asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Georges Evangelo Louizo, born in Cyprus, and whose progenitors have been citizens of that country for many generations past, was granted a British passport by the High Commissioner of Cyprus in December, 1911; that he was registered as a British subject at the British Legation at Addis Abeba, in Abyssinia, in or about the month November-December, 1914, where he continued to be recognised as a British subject down to 1917, when he proceeded to Paris; that he was there granted a full passport as a British subject by the British Legation, with the knowledge and approval of the British Foreign Office, and that such passport was renewed in February, 1922; that such passport was subsequently deposited by M. Louizo with the Foreign Office on an application made by him to add the name of his wife, May Kathleen, formerly May Kathleen Ydlibi, thereto; and upon what ground its return has been withheld, and give directions that the name of Madame Louizo be added to the passport and that it be returned to M. Louizo forthwith?

By the terms of the Cyprus Annexation Order in Council, 1917, Mr. Louizo is not a British subject, since he was not resident in Cyprus at the time of its annexation. Nevertheless, a passport as a British protected person was issued to him in the year 1919 as a special concession, on condition that he returned to Cyprus or to some other part of His Majesty's Dominions, in order to qualify for British nationality either by naturalisation or by compliance with the requirements of the Order in Council. Mr. Louiza, however, did not make use of his passport for this purpose, but remained in France until February, 1922, and it was consequently impounded when he applied for its renewal in July of that year. Mr. Louizo's passport will, however, he renewed provided that he qualifies within a reasonable period for naturalisat ion as a British subject by residence within the Empire If he provides such evidence and a passport is issued to him, the name of his wife will, of course, be placed upon it.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on what basis the new assessment of real property for Income Tax under Schedule A is being made?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave yesterday on this subject to the hon. Members for East Surrey (Mr. Galbraith) and Guildford (Sir H. Buckingham).

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the oase of Assistant Purser (Accountant Officer) H. W. Couchman, of His Majesty's ship "Reliance," Royal Fleet Auxiliary; is he aware that this officer was appointed on the 10th April, 1917, received his salary, and was ranked as paymaster sub-lieutenant, and was treated as such during the whole period of his service; was discharged in 1918 suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis and awarded a disability pay of 100 per cent., and that on his discharge papers he is classed as a sub-lieutenant and was paid his gratuity until July on that basis, after which time his pay was reduced to that attached to a warrant officer; and if it is possible to secure for this man a rehearing of his ease, as his present condition is very bad indeed owing to the very serious disability from which he is suffering, brought on by service during the War?

The question of the appropriate naval rank to be imputed, for disability pension purposes, to certain officers and men of the Mercantile Marine is at present under consideration, and Assistant-Purser Couchman's case will receive further consideration in the light of the decision reached on the general question.