asked the Minister of Food (1) if, seeing that the bread subsidy is to be continued, he will consider the advisability of giving a subsidy to oatmeal; and is he aware that the amount per head of oatmeal consumed in Scotland is greater than in England and the amount of flour meal correspondingly less;(2) if he is aware that American oatmeal can be purchased in this country at from 70s. to 72s. per 280 lbs. while Scotch oatmeal costs 84s. per 280 lbs., and that even at this figure oatmeal millers cannot work at a profit; if he can say what steps he proposes to take to assist the oatmeal-milling industry; and when these steps will be taken, as the oatmeal millers have already suffered financially to a dangerous point?

The figures given by the hon. Member are approximately correct. I understand that, owing to recent large arrivals, American oatmeal is selling at the present moment at prices substantially below that at which further importations could be effected; but it is anticipated that this position is only temporary. In any case, however, I am afraid that, in view of the present financial position of the country, I do not feel that I should be justified in asking the Cabinet to sanction a subsidy for oatmeal.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the hardship and injury caused to children of tender age by the high price of milk, he is prepared to consider a proposal that the price shall be reduced to parents who can produce certificates that they have any children under the age of ten; and whether he is prepared to issue instructions to the local authorities to deal in a more drastic manner with the evil of short measure?

I would call the attention of the hon. Member to the fact that under arrangements already made necessitous mothers and children under five years of age are able to obtain milk at reduced prices; but I should be prepared to consider, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health any practicable proposal on the lines suggested. As regards the last part of the question, I can assure the hon. Member that drastic action is being taken against milk traders who give short measure, and a number of prosecutions are now pending.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if it is intended to reinstate ex-Constables Tarpey and MacGuire, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, County Galway, who were dismissed without any form of trial or inquiry on 28th May, 1919. presumably for their union activities; whether he is aware that the Royal Irish Constabulary were permitted to join the Police Union, along with the Dublin Metropolitan Police up to 4th February, 1919, and that Constables Tarpey and MacGuire, with over 1,000 Royal Irish Constabulary sergeants and constables, joined the union in January; if he is aware that in Ireland the Police Union was created to remove long-standing grievances in the force, to ensure that the pay and conditions of service would be similar to that for police in Great Britain, and to provide for the social welfare of all its members, especially in cases of distress, sickness, and death; and whether, seeing that many of these grievances have been removed, he will consider the immediate reinstatement without loss of pay or service, of these two men who have received favourable records for good police service?

No, Sir. I should like to remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Royal Irish Constabulary were never permitted to join the Police Union. The two constables, knowing the consequences, admitted the charge against them.

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to make an announcement of the Government's policy relating to Ireland?

I can add nothing to what has already been said on this subject.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has now had an opportunity of taking the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown with a view to determining whether the suspension of the retired pay of naval officers called up for service during the War is or is not a breach of contract; and, if so, will he give the House the result of his inquiry?

The question has been submitted to the Law Officers of the Crown, who have reported that in their opinion the practice of the Admiralty in suspending the Retired Pay of Officers called out for service is legal.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is prepared to give easier facilities for young men to leave the Navy, especially in those cases where the parents are prepared to buy them out in order to secure their help in carrying on their businesses, or where the young men have been promised regular situations?

Instructions have already been sent as to the manner in which selections are to be made of those who seek free discharge. The number of such discharges is strictly limited by the surpluses that exist in each particular class of rating. In some ratings there are no surpluses. Applicants whose cases can reasonably be considered as compassionate cases come in Category 1 of these instructions; but, beyond that, it is not considered justifiable to place young men in a position of priority over older men who have otherwise equal claims. With regard to those who have been promised work in civil life, arrangements will be as given in my reply to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Battersea South, on Monday last, in which I explained that on home stations, men who have employment awaiting them in civil life will be given priority for discharge over those who have not. In view of the difficulty of men on foreign stations obtaining a guarantee of employment, this rule is limited to home stations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many Class B Reserve men were engaged in the operations at Zeebrugge; what percentage of casualties did these men suffer; were these men volunteers or were they warned for this special duty; and have any special awards or mentions been made with reference to Class B Fleet Reserve ratings engaged in the Zeebrugge operations?

The ratings engaged in the Zeebrugge operation were collected from many different sources, and it would be a very difficult matter to trace the number of R.F.R. Class B.The casualties among the R.F.R. Class B were:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many officers and men of His Majesty's Navy are at present with the Fleet in the Baltic?

I cannot undertake to furnish the information asked.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the number of casualties since the Armistice among naval officers and men engaged in operations against Soviet Russia or in the blockade of Russia?

The information is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if he will give the names of the men who have been invited by His Majesty's Government to go on a Special Mission to General Denikin; and to what Vote will their expenses be charged?

The hon. Member for the Camlachie Division of Glasgow has consented, at the invitation of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to proceed as High Commissioner on a temporary Special Mission to (South Russia. His staff is now being selected, and the names will be announced as soon as the list is complete. The expenses will be charged to the Foreign Office Vote.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Durham Light Infantry at present stationed at Cologne is under orders to leave for Memel; whether these men are required for operations on territory belonging to the former Russian Empire; if so, whether they are volunteers for this work; and whether soldiers under twenty years of age will be sent on this expedition?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply yesterday to an oral question put by the hon. Member for Bolton, in which I explained that units are being sent to the plebiscite areas in accordance with the Peace Treaty, and that these are being furnished from the Rhine Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War if a decision has been come to on the proposal to issue a badge to Volunteers?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply on the 5th instant to a similar question put by the hon. and gallant Member for East Leyton.

asked the Secretary of State for War if soldiers under twenty years of age in the 51st Warwickshire Regiment are to be sent to Turkey?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the dissatisfaction which exists amongst troops in India eligible for demobilisation and that men, are being transferred from the 2/5th Somerset Light Infantry to the 2nd Somersets and, instead of being sent home as they expected to be, are now being sent to the North-West Frontier; and what steps he intends to take so that these men, who have not seen their wives and families for years, may be brought home?

I am not aware of any dissatisfaction existing at the present time among troops in India. Every effort is being made to expedite their return home.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of married women, other than widows, who are employed in the various Departments of the War Office at the present time who were not there employed previous to August, 1914; and how many of such married women are the wives of Government servants or of military officers, commissioned or non-commissioned?

I regret this information is not available. It could not be obtained without an elaborate inquiry, and having regard to the reductions of staff and other more pressing work, I am afraid it cannot be undertaken at the present time. I may add that generally speaking in the reductions that are now being effected, women, married or single, who are not dependent on their earnings are among the first to be released.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any noncommissioned officers or men are still in prison as a result of the refusal of troops to embark at Southampton for what they feared was service in Russia?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Driver A. P. Patterson, No. 76775, Royal Engineers, disappeared from the camp of K. K. Cable Section, Canal Defence, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, on 29th March, 1916; whether he has been posted as a deserter; whether all requests from his parents for his credits and gratuity and belongings have been refused on the ground that he is a deserter; and whether, considering that three years and eight months have expired since this soldier disappeared in the middle of a desert in Egypt, he can see his way to class him missing, presumably killed, and thereby enable his parents to receive his belongings and gratuity?

A Court of Inquiry which was assembled at Port Tewfik in April, 1916, declared that Driver Patterson illegally absented himself without leave at Suez on the 29th March, 1916, and he was accordingly reported as a deserter. When Driver Patterson illegally absented himself he was not within the immediate zone of operations, and there is no reason to presume that he was killed or that he is missing owing to any other cause than his own act of desertion.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that no arrangements were made by the military authorities for the reception of the cadre of the 2nd West Riding Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Territorial Force, on its arrival in Bradford; that no billets or rations were arranged for although the departure from Germany was delayed for fourteen days in order that arrangements might be made with the city authorities for a civic reception in Bradford; is he aware that the officers and men were dependent on the hospitality of the lord mayor for lodging until the officer commanding the cadre notified the Northern Command and the War Office of his arrival; and will he inquire into the matter?

I have called for a report, and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Pensions Minister whether he will reconsider the existing provisions of Circular 169, together with Correction Slip 19, dealing with the question of special bedding and clothing of tubercular cases; whether, having regard to the communications which have passed between him and the county of Middlesex war pensions committee on the subject, he can hold out any reasonable expectations of the modification of the conditions with respect to overcoats and underclothing of men while undergoing medical treatment; whether he is aware that surgical appliances for artificial limbs do cause clothing to wear out more rapidly than might otherwise be the case; and, in the tubercular case which has arisen, will he consider the urgent need for the man to be protected from chills and damp when, as the result of exposure to the elements necessitated by his mode of treatment, the one and only suit he may possess becomes wet?

I am aware that the present regulations with regard to the supply of special bedding and clothing have given rise to some complaint, and I have the matter under consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions if the war pensions committee for Hastings are appointing additional doctors to act as medical referees; whether in these appointments he will advise that priority be given to doctors who have served in the Services abroad and whose practices have thereby suffered; and that in these cases, where the doctor is not on the panel under the National Health Insurance Acts, this will be favourably considered as an additional reason for appointment, provided that in all cases medical qualifications are equal to other applicants?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Local committees are in fact not empowered to appoint medical referees. With regard to the remainder of the question, it is the practice of the Ministry to give preference to medical men who have served abroad, with a second preference to medical men who have served at home, and subject to these preferences to appoint men who have not had service and, amongst them doctors not on the panel are preferred as likely to be able to devote more time to the work.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the establishment at Rich-borough, Kent, is being transferred to the Ministry of Munitions; if civilian rates of pay will take the place of military rates of pay; and, if so, what extra cost will ensue?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative. It is hoped that no extra cost will be involved.

asked the Secretary of State for India, for what reason the evidence given before the Joint Select Committee on the Government of India Bill cannot be published before the Report itself is presented?

As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, the proceedings of the Committee cannot be published until the Committee passes orders to that effect. I hope, however, that it will be found possible to publish the Report and the evidence simultaneously next week.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the contract for 280,170 Wolseley helmets for the Indian Government, to be delivered in Bombay, tenders for which were invited by 16th October, has yet been placed; if so, what firm has received the order; whether the contract will be carried out under trade union conditions and by trade union labour; and what steps are being taken to secure this?

The number of helmets in question is 28,170, and a contract for this quantity has been placed with Messrs. Hepburn, Gale, and Ross. The contractors have undertaken to observe the Fair Wages Clause in their own works, and to be responsible for its observance by the firm of Messrs. E. Day, Ltd., which is executing part of the work for them. On a specific report being made to me of any breach of the Clause 1 will institute a local inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether Afghan troops are at present in occupation of territory within the British sphere of influence; what British or Indian troops have been dispatched to deal with the situation; whether any conflict with Afghans has taken place; and whether this country is at war with Afghanistan?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Baronet to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Melton. No troops have been dispatched to deal with these Afghans, other than those engaged in punitive operations against the tribesmen of Waziristan, and no conflict has, so far as I am aware, taken place with any Afghans. The answer to the last pact of the question is in the negative.

asked (1) the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement with regard to the future of Jubaland; and what truth there is in the reported possibility of Kismayu and the surrounding country being handed over to the Italians;(2) the Prime Minister whether in the Peace negotiations any arrangements with the Allies have been entered into, or are being entered into, with regard to the transfer or cession of any territory which was British before the War?

Negotiations have been in progress between the British and Italian Governments with a view to giving effect to the stipulations of the Treaty of London 1915, by which it was agreed that if Great Britain and France increased their African possessions at the expense of Germany, Italy should also be entitled to some adjustment of the frontiers of the Italian African Colonies. I am not in a position to make a definite statement on the subject at present.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will favourably consider the question of returning the whole of the superannuation premiums of teachers who died whilst serving in the Forces, together with 5 per cent, cumulative interest, to the next-of-kin of these men who died under circumstances entirely outside their professional duties?

In reply to the hon. Member's question I regret that there is no power to do what he desires in view of the provisions of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to provide an increase in the pensions of pre-war police pensioners who have not benefited by the recent Act; and whether, if for financial reasons he may be unable to recommend that such pre-war pensioners shall receive the full benefit referred to above, he will consider the desirability of meeting in some way the case of financial hardship under which such pre-war pensioners suffer on account of the recent depreciation in the value of the standard of money?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on Tuesday last to questions by the hon. and gallant Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, the hon. and gallant Member for Torquay, and the hon. Member for Lincoln. I greatly regret the effect on pre-war police pensioners, as on ninny other members of the community, caused by the recent depreciation in the value of money, but I do not see my way to propose special legislation for their benefit.

asked the Home Secretary the reason why the increase of pay from 1st of April last has been withheld from ex-Police Constables Whitehead and Allsworth, of the Metropolitan Police, seeing that all other members of the service who came out on strike have received theirs?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the money referred to has been withheld because the ex-constables continue to occupy police quarters to which they have no right, in respect of which they are paying no rent, and from which they are, by their presence, excluding legitimate occupiers.

asked the Home Secretary whether Phillips J. Isaacson, a Dutchman, who was deported to Holland without trial after twenty-eight years residence in England on 13th December, 1917, leaving behind an English wife and five children, can now be allowed to return to this country?

I am causing this case to be further considered.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the demand throughout the country that mothers' pensions should be paid to necessitous widows with children; and whether, in view of the general support which this question received in this House on the 8th April last, it is proposed to take steps to introduce legislation to this effect?

I have been asked to answer this question. The subject to which the hon. Member refers is being considered in connection with other proposals for changes in the present system of Public Assistance, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement upon it.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Prime Minister has been asked by the London County Council to receive a deputation on the subject of the institution of an inquiry into the administration of local government services in Greater London; whether he has yet received such deputation, and, if so, with what result; if, in the event of his having agreed that such inquiry should be held, to whom does he intend the same to be referred; and, if such deputation has not yet been received, whether other local authorities interested will be afforded an opportunity of placing before him their views as to the necessity or otherwise of such an inquiry being held?

The answer to the first and fourth paragraphs of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative. The proposal has only been a few days in my hands, and I have not yet been able to give it serious consideration, but will do so as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the date on which the price of petrol was decontrolled; what was the retail price then and what is the present price; whether there has been an increase or decrease in supplies in the in- tervening period; whether the published statement that petrol is delivered to this country at 1s. 9½d. per gallon, inclusive of cost, insurance, freight, and the Government, tax of 6d., is approximately correct; whether petrol is included in the provisions of the Profiteering Act; and, if not, if this commodity will be brought within its scope?

An Order made under the Profiteering Act on the 2nd October fixing maximum prices for motor spirit was revoked on the 14th October. There has been no change in prices, so far as I am aware, since that date. Stocks have slightly increased. The statement with regard to the cost of petrol delivered in this country appears to be approximately correct. Motor spirit has been declared an article to which the Profiteering Act applies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the leading cotton combination has recently declared a 30 per cent, dividend and is now proposing to divide up over £7,000,000 sterling in bonus shares as a free gift amongst its shareholders; whether he is aware that ordinary rods of sewing cotton are being sold to the public at 7d. or 8d.; and whether something really-effective can be done to protect the public against this inflation of prices?

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. As regards the remainder of the question, a Committee appointed by the Central Committee established under the Profiteering Act is and has for some time been investigating prices, costs, and profit at all stages in the manufacture of sewing cotton. The question of any further action will be considered when the Report of this Committee has been received, but I think it very necessary to remember that this great business undertaking carries on a large part of its activities in foreign countries, and that in so far as its profits are derived from that trade they mark an increase in the wealth of the nation as a whole, and contribute to the international payments which we have to make for industrial raw materials and food.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been called to the excessive overcrowding of trains on the Great Eastern Railway between Liverpool Street and Chingford every morning, and from 5 to 7.30 every evening, when as many as thirty people are often compressed into each compartment; and if he can hold out any hope of extra trains being put upon this branch during tho rush hours both morning and evening?

My attention has been called to this congestion, and I Am informed that the railway company has strengthened the composition of the trains and has provided additional trains. The hon. Member will appreciate that the periods he mentions are the busiest of the day.

asked the Minister of Transport if under the recent railway strike settlement provision is made for no men who remained at work being on that account expelled from membership of the National Union of Railwayman; and, if not, whether, in the event of the vicitimisation of any such men, he will undertake that they shall be retained in railway employment notwithstanding the fact that they will have ceased to be union men?

The recent railway strike settlement provides that no man shall be prejudiced in any way as the result of the strike. If any cases of victimisation are brought to my notice they will be taken up at once.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that 75,000 tons of tea are expected to be shipped from India to British ports during the months of October, November, and December; whether, having regard to the exist-ting stocks, he is aware that there will be great difficulty in finding accommodation for this tea in existing ports; whether he is taking any steps to secure that the transport of tea on landing in this country is quickly and efficiently carried out and that clearances of tea from existing stocks equal to the importations will be made; and can he arrange with the Minister of Shipping so as to avoid congestion in the ports caused by the present method of importing food commodities in such great quantities at one time?

I am constantly in communication with the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Food regarding the programme of imports of tea and other commodities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what steps are being taken to relieve the congestion at the port of Hull; how many motor lorries he hopes to be able to spare for this work; whether all available motor lorries in Government hands are being pressed into service for clearing the ports of the country; and what steps are being taken in the immediate future to increase the railway rolling stock and the supply of barges, lighters, keels, and other small craft urgently required for this purpose?

I am aware that there is congestion at the port of Hull, and the measures necessary to relieve the situation have been receiving the attention of the Ministry of Transport. I hope to give further information as to the rolling-stock situation in the course of a week or two. There is no indention on the part of the Government to undertake the supply of the type of craft mentioned.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that motor cars fitted with near-side steering are now being imported into this country; and whether, in view of he danger to the public involved in this change, he will prohibit the use of any car so fitted, other than those already imported?

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 wil be referred.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the conviction on 15th October, 1919, of a carman named James Simpson for obtaining out-of-work pay, although earning over 30s. a day; whether unemployment allowances are paid on the unsupported statements of the applicants and without investigation; if not, will he state the reason for the constant occurrence of cases of this kind; and whether, on release from imprisonment, this man will, under the existing Regulations, be entitled to receive unemployment pay in the event of his not obtaining work?

My attention has been called to this case. Claims to out-of-work donation are not by any means admitted on the unsupported statements of the applicant; on the contrary, each case is carefully inquired into, and a special staff is employed in investigating cases of suspicion, In the circumstances, the fact that there have been only 842 convictions for frauds of all kinds in connection with out-of-work donation, justifies me in denying the suggestion that frauds of this kind are of constnat occurrence. Under existing Regulations a conviction for fraud does not in itself cancel the right to donation if the conditions are otherwise fulfilled.

asked the Prime Minister the reason why the third volume of the Coal Industry Commission, containing statistical memoranda, has not yet been published; and whether this volume will be issued without further delay?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The printing of the charts and diagrams containing the statistical information to be included in the volume has required considerable time, but it is expected that the volume will be ready for issue shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the old agreement by which 50 per cent, of the vacancies of the Post Office were to be reserved for the old sailors and soldiers who have finished their period of service is about to be annulled; whether the arrangement was made one of the attractions in the past for recruiting; and, if so, in view of the pledge given by the Admiralty and War Office to those whom they asked to enlist, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

There is no intention of cancelling the arrangement under which at least half the vacancies for postmen are reserved for ex-soldiers and ex-sailors. There are at present several thousands of disabled soldiers who would be eligible for employment in the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General for what purposes the manhole at the junction of Berkeley Street and Piccadilly is being used, and how long it is intended to use it in view of the congestion of traffic caused thereby?

This manhole is now being used in connection with a rearrangement of telephone circuits with a view to greater development in the district. A new cable, containing 500 pairs of wires, is being laid and the work should be completed in about four weeks. After that, I hope it will seldom be necessary to open the manholes for working purposes.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the inconvenience caused to the public and the injury to trade by the closing of branch post offices, situated in tradesmen's shops, closing half a day in the middle of each week as well as an hour or an hour and a half in the busiest part of each day; and whether, in view of the fact that such branch offices have had many now duties put on them during the last few years, he will make such arrangements as will enable them to remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., as is the case with district offices?

The provisions of the Shops Act, 1912, apart, the closing of Post Offices carried on in shops on the local early closing day is in accordance with the practice recommended by a Select Committee of this House on Post Office servants in 1907, in order to afford sub-postmasters and their assistants partial relief from duty on one day in the week. The closing is acquiesced in by the public generally. The closing of post offices for a short period at midday, which was in- troduced during the War, has now been abolished or reduced to a period not exceeding one hour, except at the smallest offices. I am not aware that the practice has given rise to serious inconvenience where it still remains in force, but on this point and with regard to the hours at which business begins and ends, I shall be glad to consider any specific case which my hon. Friend may have in mind.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the weekly wages of the assistants of the sub-postmaster at the Gloddaeth Street Post Office, Llandudno; the amount of the war bonus; whether it is paid weekly or monthly; and, if monthly, will he use his good offices to get the bonus paid weekly and raised to an amount in keeping with the increased cost of living as paid to other shop assistants?

The weekly wages of the assistants of the sub-postmaster of Gloddaeth Street, Llandudno, are under-Stood to be 40s., 26s. and 22s. respectively. These sums include war bonus, but no definite amount is so described. According to the information at my disposal, these wages compare satisfactorily with those of shop assistants of the same standing in the service of good employers in Llandudno.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller why the Government still retains steamers urgently required for traffic between Ireland and British ports; if he is aware that the capacity of the steamers now available is only 50 per cent, of the demand for carrying foodstuffs and livestock; and if any arrangements can be made to release further vessels for the Irish service?

The cross-Channel steamers on requisition suitable for foodstuffs and live stock are not now being used for Government service, but are in various stages of reconditioning with a view to return to their owners. Although more tonnage could be used in Irish trade, if available, I am not aware that the demand is 50 per cent, in excess of the supply.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if he is aware that the Portishead Dock, which has been rented, to the Admiralty at an annual rental of £21,000 for the purpose of fitting out ships that are being built at Chepstow, as there are no ships built and ready for fitting out, the docks are lying idle and cannot be used by the dock authorities to meet the congestion of shipping at Avonmouth Docks; whether this is in consequence of some dispute that has arisen between the dock owners and the Government; is he aware that this deadlock is causing considerable inconvenience and unemployment at Portishead; will he take steps to make some arrangement by which dock dues and rents could be collected by the Government, so as to enable traffic to be conducted in the port; and, failing this, is he prepared, as an alternative, in order that the docks can be put into immediate use and work be provided for the unemployed, to refer the point, in dispute with the dock owners to arbitration?

The dock has not been idle in con sequence of disputes between the dock owners and the Government, and has been used for reception of ships. Arrangements have been made for the full utilisation of the dock, and the dues and rents will be collected and credited to the Government.

asked the Secretary for Scotland. in view of recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease- in England, what stops have been taken to safeguard the interests of Scottish stock-owners and farmers; and whether, seeing that such outbreaks result in the closing of certain foreign ports to the exportation of Scottish live stock, he will consider the advisability of transferring the administration of the Contagious Diseases of Animals Acts in Scotland to the Scottish Board of Agriculture?

The steps taken by the Board to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease are taken as much in the interest of the Scottish stock-owner as of stock-owners resident in other parts of Great Britain. As regards the last part of the question, the Board have no power to transfer their statutory obligations to another Department.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the last Report issued by the chemical department of his Board, wherein certain feeding stuffs, fertilisers, and other materials required in agriculture have been proved on analysis by Dr. J. A. Voelcker to be more or less valueless for the purpose they are advertised and sold to serve, and that in one instance alone the cost was more than four times what the material was worth; and whether, assuming the duty of the Board to be the protection of those engaged in agriculture, he proposes to allow the sale of these deceptive materials to continue without warning purchasers against them, thereby exposing the farming interest to fraud and the grave risk of diminution in the quantity and quality of the products of their industry?

There is no Report issued by the Board of Agriculture of the kind referred to by the hon. Member. The results of analyses made by Dr. Voelcker of certain feeding stuffs and fertilisers are published annually in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. Protection against fraudulent sales of fertilisers and feeding stuffs is provided by the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act of 1906. Under this Act, sellers are required to give a description of these materials where necessary, indicating their agricultural value. A false description to the prejudice of the purchaser constitutes an offence under the Act. The Board are now considering to what extent the Act should be amended with a view to giving greater protection to the farmer. The Board have repeatedly warned users of manures against the purchase of inferior or worthless articles at excessive prices, and have published a leaflet on the subject, a copy of which I am send- ing to the hon. Member. Prices of fertilisers are not controlled by law; prices and distribution of feeding stuffs continue for the present under the administration of the Food Controller.

asked the hon. Member for the Newbury Division, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether, in view of the financial straits in which many of the clergy now find themselves owing to the increased cost of living, and having regard to the high rate of interest now obtainable by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the Commissioners will consider the possibility of increasing the rate of interest allowed on all benefactions and grants made to meet benefactions from 3 per cent, to 4 per cent.?

The benefactions and grants made to meet benefactions secured to livings prior to the year 1915, and upon which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have pledged themselves to pay in perpetuity annuities equal to 3 per cent., are not held on deposit, but were invested from time to time with other funds of the Commissioners. Although the investments were made at the Commissioners' own risk, the interest received thereon was in most years very little in excess of, and in some years was actually less than, the annuities paid. Generally the Commissioners are receiving the same income on these investments now as when the investments were made, while, on the other hand, the securities have greatly depreciated in value. Nothing would, therefore, be gained by a sale and reinvestment. For these reasons the Commissioners would not be justified in increasing the annuities. Since 1915 the Commissioners have paid 4 per cent, on cash benefactions and on grants made to meet the benefactions. Moreover, securities at their market value continue to be accepted in lieu of cash benefactions, but in such case the Commissioners are not responsible for any depreciation in value.