asked the Secretary of State for India if he has any information as to whether the land revenue of the Alwar State was increased in the last revision of settlement; and, if so, to what extent?

I have seen a statement that the land revenue of Alwar State was increased in the last revision of the settlement but I have no precise information on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will state what is the present position in respect of British intervention in the territory of Alwar?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can state why Captain Ibbotson, I.C.S., who was lent to Alwar State by the Government of India as revenue Minister following the Meo revolt, returned to Delhi almost immediately after going to Alwar to take over his appointment and has since remained in Delhi; and what steps the Government of India propose to take in the matter?

Captain Ibbotson was withdrawn because he did not receive the co-operation necessary to enable him to carry out his duties successfully. It has now been arranged with His Highness the Maharaja that Captain Ibbotson shall return to the State with full powers as Special Commissioner in the disturbed areas. In addition His Highness has agreed to appoint a British officer as his Prime Minister. In the meantime the restoration of law and order in the disturbed districts of the State is being carried out by the British military force which was sent for that purpose early in January.

Does the statement with regard to the officer's responsibility apply to the Maharaja, the Indian Government, or the right hon. Gentleman?

I think that it applies to the Government of India, but I should like to look into that question.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he has received a reply to his communication to the Government of India as to the desirability of British officers and civil servants proceeding to India, whose passages are paid by Government, travelling by British steamers?

No, Sir.

May I ask whether, in the meantime, the right hon. Gentleman could not arrange for the outward passages of officers and civil servants in British ships, and is he not aware that there is widespread dissatisfaction at this subsidy to foreign steamships by the British Government?

This is a very difficult subject, and I have answered one or two questions upon it before. If my hon. Friend will refer to my former answers, he will see the reasons that I gave in support of the policy I have adopted.

Would the right hon. Gentleman not consider adjusting the leave of British officers and civil servants to within the few days necessary to secure a British passage back to England?

It is not only a question of dates but a question of price as well. It is very difficult to compel a civil servant to pay more for his passage in a British ship than in another ship.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the British steamship companies reduced their rates to the Continental level some six months ago?

Is it not a fact that these officers have to go by the cheapest possible boats on account of the salary cuts?

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will state the reasons why the Government of Madras refused to allow the introduction of the Temple Entry Bill in the Madras Legislature?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement issued by the Governor-General on this subject, of which I will send him a copy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this affects Southern India far more than the rest of India, and are the Government of India anxious to reduce caste restrictions in India?

It certainly affects Southern India to a greater extent, but it is an All-India question which we think can be discussed better in connection with a comprehensive Bill than on a more limited issue in the Madras Province.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman must be aware that the majority in favour of this proposal is much smaller in the whole of India than in Southern India where the question really arises.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the violation of the most-favoured-nation clause in the Indo-Japanese trade agreement; and if the Government of India intend making representations to the Government of Japan accordingly?

If the hon. Member will specify the particular act of the Japanese Government that he has in mind I will consider the question of asking the Government of India for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for India what action the Government of India proposes to take in response to the representations from Indian chambers of commerce, or similar bodies, with reference to abnormal imports of manufactures from Japan into India?

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the Government of India raised their ad valorem duties on non-British cotton piece goods to 50 per cent. last year in consequence of the abnormal imports from Japan.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India are to be represented at the meeting of military experts of the Indian States, to be held at New Delhi this month, for the purpose of considering various schemes of army organisation in the states?

I have no information in regard to the meeting referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any and, if so, what steps are being taken by the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research in India to secure information as to swarms of locusts in Arabia, Persia, and other places outside India?

I have no information on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have come to any decision with reference to the Mysore durbar's case for retrocession of the Bangalore civil and military station; and, if so, what is the nature of the decision?

I am not aware that any announcement on the subject has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have under consideration the question of empowering magistrates to issue injunctions to stop unlawful marriages under the Sarda Act; and if so, when it is expected that legislation to amend the Act will be introduced into the legislative assembly?

So far as I am aware, the Government of India do not contemplate the introduction of legislation to amend the Sarda Act.

asked the Secretary of State for India what contracts for the supply of locomotives and other railway material have recently been placed with continental firms; and if any action has been taken by the India Office to secure that these contracts should be placed in this country?

Of the orders for railway stores recently placed by the High Commissioner for India and by the Indian railway companies in London only some 6 per cent. were obtained by continental firms. In addition some contracts have been placed with these firms by railway authorities in India direct, but I have no information as to the amounts. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 30th November to my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich (Captain A. Ramsay).

asked the Secretary of State for India how long the three prisoners who were acquitted in the Meerut conspiracy trial had been in prison; and whether they received any compensation for such imprisonment?

These three prisoners were arrested in March, 1929. They were released on bail in May, 1931. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that, in addition to the severe sentences imposed on the Meerut conspiracy case prisoners, they are now denied the use of tables, chairs, and lights in the gaol; whether he will state in what class the prisoners have been placed; and what is the value in English currency of the food allowance of prisoners in each of the three classes, A, B, and C?

I am informed by the Government of India that the prisoners were recommended by the judge for "C" class treatment, but are actually being treated as class "B" prisoners by order of the local Government. I have no reason to suppose that they are being deprived of any of the privileges laid down for prisoners of that class. I have not the material to answer the last part of the question.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider the time has arrived, in view of the prolonged time occupied on the trial, to transfer these people, at least temporarily pending 'an appeal, to the "A" class rather than the "C" class?

Prisoners are entitled in questions of that kind to make representations to the provincial authorities. Whether they have made those representations I do not know, but they are entitled to make them.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman himself, in view of the fact that these men might very well be regarded as political prisoners, initiate a recommendation that they might be transferred to class "A"

I think that the fact that the authorities have given them class "B" privileges in place of class "C," which was the sentence of the judge, shows that the authorities are very much alive to their responsibilities.

Has an appeal yet been put in?

I do not know.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that Dr. Choiteram Ghidvani, a doctor in Bombay, was taken recently for a train journey of over 36 hours when seriously ill, was handcuffed all the time and not allowed to buy milk though in an exhausted condition; and whether he will have an inquiry instituted as to the treatment of political prisoners, and especially women and invalid persons, to ensure that on such train journeys unnecessary hardship shall not be caused?

I have no information in regard to Dr. Ghidvani. As regards the second part of the question, the transfer of prisoners is governed by the provisions of the Jail Manuals of the various provinces. These provide for their medical examination before transfer and for their diet during the journey. I have no reason to suppose that any revision is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in the police evidence against Mr. P. B. Sinha, barrister, who was recently sentenced to 18 months' rigorous imprisonment at Benares, one of the charges was that he had sent news about Congress activities to the India League in London; and if he will state under what Ordinance or Statute it is an offence to send information from India to this association?

Mr. Sinha was charged with assisting in the management of an unlawful association—the All India Congress Committe—and convicted under Section 17 (2) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any difference is being made in the treatment accorded to the Indian and the British prisoners convicted in the Meerut case on the same or allied charges?

I understand that there is no discrimination between the prisoners. All have been raised from "C" to "B" class by the Local Government.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of Burma intend to act on the resolution passed by the Legislative Council of Burma in favour of suspending the annual migration, of the Government of Burma to Maymyo as a measure of economy?

I have no information as to the intentions of the Government of Burma in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for India what action the Government of India propose to take in response to the representations from Burmese chambers of commerce and other similar bodies with reference to the reservation of Burmese coastal traffic?

I have not heard from the Government of India on this point, but will ask for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the report of the International Labour Office at Geneva with reference, inter alia, to the possibilities of a voluntary scheme of unemployment insurance in India, especially in respect of separate categories of labour; and whether it is proposed to ask the Government of India for a report on the subject?

I have seen no report answering to the hon. Member's description.

asked the Secretary of State for India what action the Government of India propose to take in response to the representations from unions of Post Office employés in India protesting against any continuance of salary cuts in the Posts and Telegraph Department in order to secure uniformity of treatment of Government employés in this matter?

I have no information regarding the representations referred to.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have under consideration the question of allowing Burmans to enlist in the Indian Army; and when it is contemplated that a decision will be taken in the matter?

Certain classes of Burmans such as Karens are already enlisted in the Burma Rifles, which form part of the Indian Army. The question of enlisting Burmans from other classes in the Defence Forces of Burma, if that country is to be separated from India, has been taken into consideration since it was raised at the Burma Round Table Conference. I cannot yet say when a decision is likely to be reached.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that Karens are not Burmans and that Burmans have been enlisted in the Army before, and proved a most expensive luxury?

I am so fully aware of the fact that I have drawn a distinction in the answer which I have just given.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any estimate has been made of the prospective deficit in the budget of the new province of Orissa after its separation from Bihar; and, if so, what is the amount of such deficit and what subvention is likely to be required for the new province after its establishment?

The deficit is at present estimated at a little over£200,000 a year. I cannot yet give any figure for the subvention from the Centre.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will consider issuing instructions that the animals slaughtered for the food of the British troops in India shall be killed by British soldiers and that the humane killer shall be the method employed?

I fear I can add nothing to the replies I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on the I3th June last, except that the authorities in India are continuing 'to give this matter their attention.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is now the policy of the Army to give vocational training to soldiers before they leave the Service, and will not he consider training such soldiers as butchers, so as to eliminate the abominable Mohammedan method of slaughter?

I went fully into this question on the 13th June, and I really have nothing to add to the answer then given to my hon. and gallant Friend.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the religious susceptibilities of our Indian friends and not do anything which might raise their objections?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will look at the answer of the 13th June, he will see that I dealt with that point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see to it that humane killers are adopted in our own country before they are imported into India?

That is a question which should be addressed to some other Minister.

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the case of Ambika Charan Chakravarthi who has, under the Ordinances, been tried in connection with the Chittagong Armoury case and sentenced to death; whether he is aware that the accused was not charged with or proved to have been guilty of homicide; that the verdict was not unanimous, and that the co-accused was sentenced to transportation, and whether he will have inquiries made as to the possibility of granting a reprieve?

I have been informed of the sentences passed in this case, but have not yet a copy of the Judgment. The accused have the right to appeal to the High Court, and the death sentence cannot in any case be executed until it has been confirmed by the High Court. I am not prepared to intervene at this stage.

May I ask whether the time that may elapse between the confirmation of the sentence and the promulgation of the sentence is about seven days?

It is a comparatively short period. I have sent a telegram to India asking for further information, and I think the hon. Member may rest assured that there is no risk of the execution taking place until I have received further information on the subject.

I will put a question on Wednesday. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will answer then if he is in a position to do so?

I should hope so, but I cannot say.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is proposed to take any action on the resolution passed unanimously by the Burma Legislative Council urging the Government of India to prohibit rice imports into India and Burma except from Empire countries?

I have not heard whether the Government of India propose to take any action.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether vaccination is compulsory in the city of Calcutta, and under what statute?

Yes, Sir, under the Bengal Vaccination Act of 1880.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in any new trading agreement with the Russian Soviet Government steps will be taken to secure the revenue from loss and to rectify the handicap now suffered by British traders in competition with the Russian trade delegation, by reason of the fact that this trade organisation is exempt from the payment of Income Tax as it is maintained by a foreign Government and claims diplomatic immunity?

My hon. Friend' suggestion will be borne in mind.

Does my right hon. Friend realise the serious handicaps that are suffered by the Treasury of this country, as well as by British nationals, owing; to the way in which trading is being carried on by a Government in this case?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of fresh milk and milk products imported into this country to the nearest convenient date during the last six months?

As the answer involves a number of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the figures show an increase or a decrease over the same period last year?

Not without notice.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department for what reason the charge of 2s. is made for entry to the British Industries Fair; and to whom this charge applies?

Owing to the withdrawal of the Government grant of£25,000 for publicity, the Advisory Committee of the London section of the fair recommended the institution of an entry charge to provide funds for the purpose. Except actual exhibitors' assistants and those directly concerned with the organisation of the fair, or those who in some other manner are called upon to render some special service to the fair, everyone is expected to pay for admission in future.

Are the exhibitors themselves invited to make contributions?

The exhibitors are, of course, charged rent for the space they occupy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has in contemplation any scheme for finding land for allotments for unemployed mining villages in England similar to the scheme initiated in Scotland?

The powers under which the Department of Agriculture for Scotland are providing the land referred to are contained in the Small Land Holders (Scotland) Act, 1911. In England and Wales the responsibility for providing allotments is, under the Allotments Acts, vested in local authorities, and the provision of seeds, fertilizers and implements for the use of unemployed persons cultivating allotments is at present greatly facilitated by a grant which is being made from the Development Fund to the Society of Friends. The provisions of the Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Act, 1931, enabling the Ministry to provide allotments for unemployed persons, have not been put into operation, as no funds can at present be made available for that purpose.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied with that state of affairs, or is he holding out a hope that the mining villages of, say, Staffordshire will be provided for on similar lines to those in Scotland?

In the first place, it is a question of availability of funds; but I am sure that the results of the experiment which is now going on in Scotland will be of great interest and value.

Why should Staffordshire be behind Scotland?

They always have been behind.

That is not necessarily so. I have known of cases where an experiment was not regarded as an advantage, but as a disadvantage.

Could not the£900,000 which is being devoted to Territorial camps have been more profitably devoted to the development of agriculture?

I should certainly think that a great many of the people who are taking advantage of that grant are themselves unemployed men who would be very glad of the facilities offered by the Territorial camps.

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman will excuse me, but that was not my question—

This question is about allotments, and not about Territorial Army camps.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent and for what purposes the grant of£10,000 to the National Council of Social Service has been expended?

The purposes of this grant were set out in my answer of the 13th instant to the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. The arrangement with the council is that they are to render an account of expenditure up to the end of the financial year (31st March).

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make arrangements so that information can be obtained by means of questions in this House as to the administration of the commissioners appointed to administer the means test in the county of Durham?

The responsibility for decisions rests entirely with the commissioners in the same way that it rests with local authorities carrying out corresponding duties in other areas. My right hon. Friend does not consider, therefore, that arrangements could properly be made for dealing with this administration by means of question and answer.

The Parliamentary Secretary has not answered the question on the Order Paper as to whether the Minister is going to answer questions put by Members from the county of Durham. Are we to understand that the Minister of Labour has gone on strike and will not answer any questions from the county of Durham?

I said that my right hon. Friend does not consider that arrangements can properly be made to deal with these matters of administration by means of question and answer in the House.

Are we to understand that the Minister of Labour is not going to answer any questions, and that he has gone on strike?

Are we to understand that the only method whereby hon. Members can obtain information is by direct appeal to the commissioners themselves?

As I said the other day, the commissioners are in precisely the same position as the public assistance authorities. No questions are addressed to my right hon. Friend with respect to the administration by public assistance authorities in individual cases, and the same thing applies to the commissioners. It is open to hon. Members, if they wish to do so, to write to the commissioners and to ask for information. If the commissioners can give it, I have no doubt that they will do so.

Are not these commissioners Government servants?

On a point of Order. Is it not a well-known rule that a Minister in charge is under an obligation to answer to this House in respect of any person employed by his Department, whose salary is partly provided by this House?

I dealt with that question the other day. A similar question was put to me on that point. Really, it is not for me to decide.

Is it not a fact that these commissioners are responsible to the Minister, and that if they fail in their duty the only person we can hold responsible is the Minister, whereas the public assistance committee can itself control its officers? If this House has no power, and the Minister has no power, I should like to know who has?

I understand that this question is going to be raised on the Adjournment, possibly to-morrow. It would be more convenient to discuss the matter in detail in Debate than to deal with it by question and answer.

Is it not a fact that the position taken up by the Minister violates the constitution? [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"] Certainly. Here is a public official, whose salary is partly paid by this House, and is responsible to the Minister, and we cannot call in question his conduct. It is an extraordinary doctrine to lay down, and I protest against it.

The action taken by my right hon. Friend in appointing the commissioners was taken under an Order-in-Council issued in accordance with an Act passed by this House, and it must be assumed that when the House of Commons passed that Act it intended the consequences of that Act.

Is the Minister aware that there is nothing in the Act laying down the terms and conditions under which these commissioners should be appointed, which removes them from the jurisdiction of this House—nothing at all?

Would not this question be avoided if Socialist public assistance committees did their job?

From the question put by the Leader of the Opposition, and the answer given by the Minister, is it not a fact that the action taken under the Order-in-Council in no way affects the constitutional position, and that all officers who are appointed by Ministers must be regarded as having responsibility to the Minister, who can be questioned in this House?

I should like to ask the Leader of the House, seeing that the Minister of Labour refuses to answer questions put by hon. Members from the county of Durham in regard to this matter, whether the Government will consider appointing some other Minister to answer those questions?

Appoint Miss Bondfield!

She could not do worse than this Minister.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any special air mail post box has been established in the city of Leicester; and, if not, whether he will arrange for one to be erected?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. So far as the second part is concerned, I am having inquiries made, and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can give any indication as to when he proposes to grant the Croydon postal district a later delivery than that already in existence; what the hour will be; and the number of extra postmen given employment?

I am not at present in a position to say more than that I am considering the possibility of affording a later delivery at Croydon and in similar districts around London.

Can we anticipate during the next five years any answer which may be given on this particular matter?

Yes, Sir. Knowing the value of the statements of my hon. Friend, I promise him that I shall give due weight to his representations on this as on other matters.

Thank you very much.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of accidents that have occurred during the past year to cyclists travelling by night without tail lights; and how many of these were fatal?

Five cases of accidents to pedal cyclists who had neither rear light nor reflector were reported to the police in the Metropolitan Police District during the nine months, January to September, 1932. One of these accidents was fatal. I regret that I have no further information as to accidents of this particular kind.

asked the Minister of Transport whether since the Third Reading of the London Passenger Transport Bill, he has received any definite undertaking from the London and North Eastern Railway Company that it will proceed with the electrification of its suburban lines round London; if so, what lines it proposes to electrify, when it proposes to start, and how long it will take to complete the work; and whether he has received any similar assurance from the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company that it will extend its suburban electrification?

Both the London and North Eastern Railway Company and the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company have informed my hon. Friend that certain schemes of London surhurban electrification are in an advanced stage of technical preparation and, in the event of the London Transport Bill becoming law, will be ready for immediate submission to the Standing Joint Committee of the Transport Board and the railway companies which the Bill proposes to set up. At my hon. Friend's request consultations are proceeding between the managements and technical officers of the different undertakings concerned with a view to the necessary coordination of their proposals. I must add that both the railway companies have made it clear that in the absence of the contemplated co-ordination of London passenger transport and of the cessation of wasteful competition, they will not be in a position to embark on heavy new expenditure for such purposes.