asked the Attorney-General whether the Order in Council as to the termination of the War referred to in the recent notice in the London Gazette is the Order contemplated by the Termination of the Present War Definition Act, 1918; and whether the 10 per cent. increase of rents permitted by the Increase of Rents, &c. (Amendment) Act, 1919, will commence from the 10th July next, being six months from the date mentioned in such Order in Council as the date for the termination of the War?

No, Sir. The Order in Council referred to is limited to the war with Germany, and a further Order in Council will be necessary to fix the date of the termination of the War generally; upon which the time for the increase of rent under the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1919, depends.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether it is his intention to introduce legislation during the present Session to provide against the eviction of tenants of houses while the present scarcity of houses exists in Scotland?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the intimation made by my right hon. Friend, the Lord Privy Seal, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Dundee on the 18th instant. As then stated, a Committee has been set up to consider questions affecting the operation of the Rent Restriction Acts. The scope of the Committee's enquiry includes Scotland.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the use of stone by local authorities in Scotland for housing for the working classes has been impeded because unnecessary quantities of dressed stone have been specified for in connection with these schemes; and, if so, whether he will give some guidance to local authorities in regard to the simplification of stone building, seeing that the carriage of bricks from a distance and the scarcity of bricklayers in Scotland operate as causes of delay in eases where the local authority can obtain stone near at hand?

I am not aware that the use of stone as a building material has been impeded by specifications such as my hon. Friend suggests. In all eases where stone construction is proposed by local authorities the Scottish Board of Health require that the use of dressed stone should be eliminated or reduced to a minimum.

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that General Housing Memorandum So. 17 authorises the charging to capital account of the expenses incurred in employing additional temporary clerical assistance specifically in connection with a housing scheme, he can now say why the Repton Rural District Council has been refused permission to so charge expense that has been incurred in strict conformity with the provisions of said memorandum?

The expenses which the Repton Rural District Council have proposed to charge to their Housing Capital Account relate to assistance secured in respect of their general duties under the Housing Acts and not of definite housing schemes. Only expenses connected with the latter are chargeable to the Housing Capital Account.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any and, if so, what Regulations have been made by the Treasury with a view to encouraging private individuals to build houses in Ireland?

Regulations under Section 1 of the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919, will be made by the Local Government Board for Ireland with the approval of the Treasury.

asked the Minister of Health whether Sergeant F. H. Margerrison, formerly one of the inspectors of nuisances and a sanitary surveyor to the Bakewell rural district council, who, as a member of the Derbyshire Yeomanry, was called up for active service with his unit in August, 1914. and remained in the service of the Crown until the conclusion of hostilities, was demobilised on the application of the Bakewell rural district council and returned to duty in April, 1919: whether the Bakewell rural district council at a later date decided that there should be only one inspector of nuisances for their area and obtained the sanction of the Ministry of Health: whether the Ministry of Health made due inquiries as to the manner in which Sergeant Margerrison would be affected by this arrangement: whether the Ministry of Health instructed the Bakewell rural district council in their advertisement for an inspector of nuisances to state that preference would be given to discharged or disabled soldiers and sailors; whether this instruction was obeyed by the district council; whether the Bakewell rural district council in December last appointed as their inspector of nuisances their former highway surveyor, who had not served with the military forces and who had acted as a temporary substitute for Sergeant Margerrison during the latter's period of military service; whether the district council subsequently gave Sergeant Margerrison three months' notice to terminate his engagement; whether these acts on the part of the Bakewell rural district council were performed with the approval of the Ministry of Health; and whether, failing any evidence of dereliction of duty or incapacity on the part of the inspectors of nuisances who have served with the armed forces of the Crown, the Ministry of Health will refuse their sanction to any arrangement which involves their dismissal from their office?

The facts as stated in the first part of the question are substantially correct, but I would point out that the man appointed to the post of inspector of nuisances for the whole district enlisted but was passed for home service only, and ordered by the military authorities to remain in his civil employment. I am glad to say that Mr. Margerrison has now been appointed, with my sanction, to a similar post in another district.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the serious conditions caused by the constant flooding of land and houses at Greencastle, Belfast; whether this flooding is permanent during a great part of the year, involving great hardships and inconvenience to the residents, injury to property, and grave menace to the health of the community; whether this matter has been neglected by the local authority for the past 20 years; and what steps the Local Government Board propose to take in the matter?

A representation on this subject was received on the 23rd inst., and has been referred to the Medical Inspector of the Local Government Board in Belfast for investigation and report.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a party of soldiers under the command of an officer entered and searched the house of J. J. Farrell, formerly Lord Mayor of Dublin, on the 10th February; if so, who was responsible; and whether any action will be taken against the person responsible?

Acting under his powers under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, the Competent Military Authority ordered the search of Alderman J. J. Farrell's house to be made The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Food whether control of hides has been in operation for two years in Ireland and, as a consequence, only a small group of registered markets are permitted to be held and merchants allowed to export; whether the Dublin advisory committee of control passed a resolution in favour of the removal of control; and for what reason, and for how long, the Ministry of Food intend to continue control?

The Food Controller is aware that the control of hides has been in operation in Ireland for a considerable period, and that in consequence all trade in hides must be carried on through registered markets or authorised merchants. A system of export licences is also an essential feature of the scheme. He has received a copy of the resolution referred to. With regard to the third part of the question, the duration of the present system of control is now under consideration, and it is probable that an announcement on the subject will be made at an early date.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received a communication from the Rural District Councils Association urging that they should have a representative on the Roads Advisory Committee; and, if so, what does he propose to do in the matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Mr. Bennett) on 12th February.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he sent a letter to the Federation of British Industries intimating his intention to consult with them on the question of the revision of rates, fixing of charges, etc.; if so, will he state in what respect this federation of employers can be said to be representative of the interests of the consuming public; and whether it is to be taken as a considered policy on the part of his Department to make arrangements of this character with the employing classes in the community on all matters in which their interests are affected?

I think my hon. Friend has been misinformed. The letter to which I think he refers, and of which I will send him a copy, asked the Federation of British Industries, the Associated Chambers of Commerce, and the Central Chamber of Agriculture to assist the Minister with their views as to the system upon which railway rates and charges should be based and compiled. The letter has been published in the Press, I believe. The Minister did so in the knowledge that much work, investigation and skilled consideration had been devoted by members and committees of these bodies to the principles of the science of rate fixing. If my hon. Friend knows of any representative body of consumers which has similarly devoted study and skilled consideration to that aspect of the question, I shall be glad to hear from him. It is the settled policy of the Ministry to consult representatives of all classes of the community upon the subjects upon which it is thought they can give useful advice or assistance.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will, having regard to the great and increasing cost of maintenance and repair of roads owing to the damage caused to them by private motor omnibuses, introduce, as early as possible, legislation to provide for the payment of a fair mileage rate by the owners of private omnibuses to the highway authority?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Burslem (Mr. Finney) on February 16th.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that if the London Electric, Metropolitan, District, City and South London, and Central London Railways Companies Bill is carried it will mean that thousands of both workmen and women will be called upon to pay at least 10s. per week more for railway fares travelling for the same distance as they are now travelling for a fare costing them about 2s. per week; and what attitude the Government intend taking towards the matter?

I have been asked to answer this question. I would remind the hon. Member that the Bill is one to authorise the charging of certain increased maxima, and the hon. Member will no doubt realise that such increases as those mentioned would only result if the maximum powers were in fact imposed, but any statement as to the attitude of the Government would be made more properly when the Bill is again before the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that one contributing factor in the present scarcity of coal in the Cradley Heath district of Staffordshire has been the continued employment, until recently, by the West Cannock Colliery Company of wagons belonging to a local firm in transporting coal to customers outside the district; that not until strong and repeated representations had been made by the owners of these trucks at such a practice was this unauthorised use of this property stopped by the colliery company concerned, which, in apparent reprisal for such objection, turned the firm's wagons into a siding at Hednesford, where they remained empty and idle until notice had been drawn thereto by the railway company; and whether he can see his way to inquire into the matter, having regard to the fact that the firm in question has lost approximately 300 tons of supplies since December last, to the serious deprivation of the district, and is still unable to secure anything like a sufficient supply of coal to meet insistent and clamant local requirements?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am not aware of the facts mentioned in the question, but will make inquiry and inform my hon. Friend of the result. It appears, on the facts given, to be a dispute between a trader and a colliery company.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies why the rupee in East Africa has been fixed at 10 to the pound (paper) when it has been fixed in India at 10 to the pound (gold); and whether, in coming to this decision to artificially regulate the exchange, the views of the Indian traders or the interests of the native wage-earners in East Africa were considered, as well as those of the white planters who have to pay wages and to import capital?

The dependence of East Africa on the United Kingdom both for its market and for the capital required for development has made it desirable to stabilise the East African exchange on a sterling basis. In deciding to prevent the East African rupee being forced up above 2s. 4d. by the recent action of the Government of India in respect of the Indian exchange, and to fix it eventually at 2s., the most careful consideration was given to the interests, not only of the settlers, who have been seriously affected by the appreciation of the rupee, but also of those persons, Indians and others, who have commitments in or dealings with India, and of the native wage-earners.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies to state the British possessions to which the Coinage Acts, 1870 and 1891, have been applied by proclamation; and whether in any of such cases those Acts have been applied with any and, if so, what modifications?

The whole of the Coinage Act, 1870, has been applied to Fiji, Sections 1 to 7, 11, 18, 20, and the Schedules of that Act, as amended by the Coinage Act of 1891, have been applied to Jamaica, British Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, the Leeward Islands, Bermuda, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Malta, and St. Helena, with some modifications as to the amount of silver coins which may be tendered. The same parts of the Act, with the exception of Section 20 and the 2nd Schedule, have been applied to the Union of South Africa and Basutoland.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the Colonies whose coinage is affected by the Silver Coinage Bill; whether the present silver coinage of West Africa is to be altered, and, if so, to what extent; whether there is to be a new rupee in East Africa of inferior intrinsic value to the Indian rupee, and, if so, to what extent inferior; whether the Colonial Office will be able to alter the fineness of any Colonial coinage, should they deem it advisable to do so; and whether it will be possible to institute a coinage of a uniform standard for all His Majesty's territories in Africa under the administration of the Colonial Office?

The colonies affected are the West Indies, including Bermuda, British Honduras and British Guiana, the Falkland Islands, St. Helena, Fiji, Malta, Gibraltar, and to some extent the West African Colonies. The question of altering the present silver coinage of West Africa is now under consideration. It is proposed to introduce a now rupee in East Africa of inferior intrinsic value to the Indian rupee. The fineness of the new coin will be 450. It is for the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to advise as to the issue by His Majesty of Orders in Council regulating Colonial coinage. As regards the last part of the question the effect of the changes now contemplated will be to bring all the African territories under the administration of the Colonial Office, except Somaliland and Zanzibar, on to a uniform sterling basis.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture what steps have been taken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to secure the proper observance on the fishing grounds of the regulations of Sea Fishing Order (No. 1) (Fishing for Sea Fish in Cardigan Bay); and, in view of the fact that the Ministry are quite unable to supervise the working of these regulations, whether they will cause the Order to be withdrawn forthwith?

The Order referred referred to is an exception to an existing byelaw. The enforcement of the byelaw is the duty of the local Sea Fisheries Committee, who will, it is assumed, take proceedings against any person fishing in contravention of the byelaw otherwise than as permitted by the Order. In the circumstances, it has not been thought necessary for the Ministry to provide any special machinery for dealing with the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries have made any Regulations to be observed by users of the Conway mussel purification tanks in the terms of the Schedule attached to the Sea Fisheries (Conway) Provisional Order Confirmation Act, 1912; and, if so, whether before such Regulations were confirmed they were advertised in any newspaper circulating in the locality; whether copies of the Regulations are on sale to the fishermen; and, if so, at what price?

The control of the mussel purification tanks established under the Sea Fisheries (Conway) Provisional Order, 1912, was assumed by the Ministry by virtue of powers under the Defence of the Realm Regulations and incidental to this assumption of control revised Regulations were issued regarding the uses of the tanks. The provisions of the Conway Order, 1912, requiring any Regulation made thereunder to be advertised before confirmation, do not apply to Regulations made by the Ministry in exercise of powers under the Defence of the Realm Regulations. Copies of the Regulations made by the Ministry were given to all the fishermen interested and a copy is exhibited outside the tank. Any fisherman can obtain a copy free of charge on application to the Officer in Charge of the Tanks at Conway.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he has any information regarding the French and German experiments on foot-and-mouth diseased animals on the subject of vitality and carriers of the disease, and if they can be published?

The Ministry have no knowledge of any experiments of foot-and-mouth disease conducted in France and Germany since 1914. The results of the previous researches in Germany are well known in this country, but they contain very little information regarding the vitality of the virus, and it is not thought that any advantage would be gained by publishing them.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, in view of the unsatisfactory result of the Departmental Committee to inquire into foot-and-mouth disease in 1912, which investigated the disease in India, whether the Ministry have carried out any further experiments on the vitality of the virus; and, if not, do they propose to do so now?

No experiments have been carried out recently with a view to determining the vitality of the foot-and-mouth disease virus, but the Minister has now appointed a Committee of scientists to investigate certain problems connected with this disease, including the one referred to in the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture how long it is customary for the Ministry to retain on their staff temporary Inspectors of Fisheries; and whether such temporary Inspectors will be given an opportunity of competing for a permanent appointment at the Ministry before their services are dispensed with?

The practice of the Ministry is governed not by custom, but by expediency. The organisation of the staff of permanent Inspectors is under discussion with the Treasury. The claims of all temporary Inspectors at present in the service of the Ministry will be considered in making permanent appointments.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture if lie will state the acreage of grass land in the county of Kent that was ploughed up by direction of the war agricultural committees and the acreage that has since reverted to grass?

The acreage of grass land broken up by direction of the Kent Agricultural Executive Committee was 43,542 acres. The Ministry have no information as to how much of this area has since reverted to grass, but it would appear from the official returns collected on the 4th June that the acreage of arable land on the whole of the farms in the county decreased from 336,592 acres in 1918 to 329,995 acres in 1919, that is to say, by 6,597 acres.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether a list can be furnished of the names of the men whom it is contemplated discharging from the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, on the 31st March next, stating in each case the age, service, pay, and the pension or gratuity that will eventually accrue?

I regret that I have not been able to obtain the information asked for by the hon. Member, but I hope to be able to forward to him the particulars which he requires in the course of a few days.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he can say when it is his intention to introduce his promised Bill dealing with river pollution?

A Fisheries Bill is in course of preparation, and will, among other things, deal with river pollution. I would point out, however, that the subject of pollution is one which concerns also the Ministry of Health, with whom the matter is being discussed.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of the delay in the issue of the wife's allowance in the case of pensioners, and that hundreds of cases are still awaiting settlement although it is nearly six months since the issue of such allowance was sanctioned; and, if so, what steps will he take to remedy the delay?

In certain cases, and particularly in those where the marriage certificate has been forwarded, without means of identification, payment of wife's allowance has not yet been made, but the number of these cases is very small, and every effort is being made to dispose of them as rapidly as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that cases sent on to the Ministry for their consideration are held up for a considerable time before acknowledging such; and if he will take steps to see that all cases are acknowledged the same day as they are received at the Ministry?

Owing to the enormous correspondence received daily by this Ministry it would be impossible, except by a heavy increase in staff, formally to acknowledge every communication on the day of receipt. Steps are being taken to see whether it is possible formally to acknowledge letters which cannot be answered within a reasonable time.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether Corporal W. B. Shaw, S2/017,382, enlisted on the 13th August, 1914, and was discharged unfit on the 29th March, 1916, with valvular disease of the heart; that on joining the Army he was classed Al, and was refused a. pension on the grounds that his disability was not due to military service; whether he is aware that this man is totally unfit to do any hard work and has three children dependent upon him; and whether he will have further inquiries made into this case?

Corporal Shaw was discharged medically unfit from the R.A.M.C. in May, 1905, suffering from valvular disease of the heart, which was considered not to be due to service. He re-enlisted on 13th August, 1914, and in March, 1919, was again discharged with the same disability, which was regarded as not being due to nor aggravated by service. The Appeal Tribunal upheld the decision on appeal being made to them. In these circumstances Corporal Shaw, who has received a gratuity of £33, is not entitled to any further award.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will have inquiries made into the case of Mrs. Stryde, of Ring-wood, Hants, widow of the late Gunner Sidney Arthur Stryde, No. 75,767, Royal Garrison Artillery, who died of wounds on the 24th April, 1918; whether Mrs. Stryde has applied for an alternative pension before the 7th March, 1919; whether it was granted under reference number A.P.W. 23,859, and subsequently stopped and reduced at the rate of 4s. a week; whether an application was made for reconsideration, and Mrs. Stryde was informed that it was hoped to reply in a few days; whether, in spite of the fact that months have now passed, no reply has been received; and whether he can now say what decision has been come to?

I regret that there has been so much delay in the settlement of this case. The original award, which was provisional only, was based on information as to the husband's pro-War earnings, which proved, on enquiry, to be incorrect. The award was accordingly cancelled, and recovery of the overpayment was directed to be made at the rate of 4s. a week. The amended particulars of the pre-war earnings are found to justify the award of an alternative pension of £1 2s. a week as from November, 1918, and steps will be taken to put this award into payment forthwith.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the new warrant governing the rate of pensions for the chaplains' department will be issued; and whether he is aware of the great inconvenience caused by the delay which has occurred?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the written answer given to the Noble Lord the Member for Aldershot (Viscount Wolmer) on the 17th February. I am not yet in a position to give details of the new rates and conditions, but hope to be able to do so at a very early date.

asked the Minister of Pensions why John Jessiman, late sergeant, Royal Artillery, of 108, Bunbury Street, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, a soldier of 20 years' standing, who served during the War in the Army Ordnance Corps on the recruiting staff and subsequently in the Records Office, has been refused a re-assessment of his pension?

I have been asked to reply. This man served as a civilian, and I am afraid no exception can be made to the established rule requiring that the pensioner must have re-enlisted in order to have his pre-war pension reassessed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Farnworth local war pensions committee recommended Mr. William Pitchford for a grant on 15th August last; whether they have since written repeatedly without receiving reply or acknowledgment: what is the cause of the delay in dealing with this case; and when a settlement may be expected?

I am having enquiry made into this case and will communicate the result to the hon. Member as early as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the case of W. Stott, late private, No. 8578, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was discharged in March, 1916; that this man applied in December, 1919, for a grant of £150 from the Civil Liabilities Committee to enable him to purchase a motor lorry, in order to start in business as a haulage contractor; that the grant was strongly recommended by the local war pensions committee, but was disallowed by the Civil Liabilities Committee on the ground that it was out of date; and whether, in view of this man's disability, he will make inquiries with a view to having this case reconsidered?

The facts in this case as stated by my hon. Friend are correct. I had no alternative but to refuse the application under the Regulation governing the Civil Liabilities Department at the time the decision was made. Since then, however, the Regulations as to out-of-date applications has been modified to meet certain classes of cases, and this particular case is already under reconsideration with a view to seeing whether it is one which can be brought within the revised Regulations. I should, however, add that the maximum grant payable under the Regulations is £104.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the case of George Alleston, late private, No. 427,053, Labour Corps, 441st Agricultural Company, who was demobilised on 2nd May, 1919; whether in December, 1919, Alleston had the offer of a glebe farm, and applied for a grant from the Civil Liabilities Committee for £50 to enable him to lay in stock; whether the Civil Liabilities Committee reported that the application was out-of-date, the man having been discharged for over a year before making the application; and whether, in view of the fact that this man will not have been discharged 12 months until May of this year, he will have further inquiries made into the case?

I am having this case inquired into and will communicate the result to the hon. Member at the earliest possible moment.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether an officer who was due to retire during the course of the War but who was kept on serving counts such kept-on time for increase in pension; whether officers who had retired prior to the War and who were called out to serve do not count such called-out time for similar increase of pension and, if not, why; and whether the 25 per cent. of their pension paid in addition to their service rate of pay in the case of the latter officers during the time they served was intended merely as compensation for disturbance, etc., and has no bearing whatever on the question as to counting the called-out time for increase in pension?

The answer to the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is that an officer who was due to retire during the War, but who was kept on, is at liberty to count such kept-on time for increase of pension, in accordance with pre-war regulations, if it is to his advantage. Alternatively, he may, under the concession recently granted to these officers, as the result of a recommendation of the Officers' Pay Committee, receive a bonus of 25 per cent. on his full pay in lieu of counting such kept-on time for increase of pension. Officers retired before the War, on the other hand, are only entitled to receive the bonus of 25 per cent. on their full pay in lieu of counting their service for increase of retired pay. The 25 per cent. bonus is calculated on the full pay of an officer's rank on the retired list and not upon his pension. It is granted in lieu of counting service for increase of retired pay, and is not in the nature of compensation for disturbance. This has been clearly stated in the regulations governing cases of retired officers called up.

asked the Minister of Labour why the negotiations for the acquisition of the Strand Union Work house as a training centre for discharged and disabled sailors and soldiers have not yet materialised; whether he is aware that the War Pensions Joint Sub-Committee, composed of representatives from the Tottenham, Edmonton, Enfield, and Wood Green districts, view the position of affairs with the utmost alarm owing to the fact that nearly 200 disabled men have been interviewed by the Selection Committee and passed as suitable, out of which only six have commenced training, whilst some of the applicants were interviewed as long ago as August of last year; whether he is aware that the committee regard it as disheartening to place before disabled men the prospects of being trained when there is no prospect of the same being realised, in view of the fact that there is an absence of training establishments; and if the Parliamentary Secretary will be prepared to receive a deputation on the subject from the War Pensions Joint Sub-Committee?

The greater portion of the Strand Union Workhouse is not at present available for the industrial training of disabled men owing to its being used as a hospital and as a centre for the treatment and training of men requiring both forms of assistance concurrently. The remaining accommodation is not suitable for industrial training purposes. I am aware that the Pensions Joint Subcommittee mentioned have made energetic representations in regard to the training position in this area, and I am glad to say that negotiations are on the point of completion for the acquisition of other suitable premises which, when fully equipped, will accommodate approximately 350 trainees. As an early improvement of the position may, therefore, be expected, I do not think it necessary to receive a further deputation on this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether many young men who joined the Forces at the commencement of the War have had no trade training and are now out of employment; and whether he will take steps to provide at the earliest possible moment to demobilised men the same facilities for learning a trade as are extended to disabled men?

It is not possible to provide training in the staple skilled trades for fit demobilised men who have a pre-war occupation to which to return, nor have the trade unions concerned recognised any obligation to admit to membership such able-bodied men. Attempts are, however, being made to come to an understanding with the unions in the case of such lads as joined the Forces under the normal age for commencing their apprenticeship.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called, in connection with the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Department, to the cases of men who, having undergone a course of training fitting them for carrying on business, are, because of such training, refused any grant from the Civil Liabilities Department to enable them to set up in business; and if he will consider if it is in the public interest that such cases, if necessary, should be assisted?

The Civil Liabilities fund is designed to assist men who lost their businesses through having to go on military service. In such cases a grant is given to help to re-establish them in their old business. On the other hand, a man who applied for training in an occupation presumably means to go into service in that occupation, or has prospects which induce him to take that form of training. No fund and arrangements at present exist for, first, training and then making a capital grant to start men in business. Any such scheme would, obviously, be very costly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that women are still engaged in driving Army and Air Force cars and tenders; and whether attempts have been made to replace these women by discharged soldiers who are at present receiving the unemployment donation?

Enrolled women drivers are still employed with the Army, but the number has been greatly reduced, and is being still further reduced as trained soldier personnel becomes available or as the vehicles driven by these women drivers are withdrawn on reduction of establishment. Whenever unenrolled personnel are required discharged soldiers are invariably employed. As regards the Royal Air Force, 18 women are employed as motor-drivers, and they are about to be replaced by enlisted men.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received a petition from the Mayor and citizens of the Borough of West Bromwich praying for the release from prison of Private S. P. Pritchard; whether any consideration has yet been given to the same: and whether, in view of the extenuating circumstances, the release of Pritchard can now be granted?

A petition for the release of this man has been received and carefully considered, but I regret that the request cannot be granted. Pritchard was one of the ringleaders of a most serious mutiny, to quell which it was necessary to call in armed troops. Not only did he take a leading part in the mutiny, for which he was sentenced to death, but he had just previously been convicted of wilful defiance of authority. His Army record is one of gross insubordination. The case was reviewed last year, and Pritchard was informed that, provided his conduct in prison was satisfactory, the sentence would be remitted in 1923. I have since given directions that his case shall again be reviewed in March, 1922. I am afraid the case is too serious for any greater leniency.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what extent the Strand Union Workhouse, Silver Street, Edmonton, is now used for military purposes; whether he is aware that this building, or a portion of it, is urgently required by the Ministry of Labour for the treatment of disabled soldiers under the direction of the Middlesex Training Council; and if he will take steps for the surrender of the necessary buildings at an early date?

This extension is the only remaining orthopædic hospital in the Eastern Command, and to vacate it at present is impossible, as it is still being used for the treatment of disabled soldiers not yet discharged to pension. Steps are, however, being taken to admit pensioners as well for treatment and training concurrently.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire into the case of Drummer W. H. Webster, No. 10,909, 1st Northants Regiment, Richmond Barracks, Templemore, Tipperary, Ireland; whether he is aware that this man enlisted, without informing his father of his intentions, on 25th August, 1919, at the age of 17; that repeated applications have been made for his demobilisation, as he is the sole support of his grandmother, but with no success, and that offers to buy him out have also been made and refused; and whether he will state what steps should be taken to ensure this man's early demobilisation?

Applications for the release of this soldier have been considered and refused, as the circumstances brought forward did not justify his discharge from the Army being authorised. I am not aware that offers to buy-Drummer Webster out of the Army have been made, but if such an application was refused this was in order, as discharges by purchase were suspended in 1914. As regards re-opening purchase of discharge, I would refer my hon. and gallant friend to my reply yesterday to the hon. Member for West Middlesbrough.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the women telegraphists who served with Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps have been refused a gratuity on discharge and a retention bonus for service in connection with the machinery of demobilisation; whether this refusal has been made on the grounds that the women were civilians; whether he is aware that they were paid by means of soldiers' pay books, were ordered to salute their officers because they held the King's commission, were subject to trial by court-martial for offences committed on or off duty, and were forbidden to visit places out of bounds to troops in exactly the same way as all other soldiers; whether nurses without Foreign service receive a gratuity on discharge; and whether, in view of all these circumstances, he will reconsider his decision not to pay a gratuity or retention bonus?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his department are in possession of several film pictures of scenes in the late War; if these films are sold or lent to the cinematograph trade; if so, can he state what the usual charges are and if a profit is made by his department; can he state if these films are available free for schools and other educational institutes; and, if so, to whom application should be made for same?

The War Office is in possession of all the films taken by the War Office Cinematograph Committee, with the exception of certain Palestine films which have not yet been taken over. Up to the present the films have not been sold or lent to the cinematograph trade except in connection with the preparation of a film for recruiting purposes. No profit has been made or loss incurred by the War Office. Copies of films can be supplied to schools and other educational institutes for private exhibition on payment of the cost price of the positive copy. Application should be made to the Secretary, War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that George Howard, greaser, s.s. "Calonne," of the Walford Line, allowed his mother £1 per week during his service up to the date of his death; that his mother has received no compensation although she was dependent upon her son; and whether he will make inquiries into this case?

I have been asked to answer this question. As this man's death is reported to have been due to natural causes, there would not appear to be any claim to compensation either under the Workmen's Compensation Act or under the War Risks Compensation Scheme.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that sunken vessels still obstruct the Water Sound Channel, Orkney; and, in view of the fact that the herring fishing, on which so much of the living of the people depends, is completely suspended by the blocking of the Sound, he will have the obstruction removed with the least possible delay?

It has recently been decided that commercial requirements for the eastern part of Scapa Flow would be sufficiently met by removing such sunken vessels in Kirk Sound as to afford a navigable channel, and it is, therefore, not contemplated to remove any of the sunken vessels now obstructing the other channels.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what number of Spaniards are employed in His Majesty's Dockyard, Gibraltar; whether the proportion of foreign labour is about 60 per cent.; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of providing facilities for the employment of British labour?

The number of Spanish workmen employed at Gibraltar is about 1,400, comprising, roughly, about 50 per cent. of the total number of employees, the remainder being British-born subects, and men out from the home yards under agreement. Of the latter, there are between 200 and 300. I am afraid the restricted area of Gibraltar and the housing difficulty renders it impracticable to send a larger proportion of men out from the home yards.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether there are still any persons employed at. His Majesty's gun wharf, Portsmouth, who, although they were employed in other trades, such as bricklayers, plasterers, etc., were taken on in His Majesty's gun wharf as temporary employees during the War; if so whether he will state the number of such persons employed; and whether they are to be retained on the permanent establishment or discharged and replaced, where necessary, by discharged and demobilised service men?

So far as known there are three men of the trades in question who have been engaged during the War for employment in the gun wharf at Portsmouth. One of these men is incapacitated from following his trade through injuries received on military service, and the other two will probably be discharged shortly owing to reduction of work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can furnish a return of the number of colliery shareholders in the United Kingdom; and how many of those colliery shareholders consist of limited liability companies?

Evidence was given before the Sankey Commission that there were 37,316 shareholders in companies engaged in coal mining only, and 94,723 shareholders in companies engaged in coal mining and allied industries. To bring these figures up to date and to extract the further information asked for by my hon. Friend would involve considerable time and expense which I do not think would be justified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of coal now existing in the Wolverton, Stony Stratford, Castlethorpe district; whether he knows that the stocks of coal are entirely exhausted and that over 16,000 people are thus threatened; whether he will at once send an inspector to this area; and whether he will take steps to deal generously with this situation?

I am informed that no recent complaints of shortage of coal in the district referred to have been received, and so far as I am aware present supplies, which it is hoped will be maintained, should be sufficient if equitably distributed, to meet the weekly requirements; but in view of the statements made in the hon. Member's question I will have further inquiries made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that foreign banks which have branches in the United States of America, although they are permitted to lend money in America, are not allowed by the laws of the United States to take money on deposit; and whether, in the case of foreign banks opening branches in London, he will favourably consider placing upon them corresponding limitations?

I understand that restrictions such as my hon. Friend mentions are in force in certain of the States. The question of legislation with regard to banking in this country is under consideration, but I am doubtful if a proposal to prohibit foreign banks from taking deposits would be generally approved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what information he based his estimate of a receipt of £20,000,000 from the Coal Emergency Bill towards meeting the deficiency in the Coal Deficiency Vote?

The Coal Mines Deficiency for 1919/20 is estimated to amount to about £32,200,000, of which it is expected that £20,000,000 would be recovered under Clause 5 and Clause 7 (4) of the Coal Mines (Emergency) Bill. These estimates are based on information supplied to me by the Coal Controller. I understand that the hon. Member finds a difficulty in reconciling them with an answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Trade on Monday last. My hon. Friend spoke of the loss to the Exchequer if the Bill did not pass as being incapable of precise statement, but as likely to amount to £10,000,000 or over. The difference between this figure and my own is attributable to estimated additional receipts from Excess Profits Duty if the provisions of the Bill are not enforced. But, as my hon. Friend said, the estimate is very hypothetical, and I should not like to base myself upon it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that in the counties of Northumberland and Durham the salaries of many grades of colliery officials have been under £5 a week, and in many cases less than the wages of those under their charge, and if he will draw the local controller's attention to their position with a view to securing for them a generous settlement of their wage anomalies?

I understand that the question of wages of colliery officials, in Northumberland and Durham is the subject of negotiations which are still proceeding between the owners' association and the officials' association. My information as to the present position is that all underground officials in both counties receive more than £5 a week, and that the only grades whose salaries are generally of less amount are those of certain surface officials. In Northumberland the present remuneration of underground officials, including war advances, ranges from about 108s. a week to about 122s. a week. In Durham the coalowners' association have agreed to recommend to their members that ho underground official should have a weekly wage of less than 10 per cent. in excess of that of the deputies, calculated at six days per week (£4 18s. 6d.). This applies to the lowest paid underground official; the higher classes are paid proportionately higher rates It must also be borne in mind that married officials receive free housing accommodation and coal and, in many cases, lighting. It may occasionally happen that an individual piece-worker, owing to specially favourable circumstances, earns more in wages than an official under whom he works, but otherwise my information does not bear out the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion that the remuneration of officials is in many cases less than that of the men under their charge.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping whether the two German steamers, "Johann Heinrich Burchard" and "William O'Swald,' each of 20,000 gross register tons, built in 1914, the alleged sale of which to Dutch owners was not recognised by the Allied Governments, have yet been delivered to British ownership, in accordance with the instructions which the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping stated on 31st July last had been given to the German Government under the terms of the Armistice; if not, what is the cause of the delay in carrying out these instructions; and what steps do His Majesty's Government propose to take to enforce their decision in this matter, in view of the fact that one of these vessels, renamed the "Limburgia," is now reported to have arrived at Amsterdam from Hamburg?

The vessels referred to by the hon. Member have not yet been delivered in accordance with the instructions issued by the President of the Allied Naval Armistice Commission, as it was decided at a later date by the Supreme Council that no further steps were to be taken in the matter until after the ratification of peace. The question of the steps to be taken to secure the delivery of the vessels is now a matter for the Reparation Commission, who, I understand, have addressed a note to the German Government in this connection.

asked the Attorney-General whether, having regard to the economic crisis in Austria, he will take steps to set free the property of Austrian subjects in England, so that they may be in a position to realise any securities they have in England, and to apply for payment of any moneys in court to which they are entitled?

I have been asked to reply. In accordance with Article 249 of the Treaty of Peace with Austria, the property in this country belonging to Austrian nationals will be held as security for the payment of claims made by British nationals with regard to their property in Austria and debts owing to them by Austrian nationals. Until these claims and debts have been satisfied the question of releasing the property cannot be considered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what was the cost to the country of the munition factory at Gretna; whether any part of it is still in use: and what permanent use it is proposed to make of it?

The total capital expenditure on the building and equipment of the Gretna Green Explosives Factory has been £9,230,143. The working cost has been £14,846,697, and the value of the cordite produced £16,690,246. The cost of obtaining this quantity of cordite from America, on whom we were formerly dependent, would have been £26,253,686. A section of the factory is being prepared for, and will soon be working on, the repair of wagons for the Government pool, and certain work in connection with the denaturing of ether is being carried out in the other section; otherwise the work is mainly care and maintenance and disposal of surplus material and plant. It is proposed to retain the factory permanently for the production of propellants.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what steps have been taken with regard to selling the dumps in France; and how much the value of these dumps has been depreciated by exposure to the weather?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave in the House on Monday last to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. Alfred T. Davies).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the present system of soiling surplus Government stores of clothing in bulk renders it impossible for ex-service men to compete with the big dealers; whether, under the circumstances, he is prepared to grant special terms to ex-service men's organisations to purchase smaller supplies, involving an expenditure of, say, £500; and whether, in such circumstances, he will allow the same discount as has been granted in the case of huts, namely, 20 per cent.?

The whole of the clothing in the hands of the Disposal Board was in the first place offered for sale in small quantities. The quantities sold by this means were, however, inconsiderable, and in order to get the clothing on the market as rapidly as possible it was necessary to sell in large blocks. My hon. and gallant Friend will remember that the discount of 20 per cent. allowed to ex-service men's organisations on the purchase of huts was a special concession granted by the Ministry on the condition that a bulk order was made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Bradford Corporation to order 5,000 more suits from the Disposals Board for the purpose of supplying the citizens of Bradford who cannot afford to pay 8 or 10 guineas for a suit of clothes; whether the Disposals Board are supplying the Paris Corporation with suits to be sold to the citizens of Paris; whether he is aware of any obstacles being put in the way of executing the order of the Bradford Corporation; and whether the Disposals Board are raising any objection to meeting the order?

I am aware of the decision of the Bradford Corporation referred to by the hon. Member. No suits have been supplied by the Disposals Board to the Paris Corporation. I am not aware of any obstacle being put in the way of executing the order of the Bradford Corporation other than the price originally offered by the Corporation, which was too low. The Corporation subsequently raised their price to the level of that at which the suits had by that time been sold, and the Corporation was so advised. No other objection to meeting this order was raised by the Board.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what is the estimated total number of Victory medals and Allied medals required for issue?

I have been asked to reply. It is estimated that the number of British war medals to be issued is approximately eight millions; and the number of Victory medals approximately six and a half millions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the firm of Wright and Son, of Edgware, supplied a large proportion of the 1914 and 1915 stars, and that they specially trained discharged soldiers in the work of striking medals; whether this firm has been invited to tender for the later war medals; and, if not, whether, in view of the special qualifications of this firm and the desirability of the prompt delivery and distribution of war medals, he will invite this firm to tender?

Messrs. Wright and Son, of Edgware, have satisfactorily executed orders for the supply of large quantities of "1914–15" Stars. The production of war medals has, however, been allocated to the Ordnance Factories for execution at Woolwich Arsenal, otherwise Messrs. Wright and Son would have been invited to tender for the striking of these medals. Whilst, however, it is not possible to utilise the services of the firm for this work, negotiations are in progress for placing with them a contract for the stamping of recipients' names on both medals and stars.

asked the Prime Minister what were the expenses of the commission of inquiry with regard to the outrages in Smyrna; and whether this Report is to be published?

I am not aware of the amount of the expenses of the Commission, but I will make inquiry. The official publication of the Report which was addressed to the Allied Governments, cannot be published without their consent.

asked the Prime Minister whether delay to British steamships, such as the "Imperator," and consequent loss to British steamship companies, has been caused at New York or other American ports for which the United States Government is liable; whether representations on this matter have been made by His Majesty's Government; whether any claim has been laid against the United States Government in the nature of indemnity for such loss; and, if not, whether it is proposed to make such representations and claim?

Considerable loss has been caused to the British Government by the retention of the steamers in question after the completion of the United States services in which they were engaged. Representations in this matter have been made to the United States Government by the Ministry of Shipping, and the question whether a claim should be presented is being considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether heads of departments in British East Africa and other Colonies, who are paid as such, are in some cases called upon to perform numerous other duties involving a considerable amount of work and responsibility for which they receive no remuneration?

I am not aware what cases the hon. and gallant Member has in mind, but officers of the public service in East Africa, like their colleagues in other services, are, I believe, ready to assist the Government in any way they can without making demands for extra pay. Additional remuneration is given in certain eases where special circumstances warrant it.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he can now state when the temporary buildings will be removed from the Victoria Embankment Gardens and the Royal Parks in London; and can he do anything by which these open spaces can be used fully by the public during the ensuing summer months?

I regret that I am unable to state when it will be possible for the temporary buildings in question to be removed. Owing to the fact that no permanent offices are available for the new Ministries which have been created in recent years and to the difficulty in reducing the size of the staffs of the Government Departments, I regret that the answer to the second part of the question must be in the negative.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in the summer of 1918, Mr. Nevinson, Mr. Everett, and other eminent artists, lent a valuable collection of their war pictures, representing many months' work, for exhibition to the United States of America; whether assurance was given that these pictures would be used for propaganda purposes only and would be returned on the conclusion of hostilities; whether, by a con tract made without the knowledge or consent of the artists, these pictures have, since the conclusions of hostilities, passed into the hands of the Worcester, United States of America, Art Exhibition, which is obtaining financial profit therefrom; and whether he will undertake that these pictures are fothwith returned to their owners or liberated for purposes of sale in the United States of America?

The arrangements as to these pictures were made by the late Ministry of Information, for which I was not responsible. I am informed that the answer to the first and second parts is in the affirmative, but that no assurance as to the return of the pictures on the conclusion of hostilities was given. The pictures, I understand, have been exhibited by arrangement with the Worcester Art Museum, U.S.A., but that, after paying all expenses, no profit has been derived from their exhibition. I am informed that the exhibition has now been closed and that arrangements are now being made to collect the pictures in New York and return them to this country, with the exception of those borrowed from Mr. Nevinson, which, at his desire, will remain in New York.

asked the Chairman of the Kitchen Committee whether, in view of the lack of employment for certain classes of men, and especially for discharged soldiers, he will take steps to employ men waiters in the dining rooms of the House?

In reply to the hon. Member, men are already engaged in the dining rooms, and more are being engaged as vacancies occur. The whole subject, moreover, raised by the question is occupying the attention of the Kitchen Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the greatest dissatisfaction prevails amongst merchants and traders in Belfast owing to the lack of telephone facilities; whether he can state the number of applicants for telephones in Belfast on the books of the Post Office and the number that have been granted since the signing of the Armistice; and whether, in view of the great inconvenience and loss caused, he will take prompt action to speed up the work of installing new telephones.

The number of applications for telephones in the Belfast district since the Armistice is approximately 1,465. Seven hundred and thirty-four orders have been executed, and there are 191 accepted orders on hand. The remaining 540 applications cannot be accepted until additional underground plant is provided. The work will be carried out as quickly as possible, but time must be allowed for the manufacture of the cables.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the temporary outdoor staff employed at the Tipton post office receive less wages per week than unskilled labourers in the district, and, if so, whether he will take steps to ensure the payment of adequate wages to the staff?

The wages of the temporary outdoor staff of the Post Office are, in accordance with agreements arrived at with the Association representing the staff. The wages were recently increased after consultation with the Union of Post Office Workers; and I am not aware of any exceptional circumstances at Tipton which would warrant the grant of a further increase to the Post Office staff employed there.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the hardships arising to pensioned officers of the Post Office who have been recalled during the War for duty in place of men engaged upon active service.; whether the department will reconsider their decision against allowing as counting for increased pension the additional services thus rendered by pensioned officers in time of emergency; whether he is aware that many of such pensioned officers interrupted their occupations in retirement for the purpose of resuming duty and incurred losses by removal of residence and otherwise; and if, in these circumstances, the department will take steps to obtain sanction for payment of additional pension due to the additional length of service?

Temporary re-employment of Government servants who have left the service on pension is accepted on the same definite understanding as any other temporary employment under the Crown and cannot reckon for pension.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that hardship has been involved to single men on the establishment of the Post Office, whilst they were serving with the forces, because of the failure of the Government to pay them a war bonus; whether he is aware that the Admiralty have now agreed that a distinction between married and single men was improperly made and have now agreed that all arrears and war bonus must be paid to the single men concerned; and whether he will issue the necessary instructions to secure equality of treatment for all departments of the Government service?

I am not prepared at this date to revise the arrangements which were made after very careful consideration for the extension during the War of war bonus to Government employés while serving with His Majesty's Forces and in receipt of full Navy, Army, or Air Force emoluments. I am informed that the usual practice has been followed in the case of Admiralty employés who would have received war bonus if they had continued under civilian conditions.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will reconsider the claims of telegraphists who have served as Royal Engineer telegraphists to have their time in the latter Service reckoned for superannuation allowance; whether such service is, in fact, service in the Post Office in the capacity of a civil servant; whether the total sum required to grant the claims of these civil servants would not exceed £1,000 per annum: whether many of the men concerned were induced to join the Royal Engineer telegraph section by official assurances, subsequently withdrawn, that time served in that section would count as Post Office service; and whether, in view of the fact that the failure to fulfil those assurances is regarded as a breach of faith to those civil servants who relied upon them, he will now represent to the Treasury that the claims referred to ought to be allowed?

Though the service was, in the main, spent under civilian conditions and under civilian control, it was, in fact, military service, and the men were in receipt of military pay and allowances. There is no legal power, therefore, to reckon it for civil pension, and I am informed that no official assurances that it should so reckon have ever been given.The cost of granting the claims of the Post Office telegraphists in question would not greatly exceed £1,000 per annum, but it would be impossible to confine the legislation, which would be a necessary preliminary to granting these claims, to this particular class, and the cost of allowing military service generally to count for civil pension, to which there are grave objections, would be immeasurably greater. I see no prospect that the decision of the Treasury, which was reached after the most careful consideration, will be reversed.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that police entered the offices of the New Catholic Press, 8, Bouverie Street, on 9th and 10th January; whether he is aware that all the copies of the "New Catholic Herald" of 10th January were taken away, and subsequently returned; that verbal instructions were issued by the inspector forbidding the sale of any copies of that paper; whether he is aware that the inspector had no warrant authorising this action; if he will state by whose authority this action was taken; and for what purpose?

A Writ has been issued in this matter, which is now sub judice, and cannot therefore be discussed.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Thetford Police are attempting to secure the names and addresses of local trade union secretaries and shop stewards; if so, whether this policy is in accordance with his instructions; and, if not, what action does he propose to take?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on Thursday last to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. W. R. Smith). The inquiries are not made on my instructions, and I have communicated with the Chief Contable with a view to their being discontinued.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that a man now serving in the Liverpool City Police Force, and who joined the force since the police strike of August. last, had been previously convicted for burglary and is now retrieving his former character, he will favourably reconsider the reinstatement of the policemen who were dismissed for merely defending a principle, and who had an aggregate number of years' police experience amounting to something like 30,000; and whether these men will be given an opportunity to again serve in the force, especially in view of the present wave of crime, when the benefit of trained policemen cannot be over-estimated?

I have not heard of the case referred to, but I am making inquiry. I regret that the question of reinstatement has been finally decided.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the case of Florence M. Packer, charged with petty larceny on 5th February at Hendon Police Court; whether she was remanded to Holloway Prison, where she was taken by two policemen and the Police Court matron twenty minutes' walk to the railway station, by rail to St. Pancras, by tube to Caledonian Road, and ten minutes' walk from there to the prison; whether she was re moved to the remand hospital, where she gave birth to a baby the same evening; and whether he considers that the treatment she received is proper under the circumstances?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Plymouth on the 24th instant.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether, in view of the injurious effects of continuance of control to many sections of the meat-producing industry in this country, and having regard to the ex pressed opinion of many of the most influential agricultural organisations in favour of early decontrol, he can state what is the policy of the Government with regard to this matter?

I have been asked to reply. While the more influential agricultural organisations in England favour the early decontrol of livestock, Scottish and Irish opinion is strongly in favour of maintaining control until the 4th July. It is administratively impossible to relax control in England and Wales and to maintain it in Ireland and Scotland. The whole question of the future of control of food is now receiving the attention of the Cabinet.

asked the Minister of Food why sugar is being held up in Belfast; whether he is aware that there are several warehouses in which sugar is stored to such an extent that they have refused to take any further consignments; and whether, in view of this, he will order an increased allowance to the people of the city?

Stocks of sugar are being held in Belfast in order to supply a proportion of Ireland's requirements during the next few weeks. I am aware that several warehouses are unable to accommodate further supplies, but this fact does not justify the raising of the sugar ration in Belfast to a level in excess of that obtaining in other parts of the United Kingdom. The considerations which must govern the amount of the sugar ration from time to time are in no way dependent upon the amount of stocks at any particular moment in any part of the country, but upon the supplies available as a whole at the present time. The world stocks of sugar are approximately three million tons below the normal consumption, and nearly 3 million tons below the increased level of consumption due to the changed conditions in the United States of America.

asked the Minister of Food what allowance of sugar will be made this summer for those who have fruit and wish to make it into jam?

The Food Controller is not able to state the exact quantity of sugar which will be issued to meet the needs of persons desiring to preserve fruit for domestic use during the coming season, until the returns showing the number of persons applying and the quantities applied for have been received. The quantity will, however, be considerably less than was available last year.

asked the Minister of Food by what amount per head the sugar ration would be increased if the present allowance of sugar to manufacturers of sweatmeats and confections were reduced by one-half?

The increase in the domestic sugar ration in the circumstances referred to would be five-eighths oz. per head per week.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the discontent generally and specifically with local food control committees due to the very low sugar ration, which they maintain is unnecessarily low if the supplies of sugar at present in ports and docks were distributed; and what steps are being taken to get the stocks of sugar distributed so that the domestic ration can be increased?

The answer to this question was printed in yesterday's OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Food when he hopes to be able to restore the 8oz. ration of sugar; and whether he has already in existence machinery for the provision of supplementary rations for the young in connection with milk distribution?

The question of an increase in the domestic sugar ration is under consideration, but it is not yet possible to give an indication of the date at which it may be effected. Difficult questions of supply and finance are involved. The hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that the 8oz. ration will be restored at the earliest possible moment. The arrangements for giving priority in milk supply to children could not conveniently be applied to the rationing of sugar. The Food Controller is averse from embarking on a complex system of supplementary rations in this commodity, unless it is more clearly seen that the early restoration of the 8 oz. general ration is impossible.

asked the Minister of Food if it is proposed to re-establish the control of potatoes?

I am unable to make any statement on this matter at present. The question of the price of potatoes is engaging the close attention of the Minis try of Food, and an announcement on the subject may be expected at an early date.

asked the Minister of Food whether dissatisfaction exists as to the alleged unfair distribution of imported meat, especially as between town and country districts; whether he can say upon what principle, or in accordance with what plan, such distribution takes place; and whether butchers are obliged to accept and to sell such quantities as are assigned to them?

The hon. Baronet appears to have been misinformed. The distribution of meat is at present carried on on the following lines. The percentage of the retailers' supplies which may be taken in the form of home killed meat is determined from time to time by the Food Controller according to the supplies available, and this percentage is adhered to, as far as possible, throughout the country. Retailers may then take in addition the amounts of imported meat necessary to meet the demands of their customers. They are not obliged to accept supplies of imported meat in excess of their requirements, nor is any limit placed on the quantity of imported meat which they may buy.

asked the Minister of Food if the stores in Australia and New Zealand are full of meat, and that there are 100,000 tons of meat in cold storage in the United Kingdom; if he is also aware that at the Port of London there are 1,650,000 carcases, and for the United Kingdom 6,250,000 carcases; and, if so, if he will take steps to secure a greater distribution to the people?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The latest official information shows that there are about 28,000 tons of frozen meat in Australia and about 137,000 tons in New Zealand awaiting shipment. The capacity of the cold stores in Australia appears to be about 60,000 tons, and that of the stores in New Zealand about 200,000 tons. On 7th February the total stocks of meat at ports and in cold stores in the United Kingdom was 125,862 tons, of which 58,034 tons were in London. As my hon. Friend will have seen, I have arranged for a substantial reduction in the price of imported mutton, which, I hope, will result in an increased consumption.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has recently made large purchases of food from Holland; whether these goods have been brought to this country by Dutch ships; if it was a condition of sale of these goods that they should be conveyed in Dutch steamers; and whether, on any similar purchases of food from Holland or other Continental countries, he will arrange that British shipowners shall have a chance of tendering for all such cargoes?

The Food Controller recently purchased a considerable quantity of butter in Holland, but no condition such as that referred to attached to the transaction which was made on a c.i.f. basis in sterling. The butter was accordingly shipped by the sellers who, it may be presumed, made arrangements with the steamship companies offering them the most favourable terms. The Food Controller will however bear in mind the suggestion made by the hon. Member in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Food if he will give the names of the persons composing the body known as the Consumers' Council, the bodies they represent, and the method of their appointment; and if he will consider the advisability of enlarging the representative character of this Council so that the Council may be representative of the whole of the British public, and not of a section thereof, in order that the recommendations of the Council to the Ministry may be more truly representative of public opinion, and thereby carry greater weight?

No change has been made in the composition of the Consumers' Council since my hon. Friend asked this question a year ago. If it should be determined to continue the powers of the Food Controller after the date on which they would expire under the War Emergency Laws (Continuance) Bill, Parliament will have the opportunity of deciding whether a consultative body of this kind should continue, and how it can best be made representative of public opinion.

asked the Minister of Food if he can state the percentage change in the cost of living in the United States and the United Kingdom since the date or period of the Armistice, with the purpose of showing the relative betterment from war conditions?

The percentage changes in the cost of living in respect of food may be stated as follow:

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will publish the evidence given before the Committee appointed by his department to consider the conditions under which theatrical children worked and whose Report was published last year?

No shorthand note was taken of the evidence before this Committee, and I am, therefore, unable to give effect to my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury if his attention has been directed to the apprehension prevailing among education authorities in the county of Staffordshire as to the ways and means by which they are to meet their obligations to their teaching staffs employed in elementary schools under their control, consequent upon the Burn-ham award instituting a new scale of salaries applicable to such teachers; whether he is aware that the adoption of this award involves so large an increase in local rates that the authorities concerned cannot see their way to impose this additional burden on the people in time to allow of their honouring their undertaking as from April next ensuing, when the new scale, plus three months' arrears of increment, becomes operative; whether he realises the effect that such increased and immediate demand would have upon the ratepayers and upon their attitude towards education generally in the endeavour to comply with the terms of an award of national and not merely local application; and whether he can see his way to meet the situation by reconsidering the decision to defer until 1st April, 1921, or after payment of the Board of Education's three-fifths' proportion of salaries affected, and arrange for an early and substantial grant on account, thereby enabling the local authorities to meet their liabilities in accordance with the estimates they have compiled.

The subject raised in the question was discussed at length at a deputation which my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Education, and I received last Thursday. The deputation was introduced by Lord Burnham, and contained representatives of the County Councils Association, the London County Council, the Association of Municipal Corporations, the Association of Education Committees, and the National Union of Teachers.I was compelled to point out to the deputation that hitherto the Exchequer has borne a wholly disproportionate share of the increase in the cost of education. The expenditure of local authorities on elementary education will in the financial year 1919–20 show an increase of more than £10,500,000 over the previous year; of this increase, nearly £9,500,000 has been borne by the Exchequer and considerably less than £1,000,000 by the ratepayers. When the present system was introduced last April, the authorities received £4,000,000 in respect of the winding-up of the old system of grants, and were thus afforded the opportunity of building up a reserve.As regards Staffordshire, I am informed by the Board of Education that in 1919–20 the estimated increase in expenditure on elementary education in Staffordshire County Council area is £96,571. The increase in the Board of Education grants is £122,352. There has therefore been a decrease in the charge OD the rates of £25,781.Within the Staffordshire area are two non-county boroughs, Newcastle-under-Lyne and Wednesbury, and six urban districts. Taking these together, the estimated increase in expenditure on Elementary Education in 1919–20 was £58,085. The increase in the Board of Education grants was £63,310. There was therefore a decrease charged on the rates of £5,225.I have undertaken that the payment of grants in respect of higher education shall be expedited so that in 1920–21 the grants paid shall not fall below 50 per cent. of the expenditure of the year. This will to some extent relieve the financial burden in that year. No further concession is in my opinion possible or desirable, and I am convinced that the continued postponement by any local authority of the increase in rates which is clearly inevitable would be bad finance on the part of the authorities and of no assistance to the teachers or to the cause of education.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the closing of the Glasgow subway owing to a dispute between the company and their employees is causing inconvenience to workers in Hillhead, Partick, and Govan who use this means of transport to cross the river to their places of employment; whether he is aware that it necessitates them leaving their homes hours earlier; and what action he proposes to take to end this unsatisfactory condition?

I understand that the stoppage of the Glasgow subway has caused some inconvenience particularly to those who utilise the subway as a means of crossing the river at Govan and Partick. I am informed, however, that a limited service has now been started and that it is expected that a full service will be in operation shortly.

asked the Minister of Labour whether trade unions or employers will alone be recognised as media for the formation of associations under Clause 15 of the Unemployment Insurance Bill, or whether the formation of such associations will be permitted to other organisations constituted of employed persons?

I presume the hon. and gallant Member refers to Clause 15 of last Session's Bill, which is now Clause 17 of the Unemployment Insurance Bill as re-introduced this Session. The terms of the Clause enable arrangements for the payment of State benefit to be made with any association of employed persons which satisfies the requisite conditions, the chief of which are that the association should provide out of its own funds unemployment benefit of not less than a specified amount, and that it should have an effective system for notifying to its unemployed members opportunities for employment. The latter of these two conditions is applied by Regulations to the corresponding arrangements made under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, 1911 to 1919, and would be similarly applied under the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the officers of the Indian Telegraph Department sent a petition to the Government of India for an increase in their pay at the beginning of last October; and, in view of the fact that an increase has already been sanctioned in the pay of the Forest and Public Works Departments, will he state when a similar increase wilt be granted to the Telegraph Department?

An increase in the pay of the officers of the Indian Telegraph Department, with effect from the 30th August last, was sanctioned in a telegram to the Government of India sent on the 21st January.