asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the misconception existing as a result of investigations made by the International Labour Bureau as to industrial conditions in China; and whether he will take steps to see that the British representatives notify the League of Nations as to the facts regarding British, Japanese and Chinese conditions of labour respectively?

I have been asked to reply. The Director of the International Labour Office has recently visited China and will, no doubt, on his return report to the Governing Body of the Office. It will then be possible to determine what, if any, action is called for on the part of the representative of His Majesty's Government on that Body.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the annual sums due from the Chinese authorities concerned as a contribution towards the expenses of main taining the Hupeh road, in the ex-British concession at Hankow, pursuant to the agreement of the 29th June, 1926, between the Chinese authorities, the late British municipal council, and His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow, are not being duly paid; and will he state what steps he proposes to take to get the terms of the agreement carried out?

I have received a report on this matter. Representations to the local authorities have been made by His Majesty's Consul-General at Hankow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he is aware that the garrison commander of the Chinese troops at Hankow and other Chinese Government officials are constantly interfering with the director of the bureau established by the Chen-O'Malley agreement, and issuing orders to him which are contrary to the regulations made pursuant so such agreement, and that such interference is undermining the authority of the council of the bureau and rendering the proper and efficient administration of the district an impossible task; and what action he proposes to take in the matter:

(2) whether His Majesty's Minister at Peking has received any representations from the British members of the council established by the Chen-O'Malley agreement as to the difficulties encountered by them in impartially carrying out the terms of that agreement and their duties thereunder owing to the obstruction of Chinese Government departments; whether any and, if so, what reply has been sent to such representations; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received reports from His Majesty's Minister at Peking regarding the difficulties arising in Special administrative District No. 3 at Hankow on account of the interference of various Chinese authorities together with the text of the representations made on the subject by the British councillors. Representations have been made to the Minister for Foreign Affairs at Nanking, who has promised to issue instructions that there must be no outside interference with the former British concession, and Sir Miles Lampson is continually pressing Dr. Wang to ensure that his instructions are effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with reference to the question of the freedom of the seas, has any approach been made to him by the American Government in connection with the question of a conference respecting a treaty between the two English-speaking countries guaranteeing immunity of private property from seizure at sea; and will His Majesty's Government consider how far they can meet the American view and put this House in possession of the facts and present position?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not therefore arise.

Two questions arise out of that answer. In the first place, will the right hon. Gentleman obtain the exact wording of the Reed-Borah-Walsh amendment carried yesterday in the Senate on the inviolability of private property at sea; and, secondly, do the advantages thought to be gained by insisting on our right of search and seizure outweigh the drawbacks of an armament competition with America and the risk of bringing America in on the opposite side to us in any war or application of sanctions in which we are engaged?

I have no doubt I shall receive in due course, the exact text of the resolution which was carried in the Senate. I rather deprecate the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's second question. I have said that all questions concerning our relations with America and the naval conditions of the two countries are under consideration by His Majesty's Government. When I am in a position to make a statement on the subject, I wall do so; but I cannot make a statement until that inquiry is concluded, and I deprecate tendentious questions of the kind addressed to me by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman.

May I ask whether, in the interests of this country, it is not desirable that the Government should make up its mind on this vital question?

Yes, Sir, but if the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has given any study to the question itself, he will know that it raises a great many very important issues which require careful and mature consideration as well as consultation at the proper time with the other Governments of the Empire.

Is the policy of this country to be governed entirely by the Admiralty?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether British concessionnaires are free to undertake railway construction in Manchuria under Chinese auspices; and whether the open door exists in Manchuria for all forms of engineering work?

Railway construction in Manchuria is subject to the China Consortium Agreement of 15th October, 1920, in all cases where the issue of loans for public subscription is involved. By this agreement the principle of complete equality is affirmed between the British, French, Japanese and American Bank groups; and the respective Governments will give their complete support to their national groups who are members of the Consortium. Railway enterprise connected with certain specified lines, notably the South Manchurian Railway and its branch lines, is outside the scope of the Consortium and is reserved for Japanese interests. Details of the arrangement will be found in Command Paper 1214 of 1921 regarding the new financial Consortium in China. With the above important exceptions the "open door" exists in Manchuria for all forms of engineering work.

Does that mean that outside the area specified by the right hon. Gentleman, British firms will be allowed to tender for Chinese railway construction, and that we have no arrangement with Japan to prevent British firms so tendering?

No, Sir, there has been no such arrangement with Japan outside certain specified lines, notably the South Manchurian Railway and its branch railways which are reserved to Japan.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the object of Lord Lloyd's six weeks' visit to the Sudan?

The object of Lord Lloyd's visit to the Sudan is to acquire first-hand knowledge of the problems which confront the Sudan Government and to maintain personal touch with the Governor-General and his advisers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government received any representations from the Afghan Government prior to the temporary abdication of King Amanulla, protesting against the activities of Colonel Lawrence in Afghan affairs; and did the Foreign Office take any measures, either directly, through the Government of India, or through the Air Council, to recall Colonel Lawrence from his post in India?

No, Sir. His Majesty's Government received no representations from the Afghan Government. Colonel Lawrence was serving as an aircraftsman in the Royal Air Force, but in view of the deliberate misrepresentations of his presence on the North Western Frontier which were appearing in certain newspapers, and of the embarrassment which these misrepresentations were causing to His Majesty's Minister at Kabul, it was decided that it would be well to transfer Colonel Lawrence to another post and the Air Ministry accordingly arranged for his transfer out of India.

In reference to the first part of the question, is there no truth in the report that the Foreign Office officials of King Amanulla did communicate with the British Minister to the effect that the King was greatly distressed by reading the report of Colonel Lawrence's attempt; and, arising out of the answer to the latter part of the question, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the mysterious way in which Colonel Lawrence returned, has given currency to the report that the real Colonel Lawrence is still there, and that somebody else has been brought here?

The first part of the question was answered in the first part of my reply. We have had no representations from the Afghan Government. As to the second part, if the hon. Gentleman would occasionally devote himself to laying to rest rumours which have no foundation, instead of devoting all his energies to spreading them, he would contribute to the peace of the world.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that, if Colonel Lawrence had returned quite openly, it would have done much to drive away suspicion and that this method of surreptitious landing and everything rather confirms the suspicion that it is a false man who is going about?

I neither agree with the hon. Gentleman's adjectives, nor with his meaning.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which Government in Afghanistan is now in friendly touch with the British Government; and is there at present any official recognition or friendly support to one of the several claimants to the throne of Afghanistan?

His Majesty's Minister at Kabul is in unofficial touch with the de facto authority controlling the city in connection with local matters such as the safety and evacuation of foreign nationals. Similarly His Majesty's Consul at Kandahar is in unofficial touch with the Government of King Amanulla. As I have already informed the House, His Majesty's Government have no intention of interfering in Afghan affairs by supporting or assisting any of the parties at present contending for power in that country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how long and in what capacity did Amir Habibulla, one of the claimants to the Afghan throne, serve in the British-Indian Army; and how long was he resident in Peshawar within the British frontier?

I have been asked to reply. So far as I am aware the Amir Habibulla has never served in any capacity in the Indian Army. He is reported to have lived at Peshawar for some three years.

May I take it that the report which has been published here quite widely that he was a havildar in one of the British Indian regiments is entirely groundless?

Yes, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the unemployment among the work people in the shale oil area of Scotland, he is prepared to use for naval purposes a larger quantity of Scottish shale oil in preference to the imported product?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on a similar subject on 24th April last.

Why do the Government advocate the purchase of British goods, when they themselves will not purchase Scottish shale oil?

I explained to the hon. Member, when he previously raised this question, that the only reason why we do not buy Scottish shale oil is that it is too expensive.

Is price to be considered when you are advocating the purchase of British goods?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any decision has been reached regarding the management of bookstalls in his Majesty's dockyards and naval establishments?

It has been decided not to make any change in the existing arrangements at present.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the placing abroad of the greater part of the order for the crushing machinery for the Singapore base, he will request the Government contractors to agree in future to meet the Admiralty officials in conference, together with representatives of the tendering firm quoting the most favourable terms, before an order exceeding £ 1,000 in value is placed, with the object of making every endeavour to retain the work involved for British workmen?

I regret that it is not practicable to request the contractors to agree to the proposal made in the question. An agreement was, however, made in December last that the contractors would consult the Admiralty before placing any orders abroad for plant exceeding £ 20,000 in value.

How does that answer square with the answer just given in regard to shale oil?

It seems to square perfectly.

Why in this case have the Admiralty purchased these goods from America while refusing to purchase goods from Scotland because they cost a little more?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reason why an Admiralty launch was specially provided to enable Aircraftsman Shaw, otherwise Colonel Lawrence, to land on his return from India last Saturday?

An Admiralty launch was not specially provided. A naval officer-of-the-guard boards all linens which call at Plymouth, and Aircraftsman Shaw was, at the request of the Royal Air Force authorities, allowed to land in the officer-of-the-guards' launch.

Will a similar courtesy be extended in future to all aircraftsmen returning from India?

That is obviously a question that I cannot answer, and it depends, no doubt, on the action of the air officer.

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman assure the House that it was Aircraftsman Shaw?

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the inability of a colliery company in North Nottinghamshire, near Doncaster, and of the Nine Mile Point colliery, in Monmouthshire, and of two collieries near Wrexham, to obtain the miners they require either locally or elsewhere; how many vacancies in each of these instances exist; and what steps he will take as to transference of unemployed miners, if necessary from other areas, to meet this demand and ensure that such openings are not rejected by any who are suitable and are offered such posts?

With regard to vacancies at collieries in the Wrexham area and at a colliery in North Notts, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies, of which I am sending him copies, given on 30th January to the hon. and gallant Member for South-port (Sir G. Dalrymple-White) and the hon. Member for Newton (Mr. R. Young) and on 4th February to the hon. Member for Acton (Sir H. Brittain). The situation at the Nine Mile Point Colliery is the subject of two further questions for to-day, of which Private Notice has been given, and will be dealt with in reply to those questions.

With regard to those that are not being dealt with by the private notice question, is it a fact that the reason why men cannot be obtained from these collieries is that the colliery owners refuse to negotiate with the men's leaders and will only take men who do not belong to the recognised union?

The Minister said that these questions would be dealt with in reply to a Private Notice question.

On a point of Order. I am asking the Minister in regard to the Doncaster case, and I was leaving the other two cases alone.

I think it would be more convenient to deal with the whole thing at once

But how can the matter with regard to Doncaster be dealt with in the other two answers?

If the hon. and gallant Member wishes, and if you will permit, Mr. Speaker, I think it will be well to deal with this, so as not to complicate the matter afterwards, and the answer is that, with regard to the one colliery at Wrexham, that certainly is not the case. We have found out that it was a matter of some of the lower grade workers, of whom it was difficult, as short time was being worked, to get a sufficient supply in the locality. I believe they have now been got, and I do not think the question of unions appears in it at all. I have not the information with regard to the point in the Nottinghamshire case either. All that happened there, as far as I am aware, was that the company was very particular as to the ability and skill of the workers whom it got. I can make inquiries as to whether the same sort of point came up, but I am not aware of it.

Then it is not a question of the unemployed miners being unwilling to-work?

Not to my knowledge.

Has my right hon. Friend got any information about the Blacksyke pit, near Kilmarnock, where there are a lot of unemployed miners, and they cannot get men to work?

In the Wrexham case, is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the North Wales Miners' Association have been unable to come to an arrangement with the management of the colliery concerned in connection with wages?

We have arranged to leave that question until the other answers are given.

No, Mr. Speaker I understand that the Wrexham case is not to be dealt with later.

The two cases, Mr. Speaker, which were previously dealt with, and to which I referred, were the colliery at Wrexham and the colliery in Nottinghamshire described here as near Doncaster. The case which I asked the hon. Member to allow me to answer at the end was a Monmouthshire case. As regards the point raised by the hon. Member, I have no information to that effect, but, if he wishes to put down a question, doubtless I shall be able to answer it.

If I send the right hon. Gentleman a letter from the North Wales Miners' Association on this point, will he consider it?

I will consider anything from the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements are being made to prevent the men employed in the Royal Parks, on completion of the present temporary employment, being left stranded in London?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 4th February to the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury) on this question.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the present indebtedness of the Unemployment Fund to the Exchequer?

asked the Minister of Labour the adverse balance of the Unemployment Fund on 31st January, 1929?

The present debt of the Unemployment Fund to the Treasury is £ 33,460,000.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea of the weekly increase in the debt?

I can give the hon. Member the figures, but I cannot state them from memory.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider introducing legislation to alter the provision under which a person who reaches the age of 65, and is not qualified for the old age pension, is yet not qualified to draw unemployment insurance benefit, though qualified to do so in every way, except that he or she has reached the age of 65?

No, Sir, I understand that the cases of this kind are very few in number, and I believe that the balance of advantage to insured persons is on the side of the present system. It would not be possible to make a special exception in their favour, without requiring payment of a further insurance premium not only from them, but from all persons aged 65 or over employed in insured trades. This would obviously lead to a demand that all persons aged 65 or over should be eligible for unemployment benefit and would lead to hopeless confusion.

How does the light hon. Gentleman propose to see that the few who are adversely affected do rot continue to suffer injustice? Has he any proposal to make?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a surplus of£32,000,000 over the actuarial estimate?

No.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of the insured persons registered as belonging to the rubber industry are engaged in the manufacture of tyres?

I regret that statistics giving the information desired are not available.

asked the Minister of Labour for the latest available dates, the number of persons on the live register of the Employment Exchanges who were in receipt of benefit; and the number not in receipt of benefit?

Statistics are not available regarding the number of persons on the live register who are actually in receipt of benefit. At 21st January, 1929, out of a total of 1,425,620 persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in Great Britain, 1,222,201 had claims to benefit admitted or under consideration, leaving a balance of 203,419 who had no such claims. I should add that, while there are no exact statistics on the point, a considerable proportion of non-claimants are not insured persons.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Herbert Ellis was refused benefit for six weeks at the Partick Exchange, Glasgow, on or about 15th December, 1928, for alleged not going to a job on that date, and that he appealed to a court of referees, held at Glasgow on 18th January, 1929; that the court refused benefit, refusing to accept as evidence a note produced by Mr. Ellis from the foreman of the job at which he was to start, stating he would not in any event have got the job as he was not suited for the work; that in their finding they state they do not appreciate the note obtained, as it was given by the foreman because of friendly relations with trade union officials; and, seeing that this casts a reflection on the character of foremen and trade union officials, will he have the case re-heard?

The facts are substantially as stated by the hon. Member. There is no power to have cases re-heard unless fresh evidence has come to light, which was not before the statutory authorities when they originally heard the case.

Am I to understand that because trade union officials have developed the Government policy, and arc being friendly with employers and employers' representatives, the workpeople whom they represent are to be deprived of benefit?

This decision lay with the independent court. The suggestion that the referee and the umpire or any member of such court, or, as a matter of fact, any officer of my Department, has developed a policy of partiality with one side or the other, is a gross imputation on them, for which there is not a shadow of foundation.

I am asking whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Court of Referees refused to accept the representations of foremen because of alleged friendly relations, and, on the other hand, that the court refused to accept evidence because of alleged enmity between foremen and trade union officials; and will he state if he intends to punish men because their trade union-officials develop friendly relations between the managers and themselves?

In this particular case, the House will not think that I want to argue the merits of the case, in which I have no power to intervene, if I say that there are many other circumstances in the case, one of which was that the claimant's main contention was that he was not feeling well enough for work on the day when he ought to Lave returned, but was not so unwell as to be ineligible for benefit.

The question which I put on the Paper was whether such representations had been made, and the question has been altered.

I understand that certain unemployed men made an offer to a local authority to work for nothing. Whether, if unemployed men in receipt of benefit undertook work without pay it would involve disallowance of benefit, is a matter for the statutory authorities.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say which was the authority?

It has slipped my memory, and I will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in the new Employment Exchange premises shortly to be opened in Hull, there is inside accommodation for insured workers having business at the Exchange and waiting their turn to do their business; and how many persons can be accommodated under cover?

The internal waiting room space in this new Exchange will accommodate about 1,000 men and 400 women and this, ought to be sufficient to render outside queuing unnecessary if the applicants will co-operate in observing the timing arrangements.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, while the applicants are prepared to cooperate in the timing arrangements, only a quarter-of-an-hour is allowed for each class; and will he increase the staff so that men will not have to queue up and cause this congestion?

I think that in any case the staff clearly ought not to be increased beyond what is reasonable: everyone realises that, given sufficient space, as I think there is, there should not be any queueing up.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that at the Hull Employment Exchanges unemployment benefit is only paid to dockers on Fridays, and that, in consequence, a man who has obtained work on a Friday, but has money due to him on his unemployment insurance, has to wait a week, until the following Friday, before he can draw it, although the proceeds of the one day's work which prevents him attending the Exchange on Friday, when money due to him would be normally paid, may be the only earnings he has been able to obtain in that time; and whether he can explain why it is not possible to pay unemployment insurance money to dockers on Saturday mornings as well as on Fridays, so as to obviate this hardship?

I am not aware that any difficulty has arisen at Hull Employment Exchange in connection with the payment of benefit to dockers who are unable to attend for payment on Fridays, but I should be glad to investigate any specific case that the hon. and gallant Member has in mind.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, while there may be no clerical difficulty, the men who work on the day on which their money should be paid have to wait another week before they can get it? That is the difficulty.

That, I think, should not be the case, because the Exchanges are kept open late on Friday on purpose to meet this difficulty, but, if that does not meet the situation, perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will communicate with me.

Is there any reason why the Exchanges should not be open on Saturday morning for the men who work late on ships?

There is always a great deal of work passing through an Exchange, so that the reorganisation of hours and the change of days, always constitute a difficulty but, if the hon. and gallant Member satisfies me that there is a real case, I will go into it.

where the doctors may work until 7 o'clock on Friday—and other workers, too—is it not a hardship if they cannot get their money before the following Friday; and cannot some arrangement be made to meet the situation?

The times of payment have to be kept together; otherwise, the administrative difficulties would be so great that it would really constitute a dislocation of the system and cause an inordinate increase in the expenses of administration. That would be to the disadvantage of the insured persons who have to pay for it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, if men employed by private firms cannot get their money on Friday, they get it on the following day, or Monday; and why cannot the right hon. Gentleman's Department do the same thing?

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of unemployed in Newcastle-on-Tyne; and what is the percentage of unemployment there among insured workers?

At 21st January, 1929, there were 20,530 persons on the registers of the Employment Exchanges at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Elswick and Heaton and the percentage rate of unemployment among insured persons in the area was 20.3.

asked the Minister of Labour what conditions have to exist before an area can be regarded as having a permanent surplus of labour for purposes of the industrial transference scheme?

Without attempting an exhaustive definition of such an area as that to which my hon. Friend alludes, I would say that it must be one in which a large proportion of the industrial population is no longer able, and is unlikely in the future to be able, to find employment within the area.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any standard by which these areas are judged?

I cannot give any fixed standard because all these areas vary indefinitely, and I have to apply general principles in order to ascertain whether they should be included.

May I ask, therefore, what principles operate in order to give a decision?

I have told the hon. Member that several reasons operate in order to come to a conclusion. One is the degree of unemployment, another is the amount of population, and a third is whether the place is sufficiently large and whether there are other industries in which perhaps the unemployed people can get work. These are three of the most important, and all these have to be weighed together in order to arrive at a decision.

Is it not a fact that the chief reason is that the right hon. Gentleman and his Department want to make believe that they are doing something, while they are doing nothing at all but playing the fool?

The hon. Member no doubt judges by what he would do in similar circumstances.

Is the Minister aware that the latest returns for the shipbuilding industry, on 17th December, 1928, show that in the Tyne area there were 46.7 per cent. unemployed?

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is possible to give the figures of the number of unemployed persons on the live register for the borough of Bethnal Green at the latest available date; if not, whether he will have a special inquiry made as to the amount of unemployment in that borough, as the present system of including the figures with those for Hackney, Shore-ditch and Stepney deprives persons resident in that borough of the advantages which go to districts with a high percentage of unemployment?

The Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green includes parts of the areas served by the Employment Exchanges in Shoreditch, Stepney, Hackney and Stratford, and it is not possible, except by way of an approximate estimate, to give the number of unemployed persons resident in Bethnal Green. I am not aware that the absence of precise statistics for this borough deprives persons resident therein of advantages which they would otherwise obtain.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, owing to the circumstances to which I have drawn attention, men living in Bethnal Green are deprived of advantages which go to men in Ber-mondsey, Poplar and Deptford, and that, in connection with many jobs for which they make application to the London County Council and other authorities, they are refused work, because they are supposed to live in a district where unemployment is low, although it is really higher than in some other boroughs?

While I cannot answer for the action of the London County Council, I am quite sure that they are well aware of the particular conditions in Bethnal Green, even though statistics for the different places cannot be distributed.

Is the list of addresses where all the registered unemployed live available?

The tabulation of these different statistics would cause infinite trouble.

Is the Minister aware that the same conditions as to registering apply to Poplar, and we are able to get our numbers?

It is a question of how the statistics are kept. As everyone familiar with them knows, if they are kept in areas, an area can be tabulated, but, if it is a question of dividing up areas, then you begin to com-plicate matters so much that it causes a great deal of extra trouble and expense. If the trouble and expense were worth it, it would be done, but, in this case, I do not see from the hon. Member's own point of view that it would be worth it.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that it would be worth it, that these men have been trying for jobs and feel bitter because men coming from other parts of the country are getting the jobs?

If the hon. Member will give me any cases, I will look into them.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the number of unemployed in the city of Birmingham and, particularly, in the Deritend Division, he will consider the advisability of cancelling the instructions to the Employment Exchanges in the city on the working of the industrial transference scheme?

According to the last published figures, the percentage of unemployment in the Birmingham area has decreased from 11.9 per cent. in 1924 to 7.8 per cent., and is now 50 per cent. less than the corresponding figure for Great Britain as a whole. In the same period the insured population has increased by 8.2 per cent. In view. there- fore, of the inflow of population which is taking place (and apparently likely to continue in any event), while the local percentage of unemployment is decreasing, I am not prepared to take the action suggested by the hon. Member.

In view of the fact that the City Corporation of Birmingham and the Birmingham Board of Guardians have made representations to the right hon. Gentleman and to the Government to refrain from sending transferred unemployed to Birmingham, will not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his reply, and see that people living in Birmingham who are unemployed are given employment before transferred unemployed are imported?

I will always consider any communications made to me either by the authorities of the city or of the Poor Law Union in Birmingham.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received communications from these two bodies, or has he not?

Not recently; and I have no reason to believe that the city council of Birmingham take the view of the hon. Member.

Will the right hon. Gentleman indicate what he means by "recently," because I have information that within the last three weeks a protest has been made to the right hon. Gentleman?

I do not know of anything recently. If the hon. Member will put down a question, I will find out any date and let him know.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that certain members of the workpeople's panel on the court of referees in Glasgow, and particularly women members, had never been invited to sit on any court, while at the same time courts have not had any workpeople's representative attending; and if he will take steps to have this remedied?

I am not aware that there has been any departure in Glasgow from the rule that each member of the panel shall, so far as practicable, be summoned to serve in turn upon the court, but, if the hon. Member will furnish me with the name of any person who he suggests has not been called in turn, I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Labour, if he is aware that persons who have unemployment claims throughout the country, and particularly in Glasgow, are asked to appear before an official called the insurance officer; that he subjects the claimant to a severe cross-examination, asking questions to find out if the person is genuinely seeking work; that the Report is then submitted to the courts of referees by this officer containing only part of the unemployed person's claim; that this insurance officer does not appear in person to substantiate his written statement; and that the court in most cases take the view of the insurance officer; and if he will take steps to set up a committee of inquiry into this system or, if not, will he take steps to establish another method of settling claims?

I do not recognise the procedure in the description which the hon. Member gives. Persons claiming benefit are required by the Unemployment Insurance Acts to prove that they satisfy the statutory conditions, and they must, therefore, be interviewed and, if necessary, questioned. But I know of no ground for supposing that the procedure is conducted otherwise than quite fairly and with every desire to do full justice to the claimant, while protecting the Unemployment Fund from improper claims.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he is now claiming for these courts of referees privileges which do not apply in the ordinary courts of law? In an ordinary court of law a person who makes a statement must submit to be cross-examined. if need be, by the person who is the subject of the statement he has made, and will he not see that in these courts of referees the person who has made a statement must attend the court in order that he may be cross-examined?

If the hon. Member has any suggestions to make with regard to procedure in the courts of referees, I wish he would let me have them, and I will consider them in order to see whether they can be adopted; but I could not possibly give any answer in advance as to altering procedure.

But, seeing that the right hon. Gentleman is claiming immunity from criticism in this House for these courts of referees, will he not take steps to see that the procedure is similar to that in ordinary courts of law in this respect, that a man should be placed in at least as good a position as he would be in any other court?

I must ask for notice of any question such as that.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman responsible for the appointment of these referees, and is it not his Department which decides how many days they sit?

I am responsible for the appointments.

Arising out of the first reply, is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that statements are signed by insurance officers and submitted to the courts of referees, and that the applicants have no opportunity of cross-examining those officers or challenging the statements which they have signed and submitted? Will he not see to it that applicants arc given a fairer chance of making their ease clear to the court of referees by requiring that the insurance officer should be present in order to substantiate the statements on the paper which have been signed by him?

If the hon. Member will communicate with me or put down a question, I will consider his suggestion. When a decision of the court of referees is called into question, I must have notice of the question.

rose—

The Minister has already asked that further questions on this subject should be put on the Paper.

With all due respect to the Minister and to you, I submit that the Minister has not answered that part of my question which asks whether he is prepared to set up a committee of inquiry. May I ask if he will kindly answer that part of the question?

If there is any part of the question to which he has not received an answer, the hon. Member is entitled to put a supplementary question, but I do not think it is useful to have a number of supplementary questions on exactly the same lines.

I certainly am not prepared to set up a committee of inquiry, but I am quite prepared to look into any points which hon. Members bring to my attention.

Is the Minister aware that, since this re-arrangement with regard to the court of referees, workers in my constituency, which is eight miles away from Glasgow, have now to go from Clydebank to Glasgow before the court of referees—

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

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that the fluctuation of the index number of the cost of living was not more than four points during 1928, he is now pre-pared to carry out a fresh inquiry into the cost of living with a view to the index being placed on a more modern basis?

I regret that conditions of employment are not sufficiently normal to warrant the extensive inquiries which would be necessary in order to provide the data required to form a basis for a revised cost of living index number. It is desirable that a revised basis, when determined, should receive general acceptance and serve for a long period of years, and in view of this I think that the revision cannot well be undertaken at the present time.

asked the Minister of Labour what action, if any, his Department has taken to effect a setlement of the dispute between the owners and the operatives in the manufactured iron trade in the West of Scot- land; is he aware that a board of conciliation and arbitration has been in existence for 32 years and that the practice of the industry has been to settle differences without stoppage of work; that arbitration has been refused by the employers and that the workpeople have been locked out; and, seeing that (although certain of these manufacturers have been requested by the Admiralty to tender for contracts) the fair wages Clause is not being observed, he will take immediate steps to deal with the situation?

My Department has been in close touch with both sides with a view to assisting them in reaching an amicable settlement, which, in view of the facts to which the hon. Member refers, I hope will yet be achieved. The question as regards the fair wages Clauses is a matter for the contracting departments concerned.

In view of the Prime Minister's pledge on behalf of the Government to have "Peace in our time, O Lord," will the Department that is concerned with peace in industry bring the employers to book in respect to these matters?

I am doing my best to get peace in all these industries and all these districts.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that in a constituency like my own, where there has been very prolonged distress, this dispute is adding greatly to that distress, and will he use all his good offices and all pressure to bring this unfortunate dispute to an end?

I am always using what good offices I can, but I always have to use discretion. Some times, if one interferes indiscreetly or unwisely, one does harm and not good, but so far as I can I do my best to bring the parties together.

Will the right hon. Gentleman do his best to bring before the Prime Minister, with a view to laying the matter before the various contracting Departments, the fact that several of these firms which are doing Government contracts have locked out their men?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that for 32 years there has been no dispute, that a conciliation board has been in working order, and that this is the first time it has broken down, because the employers have refused to go to arbitration—not the men, but the employers?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that P-class clerks employed in the claims and record office of his Department have recently been prevented from the continued performance of work upon which they have been satisfactorily engaged for many years past, and which is work proper to the established clerical grades, and placed on lower grade work; and will he state why this has been done?

No general transference of any class of clerks from one type of duty to another has been made. Such adjustments as have been found necessary during recent months have been of a minor character, and have followed the principle that work of a superior character should be entrusted to established clerks rather than to temporary and P-class clerks.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure me that these transfers have not been made on account of the application which has been made that these men should be paid in accordance with the work they are doing?

No, Sir, not to my knowledge.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the advisability of changing the designation of the Ministry of Labour to the Ministry of Employment, the Minister of Labour to Minister of Employment, the Labour Exchange to Employment Exchange, as the inference was held in some poor industrial districts that what is known as labour pay comes from the Labour party?

The time to consider any change in the title of the Ministry of Labour would be in connection with a review of the more general question of the reallocation among different Departments of the functions of Government and would even in itself involve legislation. The change in name from "Labour Exchange" to "Employment Exchange," which my hon. Friend now suggests, was made more than 10 years ago.

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the advisability of re-naming these Exchanges the Ministry of Unemployment Exchanges?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the successful experiments of the Question Mark in the United States of America in refuelling in the air, he will introduce it into the routine of civil, naval, and military aviation?

Experiments in refuelling aircraft in flight have been carried out successfully at the Royal Aircraft establishment, and the experience thus gained is available whenever it is required. To prescribe this method of refuelling, however, for Service or civil machines, as a matter of routine, if that is. my Noble Friend's suggestion, could hardly, I think, be regarded as a reasonable or indeed practicable requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has any statement to make concerning the progress of the preparations for the London-to-India civil air service?

I am glad to say that excellent progress has been made to date and that all necessary arrangements for the opening of this service in the spring according to programme are satisfactorily in train.

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he is aware that a company called the National Flying Services, Limited, has been formed to establish aerodromes and flying schools and generally to carry on the business of aviation on a commercial basis; that the schemes of this company were developed in close co-operation with an official or officials of the Air Ministry, with the result that this company has secured for itself a privileged position amongst its commercial competitors by the promise of an exclusive subsidy from the Government; that one or more of the officials has since resigned from the Air Ministry and is now financially interested in this company; and whether he can give an assurance to the House that the existing aviation clubs and similar companies will not be penalised by being placed in a worse position financially by reason of the discontinuation of Government subsidies or other assistance;

(2) whether, before granting a Government subsidy to National Flying Services, Limited, he has satisfied himself that the commercial prospects of this enterprise have been examined and approved by any commercial aviation expert outside the Air Ministry;

(3) where any aerodromes now under construction by private firms are situated; and whether the proposed subsidy to National Flying Services, Limited, will be extended to them?

In view of the widespread interest in the scheme to which these questions refer, I will, with the permission of the House, answer them somewhat fully. As regards the first part of Question No. 44, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the White Paper (Cmd. 3264) which was laid last week and which gives brief particulars of the grants to be made to National Flying Services, Limited.

I may supplement these particulars by saying that I am hopeful that this company's organisation will give those interested in aviation in a number of provincial centres an opportunity of associating themselves with the development of flying in this country and, if they so desire, of actually qualifying as pilots, which has hitherto been denied them, but for which I am satisfied that there is at the present time a widespread and growing demand. I may add that the scheme is essentially one of payment by results and I need not elaborate the manifest advantages which will accrue to the State, no less than the general public, if it meets with the success which its promoters anticipate, These advantages—for example, the provision of a large reserve of qualified pilots and the creation of a chain of new aerodromes and landing grounds—could not possibly be secured otherwise than through the medium of a commercial organisation without a very much larger expenditure from Air Votes than is entailed by the proposed grants.

As regards the second and third parts of the question, proposals for the formation of a company on these lines were first communicated to me by the right hon. and gallant Member for Bristol, North (Captain Guest), to whose public-spirited efforts to promote the development of British aviation I should like to pay a passing tribute. Prior to their embodiment in the scheme now adopted, there were naturally a number of consultations both with myself and Air Ministry officials. It is the case that one temporary official, whose services I am very sorry to lose, has resigned his appointment to take up work in the new company. I may add that his appointment was a technical one, and that he was not responsible in any way for the conduct of the financial negotiations. Any implication, therefore, that undue favour was secured by the company through his instrumentality is entirely devoid of foundation.

As regards the last part of the question, no change is contemplated in the agreements under which the existing light aeroplane clubs are subsidised.

The answer to Question No. 48 is in the negative. The commercial prospects of the company are a matter for the promoters and subscribers, and the Air Ministry's part in the transaction is confined to the payment of certain grants dependent upon the concrete results explained in the White Paper. Since, however, certain acknowledged financial and commercial flying experts have accepted seats on the board, it would seem a legitimate deduction that these gentlemen are satisfied that the company's scheme is soundly conceived and has a reasonable prospect of success.

As regards Question No. 49, apart from the aerodromes in contemplation by municipal authorities and National Flying Services, Limited, the only aerodrome under construction by a private firm, so far as I am aware, is that situated at Heston, near Hounslow. An application for a licence for an aerodrome site at Tavistock has also been received from a private individual. The answer to the second part of this question is in the negative. The self-contained and comprehensive scheme of National Flying Services, Limited— covering as it does the provision of aircraft as well as aerodromes and landing grounds, the training of pilots, and numerous other activities for the development of flying in a number of different centres where there are at present no facilities—is obviously in an entirely different category from the construction of isolated individual aerodromes with or without shed accommodation.

rose—

After the long answer that has been given, if we had any sup plementary questions we might have a repetition of it which would not be desirable.

I wish to raise a point of Order. The answer just given by the right hon. Gentleman makes it plain that an appeal is about to be made to the public for subscriptions of capital based on the assumption—

That is not a point of Order.

rose—

No point of Order arises.

I wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether—

The question which the hon. Member was putting to me contained no point of Order.

Then I wish to raise another point of Order. I did not quite catch the remark which you made, Mr. Speaker, when the hon. and gallant Member for Enfield (Colonel Applin) rose to put a supplementary question after the answer to his three questions had been given. I desire to ask you, Mr. Speaker, when three questions are answered as one whether you rule that not a single supplementary question can be asked and for what reason?

No, I did not give that Ruling.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question again on the first available Motion for the Adjournment of the House.

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a-definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the announcement made for the first time by the Secretary of State for Air, to-day, that a private company is to be formed, subsidised by the. Treasury up to a maximum of nearly £ 100,000, without the consent of this House, and without any Government control or voice in its affairs, and that a public subscription of nearly £ 500,000 is shortly to be invited for a company whose commercial prospects are grounded upon the prejudged approval of this House.

The subject of the Motion which the hon. and gallant Member desires to move in order to secure the Adjournment of the House, obviously does not come under Standing Order No. 10. It is clear that the time to raise the question will be when the Government ask for the money for this particular purpose.

May I respectfully submit that there is an element of urgency, in that the Minister has announced that the public are to be invited immediately to subscribe this very large sum of money, contingent upon the approval of this House. which has not been given? I submit that, if this practice is to be continued, without some discouragement from the Chair and the House, the House is liable to find itself faced by similar actions in the future and may be influenced in voting the money by the fact that the public have already subscribed.

That does not alter the fact that the time to raise this question will be when the Government ask the House to vote the money.

With great respect, may I not submit that when the Government come to ask the House to approve of the expenditure, it will be too late to prevent the money being subscribed by the public, and that, if the House in the exercise of its undoubted discretion refuses to vote the money, the people will have been mulcted in a loss.

Mr. Clynes.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been drawn to the position of the dependants of the Rye lifeboatmen who lost their lives by the sinking of their boat when endeavouring to succour a vessel in trouble at sea, and for whom a public subscription created a fund to assist their distress; if he is aware that this fund is being withheld from the people for whom it was subscribed; and will he take some action in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. I have no information from official sources, but from such other information as I have received I understand that the persons holding the funds have taken legal advice with a view to the establishment of a scheme for the benefit of the dependants. I am also informed that the present needs of the dependants are being satisfied.

Will the expenditure incurred by consulting counsel and taking legal advice be borne by the fund itself?

I am not able to answer that question, but I may say now that the matter has been brought to my attention, and, with a view to facilitating the more speedy use of the fund, I have asked the Mayor of Rye if he can find it convenient to see me.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if it is customary for the Air Force to accept recruits for service under assumed names when it is known that such names are assumed?

There can hardly be said to be anything "customary" in a matter of this kind, but it is well recog- nised that men do enlist in assumed names, for a variety of reasons, and definite provision is made in the regulations that a man who has done so may subsequently have his true name recorded by making a statutory declaration in the prescribed form.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my question as to whether the Air Force accept a recruit when they know that he is using an assumed name?

The answer is, "Yes, they do."

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the difficulties under which growers of barley in this country are suffering owing to the large imports of foreign barley; and whether he will consider legislation under which foreign barley shall only be admitted into this country under licence?

I am fully aware of the effects of the imports of foreign barley. With regard to the second part of the question I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on behalf of the President of the Board of Trade to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Louth (Lieut.-Colonel Heneage), on the 30th January last.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will consider revising the present pay of Army officers in India; whether he is aware that a large percentage of officers, both in the British and Indian armies in India,, live under a permanent burden of debt owing to their insufficient pay and constant moves without sufficient allowance to cover the expense of such moves; and whether he is aware that the overseas allowance granted to Civil Service officials on the recommendation of the Lee Commission was not also given to the Army officer, whose pay is less than that of his contemporaries in rank in the police, public works department, or forest services?

I have been asked to reply. The present scales of pay were fixed in 1925 and are subject to revision in 1930. Recent inquiries have not disclosed any grounds for regarding them as inadequate, except perhaps as regards the furlough pay of Indian Army officers which is under separate consideration. As regards the last part the position was explained in a reply given to the hon. Member for Middleton (Mr. Sandeman) on the 2nd July last, of which a copy is being sent to my hon. and gallant Friend.

May I ask the House to turn to another battlefield? May I ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any information to give to the House regarding the riots in Bombay and Calcutta, beyond those which have appeared in the Press?

I have been asked to reply, as my Noble Friend is unable to be present on account of an injury to his hand. My Noble Friend has, up to the present, received no further information regarding the rioting in Bombay than has appeared in the Press. No official reports have been received of rioting in Calcutta.

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say whether it is correct that a British police officer has been killed by the rioters?

There is no official confirmation of that report.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state for four weeks ending 11th August, 8th September, 6th October, 3rd November, 1st December, 29th December and 26th January the average amount per head per week which has been distributed to recipients from the Lord Mayor's Fund?

In view of the form in which relief is distributed, it would not be possible to give the information asked for by the hon. Member.

Is the Noble Lord aware that a committee for distribution was set up six weeks ago, approved by Mr. Curtis-Bennett, for the Seaton Burn district, and that, three weeks ago, hundreds of pounds were sent by Kingston-on-Thames to the Lord Mayor's Fund earmarked for Seaton Burn, but that up to the present not one penny has been received by the local committee?

I am not aware of that fact. If the hon. Lady will give me particulars, I will inquire into it.

In view of the difficulties that many distressed and unemployed workpeople are experiencing, will the Noble Lord lay down, by a White Paper or by an answer to a question, what the term "mining area" means for the purpose of the distribution of the Lord Mayor's Fund?

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

asked the President of the Board of Education the steps which are being taken to organise the collection of money in aid of the Lord Mayor's Mansion House Fund, as apart from the methods of distribution; whether there is any section of the administration which solely concerns itself with this aspect of the movement for the relief of distress; and, if not, whether he will suggest its establishment?

The organisation of local machinery for the collection of contributions to the fund rests with the Lords-Lieutenant and with the heads of municipalities in England and Wales. One of the functions of the coalfields distress funds organisation is to coordinate these various appeals and to give advice and assistance to those who are responsible for them. It has not been found necessary that any section of the central administration should be devoted solely to this purpose, and the fact that, since the central machinery was set up, the fund has increased from, approximately,£150,000 to, approximately. £650,000 is, I think, sufficient evidence of the adequacy of the present arrangements.