asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the total amount of Income Tax paid in respect to the ownership of agricultural land in 1913–14; and the total amount payable in the current year?

The total net produce of the Income Tax under Schedule A. in respect of the ownership of lands, houses, etc., was £9,400,000 for 1913–14; for 1919–20 it is estimated that the figure will be £46,000,000. Separate figures as regards agricultural lands are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the fact that the owners and managers of cinema palaces, etc., have in many cases increased their prices of admission by 50 per cent. without any diminution in the crowded attendances; and whether he is prepared to consider the advisability of making the Entertainments Tax a sliding one on a higher scale and dependent on the price of admission?

I have no know ledge of the fact alleged by my hon. Friend, but I would remind him that the existing rates of Entertainments Tax are fixed on a sliding scale.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amounts collected by His Majesty's Government as liquor licence duties for the financial years terminating on the following dates, 31st March 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917. 1918, and 1919?

The amounts are:—For the year

Ended 31st March, 1914	£4,430,871
Ended 31st March, 1915	4,234,904
Ended 31st March, 1916	3,419,835
Ended 31st March, 1917	3,403,253
Ended 31st March, 1918	2,307,604
Ended 31st March, 1919	1,142,763

These amounts do not include Club Duty or Monopoly Value Payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid by the Treasury in the year 1917–18 to meet payments of coupons or interest falling due on the Russian Government obligations, or other Loans, guaranteed by the British or Russian Governments; whether since that year the British Government has made any similar payments; whether he is aware that The French Government has, till recently, paid amounts falling due, on Russian coupons, and has accepted Russian coupons or bonds as part payment of War Loan subscriptions; and whether a similar policy has been considered and definitely rejected by the British Government?

As was officially announced in the Press on 28th March, 1918, the British Government from the date of the Russian Revolution up to 31st March, 1918, provided funds to meet coupons payable in London on the direct State Debt of Russia, and on securities having the guarantee of that country. The amount thus provided was £62,855. No similar payments have been made since that date. The answer to the last two parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the weight and value of the stores sent to General Yudenitch's and General Denikin's forces in the months of July, August, and September, respectively?

It is not desirable to give the information referred to, and I have nothing to add to the full and revised statement now laid before Parliament on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what was the amount of financial assistance given to General Yudenitch and General Denikin or their colleagues in the months of July, August, and September, respectively?(2) What was the cost of maintaining British officers and non-commissioned officers or other details with the forces of Generals Yudenitch and Denikin in the mouths of July, August, and September‡

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Parliamentary Paper (Command 305) which was issued this afternoon

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of amending the Old Age Pensions Act to ensure that benefits from a friendly society or other provident organisation shall not be taken into account when calculating the income of a claimant for the old age pension, in order that thrift shall be encouraged among lime working classes?

This question has been under consideration by the Departmental Committee on Old Age Pensions, and I am unable to anticipate their report.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will, as for the previous year, furnish a statement up to the end of March in this year, comprising the following particulars: the total number of old age pensions in force; the numbers at 5s., 1s., 3s., 2s., and 1s.; the number of pensioners of whose death notice has reached pension officers; the number of paupers over seventy years of age in England, Scotland, and Wales in institutions, with an average cost per head per annum; and the number of paupers over severity years of age in receipt of outdoor relief, with an average cost per head per annum; men and women separately in each case?

The total number of pensions actually payable on the last. Friday in March, 1919, was 920,198, of which

• 855,274 were at the 5s rate
• 20,224 were at the 4s. rate
• 24,482 were at the 3s. rate
• 12,566 were at the 2s. rate
• 7,652 were at the 1s. rate

Of the above total of 920,198 pensioners 911,706 were in receipt of an additional allowance of 2s. 6d. a week in addition to the old age pension.The number of pensioners of whose deaths notice reached the pensions officers in the year ended the 31st March, 1919, was 105,746.

asked the Food Controller on what grounds the co-operative societies are represented on the Consumers' Council, seeing that they are retailers to the general public as well as to their own members, they have also been repeatedly fined for profiteering, and evade the payment of legitimate taxation of the country, whilst other retailers are excluded from that council, and have equal or greater claims than the co-operators, who are now a political body?

The Council in question was constituted in order that the interests of the consumer might be fully represented and safeguarded. With this end in view organisations such as the trade unions and co-operative societies were asked to appoint representatives; and representatives of unorganised classes of consumer were afterwards added by the Food Controller. It is not as traders, but as representatives of consumers, that the co-operative societies, which represent the largest body of organised consumers in the country, are included in the Council. It would manifestly not be proper to appoint to an advisory body representing the consumer representatives of retailers as such. They are, as a matter of fact, already fully represented on the various advisory committees attached to the Ministry.

asked the Food Controller how he arrives at the conclusion that the commission allowed by his Department to retailers of meat is more than 11½ per cent. on the cost of the meat; for instance, one hundred stones of beef, eight lbs. per stone, are charged £150 by his Department, and' the scheduled profit they allow is 1s. 2d. per stone, or £5 13s. 4d. total for selling one hundred stones of beef; one hundred stones of mutton, including rams and old ewes, is charged £55 to the retailer, on which he is again only allowed the same 1s. 2d. per stone, amounting to the sum of £3 13s. 4d., so that, on a total turnover of 200 stones of beef and mutton, costing,£105, his profit is only £11 6s. sd., awl possible profits are also reduced by the fact that the bone-boilers have a ring and marrow-bones have recently been as low as s. per fourteen-pound stone and now are only 1s. 6d., still further reducing his margin of profit?

The calculation made by the hon. Member is based on a misapprehension. As has already been stated, under the present system of meat control no fixed percentage of profit is guaranteed to the retailer, and it is, therefore, incorrect to assume that the scheduled profit on meat is 1s. 2d. per stone. Tests which have recently been made show, for example, that a side of beef purchased at 1s. 3d. per lb. will yield, if sold at the maximum ref a it prices. a gross profit. of 17 per cent. On the cost of the meat.

asked the Food Controller if lie will fix the price per barrel for beer at the various gravities as between brewer and tenant; whether any insuperable obstacle stands in the way of his doing so; why brewers have preferential treatment as regards the wholesale price of their commodities when retail prices are fixed by the Ministry of Food and spirit prices, both wholesale and retail, are controlled by him; and will he have gravities marked on barrels instead of prices, as at present, and thus denote their real cons tents?

Owing to the great variation in conditions prevailing all over the country it has been found to be impracticable to fix maximum wholesale prices for beer. I way say however, that local committees consisting jointly of local brewers and retailers have been set up for dealing with any disagreements which may arise as to wholesale prices; and that a Conciliation Board, consisting of an equal number of brewers and retailers has been established to deal with any case in which the local committees fail to agree. I would like to add that it has only been necessary to call the Conciliation Board together on three occasions and that the Board has reached an unanimous decision on each of the seven cases which were brought before it. In these circumstances, I do not consider that I should be justified in departing from the present arrangements for dealing with wholesale prices of beer. In regard to the last part of the question, as the Food Controller informed the hon. and gallant Member on 11th July last, the present permitted range enables customers to obtain beer of rather superior quality to the minimum prescribed gravity in each category without any increase of price. Brewers are already compelled to mark clearly on each barrel the retail price of time contents, and this affords a guarantee that the gravity is not less than the prescribed minimum in the category to which the price relates.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if any steps have been taken to establish adequate provision for the training of secondary school teachers in Ireland, the lack of which provision is detrimental to the teaching profession in Ireland and seriously impairing the efficiency of secondary schools; and whether he would be willing to refer the matter to the Intermediate Board of Education?

The Intermediate Education Board already have the necessary powers under their rules.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any, and what, steps have been taken by the Board of National Education in Ireland to have the training of teachers for national schools associated with the three universities, or any of them; and if ally steps have been taken in reference to the demand from Belfast to have a training college or training Department established in Belfast, and associated with the Queen's University of Belfast?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that they have had this question under consideration for some time, and they are in negotiation with the Treasury. As regards the last part of the question no final decision has been come to.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any decoration is to be given to the volunteers; and, if so, when will it be distributed?

The question is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can inform the House when the special medal promised to Territorials will be issued?

As I stated on the 22nd October in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Lewisham (Lieut. Colonel Pownall), I regret that I am unable to make any statement on this subject at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the issue of a medal to those officers and men whose services during the War were confined to this country?

No, Sir; the question is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a clear statement as to the attitude taken up by the War Office in awarding a medal to the Young Men's Christian Association workers and other non-combatants, and in persistently refusing to recognize the services of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men who enlisted voluntarily in tile early stages of the War, but who, through medical grounds, or for purposes of instruction, anti-aircraft duties, etc., were detained at home during the whole period of the struggle, but who were none the less engaged in constant arduous work, which often entailed great personal sacrifices, and in many cases repeatedly asked to be sent abroad but were refused

A commemorative war medal is essentially a token intended to show that the recipient fulfils certain specified conditions of service in a war zone. The British Isles were, during the War, spared front being included in such a zone. It is in accord both with precedent, and, I think, equity, that civilians who have rendered necessary service in a theatre of war to the troops engaged therein should be rewarded by a token of the same nature. A distinction is made between fighting and non-fighting services by the award of clasps. With regard to the later part of the question, I have previously stated on several occasions that the question of the award of a General Service Medal to those who have rendered service outside a. theatre of war is receiving consideration, and I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is now in a position to announce the extension to warrant officers who are recipients of the medal for long service arid good conduct of the gratuity of £5 which is paid to noncommissioned officers and men who earned this decoration?

It has been decided to make no change.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Order demobilising all Special Reserve officers by 15th;November will affect all those officers who have been recommended through merit for commissions in the Regular Army?

The Order applies to all officers of the Special Reserve. The demobilisation of a Special Reserve officer will not affect his being considered for a Regular commission, if and when any such Regular commissions are granted.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that application for the discharge of Private J. McPhillips, No. 62607, Yorkshire Regiment, under paragraph 392 (vi), King's Regulations, has been refused owing to the fact that this man gave his age on enlistment, oil the 12th May, 1919, as over eighteen years, whereas his birth certificate shows that he was born on the 1st October, 1901; and whether, under the circumstances, he will cause the soldier to be discharged?

I am informed that the facts are as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend. Application for the discharge of Private McPhillips was based solely on the grounds that he was under eighteen years of age On enlistment. It is not customary to discharge men on that ground alone.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a man who volunteered for service in the Army prior to the passing of the Military service Act and was rejected on account of physical disability, but was subsequently accepted under the Revision of Exemptions Act, should be classed as a conscript; and whether cases of this description could receive special consideration?

I regret that I have nothing further to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Sir It. Thomas) on the 27th ultimo.

asked the Secretary of State for War why W. M. Platt, late No. 356, interpreter, G. S. I., attached I. W. D. R. E., who was discharged on 14th February, 1919, has never received ibis discharge certificate although repeated applications have been made there-for; and if he will issue instructions to give a certificate of discharge to Platt?

The question of the issue of a discharge certificate to this man is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects the portions of Blackheath now temporarily enclosed and occupied by the military to be restored to the public?

I regret that the accommodation at Blackheath cannot be vacated at present, but I Lope it viii be possible by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the wives of soldiers stationed at Malta will be afforded passages to join their husbands; and, if so, when?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, within the limit of the Regulations. Several soldiers' families have already sailed for Malta, and arrangements are being made to need the remainder towards the end of November.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can see his way to recommend that the prerogative of mercy be exercised in the case of fifty-four Jewish soldiers sentenced for mutiny in Palestine in 1918, especially in view of the fact that they were volunteers from America

The court-martial proceedings in these cases have only just been received and are at present being reviewed. I will write to the hon. and gallant Member on the matter as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State fur War if he is now in a position to make any statement as to the battlefields on the Western Front or elsewhere which have been selected as permanent memorials of British feats of arms; and whether he can explain the procedure Which it is intended to adopt with regard to their maintenance and upkeep?

The Battle Exploit Memorials Committee, under the chairmanship of the Adjutant-General, has now reviewed all the claims from units to erect at their own expense permanent memorials on battlefields.With regard to Belgium, the Belgian Government, after a conference between its representatives and the Adjutant-General's Committee, have agreed to reserve, as far as possible, sites suitable for memorials on the following battlefields:

Boesinghe.	Hooge.
Bixschoote.	Hill 63.
Langemark.	Neuve Eglise.
Poelcappelle.	Messines
Passchendaele.	Wytschaete.
St. Julien.	St. Eloi.
Gravenstafel.	Hill 60.
Zonnebeke.	Kemmel.
Polygon Wood.	Klein Zillibeke
Sanctuary Wood.	Ypres.
Gheluvelt.

With regard to France, negotiations with the appropriate department of the French Government have already been opened for the acquisition of a considerble number of sites, for instance, at Pozieres, Vimy, Monchy-le-Preux, Bourlon and Villers-Bretonneux.Details as to the actual dimensions of sites required by units have. not yet in all cases been received; as soon as they are forthcoming the necessary negotiations with the French Government will be opened.With regard to approval has been given for the erection of a memorial outside the town from funds subscribed by the troops who fought there.In the case of Mesopotamia, arrangements are being made locally. I am not yet in a position to make any announcement regarding Gallipoli and Palestine.The question of maintenance of memorials to be erected has been under consideration, but is not yet decided.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment in India has now been ordered home; and, if not, the reason for the delay?

I am informed that the 2/4th Wiltshire Regiment, consisting of seventeen officers and 304 other ranks sailed on the 11th October from Bombay, and arrived at Marseilles last Friday.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether G.R.O. 4,840 and A.C.I. 851, relative to men of E.E.F., have been, or are being, pat into force?

General Routine Order 4,840 does not refer to men of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Army Council Instruction 851 has been put into force. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to a somewhat similar question put by the hon. Member for Rothwell on the 18th August last.

asked the, Secretary of State for War what educational provision is being made to prepare the soldier for return to civil life as an efficient citizen; and what is to be the permanent establishment for this purpose?

The system of educational training which has been for many months in operation with so much success in the Armies of Occupation is being continued in the Army to-day: and this has for its primary object the preparation of the soldier for return to civil life as an efficient citizen. The establishment for this purpose will he placed on a permanent basis, but as I explained in my reply to the right hon. Member for Totnes (Col. Mildmay) on Thursday last, it is not possible to announce the details of this in advance of the final consideration of Army expenditure as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether facilities are provided for relatives to visit the graves -of soldiers free of expense?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on Wednesday last to the hon. Member for Aberdare.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the rates of commutation of pensions for warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men have been revised so as to bring them Lip to the level for commissioned officers?

The pressure of business in the War Office has not yet admitted of this revision being proceeded with.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether from the 4th August., 1914, to the 30th October, 1916, the employâs in the Royal Army Ordnance Department, Royal Dockyard, Woolwich, did not receive payment for the tea interval on days when the men were working overtime, although all other employâs in the Arsenal and dockyard were paid; whether he can explain the reason for this discrimination; and whether, in order to secure equal treatment, lie will give instructions for the arrears to be paid?

I will have inquiry made, and inform my right hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if a soldier serving as a substitute on the land can claim the difference between his board and lodging and the amount paid by the farmer employing him to the authorities?

Under the arrangements at present in force the farmer makes no payment to the War Department, but pays the soldier direct the full civil rates obtaining locally.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes to reconsider the rate of war gratuities payable to soldiers for war service; and, if so, when the result of this reconsideration may be expected?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part therefore does not arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War (Juice whether he is aware of the feeling of hardship which exists amongst officers of the Territorial Force in regard to the operation of Army Order 117 of 1919. under which Territorial Force officers who have held temporary rank higher than their substantive rank do not receive gratuity under Article 497 Pay Warrant in the higher rank, although they have performed the duties and drawn the pay of the higher rank during the period required by Army Order 117 of 1919, and would have been entitled to receive gratuity in respect of the higher rank under that Order had the rank held been acting instead of temporary; and whether any steps are in contemplation to extend the operation of Army Order 117 of 1919 so as to include Territorial officers who have held temporary rank?

There is no discrimination against Territorial officers in this. matter, as the question suggests. The rules in Army Order 117 of 1919, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, apply to them as to Regulars.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it has yet been decided to award the war gratuity to officers employed by the Army Council on boarding and examination work in the Thames estuary during the War?

I hope that a decision will be reached shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a. number of pre-war Army Volunteers helped on the outbreak of war to form Volunteer Training Corps and subsequently obtained commissions in Volunteer regiments, which was unpaid service; that these men are excluded from participation in the benefits of the recent Royal Warrant; and whether lie will consider the possibility of allowing these men some increase in their present small pension?

Under the decision of the Government, unpaid service in the Volunteers does not entitle to the new sates of pension. I can hold out no hope of any departure from this rule.

asked -the Secretary of State for War whether soldier who joined the Colours on 5th August, 1914, on a two-year engagement and was retained until October, 1918, is entitled to a bounty for retention beyond three years?

The answer is in the negative. The bounty is in no case admissible for men who were not serving on an Army engagement on 4111 August, 1914.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a soldier of Class C, National Reserve, who joined the Colours voluntarily on 5th August. 1914, is entitled to a bounty?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is now in a position to announce that a bar earned to the Victoria Cross shall bring to the recipient a full Victoria Cross annuity of £10 a year instead of, as formerly, only one-half of that annuity?

It has been decided to make no change.

asked the Pensions Minister whether his attention has been drawn to reports of proceedings against the proprietors of a hoarding institution at Croydon for neglecting children entrusted to them; whether such children were orphans of men killed in the War and, if so, can he state the number; what pensions are being paid in respect of their maintenance; whether the premises had been inspected by an inspector of the Ministry; and whether a general register is kept of all institutions and schools in which children of ex-Service men who have died is kept by the Department?

My right hon. Friends attention has been dram n to the reports of the proceedings referred to. The, Ministry of Pensions have recognisance of three of the children at the school in question whose pensions they were administering. The mother of these children had herself selected this school for them. Pension is payable in respect of them at the motherless rates for officers' Children, namely, £40 for the first and £35 for each of the others, with a bonus of 20 per cent. These premises had not been inspected by an inspector of the Ministry, but the arrangements which it has recently become possible to make for the general supervision of motherless children of deceased and serving officers and men will include the inspection of the institutions and schools in which they are placed, and the necessary- records will be kept to enable this to be done.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether any permanent buildings are being or are to be, erected for the Royal Air Force; and, if so, what expenditure of public money is entailed thereon?

It will be necessary to erect permanent buildings in substitution for hutting or temporary buildings at such air stations as are retained for the after-war Air Force. The number of stations so to be maintained is now under consideration, and I cannot, therefore, give the estimated cost at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether he is aware that a number of civilian employâs are being discharged from the Royal Air Force; that 1,433 civilians at present employed at No. 1 stores depot, Kidbrooke, are to be reduced to 450 by the end of the year; and that the total number of between 6,000 and 7,000 employed by the Royal Air Force is to be reduced to 3,280 by the end of the year; whether he will consider the possibility of carrying out these discharges more gradually, in order to give the men a better chance of finding employment elsewhere; and whether he can state what action is being taken in con- junction with the Ministry of Labour with a view to the absorption of the discharged men into other employment?

subject to the correction of the figure 3,280 to 3,480, the answers to the first three parts of the hon. Gentleman's question are in the affirmative. In order to afford the men discharged better opportunities of obtaining employment, the desirability of spreading the discharges over as long a period as possible has already received very careful consideration. I have received two deputations on the matter and have discussed the situation fully with representatives of the men concerned. As a result the period has been appreciably lengthened. I much regret the hardship caused, but it is impossible to still further delay the discharges, in view of the very large reductions in the Air Force. The closest touch is maintained by the Air Ministry with the Ministry of Labour, and advanced information is given el impending discharges.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the British Government have 3,000,000 18-in. shells stored in the various depots of the Bethlehem steel works in the United States of America; whether an offer was received to purchase these by an American firm, Messrs. Vest and Company; why this offer was refused; and why valuable shipping space is being used to transport these shells to England?

No orders for 18-in. shells have ever been placed in the United States of America.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions how many naval, military, and Air Force war stations and camps have been handed over for disposal since the Armistice; how many of such camps and stations have been disposed of, either standing as they were built, or building by building; what sum has been obtained from such sales and at what average percentage gain or loss to the cost of construction; how many camps and stations are still awaiting disposal, and what steps are being taken to guard and protect such property, and by what Departments is the expense for such measures being borne; and by what elate is it intended that all such sales will be completed?

The preparation of the statement required by my hon. and gallant Friend would involve a good deal of clerical work, and, having regard to our depleted clerical staffs, would take a considerable time to complete. I regret I am unable to undertake the preparation of this Return, but my hon. and gallant Friend may feel assured that all possible steps are being taken to expedite disposal. It will be realised that some of these properties, owing to situation, etc., are not readily disposable, and it is not possible to fix a elate on which disposal will be completed. The cost of guarding these camps, etc., is at present being borne by the Departments to which the camps, etc., belong.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware of the terms of an arrangement conic to between the Governments of the United States and France by which all surplus American stores and material was taken over by the French for a fixed sum; whether any similar arrangement could now be made by the British and French Governments; and whether any proposal of this character has yet been made to any other Governments of countries where British stores and material are still awaiting disposal?

I understand that an arrangement of the kind referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend has been come to, but I have no official knowledge of its terms. The hon. and gallant Member will realise that, for geographical and other reasons, the governing factors in this matter, so far as Great Britain is concerned, differ materially from those affecting the United States. In our case it has been considered desirable to bring home for disposal articles and materials required for industrial and reconstruction purposes. All surplus stores not so required in the United Kingdom have, in point of fact, been offered for sale to the French Government, and a number of agreements covering such sales have already been concluded with Departments of the French Government. A similar policy of sales to other local Governments is being pursued in all war theatres.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what stock of hardwood is held by the Ministry of Munitions and other Departments at the present time, and why are not these stocks sold forthwith for needs of furniture and other industries?

The stock of imported hardwoods held by Government Departments is in round numbers 11,500,000 superficial feet, divided between the Surplus Property Disposal Board, the Board of Trade, and the Admiralty. Furniture makers and others have been al liberty to purchase from these stocks ever since the Armistice at auction sales and by private bargain. A large auction sale took place on 25th September, and another will be held on 13th November.

asked the Home Secretary w Nether a Department has been set up under the Home Office to watch and report upon developments in the Labour movement; whether one of its officials is employed to attend Labour meetings in Birmingham and to take a verbatim note of the speeches delivered; and whether this official took a verbatim note of a speech delivered by Mrs. Annie Besant, in Birmingham Town Hall, on Friday, 10th October, and by Mr. A. Fenner Brockway, at Stirchley, on Sunday, 12th October?

No new Department has been set up to watch and report upon developments in the Labour movement. For administrative purposes the special branch at New Scotland Yard has been separated from the Criminal Investigation Department The special branch is not concerned with the trade union movement, and no official employed by the special branch attended a Labour meeting in Birmingham or took a note of a speech delivered by Mrs Annie Besant or Mr Fenner Brockway.

asked the Home Secretary whether constables whose period of service expired during the War were not allowed to retire; whether he is aware that by fixing the new scale of pensions for all men who retired after the 1st April, 1919, hardship is being caused to men whose services were compulsorily retained; that now a police-sergeant who retired in March, 1919, with twenty-two years' service receives less pension to the extent of £1 5s. a week than another with only twenty-six years' service who retired in April, 1919; and whether he will consider the advisability of removing this anomaly,

Constables who would have been entitled to retire after twenty-six years' service have been in many cases retained during the War. I am aware that those men who retired in March missed the increase of pension granted from the 1st April, but it is not possible to carry back the increase of pay and pension beyond 1st April.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consent to the withdrawal of the present Regulations which allow stage carriages plying for hire within the Metropolitan Police area to carry more passengers than the numbers for which they are licensed, owing to the fact that there are now sufficient demobilised men who can be employed in driving and conducting any additional carriages such a withdrawal may necessitate?

The difficulty arises not from lack of men but from the insufficient number of vehicles during the busy hours of the clay. I fear that the Regulations as to overloading cannot, at present, be withdrawn without inflicting hardship upon the travelling public, especially during the hours mentioned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the short supply of cement in this country is hampering building operations in the home counties; whether he is aware that quantities are being sent abroad, presumably at a higher price; and whether the Government will take steps to secure that an adequate amount of cement is available for home needs before overseas demands arc supplied?

I have been asked to answer this question. There are considerable stocks of cement in manufacturers' works, but delivery of orders is being seriously delayed by lack of railway transport facilities. I am advised that it is this lack of transport, and not the export trade, which is prejudicially affecting building operations in certain parts of the country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention to release Government timber and to sell it to local authorities at cost price and below the current wholesale prices for such timber; and whether he has had any representations from timber merchants objecting to this suggestion?

Yes, Sir. I have been in consultation with the Ministry of Health, and I am willing that Government timber for the purpose of building cottages under approved schemes which are big enough to take large supplies, should be disposed of at the lowest possible figure not involving an actual loss through the Ministry of Munitions. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative, but in view of the urgent national importance of keeping down as far as possible the cost of houses for the working classes, I have felt justified in making the offer above mentioned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the amount of spirits in bond, he will remove the present restrictions on Withdrawals of spirits from bond at an early date (the said Order being a War restriction), and thus remove the present serious dissatisfaction of the public arising from the continued shortage of spirits?

I have been asked to reply. The question of modifying the present restrictions on the withdrawal of spirits from bond is now being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the resumption of travelling by the West Coast route between Edinburgh and London has been so long delayed; and if he will bring the necessary pressure on the Railway Executive to get this inconvenience removed without further delay?

The question of resuming through train services between Edinburgh and London by the West Coast route has been carefully considered, and in the general interest and in the interest of economy it has been decided that the existing arrangements cannot be altered at present. The hon. Member will understand that the present allocation of passenger traffic between London and Scotland is the natural one, namely, the traffic between Edinburgh and London passes viâ the East Coast, and that between Glasgow and London passes viâ the West Coast.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that in the large brick-manufacturing district of Fletton, Peterborough, millions of bricks are available for use; whether they are being stacked there because of the almost total absence of transport facilities; and whether, as a result, essential material for urgent housing schemes is being held up?

The provision of wagons for the transport of bricks from Fletton, Peterborough, is engaging the attention of the Ministry of Transport, and the railway companies are doing everything in their power to allocate to this traffic a fair share of the wagons available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to a Resolution passed at a meeting of the Council of the City of York on the 6th October last to the effect that they are of opinion that steps should be immediately taken to ensure, as far as possible, that food shall reach the consumer with the minimum risk of its becoming spoiled in transit, and that the Government be asked to arrange for the more speedy clearance of food depots, and more rapid conveyance of food by means of the railways, and to insist upon the provision of properly equipped cold storage carriages on the railways for the conveyance of food; and whether he will take action as speedily as possible to ensure these results?

The Resolution referred to has not been brought to my notice. I can, however, assure the hon. Baronet that, as far as the railways are concerned, priority is given to perishable foodstuffs over all other goods traffic. I have received no complaints indicating a shortage of cold storage vans, but if the hon. Baronet can supply me with particulars of concrete cases where difficulty has arisen I will have the matter further investigated.

asked the Minister of Transport what action, if any, is being taken by his Department to organise a system of road transport of goods and passengers, or whether it is intended to leave the matter to private enterprise; if the latter, what progress has been made in selling the motor lorries at Slough and elsewhere; and if he is in favour of selling such lorries on the instalment system, so that demobilised Service men and others with small capital may be able to build up businesses for themselves?

The Ministry of Transport has not taken steps to organise State systems of road transport services, and it is thought that the provision of such services is wherever possible a matter for private enterprise. The arrangement under which Government-owned lorries are working at certain ports to relieve congestion is a temporary measure. As regards the second part of the question, the sale of surplus Government motor vehicles is a matter for the Disposal Board of the Ministry of Munitions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the mineral water manufacturers resent, as prejudicial to their sales, the profiteering which takes place by some retailers in respect to this class of goods; and whether he will schedule mineral waters under the Act and at the same time invite the manufacturers' association to appoint a representative on the Profiteering Act Committee?

Representations to the effect indicated in the first part of the question have been brought to my notice, and the question of applying the Profiteering Act to mineral waters is under consideration. In answer to the last part of the question, I shall be prepared to consider favourably any request that the mineral water manufacturers may make for representation on the Central Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will at once schedule under the Profiteering Act all articles that were controlled and since have been decontrolled, including margarine and tea; and, with respect to the latter, if he will define that it should apply not only to tea sold by weight and as supplied by hotels and restaurants?

It is intended, unless there are special reasons to the contrary, that the Profiteering Act shall be applied to controlled articles when they cease to be otherwise controlled. Margarine is controlled by the Ministry of Food. The Profiteering Act has not been applied to tea, as the trade is supervised by the Ministry of Food. As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, under the Profiteering Act the powers of the Board of Trade in relation to articles of food and drink are exercised in agreement with the Food Controller.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds he decided that where an element of service entered into the supply of a commodity the profiteering did not apply; whether the Preamble to the Act refers to prices yielding an unreasonable profit to the persons engaged in the production, handling, or distribution of articles; whether such a definition by use of the word "handling" expressly covers service; and whether, if it be held to exclude service, it is possible to convict anyone, in view of the fact that every act of sale is an act also of service and is so recognised in common parlance and phraseology

The Act applies to the sale or offer for sale of goods scheduled by the Board of Trade and profits made in the production, handling, and distribution of these goods. It does not apply to such services as cleaning and pressing clothes. There are many intermediate cases in which the ultimate decision must rest with the Courts. At present I am considering the desirability of preparing a Bill to amend and enlarge the scope of the Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Law Officers of the Crown advised the Board as long ago as 1914 that all re-insurance companies had to make a deposit of £20,000; and how many English and Foreign companies, respectively, have since that date made the deposit?

In May, 1914, the Board of Trade were advised that the definitions of Life assurance business, fire insurance business, accident insurance business and employers' liability insurance business contained in Section 1 of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, included re-insurance business whether under treaties or any other arrangements. A company which had commenced to transact re-insurance business of the classes mentioned, other than life assurance business, before 131-re date of the passing of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, is not liable to make a deposit of £20,000. Since May, 1914, forty English companies and seven British Colonial companies have made a deposit of £20,00g, but I am unable to state whether the business of any of those companies is confined to re-insurance business. No foreign insurance company has made a deposit of £20,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a responsible body of traders in the Metropolitan borough of St. Pancras has intimated its desire to form a local chamber of commerce as an association, not for profit and limited by guarantee, and that the Board of Trade has declined -to grant its licence for the registration of such an association as a company with limited liability without the addition of the word limited to its name; and, if so, whether he will reconsider the granting of such licence, in view of the expressed wishes of this commercial and manufacturing centre and the distinctive character of the industries which a St. Pancras chamber of commerce would represent?

I am aware of the facts stated in the question of my hon. and gallant Friend. The application for a licence to register the St. Pancras Chamber of Commerce without the word "Limited" received careful consideration, but it was decided that the objects of an association of this kind which are confined to trade interests in a limited area, do not come within the provisions of Section 20 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908. There is no objection to the Association being registered as a company limited by guarantee with the addition of the word "Limited."

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of holders of patents taken out before the War; whether he is aware that these holders have had to pay renewal fees during the War although they have not been allowed during the War to manufacture the goods in respect of which the patents were granted; and whether it is proposed to extend the patent rights for a period to correspond with that during which they have been debarred from using them?

The proposals of the Government dealing with this matter are embodied in Clauses 6 and 7 of the Patents and Designs Bill, which is at present awaiting Second Reading in another place.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the grave risk of danger to other road users and to the public generally occasioned by the use of motor cars with steering on the near, or left-hand, side, he will take steps to prohibit the manufacture and import of all cars so fitted?

At present there are no Statutory Regulations which would enable the Minister to control the position of steering appliances on motor cars, but he is appointing an expert Advisory Committee to which this, among other questions, will be referred.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can state the cost of the site and premises appertaining to his Department, and situate in a former market garden in the parish of East Sheen whether any addition to the Department's buildings there has been ordered or completed since the date of the Armistice; and, if so, at what cost; and on what ground this site was originally selected as suitable for a large Government office?

Assuming that the hon. Member refers to THe building at Kew, known as the Claims and Record Office of the Ministry of Labour, the cost of the site was £5,700, and of the building erected prior to the date of the Armistice, £90,000. Since that date an extension has been made at a cost of, approximately, £42,500. The site was originally selected because it was the cheapest available, and I may add that my right hon. the Minister of Labour informs me that the offices are considered quite satisfactory for the purposes of his Department and that he has received no complaints in respect of them.

asked the Minister of Labour how sally employés. male and female, respectively, arc engaged on the work done in the Labour Ministry's premises in the parish of East Sheen; whether lie is aware that the roads giving access to these premises are not used by any public conveyances -for passengers, with the consequence that all the employés have to reach their place of work on foot or on bicycles in all weathers; and if lie will negotiate with some suitable transport undertaking, or Government Department that owns suitable transport facilities, to provide covered vehicles at least for the female portion of the East Sheen staff at the hours when they reach and leave the Department's premises there, so that they may be conveyed to the nearest regular lines of traffic?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the Claims and Records Branch of the Ministry of Labour at Kew, at which are kept the records of all the claimants in the United Kingdom. If so, the number of staff there employed is 350 men and 1,237 women. I am afraid I cannot adopt the suggestion made in the last part of the question; but. I would remind the hon. Member that, though the premises are not directly situated on the route of any public passenger conveyances, the locality is excellently served by trains, trams, and omnibuses.

asked the Minister Health whether he will appoint a representative of the National Federation of Builders' Merchants Association on the new- Building Committee at the Ministry of Health, in view of the representation previously accorded to that Federation on the Central Building Industry Committee?

The Committee to which the hon. and gallant Member refers was appointed by a conference or builders to advise on a specific question, and has now concluded its labours.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the widespread dissatisfaction amongst demobilised Service men at the inefficiency and dilatory methods peculiar to the various Labour Exchanges; if he will give the numbers of those who applied to them for work during the last twelve months and the percentage of those who secured positions; and if, after a nine years' trial, the time has come to examine their work and, H necessary, reform the institution?

I am aware that some dissatisfaction has been expressed by ex-Service men with regard to their re-absorption into civilian life; but I cannot admit that this dissatisfaction is justly directed against the Employment Exchanges. The Exchanges have for a long time past (and not only since the Armistice) given special assistance to ex-Service men, through the medium of the local employment committees and otherwise. They approached the previous employers of one and a half million men about to be demobilised, and obtained offers of employment for well over a million men before demobilisation. Further, of the men who registered at the Exchanges for work after demobilisation three out of every ten disabled men, and two out of every nine non-disabled men, have secured employment through the Exchanges during the past twelve months. Considering the handicaps under which the Exchanges have worked since the Armistice, I do not think that their record in this respect calls for further special inquiry. In the recent report of Lord Aberconway's Committee or the work of the Ministry in relation to unemployment, the work of the staff of the Exchanges is described as on the whole exceedingly good.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of men and women at present registered as unemployed who previously were engaged in agriculture

The number of applicants for agricultural work on the registers of Employment Exchanges includes not only those who were previously engaged in agriculture, but also those who, though not previously engaged in that industry, are considered suitable for the work. I am therefore unable to give the exact information asked for by the hon. Member, but I may state that for week ending 28th October there were 3,301 men and 632 women on the live register of applicants for agricultural work.

asked the Minister of Labour how many officers, approximately, of the Mercantile Marine are now out of employment; and how many qualified skippers and second hands of fishing trawlers are out of employment?

I have been asked to reply. There are no records which will enable reliable figures to be furnished as to the numbers of officers of the Mercantile Marine who are now out of employment and are seeking employment afloat. Since the Armistice the Ministry of Shipping has kept a register of officers applying to them for employment afloat and the numbers of the officers so recorded are: R.N.R. officers, 371; R.N.R. engineers, 299; Mercantile Marine deck officers, 190; engineer officers, 149—total officers, 461; engineers, 438. It is impossible to say how many of these officers mentioned above have now found employment, as they do not always notify this Ministry when they go afloat again.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) why payment is accepted for registration of letters in un- official envelopes if liability is not accepted when such letters are not delivered intact;(2) Whether he can refund three 10s. currency notes which are missing trout a registered express letter sent to Mr. T. Barran, at Summerdown Camp, Eastbourne, on the 12th May?

The main object of registration is to secure special treatment for articles sent by post. Liability for compensation in the event of loss of any part of the contents of a registered letter packet is accepted by the Post Office only when certain fully advertised conditions are fulfilled One of these conditions is that if money (which term includes currency notes) is enclosed, an official registered letter envelope must be used. The official envelope has been specially designed to afford safeguards against tampering or loss of contents not afforded by ordinary envelopes. The currency notes sent to Mr. Barran at Summer-down Camp were not enclosed in an official registered letter envelope. It has not been possible to ascertain where the loss occurred, but I should be unable to consider any question of compensation even if it had occurred in the post.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is yet in a position to make a statement as to the extension of the facilities at the Lewisham Post Office?

Proposals for the purchase of land for the extension of the office have been sanctioned, and the matter is in progress.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller why Mr. Harry Lyons, of St. Mary Axe, ropemaker, who until quite recently was wholly unconnected with the shipping industry, is able to obtain the offer of option on ships direct from the Ministry, whereas shipowners who had lost ships owing to enemy action during the War are unable to get into negotiation with the Ministry for the acquisition of ships; and will he in these circumstances cause a very stringent and careful inquiry to be made into the whole matter?

No option on ships is ever given by the Ministry of Shipping. A recent transaction with which Mr. Lyons claims to be connected is likely to be the subject of legal proceedings against the Ministry, and in these circumstances it is not desirable to give details.

asked the Parliamentary-Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether a well? known shipping company in the City of London connected with the oil industry made offers to buy oil-tankers from the Ministry of Shipping but were unable to acquire by direct negotiation; and whether firm was compelled to negotiate throught a third party to enable them to obtain tankers?

If the hon. Member will furnish me, with particulars of the case he has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Parliamentary to the Shipping Controller whether he is aware of the growing dissatisfaction amongst various well-known and old established shipowners and ship-brokers in the City of London owing to the fact that the Ministry are unwilling to enter into direct negotiations with them for the sale of surplus shipping, including standard ships; and will he reconsider this decision

There is no foundation for the suggestion that the Ministry of Shipping are unwilling to enter into direct negotiations with any established firm of Shipowners and ship-brokers for the sale of surplus shipping, and 1 shall be happy to investigate any case in which the contra] y is alleged.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the present position of over 300,000 Armenian refugees in the Caucasus; whether he has received a petition for the granting of protection to these people and for the relief of their distress up till such time as provision is made for permanent security in that region; and whether any steps are being taken in this direction?

His Majesty's Government have received and continue to receive very numerous petitions of this nature, but I would refer the hon. Member, as regards the general situation, to the reply given to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. A. Williams) on 29th October. I am advised that there are no Government funds which could be applied to the relief of these people, although I am glad to say that a good deal is being done by private organisations in this country and in the United States

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Reparation Committee will be set up to consider the claims of merchantmen interned in Germany during the War

I presume that the reference is to British merchant ships detained in German ports at the outbreak of war. The status of such vessels is defined by the Sixth Hague Convention, 1907, and I doubt whether the Reparation Commission will entertain claims arising out of their detention. The Commission is to hold its first meeting as soon as practicable alter the Treaty of Peace with Germany enters into force, but it is impossible at present to say when this will be.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will state the rent the Government are paying for No. 1. Grosvenor Place; what the premises are now being used for; what is the number of the staff now employed there; and when he proposes to vacate possession and hand the house back to its owners?

The rent is £3,000 per annum, exclusive of rates and taxes; the" premises are being used for a staff of the Mechanical Transport, Contracts and Supply Department of the Ministry of Munitions, but the bulk of this staff has already been removed from the premises and only forty-seven now remain. Arrangements are already in hand for the removal of the remaining staff, and it is hoped that vacant possession will be given to the owners in the course of a few days.