asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a notice was issued, on 5th December, 1933, to reserve pay cases in the county of Durham, notifying them that when they received reserve pay on 1st January, 1934, it would be treated as wages for that week and no transitional payment would be paid; whether the reserve pay was received by the applicant or any member of the household; and will he take steps to introduce legislation to put an end to this system?

I understand that it is the practice of the Durham Commissioners to treat reserve pay paid quarterly as if it were wages for the week in which it is received. Ordinarily, but not invariably, this means that there is no transitional payment for that week, and any cases of hardship receive special consideration. The effect of the practice is to leave out of account a substantial portion of the reserve pay. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Then we are to understand from the reply to the last part of the question that the Government have no intention of trying to remedy this state of affairs, but that it is their intention to impoverish this class of people as much as they can?

The hon. Gentleman is now raising a point which we discussed at considerable length in Committee the other day. I have nothing to add to what I said then.

asked the Minister of Labour the amount of transitional payments in the county of Durham, excluding the boroughs, since October, 1931, and the amount which would have been paid if no means test had been in operation; and can he give the amounts for the same period for the county of Durham including the boroughs?

Since November, 1931, a total of approximately £12,502,000 has been paid by way of transitional payments at Employment Exchanges situated in the county of Durham. This sum is exclusive of amounts paid through associations of employed persons. It is not possible to furnish figures excluding boroughs, as no records are kept at local offices distinguishing payments to applicants according to whether they reside in borough or county areas. As regards the amount which would have been paid if no means test had been in operation, I regret that it is not practicable to maket a reliable estimate for particular areas.

Is the Minister not able to give an estimate? Have we not had estimates already of the amount that would have been paid, if the means test had not been in operation?

We have had an estimate for the country as a whole, but that has been done by certain statistical methods which would not provide reliable estimates for each district separately, because the margin of error might be so great.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state the regulations under which local authorities determine the amounts to be paid to claimants for transitional payments?

The principles on which local authorities are to proceed in the assessment of transitional payments are determined, not by regulations made by me but by the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance (National Economy) (No. 2) Order, 1931, as modified by the Transitional Payments (Determination of Need) Act, 1932.

Is it not the case that the operation of these Acts is by means of regulations issued by the right hon. Gentleman?

No, Sir, the only regulations issued by me deal entirely with administrative procedure and machinery. They do not deal at all with the point raised by the hon. Member.

Is it not the case that in the National Economy Act no details are set out as to the manner in which this particular provision is to be applied by the local bodies?

Yes, Sir, but it is a matter for the local bodies themselves and not for me.

In what part of the Act is there power to carry out this particular function?

If the hon. Gentleman will look at the Act, he will see.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider the advisability of suggesting to all public assistance committees that they should re-examine all cases during the first week in July, with a view to bringing them into line with the change in unemployment insurance benefits?

I assume the hon. Member refers to applications for transitional payments. The local authorities are, I think, fully aware of the proposed changes in the benefit rates. I will, however, issue a circular to them drawing their attention to these changes in good time before they come into force.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the improved prospects of employment now apparent, he proposes to utilise the eight training centres under his control to their full capacity?

The number of places provided at Government training centres has always been related to the absorptive capacity of the respective industries as far as it is possible to judge it. Increases in the numbers of men accepted for training will certainly be made as occasion offers.

Would the Minister not only give facilities but encourage hon. Members of this House to visit these centres?

I would not only encourage such visits, but I would express the hope that as many hon. Members as possible will visit as many centres as possible and as often as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of men who have passed through training centres during the past 12 months have passed into employment; and what proportion of men so trained in previous years remain in the employment for which they were trained?

5,409 men were admitted to Government training centres during the 12 months ended 26th March, 1934. 4,510 completed a course and of these 4,041, or 89.6 per cent., were placed in or found employment. No figures are available to answer the second part of the question.

Do not these figures show that there is very little saturation in those trades for which the men are trained, and, therefore, that there is greater scope for these centres than the Minister seems to imagine?

I think these figures are highly satisfactory, and I am fully alive to the possibilities and the advantages of these centres.

I only meant that they could be extended.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons of both sexes who, on 20th March last, had been on the register as unemployed for less than one month and less than three months, respectively?

As the reply is somewhat long and contains a number of figures, I will if I may circulate it in the OFFICIAI, REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons supplied through the Employment Exchanges for hoeing, singling and harvesting sugar-beet for the years 1930, 1931, 1932 and 1933; and if he is able to give the total number of regular and casual workers employed in the sugar-beet industry during those years?

The numbers of engagements made through the Exchanges for this work during each of the years 1930 to 1933 were 5,923, 3,407, 3,367 and 5,469 respectively. I regret that information is not available regarding the second part of the question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these figures may not give a correct record of the numbers employed in this industry, as many of them have been engaged in other ways?

I have no doubt that that may be so, but I have given the figures asked for in the question. The question, of course, deals with engagements made through the Employment Exchanges.

Is the Minister aware that a great number of regular workers only retain whole-time employment on farms in East Anglia and other parts of England on account of the work which sugar-beet growing entails?

I have no doubt at all that, prima facie, what my hon. and gallant Friend says is true.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of persons prosecuted during 1931, 1932, and 1933 for knowingly making false statements or false representations for the purpose of obtaining unemployment benefit and transitional payments, showing, for each year separately in respect of benefit or transitional payments, the number fined, imprisoned, bound over or admonished, charge proved but summons dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act, and summonses dismissed and summonses withdrawn, and distinguishing for each year direct claimants from indirect claimants who made claims through associations having arrangements under Section 17 of the Act?

The Ministry of Labour Report for 1933, pages 71 and 75, gives all these statistics except the separate figures for indirect claimants. These latter figures are being separately extracted and I will send them to the hon. Member as soon as they are available

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the alarm expressed by the Conference of Distressed Areas at the prospect of the appointed day for the operation of Part II of the Unemployment Bill being fixed later than 1st July, 1934, and the burden of unemployment relief which has been left to be borne by the distressed areas for so long a period, he is prepared to make provision whereby, in the event of the appointed day under Part II of the Bill being fixed for a date later than 1st July, financial assistance will be provided for the distressed areas as from that date equivalent to the relief contemplated by the Bill?

As my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary explained on the 23rd April in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne), I gave full consideration to representations made to me on behalf of the distressed areas before announcing on the 27th February last that the special grant to distressed areas would be continued until Part II of the Unemployment Bill comes into operation. It would not be possible to anticipate the relief which local authorities will receive under the Bill.

asked the Home Secretary what steps are being taken to make police traffic patrol cars more readily recognisable by the public?

In the Metropolitan Police, saloon cars used by the patrols have been fitted with "Police" signs which are ordinarily displayed in front and at the rear of the vehicles; in open cars the officers' uniforms are easily seen, and I do not think any further provision is necessary.

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that in the majority of cases these cars travel so fast that the "Police" signs are not observable to the ordinary public?

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that the Royal Commission on Transport, 1929, in their report on the control of traffic on roads recommended against a speed limit in built-up areas owing to the great difficulty of defining these areas, he ordered a survey to be made of typical areas in the country before deciding that a system of street lighting should be adopted as indicating a built-up area as is proposed under the Road Traffic Bill now before Parliament?

No special surveys of typical areas were made, but technical officers of my Department were consulted, with the result that provision is included in the Bill which will make it possible to exempt from the operation of the speed limit the roads in built-up areas upon which, for special reasons, restriction seems unnecessary, and to bring within the operation of the restriction populated areas which have no street lighting.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has taken into consideration the effect of ribbon development on arterial roads as a cause of road accidents, and the fact that such development, if allowed to continue, will defeat the object for which these roads have been constructed at great cost; and what, action is proposed to meet the difficulty?

I am aware of the unfortunate results of "ribbon development" along certain roads. The recent Town and Country Planning Act has given the authorities further powers designed to prevent objectionable forms of "ribbon development," and it is hoped that full use will be made of these powers. In a circular issued to all local authorities in February last, my hon. Friend repeated certain previous recommendations as to the construction of parallel "service-roads" along arterial routes, with a view to promoting the safety and convenience of traffic.

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that the operation of the Town and Country Planning Act is not bringing about the results which he thinks desirable, and that some further measures will have to be taken in order to check this ribbon development in relation to transport?

Has my hon. and gallant Friend's attention been drawn to the action of the Hertfordshire County Council in deliberately selling building sites along their new arterial roads?

My hon Friend himself brought it to my attention this morning.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, with regard to the request made to the Board of Education from the Lancashire County Council and Lancashire county boroughs to meet a deputation to consider the raising of the school age, if he has met the deputation; and is he in a position to make a statement?

My Noble Friend has not yet received any such request.

In view of the growing volume of opinion in the country in favour of raising the school-leaving age, will the hon. Gentleman and his chief look into this problem?

We are constantly considering the question.

Having regard to the fact that there is a reputed shortage of juvenile labour in many parts of the country, will my hon. Friend leave the matter alone?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he will introduce a Bill to give all school children a holiday on Empire Day?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will consider bringing in a Bill to make Empire Day a general holiday in all the national schools, the day to be named Empire Day and to be celebrated by the saluting of the Union Jack and the giving of an address to the children on the greatness of the British Empire?

The closing of schools on particular days has always been regarded as a matter for the discretion of the local education and school authorities. Legislation of the kind suggested would be likely to be resented as an unjustifiable interference with this local discretion, and its enforcement would prove difficult. The proper observance of Empire Day needs the full co-operation of the teachers and the school authorities, and is far more likely to be effectively secured on a voluntary than on a compulsory basis. My noble Friend therefore does not consider that any useful purpose would be served by introducing legislation in the matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the leader of the London County Council has stated definitely that he intends to abolish Empire Day in every school in the Metropolitan area?

Quite right too.

In these circumstances, what steps does my hon. Friend propose to take?

I have no information on the matter except what I have seen in the Press. According to the information there contained, the proposal appears to be to change Empire Day to Commonwealth Day. It would certainly seem that a proposal of that kind is somewhat academic and doctrinaire, but from what I gather there is no proposal to make any alteration in the ordinary form of observance.

Will the Minister suggest to the education authorities throughout the United Kingdom, and especially to those in the Metropolis, the undesirability, in the interests of the children, of changing the name of the day?

Would not this proposal be very inappropriate in view of the anti-Imperial policy of the Government in connection with New Zealand?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can take any steps which will ensure that the new arrangement for supplying an increased quantity of cheap milk to school children shall be in operation during the forthcoming summer?

The arrangements referred to in the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. Johnstone) on 26th March, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, are progressing, but I am not yet in a position to make any further statement on the matter.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that in the rebuilding plans proposed for the Collyhurst, Manchester, clearance area, less than one-eighth of the number of shops now existing are being provided for the dispossessed small shopkeepers; and what he proposes to do in the matter to overcome the risk of hardship?

No, Sir. I understand that the rehousing proposals for this area, including the question of the number of shops to be provided, are still under the consideration of the City Council.

Can my right hon. Friend take any steps to prevent what is really a very deserving class, the class of small shopkeeper, being driven out of existence?

I think my hon. Friend will see that it would not be right for me to make any answer, pending the consideration of the matter by the City Council.

Is it not the case that in all slum clearance schemes the local authorities themselves make provision for any small shopkeeper who happens to lose his business?

In general, the local authorities have the power to do so.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he has considered the resolution passed by the council of the County Borough of West Ham and the Dudley Council with regard to financial assistance to local authorities to make it possible for houses to be built for letting at rents which the working classes can afford to pay; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

(2) whether he is aware that the West Ham County Borough Council has passed a resolution that, in view of the serious overcrowding which still exists and the waiting list for houses, the council notes with alarm that private enterprise is failing to build houses under the 1933 Act for the purpose of letting to the working classes at reasonable rents, and urges therefore the Minister to re-introduce financial assistance to make it possible for houses to be built for letting at rents which the working classes can afford to pay; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have considered the resolutions referred to, and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Banfield) on the 1st February last, of which I am sending him a copy, but I may observe that, although final figures are not available, over 110,000 houses have been provided by private enterprise during the half-year ended 31st March, 1934.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that sufficient?

I consider that it is a large number.

Will my right hon. Friend ensure that, before taking any steps in this matter in respect to the corporations and authorities concerned in these two questions, houses originally intended for the working classes are not let to friends and relatives of Socialist councillors?

asked the Minister of Health if local authorities acting under a clearance order or compulsory purchase order include in the compensation which they have to pay such items as goodwill in the case of a business and the repayment of mortgages where they exist; and what instructions have been issued by his Department in this matter?

No, Sir. Local authorities are, however, empowered by Section 41 of the Housing Act, 1930, to make allowances in respect of removal expenses or loss due to disturbance of business or trade, and their attention has been drawn by circular letter and otherwise to the existence of this power. The matter is not one in which I have any authority to issue instructions.

Is there no means of giving compensation for goodwill?

The only powers are those to which I have referred.

Does that not refer also to the ordinary householder who is dispossessed and who may have lived there for some 40 years?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, for each of the last three financial years, the yield of Death Duties levied upon land of a purely agricultural nature?

The Death Duties paid in respect of agricultural land are not recorded separately, but it is estimated that the Estate Duty paid in 1931–32 and in 1932–33 was £1,700,000 and £1,991,000 respectively. The figure for 1933–34 is not yet available. The annual receipt of Succession Duty is in the neighbourhood of £235,000 to £250,000.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask if he does not consider, in view of the comparatively small sum involved, that it would be a good thing, in the interests of preventing a further breakup of estates and the consequent reduction of employment, if this tax were abolished with regard to agricultural land?

It would be a good thing if this and many other taxes were abolished.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will amend the terms of reference of the Sugar Industry Inquiry Committee so as to permit them to recommend that all State aid be withdrawn, even though such withdrawal would entail the extinction of the industry?

I see no reason to make any alteration in the terms of reference given to the Committee, which are very widely drawn.

Do I understand the Chancellor to say that it will be possible for the Committee to arrive at the conclusion that this is an uneconomic industry and should not be assisted in any way by the State?

I did not say that, but I think it would be possible for the Committee to say that.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if the suggestion in the last part of the question were adopted, it would throw many agricultural labourers out of employment?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can now state to what use it is intended to put the information obtained by the registration of transfers of sale of land, the granting of leases and transfer of the sale of leases, under Section 28 of the Finance Act, 1931 (Land Value Tax)?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on the 16th of May last to the hon. Member for North Lanarkshire (Mr. Anstruther-Gray), of which I am sending him a copy.

As this Department was formed for one purpose, namely, land taxes, and now apparently fulfills another, surely my hon. Friend knows that we got on quite well before it discovered its new indispensability?

That is not the case, as the answer to which I have referred makes plain.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the total sum repaid by the Treasury in respect of loans guaranteed under the Trade Facilities Acts on behalf of either or both of the Anglo-Scottish beet-sugar corporations?

It has been the invariable practice to treat as confidential details concerning particular guarantees under the Acts, if they relate to companies engaged in active business and are outside the scope of the information which the Acts themselves require to be published.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the present position with regard to the difficulties of the Woden Allotments Association, Wolverhampton, in obtaining allotments; and what steps are being taken by purchase, or otherwise, to supply the urgent demand?

I have been asked to reply. An officer of the Ministry is co-operating with the borough council with a view to securing the more adequate provision of land for permanent allotments in the borough. Concrete proposals to this end are being examined and efforts are being made to obtain further land suitable for the purpose. It is hoped that these steps will lead to a satisfactory solution of the association's present difficulties.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the borough council is doing all that it can to provide allotments?

I am given to understand that they are.

Will an inspector keep in touch with the developments?

That is dealt with in my answer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the approximate difference between the amount actually received by the British farmers during 1933 for wheat and the amount they would have received had they been paid the prevalent world price for that commodity?

As stated in the reply given to a similar question by my hon. Friend on 16th April, the figure asked for, as regards the cereal year beginning 1st August, 1932, is represented approximately by the deficiency payments to registered producers under the Wheat Act which amounted to £4,510,946.

asked the Minister for Agriculture whether steps are being taken to give the consumer more confidence in the milk supply by incorporating in the present scheme an accredited herd system as recommended by the Milk Re-organisation Committee; and, if so, when will the details of that system be available so that the producers can take advantage of it in their next contract?

I understand that the Milk Marketing Board has for some time past been actively engaged on working out a scheme of the nature to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, and that it is hoped to bring the scheme into operation as from the 1st October next. The details will be published as soon as possible.

Does the Minister of Health approve the proposals which have been brought forward?

I do not know.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to an article in the Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture for April recommending the substitution of wheat meal for ground oats in certain feeding mixtures owing to the rise in oat prices; and if this article was sanctioned by him before publication and meets with his approval?

The hon. Member no doubt refers to a paragraph entitled "Wheat v. Oats in a Laying Mash" which appeared in the April issue of the Journal, and of which I am sending him a copy. The "Notes on Feeding," of which the paragraph in question forms part, are contributed by the Principal of the Moulton Farm Institute, Northampton, and are intended to assist producers in effecting improvements and economies in farming practice. This paragraph recites experience gained at the institute's farm by the substitution of wheat meal for ground oats in the feeding ration of laying birds. It is made clear in the Journal that the Ministry does not accept responsibility for the views expressed or the statements made by contributors.

Is it not the case that two different policies appear to be advocated by the Ministry, one to raise the price of oats for the benefit of certain interests, and another to keep the price from rising?

I do not think that you can erect the scientific notes of a research institute into a policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the purchase from Canada for Glasgow of 20 Percheron mares and geldings which has been negotiated between the authorities of the Glasgow and Canadian Department of Trade and Commerce; and whether he is satisfied that the existing grants given by his Department for the encouragement of breeding heavy horses in Great Britain are sufficient to enable adequate supplies of draught horses to be available within this country?

My right hon. Friend has no information respecting the transaction referred to in the first part of the question; as regards the second part of the question he is satisfied that the provision for the encouragement of heavy horse breeding in England and Wales is sufficient.

Will my right hon. Friend draw public attention to the fact that most admirable heavy draught horses are available in Scotland for Glasgow and any other large city, particularly in Ayrshire.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the price of cattle in the Irish Free State and in Northern Ireland respectively, and the difference in price which is obtained by smuggling the cattle over the frontier and disposing of them in Northern Ireland for ultimate re-sale to this country?

I am advised that on 16th April the following prices for cattle ruled at the fairs near the border at Naas in the Irish Free State and Camlough in Northern Ireland respectively :

Will my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of taking steps to stop the great amount of smuggling that is going on at the present time?

I understand that an answer was given in the House by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury informing the House of the recent augmentation of the Customs staff.

If my right hon. Friend has no information that this smuggling is going on, will he inquire of anybody who lives on the borders, and will not the Government take some steps to stop this scandal, to which I called attention some six months ago?

I have no doubt that the Customs Department and the Government of Northern Ireland are doing all that they can. All I can say is that, as First Commissioner of Works, I have no personal knowledge of this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the farm of Pitmaduthy, Kildary, Ross and Cromarty, was the subject of a complaint to the local authority on 14th August, 1928, upon which no action was taken, and a similar complaint being sent to the Department of Health on 12th November, 1930, some patching was done in 1931, but the houses were still damp and there was no proper drainage, and that two subsequent inspections by the Department have supported the complaint; and if he proposes to take steps to remedy these defects of over six years' standing?

The answers to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative. With regard to the last part of the question, I am informed that the proprietor is now taking steps to have the works recommended by the Department's housing inspector carried out.

May I ask whether it is not a fact that the proprietor and the appropriate local authority are taking action in regard to this particular case; and in his investigations will the hon. Gentleman find out whether any representations have been made in this House recently or at any time about the appalling housing conditions on the well-known farm of Cowcaddens, St. Rollox, Glasgow?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this farm has had standing complaints pending against it since 1928 and that in so far as that locality's representative in this House is concerned no complaint was reported?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the farm of Broomhill, Muir of Ord, was the subject of a complaint lodged with the local authority on 23rd December, 1931, a copy of which was sent to the Department on 19th January, 1933; that on 20th March, 1933, the local authority decided it was not reasonably practicable to introduce water into the houses or provide water closets; that on 29th December, 1933, the Department's engineering inspector decided it was practicable to introduce water and provide water closets; and what action does he propose to take to require the local authority to carry out its statutory duty?

The answers to the first three parts of the question are in the affirmative With regard to the last part, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the concluding sentences of my answer to his question of the 1st instant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the farm of Poyntzfield, Muir of Ord, was the subject of a complaint lodged with the local authority on 13th September, 1932, and a copy sent to the Department of Health, that on 20th March, 1933, the county council decided that it was not reasonably practicable to introduce water into the houses or to provide water closets; that the Department sent its inspectors to report in September, 1933, and that on 29th December, 1933, the Department intimated that in the opinion of its inspectors it was reasonably practicable to introduce water and to provide water closets, and that other works should be carried out to render the houses fit for habitation; and if he proposes to require the local authority to make the houses fit for habitation?

The answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative. With regard to the third part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the concluding sentences of my answer to his question of the 1st instant. I am informed that the necessary works, other than the introduction of water and the provision of water closets, are now being carried out.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Department agreed upon test inspections being made in Berwickshire and Ross and Cromarty as far back as October, 1931, and that an inspection was carried out, apparently, in Berwickshire, but no test inspections have been made in Ross and Cromarty, and will he now take steps to see that such inspection does cover the localities not already covered in the question asked?

I do not think that question arises out of the question on the Paper. There have been surveys in Berwickshire and, although I am not prepared to say that there shall be a survey in Ross and Cromarty, I am prepared to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the price of Scottish oats has again fallen to less than 15s. per quarter, mainly owing to Russian oats being landed at a price of 5s. per quarter; and if he will state what action he proposes to take to prevent the duty of 9s. per quarter, lately imposed on imported oats, from being thus nullified?

I am aware of the situation on the oats market. The matter is engaging my attention on representations received from agricultural organisations in Scotland, but I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

In view of those figures, will the right hon. Gentleman, for the benefit of Free Traders who are interested in the subject, make inquiries as to how the consumer pays the tax in this case?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that uncertainty in regard to the future price of rubber will not act detrimentally against the development of new uses for rubber on which the prosperity of the industry must ultimately depend; and what steps His Majesty's Government proposes to take to ensure that under the restriction scheme regular supplies will be maintained at fair and stable prices?

One of the main objects of the scheme for the regulation of the supply of rubber is to maintain a fair and equitable price level, and I think it will be generally agreed that stability of price is most likely to be secured by a regulation scheme which is flexible enough to adjust supply and demand. My hon. Friend will also recollect that the scheme contains an express provision for associating representatives of consumers with the International Committee which will administer the scheme.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, does he realise that manufacturers, as consumers, may be seriously prejudiced if, owing to any scarcity in the commodity, the price of rubber goes to an artificial level?

In the first place, there is no intention of putting the price of rubber to what my hon. Friend calls an artificial level. It is just as much in the mind of the framers of this scheme as it is in anybody else's that it is desirable to have the maximum amount of rubber consumed. In the second place, it is an essential part of the scheme that all consumers shall be treated alike.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the proposed rubber restriction scheme will contain any provisions to compel the International Rubber Regulation Committee to accept the advice of the advisory panel of manufacturing interests in the event of the committee proposing or taking any action which appears to be detrimental to their industry?

Clearly the responsibility for decisions must rest with the committee which will be appointed by the respective Governments.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind how some foreign countries are exploiting the distressed industries of this country which require special consideration?

I am not sure that I see the connection. What is important here is that the distressed industry of rubber should be enabled to recover its position and be a purchaser from the distressed industries of this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the price of rubber under the Stevenson restriction scheme rose as high as 4s. 8d. per lb.; whether he will see that the rubber regulation scheme now proposed will contain provisions to safeguard consumers of rubber against excessive increases in the price of the commodity; and whether, in the interests of consumers of rubber, he will arrange that the International Rubber Regulation Committee shall include members representative of rubber manufacturers?

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the wide fluctuations in price which took place during the currency of the Stevenson Scheme. The present agreement is expressly designed to avoid such fluctuations. I have already drawn attention to the provision in the present scheme for associating representatives of consumers with the International Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the industries of this country are at present operating at far below their actual capacity, and also that both production and potential consumption are available, the Government will take immediate steps to investigate the possibilities of making this potential demand effective by introducing a scientifically devised economic system whereby the purchasing power of the community may be equivalent to its producing power?

I am in some doubt as to the nature of the remedy which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, but, in any case, such wide issues cannot usefully be dealt with by question and answer.

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that the present system is working in the interest of British industry?

I think I should want a good deal of definition of what the hon. and gallant Member means by "the present system."

Is my hon. Friend aware of the increasing demand by chambers of commerce in this country for an inquiry into the whole monetary system, and will he recommend that such an inquiry should be held?

The monetary system is another question and not that which is asked on the Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the retained imports of wire rods during the first quarter of 1934 amounted to 25,232 tons as compared with 8,422 tons in the corresponding quarter of 1933, an increase of 199.6 per cent.; and whether, in the circumstances, he will take immediate steps to protect the employment of British wire-rod makers?

I am aware of the fact to which my hon. Friend draws attention. Any question as to the duty payable on these goods is a matter for the Import Duties Advisory Committee in the first instance.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether it is the case that the Government have entirely abrogated any responsibility for the level of tariffs in this country?

I say nothing of the kind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the retained imports of carpets in the first quarter of 1934 were 60 per cent. higher than in the first quarter of 1933; and whether he can give an estimate of the amount of employment to British carpet makers which this volume of imports represents?

I am aware of the increase in the retained imports of carpets to which my hon. Friend refers. While it is not possible to relate the figures of imports directly with the statistics of unemployment, I am informed that the number of insured persons in the carpet manufacturing industry recorded as unemployed on the 19th March was less than half the number so recorded a year ago.

Seeing that the growth of the export trade must naturally be somewhat slow, is it not extremely important that we should retain a larger proportion of our home trade?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average c.i.f. value of butter imported from New Zealand and Soviet Russia, respectively, during March, including in the latter the amount of duty payable on importation?

During March, 1934, the average c.i.f. value per cwt. of imported butter consigned from New Zealand was £3 10s. 8d. and from the Soviet Union (including import duty of 15s. per cwt.) £2 19s. 11d.

Will the hon. Gentleman explain the discrepancy between these figures and those given by the President of the Board of Trade on Tuesday in respect of the same commodity?

I know of no discrepancy at all.

Having regard to the fact that the figures given on Tuesday differ by only 1s. a cwt. and these differ by 12s., can the hon. Gentleman explain that difference?

What I would like to tell the House is that the quantity from the Soviet Union was £30,000 and the quantity from New Zealand was £1,270,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present price of New Zealand and Danish butter, c.i.f., landed here and the equivalent wholesale price for consumption of such butter per cwt. in New Zealand and Denmark, respectively?

During March, 1934, the average c.i.f. value per cwt. of imported butter consigned from New Zealand was £3 10s. 8d. and from Denmark (excluding import duty of 15s. per cwt.) was £3 13s. 7d. No information is available as to the actual wholesale price of butter in New Zealand, but I understand from the High Commissioner that prices in New Zealand are based on the London quotations. The minimum price of butter for consumption in Denmark is fixed by law at 215 kroner per 100 kilogrammes, or about 97s. 6d. per cwt.

Can the Minister explain why there is a discrepancy compared with the figures given on Monday, when it was said that the price in regard to matters raised by my hon. Friends will Denmark was about 54s. per cwt.?

I think that the price given on that date was probably an export price. The matter is being investigated. The Danish minimum price of 97s. 6d. per cwt. to which I have referred was fixed in December, 1933, at a time when the price in London was 114s. 6d. per cwt.

Were the figures correct with regard to the price of butter in Holland?

That is quite another matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give figures showing the increase in employment resulting from the protection afforded by the Horticultural Imports Act; and if he will, during the forthcoming negotiations for a trade agreement with Holland, keep in mind the case for continued tariffs on horticultural imports?

The information asked for is not available, but the matter to which my hon. Friend refers will be borne in mind in connection, with the forthcoming negotiations with the Netherlands.