asked the Prime Minister whether the Government propose to introduce a Bill granting votes to women on the same terms as men, in order to carry out the pre-election pledge to remove all existing inequalities of the law as between men and women?

I cannot add anything to the reply which was given on 28th April last by the Leader of the House to a question on this subject by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Horsham (Earl Winterton).

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a Report of a visit to Samoa by a deputa- tion of the Parliamentary Labour Party of New Zealand; whether he is aware that this Report alleges that, in connection with the mandated area of the Samoans. Island for which the New Zealand Government is to receive a mandate, there has been for years a system of Chinese slavery instituted by the German Government; that the Samoans resent the presence of these indentured labourers and that it was admitted by an inspector of the plantations that loathsome practices were rife; that the planters asked permission of the New Zealand Government to re-indenture these coolies upon the declaration of peace; that the New Zealand Government refused to sanction this, but that the Imperial Government, after some correspondence, agreed to the re-indenture of all the coolies for another two years; and whether, in view of the opinion expressed in the Report, that it would be better to let every plantation go back to nature than to save them at the price of the perpetuation of a German-introduced slavery by New Zealand officials, he can state the attitude of the Government on this matter?

I have not seen the Report referred to. Re-indenture, which is of course purely voluntary, has been taking place from 1916. With regard to the extension of the period of re-indenture to two years I would refer to my reply to a question on the subject on 5th July.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any Palestinian Moslems and Christians are being recruited for service as soldiers in His Majesty's forces?

No, Sir, not at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the consideration of the conditions of service of inspection of ordnance machinery is now com- pleted; and whether any alteration has been proposed that will enable Army artificers of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps who hold science certificates more speedily to pass the necessary examinations for promotion?

This question is under consideration. I would point out that in the present state of reorganisation delay is unavoidable in reaching a decision on questions of this nature, involving the revision of a permanent establishment, but the matter is being actively pursued, and I hope a decision will soon be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for War at what price per ton the stacks of baled hay, 1918 crop, near Towcester station, were sold; and whether the Central Council for Civil Supplies (Forage Department) is financed out of public funds?

This hay was sold to the Central Council for Civil Supplies (Forage Department) at £11 6s. per ton, which represents the price paid for the hay, together with the cost of baling, carting, stacking, etc., plus 5s. per ton for establishment charges. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that intimation has been received at the London Command Pay Office, Tavistock Square, W.C., that reduction to the post-War strength is to be effected immediately; that the maximum strength is to be 80 and that it is the official intention to introduce 62 soldier clerks to replace the same number of ex-service men at present holding temporary positions in the office; whether it is his intention to staff all the War Department offices by military clerks, thereby reverting to the system in operation before the War, or to take the initial steps to reorganise the War Office and the War Department offices on the lines of the Report of the Reconstruction Committee of the National Whitley Council?

I am not aware that specific instructions as stated have been given, but on the completion of demobilisation, all Army Pay Offices are being reduced in strength and returning to peace conditions. Under such conditions, these offices are of necessity largely manned by serving soldiers, in the same way as other Army offices, as otherwise the necessary soldiers for service abroad in peace and in war would not be forthcoming. Where civilians can be employed, ex-service men enjoy preference. My hon. Friend will appreciate the fact that Army Pay Offices are not part of the Civil Service or the War Office to which the Report of the Reconstruction Committee is being applied.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at North Dulwich gun station there are 12 guns, with one officer and five men to look after them, and that the same are stationed on land belonging to the Dulwich Estates Governors and which is required as a playing field for the James Allen's girls' school; why, after repeated requests that the land might be vacated, the guns are still in the same position; and whether, considering that neither the officer nor the men are carrying out any duties that can have any beneficial effects to the country, he will give instructions forthwith to have the guns removed in order that the land may revert to the use of the Dulwich Estates Governors and the officer and men utilised elsewhere and in a much more effective manner?

I am informed that instructions have now been issued for the withdrawal of these guns and personnel, and arrangements will be made for the land to be given up as soon as the stores have been removed.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that complaints continue to be received from ex-soldiers discharged from India to this country who cannot obtain their pay and gratuities because their papers have not arrived from the East; and whether the expense of cabling from London to India to stimulate activity in these matters is a charge against the British taxpayer?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply. The work of preparing and sending home accounts of soldiers who have returned from India has been exceedingly heavy, and the staffs available in India were not able to despatch these documents as quickly as was desirable. The bulk of the work is, however, now completed, and special steps have been taken to expedite the settlement of the comparatively small number of cases still remaining to be disposed of, which, according to a report recently received, are very involved. An officer of the Royal Army Pay Department has been specially sent to India in this connection, and has already succeeded in effecting a very marked improvement. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. These cables, in numerous cases, refer to soldiers who have served in Mesopotamia, and all expenses connected with the accounts of soldiers serving in that country are chargeable to British funds. Cabling is only resorted to in very urgent cases.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet been able to come to a decision in regard to Summerdown Camp, Eastbourne; and whether, in view of the shortage of houses in the district, he will release a part of the camp, which is not in use, to the town council for temporary accommodation?

The patients now in the Convalescent Camp, Summerdown, Eastbourne, will be moved to Shoreham as soon as the latter can be prepared for them. The whole of Summerdown Camp will then be reported for disposal as surplus to military requirements. Instructions, however, were sent to the local military authorities on the 3rd instant, to report for disposal all hutting that is not now required and can be spared.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Scots Guards were sent from Windsor to Edinburgh to act as a guard of honour on the occasion of the royal visit; whether it is usual to requisition the household troops for duties so distant from London; were there no troops in Scotland who could have been requisitioned for the honourable duty; and what was the cost to the British taxpayer of sending the Scots Guards to Scotland?

A guard of honour and band of the Scots Guards were sent to Edinburgh on the occasion of the Royal visit partly to stimulate recruiting for the Scots Guards. Other units stationed within convenient reach of Edinburgh have also furnished guards of honour. The cost of sending the Scots Guards to Edinburgh is approximately £760.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the wireless stations created during the War to intercept enemy wireless messages are still in existence; whether all these stations are occupied in tapping the same messages; whether the results are transmitted to the Admiralty, involving the employment of a large staff; and the number of stations at present in use, the number of men employed on this work at the Admiralty and elsewhere, and the annual cost to the nation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the remaining parts do not, therefore, arise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that an application made on the 1st June for an advance in wages of 10s. per week to be given to the civilian workers employed at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, has merely been formally acknowledged; and whether he will take such steps as will expedite a settlement of the matter?

The claim referred to has been under consideration in connection with other wages claims. The claims of the employés referred to were dealt with by the Court of Arbitration in January last, and the circumstances are not held to warrant the Department to modify the finding of the Court by granting the present application. An official communication to the applicants will, however, be made within a few days.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to issue instructions that, before an ex-service man who may be surplus to requirements receives notice to terminate his employment, all serving soldier clerks at present employed at headquarters and elsewhere shall be withdrawn from those offices?

As at present advised, I am not prepared to issue instructions for the withdrawal of all serving soldier clerks employed at headquarters and elsewhere before an ex-service man surplus to requirements is released. It is essential that a proportion of serving soldier clerks should be retained upon headquarters and other staffs in order that a nucleus of trained clerical staff may be immediately available for duty overseas on the outbreak of hostilities.

asked the Minister of Pensions what action he intends to take after 31st July to deal with the 250,000 unemployed ex-service men whose out-of-work donation ceases on that date?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on Tuesday last on this subject, in which I explained that the question is engaging our close attention, but I am not in a position at the moment to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received particulars of men employed in the Navy as boilermakers and in other skilled trades who, on demobilisation, have been refused admission to trade unions; and whether he proposes to take any steps to facilitate these men joining trade unions and so being in a position to obtain employment?

I have received particulars of certain cases which my hon. Friend has been good enough to send me, and my Department is making inquiries the result of which I will communicate to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the reason of the delay in releasing the huts at the Polegate airship station for sale; and whether, in view of the fact that accommodation is urgently required in that district, all the existing houses having been occupied for a long time past, and that the men employed by the War Office in the district are being billeted in the neighbourhood, which is aggravating the situation, he will take steps to see that these huts, which are deteriorating by being left empty, are released forthwith?

The huts in question have now been released for sale by the Disposal Board. The party of officers and men emplowed at Polegate to pack airship stores will be withdrawn in about a fortnight's time, and the billets they are now occupying will then be vacated.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, seeing it is admitted by his Department that promotion lists issued by the Royal Naval Air Service were regarded as authoritative and were used in connection with the adjustment of the pay of the ratings concerned, whether promotion list No. 36 was dated 1st February, 1918; and whether the ratings on that list were duly promoted from the authorised date or whether there was any delay in giving effect to the Order?

I am informed that promotion list No. 36 was dated the 1st February, 1918. It was issued on the 2nd July, 1918, and was no doubt acted on with the least possible delay, though I am unable to state after this lapse of time whether delay occurred in any particular case. Promotions took effect from the 1st February, 1918, with the consequential adjustment of pay. I may add that the list was accompanied by instructions making the promotion of riggers (L) conditional upon the existence of vacancies in the authorised establishment, and also prohibiting the promotion of any men on the list who had committed themselves since being recommended. If the hon. Member will supply me with particulars of the case he has in mind I will have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why the Air Ministry have not paid for the damage done to the park fencing at Brickworth Park on 10th February by motor lorry No. 42,924 M.T., driven by William Young Somonds, No. 313,531, Royal Air Force?

A payment in full settlement of this claim for damage, the first intimation of which was received at the Air Ministry on the 8th instant, was made on the 19th.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that James McPhee, late No. 483,867, Labour Corps, is unable to receive payment of his pension owing to the non-arrival of his draft book at the Coatbridge post office, although repeated applications have been made for it; that other cases of delay have occurred through these draft books not having been sent to this post office; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

This man's pension is now in payment, and as my hon. and gallant Friend has been good enough to write to me about the case, I am sending him a full explanation of the circumstances. As regards the latter part of the question, I am inquiring into the other case which my hon. and gallant Friend has brought to my notice, and will let him know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that numerous cases of complaint have arisen with regard to the cutting down of the pensions of disabled soldiers irrespective of, and without apparent reference to, the awards of medical boards; on what principle such pensions are cut down; and will he undertake that in future, where the disability remains constant or increases, the pension shall also either remain constant or be increased proportionately to the increased disability?

I am not aware of the numerous cases of complaint, suggested in the question. All awards of pension under the Royal Warrant are in accordance with the findings of the Medical Boards by whom the pensioners are examined, and no alteration is made in a Board's original estimate of the degree of a man's disablement without further reference to the board, or the authority of a superior board after a fresh examination of the man. The present practice is in fact in accordance with the suggestion made in the last part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that great dissatisfaction exists among ex-servicemen through the decisions of the medical appeal tribunals, which deprives them of any further pensions, notwithstanding: the fact that many of these men are now unable to do the same work as before, and are only able to do work of a less arduous nature at much lower wages than their former employment would now bring them in; whether many were discharged as totally unfit for further service, yet the result of the appeal tribunal was the same; how these tribunals are appointed; whether they are permanently employed by the Ministry; and what instructions are given them with reference to these examinations; and whether he will set up another tribunal with power fully to investigate the former condition of these men as regards health, for comparison purposes when the final examination is being made, and thus endeavour to give the greatest possible satisfaction to men who have so strong a claim upon the nation?

I am not aware of any grounds for thinking that the arrangements for appeal to Medical. Appeal Boards, to which, presumably, my hon. Friend refers, are working otherwise than satisfactory. These Boards were constituted to give both disabled men and the Ministry the advantage of the advice of specialists in the various classes of disability, and a specialist is always a member of an Appeal Board Members are appointed by the Minister and—apart from the Deputy-Commissioner of Medical Services of the area; who is a whole-time officer—they are remunerated on the basis of a fee per session. None of the members are in the permanent employ of the Ministry. No special instructions have been given to the Appeal Boards which would interfere with their unfettered judgment on the merits of each case that comes before them, and, in the circumstances, I should see no advantage in constituting a new tribunal as suggested by my hon. Friend. With regard to the ground of complaint alleged, I would remind my hon. Friend that the accepted basis of the award of disablement pension is the medical estimate of the extent of the disablement consequent upon the disability which has been found to be due to the man's war service. Considerations as to the wages which a pensioner is capable of earning (which, under the present system, are expressly excluded from the assessment of pension) could not reasonably be introduced in those cases only where they would be to the man's advantage.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Walter Henry Preece, A.B., late H.M.S. "Iron Duke" and Naval Barracks, Portsmouth, was discharged as totally unfit owing to the drum of the ears and the eyes being affected by gun-flashes and also suffering from chest trouble; whether he received full disablement allowance for six weeks and was then given the war gratuity of £10 and £l per week for 45 weeks; whether, on appeal for renewal, the referee assessed him as a 40 per cent. injury and later the medical board confirmed this; whether later another medical referee gave the same decision and also ordered outdoor hospital treatment; if he is aware that the Appeal Tribunal at Cardiff said that the ear, eye and chest trouble was not attributable to or aggravated by his service during the Great War; and will he order a full investigation and, if necessary, an inquiry into this man's former and present condition of health?

After full and careful consideration it was not found possible to accept Mr. Preece's disabilities as due to or aggravated by his naval service. Mr. Preece appealed against this decision to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, who, however, dis- missed the appeal; and, as decisions of that tribunal are, by Statute, final, I regret that he is not eligible for any award beyond the gratuity of £55 already granted.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office from what date the increased service pensions to ex-soldiers over 60, promised by the Lord Privy Seal on 10th May, are to be issued; and when is an announcement to be made on the subject?

The rules regarding increased pensions for ex-soldiers will follow, as far as applicable, those for Civil servants. The announcement, so far as the Army is concerned, will be made by the issue of a Royal Warrant as soon as the Pensions (Increase) Bill, now before the House, has been passed. As my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal stated on 10th May last, subject to the necessary legislative sanction being obtained, the increases will take effect from 1st April last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Bill to authorise the increase of certain (pre-War) pensions, as now drafted, provides for the inclusion of the Greenwich Hospital age and special pensions held by naval pensioners in the percentage increases contemplated?

The Bill makes provision for the inclusion of Greenwich Hospital age pensions, they being partly defrayed from naval funds, but special pensions are excluded on the ground that they are derived solely from charitable funds, and the grant of percentage increases cannot, therefore, form a charge on the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to do justice to soldiers who, having served twelve years in the Army, and having been discharged more than five years prior to the outbreak of war in 1914, thereupon re-enlisted for the duration of the War, he will so amend the Army Order dealing with service pension as to entitle such soldiers to count their several periods of service as if they were continuous service for pension purposes?

It was decided, after full consideration, to assimilate Army to Navy practice in this respect, so far as the greatly increased pensions under the Order of 1919 are concerned, and I regret that I am unable to reopen the question. The men in question retain their right to count such service for pension under the Pay Warrant of 1914.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions the number of officers who joined the Army and were given permanent regular commissions before 4th August, 1914, who have been passed as permanently unfit for general service on account of sickness or disease contracted on active service or loss of limbs through wounds, respectively?

I have been asked to answer this question. I regret that the information asked for is not available and I am afraid that its special preparation would not be justified in view of the labour and expense involved.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the police in various parts of Ireland adopt the method of threatening individual Sinn Feiners with ejection from their homes if any damage is done to police barracks even though these individuals may take no part in the disturbance?

The police do not adopt the practice referred to, but in one instance they did inform the occupier of a house that in the event of certain barracks which were being evacuated being burned, his house would be commandeered.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that many tenant farmers in the south and west of Ireland, notwithstanding the prosperous state of agriculture, are demanding large deductions of rent from loyalist landowners, threatening if the reductions are not given that they will pay no rent at all; and, seeing that these landowners are all burdened with charges on their properties, how soon the Government propose to introduce another Land Purchase Bill which will enable them to get rid of their property on fair terms?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and as regards the last part I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, in connection with the removal of certain prisoners from Mountjoy to Armagh for trial at the recent summer sessions, the chief warder of Mountjoy Prison detailed two warders as escort and that some time afterwards the Governor objected to the chief warder's selection and selected an escort himself, which included a warder of advanced years of age but junior in service and who has already had his turn of court duty a few days ago; and, if so, if these two officers are incompetent or incapable of performing such duties?

I see no reason to question the Governor's exercise of his discretion in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether officers of the Indian police, forests, public works, and educational departments who retired prior to 13th July, 1913, have received no alteration in their scale of pension; and whether, in view of the cost of living, the Indian Government will revise the Pension rates so as to include such retired officers?

The answer to the first part is in the affirmative. The Government of India's policy towards their pensioned officers is based on the policy of His Majesty's Government in the case of pensioned officers in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether fully 80 per cent. of the officers of the Public Works Department in India have refused to accept the new pension conditions as satisfactory?

I have no information on the subject. Officers of the Public Works Department who were in the service when the new pension rules were introduced last year were allowed the option of coming under them or of remaining under the rules previously applicable to them.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can confirm the statement made in the Press regarding the generous contribution to the cost of the War made by His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore, whose brother and heir-presumptive is now in London?

I have no detailed information at present as to this offer and the Government of India's reply, but T have received a statement which shows that the numerous offers from Indian rulers during the War included an offer from His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore to add to his previous very generous contributions by contributing towards the expenses of the War a sum of Rs. 13,13,611, representing the amount spent over and above peace expenditure on account of Imperial Service troops.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the increase of pay recently granted to officials of the Public Works Department in India amounts approximately 20 per cent.; and, if so, whether such percentage can be considered as adequate to meet the increased cost of living, seeing that increases of from 40 to 100 per cent. have been granted for that purpose to members of the home Civil Services?

The rate of increase of pay varies according to the length of service, but for officers below the rank of superintending engineer it is in practically all cases more than 20 per cent. The increase in the cost of living has been less in India than in this country, and I think the improved scale of pay for the Indian Public Works Department may be regarded as adequate.

asked the Prime Minister if the House of Commons will have an opportunity of discussing any increased railway fares before they are charged to the public?

It is not possible in the present state of business for me to arrange a special opportunity for such a discussion.

asked the Minister of Transport at what date it was decided that a further increase of railway fares was necessary; why a longer notice could not have been given to the public so that it would have had time to modify or cancel the arrangements for holidays; and if he is aware that in some cases the additional charge will compel an abandonment of the holiday and a sacrifice of the deposit paid on apartments?

"By Statute this can only be determined after investigation by the Railway Rates Advisory Committee. I regret I cannot undertake to defer the operation of any decision then come to. State subsidy to the railways is generally agreed as most undesirable, and that is the alternative."

And on the 21st June the Leader of the House stated that

"the necessary rates must be imposed as soon as the Advisory Committee has reported."

I recognise and greatly regret that hardship may be occasioned to some classes of passengers, but it is the settled

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will publish an analysis of the distribution of the receipts of the principal railway companies, setting forth the results in approximate percentages under the following heads: wages and salaries, materials, miscellaneous expenses, and net receipts available for interest and dividend; whether this suggested analysis could show the railway position in 1913, and as it is assumed it will be after the proposed increases in fares and rates shall have come into operation; and whether he will present a statement showing how a pre-War passenger fare of 1d. per mile was shared out under the above-mentioned four principal headings and how the proposed passenger fare of 2d. per mile will also be shared out?

Accounts in this form are not available, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will confer with me I will see whether, without undue cost, I can give him approximately the information he wants.

asked the Minister of Transport whether a claim for £310,000 has been submitted by a railway company for the cost of repairing the landslip between Folkestone and Dover; if so, whether the cost is to be borne by the State, and on what grounds and under which of the agreements made between the State and the railway companies; whether the sum has been paid; and, if so, whether he will explain in what way the circumstance of Government control over railways involved the State in liability in a natural and accidental occurrence?

A landslip occurred on the South Easter Railway between Dover and Folkestone in December, 1915. The cost of replacement of the lines was estimated by an engineer acting for the Government at £310,000. The managing committee of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway claimed that the cost of such replacement was a charge against revenue, and it was agreed by the Board pf Trade with the consent of the Treasury as a special case that the cost should be spread over three years, 1915–16–17, and that the Government should pay to the Committee such portion as accrued during the period of control. As that period covered the whole of the three years, the full amount fell to be paid by the Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the conflict of opinions held by the recent Departmental Committee which inquired into the handling of goods and traffic, and the reply of the New Transport Company, Limited, and in view of the claims that the Gattie system will effect economies in national transport, he will cause a judicial inquiry into the transport system to be held?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The scheme put forward by Mr. A. W. Gattie and the New Transport Company, Limited, was examined by an independent committee of experts; and the published reply of the New Transport Company to the Report of the Committee consisted mainly of a reiteration of statements which had been made in evidence and already considered. I do not consider, therefore, that the circumstances warrant a further inquiry. The inquiry was a most thorough and painstaking one under the Chairmanship of the hon. Member for Maldon Division (Sir Fortescue Flannery). The Committee was a thoroughly impartial and unbiassed one appointed by the Board of Trade, and I see no reason to incur the expense of another inquiry.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make arrangements to enable parties of farm workers and their wives to make concession trips of return journey for single fare after the harvest is gathered in, in view of the benefit which would be derived therefrom, and provided that the number of the party was guaranteed and was in accordance with any regulations he might make; and whether he is aware that such a concession would be appreciated if it could be granted before the winter months set in?

I do not think that special concessions could be made in favour of farm workers, but the possibility of restoring some excursion facilities is under consideration, and every effort will be made to enable some such trains to be run.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the provisions of the Industrial Courts Act, the reason why the general manager of the London and South-Western Railway Company refuses to allow a dispute affecting the application of the Eastleigh district rate being applied to the civil engineers' department to be heard before the industrial courts; and whether he will have inquiries made into this matter?

Under the provisions of the Industrial Courts Act, the concurrence of both parties is required before any difference can be referred for settlement to the Industrial Court. I understand that the London and South-Western Railway Company are unwilling to concur in referring the question at issue to arbitration in view of the national negotiations on the question of district rates for railway shopmen at present taking place between the General Managers' Committee of the railway companies and representatives of the Unions concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether there are any passenger liners which have been taken over from Germany or Austria now at anchor in the Thames not in use; and, if so, how many of these ships there are and why they are not being used for passenger traffic?

Including two vessels under survey or repair there are now eight ex-German passenger vessels lying in the Thames. It is expected that the final ownership of these, as of the other ex-enemy vessels, will be settled very shortly, and in view of this fact it is not considered expedient to arrange for a further immediate voyage for these particular ships.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether all the German ships allotted to this country have now been allocated; to whom has this allocation been made; and what are the numbers and tonnage of the vessels in each case?

I am not quite clear whether the hon. Member is referring to allocation for final ownership or for temporary management. No ships have yet been allotted for final ownership by the Reparation Commission. The ships allotted to Great Britain for temporary management have all been allocated to shipowners in this country to manage on behalf of His Majesty's Government. The numbers and tonnage of such vessels delivered up to 17th July, 1920, are as follows:—Forty-one passenger steamships of a total of 430,804 tons gross registered; 255 cargo steamships of a total of 1,139,578 tons gross registered.

asked the Prime Minister whether any further progress has been made in drafting the mandates for Palestine, Tanganyika Territory, Togoland, and Cameroons; whether the draft mandates for these areas will be considered by the representatives of the Allied and Associated Powers; and when they are likely to be submitted to the Council of the League of Nations?

Negotiations with regard to these draft mandates are still in progress between the various Governments concerned. I cannot, therefore, as yet indicate the date at which they will be submitted to the Council of the League of Nations.

asked the Prime Minister when the terms of the mandate for the former German East Africa will be decided?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I have given to-day to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Ormsby-Gore).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a Member of the Government ordered a torpedo-boat destroyer to take him to Ostend and await his pleasure there; and, if so, under what circumstances this was done?

A torpedo-boat destroyer was ordered by the Admiralty to take a Member of the Government to Ostend in order that he might be in time to attend the recent Conference at Spa, which was not possible for him by the ordinary passenger route. The destroyer was detained at Ostend, as it was anticipated that the Member referred to would be able to return the following day. As this proved not to be the case, the destroyer was directed to return to England.

asked the Prime Minister how many projects for the establishment of a permanent Court of International Justice are under the consideration of the International Commission of Jurists appointed to draw up a scheme for such a court; and whether any one of these schemes was put forward by the British representative?

I have no information, but will make inquiries.

asked the Prime Minister whether, pending the receipt of a reply from President Wilson as to the delimitation of the frontiers of Armenia, the Supreme Council has made any communication to the League of Nations on the subject of the financial and military guarantee?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a statement cabled from Batoum on 9th July by a Press correspondent, and delayed in transmission, to the effect that the British prisoners in Baku were on the 4th instant still confined in the Bailoff prison, notwithstanding the undertaking of the Soviet to remove such prisoners to Nobel's villa, outside the city, on 8th June; that this Bailoff is an old underground prison infested with vermin and intolerably hot; that the British prisoners, including the consul and several other civilians, have been confined in this place since 28th April on bad and insufficient food; that their health is in a very precarious state; and that the Soviet does not believe that the British Government is deeply concerned as to the fate of these prisoners owing to the leisurely treatment which their case has received; and, if so, what steps are being taken to remove this erroneous impression and to secure the prompt release of the prisoners?

The condition of the British prisoners at Baku has been a source of constant and anxious concern to His Majesty's Government, who have addressed repeated telegrams to the Soviet Government on the subject, and have insisted upon the release of these innocent persons among others as a condition of the resumption of commercial negotiations with the Krassin delegation. The Soviet authorities having disclaimed all responsibility for what is passing at Baku, His Majesty's Government, who cannot accept this plea, have placed in custody a number of Russian deportees now in this country, and have informed the Soviet authorities that they will not be released until the British prisoners at Baku and in all parts of Russia have been returned.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that in a Serbian propaganda pamphlet, issued in Paris by M. Radovitch and others, a number of calumnies invented by Serbian agents in the early years of the War for the purpose of alienating the sympathy of the Allies from the King of Montenegro in order to prepare the way for the annexation of Montenegro by Serbia are asserted as being ascertained historical facts, and are alleged to have been substantiated by an inter-Allied Commission consisting of British, French, Italian, and American officers, the findings of whose Report are set out in detail; whether this commission was stated by him on the 5th of June, 1919, to have consisted of British and American representatives only; whether the Report of this inter-Allied commission has been published; and, if not, in view of the fact that its alleged contents have been divulged by M. Radovitch, will he now lay the Report upon the Table of this House?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The only inter-Allied Mission to Montenegro of which I am aware was that referred to by me on 5th June, 1919, and the only Report was that furnished by Count de Salis. It has been stated several times in this House that His Majesty's Government do not propose to publish this Report.

asked the Prime Minister in view of his statement on the 18th of December last that the conditions prevailing in Montenegro and the future of that Kingdom were matters to be discussed at the then forthcoming Allied Conference, if he will say how many Allied Conferences have taken place since that date; and whether the matters referred to have yet been discussed and a policy in regard to them decided upon?

The question of Montenegro cannot be dealt with apart from the general territorial settlement in the Adriatic. The question came up at the San Remo Conference, but a decision was deferred, as it was considered preferable to reach a settlement by direct friendly discussions between the Italian and the Yugo-Slav Governments. The negotiations entered upon for this purpose were unhappily interrupted by the recent change of Government at Rome. It is, however, hoped that these direct negotiations will very shortly be resumed, and that a satisfactory arrangement will be arrived at which would then come before the Supreme Council for ultimate confirmation.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the opium monopoly at Macao has recently been sold by auction and acquired by a company at Hong Kong; and whether, seeing that Portugal was a signatory to the International Opium Convention of 1912, the traffic in opium produced at Macao will be subject to the restrictions contained in that Convention?

As regards the first part of the hon. Member's question, I have no information other than that contained in a press report to the effect that the Macao opium monopoly for three years, from the 1st August next, has been sold by auction to a Hong Kong merchant. As regards the second part, I understand that no opium is produced at Macao. So far as traffic in this product is concerned, I have no reason to doubt that the Portuguese Government will fulfill all obligations arising from signature of the Opium Convention.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is now prepared to advise the War Office to withdraw the instructions issued, or about to be issued, giving effect to the proposals for replacing the ex-service clerks by military clerks, pending an inquiry into the circumstances, which inquiry has already been asked for by the Civil Service Union on behalf of 3,400 of their members directly interested; and whether he is prepared to instruct the War Office to put into operation the Reconstruction Report of the National Whitley Council in relation to the offices mentioned, and to give to the present temporary staffs engaged therein opportunities of establishment as permanent Civil Servants.

I have been asked to reply. No general instructions have been issued or are about to be issued for replacing ex-service clerks by military clerks. The application of the provisions of the Reconstruction Report of the National Whitley Council to meet such cases is under consideration. The present temporary staffs will have an opportunity of obtaining establishment as permanent Civil Servants at the limited competitive examinations to be held by the Civil Service Commission.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that one Department of the State applied recently to Horrex's Hotel for a temporary official, and that it required three weeks for that Department even to acknowledge the letter; and whether this is evidence of the efficiency of that Department?

I am unable to identify the case to which reference is made. If my hon. Friend will supply me with further particulars I shall be much obliged.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Canal Controller has authorised the boat-building firms in Yorkshire to pay to their workpeople the local building trade rate, which is in excess of the district boat-building and ship-building rate; and, if so, whether the Ministry of Labour was consulted before such authorisation?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Canal Control Committee have no jurisdiction over the wages paid by boat-building firms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that excise officers in the country towns have had no instructions to reduce the ad valorem duty on champagne from 50 per cent. to 33¼ per cent., and that they are still demanding the higher amount; and whether he will see that such instructions are sent to them?

My hon. and gallant Friend has been misinformed. Full instructions were issued on the 7th instant. If my hon. and gallant Friend will supply me with particulars of any case in which ad valorem duty at 50 per cent. has been improperly demanded, I will have immediate inquiry made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the desirability of inserting a Clause in the Finance Bill which will more clearly define what is a charity within the meaning of the existing Finance Acts, so that institutions not run for profit, yet deriving a portion of their incomes from relatives and frineds of the inmates, may be exempted from payment of Income Tax under Schedule A on freehold and leasehold properties purchased by them out of funds subscribed by the public or from testamentary bequests, and from payment of tax under Schedule D on dividends from investments similarly acquired?

The legal definition of the term "charity" was considered by the Royal Commission on the Income Tax, who expressed the opinion that, for the purposes of Income Tax, a "charity" should be specially redefined by Parliament. This and other suggestions made by the Royal Commission (in Section XIV. of Part III. of the Report) in regard to the Income Tax exemptions that are granted to charities, will be considered when it is possible to deal with the Royal Commission's recommendations which are still outstanding.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the methods adopted by various insurance companies in issuing so-called War Bond policies to the public; is he aware that the public are still being induced to take out these policies on the statements of representatives of the companies that by taking out these policies they are investing their money with the Government in the same way as they would do if they purchased War Stock certificates through the Post Office; that the companies issue proposal forms upon which is printed in large type £5 National War Bonds, and that the same words appear on the policies when issued, whereas they are not war bonds but simply insurance policies; that receipts have been issued to these people upon which is printed in large type, War Stock Certificates; and does he propose taking any action?

I am aware that various insurance companies made considerable purchases of National War Bonds and Victory Bonds with a view to re-sale to the public upon an instalment system through insurance policies, the bond in due course becoming the property of the policy holder. I see no reason to think that there is misapprehension in the minds of policy holders as to the nature of their bargain, or that any action on my part is required. It would not, of course, be correct to describe the premiums on such a policy as a direct investment with the Government.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in spite of repeated applications, no payment has been made by the Treasury since November, 1918, in lieu of rates on the National Filling Factory at Quedgeley?

I regret that the facts are as stated by the hon. and gallant Member. Difficulties have been experienced in the adjustment of the sum to be paid; but the adjustment is now being made, and I hope that it will be possible to dispose of the local authority's application at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the expensive education schemes now being adopted by local authorities in various parts of the country, comprising smaller classes, secondary schools for young children, whole-time dentists and health officials; is he aware that in some cases these schemes will mean an addition to the rates and taxes of over a million pounds; has his Department any control over these local authorities; and, if so, has such expenditure been submitted by him to the Treasury for its approval?

Schemes submitted by Local Education Authorities in compliance with the Education Act of 1918 will be carefully considered both in their educational and their financial aspects. Unless the development of the public system of education is to be arrested increased expenditure is inevitable, but the Board are fully alive to the necessity of economy and prudence in the application of the available resources. The Board's Estimates are, of course, submitted for Treasury approval, but the Board are responsible for the administration of the funds voted by Parliament for public education.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now able, after consultation with the Minister of Health, to say if, in view of the fact that members of insurance committees and county agricultural committees are entitled to reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the performance of public business, he will consider the propriety of conferring such power upon county education committees as will enable them, where they are of the opinion that the circumstances of the case require it, to pay the expenses of members incurred in the performance of duties other than attendance at ordinary meetings?

I may refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to the hon. Member for South-East St. Pancras (Mr. Hopkins) yesterday. As regards the suggestion of the hon. Member, I have no evidence that county local education authorities generally desire to have discretionary power to pay out-of-pocket expenses. I can imagine that they would feel some embarrassment in discriminating between members in the exercise of such power.

asked the President of the Board of Education what sections of the Education Act, 1918, are not yet in force; and what sections are not yet in force but for which appointed days have been fixed?

The whole of the Education Act, 1918, is in force throughout England and Wales except Sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 8; Section 10; paragraph (iii) of Sub-section (2) of Section 13; Section 14; and in part Section 51. Section 10 is in force in two districts. The Board have fixed 8th August, 1921, as the appointed day for paragraph (iii) of Sub-section (2) of Section 13 to come into operation.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many further schemes have been submitted in the Board of Education as required by the Education Act, 1918, beyond the five submitted up till February, 1918?

Schemes or instalments of schemes have now been received from 18 local education authorities in addition to the five referred to in my answer to the hon. Member for Spen Valley (Mr. Myers) on 18th February.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is his intention to introduce a General Powers Bill which, among other things, will seek to prevent the execution of repairs to private buildings without licence; and, if so, is he aware of the determination of the middle classes that their position shall not be further penalised in an effort to provide uneconomic dwellings with public funds for the benefit of one section of the community?

I hope that it will be possible shortly to submit further proposals to Parliament in regard to the prohibition of luxury building, but I do not intend to propose a system of licensing for this purpose

asked the Minister of Health whether the Ministry of Health advised local authorities to reject plans for cinemas, etc., as luxury buildings; whether another Department has decided that local authorities have no power to refuse such building; and, if so, will he seek powers to enable him to stop this kind of building while the need for houses is so great?

Local authorities already have powers under Section 5 of the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919, for prohibiting the erection of premises of the kind indicated, where it appears to them that the provision of housing accommodation is, or is likely to be, delayed in consequence. I intend to lay proposals before Parliament with a view to further strengthening these powers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any communications with respect to the possibility of providing considerable housing accommodation by the conversion of the hostels at Gretna and Eastriggs townships; whether he is aware that this conversion would provide accommodation for 259 families at an expenditure of, approximately, one-fourth of the amount required to build new houses; and whether he will give this suggestion his consideration?

A proposal to utilise the huts at Gretna, by their conversion in situ , was considered by the Town Council of Carlisle, but I understand that, in view of the difficulty of arranging special transport facilities, this proposal was abandoned as impracticable. Further inquiries are being made.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Manchester City Council requires the continuous service of 1,000 bricklayers for four years in order to clear off its shortage of houses and that as yet the council has been unable to employ more than 100 bricklayers on its building scheme; and whether, in these circumstances, he will consider the expediency of either forcing the trade unions concerned to accept dilution or, alternatively, of the Ministry forthwith training and employing an adequate number of ex-service men on this work in entire independence of all trade unions?

The facts of the situation, as I gather from the Ministry of Health, appear to be that for the immediate City Council housing operations 96 bricklayers are at present employed, and that 130 additional bricklayers are required. As regards the latter part of the question, the whole problem of labour in the building trade in connection with the housing programme is at the present moment engaging the serious attention of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Richmond (Yorkshire) Board of Guardians and Rural District Council have not granted to their officers the scale of bonus paid to Civil servants under Award No. 84 of the Civil Servants Conciliation and Arbitration Board; have refused to make any grant to such officers under the increased scale and the later Award No. 101; and have not made any allowance to such officers under the revised scale of bonuses to employes in the Civil Service with effect as from the 1st March last, all of which three scales have been or are about to be adopted generally for local government officers and have been urged by his Department upon local authorities for general adoption; that, as a result of the attitude of the Board of Guardians and of the Rural District Council mentioned, dissatisfaction and discontent exist amongst the officers concerned; and whether he has taken or proposes to take, and, if so, what, steps to ameliorate the condition of such officers who have to meet the present economic cost of living without an adequate increase in the amount of their normal remuneration?

This case has not previously been brought to my notice, but I will make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health if he will endeavour to prevent the inclusion of the feet in the dressing of lambs, which, as carried out at present, is an unsanitary condition?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him yesterday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a large number of motor garages in all parts of the country have installed apparatus for the measuring of petrol for sale to motorists, and that such measuring appartus is not subject to test by inspectors of weights and measures or other officials, and that many complaints of short measure are being made; if he is aware that the Board of Trade have power under Section 5 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1904, to issue regulations to inspectors of weights and measures for the testing of such measuring instruments; if he is aware that the Weights and Measures Acts provide no penalty for short weight and measure of any commodities except coal and bread; if he will take steps to secure the proper testing and inspection of petrol measuring apparatus under the powers already possessed by the Board of Trade and to promote legislation which will protect the public against short weight and measure generally?

I am aware of the increasing use of apparatus of the kind mentioned, but no complaints as to short measure have reached my Department. I am advised that the Board of Trade have at present no powers to require verification and stamping of such apparatus, and consequently Section 5 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1904, is not applicable. The whole question is, however, under consideration. As regards legislation dealing with short weight and measure generally, I understand that proposals for legislation, so far as relates to foodstuffs, are at present under the consideration of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the exports and imports in the year 1913 of the extract of male fern, technically described as ext. filicis liq. or ext. filicis maris, and what were the returns of export and import for the first six months of the present year, or for such post-War period as may be available; and whether such exports and imports are subject to any special arrangements giving preference to the products of any country?

In the year 1913 the value of the imports into the United Kingdom of extract of male fern was £739. I am unable to state the total value of the exports of this commodity during that year, or of either imports or exports during any post-War period; and I do not feel justified in having such particulars compiled, in view of the considerable expenditure of time which would be involved in the process. Extract of male fern is not dutiable, and no question of preference on the importation of the extract arises; but when it is imported dissolved in dutiable spirit, preference is accorded on the dutiable ingredient if the latter is of Empire origin. No preference is given on the export of any goods.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether any allotment authorities under the Small Holdings and Allotments Acts, 1908 to 1919, have been declared defaulters in regard to provision of land for allotments since 1st September, 1919; if so, what is the number of such authorities; and in how many cases has the Ministry provided allotments through the Small Holdings and Allotments Commissioners since the same date?

It is primarily the duty of County Councils and not of the Ministry to "act in default" of Borough, Urban District and Parish Councils as regards the provision of allotments, and the Ministry has not detailed information as to any action County Councils may have taken in this respect. So far as the Ministry is aware, however, the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the remainder does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the statement by the Vice-President of the Irish Department of Agriculture promising an early announcement on the subject of legislation for security of tenure for the allotment holders in Ireland; and if an announcement will at the same time be made on the same matter as affecting allotment holders in England and Wales?

I am not aware of the announcement to which the hon. Member refers, and which I understand has not yet been made. The security against disturbance afforded by the Agriculture Bill to tenants of agricultural holdings applies to tenants of allotments.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will consider the advisability of at once removing the restrictions upon the sale of apples, particularly in view of the fact that the present home-grown crop is such a poor one?

I hope to be able to make an announcement on the subject of the restrictions on the sale of apples in the course of a few days.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the increase in the cane-sugar production of the world between 1914 and 1919; and what was the increased production within the British Empire during the same period?

I have been asked to reply. The estimated increase in the production of cane-sugar from 1913–14 to 1919–20 was 736,000 tons within the British Empire, and 1,137,000 tons in other cane producing countries, or a total increase of 1,873,000 tons in the world's supply. The decrease in world production of beet sugar in the same period is estimated to have been 5,407,000 tons. The hon. and gallant Member will, therefore, note that the world supplies of sugar are still, on balance, about 3,500,000 tons below pre-War production.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the decision respecting the pension payable to J. J. Conway, of Leicester?

When Mr. Conway was appointed a sorting clerk and telegraphist in 1908, he had served 21 years in the Royal Engineers, and his starting pay was fixed as if the whole of this Army service had been service in the Post Office. He thereby received at once the maximum pay of his class. The Regulations under which this course was followed provide that any Army pension awarded in respect of service which has been allowed to count towards civil starting pay should be held in abeyance whilst civil pay is drawn. The amount of his Army pension has now been re-assessed, but on his pre-War service only; and as it is still a pension in respect of his service prior to 1908 it must, under the Regulations, continue to be held in abeyance during Mr. Conway's employment in the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General how many ex-boy messengers and ex-service men, respectively, have been appointed full-time postmen in the postal district of Ballymena, county Antrim, from 1st January, 1915, up to the present time?

I am having inquiries made, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are a number of merchants and others in the city of Londonderry unable to obtain telephones; and when the necessary extension of the switchboard will be made so as to give the necessary facilities?

The delay in providing telephonic facilities at Londonderry is due to the exhaustion of the exchange capacity. A contract is about to be placed for additional equipment; but I fear the work will not be completed before August, 1921. I am making inquiry with the view to ascertaining whether any temporary measures can be taken in the meantime.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an im- portant package posted at the House of Commons Post Office on Tuesday, 13th July, by the hon. Member for Fairfield (Major Cohen), addressed to himself at Montrose, Stanmore, has not been delivered; and whether anything can be done to hasten delivery?

I am sorry to say that there is no trace of the packet. If the hon. Member will let me know what it contained, I will have further inquiry made.

asked the Home Secretary if he will consider special cases of ex-prison warders who were discharged after going out on strike, with a view to their reinstatement?

All the cases have been carefully considered. I am sorry that in no case can reinstatement be granted.

asked the Home Secretary whether all arrests for soliciting, loitering for the purposes of prostitution, and importuning are included under the heading of Prostitution in Criminal Statistics, Part I., for the year 1918, published 1920, or are any such arrests included under other headings; and, if so, which, and what is the number so included?

Where a person is arrested on two or more charges, the case appears in the Criminal Statistics under the most serious of the offences charged. Subject to this, the heading "prostitution" includes all cases of persons charged with the offences mentioned in the question.