asked the Secretary of State for War if his Department proposes to buy British-produced meat for the troops during the ensuing six months; and if he will say how far ahead meat contracts are made?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The issue to the troops of home-killed meat, to which I presume the hon. and gallant Member refers, is precluded by the heavy increased expenditure which would be involved. Practically all the meat issued at home is frozen meat of Dominion origin. Contracts are made for six-monthly periods beginning on 1st April and 1st October, and are placed about six weeks before they are due to commence.

In view of the assistance that it would be to agriculture, will the right hon. Gentleman consider, when the contracts are over, adopting new contracts so as to allow for the purchase of British home-killed meat?

If any organised body of farmers will put before the War Office a scheme for the supply of British meat at something like a price comparable with the price now paid, I will gladly consider it. The prices now are often 100 per cent. higher than the prices we are paying.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say that the policy he has adopted was the policy adopted by his predecessor?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether experiments are still being undertaken in the utilisation of poisonous and asphyxiating gases in warfare?

Research and experiment relating to defence against gas are still being undertaken.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that nothing is being done to infringe, in the letter or the spirit, the Convention which this country has signed?

So far as I know, we are strictly keeping to any Convention we have entered into with regard to researches against gas attack.

asked the Secretary of State for War what action is being taken by his Department with reference to the equipment and arms of which the cadet force has been deprived, in consequence of the decision not to give it recognition?

Instructions have been issued that all publicly-owned arms on loan to cadet units should be returned to Army Ordnance Depots. Equipment was issued on temporary loan only during the camping period.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of retired Army officers who are estimated to receive as pensions £3,422,500 in the current year?

As shown on pages 261 and 262 of the current Army Estimates, the estimated number of officers for whose retired pay the sum in question is provided is 10,214.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the total establishment of British troops in China, including the garrison of Hong Kong; what was the purpose of the recent military expeditions up the Yangtse; and whether he will make a statement concerning the military situation?

The establishment of British, Indian and Colonial troops in China, including those in the Hong Kong area, is approximately 360 officers and 7,000 other ranks. As regards the second part of the question, no military expeditions have been sent up the Yangtze River. When at the beginning of last August there were fears that a force of some 40,000 bandits would advance on Hankow, His Majesty's Government authorised the despatch of a company of Infantry from Shanghai to be placed on board ship at the disposal of the commander of the naval forces normally stationed on the Yangtze. Fortunately the advance on Hankow was not pursued and the troops returned to Shanghai without having been landed. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 3rd November to the right hon. Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood).

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he has sufficient troops out there for the protection of British interests and particularly British lives?

I can assure the House—

That does not arise out of the question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the intention of the Imperial War Graves Commission to publish a register of the particulars of members of the British Expeditionary Forces who died during the Great War and were buried in the Moeuvres, Sanders Keep, and Graincourtles-Havrincourt cemeteries; and, if so, will he inquire why poor relatives are asked to pay 3s. per copy, and see if they can be supplied with free copies?

Under its Charter, the Imperial War Graves Commission is required to complete and maintain records and registers of all War graves, and the publication of the registers of the cemeteries referred to is in accordance with that requirement. Before a register is printed the relatives of those whose names are included in it are given the opportunity of ordering such copies as they may require at the cost price of 3s. a copy, and copies additional to official requirements are printed in accordance with the number of such demands received. The Commission has no power to expend its funds on the supply of registers to relatives free of cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken with regard to the request he has received from the National Union of Farmers in Scotland for a boycott of Soviet wheat?

My right hon. Friend has received no request from the National Farmers' Union of Scotland on the subject of the boycott of wheat arriving from Russia.

Have any of the trade unions protested against being compelled to handle goods manufactured by slave labour in Russia?

That obviously does not arise out of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many babies have been born in Scottish prisons during the 12 months ended 31st July, 1930; and how many pregnant women prisoners have been transferred to outside hospitals or maternity homes for childbirth?

No babies were born in Scottish prisons during the twelve months ended 31st July, 1930. During that period, one Borstal inmate and one prisoner were removed to outside hospitals for childbirth.

Since there are so very few cases, will the Under-Secretary consider the advisability of seeing that no children are born in prison, but that maternity cases are transferred to outside homes?

Our information is that during the last 12 years no child has been born in a Scottish prison.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the regulations allow anæsthetics to be given to women in childbirth in prison maternity wards; whether any special diet is allowed to pregnant women; and, if so, what is the nature of such diet?

There is nothing in the Prisons (Scotland) Rules to preclude anæsthetics from being given to women in childbirth in Scottish prisons if the prison medical officer considers it advisable and the prisoner consents. No special dietary scale has been authorised for pregnant prisoners; but the prison medical officer has power to alter diet if satisfied that it is necessary; and it is his duty to see that every prisoner has sufficient food.

Since there are allegations of a certain amount of harshness in the treatment of these women, will the Under-Secretary see that in order to make them good citizens a little extra expense and attention is devoted to them?

If the hon. Member will give me any specific complaint relating to a specific prison we shall be glad to have it inquired into.

I will do that.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that certain approved societies, including the Prudential, have issued notices to their members stating that, as from 1st January, 1931, they will not be eligible for benefit from national health insurance owing to their prolonged period of unemployment; and if he proposes taking any steps to deal with this matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The approved societies to which the hon. Member refers have acted quite properly in notifying their members of their position under the existing law. As regards the second part, my right hon. Friend is in communication with the Minister of Health, and I am not presently in a position to add to the reply given by the Minister of Health to the hon. Members for Greenwich (Mr. Palmer) and Bothwell (Mr. Sullivan) on 30th October last.

In view of the fact that the Secretary of State for Scotland was communicated with on this subject in May and June of this year, can the Under-Secretary say why the delay has taken place in coming to a decision on this important matter?

The question will only arise in an acute form on the 1st January next. My right hon. Friend has other interests to consider, and he has been in communication with those other interests. Immediately a decision is taken no time will be lost.

Is there any doubt in the mind of anyone as to the necessity for the continuance of this benefit?

On pensions, there is no doubt whatever, but the precise form of any legislation and the date upon which it will be possible to bring it in have not yet been decided.

Is the hon. Member aware that the societies are placed in great difficulty because of the delay? Will he press upon the Secretary of State for Scotland the necessity of a speedy decision?

Can the hon. Member say whether such legislation will apply to England as well as Scotland?

That is the precise point of my answer. My answer cannot deal with Scotland alone. The Secretary of State for Scotland is in communication with the Minister of Health.

Will he complain to the Minister of Health as to the necessity of getting speed on? There are only six weeks left.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether legislation will be introduced to protect the right of unemployed men and women on the lines of the prolongation of insurance benefits, in view of the fact that thousands of men and women will cease to be eligible for health insurance benefit at the end of the year if no such legislation is passed before the end of this year?

As I stated in reply to a question put by the hon. Member for the Gorbals Division (Mr. Buchanan) this afternoon my right hon. Friend is in communication with the Minister of Health, and I am not presently in a position to add to the reply given by the Minister of Health to the hon. Members for Greenwich (Mr. Palmer) and Bothwell (Mr. Sullivan) on 30th October last.

Is my hon. Friend aware that members of approved societies are now being informed that they will be out of benefit and that they must become voluntary contributors if they wished to remain in benefit? In view of the fact that I asked this question on 7th May, will the hon. Member be in a position to give me an answer if I put down a question next week?

I should not like to promise, but I hope so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has consulted his medical advisers on the effect of the present scales of relief paid by Glasgow public assistance committees to persons on able-bodied relief, particularly on the health of the children concerned; and if he is satisfied that the scales paid to widows with children can allow for proper nourishment in cases recently submitted to him?

The primary responsibility for the maintenance of the health of the child population of Glasgow rests upon the corporation. The Department of Health for Scotland are, however, at present engaged on an inquiry in the schools of the four large cities in Scotland and of the county of Lanark in order to ascertain the physical condition of children whose parents have been unemployed for a considerable time. As regards the latter part of the question, the adequacy of the poor relief at present being paid in the cases of two widows about whom my hon. Friend wrote on the 22nd October will be considered immediately on receipt by the Department of Health of the statutory complaint which the Poor Law Act entitles them to make. As explained in my reply to my hon. Friend, the Department have no power to prescribe a scale.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if plans have yet been received and sanctioned by his Department for the building of a new school in Dale Street, South Side, Glasgow; if not, what action is being taken; and if any plans have yet been received for a school clinic in Gorbals?

Preliminary plans for the now school building to be erected on the Dale Street site were provisionally approved by the Scottish Education Department on 13th March last, and I am informed from Glasgow that tenders for the execution of the work will be invited in the course of a few weeks. With regard to the last part of the question, I understand that the matter of a school clinic in Gorbals is under the consideration of the Glasgow Public Health Department as part of a general scheme.

Is my hen. Friend aware that the Secretary of State and myself received a promise that this clinic would be provided almost at once? Now six months have gone by.

My information is that the Public Health Department of the Glasgow Corporation are considering the question of the provision of clinics. I have no further details.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any reductions in local rates have taken place in the parishes within the county of Lanark as a result of the operation of the Local Government Act of 1929; and, if so, what are the amounts of reductions and the particular areas affected?

As the answer is long and involves a number of figures, 1 propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland the num- ber of claims to widows' pensions which were disallowed but afterwards allowed on account of the judgment of the Court of Session in the case of Kerr; and whether any steps have been taken to allow appeals in all cases where claimants have asked for reconsideration in view of the Kerr judgment and the Department have ruled against the applicant?

I am informed that so far as can meantime be ascertained nine widows' pensions fall to be allowed as a result of the Court of Session decision referred to. Inquiry is still proceeding in a few other cases. As regards the second part of the question, many applicants have asked for reconsideration of their claims under a misapprehension that their cases were affected by the Kerr decision and have been informed of the true position. Where, however, claims in respect of cases to which the decision does apply have been refused by the Department on other grounds the right of appeal to the referees has in every ease been extended to the applicants.

May I ask whether steps will be taken by the Department to notify widows whose cases have been wrongly disallowed so that they may be able to have their cases reconsidered?

The whole matter is one of very great complexity. The fact is that some women applicants have benefited as a result of the Kerr decision. Others have been placed in a worse position, but I hope that in the circumstances any questions with regard to the further steps to be taken will not be pressed.

Will the hon. Member remember the case of those widows who made application in the proper time and had their claims wrongly disallowed?

In every case where claims have been wrongly disallowed and it has been proved to have been wrongly disallowed as a result of the Kerr decision, steps are being taken to notify the applicants to that effect; but that is an entirely different question from the one previously put by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Lord Advocate the cost of obtaining ad adoption order under the provisions of the Adoption of Children (Scotland) Act; and, in view of the procedure in England, whether he will take steps to arrange for a similarly simple and inexpensive method to be adopted in Scotland?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is making inquiry with a view to ascertaining what is likely to be the cost of an unopposed application for an Order under the Statute, and the comparative cost in England, and on obtaining the information he will communicate with my hon. Friend.

May I be allowed to put a further general question to the Lord Advocate in order that those who are interested in this matter may have the information as soon as possible?

There is no objection to my hon. Friend putting down a further question

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the total annual cost of the posters issued by the Empire Marketing Board for exhibition upon their own private hoardings in Great Britain?

The annual cost of designing and printing the posters issued by the Board for exhibition upon their own private hoardings is approximately £13,000, exclusive of the cost of reproducing such posters for use in schools.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will use some of this money in negotiating an equitable contract with the Post Office, who at present publish foreign advertisements?

Order!

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will in future issue quarterly a table showing the idle registered world shipping tonnage, with a comparison of relative figures for the corresponding period of the previous year; and will he, if necessary, invite other nations to collaborate in the compilation of this information for international purposes?

It would not be possible, from the available information, to prepare on a comparable basis for British and foreign countries a statement of the tonnage which is idle or laid up. As it would be difficult to supply precise and complete official information, even for the United Kingdom, I think no useful purpose would be served by approaching other Governments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ascertain the amount and value of sugar products for delivery in Britain which the Soviet Government has been selling; and will he ascertain and state whether those products were sold at prices below the prices of similar goods produced in Britain?

The imports of sugar products registered as consigned from the Soviet Union (Russia) during the nine months ended 30th September, 1930, consisted mainly of liquid glucose (129,184 cwts.) and confectionery (8,962 cwts.) the declared value of which was £85,559 and £23,192 respectively. Statements have been made that some such goods have been sold at less than the general market price in this country, but I have no means of ascertaining the prices at which particular consignments of goods are sold.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of the petrol imported into Great Britain from Russia during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1930; and what percentage of this amount represents labour costs?

During the 12 months ended 30th June, 1930, the declared value of the total imports of petroleum motor spirit into Great Britain and Northern Ireland registered as consigned from the Soviet Union (Russia) was £2,801,930. I have no information regarding the second part of the question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say who imported this petrol and who purchased it?

I am afraid I must ask my hon. Friend for notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the tinned salmon industry of British Columbia is being seriously affected by the dumping by the Soviet Government of tinned salmon produced under labour conditions which make it impossible for British Columbian firms to compete successfully in the British markets, and that Holland and other countries have, in the special conditions which obtain, placed an embargo on the entry of Soviet food ships; and what action the British Government propose to take to put an end to this undercutting of Imperial industries rendered possible by the wholesale employment of unpaid labour by the Russian Government?

The statistics for the first 10 months of the year show an increase in imports of canned salmon from Canada this year compared with last year and a heavy decrease in imports from Russia. I have no information as to any action taken in regard to the importation of Russian goods by the Netherlands Government, but a reference to action taken in France and Belgium was made in my answer to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood) on 4th November. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 3rd November to the hon. Member for Kingston-on-Thames (Sir G. Penny).

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Britain formerly used 80 per cent. of the salmon exported from British Columbia and that that figure has now gone down to 10 per cent.; and is he further aware that the decrease is in consequence of this importation?

That is a rather debatable point. There are many other factors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of Russian wheat have been imported into this country during the month of October?

During the month of October, 1930, 3,294,000 cwts. of wheat imported into this country were registered as consigned from the Soviet Union (Russia).

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion was consigned to the Co-operative Society?

I certainly could not say without notice and I am not sure that I could do so, even with notice.

Since the Government are comparing this year with the past year, may I ask if it is not the fact that last year the figure was zero?

I think it was very small or at all events negligible, but I must warn the right hon. Gentleman against erroneous deductions.

How does the figure of 3,294,000 cwts. compare with the corresponding figure for October, 1913?

The hon. Member should give notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board are still without information as to arrangements which have been made by the Russian Soviet Government to dump doors, probably to the number of 600,000, on the British market next year at prices considerably under the wage cost involved and apart from any charge for materials used; and, if so, will the Board make inquiries in the timber market on the matter and inform the House of the action which the Government propose to take in the interest of British joiners?

I fear I can add nothing to the reply which I made to a question by the hon. Member on this subject on Tuesday last.

Are the Government going to hold their hands and not make any inquiries, in view of the urgency of this question the accuracy of which is not, I understand, disputed, while all our working men are put out of employment?

The hon. Member will appreciate that this question refers to what is to happen next year. I have already informed the House that I can only deal with current imports, and, as a matter of fact, in this field they are very small indeed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is the time when great contracts are made for the new season, and will he take steps to see whether it would not be advisable to prohibit the importation of these doors into this country before the contracts are made?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that most other countries in the world are making protests?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation designed to prevent the dumping in this country of goods made by sweated labour?

The policy of His Majesty's Government with regard to goods manufactured by sweated labour has been repeatedly stated and I would refer the right hon. Member in particular to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Hacking) on 20th May.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that all those answers were merely a matter of window dressing, I suppose in view of the election.

Order!

That is a very improper epithet to use in a question.

I will put my question in another form, and, if I have in any way offended the right hon. Gentleman I humbly apologise. Will he kindly answer the question, whether or not it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation? I am not asking about policy.

It would be quite impossible for the right hon. Gentleman to offend me. As regards legislation, it could only be by prohibition or licence or some device of that kind, and I have always informed the House that while this is a very difficult matter, m which we must all try to find a solution, a solution on those lines would aggravate rather than cure the disease.

Have the Government taken any steps at Geneva or elsewhere with a view to putting into operation the scheme for dealing with imported sweated goods formulated by a committee of which the Chancellor of the Exchequer was chairman and which was embodied in "Labour and the Nation."

Yes, Sir. At Geneva under numerous heads we have done everything in our power in what is a very difficult field of international negotiation.

is it not the case that in "Labour and the Nation" the Government announced that prohibition of sweated imports was their policy, and does the right hon. Gentleman now state that it, would only aggravate the situation?

No, Sir. The right hon. Gentleman has not accurately apprehended the position. The position is that only as a last resort, after every other effort has been made and has failed in the field of international agreement, would a device of that kind be advisable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the late Lord Oxford and Asquith pointed out that anti-dumping legislation—

Order!

That question does not seem to arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which articles of food or clothing in common use by the majority of workers in this country are shown by the Board of Trade statistics to be the subject of a monopoly or quasi-monopoly?

There are no Board of Trade statistics hearing on this subject, but the Consumers' Council proposed to be set up under the provisions of the Bill now before Parliament will be able to obtain information showing how far monopoly conditions may exist in the food and clothing trades.

Am Ito understand that the Board of Trade have at present no evidence that such monopolies exist?

No, Sir; there is a good deal of information regarding trusts and monopolies in this country, but a reply to the hon. Member's question in the terms in which he put it led to this reference to the Consumers' Council, in the report of which exact details will be obtained.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds he grants licences for the export of munitions of war to Russia?

Applications for licences to export war material to the Soviet Union are treated on exactly the same basis as applications in respect of any other foreign country.

Has there been any increase in this form of Russian trade and is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the development of this trade?

It would be quite impossible to reply to the first part of the question without notice, but recently I have given the House, in reply to questions, details of the licences issued by the Board of Trade. I must again remind hon. Members that I am only the licensing authority and I have no voice at all in policy.

Am I to understand that the Government, by trade with Russia, mean the development of the trade of sending cannons to Russia?

And tanks?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the export of arms and munitions from the United Kingdom to China is still subject to licence by the Board of Trade, under the Arms Export Prohibition Order?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to have a Government inquiry into the condition of the shipbuilding and engineering industry on the lines of the recent cotton inquiry?

No, Sir. My hon. Friend has no doubt seen the letter addressed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to the Engineering Joint Trades Wages Movement which expresses the views of His Majesty's Government on the subject.

Is there any intention of reconsidering this matter in order that an investigation may take place into the low wage conditions operating in these industries?

Not as far as I know at the moment, but the fact remains that the two—sides al all events the employers—were willing to engage in a very full investigation within the industry. That, I understand, is the proposition which is still before die unions.

Is there any information in the Department as to the employers and the unions having met on this matter?

Is it not the case that the Minister of Labour suggested to the representatives of the operatives that they ought to accept the suggestion that was made by the employers as to examining conditions on the Continent?

No, Sir, my recollection of the letter to which my original reply referred was that it stressed the importance of the inquiry proceeding within the industry itself, and I have no doubt that both Continental and home conditions will be taken into account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what Colonies, Protectorates, or Territories of the British Empire were especially excepted under Article 15 by the Government under the International Commercial Convention discussed at Geneva?

The United Kingdom delegate declared at the time of signing the Convention that his signa- ture did not cover any of His Britannic Majesty's Colonies, Protectorates, or Territories under suzerainty or mandate. As the Protocol to Article 15 provided that the Convention applied in relation to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man as if they were Colonies, they were also excluded at the time of signature.

Does that reply mean that none of the Dominions or Colonies shares the right hon. Gentleman's views on this Convention?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now considered the communication from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce urging the Government to postpone sine die any decision in respect of the signing of the Tariff Truce; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received a communication from the chamber urging that further action to bring the Convention into force should be postponed in view of the small number of States which have ratified it. I understand, however, that there is a probability that a number of other States will take steps to ratify, and in these circumstances I am at present unable to indicate what action in the matter may prove desirable.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would be wise to postpone any further steps in relation to this Convention, at least until the postponed Economic Conference of the British Empire has met and made its recommendations?

No. I have always told the House that, quite apart from our views on Free Trade or Protection, it is surely desirable to encourage every movement to reduce European tariffs. I have previously said to the right hon. Gentleman that the ratification of this Convention on our part is quite without prejudice to any steps that may he taken arising from the recent Imperial Conference, because in fact we could give notice, if necessary, at the 1st February and be out of all obligation in relation to this Convention by the 1st April.

In order that the Conference which is to continue at Ottawa in June of next year may not be prejudiced, will the right hon. Gentleman give notice on the 1st February to determine the Convention?

How could anyone promise that at the present time, when we do not yet know what will come either of the negotiations under this Convention or of the further discussion arising out of the adjourned Imperial Conference?

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it consistent with the comity that we owe to our sister Dominions to pledge this Government in advance of the discussions of the Conference, in which they agreed to take part with the Dominions, in the middle of the summer of next year?

No, I am unable, if I may say so with respect, to agree with my right hon. Friend on that point, because of the dates which I have mentioned. We can, in fact, be quite clear of this, by notice on the 1st February, by the let April, and, strictly speaking, the Imperial Conference is not prejudiced in any way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of milk which has been imported into this country in a powdered form during the last 12 months; and if he will state the country of origin of these imports?

The total quantity of unsweetened milk powder imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, registered during the 19 months ended 31st October, 1930, amounted to 250,061 cwts., over 70 per cent. of which was consigned from the Netherlands and New Zealand, while other principal sources of supply were Canada, the United States, Switzerland, France and Australia. The imports of sweetened milk powder during the same period amounted to 17,888 cwts., of which the bulk was consigned from New Zealand.

I did not quite follow the right hon. Gentleman's reply. What was the figure?

The figure was 250,061 cwts.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the effect on the children of this country of putting a small duty on this article?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to take any immediate steps to encourage closer relations between industry and banking, so that advantages similar to those enjoyed in the United States of America and Germany in the way of industrial banks and generally in facilities for the development of new enterprise may be made available in this country?

These matters fall directly within the terms of reference of the MacMillan Committee and will, I anticipate, be dealt with in its report.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is one of the proposals which was issued by the right hon. Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George), and will he treat it with every respect?

I am afraid I am not so familiar with the many proposals of my right hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the activities of certain so-called registration agents who are sending out circulars, which are printed to imitate official documents, to traders with a view to extracting fees under the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916; and if he proposes to take any action?

My attention has from time to time been called to these circulars. I have no power to prevent their issue, but it is sometimes possible to persuade those who issue them to remove some of the more objectionable features.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these people charge as much as £1 for registration when the fee is only 5s., and that, by using semi-official paper, they impress certain small traders with the idea that it comes from a Government Department; and cannot he take some action in the matter?

I have not seen circulars quoting £1, but I have seen circulars quoting 15s. I agree that they are printed in such a way as to suggest that they are official documents, but unfortunately that is quite within the law, and I have no power to prevent it. I should like, however, to take this opportunity of urging publicly that it would be very much better if all parties would go direct to the department and not rely on such circulars.

Does not the form of action complained of lend itself to blackmail, and ought not the Board of Trade find means by which to take action?

It is doubtful whether one would go so far as to say it is blackmail. They are perfectly legal circulars, but I am afraid that it is true that they are to some extent misleading.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider making representations to the Norwegian and Swedish Governments as to the ad vantage of reciprocity in trade; and if he can make an arrangement whereby in return for our purchases of timber they make purchases from the United Kingdom of coal?

I doubt if action on the lines suggested in the question would be likely to achieve any useful purpose. Steps have been taken, however, to bring to the notice of purchasers in Norway and Sweden the advantages of buying British goods. A delegation led by my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines made a tour to study the coal position in Scandinavia last September, and the Report of the Delegation has been presented to Parliament as a Command Paper.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Norway and Sweden are very largely buying their coal from Poland, which does not buy any timber from those countries?

It was one of the objects of the recent delegation to try and recover our trade for British coal in the Scandinavian market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade it he will consider whether the small balance of the staff of the Clearing House of Enemy Debts can be housed in the building of the Board of Trade and the Office of Works, Storey's Gate, and the Clearing House office accommodation at Cornwall House dispensed with; and will he take steps for the closer settlement of accommodation at Storey's Gate for that purpose?

As the answer is somewhat long I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the building referred to large numbers of the staff are employed one or two floors below ground? Before he puts on any more staff, will he press on the Office of Works the necessity for more accommodation?

That matter was considered some time ago, and, when my hon. Friend sees my reply, he will agree that no proposal for additional staff there will be entertained.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the distribution by the administrator of Hungarian property at Cornwall House, Stamford Street, is now completed, with the exception of a possible distribution on account of interest; and whether he will take steps to have the staff of the Clearing House for Enemy Debts overhauled so that the staff may be reduced by not less than 15 per cent. between now and 1st January?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) when it is proposed to pay the balance of 1s. 6d. in £ the due upon accepted claims in the Anglo-Hungarian section of the Clearing Office for Enemy Debts; sad will he state the date upon which he proposes to close down that Department;

The dividend of 1s. 6d. in the £ to which the right hon. and gallant Member for Burton (Colonel Gretton) refers was paid on the 7th November. The work of distributing the Hungarian dividends forms but a small fraction of the work of the Clearing Office and no special staff has been retained for it. The work of that office considered as a whole is under constant review, and reductions of staff are effected as quickly as the state of the work permits. The staff on the 1st November was 306 and is to-day 293. A reduction of 20 per cent. has been made since 1st June last and further reductions will be made as and when they may be found possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the attendances out of a possible total attendance of the members of the Board of Trade Advisory Council is recorded, so that members who find it difficult to attend may be asked to give place to others who are in a position to give full time to this work?

No, Sir. No such record is kept. The general rule is that no member remains in the Council for more than three years, and I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that the members, who are all busy men, attend the monthly meetings of the Council with a regularity for which I am most grateful.