Mr Ramsay Macdonald: Tests of 15 plants have been made by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research under the published conditions for testing of plants for the low temperature carbonization of coal. These tests are concerned only with the performance of the plants during the period of test and with the technincal aspects of the processes involved. Reports upon these tests are intended to place...
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: I understand that that is so.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: Yes, Sir. I am glad to be able to inform the House that the International Sugar Conference has reached an agreement on all points of substance. Pending its signature, however, I am not in a position to give details of its contents, but I may say that it provides for the regulation of the quantities to be exported from the principal producing countries during a period of five years. I would...
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: As quickly as possible. The documents are being prepared now. Everything has been cleared up and the preparation of the documents is in hand. There are certain questions relating to the signature of them to be dealt with, and as soon as that is done I see no reason why a White Paper should not he issued without delay.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: I have been asked to reply. In order to speed up the emptying of the Abbey after the Service, a bridge has been constructed during the past few days which will enable Members of the House of Commons to leave the Abbey almost simultaneously with the Peers. To use the covered way after the Service would delay for over an hour Members' exit from the Abbey; but they will, of course, be able to...
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: No such instruction as that suggested has been given.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: I do not know about statements in the papers but there has been no such instruction.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: All seats are placed in a position to afford a view of the procession or the ceremony. Those seats east of the Screen, numbering 4,020, will afford a view of the ceremony in the Coronation Theatre or Sanctuary.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: That is a totally different question. If the hon. Member has any communication I should be glad to have it. No committee for which I am answering is responsible for the construction of Westminster Abbey.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: Approximately 2,000 seats in all were not required by the organisations to which they were offered. These seats have now been offered to other similar organisations at the same prices, and have been accepted.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: The Sugar Conference yesterday agreed to a system of national export quotas for the supply of the free world sugar market; negotiations are still proceeding.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: The Geological Survey is intended for economic as well as for scientific purposes. It is not surprising, therefore, that some areas have been surveyed on several occasions and others have had little or no revision. About 13 per cent. of the area of Great Britain is represented by Geological Survey maps of about 8o years ago. Another 9 per cent., in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, has...
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: If it seems at all necessary and sufficiently important, I shall certainly communicate it to the House.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: The hon. Member appears to be misinformed as to the position. Allocation of seats have been made both to the widows and mothers of officers and men who fell in action or died of war service while in His Majesty's Forces, and also to the Women's Section of the British Legion and to the Women's Section of the British Legion, Scotland. An announcement recently appeared in the Press giving...
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: I cannot at present anticipate the conclusions of the International Sugar Conference, but the suggestion made by my hon. Friend is one which, among others, is being borne in mind.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: The standing committee appointed by the Medical Research Council to direct research into disease of the lungs among industrial workers has already promoted several investigations into silicosis and other conditions; the results have been published in a series of official reports and scientific papers. These researches were in most cases not specially directed to the particular problem of...
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: The hon. Member can rely upon it that, so far as pressure is concerned, it will be exerted, but these are very delicate and difficult scientific investigations, and the worst thing we can do if we want to get a real, good, sound conclusion is to press them too hard. We have already increased the staff of assistants engaged in this work.
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: With regard to the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question, I must refer him to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) on 10th March last. As regards the arrangements for holders of the Victoria Cross, all those who desire to do so have been enabled to purchase seats on the Government stands and the remainder who wish to be present will be accommodated...
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: Seats have not been specifically allocated to the women's section of the British Legion. There is a considerable allocation to the British Legion as a whole, but in accordance with the procedure applied to other organisations, the Legion have not been required to distribute these seats in any particular way. Special arrangements are being made to provide seats for representatives of the...
Mr Ramsay Macdonald: I am afraid that I cannot arrange for tickets for all organisations claiming seats to view the Royal procession. I prefer to express no further opinion on the matter.
