asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the net profit derived by the State from the control of food and coal down to 31st December last?

The accounts of the Ministry of Food are closed at the 31st March to coincide with the Government financial year. The Trading Accounts and Balance Sheet of the Ministry of Food have been prepared for the year ended 31st March, 1918, and show a surplus on trading account, after debiting expenses of administration, of £133,363. This figure excludes the operations of the Wheat Commission and Sugar Commission, but I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as these figures are available. It also takes no account of the amount paid away to 31st March, 1918, under the direct subsidy authorised by the Cabinet to potato growers, as it was considered that this was not a proper charge to be included in the trading accounts.It is impossible to estimate the trading results to the end of March, 1919, because of the uncertainty of the price that may be realised on the stocks, held by the Ministry at that date, but it is anticipated that losses will be incurred by the Ministry of Food in liquidaing the stocks which they hold, owing to the fall in the prices of foodstuffs.The financial results of the Coal Control up to the 31st December, 1918, show a deficiency as at the 1st January, 1919, of £1,590,530 0s. 3d

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proceedings of the Royal Commission on Income Tax will be held in public?

This will be a matter for the consideration of the Royal Commission, when appointed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the new Regulations affecting fresh capital issues, he can see his way to give some more latitude to those engaged in British enterprise in foreign countries; and whether, in the case of Anglo-French companies producing raw materials required in the industry of this country and prepared to supply the new capital required wholly with money raised in France from French sources, he would be prepared to consider favourably an application made under such conditions?

The importance of providing capital for British enterprise abroad, so far as this may be consistent with the maintenance of the foreign exchanges and the necessities of the United Kingdom, will be kept steadily in view, and every encouragement will be given to propositions for obtaining foreign capital.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the case of the St. Helen's Colliery Company, Cumberland, the £5 shares of which have been bought at £12, and to another case where an iron-ore mine in the same county, the nominal value of which was £30,000, was transferred to another company for £300,000; and whether he will consider the advisability of diverting a large portion of the unearned increment in these and similar cases to the national Exchequer?

My right hon. Friend's attention has not been drawn to the two cases alluded to. As regards the last part of the question, he is unable to anticipate his Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the shortage of whisky to the public, he will cause inquiries to be made as to whether large stocks are being held in bend until such time as the Excess Profits Tax is repealed and solely with the object of avoiding such tax?

I can assure the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend is fully alive to the desirability of preventing stocks of spirits being unduly withheld, and he is making inquiries on the subject. I am afraid, however, that the particular line of inquiry suggested in the question would not be fruitful. Even if it were possible, which, for technical reasons, it is not, to distinguish whisky from other British spirits in bond, I do not see how any inquiry could discover the motives which induce any trader to hold back stocks.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the cost of writing, printing, publishing, and advertising Professor Oman's 146-page narrative on the outbreak of the War, the number of copies actually sold to date, and the total profit, if any?

The cost of printing, publishing, and advertising Professor Oman's narrative on the outbreak of the War amounted approximately to £390. The number of copies sold to date is 7,900, and the total profit is £270. The narrative was written in the course of work undertaken at the Foreign Office by Professor Oman with great public spirit during the War, and performed without pecuniary reward. No expenditure, therefore, was involved in writing it.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the British life assurance offices have submitted claims against Germany for losses which they have sustained on account of claims in respect of policy holders killed on active service; and, if so, whether he will see that equal facilities for presenting claims for compensation are granted to friendly societies, trade unions, and other insurance institutions?

Claims by British life insurance offices for losses which they have sustained in respect of policy holders killed by illegal enemy action are registered with the Foreign Claims Office of the Foreign Office, pursuant to the Royal Proclamation on 7th September, 1916. Any British friendly societies, trade unions, and other insurance institutions which have claims of a similar character ought also to register such claims with the Foreign Claims Office.

asked the Food Controller whether his attention has been called to the fact that upwards of 200 calves have been slaughtered in the borough of King's Lynn since 1st January of this year for butcher's meat; and whether, in view of the consequent impoverishment of the future supply of fat cattle, this policy will be forthwith discontinued?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The fact that so large a number of calves has been slaughtered in one slaughter-house is due to the centralisation of slaughtering effected by the Calves (Sales) Order, 1918, which requires that calves should be slaughtered only in a Government authorised slaughter-house, such as that at King's Lynn. The policy of centralising the slaughter of calves has proved extremely satisfactory, and it is not proposed to discontinue it.

asked (1) the Food Controller whether he will undertake without delay to so amend the Intoxicating Liquor (Output and Delivery) Order, 1919, as to remove the inequality which exists as between the brewer in Great Britain and the brewer in Ireland, under which Irish brewers are permitted to manufacture their beers up to an average gravity of 1,047 degrees, while in England, Wales, and Scotland brewers may not produce their beers at an average gravity above 1,032 degrees, whereby Irish brewers are put in a preferential position for competing in home and export beer markets;(2) the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, though brewers in Great Britain are compelled to brew their beer at an average gravity not exceeding 1,032 degrees, brewers in Ireland are permitted to brew at an average gravity not exceeding 1,047 degrees, practically half as high again; and whether he will take steps to put brewers throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland on an equality in this matter, so that brewers in Great Britain may no longer be seriously handicapped in their home and export trade in higher gravity ales and stout?

The Food Controller has this question under review and expects to be able at an early date to provide for the adjustment of the present difference between the average gravities permitted in Great Britain and Ireland respectively.

asked the Food Controller whether Sir William Beveridge, the Secretary to the Ministry, has recently made a Report to the Government as to the conditions in German Austria as a result of a visit paid-by him there; and, if so, whether the Government will lay such Report upon the Table of the House?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Food Controller is now in consultation with the Acting-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs as to the precise form in which this Report can best be laid upon the Table of the House.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he has received urgent representations for the release of Seaman W. J. Langston, G. 74572, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 40 Mess, His Majesty's Ship "Queen Elizabeth"; and whether, in view of the fact that he is a pivotal man and that his release is urgently asked for by the district agricultural committee, he will give the matter his favourable consideration?

This man's name has not been received by the Admiralty as a pivotal man. If there are any special circumstances regarding him, and my hon. friend will communicate them in writing, the question of his release will be dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private D. Stewart, 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, has lost his only two brothers in the War; and, under these circumstances, will he order his immediate demobilisation, or, failing this, will he explain the reasons which have induced the War Office to suspend the compassionate rule governing these cases under which the survivor of three brothers at the War should be exempted from further active service?

Before the signing of the Armistice it was the practice in cases where two or more sons had been killed to withdraw the surviving sons from the firing line and keep them on home service, but since the Armistice was signed the necessity for doing so is not the same. All applications for release on compassionate grounds are considered on their merits. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with Private Stewart's regimental number and the Expeditionary Force in which he is serving and also a statement by my hon. Friend, or by a magistrate, or a minister of religion vouching for the facts, the case will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Driver J. Jones, No. 32511, 98th Battery, 1st Brigade, Salonika Forces, has been on active service since 29th September, 1915, has had no leave since going on active service, and has now been drafted to Russia; if he is aware that Driver Jones joined the Army 2nd October, 1914; if he is aware that Messrs. Marshall and Sons, engineers, Gainsborough, Lincoln, have applied twice for him without effect; and if he intends taking any action so that all such men should be demobilised?

If the facts are as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend, Driver Jones would appear to be eligible for demobilisation, and will no doubt be released in due course. Certain troops, including, no doubt, some who have served since 1914, have been sent in the last three months from Salonika to Transcaucasia to carry out the terms of the Armistice with Turkey. Those who are eligible for demobilisation will be brought home as soon as possible. Driver Jones is not registered by the War Office either as pivotal or for special release.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the case of Private A. A. Moody, No. 88360, Machine Gun Corps; whether Private Moody attested on 10th December, 1915, was called up in 1916, went to France in August, 1917, and was taken prisoner in 1918; whether his two months' furlough, to which he was entitled, expired on 25th January, 1919, when he reported at Grantham, and during that time he had not received his special form for the demobilisation of prisoners; whether that form was posted to his home, addressed from Grantham, and received 1st February and forwarded to Private Moody in France; whether Private Moody thereupon took the form to his commanding officer, who refused to accept it, as he said it only applied to men on furlough; whether a gross mistake has been made; and can the matter be put right?

The form referred to, A.F.Z.68, was issued by the military authorities about the middle of January to all prisoners of war while on furlough. It was merely a form of application for demobilisation and the approval of any such application depends on the regulations as to demobilisation in force for the time being. As was explained by the Secretary of State for War in reply to the hon. Member for Kettering on the 25th February the liability of prisoners of war to service in the Armies of Occupation is governed by the same regulations which apply to all other soldiers. As Private Moody joined for service after the 1st January, 1916, he will be retained in the Armies of Occupation unless he is over thirty-seven or has three or more wound stripes or is approved for release on extreme compassionate grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for War if there is to be any distinction between the riband of the 1914 Star and that of the 1915 Star?

The question is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Army Order regarding the 1914–15 Star defines the theatre of war in such a manner that there is a distinction made between those who volunteered for service in those years, inasmuch as the Star is given to those who were sent to, and retained at, bases in France and not to those who were sent to guard Gibraltar, Malta, and Bermuda?

The 1914–15 Star was granted to reward those who entered a theatre of war up to and including the 31st December, 1915. As Gibraltar, Malta, and Bermuda were not theatres of war, service at those places could not qualify for the award of the Star.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that towns and other communities to which guns and other trophies of war have been allocated as memorials are being required to pay for the railway carriage of these; and whether he can see his way to provide that they shall be conveyed to their destination free of charge?

I will consider this point, and communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many British prisoners are still in Germany; whether they tare are in hospital; and what arrangements have been made for their present comfort and safety and their ultimate repatriation?

I am informed that according to the latest information available there are eight sick or wounded ex-prisoners of war still in hospital in Germany, and that there are five others attending them. As regards the last part of my hon. and learned Friend's question, I would refer to my reply on the 24th February to a similar question by the hon. Member for Hertford, and to the full statement made in another place on Thursday last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether arrangements have been made for troops serving in Vladivostock to receive letters and parcels from home; why no letters have been received from the troops in Vladivostock by their relatives in England; whether casualties incurred on this front are reported to relatives in England; and when it will be possible to apply the demobilisation regulations to the men serving with this force?

Arrangements have been made for troops serving in Vladivostock to receive letters and parcels from home. I have no information that letters from troops in Vladivostock are not received by their relatives in England. A mail service from Vladivostock is in existence, and I should be glad to receive particulars of cases of relatives who have received no letters. I will then institute inquiries. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part of the question, it is not possible at present to say when men serving with this force will be demobilised as active operations are still proceeding in this theatre.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the employés and store men at the Divisional Office, Royal Engineers, Hastings, have only received an increase of 13s. per week since 1914, the week's pay on that date having been 23s. per week and being 36s. now; what he proposes to do to remedy this state of affairs; and whether he is aware that a married man with a large family who served in His Majesty's Forces three years prior to December, 1918, would be better off drawing unemployment insurance than working for these wages?

I am having inquiry made, and my hon. Friend will be informed of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry if he is aware that Mr. R. Grant, of 145, Plashet Road, Upton Park, sent along on 5th and 14th February, 1916, a plan of defence against enemy aircraft to the Comptroller of Munitions Inventions, Princes Street, Westminster; if he is aware that the balloon device submitted in the plan has been used in every detail, except that anchors were used instead of miniature bombs; if he is aware that the Government invited suggestions and inventions, and promised to pay for same; and if he can state the reasons why Mr. R. Grant has not received any compensation for the balloon device submitted?

The answer to the first part of the question is Yes, Sir. I am advised that the proposal submitted was crude in conception, and did not contain the technical data on which the success of such a device depends. More than fifty similar suggestions had been received by the Munitions Inventions Department before the date of Mr. Grant's communication. The scheme of defence eventually adopted was not on the lines of Mr. Grant's proposal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether any national factories, have been sold since 27th February or whether any offers for purchase have been received; and, if so, on what terms have these offers been made or sales completed, whether by public tender or private treaty, specifying in every case the name of the firm, person, or group of persons concerned, and the amount paid for each factory?

One national factory has been sold since 27th February by public tender. It was sold for £140,000 to Messrs. Straker, Squire and Company, Limited. Several offers for purchase have been received, but it is obviously undesirable to give the terms of these offers while negotitions are in progress.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether any national factories have been sold since the 27th February by the Government; whether any agreements have been entered into with private firms or individuals concerning the sale or terms of sale of them or any national factories; whether, in any case in which, a national factory was managed on behalf of the State by a private firm or individual the firm or individual thus acquired any option to purchase the factory; if so, on, what terms; whether in any case the construction or the equipment of any factory was carried out by the Ministry of Munitions m accordance will the specifications or with a view to meeting post-war requirements of private firms or individuals; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the particulars referred to above?

For the first part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have just given to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Alfred Short). For the second, third and fifth parts I would refer him to the answer given to the same hon. Member on 27th February. The reply to the fourth part of the question is that no factories or extensions were built to the specifications of private firms and individuals unless these specifications met the views of the Department in respect of economy in cost and the use of materials allowable under war conditions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that orders for new road rollers have been blocked in the Priority Department; whether this is with a view of enabling the municipal authorities to purchase second-hand rollers from the Army and prevent private commercial firms getting back into business; and, if so, whether he will see that the block is removed?

The Regulations regarding priority of work were almost entirely suspended by the Order of the 7th February, 1919, and there is now no necessity for a firm wishing to manufacture new road-rollers to make, any application to the Priority Department.

asked the Pensions Minister whether, in view of the fact that many of the parents of officers who have lost their lives in the War are in straitened circumstances, he will take steps to provide that, in proper cases, the parents of fallen officers shall be entitled to receive a flat-rate allowance of 5s. a week in respect of their deceased sons on the same terms as parents of non-commissioned officers and men?

Under the Warrant of August, 1917, officers' parents in straitened circumstances can be granted pensions in excess of 5s. a week. The Warrant is under review, but it does not seem necessary to alter it in the direction indicated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Samuel Giles, an ex-Army instructor, serving in the Borough of Hastings Police, Force, who in 1914 answered the call of the War Office for ex-Army instructors, and was then attached to the Royal Sussex Regiment at Chichester for a period of about 18 months, received during that time no regimental pay whatever, although his wife received his full police pay together with the separation allowance; whether it is the intention of the War Office to in any way recognise the services of Mr. Giles and others who rendered similar services; whether it is a fact that when the West Sussex Constabulary instructors were withdrawn they were allowed 5s. per day for the whole period during which they had acted as Army instructors, thus receiving about £16 in one sum; and, if so, what is the reason of the distinction thus apparently made between the West Sussex and the Hastings Constabulary?

It would appear that Mr. Giles was employed under arrangements made with the police authorities in the early days of the War, whereby the services of such men were temporarily utilised as drill instructors. Under these arrangements they retained their police rates of pay, and received in addition free rations, accommodation, and fuel and light, and, if separated from their families, separation allowance. I have no cognisance of the payment of 5s. a day to the West Sussex Constabulary instructors.

asked the Pensions Minister if he can make a statement detailing the number of part- and full-time officials and employés of his Department, the amount expended for salaries, fees, expenses, office rents, and upkeep for the entire establishment, including branch and provincial offices, as well as for headquarters staffs; and whether any measures are being taken, or are in contemplation, for drastically reducing the staffs and expense of the Department?

Excluding the local war pensions committees, the total number of the staff of the Ministry on 1st March, 1919, was 12,344, made up of 10,548 full-time officials and employés and 1,796 part-time. The amount expended during the eleven months from 1st April, 1918, to 28th February, 1919, on salaries, fees, etc., but not including accommodation, which is borne on the Votes of the Office of Works, was £936,500. The present expenditure is approximately at the rate of £1,250,000 per annum.The number of paid staff employed by the local committees cannot be stated, nor can their actual expenditure during the period above mentioned, but their estimated expenditure for the financial year 1918–19, in so far as it is borne by the State, and including both staff and accommodation, is approximately £312,500.With regard to the last part of this question, no measures are being taken to reduce the staff. On the contrary, the staff is being increased to meet the heavy burden thrown upon the Department by demobilisation.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of an unregistered German, named Schuyler, passing under the name of James Armstrong, with aliases Burgess and Sinclair, who was charged at the Marlborough Street Police Court with fraud, and who stands remanded on a bail of £500; how this man has been allowed to remain unregistered and un-interned in spite of the attention of the police having been called to him; and will he take action, apart from the charge now pending, to intern the man until such time as he can be repatriated?

There is no foundation for the suggestion that there was any failure to deal with the man in question after attention was drawn to him. The proper proceedings were taken immediately, and the man has been sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment and recommended for expulsion. He will, I have no doubt, be deported at the end of his term of imprisonment. It is to be regretted that persons who were in a position to inform the police about the man neglected to do so.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that W. E. Rodwell, a conscientious objector, who has served considerably over two years' imprisonment, is now in a serious state of health in Pentonville Prison; that he has been in the prison hospital for twenty-six weeks during this sentence, and has lost weight during his imprisonment; whether he is also aware that this man comes from a tubercular family and suffered from consumption of the bowels in his childhood, and that he is expecting to undergo an operation shortly; and whether he will order a medical examination of this man by some doctor other than the prison medical adviser?

My right hon. Friend had already felt justified in advising the discharge of this prisoner upon medical grounds.

asked the Home Secretary whether the terms of reference to the Committee which has been set up as regards pay of police officers include the right to inquire into and advise as to the granting of pensions to widows of police officers who died or resigned previous to the 1st September, 1918, and as to bringing up the pensions of officers who left the service before the 1st of last September to the same scale as that of those who resign at the present time?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which the Home Secretary gave to a question on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Finsbury on the 27th-February.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the feeling that exists that the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, 1899, should be amended, or that its provisions as to the purchase of their houses by tenants should be extended in any future legislation, so that tenants may acquire the ownership of their houses, although the market value exceeds £400;and whether the new Bill will contain a provision to that effect?

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the introduction of the Housing Bill, which I hope will be in the hands of hon. Members at the beginning of next week.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the delay by the London County Council in completing the Tabard Street housing scheme; whether such delay has the sanction of his Department; and, in view of the urgent demand for housing accommodation in London, he can take any steps that will cause this necessary housing scheme to be carried out forthwith by the local authority?

I am aware that considerable delay has occurred in carrying out the Tabard Street improvement scheme. As the hon. Member is doubtless aware, the Government during the War were obliged to impose restrictions on the raising and expenditure of capital. I have no doubt the London County Council will now proceed with the scheme as speedily as practicable, having regard to the difficulties still existing, and I will communicate with them on the subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that a discharged soldier employed in the teaching profession in Woolwich applied for his name to be put on the waiting list for a house on the Government's estate at Eltham, but his application was refused on the ground that he was not an Arsenal employé and whether, in view of the fact that this man has been serving his country during the War and is compelled to live in the district by reason of his employment, it would be possible to reconsider the matter?

The Government estate at Eltham was intended primarily for the housing of employés at Woolwich Arsenal, and at present the number of applications for houses from Arsenal employés is greater than can be met. I am afraid that the decision arrived at in this case must be upheld.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can make any statement as to the war bonuses granted to the employés of local government authorities; and whether the Department has issued any general advice on the subject?

The Local Government Board have issued a circular to local Authorities recommending them to award war bonuses to their staffs on the Civil Service scale, and they have sanctioned the payment of war bonuses in accordance with this scale where their sanction was necessary I have no complete information as to the bonuses actually awarded.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that there is a growing opinion that, in consequence of altered social conditions and improved sanitary administration, it is not now necessary to enforce vaccination; and whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation with a view to the repeal of the compulsory Clauses of the Vaccination Acts?

I have no information to show that public opinion has changed. My right hon. Friend is not contemplating legislation.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, in view of the tendency of modern methods of vaccination to produce only faint scars or marks, what value do the Government now attach to scars or marks as an evidence of efficient vaccination?

Efficient vaccination of children by modern methods produces scars or marks which have a definite and characteristic appearance and are readily recognisable. In modern practice the appearance, number, and area of marks or scars furnish evidence of the degree of protection afforded by vaccination.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many cases of and deaths from small-pox occurred in England and Wales during the year 1918; how many of the cases and deaths were under ten years of age; and how many of the cases and deaths, under ten and over ten years of age, were vaccinated and unvaccinated, respectively?

In 1918 there were in England and Wales fifty-three cases of small-pox and two deaths, in both of which, however, the diagnosis was open to some doubt. There were twelve cases under ten years of age. The two fatal cases were over ten. Of the total cases under ten, one was vaccinated and eleven unvaccinated. Of the total cases over ten, thirty-three were vaccinated and eight unvaccinated. In addition to the fifty-three cases, there were thirteen cases imported in ships.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can issue an order to registration officers that, on the new registers now being made up, there shall not be two lists of absent service voters published with two different polling numbers; and whether he can arrange that there shall only be the one list of absent voters, and that the names shall be omitted from the main list, where the names and duplicate numbers only complicate all elections held on these registers?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension with respect to the form of the absent voters' list for the second register. There will be only one list for each constituency. The names of the absent voters who were on the list for the first register will appear first in the new list, and the new names will be entered after those names and be numbered consecutively with them. This arrangement has been adopted for the purpose of avoiding the great labour and difficulty which would be entailed upon the Army record officer if the names of absent voters in the first and second lists were numbered differently.The absent voters' list is a list of the persons who, being on the register, are entitled to vote as absent voters. It is not permissible under the Act to remove their names from the register. They are then distinguished not by duplicate numbers, but by the addition of a letter which indicates that they are entered on the absent voters' list.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the action of the Hawarden Board of Guardians, who, at their meeting on Friday last, had the resignation of their clerk placed in their hands, and that they immediately resolved not to advertise the vacancy, but would at their next meeting appoint a subordinate official who was exempted from military service; whether it is the policy of the Local Government Board that all such vacancies should be advertised with a view to securing the best man; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take, seeing that many demobilised men would like the opportunity to apply?

No notification of the resignation of the clerk to the Hawarden guardians has been received by the Local Government Board. The guardians may either advertise such a vacancy or give notice of the vacancy and enter the fact of such notice upon their minutes. While it is the desire of the Government that every opportunity should be given to demobilised men to secure public appointments for which they have the requisite qualifications, it is not within my right hon. Friend's power to require that advertisement shall be given of all vacancies which local authorities have to fill.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will lay upon the Table of the House at the earliest possible date a complete list of the various Orders, Instructions, Memorandums, and forms issued under the Representation of the People Act, 1918?

I will send to the Library a set of the documents issued up to the present, and will supplement it by any others that may be hereafter issued.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the damage occasioned by the floods which have recently occurred in the Lea and Stort Valleys; and whether, in view of the fact that there is no single authority charged with the duty of preventing such flooding, he will consider the advisability of calling a conference of representatives of the county councils of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Middlesex, London, and other local authorities who are interested in the areas, together with the Lee Conservancy Board and the Lee Valley Drainage Commission, to consider the question of adopting remedial measures?

Perhaps I may refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply which I gave to somewhat similar questions on Thursday last. The investigations which the President has promised in regard to the Lea Valley will also embrace the Stort Valley. The suggestion made in my hon. Friend's question will be borne in mind.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, seeing that where a parent, grandparent, or other person is in receipt of an Army pension in respect of a son, grandson, or other relative who has met his death as the result of the War, the existing practice is to take such Army pension into account when calculating the means of an applicant for an old age pension, he will consider the possibility of altering this practice?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on Monday to the hon. Member for Mansfield.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received any representations urging that, where a parent, grandparent, or other person is in receipt of an Army pension in respect of a son, grandson, or other relative who has met his death as the result of the War, the existing practice of taking such Army pension into account when calculating the means of an applicant for an old age pension should be abolished; and whether he is able to accept and recommend for adoption the principle thus put forward?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on Monday to the hon. Member for Mansfield.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to stop the paying off of British crews on British ships on the Continent between the Elbe and Brest, when the vessels are bound, after discharging, to the United Kingdom to load, in order to prevent undesirable aliens, enemy and otherwise, again taking the place of British seamen, and to give the British seaman a better chance of employment?

The Board of Trade have no power to prevent the discharge of British seamen from British ships at a port within the limits named in the question, if such discharge is permissible under the articles of agreement. If British seamen desire discharge in the United Kingdom, this can be secured by a stipulation in the articles of agreement. The claim that seamen are entitled to discharge abroad, under the articles of agreement, is frequently made by the men themselves, and, as stated, the Board of Trade cannot prevent it. The prevention of engagement of undesirable aliens is being carefully considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether insurance agents and collectors are to have a direct representative on the Committee to be set up to inquire into the question of industrial insurance; and whether he will give favourable consideration to this matter, in view of the assistance which could be rendered by a representative of the agents?

It is not proposed that insurance agents and collectors should have a direct representative on the Committee to be appointed to inquire into the question of industrial assurance. Applications have been received from some of the associations which represent insurance agents to be allowed to give evidence, and such applications will be submitted to the Committee when appointed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the price of news paper has now been reduced under the paper control; whether the paper shortage has now practically disappeared; and, if so, why the No Returns Order is maintained in the face of the opposition of the trade?

I am informed that the price fixed for January under the costing arrangement between the Newsprint Mills and the consumers is 4d. per lb., or one halfpenny lower than for December. The paper shortage is naturally tending to disappear as a result of the arrangements made. The question of the No Returns Order is still under discussion, and I expect to make an announcement at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a shortage of household coal prevails at Stafford, and that the Stafford Co-operative Society, that should have a rationed allowance of 225 tons per month, were only able to secure 170 tons for the month of January and 160 tons for February, and out of the latter 30 tons were obtained from the corporation gasworks, whose own stock is less than a week's consumption; and whether, seeing that the society were 120 tons short of the normal averaged rationed allowance during the two worst months of the year, he will take immediate steps to remedy the hardship which accrues?

The supply of coal to the town of Stafford as a whole is receiving the Controller's attention. There is no rationed allowance of 225 tons per month to the Stafford Co-operative Society, but during the months of January and February that society received 324 tons of coal, an increase of 124 tons on the amount received by them during the corresponding months of 1917.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the price paid for the four blocks of timber situate at Pennal, in the county of Merioneth bought by the Timber Supply Department; whether the timber was inspected and valued prior to purchase and, if so, by whom; what is the amount of the expenditure incurred and to be incurred under all heads, excluding purchase money, in placing the timber on the market in South Wales or elsewhere; and what is the total sum the timber is estimated to realise?

The price paid was £l,560. The timber was inspected and valued by Mr. Fraser Story and Mr. J. W. Griffiths of the Timber Supply Department. The amount expended on labour, plant, materials and supplies up to the end of January last was £9,455.It is impossible to give figures for the prospective expenditure, but it is not anticipated that any serious loss will be shown when the operation is finished. It was proposed to work this operation with other woods in the neighbourhood which were not required because of the Armistice. This, and the difficulty of the operation, make the costs high.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a petition signed by 300 workmen asking him to intervene on their behalf in regard to the action of the Great Western Railway Company in proposing to discontinue the workmen's train between Carmarthen and Lando Pembrey; and whether he will take steps to prevent the discontinuance of this train and thus avert the prospective unemployment of the workmen affected?

The petition referred to has not reached the Board of Trade, but on receipt of a letter from the hon. Gentleman of 28th February on this subject a communication was addressed by the Board to the railway company, and I will let him know the result as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many gallons of petrol were estimated to have been in stock in the United Kingdom on the 1st January and the 1st February of this year; whether these figures show a large increase over the figures for the same dates in 1918 and 1917; and whether he will consider the possibility of reducing the controlled price of motor spirit, since the trade and development of internal combustion engines are bound to suffer at a time when cheap transit requires every encouragement?

The trading stocks of motor spirit in the United Kingdom were 28,000,000 gallons on the 1st January of this year, and 24,000,000 gallons on the 1st February. These figures show a considerable increase over January, 1918, and some decrease as compared with February, 1918. No comparative figures for 1917 are available. Some reduction in the price of motor spirit has been recently effected, and the prices now fixed are maximum prices, and not, as was formerly the case, fixed prices below which spirit could not be sold.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the attempt being made at present by the Board of Works to seize for temporary use of the Board of Trade the Co-operative Buildings, Frederick Street, Belfast, containing the large co-operative hall and the minor halls; whether he is aware that for some years past educational classes of different kinds have been carried on in these buildings for the benefit of the working classes; whether, in view of the proposed reconstruction schemes, classes for the education of the working classes are more necessary now than ever; and whether, under the circumstances, arrangements will be made to provide suitable buildings elsewhere for the use of the Board of Trade?

It has not been necessary to take over the Co-operative Buildings, Frederick Street, Belfast, up to the present time, and unless unemployment increases in Belfast, it is probable that it will not be necessary to do so in the future. In all cases where it is necessary to obtain accommodation, every effort is made to secure premises which will not interfere with the education of the working classes.

asked the Minister of Labour upon what grounds the employment Department of the Labour Ministry has refused a licence to come to England from Paris to Madame Blanche Pitet, who has been engaged by a lady at Cambridge as French governess for her children, and who has a proper passport; and whether, having regard to the importance to the rising generation of instruction in the French language, he will forthwith grant the necessary licence or permit?

This application was refused because it appeared to ask for a permit for Mde. Blanche Pitet to be brought from Paris into this country as a nursery governess. All such applications are, as a general rule, being refused unless it appears that the primary object of the engagement is to teach children French or some other foreign language. The Departments concerned regard this, as the proper policy in view of the fact that the hundreds of thousands of women who are at present in receipt of out-of-work donation include a considerable number of women who are fully qualified to act as nursery governesses.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping. Controller whether, in view of the lack of employment in the Hull Docks, he will consider the advisability of making more use of the facilities afforded by Hull as a port of discharge for vessels with cargoes of grain destined for the United Kingdom?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether he is aware of the serious lack of employment at the port of Hull; and whether, in order to meet this difficulty, he can see his way to make such provision as will allow of more grain being landed at the docks at Hull?

The Shipping Controller is aware that some surplus of labour at present exists at the Hull Dock, and efforts are being made to increase the use of the port facilities for the discharge of grain, having due regard to the problems of inland distribution involved.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether American troops are stilt being repatriated in British ships; and if so, whether he is aware of the complaints by Canadian soldiers that insufficient shipping has been allotted for their return to Canada, with consequent rioting at Kimmel Park and elsewhere?

Canadian repatriation has the first claim on the shipping: in the North Atlantic which, under normal conditions is sufficient to provide for the conveyance of considerably more than the Canadian authorities require. The Canadian authorities notify the Ministry of Shipping in advance of the numbers for whom they require conveyance each month, these numbers being limited by the capacity of the railways in Canada to deal with the men. Having allotted ships to carry the numbers required by the Canadian authorities, the balance of shipping available, after meeting Imperial needs, is placed at the disposal of the American authorities for the repatriation of American troops. In the month of February this procedure was followed but, owing to a prolonged strike of ship repairers delaying the preparation of ships, the programme for Canada could not be carried out in its entirety, vessels forming part of that month's programme being detained until March. In order to meet the situation which has arisen His Majesty's Government has specially allocated the "Olympic" to convey 6,000 Canadian troops to Halifax, although the vessel would not, in normal circumstances, be considered suitable for this service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether he is aware that the majority of the present Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force were originally sent out to India or Mesopotamia in 1914 in transports which were not specially equipped for tropical seas, and, insomuch as the journey was then successfully accomplished, whether he will state why transports which are now taking American troops from France to America cannot be devoted for the return of British troops from Mesopotamia?

The white troops sent out to India in 1914 were carried mainly in vessels built for warm weather voyages. Of the twenty-seven ships so used, eight were ships not built or adapted for warm weather voyages, but I would point out that the men were taken out in these vessels in October and December of that year, whereas the homeward conveyances of the forces from Basra did not begin till the end of January and the major part of it falls into the months of March and April, during which it is most undesirable to bring white troops through the Red Sea in ships not built for warm weather voyages. Satisfactory arrangements have been made for the repatriation of the British troops from Basra. The Ministry of Shipping is providing for the full number to be repatriated according to the requests received from the War Office, and with the utmost possible rapidity. Diversion of ships from the North Atlantic has not, therefore, been found necessary, and in any case would have been undesirable for the reasons already stated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if he can make a statement detailing the number of part and full-time officials and employés of his Department and the amount expended for salaries, fees, expenses, office rents, and upkeep for the entire establishment, including branch and provincial offices, as well as for headquarters staffs; and whether any measures are being taken or are in contemplation for drastically reducing the staffs and expense of the Department?

To collect the details asked for by the hon. Member would involve much labour and expense which would not, in my opinion, be justified by the practical result. I can assure the hon. Member that the closest attention is being given in the Ministry of Shipping to the reduction of staff and expense of the Department. With reference to the latter part of my hon. Friend's question, I would refer him to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for the Elland Division on the 26th February.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to reply to the resolution unanimously passed by the residents of the town and district of Crowland, Lincolnshire, on 27th January, 1919; whether he is now able to fulfil his pre-war promise to instal telephonic communications with that town and district; and, if so, to state an approximate date when the work will be put in hand?

Pending inquiries which are in progress, I regret I am not yet in a position to reply definitely to the resolution to which the hon. Member refers; but I hope it may, at least, be possible to provide a telephone call office at Crowland at no distant date.

asked the Postmaster-General whether in September, 1914, a pledge was given in the Post Office Circular that Post Office officials joining the Royal Engineers should receive full civil pay in addition to military pay; whether the Government recognises this promise as binding to-day; and whether he will state the reason why men who enlisted under this promise are being refused the gratuity which is an essential part of military pay?

I have been in consultation with the Treasury and the War Office in this matter; and I understand that an Army Council Instruction is about to be issued under which the gratuities prescribed by Article 1117 of the Pay Warrant will no longer be withheld from the men concerned.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the position to-day between the Government and Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company in respect of the claims of the latter against the former?

The question of the amount of damages in respect of the cancellation by the Government of the contract for the proposed Imperial Wireless Chain was remitted by the High Court to an arbitrator. The company have formulated a claim, but a date has not yet been fixed for the hearing. As regards the services rendered by the company during the War at their stations in this country, the Government have made considerable payments on account, and proposed a basis of settlement to the company in May last, which they did not accept. The services have now practically ceased, and the question of making a further offer to cover the period up to the date of cessation is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is informed of the steps taken by the French and American Governments in the erection of State-owned high-power wireless telegraph stations in those countries; and what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, in view of the development of wireless telegraphy by official research during the War, to establish State-owned Imperial wireless telegraphic communication?

I am aware of the steps taken by the French and American Governments in the direction referred to. As regards the question of taking similar steps in the British Empire, the War Cabinet has recently appointed a Telegraph Communications Beard, with Lord Milner as chairman, whose duty it will be to consider this question as early as possible.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the slate quarries at Ballachulish have closed their quarries owing to a dispute with their workmen; and what steps he intends to take to secure the output of slates from this quarry, in view of the necessity of slate roofing for the housing schemes at present before the country?

I have been asked to answer this question. I have had inquiries made into this matter, and am informed that there has been no labour dispute at these quarries which were given up by the company in 1916, and have not been worked since. The plant and machinery were subsequently sold by public auction, and as the quarries are flooded to a great extent no restart is contemplated.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will supplement his information as to the continued occupation of 26, Albemarle Street, by stating whether the premises have been listed for vacating for some time past; whether he is aware that the premises, consisting of five floors, each floor affording accommodation for twenty-five persons, command a present rental of £1,750 per annum for what is termed a season trade, and that the non-acceptance by the owner of an offer actually received of the rent mentioned conditional on immediate possession being given connotes that the premises will, if not speedily relinquished by the Government, probably not be let until this time next year; whether he has considered the utilisation of the premises in Downing Street vacated by the Home Office, Permit Department, at the end of last month to relieve the Treasury of the cost of the continued retention of the premises in Albemarle Street; and if he will state the personnel of the staff of thirty-one at present in occupation of 26, Albemarle Street, and the feasibility of accommodating the same upon premises commanding one-fourth of the rental value of those at present occupied?

26, Albemarle Street, has not been listed for vacating, though every effort, of course, is being made to release premises of this kind from Government occupation as soon as possible. I have been informed that an offer has been received for these premises subject to immediate possession, but cannot admit the contention of the hon. Member that in the event of this offer not being accepted the premises could not be let, if released in the meantime, until this time next year. The premises vacated by the Home Office, Permit Department, cannot be utilised for accommodating the staff at present at 26, Albemarle Street, as they are required for other urgent Government purposes. Questions regarding the personnel of the staff should be addressed to the Secretary of State for War. As regards the last part of the question, it is not at present advisable to accommodate the staff elsewhere.

asked the right hon. Member for Cambridge whether he is proposing to institute trials between motor lorries and light railways, using for the motor lorry trials the three-ton Army petrol machine; and whether he is prepared to refer the whole matter to a committee on which representatives of the transport trade shall be represented, in order that the trial may be a fair one, and embrace all kinds of motor lorries, steam as well as petrol?

My right hon. Friend has no authority to take action suggested by my hon. Friend in his question.