asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the present Regulations with regard to the age limit and the systematic whole-time education up to the age of eighteen for the recruitment of intermediate clerks will be modified so as to give those assistant clerks of His Majesty's Civil Service who served in His Majesty's Forces during the War an opportunity of competing for these appointments; and whether anything is going to be done for those junior Civil servants who obtained commissions during the War and who, had they not been ordered back to their old positions, would have benefited under the Government reconstruction scheme for officers?

The point referred to in the first part of the question is now under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to announce a decision. Arrangements have been made under which a Civil servant who has served in the Army and who desires to accept the conditions of the new training scheme for demobilised officers may, with the consent of the head of his Department, resign his post and undergo the course and may be given a conditional promise of reinstatement in his old grade provided that a vacancy is available, previous service being allowed in that event to count for increment and pension. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Treasury circular of 29th January last, under which junior Civil servants who have served with the forces are eligible for selection for vacant posts in the new Departments superior in status and emoluments to their substantive posts in the service.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any arrangements are being made for the release of teachers who volunteered for scholastic work on naval ships and in shore establishments; whether he is aware that many of the men now serving as naval schoolmasters are required in their former positions in the schools; whether any requests have been received from education authorities for the release of these men; and whether these men are to have the advantage of the demobilisation scheme and be released upon application being made by their former employers?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypool. I would add that requests have been received from education authorities for the release of these teachers, and when received from the Board of Education the nominees have been treated as pivotal men. As regards the last part of the question, the answer is, certainly, so far as the exigencies of the Service permit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that discontent prevails amongst the forces in Mesopotamia and Egypt at the delay in demobilisation; and whether he will state the number of men demobilised from these fronts since the signing of the Armistice?

I am not aware that discontent prevails at the rate of demobilisation. Troops in Mesopotamia and Egypt have equal chances of demobilisation with troops in other theatres of war, subject to the limitations imposed by shipping and the length of the journey home. Up till the end of January the numbers demobilised from Mesopotamia were 9 officers and 178 other ranks, and from Egypt and Palestine 104 officers and 3,302 other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the service of a soldier who attested under what was known as the Derby scheme counts as from the date of his attestation or from the receipt of his calling-up notice?

I have nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Melton on the 13th instant.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the advisability of extending the date of 1st February, 1919, before which all applications for demobilisation of apprentices must be received in order to meet cases where the applications have been delayed through no fault of the applicants?

The Government after careful consideration decided that it was necessary to make a clean-cut in order that there might be a definite and ascertained body of men available to constitute the Armies of Occupation. Any extension of the date of application for pivotal men would defeat this policy. My right hon. Friend regrets, therefore, that he is not able to entertain this suggestion.

asked the Food Controller to what extent, if any, the amount of the bread subsidy is reimbursed by the profit made on the supply of wheat and other cereals?

The amount of the bread subsidy represents the net loss incurred by the Government in the purchase, and sale below cost to millers of wheat, flour, and other cereals for use in bread, and in addition the cost incurred by the Government on working the flour mills. The bread subsidy is not reimbursed by any profits accruing from the sale of cereals for purposes other than the loaf.

asked the Food Controller whether he has received from various agricultural organisations in Lincolnshire protests as to the delay in removal of potato crops in the county; whether, owing to prevalence of blight and collapse of clamps, great loss and damage has accrued; and whether, seeing that the total crop is the property of the Government as from the 1st of November, clamps can now be officially measured and contents estimated in view of claims for compensation in consideration of abnormal wastage caused through neglect of the Government to take delivery?

The Food Controller has received representations from various agricultural organisations throughout the United Kingdom concerning the removal of potato crops, which is proceeding as quickly as possible. I may point out that a large surplus crop of potatoes has been grown in the United Kingdom generally, and that, in view of the Armistice, there has of necessity been a reduction in the demand. Every effort is being made by the Ministry to obtain markets abroad to enable stocks of potatoes in the growers' hands to be disposed of as quickly as possible. As regards the latter part of the question, instructions have been issued through the Potato Control Committees as to the procedure for making claims in respect of abnormal wastage of potatoes which have been put in the clamps in sound condition. I am aware that owing to the prevalence of blight in the crop this year, particularly in the Eastern Counties, considerable damage may have accrued.

asked the Food Controller whether he is aware that local food controllers are directing that no sales of butcher's meat shall take place unless at the time of such sale the goods are paid for by the customer, whatever be his credit and whatever the terms of dealing before control was established; and in pursuance of what Regulations or other authority does he justify such direction?

While food committees have certain general powers under the Rationing Order, 1918, there is no general Regulation whereby they can compel a retailer to refuse credit. If the hon. Member will bring to my notice any cases in which a food committee has used its powers contrary to the wishes of the retailer, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Food Controller whether, seeing that in October, 1917, Sir John Taverner made an offer to his. Department of 100,000 cattle from Texas at a price which would have enabled frozen meat to arrive in Liverpool at 7½d. per pound, he will explain why no reply was sent to this offer for a month; why upon Sir John Taverner again repeating the offer the only reply sent was to the effect that the Department was arranging its own purchases in America; and why, subject to this offer, the Department proceeded to import meat from Chicago, which arrived at Liverpool and other ports at 1s. 2½d. per pound, c.i.f., and was of so poor a character that hundreds of tons of it had to be sold in Smithfield as free, i.e., uncontrolled meat, and disposed of to sausage manufacturers and potted-meat contractors?

The offer in question was found after prolonged investigation to be impracticable owing to lack of shipping facilities. The need for economic use of tonnage compelled the Department to purchase meat in the United States.

asked the Food Controller when he will be able to release sugar to ice-cream vendors?

It is proposed to revoke the Ice Cream (Restriction) Order as from the 14th April.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will consider the advisability of taking steps to secure fixity of tenure for allotment holders, and to make it obligatory upon local authorities to provide land for allotments at fair rents?

The Board cannot undertake to secure fixity of tenure for allotment holders in view of the fact that the land may be required for building in the near future. As regards land taken under the D.O.R.A. Regulations the Board intend to retain possession for two years after the end of the War, except where the land is required for building or where the compensation payable would be excessive. With regard to the second part of the question, local authorities are already charged with the Statutory duty of providing allotments, and it is proposed to extend their powers, of acquiring land for this purpose in the Land Settlement Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether all the arms and ammunition of the Ulster Volunteers have yet been collected by the Government; if so, whether they have been removed from Ulster; and what is the total quantity of arms and ammunition so surrendered?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the right hon. the Chief Secretary on the 15th October last to the question of the then hon. Member for the Stephen's Green Division of Dublin, and to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that two volumes, entitled respectively the "Handbook for Rebels" and the "Grammar of Anarchy," are being seized by the police in all parts of Ireland and confiscated; whether these volumes consist entirely of extracts from speeches of Unionist politicians; and on what grounds and with what authority the volumes are seized?

The volumes, as their titles proclaim, are intended to instigate rebellion and create anarchy. They are seditious publications and liable to seizure and confiscation under the Defence of the Realm regulations.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he proposes to lay before the House the constitution and Regulations for the Whitley Councils for the several Admiralty dockyards and other establishments; and whether he will direct that due notice is given to the various trade unions representing different sections of the Admiralty employés that they will be called up to elect representatives to such councils?

The question of the method of applying the principles of the Whitley Reports in respect of the setting up of joint councils for Government establishments has been under the consideration of an Inter-Departmental Committee. An outline scheme has been drawn up by the Committee, and arrangements have been made for this outline scheme to be discussed at a conference of trade union representatives with the Government Departments at the Central Hall, Westminster, on Thursday next, the 20th instant. The matter has been conducted by the Ministry of Labour, by whom invitations have been issued to representatives of all the trade unions which could be identified as being interested in the employment of workpeople in Government establishments.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Order in Council which was passed on the 28th August, 1914, which annulled the system of individual prizes and instituted prize bounty from a general fund, is applicable to cases of prizes captured prior to that date?

Yes, Sir. Early announcement of the departure from the policy of awarding the net proceeds of prizes, which are Droits of the Crown to the captors in each particular case, was made in the Order in Council of 28th August, 1914. There was indeed an earlier statement as to this change of policy in Parliament by the Attorney-General (Sir John Simon) on 5th August, 1914, and an announcement to this effect was also made in the Press of 20th August. The Proclamation declaring the pleasure of the Crown to award prize in this War to the Fleet is dated 15th August, 1918. The tribunal constituted under the Naval Prize Act, 1918, has been actively at work since its constitution upon the task with which it is charged of separating Droits of the Crown from Droits of Admiralty. In pursuance of this duty, they will take under review for determination the cases of all captures from the beginning of the War.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will indicate what steps have been taken to recognise the bravery and seamanship of the officer in command of His Majesty's ship "Mounsey"on the occasion of the sinking of His Majesty's transport "Otranto" in a full gale off the Irish coast, which resulted in the saving of 600 lives, and also the services of the officers and men of His Majesty's ship "Mounsey" on the same occasion?

My Noble Friend will be glad to know that the King has been pleased to approve of the appointment of Lieutenant Francis W. Craven to be a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, and that he has received a letter expressing the high appreciation of the Admiralty. He has also been directed to submit the names of any officers and men considered deserving of awards.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the contents of the signal logs, both wireless telegraphy and visual, of His Majesty's ship "Lion," His Majesty's ship "King George V.," and His, Majesty's ship "Iron Duke," on 31st May, 1916, can be produced for the information of the Members of this House?

My Noble Friend will recognise that signal logs, both wireless telegraphy and visual, are confidential books, and that it is not desirable that they should be made public.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will give a pledge to this House that no further sale of any State property whatsoever, in the control of the Admiralty, will be made except by public auction; and if he will give full particulars of any sales which have so far been made, giving the conditions of the sales, names of purchasers, and the price obtained?

As regards war emergency land and buildings surplus to Government requirements, these will be disposed of by the Surplus Property Disposal Board at the request of the Admiralty. As regards other property surplus to the requirements of the Admiralty and available for disposal after the needs of other Government Departments have been satisfied, this is being and will continue to be disposed of to the utmost extent practicable by public auction, brokers' sales, or by tender. Property for sale has been widely advertised to secure the best competition. There are necessarily exceptional cases, e.g., arising out of the liquidation of contracts or where material is immediately utilisable, where it lies for industrial purposes, or where it is desirable to avoid congestion and cost of storage and transport. In many such cases disposal is most advantageously arranged by special negotiation. The Admiralty is working in co-operation with the disposal organisation of the Ministry of Munitions in this matter. The suggestion in the last, part of the question, apart from the very great detail involved, would appear to be of doubtful expediency having regard to the necessity of obtaining the best possible prices at sales not yet held. I would remind my hon. Friend that all these transactions come under the scrutiny of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, and are reported upon by him to the Public Accounts Committee.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if it has been brought under his attention that Service men on the steamers between Lerwick and Aberdeen have had to stand all the way from Aberdeen to Lerwick and the same on the return journey; and if he will take the matter into consideration?

There has been overcrowding on these steamers owing to Christmas leave and demobilisation requirements. I am glad to be able to state, however, that it has now diminished.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that on the 9th February a floating mine was washed ashore off Ramsgate; that it did not explode upon stranding, and only did so some hours afterwards when the rising tide again reached it; whether the naval authorities were unable to render it innocuous owing to the lack of suitable tools; and, if so, whether issue of such tools has now been made, or will be made, without delay?

A mine was washed up on the rocks at Ramsgate near the coastguard station on the morning of the 8th February. Men were sent by the senior naval officer to render it safe, but owing to the position in which the mine was lying, it could not be moved in order to get access to the necessary mechanism without grave danger. The mine was therefore secured and experts sent for, but it exploded on the rising tide before their arrival. The beach had previously been cleared of people according to instructions. The necessary tools were not immediately available, but if access to the mechanism for rendering safe had been possible, it could have been accomplished with ordinary tools. A man experienced in rendering mines safe, together with the necessary tools, has already been attached to every coastguard station at or near a seaside town in localities where mines are likely to be washed ashore.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the weekly bonus which is to be paid to the officers and men of the Army of Occupation is to be in addition to all their present pay, allowances, rations, etc., and so as to be a net increase on the total amounts they are now receiving in their present ranks?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that soldiers in the British Army of Occupation in Germany are being paid with German, currency; and that when the men come home they are unable to make exchange; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter with a view to the soldiers being relieved of the loss they are now sustaining?

Yes, Sir. Soldiers are necessarily provided with German currency to meet their requirements for local expenditure in that country. If they bring such currency home it can be exchanged, at the same rate at which it was issued, at Victoria or Waterloo Station, or, failing that, at any Post Office. I am inquiring whether any wider notification of these facilities is wanted.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that relatives are forbidden by War Office regulation to erect a cross or choose dedicatory words to be placed on the headstone of approved pattern that marks the resting place of their fallen; and can he give the reasons that have led the War Office to make this decision?

I am informed that the majority of opinion, including that of the Armies in the Field, has been in favour of a regimental headstone bearing an incised cross, and the Commissioners, though not committed to this form of memorial, accepted it on the recommendation of their technical advisers after long and careful consideration of the several proposals before them. The Commissioners are still considering how the large numbers of memorials that will be required can be manufactured at all. Some idea of the magnitude of the task can be had from the fact that in France and Belgium alone there are 500,000 graves and 1,000 cemeteries. My hon. and gallant Friend is misinformed when he states that relatives are forbidden to choose dedicatory words; arrangements have been made for relatives to add inscriptions of their own choosing, subject to certain necessary limitations.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware of the distress that has been caused to many parents by some of the proposals contained in the Report to the Imperial War Graves Commission made by Sir Frederic Kenyon; and is he in a position to state that no final decision will be taken on the recommendations until a further effort has been made to ascertain the wishes of the relatives of the fallen?

My hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension as to the duty of caring for the graves of those who have fallen in the War. This duty, on the recommendation of the Imperial War Conference, has been entrusted to the Imperial War Graves Commission, a distinct Imperial body incorporated by Royal Charter in 1917. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War is chairman of the Commission, but otherwise it is entirely independent of the War Office. The Commissioners, the majority of whom are unofficial members and of whom some have themselves suffered loss, have undertaken their task in a spirit of reverence and devotion, and are at all times anxious to give the most sympathetic hearing to proposals that reflect the views of the relatives. Their present decisions have been guided by and represent the result of the most exhaustive inquiries. But there is bound to be some disparity of views, and if my hon. and gallant Friend will obtain and submit to the Commissioners other proposals which he believes are more widely representative, he may be assured that they will receive the fullest consideration. I may add that the Commission were unanimous and emphatic in their adoption of the principal of equality of treatment as regards all war graves. The attention of my hon. and gallant Friend is invited to an article in the Press of yesterday morning dealing with the purposes of the Commission and written by one of the Commissioners, Mr. Rudyard Kipling.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the bodies of those of the American Expeditionary Force who fell in France and Belgium are to be conveyed back to the United States for burial; and is it intended that, with due regard to the greater difficulties that often exist, permission shall be given for the reburial in the land of their birth of our own dead?

I am unable to say whether the Government of the United States intends to carry out this proposal; but as my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, there is a large difference between the number of American dead and the number of dead of the British Empire. If permission to exhume bodies for subsequent re-interment in all parts of the Empire is given to some, it must be given to all, and I am sure it will be realised that such a proposal is quite impracticable.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the large quantities of rifles, equipment, and clothing now in stock, and for which no further use is at present visible, will be made available for the Imperial Cadet Force, who are at present without suitable rifles and are obliged to provide them serves with equipment and clothing at their own expense?

Now that suitable rifles are available from Army stocks for Cadet units, every cadet is being provided with a rifle or carbine. Equipment and clothing are not issued free to Cadet units under Cadet Regulations, but the provisions of those Regulations which enable Cadet units to purchase or loan Government equipment, and which have been in abeyance during the War, will shortly be put m force again. Every effort is made to provide clothing cheap to Cadet units and to sell them at a low price part-worn clothing no longer required for military purposes. The whole Cadet movement as it stands will shortly come under review.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will consider the desirability of granting to acting paymasters of the Army Pay Corps at the termination of their service a gratuity similar to that given to officers holding temporary commissions in the New Armies, and also affording them similar facilities for entering Government Departments?

Acting Paymasters serve on a civil contract, and are not eligible for the gratuities given under the Pay Warrant to temporary officers. The question of facilities for entering Government Departments is not in the province of the War Office, but I will inquire into the possibilities of the situation and communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of Army pensioners who re-enlisted during the War, they receive only half-gratuities for all services after the first year; and, if so, why this distinction is made?

Under the decision of the War Cabinet pensioners who have been allowed to draw pension and pay concurrently receive half the monthly increments of war gratuity for service after the first year. This is similar to the rule applying to officers recalled to service, under Article 497 of the Pay Warrant.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether at the time of the signing of the Armistice a number of cadets in the Royal Air Forces, having passed all their examinations, were in process of qualifying for commission by putting in the requisite number of hours flying; whether he is aware that, in accordance with a practice recognised in the Army as well as in the Royal Air Force, and in view of the difficulty of obtaining uniform in the period elapsing between the granting of a commission and the time for reporting for duty, many cadets placed orders for uniform with Service tailors and passed in payment orders on Service bankers; whether the granting of commissions has since the signing of the Armistice been stopped or very largely reduced; whether he is aware that these circumstances have occasioned hardship both upon cadets and suppliers; and whether he will take steps to assist these cadets in discharging obligations to suppliers, incurred upon a reasonable and legitimate anticipation of becoming commissioned officers?

All flight cadets who qualified for commissions before the date of the Armistice have been granted commissions, carrying the right to the full outfit allowance of officers. The question of granting a special outfit allowance to flight cadets who qualified for commissions after the Armistice, but have not been granted commissions, is now under consideration, and an announcement on the subject will be made shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions how many of the national factories have been sold; what they have cost to build and equip, and what sum they have been sold for; whether they have in all cases been sold by public auction; and, if not, under what conditions, through what selling agency, and for what price?

Negotiations are pending for the disposal of several national factories, but in no case has the transaction yet been completed. I cannot, therefore, give the information asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he is aware that several of the national factories are eminently fitted for the production of furniture, of which a large quantity is annually required by the Government itself for use in the various public Departments; if he is aware that the Census of Production Report shows that the furniture trade had a very small output; if he is aware that rubbish furniture is now being sold for many times what it cost; and if he will take steps atonce to establish a national furniture industry in the interests at once of national economy and of labour?

The Government have in their possession sufficient furniture to last for a considerable period. There will also be a large quantity surplus to requirements, which will be sold by the Disposal Board. In the circumstances I cannot undertake to devote a national factory to the production of furniture.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions how many bricks will be required to fulfil the building programme of the Government; how many are now available; what the average pre-war output was; how many brickyards have been closed during the War; and what steps he proposes to take to encourage brick-making firms, small as well as large, to reopen their works?

The quantity of bricks required for the programme of 300,000 houses has been estimated at 5,500 millions to be used within the next two years. The stock of bricks now in hand amounts to about 200 millions. The average annual output for three years before the War was 2,805 millions. 1,400 yards, mostly small, were closed during the War. In order to help the trade, steps have been taken to ensure a proper supply of labour. The release of 2,400 pivotal men has bean arranged, and this whole of this number should be available shortly. Technical assistance is being given to enable those works which have been closed to reopen at the earliest possible moment, and to advise generally as to improved methods of manufacture. Orders have been placed already for about 350million bricks, and the Government is arranging with all firms who require it to make advanced payments for the output of the reopened works.

asked the President of the Board of Education in how many districts the elementary school teachers are on strike; how many children are at present deprived of teaching owing to the schools being closed; what action is being taken by the Board to prevent this interruption of a national service; whether the local education authorities are in all cases paying the salaries recommended by the recent Committee; and, if not, what steps are being taken to secure the proper treatment of the teachers in this and other respects?

According to my latest information there is no district in England in which the elementary school teachers are on strike, except one, in which the teachers will return to school to-morrow (Wednesday) morning. In this district the children on the books of the schools number about 11,000. In cases of dispute the Board have consistently used their influence with both parties to secure the continuance of negotiation until a settlement is reached. In two cases, at the request of both parties, the Board have nominated an arbitrator to decide points referred to him. The Departmental Committee for inquiring into the principles which should determine the construction of scales of salary did not recommend the adoption of any specific scale, but, in fact, the great majority of authorities have now adopted scales falling between the highest and the lowest of the scales used as illustrations in the Committee's Report and of those which have not done so, many have informed the Board that their scales are now under revision.

asked the President of the Board of Education, whether, under the new pensions scheme, in the event of a teacher leaving his position to take up other work in his profession before the usual time of retirement, he will forfeit his pension entirely, or whether he will be entitled to a proportionate amount in accordance with the length of service?

A teacher who ceases to be employed as a teacher before the age of sixty does not forfeit his claim to a superannuation allowance, but to be eligible for an allowance at that age he must have completed thirty years of recognised or qualifying service, of which ten years must be recognised service. A certificated teacher to whom the Act of 1898 applied is subject to certain special provisions.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any local education authorities have yet submitted drafts of schemes for the part-time education of young persons between fourteen and eighteen; and, if so, whether he will have that scheme which the Board considers most suitable laid upon the Table of this House?

No statutory schemes have yet been formally submitted to the Board, though they have had informal communications with some authorities upon provisional proposals. It is not the intention of the Board to issue model schemes, and I cannot commit myself to the procedure suggested in the second part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether Sir Francis Hopwood's Report has yet been received; if not, when it is expected; and whether he hopes to introduce his Indian Bill during the present Session of Parliament?

The Committees working under Lord Southborough are still engaged on their task in India, but I hope that they may find it possible to report at no distant date. The answer to the last question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the regulations under the Arms Act have yet been discontinued in India?

The Government of India are about to issue revised regulations, based on the recommendations of a Committee of official and non-official members of the Imperial Legislative Council. The new regulations will abolish all distinctions of a racial character, and will enable persons of recognised status and character to obtain licences.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Indian patriot, Lajpat Rai, may yet be permitted to return from America to this country?

The answer is in the negative. If my hon. and gallant Friend will repeat his question on the signature of Peace I will be glad to consider the matter further.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether in estimating the income of an applicant for an old age pension the value of free board and lodging is taken into consideration; whether the estimated value is based on the present cost of the necessities of life; and whether persons are deprived of their old age pensions because of the increase in the cost of living?

In estimating the means of a claimant for old age pension purposes, the means from every source, including the value of any benefit of free board and lodging, must be taken into account; and the amount at which the value of any such benefit should be estimated is a matter for the determination of the local pension committee subject to the right of appeal to the Local Government Board. With regard to the last portion of the question my attention has not been drawn to any instance of the kind, but if the hon. Member is aware of any I shall be glad to have inquiry made if he will furnish me with the particulars.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if it is the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill to amend the Old Age Pensions Acts; and, if so, will it provide for the exclusion of superannuation benefits received from friendly societies, occupation of a miner's cottage free from rent, or the giving of small allowances in money from friends or associations, from being calculated as income when a person applies for an old age pension?

asked the President of the Local Government Board (1) whether the Regulations for the administration of the Old Age Pensions Acts provide that if an applicant is receiving shelter and food from a relative, or any other person, the value of this assistance is assessed and the amount of the pension fixed accordingly; and whether it is the intention of the Regulations that a person cannot receive the full amount of pension unless he or she is absolutely destitute of home and friends;(2) Whether it is in accordance with the Regulations made under the Old Age Pensions Acts that the interest of any sum invested by an applicant for an old age pension shall be estimated at 5 per cent., irrespective of the rate actually received; whether he is aware that applicants with small sums invested in the Post Office Savings Bank on which they receive interest at 2½ per cent. are having this interest assessed at the rate of 5 per cent.; and whether he will consider amending the Regulations to secure that the actual rate of interest received shall be taken into account; and(3) the Lord Privy Seal, whether he can hold out any hope of the introduction of a Bill to amend the Old Age Pensions Acts or, alternatively, the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the administration of the Acts and make recommendations?

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave this afternoon to the hon. Member for Falls.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what action it is proposed to take with regard to the resumption of the November elections of the town councils; whether consideration will be given to the importance of arranging for a simultaneous election next November of the whole of the councillors in each case; and whether the desirability will be borne in mind of introducing the principle of proportional representation for the existing constituencies which have to elect three, six, or nine members each?

The elections of town councillors will take place in the usual course in November next. My right hon. Friend cannot at present promise legislation to provide for the simultaneous retirement and elections of the whole of the councillors and for the adoption of the system of proportional representation.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will appoint a committee to inquire and report upon the best methods of combating venereal disease?

In conjunction with the Admiralty, War Office, and Air Ministry, my right hon. Friend has recently appointed an Inter-departmental Committee to consider the prevention and spread of infectious disease arising in connection with demobilisation, and this Committee is dealing, amongst others, with venereal diseases, recognising the urgency of the matter. I may remind my hon. Friend that the Royal Commission on Venereal Diseases reported as recently as 1916.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can give any statistics as to the number of local authorities which have closed down their public baths and washhouses during the War; how many still continue to close them; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing a circular to such authorities, drawing their attention to the importance of their resuming this valuable service, on at least a pre-war scale, as soon as possible?

My right hon. Friend is afraid that he cannot give the hon. Member the statistics he asks for. My right hon. Friend hopes it may be possible before long to open baths and washhouses that have been closed, but, looking to the difficulty in obtaining sufficient coal at the present time for domestic consumption, my right hon. Friend does not now see his way to issue the suggested circular.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what steps his Department are taking with a view to combating the influenza epidemic?

Influenza may be combated (a) by continuous research and intelligence work; (b) by impressing on each member of the public what in present knowledge he should do in regard to the disease; (c) by the action of local health authorities and other bodies for lessening the public opportunities of infection and assisting in the provision of medical nursing and domestic aid to those attacked. The Department is energetically pursuing all three lines, and my right hon. Friend is continuing and endeavouring to amplify the action which his predecessors directed to be taken for this purpose. In connection with research and intelligence work, the medical officers of the Board are now in active co-operation with other experts outside the Department by means of a committee which meets weekly. The action recommended to the public and to local authorities is being further reviewed in a Memorandum which will be issued this week.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any encouragement, and, if so, in what form, has been given to manufacturers throughout the country to prepare materials for the building industry in accordance with the suggestion contained in the Report of the Building Materials Supply Committee; whether any steps have been taken to increase the supply of timber suitable for the requirements of the trade so soon as contracts are in hand; whether steps have been taken to ensure an adequate supply at a reasonable price of cement, taking into account the large amount which will be used for housing owing to the shortage of bricks; whether it has been arranged that only surplus stock shall be exported; and whether it is proposed to publish full details at once of the actual requirements of the Government, in order that private work may be encouraged and the present uncertainty removed with regard to the possibility of such work being started, and the amount of unemployment thereby lessened?

With a view to stimulating the production of building materials, an arrangement has been made under which the Ministry of Munitions, acting as agents for the Local Government Board, are placing orders for bricks, slates, stone, doors, window frames, and other house fittings. Steps have also been taken to increase the supply of timber. I am informed by the Board of Trade that there is every prospect of an adequate supply of cement being available at a reasonable price. A general licence has been issued for the export of cement to countries to which export is not limited for blockade reasons, but if it should prove needful, as seems at present unlikely, the export could be curtailed. With regard to the last part of the question, I am glad to have this opportunity of removing a misapprehension which I understand exists as to the possibility of all building material being commandeered for the Government's housing programme. It is not now, and never has been, the intention of the Government to requisition the whole output of the brickyards or other building material. The primary object of the Government's policy has been to stimulate production and to provide employment. While it is obviously necessary that the Government should take adequate steps to provide against a possible shortage of bricks required for the local authorities' schemes, it is intended that a proportion of the output of the brickfields should be available to supply the demands of the building industry for works outside the Government housing programme. It is not practicable to define the exact proportion at the outset, but it is proposed that until the materials are required for the Government's housing programme they should be available to meet the demands of the ordinary building industry. The same principle will apply with respect to slates and tiles. As regards the other materials, it is only proposed to place orders for limited quantities, the primary object in this case being to place orders with a limited number of firms which have been engaged on war supplies with a view to minimising unemployment due to the cancellation of munitions contracts. There is therefore no reason why persons who wish to place contracts for private work should be deterred from doing so.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will agree to initiate legislation at a convenient date for the purpose of creating all urban districts having a population of not less than 50,000 municipal boroughs, with a view to improving the status of local government in the country?

I do not think that this is a matter which could appropriately be dealt with by general legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give immediate instructions to cancel all pilotage certificates issued to aliens?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth on the 17th inst.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Railway Executive are aware of the inconvenience caused by the abandonment, during the War, of direct communication between East and Mid Lancashire and the South of England by way of Stockport; that numbers of soldiers on leave and duty have to tramp at all hours across Manchester, whereby they experience difficulty and delay in reaching their homes; and whether the Executive will now re-establish pre-war conditions of railway working in this particular respect?

The Railway Executive Committee are making special inquiries in this, matter, and I will let the hon. and gallant Member know the result so soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the menace to an important home industry, namely, the manufacture of binder twine, which is chiefly carried on by firms on the North-East Coast, by the threatened importation of 4,000 tons of American twine; whether he is aware that at present the estimated requirements for the British harvest are 17,000 tons; that there are 3,000 tons of twine in the hands of the Food Production Department; that 4,000 tons of twine are to be imported; that the estimated quantity of binder twine in the hands of farmers and dealers is 2,000 tons; and that the balance left for British manufacturers to spin this year is 8,000 tons; whether the British manufacturers were requested to state in October last how much twine they could spin for the coming harvest and that they offered to spin 16,000 tons; whether he is aware that the farmers have expressed a preference for British twine; that the American manufacturers have been able to buy fibre at £70 per ton whilst the British manufacturers have been compelled to pay £100 to the Government hemp controller, the price being now reduced to £80, and that at such price the British manufacturers have offered to take the same price as the American; whether he is aware that the British firms have been obliged to stop several mills and to dismiss their employés; and whether he will adopt such measures as will place British manufacturers in a position of equal advantage with their foreign competitors?

The quantity of binder twine used for the 1918 harvest was estimated at 20,000 tons and the demand for the 1919 harvest may be estimated at the same figure. At a meeting held on 21st November last at the Food Production Department, the British makers agreed to make 12,000 tons for British farmers and approved of an importation from America of 5,000 tons. A licence for the importation of the twine referred to in the first part of the question was accordingly issued last November on the authority of the Food Production Department, by whose advice the Department of Import Restrictions were guided in this matter. No further licences have been issued since.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Welford Brick Company, Limited, Welford, near Nottingham, are handicapped, both in making bricks and in providing employment, by the refusal of the Coal Controller to allow them the proper quality of coal; and whether, in view of the urgent need of bricks for building purposes and of diminishing unemployment, he will take steps to secure to these manufacturers an adequate supply of coal suitable for brick burning?

There is no trace in the Coal Mines Department of any complaint from the Welford Brick Company, Limited, near Nottingham, as to the quality of coal which has been supplied, but upon receipt of full particulars the case will be specially investigated by one of the technical experts attached to that Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the loss sustained on the working of the railways under Government control in 1917 and 1918 respectively; and to what main causes and to what extent such loss is to be attributed?

Owing mainly to the fact that an enormous amount of Government traffic has been carried without charge no precise figures can be given showing the results of the working of the railways. So far as has been ascertained no loss to the State resulted from the Government control in 1917, but the cost of labour and materials has increased very considerably since that year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can hold out any hope of an early reduction of the railway fares to the pre-war rate; and, if not, will he consider the possibility of making some arrangements whereby persons who are compelled to travel for business reasons shall be entitled, on making a declaration to that effect, to travel at the pre-war rates?

As stated on Thursday last in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for the Finchley Division of Middlesex, I regret that I can hold out no hope of an early reduction in railway fares, and I fear that it would not be practicable to make an exception in favour of persons who declare that they are travelling for business purposes.

asked the Postmaster-General why letters of a personal and domestic character for Southern Russia and the Caucasus are accepted for transmission subject to censorship, while business letters from British firms and companies to their representatives in those countries are refused by the Post Office?

I have been asked to answer this question. There is no reason to prohibit personal and domestic correspondence with South Russia, but trade is still illegal because the certificates of hostile occupation are still in force. The matter is, however, at present under consideration, and steps are being taken, in co-operation with the Allied Governments, with a view to the cancellation of the certificates as soon as circumstances permit.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, owing to the strike of the boilermakers' society, many of the semi-skilled and unskilled workers in the shipyards at Selby and other north country towns are out of work through no fault of their own; whether many of these men are recently discharged from the Army but are debarred from receiving any out-of-work donations owing to their unemployment being due to a trade dispute entered into by other men in a branch of their trade; and whether, under the circumstances, he can secure for these men the relief granted to other recently demobilised men?

The rule is that out-of-work donation is, with certain limited exceptions, not payable to workmen who have lost employment by reason of a stoppage of work which was due to a trade dispute at the factory, workshop or premises at which they were employed. As my right hon. Friend will appreciate, the application of out-of-work donation to the cases of workmen whose unemployment is due to a trade dispute raises very controversial questions, and the rule above-quoted represents a compromise reached in this House during the passage of the National Insurance Act, 1911. In these circumstances the Minister does not see his way to modify the rule in favour of particular classes of workmen.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received any complaints from Arbroath regarding the administration of the out-of-work donations; whether he is aware that in a number of recent cases which were referred to the Court of Referees the men concerned did not receive notice to attend until shortly before the time fixed for the hearing, that in one case the notice was not delivered until after the Court had sat, and that in a number of For far cases the men concerned received their notices about an hour before the sitting of the Court, and then had to travel 15 miles to Arbroath; whether he is also aware that the men had to wait outside until their cases were reached, there being no waiting-room accommodation provided, and, although in four cases payment was approved, when the men presented themselves two days afterwards for payment the Exchange had not received any instructions; that a number of For far cases were adjourned on a plea by the appeals officer that there were special circumstances attached to these claims, but no attempt was made to explain what these special circumstances were, and the men had to return to For far without their cases having been dealt with; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the whole matter without delay?

I have caused inquiries to be made, and find that, owing to pressure of work and postal delays, the notices to attend the meeting of the Court of Referees did not reach the claimants until within an hour or two of the hearing. Arrangements have been made to ensure that in future longer notice shall be given. By reason of the limited accommodation in the Arbroath Employment Exchange it was not possible to provide a waiting room for the first meeting there, but such accommodation was provided for subsequent meetings. I regret that, owing to a misunderstanding, the instructions relative to the payment of interim donation in the cases in which the claims were allowed were not forwarded immediately to the Employment Exchange, but this has now been rectified. As regards the adjourned cases, I am informed that no mention of special circumstances was made by the officer concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the absence of any obligation to return Form U.I. 85 asking for information on disqualifications for an out-of-work donation is causing many employers in Ireland to avoid incurring odium by giving information in the case of those who have left employment through misconduct or without just cause; whether he will take steps to deliver this form by registered post and to make its return obligatory and subject to a penalty for wrong information; and whether he will ensure that until either this form or other satisfactory evidence is received as to the bona fides of each case that out-of-work donations will not be paid?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer to the questions raised by the hon. Member for York yesterday afternoon. There is no power to compel employers to return the form or to impose a special penalty for giving wrong information. Certain modifications of the procedure with regard to Form U.I.85 are under consideration by the Department.

asked the Minister of Labour how many German prisoners of war are now employed by Tarnac, Limited, Denby Works, near Derby; whether he is aware that British de- mobilised soldiers have recently been discharged from these works in consequence of altercations with German prisoners of war employed there; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the matter?

The number of German prisoners of war employed by Tarnac, Limited, Denby Works, near Derby, is 102, of whom between 80 and 90 are employed in the works and between 10 and 20 in a camp. Fifteen discharged soldiers are also employed in the works, and the firm have expressed their willingness to employ as many demobilised men as they can secure. I have inquired into the position at these works, and find that no British demobilised soldiers have recently been discharged in consequence of altercations with German prisoners of war employed there. It is, however, the case that one discharged soldier, after working for only one week in this establishment, was recently dismissed as a matter of discipline for breach of one of the necessary rules of the establishment, which forbids communication between the British employés and the prisoners.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that workers resident in the Edmonton district have to go either to Tottenham or Ponder's End to register at an Employment Exchange; and whether, in view of the large number of workers in this district and the number who are at present unemployed, he will consider the advisability of establishing an Exchange in Edmonton?

The question of opening an Employment Exchange in Edmonton is already under consideration.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether trawling in the Moray Firth is now freely permitted; and if foreigners are placed in the same position as our own fishermen and prohibited from fishing within the three-mile limit?

The reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. With regard to the second part fishing by foreign vessels within the three-mile limit is prohibited by Statute.