asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the case of retired officers of the Indian Army on pre-War pensions; and whether he will consider their claims for a temporary increase of pension in view of the increased cost of living?

The hon. and gallant Member will no doubt have learnt from the notification which appeared in the Press on the 4th inst. that I have sanctioned a revision of the pensions of officers of the Indian Army who have rendered satisfactory paid military service during the War. With regard to officers who have not been so employed I regret that I have been unable to sanction any general increase to pensions, but I am in communication with the Government of India in view to some measure of relief being given to cases where officers have been invalided from the Service on small pensions and are in distressed circumstances.

asked the Secretary of state for India whether any witnesses, other than official, were heard by Lord Hunter's Committee concerning the Punjab disorders; whether the leaders of the people who had been imprisoned were not allowed to give evidence while charges against them were given; whether, when these were set free, by royal amnesty, their evidence was offered to Lord Hunter's Committee, but was refused; and, if so, why a hearing was not granted?

Yes, Sir; 25 or more non-official witnesses were examined in the Punjab. As to the rest of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the letter of Lord Hunter, dated 8th March, published with the Report, which answers his inquiries fully.

asked the Secretary of State for India what medal is to be given to the troops employed in the operations on the Afghan frontier last year, and in the Waziristan campaign during the present year; and whether these troops will be eligible for the Victory medal?

The Army Order conveying His Majesty's approval to the grant of the India General Service Medal, 1908, with a clasp inscribed, "Afghanistan, North-West Frontier, 1919," to the troops taking part in the operations against Afghanistan in 1919, is, I understand, about to be issued, if it has not already appeared. The operations in Waziristan being still in progress, the question of a medal has not yet been considered. The last part of the question, regarding the Victory Medal, should be addressed to the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the conference with the Afghan delegates at Mussoorie, which was summarily broken off owing to the invasion of Afghan troops into territory on the British side of the frontier line, has now been resumed; if so, whether this resumption is owing to the evacuation of the positions occupied by the Afghan troops on the British side of the frontier and the withdrawal of the troops into Afghan territory; and, if not, what explanation has been given by the Afghans of this aggression into British territory or what circumstances have induced the Government of India to reopen the conference?

The reply to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. A statement on the subject is being communicated to the Press.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received representations from the Scottish Council for Women's Trades in regard to the provisions of the Trade Boards Acts being applied to the home-knitting industry; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is in the affirmative. Home-knitting is carried on in connection with more than one trade, and I have caused inquiry to be made into the conditions under which this work is carried on with a view to the application of the Trade Boards Acts if that course is expedient.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is now prepared to introduce a Bill giving power to local authorities to increase the public libraries rate from 1d. to 3d. in the £ so that they may be put on an equality with England?

A Bill for this purpose has been drafted, and I trust that it may be possible to introduce it very shortly.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) when the new Land Purchase Bill will be introduced in the House; how much money do the Land Commissioners estimate will be required for the purchase of the agricultural tenancies which now remain unbought under the Land Purchase Acts;

(2) how much bonus does the Government propose to give to the landlords to enable land purchase to be completed throughout Ireland; and at what rate of interest is it proposed to advance the money to the tenants under the new Land Purchase Bill?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to a question asked on this subject by the Prime Minister on Thursday last. With regard to the other matters referred to in the question, I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await the introduction of the Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when the Report of the Irish Land Commission from the 1st April, 1919, to 31st March, 1920, will be published; what is the entire number of rents fixed under the Land Law Acts by all methods enumerated in the Report to 31st March, 1920, where the parties applied to have fair rents fixed for a first statutory term; what is the total rental dealt with; what is the aggregate judicial rent fixed in respect thereof; as the result, what is the average reduction over the entire country; what is the entire number of rents fixed to the 31st March, 1920, for a second statutory term; what is the total rental dealt with in this case; what is the reduction with regard to land purchase; what is the total amount advanced under all the Land Purchase Acts down to the 31st March, 1920; what is the total amount of purchase money represented by all the agreements made between the landlord and the tenant under the various Land Purchase Acts down to the 31st March, 1920; how much money under the Land Purchase Acts has not been sanctioned where the agreements have been entered into; what is the total amount of land purchase money represented by agreements between the 1st April, 1919, and 31st March, 1920; what is the corresponding amount for the 1st April, 1918, to the 31st March, 1919; how much per year is it proposed to finance the agreements that are still pending under the Land Purchase Acts; how much rental has been actually purchased, or agreed to be purchased, under all the Land Purchase Acts throughout Ireland up to the 31st March, 1920; how much rental still remains to be bought in order to complete land purchase throughout the whole country; how much is the total annuity payable by the tenant purchasers on foot of all the advances made to them by the Land Commission for the purchase of their holdings; and how much arrears was due by the tenant purchasers up to the 31st March, 1920?

The Report will be presented to Parliament on the earliest possible date. The entire number of Judicial Rents fixed to the 31st March, 1920, by the different methods provided by the Land Law Acts is as follows:—

First Statutory Term.

No. 382,975, Former Rent, £7,542,981; Judicial Rent, £5,984,354, representing a reduction of 20.7 per cent. on the Former Rent.

Second Statutory Term.

No. 144,094, First Term Rent, £2,585,031; Second Term Rent, £2,086,111, representing a reduction of 19.3 per cent. on the First Term Rent.

Third Statutory Term.

No. 6,032, Second Term Rent, £100,017; Third Term Rent, £90,887, representing a reduction of 9.1 per cent. on the Second Term Rent.

The total amount advanced under the Land Purchase Acts, 1870–1909, up to the 31st March, 1920, was £106,928,823, which with cash payments of £1,861,037 represents a total purchase money of £108,789,860, while in addition the estimated purchase money of lands for the sale of which proceedings had been instituted, but not completed at that date, was £15,015,022, including lands in process of purchase by the Land Commission or the Congested Districts Board.

The amount of purchase money represented by agreements between landlords and tenants where the proceedings were pending, but the advances applied for had not been sanctioned on the 31st March, 1920, amounted to £12,166,533, which figure is included in the £15,015,022 mentioned in the last paragraph. The total amount of purchase money applied for represented by agreements between landlords and tenants lodged during the year to the 31st March, 1920, was £81,200 against £46,363 for the previous year. The Estates Commissioners hope to be able to dispose of the outstanding arrears at a rate of not less than £5,000,000 a year.

The rental of the land sold under the various Land Purchase Acts is not available in all cases, and it is therefore not possible to state the total rental cleared by the operation of those Acts, neither is there any information available as to the rental of lands which have not yet come within their operation. The difficulties of the position with regard to these unsold holdings is very fully set out on pages 97–8 of the Report of the Irish Convention, paragraphs 6–8.

The land purchase annuities now existing in respect of all advances made under the Land Purchase Acts, 1870–1909, to the 31st March, 1920, now amount to £3,316,083, including the full annuity payable under the Labourers Acts. Of the amounts collectable to the last gale day the arrears at the 31st March, 1920, came to £22,489.

asked the Prime Minister (1) how many British refugees from Russia are now housed at Mitcham workhouse, who is in charge of their maintenance, what efforts are being made to find employment for such as desire it, what clothes they possess; and what help the Government is giving towards their relief; (2) how many British refugees from Russia are in this country, by whom are they being cared for, whether the Bolsheviks stripped both men and women naked before releasing them, and relieved them of the whole of their possessions, whether they are in a state of most pitiful destitution, and what steps are the Government taking to relieve their want?

The number of British civilians who reached Finland between 10th March and 27th April, as a result of the Litvinoff agreement, was 727; there are, of course, other refugees from South Russia and Siberia. Those refugees who have no homes to go to or friends to receive them are being cared for by the United Russian Societies Association at Mitcham; as regards the third part of the question, I understand that these persons were subjected to a searching examination before leaving Soviet Russia. They were certainly not all of them relieved of the whole of their possessions. It is, however, true to say that they were not given facilities to bring with them everything which they might have wished. As regards the fourth part of the question, some of the refugees are certainly destitute, and all of them have suffered losses in Russia. The fifth part of the question does not arise, as these persons are being looked after by a private Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether an addition has been made to the number of British troops stationed at Batum; whether reinforcements of French native troops have arrived there; whether Batum has been annexed by this country or by France; and, if not, what is the reason of the military concentration there?

The answer to the first and third parts of the hon. Member's question is in the negative, and to the second part in the affirmative. As regards the last part, no concentration has taken place. The French native troops have replaced a similar formation of British troops which was recently withdrawn.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the revenue received since 1st January, 1920, from the duty levied on mechanical lighters; the number of staff employed; and the approximate expenditure in connection with the collecting of same?

The approximate amount of revenue received from the duty on mechanical lighters from 1st January to 31st March last, was £1,800. The collection of this duty is not assigned to a separate staff. The information asked for in the last two parts of the question is not, therefore, available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the desirability of applying to a limited company the higher statutory percentage for interest on increased capital, as applicable to a firm in cases where the increased remuneration of the managers or managing directors is not allowed as a deduction by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in computing the profits for purposes of Excess Profits Duty?

The question raised by my hon. Friend is one which has been brought to my notice in connection with the provisions of the Finance Bill, but I am not yet in a position to announce my view upon it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the desirability of issuing regulations for the guidance of the Special Commissioners of Inland Revenue as to what constitutes a substantial proprietary interest for purposes of determining whether any increases of remuneration shall be allowed to managers and others concerned in the management of a business?

I am not prepared to adopt the suggestion made by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the depreciated value of the £ since 1913 and since the Finance Act of 1915 introducing the Excess Profits Duty, he will consider allowing to all managers and managing directors 100 per cent. increased remuneration over and above the pre-War basis, so that they may enjoy equitable treatment with all other servants of a company?

As at present advised, I do not see my way to accept the suggestion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what have been the receipts from the Excess Profits Duty in each financial year since it was imposed; and also the estimated receipts from this duty for 1920–21?

The amounts of Excess Profits Duty (including Munitions Levy) paid into the Exchequer for each year since its imposition late in 1915 are as follows:— Year. Exchequer Receipt. £ 1915–16 140,000 1916–17 139,920,000 1917–18 220,214,000 1918–19 285,028,000 1919–20 290,045,000 For the year 1920–21 the yield is estimated to be £220,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the necessity for encouraging the development of civil aeronautics in this country, he is prepared to consider favourably an application for exemption from Entertainments Duty in respect of the forthcoming Aero Exhibition?

I am advised that the forthcoming Aero Exhibition is not entitled to exemption from Entertainment Duty under the provisions of the law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of petrol on which duty, at full rate and half rate, respectively, was paid for the month of May, 1920?

The final figures for the month of May are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the intentions of the Government regarding the imposition of a tax on war fortunes as recommended by the Select Committee?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement on this subject which I made to-day at the close of Questions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in the prospectuses issued by the Government inviting public subscriptions to Five per Cent. War Loan, National War Bonds, Funding Loan, and Four per Cent. Victory Bonds a definite assurance was given that the bonds of these issues and the interest payable from time to time in respect thereof will be exempt from all British taxation, present or future, if they are in the beneficial ownership of persons who are neither domiciled nor ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; and, in the event of the Government deciding to make a levy on war-time wealth, if he proposes to collect the said levy from holders of these bonds of loans who have invested their war-time wealth in the same, and who conform to the conditions set forth in the said prospectuses, or whether these investors are exempt from this or any other levy or any form of taxation?

The undertaking that holdings of the issues named if shown to be in the beneficial ownership of persons neither domiciled nor ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom would be exempt from all British taxation, present or future, was given without reserve. It applies also to holdings of 5 per cent. Exchequer Bonds, 1920, 1921 and 1922, and 5¾ Exchequer Bonds, 1925.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the insertions in a large number of prospectuses offering shares for public subscription, and advertised in newspapers, of a statement to the effect that no receipt will be issued for payment on application or that an acknowledgment will be forwarded in due course either by allotment letters or return of the application money; whether the methods referred to constitute evasions of the Stamp Act requiring receipts bearing a stamp to be given where payment is made of 40s. or over; and whether he will for the future discountenance such evasions and prevent the consequent loss of revenue, either by public notice or by directing the Registrar of Public Companies to refuse to file prospectuses in which statements of the character referred to are contained?

My attention has not been drawn to the statement referred to in the first part of the question, but a statement that no receipts will be issued would not constitute an evasion of stamp duty. The Stamp Act requires that a receipt for a payment of £2 or more must be stamped if given, and must be given if asked for.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been the total cost of the War to Great Britain from August, 1914, to 31st March, 1920; and the respective proportions of this cost raised by taxation and by borrowing?

The total Exchequer Issues from 3rd August, 1914, to 31st March, 1920, amounted to £11,196,927,000, of which 35.9 per cent. was raised from revenue and 64.1 per cent. by borrowing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether power methylated spirit imported into this country is at present, or will be under the Finance Bill, subject to any higher taxation than 4d. per gallon?

Methylated spirit imported is liable to the full spirit import duty, and there is no provision in the Finance Bill for waiving this duty on importations of power methylated spirit. But the plain unsweetened foreign spirit or rum may be imported for methylation in this country, subject only to payment of the difference between the duty of Customs chargeable thereon and the duty of Excise chargeable on British spirits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what Vote the grant of money to the Save the Children Fund is made; how much of such money has been spent in literature, collection, etc.; and how much has been allotted to each nation relieved by the Fund?

No grant has been made to the Save the Children Fund. The remainder of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Government has paid no contribution towards the rates in respect of the Bramley Munition Stores, work on the site of which was commenced in November, 1916, the stores consisting of 61 large buildings of brick and concrete in addition to 16 smaller buildings with about 20 miles of railway line within the area, the Ministry of Munitions having announced that these stores, which extend on both sides of the Great Western Railway for a distance of about three miles between Basingstoke and Bramley stations, are to be permanently retained; and whether he will inquire into this question?

The Bramley Munitions Depot has been handed over to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. A valuation for the purposes of the Government grant of contribution in lieu of rates on the depot is in course of preparation and, when fixed by the Treasury, will operate for the purposes of the grant from the date on which the depot was completed and occupied.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether priority for exports of coal from the United Kingdom has been granted to France and Italy; and what was the amount of such exports respectively to those countries in the months of March, April, and May?

Priority has been granted in the past to these two countries; but arrangements have now been made, in lieu of the priority system, to specify the monthly quantities of coal available for export from the United Kingdom to France and Italy. The quantities of coal exported during the months of March, April, and May were 1,184,031, 953,809, and 978,769 tons to France, and 204,290, 232,073, and 289,160 tons to Italy, respectively.

asked the Home Secretary (1) if he is aware that the mines rescue brigades in Scotland, because of a wages dispute with the Scottish coalowners, have been on strike for some months past, and that in consequence of this strike the provisions of the Mines Act with regard to rescue work is not being carried out; if he intends to take any steps to bring this strike to an end;

(2) if he is aware that the strike of the rescue brigades at the Scottish mines has been brought about by the refusal of the coalowners to discuss the men's claim for an advance in wages with the representatives of the union of which they are members, and what action he is taking to secure that the rescue work shall not meanwhile be interfered with?

I am aware that the members of several Central Rescue Corps in Scotland have been on strike for the past two months, but I am informed that arrangements have been made for trained volunteers at the mines to carry out rescue work in the event of the Central Rescue Corps not being available in case of necessity. The dispute is receiving the attention of the Controller of Coal Mines, who has, as the hon. Member knows, discussed the matter with both parties. As at present advised, I see no ground for intervention on my part.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of sugar the Royal Sugar Commission allotted for domestic jam making in 1919; what quantity of sugar has been applied for in the current year for domestic jam making; and how many tons does the Royal Commission's allotment of 2 lbs. per head for domestic jam for the current year amount to?

The total quantity of sugar allotted for the purpose of domestic jam making in 1919 was 63,000 tons. It is impossible to give a precise figure as to the quantity actually applied for in the current year, as the scheme of distribution adopted has rendered it unnecessary for the figures to be totalled, but it is estimated to be not less than 200,000 tons, a quantity far in excess of the supplies available. The allotment of 2 lbs. per head amounts to about 21,000 tons, but a further allocation of 1 lb. of sugar for every 8 lbs. of fruit is being made to those persons who grow their own fruit, and it is estimated that this will absorb an additional 11,620 tons. The total quantity set aside for domestic preserving is 35,000 tons, and the balance will be used to meet as far as possible any cases where the applicants appear to have special claims to consideration. A certain quantity of sugar privately imported under arrangements previously in force is still on the market, and permission has been given for this sugar to be sold for the purpose of domestic jam making, free of restriction.

asked the Minister of Food what is the available quantity of sugar imported by private parties which the Royal Sugar Commission announced may now be sold unrestrictedly to the public under guarantee that it will be used for domestic jam making only; what quantity of West India yellow crystal sugar is available in this country between now and July; and why do the Royal Sugar Commission forbid the sale of this sugar to the public for domestic jam making?

The total quantity of sugar for which licences to take delivery have been issued up to the present date is 48,000 tons, but I am unable to say what proportion of this is now available for sale for domestic preserving. As regards the second part of the question the quantity of West Indian yellow crystal sugar available in this country between now and July is dependent upon the quantity which private importers may decide to ship. To permit the sale of this sugar free of all restriction would conflict with the policy of restricting consumption which is necessary in consequence of the world shortage and the resulting high prices.

asked the Minister of Food whether sugar was being retailed in Natal at 3¼d. per pound during the month of May; and whether he has the average retail price quotations for sugar for the last month in Japan, Buenos Ayres, and Cuba?

I understand that the maximum retail price of sugar in Natal at the end of April was 6d. per lb., and I have no information as to its having been sold at a lower price. The retail price in Japan at the end of April was 1s. 3¾d. per English pound. It is reported that this figure has risen slightly during the month of May. The retail price in Buenos Ayres during May was 1s. 3¼d. per lb. The retail price in Cuba during May was 1s. 2d. per lb., and it is expected that it will shortly rise to 1s. 3d. per lb. All these prices have been calculated at normal rates of exchange My hon. Friend will of course realise that these countries are themselves sugar-producing countries.

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the admitted superabundance of milk in various parts of the country and the readiness of certain farmers and dealers to still further reduce prices, he will consider the desirability of lowering the prices to 6d. per quart; and also if the time has now arrived to empower local authorities to make arrangements to supply large families with clean wholesome milk at specially low rates?

— Wheat. Oats. Price per Imperial Quarter of British Wheat. Quantity Produced in United Kingdom. Imports (including flour in equivalent weight of grain). Price per Imperial Quarter of British Oats. Quantity Produced in United Kingdom. Imports. s. d. qrs. qrs. s. d. qrs. qrs. 1913 … … 31 8 7,087,000 28,587,000 19 1 20,660,000 6,520,000 1919 … … 72 11 8,665,000 22,401,000 52 5 25,495,000 2,409,000

My hon. Friend appears to have forgotten that milk is no longer controlled and that there are accordingly no statutory prices. With regard to the latter part of the question, the Milk (Mothers and Children) Order, 1919, already empowers local authorities to supply expectant and nursing mothers and children under 5 years of age with milk either free or below cost price.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture what was the increase in the cost of production of wheat and oats on the 31st March, 1920, over that on the 31st March, 1914?

No information is available as to the cost of production of wheat and oats in 1914 and the only complete inquiry is that made by the Royal Commission on Agriculture in 1919, who came to the conclusion that the figures of 68s. per quarter of 504 lbs. of wheat and 46s. per quarter of 336 lbs. of oats were slightly below the costs of production in that year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture what was the average price per quarter of wheat and oats in 1913; what was the total number of quarters of each produced and imported; and what were the corresponding figures in 1919?

The following table supplies the hon. Member with the information he desires:—

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet arranged for holiday travelling at ordinary pre-War rates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays?

This proposal is already the subject of inquiry, but I am not yet in a position to announce a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport what were the amounts received by those railways of which possession was taken at the outbreak of war in passenger fares and for goods traffic for the year ending 31st December, 1913; and what were the corresponding amounts received during the year ending 31st December, 1919, excluding from the latter year any receipts for Government traffic in excess of those received for the year 1913?

The receipts in respect of passenger fares in 1919 are not yet available, but the following comparative figures for 1913 and 1919 show the receipts from passenger trains (including parcels carried by passenger trains) and goods train traffic.

Amounts received by controlled railways in Great Britain for the year 1913:— Passenger train traffic £54,096,074 Goods train traffic £68,551,503 Total gross traffic receipts £122,647,577

Receipts from Government traffic are included in these figures, but the amount is not available.

The corresponding earnings for the year 1919 were:— Receipts from passenger train traffic £87,940,519 Receipts from goods train traffic £72,724,002 Estimated amounts which would have been received for Government traffic £21,357,193 Total gross traffic receipts £182,021,714

Increases in passenger fares and other charges were not taken into account in connection with Government traffic until 1st April, 1919.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the recent statement that the Government have decided to increase the pensions of certain pre-War pensioners applies to the railway salaried staff?

The answer is in the negative. The question of increasing the pensions of railway annuitants is not one for the Government, but is one for the railway companies or the trustees of the various superannuation funds. I have already intimated on more than one occasion that I hope that the railway companies will give the matter consideration.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that the council of the royal borough of Kensington on the 4th May last submitted to the London Housing Board of the Ministry of Health particulars of suggested rentals for six flats, into which the premises No. 20a, Adair Road, North Kensington, had been converted, and that the Board have up to the present time failed to approve the suggested rentals or to suggest alternative rentals for the flats in question, whereby a number of families urgently in need of accommodation have been precluded from taking tenancies of the flats, which have been ready for occupation for the past month; and whether he will give instructions for the matter to be attended to forthwith; (2) Whether he is aware that the council of the royal borough of Kensington have been prevented from letting eight flats and maisonettes at the premises, No. 85, Ladbroke Grove, and No. 69, Elgin Crescent, owing to their being unable to obtain from the London Housing Board of the Ministry of Health the necessary information to allow of their submitting suggested rentals for such flats and maisonettes, notwithstanding the fact that the conversion work has been completed for some weeks; and whether arrangements can be made to obviate delays of this kind, whereby flats which are ready for occupation are obliged to remain empty?

Special considerations arose with regard to the fixing of the rents for these flats; but I hope that the matter will be definitely settled at a conference with the borough council which is being held to-day.

asked the Minister of Health what the annual cost would be if a pension were provided for every person of 60 years of age who is totally unable in consequence of ill-health to work?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what the annual cost would be if, in the calculation of the yearly value of property owned by the claimant of an old age pension, the actual annual yield of the property were reckoned instead of the fictitious yearly value calculated as required by the Act of 1919?

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Mnister of Health what the annual cost would be if the present scale of old age pensions were augmented by the addition of a bonus to compensate for the increase in the cost of living since 1st January last, the amount of such bonus to be ascertained on 1st July and 1st January in each year?

It is impossible to frame an estimate of the annual cost of any system of bonus additions to old age pensions which would rise or fall according to the fluctuations in the cost of living, as it is, of course, impossible to forecast what these fluctuations will be.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has considered the advisability of abolishing in toto the Employment Exchanges, on the ground that their expense exceeds their usefulness?

I must refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for the Kennington Division (Mr. Purchase) on the 17th of May and to my hon. Friend the Member for the Bridgeton Division (Mr. M. Scott).

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Circular No. 216, relating to the sick pay of members of the staff of local War Pensions Committees, which prohibits the payment of sick pay to members of the staff who are subject to the provisions of the National Insurance Acts, during the first six months' paid service, is causing dissatisfaction amongst War Pensions Committees, who regard this Regulation as an injustice to their staff; and whether, in view of the large volume of work which the staff of these Committees is called upon to do, and to the fact that those affected are for the most part demobilised soldiers, he will cause such alteration to be made in the circular as will enable sick pay to be allowed irrespective of the length of the time of the service of the recipient?

The Regulation referred to applies to the temporary staff of all Government Departments, and, as the pay of the staff of Local Committees is borne on the Vote of this Ministry, it is impracticable to accord to them more favourable treatment than that given to temporary officers in the direct employ of the Department, very many of whom are also demobilised soldiers.

asked the Pensions Minister how many Boards, each consisting of three qualified medical practitioners, are sitting daily in the United Kngdom and Ireland; whether the work they discharge is largely routine and could be efficiently done by one qualified man; whether the minimum fees paid to each medical man at present engaged on this work amounts to £1 11s. 6d. per day; and whether, having regard to economy, he can undertake to alter the system prevailing?

There are at present 455 Boards established for the United Kingdom which sit, not daily, but only as occasion requires. For example, the number of sessions held during the week ending 22nd May corresponds with the full time work of 222 Boards. The work of the Boards is by no means routine, but is of a highly technical nature which in very few cases, if any, could be carried out by a single practitioner, and calls for expert examination and diagnosis, followed by consultation between the members in order to secure an equitable assessment. The Minister has considered carefully the possibility of reducing the personnel, but he is convinced that any steps in this direction would be against the best interests both of the pensioner and the State, and would fail to achieve any real economy. The ordinary fee paid to each member of a Board is £1 11s. 6d. for each session of 2½ hours. I do not regard this fee as in any way unreasonable.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air upon what tenure Burton Court, Chelsea, is held by the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital; and whether they are subject to any conditions as to the disposal of the site?

Burton Court was purchased from Lord Cheyne in 1687 to form the forecourt and main entrance to the Royal Hospital out of funds provided for its erection and maintenance. In 1875 Burton Court, together with such other of the lands and premises of the Royal Hospital as were then under the management of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, was conveyed by the Chelsea Hospital Lands Act (38 and 39 Vict.) to the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital, in trust, for the benefit of the Hospital and for the purposes of the institution. The Commissioners have no power to sell or exchange any of the lands so conveyed, but there is nothing in the Act to prevent the Commissioners from granting beneficial leases of such lands, the rents for such leases being applied for the benefit of the hospital and for the purposes of the institution.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he is aware of the strong feeling that has been excited by the continued occupation of Burton Court, Chelsea, by the Ministry of Pensions, and whether he will use his influence with the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital to induce them to terminate at once the lease with the Office of Works?

The Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital have felt themselves precluded from assenting to the grant of a lease of Burton Court, but are in negotiation with His Majesty's Office of Works in regard to a limited extension of the period during which the temporary buildings are to be occupied by the Ministry of Pensions.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the technical routine unestablished clerks have had their hours extended beyond those of the established clerks in His Majesty's Stationery Office in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh; whether he is aware that overtime has been stopped in the case of the unestablished clerks but continued to the established clerks; and the reason for this differentiation?

The remuneration of technical routine unestablished clerks in His Majesty's Stationery Office has been fixed on the basis of remuneration for a minimum working week of 42 hours, and their terms of employment are the same as those prescribed for other clerks of similar grades in other Government Departments. The permanent clerks referred to receive overtime payment for work done in excess of 42 hours a week, and their remuneration has been fixed with regard to this consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport how many officials in his employ are engaged in compiling statistics and what is their aggregate salary; and whether, in view of the fact that the unanimous opinion of the commercial community is that there is no utility for these statistics, he will take steps to dismiss these needless officials?

The number of officials of all grades employed in the Statistics Branch of the Ministry at the present time is forty, and their aggregate salaries, including war bonus, amounts to £11,890 a year. I entirely dissent from the statement made in the latter part of the question as to the alleged opinion of the commercial community.

asked the Minister of Transport how many members of his staff are engaged in issuing orders to the local railway managers; whether he is aware that in the opinion of practical commercial people many of these orders are unworkable; whether he proposes in the interests of economy to dismiss these people at once; and when he proposes to close down his Department?

Directions given by the Minister to railway companies are issued to the directors. No orders are issued by the staff of the Ministry of Transport to local railway managers, and the remainder of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any of the Crown Colonies, and if so, which, have been invited to introduce a scheme of preferential duties in their tariffs; and what replies, if any, have been so far received from them?

An invitation to consider the practicability of preferential rates for goods of Imperial origin has been addressed to all Colonies and Protectorates, except those which are precluded by existing international agreements from doing so, and a few others in which preference is already in force, or is from special circumstances inapplicable. Replies have been received so far from Hong Kong and Sierra Leone, in both of which preference is considered unnecessary; from Cyprus, where legislation on the subject has been passed; and from Mauritius, Trinidad, Jamaica, British Guiana, the Windward and Leeward Islands, and British Honduras, in all of which the question is being considered.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, by reducing the number of deliveries, or in some other manner, the first delivery of letters in the S.W.1 district can be expedited, or whether it is the case that the first post cannot be distributed, even in the summer months, before 8.45 a.m.?

It would not be practicable to arrange for the earlier completion of the morning delivery of letters in the district in question either in the summer or at other seasons, except by incurring expense for additional staff, for whom full employment would not be found during the remainder of the day or by excluding from the delivery letters received by the principal night mails from the provinces. I should not be justified in authorising either of these measures.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the great discontent in the Borough of Macclesfield at the administration of the telephone system in that borough; that applications made over two years ago by a large silk manufacturer, and a prominent doctor, have received no attention; that the local view is that the administration centre, being many miles away at Hanley, is the cause of the trouble; and whether, in view of the serious position, he will appoint a local committee, under the chairmanship of the mayor, to inquire into these excuses raised by the telephone authorities at Hanley?

The difficulty in meeting demands for telephone service is, I regret to say, not confined to Macclesfield. It is mainly due to the suspension of development during the War. There is no justification for the view that Macclesfield has been neglected because of its distance from the administrative centre and no useful purpose would, in my opinion, be served by a local inquiry such as that suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is possible to give in advance the dates on which mails are expected from overseas, as was done before the War?

In consequence of the uncertainty of steamship sailings and arrivals under present conditions, it is not yet possible to give the detailed information as to dates of arrival of overseas mails which was furnished before the War. As opportunity offers, steps will be taken to furnish such information as becomes available.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the results or recommendations of the last Naval Welfare Committee will be made known; and whether he is aware that the lower deck of the Navy are handicapped in framing their proposals for the next Welfare Committee by lack of knowledge of the approval or otherwise of the claims put forward by the last Committee?

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any Report of the Lower Deck Welfare Committee is to be issued; and, if so, when it will be ready?

It is hoped that the decisions of the Admiralty on the Report of the Welfare Committee will be promulgated to the fleet on some points within the next few weeks, but it will take some time longer before decisions can be given on the whole of the questions, which are very numerous and important, as was inevitable on the first occasion of setting up such a Committee. It is not thought that the inconvenience referred to by my friend the hon. Member for Devonport (Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke), which arises unavoidably from the great number of requests to be dealt with, will recur in future years.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can say if the decision to cease granting two free travelling warrants per annum to naval ratings on 31st May, 1920, is the reply to the request of the Naval Welfare Committee that they might be continued, or whether the recommendations of the last Welfare Committee is still under consideration?

The recommendations of the last Welfare Committee are still under consideration, but, having regard to the fact that the free railway warrant concession was a War-time measure only, and the cessation of this concession is of general application to the Navy, Army and Air Force, it will not be possible to accord exceptional treatment in the case of the Navy in this matter. A decision was reached in regard to the discontinuance of the free railway warrant concession after consultation with the other departments concerned before the rcommendation of the Welfare Committee was received.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is proposed to raise the retainer given to the Royal Fleet Reserve to 1s. per diem in order that they may be on equal terms with the Army Reserve?

It is not proposed to increase the amount of the retainer given to Royal Fleet Reservists (Class B) to that allowable in the case of the Army Reserve. The conditions of service are not identical, and the rates of pension and gratuity payable to members of the Royal Fleet Reserve on completion of the qualifying period of service have recently been substantially increased.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air if he is aware that the kit belonging to ex-Sergeant Henry Arthur Funnell, No. 7,937, 2nd Royal West Kent Regiment, of 112½, Clarendon Park Road, Leicester, who was mobilised in India in January, 1915, at Multan, and sent to Mesopotamia, which was stored in India under regimental arrangements, and which he was promised by the adjutant would be sent home to him, has been lost; that ex-Sergeant Funnell was informed by the depôt in India in November, 1919, that his kit had been sent to the Royal West Kent depôt at Maidstone; that, on his applying for it, the officer commanding informed him that there was no trace of his kit; that, on the advice of the War Office, ex-Sergeant Funnell wrote to the general officer commanding the Eastern Command and claimed £50 compensation for his kit, at the end of April, and has not yet had any reply; and if he will cause inquiry to be made into this case?

I am making inquiries, and will let the Noble Member know the result.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he is aware that, in spite of the fact that late Armament Staff-sergeant G. Hall, No. T/1,529, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, has been informed by his regimental pay master that he is entitled to the Army of Occupation bonus from 1st February, 1919, he has not yet received it, and has consequently been waiting for 16 months; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I am having inquiry made into this case, and will inform the hon. and gallant Member of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he is aware that a very large quantity of hay belonging to the Army is still stored at Ringwood, Hants; and whether he proposes to hand it over to the Disposal Board before the next hay harvest?

Any hay stored at Ringwood is being used and is required for Army horses. It is not proposed to hand the hay over to the Disposal Board as suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he is aware of the treatment meted out to 20 or 30 temporary officers of the Royal Engineers in the Egyptian Army of Occupation, who are being retained in Egypt against their will, in spite of the fact that conscription is no longer in force; that as G.R.O. 613 (20th January, 1920) expressly stipulates that non-Regular officers may be retained provided no Regular officers are available to relieve them, the units are being kept below strength, and that Regular officers are proceeding to India, etc., on leave, and some to Chatham for the purpose of attending educational courses; and, if so, whether he will take immediate action to ensure these temporary officers being speedily demobilised?

Twenty - three officers are retained with the Royal Engineers in Egypt and Palestine. Every effort is being made to replace them by Regular officers or by officers who have volunteered for retention.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air what professional qualifications the Army Council regard as equivalent to Associate Member, Institute of Mechanical Engineers, for purposes of Army Order 324 of 1919?

It is not proposed to accept any qualifications as equivalent to Associate Member, Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Associate Member, Institute of Civil Engineers, or Associate Member, Institute of Electrical Engineers, other than those which are accepted as equivalent by the institutions themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air if Greek troops have advanced across the Albanian frontier and have occupied Argyrocastro; and if there is any British officer with this force?

So far as is known, Greek troops have neither occupied Argyrocastro nor crossed the Albanian frontier, and no British officers is attached to the Greek force.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will restore the Brighouse Local Pensions Committee, and who authorised and signed the document transferring them in the first instance to the West Riding authorities?

My hon. and gallant Friend is, I presume, referring to the Brighouse Sub-Committee. The situation is that Brighouse is within the administrative area of the West Riding County Council, and was accordingly included in the original scheme framed by that authority under the provisions of the Naval and Military War Pensions, etc., Act, 1915. I may, however, inform my hon. and gallant Friend that the future of the Brighouse War Pensions Sub-Committee is at present receiving my serious consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he is aware that Second-Lieutenant P. V. Baines, late Royal Flying Corps, S.R., has been refused his gratuity owing to an adverse report by an officer under whom he was serving; whether this officer himself was subsequently sent home; whether he is aware that cases have arisen in the Royal Flying Corps in which adverse reports have been made upon officers owing to their superiors in some instances being quite inexperienced in the customs of the Service and not realising their responsibility towards their subordinates in these matters; and whether, in view of the fact that Second-Lieutenant Baines received good reports from his other commanding officers and was willing to join any other branch of the military forces when his unsuitability for flying was evident, he will cause an investigation to be made into this case with a view to the gratuity being issued?

I have carefully considered the question of this officer's gratuity, and am not prepared to reverse the decision already given.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Education Act at present in force allows school journeys for children of the elementary schools only on the condition that the whole of the travelling expenses are paid by the education authority; whether in the past the children, teachers, and friends have contributed to the journey fares to enable the children to go to the seaside for the school visit; whether the letter of the law is this year strictly to be enforced, and no contribution from the children, teachers, or friends will be allowed; whether, as the London County Council only allows 3s. 6d. per head for such journeys, a number of children who have been arranging to go for their school visit to the seaside will be unable to do so; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The answer to the first and third parts of the question is in the negative. Under the London Education Authority the arrangements are made under Section 17 of the Education Act, 1918, and includes a regulation, suggested by the Board, that "the selection of individual children to take part in school journeys shall not be determined, directly or indirectly, by the ability of their parents to contribute to the cost." I understand that in London funds are being raised, as in the past, by means of voluntary contributions, entertainments, etc., for the purpose of aiding these arrangements. There is nothing to prevent a continuance of this benevolent practice. The London authority bear the cost of the travelling expenses, board and lodging of the teachers who are in charge of the journeys, and make other contributions, including, in respect of the board and lodging of each child, sums which vary from 15s. a week to 3s. 9d. a week.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has now received the request from the Hastings County Council to sanction a bye-law recently made permitting the employment of children before school hours, as provided in the Education Act, 1918; and whether he will now give full consideration to the representations received in opposition thereto?

I have received in draft a copy of the bye-laws proposed to be made by the Local Education Authority for Hastings. The bye-laws will be published in due course before they are finally submitted to me for confirmation; and any objections which have already been made or may be made within the period of 30 days after publication will receive full consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the treatment of certain members of the police force throughout the country who have been compulsorily retired immediately before the introduction of the new scale of pensions; whether he is aware that these men were in many cases compulsorily retained in the service, after their due date for retirement, for war service; and whether he is prepared to give individual consideration to these cases that they may be treated on their merits?

I am aware that during the War there was a large number of constables who, after they had given notice of their desire to retire on pension, were retained compulsorily under the Police (Emergency Provisions) Act. The question of when these men should be relieved from further service was one for the local police authority, and I have no power to interfere or to grant increased pensions.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that ex-Police-constable Lowes was demobilised from the Army in January, 1919, on a pension of 17s. a week and that this was reduced to 8s. 8d. in April, 1920; and whether, in view of the fact that 20 men in receipt of Army and Navy pensions have been reinstated in the Metropolitan Police, he has now ordered ex-Police-constable Lowes, who has only 3½ years' service in order to qualify for a full police pension, to be re-examined with a view to his reinstatement in the Force?

The Commissioner has asked the Ministry of Pensions to supply particulars of the medical history of this man whilst in the Army and of the report of the Medical Board on which a pension was awarded. As soon as these documents have been received, the question of re-examination will be considered.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 63,885 aliens arrived in this country during the first quarter of this year and only 192 of them were refused permission to land; how many of them proposed to settle here for the purpose of making money and how many were tourists or visitors only who would leave the country in a short time; and if he will prohibit the entry into this country of all aliens except tourists whilst the present difficulty in housing our own population continues?

Yes, Sir; the figures referred to in the first part of the question (not quite correctly as regards the refusals of leave to land) are given in a Return which I recently laid on the Table. The fact which appears from the same Return that in the same period 61,399 aliens left this country answers the second part of the question. As regards the third part, the answer is in the negative; any such policy would be disastrous to the world-wide operations of the British Empire in finance, commerce and all other ways.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received any communication from the women probation officers for the London Juvenile Courts expressing the views that, fundamentally, the present system of dealing with the juvenile delinquent requires no drastic change, that in their opinion it is essential in probation work that the magistrate should be in close personal touch with the child through the probation officer, deprecating the creation of a Central Court presided over by one magistrate only instead of the existing District Juvenile Courts, and strongly urging that the appointment of women assessors in Children's Courts to be entirely unnecessary; and if he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have received the communication referred to in the first part of the question. It is based on an entire misconception of what the Bill proposes, but of course the views of experienced women probation officers will receive every consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any representative of the Persian Government has recently arrived in England; and, if so, what is his status and purpose?

The Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs has recently been in London. As to his purpose in coming to this country I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to the hon. Members for Henley (Captain Terrell) and Stafford (Mr. Ormsby-Gore) on 1st June.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the congestion caused in consulates and passport offices throughout the world by the maintenance of the present passport system, he will consider the advisability of compiling an international white list of individuals guaranteed by their respective Governments as beyond suspicion, to whom permanent passports, renewable at reasonable periods, might be issued?

The question of the compilation of an international White List will receive consideration, but it is feared that there would be considerable difficulty in the adoption of such a scheme. The congestion referred to would be mitigated to a great extent if travellers availed themselves of the extended visa available for one year now granted by British authorities and also by various foreign countries.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions the total value of surplus Government munitions and other property still awaiting disposal at Georgetown; what steps are being taken to dispose of this property by auction or otherwise; whether any opportunities are given for the purchase of small lots, and of guns and munitions as scrap; and what steps are taken to prevent theft and deterioration?

Approximately one-half of the stores and materials at Georgetown are surplus to requirements, but the other half are reserve stocks held by the War Office which are not available for disposal. Already a considerable part of the surplus stores have been sold and are awaiting removal. It is thought that the total value of surplus stores which are available and awaiting disposal is about £250,000. Sales have been effected by auction, tender, and private treaty, and further sales have already been arranged. Wherever practicable opportunities are given for purchasing small lots, and it is probable that such guns and munitions as are surplus will be disposed of as scrap. Every possible precaution is taken to prevent theft and deterioration of material pending disposal.