asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that on 18th December last the staff at the Orthopædic Centre, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle - on - Tyne, petitioned the management for increase in wages and other concessions; that, after considerable correspondence and consideration by various War Office Departments, no decision has been arrived at; that the delay involved in dealing with the application is causing considerable discontent; whether the War Office is now in a position to give a reply to the petition; and whether he can devise improved machinery in order to prevent the delay in dealing with wages applications by the staff in War Office establishments?

An application, dated 23rd December, for increased wages, etc., was made to the local military office, and an advance of wages of 3s. a week was authorised on 31st March. Owing to the heavy pressure which still continues, there was some delay in dealing with the matter, but the advance has been authorised with retrospective effect to the 1st January last.

asked the Secretary of State for War when discharge from the Army by purchase will be possible; and when the scale of payment for the same will be made known?

I would refer the hon. Member to the written answer given yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Kincardine and Western (Lieut.-Colonel Murray).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Sapper H. W. Wilson, No. 152,167, of the Royal Engineers, left Poona with his accounts approximately clear and was paid on the date of departure a sum of 300 rupees because of his pass in the field service test in Arabic; whether the statement of accounts supplied by the regimental paymaster at Chatham, which covered the period 27th January, 1919, to the 4th April, 1919, showed a debtor balance of £15 13s. 5¼d, on transfer to home payments; whether Sapper Wilson has also been debited with the sum of £17 10s. for sick furlough payment; whether the regimental paymaster informed Sapper Wilson that, if he was dissatisfied with the entry £15 13s. 5¼d., he must get into communication with the authorities at Poona, but that he must immediately refund the sick furlough payment of £17 10s.; and whether, having regard to the unbusiness-like way in which these accounts have been dealt with, he will cause early and full inquiries to be made?

The account of 152,167, Sapper H. Wilson, Royal Engineers, on transfer from India, showed a debtor balance of £13 19s. 10¼d., which was reduced by £6 13s. 4d. on the discovery that a double charge of 100 rupees had been made. He was paid 300 rupees by the Indian authorities for Arabic test. The debit of £17 10s. was in respect of an erroneous payment of War gratuity to which the man was not entitled; and which the paymaster is justified in endeavouring to recover. His account now shows a debtor balance of £15 11s. The regimental paymaster is communicating with the Indian authorities for a copy of this ex-soldier's account covering the period he was paid by India.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he has any information that two private soldiers, forming part of the cordon outside Mountjoy Prison, were placed under arrest for taking off their helmets while the rosary was being recited by the crowd outside the prison; and, if so, what action he proposes taking in the matter?

I am informed that no such incident occurred, and that there is no truth whatever in the allegation made in the first part of the right hon. Member's question. The last part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers in His Majesty's Army are now required, or are about to be required, to return to the pre-War uniforms of their respective regiments; and what contributions to the expense of such a change the Government proposes to make in each rank?

As I stated in an oral reply to-day to the hon. and gallant Member for Bromley (Lieut.-Colonel James), the whole subject is still receiving careful consideration, and I regret that I cannot at present make any announcement on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether British soldiers stationed in France, Germany, or Italy are now required to pay their own expenses when returning home on leave; and whether he will take into consideration the feasibility of continuing, as long as British soldiers are called upon to do duty in Germany or in Allied countries, the privilege of a free pass, which was universally granted during the War to those returning on leave?

British soldiers stationed in France, Germany and Italy are now required to pay their own expenses when returning home on leave. This decision was only arrived at after very careful consideration, on the grounds that it is now necessary to revert to the pre-War conditions governing travelling expenses when on leave.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the remains of General Denikin's army were transported from Novorossisk or other ports to the Crimea at the expense of the British public?

I have been asked to reply to this question. In view of our obligations towards the remnant of the Volunteer Army and in co-operation with our Allies, British warships and transports assisted in transporting the army from Novorossisk to the Crimea, and that, as His Majesty's Government have authorised certain supplies of coal to the anti-Bolshevik forces, the expense of transport, which was carried out by Russian vessels, may be regarded as falling to some extent indirectly on Great Britain. The question of the ultimate incidence of these expenses is still being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many men who threw up their appointments overseas or were granted leave of absence to come to Europe to fight for the Mother Country have been compelled to return so as to take posts offered or to keep those conditionally kept open for them; whether, owing to the inability of the Government to arrange for them the free return passages to which, under official promise, they were entitled, they have been compelled to pay their own fares; whether the Government now refuses to make them the allowance of the free passage; and whether, as some of them are poor men, the authorities can see their way to act generously in the matter by recognising their liability?

Applications for refund of expenses by men who, although entitled to repatriation at the Government expense, make their own arrangements, are dealt with individually on their merits. Refunds are not, however, made to those who make no attempt to avail themselves of the facilities offered for obtaining free passages.

asked the Minister of Pensions if his attention has been called to the demands of the discharged soldiers and sailors in mass meetings in South Wales, and the charter they have pledged themselves to; whether he is aware that they demand a statutory declaration of the Pensions Warrant, the formation of a joint committee of representatives of employers, trade unions, and ex-service men to devise a real and beneficial scheme for the training of the disabled soldier, and the formation of a joint committee of representatives of local War Pensions Committees, the Ministry of Pensions, and ex-service men, to examine and revise the present warrant for pensions, and to generally supervise the administration of all emoluments to which they are entitled; and will he take these proposals into consideration?

The attention of my right hon. Friend had not previously been called to the demand to which this question refers, but I would remind the hon. Member that a Joint Standing Committee of the Ministry of Pensions and the Ministry of Labour has recently been set up, on which the ex-service men's associations are represented. I would also refer him to the reply given on the 14th instant by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Labour to a question asked by the hon. Member for the Frame Division of Somerset (Mr. Hurd), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the petition from the employs at His Majesty's Dockyard, Hong Kong; whether these men are placed in much difficulty by the postponement of the Admiralty decision; and will he consider the possibility of cabling the result to Hong Kong so that no undue delay may occur in communicating to the men the conclusions come to by the Admiralty?

A decision in this matter has been formulated, but has not yet been finally approved. We are fully apprised of the circumstances, and the suggestion contained in the last part of my hon. Friend's question, to cable the decision as soon as arrived at, will be acted upon.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that ex-service teachers who are no longer A 1 medical category, through wounds or other disablement contracted on military service, do not become entitled to the death gratuity under the terms of the Education Act, 1918; is he aware that in order to ascertain their present medical state these disabled ex-service teachers are compelled to undergo a medical examination at their own expense, and should the result be that they are below B 1 their next-of-kin will receive no gratuity; and whether, seeing that the medical state of these men was A 1 on entering His Majesty's forces, and that a teacher who stayed at home because of unfitness can claim the benefit for his next-of-kin, he will take steps to rectify this state of affairs?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave on 16th February to the hon. Member for Walsall (Sir R. Cooper) and on 18th February to the hon. Member for East Cardiff (Sir W. Seager). I may add that it is not the case that ex-service men whose category was below B 1 are regarded as ineligible for a death gratuity. The total number of ex-service teachers held to be ineligible for death gratuities is only 35.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the large number of dismissals of ex-service men and civilians employed as clerks at the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery Records, Woolwich; whether he is aware that these ex-service men have all served overseas and a great number of the civilian clerks have been employed since 1914. being unfit for military service; that a number of soldiers who have done no military service outside the office are still retained; whether the female clerks recently discharged were granted gratuities ranging from £10 to £20 upon their discharge, if so, why this gratuity was not granted to the male clerks upon discharge; and whether he will have inquiries made into this matter?

I am informed that 41 civilian clerks were dismissed on the 20th March last, in consequence of the reduction of the staff in the record office mentioned. None of them were ex-service men, nor were any employed in the office in 1914. The only soldiers retained, who have performed no other military duty, are 52 men specially enlisted as infantry soldiers for duty as home-service clerks. These men signed a special agreement to continue serving, and will be retained until their agreements terminate in July next, As regards the female clerks, a number of them who signed on agreement which entailed certain liabilities were entitled under that agreement to a bounty on discharge; the male clerks were not required to enter into such agreement.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that no further effective steps have been taken towards supplying industrial training for Private H. E. Smith, No. 586,873, Gloucester Regiment; that Private W. T. Baker, No. 800, Gloucester Regiment, was told when he reported to the, Advisory Committee at Bristol that there was no prospect of a vacancy in the coach-building trade; and whether he can take steps to remedy the dilatory and unbusinesslike methods of the divisional training office at Bristol and thereby avoid the long delay incurred by disabled soldiers in commencing their training?

I regret that owing to delay in obtaining and transporting the necessary equipment, it has not yet been possible to open the coachbuilding class for disabled ex-service men at Bristol. All possible steps have been taken to expedite the delivery of the equipment, and I understand that the majority of it is now on the way. I am satisfied the divisional training officer is in no way responsible for the delay. I am not aware that Private W. T. Baker was told, when he reported to the Advisory Committee at Bristol, that there was no prospect of a vacancy in the coachbuilding trade, but I understand that the Committee declined to interview men regarding their fitness for training until facilities for such training were available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the Controller of Ferrous Metals has been ordered to discontinue all sales for a month; and whether this Order was issued owing to the confusion that has been made by the same material being sold to more than one purchaser owing to the fact that such sales have been effected by section directors, assistant controllers, and controllers unknown to each other.

The Controller of Ferrous Metals has been ordered to discontinue all sales for a month in order to facilitate the clearing of depots and the delivery of over 300,000 tons of material which has already been sold. It is also necessary to review the balance of the material, which amounts now to approximately 50,000 tons. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether a large quantity of steel has been sold by the Disposal Board to a firm in Yorkshire; and whether tenders were invited, the quantities sold, the date of sale, and the prices realised?

The answers to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative. The quantity of steel sold amounts approximately to 1:8,000 tons. The sale was effected on the 12th February last, and the price realised for the material was £1,121,000 f.o.r. where it lies.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether Mr. Hankinson, the late superintendent of the Archives Registry, was, prior to the inception of that Department, entrusted with the task of making an inventory and approximate calculation as to the character and probable bulk of the records and papers of all departments and sections of the Ministry of Munitions which were likely eventually to be deposited with the Archives Registry; whether Mr. Hankinson conducted these investigations in a satisfactory manner; whether he afterwards advised the Archives Committee of the Ministry of Munitions in regard to these matters; and whether, seeing that no reflection is cast either upon Mr. Hankinson's capacity or character, the Archives Registry can have the benefit of his further services in the post from which he has been dismissed?

The answer to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative. For reasons already given the reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of bacon, including ham, which the Ministry had in stock on the 9th of each month since September, 1919; the quantities that were condemned as unfit for human consumption for each of those months, and the loss per ton that was involved in that condemnation; whether any stocks are now held; if so, what is the amount; is that stock being increased or decreased; and is there a probability of further condemnation?

I regret that it is impossible for me to provide the hon. Member with the figures asked for in the first part of the question since stocktaking is not a daily occurrence, and I cannot therefore state the exact amounts of bacon held by the Ministry on any given date. The obtaining of even an approximate figure would involve a considerable statistical investigation, and I hope that for this reason the hon. Member will not press his request for these figures or for those as to present stocks, the giving of which would prejudice the position of the Ministry as a purchaser of bacon. A statistical return showing the quantities of bacon condemned as unfit for human consumption in each of the months September to April will be prepared as soon as possible and the result will be communicated to the hon. Member; but the loss per ton involved in the condemnation cannot be determined until the cost of the goods, which is now the subject of negotiation, is fixed. The stocks now held by the Ministry of Food are being decreased because strike conditions in America and Denmark prevent the moving of goods from those countries. Under pre-War transport conditions a certain amount of bacon imported from abroad in the summer inevitably became unfit for food, and it is not possible under present conditions to hold out the hope that wastage will be entirely eliminated, although since the Ministry has resumed control of purchases and shipment it has been reduced to negligible proportions.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has received from any Poor Law Union a strong protest against the long continued holding up of large quantities of food which must tend to inflate prices, and an urgent request that his Department release the enormous stocks of food now lying at our ports and other places, and thereby reduce the cost of living, remove the abnormal conditions which necessitate constant increases in the wages now paid by local authorities, and at the same time bring relief to householders; and, if so, what does he propose to do in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. No foodstuffs under the control of the Ministry of Food are stored when there is an immediate market available with the exception of rationed articles in short supply, such as sugar and butter, of which it is necessary to maintain reserve stocks in order to ensure the regularity of the ration.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to the residents by the train service between Winchfield and Waterloo; and why it is not possible to restore the same train service that existed up to June, 1919?

This question has already received careful consideration, and owing to the necessity for utilising the available locomotive power to the best advantage, it is not practicable at present for the London and South-Western Railway to alter the train service between Winchfield and Waterloo. As the locomotive position improves, full consideration will be given to the claims of Winchfield.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the restriction of allowing only 100 lbs. of baggage per passenger still obtains; whether a railway company can insist that anything in excess of that amount must be unpacked and left behind; if so, whether he will fix a rate for excess baggage, whereby the passenger need not suffer the hardship which might be inflicted on him under the present Regulations should he be going abroad by ship or undertaking a journey at a time and place where it would be highly inconvenient for him to be forced to unpack whatever may be in excess of 100 lbs. and leave it on the platform; and whether in such a case the responsibility for the safe custody and delivery of articles so left behind rests upon the railway company and through them upon his Department?

The restriction of 100 lbs. in weight of luggage which may accompany a passenger still obtains, but the whole question of luggage accompanying passengers has been under the consideration of the Rates Advisory Committee. It is proposed shortly to restore pre-war free allowances and the right to have excess luggage carried, but the scales for such excess are being revised.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of paragraph 6 of the Draft Statutory Rules and Orders, 1920 [Cmd. 602], which prevents educational areas being considered necessitous until they are rated at 4s. in the £ and thus debars many educational authorities from receiving increased grants, he will favourably consider the reduction of the rating figure from 4s. to some lower amount?

I have explained the position to a large deputation of representatives of local education authorities. I cannot say whether or to what extent it will be possible to lower the "prescribed amount" until I have received full particulars of the estimates of local education authorities generally.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether a large proportion of the buildings of the Leeds Training College for teachers is still retained by the War Office; whether he is aware that as a result the accommodation of the college is so restricted that many students have for a year been prevented from commencing their training; and whether, as the War has ceased for a year and a half, there is any necessity for this injury to the careers of students training for the teaching profession to continue?

The Leeds Training College was taken over by the Ministry of Pensions last February, before which time it had been occupied by the War Office. A considerable portion of the premises of the college which were occupied by the military has now been set free for educational purposes, and I hope that the remainder will be returned very shortly. I greatly regret the interference with the careers of students that has been caused by the occupation.

asked the President of the Board of Education the average percentage increase in pay in the lowest and highest grades of teachers for 1919–20 as compared win 1913–14?

The average salaries paid to certificated and uncertificated teachers in ordinary public elementary schools in 1913–14 are set out in the White Paper [Cd. 8513] presented to Parliament in 1917, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. The Board have not yet received full particulars as to the salaries for the year 1919–20. I may, however, refer the hon. Member to the Report of the Standing Joint Committee on Elementary Teachers' Salaries [Cd. 443], which recommends minimum scales of salary. These recommendations have, I believe, been adopted by all, except three, of those authorities whose scales were not already higher.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the importance of Middlesbrough as a shipping and export centre, he will extend the hours of the general post office to 8 p.m., as in pre-war times, instead of continuing the system of closing at 7 p.m., which was a restriction introduced as a war measure?

I am arranging for the Middlesbrough office to be kept open until 8 p.m., as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General the policy of his Department with respect to wireless telephony?

Although wireless telephony has of late made great progress, it must still be regarded as in the experimental stage, even for those purposes (such as communication between ships and the shore or between aircraft and the ground) for which it may appear to be particularly well adapted. I am giving every possible facility for its further development; but its progress must be coordinated with that of wireless telegraphy. The questions of mutual interference between stations, and of electrical interchange between wireless and wire telephone circuits, are of great importance in relation to this means of communication; and to both these points my technical advisers are paying special attention.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can yet see his way clear to appoint representatives of county nursing associations and Queen Victoria Jubilee Institute for Nurses on consultative councils under the Ministry of Health?

I would refer my hon. Friend 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 Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether arrangements have now been completed for the despatch to the Far East of a British commercial mission representing North of England industries; and if he can give: its composition and its plans?

The Department of Overseas Trade have been endeavouring to arrange a textile mission to the Far East on which industrial, commercial and labour interests would be represented. I am not, however, yet in a position to supply my hon. Friend with more precise information, as important questions are still under discussion in regard to the provision of the necessary funds.

asked the Home Secretary if he will publish a White Paper on the methods adopted by the trade union movement in Denmark, Germany, and in Ireland to bring reactionary governments to reason?

I am unable to publish any such paper as the honourable Member suggests.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that men working only three days a week, earning anywhere from £5 to £15 for that period, and refraining from labour during the remaining days of the week, are drawing unemployment dole for such days; whether that practice is within the terms of the scheme; whether such is believed to have been the intention of Parliament; and will he take steps to remedy this misapplication of public funds?

Correspondence has already taken place with the Ministry on the subject matter of this question, and one of the difficulties in the case has been to ascertain the precise fact. I am not aware of any specific case of the kind mentioned. It is not practicable to regulate the payment of Out-of-Work Donation by reference to the amount of wages earned by the applicant when in work. Cases, however, such as those described in the question would be unlikely to occur, because men who voluntarily leave employment or refrain from taking suitable employment when available are not eligible for donation, and there is in any event a waiting period of three (and in some cases six) days before donation becomes payable. My right hon. Friend would welcome close cooperation with employer in the locality to avoid the possibility of an applicant obtaining out of work Donation When work is available and would be glad to look in to any specific cases which may be brought to his notice in which there appear to have been abuse of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the hours during which the Employment Exchanges open in rural areas, namely, from 9 to 12 and 2 to 4, can be extended in order to meet the convenience of the rural population?

The offices of the Department in rural areas are generally under the charge of part-time officers who are under agreement with the Department to keep them open during specified hours, usually 10 to 12 and 2 to 4 (on Saturdays 10 to 12 only). So far as I am aware, these hours are reasonably adequate and any extension would probably lead to additional expense. If, however, there are any cases in which good ground for an extension of hours can be shown, I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Attorney-General in how many provincial towns or cities the Public Trustee has offices; whether any such office exists in Wales; and, if not, will he consider establishing one of Cardiff, and thus relieve clients and others of much of the expense which they now have to bear through travelling to London when interviewing the above official?

The Public Trustee has only one branch office, namely, in Manchester. Sir George Murray's Committee, which recently reported on the Public Trustee Office, stated that on general grounds they were in favour of an extension of the branch offices, but that they hesitated to recommend such an extension until they were satisfied that such new branches would be self-supporting. The Public Trustee, however, has the matter under his consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether dissatisfaction is now being caused in Liverpool owing to the unequal and inequitable distribution of coal for domestic purposes; whether his attention has been called to the fact that customers of some middlemen can obtain, and are obtaining, supplies very much in excess of what other customers with similar requirements can obtain through other middlemen; and whether steps will be taken to remedy what is complained of?

I am not aware of unequal distribution in Liverpool. It is, of course, possible that there are occasions when one merchant's supplies on a given day enable him to give better deliveries than his competitor; this, however, reverses itself in the following days. So much depends on rail transit and sources of supplies. Assistance is being given in necessitous cases to the extent of 500 tons weekly.