asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information showing that local Chinese headquarters have issued instructions to their soldiers to fire at aeroplanes belonging to the Shanghai Defence Force flying over strategic points; and whether any of these aeroplanes have been fired at and with what result?

As regards the first part of the question, I can add nothing to the reply returned to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Central Newcastle (Mr. Trevelyan) on 20th June.

The only instances of firing on British aircraft, of which I have any record, took place near Shanghai on 18th May, when the warship "Haichi" fired at two British seaplanes and on 19th May, when one seaplane was fired at by Cantonese troops. The result of this firing is not stated, so presumably no damage was done.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the instructions by the Chinese to fire at seaplanes or aeroplanes have been withdrawn?

Not that I know of.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Sir Francis Aglen still holds the position, though on furlough, of Inspector-General of the Chinese Customs and, in general, what are his present relations with the Peking Government?

Sir Francis Aglen still holds the title of Inspector-General. His present position is defined in the letter addressed to him by the Revenue Council on the 9th of February last. The following is a translation of the letter:

"Sir,

This office is greatly indebted to you for the many years during which you have brought to the management of the Customs service your eminent sagacity and untiring zeal. Nevertheless, since you have repeatedly expressed the desire to return home, arrangements are now being made accordingly, in order to conform to your wishes.

In consideration of your honourable and distinguished services in the past you are allowed, as a mark of esteem, to continue for the period of a year in receipt of the treatment proper to the Inspector-General of Customs, and any observations you may from time to time have to submit will be appreciated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can arrange to publish, as a White Paper, copies of the more important Russian documents obtained in the course of the recent raid in Peking?

The original documents are in the possession of the Peking Government, and are being published by them, with English translations, in instalments, three of which have now appeared. Copies of these have been supplied to us by the Peking Government. The documents have been quoted in the British Press, and have also been republished by an unofficial organisation, the Tientsin British Committee of Information. His Majesty's Government do not propose to republish them as a White Paper.

Do not these documents definitely prove that in 1925 and 1926 enormous quantities of ammunition were being sent into China by Soviet Russia, with the concurrence of Borodin?

I think it will be a good plan—and I propose—to put a copy of each of these documents in the Library of the House.

May I ask whether, owing to the importance of this matter and the desirability of spreading this information, the Government will not reconsider the matter and have copies printed so that they can be circulated to all Members of the House?

It would be quite unprecedented to lay a White Paper of a document belonging to another Government. I have already said I will have copies of these documents published by the Chinese Northern Government put in the Library of the House.

Does not the hon. Gentleman recognise that the action of the Russian Government was also of an unprecedented nature, and cannot we have the information that it is necessary that we should have?

Arising out of the former reply regarding the export of munitions from Russia into China, is it not the case that this country under the Coalition Government spent £100,000,000 fighting against Russia without declaring war?

That question concerns a former Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the number of British subjects in Russia; and whether, in view of the state of feeling in that country towards Great. Britain, he has any ground for apprehension regarding their personal safety?

I am informed that there are at present approximately 400 British subjects in the whole of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. As regards the second part of the question; His Majesty's Acting Chargé d'Affaires before leaving Moscow received an assurance from M. Litvinov that British subjects remaining in Russia, would not be interfered with.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has decided whether it desires to support the establishment of an international relief union in connection with the League of Nations; what powers it is intended to confer on the union; under what situations it is expected to operate; what the cost of the administration will be; and how it will be met?

His Majesty's Government have made it a condition of their acceptance of the scheme that it secures practically unanimous support from the States members of the League. The points raised in the second part of the right hon. Gentleman's question will doubtless come up for decision before the Conference when it meets.

Is it the case that India and New Zealand have refused to have anything to do with it?

I should like to have notice of that question.

Will there be an opportunity of discussing the matter here before a final decision is taken?

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will put down any further questions on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the attitude of the Government to the proposal of Germany and other countries that the Council of the League of Nations should recommend their respective countries to take action on the Report of the recent Economic Conference at Geneva in favour of a general reduction in tariffs?

The British representative at the Council of the League stated that His Majesty's Government had been favourably impressed by a first but rather hasty study of the conclusions of the Conference, and he thought he could say that probably it was in agreement with by far the greater number of them, if not with all. In view, however, of the importance and number of the recommendations made by the Conference, His Majesty's Government considered that the Report required careful study before it would be safe for a country, which did not wish to pledge its word and afterwards qualify it, to give unqualified assent. He therefore proposed that the Report should be recommended to the favourable consideration of the Governments concerned.

Does this unsympathetic reply rather suggest that the Government do not think that much good will come out of this Conference, and does not the hon. Gentleman realise how urgent the matter is, with the cost of living raised all over Europe?

I should like to ask whether it is an unsympathetic reply?

That is exactly what I was going to say. I should have thought my answer was very sympathetic, and if the hon. Gentleman will read it over, I think he will see that it is sympathetic.

Has the sympathetic reply been sent to the President of the Board of Trade?

I suppose my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will see it.

Will my hon. Friend continue to give most careful attention to this change of heart, and will he do everything in his power to emphasise the disastrous effects of these increasingly Protective tariffs on the Continent of Europe?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can indicate the policy taken up by the British Government, more especially with regard to its reference to the League of Nations, towards the dispute over Albania between Italy and Yugoslavia?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the very full general statement on Italo-Yugoslav relations in respect of Albania and on the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards them which was made by my right hon. Friend on 2nd May in reply to a number of questions on the subject by the hon. Members for Peckham (Mr. Dalton), Brightside (Mr. Ponsonby), Newcastle Central (Mr. Trevelyan), and Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle). The policy of His Majesty's Government is still governed by the considerations set forth therein.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of civilian employés of the Admiralty engaged on the work of constructing the Singapore base; and whether any of these employés were sent out from this country?

The number is 931, of whom 13 were sent from this country.

Were the 13 who were sent out of this country sent out in a supervisory capacity?

They were of a superior grade to the men working out there.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in order to obviate the pollution of the sea, it is proposed to employ a special barge equipped with oil separating plant, similar to the one now available for service at Portsmouth, at each of the naval bases?

Various types of plants have been and are being considered. Pending further experience the question of the employment of special barges at each of the naval bases has not been settled.

Is it the practice for naval ships to discharge oil within the 50 miles limit under the Board of Trade Regulations?

No, it is not the practice.

What is done to avoid it?

The oil is taken out to sea according to Board of Trade Regulations.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, with reference to the cost, £7,000,000, of the warships "Nelson" and "Rodney," if he will state the amount of money which has been paid to the designer, the costs of materials, including steel plates, armour, gun turrets, boilers, casts in electrification, including ring mains, etc., and guns, mechanism, wireless installation, etc.; and the amount of salary and wages paid to men actually engaged upon the construction of these two ships, respectively?

The "Nelson" and "Rodney" are contract-built ships, and the orders were placed on the basis of tenders at fixed prices. The amounts paid by the several contractors for materials and in salaries and wages are consequently not known at the Admiralty. A sum for establishment and incidental charges on these ships, assessed on the basis customary in Admiralty accounts, is shown in the programme of shipbuilding appended to the Navy Estimates, 1927, as an addition to the direct costs, and this sum includes provision for designing costs at the Admiralty as well as for other expenses such as oversight; but the actual cost of the time spent by Admiralty officials on design work for these ships has not been separately recorded.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the Regulations governing the concession to British merchant ships to fly the Blue Ensign?

The main conditions on which the Admiralty insist before granting a warrant to a merchant ship to fly the Blue Ensign are that the commanding officer should be a retired officer of the Royal Navy or Royal Australian Navy or an officer of one of the Royal Naval Reserve Forces; and that the crew must in addition contain eight officers or men with similar naval or Naval Reserve qualifications. The Regulations in full are contained in the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, Article 126. I am sending my hon. Friend a pamphlet on the subject.

Is an officer serving in the Navy during the War entitled to the same privilege?

I should like notice of that question.

Does it contain any regulation that the bulk, at any rate, of the seamen must be British-born subjects?

I will do the same to my hon. and gallant Friend as to my hon. Friend the Member for Grimsby (Mr. Womersley); I will send him a copy of the pamphlet.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that at the meeting of the governing body of the International Labour Office, held at Geneva on 28th January last, the proposal that the hours of duty of seafarers should furnish the subject of discussion at the next International Maritime Conference was opposed by the representative of the British Government, whether he will state whether before this policy was decided on by the Ministry the different parties interested in the question were consulted, especially as regards the navigating officers of British merchant ships; and, if such was the case, will he state the parties consulted?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The point under discussion at Geneva was in substance whether an international discussion of hours of labour at sea should precede or should follow national settlements, and the view of His Majesty's Government was from the nature of the case that national settlements must come first.

Do the Government object to the issue being raised?

No, the position is that they do not object——

They are not opposing it?

No; what they said was that the proper order was for national settlement to come first.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the masters and navigating and engineer officers of British merchant ships have no representation whatever on the Joint Maritime Commission of the International Labour Organisation, which confines itself to discussing and dealing with many questions of importance and concern to ships and seafarers; and whether he will consider the desirability of ensuring that the organisations which represent officers of British ships should be represented on this Commission?

It is the fact that masters and officers of the British Mercantile Marine are not directly represented on this Commission. The representatives on the Commission of shipowners and seamen are elected by the employers' and workers' delegates respectively who are present at maritime sessions of the International Labour Conference, and it is not, therefore, in my power to ensure the representation of any particular interest.

Is it not a fact, therefore, that the officers of the British merchant service are not represented at all—not only not directly represented, but not represented at all; and, in view of the fact that under the two-watch system, they serve far more arduous hours than even seamen, is it not right that their views should be put?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, is he not aware that there has not been a single dispute between the shipowners and the Sailors' and Firemen's Union for the last quarter of a century?

There is something wrong with that statement.

I am very glad to hear that information, of which I was aware. As regards the supplementary question asked me by the hon. Member for Barnstaple (Sir B. Peto), I am afraid the matter is outside my competence. The question of the appointment was settled at the Genoa Conference, I think in 1920. If I remember aright, there is nomination by the employers and nomination by the workers, and whom they nominate is within their own competence to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to facilitate and expedite the trial of Captain Brining at Venezuela?

I cannot at the moment make a detailed statement regarding this case, which is still sub judice, but the hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that every possible step has been taken to expedite the trial of Captain Brining.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when the last representations were made to the Venezuelan Government on this matter?

I think I would like to ask the hon. Member not to press this question, because it might do more harm than good.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the average earnings of employed blind persons amount only to about 10s. per week; that there is distress among the unemployed and unemployable blind; and whether he will institute inquiries into the matter?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. Such information as is available shows that the average earnings of employed blind persons are probably nearer 20s. than 10s. a week, and in all cases the earnings are augmented from voluntary or public funds according to the needs of the workers. As regards the unemployed and unemployable blind, it is the duty of the guardians to relieve destitution, but provision is made for many blind persons in this class by voluntary agencies and by an increasing number of local authorities; and old age pensions are available for blind persons at the age of 50. I see no reason for further inquiries into the matter.

Have not the local authorities power to set up official committees such as they have in London, and will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence to get them set up?

I am always using my influence in that direction.

Arising out of the reply to the original question, in which the Minister said that the average earnings of the employed blind are 20s. a week, does he not think that 20s. a week is a scandalous sum to pay a human being?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applications for unemployment benefit by men and women, respectively, at the latest available date at the various Exchanges in Glasgow, and the number of refusals in each case?

During the five weeks ended 13th June, 1927, 11,188 applications for extended benefit by men, and 1,790 by women, were considered by local employment committees in the Glasgow area. Of these numbers, 2,465 of the applications by men, and 683 of the applications by women, were recommended for disallowance. Corresponding statistics in respect of applications for standard benefit are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour the intentions of the Government with regard to the main recommendations of the Blanesburgh Report, more especially as regards seasonal workers and their position under the Unemployment Insurance Acts?

I regret that I cannot at present add to the previous replies which I have given to my hon. Friend on this question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me when the Government will be able to give us some information?

Looking at the actual state of business, I should not think it would he possible to introduce this Bill before we meet again after the autumn holidays.

In view of the interest in many quarters in the recommendations of the Blanesburgh Committee and the likelihood of the Bill following those lines, will the right hon. Gentleman not consider introducing the Bill before we rise in order that we may study it during the Recess? That is now a common practice of the Government.

I will consider that, but I am not in a position to say whether I can do so. As I have said, broadly speaking, the Bill will follow on the lines of the Report, so that the hon. Member has the greater part of the information at his disposal.

In view of the fact that the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Health and various other of his colleagues have adopted this procedure in regard to Bills of less widespread importance, would the right hon. Gentleman not consider following the practice?

That is the same question again.

asked the Minister of Labour to give the number of unemployed miners in the county of Lanark?

At 23rd May, 1927, there were 12,211 insured persons classified as belonging to the coalmining industry, recorded as unemployed in the county of Lanark, including 2,372 temporarily stopped from the service of their employers.

Is the Minister going to take any action in order to try and find these men work, because that is what the Employment Exchange was instituted for? Surely, that arises out of this question. He should be made to answer the question. [Interruption.] Is that what the Employment Exchange was started for? Are they going to get their money for nothing. [Interruption.] Why is there no answer?

When an hon. Member asks a question, the Minister is not bound to answer a supplementary question which goes beyond his province.

On a point of Order. When you put down the Minister of Education to-day and said that that was a question that had been finished with, he rose up, and, at his own discretion, replied to the question. Surely we have a right to ask the Minister of Labour to reply to us on a question having a serious effect on the working classes in Lanarkshire?

The hon. Member rises very frequently under these circumstances.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of hours are set out as the normal working week in the textile mills of Belgium?

The normal duration of effective work in Belgium for industry generally, including the textile industry, is limited by law to eight hours a day and 48 hours a week. These hours may be exceeded in the case of preparatory or complementary work necessarily executed outside the hours assigned for productive processes, and in the case of breakdowns. According to the reports of the Belgian factory inspectors, it appears to be a common, though not universal, practice in the textile industry to work an extra hour for cleaning, in addition to the 48 hours.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any report as to other breaches of this normal working week in Belgium?

No, I could not say that I have detailed information, because I have not really endeavoured to ascertain in detail how far the actual industry of each country comes directly up to the standard of 48 hours.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman find out through our Consuls how this eight hours' day is working?

Yes, I am always making inquiries to get what information I can, but I am limited to a certain extent in the degree of information which I can get, and in certain circumstances I find it rather hard to obtain it.

Is it not the fact that in Belgium the Washington Convention has been ratified, and that the general hours are 48 a week; and is it not a fact that in the West Riding of Yorkshire attempts have been made in the textile factories to increase the hours to 54 a week?

I am not sure about the latter question, and I am not sure that it arises out of the answer I gave. It is quite true that the Belgian Government has ratified the Convention, but I ought also to say that the Belgian law is such that, if we had a similar law, I am not at all sure that we should feel entitled on the strength of it to ratify the Washington Convention.

At the conference last year between the representatives of Belgium and this country and other countries, was any complaint made as to the Belgian interpretation of the Convention?

I think that question ought to be put on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the number of Royal Air Force machines that were used as an air escort for King Feisal of Iraq on his return journey from Basra to Baghdad on 21st May?

The civil aircraft in which His Majesty King Feisal travelled was escorted for the first fifteen minutes of the journey by seven Royal Air Force machines, after which they proceeded on other Service duties.

Was the machine that King Feisal travelled over in one of the Air Force machines?

No, it was one of the Imperial Airway machines.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, if he can now make any statement on the recent attempt of Lieutenants Carr and Gillman to reach India; whether the cause of the failure was due to fault of engine or structure; whether he is aware of the success all-metal monoplanes are having for long-distance fights in America and Germany; and whether similar designs are under construction for the Royal Air Force and Imperial Airways?

As regards the first part of the question, the damage which was sustained by the machine in hitting the water makes it improbable that the exact cause of the forced landing will ever be ascertained with certainty. The evidence available points to its being probably due to some temporary stoppage of the petrol pipe and not to any inherent defect in the construction of the aircraft or engine, which have both given excellent results under normal service conditions.

As regards the remaining parts of the question, I have noticed with interest the recent performances of all-metal monoplanes in long distance flights and their development has been carefully followed by the Air Ministry. Several types of all-metal machines have been built or are at present under construction in this country and some of these would be capable of carrying out long distance flights, but it cannot be assumed that the all-metal monoplane has been proved to be a type peculiarly suitable for the general purposes either of the Air Force or of Air Transport undertakings.

Is it not a fact that the designer of the Wright Company was an Englishman and formerly employed in the Farnborough workshop?

Yes Sir, it is true that this gentleman who assisted the Wright Company in developing the air cooled engine was an Englishman, and until 1919 was employed at Farnborough.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he can give an approximate estimate of the cost of carrying out a trial aeroplane flight from this country to India; and whether a sum for purposes of this nature is set aside in the Estimates of his Department?

In view of the miscellaneous character of the expenditure involved, I am not in a position to give an inclusive figure for the cost of the flight to which my hon. Friend refers. Flights of this character are undertaken as a normal experimental service in connection with the development of the range and endurance of service aircraft; no specific provision is therefore made for them in Air Estimates, but their cost is defrayed from the appropriate Votes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the dates on which the respective aeroplanes that have crashed this year and resulted in the loss of life of 27 members of the Royal Air Force were purchased; and whether he has any reason to believe that part of this sacrifice is due to the use of old and faulty machines?

The average life of the aeroplane in question since the date of purchase or of reconditioning, which is equivalent to complete rebuilding of the aircraft, is one year and seven months. The oldest of these aeroplanes was less than four years old. Only two out of 18 were of war time design. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Persian Government has now agreed to British commercial aeroplanes flying over its territory on their journeys between Egypt and India; and whether the Cairo-Karachi air service has been resumed?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, there is nothing to add to the reply which, was given to the hon. and gallant Member on 25th May.

Could the hon. Baronet inform me what steps have been taken to raise this matter with the Persian Government, and if it is being pressed by our representatives?

Yes Sir, it is being pressed by our representatives in the ordinary official manner. We are pressing it as much as we can, because the delay is a serious one, and meanwhile we are exploring other possible routes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that, before a British certificate of air worthiness is issued for an aeroplane or seaplane manufactured abroad, it must be completely stripped for examination in addition to the usual tests and surveys; that this entails expense on a purchase and is sufficient to prevent, effectively such purchase in nearly all cases; and whether he will consider ordering a relaxation of this regulation in order that certain types of foreign aircraft may be admitted for experimental purposes by private individuals?

As the answer is a rather long one, I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May I ask the hon. Baronet if he has considered the fact that improvements in designs of aircraft throughout the world are continuing, and that anything that hampers the latest designs being purchased and being brought to this country is an impediment to our advance?

Yes, Sir, we have no desire to do anything of that kind, but we have certain difficulties which the hon. and gallant Gentleman knows full well. We hope that before long to get over those difficulties.

I do not want to press the hon. Baronet, but is he aware that the present regulations act as a deterrent, and as a kind of tariff preventing the most recent machines being brought over here?

We hope to get over that difficulty before very long, and if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will read my main answer he will see what is being done.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the secretary of the Royal Air Force display committee has addressed a letter to the West Ham Education Department inviting organised parties of school children to attend the rehearsal of the aerial display at Hendon on Friday, 1st July, 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.; whether he will state whether this invitation is issued generally to the schools of London and Essex: whether such has his consent as part of the educational training of the children; and whether he will take steps to revoke any order of approval on the grounds that attendance at such displays can be of no educational value?

I am aware that such invitations have been issued to local authorities in the Metropolitan area. I agree with the view of the committee that the display may be both of interest and of educational value to the children, and I am not prepared to interfere in any way with their attendance at it.

Is the Noble Lord aware of the widespread indignation, as expressed in various newspapers, resulting from the resolutions passed by education authorities in the Metropolis; and, further, is he aware that of recent years there has been in our schools a cessation of this militant patriotism, and does he not think, in view of the desire of the peoples of the world for peace, that this is a retrograde step?

Is the Noble Lord aware that the last item on the programme will be a scene representing the bombing of a native village, and could he meet the indignation specified by my hon. Friend by advising the authorities that children should leave before this last scene?

Does not the Noble Lord consider that nothing is more likely to deter the young people of this country from admiration for war than to see the horrors of it, and the possibilities of horrors, as shown in this display?

Would the Noble Lord tell us what educational value he considers there may be in sending school children to Russia?

That does not arise; hon. Members are giving their own views.

In reply to the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy), I am not aware of the conclusion of the Air Force display which he mentioned. I am certainly not aware that there is any indignation at all among local authorities, and I really think that when children have a chance of seeing a display of this kind, neither the Board of Education nor Parliament ought to take up the attitude of a crotchety maiden aunt.

Is the Noble Lord aware that the railings are put round the schools in such a manner as to familiarise the children with the idea of spikes—bayonets?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that civil servants in the Office of Works have undertaken work for private undertakings; whether he will state the magnitude of the contracts involved; and whether he is satisfied that the work will not interfere with the public duties of the civil servants involved?

My Noble Friend has no doubt in mind the case of Sir Frank Baines and Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, referred to in the answers given to the hon. Memher for Tottenham, North (Mr. R. Morrison), on the 26th May.

I should like to take the opportunity of saying that no reflection rests upon Sir Frank Baines in this connection. He undertook the work in question for Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, in good faith after reporting the matter to the proper branch of the Department, which did not fully realise at the time the magnitude of the operation, and consequently offered no objection.

The undertaking has eventually proved to be on a very large scale, involving an outlay of some £870,000; and, while there is no suggestion that it has so far interfered with Sir Frank Baines' official duties, my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner feels that from the point of the public service the existing arrangement is not one which should continue.

The First Commissioner has anxiously sought a solution of the difficulty by way of Sir Frank Baines' withdrawal from his outside undertaking; but Sir Frank, on account of obligations to the company, has not felt at liberty to adopt this course, and the company on their side have in fact declined to release him. He is therefore retiring on pension from the service on or about 1st September next; but the First Commissioner hopes that it may still be possible to secure his assistance in a part-time capacity in connection with the work of restoring the Houses of Parliament.

The hon. and gallant Gentleman having informed us, as I think we all agree, that Sir Frank Baines is not to blame, who is to blame for this incident?

Answer!

I do not think full blame should be attached to anyone. It is a question of degree. Sir Frank Baines thought he could undertake this work without interfering with his official duties, but the First Commissioner is of opinion that the arrangement is not one which should be allowed to continue.

Are Sir Frank Baines' duties of such a light nature that he can easily undertake duties of this magnitude without interfering with his ordinary duties?

Is it usual for a whole-time employé of the Government to take outside work, more especially work of a commercial or contractual nature?

If my right hon and gallant Friend will read the answer given on the 26th of May, he will see the conditions under which outside work is allowed.

Will the Government reconsider these Regulations, and take care that in the ease of employés in the Civil Service full time service is required?

So far as this Department is concerned we are reviewing the conditions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed to close down the Export Credits Guarantee Department and to hand the business over to an existing credit insurance company; and, if so, whether the same facilities will be extended to exporters as are at present provided by the Department?

The Export Credits Guarantee Department is empowered under Statute to give guarantees up to the 8th September, 1929, and, as at present advised, I do not contemplate inviting Parliament to terminate the Export Credits Guarantee Department's functions before that date. I have repeatedly expressed the hope that the experience gained from the work of the Department will facilitate the development of credit insurance by private enter prise; and I think it would be undesirable to close the Export Credits Guarantee Department down at present unless it could be shown that responsible institutions are ready to offer equivalent facilities for the insurance of credits granted by exporters. I may add that the Advisory Committee have expressed the same opinion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he is aware that the land occupied by a Government aerodrome during the War, near to Stonehenge and, since its sale to private individuals, used for pig-breeding, is again on the market for sale, and that this land extending to 50 acres is now in danger of being bought for speculative building purposes with resulting disfigurement to the surroundings of the monument; how much is raised in a year by the entrance fee to Stonehenge itself; and whether His Majesty's Office of Works will consider purchasing the land adjacent to Stonehenge in order to preserve the amenities of this monument for all time for the people of the country?

The First Commissioner understands that the land which was occupied by the Government during the War but never owned by them is now for sale. He would regard it as a calamity if the surroundings of Stonehenge were disfigured in the manner suggested by the hon. and gallant Member, but he regrets that, apart from financial considerations, his Department has no power under the Ancient Monuments Act to purchase land surrounding monuments for the protection of their amenities. The entrance fees to Stonehenge produce on the average £1,400 a year.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that under a Bill which is now before Parliament the Minister of Agriculture has the right to re-invest the proceeds from the sale of certain Crown lands in other lands, and will he communicate with his colleagues with a view to the purchase by that means of this land which would be very suitable for a Crown holding?

Yes, Sir, I will certainly communicate with my right hon. Friend on that subject. This is really very largely a matter of finance, and I would suggest to the hon. and gallant Member that if he knows of anyone who is especially interested in this sort of work, or if he can induce some newspaper in the country to start a fund to acquire this land, the Office of Works would give full support and all the assistance within their power. They do realise the importance of this question and the desirability of retaining it for the purposes suggested by the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

Does not that make it all the more desirable that the Crown Lands Office, when investing in land, should invest in areas which are of use for the public service; and is it not a fact that the Crown Lands Office has recently bought up large areas in some counties purely for investment?

I am afraid I cannot answer for the Crown Lands Office, which comes under the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware of cases of miners in a state of starvation; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to prevent the recurrence of such cases among persons engaged in the mining industry?

No, Sir; I am not aware of such cases. The relief of distress is not within the powers or duties of my Department.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if his attention was not called to a case in Nottingham where a man was summoned for poaching rabbits and fined 15s., and his defence was that he and his wife were sitting round the hearth without anything to eat? Is he not aware that there are hundreds of cases of this kind in my own county where, unfortunately, they cannot poach rabbits, under similar conditions?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any and, if so, how many additional persons have entered the coal-mining industry since the end of the coal dispute; and if he can now state when the restriction of recruitment to the industry will come into operation?

I have been asked to reply. I regret that figures are not available showing the number of new entrants into the industry. As regards the second part of the question, negotiations with the parties have reached an advanced stage, and I hope will be completed shortly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any information regarding the danger to public health in districts where the water supply is drawn from lead-bearing strata?

I do not know of any district where there is such danger. Lead compounds are found in many different kinds of rock formation, but water naturally containing lead is very rare. Water which will act upon lead pipes is not uncommon, but precautions are taken where necessary.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information about the impurity of the water from the Plinlimmon range?

No, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries?

Perhaps the hon. Member will give me any information that he has?

asked the Minister of Health whether any decision was reached at the recent consultation of his Department with the Consultative Council regarding the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance that the scope of the benefit should be extended to include a consultant and specialist medical service, and that the necessary funds for this purpose should be obtained by a partial pooling of future surpluses of approved societies?

I have not yet received from the Consultative Council any expression of their views on the recommendations referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to establish labour colonies for the accommodation and reclamation of casual paupers?

I have received certain suggestions in the direction suggested in this question, and the matter is under consideration. I do not think it will be practicable to formulate concrete proposals until some measure of Poor Law reform has been secured.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has any evidence that boards of guardians are complying with the circular of his Department suggesting that casual paupers should be periodically medically examined?

The suggestion which I made was that a medical officer should periodically inspect the casual wards, and should do so, if practicable, at a time when he could also see the casuals, so as to satisfy himself that they are free from disease. I have not received any special reports of the extent to which this suggestion has been put into practice, but I have no reason to suppose that it has not been effective.

asked the Prime Minister whether the First Lord of the Admiralty has a free hand to negotiate with the other Powers concerned for disarmament; whether there are any limits to his discretion; and whether, if an agreement is arrived at, such agreement will be subject to the confirmation of the House of Commons?

The delegates from this country will act on lines approved by His Majesty's Government. They have been given the usual latitude in regard to matters of detail, but will refer to His Majesty's Government on any large question of principle. It would be premature to make any statement on the last part of the question until the form of the agreement is known

Will the First Lord have the same powers which Lord Balfour had at Washington?

I think it is easier to answer the question directly than by comparison, and I have already answered it directly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider the decision made in the case of Mrs. Cameron, widow of the late Colonel Cameron, Royal Engineers; whether he is aware that a lieutenant's widow's pension was offered to Mrs. Cameron and was declined by her; that Mrs. Cameron was married to Colonel Cameron 30 years before his death; and that she is left with seven children, several of whom are dependent upon her?

I am aware of the facts of this case, but I regret that there are no grounds which would justify an alteration of the decision arrived at. The lady's claim is not admissible under the terms of Article 671 of the Royal Warrant for Pay.

Does not my hon. and gallant Friend think that this case, where the lady was married to an officer for 30 years, might be treated as special and outside the Regulations?

It was done before the Regulations were altered, and that is why this lady has a reserved right to a lieutenant's pension. The Regulations were changed while her husband was still serving as a lieutenant.

asked the Postmaster-General when the first instalment of the automatic telephone will be ready for use; what is likely to be the cost per telephone installed in London; and whether he is likely to further extend this system?

A large number of automatic telephone exchanges are already working in the provinces. It is hoped to open the first automatic telephone exchange in London during the coming autumn, two others by the end of the year, seven more during 1928, and a large number during succeeding years. The cost of providing telephone service depends largely on the calling rate and the character of the traffic. It is not possible, therefore, to give a representative general figure. Automatic plant involves considerably greater capital outlay than manual equipment.

Is not this system likely to prove very costly in London, owing to the very large range of calling that is available—much more so than in the provinces?

No, I do not think that that is so. It is already working in the provinces in very large areas.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the names of the exchanges which will be converted during the year?

The first will be Holborn, then Bishopsgate, and then Sloane. That is as far as this year is concerned. The first three next year will be Western, Monument, and, I think, Bermondsey.

Could the Postmaster-General say where this system was first installed, and where it is working most successfully at the moment?

I could not answer that question without notice.

Are any tests being taken on the Holborn exchange, as the telephones are now being fitted all over the area?

Yes, Sir; testing is going on all the time.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give the number of extra trunk lines established during the year 1926, and the number of miles of cable purchased by the telephone department of the Post Office during this period?

951 additional trunk circuits were brought into use during 1926, and 390 miles of trunk cable, comprising 67,753 miles of single wire, were purchased and laid.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that one of the cable manufacturing companies in the London district has discharged 75 per cent. of its staff in consequence of lack of orders for cables?

I was not aware of those precise facts, but I know there is unemployment in that industry.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the delays in trunk calls between London and the West of England due to lack of direct wires; if he can give the number of cables or lines between Exeter and London; and whether steps are being taken to increase these?

I am not aware that under normal conditions trunk calls between London and the West of England suffer undue delay. There are three direct circuits between Exeter and London. This number is adequate for the present traffic, but provision has been made for additional cables to meet future growth.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the whole of the surplus of £550,830 earned by the telephone service is to be devoted to extending the system; and how much he proposes to return to subscribers in the form of reduced charges?

My hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension. Extensions of the telephone service are provided for by means of loans raised under the Telegraph Acts. Last year approximately £11,000,000 was spent on telephone capital works. In proportion to the total revenue, the present surplus represents no more than a working margin, and I am not in a position to contemplate reductions in the tariff.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of bales of short staple American cotton imported into Great Britain during 1926, as compared with short staple Indian cotton?

The official trade returns divide the imports of raw cotton into two categories only namely, "of 1¼ inch staple and over," and "under 1¼ inch staple." The imports of raw cotton (except linters) under 1¼ inch staple from the United States in 1926 amounted to 10,626,000 centals of 100 lbs., and those from British India to 670,000 centals of 100 lbs.

Could my hon. Friend give the House his own interpretation of the phrase "short staple"?

I did find some difficulty in interpreting the word "short." In India, short staple cotton—and the bulk of Indian cotton is short staple—means under ¾ inch. As regards America, there is very little short staple cotton; it is mostly middling, that is to say, ⅞ inch to 1¼ inch. For that reason, I framed my reply on the lines used by the Trade Accounts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if any decision has been reached in principle as to the proposals for long-term agricultural credits that he will in due course submit to the House; and when he will be in a position to submit his proposals in detail?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a similar question addressed to me on 16th May by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Maldon Division of Essex, a copy of which I am sending to him.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that agriculturists have been waiting 18 months for the Government to carry out its pledges with regard to this matter? It was urgent then, and it is more urgent now. Will he do something to hasten it?

There is no possibility of legislation this Session, but we are losing no time in pursuing negotiations which will, we hope, enable us to legislate later.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the great urgency of the matter in view of the publicity which has been given recently to the bad state of agriculture and consequently to the calling-in of loans?

I am afraid the recent publicity is interfering with the credit of agriculture, but we have no control over that, and this long-term credit is not, of course, aimed at that problem in any way.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean before the Adjournment or before the end of the Session.

I said that there was no chance of legislation this Session

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount in sterling of the last payment to the United States of America on account of our external debt due to them?

The cost of the interest payment made to the Government of the United States of America on 15th June, 1927, was £13,822,495.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated annual addition to the revenue were cheques for amounts below £2, with a stamp of 1d. upon each, introduced?

The cheque duty of 2d. applies to all cheques irrespective of amount, and the reduction of this duty to 1d. for cheques below £2would involve a substantial loss to the Exchequer, the precise amount of which I am unable to state.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is expected that the proposed test case in the Courts, with reference to Stamp Duties on small cheques, will be taken in time for an Amendment to be made to this year's Finance Bill; and, if not, whether such an Amendment will be included in any case as a safeguard?

Some considerable time must elapse before the final decision of the Courts can be obtained. My right hon. Friend does not think it necessary to propose any legislation in the mean while. As appears from a statement which he made a short time ago upon the matter, and which appeared in the Press, the Midland Bank has voluntarily arranged to stop the issue of the documents which are the subject of the test case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in connection with the grant of £1,000,000 to the Empire Marketing Board, what sum has been allocated to protect the interests of home producers in Scotland, and the direction in which this sum is being spent?

The following grants have been made or promised by the Empire Marketing Board for various services affecting Scottish administration:

(i) A sum not exceeding £800 to the Scottish National Milk and Health Association for a survey of the production and utilisation of milk and milk residues.

(ii) A sum not exceeding £2,850 to the same Association for feeding experiments with children.

(iii) Salary and allowance for a period of four months to a Professor of the West of Scotland Agricultural College seconded for the purpose of conducting a survey of dairy research within the Empire.

(iv) A sum of £10,000 to the Rowett Institute for research into problems of animal nutrition throughout the Empire.

(v) A sum of £6,000 to the Rowett Institute for a collateral inquiry into human nutrition covering Kenya Colony.

In addition to the foregoing grants for the following purposes have been provisionally sanctioned:

(i) Research in poultry nutrition at the Rowett Institute.

(ii) Animal breeding research at Edinburgh University.

(iii) The establishment of a quarantine station in connection with the export of pedigree stock in Glasgow on the same lines at the station comtemplated for London.

It will be appreciated that much of this expenditure, although incurred in Scotland, is intended to be of benefit to Empire Trade as a whole, and that on the other hand a very considerable proportion of the remaining expenditure of the Board, whether on advertising or on research, is directly beneficial to the home producers in this country either exclusively or in common with the producers in overseas parts of the Empire.

Has anything been done to advertise Scotch mutton and Scotch oats in the same way as New Zealand butter and Australian meat?

And Harris tweeds!

Do not the items read out relate to research and not to marketing at all, and is not the granting of sums for that purpose rather a misappropriation of money available for marketing?

It is clearly laid down by the Economic Committee that the main effort is to be on research, and it is the scientific development of the resources of the Empire and better marketing to which we are devoting the greater part of our energies.

if Scotch mutton is to be advertised, I hope Exmoor mutton will be advertised too.