asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions the total number of the staff and the weekly payment for their salaries on the 1st March; and how many of this staff are engaged directly on the disposal of war stores?

The total headquarters staff of the Ministry on 1st March was 6,039, and the salaries paid represent an average of £29,983 per week. The number of staff engaged solely on the disposal of surplus Government property at home and abroad was approximately 1,515. In addition, there were 600 per-sons engaged upon other duties in the Ministry who devoted part of their time to the work of disposals.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he will now give particulars of the cost of removing the 35 vehicles suitable for agricultural purposes which were recently removed from the Government military stores at Carrickfergus for sale by auction in Dublin City; and how many of these vehicles have been sold at the auction and the price obtained therefor?

The removal of these vehicles has not yet been effected by the military authorities; the last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions the cost to the taxpayer resulting from the control of wool?

Up to date the cost to the taxpayer has been nil. It is not anticipated that any charge will fall on public funds. The hon. and gallant Member may be interested to learn that the administrative expenses on wool, which are a charge against profits, amount to less than 1 per cent. on sales.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether ex-Service men who have served during the War are being discharged from the Government establishment at Bedenham while civilians who have never served are being retained?

I have been asked to reply to this question. Considerable reductions in the number of men employed having become necessary, the inclusion of ex-Service men amongst the number to be discharged is unavoidable; but other things being equal, preferential consideration for retention is given to the ex-Service men; and it is under consideration whether a greater degree of preference can be given to the ex-Service men without injustice to other men of longer service in the Department.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Gerald Ashton, la, Ben Street, Blackburn, has made application for a grant from the Civil Liabilities Commission to enable him to start in business; that Mr. Ashton's late firm are willing to take him into partnership; and the reason for the grant being refused to this man?

The facts as shown in the application and the report upon it which I have received are not entirely as stated in the hon. Member's question. Mr. Ashton has applied for a grant to enable him to purchase shares in a limited company of which he proposes to become an employé if his health permits. The purpose is not within the scope of the Civil Liabilities Scheme. If, however, Mr. Ashton were prevented by his disability from accepting suitable employment an alternative proposal for enabling him to start in a business on his own account would be considered.

asked the Minister of Food what is the total amount taken from the western counties by the 2d. preferential milk rate?

The total amount due to the Ministry of Food in respect of milk exported from the south-western area during the summer of 1919 is £252,796 19s. 3d., and of this amount £52,639 2s. 5d. has already been paid.

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the serious discontent caused by his recent increase in the price of sugar, he will make a general statement on the question of sugar supplies for the coming summer, both for private jam-making and for general household use; and what prospect there is of any reduction in the price this year?

The position as regards the sugar supply may be briefly summarised as follows: The world's production of sugar to-day, as compared with the pre-war production, has decreased to the extent of some 3,000,000 tons. At the same time, the American demand on the available supplies has increased to a large extent. It is, therefore, unlikely that it will be possible to increase the present domestic ration beyond 8 oz. per head in the near future. As regards sugar for domestic preserving, although a fair quantity has been set aside, the amount available for the reasons indicated is considerably less than last year's allocation. As regards price, sugar for the domestic ration is being retailed at a figure considerably below its economic value and much below the price in other countries. It is quite impossible to make any trustworthy estimate of the course of future prices.

asked the Minister of Food if American backs, bellies, and long clear sides of bacon are allowed to be brought into Ireland from America at present; and, if not, for what reason?

It has been found necessary in order, among other reasons, to prevent speculation on the American market, to arrange that the Ministry of Food should be the sole purchaser of American bacon for the United Kingdom. The Ministry is therefore purchasing all supplies and is distributing cuts suitable for the Irish market through the normal trade channels.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that, in consequence of the new Order concerning flour, dealers will for the first four weeks have to pay at the rate of 19s. 3d. per sack, in addition to the previous price, though the selling price is to remain the same; that they will not be able to get a credit note for many weeks and will be out of their money, in many cases causing grave inconvenience; and whether, seeing that local food committees will have the right to check the returns made after 30th April, he will arrange for the refund to be made in cash instead of being credited to the wholesalers, who may thus be enabled to hold the credit for his retailer until the next purchase, which may be at some distance of time?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answers already given on this subject to the hon. and gallant Member for East Newcastle (Major Barnes) and South-West Hull (Major Entwistle) on the 23rd and 30th instants respectively.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, with reference to the increased price of flour, his attention has been drawn to the present arrangement whereby the retailer is compelled to advance money for one month, or longer, to the wholesaler upon purchasing, involving total loans from the retailers of the country of very considerable sums; and whether, in view of the hardship that this arrangement is likely to impose in many cases, he will give the matter further consideration?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers already given on this subject to the hon. and gallant Members for East Newcastle (Major Barnes) and South-West Hull (Major Entwistle) on the 23rd and 30th instants respectively.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade to what extent, if any, the index number of prices was affected by the de-control of barley?

The precise effect of the de-control of barley cannot be computed, but it may be stated that had the price of British barley remained at about the July, 1919, level the general index number of wholesale prices for February, 1920, would have worked out at 364·7 instead of 368·3. For the cereals group the number would have been 323·1 instead of 337·1.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture if he is aware that some 350 plotholders have for the past three years cultivated about 550 allotments at Knight's Hill, Rosendale Road, Dulwich College Estate, and that at the end of February three months' notice was given to vacate the land, and whether, as the allotment holders have prepared the ground for the present year, it is possible to extend the period of notice in order that they may secure the full benefit of the labour and money expended upon their holdings?

I understand that the land in question is let in allotments under a private arrangement, and not by a local authority. In these circumstances the Ministry have no statutory power to intervene, but I will have inquiries made and will let the right hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether, in view of the proposed enclosure of a part of the New Forest for the purpose of allotments, he is aware that there is ample land in private ownership in the immediate neighbourhood of the proposed enclosure, and whether the powers of the county council to acquire such lands are adequate?

The Ministry have no information as to the extent of land in private ownership which might be available for allotments, but inquiry will be made. The local authority primarily responsible for the provision of allotments is the parish council, but the county council also can acquire land for the purpose of letting it to the parish council for allotments. The powers of the local authorities in question are ample for the purpose.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the appropriation for allotment purposes which is now taking place of a substantial portion of the New Forest at Brockenhurst; whether he can say under what authority or statute such appropriation is taking or has taken place; if so, whether it has received the consent of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Treasury; and on what terms and conditions such consent, if any, has been given?

Two areas at Brockenhurst were granted to the Guardians of Lymington Union for allotments by the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury in 1917, under the Act 1 and 2, William IV., c. 59. One of these areas has not been utilised, and it is understood that application has recently been made for the grant of another area in place thereof, but the application has not yet been considered by the Minister of Agriculture as a Commissioner of Woods or by the Treasury.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture the cost to the taxpayer resulting from the control of hops?

The Hop Control is, I am happy to be able to inform my hon. and gallant Friend, entirely self-supporting, and no charges in this connection either have been or are likely to be borne by the taxpayer.

asked the Minister of Health whether representations have been made to him regarding the unsuitability of the site at Knight's Hill (Rosen-dale Road) in connection with the borough of Lambeth building scheme; whether due consideration has been given to such representations; and, if so, is the Department convinced that the site is entirely satisfactory so far as the stability of the sub-soil is concerned?

Some representations have been made to me as to the risk of subsidence on the land in question, and inquiry is being made. Care will be taken to make sure that the site is suitable before consent is given to its acquisition for the erection of houses.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received representations from boards of guardians with reference to the heavy burden laid upon local rates by the increased cost of maintenance of patients in lunatic asylums; and whether, in consequence of these representations, he is considering the introduction of legislation to amend the Local Government Act of 1888 in order to provide for the repayment to boards of guardians of at least one-half of the actual cost to them of every lunatic patient maintained in a county asylum?

I can only refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. T. Davies) on the 1st instant.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can see his way to appoint representatives of the county nursing associations and of the Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses on the Consultative Councils which are dealing with the nursing and midwifery services?

I would refer the Noble Lord to the reply given to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Henley Division (Captain Terrell) on the 18th March, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health, how many persons have suffered from zymotic diseases in the Woodford parish of Essex, and the number of deaths monthly since April, 1919; and whether the main contributory cause is that in wet weather the sewage conduit pipe leading to the sewage works of the Woodford council overflows into the adjoining ditches, and that those ditches have not been properly cleared and cleansed?

The total number of notification of zymotic and other infectious diseases in this parish since April 1st, 1919, is as follows:—Diptheria, 48; scarlet fever, 38; measles and German measles, 26; enteric fever, 1; puerperal fever, 1; malaria, 17; influenzal pneumonia, 20. The only deaths in the parish from zymotic diseases during the same period were five deaths from diptheria. I have no complete information as to the number of notifications and deaths for each month during that period. As regards the last part of the question, I am advised that there is no ground for believing that the condition of the sewage conduit pipe referred to is a contributory cause of illness or death from zymotic disease.

asked the Minister of Health, when it is proposed to take the Second Reading of the National Health Insurance Bill?

The Second Reading of the Bill was taken on the 22nd instant.

asked the Minister of Health to whom and in what manner it is proposed to transfer the duty of providing sanatorium benefit to insured persons proposed to be taken away from insurance committees under the provisions of the National Health Insurance Bill?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given on the 25th instant to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health what are the important administrative appointments already made in connection with the Welsh Board of Health; and how many, if any, of these have been given to women?

The only important administrative appointments made in connection with the Welsh Board of Health are the following:—The Chairman, the Housing Commissioner and the Deputy Controller of Insurance have been appointed as members of the Board. A medical officer has also been appointed temporarily to the Board. The post of secretary has been filled, the secretary being ex officio a member of the board.

further asked the Minister of Health if he had succeeded in finding a suitable woman member for the Welsh Board of Health; and, if not, whether he will take the advice of well known women's organisations on the subject?

I have not hitherto sought to appoint a woman as member of the Board of Health in Wales because there is no woman member of the staff of the Ministry in Wales with appropriate responsibilities and experience.

asked the Minister of Health what steps have been taken, and what steps he proposes to take, with regard to the increase in the number of deaths as a result of influenza.

I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the answer given on the 23rd of last month to the hon. and gallant Member for the Waver-tree Division (Lieut.-Colonel Raw), which contains a complete statement of the steps which have been, and are being, taken for dealing with an epidemic of influenza should it occur. I am advised that the recent small increase in the number of deaths from influenza may be attributed partly to the normal rise which usually occurs at this season of the year, and possibly also to some deaths from pneu- monia being ascribed to influenza as a contributory cause. It is noteworthy that the number of deaths from pneumonia has remained practically constant each week since the end of January last.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that C. E. Cannell, No. 27,790, late rifleman, 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, fired a musketry course and obtained cross guns in the month of October, 1916; is he aware that the soldier cannot get the proficiency pay which is due to him, although H adquarters have been written to; and whether he is prepared to pay this soldier the above payment?

I will have this case inquired into and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of Miss Winnie Horlock, who was injured at the Mont Dore Military Hospital, Bournemouth, now closed, on 12th April last; if he is aware that, although instructions were issued in August last, no payment was actually made until November; that, although she is incapacitated, her allowance has been reduced to 3s. per week at irregular intervals; that although the War Office was written to on the 20th January, 16th February, and 4th March, no reply has been received; and will he issue instructions for immediate reconsideration of this inadequate sum, and arrange for the sum to be paid weekly?

Miss Horlock did not report sick at the time of the accident, but continued to perform her duties. Later she absented herself, and it was found that she was receiving medical treatment at another hospital. In August she was medically examined and offered the compensation due to her, but refused it, giving as her reason the advice of her union. Information as to the case was obtained with difficulty, owing to the demobilisation of the staff of the hospital at which she served, but in November last compensation was issued, with arrears from the date of the injury, at 15s. per week. From 31st October, as the result of a medical examination, this was reduced to 3s. a week, and has now ceased as her earning capacity is medically certified to be unimpaired. She was informed of this on 9th March, through her union. If she desires that her case should be submitted to the Medical Referee, the necessary arrangements will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that many National Reservists were given no opportunity by the military authorities of signing Army Form E 681, and consequently have been refused the £5 bounty, although they have fully discharged by their willing service the undertaking which it is now claimed they should have signed; and whether he will reconsider such cases when it can be shown that the claimant was not aware of the obligation to sign the Army form in question, but none the less performed the requisite service in the Army?

The National Reserve obligation and the gratuity were instituted in March, 1913, in order that it might be known on which Reservists reliance could be placed for service in an emergency. The obligation should have been undertaken during peace, and it was only by a concession that the period was extended to 10th August, 1914. Only those men who undertook the obligation before 11th August, 1914, and who subsequently enlisted during the emergency and before 1st December, 1915, were eligible for the gratuity. The necessity for undertaking the obligation was widely circulated amongst National Reservists, and I regret that it is not now possible to sanction the issue of a gratuity to a man who for any reason failed to give the necessary undertaking.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office intend to remove the garrison head quarters from Plymouth to Exeter; and, if so, if he will consider the possibility, in view of the greater importance of Plymouth as a military centre, of recon sidering their decision?

It is intended to retain a garrison headquarters at Plymouth, but in a modified form as compared with the pre-war garrison headquarters. The matter has been fully considered, and it has been decided that circumstances do not justify any larger headquarters than that contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the soldiers now serving terms of imprisonment were convicted of purely military offences?

There are at present 172 soldiers in civil prisons undergoing sentences of penal servitude for military offences. As has been frequently stated there are no soldiers in civil prisons in this country undergoing sentences of imprisonment for military offences.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that a considerable quantity of the straw compulsorily purchased from farmers by the War Office in 1918, and on which half the purchase money has been paid, is still standing on the farms; and whether he will now complete the purchase and remove the straw and so avoid further wastage and deterioration?

All straw of the 1918 crop purchased by the War Department is being removed as quickly as possible. The farmers are compensated for loss of weight in dryage, and for any inconvenience caused through the straw being left standing on their farms.

asked the Secretary of State for War when it will be possible for Lieutenant W. L. Pollard-Willison, Indian Military Accounts Department, late 66th Punjabis, an invalided temporary officer in the Indian Service, now studying for holy order at Oxford, to be demobilised definitely, the medical board having reported him unsuitable for permanent service in India?

On 13th March this officer was offered the alternative of an extension of leave until 4th August or of immediate demobilisation, and he chose the former. He can be demobilised at any date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if, in view of the threat dissatisfaction expressed by tailors and traders generally as to non-receipt by them of a settlement of their claims, through the Army agents and bankers, against British and Overseas cadets, whose grants were to be applied against their liabilities for kit supplied, he will state whether outstanding liabilities will now be met within a reasonable time, taking into consideration the fact that authorisation was given as long ago as January, 1919?

The settlement of the claims in question is primarily a matter between the tailor or outfitter and the cadets themselves, to whom he has supplied uniform. The position of the Air Ministry is simply that it has authorised certain allowances to cadets towards meeting the cost of outfit. The procedure is that unless he settles the account himself and draws the allowance from the Air Force agents, the cadet gives an authority either to the outfitter or to the agents for the allowance to be applied in settlement of the account. Any delay in this settlement is thus not a matter within the control of the Air Ministry.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is now in a position to return the ground of the Whalley Range Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club at Alexandra Park, Manchester, to its previous owners; and whether, if that be not possible, adequate compensation will be paid to the club to enable it to open alternative premises for the ensuing season?

I am investigating this question in which another Department is involved, and I will communicate the result to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received a communication on behalf of certain civil servants transferred from the Board of Education to the Imperial College of Science, who were personally assured that they would not suffer by being transferred and that Article VII. of the Charter gave them security of continuity of service under the same conditions as they would have enjoyed had they not been so transferred; and, should this clause in the Charter have failed in its purpose to afford these men the promised protection, will he take the necessary action to fulfil the promise made to these men at the time of their transfer by the Board of Education?

I have received a communication on this matter. The relevant portion of Article VII. of the Charter of Incorporation of the Imperial College is as follows:—

"Subject to the provisions of this Our Charter the Governing Body shall appoint all Professors and other members of the Teaching Staff of the Royal College of' Science or of the Royal School of Mines and all other persons who are at the date of this Our Charter in any office or employment in or in connection with those institutions or either of them to as nearly as practicable the same offices or employment in or in connection with the Imperial College upon as nearly as may be the same terms and conditions and the persons so appointed shall continue in such office or employment unless and until the Governing Body otherwise decide."

I have no authority to interpret the Charter, but I do not think that these provisions can be held to imply that the persons concerned are entitled to receive the same remuneration as they might have received if they had remained in the service of the Board and if the scale of remuneration of their grades had been improved. I would remind the hon. Member that the men concerned were granted pensions or gratuities under the Civil Service Superannuation Acts on the abolition of their offices when they were transferred from the service of the Board to that of the Imperial College.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Royal Commission appointed on the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge will, under the terms of reference, be able, as regards Oxford, to consider the suggestions of Lord Curzon, the Chancellor of that university, in his book on the Principles and Methods of University Reform, with reference to the facilities of enabling young men of small means to become members of Oxford colleges, and especially of his suggestion that this university could wage war against superfluous luxury?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the amount of the local expenditure in Ireland for each of the last five years, and what is the estimate for this year?

The amount of the local expenditure in Ireland for each of the last five years, was as follows:—

				£
1914–5	…	…	…	12,656,000
1915–6	…	…	…	12,597,000
1916–7	…	…	…	12,686,000
1917–8	…	…	…	13,002,000
1918–9	…	…	…	22,161,500

An estimate of Irish expenditure in the current year will be found in the White Paper [Cmd. 685] recently issued to explain the financial provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill. But to the figure of £19,300,000 there given should be added about £300,000 for the cost of the recent increase in Old Age Pensions for the last quarter of the year, and also the cost of Out-of-Work Donation and Bread Subsidy, which are included in the figure given above for 1918–9, but were excluded in the White Paper. These latter items would amount to about £9,500,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any steps have been taken in Northumberland and Durham to ensure that surface colliery officials receive increases of wage proportionate to their responsibilities and to the wages of those who work under them?

I am informed that the colliery owners of Northumberland and Durham have been giving careful attention to the wages of surface officials and are keeping constantly in view that their wages should be proportionate to their responsibilities and to the earnings of those who work under them. These questions have been the subject of discussion between the Coal Owners' Association and the Northern Counties Officials' Association.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that sufficient coal for domestic purposes and gasworks undertakings is not being released by the coal and coke supplies committees to supply the needs of the people in the Northern area of Ireland, and that the distressing shortage of domestic or household coal in that area is only partly relieved by the additional allocation of 10,000 tons of Welsh steam coal; and will he say what steps he is taking, if any, to secure an immediate and adequate supply of household coal for the people in that area?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to-day to the hon. Member for Falls Division (Mr. Devlin).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the deputation representing the fabric glove-making trade which was received by his predecessor; whether he has been informed of the promised support to the British manufacturer and his workers given by his predecessor; whether he is aware that there are now offered for sale in this country fabric gloves exhibited in the boxes in which they are exported, but the bands (which have "Made in Germany" on them) taken off, and the fly-leaves of the boxes with the same wording removed also; whether he is aware that the gloves thus exhibited bear on themselves no mark of origin and are accepted by the British public as being made in England; and whether it is the intention of the Government to take steps, either by legislation or otherwise, to prevent this form of evasion of the Merchandise Marks Act?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative With regard to the third and fourth parts, the Merchandise Marks Act does not require all foreign goods sold in the United Kingdom to bear an indication of their origin, but only that any description applied to them shall not be false. As my predecessor informed the deputation of which my hon. Friend was a member, a Departmental Committee is at present considering the desirability of amending or extending the Merchandise Marks Act with regard to indications of origin, and I must await the Report of that Committee before introducing any legislation on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what are the comparative figures showing the present average prices for both home and export sale of woollen and worsted suitings; and (2) what were the average prices of both woollen and worsted suitings for the years 1914 and 1919; and what are the corresponding prices at which these goods are now being bought from the manufacturers for delivery next season?

The great variety and changing character of the cloths produced renders such comparisons as specified in these questions very difficult, and the information available is insufficient for the purpose set out in the questions.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to a tendency on the part of local education authorities in Scotland to ignore the proviso in Sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Education Act; 1918, that in the case of a county a school management committee having under its management a secondary school shall not be subject to the regulations which may be imposed upon other school management committees; and whether he will take action to secure the carrying out of this proviso?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. I am aware, however, that the legal interpretation of the proviso referred to presents certain difficulties, and its operation is therefore being carefully watched.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received representations from Orkney with reference to the iron hurdles which stretched from Clestrain Sound, in Orphir, to the east end of Graemsay, some of which have been removed, but the major portion are still standing in the Sound, a menace to navigation and sailing craft of every description; and if he will make immediate inquiry into the matter?

Yes; the Admiralty have been in communication with the Strom-ness Harbour Commissioners and the Scottish Office over this matter. It is not correct to say that the major portion of the hurdles are still standing, as more than half have been crushed to provide a navigable channel half a mile wide with a minimum depth of 20 feet; this passage is marked with a light buoy on either side, rendering it safe for navigation both by day and night by vessels of all descriptions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of the food supplied to Germany that has been specially allocated against the potash contract entered into with the German Government by the Board of Trade representatives?

The sum credited to Germany under this contract amounts up to the 30th instant to £612,838. His Majesty's Government have agreed to place the amounts due to Germany under the contract to the credit of the German Government in a London Bank on the receipt of an undertaking that the money will be used for the purchase of food in this country, and are awaiting the receipt of an undertaking to this effect.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the reason of the delay in circulating the proofs of evidence tendered to the Select Committee on Land Value Duties, and when these will be in the hands of Members?

There has been some delay in issuing the volume of minutes of evidence given before the Select Committee on Land Value Duties owing to certain technical difficulties in the printing of portions of the appendices, but copies will be available to Members when Parliament re-assembles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the consent of this House was obtained before public moneys were invested in speculative undertakings such as the British Cellulose Company, Limited, and the Home-grown Sugar Company, Limited; and, if not, will he state the reason?

The advances to the British Cellulose Company during the War which were for the purpose of obtaining necessary war material were made from the Vote of Credit. The approval of the House to the proposed investment in Home-grown Sugar, Limited, will be sought on the Estimate for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for 1920–21.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Rushdi Pasha, Adli Pasha, and Sarwat Pasha refused to enter into discussion with Lord Milner, and referred him to Zagloul Pasha?

Lord Milner saw all the gentlemen named in the question, and had every opportunity of learning their views. It is not correct to say that they referred him to Zagloul Pasha, but they certainly expressed the view that Zagloul Pasha was in a special degree representative of Egyptian opinion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the Hungarian population are not to be allowed the right of self-determination through the machinery of the plebiscite; and what other peoples have also been denied this right?

My right hon. Friend, the Lord Privy Seal, dealt with the point raised in the first part of the question in his answer to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Raffan) on the 17th March. I do not understand to what cases the second part of the question refers.

asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that on the 16th November, 1919, in the town of Keckskemet, in Hungary, Lieutenant Hejjas, the then command-and of the town, ordered 120 Jewish citizens of the town out of their beds in the middle of the night and, under the pretext that they were to be taken to work, they were driven into the so-called Irgovanyi forest near by; that none of the 120 Jews escaped and were all killed in the forest; whether he has information to the effect that Lieutenant Hejjas is still going about freely in Budapest; and whether he will have inquiries made into the matter?

I have received no such information. If the hon. Member will let me know the source from which he has derived these particulars, I will consider whether a report from His Majesty's High Commissioner should be called for.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that on the 15th December, 1919, in the forest of Acs, near to the town of Gyor, the dead bodies of seven Jews were found; and whether he will institute inquiries as to the source of this atrocity?

If the facts are as alleged—respecting which I have no information—I cannot see in the occurrence any reason why is should call for the interference of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that dissatisfaction is being expressed by scientific workers with the appointment of a man without scientific qualifications as director of research to the Glass Research Association; whether, as the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research provides four-fifths of the funds of the association, the Department was consulted before the appointment was made; and does he approve of the appointment as giving a guarantee that State funds devoted to scientific research will be wisely expended?

The dissatisfaction expressed by certain scientific workers with the appointment of the director of the Glass Research Association has been brought to my notice. I understand that this association, after making careful inquiry into the qualifications of the various applicants for the post, considered that the successful candidate, who I am informed has a wide and successful experience of scientific research into the problems of the glass industry, was the man best suited for organising and directing the reseach needed by the association. The responsibility for the selection of a director of reseach rests in each case with the reseach association concerned, and not with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who have no power to approve or disapprove the appointment of any individual, since the only possible basis for the establishment of reseach associations is to leave to the industry concerned the selection of the officers required to carry out the duties and responsibilities falling to the association. In this case the Department guarantees three-quarters of the expenditure of the reseach association up to a certain limit, but payment of the grant is conditional, among other things, on the approval by the Department of the programme of research and of the estimate of expenditure thereon. I may say that the Advisory Council of the Department, which, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, is almost entirely composed of persons of the highest scientific standing, after considering all the relevant circumstances with great care, recommended the approval of the expenditure involved in this director's appointment. I am satisfied that the conditions under which grants are made to reseach associations provide an adequate guarantee that the State funds intended for the encouragement of scientific research for the benefit of the industries will be wisely expended.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the effect of the revision by the Peace Treaty of some particulars of the Berlin Treaty of 26th February, 1885, and of the Declaration of Brussels of 2nd July, 1890, upon the position of the British Colonies in Africa?

The revision of the Berlin Act and the Brussels Declaration was not provided for in the Treaty of Peace with Germany, but formed the subject of a separate Convention. I would refer the hon. Member to this Convention, the text of which has been laid before Parliament as "Command No. 477." The Convention is at present awaiting ratification. The new Convention, while maintaining the principle of commercial equality in the area concerned, no longer imposes on the various Governments a fixed maximum rate of import duties.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received complaints from the borough of Brighouse about the new postal arrangements which have come into force since he made Brighouse a sub-postal district under Huddersfield, which are causing inconvenience to business men and public alike and are not in accordance with his promise made before the new arrangements were carried out that the alteration would tend to better and general efficiency; and whether he proposes to take any steps to remove the causes of these complaints?

I have received representations in this matter and am awaiting the result of inquiries. I will communicate with the hon. Gentleman as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to a statement made by Messrs. Joshua Crook and Sons, Limited, of Bolton, to the effect that the railway companies have refused to accept goods for delivery to Messrs. Arthur Lane, Limited, of Nottingham; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received a letter from the hon. Member on the subject, and am having inquiry made. The result shall be communicated to the hon. Member.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the new rates of pay of officers of the Naval Inspection and Design Branches have yet been settled; if not, whether, pending a settlement, it is proposed to charge these officers with the full rates of Income Tax as from the 1st April, 1920; and whether the rates that will be paid to the officers referred to will be less than the rates of pay and allowances now being received by military officers holding corresponding appointments in the Land Service Inspection and Design Branches?

This question is still under consideration. All the relevant facts are before the Admiralty, who hope to announce a decision very shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if a patent, No. 4,034, a submergible float for salvage and ship-raising extension of diving bell with inhabitable chamber, was sent to the Admiralty in March, 1915; if not used by the Admiralty, could he state the reasons; and whether any similar invention has been put into use, and where?

The invention was offered to the Board of Invention and Research in July, 1915. It was not used, as it was not considered to be of sufficient value. No similar invention has been used by the Naval Service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when he will be able to make any statement as to any further reductions in the personnel of the Navy, as the uncertainty as to their future service in the Navy is causing considerable difficulties to many naval officers?

The special terms in respect of pension or gratuity on which officers will be permitted to retire from the Service, in order to effect the necessary reduction in the lists, have now been agreed upon with the Treasury, and will be promulgated almost immediately.

NAVY EXPENDITURE.
—	1919. December.	1920. January.	1920. February.
	£	£	£
Salaries, wages, etc., both naval and civilian, including labour.	4,059,980	6,471,845	3,790,050
Victualling, clothing, etc, including allowances	792,712	841,984	773,426
Medical services	15,400	32,829	15,167
Naval stores	426,057	825,438	416,800
Fuel for the Fleet	800,906	945,979	787,256
Shipbuilding, machinery, etc., by contract	2,864,733	3,301,554	2,678,325
Naval armaments	396,379	766,452	331,717
New works, buildings, etc	425,595	522,783	428,165
Miscellaneous services	676,550	2,917,334	658,545
Pensions, retired pay, etc.	567,963	1,006,791	587,057
	11,026,275	17,632,989	10,466,508

NUMBERS.
—	1919. December.	1920. January.	1920. February.
Naval personnel borne (excluding officers and men dispersed but not demobilised).	148,031 (15th Dec.)	146,500	142,000
Headquarters staff	7,338	7,090	6,897
Outports office staff	7,199	6,916	6,817
Industrial employees	79,795	79,072	78,532

The expenditure during December shows a reduction of £2,750,000, as compared with the figure for November, 1919, previously furnished to my right hon. Friend.As regards the apparent increase during the month of January, I would remind my right hon. Friend of what I pointed out to

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can furnish particulars for the months of December, 1919, and January and February, 1920, corresponding to those given last Session for the month of November, showing the amount expended on the main items of naval expenditure, together with the numbers of naval personnel borne, the numbers of the headquarters staff, the numbers of the out-ports office staff, and the number of industrial employees?

The following are the particulars of cash expenditure during each of the three months, and of the numbers of personnel:—him in the course of the, Debate on Navy Estimates on 10th December last, that in any given month payments might be unduly coming in, which would make that month appear to be one in which we had spent a good deal more than we really had, and that the statement for that particular month would really bear no rela- tion whatever to the actual expenditure of the month.The increase of £6,600,000 is entirely due to the following special causes:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, if a person has been employed in one branch of the Civil Service and is transferred to the Admiralty, the previous service counts towards the service which would be pensionable under the Admiralty?

Questions in regard to civil superannuation are matters for the Treasury; but so far as the Admiralty are aware, the whole period of continuous service in an established position under the Crown, independently of the department in which a person has served, is taken into account in reckoning the amount payable on retirement by way of pension or gratuity. If the hon. Member has any specific case in view which does not come under the general rule, I shall be happy to have it inquired into.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to estimates as to the future strength of the United States Navy; and, if so, whether he has any statement to make in regard to the matter?

My attention has been called to a statement in the "Times" of the 25th March, 1920, entitled "Big United States Navy—Fleet to equal British by 1924." Although the statement that the United States Navy Estimates exceed those of Great Britain by £1,000,000 at normal rate of exchange is accurate, it does not represent a fair comparison, for at current rate of exchange the United States Estimates amount to approximately £112,000,000—that is £28,000,000 more than those of Great Britain. If the £23,000,000 terminal war expenses in the British Estimates are now subtracted at current rate of exchange, the United States Estimates are shown to be no less than £44,000,000 in excess of the British.As regards personnel, the figures for Great Britain are 136,000, falling to 131,000 by the end of the year; and these totals include

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what statutory-authority, if any, the rates of freight and insurance for treasure, the property of private owners, carried in His Majesty's ships during the War were arranged with the Bank of England and settled with the concurrence of the Treasury?

No statutory authority is required for this or any other contract to be made on behalf of the Crown, in the absence of any statutory limitation to the contrary.