asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can furnish a list of the British Colonies which at the moment are not prevented by treaty engagements from imposing quantitative restrictions on the imports of Japanese goods; and in respect of which of these is the consent of the local legislative assembly necessary before such restrictions can be imposed?

A list is given at the end of this answer of the dependencies which are at present being invited to impose quantitative restrictions on certain foreign imports, but it must not be assumed that Colonies not included in this list are necessarily precluded from doing so by treaty engagements. As to the second part of the question, there are local legislative assemblies in all these Colonies except Cyprus, Gibraltar, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Malta and St. Helena, and their consent is normally necessary for all acts of local legislation. The constitutional position varies widely, however, and it would not be possible to give a short account of the circumstances in which the consent of such assemblies may be dispensed with in particular Colonies.List.Bahamas.Barbados.Bermuda.British Guiana.British Honduras.Ceylon.Cyprus.Falkland Islands and Dependencies.Fiji.Gambia (Colony and Protectorate) Gold Coast—

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the large importations into Tanganyika of Japanese porcelain ware, paint, glassware, boot polish, motor car tyres, shoes, soap, and cigarettes, he will take steps to introduce discriminatory duties against Japan, seeing that she has left the League of Nations?

Japan is still a member of the League of Nations, and her notice of withdrawal does not take effect until 27th March, 1935. Apart from this, tariff discrimination in Tanganyika against Japan is precluded by the provisions of the Convention of St. Germain-en-Laye, as well as by those of the Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if any and what countries have contravened the Palestine Merchandise Marks Administrative Act, 1929?

The Palestine Merchandise Marks Ordinance, 1929, constitutes as offences certain actions in relation to merchandise marks by persons in Palestine, and the question of contravention of the Ordinance by the Government of any country does not arise.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the British Government have taken any steps to participate officially in the forthcoming exhibition at Kabul in the month of August next; and, if so, what is the nature either of the official exhibits or of the assistance given to would-be exhibitors?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative and the second part, therefore, does not arise. With regard to the third part of the question, the Afghan National Bank has offered to give assistance to exhibitors. I shall be pleased to send the details to my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many instances have been placed before him showing that some British manufacturers are being forced to buy dumped foreign goods and re-sell them in place of the products of their own workshops; and what these cases are?

One case was recently brought to my notice in which a garment manufacturer stated that he had been obliged to purchase certain imported goods by reason of the price at which they were offered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to the action of the Iraqi Government in giving a contract for the proposed barrage work to a French firm; and whether, seeing that this is not in accordance with the undertaking of the late King respecting British industry and in view of the continued material and moral support we still give to Iraq, he will make representations to the Iraqi Government as to its obligations to this country?

So far as I am aware, no such action has been taken by the Iraqi Government. The second part of the question does not therefore arise; in any case I should make it clear that I cannot accept the accuracy of the premise on which it appears to be based.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the production of wheat in the 1933 harvest in each of the counties of Wales and the proportions thereof in respect of the sale of which certificates constituting claims for deficiency payments were lodged; and what payments have been made to the producers in each of the counties in respect of such certificates?

The following is the information required :wheat during the cereal year 1933–34 will not be known until after 31st July next. The quantity of wheat shown in column 3 may be increased by the receipt of additional certificates by the Wheat Commission between now and 31st July next.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the present position regarding the setting up of the Development Board under the pig marketing scheme; and whether applications for licences in respect of proposed new bacon factories are being held up pending the establishment of such a board?

A development scheme for organising the production of bacon in Great Britain has been submitted to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself by the Pigs and Bacon Marketing Boards and is being dealt with in accordance with procedure laid down in Part I of the First Schedule to the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1933. Notice of the submission was published on 10th April, 1934, and the period allowed for lodging objections and representations with respect to the scheme expires on 23rd May. The scheme provides inter alia for the issue by the Development Board of licences for the production of bacon; application for licences can neither be received nor considered until the Development Board, which would be the licensing authority, comes into existence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of pigs enumerated by the census investigators in Wales and Monmouthshire and the proportion thereof in respect of which contracts have been made with bacon-curers?

The number of pigs in Wales and Monmouthshire as returned on 3rd June, 1933, was 223,620. Contracts under the Pigs Marketing Scheme have been made by registered pig producers in that area, either with registered curers or with the Pigs Marketing Board, for the delivery of 32,412 pigs during the period 1st March, 1934, to 31st December, 1934.