asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the large imports of textile goods have driven a number of firms out of business and caused unemployment in the worsted industry; and whether he will now consider the application of safe guarding to this industry?

In accordance with the recommendations of the Committee appointed to consider an application by the worsted industry, the operation of the three factors to which they directed attention is being closely watched, but I am not satisfied that the position has changed since the Committee reported in a way which would justify the Government in taking action.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the imports of woollen worsted goods have increased for the first two months of this year over the corresponding period last year by 1,800,000 square yards? Also is be aware that a considerable number of workers formerly employed in the textile industry have gone into other occupations rather than accept unemployment benefit?

I think I am aware of all the relevant factors, only-some of which have been stated by my hon. Friend. The Government have watched the whole position. There are three things the Committee have to take into account. Those matters are being-watched and have been the subject of a special Report, and it is upon the whole of the information so received that I have given my answer.

Did not the Committee after a very protracted inquiry recommend that no duty should be put on, and did it not also point out that a duty on imported goods would interfere with the garment manufacturing industry, home and export, and raise the cost of clothes?

That was in the Report.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that imported worsted goods represent employment for 60,000 persons during the early period of this year, and would this fact make any difference to the views of the Government?

No, what the Government are bound to consider is whether the situation has materially changed for the worse since the Committee made its Report, and, after very careful consideration of all the figures and on information obtained from the trade, I am not able to say that is so.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say from what country the goods arc coming?

I think I can say that at once. It is naturally present to my mind. They originally came from Italy and France. The French importations on the whole have declined and the German importations have increased.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any figures showing the production of lace goods at the present time; the number of persons employed in the lace industry; and the corresponding figures for this date or a near date in 1926?

I regret that the information furnished by the trade is not sufficiently complete for me to give the particulars which the hon. and gallant Member desires.

How is it the right hon. Gentleman can give these figures for motor cars, watches and other articles when they are favourable to his policy, but is unable to get them when they are not so favourable?

I am glad the hon. and gallant Gentleman asked that, because, as a matter of fact, I have tried to get results from every single trade which is protected by a duty. I have got some figures which are quite inadequate from the lace trade. I hope they will be able to give the same figures that many other trades have given.

Is it not a fact that during the last fortnight hopes have been expressed in Nottingham that the trade has revived to a very great extent?

We must not have these fiscal debates now.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average c.i.f. value of imported fabric gloves in 1926 per dozen pairs compared with the average c.i.f value in 1925?

The average declared value (c.i.f. British port) of fabric gloves of cotton imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1925, was 13s. 5d. per dozen pairs, and in 1926 12s. 7d. per dozen pairs; and of fabric gloves of other materials, 14s. 1d. per dozen pairs in 1925, and 18s. 6d. in 1926.

In view of the extraordinary success attending these Safeguarding Duties, will the right hon. Gentleman consider bringing other trades under them?

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the retail price is now higher than before the duties?

I was not aware of that fact, but that seems to show that the difference in price is conducted by the retailer and not by the manufacturer.

asked the President of the. Board of Trade what were the net exports of motor-cars and parts from the United Kingdom in 1926?

The value of motor-cars and parts manufactured in the United Kingdom and exported in the year 1926 was £9,120,000, while the value of the net imports was £5,816,000. Thus the value of the exports exceeded that of the imports by £3,304,000.

Is it not the case that the fears that the duty would decrease the export of motor-cars were not justified?

I have given the figures.

Does that include all those parts that have come from America and been assembled here?

The answer deals with exports from this country of motor-cars and parts. I do not think there is a trade in imported parts which are afterwards exported. I have no doubt this really represents the production of British factories.

Is it not a fact that the greater part of these are being sent to the Dominions, particularly New Zealand and Australia, and the trade is increasing very rapidly?

I think that is true, and the Returns for this year will probably show a still further increase.

Is it not also a fact that many of the cars exported from this country are assembled from parts manufactured abroad?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether prices of motor-cars have increased since the import duties wore re-imposed in 1925; and how car prices now compare with pre-War prices?

The price index compiled by the trade shows that during the first half of 1926 the average prices were for private cars about 6 per cent. less than in 1925 and for commercial cars about 5 per cent. less than in that year. Further reductions have occurred since. Prices generally are now about 10 per cent. below pre-War prices for private cars and are approximately the same as pro-War for commercial cars.

Is it not a fact that, owing to the security given to this industry, prices have been lowered all round?

This is Question Time, and not Debate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that motor manufacturers in Great Britain are claiming and advertising their cars as of British manufacture, while such cars contain 25 per cent. of foreign parts, some fully assembled in foreign countries; and will he take action in these cases under the Merchandise Marks Act?

I am not aware of the facts mentioned in the question. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of the cases he has in mind, I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the nature and extent of the negotiations which took place between his Department and the French Government during the revision of the French customs tariff; whether he proposes to make further representations to the French Government on the provisions of the Tariff Bill recently submitted to the Customs Commission of the Chamber of Deputies; and, if the Schedules of this Bill undergo no modification in favour of British manufactured exports, whether His Majesty's Government will take appropriate measures to enable British manufacturers to safeguard their interests in their own home market against unfair French competition?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet made any representations to the French Government as to the proposed increase of duties on British oil engines imported into France?

As already stated in this House, I have invited Chambers of Commerce and trade associations to let me have their observations on the proposals in the French Tariff Bill so far as these affect British trade. When they have been received, I will consider what action can usefully be taken by way of representations to the French Government.

What is the application of the maximum tariff under the new scheme? It is not explained in the document issued by the Department.

I should hesitate without notice to give a reply upon a document, which covers about 50 pages. Perhaps the hon. Member will put the question down?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated cost of the work of the Board of Trade Committee under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, exclusive of the sum for salaries, wages and allowances shown in the Civil Estimates, Class 6, Vote 1?

It is impossible to estimate the cost precisely. Provision has been made under Subhead B of the Vote for any expenses incurred by this and other committees and inquiries.

What is the reason for changing the position, and making this appointment salaried?

That is not the question the hon. Member asked. He asked about expenses other than salaries. The reasons for making them salaried were given when the Bill was before the House and were approved by the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the average c.i.f. value of all the watches imported during the six months ended 30th June, 1925; and the average c.i.f. value during the six months ended 31st December, 1926;

(2) what was the average c.i.f value of all the clocks imported during the six months ended 30th June, 1925; and the average c.i.f. value during the six months ended 31st December, 1926?

I will answer these questions together and, as the answer involves a table of figures, I propose, with the concurrence of my hon. and gallant Friend, to have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what body or organisation has made application to him for the making of an Order in Council under the Merchandise Marks Act that its provisions should be applied to imported gold and silver leaf; and whether he can state what are the annual imports of this article for the last year for which statistics are available?

The application was made by the British Master Gold Beaters' Federation, the Gold Beaters' Trade Society and the Women's Gold Leaf Society. The imports of gold leaf in 1926 amounted approximately to 76,700,000 leaves, valued at £193,000. Silver leaf is not separately distinguished on importation, but the total value of all sorts of metal leaf, other than gold, was less than £5,000.

Do these organisations represent any important substantial number of people?

Yes, Sir. They represent on the part of the employers and the operatives, I am informed, practically the whole trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much agricultural machinery was imported into Russia in 1913; and how much came from Britain, Germany, and the United States of America, respectively?

The value of the agricultural machinery and parts, including tractors, imported during 1913 into Russia (excluding Finland) was as follows:

	£
From all countries	5,093,000
From the United Kingdom	1,126,000
From Germany	1,758,000
From the United States	979,000

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the figures he has given to 1913 include Poland as part of Russia?

Yes, I think they include all Russia at that time, except Finland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the average declared value per square yard of imported silk piece goods in 1926 compared with the average declared value in 1925?

The average declared value (c.i.f. British port) of piece goods, wholly of silk, imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1925, was 3s. 6d. per square yard, and in 1926 3s. 5d.; and of silk mixed with other materials, if known as "silks,"3s. 6d. in 1925, and 3s. 4d. in 1926.

Do I understand from that answer that the imports of these silk piece-goods actually decreased in value in spite of the duty and that, therefore, the duty was paid by the foreign importer?

The cost since the duty was lower than before the duty was put on.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, arising out of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Trusts in 1919 in respect of the recommendation that the Board should keep itself fully informed as to the nature, extent, and development of industrial combinations, and that a Report thereon should be annually submitted to Parliament, whether anything has been done arising out of this recommendation?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Memorandum on Combination in Industry and Trade prepared by the Board of Trade, and published in the Balfour Committees volume, "Factors in Industrial and Commercial Efficiency."

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the British subscription to the International Bureau at Berne for the protection of industrial property has this year been reduced, and that to the bureau for the protection of literary and artistic property has been increased; what are the functions of these bureaux; and whether, in view of our financial situation, our contribution to them will be withdrawn?

The answer is a rather long one, and my hon. and gallant Friend will perhaps agree to my circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated cost of the work of the Food Council for 1927–28, exclusive of the sum for salaries, wages, and allowances shown in the Civil Estimates, Class 6, Vote 1?

The estimated cost of the Food Council work for 1927–28, exclusive of salaries, wages and allowances, and also of overhead charges such as rent, rates, stationery, etc., which cannot be definitely calculated, is £200.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to give effect to the undertaking he gave some time ago to a deputation representing a large number of coastal districts to the effect that he would introduce legislation dealing with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion?

My hon. and gallant Friend will remember that while I expressed the hope that it might be possible to introduce legislation at some future date, I stated plainly that I could give no undertaking as to when this could be done.

Is the Minister aware that the amenities, and indeed, security of many of our seaside towns are being seriously threatened by the absence of adequate legislation to deal with this matter? Further, is he aware that in my own constituency, which largely depends on its golf courses to attract visitors, three holes have been lost in the last three months owing to the lack of coastal protection?

I should indeed be sorry to find that the hon. and gallant Gentleman's constituency had lost any of its well-known attractions, but he knows how far the time of the House is already proportioned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Belgian National Committee on Industrial Production recommending that, on the participation of foreign enterprises in public contracts, preference should be given to Belgian tenderers as far as is compatible with the interests of the Belgian Treasury; that, before arriving at a decision in favour of a foreign tender, the Belgian Government should take the advice of a permanent consultative commission on which the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry should be represented; that whenever conditions permit a margin of preference should be accorded to Belgian tenders; and if he will take steps to secure that foreign tenders for British public contracts shall be treated in a similar manner?

I have been asked to reply and would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Bournemouth on 16th March, 1926, and to the answer which the Prime Minister gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Hallam Division on 9th November, 1926. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of both those answers. There does not appear to be any occasion for the establishment of a permanent consultative commission.

Will the right hon. Gentleman commend to the Department the decision at which the Belgian Government arrived?

I think the hon. Member may be quite assured that that will not be lost sight of.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, for the purpose of saving the lives of migratory birds, a certain number of lighthouses have been provided with perches fixed under the lanterns on which the birds can rest; in how many cases this has been done; and whether the experiment has proved successful?

I am informed by Trinity House that, by arrangement with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, specially designed perches have been attached to the towers of the lighthouses at Spurn Point, St. Catherine's, Caskets, South Bishop and Bardsey, and that, from the reports received as to the large number of birds which alight on these perches during the migrating season, there is reason to believe that they have effected their purpose of saving the lives of a number of birds. These perches have been established and are maintained at the expense of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Will the right hon. Gentleman continue with the good work until every lighthouse is so provided?

I am afraid that it does not rest with me to give orders with respect to the lighthouses. That rests with Trinity House. Trinity House are fitting them up. I am informed that Scotland, I regret to say, is more sceptical on this subject.

If the right hon. Gentleman cannot give orders, will he encourage them?

I think the hon. Member's question and the answer given to it may have the desired effect.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men over 18 enlisted in the Army during the past year, and the number rejected on medical grounds?

The hon. Member will find figures for the recruiting year 1925–26 on page 12 of the General Annual Report on the British Army for 1926.

Does that answer the latter part of the question?

Yes, I think the answer gives all the information.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now considered the alternative proposals placed before him by the deputation from the Council of Territorial Associations which, while effecting considerable economies, will promote efficiency in the Territorial Army?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have decided to introduce as from 1st March last a "proficiency grant" for men enlisting or re-engaging on and after that date of 30s. per annum.

In view of the relief which will be felt throughout the Territorial Army regarding this decision, may I ask that widespread publicity will be given to this decision?

I hope the question asked by the hon. and gallant Member and the answer which I have given will ensure that publicity. The action dates back to the 1st March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Government propose to introduce legislation dealing with the question of sexual offences against young persons in Scotland; and, if so, when such legislation will be introduced?

I propose to await the Report of the Scottish Committee on Young Offenders, which is now sitting, and to consider the two Reports together. I may add that I have already taken action on recommendations of the Committee which did not require legislation.

When does the right hon. Gentleman expect that the Juvenile Offenders Committee is likely to report, as it is more than a year since it was set up?

I cannot state the actual date, but, I hope, before very long.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any protest from a public meeting of ratepayers in Cupar, Fife, against the action of the local town council in passing new standing orders abolishing the regular statutory meetings of the council for the approval of committee minutes and excluding the Press and the public; whether he has considered these new standing orders; and whether, in view of the provisions of the Town Councils (Scotland) Act, 1900, he will say what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the recent adoption of new standing orders by the Cupar Town Council under which the business of the council and its committees is to be conducted in future in private; that no statutory meetings of the council are to be held this year except one in July to levy and impose rates and assessments for the year ending 15th May, 1928, and one in September to approve the abstract of accounts and minutes of committees for the year ending 15th May, 1927; that serious allegations have been made in public at ratepayers meetings regarding the reasons for the adoption of the new standing orders and the manner in which the financial business of the Cupar Town Council is transacted; and if he will cause inquiry to be made in order to find if the action of the council is in accordance with the Town Councils (Scotland) Act, 1900?

I propose to answer these questions together. I have received the resolution referred to. I have no jurisdiction in the matter, but I have made inquiries and have received a copy of the new standing orders. These orders provide inter alia for the holding of the statutory meetings of the council and for the admission of representatives of the Press thereto. The delegation of powers to committees is authorised by Section 74 of the Town Councils (Scotland) Act,. 1900; and in other respects the standing orders appear to be in conformity with that Act.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the holding of two meetings per annum is not subversive of the whole principle of local government?

I have said that it is in conformity with the Act of Parliament, and I have no right to interfere.

Has the right hon. Gentleman satisfied himself regarding the allegations made as to the conduct of business in this council and the allegations made in my question?

I have made inquiries, and as far as I have made inquiries I think that the action of the town council is within the terms of the Act of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of small holdings allotted in the County of Lanark since the year 1919 to 1926, the number of persons placed thereon, and the acreage of land involved?

No small holdings have been constituted by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in the County of Lanark during the period specified by the hon. Member. With a view to meeting the claims of suitable applicants in the county schemes of settlement have been proposed but were not found practicable for various reasons, among which I might mention the risk of damage through subsidence caused by mineral workings. The claims of Lanarkshire applicants are being taken into consideration in the selection of holders for settlement on schemes in other districts and 36 of them have been settled on schemes in adjoining counties during the period mentioned in the question.

Is it not a great reflection from the Secretary of State that no small holdings have been allotted to the County of Lanark for seven years?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of unemployed registered at the Employment Exchanges in the County of Lanark on the 30th April, 1926, and the 30th April, 1921?

I have been asked to reply. At 26th April, 1926, there were 83,653 persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the County of Lanark as compared with 100,876 at 29th April, 1921.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of men in receipt of able-bodied relief from Fraserburgh Parish Council; and the scale of relief for a man, and his wife, and for each child?

I am informed that there are 70 able-bodied men at present in receipt of relief from the parish council. The parish council have adopted no fixed scale of relief for such applicants, each case being considered on its merits by the relief committee of the council.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is great discontent with regard to the amount that is being paid to the able-bodied unemployed in Fraserburgh, that the parish council have refused to meet a deputation representing these people, and will the Secretary of State see that enough to provide for these people is given?

I understand that the latter part of the question is incorrect and that a deputation is being received. The Board of Health have received complaints and they are making inquiries into the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman's knowledge in regard to the reception of the deputation recent? I have in my possession a copy of a letter from the parish council refusing to receive a deputation.

My information is quite recent, and I understand that full inquiries are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision he has reached with regard to the proposal of the Kincardineshire Education Authority to reduce the age to 10 years at which school children may be employed in seasonal occupations, such as potato lifting?

I can add nothing at present to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on this subject on the 2nd March. I am awaiting a reply from the education authority to my last communication.

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the authority in Kincardineshire are not proposing to place their Regulations before him?

Yes, but I understand a meeting is to take place at the end of this month, or the beginning of next, and I expect to receive an answer from them after that date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the causes of complaint regarding the grates in the Weir steel houses at Dundee have not yet been removed; that, in one case, the grate has been taken out four times, packed twice, parts chipped from the chimney, the chimney head raised by two blocks, six different types of cans tried, a concrete pad inserted beneath the fire, and parts taken from another grate and attached as a make shift, all without avail; and that the room is now uninhabitable and the tenant put to considerable expense; and what steps, if any, he is taking to remove these complaints?

I am advised that there now remains only one case in which it is not certain that the cause of complaint regarding the grates in the Weir steel houses at Dundee has yet been removed. As regards the statements made in the question as to a particular case, I am informed that these are not strictly accurate of any instance in the knowledge of the Housing Company, but that the living-room grate in one house has given dissatisfaction to the tenant and trouble to the contractors. As I have already indicated, it is not yet certain that the remedial efforts made have been successful in remedying the cause of the complaint, but the matter will continue to engage the attention of the Housing Company.

If I can supply the Under-Secretary of State with full particulars of this case, will he undertake to have the question fully examined?

Yes, Sir, undoubtedly.

asked the Under-Sec- retary of State for Scotland what was the scale of parish relief in force for the week ending 26th February, 1927, in each parish council area situated wholly or mainly in each coalfield in Scotland?

The information desired by the hon. Member could only be obtained by calling on over 100 parish councils to make a special return. In any event, the scales of relief in operation in many parishes are subject to so many qualifications, according to the practice of the particular parish council, that such a return would be misleading.

asked the Secretary for Mines what are the functions of the 56 members of the staff of his Department described in his Estimates as temporary, in view of the fact that their grades vary from technical adviser to charwomen; and how soon will the services of all temporary staff cease?

More than half of these are messengers and charwomen who are classed as temporary, not because the work that they are doing is temporary, but because they are not established employes. The temporary staff of the Department doing temporary work falls into two classes. Seven are engaged in compiling a new catalogue of plans of abandoned mines, a task of the greatest importance to the safety of the miners, which I hope will be completed within the coming financial year. Their services will then no longer be required. Thirteen are still engaged on liquidation work arising out of the financial control of the coal industry; their numbers are gradually reduced as the work approaches completion, but I cannot yet say when it will be possible to dispense with all of them.

asked the Secretary for Mines the tonnage monthly output of coal in the county of Fife during January and February, 1926, and January and February, 1927?

The quantity of coal raised in Fifeshire in January, 1926, was 617,600 tons, and in February, 1926, 638,400 tons. The corresponding figures for January and February, 1927, were 552,000 tons and 602,600 tons, respectively.

asked the -Secretary for Mines the number of persons employed in and about coal mines in the county of Fife at the end of April, 1026, and at the end of February of this year, respectively, with the number of persons formerly employed at pits that may have ceased working in the county during the period from 1st May, 1926, to the end of February, 1927?

The. number of wage-earners employed in and about coal mines in Fifeshire was 26,431 at the end of April, 1926, and 21,374 at the end of February, 1927. 906 men were formerly employed at pits in the county which have closed since 1st May, 1926, and 63 men are at present employed at pits which have opened or re-opened since that date.

I have been asked to postpone this question until Thursday, but I have to inform the Prime Minister that I have obtained 327 signatures.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government has yet come to a decision with regard to the proposals of the Blanesburgh Unemployment Insurance Committee?

I have been asked to reply. I must request the hon. Member to await the proposals to be made in the Unemployment Insurance Bill.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us when the Unemployment Insurance Bill will be introduced?

No, Sir. I am not yet in a position to give the date.

Will it be introduced before Easter?

I think that is unlikely.

This Session?

Yes.

May I ask whether the Government are satisfied with the actuarial calculations on which this projected Bill will be based?

The Bill, when introduced, will be on a financial basis with which the Government are satisfied.

Can the hon. Member say whether the Government propose to hold any conference with the representatives of necessitous areas in regard to this Bill?

I must ask the hon. Member to put that question on the Paper: I am unable to give an answer on that point at the moment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his statement in the Budget of last year, he can give, approximately, the amounts that would be brought in by a 4d. and a 6d. tax per gallon on petrol?

The estimates asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend could not be framed except on the basis of a number of assumptions as to the possible scope of a duty upon motor spirit, which must vary widely according to the particular point of view. In these circumstances I regret that I am unable to supply the information.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman on the last Budget say that he would look into the matter, and does not this mean that he has not looked into it?

On the contrary, I have been looking into it continually, and not at all by my own unaided eyesight, but with the assistance of many competent experts. Nevertheless, I am not prepared to make any statement on the subject this afternoon.

This country has received up to the present approximately £10,000,000 from Allied Governments in respect of War Debts and has paid approximately £135,500,000 to the United States Government.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if, in the future, we ever get an excess of receipts over payments, this £120,000,000 will be allowed to be counted under the Balfour Declaration?

Yes, that is specifically stipulated.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say the total amount received from reparations? It would be very interesting.

Not without notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet obtained the correct version of the statement with regard to Inter-Allied Debts, made recently by the Secretary to the United States Treasury?

Yes, Sir. I have just received the full text of Mr. Mellon's letter to the President of Princeton University and am at present engaged in considering it.

May I ask whether the statement made by the Secretary to the United States Treasury is correct, that we are already receiving more from Germany than we are paying out to the United States?

I think probably it would be better if I circulated the actual text of the letter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that, in accordance with the statement in Command Paper, No. 121, of 1924, a loan of £1,000,000 for the Lithuanian Government was guaranteed by the Government, he can say why this proposal has not been taken advantage of by the Lithuanian Government?

The guarantee which the Treasury expressed its willingness to give was intended to cover the expenditure in this country in connection with a scheme for the construction of certain railways in Lithuania. The Lithuanian Government decided not to proceed with the original scheme and their alternative proposals were not satisfactory to the Trade Facilities Act Advisory Committee. Accordingly the question of a guarantee dropped. In any case it would not have been possible for the guarantee to have been given until the Lithuanian Government had settled their outstanding debt of approximately £300,000 for supplies sent by this country to Lithuania.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has inquired the views of the trustees of the British Museum as to the measures which would be necessary to light the Museum on Sundays in case of fog; whether he has had any estimate made of the cost which would be required to effect the change; and whether he is prepared now to reconsider the possibility of making the necessary arrangements?

The answer to all three parts of the question is in the negative.

May I ask whether it is not desirable to consult the trustees in a matter like this?

I think not.

May I ask whether the trustees are not, as a matter of fact, very much interested in this, and would like very much to be consulted in the matter?

I cannot say whether they are interested or not, but there is no reason why they should not communicate their interest, if they wish to do so.

But are not the trustees a semi-public body charged with great responsibilities, like the Government?

Yes, and it is for that very reason that I leave them to do their own business.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that there are approximately 15,000,000 people in Great Britain who suffer with imperfect vision; and, in view of this fact, will he consider the introduction of legislation making it compulsory that all applicants for a motor-driving licence should pass a special eyesight examination either by their own medical practitioner or competent optician which shall include tests for distance and colour vision, and produce a satisfactory certificate to the-licensing authority before a driving licence is issued?

The draft Road Traffic Bill which has recently been published contains provisions for the withholding of a driver's licence from a person suffering from any physical disability (including defective vision) which is likely to cause the driving: of a motor vehicle by him to be dangerous to the public. The draft Bill also provides that in certain circumstances such a person may claim to be subjected to a test as to his fitness or ability to drive a motor vehicle.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last part of the ques- tion with regard to the person supplying a medical certificate saying that the eyesight is all right?

I could not answer without going into great detail. If the hon. Member will read the draft of the Bill, I think he will get all the information he wants.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received a resolution, unanimously passed at a recent meeting by the county council of the West Riding of Yorkshire, protesting against any further inroads by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Road Fund and stating that the remaining funds are already insufficient to meet the reasonable requirements of the highway authorities; and whether he is communicating with the county council on the subject?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The resolution and the points raised in the covering letter shall have my careful consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman replying to the county council, as I ask in the last part of the question?

I will inquire whether we are sending anything more than a formal acknowledgment.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the liabilities of the Road Fund exceeded the balance by £10,700,000 on 31st March, 1926, and that the outstanding liabilities of the Unemployment Grants Committee will involve a further charge on the fund of £800,000 per annum for the next few years; and whether or not he has any proposal to make to enable road authorities to maintain and improve the roads in order to cope with the growth of heavy motor traffic other than by additional burdens on local rates?

I am aware of the position of the Road Fund, but the very substantial assistance given to the local authorities from that Fund has not been diminished and continues to be accorded on a scale which, I hope, will be found to meet the needs of the situation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received representations concerning traffic congestion between Trafford Park, Manchester, and the Eccles and Salford areas, complaining that a large number of workpeople travelling to and from their employment are held up unduly, and suggesting that either a passenger way should be added to Trafford Bridge, a high level footbridge erected over the Ship Canal, or a tunnel constructed underneath; whether he has given consideration to those representations, and what decision, if any, has been reached?

A letter embodying these suggestions reached me a short time ago, and as soon as I have had time to inquire into the matter I will communicate with the hon. Member. I would, however, remind him that the initiation of improvements of the character indicated rests primarily with the local authorities and public bodies concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is stated that some local authorities have already moved in the matter, and cannot secure the help of other local authorities? Will the Minister of Transport help to get all the local authorities concerned to come together?

I was not aware that the movement had gone so far as that, but I will consider the hon. Gentleman's suggestion.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the licence fee paid by owners of wireless crystal sets is the same fee as that paid by owners of wireless valve sets, and that the London transmitting station 2 LO shuts down some nights at 11 p.m., he can arrange for the programme sent out from Daventry after this hour, and which is only available to valve-set owners, to be relaid from the London station so as to give owners of crystal sets the same benefits as owners of valve sets?

This is a matter within the discretion of the British Broadcasting Corporation. I understand that at times when Daventry is working and London is not most persons using crystal sets in London or other places within a radius of 100 miles of Daventry can receive the Daventry programmes with little alteration of their sets.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the crystal set used with ear phones cannot receive the Daventry station, and will he consider a reduction of the licence?

I am not aware of that fact at all. It is only a matter of putting in a coil, which cost a little over a shilling.

asked the Postmaster-General why it is that the British Broadcasting Corporation is to receive £50,000 in revenue less this year than last year; and how many wireless-listening licences are in force this year as compared to last year?

The amount paid to the British Broadcasting Company last year covered not only the revenue for the service but also the sum required for the repayment of the company's share capital and the expense of winding up the company. The revenue of the British Broadcasting Corporation during the financial year 1927–28 will be substantially greater than the revenue of the company for the conduct of the service during the year 1926. The number of licences in 'force on the 28th February, 1926, was about 1,906,000 and the number in force on the 28th February, 1927, was about 2,235,000 in addition to about 4,400 free licences for blind persons.

asked the Postmaster-General when the regional scheme for broadcasting on higher wave-lengths will be completed so that listeners will be able to obtain alternative programmes on higher wave-lengths from the Daventry Broadcasting Station?

The British Broadcasting Corporation inform me that they propose to carry out experiment at Daventry at an early date, and when these have been completed they may be in a position to submit proposals for the establishment of regional high-power stations?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say on what wave lengths these experiments will be carried out?

I do not know that it is definitely settled, but the idea is to have two wave lengths, one of 1,600 and another of 400.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the conditions imposed upon the amateur transmitter's licence issued to 2 H.D. are imposed upon all such licences; and, if not, how many amateur licences with wider latitude have been issued?

The original licence for this station was subject to the same general conditions as are imposed on all other amateur transmitting stations; but, as stated in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend's question of the 24th March, it was found necessary, on account of irregularities, to withdraw the original licence and to issue a fresh one with revised conditions. About 1,250 amateur stations are licensed to undertake wireless transmission for experimental purposes.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will reconsider his decision not to supply the district of Dilhorne, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, with a public telephone call office except under a guarantee of £18 a year, seeing that such guarantees are the main deterrent to the development of the use of telephones in this country, especially in rural areas?

The receipts from a telephone call office at Dilhorne are not expected to cover the charges. In these circumstances a guarantee cannot be dispensed with, but on going into details I find that the amount quoted can be reduced, and I am arranging for revised terms to be communicated to the persons interested. The guarantee system, far from being a deterrent to the development of telephones, is, in practice, the only means whereby call offices are being established in a number of places where the use made of the facilities is so small that their provision out of public funds could not be justified,

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether the substitution of the Holyhead-Kingstown route for the Stranraer-Larne route for the conveyance of mails to Northern Ireland will entail any extra charge on the Treasury; and, if so, what is the estimated amount;

(2) when the new postal service to Northern Ireland via Holyhead and Kingstown will commence; and what will be the saving in time in adopting the new route;

(3) what is the practical difficulty in the way of improving the mail service to Northern Ireland via Stranraer?

asked the Postmaster-General whether the alteration of the London-Northern Ireland mail service from the Stranraer-Larne route to the Holyhead-Kingstown route will give an acceleration in the scheduled times of arrival at Belfast, and, if so, to what extent; and what are the practical difficulties which prevent or render impracticable the acceleration of the Stranraer-Larne route service?

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he can state the nature of the practical difficulties in the way of accelerating the Northern Ireland mail service via Stranraer;

(2) if he can indicate the date upon which the alteration of the Northern Ireland mail service from the Stranraer route to the Holyhead route is to take place;

(3) how much earlier mails will be delivered in Northern Ireland if the route is altered from Stranraer-Larne to Holyhead-Kingstown; and what is the anticipated saving in time of transit and financial expenditure?

I will answer these questions together. The Holyhead route is being reverted to at the request of the Government of Northern Ireland, as they found after a complete investigation of the matter with the railway company that the requisite acceleration of the Stranraer route was not practicable without heavy capital expenditure by the company upon reconstruction of the track. The change will probably take place in about a fortnight from now. The mails will be due in Belfast 20 minutes earlier than at present, assuming a punctual arrival by both routes. In the reverse direction, the correspondence will be despatched about an hour earlier but will fall into the first delivery in Central London instead of the second. As the mails for the greater part of Ulster are at present, and have always been, conveyed by the Holyhead-Kingstown route, 1 do not anticipate that the addition of the mails to and from Belfast and the surrounding district will have any appreciable effect on expenditure. The Post Office revenue will not be affected by the change.

Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that some mails, anyhow, will still pass from Stranraer to Lame from the North of Scotland, and that therefore the passenger service is not likely to be interfered with?

I could not quite say how the revisions will be effected, but I think my hon. and gallant Friend may take it as certain that mails from the North-East of England will continue to pass by the Stranraer and Larne route, and mails from Scotland mostly, as at present, will pass by Ardrossan.

Will my right hon. Friend say whether the Post Office have to pay way-leave to the Free State Government for carrying the mails through the Free State on their way to Northern Ireland; and, further, will he say whether these mails from and to Northern Ireland will be handled by British or Free State officials?

Can my right hon. Friend indicate whether the passenger service at present running between Stranraer and Larne will be affected?

Has the Postmaster-General considered the establishment of an air service here? He seems to have a fine chance of experiment in this case.

Will this cause a delay to the mails to Southern Ireland?

May I ask whether there is such a place as Kingstown?

As regards the question put by the hon. Member for West Belfast (Sir R. Lynn), I think I should ask him to give me notice of any question as to arrangements about way-leaves or as to how mails will be handled. As regards the question of an air service between England and Northern Ireland, that has been considered some time since, but as things are at present we certainly would not be able to undertake a large part of the traffic. As regards the passenger service, this is not a matter within the cognisance of the Post Office, but I have no reason to believe that any alteration will be made.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, but for quite unnecessary delays at Carlisle, much more than 20 minutes could be saved in the transfer of London and Belfast mails, and will he not make a further attempt-to see that this unnecessary delay is done away with?

All these inquiries have been already made by the. Government of Northern Ireland from the railway company. They have discussed the matter exhaustively with the railway company, and it is at the request of the Government of Northern Ireland that the old arrangement of Kingstown and Holyhead has been reverted to.

rose—

Further questions ought to be put on the Paper.