asked the Food Controller whether he has received the Report of the Committee of Inquiry on the Prices of Milk; whether it is proposed to reduce the present control price; and, if so, to what amount?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. A summary of the Report has been published in the Press. I have invited the Committee to meet me and discuss the recommendations contained in the Report, and hope to make a further announcement on the subject shortly.

asked the Food Controller whether his attention has been called to the fact that since the increase in the price of milk the consumption of milk has increased in those districts of Glasgow where the richer people live and has decreased to an alarming extent in those districts where the poorer people live; whether he is aware that according to the report of welfare nurses the shortage mainly falls upon children aged from one to five years, that instead of milk infants are being given tea with toast soaked in it, and that porridge, rice, milk puddings, and other milk foods are being superseded by cocoa; and whether, in view of these facts, he will take steps to reduce the price of milk?

I have received a report to the effect described by the hon. Member, and I would call his attention to the arrangements that have been made under which, in necessitous cases, children under five years of age and nursing mothers are able to obtain milk at reduced prices.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that many workmen's clubs in the North of England are still rationed as regards whisky in spite of the recent concessions, and also that spirit merchants state they are unable to increase their deliveries until the big whisky houses decide on their policy; and if he will bring pressure to bear on these big firms to ensure that an ample supply is available, at all events, for Christmas and New Year?

It is difficult for supplies of spirits to be increased in all cases until the trade have had sufficient opportunity of clearing from bond extra quantities in order to meet the altered conditions. Ample supplies should, however, be available by Christmas; and I do not think that, under the circumstances, the pressure which the hon. and gallant Member suggests is necessary.

asked the chief secretary for Ireland if he will state and classify by counties, the number of appli- cations received from soldiers and sailors for farms of land and allotments of land under the land for sailors and soldiers proposals of the Government?

The number of applications received by the Estates Commissioners up to the 30th November, 1919, from ex-Service men is 2,047, namely:

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps, if any, his Department is taking to replace the older doctors in the Royal Army Medical Corps by younger men who have just left hospital, especially in view of the fact that most of the older men left their practices in order to serve their country for the duration of the War?

The older doctors who wish to be demobilised are being released as rapidly as possible, as establish-ments are reduced or substitution by younger men who have signed the new contract is effected. Any newly-qualified medical man who desires to serve in the Royal Army Medical Corps is given a six months' commission, provided he is fit for general service and under forty-five years of age, but I regret that the number of those electing to serve has not up to the present been as large as was hoped.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the age limit for the retirement of servants at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; whether he can state how many have been discharged during the last six months; how many of these were old soldiers; whether they were discharged on the grounds of physical incapacity of continuing their duties or on grounds of misconduct; and whether something can be done to alleviate the hardship of turning old men off who are unable to find other employment?

I am having inquiry made into the details brought forward in the question, and will communicate with my Noble Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War why orders have been given that the wives of officers in the Army in France (devastated area) shall no longer occupy Government buildings; and whether he is aware that much hardship is caused thereby, particularly in the case of officers who have signed on for a number of years?

I am making inquiries and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will inquire as to the housing conditions of the men employed who are working at Bannes-Camiers; and is he aware that no heating apparatus is provided and such stoves as the men themselves have supplied have been removed, and that there is no provision of baths for the men?

Inquiries are being made, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Military Service. Medals have been awarded amongst the staffs of the Territorial Force depots; and if he can give the number awarded to Territorials in the South-Western Command?

My hon. and gallant Friend presumably refers to Meritorious Service Medals. I regret that the information asked for is not available, and could not be obtained without much research, which I am afraid cannot under present circumstances be undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the only qualification for issue of the general service and Allied medals is the fact that recipients crossed the Channel; whether it is the case that men who worked on the roads, at the docks, or at the base received them equally with men who had faced all the dangers of the trenches; and whether, if the facts are as stated, there is any reason why these medals, or at least the general service medal, should not be issued to the home troops who defended these shores from invasion, the recruiting staff who raised the Armies, the medical staff in this country who received and treated the wounded, and the home supply departments which provided everything necessary for the comfort and the efficiency of the fighting forces?

The British War Medal is awarded to those who entered a theatre of war on duty or who rendered approved service overseas. The main condition of award of the Victory Medal is service on the establishment of specified units in the theatre of war and within specified periods. The British Isles were not a theatre of war and no war medal can be awarded to those who did not leave them, but as I have previously stated, the question of the award of a medal in recognition of services rendered outside theatres of war is under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, under the recent Royal Warrant for pay the retired pay for officers was increased to meet the higher cost of living; whether this applies to temporary officers who have been invalided out of the Army with disability equal to the loss of a limb and placed on half-pay; and, if not, why not?

The retired pay of officers was increased under the recent Warrant in view of the higher cost of living and other considerations. Any question relating to the treatment of officers invalided out of the Army should be addressed to the Ministry of Pensions.

asked the Pensions Minister whether, on the ground of the increased cost of living, a war bonus of 20 per cent. was granted for the year 1919 on all pensions given for wounds and disabilities resulting from active service; and, if so, on what grounds has it now been decided to discontinue such bonus and at the same time to increase the war bonus in the Civil Service?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the Epping Division of Essex on the 17th ultimo, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the issue of the silver badge for services rendered is not made m any case where an officer or man is found to suffer from a disability caused through irregular habits; and, if that is the case, why Lieut. Philip R. Kennedy, late 2/11th Battalion, London Regiment, having been granted the silver badge for services rendered, has not yet received the service gratuity due to him on his rank and service in the Army?

The withholding of the gratuity is considered in each case on its merits. The case of Lieutenant Kennedy has been considered more than once, and the decision to withhold the gratuity is final.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is a fact that an Army Council Instruction granting gratuities to P.O.W. interpreters was printed over three months ago; and can it now be issued so that the officers in this branch of the Service may receive the same treatment as all others granted temporary commissions in the Army?

I much regret that the issue of these instructions has been further delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the military authorities are still in possession of Kenley Common, which was taken over during the, War for military purposes; if so, when it is proposed to vacate the common and to restore to the public their right to the full use of the same; and what is the reason for the delay in so doing?

The answer to the first part of this question is in the affirmative; and to the second and third parts, that owing to the importance of this aerodrome both from a service and civil point of view it is desired to retain it as a permanent station. Negotiations are in progress with this end in view.

asked tin Secretary of State for India what is the estimated or actual cost of expeditions beyond Mesopotamia in which Indian troops leave been employed since 11th November, 1918?

I have been asked to reply. The expenditure on these expeditions is not separated from other Mesopotamian expenditure. The accounts are in India, and I regret I am not able to estimate the cost.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether arty Indian troops have been, or still are operating in Persia or Turkestan; if so, whether their numbers can be stated; what are the objects aimed at by such expeditions; and whether it is intended to continue or withdraw them?

I have been asked to reply. As regards Persia, I would refer to my answer on the 4th November to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull. There are no Indian troops in Turkestan at present. A small force—approximately 1,200 Indian troops—was at Merv, but evacuated Turkestan in August last. They were sent to Merv to counteract Bolshevik aggression and to prevent Bolshevik penetration into Persia and Afghanistan.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the great hardship inflicted upon the students in Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, under the scheme of the Board of Education for the training of ex-officers by the withholding of payments due last October for the term October-January; whither he is aware that many students who were attending the long vacation have not yet been paid the maintenance grant, now over seventeen weeks in arrears and whether he will take immediate steps to have these grievances remedied?

I regret that, owing to very great pressure of work in this branch of my office and the unexpectedly large number of applications received this autumn for assistance under the ex-Service students' scheme, there has been some unavoidable delay in dealing with some of the applications and settling the payments. Payments have already been made in about three-quarters of the cases, and I have now arranged for special payments on account to be made in the case of the other remaining ex-Service students at Armstrong College, to whom grants have been promised but riot yet paid, and who are in need of immediate financial assistance.

asked the, Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that short terms of imprisonment have been shown to have no reformative value, but, on the contrary, have generally a very deteriorating influence, especially on young offenders, he will give instructions for the immediate release of Edmund Gargate, a youth of eighteen, a first offender who has hitherto borne an excellent character, who, on 20th October, was sentenced to five months' imprisonment with hard labour?

I cannot agree with the conclusions of my Noble Friend as stated in the question. I have carefully considered the case of Edmund Gargate and consulted the learned judge who tried it, and I am not able to advise any interference with the sentence.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the harmful effect on agricultural work by the Daylight Saving Act being in operation in March and April and, later, in September, he will take steps to delay the operation of the Act until 15th April, and, again, to terminate it after 15th September?

In fixing the period of Summer Time for 1920 the point raised will receive consideration, and the Departments concerned will be consulted before the period is fixed.

asked the Home Secretary if he proposes to take any further action to ask those Belgians who came over during the War to now return to Belgium; and whether it is with his knowledge and consent that some are remaining?

The British Government are co-operating in every way with the Belgian Government in the appeals which they have made that the Belgians who took refuge in the United Kingdom during the War should return to their own country. I do not think there are any further steps that I can take. I am aware that a certain number—a very small percentage of the total—of Belgian refugees are still here; but no question as to my consent arises.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the danger both to pedestrians and to vehicular traffic caused by the present position of the refuges in Parliament Street and Whitehall; whether the risk has been increased by the fact that the refuges do not correspond with the position of the Cenotaph; and whether he will take steps to secure that the refuges are placed centrally?

The answer to the first two paragraphs of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the third, the Commissioner of Police is in communication with the local authority, and I understand that the matter is engaging the attention of the London Traffic Advisory Committee.

asked the Home Secretary when it is proposed to allow the magistrates to take up their old duties of granting extensions of licensing hours for balls, etc., held at public-houses which, during the War, and now, are still granted by the military authorities; and if the old plan could now be reverted to?

The future regulation of this matter will be governed by the legislation which the Government have announced their intention of introducing.

asked the Minister of Health whether a local authority is empowered to demand to be supplied with copies of the plans and specifications of houses being built in their area by a public utility society under the housing scheme; and, if so, who gives the necessary authority for the copies to be supplied?

The requirement of local by-laws that persons intending to construct buildings shall deposit plans with the local authority applies to the case of public utility societies.

asked the. Minister of Health if he can state the number of persons in England in receipt of compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act and also in receipt of Poor Law relief?

I regret that I have no information as to the number of persons in receipt of compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act who are also in receipt of Poor Law relief.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, prior to their establishments being controlled, certain locomotive manufacturers accepted contracts at fixed prices for construction and supply to British railway companies; that in almost all cases rough or raw materials were purchased by contractors and the work commenced before the orders could be cancelled; and that in some cases the railway companies refuse to pay any part of the increased costs attached to completion of the contracts; and whether he will take steps to see that these manufacturers are not made to suffer, and that allowance will be made for the increased costs now prevailing?

I have been asked to answer this question. The difficulty to which my hen, and gallant Friend refers is not peculiar to contracts for railway material. While I am not competent to advise on the legal point involved, I believe I am right in saying that provision has been made by the Courts (Emergency Powers) Acts 1917-1919 for protecting manufacturers where, in consequence of Government restrictions or directions, the terms of a contract cannot be enforced without serious hardship, and, consequently, that it is open to such manufacturers to apply to the Court for relief.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the serious overcrowding which takes place on the Metropolitan District Railway from West Ham and Charing Cross between the hours of 1 and 2 p.m.; and whether be will bring pressure to bear on this company to increase the number of trains run between the above hours on that line, in view of the fact that there are comparatively long intervals between the trains?

I am told by the railway company that the records do not show any habitual overcrowding between the points named during the time spoken of. I am asking the company particularly to watch the point brought to notice.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the serious lack of railway wagons for the transport of road-mending material in the Eastern Counties, with the result that not only are the roads in a deplorable condition of disrepair, but that unless some improvement in transport takes place in the near future stone quarries may have to be shut down, with consequent unemployment of their men; and whether he will take all possible steps to remedy this unsatisfactory state of affairs?

Wherever possible the railway companies concerned supplement the wagons which the quarry owners provide for the conveyance of road metal for their quarries, but in the present general shortage of wagons other important traffic, such as foodstuffs, must be given preference. I cannot admit, however, that the roads generally are in a deplorable state due to the cause mentioned. Work causing expenditure of over £30,000,000 in the present financial year is being rapidly pushed forward.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the caustic soda and bleaching powder plants in Widnes of the United Alkali Company, Limited, employing from 1,500 to 2,000 men, will be shut down within a few days unless facilities are afforded for transporting lime from Buxton; whether he is aware that there are 5,000 tons of limestone waiting at Buxton which cannot be brought to Widnes in consequence of the lack of wagons; and whether he can take special action in this case in order to prevent the enforced unemployment of so many men?

Wagons for limestone are provided by quarry owners, but whenever possible the railway company have in the past supplemented the supply and will continue to do so. I understand that the United Alkali Company's reason for requiring additional wagons now is due to the fact that they relinquished last July seventy-five wagons which they had on hire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has made inquiries regarding the price of cigarettes in Ireland as compared with that in England; and, if so, with what result?

I understand that the Irish Retail Tobacconists' Association fixes the minimum retail selling prices of tobaccos and cigarettes, and that such prices are generally not less than ½d. per ounce more than the minimum retail selling price fixed by the manufacturers. As I informed the hon. Member for Rothwell on Monday last, tobacco is at present being investigated under Section 3 of the Profiteering Act by a Sub-committee appointed by the Central Committee.

asked the Assistant. Postmaster-General whether the provision of telephone facilities in the Somersham district, in response to the petition from the inhabitants of 1st September last, are likely to be put in hand at an early date?

I regret that I am not in a position to comply with the request of the petitioners, as tile work involved would be costly and would not be justified by the prospective receipts.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the introduction of a Bill dealing with public libraries and museums in England and Wales, particularly with reference to the rate that may be levied, it is the intention of the Government to introduce a similar measure for Scotland?

I cannot at present give any undertaking in this matter, but it will receive my consideration in consultation with those interested. I would remind my hon. Friend that Section 5 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1018, has already made provision for the additional supply of books for general reading, as an ancillary means of education, through the new education authority.

asked the. Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of cases have occurred recently whereby landholders and statutory small tenants have, been required to vacate their holdings on account of the same having been purchased by owners who propose to occupy: whether he can see his way to take steps to provide that the out-going tenants shall not be required to vacate the holdings at the exceedingly inconvenient term of Martinmas; and what steps are being taken by the Board of Agriculture to provide new holdings for such dispossessed holders?

The Board of Agriculture for Scotland have had their attention drawn to cases of the kind referred to as regards landholders, but not as regards statutory small tenants. As to the second part of the question, I would point out that a landholder or statutory small tenant receiving a notice to vacate can only be removed in the event of disagreement by an Order of the Land Court on an application by the landlord for resumption. It is open to dispossessed tenants to apply to the Board for new holdings, and their cases would be considered along with those of other applicants.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is yet in a position to announce his proposals regarding Grants towards the education rate of Highland areas; and, if so, will he state the nature of them?

The nature of the proposals which I may make as regards Grants in relief of rates in the Highland areas depends upon the decision which I arrive at as regards the payment of accrued Grants. That subject is still under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can now say when the relaxation of the Muzzling Order can be expected in that portion of the London-Middlesex control of dugs area in which Farnham (Surrey) is situated?

It is not yet considered safe to revoke the London-Middlesex Control of Dogs Order. The regulations formerly in force have, however, been modified to the extent that the Board are now prepared to grant licences to residents in certain districts, which include the district of Farnham, by which, in special cases, dogs can be taken out of the area comprised in the above Order, subject to quarantine on private premises instead of premises under the control of a veterinary surgeon, as was formerly the case. In the event of no further cases of rabies being declared, the Board hope to be in a position to revoke the London-Middlesex muzzling operations early in the new year.

asked the Under-Secretary of. State for Foreign Affairs whether a refugee camp is still maintained at Bakuba, at a cost of £3,000 a day; and, if so, for what purpose, and for how long it is proposed to continue to maintain such a camp at the expense, if that is the case, of the British taxpayer?

A refugee camp is still maintained at Bakuba, though the number of refugees is being reduced by repatriation as fast as possible. There are several thousand Armenians whom it may be impossible to repatriate this winter. The whole question, which is entirely a humanitarian one, is at present under consideration.