asked the Minister of Labour whether his Department has collected any statistics showing the number of persons displaced by the introduction of improved machinery or mechanisation during the last 10 years; and whether he can supply any reliable figures?

No, Sir. It would not be possible to obtain any reliable figures owing to the difficulty of tracing the influence of improved machinery or mechanisation among the many varied factors which have determined the upward course of employment in this country in recent years?

Can the hon. and gallant Member say whether his Department have followed up the statistics which have come to their notice as to the number of people who have been displaced?

As I have said, it is impossible to determine what influence the question of mechanisation has had.

Have not the facts been supplied to the Minister?

Naturally, we take all the relevant facts which come to our notice.

Am I to understand that mechanisation is not a relevant fact?

Certainly not.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he proposes to remit to the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee the possibility of evolving a scheme for the insurance of domestic servants?

My right hoe. Friend proposes in due course to refer to the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee the question of the desirability and practicability of including private domestic service within the unemployment insurance scheme, but I must warn my hon. Friend that the committee will not be in a position to consider this question for some time to come, as they are fully occupied with other matters.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is contemplated that new premises for the Employment Exchange are necessary in Cannock, Staffordshire; and whether he can state the districts which the administration of the Exchange will cover?

This Exchange is scheduled for urgent rehousing. The area which it covers is the same as that of the branch office which it replaced.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Army reservists in the Jarrow-Hebburn area have 29s. deducted from their unemployment allowance the week they receive their quarter's Army reserve allowance; and whether he can make regulations to prevent this?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Members for Blaydon (Mr. Whiteley) and Aberdeen North (Mr. Garro-Jones) on 26th March, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

Have the Government considered whether this practice is likely to help recruiting?

That is a question which should be addressed elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the chairmen of courts of referees under the Unemployment Board in Glasgow; and the amounts

asked the Minister of Labour what number of insured persons in Great Britain is definitely regarded as seasonal workers; what number of these is regarded as being entitled to less than full insurance benefit rights; and what further steps he proposes to take to improve the insurance position of seasonal workers?

As regards the first two parts of the question I regret that no statistics are available. No changes in the regulations affecting seasonal workers under the general scheme are at present in contemplation.

Will the hon. and gallant Member consider whether some of the surplus of the Unemployment Insurance Fund cannot be used to improve the unfortunate position of seasonal workers?

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he is aware that the road workers in the Western Isles are being paid much less in many cases by Ross-shire and Inverness local authorities than they formerly received in unemployment benefit; and whether he will take steps to investigate, report upon, and end these conditions;

I assume the hon. Member refers to the appeal tribunals set up under the Unemployment Act, 1934. As the answer contains a table of names and figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

My right hon. Friend has no authority to control the rates of wages paid by local authorities, nor has he any information with regard to the cases to which the hon. Member refers. In reply to a previous question on 20th February he said that he would make inquiries if the hon. Member would give him detailed particulars, and the hon. Member has not yet done this.

Will the hon. and gallant Member himself take steps to get these statistics, as it is not my job?

I think my right hon. Friend met the hon. Member reasonably by asking him, as he had raised the question himself, to bring details of specific cases to his notice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make a state- ment on the age distribution of the wholly unemployed registered at Pontefract, Castleford, Normanton, and Goole, respectively, at the latest convenient date?

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Unemployment Assistance Board is to be allowed to continue its present practice of penalising fisherwomen in Stornoway because of their failure to secure work, where it is not available for all in Stornoway during the local fishing season, despite the fact that in many cases they have made up their full number of contributions in other areas according to season; and whether he will take steps to end this injustice?

I am informed by the Unemployment Assistance Board that they are unable to identify the cases to which the hon. Member refers, but if he will supply particulars of specific cases they will be happy to have full inquiry made into the matter.

As the reply includes a table of figures I will, if I may, circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is his intention to introduce legislation during the present Session to give effect to the recommendations of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee on the remuneration limit for the insurance of non-manual workers?

The report is under consideration, and I cannot at present say what action the Government may decide to tae.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in the course of his inquiry into the working of the Unemployment Insurance (Inconsiderable Employments) Regulations, he will give special attention to the position of the Mersey, where it would be possible for shipwrights to be employed on each day for months without an insurance contribution being paid in respect of them?

This question will be examined by the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee at an early date and representations with regard to the workers referred to by the hon. Member and any others who may be affected may be made to the committee.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he is taking to meet the suggested causes responsible for new industries going south instead of being set up in the Special Areas of the north-east, namely, inaccessibility to markets, fear of industrial unrest, general depressed state of trade in the areas, fear of high rates, and difficulty of obtaining finance for new business?

I would refer the hon. Member to the' answers to the questions which he put on 16th and 26th March, and to that given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) on the earlier of these dates, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour the contribution per head of the population of Scotland and England, respectively, to the Unemployment Assistance Fund?

The grant to the Unemployment Assistance Fund for 1936–37 as shown on page 83 of the Civil Estimates (1936), Class V, 12, is paid wholly from voted moneys and is not allocated as between England and Scotland, respectively. I may add that various details as to the expenditure on social services, with separate figures for Scotland, are given in the Public Social Services Return issued in November, 1935 (Cmd. 5025).

In view of the fact that the report shows that Scotland is asked to pay a much higher burden than England or Wales, is there any chance of the hon. and gallant Member's Department taking this into consideration in their report?

I cannot give the hon. Member any promise.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed persons who attend at the Employment Exchange in the Maryhill division of Glasgow?

At 24th February, 1936, there were 5,068 unemployed persons on the registers of the Maryhill Employment Exchange.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that for the accommodation of those 5,000 unemployed people there is only a wooden hut in Maryhill, and will he therefore make inquiries with a view to setting up a decent building for them?

That, of course, is a separate question, but I will certainly make inquiries into the accommodation of that particular exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any arrangements have been made to ensure increased staffs on Employment Exchanges, in view of the contemplated changes in Part II of the Unemployment Act, 1934?

I am not aware of any contemplated changes in Part II of the Unemployment Act, 1934. Provision is made in the printed Estimates for all staff requirements, so far as they can be foreseen.

Am I to take it the rumour that the additional staff which would be necessary to carry out the provisions would lead to increased expenditure, is not correct?

I am not exactly clear as to what the hon. Member's question refers to. No change in Part II of the Unemployment Act, 1934, is contemplated.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that he has not answered the question, and that what he is asked is whether, when persons chargeable to public assistance come to be chargeable to the National Board, there is an increased strain on the Employment Exchanges?

That is another question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that cases have occurred where boys of 16 years of age, transferred from the distressed areas, are being worked hours of labour far in excess of those allowed by law and where the provision for the weekly half-holiday is ignored; and whether he will instruct the factory inspectors to pay special attention to protect these boys from any possible exploitation?

The attention of my right hon. Friend has not been drawn to any such cases. If the hon. Member will be good enough to send particulars, inquiry will be made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government propose to ratify the draft convention on unemployment provision adopted by the International Labour Office in 1934, in view of the fact that all lour British delegates, Government, employers, and workers, voted for it?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) on 30th March last. The Order in Council ratifying the convention has now been made.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent an annual holiday with pay is regularly given to workers in British industry; and what steps the Government propose to take to bring about a more general adoption of this principle?

As regards the first part of the question, particulars of the collective agreements known to be in operation, providing for annual holidays with pay, were published on pages 232 and 233 of the "Ministry of Labour Gazette" for July, 7934. The principal addition, since that date, to the list of industries in which such arrangements have been agreed upon is the road motor goods transport industry, in which an agreement made by the National Joint Conciliation Board for England and Wales contains a clause providing for a week's holiday with pay, annually, for regular employés. As regards the second part of the question, the arrangements which it is possible to make in this connection are, like other matters of wage regulation, dependent on the circumstances of the particular industry and the appropriate method of dealing with them is by industrial agreement.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether this practice is becoming universal?

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say what number of people are covered by these agreements?

Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is able to state the effect on employment which may be expected to result from the operations of the Shops (Sunday Trading Restrictions) Bill?

No, Sir.

In view of the repercussions of the passing of the Shops Act on small traders, will the hon. and gallant Member make some inquiry?

The Bill about which the hon. Member is inquiring is at present going through Committee, and, therefore, it is impossible to make any estimate.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give any information on the inquiry into the effects of changes in the commercial policy of various countries on the employment and wages of workers which has been undertaken by the International Labour Office?

The International Labour Office was instructed by the governing body in February last to carry out, in collaboration with the Economic Section of the League of Nations, an investigation into the question of the relation between the volume of employment and wages on the one hand and commercial movements on the other hand. No report has yet been received from the International Labour Office.

Have the officials of the International Labour Office been in communication with His Majesty's Government?

I will look into that question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will instruct the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolitan Area to adopt the use of loud-speakers to give due notice to those assembled at any meeting that the gathering has been forbidden and that at a given hour the meeting must disperse?

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that no difficulty is usually experienced in getting into touch with the chairman of a meeting, but the use of loud-speakers will be considered on any future occasion if the need can be foreseen.

Is the hon. Gentleman getting any suggestions from Herr von Ribbentrop as to how public opinion should be suppressed in this country?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to prevent the practice of painting notices of mass and other meetings with whitewash and other colouring matter on public and private property without permission from the owners?

The marking of buildings, walls, etc., abutting on public places without the consent of the owner or occupier is prohibited in the Metropolitan Police District by the Metropolitan Police Act, 1839. Elsewhere the practice can be prohibited by good rule by-laws made under Section 249 of the Local Government Act, 1933. The initiative as regards such by-laws rests with the borough or county council.

Has the hon. Gentleman received a report from the police on the subject of walls being covered with whitewash?

asked the Home Secretary how many alien refugees in this country are unemployed and what are their means of subsistence?

No figures are available to enable an answer to be given to the first part of the question. As regards the second part, some refugees have established themselves here in independent industrial, commercial or professional pursuits, or have become associated as directors or partners in new or already existing enterprises in this country; some are living on their own resources; and others are supported by relations or friends, or by the various organisations which have been set up for their relief.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that certain alien refugees who were permitted to reside in this country for the purpose of obtaining British medical qualifications are taking up appointments in this country; and what steps he proposes to take to stop this practice, in view of the undertakings given by the Home Office?

Since March of last year refugees who have applied for permission to reside in this country for the purpose of medical study have been informed that permission can only be granted on the clear understanding that after qualifying they will not be allowed to establish themselves in medical practice in the United Kingdom but will be expected to leave the country; but amongst the refugee doctors who came here before that date there is a limited number to whom it has been thought right on various special grounds to grant permission to practice in this country after they have obtained a British medical qualification and been admitted to the British Medical Register. The number of cases in which such permission has been granted is 148.

Could the hon. Gentleman say what are these special cases?

In some cases of eminent medical men having special attainments, their colleagues in this country have asked for them to be allowed to practise here.

Does that reply mean that those who are not regarded as special cases are, by the action of His Majesty's Government, forced to go back to Germany and suffer the persecution that is involved?

No, Sir, not necessarily, but the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that His Majesty's Government have to consider first of all the interests of British subjects.

Would it not be possible to send some of these people to Palestine, where their services are badly needed?

My information is that there is already an overplus of doctors in Palestine.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the number of accidents in which the motor-patrol police service of the Metropolis have been concerned, some of which have had fatal results, he is satisfied with the way that drivers are trained for this service; and is any reorganisation contemplated?

During 1935, 413 vehicles driven by Metropolitan police on patrolling duties of all kinds ran nearly 13 million miles with only 19 accidents involving serious personal injury, including two fatalities. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that everything possible is being done to raise the standard of driving in the Metropolitan police to the highest possible level. A driving school has been opened at Hendon and every police driver will eventually take a course of instruction there, but as the school has only been in operation for 13 months, a number of drivers still await instruction.

Could the hon. Gentleman say how long the police drivers getting this instruction have to attend the driving school?

Not without notice.

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the police drivers have sufficient experience before being put on the road?

In how many cases in which accidents have occurred have proceedings been taken against the police?

I could not say without notice.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of a road offence at Watling Street, Grendon, on 11th February, in which a police car travelling at 40 miles per hour over a blind bridge was involved; and whether police court proceedings have been, or are to be, instituted against the officer concerned on the charge of driving to the public danger?

My right hon. Friend is calling for a report, and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Home Secretary the number of factory inspectors whose duties are confined to the inspection of electrical apparatus and plant in factories, the extent of the area covered by each inspector, the number of clerical workers attached to each, and how many of such are part-time workers?

There are nine electrical inspectors of factories under a senior electrical inspector. Their duties are to inspect the more important installations, to assist the district staff in the enforcement of the Electricity Regulations elsewhere, and generally to advise the Department on electrical questions. One is specially assigned to Scotland, two to the Northern Counties and North Wales, two to the Midland Counties one to the Western Counties and South Wales, and two to London and adjacent counties, while the ninth does special work. They do not have individual clerical workers specially attached to them but are assisted by the clerical staffs of the Factory Department offices in which they have their headquarters. At one of the Factory Department offices to which an electrical inspector is attached there is a part-time shorthand typist.

Would the hon. Gentleman consider the abolition of part-time work in this case?

That is at present under consideration in the one instance in which it exists.

asked the Home Secretary what number of public house licences were refused without compensation during the periods 1926–30 and 1931–35, respectively; and the reasons for such refusals?

The number of publicans' and beer house licences of which the renewal was refused without compensation was 20 in the years 1926 to 1930, and 12 in the years 1931 to 1934. The figures for the year 1935 are not yet available. The grounds of refusal in each case are given in Table III (A) of the Licensing Statistics for the year, but I am sending the hon. Member a summary.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Newington licensing justices condemning the practice of brewing firms who, after receipt of compensation for the closing of licensed premises on grounds of redundancy, subsequently dispose of or let the same premises to clubs. in which alcoholic liquors are sold and consumed; and whether he will take power to prohibit such transfers which are unfair to licensees?

The attention of my right hon. Friend had not previously been called to this resolution. As the hon. Member may be aware, the existing legislation prohibits the opening of a registered club on dis-licensed premises within 12 months from the date on which the licence was refused. An extension of this period was recommended by the Royal Commission on Licensing, and this recommendation will be considered in connection with the legislation to deal with bogus clubs which it is proposed to introduce next Session.

Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to bear in mind that the brewers are the offenders in this respect?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will explain the principles which determine the granting of pensions to certain employés of the State management scheme in Carlisle and the refusal of them to other employés; and whether he will arrange for all the staff to be pensioned an retiring?

Established civil servants employed under the Carlisle State management scheme may be granted pensions on retirement subject to the fulfilment in each case of the conditions of the Superannuation Acts. I understand that the hon. Member has in mind the cases of two men who were ineligible for establishment owing to age. These men received gratuities on retirement, but I regret that there is no power to award them pensions.

Are not other servants in similar circumstances paid pensions?

Not as far as I am aware. These men were 70 years of age when the question of establishment was considered.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet read the evidence given at the watch committee inquiry held at Gateshead, including the evidence given by the mayor; and whether, in view of the evidence, he will inform the chief constable of Gateshead that he does not approve of the police being encouraged to retaliate on members of the public who are under arrest?

I am not in a position to add anything to the reply given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend on 20th February.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Government are now satisfied that they have equipment to protect all the population by new gas-masks; whether such gas-masks have been proved to be as efficient as the bigger models; and whether such gas-masks have been tested with any, and which, of the newer European and Japanese gases that are likely to be used in the event of another war?

I hope to be able to make a statement before the Easter adjournment.

asked the Home Secretary whether the police have yet furnished him with information regarding the arrangements in vogue for applying the practice of taking the fingerprints of juveniles convicted at juvenile courts; and, if so, what these arrangements are?

My right hon. Friend is not in possession of detailed information regarding the procedure of the several police forces, but it is clear that at present there is considerable diversity of practice. The whole question is being considered in the light of the information my right hon. Friend has obtained from chief officers of Police relating to the volume and incidence of juvenile crime, and in the light of information as to their views regarding the conditions under which finger prints of juvenile offenders should be taken.

Can we get full information regarding this matter, seeing that the hon. Gentleman said he was seeking information a month ago.

We are obtaining it at present.

asked the Home Secretary in view of the cruelty to the horses and risk to the jockeys competing in the Grand National steeplechase, whether he will take steps to prevent such cruelty and risk in future?

My right hon. Friend has no power to take any action in the matter.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there has been this year, as in previous years, very widespread protests about this race, and will he impress upon his right hon. Friend the desirability of the Home Secretary seeking powers so that this race may be modified and made safer in the future?

Is my hon. Friend aware that the danger to horses at Liverpool is not much greater than at any other course, and, as far as the jockeys are concerned, there is no rider, professional or amateur, riding to-day who will not gladly face whatever risk there is for the chance of having the honour of winning that race?

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider introducing legislation with a view to improving the law relating to the issue of political propaganda and making it more difficult to obtain votes from the public by fraud or other improper means?

As my hon. Friend is aware, corrupt and illegal practices by individuals are dealt with by the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Acts. My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that legislation on the matters referred to by my hon. Friend is necessary or practicable.

Will the Under-Secretary bear in mind that any such legislation as this will severely cramp the style of the Conservative Central Office?

asked the Home Secretary whether the Departmental Committee now considering workmen's compensation will have under consideration the inadequacy of the sum of £15 paid in cases of death from accident where no dependency exists?

The answer is in the negative. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the terms of reference of the committee from which he will see that this question lies outside the scope of their inquiry.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a pit pony which was killed in a pit recently was valued at £20?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, a large industrial area, there is only one medical referee at present holding an appointment under the Workmen's Compensation Acts who repeatedly examines claimants for workmen's compensation on behalf of employers, and that on several occasions the said medical referee has given sworn evidence for the employers in Falkirk sheriff court; and if he will consider whether this gentleman is in a position to act as an impartial referee between workman and employer?

There is only one medical referee specially attached to the Falkirk sheriff court, but there are other referees holding appointment in the sheriffdom and living at no great distance from Falkirk upon whom the sheriff may call if the usual referee is not available. My right hon. Friend has received no complaint of unfairness on the part of the referee in question and has no information to show that he is not in a position to act with impartiality, but if the hon. Member will furnish particulars, they will be considered.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the referee in question who holds a commission in connection with the Sheriff Court at Falkirk is the only individual to whom medical questions can be referred in that jurisdiction; and that on several occasions when he has given sworn testimony in that Court the presiding judge has referred the matter to an outside medical referee, and the gentleman has been contradicted?

I am not aware of those circumstances, but I shall be glad to receive any information that the hon. Gentleman has.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the grave dissatisfaction at the contrary decisions that are given in many of these cases by medical referees in Scotland, and that attention has frequently been drawn to this point?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that George Berry, who is serving a sentence of three years at Horfield Prison, Bristol, after being in the punishment cell on bread and water for several days, refused to go out for exercise an the ground that he felt too weak, and that on his refusal two officers assaulted and beat him; whether the complaints made by the prisoner were recorded in the appropriate books on his appeals to the visiting magistrate, the doctor, and inspector or commissioner of prisons; and whether he will make a full inquiry into the case?

I presume that the hon. Member is referring o an incident which occurred on 18th January when the prisoner in question refused to go to outdoor exercise though the medical officer recommended that he should do so. It is quite untrue that two officers assaulted and beat him. When they ordered him to put his shoes on and to go to exercise he declined to do so, and on their attempting to put on his shoes he at first resisted violently, but eventually desisted and went to exercise at which he was quiet and well behaved. My right hon. Friend had before him at the time reports on the matter, arid is satisfied that all complaints made by this prisoner have been properly investigated and recorded. A prisoner has the right not only to petition the Secretary of State, but to make representations to the visiting committee which is an independent body of local justices; and this prisoner was interviewed at the time by one of the visiting justices.

Has the Home Secretary received a report from the visiting committee, and what is that report?

My right hon. Friend has received a report, but I cannot give details of it.

Will not the hon. Gentleman inform the House, if he is correct in saying that these statements are not true, whether he has received the confirmation of the visiting committee, and is he not in a position to tell me what the report is?

If the hon. Member will put down a question with regard to the report, I shall be glad to answer it.

In the meantime, will the Department, in view of the fact that the officers against whom the charge is made are still at the prison, secure the transfer of this man to another prison?

There is no information before the Home Secretary to justify such a step.

Would it not be wise in such a case to obtain independent medical testimony about the condition of the man?

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I will raise the matter at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Home Secretary what progress is being made by the committee under the chairmanship of Lord Riverdale which is considering the co-ordination of fire brigades as a means of minimising the possible results of attacks from the air?

I understand that the Committee has concluded the hearing of oral evidence, and is now considering a draft of its report.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is intended to introduce a Redistribution Bill during the life of the present Parliament?

I am not in a position to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Hendon (Sir R. Blair) on 16th December last.

asked the Home Secretary the number of rate defaulters serving sentence in prisons in Durham and Northumberland, respectively, pro rata of population?

The only prison in these counties is at Durham. The total number of persons in custody there yesterday was 386 of whom one had been committted in default of payment of rates.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has set up a special committee to examine the question of food supplies in time of war; and whether His Majesty's Government propose to take immediate steps to increase food production in this country?

The various aspects of this question are dealt with in the appropriate Departments, and co-ordination is secured in the Committee of Imperial Defence. I do not think that the appointment of a special committee is necessary. As regards the last part of the question, my hon. Friend is no doubt aware of the steps taken by His Majesty's Government in recent years to safeguard the production of foodstuffs in this country, and I would remind him that the gross output from farms in this country increased by 14 per cent. from 1931 to 1934.

Will my right hon. Friend give the House an assurance that in this question Scotland and England will be treated as one unit, and that there will be the closest co-operation between the Minister of Agriculture and the Scottish Office in regard to the general question of food supplies in this country?

Can the Prime Minister say how many food committees are in existence?

Not without notice.

While it is true that we have increased the quantity of food produced, is not percentage of that produce to consumption still very small?

Do the Government think it advisable to bring in a compulsory land cultivation bill?

We have not contemplated that step.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the importance of grain storage in relation to national defence, he will consider transferring the responsibilities for this question from the President of the Board of Trade to the Minister for the Coordination of Defence?

The question whether special action by the Government in regard to grain storage is called for at any time as an emergency measure is primarily a defence question and, accordingly, comes within the province of the Committee of Imperial Defence; but, in general, questions relating to food supplies other than those affecting home productions are within the province of the Board of Trade.

Is the Prime Minister aware that, on this matter, there is immense anxiety, which has not been dissipated by the answers given to questions recently, and will he cause a Government statement to be made at a very early date?

When there is anxiety, the best course to take is to have a Debate in this House on the subject. It is quite impossible to allay anxiety by answers to questions.

Can the Prime Minister give an assurance that the Government are taking active measures to remedy the dangerous position which was revealed by the statement made last week by the President of the Board of Trade that the grain supplies of this country would not last for more than ten days?

rose—

We have a large number of questions on the Paper.

asked the Prime Minister to which of His Majesty's Ministers in the House of Commons questions relating to the supply of food for human and cattle consumption as a national defence Service should be addressed?

Questions relating to the home production of food supplies for human or animal consumption should be addressed to the Minister of Agriculture. As regards other questions relating to the supply of foodstuffs, I would suggest that in the first instance they should be addressed to the President of the Board of Trade or the Minister of Agriculture according as they are concerned with foodstuffs for human or animal consumption.

Does that apply equally to the national defence Services?

I should think it would be the Board of Trade.

Can the Prime Minister say whether the Minister of Agriculture can speak for Scotland?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the gambling operations in armaments shares being organised at the present time in the form of so-called armament and allied share pools; and whether it is proposed to take any action to discourage this attempt to make money by speculation out of the Government's defence programme?

I am aware of undesirable attempts which are being made to induce members of the public to participate in transactions of a gambling nature in the shares of armament and allied companies. Movements in the Stock Exchange prices of shares of this character have no necessary relationship to actual future profits. People who indulge in this type of speculation should bear in mind that they do so entirely at their own risk.

May I assume from that that the Government strongly disapprove of gambling operations of this kind?

I disapprove of such operations in any stocks.

Is it not a fact that over the last few weeks armament shares have, on the whole, gone down?

asked the Prime Minister whether, following the appointment of a Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, he proposes at an early date to rearrange the duties of the Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence so that this official may no longer have to bear in addition the burden of being Secretary to the Cabinet and Clerk to the Privy Council, observing that the responsibilities of this triple function are more than any one man can shoulder?

Yes, Sir, the staff of the Committee of Imperial Defence and the Privy Council Office is being strengthened in such a way as to relieve the official referred to of some of his duties.

Is the Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence to retain his three present positions?

If I understood the hon. and gallant Member aright—I could not quite hear what he said—I think the answer is "Yes."

Are we to understand, having heard the Prime Minister, that this gentleman will continue to hold the same offices but that additional junior appointments will be made to his staff to assist him?

The extra work is being arranged in such a way that I hope he will continue to function in the present secretariats he holds. Sir Maurice Hankey is, I think, without any doubt, one of the most able civil servants that any Government has ever had.

Granting what the right hon. Gentleman says with regard to the ability of Sir Maurice Hankey, is it advisable that the Government should depend upon one civil servant in so many offices?

asked the Prime Minister who will be the British representatives at the proposed staff talks between this country and France and Belgium; whether the Italian Government is expected to participate; what will be the nature of the discussions; and whether it is possible to postpone this conference until negotiations with Germany have further advanced?

As regards the first part of the question, this matter is still under consideration. As regards the second part, the conversations in which His Majesty's Government have agreed that their staffs shall participate will be with the staffs of France and Belgium. His Majesty's Government have no information as to whether the Italian Government propose to hold similar conversations with France and Belgium. As regards the third part, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the passage in the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the course of last Thursday's Debate which had reference to this matter. As regards the last part of the question, the conversations at present under discussion will, as my right hon. Friend explained in that statement, relate to the immediate situation pending negotiations. His Majesty's Government cannot agree to the postponement of these conversations, which they regard as an essential element in the restoration of confidence which is necessary for the success of these negotiations.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that when those conversations take place they will be kept strictly under Cabinet supervision, that they will be entirely for defensive purposes, and not for the purpose of waging war on Germany, as suggested by the right hon. Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George) in the "Times" of to-day?

In regard to the first part of the supplementary question, of course that will be the case. We shall have strict control over the conversations. The latter part of his suggestion is fantastic.

Can we have an assurance from the Prime Minister that representatives from an already declared aggressor State shall not take part in these conversations?

asked the Prime Minister whether it will be made a condition of any conversations which may take place between the general staffs of the Locarno Powers that an agreed memorandum of the proceedings shall be drawn up and signed by the senior representatives at the conversations, so that no misunderstanding may subsequently arise as to what the conversations commit us to?

I think that the hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that His Majesty's Government will take all precautions which seem necessary to them.

Will the agenda for these conversations be drawn up by the Cabinet or by the General Staff?

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will put that question down.

asked the Prime Minister whether, during the proposed discussion between military officers representing France, Belgium, Italy and Great Britain, the Royal Air Force will be represented and discussions take place as to the use of the air forces of the Allies and a decision taken as to the use of bombing machines and poison-gas bombs against the civilian population of an enemy country?

In the proposed conversations between military staffs, the Air Staff will take its part. As regards the latter part of the question, the right hon. Gentleman will be aware of the limited nature of these conversations, which was explained by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his statement in the course of last Thursday's Debate. In any case, His Majesty's Government will, of course, hold themselves bound in all circumstances to observe the Geneva Protocol of 1925, of which they were a signatory, with regard to the use of poison gas.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that our own Government and other Governments reserve the right to use poison gas and bombs providing some other nation is using them? It is to those circumstances that my question refers. I am quite aware of the Geneva Pact. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask the Prime Minister to give me an answer to the question I have just put. There is a reservation in regard to the Geneva Pact, and that is that in certain circumstances poison gas will be used by this country?

I am afraid I am not quite clear what it is the right hon. Gentleman wishes to ask me. I do not see how the question which he has in his mind can possibly arise at the present moment. The question of the use of poison gases is, I agree with him, one of the most alarming questions the whole world has before it to-day, and I have in my own mind hopes t hat if we are successful in bringing together the proper nations in regard to these proposals, which have just come from Germany, that is one of the points that will be dealt with, and possibly settled.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is yet in a position to make a statement as to the precise date of the Coronation?

I am in a position to announce, with the approval of His Majesty, that the Coronation will take place some time in the month of May next year. The precise date will be announced as soon as possible.

Will representatives of the Overseas Dominions and Colonies, as well as India, be invited?

I suppose so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied that the qualifications and experience of the junior assistant secretary of the Treasury, who has been appointed as permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, were such as to justify his promotion over the heads of the second secretary, the principal assistant secretaries, and the assistant secretaries in the Treasury, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and other Departments of State?