asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in the trade agreement now under negotiation with the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, he will take steps to protect the standard of living of furniture makers in this country against attack by imported articles which are being sold at a price with which no British manufacturer could possibly compete?

The representations of my hon. and gallant Friend have been noted.

Would the hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that, out of 134,000 furniture makers in this country, there are no less than 20 per cent. out of work, and that Russian furniture is coming in here at prices with which we cannot possibly compete—17s. for an oak desk?

I will note what my hon. Friend says. It is always open for the industry to make further representations to the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

Is the Minister not aware that the keenest competition comes from Finland and not from Russia?

Will the Minister say how many industries are waiting for replies from that committee?

Is the Minister not aware of the fact that, as a result of the differences that existed between this country and Russia, thousands of engineers and shipbuilders are unemployed too?

No, Sir.

You know that there are—and steel workers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that while goods exported from Great Britain to France are still subject in that country to a 15 per cent. exchange surtax, French imports from America are not so penalised, in spite of the recent depreciation of the American dollar by over 25 per cent.; and if he will represent to the French Government the hardship to British manufacturers whose goods are in competition with American products in the French market?

The question of securing the removal of the French 15 per cent. exchange compensation surtax continues to engage the earnest attention of my right hon. Friend, and he has quite recently had the opportunity of discussing the matter with the French Minister of Finance and Minister of Commerce.

Is there any chance of the French Minister of Finance putting a similar sur-tax on the American product imported into France?

I cannot say, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the imports of setts and kerbs from Norway and Sweden have progressively increased during the first five months of this year; and whether anything can be done to protect the home industries and the men w ho are out of work or working short time, in view of the fact that the trade agreements entered into with Norway and Sweden preclude any variation of the duties proposed by the Imports Advisory Committee for three years?

I am aware that imports from Norway and Sweden of setts and kerbs have shown a small progressive increase each month of this year, but imports from these countries in the first five months of 1933 were less than in the corresponding period of 1932 and at a rate of less than half the average monthly imports from Norway and Sweden in 1931. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on behalf of the Minister of Transport to the hon. Member for Torquay on 22nd June, regarding the steps which are being taken to promote the use of British material of this kind.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if he realises that if this small progressive increase goes on until the end of the year, probably the imports will then be much bigger than they were in 1932 and in 1931?

Can the hon. Gentleman inform me whether, if the imports of setts, kerbs and monuments continue to increase, the trade agreements will prevent any quantitative regulation being put into force?

In reply to the first supplementary: There is ground for thinking that such a temporary increase is due entirely Co seasonal causes in regard to road-building programmes. With regard to the second supplementary: The Norwegian and Swedish agreements conventionalised the duty at 15 per cent. I understand that there are restrictions on quantitative regulation.

Will the hon. Gentleman confer with the Minister of Transport with a view to reducing the grants to local authorities who use foreign kerbs and setts?

rose—

We cannot spend such a long time on each question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make any further statement with regard to the progress of the preliminary Anglo-Japanese commercial negotiations?

I am afraid I cannot at present add anything to the statement made in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Ardwick (Captain Fuller) on 4th July.

Do the Government contemplate carrying out the Report of the Betting Commission Is it not absurd to set up commissions and committees if their recommendations are not carried out?

May I point out that my question refers to Anglo-Japanese trade, and has nothing to do with the Betting Commission? Are the negotiations still going on?

I hope it will be possible to make a further statement before the House rises. Close contact is being maintained with the industries concerned. If my hon. and gallant Friend will put down a question later, I hope to be able to say something.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation which will enable more drastic action to be taken against manufacturers and traders who promote the sale of their goods in this country by applying to them the title British when that title is not fully justified?

The Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, makes it unlawful to apply to goods a trade description which is false as regards the place of manufacture. Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will let me know in what respect he thinks that the Act needs strengthening.

Has the attention of the Department been called to public exhibitions in which exhibits shown as British goods have been found on examination to be foreign?

I think that some such cases have been brought to our notice.

Has any-action been taken?

I think so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the recent increase of imported foreign typewriters; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

I am aware that there has been an increase in the numbers of typewriters imported from foreign countries in recent months. As regards the second part of the question, it is open to the trade to make application to the Import Duties Advisory Committee for an increase in the rate of duty.

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask him whether it is not the fact that the great difference which has occurred in the rate of exchange between this country and America was not taken into account by the Committee in fixing the duty; and whether the devaluation of the American exchange does not wipe out the main material benefit which the typewriter trade had at its inception?

Of course, it is not possible for me to say what was in the mind of the Committee in fixing the rate of duty, but it is an interesting fact that the imports from Canada are very much smaller, the imports from Germany have remained exactly the same, and the imports from the United States show a very considerable increase.

Is not the fall in Canadian imports due to the fact that an end has been put to what was an obvious ramp?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of timber from Russia have been landed during the past three weeks; what amounts are involved in contracts for the coming 12 months; whether he is aware that the bulk of British railway-sleeper requirements are being supplied this year by Russia; and what, respectively, are the prices per standard and per sleeper quoted by Russia and Canada?

As regards the first part of the question, the Trade and Navigation Accounts relate to monthly periods only. As regards the remaining parts of the question, I regret that the information for which my hon. and gallant Friend is asking is not available from official sources.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend endeavour to obtain it from unofficial sources?

Yes; if my hon. and gallant Friend wishes it, I will make inquiries from trade sources in regard to these matters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of factories in which totalisator machinery is manufactured; and what effect there has been on employment in those factories through the cessation of totalisator operations on greyhound courses?

I understand there are some 10 firms who are engaged wholly or partly in the manufacture of totalisator machinery, but I have no information as to the effect on employment, in those firms, of the cessation of totalisator operations on greyhound courses.

Can the hon. and gallant Member do something to obtain this information?

I am afraid that it would be impossible to get accurate information.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any charge was borne by the Treasury in respect of the visit of the Guards' band to Cannes at Easter and to Paris last week; and whether it is contemplated sending Guards' bands to any of the Dominions, in view of the success of the visit to South Africa two or three years ago?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Arrangements have been made for the band and pipers of the Scots Guards to visit the Canadian National Exhibition at Toronto during the autumn. The possibility of a visit of the band of the Coldstream Guards to Australia is at present under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of paragraph 3 of Appendix XIX King's Regulations, appertaining to inventions by officers, etc., employed by the War Department, he will accept responsibility for infringement of the inventor's patent rights by the United States War Department in the case of the Liddell Patent Hut, No. 113,376 of 1917, the subject matter of which was communicated to the United States War Department in Paris by the personnel of His Majesty's War Department?

No, Sir; my right hon. Friend can accept no responsibility in the matter, nor does he accept the implication contained in the last part of the question.

Is it to be understood that serving soldiers cannot look to the Government for protection under King's Regulations in respect of their inventions made and used by other nations?

My information is that this is paid not only by the American Government but by the British Government, and that is an indication that the British Government do look after their own nationals.

I have documentary evidence to the effect that in this case nothing has been paid. If I give the correspondence to my hon. Friend will he have the matter looked into?

I am sure that my right hon. Friend will be pleased to receive the correspondence and to discuss the matter with my hen. and gallant Friend at any time that suits him.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is now the position with regard to the operation of the Agricultural Credits (Scotland) Act?

I am not in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to a similar question addressed to me by the hon. and gallant Member for Banffshire (Sir M. Wood) on the 20th ultimo, but I may say that I hope to see a representative of the corporation next Monday, when I shall see what can be done to expedite procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can give the names of the towns in Scotland which have returned, in reply to official inquiry, the notification that they have no slums?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a list of burghs in which the town council, after the passing of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1930, indicated that no new houses were required to replace unfit houses which ought to be demolished or closed. I may add that local authorities are required under the Act to submit further statements as to housing requirements in their areas at the end of 1933.

Would it be possible to give some form of bonus of recognition to those local authorities who are able to make nil returns in regard to slums, so as to stimulate the disappearance of slums?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if Dumbarton and Clydebank are scheduled as distressed areas for the purpose of grant; how much of the £60,000 allocated to Scotland for the relief of distressed areas will be given to each burgh; and will he state the number of unemployed in both towns and the amount expended by each on able-bodied relief during the financial year ended May, 1933?

Until returns of expenditure and other relevant information have been received and examined, it is not possible to give definite particulars of the apportionment of the grant among the local authorities concerned, but on the estimated figures at present available it would seem that the town council of Dumbarton will receive Fibout £600, and the town council of Clydebank about £2,600. It should be understood that these figures are at present merely approximations, and must not be taken as final figures. As regards the last part of the question, at 15th June, 1933, there were in Dumbarton 620 persons with 621 dependants, and in Clydebank 1,833 persons with 5,952 dependants, in receipt of able-bodied relief. The approximate amount expended on able-bodied relief during the year ended 15th May, 1933, was £11,400 in Dumbarton and £33,400 in Clydebank.

Does not the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, in the presence of the Secretary of State for Scotland, think that the amount of £60,000 which has been allocated to Scotland is a scandal, coming from the same Government that have given £14,000,000 to the brewers and £2,000,000 to the Arabs?

Mr. Neil Maclean.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the expenditure by the Glasgow Public Assistance Committee on able-bodied poor relief is estimated to amount to approximately £1,000,000 during this municipal financial year; whether he can state the amount of relief that is to be allocated to Glasgow from the £60,000 allocated to Scotland; and whether in view of the inadequacy of this sum to assist the areas in Scotland where unemployment is most severe, a special grant will be made to Scotland in addition to the total grant?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, until returns of expenditure and other particulars have been received from the various local authorities concerned it is not possible to give definite details of the apportionment of the grant, but, on the estimated figures at present available, it would seem that the Corporation of Glasgow will receive the maximum grant allowable, namely, £40,000. As regards the last part of the question, the total of £60,000 has been voted for distribution to the distressed areas of Scotland and it is not proposed to make a special grant in addition to that total.

Since the Glasgow Corporation have admittedly spent £1,000,000 for the purpose of meeting what is a national problem, while the portion of this grant which they will receive is only about £40,000, does not the hon. Gentleman consider it absolutely necessary that both he and the Secretary of State should approach the Cabinet and insist upon a larger grant than is presently being made?

No, Sir. It must be kept in view that this grant is in addition to the block grant for the new period, out of which an actual total of at least £68,000 extra goes to Glasgow.

Could the hon. Gentleman persuade the Government to give a few millions for this purpose from the Exchange Equalisation Fund?

Is the Under-Secretary satisfied that the Secretary of State for Scotland, representing Scotland in the Cabinet, is standing up for Scotland as he ought to do?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the mileage of footpaths in the various crofting townships of the Outer Hebrides; and when, and how, the Government propose to widen these footpaths into roads suitable for vehicular traffic, so that the people existing in these distressed areas may be able to convey their sick, their dead, their food, and the necessities of home and croft according to their needs?

I regret that information is not available as to the mileage of the footpaths referred to in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, the conversion of footpaths into roads suitable for vehicular traffic is a matter for the county councils concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that deaths from appendicitis and peritonitis have occurred in these areas where vehicles could not go; that the people living in these areas have to carry all their household and crofting requirements on their backs like beasts of burden; and will he not do something to broaden these roads to relieve the people from this sort of life and introduce humane conditions? Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the county councils of Ross and Cromarty and Inverness have taken up the question of these footpaths without success, and will he try to get into touch with the county councils, the Ministry of Transport, and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, in order to solve the problem?

I am not aware of the particular facts to which my hon. Friend has referred, but, in view of what he has told me to-day, and of the grave issue which he has raised, I will inquire into the matter with him.

When the right hon. Gentleman goes on a tour with the "Minna,"will he go and see some of these footpath townships for himself and ascertain the kind of life which these people have to submit to?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Government have any policy to assist by way of grants or loans those fishermen of the Outer Hebrides who served in the Navy and as mine-sweepers during the great War, and returned home to find that their boats in the interval had either been lost or rendered useless?

It would not be possible at this date to formulate a scheme such as my hon. Friend suggests; but I may remind him that since the War various schemes of assistance to Scottish ex-service fishermen have been in operation, in which the fishermen of the Outer Hebrides participated. My hon. Friend is perhaps not aware that out of 1,400 grants made to fishermen shortly after the War under the civil liabilities scheme, no fewer than 500 related to the Outer Hebrides.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not refer to naval gratuities to which the men were entitled by reason of service like all other naval men, and the housing schemes for fishermen in certain areas, rather than to the sacrifices which the men had actually made in the loss of their boats?

The information supplied to me is that these sums are chargeable by way of loan or advance to fishermen who have lost their boats and who have done service to the nation during the Great War.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will state the names of the officials, public bodies, associations, and private persons consulted by his Department upon the last occasion on which the retention or disposal by the Government of the licensed premises in the Dornoch and Gretna areas was under consideration;

(2) how many times the question of the retention or disposal of the licensed premises in the Dornoch and Gretna areas has been considered by his Department since 1921, together with the date of the last consideration.

The occasion to consider the question of legislation which would be necessary for the purpose mentioned has arisen only once since 1921, namely, in 1932. On that occasion it was not considered necessary to have consultations with outside bodies.

On whose advice was it decided to retain these areas under Government control?

I could not answer that question but, as I have already indicated on a previous occasion, I do not propose to ask the House to pass fresh legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can state the number of applications for allotments and small holdings that have been made in Lanarkshire in each year during the past five years; how many have been granted; and whether any financial assistance has been given by his Department; and, if so, how much has been given?

As the answer is somewhat long and involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of state for Scotland if he will state the number of miners who have been provided with allotments or small holdings in the county of Lanark in each of the past five years?

I regret that I have no information, as to the number of miners included amongst the persons who have been provided with allotments by local authorities or by allotment associations. On schemes promoted by the Department of Agriculture two miners have obtained small holdings during the past five years, one in 1930 and one in 1931. This year 16 miners and shale workers were given plots of a quarter to one acre on the Department's experimental schemes for unemployed in the county.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Committee of Inquiry into Public Health Services has commenced its investigations?

The first meeting of the Committee on Scottish Health Services has been convened for 28th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can give an estimate of the number of houses in Scotland at present controlled, decontrolled, and new, corresponding to the figures referring to September, 1932, given in Cm d. 4208?

As the reply to the hon. Member involves a statement in tabular form I will, with permission, circulate the information asked for in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, with regard to the proposed transference of the customs' testing house for dutiable goods from Leith to Glasgow, if he will state what administrative saving is expected to be made by this change; and what loss or expense is it calculated to cause to traders in the east of Scotland in general and to the Leith Dock Commissioners in particular?

The transference from Leith to Glasgow of the examination of samples of certain classes of dutiable goods at Eastern Scottish and Northumbrian ports is part of a general scheme of reorganisation and centralisation of the work of the Department of the Government Chemist; and it is not possible to state definitely the saving in administrative costs represented by this particular transference of work. It is not anticipated that the examination of samples at Glasgow instead of at Leith will involve any loss or expense to traders in the east of Scotland or to the Leith Dock Commissioners.

Will my hon. Friend and his colleagues keep their eye on this matter, so that, if it turns out that there is a loss disproportionate to the saving of administrative expenses, he will give some undertaking that we may return to the present condition of affairs in this respect.

Certainly, Sir. I and my colleagues have more than one eye, and we will keep all of them fixed upon it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider relieving the salmon fishers of Kintyre of the duty of taking off the leaders of their nets on the Sabbath Day on the occasions when it has been too stormy to take them off on the previous evening; and whether he will direct that some relaxation of this regulation be given to the salmon fishers in Kintyre?

It has been decided by the courts that it is the legal duty of those concerned to remove the leaders of bag nets at the earliest possible moment after 6 p.m. on Saturday when it is not practicable to take them out at or before that hour; and I have no power to direct or authorise a relaxation of the statutory requirements.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Kintyre is a very storm-tossed peninsula, and that very often it is impossible to remove the leaders of the nets the previous evening, and that they have not been compelled to do so until quite recently, when some commercial body got this regulation put in force. Is he aware also that it is regarded as a very great hardship in the Highlands to work on these nets on the Lord's Day?

I have no doubt that the statements made by my hon. and learned Friend are correct, but I have no power, in view of the decision of the courts, to alter the present rule.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can state the tonnage of steel pit-props used in the years 1927 and 1932, respectively; and the quantity of wood pit-props used in the same years?

The general development of the use in mines of steel supports, including props, is dealt with by the Divisional Inspectors in their annual reports. The reports for 1932, which have been published within the last few weeks, show that large numbers of steel props are now in use with encouraging results. I regret that I have no general statistical information oh the subject.

Will the hon. Gentleman do everything to encourage the use of these steel props in order to help the mining industry?

Everything that can be done is being done.

Will the hon. Gentleman point out to the Government how money is being wasted on afforestation in consequence?

asked the Secretary for Mines what progress has been made in the negotiations with the Argentine Government with a view to expanding the market for British coal?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply regarding these negotiations which was given to him yesterday by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the opposition in Argentina to the trade agreement? Is it proposed to withdraw our offer of a trade agreement unless acceptance is now come to?

The position is that, under Article 3 of the Convention, either contracting party can terminate it at one month's notice if a supplementary agreement is not made by 1st August. It is understood that there is no present intention on our part of doing so if the date is passed provided that the negotiations continue satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary for Mines what action he proposes to take on the case of overtime being worked on 17th May, 1933, at the Mains Colliery, Banfurlong, near Wigan?

I have given very careful consideration to this case, but in all the circumstances I am satisfied that it is not one in which legal proceedings are called for.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that refusal to take action in this case of overtime may result in a still further increase of overtime in Lancashire?

I could not discuss the details by way of question and answer, but I shall be very pleased to talk it over with the hon. Member.

Was the decision taken on the point of weakness in law, and, if so, does not the hon. Gentleman think, in view of the many flagrant violations of the law, as it is understood, that some amendment of the Mines Act is called for?

There are a number of considerations.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that, the mincowners are treating the Seven Hours Act with impunity and that the action of the Department is helping them in that direction?

I cannot accept the last part of the question. I have given the most careful consideration to this, and my decision is made in view of all the facts of the case.

I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he will state the number of wage-earners on the colliery books in the counties of Mid and East Lothian, Fife, Clackmannan, Dumbarton, Lanark, Linlithgow, and Stirling, each county separately, for the month of June in each year since 1924?

As the reply will involve a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can give an estimate of the additional number of coal miners who will be employed as a result of the Trade Agreements with Norway and Sweden, respectively?

It is estimated that the increased tonnages provided for by the Trade Agreements with Norway and Sweden over the quantities exported in 1931 represent the annual output of 2,120 and 4,180 coal miners, respectively.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the more trade agreements we make the more pits are stopped working?

I do not accept that at all. If the hon. Gentleman will study the Scandinavian figures, he will find that trade is going up.

How many miners have been put out of work owing to the damage done to the papermaking industry by these agreements?

asked the Minister of Labour how much less has been paid in insurance benefit and transitional payments during the current financial year than would have been paid if the unemployment register had remained at the same figure as at the end of the last financial year?

The amount paid by way of insurance benefit and transitional payments during the 14 weeks ended 8th July, 1933, has been £1,650,000 less than would have been paid had the unemployed register remained at 2,776,184—the figure for 20th March, 1933.

In view of the very much improved position, are the Government considering restoring the cuts in unemployment benefit?

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of persons unemployed in the Ayr district of burghs at the latest convenient date?

At 26th June, 1933, there were 13,982 unemployed persons on the registers of Employment Exchanges in the Parliamentary Division of Ayr Burghs.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that is a reduction of 3,000 since the National Government took office?

Can my hon. Friend say whether the figures for this district are contained in the index in the Library?

asked the Minister of Labour how many Employment Exchanges have been set up to deal only with the workers in one industry, on the lines of that in Denmark Street, W.C.; whether experience has proved the provision of Employment Exchanges upon the basis of industries rather than districts to be satisfactory; and, if so, if it is intended to extend this system?

Two such Exchanges are in existence; the one mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend and the other in Tavistock Street for the building trades in the Central London area. My right hon. Friend does not contemplate the establishment of further specialised Exchanges at present, but he, is keeping the matter under review having regard to the notable success achieved by the experiment referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend.