asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the note sent to His Majesty's Legation at Pekin from the Chinese Government requesting the revision of our commercial agreement with China contains any indication of the direction in which alterations are required?

I am still awaiting the text of the note from the Chinese Government, but, so far as I am aware, it contains no indication of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any further information regarding the position of British cotton textile imports into Ceylon; what representations have been made to the Ceylon Government; and what steps he proposes to take to secure for British traders fair conditions of entry into our Colonial markets?

I am replying on behalf of my right hon. Friend. There has been no further development in the position. The Ceylon State Council are fully aware of the views of His Majesty's Government in the matter and no suitable opportunity will be lost of impressing upon them the importance attached to the matter. I am afraid that the last part of the quesion raises issues too wide to be dealt with in the course of a reply to a question.

Has not the time come when we should reconsider the constitutional position of Ceylon?

That is another matter altogether, which I think it is not proper to discuss in answer to a question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he intends to take pending the completion of the trade negotiations between Lancashire and Japan to assist the cotton trade?

I hope that these negotiations will be brought to a speedy and successful conclusion, and that the question of action by the Government will therefore not arise.

May we take it that there is nothing in that answer which contradicts the final responsibility of the Government for dealing with these matters, and that there is no suggestion that the responsibility lies with the trade organisation?

Yes, Sir.

Is silk being included in these negotiations?

Yes, Sir—artificial silk. Rayon is being included, but not real silk.

May I ask why real silk is being left out when artificial silk is included?

It is not possible by question and answer to go into all the details, but it has been explained that the interests of the cotton and rayon trades are being negotiated, and it was thought wise to begin with these first.

Is it the case that the Import Duties Advisory Committee, at the request of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, suspended their investigation into the silk question pending the negotiations with Japan?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the negotiations with the French Government in regard to the surtax of 15 per cent. on imports of British goods?

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the 15 per cent. surtax on British goods imported into France was suppressed as from the 1st January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any British consular representatives have now been appointed to the Manchukuo Government; and whether it is intended to give full recognition to the Manchukuo Government?

British consular representatives continue to be stationed, as they have been for many years past, at Harbin, Mukden and Newchwang. During the last two and a half years they have maintained such relations with the appropriate local authorities as appeared to be necessitated by British interests. No question of recognition by His Majesty's Government of the existing regime in Manchuria has been involved in these relations. As regards the second part of the question, the position continues to be governed by the resolution taken by the Assembly of the League of Nations on the 24th February, 1933, under which members of the League undertook not to recognise the existing regime in Manchukuo.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any statement to make with regard to the grounding of His Majesty's Ship "Nelson"?

As the report of the Court of Inquiry has not yet been considered by the Board, I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a statement in regard to the grounding. After the grounding, the ship was detained by a succession of very strong westerly winds. I should explain that Portsmouth harbour is not a base but a repair port. Ships do not go up Portsmouth harbour if likely to be urgently required for sea. Spithead is, and always has been, the base anchorage on that part of the coast.

Will the right hon. Gentleman in any event ask the captain to steer this extremely expensive craft a little more carefully?

Withdraw! Shame!

Was not the pilot in charge of the ship?

There was a pilot on board.

Is it not a fact—it would, I hope, be ascertained by the inquiry, but is it not a fact that this is a most experienced and capable officer, one of the most experienced in His Majesty's service?

Who is responsible for navigating a ship of this nature out of Portsmouth, the pilot or the captain?

The captain is always responsible for the safety of the ship, whether there is a pilot on board or not.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been drawn to an aerial photograph of the recent grounding of His Majesty's Ship "Nelson," published in the "Daily Herald" of 13th January; and whether, as the grounding was apparently within the prohibited area of the port, permission was given for the photograph to be taken?

I have seen the photograph to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. Permission was not obtained for taking this photograph, and the matter is receiving my attention.

May I ask whether permission was refused?

Permission was not asked by this particular paper. It was asked by another paper.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he has any information as to whether the oil engines and gearing of the German battleship "Deutschland" have proved a success as compared with propulsion by steam turbines?

No information has yet been received as to the result of the trials.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will communicate any new decisions that have been arrived at for the defence of the naval base at Singapore?

The defences of the base at Singapore are primarily a matter for the War Office. As far as the Admiralty are responsible, such decisions as have recently been made refer only to the normal defences of a naval base. The provision of these defences is proceeding concurrently with the progress of the work on the base.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state whether his attention has been called to the fact that it will cost £75,000 to put the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, into good repair; whether this work is to be carried out; and, if so, whether the expense will be entirely borne by the Government of Palestine?

I am replying on behalf of my right hon. Friend. By agreement with the ecclesiastical authorities concerned, the Government of Palestine has arranged for an expert survey of the fabric of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Preliminary reports indicate that the building is in a dangerous condition and that extensive repairs will be required, but no estimate of the total cost has yet been received by my right hon. Friend. If these repairs are carried out, the question of the provision of funds will be a matter for discussion with the ecclesiastical authorities. Certain immediate works of consolidation which are urgently necessary are already being carried out and the cost will be defrayed in the first instance by the Government of Palestine.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make on the position in Palestine?

No, Sir. There are no developments which I need report to the House.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) if he can now state what customs facilities are available at the Gravesend aerodrome;

Facilities for customs clearance of aeroplane traffic are now available at 16 aerodromes in the United Kingdom, though at six of these they are confined to the clearance of passengers and their baggage. Gravesend aerodrome has been added to the list, for both passengers and goods. I am sending my hon. Friend a detailed list. This will show the cases in which prior notice is necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air to what extent engines using oil fuel on the score of increased safety from fire have been adopted for aircraft in foreign countries; and will he endeavour to secure similar progress in this country?

It is understood that heavy oil aero-engines are fitted in three German aircraft in regular operation, but, so far as I am aware, the development of this type of engine has elsewhere not passed beyond the experimental stage. As I informed my hon. Friend in December, developments are being actively pursued in this country.

As my hon. Friend knows the importance of safety, will he not accelerate the progress of the development of this type of engine, in view of the terrible catastrophes that have taken place?

We are doing so. Nobody knows better than my hon. Friend the difficulties that we have to overcome.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air; in view of the fact that oil satisfactory for lubricating purposes in connection with aircraft cannot be produced either from the oil supplied by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, or from any oil emanating from or produced in any part of the British Empire, if he will state what steps are being taken by the Royal Air Force or by the Department of Industrial Research to remedy this position?

The Department has put in hand an investigation of the types of oil available from oilfields within the Empire or under British control to see whether a source of Imperial supply at reasonable prices cannot be developed. Research work bearing on the problem is also in progress at the Fuel Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the total number of first-line aeroplanes at present in Great Britain and available for home defence; and what is the total number of similar machines in France?

The present number of first-line aircraft in this country, excluding those allotted for embarkation with the Fleet and the second-line aircraft of the Auxiliary Air Force, is approximately 420. The corresponding number in France, according to the latest available published information, is 1,210.

Are any steps being taken by the Government to remove this great inferiority in the air?

Is it not the fact that this country and France are bound to render each other support against an aggressor?

I do not think I can answer those questions.

With respect to the very small number of 420 first-line aircraft, are they all now in this country? That is the question on the Paper, and the hon. Gentleman did not answer it.

Yes, Sir.

Does the Under-Secretary consider that 420 first-line aircraft are sufficient for this country?

I do not think that I can answer that question now.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the 42 squadrons of aeroplanes now possessed by this country are kept fully equipped and ready; and whether it is proposed in the coming Estimates to increase the minimum establishment to 52 squadrons, in view of the extension of the air programmes of other nations?

The figures quoted by my hon. Friend relate, of course, to the strength of the Home Defence Force and not to the Royal Air Force as a whole. Of the 42 squadrons, 13 are non-regular. The 29 regular squadrons are fully equipped and ready, with the exception of two, which are in course of reorganisation and re-equipment. As re- gards the last part of the question, I cannot at this stage anticipate Air Estimates for 1934.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Soviet Air Force, which 10 years ago was negligible, now ranks second in the world, and is over 60 per cent. stronger than the Royal Air Force; that the Soviet Government has announced its determination to attain first place in the near future, and that priority is accordingly being given to the Russian aircraft industry by government decree in respect of technicians, labour and raw materials; and whether His Majesty's Government will take due account of this and other foreign air programmes in considering Air Estimates for 1934?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Kingston-upon-Hull (Brigadier-General Nation) on the 29th instant.

Can the Prime Minister give any sort of indication as to the time which His Majesty's Government will allow to elapse before they consider it necessary to take steps to achieve parity?

These matters are all in a state of negotiation at the present moment.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that His Majesty's Governments in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand have all decided to strengthen their air defences in the coming year and are providing substantial credits for the purchase of additional aircraft; and whether, in the light of their action and of our weakness in the air, His Majesty's Government will consider what contribution the United Kingdom should now make to placing joint Imperial air defence upon a secure basis?

My attention has been called to reports of public statements by Ministers in the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa to which my hon. and gallant Friend no doubt refers in the first part of his question. As regards the second part, His Majesty's Government are, of course, considering these together with all other relevant factors, in determining the provision which should be made for the Royal Air Force in 1934.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present position regarding Waterloo Bridge?

I understand that the London County Council will very shortly invite tenders for the reconditioning and widening of this bridge.

Will the Minister tell the House just what he means by "very shortly," because the matter has been going on for a long time?

I can give no ampler meaning of "very shortly" than that it will be in a very short time.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can state the present position as regards the construction of a Lower Thames tunnel?

The Parliamentary powers conferred upon the county councils of Essex and Kent for the construction of this tunnel have some six years to run, and measures have been taken to safeguard the line of the tunnel and its approaches. Various aspects of the matter were discussed between representatives of the two county councils and myself at a conference last month.

Has the attention of the hon. Gentleman been drawn to the periodical congestion of Blackwall Tunnel and Woolwich Ferry and has he taken account of the point that the congestion is likely to increase and that the matter becomes yearly more urgent?

We are bearing all those matters in mind.

asked the Minister of Transport the annual revenue derived from the Menai Suspension Bridge tolls; and what has been the annual cost of maintenance for each year since the Ministry of Transport has taken over the bridge?

As the answer consists chiefly of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is there no hope of a reduction in the tolls, owing to the inconvenience caused to industrial and passenger traffic?

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put that question down.

Can the Minister say why the constituency of the hon. and gallant Gentleman should be subject to a tariff of this kind?

That may be the reason.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the number of animals which have been killed by motors on the public roads in the last 12 months, giving the type of animal in each case?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the instructions laid down in the Road Traffic Act, 1930, are being carried out?

Oh, yes. But the police do not get a full report of every accident, and their reports will not be complete.

Are there any steps that the right hon. Gentleman can take to bring it to the notice of the motoring public that ponies and cattle lawfully pasturing in the New Forest have as much right to be on the high road as motorists; in fact, more?

asked the Minister of Transport what is the approximate cost of supplying, erecting, and maintaining a set of illuminated automatic traffic signals; and is he satisfied that the delay they often cause to motor traffic, when there is no cross-wise traffic, is commensurate with their usefulness in other positions?

The approximate cost of supplying and erecting light signals actuated by vehicles at ordinary cross-roads is £550 and the annual cost of maintaining these signals about £60. I do not agree that signals of this type cause material delay to vehicles where there is no cross traffic.

Will my hon. Friend cause observation, or ask for a report, to be made on the Southern side leading to Exeter?

I will certainly look into the matter, but my impression is that they are not light signals of the type mentioned in this answer, in that they are not actuated by the vehicle.

asked the Minister of Transport the policy of his Department with regard to assisting the reconstruction of the large number of bridges in the country which are insufficiently strong to carry ordinary motor traffic?

I attach great importance to the elimination of weak and dangerous bridges, and am disappointed at the slow progress hitherto made despite the assistance offered from the Road Fund. At my suggestion conferences with bridge authorities and organisations representative of commercial transport by road have been convened by the county councils to consider the problem of weak bridges on important roads in their areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now give particulars of the terms that have been agreed upon between the Pigs and Bacon Marketing Boards for the next contract period?

After prolonged negotiations regarding the contract prices for pigs for the period commencing 1st March next, the Pigs and Bacon Marketing Boards decided to bring into consultation the committee which had already been set up by the Government, under the chairmanship of Sir Wyndham Portal, to administer the loan promised to the Bacon Board for the purpose of meeting losses occasioned to curers, during the current contract period, by the operation of the scheme. Agreement has now been reached as follows:—The period of the contract will be 10 months, namely from 1st March to 31st December, 1934. For the months March and April, the basic price will be 12s. 6d. per score, and will rise or fall, as in the current contract, with rises or falls in the price of an agreed ration of feeding stuffs. This price is for delivery as in the existing contract, and is subject to a deduction of 6d. per score as the producer's contribution towards repayment of the advances to curers in respect of losses, already referred to. The contract price for the remaining eight months of 1934—i.e., from 1st May onwards—will be arrived at on an agreed sharing basis, the details of which are at present under consideration by the boards in conjunction with the Wyndham Portal Committee. The aim will be to relate pig prices not only to costs, but also to the selling price of bacon. As part of the general arrangement, it has also been agreed between the two boards, with the cognisance of the Government, that registered curers shall be compensated, out of the loan referred to, in respect of losses incurred on pigs bought from registered pig producers at the prescribed prices, and on which the Pigs Board levy was paid, during the period 15th September to 31st December, 1933, and that no account shall be taken of profits or losses on pigs bought subsequently. The rate of compensation, assessed by the Wyndham Portal Committee, in respect of pigs bought between 15th September and 31st December, 1933, is 7s. 5d. per pig. I am glad to say that the short-term loan required from public funds will be in the neighbourhood of £160,000 instead of £500,000 as originally anticipated. I should like to express gratitude to Sir Wyndham Portal and his colleagues for their valuable assistance in this matter.

Is there any guarantee that the prices for the months subsequent to March and April will not be less than the price of 12s. 6d. a score for March and April?

I do not think that I can give any guarantee. What we desire to do is to put this matter upon a profit-sharing and co-operative basis.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the subsequent prices will at any rate be equal to the cost of production?

I am afraid that I cannot discuss that matter by way of question and answer, but certainly I hope that it will not be less, because otherwise there will be no pig production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the difficulty caused by the practice of the co-operative societies giving a discount off the retail price of milk by way of dividend, thus, in effect, selling below the normal average retail price in the district and under-selling retail private traders in milk; and whether he proposes to make any alteration in the milk scheme to deal with this?

The contract prescribed by the Milk Marketing Board for the period 6th October, 1933, to 31st March, 1934, permits payment of dividends on retail sales of milk by any registered co-operative society, where the dividend is paid not oftener than once in every three months. The contract also provides that other retailers may allow to their cus- tomers dividends or discounts on retail sales of milk not oftener than once in every three months and not exceeding the rate per pound actually paid on retail sales of milk by any co-operative society operating in the district. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Is the Minister aware that in the constituency represented by the hon. Baronet there are no co-operative stores selling milk?

Is the Minister also aware that there are hon. Members who ask questions in the public interest and not with one eye upon their constituencies?

Would not the whole problem be solved if all consumers joined co-operative societies?

Not at all. This puts purchasers from retailers exactly in the same position as purchasers from co-operative societies.

Does the Minister's answer apply to Scotland?

That question should be addressed to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the committee appointed to safeguard the consumers' interests have received any complaints; and, if so, will he state their nature?

The Consumers' Committee for England has received 20 complaints, all of which dealt with the retail price of milk. Of these, 15 were from private persons, three from urban district councils, one was from a local trade and labour council, and one was a petition signed by private persons. Four of the complaints also contained references to the price of bacon and, together with a further complaint on the same subject from an association of consumers, were accordingly referred to the Consumers' Council for Great Britain. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has sent to the Consumers' Committee for Scotland a complaint he has received relating to the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when we are likely to have reports with regard to those complaints?

I am afraid that I cannot say without notice.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if, in connection with complaints about the price of milk in Scotland, and in view of the fact that prices affect very poor people, he will cause urgent inquiries to be made?

No, Sir. The Scottish complaint is from an association representing hotel and restaurant proprietors who claim that under the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme they should be regarded as manufacturers of milk.

Is the right hon. Gentleman, being a Scottish Member himself, aware that there is considerable complaint concerning the poorer classes of the community who can only afford to purchase half-a-pint of milk at a time and have, therefore, to pay a proportionately higher rate than those who can afford to purchase a larger quantity; and will he look into the position and see that no one is penalised by reason of having, because of poverty, to buy milk in small quantities?

My hon. Friend will realise that there is adequate machinery for dealing with those complaints, and it only remains for consumers to operate it in Scotland as they are doing in the case of England.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of places for boys and girls in the secondary schools of England and Wales, and the number of free places for each sex in each county?

On the 1st October, 1933, there were 244,244 boys and 213,350 girls in grant-aided secondary schools in England and Wales. Of these pupils 121,109 boys and 104,818 girls paid no fees. My Noble Friend is sending the hon. Member a list giving separate particulars in respect of the area of each local education authority.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number and percentage of school meals provided free and for payment, respectively, during 1933; and the number of children fed by county councils, county borough councils, borough councils, and urban district councils, giving each separately?

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

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to repeal or reduce the import duty on insulin?

The position with regard to prices of insulin is being closely watched. My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that the price of foreign insulin has not been increased, and that the price of British insulin has recently been reduced.

asked the Minister of Health (1) the price of British and imported insulin; and whether he can now give an estimate of the additional cost to the hospitals of this country due to the 33⅓ per cent. tax upon imported insulin;

Throughout 1933 the price per 100 units to the consumer of two of the three brands of British insulin was 2s., of the third 1s. 8d., and of the principal imported brand 1s. 5d. My right hon. Friend has no information as to the quantities sold. On 11th January, 1934, the price of two British brands was reduced to 1s. 10d., and of the third to 1s. 5d. with corresponding reductions in wholesale prices. There has been no change in the price of imported insulin since the additional import duty was imposed.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the county borough council of Southend-on-Sea is considering the erection of a large home for Poor Law children in their district; and whether he will refuse his sanction to this proposal?

My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that the council contemplate a building which will be open to the objections feared by my hon. Friend. My right hon. Friend will, however, bear his point in mind when the council's proposals are submitted.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain local councils are making a charge to landowners and tenants for supplying particulars of the rateable value of their premises and of the rates charged thereon in 1914, and that in some cases 2s. 6d. is charged for each statement; and whether he will recommend all local authorities to give the essential information free of charge?

If the cases to which the hon. Member refers are outside London, there is authority for a charge in such circumstances in Section 60 of the Rating and Valuation Act, 1925, which empowers ratepayers to inspect and take extracts from rate-books and other documents. In the case of documents more than 10 years old, the Section specifically provides for the payment, in respect of each document in- spected, of a prescribed fee, which has been fixed at 2s. 6d. by statutory regulation. In London a ratepayer can inspect any rate-books, however old, free of charge, and an inhabitant who is not a ratepayer can only be charged a fee of 1s.

Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to recommend that this information shall be given to tenants and landlords without a charge, even in those cases where the Act provides for a charge at the present time, in order to enable those landlords and tenants to know the amount that is required for the purpose of the Rent Acts?

No, Sir; I think there is no case for departing from the law.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider whether he could not extend to provincial districts the same privileges which are, apparently, conferred on London ratepayers in regard to inspection of the rate-books? Will he explain why London is especially privileged?

That is a matter for debate.

asked the Attorney-General whether the rules required by Section 1 of the Solicitors Act, 1933, have yet been received for approval from the Law Society; and, if so, the date upon which approval will be given, so as to make the rules operative for the protection of the public without further delay?

I am informed that Rules under Section 1 of the Solicitors Act, 1933, have been made by the Council of the Law Society, and are now being further considered with a view to their submission to the Master of the Rolls for his approval during February.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has considered the possibility of taking proceedings against directors and officials responsible for carrying on the business of an insurance company after such persons have become aware of its insolvency; and whether it is the intention of the Government to issue process where the necessary evidence is available against all persons responsible for illegality in the course of carrying on such business?

If my hon. Friend has any case to bring to my notice in which he suggests there is evidence that the directors or officials of an insurance company have been responsible for illegality in carrying on the business of the company, I shall be ready to consider whether any action can be taken.