asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the shortage of corned beef, that such shortage is likely to continue for some time, and that, as a consequence, the price has increased; and will he, in the circumstances, consider the revision of the quota?

The voluntary arrangement for the limitation of imports of foreign canned beef admits of the importation of an aggregate quantity somewhat in excess of the 1933 figure and I see no present reason for revising it. If, however, the hon. Member has any information pointing to a shortage of supplies, I shall be glad to consider it.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public authorities are experiencing a shortage, and that since I put down the question the price has gone up by 5s. a cwt., and that the cause is attributed both to the drought in Australia and to the quota?

I am well aware that there has been some rise in the wholesale price, and if the hon. Gentleman will let me have any specific cases, I shall be very glad to inquire into them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War as to how we shall be able to conduct a war during the next 10 years if there is a shortage of bully beef?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much forged steel and cast steel work in connection with new ships built with the help of moneys provided in the Government's shipping subsidy have been placed with foreign firms during the last 12 months?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order that British subjects may receive in sterling a return on their various investments in Argentina, he will include in the terms of renewal of the Roca agreement a provision for exchange clearing based upon the annual British purchases from Argentina exceeding the purchases by Argentina of United Kingdom products by over £20,000,000?

The point to which my hon. Friend refers will certainly be borne in mind in any negotiations as to the revision of the agreement at present in force. Under that agreement the full amount of sterling exchange arising from the sale of Argentine products in the United Kingdom, after deduction of a reasonable sum towards the service of the Argentine public external debt in third countries, is made available for current remittances from Argentina to the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether any discussions are now taking place with the Argentine Government with a view to bringing into operation at as early a date as possible the long-term policy of His Majesty's Government for our livestock industry;

(2) whether, in view of the fact that notice to terminate the trade agreement with Argentina must be given before 6th May next, notice will be given to alter or terminate the agreement; and what Amendments he proposes to safeguard the interests of the livestock industry in this country?

I hope to meet the Argentine representatives to resume these discussions shortly. On the general question, I fear I can at present add nothing to the answers I have previously given.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is very considerable apprehension in the livestock in- dustry because it is getting very near to May, and the Government do not seem to be giving very much of a lead in this matter?

I am well aware that there are many interests concerned in the negotiation of this new agreement.

Are not many of these questions relating to Argentina untimely—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"]—and not well informed, and is it not more likely to do us harm if we have these questions put before us?

asked the President of tin Board of Trade whether, in view of the possibility of the operation of the Cotton Spinning Industry Bill resulting in increased prices for home-produced cotton goods, he will support an increase in the import duty on foreign cotton goods entering Great Britain?

I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion that the operation of the Cotton Spinning Industry Bill is likely to result in increased prices for home-produced cotton goods. In any event, the question of an increase in the import duty on foreign cotton goods is a, matter for consideration, in the first instance, by the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to watch the situation carefully, and take action if necessary?

Yes, Sir, we shall certainly see what happens.

Is it not the purpose of the Bill to increase the price of cotton yarn, and will it not fail if it does not do that?

No, I am afraid that I cannot accept that as a definition of the main purpose of the Bill.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the price of cotton yarn has already increased in anticipation of the Bill coming into operation?

asked the President of the Board of whether he is now in a position to make any statement regarding the proposed steel-works at Jarrow-on-Tyne; and whether his Department is taking any steps to facilitate the opening of the works there?

I am unable to add anything to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 17th February.

Is there any chance of the steel-works being put upon the growing list of subsidies?

I do not know how far the hon. Lady would wish to go in the growing list of subsidies, but I would point out to her that we are doing what we can to encourage an enterprise in which, I know, she is deeply interested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation to amend the Import Duties Act, 1932, so as to make clear the circumstances under which Members of this House can personally approach the Import Duties Advisory Committee on matters connected with applications for tariffs?

It may be perhaps for the general convenience if I state what is the existing practice in this matter. I am informed by the Import Duties Advisory Committee that, while they would not feel it proper to consider representations made by a Member of Parliament in his capacity as a Member, they would not refuse to hear an application from a manufacturer, trader, or official of a trade association, in regard to matters relating to the trade in which he was concerned, on the ground that he was also a Member of the legislature. The attitude taken by the Committee on this subject has the Government's entire approval, and I see no necessity for introducing new legislation.

Would an Opposition Member who represents the workers have the same right of access as a representative of employers?

If he had an official position, certainly.

Do I understand, then, that in order to get access to the Advisory Committee a man must either be a trade union official or in a particular line of business?

He must be interested in the particular industry about which he wishes to make application.

I am interested in carpets from the worker's end; it is a big industry in my division. Can I approach the Committee about carpets?

If the hon. Member is an official of an organisation representing workers in the carpet industry, the answer is yes, but if he is not, the answer is no.

How about a Member of Parliament if he is representing consumers?

He is in the same position as that taken up by the hon. Member for Bridgeton (Mr. Maxton).

Does not this practice of the Advisory Committee make it almost impossible for anyone to approach it except those who have axes to grind?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why new potatoes are excluded from the recommendation to abolish the duty of £1 and £2 per ton contained in Command Paper 5135; and has he noted the threat of the Import Duties Advisory Committee on page 3 to reimpose the duty if prices fall too far?

I presume that the Committee did not consider that any action on their part was called for in relation to new potatoes. I have noted that the Committee propose to review the question of duties on main-crop potatoes when the present abnormal situation with regard to supplies has ceased to operate; but I would not describe their statement as a threat.

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer not intimate to the Advisory Committee that the process of raising the cost of food has gone far enough?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the membership of the Food Council; by whom are the members selected; on what number of occasions has the council met since January, 1935; and what actions have been taken on their recommendations during that period?

I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate a list of the members of the Food Council in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I am glad to say that, following on Sir Geoffrey Corbett's resignation last year to take up duty in Egypt, Mr. Geoffrey Peto has accepted an invitation to become Chairman of the Food Council, while Mr. F. W. Mackinney will continue to act as Vice-Chairman. Members are appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the President of the Board of Trade. Since the beginning of 1935, there have been four full meetings of the Council and eight meetings of subcommittees. Another meeting of the Council will be held this week. In this period they have made one report, of an interim character, in connection with which further discussions are proceeding.

Following is the list of members of the Food Council:

• Mr. Geoffrey K. Peto, C.B.E. (Chairman).
• Mr. F. W. Mackinney, C.B.E. (Vice-Chairman).
• Mr. Henry Alexander.
• Mr. F. W. Birchenough, J.P.
• Sir Charles H. Bird, C.B.E., J.P.
• Mr. Austin Chadwick.
• Mr. A. E. Cutforth, C.B.E.
• Mrs. Beatrice M. Drapper, J.P.
• Sir William Dudley, O.B.E., J.P.
• Professor Alexander Gray.
• Sir John Lorne MacLeod, G.B.E.
• The Hon. Mrs. Anthony Methuen.
• Miss J. B. Montgomery.
• Mr. D. Cameron Thompson.
• Mr. Arthur Towle, C.B.E.
• Mrs. A. Wilson.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in view of the fact that Territorial officers in actual practice have to provide them- selves with the same outfit as regular officers, he will increase the initial outfit allowance of Territorial officers so that it is in future the same as for regular officers?

Territorial Army officers are not required to provide themselves with the same scale of outfit as officers of the Regular Army, and it is because of this that the respective allowances differ. I see no reason, therefore, to increase the outfit allowance of Territorial Army officers.

Is my right hon. Friend aware, that to say that Territorial officers need not have a certain kind of uniform, is an order which it is almost impossible to obey in the Territorial Army in view of the fact that they frequently get orders to wear the uniforms which they are not supposed to have?

I should be glad to consider any special case which the hon. and gallant Member may send to me. Obviously, Territorial officers do not require as much uniform as officers who are wearing their uniform all the year round.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether existing facilities for training and firing practice at the anti-aircraft camp, Watchet, are sufficient to meet the requirements of the increased number of anti-aircraft brigades approved and contemplated?

No, Sir. The existing practice camp at Watchet reached the limit of its capacity last year, and as it is incapable of expansion, it was necessary in 1935 to make temporary arrangements for certain units to practice in the Isle of Wight. Since then the whole question has been carefully considered, and I am satisfied that, to provide for the efficient training of the additional units in process of being raised under the Government's programme for expanding this important branch of our defences, a second permanent camp must be formed this year, and a third in 1937. A large number of districts have been examined, but so far only one has been found which meets the full requirements of the military and air force authorities concerned, and where the establishment of a practice camp would be likely to cause a minimum of interference with the activities of the local civilian population. This district is at Weyhourne in Norfolk, and immediate steps are being taken to acquire a site there so that training can begin this summer. Meanwhile, reconnaissance for a third site is still in progress in the North of England for anti-aircraft units to be formed in that area.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider as an incentive to recruiting, an addition of 5s. a week to the old age pensions of every Territorial soldier who had a certificate of efficiency and had completed 12 years' service with the colours?

I am grateful for my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion, but I am inclined to doubt the efficacy of so remote a benefit as an incentive to recruiting.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that the man who has given his time to make himself efficient to defend his fellow men is worthy of a little more pension than the man who has not done so?

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that justice is meted out to those who have already served in the armed forces before taking on any other commitments?

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason for the shortage in recruiting for the Territorial Army and the Regular Army?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the standard anti-gas protector for the Army is still the Mark I. V. mobilisation canister, and, if so, whether there are sufficient of these in issue or in stock to supply all the effectives in case of need; and whether he is satisfied that this type provides an effective protection against any of the newer European and Japanese gases that are likely to be encountered in the event of another war?

The anti-gas respirator with which the Army is equipped consists of a facepiece and a container. The present pattern of facepiece is known as Mark IV, but I cannot trace that this designation has ever been applied either to the training container used in peace time or to the mobilisation container for which it is exchanged in war. The hon. Member may, however, rest assured that constant progress is made with the pattern of mobilisation container, and the present one is considered to provide adequate protection against the gases likely to be encountered. Stocks are held to cover requirements as laid down by the Army Council.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the device referred to in the question is employed by the French Government and has been found very imperfect and that the German authorities are scornful of its use, and will he give an assurance that sufficient progress will be made to assure the House and the Forces that the device employed is an adequate protection against the new gases that will be employed in war?

I can assure the hon. Member that everything that can be done will be and is being done to keep our defences in this respect as up-to-date as possible, to keep pace with any new gases that may be invented. I do not think that I can give any assurance beyond that.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the nations have now taken it for granted that in the unhappy event of another war the same sort of fighting, but on a larger and more destructive scale, as that which is taking place in Abyssinia by bombing and gas attacks, will be taken part in by our own Government and other Governments?

I do not think that the nation need take so fearful an outlook for granted, but the authorities are obliged to make preparations for defence against every possible contingency.

Is it not a fact that our own Government are preparing gases for attack, and that the nation is being provided with these kinds of masks and being drilled for protection which the Government know is no protection?

The question on the Order Paper has only to do with defence, and that is the question with which I have been dealing. I have said that we are taking every possible measure to protect our troops against every form of attack.

Seeing that the populace are being provided with gas masks in the event of air raids, may I ask what provision is being made for the cattle which supply us with milk and for the hens which supply us with eggs? Are they to have gas masks? It is no use our being supplied with gas masks if our cattle are to be gassed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give particulars of any surplus armaments or war material that has been sold to foreign countries for the three years ended to the last convenient date?

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

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether this surplus stock is obsolete as far as our fighting Service is concerned?

Anything that is surplus is not wanted.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give in his reply the names of the countries referred to?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the serious condition of the River Almond owing to recent pollution; and whether he will take action to prevent further pollution of this stream?

Recent pollution of the River Almond has been caused by defects in the arrangements for the purification of waste waters from coal-washing plant at a colliery in the area. These defects have now been remedied and pollution from this source has ceased.

Is it not possible for the hon. and gallant Member to do something not merely to remedy the cases of pollution but to prevent them by causing the recommendations of the committee in regard to appointing an inspector to be put into operation, and could he bring his influence to bear upon his own county authority in this regard?

The hon. Member knows that my right hon. Friend is in touch with the local authorities on this matter, and full regard is had to the powers under the Rivers Pollution (Prevention) Act.

Is anything being done to stop the pollution that is entering into the stream of government policy?

I am not aware of any.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the declining need for Duke Street Prison in Glasgow, he will consider the desirability of pulling it down and replacing it with gardens or other amenities?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood) to a somewhat similar question on the 17th instant, to which there is nothing to add, except that inquiries are being actively pursued for a site for a prison to replace that at Duke Street, Glasgow.

Before the hon. and gallant Member makes any decision on this matter, will he take into consideration the present system of dealing with untried prisoners at Barlinnie who have been transferred from Duke Street, and will he see that untried prisoners have reasonable access to lawyers and other means of advice?

I will take into consideration the suggestion of the hon. Member.

The Minister has given practically the same reply that was given to me four years ago, when I put a question to the right hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Sir A. Sinclair) when he was Secretary of State for Scotland. They have made no progress.

In that case both answers appear to have been the right ones.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of police officers in Glasgow who have been discharged from the service since January, 1919, up to the latest date, and the names and reasons for discharge in each case?

I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the desired information, except the names of the officers concerned. Publication of names would prejudice the efforts of men who are trying to make a fresh start in life, and would cause pain to the relatives of those who are now dead.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider the introduction of legislation with the object of granting pensions to widows who would be eligible for pensions under the Act of 1929 were it not for the fact that they have gone to spend a few years with members of their family in different parts of the British Empire, but have since returned to this country and are permanently resident here?

When applying the residential qualification laid down in Section 13 of the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1929, careful and sympathetic consideration is given to the circumstances which led to absence from Great Britain in each individual case. My right hon. Friend does not consider that any amendment of that Section is called for.

Is the Minister not aware that in spite of that Section, there are many cases where a person has been deprived of pension owing to having spent a short time in some other part of the Empire? Is he not going to help those people?

My information is that the Section has been interpreted liberally enough, but if the hon. Member has any case that he wishes to bring to my notice, I will consider it.

Does that mean that the hon. and gallant Member will reconsider the decision he came to in the cases I have mentioned?

No, Sir. I have yet to see the hon. Member's evidence which would dispute the statement that I have made.

I will send it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of persons that have found employment under the schemes inaugurated by Sir Arthur Rose?

The number of individuals who have actually been given employment for varying periods under the Commissioner's schemes is not available, but the hon. Member will find on page 31 of the Commissioner's report for the period 1st July, 1935–31st December, 1935, estimates of the amount of direct employment expressed in men-years for various types of schemes.

Cannot we get something more definite and precise on this matter instead of the rather vague estimates of the report to which the Under-Secretary has referred?

If the hon. Member will see the report, he will appreciate the difficulty there is in estimating the number of individuals directly and indirectly employed. The number of schemes is set out, and he will get the nearest possible estimates of the number of men-years.

Is it not the case that this is practically all we have got from the Commissioner in Scotland in the way of additional employment?

No, Sir. That is not the case at all.

Will the Under-Secretary not advise the Government to reconsider this matter, and instead give local authorities a sufficient amount of money to enable them to employ men on local schemes?

I am not at all satisfied that that is the proper view.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the statement made at an inquest at Cudworth, on Saturday, 21st March, by the inspector of mines that boys of 15 years of age were too young for the job of catch lifting; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have received a full report on this aceident, and I agree with the opinion expressed by the inspector that young and inexperienced boys should not be given duties in connection with the working of cages. In this instance the matter was taken up immediately with the manager of the pit, and a promise was given by him that in future only older boys would be employed on such work. The attention of His Majesty's inspectors will be drawn to this accident, and they will he instructed to take the matter up in any other cases which they find.

Will the hon. and gallant Member consider circularising colliery managers on this matter?

I will consider it, but our first business is to circularise the inspectors.

asked the Secretary for Mines the sums paid by British coal mines in rents, royalties, and way-leaves in 1935?

During the year 1935, the estimated amount paid by colliery owners in Great Britain in royalties and wayleaves, including the rental value of freehold minerals where worked by the proprietors, was £4,990,000.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons employed below ground and above ground, respectively, in the mines of Great Britain during the years 1934 and 1935?

The average numbers of persons employed at mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, in Great Britain during the year 1934 were 624,437 below ground and 173,262 above ground. The corresponding figures for the year 1935 were 609,531 and 171,186 respectively.

asked the Secretary for Mines the quantity of coal consumed' in this country in 1935, and the amount so consumed in cwts. per head of the population in 1930 to 1935, inclusive?

The quantity of coal available for consumption in Great Britain in the year 1935 was 164,450,000 tons. The consumption of coal per head of population in each of the years 1930–35 was 75, 69, 67, 66, 71 and 72 cwts. respectively.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will specify the foreign countries and destinations of the 5,937,000 tons of coal exported from Bristol Channel ports during the year 1935 which are unrestricted as to price and delivery by the purchaser; and whether this quantity could be materially increased if lower prices, additional facilities, or other special inducements were quoted by the exporter?

As the answer to the first part of the question involves a table covering no less than 55 separate destinations, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The second part of the question involves a variety of considerations too complicated to be suitable for discussion within the limits of the reply to a question. I would point out, however, that a large proportion of this tonnage was shipped to markets where the United Kingdom was the principal or sole supplier.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any information regarding the stoppage of work at the Nook and Great Wyrley Colliery, in South Staffordshire, in which 200 mine workers are involved; whether he has ascertained if the failure by the company to pay the recent increase of wages is responsible; and whether his Department has taken any action in the matter?

I am informed that owing to the refusal of the owner to pay the increase in the district percentage recently awarded under the provisions of the Cannock Chase District wage agreement, the workmen employed at this colliery ceased work on 21st March. The colliery is a non-associated one, and I understand that the owner claims that he is not bound by the terms of the district agreement. However, I am now informed that work is to be resumed as from to-morrow night.

Can the Secretary for Mines say on what terms work is being resumed?

No, Sir.

Will he make inquiries?

I imagine that they are satisfactory to the persons concerned, otherwise work would not be resumed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that there is a traffic signal at the corner of Linden Gardens and Notting Hill Gate which shows red to the East and green to the West at the same time, and that as a consequence it is dangerous to pedestrians; and will he have it altered?

This arrangement is not unusual at junctions where turning traffic is heavy: but a special observation shall be made to see whether it is possible to provide an "all red" period and so afford greater security to pedestrians.

asked the Minister of Health the number of county councils and borough councils that have applied to the Minister of Health for his consent, under Section 67 of the Poor Law Act, 1930, to subscribe towards the support and maintenance of voluntary associations for providing nurses within their area; and how many have not done so?

52 out of 62 county councils, and 48 out of 83 county borough councils, have applied to my right hon. Friend or to his predecessors under the provision mentioned in the question for consent to subscriptions to nursing associations.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now reached any decision with regard to the suggested designations for milk; and whether in any case he proposes to postpone the coming into force of any order on the subject?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not yet able to announce his decision on this subject. He is postponing the operation of the new order until 1st June.