asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the result of two conferences held in Paris recently on the situation of the agrarian countries of Europe; whether these were held under the auspices of the League of Nations and will report to it; what commitments, if any, have been accepted or recommended; and what countries in Europe were not represented or not invited?

In reply to the first and third parts of the question, I have at present nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, on the 3rd of March, to the hon. and gallant Member for South Paddington (Vice-Admiral Taylor). With regard to the second part, the meetings in question were held in pursuance of resolutions passed by the Commission of Inquiry for European Union, which was constituted by, and accordingly reports to, the League of Nations. The answer to the last part of the question is somewhat long, and I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The resolutions of the Commission contemplated that the first meeting, to find means of disposing of the existing grain surplus, should consist of "representatives of the European countries affected (grain exporting countries of Central and Eastern Europe and European importing countries)." This meeting was attended by delegates of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Irish Free State, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Rumania, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Yugoslavia. Finland and Spain were represented by observers.

The second meeting took the form of a Committee to consider the problem of future harvest surpluses. In accordance with the terms of the Commission of Enquiry's resolution, this Committee consisted of representatives of Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia.

I am not aware of invitations being issued for either meeting to any countries other than those I have named.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Government will propose, at the World Disarmament Conference, that there should be a budgetary limitation on air armaments?

The policy to be pursued by His Majesty's Government at the World Disarmament Conference next February is already receiving careful attention, and will continue to be closely studied during the next few months. I cannot, however, make any statement at present in reply to questions on points of detail.

Can my right hon. Friend, at any rate, say whether this is not a matter which will receive careful attention from the Government?

Undoubtedly, it must.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Government have received the report of the Committee of Experts appointed by the League of Nations to consider the budgetary limitation of armaments; and whether it is intended to publish this report?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. In regard to the second part of the question, I understand that the report will be issued in the usual way by the Secretary-General of the League.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken by the League of Nations to carry into effect Section A of Article 23 of the Covenant, which imposes upon all members the duty to secure and maintain fair and humane conditions of labour for men, women, and children both in their own countries and in all countries to which their commercial and industrial relations extend; and whether any code has been drawn up in this connection?

A temporary Slavery Commission was set up in 1924, as the result of whose labours, the Slavery Convention of the 25th September, 1926, was concluded, and has been ratified in respect of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and many other States. A number of conventions have also been concluded under the auspices of the International Labour Office, including the Forced Labour Convention of 1930. As the House has already been informed, a Commission of Inquiry into labour conditions in Liberia has recently presented its report to the Council of the League of Nations, and measures for carrying out the suggested reforms are now under active consideration.

How many States have not ratified the Convention?

I must have notice of that question.

Has Russia ratified?

Answer!

May I press the right hon. Gentleman for an answer to my question?

I have already said that I must have notice.

Is there any international agreement as to what constitutes fair and humane conditions of labour?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the Committee on Diving Equipment is likely to issue its report?

The Committee on Diving is still in being and is to carry out further trials and investigations which may occupy considerable time.

How long has this committee been considering their report?

It is not a question of considering. It is a question of getting on with further trials, and this summer, if the weather is favourable, it is proposed to do so.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the approximate values of the repair work done to Government ships in the Government dockyards in each of the following years: 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928 and 1929; and the approximate values of the repair work done to Government ships in private shipyards in the same years?

With my hon. Friend's permission, I propose to circulate the figures that are available in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the special rates of retired pay for officers retiring under the current special scheme are liable to alteration according to the cost-of-living figure?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why, seeing that the hours and conditions of work are similar, the wages of women employed in the Royal Naval Hospital laundry, Stonehouse, are 4s. a week less than the wages of women employed in the dockyard?

The wages paid to women employés depend, like those paid to men, on the nature of the employment. There are no women employed on laundry work at Devonport Dockyard.

Did the hon. Gentleman say there are no women employed in Devonport Dockyard?

I answerd the terms of the hon. Member's question. There are no women employed on laundry work in Devonport Dockyard.

I did not say there were.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what reductions are to be made in the naval marriage and children's allowances; and whether he will reconsider this matter?

In consequence of the reduction of the cost-of-living index figure, a reduced scale of marriage allowances will be operative in the three fighting Services during the financial year, 1931. The allowance for a wife will remain unchanged, but the revised scale will entail a reduction of from 1s. to 3s. weekly for children, according to the number of children in the family. I regret that I am unable to accede to the request contained in the latter part of the hon. Member's question.

Are the Admiralty of opinion that the reduced allowances will be sufficient to keep the children of naval men in decency?

The Admiralty are strictly carrying out the terms of the agreement.

Will the hon. Gentleman consult the chairman of the Kitchen Committee as to the real effect of the alleged reduction in the cost-of-living?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether with reference to the recent discharges of casual employés from His Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, he is aware that they were given only a few hours' notice of the termination of their employment and will he arrange for a longer notice to be given in any future case?

Casual employés are engaged on the understanding that they will be discharged without notice when no longer required. While some notice is sometimes given, the amount that can be given must depend upon the nature of the work and I am unable to give any undertaking in this respect.

Do not the Admiralty think it a very inhuman thing that men are allowed to arrive for the work on which they are engaged at an early hour of the morning and are then sent away? Could they not be told the day before?

If the hon. Member has any evidence to that effect, I shall be glad if he will bring it to my notice.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the written assurance to be given to the French and Italian Governments by the British Government, in connection with the Franco-Italian naval agreement, that they themselves favour a reduction of the capital-ship gun to a maximum calibre of 12 inches and a substantial reduction in the existing maximum displacement of 35,000 tons, will also be given by the Governments of the United States of America and Japan?

The assurance to be given by the British Government on this matter is not dependent on a similar assurance from the United States of America and Japan. I would refer the hon. Member to my statement on the Navy Estimates on 11th March for the general position in regard to capital ships.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that this written assurance will be in no way binding on the British Government, in the event of the United States and Japan not agreeing to its ratification at the next naval conference?

I think, if the hon. Gentleman refers to my statement of last week, he will understand the position. We had already, at London, indicated our view that we should reduce the size of the ship and the size of the gun as far as we could, but there was no agreement, and so we did not act. If there is no agreement in the future, we shall still be in the same position.

Then we may take it that that answer means that this assurance is, definitely, not binding?

It means exactly what it says.

As far as the gun is concerned, was the suggestion at the London Conference that it should be reduced to 12 inches or to 13.5 inches?

Twelve inches.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what proportion of the unemployment relief grant to British Guiana will be given in the form of a loan; on what terms the loan will be offered; and has the Colony indicated its willingness to accept loan money in lieu of grant?

As the hon. and gallant Member is aware a sum of £112,000 was included in the Supplementary Estimate for the current financial year in respect of relief works in British Guiana. Of this sum, £40,000 has been allocated as a loan to the Colony, on terms to be prescribed later, to provide for the improvement of labour and other conditions on sugar estates. This loan was given subject to an assurance that the Colony would undertake to impose some special form of taxation when the industry is again prosperous, the proceeds of which will be allocated as to one-half for the repayment of the loan, and one-half for the creation of a fund to assist the industry when necessary. This assurance has been given by a resolution of the local Legislature. The provision of further assistance of this nature in the coming financial year is under consideration.

Can the hon. Gentleman say if there has been any improvement in conditions in British Guiana?

No; I are afraid they remain very much the same.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies under what international convention Cyprus was made liable to contribute £42,000 annually to the Ottoman public debt from 1914 to 1927?

The payment was not made under an international convention. An explanation of the position will be found on page 17 of Command Paper No. 3477 of 1930, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the abolition of this liability, in view of the financially straitened circumstances of Cyprus to-day?

I have already indicated, in reply to other questions on the subject, the position of the Government in regard to this matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Kenya land bank is to start operations; and whether he is aware of the urgency of enabling this assistance to be given to East African agriculturists?

My Noble Friend has approved of the Land and Agricultural Bank Ordinance being brought into operation, but has not yet been informed of the date to be appointed for that purpose by the Governor of Kenya. My Noble Friend is aware of the importance attached to the early establishment of the bank, and he has no doubt that the Government of Kenya will proceed as rapidly as possible with the preliminary measures for setting up the bank, which will necessarily take time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is yet able to state over what course the Schneider Trophy Race will be run this year and on what date the race is to be held?

The position remains as stated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member on the 18th February last. I understand, however, that an announcement will be made on the subject by the Royal Aero Club before the end of this month.

Can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there will not be the same delay in making this announcement as there was with the original announcement in regard to this race?

The matter rests with the Aero Club, and they stated on Monday last that the details of the course had not yet been settled.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the estimated total cost of British participation in the forthcoming Schneider trophy race; what proportion of this is money which would otherwise have to be found from public funds; and what was the cost falling on public funds in 1929?

As regards the first two parts of the question, my hon. and gallant Friend will doubtless realise that preparations for a Schneider Trophy contest interact very closely with the official programme of research and development in high-speed aircraft and engine, and it is very difficult, particularly at this stage, to give any satisfactory estimate of the total cost, direct and indirect. I may say, however, that the expenditure which would not have been incurred but for the decision to participate, is estimated at approximately £100,000. I may add that the original cost to public funds of the machines and engines purchased in connection with the 1929 contest, which will also be utilised in connection with the 1931 contest, was about £230,000, but this includes the cost, which cannot be precisely determined, of the normal programme of high-speed research and development over the period affected.

I am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman. May I ask, does this answer mean that the whole of the extra money, over and above the normal routine training and research, has already been provided by Lady Houston?

It means that that is our estimate of the extra cost to the Air Ministry.

Then no other money will have to be raised by private funds outside Lady Houston's generous gift?

No, I think not.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what steps he proposes to take to develop night air mails from this country abroad?

The question of developing night air mails from this country abroad is primarily one for the decision of the operating companies concerned, but the Air Ministry is keeping in close touch with the whole question. Conferences of air and postal administrations of certain European States will be held in Prague in June and Brussels in October next, at which this matter will be examined.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken by his Department and/or by the local authorities to make effective the existing regulations designed to prevent the overloading of motor and steam-driven vehicles using public roads?

In a circular letter which I recently caused to be sent to highway authorities it was pointed out that grants from the Road Fund are now available towards the expenses incurred by them in erecting machines for weighing vehicles or in securing the use of such machines belonging to any other authority or person, and the hope was expressed that this provision would encourage and assist highway authorities in the exercise of their powers under Section 27 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, with regard to the weighing of vehicles. I am arranging for a copy of the Circular to be sent to the hon. Member.

Are we to understand from the Minister's reply that the local authorities do not give effect to these regulations; and does the Minister ask for returns from the local authorities, showing the results of their investigations?

The answer which I have given relates rather to future arrangements in connection with the administration of the Road Traffic Act, 1930. I am afraid it has to be confessed that in the past, under previous legislation, the administration was not as firm as it might have been.

What is the rate of grant from the Road Fund?

I could not say without notice, but I know that there is a grant from the Road Fund towards weighing machines.

asked the Minister of Transport if a decision has been reached to proceed with the proposed new shore-road between South Queensferry and Bo'ness; and, if so, what is the estimated cost and what proportion will fall upon the local rates?

I am informed that the West Lothian County Council have agreed to the construction of a shore-road between Queensferry and Bo'ness and that a tentative estimate puts the cost at £130,000, exclusive of the cost of land to be acquired. So far, no definite scheme has been submitted to me, and I am unable to say what proportion of the cost will fall upon the local rates.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable apprehension as to the effect that this scheme may have upon the rates?

There is always that apprehension, just as I have apprehension as to how much will fall on the Road Fund.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that drivers have been convicted for exceeding the speed limit when driving motor-coaches not fitted with speedometers; and if he proposes to take any action in this matter?

My attention had not been drawn to this matter. In the ease of regular motor coach services, an application for a road service licence will have to be accompanied, in accordance with the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, by time tables and Section 72 of the Act provides that the Area Traffic Commissioners shall not grant a licence if it appears to them from the time table to be likely that the legal maximum speed for the vehicles used on the service would be exceeded. In the circumstances, I have not thought it necessary in the Regulations that have recently been made under the Act to require that motor coaches should be fitted with speedometers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman draw attention to the urgency of this matter and to the desirability of drivers having speedometers?

We must be guided by experience, but I think it better that the owners of the vehicles should be made to realise their sense of responsibility in fixing the schedules for the vehicles.

Have there been many of these convictions?

I cannot say; I had to inform the hon. Gentleman that my attention had not previously been drawn to the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport when the report of the Committee on Main Line Railway Electrification is likely to be issued?

I have not yet received this report, but I understand that I shall probably receive it shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport why, in the case of the contract for the swing-bridges over the Caledonian Canal, it was not possible to invite tenders f r the contract from all bridge-building firms who could submit their own designs for the bridges?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to a similar question by him on the 11th March. As I explained then, it was considered that the interests of the public would be served best by limiting the tender in this case to selected firms.

I am asking the reasons why the selection was made. What are the public reasons for limiting the number of firms which have been asked to tender?

The reasons are the common reasons in a case of this kind; owing to the exceptional character of the work, we must be satisfied that the firm tendering can successfully do it, and it is desirable to make a selected list of tenderers and allow competition within that sphere. It is the policy adopted not only by the State, but by local authorities.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I wish to give the Minister notice that I shall raise the matter on the first available opportunity on the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, having regard to the fact that tramcars in London and elsewhere stop without giving any warning to other traffic, he will take powers to make it a matter of obligation on all tramcar undertakings that warning shall be given of the stopping of every tramcar by lights or otherwise?

I am watching certain experiments that are being made in this direction, but I am not yet satisfied that it is desirable that tramway undertakers should be obliged to exhibit such warning signals.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why the most clumsy, least mobile, and in many ways the largest vehicle on the road should have special exemption with regard to a precaution of this kind?

I cannot agree with the descriptive epithets which the hon. Gentleman applies to tramcars, and therefore I am afraid that the second part of his question does not arise.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there has been a considerable number of accidents caused by tramcars not having this signal, and will he make an investigation to see how many such accidents have occurred?

I question whether the wholesale assertion of the hon. Gentleman is borne out by the facts.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that there are 133 level crossings over railways in the administrative county of Lancashire and that no schemes for the elimination of any of these level crossings have been approved for grant from the Road Fund during the past two years, he will use his influence to see that schemes are prepared and submitted to him without delay, with a view to improving the present position?

The initiation of schemes for the abolition of level crossings is a matter which must rest with the highway authorities concerned, who are well aware that grants of 75 per cent. of the approved net cost are available from the Road Fund towards carrying out works of this nature I may add that negotiations are in progress in respect of three important level crossings in Lancashire.

asked the Minister of Transport how many schemes have been submitted to his Department since 1st June, 1929, for abolishing level crossings; how many have been approved; how many disapproved; and how many are still under consideration?

To collect the complete return required by my hon. Friend necessitates a reference to my divisional staff; as soon as these inquiries have been made I will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

Has not the removal of the speed limit on these fast-going vehicles turned all our roads into level crossings?

asked the Minister Transport the number of licences current on the 28th February, 1931, in respect of motor cars taxed on horse-power and in respect of motor hackneys and tramcars, and the approximate amount received in payment of licences in each case for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

Particulars of the number of licences current on the 28th February, 1931, are not yet available. My hon. Friend will find the information required by the last part of his question in issue No. 27 of the monthly Returns of Road Vehicles.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for a White Paper to be circulated to Members giving particulars of the five-years' programme of road and bridge building to which his Department is committed and which involves an expenditure of £27,500,000; if he will include in such returns the contributions which will be made by the local authorities concerned towards the cost of the improvements; if he will state whether the Treasury have concurred in the carrying out of this programme; and whether he proposes to submit this scheme of expenditure to the House for approval or whether their control will be limited to the annual discussion during the five years over which this building programme is to be spread of the Estimates relating to his Department?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to page 7 of the White Paper (Cmd. 3746) published in December last. The position at 13th March, 1931, was that the £27,500,000 of the five years' programme had been dealt with as follows:

(a) Schemes which had been submitted in detail and approved for commencement amounted to nearly £11,500,000.

(b) Schemes submitted in outline and approved in principle accounted for another £14,750,000.

(c) The balance represented schemes under negotiation.

The estimated Road Fund liability in respect of the schemes approved, whether in detail or in principle, was £18,500,000, leaving £7,750,000 to be borne by the local authorities.

The White Paper already laid has apprised the House of the approval by His Majesty's Government of the five years' programme of Road Fund expenditure, which does not require an Annual Vote.

Did not the right; hon. Gentleman, in a speech which he made at Derby last week, draw attention to the increase from £9,500,000 to £11,500,300 in the cost of the work proposed to be carried out, and, owing to this enormous increase, will he issue another White Paper?

I think that, the hon. and gallant Gentleman is under a misapprehension. That increase was sanctioned some time before the issue of the last White Paper.

Has any of the work involved in this increase been started?

Yes, certainly.

Will the House have an opportunity of discussing these things as they come up to be carried out, or are we only to have an opportunity once a year of going into the matter?

It depends on whether the Opposition ask for the Ministry of Transport Vote to be put down; that would give an opportunity to discuss the general policy of the Department, but we want to go forward with these unemployment schemes.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to issue regulations dealing with the use of mechanical appliances on motor cars for indicating change of direction?

I have the question of issuing Regulations on this subject under consideration at the present time, but it will be necessary for me to consult the motoring organisations concerned, and I am not in a position to say when the Regulations are likely to be made.

Has not this matter been under consideration for a very long time?

Not a terribly long time.

asked the Minister of Transport how many lengths of road surfacing for experimental purposes he has sanctioned which are at present laid down; what proportion of the cost is borne by the Ministry; and what steps are taken to control the experiments by his Department and to make the results generally known to highway authorities and other interested parties?

Certain experimental forms of road construction have been executed in connection with London arterial roads, of which particulars have appeared in recent reports on the administration of the Road Fund. Since the appointment of a Technical Advisory Committee on experimental work in 1929 about half a mile of various forms of concrete have been laid on the road attached to the Department's Experimental Station at Harmondsworth, wholly at the cost of the Road Fund. One and three-eighths miles of bituminous surfacing have been laid on the Kingston by-pass in co-operation with associations of manufacturers of road-making materials, half of the cost being borne by the Road Fund. In addition other experimental work is being carried out in conjunction with highway authorities of which any cost in excess of the normal falls on the Road Fund. The work in every case is supervised by the technical officers of my Department. Results are published from time to time in the technical Press and the first report by the Technical Advisory Committee to which I have referred will be published shortly.

Is any progress being made with the tests in the use of rubber for roads—rubber after undergoing certain treatment—in order to lessen the vibration?

Rubber is being tested in the City of London, but a sufficient time has not yet elapsed to enable the City engineer definitely to advise me of the results.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the protests sent to him from municipal and other gas companies protesting against his action in recommending electricity at the expense of gas companies; and whether he will receive deputations on the subject?

The conferences which I have recently held with representatives of electricity supply undertakings were arranged with a view to urging them to provide additional employment by expediting their development, and I pointed out that the continued development of the two industries had not proved incompatible. I have not been approached directly on the subject by municipal or other gas undertakers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman he willing to receive any deputation from municipal bodies on the subject?

When an application is received, I will consider it, but I am not convinced that I have committed any offence.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen a letter of protest signed by two members of his own party which appears in the Press to-day?

I have seen letters of protest from the gas industry, but I am certain that they were drafted and signed under a complete misapprehension of the facts.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the loss to the country owing to the impossibility of travel agents booking advance sight-seeing tours of London for potential visitors from overseas, due to the delay in his reaching a decision with regard to the proposal to ban all motor coaches from Central London, he will make an immediate statement to the effect that such visitors will not be inconvenienced by any regulations which he proposes to issue?

I have decided not to proceed with the making of the regulations of which notice was given on 19th December last, and to adopt the alternative course of giving general directions to the Traffic Commissioner for the Metropolitan area, in pursuance of Section 63 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, in the matter of the restriction of motor coach services in the Central London area. In these general directions the attention of the Commissioner will be drawn to the desirability of so exercising his discretion in the grant or refusal of road service licences as to allow facilities for sight-seeing excursions and tours, where it is clear that a legitimate public demand exists which could not otherwise be met. I propose to issue and to publish the general directions to the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner at once.

Will the right hon. Gentleman press the Commissioner to come to an early decision in view of the great financial loss to the country caused by the present uncertainty of the position?

I think the right hon. Gentleman may take it that the directions which will be issued, and which I will publish at once, will in fact guide the Traffic Commissioner in his policy.

May we take it that these Regulations will not prevent passengers from the north coming right in to the centre of the City?

That does not follow. Passengers from the north will be able to come to within a reasonable distance of the centre subject always to the reasonable discretion of the Traffic Commissioner, but I cannot conceive, and I hope that the House will never insist upon the right, of everybody being able to travel from door to door irrespective of public convenience.

Are we to understand that this discretion of the Traffic Commissioner will apply only to visitors who come to this country for the purpose of seeing London?

I cannot give a categorical answer upon that point, but substantially it is to meet what I thought was a legitimate case of the sight-seeing visitor—the tourist and overseas visitor, and so on. There must be a certain elasticity in administration, but, substantially, that is the only concession.

asked the—Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the terms upon which the share capital of the Egham and Staines Electricity Supply Company has been acquired by the Metropolitan Electric Supply Company; and, seeing that the terms represent an appreciation of over 100 per cent. of the nominal capital of the Egham and Staines Electricity Supply Company, whether he proposes to take any steps to ensure that the burden of increased capitalisation shall not fall upon the consumers of electricity in the area of either of the companies concerned?

It has been stated by the Chairman of the Metropolitan Company that the company recently made an offer to the ordinary shareholders of the Egham and Staines Electricity Supply Company to acquire their Ordinary shares in exchange for Ordinary shares of the Metropolitan Company; the Egham and Staines shareholders to receive one Ordinary share of the Metropolitan Company for each Ordinary share held in the Egham and Staines Company and that the necessary number of acceptances of this offer were received. As the exchange was made on the basis of "share for share," the latter part of the question does not arise.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he is now in a position to state what has been done to terminate the former policy of using office accommodation at Bromyard Avenue, Acton, as storage room for files and records?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on the 18th December to hon. Members, by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Labour how many male clerks, permanent and temporary, are employed in all the Employment Exchanges under the control of the manager, Walsall Employment Exchange; how many are classified in Grade II and also in Grade III; and what is the weekly wage received by those in Grade II and Grade III, respectively?

Under the control of the manager of the Walsall Employment Exchange there are the following male clerks on the staff of the Ministry of Labour:

1	Permanent.
	21 Employment Clerks.
	1 "P" Class Clerk, Grade II.
	7 "P" Class Clerks, Grade III.
	29

11	Temporary.
33	Temporary Clerks, Grade III.

These figures are exclusive of clerks in the personal employment of the branch manager at Cannock.

The "P" class clerk, Grade II, receives a salary of £3 1s. 11d. per week. The 40 Grade III clerks ("P" class and temporary) receive an average weekly wage of £2 12s. per week.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will consider the desirability of scheduling old Temple Bar as of national value in order to avoid the possibility of its being sold to America?

Temple Bar has already been scheduled under the Ancient Monuments (Consolidation and Amendment) Act, 1913, and will he included in the list, which is shortly to be published, of monuments scheduled up to the end of 1930.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department when he hopes to be in a position to ask the House to ratify the convention relating to international exhibitions, signed in Paris in November, 1928?

The convention was ratified by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom on 17th December, 1930.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which countries have taken action to prohibit or restrict the importation of goods from Soviet Russia; and whether in any case the reason can be stated?

There is an absolute prohibition upon the importation into Rumania of all goods of Soviet origin, except salted fish. Prohibitions or restrictions upon the importation of certain specified classes of goods from Soviet Russia have been imposed by Canada, Belgium, France, the United States of America and Yugoslavia. In the case of the United States the prohibition, which is confined to lumber and pulpwood from specified parts of Russia, was stated in the Treasury decision by which it was imposed to have been issued on the ground that convict labour is employed in the production of timber and pulpwood in those districts. In the case of France I have seen statements communicated by Ministers to the Press which indicate that the restrictions were imposed on grounds connected with the prices at which Soviet goods were being sold. I have no official information as to the reasons which led to the imposition of the restrictions in other countries.

Does not the hon. Member see that the reason why those countries took that action was in order to protect and help their own industries, and ought not the same considerations to apply in the case of our own industries?

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the existence of these restrictions in other countries will increase the dumping in this country?

Do not the Soviet Government place an embargo on the goods of all countries which place an embargo on their goods, with the result that those countries lose trade?

Can the hon. Gentleman give any sane or sound reason why we do not prohibit the import of their goods into this country?

Is the Minister aware that Gandhi has got his eye on St. George's?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now state the conclusions of the investigations by the Food Council into the reasonableness of the new scale in the price of flour?

The Food Council have not yet presented a report on the reasonableness of the new scale of bread prices adopted by the London Bakers' Societies last year. I understand that they are still in communication with the societies in the matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman trying to ascertain when a report will be made?

I will endeavour to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can make any further statement with regard to the boycott of British goods in India?

I am keeping closely in touch with the Government of India in this matter, but at present I have nothing to add to the information I have already given.

Can my right hon. Friend inform me when he expects to get some definite information about this matter?

I answered that question yesterday. We must wait a few days before we can get any official figures about imports.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of Mr. Gandhi's proposal that stocks of British cloth at, present in India should be re-exported to places outside India; and, if so, whether he will take immediate steps to make it clear that such action is not in accordance with the recent agreement, signed by His Excellency the Viceroy and Mr. Gandhi.

The right hon. Gentleman was only able to give me notice of this question after two o'clock. I have only seen a Press statement, and have no official information as to the proposal mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman, but I will inquire.

In view of the fact that this is a most serious form of boy- cott, if the information I have is correct, will the right hon. Gentleman take action?

Is it not the case that mill owners are the real instigators of the boycott, which is keeping tens of thousands of people in Lancashire out of work, and will he not do something?

asked the Prime Minister on what date the Chancellor of the Exchequer will open the Budget?

No date has yet been fixed.

In view of the welcome improvement in the condition of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he will be able to make an announcement before the Easter recess?

I have looked up the precedents and find that an announcement is very, very rarely made before the end of March or the beginning of April.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any foreign coal has been brought to this country for bunkering or other purposes during the present calendar year; whether he knows of any cargoes on their way here; and, if so, whether he will give particulars?

No foreign coal has been imported into this country during the current year, and, so far as I am aware, none is on its way here.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state the date upon which the Central Council fixed the quota for the Midland (Amalgamated) District for the quarter ending 31st March, 1931; and the date upon which the Midland (Amalgamated) District fixed the minimum prices for every class of coal produced in that district.?

The Central Council fixed the allocation for the Midland (Amalgamated) District for the March quarter on 26th November, 1930. Minimum prices under the Midland scheme for the inland trade became operative on 18th February, 1931. I understand that minimum prices for export for that district are not yet in force, pending discussions with other districts.

Is this delay to enable the Midland owners to dump coal at cut prices in other districts, and is that the reason why they have exhausted their quota at the present time?

That is the reason why they have practically exhausted their quota.

Are these quotas and prices published at the time of their decision?

It would be extremely inadvisable that minimum prices should be published.

Are we to understand that the Midland Counties have not fixed their minimum prices for export coal, seeing that other districts have fixed theirs?

The matter is now under discussion by the Central Council of Coalowners.

Are the Ministry not bringing any pressure to bear upon the Midland Counties to fix the price for export coal?

We cannot compel districts to fix their minimum prices either for export or for inland coal, but in any event the question of fixing minimum prices is not so important as the co-ordination of minimum price and the amount fixed.

On a point of Order. May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, on what principle questions are transferred from one Minister to another. This question was put down to the Prime Minister, and it deals with the great question of the intentions of the Government and of large-scale employment. It has been transferred from the Prime Minister to the Secretary for Mines, but I had a very strong wish that it should be answered by the Prime Minister.

The Minister responsible for the particular questions which are raised is the one who answers.

Is it not a fact that the Prime Minister, as Leader of the House, is responsible for questions of policy?

May I ask if the Mines Department are responsible for experiments in oil fuel?

The hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Rear-Admiral Beamish) may rest assured that when suitable oils are produced from coal in sufficient quantities at reasonable prices, the Admiralty will purchase them for use in the Royal Navy. The problem is one of production and on that point I cannot add anything to the answers I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on the 11th March, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Ince (Mr. G. Macdonald) an the 10th March.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that offers of bulk supplies have already been made and that the case was raised in the House the other day by the Civil Lord of the Admiralty?

I have heard something to that effect, but I understand that the Admiralty have the point under consideration.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that his answer means that the Admiralty are going to sit down and wait for the oil to be available?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the method adopted by colliery firms in allowing ochre water to flow into streams in such quantities and conditions as to be detrimental to fish life and fish food; and whether he is prepared to take such steps as will prevent this practice?

I am aware that ochre water is discharged from mines, and that in certain circumstances it may prejudicially affect fish food; but its discharge in the same condition is specifically exempted from the operation of the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act, 1876. I am advised that it is not actually poisonous to fish, but, if it is deposited on the bed of a stream, it might interfere mechanically with fish food, in which circumstances proceedings could be taken by a Fishery Board under Section 8 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act, 1923. I myself have no statutory authority to institute proceedings.

asked the hon. Member for the Gorton Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he will state whether and to what extent the coffee of Kenya and other parts of the Empire is served to Members in preference to foreign coffee?

I can assure the hon. Member only Empire-grown coffee is used in the refreshment department, that at present in use consists of a blend of Kenya, Blue Mountain Jamaica and Mysore.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the coffee sold in the House is dear and is not good, and will he take steps to obtain the best coffee irrespective of where it may be grown?

Shame!

The Kitchen Committee have to give effect to the Resolution of this House which provides that Empire produce shall be supplied?

Could not the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Camborne (Mr. Leif Jones) drink tea?

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that, quite apart from the origin of the coffee, there is a good deal of dissatisfaction with the making of the coffee? It is disgusting stuff.

Is there any member of the Kitchen Committee who understands how to make coffee?

Yes, I can assure the Noble Lady that the staff is quite as competent in this House as in any other place.

asked the hon. Member for the Gorton Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he will state by what percentage the average price of foodstuffs supplied to Members and officials has been reduced in the period from June, 1929, to January, 1931, during which the Board of Trade wholesale price index declined 21 per cent. and the Ministry of Labour cost-of-living index declined 6 per cent.?

There has been no general reduction in the prices charged to Members and officials during the period mentioned. The Kitchen Committee records show that the fall, if any, in the prices of the highest grades of National Mark meat, eggs, poultry, vegetables and other home-grown or Empire produce as used in the Refreshment Department of this House in infinitesimal. The Committee regret their inability further to reduce the already low prices charged for foodstuffs supplied.

Will the hon. Member convey that information to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in connection with the recent reductions of civil servants' wages?

asked the hon. Member for the Gorton Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if the committee is prepared to consider the abolition of the tipping system in the dining rooms of the House and the substitution therefor of a reasonable annual salary, say £260 a year, for the staff of waiters?

In reply, I should like the House to appreciate what this suggestion would cost. The receipts of the Kitchen Committee average about £34,000 per annum. To pay the 35 waiters regularly employed the amount suggested would take £9,100, 27 per cent. of our total revenue. I should be grateful if the hon. Member can inform me where the committee are to find the money to pay the remaining 81 members of the refreshment department staff, whose salaries and wages would, I presume, have to be increased in proportion. In the circumstances, I regret that it will be impossible to entertain the suggestion put forward.