asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received a report from the British members of the main Anglo-Soviet Joint Committee dealing with British claims against the Soviet Government as to the attitude of the Soviet representatives towards the various classes of British claims; what is the nature of the report; and what action the Government proposes to take thereon?

I received on Friday last a letter embodying the views of the British members of the Main Committee regarding the difficulties which have arisen in Sub-Committee B. The letter explains in detail the nature of the difficulties, and concludes with a request for instructions. The matter is now receiving my consideration.

After these long months of negotiations, has the attitude of the Soviet representatives yet been defined, for example, as regards cash balances at banks belonging to private individuals?

I could not make any further statement in answer to a supplementary question.

When will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to inform the House on the matter—next Monday for example?

On more than one occasion I have informed the hon. Gentleman that I am doing everything I can to push forward this investigation into the debts question. I will continue to do so, but I cannot promise in advance when I shall be in a position to make a statement.

Are not the difficulties in the matter the same as the right hon. Gentleman indicated some weeks ago when he said that he had no knowledge?

I do not know what the right hon. Gentleman refers to.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether any more of the British Embassy plate that was stolen from Petrograd has been recovered?

No, Sir.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, since the last discovery of this missing plate, Soviet hospitality has been curtailed towards the British Embassy?

I am sorry, but I did not hear a word of the hon. and gallant Member's question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the value of this plate was included in our claim?

I asked whether Soviet hospitality, since the last discovery of this missing plate, has been curtailed?

I am not in Moscow.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any recent regulations have been made for the purpose of dealing with the question of street congestion and traffic difficulties in the West End and City areas of London during the busy rush hours of the day; and will he give particulars?

I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the various regulations and Orders affecting the City or West End areas, made by me since the 1st July, 1930, under the London Traffic Act, 1924.

Is the new Order with regard to one-way traffic in the Strand working satisfactorily?

I understand that it is.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied with the results obtained from the sending out of Circular No. 314 (Roads) in February, 1930; and whether any similar communications have been sent to local authorities by his Department since this date?

I have no reason to thank that highway authorities have not had full regard to Circular No. 314 (Roads), dated 20th February, 1930, dealing with the use of British materials, and no further circular on the subject has been considered necessary. Communications on particular points have been addressed to various local authorities from time to time as they have arisen.

Is the Minister really satisfied with the results of the circular?

I have stated that I have no reason to be dissatisfied with the results of the circular, and I believe the local authorities are acting up to the advice that has been given them.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, as there are ample supplies of road stone available in this country, he will consider the desirability of asking Parliament for powers to prohibit the purchase of foreign road stone by local authorities?

I understand that the purchase of foreign road stone is practically confined to those parts of the country where by reason of freightage charges its use is economically justified. I am not prepared to advise Parliament to prevent local authorities from exercising any discretion in the matter.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that an abundant supply of this material is available in this country, and that there is no necessity for importations from abroad?

No, Sir, I am not prepared to give an unqualified answer on that point. Certain difficulties have arisen, but as far as we are concerned we have given the necessary advice to the local authorities. I do not feel that we ought to go to the length of entirely removing discretion from the local authorities.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the great bulk of this stone is not brought in by the local authorities but by private companies?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider reducing the grant so that local authorities may be induced to use British stone?

No, Sir. If it is a question of unemployment, the requirement of the Ministry is pretty stringent. For ordinary road works we do not feel that we should go to the length of imposing Whitehall control upon local government to that extent.

asked the Minister of Transport the causes of delay in carrying out the proposed improvements to the level crossings at Radstock?

I understand that delay in the preparation of a scheme for the improvement of the level crossings at Radstock has been due to protracted negotiations between the local authorities and the railway companies. I am now informed that the appropriate committee of the Somerset County Council recently resolved to defer consideration of the proposals until their estimates for the financial year 1932–33 are prepared.

In view of the death of a boy recently, and the private negotiations which took place as a result of his death, is it necessary to have another tragedy and a revival of the whole position; and cannot my right hon. Friend ask the county council immediately to take steps to alter this dangerous level crossing?

I do not know the particular circumstances of the death to which my hon. Friend refers.

I sent the Press information to my right hon. Friend.

I am sorry, but I have not got it in my mind at the moment. In any case, the matter is one essentially for the Somerset County Council, and they, in common with all the other councils, know that we are anxious for the abolition of level crossings as soon as that can be done.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any tests have been made by his Department with a view to the efficiency of automatic windscreen wipers that must be fitted to public service and commercial motor vehicles, as laid down in Clause 44 in the provisional regulations, dated 13th March, 1931; and can he give the results of the tests?

The Regulation to which my hon. Friend refers does not apply to vehicles other than public service vehicles. Any question whether the windscreen wiper fitted to an individual public service vehicle is effective for its purpose is primarily one for the consideration of the officer who examines the vehicle, and I have not had occasion to have any test of these devices carried out by my Department.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the windscreen wipers are electrically operated or by hand?

Speaking from memory, as far as i know they are automatic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the number of recent accidents to road vehicles where minor collisions have resulted in serious loss of life owing to the explosion of petrol tanks situate in a forward position on these vehicles; and whether he will consider the issuing of regulations prohibiting, after a specified date, the licensing of all road vehicles which carry their petrol tank in close proximity to the engine?

My attention has not been drawn to any recent road accident, which could properly be described as a minor collision, and which resulted in loss of life owing to the outbreak of fire. Fire is always a possible result of a serious collision, and the risk is no doubt increased in the case of a head-on collision by a forward position of the petrol tank. A very large number of motor vehicles are designed for the fitting of a tank in this position, and so far as my present information goes I do not think that I should be justified in making a regulation on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of the cheapest types of motor car carry rear petrol tanks already and that, therefore, there is no excuse for manufacturers fitting tanks to carry highly explosive petrol in close proximity to the engine?

I appreciate the point, and it can be considered again; but already there are many regulations governing the construction of motor oars, and I ask the hon. Member not to lead me too far in the direction of meticulous statements.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the Department have considered the use of a one-way valve in connection with petrol tanks, and whether a one-way valve might not save the whole situation?

My hon. Friend has got me out of my depth.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any statistics which show that cases of fire occur more frequently where the petrol tank is close to the engine?

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend prepared to make representations that all future cars should have petrol tanks in the same position?

It will be considered, but I do not think that the time has yet arrived when I should make such a regulation.

asked the Minister of Transport how many applications for licences in respect of road vehicles await determination by traffic commissioners; and if he can say by what date they will be disposed of?

The position on 31st May last was that approximately 32,000 applications for public service vehicle licences and 27,000 applications for road service licences and backings remained to be dealt with by the traffic commissioners. It is hoped that they will all be disposed of by the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport how many small omnibus companies that have been operating in the northern area for several years have not yet received a licence under the Road Traffic Act, 1930?

I am not in possession of the information asked for.

Will not the Minister try and get this information, and is he aware that some of these omnibus companies have been operating for five and nine years and yet cannot get a licence?

The doctrine from my hon. Friend on this side of the House that an annual licence——

rose——

We had better get on to the next question.

asked the Minister of Transport how many of the 200 young men who have been dismissed from their employment as drivers in the northern area owing to the Road Traffic Act, 1930, have been licensed as conductors?

I have no knowledge of these cases beyond my hon. Friend's statements, and have no means of discovering how many men who were unable to satisfy the requirements in respect of minimum age or previous employment laid down by Statute for the issue of a licence to act as drivers of public service vehicles, have been able to obtain a conductor's licence.

Will not the Minister try and get this information, and is he not aware of the serious position of these young men who are wasting their time owing to having been dismissed in a district where there is no other work to be obtained?

The getting of information will not make any difference to the point of policy involved. In passing the Road Traffic Act, Parliament decided that the drivers of these vehicles should be of the age of 21 unless they had previously driven for six months. The provision was considered necessary in the interests of public safety, and it is the opinion strongly held by the Transport and General Workers' Union.

Does the Minister insist that a man is only a safe driver when he reaches the age of 21 years?

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware, that the commissioners of the northern area have compelled the omnibus owners to increase their fares from 6d. to 9d. per day for carrying miners to and from their work; and if, owing to the low rates of wages being paid in the Durham coalfields, he will take steps to see that the old fares are restored?

My attention has not been called to the matter except in the correspondence forwarded to me by my hon. Friend on 24th June. As I explained to him in my reply, I have no jurisdiction in the matter of the conditions attached to a road service licence by the Traffic Commissioners except on an appeal under Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930.

But when a Member of Parliament sends a complaint to the Minister, will not the Minister regard it as an appeal, especially in a case like the present one, where the fares have been increased to men who cannot afford to pay an increase?

My hon. Friend, with great respect, is not qualified to make an appeal under the Road Traffic Act. Members of Parliament are not qualified under the Act, and I must be careful about submitting to political pressure in a judicial function.

Are we to understand from the statement of the Minister that now the Road Traffic Act has been passed all control of road traffic has passed entirely from this House and cannot be resumed by it?

Parliament can always dismiss the Minister if it has a mind to do so. Parliament laid it down that applications should go to the Traffic Commissioners, who should hear them upon evidence and decide them fairly. An appeal rests from them to me, and I must hear the evidence; I must hear appeals and settle them judicially. If once I submit to Parliamentary pressure upon an individual case, then Parliament ought to dismiss me as soon as possible.

Is this the kind of thing that will happen when the London Traffic Bill comes into operation?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now make a further statement as to the question of the new Charing Cross bridge; whether in such connection regard will be paid by him to the convenience of the travelling public throughout South-East London and West Kent; and whether consideration will be given to the practicability of the construction of a three-arched combined road and rail bridge and the saving oil cost thereby effected?

I understand that the London County Council have not yet come to a decision on the report of the Advisory Committee appointed by them to consider the various schemes for a bridge at Charing Cross, and until I am in possession of their views I am not in a position to make any statement in the matter. As the right hon. Member is aware, a combined road and rail bridge was one of the schemes considered by the Advisory Committee.

In view of the great urgency and necessity for this bridge, and also the necessity for providing work, cannot the Minister put some pressure on the various authorities who are discussing the matter in order to get it pressed forward?

The hon. Member must face facts. The bridges authority for the County of London is the London County Council, not me. I am very sorry that this business has been hanging about for so many years, but the fault is not mine.

Is it not the case that very important questions arise and that a large expenditure of money is involved?

I quite agree.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that motor transport passenger vehicles frequently exceed the authorised speed limit; and whether he will instruct the mobile police patrols to exercise a stricter control of the speeds of such vehicles and enforce the speed limits imposed by law?

The police have had instructions on the subject and they are fully alive to the importance of securing compliance with the speed limits, so far as their resources and opportunities will permit. My right hon. Friend believes they are achieving a considerable measure of success, and he does not think any further instructions from him are required.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that these speed limits are being exceeded on every main road, every day, and that the police are not taking any action?

If the hon. Member will give me particulars of these cases, I will have them investigated.

asked the Home Secretary whether steps have now been taken to secure that the point of destination of omnibuses of the newest pattern running in London should be clearly indicated on the rear and the side as well as on the front and that the number should be plainly shown on the rear as well as on the front?

My right hon. Friend is informed by the Commissioner of Police that arrangements have been made for the route number and the destination point to be displayed in large type on the near side and on the rear of double deck omnibuses of the type referred to.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now make a further statement as regards the proposals of the London and North Eastern Railway Company to electrify 50 miles of suburban lines out of King's Cross Station; and when this work is likely to be taken in band and the electrification completed?

As the hon. Member is aware an application by the railway company for Government financial assistance in connection with the proposals referred to is now under consideration by the Development (Public Utilities) Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the inadequate services given by the London and North Eastern Railway Company from Liverpool Street Station to workers living in West Ham, East Ham, Barking, Walthamstow, Becontree, etc., and having regard to the fact that proposals for electrifying the whole of this area have been worked out, any steps can be taken to induce the railway company to proceed with this work, especially in order to furnish work to those industries which are now suffering most from unemployment?

My information is that active consideration is at the present time being given by the railway company to alternative schemes for the electrification of the Great Eastern suburban area, but that the company are not in a position to make definite proposals at present. I will, however, call their attention to the hon. Member's question.

Will the hon. Gentleman keep in mind that these schemes are schemes which in the opinion of those who have examined them would relieve unemployment more than any other schemes?

asked the Secretary of State for India the number of Muslims and of Hindus killed during the recent riots in villages on the first 13 miles of the grand trunk road from Cawnpore to Fatehgarh?

The only information in my possession with regard to riots in villages in the neighbourhood of Cawnpore will be found on page 30 of the report of the Commission on the Cawnpore Riots. It is there stated that about seven Muslims were killed.

asked the Secretary of State for India what instructions the Government of the United Provinces has issued at any time in the past 18 months to district magistrates to indicate the line of action they should adopt towards hartals; and whether any special instructions were issued in anticipation of the hartals expected to follow the execution of Bhagat Singh?

I understand that confidential instructions were issued to commissioners and district officers under them as to precautions in the event of demonstrations in connection with the execution of Bhagat Singh and others. Such detailed information as to the conduct of local administration is not ordinarily communicated to the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the deputy commissioner at Rae Bareli has been instructed by the Government to cancel letters issued by him with regard to the steps to be taken to prevent Congress agents advocating non-payment of rent and taxes, in view of the Irwin-Gandhi agreement; and seeing that his orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Code have had to be modified, what steps are now permissible to prevent incitement to agrarian outrages?

I have seen the Press report to which the hon. and gallant Member referred on Monday last, and also another Press message which gives-extracts from the two letters which the district magistrate was apparently instructed to withdraw. I see no ground for apprehending that the applicability of any provision of the law is in any way affected by this incident.

Is it the case that this deputy commissioner, who tried to uphold the law, has been sacrificed to political pressure from the Hindu party?

The hon. and gallant Member is entirely mistaken in that statement, nor have I any evidence which confirms his view.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the terms of the Irwin-Gandhi agreement, he proposes to take any action regarding the picketing of the shops of dealers in foreign cloth by Congress volunteers in Allahabad city?

From the Press reports which I have seen and to which the right hon. Member no doubt refers, I gather that the district magistrate is at pains to ensure that such picketing as takes place conforms to the terms of the agreement.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell me the difference between a political boycott and an economic boycott carried out by a political party?

That appears to be a philisophic question of general import. It is quite obvious that an economic boycott is very different from a boycott which is specific and discriminate.

Would it not be better to have a statesman instead of a philosopher at the India Office?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the speech made by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on the 22nd June, at Kokhraj village, in the Allahabad district, in which he advocated the establishment of a peasant republic in India; and whether, in view of the seditious character of this speech, it is proposed to prosecute Pandit Nehru?

I have no information beyond a newspaper report of this speech.

Does the Secretary of State get no information whatever from India? This statement has appeared in the Press.

Can the Secretary of State say whether there is anything to prevent any subject of His Majesty from advocating a republic?

That is another philosophic inquiry. The question that the magistrate has to deal with is whether there is a danger of a breach of the peace, and as to that it is best to leave him to judge.

Is the right hon. Gentlemen always in a state of philosophic doubt?