asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the action of the Swedish Government in writing to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations proposing that the Council of the League should decide that the presidency of the Saar Governing Commission be alloted by rotation between the members of the Commission; and whether, in view of this Report from the Saar, the British Government will take similar action to that adopted by Sweden?

I believe that the Swedish Government have in fact addressed such a note to the League of Nations, but no copy has yet been received in the Foreign Office. I can give no information as to the attitude my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs will adopt if the proposal be discussed by the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the 55 members of the League of Nations are still in arrears in payment of their quota for the expenses in connection with the entire running of the League; with respect to the financial deficiency, in what way is it being met; and are we in any way as a nation or empire attempting to meet it by paying more than our allotted share?

According to the latest information in my possession 17 members of the League of Nations are in arrears in payment of their contributions for 1924 and earlier years; the financial deficiency so caused is being met from balances in the hands of the League. The answer to the last part of the question is accordingly in the negative.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state how far the arrears go back in any case?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any estimate has been prepared with regard to the total cost of the proposed palace for the League of Nations at Geneva; and what share of this sum is to fall upon Great Britain?

Estimates made last year for the proposed new Assembly Hall, to which I presume my hon. Friend refers, varied from four and a half million gold francs to more than seven million. The Council at the session now in progress are considering the matter, and also a suggestion that new offices for the Secretariat should be included in the same building. So far as I am aware, no estimate has been made of the probable cost of such a larger building. Great Britain and Northern Ireland contribute rather less than 10 per cent. of the expenses of the League.

Where is the money coming from for the building of this palace?

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken into account the financial value of the preservation of world peace?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the total sum of pay and allowances which would be payable respectively to an Ambassador and to a Minister accredited to Turkey?

The salaries payable to Ambassadors and Ministers (at whatsoever posts they may be) are £2,500 and £2,000, respectively. The allowance for "frais de représentation" payable to His Majesty's representative at Constantinople is £5,000 a year. It is not at present intended to make any increase in this allowance on the appointment of an Ambassador.

Is it not the fact that Turkey has made good her claim to be a great Power, and ought we not to be represented by an Ambassador, with the full rights attaching to that office?

We are represented by an Ambassador.

When is the appointment likely to be made?

What appointment?

The appointment of Ambassador.

It has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the alleged branding and ill-treatment of Christian women and children by the Turks; and whether it is proposed that any action shall be taken in the matter either by the British Government or through the League of Nations?

No reliable evidence in support of these allegations has reached me. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many battle- ships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and aircraft are attached to the Mediterranean Fleet; and how many ships of similar types are maintained by France in the same waters?

As the reply is long, and contains many figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty in what particular waters British naval manœuvres have been carried on in the last three years and during the current year, as at present arranged; what expenditure has been so incurred; and whether he can see his way to defer these on the ground of unnecessary expenditure of public money?

With the exception of a reserve fleet exercise in home waters which was carried out in 1924 at the comparatively small cost of £43,000, no naval manœuvres, as opposed to the normal fleet training and exercises, have taken place during the last three years nor are contemplated in the current year.

Will the right hon. Gentleman put forward the view that it is time the British Navy held manœuvres, just as the American and Japanese navies have been bolding manœuvres recently?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is in a position to make any further statement on the question of the grant of marriage allowances for officers of the Royal Navy?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government have come to any decision with regard to marriage allowance for officers in the Royal Navy; and, if so, whether he can state what that decision is?

I will, with the hon. Members' permission, answer these questions together. The matter is still under consideration by the Co-ordinating Committee.

When does the right hon. Gentleman expect to reach some conclusion?

I hope it will not take very long. I hope the hon. and gallant Gentleman will realise that as far as the Admiralty are concerned we are putting forward a case which we believe to be justifiable in favour of the married naval officers, and it is being considered now by the Co-ordinating Committee. I do not want to raise too sanguine hopes in anybody's mind, and I think it better to be as reticent as I can with regard to the future.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there has been any change in the policy agreed to by the late Government, under which it was arranged that five new cruisers were to be laid down during the present year for the purpose of replacement; if there has been any change in this policy, will he state what is the policy of the present Government in this respect; and, if there has been no change, whether the orders for these cruisers have been placed and are being executed?

The five cruisers, the construction of which was approved by the late Government, have already been laid down. As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on the 18th February, His Majesty's Government have decided that it is necessary to investigate further the question of future replacement.

Will a decision on this matter be reached before the Budget is introduced?

I am afraid I cannot answer that question. I do not know how long it will take.

By "laid down," did my right hon. Friend mean that the vessels have been commenced, and are being proceeded with?

Yes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what units of the Empire, in addition to Great Britain, are assisting in the creation of the Singapore base; and to what extent?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to take this question. As regards the assistance offered by Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham (Mr. Duff Cooper) on the 4th instant. As regards the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand, the position is as follows:

Prior to the decision of the late Government to discontinue the development of the, Singapore base, the Commonwealth Government had expressed their intention of submitting to Parliament proposals for a substantial Australian contribution towards the cost of the base, and the New Zealand Parliament had already voted £100,000 as a first contribution. After the late Government's decision, had been announced, the Commonwealth and New Zealand Governments decided to take increased measures for their naval defence, entailing a considerable increase in defence expenditure over a period of years.

It will be necessary for the Australian and New Zealand Governments to take these new commitments into account in considering the extent to which in present circumstances they can co-operate in the development of the Singapore base; but understand that the Commonwealth and New Zealand Governments will consult their Parliaments on the subject as soon as opportunity offers.

Then am I not right in stating that the Empire is united as to the need for this base?

All the Dominions concerned—

The hon. Member is rather too apt to make little speeches, when asking supplementary questions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether length of service in the dockyard or order in passing the inspector's examinations is the method adopted for advancement to chargeman or reversion to tools in the event of reduction in establishment in His Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth?

In making appointments to or reversions from the position of chargeman, a number of considerations are taken into account, including proved capacity to perform the duties, and qualification by examination for the superior post of inspector.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the ship's company of His Majesty's Ship "Hermes," a Portsmouthon manned ship, which is ordered to be paid off at Chatham in May next, will be sent on foreign service leave from Chatham, or whether they will be first discharged to their own depot at Portsmouth and sent on foreign service leave from there?

They will be sent to their own depot, and thence proceed on foreign service leave.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why stokers in the Royal Naval Reserve who have completed their second period of five years' service since 1st November, 1914, are not being allowed to enrol for a third period when they are out of work or cannot prove that they are at present employed as firemen; and, in view of the hardship caused in this way, will he alter the Regulations so that stokers shall not be prevented from continuing on the Royal Naval Reserve because of unemployment?

Orders have been given that men with not less than three years' sea service during the War may be accepted for enrolment or re-enrolment in the Royal Naval Reserve, irrespective of their civil employment, provided that they are otherwise eligible under the Regulations.

Am I to understand that the fact of unemployment would debar a man from being re-enrolled for a further period, although he was otherwise qualified?

I should like to consider that question.

asked the Minister of Labour the reason for the special inquiries that are being made regarding the ages of all elderly persons registered at the Walworth Road Employment Exchange; and is this inquiry with a view to the withdrawal of benefit from all those persons who may be over 60 years of age?

I have looked into the, matter and cannot find that any special inquiries regarding the ages of elderly persons registered at the Borough Employment Exchange in Walworth Road are being made. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will let me know afterwards to what he refers, and then I can make further inquiries.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that if the provision of the Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Act of 1924, which requires 30 contributions since the beginning of the last insurance year but one, comes into force on 1st October next, it will disqualify from benefit a large percentage of the unemployed in those districts, such as Middlesbrough, where unemployment has been abnormally large for the last four years; and, as this will involve a heavy burden on the poor rates for the maintenance of those so deprived of benefit, will he take steps to bring in an amending Bill to def(r the application of the provision in certain cases?

As I stated in the Debate on Monday, the question whether it will he necessary to propose amending legislation on this point depends on the course of industry and employment in the coming months: I cannot say more than this at present.

In the meantime, will the right hon. Gentleman he good enough to consult with these local authorities—not merely his own officials, but the boards of guardians in these districts?

I will certainly take opinions generally with regard to any course that may be adopted, hut, in the end. I must take the decision myself.

Do not forget West Ham.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received resolutions on this matter from various boards of guardians?

I have already stated that I have.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that men are being deprived of unemployment benefit in the Borough of St. Marylebone, and elsewhere, by a committee of one, contrary to the provisions laid down in the Unemployment Insurance Act: and, if so. will he cause inquiries to be made with a view to preventing further occurrences of this nature?

The rule for the composition of Rota Committees provides that two persons shall form a quorum, but that, if two members are unable to be present at the hearing, the case should be dealt with by the remaining member, and his recommendation should be submitted for confirmation to a fully-constituted sub-committee. This practice has been followed at the Edgware Road Employment Exchange, and I am given to understand that on only a few occasions has it been necessary for claims to be considered by a single member of the committee in the first instance.

Were these cases confirmed later on?

If the hon. Member will give me notice of any particular cases, I will always have them inquired into.

Will the right hon. Gentleman arrange that when such one-man decisions are given, if they are against the applicant, they shall be considered again by an ordinary committee?

That is exactly what I have said.

Does the right hon. Gentleman really consider this is a satisfactory method of dealing with applicants, to have applications heard by only one member of the committee, and does be not realise that, even if a decision of one member is reported to others, it must necessarily influence their judgment, with the result that the final decision is not really judicial?

The hon. and gallant Member is arguing the point.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit who have been disallowed since and through the new Regulation issued by him?

The number of applicants for unemployment, benefit in Great Britain whose claims have been disallowed because of failure to satisfy the contribution conditions for waiver of the first statutory condition is in round numbers, 11,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received a resolution from the Lincoln Board of Guardians asking him to suspend the recent Regulation with regard to unemployed insurance and whether, seeing that the with drawal of unemployment benefit places an additional burden on the ratepayers in industrial towns where there is a large volume of unemployment, he will take action to ensure that no additional restrictions shall be placed on the issue of unemployment insurance to unemployed workpeople?

I have received the resolution in question. As regards Lincoln in particular, I would point out that the number disqualified under the new rule is 26. On the question generally. I would refer the hon. Member to what was said in last Monday's Debate on this subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the attitude of the Employment Exchanges is not only forcing them on to the Poor Law, but penalising the most thrifty section of the population, because a man has to become a pauper before he can get any Poor Law relief?

No. I must not be taken as accepting that conclusion.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there is any process of headquarters investigation being frequently carried out in order to eliminate the undeserving, from the benefit of unemployment pay, especially amongst the younger recipients?

Under the normal machinery for the administration of unemployment benefit, investigation is made each week by inquiries of employers, etc., into the title to benefit of a certain proportion of the claimants in receipt of benefit, and at each Employment Exchange there is an officer or officers specially assigned to this duty. There are also standing arrangements for the review of authorisations of claims by officers from divisional offices. In addition, special investigations arc made from time to time in selected areas as to the title to benefit of all the claimants to benefit in that area. These investigation are conducted on instructions from headquarters by local staff under the directions of the divisional controller in charge of the area concerned. It is not the practice to employ headquarters officers on these investigations.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applicants for extended benefit during the period 1st August, 1924, to 8th March, 1923, have had their claims rejected on the following grounds: not normally insurable and not seeking to obtain a livelihood by means of insurable employment, insurable employment not likely to be available, not a reasonable period of insurable employment during the preceding two years, etc., not making every reasonable effort to obtain suitable employment, and not willing to accept suitable employment; and will he give the figures separately for London, Glasgow, Manchester, Sheffield and Middlesbrough?

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

May I take this opportunity of pointing out to Members that, while I am very anxious to supply them with any information in my power, the compilation of some statistics takes a very large amount of time on the part of many of the skilled members of the staff of the Department, and I would therefore beg hon. Members to hear this consideration in mind in asking for figures which involve extraction from a number of different sources.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will give us the totals for the towns, in view of the statements which are being continually made as to the number of men who have been knocked off? Certain figures were publicly stated the other night. [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"] I do not want to make a speech, but I want to get the information now.

The rejections under the recent Circular were not asked for by the hon. Member in his question. I am extracting the figures I now give from the answer which will be circulated. The totals as regards the different towns are, London, 53,909; Glasgow, 11,745; Manchester, 6,145; Sheffield, 5,807; Middlesbrough, 1,272;

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the suffering caused in Barrow-in-Furness by the new regulations with regard to the number of stamps required to entitle to unemployed benefit; that its operation is throwing many people on to guardians' relief, increasing the rates of the town and adding to the burden of the debt which the town already bears; and, if so, is he prepared to give further consideration to the problem?

The number disqualified at Barrow under the new rule is 55 and is approximately in the same proportion to the total number of unemployed on the register, as is the case for the United Kingdom as a whole. I am aware, however, that unemployment is very acute in Barrow, and I shall he very ready to consider any schemes that may be put forward by the locality or by the hon. Member on their behalf.

Can we have any circular in which the Minister would make tr. clear whether the applicant is necessarily debarred, if he has not stuck on the stamps from the commencement of the operation of the Act? There is some misunderstanding.

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would put that question down?

asked the Minister of Labour how many unemployed received benefit in the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney for the months of December, January and February; how many have failed to qualify for unemployment benefit owing to the new Regulations increasing the number of stamps required; and how many who had so failed to qualify were over 55 years of age?

The numbers of applicants for benefit who were recorded on the registers of the Stepney Employment Exchange at the end of December, January and February last were 8,282, 8,738 and 8,298 respectively. I am unable to state the number of separate individuals represented by these figures, but it was no doubt considerably larger than the number on the register at any particular date. The number of persons in this area whose claims to benefit have been disallowed since 19th February, because of failure to satisfy the contribution conditions referred to, was 35. I am unable to give the ages of these persons.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women, respectively, were on the Employment Exchange registers for the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney for the years 1922, 1923 and 1924; the total amount of unemployment benefit paid for the same period; and how many of the male recipients were ex-service men?

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the lion. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give figures to show the number of vacant berths in the shipbuilding yards of Great Britain, and the number of unemployed in that industry?

I have no official information as to the number of vacant berths in the shipbuilding yards of Great Britain. The number of persons in the shipbuilding industry insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts who were recorded as unemployed on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain on 23rd February, 1925, was 76,661, or 32'8 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour why dock labourers are singled out to sign as unemployed twice a day, while men working alongside them in the shipyards, for example, have only to sign twice a week; if he is aware of the grievance felt by dock labourers on this account, and also that men frequently lose a chance of work on an incoming ship through having to attend the Exchange to sign the second time; and whether he has now reconsidered this matter with a view to an improvement in the Regulations?

Dock workers claiming unemployment benefit are required to attend twice daily in view of the special conditions of their employment and method of engagement. So far as I am aware, these conditions do not apply in the same way to shipyard workers, but if they did in any district it would be necessary to apply the requirement in their cases also.

The times of attendance are fixed so as to follow closely upon the calls at which the men are engaged, and I have no reason to suppose that the requirement lessens their opportunities of obtaining employment.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men who have to apply twice a day have to travel a considerable distance from the point where they would find employment to the exchange to sign on, and in view of the fact that in different trades men are subject to casual employment, why is this distinction made in the two cases

Because of distinctions, so far as I am aware, in the periods for which they are engaged. If the hon. Member has any facts which show that it is unfair on one group as compared with the other, if lie or the other hon. Member will put down a question and confer with us afterwards we will go into it in order to try to make it fair.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any information in regard to the health of the unemployed men and women of the country who have been out of employment for two years and upwards; and whether, in view of the fact that such persons may be assumed to be quite outside the National Health Insurance benefits, he has considered the issue of instructions to the various boards of guardians to arrange special medical attention to persons so affected?

I think the hon. Member has overlooked the effect of the prolongation of Insurance Act, 1921, which is still in force In view of this Act it has not been thought necessary to make any special inquiries as to the health of unemployed persons, and my right hon. Friend is not aware that there is any need for the issue of such instructions as are suggested in the last part of the question.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that it is because I have not overlooked the fact that I am asking the question? In West Ham there is a large number of poor people who are outside the scope of the National Health Insurance scheme, and are really suffering from the need of the extension of the Department's work.

The answer is that I think the district medical service is available to those people, just as to the rest of the community.

asked the Minister of Labour if British Home Grown Sugar, Limited, is on the King's Roll; and, if so, when it was put on?

Home-Grown Sugar, Limited, which, I presume, is the company referred to, is not on the King's Roll, but I am informed that it has no factory employés at present and that its factory at Kelham is operated by the English Beet Sugar Corporation, Limited. The latter corporation is an the roll in respect of its Cantley factory, and has, I understand, taken steps with a view to being put on the roll in respect of the Kelham factory.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a firm may get on the King's Roll by employing ex-service men as clerical employés, quite apart from factory workers, if they employ the right proportion, and will he inquire, in that case, why this firm are not on the King's Roll?

I will certainly inquire into the case. May I add that my object is to try to get every firm that can be got on to the King's Roll, whether in respect of clerical employés or others, and I will certainly make inquiries as to whether this firm has a sufficient number of clerical employés to get on the King's Roll.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Sudan Plantations Corporation is on the King's Roll?

No company of that name is on the King's National Roll.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the present occupations of the farmers' and workers' representatives. respectively, on the Berkshire Agricultural Wages Committee?

I regret, that the information for which my hon. and gallant Friend asks is not in my possession.