asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to give any date for the termination of the occupation by the Allies of the occupied German territory; and whether the matter has been, or is being, discussed at Geneva?

As regards the first part of the question, the answer is in the negative. As regards the second part, I would ask the hon. Member to put down his question when my right hon. Friend has returned. I understand my right hon. Friend is returning on Saturday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the fortifications in East Prussia have been demolished to the satisfaction of the Military Control Commission?

The demolition of the fortifications in Eastern Prussia has recently been the subject of discussion with the German Government at Geneva, and I would suggest that the hon. Member should put down his question when my right hon. Friend has returned. I would point out incidentally that the Military Commission of Control was withdrawn from Germany at the end of January last and that only a few experts remain in Berlin attached to their respective Embassies.

With regard to both these questions, would Monday be a convenient date, or would it be more convenient to postpone them until next Wednesday?

I think my right hon. Friend will be answering questions on Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the import by Germany from Soviet Russia of poison gas bombs, which it has now been found by the German Courts has been taking place over a considerable period of time, constitutes a breach of the Treaty of Versailles, any assurance has been given by the German Government that there shall be no repetition of this?

I am given to understand that the import into Germany, in contravention of Article 170 of the Treaty of Versailles, of arms and ammunition from Russia has now ceased and all transactions in connection with such import have been liquidated. Should any further infractions of the Treaty in this particular respect be brought to light in the future it will, of course, be possible for the question to be brought to the notice of the Council of the League of Nations under Article 213 of the Treaty of Versailles.

Considering that the Article has been broken, does not my hon. Friend think that it is right and advisable to approach the German Government and ask for the assurances which I refer to in the last part of the question?

I understand that these transactions took place between subordinate departments of each of the Governments. They were not official transactions between Governments. The German Government have made it quite clear since that they disapproved of these transactions and they have stopped them.

Has the Foreign Office any information as to the wholesale manufacture of poison gas in Russia at the present time?

Can the Under-Secretary say how many bombs have been imported into Germany in infringement of the Treaty?

I must have notice of that question.

Is this the gas referred to as Dyer Gas?

May I ask whether the bombs in question have been destroyed?

That question should be put down.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any proposals have been received from the Government of the United States for the abolition or reduction of the charges for visas on passports between the United States and this country; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?

No further proposals have been received from the United States Government since those of 1925, which are fully dealt with in Command Paper 2746 of 1926.

Has not the time arrived to approach the United States, so that these excessive charges on visas can be done away with altogether.

Is it not a fact that these visas act as a form of Imperial Preference by inducing our people to go to Canada instead of to the United States?

The last time we attempted to deal with this question unfortunately only a very one-sided bargain was proposed by the United States, that we should waive the whole of our visas and that they should merely reduce the fees.

Stick to your guns.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement to the House on the present position in China; and whether there has been any recent alteration in China of the military or naval forces belonging to Great Britain?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any marked change in the military and political situation in China since he last described the situation to the House; and whether any negotiations of any kind are in progress with the Chinese authorities at Nanking or Hankow as to the position of our nationals and their properties and trade in the areas controlled by those Governments?

The military situation in China remains substantially as stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Colonel Day) on the 13th of June last. It is understood that negotiations between the various military leaders are proceeding, which appear to have resulted in an agreement between Generals Chiang Kai-shek and Feng Yu-hsiang. General Chiang Kai-shek with his Nationalist armies is invading Shantung Province. General Feng in Honan Province is making no forward movement at present.

On the 18th of June Chang Tso-lin was installed as Commander-in-Chief for the Army and Navy, and a new Cabinet was formed in Peking under the premiership of Pan Fu.

A local revolution took place in Yunnan on the 19th of June, when the control of the Government was wrested from a moderate Nationalist leader by one of a less moderate type.

On the 23rd of June a Chinese raiding party, consisting of an officer and 50 soldiers, boarded a hulk at Chinkiang belonging to a British shipping company with the object of searching a British river steamer. A landing party from His Majesty's Ship "Verity" was sent, and found the officer and 10 soldiers still on board; these were driven off with truncheons. The officer in charge of the raiding party has since been reprimanded by the local Chinese authorities.

In addition to the battalion transferred to Tientsin, one battalion has been sent to Wei-hai-wei for the defence of the convalescent depot established there for sick soldiers from Shanghai. The only naval change is that His Majesty's Ship "Enterprise" has proceeded from the China Station to the East Indies Station and His Majesty's Ship "Emerald" will do so shortly.

No negotiations are in progress with the Chinese authorities at Nanking or Hankow, but His Majesty's Consular Officers continue to deal with them regarding specific cases involving British interests as they arise.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether there have been any casualties since the last statement he made amongst our forces in China?

Not that I know of.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the situation in Shanghai is still considered sufficiently dangerous to necessitate the retention of those armed forces?

If we did not think that the situation necessitated it, we should not retain our forces there.

Are they being retained there because of the present danger, or merely because of the expense of bringing them back?

During a period of civil war there must always be danger.

Will they remain there for ever?

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether his Department has any information as to the present relations existing between Hankow and Nanking—between Chiang Kai-shek and the Hankow Government?

All I can say is, that we believe that Chiang Kai-shek regards the Communist element in Hankow with very little favour.

May I ask, for about the tenth time, if the hon. Gentleman can state whether anyone outside is making an effort to bring this unfortunate quarrel between the two sections in China to an end?

May I ask whether His Majesty's Government attributes the more recent developments between these various armies in Northern China to machinations from Moscow?

Hon. Members should put those questions down on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the position of the bondholders of the Constantinople Loan, 1909, which has as a security the Galata bridge tolls?

Since the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on the 22nd of February last, I have not received any information on the subject beyond what has appeared in the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information regarding the draft texts, prepared in view of a Convention on the supervision of the private manufacture of arms and submitted to the Council of the League of Nations, by the special Commission appointed for this purpose?

The draft texts which will come before the Conference were issued to the representatives of the Press at Geneva during the recent meeting of the Council. They will in due course be published in the League of Nations Official Journal, which can be purchased in this country.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received a request from the Naval Canteen Service regarding the placing of all canteens under the management of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

A resolution to this effect which was passed at the last Headquarters Naval Canteen Committee has been communicated to the Admiralty and is receiving consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is to be understood, since the Admiralty have a special barge equipped with oil-separating plant at Portsmouth, that this barge is universally used and that no vessel in that area now discharges oil into the sea within a radius of 50 miles?

The oil separating barge at Portsmouth is used on every possible occasion. The answer to the second part of the question, so far as His Majesty's Ships and Naval Auxiliaries are concerned, is in the affirmative.

Can the hon. and gallant Member say what is done with the oil when the barge is not used? Is it discharged into the sea?

I have already referred the hon. Member to an answer in which it is stated that it is not discharged into the Harbour. It is taken out into the open sea in the way I told him the other day.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what action it is proposed to take as a result of the representations made by the Association of First-class Masters of His Majesty's Tugs to the Civil Lord of the Admiralty and representatives of the Treasury, on 11th August, 1926, regarding increased remuneration and improved conditions of status and service for members of the association?

I have nothing to add to my reply of the 9th May (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 45).

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the amount of distress in the district of Bishop Auckland, county Durham; whether he is aware that numbers of collieries are closing down and that men are being removed from the unemployment register without adequate reason and being compelled to apply to the board of guardians for relief; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made with a view to having this district regarded as a necessitous area?

As stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines on Thursday last, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. R. Richardson) regarding milling areas generally, His Majesty's Government are aware of the present conditions in the mining industry, and are giving the matter their special consideration. I am unable to agree with the allegation that men are being removed from the register without adequate reason.

Is the hon. Member aware that large numbers of men who are thrown out of work as a result of these conditions are men with an experience of 30 and 40 years or more in mining, and that there is not the slightest doubt of their being reinstated under present conditions. To talk of alternative employment for such men is altogether absurd, if not really a fraud.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that between 5,000 and 6,000 persons in the city of Bristol are in receipt of unemployment benefit each week and that 900 persons are signing weekly without the receipt of benefit; whether he is aware that for the week ending 25th May, 2,107 men, 2,125 women and 4,647 children, a total of 8,879 men, women and children were in receipt of relief from the guardians, the total cost for the week being £2,536 18s. 10d.; and whether, having regard to the position in the city of Bristol created by the long continued period of unemployment, he will consider additional relief schemes?

I am aware that the number of persons in receipt of unemployment benefit and relief from the guardians is substantially as stated in the question. Schemes of work for the relief of persons unemployed are initiated by local authorities who are, I think, generally aware that schemes which satisfy the conditions for a grant from State funds should be submitted to the Unemployment Grants Committee.

Is it not the case that in consequence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer "pinching" £12,000,000 out of the Road Fund, local authorities are prevented from carrying out much useful work?

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that no statistics of trades unions have been issued by the Registrar-General dealing with developments later than 1924; if he can explain the delay; and will he take measures to expedite the publication of particulars in connection with the years 1925 and 1926?

A statistical summary showing the operations of registered trade unions for the year 1925 was issued by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies in January, 1927. A similar summary for 1926 will be published towards the end of this year. The summaries are published within five months or less of the receipt of the returns containing the particulars. The returns have to be examined and abstracted before the totals can be arrived at, and there is no avoidable delay in their publication. Part 4 of the Report of the Chief Registrar, containing details as to the operations of trade unions is necessarily published sometime after the summary. That for the year 1926, dealing with the figures for 1925, should be ready about the end of October next.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Government of the Union of South Africa have placed with the Air Ministry a contract for material for the erection of a standard mooring mast in South Africa for the use of the new Empire airships; what is the total cost of such material; and will the whole cost of this be defrayed by the South African Government?

As regards the first two parts of the question, the Government of the Union of South Africa have requested the Air Ministry to place on their behalf a contract for a mooring mast base in that country, but the details have not yet been settled. The actual expense that will be involved cannot therefore be definitely stated. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

Can the Under-Secretary say whether the Air Ministry has been requested by any other Government to provide mooring masts?

That does not arise out of this question, but I believe the Government of Canada have asked for mooring masts.

Can my hon. Friend say whether these mooring masts are now being made with lifts? Is he aware that hon. Members who went to Pulham about a year and a-half ago found that the climb of a hundred and forty foot vertical ladder rather a bit of a strain?

asked the Secretary of State for Air the age limits for qualified pilots joining the Auxiliary Air Force

The minimum age limit for appointment to a commission in the Auxiliary Air Force for flying duties is 18 years. The maximum age limits for appointment are as follow:

Pilot or Flying Officer	…	25 years.
Flight Lieutenant	…	30 years.
Squadron Leader	…	35 years.
Wing Commander	…	40 years.

The Air Council have discretionary power to give special consideration to the application of any candidate who is over the age limit but who is otherwise suitable.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he can furnish particulars of the forthcoming air display at Hendon?

The display, as in previous years, will be fully representative of the different aspects of the work of the Royal Air Force, and will afford the public an opportunity of witnessing the progress made in both civil and military aeronautics. Particulars of the more important events have appeared in the Press and in numerous advertisements and posters.

Does the Under-Secretary think that displays like the bombing of villages, which I understand is part of this display, are suitable for young children to witness?

May I ask whether the Air Ministry will consider importing a few real barbarians for this display?

Can the Under-Secretary say whether this display will entail any cost on the Exchequer?

No, certainly not.

May I ask, if my question is not out of order, whether I am not entitled to an answer?

The hon. Member's question is more appropriate to the next question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he can give the names of the education authorities and other bodies which have been invited to send children to witness the air display at Hendon; what has been the response; and how many children are likely to attend?

As regard the first part of the question, 73 invitations to the Royal Air Force display rehearsal on 1st July have been issued to education committees in the Metropolitan area and the Home Counties. Invitations have also been issued to Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and Church Lads' Brigades. I do not think that a list of the committees and bodies to whom the invitations have been sent would serve any useful purpose. As regards the remaining parts of the question, 50 invitations have been accepted up to the present, but I cannot give an estimate of the number of children who are likely to attend.

Can I ask now the question that I asked previously, namely, whether the Under-Secretary considers that these displays are suitable for young children to witness?

Certainly.

Is the hon. Baronet aware that all these children in their schools are taught the Sermon on the Mount? Does he not think that there is some contradiction between the doctrine of the Sermon on the Mount and this particular display at Hendon?

Is it not a great deal better for them to witness British pluck in the air than to pay a visit to Soviet Russia?

Will the hon. Baronet state whether the display will include a demonstration of the effects of poison gas?

The display is not only for military purposes, surely? Is it not true that aviation may become a great commercial asset to this country, and that this display is not of value only for war purposes?

asked the Attorney-General whether, seeing that Award A81 of the Civil Service Arbitration Board stipulated that the rates of pay and conditions therein laid down applied to all messengers in all London offices, he will see that these terms are granted to the messengers employed at His Majesty's Land Registry as from the date of the Award A81; whether he is aware that the reorganisation scheme for messengers at His Majesty's Land Registry, which was introduced in 1923, was never discussed by the Departmental Whitley Council nor with the representatives of the society to which the men belong; and whether, in these circumstances, he will see that the request for the full application of Award A81 is granted?

The men employed in His Majesty's Land Registry were not members of the classes to which Award A81 applied, their conditions of service and appointment and the method of their recruitment being different from those of the messengers in London offices referred to in the hon. Member's question. Full details of the reorganisation scheme of 1923 were explained to the representatives of the society to which the men belonged, and accepted by them, except on one point, which is not now material. In these circumstances the request cannot be granted.

Was the notification which was made to a particular society made within recent months?

I do not know what the date is, but I will ascertain for the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he proposes to reduce the staff of his Department, in View of the fact that it was thought possible for one of his senior officials to accept an outside contract while employed on full-time work in his Department?

(for The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS): It has been decided to abolish the post of Director of Works on the retirement of Sir F. Baines from the service on or about the 1st September next.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the conditions under which Sir Frank Baines was employed in the Government service permitted him to enter into a contract for service with a private company without the consent of the First Commissioner?

The conditions under which architects and other professional officers in the Department are allowed to accept commissions in their professional capacity from individual persons or private firms were given in detail in my reply to the hon. Member's question on the 26th May. The whole question for the future is under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of the pension to be paid to Sir Frank Baines upon his retirement from the Government service on 1st September?

I am not yet in a position to give this information, as the Treasury are still awaiting the detailed particulars necessary for the determination of the amount to be awarded under the provisions of Section 7 of the Superannuation Act, 1859.

Can any civil servant, while in the employ of the Government, undertake any work under any form of contract?

I could not answer that question in such general terms without notice.

In view of the fact that this civil servant has been retired compulsorily because he was unable to get out of a contract that he had made with a private company, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he is entitled to the same rate of superannuation as he would have received if he had served his term in the ordinary way?

His superannuation will be on a different basis altogether, and, as I have already told the hon. Member, I cannot yet state what the amount will be.

Is it a fact that this civil servant, while in the employ of the Government, was taking contract work from private firms outside? Is that the case or is it not?

is it not also a fact that he did a good day's work for the Department?

That question about the particular case should be addressed to the Office of Works. A question was put on that matter two or three days ago.

(for Mr. E. BROWN) asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the percentages of civil servants earning less than £3 a week, £3 to £3 10s., £3 10s. to £4, £4 to £5, etc., up to £500 a year?

I would refer the hon. Member for Leith (Mr. Brown) to the answer I gave to an identical question put by him on the 23rd June.

(for Mr. E. BROWN) asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many Government Departments and Government industrial establishments, respectively, are on the King's Roll?

I would refer the hon. Member for Leith (Mr. Brown) to the answer which I gave to him on the 5th May last.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether all local authorities are now on the King's Roll?

Is Kensington?

Yes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the fact that Sweden is clear of foot-and-mouth disease; that the Netherlands reported last month only three cases in total in place of thousands reported this time last year; that Friesland has been clear for some period now; and whether he intends raising the embargo, particularly for Dutch meat?

I am aware that the incidence of foot-and-mouth disease has diminished in Western Europe during the past few months, but in May there were five outbreaks in Sweden and 26 in the Netherlands, four of which occurred in the Province of Friesland. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the cases in Western European countries during the present year. In view of the grave risk of the disease spreading between contiguous countries with extensive land boundaries, I cannot contemplate a withdrawal of the embargo on Continental meat until I am satisfied that all the Western European countries are comparatively free from foot-and-mouth disease for a period long enough to ensure that the disease is under effective control.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in consequence of this embargo on foreign meat, the Government are reducing the real wages in this country of about 18,000,000 wage-earners?

I do not think it can be shown that there has been any appreciable rise in the price of meat throughout the country. It is also very important to realise that we have saved a great deal of money to the State by stamping out foot-and-mouth disease in this country.

The Minister must be aware that in consequence of the embargo, the Government have raised the price of meat from a halfpenny to a penny per pound.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that Great Britain possesses but 31 telephones per 1,000 inhabitants as compared with Australia's 68, New Zealand's 94, and Canada's 130, he is assured that everything possible is being done to increase the telephone service in this country by every available means?

I am satisfied that the steps taken by the Post Office to extend and develop the telephone service of Great Britain are designed to secure the best results and that no effort is spared in the pursuance of this object.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, who is a good business man, whether any big commercial concern would be unable to make a statement as to the amount spent per annum in publicity and canvassing? That is admittedly the case with the Post Office.

I do not think that is so. It is impossible to deal with this matter by means of question and answer. I have already told my hon. Friend that the Contracts Branch is a separate Branch, and I am perfectly prepared to give the figures for that Branch.

Is it not a fact that many people who have signed contracts for telephones even now cannot get them fitted up speedily?

Would it not be better for the Government to advertise increased telephone facilities instead of drink in Post Office publications?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the imports of coal into France from Britain, Germany, and the United States from 1st January to as convenient a date as possible for the years 1914 and 1927, respectively?

With my hon. Friend's permission, a table will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT giving the information he asks for.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a girl was found drowned at Invergowne on 12th June, her body kept in an outhouse for a week, and then buried unidentified and without being photographed; and whether he is satisfied that all proper and possible steps have been taken by the authorities?

Inquiries about the case referred to in the question are in progress, but my information is not yet complete. Perhaps the hon. Member will repeat his question next week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the promised Committee of Inquiry on the Solicitation Laws has yet been appointed; and, if not, if he can now say when it will be appointed, and what will be the terms of reference?

It is proposed that the Terms of Reference of this Committee shall be to inquire into the law and practice regarding offences against the criminal law in connection with prostitution and solicitation for immoral purposes in streets and public places, and other similar offences against decency and good order, and to report what changes (if any) are in their opinion desirable. My right hon. Friend hopes to complete at an early date the selection of members to serve on this Committee.

asked the Home Secretary whether the member of the Soviet Mission in London who was warned to leave this country but had not done so recently, has yet left and, if not, what is the name and record of this person; and what steps are being taken to expedite his departure?

Yes, Sir. This individual left on the 22nd instant. When my right hon. Friend made his statement on 23rd instant the previous day's reports had not come in.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of persons assessable to Income Tax and the number assessable to Super-tax for the year ending 31st March, 1927, or the latest date available?

My hon. Friend will find the latest estimates of the numbers of taxpayers in Tables 53 and 67 of the 69th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the ratio between direct and indirect taxation for each of the years ending 31st March, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927?

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate these figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what sums of money have been used by the Empire Marketing Board to advertise and sell the home-grown products of the British farmer?

No special allocation of the sums devoted by the Empire Marketing Board to advertising is made between the different parts of the Empire, but the policy of the Board's advertising is to encourage the public to ask first for the produce of their own country and next for the produce of the oversea parts of the Empire.

May I ask whether, in the depressing conditions of agriculture at the present time, some of this money could not usefully be allocated to helping our own farmers?

This is money given in pursuance of a pledge, specifically in lieu of certain preferences which would have benefited the Dominions, but, by agreement with the other Governments of the Empire, the money is largely used for the help of agriculture.

Has it come under the view of the Government that owing to the lack of transport and other conditions obtaining in the North of Scotland, practically the whole of the produce there is being lost?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that the Government has approved an amendment to the Federated Malay States Women and Girls Protection Enactment, whereby a prostitute suspected of being venereally diseased may be compulsorily examined, he will explain the reason for authorising this amendment, which appears to be inconsistent with the general principles laid down in the 1925 Report of the Advisory Committee to the Colonial Office on Singapore; and whether he will call this Committee together again to consider this amendment, and others of a like character, and report upon them?

The object of the amendment is to prevent brothel-keepers from evading the provisions of the law which prohibits their permitting a woman suffering from contagious disease to remain in the brothel. There was previously no power to order the medical examination of a prostitute. Thus the object of the law has been defeated by brothel-keepers instigating prostitutes to object to medical examination. There is no question of any general compulsory and periodical examination. The amendment has received my approval, and I do not consider it necessary to call the former Committee together again to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the statement containing the comments of the financial representative of the Combined Court, British Guiana, upon the Report of the Parliamentary Commissioners who visited British Guiana last winter will be presented to Parliament, so that Members may have an opportunity of considering it in connection with the Report of the Commissioners?

I have not yet received the statement of the views of the elective section of the Combined Court, which I understand is on its way. The question of its presentation to Parliament, together with any other papers on the subject, will be considered when it has been received.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the advisability of including a woman as a fully accredited delegate in the Government's delegation to the Assembly of the League of Nations next September at Geneva?

A woman will be included in the British Delegation to the next Assembly, which will be composed as follows:

Is it not possible to include a woman as a fully accredited delegate, since the right hon. Gentleman must know perfectly well that a substitute delegate at Geneva has not the same status as a fully accredited delegate would have?

Hear, hear!

I think the hon. Ladies are under a misapprehension. Substitute delegates are fully accredited, and, if one of the delegates is absent, a substitute delegate takes the absent delegate's place. They have exactly the same standing.

Is it not the case, on the hon. Gentleman's own statement, that while the fully accredited delegates attend and take their part in the proceedings, a substitute delegate is only able to take a full share in the deliberations if a fully accredited delegate is absent? How does the hon. Gentleman reconcile his own statement with his reply?

Will the Government see that all delegates sent to represent this country at Geneva are the best delegates possible, irrespective of sex?

I think the list which I have read out shows that they are. The substitute delegates take a full part in the deliberations. They take their full share. We made a similar arrangement last year, and it was regarded with full satisfaction by all parties concerned.

Is it not true that other countries, Germany for instance, send a woman as a fully-accredited delegate, and not as a substitute?

asked the Prime Minister if he will make provision for the inclusion of women in the Upper House in any proposals to be submitted to the Houses of Parliament?

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether it is intended that women shall be eligible to serve as elected Members of the House of Lords;

(2) whether, in connection with the scheme for the reform of the House of Lords, any decision has been arrived at with regard to the payment, of salaries to elected members?

It is premature to answer these Questions of details, but no doubt, an opportunity will soon arise to discuss them in Debate.

Are we to take that answer as meaning that the Government have no statement to make in this House on the question of House of Lords reform until the Debate has been begun in this House?

I think, on the whole, that would be a fairly safe conclusion to draw.

Does the right hon. Gentleman regard the inclusion of women as only a detail of the scheme; and, considering that the number of women voters at the next Election promises to be larger than the number of men voters, would it not be wise and just if women were included in the Upper Chamber?

I think the answer to that question is fully conveyed in the answer which I have already given.

Would it not solve all these difficulties if the Government were to leave alone this question of extending the franchise to women of 21?

Is it not a fact that the Government have abandoned these proposals for the present?

No, Sir. I have not heard of anything that could justify me in making a statement of that kind.

Is the right hon. Gentleman able to say whether the author of Question 48 on the Paper is looking ahead?

(for Mr. E. BROWN) asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that teachers serving under the Coventry Education Authority are not receiving salary increments in accordance with paragraph 3 (a) (11) of the Third Report of the Joint Standing Committee and the Board's Regulations thereon; and whether, seeing that such teachers are entitled to either one increment at the conclusion of two years' service or seven-twelfths at the commencement of the financial year after serving one year and seven months, he will take the necessary steps to secure that the Coventry Education Authority adjust the increments in accordance with the standard scales and the Board's Regulations thereon?

My right hon. Friend has received no representations on this matter, and as the Burnham Report provides machinery for its interpretation he sees no present ground for intervention on his part.

Last year, in presenting the Estimates for the Ministry of Health to the Committee, I had to account for an increase of £40,000 over the Estimate for the preceding 12 months. This year there is a further increase of a little more than £1,105,000, but I do not imagine that on that account I shall be accused of extravagance, because the increases are really due to causes which operate automatically and are, moreover, brought about by policies which have been approved in all quarters of the House. Some £960,000 is accounted for by an increase in the number of houses upon which subsidy is paid; there is a further increase of £171,000 in the grant-in-aid for health purposes, and there is still another £91,000 increase in the cost of administration, which is, of course, due to the additional staff required for the purposes of the Contributory Pensions Act. I do not imagine that any of those figures will be challenged, and, therefore, I do not think it is necessary for me to detain the Committee by going into any special details in connection with them, but, of course, if there are questions upon which any hon. Member desires further information, I hope to be able to supply him with what he desires in the course of the Debate. I think perhaps it would be of greater interest to the Committee if I were to pick out one or two of the salient features of the activities of my Department in order to give the Committee some idea of the field over which we range and the scope of our activities.

Coming now to the question of housing, it will be seen that the amount provided, which is £9,340,000, is nearly half of the total Estimate, amounting approximately to £19,500,000, and I think the Committee will like to know what we are getting for the expenditure of so large a sum of money. In order to give a comparison, I would mention that in the five years preceding the War the average number of houses built in this country was about 61,000. Taking the last three years—in each case the 12 months ended 31st March—the number built in 1925 was 137,000; in 1926 it rose to 173,000; and in 1927 to 217,000. That is really an astonishing, a prodigious effort on the part of this country, which I do not think can be paralleled anywhere else in the world, and although one does not wish to claim more credit than is due to the Government, at any rate I think we are entitled to say that the conditions which have been provided by the Government have acted as the most efficient stimulus to the building industry that could be conceived. The number which we thus find added to the common pool, looked at from that point of view, is so great that, as it proceeds, there cannot be any doubt that its effects will be felt right through every class of the population, and I feel confident myself that we are approaching the time when we may hope to see some much more active progress made with the improvement of the conditions in the slums than has been possible during all these years, when it was found difficult to deal with them, first, because of the scarcity of labour and materials, and also because of the fact that there was nowhere for people to go who might be displaced from the houses in which they were living.

But there is another aspect of the housing question which is not so satisfactory. I am, myself, very much concerned about the cost of these new houses, which appears to me to be far too high. I think the problem before us at the moment is to see how we are going to get that cost reduced, and there are two ways in which it may be reduced. One of them concerns the size of the house. There is very little doubt that the rents which have to be charged for the bulk of the new houses now being built are inflicting a very great strain upon the resources of those who are paying them, while they make it absolutely impossible for many others to obtain the accommodation which they desire in a new house, because it is altogether beyond their means. I myself, am not in favour of lowering the standard of housing, but it is no use to blink facts, and while it is very easy to be eloquent about the difference between the houses occupied by the rich or the poor, as a matter of fact you cannot divide the population by a sharp line into two categories of that kind. [An HON. MEMBER: "They are already divided."] No. they are not divided into two categories. There is every possible gradation between the rich and the poor, and each category must adapt its methods of life to its means. [Laughter.] The hon. Member opposite laughs, but I thought I was speaking what was almost a truism. What I want particularly to emphasise is that you cannot pick out of the general budget of the housekeeper one particular item, namely, the rent of the house, and consider that that is to be free of the restrictions which naturally apply to all the other expenses of the household. It applies to every item in the budget. Everything must be adapted to the question of means, or otherwise they will come to disaster. I think it is a mistake to assume that every family wants a bigger house which not only ranks higher in rent than the house which they are now occupying but which means more work in cleaning and more expense to keep warm.

The modern house means less.

The hon. Member says, "The modern house means less." What I am saving is that a large house means more work in cleaning than a small one.

Not necessarily.

I have never seen a corporation house which will give much difficulty on that score.

Perhaps the hon. Member has not talked to so many working people as I have. Local authorities are finding that they are getting towards the end of that section of the community who can pay the rents of houses such as they are now erecting, and that being so, I think they are wise in remembering that what they have to compare is not a small new house with a large new house, but a small new house with the houses in which people are living now, or the room in a house in which people are living now, and that if they do, as many of them desire to, build houses which contain all the necessaries of life but with somewhat smaller accommodation than those which the people have been in the habit of living in lately, they will probably be meeting the wishes of the greater number of their inhabitants.

But there is another method by which I think people may be helped to obtain houses in which they can afford to live. Last December I asked the House to approve a Draft Order under which the subsidies payable under the Acts of 1923 and 1924 would be reduced as from October next by an amount which was equivalent to a capital sum of £25 per house. I based that proposal upon the assumption that some part, at any rate, of the present cost of houses was actually due to the subsidy itself.

Hear, hear.

I said I thought that the figures in our possession indicated that there was a definite correlation between the prices of new houses and the amount of subsidy given. I showed that the price of houses had gone up as the subsidy had been increased, and I argued that it might well be reasoned that if the subsidy were reduced the cost of houses would be reduced also. That proposal met with the strongest disapproval from hon. Members opposite. They exhausted themselves in prophecies of disaster. The right hon. Member for Shettleston (Mr. Wheatley) said this was going to wreck the building industry. The Liberal party put up two speakers to express the view that this would mean an increase in rents. although, of course, we had some of the party in the Lobby with us, and there were others who did not vote at all—pursuing the usual plan. The hon. Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Greenwood), whom I am sorry not to see here, said that unless the price of houses came down by at least £25 either the rents or the rates must go up. That, I am bound to say, seemed to me a self-evident proposition, but the point of his statement was that he himself believed there was no possibility of any such reduction in the price as he suggested was necessary to prevent this rise in rents or rates. I am happy to say that events have completely justified the predictions I made when I asked the House to approve that Draft Order. The prices of non-parlour houses, which before the commencement of the withdrawal of the subsidy had ranged from £440 to £450, fell immediately to the neighbourhood of £425. Since then there has been a still further drop.