asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, until the recent alteration in the cost and size of the sugar ration, purchasers of sugar had experienced great difficulty in getting their ration, and in many cases shopkeepers were unable to supply the full ration, but that immediately after the increase in price this difficulty disappeared, and in many cases shopkeepers have offered an extra supply to those who had previously been unable to get their full ration; and whether, in view of this fact, he would arrange for an inquiry into the present price and supply of sugar?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. If definite particulars can be furnished of any cases where, since the recent increase in the price of sugar, shopkeepers have offered an extra supply to persons who had previously been unable to obtain the ration, the matter will immediately be investigated. It is not considered necessary to institute a general inquiry such as that suggested in the second part of the question.

asked the Minister of Food whether the Advisory Committee appointed to consider the question of the continued control of the sale of rabbits has yet reported; and, if so, what are its recommendations?

The control of the sale of rabbits other than imported wild rabbits has already been removed. No special committee has been appointed to consider the question of the continuance of the latter control, but the position is being carefully watched by the Ministry of Food, and will be discussed by the standing Advisory Committee which deals with the subject, should occasion arise.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the announcement of the Ministry of Food that English hams are to be de-controlled on the, 31st instant, free exportation without restrictions will be allowed and thus enable this important export trade to be regained?

In view of the fact that supplies of English hams are insufficient for the home trade the Food Controller cannot agree to the free exportation, without restriction, of these hams, since such a policy would undoubtedly lead to excessive prices to the consumer in this country.

asked the Minister of Food if his Department has any and, if so, what objection to the sale of chocolates in theatres to bonâ fide members of the audience during the hours of performance at the theatre?

The answer is in the negative. The question of the restriction of the hours during which such sale may be carried on is a matter for the Home Office.

asked the Minister of Food why his refusal to permit the importation of chilled pigs synchronises with the decontrol of English pigs; and is he aware that the consequent inevitable rise in the prices of pork and bacon will be attributed erroneously to the de-control of the English article?

The Order prohibiting all persons from taking delivery of frozen pig carcases imported from North America was issued on 26th January, 1920, and did not synchronise with the decision to de-control home-produced pigs and pig-products, which was announced on 3rd March. For the reasons why it is necessary to continue this prohibition I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 18th March. I may add that the present state of the market in North America is such that the purchase of any frozen hogs there by private traders in competition with the British Mission would have the effect of raising the price of bacon to the detriment of the British consumer.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the increasing demand among loyalists in the South and West of Ireland that steps should be taken by the Government to get them out of that part of the country, owing to apprehension as to the consequences to themselves and their property should the Irish proposals of the Government ever become operative, the Government are prepared to facilitate and finance a scheme of emigration by colonies for all those who desire to live in peace and security under the British flag?

There is no doubt that the methods adopted by the Sinn Fein organisation have created great terror and apprehension amongst loyal people, and that many loyal people desire to act as my hon. and learned Friend suggests.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a violent agrarian agitation, accompanied by outrage, murder, and intimidation, is Being organised in the counties of Galway and Mayo to compel landowners, who have adready sold their estates to their tenants under the Land Purchase Acts, to sell their demesnes and home farms, which they had retained, to emissaries of the Irish republic and to prevent sales being made to any other purchasers; and what steps do the Government intend to take to protect such owners in the exercise of their lawful rights and to prevent the agitation spreading?

A movement is in progress in County Galway, and the adjoining parts of County Mayo directed principally against the holders of grazing farms, and in some instances against holders of home farms, but no action appears to have been directed against the holders of demesne lands. Every effort is being made to prevent outrage and disturbance in these districts, and no statement can be publicly made as to the measures to be taken for the purpose.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether the counties of Carlow, King's County, Monaghan, and Sligo have, up to the present, received no share of the reconstruction grant of £250,000 allotted for the employment of demobilised sailors and soldiers in Ireland; and, if so, will he explain why these counties have not received any grant?

Every county in Ireland was asked to put forward a suitable scheme or schemes. The vast majority of counties did so, and grants were allocated. I presume that the counties mentioned put forward no schemes, or, if they did, the scheme was not suitable.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when it is proposed to proceed with the Irish Education Bill?

My hon. Friend must recognise that it is impossible to proceed with the Irish Education Bill until further progress has been made with the Home Rule Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have placed a veto upon teachers acting as justices of the peace, on the ground that the duties of a magistrate would be inconsistent with the requirements of Rule 88 (a) of the Code; how such duties can be inconsistent with those of a teacher; and whether, in view of the fact that teachers have been appointed to the commission of the peace, he will reconsider this decision?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that they consider that the performance of the functions of a magistrate by a national school teacher, even outside school hours, is in contravention of Rule 88 (a) of the Code, inasmuch as it tends to impair the usefulness of a teacher by placing him in a position which may bring him into conflict with local parties, and cause friction likely to injure the interests of his school.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether an announcement was issued from Dublin Castle to the Dublin press on 2nd October last, stating that corresponding concessions to those granted to English prison warders had been sanctioned in the case of Irish warders; whether he is aware that overtime pay at the rate of 1s. 6d. per hour is being paid to English warders for all duties performed over a 48-hour week; that in the case of Irish warders everything possible is being done to give time off in lieu of overtime performed, and so stop payment by cash; that time off in lieu is given two or three days, or perhaps a week, after the overtime is performed, as compensation for men engaged on escort duty from 6 a.m. until 9 or 10 p.m.; whether he is aware that the subsistence allowance paid such officers is barely sufficient at the present time to meet the cost of their ordinary meals, and that duty extending over eight hours per day when on escort must necessarily entail extra expenses on the officers concerned; and whether he will, in these circumstances, take steps to have overtime when on escort duty compensated for by cash payment as in the English prisons service, and so give effect to his statement to the Dublin press on 2nd October last?

The statement as to the announcement in the Press of the 2nd October is correct. The question is governed by the Treasury authority on the matter, which stipulates that overtime may be granted to officers of the rank of warder, or principal warder, when employed on special duties, such as "escort," for which it is not practicable to give equivalent leave payment being made in the case of the male staff at the rate of 1s. 6d. an hour. The subsistence allowance paid to officers absent on duty has been revised, and considerably improved under the same Treasury authority, and should, in the opinion of the General Prisons Board, suffice to cover the extra expense involved to officers on escort duty.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland by whose orders the troops and police searched the house of the late Lord Mayor of Cork on the night that gentleman was murdered; at what hour the orders for the search were given; and why they were not cancelled when information of the murder was received?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The arrest of the late Thomas McCurtain was ordered by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in Ireland on Friday, the 19th instant, and arrangements were made for the arrest to be carried out the same night. The party sent to make the arrest and search the premises were unaware that McCurtain had been shot until their arrival at the house.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the event of a war wealth tax being imposed in Great Britain, it will be applicable to Ireland under the provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether immediate steps can be taken to extend the powers of the Special Grants Committee so as to enable them to take into consideration the fall in the purchasing power of money; and if steps have been taken with this object, when is it hoped that the new regulations will become operative?

Revised regulations of the Special Grants Committee which will enable effect to be given, in suitable cases, to the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion are at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the claim to a pension by Mr. P. H. Young, late second-lieutenant the Buffs, may be reconsidered in view of the medical evidence presented by this officer to the effect that a contracted muscle in the leg, due to wounds, would never improve?

This officer was awarded a gratuity, under Article 8 of the Royal Warrant of 1st August, 1917, as being disabled to the extent of less than 20 per cent., but, in view of the appeal which the hon. Member makes on his behalf, arrangements are being made to have him re-examined by a Medical Appeal Board.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office whether any action is being taken to grant increased pension or temporary war bonus on pension to the Army pensioners in War Office employment in Ireland whose services were graded as indispensable in their civil employment during the War, as the pensioners who were allowed to rejoin the colours have had their pensions increased?

I regret that, in Ireland as elsewhere, it is not possible to depart from the general rule that the pensioner must have re-enlisted to qualify for increase of pension.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that four civilians attached to the shore wireless service were asked in April, 1918, to volunteer for service in Italy under civilian conditions as to pay and privileges similar to those they were enjoying; that these men were required to go from Ancona to the Bosphorus, where they were kept on board H.M.S. "Cæsar" under naval routine and conditions; that their claims for payment were submitted to the Admiralty in December, 1918, and the General Post Office requested to make the necessary payments in December, 1919; that the men concerned have been offered amounts which are less than the total sums due, the deficit in two cases being over £72; and whether he will issue the necessary instructions for a settlement of these men's claim?

The men referred to were entitled to the rates of pay applicable to them as employés of the General Post Office. The amounts paid were those stated by the General Post Office to be due, less advances which had been made from naval sources. The deductions referred to were made on account of subsistence allowance at the rate of 4s. a day which was claimed in each case in respect of the period spent at Otranto. The charge was not allowed because subsistence allowance is only payable when expenses are necessarily incurred for food and accommodation, whereas the officials concerned were provided with service victuals and were accommodated in tents. Applications have recently been received for an extra allowance to meet the cost of supplementing the service rations, and the individuals concerned have been requested to forward receipts in support of the claims. On receipt of these documents the matter will be further considered.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps have been taken to give to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines the advantages given to the Army by the appointment of education officers and staff, especially as regards vocational training?

The conditions of service in the Navy differ from those in the Army, and consequently the needs and opportunities in the sphere of education differ also. In considering educational schemes, it must be borne in mind that the opportunities of giving organised instruction in subjects wholly outside the naval sphere must always remain very limited; and, furthermore, that the question of vocationl training does not assume the same importance in a long service force as in a short-service Army. The chief aim of the naval educational scheme is to fit all ratings to carry out efficiently the duties required of them; and until this scheme is in successful operation, further schemes of supplementary training must remain in abeyance.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what authority, if any, the freight and insurance on bullion, the property of private owners, carried in His Majesty's ships during the War, was fixed at, usually, 25s. per cent., and, when freight alone was accounted for, was fixed at 4s. 3d. per cent.?

The rates charged to cover both the marine and war risk, which was borne by His Majesty's Government, and the freight were arranged with the Bank of England and settled with the concurrence of the Treasury.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will publish a weekly statement of the casualties of British troops in the various areas where British troops are stationed showing separately the casualties in action and deaths from disease or sickness.

It is not considered that the publication of such a weekly statement is now necessary. Battle casualties have practically ceased, and the casualties which are now reported are generally speaking such as would occur in normal peace time from disease. It may be added that steps are being taken to break up the Casualties Department of the War Office and to decentralise the work. The compilation of a weekly statement as suggested would entail the rendering of special returns and duplication of staff, a course which, in present circumstances, I am not prepared to adopt.

asked the Secretary of State for War who is the head of the British Military Mission in Hungary; and how many officers there are in the Mission?

Brigadier-General R. St. G. Gorton, C.M.G., and five other officers form the British section of the Inter-Allied Military Mission. There is no independent British Military Mission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the hardship inflicted on the ex-service man who has started business since the War and who is compelled to pay excess profits duty on the whole of the profit earned, less £200; and whether he will consider the initiation of such amendment in the existing law as will alleviate this hardship cither by allowing an assessment on a three years' average or otherwise?

At the present stage I cannot see my way to vary the provisions of the existing law as my hon. Friend suggests. In the case of a new business started since the War, whether by an ex-service man or by any other individual, the pre-War standard would, under the general provisions of the excess profits duty, normally be computed by reference to the pre-War earnings of the taxpayer, whether he was before the War in business on his own account or in employment, and where the profits and the pre-War standard are small, the allowance of £200 would be supplemented by the additional allowance under Section 26 (4) of the Finance Act, 1917.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has been asked by a member of the Grimsby Officers' Appointment Committee to give some preference to a captain of the Lincolnshire Regiment, who lost his right arm in action, with a view to qualifying as a factory inspector; whether he has ruled that the loss of the use of a hand must be regarded as a disqualification for such a post; and whether he will reconsider this decision if the necessary academic standards are reached by such candidates?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I regret that I am unable to alter the decision. I am advised that the loss of the use of a hand would be so serious a handicap in the inspector's work and might in the course of inspection expose him to such serious risk that I have very reluctantly come to the conclusion that it must be held to disqualify.

asked the Minister of Labour if any employers in Ireland responded to His Majesty's appeal; and, if so, why their names are not in the King's National Roll?

Undertakings in terms of the National Scheme for Disabled Ex-Service Men were not received from any employers in Ireland. No special steps were taken to apply the scheme to Ireland.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether, under Section 18 of The Lands Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919, allotment holders can have advances made to them by county councils or whether the section only applies to smallholders; and whether he received by the Hunts County Council from five tenants for advances to which he referred in his answer of 22nd March?

Section 18 of the Lands Settlement (Facilities) Act does not apply to allotment holders. The five applications for advances to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers were dated the 5th, 7th, 9th and 25th February, and the 15th March respectively. Two further applications, each for £100, and dated the 18th and 19th March respectively, have been received by the Huntingdon County Council.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he is aware of a keen demand for allotments at Wilford, Nottingham; and whether, seeing it is urgent that land should be provided now if it is to be cultivated this season, he will make representations to the parish council and the county council with a view to the early provision of allotments?

The Ministry drew the attention of the Wilford Parish Council in January last to the unsatisfied demand for allotments in the parish. Subsequently they advised the parish council to lease two acres of glebe land which had been offered to the Council, and urged them, if this area proves insufficient to meet the demand, to acquire additional land, or if this is impossible, to apply to the county council to acquire land either by agreement or compulsion for the purpose of leasing it to the parish council to be let as allotments.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether, in view of the large numbers of allotment holders being dispossessed of their holdings on account of the land being required for building purposes, he will take steps in every such case to urge local authorities to do everything possible to provide alternative allotments?

The Ministry already follow the procedure suggested by my hon. Friend in every suitable case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture when the rules regulating the constitution of the Council and Advisory Committee of Agriculture will be made public?

The Regulations to which the hon. and gallant Member refers have not yet been framed; but they will be laid on the Table of the House as soon as possible in accordance with Section 5 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Act, 1919. Until, however, the formation of the various County Agricultural Committees which is now proceeding is completed, the Councils for England and Wales, and the Agricultural Advisory Committee cannot be established.

asked the First Commissioner of Works (1) the number of Inland Revenue officials for whom accommodation could be found in the existing buildings at Lancaster Place, Strand, and has been provided in the design for the proposed new building on the site of Lancaster Place; whether the £320,000 proposed to be spent on the demolition of the existing buildings and the erection of the new building at Lancaster Place includes any and, if so, what sum for the fittings and furnishing necessary for the completion of the premises as new permanent offices; and, if not, what sum is to be set aside for the necessary fixtures and fittings;(2) The number of Inland Revenue officials whom it is proposed to transfer from Somerset House to the new buildings to be erected on the site of Lancaster Place, Strand, and the department or departments of the Inland Revenue to which such officials are at present attached; whether it is intended to discontinue the use of the hired buildings in the neighbourhood of Somerset House in which Revenue officials are at present working; and which buildings will be discontinued and the number of the Inland Revenue staff at present working in each?

The existing buildings would house a staff of about 450 and the new buildings about 1,100, excluding in each case the staff of the Duchy of Lancaster. The estimated cost includes fixtures but not furnishing, as the existing furniture will, of course, be available to a large extent, and it is not anticipated that any heavy expenditure for additional articles of furniture will be required. About 990 Inland Revenue officials are at present housed in hired buildings in the neighbourhood, and, in apportioning the new accommodation, full consideration will, of course, be given to concentration, but the extent to which the hired buildings could be given up cannot be determined at the present time.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, during the continuance of the serious shortage of labour in the building trade, orders will be given to suspend all but urgently needed repair work on Government buildings?

The necessity for avoiding any unnecessary interference with the building labour available for housing is fully recognised and the building programme of my Department as regards both new works and repairs is being restricted entirely to works of pressing urgency.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government are prepared to enact that all old age pensioners be allowed to earn wages and thus supplement their old age pension from the State without such wages disqualifying them from receiving their old age pension?

I have no reason to think that this reversal of the provisions both of the original Act and of the Act of last year would be generally acceptable, and I cannot undertake to introduce legislation on the subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the respective values in dollars, on any recent day in New York, of a £1 Treasury note, an English sovereign, and gold bullion equal to the weight of gold in an English sovereign?

On 27th March, 1920, the closing quotation for demand sterling in New York—which may be taken as broadly equivalent to the quotation for a £1 currency note—was $3.94½. The par value of a £1 gold piece or of an amount of gold bullion equivalent to that contained in a British sovereign is $4.866.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of persons drawing pre-War pensions from the Civil, Army, and Navy Services under £200 per year, showing each separately, excluding those due to the old age pension?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given in reply to a question addressed by the hon. and gallant Member for East Newcastle (Major Barnes) on the 16th instant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances did the Committee of Trustees of the National Gallery report in 1916 that it was inadvisable to legislate on the lines of the Italian law for the restriction or prohibition of the export of works of art from this country; was such Report made upon the invitation of the Government, or how came it into being; what is its date; and has it been published, and when?

The Committee was appointed on the 14th November, 1911, by the Trustees of the National Gallery, on their own initiative, but with the approval of His Majesty's Government. The Report was presented to Parliament on the 10th April, 1915 [Cd. 7878]; and I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to paragraphs I and III of Part II of the Report, which deals with the advisability of legislation on the lines of the Italian law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that banks are now considering proposals for opening accounts for workmen to which their wages are credited direct by their employers; and whether, in view of the importance of this method of encouraging thrift, he will consider a diminution of the cheque tax in such cases?

I am not aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question; but in any case I should be unable to adopt the suggestion contained in the latter part of the question.

asked the Attorney-General whether persons prosecuted in a court of law and found innocent are entitled to reimbursement for any loss occasioned by their attendance at court?

Apart from the possibility of an action being brought for malicious prosecution, the answer to this question is in the negative. But there are certain exceptional cases: e.g., prosecutions for defamatory libel and proceedings under the Vexatious Indictments Act where the magistrate has refused to commit for trial, in which the prosecutor may be ordered to pay an acquitted defendant's costs.

asked the Attorney-General what is the cost to the taxpayer of the intervention of the King's Proctor in the Bamberger divorce case?

It is not possible to say what the cost to the taxpayer will be until it has been ascertained what proportion of the costs is obtained from the petitioner.

asked the Attorney-General what is the estimated total cost of the intervention of the King's Proctor in the recent Bamberger divorce case, including counsel's fees and all other items of expenditure connected with the intervention; and whether that cost, if and in so far as it is not repaid by the petitioner in that case, will have to be borne by the taxpayers?

The total estimated cost of the intervention of the King's Proctor, exclusive of establishment charges, is £989. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Prime Minister what are the exact sums which have been paid by way of contributions to the League of Nations by Great Britain and by each of the other countries, respectively, proposing to join the League; to what centre have such sums been paid; and by whom are the amounts of the salaries paid to the officials of the League determined?

I understand that the Council of the League will shortly consider a budget, after which I hope to be able to give the hon. Member the information he desires. A contribution of £24,000 up to 31st March, 1920, has been made by His Majesty's Government on a provisional Estimate.

asked the Prime Minister what is the Government's intention as to the majority Report of the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce.

A very large number of recommendations, all of which merit mature consideration, and many of a far-reaching character, were made in the majority Report of this Commission. The minority Report shows that some of the recommendations must be regarded as highly controversial. There is a Bill pending in the House of Lords to give effect to some of the recommendations.

asked the Prime Minister, if the Government have come to any decision as to their intentions on the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Business of Industrial Assurance Companies and Collecting Societies?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 23rd March to the question of the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Clough).

asked the Prime Minister whether, apart from financial considerations and without prejudice to legislation before the House, the Government will in future consider the equalisation of all State insurance benefits to both men and women?

The amount of benefit, as the hon. Member will appreciate, must depend upon the amount of contribution, and the view of the Government is that under present circumstances the same amount of contribution cannot be imposed on women as on men.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the recent decision of the Colonial Office, in consultation with the Treasury, that a now token currency, the exact nature of which has yet to be disclosed, is to be issued in British East Africa, and that whether it shall take the form of the token rupee or token shillings and pence is of vital importance since sterling has been made legal tender; and whether, in view of the fact that the convention of associations hold in British East Africa in January, 1919, unanimously passed a resolution asking that immediate steps be taken to bring the standard currency system of the Protectorate into line with that of other British Protectorates, and that this opinion was shared by the majority of the Government officials in British East Africa, he will have this matter reconsidered?

I have already explained that the standard currency of East Africa will in future consist of florins and shillings, fixed for exchange purposes at one-tenth and one-twentieth of the pound sterling, and to that extent the East African currency system will be brought into line with this country and such other parts of the Empire as are on a sterling basis. I see no good reason for the further substitution of a division into pence for the division into cents. to which all classes of the community have been accustomed for fifteen years.

asked the Prime Minister whether the arrangement made by the Government with Home-grown Sugar, Limited, to guarantee dividends during the period of development and then to sell the Government shares at par if so required, embodies the settled policy of the Government with regard to private enterprise; and whether that policy is for the State to undertake the risks attaching to the development of industries and, when they have arrived at a profitable stage, to allow the profits to accrue to private interests?

The arrangement made is a very special one, the object of which it to promote by an experiment on a commercial scale, of which the Government takes part of the risk, the establishment of the sugar beet industry in this country. I hope that cases where Government assistance is required will not be frequent. Each case must be judged on its merits, but as a general rule I should be disposed to agree with the hon. and gallant Member that it should take a proportionate share of the profits.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the amount spent on the Nile irrigation scheme before the appointment of the commission to inquire into its advisability?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rossendale (Mr. Waddington) on 9th March.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether letters were sent from the secretariat at the Semiramis Hotel, Cairo, before Lord Milner's arrival in Egypt, to test the views of representative Egyptians; and how many of the replies were in favour of and how many were against the British Protectorate?

Letters were sent out before the arrival of the Mission, but only in order to obtain preliminary information on a number of subjects likely to be of help to the Mission. No attempt was made to hold a referendum on the subject of the Protectorate.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an export duty of 2d. per lb. has been imposed by the local Legislature upon tobacco exported from Nyasaland; and, if so, whether a policy so opposed to that previously existing in respect of young industries within the Empire has the support of the Secretary of State?

The export duty of 2d. per lb. on tobacco imposed by the Legislature of Nyasaland is subject to a rebate of 50 per cent. where bonâ-fide cultivators have produced and exported not more than five tons. No alteration of policy in respect of young industries is involved, but it is essential that additional revenue shall be raised, and the different sections of the community must expect to contribute according to their ability.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies when an announcement is to be made as to the regrading of the West African Colonial Service pay; and whether he is aware that the delay in making such announcement is causing inconvenience to many officers and is also hindering the proper flow of promotion?

The report of the Local Committee which was appointed by the Nigerian Government to investigate and report upon this question reached the Colonial Office on March 25th. It will have to be carefully examined in the light of the recommendations received from the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and Gambia Governments. A comprehensive readjustment of salaries must necessarily take some time, though the work will be carried out as expeditiously as possible. Meanwhile, any inconvenience caused to officers is being minimised as far as possible by the payment of war bonus. I am not aware that the flow of promotion is being hindered.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the desire of many postal employees to have the customary half-holiday on Saturday afternoons; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of amending the regulations so that district surveyors may meet, where convenient, the wishes of such employees?

The general question of allowing Post Office staff a weekly half-holiday will come up for consideration by a Committee of the Departmental Whitley Council, which has been appointed to deal with the question of the hours of duty of the staff.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the traction engines, balers, living vans, transporter weighers, baling wire, and spare parts lately used by the Ministry of Agriculture and for hay and straw baling in the north-eastern area have been offered for sale at any time by public auction?

Plant belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture is sold by that Department on behalf of the Disposal Board. The Disposal Board has had for disposal a quantity of plant of the kind mentioned in the question. Auction sales were held in 16 different towns, but the results showed that the plant could not be disposed of satisfactorily by this method. The agreement referred to in my previous reply on this subject on the 22nd instant was accordingly entered into as being the best method of disposal.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Board of Agriculture have come to a decision with regard to the repeated applications by crofters and others in the township of Hougharry, North Uist, for land on the Balranald estate to increase the size of their holdings; and whether, in view of the urgent need for enlarged holdings in this district, the Board will grant these requests with as little delay as possible?

The Board of Agriculture have been in negotiation for the purchase of the estate in question, but have not so far succeeded in adjusting a price. The applicants have been informed of the position.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that English medical panel practitioners have already received copies of the Medical Benefit Regulations for 1920, whereas Scottish medical panel practitioners have been unable to obtain the Regulations, although they have applied for them; and whether, under these circumstances, he will take steps to have the Regulations published and circulated to the medical profession without further delay?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand, however, that proofs of the Regulations were issued to panel committees in Scotland on the 19th January. The Scottish Regulations cannot be finally issued until suggestions for amendment made by the doctors have been adjusted in consultation with the Scottish Committee of the British Medical Association. A meeting on the subject takes place to-morrow, after which the Regulations will be issued as speedily as possible.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the death rate in the tool grinding and polishing industry; that a large percentage of the men suffer from phthisis; that the men in question are not scheduled under the Workmen's Compensation Act as a dangerous trade; and whether, in consequence of the death rate and the amount of illness through this virulent disease, he can see his way clear to have an inquiry into the trade or he will have it scheduled as a dangerous trade?

The workers employed in certain sections of the metal-grinding trades do undoubtedly incur serious risk from the disease known as fibroid phthisis or silicosis, and a special inquiry into these trades is already in progress with a view to supplementing the Regulations at present in force for the prevention of the disease and to making a scheme or schemes of compensation under the special powers given for this purpose by the Workmen's Compensation (Silicosis) Act of 1918. The inquiry is a difficult one and has to cover a wide field, but it is being pressed forward as rapidly as possible.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to an anonymous booklet recently issued called "The Jewish Peril"; whether he is aware that this pamphlet is a mutilation of an original Russian anti-Semitic document produced with a view to injuring the entente with Great Britain; that as now published it is intended to arouse anti-Semitic feeling in this country; and whether he will take steps to procure the suppression of this publication?

I understand that the booklet "The Jewish Peril" is an English translation of a book published in Russian in 1905 by Serge Nilus. This book went through three or four editions. I am not aware that the pamphlet is a mutilation of the book nor do I know what the object of Serge Nilus was in publishing his work. I fear that the law confers no powers upon me to procure the suppression of the publication.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the feeling of indignation throughout North Staffordshire and other parts of the country against the sentence of four months' imprisonment passed on Arthur Barker at the Stafford Assizes, he can see his way to recommend a reduction of the sentence?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to him in regard to this case on Thursday last.

asked the Home Secretary, in view of the reported smuggling of undesirable aliens into this country, if his attention has been called to the growth of this element here and that many of these people come via the United States by means of false passports; and what steps the police are taking to stop this growing evil?

As I stated in answer to a series of questions from the 26th February to the 4th March, I am well aware of the attempts which have been made in the past few months by certain classes of aliens to obtain illicit admission to this country: but I do not think that the suggestion in the question as to false passports is well-founded. I am not aware that there are any grounds for the statement that this is a growing evil. In addition to the vigilant administration by the Immigration Officers at the ports of the Regulations as to the landing of aliens, the police are on the alert to detect the presence, in this country of any alien who has obtained admission in any irregular way, and take all necessary proceedings for the purpose of enforcing the law.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the latest figures showing the relative increases in the cost of living as compared with pre-War standards in Great Britain, France, Italy, the United States, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden; and, if possible, in Germany and Austri-Hungary?

I have been asked to answer this question on behalf of my right hon. Friend, and propose, with the permission of the House, to do so by means of the tabular statement appended. I may point out (1) with regard to Austria, that no trustworthy figures are available for measuring the height to which the cost of living has risen; (2) with regard to Germany, that in the absence of any official computation, use has been made of the calculations of a well-known German authority on economics and statistics—Herr Richard Calwer. It may be as well also to point out that, while the percentages given are derived from the most authoritative source of statistical information in each country, the differences in the nature and scope of the data used, in the methods of combining such data and in the periods for which the rise is measured, would suggest the need for exercising reserve in drawing conclusions from a comparison between the figures for any two countries.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the estimated increase in the cost of living as compared with June, 1914, in Ireland, and indicate how this estimate compares with the similar one in Great Britain?

I have been asked to answer this question. The average increase between July, 1914, and March, 1920, in the cost of maintaining the pre-War standard of living of the working classes in the United Kingdom was approximately 130 per cent. For some items (e.g., beef and mutton) the average increase was relatively greater in Ireland than in Great Britain, while for others (e.g., potatoes and eggs) it was less. The information available as to the differences in the pre-War standard of living in Great Britain and Ireland respectively is not sufficient to provide a basis for computing separate averages for I all items of expenditure taken together, but it appears probable that if such a calculation could be made, the results would not differ very materially in the two cases.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade what quantities of hides were imported into this country in 1913 from Russia and Germany respectively; and what steps are being taken to re-open the importation of hides from those countries?

The quantifies of hides (other than leather) imported into the United Kingdom, consigned from the countries specified, in 1913 were 164,000 cwts. from Russia and 45,000 cwts. from Germany. There are no restrictions on the importation of hides from Germany. The arrangements with regard to trade with Russia are at present under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the quantity of coal exported during January and February, 1920, to Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria and Hungary, respectively; and what were the respective quantities similarly exported to those destinations during the first fortnight of March, distinguishing in each

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the quantities of coal exported to Iceland in 1913, 1918, and 1919, distinguishing, where possible, between shipments from Scottish ports and shipments from English ports?

Exports of coal to Iceland and Greenland were not separately recorded prior to 1919. The following statement gives the particulars desired, so far as they are available:—

The particulars desired are as follows:—