asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet any information with regard to the treaty between Italy and Russia for the interchange of commodities?

I have caused further inquiries to be made, and am informed that the contents of the Agreement have still not been made public. I am not, therefore, in a position to give any information on the subject.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether treaties of this nature have not to be deposited with the League of Nations, and is not that a means of ascertaining the contents of the treaties?

I require notice of that question. The hon. Gentleman will observe that one of the parties to the treaty is not a member of the League.

Does not that make it all the more important that information should be obtained and published with regard to these treaties, which do not go through the usual formality of being deposited with the League of Nations?

The right hon. Gentleman will observe that in this particular case I have no power whatever until the contents of the treaty are divulged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the values of the exports of British manufactures to foreign countries and retained imports of manufactures of foreign countries into Great Britain, respectively, in the year 1930?

The desired information will not be available until towards the end of the current year, when the particulars will be published in Volumes I and IV of the annual statement of the trade of the United Kingdom.

Is it not a fact that there is a very serious change in the position as disclosed by the months up to date, showing a tendency of British manufacturers to fall behind for the first time compared with foreign countries?

It would be impossible to deal with that question. There have been changes beyond dispute, but I could not go into them in reply to a supplementary question.

Are there no provisional figures available at an earlier date?

Yes; the comprehensive figures applicable to the whole range are available, but not separated figures as the right hon. Gentleman has requested. That separation is available only later in the year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many ready-made doors have been imported from Russia during the last 12 months; how the figures of such importation compare with the previous 12 months; and what is the current wholesale price of such doors as compared with the cost of production of similar British doors?

Particulars relating to doors are not separately recorded in the Trade Returns of the United Kingdom or of the Soviet Union, and I have no information as to the current wholesale price of doors of Russian manufacture. Imports of doors into this country are included under the heading of builders' woodwork—window-frames, doors, etc.—the imports of which into the United Kingdom, registered as consigned from the Soviet Union during the 12 months ended 28th February, 1931, were of a declared value of £10,717 as compared with £23,337 during the previous 12 months.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether it has now been decided to issue an economic report on Soviet Russia; and whether he has now arranged also to issue an appreciation containing the results to date already manifested under the five-year plan?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewisham, East (Sir A. Pownall) on Monday the 2nd February, and with regard to the second part of the question, I would refer to my answer returned to the hon. Member for Newcastle, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) on 23rd March.

When will the hon. Member come to a decision on these matters?

I understand that there have been changes in the organisation out there, and that that has delayed the report.

Is the hon. Member aware of the important bearing that this five-year plan may have on industry in this country?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any evidence of the relative durability of imported leather and fabric gloves and similar goods made in England?

I am afraid I cannot furnish the hon. Member with any specific evidence on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total quantity and value of broken road-stone imported into this country during the year 1930; and how it compared in price and quality, respectively, with broken road-stone obtainable in this country?

During the year 1930, 596,000 tons of granite—other than setts and pavement curbs and monumental and architectural granite—of a declared value of £436,000, and 109,000 tone of granite setts and pavement curbs, valued at £303,000 were imported into the United Kingdom. I am unable to state the amount of broken road stone, as such, that was imported into this country. As regards the second part of the question I am advised that the prices and qualities of road stone are so variable that it is impossible to make such a comparison as is suggested in the question.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that, in view of the unemployment which exists in the quarrying industry, we ought to make more use of stone produced in our own country?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of American wallpaper imported into this country since the beginning of the year and for a corresponding period in 1930?

The total declared value of the imports into the United Kingdom of printed and embossed paper hangings, registered during January and February, 1931, as consigned from the United States of America, was £3,975, compared with £2,426 during the corresponding period of 1930.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of failures for the last 12 months to any convenient date, separately, in public companies, private companies and partnerships?

The number of liquidations of companies in 1930 was 3,370, of which 3,024 were voluntary, and the number of bankruptcies of partnerships was 219. Separate figures for private and public companies respectively are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he now proposes to issue the full text of the report of the Government committee inquiring into the position of the iron and steel industry?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on this matter to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton (Mr. Malone) on the 27th January.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the widespread dissatisfaction in the industry at the report not being published, particularly, having regard to the references made by his right hon. colleague, the Prime Minister?

There has been a certain amount of controversy regarding this report, but I assure the House that all the interests were consulted, and the Government are definitely of opinion that it is much better to adhere to the decision not to publish this document.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say whether the translation published in a German paper, and the retranslation published in an English technical paper, are approximately accurate?

I should not like to pronounce on that matter beyond saying that there was a certain leakage in a German newspaper for which, of course, the Government had no responsibility whatever.

In view of the publication of this alleged translation in a German paper, would not it be better for the benefit of everybody concerned that the report should be published in this country?

No. That does not follow. The leakage, I think, was confined to one portion of the report, but there are many other portions to be considered.

Is the right hon. Gentleman in a condition to deny the report?

Withdraw!

asked the Prime Minister what action the Government intend to take following on the report of the Civil Research Committee on the iron and steel industry; and if he will grant time at an early date after Easter for the discussion of proposals to assist this industry?

I have been asked to reply. As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies that I have given to previous questions on this subject. As regards the second part of the question, it does not seem likely that a Debate would be helpful at this stage, but the subject can, of course, be raised in connection with the appropriate supply.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that conditions in this industry are worse than they have ever been, and can he point to any single step the Government have taken to help it?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say who it was that requested that this report shall not be published? Was it the industry?

No. The industry was consulted, but, having regard to all the facts, the Government decided against publication, and to that decision we adhere.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware—

This is the second time we have had this question this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of (State for Dominion Affairs if he will consider the advisability of refraining from further advertisement of Dominion goods on Empire Marketing Board hoardings until a scheme can be evolved whereby similar advertisements of British goods can be shown in the Dominions?

No, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that everything has been done to encourage our Dominions to reciprocate?

The hon. Member cannot be aware of the question he is asking. He is asking me to agree to something that would be a violation of the bargain made with the Dominions. I am asking them to reciprocate in every way that they can, but to say, "Unless you do it, we will not give effect to our side of the bargain"—well—!

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs with what object the Empire Marketing Board has recently appointed travellers to call upon retailers in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and with what results?

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

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his answer, may I ask if he is endeavouring to persuade the Dominions to advertise British goods as we advertise their goods, and if there have been any results?

Certainly. A Press notice issued by me last week indicates that a generous gift was recently given in this country to the Empire Marketing Board; this will, I hope, stimulate others.

Following is the reply:

In January last the Empire Marketing Board appointed an organiser and five canvassers to conduct an experimental campaign in the principal towns in Lancashire and Yorkshire to increase the sales of Empire butters. These officers, after making contact with important wholesalers, called upon all retailers known to be stocking butter in Manchester, Stockport, Warrington, Wigan, Chorley and Bolton. 3,273 calls were made and 1,101 retailers were found to be already stocking Empire butters. Of the remaining 2,172, who were not stocking Empire butters, 1,561 promised to do so. Subsequent visits to all retailers in Manchester and Stockport who gave this promise have shown that in Manchester 503, or 85 per cent., and in Stockport 161, or 75 per cent., have already fulfilled their promise to the board's officers. The board are much encouraged by these striking results, which could only have been achieved by the whole-hearted co-operation of the retail trade.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the value proportion of contracts for cement needed by the Suez Canal Company placed with British firms over the five years period 1925 to 1930?

According to my information, no contracts for the supply of cement have been placed by the Suez Canal Company with any British firm during the period stated.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the terms of the contracts given out make it almost impossible for British firms to compete?

When the mission to Egypt went out this was one of the questions we asked them to look into, and they made inquiries about it, and we are now awaiting an answer.

Will the hon. Gentleman have copies of the contracts placed in the Library, so that the House can see the form of contract?

I will consider that suggestion.

Cannot the hon. Member draw the attention of the right hon. Member for Hillhead (Sir R. Horne) to this matter? He is one of the Government directors on the Suez Canal Company.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of coal imported by Sweden from this country during the last 12 months; and how the figures compare with the previous 12 months?

The imports of coal from the United Kingdom during the periods specified in the question are not recorded in the Swedish Trade Returns. During the 12 months ended February, 1931, the quantity of coal exported from the United Kingdom and registered as consigned to Sweden was 1,596,385 tons as compared with 2,430,553 tons in the preceding 12 months.

Is the decrease to be attributed to the fact that we have bought far less timber from Sweden owing to increased imports from Russia?

No; I should require notice as regards particular commodities, but I should not put it down to that; it is rather due to the increased severity of Polish competition in the Scandinavian market and certain other considerations.

Have any representations been made by the right hon. Gentleman or the Secretary for Mines as to the effect on our trade in coal with Sweden?

My hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines has been very active in the pursuit of the Scandinavian market.

Have we not bought far less timber from Sweden this year than the year before?

That is a separate matter. I pointed out in the Debate a night or two ago that there had been a diminution, but I should hesitate to connect it too closely with this question.

Is it not the case that we still buy as much timber from Sweden as before the War?

As to precise figures, I require notice.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the further experience of the working of the quota system for the limitation of coal output, he will now consider the amendment of the Coal Mines Act?

No, Sir.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of any contracts that were lost owing to the quota system under the Coal Mines Act?

That appears to be a different question.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the question of under-selling as between one district and another?

Does this question refer to floating mines or to coal mines?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has considered the communication sent to him from the Essex County Coal Merchants' Association drawing his attention to the shortage of coal in the county of Essex owing to the operation of the Coal Mines Act, and asking him to take steps to remedy the position; and what steps he has since taken to ensure that a normal supply of coal of the usual qualities is available for the county of Essex?

Yes, Sir. I have had no evidence of serious or widespread shortage of coal in the county of Essex, though no doubt a few cases of difficulty and inconvenience have occurred. These, I hope, will now disappear as a new period of output allocation commences to-morrow.

If I give the hon. Gentleman private information of a big private institution at Colchester which cannot get normal supplies, will he interest himself in the matter?

Certainly.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) rang up one day, and got two tons of coal the next?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any further statement to make about the supply of coal for the long-distance steam trawlers and for the gas undertakings in Hull?

A new output period commences to-morrow, and I trust that no further inconvenience will be experienced by trawler owners or others.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the date to-morrow?

Yes, I share that knowledge with the right hon. Member.

Is it not probable that the same inconveniences will arise at the end of the next period?

asked the Secretary for Mines the total production of coal permissible under the quota system in the Fife coalfields and the actual production of coal up to the present date?

The central council makes its allocation to Scotland as one district under the Coal Mines Act, and not in respect of the separate parts of that district. I am unable, therefore, to give the information asked for in the first part of the question. With regard to the second part of the question, the quantity of coal raised in Fife and Clackmannan between 1st January and 21st March this year was 1,661,500 tons.

Can the hon. Gentleman give the figures for last year?

I can if the hon. Member gives me notice.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that, owing to the shortage of coal in Eastbourne, due to the usual Midland supplies not being available to merchants, certain collieries and factors last week demanded prices for coal from Eastbourne merchants up to 6s. a ton above the previous week's price; and whether he will take steps to remedy the situation?

I have had inquiries made and I am satisfied that the prices charged generally by collieries and factors for coal for the South of England remain steady, with perhaps small increases of the order of 1s. per ton. Isolated cases of substantial increases in price may have occurred, but in some instances these were due to the purchase of better quality coal. I am informed that the merchants prices to the consumer remain unaltered.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the instance I have given in the question is authentic and will he make inquiries in the matter; is he also aware that the quality of coal was not a superior quality; and, when he stated last week that the coal from Eastbourne was sea borne, was he aware that Eastbourne has no port?

I have answered the question with regard to the increased price, but, as I informed the hon. Member in my reply, these are but isolated instances. The information which I have given is information derived from the merchants who are responsible for the sale.

asked the Secretary for Mines the average cost per ton of getting coal to the pit-head in Warwickshire; the wage rate per ton paid to the working collier; the pit-head selling price of this coal; the retail price per ton in the localities immediately adjacent to the pits; and the retail price charged for Warwickshire coal in London?

During January, 1931, the latest period for which information is available, the net costs of production per ton of coal disposable commercially in Warwickshire were 14s. 4d., the wages costs 10s. 3½d., and the pithead proceeds 16s. 11¼d. I regret that the other information asked for by my hon. Friend is not available.

In view of the extraordinary difference between the cost and sale prices, will it be possible to arrive at some conclusion in regard to this matter?

It may be possible to arrive at a conclusion. It is a question of machinery.

asked the Secretary for Mines the pit-head selling price of coal for Durham for the months of September, October, November and December, 1930, and January and February, 1931, and the prices of coal sold in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Tynemouth, Gates-head, South Shields, Sunderland, Durham, Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland, and Darlington for the same periods?

The average pit-head proceeds per ton of all coal commercially disposable were as follow:

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of miners employed underground and on the surface in Durham for each month from January, 1930, to January, 1931, inclusive?

As the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate such information as is available in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the Minister say whether there has been more or less employment?

The number of men employed in January, 1931, is fewer than in January, 1930.

Following is the reply:

Separate information for underground and surface workers is not available but approximately 80 per cent. of the total number of wage earners are employed below ground.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the average price of wheat imported from Russia and Canada, respectively, from August, 1930, to February, 1931, and the average price of home-grown wheat during that time?

The average declared value, c.i.f., of wheat imported into the United Kingdom during the seven months ended February, 1931, registered as consigned from the Soviet Union—Russia—and Canada was 5s. 10½d per cwt. and 7s. 2d. per cwt., respectively. The average price of British wheat during the same period calculated from returns under the Corn Returns Act, 1882, was 6s. 7d. per cwt.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he can state the number and value of plants, trees and shrubs producing edible fruits imported into this country in 1913 and 1930 from foreign countries;

(2) if he can state the number and value of plants, trees and shrubs not producing edible fruits imported into this country in 1913 and 1930, respectively, from foreign countries?

As the answers involve a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate the desired information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is there any co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture with regard to these imports in cases of disease?

I require notice of that question. This appeared to me to be a matter of statistics, and I had no thought of disease.

Following is the answer:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade have given consideration to the Austro-German Customs Convention; and if he has formed an estimate of its effect upon British trade?

It would not be possible until the terms of any Customs agreement that might be arrived at were known and, in particular, until the common scale of duties to be imposed on goods entering the proposed union was indicated, to arrive at any very definite conclusion as to the probable effect on British trade, but, if the scale of duties were to remain at about the present level, the Customs agreement would, so far as I am able to judge, not be likely to affect very materially the volume of our export trade.

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in close touch with the situation?

The whole matter on the trade side is being very carefully considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what tariff treaties are in force between Great Britain and Germany and Great Britain and Austria; and how they will be affected by the proposed Austro-German zollverein?

There are no treaties in force between this country on the one hand and Germany or Austria on the other which prescribe the actual rates of duty to be charged upon the importation of specified classes of goods. The position under existing treaty engagements was dealt with in the comprehensive statement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs gave at Question Time yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Government will enter into negotiations with the Governments of Germany and Austria with a view to obtaining the same tariff reductions for this country as those granted to each other by these two nations?

I would refer the hon. Member to the very full statement made yesterday by my right hon. Friend and to the reply given by me on Wednesday last to questions by a number of hon. Members.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the outcome of his consultation with the shipping interests with regard to the Suez Canal dues; and whether His Majesty's Government intends to take any action in this matter?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject. The consultation with the shipping interests is still proceeding.

If a further question is put down soon after Easter does the right hon. Gentleman anticipate being able to give some information?

Yes. By that time it may be possible to make a more definite statement.

Has my right hon. Friend regular consultations with the British directors of this company?

Yes. Representations must be considered from the shipping interests, and it is then for the Government to consider what form the representations to the company should take. The point of my hon and gallant Friend will not be overlooked.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make a statement as to the facilities afforded and the charges levied by the Panama Canal Company for the passage of British shipping; and whether the fact that the number of British vessels passing through the canal fell from 1,783 in 1929 to 1,636 in 1930 is due to any increased charges on our ships?

The facilities afforded and the charges levied by the Panama Canal administration are the same for vessels of all flags. As there has, so far as I am aware, been no change in these charges since 1914, the last part of the question does not arise.

Has the right hon. Gentleman satisfied himself whether or not preference is given to ships of the United States as against our ships passing through the Canal?

I understand not. My information is that the charges are uniform. If there is any specific complaint, I should like to have it in writing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to bring about an international agreement to compel the general adoption of oil separators on all oil-bearing and oil-carrying vessels?

At the International Conference held at Washington in 1926 the proposal that separators should be compulsorily fitted on oil-carrying and oil-burning ships was not adopted, the action of the conference being limited to a recommendation for the establishment of a system of zones of so many miles from the coasts within which the discharge of oily water should be prohibited. Though the shipowners of this country and of some other nations voluntarily agreed to observe the recommendation of the conference with regard to zones, it has not been found possible to obtain international agreement even on that recommendation, and, in the circumstances, no useful purpose would be served by endeavouring to obtain international agreement on the more controversial question raised by my hon. Friend.

Has there not been a great deal of development in invention since that conference; and are these separators not much better now?

Yes. That may be so, but the House will observe that this matter rests entirely on international agreement. It would not help matters if one country did it, and others were free to continue the existing practice.

Could not the advantages of these inventions be brought to the notice of the other nations and of the League of Nations in order to press the point of view that these separators should be adopted on all boats?

I have no doubt that they are aware of the facts. The difficulty is to get the various interests to adopt these appliances.

If the inquiry which is now being conducted proves to the Board of Trade that there has been a considerable development in this respect, will the right hon. Gentleman take the matter up with a view to getting international agreement?

As far as we are concerned, we are quite sympathetic, but the reply to my hon. Friend is what I have already said, namely, that, if there is a difficulty in getting agreement, even on a minor and restricted point, then it is to be expected that there will fee still greater difficulty in getting agreement on the wider field to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government will consider in the present Session the introduction of legislation for the protection of the interests of shareholders in public companies, with reference to the issue of fraudulent shares, and otherwise?

Having regard to the pressure of Parliamentary business, my hon. and gallant Friend will not expect me to hold out any hope of the early introduction of company legislation, but, if he will let me know what specific proposals he has in mind, they shall be noted for investigation when the question of amending the Companies Act is being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now make a statement showing the respective proportion of the Canard construction insurance which has been finally placed in the market and the proportion which falls upon the Government Cunard Insurance Fund?

I have now received the certificate required under the agreement between the Board of Trade and the Cunard Steamship Company, Limited, that the maximum amount of insurance obtainable on the terms and conditions specified in Clause 1 of the agreement has been placed in the open market. This amount is £2,720,000, leaving £1,780,000 to be covered by the Board of Trade.

Then the Board of Trade will meet this demand?

Oh, yes, in the terms of the agreement. This is the part uncovered in the open market, which the Government covers.

Am I right in assuming that the Government will receive exactly the same rate of premium and give the same rate of discount?

The terms will be exactly what were discussed in this House and were finally embodied in the agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the respective percentages of reduction in national expenditure on military services in Great Britain, France, Italy, the United States of America, Japan and Russia, respectively, in the year 1930 compared with the expenditure in the year 1924?

I am having the information prepared, and will circulate it as soon as possible in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The preliminary figures show that only in the case of this country is there a substantial percentage decrease; in the case of Japan there is a small decrease, and in the other cases there are increases.

When does the right hon. Gentleman think it will be possible to supply that information? If I put down a question after Easter, will he be able to reply?

The figures are being carefully tabulated, and I hope to be able to issue them to-morrow.

Is the right hon. Gentleman measuring this expenditure in terms of francs at the gold ratio, or in francs at the depressed value of 1924, compared with francs at the present value?

Or roubles?

The calculations are being made with an earnest desire to get as near to the truth as possible.

Will the figures be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT, SO that they may be well known? I do not want them only for myself.

Yes, Sir, they will be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received the petition signed by over two hundred fishermen in Avoch and by over one hundred other fish workers and traders, representing that the lack of sprats and herrings in the upper reaches of the Moray Firth is due to the heavy gun practice carried on in the autumn by His Majesty's Fleet; whether he has already approached the Admiralty on the matter; and, if not, when he intends to do so, in view of the importance to the inhabitants of the locality who are dependent for their livelihood on the fishing industry?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. At my request the Fishery Board for Scotland have already set full inquiries in motion, and will report to me with the least possible delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to give the result of the researches into the effect of the salp on the herring industry?

Since 1921 when abnormal numbers of salps were observed in the North Sea, salps have been reported in similar quantities once only, namely, in the summer of 1925. The herring caught during that summer off the coast of Scotland were in general of poor quality but it cannot be stated how far this was connected with the presence of the organisms in question. The matter will continue to be kept under observation by the scientific staff of the Fishery Board for Scotland.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for the information and congratulating him on his appointment, may I ask if this exploration is being followed up fully, and if he is likely to be able to give any more information on this important subject?

I have already pointed out in my reply that this matter will continue to be kept under observation by the scientific staff of the Fishery Board.

Will the hon. Gentleman explain what a salp is?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number and the amount of claims for compensation notified to the Fishery Board for Scotland during the past 12 months at the instance of the Scottish line, cod and herring fishermen in respect of damage caused by trawlers to lines, nets and other fishing gear; the number of claims which have been settled; the number still outstanding; and the steps which have been taken by the Board to assist the fishermen in recovering damages against the trawl owners?

Since 1st April, 1930, 18 cases of damage to Scottish line, cod and herring fishermen's gear, alleged to have been caused by British trawlers, have been notified to the Fishery Board for Scotland. The amount of damage reported is £309 3s. 13 cases have been settled and five are outstanding or have been abandoned. All such cases notified to the officer of the Board are fully investigated by the officers in accordance with Section 7 of the Sea Fisheries (Scotland) Amendment Act, 1885. The officers assess the amount of damage sustained, and make every effort to arrive at settlements between the parties, but in the event of agreement not being reached it is for the claimants to pursue the matter independently if they so wish. In addition to the above cases, 39 cases of damage to cod nets are reported as having been caused by foreign trawlers in the Moray Firth, the amount of damage being estimated at £858. These cases are being specially considered with a view to claims for compensation being put forward through the foreign Government concerned where the evidence available justifies that course.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to convey by his answer that the Scottish Office are interesting themselves in this question of compensation, and will insist on having these claims submitted to foreign Governments?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the area under arable farming in Scotland compares with that in 1928, giving the relative figures of acreage?

The area of arable land in Scotland, as returned on 4th June, 1930, was 3,071,815 acres, as compared with 3,133,430 acres in 1928.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Poor Law authorities there are in Scotland; how many require the applicant to register at an Employment Exchange as a condition for the grant of relief; and what is the estimated proportion of those who have so registered to the total number of applicants who are granted relief?

The number of Poor Law authorities in Scotland is 55, including 31 county councils and 24 town councils of large burghs. Information is not available as to the number of these authorities who have made it a rule that applicants for poor relief must register at an Employment Exchange as a condition for the payment of relief. According, however, to returns obtained monthly by the Department of Health, there were at 15th February, 1931, 16,159 destitute able-bodied unemployed persons, excluding their dependants, in receipt of out-door poor relief in Scotland, and of these, 14,918, or 92 per cent., were returned as registering at Employment Exchanges.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will at an early date furnish a return showing with reference to each Scottish county separately, for some recent financial year, the number of persons who pay cess, that is, the number of separate exactions, the total amount payable, the amount which has been redeemed, the number of redemptions, and the number of continuing payments which are under £1 yearly?

The compilation of a return of the detailed nature desired by the hon. Member would, I think, involve a disproportionate expenditure of labour and money, but I will give such figures as can readily be made available if he will repeat the question after the Easter Recess.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any indication that the Government will take steps to modify the whole method of collecting this taxation, which is uneconomical and inconvenient?

I think that is somewhat different from the question on the Paper, but I will have that matter looked into.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is yet in a position to state the decision arrived at with regard to the appointment of a High Commissioner in Australia?

This matter is receiving the active consideration of the Government.

Seeing that this matter has been under consideration for many months, can the right hon. Gentleman say when a decision will be arrived at?

The decision to appoint a High Commissioner has already been taken, but, as regards the personnel, the matter cannot easily be settled, and I could not give any indication of when a Commissioner is likely to be selected.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of days estimated to be lost owing to unemployment since 1st June, 1929?

It is estimated that during the period 1st June, 1929, to 16th March, 1931, approximately 980,000,000 working days were lost owing to unemployment by insured persons recorded as unemployed in Great Britain out of a total possible working time for the whole insured population of approximately 6,640,000,000 working days.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the Labour candidate at East Woolwich has forgotten to put that in his election address?

asked the Minister of Labour whether Germany has taken any steps to ratify the Washington Hours Convention?

I understand that legislation intended to enable the German Government to ratify the Convention is under consideration.

Can the right hon. Lady tell us how long it has been under consideration, whether it is more than two years?

Probably.

asked the Minister of Labour whether she has ascertained that the conditions upon which France and Italy, (respectively, ratified the Washington Hours Convention will be satisfied, so far as Great Britain is concerned, by ratification by His Majesty's Government subject to the provisions of the Hours of Industrial Employment Bill?

The condition attached, by France is ratification by Germany and Great Britain. The condition attached by Italy is ratification by Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland. I am unaware of any other conditions.

Will the right hon. Lady take care that ratification by this country implies an interpretation of the Convention at least as favourable as that which Italy and France have adopted?

Answer!

May I have an answer to my question?

I have answered the question on the Paper. The supplementary question could be answered in debate, but it is not suitable to be dealt with in an answer in reply to a question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that it is the practice of the revenue authorities on occasion to distrain upon the goods of a lodger in respect of the landlord's Income Tax assessed under Schedule A; and will he consider introducing a Clause in this year's Finance Bill to prevent this practice?

I am having this matter looked into.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many Royal Commissions appointed by the present Government have as yet formulated their reports, and how many have not yet reported?

None of the six Royal Commissions appointed by the present Government has yet reported.

Can the hon. Gentleman give me any indication when the report of the Unemployment Insurance Commission will be ready?

I am afraid not.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the King's plates run in Ireland are paid for by the Exchequer of Great Britain; and what are the number and cost of these plates?

As explained by my predecessor on the 7th March, 1928, this payment has been voted annually by this House for nearly a hundred years, and in view of the special nature of the payment it was decided to continue it after the establishment of the Irish Free State and the Northern Ireland Government. The number of the plates is eight and the cost £1,563 a year.

Some of us would like to know whether these plates have anything to do with horse-racing and sweepstakes?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any part of the cost of erecting the proposed new Roman Catholic public elementary school at Colwyn Bay will fall on public funds?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will inquire as to the sources from which English holders of winning tickets in the Dublin sweepstake for the Grand National obtained their tickets, with a view to instituting proceedings against those who purchased tickets in this country?