asked the Prime Minister if he is in a position to state the extent of business arrangements entered into by the Russian trade delegation with British commercial houses; and if the head of the Russian mission has refused to deposit any large sums of money with such firms as security?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I have no information bearing on the second point.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in the event of any revision of prison officers' salaries consequent on the bonus award to civil servants, he will take steps to have chief warders placed on the same pay with their corresponding ranks in England; whether he will permit those officers to have a voice in the election of the representative council as in England; and when it is proposed to apply the new bonus to the prison officers?

The application to the Irish Prisons Service of the recent revision of pay accorded to the English Prison Service consequent on the last war bonus is at present under consideration, and the position of chief warders in Ireland will be carefully considered in this connection. There is no objection to chief warders being permitted to have a voice in the election of the Representative Council, if this is the case in England.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the position of Grade 2, Class 1, warders has been prejudiced by reason of the last revision of pay of the warders generally; that these men were promoted from Class 2 to Class 1 with increased salaries; and that in the revision of November last the Class 2 warders were promoted to principal warders over their heads, and whether he will now have these officers placed in the exact rank to which they were supposed to be promoted prior to the revision of November last or will now place them on the maximum pay of their present rank as compensation for the indifferent treatment they have received and in consideration of their long and faithful service?

Having regard to the recent Treasury revision of the pay of warders in the English prison service, the whole question of the pay of warders in Ireland is again under consideration, and the position of the Grade 2, Class 1, wardens will be borne in mind.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will give a Return of the quantity of mats, broken stones, firewood, and different classes of vegetables sold during the period between the 1st July, 1919, and the 1st June of the present year from each prison in Ireland, and also the quantities under the same headings for the corresponding period of 1918–19, the cost of the raw material and different classes of seeds and plants in each case, the cost of manufacturing and production in each case, the amounts realised by sales in each case, and the nett profits in each case.

I do not think I should feel justified in imposing on the prisons' staff in present circumstances the labour involved in the preparation of this Return.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the revised pension to be paid to members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who were serving on the 1st April, 1919, and were compulsorily retired in consequence of their having reached the age of 60 and of having completed 40 years' service have not yet been fixed, although attention was called to the fact that the Royal Irish Constabularly Pensions (Interim) Order, 1920, which was issued on the 15th May last, did not cover these cases, no steps having been taken to amend that Order; has the Inspector-General of Constabularly recommended that that Order should be so amended as to include these cases; and is there any reason why there should be further delay in fixing the pensions in these cases and in having arrears of pensions paid?

Sir H. GREENWOOD: Steps are at present being taken to amend the Royal Irish Constabulary Pensions (Interim) Order, 1920, so as to enable revised pensions to be fixed in the cases referred to by the hon. Member, and it is expected that the matter will be settled at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many generals are missing from Irish commands?

One.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a letter has been received from General Lucas stating that he is being well treated, and deprecating the rioting indulged in by the troops at Fermoy; and what action is being taken against the troops and their officers?

The facts are, broadly speaking, as stated in the question, but we have, of course, no means of knowing the circumstances under which the letter was written. As regards the latter part of the question, the matter is at present being investigated by the military authorities.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether town councils have power to draw up rules and conditions for the registrars of births and, if they do, under what authority do they act and what power of enforcement do they possess; and are registrars of births appointed during the pleasure of town councils or can any condition of this kind be made at the time of the appointment?

The powers of town councils in regard to this matter are contained in the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Scotland) Acts, 1854 and 1856 to which I would refer my hon. Friend. These Acts provide for the election of registrars by town councils, regulate the tenure of office, the registrar being removable by the sheriff moved thereto by the town council or by the Registrar-General, and provide for remuneration of registrars. Registrars act in the performance of their duties under the direction of the Registrar-General and are under the general control and superintendence of the sheriff.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many sunken steamers lie in Water sound, Burray; if the said steamers have practically destroyed the herring fishing in and around Burray; and if he will take immediate steps to have them removed?

The Admiralty are not prepared to undertake this work, but they are taking steps to remove the obstructions in Kirk Sound. With that channel cleared, it is not considered that the fishing industry in Burray will be impeded by obstructions in Water Sound, as there is no fishing in the channel itself, and the only drawback will be that fishing vessels will have to make a small detour to the north of Burray Island when proceeding to the eastward.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many joiners, bricklayers, and general labourers were engaged on work concerned with Government housing schemes in Scotland on the 15th June; how many joiners, bricklayers, and general labourers are required to do the work now passed and approved by the Scottish Office; what prospect is there of adequate numbers of tradesmen and labourers being available in the near future; and by what period is it estimated that the completion of housing schemes in Scotland will be delayed as a result of this shortage of labour compared with normal expectations?

As at 15th June there were 623 bricklayers, 108 joiners and 2,393 other skilled tradesmen and unskilled workers employed on Scottish housing schemes. I am advised that 3,942 bricklayers, 3,913 joiners, and 16,933 other skilled tradesmen and unskilled workers are required if the 9,000 houses for which the Scottish Board of Health have approved tenders are to be completed this year. With regard to the last two parts of the question, it is not possible to form any trustworthy forecast, but the matter of increasing the number of workmen available for housing schemes is engaging the attention of the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any decision has been arrived at upon the question of increasing the pensions of the widows and orphans of Indian officers; and whether he can make any announcement upon the subject?

This subject is still under consideration. I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether there is any reason to believe that the tribal risings in April and May, 1919, had any connection with the disturbances throughout India and especially the Punjab?

I am not in a position to add anything to the information given in paragraph 22 of Chapter XI of the Report of Lord Hunter's Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any Germans interned in India have been exempted by the Government of India from repatriation against the views of the local government; and, if so, whether the reasons for exemption have been published?

Four Germans were so exempted. In two cases the reasons were published, as explained in the reply given to the hon. Member for East Nottingham (Sir J. D. Rees) on 31st March. In the other two the reasons were not published. Of these, the first case was that of the son, born in Germany, of a French father: he is 59 years of age, has not been in Germany since he was 13, has an Anglo-Indian wife and a son who served in the British Army. The second case is that of a lady of 61 who left Germany when she was 17, has no connection with the country and is British in sympathies.

asked the Minister of Food when the Departmental Committee on the wholesale food markets of London began its deliberations; when they are likely to issue a final Report; whether the terms of reference allow them to visit places in the North; and the approximate cost of this Committee up to date?

This Committee began its deliberations on the 7th November last and has held 38 meetings. It has already issued two Reports, and it is hoped that the final Report will be issued in the autumn. The terms of reference justify inquiry into the working of wholesale markets other than those of London, and a Sub-Committee has, in fact, examined and reported on the arrangements at Hull and Grimsby for transporting fish and imported fruit and vegetables to London and other inland markets. The approximate cost of the Committee up to date is £550.

asked the Minister of Food whether he can give the quantity of meat which has been destroyed as unfit for food at the Central Meat Markets; and if he can give any figures showing the quantity destroyed by order of local medical officer of health in the county of London?

The figures relating to the quantity of meat which is condemned as unfit for food at the Central Meat Markets are compiled by the superintendent of the market for the Corporation of London. The figures for the week ended 26th June were 23 tons, and for the week ended 19th June 25 tons. I have no figures showing the quantity destroyed by order of the local medical officers of health in the county of London. I might add that the total supplies at the Central Meat Markets in these two weeks were 6,933 tons and 6,056 tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that no licences to deal in potatoes are issued except to the members of the National Fruit and Potato Federation; what is the reason for this discrimination; and whether it still holds good?

The answer to the first rut of the question is in the negative. It is open to any applicant for a wholesale licence, who has not been recommended by the Federation, to apply direct to the Ministry of Food, which considers each case on its merits. The second and third parts of the question, therefore, do not arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether, in view of the new increase of the wages of a section of land workers in Yorkshire by 66 per cent. he will concurrently guarantee proportionately higher prices for wheat and oats in the Agriculture Bill now before Parliament?

The machinery proposed in the Agriculture Bill provides that the guaranteed minimum prices should be varied each year in proportion to any rise or fall in the costs of production, and consequently any increase in the rate of wages will be taken into account in fixing the guaranteed minimum prices.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture how many tenant farmers purchased their farms in 1919?

No official returns are made which would enable me to supply the information desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether allotments on land acquired under the Cultivation of Lands Order may be required to be surrendered at any time, allotments on land acquired under the Smallholdings and Allotments Acts, 1908 to 1919, are held subject to the agreement between the allotments authority and the landlord, and allotments acquired by private agreement between owner and tenant are held subject to such agreement; whether the tenure of allotments last referred to is in any way directly controlled by the Allotments Acts; whether, and, if so, in what respect, the Agriculture Bill proposes to alter the tenure of the three classes of allotments above mentioned; whether it is proposed in that Bill to make invalid a notice to a farmer to quit which purports to terminate his tenancy before the expiration of 12 months from the date on which the notice is given; whether that provision will apply to an allotment garden; and, if not, whether he will amend the Bill and grant to allotment holders the same concession on tenure as proposed to be given to farmers?

The tenure of allotments is as indicated in the hon. Member's question. The tenure of allotments acquired by private agreement between owner and tenant is not affected by any Act relating to the provision of allotments. The length of notice to be given by a landlord or tenant to determine a tenancy is not proposed to be altered by the Agricultural Bill in the case of allotment gardens, but only in the case of other agricultural holdings. The extension of this provision to allotment gardens will be considered.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Report of the Agricultural Organisation Society for the year ending 31st March, 1920, contains a statement to the effect that that body was asked to supply the Ministry with a list of names of persons deemed desirable to sit on the County Smallholding and Allotment Sub-committee set up under The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Act, 1919; and why, seeing that the Ministry have stated that it is not intended to treat the National Union of Allotment Holders differently from other bodies, no such request has been made to the Union?

I have seen the statement referred to by my hon. Friend in the draft Report of the Agricultural Organisation Society for the year 1919–20, which Report has not yet been published. The facts are, however, that the Society asked the Ministry whether they might be allowed to submit names for consideration by the Minister in connection with the appointment by him of members of the County Agricultural Committees. The Society were informed, in reply, that the Minister would carefully consider any names put before him, but that he could give no undertaking that any of them would be appointed. A similar reply has been made to every organised body which has approached the Ministry in this matter, including the National Union of Allotment Holders.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture how many persons are employed under or in connection with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in or in relation to Wales, distinguishing those that are fully and those that are partly so employed; what are the total costs and expenses incurred by the Ministry in connection with its functions in or in relation to Wales; and what proportion do such costs and expenses bear to the total costs and expenses of the Ministry?

Except as regards the work of land settlement, agricultural education, and the control of cultivation through the Agricultural Executive Committees, the Ministry does not maintain a separate staff for Wales, and it would not be practicable to separate from the general expenditure of the Ministry the total amount attributable to Wales. The Ministry has, however, recently established a Welsh office at Aberystwyth, which is the headquarters of the staff employed in Wales on the three subjects I have mentioned, and the staff of this office consists of 22 persons, whose salaries amount in all to £9,800 per annum.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that the increase of Army pay announced in an Army Order in 1919 was not issued to a large number of soldiers serving in India prior to their departure for Great Britain for demobilisation; that these men have not yet received the extra pay due to them; and if he will take steps to accelerate the despatch of the last pay certificates from India or otherwise ensure that these men shall receive what is due to them without further delay?

Instructions have been issued to paymasters to credit the accounts of men concerned for whom last pay certificates have been received with the special rupee rate of pay recently authorised by the Indian Government for men serving in India. Steps have been taken to accelerate despatch of outstanding last pay certificates from India.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of damage done by the military occupation during the War to the house and premises known as "The Retreat," Witham, Essex; whether he is aware that this house contains 33 rooms and stands in 12 acres of ground; whether during the War it was successively occupied by the following regiments: Royal Warwicks, Engineers and Canadians, Royal Scots, Midland Regiment, and Gas School (for several counties); whether, in addition, it was occupied by Labour battalions months after the end of the War; whether the damage done has been estimated at £500; whether the War Office have refused to pay more than £473; and whether, in view of the wide difference between these figures, he will either reinstate the damage himself direct without money compensation or order a reference to an independent authority, such as the President of the Institution of Surveyors?

I am aware that these premises have been in military occupation, and that a claim in respect of dilapidations is in course of negotiation, but I have no information as to the figures given in the question. I am, however, making inquiries, and will write to the hon. Member as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the 1914 star has not yet been sent to R. Heffren, of 83, Stamshaw Road, Portsmouth, father of Lance-corporal Harold Percy Heffren, No. 3,450, who lost his life in his country's service, although this star, which should belong to the dead soldier, has been in the possession of the Officer Commanding No. 1 Infantry Records Office since the 13th June, 1919; that that officer is unable to forward the same for lack of War Office authority; and if he will authorise the sending of the same, all forms having been already filled up and sent in by R. Heffren?

Instructions are being sent to the Officer-in-charge of Records for the immediate issue of the 1914 star to the mother of the late Lance-corporal Heffren, who is the person legally entitled to the deceased soldier's medals as sole legatee under his will.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office what are the average charges made by hotel keepers and others for food and lodging and occasional meals to British officers and men in Constantinople; whether the French authorities have fixed a definite scale of charges; and, if not, whether the British, in consultation with the French and Turkish authorities, can agree upon a common scale of charges, thus putting an end to the victimisation of British officers and men by the profiteering methods of the Turks?

I will have inquiry made, and inform the hon. and gallant Member of the result.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture the names of those counties in which satisfactory progress has been made with the settlement on the land of ex-service men and also those in which the progress is not satisfactory; and whether he will inform the House what steps he proposes to take in all the latter cases to carry out the pledges of the Government?

The difficulties with which county councils are confronted in the acquisition and equipment of land for the settlement of ex-service men vary considerably from county to county, and I do not think it would serve any useful purpose to attempt to classify the councils as satisfactory or unsatis- factory. Speaking generally, the results obtained up to date have been very satisfactory, and my hon. Friend may rest assured that the Ministry is taking every opportunity of assisting and advising those counties in which least progress has been made. If, however, the Minister is satisfied that in any county the council are not providing holdings for ex-service men to such extent as is considered desirable, he will not hesitate to make use of his concurrent powers contained in Section 3 of the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of ex-service men unemployed in each month of the present year?

The numbers of ex-service men (inclusive of a small number of merchant seamen) claiming out-of-work donation at the beginning of each month during the current year and at the end of June were as follows:— 2nd January … … 377,957 6th February … … 339,294 5th March … … 273,966 1st April … … 221,951 7th May … … 206,650 4th June … … 192,119 28th June … … 174,224 I should point out, as I have done on various occasions, that there must be added to these figures something in respect of those who have exhausted their right to out-of-work donation and are no longer on our registers. Also I regret to say there are 15,000 officers and other ranks of similar educational qualifications who are on the registers of the Appointments Department, and, allowing for those not registered with us, I shall probably be within the mark if I say there are 20,000 unemployed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether John William Beattie, No. 164,975, chief yeoman of signals, served in His Majesty's Navy from December, 1891, until 8th June, 1911, when he was invalided out through defective eyesight caused by continuous use of wireless and searchlight signalling; whether Beattie rejoined on 6th August, 1914, and served until 2nd April, 1919, having then put in a total service of over 23 years; whether he has three good conduct badges, the long service and good conduct medals, and possesses an unblemished record; whether, upon his application for a pension, he was informed that, as he had left the naval service 28 days before the coming into force of the complete Jerram award, he is not entitled to the full amount under it; whether the utmost pension he has been able to obtain is £49 1s. instead of £85 3s. 4d. which he would have received had he served the other 28 days, whilst he has also been deprived of a difference in increased pay amounting to £85 9s. 11d.; and whether, in the circumstances, he can see his way to recommend an ex gratia payment to Chief Yeoman Beattie?

Beattie entered as a boy, 2nd class, on 18th December, 1891, and was rated signalman on 8th October, 1894. He was invalided for defective vision on 8th June, 1911. He re-entered on 2nd August, 1914, and was demobilised on 2nd April, 1919, his Protection Identity Certificate being dated 5th March, 1919. On discharge he held three good conduct badges, the Good Conduct Medal, and his character was V.G. throughout. The new scales of pay apply only to men actually serving on ( i.e., not dispersed prior to) 1st May, 1919. Beattie had actually ceased pay on 2nd April, 1919, and no reason is seen for according him preferential treatment. The Jerram scale of pension is applicable only to men who have completed the qualifying period of service for the award of a long service pension. Owing to a break in his service from 8th October, 1906, to 5th December, 1907, inclusive, Beattie can only show 20 years 66 days of pensionable service towards the 22 years necessary in his case, and is consequently ineligible for the improved scale. His pension has therefore been increased to £49 1s. a year under the ordinary disability scale, his invaliding in 1911 having been due to a non-attributable cause, but it is possible that he may be eligible for consideration with a view to further increase should certain proposals now under consideration be sanctioned. Beattie was not informed that his ineligibility for the Jerram scale of pension was due to his demobilisation prior to 1st May, 1919, this date having no bearing on pension.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will make arrangements for the continuance of supplementary grants, either through the Special Grants Committee of the Ministry of Pensions or otherwise, to wives of soldiers not yet demobilised and who have been reduced in circumstances owing to the abolition of Part II Regulations for supplementation of separation allowances?

I regret that I am unable to adopt this suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the formation of a committee to consider the question of the coal supply, it can be arranged that there should be a representative of the consumers added to the committee, and that it should not consist wholly of employers and employés of the coal industry?

I do not know what Committee my hon. Friend has in mind. As he is no doubt aware, the Advisory Committee proposed to be constituted under Clause 4 of the Ministry of Mines Bill will consist to a considerable extent of representatives of interests other than the coal mining industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that the ss. "Trostan" has been lying at Grangemouth from 17th to 28th June awaiting the shipment of 2,000 tons of duff or waste material from colliery bings; whether the said duff was duly loaded on to railway wagons; whether, owing to the district coal and coke supplies committee deciding to suspend the shipment of duff, the said material could not be unloaded from the said wagons and shipped on the "Tros- tan" to its destination at Copenhagen; whether he is aware that the demurrage on the wagons and on the "Trostan" amounts to over £1,500 and the loss of freight to nearly £5,000, irrespective of the loss of profits to the consigners of the duff; whether the case of the ss. "Trostan" is one of many similar cases of loss and damage caused by the stoppage of the shipment of duff, which are calculated to run to a very large sum; whether the allocation of the shipment of coal from Scotland being 700,000 tons per annum, he will direct that duff be kept out of consideration in estimating the amount shipped in respect that it does not affect the home supply;

(2) why the shipment of the waste material from coal mines in Scotland, known to the trade as duff, has been temporarily forbidden; whether he is aware that the bings of this material disfigure many rural districts where disused coal pits are located and belong to the landowners and not to any colliery company; what authority has he to prevent them selling and shipping such bings; whether the Belgians and our other Allies who have great supplies of tar are eager purchasers of duff for briquette-making; and will he refrain from interfering with the disposal of a material which, in respect that it is not coal, is not subject to his control?

It is not desired to cut off the export of duff from bing, nor has any Order been issued to stop such export. It is a fact, however, that all coal exported (including duff) is counted against the export allocation, and this operates, to some extent, against its shipment. The question whether duff from bing should be allowed to be shipped outside the allocations is at present being considered in consultation with the District Coal and Coke Supplies Committees concerned. I have no information which enables me to state what has taken place in the particular case of the ss. "Trostan," but I shall make inquiries at the Scottish Committee which is charged with the duty of dealing with these matters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the great suffering caused to the relatives of British sailors losing their lives when employed upon foreign-owned ships, he will consider the desirableness of introducing legislation requiring all foreign owners when signing on sailors in British ports to make a cash deposit or give other security for compensation in the event of loss of life or injury?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am informed that the Departmental Committee which has been inquiring into the working of the Workmen's Compensation Act have had this point before them and are dealing with it in their Report. The matter will accordingly come up for consideration on the Committee's Report, which I expect to receive this week.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what articles of British manufacture, formerly free, are dutiable under the revised Australian tariff; and what are the rates of import duties imposed on British hosiery and articles of apparel under the former and the revised Australian tariffs, respectively?

There are a considerable number of articles dutiable under the new tariff which were formerly free of duty. I am sending the hon. Member a complete list. I am also sending him a comparative statement of the old and new duties on British articles of apparel and hosiery.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give the average number and total weight of letters which are posted in, or pass through, London daily for Paris or places beyond, carried by the ordinary mail and by the air mail, respectively?

The average daily weight of letters and postcards sent by the ordinary mail from this country to Paris and places in France beyond Paris is 1,700 lbs., including about 850 lbs. for Paris itself. Precise figures of the number of articles are not available, but they are estimated at from 50,000 to 55,000 a day. The number of letter packets sent every weekday by the air mail to Paris averages about 85, and the total weight is from 5 to 6 lbs.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the delay in providing new plant for telephone extension, which is urgently needed to promote business at the present time, is due to congestion at the manufacturers or to conditions in respect to labour; whether he is aware that there is much unemployment in the country; and whether, under these circumstances, he will try to extend the list of firms which manufacture for the Post Office?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 30th June to a question asked by the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Clough).

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the night telephone attendant at Barmouth is responsible for the telephone service in that town between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. on week-days and all day on Sundays and that the authorised allowance for this work is 5s. 6d. per week, against which the Post Office place a charge of 6s. for rent, rates, and taxes, with the result that in pre-War figures the night telephone attendant pays 6d. a week for performing this work; and whether, seeing that a War bonus of 7s. 2d. has been granted in view of the increased cost of living, he will take steps to secure a more reasonable remuneration for the service which is thus rendered to the community?

On a pre-War basis the night telephone attendant at Barmouth pays 6d. a week for residential accommodation which is worth fully 6s. a week, and his effective remuneration for the telephone attendance is therefore 5s. 6d. a week. On this a bonus of 7s. 2d. is now paid. The hours of attendance are as stated; but there are, as a rule, no calls between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., and the attendant's night's rest is therefore undisturbed, while the traffic on Sundays is also very light. The remuneration is based on the authorised scale.

asked the Postmaster-General the total number of persons employed in secret service work in his Department, and the specific number employed in opening letters, deciphering or decoding telegrams, and tapping telephone messages?

I do not consider it in the public interest to furnish this information.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he is still satisfied that, in the sale of the St. Omer dump, vehicles precisely similar in quantity and value were sold to Messrs. Leyland Brothers as had been offered to Messrs. Lever?

I can add nothing to the answer given to my hon and gallant Friend on 3rd June.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions how many British dumps of various stores there are still un-disposed of in France and Belgium?

I very much regret that the information I am awaiting from France is still incomplete, but I fully expect to receive a full report on this subject by Thursday next, when perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will repeat his question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions, whether he has made inquiries into the allegation that 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?

The answer is in the affirmative. I have received no confirmation of the allegation made by the hon. Member, and would point out that, as the Ministry has not given permission for the export of munitions, such action on the part of the contractor would be in violation of the express terms of the contract agreement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if the staff of the Disposal Board in France has been completely changed; and, if so, what are the reasons which have led to this action?

No such complete change of Staff as is suggested in the question has taken place; but following on a visit of inspection by my noble Friend, Lord Inverforth, in March, a reorganisation of disposal work in France has been carried out with a view of securing greater efficiency in the Service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the dump of shells, copper, and brass lying in Bilsland Drive, Maryhill, Glasgow, is Government property; and, if so, what steps are being taken to dispose of it?

The majority of the material referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend has already been sold and delivery is being taken by the purchasers as quickly as possible. There remains about 7,000 tons of shell forgings, and small quantities of spelter and antimony, and negotiations for the sale of these materials are proceeding.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he will consider the desirability of amending the restrictions, specially laid down for war-time purposes, in regard to special licences for extension of time for the sale of wines, etc.?

This is a question of policy which should be addressed to the Leader of the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of farmers who have elected to be assessed for Income Tax upon their income; and the number who have elected to be assessed upon the annual value of their farms?

The precise figures are not available. An estimate has, however, been made which indicates that for the Income Tax year of assessment 1918–19 the number of farmers, with total incomes exceeding the exemption limit of £130, was approximately 200,000, and that of this number about 10,000 elected to be charged to Income Tax in respect of their farming profits on a basis of actual results. The remaining farmers were charged in the usual course under Schedule B, on the basis of twice the annual value of their farms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the per capita taxation of 1919 in England, France, and Italy?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given in reply to a similar question on the 24th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can specify in round figures the amounts of increased national expenditure to which any unofficial proposals or reforms now before the House would, if accepted, commit the nation; and what steps is he taking to impress on those with social panaceas the need, at this juncture, for moderation and restraint in asking for State support?

I do not think it would be practicable to give even an approximate estimate of the cost of the varied proposals of the kind that my hon. Friend has in mind, which are from time to time made. He will recognise that the Government are always in the in- vidious position of opposing and discouraging proposals for which, in themselves, there might be much to be said if monetary considerations did not render them impracticable, and they welcome the evidence given by my hon. Friend's question of a desire on the part of hon. Members to support them in this attitude.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the memorandum issued on the Future Exchequer Balance Sheet (Command Paper 779), he will state the allowance which he has made in the Estimate under the head of Inland Revenue, in Table I., for increased income tax and super-tax if Excess Profits Duty be abolished?

If profits remained the same the increased receipts from Income Tax and Super-tax might be expected to reach £80,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the memorandum issued on the Future Exchequer Balance Sheet (Command Paper 779), he will furnish a detailed statement of the miscellaneous receipts shown as £22,000,000 in Table I., showing estimated revenue?

The figures are as follow:— £ Excess Interest on the Currency Notes Investment Reserve A/c 12,000,000 Interest on Loans to Dominions 5,500,000 Fee Stamps 1,400,000 Mint Receipts 1,000,000 Suez Canal Dividends 1,000,000 Miscellaneous Extra Exchequer Receipts 1,100,000 £22,000,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the memorandum issued on the Future Exchequer Balance Sheet (Command Paper 779), he will state the aggregate amount of debt upon which the debt interest of £320,000,000 shown in Table II. is calculated; and to what actual amount of debt the figure of £32,500,000, being one-half per cent. Sinking Fund, applies?

These figures are calculated on an estimated debt of £6,500,000,000. As stated in paragraph 4 of the Prefatory Memorandum, debts due to or from Governments of Allied or Associated Countries are excluded from this total.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total depreciation in market value of the Government securities issued since 4th August, 1914?

I do not think I can add to the figures given on the 24th June to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Kenyon). The securities omitted in that answer (Treasury Bills, Treasury Bonds and Savings Certificates) have not been affected by depreciation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet reached a decision upon the question of cheap railway fares for fruit pickers; and whether he is aware that the fruit-picking season has now been in progress for over a week and that the delay in arriving at a decision is having a most damaging effect upon the operations of the fruit-growing industry?

I regret that I am unable to find any sufficient justification for asking the railway companies to extend concessions as to cheap fares at a moment when increasing expenditure requires a further increase in rates and fares.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that in many long-distance trains sufficient seating accommodation for third-class passengers is not provided, and that the standing in the carriages and the crowding of the corridors means not only inconvenience and discomfort, but risk of personal danger to such passengers; and whether in such cases official instructions will be issued authorising the use of vacant places in first-class compartments, seeing these are often empty and run at a loss to the company concerned?

The railway companies provide first-class and third-class seating accommodation in proportions which experience has shown to be necessary on the average, and I cannot give instructions that passengers who pay third-class fares should be given the same accommodation as those who pay first-class fares.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the recent decision of the London County Council to pay an additional sum of £2,000 per annum to their chief engineer; what would be the total amount of remuneration now receivable by that officer; and whether his Department propose to take any steps in the matter?

The appointment in question and the salary attached to it are entirely within the discretion of the County Council, and therefore I do not propose to take any steps in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the great advantages resulting from the Bradford system, whereby each tenant pays his own rates and discount to landlords is saved to the ratepayers, he will consider the propriety of introducing a Bill at an early date making this measure of economy and good administration compulsory in respect of all municipal corporations?

I am not prepared to introduce legislation on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is proposed to increase the contributions from the National Exchequer to local authorities in consequence of the increased cost of local administration?

I am afraid that I can only refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister to a question on the matter early this Session, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Home Secretary if Sir John Pedder is Assistant Under-Secretary to the Home Office; and if he is under the direction, and carries out the instructions, of the Secretary of State in his capacity as acting Chairman and Member of the Liquor Control Board?

Sir John Pedder is an Assistant Secretary in the Home Office. As Member and Acting Chairman of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) he does not act under my direction or receive instructions from me.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether an Indian barrister, Mr. D. M. Manilal, was in March last prohibited for two years from residing within certain parts of Fiji; whether Mr. Manilal is now in New Zealand or whether he left Fiji under the orders of the Colonial Government; and, if so, what were the reasons for which these orders were issued?

I beg to refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 19th April. Mr. Manilal's departure from Fiji to New Zealand was facilitated by the Colonial Government at his own request. I have no knowledge of his subsequent movements. The reason for the order prohibiting him from residing in certain parts of the Colony was that he was considered dangerous to their peace and good order.

asked the First Commissioners of Works whether the rifle range provided for the staff of the Houses of Parliament can be reopened?

I am quite prepared to reopen the rifle range if there be a sufficient demand.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he can arrange for the designs for a national War memorial, executed by Sir Frank Baines, to be placed in the Library or tea room of the House, so that Members who are interested may have an opportunity of seeing them?

I shall be pleased to comply with the request of the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether his attention has been drawn to the initial claim of the British South Africa Company for a sum of £8,000,000; whether Sir Charles Coghlan, the leader of the successful party at the polls in Southern Rhodesia, declared before Lord Cave that in no circumstances would the Rhodesian people be prepared to accept any liability whatever for this charge; and whether the right hon. Gentleman will give an assurance that the Treasury will refrain from accepting liability for any portion of this claim until the House has been given adequate opportunity for discussing the claim?

The answer is in the affirmative.