Mr. CROOKS asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that all employés, other than staff, who have entered the service of the Royal Arsenal since the passage of the National Insurance Act, 1911, are stopped a certain sum per week on account of privileges which do not include sick benefit, whilst all employés who entered before that date are stopped exactly the same amount but do receive sick benefit; and whether he will explain the reason for this differential treatment?

Sir A. WILLIAMSON: Some of the employés who were engaged before the National Insurance Act came into force had rights to sickness benefits in excess of those conferred by the Act. It is considered fair that these old servants should retain these excess benefits without any countervailing reduction in their rate of wages.

Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE asked the Secretary of State for War whether the military authorities can arrange to vacate the house called Haslemere, in Beaconsfield Road, St. Albans, now being used for the storage of blankets; whether he is aware that there is ample storage accommodation in the neighbourhood, e.g., the detention barracks, less than a quarter of a mile distant; and that this house is required by the freeholder for occupation by himself and family, there being no dwelling-houses available in the district?

Mr. CHURCHILL: Inquiries are being made, and I will write to the hon. and gallant Member as soon as possible.

Mr. J. DAVISON asked the Secretary of State for War whether men in the Army can now purchase their discharge; and, if so, what are the terms of purchase?

Sir A. WILLIAMSON: Yes, Sir. Discharge can now be purchased under certain conditions. The terms of purchase are contained in Army Order 180 of 1920, and have been published in the Press. I will send the hon. Member a copy of the Order.

Mr. HANCOCK asked the Secretary of State for War whether any political test, formal or informal, will be applied to applicants for entry into the Army Educational Corps?

Mr. CHURCHILL: No, Sir.

Mr. KILEY asked the Secretary of State for War whether an officer, warrant officer, or non-commissioned officer of the Army Educational Corps, who teaches the subject of citizenship, will be required to confine himself to an exposition of undisputed facts, or will deal also with opinions as to the nature, rights, and duties of citizenship; and, if the latter, whether he will be free to give expression to all opinions on the subject?

Mr. CHURCHILL: All officers, warrant officers, and non-commissioned officers of the Army Educational Corps, when dealing with the subject of history and citizenship, will in the first place explain administrative and social organisation as it exists, and, if it be necessary to set out differences of view, will avoid the ordinary controversies of politics so far as possible.

Mr. BRIANT asked the Secretary of State for War what is meant by the subject Elementary History of England and British Empire and Citizenship, in which all recruits are to obtain a third-class certificate within a reasonable time of joining the Army, the penalty for failure being dismissal; whether any examination papers for this certificate have yet been drawn up; and, if so, whether he will have them laid upon the Table of the House?

Mr. CHURCHILL: The hon. Member is, I think, under a misapprehension. The penalty for failure in the third-class certificate is not dismissal, though it is suggested in the Report on Educational Training in the British Army (Cmd. 568) recently issued, that when the results of the Education Act of 1918 are appreciably felt, it may be possible to make the third-class certificate a recruit's test. The content of the subject as a branch of instruction is best expressed in its title, and it will be the duty of the teacher to construct his syllabus and to adapt his teaching to the needs and conditions of the pupils with whom he is dealing. This subject does not form part of the third-class certificate until 1st July, 1921, and no examination papers have therefore as yet been prepared.

Mr. RAPER asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden, as far as the British military attaché is concerned, and to place Copenhagen under Brussels; and whether he will reconsider any such proposal, in view of the fact that Brussels and Copenhagen are widely apart, both as regards conditions and language, and that an arrangement of the nature referred to would involve both the extra expense of travelling and the employment of people in Brussels who understand Danish?

Mr. CHURCHILL: The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, except that it is not intended to place Copenhagen under Brussels. The same military attaché is accredited to both Belgium and Denmark. The distribution of work which has been decided on, namely, Belgium, Holland and Denmark in one group, and Norway, Sweden and Finland in another group, is considered the most suitable in view of the various factors involved, including the necessity for economy. The expense of travelling from Brussels to Copenhagen is counterbalanced by the expense that would be incurred in travelling from Stockholm to Copenhagen, if the military attaché at Stockholm were to be accredited to Denmark. The personnel employed by the military attaché at Brussels is limited to one clerk.

Colonel BURN asked the Secretary of State for War when the awards in recognition of distinguished services of those officers whose names were mentioned in the "London Gazette" of 11th June will be published?

Mr. CHURCHILL: The supplement of the "London Gazette" referred to contains additions to various "Lists of Mentions" for distinguished services rendered during the War. No question arises of any further recognition in respect of these services.

Mr. C. EDWARDS asked the Secretary of State for War whether General Neil Malcolm, Head of the British Military Mission in Berlin, has recently gone to Warsaw; if so, whether the British Mission at Warsaw needed strengthening; whether he will be available to advise the Polish general staff; and what are his instructions as to the attitude of His Majesty's Government with regard to the present situation on the Polish front?

Mr. CHURCHILL: The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second and third parts in the negative. As regards the last part of the question, no instructions on this point have been issued to General Malcolm.

Major BREESE asked the Secretary of State for Air how many passenger-carrying motor-cycle and sidecar combinations are now in the possession of the Royal Air Force; and for what use these vehicles are provided?

Mr. CHURCHILL: The number of passenger-carrying motor-cycles and sidecar combinations now on the strength of the Royal Air Force, including those in Ireland, Egypt and Mesopotamia, is 472. In addition, 131 are awaiting dispatch to the Colonies as free gifts, and a further 870 are in course of being handed over to the Disposal Board. Passenger-carrying motor-cycles and sidecar combinations are provided for urgent dispatch work and for use in place of heavier vehicles, the running costs of which are greater.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY asked the Secretary of State for Air how many municipalities have expressed their willingness to take over aerodromes in the vicinity of their towns, and which these municipalities are; and what is being done to meet their wishes?

Mr. CHURCHILL: At present under the general law, municipalities have no power to acquire or maintain aerodromes, but it is intended to confer this power upon them by the Air Navigation Bill now before Parliament. Two important municipalities, Edinburgh and Sheffield, have themselves introduced Private Bills this Session with the object of obtaining the necessary powers, and others, while not definitely committing themselves to such undertakings, have shown interest in the matter. For example, at the invitation of the municipalities, new sites for aerodromes have been inspected at Liverpool, Chester, Leeds and Bradford. When the necessary powers are obtained, it is hoped that many municipalities will avail themselves of them, and the Air Ministry will continue to give them any assistance in their power.

Mr. HALLAS asked the Postmaster-General whether a Post Office telegraphist who served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve from the 20th August, 1916, until the 6th December, 1916, without receiving full civil pay would be entitled to a War gratuity on discharge; and why such a gratuity has been refused to Mr. C. A. Hipwell, of the Post Office staff at Birmingham, official number in the Navy BZ/9,464.

Sir J. CRAIG: I have been asked to reply to this question. This man is not eligible for War gratuity for the following reasons: that from 7th December, 1916, to 12th June, 1918, he was in receipt of full civil pay, and that his remaining service, namely, from 21st August, 1916, to 6th December, 1916, when he was not in receipt of full civil pay, is less than six months, without any part of this time having been served at sea or overseas.

Mr. STRAUSS asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the hardship inflicted in many cases on pensioners who have been receiving treatment with full allowances owing to the fact that on cessation of treatment they are unable either to resume their former employment or obtain fresh employment immediately; whether he will consider the possibility of allowing one week on full allowance after a man is certified fit for work in order to enable him to re-establish himself in the first case; and whether he will consider the question of the linking up of payments made under the Ministry of Pensions and the Ministry of Labour in such a way to provide satisfactorily for pensioners who are obliged to sign on for out-of-work donation?

Major TRYON: I am not prepared to accept the suggestion that the grant of treatment allowances should be extended to meet periods of unemployment, but I am communicating with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour as regards the last part of the question, and will inform my hon. Friend of the result.

Mr. D. GRAHAM asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Ambassadors' Council has received a protest signed by Prince Lvoff and others against the negotiations now proceeding with Soviet Russia; and for what party or people Prince Lvoff claims to speak?

Mr. HARMSWORTH: The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part, the hon. Member is presumably aware that there are many Russians who do not recognise the Soviet Government. Prince Lvoff is one of their leading spokesmen.

Mr. C. EDWARDS asked the Secretary of State for War whether Batum has been completely evacuated by the British forces?

Mr. CHURCHILL: I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 29th June to the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. R. Richardson).

Mr. GRANT asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that passports are refused to applicants on the ground that they are parties in certain civil actions in the Law Courts; and whether he proposes to take any action in regard thereto.

Mr. HARMSWORTH: The answer is in the negative. If the hon. Member has any specific case in mind, I shall be happy to make enquiries.

Mr. BOTTOMLEY asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of any British subjects undergoing terms of imprisonment in Germany for military or political offences; and, if so, whether the new ambassador to Berlin will be instructed to make representation to the German Government with a view to obtaining their release?

Mr. HARMSWORTH: I am unaware of any case in which a British subject is undergoing imprisonment in Germany for a political offence. As regards military offences, enquiries are now being made by the British military mission in Berlin as to a case which is alleged to have arisen. Should the report prove to be true, the hon. Member may rest assured that all the necessary steps will be taken by His Majesty's Government in the matter.

Mr. A. HERBERT asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Rahmi Bey received a special letter of thanks from His Majesty's Minister in Athens for extraordinary kindness shown to British subjects in Smyrna during the War; and if it is consonant with British traditions of gratitude to keep him a prisoner in Malta 18 months after the Armistice?

Mr. HARMSWORTH: His Majesty's Minister at Athens, in a letter to Rahmi Bey, dated the 22nd November, 1917, conveyed an expression of His Majesty's Government's appreciation of his treatment of British subjects in Smyrna. Rahmi Bey was arrested by the orders of the Turkish Government and is detained in Malta. The question of his release has been raised from other quarters and has received careful consideration. His detention is still considered necessary.

Major HENDERSON asked the President of the Board of Trade why, as coal merchants received compensation for losses on their stocks when the price was reduced in 1919, no steps were taken to ensure that the increase of 14s. 2d. a ton was not passed on to the consumer in so far as stocks in hand before May were concerned?

Mr. BRIDGEMAN: The circumstances which led to the Government giving an undertaking to compensate merchants for losses on their stocks held at the date of the reduction of the price of household coal by 10s. a ton in December, 1919, were exceptional. Owing to the notice which it was considered desirable to give of the prospective change in price, there was a considerable danger of the public and merchants withholding orders and thus causing a serious dislocation in the flow of coal. In the then existing state of supplies this would have been disastrous. In addition, the stocks held by merchants at the begnning of the winter are always larger than at any other period of the year, and had on the occasion mentioned been specially built up at the request of the Coal Controller in order to safeguard domestic supplies as much as possible during the winter months. It was, therefore, considered necessary to compensate merchants for coal in stock or in transit, but a condition was made that the Government should take into account the gain made by merchants at the time of the increase in price by 6s. a ton on all coal in the previous July, and also the amount by which stocks appreciated when the increase in railway rates (varying from 6d. to 2s. a ton on all coal) was effected in January, 1920.

Mr. GWYNNE asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Exchange Telegraph Company on the 29th June that India's balance of trade for April is in her favour to the extent of 654 lakhs; how much of this excess of exports over imports refers to this country; whether it is paid in gold; and, if so, what is the equivalent of 654 lakhs in pounds sterling at the present rate of exchange?

Mr. MONTAGU: India's net exports of merchandise on private account amounted in April to 6.87 lakhs. This information was reported by telegram by the Government of India, but as the detailed figures have not yet reached me I am not in a position to state what share in this trade balance relates to trade between India and this country. Exports and imports of commodities form, however, only one element in a country's international account, and during April there was a steady demand for remittance of funds from India to London. In April the net imports of gold into India on private account amounted only to about 14,400 fine ounces, being the equivalent of about 61,200 sovereigns.

Mr. FINNEY asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that negotiations with the Treasury on the claims of increased remuneration for temporary male and female clerks of the Civil Service resulted in an agreement which was signed on the 19th March last that an increased scale of salaries should be paid and made retrospective from the 1st of January, 1920; that repeated applications for payment have been made by the Civil Service Union and that, though replies from the representatives of the Ministry of Pensions endorsing the terms of the agreement and definitely stating the same to be applicable to the staffs of local pensions committees have been received, no satisfaction has been given and no increase granted; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to the increases awarded under the agreement being paid without further delay to the parties entitled to the same?

Major TRYON: The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The scales of pay authorised in the agreement referred to have been communicated to local committees, who have been asked to submit any proposals which they may desire to make for applying the new scales to their staffs. A considerable number of supplementary estimates have already been received and approved for payment of salaries on the increased scale as from the 1st January, 1920.

Mr. REMER asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, before deciding to make permanent the present temporary offices in the Civil Service now held by ex-service men, the Cabinet will give some consideration to the claims of civilians displaced to make room for them, and by whom the work could be as, if not more, efficiently carried out, and many of whom in consequence of this enforced displacement, not contemplated by the Treasury Minute of September, 1919, are at the present time faced with ruin and starvation owing to the extreme difficuly of finding employment; whether he is aware that the hardship is intensified by the reason of the fact that they are ineligible for out-of-work pay, and, unlike the ex-service men, have neither pension nor gratuities; and whether he is aware that they cannot obtain aid from various organisations for assistance; and whether these facts entitle them to consideration?

Mr. BALDWIN: A competition is to be held shortly for appointment to established clerical posts in the Civil Service, which will be limited to temporary employés with not less than 12 months' approved Government service. Ex-temporary employés who possess this qualification, but who have been replaced by ex-service men, will be eligible to compete at this examination for a limited number of vacancies. The substitution of ex-service men for temporary Civil servants has been carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee appointed in June of last year to consider the question. These recommendations were framed with a view to minimising as far as possible the hardship to the temporary staff consistent with the increased employment of ex-service men, and whilst it is true that the necessary disbandment of temporary staffs must cause some hardship, my view is that in this matter prior consideration must be shown to the ex-service men.

Sir H. BRITTAIN asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the recent alteration of the age limit from 18 to 20 to 16½ to 17½, for the future admission of women clerks into the new clerical class for the Civil Service, he will allow those who have just passed the latter age and have been working up for this examination to undergo their final test before the new rule becomes operative?

Mr. BALDWIN: I would draw the attention of the hon. Member to the reply I gave on the 24th June to the hon. Member for Belper (Mr. Hancock), to which I have nothing to add.

Lieut.-Colonel JAMES asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is yet in a position to give any information as to Burton s Court, Chelsea, namely, whether the offer of the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital to lend the site rent free for a period of four years has been accepted, or whether the matter is still under discussion with a view to the Office of Works retaining control over this site for a period of not less than 14 years?

Sir A. MOND: This matter is still under discussion. The Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital have been asked whether, in view of the fact that the demolition of the existing buildings, costing over £150,000, would involve the provision of equivalent accommodation elsewhere at an expenditure of approximately £230,000, exclusive of cost of site, they could see their way, in the public interest, to allow the buildings at Burton's Court to remain for a period of seven years, on the understanding that they would be removed at the end of that time, or earlier, if in any way feasible.

Mr. LUNN asked the Minister of Health whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the local authorities which have adopted schemes for building by direct labour, together with the number of huoses contained in the scheme, and the estimated average cost per house?

Dr. ADDISON: Yes, Sir.

Mr. LUNN asked the Minister of Health at what date the increase of the building subsidy by £100 came into force; what is the number of houses in respect of which the subsidy has been guaranteed before that date; what is the number in respect of which subsidies have been sanctioned or applied for since that date; and whether it is proposed to extend the period for completion in respect of which the subsidy is payable?

Dr. ADDISON: The increased subsidy is applicable to all houses commenced on or after 1st April and which comply with the conditions of the scheme. Before the 1st April, certificates for 4,185 houses had been issued; since that date certificates for 7,326 houses have been issued (according to the returns submitted by Housing Commissioners up to 25th June, 1920). It has been decided to introduce legislation to extend for a further year the period during which grants may be made.

Mr. L. LYLE asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed as compared with three months ago and six months ago; whether he will indicate the trades in which this percentage of unemployment is increasing; if he has received any indication as to the causes; and whether the distress committees are still in existence to deal with the matter?

Dr. MACNAMARA: The total number of claimants of Out-of-Work Donation at 18th June, was 181,872, compared with 253,533 three months ago and 370,680 six months ago, while the number of persons in trades insured under the Acts of 1911 and 1916 claiming unemployment benefit at the same date was 65,849, compared with 88,014 three months ago, and 117,616 six months ago. The total number of persons on the live registers for employment with the Employment Exchanges at 18th June was 317,029, compared with 394,630 three months ago and 541,007 six months ago. From these figures it is apparent that the general level of employment in the principal industries of the United Kingdom has improved considerably during the past six months. Almost the only exceptions to this general statement are in the boot and shoe trades, where there has been a considerable decline due to a falling-off in demand, the cotton weaving industry, which is affected by the condition of the Indian market, the linen trade in Ireland, which continues to suffer from lack of materials, and the silk trade which is affected by difficulties in the export trade. I should add that in shipbuilding, although employment is still good, there has recently been some decline, owing to a shortage of raw materials. The Unemployed Workmen Act of 1905, under which distress committees may be formed in order to deal with distress arising from severe unemployment, is still in force.

Mr. LUNN asked the Minister of Labour what was the number of men of the building trades unemployed in each month of the present year?

Dr. MACNAMARA: The number of persons classified under the building trades claiming Out-of-Work Donation or Unemployment Insurance Benefit at the beginning of each month of the current year is as follows: 2nd January … … 36,995 6th February … … 33,796 5th March … … 24,315 1st April … … 17,960 7th May … … 15,836 4th June … … 16,454 Rather more than one-half of the total in each case were unskilled.

Sir H. BRITTAIN asked the Postmaster-General whether he can inform the House as to the number of telephone subscribers who are still awaiting the official London telephone directory; what was the date of the earliest deliveries of this issue; and when it is expected that every subscriber will have received a copy?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH: The issue was begun on 19th April, and will, I hope, be completed during the course of this week. Rather less than 27,000 subscribers, or about one-seventh of the total number, have still to be supplied with copies.

Mr. BOTTOMLEY asked the Home Secretary whether he has now ascertained that the letter addressed to the hon. Member for South Hackney, which was recently opened on the alleged authority of the Home Office, was in fact opened without such authority; whether he is aware that Sub-section (1) of Section 56 of the Post Office Act, 1908, constitutes the opening of letters in course of post without the warrant of the Secretary of State a misdemeanour punishable by imprisonment with or without hard labour, or to a fine, or to both such imprisonment and fine; and whether he proposes to institute proceedings under such Section against the person responsible for this breach of the law?

Mr. SHORTT: As I have already informed the hon. Member, the letter was opened by mistake and I have expressed my regret. I am well aware of the provisions of Section 56 of the Post Office Act, 1908; but as there is no suspicion here of anything but a mistake made in perfect good faith, there can be no question of a prosecution.

Mr. WASON asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will have inquiry made into the complaints that are continually being made that the local fishermen are being ruined by the depredations of trawlers in inshore waters round the North Islands, Orkney?

Mr. MUNRO: Inquiry will be made into any specific complaints of illegal trawling in the waters referred to by my hon. Friend. Complaints should be sent to the Fishery Board.

Major HENDERSON asked the Secretary for Scotland whether Professor Ludwig Becker is still on leave of absence, with full pay, from Glasgow University; and, if so, whether he can bring pressure to bear on the University authorities to terminate a situation which has existed ever since March, 1916?

Mr. MUNRO: I understand that the position is as stated in the first part of the question. The University Court have taken action under the Universities (Scotland) Act, 1858, with a view to bringing about the retirement of Professor Becker, and the resolution of the Court is now before the Privy Council.

Major GLYN asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that there is a serious shortage of meat for sale in fleshing establishments in certain parts of Scotland; whether the Ministry of Food are satisfied as to the causes of this shortage; and what stocks of imported meat are available for sale in Scotland?

Mr. McCURDY: I have been asked to reply. There has been a general shortage of home-killed meat throughout the country, owing to the withholding of supplies by producers in anticipation of a rise in price following upon the removal of control. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain W. Benn) on the 1st July.

Mr J. DAVISON asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland who recommended to the General Prisons Board the three gentlemen recently appointed to the post of deputy-governor in Maryborough, Mountjoy, and Armagh prisons, respectively; and why the two warders who obtained commissions in the Army were not favourably considered for the position of deputy-governor, in view of the fact that they have more experience and prior claim to those outside the service?

Mr. HENRY: The two gentlemen recently appointed to the posts of deputy-governor at Maryborough and Mountjoy Prisons (there has been no such appointment to Armagh Prison) were selected from the list of applicants on their merits after full consideration of the available candidates including those already in the prisons service.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt among traders in fish, fruit, vegetables, and other perishables at the continuance of the War-time Order requiring them to prepay the charges for the conveyance of these goods by passenger train; that the general opinion is that this system leads to carelessness in many cases on the part of the railway companies in handling and delivering these perishable goods; and when he proposes to revert to the pre-War practice in this matter?

Mr. NEAL: Certain complaints have been brought to my notice, and the matter is being fully investigated. The prepayment of charges has, however, been in operation for three years; the practice is a simple and convenient one and secures great economy in clerical labour.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY asked the Minister of Transport whether he has consulted, or intends to consult, the municipal authorities of Hull, and the representatives of commerce and of organised labour in that city, with regard to the proposed amalgamation of the Hull and Barnsley and the North-Eastern Railway Companies as outlined in Cmd. 787; and whether the special interests of Hull as a shipping port will be taken into consideration in any such amalgamation?

Mr. NEAL: The proposals of the Government outlined in Command Paper 787 do not represent a final or detailed scheme incapable of modification, and I intend to discuss these proposals with representatives of the railway companies, commerce and labour. The Government pledged themselves in 1918 to consult the Railway Companies' Association as to the future of railways before any Bill is presented to Parliament dealing with the matter.

Mr. RAPER asked the Home Secretary if he can now see his way to give instructions for the speed limits on motor vehicles to be increased, in view of the great improvements made in their braking capacity since the introduction of the speed regulations now in force?

Mr. NEAL: I have been asked to answer this question. An alteration in the maximum speed for motor cars would require fresh legislation. The whole question of speed limits for motor vehicles generally is within the terms of reference of the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, and I cannot anticipate their report, or the legislation which may follow it.

Sir S. COATS asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the fact that traffic through the Oxted tunnel has been much restricted since the beginning of May, no work beyond the laying of a single line has been carried out, and that unnecessary inconvenience is being caused to the people who live on this line in consequence; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Mr. NEAL: The Oxted Tunnel is 2,266 yards in length, and is in need of repair. In order to allow the contractors to carry out the repairs as quickly as possible, the railway company have introduced single line working through the tunnel, which is open for traffic in the morning and again in the evening, but it is closed to all traffic during the forenoon, early afternoon, and throughout the night. The repair work is being carried out by double shifts of men, and it is necessary that the tunnel be kept free of traffic and smoke, to enable the men to work in safety and with speed and efficiency.

Major BARNES asked the Minister of Transport the total number of officials on each railway company in receipt of a salary of £1,000 per annum and over, and the salary of each chairman and the directors of each railway company?

Mr. NEAL: I have no up-to-date figures as to the numbers of officials in receipt of £1,000 per annum and over employed by the railway companies. The total number of chairmen and directors is approximately 1,300, and their remuneration amounted to about £200,000 in 1919.

Lieut.-Colonel MURRAY asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Prime Minister and the British delegation to the Brussels Conference travelled from Dover to Ostend by a steamer specially chartered for the purpose; and, if so, whether the cost to the nation was less than would have been the case had the party travelled by the ordinary passenger steamer service?

Mr. BONAR LAW: As was stated yesterday by my right hon. Friend, the steamer employed was placed at the disposal of the British Delegation by the Belgian Government.

Mr. HAYDAY asked the Home Secretary when it is intended to set up the appeal tribunal recommended by the Desborough Report, paragraph 126, to which police should have the right of appeal against a decision of a chief officer of police involving dismissal; and whether the tribunal will consider applications in relation to cases which occurred prior to the 1st April, 1919, or only applications in respect of dismissals since that date?

Mr. SHORTT: A Police Council appointed under Section 4 of the Police Act, 1919, is meeting this week, and I shall have the advantage of hearing what they have to say with regard to procedure in discipline cases, but the particular recommendation to which the hon. Member refers cannot be given effect to without legislation. In any case, the change in procedure could not apply retrospectively to cases settled before it came into force

Mr. C. WHITE asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange that public notices shall be exhibited in all banks and post offices with reference to the calling in of all currency notes of the first and second issues, or in some other way notify the public, especially those living in remote country districts, of the intention of the Treasury?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN: Yes, Sir. I will ask the Postmaster-General and the banks to exhibit such notices.

Mr. A. T. DAVIES asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the considerable increase in every class of the Civil Service Estimates as between the future Exchequer Balance Sheet now published and that issued in October last, he will appoint a Committee of the House to examine and report upon such Estimates without delay?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN: I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister on the 7th ultimo to the hon. Member for Dunfermline Burghs (Mr. Wallace).

Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEE asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a definite ruling has been given to the effect that though service in the Navy is allowed to reckon as previous service for annual increment in the pay of civilian clerks in the Coastguard Service this concession is not granted in the case of military service; and whether he will cause the matter to be reconsidered?

Sir J. CRAIG: No definite ruling has been given that service in the Navy may be allowed to count for increments in the pay of civilian clerks in Coastguard Offices, nor is it intended that naval or military service should so count. On the other hand, civilian service as clerk in Coastguard Offices is intended to count for annual increments on the scale.

Mr. HAYDAY asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether legislation similar to the Seditious Publications Ordinance, Grenada, has been introduced or passed in any other of the West Indian Colonies; and, if so, in what Colonies?

Lieut.-Colonel AMERY: The same law has been passed in St. Lucia and St. Vincent, and legislation of a similar character has been passed in Trinidad, the Leeward Islands, and the Bahama Islands.

Lieut.-Colonel PARRY asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies in what way the Government proposes to dispose of the phosphates from Nauru Island in this country; and at what price?

Lieut.-Colonel AMERY: The arrangements are not sufficiently far advanced for me to be able to make any statement at present; but the Secretary of State is in communication with the Minister of Agriculture on the matter.

Sir F. BLAKE asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he can give the number of persons against whom proceedings have been taken in courts of summary jurisdiction under Clause 15 (3) of the Corn Production Act, 1917; and in how many cases were such persons fined or imprisoned?

Sir A. BOSCAWEN: Two persons have been prosecuted under Clause 15 (3) of the Corn Production Act, 1917, for failure to make agricultural returns, and in both cases fines were imposed.