asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the average exports of steel manufactures during the past two decades from this country, Germany, and the United States?

The answer contains a table of figures, and I will, therefore, with the permission of my hon. and gallant Friend, have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Reasons for estimating the net income arising abroad from various sources, at higher figures in 1924 than in 1923, were set out with some fullness in the article in the Board of Trade Journal of 29th January last, in which the figure's were first published, I am sending a copy of the article to my hon. Friend, All the figures given are estimated balances of credit items over debit items of the same class.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, why pay records showing a credit balance due to demobilised soldiers are destroyed after three years, thus making it impossible to pay the legitimate claims of men who may, owing to absence abroad or some other reason, have been prevented from making earlier claims?

The reasons for the destruction of soldiers' pay documents, after having been kept for the three years' period prescribed under the provisions of the Public Records Office Act, were explained by my right hon. Friend in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Darwen (Sir F. Sanderson) on the 24th February last. A record is, however, kept of any credit balance outstanding and not paid owing to the man's whereabouts being unknown. It is not the practice to refuse a man's legitimate claim to his credit balance which would have been paid at the time had his whereabouts been known. If the hon. and gallant Member has any particular case in mind and will let me have details, I will have it inquired into, but. he will understand that my reply refers solely to credit balances on men's accounts, and not to a fresh claim for emoluments which, if admissible, should have been made years ago.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that I have sent him specific cases, and that he has replied to me to the effect that the man might have had the amount owing to him or might not, but that, owing to the fact that the case is three years old, the records have been destroyed, and, there- fore, it is not possible to verify whether the balance is truly owing or not?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will look at my answer, he will realise that, if a man had a credit three years ago, his papers would have been kept to show it, but no such record is here in these cases.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the answer he gives me now does not tally with the answer he gave me by post a few days ago?

I do not think there is any difference in principle.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the allegations made by the "Sunday Mail" newspaper, of Glasgow, that it has information of secret dumps of explosives to be used by revolutionaries in the event of a coal stoppage in Scotland; if he is aware that this newspaper declares that the railway junction at Portobello, the bridge over the Forth at Alloa, and Polmadie junction are to be specially attacked; and that it knows the man who is in charge of a formidable collection of these explosives for an illegal purpose in Lanarkshire; whether in the public interest he has instructed the police to inquire into the accuracy or otherwise of these statements; and, if the statements are unfounded, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I have seen the article referred to, which contains the statements mentioned by the hon. Member. Police inquiries have been made, but no information confirmatory of these statements has been obtained. I may add that it is the duty of any person possessing information of criminal purposes to communicate it to the proper authorities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman unable to take any steps against newspapers that publish fabrications of this kind, which are likely to excite grave public feeling and disorder in an industrial crisis such as that with which we are at present faced?

My answer is that no confirmatory evidence has yet been obtained.

Is the right hon. Gentleman pursuing his inquiries at the source from which he is likely to obtain any such evidence, if such evidence be in existence?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Undersecretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he can now give an estimate of the costs incurred by the local authorities interested in the promotion of or opposition to the Glasgow Boundaries Bill; and whether he can promote legislation to have such inquiries in future held in the district concerned?

I have no information on which such an estimate could be framed. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to a similar question which he put on the 26th May.

asked the Minister of Transport how much has been allotted from the Road Fund for the relief of unemployment; and whether this diversion has now entirely ceased?

Under the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, it is provided that the Minister, in assisting works of road improvement and construction, shall have regard to the general state and prospects of employment. In present circumstances it has, therefore, been arranged that certain programmes of work shall be expedited, and it is estimated that the total Road Fund contribution to all works so authorised will amount approximately to £34,000,000. I would, however, point out that no works have been authorised under this policy unless they have an immediate traffic value. I am, therefore, unable to accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that there has been any diversion of moneys from the Fund for its legitimate purpose.

Is it not a fact that money spent in this way for the purpose of relieving unemployment secures only something like 50 per cent. or 60 per cent. efficiency, and that, therefore, the real object which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind is not being fulfilled?

I cannot for a moment agree with the percentages put forward by my hon. Friend.

Is the whole of this £34,000,000 for work done in anticipation of future requirements owing to unemployment?

It is for works in anticipation of work that ought to be done as soon as possible. It is being done now, and has been done in the past, because of unemployment, without waiting for the normal time, which would be later.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that on 9th July, 1925, an applicant for employment at Cardiff Employment Exchange was sent to Newbridge, Monmouthshire, to distribute pamphlets printed by the Tudor Printing Works, Cardiff: that these pamphlets were issued in the interest of the South Wales coalowners on the present situation in the mining industry; and will he see that Employment Exchanges are not used for this purpose?

Inquiry is being made, and I. will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I have ascertained the facts. Assuming, however, that the vacancy was one for bona fide employment, I do not think the Exchange could have refused to deal with it, for the reason suggested in the question.

Is it in the interests of industry to use a Government Department in the interests of one side of a dispute?

As far as the Ministry of Labour is concerned, the matter is entirely one of employment, and exactly the same conditions would be applied either to the owners or to the Miners' Federation.

Supposing a person of that kind refused the employment, would he have been deprived of benefit?

That is a hypothetical question.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young persons per annum attain the employable age; and whether he has any means of estimating how many of them fail to find employment?

I have no definite information as to the number of juveniles who become available for employment each year, but some indication is given by figures which have been supplied to me by my right hon. Friends the President of the Board of Education and the Secretary for Scotland.

Does the hon. Member obtain reports from the juvenile employment committees on this matter?

We do receive reports from the juvenile employment committees.

asked the Minister of Transport the amount paid into the Road Fund for 1924 in respect to motor licences; how much of that amount was allocated to Lancashire; and what percentage this sum represents to the total receipts for that year?

The total payments into the Exchequer on account of the Motor Tax revenue during the calendar year 1924 aggregated £15,436,000. This sum however, is subject to certain prior statutory charges, and does not represent the amount available for grants. The grants made to local authorities in Lancashire for the year ended 31st March last amounted to £1,134,332, which represents 7·35 per cent. of the gross revenue for the year 1924.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to prevent the constant taking up and re-surfacing of streets in the London area, he is considering the introduction of legislation making it compulsory within a definite period of time for all motor omnibuses to be fitted with pneumatic tyres?

I am not satisfied that it would be in the interests of public safety at the present time to introduce legislation on the lines indicated by my hon. and gallant Friend.

Is it not a fact that in every other capital in Europe pneumatic tyres are fitted to motor omnibuses?

I do not know, but I do know that if a pneumatic tyre burst on a two-decker omnibus there might be great danger.

asked the Minister of Transport if any progress has been made in the negotiations regarding the projected road bridge over the Forth, at Queensferry?

I am not aware that any developments have occurred since the local authorities failed to accept the offer of a 75 per cent. grant from the Road Fund towards the cost of the preliminary investigations concerning this project.

asked the Postmaster-General how many unemployed ex-service men have recently been engaged through London Employment Exchanges to receive a six weeks' course of training as night telephone operators?

During the last three months 140 unemployed ex-service men have been engaged through the London Employment Exchanges for training and employment as night telephone operators.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that ex-service men, after training and passing an efficiency test as night telephone operators, are being employed on part-time nightwork at London telephone exchanges at the rate of 1s. 2d. per hour; that their earnings vary from 12s. to £1 2s. per week; that they are debarred from receiving unemployment benefit and that the guardians are called upon to grant them out-door relief; and will he make full investigation into the conditions of employment of these men, with a view to enabling them to work sufficient hours to earn a living wage without being forced upon the Poor Law?

I am aware that men employed in the London telephone service are being paid at the hourly rate stated. Their attendances are only for two or three hours in the evening (usually after 8 p.m.), and there does not appear to be any available work which can be added. The posts are intended to be filled by persons who have other part-time employment or other means of livelihood; but it is not practicable, in present circumstances, to refuse to employ candidates who are otherwise unemployed. As I promised last night, I will examine the matter further.

When these men are taken on, are inquiries made as to whether they have other part-time employment to fill up their time?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that in a recent case in the County Court, Northallerton, the owner of a garage over which telephone and telegraph wires passed was held liable for the cost of replacement of wires damaged as the result of a fire on his premises, it is the practice of his Department to hold owners of land and/or houses who grant wayleave for wires, posts, etc., responsible for any damage to the telephone and telegraph wires; and, if so, as the wires are erected for the convenience and use of the public, whether he will issue instructions that in future owners of land and/or houses shall not be held liable for the cost of replacement in the event of damage not due to wilful action on their part?

The answer to the question is in the negative. In the particular case to which the hon. Member refers, the wives were in position under statutory powers.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider causing facilities for all air-mail rates to be more extensively advertised than at present, and will he consider the advisability of supplying air stamps to the values of 2d., 3d., and 4d., such issues to be valid for air-mail letters only?

The existing arrangements for giving publicity to the facilities afforded by air mails will shortly be supplemented by a poster in colour. I shall be glad to consider any suggestion which the hon. Member may care to send me. The blue labels issued free of charge are found to be much more suitable for the purpose of distinguishing letters intended for conveyance by air than a special postage stamp.

asked the Postmaster-General what scale of charges he proposes to lay down for transmitting licences under the new Bill, and whether he can give any undertaking that the scale will not be exceeded in the future?

The fees for experimental sending licencee were reduced some months ago, and the charges now made are an initial fee of 10s. and an annual fee of £l where the power authorised does not exceed 10 watts, and an initial fee of £1 and an annual fee of £2 where the power exceeds 10 watts. The hon. and gallant Member will not expect me to give a pledge that these fees shall never be increased. I can, however, repeat the assurance which I gave in debate that no alteration is at present contemplated.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many awards of pension have been made to men suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis as the result of war service; what is the number of men suffering from this disability at present in receipt of pension; whether he can state the average duration of the life of a pensioner suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis from the date of the award of pension until death; and the number of pensioners who have been cured of pulmonary tuberculosis by treatment administered by the local health authorities?

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available, as the earlier records of the Ministry do not distinguish pulmonary tuberculosis from other chest complaints. During the last 5½ years, however, approximately 14,000 cases have been admitted to compensation in respect of disablement arising from this disease. The number of men in receipt of pension for pulmonary tuberculosis at the present time is, approximately, 36,500. I regret that I have no information regarding the last two parts of the question.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman give any information as to the very large number of ex-service men who are suffering from tuberculosis but whose cases have been proved not to be attributable to war service?

I cannot at the moment say what the numbers are, but, obviously, those men have their right of appeal. The explanation must be that the disease was not contracted on active service.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the great difficulty these men have, who develop tuberculosis two or three years after the War was finished, is to prove the connection with war service?

We do our best to assist a man but, obviously, we must connect up the fact of the tuberculosis with the War service.

asked the Minister of Pensions if instructions have been sent to tuberculosis officers to intimate to their ex-service patients, who have been under treatment for periods of from three to six years to get light work; and whether, seeing that some patients, who have been so informed, are advanced cases of tuberculosis, and that with so many unemployed it is impossible for such ex-service men to secure the light work ordered, he will withdraw these instructions?

It would not be competent to the Ministry of Pensions to issue instructions to tuberculosis officers regarding the medical treatment of cases under their care, and no such instructions have been issued.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of pensioners in receipt of pension at 100 per cent. following a course of sanatorium treatment; and whether he will consider the desirability of granting the special rate of 100 per cent. to all men discharged from sanatoria irrespective of its being a first, second, or third course of sanatorium treatment?

About 10,000 men are in receipt of pension at the rate of 100 per cent. in respect of total disablement due to pulmonary tuberculosis; but I regret that I am unable to say how many of these fall under the special arrangements for men who have completed a course of sanatorium treatment. With regard to the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend is in agreement with the reply given by his predecessor, the right hon. Gentleman, the Member for West Bromwich, to a similar question on the 31st July, 1924, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions if his attention has been directed to hardship often inflicted upon the next-of-kin of deceased ex-service men, in view of the fact that the full grant for funeral expenses is only paid in those cases where the undertaker is on the Minister's list; and whether he will state the reason for having a special list of undertakers?

The normal grant towards funeral expenses is a maximum of £7 10s., having been raised to this amount from the original figure of £3. The grant is payable wherever relatives desire, as in many cases they do, to make their own arrangements for the funeral of the ex-service man. The Ministry was, however, empowered some four years ago to arrange centrally contract terms for funerals, and the more favourable terms so secured are, of course, in the interests of the relatives. In districts where this system is in operation, it is entirely at the discretion of the relatives which alternative they adopt.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the inconvenience caused by the illness of a juror during the progress of a case tried before the Common Serjeant at the Central Criminal Court; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation providing such reform in our jury system as will obviate the necessity in such cases of a new jury being sworn and the trial being commenced de novo?

My right hon. Friend proposes to move a Clause to meet this point, upon the Report stage of the Criminal Justice Bill.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he has any information regarding dredging operations for the improvement of the harbours in the Baltic States of Esthonia, Latvia and Lithuania; which harbours are being so improved; and whether any of the work has been secured by British firms?

I have no information as to any dredging operations at the ports referred to other than the ordinary dredging for the maintenance of the fairways. The latter part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the descriptive titles of the five highest paid offices in the administration of the British Empire Exhibition, together with the aggregate amount of the salaries paid to their holders?

I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by giving the descriptive titles of the five highest paid officers in the administration of the British Empire Exhibition. As regards the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave the hon. Member on the 13th July.

Would it not be useful, in view of the fact that this House is likely to be called upon to pay these salaries, if the hon. Gentleman gave us, not the individual amount, but the total?

I do not think any useful purpose would be served. The officers of the exhibition are not employed by the Government, and therefore they are not public servants. It would be unwarrantable on my part, and, what is more, as the question has been put once or twice before, I hope the hon. and gallant Gentleman will allow me to say the board of management and the Treasury official who deals with these things are perfectly satisfied with the salaries that are paid.

Although they are not employed by the Government, they are likely to be paid out of public money, and in that case have we not a right to ask what the total salaries are?

The House of Commons have undertaken a very heavy guarantee. Surely we can have this simple information.

The Minister has answered.

On a point of Order. May I submit that this House guarantees certain sums to the British Empire Exhibition on the express understanding that the Minister should have the right to ask the board of management for information on these very points.

That is hardly a point of Order for me. It is entirely in the discretion of the Minister.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government is prepared to carry out, over a term of years, necessary works of land drainage; and whether he can now definitely announce the action which the Government is contemplating?

I have been asked to reply. The question referred to by the hon. Member is at present under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has figures of the imports of gold during the last three months; and how much of this gold was sold by the Russian Government?

I can add nothing to the information published in the monthly trade returns, which show that out of £9,301,000 of gold imported in the three months April, May and June, £2,182,000 came from Russia.

Has any further gold come from Russia to this country?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will recommend the disuse of the Income Tax rebate official form R41–3, which summons Income Tax payers to appear in person before the inspector of taxes, bringing with them share and stock certificates and other documents relative to their income, this form being at the present time sent to many persons, including the aged and infirm; and whether he will substitute a form permitting them to submit evidence from their bankers or solicitors to the same effect?

I would invite the attention of my hon. Friend to the statement made on this subject in the course of the Debate on the Finance Bill in Committee and to the reply given on the 19th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Guildford. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the statement and of the reply.

Does the right hon. Gentleman understand that this question is quite distinct from the parallel question to which he has referred, and will he give attention to the possibility of varying the form of the official notice?

I will look into it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether there is any expenditure in the Estimates this year, or whether it is intended to undertake any expenditure, on behalf of any refugees from Russia; and, if so, for what purposes is it intended to be devoted?

No provision has been made in the Estimates for this year for direct expenditure on behalf of the refugees referred to, nor is there any intention of undertaking any such expenditure. I should add however, that the Budget of the International Labour Organisation for 1925 includes a sum of about 150,000 Swiss francs for work in connection with Russian refugees in various countries, and of this sum Great Britain provides about 11 per cent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of perpetual pensions paid by the State, giving the annual amount and the date from which the pensions started?

The only perpetual pension remaining is that of £5,000 per annum granted by Parliament in 1806 to Earl Nelson.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of pensions now being paid under the Political Officers' Pension Act?

None, Sir.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is prepared to exercise his discretion in favour of Mr. J. D. Johnston, tax officer, Glasgow second district, who is a claimant under the reassessment of balance of civil pay of certain civil servants who served with His Majesty's forces during the Great War, in view of the fact that Mr. Johnston's failure to attest was solely due to confusion on the part of the military authorities owing to their failure to transfer certain papers from Darlington to Aberdeen?

As I have previously stated, the judgments of the Court of Appeal in the cases of Pidduck and others are not applicable to persons who were deemed to have been enlisted under the Military Service Acts. Mr. Johnston was so enlisted, and I regret that it is impossible for me to exercise a discretion in his favour.

Since it is no fault of Mr. Johnston's that he is placed in the position he is in now, and it can be clearly shown by his papers that it is the fault of the Department, is there not some way in which justice can go out to this man?

I am afraid it would be impossible to go into the motives why people were enlisted and whether they made any attempt to join before the Military Service Act. As this case has throughout been argued on the legal interpretation, I am afraid it is impracticable for us to go beyond it.

Seeing that the papers are in existence, and that the proof he gives as to their being at a certain point on a certain date at which the man was at another point, and the time the Government took in getting the papers for the man took him beyond the date—

I am afraid if we must go beyond the legal claim we shall have a very large crop of hard cases with which it would be impossible to deal.

Is there going to be no moral sense at all in dealing with a case like this? It is an absolutely clear case where a man has been "done down," to put it in vulgar language, but it is no more vulgar than the act that has taken place, and I hope the Treasury is going to do something.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that professional ex-service men employed in the Civil Service are not allowed to count their period with the colours for Civil Service pension purposes; that civil servants who joined the fighting forces temporarily during the War are permitted to count the period of such service for Civil Service pension purposes; that policemen and several other categories of public servants who join the Civil Service are allowed their previous public service for Civil Service pension purposes; and that the claim of the professional ex-service men was favourably reported on by the Ward Committee as long ago as 1906; and whether he will now take steps to grant the claim?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for the Hornsey Division on the 24th February last.

Arising out of the right hon. Gentleman's unsatisfactory answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received the report of all the evidence given at the inquest on the victims of the Shanghai shootings, and whether he is prepared to publish it?

No official report of the evidence has yet reached me.

Is the Foreign Office asking for it?

We assume that the evidence will be sent to us. His Majesty's representative at Pekin has been instructed by telegraph to send it, if he has not already done so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman publish it when it is received?

I cannot say whether or not that will be done.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet been informed of the proposals of the Commission appointed from Pekin to inquire into the Shanghai disturbances; and how soon their Report will be made public?

I cannot as yet add anything to the answer given on the 16th July to a question by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign. Affairs whether he now has the full report of the evidence taken before the Shanghai Mixed Court on 30th May and 1st June last; whether he intends to publish it; and what action, if any he proposes to take?

The full report of the proceedings has not yet been received. Until it is received by His Majesty's Government, I cannot make any statement as to publication or as to what action it will be desirable to take.

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking any steps to secure a full report? How is it that six weeks after every newspaper has had it the Foreign Office has not got it?

The reports to which the hon. Member refers which have appeared in the newspapers are, as far as I am aware, partial. I do not know how far they are accurate. We are assuming that the evidence will be sent to this country; but as there are no British subjects involved in the proceedings it is not quite certain. In order to make certain, we have instructed His Majesty's representative to send us the evidence, if he has not already done so.

asked the Minister of Health if he can furnish statistics as to the general death rate and of infantile mortality in this and the other principal countries for 1924 and for 1913, respectively?

Statistics for 1924 are at present available for very few countries, and accordingly I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures required for 1923 and 1913, respectively.

asked the Minister of Health the amount raised by rates for Poor Law purposes in the city of Westminister and the boroughs of Wandsworth and Poplar during the year ended 31st March last, and the amounts expended on Poor Law relief by the guardians in each of those areas during the same period?

As the answer is somewhat long and involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that in the Borough of Southwark there is no land available for the erection of dwellings for the working people, that many houses have been condemned, and that poverty and overcrowding exists to a greater extent than in any other London borough, he will make a special grant to enable the borough to clear some of the slum areas and erect houses in which workpeople could live in the vicinity of their employment?

My right hon. Friend will be glad to consider any schemes submitted to him by the London County Council or the borough council for the clearance or reconstruction of areas in Southwark, but he has no power to promise any special grant over and above that for which provision is made by existing legislation.

Will the hon. Member seek those powers, seeing that Southwark is one of the most congested areas in the whole country?

I do not think I can seek powers for one special place.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Finsbury Borough Council are proposing to hand over the collection and disposal of house refuse to a contractor, and that this will involve the discharge of about 50 men from the service of the council and their removal from the council's superannuation scheme; and whether, as these men have been exempted from payment of National Insurance Insurance by reason of their service with the council, he will say upon what conditions they would qualify for benefits under the Widows, Orphans and Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill?

My right hon. Friend has no information as to the first part of the question, and the second part appears to rest on a misapprehension. No certificate of exception from national health insurance has been issued to the Finsbury Borough Council, and my right hon. Friend is informed that the council has duly paid health insurance contributions for the men referred to in the question. They will, therefore, be able to qualify for benefits under the Contributory Pensions Bill on the ordinary conditions applicable to insured persons. I may add that even if the facts were as stated by the hon. Member, the men's position under the Bill would be amply safeguarded by Regulations to be made under Clause 15 (4).

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the First Commissioner of Works has arranged for the early removal from its present site in Hyde Park of the Epstein bas-relief; and whether he will see that it is not re-erected in any other public place in this country?

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

Can the hon. Member say whether this work of art belongs to the nation and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of offering this specimen of Bolshevist so-called art to the Soviet Government of Russia?

Argumentative adjectives are out of order as supplementary questions.

Will the hon. Member say whether he has had an opportunity of seeing the indignation of the public at what has been called a work of art in the midst of an otherwise charming bird sanctuary?

Is the Under-Secretary aware that the public consider his artistic taste much better than that of the hon. Member.

We had a good many communications in the first instance condemning this memorial tablet. We also received others almost lyrical in their praise. During the last three or four weeks we have had no communications.

Is it not a fact that the First Commissioner of Works has not received any communication during the last few weeks, because it was understood that he was making inquiries as to the feelings of the public? He can surely have no mistake as to what is that feeling!

Evidently there are two feelings in the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Report of the Committee of Inquiry on Superphosphates has been considered and a decision arrived at; and, if not, when a decision may be expected?

I am not at present in a position to make any statement on this matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether any, and, if so, what steps are being taken to recruit and swear in special constables in London on the ground that an industrial emergency may shortly be anticipated?

My right hon. Friend has been unavoidably detained. He has been very anxious to answer this question, and if my hon. Friend will put it down for to-morrow, my right hon. Friend will reply.

As the Home Secretary has now come into the House, perhaps, I might now ask for an answer to my question.

I think, perhaps, that it would be better to take it to-morrow. It is not the usual practice to have a question answered after Questions to the Speaker.

Might I respectfully point out that I understand that the Home Secretary is willing to answer me, and it is a rather urgent question.

I think that it would be better answered to-morrow. It would be a departure from the usual practice to answer it now.

May I ask the Prime Minister whether he will state now what business is to be taken on Friday next; and whether he can now make any announcement as to when the Government will make a statement on their shipbuilding programme?

In regard to the second question, I cannot give a reply to-day. In reply to the first question, we propose to take the following business on Friday:

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to suspend the Four o'clock Rule?

No, I have not thought of that, but I have tried to consult everyone's taste.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that there will on Friday be a sufficient number of his supporters here to prevent the House being counted out, as it was Friday week?

That is why I put down such a variety of business.

May I ask. Sir, whether your attention has been directed to an incident which occurred in Standing Committee D yesterday, and-if so, whether you could net see your way to make a statement to the House as to the authority of the Chairman of a Standing Committee with regard to Members of the Committee, and as to the maintenance of Order on that Committee?

My intention has been directed to what occurred in Standing Committee D yesterday. I am sure that the House will feel that I should not say anything about that particular incident: but I shall confine what I have to say to the general question.

I think that we may safely say that, in the statement which we have heard, we recognise the customary helpfulness and guidance which have always been received from the Chair, but I would like to ask a. further question. It would appear from the Report of the proceedings referred to, that the trouble over which this question has arisen was due to the fact that the Committee upstairs had denied to it the right of deciding as to the days upon which, and the times at which it should meet. Accordingly I would like to ask you whether you can make any statement as to how in future that point may be resolved, so that Committees may know their position in this matter?

The point raised by the right hon. Gentleman is not governed by any Standing Order of the House. It is a question of the practice and procedure of the Committee upstairs. There is a body, the Chairmen's Panel, which, I think, deals with questions of that kind. To my mind, it would be undesirable that the House should lay down any Standing Order or or any Rule on this question. If there is some doubt as to the practice, or a desire to determine the practice, I would suggest then that the matter should be brought before the Chairmen's Panel for consideration.