asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the present strength of staff and cadets at the Royal Military Colleges at Sandhurst and Woolwich, respectively; what the establishments of the above places were prior to the War; and if any reduction in the establishments is contemplated?

The establishment of officers, including Commandants and Assistant Commandants, at the Royal Military Academy and Royal Military College before the War was as follows:—

Royal Military Academy	…	34
Royal Military College	…	55

By means of amalgamating companies at both institutions it has been found possible to reduce the number of officers. This re-organisation is now in progress and will be fully completed at the end of the present term in July, when the number of officers at these institutions will be as follows:—

Royal Military Academy	…	27
Royal Military College	…	47

In addition to the above there are now-French officers at both institutions for teaching the French language.Number of cadets before the War was as follows:—

Royal Military Academy	…	288
Royal Military College	…	560

The number now at the Royal Military Academy is practically the same. At the Royal Military College the number is now nearly 700.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of commissions granted in the Regular Army to non-commissioned officers and men since 1st January, 1919?

Five non-commissioned officers have been appointed to permanent commissions in the Regular Army since January, 1919. Four of these appointments had been approved before the Armistice, but as they were prisoners of war their cases had to be investigated before "Gazette" action could be taken. The fifth case was also approved before the Armistice by the Commander-in-Chief in India but it was not notified at the time and consequently promulgation in the "London Gazette" was delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any permanent commissions in the Regular Army are being granted to any of those temporary officers who served with Regular units during the War and who, in pursuance of the tenure of an Army Order, forwarded their papers and applications for a permanent commission through the officers commanding their units to the War Office after the date of the Armistice of 11th November, 1918; and, if any such permanent commissions are being granted, when the gazetting of them will be announced?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the written reply which I gave yesterday to a question on this subject asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Abingdon.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will inquire into the evidence given in the case of the late Private John Finney, No. 242,023, 5th battalion, King's Own Royal Leinster Regiment, whose death occurred in France on 31st July, 1917, caused by wounds received in action and was so reported to his parents by the commanding officer, the chaplain, and the records office, the commanding officer stating the soldier was badly wounded in the head, and died soon after reaching hospital, a subsequent court of inquiry returning a verdict that the soldier died from self-inflicted wounds; and, as the parents have been informed that this verdict was given on unreliable and unsupported evidence, will he have the case reviewed to remove, if possible, the discredit now felt by the soldier's family to be attached to his memory?

I am making inquiries, and will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any decision has been arrived at concerning the stoppage of two days' pay to a number of Army Ordnance employés employed at the Army Ordance Department, Dover, which was the subject of the communication to his Department from the National Union of Government Employés on 8th August, 1919?

Pay has been authorised in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to grant Army chaplains an increase in pay corresponding to the increases that have taken place in other ranks?

It is hoped to make an announcement shortly. An increase has been approved, and I hope I shall be in a position to announce details shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the demobilisation staff at Fovant is insufficient to cope with the numbers of men arriving at that camp for demobilisation; whether large demobilisation staffs are being retained surplus to requirements at Prees Heath and Purfleet; and whether he will consider the possibility of utilising the staffs at those camps to reinforce the staff at Fovant and expedite the work of demobilisation?

Fovant and Prees Heath are now only Rest Camps for the accommodation of Dispersal Drafts arriving in the United Kingdom by long sea passage. These drafts are only accommodated at these Rest Camps for a day or two whilst their documents are completed by a special central clerical unit in London. This system was introduced in the interests of economy, and has resulted in a large reduction of personnel. Purfleet is retained as a working dispersal unit to deal with dispersal drafts from the Rhine and France, and has only sufficient staff to deal with the work. It is not proposed to make any change.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that prior to the capitulation of Kut-al-Amara officers were required by a divisional order to destroy their saddlery, binoculars, revolvers, and other articles which were their private property; whether the War Office have made good such loss to the officers concerned; and, if not, whether he will consider the fairness of doing so?

Such claims as those to which my hon. Friend refers are dealt with under the usual regulations relating to loss of kit and equipment which provide for compensation (or free issues) as and when the articles are required for further service (including necessary replacements during captivity). I have no reason to suppose that claims for loss of kit by officers who were in Kut at the time of its capitulation have been otherwise dealt with.

(Clitheroe) asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether consideration has been given to the cases of special hardship suffered by men from Mesopotamia whose demobilisation was postponed in some cases by detention in India: and whether it is proposed to make any monetary allowance as compensation in these cases?

These men have been given the Army of Occupation bonus like other men whose demobilisation has been postponed. It is not proposed to grant any further special compensation.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will reconsider his reply of 27th November, 1919, on the subject of barrack department employes; whether War Office Letter No. 27/General No./2,223, A.G.I, of 15th September, 1914, prohibited re-enlistment of those pensioners; whether these men were in military and not civil employ; whether they were subject to military law and were military uniform throughout the War: and whether he is aware that many of these men were offered commissioned or warrant rank and that permission to leave their duties was refused owing to the above-quoted restriction?

I can only refer the Noble Lord to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for the Canterbury Division on the 2nd December last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether ho is aware that a number of complaints continue to be made with regard to the delay in settling the accounts of the women telegraphists who served in the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps; whether he is aware that the average period of delay is over three months; and whether he will state the number of complaints received, the number of cases which have been settled since November last, and the number of cases outstanding?

I am making inquiries and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War what information he has obtained as to the use now being made by the military authorities of the White City site at Bristol: whether any part of it has yet been handed over to the Disposal Board; and whether, in view of the very great demand by ex-service men for allotments, he will take steps to hand over the whole site to the Disposal Board forthwith?

A portion of the site referred to is still being used as a Supply Depôt, and this cannot be vacated until a fresh site can be found for the purpose. The portion which is no longer required is about to be handed over to the Disposal Board, who will be in a position to deal with it as soon as certain arrangements which are being made with the owners of the property have been completed. The owners' proposals, which were being awaited, have now been received and the matter is being expedited as much as possible.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, if he is aware that a number of pensioners who are eligible for re-assessment of pensions have not received same, and that many who have been informed that these pensions have been re-assessed have not had their new books and have not been paid since December: and if he will look into the matter?

I am informed that Chelsea Hospital is proceeding with the re-assessment as quickly as possible, and that it will be finished in a few weeks. I am enquiring as to delay in payment, and will inform the hon. and gallant Member of the result.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now in a position to say if the gratuity claimed by Mrs. M. J. M'Keane, mother of Private J. Simpson, No. 487,592, Labour Corps, Reference DE 734,136/1, Accounts 4, Miscellaneous Section, will be paid to her: and if he is in a position to answer the query addressed to him on the 18th January ultimo as to whether Private Simpson's papers will be sent on to the Pensions Ministry for investigation as to his mother's claim?

An official letter was addressed to the hon. Member on the 12th instant fully explaining the position. The soldier's papers were passed to the Ministry of Pensions on the 28th January.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether those entitled to receive it have now all received the 1914 star; and to whom should application be made in cases where this decoration has been claimed but not received?

All the "1914 Stars" are ready for issue. Those for warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men have been sent to the officers in charge of records concerned, to whom application should be made by those who are entitled to the decoration but have not yet received it. A number of Stars due to officers and the relatives of deceased officers still remain to be issued, and applications for these should be addressed to:—The Secretary,War Office (AG. 10),27, Pilgrim Street,E.C.4.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping whether the officers of War Department sea-going ships are to be granted a gratuity for their War service on a similar scale to that paid in the Army, Navy, and merchant service; and, if not, will he state the reason for depriving these men of the rights and privileges accorded to other services doing similar work?

I have been asked to reply. The officers in question are employed and paid on a civilian basis, and are not eligible for any gratuity for War service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping whether he is aware that the standard rates of pay for officers of the merchant service in operation since October, 1917, have recently been awarded to officers of Trinity House vessels, but are withheld from the masters and deck and engineer officers of the sea-going ships of the War Department fleet; and whether he will state the reason for this differentiation?

I have been asked to answer this question. The claim for National Maritime Board standard rates in regard to the civilian crews of sea-going vessels in Admiralty employ was refused by the award of the Court of Arbitration (687) of 20th August, 1919. As the crews of the War Department vessels are paid on the same basis as the Admiralty crews, the National Maritime Board rates are not applicable. The question, however, of some adjustment in the remuneration of the crews of the seagoing vessels is receiving consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the event of a special medal being awarded to members of the Territorial Force who were mobilised in August, 1914, and volunteered for service overseas, members of the Indian Volunteer Force who were at home on leave and who were mobilised at the same time as the Territorial Force will be eligible for the medal in question?

The matter is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will place in the Tea Room the chart of the order of battle on the 25th September, 1918, Reference No. H.Q. A.P. and S.S. 8/19; and whether this chart may now be reproduced for public sale?

I will consider my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a lecture took place on 12th January at the Warncliffe Hill hospital, Sheffield, at which the Reverend E. Courtier-Forster delivered an address on anti-Bolshevism; whether he is aware that all officers and patients were ordered to parade for this lecture by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command; whether compulsory parades were inaugurated to enable serving units to hear the Bolshevik side of the case; whether these compulsory lectures are carried out at the instigation of the War Office; and whether the expense of these meetings is borne by the State?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It was not a lecture on anti-Bolshevism, but an account of the personal experiences of the Rev. R. Courtier-Forster in Russia. The War Office has not authorised and will not inaugurate compulsory attendance at general lectures. The lecture in question is only one of thousands which have been delivered to serving troops and patients in hospitals on hundreds of different subjects during the last two years, and which have been greatly appreciated by all ranks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited, is interested in the recent increase in the price of petrol to 3s. 8½d. per gallon; if so, whether, in view of the fact that the Government has a financial interest in this company, he has taken any steps to satisfy himself that the increase is justified; and, if so, what was the nature of the steps taken?

This company, through its subsidiary the British Petroleum Company, does a comparatively small business in petrol in this country, its operations in this product dating only from 1st November last. A Sub-Committee has been appointed under the Profiteering Act to investigate costs, prices and profits at all stages in respect of petrol, benzole and other motor fuels.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether it is proposed to adopt any regulations to prohibit or diminish the importation of articles of luxury into the United Kingdom in conformity with the general views of the leading bankers and economists?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Prime Minister on Thursday last to a similar question by the hon. Member for North Newcastle.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that many of the ships which take cargoes of coal to Guernsey return in ballast at once to coal ports; and whether, since there are large quantities of stone at Guernsey very suitable for road making and much is required by local authorities for this purpose, he can arrange that vessels bringing coal to Guernsey shall load back with stone to English ports?

I have been asked to answer this question. Arrangements are now being made to make tonnage available for the carriage of road stone to English ports by the vessels that proceed to the Channel Islands with coal.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the advisability of introducing legisation in order that local authorities may be in a measure relieved of the cost of the maintenance and repair of roads and keeping them in a fit state owing to the damage caused by the use of the roads by private motor-omnibus proprietors; and if in such legislation he will provide that the owners of such motors. &c., are requested to make payment of a fair mileage rate to the highway authority?

I have been asked to answer this question. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Burslem in reply to a similar question.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date it is proposed to put into effect any recommendations he has received for the improvement of traffic on the underground railways in the London area?

Various suggestions for the relief of congestion on the underground railways in the London area have been received by the Advisory Committee on London Traffic, and they are being carefully considered in connection with the Committee's own study of the existing conditions, but no recommendations on this subject have yet been made to the Minister of Transport, though it is expected that the Committee, which is working arduously, will report shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the number of wagons ordered by railway companies since 22nd December, 1919?

I presume the question relates to wagons ordered by the railway companies from outside firms. Since the Minister's statement on the 10th December, advices have been received in regard to 9,500 wagons for which orders have been, or are about to be, placed with outside firms. The matter is being vigorously followed up and the companies are being urged and representatives have agreed to continue the policy of increased wagon building.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps have been taken to remedy the shortage of wagons in the transport service of the country?

The number of railway owned wagons in traffic upon 17 principle railway companies has increased from 600,441 in September to 613,428 in November. Arrears of repairs are being overtaken and new construction is being expedited. Over 17,000 wagons are on order from railway companies' own works and a further 15,000 have been ordered from outside firms. In addition 14,500 railway-owned wagons had been returned from France on February 8th.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a resolution, passed at a meeting of the inhabitants of the borough of Gillingham, protesting against the inadequate supplies of coal being delivered to the borough, and requesting the immediate abolition of the datum period principle with the substitution of deliveries on the basis of registered customers' requirements or, alternatively, that the local overseer be empowered to commandeer all supplies of coal arriving in Gillingham and to pool the same, and redistribute to merchants according to the requirements of their registered customers; and whether ho will give this resolution his consideration?

The resolution has been received, and steps are being taken to obtain for each merchant the necessary supplies to enable him to meet his commitments.

asked the President of the Board of Education what steps he is taking to enable those candidates for certificated teacherships who have now been prevented for many months from attending Leeds Training College owing to its occupation by the Ministry of Pensions; and whether compensation will be given for the loss in annual increment of salary caused by this delay to those ex-service students who are eventually successful in their examinations?

The Leeds Training College was taken over by the Ministry of Pensions at the beginning of this month, before which time it had been occupied by the War Office. The Ministry of Pensions have now vacated part of the premises of the College, and I hope that it will be found possible to release other parts at an early date. I have no power to entertain such a claim for compensation as is suggested in the last part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that there were only five women members out of more than 40 members of the Burnham Committee that has recently reported upon the salaries of men and women teachers; and whether, in the event of the Committee continuing to exist, he will add a considerable number of new women members to the Committee, including representatives of the National Federation of Women Teachers?

As I explained in this House on December 15th last, the Committee in question is not a Committee appointed by the Board of Education, but was formed by agreement between the National Union of Teachers and the Associations of Local Education Authorities. I have no power to add to its members.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing among secondary school teachers owing to the delay in giving reasonable salary scales; whether he is aware that some authorities are delaying a satisfactory settlement on the plea that a Committee will shortly report on a national minimum scale for secondary teachers: and when such a Committee will be formed and when it is expected to report?

I am fully alive to the importance of the matter, and am endeavouring to secure the formation of such Committee, but I have still to obtain the co-operation of one of the Associations of Local Education Authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Education if the Board of Education has taken any steps to ensure that all teachers whose careers have been interrupted by military service shall not suffer loss in their civil employment; and if the Board of Education will make provision for students whose careers were interrupted during the period of training, for ensuring that their final qualifying certificate shall be dated as from the time they would have become qualified had no military service intervened?

Provision is made by the School Teachers' (Superannuation) Act, 1918, for allowing service by a teacher in the Naval or Military Forces of the Crown during the War to be treated as recognised service for the purpose of superannuation. The Board have no power to bring the service of students within the terms of the Superannuation Act by antedating their certificate so as to recognise them as teachers from a date prior to the commencement of their teaching service.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that a lady member of the education committee for the borough of Swindon resigned, and that the said member was a co-opted member; that the town clerk decided that another lady who was proposed to take her place was not eligible because she was a member of the National Union of Teachers; and whether members of the National Union of Teachers are eligible to be co-opted as members of the committee like all other ordinary citizens?

So far as I am aware, there is nothing to prevent a member of the National Union of Teachers being co-opted as a member of an education committee, and, in fact, the scheme for the Swindon education committee provides that one member shall be a representative of the Swindon Sub-Association of the National Union of Teachers, who is a member of the teaching staff in a council or voluntary school maintained by the council. I understand that there is already one member on the education committee qualified in this particular manner, and that the question is whether this circumstance precludes the council from co-opting another person who is similarly qualified to fill a vacancy among the co-opted members. The Act of 1902 gives me no power to determine this question.

asked the President of the Board of Education why children under 14 years of age can be released from school providing they are beneficially employed in a large works but cannot be released on the same condition to a small works or an individual employer of labour who undertakes to give proper training?

The question whether a child is beneficially employed under, the School Attendance Byelaws is a matter entirely for the decision of the Local Education Authority. The byelaws do not make any distinction between employment in large works and employment in small works or by an individual employer. The only question the authority have to consider with regard to any employment is whether it is beneficial.

asked the Minister of Food what was the tonnage of wheat discharged from oceangoing steamers direct alongside the premises of millers during each of the years 1914 to 1919, inclusive, and what proportion of the total imports of wheat these figures represent?

The Food Controller has no information with regard to the tonnage of wheat discharged in this manner before 1917. Information as regards the years 1917–19 could be obtained from the millers, but the labour required to compile the necessary statement would seem to be altogether incommensurate with the advantage to be gained from its publication. It is hoped therefore that

Countries.	Beef.	Bacon.	Bread.	Sugar.	Milk.	Butter.	Cheese.	Eggs.	Margarine.	Macaroni.	Tea.	Coffee.
	Percentage Increase.	Percentage Increase.	Percentage Increase.	Percentage Increase.	Percentage Increase.	Percentage Increase.	Percentage Increase.	Percentage Increase.	Percentage Increase.	Percentage Increase.	Percentage Increase.	Percentage Increase.
United Kingdom	106	156	62	290	212	110	122	341	83	150	86	47
France	111	330	44	433	500	242	292	266	107	—	—	—
Italy	362	322	89	233	138	296	155	893	—	82	—	—
Belgium	115	136	277	167	256	419	403	953	188	250	81	193
U.S.A.	65	109	84	110	81	93	83	62	4	—	29	60

asked the Minister of Food what provision he has made for supplying sugar to home jam-makers during the forthcoming season?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer already given on this subject to the hon. Member

asked the Minister of Food if any restrictions, and, if so, what, exist on the importation into this country of foodstuffs from abroad?

In the case of certain commodities controlled by the Ministry of Food, such as sugar, bacon and butter, delivery in this country can only be taken by persons or firms licensed or otherwise authorised by the Food Controller to receive delivery. Otherwise there are no restrictions on the importation into this country of foodstuffs from abroad.

asked the Minister of Food if he can state the rise in the cost of living, as compared with our own, in all the Allied countries?

As the answer to this question is in the form of a statistical table, I propose, with the permission of the House, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I may point out that the information in the possession of the Ministry of Food relates to the cost of foodstuffs only.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that several public bodies in North Wales have passed resolutions in favour of discontinuing the present system of livestock control: whether he is aware that Mr. James Lee, who was employed as a grader in North Wales, resigned his position owing to the resentment he found against the system of grading in every market in North Wales; and whether he can now see his way to abolish the grading system?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Mr. James Lee, Assistant Supervisor of Grading in the North Wales area, resigned his position on the 30th June, 1919, but I have no information as to his reasons for taking this step. With regard to the third part of the question, the grading system is essential to the controlled distribution of home produced meat, which cannot be discontinued so long as control is maintained or guaranteed prices for livestock remain in operation.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give the names of any commodities of popular consumption which are directly or indirectly assisted by State subsidy; if he will state the reasons for this policy; and if he will give the exact financial liability to the nation in respect of each article?

The only food directly assisted by subsidy is flour. At one time, owing to the potato guarantee, there was a subsidy on the potato crop, but this has ceased. The Department has consistently utilised its accumulated reserves in order to prevent violent fluctuations of prices to the consumer, and to this extent one article or another may from time to time have been indirectly subsidised. The total amount of the liability in respect of the bread subsidy for the financial year 1919–20 is estimated to be £56,500,000.

asked the Minister of Food, if the present bread subsidy can be entirely discontinued after the harvesting of the 1920 crops?

I am not at present able to add anything to the statement made on Friday, the 13th February, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he informed the House that the whole question of the bread subsidy was receiving the serious consideration of the Government.

asked the Home Secretary, whether he has received a memorandum on behalf of the ex-police officers who retired on pensions prior to 1st April, 1919, showing the inequality of treatment compared with those officers who retired at a later date; whether he is aware that a constable who retired after 1st April, 1919, is found to be in receipt of a pension not only greater than that of one of his own rank, but considerably greater even than that of an inspector who retired a little before that date, and that a sergeant who retired after 1st April is in receipt of a pension not only far greater than that of a sergeant, but considerably greater than that of a superintendent who retired before that date; and whether he will take steps to remedy these and other disparities between officers of the same rank?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, I regret that the Government cannot agree to introduce the legislation which would be necessary to provide for the increase of these pensions. I would refer the hon. Member to what was said by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House last Friday.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the continuous rise in the cost of living, he will now reconsider his former decision as to the pensions of police officers who retired prior to the existing pensions scale coming into operation, and will consider the desirability of promoting legislation to place all pensioned officers upon an equal footing?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Debate of last Friday. I regret that these pensions cannot be increased.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will confer with the Prison Commissioners and re-consider the cases of those prison warders at Wormwood Scrubs Prison who have been, and still are, out of employment consequent upon their dismissal upwards of six months ago by reason of their having been induced to join in the strike; and whether, if it is not found possible to reinstate them, he will endeavour to arrange for their employment in other branches of the public service, seeing that they have been reduced to a condition of destitution, not having succeeded in obtaining other employment?

This question has been repeatedly considered, but I regret I do not see my way to authorise the reappointment to the Prison Service of any of the men who were dismissed last August for absenting themselves from duty. The Prison Commissioners have, however, done their best to assist the men in finding other employment. Many of them have been taken temporarily into employment by a Government Department, and most, if not all, have succeeded in obtaining other work.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Committee appointed to investigate the 24-hour clock has as yet reported?

The Committee has not yet reported to me, but I understand it hopes to be able to do so very shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Mr. J. E. Taylor, a Post Office engineer, who was reduced in rank in 1912 for having invested a small sum in Marconi shares, and whose restoration to his previous rank was promised by the then Postmaster-General, has never been reinstated in that rank; that he has lost not only the sum of £90 per annum but in addition has been ineligible for the cumulative increase of £20 per annum; and whether he is aware that Mr. Taylor refused the restoration of his rank without at the same time further investigations being made into his case so that he might be completely cleared from the imputations which were erroneously placed upon his character?

Mr. Taylor was offered promotion to the rank which he formerly held, but he refused it. I regret I cannot consent to re-open the incident which lead to his reduction in rank in 1912.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of paper money has been issued to date by this country; and how much since 1st January?

I would refer the hon. Member to the weekly Currency Note and Bank of England Returns, which show the amount of Currency Notes and Bank of England Notes respectively outstanding. It will be observed that the Currency Notes outstanding have de creased since the beginning of January by approximately £30,000,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many county boroughs which have incurred heavy expenditure, with corresponding high rates, are putting forward proposals for extension; and whether he will suspend all such proposals until Parliament has caused a full inquiry by a Royal Commission or Joint Committee of both Houses into the whole question of the future of county council and county borough administration?

I am afraid that at the present time I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to similar questions on the 18th and 22nd of December last.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared, in cases of local inquiries into the question of the extension of boundaries, to set up, in lieu of an inspector, a travelling tribunal so as to obtain uniformity of policy?

The hon. Member's proposal of a travelling tribunal is not possible, as Parliament has vested the responsibility in the Minister, not in the officials who only hold the inquiries and make a report to him.

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the cost of local inquiries, amounting in one case to £7,000, he will prohibit the employment of counsel, and otherwise limit expenditure in such cases?

I am most anxious to reduce to the lowest possible limit the expenditure incurred in connection with local inquiries on the employment of counsel and experts. The proposal of the hon. Member would require legislation but I am considering it with other suggestions.

asked the Minister of Health whether any steps have been taken to ascertain the position of rings and trusts in building material and its effect upon the cost of houses; and, if so, will he state the result of the inquiry?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to questions by the hon. and gallant Member for the Central Division of Hull and my hon. Friend the Member for South Poplar.

asked the Parlamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the situation of certain small freeholders in Woodlands, county of Durham, as regards the annual charge known as free farm rent, which formerly, it is presumed, was paid for mantaining a small army for protection against raids; and whether now no such protection is required, as the Army is maintained by the State and out of taxes, he will make inquiry into the facts?

I have no information as to the matter referred to. If the hon. Member will supply further details, I will consider whether any action can usefully be taken by the Ministry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether approximate figures are available as to the annual slaughter of singing birds in Great Britain; and whether steps can be taken to make illegal at any period of the year and throughout the country the destruction of any bird which comes under this category?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. There are no figures available, so far as I am aware, of the number of birds killed annually in Great Britain. As regards the second part of the Question, the whole subject of the protection of wild birds has recently been reviewed by a representative Committee. In their Report, which was issued last year, the Committee have made a number of recommendations for the improvement of the existing law. I would refer the hon. Member in particular to paragraphs 4 and 59 to 62 of the Report. The question of giving effect to the proposals of the Committee will be considered at the first opportunity.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can see his way to promise legislation which will make illegal the importation of egrets' plumes, the obtaining of which entails the greatest suffering to the birds in question and is not of the slightest practical benefit?

A Bill to prohibit the importation of the plumage of rare birds is in draft, but I cannot at present say when the pressure of Parliamentary business will permit of its introduction.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the benefits of the Bonus Awards 84 and 101 of the Civil Service Arbitration Board have yet been applied to the staff of the Imperial Institute; if not, the reason for such non-application; and whether the bonus recently awarded is sufficient to meet the high rise in the cost of living?

The claim of the staff of the Imperial Institute to be regarded as civil servants, and so entitled to these bonus awards, has been referred to the Treasury, by whom it is being considered. In the meanwhile, the staff are being paid a bonus of 25 per cent. from the funds of the Institute.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what action is being taken, if any, to improve the conditions of the Hereros and other natives living in the ex-German colonies in various parts of Africa; if it is intended to issue a report concerning the sufferings they underwent during the German rule; and how many names of offending German officers are included in the list of war criminals?

In reply to the first two parts of the question, my hon. Friend will find full information as to the sufferings of the native population of South West Africa under the German rule in Cd. 8371, Cd. 9146 and Cd. 9210. The two last-mentioned Papers also show the vast improvement which has taken place during the administration of the country by the Union authorities, and' the welfare of the native population will, of course, continue to be a chief preoccupation of the Union Government. As regards German East Africa, the Cameroons and Togoland, I would invite reference to Cd. 9210. The British spheres of these territories are being administered by British authorities as far as possible on the lines adopted in other British Protectorates in tropical Africa; and the fact that the natives appreciate the change is clear from the documents printed in that Paper. As regards the last part of the question, I would point out that Article 228 of the Peace Treaty relates only to violations of the laws and customs of war, and does not apply, therefore, to matters of civil administration before or during the War.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is intended to give the vote to Indians in East Africa on the same terms as to the white man?

Under present arrangements the Indian community in the East Africa Protectorate is to be represented on the Legislative Council by-two members nominated by the Governor. The question of elective representation for the Indian community has been raised and is under consideration; but I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the dispossession of the 900,000 natives of Southern Rhodesia from the ownership of their lands; and whether, as the decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has now transferred the legal title to the Crown, His Majesty's Government will appoint an impartial committee of inquiry, with a view to the resettlement of the dispossessed natives, and that on such committee there may be representatives of the missionaries and of the officials of native affairs?

No, Sir; there is no occasion for the appointment of a Committee of Inquiry, as my hon. Friend will see from the Parliamentary Paper Cmd. 547, which has just been published.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when the Order in Council regulating the admission of women to the Civil Service under the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act, 1919, will be laid upon the Table?

As I informed the hon. Member for Southwark, North, on the 21st November, inquiry into the future organisation of the Civil Service has been referred to a Committee of the National Whitley Council. The Committee's Report, covering, among other subjects, the recruitment of women to the Civil Service, is expected to issue shortly, and pending this Report it is not possible to announce a decision.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the attention of the Board has been drawn to a book entitled "Die Zwei Weisse Völker," written by a German naval officer who was present at the battle of Jutland; and whether this book or a translation of it could be obtained and issued to the Fleet?

The answer to the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is in the affirmative. With regard to the suggestion contained in the second part of the question, arrangements to this effect have already been made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that 1,600 discharged soldiers and sailors in the northern region, comprising Cumberland, Durham, and Northumberland, are still awaiting industrial training; whether the local war pensions committee have now no responsibility with regard to industrial training; whether he is aware that the administrative efficiency of these committees is being hampered by this delay; and whether he will explain the cause of the delay and the steps being taken to deal with the matter?

The number given in the first part of the question, of disabled soldiers and sailors awaiting training in the area referred to, is approximately correct. Local war pensions committees are not now responsible for industrial training, and the question of their efficiency in discharging the duties for which they are responsible is a matter for the Ministry of Pensions. Delay in providing industrial training in that area has been mainly due to inevitable expenditure of time in acquiring and equipping the large training centres at Birtley and Walker. I am glad to say that these have now been overcome to a large extent, and there should be very soon a substantial and steady increase in the number of men training in the division.

asked the First Commissioner of Works when the Board of Education will leave the Victoria and Albert museum; and when the whole of that museum will be once more open to the public?

The Board of Education will be removed from the museum in the course of the next few weeks, immediately their offices in Whitehall are ready for occupation. The question of re-opening the Museum rests entirely with the trustees, but so far as I am aware there is no reason why the museum should not be re-opened to the public as soon as possible after the removal of the staff of the Board of Education.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether it is proposed to introduce legislation to amend the existing restriction on the amount of the public library rate in Scotland: and, if so, whether it will be possible to introduce such a Bill before Easter?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday on this subject to the hon. Member for Central Edinburgh.