asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under what conditions a private organisation, namely, the Oxford Society, is allowed to have its annual general meeting in the Foreign Office; what rent is charged for the use of the room concerned; and whether similar facilities are in future to be extended on similar terms to other private organisations which might wish to meet at the Foreign Office?

After consultation with my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works, who is responsible for the Foreign Office building, I have invited the society to meet in a room at the Foreign Office this year. Last year the meeting was held at the Ministry of Health. No rent will be charged, but there will be some small expense incurred in preparing the room for the meeting, such as the hire of chairs and the removal of furniture. I had already arranged with the Office of Works to bear this expense myself, but as my hon. and gallant Friend is also a devoted son of Oxford, I shall be happy if he will go shares with me.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the third part of the question, because, after all, there are other co-operatives and trade unions which would like similar facilities?

I was awaiting the hon. and gallant Gentleman's answer to my suggestion. The Oxford Society has no political objects, and the arrangement is made simply for the convenience of a large number of members whose work lies in the region of Whitehall. I do not think the same considerations apply to other societies with political objects.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that not more than twopence a chair is charged?

asked the Minister of Labour what is the percentage of male civil servants, over 34 years of age, who are ex-Service men?

I assume that my hon. Friend's question relates to Ministry of Labour staff only. I regret that the exact information asked for cannot be given without a disproportionate amount of work. The percentage of male Ministry of Labour staff of all ages who are ex-Service is about 91. The corresponding percentage of male staff over 34 years of age is obviously greater.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the sweepstake at present being operated by the Office of Works Social and Athletic Club conforms with the law; and what steps are being taken to ensure that this and other sweepstakes operated by employés in Government Departments are entirely in order?

I have no authority to express any opinion on the question whether any particular scheme complies with the law. I understand that the provisions of the law on the subject of lotteries and the scope of administrative practice there under have been brought to the notice of the promoters of the scheme referred to and that they have decided to abandon it. In reply to the second part of the question, I do not think that any action is called for on my part.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the number of the Embassy staff at Madrid in 1913 and 1934; and whether the special commercial department of the Embassy has succeeded in arranging that Spain should purchase the agreed 750,000 tons minimum of coal in accordance with the treaty of 1922?

In 1913 the regular staff of His Majesty's Embassy at Madrid numbered six persons and in 1934 nine persons, including the Commercial Secretary. With regard to the second part of the question, I would point out that the only clause relating to coal in the Anglo-Spanish Commercial Treaty of October, 1922, as amended by the Convention of April, 1927, is that which provides that pit coal (that is to say bituminous coal) imported into Spain from Great Britain will benefit by a reduction of 40 per cent. on the duties imposed by the Spanish tariff on imported pit coal, and that this reduction will be applicable to an annual quota of 750,000 tons.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that there is no discrimination against this country?

The hon. Member will observe that the terms of the Anglo-Spanish Commercial Treaty really provide for preferential trade.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a minimum of 750,000 tons of coal was agreed upon, and that minimum has never yet been reached?

No, I am not aware of that fact. I am aware that the provisions to which I have just called attention were provisions that were applicable to a quota of 750,000 tons.

asked the Prime Minister if it is his intention to give an opportunity for discussion on the Central (Coal Mines) Scheme (Amendment) Order, 1934, a draft of which was presented to the House on 29th May; and, if so, can he give the date?

Yes, Sir. In accordance with the provisions of Section 2 (4) of the Coal Mines Act of 1930, the Central (Coal Mines) Scheme (Amendment) Order, 1934, has to be approved by this House. I am not at the moment in a position to name a date for this discussion, but it will be announced in the usual way.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman not to take it late at night when there is no time for Debate?

That can be arranged through the usual channels.

May I ask whether there is any chance of amending this Order?

No, there is no chance of amending the Order, only discussing it.

That is the difference between an Order and a Bill. If we had a Bill, we should have a chance of amending it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Austria and Germany are represented on the International Prison Commission which has drafted rules for the treatment of prisoners; and whether steps will be taken, through the commission or the League of Nations, to ensure the observance of the rules in these countries?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer returned to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Captain Cunningham-Reid) on 30th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a positon to make any further statement with regard to the possibility of settling the Assyrian refugees from Iraq in Brazil; and to what extent the British Government is prepared to contribute financially through the League of Nations towards the cost of the proposed transfer?

With regard to the first part of the question, I regret that I cannot yet add anything to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander) on the 30th May. The matter is still under the consideration of the Assyrian Committee of the Council of the League of Nations. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) on the 16th May, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the fact that woollen cloth of all kinds and quantities is expected to provide one of the chief exhibits at the exhibition in Kabul in August under the auspices of the Royal Afghan Government, he can state what assistance he is giving to the woollen trade to enable it to be properly represented?

I have no information confirming the statement-made in the first part of the hon. Member's question. The usual publicity has, however, been given to the exhibition in the Board of Trade Journal and particulars have been supplied to the Association of Chambers of Commerce. No firm has yet applied to the Department of Overseas Trade for information.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the prejudicial effect on the Bradford wool market of the absence of any definite information as to the extent of the German embargo on imports, he is now in a position to supply the information needed?

From a report which has just reached me, I understand that the embargo on German purchases of foreign raw wool and semi-woollen manufactures, particulars of which have been published in the Board of Trade Journal from time to time, has now been definitely prolonged until the 30th June. The foreign Exchange Control Authority has inormed the British Embassy in Berlin that the duration of the embargo depends upon the currency position and that it is impossible to say at present how long it may have to be maintained.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government has any guarantee that arms exported to Holland and Denmark are not re-exported to Germany?

Licences for the export of arms are only issued on condition that the owner or shipper, if so required by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, shall produce to them proof to their satisfaction that the goods were delivered to the destination to which the goods were consigned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will give information as to the relative positions of foodstuffs, raw materials, and manufactured goods in the trade of the port of Liverpool in the years 1931, 1932 and 1933;

(2) if he will give the latest information as to the increase or decrease of imports of raw materials and decrease or increase of imports of manufactured goods through the port of Liverpool, expressed in percentages, compared with the years 1930 and 1931?

Detailed statistics of the foreign trade at the port of Liverpool are published in Volume IV of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom. Particulars in respect of 1933 are not yet available, but I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a summarised statement for the years 1930, 1931 and 1932.

Can the hon. and gallant Member say if the figures indicate that the tariff policy of this country has not injured the trade of Liverpool?

I believe that is so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether shortage of staff or pressure of other business has prevented his Department from carrying to a conclusion discussions with the Spanish Government for the benefit of British export trade in accordance with the recommendations of the British Chamber of Commerce for Spain?

The recommendations of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain are being carefully considered in conjunction with other matters which affect the question of initiating commercial negotiations with the Spanish Government.

Is the adverse balance of trade in favour of Spain as against this country, amounting to £7,500,000 per annum, to continue while the negotiations are being carried through?

The negotionations if entered upon will be for the purpose of improving the trade balance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has any statement to make in regard to fresh arrangements for the regulation of meat imports for the period commencing the 1st July, or any announcement of policy for helping the stock-raisers of this country in view of the low prices of fat cattle?

As indicated in the reply I gave on 17th May to questions by my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Mr. H. Williams) and my hon. Friend the Member for Leominster (Sir E. Shepperson), the meat situation is under consideration in the light of the report of the Reorganisation Commission for Fat Stock. I regret, however, I am not in a position to make a statement.

May I ask my right hon. Friend if, in view of the very great anxiety of stock-raisers at the long continued low prices of beef, he will be in a position to make a statement in the near future?

No, Sir, I am afraid that I cannot give any indication of a statement at an early date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied that the supplies of potatoes available from home sources would make it possible to prohibit entirely the importation of Spanish potatoes after the first week in June, and of all other potatoes after the first week in July; and, if so, what steps he is taking to ensure that such prohibition shall be brought into force on those dates?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the anxiety felt by the potato industry regarding the import situation, he is in a position to make any further announcement as to the regulation of supplies of foreign new potatoes to the United Kingdom market this year?

I am glad to say that an assurance has been received from the Spanish Government that supplies of new potatoes from Spain, including the Canary Islands, during the present season will be limited, in accordance with our proposal, to a quantity not exceeding that sent in 1933. This covers 84 per cent. of total imports from foreign sources. Negotiations are continuing with the Governments of the other two foreign countries whose exports to the United Kingdom have been of significant volume in the past. The limitation of import seasons is not covered by these official proposals, but the Potato Marketing Board have informed me that they have themselves been negotiating an arrangement with shippers in the Channel Islands and in certain foreign countries, and I understand that these negotiations have achieved some success.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department has granted permission for the cultivation in any parts of England of non-immune varieties of early potatoes; and, if so, whether he has consulted the Secretary of State for Scotland on this matter?

I am sure the House would wish me to congratulate my hon. Friend. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, while close touch is maintained between the Ministry and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland on questions connected with the general administration of the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts, consultation on details of internal administration is not customary. If my hon. Friend will communicate with me on any particular point he has in mind, I shall be happy to furnish him with any further information he may desire.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what action has been taken in cases where the Milk Marketing Board has discovered that any contracts have been made with producers under 21 years of age, in view of the illegality of such proceedings?

I have been informed by the Milk Marketing Board that they have not discovered any case in which a contract has been made with a registered producer under 21 years of age.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, in view of a marketing scheme for eggs being in contemplation and the increasing difficulties of the home producer owing to the present low prices, while the diminution of imported eggs which was satisfactory last year is less marked in the first four months of this year, he will consider regulating imported supplies at the earliest possible date?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the announcement I made on 15th March last, copy of which I am sending him, regarding the Government's decision as to the regulation of imports of eggs in shell during the six months 15th March to 14th September. The proposal has been accepted by 12 of the countries concerned representing 76 per cent. of the supplies.

Can my right hon. Friend say when he will probably receive the report of the Egg Marketing Board?

I am afraid that I cannot give a date when the report of the Reorganisation Commission will be received.

Are the egg producers in this country satisfied, although the other countries seem to be?

I do not think that the other 12 countries are in any way satisfied, as my hon. and learned Friend would find out if he had to negotiate with them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the wheat exported from the principal wheat-exporting countries was imported into the United Kingdom in the latest period of 12 months for which the information is available?

During the year 1933, the aggregate exports of wheat from Australia, Canada, United States, Argentine Republic, Soviet Union and Germany amounted to 13,597,000 tons. In the case of certain of these countries particulars of the exports to the United Kingdom during 1933 cannot yet be stated, but the quantity imported into the United Kingdom and registered during that year as consigned from the countries in question amounted to 5,489,000 tons, or about 40 per cent. of their aggregate exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what countries, if any, subsidise directly or indirectly the export of wheat flour?

Official in formation on this subject is not complete. The Wheat Advisory Committee, however, made inquiries at the end of last year and the results were embodied in a document of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any statement to make in respect of the Wheat Conference?

I do not think I can usefully add anything to the statements regarding the proceedings of the Wheat Advisory Committee which have appeared in the Press from time to time. The Committee has adjourned till 27th June. If there is any particular point which my hon. Friend has in mind, perhaps he will communicate with me,

Is it not the case that recent events, due to the weather, have forced the price of wheat to a level higher than was contemplated when the Commitee met?

The weather conditions have undoubtedly had an effect.

Is the hon. and gallant Member taking account of the serious drought in the United States of America which may cause a wheat shortage and affect our supplies?

All relevant facts will be taken into account.

asked the Postmaster-General what surcharge, if any, is to be placed upon mails carried by the new air service between Inverness, Kirkwall, and the Orkneys; if he will give consideration to the question of granting reduced air-mail rates, not only for internal air services but on Imperial air-mail routes at present being operated; and, if so, when can a decision on the subject be expected?

As regards the first part of the question, no additional charge is being made to the public; so far as the second part is concerned, the air postage rates on the Imperial services are constantly under review, and are fixed as low as possible consistent with the avoidance of actual loss.

asked the Postmaster-General in view of the use of mail rockets on the Continent of Europe, if he has considered the possibility of their use in this country, especially in the case of islands where it is difficult to land the mails by ordinary methods when the sea is rough?

Not yet; but I shall be prepared to consider their use, if such a method is found to be practicable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the mistake which exists in the L-Z issue of the London Telephone Directory with regard to the allocation of exchange numbers to residents in Green Lane, Dagenham; and what steps are being taken by his Department to minimise the error?

I am sorry that the addresses of certain subscribers in the Ilford section of Green Lane are incorrectly given as Dagenham. The telephone exchange names and numbers are correctly shown. Special steps are being taken to expedite the delivery of any correspondence which may be wrongly addressed as a result of the errors. The addresses will be corrected in the next issue of the appropriate section of the Directory.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, as a result of the experience gained by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the use of the 24-hour clock, he has yet reached any conclusion as to the desirability of introducing this change into the operations of the Post Office?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for East Birkenhead (Mr. White) on Thursday of last week.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the decision of the League of Nations Advisory Committee, set up to study problems associated with the non-recognition of Manchukuo, he will, in view of the delay involved in the despatch of mails to Shanghai via Siberia by way of Vladivostok, take measures to promote the forwarding of such mails through Manchukuo in the future?

The decision of the League of Nations Advisory Committee to which my hon. Friend refers deals primarily with the question of settling International Postal Accounts, and has no direct bearing on the particular question of the routing of mails to Shanghai. So far as the latter problem is concerned, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs said in reply to similar questions on 16th April last, the inconvenience caused by the suspension of the transit service through Manchuria for mails between this country and China has for some time past been engaging the attention of His Majesty's Government, and no proper opportunity will be lost of promoting a resumption of the service.

asked the Attorney-General how many resolutions of protest he has received from trade unions, political, and religious organisations against the Incitement to Disaffection Bill, and by which of these bodies he has been asked to receive a deputation?

161 resolutions of protest against the Incitement to Disaffection Bill have been received by my right hon. and learned Friend, and he has been requested to receive two deputations.

May I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman whether, in consequence of the tremendous opposition in this country, the Government would not be well advised to withdraw the Bill?

My right hon. and learned Friend judges these protests by their quality rather than by their quantity, and the large bulk of them are based upon a complete misunderstanding of the purpose and provisions of the Bill.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that 4,000,000 organised workers in this country are all against it?

Can my hon. and learned Friend say whether he has caused any inquiries to be made as to the number of signatories of the protests who have taken the trouble to read the Bill?

Is my hon. and learned Friend to receive these two deputations?

One deputation from the Central Council of the Society of Friends has already been received by my right hon. and learned Friend, and a deputation from the Womens International League will be seen, I understand, on Wednesday next.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that a very large number of the people who protest against the Bill have up to the present been loyal supporters of the Government, and has he anything against the quality of such opinions?

I was not in any way attacking people who make protests. I stated that their protests had been received, and, from my examination of them, they were largely based upon a complete misunderstanding of the scope and provisions of the Bill.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to a book entitled "Holy Deadlock" wherein His Majesty's judges and courts, and the legal code which they administer in matrimonial causes, are held up to public ridicule and contempt; and whether it is proposed to take any action in the matter?

I have not had an opportunity of obtaining the views of my right hon. and learned Friend on the point raised in the question. I would therefore ask my hon. and learned Friend to repeat his question at a later date.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the property owned by Miss Shawcross, of 107, Great King Street, Macclesfield, at Numbers 4–6, Welcome Street, Hulme, Manchester, which is certified by an independent agent to be in a fair state of repair and to meet the existing by-laws of the corporation relating to improved town property; if he is aware that Welcome Street is a wide street and, with the demolition of other property in the neighbourhood, would not be overshadowed; that tenants have lived in this property without ill-health for 28 years; and if he will have this property excluded from the demolition scheme in this area?

Yes, Sir. This property was included by the corporation of Manchester in the Hulme Clearance Order. My right hon. Friend was satisfied, after considering all the evidence before him, including the report of his inspector who viewed the property, that the property was unfit for human habitation, and properly included in the Order. He accordingly confirmed the Order in November, 1933, and he has no power to re-open the question.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this property has been investigated by several independent people who are of the opinion that it is in accordance with the by-laws of the corporation?

No evidence was submitted at the time of the inquiry, and I have personally examined the details of the property which is old, damp and dilapidated. It is 100 years old, with a density of 80 to the acre, and the property-was properly included.

In view of the unsatisfactory answer which I have received, I beg to give notice that I shall refer to this matter on the Adjournment on the earliest possible occasion.

asked the Minister of Health what is the usual policy of local authorities in providing temporary accommodation for people recanted as a result of slum clearance operations; and whether such accommodation is created ad hoc and with the intention of ultimately doing away with it when the need for which it was created has been met?

The accommodation provided by a local authority for occupation, whether temporarily or permanently, by persons removed from houses to be demolished in the course of slum clearance operations, has usually, if not invariably, been of permanent construction.

Does not my hon. Friend think that the word "homeless" would be more suitable than the word "decanted"?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in examining the recommendations of the report of the Amulree Committee, the Government will consider the desirability of a housing loan on the basis of the issue of bonds bearing no interest, but carrying the right to prizes provided bi-annually to the extent which would normally be covered by such interest, and in this way securing the rapid provision of the houses required while providing a popular form of security?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot see his way to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the regulations with regard to cleanliness, regular fumigation, and overcrowding are observed in the casual wards under the control of the Berks, Bucks, and Oxford joint committee?

Yes, Sir, except that there has been overcrowding in some of the wards. Proposals have been submitted for meeting this; in one case there has been difficulty in securing a suitable site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has received any reports as to the recent activities of Nazi propagandists in Palestine and in connection with the Levant Fair at Tel Aviv; whether any Nazi organisation has been formed among Arabs in Palestine; and will he direct an inquiry to be held as to whether any Arab newspapers in Palestine are receiving subsidies from Germany?

I have not received reports of the nature suggested in the first part of the question. So far as I am aware, the answer to the second part is in the negative. I see no reason to institute the inquiry suggested in the last part of the question.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen a report that a party of police turned up at the Tel Aviv Fair, with Swastikas on their uniforms? If he has not seen it, will be make inquiries?

I saw some such rumour, but I certainly should not give any circulation to a report of that kind unless I were satisfied of the truth of it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the ill-feeling in Palestine, and will he inquire whether there is any truth whatever in the matter?

It seems to me that the responsibility for any ill-feeling that may be created by those reports rests with those who circulate them, and not with the Government.

Surely the ill-feeling is created, not by the circulation of the report, but according to whether it is a fact or not. Will the right hon. Gentleman satisfy himself that there is no foundation whatever for that extraordinarily unpleasant report?

If I were to follow up every report of any sort or kind that is circulated and treat it as a responsible report, I should be wasting a great deal of time. I am perfectly certain that, if there were anything to be commented on in the conduct of the police in Palestine, the High Commissioner on the spot would take immediate action and report to me.

asked the Prime Minister when it is expected that the Committee of Privileges will present its report on the matter it has lately been considering?

The committee will meet again on Wednesday and I anticipate that it will then settle the date of its report.

In view of the long period, over a month, that the Committee has taken to consider its report, will the right hon. Gentleman, when the report is published, arrange to give the House adequate time to consider it before it proceeds to a debate; in other words, will he give a week between the publication of the report and debate in this House?

I can make no promise of that nature. The House will have an early opportunity of considering the report, but I think the hon. and gallant Member is wrong in saying that the Committee has taken a month to consider its report. He will remember that a vacation took place in the sittings of the House.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give more than one day between the publication of the report and debate in this House so as to allow hon. Members to become familiar with the terms of the report?

Certain questions have to be taken into account in settling the date of the debate, but, if the hon. and gallant Member will communicate through the usual channels, I am sure they will do their best not only to accommodate him but the whole House.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position to state whether the chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the Statutory Committee in connection with the Unemployment Bill have been appointed; and what salaries they are to receive?

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on these matters.

Has the right hon. Gentleman already made up his mind as to the way he is going to receive nominations?

No, Sir. That is a matter which will have to be considered in all its bearings. The final responsibility rests with the Government.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government's memorandum on the reduction of working hours that was submitted to the International Labour Office Conference in Geneva will be issued as a White Paper for circulation to Members of the House?

This has already been done, and I would refer the hon. Member to the relevant White Paper (Cmd. 4584) to which I called his attention on 18th May.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether consideration has been given to the proposals recently submitted to him by the local authorities regarding Hull Grammar School; and whether he is now in a position to make any statement on the subject?

I have been asked to reply. As my hon. Friend has already informed the hon. and gallant Member, the Board have suggested to the Town Clerk of Hull that a conference be held between representatives of the governors of the grammar school and the local education authority and His Majesty's inspectors on the governors' proposal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what is the policy of his Department with regard to the proposal that children over 12 years of age should have the option of practical instruction on a farm for three half-days a week; and whether his Department has received any applications from local education authorities suggesting this?

The Board have received a suggestion of the kind mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member from the Education Committee of the National Farmers' Union, and they propose to invite representatives of the union to discuss it informally with them. The proposal raises wide issues which it would not be possible to deal with satisfactorily within the limits of question and answer. No proposal of the kind has been made to the Board by any local education authority.

In the course of his investigations, will the President of the Board of Education inquire into the practice which prevails in Tasmania, where, in the rural schools, all children begin to learn agriculture from the date of their entrance into school and are excellent agriculturists by the time that they leave?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he is aware of the hardship inflicted upon teachers who have obtained their teaching experience in the Dominions by the refusal of the board to recognise such experience as qualifying a teacher to rank as a certified teacher even when his education and training have been obtained in Great Britain and would otherwise qualify him for certification; and whether he will amend the regulations so as to remove this hardship?

My hon. Friend assumes that the hon. Member is referring to recognition as a certificated teacher, under Schedule 1 (1) (c) of the Code, of a person who has obtained a university degree and a teaching diploma but has not followed an approved course of training. For the purpose of this form of recognition a teacher must have completed four years' approved teaching service, and while the only service which the Board are normally prepared to accept for this purpose is satisfactory service in recognised schools in this country, they are not prevented from accepting satisfactory service elsewhere if it should be thought desirable in any particular case.

asked the Home Secretary the number of subscribers in connection with the Royal Irish Constabulary Fund now living; and whether there is any present intention of taking steps to wind up the fund?

The existing subscribers to the Royal Irish Constabulary Force Fund now number 1,647. The fund is in process of being wound up as the existing subscribers die.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in some registration districts university students residing in a hall of residence during the term are refused registration as voters on the ground that the university hall is not their home, and are similarly refused registration in their home towns on the ground that they are residing elsewhere; whether he will state in which district students should be registered; and whether he will issue instructions to registration officers accordingly?

My attention has not been called to such cases. Legal questions are involved, which cannot be authoritatively decided except by the Courts: but so far as I am aware the view on which registration officers generally act is that for the purpose of the parliamentary franchise university students should be regarded as resident at their homes. If the hon. Member will give me details of particular cases, I will consider whether there is any action I can usefully take?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the forthcoming broadcast of the activities of Oxford University conducted by Lord Halifax, its chancellor; whether he is satisfied that this is consonant with the terms on which this university receives grants from the University Grants Committee; and whether he will consider recommending to the committee that it should refrain from making grants to a university unless it agrees not to indulge in advertisement through the medium of the British Broadcasting Corporation?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative, and my right hon. Friend can see no ground for taking such a course as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests.

If he will not do that, will he impress upon his Noble Friend the importance, at any rate, of dignity even in advertising?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is intended to restore the cut in the salaries of the Law Officers of the Crown; and, if so, to what extent?

Yes, Sir. The emergency reductions in the salaries of the Law Officers, consequent upon the crisis in the autumn of 1931, will be restored, as to one-half, on 1st July next.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of the total emoluments of each of the Law Officers of the Crown during the last financial year?

The total emoluments of the Law Officers during the last financial year, inclusive of salary in each case at the rate of £2,000 a year, were as follow: The Attorney-General £11,483, the Solicitor-General, during the months of April to October, £3,802, and his successor during the subsequent period of the year £4,731.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the danger of square kerb-stones overturning motor-vehicles in cases of skidding; and whether he will consider the advantages of using bevelled kerb-stones on rural roads in the interests of safety?

It is the practice of highway authorities to fix bevelled kerbs in situations where their use is specially desirable, but I do not think it can be said that square-edged kerbs are necessarily dangerous or that bevelled kerbs would necessarily make for greater public safety.

asked the Secretary of State for India what reforms in Indian prison administration have been carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Indian Jails Committee, 1919–20; which of the committee's recommendations have not been acted upon, and the reasons for the rejection of, or delay in acting upon, these recommendations; in particular, how many convict warders were employed in 1920 and how many are now employed; how many Borstal institutions and reformatory schools are available for young offenders under 21; how many full-time probation officers and how many adult and young offenders, respectively, have been placed on probation in British India; and how many offenders under 21 have been sent to prison during the last 12 months for which records are available?

Information showing the progress made in giving effect to the very numerous recommendations of the Committee will be found in the gaol administration reports published annually by the local governments. I have no information beyond what is contained in those reports, but I have asked the Government of India to furnish me with a statement on the subject, including the latest available information on the particular points mentioned in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received a report from the British Consul at Lisbon with regard to the recent arrest and unreasonable treatment of a British visitor to Estoril, Portugal; and whether he is satisfied that the matter will be suitably concluded?

His Majesty's Consul at Lisbon has reported that he has made representations to the local authorities and that the matter is under investigation. It is impossible at this stage to say what the result will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the attitude of the other Powers who were signatories to the Nine-Power Treaty towards the recent coup-de-main by Japan in Manchuria; and what steps the British Government intends to take to ensure that the Nine-Power Treaty is loyally observed by all parties?

The attitude towards this question of the signatories of the Nine-Power Treaty who are also members of the League has been made clear in the report adopted by the Assembly of the League on the 24th February, 1933. The remaining signatory—the United States—has expressed agreement with the terms of the report. As regards the second part of the question, His Majesty's Government are observing the terms of the report and have no reason to believe that the other signatories of the Nine-Power Treaty who have adopted the report are not doing likewise.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that Japan is observing the Treaty?

If the hon. and learned Member will examine the terms of my answer, I think he will see that it is entirely consistent and does not involve the proposition which he has put.

I am asking my right hon. Friend whether he is of the opinion that Japan, one of the parties to the Treaty, is loyally observing the Nine-Power Treaty?

That question does not arise out of the question or the answer.

The question is,

"what steps the British Government intend to take to ensure that the Nine-Power Treaty is loyally observed by all parties."

One of the parties is Japan, and I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is of opinion that Japan is loyally observing the Nine-Power Treaty?

With all due respect to my hon. and learned Friend, I do not think that is a matter with rises out of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Government of British Guiana has refused a loan to the farmers of Beterver-wagting-Triumph to renew their cane cultivation; and whether he will make representations to the authorities on this matter?

I am not aware that a loan has been refused, but the Governor of British Guiana has recommended the allocation of $10,676 out of funds available for relief measures in connection with the floods to the area to which the hon. Member refers. This sum will be used for the improvement of the village and will provide employment and maintenance for the villagers while reestablishing their cultivations. This recommendation is now receiving my consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that that sum will meet the emergency?

Yes. I would not commit myself to any particular sum, but I am satisfied that every necessary step is being taken on this point.

I beg to move, in page 2, line 10, to leave out from "aforesaid" to "shall" in line 11.

Hon. Members will realise that this Amendment has been put on the Paper with the object of raising the question of quotas as applied to the production of colonial sugar and the importation of that sugar into this country. May I ask you, Mr. Chairman, whether I may refer to the next Amendment which stands on the Paper in my name?

I take it that the two Amendments in effect form one.

I thank you for that statement, which will make it easier for the Committee to appreciate the true bearing of the Amendment which I have moved. The first Amendment is to leave out the words "being sugar accompanied by a quota certificate," and the second Amendment proposes to leave out Subsection (2) of the Clause, which is the definition of the quota certificate. I always approach questions relating to sugar with great caution. For some reason or other sugar is always surrounded with a most peculiar set of rules and regulations of every description, with cartels and international arrangements which make it a subject of very great difficulty for the ordinary layman to understand. But here I think that the matter, on the face of it at any rate, is fairly simple.

Sugar is imported into this country from a variety of sources. Some comes from foreign countries, some from Dominion sources and some from colonial sources. From the sugar - growing Colonies, Mauritius and the West Indies, the imports during the last calendar year, 1933, amounted, I believe, to 560,000 odd tons. That sugar has been subject in the past to two different rates of duty. There is what is called the certificated sugar, that is sugar in respect of which a quota has been granted, which comes in at a lower rate, and the uncertificated sugar which is subject to a higher rate of duty. The Bill proposes to vary the rates which were previously in existence. It is proposed to make a slight increase in the rate on uncertificated sugar, but on the certificated sugar it is proposed to make a large decrease in the duty. The old rate on the uncertificated sugar was 4s. 8.2d. and the new rate is 5s. 10d. For the certificated sugar the old rate was 3s. 6.5d. and the new rate is 2s. 4.7d., from which it will appear that the approximate difference between the two rates is 1s. 2d. on the old and 3s. 5d. on the new rate, which shows that there is a very big advantage now to be given to the quota certificated sugar.

At the same time the amount of the certificated sugar that is to be allowed in is very considerably increased. It is proposed now that the amount to be allowed in should extend to 360,000 tons. Coparing that with the amount of 560,000 tons, which was imported from our Colonial sugar-producing Colonies last year, it means that if the whole amount came into this country, 360,000 tons is to come in at the new lower rate, whereas 200,000 tons will be at a very much higher rate because it has not the advantage of the certificate. The amount to be imported is increased to 360,000 tons, and that is all to the advantage, because that amount will come in at a very much lower rate, and it is all to the good that our Colonial sugar should have the advantage of coming in at the lowest possible rate. But I really fail to see why the principle of the quota, which has been called "that insane instrument" which is used nowadays in making these arrangements for exports and imports between different countries, should be applied in this case. I know it has been suggested that this has been done to suit some arrangement by which sugar which would have come to this country will be diverted to Canada.

Frankly, I do not quite understand how that will work out, and the Committee will be glad to understand how the proposal will take shape. But what I really object to is that we should have a quota at all applied to the production of Colonial sugar. On what basis is the quota allocated to the different sugar-producing Colonies? Why cannot the sugar-producing Colonies know exactly what the rate of duty here will be, and why should it not be left to them to make their arrangements accordingly? It is difficult enough, one knows, to meet the variations which may be made in duty, but when they have the variation in a quota also added that makes it still more difficult for the producers, who are possibly trying to raise large capital in order to extend the growth of sugar in our Colonies; it makes it more difficult for them when they do not know what quota may be applied in future years or on what basis it is to be applied. I do not wish to take up too much of the Committee's time, because there are a great many Amendments down to this Finance Bill, but I think the Committee ought to understand at the outset the effect of the working of this quota upon our sugar-producing Colonies. I have confined my remarks to the Colonies. I have left out of consideration sugar coming from the Dominions or foreign countries. I am concerned that our Colonies, so many of which depend almost entirely on their sugar production, should have the freest access to this market, which is the best market in the world. One would like to see those Colonies having the most unrestricted access to this market by the widest preferential door which this country can open.

I understand that the hon. Gentleman has moved this Amendment in order to get a general explanation of these proposals. If we were to accept an Amendment in this form it would have the effect of giving the new preference of 6s. 9d., not to a limited amount of sugar but to all sugar which came from Colonial sources and would have the result of giving a much larger preference than the Treasury ever contemplated—larger, indeed, than would be at all reasonable—and it would also have the effect of diverting all Colonial sugar from other markets to which it ordinarily goes, to this market. I am sure that none of those things is within the intention of the hon. Gentleman and therefore I do not propose to say any more about the precise terms of the Amendment. I think I have said enough to show that its results would be different from what the hon. Member or the Committee would wish to do.

Where I think the hon. Member has got into a difficulty or into a misunderstanding, which is perhaps not his fault as much as ours, is in the word "quota." This is a term which is used to signify a number of different meanings. It is not used here in order to suggest that there is any limitation in the amount of sugar which can come either from the Colonies or from the Dominions. There is no question here of saying "This is the amount of sugar which may come in and beyond that amount entry is prohibited." Sugar can be sent here without limitation. The only question is what is to be the rate of duty and the rate of preference applicable to the sugar which comes here. The Committee will remember that two years ago it was the intention of the House in the Finance Act of 1932 to give an added advantage to Colonial sugar because of the peculiar needs of the Crown Colonies. I need not go into the merits of that proposal. It was generally accepted in the House.

The way in which that benefit was given by the Finance Act of 1932 was to create in the first place a flat rate increase of 1s. in the preference on Colonial sugar, and, in the second place, to give a further 1s. per cwt. of preference on a specified amount of sugar coming from different Colonies and distributed among those Colonies in proportion to their relative production and export. It was contemplated when that was done that adding the 1s. preference would make the preference in the United Kingdom and the preference in Canada roughly the same and that, the two being on an equality, the advantage would be given to the Colonies without any diversion of supplies. The certificate system was deliberately designed in order that while each Colony might have that further benefit, at the same lime, by means of the certificate, which might either be used by a Colony itself or be negotiated and transferred to another Colony, there would be no diversion of the sugar exports from the ordinary channels.

In fact, while the certificate system has worked admirably as a piece of commercial machinery as between the different Colonies, it has not worked in the way we expected in relation to the Canadian trade. There has been the depreciation in the Canadian dollar and there are certian other reasons, but what in fact happened was not what we expected or intended. The Colonial exporter found that he could get a better price here than in Canada, and therefore there was a marked tendency to divert supplies to this country which would ordinarily have gone from the West Indies to Canada. As I say, that was never intended and it is proposed here to give to the Colonies the same or an equivalent financial advantage, such as they would have continued to enjoy had the machinery of the Finance Act of 1932 continued in operation—the financial result will be approximately the same—but to give it to them without encouraging any diversion of sugar supplies.

We abolish the extra 1s. flat rate preference, and we abolish the old certificate system. That is the first step. We get back to a flat rate of preference which in effect means that the rate of preference for Dominion and Colonial sugar alike will be 3s. 9d. Then, in order to give the Colonies a financial advantage similar to that which they were enjoying before we give a certificate of 3s. per cwt. or £3 per ton on 360,000 tons. That will be distributed among the different Colonies in proportions on a formula which is based, first, on the actual advantage enjoyed in respect of certificated sugar in the past, and, secondly, on the aggregate export based on the best year of each Colony. That means that we shall give the same financial advantage to the Colonies, and we shall give it in a very convenient way, enabling the Colony which prefers sending its sugar to Canada to negotiate its certificate with another Colony which ordinarily sends sugar to this country. That will restore the ordinary flow of trade as between the West Indies and Canada while giving each Colony a financial advantage equivalent to that which it enjoys at the present time.

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his explanation which is I must say rather difficult to follow, may I ask him are these certificates freely transferable as between the different Colonies? I have seen some comments in regard to the working of this and I would like to know whether it means that a Colony can transfer any portion of its quota certificate which it does not use to some other part of the Empire?

Certainly to any other Colony. It is all explained clearly in the White Paper. Each Colony gets so many certificates in proportion to its production. It can either use those certificates and attach them to its own export to this country, or, if it does not wish to export to this country, it can transfer to some other Colony. The certificate system, I may say, has worked admirably in practice.