asked the Pensions Minister whether Staff-sergeant A. Hutchinson, No. 7615, Royal Field Artillery, Certificate No. S.E.R. 16,025, is a married man and therefore entitled as a result of his disability to a pension of 38s. 2d.; whether he has received his ring papers fixing his pension at 30s. per week from 4th September; whether the arrears due to him from that date should be 13s. instead of 4s. 10d. per week; and, if not entitled to the higher pension, will he state why?

Staff-sergeant Hutchinson has a pensionable dis- ability of 60 per cent. His rank on discharge was "Fitter Staff-sergeant" which counts for pension as "N.C.O. Class II." As such he is entitled under the new Warrant, to a pension of 30s. a week, with 6s. a week for wife's allowance. An award at this rate has now been made and arrears issued.

asked the Pensions Minister if, in the Middlesbrough district, the doctors are refusing to issue the two medical reports prescribed by Circular 143 in connection with claims for pensions under Article 9 of the Royal Warrant unless they receive from the discharged soldier a fee of 5s. for each of the two certificates required by every applicant; and, as in many cases discharged soldiers are not able to pay the 10s. demanded, can he authorise the local pensions committee to pay these medical fees, if necessary?

Under Article 9 of the Royal Warrant, a demobilised or discharged soldier is entitled to claim a pension at any time after leaving the Service if he can show that he is suffering from a. disability due to or aggravated by service, notwithstanding that he made no claim on demobilisation or discharge and appeared then to be in perfect health. In such circumstances, it must clearly rest upon the man to substantiate his claim, and the Ministry cannot reasonably be asked to defray the expense of obtaining the necessary evidence. I am, however, revising the procedure for claims under Article 9, and I hope to reduce the amount of primary evidence required.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state the total number of officers and men of the Royal Air Force at present in Ireland?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The answer is that on the 30th November last there were stationed in Ireland fifty-seven officers of the Royal Air Force and 563 airmen.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is now in a position to make a definite statement concerning the revision in the scale of pensions for ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a similar question asked yesterday by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for the Duncairn Division of Belfast (Sir E. Carson).

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to circulate the award if it is given during the Recess?

Most certainly.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the annual Christmas fair or sale of Irish goods to have been opened at the Mansion House, Dublin, on 11th December, was prohibited and suppressed by order of the police; whether, although this fair had been advertised for a month, notice of suppression was served on the Lord Mayor only a few hours before the hour of opening; and whether any compensation will be paid to exhibitors for losses incurred in erecting stalls and transporting goods?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply given to his previous question on this subject on Monday last. The fair was, I believe, advertised for a couple of weeks prior to the opening on the 11th instant. It was not clear until the day of opening that the project was organised by an illegal body. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action the Foreign Office intend to take to recover the amounts due to British subjects in Basra and Bagdad for advances made by British merchants to native merchants prior to the outbreak of war for goods to be consigned to London, where the goods were actually shipped consigned to London on a British ship in payment of such advances, and the goods were seized on arrival in London and confiscated, and the proceeds taken by the Government, the only losers through the action of the Government being British merchants resident in London; and will the Government take immediate steps to recover the advances on behalf of the British merchants from the Turkish merchants?

All claims received by the Foreign Office in respect of advances against cargoes in such cases have been duly referred to the Prize Claims Committee. It is understood that certain payments have already been made to the firms concerned, and the Committee will no doubt recommend that the claimants shall receive relief in all proper cases.

asked the Minister of Health if he has satisfied himself as to the suitability from sanitary and other points of view of the erection of wooden houses in crowded areas; whether he proposes that the Grants shall be given to those erecting such buildings; and how many wooden huts and houses are now being used to accommodate families?

asked the Minister of Health what action has been taken to secure the use by local authorities of State-owned hostels and Army huts for temporary housing, pending the erection of permanent houses; and whether he can state the number of local authorities who have made applications therefor and the amount of accommodation made available?

Grants to the amount of two-thirds of the ordinary grants for building houses will be payable in respect of wooden houses of satisfactory construction. It is not intended that such houses should be erected in crowded districts. Up to the 13th December, eighty-eight local authorities had made application for temporary accommodation by the use of Army huts or State-owned hostels; 1,621 huts have been acquired by local authorities for purposes of conversion, and 631 others have been offered to local authorities. These huts will provide. accommodation for 3,217 families. In addition twenty-nine hostels, providing accommodation for 534 families, have been taken over by local authorities.

Are there any wooden houses at present under construction in the country, and, if so, how many?

There are some, and, if my hon. and gallant Friend will give me notice, I will give him an answer.

asked the Minister of Health whether any schemes for the provision of working-class houses or the restoration of those demolished by air raids have been put forward by the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Poplar; if so, what progress has been made towards carrying out the schemes and when such schemes were submitted?

The late Borough Council have submitted four schemes for the erection of houses. Three of these schemes involve the use of small sites which have been partly developed; two of these sites have been approved, and the plans for the houses have been prepared. The fourth scheme is one fur the building of some 116 houses; the site and plans of the lay-out and houses have been approved, and I undertsand that work on the site has already begun.

asked the Minister of Health if it is the intention of his Department to exclude from the town-planning schemes Crown and War Department lands; and will he state the reason?

I am advised that at present I have no authority to approve the inclusion of Crown lands in town-planning schemes.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that it will cause a great deal of trouble and annoyance to-local authorities if they cannot have these lands for their town-planning schemes?

It will apply only to a very small number of cases, and I have no statutory authority in the matter, as I have stated in my reply.

asked the Minister of Health whether, as it is the intention of the Durham Aged Miners' Homes Association to build at least 300 aged mine-workers' homes of two rooms and a scullery, the Government will grant to this movement a similar subsidy to that proposed to be granted to local authorities?

I would refer the hon. Member to page four of Command Paper 453. It is not proposed that a subsidy should be paid in respect of cottages containing less accommodation than a living room and two bedrooms.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whence the gold to the value of £331,632 exported from Nyasaland between 1892 and 1918, as stated in the Annual Report for 1917–18, was obtained; and whether it was exported?

The figures given in the Report are of the imports and exports of specie through the Customs. Gold finds it way into Nyasaland in small sums in the possession of individuals, principally natives. returning from employment outside the Protectorate, and in consequence is not declared at any Customs station. This gold, being in excess of the normal amount required in the country, accumulates at time banks, by which it is exported to the United Kingdom and elsewhere in payment of their liabilities or for investment.

asked when a map of the Nyasaland Protectorate of later date than that of 1912–13 will be appended to the Annual Report?

For purposes of economy, the practice of appending maps to the Colonial Annual Reports has been suspended except in the case of Colonies which print their own Annual Reports, and supply them to the Colonial Office.

asked the Minister Transport whether, in view of the slow progress of the negotiations with the railway-men on the subject of the standardisation of wages, he can now inform the House what are the two points of view; and whether, in any case, he will take steps to avoid a sudden strike being declared without due and adequate warning to the community as a whole?

I understand that the Prime Minister is dealing with this subject in the answers he proposes to give to-day to. the hon. Members for Stratford and North Lambeth.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a full statement to-the House regarding the negotiations between the Government and the railway-men?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make a statement as to the negotiations between the Government and the National Union of Railwaymen with regard to standardisation of wages?

The negotiations are proceeding in a friendly spirit, and I have every hope that a satisfactory conclusion will soon be reached. The hon. Member will understand that it is undesirable in the meantime to make a statement upon so complicated a negotiation.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that there are no fires lit at ordinary stations and seldom any fires at junction stations on the North-Eastern Railway; and will he make inquiries by his Department to see this idea carried out daring the winter months?

I do not think I can add to the information given to the hon. Gentleman in a letter on this subject sent to him on the 11th December, and in the reply given to him in this House on the 8th December.

Have orders been given to see that it is carried out?

The Minister of Transport has desired the railway companies to put fires in waiting rooms at all junctions where there is a possibility of passengers having long to wait.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared to accept representatives from distributive traders upon the Tribunal of Reference, which at present includes representatives of manufacturing, mercantile, co-operative, and trade union interests, bearing in mind that these distributive traders are the nearest and most direct link between himself and the public?

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

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the congestion in respect of farmers' produce at stations on the Great Western Railway; and whether he will consider the employment of the lorries at Cippenham?

I have received no serious complaints of lack of facilities for farmers' produce at stations on the Great Western Railway. I am unable to entertain the suggestion in the last part of the question.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of motor lorries in working order at present lying idle at Cippenham, and will he consider utilising these vehicles to assist the railways?

The use of motor lorries to assist the railways has been tried; and may I remind the hon. Member of the statement made by the Minister a few days ago that it has not proved successful.

Is that opinion accepted by the majority of the users?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the well-equipped factories of the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon, and Finance Company and other factories adapted for the production of railway wagons are partially idle, with the result that many of the employés are working short time and many skilled men are wholly unemployed; whether, in view of the urgent need of railway wagons, lie will take immediate steps to place orders with these factories; and whether he is prepared to receive a deputation from the workmen concerned order to discuss the situation?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on the 10th. As he then stated, the question of placing orders with private builders must depend largely on their willingness to quote reasonable prices for early delivery, and I have put the Metropolitan Carriage Company into communication with several railway companies with a view to negotiating the placing of orders. If they desire it, I should be prepared to see a deputation from the workmen.

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether private companies have quoted unreasonable prices for those wagons?

The Minister is in negotiation with a view to that question being fully investigated by an independent accountant to be agreed upon.

Considering the urgency of the question, will that inquiry take place at once?

It is desired that it Shall do so immediately.

In view of the great congestion and disorganisation throughout the country, is not an immediate supply of wagons more important than the price?

An immediate supply of wagons is of great importance, but I am sure my hon. Friend will not deny the vary great importance also of securing that there is no undue tax upon the public purse.

Would it not have been desirable that investigations should have been made by the Minister before making the allegations which were made to the meeting last week?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the wagon builders have offered to do this work at 5 per cent. profit?

I am not.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the number of railway wagons on order; whether he is aware that many factories well adapted for the production of wagons are short of work; and whether he will place further orders and thus provide employment for many skilled workmen at present out of work and at the same time help to meet the transport needs of the country?

The number of wagons on order was given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport in his recent statement. It is 22,000. In reply to the last part of the question, I must refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Wednesbury to-day.

How many wagons are required by the Government and by the country generally?

I would like notice of that question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, in view of the wagon shortage, he will suggest to goods managers at stations in agricultural districts that they should keep a list of farmers who intimate that they have wagon loads waiting for transit, so that when trucks are available postcards may be sent to these farmers in order of priority, and thus avoid the waste of time and money involved in sending in their loads to the station only to find no trucks available?

I am informed that the procedure suggested by the hon. Member is that which is being followed as far as is practicable. The hon. Member has been good enough to supply me with information on a specific case and I am causing inquiries to be made.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the feeling of resentment amongst many of the manufacturers and traders of this country trading previously to the War with Austria that provision was not made in the Peace Treaty with that country for securing payment at pre-war rates of the balance of debts due from Austrian debtors to British creditors; is he aware that in setting off German property in this country and debts owing by this country to German creditors against British property in Germany, and debts owing by British debtors to German creditors, there is a suitable surplus which, if applied to the settlement of the Austrian deficiency, would be, to a large measure, sufficient for the purpose of satisfying these claims; will he say why, since these countries fought as one against this country, they have not been treated as one in the settlement of debts; and will he say if there is any way of meeting the inequitable position which apparently at present exists?

I would refer my hon. Friend to answers given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 27th October and 20th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln, and on 24th November to my hon. Friend. With regard to the last part of the question, while the solidarity of Germany and Austria in the War justifies the provision in the Treaty by which German property is made available for certain claims in respect of war action taken by the Austrian Government, it was not felt at the time that the Treaties were made that it would be equitable to compel individual Germans to pay pre-war debts of individual Austrians.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any information as to what are the present rations of bread, flour, vegetables, and coal per week per head in Vienna; what is the present death-rate among children in the same town; and whether all food supplies now in transit to or in Austria will come to an end on 21st January next?

As the answer is long and detailed, I propose, with my Noble Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the position described in the last part of the question correct?

I would rather have the whole answer circulated. It is a very long and detailed one, giving figures.

asked when the Treaty of Peace with Austria will be ratified?

Every endeavour is being made to expedite ratification, but I cannot yet give any answer as to the date.

asked the Prime Minister whether Admiral Koltchak has now deported General Gaida on account of his liberal tendencies, in spite of the fact that he is well known to be strongly anti-Bolshevik; and whether his deportation was effected in spite of strong protest by the Allied representatives?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The remainder of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that an official Allied statement appeared in the Vladivostok newspapers of 30th September this year, signed by Lieutenant-Colonel Wonchterle, and stating that certain Allied and Russian soldiers had been murdered by some of Admiral Koltchak's Cossack troops in Vladivostok; whether an ultimatum was sent to General Rozanoff, Commandant of the Vladivostok garrison, giving him three days in which to remove these Cossack troops from his garrison or have them removed by force; whether General Rozanoff refused to comply with this ultimatum and referred the matter to Admiral Koltchak; whether Admiral Koltchak's reply to General Rozanoff was to the effect that the latter was, if necessary, to forcibly resist any interference on the part of the Allies with the Vladivostok garrison; whether, on Admiral Koltchak's refusal, the Cossack troops in question were forcibly expelled from Vladivostok; and, if not, whether it is part of the policy of the Allies to allow Allied subjects to be murdered without any effective action?

His Majesty's Government have no information regarding Lieutenant-Colonel Wonehterle's article. The answers to the second, third, and fourth parts of the question are in the affirmative. The answer to the fifth part of the question is in the negative. The incident was satisfactorily arranged, and there is no reason to anticipate a repetition of these isolated fracas.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make any statement as to the position of affairs in Transcaspia; whether the Bolshevik forces have made a considerable advance in this area; whether their present position and movements are known; whether the extent of their forces is known; whether there is a prospect of their joining up with the Afghans; if so whether, in view of the probability of a concerted attack upon the North-West frontier, immediate steps can be taken to compel Afghanistan to conclude peace and to disarm; whether certain Hindus have been trained at Moscow as agitators and dispatched to India with large sums of money; if any of them are known to have succeeded in entering the country; and if effective steps are being taken to guard against such persons making their way into India?

The situation is too obscure and fluid at present to enable a statement to be made. There are indications of Bolshevik activity in the direction suggested by my Noble Friend. The Government of India are taking all possible precautions against Bolshevik intrigues.

asked the Prime Minister whether any statement can now be made as to the progress or otherwise of the negotiations being carried on at Copenhagen with the Soviet Government's representative; if so, whether any details can now be given as to what subjects have been discussed; and whether the Soviet Government's representative has endeavoured to raise the question of peace negotiations?

The negotiations with M. Litvinoff are confined to the exchange of prisoners, and I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a detailed statement as to their course. An announcement will, however, be made when the issue of the negotiations with M. Litvinoff is decided, and Papers dealing fully with the subject will be laid as soon as it is practicable to do so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that, whether or not these negotiations succeed, arrangements are being made to supply food and clothes to these prisoners in the forthcoming winter?

We are doing all we can to secure that object.

Is the right hon. Gentleman assured that they will get to their proper destination?

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government intend to demand satisfaction for the damage done to His Majesty's ship "Dragon," the killing of nine of her crew, and the wounding of five others by Colonel Bermondt's artillery; and whether General Denikin has yet disowned Colonel Bermondt?

This matter will be considered. General Yudenitch, I understand, repudiated Bermondt prior to this occurrence.

May I have an answer to the last part of the question, which has been on the Paper for a week, namely, whether General Denikin has yet disowned Colonel Bermondt; and has anything yet been done to demand satisfaction for the death of our gallant sailors?

General Yudenitch, who is acting more or less in concert with General Denikin, repudiated the occurrence.

Has anything been done to get satisfaction for the death of our sailors?

asked the Prime Minister whether a decision has been reached with regard to the forces under Colonel Bermondt and the remnants of General Yudenitch's army; whether it is intended to provide transports for these troops; and, if so, which country is expected to find this shipping?

No decision has yet been reached on this question by the Supreme Council in Paris. The second and third parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement as to the result of the deliberations of the recent Allied Conference in London on the subject of our relations with Russia?

I understand that the matter will be raised in the Appropriation Bill this evening. It will be more convenient to answer together all questions on this subject in the course of the Debate.

asked the Prime Minister if he is now in a position to give the decision of the Government on the question of the Channel Tunnel; and, supposing there may be still some points to be settled, can he give an assurance that subject to these points being cleared up the Government will be prepared to give facilities for the Bill next Session?

I regret that it will not be possible to announce the Government's decision before the Recess. It is, as I am sure my hon. Friend recognises, a matter of first rate importance, and requires careful and detailed examination by the expert advisers of the Government. We have only just received a report on the subject from the experts, and have had no time to consider it.

Are the Government opposed to this Channel Tunnel, or have not they made up their minds as to its desirability?

It surely depends on expert advice as to its military and naval effects. We could not act on our own responsibility, without being assured that the security of the country would not be imperilled in the least by the construction of the tunnel, and it has to be considered very carefully. I cannot conceive of any question which ought to be examined more closely.

Is it not a fact that all the experts differ on this point?

Are they also considering the immense value this tunnel would be to the country in the event of any further or future war?

Undoubtedly that is the strongest element in favour of the proposal; but, on the other hand, there are elements of undoubted jeopardy which we must consider very carefully.

asked the Prime Minister whether quantities of military stores are being conveyed in barges from Calais to Richborough; whether these barges return to Calais empty; whether he is aware that a large quantity of coal intended for export to Calais and urgently required in France is waiting for shipment; and whether he will consider the possibility of the barges which carry military stores from Calais to England being employed to carry return cargoes of coal from England to Calais?

The Ministry of Munitions has had under consideration the possibility of utilising the barges returning empty to France from Richborough for commercial freight, and instructions have been given to the South-Eastern and Chatham Railway Company, the Ministry's agents at Richborough, to afford facilities at commercial rates, so far as the resources of the port permit. The port is not specially fitted for handling coal, but the question of what expenditure would he required to provide the necessary facilities is being examined. I recognise the urgency of the matter, and a decision shall be reached as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister when the Government's new solution of the coal difficulty is to be announced?

I hope to be in a position to make a statement on this subject on Monday.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the difficulty of consumers in obtaining household coal; whether this is due to the differentiation in the price between coal sold for domestic use and coal sold for industrial purposes; and whether when this differentiation was made measures were taken to secure adequate supplies for householders?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware that difficulties in obtaining household coal have occurred in certain localities, but such difficulties cannot altogether be avoided so long as the total supply of coal available for inland consumption remains substantially below the demand. Every effort has been and will continue to be made to secure the observance of instructions which have been given to all the collieries that the supply of coal for house purposes must have precedence over all other demands. As stated on the 10th December, in reply to the hon. Member for Poplar, South, my right hon. Friend has no reason to suppose that the differentiation in price to which he refers has affected the position.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the shortage of coal in the borough of West Ham; that there is only one week's supply in the borough; that the supplies coming forward are not sufficient to meet the need of the borough; and that unless steps are immediately taken to send forward coal over the Great Eastern Railway to the various depots in the district, the shortage at Christmas will he very acute; can he see his way to advise that the coal should be sent forward from the London and North Western Railway depot at Canning Town to supply the southern portion of the borough; and is he aware that the town council have taken steps to hire motor lorries to take the coal round the streets for sale, and that a number of families in the borough of West Ham have been without coal in consequence of the shortage; can he state whether he has received a letter from the Mayor of West Ham, dated 11th December, about the matter; and does he intend taking any action in the matter?

This matter was discussed with a deputation, which included the Mayor of West Ham, on the 15th December, and the Railway Company concerned is taking every possible step to accept all coal which may be offered during the next few days.

asked the Prime Minister whether, when the undertaking was given by the Government on the 19th November, 1918, that the minimum price of home-grown wheat should not be less than 71s. 4d. per quarter of 480 lbs. an undertaking was also given that the above minimum price should be the maximum; and, if so, to whom, and also why was it given?

No undertaking of the kind was given. The Government undertaking was that the prices paid to farmers for controlled cereals harvested in 1919 should not be less than those prevailing (November, 1918), which, in subsequent statements, were defined as 71s. 11d. per 480 lbs. for wheat of sound quality. The actual price at which wheat of the current crop is being bought is determined by the Food Controller, and the present average is about 1s. above the promised minimum.

asked the Food Controller if he is aware that retailers of bacon and pork complain that the new price of pigs per score dead weight leaves them an insufficient margin of profit; and if he proposes to take any steps in the matter by raising the maximum price of pork and bacon?

I am satisfied that there is an adequate margin of profit for retailers on the sale of home-produced bacon. As regards pork, I have received some representations that the retailer's profit is insufficient, but I understand that the trade generally are agreed that they should reconsider the position before these representations are pressed.

asked why it is that whilst every person is rationed to ½ lb. of sugar per week, the confectioners' shops are full of sweets and other condiments largely composed of sugar?