asked the Undersecretary of State for Burma what arrangements exist in the Legislature of Burma for limiting the length of speeches?

The Rules of Procedure for the Houses of the Burma Legislature prescribe that no Member shall, without the permission of the President or Speaker, speak in any Debate for more than 20 minutes.

Does that apply to front-benchers?

Could we not follow suit?

Are these speeches made in shorthand?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the expressed desire of the German Government to secure the removal of all Jews from Germany, he will make inquiries from the German Government whether, in order to facilitate this object, they will be prepared to hand over to an international commission all appropriated property belonging to Jewish refugees from Germany to meet the heavy expenditure incidental to finding a new home for German Jews outside the Reich?

The Director of the Inter-Governmental Committee for Refugees is charged with the task of undertaking negotiations to improve the conditions of the emigration of refugees. The use of Jewish wealth in Germany to facilitate the emigration of refugees is the subject of discussion between the Director of the Committee and the German authorities. In the circumstances additional inquiries are hardly necessary.

Would my right hon. Friend ask Dr. Goebbels to deal with this matter in his next circular to British golf clubs?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can communicate any recent information received from the British Diplomatic and Consular Officers in Poland as to the position of refugees from Czecho-Slovakia desiring to receive visas or transit visas for Great Britain; and, as there is still danger that some of these refugees may be compelled to return to territory now under German control, will he take further steps to expedite visas?

My Noble Friend has received no very recent reports on the position of refugees from Czecho-Slovakia in Poland. But I can assure the hon. Member that this question is being given close attention by the Departments concerned, and that any applications made on behalf of such refugees will continue to receive sympathetic consideration.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the trustees of the Czech Refugee Fund in order that they might give attention to the very urgent need of these refugees?

Certainly, I would consider making any contact which the hon. Member desires, and perhaps he will give me any information in his possession.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the difficulty is largely financial, and that the £4,000,000 gift did not sufficiently cover several thousand seriously endangered people in Poland and protectorates; and cannot the Government see their way, in view of the obligation to Czecho-Slovakia, to provide further financial means?

I am aware of this difficulty.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has been informed by the Turkish Government regarding the extent to which they propose to rebuild the fortifications of the Dardanelles; and when it is expected the same will be completed?

I regret that I cannot make a statement on this subject, which, as the hon. Member will appreciate, is primarily the concern of the Turkish Government.

Are we to understand that no official communication has been received on the subject?

The hon. Member may rest assured that we are in constant communication with the Turkish Government, with which we are on most friendly terms, but I cannot make a statement on this matter now.

Is it a suitable subject to drag into the light of day?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement on the progress of the Anglo-Polish negotiations for a financial and political agreement?

I am not at present able to add to the information about the financial negotiations given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton) on 25th July last. The negotiations concerning the permanent agreement with Poland, referred to in the communiqué issued at the conclusion of Colonel Beck's visit to London, are in progress.

Are not the difficulties which are holding up this agreement purely of a technical nature, and does the Prime Minister not think that the advantages of securing the agreement would considerably outweigh the disadvantages?

They are of a technical nature. We hope that they will be overcome, but it was not possible to overcome them in time for legislation now.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement on the Anglo-Japanese negotiations in Tokyo and the situation generally in the Far East?

Perhaps the hon. and learned Member will await a statement on these matters which I hope to make in the course of to-day's Debate.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Anglo-Japanese agreement provides for the termination of the insults to British subjects at Tientsin and elsewhere; and whether in any case precautions will be taken at least to prevent any extension of such insults as a result of the agreement?

As the Prime Minister explained to the House on Monday last, the formula agreed upon with the Japanese Government covers the background against which the present conversations at Tokyo are being conducted. No agreement on local Tientsin issues has yet been reached. In point of fact, however, there has recently been a cessation of incidents affecting British subjects, who are now passing the barriers at Tientsin without difficulty, although there is sometimes considerable delay. No special measures appear to be necessary, but the situation will, of course, continue to be closely watched.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give instructions that special care is taken to safeguard the well-being of British subjects in China who are the objects of Japanese suspicion or malevolence?

The local British authorities at all times take such measures as are possible for the protection of British subjects, and no special instructions in this connection appear to be called for.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that British subjects in North China are very seriously disturbed by this information? Cannot they have something more definite than that very vague statement?

I thought the statement I made was very definite in that the British authorities at all times take such measures as far as possible for the protection of the British subject. I am aware of the hon. Member's anxiety, and that is why we have to watch the situation.

Have His Majesty's Government made any direct representations to the Japanese Government about this anti-British campaign, fomented by the Japanese army authorities in China?

Yes, Sir.

Did they get any satisfaction?

asked the Prime Minister whether the formula recently agreed to by His Majesty's Government and the Japanese Government in then negotiations at Tokyo grants or implies any recognition of the jurisdiction of Japanese courts in the Chinese territory which has been invaded by the Japanese army?

No, Sir. The formula implies no change of attitude towards Japanese courts in this territory.

:Since there are no courts which have legitimate jurisdiction in occupied China, will the Government assure the House that they will not hand over the four Chinese from Tientsin to the Japanese?

That is a matter which is being discussed in the negotiations upon which I can make no statement to-day. On the subject of the courts, the only courts of which we are aware are Japanese Consular courts, which deal solely with the Japanese.

:If there are no courts which have any jurisdiction over the alleged murderers, surely the Government will not hand over these men to the Japanese?

May we assume that the aggressive attack on Chinese territory by Japan is not approved by His Majesty's Government?

Most definitely it is not.

asked the Prime Minister the present position with regard to monopolies on the export of commodities in China imposed by the Japanese authorities in respect of areas in their occupation, with particular reference to wool, cotton, hemp, hides, and skins?

The commodities mentioned by my hon. Friend are not subject to export monopoly but they are, in North China, subject to an export embargo imposed on grounds of alleged military necessity.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make representations to the United States Government assuring them that in the event of their deciding to impose an embargo on war supplies to Japan, His Majesty's Government would be prepared to take similar action?

I cannot say what action His Majesty's Government might decide to take in such a case, but prior consultation with the Dominions would be necessary.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can undertake that in any Anglo-Japanese negotiations no proposal is agreed to which would diminish legitimate British trade in China?

Yes, Sir. The interests of British trade will be kept fully in mind in the course of these negotiations.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether trade questions will be discussed in Tokyo?

The discussions in Tokyo relate solely to the situation in Tientsin.

asked the Prime Minister what representations have been made to the Japanese Government against the widespread propaganda against British trade and interests which has been arranged by the Japanese authorities throughout the coastal regions of China from Tientsin to Canton?

Strong representations have been made by His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo and by His Majesty's Consular Officers at the ports concerned.

Have the Japanese Government undertaken to limit their activities?

They have stated their own responsibility for law and order in the occupied territories, and His Majesty's Government look to them to protect British lives and property in the areas under their control.

Have the representations which have been made by His Majesty's Government met with a favourable response from the Japanese?

They have, at any rate, been noticed and registered by them.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the abrogation of the United States-Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of 1911 by the United States Government, His Majesty's Government will consider taking similar action in relation to the Anglo-Japanese Trade Agreement of 1911?

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to take parallel action with the United States, which has just denounced its commerce and navigation treaty with Japan?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the denunciation by the United States Government of the trade treaty between the United States of America and Japan; and whether he proposes to take any similar action?

This is a matter which will require careful consideration and I regret that I am not in a position to make any statement to-day. Consultation with His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions would, anyhow, be necessary.

:In view of the fact that both His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States are committed to maintain the principle of the Nine-Power Treaty, does not the Prime Minister consider it desirable that the British Government should as far as possible pursue the same policy as the Government of the United States in relation to the problem created by the Japanese invasion of China?

Broadly speaking, I think the aims of the United States Government and of this Government are similar, but, of course, the conditions are not exactly the same in the two cases.

Is not one of the differences the fact that we have had far greater provocation than have the Americans; and will the Prime Minister assure us that he will immediately start consultations with the Dominions with a view to action parallel to that of the United States to restrain aggression?

We are keeping in touch with the Dominions on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to issue to British nationals in China any statement giving effect to the Anglo-Japanese formula recently reached at Tokyo; and whether, in that case, he will place the text on the Table of the House?

Until the conversations now proceeding at Tokyo have been concluded, my Noble Friend considers that it would be premature to amplify what is said in the formula.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet received any reply to the representations made to the Japanese Government on the discrimination against British trade at Tsingtao, with particular reference to landing permits being required for each separate bill of lading and the refusal of adequate berthing and warehouse accommodation?

I understand that what is required is a separate permit for each commodity imported, not for each bill of lading. The matter has been under discussion between His Majesty's Consul-General at Tsingtao and his Japanese colleague and my Noble Friend is at present awaiting reports on this matter and on the subject of berthing and warehouse accommodation.

Is it not a fact that there is no lack of berthing and warehouse accommodation, and that this is said to be reserved for Japanese ships with the idea of keeping out our ships?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister what direct or indirect proposals have been made by the Japanese Government to His Majesty's Government, to the effect that His Majesty's Government should make no further efforts to support the exchange value of the Chinese dollar?

None, Sir.

Will the right hon. Gentleman categorically repudiate the statements which have been made that there have been verbal assurances to the Japanese Government that we will not give any further support to Chinese currency?

I will certainly repudiate that, as I repudiated the suggestion in the question of the hon. Member.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any request has now been made by the Japanese authorities to hand over Chinese silver at Tientsin?

May I ask whether in the discussions between our Ambassador and the Foreign Minister at Tokyo any mention whatever has been made of this subject?

I should want notice of that question.

asked the Prime Minister whether British shipping is now permitted to use the Pearl River as the approach to Canton; if not, what restrictions have been imposed by the Japanese; and what steps he has taken in the matter?

The Pearl River is still closed to British shipping, but, by a temporary arrangement reached by the British and Japanese local authorities, British passenger ships are permitted under certain conditions to make periodical visits to Canton. It is expressly stated in this agreement that this arrangement does not prejudice the treaty right of British merchant vessels to free navigation of the Pearl River, and the attitude of His Majesty's Government on this subject has been made clear to the Japanese authorities.

Has anything been done by the Government to protect the commercial interests of our traders who are likely to be serious affected by this ban on goods as opposed to passengers?

Yes, Sir; it is something that there is this limited permit to voyage periodically on the Pearl River.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Japanese authorities still refuse to allow the inspection and survey of the line of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway Company which is required in the interests of British bond-holders; and what action he has taken in the matter?

Yes, Sir. Further representations have recently been made to the Japanese Government on this subject by His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo.

asked the Prime Minister what reply has been received from the Japanese Government to the representations of His Majesty's Ambassador in Tokyo against the action of the Shanghai Customs, at the instance of the so-called Reformed Government in Nanking, in requiring owners of vessels wishing to clear for nine specified inland ports to obtain certificates from the Japanese military authorities?

The position remains as stated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 19th July.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this falling in with the desire of the Japanese Government in this connection would mean the recognition of the so-called Reformed Government at Nanking, and would not that be a very dangerous position for us?

It was in view of the dangers which are envisaged in my hon. Friend's question that His Majesty's Government made the strong representations to which I referred in my previous answer to him.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make a further statement regarding the progress of the military and political conversations between His Majesty's Government and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now define the upshot of the most recent conversations between Moscow and the United Kingdom; and, in particular, whether it is proposed to send a naval and military mission from the United Kingdom to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to settle matters of strategic co-operation?

asked the Prime Minister at what date will the staff talks with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics be commenced; and is it his intention that they should begin as soon as possible after agreement has been reached in principle?

asked the Prime Minister when the military mission will go to Russia; and of whom it will consist?

The Soviet Government has proposed that at the present state of the negotiations it would be an advantage to begin military conversations forthwith. His Majesty's Government and the French Government have concurred and arrangements are being made to send British and French military representatives to Moscow as soon as possible. It is proposed that, concurrently with the military conversations, political discussions should continue with a view to reaching final conclusion on the terms of the political agreement. The British delegation will be headed by Admiral the Hon. Sir Reginald Plunkett Ernle-Erle-Drax, and will include Air-Marshal Sir Charles Burnett and Major-General Hey wood.

Could the Prime Minister say, roughly, when the mission is likely to start?

Probably this week.

We can, of course, assume, from the composition of the delegation, that it will be concerned with naval and air matters, as well as military affairs?

Obviously.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the large number of executions of men who held any kind of responsible position in the territory of the loyalist Government of Spain; and whether, in view of his desire for better relations between this country and Spain, he will call the attention of General Franco to the bad effect such executions will have on these relationships?

According to my Noble Friend's information the death penalty is being imposed in cases of murder and other crimes of violence. The second part of the question does not appear to arise.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the information in his possession comes only from Francoist sources, and whether he is not aware that the information in the possession of everybody else has stated clearly that large numbers of important people, whose sole crime is that they supported a Government legitimately elected, are being executed for that crime; and will he undertake to get some information from more responsible sources?

The sources from which His Majesty's Government get their information are essentially responsible. Perhaps the hon. Lady may be able to give me information from her own sources. I appreciate the seriousness of the cases she has in mind.

Has not the source from which the right hon. Gentleman has given information repeatedly to this House proved, in fact, never to have been really accurate?

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of mechanically-propelled tricycles supplied by the Ministry to disabled men, and at present being used by them; and are all expenses necessary for the upkeep of these vehicles borne by the Ministry?

The number of mechanically-propelled tricycles in use is 2,699. The cost of maintaining these vehicles as supplied to the pensioners is borne by the State on the basis of fair wear and tear.

Have these pensioners the right to apply to the Ministry of Pensions for a new vehicle when their existing ones are out of date?

They can apply.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any arrangements have been made for evacuation in time of emergency of badly disabled ex-service men living in vulnerable areas?

I would remind my hon. Friend that arrangements under the Government evacution scheme as a whole are under the general direction of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. It will be for the local authority to make such arrangements as it may find practicable for the evacuation of adult blind and crippled persons who may desire to be removed.

asked the Minister of Pensions the respective duties of the Standing Joint Committee for Ex-service Questions and the Central Advisory Committee; when these two committees last met; what request he has received for them to be called together; and whether he proposes to do so?

As regards the Standing Joint Committee, I would refer the hon. Member to the full answer given by my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works on 10th May last, of which I am sending him a copy. The Central Advisory Committee which was formed in 1922 has the duty under Section 3 of the War Pensions Act, 1921, to consider any matters that may be put before them by the Minister for their advice. The committee met last in 1927. No occasion has, I understand, arisen since that date for summoning a further meeting of the committee, but I shall not hesitate to call the members together if any matter of sufficient consequence should arise on which I find it desirable to have their advice. I may add that the meetings I am holding with representatives of War pensions committees in all parts of the country, and with the principal officers of the British Legion, are giving me ample opportunity of informing myself as to pension difficulties of all kinds.

Does not the Minister appreciate that it would be a good thing if one of these committees were called in to discuss how best to deal with some of the human derelicts in this country who are getting no pensions?

I am consulting those who have a practical knowledge of these questions and all matters raised in the House by hon. Members, and on matters on which I want to acquaint myself. I shall not hesitate to call the committee together if I find my sources of information are not sufficient.

Will the Minister be good enough to give us the benefit of these consultations in the form of a White Paper?

The matter can be raised by questions in this House.

asked the Prime Minister whether the British Consul at Prague has yet received his exequatur from the German Government; if not, whether he can state the cause of the delay; and whether the Consul is able to carry out his functions without such exequatur?

After the withdrawal of His Majesty's Legation at Prague a request was made for an exequatur for a Consul-General at Prague. This has been refused by the German Government on the grounds that His Majesty's Government had declared that while their request for an exequatur constituted in itself the de facto recognition of the present position in Bohemia and Moravia they could not modify the views which they had already expressed as regards the legality of the manner in which that position had been brought about. The question of the appointment of a Consul-General at Prague is, therefore, in abeyance.

Is not it a great pity that His Majesty's Government exposed themselves to this rebuff, against which we warned them at the time; and would not it have been very much better not to have asked for this exequatur at all and thus accorded, as the right hon. Gentleman points out, at least de facto recognition to German rule in Prague?

No, Sir. The reasons why His Majesty's Government made this application were explained to the House, and the appointment of a Consul-General would be of value most of all, for example, in the refugee question and also to British interests. It was for these reasons the application was made, and I am now giving the right hon. Baronet the result of the application.

Has the right hon. Gentleman found it impossible to continue to look after the interests of refugees in Prague in spite of not having this exequatur?

No, Sir. The appointment of a Consul-General would be preferable, but our interest in the refugees has been carried on.

Then it was not necessary?

I cannot accept that. The granting of the exequatur would obviously have been preferable. The German Government are not prepared to grant the exequatur. That is how the position stands at present.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the steady extension in the number and complexity of affairs requiring the supervision of Parliament, the growing congestion of business and the lack of time available for its adequate discussion, and the necessity of voting Estimates for large sums of public money without examination, he is prepared to move to set up a Select Committee of this House for the purpose of preparing plans for the devolution of such public business as can conveniently be controlled by separate Parliaments in the United Kingdom?

No, Sir.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House any indication of the steps he proposes to take, if not the steps proposed in the question, to meet the difficulties which every hon. Member and every party in this House are experiencing?

I could not give a reply by way of an answer to a supplementary question.

If not a Select Committee, could not the right hon. Gentleman indicate what steps, if any, he proposes to take?

The question on the Order Paper relates to the setting up of separate Parliaments in the United Kingdom.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that the state of affairs in the present Parliament completely debars Scottish Members from adequately discussing Scottish affairs?

They find time to discuss not only Scottish affairs but English affairs, too.

Does the Prime Minister not realise that more Parliaments mean more legislation, and that the late Lord Salisbury wisely said, more legislation means more taxation and heavier burdens on the people.

And more money for the lawyers.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the interests of the better government of the Colonial Empire, he will consider the setting up of a special Parliamentary Committee, each of whose members shall be specially responsible for looking after the welfare of some overseas territory in which he may have special interest from residence, business relations, or otherwise?

I expect to be able to make a statement on this subject in the course of the present week.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement in regard to the memorandum recently submitted to him by the hon. Member for Hammersmith North, on the subject of Ministers holding company directorships?

I have now had an opportunity of considering the memorandum submitted to me by the hon. and learned Member. The well-known rule laid down by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman in March, 1906, is in the following terms:

"All directorships held by Ministers must be resigned, except in the case of honorary directorships, directorships in connection with philanthropic undertakings, and directorships in private companies."

At the time when this rule was announced the term "private company" had no statutory significance and was used probably to cover companies dealing wholly or mainly with family interests. Since then the term has received a statutory definition which covers a very wide held and examples of existing private companies submitted by the hon. and learned Gentleman show that such companies may control very large amounts of capital while their shares may be in turn controlled by public companies engaged in the widest possible range of activities. In these circumstances it is clear that if the term "private companies" in Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's ruling were to be interpreted in the statutory sense it would travel far beyond the intentions of the original framers of the rule.

Accordingly, after consultation with my colleagues, I propose to interpret the term in future as applying only to concerns dealing wholly or mainly with family affairs or interests and not primarily engaged in trading. Since this is not a rigid definition, the Prime Minister of the day must be the final judge of whether any particular directorship held by a colleague comes within the rule or not, and Ministers will, therefore, doubtless submit to his consideration any case about which there might be a doubt. This applies to honorary directorships as well as to directorships of private companies. I would add that, as was observed by Lord Baldwin when he was Prime Minister on 5th July, 1926:

" The safeguard against any difficulty such as the hon. Member appears to have in mind lies in the traditional standards of public life in this country."

May I ask whether that rule applies to members of the present Cabinet, and whether the Prime Minister proposes to take any steps to ascertain whether any members of his Cabinet come under the rule?

It applies to the present Cabinet, and I have already taken such steps.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now say how the Hudson-Wohltat conversations regarding the proposed British loan to Germany were made public?

No, Sir.

Has the Prime Minister taken any steps to discover whether the conversations of an hon. Member with a certain Embassy have resulted in anything?

I do not know what the hon. Member means by that.

I am referring to the Duke of Alba.

asked the Prime Minister the form and the scope of the investigation into old age pensions; and with whom it is intended to have consultations?

asked the Prime Minister what are the terms of reference and the names of the committee of inquiry in connection with old age pensions?

asked the Prime Minister whether, when the Government are considering the old age pensions, they will also take into consideration the removal of the anomaly which prevents a married woman from receiving the pension at the same time as her husband?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement before the Recess on what lines he intends to proceed to make the investigation into the question of revising the Old Age Pensions Acts?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make the inquiry into old age pensions wide enough to consider questions such as meeting the cost of an increase in the old age pensions to those whose sole income is the old age pension by a tax on betting, thus avoiding an additional burden on industry for this purpose?

I will, with the hon. Members' permission, answer these questions together.

On a point of Order. When Members put a question on the Order Paper they desire to get an answer, and not have it bundled together with other questions upon which a general answer is given. I want to submit that my question raises a different point from those raised in the other questions, and I want to have an answer to my question. Is it not the case that hon. Members are entitled to have their question answered, instead of it being bundled together with others and a general answer given?

:It is rather a waste of the time of the House in answering separately questions which relate to the same matter. Perhaps the hon. Member will find his question is dealt with in the answer.

As I stated on Thursday, the investigation into the practicability of an extension or improve- ment of the present system of old age pensions will be undertaken by the Government, and the Government as a whole will take responsibility for the results. No formal terms of reference are, therefore, necessary. The question raised by the hon. Member for Spennymoor (Mr. Batey) will be taken into account.

May I ask whether, in dealing with the scope of the investigation, all the anomalies at present in the Old Age Pensions Act will be considered? Furthermore, should the Government meet with any difficulty as regards the employers' attitude to this question and their reluctance to agree, will that cause the Government not to go forward with this proposal?

I cannot say what the result of the inquiry may be, but certainly what I have in contemplation is a general inquiry which will take into account all the anomalies.

May I ask whether the matter raised in my question will be considered?

No, Sir. I do not think that is a part of the investigation.

May I ask whether in these investigations the Prime Minister, before coming to a decision, will consult with the representatives of the old age pensioners who have formed several unions?

I will take that into consideration.

Will the Prime Minister consider the case, which is often forgotten, of the wife who becomes 65 before her husband reaches that age?

Yes, Sir.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the old folks want a 10s. increase in their pensions, and that they will not stop their campaign until they get it?

Is a separate committee to be appointed, and, if so, will the Prime Minister publish the names; or is it to be a committee of the Cabinet?

:I did not say anything about a committee. I did not mention the word. I said the Government would make an investigation and take the responsibility. It is not customary to give particulars about Cabinet Committees.