asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the drop in arrivals of raw cotton and wool, measured by bulk as well as value, during the first six months of the present year much exceeds the drop in the inflow of goods manufactured from the same materials, he can state the countries which are thus increasing their import of the manufactured goods mentioned?

During the first half of the current year, the total value of the manufactured articles of cotton and wool imported into this country has fallen in comparison with the imports of the corresponding period of last year. Imports of certain descriptions of goods have, however, increased in quantity, and, taking together all classes of cotton manufactures, including hosiery but excluding made-up garments, the quantities are estimated to have increased on the average by somewhat over 10 per cent., while in the case of manufactures of wool, a similar calculation shows a decrease of quantities of about 3 per cent. I am having particulars extracted regarding the principal countries from which the more important classes of manufactures of cotton and wool have been consigned in increased quantities, and will forward them to the hon. Member as soon as they are available.

Do not these figures show that some form of Protection is absolutely necessary for these industries?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received from the British Commercial Counsellor in Washington any report regarding the grounds on which an embargo has been placed on Russian timber entering the United States; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of taking similar action on these grounds?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies which were given to questions on this subject by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for St Marylebone (Sir R. Rodd) on the 14th July, and the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood) on the 21st July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that forced labour, including that of prisoners, is employed in the timber industry in the Soviet Union, he will exercise the powers conferred upon him by the Foreign Prison Made Goods Act and forbid the importation into this country of timber produced within the Soviet Union?

I am advised that the provisions of the Foreign Prison Made Goods Act give no such general power as is suggested in the question. I would point out that before the provisions of the Act can be put into operation it is necessary that evidence be produced to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise that any particular consignment of goods has been made or produced wholly or in part in a foreign prison, gaol, house of correction or penitentiary. If any such evidence is forthcoming with regard to specific consignments of timber from the Soviet Union it should, in accordance with the Act, be submitted to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, but I would point out that such evidence must be sufficiently detailed and conclusive to satisfy the Commissioners that any action taken by them would be sustainable if challenged in a Court of Law.

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman said that he has powers under this Act to prevent the importation of timber or other goods produced in any foreign penitentiary, does he assume, by stating that he cannot take action, that these prisoners in Russia are not doing penance?

I do not assume anything of the sort. When the hon. Member sees the answer, he will find that goods must have been produced or made in a penitentiary. As far as I know anything of the facts of the case referred to by the hon. Member, these goods are neither made nor produced in a penitentiary.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has admitted that these goods are produced by prison labour, and that, therefore, the prisoners must be doing penance, and, if they are doing penance, they must be in a penitentiary?

If the goods referred to are made or produced wholly or in part in a penitentiary, then, if the case be laid before the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, they will take action under the Act, but, as I pointed out in the latter part of my reply, the circumstances must be conclusive, so conclusive that if any action is taken it can be sustained in a Court of Law.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the answer that he gave in the first part of his substantive reply is based upon a decision of the Law Officers? Has the matter been put to the Law Officers as to whether or not the Act applies?

No, it has not been put to the Law Officers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will amend the Foreign Prison-made Goods Act, 1897, so as to empower the Revenue to forbid the importation of forced labour by persons other than convicts?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Secretary, Overseas Trade Department, on the 18th March last to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Maidstone (Commander Bellairs).

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since that date new circumstances have arisen, and that the embargo upon Russian timber, preventing it from going into America, is bound to react upon British labour and to prevent British workmen from doing their work?

No, I am not aware of that fact.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state what action is being taken in making representations to Italy in connection with the position of British patentees, owing to the failure of the Italian Government to alter their laws in accordance with the Hague Convention of 1925, which became operative as regards Italy on 1st June, 1928?

Steps are being taken to obtain from His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome a report upon the present state of the Italian law as affecting British patentees in connection with the provisions of the Industrial Property Convention of 1925.

Has the right hon. Gentleman been in a position to take any action in this matter?

Yes; I have had inquiry made regarding the specific case which my hon. Friend has mentioned, and I think that probably the best course now would be that he and I should discuss it together.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what communications he has received with reference to the position which will arise when the Dyes Act expires in January next; and whether any representations made are favourable to continuance or otherwise?

The Dyestuffs Industry Development Committee, appointed under Section 2 (6) of the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act, 1920, to advise on the development of the dye-making industry, have recently presented a report, which will be published shortly.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that any attempt to extend this Act will be strenuously opposed from these benches?

Representations in both senses have reached me, but a very comprehensive report, as I have indicated, will be available for all hon. Members almost immediately.

In spite of that very fearful threat, will the right hon. Gentleman also take into account the speech recently made by the President of the Colour Users' Association?

Yes; this is a case in which I might say that all relevant considerations will be taken into account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number and value of American newspaper printing presses imported into Britain during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

The imports of newspaper printing presses are not separately recorded in the trade returns, but are included under the heading of newspaper, letterpress and lithographic machinery and parts thereof, the imports of which, into the United Kingdom, registered as consigned from the United State during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1930, amounted to 2,943 tons, of a declared value of £591,226. These figures do not include type-setting machinery.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these foreign newspaper presses are being used to print Empire Free Trade newspapers?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will state the amount and value of subsidised foreign foodstuffs imported into this country during 1927, 1928, and 1929, respectively;

(2) if he will state the amount and value of foreign foodstuffs imported into this country under the cost of production in the country of origin during the years 1927, 1928, and 1929, respectively?

The information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is vitally necessary to get information on these points, in order to deal with the scandal of subsidised imported foodstuffs coming into this country?

Is the right hon. Gentleman continuing his representations to friendly Governments which are subsidising goods, and, consequently, causing dumping in this country?

Those representations are in progress at present.

Would it not be possible for the President of the Board of Trade to get some approximate estimate of the figures involved?

Will my right hon. Friend, at the same time, try to secure similar figures with regard to the quantity and value of goods subsidised and exported from this country?

In Reply to the second supplementary question, we have, of course, a good deal of information on that point in our own returns. In reply to the first supplementary question, I have already given certain information, which is all that can be obtained. As my right hon. Friend knows, it is very difficult to trace what happens in the country of origin.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has called for any general survey of Russian trade from our Trade Commissioner in Russia; and, if so, how soon he expects to receive it?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will make available to the Members of this House the reports he has received from the Commercial Counsellor at Moscow; and whether he proposes to publish an annual report prepared by the Trade Commissioners?

Reports received from the Commercial Counsellor at Moscow are being and will continue to be treated in precisely the same way as those received from other countries. Any request from Members of this House for commercial information about Russia will, as in the case of any other country, receive special consideration. With regard to the question of calling for a general survey or annual report, I will give the matter my attention as soon as the commercial diplomatic officers have been sufficiently long at their post.

May I ask the hon. Member why it is he is treating Russia like any other country, when his own party thinks that it is something much better?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether all necessary steps have now been taken to cope with the arrears of work at the Patents Office; and whether applications for patents are now being dealt with without delay?

As a result of the competitive examinations held in April last, 17 assistant examiners are being appointed, of whom 11 have already taken up their duties. With this addition, the total examining staff will number 303, as compared with 239 on 1st January, 1929. The position in regard to the arrears shows a slight improvement as compared with the position last autumn, and, as soon as the very considerable body of new officials have acquired the necessary experience in their work, the applications for patents should be dealt with more expeditiously.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in addition to doing what he has just said, take immediate steps to cut away the red tape that has been interfering with the present practice in connection with applications in this country?

I think the House will recognise that this is a very large addition to the staff, but, if there are specific points on which hon. Members think there is delay, it would be much better if I had details.

In view of the complaints which have reached him from chambers of commerce, will the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to overtake the arrears of work?

Yes, that has been our object. My reply shows that 64 have been added to the original staff of 239 in 18 months. I am bearing that fact, of course, in mind.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also bear in mind the fact that a great many people object to increasing the Civil Service?

That is quite true, but this work must be overtaken, and there are very great industrial advantages in avoiding delay.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, as between revenue officers appointed in the first instance to a particular grade and officers promoted to that grade, seniority is determined according to the date of entry into the particular grade or the date of entry into the Department; and how far, if at all, the rule is subject to variation by the heads of the Department?

I am not clear as to the meaning of the hon. Member's question, and I am therefore writing to him on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many families now in married quarters in the British Forces in the British Isles are now waiting for larger quarters of a size appropriate to their families; and what steps he is taking in the matter?

The number of married families of soldiers on the married quarters roll in the British Isles to whom a larger quarter would be allotted were it available is estimated at approximately 2,000. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave him on 8th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the withdrawal by the War Office of the official recognition hitherto accorded to cadet corps will debar members of such corps who may be in possession of certificate A from counting the marks attaching to such certificate towards the entrance examinations for the Navy, Army, and Air Force; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to ensure that members of cadet corps in possession of certificate A will not be placed at a disadvantage compared with boys who have received the same certificate in officers' training corps?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not, therefore, arise.

Is the position that certificates received by members of cadet corps will rank equally with certificates obtained by cadets in officers' training corps?

The position is that certificate A, which has already been granted, will occupy the same position and have the same force as previously.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that members of cadet corps who may obtain Certificate A in the future will be allowed to count their marks? That is the point.

I would rather have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for War what evidence he has, and how it was obtained, that the experiments conducted at Porton of poison gases on animals show that these gases have the same effects on human beings?

A comparison of the gross and microscopic appearance of the lungs of men killed by irritant gases in France with those of animals exposed to the same substances showed that the injuries were of similar nature and character, and further study of such animals gave evidence of the mode of action of the poisons and their effects on vital organs. It was thus possible, by correlating these experiments with clinical observations on gas patients, to formulate curative treatments. Descriptions and results of this research were published in the medical Press shortly after the War.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any evidence of this since the War, and, if not, how is it possible to find out that the effects on animals are the same as on human beings?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider testing the efficacy of these gases by experimenting on the hon. Member?

The evidence I have has already been given. Experiments are not continued for the sole purpose of getting to know whether I can justify statements that are made. The evidence given to me is that these experiments on animals led to the alleviation of an enormous amount of suffering during the War.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of representations he has received during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1930, from the parents or guardians of recruits that the recruit was under age; and what action he has taken on such representations?

I regret that I am not in a position to give the information for which my hon. Friend asks, without disproportionate labour. In each case sent to me I have had a special report made. The attestation form has been revised in such a way as to leave no doubt that a wrongful declaration of age is a serious offence.

Has the right hon. Gentleman evidence that recruiting officers on occasion advise recruits to give a false age when they attend for attestation?

I have no such evidence, and the attestation form is now drawn in such a way as to make it an equally serious offence for the recruiting sergeant to suggest a thing of that sort.

Have the recruiting officers been informed that this change has been made?

Every recruiting officer knows the attestation form and knows that the change has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will reconsider the case of Major Adam?

This case has been repeatedly considered by successive Secretaries of State, and I am not aware of any fresh grounds for re-opening the matter.

Has not Lord Allenby requested the War Office to reconsider the matter, and is not Major Adam, having been a Member of this House, entitled to further consideration?

I do not remember a letter from Lord Allenby. I have looked up the records down to the time of Lord Haldane at the War Office. The case has been considered over and over again, and I see no ground for re-opening it.

Has the right hon. Gentleman gone into the case himself?

I have gone into it sufficiently to have read about it for hours. If I went into it till I read all the documents, I should be as old as Methusaleh before I finished.

Is it not a fact that Major Adam has produced some new facts?

I am aware of no new facts that modify the grounds on which the decision has been arrived at.

If I can produce any new facts, will the right hon. Gentleman give a new inquiry?

Certainly, I am willing at any time to consider any new facts in any case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take in view of the failure of the railway company to maintain the pier erected by them at Kyleakin?

I am advised that the railway company is under no statutory obligation to maintain the pier at Kyleakin, and I am not therefore in a position to take any action in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the accommodation provided by Scottish local authorities for sufferers from tuberculosis; what is the total number of fresh cases notified for 1928 and 1929; what number are receiving institutional treatment; and what number have been recommended for treatment in residential institutions and are not receiving it because of lack of adequate accommodation?

The numbers of new cases of all forms of tuberculosis notified in 1928 and 1929 were 10,885 and 10,262 respectively. The number who received treatment in institutions in 1928 was 7,808. I regret that the corresponding figure for 1929 is not yet available. As regards the last part of the question, no precise information is available, but I may say that the Department of Health for Scotland have no evidence to indicate that any material number of cases are not receiving treatment because of lack of necessary accommodation, but if my hon. Friend has any specific information to the contrary, I shall be glad to have it.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of putting these poor sufferers on some of the farms that belong to the estate which was given by the Duke of Sutherland?

I will pass that suggestion on to the Department.

When will the 1929 figures be available?

I cannot give a precise date, but they cannot be very long.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of subsidy-aided houses completed and ready for occupation in Scotland in 1929 by local authorities and private enterprise respectively; the number of houses erected without subsidy during that year; and if he can estimate the number of houses which will normally be completed in 1930 by local authorities and private enterprise respectively?

The numbers of subsidy-aided houses completed and ready for occupation in Scotland in 1929 by local authorities and private enterprise respectively were 14,316 and 3,924. The number of houses erected without subsidy during that year was 1,275. As regards the last part of the question, I regret that under present conditions I am not in a position to give any reliable estimate of the number of houses that will normally be completed in 1930 by local authorities and private enterprise respectively.

Is it not fairly evident that there will be a very severe drop in the figures?

On the contrary, the facts warrant the assumption that there will be an increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider the advisability of empowering local authorities to utilise empty dwelling-houses fit for habitation, or to levy occupiers' rates on all such dwelling-houses which are withheld from occupation?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the powers which local authorities already possess under paragraph (c) of Sub-section (1) of Section 43 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1925, to provide housing accommodation for the working classes by acquiring existing houses suitable for the purpose. The proposal in the latter part of the question would require legislation, as to which my right hon. Friend can give no undertaking.

Does the hon. Gentleman consider that he has adequate powers to deal with housing?

I shall be glad to have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Fishery Board for Scotland are taking to prevent damage to salmon fisheries by the common seal?

The prevention of damage by seals to salmon fisheries is primarily a matter for the proprietors of the fishings or the salmon fishery district boards, some of whom, I understand, offer rewards for the destruction of seals; and the Fishery Board for Scotland have not up to the present found it necessary themselves to initiate any action in the matter.

Will the hon. Gentleman request the Fishery Board to ascertain the actual amount of damage that is done?

I understand that is being done.

If it is being done, cannot the hon. Gentleman say what the result of the inquiry is?

No, because it is not complete.

Does not the hon. Gentleman's admission show that the contention of my hon. Friend and myself that these seals break nets is true?

The answer given is only to the effect that the district boards and the proprietors of fishings have in the past actually offered rewards for the destruction of seals. Whether that is advisable or not I offer no opinion.

Why do they ask for seals to be destroyed except that they are doing damage?

Is it not a fact that a great deal of the damage that is supposed to be caused by the common seal is in reality caused by the grey seal, which is protected by law?

That may be so, but I should be glad to have notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can give information as to the principal research work carried out during the past year by the research steamer of the Fishery Board for Scotland?

Full information on the subject is given in the Board's Annual Report for the year 1929 which is now in the press.

When will the report be issued?

All that I can say is, that it is now in the press, and I am hopeful that it will be issued very shortly.

Is the information collected by this research vessel to be handed over to the English Ministry of Fisheries so that it may be co-ordinated between the two Departments?

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to a case in Scotland in which a colliery company offered employment to a miner, who had suffered from miners' nystagmus and had recovered, upon the condition that he would discharge his rights under the Workmen's Compensation Act in respect of any nystagmus which he might contract in the future; and whether he will take steps to prevent conditions of that kind being imposed upon miners who are seeking employment?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Any agreement whereby a workman contracts that the Workmen's Compensation Act shall not apply, unless made under a scheme certified under the Act, is an invalid agreement and is of no force and effect. It is none the less desirable that workmen should not be subjected to pressure of the kind indicated in the question. I am making representations regarding the matter in the appropriate quarter.

asked the Secretary for Mines what the Mines Department are doing in respect of gas detectors being installed in coal mines; and can he say when this will be done?

My hon. Friend is, of course, aware of the extent to which flame safety lamps are used for detecting gas in coal mines and of their efficiency and reliability for that purpose, and I assume his question relates to other supplementary detecting instruments. My Department is closely interesting itself in the development and testing of these devices: and a series of systematic pit trials of one of them has been arranged. The Safety in Mines Research Board are also engaged in carrying out laboratory tests on the same detector. The results will be carefully watched, but it will be some little time before sufficient experience has been gained to allow a definite judgment to be formed.

Have any of these detectors been tested in the natural conditions of the mines, and, also, is my hon. Friend meeting with any opposition from the colliery owners in making the test?

I understand that most of the detectors now before the Department have been tried out in practical circumstances in the pits. As regards the second part of the supplementary question, as far as I know, no opposition has been raised by the colliery owners.

Has my hon. Friend seen a copy of a letter of the 7th December, 1927—

Order!

That matter does not arise out of the question.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any steps are being taken to secure the erection of a miner's rescue station in the Kent coalfield?

Yes, Sir. I am informed that the site has been selected, the plans approved, tenders accepted, and the work has now been put in hand. I will do everything in my power to expedite completion of the work.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is proposed to introduce during the present Session the Bill dealing with coal-mining royalties?

No, Sir. It has been realised for some time that, even if this Bill had been introduced during this Session, it could not have made any further progress; and it followed from the Prime Minister's announcement on 25th June, concerning the business to be undertaken during the remainder of this Session, that this was one of the Measures which could not now be introduced during the present Session.

Is it the intention of the Government to introduce this Bill in the next Session if they survive as long?

asked the Postmaster-General whether any decision has been arrived at by his Department for the purpose of affixing on pillar boxes suitable signs which will indicate the direction of the nearest post office and telegraph office; and can he state what arrangements have been made by the Post Office with reference to this?

Yes, Sir. An order has been placed for the necessary signs to be placed on the top of pillar boxes, and it is hoped that a number of them will be set up within the next few weeks.

Am I to understand from that reply that my hon. Friend has also given this instruction for the Provinces?

Yes, Sir, it will apply throughout the country.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of stamp selling machines that have been erected in Great Britain on positions other than post offices; whether it is proposed generally to erect these machines on the principal railway stations; has he considered the erection of these machines on positions at present occupied by single telephone kiosks or pillar boxes; and will he give particulars?

Stamp-selling machines attached to telephone kiosks have been provided on about 40 sites away from post offices. Machines attached to pillar boxes will shortly be installed on a dozen sites in the London postal area, and the question of further installations is under consideration. Arrangements have been made to instal machines at London railway termini and at the principal stations in the Provinces.

Does this apply to the whole of the principal London termini?

Yes, to all the principal termini.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of Transatlantic telephone calls that have passed between the United States of America and Great Britain for the months of April, May, and June, 1930, giving the average duration of each call?

The number of Transatlantic telephone calls between the United States and Great Britain was 546 in April, 676 in May, and 641 in June. The average chargeable duration of these calls was six and a-half minutes each. They were all dealt with by the Post Office Wireless Station at Rugby with its receiving station at Baldock.

In view of the increase which is shown, should not the Post Office consider making a further reduction in the charges which would give them more traffic on these lines?

We made a reduction only six weeks ago.

Does my hon. Friend not consider that the charges even at the present time are rather excessive?

No, Sir, they are moderate charges.

Will the hon. Gentleman take steps to keep Members of his own party up to date occasionally?

asked the Postmaster-General whether any time served as auxiliary postmen counted towards pensionable service?

Service as auxiliary postman is part-time and cannot be reckoned for pension.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received any representations pointing out that inconvenience has been caused by the lack of facilities for posting letters in the market place in Louth; and whether he will take any steps in this matter?

I am having inquiry made, and I will write to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what contributions were made during the past 12 months by the Dominions and Colonies towards the upkeep of the British Navy?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply of the 2nd April (OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 1286–8) to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha).

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether it is proposed to bring up this matter at the Imperial Conference so that every portion of the Empire may bear its fair share of naval defence?

I think that my right hon. Friend the First Lord dealt with that matter yesterday.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider granting some proportion of the concession of a week's leave with pay to those dockyardsmen who are discharged and who have completed over 10 months of the qualifying period?

The grant of leave with pay to workmen in Admiralty establishments has been made on the condition that the participants have a minimum of 12 months' service. I am unable to agree to the reduction of this minimum period.

Is he aware that this grant of a week's leave with pay is rendered nugatory when notice of discharge is given just before a week's pay is due?

No, only as far as workmen who have been in the employ of the Admiralty for a period of less than 12 months.

Does the hon. Gentleman not think that the care of those who have been compelled to leave their employment through naval economy should be a first charge on the Treasury?

asked the Minister of Labour what is the percentage of unemployment in Devonport, Plymouth, the County of Devon, and the County of Cornwall, respectively, as compared with the percentage of unemployment in the country as a whole?

At 14th July, 1930, the number of persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges expressed as percentages of the insured population were as follows: Devonport and Plymouth 14.9; County of Devon 8.9; County of Cornwall 11.6; Great Britain 16.6.

asked the Minister of Transport the position with regard to schemes of work submitted by the West Riding County Council?

Under the Trunk Road Programme schemes estimated to cost £381,078 have been accepted for grant, and grants have been issued in respect of works estimated to cost £175,889. The programme of other works of improvement and new construction on classified roads, submitted in response to the invitation of July last, includes schemes estimated to cost £973,567. Of these, grants have been issued in respect of schemes estimated to cost £102,030, and further schemes estimated to cost £257,537 have been approved in principle. The remainder of the schemes are being examined.

Can the Minister say what number of people will be employed?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of claims at the South Shields Employment Exchange to unemployment benefit rejected from the coming into force of the present Act to the latest available date on the ground that the applicant was not normally in insurable occupation; and the number of claims rejected at the same Exchange in the corresponding period of last year on the ground that the applicant was not genuinely seeking work?

During the period of 13th March to 9th June, 1930, out of 12,128 claims made at the South Shields and East Bolden Employment Exchanges, 173 were disallowed by the court of referees for that area on the ground "not normally insurable." During the period 12th March, 1929, to 10th June, 1929, out of 9,857 claims made, 142 were disallowed by insurance officers on the ground "not genuinely seeking work," and six cases were recommended for disallowance on the same ground by courts of referees on review after payment of 78 days' benefit.

Can the hon. Member say if it is possible to trace how far these numbers refer to the same set of people each year?

No, I should require notice of that question, but I may draw the attention of my hon. Friend to the fact that, while the bulk of the claims are larger by 3,000, there is very little difference between the "non-insurable" and the "not genuinely seeking work" cases.

Will the hon. Member ask the Minister of Labour whether it would be possible to take certain sample registers, and endeavour to see whether the names are the same, as the matter is very important?

I will draw my right hon. Friend's attention to what the hon. Member has said.

In the case of the figures dealing with those "not genuinely seeking work" 12 months ago, did those figures include the number disqualified in that period for not having a reasonable period in the two years? If not, does not that make the hon. Member's figures even worse?

No, Sir. As I have pointed out in my answer to the question, the comparison is between the "non-insurable" cases and those "not genuinely seeking work."

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons registered as unemployed in the various principal trades, respectively, at the South Shields Employment Exchange on the last date for which such figures are available, and on the corresponding dates in 1929 and 1928, respectively?

asked the Prime Minister whether the proceedings of the Advisory Committee on Unemployment, of which the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George) is a member, will be secret?

The Committee referred to is consultative.

Will the proceedings be secret, and, if so, have any arrangements been made for some form of publication?

If every conversation that I have on business with Members with whom I am engaged in this House is to be published, I do not know what would happen.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that disclosures have already been made on the subject of this Committee by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the right hon. Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George). How is he going to stop that?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider putting

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

asked the Prime Minister whether, with the object of mitigating unemployment, it is contemplated that any Minister will undertake this summer a mission to Canada or any other Dominion?

No, Sir. The Imperial Conference will enable His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to meet personally representatives of His Majesty's Governments in all the Dominions.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the late Lord Privy Seal went on a visit to various commercial concerns, and could the right hon. Gentleman not spare a Minister to endeavour to repeat that success?

On this occasion, they are coming to visit us.