asked the President of the Board of Trade whether imports of German toys, as well as of toys which, though coming through neutral countries, are undoubtedly of German origin, are steadily increasing; whether the official statements of the values of such toys have been founded on English values or on the current value of the German mark; and whether, in view of the necessity for safeguarding this trade, which employs so large a number of disabled soldiers and sailors, he will now consider the prohibition for at least two years of the importation of such toys as may reasonably be presumed to be of German origin?

The value of toys and games imported from Germany was substantially greater in November than October. The value of toys and games imported from all other countries was less in November than October; it is, however, impossible to say what proportion of them may be of German origin. As declarations of value are made on a C.I.F. basis, the current value of the mark is presumably taken in making such declaration. I am not prepared at present to adopt the course suggested in the last part of the question as the need has not yet arisen, but I may point out that it is with a view to having powers to cope with the sort of situation which may arise in this trade that the Imports and Exports Bill has been introduced.

May I ask whether all these toys and other things imported have to bear the German trade mark?

Not each individual article. It is at present under the Merchandise Marks Act, and there is a Committee sitting now to consider whether that Act should be amended.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that English toy manufacturers have, directly after Xmas, or in the beginning of the new year, to prepare for toys for next Xmas?

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea of the total value of these imports?

I have a figure in my mind which I think is approximately right, but if the hon. Gentleman would like to know, and would put down a question, I will give him the figures.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not admit that there is an enormous increase since September in the importation of these German goods?

Oh, yes; there was only £7 worth in September.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that imports in November came to no less than £51,800, and that they were three times as much as in October?

That may be so. That is not the figure I have in my mind—about three-fifths of that.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that toys now are so dear that poor people cannot buy them?

There are toys and toys.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that manicure scissors made in Germany are being sold in large quantities in London at a wholesale price of 18s. 6d. per dozen while the wholesale price of similar scissors made in Sheffield is 39s. per dozen; and whether, in view of this instance of the effect of the German Exchange, any action will be taken to check the continued importation of these articles at a price with which the British manufacturers cannot compete?

I understand that the facts are substantially as stated in the first part of the question; but I also understand that the supplies of these scissors are very short.

May I call attention to the fact that the manufacturers are so engaged that if the suggestion in the question were adopted, it would mean taxing the consumer without benefiting production?

Yes, Sir; not only that, but the Sheffield people are doing extraordinarily well in the way of scissors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has been taken to stimulate the building of railway locomotives and wagons with a view to reducing the congestion of the various railway systems; and how many locomotives and wagons are turned out per week?

I have been asked to answer this question. The position in regard to the construction of locomotives does not call for any special stimulus. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport dealt fully with the wagon position in his statement on Wednesday last, and I would refer the hon. Member to the Report, which is now available.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the challenge in the papers addressed to Government Departments with regard to locomotives and trucks cannot be taken up?

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the fact that the shortage of railway wagons is having a detrimental effect on the industry of the country, and that the railways are continually pressing for the delivery of wagon scantlings, some of which have been produced during the last two or three years in Australia in execution of orders already in hand for the English railways, he will impress upon the Ministry of Shipping the necessity for allocating tonnage for this purpose; whether the Australian Government have already brought before this Government the necessity that exists for securing freight for timber from Western Australia; and if he is aware that, as a result of the congested state of the saw mills and wharves, many ex-soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force previously employed in the timber industry have been unable to be put back on to their old jobs?

I have been asked to reply. Representations have been made to the Shipping Controller as to the desirability of providing tonnage for the shipment of this timber, but it is contrary to the policy of the Ministry of Shipping to provide space for other than Government cargo. It is open to the shippers of this timber to charter for their requirements on the world's market.

As the Government are now controlling the railways is not the question of the shortage of wagons a matter affecting the Government Department?

If representations are made to my right hon. Friend for any essential commodity every consideration will be given to them. With regard to the shipping of timber, I would suggest to my hon. and gallant Friend that he might approach the Australian authorities in order that they might consider the possibility of utilising the Commonwealth Line of steamers for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he will agree to the appointment of an independent chartered accountant to investigate the cost of the manufacture in railway workshops of wagons referred to in his recent statement;

(2) if he will furnish particulars of his recent statement of the cost of manufacture of railway wagons in railway workshops showing against each item the total expended on materials, on labour, and the amount allowed for establishment or overhead charges, for profit, and for national taxation?

In reply to these questions my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is prepared to appoint an independent chartered accountant to investigate the cost of manufacture of wagons, both of selected representative railway workshops and of outside wagon builders, provided the latter agree.

Will the hon. Member also have an independent accountant to examine the cost of these railway wagons which are being made in Government Departments?

Is it proposed to delay the transport trade of this country while these investigations are going on?

:I am afraid I cannot answer that question.

Will he give an undertaking that if private wagons are ordered and built they will not be pooled?

That does not arise out of the question.

I wish to know whether an independent accountant will be appointed to examine the cost?

The hon. Member must give notice of the question.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that as long ago as 1909 the Royal Commission on Canals and Waterways reported that a strong case had been made out for an improved communication across the Mull of Kintyre, Argyllshire, capable of taking the largest ships that ply between Glasgow and the Western Highlands and Islands with a reasonable margin for probable future developments in their dimensions; whether, in view of this and the even greater necessity which exists to-day for the improvement of steamer communication between Glasgow and the Western Highlands and Islands, with the object of a quicker and cheaper conveyance of goods and passengers from and to Glasgow, tending towards the greater and speedier development of the Western Highlands and Islands, for increasing the fish supplies, and for the purpose of reducing the distance and enabling steamers to proceed in all weathers, he will consider the desirability of immediately arranging a scheme to widen and deepen the Crinan Canal so as to allow steamers of at least 1,000 tons burthen to pass through it?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, a detailed survey of the present conditions of the Crinan Canal is now being undertaken by this Ministry, in order that a decision may be arrived at as to which, if any, of the following policies should be adopted, namely, to repair the present canal, to improve and extend it, or to construct a new canal.

Pending the completion of this investigation, will the Minister of Transport see to it that the Treasury does not ruin this fishing industry by continuing the reduction of steamers; and is he aware that within the last three weeks a reduction of one-half has been made?

I will convey the question of the hon. Gentleman to the Minister of Transport.

Would it not be possible to use for this communication some of the seaworthy trawlers, instead of having heavy ships, until sufficient traffic arose to justify the employment of the heavy steamers?

I could not answer that without notice.

asked the Minister of Transport how, in view of the shortcomings of motor-lorry transport, he proposes to deal with the still-continuing congestion at the docks?

I am unable to add to the very full statement which my right hon Friend the Minister of Transport made to Members of this House on Wednesday last regarding the congestion at docks, and the position of railways which reacts on the docks.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that many of the lorries in the docks have never done a day's work since they were put there?

I am not aware—

Then look into it!

Does not the mistake lie in the administration of the lorries rather than in the lorries themselves Would the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of putting the service out to public tender?

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport said here on Friday that the lorry question was unsatisfactory, and that the auxiliary lorries were to be withdrawn from all except two ports.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Armagh Urban District Council has passed a resolution protesting against the inefficient train service maintained between Dublin and Armagh, and asking that third-class accommodation should be provided on the 7.25 a.m. train from Dublin, or that a connection with Armagh at Goraghwood should be given by the 9 a.m. train from Dublin; and if he will represent to the Irish Railway Executive that these reasonable concessions should be granted?

I have seen a copy of the resolution to which the hon. Member refers. I understand the Great Northern Railway Company of Ireland will, as from to-day, provide facilities for third class passengers to travel to Dundalk by the 7.25 a.m. train from Dublin, making connections at Dundalk and Goraghwood for Armagh, arriving at the last named place at 10.10 a.m. This arrangement will be continued pending the restoration of the Goraghwood to Armagh connection with the 9 a.m. train from Dublin.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the congestion which has prevailed in the port of Liverpool for a long period; that at times there have been as many as fifty steamers waiting for discharging berths in the docks, and that the usual number waiting daily for berths is about thirty; that the quays, warehouses, and cold storage are blocked with commodities, including food, controlled by the Government, and that this congestion is largely due to ineffective railway service and shortage of wagons; and if he will state what measures are being taken to relieve this congestion and bring about a normal state of affairs?

I am aware that there has been congestion in the Liverpool Docks for a long period, but, according to my information, the figures quoted by the hon. Member are somewhat exaggerated. The situation at Liverpool has recently shown substantial improvement, and the port is getting a fair share of the wagons available, but I would point out that the congestion is due in a greater degree to shortage of water-borne facilities. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon Friend the Minister of Transport made last Wednesday to Members of this House.

Can I rely upon the hon. Gentleman using his energy and driving force to keep his chief up to the mark; and can he say whether the offer made by Mr. Dudley Docker to build 500 wagons per week, at a less cost than the Government can turn them out, will be accepted?

I am sure my driving force does not need to be directed against my right hon. Friend, with regard to the latter statement, or by my hon. Friend. I may say that correspondence is proceeding, and I do not think I can add anything further.

Will my hon. Friend consider the advisability of circulating the important speech made by the Minister last week?

It is available in the Vote Office now. If there is a general wish for distribution, certainly that can be done.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to include representatives of the distributing trades among the four members of the public who will sit on the Railway Advisory Committee?

asked whether it is intended that the interests of the travelling public are to be represented on the proposed National Wages Board by the Co-operative Union; whether a definite alliance exists for political and economic questions between the trades union and co-operative movements; whether it is intended that the four representatives of users of railways shall consist of the allied trades union and co-operative interest and representatives of commerce only; and will he say why representation has been denied to the travelling public?

Four representatives of the users of the railways are to be included in this board as my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport explained in answer to a question on Monday last. They are to be nominated respectively by the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress, the Co-operative Union, the Association of Chambers of Commerce, and the Federation of British Industries.

The first two bodies may, I think, be taken as representing the relatively large number of railway users in the less wealthy classes of the community, and the other two bodies, who will nominate after consultation with other large organisations, as representing other classes who are smaller in number, but pay a relatively high proportion of railway charges. The composition of the board has been agreed with the railway companies and the men's unions, and the Minister does not see his way to enlarge it.

asked whether in the statement that is being prepared by the Government giving the cost to the country of the recent railway strike, he will include under separate headings the cost involved in preparing, printing, and distributing the various leaflets, posters, and advertisements to the Press which purported to set forth the Government view on the situation, giving the numbers issued in each case?

The cost of publicity and propaganda, as already stated, is £32,657. I do not think that it would be worth while to split this sum up under separate headings.

asked whether, in considering the question of the permission granted to officers of the Army and Navy when in uniform to travel first class at second-class fares on production of the requisite form authorising them to do so, he will take into consideration the entirely different and unsettled conditions under which these officers are serving compared with the more settled lives of the civil population, and that he will not deprive these officers of this small concession so long as the railways are under Government control?

This question is one primarily for the War Office, and I shall be glad if my hon. and gallant Friend will kindly put down a question on the subject addressed to the Secretary of State for War.

Has the Department had representations made in favour of terminating this concession from the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Communications are passing between my right hon. Friend and the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon this subject.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that three mills of Jackson's Millboard and Paper Company, Limited, Bourne End, Bucks, will be compelled to close this week unless they can obtain delivery of coal; whether the Stanton Company, Pleasley Colliery, from whom this company obtain coal, refuse to supply on the ground that the railway companies do not clear the trucks; whether he will give instructions for at least twelve trucks to be cleared at the Pleasley Colliery and dispatched to this firm immediately?

I am not aware of the position indicated in the first sentence, but a. restriction which circumstances made it necessary to place temporarily on the route followed by this coal has now been removed, and traffic is moving freely.

asked the Minister of Transport whether railway passenger fares and goods rates have been increased in the following countries: France, Belgium, Italy, Holland, and Germany; and if he can say approximately what the increases have been as compared with the 50 per cent. on passenger fares in this country?

The passenger fares and freight charges, both in the countries named and in other countries, have increased during the War, and the increases range from 25 to 100 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the fact that some of the platforms on the City and South London Tube Railway are still constructed of wood; and whether, in the interest of public safety, he can call on the tube company to reconstruct these platforms in some non-inflammable material?

I am aware that wooden platforms exist on the older sections of this railway. These will be reconstructed in non-inflammable material in connection with the pending widening of the tunnels.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that wagons of Scottish seed potatoes are in some cases taking three weeks and over to reach English buyers; and, as these goods are high-priced and perishable, will he arrange that such undue delay will cease?

If the hon. Member will furnish instances of the delays complained of they shall be investigated.

asked the Prime Minister if it has been decided to construct locomotives at Woolwich Arsenal; and if the locomotives constructed there are for use on railways in this country or whether it is the intention of the Government to enter into competition with private firms manufacturing locomotives in this country for orders in the various markets of the world?

Perhaps I may be permitted to thank hon. Members for their courtesy in allowing me to postpone my questions until to-day, owing to the presence of the Allied representatives here last week.

An order to construct 100 locomotives was placed on 24th November at Woolwich Arsenal. The locomotives ordered are for use on railways in this country.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he made a statement last Monday night to a delegation stating that there was a shortage of boilermakers, and that it was stated yesterday by one of the Members for Glasgow that there were 100 boilermakers there who would come to Woolwich Arsenal to-morrow?

I am very glad to hear it, because that is one of the difficulties.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no plant at the Arsenal for the construction of these locomotives?

I am fully aware that it will be necessary to add some, at any rate, in order to make the plant effective for the purpose.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the statement by an official of the National Union of Railwaymen that there had been serious delay in the negotiations with regard to railway workers' wages, but that a further offer from the Government was now under consideration; if he will state whether it is expected that the negotiations will be concluded before Christmas; and whether the House will be afforded an opportunity of considering any suggested settlement before completion if its terms are such as to prejudice the interests of the travelling public in securing a reduction of the present excess charge of 50 per cent. over the statutory maximum of 1d. a mile, in view of the great hardship thereby caused to all classes who are not exempted, like railwaymen and their families, from paying fares?

I am fully aware that the negotiations referred to have occupied a long time, but, having regard to the complexities of the matters involved, I do not think that unavoidable delay has occurred. As regards the latter part of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question, I would refer him to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for the Chippenham Division on the 8th of December by the Minister of Transport, when he promised to make a statement at the earliest moment possible. I cannot undertake that the settlement of the matters under consideration will be postponed until its terms have been considered by the House. The hon. and gallant Gentleman is mistaken in thinking that the railwaymen and their families travel free. Tickets are issued to them under certain conditions, at reduced fares, and the 50 per cent. increase applies to these as well as to the ordinary tickets.

asked the President of the Board or Trade if he will state the amount of capital invested in and the capital expenditure incurred in connection with the coal mining industry during the years ended 30th November, 1913, 1914, and 1919, respectively?

I regret that I have not the information which would enable me to reply to this question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the serious inconvenience being caused by the great shortage of supply of anthracite coal in the London district; and will he take steps to assist the consumers to secure the delivery of some anthracite coal?

:I am aware that a shortage of supplies of anthracite is still being experienced in the London district in spite of the fact that additional quantities have recently been brought in by sea. The shortage is due to inadequate rail transport facilities from South Wales. Further efforts are being made to relieve the situation by sea-borne deliveries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the shortage in the West of England, which is very near to South Wales?

Yes, Sir; there is some shortage in Devonshire, not a general shortage. The Severn Tunnel is the bottleneck of railway transport, and owing to the increased number of trains the difficulty of getting them through has greatly increased. We are doing everything we can to ease the traffic.

Have not a large number of people in London bought stoves to burn anthracite in response to the request of the Board of Trade? Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that these people are bitterly complaining that they cannot get the anthracite?

I realise their difficulty, and I quite understand the reason for their complaints. We have done everything we can to get the anthracite round by sea. We have got certain quantities, and we are getting more. But it is very difficult suddenly to change the stream through which any product flows.

Is there any chance of increasing the supply? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some parts outside London people desire to buy this coal for other purposes; many want it for their glass-houses, and the want of it is stopping the food supply?

Yes, Sir; I do realise that; I have reason to, because the question of anthracite has been very prominently before us for some time. There are great, very great, difficulties in getting it by rail, and what we have been able to get by sea has been snapped up as soon as it arrived.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the last district meeting of the miners on Saturday complaints were made that the miners, in some cases, are unable to work more than three days a week, owing to the lack of transport facilities; and is it not possible to remedy that?

Questions of transport facilities no longer fall under the Board of Trade, but the Ministry of Transport, which is doing everything it possibly can to get the anthracite away. But there are great difficulties in connection with the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a considerable quantity is being shipped to France; and if he can get it to Paris, why not to London? Why should the coal go to Paris and Londoners be left to starve?

France has to get a certain amount, of course; after all, we cannot refuse to give France coal. There are, too, other qualities of coal coming into London besides anthracite.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to his right hon. brother the Minister of Transport in regard to the provision of increased transport facilities?

I have on several occasions made representations to the Minister of Transport—quite strong ones.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any action is being taken to develop the use of pulverised coal for smelting and power purposes; is he aware that the use of pulverised coal is spreading rapidly in the United States and that the smelting works of the Steel Trust use this method only; if poor coal and coke and small coal can all be used by this process; and if there is, approximately, a saving of from 25 per cent to 30 per cent. in its use?

Considerable development is taking place in the use of pulverised coal for smelting and power purposes in this country as well as in the United States. I am unable to say whether the saving is as high as that suggested in the last part of the question.

Is the Government considering the question of making available all their information in regard to this most important subject?

I quite agree as to the importance of it. We are having a great many observations made as to the present composition of pulverised coal. As soon as we have got a satisfactory basis to work upon we shall take action.

Is not a great deal of the difficulty in the way of the use of this small coal owing to the fact of the increased prices being all at a flat rate small coal cannot be used profitably?

That is to a certain extent perfectly true; that is one of the things that I informed the House a fortnight ago we were reviewing. That, however, is not the main difficulty, which is to find out the best way of using pulverised coal which is rather different from small coal.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government intend to introduce legislation with the object of further increasing national control of the coal mines, beyond the partial control now in force; and, if so, will he state when such legislation will be introduced, and whether as a result private ownership of the coal mines will be abolished?

I have nothing to add to what I said on this subject on the 18th August last.

Is there no alteration of the circumstances since that date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British representative at Copenhagen has received from M. Litvinoff, on behalf of the Russian Soviet Government, an official proposal to the British Government or to the Governments of the Allies to open negotiations for peace; and whether this proposal has been transmitted to the British Government?

asked the Prime Minister whether an offer of peace has been made on behalf of the Soviet Government by M. Litvinoff to the representatives of the Allied Governments at Copenhagen; whether these terms have been communicated to His Majesty's Government; and, if so, what answer has been given?

His Majesty's representative at Copenhagen received a letter from M. Litvinoff, but, as he is not authorised to receive any communications from this source, it was returned unopened. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

If His Majesty's representative at Copenhagen is not authorised to receive any communications from Litvinoff, how are the Soviet authorities to approach us with offers of peace, and is it our policy to reject his offers without even examining them?

I cannot add anything to the reply I have given.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the seventh All-Russian Congress of Soviets which expresses once more Soviet Russia's desire for peace, and officially and directly proposes to all the Allied Governments the opening of negotiations for peace; and whether the Government will now act on these official and direct proposals from the Russian Soviet Government?

We have only received the report of Lenin's speech, which has reached us in a very mutilated and unintelligible form.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make an endeavour to get that speech in its complete form, or in an intelligent form, so that we may understand what the proposals are?

I have no means of securing a copy of that speech.

In order to avoid all these questions, will not the right hon. Gentleman make a statement that it is not the intention of the British Government to have any negotiations with the Soviet Government?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that M. Litvinoff is reported as endeavouring to introduce preliminaries for the Treaty of Peace; and whether definite instructions have been given to the hon. Member for Leeds (Mr. O'Grady) that he is on no account to enter into discussion upon any question whatever other than that concerning the exchange of prisoners?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

Has attention been given to the statement of the hon. Member for Leeds (Mr. O'Grady) and reported in the papers—

I have not seen the report.

As the reply in both cases is in the negative—[HON. MEMBERS: "It is in the affirmative"] If is is in the affirmative, then, will my right hon. Friend inform the House whether the Government are taking any further steps to deal with these negotiations. Is he aware that, so far as the House and the country are concerned, the sooner we make peace with Russia the better?

asked the Prime Minister whether the economic distress in Central and Eastern Europe is partly due to the War, or state of war, existing along all the borders of the former Russian empire; whether His Majestys' Government have received an offer of peace from the de facto Government in Moscow, or have reason to believe that that Government is willing to conclude peace; whether the de facto Government at Moscow is in a stronger position, militarily, than at this time last year; and what action is contemplated by the Government?

In reply to the first part of the question, the anarchy in Russia is, of course, one of the causes of the distress in Central Europe; the answer to the second part of the question is that no such offer has been received and that I have no means of knowing what is in the mind of the Bolshevik Government. As regards the relative position of the forces in Russia there are many different opinions, and I hesitate to express mine.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that according to a statement by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the other day the proposals which M. Litvinoff handed to the British representative at Copenhagen were handed back to him without being opened?

That does not in the least conflict with the answer I have given.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not take some means to get knowledge of these negotiations? What is the use of a responsible Minister like M. Lit- vinoff handing these to the choice of my right hon. Friend—the hon. Member for Leeds—if he is not to take the trouble to inquire what they are?

If the Soviet authorities in Russia want to make peace they must make it with the people with whom they are at war—with General Denikin, General Koltchak, and others. They must make peace amongst themselves first.

Make peace in Ireland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture how soon the Government will be able to release cake and feeding stuffs for cattle?

I have been asked to reply. All descriptions of feeding cakes and meals may be freely purchased. The only form of control now in existence is a system by which the sales of feeding cakes and meals are licensed by an association of the traders acting in co-operation with, and under the supervision of, the Ministry of Food, for the purpose of eliminating speculators and limiting prices. No restrictions are imposed on the freedom of farmers to purchase feeding cakes and meals as, and where they please, for their own use.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether, since the Armistice, any contributions have been paid or are due to be paid to certain firms because of the absence of a break clause in their contracts; and, if so, whether he will state the nature and total of such contribution?

Owing to the length of the answer, my hon. Friend the financial Secretary is circulating a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the statement referred to:

With regard to War Contracts for Munitions placed with home manufacturers, only two claims amounting to £92,300, due to the absence of a break clause have been put forward, and these are still under consideration. In at least one of these cases it is probable that supplies would not have been obtained if the break clause had been insisted upon.

Since the Armistice a certain number of contracts for aircraft supplies, which were not subject to break clauses, were cancelled owing to the curtailment of the aircraft programme. The liquidation of these will involve compensation to an amount not yet finally settled.

In the case of one group of contracts placed overseas, through the agency of Colonial and other Governments, for the whole Empire supply of wolfram, the producers refused to accept the break clause. This entailed additional expenditure estimated at £450,000.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that on a certain colonel in receipt of £350 a year in the Establishment Department of the Ministry of Munitions relinquishing his appointment a successor was appointed at £365 per annum who was already drawing £1,000 a year from another Government Department, and that on his discovering that his personal assistant was receiving £750 a year from the Ministry and another £700 from another Government Department, the matter was regularised by his salary being immediately raised to £800 a year in order that he should receive more. than his personal assistant; and, if so, under what circumstances these two officials were permitted to draw from public funds £3,250 a year for work that, as in the case of the colonel, many an ex-Service man would be glad to do for £350 per annum?

I have been asked to answer this question. In view of the length of this answer, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the reply circulated:

The post referred to in the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question is a temporary one, which normally carries a salary of £800 per annum, and the allowances of £350 and £365 were paid by the Ministry to and accepted by the officials in question on the clear understanding that those rates were nominal only. The second holder of the post was a retired Indian Civil servant, and the sum of £1,000 per annum was his pension from Indian funds earned by long service. The salary paid by the Ministry to the personal assistant, who is an Indian Civil servant on the active list, was £350 per annum only, in addition to which he received £500 per annum, the minimum allowance paid by the Government of India to officals of his standing when absent in this country. This officer if employed on deputation at the India Office would ordinarily receive pay at the rate of £1,175.

The decision to allow a salary of £800 per annum in order to retain for a short period, now finished, the services of the superior officer was approved by the Ministry, and was not affected by the salary paid to the personal assistant; and the total sum drawn from the British Exchequer by these two officers was £1,150 per annum only.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state for how much longer it is anticipated that the question of maintaining the Ministry of Munitions as a Ministry of Supply will remain Undecided; whether the careful examination that is now being given to the subject includes a scrutiny of the causes that led to fresh work being imposed upon the Ministry of Munitions by other Government Departments; and whether he will state what Government Departments have, in fact, delegated certain contracting functions to the Ministry of Munitions since 31st March last, in spite of retaining the responsibility for the employment and efficiency when in use of such material?

I cannot add anything to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on Thursday last.