asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether any time limit has been fixed for the validity of a rubber coupon issued to a small holder prior to 1st November, 1926;

(2) whether, seeing that the existence of unused rights and unused rubber coupons is presumably an indication that the persons who hold these rights have been over-assessed, he will say whether any system of reassessment is contemplated;

(3) whether a rubber estate having unused export rights in respect of, say, 10,000 lbs. of rubber, covering restriction periods prior to 1st November, 1926, and also having export rights in respect of, say, 8,000 lbs. of rubber for the current restriction period, is able to export its 8,000 lbs. during the six months' period November-April and to carry forward into the May-July period the still unused rights in respect of the 10,000 lbs?

The answer to the first question is in the negative, and to the third in the affirmative. In regard to the second, reassessments of standard production take place annually in respect of the 12 months beginning 1st November, and it may be assumed that the authorities in Ceylon and Malaya will take into account, so far as is reasonable, the actual export figures of the different estates.

Does my right hon. Friend think the problem as a whole is better dealt with by allowing coupons in respect of release when the rate was 100 per cent. to be used when the rate of release is 70 or even 60 per cent.?

We have to consider all the facts of the case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the sentence of three years' hard labour imposed on Ira Macdonald Lawrence, a Nyasaland native, for importing into the country six copies of the "Negro World," published in Philadelphia, and two copies of the "Workers' Herald," published in Johannesburg; to what country it is proposed to deport this Nyasaland native; why, since the Ordinance under which the native was convicted was promulgated before the end of the War as a War-time Measure, it is now continued and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

No, Sir. If this native has been convicted under the Seditious Publications (Prohibition) Ordinance of 1918, he would, in the ordinary course, serve his sentence in Nyasaland, and the question of deportation would not arise. The Seditious Publications Ordinance was not passed as a War-time Measure, and the question of its continuance is primarily a matter for the consideration of the Governor of the Protectorate in the light of local conditions. I shall, no doubt, receive a report from the Governor on the case.

When will the Report be received?

I shall be glad to communicate with the hon. Member.

Are these papers prohibited in the district where they are published?

No. The local government have power to prohibit the distribution of those papers which they think, under the local circumstances, would create sedition or trouble.

May we understand what "local circumstances" are?

I cannot answer that offhand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take in order to give effect to the recommendations of the Imperial Conference that a chain of research stations should established in appropriate centres in tropical and subtropical parts of the Empire;

(2) what other re catch stations are contemplated in addition to those already existing at Trinidad and Amani?

The progressive establishment of a chain of tropical research stations has been recommended by the Imperial Conference to the consideration of the Governments concerned, but I am not yet in a position to indicate what further stations it may prove desirable to develop besides Trinidad and Amani.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Government of Australia has been approached with a view to establishing a research station for New Guinea?

The establishment of a research station in New Guinea would be a matter for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia. I am not in a position to say what action will be taken by that Government in regard to the recommendations of the Imperial Conference on the subject of research.

asked the Secretary of State fur the Colonies if the proposed Bill for compulsory military service in Rhodesia has been considered by the responsible authority in Rhodesia; and whether he can give the House any information?

I understand that the Bill has been introduced in the Legislative Assembly of Southern Rhodesia, but so far as I am aware it has not yet been passed.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can state the total number of families and individual emigrants who have been assisted to settle in the Colonies and British Dominions during the current year?

The total number of persons who have been assisted to migrate under the Empire Settlement Act during the period 1st January to 30th September, 1926, is 52,750. Included in this number are 5,500 families (consisting of 20,648 individuals) who went to Australia and New Zealand. Information as to migrant families for Canada, included in the total of 52,750 persons, has not yet been made available by the Dominion authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is now in a position to make any statement on the proposal for the establishment of an Imperial fast-ship service, consisting of seven new large 22-knot ships of a type which does not now exist, between Great Britain and Australia, via India and Ceylon, for the carriage of mails, passengers, and refrigerated and general cargo?

I regret that I am unable at present to add anything to the information contained in the Resolution adopted by the Imperial Conference on the subject of ocean communications.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what steps he proposes taking to provide sufficient falls to the new paving in Trafalgar Square and by so doing avoid accumulations of surface rain water on the stones?

I am informed that the new paving has been given the maximum amount of fall in every direction, having regard to the existing levels. A few small adjustments in the edges of some of the stones have still to be made to improve the surface drainage; but I would point out that it is very difficult to prevent some temporary accumulations of water in such a large flat area as Trafalgar Square.

Is the hon. and gallant Member aware that water accumulates on the stones and necessitates the employment of men to sweep the water into the gullies, after rain?

There is some accumulation, but it is not so bad as it was when there was an asphalt surface.

In taking this matter into consideration, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of preventing banners and so forth from being erected on Nelson Column on Sunday, to the disfigurement of it?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works what was the total cost of the paving work recently carried out at Trafalgar Square, including all Departmental charges, such as surveyors, clerks of works, foremen, and those engaged on the staffs in Storey's Gate?

The total cost of the work in Trafalgar Square is approximately £18,160. The cost of the stone, and of laying it, amounted to approximately £14,400, but it was found necessary during the course of the work to replace nearly the whole of the concrete bed, lay a new drainage system and to provide new cast-iron pipes for the fountains, involving the additional expenditure of £3,760. There was no special supervising staff appointed, and records are not available of the staff charges attributable to any specific work.

Can the hon. and gallant Member say why Derbyshire stone was used in preference to Yorkshire stone, which is considered by borough surveyors as a more suitable stone for the purpose?

Because Derbyshire stone was considered by the. Office of Works to be the most suitable stone.

Can the hon. and gallant Member say how long it took to do the job?

Many months longer than it should have done. There was delay in getting the stone, but it was not the fault of the Office of Works.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been drawn to the overcrowding in the Dumfries second tax district office; whether he has under consideration any proposal to remove this establishment to the recently-vacated Post Office buildings; and, if so, when a decision may be expected?

It is proposed to transfer the Dumfries second tax district to the old post office, and the necessary works of adaptation are now in hand. It is hoped to affect the transfer by the middle of next month.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he can now make any further statement, to allay public uneasiness, as to the offer to replace the suspension bridge in St. James's Park by a permanent stone structure?

I have nothing further to mid to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Camberwell on 10th November.

Can the hon. and gallant Member say when a definite decision will be reached in this matter?

I cannot say when any definite decision will be reached, but this House will be taken into account before any decision is reached, and the plans, if there are plans, will be placed in the Library, so that everyone can see them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, in view of the desirability of every facility being given for the making of British films with a British atmosphere, he will consider the advisability of allowing motion pictures to be taken in Hyde Park, under proper conditions, in the mornings between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. during the summer months, at a time when the park is little used by the general public?

The First Commissioner does not wish to initiate the policy of utilising the Royal Parks for such purposes, without abundant evidence that such a change is in the public interest.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a number of boards of guardians have declined to carry into effect the Order of his Department that casual vagrants should be detained for two nights; what is the reason for such refusal; and what steps does he propose to take in the matter?

My right hon. Friend is aware of a few instances of this kind. The action of the guardians is usually based upon the fact that the existing wards are insufficient to provide for the numbers which occasioNally require sleeping accommodation. The guardians are being pressed to make the necessary arrangements, and my right hon. Friend believes that in a number of cases the matter is now under consideration.

Will the hon. Member state the number represented by the word "few"?

I think the hon. Member had better give me notice. I do not think it is a very large number.

asked the Minister of Health whether milk produced in Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man will come under the Public Health (Imported Milk) Regulations, 1926, or under the Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, for England; and, if it comes under the latter, what steps are to be taken by him to see that the Order is carried out in the above-named countries?

Milk brought from Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man will not come under either the Public Health (Imported Milk) Regulations, or the Milk and Dairies Order.

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to take the East African Loan Bill?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on Thursday last in regard to business.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Bill will be available?

The Bill cannot be published until after the Financial Resolution has been carried.

asked the Prime Minister whether consideration is being given to the question of transferring Aden, with Socotra and its other dependencies and the Persian Gulf protectorates, from the India Office to the Colonial Office, and the Sudan from the Foreign Office to the Colonial Office, or whether he will have a full investigation made into these matters?

The Colonial Office is already the responsible Department in respect of political affairs in the Aden Protectorate and on the Arabian Littoral of the Persian Gulf. The question of the future administration of Aden is now under the consideration of the Government. No change is contemplated in respect of the Sudan.

Is it not a fact that the proper sphere of the Colonial Office is administration?

The whole question is now under consideration, as I have said.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will agree to the institution of a small inquiry into the facilities which can be legitimately given under Government auspices for the making of British films in this country?

I have been asked to reply. The general question of the steps that can be taken to stimulate the manufacture of British films is under consideration. If, however, my hon. Friend will state the nature of the facilities he has in mind, I will have them looked into.

Is it not a fact that the exhibitors, the distributors and the film producers cannot agree among themselves Would it not be better to allow them to come to some agreement themselves first before suggesting any inquiries?

That is not quite the question which was put to me by my hon. Friend, and I am not in a position to answer.

asked the Prime Minister when the conference of all parties to consider the question of the equal Parliamentary franchise between men and women will be called?

I cannot at present add anything to what I have already said on this subject.

Can the Prime Minister say whether the pledge to equalise the franchise is still held by the Government?

I have nothing to add to the answer.

May we assume then that the Government are in some doubt as to whether they will be able to fulfil their pledge?

I have nothing to add.

asked the Prime Minister if he can give any indication of the date when it is intended to take the Second Reading of the Sale of Food (Weights and Measures) Bill?

I hope that the progress of business will allow of this Bill being passed into law before Prorogation.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the small shopkeepers fear they are going to be treated very harshly; and will the Government pay great attention to the wishes of these small shopkeepers in the Committee stage?

If that be so, it will be brought out in the Committee.

asked the Prime Minister whether, as the annual expenditure of the Mines Department is limited to £250,000 a year, His Majesty's Government will consider treating this as a procedent for the rationing of all other State Departments, beginning with an all-round and fixed percentage of reduction to be effected in the Estimates for 1927–28?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 20th May last to my hon. Friend the Member for the North West Division of Camberwell, of which I am sending him a copy. I do not see how economy would be served by fixing an annual limit of expenditure as in the case of the Mines Department considerably above the actual figure of the Estimate.

May I ask whether the economy scheme to be effected before the next Budget is sufficient without fixing a definite rationing?

That is quite a different question.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received a request for an inquiry from the Port Talbot Town Council into the charges made at a recent meeting of the Council, and vouched for by the Town Clerk, to the effect that the Communists have obtained tobacco and cigarettes by charging them to the management of the kitchen where the School children were being fed; and whether he will accede to the request for an inquiry?

My right hon. Friend has not yet received any such request. The charges in question can be raised by any ratepayer when the accounts are being audited by the District Auditor.

Is it not a fact that this matter has already been investigated and confirmed by the Town Clerk and other officials of the Port Talbot Council, and will the hon. Gentleman take steps to see that this despicable fraud is not continued indefinitely?

That is a matter for the people themselves and the District Auditor.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the action of the Chairman in a recent inquiry under the Safeguarding of Industries Act to require the applicants to produce their trading balance sheets; and if he will issue instructions that where the balance sheets are so required from the applicants the balance sheets of those importers of foreign goods opposing the application shall also be produced?

I am informed that in the case referred to by my hon. Friend the balance sheets of certain firms were produced by the applicants as an integral part of their evidence-in-chief with regard to their loss of trade. It is for the applicants to determine in each case what evidence they are prepared to submit, and I do not- propose to issue any instructions to commit tees concerning their procedure beyond those given in the White Paper.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that at the inquiry the Chairman of the Committee made some strong comments on some applicants who did not produce their balance sheets?

The Committee does not require evidence which the applicant does not care to produce. An applicant produces such evidence as he considers desirable in his own interests.

If the Chairman insists, as he did in this case, is it not vital that applicants should produce their balance sheets?

I think the hon. Member is mistaken. I do not think any chairman would insist if the applicant did not wish to produce papers.

Will the hon. Gentleman make inquiry, in order to ascertain whether the facts are not as stated in the question?

Is not the business of an applicant asking for a privilege to prove that he is suffering some disability?

Yes. It is for applicants to produce such evidence as they think desirable in support of their case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage extent to which our exports of merchandise paid for our imports in 1913, 1923, 1924, and 1925?

The, values of the total exports of merchandise from the United Kingdom, including re-exports, formed the following percentages of the -values of the total imports in the years specified: 1913, 82·6 per cent.; 1923, 80·8 per cent.; 1924, 73·7 per cent.; 1925, 70·2 per cent. The figures for 1923–25 include our trade with the Irish Free State. It is estimated that, if calculated on a like basis, the percentage for 1913 would be about 84.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government are prepared to accept the recommendations of the International Conference, recently held at Washington, to formulate proposals for dealing with the problem of oil pollution of navigable waters through international agreement?

His Majesty's Government accept in principle the recommendations of the International Conference. The form which the international agreement, to give effect to these recommendations, should take is at present receiving consideration.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the question of accepting the recommendations of another Washington Conference?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the notice which has been issued this month stating that, in accordance with the Decree, No. 10,634, of the Portuguese Government whereby certain abandoned assets become the property of the Portuguese State, amongst which are Portuguese bonds and shares the owners of which have not collected their dividends or generally exercised their rights of ownership during a period of 20 years, and dividends and interest coupons which have not been collected within five years from their due date; notice is given that Coupon No. 18 and all previous coupons of the shares of the Banco Nacional Ultramarino are no longer payable, and that all subsequent coupons will also become prescribed in favour of the Portuguese State five years after their due date; and, in view of this statement, will he make representations to the Portuguese Government, pointing out the effect of making such a decree applicable to past coupons held by British subjects?

I have no information on the subject, but I am consulting His Majesty's Ambassador at Lisbon. I will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member after I receive the Ambassador's reply.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it right, with respect to a law of this sort regarding abandoned assets, that the Portuguese Government would be quite within their rights in passing a law for the future, but that it is grossly unfair to make it retrospective?

I have said that I have no information, and I do not wish to give any reply to a supposition as to what law may or may not have been passed by the Portuguese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if he is aware that all British Reports about events in the Dodecanese have to be sent by our Athens Legation through the Rome Embassy; whether he has received such a Report concerning the actions of a body of men from the Italian warship "Clio" at the house of Madame Tiliacous, a British subject; and whether he can make a statement on the subject;

(2) on what grounds Madame Tiliacous, a British subject, was refused permission to bring her grievances before the Governor of the Dodecanese and refused a passport to enable her to join her husband in London?

I do not understand the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's first question. His Majesty's Embassy at Rome does not control communications passing between this country and Athens, and the British Consul at Rhodes is at liberty to communicate with Athens direct if he wishes. As regards the remaining parts of the first question and the statements in the second question, I have received no information beyond an unconfirmed report based on statements in the Greek Press. His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Rhodes has been requested to report by telegraph whether any British subject was involved in any recent event.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any efforts are being made at the present time to link up by seaplane service the islands of the West Indies?

An Inter-Departmental Committee was recently appointed to explore the opportunities which may exist for the operation of civil air transport in the West Indies, and their Report is now being studied.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider, as a start, forming a base at Georgetown, radiating in one way inland and on the other to Barbadoes and Trinidad?

That is one of the questions which is being considered. The main question is one of money, and the obligations will fall mainly on the West Indies services.

These services will pay for themselves.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in connection with the removal of coal restrictions, he will state what steps he has taken, or is taking, to ensure that the needs of the small consumer will be safeguarded?

The President of the Coal Merchants Federation of Great Britain has, at my request, sent out a circular impressing upon all members of the Federation the importance Of securing fair distribution of coal as between the small and large consumers. I hope that this will be enough, without recourse to any emergency powers; but these will, of course, remain for a short time and could be used if necessary.

With all the information at the disposal of the right hon. Gentleman does he think there is any justification for household coal to be sold at £3 18s. per ton now?

That does not arise out of the question on the Paper, but I have no doubt whatever that in the next few weeks there will be a considerable drop in price.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of a recent case at Ascot, where one lady was able to purchase five tons of coal—the case being dismissed by the Court—while at the same time there are thousands of miners in gaol for having taken a few cobbles from slack heaps?

That question does not arise.

What does the right hon. Gentleman mean by a short time?

I intended a short time.

Does the right hon. Gentleman's reply mean that he is not depending on the Regulations at the present moment, but is relying on other powers?

If the hon. and gallant Member had listened to the answer he would have heard. I cannot repeat it again now. What I said was that the President of the Coal Merchants' Federation had at my request issued a circular, and if that was not sufficient there were emergency powers available in the background.

That is to say, the right hon. Gentleman has stated that he was not relying on the Emergency Powers, but on his Circular?

Is Christmas a "short time" or not?

It depends on how long it takes the hon. Gentleman to get over it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can now make a further statement regarding the early restoration of the regular mail service to the Western Isles?

The Postmaster-General is in communication with the contractors, and I hope that the normal service will be restored at a very early date.

also asked the Postmaster-General whether the Hebridean mail service contractors will receive payment of the full subsidy despite the present restriction of the service?

In view of the position in which the contractors were placed as a result of the coal shortage, it was considered reasonable to acquiesce in a temporary restriction of the services without a reduction in the normal payment. I should add that in spite of the increased cost of coal, the services were maintained in full until the 8th of this month.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the fact that an applicant for extended unemployment benefit is in receipt of a war pension is taken into account in the consideration of the application; and whether he can state the number of ex-service men who have been refused extended benefit during the last 12 months on the ground that they were in receipt of a war pension?

A war pension is only taken into account in the class of case where the family income is a factor, and then only where the claimant himself draws the pension, it is not taken into account as part of the family incomings if it is drawn by any member of the family other than the claimant. I regret that I have not the figures asked for in the last part of the question.

Does the hon. Gentleman think it fair that a Regulation of this sort should be operated, in view of the fact that war pensions are paid for specific disability? Does he think it fair that this Regulation should operate without Parliamentary sanction?

Of course, that is entirely a matter of opinion, and could only be discussed in Debate. Prior to March of this year, the pension was taken into account whether the holder of the pension was the applicant or not. Since that date, the pension is not taken into account except in cases where the applicant himself is the holder of the pension.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that, in spite of the provisions of Section 29 (2) (c) of the Education Act, 1921, the Rhondda local education authority have passed a Resolution that no person should be employed who was not or did not become a member of the National Union of Teachers; if he is aware that this ban applies to the National Union of Women Teachers; and whether he will take any steps to deal 'with this matter?

I am aware of the Resolution referred to, which is, of course, contrary to the accepted principle that a teacher is free to join any lawful association so long as such membership does not interfere with the proper discharge of his duties and is equally free to abstain from joining any association, if he so desires. Such action by a local authority tends to lower the dignity of the teaching profession and to degrade its standards. The particular provisions of the Education Act referred to in the question only apply, however, to non-provided schools, of which there is only one in the area of the authority.

Does this Resolution not interfere with appointments to headships?

I should want notice of that question. I am not sure of the exact terms of the Resolution.