asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the resolution carried by Leigh Town Council protesting against the Unemployment Bill now before the House of Commons; will he state how many other local authorities have made similar protests; and what action he proposes to take to meet them?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, my right hon. Friend has received a considerable number of representations or suggestions from local authorities for the amendment of the Unemployment Bill, a small number of which might be said to be protests similar to that made by the Leigh Town Council. In reply to the third part of the question, the Government's policy on the points which have been the subject of protest has been or will be made clear in the Debates on the various stages of the Financial Resolution and the Bill.

Is the hon. Member aware of the growing feeling of indignation against the Bill now it is known what it will mean? In view of that fact, will he ask his right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to consult with his Cabinet colleagues about the withdrawal of the Measure?

Is it not true that all progressive Measures have been opposed violently in the country?

asked the Minister of Labour how many female clerks are employed permanently or temporarily at Ponder's End Employment Exchange?

There are at the present time four women clerks and one woman typist employed at the Enfield and Ponder's End Employment Exchange. Of these, two are permanent and three are temporary.

In view of the grave unemployment among male clerks, will the hon. Member consider the advisability of instructing the Exchanges to replace female clerks by male clerks?

Will the hon. Member recollect that we are in England and not in Germany?

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the number and percentage of insured workers in the ship-building, ship-repairing and marine-engineering industries unemployed at the latest convenient date in each of the following areas: the Clyde, the Tyne and the Wear;

(2) the number of insured workers in the ship-building, ship-repairing and marine-engineering industries on 31st December or nearest convenient date in 1933 and 1928 in each of the following areas: the Clyde, the Tyne and the Wear?

As the reply in each case includes a table of figures, I will, if I may, circulate a statement as soon as possible, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the hon. Member say how many of these people are unemployed because of the activities of National Shipbuilding Securities, Ltd.?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. S. Frost, of Caerphilly, was sent by the Cheltenham Employment Exchange on the 8th December to prospective employment at Mickleton, only to be informed that the vacancy was filled, and that this man paid his travelling expenses and the cost of a night's lodging; and whether the Exchange submitted the man s particulars before he was asked to proceed to such vacancy?

I am having inquiry made, and will let the hon. Member know the result.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether in the Unemployment Bill it is intended that caretakers of schools and caretakers of clubs shall be insurable who, previous to accepting those positions, were members of the Unemployment Insurance Fund;

(2) whether, in the Unemployment Bill, it is intended that superintendents and attendants at pit-head baths and attendants at welfare grounds shall be insurable who, before accepting those positions, were members of the Unemployment Insurance Fund?

It is intended that Regulations under Clause 2 of the Unemployment Bill shall deal with various classes of border-line cases. I cannot at this stage say precisely what those classes will be, but my right hon. Friend has noted for consideration in due course, the cases mentioned in these two questions.

Will the hon. Member also look into the position of the welfare attendants?

Those are probably included in the answer to Question No. 9.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take suitable steps to prevent the hunger marches, now approaching London, holding meetings in Trafalgar Square or other crowded areas?

The holding of meetings in Trafalgar Square is governed by regulations made by the Commissioners of His Majesty's Works and Public Buildings. Provided that those regulations are complied with, I do not think that it would be desirable to interfere with the holding of meetings in the Square so long as there is no reason to anticipate that disturbances are likely to arise. As regards other crowded areas, while there are in general no special regulations, it is clear that the holding of meetings must be subject to the proceedings being orderly and not likely to lead to a breach of the peace or to obstruct the legitimate activities of other citizens.

Will the right hon. Gentleman satisfy the apprehensions of the Noble Lady by removing the lions from the Square?

Under the Sessional Orders can meetings be held in Trafalgar Square while the House is sitting?

The regulations about meetings in Trafalgar Square are confined to Saturdays, between sunrise and sunset, and Bank Holidays and Sundays.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position to inform the House of the decision of His Majesty's Government, on the joint application of employers and operatives in the cotton industry, for some form of statutory recognition of wage agreements voluntarily entered into with the approval of the Ministry of Labour?

The matter is under active consideration.

In view of the increase in the policy of breaking agree- ments, if I put a question down for next Thursday, can the hon. Member say whether I shall be able to get a satisfactory reply?

Perhaps between now and next Thursday my hon. and gallant Friend will consult my right hon. Friend and see whether he will be in a position then to give him an answer.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will communicate the result of his inquiry into the secret inquest held at Ton Pentre on the 29th December last?

I have seen references in the Press to the inquest in question, including a statement attributed to the coroner that he did not direct the exclusion of representatives of the Press. The conduct of the inquest was a matter for the coroner, and did not call for any inquiry on my part.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will introduce legislation to amend the law governing the duties of coroners in such a way as to ensure that such inquiries should be held in the presence of the Press?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether His Majesty's Government are prepared to conform with the action of those Governments which have signified permission for M. Dimitroff and the other Bulgarians recently found not guilty in the Reichstag fire trial at Leipzig to come to their countries?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for Dorset East (Mr. Hall-Caine) on Monday last, to which I have nothing to add.

Does my right hon Friend think, in view of the very special circumstances in this case, that it would be in accordance with British traditions of freedom to receive any such application in the most sympathetic manner possible?

asked the Home Secretary if he can now state when a Bill for the further regulation of the hours of employment of young persons in the distributive trades will be introduced?

The Bill to which the hon. Baronet refers is being introduced in another place to-day and arrangements have been made for copies to be available for Members of this House to-morrow morning.

asked the Home Secretary if he will introduce legislation to restrict the development of multiple firms, co-operative societies, and the like which carry on a retail trade in order to free the individual private trader from unfair competition, and to make it illegal for trading organisations to subscribe directly or indirectly to the funds of political parties or towards the expenses of candidates offering themselves for election in either national or local elections?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether negotiations with Japanese representatives in connection with Japanese competition in articles other than textiles are contemplated; and what action, if any, the Government propose to take?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Platting (Mr. Chorlton) on 28th November.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are many other trades, particularly the metal trade, which are just as keenly interested in Japanese competition as the textile trades; and is he not going to take some steps with regard to them also?

If my hon. Friend refers to the answer given on 28th November he will find that it refers to that point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman welcome the hon. Member back to the fold?

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the customary statistics relating to the exports and re-exports of fabric gloves are now omitted from the Trade and Navigation Returns; and whether he will consider rescinding this change and returning to the practice of providing this information in future?

As was explained in an article in the Board of Trade Journal of 18th January, the recent extensive revision of the form and scope of the accounts relating to trade and navigation has involved the deletion of particulars in respect of certain commodities in which the trade is now relatively unimportant. Unless or until there is a substantial increase in the value of the exports or re-exports of fabric gloves it is not proposed to publish the particulars monthly. They will, however, be published, as hitherto, in the "Annual Statement of Trade."

In view of the very frequent changes made in the duty on this article, does not the right hon. Gentleman consider it is very desirable that the Import Duties Advisory Committee should have an opportunity monthly of seeing what are the effects of the duty; and, further, is it not important that the exports as well as imports should be recorded in view of the fact that the export of fabric gloves which, 10 years ago, was 146,000 dozen pairs is now only 23,000?

The experience of a single month would not be sufficient on which to base a judgment as to the future.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that we can wait for a whole year until the trade has been destroyed before any change is made in the duty?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make any statement as to the nature of the assistance which it is proposed to give to the British shipping industry to enable it to compete with foreign subsidised vessels?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which were given to the hon. Member for Salford South (Mr. Stourton) on 29th January and to the hon. and gallant Member for Paddington South (Vice-Admiral Taylor) on 30th January.

Has the right hon. Gentleman no further information to give us?

No, Sir, I am afraid there is nothing to add to what was said then.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether an examination has been made as to whether most-favoured-nation treatment should be given in connection with quotas in the same way as with tariff concessions; and, if so, with what result?

Most of our commercial treaties contain provisions designed to prevent discriminatory measures in matters of commerce, including most-favoured-nation provisions regarding import and export prohibitions and the like. Where the point referred to in the question has arisen with foreign Governments, His Majesty's Government have maintained that these provisions are applicable to quotas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the assurance recently given by the firm of Spillers, Limited, that no rise in the price of bread and flour would be caused by Government action to prevent the importation of flour from abroad, which is being sold at between 5s. and 6s. below the cost of production in Great Britain, he is now in a position to announce the Government's decision with regard to this matter?

I have seen a statement in the Press on the lines indicated by my hon. and gallant Friend. He will no doubt be aware that the Import Duties Advisory Committee have under consideration an application to increase the duty on foreign flour.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what he meant when he told the House that the Government were watching this question day by day? Are we to infer that they were considering making a decision apart from the recommendation of the Import Duties Advisory Committee?

We cannot make any recommendation apart from the judgment of the Advisory Committee when it has a subject of this kind under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present position with regard to the reorganisation of the iron and steel industry; and if he is aware of the recent increase in the price of iron and steel and the serious effect on manufacturers who employ this raw material in articles manufactured for the home and foreign markets?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Birkenhead, East (Mr. White) on 6th February. A meeting of the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers to consider the scheme for improving the central organisation of the industry is being held to-day. With regard to the second part of the question, I am aware that there have recently been increases in the price of certain iron and steel products, but they do not appear to have been of such a character as to have serious effect upon the consumers of those products.

Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to a letter in to-day's "Times" from Sir William Firth, pointing out the futility of the proposed reorganisation scheme?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give a complete list of Empire and Foreign countries which had a favourable trade balance with Great Britain for the year ended December, 1933, or such other date at which the same can be calculated, giving in each case the amount of such favourable trade balance?

The desired information is available from the particulars of the aggregate trade of the United Kingdom with each British and foreign country during the year 1933 which are set out on pages 176 to 186 of the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" for January last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement as to the progress of the negotiations between the Japanese and British textile interests?

No, Sir; I should like to take this opportunity of pointing out to my hon. Friend and to the House that it will not be possible to add to the statements made to the Press by the British delegation until those in charge of the negotiations consider that, in the interests of the industries concerned, the time has arrived at which a more detailed report may properly be made.

Can anything be done to stop the disquieting statements which are being made that the negotiations at this early stage have practically broken down?

I have complete confidence in the British delegation, and I am sure that if there is anything to communicate to the public they will publish it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the reduction in the Dutch quota for earthenware to 35 per cent. of the average exports for 1929–30; and whether, in the interests of North Staffordshire, he will take immediate steps to negotiate better terms to relieve the hardships of this industry?

Yes, Sir. The Netherlands authorities have recently announced reductions in the import quotas applicable to various classes of goods, and the matter is receiving active consideration.

Can anything be done by direct negotiation before the quota comes into operation?

That is a matter of opinion. I hope so.

The right hon. Gentleman will remember that he can impose special duties if necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state for each of the last four years the proportion borne by the payments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the United Kingdom, as defined in the schedule of the temporary commercial agreement of 16th February, 1934, to the proceeds of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the United Kingdom as also therein defined; and also comparable figures for the year 1913?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the proportions in 1932 and 1933 between the payments and proceeds of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the United Kingdom, as defined in the schedule of the temporary commercial agreement?

The available information is not sufficient to enable the proportion between payments and proceeds of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in previous years to be stated.

How shall we be able to judge of the effects of the Treaty if we are not able to turn to the relevant figures for previous years?

I think that will be possible. There are a great many disturbing statistical factors which make it rather difficult to adjust a comparison. However, if my hon. Friend is interested in the matter I shall be very glad to try to give him what information I can.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman, may I further ask him to consider having such figures made available when the Treaty is considered by the House?

I should certainly like to go as far as I could in that direction, but I need not point out that there are difficulties in the way.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give these statistics to the whole House so that all hon. Members may have the benefit of them?

I have just said that I hope to do so in the course of the Debate on the Russian Agreement.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what is the sum at present outstanding on export credits to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and when this liability wll cease?

It would be contrary to practice to disclose the outstanding liability on individual countries or firms, and as none of the other countries which provide export credit facilities for trade with Russia has seen fit to publish information regarding their outstanding liabilities, I hope that my hon. and gallant Friend will not press for a reply to this question. I see no objection to stating, however, that the total amount of Soviet bills that the Export Credits Guarantee Department contracted to guarantee from 1st January, 1933, to the latest available date was approximately £1,650,000.

Can the hon. Gentleman state how much is outstanding, as it will be very difficult to discuss the Trade Agreement unless we know?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will confer with me, I will give him a little more information. For the reasons given in my answer, I think it is undesirable to say more now.

Of all these amounts, is there not always some amount outstanding?

I think that is usually the case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action, if any, the Government contemplates taking on the report submitted to His Majesty's Government, on 14th February, 1934, by the Federation of British Industries?

His Majesty's Government will continue to give careful consideration to all suggestions relating to commercial policy which are put forward by representative bodies of industrialists or traders.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the remarks of Mr. Justice Swift at the Liverpool Assizes on Wednesday the 14th instant, when, upon the trial of a man charged with manslaughter who was alleged to have been under the influence of drink and unfit to drive a car, the Judge questioned the right of the police to call in the police surgeon to examine the accused man; and whether he proposes to reconsider the existing regulations governing police procedure in such cases?

I have seen Press reports of the remarks attributed to the learned Judge, but until I have ascertained the precise circumstances and have had an opportunity of considering them fully, I cannot say what action, if any, may be called for on my part.

Is the right hon. Gentleman of opinion that if these remarks are applied to all cases of this kind the police throughout the country will be put into a position of grave difficulty?

Until I have heard all the circumstances I can express no opinion.

May I put down a further question on the matter after the right hon. Gentleman has had an opportunity of considering the full circumstances?

Yes.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of enforcing a rule that everyone who is going to drive a motor upon the streets of this country should be prohibited from having a smell of drink about them, just as is the case in regard to an engine driver on the railway?

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that he might have to go so far as to have a temperance test for Judges, if they make such decisions?

Withdraw!

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now state his decision with regard to the amendment of Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act which makes sleeping out an offence?

asked the Home Secretary if he is yet in a position to make to the House a full statement in regard to the law on vagrancy?

As I have already intimated, I have been considering some amendment of the particular provision in Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act, 1824, which deals with "sleeping out," and I hope that I may be in a position before long to introduce a Bill on the subject. It would I think be unfortunate if amendment of this particular provision were to be delayed pending a review of the general law relating to vagrancy.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea when he will introduce legislation?

The House knows that there is a good deal of legislation for discussion at the present moment. I cannot give any undertaking. As soon as I can, I will do so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that five assistant masters at the Haverfordwest grammar school have recently been dismissed; that these dismissals are attributed by the headmaster and governors of the school to the reorganisation schemes of the county education committee, although that committee has repudiated responsibility for the dismissals; and whether, in view of these considerations, he will cause an inquiry to be made into the administration of the school and the circumstances of these dismissals?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the recent changes in the staff of the Haverfordwest grammar school, he will cause an inquiry to be made into the manner in which the school is at present being administered?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that five members of the teaching staff of the Haverfordwest grammar school have been dismissed on the ground of reorganisation; and, in view of the expressed policy of the Board that schemes of reorganisation shall be carried out without resort to dismissal, will he inquire further into the matter?

My Noble Friend is aware that two assistant masters at the Haverfordwest grammar school have recently been dismissed and that three others are under notice of dismissal. He is also informed of the attendant circumstances. My Noble Friend understands that the governing body desired to give a more substantial place in the school curriculum to practical scientific and agricultural subjects, and for that reason decided to replace these five masters by others more suitably qualified to teach those subjects. The school in question is regulated by a scheme framed under the Endowed Schools Acts which gives the governors of the school absolute control over the appointment and dismissal of masters. Consequently, the Board have no power to intervene. If there is a remedy it would appear to be a legal one which can be sought only in the courts. In these circumstances my Noble Friend does not think that any inquiry into the administration of the school would serve any effective purpose.

Is not this contrary to the principle of the expressed policy of the Board, that reorganisation and re-staffing should be carried out without recourse to dismissals?

Is the hon. Member aware that these teachers are ex-service men, that their work was perfectly satisfactory, and that this dismissal may prejudice their right to pension?

I am aware of the circumstances, and I have full sympathy with the men. As the hon. Member knows, the question of pensions is full of detail, and no two teachers are in the same position. In regard to reorganisation, the governors of this school have power respecting staff to take such action as they think fit for the efficiency of the school, and the Board has no power to intervene.

Has the Board not power to intervene seeing that the endowment only provides £800 per annum, while rates and taxes provide £5,200 per annum?

The school is governed by a scheme under the Endowed Schools Act, and the Board has no power to intervene as regards the staff.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Royal Commission to inquire into the organisation of the university of Durham and its constituent colleges has yet been appointed?

I am glad to say that Lord Moyne has consented to be chairman of this Royal Commission. I hope to be able at no distant date to announce the names of the other commissioners.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say if there is any suggested date when they will begin the investigation?

The Commission have not been appointed yet.

asked the Minister of Health if he has considered the resolution from the Leigh Town Council drawing his attention to the serious overcrowding which exists, the long waiting list for houses, and the failure of private enterprise to build houses under the 1933 Housing Act; and, in view of this, will he consider re-introducing financial assistance to local authorities to meet the housing need?

I have considered the resolution to which the hon. Member refers. In reply to the second part of the question, any local authority the needs of whose district are not being met by private enterprise are free to build any houses required, and I have at present before me proposals from the Leigh Town Council for the erection of 200 houses which I hope to sanction at an early date.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has not been one application by a private builder in the area under the 1933 Act; and does not that indicate a failure of the Act?

No, Sir. In the circumstances local authorities are quite right in putting forward their application.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been built since the enactment of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933, under the provisions of that Act?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley (Mr. Joel) on the 1st February.

asked the Minister of Health the names of the nine rural district councils in England and Wales which have made arrangements with private builders for the erection of working-class dwellings to be let under Section 2 of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1933; and also the total number of houses involved in such arrangements?

The nine rural district councils to which the hon. and gallant Member refers are Barrow-on-Soar, Cheadle, Congleton, Lichfield, Rotherham, Rugby, Wallingford, Wantage and Winchester, and the number of houses involved is 701.

Does the Minister of Health consider that an adequate contribution to the rural housing problem in its present position?

My hon. and gallant Friend will bear in mind that it is not from this particular provision that one expects the largest contribution to the housing problem.

asked the Minister of Health if he can state, approximately, the number of class C houses required in urban and rural areas, respectively, in order to provide every working-class family with reasonable housing accommodation?

Owing to uncertainties in the basis of such an estimate in such matters as standards of accommodation, number of effective families, and possible limits of area of residence, it has never been possible to arrive at a trustworthy arithmetical estimate of the sort required by my hon. Friend. Some information of the kind desired is contained in the census returns, and I will send him a statement of the relevant figures, with the observation that, for the reasons referred to, deductions as to housing needs, based on overcrowding statistics, need many qualifications.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this problem cannot be adequately dealt with until its magnitude is ascertained, and will he therefore take steps to ascertain the requirements of all local authorities?

Anybody who studies these highly difficult problems will always be in search of some reliable estimate of this sort, and I have explained the difficulties of the search.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of these houses are being built without any provision for water supply at all and without any adequate sanitary arrangements?

No, Sir, and I shall be grateful if the hon. Member will call my attention to any particulars of this nature.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, according to the report of the value to the London County Council, more than 200,000 persons made application for housing accommodation to that council during the financial year 1932–33; and what action he is taking to secure that adequate housing schemes are put in hand to deal with the present shortage of houses in the administrative county area?

The report referred to shows that 100,000 persons called at the Central Estate Office of the county council and that 109,000 persons, not necessarily exclusive of these 100,000, made inquiries by letter. As regards the second part of the question, the needs of the county area must be met partly by provision outside the county and, during the year ended 30th September last, more than 57,000 new dwellings were provided in the Metropolitan Police District.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the growing anxiety of owners of working-class property owing to the indiscriminate methods being adopted in some cases for the demolition of houses that, in the opinion of experts, are capable of reconditioning; and, owing to the hardships that are being occasioned by such methods, will he now consider giving local authorities more definite guidance as to their responsibilities to owners and the necessity for more generous consideration of payment of compensation?

The demolition of houses undertaken under demolition orders or slum clearance schemes is not in fact indiscriminate. The owner of any house on which a demolition order is made has an appeal against the order to a Judge of the County Court, and the owner of property in a clearance area has the right to lodge an objection and to appear at a public inquiry before an inspector who is a professional man and gives careful consideration to any representations, including suggestions for reconditioning, which are made before him. The conditions of compensation are laid down by Statute in the Housing Act, 1930, and the circular letters already issued to local authorities give the necessary information as to their application.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these owners are working-class people who have invested their life savings in purchasing these properties, and does he not think that by giving them further guidance as to a stricter observance of the regulations and responsibilities with regard to compensation, he would assist the smoother working of slum clearance?

The matter to which my hon. Friend refers is always present to my mind when an opportunity for guidance is available.

Will the Minister be prepared to investigate any cases I may place before him showing hardship, and act accordingly?

Most certainly. I shall be grateful if the hon. Member will give me any cases he has in mind.

May I ask whether there are cases of refusal to carry out the work on account of their inability under the Acts to find adequate compensation, particularly in rural districts?

I do not think that is the case.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the inquiry by the Ministry of Health gives every opportunity to the owner to put forward his case?

Yes, undoubtedly. It gives the fullest opportunity in the most practical form, as it enables small owners to make their case known to one who is able to understand it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the large amount of money available for investment in gilt-edged securities, the Government is now prepared to reduce the minimum rate of interest on advances made by the Public Works Loan Board to local authorities for the purpose of housing and slum clearance from 3⅝ per cent. to some lower figure?

I am afraid that the facts do not warrant any reduction in the rate at present.

In view of the glut of cheap money are the Treasury proposing to withhold the advantage of it from ordinary working people who might otherwise be able to obtain houses at cheaper rents than are now charged?

The hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware that we have to borrow at £3 7s. and are lending at £3 12s. 6d. and that a fractional reduction in the rate would hardly be considered a sufficient stimulus to enable further borrowing to take place.

Does not my hon. Friend think that any reduction in the rate will stimulate the provision of houses for the poor?

Any reduction must be within the limits of prudence.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses, apart from replacements under slum-clearance schemes of such a character as to let at rentals of not more than 11s. per week, inclusive of rates, are at present under construction in the county boroughs of West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Dudley and Smethwick, respectively?

The only returns available of houses under construction relate to houses being erected by local authorities, and do not specify the prospective rents. The Wednesbury Town Council are now erecting 72 houses under the Housing Act, 1924, but the other authorities mentioned have, apart from slum-clearance proposals, no housing schemes in progress. The latest information which I have regarding the activities of private enterprise relate to the half-year ended September last, during which period the number of houses erected, with a rateable value of £26 or less, was 170 in West Bromwich, 10 in Wednesbury, 126 in Dudley and 47 in Smethwick.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to the hindrance to house building due to the assessment to Income Tax of unrealised profits in those cases where the builder guarantees the repayment of a portion of the advance by building societies to purchasers; and whether he will take steps to remove this menace to house building?

The computation of the profits of builders for Income Tax purposes is made on precisely the same principles as apply to other traders, and I see no justification for the proposed departure from these principles in favour of a particular trade. It is, how- ever, recognised that there may be cases in which, as a result of the system of guarantees to building societies, the builder's available funds are insufficient to enable payment to be made at the due date of the full amount of the Income Tax charged. Arrangements to meet such cases have been made by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue after consultation with the National Federation of House Builders. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the arrangement.

asked the Minister of Health if his information shows that the rural water supplies in Oxfordshire can be regarded as satisfactory, in view of the small rainfall this winter; and what steps are being taken to improve any defects in supply?

I have information of shortage of water supplies due to drought in parts of the rural districts of Banbury, Bullingdon, Chipping Norton and Witney. Schemes for the permanent improvement of the water supplies in these areas are now under the consideration of the four councils concerned. A scheme for four parishes in the Ploughley Rural District has just been approved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of revenue collected, or due to the Treasury to date, from the tax on hydrocarbon oils?

The total amount of revenue received from the duties on hydrocarbon oils from the first imposition of such a duty in 1928 up to 31st January, 1934, is approximately £142,479,000.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that he has achieved his declared objective of putting more miners back to work by the introduction of the oil tax?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Brazilian Government is preparing to negotiate a gold loan for gold cover of a central reserve bank; and will he notify the Brazilian authorities that there can be no issue in Britain of a Brazilian gold loan, notwithstanding any future relaxation of the embargo on foreign loans, unless the fourth Brazilian default imposed by the unilateral decree is readjusted to the satisfaction of British nationals who previously entrusted their savings to the Brazilian authorities?

So far as I am aware, it is not the case that the Brazilian Government are preparing to negotiate a loan in this country and the remainder of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider altering the regulations in connection with the assessment of incomes under the Old Age Pensions Acts, so that capital value can be calculated at 3½ per cent. up to and including £375, and 7 per cent. in respect of any sum in excess of this figure, instead of 5 per cent. and 10 per cent., respectively, in view of the low rates of interest prevailing at the present time?

The Government are not prepared to initiate legislation to give effect to my hon. Friend's suggestion. It is not possible to deal fully with this question within the limits of a Parliamentary answer, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the rate of interest is only one of many considerations which have to be taken into account.

Is it not very unfair that a person whose income is £40 should be taxed on an assessment of £72 for the purposes of pension?

I have told my hon. Friend that I cannot lay all the considerations before him in reply to a question, and I shall be only too glad to communicate them fully to him.

Is not about time that the method of calculating means for old age pensions for persons over 70 was revised and put on a fairer basis?

I thought my answer covered that point when I said that I could not deal with it within the limits of a question and answer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the large amount of potatoes left over from last year's crop; and, in view of the low price obtaining for these, if he is prepared to regulate the import of foreign new potatoes, either by increased duty or a quantitative agreement with exporting countries?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the surplus of last year's potatoes now in this country for which no market will be obtainable; and whether, in view of this fact, he will consider decreasing materially the quota of Spanish and other foreign new potatoes which will shortly be arriving in this country?

Supplies of home-grown potatoes at the present time are ample, but it is too early to say what quantity is likely to be left over at the end of the consuming season. Any request for an increase in the Customs duty on potatoes is a matter for the Import Duties Advisory Committee in the first instance. Proposals for the regulation of imports of new potatoes during the coming season will shortly be communicated to the exporting countries concerned.

Can the Minister say when we may expect these communications?

I am afraid I could not undertake to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make any statement regarding the serious position which is likely to arise in the near future in the milk-producing industry; and, if not, when he is likely to be able to do so?

I will ask my right hon. Friend to await the statement I propose to make by leave of the House at the end of Questions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the desirability of increasing milk consumption in this country and the fact that one of the chief obstacles in the way of increasing such consumption is that the public cannot rely on obtaining tubercular-free milk, he will consider the desirability of co-operating at any early date with the Milk Marketing Board in instituting a large-scale national scheme for the complete eradication of tuberculosis amongst British dairy herds?

I will ask my hon. Friend to await the statement I propose to make at the end of Questions.

Can the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Agriculture now make his statement with regard to milk policy?

I rise by leave of the House to make an announcement with regard to milk policy. As the statement contains a number of figures and technical details, I have arranged for copies to be available in the Vote Office for Members as soon as I sit down.

The Government has been giving close consideration to the supply position of milk and milk products in this country. As the House will be aware, there is a volume of milk surplus to present liquid requirements which is estimated to be little short of 20 per cent. of the total volume of milk sold under contract this winter, and is likely to be about 40 per cent. of the larger volume of contract supplies available in the spring and summer. This surplus milk has to find a market in manufactured form, chiefly as butter and cheese. Prices of butter and cheese are at very low levels, owing to exceptionally heavy imports and present market conditions generally. There is thus a grave danger that the price structure of the whole milk producing industry in this country will be seriously undermined, particularly when the spring and summer flush of milk comes on to the market.

An expansion of the liquid milk consumption of the country would not only be of the greatest benefit from the public health point of view but would alleviate in the most satisfactory way the difficulty of "surplus milk." If this increase in consumption is to be obtained, it must be based on public confidence as to the purity of the supply.

The Government accordingly proposes—

(1) That for the two years beginning 1st April, 1934, the Milk Marketing Boards shall be guaranteed by the Government by means of Exchequer advances, minimum prices of 5d. per gallon in summer (April-September) and 5d. per gallon in winter, in respect of milk manufactured in factories in Great Britain. For milk manufactured into cheese on farms, for which the boards will have to assume responsibility, the same advances per gallon will be made. Details of the proposed arrangements will be found in the White Paper. The advances from the Exchequer are estimated to amount to about from £1,500,000 to £1,750,000 in the first year.

(2) For the purpose of launching a campaign for securing a purer milk supply, the Government will provide from public funds a sum not exceeding £750,000, spread over the next four years. It will be the responsibility of the boards to continue the campaign without further assistance as soon as they are in a position to do so.

(3) The Government will be prepared to contribute from the Exchequer on a pound for pound basis to a milk publicity fund for a period of two years. The Government contribution will be limited to £500,000 in either year, according to the amount contributed by the Milk Marketing Boards. The grant will be contingent on the submission of an approved programme containing, inter alia, provision for the supply of milk to schools at reduced rates.

The requisite legislation will be introduced at an early date, and, in view of the widespread interest which is being taken in the subject, the Government hopes it will be facilitated by all parties in this House.

What arrangements will be made for the repayment to the Exchequer of the advances from public funds which are contemplated?

They will be found in full in the White Paper which will be in the Vote Office. After a period of two years, the advances will be repayable in the next two years if the prices are at a reasonable level.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that these advances will in fact be repaid?

That must depend upon the level of prices in the world markets for the next four years, a matter on which I am unable to prophesy.

May I ask how much of the £750,000 will be devoted to advertising and how much to increasing the purchasing power of the consumer?

My hon. Friend has, inadvertently perhaps, confused the two sums. The £750,000 is to be devoted entirely to the cleaning up of the herds and securing a pure milk supply. None of that will go to advertising. Of the other sum, the £500,000 for publicity, I trust that a very substantial proportion will be devoted to the best form of publicity, namely, securing an adequate supply to consumers at, reduced rates.

As the various parts of the scheme which the right hon. Gentleman has announced will be costly to the taxpayer, does he not think that it should be accompanied by drastic limitation of the importation of unsweetened tinned milk which is now depriving dairy farmers of the market for their surplus to which they have a right?

I should be loath to enter into a discussion by question and answer, but my hon. Friend will be well aware that the entire exclusion of unsweetened tinned milk will make practically no difference to the problem. It is the large quantities of imported dairy produce of all kinds, particularly butter and cheese, which depress the price level.

May I ask what is the estimated amount of the contingent guarantee? The right hon. Gentleman did not give any figure.

Yes. I gave that in the first part of my answer. The advances from the Exchequer are estimated to amount to from £1,500,000 to £1,750,000.

Per annum?

In the first year.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform us how soon and in what form this matter will be brought before the House for discussion and decision?

I am afraid that question will have to be addressed to the Leader of the House.

Arising out of the right hon. Gentleman's reply to my supplementary question, is he aware that the sweetened skimmed milk imported into this country is equivalent to the yield of 150,000 dairy cows?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that thousands of working-class homes use this tinned substitute because they cannot afford to pay for ordinary milk; and does he not also realise that the best way to increase the consumption of milk is to make it cheaper?

That is what he is doing.

I will leave my two hon. Friends to answer each other.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are in this country tens of thousands of children, not only of school age but under school age, to whom milk is a necessary food, and who are unable to secure it, and, while he is in the mood to give subsidies, will he give money to enable the parents of those children to purchase milk?

I would call the hon. Member's attention to the terms of my answer:

"an approved programme containing inter alia"—

among other things—

"provision for the supply of milk to schools."

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if we are to draw the inference from his answer that we are not now getting a pure milk supply; and, further, can he say why the Government should subsidise an industry if he is sure we are getting pure milk?

I think it is common knowledge that the purity of the milk supply in this country is not as great as we should all like to see it. The desirability of ensuring a purer milk supply is a responsibility which is not that of one section of the community but of the community as a whole.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the fact that imports of cattle from Canada since 1st January have been greater than in the corresponding period of last year and to the stabilisation arrangement announced by him on 20th December last, he has any statement to make on the subject?

His Majesty's Government in Canada have not found it possible to regulate imports on the basis of one quarter only. They have, however, agreed that the period of stabilisation should be extended to the first six months of this year. Under the revised arrangement, total arrivals of Canadian cattle during the months January to June, 1934, will be limited to the aggregate figure for the corresponding period of 1933.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any schemes have been put forward for the establishment of any new bacon factories in Oxfordshire or in the adjoining counties?

I have no knowledge of any definite proposals for the establishment of bacon factories in the area mentioned, but such proposals would not necessarily come before me.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the dissatisfaction among consumers of hops as to the method of allocation of the crop, he will take steps to see that the Hops Marketing Board make immediate arrangements for a more equitable distribution?

I was not aware that there were any substantial grounds for dissatisfaction among consumers of hops on the question of allocation of the crop, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will supply me with particulars of the cases he has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

Will the right hon. Gentleman drop hops altogether?

asked the Minister of Transport how many cases have come to the notice of his Department during each of the last five years where heavy road-vehicles have fallen through weak bridges?

I have no knowledge of such cases.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of pneumatic boring machines used for boring stone in the South Wales coalfield and the number in use in the United Kingdom?

The figures for 1932, which are the latest available, show a total of 5,730 pneumatic drills in use at mines under the Coal Mines Act: 1,073 of these were in use in South Wales. I regret I cannot give any figures as to the extent to which these drills are used in the boring of stone or otherwise.

asked the Secretary for Mines, in view of the abandonment of the proposal made by the London Economic Conference for the reorganisation of coal production on an international basis, on what grounds the British coal producers based their refusal to take part with other coal-producing countries in negotiations for the furtherance of the scheme; and whether he is satisfied as to the validity of these objections?

Following the resolution adopted by the World Economic Conference inviting the principal coal producers to endeavour to organise coal production on an international basis, I inquired of the Central Council of Colliery Owners what action they proposed to take. In taking this step I had in mind that the British coalowners had taken the initiative in calling an international conference on this matter in September, 1931. The council replied that they did not consider that any practical results could be achieved at the present time by such a conference as was suggested. I cannot accept the implication in the first part of the hon. Member's question that the proposal made by the World Economic Conference has been abandoned.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will consider using the latter part of "Trekking On," by Colonel Reitz, as a guide or manual for the use of battalion commanders in the field or in the Sandhurst curriculum?

The book in question has been recommended for inclusion in General Staff reference libraries, officers' mess libraries and cadet college libraries, but it is not considered to be suitable for use as an official training manual.