asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether it is proposed to select as members of or attached to the Allied Investigation Commission about to proceed to Russia, Russian subjects who have not been forced to accept Bolshevik rule balanced by a number of Russian subjects favourable to Soviet administration, or whether it is proposed to select the representatives upon the Commission from Allied nominees exclusively; if so, will a knowledge of the Russian language be made a condition of membership;

(2) Whether any steps have been taken, or any arrangement made with the Bolshevik Government, to secure protection for any Russian subject who may wish to give evidence to the Allied Commission which is about to proceed to Soviet Russia for the purpose of conducting the investigation as to the condition of affairs in Russia for the Allied Council; if any arrangement has been made, how do the Allies expect to secure any evidence from Russians resident in the districts controlled by the Soviet power other than that favourable to the Bolshevik administration;

(3) Whether, in choosing interpreters for the Allied Soviet Commission, care will be taken to exclude Russian subjects either favourable or opposed to Bolshevik rule, relying entirely upon competent Allied linguists for translating documents and interpreting oral or other evidence?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Allied Commission to Russia has been appointed, and, if so, who are they?

As stated by the Lord Privy Seal in answer to a question put by the hon. and gallant Member for East Leyton on March 17th, the Commission to visit Russia is being organised, not by the Supreme Council, but by the Council of the League of Nations, who have charge of all the arrangements connected with it.

I have caused enquiries to be made and I am informed that the Council are not yet in a position to announce the names of the members of the Commission or the date of its departure for Russia.

Would this not be a good opportunity to make use of the Russian interpreters who have been paid money to qualify and whose services are never used? Is there a list of them at the Foreign Office?

If my hon. Friend desires it, I will represent his view to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations.

One part of my question has not been answered, namely, what arrangements, if any, would be made for the safety of those who offer to give evidence that may be against the Soviet Government.

The hon. and gallant Member will see from the answer that the whole matter is in the hands of the League of Nations. If the hon. and gallant Members desires me to make any representation to the Secretary-General, I shall be happy to do so.

Are we to understand that, although we have a very distinguished representative on the Council of the League of Nations, we in this House have no sort of control over the policy entered into by our representative in our name? Is it not possible for the hon. Gentleman to answer these questions, and inform us as to the policy which our representative, speaking for this Government at any rate, is putting forward before the Council of the League? It is an important constitutional point.

If it is an important constitutional point, notice should be given of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the declaration made by General Holman in a manifesto to the Kuban Cossacks; whether General Holman is chief of the military mission with General Denikin; and whether the manifesto, which purported to be a message from His Gracious Majesty the King, was approved in full by His Majesty's Government?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the last part in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether, with reference to the so-called Armenian massacres in Cilicia, that district was garrisoned partly by coloured and partly by Armenian troops in the pay of Franco; whether the Armenians of the Légion d'Orient killed several Turks during the occupation; and whether the presence of these units alarmed the Turkish inhabitants of the district?

The French Command in Cilicia included French Colonial coloured troops and a small Armenian contingent recruited locally by the French. No information is available on the points raised in the second and third parts of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the actual cause of the outbreak at Marash was the hauling down of the Turkish flag over the Konak by order of the French military governor of the town, Captain André; whether that flag should have been so hauled down, considering that Marash still constitutes a portion of the Turkish empire; and whether such conduct was in itself an act of serious provocation?

His Majesty's Government have no information as to the immediate cause of the outbreak at Marash.

asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the number of persons in internment camps in Hungary; whether any British representative has visited any of these camps; and, if so, what are the conditions in these camps?

Latest indications show that the number of persons interned in Hungary is probably between 1,500 and 1,600.

His Majesty's High Commissioner in Budapest visited the principal internment camp in January last, and his report shows that the conditions then were satisfactory in so far as the general shortage of food admitted.

Is His Majesty's High Commissioner going to make other visits and keep those camps under observation?

I will make inquiries.

asked whether Andreas Matyko has been condemned to death by the Hungarian Government and, if so, on what charges; and whether His Majesty's Government intend taking, or have taken, any steps to intervene to save the life of this man?

I have no information concerning this case.

asked whether the Hungarian Government has recently ordered an extensive mobilisation; what is the estimated number of men now under arms in Hungary; and what limits were placed on the size of the Hungarian army by the original Armistice terms?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull.

asked what medal is to be given for the operations last year on the Afghan frontier and when orders for the wearing of the ribbon will be issued?

This question is now under consideration, and I hope that an announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the claims of the Voluntary Aid Detachment transport men, who gave such good service all through the War, both by day and night, as stretcher bearers without pay or reward of any kind, will be duly considered in the event of the grant of a home-service medal?

The claims of the men referred to will not be overlooked, in the event of a medal being awarded for services rendered at home in connection with the War.

asked the Secretary for War if he is aware that recruiting posters are still being exhibited which suggest that the position of sergeant-major in the Regular Army represents the limit to the ambition of a private soldier; and if, in view of the altered conditions, he will consider the advisability of issuing instructions that the sergeant-major's crown should be replaced by a field-marshal's baton?

There are two recruiting posters on which the sergeant-major's crown is shown. One deals with the rates of pay of warrant officers, noncommissioned officers, and men, and shows the badge of each rank for which the rate of pay is granted. The pay of officers is not dealt with. The other has "The moving stairway of quick promotion," in which the highest rank shown is that of sergeant-major. The figure at the top of the stairway is obviously moving higher and out of the picture of noncommissioned officers and warrant ranks. I do not think that the field marshal's baton could be brought into this picture consistently with accuracy of description of the moving stairway as being one of "quick promotion."

Would not posters such as I suggest not only have the effect of stimulating the troops, but also serve as a reminder to the right hon. Gentleman of the pledges with which I think he is familiar?

I will consider the matter.

asked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that Gunner S. Price, No. 14,544, whose present address is Royal Garrison Artillery Depôt, the Citadel, Plymouth, joined the Army voluntarily on the outbreak of war, that he was wounded and gassed, and that after the Armistice he was asked to volunteer to go to Russia, and that he agreed to go on condition that he could join the Artillery; that he subsequently heard that there was no vacancy in the Artillery, and after remaining at home for about four months, he engaged as a teamsman on a farm named Derwydd, Llanfihangel, North Wales, where he has been since July, 1919, but has just been taken away by the military authorities as an absentee; and whether he will give instructions that this man be released immediately and allowed to resume his employment?

I am informed that Gunner Price voluntarily enlisted for the duration of the War in November, 1915. In January, 1919, he voluntarily re-enlisted, with special bounty and furlough privileges, for four years in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He failed to rejoin on the expiration of his furlough and was reported, in the usual manner, as an absentee. He was apprehended by the police in February last, and posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery in accordance with the terms of his enlistment. In view of the fact that his re-enlistment was entirely voluntary, for which he received a special bounty and three months' furlough, I regret I can see no reason for releasing him from his contract.

asked the Secretary for War whether certain regiments of Regulars, namely, eight infantry, two cavalry, and a few batteries of artillery, in India when the War broke out, have been retained there till quite recently, partly to guard the frontiers and to train the Territorials; whether these regiments took part in several frontier engagements which may well have teen indirectly caused by the unrest produced by the War; whether these regiments have not received the 1914–15 Star given to the Territorials who went to India and were there for nearly the whole period of the War, and who are now in addition receiving a special medal; why this distinction has been made; and will he consider treating the Regulars in India at least as generously in this matter as the Territorials they protected and taught?

Certain Regular Units were retained in India when War broke out. They formed part of the Field Army on the Indian Frontier, and were employed on various frontier expeditions. With regard to the third part of the hon. Member's question, the conditions governing the award of the "1914–15 Star" are contained in Army Order 20 of 1919, and as will be seen from Appendix A, include certain frontier operations. This Star is awarded to those individuals, irrespective of whether they were Regular or Territorial soldiers, who complied with the conditions laid down, and no distinction has been made. I would point out that members of the Territorial Force who are eligible for the 1914 Star or the 1914–15 Star are not entitled to the special medal in addition.

Does the right hon. Gentleman defend an arrangement under which regulars who have been in India throughout the War, and who have been training Territorials who only took a small part in the War; regulars who were actually engaged in frontier fighting arising out the War, are to have no reward, medal or distinction of any kind?

I should like to have notice of that question.

Full notice of the point is given in my question. I want to know why these regular soldiers in India throughout the War, who have been doing work throughout the War, who have been engaged in various frontier attacks in the defence of India, and have been training Territorials, should have no distinction of any kind for all they have done?

Is it a correct statement that the Territorials only played a small part in the War?

Certain of them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give further consideration to this matter?

I will represent the views which have been expressed.

asked if any scheme has yet been devised whereby badge honours gained by service battalions may be made a perpetual memory, either by emblazoning the colours given to them, or by any other means calculated to preserve the individual records of battalions?

The question of what "battle honours" are to be granted to units has not yet been decided. The suggestion made by the hon. and gallant Member will, however, be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary for War whether any officers who have commanded units on active service are qualified by appointment to command units in the Territorial Army; and, if so, whether he will take steps to insure that a similar qualification shall apply to the command of brigades in the Territorial Army?

The fact of having successfully commanded a brigade or unit on active service is one of the principal qualifications for appointment to a command in the Territorial Army. It is not the sole consideration, however, because a number of officers, although possessing superior qualifications to those actually given command, could not be spared from the staff or other extra-regimental employment.

asked whether it is the intention of the Army and Navy Canteen Board to establish or finance retail establishments in towns where soldiers or sailors are stationed for the supply of all articles required by officers, men, and their dependants; and whether the Canteen Board was set up as a war measure and financed by the taxpayers' money?

In answer to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave on Tuesday last to the hon. and gallant Member for Llandaff and Barry. With regard to the latter part of the question, the Navy and Army Canteen Board was set up as a permanent organisation, and was partly financed by loans advanced by the Treasury at interest; these loans have since been repaid.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether between 150,000 and 200,000 uninoculated men served in the British Armies in France during the War; whether less than 4,000 of these suffered from enteric, typhoid, or paratyphoid fever; and whether he attributes the immunity of these uninoculated men to the precautions taken regarding the provision of pure water and food and the measures for the destruction of refuse taken by the sanitary services?

During 1917 there were in France approximately 30,000 men who had not recently, or had never, been inoculated, and during 1918 the number was approximately 70,000. Good sanitation has always had a beneficial effect in checking the spread of disease. It is, however, also true that the immunity these men enjoyed was due to the fact that there was only a very small proportion of non-inoculated men in each unit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Captain Manley Angell James, V.C, M.C., is a candidate for a commission in the Regular Army, and that this officer is only 23 years of age and was three times wounded; whether, in view of this officer's exceptional service, a vacancy may be made for him, and one vacancy less allotted in the next Sandhurst examination; whether he is aware that another officer, 22 years of age, who joined the Army as a private at 17 years of age, won a commission and a V.C, is also desirous of obtaining a Regular commission; and whether similar arrangements can be made in his case?

Eleven officers, including Captain James, who have earned the Victoria Cross, have been recommended for permanent Regular commissions. It would be invidious to single out one particular officer for treatment as proposed, but my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that the fullest consideration will be given to the war services generally of each candidate who is recommended, and in particular to those who have won the Victoria Cross. I regret I cannot adopt the suggestion contained in the second part of the question, the vacancies announced for the examination to be held this summer are intended to furnish officers in the autumn of 1922. As regards the last part of the question, unless the name of the officer is furnished it is not possible to say whether he has been recommended for a permanent Regular commission. As I stated on Tuesday last, I am doing my utmost to expedite a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the pending termination of the Military Service Act and also in view of the grave responsibilities entailed by the unsettled situation in various parts of the world, he is satisfied with the present strength of the Army and the results of voluntary recruiting; and, if not, does he intend to make a special effort on a voluntary basis to secure the requisite number of men?

As I stated during the Debate last evening, recruiting for the Army is good. The steps which have been taken to secure recruits have so far proved adequate to meet our requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction caused by the present system of the examination of boarded-out Army horses; whether the lessees of these horses are compelled to bring them to a central point from two to four times a year; that this means the complete loss of a working day to those who live at any distance from the central point, and that this involves not only loss of time, but loss of money; in view of the act that inspecting officers are provided with motor cars, whether it would be possible to arrange for more local inspections;

(2) Whether he is aware of the disatisfaction caused by the present system of the inspections of boarded-out Army orses; that such inspections take place as many as four times a year, and that the lessees of the horses are compelled to bring them in to a central point from whatever distance they may happen to live; that this involves the complete loss of a working day and heavy expense; and, in view of the fact that inspecting officers are provided with motor cars, will he arrange that the inspections are more local in future?

The Agreement under which Army horses are boarded-out provides for the horses being taken by allottees to a central point within ten miles for the purpose of inspection once every six months. Inspecting officers are not provided with motor-cars, and the Clause in question was inserted in the Agreement to allow the inspection to be carried out at a minimum expense to the State.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that up to 10 miles is quite sufficient to deprive one of these allottees of the whole work of the day, and if we can bring to his notice cases where the inspector is in possession of a motor-car will he make arrangements for more local inspections?

I shall be glad to know about the motor-car or anything of that kind. More conveniently situated centres of inspection, where possible, would be an advantage, but I do not see why allottees should not take the same amount of care of these horses when taking them for inspection as if they were taking them to market or to be shod.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the same rule has been applied to officers of the Army as was applied to officers of the Navy in the new rules for naval officers' pay published in July last laying down that officers who became due for compulsory retirement during the War, but continued to serve on the active list, would be treated as retired and called-up officers from the date when such retirement was due and would be paid accordingly, with retrospective effect to 4th August, 1919; and, if not, will he state the reason?

It is hoped that this matter will be decided very shortly. I shall be glad if the hon. and gallant Member will put the question again immediately after Easter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give this matter favourable consideration?

I would not like to give an answer in advance.

asked the Secretary for War whether he will favourably consider the question of extending the benefits of the revised rates of service pension laid down in Army Order 325, of 1910, to service pensioners who, through disablement incurred during the War, have been prevented from completing full time for pension, in view of the fact that very considerable hardship and loss is inflicted on the men invalided from the service with only a few months or days short of the required period of 21 years?

As I stated yesterday this point is at present under consideration by an Inter-Departmental Committee.

asked the Secretary for War whether he will consider an Amendment to Army Order 325, of 1919, so that a re-enlisted pensioner who was formerly awarded a modified pension and has since completed 21 years' service shall have his pension reassessed at the revised rates for his pre-War service without the deduction of 10 per cent. which is made in the case of men who have not completed 21 years' service, in view of the fact that the re-enlisted pensioner has served for a longer period than the man who is permitted to take his discharge on modified pension at the present time?

I am not prepared in any way to reopen the service of re-enlisted pensioners, who draw their pensions in addition to their pay during such new service as they gave in the War.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this decision is a considerable hardship on a very deserving class of people?

I am aware of it, but the whole question of pensions is a very difficult one, as the hon. and gallant Member knows.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Lieutenant W. Halstead, late 25th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, who enlisted for the duration of the War, having previous lengthy service in the Army to his credit; whether he is aware that after having re-enlisted, and having 19 years 175 days' total service, this soldier was asked to take a temporary commission; that, although he has over 21 years' service to his credit, he has been refused a pension; and whether, in view of the fact that if this man had refused a commission and remained in the ranks he would have been entitled to a service pension, he will have this case reconsidered?

I will look into this, and communicate with the hon. Member, but I can make no promise as to the result of my examination.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into account that this man was allowed to re-enlist, after his long service, and that owing to the action of the War Office he is suffering this hardship?

I have a great deal of sympathy with the hon. Member. I have looked into this question, and will look into it still further.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Article 497 (a), Royal Warrant, lays down that an officer who retires on retired pay should be entitled to 31 days' pay for every year of service or any part of a year during which his services are utilised on an emergency; whether he is aware that a ruling has been made limiting the completion of the period to the 4th August, 1919, although many officers serving in India were kept on beyond that period; and by whose authority such alteration of the Royal Warrant has been made, by reason of which certain officers are deprived of 31 days' pay, which under the Royal Warrant is undoubtedly due to them?

This was the decision of His Majesty's Government, taken after full consideration. Under Article 1 of the Royal Warrant for Pay, etc., 1914, no officer has any claim to the benefit of Article 497 "in the event of such provision being at any time added to, varied, or cancelled"; and in this case the provision in question was duly cancelled by a further Royal Warrant.

Will the right hon. Gentleman represent that these alterations in the Royal Warrant should not be made retrospective in future?

I am not quite sure that that is correct. Notice of nearly six months was given before this alteration took place. Most of the officers who re-joined re-joined voluntarily. The soldiers were not released from compulsion, but the officers were in a different position.

When the right hon Gentleman states that it was a decision of His Majesty's Government, does that mean a Cabinet decision, an Army Council decision, or the decision most probably of some small clerk in the Finance Department of the War Office?

I am afraid that I may be inaccurate, but I think that it was an Army Council decision.

Will the right hon. Gentleman represent that this alteration in the Warrant affects officers who are regular serving officers, or the reserve of officers who joined during the War, and are they to understand in future that a Royal Warrant can be altered merely by the ipse dixit of the Secretary of State for War?

I am under the impression that it affects only temporary officers and territorial officers, but not regular officers.

asked whether any decision has been arrived at in regard to the revision of the rates for commutation of pension by warrant officers and men to bring them into line with the rate for officers; and, if so, whether the conditions under which pensions can now be commuted are available?

I regret that, in the extreme pressure still obtaining in the War Office, it has not yet been possible to revise these rates.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to appreciate that a great number of these men who are going abroad would wish to know what money they are likely to get?

Yes. I will do my best to expedite it.

asked the Pensions Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to reassess the pensions of pre-war Army pensioners who attested during the War with the object of bringing them up to the same rate as those of the pensioners of the Great War; and whether he is aware that C. S. Macgregor, of 109, Benjamin Road, Wrexham, served for twenty-nine years in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and took his discharge in January, 1900, and that in September, 1914, he offered himself for service three days in succession at the rank he held on his discharge, namely, sergeant-major, but was informed by the officer commanding at the barracks, Wrexham, that they could not attest him as he was over sixty years of age, and that since 1915 this man has been drilling cadets at Grove Park School and trained several young men for the Army during the War?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. I regret that no exception can be made in this case to the rule that pensions are not re-assessed unless the pensioner re-enlisted during the War.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether, on a recent commercial flight from Blackburn to Holland, the machines employed had to waste a whole day in reporting to Lympne before proceeding overseas?

My hon. Friend possibly refers to a recent commercial flight from Hull to Holland which has already been the subject of a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull. The necessity for landing at Lympne in such cases was fully dealt with in the reply to that question on 11th March (OFFICIAL REPORT, Col. 1556), and in the reply to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for Leeds, N.E., on 15th March (Col. 1829). The amount of time spent at Lympne is largely dependent upon the time-table arranged by the organisers of the flight.

Is it proposed that in all commercial flights machines from all parts of this country must first go to Lympne, whether they come from Scotland or Plymouth or anywhere else?

That is not the purport of the answer which I have already given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry if he will state why it is laid down in the sealed pattern for the Air Force mess kit that pilots' and/or observers' wings may not be worn?

The Royal Air Force mess uniform was carefully considered by a Committee of Royal Air Force officers. Their recommendations were approved by the Air Council.

Is it not the fact that this rule was brought in by staff officers who have not the right to wear wings? Surely my right hon. Friend is aware that all pilots are proud of that special distinction, and that this is causing very great dissatisfaction?

I am not aware that there is dissatisfaction. I have inquired, and I understand that All Air Force officers with the exception of store officers will wear wings.

Will the hon. and gallant Member see that in future the observer and the pilot wear their wings?

They will wear their wings when in regular uniform. The Committee did not think it desirable to wear wings in the mess uniform.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman inquire why?

Because the officers who were asked to inquire into the matter thought that that was the best plan. Obviously, opinions differ.

Why not provide them with haloes?

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry how many officers are employed in the Air Ministry; how many of them are qualified pilots and/or observers; and whether all the officers attached to the Air Ministry who wear pilots' wings have done not less than 20 hours' solo on service-type machines, and also passed all the usual war tests?

The number of officers of all ranks and classifications in the Air Ministry is 185; this figure includes officers engaged in the Departments of Civil Aviation, Supply and Research, Medical Administration and Stores. Of the total, 82 are qualified pilots or observers. All officers who wear pilots' wings passed all the flying and war tests qualifying them for service in the field at the time at which they earned their wings with the exception of a few officers whose duties were at the time confined to specialist work, and who were granted their wings after passing flying tests. It is unlikely that any individual officer has passed all war tests as these were essentially specialist tests designed to qualify officers for the particular type of duty for which they were selected.

asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether ex-service men in the Inspection Department of the Air Ministry are being dismissed while non-service men and non-regimental officers are being retained; and is he aware that these non-service men are connected with the Deputy Controller by ties of affinity, consanguinity, or otherwise?

The staff of the inspection directorate is still in process of reduction to peace establishment. In considering what persons should be retained, preference is given to ex-Service men. Non-Service men and non-regimental officers are retained only where it is clear that they possess superior qualifications for the work, namely, special aeronautical and engineering qualifications not possessed to an equal extent by the ex-Service men being dismissed. With regard to the second part of the question, I have made special inquiry into the complaint made to the Air Ministry on March the 10th, to which, I presume, my hon. Friend refers, and I am satisfied that it is fully covered by my answer to the first part.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will furnish a Return showing the counties in Scotland in which land for the settlement of ex-service men and others has been acquired since the Armistice, and also the name and extent of each block of land so acquired?

I propose to circulate the information desired by my hon. and gallant Friend in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Food Controller whether he will state the number of boxes of bacon which came under his control On 9th August, 1919, how many have been received since, and the average price paid for this bacon; whether much of this bacon has so deteriorated that it has been sold to soap boilers, and, if so, to what extent has this policy of destruction been carried out and the average price obtained for the bacon so destroyed whether large quantities have been re-exported to the Continent as unfit for consumption in this country, and, if so, how many boxes and what is the average price he has obtained for it; whether the present stock left on hand is suffering from deterioration to a considerable extent; and what does he propose to do about it?

Approximately 500,000 boxes of bacon were requisitioned by the Ministry of Food from private importers during the period from 9th August to 21st September, 1919. The price to be paid for this bacon is at present the subject of negotiation between the Ministry of Food and the American packers. A large proportion of the amount requisitioned was found when landed to be in an unsatisfactory condition, and such quantities as were unfit for human consumption were sold for soap-making. Without a considerable statistical investigation it is not possible to state the actual amount disposed of in this way, but the average price realised was, approximately, £20 per ton. Free export of all out-of-condition bacon was permitted through the ordinary trade channels. It is not, therefore, possible to state the amount of requisitioned bacon actually exported, nor the average price obtained. With regard to the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Plaistow, but I would like to emphasise the point that since the resumption of control not a single box of bacon has arrived in such a condition as to be, or to become, unfit for food.

Will the public ever be able to see an audited account, giving the result of this adventure in bacon?

I presume the accounts will go in the ordinary course before the Comptroller and Auditor-General, and that the matter will appear in his Report.

May I ask how long these boxes were allowed to remain in this country before it was discovered that the contents had deteriorated?

In the answer I stated that this was found to be wrong on arrival.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that these audited accounts are presented to this House?

I will convey that to the Department.

Will arrangements be made with America to see that we get compensation for stuff that goes bad before it lands?

asked the Food Controller whether sugar is supplied to jam manufacturers at about 7d. per lb., to the public at 8d. per lb., and has been recently advanced in price to condensed milk manufacturers in England to about 1s. per lb., thereby increasing the price of condensed milk, which is largely used for feeding children, by about 2d. per tin?

So long as the price of condensed milk was controlled the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply continued to supply manufacturers at 66s. per cwt., a price actually below the economic value of sugar. When control was removed on February 1st the price of the sugar was raised to the figure at which issues are made to other manufacturers. The price of sugar allocated to jam manufacturers was advanced to the same level as from March 22nd, on which date the price of sugar for domestic consumption was increased from 8d. to 10d. per lb., except in the case of sugar already in the hands of retailers.

Can the hon. Gentleman state why there is a differentiation between the price of sugar used in the manufacture of jam and the price of sugar used in the manufacture of condensed milk, and whether condensed milk is not at least as important as jam in view of the fact that it is used largely for children?

I cannot answer in detail beyond saying that in my reply I stated that the price was advanced to the same level in the case of jam on March 22nd.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the effect of penalising a home industry is very serious from the point of view of unemployment?

I will bring that to the notice of the Department.

On a point of Order. As this is a question of great importance to everybody in the country, ought we not have, without any disrespect to the hon. Gentleman, a responsible Minister present to give an answer?

I think the hon. Gentleman is busy at Northampton.

asked the Food Controller whether he will consider the advisability of putting into operation the scheme, as recommended by the Select Committee on National Expenditure, which suggested that if the bread subsidy, was used for bread by bakers and housewives, an economy would be effected of approximately £29,000,000 this year, and the administering scheme would only cost £200,000?

The Food Controller has no knowledge of any recommendation by the Select Committee on National Expenditure to the effect that £29,000,000 might be saved by restricting the use of subsidised flour to the manufacture of bread. The Food Controller is advised that an attempt to restrict the application of the bread subsidy to flour used for bread-making would involve the setting up of elaborate and costly machinery for the rationing of bread and flour and the impossibility of preventing serious leakage would considerably reduce the saving effected.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) the total numbers of males and females employed by the Ministry of Food on the last day of each of the five months ending 29th February ultimo; what was the charge on public funds for such employment during each of those months? (2) What stocks of sugar, butter, wheat, flour, beef, mutton, and bacon were held by the Ministry of Food on the last day of each of the five months ending 29th February ultimo; what were the prevailing prices for those commodities paid by the Ministry of Food in those months; what were the prices charged by the Ministry to wholesale and other purchasers; and what was the monthly consumption of such stocks?

As the answer is a long one, I propose to have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the unfair position in which the retail trader has been placed by the increase of the price of flour, as the wholesaler is allowed to collect cash at the increased price as from the 15th March, 1920, whilst the retailer has to sell at the old maximum price and will only be recompensed by credit note?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a retailer has to advance money for the increased price of flour under the Order which came into force on 15th March, and has to await reimbursement at some future date by a system of credit notes instead of cash; if he will say who is to pay for the services of the professional accountant whom the trader is compelled to call in to certify his statement of stocks; and whether he will devise some simpler method of carrying out this policy?

The Food Controller cannot agree that the Order referred to has placed retailers of bread and flour in an unfair position as compared with whole- salers. The latter are required to pay to the Government forthwith the difference of 19s 3d. per 280 lbs. between the old and the new wholesale prices, whereas the former will continue to sell flour and bread at the current maximum retail prices, but will be compensated at the end of the flour week period on any stocks of flour purchased at the increased wholesale price. The method of compensation by credit in the books of the supplier was devised after very careful consideration, and is regarded as essential for the adequate protection both of the Treasury and the consumer. As traders' accounts may be certified by a responsible householder no expense need necessarily be incurred in this connection.

Is it thought that this is the simplest method of carrying out this Order?

I presume that is the opinion of the Department.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the exportable surplus of 2,700,000 metric tons of wheat in Australia and New Zealand has been bought by His Majesty's Government, either through the Wheat Commission or otherwise; and what arrangements have been made for bringing it to this country?

I have been asked to reply. Of the total exportable surplus of Australian wheat the quantity available for the United Kingdom amounts approximately to 1,500,000 tons, and it has already been purchased by the Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies on behalf of His Majesty's Government. The arrangements that have been made for shipment will, it is hoped, ensure the arrival of the entire quantity during the current cereal year. New Zealand has no exportable surplus, but is, on the contrary, an importer of wheat.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Valley Post Office, Anglesey, serves the villages of Bryngwran and Gwalchmai, a distance of some seven miles, and that on an average the postman is obliged to carry on his back, riding a bicycle, an average weight of about 65 lbs.; whether he is aware that the district from Bodorgan to Newborough, including Malltraeth, Anglesey, is served by only one postman, who has to do the journey twice daily, about four miles each way, on foot, and usually with a heavy load, in a part of the country which is very exposed in winter, sometimes having to walk over his knees in water; and whether he will see that such places are provided with a horse and trap or a motor for the conveyance of mails?

Letters and parcels for delivery at Bryngwran and Gwalchmai are conveyed as far as Bryngwran by two cycle postmen, one of whom then proceeds to Gwalchmai. The weight of postal packets (taken out partly on the postmen s backs and partly on the carriers attached to the bicycles) averages 42 lbs. per man, and whenever it exceeds 50 lbs. per man assistance is provided. The Bodorgan-Newborough postman, who is provided with a cycle and does not travel on foot, conveys a load averaging about 35 lbs. There is no case for incurring the heavy expense of a horse and cart or a motor on this post. I am informed that, although a portion of the route is occasionally flooded during very high tides, it is only to the depth of a few inches, and the flood can be avoided by using a public pathway along an embankment.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, whereas letters are delivered in Pont Street and in Belgrave Square at 8 a.m., delivery is not made in the intervening Chesham Place till 8.45 a.m.; and whether there are no means of ensuring earlier delivery without the entertainment of additions to the staff?