asked the Attorney-General whether he is satisfied that the present staff of His Majesty's Land Registry handles with satisfactory expedition applications for registration of properties within the compulsory areas; and whether there have been any requests for registration to be completed with greater celerity?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, during recent years neither the Lord Chancellor nor the Chief Registrar have received complaints.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the estimated proportions of the existing personnel of the junior grade of the general male clerical class represented respectively by assimilated assisted clerks, assimilated clerical assistants, other assimilated departmental classes, open competition entrants, entrants by the minor and manipulative grades and similar limited competitions, entrants by the Lytton and Southborough examinations, promotees from the P-class, and by any other considerable group of entrants; and what are the corresponding proportions as regards women?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the estimated proportions of the existing personnel of the junior grade of the general male clerical class represented, respectively, by assimilated assistant clerks, assimilated clerical assistants, other assimilated departmental classes, open competition entrants, entrants by the minor and manipulative grades and similar limited competitions, entrants by the Lytton and Southborough examinations, promotees from the P-class, and by any other considerable group of entrants; and what are the corresponding proportions as regards women?

Following is the information desired:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, with reference to the open competitive examination held in January, 1930, for the appointment of boys and girls to the clerical classes in the Civil Service, he will state whether it is the intention of the Government to call up candidates from the unsuccessful list; and, if so, to what extent?

Yes, Sir; it is proposed to call up 200 candidates from the qualified but unsuccessful list.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the average figure for wholesale prices in the United Kingdom and United States, respectively, for each of the months from January, 1929, to the present date?

The index numbers of wholesale prices in the United Kingdom and in the United States for each month, from January, 1929, to the present date, are shown in the following table. The index for the United Kingdom is that calculated by the Board of Trade (average of 1924=100), and the index for the United States is that compiled by the Bureau of Labour Statistics (average of 1926=100). In each case the figures represent average monthly prices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that in the past losses have been experienced by the public owing to the omission of public companies to file annual accounts and balance sheets, why the Board of Trade is even now allowing 330 companies to disregard the duties specifically imposed upon them when the Companies Act was amended in 1929?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the full answer which I gave on 6th May to the questions asked on this subject by the hon. Member for Ilford (Sir G. Hamilton) and the hon. and learned Member for East Grinstead (Sir H. Cautley).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the cost to the public funds of the recent Tariff Truce Conference?

The accounts are not finally completed, but it is anticipated that the total cost of the British delegation at the Conference will amount to approximately £1,200.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any arrangements are under discussion whereby the State will assist in the co-operative selling of wool; and, if so, what are they and with whom are they being concluded?

I understand that the parties concerned are now engaged in working out proposals involving the federation of the co-operative wool marketing societies in England and Scotland, but no scheme has yet been settled. Preliminary discussions have taken place on the question of State assistance, but until a scheme has been formulated it is impossible to say whether, and, if so, to what extent, such assistance can properly be given.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many fatal accidents happened to boys under 16 years of age in the mines in Great Britain in 1927, 1928 and 1929; and how many non-fatal accidents happened to boys under 16 years of age in the mines of Great Britain in 1927, 1928 and 1929?

The following table shows the number of boys under 16 years of age killed and injured by accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act during the years 1927, 1928 and 1929:

asked the Secretary for Mines how many fatal accidents happened in the mines of Great Britain in 1927, 1928, and 1929; and how many non-fatal accidents happened in the mines of Great Britain in 1927, 1928, and 1929?

The number of persons killed and injured by accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act during the years 1927, 1928, and 1929 was as follows:

asked the Secretary for Mines to what extent Russian coal has become an effective competitor in Mediterranean destinations against exports of Welsh and North country coal; and has he any information as to Russian prices and qualities.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st May, 1930, col. 402, Vol. 239] supplied the following statement:The increase in the export of Russian coal to Mediterranean markets, referred to in the reply to this question on 21st May, was practically confined to Greece, Turkey and Italy. The total export of coal from Russia to Mediterranean markets has increased from about 250,000 tons in the 12 months ended September, 1927, to about 650,000 tons in the 12 months ended September, 1929. But British exports to the same markets during that period increased from 15,750,000 tons for the year 1927 to over 16,000,000 tons in 1929. Official information is not available which would enable a comparison to be made of the qualities and prices of British and Russian coals in these markets. Taking the average f.o.b. values as given in the official trade accounts for last year the Russian prices were lower than British in the case of Greece and Turkey but higher in the case of Italy. As, however, the f.o.b. values depend to a large extent on the kinds of coal involved, no general conclusions can be drawn from these figures.

asked the Minister of Health if, for the guidance and information of local authorities he will cause to be prepared and issued model by-laws under Section 5 of the Smoke Abatement Act, 1926; and, if not, will he state what are the technical difficulties involved?

If a by-law were confirmed, only the arrangements specified in the by-law for heating or cooking could then be used. Despite the large amount of consideration which has been given to the subject, it has not yet been found practicable to prepare a satisfactory by-law which would not be open to objection as restricting heating or cooking to a few specified methods, nor has my right hon. Friend received any satisfactory suggestions from any local authority or other body. He will be glad to issue a model by-law if and when the difficulties can be overcome.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what are the technical difficulties which prevent him from recommending the use of the Ringelmann smoke chart for the purpose of determining when smoke emitted from a factory chimney becomes a nuisance;(2) whether he has taken any steps to ascertain whether in any country, and notably the United States of America, the emission of smoke other than black in colour is an offence; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of issuing model by-laws on similar lines?

The use of the Bingelmann chart has been considered and, while it may be useful as a guide, it has not been considered sufficiently precise under every-day conditions of observation for inclusion in a by-law. My right hon. Friend has reason to think that, in some places in the United States for instance, the emission of smoke other than black may be an offence, as it may be in this country under the Act of 1926. But he has not considered the issue of a model by-law dealing with other than black smoke advisable until a satisfactory workable means has been devised of observing the quality of such smoke and, unfortunately, though efforts have been made, that has not yet been found practicable.

asked the Minister of Health whether his consent has been sought and obtained to the terms of the recent advertisement issued by the Islington Borough Council for a fully qualified whole-time sanitary inspector at a salary of £240 per annum rising by increments of £10 to a maximum of £370 per annum; whether he is aware that the salary offered is considerably below the scale recommended by the London District Whitley Council; that the salaries paid to the sanitary inspectors in the service of the Islington Borough Council are the lowest in London; and that there have been continual changes in the staff of the sanitary inspectors in Islington principaly due to the low salary paid; and whether he will make representations to the local authority as to the advantage of paying a salary more in harmony with the recommendations of the London District Whitley Council?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second part in the affirmative. My right hon. Friend is aware that the salaries paid by this council to sanitary inspectors are lower than in other Metropolitan boroughs, but he has no information as to the fourth part of the question. My right hon. Friend will consider whether the case is one in which he can properly make any recommendation to the local authority.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will issue a statement showing under what conditions disabled ex-officers and other ranks are entitled to subscribe to the National Health Insurance Act?

The conditions under which disabled ex-officers and men are required or entitled to contribute under the National Health Insurance Acts are in general the same as those applicable to other persons and are already summarised in official leaflets, copies of which I will send to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether the records of sickness as reported under the National Insurance Acts show any increase and, if so, to what extent, in the Tyneside area in each of the last six months?

On the general question I would refer the hon. Member to the recent report of the Government actuary on the subject (Cm. 3548) and to the statement which my right hon. Friend made on 29th April, 1930, in the course of the debate in Committee on the Ministry of Health Estimates. As approved societies are not ordinarily organised on a territorial basis, statistics are not available with regard to the incidence of claims for benefit in any particular area.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the maternity benefit is sometimes used, not for the benefit of the mother, but for other family purposes; and whether his Department has taken any steps and, if so, what to ensure the proper application of this allowance?

It is laid down in the National Health Insurance Act that maternity benefit shall in every case be the mother's benefit, and must in all cases be paid to her. Under the present arrangements for the administration of the benefit, the amount once paid over to the mother is at her disposal, and so far as I am aware it is almost invariably used in meeting the various expenses consequent upon her confinement. So long as this method of administering the benefit is continued, I do not see what steps my Department could take to control the method of application of the money by the mother.

asked the Minister of Health what provision has been made for the preservation of ample open spaces in the extension of building operations on the outskirts of London; whether in all cases the local authorities concerned have these mapped out in advance of building development; and, if not, whether he will suggest to them the expediency of taking this step?

It is the general practice of local authorities to include provision for the reservation of land for open spaces in their town-planning schemes and proposals, which cover almost all the building land round London. The extent of the land to be so reserved is primarily a matter for the local authorities themselves, on whom the compensation or cost of acquisition falls, but my right hon. Friend constantly urges local authorities to make additional open space provision in their schemes so far as their resources will allow. The Greater London Regional Planning Committee are considering the general question of open spaces for the Greater London area.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received a petition from the residents on Thames Ditton Island to be transferred from the jurisdiction of the county of Middlesex to that of the county of Surrey; and what answer has been returned to the petitioners?

My right hon. Friend has not received a copy of this petition. It has, he understands, been sent to the Middlesex County Council, and it is for them to consider it.

asked the Minister of Health the details of the letter which his Department proposes to issue to the West Ham Public Assistance Committee, in respect to freedom from attachment of old age pensions from such persons entering a rate-aided institution for surgical or medical treatment; whether such order applies to the country as a whole or only West Ham in particular; and, if so, the reasons why this area is singled out for special treatment?

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any special action contemplated in regard to West Ham. My hon. Friend may be referring to a general circular on the subject, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health the approximate cost of administration in England and Wales for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date chargeable to the pensions account under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Newcastle East (Sir R. Aske) on 9th April last, in which a full statement on this subject was made. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of that reply.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, having regard to the circumstances that three of the vessels originally included in the 1929 naval programme have been dropped out, Great Britain will have, by the end of 1933, submarines of the tonnage displacement allowed by the Pact of London; and whether he proposes to consider the desirability of increasing the country's immediate shipbuilding programme?

It is not considered by the Admiralty that an annual programme in excess of three submarines per annum is required in view of the provision in the Treaty of London that the completed tonnage in submarines shall not exceed 52,700 tons for the British Commonwealth of Nations on 31st December, 1936.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of naval cook ratings allowed in the complement of the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, for duty with the sick-berth staff; what is the number of sick-berth ratings to be cooked for; and whether the naval cook ratings generally are entitled to the same scale of leave as other naval ratings?

I am having inquiries made, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that there is a shortage of naval cook ratings in the Portsmouth Port division, which necessitates food for petty officers and men compulsorily messed under the general messing system being cooked several hours before the meal time, when the food is served warmed up and unpalatable; and whether he will inquire into the matter?

I am advised that there is no substance in these allegations, which are contrary to facts.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the number of workmen, including casual employ és, employed at the Royal Naval Dockyard at Chatham during the last week of April, 1929, and the last deek of April, 1930, respectively; and what was the average amount of wages received by each of such workmen, respectively, during each of such weeks, respectively?

The number of work-people, including casual employés, employed at Chatham Dockyard in the shipbuilding and ship repairing departments (Vote 8) during the week ending 27th April, 1929, was 7,583, and the average amount of wages per employé for the week was £3 4s. 1d. As the corresponding week for 1930 was the week in which the Easter Monday holiday occurred, the figures for the week ending 3rd May have been taken, and are as follow:

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he will state definitely whether on 31st October, 1930, those units of the Church Lads Brigade at present clothed in khaki, must dispense with the same entirely;(2) how long will the period be, as laid down in a War Office letter, that uniforms of the Church Lads Brigade may be worn until worn out; and how does this affect any uniforms in stock which are not issued before that date;(3) whether the dispensing with military uniforms of the Church Lads Brigade includes the blue uniform at present worn by some units?

The decision is that any unit may continue after 31st October next to wear uniform already in its possession on 1st April last until such uniform is worn out, provided that all regimental or other distinctively military marks of such uniform are removed. This applies to all uniform in possession of units on 1st April last whether in wear or in stock. Uniform acquired after 1st April last must, in accordance with the Uniforms Act of 1894, not be that of His Majesty's Military Forces or have the appearance of the uniform of those forces.

asked the Minister of Labour the latest available figure of the unemployed register on the Shrewsbury Employment Exchange, together with the figure of those registered as unemployed on 30th May, 1929?

At 19th May, 1930, there were 1,121 persons on the registers of the Shrewsbury Employment Exchange as compared with 763 at 27th May, 1929.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed in the building industry at the last convenient date?

At 28th April, 1930, the number of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the building industry, recorded as unemployed in Great Britain was 110,930.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed, and the percentage of these to the employed, in each of the sheltered industries of the country; and how these figures compare with those for the corresponding period in 1929?

As the reply includes a number of figures I will, if I may, circulate a statement, when completed, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware of the circumstances in which unemployment benefit is paid from a Socialist political club in the Bury area and of the impression which is given to claimants that it is through the agency of the Socialist party that these benefits are paid; and whether she will have this practice discontinued?

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member in answer to his question on 27th February, this club is the only building in the area suitable for the purpose which it has hitherto been possible to find. I cannot think that the impression, suggested as existing by the hon. and gallant Member, could possibly be created by the use of these premises as an Employment Exchange.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the amount of the schemes not yet sanctioned for grant which have been submitted by the London County Council for the relief of unemployment?

Of the schemes submitted by the London County Council to the Unemployment Grants Committee for grant in respect of works for the relief of unemployment, one only, estimated to cost £10,000, is still under consideration. Six schemes submitted since the 1st June, 1929, estimated to cost approximately £610,000, have been approved by the Committee for grant.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many work schemes have been sanctioned by him in the county of Durham; the total number of men it is estimated they will employ; how many such schemes are already in operation; and how many men are at present employed?

I am having the information collected, and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the assets of each of the trade unions representing the sheltered industries of the country at the end of 1929 and at the end of 1928?

Information as to the funds of each registered trade union at the end of 1928 is published in Part 4 of the Report of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies for the year 1929. Corresponding figures for 1929 are not yet available. I am afraid it would be impracticable to classify the large number of trade unions referred to in this report in such a way as to separate those representing sheltered industries from those representing non-sheltered industries, if only for the reason that the membership of many important trade unions is distributed over a considerable number of industries.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the Government have decided to act upon the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Museums; and if it has been decided to appoint a standing commission for national museums and galleries?

As has been announced on a previous occasion, it is proposed to undertake all those services recommended as of immediate urgency in the Interim Report of the Royal Commission on Museums. Work is already in progress, in accordance with the programme approved by Parliament in the annual Estimates.The recommendations in the final report have been receiving the consideration of the various governing bodies and of the Treasury, but conclusions have not yet been arrived at on a number of points, including that referred to in the second part of the question. Provision has, however, been made in the 1930 Estimates for certain of the urgent services, including

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why sporting ammunition shipped to certain islands and parts of the mainland of Argyllshire is required to be entered with the customs before shipment, under Section 139 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, when similar entries are not required in the case of ammunition consigned to Arran, Bute, and the Isle of Wight?

Sporting ammunition consigned to Arran, Bute or the Isle of Wight is required to be entered with the Customs before shipment in the same way as ammunition shipped to Argyllshire. As the result of the hon. and learned Member's question, strict inquiries have been made but no instance of actual failure to comply with these requirements in respect of consignments to the former destinations can be traced. The matter is, however, being kept under close observation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that the interest on money borrowed to pay premiums on a life policy is not allowed as a deduction from income liable to Surtax, while the interest on money borrowed for the purpose of purchasing non-income-producing valuables such as pictures and jewellery is allowed, whether he will explain the reason for discriminating against life assurance?

I think it would be better if the hon. Member would be good enough to await the discussion of Clause 12 of the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the face value of the entire silver coinage of this country as issued by the Mint for current circulation; and what is its value according to the present price of silver?

Silver coin now in circulation issued under the Coinage Age Act, 1920, is about £38,000,000 face value; with silver at 18d. an ounce the bullion content is worth £5,800,000. Silver of the old fineness issued before 1920 may be about £10,000,000 face value, but the estimate is very uncertain. The bullion contained would be worth £2,700,000. The figures relate to Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and silver coin in the Issue Department of the Bank of England is excluded.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make any further statement as to the decision of the Committee of Imperial Defence in respect of the Channel Tunnel scheme?

I will make a statement on the subject before Whitsuntide.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in connection with the Bill for the raising of the school-leaving age, he proposes to facilitate the withdrawal from school of children who have attained the age of 15 in term time if their parents are able to guarantee suitable openings for their career in after life?

No, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is in a position to state what action the Government have decided to take regarding the attacks upon Great Britain and the Government of India contained in recent issues of the "Daily Worker"?

I am not at present in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary if he will take steps to appoint a committee to investigate the question of Communist propaganda in Great Britain, the activities and membership of the Communist party in this country and all affiliated organisations and groups thereof, the various ramifications of the Communist International and all entities, groups or individuals who are engaged in advising, teaching or advocating the overthrow by force or violence of the constitutional Government of the country, and the sources of their financial support?

The matters referred to by the hon. and gallant Member are constantly kept in view, and suitable steps are taken to obtain information regarding them. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs announced on Monday, appropriate machinery has been set up by His Majesty's Government for examining the evidence that may be available on certain aspects of the question, and I do not think that it is necessary for me to appoint a Committee as the hon. and gallant Member suggests.

asked the Home Secretary whether there is any method of repatriating those coloured seamen who come to this country and remain for an indefinite period in the expectation, which may not be realised, of being re-engaged for service at sea; and, if not, whether, in the interests of the relief of unemployment among British seamen, he will consider the adoption of some method productive of this result?

Yes, Sir. In the case of coloured seamen who are aliens I have adequate powers under the Aliens Order, and I am always prepared to consider the question of deportation in proper cases. I have no powers in regard to coloured seamen who are not aliens.

asked the Home Secretary the number of Soviet subjects who have arrived in this country since 1st May; and how many of these are connected with the Soviet Trade Delegation?

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to him on the 15th instant. I regret that I cannot yet give figures of actual arrivals during May, but from the 1st to the 28th of the month 45 visas for Soviet citizens have been authorised, of which one was for a person coming to join the staff of the Trade Delegation.

asked the First Commissioner of Works the length of lease granted for the Ambassador's house at Moscow and the annual rent agreed upon?

The lease will be for a period of 20 years with an option in favour of His Majesty's Government alone, to determine every fifth year. The rent will be £4,500 per annum in addition to a lump sum payment of £20,000.

asked the Home Secretary whether copies of the accounts of the Metropolitan Police Fund, which were ordered by this House to be printed on 29th April, 1930, have been sent to the clerks of the parishes, etc., named in Appendix A; and whether the precepting authorities are furnished with a more detailed return showing the strength of police on duty in the respective parishes on which the rate is levied?

The Metropolitan Police Fund Accounts have been placed on sale (price 4d.) and no free distribution to local authorities has been made. It is not the practice to furnish those authorities with details of the distribution of the force, which varies from time to time according to the needs of each district and the other exigencies of the police service.

asked the Home Secretary how many men are employed in the mounted branch of the Metropolitan Police; the number of horses trained or in training; and the total annual cost of maintaining this branch of the service?

230 police officers and six civilian grooms are employed in the mounted branch and 240 horses are trained or in training. The approximate cost is £99,000 a year.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to any recent cases in which factory inspectors give notice beforehand of their intending visit for the purpose of inspecting factories; and whether it is proposed to discontinue this practice?

The general rule is that the visits of factory inspectors are to be surprise visits and accordingly it is not the practice of the inspectors to give notice beforehand except where this is necessary for the purposes of the particular visit; as, for example, when the inspector wishes to meet a particular person at the factory or to see a particular plant in operation. I have received no complaints of any departure from this practice.

asked the Secretary of State for India if, when considering the price at which the Report of the Indian Statutory Commission is to be issued to the public, he will take into consideration the precedent of the Samuel Commission on the coal industry, which was issued at 1s. and subsequently reduced to 3d.?

I am glad to be able to inform the House that it has now been decided to place the two volumes of the Commission's report on sale at 3s. each.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that a written statement has been obtained by the Federal Malay States Government from the Maharajah Purba Jelai renouncing his claim to the larger Jelai area; and if he can state the circumstances in which this document was obtained?

My Noble Friend is advised that the Datoh Perba has never claimed the larger Jelai area. The hon. and gallant Member is no doubt referring to a written statement in which the Datoh has recorded that the area of the concession granted to his father in 1887 was the Jelai Kechil only. My Noble Friend has no information as to the circumstances in which this statement was made.

asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether he has any information as regards the entry of Egyptian labour into Palestine during the past few months; and under what conditions or regulations can foreign labourers enter Palestine?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. All immigrants into Palestine must be in possession of a certificate granted by the Chief Immigration Officer, and in the case of labourers it would be necessary to satisfy him that there was a definite prospect of employment. The Chief Immigration Officer would also have regard to the question whether the work could not be performed by Palestinian labour.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of bankruptcies amongst those entirely engaged in agriculture in Wales for the last 12 months for which figures are available; and the number of unemployed agricultural labourers in Wales for the same period?

The number of farmers against whom bankruptcy orders were made by Welsh Courts during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1929, was 33. My right hon. Friend regrets that there are no statistics available as to the number of agricultural workers unemployed during the same period. From reports received, however, from the local officers of the Ministry, it appears that very few regular agricultural workers in Wales were unemployed at any time during the year. Some casual workers were unemployed, but, as far as my right hon. Friend has been able to ascertain, the number was not more than normal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give any estimate of the production of milk in this country for 1930, and the figures for 1928 and 1929?

An annual estimate of the total milk production (excluding milk fed to stock) in England and Wales is made on the basis of the yield per head of the dairy herd as ascertained in the Census year June, 1924-May, 1925. On this basis the total production for the period June, 1926-May, 1927, was 1,152,000,000 gallons; for 1927–28, 1,147,000,000 gallons; and for 1928–29, 1,131,000,000 gallons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the refusal of the wholesale butchers in Birmingham to allow home-killed beef to be graded or marked in the corporation meat market, he will make inquiries into the matter?

The Birmingham wholesale butchers informed my right hon. Friend on the 22nd instant that they would not allow their beef to be graded and marked on and after the 31st instant, and they have refused the Minister's invitation to discuss the matter. The general position of the national mark beef scheme in London and Birmingham is being investigated by an Inter-Departmental Committee appointed by the Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Birmingham traders appeared before that Committee on 20th May without, however, giving any indication of their intention. The Committee has nearly concluded taking evidence and will shortly report. The action of the Birmingham wholesalers is manifestly inimical to the interests of the producers as well as to those of the public.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he proposes to take with a view to dealing with the state of affairs revealed by the petition of 1,300 Norfolk farmers which he has lately received; and whether he will cause special inquiries to be set on foot as to the financial position in the county and take such steps as will encourage the banks to continue and extend the accommodation which they have granted?

My right hon. Friend is fully aware of the position of many arable farmers in Norfolk consequent on the low prices obtainable recently for cereals and potatoes, but a special inquiry such as the hon. Member suggests is not necessary. The making of loans, including those made under the Agricultural Credits Act, 1928, is a matter for arrangement between the banks and their customers.