asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the surplus of income derived from the fees and charges made for patents for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and whether the work of the Patent Office is at present in arrear and the average length of time that elapses for applicants of original patents to receive official notification of the result of examination and search?

As regards the first part of the question, the surplus of receipts over expenditure for the Patent Office as a whole amounted to £147,840 in the year 1928; there are, however, no figures available showing the surplus of income derived from patent fees and charges apart from fees and charges for trade marks, designs and other industrial property. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which were given on 4th February to the hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. A. M. Samuel) regarding the steps taken to cope with the arrears of work of the Patent Office due to the increase in the number of applications for patents, and on 18th February to the hon. Member for Torquay (Mr. C. Williams) respecting the time taken to deal with such applications.

Has there been an improvement since I put the question in the first instance?

Yes, Sir, but the addition to staff proceeds by examination.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has been able to increase the technical staff?

We are taking steps to get it at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if he is now in a position to state when the report will be published of the committee of inquiry into the iron and steel industry; and whether the Government is taking or countenancing any steps for the reorganisation of that industry pending the completion of the report;

The question of publication cannot be con- sidered until His Majesty's Government receive the reports, the drafts of which are, I understand, now in course of preparation. As regards the last part of the questions, my right hon. Friends the Lord Privy Seal and the President of the Board of Trade are exploring the ground in consultation with leaders of the industries concerned pending completion of the reports.

Is it understood that His Majesty's Government will take no steps in reference to the reorganisation of those industries unless and until the report has been received and published?

I am sure the hon. and gallant Member, who has taken an interest in this matter, is aware that steps are being taken every day outside what the recommendations of this inquiry may be.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that any steps to reorganise the iron and steel trade will be perfectly futile and useless—[Interruption.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the several anomalies which have been brought to his notice in the workings of the Companies Act as far as they specially affect companies registered in Scotland but carrying on business in England, he proposes to introduce amending legislation so that these particular companies shall not continue to be placed at a disadvantage?

The only difficulty under the Companies Act in connection with Scottish companies carrying on business in England to which my attention has been drawn relates to the registration by such companies of charges on property in England. As my hon. Friend is aware, I have taken the best legal advice available to me in England and Scotland, and as a result the English Registrar has been instructed to register the charges in these cases. There is no opportunity for legislation on this subject at present.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these companies are suffering under a very serious dis- advantage, and, as it is a matter under the Companies Bill as originally introduced, does he not think that the Scottish companies should be given some opportunity of having the same rights as the English companies?

I recognise the point raised by the hon. Member, but it is only one of many put up to me under the Companies Act. While I should like to see them covered, I cannot for the moment promise legislation.

Is it not the case that English companies registered in England can have any rules made by them in Scotland registered in Scotland?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down on the Order Paper. It is a very complicated subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a quota of domestic production of films of 33⅓ per cent. is enforced in France and 50 per cent. in Germany; and whether he proposes to increase the quota of British films under the Films Act, with a view to increasing the percentage and quality of British films exhibited in British cinemas?

I am aware that both in France and in Germany there are restrictions upon the importation of foreign films which are based upon the domestic production of films, but my information as to the precise nature of these restrictions is not entirely in agreement with that given in the first part of the question. As regards the second part of the question, as last stated in reply to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on the 18th March last, there is no prospect of fresh legislation on this subject in the near future.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is impossible at the present time for the British film producers even to supply the amount set down by the Act?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has examined the petition purporting to be sent by 176 British manufacturers and merchants, urging the repeal of the Wrapping-paper Duty; whether he can state how many of these 176 signatures represent actual British manufacturers of wrapping paper and how many merchants; and, in the latter case, can he state how many of these merchants deal chiefly in foreign-manufactured wrapping paper?

Of the 176 signatories to this petition, 74 describe themselves as merchants, 36 as manufacturers of articles whose raw material is wrapping paper, 18 as both merchants and manufacturers, and 44 others as users of wrapping paper. None are described as manufacturers of wrapping paper. As regards the last part of the question I am not in a position to give the information desired.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received a petition from practically the whole of the workers engaged in the wrapping paper industry, begging him to continue the duty?

So many petitions of all kinds reach me that I should like my hon. and gallant Friend to give me notice of the question. I have received numerous petitions, but, whether I have received a petition exactly of the kind suggested by the hon. and gallant Member, I cannot say without notice.

Does this not show that piecemeal tariffs injure iudastry?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any new mills have been started or old mills restarted; whether new machinery has been supplied in the wrapping paper industry since the duties were imposed; and whether the price of wrapping paper has increased or fallen in the same period?

I have received information to the effect stated in the first two parts of the question. As regards the third part of the question, the information would go to show that the price of wrapping paper has fallen in common,witch wholesale prices in general.

May I ask whether this does not satisfy the right hon. Gentleman that the duty is entirely in the interests of this trade?

To reply to that on a supplementary would raise the whole controversy. I can only reply on the facts about which I have been asked.

Is not this a simple sum in arithmetic?

May I ask whether it is not the fact that the actual price has fallen to such an extent that imported paper is even cheaper than before the duty was imposed?

I should like the hon. and gallant Member to put that question on the Order Paper. It is a point of detail.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has not yet been able to publish the information relating to the imports and exports and re-imports of articles liable to the silk, artificial silk, McKenna and safeguarding duties during the year 1929, in yew of the fact that similar figures up to the end of 1928 were published in the OFFICIAL REPORT in February, 1929?

The desired information, the preparation of which has involved considerable labour, will appear in the OFFICIAL REPORT in a day or two.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the terms of reference and powers of the proposed Consumers' Council will be communicated to the House?

I hope to introduce the necessary Measure shortly.

Does it mean that the right hon. Gentleman is going to get this Bill passed before the end of the present Session?

Without banding the Government in any way, I hope to introduce the Bill very soon after Easter. The progress made will depend upon the House of Commons and upon the reception which the Bill receives from the right hon. Gentleman and his friends. We hope to get it through as soon 163 possible.

I hope that it will not be elbowed out by the Land Values Bill, or anything of that kind.

will powers be given to the Council for the purpose of keeping down the cost of living?

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the text of tie Bill. I have already indicated that the new Council will have power to review prices at all stages, from the raw material so the retail point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the new Council to the report of the speech made yesterday by Sir Auckland Geddes, which gave the reasons for the high cost of living?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in connection with the proposed establishment of a Consumers' Council, since prices of commodities frequently vary in different regions, he will consider the advisability of appointing also consumers' regional committees to inquire into prices within their areas and report to the Central Consumers' Council?

My hon. Friend's suggestion has been noted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has official information regarding the Wheat Marketing Bill introduced into the Australian Parliament by the Federal Minister of Markets and Transport; and, if so, whether he is prepared to make any statement on the subject?

My information is that the Australian Wheat Marketing Bill, which has been read a second time, provides for an Australian Wheat Board, whose establishment will be conditional on the establishment of separate State Boards in each of at least three States of the Commonwealth, and that, this Central Board shall control supplies and transfers between States as well as export and distribution and sale after export. It is intended that the Central Board shall operate under the terms of an agreement to be entered into with the States, and the draft of such an agreement provides for a guaranteed price to the grower of 4s. per bushel at country siding, equivalent to 4s. 8d. at the port, the guarantee being limited to next season with a proviso that some guarantee for the following seasons may be arranged. The expense or loss sustained is to be borne by the Commonwealth and the States. I understand that growers have been promised that they will have an opportunity of approving the proposals by referendum before the Act is put into force.

Is the right hon. Gentleman watching this interesting development with a view to our having a corresponding organisation in this country?

I cannot say anything about the corresponding organisation, but I can say that I am interested in the matter and I have studied it, as shown in the very detailed reply which I have given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any rules or orders have been laid down by the Department on the use of pulverising fuel plant at sea, or whether any are considered advisable in the experience of the surveyors of the mercantile branch?

No special regulations have been issued by the Board of Trade with regard to the use of pulverising plant at sea, and I am advised that it is unnecessary at present to issue special regulations. Under existing regulations it is possible for the surveyors to deal with each case on its merits.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether a committee has been set up to go into this question of the use of pulverising fuel plant at sea?

I cannot say off-hand, but I will inquire and inform my hon. Friend.

Will the right hon. Gentle man inquire of the "Daily Herald"?

asked the Secretary of State for War, with regard to the private of the Royal Dental Corps who was found circulating seditious literature amongst the troops at Shorncliffe Camp, if he will say on whose behalf the literature was being circulated; whether any other recent instances of the circulation of such literature amongst the Forces have come to his notice; and what disciplinary action has been taken in the matter?

The literature referred to was published by the Communist Party of Great Britain. As regards the second part of the question, there have been some cases in which pamphlets and leaflets containing matter subversive of military discipline have been distributed to soldiers. As regards the last part of the question, the private of the Army Dental Corps has been discharged from the Army under the King's Regulations.

May I ask whether this literature was printed in England or abroad?

I could not give an answer to that question at the moment.

Will not the printers and publishers be held responsible, and punished according to law?

There is a question on the Paper of a rather wider nature on which I should prefer to answer that question.

Have not the troops the same right to read what they like as other grown up people?

May I ask whether the disciplinary punishment of discharging men from the Army is an adequate punishment, considering—

Order, order!

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will sanction the loan of camp equipment and other stores by Territorial units to cadet corps affiliated to them?

The answer is in the negative. Cadet corps will not be affiliated after October to Territorial units.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on Thursday on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number, of persons employed at Rotherwas Factory, Hereford (civilians and military); the annual cost since the War; why the factory is kept in commission; and how much longer is it proposed to keep it in commission?

The factory is not kept in commission as a filling factory in peace, but is retained as a reserve factory. In peace it is utilised for the storage of Army stocks and for repair and maintenance work on them. I am having the figures for which the hon. Member asks prepared and will send them to him as soon as they are ready.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Government ground, which is not being used at the time, will be permitted to be used by boy scouts, or whether the same prohibition applies as is the case with cadets?

Under existing regulations, General Officers Commanding have discretionary power to allow the use of small areas of War Department land by Boy Scouts for short periods not exceeding a month, subject to certain conditions. No alteration will be made in these regulations.

Can the General Officer Commanding also give permission for cadets to make use of this ground when it is not being otherwise used?

So long as the intention of the Government to cut the connec- tion between the Cadet Corps and the Territorial Forces is observed the Cadet Corps will be treated exactly as other boys' organisations.

May I ask whether Commanding Officers have the same discretion, if they think fit, to allow this ground to be used for camping purposes by the Labour League of Youth?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the observations of the Comptroller and Auditor-General with reference to an explosion at Woolwich Arsenal on 4th March, 1929, and to the statement that a letter addressed by him to the War Office on 31st January, 1930, had not been answered; whether a reply has now been despatched; and, if so, of what nature?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the remainder of the question, this matter will come shortly before the Committee of Public Accounts, and I would suggest that the hon. Member should await their report regarding it.

Does that mean that up to the moment no reply has been sent?

It means that when platters are before the Committee of Public Accounts it is generally considered courteous to them not to prejudice the question even by answers in the House.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the disfigurement of the white horse on War Department land on the Downs at Westbury, Wiltshire; and whether, in view of the historic character of thin landmark, he will cause steps to be taken with a view to the prevention of further damage and to the improvement of its present condition?

This matter is at present under consideration and I will inform the hon. Member of the result as soon as a decision is reached.

But why the hon. Member? Why should not every hon. Member in the House have the information considering the historic character of this landmark?

I will send the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the answer.

But does not the right hon. Gentleman realise—

It would be much better if the hon. and gallant Member would put a question down himself.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the statutory time following discharge during which records of payment are kept in the case of men who have served in the Army?

The period prescribed in the Schedule submitted to Parliament in February, 1923. in accordance with the Public Record Office Act, 1877, for the retention of this class of document is three years.

Are any of these documents kept, or are all the records destroyed?

I understand that documents of this class are destroyed after the stipulated period.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what regulation the appointment of Mr. James McKechnie as deputy-lieutenant of the county of Stirling was rejected; if such appointment was approved by the lord lieutenant of the county and the Secretary of State for Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take to alter the procedure?

Deputy-lieutenants are appointed under the Militia Act, 1882, and the Deputy Lieutenants Act, 1918. Under the latter Act, a candidate must be shown to the satisfaction of a Secre tary of State to have rendered worthy service as a, member of, or in a civil capacity in connection with, His Majesty's Naval, Military or Air Forces. As the appointment is a military one, approval is naturally given through the Secretary of State for War. As regards Mr. McKechnie's case, Mr. McKechnie has given no service in a civil capacity in connection with His Majesty's Forces and his military service fell far short of the period which is regarded as qualifying on that ground. I very much regret that I was therefore unable to regard Mr. McKechnie as qualified for appointment. As regards the last part of the question I see no grounds for altering the existing procedure.

Has he ever been a member of a Cadet Corps?

Is it not the case that similar appointments have been made purely on political grounds in the past? [HON. MEMBERS: "Never!"] In view of the seriousness of this question, so far as the working classes are concerned, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

Is it not the fact that the appointment of deputy-lieutenants is a prerogative of the Crown?

A prerogative of the Crown exercised through the Secretary of State for War.

As the hon. Member who introduced the Bill in 1918, may I ask whether it is not the fact that if a candidate for a deputy-lieutenancy has rendered any military service at all it lies within the discretion of the Secretary of State for War to appoint him or not?

When this matter was before me, I naturally, this man being a working man, took a very lively interest in the case. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] Because I want to see working men represented throughout. The facts are that a consistent policy has been followed. A list of names was shown me of people who had not been appointed with much longer service, and I could not in common decency make an appointment which was contrary to practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to a resolution of the Argyll Education Authority, passed by 17 votes in favour to 5 votes against, at a meeting held in Glasgow on the 26th March, protesting against the proposal to raise the compulsory age for school children to 15; and whether he will take steps to give effect to this resolution in the County of Argyll and in any event refrain from proceeding to raise the age until the views of the parents have been ascertained by a postal plebiscite?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second and third parts in the negative. I would, however, remind the hon. and learned Member that when compulsory education was instituted protests from certain backward bodies were received. Fortunately, however, in the interests of the nation, these protests were overruled.

Does the hon. Gentleman not realise the right of parents to protest against the conscription of their children for this very foolish extension of a very inferior type of education; and is it not the case that the parents consider that the children would be much better educated by being out in the open country of Argyll?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received resolutions against the raising of the school-leaving age in 1931 passed by the education authorities of Perthshire and Argyllshire; what other authorities, if any, have published resolutions unfavourable to the Government proposals on this subject; and how many have indicated that they expect to have the necessary arrangements made by the date proposed by the Government?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. My right hon. Friend has also received similar resolutions from Peebles-shire and Kincardine Education Authorities. On the other hand, he has received representations from a large number of bodies interested in education in favour of the proposed change. None of the education authorities have suggested to the Department that they will be unable to make adequate arrangements by the date proposed.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question? How many authorities have indicated that they expect to be able to make arrangements within the time fixed?

No authority has so far indicated to us that they will be unable to make adequate arrangements.

How many have indicated that they will be able to make these arrangements?

Answer—how many have?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether seeing that the Ministry of Health has been able to provide information that since 1016 local authorities in England and Wales have acquired for housing purposes 73,033 acres of land at a total capital test of, approximately, £15,200,000, he will take steps to procure the corresponding facts as to land acquired, and the price paid, by Scottish local authorities for housing purposes?

There is wide difference between the practice in the two countries. In Scotland, for example, we have considerable feuing as apart from purchase of land and the statutory powers of Scottish local authorities for borrowing do not require them—unless in exceptional cases—to secure the consent of the Department. I am, however, considering the question of requesting a special return on the subject, and I will communicate later with the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the present Scottish education grant makes no provision for assisting education authorities wish any maintenance allowances they may make to children attending school; that the Association of Education Authorities has recorded its opinion than assistance should be given to local authorities in meeting the cost of the maintenance allowances proposed to be given in connection with the raising of the school age; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The additional grant to be paid in England and Wales in respect of maintenance allowances which it is proposed to give in connection with the raising of the school age will cause an automatic increase in the Exchequer contribution to the Education (Scotland) Fund, and this additional money will be distributed to the Scottish education authorities in accordance with minutes of the Scottish Education Department which will, in due course, be laid before Parliament. No decision will he made regarding the method of distribution to be embodied in these minutes before the views of the authorities have been elicited.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made with the consultation of Scottish education authorities regarding the award of maintenance allowances for children remaining at school after the age of 14 years; and whether he is now in a position to make any statement on the conclusions reached?

I have had an interview with two of the principal of the present education authorities. In view, however, of the change in Scottish local government which will take place a month from now, it is not desirable to press forward with this matter until I am able to consult the new education authorities. In these circumstances, I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

Do I understand from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that these new education bodies will be consulted, and that Scottish opinion on this matter will not merely follow in the wake of English opinion?

To what two authorities does the right hon. Gentleman refer?

The two authorities which asked an interview regarding this matter were the Glasgow and Edinburgh authorities. With regard to the supplementary question of the hon. Member for West Edinburgh (Mr. Mathers), it is my intention to consult the new education authorities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the people of Argyllshire object to these maintenance grants, and that the parents would prefer to bring up their own children and not to have them brought up at the expense of the community?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the case of Roy Duguid, aged 11, who was given six strokes with a leather strap on 4th December, 1929, at Stepps Public School, Glasgow, for running about a classroom, as a result of which the child was found sick and feverish and removed on 19th December to the Royal Infirmary suffering from infantile paralysis; whether the child was medically examined; whether an independent authority inquired into the case before the punishment was inflicted; and what steps does he propose to take to prevent such punishment in future?

From a report regarding this case which I have received from the education authority, I learn that court proceedings followed a complaint by the parent, and that at the Glasgow Sheriff Court, on Thursday, the 3rd instant, the headmaster was found not guilty of the charge libelled. The boy had undergone routine medical examination in his appropriate age group in 1923 and again in 1927. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative. As to the fourth part, the regulation of punishments is for the administration of the education authority.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of safeguarding children against these violent punishments, by medical examination in exactly the same way as the lowest type of criminal is protected at the present time?

I have. already explained that this boy was twice examined in his group. He was examined in 1923 and in 1927, and during those examinations nothing of a serious character was discovered, nor, indeed, was anything discovered wrong with him other than a slight enlargement of the tonsils.

Was there a medical examination before the punishment was given?

asked the Secretary of State far Scotland if his attention has been called to the action of the directors of the Albion Greyhound Racing Ground, Ibrox, Glasgow, in installing totalisators on their greyhound racing track; and if he is prepared to take any action in the matter, seeing that the Racecourse Betting Act applies only to horse races on approved racecourses?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that certain greyhound racing companies in Scotland have illegally set up and operated totalisators in all parts of their grounds; and what steps will be taken in the matter?

In the stated case, the Procurator-Fiscal of Glasgow versus the Scottish Greyhound Racing Company and Fred Taylor (13th March, 1930), it has been decided that. the owners of a dog-racing course operating a totalisator on that course, are not guilty of an offence against Section 1 of the Betting Act, 1853, as extended to Scotland by the Betting Act, 1874. Apart from legislation, it would not appear that there are any further steps my right hon. Friend could take in the matter.

Do I understand that, following upon that case, the totalisator can now be set up at every greyhound racing track throughout the country?

I should not care expound a difficult legal decision in answer to a supplementary question.

In view of the cordial relations between the Labour party and the bookmakers—

Order!

Does not the hon. Gentleman consider that this is a logical development of the Act which we passed?

Is it not a fact that the stated case referred to by the hon. Gentleman was taken under the Acts of 1853 and 1874, wherein there is no mention of the totalisator; and that the Crown ought to have taken the case against these individuals under the Act of 1928?

The hon. Member is now giving a legal opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Scottish brewers and distillers are brewing and distilling beer and whisky from foreign cereals whether he is aware that the product is marketed as Scotch whisky and beer; and what steps. if any, he proposes to take to prevent this misleading trade description?

No information is available as to the quantities of imported cereals used for malting, or distilling purposes, and I cannot therefore say to what extent whisky and beer marketed as Scottish is manufactured from imported grain. I am advised that a trade description of whisky or beer as "Scotch" does not necessarily imply that the cereals from which the alcoholic distillations are made are grown in Scotland. Should, however, the agricultural interests concerned have any special information on the subject perhaps they will supply particulars to the Empire Marketing Board

Does that answer apply equally to red biddy?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the agricultural interests concerned have for long been demanding an import duty upon foreign-grown barley imported for this purpose?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can state the amounts of the £50,000 loan fund which has now been allocated to fishermen who lost their nets during the gale on armistice day; and whether, after all the applications for loans to meet the losses then sustained have been dealt with, he will be prepared to apply any balance of the fund remaining towards meeting losses sustained on other occasions?

Applications have been definitely approved to the amount of £868. As the hon. and learned Member is aware, applications may be received up to the end of this month, and 365 applications have been received up to date. The loans fund is not available for any purpose other than that for which it was sanctioned by Parliament.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not consider making any balance available for other losses, seeing that that amount at any rate ought to be expended among the fishermen?

Before such cases could be dealt with, as I have already pointed out, the sanction of Parliament would be required.

In the event of there being a surplus, to what purpose does the right hon. Gentleman propose to apply it?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been directed to the proposal of the Convention of Royal Burghs that a loan fund of £500,000 should be provided by the Government for the purpose of assisting Scottish fishermen to replace their worn-out gear and boats; and whether he is prepared to consider this proposal and to provide a replacement fund for such purposes?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my replies to questions on this subject on the 18th February. I understand that the matter will be considered by the Economic Advisory Council's Committee on the Fishing Industry who propose to take evidence on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has now been made in considering the applications of the St. Monance and Pittenweem Harbour Commissioners for the repair and improvement of their harbours; and when the necessary operations will be put in hand?

Decisions in respect of these applications will be intimated at an early date.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea of what "an early date" means?

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many schemes for the relief of unemployment have been submitted for approval by the Walsall Town Council; what is the total amount of such schemes; how many have been approved; what is the total sum of money involved; and how many men he estimates will be employed as a result?

The Unemployment Grants Committee have approved schemes in Walsall estimated to cost £48,000 and the Ministry of Transport schemes estimated to cost £39,000. I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if any of those schemes include the employment of women?

I have no knowledge of the details.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is prepared to assist the development of British export trades by a system of Government guarantees available in cases where the Treasury are satisfied that the proceeds of any loan for capital expenditure abroad will promote employment or will he applied for the purchase of goods manufactured or produced in Great Britain?

I am not prepared to adopt this suggestion. The assistance which in the view of the Government can properly be afforded to the export trade by the use of State credit is already-available under the Export Credits (Guarantees) Scheme, a Bill to extend the duration of which is now before this House.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that Bill deals with short-term credits only, and is it not a fact that the Government in their election manifesto promised that some steps of this kind would be taken? Will my right hon. Friend ask the Government to consider this matter?

The answer that I gave is a Cabinet decision. I never answer for myself.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is now in a position to make any further statement upon the proposed scheme for constructing a bridge across the Tamar?

We are awaiting the report of the engineering inquiry to which I referred in the reply given on the 1st April to the hon. Member for Devon-port (Mr. Hore-Belisha).

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long the inquiry is likely to last?

The hon. Member will remember that I attach so much importance to something being done in this connection that we sent an engineer, and it would be unfair to prejudge the case until we have had his report. It is only fair to say that we are speeding it up.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that unemployment is increasing in Plymouth and Devonport?

Yes, and it is because of that fact that we are for the first time attaching importance to a useful scheme for Devonport.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any progress has been made with the scheme to reduce unemployment by giving inducements to industries to establish themselves in the distressed areas?

I am continuing to bring to the notice of industrialists the advantages afforded by these areas for the establishment of new factories.

Does the right hon. Gentleman remember his project to give financial inducement to industries to go to the distressed areas?

I looked up this morning to see if the right hon. Gentleman was correct. What I said was that if there were any factories that could he established, it would be worth the while of local authorities continuing to do what they have done in the past, and to give inducements for works to go there; and I still think that it would be worth while.

Is the right hon. Gentleman forgetting that he told the hon. and gallant Member for East Rhondda (Lieut.-Colonel Watts-Morgan) that silk and chocolate factories would be taken down to his district?

I not only suggested that to the hon. and gallant Member for East Rhondda, but I went beyond it, and consulted certain industries with a view to trying to induce them to go there.

When is it going to be done?

Is the Minister aware that inducements could be got if Tory Members of Parliament did not send their money to Canada?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether a decision may now be given on the scheme for the relief of unemployment submitted four months ago by the Leeds City Council, involving an expenditure of £360,000 on useful work?

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that last autumn the Leeds City Council submitted a scheme for undertaking and accelerating the construction of certain public buildings: and whether he will expedite a decision thereon?

This scheme, which is for the construction of municipal buildings, is still under consideration. I hope to be able to announce a decision at an early date.

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that the authority took great pains to be ready in three months to tart this work, and will he encourage virtue of that sort?

Yes, but, equally, I will not budge from the position which I have taken of refusing to give public money to any local authority for work which they ought. legitimately to undertake themselves; and, in the case of municipal buildings, I do not propose to sanction Government money for marble staircases and that kind of thing. Consideration will be given, however, to any legitimate expenses for real public offices.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what schemes have been approved for the provision of employment in the city of Cardiff; and whether these schemes are to be proceeded with immediately?

Under the Development Act, approval for grant has been given to seven schemes in Cardiff, five of which have already been started. With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Cardiff City Council yesterday decided to postpone indefinitely the construction of the eastern section of the orbital road scheme, and will he use his good offices in order to get the City Council to reconsider their decision?

They arrived at their decision only yesterday, so that it is hardly possible that I should have re-received it; when I receive ft, I will give every consideration to it.

asked the Lord Privy Seal his estimate of the number of unemployed for whom employment has been found and, separately, the number of those employed who have been kept from unemployment by reason of schemes for the relief of unemployment initiated by His Majesty's present Government; which are such,schemes; and the cost thereof to the taxpayer and/or ratepayer?

I am not in a position to add anything to the information given in the White Paper recently issued.

In view of the fact that the White Paper referred to matters in futuro, and that this question refers to matters from the date when the present Government came into existence to the present time, is the right hon. Gentleman unable to give the House any test whereby they may judge the result of the labours of the Government in this direction?

If a test of the labours of the Government were the only point under consideration, the hon. and gallant Member has only to see how hard I work. The real difficulty is that there are certain schemes that directly give employment, and other schemes that indirectly give employment. There are no means by which, without tremendous cost and expense, one can definitely say what is the actual number of schemes in operation on a given day, and it would only mislead the House to give figures.

But have not so very few schemes been put into operation by the right hon. Gentleman, that he could easily issue a report?

The hon. arid gallant Gentleman will appreciate that in the last three years of the late Government £10,000,000 was sanctioned, but in our short period of office, we have sanctioned over £80,000,000 of work.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is in a position to make any further statement regarding the formation of the proposed £6,000,000 company for the purpose of rationalising British industry: and what steps will be taken to safeguard the position of displaced work-people?

With Mr. Speaker's permission, I will make a statement at the end of questions on this subject.

I think that, in the case of an unusually long answer, that is the best thing to do.

May I now ask Question 42?

I am glad to be able to announce that a company is to-day being registered at Somerset House, under the name of the Bankers Industrial Development Company, Limited, with a nominal capital of £6,000,000 divided into 45 "A" shares and 15 "B" shares of £100,000 each.

While thanking my right hen. Friend for the answer, may I ask him, when he talks about money "through agencies," whether that means that if this company approves of schemes of rationalisation he will be consulted with a view to guaranteeing loans by the State?

No. So far as the State's money is concerned, it is not intended that it should be involved, and I hope it will not be involved.

In that case, where do the Government come in with regard to this company?

So far as money is concerned, the Government do not come in. I announced in a speech at Manchester, in reply to much criticism about the action of the banks, that money could and would be found for reorganisation and rationalisation. In a, number of questions in this House I was asked what I meant by "the City"—I was asked to define it—and there were many other questions. I have now given the answer to those supplementary questions and to my Manchester speech.

Are we to take it that what is intended is that the reorganisation of basic industries is only to take place with the approval of this Bankers' Industrial Company?

On the contrary I hope —in fact I know—there are a number of schemes of reorganisation being considered to-day; I am consulted, and I have given help towards them. I announce this as another stage in that reorganisation on the financial side which I had announced previously.

Has the right hon. Gentleman supplied to all the directors a copy of "Labour and the Nation"?

Will the actual subscribers to the "A" shares be known to the public through the usual channels?

That is hardly a question which I could answer. The hon. Member will know what steps to take to get that information.

Do we understand that the Government have definitely gone back now on all Socialistic schemes for dealing with unemployment?

rose—

Further supplementary questions ought to be put on the Paper.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if be can now make any statement as to the result of the consideration of the Report of the Channel Tunnel Committee by the Committee of Imperial Defence;

The Committee of Imperial Defence are not in a position to consider this question until they receive the technical reports which have been called for. I can only repeat what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated yesterday, that there will be no unnecessary delay, but time must be given for a very thorough final examination of a project of such importance.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the proposed quarrying operations to the south of the Roman Wall; and whether he will cause a Select Committee to be appointed to advise the House as to the desirability of taking immediate steps to preserve the land between the wall and the vallum from destruction?

At the moment I have nothing to add to the reply made yesterday to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Woolwich West (Sir K. Wood) and the hon. and gallant Member for Central Cardiff (Captain E. N. Bennett) by my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works, who, I understand, proposes to take an early opportunity of visiting the site.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that the First Commissioner of Works has no legal power to deal with this matter, and would not a Select Committee perhaps provide him with authority that would give him the power?

I am not aware of what the legal powers of my right hon. Friend are, and my hon. Friend surely cannot expect me, on the spur of the moment, to give a reply in regard to a Select Committee.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the work of demolition is now going on, and that sacrilege and vandalism at what I might call this holy place are endangering it?

I am not aware of anything at all about this question beyond what appears on the Paper and in my reply.

Will the right hon. Gentleman issue to the local authorities in Northumberland an intimation that any interference with this national monument will be regarded with grave disfavour by this House?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Liquor Control Board, owning and operating licensed premises in the Carlisle area and elsewhere, were and are assessed to and have paid and are paying Income Tax; if they were so assessed, what was the amount thereof; and if they were not so assessed, what was the amount of income on which tax could have been assessed and the sum of Income Tax foregone?

No, Sir. The whole of the profits of these schemes accrued to the State, including such sums as would have represented Income Tax. I cannot say what the -Income Tax assessments would have been.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can make arrangements enabling the pensions of old age pensioners over the age of 70, living at Longstone, near Bodmin, to be delivered by the visiting postman, having regard to the distance these aged people have to walk to take up their pensions from the local post office?

Such arrangements can only Le made in very exceptional circumstances. I am making inquiry regarding the case of Longstone and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the delay in the publication of the report of the Development Commission for the year ended 31st March, 1929, which was ordered to be printed or 22nd July, 1929, but not published until Jan nary of this year; and whether he proposes to take any steps to accelerate the issue of reports ordered to be printed by Parliament?

In accordance with the usual practice the order for printing was given before the House rose, although the report was not ready at the time. This was done in order that the necessary authority for printing might be available during the Recess. The annual report of the Development Commission is usually issued in November, but in the present instance it was delayed by pressure of more urgent Government business.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the rate of interest charged by the Public Works Loan Board on loans to local authorities for housing purposes is likely to be re (laced from £5 per centum per annum within the next one or two months?