asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the procedure by which persons whose names are to be sub- mitted as suitable to fill vacancies in the Governorships of Indian Provinces are chosen; how long this procedure has been in existence; and whether any regard is had to the religious beliefs of these persons?

Appointments to Governorships in India are made by His Majesty on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for India, who takes such action as he considers appropriate in each case before submitting his recommendation.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman answer the last part of the question and say whether any regard is had to the religious beliefs of these persons?

Of course, my Noble Friend in any advice which he may submit to His Majesty has regard to the general fitness of the person who is being considered. This necessarily involves consideration of a number of factors, which I do not think it would be possible for me to detail in answer to a question.

Is there any significance in the fact that two Governors recently appointed have been Roman Catholics? Is that the result of any change?

No, Sir, the hon. Gentleman may be assured that there is no particular significance to be attached to that fact.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied that the two persons appointed in those cases were fit persons—that they were truthful and honest?

I think that both persons are truthful and honest.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he has any statement to make on the arrest and imprisonment of Hindu demonstrators at Aurangabad, Nizam State, on 17th June; and what representations he has received regarding the conduct of the police during the arrests and subsequent to the incarceration of these men and women in the prison at Aurangabad?

I have received from the Incorporated Hindu Association in London, and I have seen in the Indian Press, an allegation that on 7th and 8th June prisoners in the Aurangabad Gaol were ill-treated. I have also seen in the Indian Press a categorical denial of this allegation by the Hyderabad authorities.

Has the hon. and gallant Gentleman any means of discovering which of these two reports is accurate? Will he make those inquiries, and inform the House whether the complaints are really justified or not?

I explained recently to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) how we were situated in the matter. The Resident is in close touch with the Ruler, and my Noble Friend is in close touch with the Crown representative, but it would be necessary to be satisfied that special circumstances existed before it would be appropriate to ask for a special inquiry.

Are not reports of 100 people being maltreated while in custody sufficiently important to warrant a special inquiry by the Resident?

As I said, my Noble Friend is in close touch with the Crown representative on this matter, but up to the moment he is not satisfied that a case has been made out for a special inquiry.

Will the hon. and gallant Member undertake to make a report on the subject to this House?

I would prefer to wait and see what particular information was received.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state the names of His Majesty's Government's delegation to the next Assembly of the League of Nations?

If the hon. Member will be good enough to repeat his question in a week's time it should then be possible to give him an answer.

asked the Prime Minister whether the High Commissioner is still resident at Danzig; and whether he has submitted any reports to the League Secretariat regarding the importation of arms and ammunition into Danzig?

Yes, Sir. My Noble Friend is making inquiries of the League Secretariat about reports.

Is the League Commissioner still resident in Danzig?

Yes, Sir.

Have the Government considered summoning the Committee of Three to consider the matter of the fortification of Danzig?

There is no such suggestion.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement as to the extent of the hostilities in progress in the Far East between Russia, or Russian influenced, and Japanese, or Japanese influenced, troops; and how British interests are affected thereby?

According to reports which my Noble Friend has received, clashes are stated to have taken place in the neighbourhood of Lake Buir, on the Manchurian-Mongolian border, between Soviet-Mongolian forces and Japanese-Manchurian forces. Fighting, in which tanks and aeroplanes have been engaged, appears to have taken place at intervals since nth May. The extent of the forces involved and the casualties sustained are obscure owing to the conflicting reports published by both sides, and as the region is remote and inaccessible. There are no British residents or property in the area.

asked the Prime Minister whether the League of Nations has ever notified the acts of aggression committed by Soviet armies in China, which culminated in the imposition of the Soviet system on the Province of Sinkiang in 1933, and subsequently on the Province of Szechuan?

There has undoubtedly been a wide extension of Russian influence in Sinkiang during the last few years. But the system of government has not been Sovietised in either of these Chinese provinces, nor has either been the object of armed aggression by the Soviet Union.

Is it not a fact that the same forces of international finance that made these acts of aggression are also trying to force a war at the present moment?

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether the League of Nations has ever recognised the seizure of the Ukraine by the armies of the Soviet in 1919;

At the time when the Ukraine and Georgia were incorporated in the Soviet Union, that country was not a member of the League of Nations. Acceptance of the Soviet Union as a member of the League in 1934 implied recognition by the League of the Union as then constituted.

In the case of Georgia, had not the Soviet itself given de jure recognition to Georgian independence?

At any rate, when the Soviet Union made application to become a member of the League, it had already incorporated these two areas, and they were recognised as part of the Soviet Union.

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) whether he will state in connection with the issue of the special identification form to persons in receipt of pensions from the Ministry of Pensions, reference No. M.P.I.F. 27, what Committee of the House of Commons made the request for this to be done, and for what purpose is this information necessary; and whether due consideration has been given to the feeling of the ex-service men having to describe the nature of their disabilities;

The form referred to was introduced following the second report of the Committee of Public Accounts, 1919, and is in use by public departments in similar classes of case. The sole object of the form is to secure the identification of pensioners, and to protect the Exchequer against personation. The form is drawn up to preclude any person other than the pensioner being in a position to give correct answers to the questions it embodies, consequently the disclosure of the information by my Department would defeat the object in view. It is desirable that there should be no unreasonable delay in the completion of the form, as it is, of course, in the interests of pensioners as well as the Ministry that identity should be established. Consideration is always given to cases which are known to have special features, and I shall be glad to look into any individual case in which hardship has been represented, and which the hon. Member cares to send me.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it is really necessary 20 years after the last War to ask ex-service men to give intimate details of their wounds and disabilities incurred in the service of the nation, in order to establish their identity for entitlement to the continuance of their pensions?

The form is not sent in mental cases or to blind persons or pensioners in institutions or under treatment or to very old people, and in difficult cases our inquiry officers will render any necessary assistance.

Will the hon. Gentleman say to whom this form is sent?

It is sent to the pensioner. To whom would the hon. Member expect it to be sent?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mrs. Laing Wilson, of Thornton, whose son was killed in the War; is he aware that when she was remarried in 1921 she was given a remarriage grant of £11 and her pension was stopped, and, in view of the hardship with which this mother is confronted, will he take the necessary steps to restore her pension for the son she lost in the War?

As the hon. Member has already been informed, the gratuity paid to Mrs. Wilson in 1921, when her pension ceased on her remarriage under the provisions of Article 23 of the Royal Warrant, represented the only further payment which my Department could make to her, and it is not within my power to restore her pension.

In view of this and many other similar cases of very great hardship arising out of the War, will the Minister not seriously consider getting new regulations, or is it essential that a mother should suffer as this woman is suffering owing to her losing her son in the service of the country?

I am making careful investigation into all matters relating to the Royal Warrant, but I am not prepared to make any statement at this moment on a question, like this, of high policy.

Will the question of new regulations be considered, as there are so many cases in the country?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will state the number of female officers, staff officers, executive officers, higher clerical officers, clerical officers, clerical assistants, superintendents of typists, shorthand typists, and copying typists, in the Ministry of Pensions who are being transferred to the new office at Hayes, Middlesex; the losses in pay which will be sustained by such officers; whether the staff concerned has been given due notice of the move; and whether efforts are being made to avoid the transfer of those members of the staff for whom the move would involve particular hardship?

As the question relates wholly to staff in my Department, I have been asked to reply. The following female staff of the grades mentioned are to be transferred to the new office at Hayes, Middlesex:

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of recent German decrees about the Jews, the Government will offer to co-operate with that of Germany in a scheme for their gradual and orderly evacuation from the Reich?

The promotion of orderly emigration of refugees from Germany is one of the chief aims of the London Inter-Governmental Committee. By their membership of the Committee, His Majesty's Government have made it clear that they are ready to co-operate in all possible steps to this end.

Can my right hon. Friend say why it is, if the German Government desire to get rid of these Jews from Germany, they will only let them go after taking their property and appropriating it

I would refer my hon. Friend to the recent statement of the German Government on the subject, which should, I think, repay study.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state when the Government Committee will hold its next meeting, as it was stated in the Press that it would be held this week in London? Is that the case?

I should require notice of that question.

When the right hon. Gentleman says the recent statement of the German Government would repay study, does he mean that these Jews will be enabled to take their property out of Germany, because I did not gather that?

It is not as simple as that.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the amount allowed for expenses to the 96 non-British members of the Consular Service who are maintained by His Majesty's Government in various cities and towns; and how much of this sum is allowed for personal expenditure?

Thirty-seven receive office allowances totalling approximately 3, £300 a year to meet their office expenses on Consular work. With one exception, these allowances contain no provision for personal remuneration. The remainder are allowed to retain a percentage of the Consular fees they collect, which, in the majority of cases, are insignificant.

Is the amount mentioned allowed to each Consular officer?

Each Consular officer gets the office allowance appropriate to the particular post.

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what is the sterling value of proposals submitted by British traders during the last six months in connection with exports to China; what proportion of such proposals has been approved; and what is the total amount of guarantees given by his Department during that period?

During the six months ended 30th June, 1939, the total amount of the contracts, policies and guarantees issued by the Export Credits Guarantee Department was £30,365,207. It is not the practice to state the amount of the Department's commitments in respect of a particular country.

Is it correct to say that the amount guaranteed by the Department is less than £200,000; and if that is correct is it due to lack of initiative on the part of British traders, or does the fault lie with his own Department?

It has been the practice of the Department, in order that individual transactions should be kept confidential, not to disclose details as to any country, and I am afraid that I cannot give any further information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the British Steel Federation is importing steel into this country at the rate of 2,000,000 tons a year; and whether he will take steps to remove the duty on all imported steel so that prices may assume their proper level?

In addition to the normal imports of just over half a million tons of steel per annum under their agreement with the Continental Steel Cartel, the British Iron and Steel Federation have recently made arrangements to supplement our own crude steel production by the import over a few months of 300,000 tons of semi-manufactured steel for further manufacture in this country. The increased demand for steel has not been accompanied by any increase in steel prices. Any question of amending the tariff is a matter in the first place for the Import Duties Advisory Committee, but I may add that these additional imports are being licensed for admission free of additional duty.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is the general opinion in the trade that the price of steel is already 20 per cent. too high? Seeing that tariffs were introduced for the purpose of allowing the industry to rehabilitate itself, and that it is now producing to capacity, is there any reason whatever why the protection should be continued?

Would the steel users be entitled to appear before the committee and state their case?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what information he has received from the Milk Marketing Board as to the aggregate number of fines that have been imposed upon producers and retailers of milk, in pursuance of the Milk Marketing Scheme, since it came into operation?

I am informed by the Milk Marketing Board that 2,116 penalties have been imposed on registered producers in pursuance of the Milk Marketing Scheme since it came into operation six years ago. The board has no power to impose penalties upon retailers as such or upon any persons other than registered producers.

Have many complaints been received that the board are not sufficiently firm with registered producers?

I have not any knowledge of such complaints.

Can the Minister say how many small farmers have been driven out of business by the Milk Board?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has concluded the conversations he initiated with the trade union representatives of the farm workers concerning future farming policy; and, if so, has he come to any decision concerning the farm workers' demand for a statutory minimum wage of £2 per week?

It has been my intention to maintain contact with representatives of farm workers and to consult them on matters affecting farming policy when such consultations are likely to prove useful. I am receiving a deputation from the Trades Union Congress on 19th July in regard to the drift of farm workers from the land, the standard of living of agricultural workers and other matters. In regard to the last part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that the fixing of statutory minimum wages is, under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, a matter for the Agricultural Wages Committees.

Does the Minister, then, suggest that he is in a position to grant farmers up to £25,000,000 or £30,000,000 a year and not in a position to improve the wages of the farm workers?

That will depend on the prosperity of the industry.

Does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that the agricultural worker deserves a far better wage than even £2 a week?

Would the Minister not agree that the payment of new agricultural subsidies ought to lead to a substantial improvement in wages?

I hope that the general prosperity of the industry will lead to that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what would be the estimated annual cost of raising the wages of all adult regular farm workers by 5s. 6d. per week?

No statistics are available showing the actual number of workers who are employed in agriculture the whole year round. The annual agricultural returns show the numbers of workers employed on 4th June, who are classified as "regular" and "casual," but the fact that a worker is described therein as casual does not necessarily mean that he is not employed (by different farmers) for the whole year. There is also the difficulty that the number of workers shown in the returns include members of farmers' families who assist in the work of the farm but who are not usually employed under contracts of service and so are not in receipt of wages as such. For these reasons my Department cannot make a reliable estimate of the annual cost of raising the wages of all adult regular farm workers by 5s. 6d. per week.

Is the Minister in a position to give an approximate figure?

Not one that would be accurate.

Is it not becoming apparent to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman that the whole House is getting very dissatisfied with his attitude on this matter?

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of wage-earners employed in agriculture in England and Wales, and Scotland, at the present time, and for 1924 and 1932?

I regret that particulars are not available of the number of actual wage-earners employed in agriculture at the present time, but, with the hon. Member's permission, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the numbers of workers employed on agricultural holdings, in June, 1924, 1932 and 1938, the figures for 1939 not being as yet available.

If there are no reliable figures in the Department with regard to wage-earners how did the Minister of Labour estimate the figures for unemployment insurance?

:the trouble is that if we were to try to get accurate figures of the number actually engaged in this work it would mean calling in all the cards of the workers and getting the number from those statistics. We may have to consider that course.

Has not the right hon. and gallant Gentlemen received instruction on this matter from the National Farmers' Union?

I do not receive instruction from them.

How is it that the farmers can make weekly returns of their milk and not of their workers?

They know how many cows they have but not how many workers, according to the Minister.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that an area of 12 acres occupied by the Dunstall Park Allotments Association, and others, Wolverhampton, and intensively cultivated by them for 23 years, will be lost for food production if its proposed sale for building purposes is completed; and whether he will exercise his powers to retain this land in cultivation?

As the land in question is in private ownership and was not purchased or appropriated for allotments by the Wolverhampton Corporation, but only hired for the purpose, I have no power to prevent its sale and development for building purposes with the resulting disturbance of the allotment holders. I am informed that the corporation consider that in view of the high building value of the land it is impracticable to retain it for allotments. I understand that the corporation own other allotment land which they consider is reasonably suitable for the accommodation of the men who will be displaced.

While thanking the right hon. and gallant Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him whether he will be prepared to use his well-known powers of persuasion to induce the vendor and the buyers of this farm land to postpone the completion of the sale on patriotic grounds until the present national emergency has disappeared and thus retain the cultivation of this fertile land?

I think the corporation will realise the views of the Government and the Ministry on this question, and I will do what I can to help.

asked the Minister of Agriculture why Messrs. R. Brennand (Hull), Limited, of Humber Street, Hull, and Mr. H. B. Hobson, of Humber Place, Humber Dock Street, Hull, have been excluded from the register of authorised merchants under the Potato Marketing Board; and whether, in view of the fact that there is substantial support in Hull potato-trading circles for the inclusion of the firms in question in the register, he will reconsider the board's decision?

The question of the authorisation of merchants is one which is entirely within the discretion of the Board and is not one in which I have any power to intervene. I am informed, however, that the firms referred to at present deal only in new potatoes, for which no authorisation from the Potato Marketing Board is required, and that the board consider that the number of merchants already authorised is fully adequate to ensure the effective wholesale distribution of main-crop potatoes in the district.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give an estimate of the amount of derelict and semi-derelict land in Great Britain in consequence of the closing down and dismantling of collieries; and whether he will take consultation with other Ministers responsible for such work and the local authorities involved as to the best use to which such land could be devoted?

No, Sir. I have no information on which to base an estimate of the kind requested, but it is believed that the total area involved is not large. If it would be economically practicable to use such colliery land for agriculture I think it would be taken up for this purpose and that action on the lines suggested is unnecessary.

Is the Minister aware that in Lancashire there are hundreds of acres of this derelict land and that it is nothing but an eyesore, and could not something be done about it?

I shall be glad if the hon. Gentleman will have a talk to me about it.

Are not conditions very much the same throughout the Black Country?

asked the Minister-of Agriculture whether arrangements can be made for the Pig Marketing Board to deliver hogs to the bacon-curers regularly in the numbers actually needed through out the year?

Questions relating to the supply of pigs to bacon factories are primarily for the industry itself to consider under the powers which Parliament has conferred by the Bacon Industry Acts. I have no power to intervene.

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the Bilston curers are frightfully dissatisfied with the irregularity with which the pigs are sent?

I realise that.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to make any statement as to the consideration by the Livestock Commission of proposals for central slaughterhouse schemes under the Livestock Industry Act?

The Livestock Commission have given careful consideration to the proposals submitted by local authorities and others for the establishment of the three experimental slaughterhouses envisaged in Part V of the Livestock Industry Act, 1937. These proposals, numbering 12 in all, to the preparation of which great care had evidently been given, have also been discussed by the Commission with representatives of the applicants. The Commission have decided that, having regard to the situation of the proposed slaughterhouses and the manner in which it is contemplated that they will be designed, equipped and managed, the proposals of the Edinburgh, Leeds and Leicester Corporations are, subject to modification in detail, the most suitable for the experiments and, subject to satisfactory settlement of various outstanding matters, the Commission will proceed with the preparation of slaughterhouse schemes in connection with these proposals. The Commission have further decided that, in the event of any of these proposals not being proceeded with for any reason, consideration will be given to those of the Stoke-on-Trent Corporation and the Swansea Corporation.

Will the Edinburgh-Leithcentral slaughterhouse be run by the municipality?

I should want notice of that question.

Is there not to be an experimental slaughterhouse in the south of England?

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will look at my answer which replies to that question.