asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the fact that the tax on mineral waters is exceedingly heavy and is greater in proportion than the tax on spirits or beer, as, for instance, a tax of 25s. 8d. per cwt. is levied on sugar and 50s. per proof gallon on fruit essences and essential oils; and whether, in view of the fact that the summer months are approaching and that the consumption of sweetened table waters is in no sense inimical to the public morals or health, he can see his way to such reduction as will make them more accessible to the masses of the people?

I have received representations on the subject of the duties on table waters, but I can hold out no prospect that they will be reduced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the instructional nature of agricultural shows, he will remit the entertainment tax on such shows as are only open for one day, notwithstanding that a band may play at such show?

Exemption from entertainments duty can only be granted to agricultural shows as such under Section 1 (5) (d) of the Finance (New Duties) Act, 1916, and the inclusion of a band in the proceedings at any entertainment is regarded as a bar to the grant of exemption under this subsection. I am not prepared to make an exception to this rule in the case of agricultural shows.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the serious effect which the increase of the Excess Profits Duty will have on home industries and business enterprise and of the strong opposition to the increase of the duty from trade organisations, he will indicate approximately the data on which it is expected the Select Committee on War Wealth will make its recommendations?

I do not doubt that the Select Committee will use all expedition in prosecuting its important and difficult inquiry, but I have no authority to fix a date for its report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a resolution from the fancy goods section of the London Chamber of Commerce, urging that the time has arrived when import duties on musical instruments, watches and clocks, etc., imposed for war purposes, should be removed; and whether he proposes to give any effect to the desires expressed in this resolution?

I have received the resolution referred to, but I am not prepared to adopt the course proposed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give an estimate of the increased yield in a full year expected from the raising of Super-tax by 1s. 6d. on all incomes over £30,000 a year?

The yield of a tax of 1s. 6d. on the excess over £30,000 in the case of incomes exceeding that figure is estimated at £3,225,000 in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to include in the liability to the Corporation Profits Tax all companies incorporated in the United Kingdom whose business is entirely carried on and directed abroad and the profits of which are not assessable to Income Tax, except to the extent of dividends paid in the United Kingdom; and whether he proposes to include in the liability to such Corporation Profits Tax holding companies incorporated in the United Kingdom whose profits are derived from other companies which have already paid Income Tax in the United Kingdom, such former companies being not at present liable to again pay Income Tax in respect of the same profits?

It is proposed that the Corporation Profits Tax shall apply to all companies with limited liability incorporated in the United Kingdom, whether they carry on business in the United Kingdom or abroad, and whether they are only holding companies or otherwise. Provision will, however, be made to relieve from the operation of the tax profits derived from companies which have themselves been subject to the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Great Northern Railway Company withdrew all whiskey from their dining-cars on the day following the introduction of the Budget in order to take advantage of the increased value; and what steps he proposes to take to stop this profiteering?

I have been asked to reply. I have no information regarding the action referred to in the question, and, since the increase in the price of whiskey announced in the Budget took effect on the following morning under the Spirits (Prices and Description) Order, 1920, there would appear to have been no reason for withdrawing supplies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the Budget proposal to raise the price of beer 1d. per pint, and in view of the general complaint throughout the country as to the disparity of English beer as compared with Irish beer, he will raise the present gravity of English beer and give the working man value for his money?

I have been asked to reply. The Government are not prepared at the present time to sanction a further increase in the average gravity of beer brewed in Great Britain. The price of beer is regulated by its gravity, and if the permitted average gravity were increased in Great Britain, it does not follow that the consumer would receive better value for his money.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government have had frequent opportunities of acquiring a controlling interest in the Royal Dutch Shell Company; and, if so, why they refused to enter into an arrangement which, as in the case of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, would ultimately prove of great advantage to the national interests?

I am not aware that this Government or its predecessors have had any opportunity of acquiring a controlling interest in the Royal Dutch Shell Group in any way comparable with the interest obtained in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether Patrick Foy has been released from Wormwood Scrubs; for how long was he imprisoned; under what authority was he detained; was any charge brought against him; and whether any other prisoners, similarly circumstanced, have been released also?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Patrick Foy was arrested on 13th January, 1920, and interned until 23rd March, 1920, under an order made under Regulation 14 (b) of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, as a person suspected of having acted, or about to act in a manner prejudicial to the public safety, and the defence of. the Realm. One other prisoner was released at the same time as Patrick Foy.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many convictions have been made in connection with the 1,089 outrages alleged to be attributable to the Sinn Fein movement from 1st January, 1919, to 29th March, 1920; and what was the total number of arrests?

The following table gives the information asked for:—

— Arrests. Convictions. Awaiting trial. Royal Irish Constabulary area. 162 65 61 Dublin Metropolitan Police area. 48 16 61 Total 210 81 62

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether it is anticipated that the Scottish Education Fund will be sufficient to meet the expenses of the Board of Education in Scotland up to 50 per cent. as promised by the Education Department; whether he is aware of the burden that the cost of administering the Education (Scotland) Act imposes upon the ratepayers; and whether he will consider the revision of the working of the Act, whilst in no manner altering the improved salaries and pensions awarded to teachers?

My right hon. Friend is glad to say that the amount of money paid into the Education (Scotland) Fund will be sufficient to meet 50 per cent. of the approved expenditure of authorities as promised by the Department. As regards the latter part of the question, since the main cause of the increased cost of education to the ratepayers is the much-needed improvement that has been effected in the financial position of teachers, no revision of the working of the Act could bring any appreciable relief unless it were to infringe the condition for which my hon. Friend rightly stipulates.

asked the Secretary for Scotland who is the Minister responsible for grants made by the Treasury to the Scottish universities on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission?

The grants in question are allocated on the responsibility of the Treasury out of the Vote for Universities and Colleges, United Kingdom.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the India Office has ruled that officers of the Indian Army who happen to be in England on leave, on furlough, or on unemployed pay, although they may have been employed by the War Office, shall not be considered as eligible for the special concessions granted to officers and men by the Home Government in connection with the payments of Income Tax whilst serving during the War?

I understand that the special concessions to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers are the reduced rates of Income Tax which have been applicable during the War to the service pay of sailors, soldiers and others. My hon. and gallant Friend will find that under Sections 42 and 52 of the Income Tax Act, 1918, the benefit of these rates (which apply to the service pay only) is given only where in the case of a member of the military forces of the Crown there has been service in the Army during the year of assessment, either with the colours or as an officer on full pay, and either out of the British Islands or for at least a month continuously in the British Islands. If my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind any case in which it is suggested that relief due under these conditions has not been allowed, I shall be pleased to look into the matter if he will give me full particulars.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether lieutenant-colonels of the Indian Army on the unemployed list residing in India have been permitted to draw the pay of their rank at the rate of 1,150 rupees per mensem, and the deductions from their pay refunded?

I am still awaiting a reply from the Government of India, which I have asked them to expedite.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he has received the Report of Lord Hunter on the Amritsar riots; if it will be published without delay; and if, pending such publication, any action is being taken in consequence of the findings?

I have received the Report; it will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that a lieutenant in the 74th Punjabis, whose name has been privately communicated, passed through Sandhurst as medically fit in 1912, developed epilepsy, of which he had no previous symptoms, when on service in China after an attack of fever in 1915, was invalided out for epilepsy in 1916, and refused a pension on the ground that the epilepsy was not the result of military service; and if he will take steps to have a pension granted?

Under the Indian Army Regulations an officer is not eligible for pension who is invalided out after less than three years' service in India in the Indian Army unless the disability is certified by the proper medical authority as having been caused by duty. The case referred to was very carefully considered, but the medical authorities could not regard the epilepsy as having been caused by military service, and the officer was, therefore, not awarded a pension. He was, however, granted a gratuity of one year's British pay.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can now state what decision has been arrived at by the Government of India regarding the grant of a war gratuity to the chaplains of the Indian ecclesiastical establishment for service in the field as granted to chaplains on the British establishment?

Gratuity for chaplains appointed in India for field service has now been sanctioned as for chaplains holding temporary commissions in the Royal Army Chaplains Department, namely, 60 days' pay at 10s. 6d. a day for each completed year or part of a year.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that numbers of Indian Civil Servants and other persons who have been employed in the service of the State for some years in India without an opportunity of coming home are now unable, on being granted leave, to secure a passage to this country; and what steps are being taken in the matter?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to a similar question on 29th March. Since then, however, the figures of accommodation available for military non-entitled and civilian passengers have been modified by a considerable increase in the number of military entitled passengers to be provided for. While the total number of berths available over and above those provided by the ordinary liners remains as given in that answer, the number of such berths available for military non-entitled and civilian passengers is 2,900. At the request of the Government of India, I asked the Ministry of Shipping whether it would be possible to provide another 500 berths for such passengers, an addition which, in the opinion of the Government of India, would meet the needs of all the remaining civilians and non-entitled military passengers urgently requiring passages before the Monsoon sets in. But I understand that this is impossible.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether there is a lack of candidates for the Indian Army; if so, whether he will consider the raising of the rates of pay of that service sufficiently higher than those of the British service to compensate for the demands of climate, new conditions, and protracted service in India; and whether he is aware of the importance of this step, in view of the necessity of obtaining fresh candidates for the Indian Army?

There is no lack of qualified candidates for permanent commissions in the Indian Army. The pay of the officers of the Indian Army was very substantially increased with effect from 1st July last, and improvements in other conditions of service are under consideration and will, I hope, shortly be announced.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any use is being made of the old tramway sheds in Lake-dale Road, Plumstead; and whether, in view of the fact that there are stores standing idle in the Royal Arsenal, he will take steps to avoid any further expense in the way of rent and taxes in respect of these tramway sheds?

I am making inquiries and will let the right hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions when the Report of the Committee will be printed and in the hands of Members of this House on the question of Gretna Green as a royal powder factory; and if any Committee of expert soldiers has been set up to give their advice before the factories are transferred from the Ministry of Munitions to the War Office?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would advise my hon. and gallant Friend that the White Paper summarising the conclusions of the Committee has now been circulated. The second part of the question should be addressed to the Minister for War and Air.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that the accounts of Mr. H. A. Williams, of 45, Victoria Street, Bradford, an ex-soldier, who served as sergeant in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Militia between 1896 and 1902, and re-enlisted in October, 1914, and was discharged physically unfit in October, 1917, have been the subject of correspondence from 24th April, 1918, up to the present time by reason of unpaid arrears; that after correspondence extending over the first six months of this period it was acknowledged that charges had been wrongly debited against Mr. Williams owing to confusion between two men of the same name; that when, after a further six months correspondence, the claim to arrears of pay was recognised, they were calculated without taking into account the fact that Mr. Williams had re-enlisted under the pledge of the late Lord Kitchener that re-enlisted soldiers would be given the rank they previously held; and that, as, the result of another twelve months' correspondence, Mr. Williams has been informed that he is not entitled to payment of arrears on sergeant's scale, because he was appointed acting sergeant when he re-enlisted in October, 1914, thus ignoring the fact which had been frequently repeated and emphasised in correspondence that Mr. Williams had actually served as a sergeant in his former period of service; and whether he will make further inquiries into this case with the object of seeing that the pledge of the late Lord Kitchener to time-expired soldiers who re-enlisted for service during the late War is fulfilled, at all events so far as rates of pay are concerned?

Enquiries are being made, and I will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether Mr. J. Perkins, No. 74,651, late Royal Engineers, was employed as a low category man in the High Wycombe post office from 19th February, 1917, until 3rd February, 1919; whether Mr. Perkins was entitled to working pay for the civil work which he performed at this office; whether a printed form in support of the claim was submitted through the postmaster of High Wycombe on 29th March, 1919; and whether he will cause immediate inquiries to be made as to the failure to pay Mr. Perkins the money to which he was entitled, and as to the very great delay which has occurred?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Mr. J. Perkins, No. 74,651, late Royal Engineers, was invalided home to the Birmingham University Hospital as unfit for further military service and was classified B 3; whether he was informed that he would be realeased upon reporting to the depot at Fenny Stratford, but instead of being demobilised he was sent to the High Wycombe post office and was made responsible for the civilian telegraph work of that town; whether he was so employed from 19th February, 1917, until 3rd February, 1919, and that though he was entitled to working pay under Army Council Instruction 2,160 no payments whatever were made; whether Mr. Perkins wrote to the Army authorities at Bedford claiming the money which was due to him and received instructions to submit a printed form which was enclosed through the postmaster of High Wycombe; whether this form was submitted on the 29th March, 1919; whether on lath January, 1919, a letter was sent to Mr. Perkins by Lieutenant P. G. Jones, of the pay office, Bedford, stating that the matter was receiving attention, and on the 16th June, 1919, Captain H. Healey, of the C signal depot, Bedford, stated that the claim was held up pending a decision by the Post Office; and whether, seeing that further correspondence has passed without result, and that the sum outstanding is over £100, he will issue urgent instructions for this matter to receive immediate attention?

I am having inquiries made into this case, and will communicate the result to the hon. Members as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are now being taken to release temporary officers who are still holding senior ranks in the Army to the detriment of those who have chosen the Army as their profession?

The policy of the Army Council is to replace all temporary officers by regular officers, and this is being rapidly carried out. A few temporary officers have been retained to complete special work or because of their special technical qualifications, but they will be replaced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether on the arrival of H.M.T. "Czaritza" at Gibraltar on 1st February, 1920, two patients were disembarked and sent to hospital for treatment; and, if so, whether he can give their names and state the nature of the illness or illnesses from which they were suffering?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. According to the voyage report, one patient was suffering from influenza and bronchitis, and the other from influenza.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in addition to Second-corporal James Munro Selbie, No. W.R. 288,177, Royal Ordnance Department, Royal Engineers, any other soldiers who were taken off H.M.T. "Czaritza" at Plymouth on 5th February, 1920, died in the Military Hospital, Devonport; and, if so, can he state the nature of the illness or illnesses from which they died, and their temperatures on the arrival of the "Czaritza" at Gibraltar on 1st February?

Three other soldiers died in the Military Hospital at Devonport after disembarkation from the "Czaritza" on the 5th February. The illness in all these cases was influenza and pneumonia. There is no record of their temperatures on the 1st February; two of them being admitted to the ship's hospital on the 2nd February and the other on the following day.

asked the Home Secretary whether any of the Irish prisoners confined in Wormwood Scrubbs prison are on hunger-strike; what is their condition; and if they are to be released?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to-day in reply to questions by the hon. Members for South Down, the Scotland Division for Liverpool (Mr. T. P. O'Connor), the Wrekin (Mr. Palmer), and the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to a semi-official statement issued in Berlin calling upon all German holders of stocks, shares, or property in the Allied countries to make a return of the same with a view to their being taken over by the German Government in accordance with the terms of the Peace Treaty; and whether, if this be intended to apply to British-born wives of Germans who hold property in their own right in this country, steps can be taken to safeguard the rights of these women and to see that they get compensation?

The returns in question appear to be required by Germany in order to comply with the Treaty obligation to deliver to each Allied or Associated Power all securities, certificates, deeds or other documents of title held by German nationals and relating to property rights and interests situated in the territory of that Allied or Associated Power. The property of German nationals within His Majesty's Dominion is charged with payment of debts owing to and compensation payable to British nationals, but there is power under the Treaty of Peace Order, 1919, to release any particular property rights or interests from the charge.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Miss Evelyn Sharp's request for a permit to visit Poland, for the purpose of doing relief work under the auspices of the Society of Friends, was refused, no reason for the refusal being given; and why her further application for a passport to visit Germany for a similar purpose under the same auspices has not yet been granted, though it was made nearly three weeks ago?

The applications in question have been under consideration by the Home Office and the Foreign Office, and have now been granted. The whole question of the issue of passports will be discussed by a special Home Office Committee, which will meet shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if nine gentlemen under 35 years of age were appointed to vice-consulships in the general consular service between 1st January and 30th April, 1919, none of whom qualified in the last Civil Service examination held for such posts (July, 1914); whether he can furnish particulars of the special qualifications held by these gentlemen which entitled them to receive consular appointments over the heads of those candidates, also under 35 years of age, who received nominations from the Foreign Office and qualified in the examination of July, 1914; whether, owing to the suspension of the consular examination consequent upon the late War, the candidates who qualified in the 1914 examination and who have never been offered posts, will be above the age-limit fixed for the consular examination announced to take place in August next; and whether, in consideration of their service with His Majesty's Forces, he proposes to compensate these men by appointing them to vice-consulships without further examination or, in the alternative, either to waive the age-limit in order to enable them to compete in the forthcoming examination, or to offer them posts in the Home Civil Service of equivalent value to vice-consulships in the consular service?

A number of candidates qualified at the examination held in 1914 for the consular service, but it must be remembered that that examination is competitive as well as qualifying. There were only four vacancies and these were filled by the four most successful candidates. It has never been the custom to continue to fill vacancies occurring after a particular examination by candidates who had qualified at that examination. Subsequent vacancies were held over until the succeeding examination, when a further batch of vacancies could be offered to successful competitors at the new examination. The only exception to this rule is that when a vacancy occurs very shortly after an examination, the next successful candidate has occasionally been admitted. Had there been an examination for the consular service in 1915, candidates who had qualified in the 1914 examination, but had not been successful in obtaining a post then, would have been obliged to compete again in the ordinary way: they would not have received special treatment in any way. Candidates who qualified in the 1914 examination were at full liberty to appear before the Selection Committee in 1919, together with other candidates, but I do not consider that they should have received preferential treatment, nor can I hold out any hope that they will be more favourably treated at the examination to be held in August, or be given corresponding posts in the Home Civil Service.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the present strike of Edinburgh and Leith plumbers; whether this strike has been caused by a refusal of the master plumbers to adopt a scheme recommended by the Government for the resettlement in the industry of demobilised apprentices or by other causes; and, if caused by such refusal will he use the good offices of the Ministry to bring about a concession of good terms to ex-service apprentices and a consequent settlement of the strike?

My attention has been called to the present unfortunate dispute at Edinburgh. The scheme, referred to in my hon. Friend's question, to enable ex-service apprentices in the plumbing trade to complete their training, was prepared and agreed by the Joint Industrial Council for the building industry last year and aproved by my predecessor. The difficulty in the present case is due to the fact that the Edinburgh and Leith master-plumbers, whilst willing to adopt the scheme in other respects, are not prepared to give full effect to the retrospective provisions, which I understand are regarded by the Joint Industrial Council as an essential part of the scheme, and have been in general adopted elsewhere. The position taken up by the employers was disapproved by the operative plumbers, and accordingly the latter ceased work in the Edinburgh and Leith districts on 5th April. I regret greatly that the position of ex-service apprentices should be the subject of a controversy of this kind, more especially after the agreement on the matter which was reached by the industry as a whole. My officers have been, and will continue, in close touch with the parties to the dispute, and I hope that a settlement will not long be delayed. I should add that a similar difficulty in another area was recently brought to an end by the adoption of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that under the organisation of the King's Fund it was proposed to give grants to all men accepted for training in various walks of life; whether the King's Fund has now been merged in the Civil Liabilities Fund; whether the Civil Liabilities Fund only gives grants of money to men rejoining their previous employment; and whether it is possible for men acceptel for training under the King's Fund before amalgamation to receive grants for the professions or occupations for which they were accepted for training under the King's Fund?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The delay in answering it is due to my desire to examine the facts closely and personally. I am aware that under the rules of governing, the administration of the King's Fund it would have been possible to give grants towards resettlement to men who have been trained at the public expense. This, however, is not the case in respect of the Civil Liabilities Fund, except in those cases where men have been placed in training by the Ministry of Pensions on the clear understanding that assistance would be forthcoming at the end of the training in addition to the Efficiency Bonus and the grant for tools. As has been frequently explained, training is provided by the Government in order to fit the trainees to take up employment after military service. On the other hand, the Civil Liabilities Department seeks, in proper cases falling within their Regulations, to help men restart their old business, and in the cases of disabled men has authority to assist such men, where the course appears expedient to start in business. I should add that the King's Fund has not been merged in the Civil Liabilities Fund. Since the early part of 1919 the Civil Liabilities Fund relieved the King's Fund of cases of officers or men who joined or were recalled to His Majesty's Forces on or after 4th August, 1914. Since the transfer of these cases, the King's Fund, which I gather is now ceasing owing to exhaustion, has been restricted to men who were in the regular Army or Navy at the beginning of the war, and the dependents of ex-service men.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the delays in settling the claims of officers' widows to alternative pensions; and whether he will cause to be altered the notice sent out to the widows with regard to these pensions so that it may be brought to the applicants' knowledge that the alternative pension is only payable from the date of the claim and not from the date of the eligibility for pension and thus prevent the postponement in so many cases of claims for alternative pensions until the amount of the flat-rate pension has been settled?

I am not aware that there is any unavoidable delay in settling the claims of officers' widows to alternative pensions, having regard to the difficulties frequently experienced in the verification of pre-war earnings. With regard to the remainder of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 22nd instant to the hon. Member for Lincoln, a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that an ex-Regular soldier, granted a temporary commission from the ranks, has lately received official tidings from the War Office, in reply to his claim for a pension of £150, that he is only eligible for a pension of £73 10s. a year, for the following two reasons: first, that he was discharged the day before his commission was gazetted, this making a break in his service, and, secondly, that Army Order 159, of May, 1918, which entitles a man to the higher rate of pension, did not affect him as his commission was dated prior to May, 1918; that this ex-soldier, although his time of service was not fully completed, was forced by Regulation to be discharged before he could obtain a commission; and whether he will remove both these injustices, first by ensuring that a discharge of this nature does not constitute a break in service, and, secondly, by making Army Order 159 retrospective?

I will gladly enquire into this case if the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars, and will communicate further with him.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office whether he can now announce what decision has been arrived at in the case of Miss Jean Roberts, who joined the Women's War Auxiliary Corps at Kinmel Park and died at Bangor military hospital in January, 1919, of spotted fever, contracted during her period of service?

It has been decided to admit the claim of Mrs. Roberts, mother of Miss Jean Roberts, on receipt of valid evidence of dependency. My hon. Friend has been asked to obtain such evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the claim by retired officers re-employed during the War to have their pensions re-assessed at the new rate of retired pay based on combined pre-retirement and reemployed war service and not, as at present, on their pre-retirement service only; whether he has considered the scheme by which officers, in order to obtain this concession, might be permitted to refund pensions received during the War either by commuting under the official commutation table a portion of their pension at the new rates or by other means most convenient; whether retired officers of the Army who were not reemployed during the War will get their pre-retirement services assessed at the new rates; what then will be the differentiation between those retired officers who served in the War and those who did not; and whether he will take steps to bring into force the re-assessment above asked for?

I am not prepared to consider such a scheme, which involves re-opening a question decided after full consideration by His Majesty's Government. The answer to the third and fifth parts of the question is in the negative, and the fourth part therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether 18 British officers were taken prisoners during the retreat of the British Military Mission from Siberia; whether only 11 of such officers are being released under the O'Grady agreement; and, if so, can he give any information of the whereabouts and condition of the other seven, and why they are not being released?

The answer to the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question is in the negative. Hitherto, I have only received a report to the effect that twelve officers and six other ranks were missing in Siberia. Mr. MacCullagh, who has recently arrived in Finland from Siberia reports that some of these are at Krasnoyarsk and others at Tomsk, but they have not yet all been identified. As regards the second part of the question, all these prisoners of war are due for release under the agreement made with M. Litvinoff, and in reply to the urgent representations made by His Majesty's Government, the latter has replied that steps have been taken by the Soviet Government to expedite their transportation to Moscow with a view to their repatriation; but owing to the state of affairs in Siberia it is difficult to obtain accurate information. The third part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the negotiations mentioned by him in his reply of the 25th November, 1919, for the sale of the explosives contained in the store at Dinas Mawddwy have matured; and whether he can now give an assurance that the store will be closed at an early date?

Since the reply was given to which my hon. Friend refers, 900 tons of explosive have been sold, and there remain only 100 tons to be disposed of from the store at Dinas Mawddwy. The purchaser will be taking consignments from this store as quickly as transport and handling facilities allow, but it is unlikely that the magazine will be cleared in less than six months' time, if then.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether his attention has been called to certain imputations recently made against the firm of T W. Ward, Limited; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to statements with regard to a large collection of miscellaneous war material which is known as the Zenegham Salvage Dump. The disposal of the whole of this material was entrusted in September last to a syndicate of four firms, one of which is T. W. Ward, Ltd., who work on a commission basis, and are paid according to the net profits realised for the material. Messrs. Ward had no possible motive in keeping purchasers away from the dump, and had, on the contrary, every inducement to effect the best sales possible in the public interest of its contents. On the other hand, the disposal officer concerned rightly directed the attention of purchasers to other dumps in regard to which no selling arrangements had been made, and in so doing he was merely carrying out the policy of the Disposal Board. It is quite true that before the War this officer was connected with Messrs. Ward, but it would have been impossible to find anyone to fill his office who had at once the necessary technical knowledge and at the same time had no connection with the trade. There is not the smallest reason for any imputation on either the ability or honour of this officer, and, in any event, his interest in this matter could not have been in conflict with his duty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if it is the intention of the Ministry to utilise the explosives factory at Penrhyndeudraeth, county of Merioneth, and, if so, for what purpose; and how many em- ployés are now retained there, and at what cost per month?

It is not proposed to retain His Majesty's factory, Penrhyndeudraeth, and the property is in the hands of the Disposal Board for sale. The number of persons employed for maintenance, guarding, and the handling of material for sale is 21, at a cost of about £274 a month.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the vessels in the Richborough fleet, after bringing over cargoes from France, are returning empty; whether these vessels could be used to assist the export trade of this country, either by export of general goods or of coal; and whether the only reason for the vessels not being used for the export of coal is that the Coal Controller refuses to give his sanction?

I understand that large cargoes have been transported to France by the Richborough vessels, but that it is often not possible to wait for export cargoes in view of the demands for space on the French side. With regard to the last part of the question, I am advised that the export of Kent coal has recently received the careful consideration of the Coal Controller, but that owing to the demand for coal inland, permission to export was not given.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that several months ago the Highworth Parish Council selected a number of alternative sites for housing purposes, and that the Ministry of Health commissioner decided that a certain site was the only one suitable; that the owner of the land refuses to sell this site of 8 acres, although he possesses 250 acres, and the site itself is only used for grazing purposes; that his Department on three separate occasions have refused to make an Order for compulsory purchase; and whether, in view of the fact that the housing scheme of the local authority is held up and that the site referred to is the only suitable one, he will have immediate inquiry made into the matter with a view to making an Order for the compulsory purchase, and thus enable the local authority to proceed with the building of houses?

An inspector is visiting the district this week to discuss the matter further with the Council.

asked the First Commissioner of Works to what extent his Department is assisting the Minister of Health in connection with the preparation of plans for, and the building of, new houses; and if he will give the number and salaries of the additional staff he has appointed for this purpose?

My Department is assisting the Minister of Health in the matter of housing in two directions:— (1) In the conversion of empty properties in London into flats. Work of this character has been completed or is in progress in the following boroughs: Kensington, Lewisham, Paddington, Stepney, Islington and Greenwich. In all, 72 empty houses will provide 288 flats at an estimated cost of £127,500. Further schemes are being considered for similar work in 16 boroughs at a total estimated cost of £130,000. (2) In the erection of new houses or blocks of flats. The work of this character now in progress is as follows:—;

Scheme. Number of Houses or Flats. Estimated Cost. Poplar — Isle of Dogs 120 houses 98,900 Shoreditch — New North Road Block of 40 flats 21,800 Crondall Street Block of 70 flats 45,000 Teal Street Block of 55 flats 40,000 Camberwell — Casino House Site 154 houses 130,000 Hawkslade Road site. 84 houses 72,000 Lambury Road Site. 52 houses 45,000

Further schemes are also under consideration for the erection of approximately 4,250 houses.

The work is carried out by a special section consisting at present of the following:— One acting architect at £550 per annum and war bonus. Three acting assistant architects at £350 per annum and war bonus. Two acting assistant architects at £250 per annum and war bonus. Twenty-five architectural assistants and draughtsman at total salaries ranging from £3 5s. to £10 10s. a week.

But this staff is also engaged on other housing schemes with which the Ministry of Health is not concerned, and on winding up the work undertaken by my Department for the Ministry of Shipping at the national shipyards.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware of the great delay in the transit of eggs from Ireland to Manchester, which in many cases amounts to 10 days: and whether the fault lies with the English or the Irish railways?

Some complaints of delay have recently been received. The difficulty appeared to be due to inadequate shipping space and not to any fault of the English or Irish railways. It is proposed that a conference of the cross channel steamship owners, including. certain English railway companies, should be held to consider the best means of overcoming the difficulty.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consider revising and bringing up to date the registration of motor cars in any Bill to amend the present Act relating to the use of motor vehicles.

The question of the registration of motor vehicles is under consideration by the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, and I hope to be able to introduce a Bill amending existing legislation on the subject in due course.

asked the Minister of Food whether and when it is proposed to abolish the food committees; and what plan of administration locally he will substitute for the old arrangements?

I would refer the hon. Baronet to the first part of the answer given on this subject on Wednesday, 14th April, to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. A Short).

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the protests being made at the inferior quality of the flour now being supplied to bakers just when the price of bread is raised; and whether he will endeavour to ensure the supply of flour of the quality formerly supplied?

The Food Controller has received a certain number of protests against the recent lengthening from 77 per cent. to 80 per cent. of the average percentage of flour required to be extracted from wheat ground. These have come in the main from trade organisations in one area of the country. Expert opinion varies as to the precise effect of this change on the nutritive quality of flour, and although, as a result of the lengthened extraction, flour and bread are slightly darker in appearance, I am satisfied that the alteration has not detrimentally affected their food value. I would point out also that the change is estimated to effect a reduction in the bread subsidy of several million pounds per annum.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction which is being created through the Post Office by the number of junior men who have been recently promoted in the large offices throughout the country; that dissatisfaction is prevailing at Cardiff; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to securing a more satisfactory state of affairs?

I am aware of no general dissatisfaction resulting from the promotion of junior men in the Post Office service. The claims of the senior officers at Cardiff were very fully considered before the recent promotions were authorised. Due weight is given to seniority, but merit must be the deciding factor when selecting individuals for promotion, and I am satisfied that the officers selected were the best qualified. The case has already been under my personal consideration, and I am not prepared to re-open it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any reply has been sent to the memorial submitted by the Post Office engineering draughtsmen in April, 1919; and, if not, when he proposes to reply to it?

The memorial to which the hon. Member refers asked for a general reorganisation of the draughtsmen's classes in the Post Office with substantial improvements in their scales of pay. The questions raised were discussed with representatives of the staff some time ago, but it was impossible to reach a decision without making certain inquiries which are now nearing completion. I hope that it will be possible to settle the matter soon.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to an address delivered by the Rev. H. R. Wells at Hong Kong on 9th March on the subject of child slavery in Hong Kong, and also the resolution of the meeting pressing upon the Government the advisability of taking action with a view to the ultimate abolition of girl slavery, and whether the Colonial Office propose to take immediate action to remove this stain upon the British name in the Far East?

Yes, Sir. I have seen a newspaper report of the address in question and of the resolution pressing on the local government the advisability of registering all cases of child adoption with a view to the ultimate abolition of girl slavery. The law of Hong Kong does not recognise the existence of any servile status whatever, but as regards the class known as "mui tsai" the Secretary of State is in communication with the Governor of the Colony and has already asked him to consider the possibility of requiring all children taken into adoption to be registered and thereafter subject to visitation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will call for a return showing what are the death rates upon the tobacco and rubber plantations of North Borneo for the last five years?

Yes, Sir. The British North Borneo Company will be asked to supply the desired information, and I will then communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any financial gain has accrued from the issue of silver currency in West Africa; and, if so, what is the estimated total and to what objects will such accretion be devoted?

As regards the profits made by the West African Currency Board on the issue of silver coinage, I would refer the hon. Member to the Reports of the Board, which have been presented to Parliament. Out of the income received from its investments the Board paid over to the West African Colonial Governments last January the sum of £100,000. It is anticipated that a further sum will be paid over next July.

asked the Home Secretary what was the strength and total emoluments of the special branch of the Metropolitan Police in 1913–14 and 1919–20; and what are the numbers and emoluments provided for in 1920–21?

The strength of the Special Branch in 1913–14 was 112 of all ranks, with pay and allowances of £19,325 8s. 7d. On the 1st January, 1920, the strength was 121, with pay and allowances amounting to £42,092 6s. The increase is due mainly to the higher scale of police pay. The numbers provided for in 1920–21 are the same as for the past year, with a slight increase in emoluments owing to promotions.

asked the Home Secretary when the Home Office Departmental Committee on Workmen's Compensation Insurance is likely to report; and whether, when it has reported, its Report is likely to be made available to the public?

The Committee is approaching the end of its inquiry, and hopes to be able to report at an early date. The Report will be published.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of the names of the members of all trade boards, showing the industries with which the various members of such boards are connected?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a list of the members of all trade boards, who number several hundreds. Every trade board is composed of equal numbers of representatives of employers and representatives of workers in the trade concerned, together with a small number of independent persons of standing appointed by me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Falkland Islands are at the present moment short of coal, and that a licence to export coal to these islands has been refused; and if he will state why it is necessary for a licence to be granted for exporting coal to British possessions like the Falkland Islands whilst shipments can be made to Ireland without any licence?

I understand that the hon. Member refers to a recent proposal to export coal to the Falkland Islands from the Mersey. I regret that no exception can be made to the restriction on the export of coal from the Mersey, which it has been found necessary to impose in view of the acute shortage of household and industrial fuel in Lancashire and the adjoining areas. The requirements of the United Kingdom must necessarily come before shipments abroad, even to British Possessions.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of his statement that the director of the Glass Research Association has a wide and successful experience of scientific research into the problems of the glass industry, he can furnish particulars of the director's academic degrees or other like qualifications for the post; what completed and published researches in the director's name were before the Advisory Council of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to guide them in approving the expenditure involved in the appointment; and, if there were none, will he explain upon what information his ment was based?

The director appointed by the Glass Research Association has no academic degree, but his intimate connection with the industry, both in the practice and research work of glass factories, and as an external consultant for over 20 years are regarded by the Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research as the qualifications proper for this post. When the Advisory Council approved the expenditure involved in his appointment, they took into consideration the facts that no other candidate was available with the wide and prolonged practical knowledge of the glass trade necessary in the present condition of the industry in this country, and that the successful candidate had not only carried out much research work, particularly on the mechanical engineering side of the industry, but had also a thorough knowledge of the manufacture of glass of nearly every type. The list of researches carried out by him is very long, and includes work on furnace design in its relation to the use of various fuels, on the development of heat and electrically re- sisting glasses for various purposes, on the utilisation of waste products from other industries, on furnace and pot linings used in making special glasses, on methods of treating, forming and firing refractory materials, on the electrical melting and annealing of glasses, on the development of tube-drawing devices and devices for delivering charges of glass to forming apparatus. He has also published a number of articles on problems encountered in glass manufacture, many of them in the Journal of the American Ceramic Society; on the other hand, many of his investigations have been carried out for various firms, and the results of these are, therefore, not available for publication. I shall be happy to show the right hon. Member a complete list of the researches undertaken by the director and of his published papers.

asked the Minister of Labour what action, if any, is the Coal Controller taking to balance the shipments on the River Tyne, seeing that Tyne Dock is down by 47 per cent., while the river as a whole is only down 6 per cent., and further, recognising that 320 trimmers are employed to do a normal day's work and these men cannot be drafted to other places, what action is he taking to have their case brought before the proper quarter for them to be paid a minimum day's wage; and what action, if any, he is taking to have them brought under Part II of the Insurance Act for donation benefit?

On the general position I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Barnard Castle (Mr. Swan) on the 22nd instant, by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. I am having inquiries made into the question of the minimum wage, but my hon. Friend will recognise that this is not a matter in which I have authority to intervene.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of money that has been granted by the Government to be administered for the relief of starving children in Central Europe?

It is not possible to give a separate figure for the relief of children as apart from general relief, for which £12,500,000 was granted in 1919–20, and a further £10,000,000 (for Austria and Poland) is included in the Estimates for 1920–21. Grants to voluntary societies under the Pound for Pound Scheme amount to £424,723. These societies deal primarily with the relief of children.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in the improvement and rebuilding of post and telephone offices throughout the country, preference is given in the matter of tenders to local contractors?

Competitive tendering is the system adopted for this class of work, and the lowest tender is accepted from whatever district it may come, provided it complies with the conditions.