asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the possibility of increasing pensions granted to the widows and daughters of Indian officers who have been harshly penalised by reason of the high cost of living?

This subject is having consideration, in communication with the Government of India, and it is hoped that a decision will be come to shortly.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to any burgh or county in Scotland where, for the purposes of extending works or effecting improvements, houses of a permanent character have been pulled down and no steps taken by the authority or firm concerned to undertake the immediate construction of other houses of approved type, to be subsequently handed over to the local authority on terms to be arranged, thus assisting the local authorities and relieving the rates of an increased burden; and, if not, whether he will consider the advantages of such a plan.

My attention has not been drawn to any case such as is referred to in the first part of the Question. As regards the suggestion contained in the latter part I would refer my honourable and gallant Friend to the powers in regard to the demolition of dwelling-houses and the purchase of suitable houses conferred on local authorities by Section 6 of the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919 and Sub-section 3 of Section 11 of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., (Scotland) Act, 1919.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that on Derby day Chipstead, Kingsworth, and Tadworth were completely deprived of railway facilities from 5.45 a.m. to 1.49 p.m. to meet the convenience of those attending the races, and the superintendent of the line of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway, when approached on the subject, refused to promise any railway connections with the above-mentioned places between the hours just given on future Derby days; and whether he will take steps to sec that a reasonable service of trains will be given to intending travellers to Chipstead Valley stations on Derby days in future.

I understand that three down trains had to be cancelled on Derby Day as this was the only means by which the railwy company could deal with the extra quantity of traffic for the Epsom races. The General Manager of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway has this matter under consideration, and it is hoped that there will not be a recurrence of the difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Army draught horses are boarded out and on what terms as regards payment and ownership?

Fourteen thousand six hundred and ninety-seven draught animals are now boarded out. The terms of payment are £7 10s. per annum, the allottee to become the owner after six years.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many district remount officers are employed for the inspection of horses boarded out; what is the annual pay and allowance of the above officers; what number of depôts are retained for holding horses to replace casualties of those boarded out; and what the estimated annual cost of those depôts is?

There are 84 district remount officers; they are not fully employed in this work, which is additional to their pre-War work. Their pay is £320 per annum; the only allowances are those for travelling when on duty. Five depôts are retained at an estimated annual cost of £33,560.