asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the amount of direct employment provided in the Scottish Special Areas as a result of financial assistance from the Special Areas Fund?

I regret that it is not possible to supply this information. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour pointed out in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Blaydon Division (Mr. Whiteley) on the filth instant the purpose of the Special Areas Act is not to provide direct employment but to stimulate the economic recovery of the areas and so improve employment prospects.

Cannot even an approximate indication be given of the effect of the Special Areas Commissioner's activities in Scotland?

I cannot give an exact estimate, and an approximate estimate would be merely a guess.

Are deductions made from the money handed over to the men directly employed for national health and unemployment insurance?

That question does not arise out of the answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that there is great hardship among fishermen on the Clyde coast owing to the closing of ports at the week-ends and to the dumping of herring and the lack of proper marketing of them; and whether he will, in the near future, examine the position and take such steps as are likely to ease the serious situation in which these fishermen find themselves?

I am aware that the earnings of the herring fishermen of the Clyde areas have recently been poor, but I am informed that this has resulted mainly from the small size and soft quality of a great part of the herring taken and the consequent difficulty of marketing the catch. The restriction of fishing operations has been imposed by a local committee appointed by the Herring Industry Board and consisting of fishermen and other members of the industry. I am informed that the object of the restriction was to prevent wasteful fishing and further dislocation of the industry. I am informed that an improvement in the position is expected to result from the purchase of herring in this area for export fresh to Germany, which I understand began again last week.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that what is required is a widening of the mesh so that so many immature fish are not destroyed, for that is dangerous to the Clyde fishermen?

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my right hon. Friend's question, whether he will personally examine the position? He is throwing the industry on to the Herring Industry Board, and, as he knows, the board is not very popular in the fishing industry in Scotland.

I will certainly examine the position myself, but I have already answered the question by indicating that the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and I have the position of the herring industry and possible legislation under review.

Surely the right hon. Gentleman knows that a great deal of hardship exists, especially on the Ayrshire seaboard and at Campbelltown, and that something ought to be done?

Is there a movement among the Clyde fishermen for the opening of the ports at the week-end?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any report to make upon his recent meeting with the deputation from the herring industry; whether he has decided to take action upon their recommendations; and, if so, what action is contemplated?

The proposals which were made by the deputation last week for financial assistance to the herring industry would require legislation. I am now examining them in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the urgency of these recommendations in view of the rather critical state of the industry?

Certainly.

In view of the extreme importance of this legislation, will my right hon. Friend make no statement until the whole question has been properly threshed out?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the letter from the provost and town clerk of Pittenweem drawing attention to the unsatisfactory and dangerous state of Pittenweem harbour and the refusal of the Fishery Board for Scotland to make a grant for improvements; and whether; since the Fishery Board are unable to support the scheme prepared by their engineer he will instruct the board to make another survey of the harbour, with a view to preparing a less costly scheme, which will render the harbour safe and justify a substantial grant from the funds available to the board?

I have considered the letter referred to by my hon. Friend. I am informed by the Fishery Board for Scotland that the fullest consideration has been given to the possibility of preparing a less costly scheme, but that they are advised that nothing short of the full scheme would effect any material improvement at this harbour. As regard the full scheme, the opinion of the board is that the benefit which might be derived from it would not be commensurate with the cost involved.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that even on the authority of the Fishery Board this harbour is most dangerous to life and property, and that it cannot, therefore, be neglected; and will he not persuade them to reconsider their decision in view of the serious nature of this complaint?

What sum is involved in this scheme, and may I ask on what grounds the scheme was rejected by the right hon. Gentleman's Department in view of the fact that it was prepared by the consulting engineer to the Fishery Board, and has the unanimous approval not only of the local fishermen but of the local town council?

The estimated cost of the scheme is £8,400. As to the suggestion of my hon. Friend that this should be further examined, I will undertake to examine it further, but I do not want to hold our unreasonable hopes.

Have not larger sums been approved by the Minister involving expenditure at fishery centres of less importance than the harbour concerned here?

Larger sums have, of course, been approved, but the landings of herring, for instance, at this port are some 18,700 cwts., against Anstruther 160,800; and although the quantity of white fish is larger, one must take into account the probable economic return from a harbour in estimating whether expenditure is desirable or not.

While accepting my right hon. Friend's latter remarks, may I ask him to bear in mind that this is an all-the-year-round harbour while the others are not of that nature?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of school children in Glasgow, medically defined as suffering from malnutrition, receiving free meals at school for the years ending September, 1936, and 1937, respectively?

The numbers of children in Glasgow receiving free meals at school in the two years referred to were 8,105 and 8,154, respectively. I am informed that while many of these children are placed on the free meals register as a result of medical inspection, the majority are so placed on the recommendation of the head teacher and class teacher. The statistics available do not enable me to state the numbers in each category.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that for the past three years at least the figures of children in Glasgow suffering from malnutrition have not dropped below 8,000, and will he as Secretary of State for Scotland initiate an inquiry into the question of malnutrition in Glasgow?

No, it would be wrong to have a special inquiry into malnutrition in Glasgow. Children who are receiving free meals exist in many other cities and the whole problem must be treated as one.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, then, whether he is prepared to extend the scope of an inquiry so as to embrace malnutrition in Scotland?

Do I understand that before any children can get free meals they must he medically examined?

The point of my answer was that they need not he medically examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total number of air-raid precautions tests carried out in Scotland up to date?

No general air-raid precautions exercises have so far been carried cut, but it is hoped that they will be arranged when local schemes of air-raid precautions are further advanced.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many military experts agree that air raids of the future will not be confined to one particular part of the country, but that different places will be attacked at the same time; and does he not think it necessary that some move should be made to protect the people of Scotland?

That shows how desirable it is to pass the Bill at present before the House.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it should have been done long ago?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been given to the Scottish Economic Committee from public funds to finance the purchase and development of the Scottish Industrial Estates, Limited, at North Millington; what are the subsidies and other financial aids given to the new companies; is the financing done direct or through the agency of a bank and, if the latter, what bank is entrusted with the transactions; and how many new industries are likely to be started and how many men and women will he employed?

The sums required for the purposes mentioned in the first part of the question are advanced directly by the Special Areas Commissioner to the Scottish Industrial Estates Company, Limited, the sums so far paid amounting to £72,213; no sum has been advanced through the Scottish Economic Committee. With regard to the financial aids to new undertakings, I am sending the hon. Member a publication issued jointly by the Special Area Commissioners in the two countries, which indicates the forms of assistance that are available. I am informed that any payments by the Commissioner are made direct to the undertaking concerned. While it is not possible to say how many new industries are likely to be started or how many persons will be employed, I am informed that factories on the estate have already been let to 18 undertakings, and that a large number of inquiries are at present before the company.

I ask in the question whether it is done directly or through the agency of a bank. Can I have a reply?

I have said that it is done direct to the undertaking concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chairman of the Scottish Industrial Estates, Limited, is also Chairman of the Union Bank of Scotland who has been very prominent in the question of anti-trade unionism; and can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that this anti-trade unionism will not extend to the Scottish Industrial Estates, Limited?

That is not a relevant question.

I would like to ask why the question of the attitude of the Chairman of the Scottish Estates, Limited, is not relevant to the future of the company?

Obviously the question which the hon. Member is putting as a supplementary question will need a separate question, for it goes far beyond the question on the Paper.

I was only asking whether the Secretary of State was aware of these facts, and I could have received a reply in the affirmative or the negative.

That is quite true, but a great many questions are put beginning, "Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact," and they merely give information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has formed any estimate of the number of farm-workers' cottages on farms which may be replaced under the provisions of Part II of the Housing (Agricultural Population) (Scotland) B ill?

It is difficult to form any close estimate of how many of the 33,500 farm workers' cottages will be replaced under Part II of the Bill until local authorities have surveyed the whole position in detail. On the information at present available, however, it would appear that the number of new cottages likely to be erected with assistance under Part II of the Bill in replacement of existing farm cottages might be put very roughly at 3,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the minimum requirements in sugar-beet to allow the Scottish sugar factory to function economically; the actual production of sugar-beet in Scotland; the amount of assistance paid per cwt. to the factory during 1936; and the average weekly raw sugar price?

The Sugar Commission, in their annual report, state that the mini- mum economic requirement of the Cupar factory may be taken at about 15,000 acres, representing approximately 125,000 tons of beet on the average yield for the Cupar factory in 1936. The total. quantity of beet delivered to Cupar in that year was 61,138 tons, of which 56,637 tons was Scottish and 4,501 tons English grown; the average amount of assistance paid per cwt. of sugar to Cupar was 4s. 11.4d. and the average weekly raw sugar price 4s. 9.6d.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state the Scottish acreage?

I think I gave it in terms of beet. I think, as I said, that 15,000 acres is the minimum requirement desired, but it is in the order of 10,000 acres. In 1936 the area was 6,760 acres, and in 1937 about 7,200 acres approximately.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is advisable to continue spending public money on an organisation functioning in this way—15,000 acres being the minimum and only some 8,000 acres being grown?

Is it not a fact that this House intended that the benefits of the sugar beet subsidy should be spread over the country and that Scottish growers have steadily extended their acreage?

My hon. Friend the Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart) is correct in his statement that the acreage in Scotland is increasing, and I should be very sorry to see this industry suppressed in our country.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the appointment of the committee in 1935 that has now the duty of inquiring into the recruitment for and conditions obtaining in the nursing profession, inquiries through the usual channels took place as to the composition of the committee before appointment; and whether he will consider the advisability of adding to its numbers by the appointment of a representative nurse below the status of matron?

Inquiries through the usual channels were made when the committee was originally appointed in 1934. In asking the committee to undertake a further investigation I felt it desirable to make the least possible change in its membership.

Without casting any aspersions on the two ladies who are on the committee, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would be desirable to introduce on to the committee someone under the status of a matron, in order to consider the details of nursing and the causes which are preventing persons coming forward to join that profession?

The committee which was originally appointed went very thoroughly into this question, and I thought it would not be desirable to add members who were unacquainted with the previous discussions, in view of the delay that would cause in the committee reaching conclusions.

Is not this an entirely different matter? It is a matter of recruitment and conditions and what it is that is preventing recruits coming forward. Is there anyone more competent to consider the conditions which are preventing recruits coming forward than one who is working under the conditions which prevail at present?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Royal College of Nursing, which is, I think, one of the usual channels referred to, take the view that there ought to be no interference by the legislature with conditions as between nurses and hospitals, and that conditions which were good enough for the old brigade should be good enough for younger nurses?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has given consideration to the resolution dealing with the administration of colliery disaster relief funds forwarded by the city council of Stoke-on-Trent; and is it intended to institute legislation to deal with the funds in order to secure a uniform scale of payments, control of administration, and to enable the unused balances to be available at once for colliery disasters?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. In my reply to the City Council of Stoke-on-Trent, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, I have indicated some of the principal difficulties involved in their proposal, and in this connection I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Tottenham, North (Mr. R. C. Morrison) on 12th November last year, of which I am sending him a copy.

Will the Minister give further consideration to this matter, and consider also the calling together of the Mine Workers' Federation, the colliery proprietors and the committee of management of this body?

Perhaps the hon. Member will first give consideration tc the documents which I am sending to him.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to collieries having to retard production owing to a shortage of wagons; and will steps be taken to obviate this?

I have only had one such case recently brought to my notice and, while neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport have statutory powers to deal with the matter, I am inquiring whether there is any action I can usefully take.

Is it not now time for the Government to take the matter in hand, seeing that it is quite 20 years since the Sankey Commission recommended that wagons should be pooled?

asked the Secretary for Mines what compensation, gratuity, or pension has been made to the relations of Messrs. Finney and Bloor, the inspectors of mines who lost their lives in doing their duty by trying to save life in the Holditch pit; and how far this recognition exceeds what would have been paid if they had died a natural death?

The cases referred to were dealt with under the provisions of the Superannuation Acts and of the Injury Warrant No. 1/1935 dated 27th June, 1935. I am sending the right hon. Gentleman a copy of the Warrant. The late Mr. Finney had no dependants. An has accordingly been made to his legal award of one year's salary (£639 14s. 11d) personal representatives, as would have been the case had he died a natural death. The award to the dependants of the late Mr. Bloor on the same basis would have been one year's salary (396 17s.), but in addition to this payment his widow has been granted a pension of £66 2s. 10d. per annum, she being the only dependant under the terms of the Warrant.

I gather that the pensions and rewards are exactly those which would be given in the ordinary course, but may I ask my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the great heroism displayed by these two men, which is a very excellent example, he will receive at the Treasury a small deputation of those who are interested in seeing that a reward should be given in these exceptional cases?

I did not know that the right hon. Gentleman was going to address that question to me, but having regard to the matter of it, I certainly will consider his suggestion sympathetically. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will be good enough to communicate with me.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons who are in receipt of royalties from coal in Northumberland; and the amount paid during the last 10 years?

I regret that the information asked for in the first part: of the question is not available. As the reply to the second part of the question involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

If the information is not available, how is it possible for the Mines Department to ascertain to whom compensation will be paid?

All those questions will arise when we come to discuss the Bill.

But does not the hon. and gallant Member realise that it is necessary to obtain this information in advance, and does he not realise also that this is a very simple question which can be simply answered?

Yes, and it has been answered in the simplest possible way by saying that the information is not at present available.

May I ask whether, when the Department receive a question such as this, they make a request to the owners to supply the information, and whether the owners refuse?

I have already said that as regards this particular information it is not available.

But did you ask the owners for it?

asked the Secretary for Mines (I) the amount paid for wayleaves in or about the coal mines in Northumberland during the last 10 years, 1927 to 1936, respectively;

I regret that no information is available beyond that referred to in the answer which I have just given to the hon. Member.

Will the Minister say how the Department arrive at their annual totals of what is paid in royalty rents if they are unable to answer this question?

If the hon. Member wants any details about how particular statistics are made up, perhaps he will put down a question.

My question is very distinct and asks for a particular detail as to the amount of royalties and wayleaves paid in Northumberland in a stated period, and that is the detail for which I am now asking.

It is a detail which is not at present available.

Why not?

If this very simple information is not available, how is it possible for the Mines Department and the Government to determine the basis of compensation in connection with the forthcoming Bill?

We may know the amount that is paid without knowing in any detail the actual number of persons receiving it.

What is the basis of compensation? Is it the number of persons, or is it simply a rough guess?

Really, these questions do not arise out of the request for information, which I am not in a position to give, because I have not got it. Perhaps hon. Gentlemen would like to discuss the matter with me, because I am only too anxious to help in any way to get all the information which it is possible to get.

I am not asking in this question for the names. I am asking for the amount. I put it to the hon. and gallant Gentleman that the total is arrived at of the annual royalty paid in Northumberland; how can that total be made up without knowing in detail just how much was paid?

I do not want to anticipate the discussion, but if the hon. Member has asked his question in reference to the Bill which has just been published—

I am not—

I may say there will be provisions to deal with it. But at this particular moment this information is not available, or I would give it.

Is the Minister aware that the information was available a few years ago?

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount paid for wayleaves in or about the coal mines of the county of Durham during the last Io years, 1927 to 1936, respectively; and the amount paid in rental value of freehold minerals worked by the proprietor in the same county during the same period?

I regret that no information is available beyond that given in my reply to the hon. Member on 9th November.

Will the Department be able to deal with the question of the disbursement of £66,500,000 if they do not know the simple details asked for?

Oh, yes, certainly. By the time the appropriate occasion arises for distributing the money, no doubt this information will be available. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Certainly, under the provisions of the Bill.

rose—

The Minister has already stated that he is unable to give the information asked for.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, as a result of the negotiations that have taken place between the owners of the coal and steel industries for the purpose of fixing prices, he can supply particulars as to the prices agreed upon; and also if an agreement has been reached with regard to the price of coke being included in the arrangement?

I am aware that in respect of both coal and coke discussions have been taking place with the steel industries, but I have no particulars of any price policy that may have been agreed.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the growing disparity between pit-head prices and those paid by industrial and domestic consumers in this country and the general apprehension that undue increases are being demanded from all classes of buyers, he will call for a return showing comparative prices paid in the September quarter, 1935, and the same quarter, 1937, in order to obtain reliable information regarding the effect of selling schemes upon consumers' prices and upon the earnings of men employed in the mining industry?

I regret that I have no power to call for a return of retail prices, but the hon. Member is, of course, aware that information as to pithead proceeds of coal and their effect on the men's earnings is shown by the wages ascertainments.

Is the Minister not aware that the ascertainment figures published of pit-head prices do not at all indicate the real prices in the market, and in view of the great disparity, and the widespread apprehension that undue prices are being charged, will not the hon. and gallant Gentleman inquire and see where the disparity exists?

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman say why it is impossible to obtain retail prices? Could he not ask the Retail Coalmerchants' Federation for these figures, as I have done myself on a previous occasion?

The fact remains that if one has no power to call for returns it is not necessarily easy to get this information. I am not aware of the apprehension mentioned by the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Grenfell).

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will write to me, I will send him some figures.

Is the Minister not aware that industrialists are bitterly complaining about having to pay 6s. or 7s. more per ton than 12 months ago, and that there is no indication of this in the ascertainment?

If industrialists or anybody else are aggrieved that they are paying too much, their remedy lies in an application to the committee of investigation which exists for the protection of the consumer.

But the consumer does that at very great inconvenience to himself. Will not the hon. and gallant Gentleman give this House the information which it is entitled to have in regard to this very important matter?

asked the Secretary for Mines the quantity of coal retained for internal consumption in Great Britain in 1931 and 1936, and the estimated consumption for all inland purposes for 1937; whether he can supply an estimate showing the gross annual amount paid by consumers in each year and the extent by which increased prices have been due to selling schemes?

The quantity of coal available for consumption in Great Britain in the year 1931 was 155.7 million tons, and in 1936, 175.9 million tons. Consumption in the first 10 months of 1937 was at the rate of about 180 million tons per annum. I regret that information to enable the estimate asked for in the second part of the question to be made is not available, but in my view the rise in prices is attributable more to the increased demand than to the revised selling schemes.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman in this case cause inquiries to be made so that the House may be put in possession of this very important information?

I really do not know how this kind of inquiry can be made. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will tell me what he has in mind.

The hon. and gallant Gentleman does not seem to realise the importance attached to the matter in this House. I give notice that I will raise the matter at the first opportunity on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has had any recent consultations with the representatives of the Dominion of Canada in refer- ence to the continued decline in our shipments of coal to the Dominion; whether in such consultations they have indicated to him the reasons for this fall in our exports of coal and the increase in the exports from Russia and other countries; and whether he is taking any steps to prevent a further decline in this trade?

No consultations have taken place since those to which I referred in the reply I gave on 12th November, 1936, to my hon. Friend the Member for East Cardiff (Mr. Temple Morris). As regards the second and third parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given him on 9th November.

Has the Minister received any representations from the Dominion that they experienced difficulty in getting supplies of coal from South Wales this summer, and is not the reason that for the moment it is more profitable to send coal to Italy; and does the Minister think it is desirable that South Wales coal should be diverted to the Italian market, which is purely temporary and we should lose the more permanent market?

I should like notice of that question, because I should not like to express an opinion offhand about the relative values of different parts of the export market.

Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman not think it is desirable to retain this Canadian market, upon which the full-time working of the coalfield depends, and that it is suicidal policy to lose a grip on this market?

asked the Secretary for Mines the quantity of coal exported from Great Britain and from Germany for the years 1935, 1936, and to the most recent date of the current year?

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

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the rapidly increasing quantity of coal exported from Germany; and whether any steps are being taken to arrest the declining share of Great Britain in the foreign coal markets as compared with Germany; and, if so, what measures are being taken?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 29th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Sir R. Clarry).

Is it not a fact that in his reply the hon. and gallant Gentleman then stated that no action at all was being taken and that no action was being contemplated?

I do not think that that is quite an accurate summary of what I said. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would look at it again.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which recommendations of the Import Duties Advisory Committee's Report on the steel industry, other than the recommendation in favour of a general oversight being kept upon the industry, are being considered or have been considered by the appropriate department and by the industry, respectively; in the case of those recommendations which have been considered, what conclusions have been reached; and, in the case of those recommendations that are being considered, when will conclusions be reached?

I fear that it is not practicable, within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question, to make a comprehensive review of the field covered by the report of the Import Duties Advisory Committee on the iron and steel industry; but if the hon. Member will indicate the particular recommendations in which he is interested I will endeavour to give him the information that he desires.

Surely, in view of the fact that the Minister said, on 27th July:

"A number of other recommendations are now being considered by the Department."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th July, 1937; col. 2830, Vol. 326.]

The point is that this committee, in their report, made something like 20 or 30 recommendations, and I feel that within the limits of question and answer it is impossible to deal with the situation. I should be glad to give the hon. Member information on any particular item.

If I put a question down, will the Minister state which paragraphs of this report are now being considered by his Department or by the industry?

I can give this answer: All the recommendations of this report are being considered either by the industry or by the appropriate Government Department. If the hon. Gentleman would like to know how this inquiry into any of them stands at the moment, and if he would specify the particular case, I should be glad to give the information.

Am I right in thinking that, as this has been going on for some months now, no decision has been reached?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give details of the numbers of, and the salaries paid to, those members of the staff of the Import Duties Advisory Committee who are engaged solely upon the work of exercising supervision over the reasonableness or unreasonableness of the prices charged by the various branches of the British Iron and Steel Federation which fix prices for their products and for seeing that the prices fixed are in fact the prices charged; of ensuring that, in fact, there is no discrimination between members and nonmembers of the various subsidiary federations in regard to allocation of steel imported under the cartel agreements; of supervising the reasonableness or otherwise of any scheme adopted for allocating output according to quota; of supervising the economic, financial, and social desirability of any proposals for the expansion or removal of iron and steel productive plant; and of supervising the fairness or otherwise of any loyalty rebate scheme?

The work to which the hon. Member refers is still in a state of development, and the organisation of the committee's staff does not permit of the complete division between the staff employed on this and other work. I am informed, however, that a considerable part of the time of one assistant secretary and one principal officer is taken up with this and other work arising on iron and steel, while the following officers are wholly employed thereon, namely, a chief staff officer, an assistant principal, and two staff officers together with the appropriate clerical and other subordinate staff. In addition an advisory accountant is consulted as necessary on questions of. costs and prices. Particulars of the salaries of the officers so engaged are set out in the Estimates presented to Parliament. I may add that the committee are satisfied that their present staff is adequate for the purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is with his approval that the Iron and Steel Federation have stabilised steel prices at the present high level; whether he is aware that the price of steel is higher than it has been for many years; arid, in view of the drop in the price of scrap in the United States of America and the weakening of prices in the market, will he make clear that the Federation will not be allowed to exploit the monopoly against such users of steel as the tinplate, galvanised sheet, light castings manufacturers, and other users of steel, dependent largely on export markets for their trade?

The Import Duties Advisory Committee exercise a general supervision over the price policy of the British Iron and Steel Federation and have concurred in the Federation's decision to maintain the present prices of certain iron and steel products during the year 1938. I am aware that the price of steel is higher than it has been for a number of years, but I have no doubt that the committee have satisfied themselves as to the justification for the decision and that full consideration has been given to the interests of the export trade in iron and steel products.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there has been any consultation with the trade interests concerned or whether the Minister has simply taken the advice of the British Iron and Steel Federation?

It is not a question of the Minister taking advice. I said that the Federation fixed prices after consultation with the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

Are the consumers' interests represented? That is what we want to get at.

That is a matter for the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the increase in the price of steel since 1932 has been in the nature of 48 per cent., whereas the increase in the price of raw materials for use in the production of steel has been 98 per cent.?

I should like to see details of these figures.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the continued increases in the price of boots and shoes, in part due to the import duty on dressed leather; and what action he proposes to take, in view of the hardship caused to persons with low incomes by such increased prices?

I know that boot and shoe prices have risen within the last 18 months. I understand that this increase follows increases in wage costs and the world prices of raw materials, and is not due to any material extent to the import duty on foreign dressed leather. Any question of revising that duty is for the Import Duties Advisory Committee in the first place.

Could the right hon. Gentleman confer on this matter with the Minister of Labour, in order that we may have the benefit of his knowledge of the matter?

That seems to be more a question for the Minister of Labour.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the anxiety of the general body of housewives in the country caused by the rise in prices of groceries and other foodstuffs, which is causing hardship to those with small fixed incomes; whether he will set up an inquiry to make sure that the rise is not due to rings; and whether he will consider what further steps he can take to ease the burden of expenditure on the necessities of life.

I am aware that the rise in food prices is causing concern. In general I would remind my hon. Friend that the rise in food prices reflects a recovery from the conditions of the period of depression. I doubt whether any useful purpose would be served by a special inquiry as suggested by my hon. Friend. Prices of foodstuffs are under continual observation both by the Food Council and the Government, and I am sure that the Council would not fail to report to me if it appeared that the prices of any foodstuffs were being raised unduly by the operation of rings.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that even the threat of an inquiry has caused a small drop in the prices of some foodstuffs; and would he, therefore, reconsider whether he will not have an inquiry made into the matter?

My hon. Friend's question refers specifically to the question of rings, and my answer is that that question is continually under the review of the Food Council, who, if they thought that there was a ring in a particular industry which was putting up prices, would not fail to report the matter to me at once.

If the Food Council did make such a recommendation, would the Government be prepared to act upon it?

I should like to see first what the recommendation was.

Is it still the policy of the Government to encourage a rise in prices?

On a point of Order. I put down a question, arising out of a resolution passed by the Labour party of Thornton, drawing attention to profiteer- ing, or alleged profiteering, in connection with food prices, and asking that an inquiry should be instituted. You ruled, Mr. Speaker, that this question could not be put down, and I would like some explanation of why my question was ruled out while the present question has been allowed?

That is a matter which I cannot go into at the moment, but I can explain to the hon. Member afterwards exactly why his question was ruled out.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the tariff on toys from Great Britain entering the United States of America; and what is the tariff charged in respect of similar toys entering Great Britain from the United States of America?

Toys on importation into the United States of America are subject to Customs duties at rates varying from 1 cent. each plus 50 per cent. ad valorem, to 90 per cent. ad valorem. Toys imported into the United Kingdom from foreign countries are subject to import duty at the rate of 15 per cent. or, if they contain more than 10 per cent. of rubber or celluloid, at the rate of 25 per cent. ad valorem.

Will my right hon. Friend see that there is some reciprocity in regard to the duties on toys coming into this country and toys going from this country to the United States?

Are not questions of this character to be deprecated while delicate negotiations are taking place between Great Britain and the United States of America, in view of the need for the maximum amount of economic co-operation?

I am sure that my hon. Friend who put this question down had no such motive in his mind at all, and I am sure that all hon. Members will have the same feeling at the back of their minds. I cannot feel that a question which just draws attention to a disparity in duties as between countries would have that effect.

Is it not a fact that the obstacle to understanding comes from the benches opposite?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of British exports to the United States of America are admitted free of duty; and what is the proportion of United States exports to Great Britain so admitted?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on 10th November to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. H. G. Williams). On the basis of the figures then given, the proportions were 45 and 32 per cent. respectively in 1935.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Empire Cotton Growing Federation has been, or will he, consulted in connection with the projected commercial agreement with the United States of America?

As I explained during the Debate on the Address, the discussions with the United States of America, with the object of finding a basis of negotiation for a trade agreement, are still in an informal and exploratory stage. If negotiations are opened, I shall be glad to take into consideration any representations on the subject that the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation may wish to place before me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures for the balance of trade between the United Kingdom and the United States of America for 1936, 1935, and 1929, taking invisible exports into consideration?

In the absence of reliable data in respect of many of the invisible items, I am unable to furnish the information asked for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present position of the negotiations for the trade agreement with the United States of America; and whether the Secretaries of State for the Dominions and the Colonies will be consulted before any commitments are made?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement which I made in the Debate on the Address, to which at present I have nothing to add. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of imports from the Russian Soviet Union to Great Britain during the years 1934, 1935, and 1936; what are the total Soviet imports, apart from re-exports, from Great Britain during the same years; and also what were the total British imports from Russia during the first six months of 1937 and the total Russian imports from Great Britain, apart from re-exports, during the same period?

My hon. Friend will find the desired particulars for the years 1934, 1935 and 1936 on page 184 of the issue of the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom "for January, 1937, and those for the first six months of 1937 on page 283 of the issue of these Accounts for July last.

Do not those figures show that, apart from re-exports, the imports from Russia to this country are overwhelmingly greater than the exports from this country to Russia; and does not that show that the time has now arrived for a proper agreement to be entered into with Russia with regard to trade, which would take account of the private claims of British creditors?

Is it not a fact that among the re-exports are large purchases, made by Russia in this country, of Colonial products, thus setting up a valuable market for us in the Colonies?

Is my right hon. Friend, from an examination of the figures, really satisfied that the Anglo-Russian trade agreement is being strictly carried out by Russia?

It is being strictly carried out in the letter, but, as I have pointed out, it would certainly be more satisfactory to this country if a larger proportion of genuine exports from this country were taken, and rather less re-exports.

Is it not the fact that orders for very large quantities of machinery, to the value of millions of pounds, have been placed in this country by Russia; and is not that satisfactory to the Government?

Yes, Sir. I am sure the House will remember that the figures which have been published up to now do not yet show the results of the credit agreement with Russia, which only recently came to an end.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to carry out Recommendation 17 of the Report of the Moyne Committee (Cmd 5320) on the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927, that the Government should approach those Dominions in which film quota legislation is in operation to protect the local industry, with a view to urging that treatment given by them to films made in Great Britain should, as far as possible, be reciprocal to that received by their films in this country?

So far as I am aware, Australia is the only Dominion in which quota legislation is in operation to protect the local film industry. The legislation is State, not Commonwealth, legislation. I will bear the suggestion of the hon. Member in mind when a suitable opportunity occurs to raise the question of reciprocal treatment for films in Great Britain.

As this is a definite recommendation of the Moyne Committee, cannot the right hon. Gentleman say whether he intends to seek an opportunity of carrying it out at once?

Of course it may be a recommendation of the Moyne Committee, but any effect has to be given to it by legislation in Australia, and a suitable moment for raising it is at the moment when amending legislation of one kind or another is going to be introduced.

As we have amending legislation before the House at the present time, surely this is an opportune moment?

Was it not stated, in the time of the last Government, that they would endeavour to obtain the same quota conditions in the Colonies and Dominions?

I should not like to answer without notice a question on something that was said by the Government in 1927.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the country or countries of origin of all the cinematograph film imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland and registered for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?

As the answer involves a tabular statement, I will with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Do the figures show that America has exported into this country

asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures showing the balance of trade between the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date?