asked the Prime Minister whether the Allies have at any time discussed the position of the 500,000 fatherless children which the War has left Serbia, with the view of establishing them, beyond the work done by the Child Welfare Department, which has in its 1920 budget provided for 52,000 of them; and, if not, is he prepared to place the matter before the Allies for discussion, with a view of trying to alleviate the sufferings of these unfortunate children?

The answer is in the negative. This is a matter which the Government of Yugo-Slavia have not brought to the attention of the Allied Governments.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Hungarian Bank at Budapest has been converted into the British and Hungarian Bank, Limited, with a capital of about £500,000 sterling; and, whether such has been done at the instigation or invitation of the British Government?

Statements to this effect have appeared in the British and Hungarian press. The capital and reserves of the new bank will apparently amount to 390,000,000 crowns, equal to between £400,000 and £500,000. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the negative.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether it is the intention of the Government to retain Burton Court for the purpose of Government offices after the conclusion of this financial year, and, if so, for how long; whether the Government have taken any steps in the matter; what is the number of the staff employed there; what are the payments for rates and taxes; and is any rent paid to the owners and, if so, how much?

As regards the first and second parts of the question, I would refer my Noble Lord to my reply yesterday to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea (Sir S. Hoare). The staff numbers 3,048. Negotiations are proceeding with the local authorities in regard to the Government contribution in lieu of rates, and with the Governors of Chelsea Hospital in regard to the rent.

asked the First Commissioner of Works the names of the various buildings in the London area now in possession of or occupation by the Government, dividing them under the three heads of Crown buildings, leased buildings and temporary buildings; whether he can now give any approximate date for the surrender of all premises of a temporary nature; and what is the agregate amount now being paid in rent in the said area?

I am sending the hon. Member a list of the buildings in question, the annual rent in respect of which amounts to £795,000. I regret that it is impossible to give an approximate date for the surrender of the temporary buildings.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British officers and other ranks who recently fell into the hands of the Russian Soviet forces in Siberia and elsewhere are now reported to be safe in Russia; and whether they are due for exchange under the recent agreement?

His Majesty's Government have received official notification that these officers and men have been taken prisoners by the Soviet Government, who have stated that steps are being taken for their repatriation. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether British warships cooperated in any way in the recent capture of Odessa from the Russian Soviet forces?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the cost of recruiting and equipment in connection with the recruiting bureau opened by the Russian monarchist Skoropadsky is being found by the secret fund of one of the British military missions opened on the Continent?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether there is any British or Allied mission accredited to General Petlura?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he received warning of the Polish offensive against Soviet Russia from the missions in Poland or from other sources; and, if so, when?

The British Military Mission in Warsaw, in a telegram dated 22nd April and received on the 23rd April, conjectured that some Polish offensive appeared imminent. A subsequent telegram dealing with the subject, despatched from Warsaw on the 24th April, was received in London after the offensive had been launched. Most of the reports received have dwelt, rather, on the Soviet Government's preparations for a renewal of the Bolshevik attack on Poland, which was delivered in great force in March, and finally checked early in April.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether part of the correspondence of the Navy and Army Canteens Board is posted without stamps and franked O.H.M.S.; and, if so, whether this is done by consent of the War Office?

The Navy and Army Canteens Board has authority to frank official correspondence despatched from the headquarter office. As regards the last part of the question, this authority was given by the Postmaster- General on the application of the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether civilians can deal with the Navy and Army Canteens Board; and whether the Regulations to the contrary are constantly evaded?

Only such civilians as are authorised by King's Regulations to deal at Regimental Institutes, namely, civilians permanently employed on military services in barracks or camps or on war department property, and certain employees of His Majesty's Naval Dockyard at Gibraltar, are permitted to deal with the Navy and Army Canteens Board. The Regulations in this respect are safeguarded by the issue of written passes and are strictly enforced.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he can give the date, or dates, on which the two patients who were disembarked from His Majesty's Troopship "Czaritza" at Gibraltar on 1st February, 1920, were admitted to the ship's hospital; and what do their medical charts disclose from the time they were admitted to the ship's hospital till they were disembarked at Gibraltar?

Further inquiries are necessary to enable me to answer this question, and I will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air if he has received reports to the effect that Turkish Nationalists have occupied Hapsaghi, commanding the fortress region at the entrance to the Dardanelles, as well as Chanak; that they have mounted a battery of heavy guns at Panderma; and if he proposes to take any action?

As regards the first and last parts of the question I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given on 13th May to the Noble and gallant Member for Battersea South (Viscount Curzon.) As regards the second part, no information has been re- ceived that a battery of heavy guns has been mounted at Panderma.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that on Friday, 7th May and on Saturday, 8th May, the German steamers "Borussia" and "Bedinia" left the River Thames and declined to take on board sea pilots through the pilotage waters of the Thames; whether he is aware that many of the captains of German steamship lines between London and Germany were employed on submarines during the War; and whether he will take steps to see that all foreign ships are compelled to use British pilots for entering and leaving British ports?

The vessels referred to belong to a category of vessels engaged in the home trade and not carrying passengers, which are exempt from compulsory pilotage in the London district under a bye-law made in virtue of Section 11 of the Pilotage Act, 1913. I have no information on the second part of the question. As regards the third part, no alien is allowed to hold a pilot's licence for a British port, nor is any alien master or mate allowed to hold a pilotage certificate except to the very limited extent provided in the Aliens' Restriction Act, 1919. The effect of the Pilotage Act, 1913, and of the Pilotage Orders which are being made under it, is that while some districts like London are subject to compulsory pilotage with certain exceptions, others are not, except in the case of vessels carrying passengers. The Board of Trade have power to deal with the various districts on their merits, and I do not think any amendment of the Pilotage Act is necessary.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. A. Rees, 38, Nelson Street, Glasgow, late WR., No. 313,178, Royal Engineers, had his pension discontinued last November, Pension No. SFA 26,609, although his disability is still aggravated; that his claim for continuation of pension is not yet settled; and if he will take steps to obtain a decision in this matter without further delay, as this man has a wife and four children dependent on him?

When Mr. Rees's case was last dealt with it was found that the aggravation of his disability by military service had passed away. No further award could therefore be authorised. Arrangements are now, however, being made for a further examination of Mr. Rees by a Medical Board as early as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air why ex-soldiers who have served in the K Engineers should have their pensions interfered with if upon return to civil life they find employment in the Post Office; and, seeing that private employers are looking to the Government for a lead in these matters, he will recommend that this principle of interfering with service men's pensions be abrogated at once?

I have nothing to add to the full reply given to the hon. Member on the 29th April by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air how soon a Royal Warrant is likely to be issued containing provisions for disablement pensions for post-war soldiers; and whether he can promise that there will be an opportunity of discussing such a Warrant on the floor of this House prior to its issue in final shape?

I am not in a position to make any statement on this matter at present.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the fact that already there has been established for the benefit of one soldier blinded in the War a registered war charity named after him; if this man is in receipt of the full disability pension allowed by the Government; and, if not, how much is he receiving?

If the hon. Member will supply me with the name and regimental particulars of the case he has in mind my right hon. Friend will have inquiry made.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the Liverpool Watch Committee are requiring ex-police officers who have completed 25 years' service and who withdrew their services in August last to sign an agreement that they will accept a pension based on the old scale of pay, and that they will not seek to claim any increase on such pensions, although the scale of pay at the date of retirement was the new scale; and the basis on which pensions will be paid to those members of the Metropolitan police who had completed 25 years' service when they withdrew their services?

The constables of upwards of 25 years' service who withdrew from duty and were dismissed from the Liverpool police had not secured their pension rights by giving notice of their wish to retire as required by Section 2 of the Police (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1915. The Watch Committee might on this ground have refused to grant any pension, but I am informed that they have decided to, waive the formality of notice and to grant pensions on the basis indicated in the question. The Metropolitan policemen who had completed 25 years' service when they were dismissed had given notice of their desire to retire, and they also are to be granted pensions calculated, as the Act provides, on the pay they were actually receiving at the date when the notice was given in each case. They are not entitled to pension on the higher rates of pay which have since been adopted.

asked the Home Secretary if he has received a suggestion from the Hull Watch Committee that the Home Office should improve the financial basis of the Police Pension Fund; and if he is prepared to act upon the suggestion?

The only communication from the Hull Watch Committee which I can trace is one recommending an increase of police pensions granted before 1st April, 1919. This matter, as the hon. and gallant Member is no doubt aware, is under the consideration of the Government and proposals will be laid before this House shortly.

asked the Home Secretary which of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Desborough Committee he is advising police authorities to adopt; and if he will give details as to whether and, if so, where any of these recommendations have accordingly been carried out?

The recommendations in Part I of the Report with regard to pay and allowances have been adopted by practically all forces. The recommendations in Part II are for the most part matters for legislation or Regulations under the Police Act, 1919. I am taking steps to set up a Council under the Police Act, 1919, to consider the matters to be dealt with by Regulation.

asked the Home Secretary the names of the Advisory Committee appointed under the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1919, and of the Chairman?

This Advisory Committee is composed as follows:—Sir Robert Wallace, Chairman, the hon. and gallant Member for South-West St. Pancras (Major Barnett), the hon. and gallant Member for Reigate (Lieut.-Colonel Cockerill), Lord Decies and Lord Nunburuholme.

asked the Home Secretary if he will issue Regulations making it compulsory for all motor vehicles to be fitted with mudguards; and if he is aware that resolutions to this effect have been carried by various watch committees, including Hull and Worcester?

The question of the provision of mudguards on motor vehicles is included in the terms of reference to the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, and will be considered by them in due course. Pending the receipt of a Report from the Committee, the Minister of Transport does not propose to make any Regulations on the subject. Resolutions in favour of the provision of anti-splash devices on heavy motor vehicles have been carried by a number of local authorities. These resolutions will be laid before the Committee for their consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the maximum and minimum wage received by coal hewers in Scotland, Northumberland and Durham, Lancashire, Cannock Chase and Staffordshire, and South Wales, respectively; and the extent to which free and low-rented houses and free or cheap coal are granted in the several districts named?

There is no maximum limit to the wages which coal hewers may earn. Free houses are not very frequently provided except in the

During the year 1919 about 6,500,000 tons of coal were supplied to colliery workpeople.

counties of Northumberland and Durham, but a good deal of information on the subject of the housing of colliery work-people is contained in the evidence given before the Coal Industry Commission. The following statement gives particulars regarding the minimum wages payable and coal supplied to colliery workpeople and the approximate minimum wage of coal hewers in the districts named:—

The following is a statement of the approximate quantities of coal supplied free or otherwise to colliery workpeople in the districts named during the last quarter of 1919:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state to which countries British-made morphia was exported during the year 1919; the amount and value of the morphia so exported to each country; what precautions are taken to secure the restriction of such morphia to medical or legitimate purposes; how many factories for morphia there are in Great Britain; and whether

they are controlled and supervised in accordance with the provisions of the International Opium Convention of 1912?

The following is the statement of the recorded exports of morphia which I promised the hon. Member in my answer to him on 17th May should be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but I regret that the figures do not include exports through the post, particulars of which are not available:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many prosecutions have taken place under the Profiteering Act; what proportion of these have been successful; and in how many the fines have been merely nominal in value?

According to the reports which I have received from Local Committees, 145 prosecutions under the Profiteering Act have been determined up to the 30th April, of which 82.7 per cent. have been successful. In three of the cases no fine was inflicted, but the respondent was ordered to pay the costs, and in 13 other cases a fine of less than £2 was imposed. In the remaining cases, fines varying from £2 to £100 have been imposed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can make a statement with regard to the Scottish joiners' dispute?

On 30th January, 1920, the West of Scotland District Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, Cabinetmakers and Joiners claimed from the Master Wrights' Associations of the district that the rate of wages should he advanced to 2s. 6d. per hour as from 1st April. On the 10th February a claim was lodged on behalf of the Scottish Building Trade Operatives, including the remainder of the Joiners in Scotland, for an advance of 6d. per hour, to come into operation on the 1st April.

The parties, including the West of Scotland Master Wrights, but excluding the Operative Joiners in that district, agreed to refer this claim for settlement to the Industrial Court. The Court decided that the claim had not been established. This decision was objected to by the employees, and negotiations were immediately begun to come to an agreement as to an increase in wages. The dissatisfaction of the Operatives was due partly to increases of wages recently given to miners and transport workers, and partly in the case of the Joiners to the fact that the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation conceded an increase of 12s. per week, commencing on 28th April, in addition to an increase of 6s. per week given generally in the engineering and shipbuilding industries by a recent award of the Industrial Court. Both these advances were given to joiners employed in shipyards.

The negotiations referred to resulted in a decision to submit to the Department a joint minute, which sets out that an immediate advance of 1½. per hour has been agreed between the parties subject to a re-hearing by the Industrial Court of the difference between this amount and the original claim of 6d. per hour, the 1½d. to be included in whatever award might be given. The joiners were not themselves a party to this minute, but met the employers separately. They declined to concur in the suggestion that they should be parties to the minute and proposed that if the employers conceded the demand for the full 6d. an hour immediately, they would agree to joint representation to attend any Court of Arbitration to justify or ratify the agreement. The employers refused this proposal, and the Operatives' Society proceeded to take a ballot on the question of accepting the employer's offer or of ceasing work on the 8th May to enforce the demand for a rate of 2s. 6d. per hour. There are approximately 11,000 joiners concerned, of which 4,263 voted for a strike and 1,266 for acceptance of the employers' offer. The strike in consequence commenced on the 8th May. It is reported that certain employers have temporarily agreed to the operatives' demand for 2s. 6d. per hour pending a settlement, but the number is stated to be small.

On receipt of the joint Minute I interviewed on 5th May a deputation of the parties in London. I stated that I was unable to refer the claim back to the Industrial Court or to act as a court of appeal from its award. It will be appreciated that the Court is a body, independent of the Ministry of Labour and of the Government. A disregard of its decisions by the parties seriously undermines its authority as an arbitration tribunal. I also said that, apart from the question of the due observance of awards, I could not meet their request for the ratification of the agreement since I possess no powers under which I can give statutory force to agreements as to rates of wages. In so far as the Government was concerned in the settlement, as, for instance, through its financial interest in the Housing Programme, the question at issue, namely, variation of contract prices to cover the increased cost of houses and buildings erected by the Government which would result from an advance of wages, was such as could only be determined in consultation with the Government Contracting Departments concerned and with the Treasury.

At the deputation a tentative agreement, subject to assurances as to contract prices, was made by both sides, excluding the joiners, that wages should be advanced by 3d. an hour, but this settlement, I understand, has not proved to be feasible. At the moment the joiners alone are on strike. It is not clear in face of the decision of the Industrial Court and in the absence of any agreement for an advance of wages in the other sections of the building trade in Scotland what action the Ministry of Labour can take to bring about a settlement of the dispute, but the situation is being carefully watched.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air what is the expense entailed by the British Military Mission in Poland; what special allowances were given to them in addition to their pay; and for what purpose?

The expense is approximately £12,000 per annum. The special allowance is £1 6s. 8d. per day, and is designed to meet the cost of living, for which the ordinary allowances (lodging, fuel and light, etc.), would be inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether there is at present a military attaché attached to the British Minister at Warsaw; and what are the relations between the military attaché and the chief of the British Military Mission?

There is no British military attaché in Warsaw at present, and the duties are carried out by the British Military Intelligence Mission.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Munitions whether any munitions, artillery, or warlike stores have been sold to the Polish Government; if so, whether any remains to be delivered; whether its delivery has been stopped; what is the value of the munitions, artillery, or warlike stores sold; and how is payment being made?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the remaining parts of the question, I have nothing to add to the statement made yesterday by the Leader of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air the number of British prisoners of war in Germany who are still unaccounted for; and whether any individual Germans are being held responsible for the disappearance of these men?

The number of British officers and men who are believed to have been prisoners of war in German hands and are still unaccounted for is 215; this number includes Colonial Forces and Royal Air Force, but excludes Indian troops. As regards the last part of the question, there is no evidence of German officials being criminally responsible for the disappearance of the prisoners who still remain unaccounted for.

It should be remembered that the list includes some who were not definitely known to be prisoners, but in respect of whom there was some unofficial evidence, often very slight, that they were seen alive in German hands. Others, it is thought, have died in captivity, but from a variety of causes records may not have been kept, or, if kept, may have been lost, but not necessarily feloniously. Others, again, may have been killed in explosions or through shellfire, leaving no trace, while still in the zone of operations. Further, on the announcement of the Armistice, some prisoners broke camp and started for home, and it is possible that a certain number of these are among those unaccounted for.

As I have already stated, every report that prisoners are being secretly detained in Germany has, where the statements were sufficiently definite to enable investigation to be made, been fully inquired into, and without exception the statements have been proved to be incorrect. No reliable evidence whatever is forthcoming that British prisoners are being detained in Germany against their will.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether an engineers' congress was held at Lahore between the 10th and 13th April, 1919, at which about 100 to 150 European engineers from all parts of India took part; and whether any of them were examined by the Hunter Committee?

I have no information regarding such a conference, or whether any of the witnesses examined by the Hunter Committee were members of it.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the power vested in presidents of provincial legislative councils to dispense with the leave stage of Bills has been freely exercised in the past in favour of Government Bills and rarely, if at all, in favour of non-official Bills; and whether it is proposed to provide in the rules to be made under the new Government of India Act that there shall be a motion for leave to introduce every Bill, whether official or non-official?

"The reply is in the negative. Nonofficial as well as official Bills have in the past been published under Rule 23 of the Rules for the conduct of Legislative Business. It is proposed to provide that when a Bill, with the Statement of Objects and Reasons, has been published by order of the Governor-General or Governor in the Gazette,' it shall not be necessary to move for leave to introduce the Bill."

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to introduce the Health Services Bill and if he will arrange to publish the Report of Lord Dawson of Penn's medical consultative council?

The Report mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member will be published in the course of the present month. I cannot at the moment pledge myself to any specific date for the introduction of a Health Services Bill.

asked the Minister of Health, with reference to the particulars of small-pox in England and Wales in the year 1919, given on pages 87–90 and pages 126–129 of the Medical Supplement of the 48th Annual Report of the Local Government Board, what was the vaccinal condition of the soldiers who introduced small-pox into Pontefract, Lincoln, Bury St. Edmunds, Amersham, and Croydon, respectively; what was the vaccinal condition of the missionary who introduced small-pox into Wisbech; what was the vaccinal condition of the child who started the series of cases at South-end; what was the vaccinal condition of the wife and sister of the soldier who introduced the disease into Bishop's Stortford; what were the ages and vaccinal condition of the three cases of small-pox removed from the steamship "Porto"; if he will state why this information was not given in the Report; and whether he will give instructions for the insertion of full details of all smallpox cases referred to in future Reports of such outbreaks?

The soldiers at Pontefract, Bury St. Edmunds, and Chorley Wood (not Amersham) had been vaccinated in infancy; the soldier at Lincoln had been vaccinated in infancy, and apparently revaccinated while in the Army, but the operation of revaccination was not successful. The vaccinal condition of the soldier at Croydon is not known; there is no evidence to show that he suffered from small-pox. The missionary who introduced small-pox into Wisbech had been vaccinated in infancy; the first known case at Southend, a child, had been vaccinated in infancy. One of the relatives of the soldier at Bishop Stortford was unvaccinated, the other had been vaccinated in infancy. The three cases removed from the ss. "Porto" were aged, respectively, 36, 5½ and 44½ years; the first mentioned had been vaccinated in infancy, the last two were unvaccinated. The sections of the Report referred to by the hon. Member give an account of how small-pox had been introduced into this country; they are not specially concerned with the vaccinal condition of the patients. Particulars of the vaccinal condition of the cases of small-pox occurring in this country during the year 1918 are given on page 179 in Appendix C of the Report in question, and similar particulars have appeared in the Medical Supplement of the Annual Report of the Local Government Board for several years past.

asked the Minister of Food the money value of the loss incurred by his Department in connection with the recent auction sale in London of 500 tons of currants retained under control until unfit for human consumption?

The currants referred to, though not unfit for human consumption, were severely damaged in transit from Greece, since, owing to the shortages of wood, it was necessary to ship them in bags. In certain cases where the quality appears to be below contract standard, the matter has been referred to arbitration, and in others account sales are not yet to hand. I am not, therefore, able to state the precise loss involved. I may, however, add that, even though the whole difference in this consignment between the contract price and the price realised should ultimately have to be written off as loss, it would represent only one-half of 1 per cent. on the total purchases of currants, and the wastage is not, therefore, excessive as compared with the ordinary standard in private trade.

asked the Minister of Food whether he has received any resolutions protesting against the proposed discontinuance of the functions of Food Control Committees after the 30th June, 1920; and, if so, whether he will reconsider this matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In view of the great saving in expenditure which will be effected by the new arrangements, the Food Controller is not prepared to reconsider his decision in this matter.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is now in a position to state the result of his special inquiry into the fact that the bakers in the town of Aldershot are charging is. 1d. for a 4-lb. loaf of bread sold over the counter, and is. 1½d. per 4-lb. loaf delivered; and whether, in view of the fact that these prices are in excess of those charged in other centres where establishment charges must be greater, he will take action in the matter?

As a result of the especial inquiry made into this matter following on the question originally put by the hon. Member, it has been found necessary to institute a detailed costings investigation into the production and distribution of the bread sold at Aldershot. This is a procedure which necessarily takes time, and I regret, therefore, that I am not in a position to give the hon. Member any further information on the subject at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture on what grounds sketching is permitted in Kew Gardens on weekdays but not on Sundays; whether the garden staff are acting within their authority in forbidding sketching on Sundays; and, if so, whether he will take steps to have the Regulation rescinded?

The staff of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, are very fully occupied on Sundays and Bank Holidays in attending to the large number of visitors on those days. In order to obviate delays at the turnstiles and to prevent congestion in the houses a Regulation was framed forbidding sketching and photography, for which every facility is granted on other days of the week. The Ministry is prepared to modify this Regulation to the extent of allowing sketching and photography in the open air on Sundays and Bank Holidays. It will still be forbidden within the houses, and I must add, further, that should the privilege be abused and lead to the loss of rare plants it may be necessary to revert to the present Regulation of entire prohibition.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether contracts have been given out for the two branch lines to be constructed in British East Africa; whether the work was submitted to tender; if not, why not; and the terms on which the agreement to construct has been settled?

No contract for the construction of the Uasin-Gishu Railway has yet been signed. Offers have been received from more than one firm, but it has been necessary to negotiate with one firm at a time, as the information about the route is not sufficient to fix a definite figure for the cost of construction, which will have Lo be agreed upon after a joint survey by the contractors and the Government. Proposal & for the extension of the Thika Railway are not sufficiently far advanced to make it possible to conclude any contract.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received any resolutions from various bodies of women workers protesting against the action of the Treasury in refusing to sanction any further training schemes under the Ministry of Labour, and urging that, in view of the great amount of unemployment among women, further facilities for such training should be granted; and whether he will give this matter his consideration?

I have net received representations such as those referred to, nor am I aware of the basis for the suggestion that there is a great amount of unemployment among women at the time.