asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Opium Convention has been ratified by the Government; if not, why it has been delayed and when it will be ratified; whit Governments have deposited ratifications at the League of Nations; whether the Convention has yet taken effect; and whether the Central Board has been set up?

The British ratifications of the Opium Agreement and Dangerous Drags Convention, signed at Geneva on the 11th and 19th February, 1925, respectively, were deposited with the League of Nations on 17th February. So far as His Majesty's Government are aware, no foreign Power has yet ratified the Agreement or Convention. Under Article 36 of the Convention, the Con- vention will not come into force until it has been ratified by ten Powers, and under Article 19, the Central Board will be appointed within three months from the coming into force of the Convention. Under Article 14 of the Opium Agreement, the Agreement will come into force on the ninetieth day after the receipt by the Secretariat-General of the League of Nations of ratifications by two Powers.

What is the difficulty which is causing this matter to be held up?

What is holding the matter up is the fact that other Powers have not deposited their ratifications. I do not think there is anything which we can do.

asked the. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will bring before the League of Nations the question of the passport system with a view to abolishing irksome restrictions?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply returned to the hon. Member for Acton (Sir H. Brittain) on the, 10th ultimo.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when and where the preliminary conference on disarmament arranged by the League of Nations will take place?

The first meeting of the Preparatory Committee on Disarmament will take place at Geneva on 18th May.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what the position is in regard to Russia?

The Council at its meeting addressed, or directed the Secretary-General to address, a reply to the Soviet Government. That reply, of course, cannot be published until the Soviet Government has received it. It will then, I imagine, be published by the Secretariat.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say who the British representatives will be at this preliminary Conference?

All matters in connection with this Conference have been dealt with by my Noble Friend, Lord Cecil. I hope he will be available.

Is it a fact that America will be represented at this Conference, and, if so, will it be possible to have any conversations with that country before the Conference takes place—[HON. MEMBERS "Oh!"]—in order to secure a united front?

What a curious commentary on yesterday's Debate! I hope that America will be represented.

Will consideration be given to whether the Conference can be held at some other place than Geneva?

That is a matter dealt with in this letter from the Council which was directed to be sent in reply to the Soviet Government. I understand, as I have said, that it will be published by the League authorities after it has reached the Soviet Government.

Are we to understand that in future the same policy will be adopted towards the French Government: and towards the American Government in these matters?

Our policy is one of friendly co-operation with all Governments of good will.

asked the Prime Minister whether our obligations and liabilities under the Locarno Treaty only come into operation after the entry of Germany into the League of Nations; and whether any alteration in the Treaty in this regard, whether made by agreement, note or verbal assurance, will be submitted to Parliament for sanction, as was the original Treaty, before becoming an understanding honourably binding upon this country?

Yes, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why the sum of £168,380 is shown as being spent on His Majesty's Ship "Dartmouth," in view of the age of this vessel and the proposal to scrap immediately three cruisers of a similar class; how much has been spent on repairs to His Majesty's ships "Chatham" and "Dublin" during the last two years; whether these repairs made these vessels efficient for sea service; and why it is proposed to scrap them immediately after this expenditure?

The work on "Dartmouth" to which the estimated expenditure of £168,380 relates was commenced in September, 1924, and was well advanced before it was decided as one of the special measures of economy to scrap other ships of approximately similar age and type. This large refit will enable the "Dartmouth" to remain an efficient unit of the Fleet for five more years. The expenditure incurred on annual upkeep to "Chatham" and "Dublin" during the last two years amounts to £11,160 on "Chatham" and £13,190 on "Dublin." Provision was made in the 1925–26 Navy Estimates for commencing "large repairs" to both these ships, but owing to the decision to scrap them the work so provided for was not proceeded with.

Has the work of preparing the "Chatham" and the "Dublin" been commenced?

No.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, with regard to the statement in Cmd. 2595, page 10, of expenditure for modernisation of electric generating stations at His Majesty's dockyards and shore establishments, he will state at which establishments it is proposed to undertake this modernisation, and what is the estimated cost; and whether he will consider postponing this expenditure until the Government's policy for the improvement of the electrical supply of the whole country has been settled?

The establishments at which modernisation of the electric generating stations is being proceeded with are Portsmouth, Devonport and Chatham Dockyards. The estimated costs are as follow:

			£
Portsmouth	…	…	254,000
Devonport	…	…	166,000
Chatham	…	…	107,000

The work at Portsmouth and Chatham is well in hand. It will be completed at Chatham in 1926 and at Portsmouth in 1927. Similar extension and modernisation work is necessary at Devonport to meet the ever increasing demands for electrical energy. We will keep in close touch with the Ministry of Transport about the progress of the general electricity scheme with a view to any economies that may be derived in future from co-operation; but the Board are satisfied that there is no ground for postponing the fulfilment of the urgent needs of the dockyards on this account.

Has the Board considered the advantages of receiving electricity at a distance from the dockyards, in view of possible attack in time of war, so that the dynamos at the yards will not be put out of action?

I think all the relevant considerations have been taken into account.

When is the hon. Gentleman's Department going to get on with the Devonport electrical station?

As soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the sea boots issued for the use of sailors are actually distributed to them when cleaning the decks and doing similar work?

Sea boots are actually distributed to the men for wear on the occasions when their use is necessary.

As I have evidence in direct contradiction of the statement, will the hon. Gentleman have instructions given that boots are to be issued, not only to the ships, but to the men as they require them?

I shall be glad to have any evidence which the hon. Member may have obtained.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Research Department is investigating the value of capital ships of 10,000 tons in modern warfare; and if he will consider whether further economies could be effected by building smaller and more speedy ships suitable to the modern conditions of sea warfare, as disclosed during the operations of the Great War?

The value of smaller capital ships for modern warfare has been investigated by the appropriate Departments of the Admiralty and by the Naval Staff on several occasions. The hon. Member may, however, rest assured that between now and the time for replacing capital ships under the provisions of the Washington Agreement every consideration and research and experiment that might lead to the adoption of a more economical unit will continue to be fully investigated.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Admiralty to introduce non-continuous service to all branches of the lower deck or only to seamen, stokers, officers' stewards, and marines?

Apart from the decision to revert to the practice of entering a small proportion of seamen under a special service engagement, which is not quite the same as a non-continuous service engagement, there is no present intention of extending the non-continuous service system. Officers' cooks may be entered either for continuous or non-continuous service, but Royal Marines are entered for continuous service only and stokers are not being entered at present except for continuous service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what retaining fee, if any, non-continuous service ratings will receive on being transferred to the Reserve; how long they are eligible to serve in the Reserve; and whether they will receive a gratuity or bonus on being discharged from the Reserve on completion of their time?

Special service ratings on transfer to the Royal Fleet Reserve will receive the usual retainer of 6d. a day; they may, if they wish, and if they continue to fulfil the requirements of the Royal Fleet Reserve Regulations, remain in the Reserve to complete 20 years' qualifying service in the Fleet and Royal Fleet Reserve combined, provided they can complete the qualifying service before the age of 45. Reservists who complete the 20 years' qualifying service receive a gratuity of £100 on discharge from the Reserve.

asked the First. Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the additional expenditure that will be incurred through retainers, travelling expenses during training whilst in the Reserve, and bonuses on discharge, and bearing in mind the difficulties that men unskilled in civil employment, discharged in the prime of life under the non-continuous service system, will experience in obtaining work, he will consider adhering to the present system of service as the more advantageous and the more conducive to the efficiency of the Fleet?

The answer is in the negative. The decision to revert to the practice of entering a small proportion of Special Service Seamen was made after careful consideration, and I am unable to agree with the hon. Member's view of the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour, in respect of the United Kingdom and Shropshire separately, the number of men normally engaged in quarrying who are out of employment and on part-time, respectively, stating in the latter case the time that is being worked; and what cost to the State is involved as regards both areas?

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the practice of the Employment Exchange of Pontypridd to call upon skilled coalminers who are unemployed to accept casual work on occasional days to carry advertisers' boards through the streets of Pontypridd, and to stop their unemployment benefit if they refuse this particular work; and, in view of the fact that this enforcement is causing resentment amongst the mining population of Pontypridd, will he undertake to put a stop to this practice?

Certain colliery labourers and others fit for light employment only, were offered casual work of this nature on one occasion re-

As the information involves a considerable number of figures, I will, with the permission of my Noble Friend, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the Minister aware that this action of the officials in calling for skilled miners who are out of work to carry advertisement boards through the streets of Pontypridd has aroused considerable resentment; that the sons of unemployed miners coming home from work saw their fathers carrying these boards in the streets; and that the womenfolk of Pontypridd have resented this very much and have challenged the action of the Ministry in this matter?

All that I can say is that the Exchanges, quite rightly, offer alternative employment to men who are out of work, but in this case the question as to whether or not that alternative employment was suitable and according to the law was put up to the Chief Insurance Officer, who decided in favour of the men.

But cannot I have the opinion of the right hon. Gentleman as to whether he approves of this kind of action by his local officials? Does he not appreciate the fact that skilled miners resent being treated like sandwich men in this way? In view of the unsatisfactory reply of the Minister, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question at the earliest opportunity on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House.

asked the Minister of Labour how many miners were out of work and receiving unemployment pay for the last week when figures are available; and how many of these cases were men who previously had been partially incapacitated whilst following their employment?

On 22nd February, 1926, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of persons classified as belonging to the coal-mining industry recorded as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in Great Britain was 118,736. The number of such persons with claims to benefit current at that date was 113,315, but I am unable to say how many of these were then actually in receipt of benefit, nor can I state how many had previously been partially incapacitated whilst following their employment.

Since the matter referred to in the latter part of the question is of peculiar importance to us, will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to secure the information desired?

I will certainly inquire to see whether the statistics are collected in a form which makes it possible to give the information. That is always my trouble in either asserting to or dissenting from getting information, as to how far it is possible to get it. If the statistics allow it, I will gladly get it.

Ts the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a tendency to get rid of men suffering from miners' nystagmus in particular, and to throw them on to the Unemployment Fund, and then, when it is found impossible for these men to get further work, they are thrown on to the guardians, and cannot he do something, in consultation with the Home Secretary, to see to it that at least in regard to nystagmus men fair treatment is given by which they will get compensation?

That does not arise eat of this question.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of miners in Durham County who have applied for unemployment insurance benefit and been refused since 31st July, 1925?

I regret that I am unable to furnish this information, as the statistics of claims to benefit do not distinguish between the various industries or occupations.

But last year the right hon. Gentleman supplied the same information, and how could he do it last year if he cannot do it this year?

if I am right, this was not exactly what I supplied last year, when I made certain quite special arrangements—if I am right in remembering it—in order to find out how particular industries were affected. I am speaking from memory and, therefore, subject to correction, but in the ordinary course we do not tabulate these claims by occupation, and if we were to do so, it would mean such an, amount of extra staff that I could not promise to undertake it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will inquire into the case of Miss Agnes Doyle, of 11, West-bourne Street, Liverpool, who was refused unemployment benefit from 16th January, 1926, on the ground that she was not genuinely seeking work because she opposed the suggestion that she should go into domestic service; and, in view of the fact that Miss Doyle had for four years prior to the 15th January been employed as a waitress at the Bon Marche, Liverpool, that her employment ceased through no fault of her own, that her widowed and ailing mother is 72 years of age and utterly incapable of looking after the home, and that Miss Doyle has since obtained temporary employment as a half-day waitress, will he cause the decision not to grant unemployment benefit to be reviewed?

The disallowance of benefit in this case was confirmed by the Court of Referees. As, however, the case raises somewhat difficult questions as to the right to benefit, the Chief Insurance Officer is referring it to the Umpire for an authoritative decision.

Will the right hon. Gentleman now note that further information has come to hand that this particular girl is again unemployed, and that the need for benefit is, therefore, more urgent than it was before?

Yes.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Oswald Gray, of 15, Taylor Street, Middlesbrough, an ex-service man, was refused employment as a cleaner at the Middlesbrough Post Office on the ground that he had an artificial foot, and that he has been refused his benefit, on the ground of not genuinely seeking work; and whether, in view of the difficulty of so injured a man getting work, he will make special inquiries into the case?

I am having inquiries made, and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour how many women were out of work and receiving unemployment pay in the London area in the week ending 27th February, 1926?

At 1st March the number of women on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the area of Greater London was 22,293. Of this number, 19,238 had claims to benefit current, but I cannot say how many were actually in receipt of benefit at that date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is on the instructions of his Department that Employment Exchanges send unemployed women from South Yorkshire to districts below London to take up domestic service, and, should any woman refuse to travel such a distance, refuse unemployment pay?

In administering the Unemployment Insurance Scheme the Department are bound to offer any available situations in domestic service to claimants for benefit for whom this work is suitable. The Department do not, however, make any special point of sending unemployed women from South Yorkshire to below London, and I cannot find that any such transfer has been made by the Exchanges recently or that benefit has been disallowed on refusal to agree to it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the case that I brought to his notice, where a South Yorkshire woman was informed that. unless she went to a domestic position below London, her unemployment pay would be stopped, and does he think that, if there are 22,000 women out of work in London, there is either any common sense or justification in sending women there?

I am glad to make inquiries into the particular case mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, but the fact of that number of women being out of work in London does not necessarily prove it or disprove it. Always in these cases I am careful to give instructions that the officials should see whether women who are unemployed are suitable for domestic service, and I gather that that is what hon. Members opposite would wish. It may quite well be that there are women out of employment who are not suitable for domestic service and, therefore, should not be offered it.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not take any precautions to ascertain whether prospective employers, for domestic service in London, of girls from South Yorkshire or anywhere else in Britain are really suitable people? We have reason to believe that at times they are simply decoys.

I have already answered questions on that point. to which I would refer the hon. Member.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure us that these long-distance journeys will not be used as an intimidation to women thrown out of work in Yorkshire?

There is no intention to do that.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average total weekly amount paid to men and women, respectively, as dependants' benefit under unemployment insurance?

Separate records of the amounts paid by way of dependants' benefit are not kept, and I regret, therefore, that I cannot give the information desired.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of men resident in the Elland Division of the West Riding of Yorkshire who have been accepted for training in the centres maintained by his Department; what is the total number of registered unemployed in the division; and whether he has any information as to the number of women who have been refused standard unemployed benefit, and the number of men and women, respectively, who have been refused extended benefit?

I assume the hon. Member refers to the centres for training young unemployed men. So far as information is available in my Department, there are no young men in training at these centres from the Elland Division. As regards the number of registered unemployed, statistics are available only in respect of the Employment Exchange at Brighouse and branch offices at Elland and Greetland. The number of persons on the registers of these offices at 15th March was 1,936. I cannot state the number of women who were refused standard benefit, but during the period 25th August. 1925, to 8th March, 1926, 486 applications for extended benefit from men and 169 from women were recommended for disallowance by the local employment committee for this area.

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman says these training centres have been so successful, is it his intention to continue them and to increase them?

Certainly, it is my hope that they may be continued. A regards their extension, there is the question of finance, and it is a question which would have to be considered by the Government generally. But as to the continuation of these centres, and their good effect, I think there is no doubt whatever.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any offers of training facilities have been made to the disabled ex-service men unemployed in the borough of Southwark; and what facilities exist for the transfer of ex-service men from Southwark to the training establishments in the provinces under the administration of his Department?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to training of disabled ex-service men under the industrial training scheme. This scheme was closed to ordinary applications on 30th September, 1921, but in individual cases of hardship applications are still considered on merits. Free travelling facilities to the training centre are provided for disabled ex-service men accepted for training under the scheme.

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to warn any of these ex-service men who leave their homes for his training centres, that if they should be unfortunate enough to die on his hands and if their mates take up a collection, the right hon. Gentleman's Department will appropriate that collection in order to pay the burial expenses?

I have not any information which would make me agree to give such a warning. If the hon. Member has any case in his mind, perhaps he will communicate with me.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this morning he sent me a letter justifying such a case at Kirkcaldy?

What does the right hon. Gentleman mean by "ordinary application"? Is it not a fact that there are thousands of these applications coming in still each year, which are being turned down?

I am not aware that there are thousands coming in each year, but when everybody has had ample notice to send in applications, of course a time limit of sonic kind has to be imposed. That was imposed long before the time when I became responsible for the Department and was accepted by each successive Minister, but occasionally peculiar cases, presenting particular features, arise, and therefore this power of discretion to waive the rule is given.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman's Department estimate last year for at least a 50 per cent. reduction in these cases?

asked the Minister of Labour on what grounds he decided to abolish Grocery and Provision Trade Boards?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Central Edinburgh (Mr. W. Graham) on 11th February, of which I am sending him a copy.

Is it not a fact that that refers to reports which are not yet published, and is there any reason why the Minister should not state to Parliament the ground upon which he has taken his decision?

Broadly speaking, the facts, as far as I could ascertain them, did not warrant the continuance of the board.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House any idea as to when the reports are likely to be published?

Again I am speaking from memory as to the date, but in the course of this month. I think it is.

In view of the disgraceful wages which are being paid in the shops in some of these industries, will the right hon. Gentleman not reconsider his decision to do away with this board?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what is the number of electricians and other workmen engaged on the Palace of Westminster who have been discharged since let January, 1926, and also the number of men under notice; and whether, in view of the many dilapidations, he will suspend the notices and press forward the work that requires to be done?

The number of men discharged on completion of work at the Palace of Westminster since 1st January, 1926, is 36, and four are under notice. No funds are available this or next financial year to enable the Department to re-employ these men on other work at the Houses of Parliament.

About how many men are now employed?

I cannot give complete details, but the budding operatives number 125.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what are the net profits on the operations of the State railways of India during the past financial year, and what part of this net profit has been transmitted to the Indian State treasury for the relief of taxation?

The net profit from the Indian State Railways in 1925–26 is now estimated at about £6,500,000, and the contribution to general revenues at about £4,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that small silk articles which used to come from France in two days by letter post are now taking as long as 12 days to come through, although duty at the highest rate has been tendered; and whether he can make arrangements to facilitate the handling of small packages of silk goods?

As my right hon. Friend explained on the 9th March, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. J. Hudson), there is a standing prohibition against the importation of dutiable articles by letter post, and any goods so imported are liable to forfeiture, though in the case of the silk duties, in common with all other new duties, some latitude has been allowed in this matter. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, and will send me details, I shall be glad to have inquiry made.

Does not the right hon.. Gentleman think that there should be some kind of revenue office in the North to facilitate the handling of these small packages, instead of their being sent to their destination and then having to be sent back to London?

I shall be very glad to receive any suggestions from the hon. Lady.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that statements are being made that the Customs at Dover is quite inadequate to deal with this work?

I cannot say what statements have been made.

Would it not be better to sweep away these duties altogether?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been made by industries for consideration under the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and how many industries have actually been granted the benefit of the Act?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the conversion of 5½ per cent. United States of America gold bonds into Five per cent. National War Bonds, Series IV, 1929; and the amount remaining for redemption?

The amount of bonds converted down, to the 27th February, 1926, was $128,355,900, and the amount outstanding on that date was $20,023,200.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of conversion of holders of Five per cent. National War Bonds of Series I, II, and III, into Five per cent. War Loan, and Four per cent. National War Bonds of the same series into Four per cent. War Loan; and the total of each series remaining?

The total amount of these bonds converted to the present date is £336,596,000, and the amount outstanding £613,377,000. With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate the detailed figures in the OFFICIAL REPOET.

I presume my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the procedure under the White Paper issued in February, 1925. The number of definite applications made thereunder, so far, is 36; and the number of cases in which import duties have been imposed is five.

In view of the fact that the imports of manufactures into this country give employment to more foreigners than the total of unemployed in this country, will ills Majesty's Government get on with its policy?

There is the procedure laid down, and that procedure is open to be followed by those who are concerned.

May I ask whether the policy of His Majesty's Government is not to encourage industry to be safeguarded?

The policy of His: Majesty's Government, as far as I understand it, is to encourage industry as far as they possibly can.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many applications have been favourably reported upon by the Committees and then turned down by the Board of Trade?

I cannot say.

Has there been any application for safeguarding from the mining industry?

Are we to understand that the only ones who did not succeed in making their case before the Committees were those who could not prove their case?

That is argumentative.

asked the Prime Minister when the conference on the extension of the franchise to women on the same terms as men is likely to take place?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday in reply to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Shoreditch.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what new Departments have been created in the Ministry of Agriculture since 1914, their duties and respective costs?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the desired information.

asked the Prime Minister if the House will have an opportunity of debating the policy of cash-on-delivery postal service; and whether he will consent to receive a deputation of local traders on this question?

This matter can be raised on the Consolidated Fund Bill. In reply to the last part of the question, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by receiving such a deputation as the views held by traders on this subject were already before the Government when the matter was under consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a majority of the local traders in this country who were opposed to this, Measure feel that they have been ignored, and that they have no opportunity of placing their views before the Postmaster-General; in view of din would the Prime Minister be so kind as to ask the Postmaster-General to receive a deputation on the matter?

Will the Prime Minister also realise that many women regard this reform with the greatest approval, and that it is not merely the traders who ought to be considered?

Is the Prime Minister aware that certain bodies of traders have never been consulted at all in this matter, and that they regard it as very high-handed action?

There is always a great difference of opinion when any reforms are proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Report on the alleged rising of the Masai, which has been published in Kenya Colony, will he made available in this country before the Colonial Office Vote is taken?

I hope so. As was explained in reply to the hon. Member's question of 8th February, it was decided, for good reasons, not to include past disturbances in the inquiry of the Committee.

Is it not the case that references to past disturbances have been published in the Report which has been issued in Kenya?

I am not sure on that point.

If this matter has been published in the Report in Kenya, can we not also have it here?

I am not sure of that; I would like to look into the matter.