asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the duty of his office is limited to the imposition and collection of the maximum amount of taxation and the borrowing of money to meet Government expenditure; and whether he has any power or can exercise any influence to limit the expenditure of Government Departments and curb Government extravagence?

No, Sir; the duties of my office are not limited as sugkested in the question. For my own conception of them, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in course of debate yesterday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether direct taxation in the United Kingdom, per head of the population, is six times higher than it is in France and Italy, and nearly three times as high as it is in the United States; whether the great bulk of direct taxation is borne by about one-twelfth of the population in the United Kingdom; whether he is aware that Income Tax and Super-tax on higher grade incomes amount to nearly five-eighths of the income, and that if insur- ance to provide for death duties is incurred by a man of mature age he will have no income left; and whether he is aware that this excessive taxation is causing wealthy men and men who create wealth to leave this country for other countries where taxation is not so burdensome?

The proportions quoted by my hon. Friend are no doubt calculated from the figures given last Thursday in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for the Stratford Division (Mr. Lyle). These figures referred in each case to the last completed financial year, and for the current year the disparity would be less, at any rate, in the cases of the United States and France. I am aware of the rates of Super-tax and Income Tax. I am not aware that wealthy men are leaving this country to escape taxation. The maximum rate of tax in some foreign countries, particularly in the United States, is very high, in some cases even higher than the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, before increasing the duty on excess profits, he consulted any body of leading manufacturers and bankers regarding the effect of such increase; and if, in view of the widespread opposition to such proposal and the growing certitude that it will seriously hamper the development of trade, he will have the subject considered by a body of experts of trade and commerce?

I have fully explained to the House both the circumstances under which and the reasons for which I made my proposals, and subject to the alternative which I have already explained, I must adhere to these proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the United States Government have made special provision to meet the needs of charitable institutions, so as not to allow such donations to be computed for Income Tax purposes; and, if such is done, is he prepared to consider such a policy for this country?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to the allowance, in computing the taxable income of an individual in the United States of America, of charitable donations. In the computation of the taxable income of an individual under the United States Income Tax law a deduction is allowed for contributions or gifts to corporations organised and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private stockholder or individual, or to the special fund for vocational rehabilitation authorised by Section 7 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act—to an amount not exceeding 15 per cent, of the taxpayer's net income as computed without the benefit of this provision. The gift must be made to a corporation or association which fulfils all the conditions; a gift to a trust is not included. No deduction is allowed in computing the taxable income of a company or corporation. The matter was considered by the Royal Commission on the Income Tax, but they were unable to recommend that such an allowance should be made in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will prepare and issue for the assistance of the House a statement showing the various economies and reductions of expenditure in the several Services, namely, the Army, the Navy, the Air Forces, the Civil Services, and other establishments, since the Armistice, and in particular the reductions of staff which have taken place in the several Departments of the State, whether permanent or temporary, set up during the War?

I have given instructions that a White Paper shall be produced with a view to meeting my hon. Friend's request. Perhaps he would be good enough to confer with me as to the form in which the information should be given.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons are employed by his Department?

The total number of persons employed by the Ministry of Health on 1st May, including the staff of the Welsh Board of Health, was 5,825: of these, 3,452 are on a temporary basis.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why Finchley is considered as outside the Metropolitan area in determining the salaries and allowances of clerks to the Inland Revenue; whether Woolwich, which is equally distant, is considered for the same purpose as being inside the Metropolitan area; whether Finchley has a postal number; and whether its exclusion means a difference of 8s. a week for women clerks and a larger sum for men?

The weekly pay of temporary clerks in Metropolitan offices of Inspectors of Taxes is, to the extent suggested in the question, higher than in provincial offices. The Metropolitan area has hitherto been defined for this purpose as the administrative County of London, but the possibility of substituting the London postal area, which includes Finchley, is being considered.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has any information to show what effect, if any, the recent rise in the bank rate has had on the volume of credits granted to private individuals by the principal banks of this country?

asked the Minister of Food whether he has any information to show what effect, if any, the recent rise in the bank rate has had in causing stocks of commodities carried on borrowed money to be placed on the market?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he recently advised the banks to restrict the volume of credits which they were granting for speculative undertakings; and what has been the result?

The bankers who shared my anxieties to check credit inflation have teen making efforts, at my request, to restrict their advances to customers. There is some evidence that beneficial results have accrued in causing stocks of commodities carried on borrowed money for speculative purposes to be placed on the market. It is significant that the "Economist" index number of wholesale prices shows a fall for the month of April for the first time since March, 1919.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now make any statement as to the revision of travelling allowances for civil servants?

The statements to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 25th March, indicate that generally speaking the concession of first-class railway travelling has been limited to appropriate classes, and that no general revision of the present arrangements is called for.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether imperative instructions have been issued to Treasury officials to afford no assistance to claimants for compensation over matters connected with the War and to take advantage of any technicality; and, if so, whether he will give the House the text of those instructions?

No, Sir, no such instructions have been issued.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a grant will be made by the Treasury to the police pension funds of the various counties to meet the cost of the increases to be given to the pre-war pensions of ex-policemen?

Legislation will be necessary before pre-war police pensions can be increased. Subject to this being obtained, the expenditure of local authorities on such increases will rank for the ordinary police grant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will as early as possible in each week inform the House, or cause a statement to be issued to the public, of the amount of subscriptions to Treasury Bonds received in the preceding week, and of the total subscribed to date?

The Revenue and Expenditure Return which is published in the "Gazette" on Tuesday evenings, and is largely reproduced in all the daily papers on Wednesdays, will show the amounts paid into the Exchequer each week from the proceeds of subscriptions to Treasury Bonds. This will, I hope, meet my hon. Friend's requirements. I may add that the figures may be taken as showing approximately the subscriptions received in the week preceding the week covered by the return.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that many people, in answer to his appeal to buy war stock, borrowed money from the banks, which they have recently been called upon to pay back; in order to do this they have been compelled to sell their holding at such a sacrifice that they have not realised sufficient to pay back the sum borrowed; and whether he is prepared to give favourable consideration to such small holders who have thereby lost money upon the transactions?

I have no power to grant special privileges to such small holders of Government stocks as may, owing to the fluctuations in market values, have realised their securities at a loss. As I informed the hon. Member for West Toxteth (Mr. Houston) on the 6th instant, I have taken all steps in my power to improve the national credit, and if the House will support me in my endeavours to pay debt, I do not doubt that these steps will, within a reasonable time, prove successful.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the revenue derived from the duty on mechanical lighters for the year ending 31st March, 1919, and for the same period 1920?

The revenue derived from the duty on mechanical lighters for the year ending 31st March, 1919, and for the same period ending 31st March, 1920, was £81,000 and £5,000 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the serious shortage of house coal supplies coming into the Midland district; if he is aware that in the first 15 weeks of this year the average weekly reduction amounted to 9,386 tons as compared with the corresponding period of last year; and will he arrange that the coal taken from the Midland producing area be first used to satisfy that district before supplying the London and other districts?

I am aware that the average weekly supplies of house coal to the Midland District during the first fifteen weeks of this year have been less than during the corresponding period of last year. The general question of shortage of supplies to the Midland district has previously been dealt with in my replies to the questions of the hon. Member for Kingswinford (Mr. Sitch) on the 19th April and of the hon. Member for the Duddeston Division of Birmingham (Mr. Hallas) on 3rd May, and I regret that I have nothing to add to those replies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the shortage of coal for every purpose throughout Cornwall, particularly at the coaling stations at Falmouth and other important ports on the coast: and whether he will use his influence to see that more coal of a better quality is immediately sent into the district to avoid the complete stoppage of many important businesses?

I am not aware that any complaints have been received recently respecting short supplies of coal in Cornwall. Additional coal has been sent, sea-borne, into that county for household purposes during the last few months. If my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish specific instances of undertakings which are in need of supplies I will see that immediate enquiries are made and that the position is rectified if possible. With regard to the question of quality, I would refer to my reply of the 3rd May to a somewhat similar question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for South Bradford (Lieut.-Colonel Willey).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that recently in one family in Ashton-under-Lyne three children died in the course of a week after suffering from measles, and that it is believed the deaths were partly attributable to lack of warmth through the shortage of coal; if he has any information that equally serious results are occasionally occurring throughout the country; and whether a more abundant distribution of household coal can be rendered possible by reduced exports or other means?

I have no information which supports the suggestion that deaths in this country have been directly caused by shortage of coal, but it would be a matter for great regret if such shortage had been a contributory cause. It is a rule that any person who can obtain a medical certificate that coal is needed in a case of illness, should be entitled to obtain from a merchant a supply of emergency coal forthwith. As I have already informed the House on several previous occasions, it has been the policy of the Government to ensure home supplies before allowing export of coal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any decision has been arrived at in regard to the increase of coal prices?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade made on Monday last in answer to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Finchley (Colonel Newman).

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether the examination of soldiers for second and third-class certificates of education has been taken out of the hands of inspectors of Army schoolmasters and handed over to inexperienced officers with no professional knowledge of teaching, who are thus supervising and criticising the work of trained professional Army school masters?

The examination of soldiers for the third and second-class certificates has been transferred from the inspectors of Army schools to the officer instructors in each unit. Safeguards have been provided against any kind of malfeasance, and it is in accord with proper educational practice to associate the instructor with the examination of those under instruction. The inspectors of Army schools will benefit by being relieved of a mass of elementary work and will be able to devote more time to the inspection of schools. Officer instructors are at present selected for their professional attainments and knowledge of adult education and will be in part recruited from the trained Army schoolmasters when the Royal Warrant authorising the Educational Corps is issued.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether, seeing that to meet the present high cost of living the pre-war emoluments of all permanent commissioned Army officers (including chaplains, accountants, and other non-combatants) have been approximately doubled, with the exception of those of 41 officers of the Staff for Royal Engineer services, whose present emoluments are only half those of all other Army officers of equal experience and length of service, upon which it is impossible for them to properly support themselves and their families, and seeing also that promotion in Army rank is slower by very many years for these Staff for Royal Engineer services officers than for all other officers, whether he will take steps to eliminate these differences and bring these few Staff for Royal Engineer services officers into line with their brother officers generally by now offering them similar remuneration, retired pay, rank, and prospects of promotion as already enjoyed by officers of the Army Veterinry Service (that is to say, pay and allowances and retired pay as laid down for Army Veterinary Service officers in Army Order 324 of 1919, coupled with substantive rank and time promotion, as follows: captain, major, lieut.-colonel, and colonel at completion of five, 13, 20 and 27 years' service, respectively, the two senior officers of those accepting these conditions, if with not less than 28 years' service, to be granted the rank of brigadier-general, and compulsory retirement for all ranks at the age of 57)?

The emoluments of the officers of the Staff for Royal Engineer services were very carefully considered before Army Order 324 of 13th September, 1919, was drawn up. It was decided to adhere to a scale of pay and retired pay based on the lines obtaining in the Civil Service; and accordingly a further war bonus was approved under certain conditions last month, with effect from November, 1919. I regret that I am unable to adopt the suggestion for a total change in the conditions of service of these officers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether discharge from the Army by purchase will be open from the 1st May of this year; and whether those who applied for discharge during the first three months after enlistment will be discharged, according to the terms of their enlistment, on payment of £10, and not £20 as agreed upon at a later date?

The answer to the first portion of the question is in the affirmative. Soldiers who enlisted before 5th May, 1920, and are allowed to purchase their discharge in consequence of an application made within three months of their enlistment, will be required to pay only £10, and not the £20 required from recruits enlisted after that date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office whether discharge from the Army by purchase is now in operation; and, if so, what is the amount payable by a private soldier to obtain discharge?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The rates are given in Army Order 180 of 1920, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what arrangements have been made, or are being made, to mark the graves of officers and men of the mercantile marine who died while on Admiralty service and were buried abroad?

Memorials will be erected on the war graves of all men of the mercantile marine who at the time of their death formed part of the naval forces raised in any part of the Empire, or of any who are buried in cemeteries to be maintained by the Imperial War Graves Commission. The question of the care of the graves of other merchant seamen is under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will consider the desirability of transforming the Royal Naval College at Osborne into a sanatorium for officers who are suffering from tuberculosis, and if he will appoint a small committee to examine into its suitability for such a purpose?

The Osborne property, with a few minor exceptions, does not belong to the Admiralty, but is Crown land held by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, and was loaned to the Admiralty for the purposes of the Royal Naval College. When it is necessary to close that establishment, the property must, so far as the Admiralty is aware, revert to its proper owners.

asked the Minister of Pensions what are the present limits of income which are adopted before the parent or parents of a deceased officer are regarded as being entitled to pension; whether many parents in the minor professional classes have received no pension or allowance in respect of the death of their officer sons in spite of the fact that large sums were expended on their education and business training in many cases; and whether, having regard to the serious hardship inseparable from the present system, he will take steps to secure the adoption of a higher scale of income of the parents and admit them to pension?

The condition prescribed by the Royal Warrant is that the pecuniary circumstances of the applicant must be such as, in the opinion of the Minister, to justify the award. For the exercise of this discretion certain guiding instructions have been given which are necessarily confidential, but I may say that some variation is admitted and, while pre-war dependence is the primary consideration, other special circumstances are not overlooked. In view of the increased cost of living the instructions have recently been modified, and all pensions and applications for pensions by officers' parents are being reviewed from this and other points of view. This review will probably admit many who were previously excluded.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that in the counties of Caithness and Sutherland there are ex-service men to become new holders as at Whit Sunday, 1920, who have been promised loans from the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in terms of the Land Settlement Act, 1919, for the securing of stock and implements, and who have so far received nothing for the purchase of such; that the sales at which stock and implements can be purchased will be all over before the end of May; that the prospect of these ex-service men being unprovided for in respect of the promised loans is causing great anxiety, inconvenience, and unnecessary hardship; and what steps he proposes to take to relieve this condition of affairs?

I am aware of the urgency of dealing with the question raised by the hon. Baronet. Negotiations are proceeding with a view to the arrangement of terms and conditions on which advances will be made, and the Board of Agriculture for Scotland hope very shortly to be in a position to make an announcement on the subject.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that in the village of Reay, in Caithness, there is a considerable body of ex-service men desirous of securing small holdings from old arable land at present under sheep on the farm of Sandside; if so, what reasons exist with the Board of Agriculture for Scotland for failing to meet their requirements; and whether it is a fact, as alleged, that the tenant farmer of the land referred to is not averse to the said ex-service men being accommodated?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland have considered proposals regarding the farm of Sandside. A scheme, however, would be unduly expensive and difficult to arrange owing to the cost of ingoing and other considerations, and this, coupled with the fact that the Board already have a scheme in an advanced stage of preparation providing for 44 small holders in the parish, makes it inadvisable to take action with regard to the farm in question. I have no information which would confirm the suggestion made in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the Kidderminster district, where six areas are being amalgamated and of the six officers who were employed, only one saw service overseas; and if he can be considered for the new office?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am making inquiries into this matter, and will communicate further with the hon. and gallant Baronet.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of plumbers employed in the London area in the year 1914 and at the present time; whether he is aware that the local technical advisory committee for the London Area has refused to allow any more disabled ex-service men to be trained in this trade for the present; and whether, in view of the importance of expediting the building of houses, he proposes to take any, and what, steps to prevent the local technical advisory committee in question from continuing to debar disabled ex-service men from being trained for this useful employment?

The numbers of plumbers and plumbers' mates now employed in the London area are 9,304 and 6,744, as compared with 8,328 and 4,379, respectively, in April, 1914. With reference to the remainder of the question, a conference between the master plumbers and the operative plumbers has been held to investigate the difficulties experienced in placing disabled ex-service men in training for this trade. It was found that these difficulties were largely due to misunderstandings, and arrangements have now been made, with the approval of representatives of both masters and men, to place a number of men in training as plumbers, either at institutions or in employers' workshops. Those who have seen disabled trainees at work at the Building Trades Exhibition at Olympia have been particularly impressed with the work of the plumbers, and a number of offers of vacancies for training have been received from employers as to the result of the Exhibition. A representative of the master plumbers who attended the conference has undertaken to urge every member of his Association to employ at least one disabled trainee. Apart from the question of building trades trainees, I venture again to extend to Members of the House an invitation to visit one or other of the several training centres in London engaged in training men in a variety of trades and industries, and see the work for themselves.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled ex-service men are now being trained in London and in each part of the United Kingdom; how many men are on the waiting list; and how many men were on the waiting list on 1st January, 1920.

The number of men in training in London on 5th May was 4,056 as against 2,177 on 1st January,

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture if he is aware that ex-service men reported by the Gloucestershire tuberculosis officer as suffering from tuberculosis in a quiescent stage, and as not being detrimental to the other trainees if they shared the same accommodation, provided it were sufficient for normal men, and who were not objected to by the other trainees, have been removed from the agricultural training centre at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire, by the direction of the Ministry; whether the tuberculosis officer considered the accommodation provided for the trainees generally quite insufficient; and whether the Ministry will arrange for the provision of adequate accommodation, and thus enable the return of the ex-service men in question who have been deprived of the advantage of the training promised in this most suitable occupation, and who have been by the action taken branded as diseased men?

and the waiting list 3,770. On 1st January the waiting list was 5,000. The totals for the whole Kingdom apart from London are: —

The following Table gives the details:

Four ex-service men in training at the Agricultural Training Centre at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire, were reported by the Gloucestershire Tuberculosis Officer as suffering from tuberculosis in a quiescent stage and they have consequently been removed from the centre by direction of the Ministry. This direction was given owing to the refusal of the County Tuberculosis Officer to certify that these men could mix indiscriminately with other men in training under the conditions which existed at the centre. The accommodation consists of army huts, and is regarded as quite sufficient for the purpose of a training centre.

The Ministry is not in a position to provide accommodation at their agricultural training centres otherwise than for men who can mix indiscriminately with other men, and I regret that they cannot, therefore, authorise the return of the four ex-service men in question. The above decision was notified to the Local War Pensions Committees concerned in order that any necessary arrangements could be made with the County Tuberculosis Authorities to deal with ' their further training. I am in communication with the Ministry of Health regarding these cases.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the proposed new Bill to extend the provisions of the Bent Restriction Acts for a period of three years, full power would be given to the Courts under the new Bill to grant to proprietors an order for possession in such cases as the following:—An ex-soldier removed under an order of the Court under the Bent Restriction Act of April, 1919, from the house rented by him, has since had to live with his wife and two children in one room; he recently, in the belief that he would obtain possession not later than July, 1920, put practically his whole means into the purchase of a house for a home for his wife and family; a service man with a wife and three young children having a house of only two rooms, has, with the greater part of his savings, purchased a house of four rooms chiefly to provide healthy accommodation for his children, and the present occupants of the purchased house have no children; and a married man who has been unable for some years to secure a house for himself and his wife, has now purchased at a high price for personal occupation a commodious house, and which house is at present occupied by an unmarried man, without dependants?

I am unable to anticipate the terms of the Bill to be introduced at an early date, but I would refer my hon. Friend to the recommendation of the Committee which has recently reported.

asked the Minister of Food whether a statement can be prepared showing, in the case of a selected number of commodities which have been de-controlled, the price immediately prior to de-control and the average price one, two, four, and six months after decontrol?

A statement showing, as far as is possible, the effect of the removal of control in the case of various foodstuffs is now being prepared by the Department in response to a request by the Consumers' Council, and a copy of this statement will be sent to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as it is completed.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that Irish cattle traders have suffered great inconvenience and loss owing to the non-acceptance of Irish cattle- for slaughter on the dead-weight basis at Glasgow; and whether he will see that they are treated at this port in the same way as heretofore?

There has been no alteration in the terms on which Irish cattle are received for slaughter on the dead-weight basis in Glasgow. I am informed, however, that on a recent occasion an unexpected consignment of Irish cattle to be dealt with on the dead-weight basis was held up, owing to the fact that slaughtering accommodation was not immediately available. The consignors were informed that the cattle could be accepted at once on the live-weight basis, and agreed to adopt this course. The delay in question was caused by exceptionally heavy arrivals and is not likely to recur.

asked the Minister of Food if there is any prospect of a sufficient supply of ice in summer at Hull and other ports?

The completion of the new ice plant at Hull and elsewhere was seriously delayed by the moulders' strike. Though it is expected that surplus quantities of ice will be available at certain ports, there is a risk of shortage at others. The Ministry of Food will assist as far as possible any practicable schemes for supplying the deficiency which may be suggested by the fishing industry, with representatives of which I am in consultation.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has received a request from the Aldershot food committee for an inquiry into the local price of bread; and what steps he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I have, however, caused a special enquiry to be made into the price referred to, and I will inform the Noble Lord of the result at an early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether, in view of the shortage of sugar, which is likely to make a large portion of this year's fruit crop unmarketable, he proposes to take any steps to prohibit the importation of fruit from Holland during the present year?

The Ministry has no power to prohibit the import of fruit, and I do not think that the shortage of sugar is sufficient justification for asking Parliament to confer such powers on the Ministry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the agreement made between the Australian Commonwealth and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company involves an undertaking by the Commonwealth Government to protect the company by fiscal measures against competition; and whether he can state the exact terms of the agreement?

Cable messages which have appeared in the Press indicate that this agreement contains certain fiscal provisions to protect the new refinery company in which the Commonwealth Government is to hold a majority of shares. I understand that a Bill giving effect to the agreement has been introduced into the Commonwealth Parliament, but the text of the Bill has not yet been received in this country and the exact terms are therefore not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of unemployment in the tin mining districts of Cornwall, and taking into con- sideration that the miners there are paid less than in any other district in the country, he can hold out any hope that some duty should be put upon imported tin, or subsidy, in order to safeguard the interests of the home product and to enhance the wages of those working to obtain it?

The position of the tin mining industry of Cornwall has recently been the subject of an exhaustive inquiry by the Departmental Committee on Non-Ferrous Mining, whose report will be published shortly. I am not at present in a position to state what action His Majesty's Government will be able to take on the recommendations of the Committee; but I do not see my way to recommend the suggestion contained in the question, which was not made by the Committee, for the imposition of a duty on imported tin.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions (1) whether he will now institute a public inquiry into the claims of the male employés of the Edmonton Munitions Company; (2) whether he will allow evidence to be given in regard to the admission of claims of the male employés of the Edmonton Munitions Company by certain officials of his Department in an interview with the representatives of the claimants?

I would refer to my answer of the 12th February last to four questions on this subject and to the promise then given to my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether (1) at a machinery sale on or about the 25th March, at La BauéShell Works, Elliot Street, Glasgow, lathes offered for sale were stated by the auctioneer, at the direction of the Disposals Board, to be offered at a minimum price of £65 if they were to be put into use; whether, if that sum were not bid, he had orders to sell these lathes for scrap, to be broken up before removal; and whether, in fact, the necessary mini- mum was not offered, and some 70 lathes were accordingly sold for £13 10s. to £14 10s., whilst there were willing bidders at the sale prepared to bid £45 or £50 a lathe;

(2) whether it is an order of the Disposals Board to in certain cases direct that machinery shall be broken up unless at public auction a minimum price is bid; whether, when machines of great value are disposed of as scrap for a small sum as destroyed on the premises, they are in fact bought by manufacturers who assemble such machines; and, accordingly, is the desire to defeat the knock-out purchasers ineffective?

At the particular sale referred to, a reserve price of £65 was placed upon certain lathes, and the auctioneer was authorised to sell them as scrap in the event of no bids being received for the machines for use as lathes. As no such bids were received, the lathes were sold as scrap, at an average of about £20. Instructions such as those referred to in these questions are given only in exceptional cases when the condition of the machines is on the border line of their being useless as lathes. When in such cases they are sold as scrap the auctioneers are instructed to see that the bed of the lathe is broken before the machine is removed by the purchaser. This policy has been found in certain cases to have been effective in defeating the "knockout" purchasers.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the representations which have been made by the Educational Institute of Scotland regarding Circular 24, issued by the Scottish Education Department on 25th March last; whether the institute considers that, in the terms of the circular, the position of non-graduate teachers in Scotland has been altered for the worse; and whether he is prepared to take steps to ensure that all expenditure shall be recognised by the Department as approved and the position of the non-graduate teachers safeguarded?

I am aware, of the representations made by the Educational Insti- tute, with whose representatives I had a meeting in Edinburgh on Saturday last. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave yesterday to a question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgeton (Mr. M. Scott).

asked the Secretary for Scotland the conditions under which afforestation is taking place at Corrour as to the landlords' benefits under the scheme and the State's benefits, respectively?

Afforestation at Corrour has been undertaken by the proprietor at his own expense. The State has no financial interest in the undertaking and has made no contribution to it, but some of the experimental work done has yielded and will continue to yield valuable information.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what efforts in the direction of afforestation are actually being made in Sutherlandshire, or are projected?

I refer to my reply on 28th April last to the question of the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Mills). The Forestry Commission during the spring of this year planted over 200 acres on Borgie Estate, which was presented to the State by the Duke of Sutherland. Nursery formation and arrangements for continued afforestation are in progress.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the reasons which delay the issue of an Order regarding the devotion of land in Greenroad Park, Wick, to allotment purposes; and whether he will take steps to cause this matter to be expedited by all possible means?

I understand that the Order referred to was issued by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland on Monday last. I regret the delay, which, however, has been unavoidable owing to the procedure prescribed by the Act in connection with the making of such Orders.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller how many ships, and of what total tonnage, were engaged in the coastwise traffic of the United Kingdom in the months of April, 1920 and 1914; what tonnage for these services is at present under construction; and how many vessels previously engaged in this trade are now diverted to other routes?

The published Returns of Trade and Navigation give the following figures of the net tonnage of British and foreign vessels in the coasting trade that arrived and departed with cargoes at ports in the United Kingdom, namely:—

It will require considerable time to ascertain the number of vessels actually employed, but the figures given above show the relative volume of the tonnage in trade at the different periods. I am afraid it is not possible to state the number of vessels under construction for the coasting trade nor the number of vessels diverted to other routes.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals, if any, have been made by the development committee of the Ministry of Transport to improve the conditions obtaining in the coast-liner services of the United Kingdom; whether certain proposals have been made to railway companies owning steamers that do not appeal to such companies; and whether, in every case, he proposes to support the suggestions of the Development Department against the wishes of the companies concerned?

The Development Department of the Ministry has not made any such proposals as those referred to in the hon. and gallant Member's question. Coastal shipping, except in a very limited sense, is not within the statutory scope of the Ministry of Transport.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will appoint a representative of the fishing industry on the Transport Advisory Board; and what is the present composition of such board?

It is not clear to what Board the hon. Member refers. If he will assist me by a little further information I will endeavour to reply helpfully.

asked the Minister of Transport if it has been found that the system of owners' risk is the cause of much delay in the transport of fish?

It has not been found that the conveyance of fish at owners' risk causes delay in transport, and I see no reason why it should. The practice is of very long standing.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what was the vaccinal condition of the case of small-pox (a military patient) reported in Ireland in June, 1918, as stated on page xxxv. of the Forty-seventh Annual Report of the Local Government Board for Ireland recently issued; and whether he will give instructions that the vaccinal condition of smallpox cases occurring in Ireland shall always be given in the Official Reports?

The case was reported as variola (small-pox) modified by vaccination. The patient was described by the military authorities as "vaccinated in infancy, re-vaccinated November, 1917." The suggestion of the hon. Member has been noted for attention.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the scale of maximum expenses for conducting a municipal election by a candidate is £25 for the first 500 electors and 2d. for every elector afterwards; whether, in view of the increase of postal rates on printed matter contemplated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and which would probably have the effect of increasing the charge of ½d. on the postal communication sent out by such candidate to each elector to 1d. or 1½d., and thus rendering it impossible for any municipal candidate to keep within the scale already mentioned, he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation whereby the maximum scale of election expenses at a municipal election may be increased by the amount of the further charges on each postal communication arising out of the possible increase of the postal rate?

The point to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers will be considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information showing that the Bolsheviks have captured nearly 2,000,000 tons of petroleum and its by-products in the Baku region?

No official report has been received as to the quantities of petroleum involved, but as the Bolsheviks are in possession of Baku, it may be assumed that the whole of the stocks in and near the town have fallen into their hands. The latest information as to these stocks is dated 1st March, when the total quantity of crude oil and products in the oilfields and refinery districts Was estimated to be over 4,000,000 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will cause a statement to be issued from the Board stating exactly what evidence will be recognised on the part of teachers who are claiming their pension as to the length of service which they have served qualifying for a pension?

I do not think that such a statement could be made as would help teachers and not lead to misunderstanding. Where the Board have no record of the service claimed by a teacher, he is asked to obtain a certificate from the school or schools as to his service; but if this cannot be done, the Board are prepared to consider any corroborative evidence which the teacher can furnish. It is impossible to define precisely the evidence which will be accepted.

asked the Home Secretary on what grounds Aleck Weinstock, a Russian, was imprisoned at Brixton; whether he has now been released; how long he was detained; and whether compensation has been paid or will be paid to him?

This man, who recently served a sentence of two years' imprisonment and was reported to have ignored the provisions of the Aliens Order persistently since his release last year, was arrested and detained in custody with a view to deportation. He has been released, as I stated in answer to a question ten days ago. He was detained 12 days. After considering representations made to me, I decided not to deport him on the present occasion. No question of compensation arises.

asked the Home Secretary what are the sources of information on which he decides to issue deportation orders; whether the information is sifted by executive officials or comes at any stage before judicial tribunals; and whether witnesses are called and the alien in question given an opportunity of answering the charges or stating his case?

In the great majority of cases the alien against whom the order is made has been convicted and he has an opportunity of putting his case before the court and calling witnesses. I have also before me reports by the police, and every case is carefully examined and sifted by the responsible officers of the Department. Written statements submitted on behalf of the alien are considered and tested by inquiry, and, if necessary, persons who can speak in the alien's favour are seen and questioned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the great influx of foreigners and friendly aliens to this country, and the certitude that prices will be materially increased thereby, he will consider the advisability of imposing a poll or alien tax of such substantial amount as will tend to compensate in part the effect of such influx?

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend to reply to this question. I am not aware of any great influx of foreigners and friendly aliens to this country. The question of a poll tax has been considered, but it has not been thought worth while to adopt such a tax.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the maximum amount of compensation payable to the widows and dependants of workpeople killed by industrial accident is £300, and that such sum-has remained unchanged for 22 years, he will take an early opportunity of introducing legislation to substantially increase the amount payable so as to mitigate the hardship caused to the dependants by the serious fall in the purchasing power of money?

Any amending legislation on this subject must await the Report of the Departmental Committee which has been inquiring into the working of the Workmen's Compensation Acts. The Committee hope to report at an early date, and as soon as their Report is received the question of introducing a Bill will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, since the announcement of the revised rates of pay to the public works department, certain superintendent engineers draw less pay, in some cases as much as Rs.250 less per mensem, than they did under the old rules; and whether, if so, he proposes to grant personal allowances, to enable officers to draw not less than the pay they received before the revised scale was introduced?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Kelvingrove Division of Glasgow (Mr. Macleod) on 4th May, of which I will send him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been called to the declaration made by the Viceroy on the 30th of January last that the position of the Government of India is, and always has been, that there is no justification in a Crown Colony or Protectorate assigning to British Indians a status in any way inferior to that of any other class of His Majesty's subjects; and whether he can assure the House that the principle thus asserted will be adhered to by the Imperial Government in the arrangements for the political and administrative settlement of East Africa that are now under consideration?

The Viceroy declared that the position of the Government of India is, and always will be, as stated by my hon. Friend. I am assured by the Colonial Office that full consideration is being given to the claims of the Indian communities in the East African Protectorates as well as to those of the other sections of the population.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether and upon what conditions His Majesty's Indian subjects exercise the franchise in any province of the Union of South Africa, in Rhodesia, in British Guiana, in Fiji, in Trinidad, and in Ceylon; whether it is proposed in any of these territories or in any other of His Majesty's territories to extend the franchise to His Majesty's Indian subjects, and, if so, upon what conditions; whether, in any of the British Colonies, an Indian sits in the local legislature by election as distinguished from nomination; and whether the statement that, for the present, it was not proposed to extend the franchise to His Majesty's Indian subjects in the East African Protectorate is to be taken as the considered reply of the Secretary of State for the Colonies on this point to the representations made to him thereon by the deputation, under the auspices of the Indians Overseas Association, that waited upon him on 19th April last?

As regards the first part of the question, the electoral law of the Cape Province of the South African Union and of Southern Rhodesia draws no distinction as to race or colour in respect of voters qualified for regis- tration. In British Guiana there is an elected Legislature, and there is no racial distinction as regards the franchise. In Fiji, Indians do not exercise the franchise at present. In Trinidad the Legislative Council is nominated. In Ceylon a person of Indian origin born in Ceylon and otherwise qualified is able to vote for the Ceylonese member of the Council.

As regards the second part of the question, in Fiji it is proposed that Indians should be added to the Legislative Council as the elected representatives of the Indian inhabitants of the Colony, but the conditions upon which they shall be elected have not yet been settled. In Ceylon proposals are under consideration which would qualify as a voter any male British subject who possesses the requisite qualifications. No proposals with regard to the extension of the franchise are under consideration in any other Colonies or Protectorates.

As regards the third part of the question, in British Guiana there is an elected member of the Legislature who is of East Indian race, and in Ceylon a person of Indian origin but born in Ceylon sits on the local Legislature by election as the Ceylonese member. There are no elected Indian members of the Legislatures of other Colonies or Protectorates.

As regards the fourth part of the question, the Secretary of State has given careful consideration to the representations made to him by the deputation to which my hon. Friend refers, but I am not yet in a position to announce his final decision on this point.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture the number of bulls at present registered for use under the live-stock improvement scheme in each Riding of Yorkshire?

The number of bulls in Yorkshire, in respect of which grants have been made by the Ministry is:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether any decision has yet been reached with regard to the claim of the stokers and night watchmen at Kew Gardens to receive additional remuneration under the Award No. 101 of the Civil Service Arbitration Board?

The following decision was reached and reported to the Treasury on the 22nd ultimo: (1) as from the 17th November, 1919, the remuneration of the stokers should be re-assessed on the basis of pay at 32s. a week plus bonus at Civil Service rates, namely 30 per cent. equals 9s. 7d. and flat rate bonus of 24s., making a total of £3 5s. 7d. for a week of 48 hours with overtime at shift rates, that is, one-forty-eighth of £3 5s. 7d. equals Is. 4½d. per hour; (2) the night watchman should be regraded under Award 99 of the Civil Service Arbitration Board of the 1st August, 1919, with effect as from the date specified in that Award.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he has any evidence, and, if so, what, to the effect that recent rises in the wages of farm servants have caused land to go out of cultivation or to revert to pasture?

The Ministry has no direct evidence of any land having gone out of cultivation owing to the increased rates of wages, but the tendency to lay down arable land to grass has no doubt been accentuated on that account.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will present to the House statistics showing the progress of emigration to the Colonies since the Armistice; and how the present figures compare with the pre-War results?

I have been asked to reply. The following table shows the

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average monthly profit or loss on the "Labour Gazette"?

The "Labour Gazette" is a monthly publication of the greatest possible value to all directly concerned in industrial problems generally, particularly in questions affecting employment, disputes, wages, prices, and the cost of living, both in this country and abroad. It is essential that accurate information in regard to these matters should be available to the public. We print 19,000 copies a month. We sell at Id. 6,200 copies a month We distribute 12,200 copies a month to Government Departments, Free Libraries, Labour Exchanges, Employers, and Trade Unions. The copies sent to employers and Trade Unions are sent in acknowledgment of invaluable information voluntarily furnished by them. The actual cost of production per copy is considerably above the sale price of Id. After deducting the monthly value of the advertisements, sales, and the cost of the copies distributed free, there remains a loss of about £200 per month. While I have no doubt whatever as to the great utility of this publication, I am proposing at the earliest possible moment to go into the whole question of its character, cost, and receipts.

asked the Attorney-General what have been the costs of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) in the three hearings of the case between the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) and the Cannon Brewery Company arising out of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) taking over the brewery company's premises at Enfield Lock; and whether the costs have been defrayed by the Treasury or by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic)?

I understand that the costs of the Central Control Board and the taxed costs of the brewery company in the case referred to are as set out in detail in my answer given on the 12th August last, except that the costs, of the Board in respect of the hearing in the House of Lords are less than the estimate by £61 12s. 7d. The Board has of course paid its own costs and the taxed costs of the company. My hon. and gallant Friend may be interested to learn that, as the result of the judgment of the House of Lords the company's claim for £13,638 was recently submitted to the arbitration of a single arbitrator, and that the sum awarded by him was £6,335.