asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to raise the officers' ration allowance when on furlough to the same level as the soldiers' rations?

The matter is under consideration, and no decision has yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for War what decision has been arrived at with regard to the disposal of the site of the Duke of York's headquarters, King's Road, Chelsea?

So far as I am aware, no proposal to dispose of the site in question is under consideration.

Is it not a fact that five years ago it was stated by the Minister's predecessor that its disposal was under consideration?

I do not know.

Will the Minister look up the matter and see whether that is a fact or not?

I am quite clear that there is no intention of disposing of this site at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Yeomanry armoured-car units will be provided with modern armoured cars to take the place of those which have either become obsolete or have been removed from them when they go into training early this summer?

I regret that it will not be possible to provide Yeomanry armoured-car units with the latest type of armoured car for training this summer but it is hoped that most companies will be able to train with their full complement of cars.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the unrest prevalent among Scottish herring fishermen at the present time, due partly to the misunderstanding of, and partly to anxiety about, the future policy of the Herring Industry Board; and if, in order to remove such misunderstanding and anxiety, he will urge the chairman of the Herring Industry Board to make a full statement in public in Scotland regarding the policy of the Board for the immediate future and, in broad terms, over the next two or three years?

Representations on the matters mentioned in the first part of the question have been made to me and my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and we are receiving a deputation from the Herring Industry to-morrow. I understand that the Chairman of the Herring Industry Board has recently published a statement about the present policy of the board and that, while the policy to be followed over a period of years must necessarily depend largely on the course of economic events, it is the intention of the board to take all practicable means of publicly explaining the board's policy.

Is the Minister not aware that the recent statement of the Chairman of the board to which he refers did not in any way relieve the anxiety, or indeed deal with these particular matters, particularly the fear of the fishermen that the main policy of the board is a drastic reduction of the fleet?

I have no doubt that the representatives of the herring industry will submit these points to my right hon. Friend and myself to-morrow. I can assure the hon. Member that we shall go closely into the points which he has raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the resolution passed at the recent meeting of representatives of the herring industry held in Aberdeen; whether he is prepared to receive the proposed deputation; and what further action His Majesty's Government propose to take to deal with the present plight of the industry?

I have received the resolution mentioned in the first part of the question, and ray right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and I have arranged to receive the deputation from the herring industry to-morrow. With regard to the last part of the question, I think it will be preferable not to make any statement until we have heard the case put forward by the deputation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that under the 1935 Housing Act all questions of public acquisition of land are now submitted to the district valuers; whether these valuers can in fact cope with the increase in work thus given them; and whether he can say how many purchases have been approved and how many are still under examination in the county of Stirling?

Yes, Sir. The Department of Health for Scotland consult the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue Department in order to ensure that prices or feu-duties proposed to be paid for land for State-assisted housing schemes are reasonable. Steps are being taken to augment the staff of the Valuation Office to enable it to cope promptly with the additional work. Four purchases of land by the County Council of Stirling have been approved since August, 1935. In five out of ten outstanding cases the district valuer's reports have been sent to the local authority; in two cases the district valuer is negotiating for acquisition with the owners; and the remaining three cases are being investigated by the district valuer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can supply any references to authoritative evidence upon the movement southward from Scotland in control and ultimate direction in finance, railways and factories and workshops employing fewer than 25 workpeople; and whether he will invite the Economic Advisory Committee for Scotland to give him the conclusions it draws from the Ministry of Labour's Report for 1935, wherein it is shown that during the last 12 years employment in the south has increased by 27 per cent. and decreased in the north by 3 per cent?

So far as I am aware precise information is not available as to the extent of any movements of the nature referred to in the first part of the question, but there appears to be no reason to suppose, from the general information available in the publications to which I have already referred the right hon. Gentleman, that substantial movements of such a kind are taking place. The Scottish Economic Committee has, with Government assistance, been set up by the Scottish National Development Council because employment in Scotland has not developed to the same extent as in other parts of the country in some of the newer fields of industrial enterprise. The responsibility for initiating such enterprise rests with industry, not with the Government, and I have no doubt that the Committee, in examining the possibilities of promoting fresh enterprises and employment in Scotland, will consider all aspects of the problem, including such matters as those mentioned in the question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman specially draw the attention of the Committee to the information given in the last part of the question?

I shall be very happy to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the question of the formation of local committees, where those do not already exist, to co-operate with the recently created committee advising on industrial matters in Scotland, and the co-operation of the local committees with the larger committee, where the local committees are already in existence, with a view to encouraging local interest in the work of the national committee?

Yes, Sir. In my statement to the Scottish Economic Committee I emphasised the importance of steps being taken by them to enlist the co-operation of the business interests in the various localities and to encourage them and local development committees in their efforts to help themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps, if any, are being taken to increase the number of fish in Scottish lochs and rivers?

The improvement of stocks in Scottish lochs and rivers is a matter which rests with the proprietors of the fishings. I understand that numerous efforts have been made to increase the stocks of salmon and trout, but as these have been made by private enterprise, I regret I am unable to give any particulars.

Is the Secretary of State aware that in many other countries there is not only protection of the populations of rivers and streams but a system of growing proper feeding along the banks has been regulated, and a great increase has taken place, and could not something be done in Scotland to increase this supply of delicious food? Does he not think something could be done to take this out of private hands and keep to Scotland the right to its own produce?

I do not think the time has arrived to take the latter step mentioned by my hon. Friend, but I shall certainly take all available steps to assist those who are at present in possession.

Will not the Secretary of State in the case of fishing take the advice of his chief, who has been a student of fishing, particularly salmon, all his life, and bear in mind what he said in Edinburgh as to what can be done with regard to Scottish lochs and rivers?

I shall be glad to take advice from any chief and from any quarter, but I would remind the hon. Member that responsibility for action must rest with the responsible Minister.

Will the Secretary of State himself try to help in this connection by being more strict, as far as it comes within his power, with regard to pollution and the instituting of prosecutions for the pollution of the rivers?

On receiving reports from any officials of the Fishery Board in different parts of Scotland, I shall at once take steps. I shall direct my mind to the point referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of money was transferred last year by the education authorities in Scotland to other education authorities in respect of charges under Section 10 of the Act of 1918; and whether he will give the amounts so paid by each authority?

The total payment in the year 1934–35 under Section 10 of the Act of 1918 was £19,688. With the right hon. Gentleman's permission I will circulate the details of the payment in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can now state the policy of His Majesty's Government with regard to oats?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement. The whole subject is at present being closely investigated by the Departments concerned.

When does my right hon. Friend think he will be in a position to make a statement?

I am afraid I cannot add anything to the answer I have already given.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the resolution passed at the recent annual meeting of the Scottish section of the Institution of Water Engineers, calling for early legislation to place the public supply of water in Scotland on an improved basis and urging that adequate grants be made available in aid of approved schemes in rural areas; and, since this view coincides with that expressed by the County Councils' Association of Scotland in their recent interview with the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he proposes to take to meet this urgent need?

I have received the resolution and am considering it along with the representations made by the Association of County Councils, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that this matter is of very vital importance in connection with housing, which he has promised to press forward?

I am well aware of the close connection between water supply and housing, but I would remind my hon. Friend that the Government found public money for the water supply a year or two ago.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, that due to the opposition of the small burghs of Fife, it was made impossible, even to have an inquiry into the advisability and practicability of pooling Fife's water resources; and will he agree to call again upon the local authorities in Fife with a view to getting this question satisfactorily settled?

I am well aware of the differences of opinion which have arisen in the last year or two, between different associations in Fife on this matter. My office has been in touch and will continue to keep in touch with the representatives concerned, with a view to finding a common solution of this urgent problem.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this is not a Fife problem only, but that it affects nearly every rural district in Scotland?

May I have an answer on the point that there was a provisional promise given, as the result of a deputation which met the Secretary of State, that a conference should again be called if there was any change in public opinion in Fife on this matter?

As I said, my office has been in touch with the position within the last few weeks. We shall readily call a conference, if it appears to hold out any reasonable hope of success, and I shall consider the point put by my hon. Friends.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the interest and anxiety regarding the price of milk in Scotland, he will publish the impartial report of the committee of investigation on the subject?

The disputes which have been the subject of inquiry by the committees of investigation on the terms of the contracts for 1935–36 raise questions of general interest in the marketing position of milk in England and Wales and in Scotland respectively, and for the reasons given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries yesterday I have, in the special circumstances, arranged for the publication at an early date of the report of the committee of investigation for Scotland as an exceptional case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the price paid by the Edinburgh Corporation for the 215 acres of Bound recently acquired from the Muirhouse estate, owned by Mr. Matthew Mather, running parallel with the Granton-Grammond foreshore; what conditions apply in respect of current leases; and what is the present value at which this land is assessed for the purposes of Schedule A of the Income Tax?

I am informed that the price paid by the Edinburgh Corporation for the land in question was £48,500. There is a lease in respect of a dwelling house on the grounds at a rent of £250 per annum for 10 years from Whitsunday, 1933, with a break in the tenant's favour at Whitsunday, 1938. The remainder of the land, amounting to 174 acres, is being leased meantime to the former owner on a yearly basis at a rent of £300 per annum. I understand that application has not yet been made to have the land referred to in the question assessed separately for Income Tax purposes.

Will this land be so assessed; and, if so, will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House when it is done?

Any questions on that subject should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many reports as to the state of overcrowding have now been received, what percentage that number is of the total, and what is the percentage of overcrowded houses as revealed by the reports?

Reports have been received from 216 local authorities—representing 94.7 per cent. of the total number of local authorities in Scotland. The percentage of overcrowding in surveyed houses as revealed by these reports is 23.5 per cent.

Does the Minister expect to have the reports completed by the appointed day?

I hope to publish a White Paper shortly giving full particulars of all the reports we have received, and that will show the House the steps that have already been taken and are being taken in this matter.

Is the Minister taking any steps to hurry on those local authorities that have been obviously laggard in this matter?

Yes, we are constantly in touch with the situation, and this White Paper will give details of the actual reports which have been received by us from various local authorities.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of shots fired in the coal in the anthracite collieries of South Wales in the years 1930 to 1935, inclusive, respectively?

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

Following is the reply:

The following table shows the approximate number of shots fired in the anthracite collieries of South Wales for each of the years requested. These figures include shots fired in rippings and in mines which raise bituminous coal as well as anthracite. I regret that the exact information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of coal tonnage raised in the anthracite collieries in South Wales, and the number of persons employed at those collieries, in the years 1930 to 1935, inclusive, respectively?

As the reply involves a statistical table, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the increasing difficulty of obtaining coke for agricultural purposes and the wide margin between the pit-head price and the price charged to the consumer; and whether he can take steps to encourage a remedy?

The position generally in regard to supplies of coke is at present under examination in my Department. I am making inquiries into this particular case of difficulty which my hon. Friend has brought to my notice since putting down his question, and I will communicate with him when they are completed.

Is the Minister taking any steps to find a general remedy for this difference in price between the pithead and the consumer?

This question deals with coke, and I have said that that matter is under examination at the present time.

With the idea of finding a remedy for the present difference in price?

With all sorts of ideas.

Is it desired by the Secretary for Mines that the money paid in increased price shall actually go to the millers, as all the public in the British Isles thought it would go?

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of inspections made by His Majesty's inspectors of mines for the year 1935 and what proportion of these were made on the day shift, the afternoon shift, and the night shift?

During 1935, His Majesty's inspectors made 17,855 inspections underground in mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911. Of these, 15,261 were on the day shift, 1,035 afternoon and 1,559 night.

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman think that the number of inspections on the night and afternoon shifts is in keeping with the number in the day turns; and is the fault in that respect not due to the fact that there is not an adequate number of inspectors; and will he consider increasing the number with a view to greater efficiency?

The last question put by the hon. Member raises a great many issues.

Well, think it over.

Of course the Royal Commission on Safety in Mines is considering these very points but, on the specific question asked by the hon. Member in the first place, these inspections on the afternoon and night shifts actually show a slightly increased proportion to that which they had, when the hon. Member last asked a similar question.

Can the Minister give us the number of workmen's inspections, or would that require a separate question?

It would certainly require a separate question.

Is any considerable period of notice given to the managers of mines when inspections are about to be made? Do they get notice several days ahead?

I have answered that question previously in this House, and perhaps the hon. Member will refer to what I said on that occasion.

As this is a rather important point, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us what he did say on that occasion? This is the crux of the whole question.

If I may, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, repeat what I said previously, I answered that notice is not given of inspections except in rare cases in which it is necessary for an inspector to see a particular person. If an inspector wants to see a particular person, he obviously desires to ensure that that person will be there but, generally, inspections are made without notice.

How is it that they know when the inspector is coming?

How does the hon. Member know that they know that the inspector is coming?

asked the Secretary for Mines the quantity of coal exported from the Bristol Channel ports, respectively, during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1939, 1931, 1934, 1935, and 1936; and the countries to which the coal was exported?

I will with the hon. Member's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the total exports from the Bristol Channel ports during the years specified, and I will send to him the further details he asks for in a statistical statement which is too long to justify printing it in the OFFICIAL REPORT, and will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to what extent the administration of Swaziland has provided funds for advances by way of loans for the tobacco growers, including native growers, in Swaziland; what is the method of consultation with the natives on matters which directly affect their interests; and whether the present system of ascertaining their views has been working satisfactorily?

Advances to Swaziland tobacco growers (including native growers) are made by the local tobacco co-operative society in respect of the annual crop delivered by them to the society for disposal. Funds for these advances are provided by loans from the administration. One of the directors of the society is appointed by the Resident Commissioner for the purpose, inter alia, of looking after the interests of native growers. I have no reason to suppose that this arrangement has not worked satisfactorily.

Has any application been made by the native chief or his council for an increase in the grant to the tobacco growers?

I should have to inquire into that.

Is any alteration contemplated in the means of communication between the native chief and the administration?

I have said that my opinion is that the present method of representing native interests is working satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been called to the regulations for the control of manufactures in the Irish Free State which preclude the employment of English and Scotch workers; whether steps will be taken by His Majesty's Government in Great Britain to see that English and Scotch workers have the same facilities for employment in the Irish Free State as Free State workers have in England and Scotland; and, failing such facilities in the Free State, what steps will be taken to preclude Free State citizens in England or Scotland obtaining employment at the expense of English and Scotch workers?

I am aware that under the Control of Manufactures Act, 1934, the Irish Free State Government have taken power to make regulations ensuring that factories set up in the Irish Free State in accordance with the provisions of that Act shall employ only Irish Free State nationals, but I am not aware that the existence of these regulations necessarily precludes the employment of English and Scottish workers in the Irish Free State or that any hardship has, so far, arisen out of their operation. As regards the last part of the question, it is not the policy of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to make any discrimination of the kind in question in this country and, as at present advised, I see no sufficient ground for suggesting any change in that position.

If no such circumstances have arisen so far, will the right hon. Gentleman's office keep in touch with the situation to see that no such circumstances do arise; and, in any event, will he see that the same treatment is accorded to British workers in the Irish Free State as is accorded to Irish Free State workers in this country?

Is it not a fact that Irish Free State citizens are, in our eyes, British citizens; is it not much better that they should be treated as such; and is it not also better to go in for a policy of removing pin-pricks, rather than a policy of aggravating them?

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a protest from the Bamangwato tribe in Bechuanaland against the acceptance by His Majesty's Government of a grant of £35,000 from the South African Union for the assistance of the Protectorates for which His Majesty's Government are directly responsible; and whether he will make a statement assuring the Bamangwato people that His Majesty's Government have no intention of transferring the Protectorates to the Union?

I have seen reports in the Press of a resolution stated to have been passed by the Bamangwato tribe on this subject, and am in communication with the High Commissioner in the matter. As regards the last part of the question, the pledges which His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have given to the House, and to the inhabitants of the territories, remain unimpaired.

Should it not be regarded as very much better that the Protectorates should not be put under an obligation to the Union, and will the right hon. Gentleman make representations on this matter so that, if the Government of the Union wishes to be helpful to the Protectorates, they should open their markets to the products of the Protectorates?

I would point out that the assistance which has been offered by the Government of the Union will enable works to be undertaken, which otherwise could not be undertaken, for the development of the territories in the interests of the natives.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman regard this as definitely altering the status of Bechuanaland in relation to the Union of South Africa?

It does not limit the status in the least. As I have said in my answer, the position with regard to transfer remains exactly as it was.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the permission given to importers of textile goods to describe as of British origin textiles manufactured abroad and merely finished or dyed and finished in this country penalises British manufacturers and merchants, in that certain countries allow British textiles to enter at lower duties; and will be consider a revision of the regulations governing this matter?

The regulations defining the nationality of goods imported into other countries are laid down by the importing country and not by His Majesty's Government. I am aware that the practice to which the hon. Member refers may operate prejudicially to United Kingdom exports in certain countries where a reserved share of the market has been in some way guaranteed for United Kingdom textiles, but His Majesty's Government are endeavouring, in such cases, to guard against this risk.

Do I understand from the reply that an importer of Italian textiles, which have been brought into this country through Austria or some other country, can, with the right hon. Gentleman's permission, re-export those goods as British commodities? Surely the right hon. Gentleman has some power in regard to that?

The question on the Paper refers to goods as of British origin imported into foreign countries. If the hon. Gentleman wants information with regard to imports into this country, he had better put a question on the Paper.

Does not my right hon. Friend recognise how detrimental it is to the British exporter to allow imports of textile goods in the grey, and then to allow their exports as British manufacture, whereas, as a matter of fact, they have only gone through a dyeing process?

I have already pointed out that in certain cases we are endeavouring to deal with this point.

Will my right hon. Friend alter the regulations in regard to it?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the necessity of increasing the supply of home-grown beef and of the present unremunerative wholesale price, His Majesty's Government will insist on the revision or denunciation of the present Argentine and Ottawa Agreements?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture on 4th February. As the House is aware, informal discussions on the subject of meat and, in general, the revision of the Anglo-Argentine Trade Agreement are at present proceeding with the Argentine Government.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the great interest felt in the House on this question, and can he give an undertaking that the House will be informed of the intention of the Government before we rise for the Summer Recess?

I am well aware of the interest taken in these matters not only in the House, but outside. We shall certainly not do anything which is not in conformity with the view of the House.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind, in view of the poverty existing in the country, that it is very necessary to keep the price of meat as low as possible?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take for the termination of the Anglo-Argentine trade agreement in October next if no agreement is made for its revision in the meantime?

I regret that I am not at present in a position to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for South Croydon (Mr. H. G. Williams) and the hon. and gallant Member for Penrith and Cockermouth (Captain Dower), on 21st April.

May we have some information as to what will happen if no agreement is arrived at when the Anglo-Argentine Agreement is terminated?

I do not despair of effecting an agreement which will be satisfactory to both sides.

Assuming that no agreement is arrived at, what will be the position?

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are other than agricultural interests involved in this question, and that it is important to the manufacturing interests of this country that special attention should be given to them?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is generally understood among the agricultural interests of the country that the Government are going to take the earliest possible steps to alter this Agreement, which could be altered within a week?

I think that my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. We cannot arrive at an agreement by simply imposing the view of one side.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether following upon the communications from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1913, as set forth in Cmd. 7148, steps have been taken to keep the Board of Trade informed upon any misconduct of British subjects or companies registered within the British Empire; whether this obligation includes operations of companies and activities of British subjects in mandated dominion territories; whether his attention has been drawn to the operations of the New Guinea Goldfields Company, whose London office is Adelaide House, King William Street; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The arrangements outlined in the circular letter from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to which the hon. and gallant Member refers related to the collection of information by consular officers as to the treatment of native labour by British companies and persons in foreign countries. I am unable to trace the receipt in the Board of Trade since 1913 of information on any cases of ill-treatment of native labour by British companies nor am I aware of any action that my Department could have taken under the Companies Acts if such information had been received. With regard to the second part of the question, matters relating to mandated Dominion territories are the concern of the Dominion Government in question. With regard to the remainder of the question, I have no information as to the operations of the company mentioned, which is incorporated in New South Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the inconvenience to British manufacturers caused by the short notice of the official quarterly distribution of imported goods given by the Danish authorities, and the delay extending from three to six weeks into the quarter in issuing supplementary licences; and whether, in any new trade agreement with Denmark, he will endeavour to secure that this hindrance to British trade budgeting is remedied;

(2) whether, as the decrease in the imports of British manufactured goods into Denmark and their replacement by the importation of raw materials and semi-manufactured goods is not in accordance with the terms of the trade agreement with that country, he will, in any new agreement, safeguard the interests of British manufacturers and their employés?

The points raised in both questions will be borne in mind during the forthcoming negotiations.

Will my right hon. Friend also bear in mind the fact that the supplementary licences which are granted are often in excess of the original permits given at the beginning of the quarter?

That is one of the points which we shall emphasise.

Are the textile interests being consulted with regard to the difficulty of getting licences to export goods to Denmark?

We have been in close touch with the textile and other interests on this subject and are following them up.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of the countries which have been granted special concessions in regard to their imports into this country owing to the imposition of economic and financial sanctions against Italy; and whether all the concessions given relate to agricultural products?

The answer to the first part of the question is Yugoslavia; as regards the details of the concessions granted to imports from that country I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 10th February to similar questions by the hon. and gallant Members for Newbury (Brigadier-General Clifton Brown) and Tiverton (Lieut.-Colonel Acland-Troyte).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the new extensions to iron and steel works on Tees-side have been assisted by the Government; and, if so, whether any similar assistance is to be offered to the proposed steel works at Jarrow?

No financial assistance has been given by the Government to the iron and steel works referred to in the first part of the question. The second part does not therefore arise.

Would the Minister arrange for this iron and steel works to get a large order to provide material for a bridge across the Forth?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in the conversations between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Dominions on the Pacific shipping situation; and what proposals the British Government has put before the Dominions to meet the menace of foreign subsidies?

The conversations are proceeding, but have not reached a stage at which any statement can be made.

Seeing how vital it is that the British flag should be maintained in the Pacific seas, cannot my right hon. Friend give the House some information as to the scope of these negotiations?

I am afraid that I cannot at this stage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any alteration in the method of compiling official shipping statistics has been brought into force since 1st January, 1936?

No alteration has been introduced this year in the method of compiling the existing statistics of shipping movements, but as from 1st January, 1936, the information collected in respect of the overseas trade of this country has included particulars of the nationality of the vessels conveying the goods, and statistics based on these particulars will be published after the end of the year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that candidates for Board of Trade certificates as master and mate and engineer in the Mercantile Marine who are resident in the north-east of Scotland are obliged to incur considerable expense in travelling to Glasgow and maintaining themselves there during the examinations; and whether, in view of the hardship to the candidates, he will now consider restoring the arrangement, discontinued in September, 1932, as an economy measures, whereby an official went to Aberdeen to conduct these examinations?

If there are any new factors in the problem I will, of course, consider them, but I am not at present aware of any change in conditions which would justify the withdrawal of the decision arrived at in 1932 on grounds of economy and efficiency.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that young men preparing for these examinations are often out of employment for the time? They come home from sea to undergo a course of study. Does he not agree that even £5 is a considerable sum for a young man in that position?

Yes, Sir, and that point has been fully considered by the Department concerned.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the result of the arrangements made in 1932 have been as bad as many of us then told the right hon. Gentleman we feared that they would be?

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the Government are responsible for any of the present insurance risk of the new Cunarder, steamship "Queen Mary"; and will he give particulars?

The amount of the present insurance on this vessel borne by the Board of Trade is £1,780,000, of a total of £4,500,000 and is in respect of risks arising during construction. Arrangements for the insurance of the vessel against marine risks are now being completed.

Have the Government taken any portion of the marine risks?

If the hon. Gentleman wants to know what has been done in regard to the marine risks, he had better put a question down.

Were all the markets exhausted before the marine risks were effected?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this question asks about the present insurance risks, and that that covers both marine and construction risks?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the appointing of a Royal Commission to investigate the co-ordination and simplification of British weights and measures and the possibility of introducing the decimal system both in this direction and in the currency?

I have no evidence of a widespread demand for change on the part of the business community such as would justify the setting-up of an inquiry into the matters referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to introduce legislation to enable parents to annul irrevocable trusts already made on behalf of their children, so that legally appointed trustees shall be allowed to return to parents trust funds originally put into trust by the parents on behalf of their children and on which, under the Budget proposals, the parents, instead of the children, will be called upon to pay Income Tax and Surtax?

I may perhaps refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my remarks in the course of the Debate last night, and ask him to await the introduction of the Finance Bill containing the necessary provisions for giving effect to my proposal.

Would not the effect of such a fundamental change be greatly to increase direct taxation and to cause hardships to many persons who in the past have done something irrevocable but nothing dishonourable or illegal, or in any way hidden or concealed from the Revenue authorities?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the figures of direct and indirect taxation for 1925 and 1935 and what they will be on the present Budget?

With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I would, however, remind the hon. Member that, as I said last night, any comparison between the figures before and after the alteration in the fiscal system of the country would be entirely misleading.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has satisfied himself before making the order to increase the duties on sodium bichromate and potassium bichromate, that the tanning, textile finishing, and colour making industries will not be prejudicially affected?

The committee's report indicates that attention has been given to the point to which the hon. Member refers, and that they are satisfied that the interests of consumers will not be prejudiced.

Has the Chancellor not realised that in the Command Paper describing this matter the commissioners make no reference to having interviewed any consumer and that the only promise that prices will be reasonable has been made by the manufacturers and this has apparently satisfied the Commissioners? Is that good enough?

I think it is.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether there is for the Admiralty, Air and War Departments a technical costs section for each Department; and whether the technical costs section in each Department is fully equipped with a competent staff to deal with all contingencies that may arise in connection with any rearmament programme deemed necessary in the near future?

A centralized technical costs section has been found more conducive to efficiency and economy than separate sections in each of the three Defence Departments and provision for this contralised section is now made in Air Estimates. The staff of the section has recently been considerably augmented in order to deal with contingencies which may arise in connection with the re-armament programme and the question of further augmentation is under consideration.

Can my hon. Friend state the number of the staff?

Not without notice.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to a, firm of stockbrokers who are inviting the investing public to subscribe to an armament and allied pool, and basing the prospects of large profits on the grounds that the National Government were returned in consequence of a pledge that a large armament programme would be immediately entered into; and, in view of the repeated assurances that no excessive profits are to be made out of increased expenditure on armaments, will he take steps to institute proceedings against the firm for misrepresentation?

My attention has not been drawn to, this, but if the hon. Member will let me have further particulars, I will consider the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the figures of unemployment in the hosiery and underwear trades for the whole country and for the city of Leicester, respectively,