asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the imports and exports of hosiery made of silk and artificial silk and of all other textile materials, respectively, for the five months ended 31st May this year, and for comparison during the same periods in 1925 and 1926?

Particulars of the imports, exports and re-exports for which my hon. Friend asks, are fully set out on pages 66, 159 and 205 of the last issue of the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom." In the case of underwear and fancy hosiery, the goods described as being of "Other textile materials" are no doubt mainly silk and artificial silk goods.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hosiery imported would, if made in this country, provide sufficient work for all the unemployed in the hosiery trade?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the General Report on the Census of Production is likely to be completed; and if the Report on the Engineering Trades is the last of the preliminary Reports?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 12th April to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Sir J. Power), a copy of which I am sending him. I may add that, in 16 issues of the Board of Trade Journal, there have now been published reports on approximately one-half of the industries covered by the Census.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the figures of the trade between this country and Russia during the month of June last?

The figures for which the hon. and gallant Member asks will not be ready for about three weeks. When they are available I will have them circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the exports of wrapping and packing paper as shown in the Trade and Navigation Returns consist in part of old newspapers; and if so, can he state to what extent?

Exports of old newspapers are not included in any of the exports of wrapping and packing paper enumerated in this year's monthly accounts of Trade and Navigation.

May I ask whether they have been included in the past?

Yes, I think they were included in earlier years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make any statement as to the probability of the French embargo on British coal being removed as a result of the negotiations carried on by His Majesty's Government?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Leith (Mr. E. Brown) on 27th June, a copy of which I am sending him.

Is it a fact that the French authorities reported that they would not remove this embargo until the stocks of about 3,000,000 tons of coal which had accumulated had been got rid of?

No, I do not think they said that. They have said that what they are looking to is to limit for the time being their total imports by about 250,000 tons. In the answer to which I have referred, I gave the House the number of licences which have already been granted.

Do not they say that this embargo is put on mainly because they have such huge stacks in France?

Yes, that is so.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of miners in South Wales who have received notice to quit their employment since the French licensing scheme was brought into operation?

I am afraid I have no information on this point.

Do not the Department receive at least monthly reports as to the number of men employed?

Yes, that is so, and in a week or ten days I shall have a report of the number of unemployed miners in South Wales, bringing it up to the end of June. The hon. Member can compare it with the number at the end of May and that will give him exactly the information he is asking for.

Will those figures be sent to me or will it be necessary to put down another question?

I will send them, or, if the hon. Member likes to put a question down, I will give them in the form of an answer.

When the figures are being given for South Wales, could not we have them for the whole of the country?

If the hon. Member likes to put down a question, I will consider that.

Would it be possible for the Minister to tell us not only the number of miners who are unemployed receiving relief but those who have been cut off from unemployment benefit?

That, of course, is an entirely different question, but, if the hon. Member quts a question down, I will give him what information I have.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a row of 18 square red and yellow steel huts or houses have been erected by the war Office on Lark Hill, within a mile and a half of Stonehenge; that the circle of Stonehenge is orientated in that direction, so that the sunrise at the summer solstice is in line with the land on Which these huts now are; when he intends to have these huts removed; whether permanent brick and slate barracks are to be erected on Lark Hill within full view of this national monument; and whether he will see some other site is available equally suitable for military purposes but further away from Stonehenge?

As regards the first part of the question, if the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the 36 married quarters erected in steel construction at Lark Hill Camp last year, I am advised that they are clear of the line of sight of the midsummer sun's rise as viewed from Stonehenge and special steps have already been taken to ensure that that line continues to be kept clear so far as future buildings are concerned. As regards the last part of the question, a scheme is under consideration for the replacement by permanent barracks of the temporary hutments at Larkhill, which are falling into disrepair and involve excessive charges for maintenance. Roads, drains, water supply and electric light facilities already exist at Lark Rill, and it would therefore be impossible to justify the heavy expenditure involved in removal to another site, even were a suitable alternative available.

Is the hon. and gallant Member aware that it is not only a question of the line of the sun's rising, but the right of the whole people to have this monument in a setting where its surroundings are not impaired by present-day buildings of the War Office?

It depends, of course, on the size of the setting which the hon. and gallant Member requires. As he said in his question, these buildings are a mile-and-a-half away.

But does not the hon. and gallant Member know that Stonehenge is quite unique in its character, and that it is worth while to preserve it?

Oh, yes; I have heard of Stonehenge, and I quite agree with the hon. and gallant Member that it is very undesirable that the amenities should be destroyed.

According to the question, is not the colour of these huts the real cause of the trouble?

Can the hon. and gallant Member say what is the excessive charge for maintenance mentioned in the original answer?

No, It is obvious that if buildings are falling into disrepair, and they are only temporary huts, it is better that they should be replaced by permanent buildings which will last for some years.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the total area of land owned or leased by the War Office, or on which a prior lien is held, on Salisbury Plain and in the district?

The War Department land on Salisbury Plain and in the district, all of which is freehold, comprises 58,210 acres, of which 1,508 acres is in the permanent occupation of the Air Ministry.

In that case, why cannot the hon. and gallant Member put his huts and buildings somewhere else than within a mile-and-a-half of Stonehenge? He has 58,000 acres to play with.

I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that this land is not held as building sites. It is largely used as an artillery range, and we cannot place buildings in the line of fire.

The hon. and gallant Member is really trifling with the matter.

We cannot debate this question now.

I have no desire to debate it, Sir, but I think the answer I have just received is a trifling one.

The hon. and gallant Member may think that, but this is not the time to say it.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of temporary staff employed in headquarters and out-station offices in his Department, respectively, in each of the following grades: Grade 1 shorthand-typists, Grade 2 shorthand-typists, Grade 1 copying-typists, and Grade 2 copying-typists; and whether he can state the average length of service of the shorthand-typists and copying-typists concerned?

Such information as is available has been put in tabular form, and I will therefore, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total wastage of the Civil Service from all causes during the year ended 31st March; and the total number of persons recruited for the service during the same period?

The net result of the operation of the two processes referred to by my hon. Friend will be found by a comparison of the total staffs of Government Departments as shown in the statement presented to Parliament quarterly. I am sending him copies of the statements relating to the financial year 1926–27. A detailed analysis giving the total wastage and total recruitment during the financial year 1926–27 is not at present available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury which scale of pay should operate for P class clerical and temporary clerical grades employed in the various Government offices in Bromley, Kent?

The provincial scale is payable to members of the classes referred to employed in Bromley, Kent.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me what are the corresponding figures for Leith?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the authorised complement of writing assistants in headquarters departments of the Civil Service; how many have so far been appointed; and how many have been promoted to the clerical class since January, 1925?

I am not in possession of statistics compiled on the basis indicated. Particulars as to the number of posts of writing assistants, for which provision is made on the Votes of each Department, will be found in the Estimates for the current financial year. The total number of writing assistants actually employed on 1st April, 1926, was 4,603, but I am unable to allocate this figure between headquarters and other stations. The number of writing assistants promoted to other grades in the period 1st April, 1923, to 31st March, 1926, was 897. Later particulars are not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether temporary messengers employed in the Divisional Office, Ministry of Labour, Cardiff, are entitled to an annual issue of uniform, as in the case of all other Departments; and, if so, the reason for the non-issue of such uniform to these temporary messengers?

I have been asked to reply. It has not hitherto been the practice to supply uniform in these cases, but the question is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what balance was left in the Scottish Education Fund for each of the years 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, and 1926, respectively?

As the answer to this question contains a number of figures, my right hon. Friend will, with the hon. Member's permission, cause it to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. He adds that the average balance is £38,322.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sum of money will be allocated among the education authorities of Scotland, and its method of allocation, for the year 1927–28; and what balance will remain unallocated from the Scottish Education Fund for the same Year?

It is estimated that the amount of grant payable to education authorities in Scotland for the year 1927–28 will be not less than the amount payable in respect of the preceding year, namely, 16,345,000. The method of allocation is set forth in detail in the Education Authorities (Scotland) Grant Regulations, 1927, which were laid before Parliament on 21st June. With regard to the last part of the question, it is impossible at this date to state the amount of the balance of the Education (Scotland) Fund at 31st March next, but my right hon. Friend sees no reason to anticipate that it will represent any considerable departure from the average.

Is it not expected that there will be £100,000 in hand at the end of the financial year?

I simply say we do not expect that there will be any considerable departure from the average.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any applications for the issue of orders under the Heather Burning (Scotland) Act, 1926, have been received by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland during the present year?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements have been made by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland with regard to the expenditure of publicity grants from the Empire Marketing Fund; and what particular classes of home-grown produce it has been decided to support by such advertisements?

I have been asked reply to this question Expenditure on publicity is under the direct control of the Empire Marketing Board in conjunction with His Majesty's Stationery Office, and, therefore, no grants for publicity purposes have been made to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. The policy of the Empire Marketing Board is to put the claims of the home agricultural producer, including, of course, the Scottish producer, in the forefront of its publicity.

Can my right hon. hon. Friend say what special steps are taken to see that the interests of the Scottish home producer are safeguarded, and what steps are taken to pursue this compaign in the large industrial centres in Scotland?

The campaign is being carried out in all the main industrial centres of Scotland as well as in England, and attention is drawn to the desirability of purchasing the produce of the home grower.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that a number of smallholders in the Parish of Rogart, in the County of Sutherland, have been upwards of 20 years applying in a constitutional manner for the enlargement of their holdings off the farm of Sciberscross; and whether, in view of the fact that a further application was submitted to the Board of Agriculture last year, he is yet in a position to state what action will be taken to obtain those enlargements for the applicants?

My right hon. Friend is aware that for a considerable period there have been recurrent applications for enlargements from the farm mentioned. The farm is let on a 14 years lease from Whit Sunday, 1926. Inquiry is being made into the question whether, having regard to considerations of cost and the other circumstances, a scheme of land settlement on this farm should be developed, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement in the matter.

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say when these inquiries are likely to be concluded, as they have been going on for a very long time?

I cannot answer that question without notice.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any further report may soon be anticipated from the Committee of the Physical and Chemical Survey of National Coal Resources; and what are the names of those serving on the Committee?

I have been asked to reply. The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension as to the organisation of the Physical and Chemical Survey of the National Coal Resources, and I would refer him to the Annual Reports of the Fuel Research Board for 1924 and 1925 for full information on this point. There are at present six local committees for this survey, containing in all 56 members. Up to date particulars are contained in the Annual Report of Fuel Research Board for 1926, which will be published this week. This also contains a list of all publications of the Board. Reports on various details of the work are published as rapidly as they can be prepared; the ninth paper of the Survey Series is in the Press, and others are in an advanced stage of preparation.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has figures showing how the output per man-shift in the coal mines where full time is being worked compares with the output where less than full time is being worked; and what is the amount of difference per man-shift thus caused in the output?

No Sir, no such figures are available.

Cannot figures be obtained from the ascertainments which are published by each county month by month?

No Sir, because this question asks for the details of individual collieries, which cannot be obtained.

is the right hon. and gallant Member not aware that the Yorkshire ascertainments show month by month the output per shift worked at the coal base and the output for the whole of the people working at the collieries, below the ground and on the surface; and can he not extract from those monthly publications the information sought for in this question?

No Sir. The figures refer to the whole district, and this would involve dissecting the whole of the figures and taking out the details for each colliery.

May I ask whether the figures are not given for each individual colliery, or given for each county, and does not the right hon. and gallant Member think that the amount of work involved would be very light indeed, and that as this Government passed the Eight Hours Act we ought to know the actual output per man?

I have nothing to add to what I have said. It would involve a great deal of work, and I do not think the results would be worth the labour involved.

Would the ascertainment of these figures result in giving any man working in the mines a single day's work?

Is it not a fact that when the actual figures are known it will be better understood how many mine workers have been thrown out of work through this extra hour being added to the working day?

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the amount of distress in South Wales, especially in the Aberdare and Mountain Ash areas; that numbers of collieries are closing down, while others are working but a few days per week; and whether he can now state what steps the Government propose taking to deal with this situation?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 23rd June to the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. R. Richardson), to which I have nothing to add at present.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether the Government have considered dealing with this depression in the coal industry on the lines of last year by again increasing the hours of miners?

No, Sir. No such suggestion has been made. I would point out that the amount of unemployment has certainly not been made any worse by that. There are many cases where pits that are working longer hours now would certainly not he working at all if the hours had remained at seven and the cost of production had not been reduced.

Are the Government declining to take any steps at all to provide work for those who are out of work and the hundreds of thousands of miners who are on short time, neither of whom are receiving sufficient to live on? Are we to understand that the Government are simply doing nothing to provide these people with work?

No, Sir. If the hon. Gentleman refers to the answer I gave some days ago he will see that is not the case.

Cannot we be told to-day, in answer to this question, what steps the Government are taking now or are likely to take to relieve the depression?

No, Sir. As I said in my answer, I have nothing to add to that statement.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman tell the House whether the Government really are doing something to provide work for these people, and, if they are not, will he tell us why they are doing nothing?

Is it not a fact that the Coal Commission Report told us that the only way to improve employment and conditions was to see to the revival of the steel trade, and will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consult with his colleagues to see what can be done to bring that about?

What are you going to do about it?

(for Sir ROBERT HUTCHISON) asked the Secretary for Mines whether any action has been taken and, if so, what action, in consequence of the Reports of the Departmental Committee on Co-operative Selling in the Coal Mining Industry, 1926?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to a question by my Noble Friend the Member for South Nottingham (Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck) on 23rd June.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the growing importance of the question of research into the scientific treatment of coal, arrangements can be made for questions in the House on this subject to be replied to by the Secretary for Mines and not by the President of the Board of Education?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is informed by the Lord President of the Council that it is considered that one Minister should be responsible for answering all questions affecting the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, whether they relate to fuel research or other matters, and that the President of the Board of Education is the Minister to whom this duty is assigned under the scheme, dated the 23rd July, 1915, for the organisation and development of scientific and industrial research (Cd. 8005). The Prime Minister regrets, therefore, that he cannot see his way to making the change suggested by the hon. Member.

In view of the inadequate answers given to questions on this subject by the Board of Education, is not this the time to increase the power of the Mines Department rather than to abolish the Department?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the desirability of taking power to make Regulations limiting the size and passenger-carrying capacity of heavy motor vehicles carrying more than eight passengers; and, if so, what limitations are contemplated?

It is my intention to make in the near future an Order dealing with the construction of heavy motor cars. I propose to impose for the first time general limitations upon overall length, and, in respect of four-wheeled public service passenger vehicles, to prescribe limits of laden weight lower than those now permitted for heavy motor cars generally. Seating capacity is indirectly controlled by the limitation of length, width and weight. The proposed Order covers a good deal of ground, and I cannot, therefore, go into details now, and must ask my hon. Friend to await the issue of the Order.

Does not my right hon. and gallant Friend think it desirable to indicate as soon as possible the nature of these Regulations, for public information and discussion?

I quite agree. The Order will be issued without any avoidable delay.

Will this only affect new vehicles, and not existing vehicles?

Only new vehicles.

Will it affect the new type of six-wheeled omnibuses which are now running on the streets?

I should have to have notice of that question.

Will the proposal in regard to existing vehicles be worked over a term of years, and, in that case, can the Regulations relating to new vehicles be possibly more stringent than would otherwise be the case?

I think it would be better to await the issue of the Order. If there be any specific point that my hon. Friend wants to raise, I shall be very glad to go into it.

Will the Order apple to ordinary commercial vehicles as well as to passenger-carrying vehicles?

I really think it would be better if the House would await the issue of the Order. There are many very technical details, on which I should not like to answer off-hand.

In view of the great importance of this matter, could the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say when the Order will be issued, so that all those interested could get to know the exact date?

As soon as may be.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, without waiting for the proposed Road Traffic Bill to become law, he will, in view of the rapidly-increasing danger to both passengers and the public arising from chars-a-bancs weighing upwards of six tons unloaded proceeding, with a full complement of passengers, at speeds of upwards of 40 and 45 miles an hour, bring in a short Bill to deal with this practice?

The driving of motor coaches at the speeds referred to by my hon. Friend is an offence under the existing law, the enforcement of which is a matter for the police.

Has my right hon. and gallant Friend's attention been drawn to the recent case in which a char-a-banc loaded with passengers crashed into some level crossing gates, resulting in the death of two passengers; and that the Judge held that the evidence given by the passengers showed the vehicle was travelling at an excessive speed; and does not my right hon. and gallant Friend think it desirable in the public interest to make Regulations or provisions regarding this great danger at an earlier date than will otherwise be the case?

I have said in my answer that the law already deals with such excessive speed, and that it is for the police to take action as they think fit to control this excessive speed. Any further questions on this point should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

Is it not possible to draw the attention of the county police authorities to this very dangerous practice, with a view to putting a stop to it?

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

Does not the fact that the Ministry of Transport have no control over this question of speed rather indicate that it is high time that the question of the public safety on the roads was placed under one Department only?

Not at all. It is perfectly clear that, if a certain law is passed by this House at the instigation of the Ministry of Transport, it falls to the police to carry it out, as in the case of any other law.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, in considering these Regulations, bear in mind the fact that chars-a-bancs are used by the proletariat, and not by the plutocracy?

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to an accident which happened on Handcross Hill, on the Brighton Road, on Saturday, 25th June, in which the steering gear of a motor coach gave way and the brakes refused to act, causing several serious injuries; whether he has received any reports from the inspectors of his Department on this accident; and will he consider the introduction of legislation that will ensure public conveyances of this kind being periodically examined?

My attention has been drawn to the accident referred to by the hon. Member, and I am obtaining a report on it from one of my officers. The draft Road Traffic Bill which I circulated some time ago provides for an original certification and for periodical examination of public service vehicles.

In view of the large number of accidents, cannot the right hon. Gentleman use his good offices with the Prime Minister to see that facilities are given to get that Bill through more quickly?

The hon. Gentleman knows as well as I do the state of public business, and the difficulty of keeping Members in August.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received any information regarding the motor accident which took place last week on the Cobham Road where 15 persons were injured; and the time that elapsed before the injured persons received any treatment?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I have seen a full report from the police on the accident, but, as the coroner's inquest is still proceeding, I think it will be better for me to refrain from making any statement.

If I put the question down again in a week's time, will my hon. and gallant Friend be able to give the information?

I hope so, if the proceedings have terminated.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he can now state his reason for refusing the Cannock Chase Collieries Light Railway Order, in view of the need of further facilities for rail transport to deal with approximately 6,000,000 tons of coal per year from this area;

The Mines Department was not consulted in the matter. My decision was based on the consideration of the Report of the public Inquiry held at Wolverhampton on the 15th, 16th and 17th March last, in the course of which evidence was given both for and against this application. My conclusion was that a sufficient case had not been made out to justify me in granting the Order.

Is not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the only opposition to this Measure was from a competing railway company, which has not yet carried out Orders it has had in hand for many years?

I cannot agree with the view put forward by the hon. Member in his Supplementary Question. After very careful consideration, I felt that I could not take upon myself the responsibility of making that Order. As the hon. Member knows, if the promoters wish to proceed with the matter, it is open to them to proceed by Private Bill in Parliament.

Meanwhile, all these people will be out of work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in addition to the suspension of a driving licence any other punishment for dangerous driving, he will also consider taking powers to deprive the offending driver of the use of his car for a specific period of time?

I have been asked to reply. I am afraid I could not be responsible for proposing legislation on these lines.

Is it not a fact that when the road hog of to-day loses his licence it does not prevent him from driving about in a machine. Would not the fact that his car was taken from him for two months bring it home far more vividly to the man who is a dangerous driver than losing his licence?

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been called to the acceptance by a member of the Electricity Board of a directorship in a company whose interests and profits are dependent upon such schemes as the electricity scheme; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

The conditions under which the members of the Central Electricity Board may be appointed and may act are laid down in Section 1 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1926, and I know of nothing that would warrant intervention on my part in connection with any such case as the hon. Member appears to have in mind.

Was it not definitely understood, in Committee on the Bill, that anyone taking any part as a member of the Board would not in any way be connected directly or indirectly with anything having any connection with the production of electric power in this country?

No; that only applies, if my recollection serves me, to the Chairman. In the case of a member of the Board, he would have to disclose any interest he had in a company if any operations of the Board were undertaken in connection with that company.

Is it not a fact, and within the memory of the Minister, that when this question of members apart from the Chairman of the Board was raised, it was agreed that no one would, directly or indirectly, have anything in the nature of an interest in any company that operated in the direction of the production of electricity?

No; what was agred was the decision to which the Committee came.

asked the Postmaster-General Whether, in estimating the aggregate loss on the telegraph system since the date of the transfer of the telegraph service to the State, his Department has taken into account the value of the capital effects; and the estimated values of the buildings and plant at present in the possession of the telegraph section of his Department and the extent to which such effects can be set off against the estimated aggregate loss?

The figure of aggregate loss given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Sir J. Power), in my reply to his question of 11th May, was arrived at after allowing for the value of capital still represented by assets; in other words, it gave the cumulative net loss on capital account and operating account combined. The buildings sites and plant proper to the telegraph service stood in the books as at 31st March, 1926, at £8,700,000, but this sum cannot properly be set off against the estimated aggregate loss.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he proposes to take to increase the telegraphic facilities in East Hull?

I propose to afford facilities for handing in telegrams at the East Park post office; but, as the provision of a new line will probably be involved, I am afraid some little time must elapse before the facilities are available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether and, if so, to what extent, the development of the telephone service has been delayed by delays in the erection of exchange buildings; and when he expects the arrears will be overtaken?

There have been a few cases in which building delays in the past have been a factor in retarding telephone development, but I am glad to say that, with the gradual disappearance of the difficulties due to the industrial troubles of last year, arrears are being steadily overtaken.

Have there been any other delays in telephone development—delays due to change in policy?

I do not think I could say that there have been.

Not due to shortage of money?

asked the Postmaster-General what is the number of men exclusively engaged by his Department in canvassing for the telephone service; and is any payment by results added to their salary?

As I informed my hon. Friend on 28th June, the canvassing staff consists at present of rather over 400 officers, who are employed chiefly in canvassing for new business, but also share in the work involved by removals and cessations. They receive in addition to salary a commission on new orders obtained as a result of their personal efforts.

What is the amount of commission on each order obtained?

Approximately 2s. for a new line and a shilling for an extension.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think this number is anything like sufficient to deal with the whole country?

I think in the present state of plant and development it is ample.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give an assurance that any federation of East Africa will be submitted to this House in the form of a Bill, in view of the importance of such a step to the future of the native inhabitants?

Pending a decision as to policy, it would be premature to consider the question of procedure.

May we have it from the right hon. Gentleman that if any such big change of policy takes place it would not be by Order-in-Council, but would be similar to the Federation of South Africa or Canada and passed through this House?

It need not necessarily be similar to those. It might be more similar similar to the Union of the two Nigerias. I should have to wait for the definite recommendation.

Am I not right in saying the Union of the two Nigerias, was done by Order-in-Council and not through the House of Commons? What I am anxious to ascertain is whether the right hon. Gentleman contemplates passing this Federation in East Africa through the House or by the act of his own Department.

My answer was that I should like, first of all, to see what policy is proposed before I decide what is the best way to carry it out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give assurances that the Palestinian railway from the canal to the frontier will not be handed over to other management without the House of Commons being consulted in the matter; and whether the Palestinian administration favours such a transfer?

I take the question to refer to the Sinai military railway, which lies outside Palestine territory though it is maintained and operated for the present by the Palestine railway administration on behalf of His Majesty's Government. I am not in a position to make a statement on the subject raised in the question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the Question, whether the Palestinian administration favour such a transfer?

Not as far as I am aware.

Has the right hon. Gentleman initiated these proposals from this side?

No, I have initiated no proposals. The right hon. Gentleman has initiated some.

Then are we to understand that there are no such proposals in being at present?

I am not aware of any proposals. Of course, the terms under which a railway is operated on Egyptian territory are a matter which both Governments can raise if they want to, but, as far as I am concerned, I am not initiating any proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how the total acreage in the Empire, except in India, devoted to the growing of cotton during the present year compares with that of the last two years?

I regret that so far as the Colonies and Protectorates are concerned, it is not possible to give statistics of total average under cotton cultivation. In the Tropical African Dependencies, by far the greater part of the cotton is grown by native Africans on their own smallholdings, and as the natives are continually moving from place to place, the acreage under cultivation is constantly changing.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Rome Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the picture depicting the Speaker being held down in the Chair, formerly hung in St. Stephen's Hall, is now to remain permanently in Committee Room 14; and whether it is possible to find a more public place for this picture?

(for The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS): The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. My Noble Friend regrets he is unable to find a more public place for this picture.

Are there not pictures in public places of much less historic value but more esteemed by the House and the public? Would not an exchange of such pictures be possible?

If anyone has any suggestions to make, my noble Friend will give them every sympathetic consideration.

Might not the pictures displaced from St. Stephen's Hall very well be placed in Westminster Hall, particularly the one of the Unknown Warrior?

No, Sir. I think there was a general expression of disapproval of pictures being put in Westminster Hall.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman not consider substituting for the unfinished picture of the recipient of backsheesh, which has now crept in St. Stephen's Hall, this picture which has been taken away?

I think I answered that question rather fully a few days ago, and I have no addition to make to the answer I have given.

Is not this a rare opportunity to get rid of this disgraceful picture and put something in its place which would be more true to history than it is?

Will the Department responsible for these pictures take more into review the diabolical paintings that are now being allocated to it, and see to it that before any painting is placed in this building it shall be worthy as a work of art?

If the hon. Member was referring to the pictures just placed in St. Stephen's Hall—

No, No!

I think they are works of art. As far as the question of the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. J. Brown) is concerned, he does not seem to think that this picture is true to history.

Too true. The disgrace about it is that it is true to history.

The hon. Member who asked me a question two days ago said it was not true to history.

No, I did not. I said nothing of the sort. I said the episode chosen for this picture was a national insult and a humiliation because it was true.

The hon. Member said that actually money passed—

Yes.

—but it is not shown in the picture.

On a point of explanation. What I put as a Supplementary Question was not a reflection on the paintings now in the New Central Hall. But paintings have been removed from the Central Hall which from the point of view of art were really a disgrace to the building.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the number of prosecutions that have been instituted by the Ministry under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924; the amount of fines imposed; and the total amount of wages recovered?

I have been asked to reply. The number of prosecutions which have been instituted under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, up to the present date is 176, as a result of which fines amounting to £554 have been inflicted and £3,234 in arrears of wages have been recovered on behalf of the workers concerned.

How many of these cases were found directly by the inspectors and how many were sent along to the Department by trade unions?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish the full Reports of the Committee of inquiry which inquired into post-vaccinal encephalitis appointed by his Department at the end of 1924?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Committee appointed by one of my right hon. Friend's predecessors in 1923. The Terms of Reference of that Committee were limited to the consideration of the question whether any further experimental research could be initiated to throw light on the possibilities of vaccine lymph producing nervous diseases as a complication of vaccinia. The Committee recommended that further research was desirable and their report was referred to and is under the consideration of, the Committee on Vaccination which is now sitting. In these circumstances, my right hon. Friend does not propose to consider the question of publishing the Report of the Committee appointed in 1923 until he has received a Report from the present Committee.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is referred to rather extensively on the Continent, and, if that be so, does he not think it would be better to publish a report in this country?

I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman had better wait and see what the Sub-committee do.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the problem of housing conditions in Westminster; and what steps the local authority are taking in order to alleviate the distress caused by these conditions?

My right hon. Friend's attention has from time to time been drawn to the housing conditions in Westminster. The city council have completed 40 tenements and have under construction a further 118 flats. It is understood that they have also accepted an offer from the London County Council for the allocation to Westminster families of 50 houses on the county council's estate at Hammersmith. The high cost of land in Westminster materially increases the difficulty of providing housing accommodation in the City at a reasonable rent, and there is no doubt that relief for the overcrowded population of Central London must come, in the main, from the large building schemes of the London County Council.