asked the Secretary of State for War how many yards of khaki cloth the Government has in store at the present moment?

The following quantities of khaki cloth were in stock on the 31st May: Yards. Cloth, Greatcoat, drab mixture 926,031 Serge, drab mixture 2,449,135 Tartan, drab mixture 1,927,862 Bedford cord 254,432 Whipcord 6,195 The present stocks are calculated to cover the requirements of the Regular Army and Reserves and also the Militia and Territorial Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the private soldier will be expected to maintain the proposed coloured uniform; and, if so, what will be the average cost to him per annum?

It is intended that the issue of articles of full-dress should be carried out in the same way as articles of service dress uniform. At present all necessary renewals are free but, with the return to pre-War conditions and the re-introduction of the clothing allowance system, soldiers will receive a money allowance to utilise in the maintenance of their uniforms.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated average initial cost to infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineer, and Royal Army Service Corps officers of the proposed new uniforms; and what is the estimated average annual cost of maintaining these uniforms?

As I have already explained, during the present financial year, full-dress is to be provided only for the Household Cavalry and Foot Guards, and I dealt with the expenditure involved in the statement which I made on the 8th instant. The full-dress for other arms of the service is being considered with the object of reducing the cost as much as possible, and no final decision affecting the Estimates of this year will be taken on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated average initial cost to infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineer, and Royal Army Service Corps officers of the proposed new uniforms; and what is the estimated average annual cost of maintaining those uniforms?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my oral reply to-day to a similar question asked by the right hon. Member for Derby.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will have inquiries made regarding the whereabouts of Private Thomas Dunne, No. 99,863, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was last heard of by his relatives from Khartoum on 4th February; and if he is aware that the officer-in-charge, Royal Army Medical Corps records, Woking, states that the latest information in his possession regarding this man is that he was posted to the Royal Army Medical Corps Depôt, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, Egypt, on 30th June,

Casualties in Mesopotamia from 31st October, 1918, to date. British and Indian Forces respectively. Killed in action and Died from wounds. Wounded. Missing (including Prisoners). Total. Officers. Other Ranks. Officers. Other Ranks. Officers. Other Ranks. Officers. Other Ranks. British (including officers with Indian Units) 19 7 12 15 — 12 31 34 Indian 5 474 11 1,363 — 66 16 1,903 Native Total 24 481 23 1,378 — 78 47 1,937

asked the Secretary of State for War whether ex-service men with long experience of actual warfare are being refused permission to rejoin the Territorial Force on the ground that they are an inch or two below the regulation height; and whether their war record should be regarded as a sufficient guarantee of suitability?

An Instruction will shortly be issued to all concerned stating that in future men who have served for six months or over during the late War (prior to 11th November, 1918) will, provided they are otherwise eligible and medically fit, be allowed to join the Territorial Army even though they do not fulfil the physical standard laid down in the Regulations.

1918, and that no further information regarding him is available?

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

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the total casualties, British and Indian respectively, incurred in Mesopotamia to date since the Armistice with Turkey?

The information is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for War whether recruiting for the Territorial Force has not at present come up to expectations; whether this is to be attributed to a large extent to men in many cases only having been demobilised for a very short period; and whether, with a view to assisting the Territorial movement, he will agree to extend the period of three months during which men had to re-engage for the Territorial Artillery for their service to count as continuous?

There has been a considerable increase in the number of enlistments into the Territorial Army recently, and I think there are grounds for hoping that ultimately the required numbers will be forthcoming. That at any rate is the opinion of those who are most closely acquainted with the subject. The question of extending the three months' period during which men may re-engage for the Territorial Army without breaking the continuity of their service is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give the number of aeroplanes and airships built in Germany during the last six months and those built in this country during the same period; if the German aircraft are being built for commercial purposes or for combative purposes; and what steps have been taken by his Department to develop this branch of industry to assist in promoting trade?

It is estimated that not more than 60 aeroplanes and one airship have been built in Germany during the last six months. In this country 310 aeroplanes (including seaplanes and flying boats) have been built for the Air Ministry for military purposes. In addition, 30 civil aircraft of new construction have been registered, and a certain number of aircraft have been constructed for purchasers abroad. Detailed information with regard to the latter is not available as they are not registered in the United Kingdom. A number of machines of military type have also been reconstructed for civil purposes. No airships have been completed during the last six months, but as already stated on the 8th instant in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Battersea, South, four airships are under construction. The aircraft built in Germany are all intended for commercial purposes. As regards the fourth part of the question, assistance has been given to aircraft firms by subsidising research work publishing the results of experimental and research work which are likely to assist designing firms in the development of aeronautical material, and by giving orders for such aircraft and accessories as are required by the Air Ministry for service or experimental purposes. British aircraft firms endeavouring to obtain a footing in foreign markets have received assistance in the same way as other industries. In addition, the Air Ministry has arranged competitions to be held in August and September this year, and substantial prizes have been offered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give an estimate of the loss of revenue in connection with Excess Profits Duty which is involved in each of the Government amendments to the Finance Bill?

The following are the estimated losses of revenue in a full year, in connection with the Excess Profits Duty, arising out of the proposed concessions made by the Government on the Finance Bill—(the reliefs only apply for accounting periods ending after 31st December, 1919).

£ (i) Allowance of an extra 1 per cent. to the statutory percentage on increased capital 4,000,000 (ii) Increase of the allowance given to small businesses under Section 26 (4) of the Finance Act, 1917 5,000,000 (iii) Alternative allowance to that under (ii), giving a substituted standard based on a percentage on capital with an allowance in respect of each working proprietor 4,000,000 (iv) Increase of statutory percentage on capital in case of companies where directors have a controlling interest to that allowed to firms 1,250,000 Total £14,250,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to state the amount of Income Tax and Excess Profits Duty which is derived from British companies registered in this country, but which carry on their business abroad?

For the year 1919–20 the Exchequer receipt of Excess Profits Duty from British companies carrying on business abroad is estimated at £12,000,000. The Income Tax liability of such companies is estimated at £23,550,000, but the amount receivable by the Exchequer will be diminished on the one hand by reason of the reliefs due in respect of Income Tax on dividends to individual shareholders with small incomes, and increased on the other by reason of the Super-tax payable by shareholders whose total income exceeds £2,000. My hon. Friend will appreciate that these figures are merely a rough estimate; in order to obtain precise figures an investigation of the trading operations of every company would be necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the cost of repairs has at least trebled in the last few years, it is intended still to limit the allowance deducted for repairs from Income Tax on cottage property to one-sixth of the gross rents, minus local rates?

Under the existing law, the allowance for repairs of house property is one-sixth of the annual value as adopted for the purposes of Income Tax under Schedule A, the allowance being normally made each year irrespective of whether there has in fact been an outlay on repairs or not. In addition, in the case of houses of an annual value not exceeding certain prescribed amounts (£70 for houses in the Metropolitan Police District, including the City of London, £60 for houses in Scotland and £52 for houses elsewhere) an owner who can show that on the avera-age of the preceding five years his expenditure on maintenance, repairs, insurance and management has exceeded the above-mentioned allowance of one-sixth may claim repayment of the Income Tax, Schedule A, upon the whole of such excess. The case of the cottage property to which my hon. Friend refers would appear, therefore, to be fully met.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the respective quantities of imported motor spirit paying full duty and half duty, respectively, for each period of four months ending 31st May, 30th September, and 31st January in each of the years 1914, 1915, 1918, 1919, and 1920?

The quantities of imported motor spirit paying full duty and half duty, respectively, for the periods in question were as follow:— — Full rate. Half rate. Gallons. Gallons. Four months ending 31st May. 1914 16,120,000 13,886,000 1915 19,245,000 12,829,000 1918 17,629,000 14,062,000 1919 23,942,000 14,766,000 1920 30,223,000 24,066,000 Four months ending 30th September. 1914 22,675,000 14,431,000 1915 27,069,000 14,874,000 1918 22,317,000 13,546,000 1919 33,612,000 16,599,000 Four months ending 31st January. 1914 13,357,000 13,985,000 1915 13,446,000 13,438,000 1918 12,780,000 15,789,000 1919 20,518,000 13,526,000 1920 32,174,000 21,133,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the recent fall in the price of silver, it will still be necessary to debase the coinage by taking advantage of the Coinage Act of 1920?

It is proposed to proceed with the recoinage of British silver coins at 500 fineness. As I have more than once explained, there is no question of "debasing" the coinage. What is in question is the production of a token coinage of which the intrinsic value will not be likely to exceed the face value in any circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the amount of the securities held by the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt on account of the unemployment insurance fund is over £20,000,000; whether that value is calculated on the face value of its securities, on the purchase value, or the present market value; and under what Vote any loss that might be sustained by realising these funds would be charged?

Mr. BALDWIN: From the particulars given in reply to the hon. Member for South Hackney (Mr. Bottomley) on the 18th May last, it will be seen that the investments on behalf of the Unemployment Insurance Fund are mainly in securities repayable at short date at par or at a premium. The contingency referred to in the last part of the question is therefore not likely to arise. Profits and losses on realisations accrue to the fund.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government have considered the possibility of using any of the Unemployment Insurance Fund over £20,000,000 for the purpose of giving, finding or creating work for some or all of the ex-service men now unemployed?

The Unemployment Fund, which is derived from contributions paid by employers, employed and the State in accordance with the National Insurance (Unemployment) Acts, 1911 to 1919, cannot be applied to purposes other than those defined by those Acts. Due consideration was given last year to the size of the accumulated fund, and as a result the National Insurance (Unemployment) Act, 1919, raised the rate of benefit from 7s. to 11s. per week without increasing the rates of contributions. There is not now any available surplus, as may be seen from the Report of the Government Actuary on the National Insurance (Unemployment) Bill of last Session (Command Paper439).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the rates of pay and conditions of work at the Imperial Institute are: Labour staff, £1 19s. ld., including war bonus of 8s., for a 56½-hour working week; assistants to technical superintendents, £2 1s. 3d., including a war bonus of 8s. 3d., for a 37½-hour working week; carpenters, £2 17s. 8d. for a 48-hour working week; carpenters' labourers, £2 3s. 7d for a 51-hour working week; whether all requests from those men to the Treasury have been declined on the ground that the Imperial Institute is under control of the Colonial Office; that similar requests to the Colonial Office are declined on the ground that the Imperial Institute is under the control of the Treasury; and whether, in view of the irritation such replies are causing among the workers who are asking for the increases, he can state which Department the Institute is under, and if the Treasury is prepared to give consideration to the application from those low-paid workers?

The Imperial Institute is administered under the direction of the Secretary of State for the Colonies by the Executive Council of the Institute. An application has been made to the Executive Council for an increase in the pay of the labour staff, and the question is under consideration. No such replies as the hon. Member suggests have been returned to any applications.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, under the scheme for providing gratuitous university education for demobilised officers, only such officers as had before the War commenced their university education, or had already entered their names at a university, are eligible for selection; and, if the answer be in the negative, whether the scheme is one to assist ex-service men to complete their interrupted education?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the scope of the scheme, I may refer the hon. Baronet to paragraphs 1 to 3 of the Grant Regulations, Statutory Rules and Orders, 1920, No. 161, Command Paper 548.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that when it was decided to combine the Pontypool and Panteg and the Abersychan and Blaenavon food districts for purposes of economy, the executive officer of the former, an old soldier, who had served with distinction during the War, was given notice, and the position bestowed upon a man of military age who had not served during the War; whether this action is in direct conflict with the policy of the Government; and, if so, whether he will see that the matter is reconsidered?

I am making inquiries into this matter, and will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the result.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that, contrary to paragraph 243 (2) in the Local War Pensions Committee Handbook, the finance branch have in some cases insisted that voluntary contributions by employers must be considered in assessing treatment allowances; whether it is to be understood that voluntary contributions, as distinct from contributions which are part of a contractual obligation, should be taken into consideration in such assessments; and whether he is aware that in many cases pensioners engaged on highly-paid work receive less when undergoing treatment than when at work, and are therefore severely penalised by any deduction on account of contributions by employers?

Only payments which an employer is under obligation to make during illness are authorised to be taken into account in assessing treatment allowances. I am unable to trace any instance in which instructions to the effect suggested by the hon. Member have been given by the Ministry. Treatment allowances are based on the pension rates for total disablement, and, being in the nature of flat-rate allowances, they are no doubt in some cases below, just as in other cases they are above, the man's normal wage.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Russian Soviet Government is sending gold to Sweden, and has insured the transport of this gold against all risks; whether any orders, regulations, or statutory provisions have been, or will be, invoked to prevent the taking out of this insurance in London; whether he is aware what London insurance offices or underwriting firms, if any, are covering these risks; and whether the British Government intends to take any action in this matter?

I have no information on the subject, but if the hon. Member will furnish particulars, the matter will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the statement of the total cost of British intervention in Russia up to 31st March, 1920, will be published; and what is the reason for the delay?

I hope that the statement will be in the hands of Members within the next few weeks. There has been no avoidable delay in its preparation, but the information has to he collected from a number of Government Departments, and the hon. Member will realise that the figures for expenditure up to 31st March are not available for some time after that date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether al surplus blankets have now been sold; and, if so, at what price?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what was the cost of the transport of surplus blankets from where they were stored to the new store at Dagenham; what number of blankets were transported; and what was the cost of transport per blanket?

The total cost of the transfer of the blankets from Tilbury to Dagenham, which was effected at the instance of the Ministry of Transport in order to clear a bonded warehouse and thus lessen dock congestion, was £715 12s. 10d. This includes the railway freight rate, Port of London Authority charges, and handling and stacking charges both ends. 215,387 blankets were moved, and the charge is equivalent to 79 of a penny per blanket, or a little over ¾d.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can, in general terms, inform the House what war material belonging to his Department remains unused on the other side of the Channel, apart from that belonging actually to the Army of Occupation; where is is chiefly lying; and whether, before the coming winter sets in, he will have disposed of all of it?

All war material in France not actually in use by the troops has been thrown up to the Disposal Board, except about 1,000 tons of supplies consisting mainly of heavy lubricating oils, a small amount of mechanical transport and some spare parts which are awaiting shipment to this country. Most of this material is lying at Calais, and it is anticipated that it will be shipped by the middle of July. In addition, there are approximately 8,000 railway wagons and 300 ambulance coaches still to be returned to this country. About 60 ambulance coaches and some wagons are in use by the Army of the Rhine; of the remainder, the bulk of the ambulance coaches are understood to be at Audruicq, while the wagons are scattered over the various French railway systems, but are being collected for shipment to this country. It is hoped to bring back all the rolling-stock before the winter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether allotments acquired under the Defence of the Realm Act, under the Small Holdings and Allotments Acts, 1908 to 1919, or by private treaty, are subject to local rates; and, if so, upon what basis are rates imposed on allotments?

Land used for allotments is not exempt from rating, its rateable value being determined upon the same basis as other rateable hereditaments. In the case, however, of land which was entered on for the purpose of allotments under the Cultivation of Lands Order, and was at the date of entry unrated, the view taken by my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture is that the land may be regarded as in the position of Crown land, and thus not subject to rating.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture why the appointed members of the Agricultural Wages Board receive three guineas a day as an allowance for subsistence expenses, etc., while the representatives of the employers and of the workers, for the same number of hours, receive 25s. a day; why for a period of less than five hours 9s. is paid to appointed members and 7s. to the others; wherein do their expenses differ in travelling or subsistence when away from home for more than five hours; and why a fee is not allowed to all members, or vice versâ.

The scale of allowances for subsistence, etc., sanctioned by the Treasury for members of the Agricultural Wages Board was that adopted for members of Trade Boards. An addition of 25 per cent. was recently made to the allowances for representative members, but not to those of appointed members.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the official statement that the Harbours, Docks, and Piers (Temporary Increase of Charges) Bill had been drafted in order to enable dock authorities to recover, by additional charges, the cost of the minimum wage fixed by the Industrial Court for dock labour, he can give an approximate figure of the extra charges thus to be imposed; and whether the effect of these increased port charges will be similar to the imposition of an import duty or protective tariff on the imports in question?

It is not possible to give even an approximate estimate of the additional dock charges that may be imposed under the Harbours, Docks and Piers (Temporary Increase of Charges) Bill. Any increases that may be granted will be based on the additional costs of working the ports, and not upon protective tariff principles.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that there are about 4,000 cotton doublers on strike in the Stockport district; that the strike is causing a great deal of suffering to work-people and their relatives and considerable inconvenience to other industries depending upon doubling; and if he is taking any steps to settle the dispute?

My Department has been in constant communication with the parties to this dispute, which appears to arise from a refusal of the operatives to accept the terms of the recent general settlement of the cotton industry. I regret to state that up to the present it has not been possible to affect a settlement.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, by the ruling of the Industrial Court, tin and lead miners who are members of the dockers' and other unions that were parties to the recent arbitration, will also receive a minimum of 16s. per day; if not, why discrimination is to be made between members of the same union; and can he state approximately what are the wages of the tin and lead miners belonging to these unions?

The Report of the Court of Inquiry appointed under the Industrial Courts Act, which recommended a minimum of 16s. per day for dock labour, was adopted by the National Council of Port Labour Employers and the National Transport Workers' Federation by agreement. The agreement applies only to dock labour and not to all members of unions who may be affiliated to the National Transport Workers' Federation. The wages of men employed at tin and lead mines vary considerably in different occupations. It has recently been arranged that at tin mines in Cornwall no efficient man shall receive less than 45s. a week, but the earnings of the majority of the workmen are considerably higher, and returns received from representative firms, relating to the last week in April, 1920, show average earnings of 52s. 9d. for all classes of work-people (skilled and unskilled, and including youths and boys). At lead mines the rates of wages vary at different mines. The average earnings shown by returns received from certain firms relating to lead and zinc mines were 58s. 11d. in the week ended 24th April.

asked the Minister of Health the proportion, if any, of applications under the National Housing Scheme for powers to build houses for the professional classes, as compared with applications for other types of dwellings?

The Housing Acts, under which the local authorities and other bodies are now operating, apply only to the provision of houses for the working classes. The term "working classes" is, however, not defined, and local authorities have been recommended to give the term a liberal interpretation.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether Sir A. Rose has been appointed Director of Land Settlement for Scotland; whether he is a paint manufacturer and merchant in Leith; whether, prior to the War, he had no practical connection with or experience of agriculture; whether, although he has now taken a large sheep farm, he has placed it in the control of an expert manager; whether definite charges of incompetence have been made against Sir A. Rose; and whether he will immediately order an inquiry into Sir A. Rose's qualifications for this appointment and into the charges which have been made against him when he acted as chairman of the Potato Allocation Authority?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards Sir Arthur Rose's precise pre-War acquaintance with agriculture, I am not in a position to express an opinion, but I am aware that he manages his farm himself and not through an expert manager. So far from any suggestion of incompetency being made against Sir Arthur Rose as Food Commissioner for Scotland, it was his pre-eminent success as an administrator in that capacity which, as I have already stated in this House, induced me to offer him the temporary appointment referred to. Sir Arthur Rose has a large staff of competent agricultural advisers at the Scottish Board of Agriculture, but I must point out to my hon. Friend that the problems of land settlement are not solely agricultural problems.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the 27 women at present in training at Craibstone Farm, Aberdeen, will have completed their training by 30th June; and, if the training scheme is to be terminated at 30th June, what arrangements the Government propose to make for the training of other women who may be desirous of fitting themselves to be placed on farms?

The number of women referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend as being in training at Craibstone Farm, Aberdeen, should be 29, and not 27, as stated in my reply to a similar question on Tuesday last. Of these, 14 com- pleted the full period of 12 weeks on 6th June and 15 will complete a course of 9 weeks on 30th June. This course will be shorter by 3 weeks than the previous course in consequence of the termination of training on 30th June. The question of the continuation of women's training is receiving further consideration, but, as I mentioned on Tuesday last, I can give no assurance that the period will be extended beyond 30th June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Messrs. Frederick Hill and Company, factors and hardware manufacturers, Birmingham, are charging over 100 per cent. more than other factors in the same trade for the same class of goods; whether the prices charged for japanned Perfect shovels, No. 4, was 20s. per dozen in March last, whilst other factors were charging 9s. per dozen, carriage paid; whether the present prices by the other firms are 9s. 3d. per dozen, plus five per cent.; and will he, on proof of these figures, institute proceedings under the Profiteering Act?

I was not previously aware of the matters referred to in the hon. Member's question. The facts set out in the question have been brought to the notice of the Central Committee, who would be glad to receive from the hon. Member any data and proof in support of his allegations.