asked the Secretary of State for War the number of Army horses that have been cast during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date and sold for human consumption; and to whom they were sold?

During the year ended 31st May last, 727 Army horses were sold as fit for human consumption. Such animals are destroyed in the presence of a military representative. The purchasers were Messrs. Harrison, Barber and Company, Limited, London, and Messrs. Smith and Spalding, Limited, London.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these horses were slaughtered in London?

Not without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to enable men in military hospitals, more especially in those which contain ex-soldier patients from the Great War, inmates more or less convalescent, to enjoy the privilege of walking out in civilian costume, in accordance with a practice now common with other ranks in the service?

It is only in exceptional circumstances that the patients in military hospitals are allowed to leave the grounds of the hospital. In most cases a patient who was well enough to "walk out" would be fit to be discharged. I may add that the number of ex-soldier patients from the Great War who are in military hospitals is practically negligible, and I see no sufficient reason for altering the existing rules as regards soldier patients.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that, because the number of these men is insignificant, they should be placed at a disadvantage in this respect, as compared with other soldiers?

The hon. Member is perhaps confusing military hospitals with Ministry of Pension hospitals. As a general rule, a soldier does not go out in civilian clothes. He has no civilian clothes in which to go out.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be surprised to hear that a definite case was brought before me by a very distinguished officer with the request that it might be raised? It is not a hypothetical case.

If the hon. Member will give me the details of any case, I shall have the matter looked into.

Are not commissioned ranks allowed to go out in civilian clothes; and are they not fewer in number than the ordinary ex-service men?

Is it not the case that in certain regiments in the Army privates and non-commissioned officers are allowed to go out in civilian clothes; and is the right hon. Gentleman not prepared, in consultation with the Minister of Pensions, to arrange that wounded soldiers should have the same privilege?

I take it that the wounded soldiers referred to by the right hon. and learned Gentleman are mea who are in the Ministry of Pensions hospitals, over which I have no control whatever; but, if any cases are brought to my notice of any alleged hardship or grievance in this connection, I shall consider them. On my present information, I know of no such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the second battalion Black Watch band and pipers are advertised as to be playing at a political fete in Colchester on 20th June next; and whether he has given permission for this?

The engagement was accepted locally owing to a misapprehension as to the nature of the fete, and has now been cancelled.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the experiments carried out by his Department on the use of fuel oil extracted from coal have now been completed; and whether they have been satisfactory?

No, Sir. The tests have not been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of mental defectives under 18 years of age in Scotland; how many are educable and uneducable; and how many are in institutions, criminal and otherwise?

The duty imposed upon education authorities in Scotland by the Mental Deficiency and Lunacy (Scotland) Act, 1913, to ascertain what children residing within their areas are mentally defective within the meaning of the Act and to make provision for the education of those who are capable of receiving benefit from special instruction extends only to children between five and 16 years of age. According to the last return made by education authorities, the number of children between these ages who were ascertained by them to be mentally defective was 4,910, of whom 3,993 were ascertained to be educable, and 917 uneducable. The number of educable mentally defective children receiving instruction in schools and institutions is 3,938. Between the ages of five and 18 years there are 192 educable and 696 uneducable mental defectives certified under the Act and in residence in certified institutions, and 110 uneducable mental defectives under guardianship in private dwellings. There are no mental defectives under the age of 18 in residence in the State institution.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of houses that have been built and occupied since 1922 in the Camlachie Parliamentary Division of Glasgow; the number under construction; and when it is estimated that those houses will be ready for occupation?

The number of houses completed and available for occupation at the 30th May in the Camlachie Parliamentary Division of Glasgow was 1,026, and at the same date 330 houses were under construction. It is estimated that all the houses now under construction will be ready for occupation by March, 1932.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is yet in a position to make any announcement on the intentions of His Majesty's Government to further accelerate the building of cottages and small houses in rural districts?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary for Mines the names of the members of the investigation committee on the question of the future of the Mining Industry Welfare Act?

I regret that the personnel of the committee is not yet quite complete. My hon. Friend would prefer not to give any of the names until he can give them all.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when the list of names will be complete?

We hope to have them shortly.

Next week?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many boys and girls, respectively, have emigrated to New Zealand and to Australia in each of the years 1928, 1929, and 1930; how many have returned; how many have emigrated this year; and whether he has received any representations from the Governments of those Dominions respecting the inadvisability of continuing such emigration?

The number of boys between the ages of 12 and 20 who migrated to Australia and New Zealand in 1928 was 5,225, in 1929 3,250, in 1930 1,057, and in 1931 (down to 31st March) 114. The number of girls was 2,740 in 1928, 1,746 in 1929, 707 in 1930, and 97 in 1931 (down to 31st March). It is not possible to state how many of these boys and girls have returned to this country, but the total numbers of immigrants into the United Kingdom from Australia and New Zealand during the three years in question included the following numbers of boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 20, namely, boys 446, 523 and 625, respectively; girls 360, 371 and 484. The figures of migration for the current year are only available to the 31st March. They include 114 boys and 97 girls. As regards the last part of the question, my hon. Friend will appreciate the difficulties in present economic conditions of encouraging migration to Australia, whilst conditions in New Zealand are also unfavourable to migration at present. At the request therefore of the Governments of those Dominions and with the full concurrence of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, the grant of assisted passages is, with a few individual exceptions, suspended for the time being.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these boys and girls who emigrated are known to have come back as stowaways or to have worked their passages back?

That is another question.

That matter cannot arise out of this question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to stop the importation, duty free, of Norwegian herring into Britain during the winter herring-fishing season on the East Coast of Scotland and England?

No, Sir, it is not the policy of His Majesty's Government to impose protective duties, particularly on articles of food.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that 2,000 crans of herring from Norway are due to be landed to-day and that this will injure most of the Scottish fishermen owing to their decision to postpone the beginning of the Scottish fisheries in order that the market for cured herring may not be swamped with supplies?

I have nothing to add to my reply.

Will the hon. Gentleman consult with the Secretary of State for Scotland about this attack on the summer fishing?

Yes, certainly.

Will the hon. Gentleman bring this matter to the notice of the Secretary of State for Scotland, having regard to the danger of controlling the industry and the results to which it may lead?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the attitude of the Government to the proposal of M. Litvinov at the session of the Commission of Inquiry for European Union, on 18th May, at Geneva, that a protocol should be signed with as its object the complete cessation of all forms of economic aggression, both avowed and concealed, confirming the principle proclaimed by the International Economic Conference of 1927 and undertaking not to adopt in their relations with one another any discrimination whatever?

M. Litvinov's resolution, the text of which was communicated to the hon. Member on 10th June, has yet to be considered by the commission, and I do not think it would be proper for me at this stage to comment on its terms.

Are not the Government in favour of a policy of this kind?

It would be better, when a motion of this kind is tabled, that it should be dealt with first by the commission.

Do the Government propose to make any suggestions to this commission in order to secure greater co-operation?

I think that the policy of the Government on this matter is very fair.

Has the hon. Gentleman noticed the dissatisfaction with the Government as shown in the supplementary questions?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total annual value of carpets imported into Great Britain from foreign countries up to the latest convenient date?

The declared value of the total imports into the United Kingdom of (a) carpets, carpeting and rugs of wool (including carpets and rugs on a wool or jute basis) and (b) of carpets and rugs of jute, registered as consigned from foreign countries during the year 1930, amounted to (a) £2,933,647 and (b) £230,228, respectively. There were no imports of cork carpet registered as consigned from Foreign countries during this year.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware than in Kidderminster and Bridgnorth a considerable number of persons usually engaged in the carpet industry are unemployed; and what steps do the Government propose to take to remedy this state of affairs?

That does not arise out of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the import duties on British carpets entering France, Germany, and the United States of America?

The duties levied upon British woollen carpets of the kinds exported in substantial amounts from the United Kingdom to the countries mentioned are equivalent in France to from fourpence to a little over eightpence per lb., and in Germany to one shilling per lb. In the United States of America they range from 30 per cent. to 60 per cent. ad valorem. I will have a detailed statement showing the tariff headings and the duties appropriate to each circulated with the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these duties have practically killed the carpet export trade from this country to the countries mentioned in the question; and, will the Government take some steps to impose reciprocal duties on carpets coming from those countries into this country?

How long are the Government going to sit down under

Is it not ordinary business to have reciprocity on equal terms in these matters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the gross tonnage of ships under construction in British shipyards on 1st June, 1929, and on the latest date for which the figures are available?

Information as to the gross tonnage of ships under construction in British shipyards on 1st June, 1929, is not available. According to the quarterly shipbuilding returns, published by Lloyd's Register of Shipping, the tonnage of merchant vessels of 100 tons gross and upwards under construction in Great Britain and Ireland on 30th June, 1929, was 1,454,000 tons gross, and on 31st March, 1931, 694,000 tons gross.

Have the Government reached a conclusion about increasing this tonnage by giving credits to Russia?

That is another question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the fact that the Italian Government is subsidising wool textile goods imported into this country; and whether, in view of that fact and that such goods are produced under conditions of work and at rates of wages not operating in this country, he will take legislative steps to stop such dumping, which has a detrimental effect both upon trade and employment in this country?

I understand that the Italian Government accords to manufacturers in respect of exported goods certain assistance or privileges, but I have no information as to the particular application of such measures to woollen textiles exported from Italy to this country. I have noted the suggestion made in the last part of the question.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that the whole of the manufacturers in the West Riding have definite knowledge of these subsidies? In view of the state of unemployment in the wool textile trade, and the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

rose—

The matter will be raised on Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many interviews have taken place between himself, the Home Secretary, and the representatives of the Lancashire cotton industry; if any progress has been made in these negotiations; and which portions of the cotton report have been put into operation or will be put into operation in the near future?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs has attended three conferences in Manchester with representatives of the cotton industry, and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade was present at two of these. In addition, there have been several meetings in London, and many informal discussions between the Chief Industrial Adviser and representatives of the different sections of the trade. From the beginning of the conferences last year the desire to meet representatives of the interested organisations at any time convenient to them was made plain. As was explained in answer to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hacking) on the 2nd June, the Joint Committee of Cotton Trade Organisations is now engaged on a close investigation of all sections of the industry with a view to the formulation of plans dealing with the adjustment of capacity and with all other measures for the reduction of costs which can be undertaken or encouraged by joint action.

Is it not a fact that these negotiations started nearly two years ago, and that nothing whatever has been done by the present Government to help the cotton industry?

It may be that the hon. Member has correctly stated the time; I cannot say offhand. At the same time, it should be observed that a great deal of the delay is not the fault of the Government.

Are the Government still formulating plans?

I stated that the questions are under the consideration of a joint organisation of the industry.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that this industry is slowly but surely bleeding to death?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he fan give the output of petroleum and benzine, for the first four months of this year, from the Azneft works and from the Grozneft works in Russia?

It is assumed that by petroleum the hon. Member means refined petroleum, i.e., kerosene, and, if so, the information asked for is not available. Statistics published by the U.S.S.R. Chamber of Commerce for Western Trade, however, show that the output of crude petroleum in Russia during the first four months of 1931 was 6,747,000 metric tons, of which it is understood over 90 per cent. was derived from the oilfields of the Azneft and Grozneft.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the approximate number of British commercial travellers who paid for commercial travellers' licences in Norway and Sweden during the last year for which statistics are available?

Complete statistics as to the number of British commercial travellers visiting Norway and Sweden are not available but, as regards Norway, information obtained from the police authorities in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger shows that 256 British commercial travellers paid for licences in these four towns during 1930. I am endeavouring to obtain information on similar lines with regard to Sweden and I hope to be in a position to send some particulars to the hon. Member in the course of a few days.

If our commercial travellers have to take out licences now in Sweden, why should not some action be taken by our Government to counteract that?

That is an entirely different question from that on the Paper.

asked the Attorney-General how many magistrates have been appointed in the Derbyshire county area during the years 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930?

The total number of appointments in the six years is 131. I will publish the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that during 1927, 1928 and 1929 no magistrate has been appointed in the county of Derbyshire, and that the new advisory committee which was appointed two years ago has never been called to appoint magistrates?

I believe it to be the fact that during the years 1927–29 no magistrates were appointed in the county of Derbyshire, but that 24 were appointed in the year 1930.

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman any powers to deal with committees when the chairmen refuse to call them together?

My Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor makes representations to which attention is always paid.

Are not most of these benches already overmanned?

With the wrong people.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that in the last two years letter after letter has been sent appealing to the Lord Chancellor to take steps so that people who ought to be appointed on the bench should be appointed?

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there is intense dissatisfaction in many parts of the country, especially in London, and can he take any steps?

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by the delay in calling together advisory committees and the dilatory procedure in appointing magistrates and justices of the peace in many districts; and whether he will take steps in this matter in order to secure representation of all classes of the community in these positions?

Advisory committees are called together if and when the appointment of additional magistrates is considered necessary. My Noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor, is not aware of any general dissatisfaction in the matter, but he is taking steps to deal with the one or two cases where it is suggested that too long an interval of time has elapsed between meetings. In the appointments which he makes, my Noble Friend endeavours to include persons of all classes of the community.

Is the Attorney-General aware that in one of the two counties which I represent it is now five years since a meeting of the Advisory Committee was called, and that the Chairman is still delaying calling a meeting; and that in the other county no representative of the working-classes has ever been appointed?

I will bring those facts to the knowledge of my Noble Friend.

Does not the main difficulty lie in the fact that there is a large number of magistrates who do not act at all and who ought to be removed?

Is the Attorney-General aware that having regard to the nature of modern legislation the lack of justices of the peace in working-class areas is becoming nothing short of a public scandal?

If the hon. and gallant Member will bring any particular instances to my knowledge, I shall be pleased to put them before my Noble Friend the Lord Chancellor who deals with this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been drawn to the increase within recent years in the number of teachers suffering from nervous breakdowns; and whether any investigation is being made into the possible causes?

My right hon. Friend would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which he gave last Thursday to the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. Morley).

Does that answer include Scottish teachers as well as English teachers; if so, is an investigation to be held into the grievances in Scotland as well as into those in England?

The question does not ask particularly in regard to Scotland.

Is it not an admitted fact that there has been a large number of breakdowns among teachers in recent years, and should not that be a subject of investigation?

That is another question.

asked the Postmaster-General the extent to which the payments due to the British Broadcasting Corporation in respect of their share of the revenue from licences are in arrears?

Under Clause 18 of the British Broadcasting Corporation's Licence, which was published in Command Paper 2756 of 1926, the amount due to the Corporation each year is payable in 12 equal instalments on the 16th of each month. These instalments have not fallen into arrear.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that extra men have recently been engaged by his Department for work at Blackberry Hill, Bristol; that these men were not engaged through the medium of the local Employment Exchange; and whether he will take such steps as will ensure future engagements being effected by the agency of the Employment Exchange?

The work in question was carried out under contract, and the men employed were engaged by the contractor and not by the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he has any further statement to make as to the rebellion in Burma?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Hornsey (Captain Wallace) which contains my latest information.

asked the Minister of Labour the total outgoings from the Unemployment Insurance Fund during the years 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930?

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

As there are only five figures, may we not have them now?

The names of the—

That is not my question.

We have already passed on to the next question.

On a point of Order. The hon. Member said that with my permission he would circulate these figures and I said I would like the figures now. There are only five figures, and there is plenty of time.

By the time the hon. Member had put that point we had passed on to the next question.

asked the Minister of Labour if she can state the names of the chairmen of the courts of referees who have officiated at Bridgeton and Parkhead Employment Exchanges, Glasgow, during the months of March, April and May; the number of cases heard by each court; and the number of claims disallowed by each court?

The chairmen at Bridgeton in the period in question were Messrs. Houston, Mitchell, Macdonald and Robertson; and at Parkhead Mr. McCallum. The number of cases considered by the Bridgeton Court was 1,571, of which 1,120 were disallowed; corresponding figures for the Parkhead Court were 934 and 539.

asked the Minister of Transport what changes, if any, have taken place in relation to the question of the amounts of grants towards county councils in order to further the development of their road schemes?

In a circular which my right hon. Friend issued to highway authorities on the 27th March last, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, he explained that the normal rates of grant given in 1930–31 to approved schemes of road improvement and new construction would be continued in the current financial year, but that the additional grant of 15 per cent. which was offered subject to special conditions as to the recruitment of labour, in July, 1929, in connection with the Five Years' Programme (the primary object of which was the expedition of works for the relief of unemployment) would not be available, except in respect of schemes for which the additional grant had already been made or promised. From the commencement of the programme, schemes were only approved on the understanding that work would be put in hand at an early date, and the Government have decided that save in exceptional circumstances the additional grant shall not remain available for schemes on which work had not been commenced by the 31st March last, i.e. eighteen months after the terms were announced. No change has been made in the rates of grant to county councils for work in connection with the Trunk Roads Scheme.

Will my hon. Friend be prepared to ask his right hon. Friend whether it is intended to reconsider the application, having regard to the fact that schemes were projected before the last circular was sent out?

I know that many schemes have received consideration, but it was definitely laid down in the circular that it was expected that work would be commenced by 25th March. However, I will convey the remarks of my hon. Friend to the Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the names of the medical referees on the panel for workmen's compensation cases and the number of claims heard by each during the last year; and the number of cases in which each medical referee certified the workman fit for light or ordinary work?

Before this question is answered, may I ask the hon. Gentleman to consider a point of public importance in connection with the question. [Interruption.] I want you to consider whether it is advisable to give the names of referees.

We must allow the Minister to say that.

The total number of medical referees appointed under the Act is 272, and the preparation of a statement giving their names and showing the number of cases referred to each would involve considerable labour, which my right hon. Friend, on the information before him, does not think would be justified. As regards the latter part of the question, he regrets that there are no records in the Home Office giving the information requested.

Will my hon. Friend give me the names and the figures for Glasgow?

I see no reason why that information should not be given.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have forwarded to him resolutions recommending the registration of ice-cream vendors; and whether he proposes to take any action?

My right hon. Friend has recently received resolutions on this subject from 86 local authorities. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brighton (Sir C. Rawson) on this subject on the 4th June.

May I ask if the Minister is considering this matter?

asked the Minister of Health the total population of Yorkshire and its 12 chief towns as disclosed in the recent Census?

My right hon. Friend would ask the hon. Member to be good enough to wait until it is possible to publish the figures for all counties and for all their constituent towns or areas, the preparation of which would be hampered and delayed by the necessity for extracting special figures of the results for particular localities.

Will the hon. Lady explain why it should take so much longer to count the population south of the Tweed than in Scotland?

It is denser!

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make any further statement with regard to the system of mui-tsai that exists in Malaya?

A despatch dated 25th March gives a report of the steps taken in the Straits Settlements in 1930 to protect girls suspected of being mui-tsais. A copy of the despatch has been placed in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the possibility of finding time for the further stages of the National Industrial Council Bill during the present Session?

I am afraid I can hold out no hope of time being found for the discussion of this Bill.

Will the Prime Minister consider finding time next Session?

I will do my best, but the present state of this Bill is that it is what is technically called, I believe, blocked.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the first annual report of the Bank for International Settlements has now been received and considered by the Government?

His Majesty's Government have received from the Bank for International Settlements a copy of its first annual general report, in accordance with Article XVII of the Trust Agreement, and have noted with interest the account there given of the operations undertaken by the bank.

Will the report be made available to Members of this House?

I suppose the report is available to the public. It is issued for the information of shareholders.

Will a copy be placed in the Library?

I cannot say.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now state what answer the Government propose to give to the invitation to Great Britain to take part in an international silver conference; and whether the proposed conference will take place in London?

No invitation to snch a conference has been received, and the second part of the question accordingly does not arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount in Death Duties paid into the Treasury during the five years ended 31st December last in respect of Estate Duty; and how much of this was upon agricultural value of agricultural property and how much on excess principal value of agricultural property?

The total net receipt of Estate Duty in the five years ended the 31st March, 1931, was £343,187,000. The payments in respect of agricultural property are not separately recorded, but it is estimated that the total amount of Estate Duty paid during this period in respect of agricultural property was about £13,500,000. I am unable to apportion this estimate as between agricultural value and excess principal value.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what is the estimated revenue in the financial year 1933–34 from the proposed Land Tax after deducting all administrative expenses and making reasonable allowance for possible loss of revenue under Income Tax and other like heads?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to what I said on this subject when moving the Land Value Tax Resolution in Committee of Ways and Means on 4th May.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that statement did not give any of the information asked for, and cannot he give us some idea as to the amount?

I said in the statement referred to that it was quite impossible to give even an approximate estimate until at least the valuation had taken place—

And the right hon. Gentleman has seen the effect of the concessions he has made!

And the concessions he has got to make!

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the methods taken by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to dispose of goods confiscated for breach of Customs regulations?

Goods seized for contravention of the Customs Acts are, as a general rule, sold by public auction or competitive tender. Tobacco suitable for smoking is supplied for use by the inmates of certain criminal lunatic asylums, and unsmokable tobacco is supplied to national botanical gardens for fumigation purposes. Unsaleable goods and certain prohibited goods are usually destroyed.

What steps have been taken to bring the sale of these goods to the notice of the public?

If the hon. and gallant Member will put that question down, I will endeavour to give him an answer.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what was the amount realised last year?

Not without notice.

How does the hon. Gentleman tell which is unsmokeable tobacco?

Is the duty put on to the price of the goods when they are sold by the customs authorities?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any proposals in the nature of Imperial Preference or likely to lead to a closer economic union between this country and the Dominions had been proposed to the Dominions for the consideration of the Ottawa Conference before the time when the postponement was decided upon; and, if so, whether any negotiations on these lines will be continued between now and 1932?

Since the adjournment of the Imperial Conference last year, neither His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom nor, so far as I am aware, any of His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions, have put forward any specific proposals in anticipation of the intended Conference at Ottawa. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

Are the Government aware that if any such proposals had been made by the Imperial Government the Governments of Australia and New Zealand would have found it possible to send representatives to Ottawa this year?

May I ask whether, in view of the postponement of this Conference, the Government propose to proceed with the negotiations on their own policy of bulk purchase?

I shall require notice of that question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of the fund placed at the disposal of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action, known as the Sumner Commission, has been paid to claimants as ex gratia; what amount, if any, has been paid or otherwise given to claimants on a footing other than ex gratia; what amount has been repaid to the Crown as repayment of loans made to claimants; and what balance is left over at the disposal of the Crown, taking into account the repayment of any loans which may have been made to claimants?

No fund was placed at the disposal of the Sumner Commission; the awards recommended by the Commission were paid by the Treasury from annual Votes. The total so paid to claimants amounts to £4,929,000. These payments were all made ex gratia and no payments have been made on any other footing. The sum of £639,000 has been received by way of repayment of advances to claimants. No balance is left over at the disposal of the Crown, since any unspent surplus on the annual Votes was surrendered in the usual way, and the receipts in respect of repayment of advances constitute revenue and have been paid over to the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, with regard to awards made by the Sumner Commission to claimants for damage in Turkey, payments have been made stated to be loans in advance, repayable from awards to be made by the Inter-Allied Commission in Paris; and whether such loans have, in fact, been covered by the payments made by the Inter-Allied Commission, and what fund has been charged with the payment of the balance, if any, of such loans as have been repaid?

The amounts paid to claimants for damage in Turkey in respect of awards by the Sumner Commission are only repayable if and in so far as payments are received by the claimants from the Inter-Allied Commission in Paris in respect of the same item of claim. Accordingly the last part of the question does not arise.

It will be remembered that last night, in the brief discussion which took place with regard to the Amendments to Clause 19, the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Edgbaston (Mr. Chamberlain) pointed out the difficulty of proceeding with the discussion of Clause 19, and mentioned that a considerable number of Amendments had not appeared on the Paper in time for discussion, and I promised to take that matter into consideration. I have done so, and I realise that it would be quite impossible to have a discussion of the Clause in the absence of the Government Amendments. Therefore, I place myself in the hands of the Opposition as to the procedure we should take.

The right hon. Gentleman suggested that I might withdraw Clause 19 and bring it forward as an amended new Clause. There is another alternative, and that is to postpone the consideration of Clause 19 until the end of the Committee stage. There is very little difference between these two suggestions. If the Clause were postponed, or if we were to bring forward a new Clause, it would really come in at the same point. I do not know that it would make any difference at all as to the amount of time available to the Opposition for the discussion of the amended Clause. However, I am prepared to take either of those two courses, and take the one which commends itself to the Opposition. I suggest that we should postpone the consideration of Clause 19 until we have reached Clause 37.

I have not accepted any Motion to postpone the Clause, because, if I accepted such a Motion now, it could not be debated at all. If I interpret aright the wish of the Committee, it is desirable that an opportunity should be given to ascertain the precise position in which it stands in relation to this Clause.

I wish to raise a point of Order. I think it would be better to have the Motion negatived rather than postponed. If you, Mr. Dunnico, will allow me I would like to put the point that, whereas there is no difference from the point of view of the Government as between postponement and withdrawal of the Clause there is a difference because under the Rules of the House we cannot debate either the merits of the Amendments or the Clause on this Motion. May I call attention to a precedent which was set in 1918. On the 30th October, 1918, in Committee on the Tithe Bill, a Motion was made to postpone Clause 1, on which a discussion was desired, but my right hon. Friend the Member for North Cornwall (Sir D. Maclean), who was then Deputy-Chairman of Ways and Means, pointed out to the Committee that possibly there was an alternative. These were his words:

"With regard to the point made by the hon. Member (Sir F. Flannery) as to a general discussion arising on the Motion, the discussion, if permitted, would be limited solely to the reasons for postponing the consideration of the Clause, and it could not touch the merits of the matter. There is a way open, of course, in Committee, which would provide for the discussion of the alternative scheme, and that would be to negative Clause 1."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 30th October, 1918; col. 1504, Vol. 110.]

I suggest for the consideration of the Committee that, seeing that there are so many Amendments which are not covered by the statement last night, and so many issues that might be discussed with a view to getting an indication of the mind of the Government with regard to them, it would be much more convenient from the point of view of the Committee, and would not at all harm the progress of the Bill, but, indeed, might facilitate it, to negative the Clause now, under your Ruling, instead of postponing it.

The Committee must understand that this is not a point of Order on which I have to decide. It has been decided by the Guillotine Motion. If a Motion to postpone the Clause were proposed, I should have no option but to accept it without debate. I feel, however, that it is the general wish of the Committee that it should not be deprived of at least an expression of opinion. That is why, rather against the customary Rules of Order, I am allowing this strictly limited discussion. I assume that I have the assent of the Committee; otherwise, I could not permit it.

There is one point of difference between the two alternatives which the right hon. Gentleman suggested. It is true that in either case the discussion, whether of the postponed Clause or of the new Clause, would come on the same day, namely, on the Ninth Allotted Day; but, as I understand the matter, if the Clause is postponed, it would come into the first half of that day, because that is one of those days which are divided into two sections.

I understand that, if the Clause is postponed, it will follow Clause 37, after 7.30 on that allotted day, and the Guillotine does not fall until 10.30 on the following day.

It would be taken as the first Clause after 7.30?

Yes.

I beg to move, "That consideration of Clause 19 be postponed until after the consideration of Clause 37."

With regard to the first Amendment on Clause 20—in page 21, line 4, at the end, to insert the words:

"Where any land unit has been included or would, but for any exemption given by law, have been included in an assessment to Income Tax under Schedule A of the Income Tax Act, 1918, as amended by any subsequent Act, for the year corresponding with the year of charge for land value tax under this Act, there shall be deducted from the land value of that land unit as ascertained in accordance with this Act the sum of four times the annual value determined, or but for exemption given by law would have been determined, for the purposes of the said assessment for the said Schedule A of the land, tenement, hereditament, or heritage, the land, on which such land, tenement, hereditament, or heritage is situate, is the land comprised in the said land unit.

Where the said sum, namely four times the said annual value, is equal to or exceeds the land value of the said land unit as ascertained by this Act there shall be charged on the owner of such land unit a tax at the rate of one-eighth of a penny for each pound for the land value of that land unit."

I have considerable doubt in my mind as to whether this Amendment is in order at this particular part of the Bill. Clause 20 deals only with reliefs from tax; that is to say, with those cases in which remissions are granted of the whole or part of the tax after it has been assessed and charged. This Amendment, however, does not deal with reliefs at all; it proposes that the land value of a unit on which the tax is charged shall be reduced in certain specified cases for assessment purposes. I am not Ruling now that the Amendment is out of order on the Bill, but I have grave doubts as to whether it is in order at this particular stage of the Bill, and also as to whether, if the Amendment were passed, it could be inserted in Clause 20. I have no desire, however, to deprive the Committee of the opportunity of discussing this issue and shall be glad to hear arguments for and against before giving my Ruling.

I should have thought, myself, that it was certainly clear—I do not say abundantly clear—that such an Amendment as is proposed from these benches falls well within the ambit of this Clause. As you will see, this part of the Bill deals with Exemptions and Relief; that is the heading of the Clauses; and this, of course, is clearly a case of relief from the impact of the tax. Therefore, although perhaps, if the matter were very strictly-argued on highly technical assumptions, it might be held that the Amendment should properly come on Clause 14, it seems to me that the arguments upon it ought to be heard here.

I do not know what your Ruling will be with regard to this Amendment, but I should like to join with my right hon. Friend in suggesting that it is in its proper place here. When I come to deal with the Amendment, I shall hope to show the Committee that in every sense of the word it is a relief from the tax which would otherwise be imposed on the owner, and, therefore, subject to what you say now, I propose, with your consent, to move the Amendment.

My point is that Clause 20 deals with relief subsequent to assessment. As I understand the purpose of the Amendment, it is to alter the basis of assessment. This Clause does not deal with assessments at all. The Clause which deals with assessments is Clause 14 and that appears to be the appropriate place for all matters dealing with assessments.

Under this Amendment relief is given to the owner in these circumstances, that, where you have in the assessment a certain position, namely, that four times the annual value equals or exceeds the true amount of the capital value, then no tax is payable. To put it in other words, if, after the assessment has been made, you discover that these two figures are equal, or that four times the annual value exceeds the other figure, relief to that extent is given from the tax. That is why I thought that this was the proper place for the Amendment, as it is a genuine case of relief from the taxation which would otherwise be imposed. If I might explain the way in which it works—

The hon. and learned Member has not really dealt with the point. I distinctly-pointed out that this Clause simply deals with relief to be given after the general assessment has been made. As far as I understand this Amendment, it is intended to alter the general assessment, and in that case it does not fall within the scope of this Clause.