asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many educable mental defectives in Scotland are receiving suitable education; what are the size and number of the classes; and what is the total expenditure?

The number of educable mentally defective children between five and 16 years of age receiving instruction in special schools, classes and residential institutions in Scotland is 3,938. I am unable to state the precise number of the classes, but the number of children in a class is limited to 20. The statistical information available does not enable me to separate the expenditure on such instruction from the other expenditure of the education authorities.

How many of these children are receiving institutional training as well as educational training?

I cannot tell without notice, but if the hon. Gentleman puts down a question, I will inquire.

Do the figures include home training?

They refer to special schools, classes, and residential institutions.

Will the hon. Gentleman endeavour to persuade people not to use the word "educable," which is rather an atrocity?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school children in the Partick parliamentary division have been involved in street-vehicle accidents during the last 12 months; the number of any involving loss of life; and how many such accidents occurred on Dumbarton Road between Crow Road and Victoria Drive?

Four children between the ages of five and 16 were killed, and 87 were injured, in street accidents occurring in the Par-tick parliamentary division during the year ending 30th November, 1930. Of these, three children were killed, and 51 were injured, in accidents on Dumbarton Road between Crow Road and Victoria Drive.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the distance of the road mentioned is only one mile, and will he take steps, in conjunction with the chief constable, to see that there is some police supervision over this particular area?

I will have that looked into.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the sale of Ben Lomond; and whether he will take steps by legislation, if necessary, to ensure that the right of access of the public to this and other mountains will be preserved?

Yes, Sir. I have seen reports of the sale of Ben Lomond in the Press, but I have no reason to apprehend that the new proprietor will be less careful of public rights and privileges than was his predecessor. As regards the second part of the question, I am not in a, position to give any undertaking as to legislation on the lines of the Access to Mountains Bill.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that while the new proprietor has certainly given very satisfactory assurances on this point, he may sell it again; and is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the powers that he has to protect the public rights?

I cannot anticipate what a new proprietor may do.

Was not Ben Lomond offered to the State in payment of Death Duties?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the sale of this mountain shows the need of giving facilities for the passing of the Access to Mountains Bill?

I have already referred to that.

Does not this indicate that, if the Germans had been wise in their day and generation, they would not have had a war, because the dukes would have sold Scotland to them for money?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to make a statement with reference to the St. Kildans, who were recently removed from their island homes and settled elsewhere?

The answer is in the affirmative. I shall circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the statement :

The 36 persons comprising the native population of St. Kilda were transferred from the island to the mainland on the 29th. August, 1930. Of these, 28 persons have been settled in Morvern, Argyllshire, where housing accommodation, and employment for the able-bodied males, have been found by the Forestry Commission. For the present, two widows are living in one house but active search is at present being made for a suitable house for one of these widows and her two daughters. Two families who considered the houses provided rather isolated are about to be transferred to other houses in the same district recently purchased by the Forestry Commission.

One family (man and wife) have meantime been settled in Culross, Fife, the man being employed at the Tulliallan nursery of the Forestry Commission. This house (the only one meantime available) is some distance from the man's work but arrangements are being made to transfer him at an early date to a house recently purchased by the Forestry Commission.

One household (consisting of a man, his wife, and her father) has been temporarily settled at Ardnarff, Strome Ferry, Boss-shire, where the man is working on a Forestry Commission scheme. As soon as a house can be built for them this family will be transferred to the Tulliallan estate of the Forestry Commission where they will be near to the family already at Tulliallan who are relatives.

For one man employed by the Inverness County Council lodgings were found in Inverness. A house, has, however, now been found for him and his housekeeper and occupation is to be given tomorrow (Wednesday, 10th). The housekeeper is a widow and her daughter, who was at first settled in domestic service in Skye, is at present residing with her with a view to entering such employment near Inverness.

As many of the islanders' sheep as could be brought away were sold by auction at Oban and it has been decided in the special circumstances to distribute the whole proceeds among the former stock owners without deduction in respect of expenses of transport and sale. It is hoped to make the distribution this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he is prepared to provide for a milk allowance for all children of unemployed parents, in view of the results derived from the Lanarkshire experiment?

My right hon. Friend has no statutory power to act as my hon. Friend suggests. Local authorities who are operating a child welfare scheme under the Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915, have adequate powers to provide necessary supplies of milk to children under school age. The Education (Scotland) Act, which was passed last Session, confers powers on local authorities to provide milk to school children, and a joint memorandum, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, was recently issued on the subject by the Scottish Education Department and the Department of Health for Scotland.

In view of the advantages of the experiment in Lanarkshire, will my hon. Friend send the results of that experiment to all local authorities, and advise that a like scheme should be put into operation?

I cannot advise that a like scheme should be put into operation. We are printing in full the results of that experiment, and it will he available to the public very shortly.

Will the hon. Gentleman take what steps he can to see that any milk that is provided—

That question does not arise out of the answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has called together representatives from the whole of the public assistance committees of Scotland, as promised during July, 1930, with a view to raising the scales of relief?

My right hon. Friend indicated in July last his intention to have a friendly discussion on the subject of allowances to children with some of the authorities concerned, as soon as possible after the new public assistance committees had had an opportunity of considering the problem with which they had to deal. Before any joint meeting with representatives of certain county and burghal authorities would be likely to achieve any beneficial result, it is essential that the wide disparities in rates of relief within certain of the industrial counties should be minimised. To this end, a conference between Lanarkshire authorities and the Members of Parliament for the county has been held and, before taking any further steps in the matter, my right hon. Friend will await the result of this conference.

When this promise of a friendly discussion was made in July, it was with a view to raising the scales of relief to children, and as it is six months since then, is it not advisable to get a move on to raise the scale for children of unemployed parents?

That is precisely why these informal conferences are being held. My right hon. Friend has no compulsory powers in the matter, but we are doing our utmost in the only way that is open to us.

Is there any intention of applying for compulsory powers?

I cannot answer that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the hardship now existing among the unemployed and sick poor in the face of the cold weather and the cost of fuel, he will take steps to circularise the local authorities, asking them to increase the payments in respect of relief and particularly to make an increase during the Christmas and New Year weeks?

My right hon. Friend is advised that any such recommendation as is suggested in the question is out-with his statutory powers. Under the Scottish Poor Law, an authority is required to grant needful assistance for the maintenance of health. But subject to this statutory limitation, the Department of Health have always agreed to a variation from the approved dietary in poor-houses at Christmas or the New Year.

What is the increased cost of the coal referred to in the question owing to the Coal Mines Act?

I could not possibly answer that question without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is prepared to advise a reduction of rents for the Government steel houses at Shettleston?

The Second Scottish National Housing Company is bound to-fix the rents for the houses in conformity with the rents charged for houses of similar accommodation in the district. The rents charged at the site are, I am informed, the same as those charged and secured at other Glasgow sites for the same types, except in one case where rents were reduced owing to a scarcity of tenants.

Seeing that there is no comparison between the Government steel houses and the corporation houses of a like size adjoining, would the hon. Gentleman advise a reduction in rent in view of the inferior type of the house as compared with the corporation house of equal rent?

The information I have is that the rents were fixed in conformity with the rents fixed for other steel houses in the district, but I will inquire into it.

What is the cause of there being a scarcity of tenants?

I cannot say without notice.

The houses were built by "scab" labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that other approved societies than the Prudential have now issued notices to their members stating that, owing to their having had a long period of unemployment, from 1st January, 1931, they will not be entitled to benefits from either health insurance or from the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Pensions Contributory Acts; and, in view of the alarm that is being felt on this matter, if he proposes taking any immediate action?

I am having a meeting with the Scottish Approved Societies Consultative Council to-morrow, and the Government hope to be in a position immediately to make an announcement as to the steps which require to be taken.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are only now three days of Parliamentary time left to the Government, and will he state when a definite announcement will be made?

I am aware of the shortness of time, but, as I have already pointed out in the answer, this is being discussed with the Consultative Council to-morrow, and we hope to be able to make an announcement at an early date.

As we have only three days Parliamentary time left, will the right hon. Gentleman state definitely what day the announcement will be made?

I cannot say that at the moment.

In view of the seriousness of the position, and the fact that this question was brought to the right hon. Gentleman's notice months ago, will he state the cause of the delay in coming to a decision?

The hon. Member must remember that many factors have to be considered before the matter is decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take in the case of members of the Dumbarton County Council who are unemployed and are refused unemployment benefit on days they attend meetings of the council and also refused payment by the county council on the ground that they have no lost time?

I refer to the reply given to the hon. Member's question on this subject on the 4th November. I am informed by the Ministry of Labour that the member of the county council therein referred to has not yet taken the requisite steps to claim benefit in respect of days on which he attended meetings of the council, and that until he does so the question of his right to benefit cannot be determined. Only one such case has been brought to the notice of the Ministry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is proposed to proceed with the construction of the Bays of Harris road; and what is the cause of the delay?

The work will be commenced shortly. The adjustment of terms and conditions between the parties concerned has necessarily taken time, but there has been no avoidable delay.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether and, if so, when it is proposed this Session to introduce a Bill for the nationalisation of mining royalties?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave the hon. and gallant Member for the Northern Division of Leeds (Captain Peake) on the 2nd December, to which I have nothing to add.

Is the hon. Member aware that as long ago as last February the President of the Board of Trade informed me that a Bill would be introduced in the near future, and may I ask what is the present position?

asked the Secretary for Mines where, and to what extent, there have been any increase in the price of coal since the Coal Mines Act, 1930, came into operation?

Detailed statistics of coal prices are not collected by my Department, but a summary of the financial returns of the coal industry is published every quarter. The schemes under Part In of the Coal Mines Act,

That may be so; but it does not affect my answer.

Has the Bill been definitely abandoned now?

Nothing has been definitely abandoned.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state the amounts paid as royalty rents for the following districts, Northumberland, Durham, and Kent, for the quarters ended March, June, and September, 1930, and the corresponding amount paid out of the industry for local rates, i.e., for the social services administered by the Northumberland, Durham, and Kent County Councils and the respective rural and district councils in those counties?

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

Following is the answer :

1930, did not come into operation until the end of October, and statistics of the financial returns of the industry for any period covering the operation of the schemes are therefore not yet available.

Is it not a fact that there has been a considerable increase in the price of coal?

Where?

If the hon. Member has any information, I shall be glad to receive it.

But I am asking the hon. Gentleman.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Minister of Labour, if she can tell the House what is the position of the men, women and children affected by the coal dispute?

I only received notice of this question a few minutes ago. The question whether the men concerned are entitled to benefit—if that is what the hon. Member wants to know—is a matter for decision by the statutory authorities. The insurance officer has, it is understood, disallowed some individual claims, and these claimants can of course appeal to the Court of Referees.

My first question is this: Does that mean that they will be all right on the Employment Exchange? Now I want to ask the Minister of Labour whether it is within her power to say how it is going to suit as regards public assistance committees?

The hon. Member must remember that I struck that out of his question.

Arising out of the answer, do I understand the Minister of Labour to say that she is not in a position to say whether these men will be entitled to unemployment benefit or not?

I thought I had made it perfectly clear that I cannot say one way or the other. That is for the statutory authorities. I understand that some claims have already been submitted and turned down. The next step is an appeal to the Court of Referees and to the Umpire.

Will not these appeals be taken up by the trade unions concerned?

I imagine so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Dominions (1) if he can state, under the scheme approved by the Overseas Settlement Committee, the number of settlers who took up land under the Victorian land scheme and the number who are still upon their holdings;

(2) if he can state, under the scheme approved by the Overseas Settlement Committee, the amount of personal capital the settlers under the Victorian land scheme have put into the scheme;

(3) if he can state, under the scheme approved by the Overseas Settlement Committee, the total amount advanced by the British Government in connection with the Victorian land scheme?

The number of settlers who proceeded to Victoria under the Land Settlement Agreement dated 29th November, 1923, was 828, accompanied in the majority of cases by their wives and families. I have no complete information in regard to the personal capital of the whole of the settlers, but I know that the personal capital of 741 of them amounted to £266,271. According to the latest information available only 343 of the settlers took up land under the scheme on arrival, and of these approximately 240 are now upon their holdings.

A payment of £43,510 has been made from United Kingdom funds towards the cost of the scheme.

Is the right hon. Gentleman doing anything to assist the maintenance of the 240 families and to enable them to subsist upon the land where they are now?

No; the hon. and gallant Member knows that that is not the business of this Government. He also knows that in an answer given last week I stated that I had spoken personally to Mr. Scullin, asking him to expedite inquiries into this case; he promised me he would do so, and I have reason to believe that they are going on now. But the responsibility for the people while they are there rests with the Dominion Government.

Is there no responsibility on the part of the Home Government, after having sent out these people, who are now in a state of destitution and absolutely starving?

That is a statement which must not be accepted, because, if it is assumed that we are to take responsibility for the millions of migrants going to the Dominions from this country, a very serious situation would arise. The unfortunate circumstances in this case I deplore, but it cannot be held for one moment that the British Government can accept responsibility.

Was it not a scheme which was approved by the British Government?

Certainly it was an approved scheme, and, as I have already shown, the British Government made their contribution, but there is also a responsibility on the part of the Dominions.

Is it not a fact that the 700 families who went out there were assured that they would be settled on the land, and can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House why it is that 500 of these families are not on the land?

In this scheme, as in other migration schemes, there was a joint agreement between the Dominions and ourselves, based upon what were then regarded as certain prospects which were being opened. So far as the British Government are concerned—and this does not refer to our party alone, but all Governments—thev have discharged absolutely their responsibility. The question put to me now is: Are the British Government prepared to take over a responsibility which nominally rests with the Dominions? I have answered "No," and I cannot add to that.

May I ask—

This is becoming a debate.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa made any representations while in this country to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom regarding the future of the Bechuanaland, Basutoland, or Swaziland Protectorates; whether it is now proposed to alter in any way the status of or policy to be pursued in those Protectorates; and whether the reserved functions under the constitution of Southern Rhodesia are to be exercised, should such require to be exercised, through the new High Commissioner in the Union of South Africa, or direct by the Governor of Southern Rhodesia?

The reply to the first two parts of the question is in the negative; as regards the last, it is contemplated that the functions in regard to Southern Rhodesia to which the right hon. Member refers should continue to be exercised by the High Commissioner for South Africa.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the intimation of the intention of the Commonwealth Government to impose further restrictions upon immigration into Australia, he will state if the new regulations proposed will affect British subjects?

No restrictions are placed by His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia on the entry of any healthy migrant from the United Kingdom provided that he is of British nationality, is of good character and is in a position to defray his own expenses.

May I ask whether that answer refers to a statement made by Mr. Fenton, the Acting Prime Minister, an announcement about which appeared in the "Times"?

I do not know the particular statement to which the hon. and gallant Member was referring, but I assume that he has mixed two things. There are assisted migration schemes to various Dominions, but owing to the abnormal unemployment situation in those Dominions, all of them have said: "We either suspend or defer the continuation of those assisted schemes." The question put to me, however, was whether there was any restriction on an individual going out on his own, and I have pointed out that there is not, provided that he complies with the conditions.

May I read—

No!

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now received details as to the treaty for the interchange of commodities between Italy and Russia?

No, Sir. I understand that neither party to the arrangement is prepared at present to disclose its details.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any representations were made during the Imperial Conference to the Australian Prime Minister with regard to the hardship and unemployment created in this country in general, and in Wolverhampton, Wednesfield, and Willenhall in particular, from recent increases in the Australian tariffs?

During the recent Imperial Conference, the United Kingdom delegates drew attention to the serious effects in this country of recent tariff increases in certain of the Dominions including Australia, but these increases were not discussed in detail.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that this system of preferential prohibition is a good thing for the Empire?

Oh no, Sir; my hon. Friend knows that I am altogether opposed to such things.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that this is knocking the bottom right out of Empire Free Trade?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of Empire timber imported into this country during the most recent 12 months for which statistics are available, and the quantity for the previous corresponding 12 months?

The total imports of wood and timber into Great Britain and Northern Ireland registered as consigned from British countries during the 12 months ended the 31st October, 1930, amounted to 9,253,500 cubic feet of hard wood and 333,600 loads of other sorts, as compared with 10,450,000 cubic feet and 316,500 loads respectively during the 12 months ended the 31st October, 1929.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage of the motor trade of the Dominions which has been captured by American motor manufacturers?

The annual average value, during the latest three years for which information is available, of the imports of motor cars and parts, including tyres, into the Self-governing Dominions from the United States, expressed as a proportion of the total imports from all countries, amounted to 73.5 per cent. The exclusion of Canada, whose imports of cars and parts are almost wholly from the United States, would reduce this proportion to 56.6 per cent., while, if India be included, the proportion is further reduced to 52.8 per cent.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the deplorable situation at present existing is, in the main, due to lack of enterprise on the part of British motor manufacturers?

I never disagree with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, despite the very favourable conditions in which the motor industry is placed in this country, due to a tariff of 33½ per cent., his efforts abroad are lamentable and American competition in spite of that protection is displacing it?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what percentage of the motor trade of Members of this House is being captured by American motor cans?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any evidence as to whether the retail price charged for tea reflects the reductions in the wholesale price of tea; and will he have investigations made into this matter?

The Board of Trade have not sufficient evidence before them to enable them to express a considered opinion, and I am asking the Food Council for a report on the question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has been a reduction of 8d. per pound since the Budget of 1929?

Will the right hon. Gentleman include in his reference to the Food Council an investigation into the coupon system of selling tea, and its results?

In reply to both supplementary questions, there is a lag between the wholesale and retail prices to which attention has recently been directed, and I am not in the least doubt that on that point, and also on the later point put by the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. White), the fullest inquiry will be made.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that the coupon system is not added to at the next election?

Is it not necessary to analyse the causes of the lag?

That, of course, raises a very much wider question. The Food Council will give information relating to tea, or any other commodity, but an inquiry into the relation between wholesale and retail prices raises a very much larger issue.

Is not that the crux of the whole problem?

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Royal Commission on Food Prices will present its promised second report?

I would remind the hon. Member that when the late Government decided in June, 1925, in pursuance of the main recommendations made in the first report of the Royal Commission on Food Prices to appoint a Food Council, the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition announced that it was not proposed to ask the Commission to continue their inquiry further.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the Board of Trade Journal never contains any information as to the Soviet Government's trading plans such as is extensively given in regard to the trade of other countries?

There is no intention of differentiating, as regards publication in the Board of Trade Journal, between information relating respectively to the external trade of Russia and to that of other countries. The hon. and gallant Member will find certain references to trade with Rusia in recent issues of that publication. As regards, however, information as to the actual trading plans of the Soviet Government, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given yesterday by my right, hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Woolwich, from which it will be seen that no definite information on this subject is available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that nothing like the same sort of information is given with regard to Soviet Russia as is given with regard to other European countries?

The object of the Journal is to give quite impartially the fullest information possible within its scope. Yesterday the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs said, quite clearly, that the information on certain points was not available, and as we had not got it we could not give it.

We cannot get on if there are so many supplementaries.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker—

I do not know that any point of Order arises. It must be obvious to hon. Members that we cannot get through questions if on each question five or six supplementary questions are asked.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the representations made to him by the steel trade that they are unable to attain access to the report by the Committee of the Economic Advisory Council on the iron and steel trade, he will state when he proposes to publish this document?

As has been repeatedly stated in this House, His Majesty's Government have decided not to publish this report. Discussions with representatives of the industry on the recommendations of the report are proceeding.

Might not that portion of the report which does not clash with the Free Trade policy of the Government be issued?

Is it the fact that this report reveals such a deplorable state of things that the Government dare not publish it?

I think that the House would do well, in the national interest, to guard against opinions one way or the other as to the contents of a report which we have decided not to publish. The whole object, in the interest of the iron and steel industry, is to get a maximum of agreement in the industry, without any party considerations.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that very extensive extracts from this report have been published in the Press on the Continent; and does not that to some extent affect its interest here?

There is a later question on the Paper on the subject, and I will deal with that point when we reach it.

Will the Government publish a statement of what has been done, either by themselves or by the industry, arising from this report, or of what they contemplate doing?

The Government cannot promise to publish any statement, but from time to time I will give to the House an account of what is being done in connection with the reorganisation, not only of the iron and steel industry, but of other industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that extracts of what purports to be a resumé of the findings of the Government inquiry into the iron and steel industry has appeared in a foreign newspaper; and if he will inquire how this information has become available to the foreign newspaper in question whilst it has been withheld from Parliament?

I am aware of the publication to which the hon. Member refers, but I have no information as to the sources of the material alleged to have been used in its compilation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make further investigations to see where these leakages occurred, because, if they continue, responsible business men will refuse to serve on such committees in future?

I have every sympathy with the object of the hon. Member's question. Inquiry was, in fact, made, but we had no means of tracing this leakage.

May I press the right hon. Gentleman to make further investigations, and see whether it is possible to discover where this leakage occurred, because it is essential in the interests of this country that we should do so?

There is no reason in the world why I should not make further inquiries, and I will do so, but it would be wrong to hold out any hope of their yielding any result.

Was it not promised that this House should be given a copy of the report, whether it conflicted with the Government's policy or not?

No; no promise of that kind was ever made; it was always left to be decided, when these reports were received, whether they should be published or not. In this case, after consultation with the industry, it was decided not to publish the report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of the Polish trading companies registered in this country and the names of the directors?

Any trading or other company "registered in this country" will be a British, not a Polish company. There appear to be no British trading companies controlled by the Polish Government, and to ascertain what British companies are controlled by Polish private interests would be impossible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now make a statement with regard to the recent conference on the proposed tariff truce?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is in a position to make any statement to the House as to the result of the deliberations of the Economic Conference at Geneva as to the steps to be taken to bring the tariff truce convention into force; and from what date the convention will become operative and as between what countries?

The question of bringing the Commercial Convention into force was postponed by the recent Geneva Conference to a later session, since, while the number of ratifications so far received was insufficient, it was expected that several other countries would be prepared to ratify it. This later session is not expected to take place until the negotiations regarding tariffs are under way. At the recent Conference, the United Kingdom delegation proposed a method of reducing tariffs all round by agreed percentages, proceeding by groups of commodities, of which they suggested textile fabrics and machinery might be taken first. Alternatively, other delegations, in the course of conversations, suggested that there should be negotiations within groups of countries, and particularly between His Majesty's Government and a number of countries covering a substantial proportion of the United Kingdom exports to Europe. This suggestion was agreed to. I am not in a position to give the names of these countries pending certain preliminary exchanges of Notes.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether Italy is not the only great Power that signed; and does he intend to continue indefinitely these futile negotiations?

I am afraid I cannot give the information for which the hon. Member asks. I do not regard the negotiations as futile. On the contrary, I have already told the House that I have not the least doubt that, because of this effort, the upward movement in European tariffs has certainly not been increased.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give any information regarding the new import tariff in China as affecting the Lancashire cotton industry?

His Majesty's Minister in China reported, on 3rd December, that proposals for Tariff revision formulated by the Chinese Tariff Commission were then before the Legislature, and that, according to the local Press, the new tariff would come into force on 1st January. No particulars as to the new tariff are available. I may add, however, that, by virtue of the Sino-Japanese Treaty, the duties on various descriptions of cotton piece goods and on certain other manufactures cannot at present be increased by more than 2½ per cent, ad valorem , and, by virtue of the most-favoured-nation provisions of our Treaty with China, this provision extends to similar goods of United Kingdom manufacture.

Are we to understand that China is not one of the countries with whom the right hon. Gentleman hopes to effect a prevention of the upward movement of tariffs by means of the Tariff Truce?

I do not quite see how that question arises, because they have not been a party to any such truce or negotiations?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any soap has been imported into this country from Soviet Russia during the last year; and, if so, how much?

During the 12 months ended the 31st October, 1930, the total imports of soap into Great Britain and Northern Ireland registered as consigned from the Soviet Union (Russia) amounted to 24,043 cwt., of a declared value of £33,470.

Is the reason for the surplus of this article in Russia the same as that for the surplus of a similar article in Owen's New Harmony?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the approximate number of eggs imported from France marked as French eggs; and what evidence he has that their real origin is France?

Approximately 81,200,000 eggs in shell consigned from France were imported into the United Kingdom during the year ended 30th November, 1930. Under the provisions of the Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) No. 5 Order, 1928, imported eggs in shell are required to bear an indication of origin at the time of importation, but as the indication of origin may be either the word "foreign" or an indication of the country of production it is impossible to say what proportion of the imported eggs consigned from France were actually of French origin.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied with the working of the Act in the particular case of eggs?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of timber imported into this country from Russia during the most recent nine months for which statistics are available; and the quantity for the corresponding period last year?

Information respecting the amount of timber imported into this country from Russia during the six months ended 30th September, 1930, and the corresponding period of 1929, was given in answer to a question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Newbury on 30th October last, and I am sending a copy to the right hon. Gentleman. The particulars for the nine months ending 31st October last are being compiled and I will forward them to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

Has there been an increase this year as compared with last year?

Yes. The increase, I think, is entirely in soft wood: If there is any suggestion of comparison with the Empire, the Empire diminution has been in hard and not in soft.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the difficulties which are being encountered by the woollen trade owing to the imposition on woollen goods on importation into Poland of the higher rate of duty applicable to worsteds; and whether His Majesty's Government will make any representation on the matter?

Several such cases have been brought to the notice of the Polish Government as they have arisen; and His Majesty's Ambassador has recently addressed a Note to the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs drawing attention to the delay which has taken place in dealing with the cases and to the fact that the uncertainty engendered by the inconsistency of Customs decisions is a considerable impediment to the continuance of normal trade. No reply has yet been received to these representations.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the strong feeling in Hudders-field, and among wool exporters in general, not so much of the unfriendly acts of the Polish Government, but of the unfriendly acts of the officials whom the Poles allow to carry out their policy?

I quite agree with my hon. Friend that there is considerable feeling and difficulty on the point, but perhaps it will be sufficient to-day if I say I am hopeful that, as the result of our representations, we shall get an improvement in this position.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the imports of hollow-ware into this country since the beginning of June this year?

During the five months ended 31st October, 1930, the imports into Great Britain and Northern Ireland of hollow-ware (for household, industrial, etc., use) of iron and steel, including tinned plate, amounted to 2,445 tons, of a declared value of £123,444, and the imports of aluminium domestic hollow-ware amounted to 150 tons, valued at £36,528.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of lascars employed in the Mercantile Marine of this country; and what is the percentage of lascars of the total numbers of men employed in the Mercantile Marine?

The number of lascars, British subjects and foreigners, employed on the 31st March, 1929, in sea-trading vessels registered at ports in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands was 53,571, or 26.3 per cent. of the total number of seamen employed at that date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider devising, with his usual skill, some form of legislation which will have the effect of a larger proportion of British seamen being employed?

I have already replied to questions on that point. So far as we have any influence at all, it is cast in that direction, but the difficulty is that a considerable number of lascars are themselves British subjects.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there would not be so much difficulty in restricting the employment of lascars in home sailing ships, where, as he knows, there has been an increase lately? Has the right hon. Gentleman considered that side of the question?

I have undertaken to look further into that point.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department is investigating the invention whereby the names of lighthouses can be broadcast in fog; and whether he can make any statement on its general adoption?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the invention with which experiments have been conducted by the Clyde Lighthouse Trustees at the Cumbrae lighthouse in the Clyde. Representatives of other lighthouse authorities as well as an officer of the Board of Trade have attended the trials. The adoption of the invention is a matter for the consideration of the lighthouse authorities of the country.

Over what area will the signals be perceived?

I could not give any further information until I have heard rather more regarding the results of the trials.

asked the Prime Minister if he is prepared to give facilities for the passage into law before Christmas of the Road Traffic Act, 1930 (Amendment), Bill?

No, Sir.

In view of the unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall refer to this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Prime Minister if he will put forward, in the interests of national economy, proposals for a reduction of 25 per cent. of all Ministerial salaries and salaries of Members of Parliament, similar to the voluntary reduction of 25 per cent. in the fees payable to the directors of the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway Company?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the proposal that the salaries of Ministers and Members of Parliament should be reduced proportionately with the reduction of wages of the working class?

In so far as the hon. Members' questions relate to the salary of Members of Parliament, I would refer to the answer which I gave on Thursday last in reply to a question by the hem. Member for Melton (Mr. Everard). The question of Ministers' salaries was recently considered by a Select Committee, which reported in July last, and in this connection I would refer to the answer which I gave on the 30th October last in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander).

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that Ministers are earning their salaries at present?

Might not a reduction of the salaries of Ministers and Members of this House, proportionate with the reduction in wages, be a method of measuring the failure of this House to maintain the standard of life of the people?

That is a matter of opinion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many unofficial Members of the present House of Commons refrain from drawing Parliamentary salaries?

Two, Sir.

Will my hon. Friend consider sending a reminder at the beginning of each Session that the salary is optional?

asked the Prime Minister when the White Paper dealing with details of schemes of work initiated by the Government and the numbers of men employed thereon will be published?

The White Paper, which will be very much wider in scope than is suggested in the question, will, I hope, be available at an early date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider issuing a reconstruction loan for the purpose of employing the unemployed on works of national utility?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood) on 11th November.

Does not my right hon. Friend think the present time particularly opportune for raising such a loan, in view of the large amount of idle money?