asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Great Britain did not appoint its Ambassador to the recent International Copyright Convention at Rome, although all other countries having an embassy in Rome did so?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. Out of the seven countries which took part in the Conference and which are represented at Rome by Ambassadors only four were actually represented by their Ambassadors. The reason why His Majesty's Government decided not to appoint Sir Ronald Graham as chief delegate was that the Conference was of a purely technical nature.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has recently made representations, either at its own instance or in conjunction with another Power, to the Governments of Poland and Lithuania in relation to the adjustment of differences between those two nations?

His Majesty's Minister at Riga has been instructed to urge informally upon the Lithuanian Minister for Foreign Affairs the desirability of giving effect to the recommendations of the Council of the League of Nations. I understand that similar representations have been made by the French and German Ministers at Kovno.

Has my right hon. Friend had any reply from our representative at Riga as to the result of these representations?

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any special measures are being adopted by His Majesty's Government to safeguard British interests in Mexico, in view of possible disturbances following recent events in that country?

I have no information which would appear to necessitate any special measures being adopted by His Majesty's Government. His Majesty's Minister is keeping me fully informed on the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make any statement to the House on the new situation created in Egypt through the suspension of the parliamentary régime for three years?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement respecting recent affairs in Egypt?

I can add nothing to the replies which I returned on the 23rd instant to my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Wardlaw-Milne), the hon. Member for Brightside (Mr. Ponsonby), and the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy), and those hon. Members who then questioned me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that 30 States, belonging to four different continents, including India and all the most important European States, have signed the Convention of the International Relief Union, founded at Geneva in July, 1927; that the adhesion of His Majesty's Government would bring about the coming into force of the Convention by securing the requisite number of shares, as laid down in Article 18 of the Convention; that the existence of such an organisation as the International Relief Union would have greatly facilitated the relief of the victims of the recent earthquake disasters in Bulgaria and Greece; and whether he will consider the desirability of now signing this Convention?

As the hon. Member is aware, the Convention will become operative as soon as it has been ratified by 12 signatory Powers, whose combined contributions amount to 600 shares. As far as I am aware, no State has yet ratified the Convention. The accession of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain would not therefore bring the Convention into force nor, in the circumstances, would it have enabled relief to have been granted to the victims of the earthquake disasters in Bulgaria and Greece. The question of the accession of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain is still under consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have received letters from the secretary of this Relief Fund informing me that the facts stated in the question are quite accurate; and will he make further investigations?

My information is that the facts are not correctly stated.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make further investigation and give me further information, as I have received personal letters from the secretary giving the correct information?

I think the hon. Member is giving me incorrect information and that it is I who am giving him correct information. Perhaps he will make further inquiry himself.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the State of West Virginia, which had repudiated a liability of 15¼ million dollars, its share of the debt of Virginia as apportioned by the Funding Act of 1871, was held by the Supreme Court of the United States to be liable for the sum of 12¾ million dollars with interest at 5 per cent., and that this State completed the arrangements to meet this liability in 1921; and whether, in view of this arrangement, he is prepared to take any action regarding the debts which, have been repudiated by other States in the United States?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the dispute between the States of Virginia and West Virginia as to the liability of the latter for an equitable proportion of the debt of the former, settled through a decision of the United States Supreme Court, is not a matter with which His Majesty's Government appear to be concerned.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this question is merely illustrative of what has already been done in regard to a repudiated debt? I am asking him in the latter part of the question, the real essence of the question, if he will take any action, or make any representation to the United States Government with regard to the other repudiated debts of the Southern States.

Looking at the Report of the Council of Foreign Bondholders, I do not find the State of Virginia or the State of West Virginia included among the defaulting States.

But, looking at the Report of the Bondholders Council, does the right hon. Gentleman not find that the State of West Virginia did pay the debt repudiated in 1871, and will he therefore go further into the matter?

The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in a litigation between the old State of Virginia and the State of West Virginia really had no bearing, I think, on the claims which British bondholders have on certain loans on which default has taken place.

But is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the State of West Virginia has met the repudiated debt, that the debt repudiated in 1871 has been paid by West Virginia?

The decision of the United States Supreme Court was as to the respective shares of the old debt of the State of Virginia which were to be borne by Virginia and West Virginia respectively. As I have said, neither of those States are among the defaulting States, but that decision does not bear upon the case of the defaulting States.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that these States were among the defaulting States prior to the decision of the United States Supreme Court, and that the obligation has now been met—up to 13,000,000 dollars, at any rate?

I am very glad that that should be so, but the point in dispute was what proportion of the debt of the old State of Virginia was to be assumed by the new State of West Virginia. That point was decided by the Supreme Court, and apparently the two States of Virginia and West Virginia have fulfilled their obligations.

And in any case is not this a matter for the States themselves and not for the Federal Government at Washington?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what reduction he proposes to make next year in his demands upon the Exchequer for the requirements of the Navy, as a result of the signing of the Kellogg Pact by His Majesty's Government?

I am afraid that it is not possible for me to anticipate what provision will be made in next year's Navy Estimates.

Can the right hon. Gentleman not make some estimate?

That is merely repeating the question on the Paper.

In making arrangements in relation to this proposed Pact, will the right hon. Gentleman take care that the efficiency of the Navy is preserved and maintained?

In considering this question, will the right hon. Gentleman consult his colleague the Home Secretary who gave vent to sentiments in accordance with the question last Saturday?

Are not the Admiralty now preparing Estimates for next year, and is it not the right hon. Gentleman's duty, in view of the Foreign Secretary's proposed signature of this Treaty, to issue a Minute instructing the Department to reduce the Estimates?

It is quite true that we are beginning to consider the Estimates for next year, but it would be a most unusual course to announce to the House at this time what we are likely to do then. As far as the Kellogg Pact goes, it does not affect the right of a nation to self-defence, and it is on that basis that the Cabinet are primarily guided in making their decision as to what shall be the Navy Estimates for any particular year.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take the Kellogg Pact into. consideration in connection with the Estimates?

Of course I shall. If the hon. Gentleman will refer to the proposal which I made at Geneva about this time last year, he will find that there is very little difference between that and what has been recently agreed to.

asked the First Lord of that the Admiralty if he is aware that the proposed general messing ashore is unpopular with the chief and petty officers and that, in the opinion of some senior officers, to force this system on these petty officers will not be conducive to good discipline or contentment; and if he will appoint a small committee of officers to further inquire into the matter of reconsider the decision of the Board?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his question on 9th February last (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 263.)

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to receive, through the proper channels, representations on these matters form the officers concerned?

No, Sir; I think that the matter has been very fully considered. It is obvious that in an alteration of that sort there will be a certain number of people who dislike the change, and a number who like it. We have considered the two arguments very carefully one against another, and I am not prepared to reconsider the decision.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of workmen of all classes emloyed in His Majesty's dockyard, Portsmouth, in June, 1914, and in June, 1928?

The numbers borne on the dockyard books were 15,521 in June, 1914, and 13,430 in June, 1928.

Do the figures for this year include the people who have been transferred from Pembroke and Rosyth?

Yes, the figures would certainly include transfers.

How many would there be?

I cannot say without notice, but I can easily find out.

Does the answer include the women who are employed in the dockyard at Portsmouth?

I am not quite sure about that, but I will find out. My answer gives the number borne on the Dockyard Vote.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many vessels landing, or attempting to land, munitions in violation of the Arms Convention have been stopped by British vessels in the Red Sea during the last 12 months; and how many have been Italian vessels?

No vessels have been stopped.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that girls of 14 years of age are employed in the biscuit trade at a wage of 11s. per week; and whether, seeing that the Government is pledged to extend the Trade Board Acts wherever unsatisfactory working and wage conditions exist, he will cause immediate steps to be taken to investigate the conditions in the biscuit-making industry??

The rate of wages in question, of which I was aware, is not lower than that fixed for girls of 14 by 33 of the 44 trade boards. The existence of that rate in the biscuit-making trade, therefore, affords no ground for the investigation suggested by the hon. Member.

Is the Minister aware of the large profits that are being made by the biscuit-making firms, and in view of that fact will he consider it?

I observe the profits that are being made by the biscuit-making firms, but I do not think that that has any reference to this question.

Can the hon. Gentleman do something to draw the attention of the firms to the low rate in view of the high profits?

I have made inquiries in this matter, and I find that the Co-operative Wholesale Society pay exactly these rates to girls of 14.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of unemployed miners, men and boys, respectively, on the register of the Employment Exchange at Pontypridd,

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed boys who attended or are attending each of the juvenile training centres in the County of Glamorgan and in Monmouthshire; and can he state how many of these boys have been procured employment within each of these two counties, and how many without the two counties, up to the 30th June, 1928, or the latest available date?

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

Can the hon. Gentleman give us any information as to whether there is any improvement in the training of these juveniles?

That is an entirely different question. If the hon. Member will put it down, I shall be glad to answer it. What I have done in my reply is to give a very comprehensive set of figures which answer the question.

Has the hon. Gentleman's Department taken any steps to find work for boys under 14?

The question does not arise.

Following is the information:

The average number of unemployed boys who attended each of the Juvenile Pontyclun, and Bridgend on the 30th June, 1928?

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 reply:

Unemployment Centres in the Counties of Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire during the week which ended Friday, 20th July, was as follows:

All these Centres, with the exception of those at Swansea and Cardiff, have been set up since the middle of last December. Up to the 21st July, 149 boys from the Glamorganshire Mining Centres and 25 from the Monmouthshire Centres had been placed in employment in their own country, while 337 boys from the Glamorganshire Mining Centres and 100 from the Monmouthshire Centres had been placed in employment in England or other parts of Wales.

In addition, since the beginning of the year, up to the 16th July, 729 Cardiff boys have been placed in employment locally and six in England or other parts of Wales while, during the same period, 145 Swansea boys have been placed in employment locally and nine in England or other parts of Wales.

asked the Minister of Labour the debt of the unemployment insurance fund at 19th April, 1927, and 17th July, 1927; and the number of unemployed in receipt of benefit at those dates, respectively, in 1927 and 1928.

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

Can the hon. Gentleman say if there has been an increase in July?

I cannot answer that question. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put it down.

Following is the reply:

The debt of the Unemployment Fund to the Treasury on 19th April, 1927, was £24,530,000 and on 17th July, 1927, was £23,690,000.

Statistics of the numbers of persons actually in receipt of benefit are not available, but the number of claims admitted and under consideration at the dates nearest to those specified by the hon. Member for which figures are available were as follow:—

asked the Minister of Labour the number of fresh and renewal claims to benefit made at Employment Exchanges in the Glasgow area during the period 24th April to 11th June, 1927, and the number disallowed in the period 19th April to 11th June, 1927?

During the period 12th April, 1927, to 13th June, 1927, 50,029 fresh and renewal claims to unemployment benefit were made at Employment Exchanges in the Glasgow area. During the same period, 6,121 claims for extended benefit were recommended for disallowance by local employ- ment committees in the Glasgow area. Statistics of the disallowance of claims for standard benefit in the area are not available for the period in question.

Will the Minister compare these figures with the figures for 1928, and, in view of the largely increased number of disallowances in 1928, will he look into the matter?

No, Sir; the figures are not directly comparable, because the figures which I have given for 1927 refer only to extended benefit, whereas the figures for a similar period in 1928 refer to all kinds of benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give figures as to the number of insured persons who have failed to qualify for unemployment benefit since the 19th April, 1928, to the latest available date in the Tonypandy and Treorchy Exchanges, the Rhondda Valley, and South Wales, respectively?

In the period 19th April to 9th July, 1928, 7,934 claims to unemployment benefit made at Employment Exchanges and branch employment offices in South Wales were disallowed by insurance officers. This figure includes 1,084 claims made at Exchanges in the Rhondda Valley, of which 235 were at the Tonypany Exchange, and 174 at the Treorchy Exchange. The disallowances by insurance officers are those recorded during the period, and relate in a proportion of cases to claims made earlier. They also include cases in which the decisions were reversed on appeal.

asked the Minister of Laabour the number of insured persons whose claims for extended benefit were considered by the rota committees between 19th May, 1927, and 19th May,. 1928, at the Tonypany, Treorchy, Ferndale, and Porth Employment Exchanges, respectively; the number of claims granted by the rota committees; and the number refused by him after approval by the rota committees?

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:

Extended Benefit and the work of Rota Committees was discontinued as from 19th April, 1928, under the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1927. Figures are therefore given for the period of twelve months April 1927 to April 1928.

Applications for extended benefit considered by the Local Employment Committees at Tonypandy, Treorchy and Ferndale ^* in the period 12th April, 1927, to 18th April, 1928.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will cause to have placed in the Library of the House a copy of the new contract entered into with Imperial Airways, Limited?

The contract will probably not be signed for some months to come, and in view of the desire expressed in several quarters of the House for early information, my right hon. Friend thought it better for that reason and to save expense, to issue at once the White Paper Cmd. 3143, which gives the essential particulars. If he is satisfied that there is any general desire to see the contract itself, which will be a lengthy document, my right hon. Friend will be glad to have a copy placed yin the Library when it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air when negotiations for the increased subsidy to Imperial Airways, Limited, were commenced, and the date on which the increased subsidy, as set forth in Cmd. 3143, was agreed upon with the company's representatives?

Proposals for a through service between England and India, involving a revision of the existing subsidies, were first put forward in the summer of last year, and the Heads, of Agreement for such a service were initialled in April, 1928.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the value of the two Calcutta flying boats which are to be handed over to Imperial Airways, Limited?

£40,000.

To whom did these Calcutta flying boats belong before they were handed over?

To the Air Ministry.

By whom were they built?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give the acreage of land in Wales which, if drained, could be cultivated?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on the 19th April to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Sir R. Thomas), a copy of which I am sending to him.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider putting into effect the Report of the Royal Commission on Land Drainage?

We are already at work on the surveys in connection with it.

Do we understand that the draft Bill will be circulated?

That cannot be taken from my answer. There is a lot of survey work to be done before we can reach the stage of a draft Bill.

Are the county councils in Wales taking action to see that their powers with regard to drainage are put into operation?

We have already assisted two drainage boards in Wales, but I should have to have notice as to what action is being taken by the county councils.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of coal pits in Wales which have been closed down since 1923 permanently and temporarily, respectively?

Since 1923, 364 pits in Wales, employing 61,500 wage-earners, have been closed down, of which 117, employing 11,800 wage-earners, have been notified as abandoned.

In view of the very large number of mines that have been closed down permanently during the past five years, has the hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied himself that his Department have a proper record of them in the schedule of abandoned mines; and has he taken the necessary precautions to make sure that these abandoned mines, most of which, if not all of which, will become flooded, are not a menace to the adjoining mines and a danger to the future development of the whole district, because of the well-known neglect of companies which have abandoned their mines?

I certainly think that the schedule of abandoned mines kept by my Department is correct. The second supplementary question does not arise.

Are we to understand that the Mines Department have no power to protect the future working of mines on grounds of safety and national economy?

I do not accept the proposition that the abandoned mines will have any future working.

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman not realise that abandoned mines are a menace to existing mines adjoining them owing to flooding? This is a very important point, and it is high time that the Mines Department woke up.

That does not arise out of the answer.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there has been since 1910 little reduction in the tuberculosis mortality rate for males between the ages of 15 and 25, while for females between these ages the rate has increased; and what measures does he propose to take to improve the position?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but the rate for both males and females between these ages appears at the present time to be decreasing. The discrepancy between the rate of decrease in the mortality from tuberculosis in the general population and that in the groups referred by the hon. Member has been under consideration in my Department, but my right hon. Friend is advised that its causes are obscure. Investigation is proceeding, and the tuberculosis officers of local authorities will be asked to give special attention to the question.

Does the Minister think that the reduction of milk in maternity centres is going to increase the health of the population?

That is a hypothetical question.

If the right hon. Gentleman is in charge of the health of the country, why is a question about a reduction in the supply of milk to the children hypothetical?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the proposed legislation for reforming the Poor Law by the transfer of services to other authorities, it is the intention of the Government to include in such transfer the appointment of superintendent registrars and assistant registrars to the appropriate local authority, with powers to appoint such officials at salaries payable, as now, by fees?

As stated in my reply of the 18th instant to the hon. Member for Newcastle, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle), the exact arrangements to be made in regard to the registration service in connection with the scheme of local government reform are still under my consideration; and my right hon. Friend regrets that he is not in a position to make a statement upon any detailed inquiries with regard thereto. I can assure the hon. Member, however, that the consideration of these arrangements will not be prejudged by anything contained in the Registration Bill now before the House, which is designed for interim purposes to deal with the long standing hardships of individual registration officers.

Do I understand that the right hon. Gentleman can give no undertaking that, if the proposed alteration in the law as regards Poor Law guardians takes place, these officers will be transferred to the town councils or the county councils, as the other services will be?

Of course, I could not anticipate the decision on that matter, but the hon. Member will, I hope, have full opportunity of raising the matter when we come to the proposals.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he is going to proceed with the Registration (Births, Deaths and Marriages) Bill?

If the hon. and gallant Member had been here last evening, he would know that it received the Third Reading.

asked the Minister of Hearth what amount was discounted from the accounts of the chemists who supplied drugs and appliances in Wales during 1927 at the average cost of 29.5 pence per insured person; and, seeing that the amount available to meet these accounts was more than sufficient to pay them in full and the surplus which arose in Wales was taken to meet deficiencies in England, will he now reconsider his objection to allow a representative of the Association of Welsh Insurance Committees to become a member of the Drug Distributing Committee upon which he invited the Association of English Insurance Committees to nominate a member?

The reply to the first part of the question is, approximately, £5,400. If the hon. Member will refer to the reply given on the 4th April to the hon. Baronet the Member for Anglesey (Sir R. Thomas), he will see that the assumption in the second part of the question is incorrect. The third part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount of subsidy paid in connection with the various housing schemes in England and Wales up to 31st March, 1928?

The total amount of-Exchequer subsidy paid in respect of housing schemes of local authorities and houses erected by private builders in England and Wales up to 31st March, 1928, is £63,534,657.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George) says the Government have done nothing for housing?

asked the Secretary of State for War under what article of the Royal Warrant the Army Council refuses to allow certain substantive colonels to count towards retired pay part of their service in that rank, as defined in the Royal Warrant and recorded in the London Gazette and Official Army List?

I am not aware of any case in which service which the Royal Warrant allows to count towards retired pay has not been so counted.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Alfred Lines, late regimental No. 6197319 (whose blue medical sheet was endorsed fit for service in any part of the world), who joined the Middlesex Regiment on 4th June, 1926, served with the Shanghai Defence Force in China until afflicted with sleeping sickness, returned to England and was discharged from Netley Hospital as physically unfit for any form of military service on 11th November, 1927, with a sum of 21, and who, after waiting for his official discharge papers, received a communication from Chelsea Hospital, Form 81998F, dated 5th December, 1927, stating that he was not entitled to any discharge pension and offering him a gratuity of £6 only, less deduction of any advances that had been made to him; and whether, having regard to the fact that his panel doctor has certified that Lines wilt never be able to work again and that the symptoms of the disease which necessitated his discharge from the Army first appeared during his military service, with the Shanghai Defence Force, he will consider granting this man some compensation more adequate than the amount of 7s. 9d. actually paid him as the balance of the gratuity of £6?

This case has been carefully reviewed at the War Office, and the Army medical authorities are satisfied that the disability was not caused by military service. In the circumstances, Mr. Lines has no claim to compensation, and the small gratuity awarded is the appropriate grant in his case.

I am sure that my hon. Friend will admit that this is an exceptionally hard case, and, that being so, is it not possible to make something in the nature of a compassionate grant to supplement this miserable pittance of 7s. 9d.?

I am afraid there is no evidence at all that the illness with which this man is afflicted was due to his military service or to having been sent abroad. We could not allow the principle to be established that anybody who happened to fall ill while on military service should by that fact alone be entitled to some compensation.

Will the hon. Member say whether there is any evidence that if this man had not been sent abroad he would have been afflicted with this illness?

There is no evidence to show that his illness was in any way connected with his being sent abroad. It is not an illness to which soldiers are subject through being sent abroad.

Then can the hon. Member say what the 7s. 9d. is for?

It is what he was entitled to on being discharged as medically unfit.

In that case is it not fair to relate the amount to the disability?

No, Sir, riot if the disability is not caused by his service.

Will the hon. Gentleman reconsider the decision in this matter, in view of the apparent injustice caused to this man and to others who may be suffering in a similar manner?

If any further facts can be brought forward the case will certainly be reconsidered, but it has already been considered in the light of the facts at present available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the increase or decrease in the number of furnaces in blast as compared with the beginning of 1924 for Great Britain, Germany, France and Belgium?

The number of furnaces reported as in blast in Great Britain at the beginning of the year 1924 was 204, and at the beginning of June, 1928, 148. Corresponding figures for Germany were 66 and 104 respectively, for France 127 and 150, and for Belgium 42 and 56.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the urgency of affording some measure of safeguarding to the steel industry, he will consider the advisability of advising the postponement of the prorogation of Parliament until this matter has been dealt with?

I am afraid I cannot see my way to ask the House to postpone the prorogation of Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister on what date he intends to take the discussion on the Report of the Committee of the Imperial Conference on Wireless and Cable Communications?

This will be arranged if possible through the usual channels.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider supplying the men engaged in public delivery services with lighter uniform during the summer months?

No, Sir. A change in this respect was made some years ago and the material now used for postmen's uniforms in both winter and summer is the same as that formerly supplied for summer wear. For winter wear an overcoat is added. This arrangement appears to be satisfactory and no alteration is contemplated.

Will the Noble Lord consult some of the men on the rounds in East London during this sweltering heat? Would he like to take a turn himself in one of the tunics?

We shall at all times be pleased to consider further representations from the staff in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the duties allocated to the woman inspector under the children's Branch?

The woman inspector is mainly employed in the inspection of Home Office Schools, especially those for girls: she also inspects places of detention, visits certain homes in respect of which a visitation is ordered under Section 25 of the Children Act, and makes other visits and inquiries in connection with the work of the Children's Branch.

May I ask whether this is a new appointment, and, if not, how long this inspector has been in office?

It is not a new appointment, and I cannot say how long the inspector has been appointed.

Does the hon. and gallant Member consider that one woman is enough for the work?

At the moment.

Does the hon. and gallant Member consider that she can get round to all the reformatories and industrial schools and also do the probation work she is supposed to do?

I think she can carry out the work quite satisfactorily at the present time.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the duties upon which the lady visitor attached to the office of the Public Trustee is employed?

I have been asked to reply. The duty of the lady visitor is to advise the Public Trustee in his discharge of his duties as trustee or guardian for infant children, or in any other matter relating to the administration of any trust committed to him upon which he desires her advice.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether those paragraphs of the Treasury circular of September, 1918, relating to the employment of Grade 4 temporary women clerks, have since been cancelled in a later Treasury circular or are still effective?

The duties assigned to Grade IV temporary women clerks are broadly as defined in the Treasury Circular of 7th September, 1918: but the rates of pay prescribed by that circular are no longer in force, the terms of remuneration of temporary women clerks being now governed by the Agreement of 22nd May, 1924, as modified by Industrial Court Award No. 1327 of 29th July, 1927.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the appointment of a full-time Consul at the busy port of Boulogne where, at all times, there are many British subjects?

The present Vice-Consul at Boulogne gives practically his whole time to his official duties, and I am completely satisfied with his conduct of affairs.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the advisability of supplying the Metropolitan Police with lighter helmets and clothing during periods of hot weather?

The Metropolitan Police are already supplied with lighter clothing in the hot weather than in the cold weather. A new helmet of reduced weight was issued for use all the year round in 1923.

Will the hon. and gallant Member consider the advisability of the Metropolitan Police Force copying the example of some of the provincial police forces, which do provide straw helmets and a much lighter uniform?

I have no doubt the authorities will be ready to consider that suggestion.

Has the hon. and gallant Member noticed how the men who simply stand about in this building perspire with the heat?

So do we.

Is there any reason why a policeman in a place like this should have to wear a helmet?

In view of our average climate, would not fur coats be almost better than straw helmets?

It was stated by my right hon. Friend some time ago, in reply to a similar question, as far as I can recollect, that, so far as concerns men employed in the building, he saw no reason why they should not take off their helmets; but, of course, that could not be allowed in the case of men on duty outside.

Is that known?

I saw the answer to the question this morning, so I imagine it is known.

asked the Home Secretary whether there are any police stations at which no provision is made for a female searcher or matron to be retained at the station after a female prisoner has been lodged in the cells; and, in that case, will he state the regulations governing the periodic visits of station officers to the cells without emergency having arisen?

A matron is engaged to be and remain in attendance so long as a female prisoner is detained at any police station throughout the Metropolitan Police district, and a similar arrangement is general elsewhere.

Are the regulations perfectly explicit on that matter?

So far as I am aware. If the hon. Member has any particular point in mind, perhaps he wilt let me know.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the number of recent cases in Courts throughout the country against tea-bonus firms; and whether in any of these cases the proceedings have been instituted on his instructions?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second in the negative. As my right hon. Friend explained in reply to the hon. Member on the 5th instant, most of the proceedings have been County Court proceedings by private persons.

In view of the statements made by Judges in various parts of the country in these cases, that the method of carrying on business by these tea-bonus firms is an act of fraud upon the public, why is it left to individuals to take proceedings against them?

As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member when he asked a similar question, he has been advised so far that there is no ground for taking criminal proceedings, and he must, of course, be guided by the advice which he receives.

Have the papers in these cases been submitted by the Secretary of State to the Director of Public Prosecutions?

I presume that they have; otherwise, my right hon. Friend would not make such a statement.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Section 70 of the Poor Law Amendment Act, 1844 (which gave power to Justices of the Peace to compel the appearance of witnesses in affiliation proceedings), was repealed as from 1st October, 1927, by the Poor Law Act, 1927, and, as Section 35 of the Summary Jurisdiction. Act, 1848, and Section 54 of the Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1879, make it clear that Section 7 of the Act of 1848 (which gives power to Justices to enforce the attendance of witnesses) does not apply to affiliation proceedings, it is now necessary for an applicant or respondent in such proceedings who wishes witnesses summoned to go to the expense and trouble of obtaining Crown Office subpoenas; and whether he will take steps to have this hindrance to the easy administration of justice removed?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my right hon. Friend's reply on the 19th instant to a question by the hon. Member for East Ham, North (Miss Lawrence).

asked the Home Secretary if he will arrange for Members of the House of Commons to have copies of the Isle of Man Bill dealing with old age, widows, and orphans which was passed by both branches but which was refused the Royal Assent.

I am afraid my right hon. Friend cannot undertake to do this. There are no spare copies of the Bill in my possession but if any Member who desires to have a copy will let me know I will see whether I can obtain one for him.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware of the reason why this Bill was refused the Royal Assent?

Yes, Sir.

Seeing that the Bill passed by the Manx Legislature was a much better Bill than the one passed by this Government, can each Member of this House be supplied with a copy in order to show the superiority of the Manx Legislation?

As I have just told the hon. Member, no further copies are available, and there is no justification for incurring the expenditure which would be necessary to provide further copies.

What was the main reason for refusing the Royal Assent to this Bill?

I think the hon. Member had better put that question down on the Paper.

Has this House any jurisdiction whatever over the affairs of the Isle of Man?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has given consideration to the suggestion that the railway vouchers of Members of Parliament should be replaced by season tickets, and with what result.

The question whether it would be more economical to issue season tickets, instead of vouchers, to Members of the House of Commons was considered two years ago. It was found that a large increase of expenditure would be involved. The Public Accounts Committee have recently suggested that the question should again be considered in the light of the experience now accumulated, and my right hon. Friend is giving instructions accordingly.

When the noble Lord speaks of "giving instructions accordingly" does he mean instructions for the issue of season tickets or instructions to go into the matter?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that more Government land at Mombasa is now to be sold under a stipulation that no bid from an Indian is to be accepted; and whether this rule can be postponed until there is time to test its legality?

I assume that the question relates to the sale of residential plots at Mombasa referred to in the General Notice No. 714 in the OFFICIAL GAZETTE of the 3rd July. It appears from that Notice that the plots in question are included in the areas at Mombasa in which, as explained in reply to the question of the right hon. and gallant Member of the 10th June, 1926, racial restrictions as to leases and occupation will have to continue owing to previous legal commitments, and in these circumstances I do not feel called upon to intervene.

Will the right hon. Gentleman intimate to the public in Mombasa exactly what the area is where Indians are not allowed to buy land?

That was fixed by previous Ordinances.

Does that apply to all Government land in Mombasa?