asked the Secretary of State for India if he can make any statement with regard to the proposed negotiations at Simla with regard to Japanese trade competition in India?

It is expected that discussions will be held in India between representatives of the Japanese and Indian Governments. Preliminary conversations with the Japanese Consul-General are already taking place in India.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if there is a, chance of our Government being represented in these negotiations, which may very seriously affect British exports into India?

Conversations are going on with reference to the negotiations as a whole. I fully realise the importance of the negotiations from every point of view, and my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that we shall not neglect the considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the charges of victimisation of members of the railway workers' union in India; and will he cause inquiries to be made into these charges?

If the hon. Member will specify the charges to which he refers, I will consider the propriety of making inquiries from the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, before coming to any decision regarding the Berars, he will take into consideration the fact that the representatives of the Berars in the Central Provinces legislative council have expressed their opposition to the proposed retrocession of the province to His Highness the Nizam?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to the answers which I gave to his questions on the 1st May he will see that there is no proposal for the retrocession of Berar to His Exalted Highness the Nizam.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the speech which His Highness, the Nizam, recently made in India referring to some of the conclusions in this case, and can we have an assurance that this House will be as early as the Council of the Nizam in possession of the report when they have come to a decision?

I have not seen the speech to which the right hon. and gallant Member refers. I shall be ready to give an answer in the House as soon as I have definite information upon which to base it.

Is there absolutely no truth in the report that the sovereignty of the Berars is to be retroceded to His Highness the Nizam?

There is no question of retroceding sovereignty. There is no question of sovereignty. The sovereignty is the sovereignty of the Nizam.

Is it not true that negotiations are in progress with the Nizam and have been for the last two years on this subject?

Certainly. I have said so six or seven times in answer to questions by the hon. and gallant Member.

Is there not a possibility of the natives of Berars acquiring rights as British subjects and being put on a par with the rest of British India?

The right hon. and gallant Member is raising the kind of question that is now under discussion. Obviously, I cannot give him an answer on a question of that kind until the discussions are over.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have received the report of the Legislative Assembly Committee appointed to consider the question of Indian war pensions; and whether he can state what action they propose to take in the matter?

I have not yet received any official information on the subject.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the report. is likely to be received?

I have looked into the question, and I think it ought to be received in the comparatively near future.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have considered representations received from Indian chambers of commerce protesting against the use of Indian silver stock for repayment of British debts due to America; and whether he can state the nature of the reply given to them?

A Press note was issued on the subject by the President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. But I have no information regarding any action by the Government of India in regard to it.

asked the Secretary of State for India, in view of the application that has been made to his Department for the reconsideration of the claims of Mr. Percy W. Fitz-Holmes in respect of the requisitioning by the Government of India of the Carlton Hotel, Simla, in 1918, 1919, and 1920, if he is aware that the hotel was left in such a state of dilapidation that Mr. Fitz-Holmes could not afford the outlay necessary to recondition the hotel and has, in consequence, suffered severe loss; and will he now reconsider the whole matter?

The decision on this case was reached after arbitration proceedings in India in 1920, when all the circumstances were fully examined. They were again reviewed in 1922 and 1929 when Mr. Fitz-Holmes memorialised the Secretary of State. I regret that I can find no grounds for re-opening the decision that was confirmed by my predecessors.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, the amount of compensation awarded Mr. Fitz-Holmes is totally inadequate?

The case has been fully considered and from time to time my predecessors have had to say that they cannot reopen the question. I have looked into the papers, and I am satisfied that this gentleman had a very fair arbitration, and that the points mentioned by the hon. Member were taken into account.

(for Sir JOHN HASLAM) asked the Secretary of State for India whether, as the time is now opportune for mutual arrangements being made between the Government of India and ourselves for a large preferential tariff to be accorded to the better class of cotton goods exported from this country in return for the large preference we give to goods imported from India, he will now state what further action it is proposed to take?

The duties on cotton piece goods imported into India from this country are generally speaking as much as 50 per cent. lower than those on similar foreign goods, and India gives differential advantage on large classes of other British goods. The future of the Indian cotton duties is now under the consideration of the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can now state whether the three Indian gentlemen who were recently dismissed from the magistracy in the Punjab, on account of bribery in the discharge of their judicial duties, were given a full inquiry before their services were dispensed with; and whether their sentences were concurred in by the judges of the High Court in the Punjab?

A request for a report on the matter was addressed to the Government of India on 12th July, but there has not yet been time for a reply.

May I ask my lion. Friend whether, in view of the statement recently made by the Secretary of State to the Joint Select Committee that he had had no complaints of corruption, he will give instructions that any cases of corruption occurring in future in the administration or the judiciary arc to be reported to him more promptly?

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that leaflets of a seditious nature are being distributed in large numbers in various vernaculars in Northern India, and that in various districts, under cover of a campaign to end untouchability, Congress agents are collecting funds for carrying on propaganda on behalf of their political programme; and what steps are being taken to deal with these activities?

I receive from time to time information of such attempts at seditious propaganda. I can assure my Noble Friend that the local authorities take appropriate steps to deal with it.

Will my hon. Friend make specific inquiries into these matters, because I think that Members, hearing the right hon. Gentleman the other day in the Debate, would hardly believe that there were matters such as this, of which I have information, going on?

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that everything that comes to his attention is attended to by the local authorities in India. If my Noble Friend will give me any specific instances, they will be attended to.

asked the Secretary of State for India the establishment and actual strength of Europeans and Anglo-Indians, respectively, in the railway battalions of the Indian auxiliary force in India in 1920 and 1932, respectively?

I am circulating figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position with regard to the negotiations begun in January, 1927, with the Portuguese Government on the subject of flag discrimination?

Agreement has been reached in principle with the Portuguese Government for the abolition of the discrimination upon certain terms. These terms have been embodied in a draft agreement which it is hoped to submit shortly to the Portuguese Government.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, with a view to encouraging the sale of British goods abroad, he will call the attention of British firms to the facilities that may be obtained for advertising the sale of their goods and merchandise through the medium of foreign broadcasting stations?

I am, of course, in favour of any measure calculated to encourage by legitimate means the sale of British goods abroad, including the use of radio broadcast announcements where these are customary. There are, however, certain types of international broadcast advertising and propaganda which are open to objections, as will be indicated by my right hon. Friend, the Postmaster-General, in reply to later questions on the paper.

As this is very important to British traders in view of the fact that the British Broadcasting Corporation, owing to their obligations to subscribers, do not allow advertising, do I understand that so long as it is only a proper trade advertisement, there is no objection on the part of the British Government; in fact, that the British Government welcome ordinary traders advertising their goods, as long as it is not political propaganda?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will wait to hear answers to other questions on the Paper. Broadly, his statement is correct. There is no objection to broadcasts in the language of the country. That is one clear matter to which there would be no objection, for example, no objection to British broadcasts in France in French.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the future of the work now clone by and the grants now given by the Empire Marketing Board?

I would refer to the answer which I gave on 19th July to the hon. and learned Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons), to which I am not in a position to add at present.

If I repeat this question on Thursday—which will be the last opportunity of doing so before November —will the right hon. Gentleman then be able to give a more satisfactory reply?

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask whether he has taken into consideration the representations made by various public bodies on the importance of continuing, in some form or other, the work which has been so admirably done by the Empire Marketing Board?

No words can adequately express the value of the work of the board, but it was instituted as a substitute for preferences to the Dominions, and the British taxpayer found all the money. We are anxious to continue the work, but we are not prepared to continue to feed the baby.

When my right hon. Friend speaks of "feeding the baby," will he remember that British agriculture has benefited considerably from the activities of the Empire Marketing Board; and will he keep that very important consideration in view?

Certainly, but any advertisement of or encouragement of the British point of view can always be dealt with and paid for by ourselves and I repeat that it would be unfair for the British Government to foot this bill for something which is designed for Imperial purposes and not necessarily for British purposes only.

Before this question is finally settled, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the other side of the question: that the more you stimulate the purchase of Imperial products, the more surely you stimulate trade within the Empire?

Certainly, I wholeheartedly agree, and the more the Dominions stimulate buying from us the more it will encourage Empire trade—and so they will equally be encouraged by that consideration.

May I repeat my supplementary question? If I put down my question on Thursday, will the right hon. Gentleman be able to give a more satisfactory answer?

I understand there is to be a Debate on Thursday, and if my hon. Friend makes a speech I shall probably refer to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he will make a statement regarding grants to be paid to the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad, and the East African research station, Amami, Tanganyika territory, after the termination of the periods covered by the grants made by the Empire Marketing Board;

I am fully alive to the importance of arranging for the continuance of services in the Colonies of an essential nature which have hitherto been financed from the Empire Marketing Fund. The whole question is under active consideration, but I am not at present in a position to make a statement in regard to it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into special consideration the admirable work that is being done by the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture in Trinidad, and will he make any concession that he can to ensure the continuance of that work?

Yes, Sir, I think it is very plain from the answer I have given that I regard the work of the Imperial College o f Agriculture at Trinidad as absolutely vital to the Colony.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the first report of the Indian Cotton Inquiry Committee; and whether, as a result of the views expressed therein that Lancashire might find Indian cotton an adequate substitute for American, he proposes to take any action to assist the promotion of such development?

I have seen the report to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. The present position is that the Indian Cotton Inquiry Committee are in communication with the Indian cotton-growing interests with a view to the elucidation of technical and other questions affecting the use of Indian cotton in Lancashire. The Government are following with close interest the work of the committee, and my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that no opportunity will be lost of supporting the movement, but I do not think that at the present stage there is any definite action which the Government could usefully take in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with reference to the heavy arrears outstanding on Chinese railway loans, whether he will cause representations to be made to the Government of China that they should without delay summon a financial conference of representatives of the various groups of bondholders to discuss and decide on a scheme to secure the liquidation of the debt in regular instalments?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not consider that it would be useful at the present moment to press for the adoption of the procedure in question. The suggestion will, however, be borne in mind should it appear opportune to do so in the future. Meanwhile, the opportunity has been taken of the presence of the Chinese Minister of Finance in this country to impress upon him the seriousness of the situation.

asked the Secretory of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has been able to obtain from the Government of China an assurance that the railway revenues allocated for the service of railway loans shall not in future be diverted to other purposes?

As regards the Peking Mukden Railway, the Chinese Government have given an assurance that there will be no future repetition of the allotment of funds of the railway to supplement military requirements. In the case of other railways no specific instances of diversion of funds have been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend. His Majesty's Minister has, however, made continual representations to the Chinese Government from time to time as defaults occurred, and will lose no suitable opportunity of impressing on the Chinese Government the importance of maintaining their obligations to their creditors.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any report from His Majesty's Minister in China regarding the still unpaid claims of Mr. W. J. Black for damages incurred during the Nanking incident of 24th March, 1927. at which time Mr. Black was living at Puchen, opposite Nanking, in the employ of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway Company; and whether, as his claim was recognised by the Chinese Nationalist Government and assessed by the Sino-British Commission appointed for the purpose, and as other claims in connection with the Nanking incident have been paid, he will state why Mr. Black's claim is still unpaid?

No, Sir. The Pukow Puchen claims, including Mr. Black's claim, were excluded from consideration by the Sino-British Nanking Claims Joint Commission on the ground that Pukow and Puchen were not at the time of the Nanking incident within the administrative area of the Nanking municipality. The personal claims were, however, later assessed separately by certain members of the Commission. It has therefore been impossible to press these particular claims under the Nanking settlement. My hon. and gallant Friend may, however, rest assured that appropriate action will be taken to deal further with Mr. Black's and other Pukow Puchen claims as soon as a suitable opportunity offers itself.

Is it not time that the National Government of China acknowledged the justice of this claim, and, as it is now six years since the man sold his property, is it not time that we pressed for payment?

They were excluded from the Nanking area. The hon. and gallant Member can be assured that we have not lost sight of the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he has received any report from His Majesty's Minister in China on the progress of the promised negotiations for the more efficient working of the district court at Shanghai;

(2) whether he will ensure that, in the projected negotiations for the better working of the district court at Shanghai, His Majesty's Minister in China shall avail himself at all times of the assistance of the Crown Advocate?

No negotiations on the subject have taken place or are in contemplation. According to a report received from 'His Majesty's Minister, however, the question of carrying out the assurances which the Chinese Government gave in connection with the prolongation of the existing agreement is engaging the active attention of the Ministry of Justice. A report has been submitted to the latter by their legal adviser, and his recommendations, of which His Majesty's Government have not received any detailed information, are now being considered by the Chinese authorities. His Majesty's Minister will, of course, continue to observe the situation closely, and should he deem legal advice desirable, he will naturally avail himself of the assistance of the Crown Advocate.

Is His Majesty's Minister taking the earliest opportunity of seeking the advice of the Crown Advocate

I am sure that the Minister will do so if he is convinced that there is a case for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has further considered the desirability of removing the British Legation in China to Nanking or, at least, of ensuring that His Majesty's Minister shall reside permanently at Nanking or Shanghai; and, if not, whether he will do so?

Yes, Sir; my right hon. Friend has carefully considered the question. He does not, however, consider that any change in the existing arrangements is at present either necessary or desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, since the arrival in this country of Mr. Thornton and Mr. Macdonald, any information has been obtained by his Department, further to the White Papers already issued, regarding the statement, alleged at the trial to have been signed by these two men, to the effect that spying operations in Russia had been carried on by a managing director of the Metropolitan-Vickers Company; and whether he can make any further statement to the House?

Both gentlemen have furnished reports of their experiences; and, while, as has been explained in previous answers, His Majesty's Government now regard this case as closed and consequently do not propose to make public the information contained in these documents, it can be stated generally that they confirm and amplify the knowledge of His Majesty's Government as to the genesis of the alleged confessions. This of course is in accordance with my right hon. Friend's explicit statement on the kith April that:

"None of these men has ever been employed directly or indirectly in connection with any branch of our Intelligence Service. None of them has ever supplied any information to any such branch. None of them has ever been paid or promised any reward for such information, or has been supplied with any money to obtain it. None of them has ever made any report to or on behalf of our Intelligence Service. All the above statements are equally true of the Metropolitan-Vickers Company itself. That is to say, the company has not and never has had any connection with our Intelligence Service whatever."

Can the Under-Secretary tell us how the Foreign Secretary can be so positive in this matter when the personnel of the Secret Service is completely unknown to Ministers of the Crown?

So far from being uncertain, my right hon. Friend is completely convinced of the accuracy of the statement he made.

I merely asked how it happens that he can be so positive.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many of the Russian employés of the firm of Metropolitan Vickers are still in prison in Russia 7

According to my latest information I understand that two Russian employés from the company's Moscow office are now serving terms of imprisonment, and one employé from the Leningrad office is believed to be in prison.

Can the Under-Secretary say whether there is any possible way of helping these people, who are no doubt as innocent as our own people?

My hon. and gallant Friend will understand that our locus standi is only in respect of British subjects.

Surely Metro-Vickers could interfere and not take on any others in their place?

May I ask whether the man employed at Leningrad is a Russian or a British subject?

He is a Russian subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what purpose and at whose expense, in the course of the recent trial in Moscow of the Metropolitan-Vickers engineers, extracts from the reports by Mr. A. J. Cummings, appearing in the "News Chronicle," to the effect that the accused Englishmen were well and cheerful, were telegraphed by the Foreign Office to the British Embassy in Moscow; whether the representations concerning these reports made to Mr. Cummings in Moscow by the British Embassy were made on the instructions of the Foreign Office or on the initiative of the Embassy itself; and what purpose such representations were intended to serve?

The facts of this matter are as follow: On the 12th April a representative of the "News Chronicle "enquired at the Foreign Office whether it could be ascertained that Mr. Cummings was in fact the author of the following passage in his message received on the previous night:

"Accused Englishmen are in good health and spirits and indications are that trial will be conducted fairly in true sense of word in accordance with Soviet law."

In conformity with this request a telegram was accordingly sent on the same day to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Moscow repeating the passage and asking him to ascertain and reply urgently whether Mr. Cummings had in fact used these words. It also seemed to us doubtful whether Mr. Cummings would have made such positive statements after only two days residence in Russia, and with no previous knowledge —so far as was known—of the country or the language. Mr. Strang replied on the 13th April by a telegram stating that Mr. Cummings had confirmed to a member of his staff that the passage quoted was as he had sent it.

I have now obtained from the official concerned an account of the interview with Mr. Cummings from which it is clear that Mr. Vyvyan's action was confined to carrying out instructions sent to His Majesty's Embassy as the outcome of a request from the newspaper which Mr. Cummings represented.

Is Mr. Cummings the gentleman who has given publicity to the alleged confession, referred to in the previous question'?

Is it net a fact that Mr. Vyvyan asked Mr. Cummings whether he considered he was playing the game in sending a report of that kind to England?

I have told the House what passed, from the account which I have had, and I think the House may judge all other matters relative to it in the light of that account.

Can the Under-Secretary state what Mr. Cummings said to Mr. Vyvyan?

I am not responsible for Mr. Cummings.

Had Mr. Cummings time to study Soviet law in the two days?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any compensation has been received from the Soviet Government in respect of the property belonging to the British Government in the British mission at Vladivostock which was appropriated by the Soviet authorities in 1931?

No, Sir. The property in question was purchased in 1931 by a local firm, but before they could remit the purchasing money to His Majesty's Government they were forced to close down and their business was taken over by the Soviet shipping organisation Sovtorgflot. Efforts were at once made to recover the money, which Sovtorgflot admitted was standing to the credit of His Majesty's Embassy in the books of the Company. As no satisfaction could be obtained in this way, official representations were made to the Soviet Government in July last year. Further representations were made in the following September, and as recently as the 25th May last His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires again pressed the Soviet Government for a settlement of this claim.

Are we really to understand that the money for this property is still owing to the British Government; that they have allowed it to remain owing, without insisting on it being paid, and that at the same time they are entering into negotiations with the Soviet Government?

My Friend will see that we have not allowed it to remain; that we are continuing and shall continue to press for payment.

Will more active steps be taken to see that money belonging to the British Government is paid?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the estimated cost to the Exchequer of holding the World Economic Conference in London?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to questions on this subject on the 18th May and the 17th July in which he will find the position stated as clearly as it is possible to state it at present.

May I ask if it is proposed to maintain the facilities at Kensington, or the major part of them, until the Conference reassembles in the autumn?

That is not a. question which I can answer.

Will any statement be made after the close of the Conference as to the actual cost to this country of these deliberations?

If the hon. Member will put the question down, I will give him an answer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to take any emergency measures with regard to the present situation of egg and poultry producers?

The present position of egg and poultry producers is receiving consideration, but I regret I am unable to make any statement as to any emergency measures which may be found to be practicable. My hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have now respectively received requests for the appointment of a Reorganisation Commission for Eggs and Poultry under the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, and the matter, particularly in regard to the Scottish position, is receiving our close consideration.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend be in a position to make a statement when the House reassembles in November?

Oh, yes; I hope so.

is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware of the importance of stopping this dumping of poultry and eggs, especially from Denmark, and will he take immediate action under the Marketing Act, as he has power to do, a scheme being in preparation?

It is premature to say that a scheme is in preparation, because the details, especially as regards the Scottish position, have not yet been worked out.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is in a position to state the number of cattle which have been landed at ports in Great Britain and which were shipped from ports in Northern Ireland during the month of June this year and last year?

Separate particulars of the number of cattle landed at ports in Great Britain from Northern Ireland are not compiled, but the total number of cattle exported from Ireland to Great Britain and the Isle of Man and embarked at ports in Northern Ireland in June, 1932, was 17,372 and in June, 1933, 19,317.

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend take the view that this indicates that there was no serious smuggling of cattle from the Irish Free State through Northern Ireland for shipment to this country?

I prefer not to dogmatise about that, as it concerns another department.

Is there any increase in dead meat as well as live meat imports?

(for Brigadier - General CLIFTON BROWN) asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that a milk organisation scheme is in course of preparation he will consider using Section 1 of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1933, to control the importation of foreign milk products?

My hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that imports of processed milks from foreign countries are already being reduced by voluntary agreement, a procedure which from many points of view is preferable to regulation by Order. The question of the steps to be taken in regard to imports of processed milks after the expiry of the present agreement at the end of August, and the position regarding imports of other milk products, are receiving close attention but I am not in a position to make a statement.

(for Colonel RUGGLES-BRISE) asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the acreage sown with wheat in the United Kingdom as revealed by the Returns of 4th June, 1933?

The information desired is not yet available. The acreage for England and Wales will be published as usual early in August as soon as the preliminary statement of areas under crops, based on the returns of 4th June, has been completed. Separate statements will be published for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the capital values of Crown property in Regent Street have been seriously depreciated by the high ground rents fixed during the years 1922–27; that the rack rental cover for such ground rents is in general only 11 times or less; and whether, as such a low cover is not consonant with good estate management, he will, both in the interests of the State and the Crown tenants in Regent Street, reconsider the case of the Regent Street tenants for some concessions, in the light of the advice offered by the Permanent Commissioner of Crown Lands on 15th August last?

The questions raised by my hon. and gallant Friend were fully considered following on a deputation which I received from the Regent Street Association on 26th January last, and subsequent correspondence. On 6th April I informed the association that the representations which they had put forward had been carefully examined and had received full consideration, but that the Commissioners of Crown Lands were not able to agree to any revision of the terms of the existing contracts relating to the letting of Crown premises in Regent Street. I can hold out no prospect of that decision being reconsidered.

Does not the treatment of the tenants of Regent Street go to prove that a Government Department is always the harshest and cruellest of ground landlords?

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that, owing to many complaints by subscribers in obtaining connections on the dial telephones, a firm has recently been established for the purpose of assisting subscribers in obtaining such connections and have circularised the mercantile houses in London calling attention to this; and will he consider reverting to the older type of telephone?

I am not aware that any firm has been established for the purpose of assisting subscribers in the manner suggested. The operating statistics show that the service given by automatic exchanges compares favourably with that given by manual exchanges, and I am not aware of any ground for staying the process of conversion to automatic exchanges which is, I believe, giving general satisfaction.

Will my right hon. Friend permit us, as far as this House is concerned, to remain in peaceful possession of the excellent service we have, and not allow the introduction of these dial contraptions which cause so much irritation?

I am afraid that for once my hon. Friend has made a mistake. He said that a firm has been established for the purpose of putting in connections. As a matter of fact, that firm has been licensed to receive messages for telephone subscribers in their absence and to deliver such messages. Therefore, in his major premises my hon. Friend is wrong for once.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the circular in question said that where difficulty is found in getting connection they will do their best to get it?

Then perhaps my hon. Friend will patronise the firm.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will state what was the original cost of the Houses of Parliament; and what is the estimated cost of the refacing and repairing work now in progress?

The cost of erection of the Houses of Parliament was approximately £2,300,000; the estimated cost of the repair of stonework is £750,000.

Will my right hon. Friend consider, not repairing this House, but putting down a decent modern building in its place?

That would be infinitely more expensive than repairing, but admittedly this is a very expensive building to repair.

Does not the enormous expense suggest the use of a more durable stone such as Aberdeen granite for Government buildings?

asked the First Commissioner of Works if his attention has been called to an announcement by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, of which a copy has been sent to him, that the great majority of the town council are convinced that the suggested Calton site is the only feasible proposition for the proposed new Government buildings; and will he take steps to definitely ascertain if this is the opinion of the corporation of Edinburgh?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have no reason to doubt that the Lord Provost has correctly voiced the opinion of the corporation. '

asked the First Commissioner of Woks what has happened to the plans for the Scottish Government buildings prepared by the late Government; what was the total expenditure incurred in the preparation of the plans; why it has been decided to abandon those plans and to invite private architects to submit designs for the buildings; and what will be the cost involved in the payment of fees to the successful firm of architects?

The plans to which the hon. Member refers are still in my office, and they were abandoned because they did not commend themselves to the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland. It is not practicable to allocate the cost of office staff which was engaged on the preparation of these plans. It has been decided to entrust the work to an architect in private practice because the scheme is regarded as one of exceptional national importance; until the questions relating to the development of the site have been resolved I shall be unable to give an estimate of the fees that will be payable to the architect.

Will a sketch plan of the proposed new buildings be made available to hon. Members before the House is asked to vote money for their erection

I will take that point into consideration when the time comes. I have given a public pledge that before the Government even consider the erection of the buldings they will have to be approved by the Royal Fine Art Commission in Scotland and the Edinburgh Corporation. By that time, I presume the designs and plans will be more or less public property, but, if it is then considered desirable to put something into the Tea Room for hon. Members, I will consider doing so.

asked the First Commissioner of Works, with regard to the decision to appoint an architect in private practice to prepare plans and designs for the proposed Government offices in Whitehall Gardens, how that architect will be selected; and whether any plans and designs will be submitted to the Royal Fine Art Commission for their observations before the Government take any decision to proceed with the erection of such new buildings?

The architect will be selected by a committee consisting of the chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission, the president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the president of the Royal Academy, the chief architect of His Majesty's Office of Works, and myself as chairman; the answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he intends to introduce the Bill dealing with unemployment insurance before the House rises for the summer Recess?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on Thursday last to a similar question by the hon. Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson).

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs if he has any information as to the value of the greyhound breeding industry to the Irish Free State and the value of greyhounds exported to this country during 1932?

I have no information as to the value of the greyhound breeding industry to the Irish Free State. As regards the second part of the question, as was explained by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on the 20th July, it is not possible to state the value of greyhounds imported from the Irish Free State into this country during 1932, since these animals are not separately classified in the accounts of imports.

Arising out of the right hon. Gentleman's original answer, does he mean to tell the House that he does not know anything about greyhounds? I thought he was an authority.

Oh, no.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that recently a new municipal gallery of art was opened at Charlemont House, Dublin, by the Lord Mayor of that city, that it includes a room specially intended for the accommodation of the 39 paintings which the late Sir Hugh Lane in his will left to the National Gallery, London, but proposed subsequently in a signed but unwitnessed codicil to bequeath to Dublin, and that the provision of this gallery fulfils the desire expressed by Sir Hugh Lane; and whether he will introduce legislation to enable the trustees of the National Gallery, as an act of grace, to make Ai gift of these pictures to the Dublin municipal gallery of art?

I am aware of the facts referred to in the first two parts of the question. As to the last part, the matter has recently been reviewed but no circumstances which have arisen since the announcement in the House of Commons on the 5th July, 1926, of the then Government's acceptance of the conclusion of the Special Committee of Inquiry justify my holding out any hope of legislation in the sense suggested.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that this would be an admirable opportunity for a gesture of good will towards Ireland?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominions Affairs whether the totalisator is in operation in any of the Dominions?

I have not complete official information, but I understand that the totalisator is in operation in all the Dominions except Newfoundland.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the totalisator is in use in any part of the Dominions with regard to greyhounds?

I do not know, but I do not think it is good in either case.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the number of men from Newfoundland who volunteered for the great War; the amount of money borrowed from this country by Newfoundland to pay these men and other war expenses; and if any reduction of that debt has been granted, in capital or interest, to Newfoundland as it has been to some European countries?

I understand that the total number of men from Newfoundland who served in all forces during the great War is estimated at 15,000. The total amount of advances made by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to His Majesty's Government in Newfoundland for war purposes was £400,000. Following on the Hoover moratorium, Newfoundland was offered and accepted a suspension of interest payments in respect of these advances during the year 1st July, 1931, to 30th June, 1932, and this suspension has been continued since the Lausanne Conference of 1932.

Do I understand that nothing has been taken off the debt—that no reduction of the debt has been made —and that these people, who came to our assistance, have now, to use the right hon. Gentleman's own words, to feed the British baby?

No such deduction and nothing so mischievous can be allowed to go forth. Every obligation that we made to Newfoundland has been honourably observed.

My point was as to whether, in regard to the obligations of Newfoundland, we were calling upon them to pay to the last penny after having given up so much to other nations.

On the contrary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the damage done from time to time by civil aircraft to crops and livestock in this country, he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation to oblige all such aircraft to be insured against third-party risks in the same way as motor vehicles?

My Noble Friend has decided to ask the committee on the control of private flying recently appointed under the chairmanship of Lord Gorell to consider the advisability of requiring aircraft in this country to be insured against third-party risks. The question of compulsory third-party insurance is also under examination internationally.

Is the hon. Gentleman able to state the number of countries in Europe in which the authorities insist at present on this third-party insurance?

I do not know, but the whole subject is going to be looked into by this committee to which I have referred.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the extensive smuggling from the Continent into this country by the aid of aeroplanes of such goods as silks, drugs, cigars, perfumes, etc.; and whether he will take the necessary steps at an early date to prevent this evasion of the Customs duties?

I have no reason to think that smuggling by means of aeroplanes is carried out to any considerable extent; but all necessary steps are taken, as required, with a view to the prevention of smuggling by this and other methods.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can furnish a statement with reference to the 8,269 applications for smallholdings and enlargements remaining to be dealt with by the Department of Agriculture, showing the length of time that they have been outstanding by yearly periods?

I regret that it is impracticable without an examination of each individual application to give the information desired by my hon. Friend, but I should be willing to discuss the matter with him with a view to furnishing any information which is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many berry pickers are employed harvesting the raspberries in Perthshire and other areas; what is the standard rate of wages; and if he will arrange with the Minister of Labour to investigate wages and conditions with a view to improvement?

I have no information as to the number of persons employed in picking raspberries in Perthshire and other areas, but I may be able to obtain an estimate in the course of a day or two. With regard to the second part of the question, I am informed that the standard rate of wages for this work is five-eighths of a penny per pound of fruit. Neither my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour nor I has any statutory powers with regard to the wages paid for berry picking, and I am not satisfied that the special investigation suggested in the last part would serve any useful purpose.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the raspberry growers are now receiving so big a price that they turned down the raspberry marketing scheme, and will he have an investigation made to see what the wages are in that industry?

The information supplied to me, as contained in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member opposite, was that the rate is five-eighths. of a penny per pound of fruit.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the district all around the berry-pickers is scandalised because of the terrible conditions under which the berry-pickers work, and live, and move, and have their being?

Such information has not yet reached me.

Now that the right hon. Gentleman has got that information, what action is he going to take?

A matter of local conditions is, as my hon. Friend knows, a matter for the local authorities where these people live.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many insanitary houses there are in Irvine; what is the officially estimated shortage of houses in the burgh; and, seeing that the Department of Health have ordered the town council to proceed with the building of 200 houses under the 1930 Act, what action will be taken by the Department of Health to compel this town council to fulfil its obligations with regard to re-housing?

Following upon the passing of the Act of 1930, the Town Council of Irvine estimated that the total number of houses needed, including houses required to replace houses unfit for human habitation, was 400. Since then the local authority have completed 188 houses and, as a result of the local inquiry which was held by order of the Department of Health, have resolved to proceed forthwith with the erection of 200 houses under the Act of 1930. A further statement regarding the housing position in the burgh will fall to be submitted by the town council at the end of the present year, and my right hon. Friend will then be in a position to judge what further action, if any, is required on the part of the Department of Health.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider allowing such naval pensioners as may so wish the privilege of having their pensions paid into a bank instead of compelling payment through a post office, in view of the fact that no additional cost would be involved by the concession?

As indicated in my reply of the 12th instant, additional cost would be involved by the adoption of a dual system for the payment of naval pensions. The extra expense would be in respect of the consequent increase of staff at the Admiralty.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that after the age of 60 employment is difficult to secure and that proof of seeking work and having sought work over a series of years is also difficult; and if he does or will advise the established men of His Majesty's dockyards, who are not eligible for unemployment benefit, who are discharged for age at 60 immediately to become voluntary contributors in view of the pension which should await them at 65?

Any unemployed person, even if uninsured for unemployment benefit, can register for employment at the local Employment Exchange and have his health and pensions insurance contribution card franked for each week during which he is available for, but unable to obtain employment. I am not aware of any special difficulties which might hinder the persons whom my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind from follow- ing this normal method of proving their inability to secure insurable work. As regards the second part of the question, an unemployed person who is unable to establish in this way his title to continue in insurance is, in the ordinary course, given timely information by his Approved Society of his title to continue his insurance on a voluntary basis and so safeguard his right to an old age pension at the age of 65.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that it is not a question of continuing; that these men have not subscribed at all?

I do not recognise the case to which my hon. Friend refers, but if he will be good enough to send me the particulars of any such case, I shall he very happy to consider it.

I mean all cases of established men in the dockyards.

asked the Minister of Health whether when allocating the £500,000 to the distressed areas, he will take into account the number of displaced national health insurance contributors, owing to non-prolongation, and the consequential additional drain upon the Poor Law authorities in the distressed areas?

As indicated in the reply given on the 18th July to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. T. Smith), the numbers of persons in the several areas who will cease to be insured under the National Health Insurance Acts at the end of the present year cannot be known for some time, but I have no reason to think that the introduction of this factor, if it were practicable, would have any material effect on the allocation of the grant.

Is there any truth in the report that my right hon. Friend is intending to alter the system of allocation which he announced in the House some weeks ago?

Absolutely no truth at all.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) what technical improvements in the processes for the hydrogenation of coal have taken place since 29th June last;

(2) if he will cause a White Paper to be published with an explanation of the process of hydrogenation of bituminous coal, the improvements of methods which render this process now commercially possible, and the figures as to costs of production, &c., upon which the proposed action of His Majesty's Government is based ?

asked the Secretary for Mines what reports he has received recently from Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, Billingham, as to the success of their experiments in respect to the production of oil from coal; and what assurances of future development he has received from this company?

Certain of the points raised will be dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to questions by the hon. Members for Colne Valley (Mr. Mallalieu) and Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson). As regards the remainder, hon. Members are aware that it has been arranged to have a Debate on this matter to-morrow, and opportunity will then be taken to deal with the points raised.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated loss of revenue due to the proposed action, foreshadowed by the Prime Minister, to encourage the production of petrol by the hydrogenation of coal?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a White Paper giving the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the proposals recently made to the House in respect to the production of oil from coal; and whether he will give a list of the companies with which he has been negotiating preparatory to the recent announcement of policy?

It is not possible to make a, reliable estimate of any loss of revenue under the proposed guarantee, as this will depend on a number of uncertain factors, including the extent to which home-produced motor spirit dis- places imported spirit, the quantity of spirit produced, the amount of preference actually in operation, and the length of the period over which the guarantee extends. As regards cost to the Exchequer, further considerations, such as the relief of the burden of unemployment have to be taken into account. As regards negotiations, the discussions, begun three years ago, with Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, have been continued. This firm has been engaged in research into the hydrogenation process for many years, and the Government considered it essential that before deciding or any action they should be satisfied that their proposals would ensure the erection of a large scale commercial plant for the production of motor spirit. I wish, however, to emphasise that the guarantee is not limited to spirit produced by the hydrogenation process, but is accorded to spirit produced from coal, shale, peat or derivatives of these by any process.

Is the House to understand that the Government are to embark upon this course of action without having counted the cost?

Certainly not.

Have the Government received recent satisfactory reports from Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited?

I made a full statement, and there will be a Debate tomorrow.

Have the Treasury made any estimate of the direct cost to the Exchequer of the present rate of duties on the basis of the probable output of the plant now contemplated to be erected? From that, no doubt, unemployment benefit will have to be deducted, but has any estimate of the immediate cost been made

I informed the House of the considerations which militated against giving any accurate estimate. If my right hon. Friend would like me to look further into the aspect of the question which he has raised, I will see what can be done in the matter.

Perhaps a further statement could be made in the Debate to-morrow?

How is it so many Members of tile Liberal party are anxious not to help the coal industry?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of greyhound racecourses which have been closed down in England since the totalisator was declared illegal upon greyhound racecourses?

On the 10th December, 1932, there were 165 greyhound racecourses in England and Wales. Between that date and the 10th May, 1933 (the latest date for which information is available), 12 tracks were closed, while 43 new tracks were opened in England and Wales. There was thus between those dates a net increase of 31 tracks.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when it is proposed to bring in a Government Measure on greyhound racing?

I cannot give any indication.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether bookmakers are operating on the new tracks?

asked the Home Secretary (1) how many officers of the Metropolitan Police Force will be affected by the new order for the retirement of superintendents at the age of 50 and chief inspectors at the age of 47: and what until now has been the retirement age of these ranks;

(2) whether the new order for the retirement of chief inspectors of the Metropolitan Police at the age of 47 applies also to divisional detective inspectors; and, if so, how many of these officers will be affected;

(3) how many inspectors or station sergeants of the Metropolitan Police Force will be debarred from promotion owing to the new order ordering the retirement of chief inspectors at the age of 47?

In connection with the reorganisation of the force, eight superintendents and five chief inspectors are being required to retire in six months' time, in the interests of the efficiency of the force. The normal age of compulsory retirement for these ranks is 60. No divisional detective inspectors are being required to retire. The action which is being taken does not debar any inspector or station sergeant from promotion, and will, in fact, result in giving a certain number of inspectors and sergeants accelerated promotion.

Is it the intention not to promote anyone over 44 to the rank of superintendent, and will not that bar chief inspectors from promotion and does not the same apply at an earlier age to ordinary inspectors?