asked the Food Controller whether he has made any arrangements for the supply of sugar to beekeepers for the autumn; whether he is aware that the present season has been disastrous and at the present time there is very little honey in the brood frames for winter consumption, and that unless sugar is provided large numbers of stocks will die of starvation; and whether he will endeavour to make more satisfactory arrangements for the supply of sugar than he made last year?

The Board have arranged with the Royal Commission on the sugar supply for an allocation of sugar to all beekeepers registered with county bee committees, or committees acting for them under the Board's scheme, which it is believed will be sufficient for all requirements. This sugar will be available immediately and beekeepers will be able to use their allocation as they think fit.

asked the Food Controller whether his attention has been drawn to complaints regarding the distribution of English meat in Oldham; whether he is aware that the Argenta Meat Company previous to the War never dealt in English meat and are now allocated a greater percentage of English meat than local butchers; whether he has been informed that the local butchers' association held a meeting on this matter at which Captain Sweat man, the Livestock Commissioner for the district, and Mr. R. W. Brown, the area meat agent, were present and promised to have the grievance removed; whether he is aware that this promise has not, so far, been kept; and what he proposes to do in the matter?

I have no information on the matters referred to by the hon. Member. Under the Rationing Scheme all butchers were entitled to obtain the same percentage of home-killed meat, and no allocation in excess of the standard percentage has been made to the Argenta Meat Company. In the matter of multiple shop companies steps have been taken to ensure that the meat supplied to the companies is equitably distributed among the various branches.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he will consider the question of taking steps to prevent the slaughter of heifer calves, in view of the fact that the present slaughtering of them is bound to act adversely upon the food supply of the country by reducing the head of stock?

I have been asked to reply. With a view to preventing the undue slaughter of calves the sale of veal in butchers' shops is now prohibited.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Lord Justice O'Connor with regard to treason felony at the Cork City Assizes; and will he take steps to put this Act into operation with relation to the speech made by the Member for the Dun-cairn Division of Belfast at Hollywood on 12th July?

I have read in the newspapers the statement made by Lord Justice O'Connor. The learned Lord Justice was dealing with the case of a bomb factory which had been discovered in Cork, and he made no reference whatever to the subject of speeches. As regards the second part of the question, the provisions of the Treason Felony Act specially applicable to speeches were only to remain in force for two years after 1848, and they have since been removed from the Act by the Statute Law Revision Act, 1891.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the question of employing dogs for the protection of the police on patrol and other duties in Ireland has been considered by the authorities; if so, what decision has been arrived at; and whether he is aware that in the War dog-schools there are a number of dogs suitable for this purpose which are no longer required for military purposes?

This matter is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the case that the Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland are exempted from the payment of Income Tax by administrative order?

The answer is in the negative. My hon. Friend may be interested to refer for further details to the answer which I gave to a question put toy the hon. and learned Member for York on the 15th May.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in the Royal Army Medical Corps many men who are over thirty-seven years of age and who had joined in 1915 are being retained; whether he is aware that in the 43rd General Hospital in Macedonia alone there are over sixty men who had joined in 1915; whether he is aware that the inspection of the register is not being properly carried out; and what steps he proposes to take generally, and especially in Macedonia, to see that this state of things is immediately remedied?

All men, except those in India and Russia, who joined the Colours in 1915, or are over thirty-seven, will have proceeded for demobilisation by the end of August, in accordance with the instructions recently issued. I do not think any special action is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers who have signed on in the Regular Army serving abroad, under War Office letter dated 4th January, 1919, are entitled to have their wives and families sent out to them as in the case of battalions serving abroad before the War?

It is the intention to dispatch during the ensuing trooping season the wives and families of officers of units, etc., of the Regular Army proceeding on relief or serving at garrisons abroad, including India (excluding Armies of Occupation), on a definite tour of duty. The number for whom conveyance will be required is large, and hence their dispatch must necessarily be spread over the whole period of the trooping season.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many battalions of British troops are now in Italy; and what is the staff which controls them?

The British troops now in Italy are: Two companies 1st Garrison Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers; one company, 1st Garrison Battalion, Suffolk Regiment; half-company, 48th Machine-Gun Battalion. The 8th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, is at Fiume. All troops now in Italy are under the command of the Inspector-General of Communications, General Headquarters having been abolished on the 26th June last.

asked the Secretary of State for War at what date No. 4, Willington Square, Oxford, will be vacated by the War Office?

These premises were vacated by the War Office on the 4th August.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the cost of housing the military headquarters in Constantinople; what is the nature of the house occupied; and whether he can give an assurance that the strictest economy is studied in selecting a dwelling, that the number of motor cars for the use of the Staff is cut down to a minimum, and that these cars are used exclusively for military purposes?

Inquiries are being made, and I will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the special decoration which is to be given to pre-war men of the Territorial Forces who entered into the foreign service obligation will also be given to men in the Territorial Forces who enlisted in 1914 and undertook foreign service, many of whom are still overseas?

I can only refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave to a question on this subject which was put to me by the hon. and gallant Member for Lewisham East on the 29th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a large proportion of the women clerks in the Army Pay Corps are desirous of obtaining their discharge, in order to resume their pre-war positions; and whether he will take steps to replace them by some of the men with clerical qualifications who are at present unemployed?

Women clerks in Army Pay Offices are allowed to obtain their discharge when their services can be dispensed with without detriment to the efficiency of the office. The majority of them cannot be replaced at short notice by men who have no knowledge of the work.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the men of A Company, Labour Corps, at Ripon, are receiving the same rate of pay as members of the Labour Corps in France; and, if not, whether the question of granting them the same rate of pay will be considered, in view of the fact that they enlisted on this understanding, are willing and anxious to go to France, and are performing military as well as labour duty?

I am having inquiries made, and will let the hon. and gallant Member know the result in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office for what reason the viewers of the Royal Army Clothing Department (skilled men) were paid in respect of two days stoppage of work following the last Christmas holiday and, as respects the boot viewers, of one day's stoppage for stocktaking on 31st March last (both unprecedented occasions in the records of the Department), on the basis of the adult minimum rates for unskilled labour; whether he is aware that the application to the viewers of Order No. 530 of the Royal Army Clothing Department, dated 23rd December, 1913, without their consent is regarded by them as an unwarrantable breach of their contracts of service and contrary to the Wages (Temporary Regulations) Act, 1918; whether he is aware that a grave feeling of unrest exists among these men on account of the delay in settlement of their claims for arrears of pay; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this long outstanding grievance?

The Regulations under which the employ és in question serve do not provide for payment in respect of closed days when no work is done, and as a concession the minimum wage rule, which has obtained at Woolwich Arsenal for many years, was applied, and the matter has since been fully explained to representatives of the men. The Department has recently received further communications from them on the subject, and these are receiving consideration. I will communicate the decision on the question to my right hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what were the prices fixed by the Wool Committee for the purchase of wool from farmers for the years 1916, 1917, and 1918; what were the prices at which the wool was sold by the War Office to manufacturers; whether the same Committee was responsible for fixing the prices to the farmer and also the woollen manufacturers; and what was the total profit made by the War Office on the wool transactions?

As regard the first and second parts of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the Noble Lord the Member for Aldershot on May 7th, of which I am sending him a copy. I then explained that the official price lists for the various types of wool grown in the United Kingdom have each season been published locally, and that it was impossible to give any reliable comparison between the buying price for any type of wool and the selling prices to the manufacturers of the various grades made from it. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Abingdon on April 29th of which I am sending a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. E. H. Salmon, 12, Am well Street, Finsbury, applied on 11th June for a grant from the Civil Liabilities Committee in order to restart his drapery business, and that up to the present he has not received this grant; and whether steps can be taken to expedite all cases of men seeking this grant?

I am aware that an application for assistance has been made, as mentioned in the question, and I am glad to be able to inform the hon. and gallant Member that the case has now been decided, and that a grant will shortly be paid. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that efforts are being made to expedite decisions on these cases.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that Mrs. Katherine Gordon, widow of Private Fred Gordon, No. 235261, 1/4th Gordon Highlanders, has not received any pension for the past eight weeks; whether such a stoppage of pension is of frequent occurrence with pensioners; and if he is prepared to take any steps to secure a more regular payment?

A form of life certificate should have been handed to Mrs. Gordon by the postmaster at London Road, Glasgow, on or about 7th May, 1919, for completion and transmission to the Pension Issue Office. In the absence of this form duly completed, payment could not be made to Mrs. Gordon beyond 3rdJune, 1919. The form was forwarded by her to the Pension Issue Office on 4th June, but was only partially competed and had to be returned to her. It was retransmitted by her properly completed on 21st July, and the postmaster was, on 25th July, instructed to pay her the arrears and to resume payment of her pension.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the Government proposes to pay the soldiers and dependants the gratuity promised twelve months ago; is the aware that much discontent and unrest prevails owing to this; and will he take steps to accelerate this payment?

Instructions were issued last week for the war gratuities to all soldiers now serving to be issued as early as possible. As regards those due to the representatives of deceased soldiers, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Holborn on 8thJuly last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the injustice suffered by officers of the Territorial Force who were promoted to temporary rank prior to June, 1917, but who only receive gratuity on the basis of their permanent rank on demobilisation, whereas officers who have held acting rank for 182 days at any time during the War receive a gratuity on the basis of such acting rank (Army Order 117 of 1919); and whether he will take steps to remedy an injustice inflicted on officers who gave their services at the outbreak of war and before that date?

The whole subject of temporary and acting rank has been very fully considered, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will communicate to me the particulars of the particular cases he has in view, I will look into them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether temporary officers retained in the Armies of Occupation or elsewhere will receive their war gratuity prior to their release?

The gratuity is being issued to all temporary officers as soon after 4thAugust as is practicable.

asked the Undersecretary of State to the Air Ministry if he can make a statement as to the names, salaries, and working of General Sykes' staff in the Civil Aviation Department?

The following members of the staff of the Civil Aviation Department are being paid the civil rates shown:

• Major-General Sir F. H. Sykes. — £2,000 plus £500 retired pay
• Major-General E. D. Swinton — £1,800 less 10 per cent. deduction on account of pension.
• Lieut-Colonel W. O. Raikes—£ 1,000.
• Mr. G. B. Cockburn.— £800.
• Mr. J. M. Pearson.—£280 plus bonus.

Other gentlemen are serving in the Civil Aviation Department as officers, and these are in receipt of Staff rates of pay or pay and allowances of their rank. Letters offering civil appointments in those cases agreed by the Treasury have been sent.

asked the Under-secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he can make a statement regarding the organisation of the Civil Aviation Department, especially the training and licensing or commercial pilots?

As regards the first part of the question, the organisation of the Department of Civil Aviation is proceeding on the general lines indicated in the Memorandum circulated amongst Members by me on the 30thApril last. Treasury sanction has been obtained for a certain proportion of the staff provisionally asked for by the Air Ministry. Since the date of the Memorandum referred to, all the meteorological services have become part of the Department of Civil Aviation. As regards the second part of the question, the Department of Civil Aviation does not undertake the training of pilots, but it licenses pilots possessing the qualifications prescribed in the Air Navigation Regulations.

asked the Under-secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether the firm trading as the Red Deer Garage, Croydon, are contractors to his Department; if so, whether the customary Fair-Wages Clause is inserted in their contract; whether he is aware that representatives of this firm have refused to discuss with the trade union concerned the failure of such firm to pay the trade union rates and observe the trade union con- ditions for the motormen in their employ; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

A short-time contract was recently made with this firm, and the points raised by the hon. Member are being investigated. I will communicate the result at an early date.

asked the Under-secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he is making any arrangement in the nature of an air police force for ensuring obedience to the air Regulations?

Arrangements have been made in order to ensure, as far as possible, that breaches of the Air Regulations are reported to the Controller-General of Civil Aviation. It is not considered that the expense involved in maintaining an air police force would be justified at the present stage.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that a request was made to the Department to sanction an increase of salary to the chemists employed in His Majesty's factory, Oldbury; whether this request was refused; and, if so, will he state the reason?

I am informed that the request was refused on the ground that the chemists employed at His Majesty's factory, Oldbury, were at least as well paid as chemists employed at other Government factories, and that it was impossible to consider the case of a single factory apart from the general question of the salaries paid to all chemists and other technical officers in the employment of the Government.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that amongst the chemists employed in explosive factories who signed the memorial praying for a revision of salary there were at least 100 associates and fellows of the Institute of Chemistry; whether the work done by these chemists in developing and maintaining the output of some of the most indispensable munitions of war has been recognised; whether he is aware that the memorialists were informed that the question of principle raised in the memorial could not be admitted toy the Ministry, that the salary of the chemists could not be compared with the earnings of tradesmen, and that the Ministry objected to meetings being held by any section, of the staff of factories under their control to pass resolutions asking for a revision of salaries and appointing deputations to wait upon the superintendent in respect thereof; whether this statement was made with his sanction; and, if so, will he state the reason?

I see no reason to doubt the suggestion in the first part of the question. I fully recognise the admirable work done by chemists in developing and maintaining the output of munitions. The statement mentioned in the third and fourth parts of the question were made by an officer of the Department, but must not be taken to express the considered view of the Ministry. I hope to make a more complete statement on this subject on Thursday in answer to the hon. Member's question.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that there has recently been a serious outbreak of cholera among the troops of the 6th Indian Brigade at Ali Masjid, on the North-West Frontier, and that in the brigade about 400 cases and over 100 deaths have occurred; that the medical personnel attached to the brigade was not up to the establishment strength and was quite inadequate to deal with the outbreak; that there was a breakdown in the medical arrangements; that insufficient anti-cholera vaccine was available; and that the supply of saline tabloids was inadequate; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the matter?

An outbreak of cholera in the Khyber Pass has been reported, but the number of cases in the 6th Indian Brigade was not stated. As regards the remainder of the Noble Lord's question, I have telegraphed for information.

asked the Secretary of State for India what arrangements have been made for the health and comfort of the troops on the North-West Frontier of India; and what action is being taken in regard to the allegations recently published as to defects in hospital management and supplies?

I have received the following telegraphic report from India:

"1.Food, etc. —Two essentials at this time of year are ice and mineral waters. Ice machines are working at the following places: Rawal Pindi, Nowshera, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Dardoni, Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Quetta. Further machines are under erection as follow: Two at Landi Kotal, one additionally at Kohat and one at Thal. Ice is forwarded daily from the nearest factory to station, at present without machines, e.g., up the Khyber Pass. As regards soda-water machines, twenty-two are already working on the frontier and six more are on their way to the frontier. The total daily output of these machines will be approximately 90,000 bottles. This output is in addition to that of local factories. Each machine is being sent up complete with cylinders and bottles for one month's consumption, and a reserve of three months has been arranged for. Mineral waters are issued to all officers and men in hospital. The seals of rations for British and Indian troops is much superior to any previously granted for campaigns in India. That for British includes the following daily issues: 3 ozs. bacon, 10ozs. potatoes, 6ozs, of onions, 8ozs. other fresh vegetables, 3ozs. jam, 2ozs. of condensed milk and 2ozs. of tinned or dried fruit, 3ozs. of oatmeal, and one extra ounce of condensed milk, besides rice, curry powder and lime juice, are issued three times a week. Cigarettes or tobacco or cigars are issued weekly, with an allowance of sweets as a substitute for non-smokers. Under the new scale for Indian troops the meat ration has been doubled and a daily issue of fresh vegetables, condensed milk, as well as weekly issues of cigarettes provided.

2.Hospitals and Hospital Comforts. —Orders have been issued to all generals in command that medical officers are to ask for whatever they deem necessary for the comfort of the sick and wounded in their charge and that their demands are to be met at once. Additional hospitals for 4,000 British and 8,000 Indian troops have been established in specially fitted barracks in proximity to the frontier, and electric lighting and fans where none a ready exist are being supplied to the former. Convalescent depots for officers and soldiers have in addition been formed mainly in the Murree Hills. Special arrangements have been made for the supply of fresh milk to the sick in hospital and cows for this purpose have been placed so far at the front as Dakka, Bannu and Tank. Scale of equipment of Indian General Hospitals has been reviewed and arrangements for providing additional equipment are in progress.

3.Canteens. —Arrangemens have been made for the establishment of field force canteens for British and Indian troops in such places on the Frontier as General Officer Commanding Forces may select and the necessary personnel and stores have been dispatched.

4.Officers' Mestes, etc. —Special messes have been formed at the following places for the use of individual officers passing through Jamrud, Kohat, Bannu, Kalabagh, Mari, Indus, Tank, Darya Khan, Dera Ismail Khan, Quetta, Rawal Pindi and Peshawar. Others are about to be established at Kacha, Garhi, Ali Musjid, Landi Kotal and Thal.

5.Rest Camps, etc —Rest camps for British and Indian troops en route to the front have been organised at Ambala, Lahore, Rawal Pindi, Nowshera, Peshawar and Quetta. These messes and rest camps have been inspected by General Officers Commanding and special officers detailed from General Headquarters. Their reports indicate satisfactory working. In addition to the Monro Canteens at Rawal Pindi, Lahore, Delhi and other important centres, Monro canteens have been established for the use of British troops at Quetta and Peshawar and are being largely used. The opening of a similar canteen at Kalabagh has been approved. Tea rooms are being established at various rail way stations for the special use of Indian troops and General Officers Comanding Forces are making simiar arrangements at all stations and camps at the front where such an organisation may be needed. To ensure that the above arrangements for the health and comfort of the troops are working satisfactorily and up to the standard designed by the Commander-in-Chief in India, Staff officers from General Headquarters carry out under His Excellency's orders frequent tours of inspection on the Frontier."

With regard to the second part of the question, I am having specific inquiry made into each definite allegation that is brought to my notice.

asked the Minister of Health whether any provision exists under which owners of house property are able to reserve any of their houses in an empty condition for selected potential tenants, whose failure to take possession may result in the premises standing empty for considerable periods; and whether he can see his way, in view of the extreme scarcity of dwellings, to require all owners to let the same within a reasonable time or to show cause for failure so to do?

I am not aware of any provision in the existing law which deals with the matter to which the hon. Member refers in the first part of the question, but I may point out that under the Housing Act local authorities have power to purchase houses which might be made suitable as houses for the working classes, and would thus be able to secure that available accommodation of this nature is adequately used.

asked the Minister of Health if, having regard to the pressing need for houses in the Central division of Cardiff, he will endeavour to give the Cardiff City Council authority to proceed with their scheme to acquire the Mynachty Farm at Gabulfa, for the erection of 880 houses, and not allow the matter to be delayed any longer?

The application in regard to this site has been transmitted to the Housing Commissioner, to whom it should have been addressed by the city council in the first place. My right hon. Friend is communicating with the Commissioner, and hopes that a decision on the application will be given at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the serious shortage of housing accommodation in Cardiff Central; if since March, 1919, the Board have only sanctioned the acquirement of 1.86 acres of land, but not yet advised the city council of their approval to erect twenty-one houses thereon; and whether, seeing that the local authorities have been urgently pressing the housing developments, he will take steps to give authority to proceed forthwith with this scheme?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend is aware that there is a serious shortage of housing accommodation. With regard to the particular scheme to which the hon. Member refers, approval of the house plans was given on the 24th April. I understand that the Council had same difficulty with regard to the tenders, but an application with regard to these has been received, and the tender has, subject to some modification designed to secure a reduction in the cost of the houses, been approved by the Ministry of Health.

asked the Minister of Health what Report he received from the inspector instructed to make inquiries regarding the proposed purchase of 54 acres of land in Burgess Street, Southampton, by the Southampton Corporation, at £225 per acre, when only a few years ago its owner bought it for about £80 per acre?

The inspector reported that the site to which the hon. Member refers was suitable for housing, but that the Inland Revenue valuation was substantially below the price asked by the owner. My right hon. Friend has instructed the Commissioner to confer with the town council with a view to further negotiations with the owner. Should these fail, my right hon. Friend will not hesitate to recommend the use of compulsory powers.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking with a view to providing in all areas convalescent homes for the benefit of early uncertifiable mental cases, so as to prevent their growing worse and becoming certifiable and a burden on the State; and, in order that such homes shall not be regarded as half-way houses to asylums, will he ensure that intending patients should enter voluntarily and without compulsion in the same way as they would enter a hospital, and that the homes so provided shall have no connection with lunacy administration?

The proposal in the first part of the question, with which I am in full sympathy, would require legislation for it to be effectively carried out. This matter, together with the important points referred to in the rest of the question, with which I am also in sympathy, are having very careful consideration between my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, and it is hoped that suitable legislation for the purpose in view may shortly be introduced.

asked the Minister of Health whether any representations have been made to him with regard to the establishment of a State medical service; and whether, in that case, he will indicate their nature and state whether the Ministry has considered them, and with what result?

Several different proposals have reached my right hon. Friend from time to time as to new schemes for public medical services. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply which my right hon. Friend gave, on 28th May, to a question on this subject from the hon. and gallant Member for Leeds, from which he will see that the development of local medical services of various kinds is certainly contemplated by the Ministry of Health; but the opinions of the Consultative Councils will be sought before any substantial steps on these lines will be decided upon.

asked the Home Secretary whether, as stated on 29th July, all conscientious objectors are now out of prison?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Cam-borne. All conscientious objectors have been released from prison.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all conscientious objectors, without exception, are out of gaol?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Home Secretary whether Mr. F. L. Kehrhahn has been interned for four years and kept in prison for two and a half years without charge or trial; and whether, in view of the fact that this man is a British-born subject, he will consider the question of granting him a trial?

I am in communication with this man's solicitors as to the conditions under which he can be released, and I hope that the matter will shortly be completed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what will be the average pit-head price of the 194,000,000 tons of coal expected to be raised and sold in this country during the twelve months ending 16th July, 1920, and also the anticipated average pit-head price of the 23,000,000 tons to be exported during the same period?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend in the House on the 14th July, in which he indicated that the amount of coal sold for consumption in the United Kingdom will be at the rate of 157,000,000 tons per annum, and that the average pit-head prices for home consumption and for export were estimated at 29s. 3½d. per ton, and 35s. per ton. respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the maximum price which may be charged to retail merchants for coal and the maximum price that may be charged by the retailer to the consumer is fixed; if so, will he state what such prices are; whether provision is made for such prices to vary according to freight and other charges; and, if so, the nature of such provision?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the written statement which was circulated in accordance with the reply given to a question put by the right hon. Member for South Molton on the 14th July. I would add that the retail prices of coal are fixed by the local authorities under the Household Fuel and Lighting Order with the approval of the Controller of Coal Mines, and that the prices so fixed may be reviewed at any time with a view to making provision for variations in freight or other charges.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the result of his inquiries as to the freight charged by the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company for the transport of potatoes to Ardrossan from the Isle of Arran?

My inquiries are not yet complete, but as Boon as they are I will left the hon. Gentleman know the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in the position to give the full particulars of the scheme for providing the long-term credit facilities in European countries which are not in the position at present to pay by means of exports for essential imports?

Full details of this scheme will be given in connection with the forthcoming statement on trade policy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the expert Committee appointed to inquire into the Gattie goods clearing-house scheme will commence its sittings; and whether, in view of the intricacy of the calculations and statistics involved, arrangements will be made for Mr. Gattie and other witnesses to be permitted the assistance of counsel?

As has now been publicly announced, the Committee of Inquiry into Mr. Gattie's scheme held their initial meeting on 1st August, and resolved that any party interested may be represented by counsel. Their next meeting is fixed for 20th August.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Imports Restrictions Department has been requested to license the import of wooden handles on the alleged ground that handles of good quality and sufficient quantity cannot be produced from English timber; whether he is aware that this allegation is incorrect; and whether full opportunity will be given to home producers to supply the requirements of the trade before importation is allowed?

Full encouragement and opportunity has been given to the home produces of tool handles to supply all requirements before the importation of foreign handles has been allowed. But in view of the urgent representations of tool manufacturers as to a shortage of handles, and on the assurance that such licences as are issued will not involve the unemployment of workmen engaged on the manufacture of tool handles, some import from foreign countries has been allowed. It is, of course, important that the trade in British-made tools should not be jeopardised by the possible shortage of handles.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the negotiations which have been proceeding for new premises in the place of the present unsatisfactory post office at Euston Square station have been successful; and how soon the new office is likely to be opened?

Negotiations have been actively pursued, but I am sorry that so far they have not been successful. The problem of finding suitable premises has proved to be most difficult; but no pains will be spared to reach a conclusion as soon as may be practicable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will state the emoluments paid to the sub-postmaster of Glod-daeth St. Town Sub-office, Llandudno, including and excluding war bonus; whether he will state the weekly wages paid by the sub-postmaster to his assistants, including and excluding war bonus; whether the war bonus payments are equal to the increase in the cost of living; and whether he will state the prewar value of the combined wage and war bonus?

The emoluments of the sub-postmaster for the year ended the 31st March last amounted to £377 17s. 3d., together with £57 8s. 4d. war bonus. The rate of war bonus for the current year is higher. I will make inquiries as to the wages now paid to the sub-postmasters assistants, and communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster whether his attention has been called to the case of John Nelson, a night telephonist at Glasgow; whether he is aware that this man enlisted in the Army in 1915, was wounded in France in 1917, and was discharged in March, 1918; that at the time he enlisted his establishment as a night telephonist was due; that on his return from the Army to the Post Office he was medically examined and informed that on the medical evidence he could not be granted a certificate of qualification but that he should be employed for a. period of one year, when his case would be reconsidered; that Nelson has now been back in the Post Office for a year and dur- ing that period has only been away from duty once, with an attack of influenza; and that when Nelson joined the Army he was put in category A 1 and the wound he has received does not incapacitate him from civil duty; and whether, in view of the fact that the refusal to grant the certificate of qualification is penalising this man for his service in the Army, he will have this case reconsidered?

I am aware of the facts of the case. The decision as to Mr. Nelson's fitness for an established post rests with the Civil Service Commissioners, who have issued a special recommendation in his favour under the terms of the Order in Council of the 22nd March, 1918, applicable to men whose health has been impaired by service with the forces. Under the decision of the Commissioners, the case will be reviewed again in April next.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the telephone charge is 7d. between the Harrow Post Office and Harrow Weald, a distance of about 2 miles; and for how long this charge is likely to remain?

The charge of 7d. for a call from the call office at Harrow Post Office, in the London telephone district, to Harrow Weald, which is outside that district, is made up of the minimum trunk fee of 4d. and the call office fee of 3d. It is probable that the present system of charging by telephone areas will be materially altered in connection with the proposed revision of telephone tariffs.

asked the Postmaster-General whether boy telegraph messengers are being engaged in place of girls; if so, whether they are all being guaranteed permanent service in the Post Office; whether attendance at compulsory continuation classes in work hours is enforced; and whether he is now prepared to extend these conditions to the girl messengers still employed and to place them under the supervision of the Standing Committee on Boy Labour in the Post Office, if still in existence, or under some other suitably constituted committee?

Girl messengers are being gradually replaced by boy messengers. A guarantee of permanent employment is given to all boys who prove satisfactory and pass the usual tests, and attendance at educational classes is enforced. I regret that it is impracticable to extend similar conditions to the temporary girl messengers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, during the last six months, he has received any representations from the High Commissioner for New Zealand regarding the unsatisfactory mail service from Great Britain to New Zealand; whether he is aware that, owing to the dislocation of the Vancouver service, dispatches to New Zealand have not averaged more than two per month, whereas excellent opportunities of sending mails by New Zealand transports have occurred at least once per week and sometimes three times; and whether he will give instructions that every such opportunity in future shall be taken advantage off

I have received no such representation from the High Commissioner for New Zealand during the last six months. I am aware that the steamship service from Vancouver to New Zealand is disorganised, and no mails from this country have been forwarded to the Dominion by that route since January last. My right hon. Friend arranged in February last with Sir Joseph Ward, Postmaster-General of the Dominion, to send the mails by every direct steamer which appeared likely to be advantageous; and this course has since been consistently followed with beneficial results.

asked the Minister of Labour whether representations have been made to him by unemployed ex-Service men in Manchester in favour of substituting wage-earning schemes of building, road repair, and brick-making under the city council for the present unemployment donation, and in favour of signing-on at Labour Exchanges on not more than three days in each week; and whether any action on these lines is feasible?

As to the first part of the question, I have received representations of this kind from several quarters, and I have been doing all I can to urge upon local authorities the duty of pressing on with municipal schemes calculated to pro- vide work for the unemployed. I cannot, however, use the moneys voted for Parliament for out-of-work donation for subsidising such schemes. As regards the second part of the question, representations in the sense indicated were made to me last week through the Lord of Manchester. It is true that the strict rule which requires signing-on at the Exchanges every week day except Saturday was temporarily relaxed in Manchester and elsewhere during the exceptional pressure of the last few months, but the hon. and gallant Member will realise that the rule is a valuable safeguard against the abuse of the scheme of out-of-work donations, and I regard it as essential that the rule should be enforced, as opportunity offers, now that the pressure is becoming less acute.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is within the reference to the Committee appointed by the Minister of Labour to consider the best steps to be taken to extend the employment in the public service of ex-soldiers, and particularly of disabled men; to inquire into the extent to which the Government Departments and public offices are staffed with men of military age and medically fit for service, but who have been retained in civilian public service either temporarily or otherwise; and, if not, whether he will cause inquiry to be made throughout the Government offices, and in the Civil Service generally, as to the number of such men who can be dispensed with, and whose places can be made available for ex-Service men?

The Committee to which my hon. Friend refers has now completed its work, and its Report will be dealt with immediately by the "War Cabinet. The Committee have dealt with the matter very thoroughly, and I do not think that any further inquiry will prove to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Labour if, taking into consideration the demand for shipping space, he will take immediate steps to ascertain the reason for the refusal of certain trade unions in the Bristol Channel to allow their members to work overtime; and if there is any credence in the suggestion that in certain trades the high wages paid for day-work are responsible?

I understand that the engineers in this area made a claim for a rate of £5 per week. Differences arose at the conference held to discuss the claim, and the question was postponed. In consequence an embargo upon overtime was instituted by the union until their claim was disposed of. A further conference has been arranged for 12th August on condition that the embargo is removed. As regards the last part of the question, I think it is impossible to attribute the reluctance to work overtime to any one particular cause.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can state the average wage and number of working hours per week in the Bristol Channel of boilermakers, shipwrights, and engineers engaged in ship-repair work, exclusive and inclusive of overtime, for the past two years; if he will state the maximum and minimum wage drawn in each trade; and if he can state whether the statistics of earnings prepared by the Bristol Channel Dry dock and Ship Repairers' Association are correct?

There are no official statistics available as to the weekly earnings of these classes of workpeople during the last two years or as to the number of hours actually worked. I am unable, therefore, to supply the information required or to express an opinion as to the accuracy of unofficial statistics on this subject.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether steps are being taken to carry out the suggestion of the Rural Transport (Scotland) Committee that such quantities of railway materials, locomotives, and rolling stock used by the British Expeditionary Force as are required to meet such recommendations of the Committee as the Government may adopt should be set aside for the Government's own use and excluded from sale?

I am in communication with the authorities concerned with regard to the suggestion referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can state the steps it is proposed to take to carry out the recommendations of the Rural Transport (Scotland) Committee?

of a far-reaching character, raise questions of policy affecting various Departments with which I am in communication upon the subject. Some of the recommendations in paragraph 332 of the Report as to improvements in railway and steamer services, which the Committee regard as very pressing, have already received effect and others are receiving urgent consideration.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Scottish Board of Health may be instructed to inquire into the condition of the River Carron, with special reference to the disposal of sewage and the present unpleasantness of the atmosphere in the neighbourhood of many houses occupied by the working classes who are unable to find accommodation elsewhere; and if he will cause a copy of such Report to be sent to the local authorities and to the hon. Members for Falkrirk Burghs, Clackmannan, Stirling East, and Stirling West?

The Scottish Board of Health will make further inquiry into this matter, and on receipt of any Report will bear in mind the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether Mr. Alexander Batchelor, who has been appointed a member of the Royal Commission on Agriculture, has any practical knowledge whatever of farming; whether he is a solicitor; whether his connection with the Farmers' Union is merely that of organisation; and what has been his connection with the Advisory Committee for potato distribution in Scotland?

Mr. Batchelor is a solicitor by profession, bat is associated with the firm of F. M. and G. Batchelor, who farm extensive holdings in Forfarshire. I cannot say what is his precise connection with the Scottish Farmers Union, but I understand that that body and the corresponding English Association pressed for his appointment on the Royal Commission. He has been a member of the Scottish Central Allocation Authority since its formation, and he has also been a leading member of the Central Agricultural Advisory Council; his appointment was recommended both by the present and the late Chairman of that body. He was also a member of the Travelling Commission on Milk Prices.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in deciding upon the official subscription to the British commercial propagandist paper, the "Oh' eng Pao," in China, of 1,000 copies, he is aware of the extent of territory and the number of officials in China; whether it is the case that since 1916 His Majesty's Consular officers in China have distributed nearly 20,000 copies of the paper every fortnight among Chinese officials only; whether not less than 7,000 copies are required to reach the chief officials and boards; and whether he will act upon the advice of His Majesty's Britannic Consul-General in Shanghai in settling the exact number required?

The answer to the first part of the question is generally in the affirmative, although there is no precise information as to the exact number of officials in China. The distribution among Chinese officials has been carried out locally, and no figures are therefore available on which to base a reply to the second and third parts of the question. In determining the number of copies which it is desirable to distribute regard must be had not only to any advice which may be given by His Majesty's Britannic Consul-General at Shanghai, but also to the amount of money available for their purchase as well as other considerations.