asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has yet received a reply to his inquiry with regard to the censorship of cables from Karachi and the inactivity of the police on the occasion of the opening of the Lloyd quay; and what action he has taken with regard to the matter?

I have received a telegram on this subject only this morning, and I should be obliged if the hon. and gallant Gentleman would postpone his question until to-morrow.

I will put it down for Wednesday.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any decision has been come to by the Government of India with regard to the inauguration of an air service from Karachi via Jodhpur, Delhi, and Allahabad to Calcutta with Government aeroplanes?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 11th December. I expect to receive a report from the Government of India shortly after Christmas.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any action has been taken or is contemplated by the Government of India in view of the recommendations of the Indian tariff board and also of the recent salt conference that immediate relief should be given to the indigenous salt industry?

The matter is still under the consideration of the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any developments have taken place in the matter of the recommendation made by the Indian Tariff Board in regard to the desirability of the Indian branch of the Swedish Match Trust being registered as an Indian company under the control of a local directorate?

During last year the Swedish Match Company was registered as the Western India Match Company with rupee capital and Indian directors.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the repeated murders of officials and police officers in India, any special steps are being taken to prevent these outrages in the future?

This is a matter for the authorities in India. I need hardly add that any precautions necessary to guard against outrages of this character will have my fullest support.

The right hon. Gentleman does not mean to suggest that we in this House are not taking an interest in the matter?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is prepared to take steps to secure the withdrawal of the Ordinances now in operation in India limiting the rights of meetings, speech, the Press, picketing and organisation?

At the present moment three of the Ordinances in question are no longer in force. Future action in respect of special powers must depend upon the circumstances existing at the time.

Is it not a fact that the vast majority of the 50,000 political offenders in Indian prisons in India have come under these Ordinances, and could not the right hon. Gentleman resort to the normal law and reduce the number?

I should be very glad if it were possible to resort to the normal law, but I cannot necessarily accept the hon. Member's statement.

Will it be possible, to make a public statement in the near future?

I do not think I can go beyond the answer I have given, that it must depend on the circumstances existing. I shall be happy to give the House any information at any time the House is sitting.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has now received a report regarding the arrests and sentences of youths under 21 years of age for political offences in India; and what is the lowest age of boys so arrested and sentenced?

No, Sir. The report which I called for has not yet been received.

Will the right hon. Gentleman let me have the information when it reaches his hands, as he denied the statement I made on the matter.

I did the hon. Member less than justice in the statement I made. I will let him have a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has yet decided, in pursuance of a warning given to Mr. Madhara Rao, the Delhi correspondent of the "Morning Post," to cancel his Press privileges; and whether, if so, he can state the reason for such procedure?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is "No."

What is the nature of the censorship which has been exercised in this matter? Under what powers of the Government of India does it arise?

The question appears hardly relevant to the one on the Paper. May I remind the hon. Member of the circumstances of the case. A statement appeared in the "Morning Post" referring to what was alleged to be an official telegram. The first fact to remember is that there was no such telegram in existence; secondly, that the statement was mischievous; and, further, that the editor of the "Morning Post" took no steps to take any advantage of the facilities we offered to check the accuracy of the statement.

:Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is the first time in history that the "Morning Post" has been treated m this way?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any information as to the decrease in number or cost of licences or consumption of alcoholic liquors in India since the liquor boycott was started?

No, Sir, but, if my hon. Friend so desires, I will ask the Government of India whether they are able to furnish any information.

Has there been any substantial decrease in alcoholic consumption?

I cannot say without inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether punitive operations are in progress against, the Afridis; and whether the winter grazing grounds of the Afridis or other tribes are still in military occupation by British or British-Indian forces?

No punitive operations are in progress. The protective measures which are being taken are described in the communiqué published on 13th October, of which I will send my hon. and gallant Friend a copy.

:Are we to understand that these measures are not intended to deprive these tribes of their winter grazing grounds?

The measures are protective, as stated in the communiqué.

When did the last punitive measures take place?

I must leave that to my hon. Friend's research.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he proposes to make a statement on the proceedings of the Preparatory Disarmament Commission before the Christmas Recess?

I understand that this question may be raised on the Motion for the Adjournment on Friday, in which case I hope to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the importance of the subject, he will circulate as a Command Paper a copy of the report of the Disarmament Committee of the League of Nations?

A White Paper, which will include the report of the Preparatory Commission and a copy of the Draft Disarmament Convention, is now being prepared and will be issued as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affiairs whether he has received any communication from the Chinese Government as to the capture of the murderers of the two British lady missionaries?

No further information has been received since my reply to the right hon. Gentleman on 19th November. But I have instructed His Majesty's Minister in China to renew his representations on this subject, and am at present awaiting his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to prevent British subjects who have been extricated from positions of danger in China from returning to the danger areas until conditions are more settled?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply returned to the hon. Member for Newcastle, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) on the 10th of December. The attention of British subjects has been drawn to the peril of returning to dangerous areas, but no compulsory measures can be taken to prevent British subjects exercising their free will in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the loss of life involved in carrying out rescues of persons captured by Chinese brigands, he will instruct his Department, in the present circumstances, not to issue passports to persons whose declared intention is to proceed to China to take up work or residence inland?

No British lives have been lost in the circumstances mentioned, and I have no knowledge of any others being lost. With regard to the issue of passports, I am obtaining the views of His Majesty's Minister in China as to the practicability of the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he proposes to take any further steps concerning the protest he recently made to the Soviet Government arising out of the recent trial of Russian professors and others in Moscow?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he intends to take any further action in connection with the recent reply by the Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs on the subject of the trial in Moscow?

His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow, on my instructions, pointed out that the reply of the Soviet Government, which I read to the House on the 8th of December, failed to deal with the point that the comments of their Public Prosecutor appeared in the indictment as the official view of the part played by His Majesty's Government in the alleged intervention conspiracy, and that the Soviet Government could not refuse responsibility for these comments. To this communication the Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs replied as follows:

"The accusation in court was directed against the eight accused who in their statements referred to the possible participation of British circles in intervention. The Public Prosecutor could not ignore these statements and took action on them in his commentaries. The Government does not in such circumstances give instructions to the Public Prosecutor, and could not thus, in the case in question, demand that he should ignore investigatory materials, of whatever nature they might be. It is the business of the Court to investigate these materials, to establish their credibility and give its decision. This decision has now been given. I can add nothing more to this."

I have instructed His Majesty's Ambassador to express to the Commissar the dissatisfaction felt by His Majesty's Government at the attitude of the Soviet Government in this matter.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received a copy of the judgment of the Court, and, if not, will he procure and consider whether that judgment does not give occasion for further representations?

I will look into the matter. I do not know whether the judgment has yet reached the Department.

Will the right hon. Gentleman instruct His Majesty's Ambassador to send him a copy of the judgment?

That is what I intended to convey.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he hopes to furnish the House with the White Paper on Soviet Russian labour conditions before the House adjourns for the Christmas Recess?

The work of selection, collation and in some cases translation, of the relevant Soviet laws, necessitates consultation with His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow, and I can say no more than that every endeavour is being made to secure the publication of the White Paper as early as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any representative of His Majesty's Government in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics is specially instructed to watch British interests at State and other trials in the courts of that country; and, if not, whether suitable instructions will be given?

One of the duties of His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow is to watch British interests whether in the courts or elsewhere, and no special instructions to that effect are necessary. I may add that the Embassy had a representative in court each day during the recent State trial.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reason the Government have not appointed a military attaché at Moscow on the resumption of diplomatic relations with the Russian Soviet Government, having regard to the fact that that Government maintains the largest standing army of any great Power?

His Majesty's Government, after reviewing all the circumstances, decided not to make such an appointment.

Why is this differentiation made in the case of Soviet Russia as compared with other great Powers who have appointed military attachés?

I am afraid it would not be in the public interest for me to say more.

Do all the other great Powers appoint military attachés

Some of them do and some do not. There is no strict uniformity followed in the matter.

In 1924, when the party opposite was in office, was there not a military attaché at Moscow?

We may have improved in the meantime.

Will the right hon. Gentleman place in the Library or publish in a White Paper the names of the Powers which have military attachés at Petrograd?

If the Noble Lord will put down a question, I have no objection to giving him the names.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the organisation of wireless broadcasting is under Government control in the Soviet republic?

My right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, has asked His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow for a report on this subject.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of the male nursing staff employed in the institutions under his control dealing in cases of mental and severe nervous disorder who have not the qualifications of a certificate for dealing with such cases?

In the unavoidable absence of my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Pensions, I have been asked to reply. There are some 165 orderlies employed in the institutions under the control of the Department which provide treatment for mental and severe nervous affections. Of these 33 are in possession of a certificate. The bulk of the remainder have, however, had 10 years' experience and upwards in mental institutions. It may be pointed out that a majority of the patients in the institutions referred to are not certified cases.

Can my hon. Friend say how many institutions are receiving these unfortunate people, and whether the whole of them are under the direct control of the Minister of Pensions?

I think that my hon. Friend had better put down a question upon that matter.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of final awards in which an increased award under special sanction was issued during the period 1st October, 1929, to 30th September, 1930?

The number is about 2,400.

asked the Minister of Pensions the total number of claims submitted outside the seven years' limit up to 30th November, 1930, since his announcement in regard to this matter in November, 1929; how many of these applications have been considered and dealt with; and how many of them have received favourable consideration?

Some 20,300 fresh claims have been submitted during the period referred to, of which rather more than 18,000 have been considered. In 982 cases the claims have been recognised either by way of medical or surgical treatment, or by some form of pecuniary compensation.

asked the Minister of Pensions in how many disputed cases there has been reference to an independent medical authority, in accordance with the new arrangements made since he took office?

The number of such cases up to the end of last month was 251.

asked the Minister of Pensions the names of his chief medical advisers at the Ministry of Pensions, of the chief medical advisers at the area office in Glasgow, and in both cases the date of appointment of such advisers and their rate of salary?

As the answer involves some detail, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

asked the First Commissioner of Works the number of staff at the Admiralty, exclusive of office-keepers, cleaners, charwomen, messengers, stokers, electricians, and window cleaners; the number of rooms in the building; and the approximate number of additional clerical and administrative staff that could be accommodated in these offices by closer settlement without injury to health?

The answer to the first part of the question is 2,101; the number of rooms in the building, excluding those used for storage of records, is 584. In regard to the last part of the question, it is not possible to accommodate any additional staff in these offices without injury to health and detriment to the work of the Department concerned.

How many of these rooms are below the street level and how many of the staff are employed in these rooms?

I require notice of that question.

asked the First Commissioner of Works the name of the architect of the new Government buildings in Whitehall?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 12th November to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Thanet (Captain Balfour).

Did the reply mentioned give the information that it was to be open to the competition of the best brains in the architectural profession?

The answer was that it was then too soon to decide the method.

Will the First Commissioner take into his serious consideration the question that I have raised?

It need not be taken into any further consideration. It has been decided that the design will be open to competition, but the exact form of competition has not been decided.

When will the First Commissioner be able to give an answer?

A Bill has to go through the House, but no one knows how soon or how late that will be.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the recommendation of the Chelmsford Committee, he will arrange that the London section of the British Industries Fair should be open to the public upon the whole of the Saturday of the second week of the 1931 Fair?

I am afraid it is not possible to adopt this suggestion at the 1931 Fair, as the contracts already concluded with exhibitors and others provide for the closing of the Fair on the Friday of the second week.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the period of years covered by the contract entered into by his Department with the owners of Olympia in connection with the holding of the British Industries Fair in that building?

The contract is for a period of 10 years beginning with the Fair of 1930.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department by what route the members of the economic mission to the Far East are travelling, whether this was the route originally chosen, and, if not, why has an alteration been made; what allowances are being made to the members for travelling, maintenance, and equipment; and what is the estimated cost of the commission?

The mission travelled east via Suez. It was intended that they should return by the same route, but on the representations of the leader of the mission it has been decided that they should return via Canada. The actual travelling expenses of the members of the mission will be refunded to them, and in addition each member is entitled to subsistence allowance at the daily rate of £2, except for periods spent on board ship when the rate is 7s. 6d. An equipment allowance of £50 has been issued to certain members. The total cost of the mission is estimated at £16,000, towards which a contribution of £6,000 has been made from the Cotton Trade Memorial Fund.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the alteration of the route has anything to do with the general elections in Canada?

No, Sir, not that I am aware of. It was done entirely at the request of the members of the mission.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has now decided to despatch an economic mission to Soviet Russia?

The answer is in the negative.

What is the difficulty? Why cannot we send an economic mission? If we cannot have a military attaché, why not have an economic mission?

There is nothing to prevent us from sending an economic mission at the present time, but it does not seem to me that anything will be gained by so doing.

Will my hon. Friend invite the right hon. Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood) to go on such a mission?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether in any cases Government credit has been used to guarantee payment of orders of war material by the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics?

No, Sir. Munitions of war are excluded by Statute from the scope of the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme.

Are we to understand that the tanks recently sent to Russia were paid for in cash?

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will give me notice of that question.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the total liability incurred by the present Government under the Export Credits Scheme in financing, firstly, orders from the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, and, secondly, orders from all other countries, and the date in each case when this liability expires?

From the 10th June, 1929, to the 6th December last the Export Credits Guarantee Department had contracted to guarantee a proportion of credits amounting to £4,904,355 in respect of exports to Russia and £5,921,209 in respect of exports to all other countries. Its maximum liability under these contracts amounted to £2,942,913 and £3,728,360, respectively. With regard to the last part of the hon. Member's question I do not consider it advisable to give information of this kind.

Can my hon. Friend say if there have been any cases of default with regard to any of the guarantees to Russia?

No, Sir.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the reason for the disproportion between the volume of credit allowed to all other countries and the volume of credit given to Soviet Russia?

The right hon. Gentleman must bear in mind that the more satisfactory are the trade conditions of a country, the less people are inclined to insure. Therefore, the countries which are concerned with this Department are chiefly those where the exporter is doubtful where he stands.

Am I right in assuming that the greater the credits allowed for trade to Russia the more risky that trade is?

No, Sir, that does not follow, because attention has also to be paid to the size of the country and to the amount of their needs and the volume of their trade.

In view of the fact that the legislation under which these transactions are carried out authorised a total liability of £25,000,000 as against the £10,500,000 referred to in the reply, may I ask what steps it is proposed to take to spend the balance?

The question of extending the volume of trade guaranteed by the Export Credits Department is always receiving the attention of my Department, but I have no special suggestion to make.

Can my hon. Friend tell us why there is so much greater percentage of liability in respect of the loans to other countries than in respect of the loans to Russia?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me notice of that question.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether, in any case, the liability of His Majesty's Government exceeds 12 months on any of those contracts?

No, Sir. As I stated in my answer, that is just the point upon which I think it is inadvisable that information should be given.

This question was originally put down to the Prime Minister, and I should have worded it differently if I had been aware that it was going to be addressed to the hon. Member.

While I am in full sympathy with the objects which the hon. and gallant Member has in mind, my Department would have no power to take action on the lines indicated.

Will the hon. Member represent to the Prime Minister the desirability of asking the Departments to acquaint the different importers of the conditions, for instance, under which imports from Russia are manufactured?

I will consider that point.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the British housewife is responding to the appeal—[ Interruption ].

asked the President of the Board of Trade the numbers and names of shipyards in Scotland which have up to the present been closed down in connection with rationalisation of the industry; and whether any provision and, if so, what is being made for the workers who thus lose their employment?

Three shipyards on the Clyde have been acquired by National Shipbuilders Security, Limited, the company formed for the purpose of eliminating redundant capacity in the shipbuilding industry. The shipyards are the naval shipbuilding yard of Messrs. Wm. Beardmore and Company, at Dalmuir, that of Messrs. Napier and Miller, Limited, Old Kilpatrick, near Glasgow, and the South Yard of the Ardrossan Dockyard, Limited, Ardrossan, Ayrshire. As regards the second part of the question, it is hoped that, as a result of the measures which are being taken to concentrate production and so reduce costs, this country will secure a larger share in the world's shipbuilding orders, and so more employment, than would otherwise have been possible.

Have the Government come to any decision yet on the point indicated by the President of the Board of Trade the other day, as to how they are to divert new industries into those yards which have been bought up by the National Shipbuilders Security, Limited?

I think that such diversion is entirely a matter for the shipbuilding companies themselves. I do not think that it is a matter which the Government have any power to control.

Does the hon. Gentleman intend to take any action to prevent this company doing what has been done in connection with other yards, thus rendering certain districts derelict and almost hopeless?

I do not think that the Government have any power to intervene.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the President of the Board of Trade stated in this House about three weeks ago that he was prepared to act as liaison officer between the National Shipbuilders Security, Limited, and new industries so as to help in the diversion of new industries to the yards of which these other companies are being dispossessed?

Of course, as far as it is possible for them to assist in this matter, the department are prepared to do their best, but they have no power to intervene.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can make any statement with regard to reorganisation proceeding in the iron and steel industry?

Proposals for the regrouping of productive units in the various sections of the iron and steel industry are under discussion. It will be appreciated that to disclose the nature of these proposals would prejudice the position of the firms concerned and bring the negotiations to a standstill.

Is the hon. Gentleman going to do something for the men who have to work in these industries?

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average wages paid to agricultural labourers in 1925 and in 1929 and the average price for wheat during those years; and whether, since the end of 1929, there has been any substantial fall in the average wage or in the average price of wheat?

No comparable statistics are available of the actual wages paid to agricultural workers in the years in question. The average minimum weekly rates fixed under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act for the counties of England and Wales for adult male agricultural workers was 31s. 5d. in 1925 and 31s. 8d. throughout 1929. Such variations as have taken place in the minimum weekly wages since the end of 1929 have made no appreciable change in the average. The average prices of British wheat in England and Wales during 1925 and 1929 were 12s. 2d. and 9s. 10d. per cwt. respectively. The average price ascertained for the week ended 13th December, 1930, was 6s. 2d. per cwt. compared with 9s. 6d. per cwt. in the last week in 1929.

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to introduce any further legislation to enable wheat growers to continue to pay that rate of wages?

I do not think that arises out of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the tests by an expert and impartial committee in Norfolk of the Spahlinger vaccine as a preventive against bovine tuberculosis; and whether his Department is making further inquiries?

Captain Richard Buxton has been good enough to present me with a summary of the report of the interesting experiments with M. Spahlinger's vaccine which have been carried out on his farm in Norfolk. I have suggested to him in the interest of all concerned in the problem that he should arrange for a complete test to be made by and under the independent control of recognised authorities who are experienced in research in this disease.

May we take it that the former difficulty does not now exist?

I do not know to what difficulty the hon. Member refers. So far as I am concerned, we are anxious that it should be properly tested.

Is the right hon. Gentleman in touch with the Medical Research Council and the Privy Council, who are the bodies responsible for these researches?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that in a recent prosecution by him under the Agricultural Wages Regulation Act, in respect to an under payment to a worker named Albert Witchard, Hawkesbury, Upton, Badminton, Gloucestershire, the magistrates used their discretion and ordered only six months' arrears to be paid although such magistrates have power to award arreas if due up to two years; and, seeing that the workman immediately following the prosecution was dismissed by his employer and that arrears have been due to the workman from 26th September, 1926, to 11th October, 1930, if he is prepared to commence civil proceedings under the Act to recover the remaining 18 months' arrears?

I have already given very careful consideration to this case. Having regard to the fact that in the prosecution which was instituted by the Ministry the magistrates considered the case as a whole, it is not one in which the Ministry would be well advised to initiate civil proceedings.

Is the Minister aware that from September, 1926, to February, 1930, the individual whose name is attached to my question was paid 8s. per week less from his wages and that when the case went to the court the court decided that it was three months or six months?

I am aware of the facts of the case, I am sorry to say, and it was on account of all the facts that we prosecuted, but I cannot decide the considerations which came before the court. I am advised that as the court decided on the facts of the case the Ministry can take no further proceedings.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any assistance to the individual who is suffering as a result of this court case?

I am willing to consider any suggestion that the hon. Member may submit.

Can the right hon. Gentleman appeal against the decision?

I am advised that I cannot.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider the extension of the use of the national mark for the benefit of bottlers of cider of less than 3,000 gallons per annum and irrespective of the quantity bottled?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the complaints he has received from cider bottlers in the Eastern Counties who fear that under Clause 4 of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1928, which limits the use of the national mark to bottlers of 3,000 gallons and more per annum, national-mark cider will become a monopoly of the large manufacturers; and whether he will take steps to reduce the qualifying number of gallons by half or to give whatever satisfaction he can to this numerous class of small-scale cider bottlers?

I have received representations from one association of bottlers in the Eastern Counties and am taking steps to consult the National Mark Cider Trade Committee with a view to ascertaining whether some reduction of the output qualification proposed for bottlers is administratively practicable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many catchment boards have now been set up; and how many remain to be set up under the Land Drainage Act of 1930?

The total number of catchment boards to be set up is 47, of which two are constituted by the Act. In one of these cases the first meeting has already been held. In 16 other cases the Order constituting the board has been made and the map sealed, but the summoning of the first meeting of the board awaits the appointment of the members, which is being rapidly completed. The first meeting has been actually fixed in two of these 16 cases. In 14 other cases the draft Order and map is not yet ready.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say which are the two that he first mentioned that are already constituted?

I should be glad to inform the hon. Member, but I have not the information by me at the moment.

Once the catchment boards are settled, will the right hon. Gentleman issue a White Paper giving all the particulars?

Certainly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he is taking in the solution of the difficulties caused by the geographical boundary of the catchment area boards as regards the assessment of drainage rates?

The responsibility of supplying the catchment boards with totals of rateable values rests with county and county borough councils, and in order to facilitate this work, arrangements are being made by my Department for sheets of the ordnance survey map on the 6-inch scale, with the boundary of the catchment area shown thereon, to be available to such authorities as may require them.

asked the Prime Minister how many meetings have been held by the Economic Advisory Council?

There have been 10 meetings of the Economic Advisory Council, in addition to a large number of meetings held by its committees.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the question of unemployment insurance has been discussed by it?

As I was not present, I am afraid that I cannot give a reply.

But, seeing that this is the thinking brain of the Government—

There is nothing about that in the question or answer.

asked the Prime Minister when it is his intention to proceed with the Electoral Reform Bill?

The Bill will be introduced before we rise for Christmas, but I cannot say at present when the text will be available.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say who thought of this Bill first? Was it the right hon. Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George)?

I am quite certain that it was not the right hon. Member for West Woolwich (Sir K. Wood).

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why it is intended to proceed with the Bill?

Is this the Expiring Government Continuance Bill?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has any statistics and can state the number of personal calls that have been made on the inland and trunk and toll routes for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and whether these personal call services have now been completed throughout the Anglo-Continental telephone services?

During the first year's operation there were 513,724 personal calls in connection with the inland trunk service and 55,896 in connection with the Anglo-Continental services. Personal call facilities are available on all the Anglo-Continental telephone services except that to Switzerland.

Does the hon. Gentleman think that if the charges on the Anglo-Continental service were reduced there would be very considerable more calls?

I do not think so.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of public telephones installed in the south-west Lancashire area during each of the last four years ended 31st October, 1930; how many are available for use night and day and the average cost of installation; and whether his Department are contemplating further installations in the villages not yet provided for?

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

Following is the answer:

I understand that my hon. Friend has in mind the neighbourhood of Wigan, and the following information relates to telephone call offices within 10 mles from that town.

Six further call offices are in course of provision while several others are under consideration. I regret that the figures of cost of installation are not readily available and considerable labour would be necessary to prepare the information.

asked the Postmaster-General why such a large estimated expediture as £100,000 is involved in order to insert the telephone number in front of the charge for a trunk call or phonogram, having regard to the fact that the amount charged cannot be ascertained without reference to the number in question, of which particulars are kept by the Post Office in case inquiries may be made?

The estimate of £100,000 is based on the ascertained extra cost of the work involved in the preparation of the accounts of subscribers who pay for details to be shown on their accounts. The sum of £100,000 must be considered in relation to the very large number of items concerned—namely £128,000,000.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that all the public desire in this matter is that the telephone number should be placed in front of the charge for a trunk call or phonogram? Surely that is not an unreasonable request seeing that the Post Office have the account before them?

I have explained to the hon. Member that it would cost £100,000 a year.

asked the Postmaster-General how many rural areas have been set up with a minimum of eight subscribers; and how far does he consider this would be increased if the number were reduced to six?

Since the scheme was initiated in 1922, 1,550 rural telephone exchanges with a minimum of eight subscribers have been opened. I cannot say how far this number would have been increased if the minimum number of subscribers had been reduced to six.

Will the hon. Gentleman reconsider the matter of these automatic rural exchanges and the reduction of the qualification to six subscribers, inasmuch as considerable dissatisfaction exists at present?

Only two weeks ago I announced a large concession, involving considerable sums of money, to this particular class of subscriber. I really must stop for a moment spending further money in this way.