asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that there is no lack of skilled labour in the engineering industry, he can state why Swiss engineers are being brought over to this country; and whether they are demanding, and being paid, the proper trade union rate of pay operating for the class of work that they are expected to do?

I presume the reference is to a case in which application was made to my Department for permits for a small number of Swiss engineers for special precision work. Full investigation showed that British workers with the requisite skill were not available for this employment and permits were therefore issued. It is a condition of the issue that the foreigners shall be paid at rates not lower than those received by British workers for similar work in the trade in the district.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position with regard to the dispute between Bolivia and Paraguay, and what success the mediators have met with?

On 12th June an agreement, which had been negotiated under the auspices of the mediating Powers convened at Buenos Aires, was signed by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Bolivia and Paraguay to bring an end to the war in the Chaco. Hostilities ceased at midday on 14th June, and a neutral commission of military experts left on the same day for the front to determine the position of the two armies. It was agreed that, after the ratification of the present agreement, a Peace Conference should be convened at Buenos Aires to negotiate a permanent settlement of the differences between the two Powers, which would moreover be submitted to arbitration by the Permanent Court of International Justice at The Hague in the event of the failure of direct negotiation. It will be within the province of the Peace Conference to extend so far as may be necessary the present truce, which was determined for 12 days.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures for the last five years, to the nearest convenient date, of the imports and exports (including re-exports) between this country and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?

The following table shows the value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United Kingdom during each of the years 1930–1934 and consigned from or to the Soviet Union:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now able to state the result of the investigation into the alleged failure of the engineering firm, Messrs. James Keith and Blackman, Limited, of Arbroath, Scotland, to observe the fair wages regulation in Admiralty contracts and the fact that continuity of employment of their old employés is made conditional on their leaving their trade organisation, of which some have been members for many years?

This complaint is being investigated on the spot by the Admiralty's representative. I hope that a decision will be reached in the course of the next few days, when I will communicate it to the hon. Member.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the following resolution which was passed, on 25th January, 1935, at a special general meeting of the Law Society: that the council be urged to consider the serious prejudice to litigants and solicitors in cases where counsel, duly briefed for trial of action, is prevented from fulfilling his engagement owing to his appearance in another court, and to make such representations as will lead to the appropriate remedy; and whether he has taken, or contemplates taking, any action in relation thereto?

The resolution referred to has been brought to the notice of, and is now under consideration by, the Bar Council.