asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the principle of conscription for recruiting Hungary's army has been re-established in parts of Hungary with official sanction; whether he is aware that this is opposed to the military clauses of the Treaty of Trianon; and will he state what measures His Majesty's Government intend to take in order to see that the provisions of the treaty are carried out?

I am fully aware that the re-introduction of compulsory enlistment in Hungary would be a breach of the military clauses of the Treaty of Trianon, but I have no information to show that the principle of conscription has been reestablished with official sanction. There are, however, indications that the terms of voluntary enlistment laid down by the Treaty of Trianon are not being strictly adhered to. As my hon. Friend is doubtless aware, the only body now competent to investigate alleged irregularities is the Council of the League of Nations.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman see that this matter is brought before the Council of the League at the earliest possible moment?

:Yes, Sir, on condition that the hon. Member will supply me with sufficient evidence to warrant the arrangement.

:I will give the right hon. Gentleman the information within an hour.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Great Britain has any military commitment with any other Power or Powers to take joint armed action in certain contingencies; the term for which they remain in force; the condition under which they can be terminated; whether any military, naval or air force conversations or arrangements have taken place or are contemplated with regard to those commitments; and, if so, to what extent is this country committed by such arrangements?

:Excluding the obligations incumbent on all members of the League of Nations to co-operate in protecting the covenants of the League, Great Britain's only commitments of the nature described in the hon. Member's question are those set out in Article 4 of the Treaty of Locarno of 1925, and the undertakings embodied in Article 7 of the Aland Islands Treaty of 1921, and in Article 18 of the Straits Convention annexed to the Treaty of Peace with Turkey, 1923, in the two latter of which the High Contracting Parties agree to cooperate in such measures as the Council of the League of Nations may recommend. The texts of all these treaties have been made public. No conversations or arrangements for the execution of these commitments have taken place or are contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which European nations have not yet ratified the Geneva Protocol prohibiting the use of poison gases?

:The following European countries have not ratified or acceded to the protocol: Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Great Britain, Irish Free State, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Rumania, Spain, (Sweden, Switzerland. Of the above, Great Britain, the Irish Free State and Finland have undertaken to ratify or accede as soon as possible.

:If this country has agreed to ratify, why did the Labour party criticise the late Government for not having done so?

:Give us a chance.

:Did the right hon. Gentleman mention Soviet Russia?

:That country was not in the list.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any representations have been made to him by the Nanking Government with regard to the retrocession to China of Wei Hei Wei; and whether, in that case, he will state what is the policy of the Government in respect to them?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on this subject on the 5th of July.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether an agreement has been made with the Government of China providing for the training of naval cadets in England and the engagement by the Chinese Government of a British naval commission to assist in the development of a substantial Chinese navy; whether, in view of the inevitable stimulus such an agreement must have on naval rivalry and armament increase in the Pacific, he will consider postponing the operation of the agreement until after the disarmament conference of the League of Nations for which the preparatory commission is preparing the agenda; and whether he will place the agreement before the House before its final ratification?

:I have been asked to reply. The contract providing for the Naval Mission in question was negotiated with the approval of our predecessors in office. It is plain that the new Chinese Government will require certain naval armed forces for general police purposes and for the suppression of piracy in Chinese waters, which in recent years has proved a serious problem, and it is proper for His Majesty's Government to assist them in any way in its power in the organisation of such forces. His Majesty's Government have no information which leads them to believe that the Chinese Government intend to embark on naval expansion which would involve an armament competition of the kind which my hon. Friend fears, and he may be sure that His Majesty's Government would in no circumstances encourage or participate in any such policy.

:May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the opening phrase of his sentence, in which he pointedly stated that the contract had been negotiated by his predecessor, and the later sentence, in which he gave reasons why the contract should be carried out, whether I may take it that His Majesty's present Government approve, in this matter, of the action of their predecessors?

:I do not think I have said anything inconsistent with the suggestion which the right hon. Gentleman has put forward.

:Is it not a fact that if this British mission did not go to China, the Chinese would undoubtedly have got a mission from some other country?

:Arising from the reply given by the Foreign Secretary to the ex-Foreign [Secretary, does it necessarily follow that anything which may conflict with the outlook of the Labour party will be put into being, because it does not conflict with the view of the late Government?

asked the Secretary -of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement regarding the surrender of extra-territorial rights by His Majesty's Ambassador in Washington; and whether the action of the Ambassador was taken under instructions from His Majesty's Government?

No surrender of extra-territorial rights has been made by His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington. The Ambassador's decision not to apply for any more permits to import liquor during his term of office was a purely personal one and does not affect in any way the principle of diplomatic privilege or the rights of his successors.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that prohibition is a very vital issue with the internal politics of the United States, and that the action of the British Ambassador is tantamount to taking part in those internal affairs?

:No, No!

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies who are acting as the accredited representatives of the mandatory Power this year before the permanent Mandates commission of the League of Nations at Geneva in regard to the examination of the annual Reports of Palestine, Tanganyika, Iraq, Cameroons, and Togo-land, respectively.

:Only the annual reports on Palestine and Trans-Jordan and the Tanganyika Territory are under examination at the current Session of the Permanent Mandates Commission. The accredited representatives of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are:—

For the report on Tanganyika, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. D. J. J. Jardine, O.B.E., Chief Secretary to the Tanganyika Government, and Mr. E. G. Machtig, O.B.E., of the Colonial Office.

For the report on Palestine and Trans-Jordan, Sir John Chancellor, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., the High Commissioner. Mr. G. L. M. Clauson, O.B.E., of the Colonial Office, has been appointed an accredited representative to assist at the examination of both reports.

The reports on Iraq, the British Cameroons and Togoland will not be examined until the next Session of the Commission. For the Iraq report, as at present arranged, the accredited representative will be Mr. B. H. Bourdillon, C.M.G., the Counsellor to the High Commissioner for Iraq. No one has yet been selected as accredited representative for the reports on the other two territories.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the contributions made by the Exchequer to the League of Nations in the years 1920 to 1928, respectively, distinguishing between the payments made in respect of the Secretariat of the League and other organisations and the International Labour Office, respectively?

As the answer consists of columns of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

Contributions paid by His Majesty's Government to the League of Nations and International Labour Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information with regard to the disappearance of the British Embassy plate at Petrograd?

:As the hon. and gallant Member may recollect, my predecessor on 15th November, 1927, in reply to a similar question, informed him that some silver, believed to form part of the Petrograd Embassy plate, had come to light in Riga, and that His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires had lodged a provisional claim with the Latvian police authorities pending the definite identification of the property in question. A short time after my predecessor had made that reply it became clear that there was no connection between this silver in Riga and the plate of His Majesty's Embassy in Petrograd. His Majesty's Government accordingly withdrew their claim, and as far as I am aware no further light has ever been thrown on the question of the whereabouts of the plate.

Will one of the first duties of the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) be to try to recover this plate?

:I will search your house first.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the trial in the Berlin courts of the men Orlov and Pavlonovski on various charges, during which evidence has been forthcoming of their part in the alleged forging of the document that has come to be known as the Zinovieff letter;" and whether he has instructed His Majesty's Ambassador to watch this trial and to inform him of anything that may throw light on the episode?

I have received a report from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Berlin with regard to this trial, and any further developments which may be of interest to His Majesty's Government will no doubt be reported to me in the ordinary course.

:May we take it that if there is any opportunity of throwing further light on the Zinovieff letter episode it will be taken?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the opinion of His Majesty's Government that diplomatic relations with Russia have never been severed, or merely that this country has not ceased to recognise that there is a Soviet Government in Russia?

I would refer the hon. Member to the full statement on this point which I made at the close of last Friday's Debate.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say which statement?

:There was only one statement made at the close of the Debate.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman answer which of the two alternatives is the truth, without referring to two statements?

I did not refer to two statements. I referred to a definite statement made at the close of the Debate on Friday, which appears in the OFFICIAL REPORT of that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is under any sort of pledge or obligation to the French Government not to evacuate the Rhineland without their consent or without simultaneous French evacuation?

No, Sir. His Majesty's Government retain complete liberty to withdraw the British troops from the Rhineland if and when it seems expedient to them to do so.

If that is so, need we be put in the position of having to make concessions, whether under the Young Report or otherwise, in order to purchase French support for that evacuation of the Rhineland by our troops that is so much desired by our people?

:The right hon. and gallant Gentleman must not conclude that we are endeavouring to make any bargain of the kind that he has described.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is contemplating making any agreement with the Egyptian Government while the Parliamentary constitution of that country is suspended?

:I have had a conversation with the Egyptian Prime Minister, in the course of which various aspects of Anglo-Egyptian relations were naturally touched upon. His Majesty's Government are prepared to give the whole question their most careful consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any general statement.

:May I respectfully ask my right hon. Friend if he will bear in mind that any agreement which might be reached with the Egyptian Government which has not the support of the Egyptian people behind it will not be a lasting agreement?

:Will the same thing apply to Russia?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state when the vessels to be built under the 1928 shipbuilding programme will be laid down?

:An announcement on the whole question will be made by the Prime Minister as soon as possible.

:May we take it that it is the intention of the Government to avoid any unnecessary additional expenditure on the Navy?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the complaints made by the lower deck of the inadequate information given them before the recent General Election regarding the exercise of their electoral rights; and whether he will take steps in future to see that the fullest information is given the lower deck as to the procedure of recording their votes or appointing proxies?

:No complaints of the nature referred to have been received at the Admiralty. Every naval rating is supplied with a pamphlet giving full information as to the procedure for voting by post or appointing proxies, and receives a personal notice giving particulars of the constituency for which he is registered. In addition a Fleet Order setting out in detail the procedure to be followed is issued prior to a General Election and copies of this are posted on the notice boards of all H.M. Ships and Establishments. These arrangements are regarded as adequate for the purpose.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he expects the Singapore naval base to be completed; and if he will state the cost to date and the additional expenditure likely to be incurred to bring it to completion?

:Under the arrangements made by the late Government the approved work at the Singapore naval base would be completed in 1937. The expenditure to date is £856,812. The estimated amount for completing the work is £6,900,466. These figures do not include the expenditure on the Floating Dock, which amounts to £971,492, nearly all of which has been paid.

How much of that money has been paid by the Dominions?

:A very considerable contribution has been received from the Dominions and also from the Federated Malay States.

:But these contributions are not included in the figures which the right hon. Gentleman has just given?

:The figures which I gave were figures of expenditure. The supplementary question related to figures of contributions.

:But the expenditure referred to is British expenditure, I understand?

:I should have thought that no one would have known better than the ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer that most of the expenditure to date has been paid from funds received from other sources.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the Navy are not to be fed on British beef, he can say from which country the beef is to come in the contracts that are to be made for the autumn?

:The present policy of obtaining frozen beef to the utmost extent possible from British Dominions will be continued.

:Is this carrying out the new slogan of the Government to buy everything outside England?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many officials and men, respectively, are employed in the Royal Dockyard at Bermuda; and how many of these have been sent out from the United Kingdom to work in Bermuda and would otherwise be resident in the United Kingdom?

:The numbers employed are officials 65, workpeople 757; those described in the latter part of the question number officials 42, workpeople 293.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give an estimate of the annual savings that would be effected by the closing down of the Royal Dockyard at Bermuda and the carrying out of the necessary repairs to the ships of the North American and West Indies squadron at the Royal Dockyards in this country?

:The practicability of making some reduction in Bermuda Dockyard has for some time past been under investigation, including the proposal that the cruisers on the station should refit periodically at home. As my hon. and gallant Friend will be aware, a reduction of this sort involves consideration of various problems, not the least being the disposal of redundant personnel, and until these are resolved it would be premature to make a statement or give any estimate of annual savings.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many persons from the lower ranks have been promoted to commissioned rank during each of the past 10 years; and whether he proposes to take action with a view to increasing the number and accelerating the speed of such promotions?

:As the reply is a long one, and involves a number of figures, T will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

:Is there anything in the answer which deals with the second part of the question?

:There is a complete reply to the question.

Following is the reply:

I assume that the question refers to promotions of ratings direct to commissioned rank under the mate schemes, and not to promotions of warrant and subordinate officers to commissioned rank.

The numbers of promotions to mate and mate (E) during the last 10 years have been as follow:

Four promotions to mate (E) have been made this year but the promotions to mate are not yet due.

The number of promotions which can be made to mate and mate (E) necessarily depends upon the total number of officers required in the Fleet, but so far as pro- motion to mate is concerned, practically all candidates who qualify and are recommended by the Selection Boards for promotion are selected. With regard to mate (E), the number of candidates is greater, but a very appreciable number of engine room ratings receive promotion annually to warrant rank, through which promotion to commissioned rank is also available, and in addition, a small number of artificer apprentices are selected for promotion to midshipmen (E).

The normal avenue of promotion is in all cases through warrant rank.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will consider authorising the payment of marriage allowance to wives of naval ratings when the wife is on passage home from a foreign station?

:I am not quite clear as to the point which the hon. and gallant Member has in mind. If a wife of a Naval rating were being conveyed home at Government expense, she would not be entitled to payment of marriage allowance. If, however, the question refers to a wife coming home at her own expense, she would normally be entitled to receive marriage allowance. Should the hon. and gallant Member be aware of any such case in which the allowance has apparently not been paid and he will give me particulars, I shall be glad to have inquiry made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the food for breakfast in establishments messed under the general messing system is cooked overnight; and whether steps will be taken to put a stop to a practice which spoils good food and causes discontent to the naval personnel who are served with unpalatable food?

:I am not aware that food is cooked earlier than is necessary to enable the breakfast meal to be served promptly, having regard to the large numbers to be provided for and the facilities available, but the matter will be inquired into.

:Will the hon. Gentleman go into the matter, because this statement of mine is accurate?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if any proposal has reached the Government from authoritative United States quarters for the demilitarisation of British naval bases in the British West Indies in connection with the peace plans of President Hoover or otherwise; and whether both the Dominion of Canada and the West Indian Colonies will be consulted before any such proposal is considered?

:I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

:Has any proposal come from any quarter?

:Not that I am aware of.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, before taking action on any modifications of the Hilton Young Report that may be suggested by Sir Samuel Wilson, the House will have the same opportunity of studying the suggested modifications as it had of studying the original Report?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether 'any Order in Council framed to implement the proposals of Sir Samuel Wilson in regard to the establishment of a new inter-territorial authority for the co-ordination of certain services in East Africa will be submitted to a joint select committee of both Houses of Parliament before it is put into operation?

:My right hon. and Noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies has now received Sir Samuel Wilson's Report, but he would wish to have time to study it himself before coming to a decision either as to publication or as to any other action arising out of it.

May we be assured that publication will take place if any action is contemplated under that Report?

If my right hon. and gallant Friend will put down a question in a fortnight's time—that is before the Recess—I will endeavour to give him an answer.

Will the hon. Gentleman give the same undertaking as was given by his predecessors in office, that no final decision will be come to in regard to this matter of the closer union of the East African services without Parliament being previously consulted?

I have not the least doubt that that will be done by the party which is now in power.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Bu-Bu-Bu Railway is not open to passenger traffic; whether it is proposed to abandon the railway; and, if so, whether the loss will fall upon the British Treasury?

The railway which ran from Zanzibar town to Bu-bu-bu, a distance of seven miles, was closed down in 1928 as the public had almost ceased to use it owing to competition from motor transport. No loss will fall on the British Treasury.

Is it part of the policy of the Government to abandon short railways in Africa and to utilise motor transport instead; is the hon. Gentleman aware that in this case steel sleepers were used and proved very effective against the ravages of the white ant; and will he consider the advisability of not following this example of abandoning railways as part of the policy of the Government in developing Africa in order to find work in this country for our engineering trades?

I should say it is the policy of this Government to be most economical and efficient at the same time, and, if there is no need whatever for the railway, I do not see any necessity for spending the taxpayers' money on it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a Report from the sub-committee of the Committee of Civil Research dealing with methods of attacking the plague of locusts in East Africa; whether he has any information to the effect that following last year's invasion of locusts from Abyssinia large numbers of young locusts bred in Tanganyika Territory are now appearing; and what steps ad interim are being taken locally to counter this menace?

Yes, Sir; two interim Reports have been received from the Committee of Civil Research, and these have been forwarded for consideration to the East African and other Governments concerned. According to the latest report received at the end of June, locusts were then still breeding or maturing in the northern half of the Tanganyika Territory. It is understood from information received from the Acting Governor of the Tanganyika Territory in April that the Government of the Territory has organised a comprehensive scouting and news service; that they have taken such measures as are possible for warding off flying swarms, but that they are concentrating primarily upon the destruction of eggs and hoppers, and that they have provided themselves with supplies of the necessary poison and appliances for dealing with hoppers that are too numerous to be dealt with by driving and thrashing.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the wanton slaughter of big game by parties in motor cars in East Africa; whether he will invite the East African Governments to consider passing amending legislation to increase the penalties for such practices; and whether an arrangement can be come to whereby persons guilty of them in any part of East Africa may be tried in the Dependency in which their game licence is taken out although the actual slaughter may have taken place in an adjoining territory?

:My Noble Friend has seen the recent correspondence in the Press on this subject; The Governor of Tanganyika has already been asked for a report on the matter. It is now proposed to bring the matter to the notice of the Governments of other British dependencies in Eastern Africa, and to ask that, if any such practice as that referred to in the right hon. Member's question exists in the territory with which they are concerned, they will consider what measures can be taken to stop it.

:Can the hon. Gentleman say how long this practice has been going on?

:Unfortunately, I am not aware how long it has been going on.

:Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are many worse practices going on in East Africa?

:Will the hon. Gentleman accept the suggestion that these people should not be allowed to bring home their trophies? That would end it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the Report promised by the Governor of Hong Kong upon the question of the abolition of the system of mui tsai?

:The further report promised by the Governor of Hong Kong has just been received, and is now under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any decision has yet been taken in regard to the 18 months' term in the West African Colonial Service?

:If the hon. and gallant Member will examine the Leave Rules which are printed in the Colonial Regulations, he will see that no fixed term of residence is laid down, and that within the limits of 12 and 24 months the actual length of each officer's tour is at the discretion of the Governor, who takes into consideration the necessities of the Service, the character of the station or stations at which the officer has been serving, and his medical history. The rules were purposely framed so as to be elastic, and the Colonial Governors are well aware of the fact. So long as the rules are interpreted on these lines I see no reason for any alteration in them.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that there is considerable evidence both from medical and commercial authorities on the West Coast of Africa that this term should be definitely limited to 15 months instead of 18 months?

I have heard so myself. If the hon. and gallant Member has any cases which he will report to me, I will have them inquired into.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he has yet received from the Governor of Kenya Colony a full report of raids made into Kenya Colony from Abyssinia in March last, in particular the two raids reported to have taken place into the country south of Lake Camp and the native settlement south of the Loburin River; what were the casualties on both sides; and how many, if any, British subjects were captured and taken to Abyssinia;

(2) whether he has received any information with regard to a collision between His Majesty's forces on 25th May last near the Lotokoi Pass, on the Sudan-Abyssinia-Kenya border, and the subjects of the Emperor of Abyssinia; whether he has any information as to the casualties suffered on both sides; how many of the combatants have been killed and wounded; how many, if any, British subjects taken captive; and the name and condition of any British officer wounded in the engagement?

In April the Acting Governor of Kenya telegraphed that on the 11th March 25 Marille were reported to have raided south of Sanderson Gulf on Lake Rudolf and that they had killed two Turkana and raided stock. On the following day some 300 Marille raided south of the Eburin River, about 25 miles south of the Kenya-Sudan border, and killed at least 25 Turkana, but they were cut off by a detachment of the King's African Rifles the next day at Kalamakun, all stock was recaptured and the Marille fled in disorder to Abyssinia, leaving seven dead.

No report has been received from the Acting Governor of Kenya regarding the encounter referred to in the second question; but according to the account which appeared in the Press the only casualty suffered by the King's African Rifles was one native lance-corporal wounded; and in the absence of any communication from the Acting Governor, it may certainly be assumed that no British officer was wounded.

My Noble Friend is asking the Acting Governor of Kenya to furnish a full report on both these raids by despatch.

Are representations being made to Abyssinia with regard to these raids?

I would ask the hon. Baronet to wait for the report that is being made to my Noble Friend.

Is it the duty of the Acting Governor to report on these matters as a matter of course, or is he waiting for a request that he should report?

:I should imagine that it is a duty imposed upon him to report, but at the same time it may be necessary to ask for a report to be given rather more speedily than in the ordinary course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received any request for his approval of the Southern Rhodesia Bill to provide for the apportionment and conditions of tenure of certain lands in the colony, under which it is proposed to segregate the lands of that territory into white and black areas; and whether, before his approval is given to this Bill, an opportunity will be provided the House for discussing the new principle of colonial administration embodied in this Bill?

:As this question is one for the Dominions Office, I have been asked to reply. As regards the first part of the question, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs in the late Government was consulted regarding the principles of the Bill before it was introduced into the Southern Rhodesia Legislature, but a copy of the Bill as passed has not yet been received. I understand, however, that it contains a Clause providing that it shall not come into operation until the Governor has declared by Proclamation that it is His Majesty's pleasure not to disallow it. On receipt of the Bill the action to be taken will be carefully considered. As to the second part of the question, while I understand that it is unlikely that any special facilities will be available before the summer adjournment, consideration would be given, if time permits after the text of the Bill has been received, to any general desire for its discussion.

Does my hon. Friend realise that this Bill embodies an entirely new principle in Empire legislation, in differentiating between whites and blacks, and will he see that this House has an opportunity of discussing this if His Majesty's Government decide to implement the Bill without this Clause being eliminated?

I can assure my right hon. and gallant Friend that the whole Bill is receiving very careful attention, and I am sure he appreciates the fact that we cannot come to any decision until the text of the Bill as passed in the Rhodesian Legislature has been received.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the views of the Governor of Ceylon on the recommendations of the Donoughmore Commission regarding a revision of the constitution of that colony have now been received; whether it is the intention of the Government to give effect to the proposals of the Donoughmore Commission before another election takes place in Ceylon on the basis of the existing franchise; and whether Parliament will be informed of any departure from the proposals made by the Donoughmore Commission before any Order in Council dealing with the Ceylon constitution is actually framed?

:A despatch giving a comprehensive review of the situation has just been received, but will require some time for consideration. I cannot make any statement at the moment, but Parliament will be informed of the Secretary of State's intentions before any Order in Council is framed.

:Will the hon. Member ask his Noble Friend to consider very carefully the desirability of publishing the Governor's despatch as a White Paper?

:I will convey that request to my Noble Friend.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the circumstances under which the Governor of Ceylon certified a number of new taxes refused by the Legislature; what was the estimated revenue without the new taxes; what is the estimated yield of the new taxes and what is the total estimated expenditure for the coming financial year; whether he has received any representations from the elected members on the subject; and what reply has been sent?

:The Governor obtained the approval of the Secretary of State to the submission to the Legislative Council of proposals for email increases in Customs duties and postal rates, the anticipated revenue being about 2,000,000 rupees and 1,000,000 rupees respectively. He regarded the raising of additional revenue as of very great importance, as the island was about to make use of its credit for the purpose of raising a loan, and) in these circumstances he utilised the special powers given him by the Order in Council of 1923. The estimated revenue without the new taxes was 103,000,000 rupees, and the estimated expenditure 133,000,000 rupees. The Secretary of State has received a protest by telegram from 18 unofficial members, who state that a written protest follows. The reply is under consideration.

:May I take it, from the reply the hon. Member has just given, that the Governor has had and is having the full support of the Secretary of State?

:I think I can say that, so far as is now known and until we know more about it, he will be backed by the Secretary of State.

:May we take it that he is receiving the full support of the Governor?

asked the Under- Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total acreage of Crown lands avail able for development in the island of Trinidad; what proportion this bears to Crown lands already under development and to the total acreage of the island; and what steps are being taken for the further development and the use of the Crown lands available?

:The area of Crown land remaining unsold on the 31st December, 1927, the latest year for which figures are available, was 558,614 acres, or rather less than half the area of the island. Of these, 219,154 acres have been set apart for forestry development and a large portion of the remainder is under licence to oil companies. It is not considered that any special measures are desirable for dealing with Crown lands at present.

asked the Under- Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the terms of appointment of Justices of the Peace in the Crown Colonies; whether any conditions are attached to the appointment; whether those appointed are informed of such conditions, if any; on whose recommendations are such appointments made; and by whom are they made?

:The appointment of Justices of the Peace in a Colony is made under the law of that Colony which lays down any terms and conditions of the appointment considered desirable in that Colony. In many Colonies no such terms and conditions are laid down by law. The appointment is made by the Governor, who will, no doubt, obtain such advice on the subject from the chief judicial officer or other persons in the Colony as he thinks desirable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State fop Dominion Affairs "whether, in view of the declared desire of the Canadian Government to enter into a new Empire trade agreement which would go further than a revision of existing preferential treaties, His Majesty's Government will take the lead in proposing a general Empire conference to consider this means of assisting British employment and Imperial self-sufficiency?

:As indicated in the recent speeches of the Lord Privy Seal and of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have under their active consideration the question of the development of inter-Imperial trade, and they naturally welcome the indications in statements by members of His Majesty's Governments in Canada and elsewhere, of which reports have reached them that this question is also under examination in other parts of the Empire. How such trade development can best be brought about is clearly a matter which each Government must, to a large extent, examine for itself. If, however, there were any general desire for an Imperial Economic Conference to take place before the next Imperial Conference which, according to the present understanding, is due to meet in London next year, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom would, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear, gladly participate.

:In arranging for any such possible conference, will an attempt be made to carry out the desire, which has often been expressed in this House by the Lord Privy Seal, that representation should cover both Oppositions and Governments in the various parts of the Empire.

:Yes, Sir, I think that consideration will be taken into account.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his Department has received any petitions complaining of the noise made by low-flying aero planes engaged on pleasure nights which disturb the quietude of Sunday after noon; and can he state whether his Department has taken any action in the matter?

:No petitions upon this subject have been received, but a few complaints that the activities of aircraft on Sunday sometimes disturb religious worship have from time to time reached the Air Ministry. All such complaints have received careful consideration, and wherever possible steps are being taken to meet them, but the Department has no power under the Air Navigation Order or otherwise to prohibit Sunday flying. I would add that any breach of the Regulations under the Air Navigation Order in regard to any unnecessarily low flying which may be the cause of complaint would be a matter for the police.

:Has the hon. Gentleman called the attention of the police to the complaints that he has had?

:If it will be necessary to call the attention of the police to the noise of aeroplanes, which is a nice hum, what complaint is going to be made about the loud sparking and plugging motors?

asked the Under- Secretary of State for Air whether it is the intention of the Government to continue the payment of subsidies to light aeroplane clubs after the expiration of the present subsidy in April, 1930?

:The agreements with the light aeroplane clubs, the earliest of which expires on the 30th July, 1930, were based on the principle that the clubs required a subsidy for three years, at the end of which period it was expected that they would be self-supporting. I hope this expectation may be realised, but in any case regard it as premature to discuss what action should be taken in the hypothetical event of its being disappointed.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many of these clubs are facing the future with considerable apprehension, and will he give consideration in due course to the question of granting a further subsidy to these clubs?

:Will the hon. Gentleman also take into account the clubs which have been formed since the subsidies were granted, and which are affiliated to the Royal Air Club, and put them on the same basis as the others?

I can assure hon. Members that all relevant matters will be taken into consideration.

Does this apply to any other sporting clubs?

asked the Under - Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of its importance to industrial areas, he can state if His Majesty's Government proposes to increase the assistance given to civil aviation in this country?

I am not sure what form of assistance the hon. Member has in mind, but, while I cannot make any pledge in regard to financial assistance, I can assure him that any proposals for the furtherance of the interests of civil aviation in this country will at all times receive careful consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether in the arrangements which have been come to whereby civil aircraft owners are obliged to have the examination of aircraft for renewal of certificates of airworthiness carried out, not by Air Ministry officials, but by officials of a private concern named the British Aviation Insurance Group, aircraft owners will have the option of still having such examination carried out by Air Ministry officials if they so desire?

:Yes, Sir, they certainly have that option. There is no obligation whatever upon owners of private civil aircraft to have their aeroplanes inspected by the British Aviation Insurance Group under the arrangement made with that body in connection with the renewal of certificates of airworthiness, and it rests entirely with each owner whether he will have his aircraft inspected under that arrangement or as hitherto, by Air Ministry officials.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the principle of the Air Ministry authorising private concerns to carry out the necessary examination of civil aircraft, as required for the renewal of a certificate of airworthiness under the Air Navigation Act, is to be extended to applicants other than the British Aviation Insurance Group; and, if so, will the qualifications required by the Air Ministry before the granting of such powers to a civil concern be defined and published by the Air Ministry?

As regards the first part of the question, the position is that two bodies, including the one mentioned, are being accepted as competent to make recommendations for the purposes ,of the renewal of certificates of airworthiness for privately-owned aircraft.

The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, but applications from other responsible bodies possessing competent inspection organisations will receive consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the position of the two airships now under construction; when is it expected that trials will take place; and whether His Majesty's Government intend to review their policy towards air ships?

:In answer to the first two parts of the question, the position in regard to R.100 was stated in the reply given to the hon. Member for Southwark, Central (Mr. Day) on the 8th July. As regards R.101, it is also hoped that inflation will begin towards the end of this month. Inflation and shed trials should occupy approximately two months and if the shed trials are successful the airship should take the air about the end of September. As regards the last part, I am not at present in a position to make any statement of future policy.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government intends to introduce legislation on the lines suggested by the Royal Commission on London Squares, 1928, with a view to ensuring that no more of these open spaces shall pass into the hands of the speculative builder?

:I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr.Scurr).

Does the hon. Lady realise the great urgency of this question, and that if action is not taken many of these squares will be built on by the speculative builder?

My right hon. Friend has this matter under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is in a position to state when his forthcoming visit to America will take place; and whether any representatives of the Dominions will be present at any conference that takes place?

:I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will at once appoint a Select Committee of this House to investigate the problem of unemployment and suggest remedies?

His Majesty's Government have. continuously under examination the grave problem of unemployment, and arrangements have been made for the co-ordination through the Lord Privy Seal of all activities relating to unemployment. It is therefore unnecessary to adopt the suggestion of my hon. Friend.

Does not this give a first-class opportunity of inaugurating the Council of State, which we were asked to accept last week?

I am hoping to inaugurate it directly in this House.

Will this investigation include the question of employment in agricultural districts, and, if so, will the right hon. Gentleman take into account the effect on employment in agricultural districts of the refusal to purchase British meat for the forces?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the injustices inherent in the present Unemployment Insurance Act under the transitional scheme and the injustices done to workmen all over the country?

asked the Prime Minister whether legislation to amend the Unemployment Insurance Acts of 1927 is intended during the current month?

The only unemployment insurance legislation which the Government contemplates proposing during the present month is a Bill for increasing the Exchequer contribution to the Unemployment Fund, to which I referred in my statement on Business on the 3rd July.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the iniquities of the Unemployment Insurance administration, about which so much complaint was made in the recent Election, can only be amended by immediate legislation?

The hon. Gentleman is giving his own suggestions and not asking a question.

Are we to take the Prime Minister's statement as meaning that on this side of the Recess there is to be no alteration of the Unemployment Insurance Act?

An alteration so far as I have indicated, but no more.

:Am I to take it that all the iniquities of not genuinely seeking work will continue to afflict the unemployed?

:So far as these are administrative, no; so far as they are legislative, that is so.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that administrative action is impossible in this matter?

:Yes, on the matter to which my hon. Friend refers, but legislation must be awaited until the time comes.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the number of persons who would be found employment on the following schemes, and whether it is proposed to include them in the plans for finding work for the unemployed, as recommended by the Royal Commission on Cross-River Traffic in 1926, the scheme for the improvement of approaches from the East India Dock Road to the Victoria Dock, linking with the East Ham and Barking by-pass road, estimated to cost some £3,000,000, and the construction of a road tunnel under the River Thames from Dartford to Pur-fleet, which is also estimated to cost £3,000,000?

:The construction of the new Victoria Dock Road was approved by Parliament last Session. With regard to the suggested Lower Thames Tunnel, I have asked the county councils of Essex and Kent to collaborate with my Department in pursuing the technical inquiries requisite for formulating a practical scheme. No detailed estimate can be formed of the volume of employment which would be afforded by these two projects.

:May I take it from the hon. Gentleman's answer that no engineering survey at the moment has taken place on the last scheme.

:With regard to the Lower Thames Tunnel, the engineering Inquiry made was as to the practicability of the scheme at another point, and that has proved to be impossible. It is necessary now for engineering inquiries to be made with regard to bringing it to the executive point. Unfortunately, the matter appears to have been somewhat delayed by the previous Government.

:May I take it from the answer which the hon. Member has given that it will be some months before people can be employed on this scheme?

:Certainly some time must elapse, because I am, first of all, dependent upon an intimation from the county council as to their willingness to co-operate. The Essex County Council have already indicated their willingness to co-operate in the engineering inquiry, and it is no good beginning to make the tunnel until the engineering plans are settled.

:As most of the schemes which have been mentioned in the question and referred to by the Minister of Transport apply principally to London and its environment, will the Minister of Transport remember that there are some other parts of the country, particularly Scotland, which require schemes to be put into operation?

:Is the possibility still under consideration of constructing the Lower Thames Tunnel between Graves-end and Tilbury?

:That is one of the proposals to which I have referred in answer to a previous question. There are very serious engineering objections to the Tilbury-Gravesend scheme, and I am afraid that the only practical thing is to go on with the inquiries relating to the Dartford route.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before deciding on the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the Civil Service, he ascertained the views of the Staff Side, National Whitley Council, which is the official voice of the civil servants; and, if so, what opinion was expressed by that body?

:No, Sir; but I have no reason to believe that the decision which has been taken on this question is unacceptable to Civil Service associations represented on the National Whitley Council.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman receive at as early a date as possible a deputation on this matter from the National Civil Service Whitley Council, Staff Side, for which they have asked?

:No request has been made to me, so far as I know, but a request has been made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and he proposes to receive the deputation.

asked the Prime Minister what is the result of the meeting between the representatives of the coal owners and the Government; and whether any further meetings are to take place before the hours of labour in coal mines are reduced?

:I am unable to make any statement as yet upon this.

:Is it the intention of the Prime Minister or any other member of the Government to meet the coal-owners again before anything is done?

:I am afraid that I cannot add anything to what I have said.

asked the Prime Minister if the provisions of the proposed legislation for pensions for widows and their children will provide for such children in attendance at school in the Isle of Man while the mother continues to live in the British Isles?

:I have been asked to reply. As a Contributory Pensions Act has now come into operation in the Isle of Man, reciprocal arrangements are being made between this country and the island, which will permit of the payment of allowances for the children referred to.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he can make a statement upon the result of the recent inquiry into the safety of Government property at Henlow aerodrome?

:The result of the inquiry was that criminal proceedings in the civil courts were instituted against three civilians and three airmen. The case was tried at the Bedford Assizes on 27th May and the three civilians were each sentenced to nine months' imprisonment in the second division, each being ordered at the same time to pay £100 towards the costs of the prosecution. Of the airmen, one was sentenced to one month's and another to five months' imprisonment in the second division; the third was found not guilty and discharged.

:Were the three airmen all below commissioned rank, and were any commissioned ranks included in the inquiry?

:In regard to the first part of the supplementary question, I think they were non-commissioned ranks. I must have notice of the second part of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will state what are the regulations in force regarding the use of military aeroplanes by civilians, other than those connected with the Air Ministry; whether any charge is made for the use of such aeroplanes; and, if so, what are the rates?