asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the casual labourer at the docks is being assessed for Income Tax both on the current quarter and the previous quarter of the present year; and, owing to the fact that it is financially impossible for a casual labourer to meet such a charge, will he reconsider the application for the payment of such a tax by men so situated?

I am not aware of the circumstances stated in the first part of the question, and I have asked the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to communicate with the hon. Member, and if he will give them particulars of the eases that he has in mind inquiry shall be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the British securities of ex-King Ferdinand, stated to be valued at £400,000, and to have been forfeited to the Crown, will come into the National Exchequer?

The securities are held on behalf of the Treasury, and the proceeds of the sale would be paid to the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that a housing scheme to accommodate the workpeople at the Government aircraft factory at Farnborough has been sanctioned; whether the Treasury has been applied to for money to carry out the scheme; and, if so, whether the Treasury has sanctioned the expenditure of the money?

Proposals have been laid before the Treasury, which is in correspondence with the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Health upon the subject.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Controller-General has the assistance of expert naval, military, and air force officers to assist him in his work of criticising the expenditure of the three Departments?

The Controller and Auditor-General has no officers of His Majesty's Forces engaged upon the audit of naval, military or air force expenditure.

asked the Food Controller whether he is consulting his experts as to the advisability of reimposing control during the coming winter in view of the warnings now being afforded by other European countries where there is no control?

The Government have decided that the Ministry of Food shall continue for the present with full powers. I am accordingly making arrangements to regulate during the coming winter supplies, prices, and distribution of essential foodstuffs, either by Statutory Order or by arrangement with the trades concerned. The articles so controlled will comprise bread, meat, bacon, milk, cheese, butter, margarine, fish, eggs, and certain subsidiary foods of which there may be an actual or prospective shortage. It will not, I hope, be necessary to restrict consumption by a revival of the coupon system, but it is already becoming difficult in some instances to adjust available supplies to a demand which has increased irrespective of price.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that there is an acute shortage of rice in the Far East; whether the Europeans in certain colonies are being asked under no circumstances to eat rice so as to permit the natives to have their ordinary food, and whether he has under these circumstances conveyed to the Minister of Food a suggestion that he should appeal to the public here to restrict their use of this commodity so that famine may be avoided in those lands where rice is practically the sole support of the natives?

Yes, Sir; I am well aware of the scarcity. I understand that appeals have been made to Europeans in the Colonies to abstain from eating rice and have met with a loyal response, and I shall be glad to convey to my right lion. Friend the suggestion that an appeal should be made to the public in this country.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what is the procedure that should be followed by a claimant in respect of loss caused by carrying out the ploughing-up orders of War Agricultural Committees?

The claimant should apply to the secretary of the Agricultural Executive Committee for the county in which the land is situate for a Form of Claim (F.P. 352), which, when completed, should be submitted to the committee, who will forward it, with their report to the Board. If the Board consider it a case in which compensation should be paid, they offer the claimant either the sum claimed or such less sum as they think is properly payable. Every claimant has the right to appeal to an arbitrator if he is dissatisfied with the Board's decision.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland in which of the Census Returns for 1851 it is recorded that Agnes Conway, pension claimant No. 4337, Stranorlar, County Donegal, Sub-committee, was then one year old, as the claimant herself was unable to obtain any such record in respect of the parish and town-land where she was born?

Agnes, the daughter of John and Catherine Nary, is recorded as one year of age in the 1851 Census Return for the Townland of Carrowkeel Upper, Parish of Clooncraff, Barony and County of Roscommon. "Nary" or "Neary" is given by the claimant in question as her maiden name.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when he proposes to introduce his Bill to deal with the Housing of the Working Classes in the smaller towns in Ireland?

At the earliest possible opportunity.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury for how many, and which, counties of Ireland did registration officers produce vouchers for their expenses of preparing the registers of voters for the year 1918-19; and, if vouchers were not produced by any registration officer, what proof was demanded that he actually expended on the work the amount claimed by him for out-of-pocket expenses?

The out-of-pocket expenses of registration officers have been either fully or partially vouched for the year 1918–19 in the following counties: Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Kerry, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Londonderry, Louth, Mayo,. Meath, Queen's, Roscommon, Sligo, Tyrone, Waterford, Wexford. In the other counties payment of out-of-pocket expenses has not yet been made. No out-of-pocket expenses have been allowed in any counties where vouchers for the expenditure were not produced by the registration officer or, in cases where vouchers could not be produced, the Local Government Board inspector was not satisfied that such expenses had been properly incurred.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his Department had in contemplation before the War a far-reaching scheme of extending telephone facilities to districts in Ireland not at present Served; and whether he can indicate when these projects will be resumed and when the work will be commenced?

Proposals for extending the telephone system in Ireland were under consideration before the War. In view of the general increase in costs the estimates then prepared will need revision. My right hon. Friend is having the matter investigated.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is his intention to istal automatic exchanges in the Dublin Central and district exchanges, or if he has any other proposals for improving the present telephone service in Dublin and its suburbs?

It is not intended at present to instal automatic exchanges in the Dublin district; but proposals are under consideration for the temporary extension of the existing central exchange pending the construction of a new exchange, the building for which it is hoped to begin during the current financial year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether steps are being taken to discharge the men from the dockyards who were sent into the dockyards by order of the military tribunals so as to re-employ the ex-Service men who were previously employed at the dockyards; and whether he can give an assurance that these men will not be retained to the detriment of the ex-Service men, especially seeing that the majority have also thriving businesses which are being carried on on their behalf?

Men who were employed in the dockyards prior to the War, and were released for military service, were in general retained on the dockyard books while serving in the military forces and were paid their civil pay, less the pay of a private. These men, on being released from the military forces, are permitted to resume their civil employment in the dockyard as a matter of course. For the rest, men who entered the dockyard service after the outbreak of war, and were subsequently released for military service, are considered by us, and will be considered by us, with due regard to the length and nature of their military service, for any vacancy which may arise. My hon. and gallant Friend is, of course, aware that, at the present time, so far from taking on new employés we are in the regrettable position of having to reduce our numbers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the numbers of temporary employés, male and female, respectively, that have been discharged from Portsmouth Dockyard since the signing of the Armistice; the numbers of temporary employés, male and female, respectively, that are at present employed at the dockyard; the number of ex-Service men previously employed at the dockyard that have been re-engaged; and the number of ex-Service men who, although they were not employed at the dockyard before the War, have been given employment there now?

The numbers are as follows:

Temporary employés discharged since the date of the signing of the Armistice—
Men	1,700
Women	1,600
Temporary employés at present employéd in the dockyard—;
Men	6,600
Women	240
Ex-Service men previously employed in the dockyard who have resumed their civil employment	1,617
Ex-Service men not employed in the dockyard before the War, but now employed there	4,015

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that silver-badge men taken into the dockyards are now being among the first to be discharged; and if this can be remedied?

I do not think my hon. and gallant Friend can intend to suggest that Admiralty officials would intentionally pick out silver-badge men for discharge. Of course reductions are inevitable; but certainly men who have served in the combatant forces during the War would be given all possible consideration for retention, and any cases in which it is considered that such men have been unfairly treated will be investigated, if my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can indicate the policy of his Department in connection with the building of airships; whether he is aware that, owing to the change over from war to peace conditions, numbers of workpeople are unemployed in Barrow-in-Furness; and whether he can hold out any hope of expediting the construction of airships at Barrow-in-Furness, and thus facilitate the employment of the workpeople now unemployed, and who have in the past been employed on airship construction?

I have beeen asked to answer this question. As regards the first part, I am not quite sure what information it is that my hon. Friend desires. As regards the second and third parts of the question, so far as we are concerned, Messrs. Vickers' airship shed is not large enough for the construction of rigid airships of the sizes now required by the Navy, and it is therefore impossible, under present conditions, to order further rigid airships for construction at Barrow-in-Furness.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether Arthur Ireland, stoker on His Majesty's mine-sweeper "Pontypool," can now be released, since he is needed at home and primâfacie is not wanted for mine-sweeping?

The mine-sweeper "Pontypool" was damaged by the explosion of a mine about six weeks ago. She is being repaired at Malta, and the crew were sent to England on ten days' leave, prior to recommencing mine clearance operations in "Pontypool." The personnel of the Mine Clearance Force all signed an undertaking to serve at home or abroad until 30th November, 1919.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Second-Lieutenant J. M. Gray, Black Watch, is being retained for service in Egypt with the Army of Occupation; and whether he is prepared to issue instructions for this officer's release, in view of the fact that he is assistant minister at Middle Parish Church, Paisley, and that an undertaking was given by the War Office that all ministers of religion in Scotland would be released as soon as possible?

I am not aware of any undertaking regarding priority in demobilisation for ministers of the Church of Scotland. If Lieutenant Gray's services are no longer required in the Army he will be demobilised in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that an application for the compassionate release of Private A. Reid, No. 146684, 57th Battalion, Machine Gun Company, 11th Corps Concentration Camp, was made to the War Office on 19th February and was refused on 21st March; that a subsequent appeal was made on 26th April, when two medical certificates were sent, showing that both the father and the sole remaining brother were both unable to do any work, and that there were therefore no wage-earners in the family; that no reply has been received to this last letter; and whether he is prepared to have this case reconsidered?

Three applications for Private Reid's release on compassionate grounds were received and carefully considered by the War Office, but each was refused, as they did not fulfil the conditions of the instructions issued governing releases on such grounds. I regret that I am unable to reconsider the case.

asked the Secretary of State for War, with reference to his recent statement that all 1914 men would be sent home within the next month, whether it is intended to include men in the Royal Army Medical Corps serving in Russia amongst those to be released?

The arrangements for the release of 1914 and other men eligible for demobilisation, as already announced, do not apply to the troops in North Russia and Siberia. Separate arrangements to meet the peculiar circumstances obtaining in those localities have been made, and a general announcement concerning them was made in the Press on the 5th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the demobilisation of those men now serving in labour companies who are of low medical category and unfit for physical labour, and therefore of little value as soldiers?

As 1 have already stated, I hope to publish this week the Memorandum I promised, and, if the men referred to by my hon. Friend come within any of the categories prescribed therein. they will be dealt with accordingly. I do not wish to anticipate this by partial answers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of soldiers offered their services in 1915, but were rejected on medical grounds, and were called up in 1916; and whether they will receive favourable consideration by his Department for demobilisation?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether soldiers in the Army of the Rhine who can satisfy their commanding officers that they intend to train for professions at universities or other seats of higher education will be allowed to be demobilised in time for the beginning of the educational year in October next?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state when Irishmen who volun- teered for service for the duration of the War will be released; whether he is aware-that there is dissatisfaction amongst these volunteers at the action of the authorities detaining them, and in many cases selecting them for drafts for overseas service, whilst men, in many cases much younger and with shorter service, who were conscripted under the Military Service Acts are being demobilised; and whether, now that Peace has been signed, he will take special action for the release from all branches of the Service of those Irishmen who volunteered?

I will answer these three questions at the same time. As I have already stated, I hope to publish the Memorandum I promised this week, and if the men referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend come within any of the categories prescribed therein, they will be dealt with accordingly. I do not wish to anticipate this by partial answers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether among the soldiers-released from Egypt are included any of the Hants Regiment quartered at Aden; and, if not, whether, in view of the length of the period of retention in Aden and the number of cases of sickness reported, he will see his way to order their release at least as rapidly as the troops from Egypt are sent home?

As far as I am aware, the answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. As regards the second part, the relief of the troops at Aden will be carried out as soon as possible by Regular troops from home in the same manner as other garrisons in distant stations. In the meantime the release of soldiers eligible for demobilisation will be proceeded with according to the programme recently announced. I regret the unavoidable delay which has occurred.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many serving soldiers are at present employed in boot repairing; and whether this work could be done by disabled men who have been trained, thereby not only finding employ- ment for a number of disabled men, but also relieving a corresponding number of fit soldiers for military work?

A sergeant-shoemaker is employed in each battalion of Infantry, and, where available, military shoemakers are allowed in all units in the proportion of four per 1,000 men. It is not possible to give the total number of men employed in Army shoemakers' shops. Shoemakers accompany their units on service and to foreign stations, and those employed in regimental shops are also trained soldiers available to take their places in the ranks when required. It is, therefore, essential that they should be physically fit, and I regret that my hon. Friend's suggestion is not practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mrs. Yeomans, Parfitts Farm, Eversley, Winchfield, Hants, has applied for the body of her son, F. M. Yeomans, No. 37220, and Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, to be brought back to England at her expense and to be interred in _Eversley Churchyard, and that this request has been refused; and what reason the Army Council has for this refusal?

I wish to take this opportunity to state that a large number of applications to remove bodies from the various theatres of war have been received. The Imperial War Graves Commission gave the matter very careful and sympathetic consideration, and came to the conclusion that such removals were opposed to the policy of equality of treatment of the fallen which had been unanimously adopted and which has received such strong support from the public. For this reason, and in view of the large numbers involved and the difficulties of carrying out such removals, especially in the more distant theatres of war, it has been reluctantly found necessary to refuse all such applications. In the particular case mentioned, the late Private Yeomans was killed while serving in the Salonika Force, and is buried in the military cemetery at Karasouli, which is situated in the mountainous country about 32 miles North of Salonika. The difficulty, therefore, of acceding to Mrs. Yeoman's request will, I think, be readily appreciated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that wounded men who are in hospital at the time of their discharge have been refused the military furlough on full pay that has been accorded to fit men; and can he state what is the justification for this treatment?

It is very important that these men should be under the care of the Ministry of Pensions immediately they leave the hospital, and accordingly they are discharged to pension on the day they leave. In order that they may not be at a disadvantage as compared with other soldiers, if the pension they receive during the first twenty-eight days is less than their Army pay and allowance, the difference is made up from Army funds.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to give any recognition in the way of a medal to the Territorial troops who were sent to India in 1914?

This question is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the sense of injustice felt by bandmasters of the Line and foreign service battalions at their being shut out from all chances of obtaining commissioned rank; and whether, in view of the services performed by bandmasters and of the fact that many of their pupils have obtained commissions, he can see his way to grant greater facilities for promotion of bandmasters in the Line and foreign service battalions in the future?

The establishment of Directors of Music has recently been increased from three to ten, and appointments will be made by selection from among bandmasters throughout the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that there is considerable delay in granting renewal identity certificates; and whether, in view of the extreme inconvenience and hardship caused to poor people, he will take steps to see that the matter is remedied?

Under the Regulations there should be no delay in granting renewal identity certificates. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of any cases he has in mind, I will cause full inquiries to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that all married women employed at the field stores, Aldershot, are being discharged without reference to length of service; and why single women who have recently been employed should be retained in preference to married women of much longer service?

Inquiries are being made, and I will inform my Noble Friend of the result in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War what will be the method of distribution of the canteen fund; and what proportion of the fund will be given to Ireland?

I hope to make an announcement on this subject very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War under what Regulation or Instruction a Regular soldier transferred to the Reserve to complete his Colour attestation, and awarded a disablement pension, has the amount of his Reserve pay deducted from pension?

I must refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on the 10th instant to the hon. and gallant Member for the Fylde Division of Lancashire (Colonel Ashley).

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the national responsibility to make a sufficient monetary grant to men of all grades whose education and business training have been interfered with by their service in His Majesty's Forces, he will, in order that they may have a fair and equitable opportunity of re-establishing themselves in civil life, give instructions that in assessing such claims the income of a man's wife, which has no connection with what a man may have lost himself, should no longer be taken into consideration in assessing and making the necessary equitable grants?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the training scheme administered by the Appointments Department of this Ministry of Labour. On this assumption, I must remind him that if a married candidate for a training grant is without independent means, he may be entitled to an additional £'25 per annum in respect of his wife; and I do not consider it inequitable, in the circumstances, that, when the candidate's wife is able to contribute towards the cost of training, her means should be taken into account.

asked the Undersecretary of State to the Air Ministry-why it is found impracticable to give men at Warsash, Royal Air Force, the half-day on Wednesday in accordance with Air Ministry weekly orders; whether men can only leave the camp every other day, as they are on fire picket alternate days; and who is the camp commandant responsible?

The men at Warsash are granted leave from camp on an average of three days out of four, including night leave. There is no Ail-Ministry weekly order to the effect suggested in the question, but under the arrangements in force at Warsash the men get two free Wednesday afternoons out of three.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry when he will be in a position to notify the Disposal Board of the Ministry of Munitions that the air store buildings in Regent's Park are surplus to his requirements?

1st September has been fixed as the date by which the standard stocks for the Royal Air Force will all be removed from Regent's Park and the buildings handed over to the Ministry of Munitions; and every endeavour will be made to work to that date.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has received the appeal of Lieut.-Colonel Malcolm Edward Lloyd Bruce, of the Indian Army; and whether action is being taken in the matter?

I have received and considered in Council the memorial addressed to me by Lieut.-Colonel Bruce, and my reply, upholding the orders of the Government of India, was issued on 5th June.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the number of Government messages which have been sent by telegram and cablegram within the last month as compared with the month of January, 1919, and the month of January, 1914?

The number of telegrams sent from the Colonial Office on Government service in June, 1919, was sixty-four, and in January, 1919, forty-five; no figures are available for the month of January, 1914. The number of cable messages dispatched last month was, approximately, 1,150, and the same number in January last. In January, 1914, approximately, 350 cable messages were dispatched.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that on or about 27th December last the natives in the vicinity of Darwen, Southern Rhodesia, were ordered by the officials of the Chartered Company to come into Darwen and dance for joy in commemoration of the Armistice, that the natives did come in, and that the company's officials at the conclusion of the dance told the natives that they would either have to remove from their ancestral lands and surrender them to the company or pay, in addition to administrative tax, £l per head for continuing to live on their lands; and whether the Chartered Company will be requested to instruct an official to inform the natives that this action is strongly deprecated by His Majesty's Government?

No, Sir, but 1 will inquire as to the facts.

asked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the fact that Saturday, 19th July, is to be declared a bank holiday, he intends to close the Metropolitan. Police Courts on that day in order that their staffs may participate in the celebrations?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Home Secretary whether a Bill will be introduced during this Session to give effect to the recommendations of Lord Desborough's Committee on the Pay and Conditions of the Police throughout England, Scotland, and Wales; whether the Committee had under consideration at the same time the question of legalising the status and conditions of police women; and, if not, whether he will consider the-desirability of its early consideration by Lord Desborough's Committee, or by such special Committee as he might appoint for the purpose, with the object of including any recommendations in respect to police women into the. Bill to be introduced?

T have already introduced a Bill which will enable the Government to give effect to the recommendations of Lord Desborough's Committee so far as legislation is necessary for that purpose. The employment of women on police duties is not within the scope of Lord Desborough's Committee, and I think it will be well to defer till later the appointment of a Committee on this subject. The matter is still in an experimental stage—it has achieved some measure of success under war conditions—but we have had as yet very little experience of how it will work in peace conditions.

asked the Home Secretary when the Desborough Report on the pay and conditions in the police force will be published?

I hope it will be published to-morrow.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of ex-Police-Constable J. Flint, who had his right eyekicked out in the execution of his duty; and whether he can see his way to increase this man's pension?

The pension granted to ex-Police-constable Flint was the maximum pension allowed by the Police Act, 1890, for a non-accidental injury received in the execution of his duty and involving partial incapacity for earning a livelihood, and 1 have no power to increase it.

asked the Home Secretary whether the ad hoc Committee recommended by the Departmental Committee on dentistry has been selected; and whether all existing societies of dental practitioners will be included in the selection?

No consideration has yet been given to the formation of the ad hoc Committee referred to in the hon. Member's question. This is a matter that must obviously be postponed until the legislation which will be necessary to give effect to the recommendations of the Dentists' Act Committee is in a fair way of accomplishment.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that during and since the War the practice of printing school books, magazines, official documents, newspapers, and all printed matter in very small type has been engaged in with a view to the saving of paper; whether studying and reading small type is a fruitful cause of myopia amongst school children and injurious to the eyesight of all classes; and whether, in the interests of public health, he will legislate that all printed matter of every description be in good-sized legible type, and that those who are thereafter guilty of printing in small type have the matter forfeited and suitable penalties imposed?

I am aware that for reasons of economy various publications have been printed in smaller type during the War, but I am informed by the Board of Education that this does not apply to the type used for the printing of school books, the size and style of which have not been altered. The matter is not one in which I have any authority.

asked the Home Secretary whether Colonial troops charged with purely military offences are imprisoned in ordinary civil prisons as, for instance, Pentonville; and whether the practice can immediately be stopped?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have no authority to stop the sending of these men to civil prisons, but I am communicating with the War Office, and I have no doubt the question whether it is practicable to make other arrangements will be carefully considered.

asked the Home Secretary whether, with a view to making adequate provision for unmarried mothers and their children, he will introduce legislation to amend the Bastardy Acts?

The amount which a putative father may be ordered to pay for the maintenance of the child was raised by an Act of last Session, and T do not see my way to proposing further legislation in this direction at present.

asked the Home Secretary whether Gunner Vivian Coryton has now served five months of the sentence of seven years' penal servitude passed on him at Manchester Assizes on the 18th February, 1919; whether he is aware of a strong feeling among discharged soldiers that this man's crime was due solely to an erroneous belief in the existence of what is called the unwritten law; and whether, in these circumstances, he will reconsider his decision not to advise the Crown to exercise its prerogative of clemency in this case?

All the circumstances were fully before the Court of Criminal Appeal which dismissed the appeal. I regret that I am unable to advise any interference in this case.

asked the Home Secretary whether the new Coal Mines Bill applies only to underground colliery workers; and, if so, is it the Government's intention to bring in a separate Bill to give effect to Justice Sankey's Report respecting the hours to be worked by colliery surface workers?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; and to the second part in the negative. In accordance with the recommendation in the Interim Report, the arrangements for carrying out the reduction in the hours of surface workers are being made the subject of local negotiations in the several districts.

asked the Home Secretary the total number of naturalised aliens who have changed their names since the commencement of the War?

I am not aware of any complete record on the subject, but it may, I think, be assumed that, with very few exceptions, naturalised British subjects who have changed their names since the beginning of the War have applied for permission under Defence of the Realm Regulation 14H, to continue the use of the new names. There have been 883 such applications, and in 373 cases the applicants have been refused exemptions and required to revert to their original names.

asked the Minister of Health whether surplus officials at present holding positions in Government Departments about to be taken over by the Ministry of Health which do not deal with the administration of the health of the community will have preference over officials of the public health service applying for appointments under the Ministry of Health?

The Minister of Health is not empowered to take over, as the question states, any Government Departments which do not deal with the health of the community. I am unable, therefore, to see in what way the considerations referred to by the hon. and gallant Member, if I understand them, can have any bearing on the selection of person applying for appointments under this Ministry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the suggested increased price of coal will permit competition in this country by imported American coal; and what steps in that case he proposes to take?

The pit mouth price of coal in America is reported to be 11s. 2d. against an average of 29s. 3½d. for Great Britain. It must be obvious, therefore, that a considerable reduction in freight would have to take place to enable American coal to compete with British coal in Britain. At present I do not propose to take any action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that firms of German origin are now being incorporated in Switzerland and are carrying on 'business as apparently 'Swiss firms, and whether British merchants will have any opportunity of ascertaining exactly what is the nature and composition of these houses who are now endeavouring to start or restart business with them?

I am aware of the recent increase in the number of incorporations of firms in Switzerland, many of them originating from Germany. Notices on the subject were issued in the "Board of Trade Journal" of 27th March and 12th June. As regards the second part of the question, the Department of Oversea Trade are always ready to have inquiry made on behalf of British firms into the nature and composition of firms in foreign countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction which is being caused In Newcastle-upon-Tyne and district by the delay on the part of the North-Eastern Railway Company in handling perishable and other goods, particularly at the Forth goods station; whether he has already received complaints that the Newcastle Forth station has been closed for several weeks at a stretch against merchandise from all parts of the United Kingdom; whether all kinds of commodities for the people and for industrial purposes being thus held up is creating an artificial scarcity, dearness of prices, and much unemployment in the distributive trades; and whether some immediate action can be taken to improve this state of affairs'!

My righthon. Friend has received representations from the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation on this matter, and is making inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the alteration in the arrangements of the Mansfield Midland station, with a view to restricting the use of the platform to ticket-holders, was instituted to relieve the traffic on the platform, owing to the number of soldiers entering and leaving the town; and whether, seeing that there are only a very few soldiers entering and leav- ing the town, the Railway Executive Committee will withdraw the restrictions, which cause inconvenience to the general public?

The restriction of the use of railway platforms to ticket-holders is a practice which is now commonly adopted by railway companies in the interest of travellers, and I am not prepared to ask companies to discontinue arrangements of this kind which they have made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations of title Departmental Committee on derelicts, 1913, more particularly with regard to recommendations (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g)

The Board of Trade have taken steps to carry out the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on derelicts. In pursuance of recommendations (c) and (e) it was -arranged in September 1913, that the General Post Office should forward immediately to Lloyd's a copy of every message relating to derelicts received at Post Office coast stations. Reports, made by shipmasters to the officers of the Board of Trade are also sent direct to Lloyd's, who are responsible for the dissemination of the information they receive. With regard to recommendation (d), the free issue of Meteorological Office charts was not considered necessary as the Board of Trade weekly supplementary summary of notices to mariners is already issued gratis at all Custom Houses and contains the latest information, as to derelicts. The Merchant Shipping (Convention) Act, 1914, gives effect generally to recommendations (f), (g), and (h), but, owing to the War, the coming into operation of this Act has been postponed until the let January, 1920. Some outlying light stations have been fitted with wireless telegraph apparatus, but, for reason of self-protection, this apparatus: was removed when war was declared. The general lighthouse authorities advised that the expense of fitting their tenders with such apparatus would not be justified, as these 6eldom deal with derelicts and already receive adequate information about other wreckage. Regarding recommendation, (k), the Admiralty have consented to send one of His Majesty's ships when a, general lighthouse authority is unable to deal with a derelict.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is. aware that clerks employed in the sub-poet officei-111 the Tooting area are paid 25s. for a week of sixty hours; if he will say 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 state the reason for this difference in remuneration and conditions?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 8th instant to the hon. Member for East Lewisham. The pay of an established counter clerk and telegraphist at Tooting is the same as At Blackheath.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the clerks employed in sub-offices in the South Kensington area are paid 35s., inclusive of war bonus, for a week of fifty hours; if he will say what is the wage paid to established Post Office servants for a week of forty-eight hours in the same district; and, if a difference exists in remuneration and conditions, what are the reasons for such difference?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to my answer to a question by the hon. Member for Silvertown on the 7th instant.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that demobilised officers who have recently applied to the Appointments and Resettlement Department, Horrex's Hotel, have been told there are no openings for employment unless they can find a firm themselves; whether he is aware of the destitute condition of the majority of these men; and whether he will take immediate steps to set up machinery which will help them to find suitable employment?

I am not aware that the staff of the Appointments Department at Horrex's Hotel have ever made such state- meats as are attributed to them in the first part of the question, but I will make inquiries if the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars of any case or cases that he has in mind. With regard to the second part of the question, 1 am aware that a number of demobilised officers are in straitened circumstances. Every effort is being made to procure appointments for those of them who have applied to the Ministry of Labour; but it will be realised that the Ministry has no power to create vacancies, or to force an employer to accept candidates submitted to him.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) from what trades will women be discharged if the Restoration of Pre-War Practices Bill becomes law in the form passed for Second Heading;(2) whether he has any information already available as to how many women were employed at the time of the Armistice, or near date, whose employment would be regarded as contrary to pre-war practices; how many of those women were replacing men; and, if so, whether he will publish the figures?

The Restoration of Pre-War Practices Bill, in its present form, applies to establishments in which munitions work was carried on, establishments in which any departure from practice was made in consequence of the Treasury agreements, and establishments in which the departure was made in pursuance of any other written agreement. Establishments to which the Act applies will be under an obligation to dispense with any "diluted labour," whether male or female, if the employment of such labour was due to War conditions and is contrary to established pre-war practice, unless an agreement modifying this obligation is entered into.It is impossible to give any reliable figure of the number of women employed at the date of the Armistice who would be affected by this measure, particularly in view of the very large percentage of women who have already left the industries into which they were introduced for War purposes. For the same reason, and because of the varying arrangements which" existed before the War or may subsequently be made in different trades in regard to the employ- ment of women, it is impossible to state the trades in which the employment of women would be affected by the Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is willing to add a provision to the Restoration of Pre-war Practices Bill to the effect that wherever a machine which has been worked during the War is idle by reason of the refusal of men to work the machine the employers shall be free to employ women to work the machine?

Provision is already made in the Restoration of Pre-war Practices Bill for agreements being entered into providing for the modification of an obligation under the Act, and I think that if such a situation as the hon. and gallant Member contemplates should arise it should be dealt with by agreement in the trade.

asked the Minister of Labour at what price or other terms miners are allowed to have coals for themselves and their families; and are the miners allowed any other perquisites or privileges not enjoyed by the general public?

I have been asked to answer this question. With regard to the supply of coal to miners, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to-day to the hon. Member for Kensington, South. With regard to the second part of the question, in certain parts of this country, such, for instance, as Northumberland and Durham, miners are provided with houses rent free.

asked the Minister for Labour if he will state the names and numbers of newly-appointed officials to the Ministry; and what college, university, and other qualifications they possess to represent a competent judgment on industrial questions?

A list is being prepared and will be sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the attention of the Board of Agriculture has been directed to a demand for small holdings among returned soldiers in Brora, Sutherlandshire; and what steps the Board intend to take in order to satisfy the claims of those among their number who are qualified agriculturists?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board are at present actively engaged in endeavouring to deal with the land settlement question in Sutherland and the claims of the applicants to whom the hon. Baronet refers will be fully and sympathetically considered.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has-been drawn to the recommendation recently passed by the county council of Sutherland that discharged soldiers and soldiers form themselves into an association for the purpose of acquiring land for small holdings, and the expression of opinion of this council that, unless demands in this direction arc met by Governmental action, serious trouble will ensue;: and what steps he proposes to take to anticipate trouble on this account?

The reply to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the previous question with regard to the third part.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what, if any, undertaking has been given by the owners of the land at Moyser Road, Streatham, now under allotments, with regard to building should possession of the land be resumed; what action, if any, is being taken by the Wandsworth Borough Council, or by the London County Council, to provide alternative allotments for any allotment holders in the borough who may be dispossessed of their present holdings; whether he is aware that in the borough of Wandsworth there are over 200 acres of uncultivated and undeveloped land; and whether he will represent to the Wandsworth Borough Council the necessity of their taking such land for building purposes before any land now held as allotments is taken?

As regards the first part of the question, the local authority have received an undertaking from the owners that they will commence building operations as soon as they get possession. The Wandsworth Borough Council have an allotment site at Valley Road comprising sixteen acres, only a small portion of which has been taken up by allotment-holders. The local authority hope that the nine allottees who will be dispossessed at Moyser Road will take up plots- at Valley Road, and that any other allottees who may be dispossessed from time to time on other allotments in the borough will also do so. The local authority are of opinion that they have exercised their powers under the Cultivation of Lands Order to the greatest possible extent, and practically all derelict unoccupied land has been brought into cultivation as allotments. If the hon. Member will supply information as to the situation of the 200 acres of uncultivated and undeveloped land the Board will have inquiries made to see whether any of it can be obtained for allotments.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he will take action with a view to preventing the dispossession of allotment-holders at Church Fields, South Woodford; whether he is aware that this land is not required for immediate building; and, in view of the powers for compulsory acquisition of land, will he represent to the appropriate local authority the urgency of their putting these powers into operation and retaining this land for allotments until it is actually required for building purposes?

The allotments in question were brought into existence by private enterprise, and the Board have no information with regard to them. Inquiries will be made, and the result communicated to my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he will bring pressure to bear with a view to securing that the excessive rent of £10 per acre per annum paid by allotment-holders at Wharf Road, Poplar, in addition to the 36s. a year they pay in rates, is reduced to a reasonable agricultural rent?

The allotments arc privately owned, and let by private arrangement, and the Board have no right to interfere with the terms of the agreement

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture what are the reasons for the unequal application of the Muzzling Order, whereby dogs are required to be led as well as muzzled in some areas, and only to be led in others; and whether he will confine the Order simply to the enforcement of muzzling?

There is no provision in any Order dealing with Rabies that requires dogs to be led only. In certain small areas where the disease is especially prevalent leading as well as muzzling is required as an. additional safeguard.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is now prepared to make a statement regarding the moneys diverted from British agriculture out of home-produced cereals, meat, and wool?

As regards imported cereals, the average cost, including freight, of wheat, barley, and oats, respectively, was as follows.:

	Wheat.Per 480lbs.		Barley. Per 4001bs		Oats. Per 312lbs.
	s.	d.	S.	d.	s.	d.
1917(April to Dec.)	92	7	67	6	50	3
1918	100	10	79	6	56	6
1919(Jan. to May)	95	5	65	1	40	6

These prices begin at the time when maximum prices for home-grown cereals first came into operation.The official average prices of homegrown cereals, as ascertained under the Corn Returns Act of 1882, commencing January, 1917, were respectively as. follows:

	Wheat, per 480 lbs.		Barley. Per 400 lbs.		Oats. Per 312 lbs.
	s.	d.	S.	d.	s.	d.
1917	75	9	64	9	49	10
1918	72	10	59	0	49	4
1919 (Jan. to May)	72	9	62	5	48	3

It should be noted that the barley imported at the prices given in the first table included very little feeding barley, and was almost exclusively malting quality. The home-grown price includes both.

asked the First Commissioner of Works when the tenants of offices at Carlton House, Regent Street, who compulsorily vacated that building to make room for the Wheat Commission, will be reinstalled in their offices; whether he is aware that 30 per cent. of the staff of the Wheat Commission have been demobilised, and why a proportionate number of rooms at Carlton House have not been made available for displaced tenants; and whether he can give an assurance that tenants, the leases of whose temporary premises terminate-within three months of the declaration of peace, will be reinstated in their permanent offices at Carlton House before the expiration of the leases of such temporary premises?

The offices at Carlton House, Regent Street, will be returned to the tenants as and when the reduction in the staff of the Wheat Commission (over which I have no control) permits. The first floor of the premises is in fact being surrendered at the present time, and it is hoped to release another floor at an early date. With regard to the second part of the question, the staff of the Commission (which is in occupation of other premises besides Carlton House) has in fact decreased only 7 per cent, and not 30 per cent. as stated; and as regards the last part of the question, so far as can at present be foreseen, it is hoped to be able to reinstate all the tenants in question. who are desirous of returning, before the expiration of their temporary tenancies.

asked the Attorney-General whether the term "standard rent" in the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act is held to include rates and taxes in cases where they are paid by the landlord?

This is a question of construction to be decided by the Courts. There is, as yet, so far as I am aware, no-authority on the point.