asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of money belonging to Turkish subjects now in the hands of the Public Trustee, and is the amount sufficient to justify His Majesty's Government to make an advance of 50 per cent. to British subjects having claims against Turkey, many of whom are in dire want owing to the non-payment of any portion of their claims?

The total amount of cash belonging to persons in Turkey at present held by the Public Trustee is about £150,000, but it is not possible yet to say what proportion of this will eventually prove to belong to Turkish nationals. The claims against Turkey which have been put in by British subjects amount to £15,000,000 or £20,000,000 sterling, so that the reply to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of the property belonging either to Turkish nationals or to the Turkish Government in Egypt, Palestine, or Mesopotamia, or elsewhere; whether it is vested in the hands of the Public Trustee; and whether it will be utilised to pay the claims of British nationals against the Turkish Governments and Turkish subjects?

The property in question is not vested in the English Public Trustee, and I am unaware to what it-amounts. I understand, however, that the value of Turkish property now in the hands of the Egyptian Public Custodian is somewhat less than 150,000 pounds Egyptian. Under the terms of the Treaty of Sevres, which is not, of course, in force, claims by the nationals of an Allied Power may be charged upon the property of Turkish nationals in the territory of that Allied Power, excluding territory formerly Turkish, but including Egypt.

Is it not a fact that the British Government took over two men-of-war which were being built, in this country when the War broke out, on which a very large amount of money had been spent, and is not the value of these men-of-war applicable for this purpose?

I will have inquiries made.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before leaving London, Monsieur Poincaré signed a note to His Majesty's Government on behalf of the Government of the French Republic in which he upheld that the Treaty of Versailles gave France the right to take against Germany, in case of default, any measures of coercion she deemed appropriate; whether His Majesty's Government has sent a reply to this note; if so, what is the nature of the reply; and what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards this claim?

Some correspondence on this subject has been exchanged between the two Governments. We are quite prepared to publish the relevant papers as soon as the consent of the French Govern- ment has been obtained. In the course of the conversation which I had with Monsieur Poincaré here on 10th June, he expressed the hope that further sanctions, if they had to be applied, would be applied in common.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take an early opportunity of introducing legislation with regard to bills of lading on the lines of the Report of the Imperial Shipping Committee approved by the Imperial Conference, with a view especially to a settlement of the differences between merchants and shipowners?

I hope that it will be possible to introduce a Bill on this subject before the end of the present Session.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that negotiations have been going on for a considerable time over this matter, and will he do anything in his power to facilitate the introduction of this measure?

That has been my object, and I hope to do so before the Session ends.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the House the full information supplied by the Board of Trade to the Committee inquiring into complaints under Part if of the Safeguarding of Industries Act relating to the number of persons directly employed in each of the industries to Which it is now-proposed to apply orders?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to his question of Tuesday last, the 27th June.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the fullest information on the point should be available in the House of Commons?

I should be only too pleased to give all particulars, but the statistics of the Labour Department do not enable me to lay any more information before the House than we have already given.

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman has placed before the House all the information available to his Department on this matter?

Certainly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes under the Draft Order to take powers to exempt enamel and hollow-ware articles used for children's toys, seeing that such articles are not, and never have been, made in Great Britain and that the Committee which considered the case of toys recommended that the duty should not be levied on them?

There is no need to make any such exemption as that suggested, since the Draft Order applies only to domestic hollow-ware.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he proposes to take power, under his Draft Order for imposing a duty of 33⅓ per cent. on imported enamel and hollow-ware goods, to exempt enamelled articles known as blanks which are imported for the purpose of enamelling by British manufacturers?

No, Sir. It is not intended that enamelled hollow-ware which is imported into this country for the purposes of undergoing a further process of enamelling should be exempt from the provisions of the Order.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received any Report of the Committee appointed by him under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act to investigate a complaint as to the effect on employment in this country of the importations of wire nails from Germany: and whether, in considering such Report, he will take into account the fact that the main competition in the manufacture of wire nails arises not from Germany but from Belgium, against which country no complaint has been preferred to the Committee in question?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The hon. Member may rest assured that the Board of Trade will weigh all relevant considerations in considering the Report when received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the recommendation of the Committee on glassware that cruet bottles imported by electro-plate and silversmiths for the purpose of being mounted should be exempted from the proposed duty; whether he is aware that, in the case of sets of six bottles in cruets, the vinegar bottle is not mounted, but is imported with a glass stopper, and that in such a case this bottle would be liable to duty unless specially excepted; and whether he would be prepared to take the necessary action to provide that all cruet bottles shall be free from duty?

The hon. Member is, I think, under a misapprehension. Cruet bottles are not included among the articles which will be dutiable under the draft order.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the quantities and values of glass bottles imported during the years 1913, 1920, and 1921, respectively, for use in the perfumery trade; and if he can give statistics as to exports of perfumery from this country during the years 1913, 1920 and 1921, respectively?

As the answer is somewhat long, perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

Importers of glass bottles are not required to specify the purpose for which such goods are destined after importation, and consequently it is not possible to give the figures required by the first part of the question.

As regards the second part of the question, the following statement shows the quantities and values of perfumery and perfumed spirits exported from the United Kingdom in the years 1913, 1920, and 1921.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will request the Committee appointed by him to consider the advisability of imposing a duty on imported bottles, and to omit from their consideration all kinds of bottles which have been previously dealt with by the Committee over which Professor Sir William Ashley presided?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the nega- tive. The advisability or otherwise of imposing a duty is a matter not for the Committee to consider, but for the Board of Trade and this House As regards the second part of the question, I would point out to the hon. Member that paragraph 5 of the Report of the Glassware Committee, presided over by Sir William Ashley, explicitly states that, products of the bottle-making industry were not brought within the purview of that Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, when a dispute arises between an importer of commodities and His Majesty's Board of Customs as to the levying of a duty under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, the importer can only obtain delivery by payment of the duty demanded, and that when the duty is so paid the applicant is not entitled to take his ease to the Referee, as the Referee will only deal with cases in which the duty has not been paid; and, if so, whether he is prepared to take action to amend the Act so as to remedy this?

The hon. and gallant Member is misinformed. The procedure in such a case is regulated by Sections 10 and II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act and Sections 30 and 31 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, under which the importer may obtain delivery of the goods on making entry and depositing the duty demanded by the Customs pending an appeal to the Referee. The law assumes the existence of a dispute at the time the duty is demanded. If the liability is not disputed at the time of making entry, but duty is paid in the ordinary way without protest, it is not possible to raise the question subsequently.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that most of this work is done by importing agents on behalf of traders in other parts of the country, and if the importing agent pays the duty without having time to take the instructions of his principal, will he then be allowed to go before the Referee?

I am afraid that the law is clear on the subject. If he has paid without protest, there is no power to give it back.

Does not the hon. Baronet consider it a great hardship on traders in other parts of the country, and cannot something be done to remedy this grievance?

I cannot alter the law.

Does the hon. Baronet mean that duties are collected on non-dutiable articles, and then a refund is refused on technical grounds?

I do not mean that.

Is not the whole question in dispute whether duty can be collected on non-dutiable goods?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any consultations have taken place between his Department and His Majesty's Board of Customs with regard to the practicability of collecting the duties set out in the Draft Order made under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act; whether His Majesty's Board of Customs has had an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon the glassware details of the Schedule in question; and whether he has considered the desirability of calling into conference upon this question representatives of those who are specially familiar with the details of these commodities and who at present regard the proposed duties as quite unworkable?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As at present advised I see no reason for adopting the suggestion in the last part of the question, nor am I aware to what particular interests the hon. Member refers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the statement in the last Annual Report of the Medical Research Committee of the Privy Council to the effect that its operations have been greatly hampered by the present high cost of scientific instruments and materials; and whether, in view of the fact that other eminent scientific workers have repeatedly stated that the Safeguarding of Industries Act is the chief factor in raising the cost of instruments and chemicals, and in increasing the difficulties of procuring the same, he will advise the Government in favour of repealing or amending the Act in the interests of the health of the people?

I have seen the statement to which the hon. Member refers. The Report containing it relates to the year ended on the 30th September, 1821, when the Safeguarding of Industries Act was not in operation, and thus confirms the view that the increased cost of research is not due mainly, or even very appreciably, to that Act.

Has the right hon. Gentleman observed that the question does not suggest what he has stated, but that the Act has increased the already high cost of this material?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is able to report the result of his promised investigation into the complaint made to him by a London exporting house that their trade in the export of French optical goods had been diminished by 60 or TO per cent. owing to the duties levied under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, and also the complaint of a London bag manufacturer that his export trade in bags for French opera glasses was being destroyed?

As regards the first complaint mentioned, I would again refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on the 19th June. As regards the second complaint, I understand that the firm in question have been in communication with His Majesty's Customs on the subject, but so far have been unable to produce any evidence of substantial value in support of their claim for drawback.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in answering a supplementary question recently, he undertook to investigate these complaints? Why should he not investigate complaints that trade has been lost to this country?

The question has been investigated, and if my hon. Friend will have some regard to amount of stores liquidated by the Disposal Board, he will find a most potent reason for the falling off in this particular trade at that particular time.

How much of the time of the Board of Trade is taken up in preparing answers to these futile questions?

If my hon. Friend will put down a question, I will see if that information can be obtained.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present position of the inquiry as to the vulcanised fibre under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act; whether he is aware that the complaint laid before the Committee of Inquiry which he appointed does not allege that dumping from America is going on at the present-time, but merely refers to alleged dumping at a past date: whether the Committee which he appointed has any power under its terms of reference to consider a set of circumstances which has ceased to exist; and if it is proposed to proceed with the inquiry, in view of the fact that the present selling prices in this country of imported American fibre are considerably in excess of the prices quoted by the British manufacturing concern preferring the complaint?

The Committee in question heard evidence on the 20th June from which it appeared that the price of American vulcanised fibre, to which the complaint relates, had been raised. The inquiry was adjourned to a date to be announced later. The future conduct of the inquiry is a matter for the Committee to decide, but I am entirely unable to accept the hon. Member's suggestion that the Committee are precluded by their terms of reference from proceeding with their inquiry merely by reason of an increase in the price of the imported article, which may be only of temporary duration.

Seeing that this is a raw material for many industries which are now placed in a state of uncertainty owing to lack of knowledge of whether this Committee is to meet again or not, can the right hon. Gentleman not make some announcement so that these manufacturers will know when and how to get-material?

I quite agree that it is desirable that the Committee should proceed with its work.

His the Committee to recommend a duty, because dumping has occurred, even if the dumping has ceased?

The Committee does not have to recommend a duty.

Is it not likely that this is simply a device to dodge the operation of the Act?

I think it is more than likely.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can supply figures showing the quantities and values of fabric used by British fabric-glove makers imported from Germany during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1922; whether the imposition of a duty on glove fabric imported from Saxony will operate to the detriment of the fabric-glove manufacturers in this country; and why, when the latter are endeavouring to secure Government assistance, he is asking Parliament to consent to a duty which will advance the price of raw material to these manufacturers?

Separate particulars relating to glove fabric have not, up to the present, been required to be furnished by importers to the Customs authorities. I am, consequently, unable to supply the information asked for in the first part of the question. With regard to the second and third parts, I have no reason to suppose that the imposition of a duty on glove fabric will operate to the detriment of the fabric glove manufacturers, since the applications in favour of the imposition of a duty on fabric gloves and on glove fabric were put forward jointly by representative associations of the two industries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the claim for a duty was not made on behalf of all the glove makers, but only of some?

Unanimity is a very rare thing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to cases in which duty has either been improperly collected under the Safeguarding of Industries Act or paid under protest, in which cases His Majesty's Board of Customs say they are unable to refund the sum so collected; and whether, in view of the amounts involved, he is prepared to take action with a view of enabling such sums to be returned when improperly collected?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the duty collected under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act on goods which have been subsequently removed from the Board of Trade lists. Under the provisions of Sub-section 1 (5) of the Safeguarding of Industries Act no repayment of duty can be made in such cases. As regards the last part of the question, I cannot anticipate the debate on the new Clause to the Finance Bill standing in the names of the hon. Members for Whitechapel and Central Aberdeen.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, in view of proposed legislation in another country which will greatly affect British shipping, he will state if any preference is given to British-owned ships in any ports in the United Kingdom: whether all foreign ships enter these home ports on exactly the same conditions as British ships;

(2) whether any preference, as regards charges or dues, is given to British ships in any of the ports of any of the British dominions; and, if so, can he state what dominions give such a preference and whether it is given against the ships of any special nationality?

The general position is that in British ports all over the world foreign ships are at present on a footing of entire equality with British ships.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there are any restrictions or penalties imposed on foreign seamen arriving on foreign steamers at any ports in the United Kingdom, or are such seamen allowed to enter such ports on similar conditions to British seamen?

I have been asked to reply. Under the provisions of the Aliens Order no alien can land in the United Kingdom without the permission of an Immigration Officer. Where the alien seamen in a foreign ship arriving at a British port are remaining on the Articles, a general permission is given to enable them to land during the stay of the ship in port, but where any such seaman desires to land for discharge in the United Kingdom, he must obtain the special permission of an Immigration Officer.

Do the words "United Kingdom" now apply to the Irish Free State?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a specification recently issued by the Port of London Authority describing the installation of eight automatic grain weighing machines to be erected in the Port of London, in which makers are specified of British, American, and German nationality; whether the British makers are named first in the specification: and, if not, will he indicate to the authority that preference must be given in the purchase of such machinery to British manufacturers employing British workmen under the standard conditions of employment the same as in the case of other public bodies administering public funds'?

My attention has not been called to this specification. I have no power to require the authority named to purchase its plant from British manufacturers, but I have no doubt they are aware of the arguments in favour of doing so to the fullest possible extent.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of making representations to the Port of London Authority on this matter, as he has already made representations to the same authority on other matters?

I will think of that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is dissatisfaction amongst members of the mercantile marine and their dependants as to recent decisions of the body which administers thh War Risks Compensation Scheme, by which decisions the pensions and allowances originally awarded to members of the mercantile marine under that scheme have been drastically reduced and the claims of widows and children under that scheme have been, as it is alleged, improperly rejected; and whether, in view of the fact that there is at present no medical appeal tribunal in existence for the purposes of the scheme, he Will take steps to set up such appeal tribunal?

I am nor aware of any general dissatisfaction in the mercantile marine as to the administration of the War Risks Compensation Scheme. Such increases and reductions as have been made from time to time in disablement allowances have resulted from the medical reports, which have to be obtained periodically, as to the degree of impairment of earning capacity. If in any case there is good primâ [...] ground for appeal, an appeal to a special hoard will be arranged. As regards the admission of new claims, I am sending the hon. and learned Member a copy of the statement made in the House on the 9th November last regarding the appointment of a special Advisory Committee to deal with claims of doubtful admissibility.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, as to setting up a regular and not a casual appeal tribunal?

I v ill consider that matter after seeing what is likely to be the result. My information at present is that what I suggest will be sufficient, but I will look into the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade it his attention has been called to the pollution of the sea round our coasts by oil refuse in large quantities being thrown overboard from steamers; and will he take immediate steps to prevent the continuance of this objectionable practice?

I would call the hon. and gallant Member's attention to the Oil in Navigable Waters Bill now before the House, which deals with the matter in question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many meetings there have been of the licensing committee appointed under the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act; and what quorum, if any, is necessary for the consideration and the refusal of requests for li[...]ences to import?

The answer to the first part of the question is 40, and to the second part, one independent member, one dye-maker representative, and two dye-user representatives.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has now ascertained whether the formations massing on the Russian frontier have been in any way reduced as a result of the truce of peace agreed upon at Genoa?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on the 26th June. There has been no further information except that the movement of troops towards the frontiers which was taking place before the Genoa Conference and during the earlier part of the Conference has been arrested.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that steps should be taken to get that information? In the debate about a month ago we got information about the situation. How is it, after his statement of a month ago, that it has taken a month to find out whether these formations have been reduced?

The information I then used was that troops were massing towards the frontier before the Genoa Conference. That was correct. The hon. Gentleman asks me now what has happened since. There is no information of what has happened since, except that the movement has been arrested.

How is it that the Prime Minister should know so accurately before that debate that these troops were massing, and yet cannot take the trouble inside a month to find out what reductions have taken place?

I have given to the House the information I have. The information was from the Rumanian Prime Minister and from the Polish Foreign Secretary. That is good enough information for us to act upon. The information I have had since has come from the same quarters, and it is that that movement has been arrested.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that under Article 3 of the Draft Constitution of the Irish Free State it is possible for a German subject who has been domiciled in the area of the jurisdiction of the Irish Free State for not less than seven years to become a citizen of the Irish Free State; whether, if such German subject becomes a citizen of the Irish Free State in such circumstances, he will automatically be regarded as a British subject; whether there is any Overseas Dominion in which a German subject can become a subject of that Dominion, and ipso facto a British subject, without taking out naturalisation papers, implying, as these do, investigation of that person's suitability to become a British subject; and whether he will make representations to the Provisional Government to amend Article 3 of the Drart Constitution so as to bring it into conformity with the naturalisation conditions in the Overseas Dominions?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second in the negative. The definition of Irish Free State citizenship in Article 3 of the Draft Constitution is not the definition of a national status. There is nothing in this Constitution, or in the Constitution of any other self-governing Dominion which enables an alien to become a British subject otherwise than by naturalisation. The last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

Are we to understand that in this particular case no Ger- man subject who becomes an Irish citizen under Clause 3 of the Draft Constitution can become a British subject in this country without taking out naturalisation papers?

That is what I endeavoured to say in my answer. I consulted my legal advisers, in order to make the point plain beyond all doubt.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Assembly which was recently elected in the South of Ireland to serve either as the third Dail of the Irish Republic or as the House of the Parliament of Southern Ireland is considered by His Majesty's Government as being in any way bound by the Clauses and Schedule of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act; and, if it is not so bound, what authority will the Crown possess in that part of Ireland over which the elections have been held during the lifetime of the recently elected Assembly?

The House of Parliament which has recently been elected is the House of Parliament referred to in Section 1 (2) of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act and its powers are such as are defined in that Act. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

Then the Irish Republic has ceased to exist, as far as this country is concerned?

It never had any existence so far as this country is concerned.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has been able to ascertain if those who were successful at the recent General Election in the Irish Free State were returned as constituting the House of the Parliament to which the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State is responsible, in accordance with the terms of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act, or as members of the third Dail of the Irish Republic?

The House of Parliament constituted as a result of the recent general election in Ireland is the House of Parliament referred to, and is constituted in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 (3) of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act. If, however, the hon. and gallant Member desires further information as to the state of mind of individual members of that House, I regret that I cannot enlighten him on this point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonics whether he is aware that great numbers of loyalists in Southern Ireland have bad their furniture, cattle, sheep, farm utensils, bicycles, motor-cars, and other property stolen by marauding bands without any possibility of recovering them, and have thereby suffered great losses; that, owing to a recent decision of the Irish Courts, those persons have been unable to obtain any compensation for their losses under the Malicious Injuries Acts; and whether, in view of the fact that neither the British Government nor the Irish Provisional Government have for many months past been able to give protection to these British subjects or their property, he will take steps by legislation, if necessary, to provide compensation for their losses?

The: answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The law in Ireland provides for the payment of compensation in certain circumstances for malicious destruction or injury to property, but it has not been thought proper or necessary to extend this very exceptional remedy to cases of theft, larceny, or temporary dispossession. In any case, the matter is for the Provisional or Free State Government, but, in view of the special and extraordinary circumstances which have prevailed in Southern Ireland during the last few months I shall address them on it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the promised Actuarial Report on the Constabulary Force Fund (Relief Branch) has now been completed; and how soon it will be published?

This Report has not been completed, and I fear that it will not be possible to complete it for some considerable time. The preparation of the Report involves obtaining a great deal of detailed information from Dublin, where circumstances are at present unfavourable for the preparation of complicated statistics of the kind required.

In view of the fact that I was promised this Report about two months ago, could not my right hon. Friend accelerate it?

Yes, but I do not want to press a number of matters of that kind just at this juncture, when obviously the authorities in Dublin are coping with a very grave and difficult situation.

Am I not right in supposing that this matter is a matter for the Imperial Government, and not the Provisional Government?

No, Sir. I understand it to depend upon the conditions largely in Ireland.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a speech by the Secretary of State for War at Colchester in which the Irish Provisional Government is told to "govern or get out"; and whether this instruction has the sanction of the Cabinet?

I am informed that the statement in the question is not accurate.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the disturbed state of Dublin, he will arrange that all mails for places in Northern Ireland, hitherto conveyed rid Holyhead, shall be sent rid Stranraer?

As far as possible, the diversion of the mails indicated by my hon. Friend has already been made.

asked the Prime Minister whether there is any medal or decoration which can be awarded by His Majesty to citizens who show conspicuous gallantry in aiding the police in the arrest of dangerous criminals, or in the preservation of life, or in the prevention of crime; and, if not, whether he will advise His Majesty as to the desirability of instituting some medal or decoration, in the nature of a national service cross or otherwise, for the recognition of gallant services of this kind to the State?

The medal of the, Order of the British Empire has been given for service to the State in which conspicuous courage or self-sacrifice has been shown, and under arrangements approved by His Majesty it will be permanently available for this purpose.

asked the Prime Minister what further steps have been taken, and are being taken, by the three principal Allied Powers to bring about peace between Turkey, on the one hand, and Greece and the principal Allied Powers, on the other; whether the Turkish problem is being discussed with Signor Schanzer; and whether the President of the French Council of Ministers is coming to England shortly to discuss this problem?

The question of the next step to be taken by the three principal Allied Powers is under discussion between them. The answer to both the second and third parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Prime Minister when the next meeting of the Council of the League of Nations will take place; who will represent the British Government at the meeting; and what subjects will be discussed?

As at present arranged, the next session of the Council of the League will commence on or about the 15th July. The Earl of Balfour will probably represent His Majesty's Government. The agenda for the meeting has to-day been received from the Secretary-General, and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House. One of the chief subjects for discussion will be the mandates.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to issue in the "London Gazette" any further statement of the reasons for which recent honours were conferred?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the fact that more than 200 Members have put their names to the Motion of the hon. Member for Wood Green—[Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSON—" That it is expedient that a Select Committee of seven Members of this House be appointed to join with a Committee of the Lords to consider the present methods of submitting names of persons for honours for the consideration of His Majesty, and to report what changes, if any, are desirable in order to secure that such honours shall only be given as a reward for public service" ]—with reference to the submission of names for honours: and whether, in view of this fact and the further fact that a Debate upon a definite Motion is advantageous, he will say that the Debate will take place on the hon. Member's Motion?

asked the Prime Minister when the Debate on the Motion standing in the names of 200 Members in regard to the submission of names for honours will take place?

asked the Prime Minister whether the discussion on honours will be taken on the Motion standing on the Order Paper in the names of nearly 200 Members?

I have seen the Motion referred to, and the Government are quite prepared to take the discussion on that Motion. But owing to the continued indisposition of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House (Mr. Chamberlain), I am not yet in a position to add anything further to what I said in reply to questions on this subject on Thursday last.

Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer my question?

I have answered all the questions. Whatever further statements are to be made will be made in the course of that Debate.

When will the right hon. Gentleman be able to say when a day will be available?

I am very sorry to say that my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House is not likely to be in the House this week. I anticipated that he would be here to-day, but I very much regret to say that he is not likely to resume this week.

Is the Prime Minister aware that a further Debate is to take place in another place, and that it would be very advantageous if we could have a Debate here on that account as soon as possible, so that this House may also have an opportunity of discussing this question?

I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government are just as anxious as any hon. Member of this House for discussion, and that the sooner we have discussion the better. But I am not in a position this week, in the absence of my right hon. Friend, to make definite arrangements, and, in any case, it is essential that we should clear certain business out of the way before we can find the opportunity.

Is it the intention of the Government to have an inquiry into the origin of all peerages?

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Member for West Birmingham (Mr. Chamberlain) is only Deputy-Leader of the House, and is not the Prime Minister the Leader of the House in the absence of the right hon. Member? Is the Prime Minister incapable of finding out from the Patronage Secretary which day will be available for the discussion of this business?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, according to present arrangements, the only great Power which will not be represented by important naval unite at the celebration and exhibition in connection with the Brazilian centenary is the British Empire; whether he is aware that the United States and Japan are each sending three important units for this occasion; that no British warship has been seen on the south-east coast of America since the squadron on that station was withdrawn over a year ago; whether he is aware of the desire on the part of the trading community and in all sections of the House of Commons that the British Navy should be represented at this very important event; and whether the Government will, in view of these circumstances, reconsider their previous decision and send a squadron of two battle cruisers to represent the British Empire at Rio de Janeiro?

I am pleased to say that His Majesty's Government have decided, on reconsideration, that His Majesty's ships "Hood" and "Repulse" shall be sent to Rio de Janeiro to represent the British Empire in connection with the forthcoming celebrations.

Arising out of that very satisfactory reply, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Department of Overseas Trade will be requested to co-operate with the Admiralty, so as to make the most of this opportunity in the interests of British trade?

I think that is a very admirable suggestion, and I will pass it on to the Department.

What will be the cost of sending these two ships to South America?

Speaking from memory, I think the cost is £50,000 —perhaps a little over that sum.

asked the Prime Minister when it is expected that the Committee of Imperial Defence will report on the allocation of expenditure to the various fighting Services, seeing that the public expenditure on these forces is nearly double that of the pre-War period?

The question of the allocation of expenditure to the various fighting Services has not been specifically referred to the Committee of Imperial Defence. The whole question of expenditure on the various fighting Services, as already announced, has been referred to a Committee of the Cabinet with a view to the further reduction of national expenditure.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the expenditure on the fighting forces is just double what it was before the War, and yet our Air Force is in a dangerous state of weakness?

I do not think my right hon. Friend has quite made allowance for the increased cost of material, or for the fact that wages have doubled and even trebled in some branches of the Service. It does not mean that your armanents are heavier or more considerable. In fact, taking the Army and Navy, they are considerably reduced as compared with the pro-War period.

When the right hon. Gentleman signed the Treaty of Versailles, I assume he expected that armaments would be reduced?

We have done it.

Will the Committee, to which the right hon. Gentleman had alluded, pass under review the policy embodied in the expenditure of each of the fighting Services—I mean exactly what they are doing with the money?

We must take into account what money is available, and see how it can best be spent.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Committee to inquire into certain matters relating to the relations between the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, presided over by the Minister of Education, have as yet held any meetings, and when a Report may be expected; and if the Report will be published?

No formal meeting of the Committee has yet been held, but some progress has been made by preliminary exchange of views. I am unable to say when the Committee will conclude its labours. A Report will be rendered to the Committee of Imperial Defence, of which this is a Sub-Committee. It is unusual to publish reports of Sub-Committees of the Committee of Imperial Defence.

asked the Prime Minister how long the special Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, which was formed to consider the problem of air defence and development, has been in existence?

The Sub-Committee was appointed on the 31st October last. It has already reported, and its Report is to be considered by the main Committee very shortly.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction felt by both owners of house property and tenants at the unsatisfactory working of and needless litigation caused by the Rent Restrictions Act; and whether, in view of the fact that the Act lapses in the first half of the next year and that owners are already giving their tenants notice to quit, he will definitely say that a Commission will be appointed to review the working of the Act and report before Parliament meets for the next Session?

I have been asked to reply to this question. Considering the complexity of the matter, the Act to which the hon. and gallant Member refers has, on the whole, I think, worked well. The question whether a further inquiry shall be instituted, particularly as to the renewal of the Act, with any necessary modifications, is now being considered.

I have asked this question several times before and I have been unable to get information. When, as a matter of fact, will a decision be reached? Will it be reached before the House adjourns, say, in the middle of August?

I hope so.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the County Court-judges, before whom the administration of this Act has had to be conducted, have expressed the gravest dissatisfaction with the terms of the Act, which have caused great difficulty and litigation?

That is the case with a great many Acts.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that in the Cardiff area there is now no Welsh-speaking inspector of mines; that a Welsh-speaking divisional inspector who has just retired has been replaced by a person who is unable to Speak the Welsh language; that a senior inspector has just been appointed who is also unable to speak Welsh; that these appointments have created considerable bad feeling among the mining community of South Wales; that Section 97 (I) of the Coal Mines Act stipulates that in the appointment of inspectors of mines in Wales and Monmouthshire among candidates, equally qualified, persons having a knowledge of the Welsh language shall be preferred; and that there are qualified senior inspectors speaking the Welsh language who have been passed over in making these appointments; and will he carefully reconsider the matter, with a view to rectifying what appears to be an ignoring of the Mines Act in filling these vacancies in the Welsh inspectorate?

I am, of course, aware that Section 97 of the Coal Mines Act directs that in the appointment of inspectors of mines in Wales and Monmouthshire, among candidates otherwise equally qualified, persons having a knowledge of the Welsh language shall be preferred. But I do not understand how the hon. Member finds in this stipulation ground for criticism of the promotion of Mr. Carey to be divisional inspector. Mr. Carey was appointed an inspector in the district 10 years ago, and has some knowledge of the Welsh language. Nor is the hon. Member correct in suggesting that there is no Welsh-speaking inspector in the Cardiff area: there are certainly two who speak the language well. Of the three inspectors recently appointed to the district only one, the senior inspector, is ignorant of Welsh, and he is learning it, and I am satisfied that no one otherwise equally qualified was passed over in his favour. I gave the whole question of these appointments my most careful personal attention and have been scrupulous in observing my statutory obligations.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that among miners and consumers alike there is a belief that the recent reduction of 9s. per ton for coal sold in London, following shortly upon the coal merchants' statement that they were only receiving a profit of 5d. per ton sold, reveals a system of exploitation; and whether he is prepared to set up an inquiry into the whole facts?

For the explanation given by the coal merchants of the recent reduction in the price of household coal in London, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to him on the 29th June. I do not think that Parliament has entrusted me with any powers that would enable me to set up such an inquiry. The regulation of prices could not be effected by the Mines Department without the reimposition of control.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have looked up the answer referred to and all the other answers, and the more I look at them the more I am convinced that a serious state of things exists; and is the right hon. Gentleman not prepared to take powers to deal with the state of things revealed in the answers given?

I do not think it is possible to know how much attention the hon. Gentleman has given to the answer, but if he peruses it I do not think he will find that it necessarily proves the charge which he insinuated against the coal owners. In any case, I have no power to set up an inquiry into the question without legislation.

In view of the strong feeling which exists upon the question in the mining areas, where people who are starving feel that they have been robbed, is the right hon. Gentleman not prepared to defend these people and set up an inquiry to investigate the facts?

It cannot be done without legislation.

Then why not take step3 to legislate upon it?

That question should be addressed not to me, but to the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House.

As the right hon. Gentleman informed us the other day that 7s. out of the 9s. reduction had been granted by the colliery companies on the pit-head prices, can be tell us when these reduced contracts were entered into and with whom?

No, Sir. What I said was, that the information from the Merchants' Federation was that they had made arrangements with some—I think they said most—of the collieries with which they dealt for a reduction of 7s. in the pithead price of household coal. That, I understand, was after the announcement that the retail price had been reduced.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in the consideration of individual claims for superannuation of teachers who, being physically unfit for active service, have rendered such services in connection with the late War as might be considered essential to the national safety, it is proposed to exclude all services other than actual naval or military service?

The Board, in pursuance of Section 15 of the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, and the relative Rule (19 (1)) treat as service for the purposes of the Act such service in connection with naval or military operations in the late War as they consider may properly be treated in the same manner as actual naval or military service. Each case has to be considered on its merits.

asked the President of the Board of Education what steps are being taken to arrange for the education and care of blind, deaf, physically defective and epileptic children in those areas where no special schools exist?

Local education authorities of areas where no special schools exist can send their children to schools in other areas. I am issuing a circular this week to the effect that in the case of nearly all types of defective children no restriction will be placed by the Board on the number of children sent to special schools by individual authorities so long as the accommodation of existing schools is not exceeded.

What arrangements are made where there is no school within suitable or convenient range?

That is a matter for the local education authority. It frequently happens that the local education authority sends a defective child to school in the area of another authority.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is contemplating the reconsideration of the question of the site for the University of London; whether he regards the Holland Park site as a possible alternative to the Bloomsbury site; whether, in the event of the Senate of the University of London failing within the prescribed time limit to fulfil the conditions under which it is agreed that the Bloomsbury site shall be handed over to them, he has any intention of advising the purchase, either out of money provided from the sale of the Bloomsbury site or otherwise, of the Holland Park site or any other site for the purpose of providing a permanent home for the University?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part, therefore, does not arise. The third part relates to a hypothetical situation with which I am not prepared to deal at this stage.

Would it not be worth while to throw over the whole of the Bloomsbury site proposition at once, seeing that many authorities who understand the thing are convinced that the Bloomsbury site is never big enough for this purpose?

That is a matter of opinion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the London County Council is the local education authority and has passed three strong resolutions asking the Government to reconsider this matter, and does he not think it is desirable for the Government to act upon those suggestions of the local education authority?

That is a matter of opinion.

Has the right hon. Gentleman been informed by the President of the Board of Education that the Bloomsbury site is insufficient even at present?

IS the right hon. Gentleman not aware that if this Bloomsbury site scheme is proceeded with the whole thing must end in disaster sooner or later, and is it not in the interests of the country, and not only of the ratepayers of the London County Council, that the matter should be looked into without further delay?

That is just a matter of opinion and controversy.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the arrangement made with King's College on which the whole acceptance depends, has taken place?

The hon. Member should put that question down.

asked the President of the Board of Education when the North-West London Polytechnic, the scheme for which was formulated in 1892, and the land for which Was purchased in 1893 in the Prince of Wales's Road, Kentish Town, is likely to be erected; and whether he will represent to the London County Council the need for the early erection of this polytechnic to serve an area in the North-West of London which is without adequate facilities for technical instruction?

I am unable to state when the premises for the North-West London Polytechnic will be provided, and in present financial circumstances I do not propose to make any representations to the London County Council on the subject.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the land was purchased 29 years ago, and that the district is greatly in want of technical education?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any arrests or convictions have yet occurred in connection with the recent murders of British subjects in Egypt?

An inquiry into the matter is still proceeding, and several persons have been detained on suspicion of complicity, but no one has yet been charged.

Can the hon. Gentleman say who is conducting that inquiry and whether it is being conducted solely by the Egyptian Government or in consort with representatives of His Majesty's Government?

I should like notice of that question.

Has the hon. Gentleman seen the statement in the Press that 13 British citizens have recently been murdered in Egypt and that no one has been brought to justice?

No, I have not seen that.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the military court in Cairo which condemned an Egyptian to death on the 14th June for being found in possession of weapons, who was found guilty of no other offence, acted under the British military proclamation prohibiting Egyptians to possess firearms?

I have no information as to any trial or conviction which may have occurred under the military proclamation designed to assist the Egyptian Government in putting an end to the long series of dastardly outrages which culminated in the recent murder of Bimbashi Cave.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many women, and of what rank, it is proposed, under the re-organisation scheme, to employ in the Finance Department of the Ministry of Pensions?

I have been asked to reply. It has not yet been finally decided what established posts for women will be provided under the re-organisation scheme for the Accounts Division of this Ministry.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons resident in the localities of Wembley, Sudbury, and Alperton have been employed on work in connection with the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley?