asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the goods agent at Holbeach station has been refusing to accept transit of fertilisers to that station from Bradford, and at a later date permitted only such limited quantities as he thought fit, without reference to the requirements of the farmers; whether he realises that, in principle, the effect of such obstruction of transit is to deny to farmers their right to determine for themselves the quantity of fertilisers their farms require; whether he will cause such unnecessary obstruction to traffic to cease forthwith; and upon what authority, statutory or otherwise, such actions are founded?

I have had inquiries made and am informed that the traffic in question was consigned to "wait order." In order to prevent congestion and undue detention of wagons the railway companies have adopted a rule that traffic of this nature is not to be accepted for conveyance until the goods agent at the receiving station has in his possession instructions for its disposal. I am satisfied that this rule is necessary in the interests of traffic and causes no undue disadvantage to traders. In this case there was no undue delay in the acceptance of the traffic; but on the other hand, notwithstanding the precautions taken, the four wagons in which it was conveyed suffered a total detention of 12 days after arrival. The reasonable facilities which the railway companies are under statutory obligation to afford do not include the provision of wagons for storage, and I do not see my way to give any directons which would result in the wasteful user of wagons at the present time.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the removal of the War-time measure compelling prepayment of carriage on goods sent by passenger train; and whether he will take steps to bring back the old practice of collecting the charges from the receiver of the goods?

The prepayment of charges for the carriage of parcels by passenger train service has been in operation for three years and, so far as I am aware, there has been no serious complaint. The practice, which is that adopted in the case of parcel post, is a simple and convenient one, and I see no reason for reverting to the practice which obtained in pre-War days. It is a great economy in clerical labour, and, as such, I venture to commend it to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Transport how many wagons and locomotives each of the railway companies have ordered since the date of the Armistice; when these locomotives and wagons were ordered; and when delivery will take place?

Figures as from the date of the Armistice are not available. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the statement issued in connection with the Ministry of Transport Estimates, 1920–21, Command Paper 654 (page 8), in which particulars are given of the wagons on order at railway companies' workshops and outside firms, all of which, it is anticipated, will be completed during the current year. The number of locomotives on order but not completed on the 31st December, 1919, was 456 at railway companies' works, and 184 at outside firms, a total of 640.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Quartermaster-sergeant Morrison, 2nd Royal Highlanders, has, through the exigencies of military service, been separated from his wife for the period of six years, except during a few weeks in August, 1914, and a month in December, 1919; and, if so, whether this man can now be granted leave at proper intervals so long as his regiment remains in Germany or on foreign service?

I have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the statement made in the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question as, owing to the exigencies of the Service, such cases did occur during the War. As regards the last part of the question, the grant of leave to all ranks abroad is entirely at the discretion of the General Officer Commanding the Troops in the locality concerned, but I understand that facilities for leave are afforded at regular intervals. From the 1st April of this year, however, all troops proceeding on leave from abroad must defray their own travelling expenses.

asked the Under-Secretary for State for the Colonies what grants were made from Votes in Parliament in the years 1900–1, 1905–6, 1910–11, 1914–15, and 1918–19, in aid of the expenses of administration, etc., of the following Colonies and Protectorates, including certain grants for special purposes, viz. West Indies, East Africa, Uganda, Nyasaland, Northern and Southern Nigeria; and what were the revenues of the respective Colonies and Protectorates for the same periods, excluding any grants in aid?

The annexed statement supplies the hon. Member with the information for which he asks:—