asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government propose to adopt the recommendations of the Lee Commission on the Superior Civil Services in India as to the abolition of the Indian medical service and the provincialisation of civil medical service?

No decision has yet been reached on the recommendations of the Lee Commission as to the organisation of the medical services in India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what additional charge will fall upon Indian revenues, central and provincial, by reason of the adoption by the Cabinet of certain of the reforms recommended by the Lee Commission?

The additional charge has been estimated by the Government of India to amount to about £700,000 a year. This Estimate is necessarily a very rough one. Moreover, the charge fluctuates with the rate of exchange. If the current rate of exchange (1s. 6d. to the rupee) is maintained, the actual charge should show a substantial reduction on the Estimate.

I presume that the figure mentioned of £700,000 a year will appear in the Budget Estimate and that it will be possible to discuss it?

My answer is subject to the fluctuation in the rate of exchange.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government can give a date for the introduction of legislation to carry out the recommendations of the Lee Commission?

It is not yet possible to fix a precise date for the introduction of the Bill to which the hon. Member refers, but it is hoped to introduce it early in the present Session.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the official announcement recently made that His Majesty's Government have accepted the substance of the recommendations of the Lee Commission includes their acceptance of the proposals regarding the Indian medical services?

The recent announcement does not refer to the Commission's proposals for the reorganisation of the medical services in India, which, as I have just stated, are still under consideration.

Will the legislation which, as the Under-Secretary has just mentioned, is going to be introduced by the Government at an early date, include a decision on the medical side of the work?

I hope that it will be possible to come to a decision on this matter early in the coming year, or, at any rate, that it will be possible to announce the decision when Parliament reassembles.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is prepared to supply figures showing the number of persons in India now imprisoned or segregated under Regulation III of the Act of 1818 and under the new Ordinance?

The Ordinance applies to Bengal only. In that Province, according to the latest official information, 59 persons have been arrested under the Ordinance and 46 are State prisoners under the Regulation of 1818. Of the latter, 28 were already imprisoned before the promulgation of the Ordinance.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government of India to bring the persons arrested under the Special Ordinance of the Governor-General (Bengal Criminal Law Amendment Order) to public trial?

The answer, so far as I am aware, is in the negative, for reasons indicated on page 18 of the White Paper.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that amongst the Indians recently arrested in Bengal is the chief executive officer of the corporation of Calcutta; and whether, in view of the grave inconvenience being caused to the city of Calcutta by this arrest, he will take steps to have this particular prisoner brought to trial at an early date?

The following question also stood on the Order Paper in the name of Mrs. THURTLE:

I will answer these two questions together.

May I, Mr. Speaker, with your permission, withdraw Question No. 13, which was put down under a misapprehension?

The person referred to has been arrested under Regulation 3 of 1818, under the authority of the Government of Bengal. He is detained as a State prisoner, and, so far as is known, there is no intention of bringing him to trial.

Has there, in fact, within the Noble Lord's knowledge, been any grave inconvenience caused to the city of Calcutta by the arrest of this officer, and has he received any report to that effect?

I should not think so, unless possibly to the Corporation of Calcutta.

Is there any limit to the time that a man may be detained without trial?

Not under the Regulation in question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any Report has been received from India as to giving effect to the recommendations of the British Station Hospital Committee, under the chairmanship of Surgeon-General Sir G. H. Makins, in 1918; and when he expects to take action to improve the standard of comfort and accommodation in the hospitals for British troops in India?

A Report has been asked for, but has not yet been received. I will inform my Hon. Friend when it arrives, and perhaps he will allow me to await it before making a statement in reply to the last part of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India under what regulation Indian Army officers have suffered a reduction of their pay and pensions?

The decision to make the new rates of pay and pension subject in part to revision with reference to fluctuations in the cost of living was promulgated in Army Instructions, India, notably No. 914 of 1919 as regards pay, and No. 448 of 1920 as regards pensions, of which I will send the hon. Member copies. No action has yet been taken as regards rupee rates of pay; but a provisional reduction of 5 per cent. has been made in pensions. The furlough pay of officers still on the cadre of their units has been reduced in accordance with the provisions of the Royal Warrant, which is applied under the Pay and Allowance Regulations to furlough pay.

Is not the cost-of-living figure totally different in India from that in this country, and can the Noble Lord undertake to revise this decision?

I will send the hon. and gallant Gentleman copies of the two Regulations to which I have referred.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can state the findings of the Court of Inquiry, held at Quetta, on the assault on Mr. Edward Pellier, alleged to be committed by two privates of the Black Watch Regiment near Roberts Barracks on the night of 3rd November?

I have no information on the subject, but will have inquiries made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the appointment of British officers or subjects to the households or persons of native princes in India requires or receives the sanction of the Government of India or of the Secretary of State; and, if so, whether he can lay Papers showing the conditions of such appointments?

Under the existing arrangements, the appointment of a British officer or a European British subject requires Government sanction. There are no prescribed conditions of general application, but there are published rules as to the pay, etc., of Government servants transferred to the service of an Indian State, of which I will send my hon. Friend a copy if he so desires.

May I ask the Noble Lord whether His Majesty's Government, or any Department, or any individual member of that Government, has been in any way responsible, either for the appointment or the recommendation of the aide-de-camp who was referred to in the recent case tried in the Law Courts of Robinson v. the Midland Bank, and, if not, can he state how that appointment was made?

The appointments in these cases, and the case to which the hon. Member refers is one of them, are made by the individual princes, and they are subject, as my answer shows, to the sanction of the Government being obtained. The ordinary procedure was followed in the case in question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is in a position to state the intentions of the Government of India in connection with the request for a revision of the protective duties on steel imported into India owing to the change in the exchange value of the rupee?

The Government of India have decided to recommend to their Legislative Assembly when it meets in January the grant of further protection to the steel industry in the form of bounties on the production of steel for the year ending 30th September, 1925. Their proposals have not yet taken final shape, but they have announced that they will probably recommend a bounty of Rs. 20 per ton on finished steel produced in India, subject to a total maximum of Rs. 50 lakhs. They intend to reconsider the whole matter before the end of the period mentioned.

May I take it that the proposal which the Noble Lord has just read about the intention of the Government of India means that they have definitely abandoned or refused the idea of imposing protective duties according to the fluctuation of the rupee; and has the suggestion of bounties been definitely adopted or refused?

I think I should require notice of that question. It is a very important matter, but I think the hon. Member may take it that the decision for the moment is that the policy of bounties has been adopted.

Will this question of Protection be left to a free vote of the Assembly?

Obviously I cannot answer that question.

asked the Secretary of State for the. Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the reported suicide of a British boy, named James Smith, in Australia, this making the fifth case of suicide since the boy-immigrant scheme was initiated; and whether he will have careful inquiries made into this case to see if there are any defects in the scheme which can be remedied?

Yes, Sir, the fullest possible inquiries are being made into the case in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Russian Government have proposed that the so-called Zinovieff letter should be laid before some neutral tribunal for adjudication; and, if not, what action His Majesty's Government proposes to take in the matter?

I understand that this question is to be raised on the Opposition Amendment to-day, and it will be convenient to make my reply in the course of that Debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in the Note handed to His Majesty's Foreign Office by M. Rakovsky on the 28th November last it is stated that he had submitted to the Foreign Office documental evidence proving that on the territory of Great Britain there exist political organisations engaged in the fabrication and distribution of false documents concerning the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and whether he is investigating this statement?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he received a letter from C. J. Rakovsky, dated 28th November, 1924, stating that he had submitted to the Foreign Office documentary evidence regarding the existence of organisations engaged in the fabrication and circulation of documents concerning the Union of Soviet Republics; whether he can say if he has seen that evidence; and, if not, whether he will call for it and authorise its publication?

The answer to the first part of both questions is in the affirmative. His Majesty's Government are well aware of the existence of agencies for forgery and are not deceived by them. The answer to the rest of the questions is, therefore, in the negative.

With reference to the second part of my question, No. 16, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it necessary to investigate such a statement? Are the Government quite sure that they have not been taken in by this information?

Yes, Sir, quite sure.

Are they quite sure that others have not been taken in by it?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has caused any inquiries to be made as to the manner in which the alleged letter from Zinovieff came into the possession of the London Press; if so, whether he can state if it was issued from, or by an official of, the Foreign Office; and whether he is taking, or has taken, any steps to prevent such occurrences?

There is not a shadow of foundation for the imputation cast on officials of my Department in this question, and I much regret that the hon. Member should lend his name to it, even in the from of a question.

May I be allowed, Mr. Speaker, to make a personal explanation? If the right hon. Gentleman and you, Sir, will look at this question, both will find, and the House will find, that there is no imputation placed upon any member of the Foreign Office or any member of the Civil Service. It asks how the alleged letter was issued to the London Press, whether it was issued by an official of the Foreign Office, and whether the right hon. Gentleman is taking, or has taken, any steps to prevent such occurrences. [ A laugh. ] I thought it was one of the Gentlemen to whom the Secretary had addressed a letter as man to man who was laughing just now. [ Interruption. ]

The House will always accept a personal explanation. The hon. Member has quite rightly explained that he had no intention of making any reflection on any member of the Civil Service.

That is why I am asking the right hon. Gentleman if he will reply to the question how it came into the possession of the London Press, whether he has made any inquiry as to how it got there, and if he can let this House understand that he is taking steps to prevent any recurrence of this leakage of information.

No, Sir. The hon. Member, in making what he calls his personal explanation and in repeating his question, omits the central paragraph of his question. The central paragraph of his question was a suggestion that this letter came into the possession of the "Daily Mail" through an official in the Foreign Office. For that there is not a shadow of foundation. How the "Daily Mail" got it is not my business [ Interruption. ] At the moment, I am assured that they did not get it from the Foreign Office, and I do not propose to make any inquiry.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in fact, the Foreign Office got it from the "Daily Mail."

Yes, Sir, I will. We did not get it from the "Daily Mail."

Are we to understand that if a State document which affects a foreign country gets into the hands of a newspaper it is not the business of the Foreign Secretary of this country?

This is not a British State document, nor was it addressed to the British Government.

Surely, this document was bought by the British Government, and it got into the hands of unauthorised persons?

No, Sir; that is the insinuation which I have already repelled, and for which, I say again, there is not a shadow of foundation. It is an insinuation that the information was received by the "Daily Mail," directly or indirectly, from the Foreign Office—

How did the "Daily Mail" get it?

That is not true. If you want to know how the "Daily Mail" got it, there are two sources of information: you can go to the "Daily Mail," or you can go to the Communists of Moscow or London.

Is that where you got your information?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Zinovieff letter purports to be signed by A. McManus, a British subject resident in this country; and, if so, whether he is satisfied that this signature is authentic?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second, I would refer the hon. Member to the statements made as to the authenticity of the letter on the 10th December.

Are we to understand that Mr. McManus has not been prosecuted because there is no evidence of the authenticity of the letter good enough to put before a British judge and jury?

Perhaps it would be convenient for me to say, even at this early stage, that I would beg of hon. Gentlemen to understand from my answers nothing except what is contained in them.

Why have no proceedings been taken against this Mr. McManus if he is a signatory to the letter?

That is a question which I have already disallowed from the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange for the circulation as a White Paper of any despatches or reports throwing light on the circumstances under which the Russian Government attacked the Republic of Georgia and imposed its rule on that country?

Is it in order for this question to appear on the Paper in view of the fact the terms of it convey a slight upon a quite friendly Power?

And quite right, too.

I am afraid that such reports as are in the possession of His Majesty's Government on the subject are not suitable for publication in a White Paper.

Considering these murderous attacks which have been made by the Government of—

The hon. and gallant Gentleman is now using an adjective which would not be allowed in the original question.

asked the. Prime Minister whether arrangements can be made for the publication of any Reports that have been received from the British representative in Russia with regard to the political, social, and industrial conditions obtaining in that country; and, if no informative Reports are available, will the Government consider the possibility of sending a commission to that country to make an independent and imparital investigation with a view to a full Report on the state of affairs in Russia being made to Parliament as a condition precedent to the entering into of any closer diplomatic or commercial relations between this country and the Soviet Republic?

I do not think the appointment of a commission of inquiry would be useful or appropriate at the present moment. His Majesty's Government are adequately informed about conditions in Russia, but it would be contrary to the public interest to publish the confidential reports in their possession.

Is the whole of the information the right hon. Gentleman has received of a confidential nature? Does he not recognise the necessity for us to have this information in view of probable trading agreements?

I beg my hon. and gallant Friend to consider my answer, to which really there is nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government intends to lay all treaties upon the Table of this House for 21 days before ratification?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government intend to adopt the practice inaugurated by the late Government by which all treaties were to be laid upon the Table of the House in order to allow an opportunity, if required, for discussion before ratification and by which all agreements with foreign Governments were to be made public?

I would refer to the statement made in this House by the hon. Member for Brightside (Mr. Ponsonby) on the 1st April last, to the effect that the procedure adopted by the late Government in this matter could not be binding on future Governments. His Majesty's Government do not consider themselves bound to adopt that procedure, which, apart from other considerations, might involve inconvenience in connection with the resolution on the subject adopted by the Imperial Conference, 1923, by which His Majesty's Government consider themselves bound.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Egyptian question was raised at the Council of the League of Nations; and, if so, what statement was made and what action, if any, taken?

No, Sir. No reference was made to Egypt at the Council meetings.

Is it the policy of the Government to submit any issues involving Egypt to the League?

No, Sir. Let me repeat here what I said before I went to Rome, that, had any member of the Council, whilst recognising that this was not a matter coming within the scope of those Articles of the Covenant which required or invited interference, asked me for any information about the policy of His Majesty's Government, I should have been only too glad to give it in courtesy to them; but we had a good deal of business of our own to do, and did not go out of our way to waste time over other things.

Are we to understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the opinion of the Government is that none of the issues involved are suitable for arbitration at Geneva?

Perhaps we had better develop that matter in the Debate which is about to take place.

Does the right hon. Gentleman regard Egypt as being an independent nation or not?

That does not arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in connection with the Geneva protocols, in addition to the opinions of the Dominion Governments, we are taking into account the special position of the United States as the second greatest shipping and exporting nation in the world; and whether, in view of the possible enforcement of economic blockades or other measures by the League of Nations, the views of the United States Government will be fully ascertained before Parliament discusses the protocols?

The hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that the considerations to which he calls attention will mot be overlooked by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will reconsider the proposal to declare Saturday, 27th December, a bank holiday, with a view to giving four days' holiday at Christmas time?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 11th instant to the hon. Member for the St. George's Division of Westminster.

Is the decision quite final on the matter?

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the claims of individuals against Germany were assessed at £12,500,000 by the Royal Commission; that up to the 26th June Germany had paid by way of reparations, over and above the cost of the Army of Occupation, £15,000,000, but that only £5,860,000 had so far been allocated to the claims of individuals; and whether he can see his way, especially in cases of men in the Mercantile Marine, many of whom are now in great distress, to make a pronouncement to the effect that the actual proved and assessed damage sustained by individuals shall be paid in full out of reparations actually paid by Germany to present date or out of future payments?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has not yet had time to go fully into this matter, and he would therefore be glad if the hon. Member would be good enough to repeat his question after Christmas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount available to make good damage to persons and property caused by the operations of enemy aircraft during the War in Great Britain; what steps are contemplated to make further payments to those who have only received a small proportion of their losses and have thereby been reduced to indigence; whether he will make a general statement as to how matters stand with regard to these sufferers and what prospect there is of their receiving further assistance; and will he say why in the distribution hitherto made no examination in detail has been made of claims and no proof required so as to ascertain which of them are wholly genuine and which inflated, and should rightly be reduced so as to make the lump sum or percentage payments more equitable and just?

Of the total amount allocated under the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action, approximately £400,000 has been paid in respect of damage caused by enemy aircraft in this country, in addition to amounts paid in accordance with the recommendations of the East Coast Raid Committee and under the Aircraft Insurance Scheme. All claims were carefully investigated before the assessments were made. As regards the question of further assistance, I would refer my right hon. Friend to one of the answers given to-day by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the insufficient accommodation now available for Ministers and Members in the performance of their Parliamentary duties; and will he consider the appointment of a Select Committee of the House to investigate what additional accommodation is necessary to meet the present needs of the Government and Members of the House of Commons?

No, Sir. I do not think that the appointment of a Select Committee would serve any useful purpose.

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take any other action than a Select Committee? Quite recently a Minister of the Government requested that a portion of the accommodation now available for Members should be surrendered to provide accommodation for additional Ministers.

I am quite aware the accommodation is encroaching very much on what there is to spare in the precincts of the House, but the two main difficulties which have been found by the late Government, as well as by this, are, first of all, that the creation of another additional room would lead to fresh building and that would mean expense and taking men away from a trade which ought to be occupied in building houses.

Could the Government make representations to the other House to surrender some of their unnecessary space?

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is prepared to have some improvement made in the ventilation of this House?

In connection with the preparation of the Estimates for 1925–6, my right hon. Friend is considering the possibility of including a sum to enable the Department to carry out certain changes in the method of distribution of air within the Chamber, the efficiency of which has already been tested experimentally in conjunction with the National Physical Laboratory. The First Commissioner would, of course, wish to be guided by the general feeling of the House on this subject, and is considering the best method whereby this may be secured.

Will the hon. Gentleman read the reports in the Library of the House as to the large number of strepto and other cocci which flourish in the air of the House, and will he alter a system which first uses the air to dust the boots of Members before they have an opportunity of breathing it?

The last point is the exact one which is being considered.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the Royal Warrant for the pay, etc., of the Army of 1922 reduced the amount of pension payable to the widow of a soldier killed on war service by more than 9s. a week, he will authorise the issue of pensions to the widows and dependants of the men killed in action in the Sudan at the rates provided in the Royal Warrant of 1919 for the dependants of men killed in the Great War?

I have been asked to reply. The existing rates were advisedly fixed by His Majesty's Government with a view to their future general application, and I could not recommend an arbitrary departure from them in the case in question.

asked the Prime Minister, seeing that it was the unbroken practice of this country for centuries, up to the departure made in the case of Sir Rufus Isaacs a few years ago, to leave the Attorney-General outside the Cabinet on the ground that he was the principal legal adviser of the Cabinet, who will be the Law Officers of the Crown on whose advice the Cabinet will rely unbiassed by any decision the Cabinet may have taken?

The Government proposed to rely, as heretofore, on the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown.

Will the Attorney-General be one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and will the Prime Minister, as Prime Minister, take into consideration the criticisms in the "Law Journal" which were made when Sir Rufus Isaacs was appointed and now again on this appointment?

Yes. The answer to both questions is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what sums have been paid as compensation to the victims of the Queenstown outrage as a result of findings of the Wood-Renton Commission; and how these sums compare in total and in average per person compensated with those paid in compensation for the non-physical damages to deportees under the Restoration of Order in Ireland (Indemnity) Act, 1923?

The total amount awarded by the Compensation (Ireland) Commission and paid by the Government of the Irish Free State to the 24 victims of the Queenstown outrage is £19,052. The highest award was £2,000 and the lowest £40, the average being £794; but the House will appreciate that an average figure has little meaning when applied to a small number of cases where the injury inflicted varies from death to a comparatively trivial wound.

The total amount awarded by the two tribunals set up for England and Wales and for Scotland respectively under the Restoration of Order in Ireland (Indemnity) Act, to the 114 persons deported to Ireland is £54,140 12s. The highest award was £1,560 and the lowest £210 5s., the average being £474 18s. 4d.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Kenya Government has moved, or intends to move, any natives on the north of Mount Kenya out of the areas now occupied by them; and particularly whether it is contemplated to alienate a portion of the Samburn country to a European settler?

The Governor has reported that owing to the resistance to administrative control of a small section of the Masai who were not removed to the new southern reserve in 1912, and owing also to the spread of disease among the stock of their neighbours and their propensity to destroy pasturage by grass fires, it has been necessary to take steps, after observing the necessary veterinary quarantine precautions, to remove these people to the southern reserve. The move was expected to be complete in November. The question of dealing with members of other tribes who had added themselves to this group of Masai is still under consideration by the Governor, but there is no question of moving them in order that the land vacated may be leased to a European settler. The total number of natives concerned is 839, of whom apparently less than one-third are Masai.

May we understand that no movements of natives are made in Kenya except with the approval of the Colonial Office?

I cannot answer for small movements, but, broadly speaking, that is so.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the allegation that it is proposed to move natives from the territory to the north of Mount Kenya, not to the southern reserve, but to the neighbourhood of Lake Rudolf, into an area stricken by drought and where they will be raided by the Turkhana?

No, and I should be glad if the hon. and gallant Gentleman would furnish me with particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the number of natives employed on railway construction work in Kenya during the financial year 1923–24 and the number of deaths among them; whether he is aware that the medical arrangements for looking after native labour on such work has been adversely criticised in the colony; and whether he is satisfied that the medical supervision of railway camps is satisfactory?

Construction has been in progress on the Thika-Tana River extension since January, 1924. The returns to the end of July show employment varying between 3,000 and 6,000 and an average mortality of 12 per thousand per annum, the highest mortality rate being 22·8 in July. I am not aware of any criticism of the medical arrangements.

On the Uasin Gishu railway, at a much higher altitude, the mortality in 1923 averaged 35 per thousand per annum as compared with 51 in 1922, the reduction being due to improved medical supervision. The highest figure in 1923 was during the abnormally heavy rains of April, when it rose to 58 per thousand per annum, falling to 12·6 in December. The number of labourers employed during the year increased from 13,000 to 16,000, falling again to 8,500. For the same railway the 1924 returns show mortality varying from 12 per thousand per annum in January to nearly 30 in the rainy season of August and Septem- ber. In 1922 the Duke of Devonshire found occasion, in consequence of the exceptional mortality on certain sections of construction, to direct that a very searching inquiry should be made into the conditions under which the labourers lived. He received an assurance that all precautions for ensuring health were being taken—and I have had no recent representations as to the inadequacy of medical arrangements on the Uasin Gishu railway.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state why the Wakamba in Kenya were recently ordered by the local government to remove their live stock from the Yatta plains, which removal resulted in the loss of many thousand head of cattle; and whether any compensation has been paid?

I have no information on the subject, but I will consult the Governor.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider any information that I may place before him?

Yes, certainly.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the serious position of the Nottingham lace and embroidery trade; and whether, to meet the wishes of both employed and employers, he will consider the possibility of assisting it in connection with the revival of the Safeguarding of Industries Act?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that manufacturers in the United Kingdom of seamless gloves are suffering severely by the importation of seamless gloves from abroad, particularly from Germany and from the United States of America; whether he is aware that this competition has resulted in considerable unemployment in the trade referred to; and whether, in view of the circumstances and the necessity for assisting those who are unemployed in this particular trade, and to increase the output of seamless gloves manufactured in the United Kingdom, he will include such gloves in any legislation that may be brought in to protect efficient industries from unfair competition from abroad?

I have been asked to reply. Proposals to give effect to the policy of the Government, as indicated in the King's Speech, will be laid before the House as soon as possible. The Prime Minister proposes to make a statement in the Debate on Wednesday as regards that policy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the quantities and values of the exportation of Lancashire piece goods to India and China, respectively, for the first 10 months of the current year as compared with the corresponding figures for 1923?

The answer contains a table of figures, and my hon. Friend will, perhaps, allow me to have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Are the comparative figures for this November and last November available?

My hon. Friend asked for the figures for the 10 months ended on 31st October, and those are the figures I have given in the answer. I shall be obliged if he will put his further question on the Paper.

Following is the reply:

The following statement shows the quantity and value of cotton piece goods, of United Kingdom manufacture exported, which were consigned to the countries specified during the 10 months ended 31st October of the years 1923 and 1924, respectively.

Corresponding particulars respecting cotton piece goods manufactured in Lancashire are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why it has been decided to impose an Income Tax upon the native employés of Northern Nigeria, which is to be paid only by the employés of merchant companies and not by the employés of the Government?

No new tax is contemplated, so far as I am aware. All natives resident in a township were formerly exempted from payment of the native direct tax, which is probably the tax to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. This exemption was cancelled in 1922, one reason for the change being that the exemption encouraged natives to flock into the townships and so avoid the tax and the control of the Native Administration. The change imposed taxation on all natives resident in a township and not only on those employed by merchant companies. The official salaries, but not the private incomes, of natives employed by the Protectorate Government or a Native Administration, whether resident in a township or not, have all along been exempt from the native direct tax, the reason no doubt being that otherwise higher salaries would have to be paid them by the Government or Native Administration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information to give the House as to the collapse of the rubber restriction combine in the Dutch East Indies owing to the increase in the native production of rubber; and whether this will affect the ordinances passed to restrict production in Ceylon and Malaya?

If the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the agreement by which the bulk of British-owned estates in the Netherlands East Indies voluntarily co-operate in the policy of restricting rubber exports, I have no information to suggest that their agreement has collapsed; the second part of the question does not therefore arise.

Seeing that there has been this enormous increase in the native production of rubber in the Dutch East India Islands, and that that increase is alleged to have broken down the voluntary agreement, will the right hon. Gentleman consider that, in connection with the legislation which is passed by Ceylon and Malay?

Yes, but my answer conveys the fact that the agreement has not broken down.

Are we to understand that the policy of "ca'canny" is now being adopted by the other side?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many men with and without families have been assisted to emigrate under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, and at what cost?

The number of men assisted to migrate up to 31st October last, under the Empire Settlement Act, 1922, is 32,987, of whom 24,927 applied as single men. Virtually, all the others, numbering 8,060, were married men. This figure, however, includes a few males of 19 years or more, who went out with parents. The amount of assistance given to the single men is £127,821 by free grant and £155,966 by loan, and to married men and their families £210,159 by free grant and £61,097 by loan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to complaints from representative residents of Jamaica as to grievances connected with medical, labour, police, legal and postal administration in that island; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the alleged grievances and consider what remedies, if any, should be applied?

Complaints have been made from time to time of the administration of the Jamaica Government. I have no doubt that the new Governor, Sir Samuel Wilson, is considering all legitimate grievances and will in due course make proposals for remedying them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the Conference which he is calling to deal with agricultural problems will meet; of whom it will consist; and whether it will include representatives of the towns?

The proposed Agricultural Conference will consist of

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any Scottish representatives will be appointed?

As my right hon. Friend doubtless knows it is proposed to establish a separate Conference for Scotland.

Will the same thing apply to Wales?

I hope that Wales will be represented in the proposed Conference to which I have referred.

Will there be any representatives of smallholders as such?

I have an answer on that subject later. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put a supplementary then, if necessary.

Can my right hon. Friend say now that Wales will be represented?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what arrangements have been made for the attendance at the Conference of men who are not members of the Workers' Union, and of farmers who are not members of the National Farmers' Union?

I am afraid that I cannot set to work to establish direct representation, except through the agency of representative organisations. All those who have any point of view which they wish to submit to the Conference will obviously have the fullest facilities for doing so, whether by evidence or in some other way which the Minister may approve. With regard to the Welsh patriotism of my hon. Friend the Member for East Cardiff (Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke) I can assure him that I think he need be under no apprehension that the interest of Wales will not be adequately safeguarded.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if smallholders have been excluded from the Conference of persons interested in agriculture which is to be held in the near future; and, if so, will he state the reasons why smallholders are excluded?

There is no organisation of a national character which is specially representative of the interests of smallholders, and it would therefore be difficult to provide for their separate representation on the proposed Conference. I may say, however, that the National Farmers Union includes among its members a considerable number of occupiers of less than 50 acres, especially in Wales, and the interests of smallholders in the general agricultural problem are not essentially different from those of other occupiers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the interests of market gardeners will be represented on the proposed Agricultural Conference which will inquire into the question of increased food production and the provision of reasonable wages to the workers?

In selecting the organisations which have been invited to appoint representatives to the Conference, I have been compelled to restrict their number to those which could claim to be specially representative of the three broad divisions of the industry, and I do not consider that the special representation of sectional interests would be an advantage. The National Farmers' Union, which comprises a considerable number of market gardeners, including their present vice-president, among its members, will no doubt see that their interests are not overlooked.

Will any labourers who are not trade unionists be included on the Committee?

I could not answer that question without notice.

Is the right hon. Gentleman asking for persons experienced in the production of agricultural produce or for persons experienced in the distribution of agricultural produce?

In so far as the persons are concerned with the co-operative production of agricultural produce, they will no doubt be formally represented, and be represented by farmers or labourers, as the case may be.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the area now under cultivation in this country, and also give figures for the years 1914 and 1918?

The area of arable land in England and Wales returned on the 4th of June, 1914, 1918 and 1924, respectively, was 10,998,000 acres, 12,399,000 acres, and 10,929,000 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what sum has been repaid to or left in the hands of the United Dairies and other milk companies on account of what is known as the milk twopence decision of the House of Lords; whether any taxes have been deducted from that sum, and, if so, what; whether any local branches of the National Farmers' Union were consulted as to the Ministry's recommendation that the companies should devote the money so received to educational purposes; and, if so, whether they approve of the course proposed?

The total sum involved is approximately £250,000, the United Dairies' share being approximately £80,000. In the computation of the assessable profits of the milk companies for Income Tax purposes, no deduction has been allowed in respect of the milk twopences collected from and subsequently repaid to those companies. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative, and the fourth part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the counties affected by the foot-and-mouth disease; and if the number of cases has been reduced compared with six months ago?

Recent cases have occurred in Norfolk and Northants, and parts of Kent, Derby, Stafford, Bedford and Buckinghamshire are also still under restrictions. Thirty-seven outbreaks have occurred since 1st October compared with 164 in the three months from 1st April to 30th June last.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made during the past year in carrying out the 45 recommendations of the Linlithgow Committee which called for legislative or administrative action, and which were designed to give fairer food prices to both producer and consumer, and in carrying out the 27 other recommendations of the Committee addressed to trading organisations with the same end in view?

As the reply is necessarily long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL

Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly say that these recommendations will not be hung up awaiting the report of any committee, and that inasmuch as they seem promising, progress will be made with them?

I think that when my hon. Friend sees the statement to which I refer, he will find that there has been no delay. If there are points on which he is not satisfied, I should be glad if he will draw my attention to them.

That is not my point. Will any progress be made in carrying out these recommendations at the present time?

I think that when my hon. Friend sees my statement, he will see that progress is being and will be made.

Following are the statements:

Cmd. 1927. Interim Report on Meat, Poultry and Eggs.

Cmd. 1971. Interim Report on Cereals, Flour and Bread.

Cmd. 2008 Final Report.