asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any other Powers and, if so, which, are sending financial experts to China to advise their respective Governments on the situation there?

As soon as the Chinese Government had been informed of the appointment of Sir Frederick Leith-Ross, His Majesty's Government communicated with the United States, French, Japanese and Italian Governments and expressed their hope that these Governments would take similar action. I have not as yet received any intimation of their intentions in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what purpose Sir Frederick Leith-Ross is being sent to China; and whether he can give any further details than those contained in the announcement issued by his Department?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the first paragraph of the statement which I made on the 17th June in reply to a question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) to which I have nothing to add.

When will it be possible to obtain any further information relevant to this visit? I am aware of what has been said, and I am trying to get to know something more about it.

I have given all the relevant information. If the hon. Member will tell me what further information he requires, I will see whether I can get it for him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that a German fleet built up to the strength of 35 per cent. of the British Navy will dominate the Baltic, he has taken steps to ascertain the views of the Governments of Soviet Russia, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, and other Baltic states, on the effect of the Anglo-German naval agreement?

The answer is in the negative. The Soviet Government were, however, informed officially of the terms of the agreement reached between His Majesty's Government and the German Government.

Seeing that by this agreement these small States will be placed at the mercy of Germany, does the British Government intend to propose an Eastern pact to guarantee the frontiers of those States?

No, Sir. I do not at all admit the assumption of the hon. Member that these small States will be left at the mercy of Germany. I regard the agreement as good, not only for ourselves and Germany, but for all the naval Powers.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know that this agreement is a complete violation of the Versailles Treaty and a violation of the Stresa Agreement? When the Minister for League of Nations Affairs returns from Paris and Rome, will a statement be made in this House?

I think very probably a statement will be made, but I can admit neither of the assumptions in the hon. Member's supplementary question.

Will particulars of this agreement be lodged at Geneva with the League of Nations, officially, and be brought to the attention of the Disarmament Conference?

I think the hon. Baronet had better put the question on the Order Paper.

asked the Prime Minister whether and, if so, when facilities will be granted for a Debate upon the Anglo-German naval negotiations and matters germane thereto?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to supplementary questions arising out of the reply to a question put by the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. G. Hall) on Friday last.

Before we have a debate upon this matter, will the Prime Minister endeavour to secure the publication of the respective draft programmes of the two countries, without which consideration of the matter is very ineffective?

I should doubt the utility of any general discussion at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the proposal to send a delegation of ex-service men to Germany for the purpose of furthering the interests of peace, he will use his good offices with the German Government with a view to obtaining facilities for the delegation to meet the leaders of the German peace organizations?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. A. Bevan) on the 19th June.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that unless such action is taken the only people these delegates will meet will be men like General Goering and other Nazi protagonists? Is that the policy which His Majesty's Government desire?

No, Sir. This is a matter that is in the hands of the British Legion. I have no reason to think that they are not making satisfactory arrangements for themselves. They have made no request to me, and I have no reason to think that they are not making the arrangement which they themselves desire.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the leaders of the German peace organisations are all in concentration camps?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Anglo-French declaration of 3rd February still represents the policy of His Majesty's Government?

Yes, Sir.

Is it not a fact that that agreement said that there must be no unilateral decision on the part of Germany and that there must be a munilateral general agreement based on Part V of the Treaty of Versailles, and also on condition that Germany should sign an Eastern pact and return to the League? Is not the naval agreement a breach of that?

No, Sir. The practical methods of giving effect to this policy must needs be, and indeed are, at the present time, the subject of discussion between the two Governments.

Is it not a fact that in consequence of the violation of the agreement arrived at on the 3rd February the Minister for League of Nations Affairs is at present paying visits to Paris and Rome?

No, Sir. That is not the case. I have already informed the hon. Member who asked the original question that this agreement is not a violation of any agreement that we have made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made towards general limitation of aerial armaments and towards a Western air-pact of mutual guarantee?

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the question put by private notice by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Darwen (Sir H. Samuel) on 17th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with regard to the incident arising from a visit of the secretary to the Italian legation to a picture palace in Addis Ababa?

I presume my hon. and gallant Friend refers to an incident which was reported a day or two ago in the Press. No official confirmation of this report has yet reached me.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that he could use his influences to restrain the exaggerated reports, which must have a bad effect on public opinion both here and in Addis Ababa?

It is difficult for the Government to exercise any influence over the Press, even if they so desired. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will use his influence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total amount of subsidy paid up to the financial year ended 31st March, 1935, to the English Sugar Beet Company, the King's Lynn Sugar Beet Company, the Ely Beet Sugar Company, and the Ipswich Beet Sugar Company; and whether he will take steps to obtain particulars of the dividends paid by these companies for the years 1933–34 and 1934–35 and the manner in which the £740,000 in cash bonuses were distributed?

As the answer involves a large number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say in a sentence how the £740,000 is distributed?

I am afraid not. It covers nearly two sheets of figures.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government intend to come to a definite decision as to the recommendations of the United Kingdom Sugar Industry Inquiry Committee within the next six months?

Yes, Sir.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say approximately when the results of these decisions will be communicated to the House?

The results will be communicated to the House as soon as they are reached. It may be possible to communicate them before the House rises.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can now state when the Government hope to receive the report of the Royal Commission on Tithe?

No, Sir.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether anything can be done to improve the amenities of the Members' private room and the smoke room on the Terrace?

If the hon. Member will put forward his suggestions as to the improvements considered desirable by Members through the proper authority, namely, the Sergeant-at-Arms, I shall be willing to consider them.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that hon. Members regard the rooms in question as special distressed areas, and cannot he do something to make them less depressing and more comfortable?

I do not think they are more depressing than any of the others. I do not know what particular grievance the hon. Member has. The rooms are all very similarly furnished.

When the right hon. Gentleman has a few minutes to spare, will he come down with me and see the rooms?

I have been down there occasionally to spy out the land, and I have thought that the hon. Member and his friends had claimed a very favourable niche.

Will the right hon. Gentleman come down and take a cup of tea with me there some time?

Is not the most depressing room in the House the one monopolised by the Socialist party, because no other party is allowed in it?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are only about six Members occupying the room in question?

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the recent appointment of additional judges, there are still a large number of civil cases awaiting trial in the High Court; whether steps will be taken to secure the appointment of further additional judges in addition to the filling of existing vacancies in order to dispose of the arrears which still continue; and whether the appointment of official shorthand writers in the High Court will be considered in order to save the time of the judges in making a longhand resume of the proceedings in case of a possible appeal to a higher court?

I have been asked to reply. Substantial progress has been made in the reduction of the numbers of civil cases awaiting trial in the High Court. The questions of the number of judges required for the efficient discharge of the work of the King's Bench Division and whether a shorthand note should be taken of cases tried in the High Court are under the consideration of the Commission presided over by Earl Peel.

I am much obliged for that answer, but do the Government not recognise that the cheap and expeditious trial of cases is a matter of the first importance, and, seeing that judges earn more in fees than their salaries, is there any reason why there should be these hundreds of cases awaiting trial?

I will communicate that suggestion of my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to an article under the signature of Lord Hewart of Bury, as Lord Chief Justice of England and a signatory of the treaty of December, 1921, between Great Britain and Ireland, commenting upon and explaining the purport and possible effects of recent decisions of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council announced on 6th June; and whether he will invite His Majesty's Judges voluntarily to apply to themselves the restrictions in respect of communications to the Press adopted by His Majesty's advisers and announced to this House on 3rd March, 1927, and which bind all civil servants?

My attention has been called to this article. I do not propose to communicate to His Majesty's Judges in the sense suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend. It is obviously undesirable that His Majesty's Judges should write for publication on matters of political controversy or on questions upon which they may have to decide judicially, but the limit of action in this respect must be left to the good sense of each individual Judge.

asked the Minister of Health what number of local authorities have made application to his Department for loans for the purpose of levelling down slag heaps; and if they have been sanctioned or refused?

My right hon. Friend has received no applications for such loan sanctions.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the difficulty on the question of the ownership of the land on which these slag heaps are? Would he get into touch with the authorities, to make some provision about taking over the land at a nominal price—it is of no value at all—so that it will pass into the hands of the authorities?

All we can do is to say that if we receive applications for schemes we will consider the schemes on their merits.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the action recently taken by Mr. Leggatt, of his Department at Geneva, in regard to the possible limitation of working hours was in accordance with instructions issued by himself or his predecessor; and, if so, the nature of the instructions concerned?

The British Government delegates at the International Conference at Geneva have been acting in accordance with instructions given them by His Majesty's Government on the basis of the policy of the Government on the various subjects on the agenda of the Conference. It is not possible within the limits of this reply to detail the policy of the Government in regard to hours of work, but I would refer the right hon. Member to the White Paper Cmd. 4584, which gives the reply of the Government to a questionnaire issued by the International Labour Office on the subject of the reduction of hours of work.

May we take it that it is the policy of the Government to oppose a reduction of hours even when a large number of other nations are willing to reduce them?

No, the right hon. Gentleman has no ground for making that assumption. The policy of the Government is set out in the Command Paper to which. I have alluded, and it presents the difficulties of the situation and the Government's attitude on it.

Has the Government delegate any power or discretion to negotiate, or is he strictly tied by the terms of the instructions given to him? Has he any discretion to try to bargain with other nations for a decrease in the number of hours?

Our representative there had his instructions, but in case of any altered circumstances, which sometimes do arise on these matters, naturally he, like everybody else, must exercise his discretion.

Because of the longer hours worked in certain Continental countries—hours which are injurious to our own industries—is it the policy of the Government to refrain from encouraging a reduction of hours?

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered correspondence submitted to him by the Sunderland Children's Hospital with reference to the refusal of the health committee of Sunderland Corporation to remove to the borough hospital for infectious diseases two children whose homes are outside the borough, and who were found to be suffering from cerebrospinal meningitis after a short period of observation in the hospital, until such time as the hospital authorities have made arrangements with the local authority in the area in which the children reside for the payment of the cost of their maintenance and treatment; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that infectious cases are in future removed promptly from this general hospital to the infectious diseases hospital?

My right hon. Friend has received the correspondence referred to and he will communicate with the Sunderland Town Council in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any economic development, wholly or partly under Government auspices, is in progress or contemplated in the Bechuanaland Protectorate?

Financial assistance from the Colonial Development Fund amounting to about £65,000 has been granted or approved in respect of various schemes including those recommended by the Commission appointed to inquire into the financial and economic position of the Bechuanaland Protectorate. Of this sum £25,000 is in respect of the improvement of water supplies.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will consider the possibility of making reciprocal inter-Imperial arrangements under which British subjects who would have been eligible for old age pensions in one part of the Empire had they not moved to another part of the Empire should not on that account forfeit their rights to old age pensions?

The question of reciprocity in old age pensions has been considered at Imperial Conferences, but it has not hitherto been found practicable to institute any reciprocal schemes. My hon. Friend will, however, no doubt be aware that the payment of pensions awarded under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts of 1925 and 1929 is continued in the case of persons migrating to any part of the Empire, while insured persons below pension age leaving the United Kingdom are afforded the opportunity of maintaining their pensions insurance by the continued payment of the appropriate contributions after arrival overseas.

Can my Noble Friend assure us that he will take every opportunity at future Imperial Conferences to try to reach a scheme, in view of the great hardship which exists in some of these cases?

Yes, in so far as it affects my Department.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can give the House any information about the 18-years-old schoolboy who was suspended by the headmaster of Reading School; whether he has seen a copy of the statement the boy in question had to sign before he was allowed to return to school; and whether he intends taking any action in the matter?

I have seen accounts of this incident in the newspapers to the effect that a pupil at Reading School took part in the distribution of anti-war pamphlets on the occasion of the inspection of the Officers' Training Corps. I am not aware that the boy in question was asked to sign any statement before being allowed to return to school. His suspension was a matter of discipline within the discretion of the headmaster, and I do not see that any action on my part is called for.

While I do not want to suggest that the hon. Gentleman is giving me an evasive answer, may I ask whether it is the case that the statement was drawn up by the headmaster and that it was published in all the papers?

I think the hon. Member is mixing up this and another version of what happened. According to the report, the undertaking or apology in writing was asked for by the headmaster from three old boys of the school and not from the boy in question, who is a member of the school.

Had they committed the same offence?

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the instructions contained in the Appendix to Command Paper 4791, which relate to Army reservists, he will arrange to have the payments made weekly?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend regrets that to alter the present system, whereby a reservist is paid quarterly in arrear, would be impracticable owing to the extra work and expense that would be involved.

Is it for the convenience of the War Office that these reservists' payments are made quarterly, or for the benefit of the reservists?

I need not point out to my hon. Friend that the change suggested would mean 52 transactions per reservists per year, instead of four, and would involve a great deal of work in the Department and perhaps a great deal of inconvenience to the reservists. My answer to her question therefore is that quarterly payments are in the interests of both.

In view of difficulties arising out of the receipt of transitional payments, will the hon. Gentleman make representations to the Minister of Labour on the point that it is mostly for the benefit of the War Office that these payments are made quarterly?

I will report my hon. Friend's suggestion to both my right hon. Friends.

Will the hon. Gentleman make representations to the Secretary of State for War asking him to protect these reservists against illegal deductions by another Department?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet considered the report of the Poisons Board with regard to the new poisons regulations and lists; whether he proposes to make any Amendments thereto; and, if not, by what date it is proposed to lay the order for the enforcement of these proposals before Parliament?

Notice of my right hon. Friend's intention to confirm the Poisons List, prepared and submitted to him by the Poisons Board, and to make Rules under Section 23 of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933, was published on the 18th of this month. I cannot say what Amendments, if any, will be made in the draft List and Rules until my right hon. Friend has considered such representations as he may receive in regard to them. The Rules and the Order confirming the Poisons List will, as required by the Act, be laid before Parliament as soon as they are made.

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of the widespread condemnation of the practice of sending young people under 21 years of age to prison, he will circularise the magistrates, pointing out the dangers and mischievous results of this practice?

The treatment of young offenders was dealt with at length in a circular issued to all Courts of Summary Jurisdiction on the 20th July, 1928, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. In this circular attention was called to the objections to imprisonment for young offenders under 21 and to the alternatives available to the courts.

Has the hon. and gallant Gentleman read the pronouncement of the Lord Chief Justice upon this practice which was uttered a few days ago?

It seems to me that this more or less covers exactly what the Lord Chief Justice said.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman take steps to encourage magistrates to refrain from sending juvenile offenders to prison for very short periods which can do no good whatever?

My hon. Friend is no doubt aware of the alternatives available and of the fact that there is a strict limit to what we can do in the way of encouraging magistrates.

asked the Prime Minister whether an opportunity will be afforded to discuss the Report of the Select Committee on Witnesses?

Yes, Sir. The Government hope to afford an opportunity to discuss the Report of the Select Committee on Witnesses before the House rises for the Summer Recess.

asked the Prime Minister whether the recent increase in the personnel and material of the Royal Air Force will involve a Supplementary Estimate, and whether that Estimate will be brought before the House prior to the close of the present Session?

Yes, Sir. A Supplementary Air Estimate will be presented this Session but I am not in a position to name a precise date.

Can the Prime Minister assure us that before this Supplementary Estimate is actually brought on to be debated in Committee, we shall have laid before us a White Paper setting forth the general scope of the proposals and explaining them?

I will bear my right hon. Friend's request in mind. I have no knowledge yet of what the Estimate will comprise, or how wide its scope may be.

Will my right hon. Friend also bear in mind the obvious inconvenience under which the House lies, if a very important and complicated statement is made by a Minister, and then, when a new situation has been created, the House is expected to debate the matter immediately?

Yes, Sir, I will keep that point in mind.

Does delay not give an opportunity for negotiations with other countries to continue, in the hope that it may not be necessary to have such a largely increased Estimate?

Yes, that is true, but in my experience the delays required are rather longer than the period which will be needed before the Estimate is presented.

May we be clear upon this? My right hon. Friend surely does not mean by the phrase "that is true" in his last reply, that there has been any delay in regard to the promise made to the House the other day as to the expansion of the Air Force?

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that we have only five weeks to go?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered representations submitted by the National Union of Distributive Workers on the Incitement to Disaffection Act, the Unemployment Assistance Board, State pensions, and the extension of the Unemployment Insurance scheme; and what reply has been tendered?

I have seen the representations submitted by the National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers, to which the hon. Member refers. The resolutions in question have been noted.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the Government intend to do anything more than take note of the representations of this body?

The letter requested that due attention should be given to the resolutions and due attention has been given to them.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a report from his factory inspector in connection with the fatal accident that happened at the Redbourne Steel Works, near Scunthorpe; and whether he can state the cause of the accident?

Yes, Sir; this accident was due to overwinding the gear used for hoisting some men engaged on the erection of a new blast furnace. The case is being followed up.

asked the Home Secretary which racecourse operating under National Hunt rules received the largest grant from the Racecourse Betting Control Board last year; to how much this amounted; and whether it was given for any specific purpose?

Under the scheme approved by my right hon. Friend's predecessor, the largest grant paid to the owners of a racecourse operating under both Jockey Club and National Hunt rules was a sum of £221 paid to the owner of Gatwick racecourse, £151 being in respect of meetings held under Jockey Club rules and £70 in respect of meetings held under National Hunt rules. The largest grant in respect of a, racecourse operating under National Hunt rules only was £99 paid to the owners of Cheltenham racecourse. In both cases the grants were made for the purpose of increasing the added money to stakes.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can make a, statement regarding a Fascist meeting held at Bootle, on the 18th instant, where a woman was found dead on the ground, and where there was grave disorder and damage done?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has obtained a report from the Chief Constable of Bootle who states that the Fascist meeting, held at Bootle on the 18th instant, was attended by a crowd of about 500 persons consisting mostly of women and children. During the meeting considerable noise was caused by the children and by a small section of the crowd. At the end of the meeting, about 9.45 p.m., 12 Fascists in uniform were about to board a motor van, the roof of which had been used as a platform by the speaker, when fighting broke out between several of the uniformed Fascists and the hostile section of the crowd. The police separated the combatants and the van moved off through the crowd, its progress being facilitated by the police. It then came to the knowledge of the police that a woman in the crowd had fainted. First aid was rendered, but as she did not recover she was removed by ambulance to Bootle hospital where she was found to be dead. The coroner has ordered a post mortem examination, and I understand that the inquest, which was opened last Friday, has been adjourned to to-morrow. It is not possible pending the result of the inquest to give any information as to the cause of the woman's death.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman's Department continue to watch this matter?

Most certainly, but, as the hon. Member will realise, it is at present sub judice.