MARRIAGE WITH DECEASED HUSBAND'S BROTHER.
asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation authorising marriage with the deceased husband's brother?
As was stated in reply to a Question on 23rd March, I fear I cannot undertake to introduce legislation on this subject.
BRANCH PILOTS (LEAVE PAY).
asked the Secretary of State for India whether an order intimated to the Government of India in November, 1919, to take effect from the 6th November, 1919, directed that the normal scale of earnings of Bengal branch pilots should be fixed at Rs. 2,000 per month, and that this scale should be applicable for calculating leave allowances; and, if so, whether a Bengal branch pilot, now on leave in England, is therefore entitled, regard being had to the rule as to half-pay, to receive or be credited in respect of his period of leave with pay at the rate of Rs. 1,000 per month?
The arrangement described in the first part of the question has been sanctioned. As, however, the leave pay of an officer is calculated on the average pay of the previous three years, and as prior to November 6th the monthly pay of a branch pilot was, for leave purposes, taken at Rs. 1,000, the concession will not become fully operative for some time. I have received representations as to the hardship involved by the strict application of the rule and am in communication with the Government of India as to the possibility of making the new rates retrospective.
ARMY OFFICERS (HOME PASSAGE FACILITIES).
asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will consider the necessity of giving officers in India or serving in the Indian Army free passage when proceeding home on leave; and whether he is aware that at the present time many officers are forced to forego their leave owing to lack of means to pay for the journey and thereby frequently injure their health?
The question of facilitating passages for Indian Army officers proceeding on leave is being considered in connection with the revision of their rates of leave pay.
PRINCE OF WALES'S TOUR (ADVISORY COMMITTEE).
asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the number of our Indian subjects who are non-Brahmins, he will arrange for a non- Brahmin representative to be placed on the advisory committee to discuss the arrangements for the Prince of Wales's tour to India?
The appointment of the committee is in the hands of the Viceroy. I will bring my hon. and gallant Friend's question to his noticce.
AEROPLANES LOST (IRISH CHANNEL).
asked the Secretary of State for War and Air if he will state what was the petrol supply in each of the three aeroplanes recently lost in the Irish Channel; what petrol supply was required to carry them their full journey; and whether any allowance was made for drift or delays or accidents?
The petrol capacity of the type of aeroplanes used is 45 gallons, sufficient for at least 2½ hours' flight. All three machines were filled before starting. Under the conditions prevailing, 25 gallons should have been ample for the journey from Shotwick to Baldonnel, and it is estimated that there was at least one hour in hand for drift or unforeseen delays. The pilots had orders to turn back if Holyhead, half way to Baldonnel, had not been reached one hour after starting. One of the three machines is known to have been in the air for over 2½ hourss.
TERRITORIAL EFFICIENCY MEDAL.
asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether a few days' break in the continuity of service of a Territorial soldier will disqualify him for the Territorial efficiency medal, where it can be shown that the apparent break is due to an oversight in a regimental office at the time of completing the re-engagement papers?
No departure can be made from the rule as to continuity of service to qualify for this medal. If, however, the hon. and gallant Member has in mind any specific cases where continuity of service has been broken owing to an oversight in a regimental office, I will investigate the matter if he will furnish me with particulars.
EX-SERVICE MEN, SETTLEMENT (LEWIS).
asked the Secretary for Scotland if he can state what are the names and war recards of the ex-service men who have settled on Lord Leverhulme's land in the back district of the Lewis.
I am not in possession of the information which would enable me to answer the hon. and gallant Member's question.
HOUSING SCHEMES.
asked the Secretary for Scotland whether it is proposed to issue a Command Paper dealing in identical manner with housing schemes in Scotland as laid down for England in Command Paper No. 596; and, if so, how soon can such a paper be issued by the Scottish Board of Health?
As at present advised, I am not satisfied that I should be justified in imposing upon the limited staff of the Scottish Board of Health, who are working under severe pressure, the extra labour implied in the preparation of the elaborate return suggested by my hon and gallant Friend.
SPARKLING WINES.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can say what proportion of sparkling wines is now imported from France?
Of the total of sparkling wine imported in the year 1919, approximately 97 per cent was consigned from France.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the average number of gallons of sparkling wine cleared from bond annually between 31st March, 1904, and 31st March, 1914; and on what annual clearance he bases the estimate of yield of £1,900,000 for a full year from the proposed ad valorem duty.
The average number of gallons of sparkling wine retained for home consumption in the period named was approximately 1,200,000 gallons per year, as compared with 1,498,000 gallons in the year 1919. The estimate mentioned in the last part of the question is based on an assumed clearance of 1,300,000 gallons.
POLICE FORCE, NON-COUNTY BOROUGHS.
asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the great anxiety felt by the non-county boroughs at the belief that he intends to bring in a measure which will deprive them of the management of the police force in their own areas by merging them with the county police; and can he give an assurance that such a step will not be taken, at any rate as regards the larger of these boroughs, which have controlled their own police with great success ever since the origin of the force many years ago.
This recommendation of the Desborough Committee is still under my consideration. I have received certain representations on behalf of the larger non-county boroughs, which I will bear in mind.
STREET ACCIDENTS (QUARTERLY RETURNS).
asked the Home Secretary if he will submit quarterly returns showing the number of accidents to persons or property known to the police to have been caused by vehicles or horses in the streets within the Metropolitan police area.
Yes, Sir; I will arrange for such returns to be given quarterly.