asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any arrangements have been made for the resumption of the conversations between His Majesty King Ibn Saud and Sir Gilbert Clayton; and can he give the House any particulars?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Buxton) on 13th June, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Palestine Government has rejected the demand of the Palestine Labour Federation for the abolition of flogging in the Palestine prisons and for the special treatment of political offenders?

I have not received the text of the communication addressed to the Palestine Government by the General Federation of Jewish Labour, which is no doubt what the right hon. and gallant Member refers to, nor the terms of the Palestine Government's reply. If the Federation has demaded that all flogging for prison offences shall be abolished, the reason why this has not been acceded to is, I think, obvious, for the power to inflict flogging as a punishment for certain prison offences is generally recognised as necessary in order to maintain discipline in prisons.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the punishment of flogging in prisons has recently been abandoned even in Turkey, and should not we follow suit in Palestine and abolish this form of torture? In the second place, would the right hon. Gentle man deal with the second part of the question as to the special treatment of political offenders? Is he aware that recently there has been a sort of heresy hunt in Palestine against Communists, and will he stop this sort of action by the Palestine Government?

I am not aware that there has been anything in the nature of a Communist hunt, but I think the general opinion is that for offences of violence committed in prison against prison discipline the punishment of flogging is necessary.

Will the right hon. Gentleman issue instructions that the punishment of flogging is only to be inflicted for the same offences as in this country, namely, grave personal assault?

I will look into that matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why an ultimatum has been presented to the Imam to vacate the territories of the Aden hinterland: and whether any bombing has taken place at Taiz?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement regarding recent events in the Yemen?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to bring to an end the strained relations and hostilities existing between His Majesty's Government and the Imam of Yemen; what are the subjects under dispute: and whether the Imam has made any proposals that are intended to settle the situation?

On the 12th March last, I made a full statement in the House on the relations between His Majesty's Government and the Imam of the Yemen, and described the action which it had been found necessary to take. That action resulted in the return of the Protectorate Sheikhs who had been kidnapped and in a request by the Imam for a truce of thirty days for general negotiations. The request was granted, and the truce took effect from the 25th March. The Acting Resident at Aden proceeded to Taiz in Yemen territory to open negotiations, but found that the Imam's representative there was empowered to carry on informal discussion only and not to negotiate a treaty. Subsequently, the Imam was informed that His Majesty's Government were prepared to conclude immediately a brief treaty confined to (1) recognition by His Majesty's Government of the Imam's independence in the Yemen; (2) recognition by the Imam of the frontier of the Aden Protectorate with certain modifications in his favour; and (3) a promise to the Imam of such assistance as His Majesty's Government could render him within the limit of their international obligations.

The truce was extended to the 1st June to give the Imam time to consider this proposal. On his asking for a further extension to the 17th July, the Imam was informed that this extension would be given provided that, as an earnest of good faith, he evacuated the town of Dhala by the 20th June. This he failed to do. Consequently, demonstration flights were made and warnings dropped giving four days' notice, and on the 25th June air action was recommenced.

Air action has been taken in all on 14 several days, including one on which an attack was delivered on Taiz. The Royal Air Force suffered no casualties during such action.

I should like to repeat that His Majesty's Government are anxious, as they always have been, to come to a settlement with the Imam on honourable terms which will satisfy the just claims of both parties and place their future relations on a friendly and neighbourly basis. But no settlement could be acceptable to His Majesty's Government which did not take account of their obligations towards the tribes on their own side of the frontier.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that these ultimatums and bombings are really the best way of bringing about a settlement?

Yes, Sir, in these circumstances.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why he goes round killing perfectly innocent natives when he cannot get on with the Imam of Yemen? Why not leave the natives alone?

The bombing is at places where the Imam's armed forces are stationed.

What steps are taken to see that non-combatants and women are not bombed?

They are given full notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in British East Africa it is a crime punishable by law to teach a native child to read English without an official licence, and that the teaching of English to native children in Uganda is to be stopped except to such children whose future work, such as telegraphists, is likely to require it; and whether he has given his sanction to this policy?

Under the Education Ordinance of Kenya no person may, except in special circumstances, be appointed as a teacher in any Government, assisted or private school, who does not hold a certificate of competency or a licence to teach issued or recognised by the Education Department. I am not, however, aware of any penalty attaching by law specifically to the teaching of English without a licence. In Uganda the Governor has, after much consideration, proposed that Swahili should replace the various tribal languages as the medium of instruction in elementary vernacular schools in various parts of the country, and the matter is to be discussed with him during his visit to this country. I am not aware that any proposal is under consideration to curtail existing facilities for the teaching of English to native children in Uganda.

Is it not a fact that the teaching of English to natives in these territories is definitely discouraged by the Government, and, in view of the fact that this country belongs to the British Commonwealth of Nations, can the right hon. Gentleman say why they should be prevented from learning the English language?

I think the hon. Member is mistaken. I do not think there is any discouragement of natives learning English There is discouragement of unqualified teachers attempting to teach anything, and there is also the question of teaching the natives in the lowest classes in the schools through their vernacular, which is much more easy for them to understand.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what is the precise significance of the word "specifically" in the answer to the original question? What modification does that imply?

It simply means that there is not a legal penalty attaching to the teaching of English.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a knowledge of English is the best protection these natives can have against exploitation, and will he see that there is no encouragement in this apparent direction of keeping the natives ignorant of the English language?

I do not think there is anything like that.

Is this the new Imperialism, to discourage the tongue of Shakespeare and Milton?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the reorganisation of labour and the revision of the scale of diet in Kingston General Penitentiary recommended by the Commission of Inquiry into Prison Administration in Jamaica have been carried out; what was the average daily population of the penitentiary in 1927; how many prisoners were punished during the year; and how many of these were flogged?

I have received no information later than that conveyed in the reply to the hon. Member's question on 28th November except that the number of prisoners flogged in 1927 was three, but I am asking for a further report.

Arising out of the first part of the question, do I understand that the Minister is not certain whether these recommendations have been put into operation yet?

I think that most of the main recommendations have been put into operation.

Can the right hon. Gentleman obtain accurate information and let me know?

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government has yet decided to whom the Dead Sea potash concession is to be granted?

As I have already stated, it has been decided in principle to giant the concession to Major Tulloch and Mr. Novomeysky, provided that suitable terms and conditions can be agreed upon, and that they furnish satisfactory financial guarantees.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether His Majesty's Government have ever had negotiations with any British syndicate, suitable financially or otherwise?

Yes, the matter was open for tender, and several groups did apply, and this particular group was chosen.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that, as a Government, it is better to keep this in their own hands in the interests of world peace and for the benefit of home industries?

I doubt whether this kind of speculative industry could be run by the Government.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this question has been going on for ten years, and that, meanwhile, the price of potash remains unnecessarily high owing to the German monopoly, and cannot he give a time limit to these concessionnaires?

Yes, Sir. I am trying to expedite the matter as much as possible, but I must demur to the statement that this matter has been going on for ten years or anything like that time.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the best way to kill the speculative element he is talking about is for the Government to retain this matter in their own hands?

It might kill the industry as well as the speculative element.

Why?

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain to this House in what way he can kill an industry by retaining what is fundamental?

Has the right hon. Gentleman fixed a time limit for these particular individuals who have been offered the concession to give the satisfactory terms he has stated?

As I have explained, I am anxious to expedite the matter as much as possible, but I must not be understood to imply that the difficulties remain entirely with the concessionnaires. We have had to consult the Palestine and Trans-Jordan Governments, and consider other problems as well.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether his colleagues in the Government are in agreement with him that this Government are not fit to run anything?

That matter does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, seeing that the property qualification for the franchise in Southern Rhodesia has been raised from £150 to £500, His Majesty's Government has considered the question whether this involves discrimination against native owners of house property; and, if so, what action it is proposed to take?

The provision in the Southern Rhodesia Electoral Bill raising the property qualification from £150 to £500 would apply both to Europeans and natives. I find, however, that in the course of the Debate on the Second Reading of the Bill the Premier stated that he proposed to move an Amendment, if it was not moved by any other Member, reducing this qualification of £500 to the present qualification, but that the matter was entirely one for the Members of the House to decide. I have not yet heard what is the present position with regard to the Bill.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this decision affects the number of natives acquiring the vote in Rhodesia and that at present, with £150, it is possible for a handful of natives to get the vote, but, if it is raised to £500, no coloured man can get the vote?

I quite realise that the high property qualification would diminish the number of natives eligible for the vote, but, at any rate, there is no racial discrimination at all.

Is it not the right hon. Gentleman's duty, in looking after the interests of the natives of Rhodesia, to see that this apparently harmless alteration which would, in fact, seriously affect the position of the natives, is not made?

Does this not show discrimination against the native by increasing the property qualification from £150 to £500?

No, Sir. It is not an increase for natives only: it is an increase for all voters.

Is it not showing discrimination against a section of the community who cannot raise the necessary sum?

Is it possible for the right hon. Gentleman to make representations, even at this late hour, to the Rhodesian Government, as this is very serious for the natives?

I have to consider very carefully how far the terms under which I am justified in intervening in the affairs of a self-governing Colony like Rhodesia would include this particular matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he is now in a position to state how far the negotiations have gone between his Department and the Irish Free State regarding the mutual repatriation of persons in receipt of poor relief?

I would invite my hon. and gallant Friend's attention to the reply which I gave on the 25th June to the right hon. Member for St. Marylebone (Sir R. Rodd).

Have negotiations taken place with the Northern Ireland Government also, or are they confined to the Irish Free State?

I am afraid that question must be put on the Paper.

Would it not be the duty of the right hon. Gentleman to conduct negotiations for both Governments?

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade at what period one of the two senior accountants now Employed in the clearing office for enemy debts was director of the Repatriation Department of the Australian Imperial Force?

I regret that the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member on the 26th June, by a clerical error, gave the previous Employer of the officer in question and not the post held by him. His rank in the office of the director of the Repatriation Department of the Australian Imperial Force was that of Staff Captain.

Have any further investigations taken place in regard to the conduct of this Department?

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

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the grounds for the dismissal of the officer who recently submitted a memorandum complaining of the administration of the enemy debts office; and why the Department has refused to give him the reasons for such dismissal?

The officer in question was Employed on a temporary basis, and in common with other temporary officers he was appointed subject to the condition that his employment could be terminated by one week's notice on the part of the officer and by one month's notice on the part of the Department, given at any time without cause assigned. The procedure followed by the Department in terminating the appointment of this officer was in accordance with the condition stated above.

Is it yet in the mind of the Department to give this man the reasons for his dismissal, particularly as he presented a memorandum to the President of the Board of Trade, complaining of the conduct of his superior officer?

That seems to raise a separate question, which was dealt with by my right hon. Friend last week.

Does the hon. Member not think that it is rather unfortunate that an officer of his Department who prefers a complaint in the regular manner should be dismissed?

On Thursday of last week, my right hon. Friend suggested that, if the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Kelly) wished to raise this question further, he might raise it in the form of a specific allegation, which could be tested.

Is the hon. Member not aware that this is a specific allegation? I heard what was said last Thursday, and I make the allegation now. I say that an officer made a complaint and that he was dismissed for it, which I say is improper.

Has the hon. Member looked into this question sufficiently to assure the House that the fact that this official submitted a memorandum formed no part of the reason for his dismissal?

I am sorry that the case of this officer's dismissal has been brought into question, because personally I have no doubt that undue consideration has been given to him.

Can the hon. Member answer my question? Has he satisfied himself that the fact that this man submitted a memorandum was no part of the reason for his dismissal?

I have no reason for satisfying myself on that point.

In view of the dissatisfaction and the doubt there is in the case, will this matter be further investigated?

I do not know that there is any doubt, and I am not aware that there is any dissatisfaction; but, if the hon. Member desires anything to be investigated, will he kindly say what it is that he desires to be investigated?

Is it not a fact that a memorandum was presented to the Department containing charges of a serious nature, and are not those charges which ought to be investigated?

That question has been asked several times.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether application, on the ground of statelessness, for the release of sequestrated property are dealt with by the Enemy Debts Department on the basis of the applicant's legal claim to statelessness; how many such cases have been dealt with by compromise between the Department and Mr. Samuel Cromer, acting as agent for the applicant; and what is the total sum involved in such compromise releases?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In 19 cases where applications have been made to the Department for the Administration of German Property for release of property on the ground of statelessness the cases, after full consideration of the legal position and with the approval of the Board of Trade, have been dealt with by way of compromise with Mr. Samuel Cromer, acting as agent for the applicant. The total sum involved is approximately £880,636.

Seeing that these cases have to be decided upon the question whether a man is a citizen of a particular State, can the hon. Member say how they can compromise as to a man being a member of the State or not? How is it possible to compromise as to citizenship of an enemy State, or not?

I imagine that the compromise related to amounts.

Is it not a fact that these questions are decided on the citizenship of a particular State, apart from the amount? Is it possible to compromise as to whether a man is a citizen of Germany or not?

rose—

Any further questions must be put on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Health the estimated amount of rates levied in England and Wales on agricultural buildings, excluding farmhouses, for the last three years, respectively?

The amount of rates levied in England and Wales on agricultural buildings, excluding farmhouses, is not shown separately in the rate books nor can it be shown separately until the new valuation lists under the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, have been compiled. In these circumstances a close estimate of the amount cannot be furnished for any year, but such indications as there are point to an amount ranging in recent years from £650,000 to £850,000.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received a resolution signed by inhabitants of Louth calling attention to the burning refuse pit in the town, which is so situated that odours and smoke are causing danger to health and annoyance to inhabitants; and what reply be has returned?

My right hon. Friend has received a petition in reference to this matter and is communicating with the town council.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the inconsistencies prevalent to-day throughout the country in regard to the rating of voluntary hospitals; that in Devon the rating assessment committees have resolved that voluntary hospitals in that county shall be rated at 7s. 6d. per bed, including nurses' beds, while in Wiltshire the rating and assessment committees have adopted the basis of £5 per head additional to nurses' beds; and whether he can give to the House the assurance that such inequalities will be removed under the new Valuation and Eating Act?

The Central Valuation Committee has reported the existence of considerable diversity of practice in the assessment of voluntary hospitals. My right hon. Friend has circulated the Committee's recommendations on this matter to the local authorities concerned, but he is not empowered to interfere with their discretion in the assessment of any class of hereditament. I may add that the matter is not germane to the Government's proposals for giving relief from rating burdens to agriculture and industry.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the effect of the operation of the 1925 Rating and Valuation Act on some hospitals? For instance, in the case of the Middlesex and Westminster Hospitals, the rate is £4 per bed, whereas the new rate in Brighton for the new Sussex Hospital is £23. The rates have been increased 20 or 30 times in amount?

The hon. and gallant Member seems to be answering a question.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the advisability of de-rating hospital beds?

That matter was discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the practical closing of all climbing on the southern slopes of the Alps in Italian territory, near the Swiss and French frontiers, owing to the regulations issued by the Italian Government, he will make friendly representations to the Italian Government asking that the facilities formerly enjoyed by all climbers may be restored?

No, Sir. The restriction of the movement of foreigners across the Italian frontier is a matter entirely within the competence of the Italian Government, and His Majesty's Government have no ground for representations. In this connection, I would refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for the English Universities (Sir M. Conway) on the 25th June. I may add that according to a list communicated to His Majesty's Government in September last, some 30 passes are open on the Swiss-Italian frontier alone. A similar list in respect of the Franco-Italian frontier is awaited.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that only the easier passes, which are of very little interest to climbers, are open, and that the more difficult mountains are practically closed?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that, owing to the isolated position of Edenhall hospital, there is much dissatisfaction among ex-service men who are on out treatment there owing to the long walk to the hospital; and whether he can arrange to provide transport facilities from Musselburgh to enable the men to reach the hospital without difficulty.

The hon Member would appear to have been misinformed as to the facts. There is no out-patient department at this hospital.

Is it not a fact that many persons who seek to visit the patients in this institution find difficulty in obtaining the necessary transport facilities?

We have not had any report to that effect. The institution is situated only a few minutes' walk from a place where there is a frequent tram and omnibus service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Scottish Office cannot give the number of applications for small holdings in Harris and Lewis in 1912, the number met, and the number still awaiting settlement, when Appendix No. 3 to the Sixteenth Report of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland contains even more statistical information relating to Skye, North Uist, and Barra?

The number of applications received in a particular year from the districts referred to can be readily obtained, but to trace their subsequent history over a period of years would involve a considerable expenditure of time and labour which I do not think would be justifiable. As regards the reference to Appendix 3 of the Board's Report, this contains statistical information which is readily available relating to properties acquired by the Board for land settlement purposes

Is it not quite an easy matter for the Secretary of State to find out whether an individual who has registered an application for a smallholding in 1912, say, has subsequently received that holding? That is the purport of the question. Cannot that be done quite easily? It does not require much statistical search.

The fact is that it can be readily ascertained when the application is made, but, if a considerable period of years elapses, to find out what happened to him in those subsequent years entails a great deal of labour which I do not think is justified by any result.

Are we to understand that in some way or other the records are placed in an inaccessible position in the Scottish Office, that the officials there cannot obtain access to them? When a name is once registered by an applicant for a smallholding is it the case that that name disappears and cannot be found during a subsequent period?

No, Sir. The records of applications are kept by the Board of Agriculture. It would be a great labour and expense to trace what happened to every individual who may have applied in one year or another. He may haw, gone out of the town or may have disappeared in the interval.

rose—

We have dealt with only 44 questions and there are only 10 minutes remaining to finish all questions.

asked the Prime Minister whether any further steps have been taken towards giving to British women married to aliens the right to retain their own nationality; and whether he can promise this reform within the lifetime of the present Parliament?

I have been asked to reply. We must await the Report of the Committee of Experts mentioned by the Imperial Conference of 1926, and when the recommendations of that Committee are available they will have to be considered by a further Conference. I fear, therefore, that the answer to the last paragraph of the question must be in the negative.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any idea as to when this Committee of experts will report, and is he not aware that a great deal of hardship is caused to many English women by the present state of affairs, while foreign women, some of whom are quite undesirable, can obtain British nationality by merely going through the formality of marriage?