asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the fact that our recent trade agreements with foreign countries are now all terminable on short notice, he will ensure that no trade agreement with the United States of America will tie our hands for a longer period than we are already tied under existing agreements with foreign countries?

I am unable to give the undertaking suggested.

Can my right hon. Friend give some assurance that no commitments will be entered into which will paralyse British agriculture for a further period?

We do not intend to enter into any commitments which will paralyse any form of industry.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this request is for short-period agreements, however favourable they may be, and will he turn down so stupid a suggestion?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make concerning the progress of the Anglo-American trade pact negotiations?

I am unable at present to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Burke) on 31st May.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state approximately when he will be able to make a statement? Will it be before the House rises?

No, Sir, I am afraid that I could not.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that during the Recess no vested interest will stand in the way of an agreement being arrived at between America and Great Britain?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increasing quantities of Indian cotton goods imported into the Dominions and Colonies where they enter under the same terms as exports from the United Kingdom, he will consider asking the Government of India for a reduction of the 20 per cent. Import Duty into India in order that Lancashire manufacturers may trade on equal terms in India as in other parts of the British Empire?

While Indian goods enter the Colonies on equal terms with United Kingdom goods, this is not the case in all the Dominions. India's trade with the Dominions in cotton piece goods is small and her trade in such goods with the Colonies, although it has increased, is still very much less than that of the United Kingdom. As I have previously indicated, the position in Empire markets is being kept in mind in the negotiations between the United Kingdom and India, and one of the major objects in those negotiations is a satisfactory settlement in regard to the United Kingdom trade with India in cotton goods.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the very serious position in Lancashire at the present time, where the depression is worse than it has been for many years, and where the most important market of all is the Indian market?

Yes, it is for that reason that I say that a satisfactory settlement in regard to these cotton goods is one of the major objectives of these negotiations.

Will my right hon. Friend impress on the Indian Government the importance to India of this country as a market for India's raw cotton?

I have not failed to impress that upon them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the growing imports of Indian cotton goods into Ceylon since 1936, and to the declining imports from the United Kingdom into that country during the same period; and whether, in view of this position, he will consider some modification of the present trade policy?

I am aware that imports of cotton piece goods from the United Kingdom into Ceylon have declined since 1936. Imports from India were greater in 1937 than in 1936, but in the first five months of this year they were smaller than in the corresponding period of the two previous years. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that these facts will be given due weight in considering the trade policy of the United Kingdom.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the real problem in Lancashire is that they are frightened of the trend, which is for their trade to be taken by other countries such as India, and will he bear that in mind?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the new export plans of the Japanese Government in relation to the cotton industry; and will he take such steps as are necessary to protect the Lancashire cotton industry against this new development?

Yes, Sir. I have been informed of an announcement by the Japanese Government on the subject, but particulars are not yet available. As soon as details are received, I will consider whether any steps are called for on the part of His Majesty's Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very great concern felt in Lancashire in view of the inroads which are being made into the home market? We have pretty well lost the foreign market and the home market is in danger now, and will he take the necessary steps to safeguard it?

I would remind the hon. Member and the industry that it is open to them at any time to apply to the Import Duties Advisory Committee for an increase in the duties.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Japanese shirts are coming into this country at 9s. 2d. per dozen, which is less than the price of making-up such shirts in this country, and that it is not merely the quantity of Japanese goods coming in that causes concern, but that the price of them sets the price for the home market?

That is just one of the facts which might very well be brought to the notice of the Import Duties Advisory Committee.

Are these exports from Japan subsidised by the Japanese Government?

I could not say.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the exports of cotton yarn to Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands for the first five months of this year are approximately half the amount of such exports for the first five months of 1937; and whether he is satisfied with the working of the trade agreements with those countries in this respect?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I am advised that the reduction in exports of cotton yarns from the United Kingdom to the countries referred to by my hon. Friend is due mainly to a general slackening of demand in those markets.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make active representations to the Governments concerned?

Yes, Sir, but I do not think that in any of these instances it is a case of our share of the trade being taken by others, but of a general falling off in demand in those countries, and, unfortunately, in many other countries as well.

Since the decline has affected markets for cotton goods as a whole, will the right hon. Gentleman inquire in which markets the major decreases have taken place, with a view to remedying that state of affairs?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can provide figures showing the value and volume of cotton exports from this country to each of those countries with which trade agreements have been concluded for the year preceding the date of the agreement and for 1937, respectively?

As the answer involves a table of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the extensive market for pickled and smoked herring in the British West Indies; whether he is aware that the smoked herring imports into Jamaica from Norway are 10 times the amount sent from this country; and whether,

There is a substantial import of fish into the West Indies, though the market is not at present filled to any substantial extent by imports of pickled or smoked herring. Imports of smoked herring into Jamaica from Norway in 1937, while they were 10 times the quantity imported from this country, were relatively small, amounting to only £351 in value. I will certainly consider, in consultation with those of my colleagues who are concerned, any suggestions which the right hon. Gentleman cares to make for the development of the trade in United Kingdom herring in the West Indies.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have already made some suggestions in detail, and can he suggest any adequate reason why the Government should continue to contemplate a situation in which 50 per cent. of our herring fishermen are in starvation conditions and 50 per cent. of the citrus fruit workers in the Colonies are in starvation conditions? Why cannot we swop these foods?

The difficulty at the moment is that there is no great consumption of herring in the West Indies. I understand that the major amount of the fish which is imported from Canada and Newfoundland to these islands consists of mackerel.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a considerable export of herring from Canada and Norway to the West Indies? I give the figures for Jamaica only, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are a million people who are consumers of fish, salted and cured, in the West Indies?

I shall be glad to do anything I can to increase the consumption of herring in the West Indies.

Will my right hon. Friend watch and see that there are no dyed herring imported into the West Indies?

I will make certain that they are dead but not dyed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Anglo-Soviet trade agreement is due for revision?

The Temporary Commercial Agreement of 1934 between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union continues in force subject to termination after six months' notice by either party. No such notice has been given.

Will my right hon. Friend consider giving notice in order to revise the shipping arrangements between this country and Soviet Russia whereby our shipping shall carry more than it does at the present time?

I referred to this matter in the Debate on my Estimates last month, and expressed my dissatisfaction with the present course of these arrangements. I am not prepared at the moment to add anything to that.

Is not this agreement a disgrace to British negotiators in giving up all British interests?

Why not terminate all treaties?

I would not go so far as the hon. Gentleman, but his Leader, the right hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Sir A. Sinclair) urged me to do so in this particular case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Government propose to take with regard to the suggestion made by the Food Council in June, 1936, that an independent tribunal be set up to inquire into cases where supplies of flour have been cut off from bakers by millers when the former charge prices below those ruling in their districts?

No case calling for the appointment of such a tribunal appears to have arisen since the date of the Food Council's report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the most recent information his Department has relating to the sack capacity of the flour mills in Great Britain and Ireland; and whether any mills have been closed since those statistics were obtained?

Voluntary returns of sack capacity are supplied by flour millers in the United Kingdom to the Food (Defence Plans) Department, but the information is confidential and not for publication. While certain mills have been closed during the period that these returns have been collected, extensions have taken place elsewhere and there is at the present time considerable surplus capacity of flour milling over current requirements.

Is there any information available as to the possibility of changes being made in the storage capacity?

I have given the hon. Member all the information I have. We know that there is a surplus.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government will consider introducing legislation to ensure that all imported flour shall be accompanied by imports of its related offals?

No, Sir.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the farmer has to pay as much for offals as he pays for his wheat, and does he not realise that a prosperous countryside transcends everything else in importance? Is it not inexplicable that something has not been done before in this matter?

The facts are that there are a great deal more offals than flour imported.

Is it not better that there should be no flour imported and that we should all grind our own wheat?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this whole matter is very unsatisfactory?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the recent revision of the Food Council's bread price scale is justified by the increased costs of distribution, he will ask the Food Council to follow the example of the Linlithgow Committee and publish the results of their inquiries, so that public opinion on this matter may be adequately informed?

As stated in their report, the Food Council's inquiry disclosed the existence of wide divergencies in the costs of those bakers whose statements of accounts were examined. In these circumstances, the Food Council considered that the publication of figures would not serve any useful purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the numbers of aircraft and aero engines, respectively, destined for Portugal for which export licences have been granted during the first six months of 1938?

Aircraft engines and civil aircraft may be exported to Portugal under the Open General Export Licence of the Board of Trade. As regards licences for military aircraft, His Majesty's Government, as I have previously explained, consider that it would be contrary to the public interest to give particulars of licences which have been issued for the export of war material to a particular destination.

Is the Minister satisfied that the aircraft and aircraft engines exported to Portugal remain in Portugal and do not reach General Franco?

Every care is taken, not only in this case but in all others, to inquire into the ultimate destination of these aircraft, as well as the first destination.

Are the aero engines which have been exported types which are obsolete or obsolescent so far as the Air Force is concerned?

That is a different question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, so far as the first five months of this year are concerned, whereas in comparison with the first five months of 1937 the imports of bacon from the Netherlands rose from £869,558 to £939,802, the value of cotton piece-goods imported by the Netherlands from this country fell from £317,550 to £132,552; and whether existing trade arrangements with the Netherlands can be revised with a view to ensuring a better balance of trade in these respects?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; I would point out, however, that the quantity of bacon imported from the Netherlands was some 3,000 cwts. less in the first five months of 1938 than in the corresponding period of 1937. As regards the second part, I am satisfied that under the scheme of quantitative restriction of imports into the Netherlands this country is receiving its full share of the quota for cotton piece-goods as provided in the exchange of notes of July, 1934, between the two Governments.

Is the Minister not aware that the increased price to be paid for bacon from the Netherlands is due to the increase in the retail prices following the Government's agricultural policy?

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that this state of affairs is a result of the reduction in the consumption of cotton goods in the Netherlands and not that these cotton goods are coming from somewhere else?

Yes, Sir, the import of cotton goods into the Netherlands is regulated by a quota system and it is a fact that there has been a general decrease in the consumption.

Why is the Minister answering all the easy question and ignoring all the difficult ones?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of cases in which declarations as to solvency have been made by directors under Section 230 of the Companies Act, 1929, and the number of cases in which, following such declarations of solvency, the ordinary shareholders have not in fact been paid in full within 12 months of the declaration of solvency?

I regret that the information asked for is not available. A declaration of solvency relates only to the ability of the company to pay its debts and is not concerned with the question of the return of capital to its shareholders. The question of declarations of solvency is one of the matters which will be considered when the Amendment of the Companies Act, 1929, is under review.

Is any duty thrown upon the registrar to see that these declarations are accurate, and is any penalty incurred for inaccurate declarations?

Perhaps the hon. Member will give me notice of that question.

When will the amending Bill be forthcoming?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the meat purchased for war purposes is being used for supplying the current requirements of the home services?

No change in the arrangements for supplying the current requirernents of the Defence Services has been made as a result of the steps taken by the Government to create food reserves under the Essential Commodities Reserves Bill.

Has there been any increase in the importation of meat for this purpose during the current year?

That is a different question.

Would it not be better to keep the meat constantly turning over?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of accidents occurring on coastwise cargo ships for which the ships' officers have been held responsible?

The information available does not enable me to give a full reply. The findings in Formal Investigations under the Merchant Shipping Acts and Boiler Explosion Acts during the last five years have been examined, and there is no case in which an officer of a coastwise cargo ship has been held responsible. I have no statistics as to any judgments of the civil courts which might come within the scope of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the general practice of shipowners to stop an officer's or seaman's wages as soon as such person is put ashore through sickness or injury; that the allotments to the dependants of an officer or seaman are thereby stopped, with the result that the dependants concerned may be reduced to destitution; that in the case of injuries no compensation is paid to the seaman affected until such time as he is landed in the United Kingdom; that certain officers are ineligible for benefits under the Health Insurance Acts; and whether he will initiate remedial measures by way of amendment to the Merchant Shipping Act or otherwise?

The payment of wages and allotments ordinarily ceases when sick or injured seamen have been discharged abroad with official sanction, but provision is made in the National Health Insurance Acts for the payment of benefit to the dependants of insured persons who are left abroad sick or injured. I am aware that many of the senior officers do not come within the scope of the Insurance Acts, but I understand that a number of companies continue the payment of wages and allotments in these cases. Claims for compensation in respect of injuries can only be initiated in this country, but provision is made in the Merchant Shipping Acts for the maintenance, treatment and repatriation of all sick and injured seamen left abroad. In the circumstances I do not consider that a revision of the law is necessary.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that some amelioration of these conditions might be secured for officers and seamen and their dependants? Does he not really think that some legislation should be introduced to deal with these difficulties?

I have given a rather long answer explaining the position, and in view of that position I have said that I do not consider that a review of the law is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many ships which are wholly or largely British-owned are registered under the flags of other nations?

The desired information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government to discourage the registration under the British flag of ships belonging to companies wholly or largely controlled by nationals of other States?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply on this subject made to my hon. Friend, the Member for Southampton (Mr. Craven-Ellis) on 28th October last.

Is the Minister aware of the danger of ships on the British register being transferred to the American, Dutch and other registries owing to the lack of protection afforded to British ships by the British Government?

This country has afforded ample protection to its ships outside the three-mile limit, and the recognition of that fact has led to a considerable transfer of foreign ships to British registry.

If I bring certain facts to the Minister's attention will he be good enough to consider them?

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in connection with the placing of a contract in connection with the preparation of the ground and approaches to the new Royal Air Force air-field at Lossiemouth, which involved the conveyance of cement pipes from Poole to Lossiemouth, he is aware that such pipes were carried in three Dutch ships, the "Globe," "Eban," and "Hebe Nobel"; and can he assure the House that he will cause instructions to be given to his contracts department to provide that only British ships shall be employed in future coastwise transit?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has made it a condition of any contract to which he is a party that any materials or plant which are delivered by water-borne transport must, wherever possible, be carried in British vessels.

When my hon. Friend answers "yes," do I understand that to be in reply to the first part of the question, as to whether the pipes were carried in Dutch ships?

Yes, Sir. The facts in this question are accurate. I am speaking of what we are doing for the future.

Why did these pipes have to be transported the long distance from Poole to Lossiemouth?

I cannot say without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the lack of accommodation for young married soldiers at Bordon Camp, where the 800 soldiers under 26 years of age who are on the unauthorised married establishment at this station are paying as much as 15s. a week for a single room; what proportion of such men's pay this payment represents; and whether he has under consideration any scheme which will solve this difficulty?

The problem of accommodating the families of married soldiers under the age of 26 is one for the local authorities concerned. The problem arises at practically all military stations, and is not peculiar to Bordon, where, I may say, the known number of such cases is not 800 but about 150. I understand that at Bordon the local authorities have the matter under consideration in consultation with the military authorities concerned.

In view of the fact that the conditions in which young married men live act as a deterrent to the enlistment of other men, surely the Department had better not take young married men unless it is able to provide married-men's quarters for them?

Young men are warned that if they marry under the age of 26 they do so on their own responsibility.

What is the use of warning young men who have already married under that age?

If the Government are anxious to have the men, why do they not provide for them?

Is the Minister not aware that this matter has reached the level of a positive scandal all round Aldershot and the neighbourhood, and will he either take some definite steps or listen to representations which I or other hon. Member's make?

My hon. Friend could not have heard the last part of my answer, in which I said that the local authorities were in consultation on the matter.

Is the Minister aware that this matter has been going on for a very long time, and that the scandal, far from decreasing, is increasing?

Surely it is the duty of the military authorities to take steps to deal with it?

Are not many of the wives and families of these men receiving public assistance?

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to receive the report from the committee considering the question of courts-martial?

I understand that the committee expect to be in a position to submit their report next month.

Next month?

asked the Secretary of State for War when the first trial of the Bren gun took place in this country and what other guns were tried out against it; on what date the gun was accepted for use in the British Army; when the first deliveries of the gun were made; what is the rate of delivery at the present moment; when it is expected that the machine-gun at present in use in the British Army will be entirely replaced by the Bren gun; and whether any royalty or licence is payable to any foreign Government or firm in respect of the Bren gun?

The first trial in this country of what was then known as the Z.B. gun took place in 1930, and, after comparative trials with a considerable number of other types between 1930 and 1935, the Bren pattern was adopted in the latter year. As I informed the House on 13th July, the first deliveries of British manufacture were made in September, 1937, but I trust the hon. and gallant Member will not press for any information as to present and future deliveries. A royalty is paid to the patent owners in Czechoslovakia.

Will the hon. Gentleman state the amount of the royalty and which firm are the patentees?

It would be against the general practice to disclose the amount of the royalty. The name of the patent owners is the Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka.

In view of the fact that the design was adopted in 1935, what is the reason for the delay in the manufacture of these guns?

There has been no delay in the manufacture of these guns. In 1936 it was stated in this House that deliveries would commence in the autumn of 1937, and they did so.

Is not the cost of manufacturing the guns rather high, as much as £;76 per gun being quoted?

Would the hon. Gentleman send a Bren gun to the York military depot so that they will know what a Bren gun looks like?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the anxiety caused to serving officers by the publication of unofficial reports of the scheme for accelerated promotion and consequent retirement of officers; and whether he is now in a position to make an announcement of the action proposed to be taken in this matter?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he intends shortly to give effect to the recommendation of the Willingdon Committee on service and promotion in the Army?

My right hon. Friend will make an announcement on this subject as soon as possible.

In view of the fact that the Secretary of State for War, answering questions in this House, said that he hoped to be in a position to make a statement very soon, may we hope that the question will be answered before the House rises next week?

I would not like to give a definite guarantee. There is a large number of questions affecting other Services besides the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War particulars and the names of the individual foreign countries that have purchased surplus war material from Great Britain during the two years ended to the last convenient date; and the amount of and quantities of war materials so purchased?

It would not be in the public interest to disclose the names of the individual foreign countries to whom, or for export to whom, His Majesty's Government dispose of surplus war material. It would also be contrary to the general practice to disclose the values of particular sale contracts.

Am I to understand that the surplus war material is also obsolete?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institute is responsible to his Department; what has been its income, expenditure, and profits in the last five years; the total number of men and women employés, respectively; the percentage of the men and women five years ago and now; how many of the men and women, respectively, live in; whether they are allowed to join a trade union; what are their wages and hours of work; and how their conditions of employment are negotiated?

asked the Secretary of State for War the weekly wage of a woman working in the regimental canteens at Aldershot and Salisbury Plain?

The Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes are a corporation, registered as a company under the Companies Act, consisting of a council and a board of management, both of which include nominees of each of the Service Departments. The accounts are published annually, and copies of the accounts for 1935 and 1936 have been lodged with the Librarian of this House. A copy of the accounts for 1937 will be lodged with him when received. I will also send him copies of the accounts for 1933 and 1934. The directions of the council to the management must have the general approval of the Service Departments, but the latter are not responsible for the detailed numbers, wages and terms of service of the employés of the corporation.

Can the hon. Member say whether the profits are limited?

Not without notice.

Who is actually responsible in this House for this organisation?

There is no money for it in Army Votes, but if the hon. Member requires any information and will tell me what it is, I will do my best to get it for him.

Is there any objection to trade-union organisation among the persons employed?

asked the Secretary of State for War what reports have recently been received as to the existence of long-range batteries in the vicinity of Algeciras and on the African coast opposite Gibraltar; whether such guns are of German manufacture; and whether such batteries are under the control of German officers?

Later information which has been received confirms the statement made in the course of Debate by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence on 27th July last. With regard to the second part of the question I would refer to the answers given by my right hon. Friend on 2nd November last. In reply to the third part, I have no evidence to show that the guns are controlled by German officers.

Is the Minister aware that this question was raised in this House three weeks ago by the Noble Lady the Member for Kinross and Western (Duchess of Atholl); and is the House to understand that no inquiries have been made by the Government following the allegations that were made in that question?

I think I should have to see the question.

Has any information been received since the date of the original reply?

We are constantly receiving information.

Might not the House be given the information that the hon. Gentleman has received?

I have given the House all the information at my disposal and I have said that further information has been received confirming the previous information.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of consulting with the French Government on the grave danger to Franco-British communications in time of war arising from the fixing of German guns on both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar and the possible coercion of Portugal to join a German alliance in the event of General Franco's victory in Spain?

The hon. Member can rest assured that His Majesty's Government are in frequent consultation with the French Government on all important developments arising out of the civil war in Spain.

Is it the case that the document recently published by the "News Chronicle" dealing with this is engaging the serious consideration of the Department at the present time?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the successful experiments in Shetland waters of spotting shoals of herring by aeroplane; whether the Herring Industry Board has considered the employment of aeroplanes as a regular aid in the fishing service; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?

I have received a report from the Fishery Board for Scotland on these experiments. Experiments of a similar kind undertaken by the board some years ago were not regarded as sufficiently successful to justify their continuance. The Herring Industry Board, however, are at present visiting Shetland and will discuss the present experiments and their results with the persons concerned. I shall follow the progress of the experiments with interest.

If the right hon. Gentleman finds that the report of the Herring Industry Board is favourable, will he take the necessary steps to see that it is followed up?

Well, I certainly will follow this matter up, because the report I have received shows interesting results.

Can the right hon. Gentleman not use aeroplanes to find buyers for the fish?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the report of the special committee, under the chairmanship of Lord Alness, on the application by the Scottish Universities for grants from the Education (Scotland) Fund?

After careful consideration of the terms of the report, I have decided that, in accordance with certain of its recommendations, grants of £4,000 and £12,000 should be paid from the Education (Scotland) Fund to the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively before 31st July, 1938, the end of their present financial year. With regard to 1938–39 and future years, I hope that the state of the fund will also make it possible for me to give effect to the recommendations of the report. I would add that the payments in the current year to the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow must not be regarded as in any sense implying acceptance of the principle that the Scottish Universities may rely upon the Education (Scotland) Fund to meet any future deficiencies which they may incur. Moreover, the claims of each university on the fund must be considered each year in the light of the financial and other circumstances that may arise, and of the annual reports which it would, under Statute, be the duty of each university receiving assistance to submit to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the strong feeling that exists in Fife on the question of the new rent scales and rebate scheme; that a family of man and wife with four children, with an income of £2 19s. 4d. and a rent bill of 9s. 8d. per week, get a rebate of 2d. per week; and that, in many cases before such a rebate is given, the rent, arising from the scheme of standardisation, has already been increased by several shillings per week; and will he consult with the local authorities with a view to finding some means of relieving working-class families of this burden of heavy rents?

I have been in touch with the county council, who do not admit that there is strong feeling against their rent scales and rebates scheme. The revised standard rents vary from £14 for a two-apartment flat to £27 for a five-apartment cottage, and rebates may be granted according to the financial circumstances of the tenant, subject to a minimum rent of £10 for a flat and £12 for a cottage of any size. I am informed that the rebated rent in the case referred to by the hon. Member is £16 a year (exclusive of rates), or 6s. 2d. a week for a three-apartment flat. The sum of 9s. 8d. mentioned in the question includes rates. With regard to the last part of the question, while the fixing of rents and the granting of rebates are matters for the local authorities themselves, if the hon. Member will let me know which local authorities he has in mind, I shall have inquiries made.

In view of the experience of Members from Scotland as to the worry and strain and hardship that are caused by high rents, and of the proposals that have already been made, will not the Minister arrange for a meeting with the principal local authorities in order that there may be a thorough discussion of this question of houses and rents, and make some arrangement whereby the Government can assist local authorities to deal with cases such as this?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the County of Renfrew rents have actually increased in certain instances from £14 to £29?

That does not arise.

Has the Secretary of State examined the Fife system of applying certain standard rents to three-apartment houses; and is he satisfied with it?

I think we have gone rather beyond the original question. I can hardly discuss these matters by question and answer.

Will not the Minister consult with the principal local authorities in order to come to some understood agreement on this question of housing and rents?

That is quite beyond the original question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the public complaints about the treatment of young persons by a probation officer in Fife; and whether he will make a public inquiry into the allegations made against him?

I am aware that a complaint against a probation officer in Fife was lodged in April last with the Fife Probation Committee. I am informed that the complaint was carefully considered by the committee, and that they and the Juvenile Court at Dumfermline have expressed their confidence in the officer concerned.

In view of the fact that these complaints persist, and that they come from many people who are in very close association with the probation officer, will not the right hon. Gentleman himself order a special inquiry, because it is very essential that the probation officer should be beyond reproach?

I am not convinced that this is a case in which the matter ought to be taken out of the hands of the local authority. There is a properly constituted body for examining the question.

asked tht Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the court-room used for young offenders in Dunfermline is so small that, with the bench and officials present, it is crowded out; and will he take steps to ensure different and better conditions under which young persons can be treated?

I am conveying the hon. Member's representations to the County Council of Fife, but I have received no previous complaints about the adequacy of the accommodation for the court in question.

In view of the previous question and of this question, will not the right hon. Gentleman send one of his representatives from Edinburgh to inquire into the treatment of juveniles in this court and by this probation officer? Will the right hon. Gentleman take my word for it that the court is absolutely unfit for the purpose?

I have promised to look into the question which the hon. Member has raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that, as part of the Sir Thomas Urquhart memorial celebrations at Cromarty, the Provost is to be presented with a chain of office, and that the Lord Lyon King of Arms has intimated a claim of £19 10s. as his feudal fees for permitting the display of a coat of arms on the municipal chain; and, in view of the irritation caused by these feudal dues and charges by the Lord Lyon's office, what steps he proposes to take to have them commuted or abandoned?