asked the Minister of Agriculture what are the numbers of acres under cultivation in Wales of wheat, barley, and oats, respectively?

The area of land in Wales returned as under these crops in 1922 was as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to a report of the Medical Officer of Health of the Manchester Port Sanitary Authority stating that the first shipment of Canadian store cattle to that port included animals affected with pulmonary tuberculosis; and what steps have been, or will be, taken to protect the public against the dangers arising therefrom.

Yes, Sir. The section in the Report, however, was not intended to suggest that Canadian cattle are affected with tuberculosis to any exceptional degree; indeed, it describes this consignment as "very healthy." With regard to the last part of the question, machinery is already in existence whereby inspectors of local authorities examine carcases and reject any which they consider unfit for human food.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the recent achievement of the Buckingham branch of the National Farmers' Union in producing for 7d. a loaf of bread made entirely of English wheat flour; and, in view of the fact that this price is 2d. per loaf cheaper than the ordinary bread, will he cause inquiries to be made and enable other parts of the country, as well as agriculture generally, to benefit by this achievement?

I have heard with much satisfaction of this successful enterprise on the part of the Buckingham Branch of the National Farmers' Union. I understand that it has already been brought to the notice of all branches of the National Farmers' Union, and that many inquiries are reaching the Buckingham branch from other parts of the country. I see no reason why, if a sufficient demand is assured, arrangements should not be made throughout the country to place on sale bread made entirely of English wheat flour.

Does this 7d. a loaf include overhead charges, such as rates, taxes and so on?

It is the price at which the loaf is sold.

Has the right hon. Gentleman satisfied himself that a loaf produced entirely from English wheat is one which is in demand by the English consumer?

Will the right hon. Gentleman satisfy himself by tasting the bread while he can get it?

I shall be most happy to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the amount of malting barley grown in England and Wales for the years 1920, 1921, and 1922; the total amount of barley imported into this country for the same years; and whether the bulk of the imported barley was used for grinding and feeding purposes?

The quantity of barley imported into Great Britain in the years 1920, 1921 and 1922 was 569,000, 739,000 and 633,000 tons respectively. It is not possible to state how much of these quantities were used for grinding and feeding, but it is thought that on the average at least half of the imports are used for feeding livestock. The amount of the home-grown crop which is used for malting necessarily varies with the size of the crop, the suitability of the grain for malting, and the demand for malt. The statistics of the quantities of barley used in brewing and distilling do not distinguish between home-grown and imported barley.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made any estimate as to what is likely to be the amount of revenue from the proposed imposition of a 10s. duty on barley?

That question must be put down.

Is it not a fact that the amount of imported malting barley is practically unaffected by the price, because it is required for quality, whether the price is high or low?

I am afraid that, I am not a brewer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether a decision has yet been reached as to the channels through which it is proposed to make the advances to farmers of short-term credits under the Credit Facilities Scheme; whether it is proposed to make these advances through co-operative societies; and, if so, whether he will consider the claims of individual firms and traders?

My hon. and gallant Friend will understand that it is impossible for me to make a categorical statement at this stage on the point which he raises. I can only suggest that he should await the terms of the Bill.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult both the bodies mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member, namely, the individual traders and the co-operative societies, before drafting his Bill?

A Committee sat for months on this question, and, I believe, consulted every sort of interest affected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that coal porters in other Government Departments work a normal week of 48 hours, including meal times; that, in fact, the whole class of employés covered by Agreement A 81 of the Civil Service Arbitration Board work a normal week of 48 hours, including meal times; whether he can explain why a discussion of the coal porters' grievances in his Department with their trade union representatives is refused; and whether he will agree to receive the suggested deputation in the near future?

I am not aware of the hours worked by coal porters in Government Departments other than in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and, as explained, on the 18th instant, on my behalf by my hon. and gallant Friend the Comptroller of the Household, the working week for coal porters, as fixed by the Agreement mentioned, is 48 hours, and is not intended to include definite meal reliefs. In the circumstances, I cannot admit that the coal porters have any grievance, but if they have, they are aware that they can submit it to the the Departmental Whitley Council.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the number, respectively, of male and female non-service temporary clerks at present employed in the War Office; and the number of temporary clerks who obtained over 50 per cent. of the total marks in the ex-service examinations?

The numbers in question, exclusive of female typists, are males, nil; females, 3. There are also ten ladies employed on work involving special knowledge of foreign languages. Frequent efforts have been made to replace these by ex-service men, but so far without success. I have no information as to the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the approach of summer, what progress has been made in the promised improvements to the sewage disposal arrangements of the various local authorities on the banks of the River Lea above Hackney; and whether he is satisfied that the progress made will prevent the recurrence this year of the contamination of the lower reaches of the river, which has every summer been a source of danger and annoyance to the inhabitants of the borough?

My right hon. Friend is informed that some improvement has been effected, but not, he fears, of a very substantial nature. The chief difficulty is, of course, the heavy expenditure which would be involved I may add that he has no evidence that there is or has been danger to health. The matter is still under consideration by the local authorities concerned.

Is the Noble Lord aware that some of the authorities referred to in the question are at the present time receiving notice from the Lea Conservancy under which they will, in all probability, be prosecuted, and does not that prove the danger?

I have said that it was under consideration by the local authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether, in view of the great and growing cost of policing the territorial waters of Great Britain by means of Fishery Board cruisers, he will consider the advisability of consulting with the Admiralty with a view to this duty being undertaken in future by the Royal Navy, especially as the detection and prevention of illegal trawling in inshore waters would afford valuable means of training for the officers and crews of destroyers, and in view of the fact that officers and men of the Royal Navy would welcome an opportunity of assisting in the preservation of a means of livelihood of the coast fishermen, who were their devoted comrades in the keeping of the seas during the War?

The suggestion made by the hon. Member has been considered from time to time in the past in consultation with the Admiralty. There is at present, as the hon. Member is aware, one Admiralty vessel on this patrol. The provision of additional vessels by the Admiralty would involve a heavy charge on naval funds, which it is doubtful if the Admiralty, under present circumstances, would be prepared to undertake. The Secretary for Scotland is prepared, however, to cause the suggestion to be again examined.

asked the Minister of Health if he will, before giving his sanction to the appointment of a medical officer of health for the urban district area of Frizington, Cumberland, take into serious consideration the recommendation of the County of Cumberland medical officer of health that several of the small urban areas should, in the interests of efficiency and the proper administration of the laws of public health, be amalgamated under one full time medical officer instead of the present system of appointing officers who can do no effective work as medical officers of health without sacrificing the interests of their panel patients?

My right hon. Friend has received no formal representation for the issue of an Order to combine this with other districts for the purpose of appointing a whole-time officer. He has, however, tried to arrange for such an appointment to be made by agreement. As these efforts have not been successful, he has not thought it practicable to object to the district council's proposals to appoint a part-time officer, who has, however, been required to give a written undertaking to resign the appointment in the event of a whole-time officer being appointed. My right hon. Friend cannot accept the suggestion that no effective work can be done by part-time medical officers of health without prejudicing the interests of their panel (or other) patients.

Is the Noble Lord aware that the doctor nominated for this position at Frizington does not live in the place at all, and that some of his panel patients cannot find him when they want him?

If the hon. Member will give me that information, I will inquire into it.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is intended to act on the recommendations of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the practice of living-in on canal boats, of which he was chairman?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the conditions under which children on living-in boats on canals have to exist, and that a large proportion of them receive practically no education; and whether he is able to state if the recommendations of the Departmental Committee appointed by the Ministry of Health to inquire into the practice of living-in on canal boats, so far as they refer to the education of children, are likely to become effective?

I will answer these questions together. My right hon. Friend is aware that the conditions of life on canal boats are not favourable to the proper education of the children living in them, and he is anxious that this matter should be dealt with at the earliest favourable opportunity, but he regrets that it is not practicable to introduce legislation at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that one family, comprising the parents and nine children, whose ages range from 18 years to six months, and none of whom can read or write, are living on two canal boats, known as the Mars and Jupiter, and owned by the Midland and Coast Canal Carrying Company; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

My right hon. Friend has no information as to this case, but he will make inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Poplar Tuberculosis Care Committee has received reports of 40 consumptive persons for whom it has been impossible to arrange living and sleeping accommodation which is either adequate for the patient or reasonably safe for the other occupants; and, if so, what action he proposes to take to safeguard the general public?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley on the 2nd instant, of which I will send him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied with the method in which the Customs and Excise officers are carrying out their duties in regard to the importation of leather gloves; if he is aware that German-made leather gloves are sent into Switzerland and then imported into this country to avoid Reparation Duty; and if he will take action in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. The possibility of endeavours to evade payment of Reparation Levy by means of fictitious re-consignment from an intermediate country of goods obtained from Germany is a matter which receives the constant and close attention of the Customs authorities, and the particular case of leather gloves to which the hon. Member refers is at the present moment undergoing investigation.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the population of the rural district of Guildford has increased 20 per cent. since 1911; and if, in view of this fact, any special provision has been made for housing in this area?

My right hon. Friend is aware that the population of the rural district of Guildford has increased by, approximately, 20 per cent. since 1911. 92 houses have been built by the district council under the State-assisted scheme and 107 houses were built under the Private Builders' Subsidy scheme. The population of the Borough of Guildford, which is surrounded by the rural district, has only increased by 46 per cent. since 1911. State assistance has been provided for the building in the borough of 251 houses by the Town Council, of 130 houses by the Onslow Garden Suburb Public Utility Society, and of 64 houses by private builders. The figures given do not include any houses provided without State assistance.

Is the Noble Lord aware that the industrial population has increased by over 20 per cent.?

asked the Minister of Health the percentage in- crease in the number of houses in the urban district of Hendon since 1913; and if he intends to make special provision for the housing needs of such districts as this, whose population was enormously increased by the creation of war industries?

My right hon. Friend will ascertain whether the figures the hon. Member desires are obtainable and will communicate further with him. Increase of population will no doubt be one of the factors leading local authorities to submit and his Department to consider new construction under the facilities in the Housing Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any special representation from the Metropolitan Borough of Poplar as to the serious overcrowding in that area; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?

The hon. Member presumably refers to a recent deputation to the Ministry of Health from Poplar which asked for approval of the provision of a certain number of flats. My right hon. Friend anticipates that there will be no difficulty in giving such approval.

asked the Minister of Health if he has now been able to take any action with regard to a family of five persons living in one room in the Borough of Poplar to which his attention was drawn in February last?

My right hon. Friend is unable to trace any such case to which his attention was drawn in February last. If the case in question is the one on which the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley put a question last Wednesday, I may refer him to the reply my right hon. Friend gave then.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give a Return, showing the total number of applications for houses received by local authorities in Great Britain since the War, and the number of applicants who have been supplied with houses?

My right hon. Friend fears that such a Return would not only involve great labour and expense, but might also be misleading in view of duplication of applications and the like. The total number of houses completed under Assisted Government Housing Schemes in England and Wales on 1st April last was 198,183. Statistics of the numbers of houses provided without Government assistance are not available.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health how many of the 8,950 houses in Scotland still to be provided under the Housing, Town Planning, etc. (Scotland), Act, 1919, and schemes approved there-under are in course of construction; how many will be completed within the next three months or so; and how many have not yet been contracted for, or have not yet been commenced?

According to the latest available information, 16,701 houses have been completed, leaving 8,849 still to be completed. 4,956 houses are under construction, and it is anticipated that about 2,600 of these will have been completed by 31st July next. The number of houses not contracted for was 2,929, and the number contracted for, but not commenced, 964.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the cost of building materials decreased after the withdrawal of the housing subsidy in 1921; and what percentage it has again increased since the introduction of the new Housing Bill?

Although a limit was put upon the Assisted Schemes in 1921, construction continued under the private builders' subsidy scheme until June, 1922, and the whole of the houses under the local authorities' assisted scheme are not yet completed. The decrease in the cost of materials, as required for the construction of a working-class house in the London area, between July, 1921, and April, 1923, was about 42 per cent. There is no evidence of any average increase of price since the introduction of the new Housing Bill.

Has the Noble Lord seen in the Press that cement shares have been jumping in value since the housing scheme was announced?

Yes, but the hon. Member does not refer to shares but to prices.

Is the Noble Lord aware that there has been a considerable increase in the price of light castings for houses since the Housing Bill was introduced?

My information is that there is nothing to show that there has been an average increase throughout the country.

I did not ask about an average increase. I asked whether there was an increase in the cost of light castings.

Yes, and I replied I am informed there is no average increase.

asked the Minister of Health if, under the Housing (No. 2) Bill, the would-be builders of small houses have any appeal to the Ministry when their own local authorities show a disinclination to operate the provisions of the Measure affecting private enterprise?

No, Sir. But my hon. Friend will observe that the Bill provides that where a local authority proposes to build houses themselves they must satisfy the Minister that the needs of their area can best be met in this way.

Will the Noble Lord issue for general information a detailed guide as to the procedure to be adopted when these cases arise?

My right hon. Friend will consider that point.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that no fewer than 420 ships, ranging from trawlers to passenger ships and liners, were handed over in pursuance of the inter-Allied agreement, and that the purchasers still owe the Government £2,876,507; if he can give any reasons why the various shipowners have not paid that money to the Government; and if he will take action in the matter?

As explained in my answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow on the 3rd instant, in certain cases the original contract of sale of the reparation ships provided for payments of a portion of the purchase price in instalments. The amount outstanding in those instalments at the end of last month was £2,465,605 9s. 6d., and this is being collected as and when the payments fall due.

Is interest being charged?

Yes, in every case except two, where it is provided that interest shall not be charged.

Is it not a fact that certain companies to which these ships were sold are now in liquidation?

All these payments have been made to date.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will examine the case of ex-Sergeant Thomas Haley, of 360, Shetcliffe Lane, Dudley Hill, Bradford, late No. 240,320, 5th reserve battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, who enlisted on 4th August, 1914, served with honour, and was discharged on 19th February, 1919, with a fracture of the skull, receiving a pension for 18 months (Z/W.Y.16,475); and whether now, despite medical evidence by Dr. P. J. McKenna, of Bradford, that his War hurt unfits him for his work as wool sorter, he can secure the return of his pension?

A medical board held in July, 1920, found no remaining disablement, and between that date and March of this year there was no application to the Ministry. In the meantime the nil award became final under the War Pensions Act, 1921, subject to the right of appeal to the tribunal, which, however, was not exercised within the time limit allowed.

Is there no chance of this man having his case reopened?

I am afraid not. From July, 1920, until March this year the man took no steps of any sort to deal with the matter.

Should not that be regarded as in his favour?

No.

asked the Minister of Pensions if a further inquiry can be made in the case of M. Noctor (2/M.N./1,466), now an inmate of the tuberculosis colony at Englethwaite, Carlisle, and who was certified by two private medical practitioners as being affected by tuberculosis owing to his war service, after which his claim for a pension was rejected by the Army medical officers at Newcastle and Carlisle as being in no such way affected; and whether, in the circumstances of this equal division of medical opinion, he will arrange for a fuller examination by a medical referee?

My right hon. Friend has not yet been able to complete his inquiries into this case, but he hopes to be in a position to communicate with the hon. Member at an early date.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received from the National Federation of Postal and Telegraph Clerks a request for an interview regarding its claim to official recognition; and, if so, whether he is prepared to receive the deputation?

I have received this request and I am arranging to receive a deputation from the federation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the industrial and business needs of the Wath Brow and Cleator districts of the parish of Cleator, Cumberland, he will, at the earliest possible date, restore the evening delivery of postal packets in those districts, seeing that two deliveries a day had been in existence for many years before the War, and even during the War until the national emergency became so great that they had to be suspended temporarily, as the official notice intimated?

I am having inquiry made and will write to the hon. Member.

In view of the fact that in the 12th Century there was a daily delivering of letters in Cleator, is it right that the right hon. Gentleman's Department should revert to the habits of the 12th Century?

The hon. Member has been very kind in giving me previous information about Cleator, but he omitted to give me that fact. I will note it now.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state the chief recommendations affecting improvements urged by his Advisory Council of business men, which it has not been found possible to adopt within the past year?

The recommendations of the Post Office Advisory Council are made to me in confidence, and I regret, therefore, I cannot give the information asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many local educational authorities made special school accommodation for mentally and physically defective children during 1922; how many authorities were permitted to open new special schools; how many were refused; and, of those refused, on what grounds?

During the year ending the 31st December, 1922, 90 local education authorities in England and Wales were providing special school accommodation for mentally or physically defective children. Five authorities were allowed, and seven were, on financial grounds, refused, permission to open new schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of mentally defective children and the number of physically defective children who are at present awaiting suitable special school accommodation in England and Wales?

As the answer is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, publish the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the area of land in France used as a burial ground for British soldiers; what is the nature of the control over such land by the British Government; under what terms is the land held; and what rent or other payment, if any, is made by the British Government to the French Government for such land?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to estimate the total extent of the very numerous areas in question, many of which have not yet been delimited. The French Government have passed special legislation dedicating these areas as perpetual war cemeteries, and full control over them for that purpose is exercised, on behalf of the British and Dominion Governments, by the Imperial War Graves Commission, who are duly recognised by the French Government. By the generosity of that Government, no rent or other charge is payable in respect of the land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any provision will be made in the amending Workmen's Compensation Bill to bring in the men who suffer from silicosis in the wet-grinding industry?

No such provision will be needed, as special powers are given by the Workmen's Compensation (Silicosis) Act, 1918, to make a scheme of compensation for any industry involving exposure to silica dust. A comprehensive inquiry by the Factory Department into the conditions of the different sections of the grinding industries has recently been completed, and as soon as the Report of this inquiry is presented, I propose to ask the Departmental Committee which is now sitting to consider and report on a scheme for the grinding industries.

asked the Home Secretary whether the visit of General Sir W. T. F. Horwood, the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, to America is an official one; if so, the purpose of same; and whether the cost will be borne by the police fund?

The visit is an official one, for the purpose of attending the International Police Conference. The cost will be borne by the Metropolitan Police Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give directions that, in the re-assessment for Income Tax of extra-Metropolitan house property now proceeding, special consideration with a view to the avoidance of hardship shall be given to occupying owners who, in order to secure decent accommodation for their families, have sunk their capital in the purchase of their houses at greatly enhanced prices, but whose incomes would not, justify payment of rentals representing more than a much smaller percentage upon such outlay than they would have obtained from an investment in any other good security?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has explained the basis of the re-valuation now being made for Income Tax purposes in replies which he has recently given to a number of questions on this subject. In particular, I would refer to the reply given on the 3rd May to a question standing in the name of the hon. Member for East Surrey. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that reply, from which he will see that there is no intention of determining the annual value of property by reference to the enhanced prices at which it may have been purchased in the circumstances suggested in the question.

Has not the inner Metropolitan area been increased to the same extent as it is now proposed to increase the outside area?

Re-valuation of the Metropolitan area has taken place, as the hon. Member knows, prior to this.

In view of the very great importance attached to this matter outside, will the hon. Gentleman circulate to all Members of the House the information which he says he will send to the hon. Member?

The reply which my right hon. Friend gave is published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it the Government's intention to give any concession in regard to these enormously high assessments?

That cannot now be answered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the reason why the Inland Revenue Department, for the purposes of the assessment of real property, is not able to accept the valuation of the local authorities, who must be well informed on the subject; whether he is aware that, even after the increase of the district valuation by local authorities, there is often at least a 15 per cent. margin of difference between this and the Government re-assessment for Inhabited House Duty; that this all-round increase of valuation will throw a heavy burden on tenants, who will ask for reduced rents; and that, in these circumstances, the owners of all property will be seriously prejudiced by increased taxation on the one hand and by reduced rents on the other?

Outside the metropolis the rating valuation has never governed the Income Tax and Inhabited House Duty assessment, which is arrived at upon a different statutory basis. In the main, the Income Tax Schedule A assessment is governed by the rent actually paid for the property assessed. No doubt differences will exist now as in the past between the two valuations, but I have no information as to their extent. It is no doubt true that the re-valuation—displacing out of date valuations made in 1910—will cause some increase in the Inhabited House Duty charge, but that duty is so light that any such increase is unlikely in the extreme to have any prejudicial effect on rent levels.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in many thousands of cases, hundreds of thousands of fresh cases, people who pay small rents of 5s., 6s. or 7s. a week Inhabited House Duty will be charged, and that that Inhabited House Duty cannot be collected now from these people?

I am not aware of the numbers involved.

Will some latitude be given to people who are unable to get their appeals in within the 21 days?

I have already stated that the 21 days is a purely nominal period, and there is no reason to believe that this number of days will be adhered to rigidly.

In regard to the three weeks' notice for appeal, will not the hon. and gallant Gentleman give some Statutory sanction to the extension of time, and not leave it to individual authorities?