asked the President of the Board of Trade how many shipbuilding and ship-repairing yards on the Chinese seaboard are wholly or partially owned by British firms; and the names of such firms?

So far as I am aware, there are seven such ship-building and ship-repairing yards.

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the list of names in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of manufactured goods exported from this country to China for each year since 1920?

The answer contains a table of figures. Accordingly, my hon. Friend will perhaps agree to it being circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can define the relations of General Duncan to the contingents of foreign Powers at Shanghai; and whether these foreign Powers have placed any authority in his hands?

Although the contingents of the other Powers at Shanghai are working in the closest co-operation with General Duncan, no reports have been received of their having been placed under his orders.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the length of cinematograph films imported into this country from each of the im-

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of

As the answer involves a table of figures, I propose, with the concurrence of the hon. Member, to have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the particulars asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that motor cars exported from Canada to Great Britain on a preferential basis are manufactured in Canada and that the labour used on these cars is entirely Canadian?

Before motor cars consigned from Canada are admitted into this country at the preferential rate of duty, satisfactory documentary evidence is invariably required that at least 25 per cent. of the total value is the result of labour within the British Empire.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that this percentage is rather absurd? Is not the result that the Americans are sending parts into Canada and having them put together by Canadian labour?

Is it not an acknowledged fact that there is more than 25 per cent. expended in labour on any motor car?

I think the supplementary questions really amount to matters of opinion.

Is it not a matter of common knowledge?

Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the question, as it is very serious from the point of view of labour?

Is it not the object of Protection to make the other people pay?

No, the object of Protection is to find labour for our own people.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the number of motor chassis exported from Great Britain to Australia and what was the total export of the rest of the world during the last three months for which information is complete?

During the three months ended February last, 6,429 chassis made in the United Kingdom were recorded as exported to Australia. Corresponding particulars for this or for any other recent period less than a year are not available from the official published accounts of the principal exporting countries or of Australia.

The latest available Australian Annual Trade Account is that for 1924–5, and in that year the Australian imports of chassis without bodies numbered 62,079. Of these, 2,514 were declared as of United Kingdom origin.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether it is a fact that the export of chassis to Australia is equal to, if it does not exceed, that of the rest of the world at the present time?

No, I could not answer that without notice, and indeed I do not think I could answer it with notice, because while we get out our trade returns rapidly, we do not get the returns of other countries until we get their annual returns.

Is it not the case that the exports of chassis to Australia are about 10 times greater?

No, I am sure the figure I have stated in my answer is accurate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the annual cost for the past five years of the office of registration of business names; has he experienced any difficulty in obtaining the required information; have any legal proceedings been instituted; if so, how many, and with what results, for non-compliance; and approximately what percentage of business firms who come within the scope of the 1916 Act has in fact registered?

The answer is long and contains some tables of figures. I would accordingly propose, with the permission of my hon. Friend, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what applications for the export of machine

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when the last prosecution took place?

In 1926 there were 26 cases and 23 convictions.

How many-officials are employed on this work?

I could not say without notice.

I hope to be able to have particulars circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT in the course of a few days.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the steps taken in certain foreign countries, and particularly in the United States of America, to prevent overproduction and consequent trade depressions by the careful collection of statistics showing stocks of goods in hand, probable consumption, forward contracts and anticipated outputs, and the circulation to manufacturers of the figures after analysis; and whether he has considered the possibility of similar information being collected and prepared in this country?

Yes, Sir; I am aware of the statistics to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, and my Department has been discussing with various industries the possibility of further industrial statistics being collected in this country.

Would my right hon. Friend be kind enough to let me know when he comes to this very important matter?

May I ask whether any useful purpose is served by preparing these statistics, when foreign manufacturers are free to flood our markets with goods in competition with our own manufacturers?

With regard to the first Supplementary Question, a good deal is already being done. In the cotton trade, for instance, a great deal of progress is being made, and I hope that in most important industries there will be means of keeping the Census of Production up to date. With regard to the second Supplementary Question, I think it is of value to industries in this country to know what the production is and in many cases, where it can be disclosed without prejudice, what the stocks are.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the United States, where this thing has been greatly developed, it is not only a census of production that is prepared, but also a forecast of consumption as nearly as this can be predicted?

I am aware of that, but I think manufacturers who are up in their businesses in this country are quite as good at forecasting consumption as anybody else. I think it is of value in many cases to have a knowledge of what is the capacity of production and what the stocks are.

Is it not a fact that the present state of trade depression is owing to the action of many hon. Members above the Gangway?

Is it in order for an hon. Member to make insinuations against hon. Members of this party?

Matters of opinion should come in Debate, and not at Question Time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Government Committee on Trade and Industry was set up under the chairmanship of Sir Arthur Balfour; who are the members of the Committee; what duties were assigned to this body; what have been the results achieved; and when it is expected that the duties of the Committee will terminate?

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

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether this Committee entails any expense to the Treasury?

I should like notice of that question I think it is probable that the travelling expenses of members attending the Committee are paid.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what amount has been guaranteed, up to the last available date, under the credit guarantee scheme; what firms have applied for the benefit of the scheme; the names of the trading countries; and the British products chiefly affected by the operation of the scheme?

Up to the 2nd April, the Department has given guarantees amounting to £6,401,634.

I am unable to give the information asked for in the second part of the hon. Member's question, as it is an essential condition of the scheme that all inquiries and applications will be treated with strict confidence.

As to the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the quarterly statements published in the "Board of Trade Journal," the latest of which appeared in the issue of the 27th January last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of manufactured goods exported from this country TO Russia for each year since 1920?

The answer includes a statistical table, and I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to the amount of the goods that were paid for, and the amounts owing when payment was repudiated by the Russians?

That does not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that representatives of the Russian textile syndicate recently visited this country with a view to purchasing textile machinery; and whether his Department took any steps to assist the Russian textile syndicate in placing orders for textile machinery in this country?

I presume the hon. Member has in mind the mission to this country about 18 months ago of certain representatives of the textile syndicate. The Department of Overseas Trade on that occasion communicated to manufacturers advance information of the impending visit.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of a delegation visiting this country much more recently than 18 months ago, and have the Board of Trade taken any steps to assist the engineering trade in securing those orders?

I do not think the engineering trade requires any very direct assistance from the Board of Trade. If the engineering trade is invited to tender for orders, it is very competent to do so.

Are the same courtesies extended to Russian commercial missions in this country as to other commercial missions by the right hon. Gentleman's Department?

Yes. The Russians have the fullest possible facilities for placing orders in this country, and I only regret that they do not avail themselves more of those facilities.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why it is that these people are supposed to be incapable of carrying out ordinary business transactions?

Is it not a fact that it is customary for the right hon. Gentleman's Department to extend certain courtesies and help to foreign commercial missions visiting this country, and will he say whether those facilities to encourage business are put at the disposal of the Russians?

I have already said so. Of course, the hon. Gentleman puts his question in such a general manner that I am uncertain as to what he refers, but I repeat emphatically that the Russian Government have the fullest possible facilities for placing orders in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average landed value of imported packing and wrapping paper since and before the imposition of the duty; and how the average landed value in 1936 compares with that of 1925?

Duty was imposed on packing and wrapping paper, including tissue paper, exceeding 10 lbs., but not exceeding 90 Ibs. per ream, on 1st May, 1926. It is not possible to distinguish, for any period before that date, between the imports of paper which then became dutiable, and those which still remain free of duty. Consequently, it is necessary to give figures throughout relating to the total imports of packing and wrapping paper, including tissue paper. The average declared value (c.i.f. British port) of this paper imported into the United Kingdom in 1925 was £1·21 per cwt.; in January-April, 1926, £1·19; in May to December, 1926, £1·15; in the whole year 1926, £1·1.7, and in January-February, 1927, £1·14.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the drop in prices results from the foreign producers cutting prices to get over the barriers?.

It very well may be so. At any rate, there is a synchronisation.

Is that responsible for the increase in unemployment in this country?

My information goes to show that, apart from the inevitable increase in unemployment during the long coal stoppage, both employment and orders are considerably better.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any applications which have been made under the safeguarding of industries scheme are still under consideration by the Board with a view to the appointment of committees of inquiry, or whether those which have not already been so referred have now been rejected by the Department on prima facie grounds?

Two applications made under the Safeguarding of Industries procedure are still under consideration; such other applications as have not been referred to a committee have been rejected on prima facie grounds.

May we take it that British industries are now to be given some respite from these disturbances?

I do not know what the hon. Member means. It is open to any industry to make an application, and whether they do or do not is a matter for themselves.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average c.i.f. value of imported leather gloves in 1926 as compared with the average value in 1925?

The average declared value (c.i.f. British port) of gloves of leather and of fur imported into the United Kingdom was £1 15s. 3d. per dozen pairs in 1925, and £l 8s. 6d. in 1926.

Does this not show that the foreigner is paying the duty?

Does it not show that in this case, as in all previous cases, the fact is that the price is lowered in order to compete in British markets?

That is a matter of opinion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of Asiatic and foreign seamen employed on British ships?

The first crews of all British vessels on the register of ports in the United Kingdom on 31st December, 1925, which were employed in trading in the course of the year 1925, were made up as follow: British, 166,059; foreign, 11,173; Lascars, 52,899. I hope to publish shortly figures relating to the position in 1926.

Is the right hon. Gentleman's Department doing anything to increase the proportion of British seamen?

That does not arise out of the question on the Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information as to the price and delivery terms at which an order has been secured by Ruhr mines, in competition with England, for 400,000 tons of Rhenish Westphalian coal for Italy; whether previous orders have been placed in England; and, if so, what was the date of the last contract?

I have seen a reference in the Press to this contract, but I have no official information of its terms or of previous contracts.

asked the Secretary for Mines if, in view of the prosecution against certain colliery owners charged with obtaining falsely from the Secretary for Mines substantial sums of money during the subvention period by pretending larger sums of money had been paid in wages than were actually paid, any similar cases have been brought to his notice; and, if so, what action is being taken?

Prosecutions have been instituted in four cases. Two of the persons concerned have been convicted and two are awaiting trial. If any other similar cases are disclosed, similar action will be taken.

Can the Minister say how much the Government have been defrauded of in these four cases?

No, Sir; I am afraid I cannot.

Does this mean that the workmen in question have received less wages than they ought, to receive?

No, Sir; it means that an undue amount of subsidy was claimed.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether there are any funds still in existence which were raised for the relief of miners and dependants involved in mining disasters previous to those which recently occurred at Ebbw Vale and Bilsthorpe; if so, can be give particulars of the present state of these funds and whether any disbursements are still being made from them; and will he consider making any balance available for the relief of distress caused by recent disasters?

The latest information in my possession about Colliery Accident Funds is contained in a Parliamentary Paper issued on the 30th July, 1925, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. I have no power to act as suggested in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary for Mines what is the average number of hours worked underground by coal miners in this country during the latest week for which figures are available; and what is the average number of hours worked underground by coal miners in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Upper Silesia, respectively?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Blaydon on the 15th March. In reply to the second part, I would refer him to page 170 of the Royal Commission's Report.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any European Governments have declared their intention of requiring the coal miners to work longer hours underground?

No, Sir. European countries do not come under my Department.

Are the mineowners not using the argument in Poland that Great Britain has compelled the miners to work longer hours?

asked the Secretary for Mines when he will be able to place upon the Table of the House his proposals for securing the transfer of unemployed miners from one district to another and for giving such miners the first chance of obtaining colliery employment?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend cannot make any statement till he has received the replies of the various organisations to which proposals were communicated on 18th March.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what has caused the delay?

The delay, I am afraid, has been with the organisations to whom we have addressed our proposals. We have received acknowledgments from them, but we have as yet had no substantive answers.

Can the hon. Gentleman say which organisations have replied and which have not?

They have all acknowledged the proposals of my right hon. Friend, but none has given a substantive reply.

asked the Secretary for Mines in how many places pit-head baths for miners have been erected; and whether any have been provided in Scotland?

Excluding slipper baths, plunge baths, swimming baths and baths provided for officials only, 31 pithead bath installations had been completed by the end of 1926, and four were in course of construction. Three of the completed installations are in Scotland.

Have any of these baths been provided since the passing of the Mining Industry Act of last year?

I understand there are no schemes completed under the Act. The Welfare Committee have started experimental sets of baths, but they have not actually developed their ideas.

Does that mean that, despite the extra help given under the Act passed last year, no applications have been made?

The hon. Gentleman need not think anything of that sort.

Is it not a fact that in getting these estimates and making inquiries about the most approved type of pithead baths the Welfare Committee are now inquiring abroad so as to get the fullest and best possible information?

Yes, Sir. I understand the Welfare Committee are working hard to develop the very best scheme they can for the benefit of all concerned, and that is the reason why there has been delay.

In reply to a previous supplementary question, did the right hon. Gentleman not say that he had nothing to do with other countries and that they did not come under his Department, and he is now answering a question about America?

I was answering a question about the work and the suggestions of the Miners' Welfare Committee, and if the hon. Member had listened to my answers he would have known that.

Is it not a fact that it is the colliery owners who will have to build the baths rather than the Welfare Committee, and have they taken any steps in that direction?

The whole scheme is under the Welfare Committee, and I think it is very fortunate that it is.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many colliery companies have taken steps up to the present time?

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that there are 6,000 totally unemployed miners in the county of Fife; that many of the mines are working little more than half-time; and if he has any information showing to what extent the longer working day has contributed to this state of affairs?

The hon. Member has overstated the number of men unemployed, but I am aware that both employment and output in the coal mines of Fife during the present year have been less than in the corresponding period of last year. I have no reason to suppose that a larger output could have been marketed or more men found employment if the hours had been shorter and the costs of production higher.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I got these figures from the Ministry of Labour a few days ago?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can provide the figures showing the total numbers of horses and ponies employed underground in mines at the end of January, 1927; how many animals are being worked on one shift per day, two shifts per day and three shifts per day; and the numbers employed for six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven and twelve or more shifts per week since work was renewed after the national stoppage?

I regret that the information is not available. The number of pit ponies employed underground at the end of 1926 was 56,745.

Does the Department get any particulars at all as to conditions underground?

Yes, but if we have to make an application to every individual colliery it would devolve a lot of work on people who are wanted for other things.

Does the Minister not know that horses and ponies are employed regularly on more than one shift a day?

No, Sir. The last return we had was some time ago but it gives information which is very useful and more or less up to date. That Report shows that in a number of cases ponies were working more than one shift per day, but certainly not in the majority of cases.

Has the Department not got inspectors to examine the pit ponies for the purpose of supplying the kind of information for which we are asking?

Of course we have inspectors and they examine the pit ponies. I get their reports regularly but a general report for the whole coalfield would be a very different matter.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has made any investigation of the system prevailing in Germany in which coal is graded on the basis of quality and calorific value; whether he will consider the possibility of introducing into this country a grading system on that basis or on the basis of the pit-head price; and whether he is aware that, failing any such system of grading, the household consumer has no certain protection against being sold inferior coal at superior prices?

This subject is dealt with in the Report of the Royal Commission, which suggests that it is one which could with advantage be taken up by the industry itself. I am not satisfied that the Government could usefully take the initiative in the matter. No special investigation into the German system has been made by my Department.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of coal subvention paid to the Hook Anthracite Colliery Company, Pembrokeshire?

No subvention was claimed by or paid to this colliery.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is; aware that much unemployment is caused to the miners in the Potteries district owing to the lack of empty railway wagons; and if he will approach the local railway company with a view to their making such arrangements as will meet the requirements of this mines?

I am not aware that there is at present a lack of empty railway wagons in the Potteries district. The railway company concerned inform me that they know of no difficulty in this respect, and that recently, indeed, empty wagons have been worked away because they were surplus to requirements. If the hon. Member has any specific instance in mind where difficulty is still occurring, and will communicate with me, I will make further inquiries.

asked the Prime Minister whether any steps are being taken for the State ownership of mineral royalties, as recommended by the Samuel Commission?

No, Sir. The practical advantages claimed for this proposal by its advocates have been secured in another way by the enlargement of the powers of the Railway and Canal Commission under the Mining Industry Act passed last Session; and in any case the present financial condition of the country makes it impossible to contemplate the creation of fresh debt and the increase in the staffs of Government Departments that this gigantic transaction would necessitate.

Could the right hon. Gentleman tell us what use has been made of the powers that were given to the Commission last year?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement as to his plans for carrying out the, proposals of the Samuel Coal Commission?

As I have stated on many occasions, the question of putting into operation the recommendations of the Royal Commission is primarily and mainly for the industry itself. So far as it rested with the Government to make them effective, there are, I think, only two on which we have not already taken action. These are the recommendations that the State should purchase the property in minerals and that local authorities should be given statutory power to trade in coal. On those matters I have no further statement to make.

May I ask how much this Commission cost the country?

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of claims outstanding in his Department arising out of the Sutton v. Rex and subsequent judgments; the circumstances which are responsible for the non-payment in each case, if any; the length of time during which the claim, if any, has been in his Department; and when it is anticipated that all outstanding claims, if any, will have been dealt with?

As regards the first part of the question, it is impossible to say how many of the claims in respect of balance of civil pay received by the War Office since the Sutton judgment arise out of that and subsequent judgments, but the number of outstanding claims, out of some 3,000 received, is 19. As regards the third part of the question, the outstanding claims were received at dates varying from February, 1925, to March, 1927. As regards the second and fourth parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the last part of the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Enfield (Colonel Applin) on 30th March.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the reason why new entrants are being admitted by examination to the Civil Service when there are already so many temporary employes, and when there is a general move- ment for the reduction, and not the increase, of the numbers in the service?

Whilst full consideration is given, on the occurrence of vacancies, to the claims of persons already employed in the Civil Service, it is essential in the public interest that appointments to the established Civil Service should be made from time to time by open competition. So far as temporary clerks are concerned, repeated opportunities have been provided to enable them to qualify, by limited competition, for advancement to established posts, and during the last nine years no fewer than 22,000 appointments have been so made. As regards reduction of numbers, the requirements of each Department are under 'constant review, both in connection with the filling of vacancies and otherwise.

Will my right hon. Friend do his utmost to cut down the staffs in Government Departments and thus effect the economies which all supporters of the Government in the House are so anxious to see and are working so hard to accomplish?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of officers in the under-mentioned grades serving in the Customs and Excise Department as at 1st March, 1927, higher clerical officers (men), higher clerical officers (women), clerical officers (men), clerical officers (women), higher grade clerks (men), Departmental clerical officers (men), Departmental clerical officers (women), P-class clerks, temporary male clerks, typing grade (permanent), writing assistants; and the allocation of such officers as between Secretary's, Accountant and Comptroller-General's statistical, and collectors' offices, respectively?

As the answer is in tabular form, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture! what reduction in the Ministry's staff has resulted from the repeal of Sections 1 to 21 of the Small Holdings Act, 1908; what number of district commissioners and sub-commissioners are now required in place of the eight small holdings commissioners appointed under the Small Holdings Act, 1908; and what duties they perform which were not performed by the small holdings commissioners and which have now ceased by reason of the passing of the Small Holdings Act, 1926?

The District Land Commissioners employed by the Ministry are still engaged to a large extent on work connected with the valuation which is being made in accordance with the Land Settlement (Facilities) Amendment Act, 1925. This work will not be completed for several months. As soon as practicable, the Ministry proposes to review the staffing of its Land Division; but I would remind the hon. Member that, as I explained when the Act of last Session was before the House, almost the whole of the Sections of the Act of 1908 to which he refers were re-enacted in the Act of 1926, with the exception of the power of the Minister to act in default, which power was only once exercised during the years 1908–1919.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the number of officers on full pay as colonels is now greater or less than the pre-War number; if greater, what is the excess; and to what is it due, having regard to the fact that the present strength of the Army is less than the pre-War strength?

The number of officers in receipt of full pay as colonels from Army Funds is 265 as compared with 264 before the War, i.e., one more. The additional numbers necessitated by having troops on the Rhine and at Shanghai, and by the increased requirements of schools and technical establishments, have been met by reductions elsewhere.

Are we to assume that this number will be reduced when the troops come back from the Rhine?

As soon as the occasion presents itself, the number will be reduced.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider also the question of making a reduction in the Intelligence Department, in view of what happened at Paschaendale?

asked the Secretary of State for War the grounds upon which the officers training corps at King Edward VII School, Sheffield, has been disbanded?

A communication has been received from the headmaster to the effect that the Higher Education Committee of Sheffield had decided that the contingent should be discontinued and its activities should cease at the end of the Easter term on the grounds that military forms of teaching to boys in schools are wrong. The Director of Education of the Sheffield County Borough Council has been asked to communicate direct with the War Office on the subject. In the meantime I have not agreed to the disbandment of the contingent.

Do I understand that the right hon. Gentleman is now taking charge of the education system, as well as of the War Office?

Oh, no. The hon. Gentleman will be wrong in thinking that. I have asked the Higher Education Committee to communicate with me if they wish this unit to be disbanded, and, in the meantime, I am not disbanding it. If they do wish it to be disbanded, I have no power to cause it to be continued, and it would be disbanded. Its place would be taken very quickly by another applicant for recognition.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a resolution recently passed by the Bradfield Rural District Council as to the shortage of housing accommodation for the rural inhabitants owing to War Office employes at the Army-Ordnance depot at Bramley crowding them out; and whether he will make adequate provision for the housing of all the War Office employés at this depot or make a grant to the council to build houses for these Government employés?

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to. But as I explained to my hon. and gallant Friend on 10th March last, the housing of the civilian population is primarily a matter for the local civil authorities, and while Government quarters have been provided at Bramley for certain civilian employés whose duties are of such a nature that they must live in close proximity to their work, I regret that I cannot hold out any prospect of further assistance in this direction from Army Funds.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider it right that a big Government Department should put the onus of finding houses for their employés on the poor ratepayers of these rural districts, and will he consider making a change in his policy?

It is a question of which Government Department should interest itself in the matter. I cannot do the work of another Government Department.