asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now able to state the present position and the action taken with reference to the banning in Germany of the British film "Catherine the Great" after it had been passed by the censor?

The Federation of British Industries, acting on behalf of the producers of the film in question, are engaged in correspondence with the competent German authorities with a view to a reconsideration of the ban imposed. I have also called the attention of the German Embassy to this case and expressed the hope that the correspondence now in progress may lead to a satisfactory settlement.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether any reason was given for the banning?

No, I could not say that.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that on 20th March Mr. A. W. Palmer, a British subject travelling in Germany on business, was detained by the police at Chemnitz on the ground that he had taken a photograph of the outside of a public hall within which an anti-aircraft exhibition was being held, although no notice was exhibited prohibiting photographs; that he was detained for over two hours and interrogated by police officers; that he was refused permission to communicate with the British Consul or to telephone to his friends; and what action, if any, he proposes to take?

I have seen in the Press an account of Mr. Palmer's experiences in Germany, and I have requested His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin to furnish me with a report on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the present position with regard to the convention relating to the international status of refugees; what countries have signed and ratified it; and to what extent it is now in operation?

I am taking steps to obtain the latest information from Geneva on this subject, and will communicate it to the hon. Member as soon as it is received.

Will my right hon. Friend also circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I think it would be better to see what the information is. We should not want to incur the expense of printing matter which was not of real importance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the advisability of bringing before the next meeting of the Council of the League of Nations the whole question of the present international difficulties of Austria, with a view to their being dealt with by the League within the terms of the Covenant in accordance with Article 10?

No, Sir. His Majesty's Government do not consider that this action on their part would be advisable.

In view of the fact that this is not solely a matter between Italy, Germany and Austria, but may affect the peace of the whole world, is it not desirable that it should go to the supreme tribunal, the Council of the League?

The first thing to be considered would be the terms of Article 10 and the relevance of matters to be brought forward in relation to that Article. All those matters are being considered. I have already answered that in the opinion of His Majesty's Government it would not be desirable for us to take any action.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether there is any precedent for the recent amendment of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions directing that salutes shall be fired from His Majesty's ships, forts, and batteries in honour of the Pope and his nuncios, internuncios, and legates met with at sea or arriving at or quitting any place in His Majesty's Dominions; and, further, if this direction is to be enforced in Northern Ireland;

Since the Lateran Treaty was signed in 1929, the Pope, as temporal sovereign of the Vatican City, has been entitled to a salute. This right extends to his representatives having diplomatic status, and has no territorial limitation. The salute does not imply any recognition of the ecclesiastical status of the Pope or his representatives. Instructions in this sense were issued to the Fleet in 1929, and they have recently, as a matter of routine, been formally incorporated in the King's Regulations. If there is any doubt as to the diplomatic status of a Papal Legate, the responsible officer will obtain directions from the Admiralty, who will, if necessary, consult the Foreign Office. The phrase "military honours" as used in the King's Regulations means not honours given by the Army, but honours appropriate to non-civilian personages, namely, reception with a guard and band. These are normally given only to Sovereigns, Royal personages, Viceroys and Governors, and senior officers of Defence Services, whether British or foreign: they are not given to diplomatic personages.

Before these amendments were made, were the Law Officers of the Crown consulted as to how far the amendments were consistent with our existing law?

Would not an impossible situation be created if any religious discrimination were made in the instructions to the armed forces?

Yes, I agree with the last supplementary question. In answer to the first, as far as I am aware, the Law Officers were not consulted. I do not think it was necessary.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what Oliver Cromwell did about the Pope?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the inconvenience arising from the fact that all wireless messages sent from Kenya to England have now to be paid for on a gold-franc basis, he will direct that in future all such messages transmitted by the Imperial and International Communications, Limited, shall be assessed and charged for on a sterling basis?

Although the rates charged for wireless mesages sent from Kenya to England are based on the gold franc in accordance with the international practice laid down in the International Telecommunication Convention and the regulations attached thereto, the charges to the public are fixed in the local currency.

In view of the fact that this is a matter affecting the Empire, will my right hon. Friend make representations?

I do not think I could do that, because all these postal matters are governed by an international convention, to which we and all the other countries are parties, and therefore it would alter the actual amount of money that people had to pay, but for the convenience of local people the actual cash is paid over in the currency of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the composition of the committee (giving names) in Kenya Colony which considered the Bill to amend the law relating to native squatters; and whether the proposals which are being circulated to representative European associations for comment are also being submitted for comment to native councils and native associations?

The committee, which is still sitting, consists of the Attorney-General, the Acting Chief Native Commissioner, a Provincial Commissioner, the representative on Legislative Council of Native Interests, Mr. C. K. Archer, Mr. H. Clay, Mrs. Grant, Mr. Conway Harvey and Captain F. O'B. Wilson. The proposals which the committee has circulated to various people, including all the Provincial Commissioners, are merely a preliminary draft, which does not at this stage represent their final views. When a draft Bill is submitted to Government by the committee, any proposals affecting native interests will naturally be carefully considered toy the Provincial Commissioners after consultation, where necessary, with the local native councils concerned, before the Bill is brought before the Legislative Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what answers he has returned to resolutions or petitions from public bodies or societies in the West Indies on the subject of the recommendations of the West Indies Closer Union Commission?

I have received a number of resolutions and representations on this subject, the answers to which have necessarily varied according to the nature of the communication. If my hon. and gallant Friend will let me know what resolutions or petitions in particular he has in mind, I shall be happy to give him further information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the date upon which trial by jury was suspended in Malta in cases within the Malta Official Secrets Ordinance, 1923; and how many persons have been charged with such offences since that date and the dates of such trials, respectively?

The Ordinance providing for trial by a court without a jury in cases under the Official Secrets Ordinance was enacted on the 7th of March. Two persons were charged on the 13th of March with offences against the latter Ordinance.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me, first, the present state of the trial which is now pending and, secondly, whether, in view of the fact that that trial is taking place in camera, the practice of ordering a trial to take place in camera is a judicial discretion or the result of administrative action?

As regards the first supplementary question, it would be premature and indeed quite improper for me to speak about a trial in the sense of trial by the High Court. The proceedings which are now taking place before the magistrates as far as I know—I have not had a telegram—are not yet concluded, and, of course, it would depend entirely on the result of these preliminary proceedings before the magistrate whether or not there will be a committal and a subsequent trial in the High Court. With regard to the second question, whether and how far in a case of this kind the proceedings should be in camera, I understand that the practice under this Ordinance is exactly the same as the practice in this country, namely, that the question whether or how far hearings should be in camera is entirely a matter for the decision of the court and not for the executive.

While thanking my right hon. Friend, I suppose he could give the House an assurance that this trial in camera is simply the result of judicial direction?

Certainly. It is entirely a matter for the court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement as to the possibility of modernising the defences of the East African territories by co-operation between land and air forces?

This possibility is being examined as a result of instructions which I gave during my recent visit to East Africa, but I regret that I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the desirability of constructing an aerodrome in the vicinity of Tel-Aviv, in Palestine, for use in connection with the Levant Fair and to provide greater convenience for air travellers to Palestine than the existing aerodrome at Gaza; and whether the Government of Palestine is co-operating in this matter?

I am not aware of any suggestion that an aerodrome should be prepared in the vicinity of Tel-Aviv for use in connection with the Levant Fair. The whole question of the development of civil aviation in Palestine is, however, now receiving the attention of the High Commissioner, who, I understand, hopes to submit proposals for the establishment of a civil aerodrome more conveniently situated with regard to Jerusalem, Jaffa and Tel-Aviv than the existing aerodrome at Gaza.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the action of the Irish Free State Government in imposing a duty of 1s. per pair on foreign and United Kingdom rubber shoes or 30 per cent. ad valorem, whichever is the higher, with a reduced rate of 20 per cent. when the goods come from other parts of the Empire; and whether it is proposed to adopt a similar scale of duties in respect of imports of rubber footwear into this country?

Further information is Being obtained in regard to the new duties imposed by the Irish Free State. As regards the second part of the question, I would remind my hon. Friend that any rubber shoes imported from the Irish Free State into this country are subject to the same rate of customs duty as that imposed on similar foreign goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make any statement regarding the reductions recently imposed in the quotas applicable to various classes of goods imported into the Netherlands from this country?

The Netherlands Government have informed His Majesty's Government that they are anxious to enter into negotiations with regard to the trade between the two countries. In order to facilitate discussions, they have decided to continue for a limited period to allot to goods imported from the United Kingdom, the quotas which were in force before the proposed reductions were enacted. His Majesty's Government are arranging to enter into discussions, the status quo on both sides being maintained in the meantime, in the hope that it will be possible to arrive at a satisfactory arrangement for the future. I anticipate that these discussions will begin at an early date.

During these discussions will the immense increase of bulbs and flowers be considered?

Yes, all relevant considerations will be borne in mind.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend give a guarantee that the Government will not enter into any obligations not to impose adequate duties on skimmed condensed milk, the bulk of which comes from the Netherlands?

The same answer applies to that question as to the first supplementary question.

Do I understand that the agreement in regard to the status quo is an undertaking not to impose a duty on skimmed condensed milk?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Unilever, Limited, import a great proportion of their raw materials from the British West African Colonies and enjoy protection for their manufactured products in the homo market, and that a company under the control of Unilever, Limited, import Japanese and Russian cotton goods into the West African colonies; and whether, in these circumstances, he will consider what steps should be taken to put an end to this practice?

I am aware of the position as stated in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, the question of the imports of Japanese goods into these territories is under consideration while as regards imports from Russia I would refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for the Dominions on the 14th March to the hon. Member for Chatham (Sir P. Goff).

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say whether there has been a considerable increase in the export of Japanese goods to ports on the west coast of Africa?

Yes, it would appear to be so.

Will it be unreasonable to suppose that the United Africa Company or other subsidiaries of Unilever, Limited, have been responsible?

I can give no positive information on that point. My hon. Friend must draw his own conclusions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can make a statement in regard to the reduction of import licences allocated to British goods entering Denmark?

The Danish Government have undertaken to issue supplementary licences for the importation of certain classes of goods. The question of the issue of supplementary licences for other classes of goods is being taken up with the Danish Government.

While thanking my hon. and gallant Friend for the very satisfactory reply, may I ask, in view of the still large adverse balance of trade between Denmark and this country, whether it is not possible to make representations to stop the continuous difficulties put in the way of obtaining these import licences in case they arise again?

That is being done. I should add that the goods covered by the supplementary licences are sugar goods, tobacco, sauces, biscuits, piece goods, linoleum, carpets, ready-made clothing, hats, footwear, textile manufactures, leather goods and earthenware. Other goods are under consideration.

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say whether in the arrangements that are being made or contemplated for the freer entry of our goods into Denmark, the hosiery trade will be particularly considered?

It will certainly receive consideration.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend also consider the position of bicycles?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can make a statement as to the offer received from the New Zealand Government to adopt a practically free tariff on British goods in exchange for a free and unlimited entry of New Zealand produce to the British market; what reply, if any, has been made to such offer; and whether he will publish the relevant correspondence in full?

No such offer has been made by His Majesty's Government in New Zealand. The hon. Member is, I think, referring to recent correspondence between the two Governments the object of which was to enable the New Zealand Government to put before the dairy producers there the bearing of the agricultural policy of this country upon the future prospects of exports of dairy produce from New Zealand.

Are we to understand that the Government would welcome such an offer and be prepared to give a free market for Dominion goods if such an offer were made?

The hon. Baronet can understand what my answer is when he reads it carefully.

Are we to understand from that answer that the statement in the "Times" of the 14th of this month is without any foundation whatever?

I am always anxious to answer the question on the Paper. The question was:

"To ask the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can make a statement as to the offer…"

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the letter from the sea fishery committee of the Cornwall County Council calling his attention to the loss which will be incurred by fishermen engaged in catching crayfish if the proposed quota on shell-fish landed in France is imposed by the French Government; what action, if any, he has taken in the matter; and if he will consider the case of these fishermen in the trade negotiations with the French Government?

My right hon. Friend has considered the telegram sent to him by the Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee about the quota restrictions on lobsters and crayfish imposed by the French Government on the 26th January last. Following representations made by His Majesty's Government, the French Government have modified the quarterly division of the United Kingdom annual quota, so that the greatest proportion will be available during the fishing season. The question will be further borne in mind in the trade negotiations with the French Government.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask whether he can say, after these negotiations with the French Government, what proportion of the previous exports to France we shall now maintain?

I could not say that without notice.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) the amount allocated from the Road Fund for the purpose of reconditioning bridges in this country during the years 1932 and 1933;

In 1932–33, when circumstances were exceptional, there was no special allocation for reconditioning weak bridges in railway, canal and other private ownership, but grants to the amount of £296,000 were made or promised towards expenditure incurred by highway authorities on such work and on bridging level crossings. In the current year a sum of £415,000 was allocated to these purposes and the grants already made or promised out of his allocation amount to approximately 2396,000. I expect that the remainder will be applied to particular schemes before the close of the year. There is no separate provision for the reconstruction of bridges owned by highway authorities. Grants to work of this character are made out of the general allocation, and bridge work is often included in schemes for the improvement of roads or the construction of new roads. Considerable labour would be involved in examining approved schemes in order to ascertain how much of the expenditure related specifically to ridges.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, with a view to accelerating the replacement of weak bridges over railways, in view of the employment involved, he will come to some special arrangement with the companies concerned?

I am anxious that the work of strengthening and reconstructing weak bridges should proceed as rapidly as possible, and have taken steps to facilitate the working out of the necessary programmes between the owners of these bridges and the responsible highway authorities. I have also made it clear that I am prepared to contribute grants of 75 per cent. of the cost of such works so that all parties are aware of he maximum assistance which can be expected from the Road Fund.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the pro forma contract mentioned in Section 6 of the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933, as being identified by the signature of the Treasury Solicitor, is available for inspection, and where it can be seen?

The document referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend may be inspected at the Ministry of Transport.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can make any statement upon the proposal to construct a by-pass road by Shere and Albury, in the county of Surrey?

Provision for such a by-pass is made in the preliminary statement of a town planning scheme which has been approved by the Minister of Health, but I have no information as to when its construction is likely to be undertaken.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in consideration of the employment involved, he will ascertain from the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company when they propose to complete the projected electrification of the line from Manchester to Oldham?

I will communicate with the railway company and let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that licensing authorities, when issuing excise licences for commercial goods motor vehicles used occasionally, with a container or lift van, do not adopt a uniform system of calculating the weight of the vehicle, inasmuch as in some cases the licence duty is calculated on the combined weight of the vehicle and the container, and in other cases it is calculated on the weight of the vehicle only; and whether he will issue instructions that in the case of such vehicles the licence duty shall be calculated on the weight of the vehicle without the-container?

The method of ascertaining the unladen weight of a motor vehicle, for taxation purposes, is laid down in Section 26 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, i.e. that the unladen weight is to be taken to be the weight of the vehicle inclusive of the body and all parts necessary to or ordinarily used with the vehicle, exclusive of water, fuel, accumulators, loose tools and loose equipment. The question whether the weight of a particular container or lift van should under these provisions be included is primarily a matter for decision by the licensing authority concerned, and if necessary, on appeal, by the courts. I have no power to interpret the statute or to give instructions in the matter.

Is it not a fact that different licensing authorities are putting different interpretations on the same words of an Act of Parliament, and is it not desirable that the same interpretation should be given by the various authorities?

If my hon. Friend's question represents the facts, I say it is most desirable, but I have no power in the matter. It is a matter of the legal interpretation of an Act of Parliament.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if there are any insuperable objections to removing the railings surrounding Hyde Park; and whether he will consider such removal to enable the public to enjoy the amenities of open boulevards such as are appreciated in other countries?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is anxious that no railings should be retained in places where they are not essential, but those round Hyde Park are necessary for the purpose of closing the park at night time, and in order to enable the park to be used as a distributing centre on occasions of national emergency, as was done during the General Strike in 1926.

Can this question be reconsidered from the point of view of relieving the very serious traffic congestion in Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner, and Knightsbridge?

This suggestion has been considered and re-considered from time to time, and the Leader of the Opposition, when he was First Commissioner of Works, came to the same conclusion as my right hon. Friend the present First Commissioner as regards the closing at night.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether in view of the complaints made of the removal of stones from the cairn on Cefn Bryn, Gower, he will ascertain the extent of the interference with this ancient monument and the authority upon which those engaged upon the removal of the stones have been acting?

I have been asked to reply. I understand that no stones have been removed from the cairn itself, but only loose rocks from the hill surrounding the cairn. No damage has been done to the monument, but steps are being taken by the owner to ensure that nothing should be done to injure the setting of the cairn.

Are we to under stand that the owner had given permission for the removal of these stones?

I shall have to inquire from my right hon. Friend about that.

Could it not be arranged to put the Hyde Park railings round this cairn?

Does not the First Commissioner possess any powers to put a stop to these motor lorry vandals who do such damage to the countryside?

I am sure that my right hon. Friend will use every power he has to preserve this cairn from damage.

Can the hon. Gentle man say where this cairn is?

Will the hon. Gentleman convey to the First Commissioner the strong public feeling in the neighbourhood because of this kind of action.

I will certainly do that.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether in view of the statement on the finances of the city of Montreal published on 24th March by the Mayor of Montreal and the Prime Minister of Quebec, he will request the Canadian Dominion Government authorities to supply him with the certified income and expenditure account of the city of Montreal for publication here for the information of those investors who hold the £12,000,000 of Montreal loans floated in London?

The hon. Member will be aware from the answer giver to a question by the hon. Member for the City of Chester (Sir C. Cayzer) on the 13th of March, that I am assured that there is no ground for anxiety as to the City of Montreal's capacity for meeting its engagements. I have no doubt that investors who wish to obtain particulars of the kind referred to can obtain them from the usual sources in the city.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he can state the present financial position of the different church training colleges; and whether they have readjusted their activities to the reduced grants?

An estimate of the financial position of the Church of England Training Colleges is contained in the report of the Board of Supervision, which was adopted by the Church Assembly on 8th February, and my Noble Friend understands that their proposals for an increase in fees and the formation of a common fund to assist in maintaining all the colleges in being, are being proceeded with.

In view of the much more favourable financial situation of the country, will my hon. Friend urge upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer the desirability of restoring the original grants to training colleges at the earliest possible opportunity?

asked the Secretary of State for India if he has any information concerning the recent production of cheap power spirit from the water hyacinth in India; and if the Government of India are interesting themselves in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. My Tight hon. Friend has seen Press reports on the subject, but has not received any information from the Government of India.

Can some inquiry be made in regard to this important matter?

I will see whether inquiry can be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government have come to a decision with regard to the restrictions on the importation of Irish cattle?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply, of which a copy is being sent to him, given yesterday by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby).

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that soldiers were supplied as semi-skilled welders during a dispute between Messrs. Tickers-Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness, and their skilled welders; and whether it is the policy of the War Office to supply soldiers as workmen during a dispute?

The two men to whom the hon. Member refers were on the eve of their discharge to civilian life when employment was found for them with Messrs. Vickers-Armstrong. They had been trained as welders at an Army Vocational Training Centre, and the commandant, in seeking work for them, was following the normal procedure and was unaware of any trade dispute. The answer to the second part of the question is "No."

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that ministers of religion, retired schoolmasters, and other persons in receipt of salaries or pensions have been appointed supervisors to attend the school-leaving certificate examinations; and if he will take steps to ensure that in the future unemployed school teachers will receive an opportunity to earn the fees connected with this work?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the second, the Department made arrangements three years ago to ensure that special consideration should be given to applications from unemployed teachers. I am looking into the matter further with a view to possible improvement in these arrangements in the interests of the unemployed teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of bankruptcies of Scottish farmers during the year 1933?

The number of Scottish farmers who in 1933 were declared bankrupt was 28.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the acreage under raspberries for all Scotland, Perthshire, Angus, Fife, and Lanarkshire, respectively, for the year 1933?

With my Noble Friend's permission, I propose to circulate the answer, which contains a number of figures, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether any prosecutions have taken place in any of the collieries in England, Scotland or Wales with respect to breaches of the law regarding overtime working during the past 12 months; and, if so, will he state the names of the collieries in which such breaches have occurred and the amount, if any, of the penalties imposed?

One such prosecution has taken place during the last 12 months the colliery concerned being Montagu Main, in Northumberland. I gave particulars of this in my answer to a question by the hon. Member for Morpeth (Mr. G. Nicholson), on the 13th February last, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions during the last six months have been instituted against sellers or distributors of Irish sweepstake tickets in England and Wales; how many of these prosecutions were successful and what fines were imposed; and whether it is intended to take any further proceedings against those who have sold tickets in the Irish sweepstake on the recent Grand National?

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the reason for the withdrawal as from 15th March, 1934, of the formula permitted during the past years for the manufacture of the preparation of methylated spirit known as surgical spirit and the substitution of two new alternative formulae?

The object was to achieve a still higher degree of unpalatability in the product.

May I ask my hon. Friend how he discovers this extreme unpalatability, and will be inform my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department how it is to be done?

No, I think persons of more experienced judgment than my hon. Friend and myself will know what unpalatability means in this connection.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will prepare for submission to this House a return showing in tabular form the relative amount of taxation paid by cereal producers in each of the main producing countries of the world, the British Dominions, and the home country; and the amounts so paid in each of the years 1929 to 1933, inclusive?

I fear that the information is not available.

Is it not possible to get the information asked for? I take it that the Financial Secretary will admit that such information would be of immense value to the Ministry of Agriculture in determining problems arising out of that industry?

The hon. Member will see on reflection that it would be quite impossible to obtain this information. How could we possibly tell how much direct and indirect taxation is contributed by producers of all classes, the great landlords, small tenant farmers and the rest, in every producing country in the world?

Is it not within the hon. Gentleman's knowledge that other Governments find it exceedingly useful to make the inquiry which I suggest, for example, the United States Government?

I shall be most happy to receive from the hon. Member the information which he asks for from me.

asked the Minister of Labour what powers he exercises over the staffing of junior instruction centres; and what, if any, ratio is required between instructors and pupils?

As the reply is rather long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to ensure that an unemployed worker without good prospect of early re-employment who proposes to take up market gardening will not forfeit his right to statutory benefit if he occupies himself while in receipt thereof in the work of preparing and planting the ground which he intends to use for the aforesaid purpose?

The question whether unemployment benefit can be allowed in circumstances such as the hon. and gallant Member describes can only be decided on the facts of a particular case. The decision can only be given by the statutory authorities and not by the Minister. If the hon. Member will let me have details of any case he has in mind, I will do what I can to expedite a decision.

While I shall be very glad to submit to the hon. Gentleman particulars of any case I have in mind, in view of the fact that in many parts of this country there are many people unemployed with very little prospect of employment in the near future and of the impossibility of their starting new enterprises without assistance, will the Minister try to insert some provision in the Unemployment Bill which is now before the House between now and the Report stage, in order to make it possible to aid those people who want to launch out in that way?

If the hon. and gallant Member has any suggestion in mind, he might put down an Amendment and possibly we might be able to discuss it on the Report stage.

Is my hon. Friend aware that while training is going on without pay, unemployment benefit is refused to people who are receiving the training?

It very largely depends upon whether the men are being trained for an uninsurable occupation. The merits of each particular case are subject to decision by the statutory authorities and not by my right hon. Friend.

Could my hon. Friend consider altering the law in this instance, because it is certainly not an incentive to try to get a new job?

Are we to understand that it is part of the policy of the Government to encourage unemployed men to cultivate allotments and smallholdings and, if that is so, does he not think it wise that it should also be part of the Government's policy that the men should not suffer when they are doing so?

My right hon. Friend has taken steps to make it clear that we desire to encourage allotments, but an allotment is a very different thing from a smallholding. On an allotment a man can work during his spare time, but smallholdings are a full-time occupation and are uninsurable. That is the reason why there is a distinction between them.

Are not the arguments for encouraging people to take up full-time occupation stronger than those for part-time occupation, and should not that very important point be considered?

asked the First Commissioner of Works when the agglomeration of old stone and cement will be replaced by a proper river wall in the Victoria Tower Gardens?

I have been asked to reply. It is hoped to start the work of reconstructing the parapet of the river wall bounding the Victoria Tower Gardens early next month.

Can we get an undertaking that the stone used in the reconstruction will be British stone?

My information is that it will be Cornish granite.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs with regard to the draft proclamations on administration and on native tribunals, respectively, in Bechuanaland, whether and, if so, how the native chiefs were consulted before these proclamations were drafted?

As I explained in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on the 12th December, the actual proposals of the Government were communicated to the chiefs in the form of draft proclamations as a basis for discussion. This was clearly the most convenient method of putting the proposals forward in concrete form. I may mention that the draft proclamations were circulated in the native language as well as in English. After the discussions with the chiefs, the drafts were revised in order to meet, as far as possible, the suggestions made.

asked the Minister of Health if any reports are available as to suitable materials to be used in the proposed slum clearance schemes that will lessen the possible lodgment of vermin; and, if so, how soon they will be sent to housing committees of local and county authorities?

A report on this subject is at present in course of printing, and my right hon. Friend hopes that a short memorandum will shortly be available to local authorities and their officers.

Can we get an assurance from the Minister that none of the old vermin-laden material will be used in the reconstruction?

I think it is common sense that no local authority would dream of using the old material.

They have not dreamed about it; they have done it.

Have the Department any control over the material used, or is that question entirely in the hands of the local authorities?

It is a responsibility of the local authorities.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that vermin-laden material has in fact been recently used, and that the properties subsequently had to be demolished on that account?

May I ask the Prime Minister what business it is proposed to take in the first week after the Recess?

On Monday, 9th April, it is proposed to move Mr. Speaker out of the Chair on going into Committee of Supply on the Civil Estimates and Estimates for Revenue Departments, 1934, and to consider Class VII, Votes 1, 3, 4 and 7, relating to Buildings. That is the usual programme for that day.

May we ask when the Road Traffic Bill will be available, and when it is proposed to issue the White Paper on the Milk [Money] Resolution?

The Road Traffic Bill was presented on Monday and will be obtainable in the Vote Office at six o'clock this evening. With reference to the Milk [Money] Resolution the White Paper is in the Vote Office now.

Do I understand from the Prime Minister that the Illegal Trawling (Scotland) Bill will be taken on Tuesday or Wednesday?

On Wednesday.

Is the House to understand that the Government intend to take the Committee stage, the Report stage and the Third Reading of that Bill on the same day?

We shall see how we get along. It is put down as all stages.