HC Deb 08 July 1936 vol 314 cc1349-63

11.38 p.m.

The SECRETARY for MINES (Captain Crookshank)

I beg to move, That the Additional Import Duties (No. 12) Order, 1936, dated the twenty-ninth day of June, nineteen hundred and thirty-six, made by the Treasury under the Import Duties Act, 1932, a copy of which was presented to this House on the said twenty-ninth day of June, nineteen hundred and thirty-six, be approved. Perhaps it will be for the convenience of the House if I take this and the next Order on the Paper together. My first words must be of regret at the absence of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, who has undergone an operation. The House will join me in expressing the hope that the operation will be successful.

The first Order, No. 12, deals with a proposed additional duty on rice, millet and buckwheat starches, and cornflour, custard powder and laundry materials containing such starches which at present are subject only to the general ad valorem duty. Something like 90 per cent. of the starch is used for laundry purposes. As the Committee in their report say that they have received no objections from the consumers—the laundry people—who have made no appearance, there seems to be no reason to suppose that the duty if enacted will cause any great hardship.

The remaining use to which this starch is put is for the production of high-class writing papers. The Committee are of opinion that any increased cost that may be involved as a result of the duty in the making of high-class writing paper is not such as to warrant the withholding of a substantial degree of protection from the British manufacturer of such starches. The figures reveal that there has been a great increase in recent years in the importation of these starches into this country and also that the importations have been at a continually lower price. In fact, home production has been severely hit as a result of continental price-cutting. In 1933 the imports were just over 5,000 tons, and the average c.i.f. price £16 15s. 6d. Last year imports rose to 9,553 tons, and the average price £14 18s. 8d. In the early months of this year there was a still greater drop in the price. Home production in 1933 was about 65 per cent. of the total amount used in this country, but in 1934 it dropped to 57 per cent., and while the figures for 1935 are not yet available there is reason to suppose that the percentage has dropped still further. The principal importing countries are Germany, Belgium and Holland, and in this country the manufacturing centres are London, Norwich and Hull.

The proposal is that there should be an additional duty at such a rate as will, with the ad valorem duty, amount to 7s. 6d. per cwt. on these categories of starch.

The second Order deals with an entirely different subject, fabrics, which consist either wholly or in part of paper yarn, whether coated or otherwise treated or not. The proposal is that when these fabrics are of a weight exceeding 12 ozs. to the square yard, they should be dealt with under the Order. This fabric is used for the making of paper chairs and linen baskets. The order is intended primarily to cover fabrics which are wholly of paper yarn, but the definition has been extended, otherwise it might be possible to evade the new duty by inserting fibre or some other substance into it. The idea of having a limit of weight is in order to exclude the much finer fabrics, some of which we do not make in this country, and which are used principally for hat making. It is a new fabric in this country, and recently it was only made in the higher grade. Now British manufacturers have been able to make it also in the lower grades, but they think that if there is a progressive deterioration in the quality of the lower grades those who have begun to use the fabrics might be tempted to give them up. Imports used to come from Germany, but they are now coming from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, the United States and Japan.

That is why these proposals are being made. If accepted they will not have any great effect upon the cost of chairs or linen baskets, as it takes only about 1½ yards of material to make a chair, and for a linen basket, only three-quarters to 1¼ yards. In the case of chairs the wholesale selling prices range between 7s. 6d. and £1, and in the case of linen baskets from 5s. to 9s. 6d.; any increase of the price as a result of this duty will not therefore be substantial.

I hope with that description of these two Orders, the House will be good enough to accept the Motions.

11.46 p.m.

Mr. A. V. ALEXANDER

It is a very great pity that, as usual, we should be-bate such an important question as this at so late an hour. In deference to the House, and more particularly to my colleagues, I shall not speak at any length, but this is really a first-class example of a ramp against the public that is worthy of long and careful consideration by the House. In the first place, let me say, on Order No. 12, dealing with starch, that the report is not true. Nothing is more derogatory to the conduct of business in this House than that we should grow into the practice of accepting White Paper reports, especially when they are recommendations for the taxation of the subject, which are not true. The Secretary for Mines himself stated, in dealing with starch, that the report says that the consumers had no complaint to make. That is an amazing statement. I put forward strong opposition on behalf of laundries employing 15,000 workers and on behalf of 7,500,000 registered consumers. Although I was not able to be present personally at the interview with the Import Duties Advisory Committee, I sent a representative of my committee. Yet we are told that the consumers have made no complaints. It is disgraceful that Parliament should be asked to pass taxation of this kind on the strength of a White Paper that is absolutely untrue.

The next point I wish to make refers to the commodity. I hope hon. Members will realise what is really behind this duty. The Secretary for Mines said that this industry is centred in three places only—London, Hull and Norwich. That is true. The application comes from three firms: Samuel Berger's, J. J. Colman's and Reckitt's of Hull. Will anybody suggest that those firms are in need of protective assistance from this House? The record on 'Change of these firms shows that they are in a highly flourishing condition to-day. The quotations on the Stock Exchange to-night on the shares of these firms are: J. J. Colman's, £1 shares, £4 0s. 6d.; Reckitt's, £1 shares, £5 15s. 6d. The record of their distributed profits varies from 23 per cent. to 25 per cent. in interest, and there have been frequent bonuses of from 20 per cent. to 25 per cent. Those are the industries that are said to require this additional tax to be urgently imposed to save them from extinction or from the growth of imports from abroad.

What is the nature of the increase? The report admits that the present rate of duty is 10 per cent. ad valorem. The duty now proposed is 7s. 6d. per cwt. That is equal to £7 10s. a ton. According to the report, the average price of the imported article last year was about £14, so that the duty is to be raised, by the vote of this House to-night, from 10 per cent. to 52 per cent. We heard a good deal about the high rate of duty on iron and steel last week. It was said that the 50 per cent. duty on iron and steel was almost unheard of. Here we have a duty which is to be fastened on to the backs of the consumers specially for the benefit of these three great firms which are paying such high profits. When it is said that this does not affect the consumers, let me point out that there are three classes of trade affected. There are the paper makers, who appeared before the Import Duties Committee and said that if this enormously steep increase was put on the duty, it would greatly affect their employment. It vitally affects laundries, employing tens of thousands of workers. The third class, which the Import Duties Committee did not think of at all, are the housewives. There is no grocery business in the country which is not still selling large quantities of starch to housewives. Although I am glad to see that laundries are expanding and the housewives becoming increasingly free from the drudgery of washing, there are still thousands of working women who have to augment the miserable wages we have been discussing to-night by taking in washing.

11.52 p.m.

Sir PERCY HARRIS

I would like to join in the expressions of sympathy with the Parliamentary Secretary, who, we hope, will soon be well and back in his place. I would have liked, for once, to have seen the President of the Board of Trade, who is really responsible for these Orders, coming down to the House to defend them. The Import Duties Advisory Committee have far less work than they used to have, but they insist on giving us these meagre reports. They should give the House a full report stating all the figures and facts. The Committee should do the House the courtesy of giving it as full information as they have available. It has always been a principle of supporters of the new policy of import duties that raw materials should be exempt. This is a material which, although it may not be in its primary state, is still the raw material of many industries, and we should hesitate before we put on duties as high as 50 per cent. One of the industries that has always held its own has been the production of linen collars. The export trade of that industry has to face severe competition in the Dominions and in foreign countries. We should discourage this growing tendency of taxing raw materials. It looks as if the Committee, having exhausted their job of giving protection to manufacturing industries, are now picking out raw materials, which in principle the House of Commons has laid down should only be subject to a tax of 10 per cent. That is an important departure.

11.55 p.m.

Mr. H. STRAUSS

I am not less anxious than other hon. Members that these Orders should not take an unnecessary time, but as a firm in my constituency has been attacked by the right hon. Member for the Hillsborough Division (Mr. Alexander) I am entitled to speak on this important Order, which I can show is necessary and reasonable. What conceivable thing does the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Hillsborough Division imagine to be proved by the fact that the shares of Messrs. J. & J. Colman, Limited stand at any particular height? As everybody knows, starch is not the only commodity which that company produces. Their prosperity as a whole, or the value of their shares, proves nothing material to the one issue which the House has now to consider. I do not think the right hon. Gentleman could challenge the fact—at any rate he did not attempt to do so—that the prices at which starch has recently been imported from Germany are uneconomic prices, having no reference to the cost of production in the country of origin and only rendered possible by the manipulation of exchanges and the bounty paid to exporters by the German Government. As regards the point made by the hon. Baronet the Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Sir P. Harris), who spoke for the Liberal party, I think he was under the impression that the commodity used in the textile trade was affected. That is not the case. The maize, wheat and potato starches which are of importance to the textile industry are not included in the Order.

The increase in imports of this commodity which has been so noticeable is almost wholly due to subsidised foreign competition, especially from Germany. Importation from France, where there is no subsidy, has practically ceased. I shall give the House a few figures to show what has been happening, in relation first to the prices and secondly to the quantity of the imports of starch from Germany to this country. In 1931 the average landed price in this country was £19 10s. per ton; in 1935, it was £13 13s. 8d. per ton—a drop of nearly £6 per ton. As regards quantity, in the same period there has been an increase in the importation from 1,631 tons in 1931 to 5,198 tons last year. That sensational increase can only be explained in one way, namely, that the price at which it is being sold to this country has no relation whatever to the price at which it is being produced. The Germans in their need, or imagined need, for sterling are prepared to subsidise the industry to almost any extent. There is another important point to be considered in connection with the production of starch in this country and in other countries. The home industry in this case is not an inefficient industry. It is a very efficient industry and it asks for relief from a highly artificial and unfair form of competition. It has proved its case to the satisfaction of the Import Duties Advisory Committee, and I ask the House, in view of those facts, to have confidence in the recommendation which has been made, and to support this most necessary duty.

12.0 m.

Mr. MESSER

rose

HON. MEMBERS

Divide!

Mr. MESSER

If hon. Members are impatient, I would remind them that it is not the fault of those who sit on this side of the House that we are debating important business of this character at this late hour. I want to refer to the second Order, Order No. 14, and to add my protest against the House being called upon to discuss business of this importance under conditions that give little opportunity for an adequate debate. The material in question, paper yarn, is something about which I doubt very much if many Members of this House know anything at all. It is used, as has been stated, for the purpose of enabling art furniture to develop as an industry in this country. The report of the Import Duties Advisory Committee states: Official statistics are not available"— I do not know why not— but our inquiries satisfy us that the quantities entering this country are very considerable in relation to the total demand. What does that mean? I am not at all satisfied, knowing a little bit about this trade, that there is any reason for any increase in this duty. I would have been glad of the opportunity to debate this matter, and I regret that the action of the Government in putting this business down for discussion at this late hour prevents my doing so.

12.2 a.m.

Captain CROOKSHANK

The hon. Baronet the Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Sir P. Harris) commented on the shortness of the report of the Import Duties Advisory Committee. I take note of that, and no doubt the committee also will do so. As regards the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Hillsborough Division (Mr. A. V. Alexander), the first answer which I would make, when he says that the report is untrue with regard to the statement that the consumers have entered no objection to the proposals, is that I thought it meant that no representations had been made on behalf of the general body of consumers.

Mr. ALEXANDER

All I have to say is that if a Government Department like the Board of Trade does not know when my movement opposes a matter like this, it is time it woke up.

Captain CROOKSHANK

The right hon. Gentleman was criticising the report of the Import Duties Advisory Committee, and from that report I understood that the representative laundry associations did not appear against these proposals. I think a careful reading of the report will show that that is the reference that is made in it to this question. When the report says: Much the greater proportion of rice starch is used for laundry purposes, and we know of no reason why the proposed duty, if enacted, should cause hardship to such consumers, I should have thought that that meant the people concerned with laundry purposes and not the general body of consumers. The representative associations of the laundry world, if that is the right term to use, did not make any objection, but I understand that the right hon. Gentleman did, in general terms, on behalf of his movement, as he calls it, which includes a, certain number of laundry undertakings. The normal representatives of the laundry industry outside that movement, however, did not.

Mr. ALEXANDER

What does the hon. and gallant Gentleman mean by "normal"?

Captain CROOKSHANK

I do not want to quarrel about words, but I do not think these words in the report of the Committee can be interpreted to

mean exactly what the right hon. Gentleman says.

The second point is that when the right hon. Gentleman says, on the question of paper, that this would affect the export trade of the high-class paper which is made, it is quite open to those manufacturers to apply in due course to the Import Duties Advisory Committee to see if they can obtain an Order, for a drawback on high-class paper exported.

Question put.

The House divided: Ayes, 247; Noes, 88.

Division No. 280.] AYES. [12.6 a.m.
Acland-Troyte, Lt.-Col. G. J. Cruddas, Col. B. Inskip, Rt. Hon. Sir T. W. H.
Adams, S. V. T. (Leeds, W.) Culverwell, C. T. Jackson, Sir H.
Albery, Sir I. J. Davidson, Rt. Hon. Sir J. C. C. James, Wing-Commander A. W.
Alexander, Brig.-Gen. Sir W. Davies, Major Sir G. F. (Yeovil) Jarvis, Sir J. J.
Allen, Lt.-Col. J. Sandeman (B'kn'hd) Dawson, Sir P. Joel, D. J. B.
Amery, Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. De Chair, S. S. Jones, L. (Swansea, W.)
Anstruther-Gray, W. J. Donner, P. W. Keeling, E. H.
Apsley, Lord Dorman-Smith, Major R. H. Kerr, Colonel C. I. (Montrose)
Assheton, R. Dower, Capt. A. V. G. Kerr, J. Graham (Scottish Univs.)
Astor, Major Hon. J. J. (Dover) Duckworth, G. A. V. (Salop) Keyes, Admiral of the Fleet Sir R.
Astor, Hon. W. W. (Fulham, E.) Duckworth, W. R. (Moss Side) Kirkpatrick, W. M.
Atholl, Duchess of Dugdale, Major T. L. Lamb, Sir J. Q.
Baldwin-Webb, Col. J. Duggan, H. J. Latham, Sir P.
Balfour, Capt. H. H. (Isle of Thanet) Duncan, J. A. L. Law, R. K. (Hull, S.W.)
Balniel, Lord Eastwood, J. F. Leech, Dr. J. W.
Baxter, A. Beverley Eckersley, P. T. Levy, T.
Beamish, Rear-Admiral T. P. H. Elliot, Rt. Hon. W. E. Lewis, O.
Beauchamp, Sir B. C. Ellis, Sir G. Liddall, W. S.
Beaumont, M. W. (Aylesbury) Emery, J. F. Little, Sir E. Graham-
Beaumont, Hon. R. E. B. (Portsm'h) Emrys-Evans, P. V. Llewellin, Lieut.-Col J. J.
Bird, Sir R. B. Entwistle, C. F. Lloyd, G. W.
Bossom, A. C. Errington, E. Locker-Lampson, Comdr. O. S.
Boulton, W. W. Erskine Hill, A. G. Loftus, P. C.
Bower, Comdr. R. T. Evans, Capt. A. (Cardiff, S.) Lyons, A. M.
Bowyer, Capt. Sir G. E. W. Everard, W. L. Mabane, W. (Huddersfield)
Boyce, H. Leslie Fildes, Sir H. MacAndrew, Colonel Sir C. G.
Braithwaite, Major A. N. Findlay, Sir E. M'Connell, Sir J.
Brass, Sir W. Fleming, E. L. McCorquodale, M. S.
Briscoe, Capt. R. G. Fox, Sir G. W. G. MacDonald, Rt. Hn. J. R. (Scot. U.)
Brocklebank, C. E. R. Fraser, Capt. Sir I. MacDonald, Rt. Hon. M. (Ross)
Brown, Col. D. C. (Hexham) Furness, S. N. Macdonald, Capt. P. (Isle of Wight)
Brown, Rt. Hon. E. (Leith) Fyfe, D. P. M. McKie, J. H.
Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Newbury) Gibson, C. G. Magnay, T.
Browne, A. C. (Belfast, W.) Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir J. Maitland, A.
Bull, B. B. Glyn, Major Sir R. G. C. Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H, D. R.
Burghley, Lord Goldie, N. B. Maxwell, S. A.
Butler, R. A. Goodman, Col. A. W. Mayhew, Lt.-Col. J.
Caine, G. R. Ha[...]- Graham, Captain A. C. (Wirral) Mills, Sir F. (Leyton, E.)
Campbell, Sir E. T. Greene, W. P. C. (Worcester) Mills, Major J. D. (New Forest)
Carver, Major W. H. Gridley, Sir A. B. Mitchell, H. (Brenford and Chiswick)
Cary, R. A. Grimston, R. V. Mitcheson, Sir G. G.
Castlereagh, Viscount Guest, Maj. Hon. O.(C'mb'rw'll,N.W.) Moore, Lieut.-Col. T. C. R.
Cayzer, Sir H. R. (Portsmouth, S.) Guinness, T. L. E. B. Moore-Brabazon, Lt.-Col. J. T. C.
Channon, H. Gunston, Capt. D. W. Muirhead, Lt.-Col. A. J.
Chorlton, A. E. L. Hacking, Rt. Hon. D. H. Munro, P.
Christie, J. A. Hanbury, Sir C. Nall, Sir J.
Clarry, Sir Reginald Hannah, I. C. Neven-Spence, Maj. B. H. H.
Clydesdale, Marquess of Hannon, Sir P. J. H. Nicolson, Hon. H. G.
Colville, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. D. J. Harbord, A. O'Connor, Sir Terence J.
Cook, T. R. A. M. (Norfolk, N.) Hartington, Marquess of Orr-Ewing, I. L.
Cooke, J. D. (Hammersmith, S.) Haslam, H. C. (Horncastle) Palmer, G. E. H.
Courtauld, Major J. S. Heligers, Captain F. F. A. Patrick, C. M.
Courthope, Col. Sir G. L. Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel A. P. Peake, O.
Craddock, Sir R. H. Hepburn, P. G. T. Buchan- Peat, C. U.
Craven-Ellis, W. Herbert, A. P. (Oxford U.) Penny, Sir G.
Critchley, A. Holmes, J. S. Perkins, W. R. D.
Crookshank, Capt. H. F. C. Hope, Captain Hon. A. O. J. Petherick, M.
Croom-Johnson, R. P. Horsbrugh, Florence Pilkington, R.
Cross, R. H. Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hack., N.) Plugge, L. F.
Crossley, A. C Hudson, R. S. (Southport) Ponsonby, Col. C. E.
Crowder, J. F. E. Hunter, T. Porritt, R. W.
Radford, E. A. Shaw, Major P. S. (Wavertree) Turton, R. H.
Ramsay, Captain A. H. M. Shaw, Captain W. T. (Forfar) Wakefield, W. W.
Ramsbotham, H. Smiles, Lieut.-Colonel Sir W. D. Walker-Smith, Sir J.
Ramadan, Sir E. Smith, L. W. (Hallam) Ward, Lieut.-Col. Sir A. L. (Hull)
Rankin, R. Smith, Sir R. W. (Aberdeen) Wardlaw-Milne, Sir J. S.
Rathbone, J. R. (Bodmin) Smithers, Sir W. Warrender, Sir V.
Rawson, Sir Cooper Somerset, T. Waterhouse, Captain C.
Reed, A. C. (Exeter) Somervell, Sir D. B. (Crewe) Wayland, Sir W. A.
Rickards, G. W. (Skipton) Southby, Comdr. A. R. J. Wedderburn, H. J. S.
Robinson, J. R. (Blackpool) Spears, Brig.-Gen. E. L. Wells, S. R.
Ropner, Colonel L. Spens, W. P. Wickham, Lt.-Col. E. T. R.
Ross Taylor, W. (Woodbridge) Stanley, Rt. Hon. Oliver (W'm'I'd) Williams, H. G. (Croydon, S.)
Ruggles-Brise, Colonel Sir E. A. Strauss, H. G. (Norwich) Willoughby de Eresby, Lord
Russell, S. H. M. (Darwen) Strickland, Captain W. F. Wilson, Lt.-Col. Sir A. T.(Hitchin)
Salmon, Sir I. Stuart, Lord C. Crichton. (N'thw'h) Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl
Salt, E. W. Sueter, Rear-Admiral Sir M. F. Wise, A. R.
Samuel, Sir A. M. (Farnham) Sutcliffe, H. Womersley, Sir W. J.
Samuel, M. R. A. (Putney) Taylor, Vice-Adm. E. A. (Padd., S.) Wragg, H.
Sanderson, Sir F. B. Thomas, J. P. L. (Hereford)
Sandys, E. D. Thomson, Sir J. D. W. TELLERS FOR THE AYES.—
Scott, Lord William Titchfield, Marquess of Mr. James Stuart and Dr. Morris-Jones.
Selley, H. R. Tryon, Major Rt. Hon. G. C.
Shakespeare, G. H. Tufnell, Lieut.-Com. R. L.
NOES.
Acland, Rt. Hon. Sir F. Dyke Garro Jones, G. M. Potts, J.
Adams, D. (Consett) Gibbins, J. Price, M. P.
Adams, D. M. (Poplar, S.) Griffith, F. Kingsley (M'ddl'sbro, W.) Pritt, D. N.
Adamson, W. M. Griffiths, J. (Llanelly) Richards, R. (Wrexham)
Alexander, Rt. Hon. A. V. (H'lsbr.) Hall, G. H. (Aberdare) Ritson, J.
Anderson, F. (Whitehaven) Hall, J. H. (Whitechapel) Robinson, W. A. (St. Helens)
Banfield, J. W. Hardie, G. D. Rowson, G.
Barnes, A. J. Harris, Sir P. A. Seely, Sir H. M.
Barr, J. Henderson, A. (Kingswinford) Sexton, T. M.
Batey, J. Henderson, T. (Tradeston) Silkin, L.
Bellenger, F. Hicks, E. G. Silverman, S. S.
Benson, G. Hills, A. (Pontefract) Simpson. F. B.
Bromfield, W. Hopkin, D. Smith, Ben (Rotherhithe)
Brooke, W. Jenkins, A. (Pontypool) Smith, E. (Stoke)
Buchanan, G. Jenkins, Sir W. (Neath) Smith, T. (Normanton)
Burke, W. A. Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) Stewart, W. J. (H'ght'n-le-Sp'ng)
Cassells, T. Kelly, W. T. Strauss, G. R. (Lambeth, N.)
Cluse, W. S. Lawson, J. J. Taylor, R. J. (Morpeth)
Compton, J. Leach, W. Thurtle, E.
Daggar, G. Lee, F. Tinker, J. J.
Dalton, H. Logan, D. G. Watson, W. McL.
Davies, S. O. (Merthyr) Mainwaring, W. H. Westwood, J.
Day, H. Marklew, E. Whiteley, W.
Dobbie, W. Marshall, F. Wilkinson, Ellen
Dunn, E. (Rother Valley) Messer, F. Williams, E. J. (Ogmore)
Ede, J. C. Milner, Major J. Williams, T. (Don Valley)
Edwards, Sir C. (Bedwellty) Morrison, Rt. Hon. H. (Ha'kn'y, S.) Windsor, W. (Hull, C.)
Evans, D. O. (Cardigan) Paling, W. Woods, G. S. (Finsbury)
Fletcher, Lt.-Comdr. R. T. H. Parkinson, J. A.
Gardner, B. W. Pethick-Lawrence, F. W. TELLERS FOR THE NOES.—
Mr. John and Mr. Mathers.

Motion made, and Question put, That the Additional Import Duties (No. 14) Order, 1936, dated the first day of July, nineteen hundred and thirty-six, made by the Treasury under the Import Duties Act, 1932, a copy of which was presented

to this House on the said first day of July, nineteen hundred and thirty-six, be approved."—[Captain Crookshank.]

The House divided: Ayes, 238; Noes, 84.

Division No. 281.] AYES. [12.14 a.m.
Acland-Troyte, Lt.-Col. G. J. Beamish, Rear-Admiral T. P. H. Browne, A. C. (Belfast, W.)
Adams, S. V. T. (Leeds, W.) Beauchamp, Sir B. C. Bull, B. B.
Albery, Sir I. J. Beaumont, M. W. (Aylesbury) Burghley, Lord
Alexander, Brig.-Gen. Sir W. Beaumont, Hon. R. E. B. (Portsm'h) Caine, G. R. Hall-
Allen, Lt.-Col. J. Sandeman (B'kn'hd) Bird, Sir R. B. Campbell, Sir E. T.
Amery, Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Bossom, A. C. Carver, Major W. H.
Anstruther-Gray, W. J. Boulton, W. W. Cary, R. A.
Apsley, Lord Bower, Comdr. R. T. Castlereagh, Viscount
Assheton, R. Bowyer, Capt. Sir G. E. W. Cayzer, Sir H. R. (Portsmouth, S.)
Astor, Major Hon. J. J. (Dover) Boyce, H. Leslie Channon, H.
Astor, Hon. W. W. (Fulham, E.) Braithwaite, Major A. N. Chorlton, A. E. L.
Atholl, Duchess of Brass, Sir W. Christle, J. A.
Baldwin-Webb, Col. J. Briscoe, Capt. R. G. Clarry, Sir Reginald
Balfour, Capt. H. H.(Isle of Thanet) Brocklebank, C. E. R. Colville, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. D. J.
Balniel, Lord Brown, Col. D. C. (Hexham) Cook, T. R. A. M. (Norfolk, N.)
Baxter, A. Beverley Brown, Rt. Hon. E. (Leith) Cooke, J. D. (Hammersmith, S.)
Courtauld, Major J. S. Hudson, R. S. (Southport) Ramsay, Captain A. H. M.
Courthope, Col. Sir G. L. Hunter, T. Ramsbotham, H.
Craddock, Sir R. H. Inskip, Rt. Hon. Sir T. W. H. Ramsden, Sir E.
Craven-Ellis, W. Jackson, Sir H. Rankin, R.
Critchley, A. James, Wing-Commander A. W. Rathbone, J. R. (Bodmin)
Crookshank, Capt. H. F. C. Jarvis, Sir J. J. Rawson, Sir Cooper
Croom-Johnson, R. P. Joel, D. J. B. Reed, A. C. (Exeter)
Cross, R. H. Jones, L. (Swansea, W.) Rickards, G. W. (Skipton)
Crossley, A. C. Keeling, E. H. Robinson, J. R. (Blackpool)
Crowder, J. F. E. Kerr, Colonel C. I. (Montrose) Ropner, Colonel L.
Cruddas, Col. B. Kerr, J. Graham (Scottish Univs.) Ross Taylor, W. (Woodbridge)
Culverwell, C. T. Keyes, Admiral of the Fleet Sir R. Ruggles-Brise, Colonel Sir E. A.
Davidson, Rt. Hon. Sir J. C. C. Kirkpatrick, W. M. Russell, S. H. M. (Darwen)
Davies, Major Sir G. F. (Yeovil) Lamb, Sir J. Q. Salmon, Sir I.
Dawson, Sir P. Latham, Sir P. Salt, E. W.
De Chair. S. S. Law, R. K. (Hull, S.W.) Samuel, Sir A. M. (Farnham)
Donner, P. W. Leech, Dr. J. W. Samuel, M. R. A. (Putney)
Dorman-Smith, Major R. H. Levy, T. Sanderson, Sir F. B.
Dower, Capt. A. V. G. Liddall, W. S. Sandys, E. D.
Duckworth, G. A. V. (Salop) Little, Sir E. Graham- Scott, Lord William
Duckworth, W. R. (Moss Side) Llewellin, Lieut.-Col. J. J. Selley, H. R.
Dugdale, Major T. L. Lloyd, G. W. Shakespeare, G. H.
Duggan, H. J. Locker-Lampson, Comdr. O. S. Shaw, Major P. S. (Wavertree)
Duncan, J. A. L. Loftus, P. C Shaw, Captain W. T. (Forfar)
Eastwood, J. F. Lyons, A. M. Smith, L. W. (Hallam)
Eckersley, P. T. Mabane, W. (Huddersfield) Smith, Sir R. W. (Aberdeen)
Ellis, Sir G. MacAndrew, Colonel Sir C. G. Smithers, Sir W.
Emery, J. F. M'Connell, Sir J. Somerset, T.
Emrys-Evans, P. V. McCorquodale, M. S. Southby, Comdr. A. R. J.
Entwistle, C. F. MacDonald, Rt. Hn. J. R. (Scot. U.) Spears, Brig.-Gen. E. L.
Erskine Hill, A. G. Mac Donald, Rt. Hon. M. (Ross) Spens, W. P.
Evans, Capt. A. (Cardiff, S.) Macdonald, Capt. P. (Isle of Wight) Stanley, Rt. Hon. Oliver(W'm'I'd)
Everard, W. L. McKie, J. H. Srauss, H. G. (Norwich)
Fildes, Sir H. Macmillan, H. (Stockton-on-Tees) Strickland, Captain W. F.
Findlay, Sir E. Magnay, T. Sueter, Rear-Admiral Sir M. F.
Fleming, E. L. Maitland, A. Sutcliffe, H.
Fox, Sir G. W. G. Margesson, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. D. R. Taylor, Vice-Adm. E. A. (Padd., S.)
Fraser, Capt. Sir I. Maxwell, S. A. Thomas, J. P. L. (Hereford)
Furness, S. N. Mayhew, Lt.-Col. J. Thomson, Sir J. D. W.
Fyfe, D. P. M. Mills, Sir F. (Leyton, E.) Titchfield, Marquess of
Gibson, C. G. Mills, Major J. D. (New Forest) Tryon, Major Rt. Hon. G. C.
Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir J. Mitchell, H. (Brentford and Chiswick) Tufnell, Lieut.-Com. R. L
Glyn, Major Sir R. G. C. Mitcheson, Sir G. G. Turton, R. H.
Goldie, N. B. Moore, Lieut.-Col. T. C. R. Wakefield, W. W.
Goodman, Col. A. W. Moore-Brabazon, Lt.-Col. J. T. C. Walker-Smith, Sir J.
Graham, Captain A. C. (Wirral) Muirhead, Lt.-Col. A. J. Ward, Lieut.-Col. Sir A. L. (Hull)
Greene, W. P. C. (Worcester) Munro, P. Wardlaw-Milne, Sir J. S.
Gridley, Sir A. B. Nall, Sir J. Warrender, Sir V.
Grimston, R. V. Neven-Spence, Maj. B. H. H. Waterhouse, Captain C.
Guest,Maj, Hon. O.(C'mb'rw'li,N.W.) Nicolson, Hon. H. G. Wayland, Sir W. A.
Guinness, T. L. E. B. O'Connor, Sir Terence J. Wedderburn, H. J. S.
Gunston, Capt. D. W. Orr-Ewing, I. L. Wells, S. R.
Hacking, Rt. Hon. D. H. Palmer, G. E. H. Wickham, Lt.-Col. E. T. R.
Hanbury, Sir C. Patrick, C. M. Williams, H. G. (Croydon, S.)
Hannah, I. C. Peake, O. Willoughby de Eresby, Lord
Hannon, Sir P. J. H. Peat, C. U. Wilson, Lt.-Col. Sir A. T. (Hitchin)
Harbord, A. Penny, Sir G. Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl
Hartington, Marquess of Perkins, W. R. D. Wise, A. R.
Haslam, H. C. (Horncastle) Petherick, M. Womersley, Sir W. J.
Heilgers, Captain F. F. A. Filkington, R. Wragg, H.
Heneage, Lieut.-Colonel A. P. Plugge, L. F.
Holmes, J. S. Ponsonby, Col. C. E. TELLERS FOR THE AYES.—
Hope, Captain Hon. A. O. J. Porritt, R. W. Mr. James Stuart and Dr. Morris-Jones.
Horsbrugh, Florence Radford, E. A.
Hudson, Capt. A. U. M. (Hack., N.) Raikes, H. V. A. M.
NOES.
Acland, Rt. Hon. Sir F. Dyke Daggar, G. Hardie, G. D.
Adams, D. (Consett) Dalton, H. Harris, Sir P. A.
Adamson, W. M. Davies. S. O. (Merthyr) Henderson, A. (Kingswinford)
Alexander, Rt. Hon. A. V. (H'Isbr.) Day, H. Henderson. T. (Tradeston)
Anderson, F. (Whitehaven) Dobbie, W. Hicks, E. G.
Banfield, J. W. Dunn, E. (Rother Valley) Hills, A. (Pontefract)
Barnes, A. J. Ede, J. C. Hopkin, D.
Barr, J. Edwards, Sir C. (Bedwellty) Jenkins, A. (Pontypool)
Batey, J. Evans, D. O. (Cardigan) Jenkins, Sir W. (Neath)
Bellenger, F. Fletcher, Lt.-Comdr. R. T. H. Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly)
Benson, G. Gardner, B. W. Kelly, W. T.
Bromfield, W. Garro Jones, G. M. Lawson, J. J.
Brooke, W. Gibbins, J. Leach, W.
Buchanan, G. Griffith, F. Kingsley (M'ddl'sbro, W.) Lee, F.
Burke, W. A. Griffiths, J. (Llanelly) Logan, D. G.
Cassells, T. Hall, G. H. (Aberdare) Mainwaring, W. H.
Compton, J. Hall, J. H. (Whitechapel) Marklew, E.
Marshall, F. Rowson, G. Thurtle, E.
Messer, F. Seely, Sir H. M. Tinker, J. J.
Milner, Major J. Sexton, T. M. Watson, W. McL.
Morrison, Rt. Hon. H. (Ha'kn'y, S.) Silkin, L. Westwood, J.
Paling, W. Silverman, S. S. Wilkinson, Ellen
Parkinson, J. A. Simpson, F. B. Williams, E. J. (Ogmore)
Pethick-Lawrence, F. W. Smith, Ben (Rotherhithe) Williams, T. (Don Valley)
Potts, J. Smith, E. (Stoke) Windsor, W. (Hull, C.)
Price, M. P. Smith, T. (Normanton) Woods, G. S. (Finsbury)
Pritt, D. N. Stewart, W. J. (H'ght'n-le-Sp'ng)
Ritson, J. Strauss, G. R. (Lambeth, N.) TELLERS FOR THE NOES.—
Robinson, W. A. (St. Helens) Taylor, R. J. (Morpeth) Mr. John and Mr. Mathers.