asked the Secretary of State for India whether he proposes to take any action to disband the body known as the Congress Volunteers?

I can add nothing to the full statement of His Majesty's Government's policy which was made on Saturday last by the Viceroy.

asked the Secretary of State for India what has been the result of the Conference summoned by the Government of India to consider the development of the proposed Indian mercantile marine; whether the Government of India itself put forward any definite proposals; and what action, if any, it is now proposed to take?

No agreement was reached at the Conference; and the present position remains as stated in the communiqué issued by the Government of India on 6th January and published in the Press in this country on the following day.

Am I to understand that the Government have definitely stated that they are going to come to a decision in the matter, or are they going to have another Conference?

I have no information beyond the communiqué.

asked the Secretary of State for India if any decision has been arrived at concerning the recommendation of the Madras Government to the Government of India for the free allotment of a crore of rupees to the Port Trust in respect of the harbour scheme at Tuticorin?

I have no information regarding any such recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can give information showing the consumption of opium per 10,000 of the population in Calcutta; and how this figure compares with the League of Nations' Health Committee's estimate of the limit of legitimate consumption per 10,000 of the population?

The consumption of opium per 10,000 of the population in Calcutta was 86 seers in 1928–29. The League standard, which was suggested for the medical and scientific requirements of countries possessing a highly organised medical system and has little applicability to the conditions of India, was equivalent to about 6 seers per 10,000.

asked the Secretary of State for India to which of the provincial governments in India have powers been delegated under Section 96 (b) of the Government of India Act; what steps have been taken by the local governments towards the constitution of provincial public service commissions; and if he will inform the House if any general principles have been laid down by the central Government for the guidance of the governments in the provinces in the constitution of these bodies?

Powers have been delegated to the governments of all Governors' provinces under Section 96 (b) of the Government of India Act. So far only the Government of Madras have set up a public service commission. Certain conditions have been laid down for the guidance of provincial governments in initiating legislation for the setting up of such commissions, and, if my hon. and gallant Friend so desires, I will send him a copy of them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether he can make public the reasons given by the other Presidencies and provincial Governments for not setting up these commissions?

I should be glad to meet the Noble Lord, but I do not know even whether the question could be asked in that form.

Will the right hon. Gentleman issue a White Paper on the subject?

If the Noble Lord will put down a question, I shall be happy to answer it.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the strength of the British Air Force in India at the present time; and whether any increase or reduction is contemplated?

There are eight squadrons of the Royal Air Force in India with about 260 officers and 2,000 other ranks. No change is at present contemplated.

Are these squadrons placed all along the frontiers of India with the object of defending it from the outside and not from the inside?

With your permission, Sir, may I put a question to the Attorney-General? I wish to ask him whether his attention has been called to an article which appeared in the "Daily Express" on Saturday morning last from its special political correspondent on the subject of the Indian Statutory Commission's Report, in which the author professed to be able to reveal the main lines of that Report, and even to disclose differences of opinion between the members of the Commission; and whether the Attorney-General is able to take steps to prevent a repetition of these misstatements?

I am obliged to my right hon. Friend for raising this important matter without delay.

I read the article referred to with surprise and regret. Such an article, if based on genuine materials, must have meant a grave breach of the Official Secrets Act, and must have implied that some disclosure either deliberate or careless had been made by a member of the Commission, or by one of its experienced and entirely trustworthy staff, relating to matters which it is their duty to keep to themselves. The consequences, especially in India, upon the future work of the Commission would manifestly be disastrous.

I, therefore, communicated with Mr. Blumenfeld, Chairman of the "Daily Express." On my pointing out to him the serious public interests involved, he placed himself unreservedly in my hands, and, with his assistance, I was able to ascertain that the person who furnished the information on which the article was based was an Indian journalist, a Mr. Vishnu Karandikar, living in London, who had for some months past supplied information to the "Daily Express" on non-political Indian matters, which had hitherto been found to be trustworthy. The information in question was contained in certain documents handed by Mr. Karandikar to the "Daily Express." These were handed over to me. I have shown these documents to my right hon. Friend the Chairman of the Indian Statutory Commission. He tells me that they are worthless in character.

Late last night, or rather early this morning, Mr. Karandikar, together with the member of the "Daily Express" staff who actually wrote the article, came to see me. Mr. Karandikar informed me that he came of his own free will and desired to make a complete statement of all the facts within his knowledge. He expressed his desire to make this statement in the presence of my right hon. Friend the Chairman of the Indian Statutory Commission, who was good enough to come.

Mr. Karandikar then explained that he was himself the author of the materials which he had supplied to the "Daily Express," and that he had no inside or secret knowledge whatever. I hold in my hand, and propose to read to the House a voluntary confession in Mr. Karandikar's own handwriting and signed by him:

"I have no actual information from any official source about the story I gave to the 'Daily Express,' regarding a forecast of the Simon Commission's Report. The whole thing was written by me without any facts, made up by what I considered from my close study of the Indian situation must be taking place. It was a lie when I represented to the 'Daily Express' that I had any official source from anybody, either open or secret. This was suggested by me, and the plea bolstered up by further statements in order to sell the story at a time when I was in very great need of money and to get the most I can out of the same.

"Signed by me, VISHNU KARANDIKAR, carrying on business as the Indian News Service at 143, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4.

"Dated the 28th January, 1930."

The 28th? That is to-morrow!

It was written at a late hour of the night or an early hour of the morning, and no doubt he got confused as to the date. It was, in fact, signed in the early hours of this morning. I suggest in fairness that the good faith of the "Daily Express" is, of course, not in question, and, indeed, I desire to express my acknowledgment for the paper's assistance, without which I could not have got this information. I feel confident that after this experience we shall be able to rely upon the wholehearted co-operation of the Press in connection with the work of this Commission, so as to render resort to such powers as I possess wholly unnecessary.

Might I, in a sentence, be allowed to thank my hon. and learned Friend, on behalf both of the members of the Statutory Commission and of their staff, for the way in which he has handled this matter?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the date in 1929, and the occasion, upon which His Majesty's Government informed the Russian Soviet Government that a loan by His Majesty's Government or a grant of the British Government's credit to the Russian Soviet Government would not be given?

The policy of His Majesty's Government in this connection was clearly stated during the course of the Debate on the 5th November last. On the 6th January of the present year, at the beginning of the negotiations foreshadowed in the Protocol of the 3rd October, I informed the Soviet Ambassador that a British Government guarantee of a loan raised by any foreign Government would be contrary to the considered policy of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, and that, consequently, they would find it impossible now to give an undertaking similar to that given in Article 12 of the General Treaty of 1924. With regard to credits, while there is no direct grant of British Government credit to the Soviet Government, credits granted to the trading organisations of the Soviet Government by traders in this country are eligible for guarantees under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme, subject to reference to the Advisory Committee appointed for that scheme.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he gave a reply in direct contradiction of the present reply when he answered my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on the 22nd January?

I am not aware that I gave any such contradictory answer.

May I be allowed to read what the right hon. Gentleman said?

"No."

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman, in reply to a supplementary question put by me asking whether, if British traders supplied goods to the Russian Government and the Russian Government defaulted, the British Government would be responsible, said "No"?

I must have misunderstood the supplementary question.

Is it not a fact that this decision to extend the export credit facilities to Russia was taken about seven months ago, and that it is now a very belated time to make a protest against it?

Does not the declaration now made by the Foreign Secretary amount to the fact that His Majesty's Government are giving a short-dated loan to the Russian delegation?

No, I do not think so.

Arising out of the original answer, what has caused the right hon. Gentleman to change the decision since 1924?

How much money is still owing to us from the Russian Whites?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any communication has been addressed to him on behalf of any religious body in Great Britain as to the protection of British ministers of religion in Russia; and, if so, in what terms he has replied.

Yes, Sir. I have received one such communication in very general terms, but not being aware of any cases in which British subjects are now employed in religious ministry in the Soviet Union, I asked for further particulars at the end of last month. These have not yet been received. I may add that, at the request of the British Embassy, permission has been granted by the Soviet authorities to a British chaplain to enter the country to provide religious ministration to British citizens in Moscow and Petrograd.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that any British minister of religion in Russia must be in danger—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh"]—and will he take special steps to protect such ministers, or, at any rate, to inform them that they go there at their own risk?

In my reply to the hon. Member, I have said that I am not aware that any are there.

Will my right hon. Friend take steps with a view to preventing religious propaganda of this sort in other countries?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the subjects he has at present discussed with the Soviet Ambassador.

Yes, Sir. In accordance with the Protocol of the 3rd October, I communicated to the Soviet Ambassador on the 6th January a statement defining the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the General Treaty and the Commercial Treaty signed on the 8th August, 1924. This statement included the preliminary proposals of His Majesty's Government as to the method of dealing with all the subjects mentioned in the Protocol, with the exception of propaganda, which is governed by the notes exchanged on the 20th December last. The reply of the Soviet Government was received on the 25th January and is now under examination.

In the course of the right hon. Gentleman's discussions with the Ambassador, has he raised the question of religious persecution in Russia?

If the right hon. Gentleman means raised it in general, I have called his attention to one or two cases.

Can the Foreign Secretary say whether the Russian Government have drawn his attention to the fact that the Sermon on the Mount is frequently being violated in this country?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to a recent article in the "Pravda," the official organ of the Soviet Government, stating that the British Government are keeping Indian workers rotting in Meerut Prison, and are openly shooting down unarmed negro workers in Nigeria; and whether, in view of the undertaking signed by the Soviet Ambassador on 20th November last, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have seen the article in question, but I do not consider that it calls for any action on the part of His Majesty's Government.

Is not this particular statement, quoted in the question, one of a similar number issued by this agent of the Soviet Government, since the undertaking was given on the 20th November last? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that that is a direct infringement of the undertaking, and does he not think that he ought to take immediate action in the matter?

The Government of the day, who carry the responsibility, must have some say as to the moment when any action is to be taken, if they consider that a violation has taken place?

Are they not under an obligation to this House?

Is it not a fact that British newspapers contain far worse articles than this article?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affair; whether he has yet received any reply from the Soviet Government to his recent representations as to propaganda by the Third International?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reply has been given by the Soviet ambassador to the protest against the message despatched from the Third International to the "Daily Worker"?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received any reply from the Soviet Government in answer to his communication with the Soviet ambassador in connection with the letter which appeared in a daily paper on the 1st January containing a message from the Third International; and if he will publish such reply?

My communication to the Soviet Ambassador was a statement of the views of His Majesty's Government. I did not ask His Excellency for any reply.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any comments on it?

I have nothing to add to what I have told the House.

Has the Soviet Government protested against the propaganda habits of the British newspapers?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received official information as to whether the Soviet Government of Russia is yet making any effort to suppress their anti-British campaign in Asia; and, if so, in what particular countries?

As I have already stated, it is still too early to form any definite conclusion as to the effect of the recent agreement about propaganda.

Has the right hon. Gentleman no information to show what they are doing or trying to do to stop this propaganda?

I have nothing to add to what I have said.

Then the right hon. Gentleman has no information or knows nothing and is doing nothing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian. Ambassador with regard to the activities of the Third International in promoting unrest in India, as proved in several recent cases before the Indian Court?

I have made no representations to the Soviet Ambassador other than those which I described to the House on Wedneslay last. The cases in the Indian Courts, referred to by the hon. Member, relate to incidents which occurred before the pledges exchanged on the 20th of December last, and, as regards the proceedings at Meerut, I would remind him that that case is still sub judice.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any communications from the Russian Government with regard to the propaganda done by Members of this House to create trouble in Georgia?

Has the right hon. Gentleman made representations concerning the training of Indian students and others in revolutionary propaganda in Soviet training colleges, which is going on at this moment?

My answer is that that does not arise out of the question upon the Order Paper.

That is exactly what I was going to say.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether negotiations have been begun with the Soviet ambassador for the settlement of questions relating to debts, claims, and counterclaims.

No, Sir. The negotiations with the Soviet Government have not progressed beyond the stage described in my reply to the question put to me to-day by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has in view any arrangements for the employment or pensioning of British officials in Egypt in the event of the terms of the draft treaty coming into effect?

The position of British officials in Egypt has not been lost sight of by His Majesty's Government, but I am unable to make any statement on the subject at present.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that very great anxiety prevails in all ranks of British officials in Egypt, and will he give some guarantee as to future pensioning or employment?

I am not aware that that anxiety exists, especially having regard to the bearing on this matter of the compensation law of 1923. Perhaps the hon. Member will look into the connection between the two positions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the inclusion in the new Egyptian Government of two men who were concerned in a political murder trial some years ago, he proposes to review the representations made by the British Foreign Office to the Egyptian Government with regard to their inclusion in a previous Government?

No, Sir. So far as I am aware, one member of the present Egyptian Cabinet was concerned in a political murder trial, and he was duly acquitted.

Is it not the ease that the right hon. Gentleman, in 1924, made representations regarding two men who are now members of the Egyptian Government?

I do not think it arises out of this question.

Is it not perfectly clear that the people to whom I am now referring are the same people mentioned in the question?

Is it not a fact that a subsequent inquiry completely exonerated these two Egyptians?

Is it not the case that what the right hon. Gentleman calls a political murder trial arose out of the foul murder of Sir Lee Stack four years ago? Why does he describe the murder of a distinguished Englishman as a political murder?

I think everybody did. I think I could probably find that the late Government regarded it as a political murder.

Why does the right hon. Gentleman describe the murder of Sir Lee Stack as a political murder?

I am answering a question which itself refers to it as a political murder.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the result of the placing of the proposals regarding the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty before the Egyptian people on the lines set out in a letter to him from Mahommed Mahmoud Pasha dated 3rd August, 1929?

I have nothing to add to the reply returned to the hon. and gallant Member for Gainsborough on Tuesday last.

Is it not the case that the letter referred to in the question definitely states that the proposals should be put before the Egyptian people? Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that that has been done?

The Treaty has not yet been drawn. The conditions that were laid down have so far been fulfilled.

I think the right hon. Gentleman is forgetting. [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"] I do not want to embarrass the right hon. Gentleman in any way. May I ask whether the condition was that the proposals should be put before the Egyptian people? It is not a question of the Treaty at all.

My opinion is that the proposals have been submitted to the Egyptian people.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman on what he bases that statement?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Government, in accordance with the recommendations of the 1928 Assembly of the League of Nations, will include a woman among the technical delegates to the conference on the codification of international law?

His Majesty's Government have at present under consideration a proposal that the delegation should include a woman, but no decision has as yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Hungarian optants question has been finally settled by the recent agreement at The Hague; and, if not, what the position is?

Yes, Sir. A final settlement was agreed in principle and accepted by the parties concerned at The Hague; certain financial details remain to be worked out by a technical committee.

Does that mean that the incident is entirely closed and that the right hon. Gentleman will not have to go before the Council of the League of Nations again?

Yes, that is the position.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the question of bounty-fed cereals was raised at the late Geneva Conference; what was the result; and whether the Government propose to take any further steps in the matter?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any statement to make concerning the representations made at Geneva concerning the dumping of German cereals?

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply to a question put by the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. O. Lewis) on the 22nd instant, of which I am sending them copies.

In view of the resolution passed by the Council of Agriculture for England at their meeting last week, unanimously imploring the Government to do something, is all that he is going to give them to say that the matter is to be put into a pigeonhole in the archives of the League of Nations?

I think I have taken the most efficacious steps and that we should await the result of the discussions which I reported in my answer last week.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us when we may expect a result?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether His Majesty's Government have now made the required declaration to the Argentine Government regarding the non-imposing of duties or restrictions to the importation of certain Argentine food produce; and, if so, whether he can state the terms and exact scope of the declaration?

I have nothing to add to the full answer which was given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on Tuesday, the 21st January, to questions by the hon. Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon) and the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd).

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can see his way to issue a request to exhibitors at the British Industries Fair at Olympia that they should place their exhibits in charge of skilled salesmen to whom authority to make contracts of sale has been given?

Although I understand that the majority of exhibitors do at present place their exhibits in the charge of skilled salesmen in view of the importance of the matter, I shall be glad to issue a letter on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

May I ask whether the hon. Member is aware that at Birmingham every salesman is a thoroughly skilled person?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any applications have been made to the advisory committee for Export Credit Facilities for the exportation of cured herrings to Russia during the last six months?

One proposal has been made to the Export Credits Guarantee Department in connection with the export of herrings to Russia since the extension of the scheme to that country on the 1st August last. The proposal was approved by the Advisory Committee but the first did not proceed with the business.

May I ask how much is involved in the proposal?

It is not usual to announce the amount.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the British Government is now proportionately liable in case of default of bills of the Soviet Government's delegation guaranteed in whole or part under the Export Credits Scheme?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what is the reason for the discrimination in the working of the Exports Credits Scheme whereby, upon the failure of the Soviet Government to pay for any goods exported to Russia from this country, the British exporter is no; paid his percentage of risk guaranteed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department?

As there have been several questions on this subject recently and as some misunderstanding appears to exist, I propose to take this opportunity of stating the position fully so as to remove any possibility of misapprehension. Under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme the guarantee of the British Government is given to British exporters in respect of certain of their exports to countries overseas, including Russia, which was brought within the scope of the scheme as from the 1st August, 1929. The scheme provides that in the event of default on bills so guaranteed, the Department shall pay to the exporter the guaranteed percentage of the amount of the bills. This provision applies to bills guaranteed in connection with exports to Russia in exactly the same way as to bills guaranteed in respect of exports to other countries.

Is the hon. Member aware that his reply is a flat contradiction of the statement of the Foreign Secretary last Wednesday, and will he therefore give his right hon. Friend a copy of the reply?

A question I understand has already been put to my right hon. Friend. Some misunderstanding has arisen in regard to an answer I gave myself, and therefore I have taken this opportunity of stating fully on paper the exact position in regard to this export credit scheme.

Before the hon. Member leaves that point, will he tell us what he meant on the 21st January when he told us that the export credit scheme is going to guarantee the goods. Are the goods guaranteed as to value or as to volume?

What I meant was a guarantee of payment.

Are we to understand that if the Soviet Government defaults the British Government pays?

The British Government pays for anything they have guaranteed whoever may default.

May I ask whether my hon. Friend has recently had any representations expressing dissatisfaction with the present operation of the export credit scheme from reputable British manufacturers?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what the proposal is for an advance in the Australian tariff on boots, shoes and leather; and what will the percentage increase be upon prices of the above-mentioned goods produced in the United Kingdom for export to Australia?

The tariff revision proposals, which in accordance with the usual Australian practice are in force pending confirmation by the Commonwealth Parliament, include an increase in the duty on leather boots and shoes, boot and shoe uppers and tops under the British Preferential Tariff from 35 per cent. to 45 per cent. ad valorem, i.e., an increase of 10 per cent. of the value of the goods. Duties under the general tariff are being raised simultaneously from 45 per cent. to 60 per cent. ad valorem. No change is proposed in the duty on unworked leather.

May I ask whether the hon. Member has any evidence that these proposals of the Australian Government will be in any way modified as a result of the proposals made by the President of the Board of Trade for a two years Customs tariff truce?

I am afraid that I must have notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to make his statement on the Government's agricultural policy?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Granville) on the 16th December.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a mere flea-bite of an answer? Is he aware also that for nine months now he has kept his schemes bottled up, and the longer they are bottled up the more likely they are to be useless?

It was a very long answer to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can take steps to introduce legislation to require every miller to use a certain percentage of British wheat in all wheat milled in this country, and that every baker should use a fixed percentage of British flour every year in proportion to his annual purchases?

I am not in a position to add to the replies which I gave on the 18th November and 2nd December last to similar questions by the hon. and gallant Member.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my question on that date was a very different one; it was with regard to a certain percentage in the loaf. This question is with regard to the percentage of wheat milled by the miller?

The answer would be similar to that to almost the same question on the date mentioned.

Seeing that this is so successful in other countries, cannot the right hon. Gentleman try it in this country?

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to introduce a Bill for the nationalisation of agricultural land?

It is not proposed to introduce legislation on this subject during the present Session.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to take steps to set up a national distribution board to lessen the cost and more efficiently control the marketing of agricultural produce in this country?

The problem of marketing organisation is best approached on commodity lines and generally through standardisation schemes, such as those already adopted under the National Mark for eggs, fruit, etc., and others which I hope to introduce shortly. These, in themselves, operate to increase the efficiency and, therefore, reduce the cost of distribution.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the American Federal Farm Board, and would not an organisation of similar character be practicable and useful in this country?

I have studied that matter carefully. If the hon. Gentleman has any definite suggestions to make, I hope that he will send them to me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he proposes to lay before the House of Commons a scheme for the setting up of a national import board to control the supplies of imported wheat?

I am not in a position to add anything to my reply to a similar question put to me by the Noble Lord the Member for Horsham (Earl Winterton) on the 23rd December. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all the questions I have asked contain policies drawn from books and articles which he himself has written, and would he use his influence with his colleagues in the Cabinet to get the policies introduced as legislation as speedily as possible?

A scheme is being very carefully studied by several of the Departments concerned.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say what further period of gestation his Department will require to produce the scheme which he and his party promised at the last election?

I am afraid that I cannot state the period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the last Report of the Development Commission in regard to the south-eastern province, including Kent, Surrey, and East and West Sussex, and to the statement that only 15 of the farmers in the province are taking advantage of the facilities offered by the South-Eastern Agricultural College for the periodical tests to ensure a satisfactory standard of cleanliness in their milk; whether he can state the total number of milk producers in the province; and what steps are being taken to induce a larger number to make use of the facilities offered?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I regret that I am unable to give the information asked for in the second part of the question. In reply to the last part, I may explain that the tests to which my hon. Friend refers are carried out under a special scheme of the College, which forms only a very small part of the College's work for the improvement of the milk supply. I am informed, however, that the College hopes to obtain an increase in the number of milk samples submitted under this scheme as the result of the reduction of the charge to farmers for the analyses.

Is it not a fact that many counties already have milk recording societies, to which many thousands of farmers belong, and that they have competitions and take samples of milk; and would not such a scheme attain the same object as certificating clean milk?

Yes, that is certainly the case.

Is it not a fact that the county agricultural committees in the counties concerned also have their clean milk competitions, and will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence to secure that there shall be no overlapping between those county committees and the Wye Committee?

The Ministry will endeavour to do that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any proof that imported Dutch skimmed-milk cheese is sold in England as genuine English produce?

From reports which have reached my Department from time to time, it appears that prosecutions have been successfully instituted by various local authorities for the sale of Dutch half-milk cheese as full milk cheese. These reports, however, do not indicate whether the sampling officer, when purchasing the sample on which legal proceedings were based, specifically asked for English produce.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to see that consumers do not get this foreign, low-grade cheese foisted upon them?

It lies with the local authorities to make the necessary inquiries. Prosecutions would have to be taken under Part I of the Merchandise Marks Act of 1926, which, I understand, is very difficult to apply in such cases, though endeavours are made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the agricultural policy of His Majesty's Government has been or is being placed before the Agricultural Conference now sitting?

It has been decided that the proceedings of the Agricultural Conference should be private, and in these circumstances I am not prepared to answer questions as to the matters before it.

Will the Minister explain why this Conference is being held in private, seeing that it is a matter of great public importance and especially as the right hon. Gentleman has not announced his policy?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, as the result of inquiries by his officials, he can state approximately the percentage of hotels and restaurants in the West End of London which serve British meat; and whether means can be taken under the national-mark scheme to encourage the practice?