asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that British subjects are debarred from owning land in the State of Kashmir, although this right is possessed by Kashmiri subjects in India, and that in several recent cases British subjects have been arbitrarily deprived of lands which they had leased; and whether negotiations can be commenced for the purpose of ensuring that British subjects resident in, or carrying on their business in, Kashmir, shall enjoy all such privileges as are granted to Kashmiri subjects resident in British India?

So far as I am aware, it is the case that the Kashmir State does not permit the ownership of land by British subjects. I have not received any recent reports of hardship being caused to British subjects as a result of this law which would justify Government in making representations to His Highness the Maharaja.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the question does not actually concern the ownership of land, but the leasing of land as well?

As regards the leasing a land, I think that is allowed, but I shall be glad if my hon. and gallant Friend will send me any particulars that he has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for India the number of municipalities in India which have been superseded for maladministration since 1921, giving figures for India proper and Burma, separately?

I regret I have not this information, but I am making the necessary inquiries from India.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will make a statement on the state of affairs in Burma at an early date; if he will say what increase it has been found necessary to make in the garrison of the province since January, 1931; and if the troops are under the direction of the civil or military authorities in their operations against the rebels?

Reports on the situation in Burma have been published each week, and I am circulating a statement covering the events of last week. As regards the second part of the question, seven additional battalions, one British and six Indian, have been sent to Burma this year. A senior member of the Indian Civil Service was appointed as Special Commissioner for the disturbed districts to act in co-operation with the Officer Commanding, Rangoon Brigade, in order to effect unity of command in the whole rebel area.

Will my right hon. Friend consider the desirability of im- pressing upon the Government of India the necessity for the closest co-operation between the civil and military authorities, in order to bring to an end the present bickerings, and thus enable the authorities to deal more effectively with the rebels?

I think there is already the closest co-operation, but my hon. and gallant Friend will see that we have taken a further step in appointing a Special Commissioner for that very purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the persons, or either of them, inquiring into the state of affairs in Kashmir are expected to report on the rival merits of autocracy and responsible government for that state; and whether any report made by these gentlemen will be made public?

No, Sir. His Highness the Maharaja has, however, announced that on the completion of the present inquiries it is his intention to convene a conference over which Mr. Glancy will preside and at which the various sections of his subjects will be represented, for the purpose of discussing the most suitable means of introducing constitutional developments in the State. The results of the present inquiries will be reported to His Highness. I do not know whether it is his intention to publish the reports.

Seeing that His Highness is being protected by the British, will the British Government or the Government of India be represented in any way at that inquiry?

If my right hon. and gallant Friend will look at the answer that I gave last week, he will see that I gave particulars about the two inquiries. I can add nothing to the information that I then gave.

But in the answer given last week it was clearly stated that the British Government took no part in that inquiry. May I ask whether this further inquiry held by the Maharaja into the possibility of responsible government in Kashmir will be attended by any representatives of the Government of India?

The answer is No, Sir. This is an inquiry instituted by His Highness.

Are the Government of India not interested in the Government of Kashmir?

Naturally, we are very interested in a great many things, but this is not an occasion on which we can intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give the strength of the British Army in India in infantry, cavalry, artillery, air force, and other arms?

I am circulating a statement showing the establishments of the British forces in India in various arms. The actual strength varies from time to time owing to seasonal and other factors.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will take measures to prohibit the circulation, now continuing, of formal threats of boycotting addressed to non-Indian mills unless their managers subscribe to a number of declarations incompatible with their liberties as British subjects?

The situation, inherited by me, in which firms on pain of being driven out of business are required to give undertakings which otherwise they would not give has caused me great concern, and I am in correspondence with the Government of India on the subject. My hon. Friend will be the first to appreciate the difficulties that stand in the way of Government intervention so long as no breach of the law is committed.

Is there any obstacle at present in the prosecution of Congress agents for criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, or attempted extortion?

That is just the kind of question into which I am inquiring with the Government of India, and I will only add that so far as the circular is concerned, the original document was withdrawn, and the circular, although still objectionable, is a great deal less objectionable than it was some months ago.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he anticipates that it will be possible to make a statement giving the concrete results of the India Round Table Conference before the House rises for the Christmas Recess?

Yes, Sir, I have every hope that this will be possible.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when it will be possible to make a statement?

I could not say. That is a question which had better be addressed to the Prime Minister, as President of the Conference.

asked the Prime Minister whether there will be an opportunity before the House rises for the Recess of a Debate on the work of the Indian Round Table Conference?

Yes, I hope so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to arrange that the Debate will not be held on the same day as the plenary sitting of the Burma Round Table Conference, so that all of us who are delegates to that Conference will be able to be present during the Debate in this House?

I will see if it is possible to arrange that.

I ask the right hon. Gentleman to give real consideration to that point, because it would be rather awkward if the Debate took place upon an inconvenient day. I think it is highly desirable that the Prime Minister should give us an assurance on that point.

Will the Prime Minister consider the convenience of the great majority of the House?

Yes, I will.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that passage certificates granted by the Government of India, under the Lee Commission Scheme to and from India, are available by foreign steamship lines, though British vessels are in a position to carry the whole of this traffic; and whether he will consider limiting the use of these passage certificates to British ships?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Members of the Indian Services value the privilege conferred on them by the rules of selecting the line of steamer by which they will travel as concession passengers, and I should be reluctant to impose any actual restriction on their freedom of choice, which I am sure officers will exercise with due regard to the considerations which my hon. Friend has in view.

Is it not a fact that passenger fares are now being undercut by foreign vessels, and in these circumstances will the Secretary of State use his influence to give preference to British vessels, which are ready to carry all this traffic?

I am very conscious of that consideration. At the same time, I have to keep in mind the wishes of the officials themselves, and in point of fact they do find that occasionally certain foreign ships give them greater convenience in the matter of dates and speed than British lines.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether there is an improvement in the maintenance of law and order in India, such as will enable the Viceroy to repeal any or all of the Special Ordinances for the enforcement of law and order now in operation; and will he also state when the Meerut prisoners were first arrested and when it is expected the trial of these prisoners will end

Special Ordinances are in force in Burma and the Punjab, both of which are designed to deal with local situations of gravity, arising out of the Burma Rebellion and the Kashmir disturbances respectively. In neither case does the situation yet warrant the abandonment of special powers. Two further Ordinances, one in Bengal and one in Delhi, give special powers for dealing with the terrorist movement, with regard to which there has, I regret to say, been no improvement. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have just given to the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood). The Meerut prisoners were arrested on the 25th March, 1929.

Is it the intention of the right hon. Gentleman to make reports to the House from time to time of the condition of affairs in India, as was done by his predecessor?

Yes; as far as I know, I am following exactly the course that has been adopted. I am issuing periodical reports.

I understand that the question of the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood), to which the right hon. Gentleman referred, has not been answered. Is it possible to give the answer now?

If the right hon. Gentleman referred to an answer that has not been given, he had better give it now.

If I may give it in answer to a supplementary question, I will inform the right hon. Gentleman that the trial in the Sessions Court began on the 31st January, 1930, and the prosecution case was closed in March, 1931. The date at which the trial is likely to end depends mainly upon the time taken by the accused in presenting their defence, and I am therefore unable to give any estimate of its probable duration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider consulting the Viceroy as to whether it would not be an act of grace to discharge these prisoners now and allow the Englishmen to go home, seeing the length of time that they have been in prison awaiting trial and the hardships which certainly sonic of them have undergone during that long period?

My predecessor and I have been in constant communication with the Government of India on the subject. The delay in the trial is not in any way due to the Government. It is due entirely to the protracted course of events undertaken by the prisoners themselves. It is quite impassible for me at this stage of the trial, I am afraid, to intervene.

In view of the very long period—the right hon. Gentleman will agree that it is a long period—will he not consult the Viceroy as to whether something cannot be done to end this very protracted imprisonment of men who have not yet been brought to trial really effectively?

I should very much like to see this trial brought to an end at once, but I cannot intervene in the course of justice at this period of it. The delay is not due to us at all.

Is not a trial lasting for the best part of three years sufficient punishment for any crime that may have been committed?

I am afraid that I cannot add anything to the several answers that I have given on this subject. I should like to see the trial ended as quickly as possible.

(for Major MILNER) asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give a list of the regis- tered trade unions in India, made up to the latest convenient date, with the numbers in each?

I am sending the latest information available to the hon. and gallant Member.

(for Major MILNER) asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give the numbers of men and women employed in and about the mines in India at the last convenient date, giving separately the numbers of adult women working underground in the coal mines in Bihar and Orissa, in the coal mines in Bengal, in the coal mines in the Central Provinces, and in the salt mines of the Punjab?

With the permission of the hon. and gallant Member, I will circulate the figures asked for in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

(for Major MILNER) asked the Secretary of State for India, whether he can give the numbers of lepers in India at the latest convenient date; whether he can give figures for the past 10 years to show what progress is being made with this disease; and what steps are being taken to combat it?

The number of persons classified as lepers at the Census of 1921, the latest official figure available, was 102,513, but it is probable that the number is considerably in excess of that returned. Exact figures to show progress are not available, but great advances have been made through the training of medical men, the survey of infected areas and the opening of dispensaries. Last year the cases under treatment in the dispensaries of one province alone were mote than three times as many as were being cared for in the whole of the leper institutions of India 10 years ago.

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for India what action is to be taken to balance the Indian Budget in view of the rejection by the Legislative Assembly of the Emergency Finance Bill?

The Governor-General has certified the passing of the Bill as essential. The Bill, with the certificate and recommendation, will be laid in the Council of State to-day.

Does that mean that the Bill will be passed in the identical form in which it was introduced?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange to conclude the work of the Committee on Anglo-Soviet Debts before the end of next June in order that the position with regard to these debts may be cleared up before the conclusion of the one-year Hoover moratorium?

I regret that, pending the receipt of the communication from the Soviet Government to which I referred on the 16th of November, I am unable to forecast the future course of the negotiations.

Is it not apparent to the Government that the Soviet has no intention whatever of settling, and how long are the Government going to allow this farce to continue?

I have told my hon. Friend that we have made this representation; we must at least give an opportunity for an answer.

May I repeat the question which I asked last Monday—when is it likely that an answer will be received?

If the hon. Gentleman will put a question down for next Monday, the Foreign Secretary will, I hope, be here, and he may be in a position to answer it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action His Majesty's Government proposes to take to secure payment from the Soviet Government to Lena Goldfields, Limited, of the arbitral award of, approximately, £13,000,000 made in favour of that company on the 2nd September, 1930, in view of the failure of the negotiations for a settlement which recently took place in Berlin between representatives of the Soviet Government and Lena Goldfields, Limited?

As a result of discussions in London with representatives of the company, my right hon. Friend has instructed His Majesty's Ambassador, who has recently returned to his post, to make fresh representations to the Soviet Government as soon as possible after his return.

Is the Foreign Secretary aware that the offer made by the Soviet representative in Berlin was to pay a sum of £800,000 in settlement of a claim for £13,000,000?

Yes, and as I have said, these representations are now being made by His Majesty's Ambassador.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any claim for compensation from Mr. John Thorburn's relatives has now been received and considered; and what steps he proposes to take to press this claim against the Chinese Government?

Mr. Thorburn's father has now requested that His Majesty's Minister should lodge a claim for conpensation with the Chinese Government. My right hon. Friend is not yet in receipt of full details, but the request is being considered as urgently as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will furnish this House with the text of the final reply of the Chinese Government to the representations of His Majesty's Government in the matter of the death of Mr. John Thorburn; and if he will press for an identification of the burial place of the remains of Mr. Thorburn?

The text of the reply of the Chinese Government and a summary of the report attached to it, which had been received by telegraph from His Majesty's Minister in China, were published in the Press on the 4th of November. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of the note and the complete report which has now been received. I am in communication with His Majesty's Minister in regard to the matter referred to in the second part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement on the negotiations which the British Government have been carrying on with the Chinese Government with a view to arriving at an agreed surrender of our extra-territorial rights in China, or whether it is his intention to postpone any further negotiations for the present in view of the facts disclosed in connection with the murder of Mr. John Thorhurn by a Chinese official?

Owing to political conditions in China there has been no change in the position since the 17th of June last, when it was stated in this House that the negotiations had reached a stage which enabled them to be reported to the respective Governments. The question is still under consideration, and no statement can yet be made.

If it is possible for a British subject to be dragged before a Chinese colonel and shot without trial, this being afterwards concealed, when we have extra-territorial rights, can my hon. Friend say what will happen when we surrender those rights?

I think that I have already stated that we made the strongest representations when that happened, and that the Chinese officer concerned has already been dealt with. We should expect similar treatment in any event.

Can the hon. Gentleman assure the House that there will be no further surrender of extra-territorial rights without the express sanction of the House?

I can certainly assure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend is going very carefully into this question. Perhaps if the hon. Member puts down a question next week my right hon. Friend will be in a position to give an answer.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if the imports of British goods into France, and, if so, which, show any appreciable increase since the abandonment by this country of the Gold Standard; and of which commodities will be most affected by the new French sur-tax?

Statistics of total United Kingdom exports to France are not yet available for a period subsequent to this country's leaving the Gold Standard. Information as to exports of certain commodities from the United Kingdom to France will be found in the Monthly Accounts of Trade and Navigation for October and earlier months. They show in certain cases an increase in quantities in October as against September, but in general the increase is not disproportionate to that shown in the same period last year and the year before. As regards the effects of the French sur-tax on United Kingdom goods, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to a question asked by the right hon. Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert) on the 18th November. I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, whether it is intended to issue an annual or periodical Report from our commercial counsellor in Russia?

No annual trade report relating to the Soviet Union has been published since 1915, and the decision not to publish has been upheld by successive Governments. His Majesty's Government propose to maintain this policy.

Can the hon. Gentleman say why an exception is made in the case of Russia?

I have nothing to add to the answer I have given, except to say that information for trading purposes is available at the Department, and we are constantly helping traders with information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will be able to make any announcement with regard to the steps he intends to take to balance our trade with the Soviet Union before the House adjourns for the Christmas Recess?

As has already been indicated by my right hon. Friend in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Marjoribanks) the special question of our commercial relations with the Soviet Union is one on which it would be premature to make any statement while the wider question of our trade balance is under consideration; and I am afraid that it will not be possible to make a statement on that subject before the House adjourns for the Christmas Recess.

In view of the large favourable Soviet trade balance, cannot the Government insist that all future trade shall be goods against goods?

That question is similar to the one which my hon. Friend put to me a few days ago. I can only add that the question is being very seriously pursued.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will have inquiries made as to the working of the treaty arrangement for the interchange of commodities between Italy and Russia, with a view to the possible initiation of similar arrangements between this country and Russia?

I am having further inquiries made as to the working of this scheme, and my hon. and gallant Friend may be assured that any scheme which appears likely to be of assistance in connection with the question of our trade balance will be closely examined by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any decision has yet been arrived at regarding the discontinuance of further credits to Soviet Russia, in view of the fact that the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics had a favourable trade balance with this country of £25,000,000 in 1930 and of £7,000,000 in the first six months of the present year?

I regret that I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on the 16th instant.

Are we to understand that the present Government are continuing the policy of the Socialist Government?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that this matter is being pursued very closely. I may tell him that the figure which he quotes is not the correct figure, the adverse balance being nearly double what he suggests.

Is it not a fact that the Socialist Government continually said that they, too, were watching the situation?

asked (1) the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can make a statement on the subject of the protest made to the French Government in connection with their intention to impose discriminatory duties on British coal; and whether he will keep the House informed of the progress of the negotiations;

Representations are being made by His Majesty's Government to the French Government in the matter of the recent discriminatory increases in the French import duties.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the countries with which the British Government has concluded commercial treaties embodying the most-favoured-nation clause?

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the countries with which treaties and similar arrangements are in force providing for most-favoured-nation treatment in regard to customs duties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the imports of general earthenware, sanitary ware, glazed wall and hearth tiles, and floor tiles into this country for the month of November, 1931, to the last available date; and if he will give the corresponding weights of imports of chinaware now subject to Import (Safeguarding) Duties?

My right hon. Friend will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT in the course of this week a statement giving the latest available information as to importations covered by the Order made on the 20th November. As my hon. Friend Will be aware, the Order covers general earthenware, sanitary ware and glazed wall and hearth tiles. No similar information is available in regard to the dutiable imports of chinaware.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will assist those hotel organisations which are endeavouring to popularise British holiday resorts as against foreign holiday resorts, by suggesting to provincial chambers of commerce and chambers of trade throughout Great Britain that they should make an inspection in their respective localities with a view to helping the hotel trade generally?

I am anxious to render any assistance I can to popularise British holiday resorts and to improve the hotel accommodation, but I am not prepared, at this stage, to agree that the suggestion made by my hon. and gallant Friend is likely to be the most efficacious method. I am in constant touch with the Travel Association and with the hotel associations on the matter.

Will the hon. Gentleman use his influence with the Home Secretary to secure the abolition of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, which would be one of the best possible ways of doing this?

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of prosecutions in each year since 1921 under the Injurious Weeds Order; the number of tenant farmers whose tenancy has been terminated in each year since 1921 on the ground that they were not farming in accord with the principles of good husbandry; and whether it is proposed to introduce legislation providing for the expropriation of owner-occupier farmers who are bad farmers?

As the reply is necessarily somewhat long and contains a number of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last part of the question?

The answer to that is in the negative.

Then are we to understand that the Government are not interesting themselves in that matter?

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that no disclosure has to be made to the public if British or Dominion butter is blended with Russian or other foreign butter; and whether, in the legislation which he has promised to introduce in the immediate future, the vendor of any British or Dominion butter which is blended with Russian or other foreign butter will be required to disclose this fact to the public as well as the country of origin of any unblended foreign supplies, so that consumers may know what kind of butter they are purchasing?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The two points raised in the second part would appear to be met in the draft Order-in-Council under the provisions of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, recently laid before Parliament and of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

Do I understand that the Order-in-Council is operating? Is it not difficult for the public to respond to the appeal to Buy British When they do not know whether the butter is British or not?

The Order is not yet operative. Under the Act it has to lie before Parliament for a certain time.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when it will come into operation?

Owing to the election intervening, I am afraid it cannot now come into operation until May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make any statement with regard to the policy of the Government towards the sugar-beet industry?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has now reached any decision as to the renewal of the sugar-beet subsidy; and, if so, whether he will make an early announcement in order to assist farmers in making their plans for the coming season?

While it is my intention to consider every branch of agriculture in connection with agricultural policy, I can at present make no announcement on any particular aspect of that policy. So far as concerns sugar-beet contracts for the ensuing season, I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on the 12th November to my hon. Friend, the Member for Hallam (Mr. L. Smith) on this subject, of which I am sending a copy to each of my hon. and gallant Friends.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the same assurance as was given by the right hon. Member for Bewdley (Mr. Baldwin) that the sugar-beet industry will not be let down?

I am very anxious that the industry should not be let down, but, as to details, I cannot now go into them?

If this question is repeated this day week will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to give an answer?

I am not prepared to say, on this particular point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman press upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the cheapest and simplest method of dealing with this question is by duties and not by subsidy?

All those questions will, no doubt, be gone into.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has considered the resolution sent to him by the central council of milk recording societies in favour of a tariff on all foreign milk products; and whether this recommendation will be considered at an early date by the Government?

I am not in a position to add to the reply which I gave to a similar question put by my hon. Friend on the 16th November last.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the number of societies in favour of a tariff on all foreign milk is rapidly increasing, and that immediate action is required?

I am watching the question very closely.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the trouble among the milk-producers in Chester is very serious?

Is the Minister of Agriculture not aware that if the farmers of this country learned the elements of—

That is a different question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that a number of empty milk churns were shipped from Harwich, to the Continent on or about 17th November with a view to the importation of foreign liquid milk at an early date; and whether he will take any steps to prevent any such importation?

I have no information with regard to the statement made in the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question. I am, however, making inquiries. Future action must obviously be governed by future developments.

Will the Minister take into consideration the whole question of the importations at the Harwich train ferry of perishable agricultural products?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in framing the agriculture policy of the Government, he will take special steps to deal with the glasshouse and horticultural industries that have been injured and had men thrown out of employment in the Lea Valley through the dumping of tomatoes, cut flowers, rose trees, etc., from foreign countries; and whether he will take special steps to reserve the advantage of the early market in straw- berries, asparagus, tomatoes, new potatoes, etc., next year for this country and the Empire?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is prepared to take steps to prevent a recurrence of last year's conditions in the soft-fruit industry in Kent, whereby a large proportion of the crop was unable to command a price high enough to cover the cost of picking on account of the market being prematurely flooded with the corresponding foreign produce?

The matters referred to will certainly be borne in mind in the consideration by the Government of its agricultural policy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that a decision soon as to the general policy of the Government is vitally necessary?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to encourage home production and assist to restore the balance of trade, and in view of the fact that ploughing and sowing for the 1932 crop of winter wheat are now taking place, he can now give an assurance that Parliament will be asked to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that that crop shall realise a profitable price?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the resolutions passed and sent to him by the Central Landowners' Association and the National Farmers' Union, urging the need for an early assurance as to the intentions of the Government to take action on behalf of the agricultural industry of the country; and whether he anticipates being in a position to make any announcement on this subject before the House of Commons adjourns for the Christmas Recess?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he expects to enable the farmers and market gardeners of the country to make preparations for carrying on their industry next year by outlining at an early date the programme of agricultural legislation that the Government intends to introduce when the House reassembles after the Christmas Recess; and whether he is aware that winter em- ployment in these industries depends on an early announcement of policy by the Government?

I am well aware of the need for an early announcement of the Governments agricultural policy, and can assure my hon. Friends that no time will be lost in reaching and announcing decisions.

if I put the question this day week, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to give me a reply?

No, Sir, I cannot give any definite promise.