asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has made any decision as to the steps to be taken to assist the British film-producing industry?

No, Sir. I am still awaiting a report from the cinema industry.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be ready to take steps when this much delayed report is presented?

I am very anxious to get this report, and I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will tell me how to accelerate it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade(1) the percentage of the import trade of New Zealand done by this country during the years ending 31st December, 1923, 1924, and 1925, and for the six months ending 30th June, 1926;

(2) the percentage of the import trade of Australia clone by this country during the years ending 31st December, 1923, 1924 and 1925, and for the six months ending 30th June, 1926?

The answers to these questions consist of tables of figures, and the hon. Member will, perhaps, agree to my circulating them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any Report has been received from the Government delegates to the International Maritime Conference at Geneva; and what were the number of conventions and recommendations adopted?

The ninth Session of the international Labour Conference adopted the following draft conventions and recommendations: Draft convention concerning Seamen's Articles of Agreement, draft convention concerning Repatriation, recommendation concerning the Repatriation of Masters and Apprentices, and recommendation concerning the general principles for the inspection of the conditions of work of seamen. As in previous years the Report of the Government delegates will be presented to Parliament in due course.

Is it not a considerable compliment to this country that, for the third time, an Englishman has been appointed Chairman of this International Labour Conference.

Yes, Sir, I think that is so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the steamship "Queen Maud," of Glasgow, and the steamship "Briar Park," of Greenock, signed on Arab crews at the port of Birkenhead on the 22nd and 23rd instant, respectively; that these Arab seamen were brought to Birkenhead from Manchester and South Shields; whether these Arabs, whose address is given in the ships' articles as 10, Chaper Road, South Shields, claimed British nationality; whether the Board of Trade officers satisfied themselves that these Arabs are not subject to the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1919, Section 5 (2), and the Special Restrictions (Alien Coloured Seamen) Order, which applies to all British ports as from the beginning of this year; and whether he will consider the appointment of a committee to inquire into and report upon the existing arrangements for engaging crews for ships signing articles in British ports?

Fifteen Arab seamen out of a crew of 40 were engaged on the "Queen Maud," and seven Arab seamen out of a crew of 25 were engaged on the "Briar Park." The men for the "Queen Maud" came from South Shields to Liverpool for engagement; it is not known from what port the men for the "Briar Park" came, but six of the seven gave Cardiff addresses. All the men produced police registration certificates, and all were engaged at the standard rate of wages laid down by the National Maritime Board. The statutory requirements were fully complied with in every case. This question is being carefully watched, and the existing requirements, which are quite clear, are being steadily enforced. I do not think there is sufficient reason for the, appointment of a committee such as the hon. Member suggests.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has been informed of the intense feeling that was created in the port while these Arab seamen were being released from the forecastle and were being signed on; whether it is not the case that the Conservative party's pledge during the Election, "British seamen for British ships," is not being carried out; and how soon the right hon. Gentleman proposes to give effect to it?

On the contrary, so far from that being the case, the special Home Office Order with regard to coloured seamen is being carried out.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that special Order has not served its purpose of preventing the importation of Arab seamen on the Merseyside while there are 5,500 British seamen who are unemployed, and what steps does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take in that regard?

What the Order was designed to do, and what it has done effectively, is to keep fresh entrants from coming into this country.

Does not my right hon. Friend think it is really time to tighten up these Regulations very considerably?

It is not quite so simple as that, because the great majority of these men are British subjects, and all of them have a British domicile.

May I ask whether they have not got their citizenship merely by the adoption of addresses within British territory, and whether it is the case that the language test is not always applied before they sign on?

The language test is applied, and, with regard to the first part of the hon. Member's question, that is exactly what the Home Office Order prevents, because it compels every alien to register. If he does not register, he is liable to prosecution, and he is prosecuted.

May I be allowed to press this point? Although the address given was "10, Chaper Road, South Shields," obviously these Arab seamen are not natives of Great Britain.

I did not say that they were originally natives of Great Britain, but the difficulty is that you are dealing with a number of men who are either British citizens or have, under British law, a British domicile. The real point, and the point upon which we are concentrating our attention, is stopping further aliens from coming into this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce, in a recently issued memorandum, declared that the turnover of British-Russian trade had increased from £2,809,541, in 1920, to £58,079,673, in 1925; whether he is aware that Russia is the one country in the world with which no British exporter has contracted a single bad debt since 1920; and whether, under these circumstances, he can now see his way to instruct the Advisory Committee, set up under the Trade Facilities Acts, to consider applications for the benefits of these Acts from British firms desirous of trading with Russia?

I have not seen the document referred to by the hon. Member. As regards the second part of the question, I have received no complaint that Soviet Russia has failed to meet her trading obligations. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Purcell) yesterday.

Will the hon. Gentleman have the answer to the second part of the question sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of his recent speech?

No, Sir. I do not agree with the figures given by the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Purcell) in the second part of his question.

I mean the part with regard to the bad debts.

There is nothing very much in that point.

Will the hon. Gentleman permit me to say that these are not my figures, but the figures of the Anglo Russian Chamber of Commerce?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether profits made by the Russian Trade Delegation in this country are assessed to Income Tax?

The Commissioners of Inland Revenue are precluded from disclosing information as to the Income Tax paid by any individual person or company, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that the organisation to which he refers is being treated in conformity with the a

Does that mean that the Government have no objection to taking Russian money got in this way?

We shall take everything which comes within the ambit of the law from Russia or anywhere else.

Surely as this organisation is registered under the British Company Law, it must therefore conform to it?

I have no doubt that is so. Whatever is the law is being carried out, but I am not prepared to say what is the law.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the recent formation in London of an Anglo-German Finance Company, with a capital of £1,000,000, to be used for the purpose of lending money to German industrial concerns; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to prevent the use of British capital for the development of competitive foreign industries?

I am aware of the formation of a company such as that referred to, for the purpose of carrying on the business of an investment and trust company. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

If British miners are asked to work eight hours a day to compete with foreign competition, is it fair that British capitalists should be allowed to make a profit out of foreign industry?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this money financing German firms is to enable Germany to trade with Russia. Does he not think that same trade could very well be helping our own unemployed?

I am not aware where the trade is going to be done, but I quite agree that the Russian Government could place a great many more orders than they do and pay for them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the conclusion of an agreement between the Russian Government and a group of German banks for the granting of credits by these banks to German firms wishing to do business with Russia, the interest on all credits granted being payable by Russia; and whether, in view of this circumstance, His Majesty's Government will reconsider their refusal to extend the Trade Facilities Act and exports credits scheme to Anglo-Russian trade?

I may refer the hon. Member to the reply on the same subject which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers who are members of the Church of Ireland are eligible for appointment as Military Knights of Windsor; and whether, if they are eligible, he will take steps to procure an Amendment of the King's Regulations for the Army which at present appear to restrict such appointments to members of the Church of England?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, since, as I am informed, the Church of England and the Church of Ireland are in communion, I see no reason for amending the Regulations as suggested.

Is it the opinion of the War Office that members of the Church of Ireland are members of the Church of England?

Of course, they are!

I am not quite sure that the opinion of the War Office would be of any value in that matter.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many times the police set traps on the road to catch omnibus drivers on the Hamilton and Glasgow side of Uddingston, and the amount of money paid by the drivers in fines during the month of June?

I am not in a position to give the hon. Member the information asked for in the first part of his question. The fines imposed on omnibus drivers during the month of June, for the offence of exceeding the speed limit on the roads between Uddingston Cross and Hamilton and between Uddingston Cross and Glasgow, in the Lanarkshire Police District amounted to £61. Proceedings in other Lanarkshire cases are pending. In Glasgow, during the month of June, there were seven convictions in respect of similar offences committed in April by drivers of omnibuses on routes passing Uddingston, but I have not information at present as to the total amount of fines imposed in these cases. Proceedings are pending in respect of other offences committed in Glasgow during June.

Cannot the policemen find some other work to do, instead of being continually engaged in setting traps to catch people who are trying to earn a livelihood in this way?

I must demur to the expression "traps." The duty of the police is to supervise the traffic on the roads generally.

asked the Secretary for Scotland when the Census of Agricultural Production, in regard to which an inquiry was made by the Board of Agriculture in 1925, will be published?

The Board of Agriculture's inquiries were made on behalf of the Board of Trade as the Department responsible for the Census of Production, and the Returns obtained are in process of tabulation. That work is now practically completed, but it is not yet possible to indicate a date when the Report will be ready for publication.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the number of small holdings existing in Scotland is practically the same now as in 1912, although the Board of Agriculture reports that, 2,902 new holdings have been formed during the 14 years since 1912; and whether he will give an explanation of this fact?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The explanation desired by the hon. Member is that the creation of new holdings is offset by the discontinuance of existing holdings largely owing to merger in other holdings.

asked the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the statements in the Fourteenth Report of the Board of Agriculture that the most suitable and best qualified of the ex-service applicants have been provided for, that only 83 ex-service applicants were reported on unfavourably, and that the strict preference accorded to ex-service men during recent years should be relaxed, if he will state what steps the Government intends to take to secure holdings for the 3,803 ex-service men whose applications are shown as still outstanding?

The number of outstanding applications from ex-service men includes a large proportion which cannot be dealt with at present because the applicants do not possess the necessary capital or experience to enable them to undertake the obligations incumbent on smallholders or because they have applied for land which is not available for land settlement purposes. The constitution of small holdings in Scotland is proceeding, as far as the funds at my disposal permit and where land suitable for the purpose is available. In selecting men for settlement preference will he given, other things being equal, to suitable ex-service applicants

What is the amount available during the current year?

I must have notice of that question.

Is it not the case that there are a number of outstanding applications for small holdings from men who are not ex-service men?

We have a number of applications from men who are not ex-service men, but I could not give the number without notice.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to Section 10 of the Government White Paper on Agricultural Policy; and whether it is his intention to introduce legislation with the object of providing that the bona fide farm servant will be assisted to acquire as his own property a cottage and a small area of land which he can cultivate in addition to his earnings?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The general statement in the paragraph respecting the development of small holdings on sound lines applies to Scotland as well as to England and Wales. I propose to pursue this policy under the powers which already exist. The concluding sentences in the paragraph on the subject of proposed legislation empowering county councils to continue and extend the provision of small holdings and cottage holdings, and in particular to make provision for the purpose mentioned in the question, relates to the methods and conditions applicable in England and Wales. As at present advised, I do not think that any sufficient purpose would be served by conferring powers for this purpose on county councils in Scotland.

asked the hon. and gallant Member for Tonbridge, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether he is aware that £16,000 was subscribed in Scotland in 1917 for the construction of naval and military hostels by the Salvation Army in Rosyth, and that this sum is in the hands of the Charity Commission, together with £4,000 received as profits of then existing hostels; and whether in view of the reduction of the dockyard at Rosyth to a care and maintenance basis, he can state if it is proposed to proceed with the construction of similar buildings in another part of Scotland?

The fund in question is now represented by stocks held by the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds, and is governed by a scheme established by the Charity Commissioners on the 19th September, 1919, directing the appropriation of the fund to the erection on a site at Rosyth already purchased of a home and hostel in connection with the Salvation Army for members of His Majesty's Naval, Military or Air Forces. The doubt regarding the final use of Rosyth postponed, and the final decision to reduce Rosyth rendered impracticable the realisation of the scheme, and the trustee of the charity has endeavoured, but without success, to find an alternative place in Scotland from which country the bulk of the subscriptions to the fund were derived where such a hostel would be useful.

It has been proposed that the charity should be transferred to Devonport, where the conditions are similar to those at Rosyth when it was a naval base, but in view of the object for which the fund was raised and the terms of their scheme, the Charity Commissioners are unable to sanction the transfer until the consent of the subscribers has been obtained.

A letter has accordingly been drafted, a copy of which will, it is understood, be sent shortly to every subscriber to the fund, explaining the position and asking whether he is content that his subscription should be applied to a hostel for soldiers, sailors and airmen at Devonport, or whether in the circumstances he claims that his subscription should be returned to him.

As the money was almost exclusively provided from Scottish sources, and as many of the subscribers have either died or are not available, will the hon. and gallant Member undertake, in cases where it is impossible to get into communication with them, that their subscriptions shall be earmarked for expenditure in Scotland on a similar scheme in connection with either the Army or the Navy?

I think it will be necessary to await the result of the letter which has been sent out to find out what subscribers wish done with it. If they do not say, the money might be allotted to some similar scheme in Glasgow or other parts of Scotland.

Will the hon. and gallant Member bear in mind that this fund was destined for the use of the Navy and that the very same men who would have benefited at Rosyth will now benefit under it at Devonport?

Yes, Sir, and the Commissioners desire to keep the fund as nearly as possible for the object for which it was subscribed.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell the House, when he receives the reply, what the decision of the Charity Commissioners is to be, before they proceed with any undertaking?

If the hon. Member will put down a question, I will let him know.

Is not this a unique instance of a sum of money being diverted from Scotland to be spent in England?

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many cattle and sheep, respectively, were grazed in each of the last three years in deer forests in Scotland?

According to inquiries made by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland the approximate numbers of cattle grazed on deer forests in Scotland in the three years 1923, 1924 and 1925 were 1,445, 684 and 1,162 respectively, while the corresponding numbers of sheep were 33,187, 24,271 and 51,058 respectively. The hon. and gallant Baronet is no doubt aware that compulsory powers for obtaining returns of stock on deer forests did not exist until this year, and the figures ascertained in previous years may therefore not be entirely reliable.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that foreign coal is being discharged at Dundee; whether he is aware that this coal is being purchased abroad at 30s. a ton and is being sold in Dundee at 3s. 6d. per cwt. or £3 10s. a ton; and what steps he is prepared to take to lessen retail prices in Dundee?

I understand that foreign coal is being delivered in Dundee at 3s. 6d. per cwt., but I do not know the price at which it was purchased. I do not think that there is any action I could usefully take in respect of prices of foreign coal.

Is it really outside the power of the right hon. Gentleman to take steps to stop this grave scandal; and is he aware that the result of his intervention already, in compelling these people to reduce their price by 6d. per cwt., has had a splendid effect, and could he not go a step further and stop this profiteering?

The hon. Member's question refers to foreign coal, and it would be very undesirable at this time to attempt to stop foreign coal coming into this country. As regards home coal, that, of course, is different, and I am looking into that matter.

With regard to the purpose for which the Government are about to ask for £3,000,000, will that coal be sent out to the consumer at cost, plus the necessary expenses?

It is with reference to foreign coal that I ask the right hon. Gentleman to take steps to see whether or not it is the case, as is openly alleged, that these people are able to buy this coal, received in Dundee, at 30s., and sell it at £3 10s.

I do not think the hon. Member's figures are correct, but it is extremely difficult to say what the price is, there are so many different varieties of coal at different prices coming into the country. In any case, it would be very undesirable to take any steps which at this particular moment, when coal is so badly needed, would prevent supplies of foreign coal from coming in.

Can the right hon. Gentleman not assure the people outside that even in the circumstances in which the country is placed to-day, the coal that, is coming from abroad will not be used by coal merchants in order to profiteer? That is the question; why does not the right hon. Gentleman answer?

I do not think that is exactly what the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Johnston) asked. In any case I am not prepared to discourage the flow of foreign coal into this country.

Could not this question be very simply remedied by a resumption of work?

Will the hon. and gallant Member himself take a job in some mine and dig some coal?

In view of the allegation that coal is being brought from abroad to this country at 30s. and is being sold at a much higher price, not only in Dundee but in Yorkshire, will not the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry into this matter and see what is the actual position?

I am making full inquiry but, as I have said, the prices vary considerably and what may be true in one place may not be true in another. You cannot place any definite price under such varying conditions.

Does that mean that supplies of coal coming in from abroad at. 30s. are to be sold at £3 10s., and that the right hon. Gentleman is not prepared to stop it? I put a question to him a month ago—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]—and he said then he would take every step to stop profiteering.

Order!

asked the Secretary for Mines how many miners were at work in the coal mines, other than safety men, on 30th June last; and how many miners were not at work on the same date?

The number of wage earners on colliery books imme- diately before the stoppage was 1,106,200. At the end of June about 11,300 men were at work in pits which were, winding coal. I do not know the number of "safety" men included in this number or the number of "safety" men at present employed at pits not producing coal.

What about the second part of my question as to the numbers not at work? Will the right hon. Gentleman answer that?

That is simply a matter of arithmetical calculation by the hon. and gallant Gentleman, which he is probably much more capable of carrying out than I am.

asked the Secretary for Mines for the date when the Regulations applying to stone dusting in coal mines were put into operation?

These Regulations were made on 30th July, 1920, and came into force on 1st January, 1921.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether stone-dusting was in operation in past years, before 1914, for instance?

It was certainly started, but it certainly was not enforced by Regulation until 1st January, 1921. The general effect upon the figures quoted by the hon. Gentleman means that the number of deaths per annum from accidents has enormously decreased.

Will the right hon. Gentleman deny that most of the pits in this country in 1913, 1914, and, particularly, 1915, were regularly using stone-dusting in order to mitigate the coal-dust accidents, and can he tell us how many of these pits, about these dates, were actually doing it and how many were not?

If the hon. Member will put down a question I can give the particulars, but my impression is that stone-dusting was not general before the Regulations came into force.

But does not the information at the Ministry of Mines prove that most of the pits, the tremendous majority, were actually doing this in 1914 and found it so beneficial that they actually continued it.

The hon. Member must give notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government propose to take any steps on the lines of the Coal Commission's Report to empower municipal authorities to supply their populations with coal at moderate prices?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Gateshead on the 28th June.

As that reply was not very clear, and it has since been made less clear, I wish to ask if the Government is in a position to say, in so far as this recommendation of the Coal Commission is concerned, the Government's contingent offer to accept the Report has not lapsed?

I think the answer previously given was perfectly clear. As this statement has not yet been made, perhaps the hon. Member will be patient enough to wait for it.

Is this question still open for negotiation?

I do not know what the hon. Member means by being "open for negotiation," but if he will wait a short time, he will know all about that.

I would like to ask whether, if circumstances crop up, the Government would be willing to negotiate on this question?

I cannot possibly answer hypothetical questions of that kind.

Are we to understand that the Government have not yet made up their mind as to whether they will carry out this part of the recommendation?

The hon. Member may take it from me that the answer is as it stands.

As this is a question of paramount importance at this moment, does the right hon. Gentleman not think that a clear and concise statement of the Government's policy upon this question to the House would be of the utmost importance.

Yes, Sir; and I hope it will soon be made.

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated loss to the country of the coal stoppage day by day and the total loss up to the present?

I am unable to add to the reply which was given by my hon. and gallant Friend the Secretary for Mines to the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall) on 24th June.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is availing himself of the provisions of last year's Act to experiment with road surfaces by grant from the Road Fund; and, if so, what has been the result of the experiments and where they are situated?

Arrangements have been made to lay experimental lengths of road surface on the New Barnet bypass in the counties of Middlesex and Hertfordshire. Other experiments will probably be conducted on new arterial roads in Essex and Kent. Any indication of results must necessarily be deferred until the experimental sections have been subjected to traffic for a considerable period.

Can the Minister say whether the actual cost of these experiments will fall upon the Road Fund, or whether the local authorities in the areas will be asked to pay in support of them?

I think I ought to have notice of that question, but my impression is that it will all fall upon the Road Fund.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the experimental section at Acton has been a success?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the death of a child, Thomas Shevlin, who was killed at Mount Vernon railway station on 28th May through the failure of the railway company to have the gate closed and no men on duty to keep children from getting into danger; and what steps is he taking in the matter?

I have received reports of this accident both from the Procurator-Fiscal and from the railway company, but I do not think that on the facts disclosed there is any action that I could usefully take.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the increasing toll of accidents by motor-cars and motor haulage and the increasing congestion of roads, he will consider proposals for instituting a technical test of driving and engineering for all persons possessing driving licences?

I am disposed to agree with the conclusion arrived at by the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, as stated in their Second Interim Report, that any advantages which at first sight might appear likely to result from the institution of tests on the lines indicated, would be outweighed by the expense, difficulties and disadvantages inseparable from any such system. I have, however, under consideration in connection with legislation for the better regulation of road vehicles, the question of the issue of drivers' licences to persons suffering from physical disability.

In consideration of the fact that from Saturday afternoon to Sunday midnight there were 23 accidents in this country ranging from Aberdeen to Brighton, on the one hand, and from East to West, on the other, seven of them fatal, and in consideration of the fact that there are provided by the Automobile Association definite and exact tests which cover the position, will not the right hon. Gentleman at once institute protection by these means for the travelling public?

I think the hon. Gentleman is putting the same question again in longer terms.

asked the Postmaster-General if any developments are taking place for better post office accommodation for the Springburn district, Glasgow?

In the absence of suitable alternative premises for the Springburn Town Sub-office, it has been necessary to renew the lease of the existing premises for a further year from Whit Sunday last. Quite recently, however, my attention was drawn to premises which, while suitably situated, contain a much larger area than is required for the purpose of this particular office, and the possibility of devising an economical scheme for using these premises is at present under examination.

Can the other parts not be used as a garage?

As I have said, the suggested premises are too big for a post office, but the possibility of using part of them for this purpose and part for other purposes of the Service is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Metropolitan Borough Council of Southwark have given their approval of the erection of telephone kiosks in that borough; and will he state the positions, or proposed positions, of such kiosks?

The Southwark Council have given their general sanction to the erection of telephone kiosks in the borough; and five have so far been erected, at the south ends of London, Blackfriars and Southwark Bridges, in Borough High Street near St. George's Church, and in London Road. Further sites in the borough are being sought.

Would the right hon. Gentleman kindly try and obtain some sites in Central Southwark, so that it shall not be entirely neglected?

In any question of sites we communicate with the borough council, but I will bear the suggestion of the hon. and gallant Gentleman in mind.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to a report of the finance committee of the London County Council, issued in February last, on the subject of municipal savings banks, in which is embodied criticism of the Post Office savings banking, and suggestions made for the improvement and popularising the facilities of the Post Office Savings Bank; and whether he will give attention to the proposals with a view to their adoption?

The report has been received, and the points in question are being considered.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us his assurance that he will do everything possible to encourage these small capitalists?

asked the Postmaster-General in which exchange areas comprised in the London district there is a delay of more than three weeks in installing new telephones, and in which areas are applicants informed that their orders cannot be extended owing to shortage of plant?

With the exception of Wallington and Wimbledon the conditions to which the hon. and gallant Member refers do not obtain in the whole of any exchange area, but there are certain streets and groups of streets in a number of areas where, pending the completion of new exchanges or underground cables, the installation of new telephones has to be temporarily deferred.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the appeal by the British Broadcasting Company to owners of unlicensed wireless sets to pay for their licences has had any noticeable effect; and whether it is intended to reiterate this appeal from time to time?

The number of wireless licences issued shows a steady increase, but it is impossible to say to what extent the increase is attributable to the practice of broadcasting notices concerning the use of unlicensed wireless sets. These notices are broadcast periodically because the owners of unlicensed sets sometimes profess. when questioned, to be unaware of the legal obligation to obtain a licence, though this is, of course, no excuse in case of a prosecution.

asked the Postmaster-General what number of owners of wireless sets have been prosecuted up to the present for not being in possession of a licence; whether any such owners have been proceeded against on more than one occasion; and what is the maximum penalty which has been inflicted?

The number of persons prosecuted for the use of unlicensed wireless apparatus since the passage of the Wireless Telegraphy (Explanation) Act last Autumn is 296. Up to the present it has not been necessary to prosecute any person more than once. The maximum penalty imposed was £10 in addition to £10 costs.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how ninny licences have been cancelled after this admitted evasion of the law?

Not without notice of the question.

asked the Postmaster-General the result of the experimental alternative programmes test made by the British Broadcasting Company; and whether it is likely that such alternative programmes will be made a permanent feature of British broadcasting?

Authority has been given to the British Broadcasting Company to conduct a series of tests in the simultaneous transmission of different programmes from two stations in close proximity. The tests are not yet completed, and it is not yet possible to make any statement as to their result.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to Section 10 of the Government White Paper on Agricultural Policy; and whether it is his intention to introduce legislation with the object of providing that the bona fide agricultural worker will be assisted to acquire as his own property a cottage and a small area of land which he can cultivate in addition to his earnings?

I hope to be able to introduce at an early date a Bill to enable local authorities to continue and extend the provision of small holdings The Bill will embody the proposals to which the hon. and gallant Baronet refers.

Are we likely to have the Measure before the Recess?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in connection with the grant of £1,000,000 to the Empire Marketing Board, he can now state what sum is to be allocated to protect the interests of home producers and the directions in which it is proposed that this sum should be spent?

The Empire Marketing Board is now considering various proposals which will, it is hoped, assist the marketing of home produce, but they do not feel that the general purposes for which the grant was proposed would best be served by the allocation in advance of a specific sum for the furtherance of home interests only.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication as to when the allocation is likely to be commenced?

Various proposals have been put forward and are being considered.

Do we understand that the Empire Marketing Board is administering both funds for British and Empire Produce?

They will make grants for approved purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the death and sickness rate amongst the natives employed in the goldmining industry of the Gold Coast Colony during the last complete year for which statistics are available?

From figures which have been supplied to me by the Officer Administering the Government of the Gold Coast it would appear that the death rate per thousand amongst all labour, surface and underground, in the goldmines in the Gold Coast is approximately 8·3. No reliable figures are available as to the sickness rates.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the death-rate of those who go down into the mines?

I asked for those figures, but it is rather difficult to give combined figures for the surface and underground workers in the case of the Gold Coast mines, many of which are merely workings on the side of a hill as it is hard to differentiate absolutely between underground and surface workers. The mines are not like the coalmines in this country.

But does not the hon. Gentleman realise that this is a very heavy percentage, and is he taking actual steps to try to secure a reduction in these figures.

Considerable reductions have been made. As a matter of fact, it is not a heavy figure compared with the ordinary death rate. In tropical Africa the death rate and the birth rate are both vastly higher than in this country, and in view of that fact I am rather surprised that 8·3 per 1,000 should be the figure in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information as to a number of Jewish immigrants to Palestine being held up on their way in Iraq for want of permits to enter Palestine; and will he make inquiries on the subject of the Iraq Government, and take steps to hasten the issue of permits, in order that they may proceed on their journey before their resources are exhausted?

I would refer the right hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Justice Feetham has been appointed to make recommendations to the Colonial Office on alterations in the constitution of Kenya, he can assure the House that an official majority will be retained in the Legislature until the natives are fit to bear their part in the government of the country?

The right hon. and gallant Member will have learnt from my reply to the question of the hon. and learned Member for Orkney (Sir R. Hamilton) yesterday that the inquiry concerns only municipal government. The matter on which he desires an assurance does not therefore arise.

While I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his answer to the first part of the question, may I ask him whether he can answer the second part—whether he can assure the House that an official majority will be retained in the Legislature until the natives are fit to bear their part in the government of the country.

I cannot possibly commit future governments or Secretaries of State for all time, and this is a hypothetical question. The question of the revision of the Kenya Constitution is not under consideration in any way, and therefore it depends on the future as to when and how the Colony will eventually get self-government. It is impossible to make a statement to-day.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, in re-organising local government in Nairobi and Mombasa, the question whether natives and Indians should have votes on a common register would have an intimate relationship with the question of the revision of the Constitution?

I should hope it would have no relation. It is not intended that this purely local question should in any way affect the Constitution or the franchise settlement come to under the White Paper of 1923.

Is it not intended to give votes to the natives and Indians in municipal government affairs?

I have no idea whether the question is coming up at all.

asked the Home Secretary if it will be possible to introduce the Factory Bill before the end of the present Session?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave on the 28th June to the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Colonel Day).

asked the Home Secretary by whose authority the officials connected with the Metropolitan police prohibited a demonstration of the unemployed which was organised to take place on Sunday, 3rd July; and will he state whether it is now the policy of his Department to forbid all such demonstrations in London?

The demonstration referred to was prohibited by the Commissioner of Police in accordance with the authorisation of my right hon. Friend given under the Emergency Regulations. The powers thus given are not exercised unnecessarily.

May I ask whether it is the policy of the Department to prohibit all public meetings in London under the Emergency Powers Regulations?

No, Sir. It is quite clearly laid down in Regulation 22 that, where there appears to be reason to apprehend that the assembly of any persons for the purpose of holding any meeting or procession may conduce to a breach of the peace, that then only would the meeting be prohibited.

May I ask whether the hon. and gallant Member is aware that there have been hundreds of marches to Trafalgar Square during the last year or two and no disturbance of any kind; and can he give the House any evidence on which either the police or the Home Secretary had reason to fear there would be a disturbance on this occasion?

I could give the hon. Member much evidence if he would give me notice, but I cannot now give him evidence as to this particular case.

Is it not the fact that all these marches and demonstrations are a nuisance to 99 per cent. of the population?

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to send a woman as a fully accredited delegate to the Assembly of the League of Nations in September?

Yes, Sir. It is proposed to include a woman in the delegation as is usual. If the hon. and gallant Member cares to question me on Monday next, I hope I may then be in a position to give the names of the six British delegates.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the claim of Germany to participate in the grant by the League of Nations of Colonial mandates was recognised by the Locarno Agreement; and whether the recent statement of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the Tanganyika mandate is permanent represents the policy of the Cabinet?

The right hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension. The question of Colonial mandates is not dealt with in the Locarno Agreement at all. On the other hand, as explained by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Westbury (Captain W. Shaw) on 18th March, it was indicated to the German delegation at Locarno verbally that Germany, when a member of the League, would be a possible candidate for Colonial mandates like all other members. It is incorrect, however, to suggest that any promise or undertaking was given to the German Government. In regard to the second part of this question the answer is in the affirmative.

Can the Prime Minister assure the House that the attitude of the Government in regard to future mandates and possible German occupation has not been modified since Locarno?

Oh, certainly not.

Do we understand that it is the view of the Government that despite the over-riding authority of the League of Nations under Article 22, a mandatory Power holds it mandate in perpetuity?

I do not think that follows. Obviously, it is subject to the League. The basis of this question was whether anything settled at Locarno affected the question of mandates, and the answer is No.

But the second part of this question asks whether this mandate is permanent, and I ask whether the Government recognise the over-riding authority of the League to terminate or modify it?

The Treaty of Versailles governs it. I have not got the wording of the relevant Clause in my mind, but everything is subject to the action of the League under the Treaty of Versailles.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has taken steps to secure from the technical experts of the Admiralty, War Office, and Air Ministry draft plans for a treaty for the reduction and/or limitation of naval, land, and aerial forces, which might serve the League of Nations Preparatory Committee on Disarmament as a basis of discussion?

No, Sir. The basis for discussion at the Preparatory Committee on Disarmament, which met on the 18th May last, was a questionnaire approved by the Council of the League.

asked the Prime Minister if he can make any announcement as to the appointment of the Royal Commission to inquire into the question of the London bridges and their approaches; and what will be the terms of reference?

No, Sir. I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this question is urgent?

I am aware of that, and I am considering it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the payment of fees for contentious business to the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General for England is still governed by the terms of the Treasury Minute of 5th July, 1895?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received any communication from M. Caillaux in regard to the French debt or asking for assistance of any kind in stabilising the French exchange?

I am in communication with the French Government, as I have been with former Governments, with regard to the settlement of the French War Debt; but I am not at present in a position to make any announcement on this matter. I have received no communication with regard to the stabilisation of the French exchange.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he does not consider that it is time to take up a sterner attitude in this matter?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received any further communication from Lord Meston?

No, Sir.

In view of the statement made by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on a recent Motion for the Adjournment, does the Chancellor of the Exchequer intend to allow this matter to rest where it is?

My difficulty has been to disturb it from the rest into which it has fallen, but as I have already said we are proceeding ourselves to inquire into this subject, and the delay will not be allowed to prevent any legislative action which may ultimately be found to be necessary.