asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet obtained details of the commercial treaty between Italy and Russia for an interchange of commodities?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of wheat from the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics sold in Great Britain in the last three months; and the average price?

I am unable to state the amount of wheat from the

No, Sir, but inquiries are being made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how the quantity and value of electrical house-service meters imported during the first 10 months of this year compares with the amount imported in the corresponding period of the years 1928 and 1929?

The imports of electrical house-service meters and parts thereof into this country during the first 10 months of 1930 show some increase over the imports during the corresponding periods of 1929 and 1928. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the figures for each of these periods.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the import of this article has increased fourfold during this year, owing to the fact that a price-war is being conducted by two foreign countries in the only free dumping ground in the world—this country?

I can only say that while the figures before me show an increase, it is not nearly so large as my hon. And gallant Friend suggests.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how this price compares with the world-price during that period?

I should be glad if the hon. and gallant Member would put that question down; it is not contained in this question.

How does that quantity compare with the quantity that used to be imported before the War?

We had better have these questions put down.

Is it not a fact that this amount of Russian wheat at that price is absolutely destructive of the economic value of the product of British agriculture?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether and, if so, to what extent iron and steel are being imported into this country at less than the cost of production in the country of origin.; said if he will name the countries concerned;

I regret that particulars are not available which would enable me to give my hon. Friend the information he desires.

Were not these facts required for the Imperial Conference?

Not on this subject.

Were they not required, at any rate, for the Tariff Truce Conference?

I think not even in that connection.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries from commercial counsellors abroad in order to get this information?

Of course, there are innumerable references to the subject, but it is virtually impossible to get actual details regarding the cost of production; the preceding Government found that, under a Clause which was repealed in the last Finance Act.

Does the right hon. Gentleman want to get this information?

Yes; it is my abiding desire to get all the information that I can.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of sugar imported into the country from Czechoslovakia during the present year; the average and also the most recent price paid for it; and the present selling price of home-produced sugar?

During the 10 months ended the 31st October last, 493,684 cwts. of refined sugar (including sugar candy) were imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland registered as consigned from Czechoslovakia, in addition to a relatively small quantity of unrefined sugar. The quotations published in the "Grocer" show that the f.o.b. price of Czechoslovakian granulated sugar averaged 8s. 11d. per cwt. For the 10 months ended the 31st October last, and was 8s. per cwt. on 15th November last. Such sugar, if exceeding 98 degrees of Polarisation, would pay a duty of 11s. 8d. per cwt. on importation for consumption in this country. The price of English grown granulated sugar (inclusive of excise duty), as recorded in the "Grocer," was 19s. 3d. to 19s. 9d. per cwt. on 15th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement as to the negotiations he has, had with the Lancashire Cotton Corporation, Limited, as to the re-organisation of the Lancashire and Cheshire cotton industries?

I am in touch with representatives of the Lancashire Cotton Corporation, as I am with representatives of other interests in the cotton trade, but there are no special negotiations with the Lancashire Cotton Corporation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the opinion that this Corporation is causing grave disturbance and unemployment in the cotton industry?

That was very fully represented to the Home Secretary and myself in Manchester last week, but, in saying that, I must not be understood as agreeing with that criticism.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this company is undercutting Lancashire cotton spinners in—[Interruption].

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will invite the various chambers of commerce in the textile districts to confer with him for the purpose of fixing standards for the trade descriptions, fadeless, fast colour, unshrinkable, rainproof, wool and cotton union, and silk reinforced by rayon, so as to prevent fraud upon the public arising from the wide variation in qualities described lay the foregoing terms?

A good deal of work on these important though difficult matters is already being done by various representative bodies, such as the Textile Institute, and I think this is a better method of approaching the problem.

Seeing that the dyestuffs trade received protection for development after the War, and since they have bad all that time, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is grossly unfair that we should be subject

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Japanese socks are being

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities and categories of arms and ammunition exported to Russia during the past 12 months from Great Britain?

As the answer contains a table of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May I ask the Minister whether, pending the conclusion of the negotiations with regard to disarmament, the Government will withhold any future licences for the export of arms?

In this case, the numbers are very small indeed; but I must remind the House that in this matter the Board of Trade are only the licensing authority. Questions of policy are for the Foreign Office.

Will the Minister put it to the Government that this is a very desirable policy to pursue?

Oh, yes; that has been considered from time to time.

Cain the right hon. Gentleman say why Russia is able to pay cash for armaments and not for commodities?

While it is true that the average value on importation of cotton stockings and hose from Japan has of recent years been low and in the neighbourhood of 3s. per dozen, I have no particular information of the prices at which Japanese socks (which are not separately distinguished in the trade figures) are being sold in this country, or of the volume of socks so imported. As regards the last part of the question, I have no recent information of the conditions of labour in the hosiery trade in Japan.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that socks of similar quality to these I have in my hand are being offered at 2s, 2d. a dozen pairs, and that they are made under conditions—

The hon. and gallant Member appears to be giving information.

On a point of Order, May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware that these socks are made under conditions which would not be tolerated for one moment this country?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in publishing the returns of the overseas trade of this country, he will consider the possibility in future of differentiating the goods classified as wholly or partly manufactured into the following categories: unfinished goods required for further processing in this country, finished goods not purchaseable by the general community in their imported state but required as component parts of structural engineering or similar work, and finished goods purchaseable by the general community in their imported state?

There would be considerable difficulty in separating the total figures for "articles wholly or mainly manufactured" into the three categories suggested, principally for the reason that in the case of a large range of articles, of which cotton piece goods and chemicals in general may be cited as examples, they may be purchaseable by the general community or subjected to further processes of manufacture before reaching the consumer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that Empire wines receive a preference of from 33 percent. to 50 percent. as compared with a preference of only 3½ percent. given to Empire brandy, he will consider increasing the preference upon Empire brandy?

I cannot, of course, anticipate the Budget Statement, but I may say that it is my practice to consider all useful suggestions.

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer give some consideration to the case of brandy produced at the Cape and in Australia, as against brandy produced in France, and thus help our own people in our own Dominions?

I have already replied to that question by saying that all useful suggestions are considered.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that at the principal Conservative house in Birmingham no Empire brandy can be obtained?

rose—[Interruption].

Captain Peter Macdonald.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that an order was recently issued by the Patent Office to the Rochdale Libraries Committee, instructing them to forward certain British patent specifications to the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics; whether such instructions were complied with; and whether the specifications in question have been transmitted by the Patent Office to Russia?

No such order was issued. The position is that the Patent Office offered to the Committee of Inventions of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics a set of printed specifications of the years 1852–1913 which were no longer required by the Rochdale Public Libraries. This was done in accordance with the established practice of exchanging official publications which obtains among the Patent Offices of all countries, and in order to facilitate the transmission of these specifications to Russia the representatives of the Soviet Governments were placed in direct communication with the Rochdale Libraries Committee. None of these specifications has yet been forwarded to the Soviet Union.

Whereas these specifications appear to be no longer required, why was Soviet Russia singled out; and, if a decision has not yet been reached, will the right hon. Gentleman hold up the decision until further inquiries have been made?

I do not think that Russia was singled out, but, as I under- stand it, this is the ordinary process of exchange of documents, which are entirely public, and, in fact, could have been obtained in any other way. I will, however, bear in mind the last part of the question. As I indicated, the specifications have not yet been sent.

Has the right hon. Gentleman consulted with the Patent Office in order to ascertain whether Rochdale has taken this matter up and cleared it up?

Yes, I will; it is necessary to make further inquiries.

Are royalties paid in Russia on British patents used there?

I should require notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics has presented the British Government with Russian patent specifications in return for the in- formation as to patents recently communicated to them?

A set of the current official publications of the Committee of Inventions of the Union of Socialist Republics, together with a set of the official publications of the former Russian Patent Office which include specifications of patents granted by those offices is available for public reference in the Free Public Library of the Patent Office. This information is supplied in exchange for current official publications of the Patent Office sent to the Soviet Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the names of the trading companies registered in this country under the control of the Soviet Government and the names of the directors?

With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate the available information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House whether any British subjects are employed in this way?

That would be difficult without notice, but perhaps my hon. Friend will make a study of the very long list of names which I am supplying.

Is it true that many of the directors of Arcos have been deported to Russia?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the subject of pensions of certain secretaries and assistant secretaries of county associations; and whether he will take steps to remedy the grievances of these old officers?

This question was decided in 1923 by an arbitrator appointed with the consent, of the secretaries themselves,

asked the Secretary of State for War the present annual cost of maintaining British troops that are in China; whether there are any Indian battalions stationed in China; and whether the cost for maintaining them is wholly borne by the British Government?

As regards the first part of the question, the effective cost of the and I regret that I cannot agree to reopen the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the arbitrator was sick nearly all the time? This question only affects 32 officers—

:Mr. Day.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of British troops that will be in China, attached to the North and South China commands, at the end of the present trooping season; and can he state the number of troops at present in the Shanghai Defence Force?

Separate commands in North and South China do not now exist, and the Shanghai Defence Force has been merged into a unified China Command whose headquarters are at Hong Kong. The China Command is at present divided into three areas and with my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the division of the troops in China among these areas.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any foreign troops were incorporated in the Shanghai Defence Force?

Not without notice.

Could the right hon. Gentle- man say whether it is intended to reduce this large number in the future?

I cannot make any statement until the situation clears.

Is any part of the cost of maintaining the Army in China borne by the people of Shanghai by way of Income Tax, or in any other way?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there has been any improvement during the last three months in recruiting for the Army?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can state the present position of recruiting and the number of recruits who on joining the Army during the last 12 months have at the time of enlistment been unemployed?

Compared with the same period last year, there has been an increase in the total intake of recruits during the past three months, though the number enlisting into the Infantry shows a small decrease and remains considerably below requirements. As regards the number of recruits who were unemployed at the time of enlistment, information is only available in respect of the London Area where during the recruiting year ended 30th September, 1930, 71 percent. were stated to be unemployed at the time of enlistment. This percentage was obtained from the statements of the recruits: no independent cheek was made or was possible.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is now the shortage in the Regular Forces?

Not without notice.

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking any steps to improve recruiting both in the Regular Army and in the Territorial Army?

Every step that has been taken during the last two years is still being continued, and I wish to point out to the House again that there is no lack of people offering their services. The difficulty is that the physique of the men who offer themselves is not considered to be up to the required standard.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he would offer his services, as one of his predecessors did.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Army List still mentions Militia battalions when Special Reserve battalions are indicated; and why the titles of these units are still described as, for instance, the 3rd Royal Lancashire Militia, in spite of the Militia as a separate branch of the Army having ceased to exist some years before the War?

The hon. and gallant Member has, I think, overlooked the fact that Section 2 of the Territorial Army and Militia Act, 1921, provided specifically that the Special Reserve should be called the Militia.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will furnish a return showing the general average physical condition of recruits at all the Army depots, Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, cavalry, foot guards, infantry of the line, tank corps, and departmental services on joining the service, with any notes the Director-General of Army Medical Services may care to make as to the usual disabilities and defects that are most noticeable, and indicating the physical development of these men after three and six months' training at the depots and with their units?

The standard of physical fitness required of recruits for enlistment in the Army is laid down in the Instructions for the Physical Examination of Recruits, and I will send the hon. and gallant Member extracts from these Instructions. For the recruiting year 1928–1929, which is the latest period for which information is yet available, the main disabilities leading to the discharge of recruits were:

• Disease of the Middle Ear.
• Defects of Lower Extremities.
• Disease of Heart.
• Defective Vision.

Does that not indicate that the training given to youths in the Cadet Corps is useful?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will undertake that Army horses shall be supplied with oats which have been grown in Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

It is my practice to give a substantial preference to both homegrown and Dominion oats over those of foreign origin. All current contracts are for home grown oats.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the desperate position in the oat-growing districts of Scotland and Northern Ireland?

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether is he proposing, in view of the financial stringency which now obtains, to discontinue expenditure upon the utilisation in warfare of noxious and asphyxiating gases;

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that His Majesty's Government and other States have signed or ratified the gas protocol, outlawing the use of poison-gas in war, it is his intention to close down the chemical warfare research departments or reduce the cost of maintenance?

As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Birkenhead, East (Mr. White) last Tuesday, research and experiment relating to defence against gas are still being undertaken, and I am not in a position to say when finality will be reached. But I can assure the House that every endeavour is made to ensure the strictest economy in the maintenance of the establishments concerned, and the expenditure is closely reviewed in connection with annual estimates.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this great expenditure is necessary, having regard to the fact that all possible users of these gases have signed a convention against their use?

Yes, I have carefully considered that, and I am not prepared to make any recommendation.

Is it not a fact that new types of gases are constantly being put forward by Continental chemists?

Is it not a fact that other countries which have signed the Gas Protocol have only experimental stations for the purpose of finding antidotes against the poison gases of other countries?

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers are being experimented upon by being gassed at Porton; and what is the extra allowance in pay given for having gas tried upon them?

No soldiers are "gassed" at Porton in the ordinary sense of the word. But volunteers, averaging some six a week, undergo tests with the object of proving the efficacy of preventive and curative treatment for skin burns and of confirming the adequacy of the protection afforded by respirators. The volunteers receive extra leave, and in certain cases pay of 1s. or 6d. for each test.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received protests against the attempted closing of a right of way at Braeheads, St. Boswells, Roxburghshire, and if he will state what action he has taken or proposes to take in the matter?

My attention has been called to this matter and on inquiry I am informed that the proprietrix whose action is challenged has applied to the Court of Session for a decree of declarator that she is entitled to divert the right of way in question. Judgment has not yet been given. I have no authority to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to promote the sale of national-mark beef in Edinburgh and Glasgow?

The Inter-Departmental Committee on the Grading and Marking of Beef recommended in their report published on 4th October last that the existing experimental scheme for the grading and marking of Scottish Beef should be extended experimentally for one tear to Edinburgh and Glasgow, the cost to be a charge on public funds. The recommendation is at present under consideration.

Do the Government intend to do anything active in the matter of encouraging the use of Scottish beef?

It is during the existence of the present Government that the scheme for the promotion of the sale and marketing of Scottish beef has been undertaken.

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 operations of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1930; and, if so, what are the estimated amounts of reduction and the particular areas affected?

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, in answer to a similar question on the 20th instant, I regret that the information asked for is not available. I am, however, arranging to send my hon. Friend figures showing the numbers of able-bodied poor chargeable in the areas covered by his question before the Unemployment Insurance Act came into operation and corresponding figures for a date subsequent to the commencement of the Act, for purposes of comparison.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider legislation to amend the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, in order that town and city councillors be paid for loss of time attending town and city business?

As the matter involves legislation, I am not in a position to give any undertaking at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the new houses to accommodate the people of Smithstone, Dumbartonshire, are to be proceeded with?

I am informed that all the preliminary arrangements in connection with this scheme of 72 houses have been completed and that the question of taking in offers is to be considered at a meeting of the county council on the 16th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has approved of the proposal of the Glasgow Corporation to give a subsidy of £1 15s. per house and a loan of money to Messrs. McTaggart and Company, builders, of Glasgow, for the purpose of building houses under the 1923 Act; what decision he has taken and when houses are likely to be commenced?

The application of the corporation was for authority to grant a subsidy of £10 15s. per house, being the normal State subsidy of £9 plus £1 15s. from local rates and a loan of 75 percent. of the value of each of 1,364 houses to be erected by the Western Heritable Investment Company, Limited, under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1924.

Is the House to understand that the Government have succeeded in knocking £100,000 off the rents?

Yes, Sir, spread over 40 years. The decision of the Government which, I understand, has been accepted, is that the rents must in totality be reduced by an amount somewhere in the neighbourhood of £100,000.

In view of that statement, have not the Scottish Department an indication here of gross profiteering? I want to know what steps they are taking to prevent the public from being swindled and profiteered, as shown by the rapacity of the company in taking £100,000 extra in rents?

We have shown that in this particular case we are taking active steps to prevent any undue exploitation of the public.

Is not the £100,000 arrived at by adding together all the sums over a period of 40 years?

Yes.

Will the hon. Gentleman give the present actuarial value of this sum?

It is £2,300 odd per annum spread over 40 years, which comes to somewhere near £100,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can give any information as to when his scheme for the stopping of the floods in the Kelvin Valey is to be proceeded with?

Surveying and other technical work in the Kelvin Valley has been for some time carried on by the staff of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, who are presently in negotiation with interests concerned, and I expect that the Department will before long be in a position to issue a draft scheme.

Can my hon. Friend give any estimate of the number of unemployed men who will be employed upon this scheme?

No, Sir, that depends upon the scheme as finally adjusted between the interests concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to cases in which employers who have deducted the necessary money from wages have failed to put stamps on the insurance cards of the employés, and that a number of employés are in peril of losing health and widows' pension insurance benefit in consequence and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The attention of my right hon. Friend has been called to certain cases of the kind referred to by the hon. Member in which insured persons have been placed in arrears through the non-payment of contributions by employers who have become insolvent. I am advised, however, that consequent on the receipt of a dividend, in respect of unpaid contributions, from the bankrupt estate of the employer concerned in the last outstanding case the prospect of the loss of health insurance benefits or pension rights by any of the employés as a direct result is the default is remote. As regards the latter part of the question, my right hon. Friend is at present considering, in collaboration with the Minister of Health, what steps can be taken to safeguard insured persons from loss owing to the default of insolvent employers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the total ex penditure of each education authority in Scotland the State grants formed in 1929–30; and what proportion they form under the draft regulations now upon the Table of the House?

As the answer includes a large number of figures, I will, with the hon. and learned Member's permission, circulate it with the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to introduces a Bill to provide for the probation of young offenders in Scotland?

I hope to be able to introduce a Probation Bill for Scotland at an early date.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that over a year ago he assured me that this subject was under active consideration?

And you can have my assurance again.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government, in view of the measure of agreement disclosed in the report of the Ullswater Committee, to introduce during the present Session legislation on electoral reform, including the alternative vote, reduction of election expenses, party election expenditure, speakers' expenses, motor cars, plural voting, half-yearly registers, returning officers' deposits, double-membered constituencies, and election petitions?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 10th November in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Sir G.Penny)

Will the Prime Minister bear in mind that there are over 5,000,000 Liberal electors in this country who are very inadequately represented—[Laughter]—hon. Members laugh too soon—who are very inadequately represented numerically?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has considered the interim report of the Gold Delegation of the Financial Committee of the League of Nations, in which it is stated that the supply of new gold available for monetary purposes will be inadequate by 1934 unless measures to alleviate the situation are adopted in time; and what action the Government proposes to take in the matter in cooperation with other nations?

I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave to a similar question put to me by the hon. Member on the 4th November.

Is not the Chancellor of the Exchequer aware that there are certain recommendations in the interim report which might be carried out at once, and will he give them his consideration?

I stated, in reply to the previous question of the hon. Member, that in any case no action could be taken until the Committee had made a further report.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Genoa Conference recommended a conference of Central Banks to consider this question as long ago as 1922, and, as the time is now ripe for its consideration, will he not consider it?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated revenue to be derived from a 10 per cent, registration duty on all imported goods other than essential foodstuffs?

By a "10 percent registration duty on all imported goods" the hon. Member presumably means a 10 percent general tariff. I would point out that the yield of such a tariff would depend, not only on what is to be excluded from duty as "essential foodstuffs," but also on the amount of imports at the time the tax was imposed, on the effect of the tax itself in curtailing such imports, and on the extent to which drawbacks would be payable on exports made from, or containing, dutypaid imports. In the absence of data on all these points I am unable to give the estimate asked for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Treasury is satisfied that adequate funds, as and when required, will be made available in the United Kingdom by the Australian Government to meet any sums that may become payable to trustee stockholders in this country?

If the right hon. Gentleman will refer to the copy of the conditions prescribed by the Treasury under the Colonial Stock Act, which I sent him on the 20th November, he will see that the requirement referred to in his question governs the original addition of a stock to the list. This point apart, it would be improper for me to express, and I must not be taken as expressing, any opinion on a matter which is exclusively one between a Dominion Government and its bondholders. All the same, unless there is evidence to the contrary, I shall believe that every Government in the Empire will always do whatever is necessary to meet its obligation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Imperial Conference discussed the desirability of the continuance, or amendment, or abolition of the system by which trustee stocks are admitted to the Treasury list of trustee securities under the Colonial Stock Act, 1900; and whether any decision was arrived at?

The Imperial Conference resolved to approve the Report of the Conference on the Operation of Dominion Legislation held in 1929 (Command Paper 3479), which included in paragraph 24 a reference to the Colonial Stock Act, 1900.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that timber which is being imported into this country from Soviet Russia is prepared by convict labour; and whether the Commissioners of Customs are taking steps to prevent the importation of such timber under Section 1 of the Foreign Prison-made Goods Act, 1897, and Section 42 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1872?