asked the Minister of Labour the grounds on which he reversed the decision at which he arrived after consultation with British Equity to prohibit the appearance of the Viennese chorus at Covent Garden?

I was satisfied that the addition of these singers to the chorus—which I would remind my hon. Friend is otherwise British—was necessary, if the production was to be fully successful; and also that they would not displace British singers. For these reasons, I decided to issue the permits.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these singers displaced British artistes who are now walking the streets starving?

Is it a fact that this opera has employed over 400 English people for this season alone?

Yes, Sir, that is true. I cannot say as to 400, but I know it has employed some hundreds. With regard to the first supplementary question, of course, I always do what I can to protect the rights of British artistes. At the same time, I have, in every case, to consider whether the production itself is likely to be strengthened by the addition of external players.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the recent inspection of the Beverley training hostel for boys by officials from the Ministries of Labour and Agriculture, he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the proposals submitted to him by the Young Men's Christian Association; and will he be able to continue to give his support to this scheme for training boys?

I have informed the association that I am prepared to continue the existing agreement at the present rate of grant for a limited period. I cannot hold out any hope that it will be possible to increase the rate of grant.

asked the Minister of Labour if it is the policy of his Department that persons receiving transitional payment should be able to have their allowance supplemented by public assistance without such transitional payments being reduced accordingly?

The question whether in any case transitional payments require to be supplemented by public assistance is one for the competent authorities to decide, having regard to the needs of the household concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentelman aware that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, alluding to the cases of two people who broadcast last Saturday or last weekend, stated that those people could have received supplementary allowances; is he also aware that both those people deny that statement, and in view of the situation, has he made, or is he making, investigation into the matter?

I was not present in the House when that statement was made, although, of course, I read it. I think that what the Parliamentary Secretary said described what actually takes place. There is no doubt that public assistance is given, in addition to transitional payments, if, in a particular case, the public assistance authorities decide that such supplementation is necessary or is required.

But is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these people to whom I refer had made all the efforts which they could make in that direction, or stated so at any rate; and that that statement was given a denial by the Parliamentary Secretary in the House; and, in view of the fact that this is a very important matter, because the British Broadcasting Corporation is involved, is the right hon. Gentleman making any inquiries upon these facts?

There is some confusion here. I understand that from 3,000 to 4,000 people in Durham are, in fact, receiving this supplement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the commissioner's own statement this morning proves the truth of what I say?

asked the Minister of Health if he can give an estimate of the additional expenditure incurred by public assistance committees in Glamorganshire for the provision of medical services and treatment, including maternity services, to unemployed persons who have ceased to be eligible for medical benefits under the National Health Insurance Acts?

I will commuicate with the public assistance authorities in this county, and will let the hon. Member have such information as is available.

Would it be possible to make a general inquiry?

No, I think a general inquiry would not be possible.

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue a circular to all public assistance committees recommending an upward revision of scales of benefit in all cases similar to that to which his attention has recently been called by the hon. Member for Deritend (Mr. Smedley Crooke) in which an unemployed man is at present being compelled to try and maintain himself, his wife, and five children on an average amount, after deduction of rent, of 4s. per head per week?

I am causing inquiry to be made into this case and will communicate further with my hon. Friend as to it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to make any statement regarding suggestions which have been put before the Government for the provision on an experimental basis of a certain number of smallholdings for unemployed persons?

I have been in touch with the voluntary bodies and other persons interested in this subject, and as a result, the possibility of constituting a Smallholdings Association for England and Wales is being actively considered. The immediate object of such an association would be to provide, by way of experiment, a number of smallholdings for intensive cultivation by suitable unemployed persons. In the event of such an association being formed the Government would be prepared to contribute up to £50,000 per annum over a period of three years on a basis of £l for every £2 raised by the association by way of gift in money or its equivalent from non-State sources. In this connection, I am glad to be able to inform the House that Mr. P. Malcolm Stewart has signified his willingness to offer to such an association, if and when formed, on the basis indicated, an estate of some 700 acres at Potten in Bedfordshire.

asked the Minister of Labour the date fixed for the coming into operation of the Unemployment Bill?

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many persons registered as hosiery workers were employed and unemployed, respectively, at or about the end of April in each of the four years ending 1934, and

As the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the figures show a rise in employment for the period in 1932 and a fall in the same period of 1933?

Yes, Sir.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the first period the import duties in the case of hosiery were 50 per cent. and in the latter 20 per cent., and will he direct the attention of his Cabinet colleagues to the significance of these figures?

Part I of the Bill will come into operation generally one month after it is passed, but (a) Clause 5, which restores the benefit rates, will take effect on 1st July, (b) Clause 17, which provides for the establishment of the Statutory Committee, will come into operation on the passing of the Bill, (c) Clause 18, which deals with Treasury advances to the Unemployment Fund, will come into operation on 1st July if Part I is not then generally in operation, (d) Clause 1, which lowers the age for entry into insurance, will come into operation on 3rd September, unless some earlier date is appointed by order. No statement can yet be made as regards the appointed days under Part II of the Bill.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects the Bill to have passed through the other House?

I should hope about the third week in June. That is the date which I have in mind.

asked the Minister of Health if he can furnish an estimate of the sum advanced by building societies in the year ended 31st March, 1934, to facilitate building operations under the provisions of the Housing Acts?

I have no information except in so far as advances are made in respect of houses erected with the help of guarantees given in pursuance of Section 2 of the Housing Act, 1933. For this limited purpose the advances made by building societies up to 31st March, 1934, amounted to £442,360.

asked the Minister of Health if there is any regulation as to density in rehousing on site in slum-clearance schemes; and, in view of the desirability of these being at a maximum, will he make known to the various towns concerned the high percentage possible that has been obtained in practice in re-housing when higher densities have been adopted?

No, Sir. Each case is considered on its merits, having regard to the circumstances of the area and any town planning restrictions applicable to it. I think that local authorities are well aware of the position, and it does not seem to me to be necessary to take any special measures to call their attention to it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take special measures in future to advise the Manchester Corporation with respect to colliers' areas, in order that with the increased density the maximum number of people can be rehoused?

I think the opportunities under the existing provisions are well known.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses built by private enterprise without subsidy during the six months ended 31st March, 1934, were built to let at weekly rentals of less than 8s. and 10s., exclusive of rates?

Of the 120,781 houses provided by private enterprise without State assistance during the half-year referred to, 44,754 were of a rateable value not exceeding £13 (£20 in Greater London), and 22,730 were occupied by persons other than their owners. The statistics available do not include a classification of the house last mentioned according to the rents charged.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House when he expects to introduce the new Housing Bill?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the announcement by the United States Government that, although token payments on account of war debts will be accepted, such country making these payments will be considered a defaulter, he will give an assurance that in future no further payments will be made by Great Britain in excess of the amounts we recover from our debtors as far as war debts are concerned?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on Tuesday last to the right hon. Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert) and the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis), to which I have nothing to add.

If these payments, which are not provided for, are to be continued without a corresponding collection of our war debts, will it not convert a surplus into a permanent deficit, which will have the gravest consequences in future years?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order that the Treasury may have fuller information to meet requests by flotation houses for the removal of the embargo upon the issue of foreign loans in London, he will now obtain and record the names of those houses responsible for the flotation of the defaulted pre-war and post-ward foreign loans included in the lists of defaulting borrowers issued last month by the Council of Foreign Bondholders?

The ho". Member's question, if I understand it aright, involves an implication which I do not accept. In any event the information required is already published in various works of reference.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the heavy commitments of the Dominions with us involving large adverse trade balances, a large proportion of which call for no corresponding export from this country, whether he will consult with the Dominions with a view to floating an Empire loan to convert these commitments at a lower interest and so make possible further Empire development and an approach to Empire Free Trade?

While I have every sympathy with the objects which my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, I consider that the specific suggestion referred to in the question would not he either a practicable or a desirable method of attaining these objects. I am always ready to consider sympathetically any proposal by a Dominion Government for the conversion of a sterling loan, which it has an option to redeem, to a lower rate of interest, and I need not remind the House of the conspicuous and gratifying success which has already been achieved by the Commonwealth of Australia on these lines.

Has not my right hon. Friend any other suggestion in his mind which would bring about the desired object of the further settlement and development of the Empire?

No, I do not think it is necessary to have any other procedure in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any applications for increased duties made to the Imports Duties Advisory Committee prior to the 31st December last are still awaiting the consideration and decision of the committee, and, if so, how many; and will he explain the reasons for the delay?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which was given on the 17th April to questions asked by the hon. Member" for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons) and West Leyton (Sir W. Sugden).

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are feelings in many quarters that there is great delay in dealing with this matter, and cannot he obtain some information from the Committee which will enable this House to judge whether those feelngs are justified or not?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the cases in which he is interested.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there have been many instances given in questions raised in this House in the course of the last two or three months?

Those matters were dealt with in the answer to which I have referred.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the real exception is in the valid, good cases where our markets get flooded with goods in anticipation of the Advisory Committee's award?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a decision has yet been reached as to extending the period of protection to the iron and steel industry for a further five years; whether this will be made conditional upon the drastic reorganisation of the industry; whether the iron and steel industry has drawn up any scheme of reorganisation for the Government's approval; if so, whether the workpeople's organisations connected with the industry have been consulted; whether the public, as the consuming interest, have been taken into consultation in drawing up the scheme; and whether the public will be represented in the scheme for the future control of the industry?

An Order removing the present time limit to the iron and steel duties will be made to-day and will be laid on the Table of the House to-night. The various points raised by the hon. Member can, I think, best be discussed when, in accordance with the usual procedure, the Order is submitted to the House for an approving Resolution.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) to what extent our adverse trade balance with Denmark could be reduced without jeopardising the receipt of interest on investments we may have there;

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave him on 12th May, 1933.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the decreased manufacture in this country of the products from linseed due to the decline in the importation of Argentine linseed from 64,647 tons in the three months ended 31st March, 1933, or 92,450 tons in the same period in 1932, to 18,599 tons in the same period in 1934, owing to the 10 per cent. duty imposed under the Ottawa Agreements on linseed other than that of Empire origin; and whether, as neither India nor any other country within the Empire is able to supply the needs of the United Kingdom, and as no heavier crops are likely to be produced in India, he will consider a revision of the agreement with a view to saving this industry?

The decline in imports of linseed from Argentina has been accompanied by a rapid increase in imports from India, and I have no reason to suppose that this increase will not continue.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Indian linseed does not compete in price with Argentine linseed; that there always was and is today a considerable premium on Argentine linseed, the premium being £2 per ton; and is he not also aware that while it is true——

The hon. Member is now the giver of information and not requesting it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether representations have been made to the Spanish Government on behalf of the British motor-cycle industry that the import duty on British motor-cycles should be on the same basis as those imposed upon motor-cycles from France and other countries, seeing that under the Franco-Spanish agreements the duties imposed on British cycles entering Spain have become prohibitive; and if any further action on the part of His Majesty's Government is contemplated?

The Spanish import duties on French motor-cycles were reduced under a Franco-Spanish agreement of October, 1931, and United King- dom motor-cycles obtained the benefit of this reduction by virtue of most-favourednation rights. As a result of the recent abrogation of this agreement, the former higher duties become automatically applicable both to French and United Kingdom motor-cycles. It appears possible that some modification may result from further negotiations between France and Spain. The position is being carefully watched from the point of view of the rights and interests of the United Kingdom trade.

Is it not the fact that at the present moment the Franco-Spanish agreement means almost the complete prohibition of British motorcycles getting into Spain at all?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the treatment accorded to British manufactured goods entering Spain, he will consider the desirability of increased tariffs on Spanish wine and fruit with the object of extending the production of these commodities in the British Empire?

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion. The position is being closely watched.

This is very important. Will the President of the Board of Trade use the instrument of the tariff to force the Spanish Government to give fair play to British manufacturers?

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether any tariff could succeed in producing Spanish wine in British Dominions?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the imports of glass bottles and jars have gone up from 10,321 gross in April, 1932, to 32,795 gross in April, 1934; and what action he proposes to take?

I am aware of the facts to which my hon. Friend draws attention. Any question of an increase in the duty on these goods must of course be dealt with by the ordinary procedure of the Import Duties Act.

In view of the fact that the present duty is evidently not sufficient to restrict the importation of these goods and to enable British manufacturers to compete with Continental makers, will the Government not take some action?

Those facts were brought to the attention of the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the further increase in the importation of agricultural machinery during the month of April, 1934, when the imports totalled 650 tons as compared with 294 tons in the corresponding month of last year; and when the agricultural machinery manufacturers of Lincoln can expect further protection?

I am aware of the facts to which my hon. Friend draws attention. As regards the last part of the question, there is nothing I can add to the reply which was given to him on the 8th May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to deal with industrial competition from British Colonies in the Far East, having regard to the fact that imports of rubber footwear from such countries increased from 11,112 pairs in April, 1933, to 296,772 pairs in April, 1934?

This matter continues to receive close attention, but I am not at present in a position to add to the reply I gave on the 6th February to the hon. Member for South Croydon (Mr. II. Williams).

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that no printed copies of the list of registered milk producers are available for the use of candidates for election as regional representatives on the Milk Marketing Board, and copies can only be supplied at the cost of ½d. per name which, in the case of the south-eastern area, would amount to between £40 and £50; and if, in order that independent candidates can submit themselves for election, he will cause a roll of registered producers to be available at a reasonable cost?

The amount of the fee to be charged for supplying extracts from the register of milk producers is a matter for the Milk Marketing Board, subject to the requirement that the fee shall not exceed one halfpenny for each entry copied. Any person may take extracts from the register for his own use free of charge. I have no power to intervene in this matter.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that this condition of affairs really means that it is absolutely impossible for an independent candidate who is not an official nominee of the National Farmers' Union to offer himself for election; and that, in view of the fact that the officials of the Milk Marketing Board are now using the roll for their own purposes, no candidate has sufficient time to get a copy for election purposes?

Obviously I cannot debate the matter at Question Time. It is a matter for the registered producers and the board, and it is not a matter in which I have power to interfere.

In view of the very high cost of procuring an adequate copy of the roll of electors, will my right hon. Friend represent this to the Milk Marketing Board officials with a view to its being rectified?

I do not think my representations would have any more effect than those of my hon. and gallant Friend.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in one case brought to my notice the other day it was calculated that it would cost £700 to put up their candidates for this election; and, if we want to get new blood on this board, will not my right hon. Friend look into the matter and see that these elections are put on a fair basis?

These matters are subject to the provisions of the scheme, and I have no power to intervene in the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has yet come to any decision as to the appointment of a national slaughter-houses commission, as recommended in the recent report of the Reorganisation Commission for Fat Stock?

I regret I am not in a position at present to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health on 4th May, to a question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Sir B. Gower) of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what subsidy, if any, is paid by the Netherlands Government or, alternatively, by any farmers' organisation in Holland in respect of the skimmed condensed milk shipped from that country to the United Kingdom?

I understand that under the Netherlands Crisis Dairy Act there is a fund raised by means of a levy on sales in Holland of butter, margarine and other edible fats which is used for subsidising producers of milk for manufacture, but that there is no specific subsidy paid on skimmed condensed milk shipped from the Netherlands to the United Kingdom.

Would my right hon. Friend be good enough to compile a list of subsidies paid by countries which compete with our agricultural products?

IF my right hon. Friend will put down a question, I will do my utmost to give him the information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he will be able to announce any further steps to deal with the livestock industry, having regard to the fact that the imports of beef in April, 1934, increased to 970,249 cwts. from 917,819 cwts. in April, 1933, and from 897,636 cwts. in April, 1932?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the weight of beef imported in the four months ended 30th April was 7 per cent. higher than in the corresponding period last year; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation?

I am aware that imports of beef into the United Kingdom in April and in the four months January to April, 1934, were greater than in the corresponding periods of the last two years, due to larger supplies from Empire sources. The meat situation is at present under consideration in the light of the report of the Reorganisation Commission for Fat Stock.

Is it not the case that the reduction of imports from foreign countries this year as compared with last year has been almost negligible?

I have answered the question which has been asked, and the fact is that the total supplies are larger and my hon. Friend knows very well from where they come.

Was it not the object of the Ottawa Agreements to increase the imports from Empire countries and to diminish them from foreign countries?

That is exactly what is taking place. What does my hon. Friend object to?

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can furnish an estimate of the increased consumption of coal in this country which has resulted from the imposition of a duty on fuel oil?

Official information is not available. But a short time ago I received a deputation from the Coal Utilisation Council and other bodies, which furnished detailed information, collected by various trade organisations. This showed that, in terms of coal, there had been conversions from oil to coal and coal products, and business retained which it was stated would, but for the tax, have been lost to home produced fuels, representing an annual rate of consumption of over 600,000 tons.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, having regard to the damage done to property owing to mining operations in North Staffordshire and other parts of the country, he will consider the advisability of bringing in a Bill levying a small tax on each ton of coal raised to the surface to be used as a reserve fund for the compensation of property owners whose buildings have been damaged owing to mining operations?