asked the Prime Minister whether any official intimation has now been received from the Imperial Government of Japan of a desire to modify the Nine-Power Treaty?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister what action it is proposed to take to assist in preserving peace in Eastern Europe, in view of the agitation taking place in connection with the Ukraine?

My Noble Friend is not aware of any abnormal developments in either the Polish or Soviet Ukraine such as might indicate that the peace of Europe is threatened in those quarters.

Can the Minister say whether Herr Hitler has made up his mind to strike through the Ukraine or towards the West as his next move?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make with regard to the present position in Memel?

As a result of the recent elections, a new Directorate has taken office at Memel under the presidency of M. Bertuleit, who has proclaimed his intention of conducting the administration on national-socialist principles. Various measures in conformity with those principles have already been adopted, but the Lithuanian Government have not so far taken exception to them.

Is the Minister satisfied that the new regulations being put into force are in conformity with the Statute of Memel?

As I have said, we have received no information to the contrary from the Lithuanian Government.

asked the Prime Minister what changes have taken place in the situation in China during the Recess?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Paling) to which I have nothing to add.

Can the Minister say whether any British lives were lost in the evacuation of Hankow or Canton?

I should have to look up that matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has now received any report regarding the killing of Mark Flanagan at Patti, Sicily, by the Italian police?

Exhaustive inquiries have been completed through His Majesty's representatives in Italy. The results of these investigations confirm the information which I gave the hon. Member on 5th December.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make with regard to the results of the military mission to Portugal; and what arrangements for mutual defence or action are contemplated?

Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government and the Portuguese Government believe that the Mission whose work has now ended has strengthened the friendship which unites the defence forces of the two countries. As regards the second part of the question, the two Governments are in close and continuous contact on matters of common interest relating to defence, but the disclosure of arrangements of this kind would not be in the public interest.

Is it seriously contemplated that the Government are going to ask the people of this country to fight for the Portuguese colonies?

The position has been frequently made quite clear in this House.

Has not Portugal always been a great friend of this country?

asked the Prime Minister the date of the last meeting of the Non-intervention Committee and when it is likely to meet again?

The last meeting of the Non-intervention Committee took place on 5th July, 1938. No date has at present been fixed for a further meeting.

Will the right hon. Gentleman call the attention of the Secretary of State to the necessity of this committee meeting, in order to consider the constant breaches of the Non-intervention Agreement?

I feel sure that my Noble Friend will have the point which the hon. Baronet has in mind quite clearly before him.

Is it not desirable to have a meeting of the Committee, in order to discuss the bringing into force of the plan unanimously agreed to on 5th July?

As the hon. Member knows, the plan has not been accepted by General Franco.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement about the negotiations with the Burgos authorities for the payment of compensation to British seamen and shipowners trading with Spain?

The communication from the Burgos authorities on this subject which was received towards the end of December was carefully considered by His Majesty's Government in consultation with the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom and other interests concerned. Certain further proposals which were agreed on in the course of these discussions have now been communicated to the Burgos authorities. Until a reply to the latest proposals has been received, I regret that I can give no fuller information about them.

Is it not the fact that in the Note sent in December the Burgos authorities deny that they have ever agreed to pay compensation?

If the hon. Member will put down a question on that point I will give him the answer.

Is it not true to say that the Burgos authorities have so far not paid a single penny in compensation, and that seamen who have suffered as a result of the bombing outrages perpetrated by Franco are not yet receiving compensation?

I understand that compensation has been paid to seamen by the National Maritime Board. In regard to compensation in the case of ships, that is not usually paid until the end of hostilities. It is true to say that the Burgos authorities have not yet paid anything at all.

As regards compensation to seamen paid through the medium of the National Maritime Board, does not the right hon. Gentleman know that that is compensation paid under the Workmen's Compensation Acts and has nothing to do with the compensation referred to in the question?

I realise that what the hon. Member's question referred to primarily was compensation for damage done to the ships and for the men serving in them.

Would the Minister be prepared to publish the terms of the promise under which General Franco did agree to pay compensation, which was referred to in the Prime Minister's speech in July?

If the hon. Member will put down that question I will certainly give it my consideration.

Should not all such questions on compensation be addressed to the accredited Government of the country?

In recent negotiations have the Government made it quite clear that they do not recognise the legality of the air blockade in which the ships were sunk?

Certainly, Sir, and I make that clear at this Box now.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will circulate a map in connection with Command Paper 5908 on the lines of the previous White Papers on the Bad Godesberg and the Munich proposals, showing the frontiers of Czechoslovakia as they were in September; as they would have been according to the Bad Godesberg proposals; as they were stated to be in accordance with the Munich proposals; and the line as shown attached to Command Paper 5908?

As the particulars required by the hon. Member are already incorporated in the maps annexed to Command Papers 5848 and 5908, my Noble Friend does not consider the publication of a further White Paper would be justified.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any further statement to make with regard to the service of the bonds issued by the Brazilian Government in the United Kingdom?

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) on 23rd November last, the Brazilian President, in the course of a statement published in the Brazilian newspapers on 10th November, declared that his Government continued to be ready to examine with the interested parties any practical scheme which might benefit their creditors and respect the interests of the Bazilian economy. In spite, however, of the above-mentioned declaration, no concrete suggestions have yet been forthcoming as to any resumption of payments in respect of the Brazilian foreign debt, although His Majesty's Ambassador at Rio has continued to direct the attention of the competent Brazilian authorities to the matter. My hon. Friend may rest assured that His Majesty's Government will not lose sight of this question, and that they will, as formerly, afford the fullest support to the Council of Foreign Bondholders in their endeavours to secure acceptable proposals from Brazil.

Have the Government considered the question of accepting Brazilian coffee in part liquidation of sums due under these loans?

All due considerations are in the minds of the Council of Foreign Bondholders.

Have the Government taken into account any other relevant considerations besides coffee?

Yes, every one.

What are they?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any further statement to make with regard to the service of the bonds issued by the Greek Government in the United Kingdom?

I regret that there has been no change in the position as stated in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for East Dorset (Mr. Hall-Caine) on 7th December last, but His Majesty's Government recently took an opportunity to remind the Greek Government of the importance which they attach to a settlement of the debt question.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has any statement to make regarding the recent visit of Mr. Lemon, the Director-General of production to Scotland; and whether he can indicate any further development of the air programme in Scotland?

Yes, Sir. The Director-General of Production visited both Glasgow and Edinburgh at the end of December and discussed the question of Scottish assistance towards the air rearmament programme with the city authorities and leading industrialists. With the cordial co-operation of the Lord Provosts of the two cities, arrangements have been made for exhibitions of air-frame and aero-engine parts to be held concurrently in Edinburgh and Glasgow this month, so that Scottish manufacturers may be able to see at first hand precisely what is required and determine the extent to which they can undertake the manufacture of such parts as subcontractors. In addition, my Department is now in touch with a number of Scottish firms who have applied for inclusion in the Air Ministry list of firms to whom invitations are issued to tender for the supply of items by direct contract. In regard to the last part of the question, negotiations are proceeding for the establishment in Scotland of three maintenance units for the Royal Air Force, in addition to that at Abbotsinch referred to in the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Fife (Mr. Henderson Stewart) on 30th November last.

Is the Minister aware that we have had two complete stoppages of work within the last six months in the Blackburn aircraft factory in Dumbarton, and that on another occasion the factory was absolutely closed down instantaneously by the management? If so, what explanation can he give for a state of affairs of that character, and will he inquire into the matter?

Of course, I regret all stoppages of that kind, but matters relating to labour questions in the factories are more for the Minister of Labour than for myself.

Has the right hon. Gentleman not promised to visit this factory in the immediate future?

I hope to be able to visit the factory if I can find time to do so; in any event I will gladly take into account any representations which the hon. Gentleman may make to me on the subject.

Has the Director-General visited and inspected the Caird shipyard, Greenock, and could the right hon. Gentleman say how many Greenock firms are on the list of firms supplying the Air Ministry?

No, Sir, but I will inquire and will communicate with the hon. and learned Gentleman.

In reference to the right hon. Gentleman's statement about Scottish contractors being asked to tender and quote, may I ask him how many of them have been asked to quote for the seven balloon-barrage systems—six in the North of England and one in Glasgow?

I could not say.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that not one has been asked to quote?

I have said that I could not give a reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that anti-Jewish discrimination persists in the German Reich; that the consequent environment is injurious to the rising generation of Jews and that Palestine is the natural refuge of persecuted Jewry; and whether, in light of these facts, he will now withdraw his refusal to allow 10,000 German-Jewish children to enter Palestine?

I cannot add anything at present to the answers which I gave on this matter on 14th December last.

As this is a matter of considerable urgency, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether these 10,000 children could not be admitted now, and an allowance made for this number in any future figure of Jewish immigration into Palestine?

The whole question of future immigration into Palestine is one of the most important subjects to be discussed at the Conference next week, and we cannot anticipate what the result of those discussions may be.

My right hon. Friend does not suggest, does he, that 10,000 more Jews are not going to be admitted into Palestine in any case? Why, therefore, cannot these children be admitted now?

Will not the right hon. Gentleman take the earliest opportunity of bringing before the Conference, on humanitarian grounds, the possibility of allowing these 10,000 children to go in now?

I have already given an assurance that the Government will keep that possibility in mind. I cannot go beyond that.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any idea of how many subjects he has now promised to keep in mind, and does he feel sure that his mind will stand the strain?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to implement the proposals of the Cocoa Commission for the creation of a West Africa cocoa growers marketing board?

The Commission's proposals for a Cocoa Farmers' Association for the collective marketing of cocoa referred only to the Gold Coast. The Governor has appointed a local committee to examine the draft scheme prepared by the Commission, and is now awaiting its report before sending his recommendations to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the suspension of the cocoa buyers' pool has been reflected in increased overseas trade in respect of each of the territories affected?

The immediate effect of the suspension of the merchants' cocoa buying agreements was to bring to an end the hold-up of cocoa by Gold Coast producers. With the release of purchasing power from sales of cocoa, the excessive stocks of imported merchandise which had accumulated during the dispute have been gradually worked off, and the latest figures show that the import trade is beginning to function normally again. But while the prices of all West African produce, including cocoa, continue as low as at present, the import trade cannot be expected to recover to a satisfactory level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the quantities and values of the various types of timber exported from Tanganyika and Uganda, respectively; what merchantable

As the reply is necessarily long, I will, with the hon. and learned Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will within the next 12 months assume an emergency is present and mobilise without previous warning the anti-aircraft and coast-defence units of the Territorial Army with a view of satisfying the people that the omissions which were disclosed in the crisis last September will not recur?

Exercises are contemplated which will ensure that each element of the defence is fully conversant with the particular problems of deployment confronting it. Such exercises will form part of normal training, and will be carried out in as realistic conditions as possible.

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that the scheme which he has outlined will be sufficient to remove the fear on the part of people in this country that there may in the future be some inefficiency due to absence of equipment and organisation?

I should not care to give an answer to a hypothetical question of that kind, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the exercises will be realistic and will show the public that our air defences are becoming more and more efficient.

Have the omissions mentioned in the question now been remedied?

The Minister has been removed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give favourable consideration to relieving local authorities of their statutory obligation to build houses to replace those demolished under slum-clearance schemes and overcrowding in districts where the percentage of houses of the appropriate type is in excess of 5 per cent. of the total?

My right hon. Friend is not clear precisely what my hon. Friend has in mind, but he does not think there is any sufficient reason for altering the existing practice in this matter.

Is my hon. Friend aware that local authorities are building houses under slum-clearance and over- crowding schemes which are quite unnecessary by reason of the fact that there already exist large numbers of empty houses in the districts in question?

No, Sir, I am not aware of that. My right hon. Friend, of course, considered the question on its merits. If my hon. Friend has any case in mind that he would like me to investigate, I shall be glad to do so.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are very few empty houses for letting, but any number of empty houses for sale?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether his attention has been called to specific instances of the wanton destruction of gas masks, issued at the public expense; and whether any steps have been taken to punish those responsible?

One or two specific cases of improper treatment of respirators have been brought to my notice, and, as I indicated to the hon. Baronet on 22nd December, I am considering the position in connection with legislation which I hope to introduce shortly.

In view of the recent case which was withdrawn at Chesterfield on the ground that the gas masks had been given as a gift, and not as a loan to the public, will my right hon. Friend consider, in any legislation that may be introduced, inserting a declaratory Clause to the effect that all gas masks which have been issued to the public in the past are Government property?

Yes, Sir.

Do they not belong to the persons to whom they are given?

Is my right hon. Friend of opinion, in view of the decision given at Chesterfield last week, that no statement by the Home Office can put the property in these gas masks back into the possession of the Government?

No decision was given at Chesterfield last week. The case was withdrawn.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that a similar position does not arise with regard to the shelters in gardens that are going to be provided?

Was the case at Chesterfield withdrawn on the instructions of the Home Office?

Was the case withdrawn on the police saying they were satisfied that, in the view of the Home Office, the property in the gas masks was in the persons to whom they were issued?

The Home Office were advised that it was very doubtful whether a prosecution could be sustained, and the chief constable, on being made aware of that, withdrew the prosecution.

Is it not a fact that in one case a magistrate decided that, the gas masks having been destroyed, the people would not be able to get others free of charge?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether it is intended to introduce legislation during this Session to deal with the Report of the Royal Commission on Safety in Mines?

The Government have given careful consideration during the Recess to this comprehensive and valuable report. Further time is required for the consideration in detail of each of the very numerous recommendations, but the Government accept the report in its general sense and purport, and will commence immediately to take the necessary steps towards implementing it.

In so far as this decision involves legislation, the necessary preparations for a Bill are being put in hand immediately, but such a Measure will necessarily be long and complicated, and I am afraid ft is not possible to have it ready for introduction this Session. Action will, however, be taken in the meantime with a view to a substantial strengthening and reorganisation of the Mines Inspectorate and the administrative services and I am also closely examining certain other of the Commission's recommendations to see how far they can be dealt with by way of regulation, or otherwise, under the existing powers where it is found practicable to do this without prejudice to, or confusion with, the impending legislation.

These reforms will involve expenditure that cannot be met within the statutory limitation imposed on the Mines Department Vote by the Mining Industry Act, 1920, and, as a necessary preliminary step, the Government propose to introduce shortly a Bill to remove that limit.

I may perhaps be allowed to add that the report calls attention to a number of improvements which it is possible for the industry to make on its own initiative, and I would, therefore, invite all concerned to see how far such recommendations can be implemented in advance of any legislation.

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman reconsider the decision not to introduce the Bill this Session? Is he aware that there is a general feeling in the industry that the time is overdue when the Coal Mines Act should be brought up to date; and will he, therefore, press upon the Government the desirability of reconsidering that decision? Further, will he take an early opportunity of indicating to the House what part of the recommendations he proposes to adopt by regulation?

I will, of course, consider the second point. As regards the first, I think that anybody who really studies this report, which runs to 500 pages and which has 179 main recommendations, in addition to almost double that number of subsidiary recommendations, will realise that there are very many difficult and complicated problems to be dealt with, and that, therefore, I cannot anticipate that the main legislation will be brought in very quickly. If the hon. Member, and other hon. Members, will be good enough to study the third paragraph of the reply I have given to-day, they will see that it is my intention to see what can be done in anticipation.

Is not the Minister aware that the matter, for instance, of the training of boys is one of profound importance for the future; and will he not, before he stereotypes fresh methods by regulation, give an opportunity for discussion in the House?

I cannot undertake to arrange time for discussion in the House, but the question in itself indicates the difficulty of rushing these matters. There is a good deal of ground still to be explored.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider suggesting to the Government that the main Bill should not be delayed unduly, and is he not of opinion that he should give an assurance to the House, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, that the Bill will not be delayed beyond next Session? Does he not think there is ample time, as he knows that all the preparatory work could be done before the next Session begins? Would he be able to answer a question on the matter in a few weeks' time?

I have answered that. I said that the necessary preparations for the Bill are being immediately put in hand.

Does that mean that the Minister intends to submit to the various interests in the industry either the main outline of the Government's intention or certain specific things on which they intend to legislate or make regulations? In view of the fact that these recommendations are important to the industry, is it not essential that the country should know the Government's intention at an early date, either through a Bill or a White Paper?

I am not prepared to go further than I have done in the reply I have given. If hon. Members will study the answer, they will see that we appreciate that this is a very important matter. The House can be assured that the Government have no intention of allowing any delay in this matter if it can be avoided, but many important questions have to be discussed and conversations have to take place with the interests concerned.

Can we have an assurance that the Government will resist any attempt on the part of coalowners to prevent legislation being introduced?

The hon. Gentleman and the House must not assume that anybody in this country is going to resist any reasonable proposals which are going to be put forward. This is a unanimous report, and we had on the Committee representatives of all parts of the industry. It is a pity, if we are going to deal with this most difficult problem in a harmonious spirit, that questions of that kind should be asked.

Is it not within the knowledge of the right hon. Gentleman, as it is within our knowledge, that the coal-owners have frequently resisted attempts to make changes in reference to safety legislation?

As I have just said, I hope we are entering upon a new era as a result of this report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, without anticipating his Budget statement and in view of concessions made with regard to renewals of machinery, he will now consider the practicability of granting relief to the smaller taxpayer, up to a certain percentage of his income, in respect of expenditure incurred in any future financial year in consequence of medical or surgical treatment necessitated by personal illness?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot see his way to adopt my hon. and learned Friend's suggestion.

In view of the great public interest in this matter, would the Chancellor consider representations on the matter before coming to a decision on his forthcoming Budget statement?

This proposal is, as I understand it, substantially the same as one which my right hon. Friend resisted on the last Finance Bill. I hope my hon. and learned Friend will not think me egotistic if I ask him to refer to my own remarks on that occasion.

While bearing in mind what my right hon. Friend said last year, I would ask, is it not a fact that what he said gave ground for hope that the matter would be reconsidered this year?

I do not think so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now consider bringing in regulations as regards stamping on passports, alongside the signature, the print of the right thumb of the holder of the passport, solely for the purpose of identification when travelling abroad?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 30th November last. I would add that my Noble Friend is by no means satisfied that the results to be expected from the inclusion of thumb or finger prints on passports would be in any way commensurate with the inconvenience and annoyance to applicants for passport facilities.

In view of further developments, perhaps my right hon. Friend will be kind enough to have a word with me a little later on?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give very serious consideration to the question of withdrawing passports altogether?

asked the Prime Minister what Government or authority is recognised by His Majesty's Government in those parts of Ethiopia where fighting still continues?

His Majesty's Government have recognised Italian rule de jure and de facto over the whole of Ethiopia.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Abyssinian refugees now temporarily located in British territories are to be allowed to settle there; or whether, following the recognition of Italian sovereignty over Abyssinia, they are to be regarded as Italian citizens and sent back to Abyssinia?

In answer to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Secretary of State for the Colonies to a question by the hon. Member for Leyton, West (Mr. Sorensen) on 29th November, 1937. As regards the second part, I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement as to the future disposal of these refugees. As the Secretary of State for the Colonies assured the House on 15th June, none of these refugees will be sent back to Abyssinia against their own will.

Does my right hon. Friend expect the expense of these refugees to be borne entirely by the British Government?

I think that is a question that ought to be put down.

Are these Abyssinian refugees to be considered now as Italian citizens?

I think that is purely a matter of conjecture.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of men employed by the Admiralty at Malta and Gibraltar in January, 1938, and January, 1939; and what reduction in the working week has taken place during the last 12 months?

The numbers of workmen employed by the Admiralty at Malta and Gibraltar on Monday, 3rd January, 1938, and Monday, 2nd January, 1939, respectively, were as follow:

Malta	…	7,903 and 9,330
Gibraltar	…	1,662 and 1,840

There has been no reduction in the working week at either establishment during the last 12 months.

Has such a reduction been under consideration?

No, Sir. Dockyard hours are the same at home and abroad.

(for Mr. Kelly) asked the Minister of Health the number of men and women in Lancashire on old age pension who are forced to public assistance to supplement their pension?

On 1st January, 1939, the latest date for which particulars are available, there were 11,000 old age pensioners in the Administrative County of Lancaster who were in receipt of poor relief.

Will the Minister recommend to the Chancellor an increase in old age pensions?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with a view to aiding the trade of the colonies and home defence, he has placed cocoa upon the list of commodities to be stored for war emergency requirements?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Royton (Mr. Sutcliffe) on 20th December.

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that there are plenty of drinks produced at home to tide us over an emergency?

Will this question be referred to the committee mentioned earlier this afternoon?

I should require notice of that question.

I beg to give notice that, on this day fortnight, I shall ask the House to consider two reports—the Spens Report and the Report of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce on the Employment of Students who take Degrees in Commerce, and move a Resolution.

I beg to give notice that, on this day fortnight, I shall call attention to the Dissemination of News, and move a Resolution.

I beg to give notice that, on this day fortnight, I shall call attention to the arrangements to be made for the reception of those evacuated from the towns to rural areas in times of crisis, and move a Resolution.