditions apply both to covenanted and uncovenanted benefit, and the umpire, the courts of referees, and the insurance officer take into account a claimant's domestic duties in deciding whether the condition "available for work" is satisfied. Further safeguards are provided as regards uncovenanted benefit by additional statutory conditions to ensure that all beneficiaries from the fund are genuine industrial units. As regards the second part of the question no statistics are available.

In view of the abuse that is arising in cases of this kind, will the right hon. Gentleman give special instructions to the Employment Exchanges to be more watchful in these cases?

If the hon. Member will supply me with the case he refers to, of which I have no knowledge, I will take such steps as are necessary.

Is it the business of the Minister of Labour to be acquainted with these cases without being notified by hon. Members?

It may be my business to be acquainted with things generally that occur, but I am not always satisfied that they have occurred.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the great benefit which would accrue, both morally and physically, by the introduction of compulsory physical training for three hours daily (Sundays excepted) to all those certified medically fit and under 50 years of age, who are drawing unemployment insurance, he will introduce legislation to that effect?

I am afraid the suggestion of the hon. Member is impracticable.

Is it not a question of a two-fold opinion, and the right hon. Gentleman does not know which to accept? Does he think it would be bad for the health of these people to do exercise, or would it, perhaps, be very unpopular as a vote-catching scheme?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the labour now available for pea picking in Essex is adequate?

I would refer the bon. Member to the answer I gave yesterday to a similar question by the hon. Member for Epping (Sir L. Lyle).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the position of the strike at Loanend Colliery, Blantyre?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend has no information beyond that contained in the reply he gave the hon. Member on 24th June.

Has my hon. Friend taken any interest at all in this matter? How long is the strike going to continue Is it not time that a Court of Inquiry was appointed?

Answer!

May we press the hon. Gentleman for an answer?

The Minister is not responsible for the strike.

On a point of Order. Has not the Minister certain powers and duties in regard to strikes, and is it not competent for a Member to interrogate him on the exercise of those powers?

On the exercise of the powers with regard to a Court of Inquiry certainly.

May I have a reply?

All I can say is that I will bring the matter before the notice of my right hon. Friend.

I will put another question down.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now make a statement concerning the appeals he has received against surcharges made by the district auditor in the cases of certain London boards of guardians?

As was stated in reply to a recent question by the hon. Member, the appeals are under consideration. I am not yet in a position to make any statement as to my decision in the matter.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that these matters have been very long delayed, and is it not time that he came to a decision so that the House may know exactly what he is doing?

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to announce his decision 'before the House rises for the Recess?

I am advised probably not. They have not yet reached it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received any representations from the London County Council upon the question of reducing the original rents of post-War houses upon the White Hart Lane estate, Tottenham?

No such representations have been received by my Department.

asked the Minister of Health how many villages in the administrative county of Hampshire will be eligible to obtain the subsidy of £12 10s. per house under the new Housing Bill?

It is estimated that 116 parishes in the administrative county of Southampton would be treated as agricultural parishes under Clause 2 (2) of the Housing Bill.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many asylums for mentally defective persons are situated in agricultural parishes, and where they are situated;

(2) how many Poor Law institutions are situated in agricultural parishes, and where they are situated;

(3) whether any estimate has been prepared as to the number of villages rendered ineligible for the additional subsidy to agricultural parishes under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill owing to the presence of permanent railway works in those villages; and, if so, what the number is?

I am afraid that much of the information for which the hon. Member asks is not readily avail- able and could only be obtained at considerable labour and expense, which I do not think would be justified. The hon. Member will readily understand that it would be administratively impracticable to base any differentiation of areas for the purpose of housing subsidy on tile special features of individual parishes. I have given full consideration to the subject and I am satisfied that the only practicable way of dealing with it is on broad and simple lines such as I have proposed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he said, in answer to another question, that one third of the villages in England will be ineligible for the extra subsidy owing to the definition in the Bill, and is it not unfair to villages in which asylums, hospitals and permanent railway works happen to be situated that these particular villages, where agricultural workers are badly wanting cottages, should be refused the possibility of getting this extra subsidy?

I have no reason to doubt that what the hon. Member says is strictly accurate. It is difficult in this, as in everything else, to get equality. We can only do the best that is possible. I drafted this Clause and submitted it to the representatives of the rural areas and they unanimously accepted it, and I thought that they knew something about rural areas. Therefor, I took their acceptance as being satisfactory.

Is this one of the Measures which the Government is providing for the benefit of agriculture?

It is a good deal more than the hon. Member's party did for the same people.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the rural district councils had no time when his suggestion was put before them to go into the detailed cases of their own districts and see how the proposal would work out. Is he aware that in the Rugby Rural District Council area there are 31 villages, 10 of which are ineligible for the grants of £12 10s., eight on grounds that they slightly exceed the population ratio of 35 persons per 100 acres and two agricultural parishes, Combefields and Eascyhall, because the London Midland and Scottish Railway main line runs through them, and is he further aware that there are thousands of villages in the same position?

I agree that it was difficult in a day or two to consider this matter in all its bearings, but I would impress upon my hon. Friend that it is utterly impossible to proceed on the basis of dealing with each individual parish on its merits, and that no matter what general principle is laid down there will be hardship.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we are not discussing the question of individual hardship, but that we are fighting for the rights of one third of the villages in England, Wales and Scotland?

asked the Minister of Health what structural materials for the construction of houses can be used, respectively, under the Chamberlain proposals of 1923 and the Government proposals of the present year?

According to the circular to local authorities issued in connection with the Housing Act, 1923, the materials to be used for the construction of houses must be of good quality, such as is ordinarily specified by a local authority in a contract for workmen's houses; and the construction must be of a type for which a period of not less than 60 years would be allowed by the Minister of Health for the repayment of loan. Provision was, however, made for variation by special approval of the Minister. The question will be further considered when the time comes for the issue of a circular following on the present Housing Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange to publish a monthly Return of the number of apprentices in the various sections of the building trade?

I will consider the suggestion of the hon. Member in consultation with the industrial committees which I propose to set up.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to introduce a Bill under which houses costing £500 each will be let at a rent of 3s. 3d. weekly?

No, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the statement made by him that £500 houses could be let at 3s. 3d. per week has been broadcast all over the country and was repeated by him in an interview in the "New Leader" last Saturday; and will he state frankly that he is perfectly incapable either under Capitalism or Socialism of doing anything of the kind?

It is quite true that I stated in this House and in the public Press that, but for the interest charged on capital, a £500 house could be let economically at 3s. 3d. per week. I am not prepared to say what I should do under a state of Socialism.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to bring in a Bill which will allow the Liberal party to vote for the nationalisation of banks in order to make this possible?

How does the Minister of Health propose to erect houses without capital?

I was not proposing to erect houses without capital. I was proposing to erect them with bricks and other materials.

How does the right hon. Gentleman propose to raise the money without paying interest to those who lend the money?

I am not proposing to borrow money free of interest, or to borrow money at all. That will be the business of the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Belgian bricks are being offered alongside wharf in the Thames at 55s. per 1,000 as compared with 85s. and 75s. for Kentish first-and second-class stock bricks in the field; whether he can say how the quality of the Belgian bricks compares with that of British-made bricks; and whether any considerable quantity of the former are being used in the construction of subsidised houses?

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes." In answer to the second, I understand that the bricks at present available are not regarded as equal in quality to first- and second-class stock bricks. In answer to the third, I am not aware that the bricks are being used on subsidised houses. If foreign bricks of satisfactory quality are available at lower prices than British bricks, I should expect local authorities to avail themselves of them.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how he expects British manufacturers to compete with Belgian manufacturers in view of the wages and hours of the industry in this country?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the continued aggravation of the housing shortage by the conversion of existing dwelling-houses into offices, garages, clubs, and other purposes, he will reconsider his refusal to introduce legislation this Session, in order that no further diminution of the present number of dwelling-houses shall take place, with its consequent suffering and additional overcrowding?

I will consider whether it will be possible to take steps to deal with the matter referred to, but, in view of the state of Parliamentary business, I am afraid I cannot undertake to introduce legislation for the purpose this Session.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that the necessities of the people in regard to houses are more important than the Adjournment of Parliament?

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there are a large number of empty houses which are being withheld from occupation; and, as the Government has made no provision for dealing with the same in their Housing Bill, will he take steps to introduce a special Measure authorising local authorities to make use of such houses, and thereby provide immediate accommodation for thousands of families?

I am aware that in many cases houses are held for sale, but, as I have stated in reply to similar questions, I cannot undertake to introduce special legislation to deal with this matter during the present Session.

Could the right hon. Gentleman influence one or two of his colleagues, and let them start and show an example?

Are the Government prepared to give facilities for a. Bill to enable the Government to let houses which they own, instead of holding them up for sale?

That question might be addressed to the Leader of the House.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received resolutions from conferences of local authorities held at the Town Hall, Carlisle (for Cumberland and Westmoreland), on 16th June, 1924; the Council Chamber, Newcastle - upon - Tyne (for Northumberland and Durham), on 17th June, 1924; the Lord Mayor's Parlour (for Lancashire and Cheshire), on 18th June, 1924; the Old County Hall, London, S.W. (for Greater London and the Home Counties), on 20th June, 1924; the Council Chamber, Sheffield (for South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire, and North Nottinghamshire), on 19th June, 1924; the Council House, Bristol (for West of England), on 23rd June, 1924; the Council Chamber, Cardiff (for South Wales and Monmouth-shire), on 24th June, 1924; and the Civic Hall, Exeter (for Devon and Cornwall), on 30th June, 1924; protesting against the limitation of the maximum measurement for houses prescribed in the Government's Housing Bill, and urging that local authorities should have greater freedom as to the standards required in their own districts; and will he say what action he proposes to take to meet their wishes in this matter?

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to him on the 25th June and 2nd July.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, at the annual meeting of the Municipal Corporations Association, held in the Guildhall this morning under the presidency of Lord Derby, a resolution was passed by 300 representatives of local authorities protesting against this limitation of the size of houses; and, in view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman said that he had been compelled by the local authorities to make this reduction, will he now reconsider the policy of the Government on this question?

I have not had any intimation of the resolution passed this morning, to which my hon. Friend refers, but I am aware that very few local authorities have utilised to the full the powers they already possess.

Is not the fact that the local authorities have not utilised their powers due to there being no men to build the houses or materials with which to build them?

asked the Minister of Health if he will now state the. figures proposed by the Building Committee in Cmd. 2104 as x and y per square foot at which they are prepared to build two-and-a-half million housed of a limited size during the next 15 years?

I think it would be against the public interest to publish the figures in question. It will be remembered that I have agreed with the local authorities to proceed normally by the method of competitive tenders.

Is it not impossible for us to discuss the question without knowing the offer made between the combination of building operatives and employers?

The right hon. Gentleman is not justified in describing it as an offer. It was an item of information supplied to the Ministry of Health to enable it to judge whether the best competitive tender was a reasonable one in present circumstances. If I circulate it the hon. Member will readily understand it will become a guide to competitors.

Surely the House of Commons ought to have that information before it decides finally.

I am not asking the House of Commons to decide whether that advice was sound or unsound. It was added to the information already at the disposal of the Ministry of Health, which is usually utilised in such cases.

Does the Minister call this secret diplomacy?

Having regard to the grave anxiety the whole House feels whether the houses can be built at the price, are we not entitled to these figures?

I think the figures the House ought to know and which will be most useful to Members are the figures at which builders are prepared to build houses. These figures are at the service of the House.

Will the right hon. Gentleman supply the House with a statement of figures as to the price at which builders are prepared to build the houses at present and for the next few years?

I have been supplying figures repeatedly week by week, to the House of the prices at which houses are being built.

Have not the masters in fact amended the proposed figure?

Is it not a fact that the persons who supplied the figures, etc. to you in the Report are the same persons who will tender for houses to be erected under the Bill?

No. The figures were supplied by a committee representing the employers and employés. No such committee proposes to tender.

May we have an answer to the very important question put by the hon. Member below the Gangway, whether these figures have been altered at all? The suggestion would not be made if it was unfounded.

The right hon. Gentleman is asking me whether the people who supplied these figures have changed their mind. It would be as difficult for me to enlighten the House on that as on the state of the mind of the right hon. Gentleman.

Have the members of the committee or any of them made any communication to the Ministry of Health indicating that these figures would have to be amended?

No such communication has been received.

Why did you not say so before?

asked the Minister of Health whether there has been any increase in the price of building materials, such as lead water-pipes and barrel-pipes due to the increasing demand of foreign markets for these goods?

There have been considerable fluctuations in the prices of such materials as lead and iron water pipes during the last four years. I am not able to say to what extent these fluctuations have been due to the demand of foreign markets. They have, no doubt, been due to various and usual circumstances, but especially to the fluctuations in the prices of raw materials.

asked the Minister of Health, with reference to the housing shortage, if he has received any proposals from local authorities relative to the erection of wooden houses; and what steps he has taken or proposes to take to bring to the attention of such authorities the fact that he is prepared to consider such proposals in relation to the Government housing scheme?

A small number of proposals have been received from local authorities for the erection of houses mainly constructed of wood, or for sanction to grant financial aid to such houses, and in some cases approval has been given. I believe the position as regards special methods of construction is generally understood by local authorities, but I will note the hon. Member's suggestion in connection with the issue of a circular following the passing of the Housing Bill.

Would the Minister make some kind of public investigation of the statements in regard to the length of life of these wooden houses, inasmuch as there is a great feeling as to the value of wooden houses, and instances have been brought forward as to their length of life, and yet the general feeling of those who have had experience, as I have, in condemning insanitary houses, is that their life is not long enough to justify the comparative saving in cost?

I think that that information might be very valuable, and I will endeavour to obtain it.

Is it not the fact that some of these houses have been in good repair for between 80 and 100 years?

I do not know, but I have known some that were not in good repair after ten years.

asked the Minister of Health the number of bricklayers, plasterers, joiners, flaggers and slaters, and plumbers employed in the building trade in England and Wales on 1st January, 1924, and 1st July, 1924, respectively; and whether he is satisfied that the present number of such building-trade craftsmen is sufficient to enable the industry to provide the number of new houses as set out in the First Schedule of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill, 1924, especially in respect to the years 1925 and 1926?

As the answer involves a tabular statement, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how he managed to get the figures set out in the Schedule to the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill, unless he is in possession of the information for which I now ask?

I have not said that I am not in possession of the information, but that it involves a tabular statement, which might be wearisome to the House, and which, accordingly, I propose to circulate.

Is the right hon. Gentleman really in possession of that information?

Yes.

Is it not the fact that that information is contained in the. Building Trades Report, which has been published, and which is already in the hands of hon. Members?

asked the Minister of Health whether the treaty he has made with the building trade as to the augmentation of labour is embodied in any other documents beyond the Housing (Financial Provisions) Bill; if not, whether the building trade and the several trade unions concerned have explicitly accepted the Bill as constituting a guarantee in return for which they are prepared to undertake that there shall be one apprentice to three craftsmen in the various branches of the trade; if so, what period is covered by this undertaking; and will he submit to the House copies of any documents signed on behalf of the building trade or the trade unions in this matter?

The Report of the National House Building Committee has already been submitted to the House, and there are no further documents signed on behalf of the building industry dealing with the matter referred to.

What guarantee is there, in that case, when this treaty is embodied only in the Housing Bill, and if the Housing Bill has not been explicitly accepted by the trade unions, that, if we pass that Bill, it may not be repudiated by one or more trade unions who may refuse to give the extra apprentices and labour which form part of the bargain they have agreed to fulfil?

The only guarantee that one body of honourable men gives to another.