asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that owing to the default of Chile a number of British investors have lost their savings; and will he inquire of the Chilean Government what proposals they can make to honour their obligation?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies which were given to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Lewis) on the 17th of February, and to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Portsmouth (Sir B. Falle) on the 16th and 23rd of November last. I am fully aware of the hardship to British investors, but I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by addressing representations to the Chilean Government on this matter at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ascertain from the Brazilian authorities the date upon which the State of Rio de Janeiro will honour its obligations to British subjects who lent it their savings; and, if any negotiations are proceeding, will he request the British commercial secretary in Brazil to represent the unorganised British holders of the securities of the State of Rio de Janeiro, irrespective of any scheme being negotiated on behalf of bondholders by those loan houses who sold the bonds to British investors, in order that British investors may receive the protection of His Majesty's Government and that their interests may be separately represented and distinguished from the interests of those loan houses who also act for the Brazilian borrowing authority?

I understand that negotiations on this matter are in progress. As regards the second part of the question, the Council of Foreign Bondholders represent bondholders generally, and it has never been the practice, and in my view it would be undesirable, for negotiations between foreign Governments and their creditors on the London market to be conducted by His Majesty's Government. As regards the position of individual investors, it is, of course, customary to obtain the assent of individual bondholders to any arrangements proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the British small investors who have entrusted their savings to the Chilean Government not being represented in any negotiations with the Chilean Government except by those financial firms who were responsible for issuing the Chilean loans in Britain, he will arrange for His Majesty's commercial secretary in Chile to represent the small British investor and on his behalf watch any agreement, irrespective of the intervention of the issuing firms?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the second part of my answer to his immediately preceding question, which applies equally in this instance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will obtain from the Brazilian Government a declaration that its undertaking to deposit currency to cover its third default provides that the currency, pending distribution, shall not be used for any purpose other than that specified in the agreement of 14th March; or, failing such a declaration, will he, on behalf of British investors who do not accept the issuing houses as their representatives, nominate an official of the British Government to act as co-trustee, so that the currency deposited cannot be used without the co-trustee's sanction?

As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my Noble Friend to the answer I have just given to my hon. Friend, the Member for the City of Chester (Sir C. Cayzer). I would also draw the attention of my Noble Friend to the express undertaking given by the Brazilian Government in paragraphs 15 and 16 of the General Bond implementing the agreement published on the 14th of March.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that there is a very real danger that these funds may be put to some purpose for which they were certainly not intended?

If my Noble Friend will examine paragraphs 15 and 16 of the General Band, as I did this morning, he will see that they contain a very substantial assurance on that point.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the municipality of Buenos Aires persist in their refusal to sanction the request of the Anglo-Argentine Tramways Company, Limited, for an increase of fares; and whether he will now consider the advisability of again addressing official representations to the Argentine Government on behalf of the large number of British investors in this company?

I regret to state that no progress appears to have been made in this matter since the answer given to my Noble Friend, the Member for Perth (Lord Scone), on the 8th February. It is understood that proposals for forming a traffic combine are under consideration, but His Majesty's Government, while sympathising with any desire on the part of the municipality of Buenos Aires to solve the traffic problem by the coordination of the interests concerned, would view with great concern any consequent postponement of the immediate relief which is indispensable if the company is to continue its present efficient service under the terms of its concession. These terms, as was stated in the previous reply to which I have referred, have become quite inapplicable to present-day conditions, as was admitted when, in April, 1920, the necessary increase in fares was actually granted and continued until April, 1923. The company had increased their wages bill by £350,000 in return for this concession, and have maintained this ever since despite the with- drawal of the concession. His Majesty's Government will continue to take every opportunity of bringing the seriousness of the case to the notice of the Argentine Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet in a position to state the result of His Majesty's Ambassador's representations to the German Government regarding the detention in Germany of funds in transit to Britain from Budapest; and will he state what steps he has taken at Budapest to prevent British property being detained by another Government while in transit from Hungary to Britain?

Correspondence with the German Government is continuing on this subject, and for the present I should prefer not to make any public statement.

Do not His Majesty's Government desire that manufacturers should carry on trade in Central Europe, and, if His Majesty's Government do so desire, does not the right hon. Gentleman understand that we cannot export our goods if the German Government hold up payment for them?

I assure my hon. Friend that I am fully alive to the considerations which he mentioned, and I really have good grounds for saying that I prefer not to make any public statement.

May I make this suggestion to my right hon. Friend? Will he bring home to the German Government that their action is an example of trying to exert might over right?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any date has yet been announced for the withdrawal of the Japanese troops from Shanghai; and what are the reasons for their continued presence there after the withdrawal of the Chinese from the vicinity of the city?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. My hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that negotiations on the whole subject are now proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any statement as to what action was taken by British marines in connection with the recent rising in Salvador; and what is the present position in that country?

A party of marines from H.M.C.S. "Skeena" was landed on the British railway pier at Acajutla on the 24th of January, but, in view of the improvement in the general and local situation, their services were not required, and they were re-embarked. Recent reports from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at San Salvador show that the rising, which was of an unusually serious nature and might have entailed grave consequences, has been effectually subdued by the Government of Salvador, who remain in effective control of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the announcement by the new Manchurian Government that it intends to take over the Customs and Salt Administration; and whether the British Government are making any representations in view of the fact that various British loans are secured on the Chinese Customs and Salt Administration as a whole?

I have no official information of any such announcement, but the matter is being carefully watched and any representations that may appear desirable will be made in the appropriate quarter. According to my information, the Manchurian authorities, as well as the Chinese Government, are already fully alive to the importance attached by His Majesty's Government to the foreign loan obligations.

Will it be competent for the new Manchurian Government to undertake any such action without first being recognised by the Powers?

I think my hon. Friend will see that this question refers to the suggested action that might be taken in fact, rather than to the legality of the action. I have no official information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a draft agreement has yet been reached at Geneva in relation to the proposed scheme of conomic co-operation between the Danubian States; if a conference between the representatives of the Governments concerned will he convened to consider the scheme; and if His Majesty's Government will withhold approval of any plans for preferential trading under the scheme until after the Ottawa Conference?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not therefore arise. The subject of closer economic relations between Danubian, States, with a view to assisting their financial recovery is under the active consideration of the Powers principally interested, including ourselves. I can make no announcement at the moment, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that the work of the Ottawa Conference will not be prejudiced.

Will any conference be convened between the countries concerned before any decision is reached at Geneva?

The second part of my hon. Friend's question is

"if a conference between the representatives of the Government's concerned will be convened to consider the scheme."

The first part of my answer was to the effect that no such scheme has been reached. It, is possible that there may be discussions thereafter, but at die moment I can make no further statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many of the beet-sugar factories now operating in Great Britain produce raw and white sugar, respectively; what was the total output of raw and white sugar from British beet during the last season; and how the proportion of raw to white output for that season compares with 1926–27?

Of the 18 beet-sugar factories operating in Great Britain in the 1931–32 season, seven produced only raw sugar, nine produced only white sugar (exclusive of small quantities of after-product sugar of lower polarisations) and two produced both raw and white sugar. The total production of beet sugar in that season was 251,400 tons, including 139,300 tons of raw sugar and 112,100 tons of white sugar. The output of raw sugar in 1926–27 and 1931–32 represented 11.7 per cent. and 55.4 per cent. of the total quantities of sugar produced in those seasons respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what has been the value of sugar-beet seed imported from foreign sources during each year since the Beet Sugar Subsidy Act became law?

I regret I am unable to give my hon. Friend the information for which he asks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what has been the total amount, during the period in which the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act has been in operation, which has been received by the farmers in respect of their beet over and above their approximate expenses in producing these beets; and how this amount of profit to the farmers compares with the aggregate amounts allocated during the same period by the factories to profits, reserves, and depreciation?

The aggregate amounts received by growers for their beet crops, without allowing for the value of residuals, during the subsidy period up to and including the 1930–31 season exceeded by about £4,500,000 the approximate total production casts, calculated on the basis of figures from representative farms compiled annually by the Institute for Research in Agricultural Economics at Oxford University. The balance sheets of the beet sugar companies show that, up to 31st March, 1931, the sums placed to reserve, applied to depreciation, distributed as dividends and retained as un-appropriated balances amounted to about £6,500,000.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion that sum bears to the total value of the sugar produced?

I should prefer the hon. Member to put that question on the Order Paper.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can give an assurance that the question of evolving an Empire sugar policy will be on the agenda for the Ottawa Conference; and, if not, whether he will consider taking some other immediate action to evolve a more satisfactory sugar policy for Great Britain, in view of the experience which has now been gained from subsidising sugar-beet in this country and giving a limited measure of preference to sugar from Colonial sources?

In reply to the first part of the question I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, East (Miss Cazalet), on the 25th February. In reply to the second part, the whole question of sugar is now under consideration by His Majesty's Government and I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

When considering an Empire sugar policy will the right hon. and gallant Member also consider an Empire coal policy?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount of white sugar produced last year by the Cupar factory from British beet and from imported raw sugar, respectively; and what is the amount of loan money guaranteed under the Trade Facilities Acts outstanding in respect of this factory?

The amount of white sugar produced from British beet during the last manufacturing season by the Cupar factory was 545 tons 6 cwts. I regret I cannot give the information desired with respect to the amount produced from imported raw sugar. As regards the last part of the question a guaranteed loan of £865,000, which is not allocated to particular factories, was advanced under the Trade Facilities Acts to the Second Anglo-Scottish Beet-Sugar Corporation Limited for the erection of three beet-sugar factories including Cupar, and of this amount £123,600 has been repaid by the Company.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of cases of electrical interference with broadcast receivers by tramways and trolley-omnibuses, by oscillation, and by other electrical devices investigated by his Department during the last year, and the number of remedies effected in each case?

As the reply includes a number of statistics I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of fixing a retiring age for Judges of the High Court and courts of summary jurisdiction?

This question has often been considered. I think that the better course is to continue to rely on Judges of the High Court retiring before infirmity affects the efficient discharge of their duties. I also think it undesirable to fix a retiring age for justices of the peace, many of whom can usefully perform part of their duties after they have voluntarily ceased to sit in courts of summary jurisdiction.

asked the Prime Minister if it is proposed that selected business men should accompany Ministers to Ottawa to facilitate the consideration of what will be mainly commercial and economic issues needing expert guidance?

This matter is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the question of an Empire monetary policy will be one of the subjects to be discussed at Ottawa?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Islington East (Miss Cazalet) on the 25th February.

asked the Attorney-General whether, as a result of the disclosures in a recent case in the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice, he will, in order to prevent fraud upon the public, take steps to make all persons proved to be party to the publication of fictitious markings of Stock Exchange transactions liable for a criminal offence within the scope of the Larceny Acts?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 16th March to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. D. Grenfell), in reply to a similar question, to which there is nothing I can add.

asked the Attorney-General if he is prepared to initiate some State-aided scheme whereby litigation could be made cheaper for those people with incomes of less than £500 per annum?

I do not consider that the scheme suggested by the hon. and gallant Member is desirable or practicable.

Is the Solicitor-General aware that the high costs of litigation, particularly in regard to divorce proceedings, are making it almost impossible for poor people with incomes under £500 to seek their rights in the courts of the country?

There is already in existence a procedure for dealing with the professional costs of poor persons. The question of the hon. Member seeks to extend that procedure.

asked the Attorney-General if he is prepared to take steps to abolish all voluntary benches of magistrates and substitute stipendiary magistrates, similar to those in the Metropolitan area?

No, Sir, I am not prepared to advise the Government to take the steps proposed.

asked the Minister of Health whether a decision has been arrived at with regard to the resumption of the work of the Departmental Committee on Thames Floods Prevention; whether it is expected that the committee will resume its sitting and whether he will urge the committee to expedite its deliberations and issue a report at any early date?

The question of the resumption of the sittings of this Departmental Committee is under consideration and I cannot at the moment add anything to the reply given to my hon. Friend on the 3rd March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what will be the cost of building the new capital of Northern Rhodesia; and bow the money required is to be provided?

It is proposed to spend on a reduced programme, providing for the removal of certain departments only, approximately £100,000 in addition to £8,000 already spent. Against this has to be set the cost of new quarters and offices which would otherwise have to be built in Livingstone. The money will be provided from surplus balances or loan funds of Northern Rhodesia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Chinese crew of the "Sheaf Lance," which was recently signed on at Cardiff, were asked to submit to a language test; and whether he will state how many of them were unable to speak or to understand the English language?

The Chinese crew engaged in January for the "Sheaf Lance" were subjected to a language test, and each man was found to have a sufficient knowledge of the English language to understand the necessary orders which might be given to him in the course of his duties.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say where the language test was applied? These men were picked up at Rotterdam and brought to Barry. Was the language test applied at Barry?

In, the English port.

Would the hon. Member be surprised to hear that there is no record of it?

Can the hon. Member say whether it was the language of the second officer which was known by the men? When is the Board of Trade going to take a, stand for British seamen on board British ships instead of Chinese?

I can give the hon. Member no information on the first part of his question. As regards the second part, he must be aware of the reactions on British seamen of taking that step?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is in a position to make a further statement in respect of the submarine M2?

His Majesty's Ship "Tedworth" resumed operations on the wreck on 5th March. The services of Mr. E. F. Cox have been accepted in an advisory capacity until the salvage is successfully completed. Since my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton on the 10th February, diving operations have brought to light the: following additional facts: The hatch leading from inside the hangar into the submarine is wide open and one body was jambed inside the hangar. This body has been landed at Portland, where an inquest is being held to-day (Monday). It must be appreciated that the strong tides and the depth of water render diving operations extremely difficult, and only possible during the periods of slack water. In addition, owing to the exposed position, it is only possible to moor His Majesty's Ship "Tedworth" over the wreck in calm weather. As a result, it has only been possible to carry out approximately 33 hours of actual diving between the 5th and the 20th of March inclusive. Work will proceed on every possible occasion, but progress will of necessity be slow due to the reasons already stated. Sufficient evidence as to the exact cause of the loss of the vessel has not yet been obtained.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether in view of recent developments in providing children with facilities for obtaining the necessary technical knowledge for entering certain industrial trades, he will consider taking the necessary steps to give more children a knowledge of agriculture in order to provide the encouragement necessary to persuade them to adopt agricultural careers?

The provision of technical agricultural education, analogous to technical education for industry of the type to which the hon. Member presumably refers, is within the purview of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture. But the Board of Education are fully alive to the importance of securing that courses of instruction in elementary and secondary schools in rural districts are specially suited to agricultural conditions, and they have for some time been encouraging the efforts made by county education authorities and governing bodies in this direction.

Is not the best means of keeping boys on the land for the Government to continue their efforts to make agriculture more prosperous, and so enable the farmer to pay the agricultural worker a better wage?

That is just what the Government are doing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider drawing the attention of the magistrates concerned to the practice of other courts in dispensing with recognisances in appeal cases, and recommending that they should adopt a similar policy in respect of police court charges, especially in view of the fact that the funishing of such recognisances is beyond the power of the poorer defendants?

I am not quite sure what other courts the question refers to, but as regards appeals in criminal cases from Courts of Summary Jurisdiction to Courts of Quarter Sessions, I am advised that the recognisance should be fixed in such a stun as will cover the reasonable costs of the respondent in supporting the decision appealed against and will ensure the appeal being duly proceeded with.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the very serious hardship that this imposes on poor people? I understand that in other courts appeals are permitted without recognisances, whereas in these police courts very big sums are required.

It is statutory under the Summary Jurisdiction Act of 1879. I have no other power.

Will my right hon. Friend look into the matter, when he will see that the sum of £50 is absolutely prohibitive before there is an appeal against a decision?

Yes, I have looked into the matter, and I may have occasion to ask the House to appoint a Select Committee to go into it. I realise that there is a real grievance.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will now review the sentence of six months' imprisonment passed upon Mr. de Montalk?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether consideration has been given to the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Licensing (England and Wales) that the law should be amended so as to permit the sale by off-licence holders of spirits in quantities of one reputed pint; and whether it is the intention to give effect to this recommendation?

The recommendations of the Royal Commission will require to be considered as a whole, and there has not yet been time for the Government to give their report adequate consideration.

(for Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLE) asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will issue instructions that no Russian timber is to be used in any contracts governed by his Department?

I am at present considering the extent to which Russian and other foreign timber is used in Office of Works contracts, in connection with proposals which would have the effect of limiting as far as possible the soft wood used, to Empire products.

(for Mr. NEIL MACLEAN) asked the Home Secretary what was the total sum paid out under the Various Industries (Silicosis) Scheme since the inception of the scheme for England and Wales and for Scotland, respectively?

I regret that separate figures as to the compensation paid under the Various Industries and Metal Grinding Industries Schemes, which are identical except as regards the processes to which they apply, are not available, but the total compensation paid under these two schemes during 1929 and 1930 was £46,783. I have no information as to the proportion paid in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively. The figures for 1931 are not yet available.

(for Mr. MACLEAN) asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the total amounts collected in levies in connection with the Sandstone Industry (Silicosis) Scheme, 1929, since the commencement of the scheme; the total amount paid out in compensation since the commencement of the scheme; the total cost of administration, including the expenses incurred in collecting the levies and paying out compensation, the sums paid to the medical board, and the sums paid in connection with the local joint committees set up to determine claims; and what balance, if any, is at present in the fund?

As the answer is long and contains a number of figures, will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

(for Mr. MACLEAN) asked the Home Secretary what steps, if any, are being taken by the Home Office to have plant installed by the employers to prevent silicosis?

Much has been and is being done in this direction. Regulations to prevent silicosis have been made under the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, for a number of industries, including the manufacture of silica bricks, the manufacture of cutlery and edge tools, and the grinding of metals and cleaning of castings, and a supplementary Code of Regulations for the pottery industry has recently been agreed with the industry, and will be brought into force very shortly. All these regulations include requirements involving the installation of plant to prevent inhalation of dust. Further, it is the general practice of the inspectors under section 74 of the Act to require the provision of exhaust ventilation in any case where the workers are exposed to this risk. The prevention of silicosis in mines and quarries is a matter for the Mines Department?

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the Mines Department to see that precautionary measures similar to those which have been applied in South Africa are applied in connection with the very large number of people affected by this disease in this country?

That question ought to be addressed to the Mines Department. I am sure that no influence is needed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in South Africa they have gone very much further in investigating and dealing with this disease that we have gone here; and that it is desirable therefore to urge upon the Mines Department the importance of this matter?

That also is a question which ought to be addressed to the Mines Department.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in South Africa they have practically eliminated this disease from the mines?

I am not responsible for the mines. This is a matter for the Mines Department.

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to make a statement regarding recent discussions on rubber restrictions?

The following official communiqué was issued on Saturday night:

"The British and Netherlands Governments in association with representatives of rubber growers in British and Dutch overseas territories have been engaged in negotiations, in order to see whether a practicable scheme for the improvement of the rubber situation could be devised. In the course of these negotiations the British and Netherlands Governments have consulted the Governments of Ceylon, Malaya and the Netherlands Indies. After a careful review of the situation, the two Governments have been forced to the conclusion that under present conditions it is impossible to frame and operate an international scheme which would guarantee the effective regulation of the production or export of rubber."

This communiqué was issued at a time carefully chosen as being in the best interest of the industry and most convenient to market conditions. I do not think that within the limits of a Parliamentary answer I can add materially to the above statement. During the discussions the whole position was most carefully reviewed, in order to test the practicability of any scheme of restriction. The conclusion was reached that the practical difficulties were such as to preclude the adoption, with any reasonable prospect of success, of any comprehensive and effective scheme. This conclusion, which I am satisfied was inevitable in all the circumstances, has been reluctantly accepted by both the Governments concerned. I should like to add that I feel deeply indebted to the very experienced representatives of the rubber growing industry, who have been associated with the Government throughout the negotiations. Without their knowledge, experience and continuous work, it would have been impossible to undertake the comprehensive review of the industry and its circumstances which was necessary.