asked the Secretary to the Admiralty which of the following vessels, ss. "Margarita," "Waipara," Gallileo," "Harmonidies," "Hyacinthus," "Montebello,'' "Polwell," "Hunsbrook," and "Manhattan," salved by dockyard tugs or salvage party, are respectively Government-owned, Government-chartered, or privately-owned, setting out each separately; whether the Crown accepts liability on any of the privately-owned vessels or their cargoes; and, in the cases where no liability is accepted, if the Crown contemplates making claim for salvage; and, if not, whether the salvors will be permitted to claim on their own behalf?

The information required by my hon. Friend is as follows:

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty why the instructors in boys' training ships and establishments, whose rime for pensions have expired and have re-engaged for a further period of twelve months' service under 144 Army Warrant Order, do not receive the 6d. per day additional pay on application to the captain, the same as active service instructors; and if their Lordships can see their way clear to put the two classes on the same basis?

This matter is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty why the good conduct medal gratuity of £20 is not payable to men of the Royal Fleet Reserve, Class B, who were awarded the medal during hostilities but demobilised prior to the-1st May, 1919?

The new good conduct gratuity of £20, announced last May, like the new scales of pay announced at the same time, does not apply to men who had been dispersed before the 1st of that month. The rule is common to the Navy and not peculiar to men of the-Royal Fleet Reserve, Class B. All men. dispersed before the 1st May, 1919, are entitled only to such emoluments as were-authorised prior to that date.

asked the Food Controller what is the number of married women employed in the central offices in his Department; and how many, if any, of these married women have husbands in Government employ?

The number of married women (excluding cleaners) on the headquarters staff of the Ministry of Food is 224; of these approximately one quarter are widows. No record is kept of the occupation of their husbands, and I am afraid, therefore, that no reliable information on this point is available.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether ally British soldiers or airmen remain at Archangel or 'Murmansk; if so, how many; and whether their expenses are being paid by His Majesty's Government or from moneys lent to the Government of Archangel?

There is one British Intelligence Officer at Archangel for liaison purposes. He is paid by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and men have been demobilised in Russia and transferred for service with either the black or white Russian forces?

There is no trace of any British officer or man having been demobilised in Russia and transferred for service with any Russian forces.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether troops for demobilisation from India are being detained in open camp at Marseilles and the men have not been supplied with great coats; whether there are any reported illnesses from exposure; and whether he will have immediate inquiry made into the matter and direct that these men shall be brought home without further delay?

An early report has been called for from France, and I will inform time right hon. Member of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet made or intends to make a distinction between men who constantly volunteered and were rejected until after the passing of the Military Service Acts and conscripts in the matter of date of demobilisation; and does a married man who attested under the Derby scheme in 1918, but who was not accepted till February, 1918, gain no advantage by attesting when he did?

I. regret that I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wrexham on the 27th ultimo. With regard to the latter part of the question, under current instructions men who joined the Colours voluntarily are being released two months prior to those who were conscripted.

asked the Secretary of State for War why George Milligan, No. 52564, 3rd West Riding Regiment, a conscientious objector, is still detained at Hillsborough barracks; and when it is proposed to release him?

The man referred to is under arrest awaiting trial as a deserter. The question of release, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended that the Director-General of the Territorial Force shall be a member of the Army Council; and whether he is aware that certain of the Territorial Force Associations feel strongly that it would be to the advantage of the Territorials in the future if such were the case?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to a similar question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Bournemouth on the 16th April last, to the effect that the point would be considered in connection with the general scheme of Army reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Private R. Monteith, No. 148065, latterly corporal, Army Service Corps, served with the Colours from 24th February, 1917, to 17th October, 1918; and whether his service as corporal should be included on his discharge certificate, as he held that rank on his discharge?

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

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the South African medal was issued to auxiliary troops in garrisons in the Mediterranean during that war, he will see his way to issue the Queen's South African medal, without bar, to survivors of the Royal Reserve Regiments who volunteered at Queen Victoria's personal request and were not sent to the front?

I regret I cannot adopt my right hon. Friend's suggestion. The, conditions of re-enlistment for the Royal Reserve Regiments were "one year's service at home only." The South African War Medal was not issued to auxiliary troops in garrisons in the Mediterranean during that war, but certain selected Militia Battalions were awarded the Mediterranean Medal, which is of different design but has a similar riband.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers who were sentenced to imprisonment during the War and had their sen- tenses suspended were committed to prison after the Armistice; and how many, if any, are still in prison?

I regret that I am not in a position to give this information. It is not available in the War Office, and could not be obtained without much research and reference to all Commands, entailing a great expenditure of time and labour, besides the cost of cabling to distant parts of the world, which I do not think could be justified under present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Morris Schwartz, who joined His Majesty's Forces in 1915 at the age of fifteen and deserted after sixteen days' service, and surrendered to the police on 3rd October, 1919, and stated he was a deserter, and was courtmartialled at Mill Hill Barracks on 23rd October and sentenced to twelve months' hard labour; and, in view of the boy's age on joining, is he prepared to take action with a view to obtaining his release?

If the hon. Member will send me particulars of the man's regimental number and unit, so that the case to which he refers may be traced, I will have inquiries made, and write to him in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the case of Private R. Fields, No. 11456, Beds and Herts Regiment, Brocton Camp, Staffordshire, with a view to his release from the Army, he having enlisted on 15th July, 1919, at Northampton Barracks, at the age of seventeen years and two months, against his parent's wish, his father having claimed him within a week of his enlistment and having made repeated applications for his discharge since with no result; and what authority is there for keeping a lad in the Army who is under military age when his parent does not approve of his having enlisted?

The discharge of a youth who misstates his age and enlists when over seventeen years of age is only granted under certain circumstances, and as a concession. The discharge of Private Fields has been refused after careful consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will state the amount of interest paid on moneys deposited in the French and Belgian banks, ready for payment to the troops?

The rate of interest is 3 per cent. on all amounts except certain amounts in France kept with the Bank of France, which pays no interest. I am inquiring whether circumstances will now admit. of any modification of this arrangement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is now in a position to communicate his decision with respect to the claim of the viewers of the Royal Army Clothing Department; and whether, considering the patience displayed by the men concerned, he will arrange for immediate payment of their claim?

The claim of these viewers is to pay for certain days on which, in accordance with long-established custom in the Royal Army Clothing Department and other Government establishments, the Department was closed without pay to workmen. Their case does not differ from that of very large numbers of other workmen, and, after very full consideration, I find it impossible to admit their claim.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the approximate and estimated daily cost to the country for each man maintained in the Army, at home, in France, on the Rhine, in the Near East, and in Egypt, and normal garrisons overseas?

The daily cost per head of the Army at the present moment—that is to say, the current rate of Army expenditure under all heads divided by the number of all ranks serving—is about 16s. 8d. I am not able to give estimated rates for different areas without an elaborate analysis of expenditure, for which, I hope, my hon. and gallant Friend will not press.

asked the Pensions Minister whether anything can be done to increase the pension of Mr. Samuel Maltby.1, Caulton Street, Nottingham, who enlisted as a private in 1860 and served twenty-one years in the Army and retired with the rank of company sergeant-major. and whose pension is only 2s. 4d. per day; and, if not, whether he will seek to obtain for Mr. Maltby, who is seventy-seven years of age, the old age pension, which is denied to him by reason of his military pension?

I have been asked to. reply to this question. I would refer my hon. Friend to the written reply given, on the 27th October, to a question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Edmonton to the effect that, under the decision of the Government, the grant of Army pensions on the new scale is confined to those soldiers who have given satisfactory re-enlisted service during the War. Inquiry is being made as regards Mr. Maltby's eligibility for an old age pension, and I will inform my on. Friend of the result in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the mother of Pioneer Stanley Spittle, No. 372884, Royal Engineers (Signals), as his dependant, receives an allowance of 5s. per week, that that allowance was granted as a result of an error of the pensions officer in fixing travelling expenses to Liverpool instead of Warrington, close to. his home where he was employed; whether an appeal was considered by the Newton in-Makerfield sub-committee of the local pensions committee, whereby the error was taken into account and a decision arrived at that the allowance should be Us. per week; that the reconsidered decision has not been given effect to; and why the first recommendation was ratified but the second decision not given effect to, seeing the sub-committee were satisfied that the first recommendation arose out of error re locality in which he was employed?

The original assessment of dependence in this case was 4s. weekly, with which sum the claimant was at the time satisfied. Subsequently an appeal for an increased allowance was made and as the local pension authorities, after reinvestigation, were unable to agree, the claim was forwarded for decision to the Appeals Committee, presided over by the Right Hon. Sir W. H. Dickinson. That committee, with all the facts of the case before them, decided that the assessment should be increased to 5s. weekly, and that amount was paid from the due date. I am not prepared to disturb the finding of the committee.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if the Government are granting war gratuities to nurses employed on military service during the War including members of the Volunteer Aid Detachment, whose duties were not. of a strictly skilled character; if such gratuities are being withheld from the massage staffs although most of these were trained nurses and had to incur considerable expenditure in addition to qualify for employment on massage duties in the hospitals where soldiers were treated; if this distinction is drawn on the ground that the masseuses are to be classed as civil subordinates; if so, whether, in coming to this ruling, regard was had to the fact that the masseuses formed part of the essential skilled staff of all hospitals, that they had to sign agreements with the War Office undertaking to continue to serve and to go abroad if called upon to do so, and that for the purposes of war distinctions the hospital massage staff were on the same footing as the Army nursing service; and if he will reconsider the matter with a view to the massage staffs who have served in military hospitals for a year and upwards being granted gratuities on the same basis as the other nurses?

As I have stated recently in reply to several questions on the subject, I am looking into the matter, but have not yet come to a decision.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in May last, an undertaking was given to a deputation of ex-soldiers and sailors to reconsider the question of war gratuities; whether the matter has been reconsidered; and, if so, what is the result?

Yes, Sir; and on 14th August a letter was sent to the effect that, after very careful review, it was regretted that no further concessions could be made.

asked the Pensions Minister if he will consider the advisability of making the payment of £1 gratuity in respect of each child whose father was killed or reported missing in the War a retrospective one instead of 1st; May, 1918?

The question of making the grant of the £1 gratuity retrospective was considered when the Royal Warrant of April, 1918, was being prepared, and it was then decided that the grant should only apply where the death occurred on or after 1st May, 1918. I am not prepared to reopen the question. I would remind the hon. Member that the gratuity is an additional benefit and was given for the definite purpose of helping the widow to meet expenses at the time of the soldier's death.

asked the Pensions Minister if he will reconsider the pension of 4s. 6d. a week granted to Denis F. Foley, aged forty, who has been paralysed from childhood, and who was supported by his two brothers, both of whom have been killed on active service; and if he will take steps to ensure that this helpless invalid is not made a pauper because his brothers gave their lives for their country?

I hope the Special Grants Committee will be able to do something in this case. They are making inquiries. I will inform the hon. Member of the result in due course.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that cases are continually arising where discharged soldiers invalided from the Army, many of whom have served abroad, commit suicide as a result of their physical or mental condition; that such condition is directly attributable to their illness arising out of military service; and that the dependants of such soldiers are not entitled to a grant or pension under the terms of the Royal Warrant; and whether he will arrange for such cases to be placed before those responsible for the administration of the Prince of Wales' Fund with a view to all needy and deserving cases being assisted from the fund?

The statements made in the hon. Member's question do not correctly represent the position under the Warrant. In many suicide eases it is possible to grant full pension to the dependants. Each case must be considered on its merits, as the grant of pension depends upon being able to connect the man's mental condition which caused him to commit suicide with his military service. If the hon. Member has any particular cases in mind and will give me the facts, I will gladly investigate them.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps have been taken to reserve appointments in the police and all other Government services in India for disabled or retired Indian officers and men who have fought in the War?

The Government of India have published a Resolution (a copy of which I shall he glad to place in the Library) explaining the concessions made to persons who have rendered service in connection with the War as regards civil appointments under Government.. Such persons are, ceteris paribus, to be given preferential treatment, and actual service in the combatant ranks of the Army ranks first. Generally speaking, the period of war service may be deducted from a candidate's age, and allowance is made for the absence of opportunity to acquire technical qualifications. In addition to the above concessions, Indians who have rendered military service are eligible for nomination to the Indian Civil Service and police under the same conditions as Englishmen.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps are being taken to provide indulgence passages on transports for officers of the Indian Army who have been compulsorily detained in the East for many years, and who cannot afford to pay the high rates of passages now prevailing; and, if no berths are available on transports, whether free passages can be given on other vessels.

Few berths are, in present circumstances, available for indulgence passengers on transports from India to this country. I will, however, ask the Government of India to consider whether arrangements can be made for granting the officers in question passages at special rates.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has yet decided to apply Army Order 325, of 1919, to the India unattached list of departmental warrant officers?

The question is at present under consideration by the Government of India.

asked the Secretary. of State for India whether Indian officers of the Indian Army are given the same privilege as British officers of travelling on Form E; and, if not, will he suggest to the Government of India that Indian officers should be allowed to travel second class on payment of third class fares, just as British officers are permitted to travel first class on payment of second class fares.?

Indian officers, when on leave, are granted a voucher enabling them to obtain a return ticket to their homes at the cost of a single fare. This concession is in lieu of the Form E concession and applies only to Indian troops.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that a number of teachers who retired on 1st April last under the provisions of the 1918 Teachers' Superannuation Act have not yet received the first instalment of the pension and gratuity due to them; that the teachers who retired at midsummer have not yet been informed as to the amount of pension or gratuity to which they are entitled; that in consequence of the delay many teachers are in financial difficulties, and in some cases suffering positive hardship; and will he have immediate steps taken to speed up the matter so that pensions and gratuities may be awarded as soon as possible after retirement?

I regret that, owing to depletion of staff and the necessity of investigating the teachers' past service, there has been some inevitable delay in coming to a decision upon some of the applications. But I am making arrangements which will, I hope, expedite matters and, at any rate, enable provisional awards to be made pending final settlement after full investigation.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the Report of the Departmental Committee on Sea Training; and whether he is now prepared to present a scheme for the establishment of a national corporation for sea training, with the object of co-ordinating existing institutions, and in order to ensure opportunities for British lads to acquire adequate instruction to fit them to enter upon a seafaring life?

The Report is under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement upon the proposals made in it.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the number of houses now built in Wales and Monmouthshire under the housing scheme, and the number in process of being built?

My information shows that building is in progress on 213 houses, and that work is in progress on the sites for another 975 houses, but I am not aware that there is actual house building in these cases. Up to the 1st November plans for 3,234 houses had been approved in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for War what decision he has reached on the reconsideration, promised by the Leader of the House, of the request of the Dover Corporation for the Ropewalk site at Dover for housing purposes?

This matter is still under consideration, but there will be no avoidable delay. I will write to my Noble Friend as soon as a decision has been reached.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a claim from the urban district council of Finchley in respect of emergency work carried out by the council in connection with an enemy air-raid at Totteridge on 7th March, 1918, when damage was done to nearly 200 houses, and the clerk to the council was directed by telephone from the Government Committee to do all that was reasonably necessary to assist those in distress, and that any expenses so incurred would be met from Government funds; and will he recommend that the expense then incurred shall not be allowed to fall on the ratepayers of the district?

I have received a letter from the Fincldey Urban District Council to the effect stated in the question, and I am informed that a grant was made out of the National Relief Fund for the assistance of persons in distress in consequence of the air raid. But the expenditure to which the district council refer in their letter was incurred in the erection of hoardings and similar work, and cannot be regarded as expenditure for the assistance of persons in distress. There are no Government funds from which the repayment of such expenditure could be made.

asked the Minister of Health whether instructions have been issued to the Registrar-General for making preparations for the conduct of the census of population of 1921; and whether it is proposed to introduce any new methods or features of importance into this census?

Yes, Sir; and consideration is already being given to the preparations necessary for the conduct of a census of population in 1921; but it can- not as yet be stated whether any new methods or features of importance will be introduced.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Gunner John Brown, No. 1511, formerly of the 36th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery, was certified as insane at Wandsworth Prison on 28th October, 1917, and was sent to Berkshire County Asylum, from which he was discharged as sane on 14th February, 1918; whether he is aware that at no time did the medical officer of that asylum regard Gunner Brown as insane; by whose orders he was medically examined in October, 1917, and by whom he was certified insane; and by whose orders Gunner Brown was detained in Berkshire County Asylum?

Gunner John Gore Brown was certified insane on 22nd October, 1917, while serving a sentence of eighteen months' imprisonment for housebreaking in His Majesty's Prison, Wandsworth, and was removed to Berkshire County Asylum. The certificate was given by two magistrates, members of the Prison Visiting Committee, and two medical men, and the order for transfer to an asylum was made by my predecessor under the Criminal Lunatics Act, 1884. I have no information as to the opinion formed by the medical officer of the asylum, but Brown, who ceased to be a criminal lunatic on the expiration of his sentence on 26th November, 1917, appears to have been detained as a lunatic for a further period of two and a half months before he could be discharged as sane.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, in spite of the increased cost of season tickets, the North Dulwich (Herne Hill) station closed on Sundays as a war measure is still unavailable for ticket holders wishing to travel to the West End of London and from Victoria on weekdays after 8.45 p.m.; and whether he will endeavour to arrange that season tickets from and to this station shall be available also for Herne Hill Station on the South-Eastern and Chatham Railway during Sunday and on those week-days when from varying causes no trains are run for long periods on the London-Brighton line?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of officers, and other ranks whose education is good, who have applied to the Appointments Department. but for whom no employment has at present been found; and what is the average length of time required to find employment for applicants?

The number of ex-officers and men of similar educational qualifications who are registered with the Appointments Department as applicants for work, but for whom no work has yet been found, is about 19,000. I may add that about 15,000 applicants are known to have obtained employment through the Appointments Department. I am afraid it is not possible to state the average length of time required to find employment for an applicant. A man with good technical qualifications may be placed within a few days. Others, less highly qualified, or without professional or business experience, or with clerical experience only, may be very difficult to place, more especially if the applicant has stipulated for a salary above the standard at which his qualifications are valued by the average employer.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that night telephonists have not been treated on the same basis as other Post Office employés on the question of compensation for Peace Day and that this differentiation in treatment on the occasion of a national holiday has been felt most keenly by the men concerned; and whether lie will take steps to allay this dissatisfaction by an early rectification of the anomaly?

The ordinary rules as regards compensation for attendance on Bank and public holidays are not applicable to night telephonists; but, as a special arrangement, those night telephonists who were required to work on Peace Day were granted a day's holiday in lieu. I see no need to make any further concession in their favour.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether offers have been issued to tender for 20,000 bedsteads for the Royal Air Force?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 3rd instant to a question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for the Yardley Division of Birmingham. [See OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd November, col. 1107.

asked time Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that at a meeting of the representatives of the parish councils of the county of Sutherland the other day it was unanimously resolved that a Grant of not less than 80 per cent. was necessary in order to relieve the present crisis occasioned by the Education Act; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received a copy of the resolution mentioned. I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies I have already given to previous questions on this matter.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in the case of special constables of three years' service and upwards in Scotland during the War, instructions have yet been given regarding the issue of the special constables medal, in keeping with the steps which have been taken to recognise the war service of special constables in England.

No instructions have yet been issued, but the matter 'has been receiving consideration. I hope to be shortly in a position to take action similar to that which has already been taken in England.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Tottenham and District Heat, Light and Power Company are entitled to charge the increased price several weeks prior to the ordinary quarter ending by an earlier reading of the meters?

Yes, I think so, subject to any special contract and to any provision to the contrary to the Company's special Act.