asked the Prime Minister whether the German Government has declared its neutrality, both for the present and for the future, in the war between the Polish Government and Soviet Russia; and whether he can give an undertaking that this neutrality will not be violated by the British Government or British military representatives?

The German Government have declared their neutrality in the war between Soviet Russia and Poland, and have taken measures for the protection of the German frontier. In regard to the second part of the question, I do not understand how the hon. Member expects this eventuality to arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will introduce legislation determining the proportions to be paid to directors and members of the staff of any company bought by the Government so as to ensure that the profits made on Government transactions are distributed to the employés as well as to the directors of the company?

The answer is in the negative.

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 Estate Governors and the officer and men utilised elsewhere and in a much more effective manner?

All the guns, stores and personnel will, it is expected, be withdrawn within a week. The buildings will then be ready for disposal, and arrangements will be made for the land to be given up as soon as the stores, etc., have been moved.

asked the Secretary of State for War the numbers of officers of the Remount Department and the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, respectively, employed in June, 1914, and June, 1920; and what are the duties performed by the Remount officers which could not efficiently and more economically be carried out by the Royal Army Veterinary Corps?

Number of Royal Army Veterinary Corps officers:

Number of the officers of the Remount Deparment:

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a veterinary officer has recently been appointed head of the Remount Department in India; and whether the same system of appointment obtains in Egypt and the Colonies?

I am informed that an officer of the Veterinary Department has been appointed Director-General of Remounts in India. The Deputy Director of Remounts in Egypt is an artillery officer, and in Mesopotamia is an officer in the Indian Cavalry. There are no such appointments under the War Office in the Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of troops at present employed in Mesopotamia; what units of the Air Force are attached to them; what relation the senior Air Force command holds to the senior Army command on the spot; what proposals, if any, are under consideration to increase the number of squadrons in Mesopotamia; and when a decision in the matter will be arrived at?

The strength of the troops on 1st July was as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Civil servants on the permanent establishment have previously served in the Navy, Army, or Air Force; whether he is prepared again to consider the claim of such persons to be allowed to compute their service in the Navy, Army, or Air Force towards reckoning their retiring pension; and whether he will be prepared to have the matter gone into in view of the high cost of living and the altered circumstances brought about by the War?

The total number is over 80,000, of whom some 15,000 have been appointed since the War. As I have previously explained, I am not prepared to introduce legislation for the purpose of enabling Naval, Military, or Air Service to reckon for civil pension. Such a measure would confer on ex-sailors, soldiers, and airmen who enter the Civil Service an undue advantage over their comrades who fail to secure Government employment. The high cost of living is, I think, more appropriately met by the grant of war bonus, part of which is reckonable for pension.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of ex-service men in receipt of out-of-work donation on the 1st July; and whether it is the intention of the Government to extend the period of out-of-work donation to ex-service men beyond the end of the present month?

The number of ex-service men claiming out-of-work donation at 2nd July was 162,131. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave on 19th July to the hon. Member for South Nottingham (Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck), and on the 22nd July to the hon. and gallant Member for Rotherham (Major Kelley).

asked the Secretary of State for War how many battlefield sites on the Western front are being set aside with the goodwill of the French or Belgian Governments to mark the prowess of Dominion arms; and what steps are being taken of a like nature to record the bravery of the smaller overseas peoples, such as the Newfoundlanders?

Applications have been received for 25 sites in France and Flanders for the erection of battlefield memorials to Dominion and overseas troops, including the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. In a number of cases the sites have been acquired, and in others negotiations for purchase are being conducted by the Dominion Governments concerned. The Government of the Commonwealth of Australia have already erected five memorials, and there are two unofficial Canadian memorials. The official memorials are to be erected at the expense of the Dominion Governments concerned.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many applications have been made to him for permission to erect War memorials on Crown property; how many schemes have been sanctioned or refused, or are still under deliberation; and whether he will give the names in each case?

The Guards have been granted a site on the west side of the Horse Guards Parade. Applications for sites for War memorials have also been made on behalf of the Royal Artillery, Cavalry, Machine Gun Corps, Royal Engineers, Royal Naval Division, Middlesex Regiment, Camel Corps, Submarines and Nurses, and these are still under discussion.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists among the officers of H.M.S. "Caroline" and other ships on the station owing to the method of paying them at a split rate, namely, partly at the value of Rs. 15 and partly at the rate of Rs.8 to the £1, whereas the ship's company are paid at the fixed rate of Rs.15 to the £l; and whether he will consider the advisability of removing the grievance by paying officers at the fixed rate of Rs.15 to the £1?

I am aware that there has been a certain amount of dissatisfaction, and the system as regards officers, namely, the conversion of sterling pay into rupees partly at the pre-war standard rate of 15 Rupees=£1 and partly at the current rate of exchange was reconsidered as recently as last month, and orders were issued on the 19th June raising the proportion convertible at 15 Rupees=£1 in the case of officers serving afloat from 50 per cent. to 80 per cent. of the first £300 per annum, and 50 per cent. of the remainder of locally issued pay. It is not considered that any further con- cession would be justifiable. The current official rate has risen to 10 Rupees=£1.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is part of the policy of the Government of Burma to subsidise, directly or indirectly, newspapers; and, if not, why the "Tharrawaddy Recorder" is subsidised by the purchase of 50 copies by the Government?

So far as I have been able to ascertain, no newspapers are receiving any subsidy from the Government of Burma, nor do I know whether that Government is taking any considerable number of copies of any newspaper. I will make enquiry if the hon. Member desires.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that ex-Corporal Ernest Hutton, No. 11,011, Royal Engineers, of South Gardens, South Harting, Sussex, who served in the Army 13 years prior to the War and was serving at Aden on the outbreak of War, and there taken ill, and was discharged on 23rd November, 1914, suffering from tuberculosis, has been refused permission to appeal through the Horsham Local War Pensions Committee to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal for his pension of 8s. 9d. a week to be increased to the rate granted to those who served in the present War; and will he inquire into this case?

Mr. Hutton was admitted to hospital at Aden on 17th April, 1914, for tuberculosis of the lung, and there is a continuous history of hospital treatment from that date until his final discharge from the Army on 23rd November, 1914. As he has therefore performed no effective service during the Great War, it is not possible, unfortunately, to bring his case under the Warrants relating to that war, and the Pen- sions Appeal Tribunal have therefore no jurisdiction in the matter. During his 12 years 223 days' service he did not take part in any campaign, so that the Royal Warrants issued in connection with former wars cannot be applied to him either. The pension of 8s. 9d. a week, of which he is at present in receipt, is the maximum rate allowed by the Regulations in the case of a corporal invalided for a disability due to a climatic disease, and I regret that I have no power to award him any increase.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that, in spite of promises to the contrary, correspondence clerks in the soldiers' awards branch on highly technical work, such as is done by junior administrative assist ants in other departments, but who were, prior to the payment of increases by agreement recently, graded as Grade 1 drafters, have been degraded to Grade 2 since those increases became due; whether he is aware that a widow with two children to support, who organised a petition of protest at this breach of faith, was consequently transferred to the issue office and placed on routine work; and whether he will now issue instructions for the reinstatement of this widow on her old work and grade, as she was an admittedly competent clerk employed on highly technical correspondence duties, and for the payment and grading of these clerks as junior administrative assistants and Grade 1 clerks as from the date of their degrading?

The work of the correspondence clerks referred to in the first part of the question was performed by clerks who were graded as Section Leaders, and not as Grade 1 drafters. The latter term was not an official designation. After the recent Agreement Section Leaders were incorporated in Grade II, with an increased scale which gave then 5s. 6d. a week increase both in the minimum and maximum. The lady referred to in the latter part of the question has, in common with many others redundant at Chelsea, been transferred to Pensions Issue Office. She has carried her old grade and pay and is being trained in the general work of the Office. The officers who arranged her transfer had no knowledge that she had organised any petition.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether a man who applies for a service pension is to be subjected to a fresh medical examination; and whether there are numerous cases where the service pension now granted is accompanied by such a reduction of the disability pension that both put together do not exceed the total amount formerly drawn on the disability alone?

The Regulations regarding "service" pensions in addition to disablement pensions vary according to the length and nature of the man's service, and I regret that it is not therefore possible to give a comprehensive answer to this question. If my hon. Friend has any specific cases in mind, I shall be glad to give him full information on receiving the regimental particulars.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of James Edwards, No. 25,897, 29, Attwood Street, Kidsgrove, Stoke-on-Trent, late driver, Royal Field Artillery, who joined His Majesty's forces on the 1st September, 1914, and had served four years and four months when he was demobilised; that he returned to and tried to do the same work that he was doing prior to enlistment, but, owing to disability consequent on exposure to all kinds of weather while on military service, he was not able to continue at work regularly, and eventually had to relinquish work altogether; that he applied for a pension and went before a medical board, who said his disability was not a result of his service; that he appealed to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, and his case was heard at Birmingham on 4th June, 1920, and his appeal was disallowed; that, prior to this, the manager of the Birchenwood Collieries, Kidsgrove, where Edwards was employed, certified that, prior to his enlistment, his attendance at work was very regular and that scarcely any other workman had a better average attendance; and that Dr. Steele, Kidsgrove, the family doctor, who has known Edwards from a boy, certifies that he did not suffer from any disease prior to the War; and whether he will cause further inquiry to be made respecting this ex-soldier's case with a view to a pension being allowed him, as he is unable to work?

Mr. Edwards was demobilised in January, 1919, and stated then that he made no claim to pension. In September, 1919, he made a claim in respect of bronchitis and asthma. It was considered by the examining Medical Board, and their view was confirmed by my medical advisers, that the disabilities complained of had arisen after demobilisation, the earliest date of their existence, as disclosed by the evidence submitted, being in July, 1919. No award of pension could, therefore, be made. The claim having been considered and decided by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, as stated by my hon. Friend, the Ministry have no authority to re-open it, as the decisions of that Tribunal are final.

asked the Minister of Pensions if the case of Hubert Close, No. 13,460, has yet been settled and on what terms?

The man referred to has been medically examined and an award of pension was authorised on the 15th instant. I am communicating the particulars to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has any information of the delay in the settlement of claims of ex-service men in Manchester; whether he is aware that these men are suffering under a sense of grievance on that account; whether the claim of Mr. D. Hallwood, late No. 58,485, private of the Bedford Regiment, to an award under Article 9 of the Royal Warrant, was submitted to the Ministry on the 15th May, 1919, and if his case is still without decision; whether the claim of Mr. Walter Cantello, late No. 9,405, lance-corporal of the Manchester Regiment, was lodged with the Ministry of Pensions on the 20th October, 1919, and is still undecided; and, if so, what steps will he take to expedite settlement?

There has, I regret to say, been some delay in the work of pension award in the North- western Region owing to the exceptional difficulties experienced by my right hon. Friend, the First Commissioner of Works, in obtaining the necessary accommodation for the staff required. These difficulties have, however, now been overcome and the position is materially improved. I am glao to be able to inform my right hon. Friend that an award of pension has now been made to Mr. Cantello: and in the case of Mr. Hallwood, steps have been taken to have him medically examined at an early date with a view to a decision on his claim.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the working of the new arrangements is causing much dissatisfaction in Liverpool, including those arising out of Circular No. 59 issued by the Ministry of Health; whether it is the intention of the Department that in many cases the benefits received by the pensioners should be reduced; if he is aware that Mrs. Mary Ellen Cope Jones, of 51, Earle Road, Edgehill, Liverpool, was, prior to 1919, being 75 years old, in receipt of 5s. Old Age Pension, raised to 7s. 6d.; that her only son, Private Percy Jones, aged 28 years, of the 2/5th King's Liverpool Regiment, was killed in action on the 28th February, 1916; that the old lady received an Army pension of 15s. per week in respect thereof to which 3s. bonus was added; and that 5s. 6d. per week has now been deducted from the Old Age Pension in consequence of the Army pension and bonus?

My honourable Friend is no doubt referring to the fact that the law requires dependants' pensions to be taken into account in determining whether the recipient is eligible for an Old Age pension. This is not a new arrangement, and the only change in this respect effected by the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919, is that the recipient of a dependant's pension may now receive a larger amount than before without becoming ineligible for an Old Age pension. Thus in the present instance Mrs. Jones continues eligible for an Old Age pension as a result of the Act of 1919; otherwise her change of circumstances would have entailed the revocation and not merely the reduction of the Old Age pension.

asked the Minister of Transport how much is involved in the claim of the Metropolitan Railway Company that the cost involved in the retirement of one of its officials should be included in the State-guaranteed expenditure; when is it expected that a final decision will be taken in the matter; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the agreement in dispute with the Metropolitan Railway Company and also the agreement under which the North Eastern Railway Company claim that the State should refund to it the £50,000 paid to the ex-deputy general manager in full settlement of that agreement?

:I can add nothing to the information already supplied to the House except that the amount referred to in the case of the Metropolitan District Railway Company, not the Metropolitan Railway Company, is £3,932 14s.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any discussion has taken place with the Government of Sweden concerning the establishment of a direct train-ferry service between England and Sweden; if so, whether the Government has declined to participate with the Government of Sweden in the establishment and operation of such a service; and whether the Government is opposed to the establishment of such a train-ferry service, either by the Governments concerned or by private enterprise?

I have been asked to answer this question. There have been some communications on the subject. His Majesty's Government did not see their way to join with the Swedish Government in a further investigation of the question at the present time, as it seemed clear that a subsidy would be necessary to maintain such a service; but they are not opposed in principle to the establishment of a train-ferry.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to investigate the effect of heavy motor traffic, both on the roads and on traffic generally in the country districts?

The effect of heavy motor traffic on the roads is well known, and does not require further investigation. Such traffic will contribute substantially to road maintenance under the Finance Bill proposals. I fear I do not understand what information is desired by the second part of the question. Such traffic is at present regulated by the Motor Car Act, 1903, and the Regulations made thereunder.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Advisory Committee will report as to the increase of railway fares, or when a definite announcement will be made by the Government so as to allay the uncertainty which now prevails among the travelling public?

asked the Minister of Transport whether, having regard to the hardship and inconvenience which will be inflicted upon all classes during the holiday period if the proposed advance in railway fares is carried out, and the consequent diminution in receipts arising, he will postpone the increase of fares until 1st October?

I have nothing to add to the reply already given by the Prime Minister.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the scheme he proposes, whereby certain revenue can be obtained by increasing charges, he is prepared to test that policy for a definite period of years by authorising the Government's guarantee, which would enable railway companies to carry out the development, etc., which is necessary, and remove the difficulty of finding the necessary sums to place to reserve and for payment of dividends?

Subsidies to the railways cease on 15th August, 1921, and I am unable to accept the suggestion of the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Transport on what grounds it is assumed that a new rate-fixing policy will produce a proportionately increased revenue; and whether it is certain that many traffics will not bear their due share of the necessary increases?

The responsibility for inquiring whether traffics can bear any proposed increases rests with the Rates Advisory Committee, and they take evidence thereon.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has recently received a deputation from the London County Council respecting the estimated loss on running the Council's tramcars; whether, as a result of such deputation, he proposes to convene any conferences of London traffic authorities, with a view of co-ordinating London traffic; and whether, in view of the interest of the travelling public in London in increased fares, he can make any statement on the subject as to what his Department proposes to do?

As the result of the deputation referred to, and at their request, I convened a conference between the London County Council and the Underground group of companies to discuss the subject in its widest aspects. I suggested that a committee should be formed under an independent chairman, but both parties urged that the Ministry of Transport should convene the committee and nominate an official chairman. At their request, therefore, I have appointed Sir Alexander Gibb, who has already for some months been working on the problem of London traffic, to act as chairman of the committee.

asked the Minister of Transport what action has so far been taken on the Report of the Committee on London Traffic; and what improvements, both in the overcrowding on omnibuses and on the underground railways have resulted or have been effected during the past three months?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. K. Jones) on the 24th June. As regards the second part, I am informed that during the week ending the 17th July, as compared with the corresponding week in April last, there were 28 additional cars in daily service on the underground railways and 115 additional 'buses daily, representing an additional 10,000 car miles on the underground railways weekly and an additional 80,000 'bus miles.

asked the Minister of Transport whether special arrangements have been made by the southern railway companies to convey hop pickers during the month of August at reduced fares to the various hopfield districts; what the special fares are that this class of passenger will obtain, and if these arrangements still hold good, or if they are within the reference which the Advisory Committee are at present considering?

It is the intention of the South Eastern and Chatham Company to continue this season the arrangements which have been in operation for some years, whereby hop pickers travelling between London and Kent have been carried by special trains after midnight at special fares. Such fares are within the terms of the reference to the Rates Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Rates Advisory Committee has yet heard the case of the Cyclists' Touring Club and the National Cyclists' Union against the excessive railway charges for the carriage of bicycles and tricycles; and whether such charges will be materially reduced before the holiday season, considering that many people of slender means have been accustomed to take their cycles away with them at that period, but will be prevented from doing so if the charges remain at their present high level?

The. National Cyclists' Union gave evidence before the Rates Advisory Committee last Friday. The Cyclists' Touring Club made no application to be heard. The Report of the Rates Advisory Committee on this part of the subject has not yet been received.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any decision has been arrived at as to the continuance of the interavailability of railway return tickets which was conceded during the War?

At my request the railway companies are continuing, for the present, the interavailability of ordinary return tickets.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated cost to the railways in Great Britain of free travelling for their employés and reduced fares for their wives and families; and whether, in the event of fares being raised, these concessions will still continue?

I have not the necessary statistical data to estimate the cost of concessions granted to railway employés and their families. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to a somewhat similar question by the hon. Member for Kensington South (Sir W. Davison) on the 21st of July.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, for the benefit of those visiting Ireland, he can make any statement as regards the strikes which are said to be in operation on the Irish railways; and how far is passenger traffic affected?

Apart from strikes of dockers employed by railway companies at Northwall and Rosslare there are no actual strikes on the Irish railways, but the services of a considerable number of railwaymen who have refused to work trains conveying troops, police or munitions have been dispensed with, and consequently in the South and West of Ireland the passenger train service has been considerably curtailed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the cost of repairing the landslip on the railway between Dover and Folkstone in 1915, estimated at £310,000, should, in view of the accidental character of the disaster, be regarded as an expense legitimately to be paid out of the capital of the railway company concerned and not as an item in revenue expenditure to be met by the State; and whether he will lay before the House the whole of the correspondence between the railway company and the State appertaining to this matter?

The cost of this work could not be any charge on capital unless some elements of betterment were included. The real question was whether during the period of Government control it should be charged to current working expenses or reserves. As I have already stated in answer to a question by the right hon. Member for Platting, it was allowed in the year 1916 as a working expense payable over three years. The correspondence is a very lengthy one, but if the hon. Gentleman will confer with me, I shall be glad to give him any information I can to help him.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the comparatively small carrying capacity of private motor cars, he will take steps to exclude them from streets which are congested with omnibus and heavy merchandise traffic?

I have no power to exclude private motor cars from streets which are congested with omnibus and heavy merchandise traffic, and I do not consider such exclusion necessary or practicable. Very many so-called private motor cars are used for business purposes.

asked the Minister of Transport if railway companies are now refusing to issue tickets for advance dates; if this is done with his consent; and, if not, will he take action to compel the railway companies to continue the usual practice of issuing tickets in advance when demanded?

I was not aware that the railway companies have in any way altered their practice with regard to the issue of tickets for advance dates. If the hon. Member will send me particulars, I will have inquiry made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of railway companies in the United Kingdom; the number of railway directors, with the total amount of salary, fees, and emoluments received by them; the number of shareholders, and the total amount of dividend received; and the number of workpeople employed, with the total wages bill?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The number of railway companies in the United Kingdom is 253. The number of railway directors is approximately 1350, and their fees about £200,000 per annum. I am not aware of the value of any other emoluments. The number of shareholders I do not know, but the dividends payable for 1919 amounted to £36,500,000, exclusive of £12,500,000 for interest on Debenture stock and loans. The number of workpeople of all grades is about 700,000, and the total wages bill at present rates £161,000,000.

asked the Minister of Transport if at is intended to fix any limit of expenditure falling upon the various railways in supplying such statistics as may be ordered by the Ministry of Transport irrespective of the opinion of railway managers as to the usefulness of such statistics; and whether, unless such a limit is fixed, it may result in imposing undue and even wasteful expenditure upon the various railway groups it is proposed to set up?

It is not practicable at the present time to fix such a limit, as admittedly the statistics are not being compiled in the most economical manner. The hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that the statistics asked for are considered necessary for the efficient and economical working of the railways in every progressive country. They are supported by large and important traders organisations in this country.

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the meeting of railway pensioned superannuitants, held at the Whitefield Tabernacle on the 15th instant, at which 11 Members of Parliament were on the platform, and to the resolution passed at such meeting; whether he has held his promised meeting with the Railway Executive and representatives of the railway companies; and when he expects to be in a position to report the result?

My attention has been called to the meeting on the 15th instant. I have had an opportunity of discussing this matter with a Committee of the Railway Companies' Association. In many cases the railway companies are, I am told, paying considerable sums beyond the liability imposed upon them under the various Superannuation Acts. The companies do not feel themselves in a financial position to make any further payments.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) since it is within the power of the Ministry to prevent dividends being paid, if it is considered the amount put for reserve is insufficient, whether such action might result in preference dividends being postponed payment for months whilst the question of reserves is being debated before the tribunal it is proposed to set up;

(2) whether, since the groups it is proposed to set up are not allowed to judge as to capital expenditure, whilst the Ministry has full power to insist upon capital expenditure of which the groups may themselves disapprove of and consider to be unremunerative, such policy actually removes the responsibility from the management of the railway groups and gives the Ministry of Transport powers which will prevent efficient management by the various groups?

The matters raised by the hon. and gallant Member cannot be dealt with satisfactorily by question and answer, and I would ask him to wait until the detailed proposals of the Government have been placed before the House.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many hon. Members representing Irish constituencies are under arrest or in prison; how many aldermen and councillors of Irish local governing bodies are under arrest or, in prison; and how many of the above have been tried?

Mr. R.C. Barton, M.P. for West Wicklow, is in prison. He was tried by court-martial and sentenced to three years' penal servitude for making seditious speeches, and Mr. Joseph O'Doherty, M.P. for North Donegal, is in custody awaiting trial on a, similar charge. Mr. Patrick Murray and Mr. Patrick Collins, district councillors, Strokestown, were tried under the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, for unlawful assembly, and ordered to find bail for good behaviour, and, in default, were sent to gaol for one month. Mr. W. J. Doherty, district councillor, Strokestown, was found in possession of notices advocating the boycotting of the police, and is now awaiting trial by court-martial. Mr. Patrick Dineen, rural district councillor, Cork (West Riding), is to be tried by court-martial for the attempted murder of police. Mr. James Derham, chairman of Balbriggan Town Commissioners, and member of Balrothery District Council, was found in possession of firearms; he was ordered to give sureties to be of good behaviour, but he refused, and was sent to gaol for three months. Mr. Thomas Cotter, rural district councillor, Co. Clare, was tried by court-martial, and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any individual or individuals convicted and sentenced for offences in Ireland and who have gone on hunger strike, whether imprisoned in England or Ireland, have been released between 20th June and 12th July, inclusive; if so, how many; and what were the offences of which they were found guilty?

Two such per sons were released in the period mentioned. The offence of one was of having in his possession one double barrelled breech-loading gun, of the other of having one double-barrelled gun, one six chambered revolver, and eight rounds of live ammunition.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the local undertakers refused to provide a hearse for the conveyance to the cemetery of the body of Constable Lenihan, who was murdered near Dingle the week before last; and what reason was given for this refusal?

I regret to say the undertakers at Limerick refused to provide a hearse giving the reason that they disliked incurring unpopularity with Sinn Feiners.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the number of resignations during 1920 from posts in the Civil Service in Ireland?

There is no reason to suppose that the number of resignations has been in any way abnormal, and I do not feel that I should be justified in putting Departments to the trouble of compiling a special return from which no inference of value could be drawn.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that on a recent date a raid by military and police forces was made upon the premises of Messrs. Laverty Brothers, at Glengormley, in the County of Antrim; and will he say what were the objects and result of the raid?

The premises were raided as stated, as the military had information that arms and ammunition were concealed there, but no arms or ammunition were found.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if it is the intention of the authorities either to close and abandon the Royal Irish Constabulary barracks at Glengormley and Whiteabbey, in the County of Antrim, or to reduce the strength of the police forces at those places or either of them; and, if so, the reason for such action?

It has not been decided to evacuate either of these barracks. The strength of the force to be retained in this and other localities will depend on the number of police available, the necessity for strengthening other barracks in the county, and the calls for extra police for disturbed areas.

asked the Prime Minister whether any action has been taken in connection with the recent utterances of Dr. Mannix, Roman Catholic archbishop of Melbourne, concerning Ireland with a view to their withdrawal and to the representation at the Vatican of the opinions on this subject held by loyal British subjects belonging to the Roman Catholic Church; and whether, in the absence of any reprobation issuing from the Vatican of these and similar utterances by high dignitaries in Ireland of the Roman Catholic Church, he will now consider the withdrawal of the British envoy?

We have already intimated that, in consequence of his recent utterances, Dr. Mannix will not be allowed to land in Ireland.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if, as the result of a unanimous protest from all sections of the herring-fishing industry in Scotland, a commission of inquiry was appointed to investigate the circumstances attending whale hunting in Shetland and its injurious effects on the principal industry of the islands, namely, herring fishing; whether such committee reported that in their opinion whale hunting should not be allowed to continue; if the committee's report was presented on 9th December, 1919, and has since been under his consideration; and, if so, can any definite information be given as to when steps are to be taken to give effect to the recommendation of the committee, seeing that the present policy may exasperate the workers in the herring-fishing industry to such an extent as will lead them to adopt the same unconstitutional remedy to which the Norwegian fishermen resorted in 1903?

In reply to the first two parts of my hon. Friend's question, I would refer him to the reply which I gave to his question on the 28th June. I am unable at present to make any statement with regard to legislative measures.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a fleet of British steamers engaged in whale hunting in Shetland is officered by aliens, contrary to Section 5 of the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1919; whether according to Section 5 of the said Act the only foreigners allowed to act as master, chief officer, and engineer are men of neutral nations who rendered meritorious service to the Allies during the recent War in a similar capacity on a British ship; whether he is prepared to submit a list of the names of the persons referred to with a record of the services performed by each during the War; if he is aware that the herring fishing in Shetland this year is practically a failure, and, in the opinion of competent authorities, this failure is very largely attributable to the whaling operations referred to; and if, in view of these facts, it is the policy of the Board of Trade that the interests of some 10,000 British fishermen and other workers, the overwhelming majority of whom rendered meritorious services during the War, should be rendered subservient to the interests of 24 foreigners whose War services to the Allies are of a hypothetical character?

So far as the question relates to the employment of alien officers on these steamers, I am afraid I can add nothing material to the very full answer which I gave the hon. Member on 1st July. The other portion of the question, which relates to the effect of whaling operations on herring fishing, should be addressed to the Secretary for Scotland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now announce the composition of the remaining Committees to be appointed to inquire into the staffing and organisation of certain Departments?

The following are the lists of the Members of these Investigation Committees:—

Department of Overseas Trade.

Mr. J. S. Holmes, M.P.(Chairman).

Mr. M. Webster Jenkinson, F.C.A.

Mr. W. Young, H.M. Customs and Excise.

Ministry of Labour.

Colonel the Hon. Sidney Peel, D.S.O., M.P.(Chairman).

Sir John Mann, K.B.E.

Sir Charles Walker, K.C.B., Admiralty.

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Sir Beville Stanier, Bart., M.P. (Chairman).

Mr. W. J. Grinling.

Mr. F. A. Barrett, Inland Revenue.

National Savings Committee.

Colonel Sir Robert Williams, Bart., M.P. (Chairman).

Mr. E. H. Poole, Bank of England.

Mr. J. Jeffrey, Scottish Board of Health.

Royal Commission on Sugar Supplies.

Mr. H. D. Betterton, M.P. (Chairman).

Sir Gilbert Garnsey, K.B.E., F.C.A.

Mr. E. J. Strohmenger, C.B., Ministry of Health.

Board of Trade.

Mr. E. Hilton Young, M.P. (Chairman).

Mr. H. Mann, Commercial Union Assurance Co.

Mr. S. P. Vivian, Ministry of Health.

Ministry of Munitions.

Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P. (Chairman).

Sir Henry Buckingham, C.B.E.

Lieut.-Colonel N. G. Scorgie, Stationery Office.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether any arrangement has been arrived at for the evacuation of Burton's Court, Chelsea, by the Ministry of Pensions within a definite period?

Arrangements have been made, with the consent of the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, for the evacuation of Burton's Court by the end of July, 1925, or earlier if opportunity offers.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how much rent is at present being paid for Government offices in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom; how much rent was paid for similar purposes in July, 1914; how much it is anticipated will be paid in July, 1921; and what steps are being taken to concentrate Departmental staffs in buildings the property of the Government?

I regret that it has been impossible at short notice to obtain the information asked for, but I will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member as soon as it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether civil engineers employed by the Air Ministry have their hours of service laid down by Order in Council; whether such Order involves the liability to give service every day, if required, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; whether there are any restrictions as to other occupations outside those hours; and whether such public servants are, when work permits, granted leave of absence within these hours from Government offices in order to carry on private business?

Generally speaking, the answer to the first and second parts of the question would be in the affirmative, and to the third and fourth parts in the negative. If the hon. Member will be good enough to let me have particulars of any case in which he hears that the rules are not being observed, I shall be happy to inquire into it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will grant a Return giving the number, and the companies from which they were drawn, of railway officials lent to the Government during the War who have since been retained in the service of the State, together with the date of their permanently entering the service of the State, and showing also the difference, if any, in percentage form, between the salaries they received when leased to the Government and those paid by the Treasury to-day?

The compilation of such a return would involve detailed inquiries from the railway companies and from individuals which, for the reasons stated in my answer to the hon. Member on the 19th instant, I do not consider would be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has seen the report of the decision on the 22nd July instant in the case of the Scottish Union and National Insurance Company v. the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Limited, declaring that preference shareholders have no right to claim that any part of the sum repaid a company in relief of the general assets which bore the Colonial taxes should be handed over to them in addition to the dividends to which they are entitled; and whether he will now introduce a Clause in the Finance Bill to carry out the decision of the House of Lords and make the practice the same in England as in Scotland?

I observe that my hon. Friend has put on the Paper an Amendment to Clause 26 of the Finance Bill, designed to effect the object to which he refers in this question, but as at present advised I do not see my way to accept that Amendment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number of men he assumed would be maintained for the Navy, Army, and Air Force respectively when making the estimate of expenditure contained in Command Paper 779 of 1920?

The number of men which can be maintained on the proposed estimates must depend on the economic and general conditions at the time, and on the expenditure required on other objects than personnel.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether pigeon, poultry, and rabbit exhibitions organised by utility societies are exempt from the entertainment tax?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Southampton (Sir I. Philipps) on the 21st ultimo.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether 50,000 new motor tyres were discovered at Slough after the sale had been completed; and, if so, what was the value of those tyres?

I am not aware of the discovery referred to by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if the goods in the dump at Blargres, Ablancourt, France, have been handed over to his Department for disposal; if so, on what date; who was responsible for the refusal of the offer to purchase this material some twelve months ago; why no attempt has been made to dispose of, protect from the weather, or otherwise deal with this material before it became in its present condition; and, if his Department is hot responsible, what Department is?

I am calling for a report from France, and shall be glad if my hon. Friend will repeat this question in a week's time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he will lay upon the Table of the House the minute of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) under which the Order of the Board restricting the issue of licences and the registration of clubs in Carlisle, dated 12th February, 1920, was made?

As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Grundy) on 22nd April, the Central Control Board are under no obligation to publish minutes of their meetings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the comparison of national accounts and gold reserves held by the national and federal banks of the United States of America per head of population for the years 1914 to 1920 as compared with Great Britain and Ireland?

As the United Kingdom is not a Federation the dis-

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the

tinction between national and other banks which exists in America has no counterpart here. I understand that what the hon. Member desires is a comparison of the total banking deposits and gold reserves in this country and the United States, and I append a statement accordingly.

varying rates of exchange throughout Europe and the consequent difficulties in the development of trade, he will consider the possibility of the Governments of

European countries entering into some arrangement to secure stabilisation of currency on the basis of Government guarantees?

It is not the policy of His Majesty's Government to return to the method necessarily adopted during the War of giving artificial support to the exchange by means of loans from Government to Government. The suggestion made in the hon. Member's question would almost inevitably involve my asking the House to vote considerable sums for the purpose of new British Government loans to various European Governments, and I am not prepared to adopt this course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value in marks of British-owned unpaid coupons of the German Government and municipal loan received by the British clearing office and forwarded to the German clearing office; and what were the names of the Government Departments of nominees to whom the British clearing house directed British holders to send the unpaid coupons in question?

As regards the first part of this question, the value of British-owned unpaid coupons of the German Government and German municipal loans received by the British clearing office and forwarded to the German clearing office up to the present date is marks 301,000. In reply to the latter part of the question, creditors were requested to forward their coupons to the Controller of the British Clearing Office, Cornwall House, Stamford Street, London, S.E.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the French Government's decree of 23rd April, prohibiting the importation of luxuries, is to be cancelled except in regard to caviare, truffles, precious stones, fashion models and birds of paradise; and whether any, and, if so, what control is to be retained over importation for the protection of home industries?

The new decree modifying that of April 23rd was published on July 25th, and the number of classes of goods which remain prohibited has been very substantially reduced, though not quite to the extent suggested by the hon. Member. A full list of the prohibited articles will be published in the Board of Trade Journal when the text of the decree has been received. I understand that in certain cases in which the new decree permits the importation of goods previously prohibited, provision has been made for the increase of the Customs duty leviable on such goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any profiteering tribunals have made representations to the effect that the Profiteering Act does not give them power to deal with the real offenders; and, if so, how many tribunals have made such representations?

Resolutions have been received from some 30 or 40 local committees urging that they should be empowered to inquire into cases of alleged profiteering by wholesalers. It has not been considered expedient to give effect to the resolutions in question, for the reasons stated by me on the 15th March in answer to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for South-East Southwark (Mr. Dawes).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any profiteering tribunals have ceased their sittings; if so, how many; and, in each case, for what reason?

Thirty of the 1,800 local committees established by local authorities under the Profiteering Acts have suspended their sessions. In nine instances the reason assigned by the local committee has been the fact that they have had no cases to deal with. In two instances the local committee has resigned in consequence of the reversal of their decisions by the Appeal Tribunal. In six instances the reason given has been that the local committee is not authorised to deal with alleged profiteering by wholesale traders In nine instances the local committee gave as their reason the fact that they were generally dissatisfied with the provisions of the Profiteering Acts, and in four cases no reason was assigned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what different systems of dissolved acetylene lighting were tried in the early days of the War by the authorities; whether the Gas Accumulator Company, of London, whose A.G.A. lighting system was adopted, was practically a foreign undertaking, since up to 1917 only three shares of the company concerned were held in Great Britain; and whether the Board will state definitely what other companies supplied cylinders which could not withstand the tests to which they were submitted?

I am informed by the Trinity House that in the early days of the War there were only two systems of dissolved acetylene lighting available for maritime purposes, viz., the A.G.A. (which was the only unit complete in itself) and a combination of the old Pintsch system of mechanism, which up to the outbreak of War was under German auspices, with either American meteorlite gas cylinders or those of the Acetylene Illuminating Company, of London. Both the A.G.A. and the Pintsch systems were subjected to trial by Trinity House, and the A.G.A. was held to be the better. British cylinders were not adopted by the Trinity House at the outbreak of the War, as they were considered to be unsafe for maritime purposes owing to the number of accidents that were known to have happened to them. This action was justified by the results of the test carried out by the Departmental Committee on Cylinders for Dissolved Acetylene which was appointed by the Home Office, and reported on the 30th November, 1917. On page 17 of that Report my hon. Friend will find recorded the test and the failure of two cylinders submitted by the Acetylene Illuminating Company, London, and on page 18 he will find recorded the test of cylinders submitted by the Meteorlite Company, of American origin, and the Gas Accumulator Company, neither of the cylinders failing under the tests, which were more severe than those in the case of the Acetylene Illuminating Company. Up to 1917 the issued capital of the Gas Accumulator Company was held principally by the Swedish parent company, only three shares being held by British subjects; but, according to the return made up to the 25th December, 1919, while a large proportion of the present issued capital is held by the Swedish company, the major part of the capital is held by British subjects, three out of the four directors are of British nationality.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reliable returns as to available supplies at present in Russia for trading purposes, and particularly as to grain, flax, and other raw materials, have been supplied to the British Government representatives or have been obtained from other sources; and whether he is able generally to give any indication as to those figures or returns?

There are at present no reliable returns as to the available supplies in Russia for trading purposes, and it would, therefore, be useless to supply the House with an estimate which would be, to a large extent, only conjectural.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Mrs. Kelly, 18, Prison Cottage, Mountjoy, filled the position of assistant matron in the prison service prior to her marriage; whether she retired from the service during last year for the purpose of getting married; whether she is entitled to any marriage gratuity; and, if so, will he take the necessary steps to see that this gratuity is paid without further delay?

The reply to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative. The Treasury is being pressed for an early decision as to the amount of gratuity awarded.

asked the Home Secretary whether the new scale of pay and bonus for the prison service, as applied to foremen of works only permits of their attaining the maximum pay and bonus of a Class 2 chief warder; whether the rank of foreman of works is the highest in the work's staff in the prisons; and whether he will consider the desirability of revising this classification in view of the technical qualifications of a foreman of works as compared with rates of pay in the building trades generally?

At the recent settlement of new scales of pay for the subordinate prison staff the case of a foreman of works was carefully considered, and it was decided that a scale which carried him up to a maximum equivalent to that of a Class II. chief warder was an adequate one, securing, as it does, a remuneration which an ordinary discipline officer may look forward to, and one which compares very favourably with rates of pay outside the Service. I see no reason for any departure from this conclusion.

asked the Home Secretary whether the evidence given before the Desborough Committee on the Police Services is now ready for publication?

No, Sir. I regret the evidence is not yet ready. The evidence is voluminous, and there have been delays in the printing which could not be foreseen.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the action of the Aliens Registration Office in instituting proceedings and obtaining a conviction before the Stipendiary Magistrate at the Thames Police Court, on 23rd April last, against Mr. Morris Kubel, of No. 69, Green Street, Bethnal Green Road, on the charge of having failed to notify his intended change of address to No. 48 (opposite No. 69) in the same street, which conviction has been quashed on appeal; whether he is aware that Kubel is a much respected Polish citizen of the Jewish faith and a man of irreproachable character, who has resided at No. 69, Green Street for some years; whether the magistrate in convicting added a recommendation for deportation in the absence of any evidence as to character; and upon what Home Office instructions the magistrate acted in making such recommendation?

My attention has been drawn to this case. I know nothing of Kubel's character except that evidence that it was good was given at the trial. The learned magistrate acted on the evidence before him and upon no instructions from the Home Office or anyone else.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can see his way to allow the resumption of the export coal trade from Hull, as all the railway sidings are crammed with loaded wagons and the collieries have been obliged to decrease output owing to shortage of wagons?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on this subject on the 21st July to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy).

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that collieries in the Durham coalfields are being laid idle through lack of trade; and if he will take the necessary steps to relax limitations on the export of coal so that the world may be able to purchase some of the coal which it so much needs?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 20th July to the hon. Member for Barnard Castle (Mr. Swan). As regards the second part, I regret that I cannot agree to any relaxation of the present restrictions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the quantity of surplus coal available for export in the Northumberland area; that, owing to the embargo on the coal at Hull, railway sidings are congested with wagons fully laden with surplus coal; that this congestion, in addition to the difficulties already existing, is jeopardising the regular working of the mines; that many collieries have been compelled to restrict output, and in some cases have stopped working the mines owing to this surplus stock congesting the lines of transport; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

As I have repeatedly explained it is necessary to safeguard home supplies of coal and only a definite amount can be allocated for export. It is for the local Coal and Coke Committees to regulate the export within this allocation having regard to all the circumstances, and I am aware that the matter is being carefully dealt with in Northumberland by the District Committee. With regard to Hull, I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of a report which has just been published, and as a result of which a certain amount of coal is to be allowed for export from Hull. As regards the rest of the question, I regret that I cannot add anything to the many answers I have recently given on this subject beyond this, that the Government is not satisfied that any further relaxation of existing restrictions can be allowed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he is aware that farmers and others who are obliged to sell wheat for flour at 76s. per quarter can, by damaging or adulterating such wheat, obtain as much as 92s. per quarter when sold as hen corn; whether that price is freely paid for hen corn in many parts of the country; and what steps the Ministry of Agriculture propose taking to prevent such a waste of human food and put a stop to these practices?

I have been asked to reply. There is no obligation on farmers to sell their wheat at 76s. per quarter. The prices now being obtained by them average about 90s. per quarter. The maximum price for damaged wheat permitted under the Cereals (Restriction) Order, 1919, is 86s. per quarter. Every effort is made by my Department to prevent contraventions of the provisions of this Order.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture the reason for the subsidy of £28,000 to the Agricultural Organisation Society; on what condition the subsidy is granted; and whether the annual turnover of the members of this association is large enough to warrant the with- drawal of this subsidy and an appeal to its members to find the amount themselves?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on the 28th June in answer to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Raffan), and on the 8th July to the hon. Member for Newton (Mr. R, Young).

asked the President of the Board of Education why he includes the expenditure on the Hull Training College for elementary school teachers in the approved expenditure in that district; whether he is aware that this action deprives the Hull education authority of about £3,470 which it would otherwise receive as deficiency grant; and whether he is aware that only a fraction of the teachers trained in this college are afterwards employed in Hull?

The Board see no reason to declare that the expenditure of the Borough Council of Hull on their Training College is expenditure in aid of which a Parliamentary grant should not be made. The Board have no power to exclude the expenditure in the calculation of the deficiency grant unless they are prepared to disallow it on that ground. I cannot say without a special investigation what proportion of the teachers trained at the Hull Training College are employed elsewhere.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether a councillor who has been nominated by his urban district council for a seat on the county education sub-committee is ineligible to sit on the sub-committee on the ground that his wife is an elementary school teacher; whether two teachers sit on the St. Helens Education Committee; and whether Bradford and other boroughs co-opt teachers on such committees?

The first part of the question is one of law, on which I have no authority to express an opinion, but to the best of my belief the reply is in the negative. There is no express provision requiring the Bradford Education Authority to co-opt teachers on its education committee, but it is quite possible that in this as in many other places teachers are so co-opted.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the biggest floating dry dock in Europe, which was constructed at Hamburg at the yard of Messrs. Blohm and Voss, having, it is understood, been ordered before the War for use at the Austrian port of Pola, has just arrived at Rotterdam, having been purchased by Wilton's Engineering Company, of Rotterdam; and whether this floating dock ought to have been handed over to the Allies under the terms of the Peace Treaty?

Yes, Sir; but I am advised that the Allies had no claim to this dock under the terms of the Treaty of Peace.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the urgent nature of the Armenian problem, information will be obtained as to when a reply is to be expected from President Wilson as to the delimitation of the frontiers of Armenia?

President Wilson will no doubt communicate his decisions as soon as he has arrived at them, and it is not proposed—at any rate at present—to inquire when his reply may be expected.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the serious shortage of silver coin in West Africa and of the objection the coloured labourer has to paper money, which he finds difficult to keep, and which he values at the rate of about £1 paper money equals 12s. silver; and the percentage of silver coin ship- ments allocated to the administration of the Gold Coast and the percentage allocated to industrial concerns?

I am well aware of the shortage of silver coin, and continuous efforts to remedy it have been made during the last few years, but first the supply of silver and afterwards the facilities for minting silver coins at the disposal of the West African Currency Board have been unequal to the demand. I am also aware that notes are objected to, and arrangements have been made for replacing them in future by a supply of mixed metal coins. I am unable to state how supplies of coin sent out have been divided between the Colonial Government and the public.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that an action at law between a British subject and the official liquidator of a railway in the Union of South Africa was decided by the appellate division of the Supreme Court at Cape Town on 4th April, 1911, when a claim by the British subject for £28,000 on 280 first mortgage debentures of £100 each, payable to bearer, of a first-class Cape railway was rejected, the debentures remaining unpaid; that at the hearing of the said action the senior of two counsel employed by the British subject disregarded an elaborate brief with instructions sent to him from Britain and, contrary thereto, made admissions at the bar which led to a judgment contrary to the considered opinion of the judge of first instance on the proof and prevented a real decision on the questions of the case, which was one of law entirely; that, as the direct result of this act, leave to appeal against the judgment was afterwards on two occasions refused by their Lordships of the Privy Council on the express ground that a finding in fact in a Colonial supreme court was constitutionally not open to appeal; and that financial ruin, coupled with a covert implication of mala fides, had fallen on the party wronged without a decision in law by the supreme tribunal of the Empire; and, in the circumstances, is His Majesty's Government prepared to take such action in the matter as will enable a decision to be obtained from His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council on the pure question of law involved in the aforesaid case?

The matter is not one in which His Majesty's Government can interfere.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many housing schemes are now being directly carried out or indirectly assisted by his Department?

My Department is actually carrying out housing in nineteen schemes on behalf of seven local authorities; three schemes are approaching completion at the National Shipyards, Chepstow; four schemes, originally commenced by the Ministry of Munitions, are being completed by the Department; cottages are being erected at seven farm settlements for the Ministry of Agriculture; the conversion of dwellings into flats is proceeding in seven London Boroughs; and nine housing schemes for local authorities are at present the subjects of negotiation.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, in view of the fact that at times during the Sittings of the House it is impossible to secure a seat in the Members' Smoke Room, he will endeavour to arrange for additional accommodation?

I regret that it is impossible to increase the number of Smoking Rooms, but I am considering the possibility of providing additional seating accommodation in the existing rooms.

asked the Minister of Health whether 32 doctors, at £1,000 a year, are now to be appointed to work under his direction?

Yes, Sir. They are appointed to act as referee consultants under the National Health Insurance scheme with the object of protecting insurance funds from unnecessary claims to sickness benefit and improving the general standard of insurance medical practice. Funds for this purpose were voted by Parliament in 1914, but not spent during the War owing to impossibility of establishing this much needed extension of the Health Insurance Medical Service during that time.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present position of the scheme of national registration; whether it is being kept up to date; for what purpose; and at what cost?

In reply to the first question, the National Registration Acts legally remain in operation until the official termination of the War. The answer to the second question is, however, in the negative. The remaining questions do not arise.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether it is intended to proceed with the Minimum Wage Commission Bill; and, if so, when?

I can only refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour to the hon. Member for Leyton West (Mr. Newbould) on the 2nd of June.