asked the Prime Minister whether he intends to allow women to be represented in the International Labour Bureau; and, if not, will he consider the matter in the interest of women workers?

The hon. Member is under a. misapprehension. Article 395 of the Conditions of Peace reads as follows:

"The staff of the International Labour office shall be appointed by the Director, who shall as far as possible, with due regard to the efficiency of the office, select persons of different nationalities. A certain number of these persons shall be woman."

asked the Food Controller whether he will consider the possibility of fixing a gravity for each grade of beer instead of permitting a range of several degrees; and whether he can arrange that gravities should be marked on barrels before leaving the brewery?

The present permitted range enables customers to obtain beer of rather superior quality to the minimum prescribed gravity in each category without any increase of price. Brewers are already compelled to mark clearly on each barrel the retail price of the contents, and this affords guarantee that the gravity is not less than the prescribed minimum in the category to which the price relates.

asked the Food Controller whether, in view of the shortage of whisky, he can see his way to release patent-still whisky at an earlier period than three years for blending purposes?

In view of the fact that the full quantity of spirit now permitted to be released from bond is being withdrawn, no advantage would accrue from any modification of the provisions of the Immature Spirits Acts.

asked the Food Controller what was the date when the agreement to supply Germany with 25,000 tons of linseed oil, at £78 per ton, was made; if this amount has now been delivered; and if any further agreements to supply linseed oil to Germany have been made?

Approximately 12,000 tons of linseed oil have been delivered to Germany under the agreement of the 31st March, 1919. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how long the survey of Gibraltar Harbour has been in progress; when its completion may be looked for; what is the annual cost; how many officers and how many other persons are employed thereon, and what is the future policy proposed?

The work has been in progress for eight years, having been commenced in the summer of 1911. It should be observed that this is not a hydrographic survey in the usual sense of the word, but is a matter of locating and removing obstructions of every description from the bed of the harbour. The survey of the Admiralty waters is completed, except for the removal of obstructions on the bottom, on which work the present staff are employed. The completion of this work will, it is estimated, take, approximately, twelve months. The average annual cost of survey is £2,850, and the average staff employed is twenty-one, comprising one commander Royal Navy, one charge man, one diver, and eighteen labourers.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, having regard to the great importance as a life-saving medium of wireless telegraphy at sea, and also the fact that one of the chief objections to its general adoption is the cost of special wireless operators, he can say that in practice the Admiralty have found, both by experience in the air and on the sea, that a comparatively simple course of training suffices to make young officers sufficiently proficient for the ordinary purposes of a small cargo ship?

I am advised that a short course of training will turn out competent wireless telegraphy operators, but it must be remembered that a man cannot hope to maintain his efficiency as a wireless telegraphy operator without constant practice, and also that it is bad policy for officers, whose proper duty at sea is keeping watch on deck, to be employed in the wireless telegraphy office.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, based on the experience of the War, a course of wireless telegraphy training should be included in the curriculum of every sea-training institution?

The institution of such a. course would no doubt be of value, but it must be borne in mind that no man can be an efficient wireless telegraphy operator unless he has constant practice, and it is useless to train men who will use their knowledge only occasionally.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that British troops on the Russian Front, who have already endured for the winter months the rigours of campaigning there, were promised in April last early return, he can now say when they will be brought home?

The majority of the troops who have endured a winter campaign in North Russia have already been brought home. The remaining individuals are being repatriated as quickly as their reliefs become available, These troops were told that they would be brought home in time to see the harvest gathered in, and this promise is being: carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will give the names of the members of the various deputations from the National Congress, the Indian Moslem League, the Servants of India, the Home Rule for India League, and similar associations who have been brought to England to give evidence before the Joint Select Committee on the Government of India Bill?

My hon. and gallant Friend is in error if he thinks that deputations have been brought to this country under Government arrangements. They have come from India of their own accord to place the views which they represent before the Joint Committee during the consideration of the Government of India Bill, and I understand that some of them have applied to the Committee to give evidence. Statements have appeared in the Press in regard to these deputations; but I have no official information as to the bodies represented or the membership of the deputations which have arrived in this country.