asked the Prime Minister whether his special attention has been called to the enormous loss caused to the iron and steel trades of this country and to other trades by the sudden and unforeseen rise of 6s. per ton in the price of coal, which has placed manufacturers in the position of having sold their products on the basis of the price of coal before the rise and having to deliver their products after the rise at the enhanced price caused by the sudden extra cost of 6s. per ton; and whether he will consider the propriety of giving some means to counteract the loss and damage caused by the action of the Government?

I regret that I cannot add anything to the answer which I gave on Monday last to a Private Notice Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Buckingham.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the now certain shortage of coal during the coming winter, he proposes to issue any new Regulations affecting the existing rationing of the private consumer; and whether all possible methods have been or are being explored with a view to economising and supplementing the supply of coal available both for industrial and domestic consumption, so as to keep all factories as long as possible in a position to afford employment?

I have been asked to reply. The Household Fuel and Lighting Order, 1919, gives the Coal Controller full powers in connection with the rationing of coal for private consumers, and it is not anticipated that further Orders will be necessary. Every attention is being given to the possibility of economising and supplementing the supplies of coal available for industrial and domestic consumption.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade if ho will state what is the staff and cost per annum of the Coal Control Board?

The number of staff employed in the Coal Mines Department is approximately 820. The cost of the Department during the financial year 1918ߝ19" was about £260,000, and the estimated cost for the first six months of the fianancial year 1919–20 is £517,253. Of this amount, £400,000 represents contributions towards the expenses of local authorities in administering the Household Fuel and Lighting Orders.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the numbers of miners who have, for any reason of their own, stopped production during the last month; and if he can give the number of working hours wasted and the quantity of coal thus lost to the consuming public?

I regret that this information is not yet available. I shall be glad to send it to the hon. Member as soon as the returns are received from the collieries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the stock of coal in Aberdeen for household and industrial purposes is very low; and whether, in view of the serious position of affairs, he will give immediate instructions for the coal traffic to Aberdeen to be opened?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to his previous question which was given yesterday. I regret the delay which occurred in answering that question.

asked the Prime Minister if it is decided what is to be done with moneys or investments belonging to English-born women married to Germans now held by the Receiver of Enemy Property in cases where the moneys or investments are the genuine property of the woman?

I have been asked to answer this question. No general rule can be laid down as regards the disposal of property of English-born women married to Germans now held by the custodian, but consideration will be given to special circumstances which may exist in such cases.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the appointment of a Select Committee of the House to deal with the coming increase in telephone charges, he will include in its terms of reference a reconsideration of the Post Office claim to assess the number of extra calls credited to any individual subscriber without the possibility of appeal by him against the official estimate when its accuracy is disputed; and whether he is aware of the business feeling against the present claim of the Post Office in this respect?

:My right hon. Friend is not aware of any widespread feeling against the present system of registration, but it will be open to the Committee, when appointed, to examine the question, if they consider it advisable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state, in view of the recent concessions, what is the result in all cases for a married man with three children in the sum taken by direct taxation, and making no allowance for insurance in any case or for the sums taken from capital some day by Death Duties, in the case of an earned income of £250 a year and earned incomes of five, ten, fifteen, and twenty times that amount, assuming in all cases that there is no unearned income?

:Under the existing law, a married man with three children, for whom relief could be claimed, and having a total income of £250 entirely earned, would be liable to Income Tax amounting to £3 7s. 6d.As a result of the concessions recently made, he will now be freed from Income Tax, his income being more than covered by the various allowances as follows:;

Abatement	…	£120
Wife	…	50
One child	…	40
Two children at £25	…	50
Total	…	£260

The other incomes specified are not affected by the concessions, as they exceed the limits of income within which the allowances apply. The amounts of Income Tax and Super-tax payable are as follows:

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the expenses of the returning officers or their deputies in all the Parliamentary Divisions at the last General Election have been paid; if not, how many are still unpaid: and what is the reason for the delay?

There are, in respect of England, Wales, and Scotland, 229 of these accounts, of which twenty-three are still unpaid, most of them being the subject of correspondence. It must be remembered that they are accompanied by a mass of detail, with vouchers, involving careful examinations and queries. Moreover, some of the accounts have not yet been rendered and some were only received during the present month; while in other cases, in which the accounts were received earlier, there has been a failure, sometimes for months, to reply to queries. No unnecessary delay has occurred in the Treasury.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury to whom boys should apply when desirous of getting into the Civil Service as clerks when they have won county scholarships in arithmetic, mathematics, English, and book-keeping'?

Particulars of the various competitive examinations for situations in the Civil Service may be obtained, on application, from the Civil Service Commission.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will inquire into the outrage recently perpetrated at Killovarnogue burial ground, near Caherciveen, county Kerry, when a cross recently erected to the memory of Captain James Roche, M.C., who fell in France, was destroyed by dynamite?

The facts are as stated in the question. I regret to say that up to the present nobody has been made amenable for this outrage.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Oriel House, Dublin, is about to be closed by the Government; is he aware that it was opened as an information bureau for Irish manufacturers to aid them in securing a share of Government contracts, and that its closure will handicap Irish interests; and, if the answer to the first part of the question be in the affirmative, will he, before making final arrangements, receive a deputation upon behalf of the Irish interests concerned?

No, Sir. It is proposed to continue an organisation in Dublin for the purpose for which the bureau referred to by the hon. Member was established.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can say if he will introduce the Education Bill before the Recess; if so, on what date; and how far it is intended to proceed with the measure before the Recess?

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chief Secretary cannot at present name a day for the introduction of the Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the expenses of the Richmond, Hard-wicke, and Whitworth hospitals were originally defrayed by the Irish Parliament out of Irish Votes; that the expenses of these hospitals have from 1800 to this present year been defrayed out of Irish Votes; that the present Vote is insufficient for current expenses; and that the principal merchants who supply food and other necessities have recently notified the secretaries to the hospitals that they will supply no more goods on account of the large sums due to them for goods supplied; and, in view of the fact that these hospitals have always been financed by the Government, what steps does he propose to take?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his similar question on this subject on the 9th instant. The Irish Government is in no way resposible for the management of these hospitals.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when the Return of agricultural prices moved for by the hon. Member for Finchley will be available?

This Return has been prepared, but its publication is delayed by a strike in the printing trade in Dublin.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will consider the advisability of the pay and conditions of service in the Irish prisons being assimilated to those prevailing in the English prisons?

The recommendations of the General Prisons Board for Ireland in this matter have just been received and are under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the naval forces of any other Power are co-operating with the British Navy in the Baltic; if so, to what Powers do they belong; who is the officer in command of the British Navy in the Baltic; and whether he commands forces, or is subordinate to any officer commanding forces, of any other Power?

Naval forces of France, Italy, the United States and Esthonia are co-operating with British Naval Forces in the Baltic. Rear-Admiral Sir Walter Cowan is in command of the British Naval Forces, and the forces of the other Powers operating in the Baltic work in conjunction with the force under his command, but he docs not command the forces of any other Power, and is not subordinate to any officer commanding forces of any other Power.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is now known if any German submarines made attacks by daylight at the Battle of Jut- land; and whether ho can state the number of dreadnoughts, battle-cruisers, pre-dreadnoughts, light-cruisers, destroyer-leaders, and destroyers in the opposing fleets and the numbers of gun.6, respectively, according to calibre of 9.2 inch and above?

A full report of the Battle of Jutland will be published in due course: the hon. and gallant Member will then be able to study the problem as a whole. which will afford him a better view than by obtaining the information piecemeal.

asked the Secretary of State For War whether he is aware that Private F. W. S. Lawson, No. 144024, Royal Army Medical Corps Staff, Nell Lane Military Hospital, West Didsbury, Manchester, is over forty years of age but cannot get demobilised although for the last five months his work as a clerk in the above hospital has only averaged about two hours per week; and whether he will take steps to secure his early release?

If Private Lawson's age is as stated by the hon. Member ho will be demobilised in accordance with the instructions recently issued making provision for the early release of all men eligible for demobilisation.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will inquire into the oasis of Private James F. Lang-lands, No. 119478, Left Wing Company, Machine nun School, Harrowby Camp, Grantham; and, seeing that this soldier was severely wounded at Arras on 22nd June, 1918, and that he has been almost continuously in hospitals or convalescent homes since then, and that his medical category has been reduced from A1 to B; if he will consider the question of his immediate demobilisation?

I am making inquiries, and will inform my hon. Friend of the result in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War what previous military service Bandmaster N. Fleet had undergone prior to being appointed bandmaster to the Royal Engineers?

There is no bandmaster in Army named Fleet. The present bandmaster of the Royal Engineers is Bandmaster R. N. Flux. This warrant officer was specially enlisted in the Royal Engineers, and, after a short course at the Royal Military School of Music, was appointed bandmaster of the Royal Engineers in January, 1905. Subsequent to his appointment, the King's Regulations were amended to the effect that a soldier must have at least three years' service before he can enter the Royal Military School of Music as a student for training as a bandmaster, which ensures that bandmasters are only selected from those who have served in the ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers are ac present under sentence for offences against military discipline; how many of these offences were connected with demobilisation demonstrations; and how many of the total number of soldiers under sentence are serving this sentence in prison or detention barracks or are under suspended sentence, respectively?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply yesterday to the hon. member for bishop Auckland.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the cost of making concrete clearance pits, with the necessary drainage, per target in rifle ranges fitted with Hythe pattern frames; and what is the total difference in the cost of range equipment, including clearance pits, between the fitting up of older types and targets and those of the Reid system?

It is impossible to give with any accuracy the cost of making concrete clearance pits, with the necessary drainage, as it depends upon the nature of the site of the gallery, which varies in every case. The difference in the cost, including fixing but excluding clearance pits, between Hythe frames and Reid wooden frames is £7 6s. 6d.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to take steps to stop the deduction of alleged barrack-room damages from the pay of serving soldiers, in view of the fact that great resentment is felt by the men over this system of stoppages?

In all cases where a barrack damage can be brought home to any individual, it is charged to that person, but in cases where this course is not possible, a general charge has to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers of and above the rank of bigadier-general are now at home and on the unemployed list; what rate of pay they are receiving; and what is the total amount of public money expended in the payment of unemployed generals?

A brigadier-general is never unemployed. When the appointment for which an officer has been granted the temporary rank of brigadier-general lapses, he reverts to his substantive rank. If a substantive colonel, he would be placed on half-pay until again employed; if a regimental officer, he would be posted to a unit and draw regimental rates of pay. There are seventy-four general officers unemployed. They are in receipt of the ordinary rates of half-pay, namely, major-general £500, lieutenant-general £650, general £800. The total annual amount is £42,500.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the bounty granted to the Royal Reserve Territorials and other units can also be granted to ex-Regulars who served in the South African War and afterwards volunteered to remain in that country in civilian employment, and who joined the Union Defence Forces on the outbreak of the present War, fought in German South-West Africa, and subsequently re-enlisted in this country?

It is presumed that the hon. and gallant Member refers to the bounties granted to National Reservists and soldiers of the Territorial Force. These bounties were issued in respect of the fulfilment of an obligation undertaken during peace to come up for service during war. No bounty is issuable in respect of the enlistment of ex-soldiers generally, and I regret that it is not possible to authorise such a bounty for the soldiers referred to by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of Slate for War whether he is aware that the account of Private James O'Hanlon, No. 201332, 1/4th Royal Scots, who died from wounds at the 43rd Stationary Hospital, near E1 Arish, on 13th November, 1917, has never been settled, although his brother, P. O'Hanlon, 4, James NisbetStreet, Townhead, Glasgow, has sent no less than thirty-nine registered letters to the War Office demanding settlement thereof, including a personal letter, dated 13th July, 1919, to the Secretary of State for War reminding him of an earlier personal letter unacknowledged; that the O'Hanlon family have lost two of its sons in the War; and whether he can take any steps to have this and other accounts of deceased soldiers settled?

The letters have been duly received, and eleven answers have been sent. A further letter is in course of dispatch. Mr. Patrick O'Hanlon received the share of the estate to which he was entitled in January last, and his repeated demands to receive the balance of the estate are not agreed to by other beneficiaries.

asked the Secretary of State for War what stops are being taken to ensure that the in he ranges in the United Kingdom constructed during the War shall be preserved for the purposes of musketry instruction and practice; and whether he will give instructions that no further ranges shall be dismantled until future requirements have been carefully and fully considered?

This matter has been carefully considered by a War Office Committee, and, as a result of its recommendations, instructions have been given to dismantle 123 of the temporary ranges con- structed during the War. Except where agreements exist to restore the sites to their original condition, the stop-butts and galleries will not be destroyed.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the arrangements for employing auctioneers for disposing of Government surplus stock; whether for all the sales in Manchester only one firm of auctioneers has been employed; and why other firms cannot be given an opportunity?

I have been asked to answer this question. It is the practice of the Disposal Board to employ such auctioneers as are considered to be best suited for dealing with the particular class of property to be sold. Special care is taken to divide the work among the firms of auctioneers best able to deal with it. Sales at Manchester have been entrusted to at least eight different firms.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the new war ribbon is being retailed at 6d. an inch, or 18s. a yard; and if he will state the actual cost of production per yard?

I am not aware that the new war ribbon is being retailed at 6d. an inch. There is no justification for such a charge, as the cost of production of the ribbon is less than ½d. per inch. I may add that a free issue of the ribbon is made to every man entitled to wear it; demobilised men will be supplied through their record office.

asked the Pensions Minister whether cases of compensation in connection with demobilised members of Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps are settled without undue delay; whether it is a fact that some cases have been under consideration for nine months or longer without a decision having been intimated to the parties concerned; and, if so, what is the reason for the prolonged delay?

I have been asked to reply. I am not aware of any general delays. Perhaps the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any cases brought to his notice?

asked the Postmaster-General if ho will cause inquiries to be made into the case of Lance-Bombardier Leslie Gordon Roberts, No. 70482, R.H.A., whose gratuity under Warrant, Army X No. 749, was due 1st January, 1919, but the local post office refused payment owing to error in Army number, and has not been paid to date, though frequent applications have been made by himself, his mother, and his rector to the Controller of the Post Office?

I am having inquiry made, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that training college students who enlisted before the completion of their collegiate course cannot claim the period of military service as recognised service under the School Teachers' Superannuation Act, 1918, whereas other students who delayed enlistment until after they had left college, and had secured recognition as certificated teachers are now able to claim the period of military service as recognised service under the Superannuation Act; and whether he proposes to take any action to remove this penalty from those who promptly responded to the country's call for military service?

The facts are as stated in the hon. Member's question, and I am afraid that there is no power to treat the service in question as recognised service. The military service of students who enlisted before they were certificated is, however, made qualifying service by the Rules made under the Superannuation Act, 1918.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that exporters of produce from India are most seriously inconvenienced by the present Government currency restrictions; whether he will increase the weekly issue of council drafts for a time in order to remove the great stringency at the various Indian ports; and whether the desired increase which is urgently required may be made immediately without waiting for the Report of the Indian Currency Committee now sitting?

The latest information which has reached me from the Government of India is not in accord with what is said in the first part of the question. I will, therefore, await details from the hon. Baronet before considering the second and third parts.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the serious shortage of Thames ballast, which is preventing the road authorities in London from putting in hand many urgent measures of road reconstruction and repair; and whether he will inquire into the matter, and take urgent steps to improve the supply?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am in communication with the Port of London Authority in the mutter.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the hardships suffered by ex-police officers who are already pensioned owing to the increase in the cost of living and the insufficiency of such pensions; and whether any proposals are under the consideration of the Government to give relief in these cases?

I would refer the hon. Baronet to the replies which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich on the 10th July.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that a number of police officers in Scotland re- tained in the service during the War under the Police (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1915, have recently been retired, and are drawing pensions calculated on the old scale of pay; and whether, in view of the hardship involved, their pensions will be calculated on the new scale?

It is intended to introduce legislation as soon as possible which will deal in a sympathetic spirit with the point raised by my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Imperial Communications Board has had under its consideration the question of laying a new cable from St. Lucia, in the West Indies, to Bathurst, Sierra Leone;. what is the estimated distance between these points; and what is the estimated cost of laying such a cable at present prices?

The Imperial Communications Committee have not considered the question of laying a cable between St. Lucia and Bathurst. The distance between those two places is about 2,600 nautical miles, and it is estimated that the cost of a cable, at present prices, would be about £1,000,000.

asked the Minister of Labour if the attention of his Department has been called to the growing insistence of the demand of ex-soldiers for employment rather than unemployed pay; and whether it is not possible to meet, in some degree, their desire by expediting the indication of inevitable schemes of public utility?

I am fully aware of the desire, not only of unemployed ex-Service men, but of unemployed civilians, to obtain suitable employment rather than to continue in receipt of out-of-work donation. The expediting of schemes of public utility is one step among many for achieving this object, and I am doing all that is possible in this direction, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, who is, of course, primarily responsible in this matter.

asked the Pensions Minister whether a mass meeting of ex-Service men, representing 7,000 discharged soldiers and sailors, in the city of Cardiff has sent a strong protest against the action of the Government in giving appointments in connection with matters directly affecting ex-Service men to men who have never seen any active service or taken any active part in the War; whether the protest was directed in particular against the appointment of Mr. Silyn Roberts as head of the department for training ex-Service men; whether Mr. Silyn Roberts has any military training or experience justifying such an appointment; and, if not, what were the special reasons for appointing this gentleman to a post to discharge the duties of which there arc so many qualified ex-Service men available?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I understand that a resolution of the character referred to was passed at a recent meeting of ex-Service men held at Cardiff, but I am not aware that it was particularly directed against the appointment of Mr. Silyn Roberts to the temporary post of Divisional Director of Industrial Training for Wales. Mr. Silyn Roberts was over age at the outbreak of the War, and was for that reason, and on account of physical disability, rejected for military service. I would point out that military training is by no means essential for the appointment which Mr. Silyn Roberts fills, and I am satisfied that Mr. Silyn Roberts' personal qualifications and long experience of administrative and educational work in Wales, both before and during the War, fully justify his appointment.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he will consider the advisability of the pay and conditions of service in the Scottish prisons being assimilated to those prevailing in the English prisons?

The, answer is in the affirmative, as far as circumstances permit. My right hon. Friend is in communication with the Treasury on the subject with a view to securing the necessary financial sanctions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that in November, 1916, the Government took from Mr. John C. Jacob, of Bulls down Farm, Bramley, near Basingstoke, about 100 acres of his farm and have paid no compensation to him although he has had to pay rent for two years to his landlord; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I have been asked to answer this question. The claim of Mr. John C. Jacob was originally preferred last December, but certain points arose that required clearing up. It has now been submitted to the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission as provisionally agreed, and it is anticipated that the same will be approved by the Commission at an early date when instruction for immediate payment will be given. A payment on account was offered in May last, but was not made because the claimant declined to sign the form of receipt submitted to him.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the amount expended on public education in Egypt for the years 1900, 1910, and 1918, or for any similar series of dates for which he may have figures?

Amounts ex pended on public education in Egypt are as follows:

(a) By Ministry of Education:

• 1900£E.109,001
• 1910£E. 333,377.
• 1918£E.410,753

(b) The creation of provincial councils m 1910, with power to impose taxation up to a maximum amount equal to 5 per cent. of the local assessment of the province to Land Tax, has resulted in the expenditure of considerable sums on elementary education. In 1912 the total amount devoted by provincial councils to education was £E. 240, 746.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many Egyptians and non-Egyptians, respectively, are employed in the Education Department?

The number of officials employed in the Ministry of Education (in July, 1919) is as follows:

Egyptians	…	…	1,337
Non-Egyptians	…	…	242

These figures do not include temporary officers or servants, who are all Egyptian.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the passport office still compels applicants for passport3 to France to produce evidence as to the particulars of military service or particulars, with proofs, of exemption from military service before granting a passport; and will he state for what purpose?

The production of the documents referred to by the hon. Member is no longer required, and the use of the form asking for these particulars is being discontinued. During the period of demobilisation the information asked for was required to ensure that an applicant had been fully demobilised or exempted from military service; and during the shipping shortage to ensure that applications of discharged or demobilised sailors and soldiers received special consideration.