asked the Prime Minister why the statement on the present condition of Ireland, promised some weeks ago, has not yet been laid before this House; and whether it will be laid before the Second Reading of the Restoration of Order in Ireland Bill?

The statement was unavoidably delayed, but has now been laid before the House.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government are convinced of the sincerity of the Russian Soviet Government in regard to the negotiations for an armistice with Poland as a necessary preliminary to the proposed conference in London; whether, in the event of the present negotiations breaking down the Allied Governments have agreed upon united action; and if, without detriment to Allied interests, he can state what steps have been definitely and unanimously decided upon?

I cannot add anything to the very full statement made yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will order an immediate reassessment (in accordance with the statement he circulated in this House on the 4th May, 1920) of the pension of Charles Orchard, late No. 29,810, sergeant, Royal Horse Artillery, and late No. 187,688, sergeant, Royal Garrison Artillery, and now residing at Oaklands, Buxted, in the county of Sussex; and whether, seeing that Sergeant Orchard was discharged medically unfit on 29th August, 1910, after 20 years and 109 days' service, rejoined 4th September, 1914, and discharged medically unfit on 14th November, 1914, re-enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery 4th August, 1915, and was demobilised 6th June, 1919, was seriously wounded in South Africa and twice specially distinguished himself (mentioned in despatches), including Sanna's Post, where he was battery-sergeant-major, Royal Horse Artillery, and was during the late war thrown from his horse and permanently injured, and is now unable to maintain himself and his wife in their small house at Buxted and will shortly be forced to give it up, but on the increased pension he will be able to pay his way, this gallant old non-commissioned officer's case deserves immediate consideration?

It has not been found possible to arrive at a decision in this case on the information at present available. Enquiries are, however, being made, and I will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the West Fenton Aerodrome, Haddington-shire, occupies a large area of land, of which thirty acres is unused and uncultivated; that this land of high agricultural value is a mass of weeds, the seeds from which contaminate adjacent highly cultivated farms; and whether he will either take steps to cultivate the land or clear it of the weeds?

A report has been called for by the War Office, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is received.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any steps have been taken, or will he consider what steps can be taken, to afford naval writers the like opportunity of rising to higher rank as are open to other ratings; and will he state his proposals in the matter?

Very favourable provision for advancement to commissioned and warrant rank is already made for the Writer Branch as compared with other branches. If, however, my hon. Friend is referring to the introduction of a Mate scheme, it has been decided to restrict it to the Seaman and Engine Room Branches.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the additional tolls chargeable by railway companies in pursuance of the order of the Ministry of Transport of the 23rd December, 1919, are being charged, or whether attempts are being made to charge them in respect of goods which the railways have contracted to carry over private sidings, or partly over private sidings and partly over company's sidings, at fixed rates, in pursuance of contracts entered into by them prior to the year 1914; and, if so, under what section of which Act does he claim to set aside private contracts?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the second part, I would refer my noble Friend to Section 3 (1) ( e ) of the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the railway companies are entitled by law to decide the exact definition of what is a workman in respect of the issue of workmen's tickets; whether, in that case, he will specify what the law is; and what is the generally accepted definition of a workman so far as the railway companies are concerned?

The railway companies are not entitled by law to decide the exact definition of a workman for the purposes of issuing workmen's tickets. Apart from any specific obligations which may have been imposed upon any individual company, the matter is governed by the Cheap Trains Act, 1883, which requires proper and sufficient workmen's trains to be provided for workmen between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. If any question arises as to whether or not this requirement is being fulfilled, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is in a position either to enquire into the matter himself or to refer it to the Railway and Canal Commissioners, and such order may be made on the company as the circumstances may dictate. I am not aware of any generally accepted definition of a workman so far as the railway companies are concerned, but I am informed that it has been a usual practice among the railway companies to allow any person who travels by such trains to do so at the workman's fare.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that there is no train service on Sundays between Durham and Waterhouse; that the whole population of the Deerness Valley are without Sunday transit facilities; that the negotiations of the people of that area with the North Eastern Railway Company has failed to get any Sunday transit convenience from that company; and will he urge the railway company to either supply a train or omnibus service on Sundays?

I am in communication with the North Eastern Railway Company on this matter, to which my attention had not previously been called, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member. Sunday traffic facilities are very costly, and in the interest of rest for the staff undesirable. They should not be conceded unless the demand and need are genuinely great.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury under what conditions the sum of £295 16s. 8d. was paid to the Registrar of the County Court at Newport, Isle of Wight, on behalf of the dependants of the late Warder Harper, of Parkhurst Prison; whether the Registrar of the County Court has power to invest the money in any way he thinks fit and pay only the interest to Mrs. Harper, who has five children and is in necessitous circumstances; and whether, in view of the fact that Harper died in June, 1919, he will expedite the settlement of this case?

The amount payable under the Workmen's Compensation Act has been paid into Court for the benefit of the dependants of the deceased warder, and as far as my Department is concerned, the case is settled. The Workmen's Compensation Act provides that the money paid into Court in case of death "shall be invested, applied or otherwise dealt with by the Court in such manner as the Court in its discretion thinks fit for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto." It is open to the widow, if she so desire, to apply to the Court to vary any order that may have been made.

asked the Minister of Food by whose instructions are meat importers when selling their own free meat, especially beef, making conditions that the purchaser buying free beef should at the same time have a condition made by the importer that he should also take a proportion of inferior mutton belonging to the Government; is it the Ministry who makes these conditions and not the importer; and will he see that a stop is put to this practice?

No instructions to this effect have been given by, or on behalf of, the Ministry of Food. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his previous question on 24th June.

asked the Minister of Labour how many administrative posts at a salary of £300 and over there are in his department; and what number of these are held by women?

The number of permanent officers in my Department drawing substantive salaries of £300 per annum or over is 489. Of these 36 are women. The number of temporary officers of administrative rank drawing salaries of or in excess of £300 per annum is 443. Of these 11 are women. My hon. and gallant Friend is aware that the Ministry of Labour has certain duties and responsibilities laid upon it by Parliament, which, as they are concerned with the particular interests of women, obviously necessitates the employment of women staff in administrative posts. Such duties are, amongst others, the administration and inspection of Employment Exchanges for women, and the women's branches of Employment Exchanges generally; the consideration of the problems of women's labour and the welfare of juveniles; the execution of the Trade Boards Acts in so far as they relate to industries in which women are mainly employed; and the welfare and discipline of the women staff of the Ministry.