asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the recent decree of the Portuguese Government which imposes an increase of tariffs by 20 per cent. on all imports into Portugal and its colonies; and if he will make representations to the Portuguese Government on this matter?

The decree in question, which does not extend to the Portuguese Colonies, increases duties by 20 per cent. on most descriptions of goods. The question of making representations to the Portuguese Government is being considered.

Would the right hon. Gentleman point out to the Portuguese Government that gratitude between nations is as much a virtue as it is between private individuals; and have not the Government of this country saved the Portuguese Republic in recent times?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if His Majesty's Government will make representations to the Government of the French Republic with a, view to obtaining; the removal of the 15 per cent. duty on imports into France of English china clay, in view of the recent removal of the 15 per cent, duty on British coal?

As I explained in the reply I returned on 1st March to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Captain North) we have made it clear to the French Government that we take exception in principle to the imposition of the surtax on any British goods. I am not at present contemplating special representations in regard to any particular class of goods.

Is it not the case that this Government and all other Governments are puzzling their wits to find the best ways and means of providing work for the millions of people who are out of employment, and does the right hon. Gentleman think that tariffs will remedy that state of affairs?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the exceptional increase in the imports of tea from Java during the first two months of the current year, he will consider the possibility of dealing with such tea importations under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act?

The increase in the imports of tea during the first two months of this year has been almost wholly in imports from India and Ceylon. I have no power to apply the provisions of the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act to imports of tea, as this is not an article comprised in Class III of the Import and Export List.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that recent restrictions placed by the German Government on the importation of British coal constitute discrimination against this country; and if His Majesty's Government are prepared to adopt measures of retaliation under the powers conferred on them by the Import Duties Act, 1932?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has drawn the attention of the German Government to the fact that the recent additional restrictions on the importation of British coal into Germany are inconsistent with the obligations that arise out of the AngloGerman commercial treaty; and, if so, what reply has been received?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now state the result of the negotiations with the German Government on the question of imported coal?

I can only refer hon. Members to the answer which I gave on this subject yesterday to the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson).

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that if we are to accept this unfair discrimination without retaliation it will seriously prejudice certain important provisions of the Import Duties Act?

Communications are passing between His Majesty's Government and the German Government on this subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects to have the reply, the decision?

I cannot say.

Is it not a fact that the Treaty made with Germany in 1924 was made when we were a Free Trade country, and is not that one of our difficulties?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if his attention has been drawn to a proposed Franco-Hungarian agreement to provide clearing-house arrangements for the mutual liquidation of export trading accounts; and if His Majesty's Government is taking steps to effect similar clearing-house arrangements in the interests of British exporters;

(2) if he is aware that the embargo on the purchase of foreign exchange in certain European countries puts difficulties in the way of exports from Great Britain; and if, in consequence, His Majesty's Government will take steps to set up clearing houses through which the sums due in respect of British exports would be paid out of the sums due in respect of imports to this country?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department on 8th February, and on 10th March, to my hon. Friends the Members for Keighley (Captain Watt) and Huddersfield (Mr. Mabane) respectively, of which I am sending him copies. To these I have nothing to add.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that while His Majesty's Government appear to be doing nothing in this matter, the Governments of Continental countries are, in fact, making clearinghouse arrangements to the great advantage of their nationals?

We made very full inquiries into the working of the clearing-house system, and we came to the conclusion that no clearing-house system at present devised would be to the advantage of British traders.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these exchange restrictions on the Continent are creating a virtual embargo on British export trade, and is there nothing within the province of His Majesty's Government that can be done in the matter?

We are very well aware that exchange restrictions are a severe handicap on our trade, but we are not of the opinion that the clearinghouse system would get over that difficulty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assure the House that when additional members are appointed to the Advisory Tariff Committee they will be men of established experience in the practice of industry and commerce and agriculture?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statements I made on this subject during the Debates on the Import Duties Bill. I believe those statements were generally approved by the House.

Does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate making any addition to the personnel of the Advisory Committee in the near future?

Not at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recommendations or suggestions have been made by the Government to the Import Duties Advisory Committee in amplification of, or in addition to, the terms of the Act appointing it?

None, Sir.

Are we to understand that no guidance has been given to the committee with reference to the question of efficiency and other things that were dealt with in the course of the Debate?

It is strictly according to the terms of the Act.

Will the right hon. Gentleman call in the hon. Member for Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) to help him?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can state the amount of money saved per week by the closing of the Pimlico clothing factory?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 9th February to my hon.

Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Smithers).

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can give any information as to how soon a commencement is to be made with the building of the new barracks at Aberdeen?

It is hoped that the building will be started by September next.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the cost per pupil of secondary education in Scotland; and the number of pupils who completed the full secondary course in 1929, 1930, and 1931?

On account of the intimate association existing in Scotland between primary and secondary education, it is not possible to state separately the cost of education of the latter type. The numbers of pupils who left recognised secondary departments of grant-aided schools after completing five or more years in such departments were, in 1928–29, 4,220; in 1929–30, 4,047; and in 1930–31, 4,056.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 19 farm fires have occurred in the vicinity of Carnoustie since October, 1931; and if he will consider the advisability of appointing a special committee to inquire into the origin of these fires?

I am informed that 12 farm fires have occurred in the vicinity of Carnoustie since October, 1931. Careful inquiries made by the police have definitely established the cause of the fire in four of the cases, and in the majority of the other cases there is strong ground for ascribing the fires to the careless throwing down of cigarette ends and matches. I am not satisfied that investigation by a committee would be as effective as the investigation by the police which takes place in all such cases.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a very widespread belief that these fires were not of accidental origin, and will he not reconsider his decision to make no further inquiry into this important matter?

I think it is more convenient for the police to make the inquiries. If they are not of accidental origin it would be a matter for the police to deal with.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that a large proportion of the income of the three Scottish agricultural colleges is derived from annual grants made voluntarily by the education committees of the Scottish county councils, and that any reduction on a large scale of these grants would impair the efficiency and restrict the activities of the colleges; and will he therefore consider circularising the county councils urging them to make no reduction in these grants?

Substantial grants are made to the three agricultural colleges by the Education Authorities. I am glad to be able to inform my Noble Friend that on 30th January last the Scottish Education Department sent a circular letter to these authorities informing them of proposals to continue the additional grants from the Education (Scotland) Fund in aid of the colleges, and at the same time emphasising the need for maintaining the direct contributions voluntarily made by the local authorities. I am sending my Noble Friend a copy of this circular.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any of these authorities have shown any intention to reduce their contributions during the coming year?

I have no information to that effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the time which has elapsed since the Report of the Royal Commission on the Court of Session in 1927, he will consider the introduction at an early date of legislation to effect improvements in legal procedure in Scotland?

The question of the action to be taken on the Report of the Royal Commission on the Court of Session has been receiving my consideration; but I am not in a position at present to give any undertaking as to legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to agricultural credits in Scotland?

I am glad to be able to inform the House that I have reason to believe the outstanding questions on which negotiations have been proceeding with the four participating banks will shortly be settled, and that the further steps necessary for setting up the Scottish Agricultural Securities Corporation will then proceed.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state the policy of his Department with regard to the establishment of central selling agencies for coal; and whether it proposes to assist in their formation?

I think I must await the views of the coalowners with regard to amendments of Part I of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, before I express any opinion upon central selling agencies for coal.

Is the Minister not doing anything in regard to the question of selling agencies?

No steps are being taken in relation to selling agencies.

Has all the previous work done on that matter been abandoned?

It has not been abandoned, but it must be considered generally in relation to Part I of the Act.

When does the hon. Gentleman expect to reach a decision?

Several replies have been received and fully considered, but there is one reply outstanding.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) if he will provide a tabular statement showing the financial results of colliery working for the years 1920 to 1931, comparable with Table 9, page 40, of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Coal Industry, 1925, Volume 3;

(2) what was the average realised pithead price of coal for each month from January, 1920, to the latest date for which figures are available?

As the replies involve very long statistical statements, I will send copies to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Mines if he will state what percentage of the timber used in the mines of this country was of British, Empire, and foreign origin, respectively, during each of the last three years?

I regret that precise information on this subject is not available, but the quantity of homegrown timber is comparatively small, while Empire-grown timber represents less than ½per cent. of the whole quantity used.

Is the hon. Member aware that the woodlands of the United Kingdom can provide 1,000,000 tons of pit timber per annum?

I understand that the matter is under the consideration of the Forestry Commissioners, and they are more concerned with this question than we are.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will give the cost per ton of coal raised for timber used in the mines; and will he say if this includes the use of steel supports or can he give a separate figure for both?

Particulars of the cost of timber and steel supports used in mines are not collected by my Department, but I am informed that during the September quarter, 1931, the total cost was about 8½d. per ton of coal disposable commercially. I am unable to give separate Figures in respect of steel supports.

Has the Mines Department expressed any opinion as to the desirability of extending the use of steel supports?

As far as I can gather, the opinion of the Department is strongly in favour of steel supports.

Is that opinion based mainly on the question of safety?

Yes.

Is the Department considering the question of making inquiries to see if the use of steel supports is growing in comparison with timber supports?

I do not know that we have that information, but I will inquire.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state whether it is his intention to call together the three organisations he has written to for their views on the working of Part I of the Mines Act of 1930 when he has considered their replies?

I would remind the hon. Member that I consulted five organisations on this matter. Detailed replies have now been received from four of these organisations, and the Mining Association have sent me a copy of a resolution adopted on 10th March appointing a committee to formulate for submission to the Central Council proposals for the amendment of the existing provisions of Part I of the Act. Apart from these replies, other representations have been laid before me by bodies interested in the working of the Act. I do not think it will be necessary to call the several organisations together as suggested in the question.

Can the Secretary for Mines tell us the names of the other three organisations who have been consulted independently of the Mining Association and the Miners' Federation?

The British Coal Exporters' Federation, the Coal Merchants' Federation, and the National Council of Coal Traders.

asked the Secretary of Mines whether he can give the total tonnage of orders for export coal during 1931 which has had to be refused by North-east Coast collieries, owing to their having exhausted their quota under the Coal Mines Act, 1930?

I am unable to give the information asked for, but my hon. Friend may like to know that during 1931, the total output of Northumberland and Durham was 7½ per cent. less than the permitted output.

Is not information such as this absolutely essential to prove whether the Act has been detrimental or beneficial to the coal industry?

That information would be at the disposal of the coal industry organisations who are working the Act, and it is for them to make a report upon this subject. We have not the information available relating to the particular figures.

I have taken the trouble myself to ascertain the tonnage of orders lost, orders amounting to thousands of tons for Northumberland and Durham, and why cannot the Secretary for Mines ascertain the figures?

The information I have is directly contrary to the statement made by the hon. Member.

Is it not a fact that we are really losing orders because of the tariff policy of the Government?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has yet received the views of the coal exporters in relation to their prospects of booking export orders under the existing provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1930; and what hope of improvement in the coal trade is suggested by them?

I have received the views of the British Coal Exporters' Federation with regard to the future of Part I of the Coal Mines Act, 1930, but that reply does not attempt to forecast the future course of the coal export trade.

Does the hon. Gentleman accept the view implied in this question and the previous question?

I am, not able to accept any view as yet. I have received representations in favour of Part I and against it. Those representations have to be weighed before any decision is come to, and I cannot commit myself to any decision in advance.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us when he is likely to finish weighing those representations?

I have not yet received all the replies. I assume that it will not be the wish of the House that a decision should be come to before all the representations have been received.

Will the Secretary for Mines consider the district position rather than the national one?

All these positions will be taken into consideration, and we shall have representations from the Central Council about the position in the districts.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is intended to continue the seven and a-half hours day for workers in coal mines after the temporary legislation in this connection expires at the end of June; and whether he will make a statement on this matter?

The Government regard this matter as primarily one for settlement by the industry itself, and they do not propose to come to any decision as to legislation until after the position has been discussed between the two sides in the industry. They have accordingly urged upon the representatives of the coal owners the desirability of their meeting representatives of the workmen at the earliest possible moment.

Have the Government any policy in this matter?

Obviously, on a question of hours, it is better that the two sides should first meet without the Government having come to a decision before they have had an opportunity of discussing the matter among themselves.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether the number of medical and dental officers is up to the establishment, as no provision is made for examinations for entry in the Estimates for 1932?

The establishment of Naval medical officers is not complete, there being a deficiency of approximately 60. The entrance examination is at present in abeyance, and entries are being made for short service by selection after interview. The number of dental officers is one short of establishment. When the number of vacancies does not justify the holding of a competitive examination, entries are made by selection after interview in the same manner as for the entry of medical Lacers for short service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will consult with the President of the Board of Trade on the desirability of making arrangements with the British Broadcasting Corporation for the time signal from the Rugby wireless transmission station to be circulated free of charge to the State in lieu of the provision of £520 in the Naval Estimates and a similar sum on the Board of Trade Vote?

Time signals issued from the British Broadcasting Corporation are only of value to ships in home waters, whereas the Rugby wireless transmission station has a world-wide range. As the Rugby station is controlled by the General Post Office, the expense of broadcasting the time signal must be borne by the State, whether it is charged either to the Post Office or Navy and Board of Trade Votes.

asked the Minister of Labour the reason for the delay in furnishing an answer to the points raised by the deputation from the Association of Ex-service Civil Servants on the 23rd July last concerning work returns and system of averages at the Claims and Record Office, Kew; and whether he will forward a reply to the points put forward by this association without further delay?

The points raised by this association have been receiving detailed examination along with other questions affecting the Claims and Record Office. There has inevitably been some delay, which I regret, in replying to the association, but I hope it may be possible shortly to do so.

Will the Minister consider the advisability of making a public reply, in order to save Members of this House considerable trouble and inconvenience?

Yes, Sir, certainly. If the question is repeated before the House rises, I shall hope to be able to give a detailed answer.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the diminution of work in the Ministry of Pensions, he will, in the interest of economy, revert to the practice of the years 1929 and 1930 and dispense with a Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry?

I would refer my hon. Friend to what I said on this subject in reply to questions by the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey) on the 16th November, and the hon. and gallant Member for South-East Leeds (Major Milner) on the 17th November last, copies of which I am sending him.