asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider including a scheme of unemployment insurance for agricultural workers in the measure which he is to submit to the House this Session?

I am afraid I cannot anticipate the terms of future legislation.

Will the Minister be prepared further to consider the matter if joint representation is made by the employers and the employés?

I will consider any representations. I have already had some, but I will consider any further representations that may be made.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position to state what action the Government will take when the present unemployment insurance arrangements end in June this year; and whether he is contemplating introducing a Bill at an early date?

The Government have announced that they intend to introduce comprehensive legislation on this subject this Session. It will not be practicable, however, to bring this legislation into operation by 30th June and a Bill for prolonging the existing arrangements temporarily will therefore be introduced at an early date.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea when the Bill will be introduced?

I cannot say definitely, but I should think it will be soon after the Whitsuntide Recess.

Will the Bill deal only with questions relating to the means test and its present administration, or will it also continue the Anomalies Act at the same time.

The hon. Member had better wait and see the Bill. The Anomalies Act is one of those Acts which expires at the end of June and will be extended.

All in one Bill?

All in one Bill.

If it is the intention to introduce the Bill immediately after the Whitsuntide Recess, will it be printed so that we can see the Bill before the Recess?

I will see that it is printed in ample time for hon. Members to see it before the Debate.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of cases for the last 12 months of ex-service men who have been in receipt of treatment allowances some time during the two years before claiming unemployment benefits and who have been refused because they did not fulfil the 30-stamp qualification?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will include in the forthcoming legislation regulating benefit for the unemployment provisions to the effect that any treatment required by these unemployed and previously insured persons, subsequent to 1933, shall be provided by and through insurance committees, on the same lines as medical benefit is now being administered, and not through medical officers appointed by or under the control of the public assistance committees;

(2) What steps are to be taken to restore to benefit those insured persons

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position to make a further statement regarding the provision of printed application for Work papers for the unemployed?

I have given careful consideration to my hon. Friend's suggestion that a supply of this stationery should be on sale at Employment Exchanges and regret that it is not practicable to adopt it.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of hosiery workers totally unemployed and temporarily stopped on the register of the Employment Exchanges at Nottingham, HuckNail, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and Mansfield in January, 1933, and April, 1933, respectively?

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

In reply to both questions I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of the 4th April to the hon. Member for Newcastle-on-Tyne (Sir R. Aske).

In view of the fact that in the city of LinColn alone 1,000 persons will be affected, will the right hon. Gentleman further consider this question?

No, Sir, I have nothing to add to the previous answer.

In view of the extremely large numbers affected, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the whole question between now and the end of the year?

I must remind the hon. Member that these matters were fully debated during the passage of the National Health Insurance Act last year.

But was the House then fully aware of the social consequences of what it was doing; and will the right hon. Gentleman now try to get us out of the difficulty into which we got then?

Great pains were taken during the passage of that Act to put the House into possession of all the facts.

Is it not possible for the Minister to issue Regulations with regard to this matter?

That would be contrary to the terms of the Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can make arrangements to close the gap between the cessation of sickness benefit and the commencement of unemployment benefit in cases where insured persons have been referred to regional medical officers?

I have now made arrangements whereby an insured person who is summoned for examination by a regional medical officer will be advised to see his own doctor on the morning following his examination. The doctor will then have received the report of the regional medical officer and if that officer is of opinion that the insured person is fit for work, and the doctor agrees, he will so inform the insured person, with the result that he will be able to attend at the Employment Exchange the same morning and claim unemployment benefit. As sickness benefit will be payable up to and including the date of examination by the regional medical officer there need no longer be any gap during which no benefit is payable provided that the claimant satisfies the usual conditions.

asked the Minister of Labour the estimated cost of Great Britain's contributions to the International Labour Office; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing a considered report as to the estimated value of the work achieved so far as it affects this country?

The estimated amount of Great Britain's contributions in the financial year 1933–34 towards the expenses of the International Labour Organisation is £59,500. The annual reports of the Ministry of Labour contain statements of the work of the International Labour Organisation in each year and on this basis it is possible for my hon. Friend and others to form their own opinion of its value.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Hans Altmann, a German subject, was refused permission to land by the immigration officer at Harwich on 16th March, seeing that he informed the authorities that he had no intention of looking for work, that he had friends in London who had offered him hospitality, name and address given, and that he had a well-to-do relative in one of the British Dominions who would be arriving in London in May; whether he is aware that this German refugee, after being refused to land, was escorted back on board ship, kept in a locked cabin during the stay of the ship in Harwich, and then forced to return to Flushing at his own expense; and whether he will make an investigation into the matter with a view to giving this man permission to land?

Hans Altmann was refused leave to land on the 16th March because he was unable to satisfy the immigration officer that he was in a position to support himself during his intended stay of from two to three months until the arrival of his uncle from South Africa and he had no evidence that he would be maintained in the meanwhile by friends. On his being refused leave to land, he was taken back to the ship and placed in the charge of the appropriate ship's officer. I have no information as to his treatment on board by the shipping company, but an obligation rests on the company in such a case to prevent the alien from landing and to remove him from the United Kingdom. There appear to be no circumstances which would have justified the grant of exceptional facilities to this man.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this man is a Jewish writer fleeing from persecution in Germany, that he was invited by friends in London to come here as their guest, that he gave their name and address, and that he had no intention of seeking work here? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the man was told to find 200 marks, and that it was essential that that sum of money should be found before he was allowed to land?

I have stated that there was no evidence that he would be maintained by his friends.

asked the Home Secretary if he is now in a position to say if the colliery owners of Lancashire have completed the scheme for the insurance of workmen who meet with accidents and are entitled to compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act; and can he state what is the position in the rest of the country?

I understand that the Lancashire scheme referred to in my reply to the hon. Member on the 6th April has not yet been carried though, but that further replies from colliery owners are awaited. Revised schemes are under consideration but have not been fiNaily adopted in North Staffordshire or Cumberland. In the other areas arrangements as indicated in my previous reply have, I am informed, been made, but a return showing the position in greater detail has been asked for. The hon. Member may rest assured that I shall continue to pay close attention to this matter.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has yet received from the central council a decision with regard to the quota and the co-ordination of district minimum prices; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect to their recommendations?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on Tuesday to similar questions addressed to me by the hon. Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) and the hon. Member for Widnes (Mr. Robinson).

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that 9,871 fewer summonses on the application of the police for motor-noise offences in the Metropolis were issued in 1932 than in 1931; and whether this is due to a decline in the actual number of such offences or to the fact that the police have not taken action where such noises have occurred?

The Commissioner of Police informs me that this reduction in the number of summonses is accounted for partly by an extension of the system of giving verbal warnings or written cautions in certain types of cases instead of issuing summonses, but that there was also a considerable decline in the total number of cases dealt with. It is not possible to ascribe definite reasons for this decline, but it may be attributed partly to an improvement in the position as regards noise offences, and partly to the fact that the police—and particularly the motor patrols—are concentrating more on the various offences against the provisions of the law which relate to safety and the prevention of accidents.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the prosecution, conviction, and penalising under the Road Traffic Act of South Shields and Gateshead motorists at Jarrow and North Riding police courts, respectively, for alleged offences, after they had themselves reported the circumstances of minor mishaps in which they were accidentally involved; and whether he will call for full reports of such prosecutions with a view to a remission of the fines inflicted?

My attention had not previously been drawn to these cases but I have caused inquiries to be made and I regret that I find no grounds on which I should be justified, consistently with my public duty, in advising any remission of the fines imposed.

asked the Home Secretary if he will consider the advisability of having instructions issued that pedestrians as well as motorists shall observe and obey the automatic traffic signals?

In the interests of pedestrians themselves, I do not think it would be right to advise them to pay regard only to the light signals at intersections under signal control. Any vehicle admitted to the intersection by a green light signal may either proceed straight ahead or clear the intersection by making a right or left-hand turn, and in these circumstances it is essential that pedestrians should watch the traffic itself and not be guided solely by the signals.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman recall the fact that the Chief Constables' reports assign practically the Majority of motor accidents to the fault of pedestrians, and does he not think that this method would tend to minimise these accidents?

Is there any method in the interests of motorists whereby pedestrians could be kept from walking in the streets?

I hope that a reasonable compromise may be found.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the resignation of more than 120 members of the J division of the Metropolitan special constabulary as a protest against what they regard as an injustice done to a chief inspector by the disciplinary board; and if he can state what were the reasons for demanding the resignation of this officer?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the number of resignations received to date in connection with this matter is 53 and that the strength of J division of the Metro- politan Special Constabulary Reserve is now 627. The Chief Inspector was required to resign in consequence of the findings of a discipline board that he had deliberately failed to comply with the instructions of his superior officer and that he had not observed the spirit of an undertaking given by him to a previous discipline board in June, 1932. The board which considered the case consisted of a county court judge, a leading member of the Bar and an experienced solicitor. Their recommendation was approved by the Commandant-in-Chief and confirmed by the Commissioner of Police. The case received most careful consideration, and the resignations which followed would appear to have arisen out of a misapprehension of the facts.

asked the Home Secretary if the medical advisers of the Metropolitan Police force have indicated the ages during which a constable should be in the highest physical condition; and whether, having regard to the prolongation of life as shown in recent statistics, a man aged 50 years is no longer to be considered fit to do the normal duties of a policeman?

The answer to the question is in the negative. But I would suggest that the hon. Member should refer to the White Paper in which the reasons for instituting a short service class of constables in the Metropolitan Police have been explained, and he will see that the case for this proposal is not based on merely medical considerations.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any reasons why these constables should be compelled to resign so early, when Cabinet Ministers can keep on indefinitely into their second and third childhood?

The conditions are very different.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in drawing up his proposed Bill for reforming the Metropolitan Police, he will include any provisions to enable more satisfactory co-operation between that force and the provincial police with a view to the more effective prevention of crime?

I do not think that such a provision would be within the scope of the Bill. My hon. Friend will have seen that it deals only with necessary amendments of existing statutes to enable effect to be given to the proposals in the White Paper which has been laid before Parliament.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that this is a favourable opportunity to bring about a closer liaison between the Metropolitan and the provincial police?

We are always glad to be able to do what we can to assist that, but I do not think that this is an appropriate opportunity.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that these snobbish militarist proposals will not be imposed on the provincial police?

asked the Home Secretary what steps are being taken by inspectors or by the police to prevent contraventions by restaurants of the provisions of the Protection of Lapwings Act, 1928?

The Act contains no provisions for the appointment or employment of inspectors, and it would not be feasible for the police to undertake any systematic visitation of restaurants for the purpose of seeing whether the Act is observed. If information is supplied to them appropriate action is taken, and special watch is kept at places where plovers' eggs are likely to be sold. In March of this year I caused a special notice to be published in the Press calling attention to the provisions of the Act.

asked the Home Secretary how many prosecutions have been initiated by his Department in the last 12 months under the Protection of Lapwings Act, 1928; what proportion of these prosecutions has been against dealers or poulterers, and what proportion against restaurant keepers; how many of these prosecutions were for the sale of plovers' eggs, and how many for the sale of plovers during the close season; and what was the total number of convictions obtained under these four heads?

Proceedings for contraventions of the Protection of Lapwings Act, 1928, are not initiated by my Department, but I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that no prosecutions have been taken in the Metropolitan Police District under the Act during the past 12 months. I have no information regarding prosecutions outside the Metropolitan Police District.

asked the Home Secretary what is the approximate number of ex-Borstal inmates at present serving ordinary prison sentences in His Majesty's prisons?

The information is not available in the form asked for in the question. The latest available figures are contained in the report of the Prison Commissioners for the year 1931, and show that, of 37,417 receptions into prison on conviction during 1931, there were 1,220 who had previously been detained in Borstal institutions.

asked the Home Secretary the percentage number of ex-Borstal inmates reported as having been reformed through institutional treatment during the past year; and what period of time is allowed to elapse before the lads are included in the figure as having responded to training?

The usual method of estimating the result of Borstal training is to ascertain how many have kept free from conflict with the law after not less than two years at liberty. The last review on this basis was made in 1930 when, of 609 persons discharged from Borstal institutions for the first time in 1928, it was found that approximately 60 per cent. of them had not been charged in court again during a period of two years. I regret that corresponding figures for 1931 and 1932 are not available.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a tendency amongst coroners to hold inquests, especially in cases of suicide, in camera; and whether he will issue a circular to coroners expressing the view that in the public interest all inquests, except in exceptional cases, should be held in public?

I am not aware of any such tendency and I have no authority to offer coroners any advice on this matter which is one for their own discretion, having regard to the circumstances of the particular case.

Has the right hon. Gentleman no authority to issue a circular to coroners? Cannot something be done in the public interest to see that these inquests are held in public?

I have no reason to think that the public interest is in any way being interfered with.

Is it not the case that my hon. Friend has been misinformed, and that neither of the two inquests he has in mind was held in camera?

I believe that is the case.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not deprecate these sensational Press announcements in regard to these cases of suicides, as not being for the public good at all?

I think it is most undesirable that these cases should be gone into in the manner in which they are gone into sometimes.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not remember the "brides in the bath case," where the murder was detected only because the inquests were held in public?

Is the Home Secretary also aware that where these cases have been gone into in public several similar cases have followed almost immediately?

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now come to any decision with regard to the application of 5,800 tenants of Addison houses in the Liverpool area for a reduction in their rents; and what is his general policy with regard to this matter?

The application of the Liverpool Corporation for a reduction of the rents of the houses referred to has recently been the subject of investigation and on the facts disclosed I am advised that no reduction is justified. As regards the second part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the report of my Department for the year 1931–32 (pages 100 to 103).

May I ask whether, when considering this case, the changed conditions of the people as between 1921, when the terms of reference to the tribunal were set up, and 1933, were taken into consideration?

Yes, that is precisely the kind of thing which was taken into consideration, and I would remind the hon. Member that it is open to tenants to apply to a rents tribunal.

Thousands of houses in Liverpool have had this rent reduction, and will the right hon. Gentleman explain why Addison houses have been refused the reduction?

May I ask whether, in coming to a decision in this case, further information which is forwarded to his Department will be taken into account.

All information which has reached the Department has been taken into account, and again I would remind the hon. Member that it is open to a tenant to apply to the rents tribunal.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he has received any report from the inter-departmental committee on prices of building materials on the movement of the price of timber Since the embargo on imports of timber from Russia was imposed;

(2) what steps the Government propose to prevent a rise in the cost of building in this country as a result of the embargo on imports of Russian timber?

asked the Minister of Health the effect of the embargo on importations from Russia on the building industry in this country?

I have not received a recent report from the committee mentioned, but the information available to me does not suggest that there has been more than a very slight increase in the price of timber. I shall watch the course of prices.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on current prices this is equivalent to an increase in the cost of the smallest houses of £10; that stocks have been raised in value and that suppliers have also increased their prices?

The information at my disposal does not tend to suggest that there has been so big a rise as the hon. Member mentioned.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what the rise is? If there is a rise in the cost of building material, will he withdraw the embargo which is causing it?

The rise has been very slight, but, if the hon. Member will put down a question, I will give him the exact figure.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether before issuing orders under Section 7 (1) of the Import Duties Act, 1932, it is the intention of the commissioners to obtain the advice and assistance of the Import Duties Advisory Committee in connection with the discharge by the Treasury of their functions under the Act, as provided by Section 2 (1)?

So far as concerns the functions of the Treasury under Section 7, the answer is in the negative. As regards the relations between the Advisory Committee and the Board of Trade, on whose recommendation the Treasury act under the Section, perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend would put a question to the President.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received any recommendations from the Import Duties Advisory Committee as a result of representations made to them before 12th May by the Timber Trades Federation and the saw- milling industry generally in regard to duties on imported timber?

Certain recommendations have been received from the committee in regard to various wood goods; but I am unable to say whether these relate to the particular applications which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind. I suggest that he should await the publication of the committee's recommendations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give any information as to the progress made in setting up an organization to limit the life of passenger and cargo vessels?

I understand that various proposals are under consideration by the shipping industry and if the hon. and gallant Member will let me know the particular scheme he has in mind, I will make inquiries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Chamber of Shipping set up a committee to discuss and consider this question of setting a limit to the life of shipping; and will he not consider the matter from that point of view?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Norway, Sweden, or Denmark place any restrictions upon their nationals building ships in the United Kingdom?

I am not aware of any restriction placed by these Governments on the building by their nationals of sea-going merchant vessels in this country.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform me whether the subsidy given to shipbuilding by these countries was discussed during the recent trade negotiations?

No, I understand there are no subsidies given by these nations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any information in respect to the alteration of certain duties by Egypt; and, if so, will he give the details affecting cotton goods?

I understand that the Egyptian duties on cotton yarns and certain cotton piece goods were modified by Decree of 14th May with immediate effect. I have not yet received full details of the modifications, but I am informed that there is an increase of 30 per cent. in the duties on fabrics of pure cotton weighing 140 to 180 grammes per square metre, unbleached, bleached, and dyed, and that there is a general increase averaging from 10 to 20 per cent. on cotton yarns.

Is my right hon. Friend taking all available steps to ensure that the interests of this essential export trade are properly safeguarded?

As soon as I have the full details, I can certainly consider that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in any forthcoming negotiations for trade agreements with European countries the interests of the fishing industry will be taken into account?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Russian ships are arriving in London with cargoes from Russia; how much these cargoes have comprised Since the imposition of the Russian embargo; and how much Russian cargo, if any, comes through Germany or other European countries?

The proclamation issued under the Russian Goods (Import Prohibition) Act does not cover every class of goods. Russian goods of the prohibited classes can be imported only under licence. The value of the goods covered by licences issued to date is approximately £71,000, of which goods to the value of approximately £46,000 were consigned from countries other than the Soviet Union.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the rise in the cost of building materials, he will consider issuing licences for the importation of Russian timber?

I am not prepared to issue licences for the importation of sawn timber produced wholly in Russia, except where payment had been substantially made before the Proclamation under the Russian Goods (Import Prohibition) Act was issued. Sawn, planed and dressed timber produced from Russian logs in countries other than the Soviet Union also falls within the scope of the prohibition. I find as a result of inquiry that considerably the greater part of the value of such goods represents costs incurred after the logs leave the Soviet Union, and that before the prohibition took effect payment to the Soviet Government for supplies of logs for the present season had either been made, or guaranteed on terms which would not be nullified by a refusal on our part to admit the goods produced from these logs. The exclusion of these goods would not, therefore, affect the Soviet Government. For these reasons it has been decided to license during the present season the importation of sawn, planed or dressed timber produced from material of Russian origin when accompanied by a Consular certificate to the effect that the material last left the Soviet Union in the form of logs. This decision is designed to apply only to logs for which contracts have already been made in connection with the present season's operations.

Will my right hon. Friend consider the conditions under which this Russian Soviet timber is produced before he comes to a decision?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of stocks held in this country of European soft wood suitable for the requirements of the building trade as at the latest date available this year compared with the corresponding date in 1932?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what notice is required to enable the West African Colonies to withdraw from the Anglo-Japanese trading agreement?

As my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade informed my hon. Friend on the 16th instant, the period is 12 months. Notice was given on that day.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the value per head of live cattle imported into the United Kingdom from the Irish Free State in the week ended 13th May, 1933, in the following categories: live cattle under six months old; six months old, but under 15 months old; 15 months old, but under two years old; two years old and upwards, not being cattle known as mIncers; live sheep and live lambs; and other animals?

The particulars required could not be extracted from the statistics of imports generally without a disproportionate expenditure of labour.

Then on what did the hon. Gentleman base his calculations when he made the statement to the House that this change made no difference in the return on the duty, from what it would have been for a 40 per cent. ad valorem duty?

That is quite a different question. My hon. Friend has asked for particulars for one week. It would be very difficult to sort them out.

Can the Financial Secretary not give us the general facts which the hon. Member for Rothwell (Mr. Lunn) desires, apart from the limitation of one week?

I think it might be possible to give them for a longer period in the course of time if my hon. Friend will put down a further question, but it is not possible to extract the particulars for one week without great difficulty.

If the hon. Gentleman has not this information, is it not then the fact that he misled the House the other night in his statement that there was no difference in result between the two forms of duty?

No, Sir, I should never mislead the House. The House was asked to approve an Order changing one procedure for another, and there is no appreciable difference, in the amount of the respective duties, as we are advised by the most competent experts on the subject.

Lieut.-Colonel Heneage.

May I ask a further question? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the House granted that concession very readily on his statement that it was merely a technical change, and that up to now he has not given us, in reply to questions, any reason to believe that it is purely a technical change?

I think there must be some misapprehension. The House of Commons was invited to approve an Order which changed ad valorem duties into specific duties. I gave the reasons why that change was to be made. Before we proposed to make that change we took advice from those competent to express an opinion upon the subject, and I am advised that the duties are, roughly, on an equality.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Are hon. Members entitled to continue discussing this matter when you have already called the next question?

The hon. and gallant Member must allow me to exercise my discretion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture which are the catchment areas in which the musk rat has been found; and whether the catchment area authorities or the internal drainage boards are responsible for instituting preventive measures?

The presence of musk rats at large has been established in three catchment areas, namely, the Severn, the Aran, and the Thames above Teddington Lock, and local authorities are collaborat- ing with the Ministry in the trapping operations which are in progress there. While there is no specific statutory obligation on catchment and internal drainage boards to take preventive measures in respect of musk rats, both sets of authorities are obviously concerned to do all they can to protect their systems from possible damage, and to this end they have been advised by the Ministry what action to take if the presence of musk rats is detected. I may perhaps add that last year a musk rate was killed in the Great Ouse area and one in the Medway area, but there have been no subsequent reports of musk rats in either of these areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the effect upon the profits of British strawberry growers of the removal of the tariff on imported straw berries at the end of June last year, he proposes to take any steps in respect of this season to ensure that the tariffs are maintained for a sufficient period to remove damaging competition from foreign sources?

I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Additional Import Duties (No. 5) Order, 1932, which is at present operative, provides that a duty of 3d. per lb. shall be chargeable on imported foreign strawberries between 1st April and 31st July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can now make any further statement with regard to the action which he proposes to take to provide more adequate credit facilities at low rates of interest for British farmers?

The policy of the Government is to do its utmost to raise the general prosperity of the agricultural industry and thus to improve the credit position of farmers. It is not, however, proposed as part of this policy to set up any State-aided system of credit facilities for individual producers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many farmers who have accepted advances under the credit scheme have had their credit very much restricted—that is, the credit which they had previously obtained from their suppliers—owing to lack of confidence in this scheme?

Is it not a fact that several of the banks are making it very difficult for farmers to obtain loans under the existing Act; and does he think that the Act is being properly carried out?

Does not my right hon. Friend think it more important to secure for the farmers prices which will enable them to make a living than credit facilities which will get them further into debt?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the heavy importations of French flour into this country; if he will inquire to what extent the low price obtained is due to the rebate given to the French millers against their imports of foreign wheat; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the competition in our market of this indirectly subsidised foreign flour?

I am aware that imports of French flour have increased in recent months. The scheme under which French exporters of flour obtained a rebate of import duty expired on 31st July, 1930, and the last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present situation of the scheme under which a catchment area is proposed to be set up on the east coast of LinColn shire?

I am still in communication with the Lindsey County Council as to the extent of the proposed catchment area referred to.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that investigations are being made by representatives of Queen Anne's Bounty into the personal ability of tithe payers to pay tithe out of their general resources and that concessions are being made only on proof of individual inability to pay; and whether, as tithe is not a personal libility, he will take steps to secure that such investigations shall be confined to and concessions made on the basis of the possibility of making the cultivation of the land pay?

I have no jurisdiction as regards the collection of tithe rent-charge and my hon. and learned Friend will thus see that I am not in a position, therefore, to control any investigation which Queen Anne's Bounty may see fit to make before making a voluntary concession to a landowner with respect to tithe rentcharge.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the contract for the 1930 painting of Carlton House Terrace was submitted to any meeting of the Crown Estates Paving Commissioners; why there is no record of such submission in their minutes; and what guarantee they had of the contractors' ability to meet the penalty clauses for unsatisfactory work attached to such contracts?

The tenders for the 1930 painting were opened at a meeting of the Crown Estate Paving Commissioners held on 15th July, 1930, and the selected tender was accepted at that meeting, as recorded in the minutes. A satisfactory banker's reference was obtained as to the contractors' financial stability.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this firm of contractors is Capttalised at £500 only; and does he consider that this was a satisfactory firm?

We got a satisfactory reference before the contract was awarded.

Has the right hon. and gallant Gentleman got any satisfactory results?

asked the Minister of Agriculture why a quantity surveyor was employed for the 1930 exterior painting of Carlton House Terrace; on what grounds this expense was incurred, having regard to the fact that every relevant measurement had been made previously and must have been on record; and whether this charge will be refunded to the tenants who have been compelled to pay it?

The quantity surveyor who was responsible for the quantities for previous contracts died in 1929, and as it was found that the data available were not satisfactory the Crown Estate Paving Commissioners considered it prudent to have a fresh bill of quantities prepared for the 1930 painting. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

In what way has Carlton House Terrace changed Since the last painting in 1930?

I am simply saying that the data available were not satisfactory.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance to the House that the Government will not accept the effective control of civil aviation under any conditions without consulting this House?

The policy of His Majesty's Government is set forth in Annex II of the Air Armaments Chapter of the Draft Disarmament Convention, which was submitted by the United Kingdom Delegation to the Disarmament Conference on 16th March, 1933, and which has been presented to Parliament in the form of a White Paper. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy.

Will my right hon. Friend discriminate between civil and military aviation?

My hon. and gallant Friend will see that the discrimination is there in different sections of the document.

May I ask that nothing shall be done without first consulting this House?

It will be handled in the usual way.

Is it not part of the British, plan before the Disarmament Conference that civil aviation shall be controlled?

The control of civil aviation is under consideration. The British delegation has even made the conditions under which that scheme can be talked about, and those conditions are set forth in the Paper.

Is not the British Empire the most suited for civil aviation, and is it not a pity that it should be restricted?

asked the Prime Minister if he can state the constitution of the British delegation to the World Economic Conference; and whether the Conference will sit continuously until it has completed its work or adjourn, if its task is incomplete, to enable delegates to attend the League Assembly in September?

The composition of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Monetary and Economic Conference will be as follows:

• The Prime Minister.
• The Chancellor of the Exchequer.
• The Secretary of State for War.
• The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
• The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.
• The Secretary of State for the Colonies.
• The President of the Board of Trade.
• The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

As President of the Conference, I shall be unable to attend regularly the meetings of the United Kingdom Delegation and the Chancellor of the Exchequer will, therefore, act as Leader of the Delegation. As regards the second part of the question, this, of course, is for the Conference itself to decide.

Will this House have an opportunity of considering the British case, which I understand the sub-Committee of the Cabinet is said to be preparing, before it is submitted to the Conference?

That was dealt with in the course of the Debate in the House.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us what are the preoccupations that prevent him from attending the meetings of the Delegation while permitting the Chancellor of the Exchequer to do so?

The preoccupations which would prevent me from attending to the details of the British Delegation's work are the Chairmanship of the Conference and the tremendous amount of control that has to be exercised.

Will my right hon. Friend answer my question?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider making a statement which would declare the main points of the policy which the British Government are going to put forward at the Economic Conference?

That does not arise out of this question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the complaints by British commercial interests that they were not consulted in the conclusion of the recent trade agreements and in order to avoid similar complaints in connection with the proceedings at the World Economic Conference, he will undertake that if and when commercial interests are discussed those industries affected shall he consulted at an early stage of the discussions?

It is expected that the discussions at the Conference will turn mainly on broad questions of economic policy, and it is not possible to give an undertaking that there will be consultation with particular trade interests on every question which may affect them. His Majesty's Government intend, however, to make such arrangements as will enable them to keep in close touch with industrial and commercial opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the estimated cost of the arrangement of accommodartion for the World Economic Conference now being carried out at the Geological Museum by his Department; and whether the total expenditure is to fall upon Great Britain?

His Majesty's Government are only bEarlng the extra cost of holding the Conference in London instead of at Geneva. An estimate for this purpose of £18,500 has been included in the Foreign Office Vote for 1933–34 and the cost of adapting the new Geological Museum building for the Monetary and Economic Conference is estimated at £7,500.

In view of the fact that it is estimated that all nations represented at the World Economic Conference will derive some benefit as a result of the deliberations, is there any reason why Great Britain should bear the whole of this cost?

I have already explained that this country does not bear the whole of the cost, but it is bEarlng the extra cost over what would have been incurred if the conference had been held in Geneva. It is in the interests of this country and to the satisfaction of most citizens of the country that the conference should be held here.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now state the position in regard to the Marr Trust or give an indication as to when the Marr College will be available to students?

My right hon. Friend has carefully investigated the question as to whether the Marr College could be opened under some provisional arrangement pending its permanent establishment under an approved scheme for the future regulation of the whole endowment; but he finds that that is impracticable. I cannot say when the college will be available for students; but every effort is being made to press forward a final settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scot- land whether in view of the fall in agricultural prices in the last three years, he will consider introducing legislation to amend temporarily the seven years' rule so as to enable smallholders to apply for a revision of rent in all cases where the rents have not been revised Since 1929?

I am not prepared to introduce legislation on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that in the case of many of these smallholders, unless legislation is introduced to reduce their liabilities, they may be forced to vacate their holdings, and does he think that that would be to the advantage of the State?

No such information has reached me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that many sheep farms in the centre of Scotland are so overrun with bracken that no tenants will take them; that on many other farms bracken now covers one-third of the grazing land; and whether, as the tenants cannot deal with the matter alone, he will consider making special provision whereby the tenants, the landowners and the State may cooperate in reducing this danger to food production?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question of the 9th instant. I have no definite information with regard to the first two parts of the question, but I am aware that this plant is, in places, a serious nuisance. With regard to the last part, experiments have been in progress for some time to discover improved methods of eradication. While that is so, however, I would suggest that the matter is primarily one in which landlords and tenants should co-operate in their own interests. Under present conditions, I am not in a position to offer financial assistance by the State.

Do I understand that my right hon. Friend does not intend to eliminate bracken?

As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, the Import Duties Advisory Committee has under consideration an application for an increased duty on oats and oat products imported from foreign countries, and has invited representations to be made to it by parties interested. Pending the recommendation of that committee, I cannot make any statement on the question of policy.

In view of the fact that this is a, matter of vital importance to Scottish agriculture and that the Government have had well over a year to consider it, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the Government might reach a conclusion apart from the Import Duties Advisory Committee?

The Import Duties Advisory Committee was set up for the express purpose of considering these matters, and until it has reported I am unable to deal with the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information regarding the case of Mr. Geoffrey Fraser?

His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin mentioned the case of Mr. Fraser persoNaily to Herr Hitler on 11th May, and on 13th May the German Foreign Minister addressed to Sir Horace Rumbold a note stating that it had been decided not to continue any further the proceedings against Mr. Fraser, who was being released that day; but that as he was still under grave suspicion of having committed an offence under paragraph 3 of a Presidential decree of 21st March last he had been ordered to leave Germany.

As this British subject has been in prison without trial for six weeks, will the British Government consider demanding compensation for the material loss and the mental anguish which he has undergone?

I do not know what mental anguish the hon. Member refers to.

Would not the right hon. Gentleman suffer mental anguish if he were locked up in a prison in Berlin for six weeks with the possibility of a Hitlerite coming at any time of the day or night?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the nature of the explanations given by the German Government to the five British subjects recently arrested and released; what further steps are being taken in the case of Mr. Mann, arrested and released without explanation; whether compensation has been demanded for wrongful arrest in these cases; and whether any further arrests of British subjects have occurred in Germany Since?

Since the date of the reply given to the hon. Member on the 3rd of May, all the British subjects under detention in Germany have been released. I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement regarding these cases. In the case of Mr. Mann I have nothing to add to the replies given on the 27th of April and the 1st of May to the right hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) and the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks). The replies to the third and fourth parts of this question are in the negative.

Has there been any attempt made to claim compensation for those who have been wrongly arrested?

No, Sir; I would like to say that naturally that question is considered with sympathy, but we must remember that if a man has been arrested under the due process of law and has been released, those facts themselves would not justify a claim by one Government for compensation against another.

asked the Home Secretary whether the figure of £3,381, which represents the average annual cost of the maintenance of the building of the Home Office Industrial Museum covers the total cost of this museum to the taxpayers, or whether there are any other expenses, such as ground rent, salaries, or other charges which are borne by public funds?

I am informed that the £3,381 covers the whole cost to the Exchequer of maintaining this museum, including wages of museum staff but not including ground rent, and leaving out of account the proportion of their time spent by factory inspectors and other Government officials on the general administration of the museum. I understand it has been found contrary to public interest to disclose amounts of rent paid by the Office of Works in individual instances.

asked the Minister of Health whether the whole sum of £5,000,000 of additional Exchequer money provided for under the Local Government Act of 1929 as a margin for the development of total services has been allocated for the first grant period; and, if so, for what purposes the money has been approved?

The £5,000,000 additional Exchequer money referred to formed part of the Annual General Exchequer Contribution under the Local Government Act, 1929, for the first fixed grant period of three years beginning op 1st April, 1930. This General Exchequer Contribution has been distributed among local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The share of each local local authority is applicable in aid of local government expenses generally, and no portion can be regarded as being assigned to any specific service.

asked the Minister of Labour whether figures are available showing the drop in the cost of living of industrial wage-earners in this country, the United States, France, and Germany from the close of the year 1929 till the latest convenient date in the present