asked the Minister of Labour what are the total numbers of transitional cases under the Unemployment Insurance Acts that have been con-

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the approximate saving through the operation of the means test during the current financial year, after making due allowance for the difference in the number of unemployed during this period and during the similar period in 1931?

The saving through the operation of the needs test during the current financial year to date is estimated to have been approximately£28,000,000.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea how much sidered by public assistance committees in the country; what number have had no reduction in benefit; What number have had a partial reduction; and what number have lost the whole of their benefit?

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

Have the Government estimated how many more millions will be added to the local rates to maintain the people who have been deprived of their transitional benefit?

I do not think that that question arises out of the question on the Paper.

That question does not arise out of the Question on the Paper. I could not answer it.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the extra cost of the extra machinery of the public assistance committees?

That question, again, the hon. Gentleman must put down. It is a question as to details, and it is not on the Paper. I think it is very much the question asked by the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams).

Is the £8,000,000 a clear saving, apart from all the other expense incurred in administration?

I am not quite sure about that, but I think not. In that case again, if the hon. Member will put the question down, I will give him the details.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how much this saving to the Unemployment Insurance Fund has cost in Poor Law relief?

This information cannot be given without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the dissatisfaction which exists with regard to the administration of the means test, he will consider the issue of fresh regulations to meet some of the criticisms made and so make it easier for public assistance committees to administer the Act pending the report of the Commission on Unemployment?

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider the desirability of transferring the administration of the means test from public assistance committees to specially appointed commissioners?

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take powers to prevent public assistance committees taking into account disability pensions when assessing means with a view to granting transitional benefit?

asked the Minister of Labour if it is his intention to make a statement with regard to the administration of the means test; and, if so, on what occasion?

As announced by the Prime Minister last night, a statement on the subject will be made at an early date.

asked the Minister of Labour how many commissioners are to be sent to Durham to administer transitional payments; when the commissioners will commence their duties; what their salaries will be; and whether he is in a position to state the name or names of such commissioners?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on any of the points mentioned by the hon. Member.

In view of the statement that commissioners are to be appointed, may I ask when I may repeat this question?

I will communicate with the hon. Gentleman and let him know. I think it will probably be three or four weeks before I can answer the question on the Paper, but I will communicate with him.

May I ask this question? Will the commissioners be the sole judges in interpreting the transitional rules, or will they have same regulations for their guidance?

These questions were asked and answered in connection with a Private Notice Question on the day on which the House reassembled. If the hon. Member will look at the answers, he will see that I answered his question.

As a matter of fact, these questions do not arise out of the question on the Paper; they are outside the question on the Paper.

asked the Minister of Health what communications his Department has received from public assistance committees urging that the Government should provide from the national Exchequer the amount of the increased poor rate, as a result of the administration of the means test; and whether all local authorities who have had to increase the rates as a result of their administration and the consequent increase in out-relief will have such increased amount paid to them from the Exchequer?

I have not received any communications from public assistance committees which attribute an increase in the poor rate to the administration of the needs test, and I would remind the hon. Member that it is impossible for any extra charge to fall on the rates as a result of this test. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in many towns and cities the rates have been increased by some thousands of pounds a week because of the increased Poor Law relief that has to be given owing to the operation of the means test?

There is much misconception on the subject. As a matter of fact, the administration of the means test cannot increase Poor Law Relief, for, just as much as it disqualifies a man from receiving benefit, so it disqualifies him from receiving Poor Law relief.

Is it not more far reaching than that in the effect that it is having, not only on the individual, but on the whole family?

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that public assistance committees are actually sending in resolutions of protest, because they say that in their experience people are being refused benefit and thus being cast on the Poor Law?

There are representations, though not received by me, relating to other aspects of the administration of transitional payments.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman seen statements by the public assistance committees of Newcastle and York? In Newcastle, they say they have increased their estimates by £60,000, mainly due to the operation of the means test?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that it is a misconception to attribute any increase in Poor Law relief to the operation of the means test. It is impossible that it should be so, because just in so far as it disqualifies an applicant from receiving transitional payment, so it disqualifies him from receiving Poor Law relief.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that a charge arises on the Poor Law authorities very often through their having to meet additional outlays in respects other than the direct payment of outdoor relief? I should also like to ask if he has received any representations on the question of anomalies which fall solely on the Poor Law authority?

With regard to anomalies, that is a different question. Perhaps I might have notice of it.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that among the unemployed there are a number of men who have a knowledge of the cultivation of the land; and will he consider the advisability of having a census taken through the Employment Exchanges of those men who are willing to become occupiers of small holdings under a land settlement scheme?

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. I will give careful consideration to the suggestion put forward by my hon. Friend in the last part of his Question.

Although the Government are not able to help a great deal with small holdings, have not they announced that this year they are going to assist the scheme for helping unemployed men to work on their allotments?

Whatever the Government said, the Government will stick to.

I was only trying to bring out the fact that the Government are helping the allotment scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour the attitude of the Government towards the proposals with regard to a 40-hour working week brought forward at the recent meeting of the International Labour Office?

Experience shows that an International Convention regulating hours of labour will not be ratified by the countries which are industrially important unless it can be so framed as to make provision for the very real difficulties that must be encountered in its practical application. His Majesty's Government, therefore, while favouring a full examination of the problem of reducing hours of work without reducing the standard of living of the wage-earning population, have opposed and will continue to oppose any attempt to improvise a Convention which evades the difficulties instead of solving them. Such a Convention will be of no effect save to cause friction and misunderstanding and to delay the solution of the problem with which it professes to deal.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that the matter is well worthy of discussion and consideration from the national point of view, especially in view of the fact that a 40-Ihour week is definitely in operation in certain parts of this country in industry?

If the hon. Member will look at my answer, he will see that that is exactly what I said—that the Government favour a full examination of the problem.

Is it not a fact that the British representative at this Conference opposed discussion or examination of the question?

No, Sir; not at all. As I said in my answer, His Majesty's Government favour a full examination of the problem.

Have the present Government initiated any discussion of a practical nature, instead of merely adopting the negative policy which has characterised them for 14 years?

Arising from the original reply, may I put this question to the Minister of Labour? Our organisation, the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, representing 300,000 engineers in this country, has put forward a proposal to the employers in the shipbuilding and engineering industries for a 40-hour week as a partial solution for the unemployment problem. What sort of support may we expect from the Minister of Labour, representing the Government?

asked the Minister of Labour if he has received the Re-

I should like very much to examine in detail the proposal which the hon. Member mentions.

Is the attitude of the right hon. Gentleman likely to differ from that of his predecessor in the Labour Government?

asked the Minister of Labour if he intends to take the necessary steps to increase unemployment insurance benefits commensurate with the rise of prices in recent months?

The cost-of-living index figures for each month of this year have been lower than those for the corresponding month of last year, and, still more, of previous years. There seems, therefore, no ground for the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of applicants for transitional benefit at each of the Employment Exchanges in Glasgow; the number granted full benefit and reduced benefit, respectively, for the three months ended 30th September; and the.corresponding figures for the three months ended 30th June?

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

I hope shortly to receive this report, but I am not in a position to specify any date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman define what he means by "shortly" We were told long ago that it would be shortly.

"Shortly" means after no prolonged interval. That is what I mean when I say that I hope to get the report shortly.

Seeing that the right hon. Gentleman said about six months ago that he hoped to get it before July, may I ask whether he has any reason to believe that on this occasion his wording is likely to be more exact than on former occasions?

Obviously, as time has progressed, the interval will be shorter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the communication from the Willenhall Urban District Council on the subject of providing work for the unemployed in the form of schemes of public necessity; and what action he is taking in the matter?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the representations which have been made to him by municipal authorities, he will consider the resumption of Government grants towards approved useful works for the relief of unemployment to be carried out by them?

I have received representations from Willenhall and elsewhere. There is, however, nothing I can add to the reply given on 13th July last to the hon. and gallant Member for Louth (Lieut.-Colonel Heneage), of which I am sending the hon. Members a copy.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that, in view of the success of the Conversion Loan, the time has come to allow certain types of work of public utility to be undertaken?

That is, of course, a matter of opinion, but the success of the Conversion Loan does not make it any less desirable not to embark on uneconomic schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many unemployment work schemes in Scotland have been closed down or delayed as a result of the economy policy of the Government; and what action he intends to take to have work relief schemes proceeded with to provide work far the unemployed in Scotland?

I have been asked to reply. I have not got the information to enable me to answer the first part of the question, but I am looking into the matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer him to the reply given earlier to-day to the hon. Members for Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander) and Walsall (Mr. Leckie).

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the total numbers of mine-workers registered as unemployed at the latest possible date; and what were the numbers unemployed in August, 1932?

At 26th September, 1932, the number of insured persons in the coalmining industry classification recorded as unemployed in Great Britain was 405,442. The number at 22nd August, 1932, was 435,346.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action the Government intend to take with regard to the petitions from local authorities in Scotland, asking that the State should accept full responsibility for able-bodied relief; and will he state the amount that has been expended by local authorities in Scotland, from the rates, in the maintenance of the able-bodied unemployed since 1921?

As regards the first part of the question, my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State and the Minister of Labour, are to receiver a deputation from the local authorities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen early next week. As regards the latter part, the amount expended from the rates by local authorities in Scotland in connection with the relief of the destitute able-bodied unemployed during the years from 1020–21 to 1930–31, inclusive, was £12,161,626. In addition, £482,090 was expended from the rates in connection with the relief of dependants of miners during the coal stoppage.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the number of persons killed and injured, respectively, in Great Britain as a result of road accidents in August, 1932?

Figures for Great Britain are not yet available; the numbers of persons killed and injured by such accidents in the Metropolitan Police District in August, 1932, were 113 and 4,844 respectively.

Does not my hon. Friend think the time has arrived when he should summon the chairmen of watch committees and confer with them in the hope of arriving at some means of stopping this dreadful slaughter on the roads?

I am in constant touch with the Minister of Transport to see if we cannot do something to meet a problem which all of us recognise as urgent.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a few days ago the magistrates at Newmarket fined a man only £5 for driving a car at 60 miles an hour through a village?

asked the Home Secretary if he will issue instructions that members of the mobile police force shall not call upon motorists to pull up in connection with offences under the Motor Car Acts unless they are wearing uniform at the time?

It is the general practice of members of the mobile police to wear uniform, but there may be occasions when to do so would prevent the effective carrying out of the duties on which they are engaged. In the view of my right hon. Friend, the matter is one which can properly be left to the discretion of chief officers of police, and as at present advised he does not feel called upon to suggest the adoption of a hard-and-fast rule such as my hon. Friend has in mind.

Does my hon. Friend appreciate the grave danger that arises from the fact that motorists are unable to distinguish whether a person who asks them to stop is a police officer or not, police officers being mistaken for bandits or bandits for police officers, with undesirable results in both cases?

My right hon. Friend quite appreciates the feeling that is growing up among motorists that in certain circumstances it is unwise to stop when signalled to on the road. That, of course, is a circumstance that is well within the mind of the chief officers of police, and no doubt will influence them in the use of these mobile patrols.

Is there any obligation to stop if the police are not in uniform?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Home Secretary what action he is taking against the firm of Messrs. Bates, a cement manufacturing company, of Camberley, Surrey, who employ lorry drivers on the condition that they cover 230 miles in a day?

I am informed that proceedings were taken against the company in question this month for a breach of Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act in respect of one of their employés, and they were fined £10 and £2 5s. costs. I understand that notice of appeal has been given.

asked the Minister of Transport the number of persons killed and injured, respectively, in Great Britain as a result of railway accidents in August, 1932?

The number of persons reported to have been killed and injured in Great Britain as a result of accidents to trains during the month of August last were one killed and seven injured. The figures for the same period for all accidents on railways—exclusive of suicides and trespassers—were 29 killed and 1,792 injured.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the critical position of the railways, His Majesty's Government contemplate introducing legislation embodying the findings of the Salter Report?

In accordance with the undertaking which I gave to the House I have invited certain bodies representative of the interests chiefly concerned to submit to me their observations on the recommendations of the conference. At the request of certain of these interests I agreed to extend the period for the receipt of their replies to the end of the month. In the circumstances it would be premature for me to make any statement as to the Government's intentions in the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport who are the persons who now compose the advisory panel set up in pursuance of Section 23 of the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, as extended by the Railways Act, 1921, and on what dates they were included in the panel; and what committees have, since the passing of the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, been selected from the panel, and the names of the persons who composed such committees?

Shortly after the passing of the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, a panel of about 300 persons was set up, and a few further appointments have since been made. The only committees exptessly selected from the panel during recent years are the Railway Pool Committees consisting of Sir Walter Clock, K.C., Mr. J. Quirey and Mr. Herbert E. Parkes. These gentlemen were appointed to the panel on 13th May last.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the new pooling agreements having been submitted to him by the London, Midland and Scottish, London and North Eastern, and Great Western Railway Companies, he will, in pursuance of Section 19 (3) of the Railways Act, 1921, request the four amalgamated railway companies to supply him with,schedules and copies of all agreements and arrangements providing for the allocation of traffic or the pooling of railway receipts therefrom which were in existence on the passing of the Railways Act and on the 30th June, 1932?

In accordance with the Act, the railway companies furnished to the Minister of Transport in 1922 schedules of agreements and arrangements in existence at the passing of the Railways Act, 1921, in which provision is made for the allocation of traffic or the pooling of receipts. I have no information as to the extent to which the agreements and arrangements in existence at the passing of the Railways Act were still in existence on the 30th June, 1932. I will consider whether the railway companies should be asked to furnish it.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether it is proposed to appoint a committee to consider the question of spelling reform?

No such proposal is at present under consideration.

Has my hon. Friend received a memorial on the subject signed by many Members of the House?

No, I do not think I have.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education at what date Circulars 1,421 and 170 will come into force; and how many children are likely to be affected by the policy outlined in these circulars?

It is proposed that the Regulations which accompanied Circulars 1,421 and 170 (Wales) shall have effect as from 1st April, 1933. No precise estimate of the number of children likely to be affected will be possible until the arrangements to be submitted by local education authorities and governing bodies have been received and considered by the Board.

Can my hon. Friend tell me whether there is any obligation to lay these Papers on the Table of the House?

I understand that the procedure depends on the terms of the Rules Publication Act. Alter a period of not less than 40 days from publication the Board can seal the Regulations, and lay them before Parliament.

asked the hon. Member for Bosworth, as representing the Charity Commissioners, if he is aware that the Henry Smith (Kensington Estate) Charity Scheme provides for educational grants to the children of the kindred; that although educational facilities are granted up to the age of 17 years the trustees have decided only to make grants from the age of 11 years; and if he will make representations to the trustees to alter their decision to allow children of the kindred seven years of age to participate in view of State economy in the educational services, and in consequence of the large amounts transferred from the educational fund of the charity to the unapplied income devoted to London hospitals?

The Charity Commissioners are aware that the trustees of Henry Smith's Charity (Kensington Estate) consider it to be undesirable as a general rule to make grants for the payment of school fees of children under 11 years of age unless in exceptional circumstances. The scheme established by the Court of Appeal whereby (as slightly amended by Schemes of the Charity Commissioners) the charity is regulated allows the trustees a very wide discretion as to the application of income for the relief of poor kindred of the founder and so long as this discretion is exercised bona fide the Charity Commissioners have no power to interfere with it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has further considered the treatment for tuberculosis known as umckaloabo and the cases in which it is claimed cures have been effected; and if he will institute an official inquiry into the merits of the system?

The evidence available in regard to the efficacy of this preparation has been carefully considered on several occasions. I am advised that the claims made on its behalf in regard to tuberculosis do not appear to differ in character or degree from those made for many other so-called "remedies" which have been advertised from time to time and afterwards found to be valueless. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

Can we be assured that the inquiry was one by a committee appointed by the Minister of Health himself?

Consideration has been given by officers of the Ministry, not by a committee.

Has my right hon. Friend gone into the merits of this himself and will he adopt the principle of one of his colleagues and explore every possible available means of inquiry?

The matter has been carefully considered by myself.

asked the Minister of Health how many cases of psittacosis had been reported in this country before the present restrictions upon the importation of parrots were imposed four years ago and how many cases have been reported since the restrictions were imposed; and whether, in view of the inconvenience the restrictions cause, he can see his way to relax or abolish them?

Some 125 cases of psittacosis were reported in this country before the present restrictions came into force and four eases have been reported since. In view of the fact that further cases of this disease have recently occurred in the United States of America and on the Continent of Europe, and that the Office International d'Hygiene Publique have recommended the maintenance of existing prohibitions, I cannot see my way at present to relax or revoke the Regulations in force in this country.

Will the right hon. Gentleman relax the regulations and allow a parrot or a parrakeet which has left this country to be readmitted?

I am afraid that would have the same bad effect as an initial admittance.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that his insistence on the ruling that houses erected by rural district councils in various parts of their district must be tendered for as a whole, leads in many cases to the cutting out of the small local builder and to unemployment in the village; and whether he will leave this matter to be decided by the council itself where they can show that no increased cost will ensue?

I have not made any such requirment as is suggested in the first part of the question, and the answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. My hon. and gallant Friend may have in mind correspondence, in which a misunderstanding arose, with the Kingsclere and Whitchurch Rural District Council. The position has now been explained to the council.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman received some complaints from rural district councils in Berkshire and Hampshire? Has he not had notice of them, since they were published in the local papers?

Yes, Sir, and the matter is made clear in the answer. There was a misunderstanding as to the requirements of the Ministry. It was not required that the tender should be made in one block. The misunderstanding has now been cleared up.

Thank you.

asked the Minister of Health how many local authorities have applied to his Department during the present year for permission to erect houses; how many houses were involved; how many authorities received sanction; and for how many houses?

It will take some time to extract such of the particulars asked for as are available, and I will send them to the hon. Member.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the minimum rate of interest on advances made by the Public Works Loan Board at, the present time to local authorities for the purposes of housing; and when the last change in such rate of interest was made?

As was announced in the London Gazette of the 11th October, the minimum rate of interest was reduced to 4 per cent. as from that date.

asked the Minister of Health the number of mortgages on houses held by local authorities under the Small Dwellings and Housing Acts; and whether, in view of the reduction in interest rates now being charged by building societies, he can take any steps to reduce the rate of interest to borrowers under the foregoing Acts, in order to reduce the number of foreclosures now being made by local auhoities?

Advances have been made by local authorities in respect of approximately 150,000 houses. The rates of interest at which such advances were made were related to the rates at which local authorities were themselves able to borrow and ordinarily could only be reduced now at the expense of the general body of the ratepayers. I am nut aware that local authorities have to make any extensive resort to their powers of foreclosure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any part. of the £150,000,000 exchange credit has been used by the Bank of England to purchase gold?

I am afraid I cannot answer this question since, as was explained in the course of the Debates on the Finance Bill, it would not be in the public interest to disclose the manner in which the Exchange Equalisation Account has been invested.

Is that the answer that the right hon. Gentleman intends to give to all questions relating to exchange credit?

Yes, Sir.

Can we have an assurance that the account is standing in a fairly reasonable way, and that there has been no reckless gambling on the part of himself or his subordinates who are operating the matter?

I think I can safely answer that question in the affirmative.

But you are not sure.

Is the right hon. Gentleman the person responsible for the use that is being made of the taxpayers' money, and can he say whether he takes the responsibility for this gambling with £150,000,000 of our money?

"Gamble" is not the proper word to use. Certainly, I am responsible.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the Government's policy of endeavouring to raise the price of commodities may be very seriously affected by any Bank of England action in going into the market to purchase gold?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of standard barrels of beer brewed from 1st October, 1930, to 30th September, 1931, and from 1st October, 1931, to 30th September, 1932, respectively, and the amount of duty payable thereon in the respective periods?

The particulars asked for are as follow:

Considering the losses which the Exchequer is suffering indirectly and the various trades directly, will not the right hon. Gentleman place before the House a resolution which which at once reduce the duty on beer?

No, Sir. I could not do that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the present conditions under which potatoes are sold; and will he consider the setting up of a commission, with a view to preparing a scheme under the Agricultural Marketing Act, for the better regulation and disposal of this product?

The Government have already intimated in the statement of Agricultural Policy of 11th February their willingness to appoint a Reorganisation Commission for potatoes if and when growers desire this step to be taken. I understand, however, that discussions are at present proceeding between organisations of growers and wholesalers on the details of a scheme prepared by the industry itself.

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman think that this is an occasion when a recommendation might be made to the Tariff Board that only conditional upon such a marketing scheme being brought into existence will the continuation of the existing import duty upon potatoes be allowed?

I do not think that it is part of the duty of the Government to make recommendations of that kind to the Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many Irish seasonal workers have come over to this country during the present year and have been or are at present employed in the agricultural industry?

I am afraid that no statistics are available of the number of Irish workers who come to this country for seasonal employment in agriculture. From such information as is available, however, it does not appear that the number this year has been greater than usual.

Could not the coming of Irish workers be stopped altogether while unemployment continues?

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether these men who come to England are paid the standard rate of wages?

I am afraid that I shall need to make inquiry into that matter.

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether this includes Northern Ireland, or does it only refer to the Irish Free State?

I take it that this refers both to migrants from the Free State and from Northern Ireland. It is one of the difficulties of the situation.

Is not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that they should always be divided?

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the Report of the Pig Commission is expected to be completed?

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the Report of the Pig Commission will be presented and made public?

The Report of the Reorganisation Commission for Pigs and Pig Products has been presented and will, I hope, be published on Tuesday next. I should like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Government, of thanking the chairman and members of the Commission for the expedition with which they have carried out a most difficult and arduous task.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, owing to the shortage of the apple crop in this country, large importations of foreign cider apples have taken place; and if he can state what steps are taken to ensure that these apples are not used in the manufacture of national mark cider?

I am aware of the large importations of cider apples. The national mark is applied to cider made from fruit grown in England and Wales only. To ensure that no foreign fruit or imported cider or concentrated fruit juices are used in national mark cider, authorised cider makers are required to keep records of all such purchases and these records are inspected by officers of my Department.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend satisfied upon the matter?

Yes, Sir, I think so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that Cow and Gate, Limited, are refusing in Carmarthenshire to implement the terms of the recent national agreement on milk prices; and whether he will take steps to bring this firm into line with other parties to the settlement?

The agreement referred to by the hon. Member was between representatives of the producers, manufacturers and distributors, and I have no power to take the action suggested.

In the interests both of the farmers and of the workers of this country, should not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman use the influence of his office in order to bring about a settlement of the dispute?

As my hon. Friend knows, the whole question is being inquired into at present by the Milk Commission, and I doubt whether I can take any further steps usefully at this time.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that there are many other firms like the United Dairies and the Co-operative Societies who are doing the same sort of thing; and will he ensure that they shall conform to these terms?

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the Import Duties have been shown to assist the manufactures of this country, particularly with reference to the reduction of 20 per cent. on textile manufactures?

It is not possible to estimate the effect of any single factor upon the textile industries in recent months, but it is the case that up to the summer industrial production in these industries, as measured by the Board of Trade Index of Production, was greater this year than last year. The position has, however, been affected subsequently by the industrial dispute in the cotton industry.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if the figures of the revenue returns do not indicate generally that trade has not been helped?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many licences for export of military aircraft have been issued by his Department from January to September, 1932, inclusive; and to which countries these aircraft were exported?

A specific licence to export aircraft is required only when the destination is Ethiopia, and no such licence has been issued during the period in question. Six export licences relating to armament fitted to aircraft were issued between 1st January and 30th September, 1932, the countries of destination being Brazil, China and Portugal.

Are we to understand that it is now the policy of the Government to facilitate the sale of bombing aeroplanes to all countries that may purchase them and who, incidentally, may use them upon our own citizens?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish, for July, August, and September, 1932, by categories, the details and the declared value of arms and munitions and naval and military stores, not including sporting arms and munitions, of British manufacture licensed by him for export to Japan and China?

I will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Values will be omitted for the reason given in reply to a question put by the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams) on the 15th June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to ensure that any reciprocal agreement with Scandinavian countries shall be based on a sliding scale in which case purchases from this country shall not be less than 50 per cent. of imports before Preference comes into force?

The House will not expect me to indicate at this stage the lines on which the negotiations with foreign countries will be conducted, but I do not imagine that the basis suggested will be found to be suitable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further steps have been taken to ensure that debts owing to British traders, particularly in European countries, have been, or shortly will be, liquidated, and the restrictions on the export of currency removed?

The restoration of general prosperity offers the only real solution of the present difficulties. In the meanwhile the efforts of His Majesty's Government continue to be directed in the first place towards the mitigation of existing measures of exchange control so far as that is consistent with the economic position of the countries concerned. In the second place our efforts are directed towards securing that British creditors receive treatment not less favourable than those of other nationalities, and in the third place towards the adoption of measures calculated to benefit British creditors without being injurious to British interests generally. Such measures include arrangements of the nature indicated in the reply given to the hon. Member on 5th July last.