asked the Prime Minister whether in view of the ever increasing cost of living, he is aware of the growing volume, of resentment on the part of mothers and women of the country; and whether, in view of the failure of the Profiteering Act to arrest the upward tendency of prices, he will indicate what further steps he proposes to take or afford the House an early opportunity of discussing the matter?

I agree with the hon. Member that there is no more urgent problem than that connected with high prices. High prices were inevitable after such a costly and destructive War. A common effort made on sound lines may however expedite and facilitate the return to normal conditions. With that purpose the Inter-Allied Conference is now engaged in a close examination of causes and remedies, As stated on Thursday, the Government desire an early discussion of this subject and this will take place on the Civil Service Vote on Account. I fear that this Vote cannot be ready before Monday week, but if it can be brought in earlier this will be done.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish the text of the Ordinances issued by the Inter-Allied Rhineland High Commission for the government of the occupied territory?

It is hoped to lay the texts of these Ordinances on the Table of the House at a very early date.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the recent undest in the West Indies, His Majesty's Government will appoint a commission to inquire into the conditions of labour in the British West Indies?

Labour conditions in the West Indies have been engaging the attention of the Secretary of State for the Colonies for some time past. Steps were taken to obtain full reports from all the West Indian Colonies, and I have since been in frequent communication with the Governors in the matter. I do not consider that the appointment of a special commission is necessary or desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for War for what period men will be asked to enlist direct into the Army Reserve; whether they will be expected to perform any training; and what inducements will be offered to obtain enlistments?

I would refer my hon. arid gallant Friend to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Clackmannan and Eastern (Major Glynn) on 17th ultimo, to which I can add nothing further at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether the reorganisation of the Special Reserve as Militia, and the consequent change of name, will necessitate legislation; (2) when it is intended to open recruiting for the Militia; and what period or periods of enlistment and re-enlistment are contemplated?

The whole matter is under consideration, and it is not possible to make any announcement on these points at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War if officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps serving in India are precluded from resigning their commissions; and, if so, what is the reason for this?

Instructions have been issued that Regular Royal Army Medical Corps Officers serving in India cannot be permitted to resign their commissions until the statutory date of the termination of the War. This step was rendered necessary by the fact that India is much below peace establishment, and that at present it is not possible to provide Regular Army Medical Corps Officers to replace those who were desirous of relinquishing their commissions.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can see his way to improve the pay of the temporary male clerks employed by the Army Pay Corps at Hounslow, where the rates at present are £3 per week and £3 3s. per week after 12 months' service; and can he raise the rate to £3 15s. per week, which is the usual rate of all other temporary male clerks employed by Government departments in London?

These clerks have received the same war advances as other clerks of similar status under the award of the Civil Service Arbitration Board. Their wages increase with length of service to a maximum of 73s. 5d. I am unable to agree, on the information at my disposal, that 75s. is the usual rate for all other temporary male clerks.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will increase the supply of sugar available for home-made jam during the coming summer, in view of the great importance of this industry to the country?

It is regretted that the supplies of sugar generally, and the importance, in the interests of economy, of restricting consumption, do not allow of any increase in the quantity of sugar set aside for the purpose of domestic preserving.

asked the Minister of Food what is the average rise per cent. in the prices of food in the principal Allied countries since the beginning of the War?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given on Tuesday, the 17th February, to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Clough).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture how many ex-service men and others are now actually in occupation of land as a result of the Land Settlement Act?

The latest returns show that 4,277 ex-service men and 823 civilians are actually in occupation of holdings provided by councils in England and Wales since 18th December, 1918, when the Land Settlement Scheme may be said to have been inaugurated. In addition, 450 ex-service men and 13 women have been placed on the Ministry's Farm Settlements. In addition, a considerable number of ex-service men have been settled on privately-owned small holdings through the instrumentality of County Councils. It is impossible, however, to give any official estimate of the number.

asked the Minister of Health the composition of the committee appointed to consider the questions of rents and tenancies; and whether the instructions to the committee are to consider all points in connection with these questions, and not merely those within the limits of the Rent Restriction Acts?

The Committee consists of the Marquess of Salisbury, Chairman, Sir Edward Bray, the hon. Member for the Duddeston Division of Birmingham, Sir Aubrey Symonds (of the Ministry of Health), and Mr. P. B. Moodie (of the Scottish Office). The terms of reference are to consider the operation of the Rent Restriction Acts and to advise what steps should be taken to extend, continue, or amend those Acts.

asked the Minister of Health whether the action of the Medway Guardians in claiming the whole of Mr. J. G. Hammond's pension towards the cost of his maintenance in the mental ward of the infirmary, thereby depriving Mrs. Hammond of her means of subsistence, is in accordance with the regulations; and whether, in view of the fact that Mrs. Hammond was then offered an equivalent sum in poor relief in order to support her and no real saving to the rates was effected, steps will be taken to enforce the carrying out of the regulations?

The powers upon which the guardians have relied in this case are statutory and do not depend in any way upon regulations issued by my predecessors. I understand that Mr. Hammond is no longer in the infirmary and that the whole of his pension has not in fact been paid to the guardians, and I will consider what further communication can usefully be addressed to them.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to introduce legislation to amend The Local Government Act, 1888, so as to provide for the repayment to boards of guardians of at least one-half of the actual cost to them of every lunatic patient maintained in a county lunatic asylum, instead of the present allowance of 4s. per patient per week?

In view of the contemplated legislation for the reform of the Poor Law I think it is clear that the necessary measures for the point referred to in the Question could not advisedly be undertaken at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any information as to the prevalence of smallpox in Germany during the years 1918 and 1919; and, if so, whether he can give the number of cases and deaths occurring and the districts in which they were notified, with any other information that is in his possession?

There had been an epidemic of smallpox in Germany during 1917, comprising some 3,000 cases, the origin of which was traced to infection brought into Germany by Russian prisoners. During 1918 cases continued to occur, amounting, so far as our information goes, to about 300 in number. In December of that year there was a recrudescence of the disease, and up to the end of 1919 about 4,344 cases had been reported; of this number some 800 occurred in Dresden, and about 164 at Danzig. Among the places in which smallpox was prevalent in 1919 were: Oppeln (311 cases), Konigsberg (88), Stettin (24), Breslau (58), Berlin (25), and Cassel (34), but the number of deaths has not yet been reported. In 1917 and 1918 there were many foreigners in Germany, prisoners, refugees and others, including Russians, Poles, Austrians, Italians, Belgians and French; and it is more than probable that many of these foreigners were unprotected by vaccination. The information that has reached us does not include separate statistics as to the number of Germans and foreigners, respectively, who were attacked during 1918 and 1919, or the number of deaths in each category

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange that orders, circulars and instructions issued by his Ministry shall be put on sale at His Majesty's Stationery Office at the same time as they are issued to local authorities and others upon its special list?

I am communicating with His Majesty's Stationery Office with a view to arranging for all documents of sufficient importance to be treated in the manner suggested and with as little delay as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Order in Council will be issued giving effect to the recommendation of the Rhodesian Reserve Commission whereby the native reserves are to be reduced by six million acres in substitution for five million acres elsewhere?

I have been in communication with the High Commissioner for South Africa regarding the terms of the proposed Order, and am at present awaiting his views.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Gorman rupees and other silver coins are still current in the territory formerly known as German East Africa; and whether the amount of silver in the German rupee is the same as that in the British East African rupee?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether there is at present an equipose of exchange between India, on the one hand, and British East Africa, Ceylon and Mauritius, on the other; and, if not, what is the present exchange value of the Indian rupee in these three Colonies, respectively?

It is understood that the normal par of exchange still exists between India and Ceylon. As regards exchange between India and East Africa and between India and Mauritius, telegraphic correspondence is proceeding between the Colonial Office and the Governors on the very difficult questions involved by the recent movements in sterling exchange with India, and it is not possible to say at the moment what the actual position is in Mauritius and East Africa.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps have been taken to prevent the melting of silver coins in Gambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and the Gold Coast; and whether any silver coins are or will be specially minted for these West African Colonies?

The British West African Colonial Governments were asked last November to take such steps as they considered necessary and desirable, in addition to such safeguards as already existed, to prevent the disappearance of silver coin. So far, replies have only been received from the Nigerian and Sierra Leone Governments, and neither considers it desirable to pass legislation to deal with melting down of silver coins. The British West African Colonies have had a separate West African silver coinage for several years.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies where the rupees for British East Africa, Mauritius, and Ceylon, and the dollar for Straits Settlements and Hong Kong are minted; whether it is contemplated to reduce the fineness of silver in any of these coins; under what Statute the fineness of these coins is regulated; whether any alteration in fineness can be effected without further statutory enactment; and, if it can be so effected, will the House have any opportunity of discussing the matter before any change is made?

The rupees now in circulation in all the places mentioned are minted in India, and so are the Straits Settlements dollars and British dollars circulating in Hong Kong. It is not yet decided where the proposed new East African rupee will be minted. It is proposed to reduce the fineness of the Straits Settlements dollar, and the proposed new East African rupee will be of less fineness than the Indian. The fineness of these coins has been and will be regulated by Orders of his Majesty in Council, issued at the instance of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. It is not possible to promise an opportunity of discussion in the House before any changes of this nature are made, since under present conditions of monetary disturbance throughout the world it is necessary to take emergency measures and in some cases these measures would be defeated in their object unless they were kept strictly confidential.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the best steamers hitherto used by the Government in the Persian Gulf and the River Tigris have been sold by private negotiations, to the exclusion of many traders who were awaiting the opportunity of bidding for them at a public auction; whether he will disclose the names of the group who purchased the steamers from the Government; and what steps he will take to ensure a fair competitive basis for obtaining transport facilities in the area described?

The general arrangements for the sale of the surplus Mesopotamian shipping are in the hands of the Ministry of Munitions, and I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on the 23rd February to the hon. and gallant Member for Clackmannan. I understand that no vessels have as yet been sold and that the actual method of sale will be by sealed tender.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the account of the attack by Greek troops upon Turks at Smyrna last year is being used throughout India, Egypt, and Syria by Moslem propagandists, who produce evidence of massacres of Moslems of both sexes, and that these allegations are likely to cause further Moslem unrest, His Majesty's Government will approach the French and Italian Governments with a view to a joint inquiry, in order to show that the three Allied Governments will do all in their power to fix the responsibility for such incidents in the Middle East, whether they take the form of massacres of Christians by Moslems or of Moslems by Christians?

The Allied Governments already do what is in their power to fix the responsibility for massacres such as those described in the question and to prevent their occurrence, but the publication of recriminatory evidence in the present state of agitation in the Near East is of doubtful advantage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why some shipping companies in Glasgow are not allowed to purchase coal there but are compelled to take coal at Liverpool at £7 a ton?

The shortage of inland supplies in Scotland is such that, following on the restriction of export of coal from that country, it has been necessary to restrict the supply of bunkers there. In these circumstances certain vessels can be supplied only with sufficient coal to take them to the Mersey, which is the nearest bunkering station.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the South Staffordshire Mond Gas Company have notified their customers in the Tipton area that, unless supplies of coal can be increased, the supply of gas will cease; whether the firm has made repeated overtures to the Board of Trade committee controlling fuel supplies for the district and also the Coal Controller without success; whether he is aware that large numbers of workers will be thrown out of employment and trade dislocated; and whether he will take immediate steps to ensure the firm receiving an adequate allocation of coal so that distress may be obviated?

I am aware of the position. Everything possible is being done by the District Coal Supplies Committee responsible for the distribution of the coal in that area, and it is hoped that such a stoppage as is indicated will be avoided; but as stated by the Leader of the House in his reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Holborn (Sir J. Remnant) on 16th February, priority in supplies is being given to household consumers and public utility undertakings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the restriction of imports of illuminating glass-war will be removed?

The importation of illuminating glassware is not restricted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether trade marks have to be on all burners and cutlery imported into this country?

The answer is in the negative. The marking of imported goods is regulated by Section 16 of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, which prohibits the importation of all goods which bear false trade descriptions as well as the importation of any goods which bear any name or trade mark being, or purporting to be, the name or trade mark of any manufacturer, dealer or trader in the United Kingdom, unless such name or trade mark is accompanied by a definite indication of the country in which the goods were made or produced. The question whether any Amendment of these provisions is desirable is now being considered by the Merchandise Marks Committee set up by the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Committee appointed under the Profiteering Act to inquire into worsted yarns reported that the Profiteering Act had had no apparent effect on the prices of worsted yarns or the profits arising therefrom; and, if so, what action, if any, does he propose to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As my right hon. Friend informed my noble and gallant Friend the Member for South Nottingham (Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck) on Monday, 23rd February, he is at present trying to arrange with various trades for the adoption of voluntary schemes similar to that adopted by the boot and shoe trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether baskets are being imported from Holland and Belgium at such a low price as to threaten the extinction of the old established basket industry at Castle Donington, near Derby; and whether he proposes to take any action with a view to securing fair treatment to a British industry vital to the prosperity of that locality?

I am aware of the competition to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, but His Majesty's Government have, at present, no power to take any action in the matter, even if action were clearly shown to be desirable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total quantity of sawn and planed goods which have been purchased by the British Government since the Armistice from, respectively, Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Finland; the dates these purchases were made; and the basis prices paid?

The quantities of sawn and planed good purchased by His Majesty's Government in the undermentioned countries since the Armistice and the basis prices (F.O.B.) are as follow:—

		Standard		Per Standard
Canada	…	383,000	…	£16
Sweden	…	120,000	…	£22
Norway	…	21,000	…	£24
Finland	…	9,500	…	£19

These purchase were made over the period 11th November, 1918, to 31st March, 1919.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what kinds of homegrown timber have been purchased by the Government and at what rates per cubic foot; at what rates they have been disposed of; the total amount paid by the Government up to the latest date for which figures are available; and the total outstanding liability of the Government for purchases not yet completed?

Home grown standing timber of all merchantable species has been purchased by the Government at rates per cubic foot varying widely with species, quality and situation. The maximum prices scheduled in the Home Grown Timber Prices Order of 1918 ruled where maiximum prices were justified. These were as follow:—

	Per cubic foot. Not exceeding
	s.	d.
Larch	1	4
Scots Pine and Douglas Fir	0	11
Spruce and other coniferous timber excepting the above	0	10

	Per cubic foot. Not exceeding
	s.	d.
Ash—Selected for Aeroplane purposes	5	0
Ash—For other purposes	3	0
Ash—Inferior descriptions.	1	6
Oak—Well grown, selected trees	3	3
Oak—Well grown, whole parcels	2	3
Oak—Inferior descriptions	1	3
Sycamore and Hornbeam	2	0
Chestnut (Spanish)	1	0
Chestnut (Spanish) selected trees	2	0
Beech	1	6
Poplar, Alder and Lime	1	3
Elm	1	0
Other common Hardwoods	1	0

The standing timber so purchased was largely manufactured by the Department and' disposed of at current ruling prices, and the standing timber which had been purchased but remained unconverted at the Armistice has very largely been disposed of at the price per cubic foot paid for it. The total amount paid by the Government in respect of purchases of standing home-grown timber to 31st January, 1920 is £5,504,000, and the outstanding liabilities are £119,000, as ascertained at 31st January, 1920.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the stocks of timber purchased by the Government have been disposed of; and, if so, what is the quantity so disposed of, the amount received for same, the estimated profits or loss in the transaction, the persons to whom the sale has been made, and the conditions of sale?

Negotiations for the disposal of the timber purchased by the Government are well advanced, out no complete argreement has yet been signed. I am, therefore, unable at present to give the figures asked for in the latter part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the terms of reference of the Committeee appointed by the Central Profiteering Committee to inquire into the effects on prices and profits of dye products of the action of the British Dye Stuffs Corporation; who were the members appointed by the central committee; what other members and proposed to he appointed; what are now the proposed terms of reference; what was the date on which the Central Profiteering Committee appointed the committee of investigation; and if he can now say on what date the committee will meet?

On the 2nd December last the Standing Committee on Trusts of the Central Committee under the Profiteering Act proposed that a subcommittee should be appointed to investigate dye-stuffs with the following terms of reference: "to ascertain to what extent supplies and prices of dyes and dye-stuffs are controlled or affected by the British Dye-Stuffs Corporation, Limited., While the names of certain gentlemen were discussed in connection with the proposal to appoint a sub-committee, I understand that no appointment of members of the sub-committee was actually made by the Standing Committee on Trusts, and as a result of further consideration of the matter it is proposed to extend the terms of reference to read as follows:—" To investigate the position with regard to dye-stuffs and to ascertain whether any trust or trade combination exists, and if so, its effect on supplies and prices." The Standing Committee on Trusts propose that the following members of the Central Committee should be invited to serve on the sub-committee:—Mr. Ben Turner, Mr. A. W. Flux, Mr. Arthur Greenwood, Mr. John Hilton, and Mr. T. B. Johnston; and the Board of Trade propose to invite the hon. and gallant Member and Sir Alexander king to serve on the sub-committee. It is hoped that the committee will meet at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Committee appointed under the Profiteering Act to inquire into the existence of a trade combination in the tobacco industry recommended the regular publication of statistics concerning all combinations or businesses of special magnitude, and, if so, whether he proposes to give effect to such recommendation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The whole question of trusts and combinations is at present receiving close attention, and I would refer the hon. Gentlemen to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on Thursday to a question by my Noble and gallant Friend the Member for the South Division of Nottingham (Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck).

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the ss. "Deventia," owned by Messrs. Richard Williams and Son, was recently chartered to take a cargo of coal from South Wales to Liverpool for the purpose of bunkering under the Mersey bunkering scheme, and that subsequently the owners of the steamer were directed by the Ministry of Shipping to load for Southampton for Admiralty purposes; that after keeping the steamer lying in Cardiff five days she was released, and the ss. "Arleia," of the same ownership, was directed to load for Fowey, although she had also previously been chartered to load a cargo of coal from South Wales to Liverpool for bunkering purposes; and, seeing that this action in directing steamers is typical of what has been going on between the Coal Control and the Ministry of Shipping for some time, and that it is responsible for many liners and other steamers being held up in the Mersey for want of coal, will he take steps to secure the avoidance of such occurrences in future?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am afraid that my hon. and gallant Friend is not in possession of the full facts of the case. The delay to the steamship "Deventia" was due to the action of the owner in declining to carry out the direction given by the Ministry of Shipping in respect of both the ships mentioned in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will state the numbers of each rank of Regular officer of the Indian Army, commissioned on or after 4th August, 1914, who have been granted furlough, privilege leave, or special war leave (under Indian Army Order, Special, No. 38, of 17th April, 1919) since leave of these descriptions has been reopened; and the average period of such leave enjoyed by each rank?

The following are the figures as regards India:—

			Numbers on leave.
Second-Lieutenants	…	…	8
Lieutenants	…	…	154
Captains	…	…	81

The average period of leave granted was six months. The numbers represent about one-tenth of the 2nd Lieutenants and Lieutenants taken together and one-fourth of the Captains serving with units in India. The leave granted to Indian Army officers serving with Armies of Occupation is a matter for the War-Office.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that at the beginning of January, 1919, Sergeant Mackay, of the Indian Army, received permission (reference M. O. 4233/2) to marry Miss Annie M'Kenzie, Stevenson's Cottage, Feus Road, Perth; whether official arrangements were made for the lady to proceed to India; whether the India Office and the War Office postponed her departure: whether she was informed by the local record office to be in readiness to sail at the beginning of November, 1919; whether there was a further postponement till February, 1920; whether there has been a further delay with an intimation that no date for sailing can now be fixed; whether, in the course of correspondence which has passed, the lady's father has alternately been advised by the India Office to write to the War Office and by the War Office to write to the India Office; whether he is aware that in November, 1919, Miss M'Kenzie gave up her employment, received presentations from her employers and friends, and packed her boxes for departure; that the lady's fiancé having been officially informed that she would proceed to India in October, 1919, regards the delay as the fault of the lady; and whether he will take immediate steps to remove all obstacles for her journey to India and so prevent further disappointment and misunderstanding in a matter of supreme importance to those immediately concerned?

Owing to the shipping situation there has been for the past six months very great difficulty in securing passages to India. Miss McKenzie's first application for passage reached the India Office towards the end of September, 1919. It was not until the end of January, 1920, that any prospect offered of securing a berth for her. One was reserved for her on a vessel due to sail about the end of February. Unfortunately, the need for repairs will delay the ship's departure till the end of March, at least. No other accommodation is available, but a berth on the ship is being kept for Miss McKenzie. The misunderstanding between the War Office and the India Office was due to uncertainly as to whether Sergeant Mackay had been transferred from a British regiment to the India Unattached List. But this had no effect on the date of Miss McKenzie's sailing. The Secretary of State regrets the delay in providing passage for Miss McKenzie, which was due to shipping difficulties and was quite beyond his control.

asked the Home Secretary whether any report has been obtained from medical men competent to advise as to the effect of summer-time upon the health of children?

No special report has been called for on this subject, but the Committee which enquired into the results of Summer Time in 1917 heard a number of educational and medical witnesses, and I would refer the honourable Member to their report, particularly to paragraphs 32 to 36. Nothing has come to the notice of the Department since which would suggest any modification of the Committee's conclusions.

asked the Home Secretary the number of convictions for drunkenness which took place in England and Wales, respectively, in each of the years 1913, 1914, and 1919; and if he can afford similar information in respect of Scotland and Ireland?

The figures for England and Wales respectively are:—

		1913.	1914.	1919.
England	…	177,971	174,451	54,947
Wales	…	10,906	9,377	2,964

For the figures for Scotland and Ireland I must refer the honourable Baronet to the Ministers for those countries.

asked the Home Secretary the number of convictions for drunkenness in Greater London during January of this year, together with the corresponding figures for 1914, 1918, and 1919?

The figures asked for are as follows:—

January, 1920	…	…	2,762
January, 1914	…	…	5,066
January, 1918	…	…	1,015
January, 1919	…	…	1,037

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that, owing to the great increase in the value of public-house property during the War, the elimination of redundant licences is retarded and has become a matter of even greater difficulty than it was before the War; and whether, in view of the urgency of this question, he will advise His Majesty's Government to consider the desirability of setting up new machinery to deal with the matter?

I am aware that the number of licences extinguished with compensation each year during the War has been considerably less than in previous years and that the increased cost of the compensation has been one of the causes contributing to this result. The matter is among those which have had the careful consideration of the Government in connection with the Bill which they have undertaken to introduce.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions the number of motor lorries and steam lorries, classified in their various categories, which have been sold through the Disposals Board, and give the total sum realised by the sale of these vehicles; also the number of motor and steam lorries which are still under the control of his Department?

The total number of lorries disposed of up to the present time is 17,806, and the price realised is £7,239,159. The total number of lorries under the control of the Ministry of Munitions at the present time is 15,394. This figure includes the lorries under repair at Slough and those in Abbeville and Cologne, the sale of a considerable number of which is practically concluded. It has not been possible within the time available to obtain the figures in respect of other theatres abroad.

asked the Minister of Munitions whether he has agreed to cancel debenture and other charges amounting to £1,950,000 which the Department hold on the assets and uncalled capital of the British Cellulose Manufacturing Company, Limited, accepting in lieu profit-sharing preference shares to the value of £1,450,000; can he state whether the Government have nominated two directors of this company; whether these two directors are to devote all their time to the duties of the company; whether they are to receive a salary from the Government; if so, to what amount; and can he state the value of cash on shares to be received by the vendors or promoters?

It is not correct to suggest that the debentures and other charges on the assets of the British Cellulose and Chemical Manufacturing Co., Ltd., amounting to £1,950,000 are held by the Ministry of Munitions solely in its own right. Of this £1,950,000 the Ministry holds the sum of £700,000 as trustee for other parties; but, in addition, the Ministry holds a further charge of £200,000. The Ministry holds therefore, on its own behalf, the sum of £1,450,000, and in lieu of this the Government has agreed to accept 1,450,000 7½ per cent. Cumulative Participating Preference shares of £1 each. At the same time the Government reserves the right to veto the creation of any debentures or other charges which might rank in priority to or pari passu with their shares. The Government has appointed two directors to sit on the Board of this company; but those directors will not devote the whole of their time to the duties of the company. The ordinary remuneration received by these directors from the company will be paid into the Exchequer, and they will receive remuneration from the Government in the same way as other directors appointed by Government Departments. The amount of such remuneration is now under consideration. The issue of Preference shares to the public is for the purposes of enabling the company to discharge its liabilities and to provide the cost of new plant and the necessary working capital. The whole of the amount received for these shares less the usual expenses of issue will, therefore, be received by the company for these purposes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether by the appointment of the directors to the British Cellulose Manufacturing Company, Limited, the Government are taking any responsibility to the investors who may invest their capital on the knowledge that Government representatives are on the Board; whether he is aware that this company proposes to manufacture artificial silk and other commodities in competition with other old-established firms; are the Government prepared to advance capital and appoint directors to the boards of other such competitive firms; and, if not, why not?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative and to the second part of the question the answer is in the affirmative, but the Government is only concerned with policy of the Company in so far it affects their own security. As to the remainder of the question the Government advanced money to the British Cellulose and Chemical Manufacturing Company, Limited, during the War, solely for the purpose of ensuring an adequate supply of certain materials which were vitally necessary for War purposes. This money was secured by debentures and other charges. The Government has now consented to take 7½ per cent. cumulative participating preference shares in the Company in lieu of their debentures and other charges, and has appointed two directors to sit on the board as a matter of ordinary business prudence. The object of this arrangement is to ensure that the advances previously made by the Government are secured in the manner thought to be most desirable

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction which prevails regarding certain conditions which have been imposed upon ex-service men seeking permanent clerkships under the Ministry of Labour reconstruction scheme; whether he is aware that under the rules such candidates must be aged over 24 and under 25 years on date of examination, and that this rule has had the effect of shutting out young ex-service men who joined up voluntarily at the outbreak of War, and whose claims should therefore be strongest; and whether he will see that the rules will be so amended as to make men not exceeding 27 years of age, who are now serving temporarily, eligible for examination, or, as an alternative, confirm in their appointments all such men as are now serving as temporary clerks, instead of removing them to make room for younger men who have not had practical experience of the work?

I am aware that some dissatisfaction exists. The age limits, however, are 19 and 25 and not 24 and 25, as suggested by my hon. Friend. As I stated in the reply given on the 19th November, 1919, to the hon. Member for the Victoria Division of Belfast (Mr. Donald), the decision in this matter rests with the Civil Service Commissioners. With regard to the last part of the question, as I stated in the reply above referred to, there is no present intention to make all the clerks now employed in the Ministry permanent officials.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average rise per cent. in wages in the principal Allied countries since the beginning of the War?

Neither in this country nor in any of the countries allied or associated with us in the late War are the most competent statistical authorities as yet in a position to state with anything approaching certainty what has been the extent of the rise in the level of money wages since 1914. Conclusions based on comparisons between the figures given below for different countries can therefore only be drawn with the utmost reserve.

(1). In the United Kingdom the percentage increase in rates of wages since 1914 has varied widely in different industries. For all industries combined the average increase is estimated at about 120 to 130 per cent. In most industries also the working hours have been reduced.

(2). In France the official data for estimating the general rise in money wages above the pre-War level do not extend beyond the end of 1917, at which time they suggested a figure in the neighbourhood of 90 per cent. There is evidence that the upward movement has not been arrested, but the data available for measuring its extent are altogether inadequate.

(3). In the United States official and competent unofficial estimates would indicate an approximate rise of 90 per cent. for men and 70 per cent. for women.

(4). For Italy the only figures available for showing the general trend of money wages since 1914 are supplied by the U. S. Commercial Attaché at Rome and point to a rise of about 180 per cent.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will consider the increase of the grant of £5 for each boar owned by approved societies of small farmers under the Scottish Board of Agriculture's scheme for the encouragement of pig-breeding to £10, in response to a request by the Fife-shire Pig-Breeders' and Feeders' Association?

I have had inquiry made as to the suggested increase in the amounts of the grants awarded by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland under their pig-breeding scheme, but find that, owing to the financial considerations involved, it is not practicable to accede to the request of the Fifeshire Pig-Breeders' and Feeders' Association. I have been in communication with the Association on the matter.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received a petition from the Scottish Prison Officers' Society; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I am not aware of any Society so named, but my right hon. Friend has received a petition from the Scottish prison staffs requesting to be

—		England.		Wales.
		Council Schools, i.e., schools provided or maintained by Local Education Authorities.	Foundation and other Non-Council Schools.	Council Schools.	Foundation Schools, including Intermediate Schools.
Schools, not required to offer 25 per cent. of free places:—
117	viz.	23	93	—	1
Percentage of free places reduced on the ground of:—
(i) Financial circumstances only		5	28	—	—
(ii) Financial and other circumstances		5	33	—	—
Schools required to offer 25 per cent. of free places:—
943	viz.	445	381	12	105

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases in the last, 20 years the powers of Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, have been exercised; what are the highest and lowest number of years of service which have been added in such cases; in how many instances respectively such years have been added at the time of an officer's appointment, and at some later period in his service; whether a list is obtainable of the cases referred

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of schools in England and Wales which have been allowed to reduce the number of free places which the Regulations ordinarily require; in how many cases the Regulations have been relaxed on account of financial circumstances; and the number of secondary schools in which the number of free places is kept up to the standard prescribed by the Regulations, distinguishing in each case between schools provided by public money and foundation or other schools?

The figures are as follow.—to, showing in each case the number of years added; and whether on entry into the service, or subsequently?

Since 1900 a number of offices have been placed under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act of 1859, but no addition of years has been given, except in the following cases:—

(a) In two cases Treasury Minutes have been issued which continued, but restricted, the operation of Minutes in force prior to 1900.

(b) By two other Minutes, covering three offices, added years have been attached. But these Minutes were required only to regularise the position in regard to posts in the case of which the Treasury had agreed in principle to the addition of years in 1877 and 1883 respective, and in respect of which formal Minutes had, through inadvertence, not been issued. The occasion of each of these Minutes was the discovery, on an officer's retirement, of the omission of the formal steps required to place his office under the Section in question. The addition of years to the three offices referred to were ten, seven and seven respectively.

All Minutes issued under the Section have been laid before Parliament.The hon. Member is doubtless aware that the Section was repealed by Section 5 of the Superannuation Act, 1914.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the rates of interest charged by this country on the loans for war purposes to Russia, France, Italy, Belgium, and other Allies; and if there is any agreement as to how and when such loans shall be repaid?

The conditions vary in different cases. We have charged no interest on the pre-Armistice debt of Belgium, Serbia and Montenegro. Further, in the case of Belgium, the French, American and British Governments have agreed to accept German Bonds for the amount of Belgium indebtedness. In other cases interest is calculated either at 5 per cent. or at bank rate, and is added to the principal of the loans outstanding, so that no payments of interest on pre-Armistice debt have ever been received by us, except in respect of a single special transaction where special arrangements were made. Negotiations as to the future treatment of debt between the Allied and Associated Governments are now proceeding and His Majesty's Government have expressed their willingness to extend to their debtors similar treatment to that which may be arranged in respect of their own debt.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a return of the amount of money that has been remitted direct to the Accountant Comptroller from taxpayers where it has been found that their payments in the past have not reached their total liability, where the Revenue authorities have claimed restitution for longer than the three years' limit provided by the Statute, and where this payment has been obtained under a threat of prosecution for having within the Statutory limit made incorrect returns; whether very large sums have been collected by the Crown in cases of taxes paid by taxpayers in mistake, as in the case of an endowment for charitable purposes made in favour of the vicar and churchwardens and trustees of St. Andrew's and St. Nicholas's churches, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where, owing to the want of knowledge, the Crown has received taxes since 1842, estimated to amount to £3,000 or £4,000, application having been made to the Treasury for restitution and been refused, excepting so far as the legal limit of three years is concerned?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in supposing that it is the practice to accept money payments as an alternative to the institution of criminal proceedings. Money payments are accepted in suitable cases in settlement of pecuniary penalties exigible by law, but there is no separate record of the amount of these, as distinct from the tax which it is competent to assess. I am not aware of the extent to which the trustees mentioned by my hon. Friend, or other persons who may have failed to exercise their right to claim repayment of Income Tax may have been affected, but the three years' time limit imposed by Section 41 of the Income Tax Act of 1918 is necessarily of general application, and cannot be extended in particular cases.

asked the Postmaster-General whether Miss Mentasti, a Post Office employé who has satisfactorily passed through her period of probation, has been informed that, owing to the nationality of her father, an Italian, who has been dead three years, her services would not be retained; and on what grounds such action has been taken in the case of a girl of Allied nationality whose brother is serving in the British Army, and who is herself the sole support of her widowed mother?

Under General Regulations issued by the Government, no person can be appointed to the Civil-Service who is not a natural-born British subject and whose father was not a natural-born British subject. Miss Mentasti's father was an Italian, and the Civil Service Commissioners are, therefore, unable to issue a certificate of qualification in her favour.