asked the Minister of Labour the average weekly number of officers of her Department engaged at Employment Exchanges or other Departments connected with the Ministry who have worked overtime during the three months ended to the last convenient date; and the total number of such hours of overtime worked in this period?

During the period 1st March to 2nd June, 1930, both dates inclusive, there were on the average 17,849 officers belonging to grades to which payment for overtime is made, and of these an average of 3,219 worked a total of 203,569 hours, or an average of rather less than five hours each per week.

Will my right hon. Friend consider consulting with heads of other Government Departments, where employés are under notice, to see if work can be found for some of them?

That matter is always under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour the reasons why the representative of the British Government at the recent meeting of the International Labour Organisation at Geneva abstained from voting on the suggested revision of the Eight Hours' Convention?

The Government took the view that until this country had enacted legislation upon this subject, it was in no position either to support or oppose revision.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she is now in a position to make a statement regarding the sweated wages and unhealthy conditions of labour among many out-workers in East London, and particularly in the boot and shoe industry?

The inquiries by my Department with regard to wages in the boot and shoe trade in East London are still in progress, and will not be completed for some little time. The question of unhealthy conditions of labour is one for the Home Office.

Is the Minister satisfied that adequate inspection has taken place?

That is one of the points which are being investigated.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the various Departments have been informed that one of the conditions of employment in the clothing trade is an annual holiday with pay; and whether contracts for clothing are given under the condition that this holiday operates for the employés of such contractors?

I am informed that, in accordance with an understanding recently reached between organisations of employers and workers in the clothing trades, the employers' organizations

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that special licensing permits for the extension of hours of

Has the right hon. Lady informed the other Departments that this is now a part of the conditions of employment, and therefore comes under the fair wages clauses?

I will look into that point.

asked the Minister of Labour the relative cost of living in France, Germany and Great Britain, respectively?

As the reply is rather long and contains a table of figures, I Propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

This is one of the matters which are now under the consideration of the Royal Commission on Licensing, and I am unable to make any statement on it at present.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the present position is satisfactory?

I am satisfied that it would be inadvisable to isolate the single branch of the licensing law from the rest.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the Royal Commission on Licensing was just a way of putting off al difficult question?

It is the very opposite.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the death by starvation, exposure, and neglect of Welsh mountain ponies owing to the drop in their market value; whether he is aware that, owing to no system of registering or branding existing, the police are unable to establish ownership or prosecute the offenders; that during last winter 34 such ponies were found dead in two counties and many others so weak that they had to be shot; and whether he will introduce legislation to deal with the matter?

I have caused inquiry to be made as regards the counties of Radnor and Brecon, to which I understand the question mainly refers, and I am informed that 24 ponies are known to the police to have died in the mountain areas during last winter and spring. I understand that it is the general practice of farmers to mark their stock and bring them in from the mountains in the winter. Those which are unmarked and left on the hills belong mainly to private individuals. In the circumstances, I doubt if any further legislation is required and, on the information before me, I do not see my way to propose any.

Is it a fact that sometimes the ears of these ponies, on which are the private marks, are cut off so that the police cannot trace the owners and institute prosecutions?

I can only say that prosecutions for neglect have been instituted and there have been convictions. I shall be glad to have information of any individual cases from my hon. Friends.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the uncertainty existing with regard to the present laws on the legality of sweepstakes, crossword puzzles, whist drives, and other forms of such recreation, he will consider the appointment of a committee which will have as its object the making of suggestions as to how the existing laws can be clarified and brought into uniformity?

As at present advised, I do not think the course suggested is necessary.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that something should be done to allay the present uncertainty?

No. I think that whatever is done there will be some dissatisfaction.

asked the Home Secretary what further progress has been made in scheduling the disease of fibrosis of the lungs under the Workmen's Compensation Act?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a similar question on the 10th April and to my letter to him of the same date in which I explained the position very fully. I regret I have nothing further to add at present.

Has there been no further progress since that date?

Yes, the committee to which I refer and which was appointed by the research board, has continued its work.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to a number of colliery companies that have failed and gone into liquidation and that, consequent upon this, persons who are entitled to payments under the Workmen's Compensation Act cannot get their money; and will he take steps to amend the Workmen's Compensation Act so as to make the insurance compulsory?

I am well aware that workmen have suffered grave hardship in the way mentioned, and the Government has the question of further legislation—which would necessarily be of a far-reaching character—under serious consideration. I am afraid, however, that I am not in a position at present to make any statement.

asked the Home Secretary when he proposes to introduce a, Bill to reduce the hours of labour for workers in the distributive trades?

I would remind my hon. Friend that a Select Committee was appointed by this House in May last to consider and report upon proposals for limiting the hours of work of shop assistants and improving the conditions of their employment. It will obviously be necessary to await the findings of this Committee before the question of legislation is considered.

In view of the fact that there are more than 100,000 people unemployed in the distributive trades at the present time would it not be well to hasten the report of this committee in order that by reduction of hours we might employ some of these people?

It may be said that the Government have attempted to hasten it.

Could not this matter be dealt with apart from legislation under the Trade Boards Act?

I think not on any large scale.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state what progress has been made in the investigation of certain alleged subversive publications in this country and whether any action has yet been taken?

I presume that, the right hon. Member has in mind a certain publication about which he has asked previous questions. He will have observed that proceedings have been taken which resulted on Tuesday in the printer of this paper being fined and three other persons, who are responsible for its publication, being sent to prison for contempt of court.

But why did not the right hon. Gentleman take steps with reference to the issue of 1st May? That is now a good many weeks ago. The answer refers to an entirely different matter.

All the necessary and proper steps under legal advice have been taken.

Are all those cases being referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions?

I would not say that, but they are when it is thought necessary.

Are they considered first by the Cabinet?

No.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that in a recent case at Chelmsford a, boy of eight years was placed on probation and at the same time sentenced to receive four strokes of the birch; and whether he will take steps to prevent probation and birching being combined in dealing with child offenders?

I have made inquiry, and I am informed that the boy was before the court for two separate offences to which the boy's father pleaded guilty in his behalf. After consideration of the circumstances, the Justices decided that it was necessary for them to punish the boy for the one offence and to place him on probation for the other. The Justices appear to have acted within their discretion.

Shame!

"Shame" is not a Parliamentary expression.

I do not know whether it is a Parliamentary expression—

Order! Name!

Does the hon. Member rise to a point of Order?

I do not know whether this is a point of Order, Sir—

Sit down when the Speaker stands up?

On a point of Order.

I cannot hear more than one point of Order.

I want to ask for your guidance. I do not know whether it is a point of Order or not, but I do assert that it is monstrous outrage—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]—to punish a boy of that age—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]—and I say to the Home Secretary—[HON. Members: "Name!"]—

I hope the hon. Member will not continue that kind of behaviour.

May I raise this point? I desire to make this statement to you, that, whether it is in a Parliamentary sense in order or not, it is an outrage for a Home Secretary to justify the infliction of corporal punishment on a child—

Order!

If the hon. Member wishes to bring pressure to bear upon the Home Secretary, he knows that there are other means of doing it.

He wants to be named.

I say it is an outrage.

What the hon. Member has just said shows that he is under a complete misapprehension as to the terms of my answer. I have not said a word to justify this decision of the magistrates.

Are you doing anything to stop this outrage?

I have in mind the intention of conveying my views in the proper form to the justices.

May I now ask my supplementary question?

Steps have been taken repeatedly to draw the attention of the justices to the matter.

Will you stop this practice?

Mr. Lovat-Fraser—

May I ask if steps are taken to bring to the notice of the justices the impropriety of this practice—

I called upon the hon. Member to ask Question No. 31.

Before we reach Question No. 31—[HON. MEMBERS: "Name!"I—may I ask the Home Secretary whether his attention—

The Home Secretary gave a very complete answer.

No, Sir, with great respect.

May I ask, in view of the anxiety of a number of Members to know whether this sentence has been carried out, if we might not be allowed to ask that one supplementary question?

There have been a number of supplementaries already.

On a point of Order. I tried to catch your eye, Mr. Speaker, before the exchange took place between the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister on the subject of the business for next week. My point of Order is this, that earlier to-day I directed a question to the Home Secretary in regard to a sentence of birching upon a child of eight. There was a supplementary question directed to ascertaining whether that sentence had been carried out, and I understood the Home Secretary to say that that matter must be raised on the Adjournment. I have consulted my friends, and I find that some days at least must elapse before that matter can be raised upon the Adjournment. I desire, therefore, to ask whether the Home Secretary will be good enough to say that, pending the matter being raised on the Adjournment, the sentence shall not be carried out on that child of eight.

I cannot say that that is a point of Order.

As no supplementary question was put raising the point which the hon. Member has now brought before the House, I was not able to give any answer. There was a misunderstanding on another point, which I tried to explain, but on account of the noise that occurred—[Interruption.] I have caused inquiries to be made as to whether the sentence has been executed, and, as a fact, I do not know.

Will the right hon. Gentleman stop the sentence from being executed?

Will he stop it?

May I, with great respect, press the point that the Home Secretary should stop it?

I can only say that the Home Secretary is not a court above a court. The justices have the discretion, and they reach decisions according to the merits and facts of the case. I generally presuppose that the men on the spot know most of the facts of the case and—

On a point of Order. Are other hon. Members to be allowed to put supplementaries on questions not reached? [HON. MEMBERS: "Hold your tongue!"] The hon. Member has no more right than we have.

The hon. Member for Leith (Mr. E. Brown) is quite right. Every hon. Member has the same right as another. The latitude that was given was to clear up a misunderstanding that had apparently arisen owing to the Home Secretary not being able to reply. He has replied, and the question is now closed.

Will you allow me—

The question is now closed.

On a point of Order. [Interruption.] You may be fed up with it, but it is a very important matter.

If the hon. Member really has a point of Order to raise, of course, I will hear it, but he cannot raise any other subject.

I desire, with the utmost respect to you, to keep within the Rules of Order. The point of Order I now wish to raise is this. In your discretion, for which I am obliged, you have allowed me to try to clear up a misunderstanding between myself and the Home Secretary with regard to this matter. The Home Secretary was in process of trying to clear up that misunderstanding when a point of Order was raised from the other side. Your reply to the point of Order was that, the Home Secretary having explained the situation, the incident could now be regarded as closed. I now wish to submit to you that, in point of fact, the Home Secretary has not yet explained that matter, and was in process of doing so when the point of Order was raised by the hon. Member opposite.

The Home Secretary gave a very full answer.

rose—[Interruption.]

Order! [HON. MEMBERS: "Shut up.") I have as much right as the hon. Member opposite.

There has been quite enough disorder to-day.

I was about to conclude my sentence by saying that I am now proceeding to get the facts, and, as far as the Home Secretary has any power to act, he will act as he thinks fairly when he is in full possession of the facts.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that teaching in acrobatic dancing is frequently given to children by unqualified teachers whose ignorance may lead to spinal and other injuries; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation to require that all dancing teachers training children for public performances shall be registered and have their classes open to inspectors?

I have no information, on this matter. If the hon. Member will send me any information in his possession I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that coloured seamen born within the allegiance of the Crown are required to register in accordance with the requirements of Article 6 (5) of the Aliens Order, 1923, as amended by the Coloured Alien Seamen Order, 1925; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

A coloured seaman is not required to register as an alien if he is able to produce satisfactory evidence that he is a British subject, and I aim not aware of any reason for action in the matter.

Is the Home Secretary aware that certain coloured seamen who, in consequence of the fact that they were born in British territory, have been domiciled in Cardiff for more than 20 years, have been compelled by the police to register under the Order of 1925?

I do not think that that has been quite in keeping with the regulations, and I shall be glad to have evidence of any particular case.

asked the Home Secretary what steps, if any, have been taken to summon a preliminary conference of countries manufacturing narcotics with a view to limitation of their output, as suggested on behalf of Great Britain at Geneva on 14th May last; and if be will give a list of the countries to be invited to participate in any such conference?

It has not yet been possible to take any steps to convene the proposed preliminary conference as the preparation work is not yet completed.

Is the Home Secretary aware that the Foreign Secretary said at Geneva in May last that he would be happy to take the initiative to summon such a meeting for the end of July?

My answer has indicated that the inquiries are not yet sufficiently complete to enable such a meeting to be held.

Would it not be too late to do it now in preparation for the conference in October?

I will consult my right hon. Friend on that matter.

When will the inquiries be completed?

I could not say. They are not quite in the hands of the Home Office.

Will the Home Secretary take action against doctors who leave drugs in open cars and fine them when that takes place?

Steps have been taken in regard to that matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that drugs of a poisonous character can be procured from automatic machines outside chemists' establishments in the county of London; and whether, in view of the Poisons and Pharmacy Act, 1908, and the danger involved to the public, he will cause any such vendors to be prosecuted?

I have seen in the Press the report of a case in which the legality of such sales was raised, and the Judge decided that they involved a breach of Section 3 of the Poisons and Pharmacy Act, 1908. The proceedings for the recovery of a penalty under that Section are of a civil character and are instituted by the Registrar of the Pharmaceutical Society, and I have no power to intervene. I understand the case in question was arranged by the Pharmaceutical Society for the purpose of testing the legality of such sales, and the judgment will, no doubt, be taken note of by those concerned.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the number of police officers engaged on regulating traffic in the Metropolitan Police area who have been either killed or injured during the past 12 months; and whether all officers engaged upon this duty are compelled to wear white sleeves?

171 officers were injured, none fatally. Officers engaged on this duty are required to wear the white gauntlets provided, but it occasionally happens that an officer has to take up traffic duty at short notice without gauntlets.

Will the Home Secretary see that every police constable, in the interests of his own safety and in the interests of motorists, is provided with a pair of white sleeves in case he has to take up this duty at short notice?

We will consider whether that can be done.

Has the attention of the Home Department been called to the effect of the reflection from lamps on wet roads in hiding these officers, and is any care taken to see that they are not stationed at such places?

That is the point on which I require notice, as it is not in any way covered by the question on the Paper.