asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Scottish Office, about the end of March, issued a circular to all county, town, and parish councils throughout Scotland giving particulars of increased war bonuses to permanent Civil Service officials; whether certain town and other local councils in Scotland have, in consequence thereof, proceeded to grant fixed salary increases and bonuses to their officials, without application by their officials for increases, thereby adding to the present burden of local taxation; and if the circular was intended to produce such a result?

The circular referred to was issued as stated by my hon. and learned Friend. I am not aware what action, if any, has followed upon it. The intention of the circular was to inform local authorities of what the Government had done with regard to salaries of civil servants, and to leave the authorities free, in the exercise of their discretion, to take such action as they might think proper.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the success of the training scheme for young women at Craibstone Farm, Aberdeen, and of the opinions expressed in agricultural circles that it should not be abandoned, he is in a position to say that it will be continued after 30th June?

The whole question of the continuation of women's training after 30th June is at present under consideration by the Government, but I regret that I am not in a position to add anything to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on 18th May, namely, that whilst the training scheme referred to is in every way a success, these courses will, as at present arranged, terminate on the 30th June next.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, since the introduction of the Finance Bill, he has received any concrete evidence indicating the prejudicial effect upon commercial expansion of the increase in the Excess Profits Duty?

My hon. Friend may rest assured that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been made fully acquainted with the views of the trading community in reference to the proposed increase in the rate of the Excess Profits Duty, both in its general aspects, and as affecting particular cases which have been cited to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the reasons which, according to the Report of the Royal Commission on Income Tax, were officially set forth in 1918, disallowing the housekeeper allowance to persons who were not relatives of the taxpayer either by birth or marriage; if he is prepared to reconsider the matter; and what would be the loss to the revenue if he did so?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the OFFICIAL REPORT of the 4th June and 13th June, 1918, Vol. 106, cols. 1420 and 2457, and also to the discussion of this subject in the course of last year's Budget Debates—OFFICIAL REPORT, 23rd July, 1919, Vol. 118, col. 1374. Several Amendments to the present Finance Bill, designed to remove the condition that the "housekeeper" must be a relative, are on the Paper, and I would ask my hon. Friend to await the discussion. The cost of the change is estimated at about £100,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether under the new proposals with regard to Income Tax, in the case of a husband who, owing to illness or other causes, is entirely without income, his wife earning the whole, she will be entitled to the abatement of £225, plus the nine-tenths of the amount of her earned income, subject to a maximum increase of 45?

In the circumstances stated the married couple would be entitled, under Clause 17 of the Finance Bill, to the personal allowance of £225 and to an additional allowance equal to nine-tenths of the wife's earned income, subject to a maximum addition of £45.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that a few widows who lost their husbands in the explosion which happened at the Abercarn Colliery, Monmouthshire, 1878, are recipients of a weekly sum from a fund which was subscribed by the public at that time, and also received the old age pension since its inception; that they also received the extra 2s. 6d. when it was raised to 7s. 6d. per week, but that since the 1919 Act came into force instead of receiving an additional 2s. 6d. per week the previous 2s. 6d. has been deducted from them; and will he take steps to have this restored?

In the cases to which, as I understand, the hon. Member refers the pensioners' means have recently been increased by the grant of additional assistance from the fund in question, and but for the coming into operation of the Act of 1919 the pensioners would have ceased to be entitled to any pension. As a result of the Act of 1919 it has been possible to allow the pensioners to retain their pensions, though at a reduced rate; but so long as their means remain as at present the Old Age Pensions Acts do not allow of their being granted the maximum rate of pension.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the position of a pre-War pensioner (a teacher) whose pension amounts to £200 8s. a year; and will the usual practice be adopted of calculating salaries and pensions to the nearest pound?

I presume that the hon. Member's question refers to the scheme for supplementing pre-War pensions as to which an announcement was made to the House on 10th May. Under this scheme, however, benefits will accrue only to pensioners whose total means, inclusive of pension and of any pension bonus payable under the scheme, do not exceed in the case of a married man £200 per annum and in the case of a single man £150 per annum in all.

asked the Minister of Health the result of his representations to the authorities of Sheffield Street Hospital for Women, Clare Market, W.C.2, with reference to the appointment of women doctors as medical officers and assistant medical officers respectively?

I am in communication with the authorities of the hospital in regard to this matter, but I have not yet received their reply.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture who is the chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board; whether the £10 a week he receives covers railway fares, subsistence, postages, and all personal expenses connected with his position; who is the deputy chairman of the said Wages Board; whether all the appointed members receive three guineas a day if they are absent from home for over five hours and 9s. an hour if absent from home for less than five hours on business purely connected with the Wages Board; what are the names and addresses of the appointed members of the Wages Board; and what is the amount of fees received by each appointed member for the year ending 31st March, 1920?

The Chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board is the Right Hon. Air Ailwyn Fellowes, K.C.V.O., K.B.E., and the allowance he receives covers all out-of-pocket expenses occasioned by his duties. The Deputy-Chairman is Air R. Henry Rew, K.C.B. The remaining Appointed Members are entitled to charge fees in accordance with the scale quoted by the hon. Member. Their names and addresses are as follow:

The Right Hon. F. D. Acland, M.P., 93, Bedford Gardens, Campden Hill, W. 8;

Mr. James Ismay, Iwerne Minster House, Blandford;

The Right Hon. The Lord Kenyon, K.C.V.O., 2H, The Albany, W. 1;

Mr. C. A. Orwin, School of Rural Economy, Parks Road, Oxford;

Mrs. L. Wilkins, O.B.E., 14, Aubrey Walk, Campden Hill, W. 8.

The amount of fees received by Appointed Members (other than the Chairman and Deputy-Chairman) for the year ending 31st March, 1920, was as follows:

asked the Minister of Health how many administrative posts in the Ministry of Health are held by men at a salary of over £500?

The number of administrative posts, including within this definition posts strictly defined as executive, in the Ministry of Health held by men at a salary of over £500 is 103.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Buttrills recreation ground, Barry, has been compulsorily taken by His Majesty's Office of Works, thus depriving a population of 40,000 of the most suitable ground in the district for recreation; and whether he will take steps to prevent the inhabitants being thus deprived for a period which may continue for as long as three years?

I have had some correspondence with the Barry Urban District Council on this subject, and in their letter of the 23rd of March last they stated that they were perfectly willing so far as they were concerned, to let the recreation ground for use as a treatment and training centre for disabled men by the Ministry of Pensions, subject to their retaining a portion which was not required by the Ministry, and to certain other conditions not related to health. In all the circumstances I have not thought it necessary to take any action.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the 10s. per week increase of pay granted to the prison staffs in September, 1918, is always to be treated as a War bonus for the purpose of calculating the amount of War bonus due to the prison staffs under the various Civil Service awards?

The 10s. increase was granted largely on account of War conditions, and prison officers have accordingly not been regarded as entitled to share in the full War bonus payable to Civil Servants on pre-War rates of wages. The arrangements hitherto adopted have had the effect of setting off about 7s. 6d. of the 10s. increase against the War bonus; this being calculated in these cases at the full percentage (30 per cent.) on pay as increased by the 10s. rise subject to a deduction of 10s. being made from the flat rate addition. The arrangements for applying the new Civil Service bonus to prison officers are at present under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister whether any mandates for conquered German territories will be conferred upon any nation against whose proposed guardianship the inhabitants have formally protested?

The mandates have already been allotted. I am not aware that any protest has been received.

asked the Prime Minister what steps are being taken by the Supreme Council to ascertain the wishes of the inhabitants of conquered German territories with reference to the mandates?

As the House is aware, the mandates have already been allotted. No further steps are being taken.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the merchant shipping handed over by Germany is taken into consideration in determining the indemnity to be demanded from Germany; and how that tonnage has been distributed?

The value of the merchant ships ceded by Germany will be credited to her towards liquidation of her obligations under the Peace Treaty. I understand that the tonnage has not yet been distributed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. E. Bernstein, originally a Russian, now a naturalised British subject, who has been in the Congregational Ministry in England from 1897 to 1916 when he joined the Society of Friends, and now wishes to go out to Russia to do religious and educational work, with the full support of the Society of Friends, has been repeatedly refused a passport since October, 1917; and, since the refusal of the passport is a great hardship on Mr. Bernstein, on what grounds is permission withheld?

Mr. Bernstein has been refused a passport to travel to Soviet Russia under the decision of the Supreme Council that passports should not be granted at present to ordinary individuals for territories under the Soviet Rule.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air how many sick or invalid soldiers who would otherwise by this time have been demobilised are still being retained for hospital treatment at the expense of the State; whether such hospital treatment is now thoroughly adequate; and what is the cost of it as represented in the Estimates for this year?

There are approximately 5,000 soldiers in hospital in the United Kingdom who are eligible for demobilisation; and the daily cost is approximately £2,500 The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he has received the Report of the special committee under the chairmanship of Air Maurice Fitzmaurice, and when this Report will be published?

Yes, Air. The Report is published as Appendix No. 24 to the Reports of the Public Accounts Committee for 1919 (House of Commons, 223 of 1920).

asked the Prime Minister whether, in considering the legislation for the remainder of the Session, he will have regard to the urgent need for legislation in regard to London traffic?

The answer is in the affirmative, but complicated questions are involved in regard to finance and the relationship of the London Traffic Authority to the Departments of State and to the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air what is the total number of British railway wagons still left in France and Belgium; and can he take steps to further expedite their return in view of the serious shortage of transport facilities in this country?

There are approximately 10,000 British railway wagons of types suitable for use in this country still in France and Belgium. All possible steps are being taken to bring the wagons back as expeditiously as possible. The capacity of the train ferry service is being fully utilized for the purpose and over 24,000 wagons had been returned up to the 23rd May. There has, however, been a marked falling off in the number of wagons returned during the past month owing to the strikes on the railways and at the docks in France.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the present annual cost of war pensions; and the result of any actuarial or other estimate which has been prepared showing the anticipated increase or decrease of the annual cost of war pensions during the next 30 years?

The cost of war pensions administered by the Ministry of Pensions for the financial year 1920–1921 is estimated at £118,211,000. This figure includes the cost of treatment but excludes administrative expenses. I am not aware of any attempt to forecast the future trend of the pension bill referred to, and, having regard to the provision in the warrants for re-adjustment of rates in 1923, and annually thereafter, according to the cost of living, I very much doubt whether any reliable figures could be obtained under present conditions.

asked the Minister of Health if local authorities erecting houses under the housing scheme are given any priority for procuring building materials over other, bodies, such as public utility companies and private builders?

There is no special system of priority with respect to building materials except that the Director of Building Materials Supply has purchased, or contracted for the purchase of, certain quantities of materials of various classes which are available for housing schemes carried out by local authorities and public utility societies and, subject to the terms of the contract with the manufacturer in each case, to private persons undertaking to use the materials forthwith for the purpose of erecting or improving houses for the working classes.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed to introduce the Bill for amending the Rent Restriction Acts?

This Bill was introduced on the 20th May.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Tenterden Board of Guardians have dismissed a married couple holding the positions of assistant master and laundress on the ground that the couple had shown dissatisfaction with existing conditions by applying for an increase of salary for the assistant master and a weekly half-holiday for both of them, the existing hours of duty being 78½ hours per week; and whether, in view of the fact that the Board have no fault to find with the manner in which these officials carried out their duties, and that the assistant master is an ex-service man, he will make representations to this Board of Guardians on the subject of these dismissals.

I am in communication with the Guardians on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health which officers have been appointed to constitute the Welsh Board of Health; and what special functions each is to fulfil?

The Welsh Board of Health is as present constituted as follows:—

Sir Thomas Hughes (Chairman);

Dr. Llewellyn Williams, M.C. (Medical Member);

Mr. John Rowland, M.V.O., C.B.E. (Deputy Controller of Insurance for Wales);

Mr. A. Lloyd Thomas (Housing Commissioner); with

Mr. Percy Watkins (Secretary, Administrative Officer for Public Health and ex-officio member of the Board).

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the rate of commission allowed by the trade associations to be charged by wheat brokers is considerably less than 6s. 3d. per cent., out of which they have to pay their administrative expenses and make a profit; and whether, under these circumstances, he will place the wheat supply entirely under private enterprise and close down the Wheat Commission?

I am aware that the usual wheat brokerage charge varied from a quarter to half of 1 per cent. ( i.e., 5s. to 10s. per £100) on each transaction. I do not, however, regard the work which was performed by a broker as in any way comparable with the work of the Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies, which has, I may remind my hon. Friend, to arrange not only the purchase and sale of the grain, but also the transport, finance and distribution. In fact, the administrative cost of the Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies during the three years 1917 to 1920 amounts to only ·094 per cent. of their gross sales, that is 1s. 10d. per £100. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in regard to the Cabinet decision recently announced by the Leader of the House with reference to the proposed increased provision for Government pensioners, it is intended that ex-postmen, who were pensioned before the War, will be included within the scope of the proposals to relieve certain hard cases amongst pre-War pensioners by increasing the amount of their pensions?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Leader of the House on the 10th of May. Ex-postmen will be treated in the same way as other Civil Service pensioners.

asked the Postmaster-General whether six promotions to the rank of overseer were recently made in the telegraph department at Belfast; whether among the ten fully-qualified men who were passed over there were four men with excellent military records in addition to good civil qualifications; whether, having regard to the men available, he will state why it was necessary to go outside the acting list; and whether he will issue instructions that special attention must be paid to the claims to promotion of these officers on the occasion of any subsequent vacancies?

Six promotions were recently made to the Overseer's class on the telegraph side of the Belfast Post Office. The claims of all the men passed over, including those who had served in the Army, were fully investigated. I cannot admit that military service constitutes in itself a claim to promotion, and I am satisfied that the officers selected are superior in qualifications and ability to those passed over. The claims of the officers will be reviewed when further vacancies arise. Selections for promotion are not necessarily confined to officers included in the Acting list.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the great inconvenience caused to the inhabitants, and especially to the business firms, in the Matlock area by the very late delivery of the first letters in the morning; and will he remove this by arranging for morning letters to be delivered at the pre-war time?

The morning delivery in the town area of Matlock is timed to commence at 7 a.m. and to finish at 9 a.m., and I am assured that these hours are maintained as a general rule. The arrangements are the same as before the war and are similar to those commonly in force at other places.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what date was the price of sulphate of potash first fixed by the Government; what were those prices in Hamburg, Rotterdam, or British ports; on what dates were alterations made in those prices; what were those prices, and is the price controlled by the Government to-day; what quantity of sulphate of potash out of the 40,000 tons contracted for last year with the German Government was licensed for export to the United States, and on what date was the above contract signed; what were the total exports of sulphate of potash and of muriate of potash from the United Kingdom during the last four months of 1919 and the first four months of 1920; and what amounts of each of these chemicals were exported during those periods to the United States?

The following is the information asked for by the hon. Baronet:—

(1) The price of sulphate of potash for sale in the United Kingdom was first fixed by the Government on 20th August, 1919.

(2) The maximum prices fixed were: ex ship British port £22 7s. 6d.; delivered at nearest railway station £23 2s. 6d. In November, 1919, the latter price was advanced to £23 7s. 6d.

(3) The price is controlled by the Government to-day.

(4) The total quantity of sulphate of potash contracted for was 13,250 of salts (not 40,000 tons), and none of this was licensed for export to the United States

(5) The contract with the German Government was formally signed on behalf of the British Government on 1st July, 1919, but the heads of agreement had actually been signed in the preceding March.

(6) The total exports of sulphate and muriate of potash from the United Kingdom during the last four months of 1919 and the first four months of 1920 were: Sulphate of potash 447 tons 16 cwts.; muriate of potash nil; and none of either commodity was exported from the United Kingdom to the United States during the period named.

Out of the material delivered under the German contract, 4,631 tons of sulphate and 12,304 tons of muriate of potash were sold for shipment direct from Hamburg and Rotterdam to British Possessions outside the United Kingdom and a quantity of muriate of potash for shipment direct to the United States, these sales being made on the advice of the Potash Distribution Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Coal Controller will in future abstain from intervening in disputes between the coal-owners and the miners except on appeal from either party; and what steps he proposes to take to re-establish the work of the Coal Conciliation Boards whose functions were superseded during the War?

It is already the policy of the Controller of Coal Mines to insist on such disputes being dealt with by the normal conciliation machinery, and to refuse to intervene unless this machinery fail to effect a settlement; and even then not to do so unless he is appealed to by either party, or unless it appears necessary in the public interest in order to avoid serious loss of output. As regards the last part of the question, the only function of the Conciliation Boards which has been suspended is that of periodically determining the district wages in accordance with the selling price of coal, and it is clear that this cannot be resumed while prices and profits are controlled.

asked the Home Secretary when the Report of the Departmental Committee inquiring into the Workmen's Compensation Acts will be presented and published?

I am informed that the Committee are actively at work on the preparation of their Report and hope to have it ready before the end of this month. As soon as it is received it will be presented to Parliament and published.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now in a position to express the views of the Government with reference to the Report of the Departmental Committee which was appointed in 1918 to inquire into and to make recommendations respecting a national scheme for the training of boys for the sea?

I may refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the Tradeston Division of Glasgow (Major Henderson) on the 10th May.