asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he had any advance information of the supplemental treaty to that of last year lately concluded between Italy and Yemen; how long the treaty has been signed; whether British interests are safeguarded; and if the treaty has been registered with the League of Nations?

The Italian Government have officially denied the existence of any supplementary treaty; and my Noble Friend will not, I am sure, expect me to give information about the non-existent.

Has any boundary been decided upon in the territories of the Yemen and the Hedjaz or does that remain to be done?

I think the right hon. and gallant Gentleman must give me notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire if he will take steps to set up an effective municipal administration in the late British concession at Hankow in trust for all interests concerned until conditions permit, full effect being given to the Chen-O'Malley Agreement?

The course of action proposed by my hon. Friend would be tantamount to a resumption of the control of the concession, and, as stated in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Cardiff (Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke) on the 17th November, His Majesty's Government have no intention of taking this step unless forced to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will defer concluding an ageement for handing over the municipal administration of the British concession at Tientsin to a mixed Chinese and British administration until greater certainty exists than is the case at present that such a course will not be attended by similar results to those which have been experienced at Hankow, or, in the alternative, if he will reserve the right to re-establish. British control of the municipality if the experiment proves a failure?

I regret that I cannot give my hon. Friend a definite answer. The conditions of the problem do not admit of a decisive answer on matters which must be to some extent at least dependent on the uncertain course of events.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of British subjects in the British concession at Tientsin; the number of British firms engaged in business there; the total amount of municipal debentures which has been issued; and the average value of British exports and imports for 10 years prior to 1895?

I have no accurate information as regards the first, second and fourth parts of my hon. Friend's question. As regards the third part, the total amount of debentures outstanding on the 31st December, 1926, was taels 2,571,040. I will write to His Majesty's Minister at Peking for further information if the hon. Member desires it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that in the course of the trial of the slavery case tried at Karachi on 10th October the prevalence of slave-dealing in the Persian Gulf was made manifest; and if he will state what steps the Government are taking in the matter?

His Majesty's Government maintain a naval detachment in the Persian Gulf, one of whose duties is to do whatever may be possible to prevent slave-dealing in that region, but in spite of this measure it is not in their power to abolish the traffic altogether. I have no information which would lead me to suppose that there has of late been any increase in this odious traffic, but I am glad the hon. Member has called my attention to this trial, and I will make inquiries into the situation.

Do other nations co-operate by naval action in controlling this traffic?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Hungary has applied to have the subject matter of its disputes with Rumania heard under the Treaty of Trianon by the appropriate mixed arbitral tribunal and, if so, when the application was made; whether he is aware that such tribunal declared its competency to hear and adjudicate upon such disputes and that the Rumanian Government then withdrew its arbitrator; that the Hungarian Government then applied to the Council of the League of Nations under the Treaty to appoint persons in his place and, if so, when; whether such application has been acceded to; and why the procedure for settlement of disputes under the Treaty has not been followed?

As regards the first part of the question the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. No application was every made by the Hungarian Government for the claims of Hungarian nationals in regard to their property in Transylvania to be heard by the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal set up by the Treaty of Trianon. The claims were brought before the Tribunal by the nationals themselves and the Rumanian Government contested the competence of the Tribunal to hear these specific cases. As regards the remaining parts of the question, the position is that the Tribunal declared itself competent on the 10th of January of the present year and Rumania brought the matter before the Council of the League on the 7th of March under Article 11 of the Covenant as a circumstance tending to affect the good understanding on which peace with Hungary depended. Hungary appealed to the Council later during the March session and asked that the Council should proceed to fill the vacancy caused by the withdrawal of the Rumanian judge from the Tribunal. The Hungarian appeal is still under the consideration of the Council. A final decision has not yet been taken.

Is the Foreign Secretary using his good offices with the Royal Rumanian Government to prevent a defiance of the League of Nations by one of its State members?

The Council did me the honour—the very arduous and invidious honour—of naming me as rapporteur on this question and associated with me to help me in my action two other members of the Council. That Committee of three have used their utmost endeavours with both parties to bring them to a friendly settlement of this unhappy dispute.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, so long as he is connected with this dispute, consider the interests of the peasants who have got the land as well as the landlords who have lost it?

Arising out of that reply, may I ask whether the campaign conducted on behalf of interested parties outside this House is not doing grave injury to the good name of Great Britain in South-Eastern Europe?

If I listened to that campaign, I think I should be disgracing my country. My duty as the representative of my country on the Council of the League, when entrusted with the task of rapporteur on such questions, is to preserve impartiality and do my best to reconcile the contending parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of Resolution 5 of the recent Assembly of the League of Nations, which brings arbitration and security into the purview of the preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Conference, and thus involves an important change in the character of its work, any special instructions are being given to the British delegates before their departure for the forthcoming meeting of the Commission

The subject matter of this question is covered by the Motion of which the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition has given notice for to-morrow, and it will be more conveniently dealt with in debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what cases have applications been made to the Council of the League of Nations to fill vacancies on mixed arbitral tribunals constituted under the treaties of peace, such vacancies having been caused by the withdrawal of representatives by their respective Governments; and what has been the result of such applications?

The only cases of which I am aware in which the Council of the League was requested to appoint substitute members to mixed arbitral tribunals already working occurred in 1923. I must refer my hon. Friend to pages 242, 399, 555 and 629 of the League of Nations Journal for that year for the only official and available information on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government is prepared to support the policy of referring international disputes for judicial settlement to mixed arbitral tribunals set up under treaties of peace?

The functions and competence of the mixed arbitral tribunals set up under the treaties of peace are defined by the treaties themselves. The jurisdiction of the tribunals is confined to certain classes of claims by nationals of the contracting parties, and does not extend to disputes between the States themselves. There can be no question of referring to the tribunals disputes other than those which fall within their jurisdiction as defined by the treaties which established them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any negotiations are taking place between this country and foreign Governments for the further elimination of the visas of British passports and those of the nationals of the countries concerned?

I hope shortly to conclude an agreement with Germany for the abolition of visas. I have also approached the Czechoslovak Government with a view to the abolition of visas, and am awaiting their reply.

Will the Foreign Secretary say whether any steps are being taken to reduce the charges on the visas?

That is a separate question which I cannot answer. It is totally different from the question on the Paper, and I cannot answer it without notice.

Is it not more important to do away with the visas?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, during the Geneva Conference for the limitation of armaments, any proposals were put forward on behalf of His Majesty's Government which would have entailed an increase of tonnage or a greater cost to this country as compared with the programme outlined by himself in his speech at the first plenary session, subsequently published as a White Paper [Cmd. 2964]?

The answer is in the negative.

In that case can there be any justification whatever for the statement that our Government went to the Naval Disarmament Conference at Geneva with a programme of expansion, and is such a statement not likely to prejudice this country?

That problem will be dealt with in the Debate tomorrow.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the two new battleships, five new 10,000-ton cruisers, and various destroyers and submarines passing into service this year will require larger complements; and, if so, whether it is the intention of his Department to make provision in the next Navy Estimates to increase the personnel of the fleet?

The complements of the vessels referred to are provided for in this year's Estimates. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any changes have been made governing the liberty of naval officers and men to participate in political activities, such as voting or taking part in meetings, during an election for Parliament?

I understand the hon. Member's question to refer to the part which it is permissible for serving officers and men to take in a Parliamentary election. No change has been made on this point by the recent Fleet Order, although the wording of the Rule has been slightly changed so as to secure uniformity in the Regulations of all three Services. The effect of the Rule is that serving officers and men are not allowed to identify themselves publicly as supporters of a particular candidate or party, either by joining an election committee, speaking or appearing on the platform at a political meeting, or canvassing on a candidate's behalf. The Rule does not, of course, prevent an officer or man from voting at an election, or attending a political meeting.

Is it not the fact that the new Regulations, as stated by the First Lord of the Admiralty, do deprive naval officers and men of a privilege which they have hitherto enjoyed when wearing mufti—that hitherto they have been allowed the right to attend and participate in political meetings in their private capacity when then were not in uniform?

I think the Order is capable of being differently construed, but it has certainly been held before that they were unable to take part in the political activities from which they are now precluded by the Order.

As the Fleet Order specifically mentions half-pay officers, may I ask if the Admiralty regard half-pay officers as serving officers?

As my hon. and gallant Friend knows, that question, or something like it, was put to the Prime Minister a day or two ago, and he promised to inquire into the matter.

What does the right hon. Gentleman mean when he says that there has been no change? There has been a change, has there not?

I said there had been no change as to taking part in Parliamentary elections. The change refers to the question of sitting in either House.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what the reason is for this taking away of a privilege which they have hitherto enjoyed?

I have not admitted that it is a privilege hitherto enjoyed, but the reason was that, in the time when the party opposite were in power—

In office.

—they set up a Committee of Inquiry into the whole case, under Lord Blanesburgh. That Committee sat for a very long time, and made a Report, and it was in order to carry out part of that Report that this Order was promulgated. That is the history of the matter.

Does participation in Parliamentary elections include the right of putting questions from the body of the hall—[ Interruption ]. May I not, Mr. Speaker, ask the First Lord if, during the War period, there was not a good deal of trouble among the troops because this was first of all forbidden, and the authorities of the day had to grant it?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what were the new facts disclosed at the recent Naval Conference at Geneva which have caused the Government to decide that it is no longer necessary to proceed with the laying down of the two cruisers intended to be laid down this year?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many 10,000-ton cruisers are building and how many it is proposed to build in the next three years?

Eleven 10,000-ton cruisers are building for the Royal Navy. Our published programme does not ex- tend beyond 1929, and provides for one 10,000-ton cruiser, in addition to two smaller cruisers to be built in each of the years 1927, 1928, and 1929. A new situation has arisen owing to the fact that at Geneva, although our proposal for the limitation of the number of 10,000-ton cruisers was not agreed to, the discussions led to the hope that a limitation may be reached, and in these circumstances His Majesty's Government are reluctant to lay down any more of these large 10,000-ton cruisers at present. Accordingly, we have dropped two ships from the 1927 programme, one of them a 10,000-ton cruiser and one a smaller ship the substitution of which in lieu of a 10,000-ton cruiser in the 1928 programme is a question still under consideration.

Will my right hon. Friend assure the House and the country that the withholding of the starting of these ships will in no way imperil the protection of our trade routes and the protection of our supplies of food, of which there is only seven weeks' supply in this country?

Yes, Sir.

May I ask, is anyone attacking the food supplies of the country?

I think the hon. Member will agree with me when I say that it is necessary to provide in advance for the defence of our trade routes.

Will the First Lord bear in mind that the country will be very well pleased if he will drop the other cruiser from his programme this year?

No!

I am unaware what authority the hon. Member has to speak for the country.

We cannot have a Navy Estimates Debate just now.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can make any statement as to the inclusion of a sum of money in the coming Naval Estimates towards marriage allowance for officers of the Royal Navy?

I regret that I see no possibility of including any sum of money in the coming Naval Estimates for marriage allowance for officers of the Royal Navy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reasons which induced him to include a sum for marriage allowances for officers of the Royal Navy in the Estimates in 1925 have not changed, and that the need for it is just as great now?

I cannot argue that point, but I think the hon. Member will realise that we are governed in this matter by the Government decision of 1924.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what supervision is exercised by the Board over cinematograph films in the making of which assistance is given by officers and ratings of the Royal Navy and His Majesty's ships?

Assistance is only given after signature of a legal agreement with the applicant firm, which provides in great detail for supervision by the Admiralty at various stages and for censorship before final production.

Are steps taken to ensure that the final production is historically accurate?

Of course.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether in this agreement any provision is made for the Admiralty participating in the profits?

I should be very glad to send a copy of the agreement to the hon. Member, and, if he can suggest any improvements, we shall be glad to consider them.

Will officers and ratings of the Navy receive any extra remuneration for this work?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how much money has been spent to date on the new naval base at Singapore; when the work is now expected to be finished; and what the total cost is now estimated to be on the completion of the base?

The expenditure to date is £422,287. It is anticipated that the work will be completed in 1937. The total estimated cost of the work is £7,750,000.

Was the question of this base discussed at Geneva, and could not the altered circumstances which led to the abandonment of two cruisers this year lead also to the retardation of this expenditure?

No, Sir, the question was not discussed at Geneva.

Could the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my supplementary question?

I did not hear it.

I asked whether, in view of the First Lord's statement a little time ago that he was hopeful of agreement and had therefore dropped out two cruisers from his programme, he could not retard this expenditure as well?

I do not think I could say as to that. As a matter of fact the work has been retarded, mainly owing to certain circumstances which have made the preliminary work take longer than we thought to carry out. I have certainly never suggested at Geneva or elsewhere that there is any reason for abandoning this proposal.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider building in His Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, some of the constructions required by the mechanised Army?

I have been asked to reply. Having regard to the specialised character of much of this work, and to the limited amount of it that will be available, I regret that I see no prospect at present of offering the work to the Royal Dockyards.

Does not the hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that it is because of the highly specialised character of the work that the suggestion is made, and does he not consider that it would be more appropriate that this work should be done under Government supervision, rather than by private enterprise?

I can assure the hon. Member that all work carried out by the War Office is carried out under the most careful supervision.

Would it not be much better if it were done in the dockyards?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that a certain number of men served in whose case there is no special documentary evidence of attestation; whether any appeal in cases in which the sole issue is whether or not a claimant served in pursuance of a voluntary enlistment can be allowed; and, if so, up to what date?

I am aware that there are such cases. Notice has been given in Admiralty Fleet Orders that employés who wish to appeal against the rejection of their claims must do so not later than 30th November.

Seeing that the date is so close upon us, would it not be possible for the hon. and gallant Gentleman to extend it for a fortnight?

The date has been fixed for some long time past and applies to a great many cases. It has been fixed for all three service Departments, and it is not within the power of the Admiralty, even if it so wished, to alter the date.

What steps are being taken to acquaint those concerned that 30th November is the last date on which they can apply?

It has been published, and everyone is supposed to have an opportunity of seeing published notices.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of 10,000-ton cruisers built, building, or proposed to be built by the United States Government; and what additional sums of money are being put forward in their Naval Estimates?

The answer to the first part of the question is: Built None. Building 8 I have no information in regard to the number of cruisers proposed to be built. As regards the second part of the question, the Naval Estimates proposed for 1928–1929 have not yet been published.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the increased naval programme which is suggested in the papers is the answer to our gesture for disarmament in not laying down these two cruisers?

I think a great deal was written in the papers before they knew what our programme in regard to the cruisers was. I should be very sorry to base any argument on anything that appeared in the papers on this subject.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that an increase in the American Navy adds to the risks of this country, or is an additional safeguard to us in time of trouble?

asked the Minister of Labour whether there is any information available as to the number of persons at present employed in the production of gas mantles in this country, as compared with the number employed immediately prior to the imposition of the Safeguarding Duty in December, 1925?

I have been asked to reply. From such information as is available, it would appear that the number of persons employed in the British gas mantle industry in the second and third quarters of the present year was about the same as the number in the corresponding periods of 1925.

asked the Minister of Labour if resident domestic service is classified as a skilled or unskilled occupation.

There is no official classification of this sort; and the variety of occupations covered is such that I do not think it would be possible to describe resident domestic service, as a whole, as either skilled or unskilled.

Does not the hon. Gentleman see that this is a very unsatisfactory state of affairs? Are not these people being trained for service?

Quite obviously, it is not possible to classify them in the way that the hon. and gallant Gentleman suggests. For instance, a cook may be a highly skilled person or a very unskilled one.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can give any estimate of the number of men employed as a result of the subsidies paid to the refiners of sugar beet under the Beet Sugar Subsidy Act, and the number of men unemployed as a result of the depression in the factories for the refining of imported raw sugar?

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture that there are about 8,400 workers at present employed in the beet sugar factories, but the additional number engaged on the land or in industries ancillary to the sugar beet factories, owing to the operation of the subsidy, cannot be stated. As regards the last part of the question, separate statistics of the numbers unemployed in the sugar refining industry are not available.

How is it that the Ministry can supply figures for gas mantles and other safeguarded industries and cannot supply figures for beet sugar?

Is the sugar refining industry an insured trade?

I should like notice of that question, but I am pretty certain that it is.

Then you will be able to get the figures.

Can the hon. Gentleman supply figures of the number of people who are thrown out of work owing to the reduced purchasing power of the taxpayers who have to provide the subsidy?

With regard to the question of the hon. Member for South Poplar (Mr. March), the answer was given by my right hon. Friend the other day. We have a general classification for food industries, but there is no separate classification for sugar refining.

May I repeat my question. How is it that the Ministry are able to supply figures for every other industry except beet sugar?

I have just answered that question. We have a general classification for food industries, but no separate classification for sugar refining.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any associations have been formed to protect the interests of British exporters in dealing with the shipping conferences as recommended by the Imperial Shipping Committee's Report, 1922; and, if such associations have not been formed, will he ask the Imperial Shipping Committee to further consider the complaints of the disparities in freight rates between exports from Continental and British ports?

I understand that no such associations have been formed other than those mentioned in the Report referred to. If in any trade shippers can establish a general case for inquiry, I shall be prepared to consider whether it can properly be submitted to the Imperial Shipping Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the shipping freight on cotton goods from Liverpool to Alexandria is 50s. per measurement ton and from Antwerp to Alexandria is only 15s. per measurement ton; and will he take steps, through the Imperial Shipping Committee or otherwise, to secure the removal of this handicap to British producers?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday by the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Johnston), a copy of which I am sending him.

With the hon. Member's special knowledge, is he satisfied with the present position in regard to these freights?

I rely upon my own experience and the recommendation of the Royal Commission, which was supported by the Imperial Committee in their Report in 1922, which said that this is an inter-trade matter, and it would not be proper for a Government Department to intervene.

Is it not a fact that in the Report to which the hon. Member has alluded it was specially stated that this was the first method to be tried, the formation of associations, and that if that failed there should be direct action of the Board of Trade.

Yes, Sir, but I have informed the hon. Member that I do not think that the method ever has been exhaustively tried by the trade. I do not think they have formed the associations recommended.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to a memorandum compiled by the International Labour Office showing the effect of the adoption of the eight-hours day in France; and whether, in view of the conclusion drawn in the memorandum that, after temporary difficulties, the output quickly returned to or even surpassed its normal level, he will recon- sider the possibility of ratifying the Washington Convention on Hours of Labour?

I have seen the summaries published in Industrial and Labour Information of certain reports published by the French Ministry of Labour on the extent to which conditions of production and labour have adapted themselves to the French Act of 23rd April, 1919, on the eight hour day. As regards the intentions of the Government towards the Washington Hours Convention, as stated yesterday, in reply to the hon. Member for the Elland Division (Mr. Robinson), my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to add anything to the statement he made in this House on 2nd June.

Is it not a fact that the reason why the Government have not ratified the convention is the tremendous opposition received from employers of labour?

The hon. Member must make no such assumption.

Is it not true that Lord Cecil in another place said that the Government were prepared to ratify this, and it is only a question of time?

Lord Cecil, so far as I know, made no such statement.

If the employers of labour and the capitalists had wanted this, would not the Government have granted it?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the reason why ex-service and general orderly staffs employed in a temporary capacity at the Ministry of Pensions hospitals are compulsorily excepted from the benefits of the Unemployment Insurance Acts?

General orderly staffs at the Ministry of Pensions Hospitals are held in most cases to come within the scope of paragraph ( b ) of Part II of the First Schedule to the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, which excepts from Unemployment Insurance employment in domestic service, except where the employed person is employed in any trade or business carried on for the purposes of gain.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these men are discharged, and are therefore in a very hard position, and can he see his way to remedying it in the present Bill?

That point will arise in debate. I could not answer it in reply to a question.

Will not the hon. Gentleman consider it himself with a view to drafting an Amendment, seeing that an increasing number of these men are being landed in an awkward position?

It is already laid down in the Act of 1920 that the definition as to who does and who does not come within the Act is decided by a Judge of the High Court appointed for the purpose, and we have no discretionary power in the matter at all.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give figures showing the estimated numbers of exempt men, women, boys, and girls, respectively, in respect of whom contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Fund are paid?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give figures for each financial year since the coming into operation of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, showing the total amount of contributions made to the Unemployment Insurance Fund by Parliament and by employers, respectively, in regard to exempted employés?

No separate record of such contributions is kept. It is estimated that the amounts paid in 1926–27 by employers and the Exchequer, respectively, were £50,000 and £15,000—total £65,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give figures for each financial year since the coming into operation of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, showing the total amounts of contributions made to the Unemployment Insurance Fund by Parliament, employers, and employés?

As the reply includes a statement in tabular form, I will, if I may, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply :

The figures at 29th October, 1927, were as follow:

Were any of these flappers?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of unemployed persons, and the percentage of unemployed to employed, in London and in the county borough of West Ham, respectively, for

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men who have completed their training at the Brandon and Claydon training centres from their inception to 31st October, 1927; what proportion have gone overseas; is their training wholly agricultural; and is it the intention to provide additional centers?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 8th November to the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury). With regard to the last part of the question the centres at Brandon and Claydon are now being enlarged.

asked the Minister of Labour by what method it is intended to appoint the new chairman of the court of referees; and what qualifications are required for the post?

Under Section 13 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, chairmen of Courts of Referees are appointed by the Minister and no amendment on this point is proposed. The the last weeks in April, July, and October, in the years 1926 and 1927?

As the reply includes a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the statement:

qualifications of chairmen are not laid down, in the Acts, but in practice legal qualifications and, if possible, judicial experience are required, and, among other conditions, persons connected with any organisation of employers or employed persons, and candidates for Parliament are regarded as ineligible.

Seeing that a large number of chairmen are to be appointed, is it intended to advertise these posts for open competition among the legal profession?

What we do is to consult County Court Judges and, if necessary, Judges of the High Court to advise us as to the qualifications of the applicants.

In view of the fact that most of these persons consulted are drawn from a small and privileged class, will they not advertise the posts to open competition and allow the selection to be as fair as possible?

We certainly endeavour to make the selection as fair as possible, but I cannot give any undertaking that we will advertise them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a memorandum from the Birmingham Poor Law Union protesting against the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Bill; how many similar protests he has received from other Poor Law unions; and ii he intends taking any action in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend has received the memorandum referred to from the Birmingham Union. No similar memorandum has been received from other Poor Law unions. As regards the last part of the question, the memorandum relates to the proposals of the Unemployment Insurance Bill which is now being considered in Committee, when all relevant points will no doubt be fully debated.

Is it not a fact that other boards of guardians have passed similar resolutions protesting against the insertion of certain provisions in the Unemployment Insurance Bill?

The only memorandum we have received is a memorandum from Birmingham. I am not aware of any others.

Is it not a fact that dozens of local authorities have passed resolutions protesting against the possible effects of the Bill?

As I have said, I am not in a position either to confirm or to deny the statement, as this is the only one we have received.

Is it not a fact that Poor Law authorities and boards of guardians are sick and tired of protesting to the present Government as it is of no use?

How is it that the answer has been given by the Ministry of Labour when the question was put to the Ministry of Health, who have all the information that can be given to the House?

asked the Minister of Labour whether any strikes or lock-outs have broken out since the passage into law of the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act, 1927; and, if so, how many?

The number of disputes involving a stoppage of work reported as having begun in Great Britain since the passage into law of the Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act (1927) is 89, affecting 21,000 workpeople in all. Small disputes involving less than 10 workpeople or lasting less than one working day are not included in this figure.

Is it not true that while these figures are very regrettable they entirely destroy the case made during the passage of the Bill?

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many of these disputes were strikes and how many lock-outs?

What has happened to the raging propaganda which was going to bring about a national up-heaval?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the evidence given at the inquest held on Flight-Lieutenant Mackenzie Richards, who was killed on Wednesday, 9th November, in Surrey, he can state whether the defect in. the compass carried on the aeroplane used by this pilot was known before the aeroplane left Farnborough, and if there are any records to show when this compass was last examined

The compass was not known to be defective when the machine left Farnborough; the instrument was last examined on 7th November, when it was reported to be in good condition.

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether these compasses are periodically examined?

Yes, certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what are the comparative figures for the British Air Force and the largest air force possessed by any Power on the Continent of Europe in regard to the number of machines, number of men, and total horse-power of engines?

The present approximate first line strength of the Royal Air Force is 750 aircraft, of which 270 are in squadrons stationed abroad. The total personnel of the force is 29,985. The present strength of the French Air Services, according to my latest information, is about 1,350 first line aircraft, of which some 280 are in units abroad. It is not practicable to give the number of personnel engaged in air duties in France, since large numbers of those so employed belong to the Army and Navy; nor can any useful comparative figures be given for horse-power of the engines.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether there has been any increase in the air establishments in North-West India during the present year; and whether it is proposed to increase such establishments in North-West India?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part is in the negative. As regards future policy, I am not prepared to make any statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the registrar's office for the parish of Fala and Santra, in the county of Midlothian, is on licensed premises; if he approves of this place for the registrar's work to be conducted; and, if not, what action, if any, does he propose to take to have the work done in more suitable premises?

I understand that the wife of the holder of a grocer's licence has been appointed registrar, and I assume that the licensed premises will be used as the registration office. As I have no powers in the matter, and no knowledge as to the availability of other premises, I do not think that I should express any opinion as to the propriety of the action taken by the parish council.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the way in which this appointment was engineered and that large numbers of people have genuine conscientious objections to going into licensed premises, and will he be prepared to consider the facts which I can place before him from the district?

Of course, I am always prepared to listen to any facts, but, as I have explained to the hon. Member, I have no jurisdiction in the matter.

I beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the. reply, I shall raise this question on the Adjournment.

How is the right hon. Gentleman going to swear that he has no licensed supporters in Pollok in this matter?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of families living in one, two, three, and four apartments and upwards in Scotland?

As the reply involves a statement containing a considerable number of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the statement : According to the Scottish Census of 1921 the figures for households in Scotland, consisting of two or more persons (apart from lodgers) living in dwellings of the sizes referred to, were as follow: One-roomed house 99,302 Two-roomed house 400,353 Three-roomed house 213,250 Four-roomed house 102,471 Houses of more than four rooms 171,140

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a large number of dwelling-houses are kept empty and withheld from occupation on account of the owners wanting to obtain a higher sale price; and will he take steps to remedy this

My right hon. Friend is aware that there is always a certain number of unoccupied houses which are held for sale, but he does not consider that it would be practicable to legislate on the subject.

Is it not a fact that every time a house becomes unoccupied it is put up for sale, and there is no possible chance of the local authorities letting it?

I do not think that is the case.

Cannot the owners of unoccupied houses be asked to pay rates while the houses remain unoccupied?

Since when has it been the policy of the Liberal party not to sell in the highest market?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in some of these districts where there are unoccupied houses there are eight and nine people living in one room?

asked the Minister of Health the names of the local authorities who have been granted subsidies under the Housing Act, 1924, for houses which were originally intended for sale under the Act of 1923?

In submitting proposals for the erection of houses under the Act of 1923 it is not necessary for local authorities to inform my right hon. Friend whether it is their intention to sell or to let the houses, and although, as my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member he is aware of a few of the authorities who have been granted subsidies under the Act of 1924 in respect of houses intended for sale under the Act of 1923, he is not in a position to give a list of the authorities concerned.

asked the Prime Minister if he will afford facilities for the Bill to amend the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, introduced by the hon. Member for Spennymoor, or take such other action as will enable women aged between 65 and 70, wives of insured persons, who reach the age of 70 prior to 2nd January, 1928, to receive the old age pension on the same terms as the wives of men who will be between the ages of 65 and 70 on 2nd January, 1928?

No, Sir, I am not prepared to take action on the lines suggested by the hon. Member. In this connection I would refer him to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health on the 17th instant in reply to questions on this subject, by the hon. Members for Leigh (Mr. Tinker) and Southampton (Colonel Perkins), and by my hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (Mr. Edmund Wood) of which I am sending him copies.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is very grave disappointment among a number of old people in connection with this distinction which has only recently been brought to their notice, and that they have never understood it and cannot understand it now?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will be good enough to refer to the answers to which I have referred.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in order to assist those British investors who have become impoverished in consequence of their investments in Russian Government securities having been repudiated by the Soviet authorities, he will consider the possibility of making advances by way of loan to such investors to the extent of 20 per cent. of the face value of securities if deposited by them with the Exchequer as security, the amounts so advanced to be repaid with interest when the Russian authorities decide to recognise their liabilities to foreign investors in their national undertakings?

No, Sir. It is clearly out of the question to ask Parliament to vote money for this purpose.

Seeing that the grant of such a loan has been made in Germany, why cannot it be done in this country?