asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a clerk named B. K. Mukerjee, employed in the locomotive workshop of the East Indian State Railway at Lucknow, was discharged on the 30th April, 1934, within a fortnight of organising a conference of the East Indian Railway Workers' Union, which is recognised by the railway administration; and, having regard to the appearance of victimisation in this case, will he cause inquiries to be made into the matter?

I will ask the Government of India to furnish me with any information they may have on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for India what reply the Government has given to the notification of the Aga Khan to the Government of India of his desire to possess an estate in India?

My hon. and gallant Friend is presumably referring to a question asked in the Indian Legislative Assembly, which has been reported in the Press. I have nothing to add to the reply which was given, which was that a confidential communication was received from His Highness the Aga Khan but Government was not in a position to disclose its nature.

Is there any other prominent supporter of the White Paper policy who has asked for an estate in India?

I do not see the relevance of that supplementary question. If it is meant to cast an aspersion on the motives of the Aga Khan, I am sure the whole House will say that it is entirely misplaced.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he has approved the recent acquiesence of the Government of India in the sale of the Imperial Forest College and Research Institute at Debra Dun; if so., what provision now exists for training men, British or Indians, for the All-India Forest Service, and what provision for forestry research in British-India on scientific and up-to-date lines?

I have asked the Government of India for a report on this matter. Such information as I have on the subject seems to imply that the buildings to be diverted from Forestry purposes are those of the old College and Research Institute, and I have no reasons to suppose that the present facilities for research will in any way be affected.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that expert opinion is strongly in favour of a uniform system of training for Indian forestry officers, that the Government of India have spent nearly £900,000 on this Forestry Institute, which has been described by experts as the best in the world, and that it has also been held by experts that it is impossible to carry on forestry research successfully in isolation?

I shall certainly take note of what my Noble Friend has said, but I think her observations would be more relevant on a discussion of the Joint Select Committee's report than in a supplementary question.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in the past the principle has been accepted by the Government of India that, in view of the reluctance shown by many Indian citizens of British India to be transferred to the jurisdiction of various Indian states, no such transfer should be made without their consent, even when an equivalent in area and population was offered in exchange; and why this principle is departed from in the case of the thousands of British Anglo-Indian and Indian subjects in the civil and military station of Bangalore, whom it is proposed to transfer to the jurisdiction of Mysore, without any equivalent exchange, and in spite of the memorandum of the Bangalore Trades Association of February last, expressing grave anxiety in regard to the effects of retrocession on education, hospitals, municipal administration, the value of property, and the general fabric of trade in the station?

The principle stated is generally recognised as applying when it is a question of transferring British territory with its inhabitants to an Indian State. As regards the second part of the question, no definite decision has yet been taken as to whether any portion of the Assigned Tract of Bangalore shall be retroceded to Mysore. But I would remind the Noble Lady that in any case the territory in question is not British, but is a part of the State of Mysore.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a meeting arranged by the League against Gandhism at the Albert Hall, Calcutta, on 14th July was declared unlawful; that on 18th July 15 persons were arrested in Calcutta, including the general secretary of the East India Railway Workers' Union; and whether he will state the reason for declaring the meeting unlawful and the nature of the offence with which the persons arrested have been charged?

I regret that I have no information.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will make a statement regarding the present position of the textile workers in India; whether the millowners of Bombay have agreed to the demands of the workers; what arrangements are proposed regarding the payment of dear-food allowance; whether there is now a general resumption of work in all the mills in Bombay; what is the position in other textile towns; the number of trade union leaders arrested in connection with the strike in Bombay and in other towns; and whether he is satisfied that economic grievances rather than Communist propaganda were at the bottom of the general strike?

Work has been resumed in all the towns in which disputes recently occurred in textile mills except in Nagpur, where no settlement has been reported in respect of the Empress Mills. The workers' list of demands, which are of a very far reaching kind, has not been agreed to. But in Bombay, the Mill-Owners Association are reported to be working on a scheme for a uniform dear-food allowance and have also been considering the question of standardising wages. The Government of Bombay have received and are now considering the report of the Bombay Labour Office on wages and unemployment in the Bombay textile industry. As regards the latter part of the hon. Member's question, 28 leaders were arrested and detained during the strike in Bombay and five in Nagpur. While not denying that economic grievances exist among the workers, at any rate in Bombay, I think it is fully established that Communist leadership was largely responsible for what has happened.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reply has been received from the Spanish Government to the representations made by His Majesty's Ambassador in Madrid, on 19th April, 1933, with regard to the sums, equivalent to over £1,500,000, due in respect of construction work financed by a British company, the Anglo-Spanish Construction Company, Limited; and whether His Majesty's Government proposes to take any further steps in this matter?

His Majesty's Ambassador in Madrid has called the attention of the Spanish Government on more than one occasion to the interest of the Anglo-Spanish Construction Company in the sums due from that Government to the Santander Mediterraneo Railway Company. In the meantime I am informed that judgments have been obtained by the railway company in the competent Spanish courts confirming the validity of their claims. In view of the fact that the Anglo-Spanish Construction Company hold 98 per cent. of the entire share issue of the railway company, add, by reason of the retention of the amounts due to the.latter, have incurred serious financial difficulties, further representations have been made to the Spanish Government and His Majesty's Government intend to press the matter.

Is it not a fact that this debt was acknowledged and the money promised by the Spanish Government two or three years ago, and that they have not taken any active steps to pay it up to date?

It is certainly the case that the money has not been paid. I have already informed my hon. and gallant Friend that I understand a competent Spanish court has confirmed the validity of the claim

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet in a position to make a full statement of the circumstances in which British officers were fired on by Turkish soldiers and a British officer killed?

The further information which has been received since I replied to my hon. Friend's question on the 17th July indicates that this tragic occurrence was the result of a lamentable misunderstanding. The skiff in which the officers approached close to the Turkish coast was flying no flag and the officers were not in uniform. According to the statement of the Turkish Government, the Turkish coastal patrols have strict orders to summon any suspect craft to be questioned, and in the present case beckoned to the boat to approach.

There is reason to think that the signal was misunderstood; at any rate, when the skiff moved away the Turkish guard repeatedly fired with the lamentable result that Surgeon-Lieutenant Robinson was killed and fell into the water. Lieutenant Maunsell was slightly wounded. Surgeon-Lieutenant Robinson's body has not yet been recovered.

The Turkish Ambassador, on instructions from his Government, has expressed his Government's very sincere regret that this tragic misunderstanding should have occurred, and the Turkish Government have informed His Majesty's Ambassador that they are deeply distressed at the occurrence. A funeral ceremony was held on Saturday in Turkish territorial waters, at which there were present His Majesty's Ship "Queen Elizabeth," flying the flag of the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, His Majesty's Ship "London," flying the flag of the Rear Admiral commanding the First Cruiser Squadron, and His Majesty's Ship "Devonshire," in which Surgeon-Lieutenant Robinson was serving.

By order of the Turkish Government a Turkish destroyer also took part and cast a wreath into the sea with an inscription expressing the sympathy and regret of the Turkish Government. The Turkish Government have also spontaneously expressed their desire to pay a compassionate grant to the relatives of the deceased officer.

asked the Secretary of State far Foreign Affairs whether he can now state what has been the outcome of the representations made by him to the Finnish Government regarding the arrest of the motor-ship "Omar" and the long delay in dealing with the question of its release?

The Finnish Government were informed on the 25th June that the judicial proceedings in this case appeared to have been unreasonably delayed, and that, if a claim for damages for wrongful detention under the terms of the Liquor Smuggling Convention were ultimately put forward, the delay would naturally increase the amount claimed. His Majesty's Minister at Helsingfors is following the matter, and no further action is contemplated at the moment.

Could my right hon. Friend give some indication of the date when this ship will be released?

I cannot say at the moment. Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will put a question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there has been a favourable response to the draft rules for the treatment of prisoners circulated by the League of Nations to States members of the League; and whether the British delegation to the League will be authorised to propose confirmation of these draft rules at the forthcoming assembly of the League?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Captain Cunningham-Reid) on the 30th May last. As regards the second part, the position is that the Fifth Committee of the forthcoming assembly will have before it a report by the Secretary-General of the League giving the views of the various Governments on this subject. Until that report is received it is not possible to decide what action shall be taken by the British delegation, but the House has already been informed that the revised rules are already applied in practice in this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, as the imports of eggs from the following countries in the first six months of 1934 showed an increase as compared with imports in 1933, he will recommend adequate protection for the home industry, either by tariff, or quota, or both: Denmark, Finland, Poland, Netherlands, Turkey, China, Brazil, and Chile?

As I have already stated, the first six months of 1934 include a period outside the six months covered by the arrangement proposed by His Majesty's Government for a standstill in imports of eggs in shell. This period of six months began on 15th March, 1934, and since that date the total imports of eggs show no increase as compared with 1933 and indeed to 11th July show a decrease of the order of 7 per cent. The action to be taken to regulate imports after 14th September next, when the six months come to an end, is now under consideration.

Does my right hon. Friend know the very great anxiety among home poultry producers in this country, and would it not be better to impose a quota now instead of waiting for the necessity to give a subsidy from the taxpayers' money?

I think anxiety would be increased by a question such as my hon. and gallant Friend has asked, suggesting that there has been an increase since the Government took action, when in fact there has been no increase.

Does my right hon. Friends' statement apply to all the countries mentioned? Has not the supply from Turkey increased during the last three months?

I was careful to say that the total imports are so much decreased, and that is what concerns the market in this country.

Is it not the case that, while the total quantity of imports of eggs in shell has decreased, the average price at which these quantities have come in, compared with last year and the year before, has decreased very much more, and that the question of price is really much more important that the question of quantity?

That does not arise from the original question. I was asked about the quantities, and they do not show an increase.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the protection given to the industry at present is sufficient?

asked the Minister of Agriculture, taking 1925 as the base year for agricultural wages and prices, what would be the present agricultural wage if wages had declined to the same extent as agricultural prices; and what has been the decline in the number of agricultural land workers in Great Britain between the first recorded and latest available date?

If agricultural wages had been governed solely by the movement of the prices of agricultural products since 1925, the average of the weekly minimum wages for ordinary adult workers in England and Wales would have been 23s. 5d. in June last. The total number of agricultural workers in Great Britain in 1921, the first year for which comparable returns on an annual basis are available, was 996,081, the corresponding figure for 1925 being 925,400 and for 1933, 827,400.

Does not that show that farmers are unable to employ a sufficiency of labourers at the present agricultural prices?

I think it shows the great desirability of having a more remunerative level of prices than that at present existing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now state the date when he expects to receive the Report of the Poultry Commission?

I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to a similar ques- tion by my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Lieut.-Colonel Heneage) on 12th July, a copy of which I am sending my hon. Friend.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Poultry Commission has abandoned the idea of an interim report on the question of eggs?

I am afraid I could not say without notice.

Is the Poultry Commission sitting regularly or only occasionally?

As one would expect from a body which is considering such a problem, it is, I understand, sitting practically continuously.

Are they what we call in Scotland "clocking hens"?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information to give to the House about the steps he proposes to take in view of the decision given in the King's Bench Division in connection with the illegality of the Milk Marketing Board?

I have just received a copy of the Judgment referred to, but I have not yet had an opportunity of considering whether it calls for any action on my part.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether there are in the possession of his Department any artistic items of bronze or stone statuary by British artists or any garden decorations for which no location has yet been found?

There are no such articles in my Department's possession.

asked the Attorney-General the number of actions now awaiting trial in each of the ordinary lists of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice; how many of these actions were set down for trial prior to the 29th May, the 10th April, and the 15th January, 1934, respectively; whether he is aware that the long delay in the trial of the civil actions causes hardship and extra expense to many poor litigants; and whether it is proposed to increase the number of judges so as to secure that civil actions are disposed of during the term succeeding that on which they are set down for trial?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the form of a statistical table which, with my hon. and learned Friend's consent, I will circulate

Is it the fact that in the case of an action set down for trial by a special jury, at least 12 months must elapse before it can possibly be tried at the present time?

I could not answer without notice.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that considerable areas at the north-east end of Hyde Park behind the orators' rostra have long been denuded of turf; and whether he will cause these and any other worn-out surfaces in Hyde Park to be resown or returfed during the autumn?

I am, of course, aware of the condition of this part of the park, which is the result of the uses to which it is put and to the exceptionally dry weather. Each year the worn portions of the park are resown at the appropriate season.

Has not this part of the park been bare of grass for a very long time?

It all gets worn every summer to a certain extent, and this part of Hyde Park is used for all kinds of public meetings and large concourses of people gather there.

But is it not the case that the part of the park which is used for public meetings is some distance behind this portion and that there has been no sign of grass for a long time on the part to which I refer?

Has the right hon. Gentleman arranged to have that part of the park laid out with crazy paving?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has made a full inquiry into the importation of foreign cartridges into this country; and, if so, is he satisfied that no infringement of the Merchandise Marks Act has occurred

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will institute proceedings against the persons who have failed to comply with Section 1 of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, by offering for sale certain imported goods hearing the name of a British firm, but not bearing any indication of origin, namely, cartridge cases which, though filled since importation, have not undergone since importation any treatment or process which has resulted in a substantial change in their character as cartridge cases?

My right bon. Friend will, of course, be glad to consider any instance of an alleged offence against the Merchandise Marks Acts that my hon. Friends may bring to his notice. He is, however, advised that the practice which they have in mind is not an offence against Section 1 of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, since the name of the British trader is applied to the cartridge as a whole which cannot be regarded as "imported goods" within the meaning of the section.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it might be advisable to remedy this defect in the Merchandise Marks Act?

That, of course, is a very wide question. It would affect every article which is an ingredient in the making-up of some other article and that is a matter which would require very careful consideration to ensure that it did not entail more disadvantages than advantages. At present, a raw material used in the making-up of a manufactured article can be imported from abroad, converted into something else, and the ultimate manufactured article can be described as British. It would be a very big matter to alter the Merchandise Marks Act in the sense indicated by my hon. Friend.

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the fact that cartridge cases, which happen to be manufactured near my constituency, do not really constitute a raw material; that a great many manufacturing processes go to producing them, and a great many British workpeople are employed on them; and will he bear in mind the employment factor and its value to the country?

Yes, Sir.

Would the reply of the hon. Gentleman be altered at all if evidence were brought to his notice that the cartridge cases also contained explosive caps?

I should consider every fact which is brought to my notice, but that fact has not been brought to my notice so far.

Does the hon Gentleman consider that the cartridge on being loaded is thereby converted into a different article? Is that what he implies?

I am stating the obvious fact, that there is all the difference in the world between an empty cartridge case and the full cartridge, in a condition ready to be shot off.

If representations are made to him upon the matter, will the hon. Gentleman consider the whole question?

Certainly.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether it is the actual case which is the cartridge, or the contents?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that the imports of electrical goods during the first six monts of 1934 reached a value of £1,313,923, as compared with £896,501 in the corresponding period of 1933, an increase of 46.5 per cent.; and whether he will make inquiries as to the effect of this increased importation on employment in the industry;

(2)whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in the case of hardware, machinery, typewriters, cotton yarns, undergarments, cotton underwear, tissue paper, furniture and cabinet-ware, and builders' woodwork the imports are more than 50 per cent. Higher in the January-June period of 1934 than they were in the January-June period of 1933; and whether he will take steps to investigate the cause of this increase in imports and the effect on the emloyment situation in those industries?

I am aware of the increase in imports to which my hon. Friend refers. Owing to differences of classification, statistics, but where comparable figures are available for the trades referred to by my hon. Friend there have been substantial declines in unemploy- ment since last year. As regards the cause of the increase in imports, I would refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Perkins) on 28th March.

As this Government were returned to correct an adverse balance of trade, and as the country appears to be heading for a situation exactly similar to that of 1931, ought not some more definite action to be promised by the hon. Gentleman?

I think we want to be very careful to see that goods imported for the purpose of being processed and converted into something else in British factories are not arbitrarily reduced in volume.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what process a typewriter undergoes after it has been imported?

Very often it is assembled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the change in the volume of retained imports of maim-factures in the first half of this year as compared with the first half of last year, including non-ferrous metals and petroleum products and excluding non-ferrous metals and petroleum products, respectively?

Calculations of the volume of our overseas trade during the second quarter and the first six months of this year are now being made, and the usual quarterly article will be published in the Board of Trade Journal on Thursday next. The additional information required by my hon. Friend is being prepared, and I will send it to him as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make a statement as to the position of the negotiations for a trade agreement with Holland?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Exchange of Notes dated 20th July which has been issued as Command Paper 4662.

Will the hon. Gentleman give an under- taking that agricultural matters will not be used as bargaining pawns in any negotiations?

It would be improper to give any undertaking of the kind suggested. I can certainly assure my hon. and gallant Friend that in any commercial negotiations the interest of all industries and all parties will be carefully borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has been in communication with the Australian Government with regard to their prospective treatment of British goods in the event of a quantitative regulation of Australian meat imports being adopted by Great Britain?

I assume that my right hon. Friend has in mind paragraphs which have appeared in the Press attributing statements on this subject to a Commonwealth Minister. I understand that the Minister in question issued in the Australian Press of the 21st July an emphatic denial.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the imports of cotton yarns have risen by 69.6 per cent. in the first six months of 1934 as compared with the corresponding period of 1933, and that the imports amount to 1,660,834 lbs. as against 979,261 lbs.; and whether he is prepared to take any action, in view of the widespread unemployment in Lancashire?

I am aware of the increased imports to which my hon. Friend refers. As regards the second part of the question I would refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Norwich (Mr. Hartland) on the 1st May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the imports of cotton underwear in volume have increased by 92.5 per cent. in the first six months of 1934 as compared with the first six months of 1933; whether he will state the source of these increased imports; and whether he proposes to take any steps to reduce them?

The increased imports referred to by my hon. Friend came mainly from Japan. Any question of an increased duty on these goods is a matter in the first instance for the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

If the trades concerned were to make representations to the Import Duties Advisory Committee, and if the committee were to consider that their representations required action, is there any machinery whereby effective action could be taken during the Recess?

That is a hypothetical question, but I should imagine that the answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Health whether His Department have any evidence that cancer of the lung may be caused by dust from tarred roads; and if there are any known fatal eases of lung cancer attributable to this cause?

My right hon. Friend is advised that a relation between the inhalation of dust from tarred roads and cancer of the lung has not been established, and it is, therefore, not possible to say whether any deaths from this disease can be attributed to this cause.

Can my hon. Friend say whether it is a fact that any appreciable quantity of dust can be obtained from a properly tarred road?

That is a matter for the Minister of Transport.

Has my hon. Friend yet got any records to give any information why there is this great increase in the number of recorded cases of cancer of the lung?

I should not put it as high as that. The percentage of cases of cancer of the lung is very small.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the number of deaths from cancer of the respiratory organs is only 90 per million, as compared with 1,500 altogether from cancer generally, that this so-called statement was only a chance suggestion, not a statement, by a distinguished layman with no medical qualifications, and that it is considered by medical opinion unwarranted?

asked the Minister of Health whether he will authorise an inquiry into the pollution of the rivers flowing into the Bristol Channel; whether he will require local authorities to take joint action to avoid the discharge of works effluents, drainage, and sewage outfalls into the streams; and whether he will consider recommending joint schemes for the cleansing of all such sources of pollution by means of filtration, chemical treatment, or similar measures?

If the hon. Member will state what particular rivers he has in mind, the matter will be given further consideration. My right hon. Friend is always prepared to entertain applications for joint action by local authorities and county councils for the prevention of pollution in rivers.

Has the hon. Gentleman's attention not been called to the filthy condition of all the rivers in the industrial area in South Wales, and can' he not suggest something by which joint action can be taken by all the local authorities in the district?

I should be glad if my hon. Friend would discuss this matter with my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour the present debt of the Unemployment Fund, and also the present assets of the fund which have not been used for the reduction of debt?

The funded debt of the Unemployment Fund is £105,780,000. After allowing for the accrued charge for debt services under Section 18 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1934, the fund has in hand a sum of approximately £7,000,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the facts disclosed by the recent social survey of Merseyside that Irish immigration to Merseyside is at the rate of about 6,000 a year, and that these immigrants are swelling the ranks of casual labour and of those in receipt of public assistance, he has taken any steps to check this influx, or what steps the Government have in contemplation?

The figure which the hon. and gallant Member quotes appears to be an estimate, based on information not derived from official United Kingdom sources, of the net passenger traffic for the years 1927–29 between Ireland and the port of Liverpool, with some allowance made for persons from Ireland proceeding overseas via Liverpool. The report makes it clear that the figure does not purport to represent the number of immigrants from Ireland who settle on Merseyside. In this connection, the census reports show that, both in Liverpool and in Great Britain as a whole, there were fewer Irish-born persons in 1931 than in 1921. There is no power to restrict the entry of British subjects into the United Kingdom.

In view of the desire of Mr. de Valera that Southern Ireland should be a self-contained entity, will representations be made to him for the return of these persons to Southern Ireland, or else that he should reciprocate with regard to the large unemployment of ex-service men in Southern Ireland?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider taking steps in the near future to grant to those who have continuously paid into the Unemployment Insurance Fund without drawing any benefit a rebate of their accumulated contributions?

No, Sir. This method has been tried in the past and abandoned. The preferable method appears to be to give increased benefit rights to those with relatively good contribution records, as in done in the Unemployment Insurance Act recently passed.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of training and reconditioning centres in the Wales Division and in the United Kingdom; the number of persons in each of the two areas who have been passed through such centres in the last six months; and the number of such centres in contemplation for the next year?

The total number of these centres for men of 18 years of age or over is 37, of which five are in Wales and two others are on the Welsh border and reserved for Welshmen. The number of men who completed their courses during the six months ending 28th June was 7,578, of whom about 1,600 were Welshmen. Only a small number of these passed through the Welsh centres, none of which has yet been open for any length of time. The provision to be made for next year is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he is aware that on the 19th October, 1933, Mr. Pedro Carrasco, blacksmith in the employ of the Gibraltar Gas Company, was killed in an explosion, and that the amount of compensation paid to his widow was; and if he will take some steps to improve the law of workmen's compensation in the colony?

(2) whether he, is aware that Mr. Alfred Sheriff, an employé of the city council of Gibraltar, met with an accident whilst at work which necessitated the amputation of a leg; that the only compensation which he could legally claim was the sum of £18 1s. 8d.; that the city council made an ex gratia payment of a small pension and addressed a communication to the Governor raising the whole question of compensation for workmen; and whether he will now take steps to institute a further inquiry into the question of workmen's compensation and employers' liability in Gibraltar?

I have no information on either of the two cases referred to by the hon. Member, but I am asking the Governor for his observations in the matter. The hon. Member will recollect that, in answer to a question which he asked on the 6th June, I made a full statement on the question of workmen's compensation in Gibraltar.

As that statement was wholly unsatisfactory, and as, the conditions under which compensation is paid still remain, will the right hon. Gentleman not go into the matter further, since the city council itself has now made a request to the Governor?

I have not had anything, but, if I had from the Governor a report and a recommendation from the city council on the subject, I should naturally give the most careful consideration to it and afford the city council an opportunity to make observations thereon.

But is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the dissatisfaction that arises owing to the fact that when dockyard workmen go out from this country and suffer an injury, they come under workmen's compensation according to the dockyard rates for this country, and, if anyone is injured there in practically the same work, he comes under the state of compensation paid in Gibraltar?

I believe the position is that a very large number of people are either direct employés of His Majesty's Government in the dockyard or municipal employés. The dockyard people, if I remember aright, are covered by a Treasury Warrant, and the other people by a somewhat similar arrangement, which leaves very few people to whom no workmen's compensation applies.

Can my right hon. Friend say if these grievances existed when the Socialist party were in power?

Yes, if they are grievances. I think we are carrying on exactly the same system, both municipally and nationally, that has been the practice for years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the contractors for the supply of milk to the Colonial Hospital at Gibraltar are Spanish refugees; that the firm concerned have been convicted for supplying adulterated milk to the institution; and that the contract is still in force in spite of the comments of the judge who tried the case; and whether he will take steps to ensure that such contracts shall in future be given to reputable business houses established in the Colonies?

I have no information about this case, but I will make inquiry of the Governor.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that a teacher's pension is calculated on the basis of the average salary for the last five years of pensionable service, the incidence of the 10 per cent. salary cut will not operate for pension purposes?

My Noble Friend would draw attention to the answer given to the hon. Member for Fairfield (Mr. Brocklebank) on the 12th July, of which he is sending his hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is in a position to state what steps are being taken to remedy the serious block in the promotion of officers at present existing in the Infantry of the Line as well as in other branches of the Army?

This question, so far as it affects officers of the Infantry of the Line, has been examined by a committee of which my right hon. Friend Lord Stanhope, a former Under-Secretary of State, was chairman; and as a result certain exceptional measures have been decided upon. The most important of these measures are as follow:

Promotions have been made to the ranks of major-general, lieut.-general and general, in the place of the general officers who have been permitted to retire prematurely. Their vacancies in the establishment of general officers had remained unfilled pending the dates when they would have been retired on completing three years non-employment, or have come within two years of the age limit for compulsory retirement or have died, whichever would have been the earlier. Certain reductions in the establishments of general officers will, however, be effected over a period of time, but the net result at the moment is to make some seven promotions in these ranks at once. There will be a consequential and increasing number of promotions throughout the lower ranks.

A number of officers of the rank of major or below, whose commissions bear a date before 1st January, 1919, will be invited to retire voluntarily with special terms as regards retired pay or retiring gratuities. If sufficient volunteers are not forthcoming, it may be necessary to select officers for compulsory retirement with the same special terms.

It is further proposed to exercise a greater degree of selection as regards the promotion of officers from major to lieut.-colonel. Majors will not be allowed to continue serving beyond three years in that rank unless they are considered fit to assume command, provided that no such officer will be placed on half-pay until he has attained the age of 45.

The position as regards promotion in certain arms other than Infantry of the Line is also being examined, but I am not in a position at present to state whether any special steps will be necessary in their case.

May I ask whether the establishment of full colonel is to be altered and whether the length of period during which a full colonel can remain on half-pay will be changed?

I shall be glad if my hon. and gallant Friend will read the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It is rather involved, and, if he is not satisfied with any point, perhaps he will put down a question.

My hon. Friend has not mentioned colonels in his statement. He spoke of general officers, but colonels are on a separate basis.

I said there would be promotions from majors to commands, and I also spoke of more vacancies so far as the higher commands were concerned. There is, therefore, a better chance of promotion from colonel to general.

In view of the fact that certain officers who ranked before 1919 are being asked to retire and are being offered special gratuities and pensions, will anything appear on the Estimates for this purpose, and will the alteration of any warrant be required?

Any change that requires a bigger grant will appear on the Estimates.

Will the policy of special gratuities to officers who retire be carried forward to the workers?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet consulted with the leaders of the opposition parties as to measures for securing order at public meetings.

I hope to discuss the different aspects of this problem with the leaders of the Opposition Parties before the House adjourns for the summer.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether a date has been agreed upon with the British Museum when the subscription list to the cost of the Bible known as the Codex Sinaiticus will close; and can he say what will be the estimated amount the Treasury will have to find.

No date has been fixed for closing the subscription list, and subscriptions are still being received. In regard to the second part of the question, a Supplementary Estimate for £41,440 has been presented to Parliament. The final charge on public funds will be less than this amount, but it is not possible at this date to estimate by how much.

Shall we have a chance of discussing this Supplementary Estimate We have not yet had an opportunity, and I understand that we are not likely to get one. I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the first opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position regarding the embargo on the export of arms to Bolivia and Paraguay; and whether all the member States of the League of Nations are loyally co-operating in enforcing the embargo?

So far as I am aware, the only Governments who have up to the present been actively preventing the supply of arms to the belligerents have been His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, the United States Government, the Danish Government, the Dutch Government and the Swiss Government. I have, however, just learned with great satisfaction that the Italian Government have now informed the President of the Committee of the Council of the League of Nations that they will enact the necessary measures to prevent the export of war material destined for Bolivia and Paraguay from Italian territory. There is now reason to hope that all the other 'Governments which have accepted the League proposal in principle will take the necessary steps without delay.

Will the right hon. Gentleman suggest to the League that they should go further and propose an economic boycott of both these States unless they cease fighting?

I think that the practical thing to do is to take advantage of the opportunity which now offers itself and to make effective the embargo for which we have worked so long.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any further statement to make as to the proposed order limiting the right of the public to access to Rombalds Moor, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and the right to lodge objections to it; and whether, in view of misunderstandings which have arisen, he will ensure that objectors have adequate time to prepare and lodge their objections?

I am obliged to the hon. Member for giving me an opportunity of correcting a misstatement in my reply to the question which he put to me on the 12th July. The time specified for objections to the proposed order is three weeks from the latest date of publication of the notice of the order and such period expire to-day. Numbers objections to the proposed order have now been received, and a public inquiry will accordingly be held in the locality. Due notice of such inquiry will be given to all the objectors, and adequate time allowed for the preparation of their case. Any further objections presented in the meantime will be duly considered.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the non-delivery of letters addressed from the United Kingdom to British subjects staying in Germany; the reason for it; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second and third parts do not therefore arise.

asked the Attorney-General for what reasons the Romford County Court is being closed down in September and being transferred to Ilford, as Ilford is a subsidiary court to Romford?

The present court buildings at Romford and at Ilford are inconvenient both for the court sittings and for the offices of the staff. Concentration in a new central building will result in improved efficiency and in economy.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware of the rapid growth of the Romford district; and if new accommodation is being erected, will it be possible to place the new county court in Romford owing to the increase in fares and the distance in which litigants will be involved if it is placed in Ilford?

If those questions are not taken into consideration, I will take care that they are.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give any information to the House about a private contractor buying water from the High Wycombe, Bucks, Water Company and selling it to the householders; if he can state what the contractor paid per 1,000 gallons and the charge made to the householder for one gallon; and whether the High Wycombe Council are allowed by the water company to distribute water free to the householders?

There is no company of this name. The town council supplies water in High Wycombe. My right hon. Friend is not aware of the sale by a contractor of water purchased from the council. He is informed that one householder purchased water from the council at ls. 5d. the 1,000 gallons and arranged with a contractor for its cartage to her premises, that earlier the premises in quest-ion could have been connected with the mains had this been desired, and that connection will be facilitated by an extension of mains shortly to be carried out. The town council also sells water to the rural district council who pay a contractor for its distribution: the rural council are now carrying out a scheme.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now received a final report from the general inspector of the district regarding the action of the Colne Town Council in evicting people from houses in the Windybany area of the Colne slum- clearance scheme without providing alternative accommodation; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The general inspector continues to keep my right hon. Friend in touch with and to inform him of the proceedings of the council. The council is the responsible authority and my right hon. Friend does not contemplate further action.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange to collect information showing the number of widows who lose pensions owing to their husbands being short of four or fewer stamps in the required total of 104, with the object of enabling him to say whether legislation can be usefully introduced to help these women?

The requirement of the payment of a minimum number of contributions is an essential feature of all schemes of national insurance, and, whatever number is fixed as the minimum, cases are bound to 'arise in which the number of contributions just falls short of the requirement. My hon. Friend no doubt appreciates that the pensions scheme in question confers a right to a pension for life on the widow, with allowances for children, in return for 104 contributions, which represent less than eight weeks' pension at the minimum rate.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a report from one of his inspectors in connection with the death of a man who was electrocuted at the Warrington Products Works, Longford; and whether the plant in question was in any way defective?

Yes, Sir. I have received a preliminary report. I understand that the coroner's inquest has not

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the names of those licensing districts which, subsequent to the passing of the Licensing (Permitted Hours) Act, have extended the hours of sale and supply of intoxicating liquor to eight and a-half?

I regret that the information asked for is riot available.

May I ask the Lord President of the Council whether he has any statement to make on business, and also whether he can say what Orders will be taken to-day?

The suspension of the Eleven o'Clock rule is being asked for in order to secure the first two Orders. We propose to take also Nos. 3 and 4, both of which are formal but are exempted business.

On Wednesday the Ministry of Labour Vote will be put down.

I regret that I am not yet able to announce the business for Thursday.

On Friday, on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill, the position of trade will be debated.

As a result of conversations which have taken place through the usual channels, it has been agreed to treat the remaining stages of the Appropriation Bill on Monday next as formal and to proceed to consider the Opposition Motion of Censure relating to armaments.