asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a recent vacancy on the Indian Railway Board has been filled by a European; and will be state whether no Indian was considered suitable for the post?

An impending vacancy in the Financial Commissionership of Railways in India will be filled by a European, whom the Government of India, after careful consideration of the claims of possible candidates, have selected as the best man for the post.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the allegations of torturing prisoners made against the police at Mehunbara, in the Bombay Presidency; and whether he will cause a judicial inquiry to be made into the matter?

I have at present seen only a brief newspaper reference to alleged police terrorism at Mehunbara, and am confident that the local Government will take action on it, if necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that no promotions to commissioned rank have been made in the Indian subordinate medical service since 1923; and, in view of the number of qualified men who are eligible for and awaiting promotion, will he take steps to ensure that their claims are dealt with at once?

The circumstances were brought to my Noble Friend's notice by the Anglo-Indian deputation which waited upon him last summer. The Government of India are being asked for an early report on the subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the evidence given before the Skeen Committee by Burman commissioned officers; and whether it is the intention of the Government of India to promote and encourage the inclusion of educated Burmans in the enlistment for the Burman Rifles?

I have so far seen only Press reports of the evidence. Burmans can compete for commissions in the Indian Army on the same footing as Indians. The question of enlistment would appear to be outside the scope of the committee to which my hon. Friend refers.

Is the Noble Lord aware that the Committee have already dealt with this matter?

Yes, but the point is that the Committee have not yet reported, and until they do report, I do not think any useful purpose could be served by my saying anything.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he has any figures to show how many coolies have emigrated from India in each of the last three years for employment in the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States; how many of these were engaged for work under Government Departments or Government contractors and how many for industrial or agricultural work under private employers?

The returns for 1925 are not yet available, but for the previous three years the figures are as follow:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India when he hopes the Government will be in a position to publish the Report of the India Currency Commission?

The Commission are now engaged in taking evidence in London. I am not in a position to say when the Report will be available for publication.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can state the number of men employed by the Burma Oil Company in the Yenang-yaung oilfields; what percentage of the men are on strike; what is the daily wage of the various grades of workmen; and what are the demands of the men on strike?

I understand that there are about 8,000 Indian and Burmese employés on these oilfields, all of whom struck work on 1st February as a protest against the substitution of daily for monthly wages. The number of strikers was reduced to 2,000 by 11th February. It is now reported in the Press that the strike is practically at an end, and that work is proceeding normally. The information asked for in the third part of the question is not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether there is any system under which the Government of India undertakes to supply native labour for works required by a Government Department outside India; and, if so, how many labourers have been thus recruited in each of the last three years and where have they gone?

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to schemes which were sanctioned under the Indian Emigration Act, 1922, for the assisted emigration of unskilled labourers to Ceylon, Malaya, and for one year to Mauritius. The Government of India does not undertake to supply these labourers; the Government of the country of immigration is responsible for their recruitment under conditions prescribed by the Government of India, and for the conditions of their work on arrival, which, I understand, is for the most part under private employers.

The Indian statistics show the following numbers of emigrants under the Act to Ceylon and Mauritius:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether there is any limit to the time which the Government of India propose to keep under arrest the 110 persons who are detained without trial under the provisions of the Bengal Criminal Justice Act?

Out of 119 persons under the Act, 67 are not under arrest but are required to stay in their own homes or other prescribed places. The validity of every order of restriction is by law limited to a period of one year; thereafter the order must be renewed if, on consideration, this appears to he necessary. The Government of India have publicly announced that it is their considered policy that wherever it is possible to mitigate or remove all restriction it should be done; and that they hope that as things improve the restrictions may either be entirely removed or grow less and less as time goes on.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if the Government of India has proof of the existence of political societies in India which seek to advance their objects by criminal methods; and, if so, will he give the names of the principal of these societies?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer to what is said as to the existence of terrorist organisations in the Papers presented to Parliament, Command No. 2288 of 1924 and No. 34 of 1925, presented under the Government of India Act, also to Command Paper 2309 of 1924 as to the Cawnpore Conspiracy Case. As to the second part, I am not prepared to specify by name those organisations which are considered to be the principal offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Under-Secretary will visit the British mandated territories in the Cameroons and Togoland during his West African tour?

I regret that the time which the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies will be able to spend in West Africa will not suffice to enable a visit to be made to the British Cameroons or British Togoland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the length of residential service by civil servants in West Africa, without leave, under existing agreements, together with the length of service, without leave, operating under agreements made prior to 1914?

Under the old West African leave regulations the normal length of a tour of resident service entitling to leave was 12 months, which could lie extended in certain circumstances. Under the new leave regulations the average length of a tour of service is about 18 months. The actual length depends upon the circumstances of each case.

Is it not the fact that it is almost impossible for Europeans to live out in West Africa for so long a period without leave, and will the right hon. Gentleman consider extending it?

When the new leave regulations were introduced the point was very carefully considered, in view of the general improvement in health conditions on the West Coast, but the subject is being carefully watched, and if there should be any evidence that the period were too long we should always consider the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that negotiations have taken place for the sale of a certain island in the Bahama group to persons of United States nationality; and whether he is prepared to make a statement on the matter?

From the information at my disposal, I have no reason to think that the suggestion made in the first part of my hon. Friend's question is correct. As regards the latter part, I am already in communication with the Governor of the Bahamas in regard to the terms upon which portions of outlying islands may be leased to persons of British and of foreign nationality. I am not prepared to make a statement pending the receipt of the Governor's reply, but I may point out that neither lease nor sale of land in British territory to foreign individuals in any way alters the nationality of the territory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Imperial Government have made any change in the policy hitherto adopted in relation to the alienation of native land in Kenya Colony; whether by sale or lease of such land to white settlers; and whether he is prepared to make a statement on the subject in view of the apprehensions that have been excited among the native population?

I am not yet able to add anything to the replies which I gave on 8th March to the questions of the right hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyne (Colonel Wedgwood) and the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Morris).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a copy of the petition from the Kikuyu Central Association to His Excellency the Governor; and does he intend to take any action to accede to the request contained therein that Messrs. Harry Thuku, George Muge Kenji, and David Waigango, who have been imprisoned on grounds of sedition since 1922, shall be released?

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

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider afresh the question of the liberation of Harry Thuku and the others? I think the case was gone into by the Coloniel Office some years ago. Would the right hon. Gentleman inquire into it again, and see whether the further detention of these people justified?

I will look into the case again.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that the attendance of Government officials at the Settlers' Convention in Nairobi. Kenya Colony, there to be questioned and criticised upon the policy and work of Government Departments, with reporters and delegates present, is a contravention of C. O. Regulation, No. 45, which lays it down that no public officer, whether on duty or on leave of absence, is to allow himself to be interviewed on questions of public policy, he will instruct the Governor that the practice of allowing officials to be interviewed by the convention is to cease, and that settler bodies should be invited to obtain desired information as to Departmental activities by questions in legislative council by their elected members?

I am not prepared to admit that, where the consent of the Governor has been obtained, it is a contravention of the Regulation mentioned for a Government official to discuss with or explain to an unofficial body matters in which they are interested; but there is certainly no obligation on an official to attend on such a body.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider it is detrimental to the esprit de corps of the Service, as well as, possibly, to the best interests of the Colony, that officials should be liable to be hauled over the coals by an unofficial body?

It depends upon what happens. In a matter of that sort I think the Governor must be the best judge as to whom his officials should meet to discuss matters.

Is there any other Colony or Protectorate where a similar procedure is adopted?

I should like to have notice of that, but I should think it is extremely probable.

I would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he does not really consider that the proceedings in this last Convention, when the settlers passed a vote of censure on a Government official, do not justify the officials in universally adhering to the Regulations?

As I explained in the previous answer, I have not seen the account of what happened on that occasion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that Lord Delamere moved a vote of censure on the Commissioner?

I have not had official information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the amount of sisal exported from Kenya and Tanganyika territory for the three years 1923–25, respectively?

The quantities exported are, for Kenya, 8,820 tons in 1923, 11,416 tons in 1924, and 14,364 tons in 1925, and, for Tanganyika, 12,846 tons in 1923, 18,428 tons in 1924, and 16,353 tons up to November, 1925. The figures for 1925 are provisional, and, for Tanganyika, incomplete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that at an inquiry presided over by the Chief Justice of Kenya, Colony it was established that an assistant district commissioner had subjected natives to punishment and/or detention without trial at the instance of local settlers; and whether he will state what action, if any, the Kenya Government has taken to deal with these irregularities and prevent their recurrence?

I have seen in the local Press a report of the finding of the Commission of Inquiry, which showed that in one case an assistant district commissioner had detained and used as a porter a native against whom a complaint had been received to the effect that he had overstayed the leave granted by his employer. On the officer's departure on leave the trial was expedited by his successor after the native had been detained for 35 days. While I entirely agree with the view of the Commission that "the sooner it is realised that extrajudicial forms of punishment cannot be applied by officers of the Administration the better," I have no reason to suppose that the case represents more than an isolated error of judgment on the part of a single officer. I will, however, draw the attention of the Governor to the hon. Member's question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the local Government in Kenya has issued permission to the D.W.A. Plantations Company and the B.E.A. Fibre and Industrial Company, both companies being registered in London, to recruit native labour from Portuguese East Africa; and whether he will state what steps he is taking to safeguard the rights of such labour?

This matter was raised in the question of the hon. and learned Member for Orkney on the 22nd February. I have drawn the attention of the Governor of Kenya to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Governor of Kenya Colony expressed the view of the Colonial Office when he declared at the Conference of Governors of East African Territories, on 26th January, his anxiety that the policy of European settlement which had been established in Kenya should be promoted in other parts of East Africa, and also when he declared at Eldoret, on 17th December, 1925, that, after communications, what was wanted badly in Kenya was new settlers and capital?

Where land in districts suitable for European settlement is available, either from unoccupied Crown land or by purchase or lease from the present European holders, and where there is a supply of native labour which will be attracted by the terms of employment offered, I am entirely of the opinion of the Governor of Kenya that European settlement in East Africa is to be welcomed. There are, however, in these tropical dependencies large areas where these conditions are not fulfilled, and where the country can be better developed by the encouragement of native cultivators.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the quantity of dried fruits produced within the Empire in the years 1913, 1924 and 1925, respectively?

The answer contains tables of figures and, with the permission of my hon. Friend, it will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is a British representative at Mecca and/or Medina; and what steps are being taken to safeguard the interests of His Majesty's Moslem subjects on pilgrimage to these Holy Places?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part of the question, His Majesty's Government are in constant and friendly communication, through the acting British agent and consul at Jeddah, with the Hejaz authorities, who are reported to be making suitable arrangements to safeguard the interests of pilgrims proceeding to and from the Holy Places of Islam.

What does the hon. Gentleman mean by the Hejaz authorities? Does he mean the representatives of Ibn Saud, who has control of this area?

They are the authorities of the district, who are now under the supreme control of Ibn Saud.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the interests of British Moslems are being safeguarded?

Yes, I understand so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered further the question of maintaining a British representative at the Court of Ibn Saud, Sultan of Nejd; and what decision has been arrived at?

No new decision has been arrived at. The existing arrangements for maintaining communication with the Sultan of Nejd are considered adequate for present purposes.

What are the present arrangements for communication?

We communicate at present through more than one channel. There is the British Resident in the Persian Gulf, and, as regards Iraq and Transjordanian affairs, there are the High Commissioners of Palestine and Iraq.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, following the constantly increasing tourist traffic to Palestine, any efforts are being made to open up Transjordania for the same purpose, in view of its interesting historical remains and the great benefits which would accrue to its exchequer from this additional source of revenue?

The importance of the point raised by my hon. Friend will certainly be borne in mind, though I would add that the organisation of tourist traffic is primarily a matter for private enterprise, and must necessarily depend to a large extent on hotel accommodation.

Would the right hon. Gentleman also take into consideration that roads are somewhat necessary, and will he say whether any further road beyond that from Jerusalem to Amman is being opened?

I did look into that question when I was out there. The position has been very much improved in the last 18 months, and I hope it will continue to improve. I would add that I fully agree with my right hon. Friend as to the necessity for good roads.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the desirability of establishing a market for the sale of Dominion produce, and especially of Dominion and Colonial fruit, in connection with the proposed removal of Covent Garden market?

I have no doubt that when the necessary arrangements in connection with the scheme for Empire marketing are further advanced the suggestion of my hon. Friend will be amongst those which will receive consideration, though I would remind him that the interests of the home producer have also to be borne in mind.

asked the Prime Minister when and how it is proposed to give effect to the recommendations of the Imperial Economic Committee with regard to the marketing of Empire supplies?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I regret that I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to a number of questions on this subject on let March last, as the correspondence with the Dominions is not yet complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of the Government to appoint an officer at the Colonial Office to act in respect of transport and railway questions in the various Crown Colonies and Protectorates in a similar manner to the officer appointed to deal with questions relating to health and sanitation?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the necessity for improving the communications throughout the Colonies. Protectorates and Mandated Territories in Africa, he will consider the advisability of appointing an official at the Colonial Office whose especial duty would he to co-ordinate and to advise upon all schemes of transport development?

I will answer these questions together. I am fully aware of the importance of co-ordinating the development of railway and other communications in adjoining territories, and for this reason I am taking steps to ensure that there is such co-ordination in East Africa. For isolated territories such as those in West Africa the arrangements which have obtained in the past for obtaining advice have worked satisfactorily, and I see no reason for making any alteration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who carried on negotiations on behalf of British interests in the attempt to settle the strike and boycott at Hong Kong; what proposals for settlement were put forward by the British representatives; and which of the conditions put forward by the Chinese were rejected by the British representatives?

A copy of a communique which was issued to the Press by the Hong Kong Government has already been sent to the hon. Member, and I cannot at present add anything further to my reply to his question of the 1st March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to give to the House regarding the situation in China, particularly with reference to the threat of military operations made by the diplomatic representatives of the Powers at Peking last week?

On the 9th March a Shantung Naval Flotilla operating against the National Forces defending Peking attempted to force an entry into the Tientsin River, and bombarded the Taku forts at the mouth of the river. The Nationalist Commander of the forts closed the river to navigation in violation of the Protocol of 1901 between China and the Powers by firing on all passing vessels and by laying mines. On 10th March the representatives of the Treaty Powers in Peking notified the Chinese Government of the necessity of removing the obstacles to free navigation in and out of Tientsin, reserving their right to take action themselves to that end for the maintenance of the Protocol. Similar notifications were conveyed to the respective headquarters of the various Chinese forces engaging in hostilities at the entrance to the harbour of Tientsin. Although a few foreign merchant vessels have passed in and out by local arrangement, full effect has not yet been given to the demands of the Protocol Powers, and on 13th March two Japanese destroyers proceeding up river to Tientsin were fired on by Chinese from the forts at the entrance to the river, and retired. His Majesty's Government are in consultation with His Majesty's Minister in regard to the situation created by these incidents.

On what grounds and on whose authority is the accusation of treaty breaking made?

It is quite clear from the terms of the Treaty.

On whose authority is it stated that the Chinese actually did that? How is it clear?

Is it not the duty of a Member of the House to back his own country?

Is it the duty Of a Member of the House to take his information from the "Daily Mail"?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is now in a position to make any statement with regard to slave dealing in the Protectorate of Sierra Leone?

Slave dealing has been prohibited by law in the Protectorate of Sierra Leone since 1897. I informed the hon. Member on 30th November last that I had no reason to think that any active traffic existed, and I have received no reports since that date to cause me to modify that statement.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received the report which I sent him?

At the moment I have not seen it, but certainly I will look into the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give the House any information as to the working of short-term agricultural credits or chattel mortgages for agricultural purposes in the United States of America or in Canada, and particularly as to its success or otherwise from a banking point of view?

Some information on this question is contained in the Report on Agricultural Credit recently issued by my Department. I shall be happy to supply my hon. Friend with a copy of this Report if he has not already seen it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of wheat and wheat, flour imported into this country during 1925 and the countries from which it was exported, together with the average price of wheat per quarter of 4½ cwts., and flour per sack of 280 lbs. received from each country?

As the reply is in the form of a statistical statement, I propose, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in placing contracts for flour, bread, or biscuits, he will insert a Clause to ensure a proportion of British grain being used; and if he will consult with his colleagues with a view of a similar Clause being inserted in all Government contracts?

No such contracts are made by my Department. I will consider the suggestion made by my hon. and gallant Friend, but I see considerable practical difficulties in the proposal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total amount of wheat grown in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland during 1925; the average market price obtained; and the amount used for milling, seeding, feeding, and malting, respectively?

As the reply is rather long and contains a number of figures, I propose, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if experiments have been carried out to diminish the water content in British wheat; and if research is being carried out with a view of growing British wheat which has the advantages claimed for foreign wheat by the bakers?

My hon. and gallant Friend, no doubt, refers to the research work upon the breeding of improved wheats which has been conducted for many years, with very successful results, at the University of Cambridge under the direction of Sir Rowland Biffen. This work covers the two points mentioned in the question. A full account of the wheat breeding investigations at the Cambridge Plant Breeding Institute will be published by the Ministry in the course of a few weeks, and I shall be happy to send my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the publication as soon as it is ready.

May I ask if British wheat has not a better food value than any other foreign wheat?

As my hon. and gallant Friend is probably aware, the difficulty is that certain British wheat contains a great deal more moisture, and does not give a loaf of the same cubic capacity for the same weight of flour, but the new Yeoman II wheat gives as good a loaf as Manitoba Hard.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount and average price per quarter of 400 pounds of foreign barley imported into this country during 1925 for malting, distilling, and feeding purposes, respectively?

The quantity of barley imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1925 was 4,444,635 quarters of 400 lbs. (15,873,695 cwts.) and the average declared value 37s. 7d. per quarter.

I regret that no means exist of ascertaining to what purpose imported barley is put, but it is estimated that in a normal year about 35 per cent. of the imports are used for malting or distilling.

The average annual price per quarter of 400 lbs. in 1925 of certain varieties of imported barley at four representative markets in England was

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take steps to institute a survey of agricultural conditions in selected areas on the lines of the survey now being conducted under the Scottish Board of Agriculture?

During the past few months my Department has been making inquiries from crop reporters throughout England and Wales with a view of obtaining as much information as possible regarding agricultural conditions. When this information is available the question of conducting some more detailed investigations in selected areas will be further considered.

Will the statistics that are being obtained include the rates at present being paid by the farmers in the cases of which this is a sample? As this is a very important item in the profit-making of these farms, could that information be obtained at the same time?

I have already answered that question. We are going into the question of the information for which we may ask, hut we first want to see what results we can get from the crop reporters.

Would it not be possible to obtain, and will the right hon. Gentleman consider publishing, the typical farmers' budgets in the arable districts, so that there may be definite information before the country as to the practical state of agriculture in each district?

I will go into the whole of this question, but it is very difficult to get, figures which are at all comparable or convincing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many women are members of agricultural wages boards; Low many of these are appointed members; how many represent the employers; and how many represent the workers?

Has the hon. and gallant Member the authority of the hon. Member to ask the question?

Yes, I have had a direct request from the hon. Member.

Seven women are members of agricultural wages committees, four of them being impartial members and three representatives of workers. In addition, one of the appointed members of the Central Agricultural Wages Board is a woman.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if trade witnesses were called before the Committee which investigated the case of the steel industry under the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and, if so, will he publish their names;

(2) if he will explain to the House whether the Committee appointed to investigate the state of the steel industry was a Committee of the Cabinet or an independent Committee appointed by the Cabinet?

The application of the steel industry was not referred to a Committee for inquiry under the Safeguarding of Industries procedure for the reasons which I gave to my hon. Friend on the 21st December last. A preliminary investigation on a wider basis into the state of the industry was conducted by the Committee of Civil Research, but as I explained in reply to my hon. Friend on the 8th February it would be contrary to established practice to give information relating to the composition or proceedings of a Cabinet Committee.

May I take it that this question is now closed and will not be reopened, and that there is no further question of safeguarding steel?

There are very few questions in this world of which I would say they are closed.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government intend to reopen negotiations with the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics Government with a view to removing any present difficulties in the way of extending export facilities and encouraging trade between the two peoples?

I have been asked to reply. The attitude of His Majesty's Government was defined in the replies given to the hon. Member for Lincoln on 9th December last and to the hon. Member for North Lambeth on 10th February.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the discussion in this House last week the opinion was expressed upon all sides of the House that it would be well for the two Governments to get together, and that there is nothing in the answer to which I am referred which suggests that His Majesty's Government is taking any action whatever?

It was pointed out by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a short time ago that in the opinion of His Majesty's Government the initiative in this matter now rests with the Soviet Government.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the last step towards breaking off negotiations was taken by the present Government, and therefore it is open to them to state the conditions under which they are prepared to reopen negotiations?

Is it not a fact that one of the best ways to increase further trade is to square up past accounts?

This seems to be a resumption of last week's Debate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the staff of the Ministry was 660 in 1914 and 1,500 in 1925, approximately, and that the aggregate of salaries in those respective years were approximately £125,000 and £490,000; whether he will explain the reasons for these increases; and whether he is taking steps to reduce the figures?

Yes, Sir, I am aware of the position. It is difficult to state, within the limits of a Parliamentary reply, all the reasons for these increases. Briefly, the increase is due partly to extension of old services and partly to new services being undertaken by the Ministry. For further details I would refer my hon. Friend to the second Report from the Select Committee on Estimates, 1925, which states that the Committee "feel that the administration of the Ministry is efficient and that the enormous increase in expenditure since 1914 is due to a line of policy imposed upon the Ministry by Parliament, for which the Ministry cannot be held responsible." The number of staff of the Ministry is constantly being reviewed, but I am afraid that no reduction can be made at present.

Do the Government intend to take steps to reduce the staff and the expenditure of the Ministry, if necessary, by inserting a Clause in the new Economy Bill?

I have already answered that I am afraid no reduction can be made at present, because I do not see which of the services that have been imposed upon the Ministry for the benefit of agriculture can be abolished.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a feeling is growing up among farmers that there will be no check on foot-and-mouth disease while he has the great body of officials to maintain that he is maintaining at the present time?

Does my right hon. Friend think that the results obtained compensate for the enormous expenditure in these departments of the Ministry of Agriculture?

That is a matter of opinion.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many members of the Estimates Committee, to which he refers in his answer, were of opinion that there has been an enormous increase in the numbers in this Department, and that the results have not been commensurate with the expenditure?

That is not what the Estimates Committee report.

I am afraid the Report is not quite as full as it might have been.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that the administration of the London maintenance contract has caused dissatisfaction amongst the contractors considered capable of undertaking This contract; that a firm who carried out a previous contract have now refused to tender, on the grounds that they have received unfair and unbusinesslike treatment; that this firm holds a commendation from his Department of their conduct of the important works entrusted to them; and whether he will forthwith inquire into the facts of the case with a view to satisfying himself as to the reasonableness or otherwise of the complaints made by contractors employed since the War?

As regards the first part of the question, the First Commissioner of Works is not aware that there is general dissatisfaction among contractors as to the administration of the London Maintenance Contract, and, in point of fact, the tenders recently received for the next contract indicate keen competition. The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the firm in question has lodged a claim which will in due course be the subject of arbitration under the terms of the contract, when the firm will have full opportunity for stating their case.

Does my hon. and gallant Friend think it advisable that, in the case of a big Department such as the Office of Works, contractors who have received testimonials of the highest kind from the Department should decline to tender in consequence of the manner in which they are treated?

Nobody need tender unless they care to do so.

Is my hon. and gallant Friend of the opinion that it is advisable, from the point of view of the Department, that some of these big contractors, in consequence of the attitude that has been adopted, decline to tender? Does my hon. and gallant Friend think that the best results are going to be obtained in those circumstances?

It does not necessarily follow that, if one were to give a testimonial to-day, one would be inclined to repeat it later.

I will show my hon. and gallant Friend a testimonial from the Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the name of the firm to whom the order for light railway material for the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, has been given, and the name of the country from which the material is being supplied?

An order for a small quantity of light railway material was placed recently with Messrs. Richter and Pickis, of 101, Finsbury Pavement. The value of the material, which is of German origin, is £25. It is usual to inquire the country of origin of material supplied to the Office of Works, and, wherever possible, to give preference to British-made material, but in this particular case the usual practice was, I regret, not followed.

Is my hon. and gallant Friend definitely of the opinion that it is impossible to get such material from British manufacturers?

No; it is possible to get such material from British manufacturers.

Then may I ask why it was not done?