asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement as to the course of the negotiations between the hon. Member for Leeds and the Bolshevik delegate in connection with the exchange of British and Russian prisoners?

It is not possible for me to add anything to the statement which was made on this subject in the House of Lords on the 9th of December, of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the Note handed to the Esthonian Government on 27th November by the chief of the British Military Mission and the other Allied representatives containing proposals for the reorganisation of the North-Western Army; whether these proposals represent the views of the British Government, or whether these statements are still presented without the knowledge of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, whether he will take early steps to disassociate His Majesty's Government from these proposals?

With the object of facilitating the supply of food to Russian soldiers and refugees, certain proposals were made on the 27th November to the Esthonian Government by the chiefs of the Allied Military Missions and the chief of the American Relief Association. These proposals were put forward in a disinterested endeavour to relieve a situation which formed a menace alike to Esthonian and to Russian interests, and I see no reason for His Majesty's Government to disassociate itself from them.

asked the Prime Minister whether he wil lay upon the Table of the House the whole of the correspondence between the Treasury and the Post Office which led up to the exclusion of the men. of the special sections from the wad gratuity?

There is no such correspondence, but if there were I could not undertake to lay it. Inter-departmental correspondence of this character must be treated as confidential, and the decisions. are decisions of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the present amount of the National Debt, indicating the different descriptions, with the rates of interest payable and the dates of redemption?

Particulars of the debt as at 31st March, 1919, are given. in the annual Finance Accounts (House of Commons, 121), page 73, and the following.The approximate debt outstanding o

asked the Food Controller what quantities of currants he has purchased of this season's crop; what quantity has been taken up by the distributors; what proportion of the balance is in such a bad condition as to require arbitration and allowances; and what steps he proposes to take in order to dispose of the indifferent currants?

While the Ministry is actually carrying on trading operations in Greece and in this country, I do not consider it desirable in the public interest to give detailed figures of purchases made and quantities sold. It is, further, not possible to give the particulars asked for in the third part of the question, as a considerable part of the purchases made have not yet reached this country, and not all those which have arrived have yet been landed or sampled. My official brokers will take all steps to dispose to the best advantage of any currants which may be in indifferent. condition.

asked the Food Controller whether he can import. currants to sell under 107s. 6d. per cwt. wholesale and Is. 2d. per lb. retail; and if he is prepared to allow private importers to import freely if they are willing to sell at 90s. per cwt. maximum wholesale price and Is. per lb. retail?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 6th November. I am now considering the question of allowing private importers to bring in currants subject to maximum wholesale and retail prices; but this form of control has not been found very satisfactory in the past.

asked the. Food Controller whether he is aware that the price of 3s. 3d. per gallon for milk is in the opinion of the Middlesbrough Food Control Committee excessive; and can he see his way to authorise a reduction in that district?

I have received information to the effect stated in the first part of the question. It is not possible to differentiate between maximum producers' prices in various localities; the administrative difficulties in the way of such a course would prove insuperable, as, however, the prices are maximum prices producers in various areas are selling milk below the maximum.

asked the Food (Controller if he is aware that general dissatisfaction prevails amongst the fishermen on the East Coast of Scotland in regard to the maximum prices fixed for fish under the Fish (Prices) Order, dated 25th November, 1919; and, seeing the prices of oils, lines, etc., are not controlled, whether he will consider the cancellation of the Order referred to?

Complaints have recently been received from fishermen in this area. I can promise that they will receive the fullest consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the necessity for the representation of the architectural and engineering professions on the Irish Public Health Council; and whether any steps will he taken to add architectural and engineering experts to that council?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The council is now fully constituted, and it is not possible therefore at present to give effect to the representations expressed by the architectural and engineering professions. In the event of any vacancies on, or any reorganisation of the council, the claims of these professions will be carefully considered.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the governing body of University College, Dublin, have not enough money to complete the necessary buildings, especially the buildings necessary for the medical school; whether representations have been made to him on this subject by the college authorities; and, if so, with what result?

I am not aware that the buildings have not been completed The college has received a building Grant of £110,000 under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and no further Grant can be made under that Act. I have not received representations on the subject, but I understand that the college authorities have approached the University Grants Committee, appointed by my right hon. Friend to advise the Government on the application of Parliamentary Grants towards university education in the United Kingdom, and this application is under consideration by the Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that there has only been one delivery of letters in certain large areas of county Mayo since 28th November; if this state of things is owing to the refusal of the owners of the mail motor vans to apply for permits; if these owners are under any contracts with the Post Office; and, if so, will he take steps to enforce such contracts?

Only one case of difficulty in providing for a mail service in consequence of refusal to comply with the Motor Permit Order has been brought to my notice, namely, the motor mail service between Ballina and Belmullet. I understand that it was not the contractor but his drivers who refused to comply with the Order. Endeavour will be made to maintain the authorised service by other means if necessary.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that, in present circumstances, boys who sit for the apprenticeship examination at the Royal dockyards are kept waiting sometimes three months before the result is announced; and if he can accelerate the decision and consider the possibility of making the limit of age fourteen, so that boys who fail may have a chance of getting taken elsewhere?

The examinations referred to are conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners, and I understand that no avoidable delay occurs in announcing the results to competitors. The lower age limit was advanced from fourteen to fifteen years after careful consideration both by the Admiralty and by the Board of Edu- cation, and it is not considered desirable to revert to the former age limit of fourteen years.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what grounds Alwyne Silby, who served as a wireless operator on the Admiralty collier H.M.T. 367, has been refused a grant towards his education; and whether members of the Merchant Service are excluded from the Government. scheme of assisting the higher education of ex-Service officers and men?

I have been asked to reply to this question. It is a condition of eligibilty for a Grant under the Training Grants Scheme that the prospective recipient should have served during the War in the Naval, Military, or Air Forces of the Crown, for which payment was made out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. I have ascertained from the Admiralty that Mr. Silby did not fulfil this condition, and I regret that in the circumstances I am not in a position to review the decision in his case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Second-Lieutenant James A. Dunlop, 15th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, who joined the Army in December, 1915, and was demobilised in January, 1919, to pursue his studies as an agricultural student in Edinburgh University, has had his application for a maintenance grant refused; whether he is aware that prior to his entering the university he interviewed representatives of the Appointments Department in Bath Street, Glasgow, and also in the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh, with respect to the payment of the maintenance grant, and was advised by them to proceed with his studies; that, with the aid of his parents, he paid all fees and maintained himself during his first session at the university; and that, notwithstanding that he passed in all his subjects during his first session, he is now unable to continue his attendance owing to lack of funds; and whether his application will be reconsidered with a, view to granting such assistance as will enable him to finish his course?

I understand that the training desired by Lieut. Dunlop was of a type which is provided by the Scottish Board of Agriculture, and I am not in a position to review the decision of that Department. I am inquiring into the allegation that it was on the advice of the Appointments Department that Lieut. Dunlop began training before his application had been adjudicated upon.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that Regimental Sergeant-Major O. Roby, No. 105711, Royal Army Medical Corps, c/o A. D. Labour, Baghdad, joined up in December, 1915, and thus should have left his unit for demobilisation by 28th August of this year, he will cable instructions to have this non-commissioned officer sent home immediately?

Every endeavour is now being made to expedite the dispatch home of soldiers whose release is overdue, and it is hoped that the warrant officer in question will arrive in this country before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers employed during the War and who rendered satisfactory service were gazetted out on the last day of their effective service and given no pay after the completion of their military duty?

The answer is in the affirmative; but I would remind my hon. Friend that such officers are entitled to the very considerable gratuity provided in Article 497 of the Royal Warrant for pay, etc., on the termination of their employment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Army Order 324 of 1919, grants an increase of pay to officers to take effect from 1st July, 1919, but officers serving on that date who have ceased to serve on the date of the issue of the Order, namely, 13th September, are not entitled to receive the increase for the period since 1st July; whether this limitation will operate to the dis- advantage of Territorial officers as compared with Regular officers; and whether he will reconsider the question of making the increase take effect from 1st July in all eases?

the facts are as started in the first part of the question There in no discrimination against Territorial officers as such. The question was fully considered by His Majesty's Government, and it is not proposed to reopen it.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the improvement in the position of Navy artificers under the recommendations of the Jerram Committee with a view to the improvement in eligibility for promotion of warrant and non-commissioned officers of the armament artificers section of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps by raising the age qualifying for examinations, seeing that many men cannot join the section before they are twenty-three owing to the fact that applicants must have been indentured apprentices, usually six years, and hold two science certificates?

The conditions of service, first appointment, etc., of inspectors of ordnance machinery, are now under consideration, and the question of the age limit qualifying them for examinations is one of the points under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, under present Regulations, officers who, prior to the War, retired on a gratuity receive nothing for five years of war service while those who were in receipt of retired pay and rejoined will have their pensions reassessed on returning to civil life; whether both these classes of officers are actually on the same footing as regards previous and present war service; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this unequal treatment?

It is the case that the reassessment of retired pay of officers who have given paid military service during the War applies only to those who are drawing retired pay. It is not proposed to give additional gratuities to officers who before the War had retired from the Army on gratuity.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the injustice inflicted on many officers by the exclusion of temporary rank for the assessment of war gratuities; and if he will consider the desirability of having the Army Order which deals with this question amended so as to place temporary rank on the same footing as acting rank for the assessment of gratuities?

Temporary rank is not excluded from the assessment of war gratuity. The gratuity is based on it, if it is held on demobilisation or on 11th November, 1918. The question is, however, under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the police are invited by the War Office to give hostile reports as regards the wives of soldiers on service, with the result that wives are deprived of their allowances without their husbands being even informed of the fact?

I have been asked to reply to this question. If allegations are made as to the conduct of the wife of a soldier on service, the matter is referred to the Special Grants Committee, whose duty it is, under Section 3 (1, f)of the Naval and Military War Pensions Act, 1915, to decide whether or not the allowance has become forfeited. To assist them in making a decision, the Committee institute inquiries through various agencies, including, in some cases, the police. Whenever an allowance is declared forfeited the husband is informed. I may add that in a large proportion of the cases decided by the Committee it is the husband who lodged the complaint.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he has appointed a Committee to consider the advisability of increasing the pensionable establishment in the Royal Ordnance Factories; and, if so, whether he can state the terms of reference, the names of the Committee, and when it will begin to sit?

The answer to the first part of the question is, Yes, Sir.As regards the second part, the terms of reference are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that senior officers of the Indian Army, re-employed during the War, who were serving in this country on the outbreak of war on unemployed pay, have been placed in a much less favourable position as regards pay and allowances than officers of the Indian Army who had already retired; whether this differential treatment was on the grounds that officers on the British Army Reserve would consider themselves hardly treated if unemployed officers of the Indian Army were treated in the same mariner as retired officers of the Indian Army; whether, having been treated for purposes of pay as Reserve officers, they were when it came to a question of gratuity not treated as Reserve officers but as Regular serving officers; and, if so, what arrangements he proposes to make to remove the grievances of these re-employed unemployed officers as regards their pay and allowances?

The class of officers to whom my hon. and gallant Friend refers are not retired officers, and could not be treated as such. Though permitted to reside unemployed out of India they are liable to be called up for service in India, and when so called up they drop unemployed pay and receive only the Indian pay of their appointments. The question whether they should retain any portion of their Indian unemployed pay if allowed to accept service under the War Office was fully considered at the time, and I am not prepared to reopen the arrangement made by my predecessor in communication with the War Office, under which they were allowed to receive in most cases the larger portion and in no case less than half of their unemployed pay in addition to the British Army pay of their appointments. Their case is not analogous to that of British Army Reserve officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the draft Constitution for the Island of Malta will provide for the free exercise by all the inhabitants of Malta, whether in public or in private, of any creed, religion, or belief whose practices are not inconsistent with public order or public morals?

The hon. Member's point will certainly be kept in mind.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether the importation of British chocolate and sugar confectionery into Australia is still prohibited; whether the. embargo recently placed on such imports was intended as a war measure only; whether the Government has been in communication with the Commonwealth Government on the subject; if so, what reply has been received; and on what grounds does the Commonwealth Government justify the continued prohibition of such imports;(2) whether he is aware that a Proclamation, dated the 1st November, 1919, has been issued by the Australian Government prohibiting the importation of potable cocoa and chocolate except by licence; if so, whether he can give the terms upon which British manufacturers may import such goods into Australia; whether he is aware that the effect of this Order is very prejudicial to British manufacturers; and what steps the Government are taking in the matter, seeing that a policy of Im-peril preference has been agreed to?

The importation of confectionery into Australia except under licence was prohibited by a Proclamation of the 10th August, 1917. Representations on the subject were made this summer to the Commonwealth Government, who replied that it was proposed to lift the embargo when the new tariff was introduced into Parliament. I understand that it is proposed to introduce the Tariff Resolution early in the first Session of the new Commonwealth Parliament. The importation of potable cocoa and chocolate was prohibited by a Proclamation of the 1st November, 1919, and I am not yet aware of the conditions on which the Commonwealth Government are prepared to issue import licences. Further representations are being made with a view to favourable treatment being given to goods of Empire origin in the administration of the Commonwealth import prohibitions.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is intended to continue the sittings of the Burnham Committee; if so, what are to be its functions; and if the publication of a minimum scale of salaries for teachers is to be followed by other scales suitable for the great urban and Metropolitan areas?

The Joint Committee of representatives of the Association of Local Education Authorities and of the National Union of Teachers was constituted by them as a Standing Committee. Its functions were originally stated in Resolutions adopted on the 12th August, which are printed at the end of the Committee's Report [Cd. 443], and are amplified by paragraph 16 of the Report itself. I cannot anticipate the nature of any further agreement winch the Committee may reach.

asked the Minister of Wealth whether, seeing that in his circular letter on 16th October he definitely instructs local authorities to make adequate arrangements for the professional and other assistance necessary to carry out the work of providing houses in adequate numbers and with dispatch, and states distinctly that, such expenditure may be included in the capital cost of housing schemes, and seeing that the "Housing Journal" has clearly stated that the employment of a special staff for housing schemes and other administrative expenses may be charged to capital account, he can now say why the claim of the Repton Rural District Council to charge such expenses to the capital account has been disallowed?

Payments for professional and other assistance in the preparation and carrying out of actual building schemes may certainly be charged to capital account. But the proposal of the Repton Rural District Council relates to payments of salaries, etc., in connection with their general duties under the Housing Acts, and such expenses cannot properly be charged to capital.

asked the Minister of Health whether, with a view to collecting information bearing on the housing question, he will instruct local authorities to compile a list of houses in their areas which are only partially occupied, or are occupied only for a portion of the year, with the names and addresses of the tenants or landlords?

I will consider the suggestion of my hon. Friend who will no doubt be aware of the powers which local authorities possess in such matters under the recent Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the need of land for housing, he will introduce a Bill to enable local authorities to rate unused land?

I cannot undertake to introduce such a Bill at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health whether any engineering inspection has been made with regard to the flooding in the Lea Valley as was promised; and whether, if any official report has been received, any action has been taken?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It has now been agreed that the Lee Conservancy Board should promote a Bill next Session enabling them to formulate a scheme, or schemes, for dealing with the whole watershed with a view to the prevention of flooding.

asked the Minister of Health whether there has so far been a meeting of the General Health Question's Council of the Ministry of Health; and, if not, why steps have not been taken to bring this body together?

The Welsh Consultative Council, which is so constituted as to advise upon general health questions as well as other matters, has held three meetings. The constitution of the separate Council on general health questions which it is proposed to establish in England is not yet finally settled. An announcement of the membership will be made shortly.

asked the Minister of Health whether the boards of health to be established under the Ministry of Health Act are now finally constituted; and what representation of women is secured on these bodies and also on the various councils which have been set up under the scheme?

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the Consultative Councils established under Section 4 of the Ministry of Health Act. This Section requires that every such Council shall include women as well as men. I am sending the hon. Member lists of the members of the three Councils established in England, and of the Welsh Consultative Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in setting up the local profiteering tribunal at Hastings the borough council appointed eight tradesmen and one retired tradesman requested the trades council to appoint three labour representatives, and the food control committee to appoint three representatives; whether he is aware that on the local food control committee, composed of fifteen representatives, there are five representing Labour; that the trades council put forward a request for the same number of Labour representatives on the profiteering tribunal but the request was refused; aid whether, in view of the necessity for securing local confidence in the tribunal and the advisability of giving Labour adequate representation thereon, he will approach the borough council on this matter?

The Board of Trade Regulations governing the constitution, powers, and procedure of local committees established under the Profiteering Act provide for adequate representation of Labour, and, as three of the fifteen members of the Hastings Local Committee are representatives of Labour, I am unable to agree that Labour is inadequately represented on this local committee.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to improve the transport services of this country; whether he intends to adapt munition works to railway wagon building and repairing; whether any national works are now engaged in this class of work; and, if so, how do the prices compare with those now asked by private contractors, and what are the prices for new work under both systems?

With reference to the first and last parts of the question I must refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on Wednesday last. As he then stated, the policy in regard to Government building of wagons must depend largely on the willingness of private builders to quote reasonable prices for early delivery. At present, Woolwich is the only national establishment which is building railway wagons. Railway-owned wagons are being repaired at Woolwich, Lancaster, and Queensferry. The question of employing demobilised soldiers on wagon erection and repair in an adapted munition factory is engaging the attention of my right hon. Friends the Ministers of Labour, Munitions, and Transport at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Great Northern Railway Company is short of truck sheets and that growers and traders in South Lincolnshire and adjacent districts have been unable to load corn, potatoes, and other produce even when trucks were available by reason of the railway company's failure to provide sheets to cover them; whether he is aware that the Great Northern Railway Company are selling to the public repaired sheets which could be used for this traffic; and whether it is the policy of the railway companies generally to restrict traffic and reduce receipts to the lowest possible limits in order that the deficit on the working may be made to appear as large as possible and thereby justify greater increases in rates?

I am aware that there is a shortage of sheets, but the railway companies are doing everything possible to make good the shortage. I am informed that the Great Northern Railway Company are selling only such sheets as are condemned as unsuitable for railway traffic. I am satisfied that the railway companies are not restricting traffic or reducing receipts as suggested by my hon. Friend. The question of rates is being investigated impartially by the Advisory Committee appointed under the Ministry of Transport Act.

asked the Minister of Transport if he can see his way to include a representative of retail traders upon the tribunal of reference; and, if so, will he consider appointing a representative of the National Chamber of Trade as representing the interests of all sections?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to similar questions yesterday put by the hon. Member for Pontefract and the hon. and gallant Member for Finchley.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Road Board are purchasing stone from the Purbeck Stone Company, Swanage, for roads at Bovington camp; that this firm's quarries are about 1½miles from the railway station; that the stone is conveyed part of the way by cart, then transferred into Army transport wagons to be taken to the station and put into railway wagons; whether he is aware that there is a large quantity of stone which belongs or belonged to the Government already quarried by quarrymen and German prisoners; that if this stone were utilised it could be conveyed direct in transport wagons to Wareham and Bovington camps; can he state the reason for buying stone from a private firm if the Government already have on hand sufficient quandtities of their own; whether he is aware that this stone has been sold by the authorities to the private firm and will have to be bought back again; and whether he will have close inquiry made into the matter?

I understand that the Joint Roads Committee, which is under the sole control of the War Office, are purchasing the stone in question. The War Office are making inquiries into the matter, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the trial of certain British subjects imprisoned in the United States?

His Majesty's Consul-General at Chicago reports that, as far as he could judge, all the defendants had a fair trial and were ably defended. An appeal has been lodged, but not yet heard owing to the briefs not having been filed. The record of the appeal is accessible to all the parties concerned.His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington has received no confirmation of the alleged intimidation of witnesses for the defence, confiscation of correspondence in favour of the defence or theft of funds necessary to the conduct of the defence. As $60,000 were deposited for bail there could apparently be no difficulty about finding $4,300 for the costs of the appeal.Of the defendants mentioned by the hon. Member for Wednesbury, there is in one case, that of J. A. MacDonald, some doubt as to whether he has become naturalised as an American citizen. In five cases, those of Frazer, Manning, McAvoy, Prashner, and M'Kinnon, the American authorities have no evidence of nationality. The national status of Oats is also doubtful, but in all cases, except the five in which there is no evidence, warrants have been issued for hearings on deportation, on the ground that the men are aliens and have been engaged in a conspiracy to overthrow the United States Government.As regards the progress of the appeal, the record has been printed and briefs are being prepared by the Attorneys for all the defendants. The Government Attorneys have informed His Majesty's Consul-General at Chicago that the briefs on behalf of the defendants make no distinction as to any defendant. It is expected that all the cases will be heard in January.The Consul-General reports that the defendants expressed satisfaction with the fairness of the trial, as apart from the verdict, and that the judge seems to have given them every latitude as to evidence and not to have attempted to prejudice their rights in any way.

asked the Uuder-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the case of the "Porto Alexandre," in which a claim by British salvors was successfully resisted by the Portuguese Government on the sole ground that they were the owners of the vessel, and to the ease of the British as. "Waiwera," in which the Portuguese Government refused to pay damages for the negligence of the Portuguese ss. "Espozende" on the same ground; and whether, having regard to the growing practice of State-ownership of trading vessels and to the immunity of foreign governments from the ordinary law of the sea, His Majesty's Government will take steps to arrange a convention under which foreign governments will submit to the jurisdiction of the Admiralty Court in the same way as private shipowners?

I am aware of the cases to which the hon. Member refers, and I will consult the other Departments of His Majesty's Government concerned on the question of approaching foreign governments in the sense suggested.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will direct his attention to the case of one David Rotenberg, a Polish subject, domiciled in Belgium at the outbreak of the War, and a member of the Diamond Club of Antwerp; is he aware that the six parcels of polished diamonds contained in a packet bearing the registered number Scheveningen 417 consigned by Mr. Rotenberg to Messrs. Mnuchin and Ancelovitch, formed the subject of a seizure notice to that firm on the 7th December, 1915, and that proceedings for their condemnation were subsequently instituted in the name of His Majesty's Attorney-General in the High Court, judgment being signed on the 19th May, 1916; is he aware that no notice of such proceedings was given to, or received, by Mr. Rotenberg; whether he is aware that the goods had been purchased by Mr. David Rotenberg from Mr. Charles Yacob, also a member of the Diamond Club of Antwerp, and certified by the burgomaster of that city as manufactured in that city before the War, and consequently before the issue of Regulations prohibiting the importation of diamonds into this country; and whether he will state the amount realised from the sale of such goods and, in the circumstances, direct that the proceeds be paid to Mr. Rotenberg or his duly authorised agents?

My attention has been directed to this case, and there does not appear to be any sufficient reason for the reopening of the matter at this date.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when the new Education Act is to be brought into force and the total expenditure thereunder falling upon the National Exchequer to be incurred in the year 1920–21?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. There is no single appointed day for the coming into operation of the whole of the Education Act, 1918. The most important provisions which are not yet fully in operation are Sections 1–5, dealing with the preparation and submission of schemes, for which the Board have fixed the first day of August, 1919, as the appointed day, and Section 10, for which no appointed day has yet been fixed, though I have expressed the hope that it may be brought into operation in the autumn of 1921. The Board's Estimates for 1920–1921 will in due course be submitted to the Treasury and laid before Parliament, and the information asked for in the last part of the question will then become available. It would be premature to make any statement on the subject at the present stage.