asked the Food Controller if he is aware that no shortage exists of edible oil-seeds in the countries of origin, while a serious shortage exists in this country of edible oil, causing numerous fried-fish shops to close; and what steps are being taken to prevent profiteering in this commodity and to get regular supplies for the fried-fish trade as in 1918?

I cannot usefully add anything to the answers given on this subject to the hon. and gallant Member for Hull Central (Lieut.-Commander Ken-worthy) on 1st and 4th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the allegation that, while Belgium is short of linseed oil and is paying £120 per ton for this article, the British Government is selling the same article to Germany at £75 per ton, thus giving preferential treatment to our enemy; and will he make any statement on the subject?

I have been asked to reply. In accordance with arrangements made at the Brussels Conference, 25,000 tons of linseed oil were sold to Germany at £78 per ton. When this price was fixed linseed oil could be purchased in the United Kingdom at £58 per ton, and Belgium had declined to purchase any part of the British surplus.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, although there is an urgent need for sanitary dwellings for agricultural labourers in the Newtown-Cunningham district, the Londonderry (No. 2) Rural District Council has been allowed to postpone the carrying out of a scheme which was formulated five years ago; if so, on what grounds this permission was given; and how much money is at present available for schemes under the Labourers Acts?

The scheme referred to by the hon. Member does not appear to have been made by the Londonderry (No. 2) Rural District Council, although one was in contemplation shortly before the War, but it had to be deferred by them when hostilities broke out, in view of the restrictions found necessary to be placed on capital expenditure consequent upon that event. From the recent minutes of the council, it appears that a number of representations have just been received by them under the Labourers Acts, the consideration of which they postponed for six months. No appeal has been received by the Local Government Board as regards this postponement by the council. As a matter of fact, the amount already sanctioned to the Londonderry (No. 2) Rural District Council out of the funds provided under the Labourers Acts, 1906, 1911, and 1914,is £28,290, and represents a sum of nearly £3 10s. per head of the population of the rural district, which is about double the average rate for the whole of the rural districts in Ireland. The total amount of the funds in question is £6,250,000, and advances have been sanctioned amounting to £5,138,420, leaving a balance of £1,111,580 remaining

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has been in communication with the President of the Board of Trade with reference to the administration in Ireland of the Electricity Bill; and, if so, how it is proposed to carry out the proposals of the Bill in Ireland?

It has not, so far, been necessary to consider the precise method of applying the provisions of the Bill in Ireland. The question will hardly arise until the Electricity Commissoners take up the question of constituting electricity boards for Irish districts.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that John Woods, of Raphoe, county Donegal, and his wife were in receipt of the pension until April, 1918; that about that time, on the death of his wife, an appeal was brought against the continuance of the pension to John Woods; and will he explain how the death of Woods' wife benefited Woods to such an extent as to deprive him of the pension or on what grounds was the appeal decided against him?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. So long as Woods had to maintain his wife as well as himself he was entitled to halve his means for pension purposes, and it was due to this fact alone that he had been enabled to obtain the pension. When the wife died he ceased to be entitled to this statutory privilege, and the pension was revoked.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a letter has been received from the Congested Districts Board, Ireland, asking that a conference should take place between representatives of the Treasury, the Irish Government, and die Congested Districts Board to arrange the details of a pension scheme for the staff of the Congested Districts Board; whether he is aware that the Irish Government have supported the application of the Board; and whether, having regard to the united recommendation of these two responsible Departments, he will state the date of the proposed conference and give the names of the representatives of the respective bodies who will attend?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. The suggested scheme does not provide for the setting aside from the Board's funds of an annual sum sufficient to meet the prospective charges for superannuation. The Treasury have indicated that such provision is an essential feature of a satisfactory scheme, and unless the Board are prepared to accept this condition no useful purpose would be served by the proposed conference.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can now extend the telephone service to Cushendall; whether he is aware that before the War this question was raised, but refused on the grounds that the poles would not carry an extra wire; whether during the War two additional wires were added for the use of the Admiralty, and are still on; and whether, in view of the great inconvenience suffered by the business people and visitors through lack of telephonic communication, he will now take steps to have that service extended to Cushendall?

Before the War the difficulty in providing a telephone service at Cushendall was due to the cost. Tile possibility of utilising for a public service the wires provided during the War for the Admiralty is being considered, and I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now in a position to state whether the out-of-work donation grant will be paid to the coast watchers in Ireland who have been thrown out of employment since the cessation of hostilities?

I understand that of 413 civilian coast watchers employed at the date of the Armistice, some 200 have been discharged. I am, however, informed that the majority of these men were formerly employed in agriculture and fishing; and, as I am not aware that there is any substantial amount of unemployment in either of those industries in Ireland, I am not satisfied, on the information before me, that there is a case for extending the out-of-work donation scheme to include the men in question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether men. working in departments in Government dockyards who enlisted voluntarily are not entitled to resume their former employment while men who were compelled to join later are given the right of re-employment when demobilised; whether Admiralty instructions have been issued to that effect; and whether he is prepared to issue instructions that all dockyard employés who have served during the War shall have the same right to re-enter or resume his former employment?

There is no such differentiation, as would seem to be suggested in the hon. Member's question, between those former employés who enlisted voluntarily and those who later were obliged to join the military forces; and no instructions to such effect have been issued. The Admiralty have given no undertaking in respect of the future civil employment of men who entered their service after the outbreak of war and were subsequently released to join the military forces. Men who were regularly employed in the Royal dockyards before the War, and were released for military service, have, in general, whilst so serving, been retained on the yard books, and have been paid their civil pay in addition to military pay, less the pay of a private; and, on being demobilised, these men resume their civil employment in the dockyards.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Gunner J. Rose, No. 59394, 363rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, British Expeditionary Force, France, enlisted in 1915, that he has been applied for as pivotal, and that work is waiting for him; and if he can press for this man's release?

From the particulars given, the War Office have been unable to trace whether Gunner Rose is registered as pivotal, but if my hon. Friend will supply me with the name and address of the firm that applied for him, further inquiries will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the general policy of medical demobilisation; why the promise given by the Ministry of National Service in November, 1918, that the demobilisation of medical men with long service or with practices to return to would be effected rapidly by replacing them with newly qualified graduates has not been given effect to; how many, if any, temporary commissions in the Royal Army Medical Corps have been granted since the Armistice; and why Dr. H. P. Fairlie, No. 4 General Hospital, British Army in France, is not demobilised and allowed to return to his practice?

The demobilisation of an individual medical officer is left in the hands of the General Officer Commanding in Chief concerned, and the policy is to release first those who, on account of age, length of service, personal hardship, public expediency, etc., are considered most deserving of consideration. It will readily be understood that even then it is impossible to meet every claim, as it is still found necessary to retain certain officers possessed of special qualifications and for whom it is found impossible to find substitutes.Any applications received by the War Office are given every consideration, and when the claims of either an individual medical officer or the application of any public body for the services of a particular officer come under any of the above categories, every effort is made to obtain his release, but his claim has to be considered in conjunction with the claims of other officers serving in the same Command at home or Expeditionary Force overseas.No temporary commissions have been granted in the Royal Army Medical Corps since the Armistice, but a new contract has now been approved whereby it is hoped that a large number of recently qualified medical men will volunteer for service overseas, and thus enable those who have served longest to be released. I am informed that Lieutenant H. P. Fairlie has served only since August, 1918, and his claims for early release are not considered as coming within the categories enumerated above.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is yet in a position to state the result of the inquiries which he promised to make on the 5th of June in reply to a question addressed to him on that date by the hon. Member for Kirkdale?

I am informed that Private McLeod has been admitted to hospital for observation and examination, and a report is now awaited. It was not possible for him to be examined by a Medical Board earlier owing to his being isolated. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as the report is received.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the question of granting an increase of pay to the mates in charge of War Department general service vessels holding masters' certificates, in view of the fact that their present rate of pay is out of proportion to their rank, qualifications, and responsibilities, and is in fact 19s. per week less than the pay of second engineers?

It had been hoped to make an announcement on the subject of the rates of pay of officers and crews of War Department vessels generally at home stations, but fresh claims made by representatives of similar classes of employés under the Admiralty have reopened the matter, which is again under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether compensation for loss of valise and kit in transit from France will be awarded to officers who returned to England in hospital charge, on leave, or on duty without their kit, were demobilised before returning to their unit, and have never received their kit?

The Regulations governing compensation for losses are laid down in Section XIX. of the Allowance Regulations. Under those Regulations compensation for loss of kit is inadmissible, unless the officer concerned requires to re-equip himself for further military duty. As the officers in question have been demobilised, re-equipment for further military service is unnecessary, and compensation cannot be granted.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the complaints of the volunteers returning to South America on Government passages of the treatment they and their wives and children have suffered on the ships of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company; if he will have the matter investigated; and if he will see that in future these returning soldiers at least have proper accommodation and food?

I have been asked to reply. Certain complaints have been received and are being investigated. I shall be glad if the hon. Member will send me any specific complaints he has so that the inquiry may be complete. He will be informed of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if his attention has been drawn to complaints of delay in the payment of war gratuities in the cases of those who have lost their lives in the War; and if he will see that prompt payment is made?

I have already dealt with this matter in reply to previous questions, but I will take the opportunity of explaining fully how delay arises in connection with payments of war gratuity to the representatives of officers and men who died before the grant of gratuities was made.The gratuity for men was granted in December, 1918, and for officers of the Regular Army in January last. The corresponding gratuity for Territorials and other temporary officers, which was laid down in Regulations before the War, has been issued throughout the War with the rest of the officer's estate.These gratuities have first to be assessed and then to be paid out in accordance with the testamentary dispositions of the officer or soldier or otherwise in accordance with the laws of intestacy. The first part of this work has to be done, in the case of officers, in the War Office; and in the case of soldiers, in the pay offices, where alone the necessary particulars of service are recorded.It will be remembered that immediately after Christmas the pay offices were subjected to the exceedingly heavy strain of demobilising the men then in the Army and paying the gratuity to the living ex-soldiers, and they were unable at the moment to take in hand the cases of men no longer alive. But as the strain of demobilisation has slackened they have taken up the assessment of these arrear gratuities, and are now making rapid progress with it.The work of distributing the gratuities to those legally entitled has to be performed in a branch of the War Office with specially trained staff in view of the legal and other questions involved. For estates still in hand at the date of the grant of the gratuities, issue has been made with the rest of the estate, but there were some 700,000 estates which had already been distributed, the accounts of which had to be re-opened. The performance of this work and the training of the necessary staff for it inevitably occupy a considerable time, and it was decided that the only fair way of determining priority of payment was to proceed according to the date of death. An announcement has already been made in the public Press that applications for the gratuity are unnecessary. They cannot be allowed to affect the order of priority, and the work involved in replying to such application would only occupy the time of the staff engaged upon making the payments. Such applications accordingly have remained unanswered, but in order that there may be no risk of failure to deal with an individual estate announcements will be made from time to time in the public Press that the issue of gratuities in order of date of death has reached a certain date, so that the representatives of any officer or man whose death occurred before that date may send a reminder if they have heard nothing on the subject.Everything possible is being done to accelerate the rate of issue by training additional staff, and in other ways.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether several applications have been made to him for payment of the gratuity of Private William Edwin Howe, No. 43245, Middlesex Regiment, who was killed in October, 1918, on behalf of his only child and next-of-kin; whether any acknowledgment of the claims has been made; and when payment may be expected?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to-day to the hon. and gallant Member for Holborn dealing with these cases generally. Two applications for war gratuity have been received in the case to which my hon. Friend alludes. Although it has been announced in the Press, and by notices exhibited at post-offices, that applications in such cases are unnecessary, so many applications have been received that it has been found impossible to answer them individually without seriously delaying the work of issuing the gratuity.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the gratuity payable for the loss in action of a limb is £3,000 in the case of a general and £100 in the case of a second lieutenant; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that the disability is equally, if not more, onerous in the case of the younger man, he will consider the desirability of recommending that the inequality of these gratuities should be redressed?

The amount for a second lieutenant has been raised to £250 for cases in the present War. It is not proposed now to abandon graduation by-rank.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether ho is aware that the war gratuity due to the late Private James Hutchison, No. 201474, l/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, killed in action on 10th November, 1917, has not yet been paid to his widow, Mrs. Martha Hutchison, care of Turtle, 57, Maclean Street, Glasgow, S.S.; and whether he can take steps to have this payment expedited?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my statement today in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Holborn.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if a man who joined the Army in 1901, served three years in the old Regular Army and was then transferred under Section 13 of the Army Reserve Act for nine years, who then took on a further period of four years under Section D, Army Reserve, and was called to rejoin the Colours in 1914, and having a total of fifteen years' service, is entitled to claim a service pension?

No, Sir, unless he has been granted a permanent disablement pension.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that ex-Private W. Bent, No. 1658, 1st Dock Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment, was injured in an accident on 11th June, 1917, while in the Service, and was discharged from the Army on 12th July, 1918; that as a result of his injuries ho has had to give up his former occupation and is now unable to work regularly, and that owing to his incapacity his average weekly earnings have been reduced since his discharge from £1 18s. to less than half that amount; that last year he was awarded a pension of 14s. 9d. per week for twelve months up to 13th July next, which was subsequently reduced to 13s. 11d. per week, but that up to the present time he has received no payments of this pension, the amount now due to him being over £30; and will he take steps to have this man's pension paid to him without further delay?

Instructions have already been issued for arrears of compensation due to this man to be paid, and the question of commuting further payments for a lump sum is under consideration.

asked the Pensions Minister whether Private W. Turley, No. 17176, formerly in the Worcestershire Regiment, 13th Battalion, and transferred to the 11th Worcestershire Regiment, was awarded a pension of 22s. per week and died four days after his pension was issued; whether application was made on behalf of Mrs. Turley for the grant of a pension on the 14th January to the secretary, pensions issue office; and whether any action has yet been taken?

Mrs. Turley was married to Private Turley after his discharge from the Army, and is therefore ineligible both for pension under the Warrant or for assistance from the Special Grants Committee under their Regulations. She has been so informed.

asked the Pensions Minister whether Rifleman W. J. Taplin, No. 3359, 8th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, was killed in action on 20th September, 1916; whether his widow has applied for a gratuity and an alternative pension; whether she was informed on the 31st May last in respect of the gratuity that, owing to the magnitude of the work to be done therewith, the distribution of the gratuity to legatees or next-of-kin of deceased soldiers will of necessity take a considerable time, and has received no information with regard to the alternative pension; and whether he is now prepared to say when this case can be dealt with?

Mrs. Taplin's claim to alternative pension was received by the Ministry from her local committee on 16th June, and an award of 35s. a week has been made and notified to Mrs. Taplin. The question of payment of the war gratuity due in respect of the soldier's service should be addressed to the War Office.

asked the Pensions Minister whether Captain A. G. Bowers, late Essex Royal Horse Artillery, was demobilised on 18th March and has so far not been able to obtain a medical board to assess his disability; and whether steps can be taken to expedite this case, in view of the fact that he is waiting to proceed to a Crown Colony under medical advice and his departure has had to be delayed until his disability has been assessed?

The claim made by Captain Bowers was not received in this Ministry until 18th June. Arrangements for a medical board have now been made and this report will be expedited.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there is any scheme to assist those boys whose apprenticeship or agreement was broken off by military service, many of whom joined in 1914 and have served throughout the War?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given in the OFFICIAL REPORT, of the 30th June, to the hon. and gallant Member for Hexham (Captain Brown), which outlined the scheme for assisting those persons whose apprenticeship was interrupted by service in His Majesty's Forces.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether grants are being issued to assist ex-officers and ex-soldiers studying at the universities; and, if so, why W. H. Sutton, late Air Force, who has filled up several application forms, has received neither grant nor reply?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Mr. W. H. Sutton's application is now before the Board, and he will hear the result of his application in the course of a few days. All cases are being dealt with as rapidly as possible, but the recent influx of applications has been so great that some delay is inevitable if they are to be properly scrutinised.

asked the Home Secretary the number of former enemy aliens who have been deported since 15th April, 1918, distinguishing those who were interned in this country and those who were not interned, and also stating the numbers of Germans, Austrians, Turks, and Bulgarians so deported?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The number of alien enemies (including a certain number of British-born wives and children) who have left the United Kingdom between the 15th April, 1918, and the 2nd of this month is approximately 26,090, of whom 21,440 were classed as Germans, 4,500 as Austrians or Hungarians, 120 as Turks, and thirty as Bulgarians. Of these, some 3,770 persons were uninterned.

asked the Home Secretary whether the fees for registration form part of the salaries of assistant-overseers and the payment to the registration officers for the preparation of the second register (15th March, 1919) has not yet been made; and whether, if this is due to the fact that the work of registration in a county area is too great for one man, each urban division can have its own registration officer, as these officials cannot afford to live out of their money?

Assistant-overseers are paid in the first instance by the registration officers for their work in connection with registration, according to a scale prescribed by the Treasury. I should suppose that the cases are exceptional in which assistant-overseers have not yet been paid for their work in connection with the second register, which came into force on the 15th March last. The course which my hon. Friend suggests could not be taken without an alteration of the Representation of the People Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that local authorities who have applied to the Loan Commissioners for money for housing purposes have been told that it cannot be done and they must get money where they can; will he state the number and names of the authorities who have been given the above reply; and, if loans have been made, to how many authorities and what is the total amount?

In view of the limited amount of money available for the local loans fund, and the large prospective calls upon it the Treasury as stated in the Local Government Board Circulars are anxious that local authorities should raise loans in the open market, and it has been found necessary to restrict loans from the local loans fund to local authorities with a rateable value of less than £200,000. Loans have already been granted in respect of State-assisted housing schemes to three local authorities to the amount of £28,092, and other applications are in course of investigation.

asked the Minister of Health whether the building scheme of the Benfieldside Urban District Council is being held up for want of the service of Mr. T. W. Barron, their architect; whether they have had great difficulty in finding a suitable man, with a knowledge of the district, for this work; whether the War Office refuse to demobilise Mr. Barron; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take?

A letter has recently been received from the district council to the effect of the first and second parts of the hon. Member's question. With regard to the third part, I understand that Mr. Barron is not within the classes eligible for demobilisation under the present Regulations and that the War Office do not feel able to make an exception to these Regulations in his case. I have requested that, in the event of any alteration of the Regulations, the claims of local authorities and their housing schemes should receive special consideration. I am requesting the Housing Commissioner to confer with the Benfieldside District Council, and I would suggest that the council should consult the Royal Institute of British Architects, who may be able to suggest the names of a number of architects capable of undertaking the work at once.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the Scottish building trade were consulted before he decided to alter the standard thickness of bricks in Scotland from 3¼ to 3 inches; and whether he is aware that builders consider the alteration will involve an additional cost on housing schemes?

Two of the largest Scottish building contractors have been consulted, and are both strongly in favour of standardisation on the basis of a three-inch brick for building, with a somewhat thicker brick for pressed facings. I am advised that the adoption of a three-inch brick would probably effect an economy in the cost of housing scheme. There is no intention of making it a universal standard, although it is probable that its convenience may cause it to become so.

asked the Minister of Health whether soldiers serving on a duration-of-war engagement, and who are now eligible, or will shortly become eligible, for demobilisation will be granted permission, where desired, to contest seats at the forthcoming November municipal elections?

The question whether leave can be given in the cases referred to is one for the Army Council, with whom I will communicate on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated total cost of the half-yearly registration of electors throughout the United Kingdom?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to Class VI., 8 of the Civil Service Estimates and the note thereon, from which he will see that the estimated total cost of registration for the whole year is about £2,050,000. Half of this is borne by the Exchequer and half by local authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds the Railway Executive Committee have granted special travelling facilities and reduced fares to attend organised camps to cadet organisations recognised by the War Office, and have refused them to the Boy Scouts' Association, the Federation of Working Boys' and Girls' Clubs, and similar organisations; and whether, in view of the fact that this refusal inflicts great hardship on poor children who have frequently been working very hard and derive great benefit from these camping holidays, he will take immediate steps to extend all possible travelling facilities to these organisations?

Cadet Corps are granted reduced fares as part of the military organisation under special arrangements of long standing made by the War Office. The question whether any similar arrangements could, in present circumstances, be extended to organisations such as those mentioned is now receiving consideration, and I hope that a decision will be arrived at shortly. The matter is, however, one of some difficulty in view of the present calls on the railways.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Glasgow summer holidays commence on 18th July, when all public works are closed for ten days; that the stations are very congested by the large number of holiday makers; whether he is aware that there is a passenger terminus station at Govan which can be used to supply the requirements of a population of 100,000, which is at present closed, necessitating those people travelling four miles to the Glasgow stations, and passing this station on their way; and whether he will give instructions to the Railway Executive to open this station during the holiday season and run special trains, and thereby relieve the congestion elsewhere, as well as meet the convenience of the inhabitants of Govan?

I have communicated with the Glasgow and South-western Railway Company on this matter, and have received a reply, which I will communicate to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any provision exists temporarily releasing railway companies from the obligation to restrict the mechanism used for railway passenger carriage doors to only that of an automatic locking character; if so, when he intends, if at all, to reimpose the said restriction; and whether he will be prepared to examine a new invention of an automatic-locking type believed to be an improvement on that hitherto used for the purpose?

There is not, and there has not been in the past, any restriction imposed by the Board of Trade in regard to locking arrangements for railway carriage doors. The Board of Trade are advised that in the event of fire or collision automatic locking arrangements may be liable to serious objection, but their inspecting officers of railways are always willing to examine new devices for increasing the safety of rail way working.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of all the railway companies in Scotland which have acquired powers to run steamers for passenger and goods traffic?

The following railway companies have certain powers to run steam vessels from ports in Scotland, namely: Glasgow and South-Western, Highland, and Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railways.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that tobacco manufacturers propose shortly to increase the prices of all kinds of tobacco owing to alleged increased cost of materials and advances in wages; and whether, in view of the fact that tobacco is consumed by all classes of the community, that its sale in this country is largely in the hands of a trust, and that the last published report of the Imperial Tobacco Company, Limited, showed trading profits for the year approaching £4,000,000, he is prepared to have inquiry made as to whether such increases are justified?

I have seen certain statements in the Press as to the possibility of the increases in the price of manufactures of tobacco, and should such increases be made I will consider the desirability of adopting the suggestion made by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what principle he proceeds on in deciding which industries shall be shielded from foreign competition by the restriction of imports?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend made in this House on 10th March last. Industries which are being shielded by the restriction of imports from foreign countries during the transitional period are those which are temporarily unable to face foreign competition owing to disorganisation consequent upon the War, provided that this course appears on balance to be to the advantage of the country. No decision has been made without a thorough investigation by the Imports Consultative Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that inquiries into the losses of merchant ships are held in public, whether he can state the result of the undertaking he gave on 3rd June to consult the Admiralty as to publishing in the Press that part of the evidence in the inquiry into the loss of the "Lusitania" which was given in camera?

Arrangements will be made to publish the shorthand notes of the evidence given in camera at the inquiry into the loss of the "Lusitania."

asked the Postmaster-General whether the clerks employed in sub-post offices in the Black-heath area are paid as little as £2 for a week of fifty-four hours; what is the wage paid to established Post Office servants for a week of forty-eight hours in the same district; and whether he will explain the reason for this difference in remuneration and conditions?

As I stated in answer to the hon. Member for Silvertown (Mr. J. Jones) yesterday, assistants at scale payment sub-post offices are engaged and paid by the sub-postmaster, and the Post Office does not undertake more than a general responsibility for ensuring that the conditions of service are not inferior to those commonly in force in shops in the same district. I am afraid it would be impossible to abolish the scale payment sub-office system, which has been confirmed by successive Parliamentary Committees, without a very serious curtailment of the facilities afforded to the public for the transaction of post office business. An established counter clerk and telegraphist in Blackheath receives less than £2 a week, including war bonus, at the commencement of her service. The maximum of the scale, reached after some seventeen years' service, is £3 a week, plus 23s. a week war bonus.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a demobilised soldier who has undertaken a course of training at the Edinburgh Agricultural College, and who has been refused a training grant on account of shortage of funds available for agricultural training in Scotland, is eligible for unemployment donation?

I shall be obliged if the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars of the case to which he refers, and I should be glad to deal with it.

asked the Minister of Labour if he proposes to adhere to the Government undertaking, as drafted in their Bill, to restore, without modification, the pre-war rights and privileges of the trade unions?

The Restoration of Pre-War Practices (No. 3) Bill, to which the hon. Member refers, has been referred to Standing Committee, and I am unable at this stage to deal with the matter by way of question and answer.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the loss sustained by farmers in cases where cattle are detained and isolated under the provisions of the Rabies Order, 1918; and will he consider the advisability of compensation being made by his Department in such cases?

The Board have no power to pay compensation where cattle are detained and isolated on account of exposure to infection of rabies.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether conscientious objectors have been engaged on works at Portland and by such engagements displaced discharged soldiers; and, if so, whether, considering the feeling in the neighbourhood, he will take steps to alter this state of things?

As my Department has not been engaged upon the works referred to, I regret I am not in a position to answer this question.

asked the First Commissioner of Works when the repairs to the roof of Westminster Hall will be completed; and whether the hall will be ready in time for the trial of the ex-Kaiser?

With regard to the first part of the question it is impossible at the present time to state definitely when the repairs will be completed, but the earliest approximate date for completion that can be given is Midsummer, 1921. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for foreign Affairs whether he will prepare and issue with the official Papers a précis or epitome of the Reports received at the Foreign. Office from His Majesty's representatives at Paris, Washington, Athens, and Rome on the subject of the legislative proposals made or carried by the Allied Governments with regard to the exclusion of subjects of enemy countries recently at war with them; and whether he will follow a similar course in respect of Reports subsequently received from representatives in Allied countries from whom such information has been invited but has not yet been received?

I will circulate a statement giving the effect of the reports so far received. These do not include one from Rome, as the hon. and learned Member suggests. A similar course will be followed with the further reports which are expected.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs since it is admitted that Mesopotamia is for the time being in military occupation, whether the immediate appointment of a military-governor who is well acquainted with the conditions of trade and development of the country would be welcomed both by the India office and the Foreign Office; whether the position of the chief political officer is somewhat difficult at present, since his instructions are not sufficiently definite to enable him to arrive at imme- diate decisions which are necessary if British trading enterprise is to receive that encouragement which is compatible with after-war trade development?

His Majesty's Government are quite satisfied with the present provisional arrangements for the civil administration of Mesopotamia, and see no necessity for a change such as the hon. and gallant Member suggests. With regard to the second part of the question, I know of no adequate grounds for modifying the position of the Civil Commissioner or amplifying his instructions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that British merchants in China appreciate the value of the illustrated paper called "Ch'eng Pao" in the interests of British industries; and whether he can give any assurance that the issue and circulation of the periodical will not be discontinued, and say what other efforts are being made for furthering British interests in China by propaganda?

I am informed that the newspaper "Ch'eng Pao" is greatly appreciated by British merchants and others in China. So much is this the case that the publisher of the news edition in Shanghai proposes to produce a news and illustrated edition as a commercial venture. Every effort, within the necessary limits, is being made to further British interests in China by propaganda, and all possible help is being rendered to the local committees who are interested in the matter.

asked the Attorney-General what are the distinctions, if any, between the duties of the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General?

The Attorney-General is the first, and the Solicitor-General the second, Law Officer of the Crown. It is not practicable, within the limits of an answer to a question, to enumerate the various respects in which their duties differ.