asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will give the House the latest information he has as to the political situation in India?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will make a statement in regard to the political situation in India?

I am circulating a statement covering the events of the past week.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Franchise Committee will make an Interim Report on its labours; and, if so, when that Report will be published?

I understand that the Committee is now engaged on a report, and that it is hoped to complete it by the end of April. I am not in a position to indicate a date for publication.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he will get the report?

I should say some time in May.

Will their report commit this House definitely to a system of indirect elections?

None of these reports will commit this House to anything.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that in certain cases not only are foreign steamship lines running to India subsidised by their Governments but also Suez Canal dues are paid for them; and, in view of this type of competition and the Government's enjoinder to buy British, will he consider taking steps to restrict concession passages granted to British Government officials in India to British ships?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnstaple (Sir B. Peto) on the 23rd November, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the whole cost of the administration of Aden is borne by the Indian taxpayer; and whether he will submit proposals that this territory he transferred to the Colonial administration and the administration costs borne by Great Britain?

The cost of the internal civil administration of Aden Town and Settlement is borne by Indian revenues; the military and political charges fall on Imperial revenues, with a contribution from Indian revenues of one-third of such charges, subject to a maximum of £150,000 a year. As regards the second part of the question, the present is not a suitable time for discussing the future of Aden.

asked the Secretary of State for India, if he will state the number of rebels that have been captured in Burma since 1st January, 1932, and the number that it is estimated are still active in opposition to the Government?

I regret that I have not the information for which the hon. Member asks. It is obviously difficult to estimate the number of rebels still to be accounted for.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will inform the House as to the present situation concerning the disturbances in Burma?

During the week ended the 9th April Government forces obtained contact with the gangs led by Myat Aung and Tun Myat on several occasions, inflicting casualties and capturing firearms and large quantities of supplies. Three sepoys were slightly wounded in one engagement.

asked the Secretary of State for India, for what reasons it is proposed to recruit British members of the Civil Service in Bengal from the British Army; and whether he will see that Indians with the necessary qualifications for the vacant posts are given the preference?

Proposals for the replacement by officers of the Indian Army or other Government Services of five senior European District officers in Bengal who have been the victims of the terrorist movement are at present under consideration by the Government of India, but no recommendations on the subject from that Government have yet reached me.

Would not this be an appropriate moment to appoint Indians to these vacancies?

I cannot give an opinion until I have seen the recommendations of the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for India what organisation was responsible for the import of Pathan strike-breakers into the docks at Bombay; how many people have been injured, including police officers, since the Pathans were introduced; and whether any action has been taken to settle the dispute between the Hindu strikers and their employers?

I have no information on this incident beyond what has appeared in the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has approved the Bill introduced into the Legislative Assembly for the establishment of a medical council in India, and for the maintenance of a British-Indian medical register; whether he is assured that a standard of qualification will be made and maintained which will enable such qualification to be recognised by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom; and whether medical practice both in India and in the United Kingdom and other parts of the British Empire will be freely open to medical practitioners registered by either medical council?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. There is, I think, good reason to hope that the standard of the Indian medical qualifications recognised by the Indian Medical Council will be such as will enable them to be recognised also by the General Medical Council here. As regards the last part the present Bill does not deal directly with the right to practise in India.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any assurance from the General Medical Council here that they will approve of the standard set up by this Bill, in which case that would settle the point in question?

I have had no such assurance.

Is it possible to get some such assurance before this Bill is passed; otherwise, Indian medical men qualifying in India will be debarred from practising in different parts of the Empire?

I could not answer that question without further consideration.

The right hon. Gentleman says that he has approved the Bill. Had he considered that Measure before he gave it his approval, or is it only a temporary, provisional approval?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has made any representations to the Italian Government regarding the tone of the references to British rule in Malta in a speech made in Malta recently by Signor Giunta, an Under-Secretary of State in the Italian Government?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to the Italian Government regarding the nature of the references in the speech recently made in Malta by Signor Giunta, an Italian Under-Secretary of State, about British policy in Malta and, in particular, the policy of using the Maltese rather than the Italian language in the schools and law courts?

The Italian Government, whose attention was drawn to the alleged statements by Signor Giunta, have assured His Majesty's Government that the rumours attributing to this gentleman declarations of a political nature have no foundation.

At whose invitation did this Senator from Rome give a lecture on the British Empire?

No one lectured on the British Empire. The address was given to a private gathering at a club of Italians.

Who issued the invitation?

I shall require notice of that question.

Is this not an intolerable interference on the part of a friendly Power with the administration of a British Colony?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will read my answer he will see that the Italian Government have denied that the declaration was made and His Majesty's Government, of course, accept that denial.

Has the Under-Secretary any information as to the people who were present on this occa- sion and particularly was the gentleman who rejoices in the name of Mifsud present?

Those who were present were, I understand, Italians and not Maltese.

Were there Maltese present?

In view of the fact that it is admitted that the lecture was given, will the Under-Secretary draw the attention of the Italian Government to the fact that it was incidents of this sort that caused all the trouble in Malta?

The Italian Government took action without waiting for representations and made a statement. Therefore, there is nothing more to say.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any statement on British policy in regard to the Four-Power Conference on the Danubian States problem?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is able to make any statement on the proposed economic rapprochement between the Danubian countries and the possibilities of a Customs union?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the proceedings of the Four-Power Conference on the Danubian scheme; and if and when further meetings are contemplated?

I would refer hon. Members to the final communique issued by the Four-Power Conference in which the participating Governments agreed to address to each other as soon as possible considered statements of their views on the points reserved and on the best mode of further advance. Pending this exchange of views I would prefer to make no statement on this subject.

When does the hon. Gentleman hope that some conclusion will be arrived at and when will he be able to make a further statement to the House?

I cannot say at present.

Before the Government undertake any commitments in this matter, will there be an opportunity for discussing that question in this House?

There is no question of commitments at this stage.

Will these discussions be renewed at Geneva?

The hon. Gentleman will see that each of the Governments is going to make a statement to the other Governments.

When the right hon. Gentleman says that there is no question of financial commitments, does he mean that there is no question of financial commitments and guarantees?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman must not understand any more than I said.

The hon. Gentleman said that we should have no commitments. Does he mean that there will be no financial guarantees?

Really, the hon. and gallant Gentleman must not take more than I said. What I said was that the next stage was that the four considered statements will be exchanged.

Is it not a fact that the conference has hopelessly broken down?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been made to the League of Nations as to the treatment of the Jewish minority in Rumania at Jassy; and whether any steps are to be taken to improve matters of this sort in Rumania?

The right hon. Gentleman presumably refers to an incident at Jassy on the 22nd and 23rd March, when a collision occurred between a number of students and the police and military. I am not aware that any complaints have been addressed to the League of Nations in respect of this incident. According to my present information, in spite of the fact that a synagogue appears to have been wrecked in the course of the disturbances, the conflict in question does not appear to have been due to anti-Semitism, but to other causes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the amount of claims against insurance companies for damage in the devastated Chinese area of Shanghai, and in order to alleviate the burden upon British insurance companies which are involved, he will make representations to the combatants that they should meet some of the liability entailed by military action?

Both the Chinese and Japanese Governments have already been informed that His Majesty's Government must hold each side responsible for any loss to British life and property that may be caused by their respective armed forces. If any claims against either Government are put forward by interested parties, the question of their support by His Majesty's Government will, of course, receive careful consideration.

Is it intended to set up an international committee, composed of representatives of those nations who are represented in the Settlement at Shanghai, to consider these matters?

I do not think that at this stage that is the case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement in regard to the present position of the Sino-Japanese negotiations at Shanghai?

These negotiations are still continuing, but I regret that I cannot at present add anything to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Lewis) on Tuesday last.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the reasons given by the representatives of the Soviet Government for declining to make any proposal with regard to the repayment of bank balances of British subjects in the Russian-English Bank at Petrograd and elsewhere which were appropriated by the Soviet Government?

As indicated in the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend on the 2nd February, no detailed proposals for the settlement of any class of claims were considered during the negotiations last year. No statement was, therefore, made by the Soviet representatives on the point raised by my hon. Friend.

Surely, after all these months and years of negotiation, the Soviet Government must have indicated their attitude towards the claims of British citizens whose private property was taken?

My hon. Friend will be aware that the attitude of the Soviet Government was made clear by their decrees of 1917 and 1918.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the failure of the Russian Soviet Government to submit any proposals with reference to the money and property of British nationals appropriated without compensation, steps will be taken to terminate the trade agreement and impose a duty on all Russian goods and products entering this country for the establishment of a fund from which compensation can be paid to British creditors?

I have every sympathy with my hon. Friend's anxiety that the claims of British subjects against Russia should be met, but I do not think that his suggestion offers a satisfactory solution of the difficulty.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Foreign Secretary invited me to suggest some means by which compensation would be made to British citizens who have had their property taken? What is the objection to the suggestion made in the question, especially as the British market is essential for any success of the Five Years Plan?

That is perfectly true, and we are very much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for making the suggestion, but I do not think that it is practicable. For one thing, we want revenue from Russian goods for general State purposes.

Is any progress being made with the negotiations with the Russian Government which have gone on for so long?

I should be very much obliged if the hon. Member would put that question to the Foreign Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the geographical position of Bulgaria, and of the fact that its position as an agricultural country has resulted in great impoverishment, he will urge, at the Four-Power Conference, the desirability of including Bulgaria in the Danubian bloc of countries to which it is proposed to bring financial help?

In any further discussions regarding preferential tariffs between the Danubian States the position of Bulgaria will no doubt be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has considered the disarmament proposals put before the Disarmament Conference on behalf of the organised bodies supporting the League of Nations by Viscount Cecil; and whether the Government has decided to support those proposals and, if not, if he will give the reasons?

Yes, Sir. The hon. Member will observe that the proposals tabled by the United Kingdom Delegation at Geneva coincide in more than one respect with the suggestions made by Lord Cecil in his speech on the 6th February, last. Any further suggestions made on behalf of these societies will continue to receive, during the discussions at Geneva, the full consideration from His Majesty's Government which they deserve, but decisions as to many issues involved in the work lying ahead of the Disarmament Conference must necessarily depend to a great extent upon the progress made at Geneva, and I do not think that it would be desirable or proper at this particular moment to make any comprehensive statement as to policy in reply to a question in this House.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when it is likely that he will be able to make that statement?

That, of course, must depend on the progress of the conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the policy of His Majesty's Government in connection with the proposal to restrict budgetary expenditure on armaments has been in any way modified or abandoned since the statement made on behalf of the British Government by Viscount Cecil to the Preparatory Commission of the Disarmament Conference?

There has been no abandonment of the policy of His Majesty's Government as enunciated by Lord Cecil; but the practical means of giving effect to this form of limitation have been found not to be free of difficulties. These difficulties are engaging the close attention of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with what purpose British troops are engaged in military operations in Kurdistan; and whether he will make a statement on their progress?

I have been asked to reply. As regards the reason for the operations in progress, I can add nothing to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies returned last Wednesday to the hon. and gallant Member for the King's Norton Division (Major Thomas), but I wish to make it clear that the operations are being conducted by the Iraqi Army, and that the only British forces engaged are the Royal Air Force machines which are co-operating with the Iraqi Army and Air Force. I understand that satisfactory progress is being made.

Are the British Air Force operations being carried on at our cost, or at the cost of the Iraqi Government, as regards any damage to planes, and so on?

Any question as to cost should be put down.

Have there been any casualties?

That question, also, had better be put down.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will request His Majesty's commercial representative in Stockholm to be present at and to report upon all negotiations in Sweden respecting the assets of the Swedish Match Company, so that the interests of the number of unorganised British small investors in Swedish Match securities may be defended as distinct from the American interests in Swedish Match documents and from those of the bond-and share-selling firms who marketed Kreuger and Toll securities in Britain?

The negotiations now taking place in Sweden with regard to the affairs of Messrs. Kreuger and Toll and certain affiliated companies, including the Swedish Match Company, are of a private nature between the various interests concerned, and it would not, therefore, be possible for the Commercial Secretary to His Majesty's Legation at Stockholm to attend them. I understand, however, from the Press that a provisional committee has been formed to represent the interests of British investors in the Kreuger group of companies. Meanwhile, His Majesty's Minister at Stockholm is closely watching the course of events, and is keeping in touch with the representatives of the British interests concerned who are now in Stockholm.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can give the premiums received by the Export Credits Guarantee Department for each of the years 1929, 1930, and 1931, separately, for underwriting, respectively, Russian risks, risks for goods supplied to the British Empire, and risks for goods supplied to other countries; what percentages of the premiums received in each of the three years, separately, and for each geographical group, separately, have been absorbed by payments of claims and by expenses; and what percentage is still necessary to provide for outstanding claims or claims which are likely to arise on unexpired liability?

The premiums, losses, etc., under this scheme since its inception in 1926 are shown in the annual volume of Trading Accounts, to which I would refer my hon. Friend. The detailed information for which he asks is not published, and I do not think it would be desirable to give it. I may say, however, that the premium income under this scheme more than covers the losses.

If the income more than covers the losses, what happens to the balance? Does my hon. Friend keep it?

My hon. and gallant Friend is, surely, aware that that is not the case.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if His Majesty's Government will be directly associated with the organisation of the British Industrial Exhibition at Copenhagen in September next; and if any decision has yet been reached on the measure of support to be given to this project?

As my hon. Friend may be aware, the British Exhibition to be held in Copenhagen, commencing on 24th September, comprises an Industrial Exhibition and an Industrial Art Exhibition to be held simultaneously. While, apart from certain small incidental expenses, His Majesty's Government are incurring no financial commitment, both exhibitions have received their full approval and support. The Federation of British Industries are acting as the official agents in this country for the industrial Exhibition, and are taking steps to ensure that the exhibition receives the support of British commercial and industrial interests, while my Department is actively co-operating in the selection and assembly of suitable exhibits for the Industrial Art Exhibition.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by how much per cent. the average price of United Kingdom imports from 1st January to 1st April, 1932, was below that during 1913; by how much per cent. the average price of United Kingdom exports from 1st January to 1st April, 1932, was above that during 1913; and, as our average export price was higher in January to April, 1932, than during 1913, notwithstanding the price of imported materials being less in 1932 than in 1913, will lie specify, in the Board of Trade Journal, for the guidance of the export trades, the classes of goods in which this difference has caused: diminution of United Kingdom exports?

The usual calculations relative to the volume and average values of imports and exports during the first quarter of the present year will not be available until later in the month when the particulars will be published in the Board of Trade Journal. These will afford my hon. Friend comparisons of the volumes and average values with the corresponding figures for earlier years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that the imports of foreign tea have, comparing 1921 with 1931, increased by 131 per cent., and that British tea increased in the same period by only 9 per cent., he will impose a preferential tariff to safeguard the British tea industry?

I am unable to anticipate the Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any duties which may be imposed by the forthcoming Budget will be collected on goods which are at present free of any Customs duty but which are now lying in a bonded warehouse?

I am afraid that I can not anticipate the Budget statement.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that consequent upon the uncertainty prevailing unnecessary withdrawals are at present being made of goods which are not dutiable but which may be dutiable in future, and that it is causing dislocation and inconvenience to the authorities who control bonded warehouses, and also causing serious loss as well?

I think that a question on that point has already been put to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and answered. I understand that no alteration in the existing practice is contemplated. The existing practice is well understood.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has yet received any recommendations from the Import Duties Advisory Committee?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has just received recommendations which are now under his consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is prepared to remove the embargo against the import of Canadian potatoes, in view of the fact that the shortness of supplies in Great Britain is forcing up prices to the consumer while in Canada there is a surplus which could be sold in this country at prices below those now prevailing?

The embargo on imports of potatoes from countries where the Colorado beetle is prevalent is imposed solely for sanitary reasons, and its enforcement cannot be made to depend upon seasonal fluctuations of supplies.

Is the Minister satisfied that there are plentiful supplies of potatoes on the British market at the present time?

I have-not heard of any undue shortage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the market price per cwt. of new Spanish potatoes on 31st March, 1931, and on 31st March, 1932; what was the amount of the duty on the later date; and what was the effect on the retail price?

According to the weekly returns furnished by the Ministry's market reporters, the average prices per cwt. of new Spanish potatoes for the week ended 1st April, 1931, for first and second quality, were 21s. 1d. and 19s. 7d. respectively, and for the week ended 30th March, 1932, 25s. 5d. and 23s. 6d. The duty on imported new potatoes during the period 1st to 31st March, 1932, was 9s. 4d. per cwt., but I am unable to estimate the effect of the duty on wholesale or retail prices.

asked the Postmaster-General the total cost of installing the automatic system in telephone exchanges to date, and the estimated saving to the Post Office as a result of the installation of the automatic exchanges?

The capital cost of accommodation and apparatus for automatic exchanges provided up to 31st March, 1932, is approximately 22¾ million pounds. It is not practicable to estimate the resulting savings with accuracy, but it may be taken that the operating savings will more than cover the additional plant charges.

asked the Postmaster-General what reply he has returned to the representation from the parish of Stiffkey, Norfolk, for improved postal facilities?

I am arranging to meet the parish council's request for an additional letter box.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that this is not the only complaint of this kind; and is it necessary for other villages to get the same amount of publicity as Stiffkey before they can get their postal facilities?

asked the Postmaster-General the number of legal actions in which the Post Office Savings Bank has been involved, either as plaintiff or defendant, during each of the last five years?

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

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the practice of the Post Office, when inviting tenders for cable wire, to stipulate that it must be of British manufacture; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of imposing some such stipulation?

The invitations require the tenderer to state the origin of the wire and all current contracts provide that the wire used shall be British. I cannot pledge myself to confine purchases to British wire irrespective of price, but I do not anticipate that any occasion would arise for varying the policy hitherto adopted by the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General if the mail contract for the service of mails to the island of Alderney is an old one; what is the amount of the subsidy paid; and if the service can be improved in the near future?

The current contract for the Alderney service commenced on 1st October, 1931. The annual payment, which covers also the service to Sark, is £1,300. The service is the best that I think could be arranged in all the circumstances.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take powers to grant licences for the erection and operation of wireless transmitting stations for broadcasting purposes in the island of Sark and adjacent islands, in view of the fact that the Wireless Telegraphy Act does not apply to those islands?

The Wireless Telegraphy Acts apply to Sark and the adjacent islands; and it is not necessary to obtain further powers.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will cause a committee of inquiry to be set up to inquire into the subsidy now being paid to the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate, and to advise as to whether in future years any subsidy for opera should be paid; and, if so, to whom it should be paid?

The agreement between the Postmaster-General and the British Broadcasting Corporation, which provides for the payment of the opera subsidy, and which was laid before Parliament in June, 1931, was for a term of years as therein provided, and an inquiry at the present time, such as my hon. Friend suggests, would not appear to be of any practical advantage.

Is the Postmaster-General aware that the subsidy is being used, not for the presentation of fresh operas, but for paying off losses incurred by the syndicate before the subsidy was granted?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put that question down.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has yet received a reply from the British Broadcasting Corporation to his communication on the subject of the suggested curtailment by the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate of the programme of opera performances?

I understand that a season of four weeks Wagnerian Opera will be given by the Grand Opera Syndicate at Covent Garden from Monday, 9th May, to Friday, 3rd June, inclusive.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will recommend that steps be taken to ensure that county court judges should draw up an approximate time-table for the list of cases each day, in order to avoid delay caused through litigants, counsel, solicitors, and witnesses having to be present during the hearing of other cases?

I do not consider the suggestion to be a practicable one. The hon. Member will be aware how often estimates of the probable length of a case are proved to be inaccurate; but however inaccurate the forecast may have been the litigant whose case is before the Court is entitled to have it fully presented. To keep to any time-table would therefore be impossible. Much, however, can be done by Judges and Registrars, if solicitors co-operate by giving timely notice of the settlement of cases and of the approximate length of those to be tried; and I am satisfied that, in most courts, all that is practicable in this direction is being done.

Does not the hon. and learned Gentleman agree with me that it is better to waste occasionally a little of the learned Judges' time than to waste habitually and daily the time of all these other parties?

I think there is a good deal in what the hon. Member says, but to achieve that purpose would involve an enormous increase in the staff of Judges.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are taken by authorities other than the Fishmongers' Company to safeguard consumers against the dangers of imported polluted shellfish other than oysters.

Sanitary authorities have general powers for the inspection and seizure of unwholesome food, and these are put into operation from time to time to prevent the sale of shellfish which appear to be polluted.

Is the Ministry paying attention to the recommendation of the Committee that all foreign shellfish should be prohibited from importation unless it is cleansed at the port of arrival?

The hon. Member will be aware that that is only one of the recommendations of the Committee. There are 15 major ones and the report was only published in January.

Is the hon. Gentleman of opinion that the passing of the Public Health (Cleansing of Shellfish) Bill will be a step forward in this respect?

asked the Minister of Health what steps are taken to require that shellfish imported from the Irish Free State shall be cleansed and sterilised before being landed here so as to prevent their being a possible cause of typhoid if used for human consumption?

No special regulations have been made by my Department with regard to imported shellfish, but the Irish Free State Government have made regulations prohibiting the distribution for sale for human consumption of shellfish taken from layings in a defined area in the counties of Louth and Meath, unless the shellfish have been washed and re-laid. My right hon. Friend is not aware that any similar regulations have been made applying to other layings in the Irish Free State.

Has the hon. Gentleman received any complaints as to the quality of shellfish received from the Irish Free State?

No representations have been made at the moment except those to which I have referred.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Fisheries Committee drew attention to this danger from the Irish Free State?

I am aware of that, but my hon. Friend is perhaps also aware that the Fishmongers Company have an arrangement with the Irish Free State under which all shellfish is consigned labelled in such way as to show the source from which the fish have been derived.

asked the Prime Minister whether it will be provided in the terms of reference to the Royal Commission which the Government purpose to set up to inquire into the law relating to lotteries, etc., that it is desirable that a report on the matter shall be presented within a period not exceeding four months so that the existing anomalies of the law relating to lotteries may be remedied without delay; and whether the Government has definitely decided that, pending the report of the Royal Commission, no facilities are to be given for the further stages of the Lotteries Bill, ordered by the House of Commons to be brought in on the 22nd March?

The terms of reference of the Royal Commission are under consideration. It would be impracticable to suggest any time limit within which the Commission are to report but I have no doubt that they will endeavour to expedite their inquiry so far as the complexity of the issues involved will permit. It would be within the discretion of the Commission to submit interim reports should they consider it expedient to do so. Pending the receipt of their report it would be inappropriate I think for legislation to proceed on one aspect of the problem which they are to investigate.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is on the question of lotteries and sweepstakes that the public is primarily interested, and that is bringing the law into disrepute, and will he request the Royal Commission to report on this matter in the first instance, as it has no relation to street betting and the totalisator whatever?

I think, if the hon. Gentleman looks into the details of the problem, he will find that he cannot separate one section of betting from another.

Is it not a fact that the introduction of the Bill by the hon. Gentleman was, in fact, a sort of lottery itself, and that he has lost?

Is it not a fact that certain Members' mathematical education is defective, and they think that a large majority in favour of a Bill signifies disapproval of its contents by the House?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he is in a position to state the nature of the reply sent to the Irish Free State Government on the questions of land purchase annuities and other treaty obligations?

With the permission of the House I will answer with this question the Private Notice question which was put to me by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition as arranged on last Wednesday. The Government have now examined, and have sent a reply to, the despatch received from the Irish Free State Government last week. In view of the great importance of these communications, the Government have decided that their text should be made immediately available to the House, and hon. Members will find copies ready in the Votes Office when I sit down. I will not, therefore, attempt to summarise the correspondence. I will only say that in their reply to Mr. de Valera the Government have reaffirmed in unmistakable language that they stand absolutely by the Treaty Settlement.

May I give the right hon. Gentleman notice that, when we have considered the document which has been issued to-day, it may be that we shall require to ask for time to debate the matter, and we shall do so through the usual channels if we so desire.

I think that is very reasonable, and we shall do everything we can to facilitate it.

Is it the considered view of the Government that this treaty, having once been entered into between the two nations, is incapable of review and must stand for all time?

If the hon. Member will see the White Paper which is now available, he will see the Government answer to that.

I am well aware that the White Paper will be there. I understood the right hon. Gentleman promised that he would make a statement to-day, and I thought it would be made in the ordinary way and that we should have an opportunity of question and answer. By the method the right hon. Gentleman is taking the House is being denied—

rose—

I am putting it to you, Sir, as a point of Order.

The hon. Member did not say so.

I hoped that I would have achieved my purpose by the ordinary method of question and answer across the Floor. I put it to you, Sir, that it is the practice of the House when the Minister has promised to make a statement to the House, that that statement is made in full at the end of Question Time and that there is certainly opportunity for the House, by extended question and answer, to get to know the mind of the Government on the question. I ask you, Sir, whether it is in order for the right hon. Gentleman to make a statement which refers to a White Paper which we cannot see until after Question Time and postpones the possibilities of the House discussing this question until some date not yet fixed?

There is no practice of the House in this connection. What is done is entirely dependent upon the particular question under discussion and the answer that the right hon. Gentleman has given. The right hon. Gentleman is perfectly in order in what he has said.

Is the declaration which the right hon. Gentleman has just made, that there will be no departure from the Treaty and that there will be no revision of the Treaty, part of the policy of the Government in relation to all treaties or only in relation to the Irish Treaty?

That matter hardly arises out of the question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that His Majesty's Ship "Shropshire" has been equipped with an aeroplane, it is proposed to put aircraft on the other ships of the first cruiser squadron?

(Sir Bolton Eyres Monsell): Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Labour if it is on his instructions that applicants for transitional payments who appear before the public assistance committees are not allowed by the committees to take a friend with them to help them with their case?

No, Sir. This is a matter within the discretion of local authorities.

In view of the dissatisfaction which has been caused, will the Department review the matter and see whether it will be possible to allow friends to attend with applicants?

As I have said, it is a matter entirely for the local authorities. I am told that it is the practice that some local authorities allow such representatives and others do not. It is really a matter for them; I cannot interfere.

Is it not the case that very often those who make use of the opportunity exclaim afterwards, "Save me from my friends"?

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that owing to the action of courts of referees in disqualifying persons in the transitional class from insurance benefit many persons have had to seek public assistance, and that this number is increasing, causing a burden on the rates of many cities and towns; and whether he is prepared to promote legislation making poverty arising from unemployment a national charge?

No, Sir. I have no evidence that what my hon. Friend suggests is taking place. The courts of referees have to decide, in cases of doubt and subject to appeal to the umpire, whether an applicant is normally in an insured trade; this condition has remained unchanged since transitional benefit was first instituted in 1928.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in Liverpool 3,500 persons have had to seek public assistance, that this number is being rapidly augmented, and that the charge—

Those details can be sent to the Minister.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider, with a view to preserving the beauty of the countryside, introducing at some convenient opportunity legislation to make it an offence punishable by fine to sell wild flowers without the permission of the occupier of the land from which the flowers were taken?

I doubt if Parliament would be prepared to go so far as to approve making it a penal offence for persons, in many cases children, to gather wild flowers and offer them for sale. The proposal would also entail great difficulties in connection with the question of proof whether the owner's permission had or had not been given. Three years ago a new form of by-law was drawn up at a conference between the Home Office and representatives of county councils and other interested bodies to stop the uprooting of wild plants and this by-law is now in operation in 32 counties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he expect to receive the report of the departmental committee investigating the economics of the sugar-beet industry; and whether the report will be made public?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave him on the 29th February, to which I cannot add anything.

asked the Minister of Agriculture by what amount per cwt. the present subsidy and duty abatement for beet-sugar exceeds the amount originally contemplated for the third and present period of the subsidy scheme?

The rate of subsidy now payable for beet-sugar is that originally contemplated under the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act, 1925, for the present subsidy period. The effective duty preference received by home-grown white sugar was increased under the Finance Act, 1928, and now exceeds by 1s. 6⅔d. per cwt. the preference existing when the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act, 1925, was passed.

Can my right hon. Friend say to what extent the price of raw sugar has fallen during the same period?

The price of raw sugar has, I believe, fallen from 20s. a cwt. to 4s. 3d. a cwt. in the same period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has any figures to show what is the effective assistance per cwt. given to the production of sugar from beet or cane in the United Kingdom, United States of America, France, British West Indies, Cuba and Java, respectively?

In Great Britain the production of white sugar is given effective assistance of 10s. 9d. per cwt. and in the United States of America and France protection is afforded equivalent to 12s. and 13s. 11d. per cwt. respectively, at par rates of exchange. Production in the British West Indies is assisted by an effective duty preference of 3s. 6d. per cwt. on white sugar consigned to the United Kingdom, while Cuban sugar receives in the United States of America a duty preference equivalent to 2s. 5d. per cwt. of refined sugar. So far as I am aware, the production of sugar in Java is not assisted.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to have published the whole of the proceedings and findings of the Railway and Road Committee?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend does not suppose that the conference will keep any detailed record of their proceedings, nor does he think it desirable that they should be fettered by any undertaking that these proceedings will be made public. It is, however, his present intention to publish any findings that the conference may submit to him.

(for Mr. KIRKWOOD) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Department of Health for Scotland has had under consideration for some weeks a request by the Clydebank Town Council for permission to proceed with a scheme for the erection of over 400 houses, which are needed to relieve overcrowding and to meet the needs of an expanding population; and will he state why sanction has been withheld, as the scheme is not only needed for housing purposes but is a means of providing employment for workers in the district?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The scheme in question was for the erection of 470 houses, and looking to the existing circumstances of the burgh, the Department of Health felt that it would be inexpedient for the town council to proceed at the present time with a scheme of such magnitude, the estimated cost of which is £150,000, exclusive of the cost of land, roads, etc. The Department, however, realising the need for dealing immediately with uninhabitable houses, have intimated their willingness to consider sympathetically proposals to proceed with the erection of 74 new houses which the town council estimate are required to accommodate families who will be displaced from condemned houses and who cannot be accommodated otherwise. As regards the abatement of overcrowding, the Department have intimated that the most obvious course in the circumstances is for the town council to use for that purpose the houses which are being erected under a previous scheme, the number still uncompleted at 31st March being 250. The Department have also intimated that if the measures which they have suggested for the abatement of overcrowding are found to be insufficient, they will be prepared to consider sympathetically any application, supported by the necessary information, which the town council may put forward for the erection of additional houses to meet the insufficiency.

(for Mr. KIRK-WOOD) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider the advisability of consulting with the Glasgow Corporation regarding the demolition of Duke Street Prison, Glasgow, and the conversion of the site into an open space, which would provide a valuable amenity in a congested area?

While it is contemplated that the closing of Duke Street Prison may be possible at some future date, no decision has been taken on this point, and no decision can be taken for some time to come. There can, therefore, be no question of considering the utilisation of the site at the present time.

Why need there be any delay in deciding upon the demolition of this prison, if you have decided to put it out of action?

Accommodation must be found for those prisoners at present in Duke Street prison. Accommodation has been found, I think, for practically all the men, but the question of the transfer of the women prisoners has not yet been decided.

Let them out.