asked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department make any arrangements for the relatives of soldiers killed in France and Belgium to visit the graves and cemeteries now established in those countries; and, if not, do they make any grants or render any other assistance to the voluntary organisations who under- take this kind of work, or do these societies have to bear the whole cost of conducting all such parties?

Grants are made to several philanthropic societies undertaking this work. In the current year a sum of £32,500 has been provided for this purpose, as shown on page 178 of the Army Estimates.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War 'Office whether pre-War pensioners employed in Government offices on or before 1st April, 1919, who were medically examined and graded, but were retained in their civilian employment as indispensable, are eligible for increase of pension in the same manner as applies to pensioners who rejoined the Colours?

The answer is in the negative. Reassessment of pension is limited by the Royal Warrant to men who actually gave satisfactory re-enlisted service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information that the lascar crew of the Peninsular and Oriental mailboat "Egypt" were seized with panic and, with revolvers in their hands, prevented women taking to the lifeboats; and whether he will take steps to prevent lascars on passenger steamers carrying firearms?

I have no information at present upon this matter, beyond what has appeared in the Press. I am ordering a formal investigation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the reports of ships' captains who received the wireless message S.O.S. from the s.s. "Egypt," and of their statement that they could not get details of latitude and longitude in order to proceed to the rescue; whether he can state the personnel of the wireless staff; how many were fully qualified wireless operators; and whether or no watchers are employed on passenger-carrying vessels as allowed by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1919?

No reports have yet been received by the Board of Trade from ships' captains who received the wireless message S.O.S. from the "Egypt" to the effect that they were unable to obtain details of latitude and longitude from the vessel, but reports on the subject are being obtained. The "Egypt" carried three fully qualified wireless operators. Ocean-going passenger vessels which carry more than 200 persons in all are required to have three fully qualified operators. Ocean-going vessels, whether passenger or cargo, which have less than 200 persons on board, carry one or two fully qualified operators, as the case may be, and, in addition, one or two certificated watchers. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Statutory Rules.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make close inquiry into the statement made regarding the steamer "Titan," the only qualified wireless operator of which stated that he was receiving strong signals from the "Egypt" before he went off watch, and when he returned to duty two hours after the accident, there came for the first time knowledge of something which would have been available during the whole period to the watcher if he had had scientific knowledge; under these circumstances does the right hon. Gentleman not think that some fresh investigation should be made into these men being allowed to take duties for which they are not competent?

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies to that, may I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the wireless operator on the "Egypt," a London boy, went down under circumstances of the greatest heroism, and died at his post?

It is perfectly obvious that every relevant question of the kind referred to must be fully investigated.

In view of the supplementary question of the hon. and gallant Member, I wish to make it perfectly clear that my question imputed no cowardice to any person.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the statement issued by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in London to the effect that, officially, Canadians are classed as foreigners in the United Kingdom, and that if a Canadian company wishes to establish its own branch in this country it must register under Section 274 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, thereby accepting classification as a foreign country, and effectually barring itself from competing for Government contracts; and what measures it is proposed to take to remove this barrier to inter-Imperial commercial relations?

The answer to the first part of this question is in the negative. A company incorporated in Canada which establishes a place of business in this country is required to file with the Registrar of Companies the documents mentioned in the Section referred to by the hon. Member, but it does not thereby accept classification as a foreign company. So far as I am aware, a Canadian company which has complied with the Section is not debarred from competing for Government contracts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state when the claim for £1,000 made on the 12th October, 1918, by Mr. Austin Kendall, I.C.S., of 47, Wynnstay Gardens, Kensington, in respect of the loss occasioned to him by being torpedoed by the Germans on his way home from India in the "Multan," on 27th July, 1917, is likely to be paid; what is the cause of the prolonged delay in dealing with this claim, whereby serious inconvenience and loss are being caused to the applicant; and what is the total number of war claims still to be dealt with?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The delay in disposing of Mr. Austin Kendall's claim is due to the very large number of claims which have to be dealt with by the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action. The number of claims remaining to be disposed of by the Commission is 52,473.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that this is really becoming rather a scandal? It is four years since this claim was lodged, and no compensation has been paid. Serious loss and inconvenience has been caused to this gentleman—as I know personally —and what, therefore, about the other 52,000 applicants?

My hon. Friend is aware that the amount of money to be distributed is limited, but that to secure fair treatment we have aimed at investigating cases of hardship first; so that I hope in the course of the present year considerable progress will be made with the distribution.

Could not a grant-in-aid on account be given whereprima facie the claim was a just one?

Already special investigation has been made in cases of exceptional hardship.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication as to when the Committee will reach the cases of compensation to property—I understand they are now only dealing with personal claims?

I should like notice of that.

When will they reach the case of compensation to fishermen?

I cannot reply to that without notice.

Does this include the members of the mercantile services?

No.

Will the right hon. Gentleman think of increasing the personnel of the Commission, so that these cases can be dealt with a little more rapidly?

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of senior mixed departments in elementary schools for the years 1910, 1916, 1921 and 1922, and the number of headships of such schools held by men and women, respectively; and the number of junior departments in elementary schools for the same period, and the number of headships of such schools held by men and women, respectively?

Perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will inquire into the case of Mr. J. W. Bee, late No. 17,247, quarter-master sergeant, North Staffordshire Regiment (number of identity certificate, S.C.K., 7,875); is he aware that on the 4th May Mr. Bee forwarded to the pension office, Broomyard Avenue, Acton, his old identity certificate on which all the stamping spaces had become obliterated, asking that a new certificate be forwarded to him; is he aware that two pension days have since passed without Mr. Bee receiving any certificate, in spite of three unanswered applications which Mr. Bee has sent; and will he explain the cause of this treatment and have the certificate forwarded at once to Mr. Bee?

A new identity certificate has been sent to the man. I regret the delay.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the reports now being received of atrocities committed by Greeks upon Turks in Pontus and Ionia, the Government will now publish the Report of the inter-Allied Commission on Greek atrocities committed on the occasion of the landing of the Hellenes at Smyrna?

The question of the publication of this Report was fully considered and discussed by the Allied Governments at the time, when it was decided, for the reasons fully explained by the Prime Minister in this House on 22nd March, 1920, that publication was inadvisable.

Is not the implication from non-publication obvious, and has the hon. Gentleman seen the recent reports by Lady Kitty Vincent and letter of Mr. Arnold Toynbee as to the atrocities recently committed to which reference is made in the question?

No, Sir; the answer is in the negative to both questions of the hon. Baronet.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States of America have agreed that in respect of mandated territories the United States of America and its nationals shall have the benefit of all engagements of His Majesty's Government defined in the Mandate, notwithstanding the fact that the United States of America is not a member of the League of Nations; and, if so, what benefit accrues to the mandatory power from undertaking the expenses and risks of accepting mandates and from being a member of the League of Nations?

Negotiations are proceeding with the United States Government in connection with the territories to be held under A and B mandates with the general object mentioned in the question. I do not think it is justifiable to assume that such benefit as may be derived by the mandatory and other members of the League from those territories will be lessened as a result of the negotiations.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will refund to firms which at present hold large quantities of the envelopes stamped with the two-penny embossed stamp the sum which they paid to the Post Office for this surplus stock, which has now become useless, or will, as an alternative, furnish them with similar three-halfpenny envelopes to the equivalent amount of the sum which they disbursed on the two-penny envelopes which they wish to return?

During the week ending Saturday, 3rd June, twopenny postage stamps, three halfpenny official post cards and official stamped stationery bearing twopenny or penny embossed stamps, will be exchanged at any Post Office counter for other postage stamps, post cards or stamped stationery, of equal value. Where firms hold large quantities of stamped stationery, special arrangements will be made on application to the Postmaster at the Head Post Office of the district.

Will the special arrangements be anything like those suggested in my question?

I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the instructions in the Post Office Circular.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the men Hogan and Cooley, convicted in January last of felony, described by the learned judge as non-political, and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment, have been released; and, if so, upon what grounds?

These persons were released from custody at the beginning of April in pursuance of the amnesty extended to prisoners who had committed offences in Great Britain from Irish political motives.

Was the amnesty extended to prisoners convicted in England?

It was extended to prisoners in the same category who had committed crimes from political motives.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Nigeria carries a debt of £6,000,000 as a share in liability for War charges; if he will state the amount of the interest and sinking fund upon this sum; and how it is now being met?

No, Sir. The offer made by the Nigerian Government in 1916 was, with the concurrence of His Majesty's Government, withdrawn in 1919, in view of the change in the financial position of the country caused by the decision to prohibit the importation of "trade spirits" and the large expenditure required for the development of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he anticipates the Budgets of the West African dependencies to show a credit balance or deficit for the year ending 1923?

In the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and the Gambia the Estimates for the current year show a surplus of revenue over ordinary expenditure. In Nigeria the Estimates show a deficit, which will be met from surplus balances.

May I draw your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the practice of so many hon. Members not appearing in the House to put the questions standing in their names on the Order Paper. This practice causes great inconvenience to many hon. Members who desire; when they see an important question on the Paper, to put equally important supplementary questions; and is not this practice somewhat derogatory to the dignity of this House. Will you, Mr. Speaker, consider the feasibility of imposing some form of penalty upon them?

I do not think that the suggestion of the hon. Member is a very practical one. Hon. Members may have other engagements, or sudden calls of which they were not aware. In those circumstances, I should be reluctant to pass any censure upon them.

Would it not be a matter of the merest courtesy to give you notice, Mr. Speaker, that they cannot be present?

Would it not get over the difficulty if the hon. Member occasionally thought out an important question for himself?

The hon. Member is the best guardian of his own conscience.