asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will move the Governor-General in Council to require in future census reports information regarding the relative numbers of Sunnis and Shias, and the proportion descended from converted Hindus, among the Mahomedan population of India?

The suggestion of my hon. Friend will be transmitted to the Government of India for their consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of His Excellency the Viceroy that the draft rules and regulations to be framed under the Government of India Act, 1919, will not be communicated to public bodies for consideration before the final adoption, by the Government of India or otherwise submitted for public criticism; and whether he will advise the Government of India that steps should be taken for the fullest consideration by the Indian public of these rules and regulations and for the expression of opinion on them by recognised public bodies?

The hon. Member seems to be quite mistaken. His Excellency the Viceroy, in his speech opening the current Session of the Indian Legislative Council, stated that it was his intention to take public opinion in this connexion freely into confidence and, so far as may be, to carry it with him, and that he intended to take every opportunity of laying proposals as they mature before non-official advisers. It is within my knowledge that this policy is being carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the complaints in India that representatives of the Indian National Congress have been persistently excluded from the Committees appointed for purposes of investigation of public questions by the Government of India, for instance, the Hunter Committee and the recent Advisory Committee regarding Rules and Regulations to be framed under the Government of India Act, 1919; and whether he will take steps to ensure that this body is represented on such public Committees in future?

The Secretary of State has seen these complaints in Indian newspapers. As regards the Hunter Committee, it was obviously necessary to select members who had not, as prominent adherents of the Congress had, already committed themselves to strong views on the points which required investigation.

As regards the Reforms Committees appointed in the Provinces, the Secretary of State has not full information on their composition. But the hon. Member is probably aware that the prevailing party in the National Congress being dissatisfied with the reforms, and having declared itself sceptical as to their sincerity and value, great numbers of Indian Liberal politicians who are desirous of obtaining the best results from the new system have left its ranks and formed a separate Congress of their own. It is probable, and the hon. Member will perhaps recognise that it would be reason- able, in appointing Committees to work out the details of changes consequent on the recent Act, to enlist the services of men who, while criticising certain features, have promised sincere co-operation in working the new system rather than those who have denounced the Act as unacceptable or unworkable.

Would it not be desirable that men of pronounced views, even if hostile to certain aspects of the present Government of India, should be on this Committee?

My right hon. Friend is of opinion that the Hunter Committee in its composition should be a judicial body, and that it is undesirable to appoint on that Committee men who have taken a very strong line in public controversies.

If this Hunter Committee is a judicial body it must be impartial, and why should not distinguished legal luminaries, even if they have pronounced views, be upon it?

asked the Secretary of State for India if Lord Hunter has left or is on the point of leaving India; if the Report by his Committee has been submitted or is ready for submission; if he could state when that Report is to be published; and when time can be allotted for discussing in the House the issues that that Report is sure to raise?

I understand that Lord Hunter is on his way home, and that the Report of his Committee reached the Government of India a few days ago. It will be published as soon as possible, but cannot be published before the House rises, so that the question of allotting time is not immediate.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether Lord Hunter, before leaving India on or about the 13th instant, handed in the Report of his Committee to the Government of India; whether it is the intention of the Government to publish that Report in this country and in India; and whether the evidence tendered by the ex-Governor of the Punjab, the Chief Secretary to the Punjab Government, and on behalf of the military authorities will be included or published separately?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. I cannot yet make any definite statement as to the publication of evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether Mr. B. G. Horniman, who was deported from India by the Government of Bombay to this country in April last without charge or trial, has been refused permission to return to Bombay, where he had been domiciled for several years, and resume his professional occupation, and whether he will state why Mr. Horniman has been excluded from the amnesty recently extended under the terms of the King's Proclamation to persons against whom Orders under the Defence of India Act affecting their entry into British India were in force?

The Secretary of State refused to recommend Mr. Horniman for a passport to India so long as the Government of Bombay considers it necessary to enforce the Order made against him. I do not understand the last part of the question, and doubt if there were any per sons excluded from British India in the same manner as Mr. Horniman, who have been allowed to return to it.

asked whether any change has been effected or is contemplated in the system of tribal militias upon the North-West frontier of India?

This question is now under the consideration of the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state if the special medal which has been approved for members of the Territorial Force who undertook to serve overseas in the early part of the War, provided they fulfilled certain conditions, will be awarded to members of the Indian Volunteer Force who were at home on leave and who were mobilised at the same time as the Territorial Force, subject to like conditions?

The matter is under consideration by the Government of India.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think this a case in which the maxim bis dat qui cito dat applies with considerable force?

The maxim to which my right hon. Friend refers always applies.

asked whether Lajpat Rai, who was deported from the Punjab in 1907, was concerned in any way during his residence in America with the plots that were hatched there for revolution in India; and how many other deportees similarly situated have also been permitted to return to India?

I must refer by hon. and gallant Friend to the statement made in this House on the 28th November, 1917, by the Home Secretary (Viscount Cave). I am not aware that any Indian has been deported to a foreign country. Lajpat Rai was released from internment nearly 12 years ago, and went voluntarily to the United States in 1914.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer my question whether Lajpat Rai was concerned in any of the plots that were hatched in America for revolution in India?

I am not aware that he was.

asked whether Mohammed Ali, who has arrived in England as a member of the Indian Khalifat deputation, is the same Mohammed Ali mentioned in paragraph 164 of the Report of the committee appointed to investigate revolutionary conspiracies in India as concerned in the project hatched in India with the object of destroying British rule by means of an attack on the North-West frontier supplemented by a Mahomedan rising in India itself; whether it was for this reason that he was interned; and, if not, for participation in what conspiracy was he interned?

The individual mentioned in paragraph 164 of the Report cited in the question is not the Mohammed Ali who is now in England as a member of the Khalifat deputation. The latter was interned during the War for conduct tending to promote the interests of His Majesty's enemies.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, considering that officers of the Royal Indian Marine draw full grade pay while on leave, he will say for what reason officers on leave or sick furlough are deprived of the new rates of pay lately sanctioned for that service?

The pay of Royal Indian Marine officers when on duty has recently been increased provisionally by additions to their grade pay which is issued with certain duty allowances. The new rate of grade pay is not suitable as a leave rate because it would increase pay on leave disproportionately to pay on duty. The rates of pay for leave are being separately considered and will be announced later.

Could the right hon. Gentleman give me a date?

I am not in a position to give a date now, but I will let the hon. Member know.

asked what was the proportion of revenue raised in India by indirect taxation in the years 1899–1900, 1909–10, and 1919–20, respectively?

The proportion of revenue raised by indirect taxation under the heads', Customs, Excise, Stamps and Salt, as compared with the total tax revenue in the years mentioned by my hon. Friend, is 43. 45 and 49 per cent., respectively. For this purpose revenue raised by quasi commercial undertakings of Government, such as railways, has been left out of account and Land Revenue has been treated as a direct head. The 1919–20 figure is based on the budget estimate.

Seeing how small is the proportion of the wealthy in India to the poor is there anything analogous in the circumstances to justify any deduction as regards the relative incidence of direct and indirect taxation?

That is a matter of opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he will state what pension will be paid to the widow of a 1st lieutenant Indian Army Reserve of Officers who died in India during last October from fever said to be a recurrence of fever contracted whilst on active service in Mesopotamia?

The widow of a lieutenant of the Indian Army Reserve of Officers dying of disease certified by the proper medical authority as directly traceable to fatigue, privation or exposure incident to active service in the field, would be granted a pension of £100 a year; if the case did not come within this "rule, but death was certified to be due to disease attributable to or aggravated by military service the widow would be granted £75 a year; and in either case, if the marriage took place before the commencement of the officer's military service, the widow might be granted, in lieu of the foregoing pension, an alternative pension, the amount of which would depend on the income of her husband before he joined the Army, but which would not exceed £.300 a year.

asked what steps have been taken to secure early and wide publicity in India of the Prime Minister's recent reply to the Indian Khalifat delegation regarding British policy in the Near and Middle East?

asked the Secretary of State for India whether steps have been taken to telegraph to India the reply of the Prime Minister to the Indian Moslem delegation on the future of Turkey, and to publish it throughout the whole of India in all the vernacular papers; and, if not, will he at once consider the desirability of taking these steps?

A very full summary of the Prime Minister's reply to the delegation was telegraphed to the Viceroy on the 21st March for purposes of publication in India.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is now in a position to say when the new warrant for increasing the pensions of the retired officers of the Indian Army will be issued?

I regret that I am not yet able to state when the revised scale of pensions for Indian Army officers will be issued.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that men engaged on chipping and tarring of buoys in connection with the Felixstowe boom defence works were engaged at 1s. 2d. per hour, but that 1¼d. per hour is deducted for use of office, books, and paper; and whether he will have immediate steps taken to stop this deduction from the men's wages?

The workmen referred to by the hon. Member are not in the direct employment of the Admiralty. I understand they were engaged and are paid by the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company at 1s. 0½d. per hour.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can yet state what steps are being taken to deal with the unemployment at Plymouth?

Arrangements have been made for a 10,000-ton oil tank vessel to be laid down at Devonport. Any further opportunities of taking in hand work such as is contemplated in the Report of the Colwyn Committee will be watched for and utilised; but, as I have already stated, I fear that further discharges are inevitable.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member's acquaintance with Plymouth is confined to a meeting on Bolshevism which he addressed the other day?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is in a position to state how it is proposed to deal with the question of the reduction of the number of officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines?

I would ask the Noble Lord to postpone this question.

When would be a suitable day to put down this question, as the matter is one of vital importance?

It is a question of vital importance no doubt, but, as my Noble Friend knows, it is a matter which is under discussion between the Treasury and the Admiralty, and I cannot say when a final decision will be arrived at. I hope very shortly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what ships of the all-big-gun type the Admiralty are proposing to scrap; whether their decision has been considered by the Committee of Imperial Defence; and if they concur with the Admiralty decision?

The following ships of the all-big-gun type are not required for the post-War Fleet; but the method of their disposal is not yet settled:—"Agincourt," "Bellerophon," "Dreadnought," "Superb," "Inflexible," "Indomitable." The remainder are all included in the post-War Fleet. The reply to the second part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is in the negative, and the last part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the announcement of the fact that the fore-and-aft rig is only to be worn by petty officers of four years' seniority has caused great disappointment amongst that class in the Navy, as from statements officially made it was understood that it would apply to all alike, irrespective of seniority, and that in consequence the new uniform has been practically ordered throughout the Navy and much expense incurred; and whether he can see his way clear to amend the order by granting the concession to all petty officers alike?.

I am not aware of any statements, official or otherwise, which would warrant the assumption that the fore-and-aft rig was to be granted to all petty officers irrespective of seniority. We have no information at the Admiralty to confirm the suggestion that the new uniform has been practically ordered throughout the Navy; and I shall be glad if the hon. Member will send me definite particulars in order that I may deal with the last part of his question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the father of A. Judge, able seaman, H.M.S. "Vectis," sent a telegram on the 7th March to the Admiralty asking them to transmit a message to him of his mother's death; that no reply was received until the 11th March, and then to the effect that the Admiralty were unable to forward private messages to naval ratings at public expense; and whether he can, in cases where relatives of naval ratings are dead or dying, make arrangements for the Admiralty to transmit the message to avoid delay, especially in cases when the whereabouts of the ship are not known to the relatives, instead of keeping the applicant waiting for a reply and then refuse the request?

The facts are as stated in the first and second parts of my hon. Friend's question. The Admiralty are not authorised to transmit private telegrams at the public expense in such cases, whether they affect officers or men; but the usual practice is to inform the applicant to this effect at once and to furnish the address of the ship—and it was by an oversight that this practice was not adhered to in this instance. Instructions have been given that applicants in such cases shall be replied to by telegraph in future.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the reason for denying the grant of a bronze oak-leaf to officers and men of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Naval Reserve mentioned in despatches similar to that granted to the Army and Royal Air Force; and whether this will give rise to an invidious comparison as between the respective services?

The matter has been reconsidered, and arrangements will be made to issue a bronze oak-leaf to officer and men of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Naval Reserve mentioned in despatches. The Regulations governing the issue are under consideration, and will be promulgated later.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Government have taken any steps to reconsider the recommendations of the Colwyn Report as regards merchant shipbuilding in the royal dockyards since the presentation of the Naval Estimates; and, if so, will he give the results of such reconsideration?

The recommendations of the Colwyn Committee are being carried out, with the sole exception that vessels of a mercantile type are being built for the use of the Admiralty instead of to the order of private firms. The possibility of laying down other vessels later in the year is now being examined.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that lenders on house property affected by the Rent Restrictions Acts, whose money is frozen at a rate of interest much below the market rate, are on the sale of such properties not permitted to recover their loans, because the vendors, to secure a higher price, arrange with purchasers to retain their loans, and to give the latter a part or the whole of the benefit of the low rate of interest; and whether he will secure in any new rent restriction legislation that every lender shall, on the sale of property mortgaged to him, be entitled to receive payment of his loan out of the purchase price?

The hon. and learned Member's suggestion shall be brought to the notice of the Committee on the Rent Restrictions Acts, who will no doubt consider it in connection with the general position of mortgagees of house property.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that that is given effect to, because it is causing great inconvenience?

I can scarcely give instructions to the Committee. I must await their Report.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great deal of small property is carrying a mortgage, the interest on which is going out, and that it is almost impossible for small property owners to hold it? Will the right hon. Gentleman say that it is the intention of the Government to remove this restriction so far as small property owners are concerned?

I cannot make a definite statement before the Committee reports, but I am fully aware of the various points the hon. Member has raised, and he may be sure we shall bear them in mind. It will not be long.

Is it the policy of the right hon. Gentleman to give this question his favourable consideration? Is he in favour of removing the difficulty in the case of small properties?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the rate of interest is fixed as well as the rent, and that because the rate of interest is fixed on the pre-War basis this injustice is caused?

I am well aware of all the facts, and am giving the matter the most friendly consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many soldiers who sold their houses and went on service bought houses on their return prior to the Rent Restrictions Act of 1919 and cannot get possession, and that their furniture is stored, while the non-military occupants of the houses which the soldiers have paid for show only that minimum of alacrity in looking for another house sufficient to prevent the County Courts from ejecting them, and are in many cases letting parts of such houses on lucrative terms; and whether he will amend the Rent Restriction Acts, and make it obligatory on the occupant of a house who refuses possession to a purchaser to find equal alternative accommodation for the latter, and to make good to him any increase in cost due to his refusal of possession, including the storage of the purchaser's furniture, if any, and any increase in daily travelling expenses?

Perhaps I may refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a similar question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Ripon on the 19th February of which I am sending him a copy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very large number of these cases of soldiers who have bought their houses and cannot get into them? Can he suggest any justification why one man should occupy another man's house when the latter needs the house, and why he should not pay the loss that accrues to the owner?

That is just one of the cases which shows how difficult this question is. One request is that we shall restrain tenants from being evicted and the next is to show how we can get them out.

Is it not right that if the tenant stays on in the house he should at least make good the losses and damage that accrue to the owner in consequence?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give some indication as to when the Committee will report and when the Government's decision will be arrived at?

I will undertake that legislation will be introduced in time—before the June quarter-day.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a number of municipalities are adopting all kinds of schemes with a view to raising money to build houses within their own localities; if he is aware that the Borough of West Ham require £350,000 to build 350 houses; if he can state what local authorities have been successful in raising money for housing schemes; and if he is in a position to state, in the event of local authorities being unable to borrow the money they require, what the Government intend doing in the matter?.

At my request local authorities all over the country are now beginning a campaign for raising loans for housing purposes. All authorities with a rateable value over £200,000 will be required to borrow for themselves the money they require. They have, in the great bulk of cases, been successful so far, and I hope that the special efforts they are now making will enable them to obtain the further money wanted. Authorities with a rateable value under £200,000 will be able to look to the Public Loans Board, so far as they cannot obtain loans otherwise.

Will the Government guarantee these loans on behalf of the municipal authorities?

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, arising out of the great demand for property, where valuable businesses have been built up by tenants after years of thrift and labour, shops are being sold over tenants' heads, tenants who are in many cases comparatively poor people, but who are turned out by the new owner without receiving any compensation; what remedy such dispossessed tenants have; if they are powerless to obtain justice; and whether he will consider the advisability of securing such alteration of the law as will make profiteering in land and property impossible?

I may refer the hon. and gallant Member to the very full answers I gave on Thursday last to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Hendon, and to the supplementary questions which then arose. I am not yet in a position to add to what has already been stated in the House.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that William Forster, of Lanchester, Go. Durham, has had an ejectment order granted against him, and that within three weeks he himself, with his wife and three children, will be left homeless, as houses are impossible to be obtained; and if he will take steps to get such order suspended until it is possible for Forster to get a shelter?

The granting of ejectment orders is, subject to the Statutes in force, within the discretion of the Courts, and I have no power to intervene in such cases.

Is it not possible that something might be done to delay it, in order that this family might not be cast on the roads,. as under the circumstances a house is absolutely impossible to obtain?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman is aware that legislation on this subject is pending; I will make further inquiry, but I understand this case has been decided by the Courts.

Yes, but it will take another 12 months at least before a house is erected under that legislation.

I was speaking of the ejectment of tenants.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, before the Second Reading of the Government of Ireland Bill, he will have specimen balance sheets for Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland, respectively, circulated as a White Paper, so as to inform the House how the financial clauses of the Bill will work out?

A White Paper will be issued immediately and will, I hope, give my hon. and gallant Friend sufficient information on the subject. If the White Paper, when it is in the hands of the hon. Member, as I hope it will be within 48 hours, is not sufficient for his: purpose, perhaps he will communicate with me again.

Can the Chief Secretary give us any further details with reference to the events in Dublin on the day before yesterday?

No, Sir. I have no additional information. The city is now quiet. The inquest has been adjourned and a military court of inquiry will be held. So far as I can gather there is no evidence that the deaths of civilians were due to the military.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the reports in the Press are correct that an armoured car was turned out and used machine guns mounted on it shortly after the regrettable occurrence described by the right hon. Gentleman?

I have no information about that, but I should be very glad to inquire. The only information I have got was that which I gave to the House yesterday, and in that information there is no mention of machine guns.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House as to the discrepancy between the report of the General Commanding in Cork and the report which he gave to the House on Monday?

I do not know that there was any discrepancy. If there was it must have been about the visit of the military. My information was that the military did visit the house.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman say that the military entered the Lord Mayor's house in order to detect or get trace of the murderers, and has not the Commanding Officer in Cork issued a statement flatly contradicting that, because he said that when the military went to the house he was not aware that a murder had taken place, and he was not aware that he was entering a house of mourning.

That may be so. I was asked the question without notice, and my information was that the military did visit the house immediately after the murder, and I therefore assume, as I think I am entitled to do, that they went to the house in the interests of justice to try to find out any trace of the murderers.

Is it not a fact that the Chief Secretary stated in this House, and it is in the OFFICIAL REPORT, that the military visited the house in order to find out any sort of evidence which would help them to trace the murderers? [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear!"] But that is untrue. Did not the right hon. Gentleman also say, in answer to a Labour Member, that the reason that the police did not go upon this police work was that they were afraid the police might be shot? In view of the fact that a gallant officer had been shot that night, and in view of the statement of the General Officer Commanding, is it not perfectly obvious that either the Chief Secretary's statement or the statement of the Chief Officer Commanding is a falsehood?

I have nothing to add to what I said yesterday. The statement I gave then I believed to be true. I told the House quite frankly that I was asked the question without notice. I knew the military had visited the house an hour after the death had taken place. I was asked to justify that visit, and I did it in the only possible inferential way.

I beg to give the right hon. Gentleman notice that on the Consolidated Fund Bill I shall make some remarks with reference to this question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the War Department to continue to use special facilities for Army canteens such as were extended during the War period; whether retail stores with such facilities are projected at Aldershot involving heavy expenditure from moneys allotted by the Treasury; whether, in connection with such establishments, existing or projected, rent, rates and taxes are paid from public funds; and whether he will consider the competition of this system with local traders?

As already stated, it is the intention to continue the Navy and Army Canteen Board as a permanent organisation for providing canteen facilities for troops at home and in garrisons overseas. With regard to the establishment of a retail store at Aldershot, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on the 10th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Leyton, East (Lieut.-Colonel Malone). No expenditure from public funds was involved in the establishment or conduct of this store, which is being closed. In answer to the last part, I would refer to the reply given on the 15th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Epping (Brig.-General Colvin).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the circumstances in which Lieutenant C. Fentum and Lieutenant Oswald, 51st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, were demobilised from the Army of Occupation at Cologne; whether these ex-officers make the definite charge that they were turned out of the Army because they laid information against a watchmaker, Otto Primadesi, of Hoho Strasse, Cologne, for insolence to Lieutenant Fentum and refusing to produce his pass; whether both these ex-officers possess fine military records; and whether, having particular regard to the need for maintaining the authority of the Army of Occupation and checking insults to the King's uniform, he will cause a full inquiry to be made into their case?

I am not aware of the circumstances in these cases, but am obtaining a report, and will communicate with the hon. Member later.