asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has received a copy of the Report and conclusions arrived at by the Committee which was appointed by the Governor-General in Council to consider the production and introduction of cinematograph films in India?

Yes, Sir. A copy was received by my predecessor and was placed by him in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether ho has any information and can state whether the exhibition of any films has been prohibited in India during the past two years; and, if so, will he give particulars, including the names and titles of such films and the country of their origin?

The censorship of films in India is a matter for the local authorities, and I do not receive reports of the action taken by the Indian Boards of Films Censors in respect of the films submitted to them. I will, however, send to my hon. Friend a list of 47 films, the exhibition of which is known from the information in my possession to have been prohibited during the last two years.

Can my right hon. Friend say the country of origin of the majority of these films?

No. There are six British films only.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say from what country most of these films which were prohibited came? Are there not a great many films which should not be shown at all in India?

I could, of course, prepare a list showing the countries of origin and would willingly do so; but I may say that I have looked through the list, and objection occurred in nearly every case on grounds of ordinary decency and morality.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will make a statement concerning the present position in regard to the mill strike in Bombay, giving the number of workers affected and information as to the progress made by the court of inquiry set up under the Trade Disputes Act?

asked the Secretary of State for India the present position in Bombay in regard to the stoppage of work in the cotton mills?

The latest information in my possession is that approximately 109,000 men and 64 mills were affected by the strike out of 77 textile mills in Bombay. Out of these 77 mills about 70 are working to-day with approximately 74,000 men. This number includes 46,000 strikers who have resumed work. A preliminary meeting of the Court of Inquiry was held on the 6th July, and has been several times adjourned to secure the attendance of representatives of the Girni Kamgar Union. The terms of reference of the Court were published in the Bombay Gazette Extraordinary of 3rd July, and are briefly: to inquire and ascertain the exact nature of the dispute in the 64 mills, the extent of the respective responsibility of employers or workers, the causes and responsibility for the prolongation of the strike, and the nature of the difficulties in the way of settlement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this unfortunate stoppage was purely a trade dispute, and will he assure the House that there were not more sinister reasons behind it?

I think the Government of Bombay have done the right thing in setting up a Court of Inquiry, but I certainly should not be wishful of prejudging whatever their findings may be.

asked the Secretary of State for India when the Vizagapatan harbour will be opened for shipping; and what further delays are likely?

The latest progress report expresses the hope that the new harbour will be opened for shipping in 1932. Investigation of the dredging problem has shown that completion by 1930, the date which had at one time been hoped for, is now out of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the address on behalf of the prosecution delivered by the Crown prosecutor on the opening day of the magisterial inquiry in the Meerut conspiracy case; whether he will explain why a full report of this address was drawn up and distributed at the expense of the Government of India; if he will say how widely this distribution was made; and whether a full report of the address will be made available for Members of Parliament in the form of a White Paper?

Yes, Sir. In view of the importance of the matter a verbatim note of the prosecuting Counsel's speech was taken and was, I presume, distributed to the Press who received all other facilities for reporting the case: but I have no information as to the extent of the distribution. Until the trial is over it is premature to consider the laying of a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for India if it has yet been found necessary to re-arrest any of the released Bengal criminal ordinance prisoners who were detained so long on the ground that their release would involve danger to law and order?

No person has been rearrested under the Bengal Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, but one of the persons released after detention is now under trial at Lahore under the ordinary law.

May I take it that the right hon. Gentleman has drawn the obvious moral from the information which he has given to the House, and will not repeat the sins of his predecessors?

That question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Committee appointed in July, 1927, to examine the position with regard to opium in the Malwa States has presented its Report; whether the Government of India has taken any decisions arising out of that Report; and whether the Report will be published?

The Committee has reported. No decisions have yet been taken. The question of publishing the Report has not yet been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether all the Committees appointed in the Autumn of 1927 by five Provincial Governments to inquire into the high consumption of opium in certain areas have presented their Reports; whether the local Government which arranged to make a similar inquiry has presented its Report; what action the Government of India has taken or proposes to take upon the Reports; when Reports not yet presented may be expected; and whether all the Reports are to be published?

Four of the six inquiries have been completed. As soon as the remaining two are finished the Government of India propose to convene a Conference to collate and compare the results obtained before the Local Governments pass orders. The publication of each Report is a matter for the Local Government concerned. The Bengal Report has been published.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Legation in China have made representations to the British Government during the year 1928, drawing the attention of the British Government to the disregard of the arms embargo; and whether his Department has taken any action?

No representations were received during 1928 nor action taken beyond that referred to in the reply returned to my hon. Friend on 13th June of last year. I would add that, in view of the changed situation consequent on the conclusion of treaties with and the recognition of the National Government, the Arms Embargo Agreement was, by a unanimous agreement of the Diplomatic Body in Peking, cancelled as from 26th April last, on which date this decision was formally communicated to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received any recent communication from the British representative in China on the attitude of the Chinese Government towards the proposals of the Powers on extra-territoriality; and if he can make a statement on the present situation in relation to that question?

Proposals in regard to extra-territoriality have been made, not by the Powers, but by China. On 27th April the Chinese Government addressed notes to six Powers, including ourselves, asking for the abolition of extra-territoriality. The reply of His Majesty's. Government is under consideration, and will, I hope, shortly be sent in. I should prefer to defer any statement on the subject till then.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will communicate to the House an outline of the scope of the investigations to be undertaken by the British Economic Mission to South America which leaves this country on 2nd August, and the countries which the mission proposes to visit; and what preliminary arrangements have been made to facilitate the work of the mission?

The British Economic Mission to South America has been appointed to consider Anglo-Argentine and Anglo-Brazilian relations, industrial, commercial and financial, with a view to their development in the mutual advantage of the respective countries. The mission is investigating in this country the general aspects of our economic relations with Argentina and Brazil prior to its departure for South America. Preliminary arrangements for facilitating the work of the mission abroad are being made by His Majesty's representatives in the countries to be visited, while the representatives in London of the Governments of those countries are also giving their hearty cooperation. The mission will visit Uruguay in the interval between the visits to Argentina and Brazil.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the Mission will give attention to the extent to which British manufactured goods are now being competed against in South America?

I understand that full powers have been given to the Commission to investigate every possible aspect of trade and industry.

Will the hon. Member consider the advisability of sending a similar Mission to visit the important West Coast republics, Chili, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela?

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the proposed abandonment of Safeguarding and pending international agreement as to wages and labour conditions generally, what steps the Government propose to take with a view to maintaining in employment persons who may be displaced from safeguarded industries by the competition of sweated foreign labour.

I cannot undertake to answer so hypothetical a question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed to address representations to foreign Governments for the reduction or abolition of import duties imposed upon British goods imported into their countries, in view of the intention of His Majesty's Government not to renew the Safeguarding Duties at present in force, thereby facilitating the free importation of foreign manufactured goods into this country?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the quantity and value of tinned milk imported into this country; whether it contains the same nourishment as similar brands produced in our home factories; and how it compares in price?

The answer in this case also includes a table of figures. The hon. and gallant Member will, therefore, perhaps agree to its circulation in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether this country is bound by any undertakings given by the late Government to support the French proposal for a continued inter-Allied control of the Rhineland permanently or until 1935 by the establishment of a committee of verification and conciliation?

His Majesty's Government, as well as the French, German, Belgian, Italian and Japanese Governments, were committed by a decision taken at Geneva last September to the principle of the proposed commission. The composition, operations, object, and duration of the commission are matters which will form the subject of negotiations: on these points His Majesty's Government have not committed themselves, and do not propose to commit themselves until the Conference meets. My hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Wise) is, however, mistaken in referring to inter-Allied control; it is the intention that Germany shall be represented on the commission on the same footing as the other Powers interested.

Did I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that this country and Germany were equally committed to this commission? In view of the fact that the German Government have now, obviously, changed their mind on the question, are the British Government still as free as the German Government to change their mind?

I must ask for notice about change of mind.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware of Herr Stresemann's speech last week?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any negotiations on the details to which he referred have taken place since September last?

Not that I am aware of.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received a deputation from a non-party organisation known as the Women's Peace Council; and, if so, whether, in view of the doubt in the minds of the women of this country, as expressed by this deputation, as to whether His Majesty's Government are-prepared to treat the question of the evacuation of the Rhine independently of the question of reparations, he is prepared to make a further statement so as to relieve the anxiety felt in this matter?

Yes, Sir; I received a deputation representing the Women's Peace Crusade on Thursday last. I informed them, just as I have on several occasions informed the House, that 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. To that statement of the position I am afraid I can add nothing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received any reply in response to his invitation to the Russian Government to appoint a responsible representative to visit London; and if he has any statement to make on the matter?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received a reply to his communication to the Soviet Government inviting a representative to come to this country; and, if so, can he state the name and official position of such representative and when he will arrive?

No reply has yet been received from the Soviet Government, and consequently I have nothing to add to the statement which I made to the House on 15th July. The second part of the question put by the hon. Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Smithers) does not arise.

Does the right hon. Gentleman hope to be able to make a statement on this matter before the House rises?

That will depend upon whether I get any reply.

Are we to understand that the British Government have initiated these negotiations, and that their initiations have bean entirely ignored? Can I have an answer?

The hon. Member presses for an answer. I surely must wait a certain period of time, to give an opportunity to the Soviet Government to decide upon its policy. I have been long enough in this House to know that the British Government sometimes take a long time to make up their mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the political and economic problems relating to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will be discussed in the forthcoming negotiations between Great Britain and the United States of America?

As far as His Majesty's Government are concerned the answer is in the negative.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the outstanding difficulties between ourselves and Russia are much more likely to be removed if we acted in co-operation with the United States of America?

There is serious objection, as I gather from questions, to our acting in any way in regard to Russia—

Do not break their hearts.

But I am convinced that to mix this question up with the conversations on naval disarmament would not lead to clarification.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether a report has been presented to his Department as to the result of the work of the committee of business men who recently visited Russia?

A statement of the work of the committee of business men who recently visited Russia, signed by the chairman, has been received by my Department. I am informed that the general Report is in course of preparation, and will be issued as soon as possible.

May I ask when the Report is expected to be presented to the Department?

I am afraid that I have no information on that point.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the great damage done to fishermen's gear by foreign trawlers in the Moray Firth and other areas from which British trawlers are excluded, he will consider the advisability of having the question brought before the League of Nations?

I have been asked to reply. As I indicated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member's question last week, I appreciate the importance of this matter, and the suggestion in the last part of his present question is one of the points which I have undertaken to consider.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a matter which has been reported on by successive Governments for the last ten years, and that nothing has yet been done?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the quantity of herrings, fresh or frozen, exported from the ports of Yarmouth and Lowestoft during the fishing seasons of 1924 to 1928 inclusive?

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of fishermen, and the number of fishing boats, engaged in the industry round the coasts of Great Britain in 1913 and at the present day?

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

The answer takes the form of a table of figures; and, with the hon. Members permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the marked difference in the conditions of the agricultural industry in Wales as compared to those ruling in England; and whether, before any legislation is initiated by him, he will consider the desirability of establishing a commission or a committee of inquiry to report thereon?

The Ministry has a Welsh Department with headquarters at Aberystwyth under the control of a Welsh Secretary, whose advice is available on matters relating to the agricultural industry in Wales. In these circumstances, I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by the establishment of a commission or committee of inquiry as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he proposes to adopt to relieve the agricultural depression now prevailing?

I must ask the Noble Lord to await the statement on the agricultural policy of the Government which I hope to make in due course.

Has the right hon. Gentleman got any policy?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government propose to call a conference of the three political parties in the House of Commons to consider ways and means of helping the basic industry of agriculture?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question put to me on the 18th July by the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Granville), a copy of which I am sending to him.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since he replied to that question, he suggested himself that I should put down this question; and therefore, I hoped to have some different decision, especially in view of the Prime Minister's suggestion that we might cooperate on these matters?

I might say that the reply indicated that the great differences between policies and parties constituted an obstacle, but that I was anxious to secure the greatest possible agreement under the conditions which exist.

How can the right hon. Gentleman tell the difference between the Conservative and the Labour agricultural policies, since he has just told us that he does not know yet what the Labour policy is?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has any evidence to connect any recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease with the importation of plate pollards?

In one recent case suspicion attached to plate pollards as being the possible medium whereby foot-and-mouth disease was introduced, either through the pollards being infected or through the sacks in which they were contained being contaminated by South American animal products carried on the same vessel, but no proof was obtainable that the outbreak was due to this cause. Moreover, although a total of 26,128 sacks of plate pollards was carried on this vessel, no other outbreak occurred, which could be connected in any way with this cargo.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he proposes, in the near future, to establish machinery for the adjustment of agricultural labourers' wages upon a national basis?

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the statement on the agricultural policy of the Government which I hope to make in due course.

Will that statement be made before the House rises?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to establish machinery for the bulk purchase of meat and wheat?

Perhaps my hon. Friend would allow me to defer a statement till I am able to make a general announcement on the agricultural policy of the Government.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what is approximately the date when that statement will be made?

In the autumn, at the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he proposes to take to encourage the co-operative sale of agricultural produce; and whether he will consider making the use of cooperative societies compulsory in the sale of certain classes of produce?

I am considering what further steps can usefully be taken to hasten the marketing of produce along co-operative lines, and while I doubt the utility of compulsory methods in this connection, I shall be glad to consider any proposals which my hon. Friend may have in mind.

Will the answers be given before or after the election?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government proposes to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee relating to the marking of imported foreign tomatoes?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the statement which I made on the 11th July, in reply to a question by the right hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Guinness), a copy of which I am sending to the Noble Lord.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if the Government will set up a commission to reexamine the question of tithes on agricultural land and include in the terms of reference not only the question of the cost of stabilisation, but the unequal incidence of the tithe on different areas of land?

I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by setting up a commission to consider the question of tithe rentcharge. This subject was exhaustively discussed when the Tithe Act of 1925 was under con- sideration, and, so far as I am aware, no serious difficulties have arisen, since the passing of that Act, in the administration of the law relating to tithe rent-charge.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that considerable reference was made to it in the election addresses not only of his party, but of the Liberal party?

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the present arrangement is satisfactory?

I understand that the Act is working well and difficulties in administration have not been raised.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that tithe on a good many farms is practically the full agricultural value of the land?

That is the subject of another question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the present depression in the agricultural industry, he is prepared to introduce legislation in order to remove or lessen the burden of tithe; and whether he is in a position to state the policy of the present Government in regard to this matter?

The Government is not prepared to introduce legislation on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the purport of his recent communication to the Wiltshire County Council on the subject of land drainage and of their reply?

The Ministry has been in correspondence with the Wiltshire County Council on the subject of the maintenance of land drainage schemes which were carried out by the Council with financial assistance from the Ministry during the period 1921–26. The points raised cannot be set out shortly in reply to a Parliamentary Question, but I shall be happy to furnish the hon. Member with a copy of the correspondence when it is completed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to set up some form of inquiry into the past operation of the Sugar Subsidy Act with a view to ascertaining whether in its present form it ensures that the benefits accruing from the Act are equitably apportioned between the factory and the grower of sugar beet?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 16th July to the hon. Baronet who sits for Caithness and Sutherland (Major Sir A. Sinclair). The report which is being prepared in my Department will review the past operation of the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act, 1925, and will provide data on which to base an opinion as to the distribution of the benefits which the Act has conferred.