asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will inform the House of the reasons for the discontinuance of the grant-in-aid to the Hindu University at Benares?

I have no official information that the grant has in fact been discontinued. But I am aware that the discontinuance of the Government grants was recommended in November by the Local Government in view of the active participation of the students and the staff of the College in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is intended to carry out the recommendations of the Butler Committee for the re-organisation of the political department and its methods of recruiting and training officers of the department?

I am not yet able to add anything to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend on the 8th July, 1929.

May I remind my right hon. Friend that he was then good enough to say that he was waiting for the Round Table Conference, and can I be assured that this matter is being considered?

Oh, yes.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any inquiry has been ordered into the charges made against the police of beating women in a procession at Borsad, in the Kaira district, on the 20th or 21st of January last?

The charges have been carefully examined by the Bombay Government who issued a press-note on the 3rd February and propose similarly to publish to-day the results of their further inquiries. I understand that force was used only when stone throwing was started by the men collected behind the women as the result of which two policemen were injured, and when the 30 police present were in danger of becoming scattered and overwhelmed by the pressure of the crowd of over 2,000 men and women. I will circulate an extract from a telegram received during the week-end from the Bombay Government in regard to the incident.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask is he aware that in both the London "Times" and the "Times of India" this case was mentioned as being rather out of the ordinary?

Yes. Inquiries have been made, and it is the result of those inquiries which I shall furnish to my hon. and gallant Friend and the House in the form of a statement.

Is it not possible, in this and similar cases to have representatives of bodies other than the Government making those inquiries in order that they may not have the appearance of being partial.

I am satisfied that the inquiries are genuine inquiries, and I am satisfied that it is the desire of the Government to see that nothing improper Occurs.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will give the House information regarding the attack made by the police on students in the compound of the Curzon Hall at Dacca University on 21st July last, stating how many injuries, fatal and non-fatal, were suffered by the students?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Member in charge of the police portfolio in the course of a debate in the Bengal Legislative Council on the 12th August, a copy of the report of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will state what was the total expenditure, over and above normal defence charges, incurred on account of operations on the north-west frontier of India from the end of 1918 to the end of 1929?

I regret that the information required is not available and could not be extracted, if at all, without disproportionate labour.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, seeing that free passages home to covenanted foremen on railways in India were granted by the Railway Board on 1st April, 1930, he can state why such free passages have now been withheld or stopped for an indefinite period?

I am informed by the Government of India that the application of the passage rules in these cases was deferred pending the issue of certain specific instructions for the guidance of the authorities applying the rules, but that these instructions have now been issued and are being communicated to the various railway administrations.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when these very disappointed people will get their passages and how much longer is it going to be?

Instructions have been issued.

asked the Secretary of State for India if it is the intention of the Government of India to accept the recommendation of the Indian Tariff Board in favour of increasing the ad valorem duty on imported gold thread to 50 per cent. for 10 years?

Yes, Sir. A Bill has been introduced to give effect to the recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will inform the House as to the results of the inquiry made by the hon. Mr. G. A. Natesan, member of the Council of State, and Mr. J. Gray, Indian Civil Service, labour commissioner in Madras, at the instance of the Government of India, into the working of the special organisation in Madras for dealing with emigrants returning from Smith Africa under the scheme of assisted emigration; and whether the Government of India propose to take any steps arising out of Messrs. Natesan and Gray's report?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the report. I have not heard what action the Government of India propose to take on it.

asked the Secretary of State for India why the fortnightly reports on the situation in India have been discontinued; and whether, in view of the great interest taken by the House in Indian affairs, he will once more issue these reports?

asked the Secretary of State for India for what reason there has been a cessation of the weekly communiqué hitherto issued by the Government of India; and what steps he proposes to take to keep this House and the country informed of the progress of events and the state of law and order in India?

The answer is that given last Monday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Southern Derbyshire (Major Pole). Such information as I have relating to any particular matter is, of course, always at the disposal of the House.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the present time there is a special interest taken in the affairs of India, and in many cases reports are censored, so that only garbled reports come to this country, and would it not be advisable to have a further report?

I do not admit that there are garbled reports published. The reason for the discontinuance for the time being of the general appreciation was given by me last Monday. I am willing to give information at all times.

May I take it that the right hon. Gentleman does not propose to withhold from this House any information that may be asked for?

This House is entitled to demand, and will certainly receive, all such information as I may have.

Is it not the case that there is no censorship of the Press in India?

asked the Secretary of State for India if he has received any report from the Government of India as to the state of law and order in the Bombay district?

All information of importance is regularly reported to me, but I have received no report of a special nature.

If I put down a non-oral question will the right hon. Gentleman give the latest information that he has received?

If the Noble Lord will put down a question, oral or non-oral, I will give him the fullest information in answer.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to make any inquiry into the treatment of political prisoners and charges of violence made against the police?

I would refer to the answer that I gave last Monday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy). It has always been my practice to inquire into any specific allegations brought to my notice. Such also is the practice of local governments in India.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that arms have been, and are being, illegally imported into India; and will he state if special steps are being taken to deal with this matter?

I have received reports from time to time of attempts to smuggle arms into India, but I have no information that any considerable consignments of arms have been imported. If the hon. and gallant Member can supply me with any specific information, I shall be very glad to receive it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in the meantime, ask the Government of India if they have any later information on the subject?

I have given all the information in my possession but I imagine from the question put by the hon. and gallant Gentleman that he has some other information which I was inviting him to send to me.

Up to what date does the right hon. Gentleman's information extend?

I cannot say. It is the date of the most recent telegram, and it is a recent date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiries as small consignments may amount to a large total?

Those are precisely the points with which the Government of India dealt in the telegram to which I have referred.

If a question is put down in a week's time, will the right hon. Gentleman give the most up-to-date information?

All questions receive up-to-date information.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether a further session of the Round Table Conference is contemplated in India or in this country?

I hope that it may shortly be possible to make an announcement of His Majesty's Government's plans for carrying on the work of the Conference.

Is the desirability of having a Session of the Round Table Conference in India being considered?

I cannot anticipate the statement to which I have referred.

Does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate making a statement in reply to a Parliamentary question, or to follow the procedure which was followed the other day of moving the adjournment and making a speech?

That is really not a question for me at all.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has now any information to give to the House regarding the terms for co-operation with the Government of India offered by Mr. Gandhi; and what reply has been sent by the Government of India?

Beyond reports in the Press of interviews and speeches of Mr. Gandhi and other Congress leaders, I have no information as to any offer of co-operation on their part. As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and other delegates of the Round Table Conference are going to discuss the position with Mr. Gandhi, and Mr. Gandhi has expressed his intention of giving full consideration to anything they may have to say.

Does this co-operation include the repudiation of British debts, and is it not worth while postponing the issue of the new loan?

I may inform the hon. and gallant Gentleman that the loan was issued and over-subscribed this morning.

Then British credit is being used in a country where there is no law or order.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any communications from the Soviet Government as to the proceedings and arrangements for the forthcoming disarmament conference; and whether he will state their purport to the House?

Yes, Sir. Just before my departure for Geneva in January I received a communication from the Soviet Ambassador in London on the subject of the Disarmament Conference. This communication was to the effect that, in the opinion of the Soviet Government, the conference would be of great international importance, and the preservation of peace would depend to a considerable extent upon its results. The Soviet Government had repeatedly expressed their view that disarmament, or the maximum reduction of armaments, was the only guarantee for peace, and they, therefore, took special interest in the success of the conference, and were ready to take an active part in its work. It then proceeded to express the view of the Soviet Government that the Chairman of the Disarmament Conference should be chosen by the conference itself when it meets and not in advance by the Council of the League of Nations, and also that it would be undesirable that the conference should be held at Geneva.

Is it not a fact that the Soviet Government objected to all the arrangements that are being made in regard to this conference?

Do they propose to take part in the conference if it takes place in Geneva?

I cannot say.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reply to my question whether it is a fact that the Soviet Government objected to all the arrangements?

I do not think they objected to all of them. I have enumerated the points on which they raised objection.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will take steps to ascertain whether the Soviet Government will be prepared to co-operate in the appointment of a commission of inquiry into the question of the conditions of labour obtaining in Russia on similar lines to the inquiry recently set up by the League of Nations at the instance of the Liberian Government?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on the 26th of January to the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison), in which it was made clear that the Soviet Government had intimated to His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow that they would not consider any request for an investigation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the reply? Taking into consideration what has been done by the Liberian Government, and the charges that have been made against the Soviet Government, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that he might use his influence to see that they set up an independent tribunal?

We have already used our influence to the extent indicated in my answer to the question. The position of the Liberian Government is different; they invited an investigation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman still satisfied that the charges made against the Soviet Government are not true?

I have never said that I was satisfied.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the necessity of making similar inquiries about forced labour in Kenya and the Indian States?

And in London.

That is not in the question.

Does the refusal of the Soviet Government extend also to our own Ambassador? Have they refused to allow any member of our Embassy to make inquiries?

I do not think I am charged with the responsibility of using the Ambassador for that purpose.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman ask the Soviet Government to allow one of our own Embassy in Moscow to go to these districts and make a report on the subject?

No; I do not think, after the refusal that has been given, that I can take that line.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Soviet Government to co-operate with him in an inquiry into the conditions of labour imposed by public assistance committees in London?

asked the Prime Minister what decision the Government have reached as to making further inquiries as to the conditions under which timber exported into this country from Russia is produced and handled, and loaded on British ships?

I have been asked to reply. As the House was informed on the 26th of January, and also to-day, the Soviet Government, who have been approached in the matter, have indicated that they would refuse to consider any request on our part for an investigation into the conditions of the timber industry in Russia. Without proper facilities, I fear that no inquiry would be satisfactory or effective.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Government's representative in another place last week said that the Government had grave suspicions as to the method by which this timber was produced and comes to this country, and does he not think that it is desirable that, at the earliest possible moment, it should be decided whether these suspicions are true or false?

We may have suspicions, but that does not provide us with facilities to have an inquiry.

Are we to conclude that the Government are not going to take any further steps?

The right hon. Gentleman must conclude nothing of the kind. We are watching the position very closely.

Is it not a fact that the labour conditions in question are the subject of an agreement between the trade union concerned and the Soviet Timber Trust?

The right hon. Gentleman says that he is going to watch, but are we to understand that no inquiry is going to be made?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Russian Government are gravely concerned about conditions in the Lancashire cotton industry?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the restrictions placed by the Soviet Government on the freedom of movement throughout Russia of the British Ambassador and of British trade representatives in Russia?

His Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow reports that, according to the legislation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, all persons except local inhabitants are prohibited from entering or residing within a zone of seven and a half kilometres of the frontier without the permission of the competent authorities. The legislation of the separate Allied Republics provides in addition that entry into the Central Asiatic Republics shall be contingent upon permission being obtained from the Governments of these Republics. The same regulations are in force regarding the entry of foreigners into the Yakut Republic, and access to the islands of the Arctic is prohibited to any person whomsoever without special permission. These limitations apply without exception to all foreign nationals.

Are we to understand that our trade representatives would have been entitled to visit the lumber camps from which timber coming to this country is derived?

No, not without permission.

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to extend reciprocal limitations to the Soviet trade representatives in this country?

I am entitled to have notice of that question; it does not arise out of the question on the Paper.

If the Soviet Government have nothing to fear in regard to these timber camps, would the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Soviet Government and ask for permission for our representatives to go there?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has recently received any further report from the British Ambassador as to whether there has been any relaxation of the law against religious teaching in Soviet Russia?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is able to give any further information as to persecution or prosecution for religious reasons in Soviet Russia?

I have received no recent reports from His Majesty's Ambassador on the situation of religious communities in the Soviet Union.

Has our Ambassador informed the right hon. Gentleman that there is to be a wireless campaign on religious matters?

Not that I am aware of.

My original question contained the word "prosecution" as well as "persecution." Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to prosecution?

I have received no information.

Is there any confirmation of the information that 93 per cent. of the churches which were functioning before the rebellion are still functioning?

I have seen a statement to that effect, but I have no official information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in respect of the building of the new League of Nations palace, any British firms were invited to tender; whether any contracts have been allocated to British firms; and, if not, whether His Majesty's Government will use its influence to secure the allocation of some of the remaining contracts to British firms?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any British firm has secured an order for British products to be used in the erection of the new League of Nations buildings at Geneva?

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department how many of the contracts for the building of the new palace of the League of Nations at Geneva have been given to British firms?

The supervision of the construction of the new buildings for the League of Nations is in the hands of the building committee appointed in accordance with the Assembly resolution of 25th September, 1924. The committee invited all firms who wished to compete for contracts to register their names for approval for the reception of invitations to tender. The procedure to be adopted was widely circulated to British firms by my Department and was also published throughout the Press, both general and technical, in Great Britain. I am informed that up to the present four contracts have been put out to tender by the committee. For the two contracts for preliminary drainage and general levelling no British firm was registered and Swiss firms obtained the contracts. Only one of the British firms registered in respect of the contract for excavation, foundation work, etc., submitted a tender, and the contract was obtained by an ad hoc group of five firms, consisting of three Swiss, one French and one Italian. The fourth contract, for heating and ventilation, for which two British firms are registered, has not yet been allocated, The majority of the contracts, in respect of which invitations will be issued to all the firms registered, have still to be put out to tender.

In view of the fact that one-quarter of the expense of the League of Nations is borne by the British Empire, will the right hon. Gentleman see that, in regard to these contracts, British firms are given every opportunity?

The matter was carried out by a committee appointed by the League of Nations Assembly, and I do not think it would be possible for us to intervene.

Is there any British representative on that committee?

Yes, one member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the plans for the new palace of the League of Nations have been approved; what is to be the cost of this building; have any of the contracts for this been given to Great Britain or the British Empire; and, if not, to what countries have the contracts been given?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The estimated cost of the Assembly Hall and secretariat buildings is approximately £945,326; the estimated cost of the library, which is being defrayed by Mr. John Rockefeller, junior, is approximately £170,000. In reply to the last two parts of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to-day by my hon. Friend the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade to the hon. Member for West Bristol (Mr. Culverwell).

Could the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the League of Nations to press forward our claims with regard to these contracts, at least in the case of those for lighting and heating, which have not yet been given?

That question has already been answered.

This contract has not been given; would not the right hon. Gentleman use his influence now, before it is given?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the basis on which the contributions of the members of the League of Nations to its expenses have been fixed?

Broadly speaking, the basis on which the contributions of States members of the League of Nations are determined is the national expenditure of such States. The actual assessments are fixed periodically by a committee appointed for the purpose. This committee will meet again next year.

In view of the fact that the British Empire contributes more than one-fourth of the expense of the League of Nations, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that this basis should be revised more in our favour?

After all, we have to remember that the British Empire represents one-fourth of the people of the whole world.

Could the right hon. Gentleman furnish a statement of the contributions assessed and the contributions actually paid by the various members of the League?

I think I had better have notice of that question.

I will give notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any of the 10 countries which have not yet paid their share of the expenses of the League of Nations for 1929 Have also omitted to pay their share in previous years; and, if so, will he give particulars shownig the period and amount of the arrears in each case?

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

What is the longest period for which any nation has been in default in its payment?

I certainly must have notice of that question.

Is it not given in the table?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will issue a White Paper giving the text of the Convention on Financial Assistance agreed to at the last Assembly of the League of Nations, together with a memorandum stating the reasons of His Majesty's Government for agreeing thereto?

Yes, Sir. I will be prepared to issue a White Paper on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can state, in sterling value, the amount of any contracts entered into for aeroplane engines and other equipment on behalf of the Soviet Government by the three aeronautical engineers who were authorised to visit this country for that purpose?

I regret I have no information in regard to this matter.

Is it not the duty of the right hon. Gentleman's Department to ascertain this information?

No, it is not. It has also to be borne in mind that firms may not care to divulge their private business.

When customers are buying material in this country, is it not the usual procedure for their experts to test it before delivery?

I presume they would.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether export credits for trade with Russia have been granted in respect of woollen and worsted yarns and woollen and worsted tissues and mixtures?

Guarantees in respect of exports to Russia of the goods to which the hon. and gallant Member refers have not been given to any appre- ciable extent under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme, the demand for such guarantees having been insignificant.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is aware that the South African Iron and Steel Corporation, Limited, have placed orders in Great Britain for the equipment of a new steel works in South Africa at a cost of £2,500,000; and if he will inquire as to why a portion of the machinery for the contract is being sub-contracted over to German firms?

The answer to the first part is in the affirmative. As regards the second part my information is that the contract was divided between two groups of contractors. One of these was a purely British group, but the contract for the equipment of the steel works was given to a British firm who tendered in co-operation with a German firm. I see no necessity to institute any special inquiry in regard to this matter.

Will the hon. Gentleman take action with the South African Government to ensure that a larger share of this machinery equipment is got in this country?

It seems to me that the answer I have just given indicates that that, is what has already happened.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will state the number of acceptances he has received in reply to his invitations to foreign buyers to visit the British Industries Fair?

The number of acceptances received to date is 731 and they emanate from 52 countries. This is nearly 100 more than on the corresponding date last year. In addition, notification has been received from 258 overseas buyers that they have instructed agents in the United Kingdom to attend on their behalf. The number of overseas buyers who notify the Department in advance of their intention to be present is, of course, only a small proportion of those who attend the fair.

Dave the representatives of the Soviet been invited, and have they accepted?

The hon. Member must give me notice of that question.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has made any recommendations to the Travel Association of Great Britain and Ireland to allocate a portion of His Majesty's Government's grant-in-aid to this association towards the question of film propaganda?

The Travel Association of Great Britain and Ireland has been studying the question of film publicity and I understand that the Association has now in preparation a small experimental film.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what number of copies of the official report of the Trade Mission to South Africa and the Rhodesias has been sold; and whether his Department has any evidence that exporters concerned with the trade are preparing to give effect to the recommendations of the Mission?

I am informed by His Majesty's Stationery Office that approximately 650 copies of the official report have been sold to date. With regard to the second part of the question, I have every reason to believe that as the result of the information brought home by members of the Mission, the interest aroused by the published report, and the stimulus given by meetings which have been held in various industrial centres to discuss the lesson of the Mission, firms are already taking active steps to improve their export trade to the markets in question.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether it is the practice of the Department to give guarantees, under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme, in connection with exports of British goods to the Argentine; and, if so, whether the attention of exhibitors at the forthcoming British Empire Exhibition at Buenos Aires will be called to the scheme?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, an officer of the Export Credits Guarantee Department will pay a special visit to Buenos Aires in order that exhibitors may be able to take the fullest advantage of the facilities available. The organisers of the exhibition, at whose request and with whose cordial co-operation these arrangements have been made, have so informed all exhibitors from this country.

Can my hon. Friend say whether the British manufacturers have so far taken any advantage of this facility?

No, Sir. I do not understand that any business has yet been done. A representative is being sent out to Buenos Aires to see into the matter and is leaving shortly.

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

My right hon. Friend is not at present able to add to the reply which he gave to the right hon. Gentleman on this subject on the 18th November last.

Is not the Chancellor of the Exchequer aware that this is another of the proposals to which the right hon. Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George) attaches great importance, and is he not going to take some action in the matter?

I am aware that this is a very important question.

But is not the Financial Secretary aware that the right hon. Member for Carnarvon Boroughs attaches great importance to this proposal?

May I ask whether the advantages which have been enjoyed in the United States and Germany are reflected in the unemployment figures of those two countries?

asked the Prime Minister if he has received any intimation from the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance of their inability to make an interim report in accordance with his request?

No, Sir. I have no reason to doubt that, in accordance with my request, the Royal Commission will present interim reports as may be practicable as soon as they have received and considered the necessary evidence.

Will the right hon. Gentleman intimate to the Royal Commission the extreme importance of getting, if possible, an interim report before the forthcoming borrowing?

I am afraid it is impossible before the borrowing date. They know the desire of the Government and, before transitional benefit is under consideration, I hope we may have some guidance.

What is the reason for the delay? All the information is in the hands of the Government.

The hon. Gentleman is quite wrong in that statement.

asked the Minister of Labour if she will publish a return of the local authorities which have submitted schemes under Part II of the Development (Loans, Guarantees, and Grants) Act, 1929; how many local authorities have not yet submitted any schemes; and whether any local authorities have made representations that the terms offered to them are too onerous?

I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ince (Mr. Gordon Macdonald) on 22nd January, of which I am sending him a copy. On 31st December, 1930, of the boroughs in Great Britain with a population of 50,000 and over only 12 had not submitted schemes under Part II of the Act, and of the urban district councils and town councils with a population of 20,000 and over, only four had not submitted schemes. One or two local authorities have stated that they cannot afford to undertake works unless the whole cost is met by the Government, but I do not think that authorities generally would dispute that the terms offered are generous.

asked the Minister of Labour if she is aware of the conditions prevailing at the Employment Exchange, Quebec Street, Leeds: and whether arrangements can be made to avoid long queues of men standing in the rain or, alternatively, whether she will consider the advisability of providing more sub-Exchanges?

Every effort is made by methods of organsiation, including a timing system, to avoid the necessity for applicants to wait outside the Exchange. I will have inquiry made at Leeds and will communicate further with my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health what percentage of unemployment there must be in the necessitous areas selected for the 100 per cent. grant in respect of approved employment schemes to be undertaken during this winter; how many such areas there are in England and Wales; whether any areas which have applied for a grant have been refused; and, if so, on what grounds?