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 if he will inform the House as to the latest situation in India?

I regret to have to confirm the reports that have appeared in the Press of a further terrorist outrage in Bengal, where on Saturday Mr. R. Douglas, the District Magistrate of Midnapore, was shot while at a meeting of the District Board, and later died from his injuries. I understand that one of his assailants was arrested. I know the House will join with me in ex pressing the deepest sympathy with Mr. Douglas's relatives. Elsewhere, there has been little of importance to report during the last week. The position in Delhi, following the unsuccessful attempt to hold the session of Congress last week quickly returned to normal, and there have been no reactions elsewhere. One feature of the week has been attempts in various places to destroy letters in post boxes.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information to show that the dastardly murder of Mr. Douglas and the equally disgraceful attempt on Mr. Gibson, District Magistrate, are connected in any way with the Lahore and Delhi conspiracy organisations?

No, Sir. I have no information further than that which I have given, but if I obtain more in connection with this matter, I will let the hon. Member have it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the lives of these officials were threatened, and whether they were provided with some protection or guard of any kind?

I should like to have notice of that question, but I should say that there was a guard.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say that, notwithstanding these regrettable incidents, the trade out look for this country is improving?

asked the Secretary of State for India when it is proposed to call together the consultative committee of the India Round Table Conference for its second meeting; and the subjects which will be brought before this meeting of the committee?

The committee is to meet again on 23rd May. I am sending the hon. Member a statement of the agenda.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any contribution is being made by the Indian States towards the cost of the federal finance and the States Inquiry Committee appointed to investigate problems connected with the working out of proposals for Indian constitutional reform?

The answer is in the negative.

(for Mr. RHYS DAVIES) asked the Secretary of State for India whether any steps are being taken by the Government of India to reduce the sale of opium manufactured at the Government of India's factory at Ghazipur for consumption in India; and what progress has been made in limiting the number of shops in India from which this opium can be purchased?

The distribution and sale of opium in the Provinces of British India is under the control of Ministers responsible to their respective Councils. The amount of opium manufactured at Ghazipur for consumption in India depends upon the demand from the Provinces. There has been a substantial and progressive reduction in recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for India the latest figures available of the route mileage of the Indian railway system; how much of this is mileage belonging to State and company-owned systems, respectively; and the mileage of railway in India under construction during the present financial year?

As this answer contains a number of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to state the extent of the losses in life and property suffered by British subjects in the recent fighting in Shanghai; and whether any steps have been, or will be, taken to secure from the combatants adequate compensation?

The full extent of the losses suffered by British subjects is not yet known. In addition to the action mentioned in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for the City of Chester (Sir O. Cayzer) on 11th April, His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai has been authorised to send to the Chinese and Japanese authorities a list of such claims as have already been received, and to reserve the right of His Majesty's Government to claim compensation.

Is it not the case that the Municipal Council of Shanghai has a very comprehensive list of those claims?

I think that that is so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has accepted, on behalf of the British Government, the right of the Mixed Commission at Shanghai to decide by a majority vote when the Japanese troops are to leave Chinese territory?

As I understand the position, the Commission will not have this power. The question of His Majesty's Government accepting it does not there fore arise.

Is it not the case that this Commission was to have power to submit certain matters to their respective Governments according to the vote of the Commission?

No, Sir. The proposal that the hon. Member appears to have in mind does not form part of the resolution which has been approved by the Assembly.

Has not that statement been made to the Foreign Secretary at Geneva; that both Governments would accept a majority vote of the Mixed Commission?

I cannot discuss confidential conversations at Geneva.

Are we to take it that these matters are to be kept secret, that this House is not to know to what it is being committed?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Japan's delegate at the Assembly of the League of Nations has informed the president and the secretary of the Assembly that the Japanese Government would accept the right of the Mixed Commission at Shanghai to decide by a majority when the Japanese troops should leave Chinese territory; and whether that acceptance of the principle of neutral judgment has been conveyed to the members of the Mixed Commission?

The attitude of the Japanese Government is not as represented in the first part of the question, and the second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

Has it not occurred to the hon. Gentleman that the Japanese representatives did agree and did inform the President and M. Huysmans that this was the decision taken by the Japanese? Was that particular statement of the Japanese envoy conveyed to the Foreign Secretary?

If the hon. Member will read my answer he will see that the Japanese Government did not give any such reply. I do not think we can discuss here what may have been said by one or other representatives.

Are we to under stand from the hon. Gentleman that the representatives of the Japanese Government say things at the League of Nations that are not confirmed or endorsed by his Government?

I have no responsibility for any individual members of any foreign Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any of our commercial representatives in Russia enjoy all the same privileges accorded to concerns such as Arcos here; and, if not, will the Government take steps to place the facilities and privileges on exactly the same footing for both sides?

My hon. and gallant Friend is, I think, under a misapprehension. Arcos, as a British registered company, enjoys no special privileges. If my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the Soviet Trade Delegation in London, the position is that the head of the Delegation and his deputy are, like our Commercial Diplomatic Staff in Moscow, members of their respective Embassies, and, as such, commonly enjoy the privileges recognised by international law.

Are we to understand that our representatives in Russia are entitled to go about the country and see matters of trade in the same way as representatives of Arcos do in this country?

Our representatives in Russia enjoy the same privileges as the Russian representatives enjoy in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will inform the House of the result of the representations made in February last by His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow to the Soviet authorities with regard to the failure of the Soviet Government to make payment of the arbitral award of 22nd September, 1930, amounting to approximately £13,000,000, in favour of Lena Goldfields, Limited; and when it is expected that payment will be made?

The Soviet Government have not made any offer of settlement of a nature which the company would feel able to accept, and the matter is now being further considered.

Are we to under stand that the British Government do no longer consider it their duty to protect the property and rights of British citizens, seeing that this enormous sum, settled by an arbitral tribunal, has been owing for some years? Does not the hon. Member think that the British Government should take some active steps in the matter?

The hon. Member is quite wrong in assuming that we take no interest in this matter—

I said active steps.

We are taking such steps as lie within our power. If the hon. Member will be good enough to put down a question in a week's time, I hope to be able to tell him the result.

Will the hon. Member explain what he means by the concluding words of his answer, "the matter is being further considered"? Considered by whom? By this Government or by the Government in Moscow?

By His Majesty's Government.

Surely the present Government will use a little more energy than the late Socialist Government?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government propose to give notice to terminate the existing trade agreement with the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics and to negotiate a fresh agreement, with a view to equalising the present disparity of trade between the United Kingdom and the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now ready to bring forward legislation in the shape of quotas, differentiating tariffs, or prohibitions to deal with the damage to our trade which is still being caused by the trade policy of Russia?

I would refer my hon. Friends to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 26th April, of which I am sending them copies.

Is the hon. Gentle man aware that the great majority in the House support the suggestion made in this question; and can he inform the House what is the alternative method which the Government have had in mind for so long?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a very large pro portion of the people outside in the country who think at all, are opposed to the suggestion?

Are we to wait until after the Ottawa Conference?

Is it not the fact that the leaders of the vast majority in this House said quite clearly, up and down the country, a short time ago that Russia's foreign trade policy amounts to economic war; and has any change taken place in that policy since then?

In reply to all four supplementary questions, if my hon. Friends will examine the answer to which I have referred, and the supplementary answers which follow it, they will see that the Government are fully aware of the difficulties of the position and are determined that our trade with Russia shall be made to balance more nearly in the future.

Are there not other countries in regard to which the trade balance is worse than that of Russia?

In no other case does a country buy solely through the Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many million pounds this country has paid over to the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics in the last two years in respect of oil produced from wells in equity British-owned but confiscated at the end of the war?

The imports of oil from the Soviet Union during the years 1930 and 1931 were of a declared value of£5,691,709 and £4,099,740 respectively. It is impracticable to say how much of this oil was produced from properties formerly British owned.

As it is beyond question that a very large proportion of this oil was actually and is in equity British-owned, is it not possible for the British Government to take some steps to put a stop to the scandal of the British having to buy their own oil month after month?

There are no means of identifying the particular wells from which the oil comes.

Surely there are other means of taking steps to collect money from a debtor who refuses to pay his debts and who has commodities?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ascertain from the League of Nations what measures the International Finance Commission pro pose in order to insure fulfilment of the Greek Government's obligations to British subjects in respect of the loan issued under the supervision of the League of Nations; and, if they are not in a position to insure fulfilment, will he take steps to protect British subjects from investing in loans on the strength of the support given to the loans by the League of Nations?

In reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to him on 25th April. As regards the second part of the Question, in the opinion of my right hon. Friend matters of this kind should continue, in the future as in the past, to be left to the discretion of the market.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what way the League of Nations safe guards the interests of investors who sub scribe to loans stated to be issued under the supervision of the League of Nations; and what protection is available to investors in the case of the recent defaulting Greek and Bulgarian loans?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that as a result of the recent defaults of loans issued under the supervision of the League of Nations British investors have suffered loss; and will he accordingly take steps to ensure that such investors, who subscribe to these loans in the belief that the League of Nations is responsible for them, are protected from similar future losses?

The conditions on which these loans were issued were stated in the contracts drawn up and the prospectus published before the issue of each loan. The documents enumerate the safeguards provided, which include, in the case of Greece, the payment of assigned revenues to the International Financial Commission. His Majesty's Government recognise that it is a matter of the greatest regret that the Greek and Bulgarian Governments should find them selves unable to transfer in full the ser vice of the loans issued under the auspices of the League of Nations. I understand that negotiations are likely to be initiated by these two Governments with the bond holders, who are of course not confined to this country, and His Majesty's Government are watching the situation with a view to taking any action that may be possible or appropriate.

Is the hon. Member aware that many British investors have invested considerable sums of money in these loans owing to the misleading nature of the prospectuses, and does he attach any importance to the guarantee and authority for loans issued by the League of Nations?

I cannot accept the hon. Member's description of the prospectuses as misleading. If he will study them he will find that they are clearly set out.

Has it not recently been stated by a former official of the League of Nations, Sir Arthur Salter, that these loans ought never to have been granted.

That is a matter of opinion.

Is it not the case that both Greece and Bulgaria are bankrupt, and that if they have to pay these loans they will have to borrow more money?

If the League of Nations lends itself to the issue of company prospectuses, can they be brought into court in the same way as company directors?

I recommend the hon. and learned Member to study the prospectuses.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will authorise the deletion of question 11 from Form M.P.I.F. 27; and will he state the present reasons for asking a man if he is in receipt of pension other than the disability pension and for particulars of all such pensions?

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will delete questions 12 to 18 inclusive from Form M.P.I.F. 27 in all cases where the pensioner is not in receipt of family allowances; whether his attention has been drawn to the objections pensioners have to the questions on the form; and if he will consult with the British Legion or some organisation representing pensioners with a view to modifying the questions?

The object of the form referred to is to secure the identification of pensioners. Inquiry for this purpose, which is made of a percentage of pensioners annually, was instituted to meet the ex press requirements of the Public Accounts Committee of this House, to protect the Exchequer against personation. The answers to questions 11 to 18 inclusive, in common with the answers to other questions on the form, serve a necessary purpose in this connection, and I regret that I cannot agree to their omission.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department (1) if he is aware that traders in this country are unable to obtain payment of their accounts contracted prior to 1st February, 1932, with traders in Hungary without first delivering fresh goods to the value of the account being paid; and what steps he proposes to take to overcome this obstruction to the ex port trade of this country:

His Majesty's Government were not parties to the Anglo-Hungarian standstill agreement but have been informed of its contents by the British banking creditors. The agreement pro vides for a moratorium in respect of debts to British banking creditors till 1st August, 1932. It also stipulates that payments in foreign currencies to other existing creditors should be similarly suspended, subject to certain agreed exceptions, but it has been agreed that merchandise credits may be repaid, provided that they are replaced by credits of equal amount. The hardships caused to the various classes of Hungary's creditors arise from the financial position of that country, and, in these circumstances, effective action is difficult. As, however, I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Platting (Mr. Chorlton) on 28th April, the matter is being carefully considered to see if there is any action that can be taken to ease the position.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will invite representatives of the Danish Government to a conference, with a view to arranging a commercial treaty whereby Denmark, in return for importing an increased quantity of British materials and manufactures, would become entitled to some of the fiscal advantages enjoyed by British Dominions and Colonies?

As has already been made clear, negotiations of such a character could not in any case be under taken until after the Imperial Conference at Ottawa.

Is my hon. Friend aware that it will be a very considerable time before this country can produce enough bacon and other products to satisfy our needs, and, during that time, is not Denmark, a country consistently friendly to this country, much more worthy of our custom than the Irish Free State?

His Majesty's Government will be glad to consider any proposal which Denmark may put forward after the Ottawa Conference.

Are we to understand that no commercial negotiations can go on with Denmark, however willing Den mark may be?

It has already been stated that no arrangements can be made which will stand in the way of our deliberations at Ottawa.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is in Scotland a body corresponding to the Travel and Industrial Association of Great Britain with the object of attracting to the country those desirous of setting up factories?

There are a number of organisations in Scotland, such as the Scottish National Development Council, the Edinburgh Development Committee and the Development Board for Glasgow and District, which have for their object the general development of that country and its manufactures. Discussions are in progress amongst some of the more important of these organisations with a view to the definition and co ordination of their respective functions.

Is the hon. Gentle man satisfied that these bodies which he has mentioned are co-operating satisfactorily at the present time, and, if not, is he prepared to take any steps to pro mote such co-operation in future?

I think my answer indicated that co-operation was in progress.

asked the Prime Minister what are to be the terms of reference of the committee that is to investigate the sugar-beet industry; when this committee is to be set up; whether it will supersede the investigations now being carried out by a depart mental committee into this question; and whether he will consider the desirability of instructing this committee to inquire not only into the question of home-grown sugar, but also into the best method of evolving an Imperial sugar policy?

The matter is under consideration, and a statement will be made in due course.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when his statement will be made?

As I have said, in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any in formation with regard to the imposition of tariffs in Canada against imports from Great Britain; what are the alterations; and in what way they will affect our exports to Canada?

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the recent Canadian Budget. The Budget proposals, whilst not introducing any alterations of the ordinary Canadian Customs duties, increased the special "Excise" Tax which is leviable on imported goods from all countries from 1 percent. ad valorem to 3 per cent. ad valorem. The Sales Tax was also increased from 4 per cent. ad valorem to 6 per cent. ad valorem, but except in a few instances this tax is applicable to both imported goods and Canadian goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that the industries for whose benefit tariffs have been imposed are efficiently organised and managed; and, if not, whether he proposes to set up a committee or committees to inquire into the conditions of such industries as the Government consider require re organisation?

His Majesty's Government are fully alive to the importance of securing that tariffs are not used as a shelter for industrial in efficiency. But they see no reason for setting up committees of the kind suggested, as the Import Duties Advisory Committee already have this aspect of their work under review.

Is it not a fact, having regard to the difficult circumstances of the time, and the ordeal through which British industries have passed in the last several years, that in efficiency they can compare favourably with the rest of the world?

We are giving them the conditions in which they should become efficient.

In the event of any inquiries being made by the Tariff Committee as to the efficiency or inefficiency of these industries, who will be the deciding factor in determining whether a particular industry is so inefficient as to require the removal of the tariff put on to protect it?

There are ample sanctions vested both in the Committee and in the Government for securing the efficiency, wherever it can be secured, of British industry.

Do we understand the hon. Member to suggest that the Advisory Committee, with their multifarious duties, are also to be the arbiters as to whether or not an industry is efficient?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the placing of a higher importation duty on fully-manufactured granite than upon the raw material, with a view to protecting the product of the home monumental worker against the competition from the imported finished article?

Under Section 3 (1) of the Import Duties Act, 1932, additional duties can only be imposed on the recommendation of the Import Duties Advisory Committee, to whom any representations should be made by the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the benefits of the national-mark scheme for eggs are greatly diminished owing to the widespread practice among retailers of mixing eggs of different grades before sale; and will he consider what remedies should be applied to get over this difficulty?

I am aware that it is the practice of some retailers to mix eggs of different grades before sale, and am advised that it can be dealt with only as part of the larger issue involved in the sale of eggs by weight or statutory grade. This larger question is one for consideration, in the first instance, by producers, in relation to any plans which they may be preparing for reorganising the marketing side of their industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if the terms of reference of the milk reorganisation commission will be so framed as to consider the re-designation of the various grades of milk?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the terms of reference of the Commission which I announced in this House on 18th April. The Commission will themselves decide on the scope of their inquiries in the light of these terms of reference, but I do not anticipate that they would regard themselves as precluded from considering the matter referred to.

May I ask whether any milk reorganisation would not deteriorate the quality of the milk, unless the designations of this milk are altered?

As far as I am concerned, this commission will investigate the problem in all its aspects, and I think we must await that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will instruct the re-organisation commission for the bacon industry as to the desirability of furnishing their report before the opening of the Ottawa Conference, so that data may be available for our representatives at that conference as to the extent to which Great Britain can become self-supporting in pig-products during the course of future years?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friends the Members for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) and Bury St. Edmunds (Captain Heilgers) on 21st April, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of quarters of barley used for malting in the United Kingdom during the years 1930 and 1931, and the number of quarters of home-grown barley used in each of those years?

It is estimated that the equivalent in barley of the malt used for brewing and distilling in the years ending September, 1930, and 1931, was 3,695,000 quarters (of 448 lbs.) and 3,191,000 quarters, respectively. In addition, a certain amount of barley is malted for purposes other than brewing and distilling; for the average of the years 1924-1927 this was estimated at 325,000 quarters but no later estimate is available. I have no information as to the quantities of home-grown barley used for malting, in the years specified.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much of this barley was used for brewing British beer?

No, Sir.

What proportion of home-grown barley is used in brewing British beer?

If the hon. Member will put down a question I will try to find the answer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, out of a consignment of three heavy draught horses which were shipped by the British steamship "Mersey" from Goole to Rotterdam, it was found on their arrival there on the 18th April that one had died en route and another was found to be suffering from such injuries sustained en route that it was necessary to shoot it immediately; whether he will state the circumstances under which the two horses sustained their injuries; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation prohibiting the export of such horses from this country abroad?

I am aware of the two casualties referred to. I understand that the three horses were shipped it Goole on 16th April, after passing the usual rigid veterinary examination as to fitness to travel and to work. There was no indication that abnormally rough weather would be encountered. The vessel, however, met heavy seas, resulting in two of the horses going down in their stalls, about five hours after leaving port. The vessel was eased, but attempts to get the horses on to their legs were unsuccessful. Each horse was made as comfortable as possible with bedding and padded sacks. One horse died, but from information supplied by the shipping company, it appears that it was not injured in any way, and showed no sign of any suffering. The other horse showed signs of great excitement, and was then killed with the humane killer to prevent it from injuring itself. As regards the last part of the question, I am satisfied that the present legislation is adequate to prevent avoidable suffering.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think it is high time that we dispensed altogether with this miserable trade?

All I can say is that the number of casualties arising out of the trade, under the present regulations, is comparatively small—only 44 out of 45,745 horses exported.

Will the right hon. Gentleman advise the Government to give facilities to a private Member's Bill to stop this trade?

Is it not the case that the horse is an animal that Suffers extraordinary agonies from seasickness, and is it not desirable that the putting of horses on board ship should be limited as much as possible?

That is the case under the present regulations.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount paid to the British Broadcasting Corporation to date by way of opera subsidy under the agreement laid before Parliament in 1931; and has he received any assurances from the British Broadcasting Corporation as to the use to which the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate has put this subsidy?

The amount paid to the British Broadcasting Corporation to date is £31,250, namely, £5,000 for the last quarter of 1930, £17,500 in 1931, and £8,750 to date this year. As regards the second part of the question, the British Broadcasting Corporation assures me that this amount has been expended in strict accordance with the terms of the agreement referred to, and that no part of this sum has been used for paying off losses incurred by the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate before the subsidy was granted.

While thanking the Minister for the assurance, which, of course, I entirely accept, may I ask if he can give the House a further assurance that no part of this subsidy will in future be used for the purpose of making good losses that were incurred before the subsidy was originally granted?

I cannot contemplate that possibility, but I am sure that my hon. Friend can rely on the British Broad casting Corporation strictly carrying out the terms of the agreement, and to see that the opera subsidy is not used in the manner suggested.

Has the Minister power to stop this subsidy?

No, Sir. The agreement in this respect was laid before Parliament.

Can the Minister say whether the accountants or other officials of the Post Office have access to the books of the British Broad casting Corporation?

I must have notice of that question.

Is there any ground for supposing that the British Broadcasting Corporation has been in any way using this money improperly?

Not that I am aware of.

Is there any chance of this subsidy being extended to such places as the Old Vic and Sadler's Wells?

Only by an amendment of the agreement which has already been agreed to by the House.

asked the Post master-General whether he is aware that letters catching the 5.30 p.m. post from Chelsea on a Saturday are not delivered at Saul, Gloucestershire, before the second post on the following Monday, i.e., 3,30 p.m.; and whether, seeing that such letters take nearly 48 hours to travel 100 miles, he will take steps to improve this service?

A letter posted in Chelsea on a Saturday by the time stated should be delivered by the first post on the following Monday at Saul, Gloucester shire. If my hon. Friend will let me have the covers of any letters which appear to have been delayed, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Post master-General whether he is aware that under existing regulations it is impossible to produce in public journals illustrations of postage stamps which form part of a stamp dealer's advertisement; and whether he will consider deleting the last sentence of paragraph 2 of Post Office Circular K 712, which deals with this question?

As I have explained in writing to my hon. and gallant Friend, the reproduction of any postage stamp is an infringement of the law; but under the conditions prescribed in the Post Office notice, reproductions are allowed in black and white to illustrate articles in philatelic or other publications. I regret that I cannot see my way to extend this concession to cover reproductions of stamps used to illustrate advertisements owing to the necessity of such restriction in order to check the manufacture and use of dies of postage stamps.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, owing to this archaic regulation, many hundreds of pounds' worth of advertisements are going to foreign magazines which ought to go to magazines in this country?

I am sorry to hear it, but my hon. and gallant Friend knows the difficulty. If he would like to discuss the matter further with me, I shall be glad to do so.

asked the Post master-General the total number of men who have been discharged from the engineering department of the Post Office in Scotland, England, and Wales, respectively, since September, 1931, and the number that have been discharged from the Scotland West district during the same period; what proportion of the total number are ex-service men and the proportion of ex-service men from the West Scotland district; whether the discharges are permanent or temporary; and the number of foremen in each case who have been discharged?

During the period 1st October, 1931, to 31st March, 1932, 820 men in England and Wales and 44 men in Scotland were discharged from the engineering department. No men were discharged in the Scotland West District. Information is not readily available as to how many of the men were ex-service men or whether any foremen have been discharged. The discharges are permanent, though it may be possible to re engage some of the men in the future.

Can the right hon. Gentle man give any reason for the discharge of such an abnormal number of men from this Department in so short a time?

Yes; I shall be glad to communicate the reasons to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will grant facilities for a short demonstration of sky-writing by searchlight to take place in Palace Yard so that Members of Parliament may have an opportunity of viewing this new invention?

If those interested in the promotion of sky-writing appliances care to approach me in regard to carrying out some such demonstration as my hon. Friend suggests, I am pre pared to consider the matter in conjunction with the authorities concerned, pro vided no charge will fall on public funds.

In further considering the matter, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that he does not reflect on the sky any words which may give an indication that we agree to differ on the Beer Duty?

asked the First Commissioner of Works what is the total estimated cost for repairing the exterior of the Palace of Westminster; how much of this has been expended up to date; how the ultimate cost is likely to com pare with the original estimate; and whether it will be possible to effect any economy in this work either by accelerating or decelerating its progress?

The answer to the first part of the question is £750,000. This sum is substantially less than the original estimate of £1,060,000 which was prepared without full knowledge of the extent of the repairs necessary. The expenditure to date is £129,000. It is not considered that economy would be effected by altering the present rate of progress.

asked the Attorney-General when the report of the inspector appointed by the Board of Trade to inquire into the affairs of the St. Mary's Shipping Company, Cardiff, was made available for inspection by the National Provincial Bank, and why such facilities were provided; and whether conditions were imposed to prevent the disclosure of its contents?

I have no information that the inspector's report was ever made available for inspection by the National Provincial Bank, but I am in a position to say that no such inspection was given from official sources. In these circumstances, the last part of the question does not arise.

If I can give the right hon. and learned Gentleman evidence that this report was made available, will facilities be given to other interested persons to see it?

No, the question was as to whether the report was made available for inspection, by which I understood the hon. Gentleman to mean, made available by official Departments?

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the report is available for inspection, whether officially or otherwise?

I am not aware of that. Two copies were furnished to the company in pursuance of one of the Sections of the Companies Act, but what was done with the copies is no concern of mine.

Is it not unfair that the report should only be available to certain people, and is it not right that other interested parties should be able to inspect it?

Parliament has provided that copies shall be supplied to the company concerned, and one extra copy, at the company's request. That has been done, and that is the end of my duty in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether, according to the recommendation of the Fishery Committee, steps have been taken to require that shellfish imported from districts in the Irish Free State outside the counties of Louth and Meath shall be cleansed and sterilised before being landed here, so as to prevent risk of typhoid if used for human consumption?

No steps have yet been taken to give effect to this recommendation. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to him on 13th and 18th April by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, with regard to the recommendations contained in the report of the Committee on the Fishing Industry.

What is being done actually in the meantime to protect the public against the possibility of the contamination of food?

My hon. Friend knows that he was given an answer on that point some time ago. He is also aware that in reference to the report on this matter, the Minister of Agriculture said that he was in consultation with the other Ministers concerned about the many recommendations in that report.

But how does that prevent people getting typhoid from these shellfish? Consultation will not prevent the importation of contaminated food.

Neither will unwise action.

Has the hon. Gentleman received any complaints as to the possibility of these shellfish contaminating food in this country?

My hon. Friend had better put that question down.

asked the Minister of Health what steps his Department takes to prevent the sale of imported polluted shellfish, in view of the fact that the powers for the inspection of unwholesome food operated by sanitary authorities afford no provision that consignments of imported shellfish shall bear indications to enable those sanitary authorities to detect that consignments are unwholesome food?

If polluted shellfish were imported, my right hon. Friend would communicate with the authorities of the exporting country, and, in the event of evidence of injury to health being caused by imported shellfish, he would not hesitate to make such regulations as might be necessary for the protection of the public health. The powers of local authorities under the Public Health Acts have in a number of cases been used to prevent the sale of shellfish from polluted layings, and these powers apply equally to home produced and imported shellfish.

Do I understand by that reply that the hon. Gentleman. takes no steps until the health of the people has been injured?

My hon. Friend must not understand anything of the kind. He must understand that under Section 116 of the Public Health Act the authorities may inspect and examine fish, and seize it, if it appears diseased, unsound, unwholesome or unfit for the food of man.

I beg to give notice that, in consequence of the very dangerous nature of the statement made by the hon. Gentleman, I shall raise this question on the Ministry of Health Vote.

asked the Minister of Health if he will arrange for an early visit of inspection to the clinics for contraceptive advice in Withington and Crupsall hospitals; and if he will make the report, when issued, available to Members of the House at an early date?

My right hon. Friend will obtain a report on this work from the local authority and will then consider whether an inspection is desirable. He could not undertake to adopt the suggestion in the second part of the question, but he will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Minister of Health the number of ex- service men who are residents in the Poor Law institutions of the public assistance committees in Yorkshire?

My right hon. Friend regrets that this information is not available.

Whatever the numbers be, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he cannot devise some means whereby these ex-service men, to whom the community is under an incalculable obligation, may spend their lives in less humiliating circumstances?

I will bring my hon. Friend's point to the notice of the Minister.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Committee on National Expenditure, which reported in July last year, were obliged to make their investigations in haste, he will consider the desirability of reconstituting a similar committee in the near future in order that the possibilities of further economy in national expenditure may be examined in greater detail?

I cannot accept my hon. and gallant Friend's premise. The committee was appointed in March and reported in July. Its inquiry, though expeditious, was quite sufficient as a guide to the Government: I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend in particular to paragraph 40 of its report. The Government will overlook no opportunity of securing all possible reductions of public expenditure, but for the reason I have given I do not agree that the appointment of another committee similar to the committee of last year is required.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has yet received the Report of the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance; and, if not, whether he is yet in a position to state when he is likely to receive the Report?

I am afraid I cannot add to the reply I gave last Thursday to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams).

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can ascertain and state the average annual all-over cost to the State of educating the elementary child in France and Germany and England and Wales, respectively, during the past two years?

Figures for the year 1931 are not yet available, but for 1930 the expenditure per child on elementary education, incurred by the National Exchequer, was £7 3s. 4d. in England and Wales, about 443 francs in France, and about 100 reichsmarks in Prussia. The figures for the different countries are, for many reasons, not comparable, and they do not include any expenditure from local funds.

Will the hon. Member remember that the President of the Board of Education told us to keep our eyes on Czechoslovakia, and will he give figures for that country?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office upon what date or dates the existing contracts held by the Eastern Counties Electric Carpet Beating Company for remaking bedding at certain stations in the Eastern Command will terminate?

These contracts will expire on 31st March, 1934, unless terminated by notice at an earlier date.

Will my hon. Friend undertake that a serious effort shall be made, when the time comes for these contracts to expire, to find 'a firm that will observe the terms of the King's Roll to do this work?

The firm in question is a very small one. It has never been the custom of any Department of the Govern- ment to insist on the observance of the King's Roll Regulation in the case of very small firms employing a small number of hands.

Is it not time the War Office did insist on it?

No, I do not think so. I think that in the case of firms employing only three or four hands it would be a monstrous thing to turn off those people and insist on their employing some disabled ex-Service men, to the detriment of people who have been in their employment for many years.

Would not precisely the same argument apply to big firms?

No, certainly not.

Is it not the fact that in some cases the employés of these firms are women and not men?

Is it not a fact that in this particular matter it is not the case that only two or three men are employed?

I believe the firm in question employs under 10 men and a few women.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will inquire of the three authorities responsible and state the approximate date upon which the scheme for the alterations at Piccadilly Circus will be completed?

It is expected that the work now in progress will be completed by the end of May. Re-surfacing of the whole area of Piccadilly Circus will probably be deferred until August and September, when it will cause least inconvenience.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether he is still impressed with the sense of well-ordered organisation, to which he referred last week, in the carrying out of this Five Year Plan?

Yes. This is a most difficult and complicated civil engineering problem, and I am still of the same opinion.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the street muddle of the last six months at the Underground station in Piccadilly is regarded by the public as a test of his supervision and efficiency, and that the result may be a renewed public demand for the abolition of his Department?

Oh, no, Sir. I do not accept that or some of the previous statements made by the hon. Baronet. For instance, I have not yet detected his builder's yard in Piccadilly Circus.