asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of mats and matting imported from India, Belgium and Holland, respectively, during the past 12 months as compared with 1914.

The answer is in the form of a table of figures, and the hon. Member will perhaps permit me to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Statistics of exports from the United States, Germany and France to Afghanistan are not available, and such data as are available concerning exports to Afghanistan from the United Kingdom are incomplete, as they do not include goods which, on their way to Afghanistan, pass into the ownership of Indian merchants. Afghanistan has not accorded any specific commercial advantages either to this country or, so far as is known, to any of the other countries named in the question.

Is it a fact that these other countries are doing what they can to develop their industries in and around Afghanistan, and will the Board of Trade take such steps as are possible to facilitate and help British industries in that area?

We are always taking all the steps that we can.

Will the hon. Gentleman look into these facts to which I have drawn attention?

asked the Secretary for Mines what stocks of tin were held by the tin trade during July, 1928, and each month to the end of October, respectively and the price movements during the same period.

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

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and character of trades and industries covered by the Safeguarding of Industries Act, and the total number of workpeople who have secured employment as a consequence thereof?

I presume the hon. Member has in mind duties imposed in accordance with the Safeguarding of Industries procedure. These are levied on the following classes of goods—lace and certain kinds of embroidery, leather gloves, fabric gloves, gas mantles, cutlery, packing and wrapping paper, china tableware, buttons and enamelled hollowware. I regret that it is not possible to give a figure of employment such as the hon. Member desires, owing to the fact that the Ministry of Labour classification does not, in general, distinguish safeguarded from other industries.

Can the hon. Gentleman give the number of work-people thrown out of employment in the export trades as a result of this action?

Before the hon. Gentleman answers that question, will he say whether it is a fact that a very large number of people have been provided with employment?

I have no evidence that anybody has been thrown out of work, and it is the case that in most of those industries in regard to which we have statistics there is evidence of a substantial increase.

Is the hon Member not aware that the export trade to-day in the majority of these industries has gone down by from 40 to 50 per cent.

No!

We are getting far beyond the question which is on the Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Command Paper 9071, on the Iron and Steel Trades after the War, is out of print; that the Committee was appointed by his predecessor, the right hon. Member for West Swansea (Mr. Runciman), and made a prolonged investigation into the future of the iron and steel trades, and this Report of 50 pages was priced at 6d.; and whether, in view of the importance of the Report and the small cost involved, he will give directions for reprinting and circulating it as a Parliamentary Paper?

I am aware that this Report, which was published in 1918, is now out of print, but I do not know at present of any demand that would justify the cost of reprinting, which would be appreciable. My hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware that the Committee on Industry and Trade has included a chapter on the iron and steel industry in their "Survey of Metal Industries," published this year.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, the wisdom of that Committee is proved by all those forecasts having been verified, and by the fact that it recommended by 7 to 2 that we should go in for protecting these industries?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Supervisor F. G. Butler, an ex-service man, and a number of others have received notices to terminate their engagements at the Royal Army Clothing Factory in Grosvenor Road; and, seeing that these men are in the category of permanent civil servants, will he reconsider their cases?

As part of a scheme of reorganisation at the Royal Army Clothing Factory—

Will the hon. Member speak up? I cannot hear him.

—which will result in substantial economy and increased efficiency, nine posts as supervisor have been abolished. Every effort is being made to find alternative work for the men displaced and in most of the cases they have already been offered unestablished appointments in other grades at the factory.

Is the hon. Member aware that there are rumours of considerable favouritism in this particular case, and will he make inquiries as to whether there is truth in these rumours or not?

I am not aware of anything of the kind, and if the hon. Member will give me any information he has, inquiries will certainly be made.

Are these men senior service men or junior?

I must have notice of that question.

Has the hon. Member, in common with other employers, received a letter from the Prime Minister about employing extra men?

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the regulations enforced by the British Army of Occupation in the occupied territories in Germany in regard to the playing of German music generally and the German national anthem in particular; and since when has the inhibition on the German national anthem been enforced?

No restrictions are enforced as regards the playing of German music generally. As regards the German national anthem, I am informed that restrictions have been imposed under decisions of the Inter-Allied Rhineland High Commission ever since the establishment of that Commission. In 1927, however, to meet representations of the German Commissioner, the Inter-Allied Commission authorised certain modifications in the previous restrictions. The present regulations are designed solely to prevent the playing of the national anthem in circumstances which might lead to incidents liable to disturb public order.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the German airship arrived from America the German anthem was played in a German cafe, and just because one British soldier happened to be there, though apparently he did not object, the burgomaster was arrested and hauled before a court-martial, and the bandmaster—[HON. MEMBERS: "Question!"] Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of those facts?

The hon. and gallant Member seems to be giving all the information.

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman has looked into this particular case, which has made fools of this nation?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he intends to replace the obsolete armoured cars now in use by the Territorial armoured-car companies by modern six-wheeled cars, which would be of great aid for training purposes and also stimulate recruiting in this branch of the Territorials?

It is the intention to replace these armoured cars as soon as financial circumstances and the claims of the Regular Army permit.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these obsolete cars are always breaking down, and that this militates very much against recruiting for the Territorial Army?

I know that they are not satisfactory, and I should like to replace them at once, but the financial conditions are such that I cannot do all that I would like to do.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider this point in the next Estimates?

Certainly I will consider it, but it is no use holding out any hope that I will be allowed the money.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think this country is in a position to pay for all these things?

Does the Minister consider—

Order!

I asked quite a simple question.

It did not arise out of the question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for War, if he can give the number of Royal Engineers officers and sappers, now serving in Jersey; and how many officers and sappers it is proposed to keep there in the immediate future?

There are at present in Jersey one officer and one non-commissioned officer who perform duties in Alderney, Guernsey and Jersey, and two non-commissioned officers whose work is confined to Jersey. No change is at present contemplated.

Is it proposed to keep these officers doing this work for any particular length of time?

This work has to be done and somebody must do it. The suggestion is that we should keep those officers there for the present.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has obtained or, if not, whether he will obtain Reports from the Governments of Canada and Australia regarding the success or fail ire of soldiers trained at the Army vocational training centre since their arrival in those Dominions; and how many men so trained have settled in those Dominions, respectively?

I will consult my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Dominions Affairs as regards the suggestion contained in the first part of the question. I understand that he has just received a full report from the representative of his Department in Australia about those ex-soldiers trained under the scheme who have settled in Western Australia. As regards the last part of the question, the numbers are 89 and, 222.

Has the Secretary of State for War inquired as to whether more men can be trained there, and, if not service men, can ex-service men be trained there?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend knows the conditions under which the men are trained there. Our desire is to keep the training ground as full as possible.

asked the Secretary for War how many soldiers have been passed through the Army vocational training centre since its inception at Catterick and since its establishment in Wiltshire; how many soldiers are at present undergoing instruction; and how much accommodation is there available for members of the British Legion and their families who are anxious to go to the Dominions under the settlement scheme?

Approximately 2,000 soldiers have passed through the Army Vocational Training Centre at Catterick and 600 at Chisledon. About 300 are now undergoing training at Chisledon and same increase in this number is expected shortly, since vacancies are now, for the first time, being offered to soldiers due for discharge from India. The amount of accommodation available for members of the British Legion and their families depends on how many serving soldiers with families are undergoing training. For the time being it has been found possible to offer the British Legion accommodation for approximately 40 families.

If it is proved that there is more room for members of the British Legion and their families to be trained there, will the War Office support that scheme?

There is a proposal that room should be found for 400 other trainees and the War Office has given its assent to the proposal. I hope that additional accommodation will very shortly be filled up.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what department of the War Office is the administration of the Army vocational training centre; what has been the total net cost of this establishment since its inception and since its removal to Wiltshire; what has been, during the present year, the cost of adapting the buildings at Chisledon to the use of the centre; and what is the anticipated revenue resulting from the farming operations this season?

The Army vocational training centre is administered by the Adjutant-General's Department at the War Office. As re- gards the second part of the question, I regret that figures are not readily available. As regards the third part, such adaptation of the buildings as may be necessary, as well as their maintenance, is carried out by the building trade students as part of their training, and except for some small expenditure en materials there has been no cost involved. As regards the last part, the estimated receipts from the sale of products at Chisledon, as shown on page 108 of the current Army Estimates, is £8,100, of which the bulk is in respect of farming operations.

Is it not a fact that a whole year of this particular work has cost the War Office only £5,000, and is that not a very admirable way of training men?

I think it is.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the total numerical establishment of the Regular Army on 1st November, 1912, and 1st November, 1928, respectively?

The establishment of the British Army, exclusive of India, in 1928, is 151,000: the corresponding figure for 1912 is 186,600. The hon. Member will find how these figures are compiled on pages 8 to 11 of the Army Estimates for 1928 and on page 12 of the Army Estimates for 1912.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars attended the French Army manoeuvres in the Rhineland under the command of General Guillaumat?

The 8th Hussars is the only British cavalry regiment serving with the Rhine Army. The Army Council therefore gladly accepted the invitation of the French authorities that the regiment should take part in the French Army manoeuvres and thereby be given the opportunity of higher training with other cavalry which it would otherwise have lacked.

Is it in accordance with the spirit of Locarno to carry out military manoeuvres on occupied territory?

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the, military advantage to be gained from these military manoeuvres is comparable to the diplomatic damage which will be done?

So long as we have an army it is desirable that it should be trained.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the time has arrived for us entirely to withdraw our troops from the Rhineland?

That does not arise out of this question.

Mr. Speaker will tell me that and not you.

May we take it that a precedent has now been created whereby if an invitation is extended to the War Office by the Soviet Government a regiment of British cavalry would be allowed to manoeuvre with the Red Army?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War upon what grounds the Army Council has decided that the qualifying age for special campaign pensions must be calculated from the age given upon attestation and not upon the true age; and whether, seeing that this decision involves hardship and delay in many cases, owing to the age upon attestation having been entered as on the last birthday and without reckoning exact months, this matter can be reconsidered?

The age given by a recruit on his first attestation is accepted as his correct age throughout his career for various purposes, including the assessment of pension, and my right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot agree to any change in the general practice to meet the special cases referred to by the hon. Member. As regards the last part of the question, the hon. Member is under a misapprehension; provision has always been made in attestation papers for the recruit's age to be recorded to the nearest month, and for some years past to the actual day.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that during the period referred to there was no space on the forms for the months to be entered and no space on the discharge forms which carry that on; consequently, if the age is recorded only in years, men who are, in point of fact, 21 years and 10 months are going to lose 10 months of their pension.

I should like to have the facts of any instance in which that has occurred. As I have already stated, at the present time an opportunity is given for the month and the actual age to be recorded. If the hon. Member knows of any case in which an injustice is being inflicted owing to this old method, I shall be glad to have the details.

Will the hon. Gentleman give the same attention to a case which I am sending to him to-day?

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any arrangements are being made by the Government to defray the costs incurred by Oscar Slater in the hearing of his appeal; whether he has received any communications on the subject; and, if so, will lie give the House particulars?

The amount of the ex-gratia grant of £6,000 to Mr. Slater was fixed after due consideration of all the circumstances, and the Government do not intend to make any further payment to him. I have had representations on the subject from Sir A. Conan Doyle, and a copy of a resolution stated to have been passed at a public meeting in Eastbourne.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, when this ex-gratia payment was made, any condition was made as regards the costs to be paid out of it?

It. was made perfectly clear that this was the total sum that would be paid by the Government.

Is Oscar Slater to pay the costs of clearing his name out of the sum which the Government gave him as an ex-gratia payment?

I have said that the Government, in making this ex-gratia payment, took account of all the circumstances arising out of the case.

May I ask for a reply, which surely can he definitely given, to my supplementary question, namely, is Oscar Slater to pay the costs of bringing this action to clear his name out of the £6,000 given as an ex-gratia payment by the Government? Let us know that.

Yes, Sir. The £6,000 is given as an ex-gratia payment, and is the largest payment ever given in similar circumstances.

Does the right hon. Gentleman wish this House or the country to understand that their generosity only extends to £6,000, out of which the costs of action must be paid, for imposing a 21-years' sentence upon a man who has to be released when £5,000 is given to a man who is unjustly imprisoned for only three years?

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the fact that the costs of this case and the inquiries came to almost as much as the ex-gratia payment?

That is not a matter that we can take into account now. The whole subject was carefully considered at the time, and the sum allocated included all the circumstances of the case.

Is it the case that all that the Government desired to do in this matter was just to refund the expenditure that was incurred in clearing this man's name?

Is not my right hon. Friend in a position to refute the statement that has been made that the costs in connection with this action amounted to almost the ex-gratia payment that has been made by the Government, and is it not a shame that such a statement should be made?

Answer!

May I ask what were the costs that had to be paid?

Answer!

The Secretary of State for Scotland has given his answer.

If I may, I would say that, of course, we have no knowledge of what the total costs may have been for those who carried out the defence, but the whole of the circumstances of the case were taken into consideration in accordance with precedent in dealing with these matters, and the total sum was allocated accordingly.

May I ask the right. hon. Gentleman what he means by taking all the circumstances into consideration w hen he admits that he does not know the costs of the defence?

Answer!

May I ask if the statement is anything like approximately true that the ex-gratia payment does not cover the amount of the expenses? Is it anything like true?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers, may I ask if he can give to the House particulars of the costs that the Government themselves had to pay for their own investigation?

In reply to the question of the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Scrymgeour), I have explained that I have no knowledge of what the total costs may have been—

Is it something like it?

This ex-gratia payment was based upon precedent, and, following wholly on that precedent, was more generous than any which had been given before.

rose—

The Secretary of State for Scotland has stated that this is The largest sum paid according to precedent.

On a point of Order. Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly state to the House what is the precedent that applies to a similar case in Scotland?

That is not a point of Order. These further questions must be put on the Paper.

The questions are here on the Paper, and the right hon. Gentleman cannot answer them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1), on what grounds the police authorities in Greenock have refused to accept charges of assault against members of that force, arising out of the recent disturbances connected with the existing ban on outdoor meetings in that town;

On the 25th and 26th September, wanton destruction of property took place in Greenock consequent on the holding of certain meetings on the public streets. Six men were committed to prison on a charge of mobbing and rioting. These men are at present on bail pending their trial. The magistrates in consequence directed the police to prevent the holding of meetings on the public streets. On 1st November a meeting assembled in West Blackhall Street. The police, in pursuance of the magistrates' direction, advised those assembled to disperse quietly, and requested the speaker, James Shields, to desist. Shields, however, persisted in addressing the persons present, and was arrested on a charge of obstructing the police in the execution of their duty. There was some disorder while Shields was being taken to the police office, and two persons were arrested, and subsequently convicted in the Sheriff Court, on a, charge of forming part of a disorderly crowd and committing a breach of the peace. While the charge against Shields was being entered at the police office, a number of persons crowded into the charge room and complained of the action of the police in preventing the meeting at West Blackhall Street and arresting Shields. No specific charge of police assault on Shields was made, and Shields stated that he had no complaint to make in this respect.

I did not mean a charge of assault by Shields alone. When a charge of assault by other persons connected with the matter was being brought, why was not that allowed?

I am not aware of any such charge.

asked the Lord Advocate how many men are imprisoned arising out of trouble at public meetings in Greenock; what charge has been preferred against them; what are the reasons for the delay in bringing these men to trial; and if he will institute a full inquiry into the police administration in this town.

No men are now detained in prison in connection with the charges referred to by the hon. Member. A charge of mobbing and rioting has been brought against six men who were liberated on bail on Saturday. The charge will be tried by Sheriff and jury on indictment, the first diet having been fixed for 23rd November and the second for 6th December. A charge of obstructing the police is pending against another individual who has been released on bail. Two other individuals were convicted of breach of the peace on 9th November and fined. I am not aware that there has been any avoidable delay in bringing any of these cases to trial. I am not aware that I have any power to institute the inquiry suggested in the last part of the question, even if I were satisfied that such inquiry was desirable.

Why were these men detained in prison without bail for six weeks and only liberated last Saturday? Can the right hon. Gentleman also tell us why the ban under which these men were imprisoned lasted during the period of the local elections and was withdrawn, and the men liberated, immediately the elections were over?

These men were arrested in the closing days of September, and on their being commited for trial on 5th October, and bail being refused by the Sheriff, they appealed to the High Court, and the High Court refused bail. At that time they offered no undertaking not to take part in disturbances in the street. Ultimately, they offered to give the undertaking, and on that undertaking they were liberated on bail. I instructed the Crown authorities that if that undertaking was given bail should not be opposed.

Is it within the right hon. Gentleman's power to inquire as to whether it was legal for the local magistrate to ban meetings during the course of local elections?

I am not fully familiar with all the circumstances, but there is some misunderstanding as to the right of the public to use the streets. It was laid down some time ago in the courts of law in Scotland that the primary use of streets is for passage, and the duty is on the magistrates to see that the streets are kept clear, and also to prevent any breach of the peace, or any likelihood of breach of the peace in the streets, and they have full power for that purpose.

Is it not also the perfectly established practice in Scotland, as in England, that political parties have the right to hold open-air meetings in suitable places?

No, on the contrary, there is no public right to hold meetings in the streets.

Is it not the case that meetings were also banned in the Town Hall during the period of the municipal elections?

I am not aware of it.

I beg to give notice that I intend to raise this question on the first possible opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the amount of able-bodied relief paid to each married couple, and how much to each child, in the various parish areas in the city of Glagsow; if he is satisfied that this is sufficient to maintain a decent standard of life during the winter; and if he will consider asking the parish councils to give an allowance of coal during the winter months?

The scale of relief in operation in the parishes of Glasgow and Govan for able-bodied unemployed persons is 23s weekly for a married couple, with 2s weekly for each child. From inquiries made from time to time by medical and other officers of the Scottish Board of Health, I am satisfied that this scale is sufficient to prevent any ill effects on the health of the recipients. As regards the last part of the question, I regret that I cannot see my way to recommend the parish councils to make any increase in the scale in the manner suggested.

With reference to the Circular issued by the right hon. Gentleman some time ago, saying that the same scale should be paid as was paid at the Exchange, will he not at least ask that the extra 1s., making it 24s., as at the Exchange, might be paid by the parish council—at least 24s to maintain a man and woman?

No, Sir.

Might I ask the right lion. Gentleman if he would like to ask any of his constituents who voted for him in Pollok to live on 23s a week and maintain a decent standard?

Will the right bon. Gentleman give more serious consideration to this suggestion about coal?

I have in the past invited the hon. Member to bring to my notice any specific cases for investigation. He has not brought them, and, until he does, I stand by what I have said.

I am asking the right hon. Gentleman a specific question: 1s 23s. sufficient to maintain a decent standard for a married couple? I ask him that question: Is it sufficient, or is it not? Will he not consider adding coa1?

This is a mere matter of opinion; it is not a question of fact.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the scale just stated by him is very much lower than in many parts of England?

I am not aware of that fact.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter at an early opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he can state the number of women who applied for a widow's pension and had been refused on the grounds that the late husband had reached the age of 70 before The 4th January, 1928; and the number of women who applied for and were refused an old age pension on the ground that the husband had reached the age of 70 on the above date?

As at 9th November, 1928, widows' pensions under the Contributory Pensions Act had been refused to 783 women in Scotland, whose husbands died after 4th January, 1926, but had reached the age of 70 before that date, on the ground that at the time of the husband's death there was no child under the age of 14. As at the same date the number of women in Scotland who had been refused contributory old age pensions for the reason that their husbands on whose insurance their claims were based, were over 70 on 2nd January, 1928, was 2,911.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of children who are attending school in Glasgow on a shift system; what steps are being taken to end this; and in what districts is this method of attendance being insisted on?

The arrangements referred to are at present operative in certain schools in the following municipal wards: Anderston, Cowcaddens, Govan, Hutchesontown, Kinning Park, North Kelvin, Partick East, Pollokshaws, Provan, Ruchill, Shettleston, Spring-burn, Townhead and Whiteinch; and the number of children involved is approximately 4,724. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Springburn on 8th November.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that practically all the districts which he has mentioned are working-class districts and that none of them apply to the well-to-do areas? Will he not consider asking that the children in the working-class areas should be allowed to attend schools in the well-to-do areas, and thus avoid the shift system?

Every effort is being made to overcome the difficulty, which we all know. Within the next week five or six of these areas will, I understand, be relieved.

Do we understand that the children who go to school in the morning gel: only three hours education in the day?

I understand that, under the abnormal circumstances at present existing in Glasgow by the reduction of the classes, the temporary expedient has been adopted, for a short time, of one class in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Is it not the case that the children in this area cannot get sufficient education in three hours a day?

When the right hon. Gentleman says that they are making every effort, does that include building schools?

Yes.

When is the right hon. Gentleman going to see that schools are being built? We have been asking for it for five years, and we get the same old answer. When will the right hon. Gentleman justify his job?

I have already pointed out that within the next week it is hoped that the situation will be alleviated.

What is to be the fate of all the unfortunate children outside the five districts in which the necessary accommodation is about to be provided?

As soon as it is possible to get sufficient accommodation, and that is rapidly progressing.

What extra accommodation will the right hon. Gentleman be able to have?

If the hon. Member will put down a question, I will answer it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Fishery Board for Scotland have pursued, during the summer months, their investigations into the increase in the number of grey seals around the coast and the extent to which they are responsible for damage to salmon and sea trout?

The Fishery Board have been pursuing investigations, and an inspection of the outlying breeding grounds has recently been completed. A report to the Fishery Board on the subject is in course of preparation.

Is there sufficient accommodation for the grey seals?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Dr. Watson, of Cathcart, Glasgow, submitted to the Medical Research Council in 1927 proposals for the better disinfection of the tubules of teeth; and whether, as repeated requests for a report upon this process have been requested without result, he can say when the report is to be expected?

I have been asked to reply on behalf of my Noble Friend the Lord President of the Council. Dr. Watson has made a claim of the nature indicated in the question, but this is insufficient for any report to be made upon it. His proper course is to follow the customary practice of making full scientific publication of his methods and results with a view to trial and criticism by his professional colleagues.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) how much money is in hand for the purpose of erecting pit-head baths; and what is the figure for Scotland;

The sum received from the Royalties Welfare Levy up to date is £357,000. To this the Miners Welfare Committee have added £238,000, making a total of £595,000 available for the erection of pit-head baths. no part of it is required to be allocated to any particular district and there is accordingly no separate figure for Scotland. £36,000 has been actually spent, and a further £129,000 has been allocated to approved schemes. The number of installations which have been actually erected by the Miners' Welfare Committee, or have reached the building stage, is nine, of which one is in Scotland. A number of other schemes, including 12 in Scotland, are now in hand but have not yet reached the building stage.

Would it not be a good thing to push on with the expenditure of all this money that is in hand, in view of the great amount of unemployment in the areas?

Yes, but I think the Miners' Welfare Committee wisely decided to build an experimental installation before going on with the main scheme. They are now carrying on the main scheme.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any information to show that any changes have been effected in any of the coal-mining districts in the methods adopted for the purposes of fixing miners' wages along the lines recommended by the Royal Commission, 1925–26, Report, page 234, paragraph 6 (1), (4), (5), and (6)?

I have no information except that arrangements have been made, or discussions have taken place, between representatives of the owners and workpeople in some districts with reference to transfer prices.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is in a position to say whether any of the processes of coal carbonisation have yet reached the commercial stage; and what is the estimated total quantity of coal at present being carbonised per day in this country and in Germany, respectively?

I presume the lion. Member refers to the so-called low temperature carbonisation of bituminous coal and not to the gas and coke oven industries, which have been in commercial operation for many years and are carbonising over 35 million tons of coal per annum in this country. Various types of low temperature carbonisation plants on a commercial scale, with a total capacity of, roughly, 1,000 tons a day, are now in existence in this country, though they are not all working steadily. Many statements have been made in the Press and elsewhere to the effect that additional plants on various systems are in process of erection or shortly to be erected. These point to a substantial increase in the figure I have given in the near future, but I am unable to give any estimate of the probable extent of this increase. With regard to Germany, it was stated at the recent World Power Conference that only one plant for the carbonisation of bituminous coal was now working in that country. This plant is understood to have a capacity of about 65 tons a day.

If the experiments that are being made by experts in the processes of low temperature carbonisation have not been brought to a commercial level, can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether these experiments are being investigated with a view to getting the processes established?

The best indication surely is the carrying on of a commercial scheme.

asked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been drawn to an invention of a Mr. Turner, of Coalburn, Lanarkshire, for the extraction of oil from coal; if Mr. Turner has requested the Fuel Research Department to test his process; and whether Mr. Turner's process is capable of producing successful commercial results?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the categorical statement by Mr. Charles Turner, of Coalburn, Lanarkshire, that his plant for producing oil from coal has been visited by three or four experts from the Fuel Research Board since March, 1927; and whether every facility will now be afforded Mr. Turner for securing an early Report by the Fuel Research Board?

As I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Johnston) on the 19th July last, the Fuel Research Board are aware of the nature of this process, and the plant has been visited by the Board's representatives on several occasions. A report on a low-temperature carbonisation plant cannot be issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research after mere inspection, but only after the plant has been tested under the conditions specified. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is, and has always been, willing to make a test and issue a report on Mr. Turner's plant, but, as I have previously stated, no application for a test has been received from Mr. Turner.

Has the attention of the hon. and gallant Gentleman been called to Press reports of the speech which he made in public declaring that this Mr. Turner had declined to allow Government experts to see his plant, and will he say whether this statement was correctly reported or not?

No, Sir, I certainly never said that this gentleman had declined or refused. What I said was that I believed he was unwilling, and I based that on a rather natural assumption. In July of 1927 the Director of the Fuel Research Board wrote a letter to Mr. Turner, and in July of this year, when I answered the hon. Member's question, no acknowledgment or reply to that letter—that was over 12 months ago—had been received, and therefore it was not unnatural for me to assume that Mr. Turner was not willing to meet the Department.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that Mr. Turner has categorically stated in the public Press that he has on three occasions requested the Fuel Research Board to visit his plant, and is he also aware that there is no serious difference between a visit and a test?

Oh, yes, a very serious difference. A mere inspection cannot give the experts any idea as to what the value of the products of the plants may be. I should like to say that Mr. Turner did, in September, since answered the previous question, write a full apology to the Director of the Fuel Research Board for having overlooked the letter of July, 1927.

On the question as to whether a visit to the plant should be made, is it not the case that the Director of the Fuel Research Department and his assistants have made frequent visits to different plants throughout the country?