asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any bonfires of foreign cloth have been permitted in India within recent weeks; whether any such bonfires have been prohibited and, if so, how many; and whether any arrests have taken place in connection therewith?

The burning of foreign cloth is not of itself an offence and such bonfires have taken place in India, but the lighting of a bonfire, for example in a public street, may call for prohibition by the authorities. I have no information as to the number of cases in which prohibition has been found necessary or how many arrests may have taken place, but as instances of both I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to himself on the 7th March and to the hon. Member for Penryn and Falmouth (Mr. Pilcher) on the 11th March.

asked the Under-secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to give the terms of reference and full personnel of the Royal Commission to inquire into labour conditions in India?

My noble Friend regrets that he is not yet in a position to make an announcement on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether consideration will be taken of the views of the textile and railway workers' unions in favour of drawing the terms of reference of the Whitley Commission on labour conditions in India so as to include conditions in the Indian States within the scope of the Commission's inquiry?

My Noble Friend has not received from the unions mentioned any statement of the views ascribed to them. There is no question of the scope of the Commission's inquiry extending beyond British India.

If any such requests are made or such opinions are made known to the Secretary of State, will they be considered with a view to the Commission going into these matters?

Naturally, views received from any such body would be considered by my Noble Friend, but the regulation of labour conditions in the States belongs to a branch of their internal administration and is not controlled by the paramount Power, Therefore, it would be very difficult for the terms of reference to apply to these cases.

Does the Noble Lord realise that, if uniform labour conditions are not guaranteed, in British India as well as under the Princes, there will be a tendency for employers to start factories in the native State areas, in order to take advantage of the better opportunities for exploitation?

The hon. Member is raising a question of great constitutional importance, and I do not think he can have heard the answer which I have just given to the first supplementary question—that the regulation of labour conditions in the States belongs to a branch of their internal administration and is not controlled by the paramount Power. Although the paramount Power has from time to time used its good offices with the States with a view to securing conformity to the standards obtaining in British India, that is quite a different thing from appointing a Commission to inquire into labour conditions in the States.

Are the States not represented on the League of Nations by a ruling Prince; and would not any action by the League of Nations, in raising labour standards, automatically include these native States?

The question of representation on the League of Nations is not relevant to the matter at all. There is a constitutional point at issue on which I hesitate to give an opinion without consideration. The constitutional point at issue is whether it would be proper for the Government of British India to inquire into the labour conditions in the native States, and I feel certain my Noble Friend would not be prepared to do anything of the sort without the most careful consideration. I can hold out no hope that such an inquiry will be possible.

Is the noble Lord not of the opinion that the purpose of the paramount Power in this matter will be defeated unless some sort of friendly arrangement can be come to with the rulers of the native States on this matter?

That is a rather hypothetical question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give the number of women employed underground in those mines it is proposed to exempt from the Regulations prohibiting the use of female labour underground in Indian mines?

In 1927—the latest year for which statistics are available—the average daily number of women employed underground in the mines in question was 28,393.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is in a position to inform the House of the names of the delegates and advisers constituting the Indian delegation to the forthcoming International Labour Conference at Geneva?

With the permission of the hon. Member I will circulate the list of names with the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any of the 16 persons arrested on suspicion of complicity in the murder of Mr. J. P. Saunders at Lahore, on the 17th December last, have been brought up on trial?

So far as is known none of the 16 persons who were arrested at the outset and afterwards released on bail have been brought up for trial. The further investigation of the case is, however, being proceeded with as fast as the circumstances permit.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what steps have been taken to implement the Viceroy's announcement on the 28th January last that an officer of the Indian Civil Service would be deputed to Kenya to represent the views of the Government of India on the Report of the Hilton Young Commission?

My Noble Friend has been in communication with the Viceroy for some time past, and an announcement may be expected very shortly.

Is the announcement likely to be made within the next few days, because we can only speak of "a few days" now with regard to this Parliament?

I hope it will be possible to make the announcement in the course of this week.

Will this officer of the Indian Civil Service get out to Kenya in time to meet the permanent Under-Secretary who is there?

The right hon. Gentleman cannot have heard my answer that no announcement is possible at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Bar Council of the High Court of Judicature at Rangoon has issued a rule, under the Bar Councils Act of 1926, debarring all those from practising, either in the High Court or the lower Courts in Burma, who have not been enrolled in the Rangoon High Court, and whether, in view of the fact that the Bar Councils Act of 1926 expressly permits advocates enrolled in the High Courts in any of the provinces in India to practise, of right, in the lower Courts in other provinces and, subject to con- ditions laid down by the Bar Council of the High Court concerned, in the High Courts of those provinces, he will direct the attention of the Government of India to the rule issued by the Bar Council at Rangoon withholding these privileges granted by the Act?

A rule of the nature indicated was made by the Bar Council this year, but it contained the proviso that an advocate of another High Court might be permitted to plead and act in a particular cause or matter with the express permission of the presiding Judge. As regards the second part of the question, inquiry will be made of the Government of India as to the present position.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India when the final trial of the 31 persons arrested in March for waging war against the King is to take place; have the accused persons applied to the Viceroy to transfer the trial to a large presidency town where there is a High Court of Justice; if so, will the Government accede to the request; if the trial is to be conducted at Meerut will the accused persons have the usual benefit of trial by jury presided over by a High Court Judge; how many of the 31 persons are of European birth; what are their names; and what means will be afforded to their friends and relatives in Great Britain for securing proper facilities for defence?

I have no information as to the first three parts of the question. As regards the fourth part, if the Magistrate commits the accused to trial, the case will presumably come before the Court of Session at Meerut and will be heard by the Sessions Judge with the aid of assessors. Two of the accused persons, namely Mr. Philip Spratt and Mr. Benjamin Bradley, are of European birth. As regards the last part of the question, these two Europeans will be in the same position as the other accused in the matter of the preparation of their defence.

Was it not possible for the Noble Lord to obtain information from the Viceroy as to the application for trial by jury?

It is a matter for the Viceroy to deal with.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will consider the desirability of publishing a précis of the causes and aims of the subversive propaganda in India which has entailed the introduction of public safety measures?

When the Public Safety Ordinance recently issued by the Governor-General in Council is received here, my Noble Friend will consider the desirability of its presentation to Parliament as a Command Paper together with a brief statement of the reasons which necessitated its issue. As to any more general statement, however, I would remind the hon. Member that the trial of certain persons in India on a conspiracy charge is now pending, and it would be improper to publish any statement on a matter that is sub judice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any action is being taken by his Department to abolish the system of child adoption known as mui-tsai in Hong Kong; and can he give particulars?

I have to refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to questions on this subject on the 4th of February last, and to the reply which I am giving to-day to a question by the hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Malone). I would however, repeat that the system of child adoption so far as it involved a restraint on personal freedom has been made illegal since 1923. My right hon. Friend is engaged, in concert with the Governor, in considering means to prevent evasions of the law.

Is it not a fact that the statement was made in this House in 1923 that mui-tsai was to be abolished altogether; and is it not also a fact that at the present time there are more cases than there were in 1923?

With regard to the first part of the question, legislation was passed abolishing mui-tsai, but, of course, it is a very difficult thing, where you have a large number of non-British subjects coming temporarily into Hong Kong from Canton and neighbouring provinces, to say whether or not they have got mui-tsai with them. It is estimated that since the Ordinance was passed 300,000 Chinese subjects have come into Hong-Kong with a proportion of mui-tsai.

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman communicated with the Governor of Hong Kong to find out why the law was not being enforced, and is the House not entitled to know the reasons which were given by the Governor why this law was not enforced?

As far as it is practicable to enforce the law, steps are being taken to do so. It is proposed, as soon as the correspondence is complete, to lay papers, and I will give a further answer on that point.

Can we be assured that papers will be laid?

Yes. As soon as the correspondence is complete and we see what we can do, papers will be laid.

In view of the fact that this is very serious, can the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects to be able to lay papers or when the correspondence will be completed?

I cannot say offhand. I think probably it means collecting a certain amount of further data as to the actual facts, apart from discussion of methods of law and order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Sir John Chancellor has been approached with a view to expediting the change in the taxation by tithe and wergo; and whether, as this old Turkish system has already been reformed in Turkey and in those parts of the old Turkish Empire now administered by France, he can say when Sir John Chancellor expects to have the reform complete in Palestine?

The High Commissioner is well aware of the desirability of expediting these changes so far as circumstances permit. It is not, however, possible for me to name a date for their completion.

Will the right hon. Gentleman communicate with Sir John Chancellor, so that we may know when this reform is expected to be complete?

Yes, but the right hon. and gallant Gentleman knows that these questions and answers, together with supplementary questions, are sent out. We have already done this, and the matter has already been taken up by the High Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statistics as to liquor importation and consumption and crime resulting therefrom in Palestine for comparable periods since the British mandate and before the War?

I regret that I am not in a position to supply comparative statistics as desired by the Noble Lord.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take steps to free the British West Indies from American broadcasting monopoly by arranging for a British service to cover the area between British Guiana and the Bahamas?

I am not aware that there is any reason to apprehend the establishment of an American broadcasting monopoly in the British West Indies and adjoining Colonies, but I can promise that any proposals which may be submitted for the establishment of a British service will be carefully considered. No such proposals have reached my right hon. Friend hitherto.

Is it not a fact that the people of the West Indies at present are only able to get the American broadcast?

That obviously depends on the sensitiveness of their receiving sets.

Would it not be well to take steps to ascertain from the Governors exactly what the present position is, and what steps are possible to overcome this American broadcasting monopoly?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that for a British subject it is practically impossible to get any British news when he is in the West until he gets east of Bermuda?

It is a fact that it is impossible to get reception in certain areas and that it is extremely difficult to cut out American stations in the Caribbean area. As I have said in my answer, any proposals for the establishment of a British broadcast transmitting station in that area will be most sympathetically considered.

Is not the matter of such importance to the Empire as a whole that the right hon. Gentleman's Department should take some initiative in it?

As the Noble Lord knows, the question of broadcasting in the British Empire was discussed at the Governors' Conference, and no doubt will come up both at the Imperial Conference and at the next Colonial Office Conference. It consists of technical difficulties much more than political difficulties.

Cannot the broadcasting people put up a station there?

Not the British Broadcasting Corporation. They have no power to do so under their charter.

Is it not a fact that, so far from being a matter of importance, it is largely a matter of Imperial fudge?

Not at all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the experience of Mauritius in a similar situation will be taken into consideration in connection with the drink problem on the Gold Coast?

The Governor of the Gold Coast has recently appointed a Commission, which is taking evidence of every factor relating to the sale of spirits in that Colony, and my right hon. Friend will bring my Noble Friend's suggestion to his notice. It must be remembered, however, that conditions are not the same in the two Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a communication from the Kikuyu natives respecting the liberation of Harry Thuku; and, after the seven years' banishment of this man against whom no charge was ever proved, will he be allowed to return to his family?

The case of Harry Thuku was referred to in a petition, of which my right hon. Friend has a copy, addressed by the Kikuyu Central Association to the Governor of Kenya. The Governor proposes to discuss this matter with my right hon. Friend while he is in this country; but I do not anticipate that it will be possible to come to a decision until after his return to the Colony.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind when this discussion takes place that the Harry Thuku trouble arose just at a time when they reduced wages by, I think, 50 per cent.?

As the right hon. and gallant Gentleman knows, there are a good many factors. The whole question is connected with the settlement of various outstanding broader questions of policy, and that is why we cannot anticipate any final commitment in regard to this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information to give the House as to the mediation to be exercised by the Vatican between the clericals and the Labour Government of Malta?

No, Sir. I can add nothing to the previous replies on this subject. I might add that the right hon. Gentleman is mistaken in referring to the Government of Malta as being a "Labour Government."

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that recently this Labour Government in Malta—for there is a Labour majority—has been criticised by an alien priest in that country, and are there any provisions in the laws of Malta which enable people to be expatriated back to their own country if they interfere in local politics?

That raises a very thorny question of policy, and I cannot accept the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's description of the point as fully accurate, but, as he knows, this matter is the subject of inquiry. An Apostolic visitor is inquiring into the circumstances' of this particular case, and I think it would be very unwise for any of us, in any quarter of this House, to attempt to prejudge the examination of that question.

Is the judgment of the Apostolic visitor of more importance and more decisive than the judgment of this House as to the freedom of the local government?

No.

That is what the right hon. Gentleman's answer said.

No; the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has misunderstood me. Pending the report on all the circumstances, I think it would be very unwise that we should make up our minds, one way or the other, until we have the full evidence before us.

Is not the real explanation that the Government do not want to commit themselves pending a change of Government?

I not not know whether the right hon. Gentlman means a change of Government in Malta. That seems likely, but it has nothing to do with it.

I suppose it is the report of our Governor that is to be the information provided to the right hon. Gentleman, not the report of the Apostolic visitor?

Obviously, the British constitutional authority is the Governor, not the Apostolic visitor, but it is very desirable in these matters of religious discipline, affecting religious orders that we should ascertain what the official views in this matter are.

What does the Home Secretary say about it?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the points of dispute between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Iraq and on the possibility of the deadlock in the negotiations being overcome?

I would invite the attention of the hon. Member to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave to the right hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on the 24th of January, to the hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Malone) on the 28th of January, and the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Wardlaw-Milne) on the 20th of February. I am at present unable to add anything to those replies.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long we are likely to be before we get the information?

It may be some time yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Workmen's Compensation Bill in Malaya has yet been passed?

Yes, Sir; the Bill was passed by the Federal Council on the 30th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any telegrams or communications from the. Supreme Moslem Council protesting against the grant of the Dead Sea Concession to Mr. Novomeysky; and whether he is taking any action to safeguard Mohammedan interests?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend has received no such communication from the Supreme Moslem Council; but, as has been explained in another place, the President of that Council sent a telegram on the subject to my Noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor, about a month ago. As regards the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the provisions of the draft concession, which have been accepted by the Government of Palestine and by the Arab Government of Trans-jordan, will adequately safeguard the interests of the inhabitants of both territories.

Is my right hon. Friend taking any steps to meet the objections of the Mohammedan population, which is very considerable, with regard to this concession.

I do not know on what the hon. and gallant Gentleman bases that supposition. I know the objections of the National League in this country, and of certain people in Palestine, who are organised by that National League, but upon what ground the hon. and gallant Gentleman speaks for the Government of Transjordan or the Arabs of Palestine, I do not know.

Is it a fact that the so-called Supreme Moslem Council is only a small body representing extreme Mohammedan elements, and that it is a case of the deep calling the deep with regard to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelmsford (Colonel Howard-Bury)?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Report issued by the committee appointed by the Irish Free State Government to inquire into grievances of British ex-service men has been considered; whether it is proposed to act on the suggestion contained in paragraph 133 of that Report in regard to Lytton entrants transferred to the Irish Free State; and whether a formal claim for compensation or for re-entry to the British Civil Service has been received on behalf of those officers.

I have been asked to answer this question. A claim for compensation or for transfer to the Civil Service in this country, which has been made on behalf of Lytton entrants in the Irish Free State Civil Service, has been forwarded through His Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State. The claim follows the lines of a suggestion in paragraph 133 of the Report of the Committee referred to in my hon. and gallant Friend's question. The matter is now under consideration, but on the information at present available to my right hon. Friend, he does not wish to hold out any hope of its being possible to take action in the direction desired.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these British ex-service men were transferred without the option of remaining in the British Civil Service, and do not come under Article 10 of the Treaty at all; and can he hold out some hope of compensation being given to them, as they are completely neglected by both sides?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman had better put down a further question to the Dominions Office, as obviously I cannot answer.

In view of the change of front with regard to the Irish loyalists, is there no opportunity of the Government again changing their view?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if it is within the scope of the operations of the Empire Marketing Board to arrange public culinary displays of selected Empire and Home products which it is endeavouring to popularise; and, if so, what work is being done on these lines?

I have been asked to answer this question. Yes, Sir. Such displays are within the scope of the activities of the Empire Marketing Board. In the past demonstrations of this character have been made at a number of Exhibitions in which the Board have participated, and similar demonstrations are planned for the future.

As the list of exhibitions at which cookery demonstrations have already taken place is somewhat long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of the Overseas Trade Department the amount of the subscription promised by the Government to the Travel Association; and are any special films being taken with the assistance of his Department for the purpose of assisting this association in its work?

His Majesty's Government has included in the Estimates the sum of £5,000 as a subscription towards the funds of the Travel Association of Great Britain and Ireland. As regards the second part of the question the value of film propaganda is fully realised and is being considered by the Publicity Committee.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether a promise will be made of a further subscription of a like amount the following year?

Of course, the Conservative Government next year may renew the subscription, but I do not know.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any steps are being taken by his Department for the purpose of preparing a scheme of marking British meat, so that the public will know at a glance whether the meat purchased from their butchers is English or Foreign?

The Ministry has in hand the preparation of a voluntary scheme for grading and marking the three top qualities of home-killed meat on wholesale meat markets. The National Federation of Meat Traders' Associations has assisted in defining the three grades and the Ministry is now considering in conjunction with the National Farmers' Union and distributors' organisations, where and in what way the scheme could best be given a fair trial. The schema would incidentally enable all buyers of graded and marked meat to know that it is home killed, but since the scheme would be only applicable to a portion of the home-killed supplies and would be voluntary, it would not distinguish all home-killed from foreign.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when it is hoped that a decision will be arrived at?

Negotiations are going on, and, if we can get a settlement, we shall hope to bring the scheme into operation as soon as possible.

Are we to understand that the word "English" in the question includes "Scottish"?

No, I think the Scottish trade have their separate mark. We have a national mark for this country with a map of England on it; the national mark for Scotland has a map of Scotland on it.

In the case of Scottish meat, will that be distinguished from English by this mark; is it not notorious that it is the best beef?

That is a matter for the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what increase, if any, has been made in the scale of heavy-horse grants since 1914; and how much those grants cost last year?

The scale of grants to Heavy Horse Societies has not been varied since 1914. The total sum paid in respect of such grants to societies in England and Wales in the past financial year was £7,517.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the increased cost of maintaining studs, which has resulted in the decline of heavy-horse breeding and threatens to produce a serious shortage in a few years' time, he can see his way to recommending an increase in the scale of grants for heavy-horse breeding?

I have recently received representations from the Shire Horse Society suggesting an increase in the scale of grants for heavy-horse breeding, and the matter is now receiving my consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can state why, in the case of a landholder to whom a loan has been granted under Section 7 (7) of the Act of 1911 by the Board of Agriculture and who quits his holding, the unpaid portion of the loan is no longer continued to the incoming landholder as was formerly the practice?

In view of the principles laid down in the Culreoch case in 1926, the Board of Agriculture were advised that the previous practice of continuing loans to holders entering into vacated holdings is out-with the powers conferred by Section 7 (7) of the Act of 1911. Applications for such loans cannot, therefore, be entertained.

Is it intended to alter the rule so as to go back to the previous practice? Does the right hon. Gentleman not see that this may be a great hardship to the incoming tenant, and that it was never intended that the Board should get back this loan at very short notice, but that the loan should be spread over a 15-year period?

Any alteration of the rule would certainly require legislation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he is aware that tenders were invited last July for constructing an addition to the fuel research station at Greenwich; that although the tender submitted by Mr. Arthur Logan, of Pagden Street, Batter-sea, who has been doing work on Government contracts for 17 years, was the lowest, this particular contract was passed on to the party next higher in price; and will he cause proper inquiries to be made into the complaints made by Mr. Logan?

The First Commissioner is aware of the fact stated by the hon. Member. He has made full inquiry into the complaints made by Mr. Logan, and is satisfied that proper action was taken in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the actual agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Egyptian Administration prohibiting the passage of foreign civil aircraft over Egyptian territory, in view of the fact that the proposed treaty with the late Sarwat Pasha was not ratified?

No agreement such as that referred to by the hon. and gallant Member exists. What my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary pointed out in reply to a question on 4th March last, was that the point of view of His Majesty's Government in the matter was perfectly well known, since a Clause covering the question had been agreed upon with the late Sarwat Pasha, and included in the published draft treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the subject of Germany being given a mandate for one of her former colonies was last under discussion; and what was the attitude expressed by His Majesty's Government?

The mandates over the former German colonial territory (which derived from the Treaty of Versailles and not from the League of Nations) were definitely allotted to the existing holders and there has never, so far as I am aware, been any suggestion that any of the existing mandatories desired to be relieved of its responsibilities. Our position was explained to Germany at the time of the Conference of Locarno and has been more than once re-stated since. If a new mandate were to be called into being or, in the unlikely event of an existing mandate being vacated, we should be prepared to consider the claim of Germany as of any other Great Power, Member of the League, but we can take no engagement in advance in regard to so hypothetical a contingency.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the first part of the question as to when this matter was last under discussion?

It has not really been under discussion since, I think, the Locarno negotiations. No doubt there have been references to it since that.

May we take it from the reply that the view of the Government is that it is a definite advantage and gain to have these mandates?

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a communication from the town clerk of Hull, with a resolution of the City Council passed on 11th April, last, drawing attention again to the hardship caused by the operation of the Rating and Valuation Acts, 1925 to 1928, and regretting the unwillingness of the Minister to meet a representative deputation from the lord mayor and corporation; and whether he will reconsider his refusal to receive such deputation?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has received the communication to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. As he has already informed the City Council and the hon. and gallant Member, the large increase in the gross value attributed to small properties in Hull, which substantially exceeds the corresponding increase in the majority of other rating areas, is a matter within the discretion of the local Rating and Assessment Authorities; no action which my right hon. Friend could take could affect the essential facts of the situation, and, that being so, he cannot see that any useful purpose would be served by the attendance of a deputation.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the Corporation of Hull may be trusted to know whether anything will be gained by an interview with him and his experts? How is it that the Minister refuses a definite request to receive a deputation from the whole Corporation—this not being a party question at all—to discuss these highly technical matters?

There has been considerable correspondence between my right hon. Friend and the Corporation, and it is the opinion of my right hon. Friend that nothing would be gained by receiving a deputation. If the Corporation have any suggestions to make, they could make them in writing, but really there would be no useful purpose gained in receiving a deputation.

It is difficult to discuss these matters by correspondence. When the right hon. Gentleman the Minister receives a special request for conference on such a matter, is it not his duty as Minister to accede to such a request?

As the hon. and gallant Member knows, my right hon. Friend is always endeavouring to carry out his duties. If the Corporation have any suggestions to make in the matter, it is difficult to see why they cannot make them in writing. It is really a matter for them.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the assessments complained of were made by the local assessment committee, or whether there has been an alteration made by the central valuer?

The Central Valuation Committee, as the hon. Member knows, has no jurisdiction. The Central Valuation Committee is only a committee for giving advice. The Assessment Committee has entire responsibility.

I have a good deal of sympathy with the right hon. Gentleman. Is not the real difficulty this, that the indignation and dissatisfaction aroused by these Acts is so widespread that if the Minister undertook to receive all the deputations—

Order!

I beg to give notice that in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I will raise this question on the Adjournment to-morrow night.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any reports from his inspectors regarding the emission of fumes from artificial silk works?

Yes, Sir. The chief alkali inspector has made a report on this subject, and my right hon. Friend is arranging for its publication.

May I ask whether the Home Office entered a prosecution against this firm?

There is no firm referred to in the question.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the annual increase of population in the United Kingdom during each year since 1924?

According to the Registrar-General's Statistical Review, the estimated populations of the United Kingdom for the years 1924–1927 inclusive were 44,886,000, 45,040,000, 45,218,000 and 45,435,000 respectively, indicating an average annual increase during that period of 183,000.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether the three women members of the staff dismissed by the board of the Lock Hospital two years ago were exonerated by the committee of inquiry; and, if so, what restitution it is proposed to offer them for the action taken;

(2) whether he is now in a position to announce the reforms undertaken by the board of the Lock Hospital; whether these will include a change in the personnel of the board and in the secretarial staff?

For the reasons fully explained in reply to questions by the hon. Member on the 14th and 21st March, my right hon. Friend does not as at present advised propose to publish the Report of the committee, and in these circumstances he is reluctant to discuss any particular views which they may have expressed, and any action taken thereon by the board of the hospital, until the board have had a reasonable opportunity of dealing with the recommendations of the committee as a whole.

Do not the right hon. Gentleman and the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Health realise the very great prejudice to the people concerned, who have been dismissed and are given no opportunity of ever knowing whether they are exonerated or otherwise? With regard to the answer to the second question, do not the right hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend realise that the people who are asked to decide on these reforms are the very people who have been reported upon, and is it not time that an entirely different attitude was taken up towards this matter?

As the hon. Member knows very well, this is a very difficult matter, a very difficult situation. My right hon. Friend really desires to do the best he can in the interests of the hospital and has given an undertaking to the House that he will very carefully watch the proceedings which the board of the hospital are taking. He is keeping in constant touch to see that the recommendations contained in this report are being properly carried out. I hope the hon. Member will not press me to discuss individual cases. I think he may rest assured that my right hon. Friend is doing all he can in the interests of the hospital.

In view of the very unsatisfactory answer which has been given to-day and the unsatisfactory answers given before, I must give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state what reduction of Scottish harbour dues will be made in the approaching herring-fishing season as a result of the Budget proposals?

The proposed contribution by the Fishery Board for Scotland towards the cost of reductions of fishery harbour dues will require a vote of money to the Fishery Board in the new Parliament. It is proposed to present an estimate for the purpose as soon as possible in the new Parliament but it is obviously impossible at present to give the precise date at which Parliament will vote the money necessary for putting the proposals into operation.

But cannot the right hon. Gentleman say by how much the dues will be reduced?

No, Sir, the amounts and actual terms will have to be evolved after very careful inquiry by the Fishery Board.

Will it not be necessary for election purposes to say exactly what is going to be given?

No, Sir.

If we understand correctly that the dues are to be reduced—

indicated assent.

In that case, does the right hon. Gentleman think that this procedure will be as unpopular in Caithness as it is said to be in Hull?

Are we to understand from the original answer that in the preparation of the Budget Estimates no allowance was made for the actual amount to be allocated for this purpose, and that this is a mere promise, and nothing more?

Oh, no, Sir; but, of course, the actual details of where these grants will be made and the amount of them require investigation into actual circumstances.

Do we understand that there is no definite arrangement between the Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer as to what is to happen in this case?

Is the position this, that you are afraid to tell Scotland what you propose to do?

Am I not right in anticipating—

Order!

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons absorbed into industry in each year since 1924?

I am having a Table prepared giving this information, and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Prime Minister whether the National Radium Trustees will have power to expend any of the funds in an endeavour to discover sources of supply independent of the Belgian company?

I have been asked to reply. No, Sir. The functions of the trustees as defined in paragraph 82 of the Radium Sub-Committee's Report will not extend to this purpose.

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to launch the public appeal for funds to purchase radium; and when the precise form of the organisation to be set up will be decided?

The Government have no information as to the date of an appeal though they hope it will be made in the near future. The precise form of the organisation recommended by the Radium Sub-Committee, and accepted in principle by the Government, is already under discussion, and will, I hope, be settled in a very short time.

Does that mean be fore the General Election?

I hope it will be within a very few days.

Are we to understand that the radium trustees are already appointed and functioning?

asked the Prime Minister whether in view of the formal statement of representatives of the Russian Soviet Government that Russia, following upon the resumption of diplomatic relations with this country, is prepared to place orders in Great Britain amounting to £150,000,000, including an order for cured herrings to the value of £500,000, and having regard to the long-continued trade depression, especially in the herring-fishing industry, the summer season of which is now approaching, he will forthwith reopen negotiations with the Soviet Government for a resumption of diplomatic relations and the revival of trade between the two countries?

I have been asked to reply. Presumably the hon. Member is referring to the statement made by Monsieur Piatakov, the President of the Soviet State Bank on 5th April. The relevant portion of his speech, as reported in the "Pravda" of 6th April, reads as follows:

"If we can come to an agreement satisfactory to both parties and if at the same time we can work out a financial programme satisfactory to both parties, we could easily place in England a programme of orders of industry for 150 million pounds sterling…."

And by a satisfactory financial programme M. Piatakov appears to have explained that he means an agreement for a guarantee on the lines of the draft treaty of 1924 "properly extended and supplemented."

From this, it will be seen that the placing of orders in the United Kingdom is made to depend not only upon a resumption of diplomatic relations between His Majesty's Government and the Soviet Government, but also apparently upon the granting of extensive new credits to that Government. Thus no satisfaction is offered for the abuses of which His Majesty's Government complained while a demand is made for a revival and extension of those financial provisions of the 1924 draft treaty which His Majesty's Government declared to be unacceptable.

Seeing that the right hon. Gentleman is not certain whether these are, in fact, the terms on which the Soviet Government would be prepared to trade with us, would it not be worth while, having regard to the importance of this question and the importance of a revival of trade in this depressed industry, to get in touch with the Soviet Government and see whether a satisfactory arrangement can be arrived at?

If the Soviet Government desire at any time to make definite proposals to His Majesty's Government, there are sources of communication open to them.

Is it not a fact that the proposed 1924 Agreement depended on the guarantee of a loan to Russia [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."]

I have answered that question.

You have not answered it, and you are afraid to answer it.

The Foreign Secretary has just stated that the 1924 Agreement depended on guaranteed credits. Was it not a free condition of such guarantee that a satisfactory arrangement should be come to for the payment of debts to private individuals in this country?

My answer to the question put to me by the hon. Member for Thornbury (Captain Gunston) was "Yes," and apparently that answer did not reach the benches opposite. If further information is wanted about the Agreement, the hon. Member had better consult the text.

Is it not a fact that we can get as many orders from Russia as we like if we not only supply the goods but the money to pay for them as well?

That was the policy of the 1924 Agreement.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that the first essential to a re-establishment of trade with Russia is the re-opening of diplomatic relations?

No, Sir; trade has never been interrupted. The Soviet Government have placed orders in this country though never to the extent of the credits open to them by the amount of goods our people have bought from Russia.

Is it not a fact that the Soviet Government have very large trade balances in this country?

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of the grant which has been made to the cost of carrying out the Lee Conservancy new works and navigation improvement scheme between Bow and Hackney; whether any stipulations have been made that in return for payments of this grant 50 per cent. of the men engaged on the work must be taken from distressed areas; whether the work is in the main such as is suitable for unskilled labour; and how many men were registered as unskilled labourers at the West India Dock, Hackney, East India Dock Road, and Stratford Exchanges on Monday, 15th April?

The grant approved is the usual grant for non-revenue producing schemes on which the local authority agrees to employ men from the distressed areas up to 50 per cent. of the number of men engaged on the work. The capital sum in this case is £63,900 and the authority responsible will receive 75 per cent. of the interest and sinking fund charges on any loan raised to meet expenditure for the first half (up to 15 years) of the loan period, and 37½ per cent. on interest and sinking fund charges for the remainder of the loan period (up to 15 years). The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the fourth part, I regret that without much labour I am unable to give the information in the precise form set out in the question. There are considerable numbers of unskilled labourers unemployed for varying periods in the areas mentioned, but the unemployment there is not so heavy, nor so prolonged, as in the distressed areas from which half of the labour will be recruited.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the distress in this area is the usual condition of casual labour and unemployment, and how can the hon. Member answer my question by saying that it is not the same; and is he aware that the authority itself on Saturday unanimously agreed to ask the Government to withdraw the condition that they must employ these men owing to the thousands of men in that area who are looking for a job when only about 150 can be employed?

I am not aware that an application was made on Saturday, but, if the hon. Member says it was, of course I accept his statement. At the same time, the original application was made by the Lee Conservancy well knowing the conditions attaching to it.

When the Labour Department gets this application from the Lee Conservancy will they reconsider the matter, seeing that there are literally many thousands of men standing round wanting this kind of work?

That would involve a change of the policy which we have often debated in this House, and which I cannot modify or alter in answer to a supplementary question.

If the Parliamentary Secretary is satisfied that he is bringing unemployed people into a district where there are already more unemployed than are necessary to do this work, is it wise to proceed in this way?

It is entirely a matter of opinion upon which the views of the Government and the opinions of other people differ very much.

Is it not a fact that all the public authorities from the London County Council down to the borough councils have protested against the policy of the Government which will accentuate and make more terrible the problem of casual employment in London?

I am not aware that any protests have been received from the local authorities concerned. That is a question of policy which we have very often discussed in this House, and I cannot elaborate it any further at the present time.

asked the Minister of Labour how many aliens were permitted to enter this country during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1928 for the purpose of taking up employment other than as domestic servants; what trades such persons were permitted to enter; and how many unemployed persons were on the live registers of Employment Exchanges in the United Kingdom for each of the trades in question at the latest date in 1928 for which figures are available?

As the reply includes a tabular statement I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Postmaster-General-when it will be possible to publish the list of rural stations and post offices which it is proposed to equip with telephone call-boxes under the new financial proposals of the Government; and whether opportunity will be offered to those places which are not included to urge their claims on the authorities?

A survey of all rural post offices and stations now without telephone facilities is being made, together with details as to cost, appropriate method of connection with existing system, etc., etc. This must necessarily take some time, but, meanwhile, instructions have been given to press on with the task of connecting up in cases where the work involved is known to be relatively small. I cannot at present usefully say more on this question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of new cases in the last three years in which he has given authority for the letters of individuals to be opened during their passage through the post?

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication as to whether the number has been large or not in order that the public may know whether this practice has been carried out upon an extensive scale?