asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the desirability of reducing the unfunded debt and raising funds to pay the American indebtedness, he will remove the limitations of amount of investment in war savings certificates and permit unlimited investment, arranging the rate of interest to meet the popularity of the security?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on this subject on the 5th December last to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln, of which I am sending him a copy. I would only add that savings certificates are themselves unfunded debt.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of interest included in the various Estimates of this year's expenditure, and also a comparison of the actual amounts paid, showing the actual expenditure on interest as against Estimate for the year?

must ask my hon. Friend to await the Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that, owing to the heavy taxes on the mineral water trade, 500 firms and over have been closed, throwing some thousands of workpeople out of work, and ruining the manufacturers in this industry; and if he will take off part of the duty?

As stated in my reply of the 19th February, to the hon. Member for the Kingswinford Division (Mr. Sitch). representations on the matter have already been received, and arc now being given careful consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the Government to give effect to the recommendation of the Royal Commission on income Tax, 1019, that all income derived by co-operative societies from invested funds should be subject to taxation, irrespective of the particular mode of investment; and if he can state the estimated loss to the revenue during the present financial year resulting from the exemption indicated?

My hon. Friend will not expect me, in a matter of this kind, to anticipate my Budget statement.

I hope my right hon. Friend will give careful consideration to this question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member who put this question down is probably a to-operative organiser?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the valuations of land made under the 1909£10 Finance Act are completed have these valuations been so revised as to bring them up to date; and, if so, what are the main purposes for which they are used?

I would refer the hon. Member to Section 57 (1) of the Finance Act, 1920, and to the statement of my right hon. Friend the Member for West Birmingham (Mr. Austen Chamberlain) when introducing the Budget of that year. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will inform the House how many persons receiving old age pensions during the three years ending 28th February, 1923, have been prosecuted for obtaining pensions under false pretences; in how many cases have such persons escaped prosecution on condition that they made restitution; and how many have had their pensions reduced as a means of ensuring repayment of the sums wrongfully obtained?

During the three calendar years, 1920, 1921 and 1922, 477 persons were prosecuted in Great Britain, under Section 9 (1) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, for having knowingly made false statements or false representations for the purpose of obtaining or continuing, either for themselves or for other persons, old age pensions, to which they were not entitled. The liability to prosecution under this Sub-section is distinct from the liability, under other provisions of the law, to repay the amount overpaid; and a person does not escape prosecution on condition of making repayment. Particulars are not available of the number of cases in which payment of old age pension has been withheld in order to effect recovery of a previous overpayment.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us how many of those prosecutions resulted in conviction?

I am afraid not, without notice.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a reduction of old age pensions simply means that the pensioners have to be provided with outdoor relief to provide for decreased income?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to provide all men over the age of 60 years with a pension of 20s. per week, and the estimated cost of providing a pension of 20s. per week for all men and women over 60 years of age.

Subject to the more exact estimates that will be possible when the full Census particulars are available, the answer to the first part of the question may be put at approximately £90,000,000, and to the second part at approximately £200,000,000.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he is aware that much uncertainty exists among old age pensioners in Scotland as to the nature of their private means which they are called upon to declare as disqualifying them from full pension; that in some cases local officers press applicants to declare such sums as they receive in private charity; and whether the House will have an opportunity, on the Scottish Estimates or otherwise, of discussing the methods adopted by officials to extract information on these points from old people who have reached pensionable age?

In calculating means for old age pension purposes, the law requires all items of means, of whatever nature and from whatever source received, to be taken into account. If the hon. Member has in mind any case or cases in which it is considered that the old age pension officer has exceeded his duty, and will send me particulars, I will have inquiry made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there have been many cases of what appears to be a form of inquisition exercised at the expense of the old people, and will he carefully consider the Regulations under which these officers work, since some of them attempt to make old age pensioners acknowledge purely charitable gifts as an addition to. their means of subsistence?

That is part. of the hon. Member's original question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated cost of providing Members of Parliament with free railway passes to their constituencies?

On the basis of the week-end fares at present in operation, which are available from Friday (by trains leaving London at and after 5 p.m.) until Monday, it is estimated that the cost of free travel for Members of Parliament by railway or steamship between London and their constituencies would be approximately £60,000 if the House sat 40 weeks in the year.