asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government have any declaration to make with reference to the possible extension of the obligations of minority treaties to other countries not at present bound thereby arising out of the debates in the Sixth Committee of the Eleventh Assembly of the League of Nations?

No proposal for the extension of the obligations of minority treaties to countries at present not bound by them was put forward during the debates in the Sixth Committee of the Assembly of the League of Nations last September. If such a proposal were made in the future, His Majesty's Government would naturally give it their careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the condition of the inhabitants in Eastern Galicia has been, or is to be, considered by the Minorities Committee of the League of Nations; and whether His Majesty's Government is taking, or has taken any, action in this matter?

I have no information that a petition from the Ukranian Minority in Eastern Galicia has been received by the Secretariat General of the League of Nations, but I am making inquiries at Geneva. It is, of course, the duty of the representative of His Majesty's Government on the Council of the League to examine with due care any petition which may come before that body.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any dispatch on this matter has been received from Warsaw?

There is another question dealing with that point.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the present situation in China; and what is the present position of the negotiations in relation to extra-territorial rights?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make any statement on the question of extra-territoriality between His Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government?

As regards the present position in China, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Day) on the 19th of November. As regards extra-territoriality, the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, in conversation with His Majesty's Minister on the 20th of November, referred to the draft proposals of His Majesty's Government, and made certain criticisms. I understand that counter proposals are likely to be received shortly.

Is it proposed to go on with these negotiations, having regard to the unsettled state of the country? Is it not advisable to leave them in abeyance?

I am very well aware of the unsettled state of the country, but I do not see that we should improve matters by allowing these negotiations to stand still.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that he must negotiate with somebody who can give a responsible undertaking?

Yes, the Government are fully aware of that.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any reply has been sent by the other six Powers which were approached by China.

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received information from Shanghai that the claims of British creditors of China are being or will be considered in the negotiations for the consolidation of the unsecured and inadequately secured foreign obligations of China; and, if not, whether he will instruct His Majesty's Minister to take steps to defend the interests of all British creditors?

Yes, Sir. The claims of all British creditors are being fully considered in the discussions with the Chinese Government which have been proceeding at Nanking. His Majesty's Minister has made it clear that any solution proposed by the Chinese Government should provide for the payment in full of all valid British claims at the earliest possible moment.

Does that include Mr. Valpy's claim?

I cannot give any information about an individual case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the present position of the negotiations with the Soviet delegates as to claims and counter claims; and whether he can asure the House that it is still the intention of the Government not to guarantee any loan to the Soviet Russian Government in connection with the debts due to British nationals?

As regards the first part of the question I have nothing to add to my reply of the 19th of November to the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison). As regards the second part, the policy of His Majesty's Government remains as stated in this House on the 5th November, 1929, and again on the 27th of January last.

Arising out of the answer to the first part of the question, can the right hon. Gentleman indicate how long he thinks these negotiations are likely to continue, and when there is any likelihood of a statement?

As I have informed the House, we have done all that we can to get on with them, but there are many difficulties.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how he reconciles that statement with the fact that His Majesty's Government are now—

Sir Kingsley Wood.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Joint Anglo-Soviet Committee appointed to deal with the claims arising from the compulsory acquisition of the property of British nationals by the Soviet Government expect to be in a position to take evidence from claimants?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 19th of November, to which I have, at present, nothing to add.

Having regard to the time which has elapsed, can the right hon. Gentleman say why no attempt is made to get evidence and to receive the claims of the claimants?

I have already announced to the House that there are certain difficulties. We are getting on as fast as we can.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received a report of His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow on the subject of forced labour in the Soviet Union?

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade, on the 17th of November. His Majesty's Government are prepared to lay as a White Paper the principal ordinances dealing with labour conditions in the Soviet Union.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the White Paper will include the conditions which are laid down as regards the conscription of child labour in Russia also?

I think that is an entirely new point, and I must have notice of it.

Will those ordinances include the various ordinances of the Soviet Government for the conscription of labour?

I have promised to lay papers.

Does the right hon. Gentleman maintain the distinction between forced labour and slave labour which has been put forward?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has made any representations to the Soviet Government similar to those officially announced to have been made by the French Government, protesting against the allegation officially advanced in the 10-day defence programme that the British Government have been involved with the French Government and a group of Russian professors in a plot for the invasion of the United States of Soviet Russia?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a statement by Krylenko, the official prosecutor of Soviet Russia, in his indictment of certain Russian industrialists, that the Governments of France and England have planned intervention in Russia for 1931; and if he will protest, as the French Government has already done, against this accusation?

The documents, issued to the Russian Press in connection with these proceedings, include a number of depositions by private individuals, in some of which unfounded accusations are made against various British subjects and also against His Majesty's Government. By far the greater part of these accusations relate to the years 1927–1928. The summary accompanying these depositions, citing the alleged offences of the accused, and signed by the Public Prosecutor, contains passages involving another foreign Power, but makes no reference to His Majesty's Government or to any British subject. There are, therefore, no grounds for a protest to the Soviet Government.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the issue of the paper "Pravda" of the 11th November, which directly charges His Majesty's Government, in agreement with the French Government, with preparing for intervention in Russia next year; and does he not think it is his duty, in the interests of ordinary humanity, to assist these people who are being tried for their lives?

I have not seen the paper to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. If he will supply me with any point upon which he thinks I can take further action, I shall be very pleased to have it.

Is it not a fact that in addition to the private persons who have substantiated this statement, the Soviet Government themselves, in the trial which is now proceeding, associated themselves with this statement, and added the British Government to it?

If the right hon. Gentleman will supply me with the information upon which this statement is based I will look into the matter.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that if a copy of "Pravda" is supplied to him he will see that it is not one which was printed in this country?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now inform the House of the result of the representations made by His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow to the Soviet Government, on 2nd November last, with regard to the arbitral award in favour of Lena Goldfields, Limited?

I am still awaiting the reply of the Soviet Government.

It is now over a month since the right hon. Gentleman requested a reply, and do we understand that in a matter of this importance he has as yet had no reply from the Ambassador?

That is correct.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what was the cost price delivered at a Russian port of the sugar bought by Russia in Cuba and refined here and guaranteed under our export credit scheme?

I am precluded from giving particulars of individual transactions under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme. As the hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension I must point out that the sugar in respect of which guarantees were given was bought by Russia here and not in Cuba.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he will ask the British Ambassador to make inquiries concerning certain decrees of the Rumanian Government giving detailed instructions for the manufacture and dumping of a large number of commodities;

(2) whether he will ask the British Ambassador to make inquiries concerning certain decrees of the German Government giving detailed instructions for the manufacture and dumping of a large number of commodities;

(3) whether he will ask the British Ambassador to make inquiries concerning certain decrees of the Government of Yugoslavia giving detailed instructions for the manufacture and dumping of a large number of commodities?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will ask the British Ambassador to make inquiries concerning certain decrees of the Government of Czechoslovakia giving detailed instructions for the manufacture and dumping of a large number of commodities?

I have no information regarding the decrees said to have been issued by the German, Czechoslovak, Yugoslav and Rumanian Governments, but I am prepared to make inquiries of His Majesty's Representatives in the countries in question.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the announcement by the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs that for the first time the British Labour party, through the Government, has placed on record and declares that in its opinion preferences within the Empire have been of mutual advantage to all parts of the Empire; whether this statement represents the policy of the Cabinet; and whether, in view of the decision to stabilise existing tariff agreements for a period of three years, it is still intended to remove all existing food duties before this Parliament ends?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that, as my right hon. Friend explained on the occasion in question, "preferences" need not necessarily be tariff preferences but that mutual advantage could be obtained by other means. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer to the statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech on 14th April last, in which he said:

"It is our intention to do so"—i.e., remove existing food duties—"before this Parliament ends—four years hence."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 14th April, 1930, col. 2672, vol. 237.]

There is, therefore, nothing inconsistent between that statement of intention and the Government's present position.

The right hon. Gentleman has purported to answer the first part of the question and the last. Would he mind answering the middle part, whether the statement of the Secretary of State for the Dominions represents the policy of the Cabinet?

That is included in the first and the last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has anything to report to the House in connection with the most recent conference in Manchester between representatives of the Government and representative sections of the cotton trade?

My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, and I continued our discussion with representatives of the Federation of Master Cotton Spinners' Associations of questions arising out of the report of the Committee on the cotton industry. The questions discussed were the value of the formation of larger units as an aid to the restoration of the spinning section; certain technical matters such as the use of Indian cotton, and the effect of external factors on the prosperity of the industry. We also received a deputation representing the sub-committees of the American and Egyptian Spinners' Con- ventions by which it is proposed to regulate the production and price of yarn. The promoters of the American scheme asked that statutory powers should be obtained to secure the universal adoption of the scheme. My right hon. Friend and I promised to give most careful consideration to these proposals, but, as they affect every section of the industry, it will be necessary to obtain the views of others who may be interested before forming any opinion upon them. We hope to continue our discussions with representatives of the manufacturers at an early date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what was the meaning of the expression used by his right hon. Friend when he used these words: "That there are supplementary lines of financial assistance yet to be devised by the Government"?

I think there must be a misconception on that point. There was much discussion of financial assistance, and, of course, it has always been made perfectly clear there can be no question of Government contribution.

Are the trade unions in the cotton industry being consulted upon this question of reorganisation?

Oh, certainly. They have their part in the Joint Committee, and the Home Secretary and I saw them separately during our former visit, and will see them again on subsequent visits.

Has the right hon. Gentleman changed his mind, and does he think the Government can do something to help the cotton industry?

No, Sir, there has been no change of mind at all. We are doing everything in our power by discussion now with the individual sections to promote the necessary reorganisation. That has been our policy all along since the report of the committee was published.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will investigate the possibility of arranging for United Kingdom firms to purchase Southern Rhodesian chrome ore in return for Southern Rhodesian exporters purchasing United Kingdom hardware and textiles, so as to divert to the United Kingdom purchases by Southern Rhodesia which are now placed outside the United Kingdom as a result of the export of Southern Rhodesian chrome ore to non-British countries?

No, Sir. This country already satisfies most of her requirements of chromium ore from Southern Rhodesia. The trade returns for last year indicate that of our imports of this commodity, amounting in value to £110,243 in all, nearly £80,000 worth was of Southern Rhodesian origin, while a further £14,000 worth was derived from other sources within the Empire.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what is the minimum sum which it is proposed to allocate annually to the support of the Empire Marketing Board in order to implement the recommendation of the Imperial Conference regarding the income of that body?

The matter is being considered, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received a report from His Majesty's Ambassador at Warsaw concerning the treatment of the Ukranian minority by the Polish authorities; what is the nature of the report; and whether it is intended to take any action?

Yes, Sir. I have just received a report from His Majesty's Ambassador at Warsaw containing a summary of recent events in Eastern Galicia. The report is now being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information concerning the deten- tion of Dr. William Dey, a British-Canadian subject, on 21st October, 1930, by the Polish authorities at Lemberg; what was the reason for the detention; and whether he is aware that Dr. Dey was refused permission to communicate with the British Consul, Mr. Taylor?

Yes, Sir. The circumstances of this case have been reported to me, and I have instructed His Majesty's Ambassador at Warsaw to make appropriate representations to the Polish Government.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) what increase in complement has been authorised for the depot record offices, or is the existing staff expected to cope with this additional duty;

(2) if he will state, with reference to Fleet Orders 1,523 and 1,864 of 1930, what reduction is being effected in the Admiralty staff by the transfer of certain records, etc., to the home ports and Royal Marine divisions?

A reduction of five has already been made in the clerical staff of the Admiralty on account of this transfer of work, and it is anticipated that a further reduction of seven will ultimately be effected on the same account, making a total reduction of 12. No increase of complement has been authorised for the depot record offices, as the change is expected to admit of the simplification, in certain respects, of the work now performed there.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if the figures given as to the rent of the British Embassy at Moscow include rates and taxes; and what sum is being spent on putting the building in order?

The system of rating in Moscow is not similar to that in this country. So far as I am aware, the only liabilities falling on the Embassy are in respect of the removal of rubbish, the keeping in proper order of the pave- ment in front of the property, and the removal of snow from the house and frontage. A sum of £13,750 is being spent on adaptations and redecorations.

Does not the borough council of Moscow remove the rubbish?

They have not come quite up-to-date, but they are copying the old system of Great Britain with regard to household rubbish.

Is there a borough council of Moscow?

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the £20,000 paid as an initial sum for the British Embassy in Moscow includes the expenses involved in repairing and decorating the Embassy?

No, Sir. The sum of £20,000 was paid for possession and is distinct from the cost of adaptations and redecoration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many temporary women clerks under 18 years of age are employed in the various Government Departments?

On the 1st April last, which is the latest date for which figures are available, the number of female temporary graded clerks under 18 years of age employed in the various Departments was 49.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many battleships and battle-cruisers, respectively, are now in commission, reserve, and in reserve commission; and what will be the total saving under all heads if the obligations under the Five-Power Naval Treaty signed this year were anticipated by reducing our capital ship strength to 15 ships of the line now?

As the answer is very long, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Would the right hon. Gentleman give me the one figure asked for in the last part of the question?

I give a figure of £4,000,000, which is indicated in Command Paper 3547.

Is it £4,000,000 a year?

No, it is £4,000,000 for the period of the Treaty.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the scales of pension and contributions have not been revised for nearly 100 years; and if he will consider a revision of pensions and contributions of established men in the Royal Dockyards?

I cannot accept the hon. and gallant Member's statement that the pensions of established men working in His Majesty's Dockyards have not been revised for nearly 100 years. In common with those of other established civil servants, the scales of these pensions were revised by the Superannuation Act of 1909. The pensions are non-contributory and I do not propose to consider their revision.

Do not the established men contribute to pensions?

Not by actual contributions.

Half-a-crown a week.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that of the amount of Admiralty orders given to Vickers-Armstrongs little has actually been put in hand by the firm, and that unemployment figures in Barrow-in-Furness are mounting up; if he can say whether any arrangement has been made with this firm as to when the work on Admiralty orders should commence; and if he will see that this work is expedited?

I am not aware that there has been any delay in proceeding with Admiralty work which is being executed at Barrow by Vickers-Armstrongs. The contracts specify definite dates for completion of the work which is subject to inspection by Admi- ralty officers to ensure that proper progress is maintained and I have no reason to believe that delivery dates will not be kept.

Would the First Lord of the Admiralty consider in future making some arrangement as to the commencing date in order to obviate any holding back and creating unemployment?

I have no information that there has been any holding back. It is usual, after the acceptance of tenders, for time to elapse for the necessary technical preparations and detailed drawings and the like. I do not think it was possible that it could have been done sooner.

in view of the very serious charge which the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. Bromley) has made, will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter, and give an emphatic denial to those allegations. I would like to ask the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness if he is prepared to repeat his statement outside.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker, may I claim your protection from the insulting asides of the Noble Lord the Member for Horsham, who has asked me to repeat outside some imaginary allegation which I have not made. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to protect me, if you will, from this kind of insinuation, because the Noble Lord may be taken at his word some time.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not a perfectly well-known rule of this House that any hon. Member may challenge another hon. Member who makes a statement containing a most serious allegation against an outside body, in this case, an allegation that a firm or firms had attempted deliberately to cause unemployment, to make that statement outside the House?

It is a very well-known rule that allegations against individuals or firms are not allowed in questions in this House and consequently should not be allowed in supplementary questions. Had I noticed that the hon. Member was making an allegation, I should have called him to order.

Withdraws!

On a point of Order. May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, if it has not always been the practice in this House that questions referring to Government contracts may be challenged in the manner indicated in this question?

Allegations reflecting on a firm or anybody else are not allowed in questions.

Further to that point of Order. With all respect to you, and with great regret, seeing that you, the President of this assembly, did not know what was not there, as you have indicated, I would ask you, Mr. Speaker, if you are prepared to ask the Noble Lord to withdraw his insinuation?

Withdraw your allegation.

It is somewhat difficult sometimes in regard to supplementary questions to catch exactly what was said. I think we had better allow this matter to drop.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the difficulty admitted in July last in getting men for the Royal Navy to serve as engine-room artificers has been overcome; and, if so, how many of the men examined at Chatham, Devon-port and Plymouth were found suitable for the work?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The number of men examined and entered after passing the trade test at Chatham, Devonport and Portsmouth—it is assumed the question should have read "Portsmouth" instead of "Plymouth"—for Acting Engine-Room Artificers Fourth Class between 1st August and 15th November, 1930, is 45.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why, seeing that in the past men applying for services as engine-room artificers in the Royal Navy had to secure 60 per cent. marks in their tests, etc., to qualify, in recent examinations the marks necessary to qualify were 40 per cent. at Chatham and 30 per cent. at Portsmouth; and why the system of marking is not the same at all parts?

The difference in marking referred to is accounted for by variations in the nature of the test jobs at the ports in question. I wish to state specifically, however, that there has been no lowering of the standard required.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what pension is paid to engine-room artificers and chief engine-room artificers on completion of 22 years' service; and whether pension is counted to men invalided four, six, or eight months after any completed year which falls short of the full pensionable term of service?

The rates of pension vary according to circumstances, but the present average is £98 a year for an engine-room artificer and £99 a year for a chief engine-room artificer. In regard to the latter part of the question, the constituent elements of a pension, i.e., basic service rate and rank additions are allowed on complete years of service only.

In the event of a man being invalided with 10 months to his credit, is the whole of that period taken into consideration or is it absolutely lost to the man in question?

It must be taken upon the actual completed year, because we must work out our scheme on an actuarial basis.

Another promise gone west.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the statement in the Secretary of State's Memorandum on Native Policy in East Africa, that persons of every race, coloured no less than white, have a right to equal treatment in accordance with their several needs, the Government of Kenya Colony has yet advised him as to any amendments which will be required in existing legislation in order to bring it into strict conformity with the policy laid down in the said memorandum?

Yes, Sir. A telegraphic statement has been received from the Acting Governor of Kenya. From this it appears that a few amendments in the Colony legislation may be desirable; but the matter cannot be dealt with satisfactorily by telegraph, and the Acting Governor will forward a comprehensive statement by mail for ray Noble Friend's consideration.

Does the hon. Gentleman accept the implication in the question that the several races are not receiving equal treatment?

I did not notice any implication.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the dissatisfaction which has been caused to the white popu- lation of Northern Rhodesia by the issue of Command Paper 3573, the Memorandum on Native Policy in East Africa, the Government will issue at an early date a further document to modify or to explain more fully the native policy expounded in that memorandum?

His Majesty's Government have no intention of modifying their native policy. The memorandum has been fully explained to the elected members and other residents of Northern Rhodesia by the Governor, in a statement of which a summary was published in the Press of the 29th October.

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that the people living on the spot are much the best judges?

If that were true, and if that advice had always been acted upon, we should still have had slavery in the West Indies.

Has the hoe. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that the permanent European population of Northern Rhodesia is being increased at the present time to the extent of something like 4,000 a year by immigration of British subjects from Southern Rhodesia and the Union; and does he not think it highly desirable, if a serious crisis is to be avoided, that the Europeans should be taken into consultation?

We have had full evidence of the views of those to whom the Noble Lord refers, in the memorandum, of which he is well aware, and a reply by His Majesty's Government has been sent.

Does not the hon. Gentleman know that we have starvation in the West Indies under the present Government's policy?

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply to my original question, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the question of native policy in Northern Rhodesia on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House at an early date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations have been invited to express approval or disapproval of both White Papers issued by the Government in regard to East Africa before the proposals therein contained are considered by the Joint Select Committee of both Houses of Parliament; and whether the Permanent Mandates Commission has been asked to express views on the White Papers generally or only on the limited point as to whether the policies proposed are compatible with the terms of the actual mandate for Tanganyika Territory?

No, Sir. The statement of conclusions with regard to Closer Union in East Africa has been communicated to the Permanent Mandates Commission, who have thus an opportunity of commenting on it if they so wish. The other White Paper, on Native Policy, has not been communicated officially.

Do I understand that the White Papers which have been issued are having a very serious and far-reaching effect upon the future policy of His Majesty's Government in mandated territories; and do I understand that they were issued without consultation with the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations?

I do not admit that there will be a serious effect in the sense which the hon. and gallant Member seems to indicate. The real point is that the statement on Closer Union had a definite relationship with the work of the Mandates Commission, but the other Paper was a general statement of policy which had no specific reference to mandated territories.

What does the hon. Gentleman understand by the word "communicated"? What does the phrase "communicated to the Permanent Mandates Commission" mean? Are they asked to express an opinion, or are they to take it as a decision of His Majesty's Government?

I should not have thought that the right hon. Gentleman would require me to define what "communicated" means. It means "sent." The papers have been sent to the Permanent Mandates Commission. As I have said, if they care to make any comment upon them, that is their affair, but they have not been invited to do so.

Will the hon. Gentleman publish tile covering letter that went with the documents?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to secure the classification of prisoners and the establishment of separate reformative institutions for young offenders in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, respectively, since the publication of the annual report for 1928 for these Colonies?

As the answer is necessarily a, long one, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government have received recommendations from the Governor of Nyasaland for the modification of the Crown Lands Bill, which has been before the legislative council of Nyasaland for the past two and a-half years; and, if so, whether the Government accept those recommendations?

My Noble Friend, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, has not been able to accept all the recommendations which have been received from the Governor of Nyasaland with regard to the Crown Lands Bill. They are still under discussion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps, if any, have been taken to abate the overcrowding of the prisons in Kenya referred to the report of 1928, and to provide sufficient cubic air space for prisoners at night?

There has been a general improvement in the health of the inmates of prisons in Kenya during 1929 and the first six months of 1030 as compared with 1928; but the relation between the sick rate and the type of accommodation afforded to prisoners, especially in the Nairobi prison, requires further investigation. In connection with a proposal to provide a sum of £95,000 for prison accommodation in the new Kenya loan schedule, which is now under consideration, it is intended that a committee should be set up in the Colony to make recommendations as to the best way of dealing with long-term prisoners, whether by the establishment of a central prison or by the establishment of several district prisons; and it has been suggested to the Acting Governor by my Noble Friend that this committee should inquire into the question of prison accommodation in the Colony generally, including the provision of adequate cubic space For each prisoner.

Does the hon. Gentleman dissent in any way from the facts alleged in the question; and, if he does not dissent, how is it that, after two years have elapsed, these disgraceful conditions are allowed to continue?

I think it is generally agreed that the prison accommodation in Kenya is not entirely satisfactory; but, during the two years to which the right hon. and gallant Gentleman refers, very definite improvements have been made, and I have announced measures for dealing with the matter still further.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Samburu tribe in Kenya Colony is still occupying their lands; and for what purpose was the survey for farms recently carried out in the Loroki Hills?

Yes, Sir. The Samburu are still in occupation of the area to which they were given provisional access. The question of making other arrangements for the tribe is still under the consideration of the Kenya Government, and no definite recommendation has yet been submitted. If a survey has recently been made of the nature stated by my hon. Friend on the Loroki plateau, it can be be provisional only, as no new arrangement for land for the Samburu could be made without reference to my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of contracts which have been let in respect of the approaches to the projected Lower Zambesi Bridge; the value of the contracts so let; the nationalities of the contractors to whom they have been let; the number of Europeans employed on the construction of these approaches; and what proportion of these persons are of British nationality?

The main approach is to be constructed by the Cleveland Bridge arid Engineering Company, a British firm, at a cost of £355,348, which is included in the total figure of £1,434,337 already communicated to the House. Certain preliminary work on these approaches has already been done by the companies concerned, who have made local contracts for parts of the construction. I have not the particulars desired of these small local contracts, but will obtain them if the hon. Member wishes.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the total amount of the contracts that will come to this country?

I gave that a few days ago; I am sorry I have not the figures with me now.

As the hon. Gentleman has been good enough to say that he will obtain particulars, will he please do so?

Yes, Sir.

Has any date been fixed for the completion of this work; and, if not, can the hon. Gentleman say approximately when the work will be finished?

No, Sir; I should require notice of that question.

Can we have some idea as to what will be the effect in this country as regards employment?

That is a different question.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government has decided to set a limit to the indebtedness of the Unemployment Insurance Fund?

This indebtedness is already limited by statute.

Do we understand that the Government intend to continue to exceed their borrowing powers?

We do not exceed our borrowing powers. We can only borrow by leave of the House of Commons.

asked the Minister of Labour how long the domestic training centres for middle-aged women at Burnley, and Sheffield have now been in operation; how many women have commenced and completed the courses, respectively, at each training centre; and how many of the trainees have been found employment as a result?

The Burnley Centre was opened on 19th June last and the first course ended on the 15th October. 42 women entered and 37 completed the course. The corresponding dates for Sheffield were 10th July and 19th November, and 40 women entered of whom 30 completed the course. These courses which are conducted by the Central Committee on Women's Training and Employment are experimental, and as the hon. Member will see the first courses have only just been completed. I am having detailed inquiry made as to the results of the training and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

Do they go voluntarily or are they compelled to go?

They go voluntarily.

Is the right hon. Lady satisfied that these training centres for middle-aged women are likely to be successful, and does she not consider it desirable to limit them to the younger women?

These are two experimental courses to see if anything can be done for the middle-aged women. am now waiting for the full report as to whether they shall he continued.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any further meetings of the three-party conference on unemployment are to take place; if so, when; and, if not, whether the members of the conference have been so informed?

The proceedings of this Committee were definitely brought to a conclusion at its last meeting a little time ago.

Will the right hon. Lady reply to the last part of the question?