asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position regarding the restrictions imposed by the German Government upon British coal imports into Germany?

Yes, Sir. I am glad to take this opportunity of informing the House before it rises of the position reached on this important question. The German Government have proposed that the question of the German restriction on the importation into Germany of United Kingdom coal, together with the question whether the Customs duties at present in force in the United Kingdom are compatible with the assurances contained in paragraph 2 of the Protocol to the Anglo-German commercial treaty, should be submitted to a court of arbitration consisting of one German, one British, and one neutral arbitrator. His Majesty's Government have accepted this proposal to arbitrate in respect of coal, but corre- spondence is still proceeding between the two Governments as regards the best manner of dealing with the question raised by the German Government in respect of the United Kingdom Customs tariff.

Will the arbitration be expedited in view of the parlous condition of the industry?

We shall do everything possible to expedite it in every way.

Surely the German Government do not question the right of the British Government to impose Customs duties as they think fit?

The question is one of interpretation of a protocol, and everybody is entitled, the Germans as well as anybody else, to raise questions as to the interpretation of an international document.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the fact that the French Government now provides that all coal supplied to French companies from this country must be carried by French ships and that the Italian Government makes the same provision regarding coal taken from the United Kingdom to Italian ports, he will consider the advisability of making similar conditions regarding all or any of our imports from France and Italy?

I am not aware that either the French or the Italian Government imposes the requirement stated by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the instructions issued by the Government in 1929 as to expenditure on gas undertakings are still in force; whether it is the policy of the Government to encourage expenditure which does not add to the burden of the rates on the part of gas undertakings; and whether he will circularise local authorities as to the advisability of expanding the newer processes of gas undertakings which are becoming available through the results of recent research?

I am unable to identify the instructions regarding expenditure to which my hon. Friend refers, but I do not think it is necessary to remind gas undertakings of the desirability of adopting any new process designed to maintain or increase their efficiency.

Might I ask if the hon. Gentleman will suggest to the local authorities that they should consider this matter, in view of the usefulness of the inventions?

If my hon. Friend has any suggestions to make, I shall be very happy to consider them.

May I bring to the notice of my hon. Friend that all local undertakings and all local authorities are not as progressive as they might be?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the export of coal from Britain to Brazil in 1931; and whether he has any evidence that the recent agreement between Germany and Brazil for the export of 300,000 tons of coal from Germany in exchange for coffee from Brazil will affect British coal exports?

Exports of coal from the United Kingdom to Brazil in 1931 amounted to 663,761 tons. I have seen the recent Press reports as to an agreement of the kind mentioned, and the matter is receiving active attention, particularly from the point of view of its possible effect on United Kingdom trade.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether his Department have examined the possibility of a similar exchange of barter with our continental friends?

The question of barter has been examined, but the difficulty in Brazil is to secure payment for existing accounts. In that regard, I would refer him to a statement which I made a few days ago, as to what the Government would be able to do in certain cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will, during the adjournment, invite the cooperation of organised associations of retail traders with his Department to discover means whereby the general rate of gross profit in retail trade may be reduced?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements I made on the Second Reading and Committee stage of the Financial Emergency Enactments (Continuance) Bill in March last, as to the steps taken by the Board of Trade in this connection.

These associations are very anxious to co-operate in this matter, and, in view of the fact that retail prices are more likely to be reduced in co-operation with them than in antagonism, will the hon. Gentleman not make some approach towards them?

I hope the hon. Gentleman is not suggesting that there is any antagonism between the retail associations and the Board of Trade. On the contrary, we are most anxious to cooperate with them, and in fact do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in the interests of Lancashire unemployed workers, the Government will put an embargo on the export of second-hand textile machinery now lying in empty factories?

The action suggested would be contrary to the International Convention for the Abolition of Import and Export Prohibitions and Restrictions, and to the Anglo-German Commercial Treaty of 1924.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that Germany has put a duty, virtually an embargo, of £400 a ton upon such machinery and so also has Switzerland? Is he further aware that our policy permits our competitors to buy up derelict machinery at scrap-iron prices, and to use it in competition with our cotton manufacturers?

I confined my answer to the question put by my hon. Friend. He asked whether we will put an embargo on the export of second-hand machinery. I have informed him that that is contrary to Treaty. What Germany has done is to put a duty on.

Might I ask my hon. Friend whether the Government will also put a duty on?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply he has returned to the request of the British Chambers of Commerce to receive a deputation to discuss exchange restrictions on our foreign trade and the methods proposed to alleviate the difficulties?

I have agreed to receive a deputation from the Association of British Chambers of Commerce on this subject.

May I ask what action will be taken during the Recess to accelerate the settlement of this question, which is affecting trade so seriously?

It will be impossible within the compass of a question and answer to outline what is proposed. I hope to have an opportunity of explaining more fully to this deputation of Chambers of Commerce the point that my hon. Friend raises.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if his attention has been called to the fact that specifications and terms of an important contract for the purchase of large quantities of textile machinery have been arranged between a Lancashire firm and the Union of Soviet Republics contingent upon a grant of export credit facilities; and has he received any report from the Export Credits Committee on the subject?

I have heard that discussions have been taking place, but I am informed that no application has been received by the Export Credits Guarantee Department. While any application will be carefully considered, I am not able to say what, if any, further Government guarantees for credits for exports to Russia will be available.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this fund is now showing a profit of some £400,000, and that the textile machinery manufacturers have not received very much of this money? I hold in my hand—

Speech!

Hon. Members must not make speeches in asking supplementary questions.

In view of the fact that Lancashire is very depressed, will the hon. Gentleman take steps to see that this contract, which it is suggested should be placed in Lancashire, is given proper facilities?

As I stated in my answer, no application has yet been made to the Export Credits Committee. If the hon. Member cares to see me about the matter, I shall be glad to see him. On the general question of credits for Russia, I have already explained that, if the guarantee of the British Government is to be used, it must be used with due caution and care after examination.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in view of the difficulty experienced by many business firms in understanding and answering the questions contained in the forms required when making application to the Import Duties Advisory Committee for additional duties, he will represent to the Committee die necessity of issuing simpler forms for this purpose?

I understand that the Committee do not require applications for additional duties to be submitted in a particular form, but applicants are supplied with a list of heads of information for their guidance in furnishing a reasoned case on which the Committee can base their consideration of the application. Should an applicant experience any difficulty in understanding the Committee's questions, I am certain that the Committee will be ready to explain them to him.

Is the Financial Secretary aware that many small firms who are not members of trade organisations have experienced great difficulty in this matter?

Difficulties in the initial stages of this scheme are, I am afraid, inevitable, but I am sure that the committee will themselves afford the utmost assistance to small firms and others who find it difficult to grasp the precise bearings of any questions which may be put to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information regarding the progress of the arrangements for the proposed round table conference on the future of Shanghai; and whether, during the Parliamentary Recess, he will endeavour to press forward the deliberations of the conference and secure an early decision upon the problem?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, while I cannot give any undertaking, I can assure my hon. Friend that the matter will not be lost sight of.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give the House the latest information he has on the present situation in China?

I am afraid that it is impossible to describe the general situation in China within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question. The House has been kept fully informed of the position in regard to the important questions still at issue, and I have no information of any recent developments which call for special comment.

As it appears that the Chinese Government—that is, the Nanking Government—are making every effort to bring order in the Yangtse Valley, will the right hon. Gentleman do his best, if a suggestion is made that appears to support a, movement to bring order out of chaos, to do everything he can to help it?

The hon. Gentleman may be assured that we will do everything we can to support bringing order out of chaos into the Yangtse Valley and in every other part of the world.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he intends to get into communication with the Government of the United States of America with a view to obtaining their co-operation in maintaining the policy of the open door in Manchuria?

I have no information to show that British trade in Manchuria is being discriminated against, and assurances have been received from the Japanese Government that the "open door" will be maintained, and in these circumstances I see no reason for taking any special step such as that suggested.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are complaints on the part of British merchants dealing in Manchuria that there is a certain amount of discrimination against their trade, and will he take steps to discover the extent of it?

If my hon. Friend has that information and will give it to me, I can assure him that it will be carefully looked into. Of course, I have been in communication with the United States Government with reference to the position in Manchuria.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now make any statement as to the allocation of the funds for work to be executed in Great Britain under the terms of the China Indemnity (Application) Act, 1931; and what proportion of orders to engineering firms resulting is now being executed?

According to my information, the Chinese Government have approved the allocation of two-thirds of the total funds to railways and the bulk of the rest to conservancy works. The residue is to be devoted to requirements of the Ministry of Industries and the National Construction Commission. The contracts placed in this country up to the 21st December last totalled approximately £347,500. The London Purchasing Commission has, of course, continued its work since that date, but I have no details of the orders placed subsequently.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is an allocation for education purposes?

I am speaking subject to correction, but I think my hon. Friend will find that that has to do with the other part of the fund, and not the part which is dealt with in this question.

May I ask whether the allocation is directly in accordance with the terms of the Act?

We believe so.

Is the right hon. Gentleman certain that this railway material is actually being used for railway construction? It is said to have been sold on the market at a low price.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Permanent Court of International Justice has yet concluded its deliberations on the interpretations of the Statute of Memel; and, if so, what are its findings?

No, Sir. The proceedings are still in progress.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tells us when we may expect the decision in this matter?

My information is, though of course I cannot bind the Court of International Justice, that it may be hoped for in the month of August. It is right to say that the distinguished British representative, Sir William Malkin, was necessarily taken off to Lausanne in connection with the work there, and that involved a short delay.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can make a further statement as to how the work of raising His Majesty's Submarine M2 is progressing and the causes of the delay?

Since the reply given to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) on 25th May, weather and general conditions have been mainly good and the work of preparing and testing the submarine for the purpose of blowing out the water has been considerably advanced. During this work it was found on 23rd June that the main tank blowing valves inside the hull were open, resulting in the interconnection of these tanks, a state of affairs which was not previously apparent. As a result it was found necessary to suspend lifting operations until this unforeseen circumstance could be dealt with. Work continued satisfactorily until 29th June when a change to south-westerly weather made work impossible. On. 5th July, weather and tide conditions were again favourable and work was recommenced and is still in progress. In addition, four lifting pontoons, or "Camels," are being placed in position, one at each side of bow and stern, for the purpose of supplying a further reserve of buoyancy now considered necessary. During the weekend 9th-l1th July, an attempt to raise M2 was made. At this attempt the bow of the vessel was raised some 15 feet without difficulty but a serious leak from the bow torpedo tubes developed; which has proved too great to allow any further attempt to be made until the leak has been located and stopped. It is now considered desirable to seal up the bow tubes so that possible future leaks may be effectually prevented and work has already been commenced on the outboard ends of the tubes, but until this is completed no further attempts can be made to raise the vessel. If the good weather conditions continue, further efforts may be made in the course of the next few weeks, but in operations of this nature it is not possible to give any definite forecast of developments.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if salvage operations begun in 1916 on the "Natal," in the Cromarty Firth, have been stopped; if not, when it is intended to resume them; and if he will state what the terms of the contract with the Middlesbrough Salvage Company were?

Salvage operations under the contract with the Middles-brough Salvage Company have been temporarily suspended mainly owing to the depressed state of the scrap metal market. It cannot be stated at present when work is likely to be resumed, but the contract is not due for completion until February, 1934. The wreck was sold outright to the contractors for a lump sum.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the trial contract for candles placed in April last with the Co-operative Wholesale Society is being satisfactorily fulfilled; and whether the Admiralty propose to renew the contract?

It is too early to say whether this trial contract is being satisfactorily fulfilled, as no quantities have yet been demanded by the establishments at which deliveries are to be made. The placing of a further order with the society will depend upon the prices quoted and upon whether deliveries under the trial order are satisfactory. I regret that this trial contract was inadvertently omitted from the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member on the 29th June last.

Is there any real reason why the Co-operative Wholesale Society should not have these contracts?

I think they have just the same opportunities as others.

In view of the fact that the profits of the Co-operative Wholesale Society are not subject to taxation, will the hon. Gentleman transfer this contract to some firm which pays its fair share of direct taxation?

Is the hon. Member aware that in all contracts the stipulation is made that the lowest tender will be accepted, and has not the Co-operative Society in this case complied with that condition?

I can hardly say that the lowest tender must necessarily always be accepted; every factor has to be taken into consideration.

Would it not be true to say that the conditions set out by the hon. Gentleman are simply the conditions set out when he asks for tenders from any other organisation, and is he not rather surprised to hear such questions put about a people's organisation which is making an honest effort to do business?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air who was responsible for extending permission to the Graf Zeppelin to fly over London and large tracts of this country; and whether he will ensure that this or similar incidents will not again occur?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the Anglo-German Air Agreement, particulars of which are contained in Command Papers 3010 of 1928 and 3663 of 1930. He will see that under this agreement each contracting party undertakes, subject to certain conditions, to grant liberty of passage above his territory to the aircraft of the other.

Would it not be possible to explain to our German friends that the flight of Zeppelin aircraft over this country is easily misunderstood and certainly disliked by a large number of people?

I would ask my hon. Friend to study the Command Papers which he will find in the Library, and, if he cares to see me after Questions, I will point out the salient features of those Command Papers.

Is it not the opinion of the hon. Gentleman that questions of this vexatious nature only disturb the possibility of a peaceful atmosphere between the two countries?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to take any steps to obtain a more complete analysis of the causes of road accidents in order that in the light of the information thus obtained, more effective means may be devised for their prevention?

In consultation with the Home Office and with the Scottish Office, I propose to arrange for a special investigation of the causes of all fatal road accidents over a period sufficiently long to give reliable results. In the case of fatal accidents, information is generally available, in the form of police reports or of evidence before the coroner, which, if properly collated, would enable the cause of the accident to be established with some degree of certainty. The information thus obtained will be set out in a form of return, which has been in preparation for some time, suitable for mechanical tabulation. In this inquiry I propose to act in co-operation with the National Safety First Association, who have done valuable work in this field in the past.

Might I ask if the Minister will make a recommendation to the local authorities for subways to be built where there are large schools, and where children have to cross the roads, in order to avoid this traffic?

That matter does not arise directly from this question, but I will take notice of it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has considered the resolution passed and sent to him by the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland on 1st June in regard to the danger of foot-and-mouth disease being re-introduced into this country through the medium of foreign vegetables; and if he is prepared to adopt the measures advocated in this resolution?

My right hon. Friend is sending the Noble Lord a copy of the reply given on his behalf on 23rd June to questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh Central (Mr. Guy), and my hon. Friend the Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon). He is also sending him a copy of the communication mentioned in the last part of the reply.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the cost during the past year of the garrison kept to guard the legation at Peiping, and also at Tientsin in connection therewith?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 31st May, to my hon. Friend the Member for West Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Dr. Leech).

Could not that money be saved if the British Legation were moved to the headquarters of the Chinese Government at Nanking, or to Shanghai, 600 miles nearer?

That is hardly a matter for the War Office to deal with.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is in a position to make an official statement on the subject of handing over to the Territorial Army in case of mobilisation the undivided responsibility for coast defence?

A detailed scheme, which has been prepared in consultation with Territorial Army Associations, will shortly be promulgated.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office how many tanks of over 20 tons weight the War Office possesses; how many tanks we keep in India and what is their total tonnage; how many are over 20 tons; how many between 10 and 20 tons; and how many below 10 tons in weight?

I do not think it would be in the public interest to publish this information.

asked the Minister of Health the number of loans of £50,000 and under sanctioned by the Ministry for sewage and water works in England and Wales during the six months ended 30th June, 1931, and the six months ended 30th June, 1932, respectively, also the aggregate amount of such loans, respectively; and whether these loans were sanctioned on the ground that the works were necessary in the interest of the public health and well being?

The figures are, for the first six months referred to, 959 loans for a total sum of £4,450,000; for the second six months, 645 and £2,460,000. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the affirmative. Many of the schemes were carried out with the aid of an unemployment grant.

Might I ask if the right hon. Gentleman does not agree that it is false economy to withhold sanction to these loans if in doing so it jeopardises the health of the people?

That, I think, is an obvious proposition.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that it is by no means always the case that withholding of sanction to such schemes endangers the health of the people?

That is also perfectly true.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that doctors have certified that a nuisance at the sewage outflow in the village of Bugbrooke, Northants, is having a serious effect on the health of the inhabitants; and whether his Department is taking any steps to deal with the matter?

My attention was drawn in April last to an alleged nuisance arising from sewage in a ditch at Bugbrooke. I communicated with the responsible local authority, who replied that they are taking steps to remedy the nuisance.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform us whether those steps have actually been taken?

I am actively making further inquiries on that point.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the copies sent to him of the correspondance that has taken place between the American Secretary of State and the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands regarding the renovating of inedible white grease for export to other countries for human consumption; and will he, in the interests of the public health, take the necessary steps to prevent any of this product landing in this country?

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for sending me the correspondence, and I will make inquiries. I should like to inform the House, however, that all lard imported into this country from the Netherlands bears a Government certificate that it is derived from animals which were free from disease at the time of slaughter, and that before the certificate was recognised a specific assurance was given which would preclude its application to any product prepared from inedible grease.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the public assistance committee of the East Suffolk County Council in Lowestoft is paying scales of able-bodied relief at much lower rates than the scales paid under the Unemployment Insurance Act; and whether, seeing that the Ministry of Health have intervened in cases where the scales of relief were higher than those for transitional benefit, he will intervene equally in cases where they are substantially lower?

So far as I are aware, the East Suffolk County Council have not adopted any scale of relief, and I have at present no reason to suppose that they are not adequately discharging their duties in the relief of destitution.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that certain unemployed in Lowestoft are receiving more by way of unemployment benefit than by State relief, and, seeing that the Minister intervenes to prevent the county council from paying scales which are too high, will he not make representations that this county council should at least pay something nearly equivalent to what other parts of the country are paying?

As I stated in my original reply, I have no evidence that the county council are not discharging their duty in the correct manner. If the hon. Gentleman has particulars of cases in which it is alleged that there is undue hardship, I will certainly give those cases most careful consideration.

Thank you.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to convert into smallholdings the various farms on the estate at Lintrose, in the counties of Perth and Angus; and what notice he intends to give to the present occupiers of these farms?

The adaptation and equipment of smallholdings at Lintrose will proceed as current tenancies are terminated after the usual notice of one year in each case. Two tenancies have already been terminated. Notices will expire in two further cases at Martinmas next and, in the remaining five cases on the estate, notices will be served in due course to expire at Martinmas 1933.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that the daughter of a ratepayer in Bath was awarded a scholarship of £40 a year for three or four years, as the case may be, in addition to a State scholarship, tenable at Westfield College, London, and that, at the end of her first year, the scholarship has been terminated by the Bath Borough Council; and what steps he proposes to take by increasing the State scholarship proportionately or otherwise?

From such information as the Board possess, it would appear that the student in question is not a State scholar, but is being aided by grant under the Regulations for the Training of Teachers. These regulations prescribe the amount to be given, and the Board have no power to increase the amount in individual cases.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the need for providing boots for school children in necessitous areas, he will consider the desirability of amending Section 84 of the Education Act of 1921 so as to include the provision of boots for school children under the same conditions as those contained in Section 83 of the Act relating to food?

It is not at present proposed to introduce legislation such as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if steps will be taken at an early date under which the loans granted by the Public Works Loan Board will be given at a figure less than 4¾ per cent.; and whether the interest on housing bonds will be reduced?

My hon. Friend will recollect that, in announcing the War Loan Conversion Scheme on the 30th June, my right hon. Friend expressed his confidence that anyone who might be contemplating the issue of new capital in the market in the near future would forbear from coming forward for a few weeks while the conversion operation was proceeding. It would be contrary to the policy thus enunciated to take any step which might encourage local authorities in the near future either to approach the Public Works Loan Commissioners with requests for advances from the Local Loans Fund or to make a new issue of housing bonds. Accordingly, my right hon. Friend does not propose to make any change in the rate of interest at present, but the matter will certainly be reconsidered as soon as conditions permit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to state the progress which has been made in the applications for conversion of the 5 per cent. War Loan?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of assented 5 per cent. War Loan and the number of holders this figure represents?

As I have already stated, my right hon. Friend is entirely satisfied with the progress of the scheme to date. The flow of continuance applications continues with undiminished strength, over 100,000 having been received by the Bank of England and the Post Office yesterday morning, a considerable increase on the previous average daily intake, and in the case of forms sent to the Bank of England the largest on any single day, since the offer was announced. The total number of continuance applications already received is nearly one-third of the whole number of holdings on the books.

While congratulating the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, may I ask him, in view of the adjournment of the House, whether he will take steps to see that an official statement is issued from time to time, either frown the Treasury or from the Bank of England, as to the continued progress of this admirable conversion scheme?

Yes, Sir; we shall take steps to keep the public informed of the progress of the scheme.

Will precise figures be given, instead of the general statements that have been made by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman and by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the last few days?

Of course, when it is possible to give precise figures, precise figures will be given. In the initial stages of the scheme, of course, it is impossible to give figures which, by reason of the time lag, would not be out of date by the time that they were communicated to the House.

May I ask my right hon. and gallant Friend, before the House adjourns, whether lie is in a position to confirm the statement which appeared in some sections of the Press this week that over £1,000,000,000, or half the total amount, has already been converted?

I prefer to make no pronouncement as to actual amounts until I can do so with the full weight of the official examination behind me.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether trustees arranging for the conversion of War Loan will receive the premium of 5s. per £100 converted, in addition to bankers and stockbrokers?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is yet in a position to state the terms upon which the issue of National Savings Certificates will be resumed?

As was announced in the Press on the 1st July, the new series of Savings Certificates will be issued at 16s., increasing in value to 23s. at the end of eleven years. The value at the end of the first year after purchase will be 16s. 4d.; during the second year interest will accrue at the rate of 1d., and after the second year at the rate of 2d., for each complete period of three months. A bonus of 4d. will be added at the end of the eleventh year.

Will the Financial Secretary bear in mind the importance to working-class investors of an early resumption of the issue of National Savings Certificates; and can he say how soon they will be issued once again?

I would not like to give a precise date, but we are fully conscious of the desirability of starting the issue of these certificates as soon as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the total yield, to the latest available date, of the duties imposed under the Import Duties Act, the Abnormal Importations Act, and the Horticultural Products Act?

The approximate amount of revenue derived, up to the 30th June, 1932, from the duties imposed under the Acts in question was as follows:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government have reached a decision with regard to a number of ex-service civil servants, known as salaried officers, who at present occupy executive positions superior to the clerical class, and have done 10 to 12 years' service; and what the decision is?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. This matter is now under discussion by a special committee of official and staff representatives, including among the latter representatives of the class of temporary salaried officers.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend give full weight to the fact that these salaried officers are supported by an agreement between them and the official side which implies, in the view of many Members of this House, permanent employment for them in positions superior to those of the clerical grade, and that each of them has had a letter which confirms the view that they should be kept in those superior positions, and should not be put down to the bottom of the clerical grade?

I will, of course, keep those contentions in mind, but, as my hon. and gallant Friend will realise, these matters are suitable for discussion in exactly such a committee as is now examining them, where they can be discussed with the representatives of the very class of civil servants whose case he is now bringing forward.

In the event of agreement not being reached in that committee, will my right hon. and gallant Friend undertake that he will not prejudice the position of these men by taking advantage of the fact that the House is not sitting?

I cannot give any undertaking that no action will be taken during the long period between now and the re-assembling of the House.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the increase or decrease in the number of unemployed persons for the four weeks ending at the nearest convenient date to the 27th June, 1931?

The period this year was one of five weeks, from 23rd May to 27th June, 1932. As 25th May was Whit-Monday last year, no exactly correspond- ing figure is available: but taking the period of four weeks from the following Monday, namely, 1st June to 29th June, 1931, the increase was 34,918, and taking the period of six weeks from the previous Monday, namely, 18th May to 29th June, 1931, the increase was 157,952.

Do those figures show that the rate of increase of unemployment at this time last year was about 25 times as great as it is this year?

I cannot do that sum in my mind at such short notice, but it is clear that the increase was greater last year than this.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us which are the industries that are most adversely affected this year?

I think I gave those figures yesterday. My recollection is that coal represented an increase of 87,000, and the rest of industry represented a decrease of 81,000.

Is it not the case that if you add on to the figures already given those unemployed persons who are no longer registered the increase has been much more rapid this year than last year?

If a man is not registering for employment, the presumption is that he does not require our assistance to obtain employment.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied with the progress as represented in these figures?

Considering the worldwide depression, I think they show that we are holding our own.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of individual applications for transitional benefit in the county of Nottinghamshire; the number of individual applicants who have been granted full benefit; the number who have been granted reduced benefit; and the number who have been deprived of benefit altogether for the months of January, February, March, April, May and June of this year, respectively?

As the reply includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will issue a circular to all public assistance committees to the effect that where the delay in granting benefit has been due to the fault of the public assistance committee the unemployed person shall not be prejudiced?

I have no evidence of such delay, but I would point out that any interval should normally be covered by interim payments or by an interim determination by the committee's officer.

Is it a fact that, if an award is made on a Monday but is not communicated by the public assistance committee until the Thursday, the workless man or woman does not receive the award on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday?

That depends on the particular day on which payments are made at the exchange at which he is registered.

Can circumstances like that be altered?

Where it can be reasonably anticipated that large numbers of men will be paid off, and where, owing to the smallness of the staff of the local exchanges, it can be anticipated that there will be delay in granting benefit, can the hon. Gentleman give a promise that extra staff will be drafted in from other exchanges?

That does not strictly arise out of the question, but every attempt is made by the Department to see that as little delay and inconvenience is caused as possible, and we draft extra staff in when there is reason to believe that there will be an emergency owing to the closing down of a particular pit.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the resolution from the urban district council of Hucknall protesting against the action of the Nottinghamshire County Council in superseding the relief committee of the Hucknall district in the administra- tion of transitional benefit; and what action he proposes to take in consepuence?

My right hon. Friend has received resolutions on this matter. This relief committee was not suspended by the Nottinghamshire County Council. It declined to carry out its statutory duty in accordance with the directions of the county council, and, in view of the emergency so created, the county council appointed a committee to carry on the work of administration under powers conferred on them by the Order-in-Council. The county council are taking proper steps to discharge their statutory functions, and my right hon. Friend is not called upon to intervene.

Is it not a fact that the local authority are aware of the local conditions, whereas the committee appointed by the county council are absolutely ignorant of them?

The local committee would not have been superseded if they had carried out their proper functions.

Is it not a fact that the Conservative county council superseded the local Labour committee?

Not until the local Labour committee refused to carry out its functions.

How many local officials have been superseded?

They are not superseded by my Department but by the local county council. I could not say how many others in the country have been superseded.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider the advisability of making it more generally known that applicants under the means test for transitional benefit have a right to go personally before their local committee and ask for a reconsideration of their case when they are dissatisfied with the decision reached on the report of the visiting investigator, as there are still many in the city of Birmingham who do not know of this regulation?

I do not think I can add materially to the reply given to a similar question asked by my hon. Friend on 2nd June.

Can my hon. Friend tell me what that reply was?

It was replied to by the Minister of Labour. I will send my hon. Friend a copy. It is rather long to read out.

Do I understand that the Ministry has not made it known that these persons have a right to go before the local committee if they are not satisfied with the decision arrived at after investigation?

Our information is that that fact is, or should be, well known.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is in a position to say where the centres will be to carry out the scheme for the physical exercises of young unemployed men; and can he state how the instructors will be selected?

A centre has already been opened at Pontypridd. The other centres which it is proposed to open will probably be situated in Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Glasgow. As regards the selection of instructors, the Department has endeavoured to engage the best men available with suitable qualifications.

Can the hon. Gentleman let Members have some Paper telling us the rules and regulations which are to govern attendance at these centres?

They were published the other day in answer to a question. I will send the hon. Member a copy.

Who will appoint the instructors? Will it be the local Exchanges or the Ministry of Labour?

The appointments will be made by the local controllers. They will be servants of the Department, and we are trying to get the very best men we can find in the localities.

Will the instruction include swimming?

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state, to the nearest convenient date, for Perth and Perthshire, respectively, the number of wholly and partially unemployed workers in the linen, glass, and bleaching and dyeing