asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in 1916 and 1917 the military authorities at Havre took the lease of a large piece of ground, later known as Canal Depôt Soquence, of about 55 acres, from the French firm, Societé Normande de Constructions Navales, for our military purposes; that it was decided by agreement between the parties concerned in January, 1919, that evacuation by the British should take place, the contract being annulled in a letter dated 10th February, 1919, from the British base authorities, after which no further rent was paid; that further meetings between the French and British authorities were held during 1919, when the French pressed for the evacuation to be hastened; that the British promised to complete the evacuation by the end of February, 1920, but have not yet fulfilled this promise; that the pecuniary loss caused to the Societé Normande de Constructions Navales is very great, because, owing to congestion, everything in connection with the embanking of the platform itself of their shipyards has to be done by hand instead of mechanically, and, further, because this causes a considerable delay in the construction of a set of ten vessels in the above-mentioned shipyards; and that this occupation of an industrial ground being not yet disencumbered from British war material nineteen months after the Armistice is causing considerable inconvenience in France; and whether His Majesty's Government will give adequate compensation and hasten the evacuation of this land?

I have no information regarding this matter, but a report is being obtained, and I will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as it has been received.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether there are quantities of war stores lying in the open rotting at Didcot; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have been asked to reply, as the establishment at Didcot is a permanent Army Ordnance Depôt. There are some stores (including vehicles) in the open at this depôt, some of which have been reported for disposal, but I am informed that there is no evidence to warrant the suggestion that the stores are rotting. Care is taken to select articles least liable to deterioration for storage in the open, and they are carefully examined from time to time. The provision of cover in these cases would not be practicable, but as the surplus stores are disposed of, it is hoped that cover will become available for all stores permanently to be retained.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that for 50 years prior to the passage of the National Insurance Act, 1911, all employés in the Royal Arsenal were entitled to sickness benefit; that after the passing of the Act this benefit ceased; and whether he can explain the reason for so altering the conditions of employment in the Arsenal?

The alterations in the sick pay regulations at the Royal Arsenal made when the Insurance Act came into force were based upon the recommendations of an Inter-Departmental Committee that dealt with the question as affecting the Government service as a whole. It is not the case that the preexisting benefits at the Arsenal were entirely abolished. As my right hon. Friend may recollect, the vested privileges of the existing employés were in the main preserved by adjustment of the old sick pay, and the new benefits under the Act and the changes made were, generally speaking, accompanied by an upward revision of wages to compensate for the reduced value of the departmental privileges.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the date of a soldier's demobilisation counts from the date of leaving the dispersal camp or from the end of his furlough?

A soldier serving on a duration of the War engagement may be said to have been demobilised when he has been issued, either at a Dispersal Station or through the post with a Protection Certificate and has proceeded on his demobilisation furlough. During the 28 days of this furlough he receives full pay and allowances, and is free to take up any civil employment; and on the expiration of the furlough he is discharged.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that all supplementary and special separation allowances payable under the Special Grants Committee's Regulations, Part II., are to be withdrawn on the grounds that on and after 30th June all men who volunteered for service during the War, or were conscripted under the various Military Service Acts, will be demobilised by that date; whether all the men in the classes described will in fact be returned to civilian life by that date; and if not, whether he will take steps to ensure that the promises of assistance made to these men before their enlistment or conscription is carried out, and that the grants are not withdrawn until such men are actually demobilised?

All men of the classes referred to will have been demobilised by 30th June, with the exception of those who since the conclusion of hostilities have volunteered to remain with the Colours for a further period, and a few who are in hospital or are undergoing detention or imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether records are available showing the productive capacity of the industrial establishments of the country at the time of the Armistice for each class of war material and equipment; whether such records have been kept up to date; and whether any provision has been made for their being periodically revised in the future?

As regards the first and second parts of the question, I can add nothing to the reply given on 21st June by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions. As regards the third part, the records will in due course be handed over to the War Office, and when this has been done full consideration will be given to the possibility of their periodical revision in the future.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office whether the 20 per cent. allowance on Army officer pensions to meet the increased cost of living ceased as on 31st March; and, if so, will he give the reasons, in view of the continued high cost of living?

I have been asked to reply to this question. As from the 1st April, 1920, the bonus will cease, but the rates of retired pay proposed in the forthcoming new warrant, to take effect from the same date, will be such as to afford equivalent benefits. The Paymaster-General has accordingly been authorised to continue payments on the same basis for the quarter ending 30th June.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether there are still any ex-service men in occupation of holdings under The Land Settlement (Scotland) Act, 1919, who have not yet had their rents fixed; if so, how many there are; and what is the cause of the delay?

There are 138 tenants on lands acquired by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland under the Act of 1919 whose rents have not yet been finally fixed. The delay is due to the reasons stated in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend's question of the 20th April. I have taken steps to expedite the settlement of this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General how many ex-service men have refused to continue in the service of the Post Office in the Halifax postmaster's district; how many resignations there have been since the Armistice; and the reasons assigned?

Thirty-four ex-service men in the Halifax postmaster's district have voluntarily left the Post Office service since the Armistice. Seven failed to give any reason for leaving. The reasons given by the other men were as follows— 15 to improve their position; 4 wages insufficient; 3 unable to perform duties as a result of wounds; 4 work regarded as unsuitable; 1 unwilling to undergo operation in order to qualify for appointment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the arrears of cases in the Civil Liabilities Department, stated in November, 1919, to be 47,000, were composed as to 50 per cent. of grants for the purchase of tools, and all these claims were at that date passed over to be dealt with by the Local War Pensions Committee; whether a large number of the remaining cases were claimed in respect of grants for furniture; whether no grants for furniture were made for several weeks by this Department; and whether he is aware that no notice was sent to the post offices by the Establishment Officer with reference to this matter, and that as a result there was much delay and inconvenience to the demobilised soldiers who are making application to the Department?

The exact figure of arrears at the date mentioned is difficult to state, but it was certainly nearer 70,000 than 50,000. Of these arrears some 2,217 were applications for grants towards the purchase of tools outstanding at the headquarters of the Department, but no records are available which would give the percentage of tools applications to the total number outstanding with the Commissioners and at headquarters during this period. No tools cases were at this time transferred to Local War Pensions Committees, as suggested by my hon. Friend.

As regards the suggestion that a large number of the remaining cases were claims in respect of grants for furniture, there are no records available as to the actual number of such cases outstanding. But there is no reason to suppose that the figure was a large one. Applications for grants towards the purchase of furniture were in abeyance for a short period covering both the old system and the new, pending the decision on an important question of policy involved, which was ultimately settled to the advantage of the ex-service man. No such notice was sent to the Post Office, nor would there have been any object in doing so. The Post Office directs applicants to the Civil Liabilities Department, and cannot be expected to explain the scheme in detail.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of appeals which were made against the grants made by the Civil Liabilities Department since the 15th November, 1919; and the number of cases in arrear at the present time?

There are no records available to show the number of appeals made against grants made by the Civil Liabilities Department during the period referred to. The number of cases, including appeals, not finally disposed of at the present time is 18,244, of which 935 are in process of payment. This figure includes a limited number of old cases, especially in Ireland, which are in arrears owing to causes over which the Department has no control. But, apart from these, it may fairly be said that the work is up-to-date.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the concrete construction brought out by the Abdon Clee Stone Quarry Company; whether his officials have gone fully into the designs; and whether, as these buildings have a good appearance, and are strong, weatherproof, and comfortable, and compare favourably with brickwork in price and time of erection, they will be officially inspected for recommendation?

The Abdon Clee Stone Quarry Company's proposals for reinforced concrete construction have been carefully considered by the New Methods of Construction Committee of my Department, but I am advised that the proposals in question violate the principles of reinforced concrete construction in several important respects, and the committee consider that too much risk would be involved by their accepting these proposals in their present form. The committee have made recommendations to the company with a view to improvements being effected in their system, but the company appear unwilling to accept these suggestions, and the committee are therefore unable to recommend the system for approval.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the statement by the Treasury that there is no power to invest the £20,000,000 belonging to the Unemployed Insurance Fund in housing bonds issued by local authorities, the Government will seek the necessary power by means of a Bill?

The answer is in the negative. It is important to keep this fund in a form in which it can be easily realised. At present it is invested in Government securities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the desirability of an immediate increase in the amount now repaid to boards of guardians for each lunatic patient maintained in a county asylum; and is he aware that the sum of 4s. per head repaid to the Kingsclere Union under the Local Government Act, 1888, is quite inadequate, and throws a very heavy burden upon the local rates of that rural district, the cost of lunatic patients maintained in the Hampshire County Asylum having reached the sum of 22s. 2d. per head weekly.

I can only refer to the replies given to previous similar questions on this subject, and particularly to that given to the Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Charles Edwards) on the 15th April last.

asked the Minister of Health for what reason the War allowances are being withheld from medical officers of the Lincoln Friendly Societies' Dispensaries; whether these institutions have been approved under Section 15 (4) of the Insurance Act; whether the instructions issued on 15th October, 1913, by the Commission were that the accounts should not be demanded, but a certificate of annual expenditure would be accepted; whether the above institutions have fully complied with the above instructions; and whether he is now able to announce that the medical officers of these institutions who are doing equal service with panel doctors shall receive similar enrolments under the Act?

War allowances are being paid to approved medical institutions which comply with the condition, under which such allowances are made available, that the accounts and particulars of membership should be furnished to establish the case for a grant, and to enable the amount of the grant to be measured. The instructions issued on the 15th October, 1913, are not relevant to the case; and I can assure my hon. Friend that if the Lincoln Friendly Societies' Dispensaries furnish the particulars which are requried, the case, for a grant will be fully and impartially considered, as in the case of other institutions which have already furnished such particulars.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will grant a Return showing the expenses incurred during the last general election in the same form as similar Returns made in respect of previous general elections?

In view of the time that has elapsed since the last general election, I do not think the Government should now move for the Return which my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the composition and nationality of the flotilla which transported troops from Theodosia to Goreloe during General Wrangel's offensive in South Russia?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the British troops occupying Batum have yet been withdrawn?

No, Sir, but withdrawal is imminent.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the statement that some 10,000,000 ounces of silver were recently withdrawn from the Reichsbank reserve in Berlin, and that a large portion of this sum was being shipped by the Government to New York viâ Dutch colonial banks; and whether, in view of the fact that Germany has paid little, if any, of the monetary claims of the Allies on her, it is to the interest of the latter to allow of so large a sum to pass out of their control without taking some steps to retain the money in Europe?

I have no information on this subject beyond what has appeared in the newspapers. The point raised in the second part of the, question can, I think, safely be left to the Reparation Commission, which is specially charged with the duty of considering these matters.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the cost, the number of cases, and the number of staff employed from May to November, 1919, the last seven months under the displaced civilian controller; and, in comparison, whether he will state the same figures covering the succeeding seven months when the Civil Liabilities Department was under the present ex-service officer controller?

I give the information asked for by my hon. Friend to cover the two periods, 1st May, 1919, to 30th November, 1919, and 1st December, 1919, to 30th June, 1920. The figures for the last few days of the latter period have been estimated in order to complete the seven months.

As regard the numbers of cases dealt with the figures given are only in respect — Approximate Cost. Number of Cases. Average Number of Staff during the Period. 1st May, 1919, to 30th November, 1919 £65,250 93,972 620 1st December, 1919, to 30th June, 1920 £77,000 102,050 639

The cost (£277,000) in the second period includes about £4,000 for increases in rates of War bonus and in the scales of pay for clerical staff as laid down by the Treasury over and above the rates in force in the first period. It also includes the salaries of 10 Assistant Commissioners at £300 per annum now abolished.

I ought to add that, since the middle of May, Treasury sanction has been obtained whereby the Department is now empowered to make grants to men beyond the normal period of one year from the date of demobilisation up to 31st December, 1920. And, further, the Department is under Regulations empowered to make grants to trainees to enable them to set up in businesses of their own in the trade for which they have been trained. Both these new duties add very materially to the work of the Department.

Since the reorganisation the whole staff has worked considerable overtime without extra payment in order to bring the work up to date.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present position of Mr. Forrester Addie in the Lands Directorate?

Mr. Forrester Addie is not, and never has been, on the staff of the Directorate of Lands.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in the event of a proposal in Clause 369 of the Report on Income Tax being carried whether, in transferring duties now performed by clerks to commissioners to the inspectors of taxes, care will be taken that clerks to commissioners do not suffer a diminution of income?

of Resettlement cases finally disposed of, as there are no records available which would give the figures for cases partially dealt with up to 30th November, 1919.

I must ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await the announcement, which will be made in due course, of the decision of the Government upon those recommendations of the Royal Commission which are still outstanding.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in approving the recent further increase in the wages of railway men on the ground that they were not so well paid as other workers in similar occupations, the Government took into consideration the special privileges possessed by railway workers, such as free uniforms, free passes for themselves and their families when on holiday, privilege tickets entitling them to travel at reduced fares, and in the country garden and allotment ground at nominal rent; and what monetary value was put upon these and other privileges?

The special privileges possessed by railway workers were taken into consideration by the National Wages Board in fixing the increases in wages which were recommended by the Board. The value of the clothing supplied to certain grades was put by the Board at 2s. 7d. per week. It is not possible to give any definite figure as to the monetary value of other privileges such as cheap tickets, free passes, etc., owing to the great variation in their value in different districts, and between individuals in the same district.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions the names of the present members of the Central (Liquor) Control Board; and how many times they have met as a Board during the present calendar year, the dates of meeting, and who has acted as chairman at the meetings held?

The present members of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) are Mr. W. Waters Butler, the Rev. Henry Carter, Mr. H. H. Dale, M.D., F.R.S., Colonel J. M. Denny, C.B., the Hon. H. Godley, Lord Leverhulme, Mr. R. S. Meiklejohn, C.B., Mr. S. 0. Nevile, Sir John Pedder, K.B.E., C.B., the Right Hon. J. H. Thomas, M.P., Mr. W. Thorne, M.P., and Sir William Towle. I am informed that meetings of the Board have been held this year on 10th March, 5th May and 15th June, and that on each occasion Sir John Pedder has been requested to take the chair.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether much of the munitions in the dumps in France recently sold to contractors, ostensibly to be broken up, is not being broken up but is being sent away in various directions, some of it through Germany?

I have no information bearing on the suggestion made in the question. A condition of the sale provides that the contractor shall not dispose of any of the ammunition prior to breaking down without the permission in writing of the Minister of Munitions, and no such permission has been granted.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that an Irish national school teacher upon retirement receives a pension of one-eightieth of his salary for each year of service and without any lump sum, whereas a Scottish teacher, in addition to a similar pension, receives a lump sum of one-thirtieth of his salary, and where the pension is less than £100 per annum a further sum of £1 per year is added to the pension; and whether it is proposed to take steps to put the Irish teacher on the same pension footing as Scotch teachers and, if so, when?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, so far as Irish teachers are concerned. As regards the last part, it has already been announced that pensioned Irish teachers shall be eligible for the benefits recommended by the Cabinet Committee for pre-War State pensioners generally. The question of any further alterations of the pension terms of Irish teachers is being considered.

asked the Attorney-General for Iriland whether an armed guard of six soldiers in the charge of a corporal while marching through the streets of Ennis were seized by a number of men and robbed of their rifles, bayonets, ammunition, and helmets; whether the soldiers made any resistance; what instructions are given to soldiers as to their course of action under such circumstances; and whether a court-martial has been ordered in the matter?

I have been asked to answer this question. I am not aware of the facts of this case, but a report is being obtained from Ireland. As I stated in reply to the Noble Lord the Member for Horsham and Worthing (Major Earl Winterton) on the 8th June, soldiers are empowered in such circumstances to open fire.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether since 31st May, 1920, there have been further attacks by Sinn Feiners on the ordinary aids to shipping, such as lighthouses and signal stations on the Irish coast; and what precautions are being taken by the Admiralty to secure navigation of the seas around Ireland, a matter in which not only ourselves but all nations whose vessels use these waters must be concerned?

I have been asked to reply to this question. There have been further attacks on signal stations, but not on lighthouses, since the 31st of May. So far as the Admiralty is concerned, warnings have already been issued in Notices to Mariners in regard to this matter, in order to secure navigation of the seas around Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many raids on private houses have been made during the present year; and in how many cases have arms been found?

In the period 1st January to 31st May, 1920, 1,713 raids were made by police alone; 1,381 raids were made by police and military acting together. In 167 cases arms were found.

asked the Minister of Food what is to become of the slaughterhouses which have been managed by his Department as part of the system of control, and have been leased to certain co-operative societies, when meat is decontrolled; and whether, in view of the fact that a considerable profit has been made on their management, he will consider the advisability of putting these slaughter-houses up to public auction?

The management of slaughter-houses is being relinquished by the Ministry of Food on the occasion of the removal of control of livestock and home-killed meat on 4th July next. Certain farmers' co-operative societies have signified their desire to take over the management and direction of some of these slaughter-houses, and will, on the withdrawal of the Ministry's officials therefrom, proceed to make such arrangements between the proprietors of such slaughter-houses and themselves as will be mutually acceptable. As the Minister of Food has not possessed, and does not possess, any tenant right or proprietorship in any slaughter-house, the question contained in the last paragraph does not arise.

asked the Minister of Food what was the circulation of the last issue of the National Food Journal; and how long has it been the practice of the Department to swell the circulation of this journal by sending four free copies of an issue to one individual in envelopes bearing the national economy label?

The circulation of the last issue of the National Food Journal was 66,000 copies. I have made enquiries into the case referred to in the second part of the question, and find that it is a fact that two free copies regularly sent to a Canadian journal were by error duplicated. I am unable to find any other instances of a mistake of this kind.

asked the Minister of Food how much American bacon has been sold in England, Scotland, and Wales during the month of May; and whether traders are unable to place American bacon bought by the Government owing to the public abhorrence of the quality?

It is not possible to state accurately how much American bacon was sold in England, Scotland, and Wales during the month of May, as this would involve a costly statistical investigation of wholesale and retail stocks throughout the country at the beginning and end of the month, but an approximate figure would be 19,000 tons. The consumption of American bacon during May was abnormally low, but this was due to the large quantities of English and Irish bacon which for special causes were available during that month, and of Danish bacon, of which the Ministry have purchased the whole exportable surplus. I may add that the consumption of American bacon greatly exceeds the pre-War consumption, and this would not seem to indicate that there is the public abhorrence of this bacon suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Food whether they have ceased buying operations of American bacon; and, if not, whether, in view of the fact that no one will buy the product now here, will he give instructions to stop all buying operations and give instructions to sell the bacon already bought and stored in America?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As American bacon represents at present the bulk of the bacon consumed in this country, the second part of the question does not arise. So far from it being the fact that no one will buy American bacon here, as stated by the hon. Member, the consumption of this bacon is greatly in excess of the pre-War consumption.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, whether the Forestry Commission has taken over any of the duties and functions of the Office of Woods?

The Forestry Commission has not yet taken over any of the duties and functions of the Office of Woods, although, as an interim arrangement, the Assistant Forestry Commissioner for England and Wales is acting as Joint Secretary of the Office of Woods in charge of the Forestry Branch under the President of the Ministry of Agriculture. A Bill is being drafted to provide for the transfer of Crown Woods to the Forestry Commission, and will shortly be submitted to Parliament.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the number of acres that have been planted with the seedlings taken over by the Commissioners from other Government authorities?

1,589 acres have been planted by the Forestry Commission with seedlings taken over from other Government authorities.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, what progress has been made in the direction of settling men in small holdings in connection with afforestation schemes?

An afforestation scheme is in operation at Borgie, in Sutherlandshire, where 10 small holders have been settled by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. Similar schemes are under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the posi- tion in respect of pension of a school teacher who, after 20 years' service under the National Board of Education in Ireland, takes up an appointment under the Board of Education in England?

I may refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on the 10th June. If a teacher who has served for 20 years in Ireland under the National Board of Education serves for 10 years in England in "recognised service," he will be eligible for a pension in respect of the 10 years of his English service.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. C. Austin Brook, late geography master at the secondary school, Hanley, Staffs; whether he is aware that Mr. Brook resigned his post as geography master in April last as a protest against receiving a salary which was lower than that to which his qualifications entitled him and reapplied for the post with admission to Grade III.; that his reapplication was refused and the post filled by a substitute who had not attained the same academic qualifications; whether the fact that Mr. Brook, in addition to having graduated in mathematics, held the diploma in geography and had on three occasions demonstrated at the Cambridge University summer schools to secondary school teachers, headmasters, and others in modern methods of teaching geography, entitled him to admission to Grade III. and to receive a salary in accordance with that grade; if so, why was he not accorded a salary in accordance with Grade III., and why was his reapplication for the post refused in favour of a less-qualified teacher who did not apply for the post; and whether he will look into the case of Mr. Brook and the case of the secondary school teachers in general, with a view to reviewing the standards of remuneration, so that well-qualified and experienced teachers may not be driven from the profession at a time when there is a great shortage of such?

My attention has not been called to the case referred to. The appointment of a teacher to fill a vacancy and the amount of his salary are matters within the discretion of the Local Education Authority, as the body providing the school, and I have no authority to intervene. As regards the general question of salaries of teachers in secondary schools, I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on the 17th instant.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of conditions created by the impossibility of getting new telephone services erected in important industrial areas, stated to be due to the shortage of materials, he will appoint a small business committee to investigate the shortage of these materials and how the delivery of these materials can be expedited?

I am considering the hon. Member's suggestion, and will communicate with him later.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that tickets for a Primrose League fête at Maer on Thursday, 24th June, were on sale at the post offices at Whitmore, Maer, Baldwin's Gate, Batley, Keele, Ashby, Eccleshall, Swynnerton, Stone, Stanton, Madeley, Pipe Gate, and Woore; whether he is aware that, in addition to horse and pony races, and turnout and trotting competitions, political addresses were delivered by the hon. and gallant Members for the Stone Division of Staffordshire and for the Basingstoke Division of. Hants; whether this indicates that it is the policy of his Department to allow post offices to be used for party purposes; and, if not, whether he will give instructions that they are not to be employed as party agencies?

I am having inquiry made and will communicate later with the hon. Member.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Welsh Church Commissioners have received any requests under Section 18 (b) of the Welsh Church Act, 1914, to transfer to the representative body any glebe or other land vested in them; how it is proposed to ascertain the market value of such land; and whether the several local authorities within whose areas such land is situate will be consulted before its value is finally settled?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am informed that the Commissioners have already been notified by the representative body of all glebe lands in the Diocese of Llandaff and of some in the three other dioceses, which the representative body require to be transferred to them under the provisions of Section 18 (b). It is expected that a complete schedule will be submitted to them at an early date. The Commissioners are in communication with the Board of Inland Revenue with a view, if possible, of utilising the services of the Board's district valuers for Wales and Monmouthshire in connection with the valuation of these lands. They do not think they ought to consult the local authorities within whose areas these lands are situated with regard to the valuations.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the printing bill within the last 6 months of each Government Department?

I am now in process of compiling a return of the total expenditure by Government Departments on stationery and printing during the last financial year (1919–20), which I hope shortly to be in a position to complete. To dissect this return, and then to prepare figures relating to the last 6 months, would involve a diversion of the energies of my staff at a cost in labour and money which I do not regard as justifiable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to introduce the Bill dealing with trade combines and trusts promised by his predecessor?

I regret that I am not in a position to make any statement on this matter at present in view of the state of Parliamentary business. I would, however, remind the hon. and gallant Member that investigations as to the extent and operation of trusts and combinations are being conducted by the Central Committee under the Profiteering Act.