asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the number of the staff appointed to the prospective college in the Gold Coast Colony; what are the emoluments of the members of the staff and at what periods are furloughs provided: and whether his approval was obtained for the engaging of a staff so many years before their services were likely to be required;

(2) whether the contract for the building of Achimota College, in the Gold Coast Colony, will be carried out by the original firm upon the terms of the contract, and when it is anticipated the college will be opened; and whether, seeing that the staff was appointed before the college was erected or pupils obtained, at a heavy charge on the revenues of the colony, and that there is no prospect of employing this staff until, at the earliest, 1927, he will consider the advisability of suggesting that the teachers should undertake some work in the existing educational institutions of the colony?

With the hon. Member's permission. I will answer his two questions together. The contract for the construction of Achimota College has been terminated and the work will be carried on by the Public Works Department of the Colony. It is hoped that a substantial portion of the work enabling some 200 pupils to be accommodated will be finished by November, 1927. The staff already engaged number 24, and their salaries for the first year total some £15,000. They will be given leave after 18 or 24 months, according to circumstances. As was explained by ray hon. Friend the Member for Stafford in his reply to the hon. Member on 7th December last, the staff were engaged with my approval and on the advice of my Advisory Committee, so that they might have a year or so to acquaint themselves with the language, customs and institutions of the people before they had to teach them. In view of the unfortunate delay in completing the college buildings, it has been found advisable to employ a number of the staff as teachers at the existing training college at Accra.

Is it not the case that the whole of the staff at present engaged at this college are working very hard, not only in training themselves, but in educational work on the spot?

I think that is the case.

Is it not the rule of this House that hon. Members should make themselves responsible for the facts which are alleged in questions asked by them, and is it not especially desirable that this should be done in cases where ignorance of the facts leads to a slur upon a peculiarly devoted and hard-working public body of workers?

I do not read this question as containing any slur. As a matter of fact it has brought out a useful statement from the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am much obliged to the Minister for what he has said. What I was afraid of was that the suggestion in the question was that they were being paid when they had no work to do.

The suggestion in the question is one which the Government have carried out already. The work they are doing has been stated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the promises which have been made to the steel industry that the proposed loan for the development of East Africa will mean large orders for steel rails; and if he will take steps to ensure that these promises shall be fulfilled by inserting a condition in the loan that all materials for which the loan would be raised must be placed with British manufacturers?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bodmin on the 8th of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the profits made by the Uganda Railway in 1923, 1924 and 1925; and what is the total profit since the line was opened?

The net earnings have been as follow:

	£
1923	415,351
1924	756,722
1925 (estimated)	778,623
1903–1925	4,444,286

These figures do not allow for depreciation, for which £489,109 has been set aside in the last three years, nor do they allow for loan charges, which at present amount to £484,812 a year, or for capital improvements met from revenue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the total mileage of railways laid in British territory in Africa, the gauge of the main lines and the subsidiary lines; has consideration been given to the advisability of securing uniformity of gauge, especially in regard to main lines; and will this policy be kept in view in connection with the construction of new lines that are contemplated by loans under guarantees by the Government, and thus obviate the difficulties that other parts of the Empire are experiencing from differences of gauge?

With my hon. and gallant Friend's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the detailed figures asked for in the first part of his question. As regards gauge, the position broadly speaking, is that the West African and South African railway systems are on the 3 feet 6 inch gauge, which is also the gauge of the Sudan railway. The Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika railways are on the metre gauge which is also the gauge in use on the Belgian and French possessions in Africa. The importance of uniformity of gauge first of all in the same geographical area and later when areas now separate become linked up will be carefully kept in mind but involves difficult problems.

Is it not customary in new railway construction that that fact should be borne in mind, so that provision may be made enabling widening from 3 ft. 3 ins. to 3 ft. 6 ins. to be carried out?

That is a point which will have to be kept in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any part of the sum of £816,000 allocated to Nyasaland under the East African Protectorates Loans Act of 1914 has yet been raised; if so, how much has actually been expended in Nyasaland and for what purpose; and for what purpose or purposes the unexpended balance is available?

Out of the total sum of £803,000 which the Government of Nyasaland is empowered to borrow from the Treasury under the East African Protectorates Loans Act of 1914 a sum of £40,000 has so far been advanced, together with a sum of £5,348 to cover interest for three years. Of the advance of £40,000, £8,416 has been spent on railway surveys, £6,108 on roads and £1,440 on interest. The balance of this advance, amounting to approximately £24,000, is available for expenditure on roads and telegraphs.

What is the interest charged on that amount?

It amounts to £5,000 for three years.

What is the rate of interest charged?

I should be glad if thy hon. Friend will ask a separate question on that point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount expended on administration, as apart from capital expenditure, of medical and sanitary services by the Government of the Gambia for the year 1924–25?

The latest figures available are for the financial year 1924. The expenditure for that period was £21,180

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what was the total expenditure from Exchequer funds, made both at home and abroad in connection with the Crown Colonies, for the years 1903, 1913, 1923, and 1924; and what was the value of British exports sent to the Crown Colonies in the years 1903, 1913, 1923, and 1924;

(2) what was the total expenditure from Exchequer funds, made both at home and abroad, in connection with the Dominions for the years 1903, 1913, 1923, and 1924; and what was the value of exports of British manufacture to the. Dominions in those years?

I will take these questions together, as I am not sure to what precise expenditure my hon. and gallant Friend refers in the first part of each question. If he will be so good as to communicate with me, I hope that I may be able to give answers next week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether action is being taken along the lines of any, and, if so, which of the recommendations of the first Report of the Advisory Committee on Social Hygiene, issued in 1925, as to the Straits Settlements?

Yes, Sir, action is being taken on the general lines suggested, but, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the fuller answer which I have had prepared for him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government has suggested to Hong Kong the formation of a corps of naval volunteers; and whether a similar movement is being promoted in other Colonies?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As stated in the answer to a similar question by the hon. Member on the 25th of May last, the question of forming a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at Singapore and at other places in Malaya is under consideration. I regret that I am not yet in a position to give any details of the scheme. I am in communication with the Admiralty as regards the possibility of adopting similar schemes in other Dependencies.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider offering enlistment to very loyal and seaman-like Chinese Colonists and not confining it to Europeans?

That will certainly have to be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what was the total value of the arms and military and other stores handed over by Great Britain to the Irish Free State authorities; and whether the same have now been paid for?

The estimated value of the arms, military and other stores handed over to the Irish Free State authorities is approximately £1,900,000. This amount is included in the figures given in Part II of Command Paper 2482, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. As stated in the note in that Paper, no immediate cash payment is due from the Free State Government in respect of this property.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why it is that we are not to have a cash payment? Would it not be desirable, in connection with the economy campaign of the Government, to collect long outstanding debts?

This is a matter that is covered by other arrangements.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also give attention to the collection of the £100,000,000 of debt handed over to Koltchak, Denikin and Yudenitch?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what has been the number of applicants for passages to Canada under the Anglo-Canadian Government scheme of cheap passages since its inception; how many have been accepted, rejected and suspended respectively; and, in the case of rejection, for what reason?

The greatest number of applications are made at the local offices of the Canadian Government agents throughout the country, and only those which seem suitable for acceptance, having regard to the Canadian Government's requirements, are forwarded to the Director of Migration. Of the applications forwarded to the Canadian offices during the month of January (the first month in which the new scheme operated), particulars supplied to me by the High Commissioner are as follows:—Families, 1,003 applications, of whom 730 have been accepted; single men, 1,446 applications, of whom 270 have been accepted; women (household workers), 408 applications, of whom 106 have been accepted. The remaining applications are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what are the restrictions upon British migration to Canada; in what respect there has been relaxation of these restrictions this season; and what effect has any such relaxation had in encouragement of British settlement in the Dominion?

There are no restrictions upon British migration to Canada except in the case of persons "prohibited" under the Canadian Immigration Laws, e.g., persons suffering from some mental or physical defect. But, in the case of assisted migration, the Dominion Government only accepts persons prepared to work on the land and women undertaking domestic service. In regard to persons willing to work on the land, the new Canadian Passage Agreement, which came into operation on 1st January, permits financial assistance to be given to a limited number of men who have no previous agricultural experience. It is at present too early to estimate the effect of the new Agreement.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion or percentage is applied to those who have not had previous agricultural experience?

The number is limited, but I am afraid I could not give, at so early a date, a precise figure.

Is it correct that, in every case of non-assisted passages, it is essential that they should have a certain amount of money?

Yes, some small amount of landing money is also required.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the percentage division of the passage money and after-care expense of migration to Canada under the cheap-passage scheme as between the British and Canadian Governments, the steamship companies, and the migrants, respectively?

The proportions vary according to the migrant's destination, and the operation of the scheme can best be shown in the form of a table, which, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Do we pay more than Canada, or less?

We pay rather less for those who land at Halifax, and rather more for those who go as far as Vancouver. The proportion varies in the way the totals are made up.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any Dominion or State within a Dominion has enacted legislation making it compulsory to show a percentage of British films in cinemas within its territory?

So far as I am aware, no such legislation has yet been passed in any of the Dominions or States.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has received any representations from Australia or from any other Dominion calling attention to the necessity for a larger supply of British films to be made available, and whether he will urge upon the Government the necessity for co-operating with the Dominions in any attempt to counteract the propaganda of the foreign film in all parts of the Empire?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part, I am sure that the Government will be glad to give consideration to any proposals for co-operation with the Dominions with a view to the encouragement of British films.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that there is a real concern in the Dominions as to the effect of this foreign film propaganda, and would he not, perhaps, initiate an attempt to secure their co-operation?

I am well aware that there is concern in the Dominions, and in this country too, and as I have said in my reply, we shall be very glad to co-operate, and to consider actively any methods of co-operation.

Is there not throughout the Dominions a very strong feeling in favour of British films?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any subsidies are given by the Japanese Government to Japanese shipping lines carrying piece goods to the Indian markets; and whether the 10 per cent. Consumption Tax levied on all textile manufacturers in Japan is applicable to good, which are exported?

The Japanese Government grants subsidies for certain mail services maintained by the principal Japanese steamship companies, but no direct subsidies are given for the services maintained between Japan and India. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

If there is no direct subsidy can the hon. Gentleman tell us if there is any indirect subsidy?

This is a very intricate question. I have received from our Embassy at Tokio a long report, of which I hesitate to have copies made on the ground of expense, but, if I may be permitted to invite my hon. Friend to come into my room, I will show him the original document.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any progress was made during the recent Recess in regard to the disposal of the land and buildings which constituted the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley; and whether he has any statement to make upon the subject?

I understand that the liquidators have lost no time in taking the necessary preliminary steps with a view to the disposal of the land and buildings at Wembley.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department (1) in how many cases in 1925 the Export Credit Department gave credits for firms dealing with Poland; what was the amount of credit involved; how many applications were refused; and in how many cases, if any, was there any loss to the Department;

(2) in how many cases in 1925 the Export Credit Department gave credits for firms dealing with the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes; what was the amount of the credit involved; how many applications were refused; and in how many cases, if any, was there any loss to the Department?

I have endeavoured to obtain the full information asked for by my hon. Friend, but regret that I have been unable to do so in the time available since the questions appeared on the Order Paper. In the circumstances, I should be glad if my hon. Friend would repeat his questions in a week's time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can give the House any particulars with regard to the recent exhibition in Dunedin, and state whether the expectations entertained with regard to its assistance in the development of inter-Empire trade have been justified?

All reports received from Dunedin indicate that the exhibition now being held there has proved an unqualified success, and there is every reason to expect that it will exercise a beneficial influence on the development of inter-Imperial trade. I shall take the opportunity, in connection with the Estimate which comes before the House to-morrow, to make a fuller statement on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that unless diplomatic action is taken immediately financial losses and a miscarriage of justice will result to British business men, and to British claimants generally, under the Inter-Allied Assessment Convention, in relation to the assessment and reparation of damage suffered in Turkey; that, notwithstanding that such claimants have been officially assured here that their complaints against the decisions and practice of the Inter-Allied Commission constitute a prima facie case, His Majesty's Government has refused to receive a deputation of such claimants, and has referred them to the Commission, who has refused to give information and proper access; what steps has the Government already taken, or is proposing to take, to protect the interests of its nationals; and will he state whether the functions of the British delegate are judicial or to advocate British claims, or both?

Under the Convention of 23rd November, 1923, relative to the Assessment and Reparation of Damage suffered in Turkey (Command Paper 2028), an inter-Allied Commission was set up to assess the damages suffered by British, French, Italian and Japanese nationals in Turkey, and to distribute the compensation fund to the parties concerned in proportion to the damage suffered by them. The Convention provides that the Commission shall lay down its procedure, and that its decisions shall be final; accordingly any representations which claimants desire to make in regard to the assessment of claims must be made to the Commission, and His Majesty's Government is not in a position to intervene. For this reason no official assurance on behalf of His Majesty's Government was, or could be, given to the claimants, who have recently made representations in regard to decisions of the Commission, as to the justification for their complaints; and they have in all cases been referred to the Commission, which alone is in a position to deal with the matter. I am informed that it is not the case that claimants have been refused information to which they are entitled, or proper access. Although the functions of the Commission are judicial, and it is not the duty of the national delegates to act as advocates of national claims, I understand that the British delegate gives British claimants every assistance in his power in regard to the presentation of their claims, and for this purpose he is ready to consider any representations in writing, supplemented, if necessary, by personal interview. It must, however, be pointed out that the Commission is required by this Convention to follow a procedure which will ensure the prompt settlement of claims, and that it has some 15,000 claims before it; accordingly, it is impossible for the Commission to give a formal hearing to all claimants, or even to the majority.

Is the recently appointed delegate of the Commission bound in any way by the decision given by his predecessor on that Committee?

I could not answer without notice.

Would the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs be willing to receive a deputation on this subject?

My hon. Friend had better put that question to the Foreign Secretary.

Who pays the expenses of this Commission?

I could not answer without inquiry.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is intended to give an opportunity to discuss the Anglo-Italian debt settlement; and whether a statement explanatory of the settlement is to be made to Parliament on behalf of His Majesty's Government?

The agreement with the Italian Government has already been laid before the House (Command Paper 2580). If there is a general desire for discussion notified through the usual channels, I should be glad to arrange for it to take place either on the Consolidated Fund Bill or at some other convenient occasion.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of the question, whether a statement will be made on behalf of the Government?

Obviously.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present state of the negotiations with the Government of the French Republic for the payment of the debts owed by France to this country; and whether any representations have been received from the French Government for a re-opening of the question of the rate of payments since the terms of the Anglo-Italian debt settlement were published?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on Wednesday last to the hon. and gallant Member for South Hackney (Captain Garro-Jones) of which I am sending him a copy. The answer to the last part of the present question is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the meetings of the Southborough Committee on Disinterested Management are being held in private; and whether, having regard to the public interest in this question, he will consider the desirability of making the suggestion to the Committee that future sittings should be held in public?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. Whether the meetings of a Committee shall be held in public or in private is a matter for the Committee itself to decide, and the Committee to which the hon. Member refers decided that their meetings should be held in private.

Does it mean that the evidence presented to the Committee will not be available to the public when the Report appears?

No, it does not necessarily mean that. The evidence will be submitted to me, and when the Report is published I shall consider whether it is desirable to publish the evidence.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before reaching a decision in respect of the cessation or the continuance of the Rent Restriction Acts, he proposes to hold a public inquiry into the operation of these Measures; and, if so, when he proposes to set it on foot?

I do not propose to hold any such inquiry at present. I would point out that the existing restrictions continue in force until December, 1927.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Committee of Imperial Defence has any permament members; and if this Committee has any executive powers?

Under the terms of the original Treasury Minute of 4th May, 1904, the Committee of Imperial Defence

"consists of the Prime Minister with such other Members as, having regard to the nature of the subject to be discussed, he may from time to time summon to assist him."

At the present time the membership is as follows:

• The Prime Minister.
• The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
• The Lord President of the Council (the founder of the Committee in its present form).
• The Lord Privy Seal (who was Chairman of the important Sub-Committee of 1923).
• The Chancellor of the Exchequer.
• The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs and the Colonies.
• The Secretary of State for War.
• The Secretary of State for India.
• The Secretary of State for Air.
• The First Lord of the Admiralty.
• The Chiefs of Staff of the three Fighting Services.
• The Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, as head of the Civil Service.

The Committee is a consultative and advisory body, and has no executive powers.

Can the Prime Minister vary the Committee at any moment?

I think I have that power.

Are we to understand that there are no members on that Committee who can be considered as permanent members?

I think the only permanent member, as I read that Minute, is the Prime Minister for the time being.

Is there any constitutional foundation for the phrase, "The Permanent Secretary to the Treasury as the head of the Civil Service"? Is it not the case that the only head of the Civil Service of this country is His Majesty the King?

I should like to consider that point.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Section 5 of the Dentists Act, 1921, is operating in such a manner as to exclude corporate bodies of working-class constitution whose boards of management do not include qualified dentists from supplying dental service to their members; and whether he will introduce legislation which will remove this exclusion?

My right hon. Friend understands that there is nothing in this Section, as interpreted hitherto, to prevent any co-operative society or similar body from arranging for the dental treatment of its members, provided it does not seek any profit in so doing; and he cannot see any necessity for amending legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the recommendation of the Scottish Agricultural Conference, 1925, respecting drainage grants, he has considered the question of the provision of lime in conjunction therewith?

I have been asked to reply. The question of assistance in the provision of lime has been under consideration, but no decision has yet been reached.

also asked bow many applications for drainage grants were received from farmers in Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire during the year 1925; whether any of these were rejected; and, if so, how many?

I have been asked to reply. The numbers of such applications received from farmers in Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire respectively were 63 and 79. Of these nine from Kirkcudbrightshire and nine from Wigtownshire have been rejected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the recent increase in the price of admission to Kew Gardens; and whether he will, if not able to reinstate the previous conditions of admittance, at least reduce the price governing the admission of young children and those in charge of them?

Yes, Sir. The recent reimposition of the penny admission fee was made on the recommendation of the Select Committee on Estimates, who pointed out that the abolition of the charge in April, 1924, had resulted in a loss to the Revenue of about £5,000 a year without, apparently, any appreciable increase in the number of visitors to the gardens. In the circumstances, I regret that I do not see my way to comply with either of the suggestions made by my hon. Friend in the second part of his question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that a charge or 4d. for a woman who takes her baby into Kew Gardens, as against 3d. charged before, is likely to add to the revenue?

There was a charge of 3d. for a perambulator, even when the public were admitted free. If we left the price for a perambulator at 3d. and 1d. was charged to the public, it would mean that the attendant on the perambulator would get in for nothing.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he can give any recent instances of sales of Government property abroad, detailing the prices obtained by the sale as compared with the amount paid upon purchase?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it not a fact—it is only fair to the officials of this Department to ask—that they have made many good bargains for this country in all parts of the world?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government has given any undertaking to the Food Council that legislation will be introduced to force traders to submit their books to the Council?

The Prime Minister has already informed the House that if at any time the Government are convinced that any form of action to assist the Food Council is necessary, they will take that action, whatever legislation may be involved. No other undertaking of the kind suggested has been given.

Does not the hon. Member consider that the work of the Food Council is becoming very much of a farce in that its findings are not becoming operative in the country?

That is a matter for debate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the application of the flower makers under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, and that his Department asked this association to prove the excess of imports over the year 1913; if he is aware that the largest importing firms in this trade have their goods sent to this country by parcels post, and that it is impossible to ascertain the value of these goods; and if, in these circumstances, he will grant an immediate inquiry under the Safeguarding of Industries Act?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 4th February to the hon. Member for the Western Isles, of which I am sending him a copy. I may add that where for valid reasons applicants are unable to submit precise statistical evidence, it is open to them to submit such other evidence as may be available in support of their case.