asked the Prime Minister whether the arrangement existing between the North-Eastern Railway Company and the Government is of such a nature that the £50,000 paid by that company to the right hon. Member for Cambridge will be repayable to the company by the British taxpayer?

I do not know whether this will be charged to revenue or capital, and the point would, I presume, be decided by a Government auditor. Up to the present the company have borne the payment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the congestion of railway tonnage, and the consequent congestion of goods in the docks and warehouses of the ports, and the consequent holding up of shipping and the coastal trade; and what steps he proposes to take to avoid the consequent delays caused by the wastage of labour and shipping?

I am aware that there is at present considerable congestion of traffic on the railways which reacts on the ports and shipping. There are very considerable physical difficulties to be overcome, and I am in consultation with the authorities concerned to see what steps can be taken to case the situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the need for increasing the facilities at present provided by railway companies for conveying workpeople to and from their employment; and if he can state the number of workmen's trains run each morning by the railways operating within the Metropolitan area?

The total number of trains run by railway companies operating within the Metropolitan area by which workmen can travel is, I am informed, 1,671. I am sending the right hon. Gentleman a copy of a letter that I have received from the Railway Executive Committee giving fuller information on the subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, in certain circumstances, any excess over a pre-war wage of £2 per week for whole-time service can be held liable for Excess Profits Duty; and whether he sees his way clear to mitigate this hardship by extending Section 26 (4) of the Finance Act, 1917, to include such cases as well as those of a one-man business?

The scheme of the Excess Profits Duty is to charge with duty the profits of a business, so far as, after allowance of the various statutory reliefs, they still exceed the pre-war standard of profits. Those reliefs include an allowance of £200 granted in every case, as well as a special allowance under the Sub-section mentioned in the question, designed to meet the case of small businesses. Alternative methods for computing the pre-war standard are provided by the Statute imposing the Excess Profits Duty; and while it is possible that the pre-war standard of a business might in some circumstances not exceed the figure quoted by the hon. Member, I would remind him that (apart from any other reliefs applicable to the case) there would be added to such pre-war standard, before computing the excess chargeable to duty,(a) the statutory allowance of £200, and (b) any allowance which may be due under the provisions of Section 26 (4) of the Finance Act, 1917.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of and approves the continued pressing by the Inland Revenue authorities for Increment Value Duty; is he aware that, in a case where land was bought at £500 before the War, for which there was no sale during the War and which has cost the owner £25 a year in interest charges, mak ing in four years £100, the Revenue authorities, when the land is sold for £590, i.e., an actual loss to the owner, after allowing 10 per cent., i.e., £50, claim Increment Value Duty on the remaining £40; and will he give instructions that all such claims are to be suspended till the Inquiry that he promised has been held?

Subject to the pledge given by the Prime Minister on the 21st March, 1916, with reference to cases falling within the Lumsden judgment, Increment Value Duty is being assessed and collected in accordance with the provisions of the existing law, and I am not prepared to suspend collection of duty, as suggested in the question

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what is the total amount of money owing to this country by all foreign countries before and during the War; are we receiving interest; how is it being paid; on those countries not paying interest is the amount added yearly to the capital sum owing; and what is the average interest being charged?

The obligations of the Allies to this country amounted on the 31st March last, in round figures, to £1,568,447,000. With minor exceptions, no interest is actually being paid. Except in the cases of Belgium and Serbia, which are not charged interest, and Russia, which was charged 6 per cent., interest at 5 per cent is charged against the Allies, the amounts being added to the capital debt outstanding. Certain small advances to foreign countries were made previous to the War, amounting now, in round figures, to £300,000. Particulars of these are given in the annual Finance Accounts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if collectors of Income Tax are whole-time Government servants and on what basis they are paid, whether by salary or commission; if there are any collectors employed part-time only, and how are they remunerated; and if any conditions are made as to what other employment they may take up?

The large majority of collectors of taxes are part-time officials. Whether part-time or whole-time, their remuneration is regulated in England and Wales by Sections 87 and 88 of the Income Tax Act, 1918, in Scotland by Section 85, and in Ireland by Section 198. The remuneration of the collectors varies with the quantity of work performed, which is measured by reference to the number and nature of the cases in which the collector is responsible for collection of duty. No conditions as to other employment are imposed by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the long delay on the part of the Road Board in putting into operation the programme for the improvement of roads and the finding of work for the unemployed which was approved by the War Cabinet in 1918; whether he is aware that, during the first four months of the year, only one meeting of the Board has been held, attended by two members, one of whom has re-entered railway service and another who has since died; and whether, it view of the responsibility imposed upon the Treasury under the Development and Road? Improvement Fund Act, he will constitute a board which will deal actively with the road problem during the next two months during which the whole of the work that can be carried out this year must be arranged for?

I am informed that there has been no delay on the part of the Road Board in putting into operation the road programme for the current financial year. Up to the present time Grants to the highway authorities have been arranged to an aggregate of £7.500,000. The execution of work rests, not with the Road Board, but with the highway authorities. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Twickenham Division on the 19th instant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether both life pensions and unemployment donations are provided with a view to preventing actual want on the part of the recipient; whether there is great inequality between the amount of the present unemploymnt donations and the amount of pensions for widows, and also the rate of pre-war pensions for men of His Majesty's Services; if so, which rate of payment carries out the intention for which it is provided, in view of the fact that the cost of living is the same for both classes of recipients; and whether action will be taken to remove the disparity?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to his question on this subject on Monday last. I am afraid that I can add nothing to that answer.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state what advantage is gained by numbering the pages of the OFFICIAL REPORT of the Parliamentary Debates on which the answers are reported in Roman letters; whether he is aware that in some cases eight letters are necessary to indicate the number of a page; and what objection there is to numbering the pages in the ordinary way as heretofore?

Members have frequently complained of the delay in the delivery of the OFFICIAL REPORT, and in order to print and issue the same more quickly it has been decided by the Publications and Debates Committee that the Questions and Answers shall be paged separately from the Orders of the Day. The advantage is that the printing of the latter can be commenced before the final "copy" for the former is available. The change has resulted in a distinct improvement in the time of delivery. This double pagination is limited to the Daily Parts, which are in the nature of proofs. The bound volume will, as hitherto, be paged consecutively in Arabic figures. It is hoped that the dual method of pagination may eventually be rendered unnecessary.

asked the Food Controller what were the stocks of bacon in hand on 1st March last; what quantity has been shipped to Germany or other places since that date and what weight imported; what weights have been released for consumption during each of the last eight weeks, and how do they compare with the quantities released during the corresponding eight weeks of last year; what is the reason for maintaining a system of licences where by willing shippers are prevented from exporting some of the finest bacon in the world from the North of Ireland and on which Lancashire and Yorkshire formerly depended; whether he is aware that shippers of inferior bacon in the South of Ireland can easily obtain licences for export; and whether he will name a date when these restrictions on the Irish food trade with. Britain shall cease altogether?

The stocks of bacon in this country on 1st March, 1919, were 44,500 tons. Since that date 22,500 tons of bacon have been shipped to Germany, and 2,000 tons to Belgium.The quantity of bacon imported into this country since 1st March is 62,500 tons on Government account, and, up to 17th May, approximately 30,300 tons on private account.The amount of bacon released by the Ministry for civiliain consumption during each of the last eight weeks is as follows:

		Tons.
Week ending 12th April	…	7,710
Week ending 19th April	…	5,994
Week ending 26th April	…	4,367
Week ending 3rd May	…	5,089
Week ending 10th May	…	4,487
Week ending 17th May	…	3,567
Week ending 24th May	…	3,789
Week ending 31st May	…	4,150

In addition to these quantities, bacon imported on private account has been made available to the trade. No statistics are available to show the quantities of bacon released during the corresponding eight weeks of 1918. The existing arrangements for the issue of licences for the export of Irish bacon to Great Britain were adopted in order to ensure that an adequate supply of bacon would be available for the home market in Ireland, and in order that the Ministry might be in a position to exercise effective control over the sale and distribution in Great Britain of the exportable surplus. Owing to the prevailing shortage of bacon produced in the North of Ireland, it has been found necessary to suspend temporarily licences for the ex- port of certain cuts of bacon from that part of the country. Licences are, however, still being freely issued for the export of hams from the North of Ireland. Export licences are issued to curers in the South of Ireland for the export of cuts of bacon different from those manufactured in the North of Ireland; but this bacon is in no way inferior to bacon produced in the North of Ireland, and forms much the largest proportion of Irish production.In view of the uncertainty of the present position so far as imported bacon is concerned, the Food Controller is unable at present to fix a date for the removal of the existing restrictions.

asked the Food Controller whether the Department have been sending quantities of bacon to Germany and that, in consequence of its condition, further supplies have been refused; whether instructions have now been given to unload the remainder of this bacon on the Liverpool market and secure whatever price it will fetch; and whether, in view of the fact that the bacon is unfit for food, he will have inquiries made into the matter and have the bacon disposed of for soap-making or other purposes?

:The whole of the bacon which it has been arranged to supply to the German Government has been shipped or is now in course of loading. None of it has been refused as being in bad condition or for any other reason, nor have any complaints as to its quality been received. With regard to the latter part of the question, I may say that one parcel originally intended for shipment to Germany, and subsequently replaced, was delayed owing to shipping difficulties and was issued to the civilian trade in order to prevent deterioration. So far as I am aware there is no ground for the suggestion that this bacon was unfit for food.

asked the Food Controller if he is prepared to publish the figures relating to the four Western counties on which the Travelling Commission for milk prices were led to the conclusion that a differentiation of 2d. was justified for these counties?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given on this subject yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Daventry and the hon. Member for Frome, in which it was stated that the full report of the Travelling Commission will be published almost immediately.

asked the Food Controller if his attention has been called to the fact that the world's output of rice has seriously diminished; that there may be general shortage and that the prices even of the quantity which comes on the British market will be much inflated owing to the buying by Japanese for profiteering sales in Europe and elsewhere; and whether he will be prepared to take steps to deal with practice of this nature?

The Food Controller is aware that, owing to the failure of certain crops, there is probably a world's shortage of rice, and that, as a consequence, prices generally are likely to be inflated. It is improbable that any surplus of Burmah rice will be available for European markets; and the Food Controller has no means of controlling the price of rice in other exporting countries, such as Siam and Saigon. So far, however, as supplies for this country are concerned, the stocks of Rangoon rice held by the Royal Commission on the Wheat Supply are estimated to be sufficient to last until the end of this year and possibly longer, and will be released for retail sale at 4d. per lb. The importation of rice on private account is now permitted, and it is expected that supplies of choice varieties will reach this country for retail at a reasonable price in competition with the Government stocks. I may say, however, that under the Rica (Retail Prices) Order any retailer who wishes to sell these varieties is required to have on sale at the same time rice at 4d. per lb.

asked the Food Controller if he can state what price, as compared with British wheat, ho is now paying for American wheat?

The average cost price of North American wheat purchased during the months February, March, and April was 97s. 6d. per quarter of 480 lbs. landed at ports in the United Kingdom. This price is subject to adjustment on the settlement of the accounts of the Inter-Allied Wheat Executive. The maximum price payable for British wheat is 76s. 6d. per quarter of 504 lbs.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Government has decided to guarantee to fish-curers a. minimum price for cured herrings?

No, Sir. A proposal to this effect has been considered by the War Cabinet, but the Government do-not see their way to guarantee a price. They are, however, prepared in principle to share any loss reasonably incurred by the fish-curers upon a limited number of barrels. The curers have been so advised, and the Government await further suggestions from them as to how such an arrangement can be put into effect.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that quantities of building materials have been acquired in this country in connection with the proposed new schemes of reconstruction, housing, town planning, etc.; and whether any, and, if so, what proportion of these materials will be apportioned t Ireland in connection with these schemes?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day to the question on this subject by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for the Duncairn Division of Belfast.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when he will lay upon the Table of the House the promised financial statement setting forth the proposed Treasury scheme in connection with the-Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Bill?

This Paper will be laid on the Table of the House to-day.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the average attendance of members of the Agricultural Council of Ireland, whether their debates are officially reported; what is the number of permanent officials employed in connection with this council; and what sum cart be estimated as being the total annual-cost of this body to the taxpayer?

The average attendance of members of the Council of Agriculture (based upon the figures for the past four years) is sixty-eight. The discussions of the council are open to the public and are reported at considerable length in the daily Press. An official report of the proceedings is also taken. There are no permanent or other officials employed in connection with the Council under Section 24 of the Agricultural and Technical Act. The Department assign to one of their senior permanent officials the duty of acting as secretary to the council, but no remuneration attaches to the post. Members attending the meetings are paid second-class railway travelling and subsistence allowance.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the German ships which wore interned in Chilean and Peruvian waters, and were, after the signing of the Armistice, delivered to the control of the United States, are to be permanently handed over to that country in addition to the German vessels which were in United States harbours; and if the preponderance of British shipping in the South American trade before the War and its present shortage are being kept in view?

The temporary control of German ships in Chilean and Peruvian waters in no way prejudices the final disposal of these ships, which will be settled by the Peace Conference

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Pioneer W. Clayton, No. 280,240, of the Royal Engineers (Signals), N.B. Section, General Headquarters (L. of C), H.O.M.S., Syria, British Expeditionary Force, is at present in England on compassionate leave inconsequence of serious domestic distress; whether Pioneer Clayton attested on the 11th December, 1915, but was not called to the Colours owing to his medical classification as C3; whether he was recalled, re-examined, and reclassified A1 in January, 1917,and subsequently joined the Forces on the 30th May, 1917; whether he was kept waiting for over three months before Ms request for compassionate leave was granted; whether he has suffered from a fractured skull and concussion of the brain, which makes him unsuitable for service in a hot climate; and whether, having regard to his domestic distress, his medical category, and the distance of his unit, inquiries can be made as to the possibility of his demobilisation or transfer to an area nearer home?

Inquiries are being made, and the hon. Member will be informed of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Private W. E. Bean, No. 242315, l/5th Queen's Surrey Regiment, who attested in December, 1915, and is a married man over thirty-seven years of age, is eligible for demobilisaton; whether he is aware that Bean's employers, who are keeping his post open for him, are anxious to obtain his discharge since his services as manager of a department are of importance to their business; whether, in view of the fact that repeated applications to the local Labour Exchange in Canterbury have elicited no reply, he will say what prospect there is of this soldier, now serving in Mesopotamia, being returned home; and if he will do everything in his power to hasten Bean's discharge?

Private Bean is not registered by the War Office either as-pivotal or for special release. I am also informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that he is not so registered by his Department. If his age is as stated by my hon. Friend, he is eligible for demobilisation, and he will be released as soon as the exigencies of the Service permit. I regret I can take no special action in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Private Edwin Ewart Saunders, No. 540141, Royal Army Medical Corps, 55th Casualty Clearing Station, British Expeditionary Force, Charleroi, Belgium, may expect demobilisation in view of the fact that he joined the force in December, 1914?

Inquiries are already being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private E. M'Guire, No. 422155, R. 8., twenty-nine years of age, who enlisted on 20th August, 1914, has been sent back to France and told by his commanding officer he must continue to serve; whether for overstaying hospital leave he was told he would lose two and a half years of his service; and whether he will consider the demobilisation of this man on account of his service and wounds?

Inquiries are being made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as early as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present position of men who enlisted on 15th August, 1914, for one year only and who now wish to get their discharge; and whether it is proposed to retain them until 30th April, 1020?

Men enlisted for one year or for the duration of the War in 1914 are serving under the same conditions as men who were enlisted under the Military Service Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether priority of release of men who joined the Army in 1914 and 1915 is given to those who have served longest overseas or whether total service only is taken into consideration?

Soldiers who have served longest in an Expeditionary Force or an Overseas Command are given priority of release, provided they are eligible. Such priority is not governed by total length of service.

asked the Secretary of State for War if men who have returned from long periods of service in the enervating climate of the East are entitled to more than the usual one month's furlough on demobilisation?

I would refer my right hon. Friend to my reply on the 14th instant to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Midlothian and Peebles, in which I stated that careful consideration has been given to the question of the granting of additional furlough to soldiers who have been abroad for two or more years without home leave, but I regret that under present circumstances I do not see my way to grant such additional furlough in these cases. I would point out to my right hon. Friend that a number of the men referred to have already received overseas leave.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the policy of his Department regarding the men who have been demobilised but, having been merely transferred to the Reserve, are still subject to military service; and whether it is proposed to release these men entirely from military service at an early date?

Men on being demobilised and placed in Army Reserve Class Z will not be recalled to the Colours except in the case of military emergency prior to the termination of the War. They are not subject to military discipline, and the only immediate obligation they are under is to notify changes of address to their record office. These Reservists are entitled to be discharged with all convenient speed after the ratification of Peace.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that Henry Brierly, aged 21, E Company, 3rd Manchester Regiment, who was arrested in May, 1916, and was twice rejected by the military authorities on medical grounds, was sent back to his unit at the end of a twelve months' sentence on 28th April, put into khaki forcibly, and court-martialled a few days ago and sent to Wandsworth Prison; and whether he will now remit this man's sentence;(2) whether he is aware that G. M. Lloyd Davie-s, No. 4532, N.C.C., a North Wales preacher, who was court-martialled for the second time in November, 1918, is at present in Birmingham civil prison; and whether he will now remit the remainder of this man's sentence?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on the 3rd April in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Plaistow, and to the reply given on the 1st May to a question by the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland, which explained the policy with regard to the release of conscientious objectors and others who arc serving terms of imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of Stale for War whether the soldiers called up from labour battalions employed in agriculture are medically examined before they are sent on active service abroad?

Before men are posted to labour battalions, they are subjected to a careful medical examination. When recalled from agricultural duties for active service in North-West Europe they are not re-examined except as to their freedom from infectious disease. Men for other countries have a special medical examination to decide as to their fitness to serve in the country to which they are about to proceed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that in 1914 Post Office telegraphists were forbidden to enlist in any unit other than the Royal Engineers signal service, and that they were offered full civil pay in addition to Army pay and all emoluments if they did enlist in that corps; whether it is a fact that men in the signal service units are not to receive the war gratuity, but only £l for each year's service with the Colours; whether there are any other Government employés who received full civil pay as well as Army pay and who are being granted the war gratuity; and whether former Post Office employés who are officers in the signal service have received full civil as well as Army pay and are also being given the Service gratuity?

I am afraid I can add nothing to the answer given on the 10th April to the hon. Member for Burnley.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether those Civil ser- vants who, while serving in the Army at the date of the Armistice, responded to the General's call for volunteers for the Army of Occupation and wore accepted, now find that under G.R.O. 6,419, Civil Servants' Extension of Service, their period of service will not count for Civil increment or Civil pension as it did prior to the Armistice; whether this should have been explained to them when inviting them to volunteer; and whether in their cases he will have this injustice removed by allowing the time served with the Army of Occupation as prior to the Armistice?

A Civil servant who, being otherwise eligible for demobilisation, prefers to volunteer for a further period of military service, either in the Army of Occupation or under the Milner Bounty Scheme, is regarded as on leave of absence from Civil duty without pay, the period of absence not counting for Civil increment or pension. I regret that I am unable to sanction an exception to this rule in favour of any Civil servants who may have volunteered for such service before the above decision was announced, without first ascertaining whether their action would be approved by their Civil Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the future, Artillery (Territorial) will be armed with modern weapons; and whether the pre-war conditions under which Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial) were armed with 4.7 quick-firing, whilst the Regular Artillery were armed with sixty-pounders will be abandoned?

It is intended to arm the Territorial Force Artillery with modern weapons and to issue the same-class of gun to all batteries.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether provision can be made for payment for other ranks for drills in the Territorial Force with a view to obviate difficulty in obtaining recruits?

The whole question of the future conditions of service in the Territorial Force is under discussion between my right hon. Friend and the associations and others interested. I am afraid it is impossible to make any statement on this matter at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to compel employers of men in the Territorial Force in the future to release such men for their animal training?

I am afraid I cannot make any statement at present, but the point will certainly not be overlooked. It must be borne in mind that this would involve legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Private A. Morrison, Royal Defence Corps, No. 16 Observer Company, with twenty-two years' service, has not received his character paper, and through lack of it cannot get employment; whether he is aware that the Scottish Legal Insurance Society filled in Army Form O 1,845 three months ago and no reply has been sent from the War Office, and owing to want of insurance papers he cannot draw unemployment donation; whether he is also aware that his pension for March has not been paid, that Army Form D 400 is still missing, and that he has been paid 30s. short in his deferred pay; and whether the War Office will take steps to see that these matters are put right?

Inquiries will be made in this case, and I will inform my hon. Friend of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider whether a substantial grant can be made from the Army and Navy Canteen Fund, in addition to the assistance proposed to be given by the War Office, towards the expenses of entertaining men of the naval, military, and air forces at the Peace celebrations, so as to ensure that such entertainment shall be worthy of the occasion?

It is doubtful whether the Canteen Fund should be used for the purpose suggested, but the proposal of my hon. Friend will be given full consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can now say if the rates of commutation of pension for warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men have been revised so as to bring them into line with the rates for officers?

No, Sir, I am afraid I can add nothing to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend a fortnight ago.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether supplementary separation allowances and grants are not payable in respect of the voluntarily re-enlisted men in the Army of Occupation, though they continue payable in respect of those whose compulsory service has continued without a break; and whether this is contrary to the promises made to the re-enlisted men when they volunteered for service on the Rhine?

Men who re-enlist voluntarily without a break of service are eligible for supplementary grants and allowances under the regulations of the Special Grants Committee, but men who re-enlist after demobilisation or discharge are not eligible, as stated in para. 5 of Army Order 155 of 1919. This is fully set forth in the conditions of re-enlistment, and I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the promises to which he refers, as I have no knowledge of them.

asked the Pensions Minister if he is aware that Private William Thomas Lee, late No. 30330, 154th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, who enlisted on 30th June, 1915, and was discharged medically unfit 14th February, 1916, totally unable to follow any employment, was awarded a pension of 13s. 9d. for the week of 21st-28th January, 1919, and that on representation this award was extended for fourteen weeks, but at the end of nine weeks payment ceased without any explanation, and that, although the man is still unable to work, he has received no pension or any other allowance since; why the man is not in receipt of pension, and why pension has not been awarded from date of discharge; is he aware that on the death of his child the man was referred by the local committee to the Charity Organisation Society; and is he aware that the man has a wife and three little children, and that no allowances have at any time been issued for the latter, and that no bonus has at any time been paid on any pension issued to the man?

Private Lee was invalided for a disability which was held not to be due to his military service. He has been awarded a final gratuity, under Article 7 (1) of the Royal Warrant of 1918, of 13s. 9d. a week for fourteen weeks, with a further 7s. 11d. a week on account of his children. This notification to Pension Issue Office of the award of the additional 7s. 11d. a week appears to have miscarried, and inquiries are being made. The weekly allowance of 13s. 9d. has been paid for the full period of fourteen weeks, although there was an unfortunate delay in issue between the ninth and tenth weeks. No bonus is payable in respect of a non-attributable weekly allowance. I may add that Private Lee has now appealed against the decision that his disability was not due to service.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he can now say if it has been decided to add the 20 per cent. war bonus on pensions to the wound pensions or retired pay of officers discharged in consequence of disablement prior to 4th August, 1914?

I cannot yet announce a decision in this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will instruct the Controller of the Post Office Savings Bank to pay to Company Quartermaster-Sergeant Watson, No. 272231, of Moston, Manchester, the £26 gratuity deposited to his credit at the Post Office Savings Bank, London, W. 14, on 6th February, 1919, by the regimental paymaster, Labour Corps, Nottingham, no satisfactory reply having hitherto been obtainable from the Controller of the Post Office Savings Bank on the matter?

This gratuity appears to have been issued in February last, but owing to the address of the payee, as furnished to the savings bank, being incomplete, the notification of issue failed to reach him. Payment of the gratuity has now been arranged.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he will state the amount of compensation paid to the firm of Brunner, Mond, and Company in connection with the loss and damage to their property caused by the explosion at Silvertown on the 19th January, 1917?

The amount of compensation paid to Messrs, Brunner, Mond and Co. is £185,000. This sum, which was paid in pursuance of a contract in respect c f the actual premises on which the explosion occurred, must be distinguished from the amounts paid in respect of third-party claims, of which I gave particulars to the hon. Gentleman on the 23rd instant.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether some or the Government art scholarships are still at the pre-war rate and others only have been slightly increased on compassionate grounds; and whether, in view of the increased cost of living, he will make a substantial and uniform increase in the scholarships held by all Government art students?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The question of an increase in the value of the scholarships is at present under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether 25 per cent. of free places for elementary school boys is the normal requirement for Grant-earning secondary schools, and if he will furnish a Return of the schools wherein less than 25 per cent. has been sanctioned with the reasons there for; if he will further state if it is intended to relax this Regulation for other schools likely to ask for Grants from the Board in the future: and, if so, whether a revision of the compulsory 25 per cent. on schools already compelled to take the proportion is intended?

Twenty-five per cent. is the normal requirement. I will furnish the Return asked for by the hon. Member. As at present advised, I see no reason to depart from the past practice of the Board in considering, on their merits, applications from individual schools for modification of the maximum requirement.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many medical students are now entered upon the books of the various universities of the United Kingdom; how does this number compare with the figure for 1913–14; and whether, in view of the acknowledged shortage of doctors and surgeons throughout the country, it is proposed to take any steps to hasten the release of those men now serving in the Army or the Royal Air Force whose medical studies were curtailed as a result of the War, and that every facility may be given to such men to return to their universities to at once continue their studies?

I regret that I am not in a position to give the hon. and gallant Member officially the figures for which he asks. The question of the release of medical students from the Forces was dealt with until recently by the Minister of National Service and is not within my province. I have been informed by the General Medical Council that the total number of medical students in actual attendance at medical schools in the United Kingdom was 9,490 in January, 1919. The first year students numbered 2,907 as compared with 1,480 in 1913.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can grant re-consideration of the case of Mr. T. W. Collette, of 135, Port land Street, Southport, for exceptional pensionary consideration in view of the fact that Mr. Collette served with the Army in India from 1870 to 1878 and with the Bombay and Poona police, in which he rose to the rank of first-grade inspector, from 1878 to 1895, a total Indian service of twenty-five years, that he had to leave India on account of ill-health, that he is nearly seventy years of age, and that he has no means of support?

Mr. Collette was not invalided from the service. He voluntarily resigned before completing the period of service necessary to entitle him to pension on voluntary retirement, even if his previous Army service was included. The circumstances of his case were carefully considered by my predecessor on his application for a com-passionate pension outside the rules, but were considered insufficient to justify a grant.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether fuller and more up-to-date information can be issued on Indian matters; whether he is aware that the full official statement of the Indian Government as to the cause of the Afghan invasion was never reproduced in this country until it was published in newspaper form fourteen days' later, by which time the first stage of the operation was over, and, further, that the Afghan request for a cessation of hostilities was never officially published at all; and whether, in view of the serious results of imperfect public knowledge on matters of importance, he can procure a better working of the intelligence system?

As regards the first and last parts of the question, steps have been taken which will, I hope, accelerate the issue of information in regard to Indian affairs. The second part of the question presumably refers to the Government of India's communiqué of the 6th May, published in the newspapers of the 19th May. The text of this message was not telegraphed direct to the India Office. The delay in its publication was doubtless attributable to the congestion of the cable lines, for which I cannot accept responsibility: I have kept the Press regularly supplied with the latest news of the military operations on the Afghan border. With reference to the third part of the question, I would refer the. hon. Member to the official statement published in the newspapers on the 27th May.

asked the Home Secretary whether, consistently with the public safety, he can see his way to release Mr. Leo Jung, an Austrian subject, lately a student at Cambridge University, who is now interned at the Alexandra Palace, so that he may resume his studies at the university?

I regret that I do not see my way to- release this man from internment at present. His application for exemption from repatriation will come in due course before the Committee over which Mr. Justice Younger is presiding, and I shall await their advice on it.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the hardship suffered by police pensioners who retired from the Police Force prior to September, 1918, owing to the inadequacy of their pensions and the absence of any provision for their widows; and whether, in view of the fact that, owing to the stringency of the Regulations and their low rates of pay whilst they were serving, these men were unable to make any provision for their old age, he will amend their rates of pension so as to bring them more into line with the present-day cost of Jiving?

The great rise in the cost of living must, of course, affect police pensioners as well as others dependent on small incomes, but I regret that I do not see my way to propose legislation for the benefit of this class.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is in a position to state what has been the outcome of his representations to the North Riding justices as to the case in which a member of the Women's Roval Air Force was detained in police cells at Redcar for ninety hours owing to the failure to hear the case at Redcar; whether he is aware of the public demand for a separate Petty Sessional Division with a resident justices' clerk; whether he is aware of the objections to the taking of police cases outside the area in which the offence occurs; that as recently as 23rd May another Redcar case was taken to Loftus for trial, involving additional expense for witnesses, including the police engaged; and whether this falls upon the rates in any way or is defrayed by the officials responsible?

I forwarded the representation which I received from the Redcar Citizens' Association to the chairman of the justices, but I have not yet heard from him what action the justices propose to take, nor have any further complaints reached me. The question of the place or places for holding petty Sessional Courts is one to be decided by the justices after full consideration of all questions of local convenience and expense, and I cannot express any opinion on these details.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will state what arrangements have been made as regards the constitution of an authority to deal with the housing scheme for Greater London?

My right hon. Friend is not, at present, in a position to add anything to the reply which he gave to the hon. Member for Tottenham on the 29th ultimo. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of that reply.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the names, business or profession, and salary to be paid to the District Commissioners appointed under or in respect of the Housing and Town-Planning Bill, and for what period the several appointments have been made; whether the several gentlemen so appointed have a thorough knowledge of housing, land values, and town-planning; whether any and, if so, which have served overseas in some branch of His Majesty's Forces; whether the appoint- ments are whole-time appointments, and if any deputies have been or are about to be appointed; whether district offices have been taken for the several Commissioners; and what staff of clerks or assistants has been placed at the disposal of each of them?

A statement containing the information asked for in the first, second, and third parts of the question has already been circulated. I will send the hon. and gallant Member a copy. The salary attached to the office of Commissioner is at the rate of —l,000 a year and the appointments are temporary. The Commissioners, of whom four have served overseas, are required to devote whole time to the duties of the office, and up to the present time three Deputy Commissioners have been appointed. District offices have been taken for the Commissioners.An architect, a surveyor, and an inspector have been attached to each Commissioner's office, and a secretary has been appointed in each district with a small clerical staff generally consisting of three clerks.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that five families residing at Crawford Street, Greenock, are about to be evicted by the Glebe Sugar Refining Company in order to provide accommodation for horses; whether he is aware that each family involved was represented in the fighting forces during the War; whether, seeing that the company commenced the erection of outbuildings there without the sanction of the Dean of Guild Court, he will see that the company are prosecuted for their breach of the law; whether, in all the circumstances, and particularly in view of the fact that working-class houses are totally unobtainable in Greenock, he will prevent the families referred to being thrown on the streets by ordering a stay of execution until such times as houses can be found for them; and if he will ascertain whether the Sugar Commission find it necessary that extensions of refining premises should be carried out if such extensions necessitate rendering people homeless?

I beg to refer my hon. Friend to there ply which I gave on 19th instant on this subject to the hon. And gallant Member for Greenock. I have no information as regards the alleged irregularity in the erection of buildings and no power to enforce any action in the matter. I understand that the Sugar Commission have no knowledge of, and no responsibility for, the steps taken in connection with the contemplated extension.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the accommodation provided by the Staffordshire, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Joint Committee for Tuberculosis for the treatment of insured persons suffering from tuberculosis is inadequate; whether he is aware that the Staffordshire Insurance Committee have drawn the special attention of the Wolverhampton and Dudley Joint Committee on several occasions to the lack of accommodation, that no increase in accommodation has resulted, that there are at the present time thirty persons on the waiting list to enter sanatoria, and that a number of the thirty have been waiting for treatment for over eight weeks; and, in view of this, will he take steps to compel the Wolverhampton and Dudley Joint Committee to provide all the accommodation necessary?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for West Bromwich on the 8th instant. I am informed that the number of persons on the waiting list has now been, reduced to twenty, and that the new institution to accommodate forty patients will be ready for occupation at the end of next month. The joint committee are taking all practicable steps to secure further accommodation.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state for what purpose the farm colony at Hollesley Bay is now being maintained; and when the colony last dealt with any unemployed person under the Act?

I would refer the hon. Member to yesterday's reply to a previous question. The Hollesley Bay Colony was until recently used for the accommodation of soldiers. It is at present being used partly for training disabled men; the extension of its use for this purpose is now being considered. Unemployed persons have not been dealt with at the colony since May, 1915; the Central Unemployed Body have used the land for food production.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in the November elections for the municipal councils, the whole of the present members of such councils will retire or, if not, can he state in what proportion they will retire for re-election?

One-third of the Councillors of each municipal borough will retire in November next. In some of the boroughs one half of the aldermen will also retire.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of the great hardship caused to persons in receipt of disablement benefit by the diminution in the purchasing power of money; and whether he will consider the possibility of an early increase of disablement benefit as well as of the old age pension?

I have received many representations to the effect suggested in the question of the hon. Member; but so far as concerns the benefits under the National Health Insurance Acts these representations are not confined to disablement benefit, and the whole question of a revision of the contributions and benefits under those Acts is engaging the attention of my advisers in close consultation with the representatives of insured persons.