asked the Secretary of State for India the number of females employed daily underground in mines under the Indian Mines Act for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and can he state the number of reductions that have taken place since the 1st July,, 1929?

The average number of women employed underground daily during 1928 was 31,785. I expect to receive the figures for 1929 about the end of July next. As my hon. Friend is aware, there is statutory provision for reduction to a nil figure by July, 1939.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many hours these women work?

I will gladly make inquiries if the hon. Member desires.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has now received the Report of the Government of India showing the action that has been taken to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Agriculture in India?

Yes, Sir. If it is desired that I should do so, I shall be pleased to place a copy of the Report at the disposal of my hon. Friend and the House.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether steps have been or are being taken by the Government of India to represent to His Majesty's Government the dissatisfaction of the Indian community in Fiji with the electoral system introduced under the recent constitutional reforms in the Colony, whereby the electoral roll for the Colonial Legislature is divided along racial lines?

The Government of India have the matter under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the success of the scheme for the training of Indian boys on the training ship "Dufferin," stationed at Bombay, the Government of India will consider the desirability of establishing a similar training ship at Calcutta?

I have not heard of such a proposal being made to the Government of India.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Federated Indian Chambers of Commerce sent a resolution to the Government of India some time ago?

That has not come to my notice. I did not know that was the case.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the date is yet fixed for the convening of the conference of local governments on opium policy; how the conference will be composed; and whether the proceedings will be public?

I fear I can add nothing at present to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Southern Derbyshire (Major Pole) on the 10th February of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he is likely to be in a position to give a reply?

No. The reply that was given was that the meeting was to take place in the first part of May. I do not know that any other information beyond that is at my disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for India the estimated number of Nestorian Christians in India; and whether they have made any direct or indirect representations to him concerning the future Government of India?

The Census Report of 1921 shows the number as 97. I have received no representations from them.

Did the right hon. Gentleman say that the answer is 97?

That is so.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the number is nearer three-quarters of a million?

Perhaps my hon. Friend and I are at cross purposes about the definition. If he is speaking about Nestorian Christians the number is given by the census as 97. If he is speaking about Jacobites or Romo-Syrians the numbers are much larger.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will endeavour to expedite the replies of the local Governments to the inquiries addressed to them by the Government of India concerning the measures proposed to facilitate the enforcement of the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1928, in view of the fact that the Act is now about to come into operation?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the Governments in India are fully alive to the importance of the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us a little more in view of the fact that the Child Marriage Act is about to become operative, and that it is over six months since the report of the Age of Consent Committee was published. As that Report is of a most important character, the opinion of women who believe in reform in this matter is exacerbated by what they regard as the supineness of the Central Government on the subject.

I can assure the hon. Lady that there has been no supineness on the part of the Government of India in this matter. It is primarily a matter for them, and I have no doubt of their good faith in regard to it.

Is it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to give us more information on this question in which great interest is taken in all parts of the House? Does he realise that if he makes regulations the Local Government will have to see that they are strictly and rigidly put into operation?

That is not the question on the Paper. If the Noble Lord wishes for information as to what is occurring, I shall be glad to get it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that infants as soon as they are born are being married at the present time in order to avoid the Act?

I am much obliged to the hon. Member for that information.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has informed him that it is prepared to receive a consular representative of the Soviet Government; and, if so, whether it specified any conditions respecting the appointment?

I have received no such communication from the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has been informed by any Dominion Governments of their willingness to accept a Soviet consular representative; and, if so, by what Dominion Governments and upon what conditions?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia asked His Majesty's Government in this country on the 16th of January to inform the Soviet Government that, if the Soviet Government desire to appoint a Consular Officer in Australia, His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth would be prepared to accept such an officer, subject to the usual provision that he should be persona grata and to the formal reiteration of the undertaking in respìt of propaganda, on the basis of reciprocity, as provided for in the exchange of Notes of the 20th of December, 1929.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how many of the Dominions and Protectorates are included in his reply?

Only the one that I have named.

Will the right hon. Gentleman warn the Government of Australia—[Interruption.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, before the House adjourns for the Easter Recess, he will make a statement as to the progress of the negotiations with the Soviet Ambassador?

I shall certainly be prepared to make a statement if the present stage of the negotiations has been concluded before the adjournment.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise the sense of hardship that is being suffered by many citizens who have had their property taken without compensation? The matter is of great urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any representations from the Baptist churches in regard to the question of religious liberty in Russia?

I have not received any representations other than those referred to in my replies to the hon. and gallant Member for East Lewisham (Sir A. Pownall) on the 5th and the 24th March.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken any action in reference to these representations?

That was answered on the 24th March, and I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply that I then gave.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the protest against the attack on religion made by Mr. Woll, chairman of the American Labour Unions, and will he take courage from that American Labour protest?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Anglican church in Moscow is available, if wanted, for religious worship?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my right hon. Friend's reply of the 24th March to the hon. Member for Gravesend (Mr. Albery).

Is it not a fact that the previous reply was to the effect that the church was not wanted, and not that it was not available?

If the hon. and gallant Member will look at the reply which was given by my right hon. Friend to his hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Albery), he will see that a question identical in meaning to this was put and answered.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman to look at the question; he will find that the point really raised was whether the church was available as and when required.

That is exactly the question which was asked as a supplementary question by the hon. Gentleman, and has now been repeated in substance by the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Rugby (Captain Margesson). For that reason, I referred the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the previous reply given to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Gravesend.

What was the answer?

It is a common practice when a question is repeated to refer the hon. Member, with a view to saving the time of the House, to a previous answer.

If the hon. Gentleman had been in the House sufficiently long—[Interruption,]—he would have known that as a matter of courtesy—[Interruption]. Mr. Speaker will keep me in order. As a matter of courtesy to Members, it is usual for the Minister to repeat the answer, and will he give the reply to my hon. and gallant Friend?

I think that there has been some misunderstanding, and will the hon. Gentleman give the answer now?

This being the second round of questions, I shall not be preventing the first round being completed, and I have no objection to reading the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, in reply to the supplementary question on 24th March, but this must not be taken as a precedent. The answer was:

"The church is not required for the reasons I have already given, and the church is unused at the moment, as I have reported to the House on more than one occasion."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th March, 1930; cols. 12–13, Vol 237.]

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he now realises that the question as to whether the church is available, has not been answered?

If I put the question down again, will the hon. Gentleman tell me whether it is available, and not refer me to a previous answer?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has instructed our Ambassador at Moscow to report from time to time on the situation of British subjects in Russia so far as their religious liberty is concerned?

His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow would naturally report any interference with the religious liberty of British subjects in the Soviet Union. In view of the standing instructions to all His Majesty's representatives abroad regarding British subjects, my right hon. Friend does not consider that any special instructions to His Majesty's Ambassador are necessary.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that ration cards are refused to ministers of religion, and will he make inquiries in this respect?

That question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has had any recent communications from the representatives of His Majesty's Government in China as to the present position in that country; and can he give the House particulars?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any information to give the House regarding the situation in China?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement as to the position of the Nanking Government in Northern China?

I have received no reports from His Majesty's representative in China as to the present position in that country since I replied to questions on this subject, on the 26th instant. It is reported in the Press that the Northern forces have occupied Chengchow without meeting resistance, and that one general, whose allegiance to Nanking was in doubt, has joined the opposition.

Have special steps been taken to safeguard British interests?

I answered that question on Wednesday, and, as far as my information went, there was no danger.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the British representative in China for further information regarding the position of the Nanking Government?

If the hon. and gallant Member will give me the point on which he wants information, I will see if I can obtain it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the contributions of members of the League of Nations towards the expenditure of the League and how the British contribution compares with that of all other countries?

The contributions payable by States members of the League of Nations for 1930 will amount to 27,100,000 gold francs. The contribution payable by His Majesty's Government in Great Britain will amount to 2,901,000 gold francs, equivalent to £115,500 approximately, or 10.65 per cent. of the total. Of this amount £79,000 will be provided in the League of Nations Vote, and £36,500 in the Ministry of Labour Vote in respect of the International Labour Organisation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why the British Government contribution is so much greater than that of any other nation?

Is it correct to say that proportionately to its naval and military expenditure the contribution of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is smaller than that of any other European State?

The proportions, I understand, were worked out by a special Committee some time ago, and our proportion was allocated, and there has been no change since that time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the negotiations have been opened on the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty; and, if so, who is conducting them on behalf of the British Government?

Yes, Sir. I am conducting the negotiations myself, in conjunction with the Secretary of State for War, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, and the Secretary of State for Air.

Is there anyone on this Committee who has special knowledge of Egyptian affairs?

I do not know what the hon. Member means by special knowledge. I have already intimated to the House that the High Commissioner, who has some little knowledge of Egyptian affairs, is present to assist and advise.

(for Captain CROOKSHANK) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received from the Egyptian Government a list of their delegates who are coming to London to negotiate a treaty; and, if not, whether he will take steps to secure their names for the information of this House?

The names of the Egyptian delegates are: Mustafa-el-Nahas Pasha, Prime Minister; Wassif Boutros iGhali Pasha, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Osman Moharrem Pasha, Minister of Public Works; William Makram Ebeid Effendi, Minister of Finance.

In view of the avowed anti-British sentiments of at least one of these delegates, will the Foreign Secretary take steps to ensure that British interests are not sacrificed?

I think that that is a very improper question.

British hospitality, I suppose!

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the total sum of money represented by applications under the Export Credit Facilities Act in respect of goods proposed to be exported to Russia which have been rejected because the period of guarantee asked for exceeded 12 months?

No statistics are available in regard to the amount of business rejected under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme.

Will the hon. Member tell us whether the amount is considerable or not?

As this information is not in the Department, will the hon. Member take steps to get it?

I may explain that I answered a question on this point more fully on 10th March and explained the reasons why any figures would be valueless.

May I have a reply to my question as to whether the amount is considerable?

The answer I have just given applies to that point.

Is it not the case that the accepted business, £738,000, shows that the amount of business coming forward is only a dribble?

The hon. Member knows that many applications are made, some of which may apply to the same piece of work, and therefore we cannot attach any importance to the nominal figures we have.

Is it not possible to distinguish between applications of that kind and tell us the sum of money involved in the applications which have been rejected? If it is possible to tell us how much has been granted, is it not possible to tell us how much has been rejected?

Because to give these figures would be to give an entirely wrong impression to the House.

At present we have no impression at all.

Is it not the case that the amount of business coming forward which has been rejected is really not worth having?

I cannot agree with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the total value of imports from the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics in 1929 and the total value of exports to that country, distinguishing between British manufactures and re-exports?

The hon. and gallant Member will find the figures for which he asks in the answer which was given to the hon. and gallant Member for Abingdon (Major Glyn) on the 11th February last, and of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what has been the outcome of the recent visits to Huddersfield and Bradford by the commercial counsellor to His Majesty's Embassy in Argentina; and whether his Department has ascertained at Huddersfield and Bradford what action is being taken there on the Reports collected by his Department from 16 countries on woollen piece-goods of moderate price?

It is too early yet to say what the result of the recent visits will be, but the commercial counsellor is shortly returning to Argentina where he will be able to make further inquiries into the points which have been brought up. The reports referred to in the second part of the question are being passed on to the trade through the medium of the Chambers of Commerce at Huddersfield and Bradford, but the series is not yet fully complete. I have not received information as to action so far taken. A report may be expected at a later date.

Without pressing the hon. Member, does he not think, if he can find the time, that it would be better for him to go down himself and see what is going on? If he used his own initiative, it might lead to something being done.

As a matter of fact, the commercial counsellor is far better qualified than I am myself to undertake this duty. He will report to me the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it was arranged at the Geneva tariff conference last week to include a provision that Austria should not proceed with negotiations to impose import tariffs against Great Britain and other countries after the flotation in London of the suggested loan required to assist Austria to develop her industries?

The answer is in the negative.

Are we to understand that no arrangement has been made under which steps will be taken to see that we do not supply the money here to develop Austrian industries, and then find a state of affairs in which Austria, having obtained our money to set up her industries, puts on a tariff to protect herself against our manufactures?

We have really no information on this matter.

But the question of this loan to Austria was raised in the House the other day.

Is it not a fact that the decisions of this conference are wholly innocuous in so far as Great Britain is concerned? And is it not a waste of time and expenditure for the President of the Board of Trade to attend conferences of this nature?

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to receive a Report from the committee which is examining the position of the cotton industry in this country; whether this Report will be published; and whether he will also publish the evidence upon which the Report is based?

I understand that the committee hope to he able to submit their Report after Easter. It is impossible to consider the question of publication until the Report is received. The evidence received by the committee has been submitted on the express understanding that it would not he made public. It will therefore not be published.

May we know whether or not the Government have appointed any fresh chairman lately to this committee?

I am perfectly certain that the hon. Member knows.

They have not appointed a fourth chairman?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will, before 14th April next, issue a White Paper showing in detail each outstanding guarantee given under the Trade Facilities Acts, 1921 to 1926, with particulars of the names of the recipients of the guarantees, the purposes to which the guarantees were applied, and the later variations, if any, the original rates of interest and terms of repayment and nature of assets upon which the guarantees were secured, and the later variations, if any, together with an account of the sums repaid and of the sums issued from the Consolidated Fund in fulfilment of Trade Facilities Acts guarantees, all up to 31st March, 1930?

Information with regard to the guarantees given under the Trade Facilities Acts is published in the normal course in the White Papers issued in accordance with Section 1 (5) of the Acts. A White Paper bringing this information up to date will be published next month. I fear that I cannot undertake to publish the extensive and confidential details with regard to individual guarantees. suggested by the hon. Member.

Why should not the. hon. Gentleman re-publish the figures and facts that are not confidential, so that we can again see the whole list of those to whom guarantees have been given, the dates, the amounts and the terms, without disclosing anything confidential? It has been done before.

I have already explained that those facts are of a confidential character, and that all the information that we are entitled to publish is published in the White Paper.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he has taken to experiment with the restocking processes by which Professor Kinkaid, of Washington University, has succeeded in developing on a paying basis the oyster-breeding grounds on the North-West Pacific coast of the United States of America?

I am aware of the investigations in oyster cultivation undertaken by the United States Bureau of Fisheries in conjunction with the Department of Fisheries of the State of Washington. The Pacific oyster is of a different species from our native oyster, and presents accordingly different problems of breeding and cultivation; but I may add that a member of the Ministry's scientific staff is now on his way to Canada to carry out investigations in oyster-breeding for the Biological Board of Canada, and it is hoped that an opportunity may occur for him to study American methods of oyster breeding and cultivation, both on the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to find out whether our own men on the coast of North Norfolk and the Wash would not welcome this type of American oyster to try for breeding purposes?

The hon. Member is one of the greatest authorities on the subject of oysters, and he knows that the special difference between the English and American oyster must be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the difficulty found in some parts of the country in buying all-English bread made from national-mark flour, he will arrange with the President of the Board of Education to invite county councils to hold classes to enable local bakers to regain the art of baking a palatable loaf from all-English flour?

As a first step, it is desirable to promote baking tests to establish the most satisfactory technique for the baking of loaves from all-English wheat flour, and in this matter I am looking for advice to the National Mark Flour Trade Committee and to the National Association of Maser Bakers, Confectioners and Caterers. In the circumstances, the time is hardly ripe to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion which, however, I shall be glad to keep before me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps have been taken by his Department to obtain publicity for the national-mark scheme in respect of flour and meat; and whether he is satisfied that adequate public attention has been obtained as the result of those efforts?

Since the introduction of the national-mark beef scheme in London and Birmingham, there has not only been widespread publicity in the Press but, with the assistance of the Empire Marketing Board, special publicity campaigns have been carried out on behalf of the scheme in both areas with encouraging results. My Department has also maintained continuous publicity for the national-mark flour scheme, though on a less extensive scale than in the case of beef, and there is evidence that retail traders are giving more attention to this product. I recognise that there is scope for farther effort, and I hope shortly to be in a position to ensure increased publicity for all national-mark schemes.

Will the right hon. Gentleman indicate what results have been achieved in consequence of his efforts?

There has been a marked increase in the consumption of national marked beef; about 50 per cent. in London on last month's consumption.

May I ask whether the publicity campaign has been carried to the extent of sending a notice to the Secretary of State for War?

May I ask whether there has been any increase in the price of yeoman wheat to the farmer as a result of this demand?

Not that I am aware of.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the Report on agricultural policy adopted on the 8th January, 1930, by the policy committee of the Central Chamber of Agriculture, of which a copy has been sent to the Minister, with the opinion of the Prime Minister on the points involved; and, if so, what action he proposes to take thereon?

I have received and considered the document referred to by the hon. Member. The proposals which it contains are among those which are being examined by the Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if schemes for new railways or widenings of existing railways which involve the acquisition of common land and manorial wastes are brought to the notice of his Department; and, if so, what steps he takes to secure that an area at least equivalent to that so taken from the common or waste shall be added?

By Standing Orders of this House, Nos. 30 and 33 (17), where power is sought in a Private Bill to take any common land for the purpose of the Bill, particulars must be deposited at the Office of the Ministry, which makes a report to Parliament upon the proposals. In framing its report the Ministry invariably gives due consideration to the question whether an area at least equivalent to that to be taken from the common should be added thereto and, unless there are special circumstances which would make such a suggestion unreasonable, recommends the insertion of a provision to that effect. The Standing Orders do not require any reference to the Ministry in cases where the land to be acquired is manorial waste which is not common.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if schemes for new roads and road widenings, which involve the acquisition of common land and manorial wastes, are brought to the notice of his Department; and, if so, what steps he takes to secure that an area at least equivalent to that so taken from the common or waste shall be added?

Schemes for road widening or road construction under the Town Planning Act, 1925, the compulsory provisions of the Development Act, 1909, and the Public Health Act, 1875, involving the acquisition of common land, are brought to the notice of the Ministry, and in the absence of express sanction of Parliament require the consent of the Department, which is only given if an equal area of land is added.

May I ask where that equal acreage of land comes from? Does it come by reason of cultivated land being made waste land?

I did not quite catch the hon. Member's question.

Where does this equal acreage come from?

The authority acquiring the land is compelled to furnish an equivalent.

May I ask whether there are any road-widening operations in which the circumstances of the inclusion of common land have not to be submitted to the Ministry?

Yes, there may be exceptions, where the land is acquired voluntarily under the provisions of the Development Act from the lord of the manor owning manorial rights.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has received any application for a scheme of regulation for the Metropolitan common known as Epsom Downs?

No such application has been received.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if we will state the date of the departure and proposed return of the Permanent Secretary of his Department to inspect the standard of furnishing at the new British Embassy at Washington; and will he issue, on the return of the Permanent Secretary, in a White Paper the decisions arrived at by the Permanent Secretary for the future guidance of the technical officers of the Department in similar cases?

The Permanent Secretary left for Washington on the 26th March. He is due to return on the 1st May. The answer to the second part of the question is "No."

Why not? If Government money is to be expended in sending a man out there to look after the furnishing and to get information, do I understand that the right hon. Gentleman is not prepared to give that information to other officers of the Department, so that they may be aware of it? Why will the right hon. Gentleman not impart the information?

Because it is totally unnecessary.

If it is totally unnecessary, is it not also unnecessary to send a man there?

Will the right hon. Gentleman state what is the cost of this expedition to Washington?

I answered that question last week.

What is the necessity for sending the Permanent Secretary when the right hon. Gentleman has already commissioned an architect who is quite competent to judge this furnishing scheme?

I am sorry that the hon. Member was not present, but I answered that question also last week.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how often the Council of the Duchy has met since 1st July, 1929?

The Council of the Duchy has met once since 1st July, 1929.

Does the Council meet in London or in the Duchy?

It meets at the London office of the Duchy.

As the duties of his office seem to be so scarce, would it not be advisable if the Chancellor of the Duchy were to lend his assistance to the Lord Privy Seal, so that they might be able to bring in some schemes—

Order!

Is the Lord Privy Seal a member of the Council of the Duchy?

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster the number of staff employed in his Department and the total cost thereof, distinguishing between the cost of salaries and other expenses?

The number of staff employed in the Department is 17 principal officers, including messengers, and six local agents and collectors. The cost of this staff is £7,666. The total expenses of management as appearing in the Account for the year ended 21st December, 1929, recently presented to Parliament, were 210,250—in which figure the salaries of the staff are included.

Were any of the staff detailed to assist the right hon. Baronet in preparing the memorandum on unemployment?

May I ask the Minister, what proportion his own salary bears to the total expenses of the Duchy?

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Civil Service Commission, in conducting examinations for appointments for the Home (Administrative) Civil Service, Indian Civil Service, Foreign Office, Diplomatic and Consular Services, and Eastern Cadetships in the Colonial Office, have regard to service put in by candidates in the Junior Division (Officers' Training Corps), the Senior Division (Officers' Training Corps), the Territorial Army, and the Territorial Cadet unit?

Candidates for the situations to which the hon. Member refers are required to furnish, in prescribed form, a record of their life and education in order to assist the Examiners in the viva voce portion of the examination. Service in the Officers' Training Corps, the Territorial Army, etc., is one of the many activities in regard to which information is to be furnished on the form.

Inasmuch as the asking and answering of these particular questions implies that service with the Cadet Corps will influence the marking of the Civil Service Examiners, will the President of the Civil Service Commission see to it that these questions are not asked in future?

No exception, so far as I am aware, has been taken to these questions before, and I see no reason why any alteration should be made in this case.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the great majority of Members of this House do not have the same opinion as the hon. Member who put this question?

If a boy says, "I was educated at Borstal, where the best education is given," will that answer disqualify him?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many conscientious objectors have been promoted over the heads of ex-service men in the Civil Service in terms of the Circular of September, 1929?

I have repeated the inquiry made for the purpose of replying to the similar questions put to me on 17th December and 21st January last, and the answer is the same, namely, three.

Will the hon. Gentleman say if these promotions were made entirely on the ground of efficiency?

Yes, certainly.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what progress has been made in finding a site for the new Macclesfield Employment Exchange, as requested by the Minister of Labour?

A site has been found and my Department's architects are considering whether it meets their requirements.

In view of the urgent need of this new Exchange, will the right hon. Gentleman expedite it by every possible means?

Certainly.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how often the windows of the House of Commons are cleaned; when they last were cleaned; and to what authority is given the duty to clean them when they are cleaned?

The frequency with which the windows are cleaned is laid down in a lengthy schedule and varies according to the character and use made of the accommodation; as a rule, plain windows are cleaned every six weeks during Sessions and stained-glass windows at varying intervals, but arrangements exist for more frequent cleaning, where necessary, in special cases. Cleaning is in progress throughout the year in different parts of the building. The work is done under a contract administered by my Department.

Will the right hon. Gentleman speed up this cleaning process? If we cannot have fresh air, might we have some sunlight?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of the Committee Room windows are extremely dirty?

If hon. Members will have a little patience they will soon find spring-cleaning in full operation.

Is this part of the work of the Permanent Secretary who is going joy-riding to Washington?

I would like to appeal to hon. Gentlemen opposite not to repeat that statement about joy-riding. The Permanent Secretary has gone on a very important duty.

rose—

This question has been fully dealt with before.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what steps are taken to insure that the time given by Big Ben is correct?

The clock is checked daily by Greenwich Observatory. During the past 290 days the error has exceeded one second on eight days only.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied, in view of the fact that Big Ben is three minutes slow compared with every other clock in the country?

I should say that all the others are wrong and that Big Ben is right.

asked the First Commissioner of Works (1) what decision has been arrived at for dealing with the ground now occupied by the Botanic Gardens, Regents Park, after the expiration of the present lease;

The question of the future use of the Botanic Gardens and of St. John's Lodge is under consideration at the present time, but no decisions have yet been taken.

When is it expected that a decision will be reached?

Very shortly, I hope.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade as representing the Forestry Commis- sioners, in view of the opportunities for afforestation in Carmarthenshire and the number of unemployed in the county, and the fact that only 59 additional acres have been planted and 10 more men employed this year, if he will agree to the setting up of an advisory committee from. the county of Carmarthen, representing all interests, so as to hasten the rate of progress?

The facts are not as stated. The Commission's planting programme in Carmarthenshire this season is 400 acres, which is 59 more than the programme last season. It is unnecessary to set up such a committee as is suggested, as under the Forestry Act, 1919, Section 6, a Consultative Committee for Wales has already been established, and is representative of the various interests specified in that Section. The commissioners are prepared to submit to that Committee the facts regarding the afforestation programme in Carmarthen-shire and to ask for their advice.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that it is possible to grow much better timber in the Highlands, especially in Argyllshire, and will he ask the Forestry Commission to devote their zeal to that part of the country?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government still adhere to their determination to arrive at an agreement between the whole five Powers taking part in the Naval Conference, and not between two or three of them?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether any proposals have been made at the London Naval Conference which would involve the scrapping of the four cruisers of the "Hawkins" class in the British Navy?

I think it would be clearly undesirable to give information of this character while the negotiations are still in progress and provisional proposals may be modified at any moment. While I am only too anxious to take the House into my confidence at the earliest possible time, I am sure that there will be general agreement that fragmentary information, given in reply to Parliamentary questions, might not only prove misleading to the House, but might also prejudice the success of the Conference. Whatever agreement is come to, it will be a systematically balanced whole and must be considered as a complete plan in relation to the programmes of other Powers.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that it would be very false economy to scrap such up-to-date vessels, in view of the fact that, whatever the result of the Naval Conference may be, this country is bound to be faced with a heavy replacement programme in the next few years?

I can assure the hon. Member that all those considerations will be taken into account.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Nelson's furniture, now on loan to the "Victory," is about to be sold; and whether the Government will he prepared to make a reasonable contribution for the purchase of these articles in order to secure them as a national possession?

I am aware of the facts in connection with this furniture, but although I have every sympathy with the patriotic purpose underlying the hon. and gallant Member's question, and regret that there should be any possibility of this furniture leaving its appropriate place, I do not think His Majesty's Government would be justified in devoting public money to this purpose.

If at any future time there is a danger of this furniture going out of the country altogether, will the Government reconsider their decision?

As a good many hon. Members in all parts of the House know, we are very much interested in this question of the export of national treasures, but the difficulty is to draft legislation which would not be more unjust than it would be expedient, and I would be only too glad if I could get any practical advice from any hon. Members of this House as to how to stop this sort of thing.

Is not this furniture of the nature of a national monument?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will invite the Empire Marketing Board to follow up the tests of fresh milk in schools by shaking grants for cooking classes in elementary and secondary schools to carry out tests of the higher nutritive and cooking values of home-killed as compared with imported chilled meat?

I do not feel that I should be justified iii inviting the Empire Marketing Board to undertake the tests proposed.

Will the hon. Gentleman be willing to receive representations on this important point?

I am willing to receive any evidence in support of this idea from the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health the results of recent cooking tests in public institutions of British home-killed and imported chilled beef, with a view especially to ascertaining the validity of the claim of some local authorities that the lesser wastage in the cooking of home-killed meat makes it a more economical purchase?