asked the Secretary of State for India what executive machinery has been set up to ensure that Japaneses importations, via Indian States, are included in the quota restrictions?

The executive arrangements made in connection with the Indo-Japanese agreement provide for the issue of certificates by the Japanese Government in respect of every consignment of cotton piece-goods from Japan to India. As regards consignments imported by way of ports in the Indian States, the Government of India are, as I told my hon. Friend on 16th April, fully alive to the necessity of securing the co-operation of the States. They have prohibited the import into British India of Japanese cotton piece-goods not covered by certificates, and have taken suitable steps for the enforcement of this prohibition by means of Customs cordons.

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied from the assurances that have been given to him from the Government of India that, in fact, these quota restrictions can effectively be enforced?

Yes, Sir; and I am particularly satisfied that the Government of India are taking every possible step to prevent any infringement of the convention.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps are being taken to safeguard the Government of India from loss of revenue by excessive importation of piece goods through Bhavnagar?

So far as I am aware, there have not been any large imports of cotton piece-goods through Bhavnagar. The position of this State and others in relation to the overseas trade of India and the Customs revenue of the Indian Government is being considered by the Government of India in communication with His Majesty's Government.

Is it not a fact that when goods are imported through this State, it has the right to keep the import duties that are levied, and will a careful watch be kept on the situation to see that the receipt of these revenues does not alter the normal avenues of trade into India?

My hon. Friend is probably aware that his question raises one or two complicated issues connected with the treaty that has been in force between Bhavnagar and the Crown for many years. The Government of India and myself are considering the reactions of this treaty, and my hon. Friend can rest assured that the points he has in mind are receiving our attention.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the retrocession of the civil and military station of Bangalore will involve the building of a new military station at Agram; and what the cost of this will be?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Newbury (Brigadier-General Brown) on 16th April.

Is it not true that negotiations are in progress for the retrocession of the military station?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to the answer to which I have alluded, he will see that I gave my hon. and gallant Friend an answer on that specific point.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that I looked at that reply, and that I did not see any answer to my question in it?

I should have thought that the answer was a fairly simple one. There is no intention at all of retroceding the military encampment.

Is there any intention of building a new station at Agram?

Obviously, there is no question of building a new station when we do not intend to move from the existing one.

Did not my right hon. Friend inform the House on 22nd November that negotiations were in progress with Mysore for the retrocession of the station?

I cannot do more than refer my Noble Friend to the answers I have given on this subject. Certainly, I gave that answer then, but I gave the answer to the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Newbury a few weeks ago.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Bangalore Trades Association has submitted to the Resident a memorandum stating that the entire population of the civil and military station of Bangalore protests against the proposed retrocession of the station to the Mysore Government; and whether he will reconsider a policy which will place thousands of Europeans and Anglo-Indians against their will under the rule of an Indian State?

A copy of a memorandum by the Bangalore Trades Association has been sent to me. I can, however, add nothing to the replies given to the questions of my Noble Friend the Member for Kinross (Duchess of Atholl) on 19th March and to previous questions.

If there are no negotiations in progress for the retrocession of the military station, why should the Bangalore Trades Association send in this special memorandum?

There are negotiations going on about the civil station; there are no negotiations going on about the military station.

Will the right hon. Gentleman definitely say that the military station is not in any case to be retroceded?

I have already said it twice, and I will say it three times.

asked the Secretary of State for India approximately the value of goods of all descriptions ordered by the various Government Departments of the Government of India from countries outside the British Empire during the last five years?

As the reply includes a number of figures, I am circulating it in the OFFICIAL EEPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for India the number of Indian cadets who passed successfully out of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, into the Indian Army, and the number of these now holding commissions in that Army?

The numbers are 153 and 139 respectively, the latter including officers commissioned to the Unattached List for the Indian Army pending their final posting to that Army.

Is it the intention of the Government that in future Indian cadets should go to the Sandhurst in India, and not to a military college here?

Yes, that is the intention of the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will place upon the Table of the House the rules drawn up by the Punjab Government requiring the judges of the Punjab High Court, when appointing judges to the subordinate courts, to allocate nominations to the various religious communities irrespective of the places secured by the candidates in the qualifying examination?

I understand from the Punjab Government that there are no formal rules. For many years it has, however, been the general policy of the Punjab Government to avoid an undue preponderance of any one class or community in the public services, and since 1900 there has been a convention that out of every 11 appointments to the Judicial Branch of the Punjab Civil Service, four should go to Hindus, four to Mohammedans, two to Sikhs and one to members of other communities.

Does not the convention which my right hon. Friend mentioned amount, in fact, to rules sufficiently well understood to have been the subject of a question to the Home Member of the Punjab Government last July, which was referred to in the Civil and Military Gazette of 1st August?

I do not know whether that is so or not. If my Noble Friend will send me particulars of her supplementery question, I will look into them. My information goes to show that there are no formal rules.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will lay upon the Table the memoranda which, following on the publication of the report of the Statutory Commission on Indian Constitutional Reform, the All-India Police Association and the Bengal branch of the association sent to the Secretary of State protesting against the Commission's recommendation to transfer the police force to a responsible Indian Minister?

These documents were received by my predecessor in 1930. Since then the Indian Police Association have submitted a representation to the Joint Select Committee, and have been examined upon it. I do not, therefore, propose to publish these memoranda.

Is it not the case that Bengal officers of police have not been examined by the Joint Select Committee, and in that case would it not be well that a strong expression of opinion against the recommendation should be made known?

I do not think so. The police evidence given to the Select Committee was given by the police organisations. There was no pressure put on anybody as to the evidence they should give. The particular memoranda to which my Noble Friend refers were sent four years ago. I should have thought that the recent memoranda were more up-to-date.

Will my right hon. Friend answer the question whether the officers of the Bengal police were heard by the Joint Select Committee along with the others?

It is essentially a matter for the police organisations. They settle what evidence they shall give.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether any important orders have reached the United Kingdom from Argentina as the definite result of the Roca Agreement?

It is not possible to attribute individual orders directly to the Anglo-Argentine Convention. I understand that certain important orders have in fact been secured by traders since the Agreement was signed, and I trust that even a larger number will be placed during the remaining term of the Agreement.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether there has been any increase in the export of British coal to Argentina since the signing of the Roca Agreement?

Provision for the maintenance of the position of British coal exports to Argentina appears in the Supplementary Agreement ratified on 7th November, 1933. The statistics of the exports of British coal to Argentina in the five months ended March, 1934, show a slight increase as compared with those for the corresponding period a year ago.

May I ask whether this slight increase in the export of coal to Argentina is what this country is getting out of the Argentine Trade Agreement?

We are concerned here only with coal. I would point out to my hon. Friend that as regards coal the position before the agreement was extremely satisfactory, seeing that we were exporting nearly 90 per cent. of Argentina's coal imports.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if any representative of his Department is resident in the State of Manchukuo or is responsible for assisting and advising British manufacturers desiring to sell their products in that country.

The Department of Overseas Trade is represented in Manchuria by His Majesty's Consular Officers at Mukden, Harbin, Dairen and Newehwang, among the first of whose duties it is to assist and promote United Kingdom export trade.

Can my hon. and gallant Friend say whether reports are received from these gentlemen from time to time, and, if so, will he make them available by laying a copy of them in the Library?

Very useful information is being received from them in the Department, and I will consider that suggestion.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what steps he is taking in Britain or in North America to develop the sale in America of Stornoway herring and herring from the west coast of Scotland?

The Department of Overseas Trade is in close touch with Scottish exporters of pickled herrings, and I am aware of the difficulty experienced in recent years in maintaining sales in Canada and the United States of America owing to the severity of local competition and the tendency for imports to decline. The overseas officers of the Department in these countries are continually watching the situation in order to assist herring exporters to secure a fair share of the available market and to protect their interests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now make a statement on the policy of His Majesty's Government for dealing with excessive importation from Japan into the Colonial Empire?

I understand that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is to make a statement in reply to a subsequent question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement as to the result of his further conversation with the Japanese Ambassador with regard to trade negotiations between this country and Japan?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any statement to make as to his conversations with the Japanese Ambassador on Thursday?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now make any statement on the conversations between His Majesty's Government and the Japanese Government relating to the cotton and rayon industries?

The House will remember that when I last made a statement on this subject on 15th March I informed them that, on the failure of the representatives of the textile industries of Japan and of this country to come to an agreement, the whole position was under review between the two Governments. When I saw the Japanese Ambassador on 16th March, I handed him a memorandum inquiring whether, in the circumstances, the Japanese Government had any proposals to put forward for dealing with the problem. On 31st March I received a reply in which the Japanese Government expressed their willingness to consider any further proposals which His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom might make, but made no proposals of their own.

The Government have considered the whole problem again very carefully in the light of this reply. It is already a year since His Majesty's Government drew the attention of the Japanese Government to the serious position arising from Japanese competition. It is, of course, of the utmost importance that every effort should be made to deal with a problem of this magnitude in the most appropriate way. Unfortunately there appeared to be nothing in the Japanese Government's note of 31st March to suggest that an early agreement on this subject was to be expected. Although, therefore, the Government still hold the view that the problem which faces us is one which can only be settled satisfactorily by co-operation in some form between Japan and ourselves, His Majesty's Government cannot allow a situation to develop in which negotiations are protracted indefinitely without any immediate prospect of success and during this time the Japanese—quite naturally from their point of view—are continuously expanding their exports in our markets to the detriment of Lancashire, while our hands are tied. Accordingly His Majesty's Government have come to the conclusion that they would not be justified any longer in postponing, in the hope of agreement, such action as is open to them with a view to safeguarding the trade of this country. I therefore informed the Japanese Ambassador on Thursday last that in the circumstances His Majesty's Government were obliged to resume their liberty to take such action as they deemed necessary to safeguard our commercial interests. I assured him—and I am confident the House will join me in this—that such steps as it was proposed to take would be taken in no unfriendly spirit.

As regards the Anglo-Japanese Treaty, I am satisfied that His Majesty's Government can, without denouncing it, take proper and sufficient measures to protect the commercial interests of this country, and in these circumstances I see no reason to terminate a Treaty which has regulated the commercial relations between the two countries for over 20 years. As far as the United Kingdom market is concerned, the Government do not feel they can any longer continue to suspend the review of the silk duties by the Import Duties Advisory Committee and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked the Committee to complete its report on these duties as quickly as possible.

In the case of Colonial markets, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies has been in consultation with Colonial Governors. The Governments of the Colonies and Protectorates for which such action would be appropriate will be asked to introduce import quotas which, except in the case of West Africa, would apply to all foreign imports of cotton and rayon goods. With a view to reinstating this country in the position in those markets which she held before the present abnormal period, it is intended that the basis for apportioning these quotas as between foreign countries shall be as far as possible the average of their imports in the years 1927–1931. It is further proposed that the necessary legislation in the Colonial territories should be enacted with the least possible delay, and that it should be so framed that the actual quota regulation will be reckoned as commencing retrospectively from to-day, 7th May, so that no attempt at forestalling will be allowed to frustrate the policy and intentions of the measures under contemplation. In the most important of the West African Colonies, as the House is aware, there are treaty obligations which preclude differentiation in favour of our own goods. It was for this reason that on 16th May of last year notice was given to release the West African Colonies from their obligations under the Anglo-Japanese Treaty, and action there will be limited to Japanese goods.

I have not attempted to deal in this statement with the position of any goods except cotton and rayon textiles. The Government are aware that Japanese competition is not limited to these goods, and they are considering in the case of each of the other industries involved what tariff action in Colonial markets is called for. As regards the home market, I have no reason to suppose that the matter cannot be dealt with by means of the ordinary procedure of the Import Duties Act. While His Majesty's Government cannot any longer refrain from taking steps to safeguard our trade interests, we shall, of course, be ready at any time to give the most careful consideration to any proposals which the Japanese Government may desire to put forward towards the solution by mutual agreement of this difficult problem. A solution of this kind ought to be possible where the Governments of the two countries are, as I am sure they are, anxious to agree.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for the comprehensive nature of the reply, might I inquire whether steps are to be taken to consult the Dominions with a view to their taking co-operative action?

That is a question purely for the Dominions themselves, and I am afraid that I cannot intervene in that matter.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, which will be most warmly welcomed in Lancashire, may I have his assurance that he will watch the dumping into the Colonies of Japanese goods other than textiles?

May I ask my right hon. Friend if, in the action which he proposes to take, he can tell us anything about the most-favoured-nation clause and its denunciation, because that will provide him with a far greater weapon than those which he proposes this afternoon?

No, Sir. I am afraid that I cannot agree with my hon. Friend in that conclusion.

Might I ask if there is any reason why the Dominions should not be consulted with a view to their co-operating with us in this matter?

The Dominions have been kept fully informed of what we have done, but the initiative must, of course, come from them.

May I ask whether, in fixing the quota, the right hon. Gentleman will also fix the price of the quota cloth from Japan going into the Colonies?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has thought of consulting with other nations outside the Empire, as the Japanese competition is affecting every nation of the world and is undoubtedly the greatest menace since we have had a civilisation?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps will be taken when establishing an advisory panel representative of rubber manufacturers to advise the international committee which is to control the rubber regulation scheme, to ensure the fulfilment of the condition laid down by the World Economic Conference that the willing co-operation of consuming interests must be secured in the working of the scheme?

The consuming interests will themselves be invited to nominate the advisory panel.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any representations yet from the United States of America?

We have had a great deal of discussion with the United States of America long before the present discussions started.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that the scheme for rubber regulation is adequately designed to secure a reasonable price level of the commodity; what is to be the pivotal price which the scheme aims at maintaining; and whether he will consider the advisability of introducing a clause into the scheme to provide that, should the price exceed a certain limit, it will be possible to reconsider the whole question?

I am satisfied that the scheme is adequately designed to secure a reasonable price level. It does not aim at maintaining any pivotal price. I do not think it would be advisable to introduce the clause suggested?

What does the right hon. Gentleman consider to be a reasonable price?

It is impossible to say, unless the hon. Gentleman will tell me exactly what are going to be the world conditions and the general level of prices and of costs throughout the coming years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any members of the International Rubber Regulation Committee will actually be appointed by the British Government; and, if not, whether any alternative steps will be taken to ensure that the interests of British industry which requires rubber for its activities are represented by any members thereof?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part of the question, my hon. Friend will be aware from previous replies that a panel representing consuming interests will be associated with the committee. His Majesty's Government have assumed that one of the members of the panel will represent the interests of the British industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give details of the provision contained in the rubber regulation scheme for associating representatives of consumers with the International Committee; and whether he will issue a full explanatory statement?

I have already stated, in reply to questions, the general terms of this provision; and I will send the hon. Member a copy of the relevant provisions in the agreement which has now been published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in connection with the proposed rubber regulation scheme, he will request the Governments of Malaya and Ceylon, in appointing their representatives on the International Rubber Regulation Committee, to appoint some members representative of consuming interests in order to ensure that the scheme shall operate harmoniously and to the best interests of all concerned?

No, Sir. Other provision is expressly made in the scheme for the representation of the interests of consumers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that, in pursuance of the Government policy of home first and Empire second, all future trade agreements shall include a clause to deter the sale in this country of foreign surplus produce at knock-out prices to the detriment of British and British Empire producers; and if he will invite the Dominion Governments to make a corresponding provision in their trade agreements with foreign countries?

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have constantly in mind possible difficulties arising from the sale in this country of imports at unduly low prices; but in making agreements with foreign countries each case must be considered on its merits.

In the case of the negotiations which are now pending with Holland, will a clause of this character be put into the agreement?

I cannot forecast what clauses will be in the agreement, but the question is being borne in mind.

Is it being borne in mind with a view to protecting the interests of British producers?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will present a list of agricutlural commodities imported into Great Britain that are sold here at prices below those at which they are sold in the country of origin; and also specifying the countries of origin and the differential prices at which they are sold?

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend will find, in the "Monthly Crop Report and Agricultural Statistics" issued by the International Institute of Agriculture and the quarterly review of the International Institute of Statistics, particulars of the prices in a number of countries of certain agricultural products, but it is necessary to point out that such quotations may not in all cases relate to products of comparable qualities.

Will the Board of Trade let us know exactly what products are being dealt in in this country at prices less than those at which they are sold in the country of origin?

The total quantity of foodstuffs imported into this country is, of course, very large, and my right hon. Friend will find on reflection that any compilation of statistics of all that volume of trade would be an immense undertaking; and if, at the end, you were not comparing like with like, the result would hardly be satisfactory. The point that my right hon. Friend has in mind is kept very closely under consideration.

Is it not clear, from the question and answer that are now before the House, that the time has come when His Majesty's Government should introduce an Anti-Dumping Bill?

In view of the statement of the hon. Gentleman that reports in these publications—

We cannot have a debate on the matter.

With great deference, it is a most important matter—

I am afraid we must get on.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the considerable increase in re-exports from Great Britain to Soviet Russia of rubber and tea; and whether such re-exports will be excluded from the terms of the recent Trade Agreement, as no additional employment is provided in Great Britain by these transactions?

The re-exports of rubber to Soviet Russia have only increased slightly during the first quarter of this year as compared with a year ago, and the re-exports of tea have been considerably less during the quarter than in the corresponding quarter of 1933. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

Was not the House informed that one of the principal objects of the Trade Agreement was to give increased employment in this country; and how can the mere re-export and transhipment of goods in this country give employment to British workers?

It does give employment; but, as I have pointed out, the re-export of tea has been considerably less since the agreement.

Even if that is so, has it anything to do with the question? The object of the new Agreement was to give additional employment. Does the re-export of tea and rubber give employment in this country?

Yes, Sir; but my hon. Friend asked me to deal with the question of a considerable increase, and in fact there is rather a decrease in the case of tea.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any means exist or can be introduced to show the proportion of cattle and horses, including Army remounts, originating from the Free State and exported to this country by way of Northern Ireland?

I regret that the figure desired by my hon. Friend is not available, but I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT certain particulars of imports of cattle and horses from the Irish Free State which he may find helpful.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value for the year 1933 of the merchandise imported into this country from foreign countries and British countries, respectively, and the corresponding figures for the total value of merchandise, produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom exported to foreign and British countries?

The hon. Member will find the desired particulars in Tables X and XI of the issue of the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" for January last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the imports of chemicals which, according to the Board of Trade Journal for 3rd May, are 46.9 per cent. higher in the first quarter of this year than in the corresponding quarter of 1933; whether he will ascertain if the requirements of chemicals in this country can be met from home sources; and whether, if the home industry is capable of supplying all our requirements, he will take steps to enable it to do so?

I am aware of the figures to which my hon. Friend refers. Some of our imports consist of chemicals not obtainable in this country. Any question of increasing a duty leviable under the Import Duties Act is a matter, in the first instance, for the Import Duties Advisory Comimittee.

Is not the Minister aware that there are very few chemicals imported which this country cannot manufacture, also that the wages in the chemical trade in European countries are very much lower than in this country?

I should like to think that chemicals could all be made here, but I have taken the trouble to look up the four particular families of chemicals which constitute the greater part of the increase to which the question relates and I am satisfied that we are, and have been for many years past, dependent on foreign supplies in those cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many farmers have now registered as cheese producers; how many cows are owned by cheese producers registered to date; what is their estimated output of milk during the coming season; how many tons of cheese this will contribute towards the requirements of the home market; and what proportion this represents of our total consumption?

I have been asked to reply. The number of farmers registered with the Milk Marketing Board as farm cheese-makers on 2nd May, 1934, was 1,284, owning 54,400 cows with an estimated output of milk of 22,000,000 gallons per annum. The yield of cheese from this gallonage would be roughly 10,000 tons, which represents approximately 5 per cent. of our total annual cheese consumption.

Does the Minister agree that that is a very small proportion of our total consumption?

Oh, very small indeed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will draw the attention of the Milk Marketing Board to the importance of commencing as early as possible an extensive advertising campaign to encourage the public to consume more milk?

My right hon. Friend is quite satisfied that the Milk Marketing Boards fully realise the desirability of encouraging the public to consume more milk : and the hon. Member will recollect that the proposals which he explained in his statement on milk policy in this House on 22nd February include the provision of funds for a publicity campaign. Schemes for that purpose are now being formulated.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that up to the present there has been no advertising whatever, and will he bear in mind that every other beverage has to advertise extensively in order to ensure its commercial success, and do his best to speed up this matter?

I think the board fully realise that they have to undertake a scheme of advertising, but it is just as well, having regard to the nation-wide character of the project before them, that they should think it out and work it out thoroughly before beginning.

Can the right hon. Gentleman do something to stop the doctors from constantly crabbing our milk supply?

I have no power over doctors.

Will the same energy be shown in advertising milk as is shown in advertising stout?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the small number of farms producing high-class milk, he will reduce the licences payable to a nominal sum?

My right hon. Friend will consider this question in connection with any revision of the Milk (Special Designations) Order.

When the right hon. Gentleman is considering this question, will he also consider the question of improving and encouraging high-class milk, which at present receives very little support in this country or by the Government Departments which have contracts?

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that all imported milk products are produced from healthy animals kept in conditions of cleanliness?

My right hon. Friend is not in a position to say that all milk products are made from healthy animals kept in conditions of cleanliness, but he understands that most of the imported products are made from pasteurised milk or cream.

Are we to understand that any kind of muck can be brought into this country under the name of butter, even if it is made under the most filthy conditions?

I am informed that no danger to the public health is involved.

Is there no inspection at the ports, to see what the condition of this dairy produce is before it is brought in?

Are we to understand that the Government can institute no machinery to test the quality of the produce as it arrives?

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many fish farms there are in England and Scotland, respectively; and how many people are employed thereon?

Of course, we can institute machinery, but I should not like to come to the House and ask for a large expenditure which, on the grounds of public health, I could not justify.

Are the people of this country to feed upon milk products from milk of the composition of which we have no knowledge?

Has the hon. Gentleman ever visited a Polish or Russian dairy farm?

May I have a reply to my question as to whether there is any inspection at the ports?

If a product is in liquid form, we have ample power under regulations to demand a bacteriological examination. As regards non-liquid products, I am told that there is no danger to health.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what number of beasts were shipped from Northern Ireland to the United Kingdom in the first three months of 1932, 1933 and 1934, respectively?

A statement is being circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT giving the information desired.

There are in England and Wales about 23 commercial fish farms, four fish hatcheries owned by local fishery boards, and a number of private fish farms with regard to which I have no particulars; with the exception of the hatcheries belonging to the fishery boards, all these farms are privately owned and I have no information as to the number of people employed. In Scotland there are, I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, six fish farms; the number of persons employed is believed to be approximately 17, but no exact information is available on this point.

May I ask whether the owners of these fisheries were consulted before the introduction of the Diseases of Fish Bill, and if not, why not?

I must have notice of that question.

Will the hon. Gentleman kindly pass on to the Secretary of State for Scotland, who will be on the Committee on this Bill, the information as to the number of fish farms in England?

I have given notice to him.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give particulars of schemes of land settlement undertaken by the Durham County Council; how many men or families have been put on to the land under such schemes; how much such schemes have cost the county council; and how much the Exchequer has contributed to such schemes?

As the answer is long and involves a number of figures, it is proposed, with the hon. Member's concurrence, to circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the hon. Gentleman give me the last item—how much the Exchequer has contributed?

The information is under a series of heads, and perhaps the hon. Member will read the answer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the shipping industry has been invited to give evidence before the committee which is considering the question of the assistance which is to be given for the production of home-grown sugar?

I understand that the Sugar Inquiry Committee has not yet invited the shipping industry to appear before it, but that it is willing to receive written statements of evidence from any representative body and to consider in each case the advisability of examining witnesses.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many eggs were imported in April, 1933, and April, 1934, respectively?

My Noble Friend will find particulars of the imports of eggs during April, 1933, in the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" for that month. The figures for April, 1934, will be published in these accounts on Monday next.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will consider wiring off suitable portions of the lakes in those Royal Parks where boating is permitted, so that during the breeding season the young birds may have a sanctuary from the boats and oars and not be maimed' and killed as they have been in previous years?

Boating is allowed on the Serpentine and the Regent's Park lake. The island in the Serpentine and the channel separating it from the northern bank are chained off : in Regent's Park, boats are excluded from the arms of the lake at its north-western and south-western ends. I have no evidence in my Department that, under present conditions, birds have suffered injury in the manner suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend, but I will certainly consider whether it is possible for any further areas of water to be marked off as sanctuaries.

Will the right hon. Gentleman allow me to escort him some Sunday morning around Regent's Park so that he can see how many of these small birds and ducks are being killed?

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the main building of St. John's Lodge, Regent's Park, now unoccupied, could be used as a museum or exhibition building for modern sculpture, statuary, and decorative metal work by British craftsmen?

If a body with the necessary financial backing and authority came forward with a suitable proposal of this description, I should be glad to consider it.

Will my right hon. Friend take this opportunity of inviting the local authorities to send exhibts from their arts and crafts schools, so as to help forward the Art and Industry Movement That would certainly assist the finances.

I would like to point out that I have drawn public attention by answers in this House to the fact that the house is available for suitable museum purposes, and that it will require a considerable sum of money to be spent on it if it is to be used for such a purpose. It is now an ordinary private house, and the lighting of the rooms, etc., will require to be completely altered before it can be made suitable for public exhibitions.

Why not ask the London County Council, which is very public-spirited in these matters of arts and crafts, to send their exhibits there?

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that this lovely building will not be pulled down, but that some suitable purpose will be found for it?

We have had it on our hands for some time. I admit that the outside has some considerable architectural merit, but the inside is in a very bad condition and would require a considerable sum of money spent on it. I am quite willing to receive any representations from any museum or any local authority which desires to use the building for exhibition purposes. As I have stated, plenty of publicity has been given by the series of questions in this House and I cannot do more.