asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the form of plebiscite adopted by the Belgian Government in Malmedy; whether the method to be adopted in all areas in which a plebiscite was to be taken was decided by the Peace Conference; and, if so, what authority exists to see that this method is enforced?

If the hon. Member will consult the revelant articles of the Treaties, he will see that the methods under which the various plebiscites or public consultation of opinion are to be conducted are all laid down therein. As regards Malmedy, I would refer the hon. Member to Article 34 of the Treaty of Versailles.

asked the Prime Minister when he will lay upon the Table the text of the Spa agreement?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on Thursday last to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Kinardine and Western (Lieut.-Colonel A. Murray).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Reparation Claims Department of the Board of Trade has refrained from issuing forms specially adapted for stating claims by mercantile marine masters, officers, and seamen interned in Germany during the War for wages during internment, and for solatium for privations, indignities, and sufferings apart from physical injury, because that Department has been advised that such internment was within the rights of Germany as a belligerent, notwithstanding the terms of Articles 5 and 6 of The Hague Convention of 1907, No. 11, which was ratified by both Great Britain and Germany, and which provided for the release of the masters, officers and crews of merchant ships on their giving an undertaking in writing not, to engage, while hostilities should last in any service connected with the operations of the War?

Special forms to meet the particular classes of damage to officers and seamen of the mercantile marine which are referred to in the question have not been issued. Forms have been issued by the Reparation Claims Department suited to the different classes of damage specified in the reparation part of the Treaty of Versailles. These forms are subject to such alterations as the circumstances of any particular case may require, and it is open to any person in filling up the form to include particulars of loss of wages if he so desires. The Reparation Claims Department is advised, however, that internment, unaccompanied by acts of cruelty, violence, of maltreatment, or loss of wages due to internment, does not give rise to a claim against Germany for reparation under the terms of the Treaty, and it is therefore unnecessary to issue a special form designed to meet a claim of damage in respect of which it does not appear that compensation can competently be claimed

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a soldier who was wounded in August, 1918, and discharged on 9th March, 1920, with an 80 per cent. disablement pension owing to loss of eye and other injuries, is entitled to receive the Silver War Badge?

The Silver War Badge is not issued to those who have retired or been discharged from the Military Forces subsequent to 31st December, 1919, and I regret, therefore, that the soldier referred to in the question is not eligible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received any report from General Haking concerning the recent riots at Danzig; whether he can confirm the statement that no British soldiers were arrested for refusing to unload cargo; and whether the troops in Danzig will be employed to break any strikes which may occur in this town?

Yes, Sir; a report has been received from General Haking, in which he states that only voluntary military labour has been employed, and that the soldier volunteers worked well and willingly. No report has been received of any arrests in this connection. The answer to the last portion of the question is that it entirely depends upon the nature of the strike. Troops would not be employed in industrial disputes between employers and workmen.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is, and has been for some months, a hay dump at Farringdon, near Alton, Hants, containing some 411 tons; whether it is a fact that two men are employed to watch the dump at a weekly wage of £3 18s. per man; and whether it would be more economical to insure against fire, which would only entail an annual premium of £15 8s. 3d.?

It is not anticipated that this charge will continue much longer, as the hay will shortly be consumed. The principle of insurance in such cases against fire, etc., is not applicable, because the requirements of the Army have to be met and the hay is actually needed for consumption. The weekly wage of the watchers is £2 5s. per man, and not as stated in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the military huts unoccupied for a considerable period near Fort Matilda, Greenock; whether he has received an application from the Corporation of Greenock to purchase these huts; is he aware that both the huts and the land on which the huts are erected are required for other purposes; and will he give instructions for either the sale or removal of these huts?

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

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Government has accurate figures of the total number of Irish soldiers dead in the War, and their respective religions?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to a similar question which he asked on 2nd August.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any, and, if so, what opportunities for educational advancement are offered to British troops stationed at Tekrit, Mesopotamia; whether he is aware that men of the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment, stationed at Tekrit, re-enlisted after service in France and Belgium, on the understanding that schemes of Army-education would be established, that nothing has been done in this direction, and consequently men in this remote station are suffering from lack of mental occupation?

At the present time educational training is being conducted in Mesopotamia under conditions of some difficulty. The Army Educational Corps is now being formed on a permanent basis and every unit will then have its permanent personnel which will doubtless put an end to such complaints. Meanwhile everything will be done to assist the General Officer Commanding in conducting this branch of training. I am making inquiries as to the situation in the unit mentioned and will let the hon. and gallant Member know the result in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any further information to give to the House with regard to the attack on a British column near Hilla?

No important news regarding the attack on Hillah has yet been received. A reassuring telegram has been received from the General Officer Commanding, Mesopotamia, with regard to the British prisoners taken in the recent operations. It appears that though they were very much neglected at first they are now receiving better care, and that the Army leaders have issued communiqués stating that the Arabs look on prisoners as a sacred trust and ordering the subordinate shiekhs to treat them well. The prisoners are said to be collected in the neighbourhood of Nejef. A friendly local doctor from Baghdad has been sent to them with clothing, comforts, and medicines under conditions which are expected to ensure his safe arrival. A list of the prisoners captured was asked for and will be telegraphed when obtained. General Haldane wishes the relations of the prisoners to be assured that their welfare is receiving the most earnest attention, and that every effort will be made to maintain touch with them and to secure good treatment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies in how many administrative or revenue districts of Ceylon the Kandyan Ceylonese, and in how many Ceylon Tamilis, predominate; if the Indian immigrant labourers are included in the calculation; and if they are excluded?

The only statistics in my possession are those of the 1911 census, which are now quite out of date, and I could not offer as accurate any calculations based upon them. A fresh census will be taken next year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is proposed to promulgate the instrument by which the constitutional reforms for Ceylon are intended to be introduced?

It is hoped that the instruments providing for the changes in the constitution of Ceylon will be in the hands of the Governor when he returns to Ceylon in the course of next month.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether in the scheme of constitutional reform for Ceylon it is proposed to give voters in the special electorates for the European, Kandyan, Sinhalese, Burgher, Mohammedan, and Indian communities the right of voting in territorial constituencies as well?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has as yet received replies to the inquiries as to the present state of the cemeteries in the West Indian Colonies containing naval and military graves, which he promised to make; and, if so, whether he will state the substance of those replies?

The Governor of Barbados has reported that the Military cemetery at Needham Point is under the control of the Public Works Department; that the condition of the cemetery had already been brought to notice; and that plans for its improvement are being considered by the Colonial Government. No reply has yet been received from the Governor of the Windward Islands as regards the cemetery on the Morne, St. Lucia; but a despatch is no doubt on its way. Despatches were sent to the other West Indian Colonies on the 26th June, but there has not yet been time for answers to be received. I will communicate the substance of the various replies to the honourable Member in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether all officers in the Colonial service who have retired on pension subsequent to 1st January, 1920, are entitled to be pensioned under the new rates brought into force in that year?

I am not quite clear to what new rates my hon. and gallant Friend refers. If he means the increased scales of salary introduced in Tropical Africa and certain other Colonies and Protectorates, the reply is that if the emoluments attached to a post are increased, an officer who enjoys the benefit of the increase would usually, under the local pension law, have his pension calculated on the increased rate.

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received from the Government of Jamaica the Report regarding the rates of pensions for noncommissioned officers and men of the British West Indies Regiment; and which of the West Indian Colonies have already agreed to supplement the maximum pension payable from Imperial funds, namely, 14s. a week, or in special cases 17s. 6d. per week, from local funds?

Proposals for amending the authorised scale of pensions have been received from the Governor of Jamaica and are receiving consideration. I regret that the information available does not enable me to give a complete answer to the second part of the question; but, when a decision is arrived at in regard to the proposals from Jamaica, the other West Indian Colonies will be consulted. The charge for pensions is borne by Imperial funds in the case of Jamaica, that Colony having undertaken to make a contribution of £60,000 a year for forty years towards the expenses of the War. Otherwise the full charges for pensions in respect of the British West Indies Regiment are, in general, defrayed from the local funds of the respective Colonies.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Herbert Knott, who served in the South African War, was mobilised on 4th August, 1914, on the strength of the 1st Cambridgeshire Regiment, being classed in Category A, having always enjoyed the best of health, was subsequently in hospital at Shorncliffe suffering from neurasthenia, served in France from September, 1918, and was demobilised from the East Lancashire Regiment on 27th January, 1919, and died of pneumonia on 15th July, 1919; if the appeal of his widow who is in bad health and without means for a pension was dismissed on 4th July, 1920, despite the fact that his doctor certified that active service was largely responsible for the fact that he succumbed to his illness; and whether, having regard to the doctor's certificate and to the strong representation unanimously made on her behalf by the Cambridge Local Pensions Committee, he will cause further inquiry to be made with the case and a pension granted to the widow or her child?

I would remind my hon. Friend that the Pensions Appeal Tribunal which considered and rejected this widow's claim to pension, is an independent body under the jurisdiction of the Lord Chancellor, and as the decisions of the Tribunal are, by Statute, final my right hon. Friend has no authority to reopen the case.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why it is that ex-service men who have been employed as clerks for one year or over in Army pay or Record Offices are not permitted to compete in the examination which takes place in November next for permanent employment in the Civil Service, and for which all other ex-service men employed in Government Departments are eligible; and whether, as this is a competitive examination and men will be appointed on their merits, he will take steps to remove what appears to be a grave injustice?

The necessary steps have been taken and ex-service men employed as temporary clerks in Army Pay or Record Offices will be eligible to compete at the forthcoming limited competition on the same terms as temporary clerks in other Government Departments.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many ex-service men in Ulster have been provided with agricultural land by the Estate Commissioners, and dwelling houses and plots by the Local Government Board under the provisions of the Irish Land (Provision for Sailors and Soldiers) Act?

The Estate Commissioners have provided holdings for thirteen ex-service men in Ulster. No dwelling houses with plots have been provided for ex-service men by the Local Government Board. The necessary legal preliminaries to placing men in these houses with plots take considerable time. The Board have now prepared 54 schemes for all Ireland which includes provision for 1,142 cottages and allotments.

asked the Postmaster General whether notice to leave Government employment has been given to disabled ex-soldiers temporarily in His Majesty's sorting office, Peter Street, Manchester, whereas married and unmarried women are still being retained in the same or similar occupations at the same office and that, since such notice, an additional woman has been appointed?

I understand my hon. and gallant Friend to refer to H.M. Stationery Office, Peter Street, Manchester. Under a reorganisation which has taken place recently in this office, certain work of a permanent nature, which was done during the War by temporary ex-service or civilian employés, has been allocated to established Civil Servants. This has rendered the discharge of temporary men inevitable as permanent staff becomes available for absorption, either from other Departments whose war activities are ceasing and thereby enabling the services of permanent staff to become available elsewhere, or from demobilised Civil Servants now available as assistant clerks. No notices of discharge were given to ex-service men until all the civilian temporary male clerks had been discharged. With regard to the last part of the question, I find that the woman clerk referred to was entered in error, and instructions will be given for her replacement by an ex-service man. I have also arranged that the question of substituting ex-service men for women employed elsewhere in this office shall be fully considered.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what amount has been expended or authorised to be spent during the current financial year of the £4,000 per annum provided under Clause 18 (3) of the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act, 1919, for the purpose of encouraging and developing the provision of allotments throughout Scotland; and whether, in the event of the full £4,000 not being spent in any one year, the unexpended balance will be carried forward for use in future years?

No expenditure has yet been incurred or authorised under the provision to which my hon. Friend refers. The Board of Agriculture have under consideration a scheme for improving the general working of allotments and for extending allotments in suitable areas. This scheme, I am informed, would involve the expenditure of more than half the sum available this year. I am advised that the answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he proposes to exercise, in terms of Clause 19 of the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act of 1919, his power to require town councils to appoint committees to consult with the councils on matters relating to the provision, equipment, and management of allotments; and, if so, at what date such power will be exercised?

I am prepared to exercise the power referred to by my hon. Friend in cases where this course seems to be desirable. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland have been in communication on the subject with a number of town councils, and I am now considering the information thus obtained, with a view to taking action where that course appears to be proper.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will have an inquiry made into the health of Mr. Barton, M.P., now in Portland Prison, and consider whether he could be transferred to the first division and obtain the treatment usually given to political prisoners?

The prisoner was reported on the 7th of August to be in good health and condition. I see no reason for any alteration in his treatment.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he recently received a deputation from the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan police pensioners with reference to an increase of their pre-War pension; if so, did he promise them special treatment: and what action he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The promise I made was that I would urge upon the Government the claims of the ex-pensioners for special treatment. I have done so, and shall continue to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that at the 25th Session of the Hague International Convention, and again after their signature, the British delegates made a declaration to the effect that the Articles were to apply to British India, Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, Hong Kong, and Wei-hai-wei in every respect in the same way as to the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Government is prepared to carry out this pledge and see that legislation similar to what is contained in the Dangerous Drugs Bill is provided for the Eastern dependencies of the Empire?

Laws and Regulations which are believed to be strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention are already in force in the countries named. The Government of India have, however, been instructed to examine their Laws and Regulations in order to ascertain whether the ratification of the Convention necessitates any changes of detail.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that in the recent reorganisation and revision of pay in the P.W.D. and Indian M.W. S., the upper subordinates of the M.W. S. have not been improved in status and pay in the same manner as those in the P.W.D., despite the fact that they hold the same qualifications, have passed from the same engineering colleges, and have hitherto served under the same Regulations; that this differentiation is very keenly felt by the military works subordinates, who have not only served in the field during the late War, but have at the same time suffered disabilities and financial loss from the operations of civil Regulations in regard to their military services; and if he will reconsider the new Regulations by the operation of which these members of the M.W.S. are deprived of the benefits conferred on their civilian confréres of the P.W.D., in spite of the fact that, during the War, they have been a a disadvantage, compared with soldiers of corresponding standing in other branches and Departments, owing to the M.W.S. having been governed by civil Regulations?

New rates of pay have now been sanctioned for upper subordinates of the Military Works Services. These rates are with effect from 1st July, 1919. I will ask the Government of India for a Report on the other aspects of the hon. and gallant Member's question.

asked the Secretary of State for India the number of Indian troops at present employed in the Constantinople area, Arabia, North-East Persia, North-West Persia, Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Egypt?

I regret it is not in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when it is proposed to determine the number of acting appointments given to permanent civil servants at the War Office and Admiralty during the War, in view of the fact that these acting appointments were granted, presumably, in consequence of special duties or increased duties arising out of and during the War; whether these posts carry substantive salaries, in most cases largely in excess of the normal, and if these higher salaries carry also, in addition, the regulated Civil Service War bonus on the higher salary; and how many of these acting appointments were held on the day of the Armistice and now on both War Office and Admiralty Departments?

Pending the determination of the post-War establishments, acting appointments have been given to officers employed for the time being on duties of greater responsibility than normally devolves upon their substantive grade. The emoluments assigned to such officers which carry War bonus have not been in excess of those appropriate to the higher grade in which they are acting. While it is impossible to terminate these acting appointments until there is a diminution of work, the Admiralty and War Office are under instructions to keep such appointments under constant watch with a view to abolition in each individual case as soon as circumstances admit. I am informed by the War Office and Admiralty that the acting appointments held by permanent Civil Servants in their respective Department at Armistice now number:—

		Armistice.	Now.
War Office	…	335	230
Admiralty	…	848	931

The increase in the Admiralty is, I am informed, due, amongst other causes, to the clearing-up of arrears which accumulated during the War, the revision of Naval pay, pensions and service conditions, and the substitution of Civil Servants for temporary officers engaged for special duties, most of whom resigned immediately after the Armistice.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that the Newport Pensions Committee and the Pensions Medical Board have by agreement been in occupation of the offices and committee room of the Newport Education Committee since the early part of 1919 on a tenancy of 12 months, subject to three months' notice, and that such notice given by the Committee expired on the 24th June; whether His Majesty's Office of Works were informed in April that the matter was urgent and that the Committee desired possession of their premises prior to the expiration of the notice, if possible; whether they are still in occupation of the premises urgently required to carry out adequately the medical treatment of school children and the general administrative work of the Newport Education Committee; whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to enable the Newport Education Committee to become in possession of the premises without further delay in accordance with the agreement and the notice, the tenancy having expired on the 24th June, 1920; and whether he is aware that alternative accommodation has been available for some weeks?

My Department, in consultation with the local authorities, has for many months past made continuous search for fresh accommodation for the staff of the Ministry of Pensions occupying the Newport Education Offices, but prior to the end of June no suitable alternative was found. Recently, however, premises have been secured to which the Pensions Committee will be transferred tomorrow, and the Pensions Medical Boards will vacate the education offices at the beginning of next week.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government intends in the near future to withdraw the bread subsidy altogether?

I have been asked to reply. I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on this subject to the hon. Member for Kennington (Mr. Purchase) on the 4th instant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what would be the effect on the price of this quartern loaf of the abolition of the bread subsidy?

I have been asked to reply. If the bread subsidy were abolished to-day the price of the 4-lb. loaf on the basis of present world prices of wheat would, it is estimated, stand approximately at 1s. 5d. It is, of course, impossible to predict the future course of prices.

asked the Minister of Food if, in the light of the latest information with regard to this year's crop, he can make any further statement as to the probable supply and price of sugar during the autumn?

The unprecedented increase in the price of sugar in the world's markets, largely brought about by speculative buying in America some months ago, has since resulted in a contraction of the demand as originally estimated. To this extent, therefore, there is a slight amelioration in the general position, despite the fact that the world's supplies are still 3,500,000 tons below the pre-war production. The improvement in the position indicated is also due in considerable measure to the saving compulsorily effected by drastic rationing in this country when prices were at their highest. In the circumstances it has now been found possible to increase the ration in this country from 8 ounces to 12 ounces, but I regret that I can hold out no hope of an early reduction of price.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if his attention has been called to the provisional purchase by Messrs. Vestey Brothers, meat importers, of the whole of the shares in Eastmans, Limited, retail meat distributors in this country; and, as this appears to be the first move on the part of the American importers of meat to get control of the retail meat trade of this country, as they have had for some years in the United States and are now having the attention of the law officers of the federal government with the object of breaking their monopoly in the States, if he is prepared to take such action as will prevent a similar state of affairs obtaining in this country to the injury of the consumers of meat?

I have seen references in the newspapers to this proposed purchase. Messrs. Vestey Brothers, so far as I am aware, have no connection with any American Meat Company. The Second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether the ship "Flush" was lost when she left Malmo, in Sweden; if so, would he see that death certificates are issued to the relatives of deceased men; is he aware that these men signed on at Blyth, Northumberland: and could he get to know from the consul at Malmo, in Sweden, all or any particulars of this ship?

As stated in replies given to previous questions on this matter on 17th May and 14th and 24th June, of which I am sending the hon. Member copies, the s.s "Flush" left Malmo on 14th November last, and was lost with all hands on or about 23rd November. The crew were signed on at Blyth. I am not yet in a position to furnish any further information, but I am in correspondence with the British Consul at Malmo, and will at once communicate to the hon. Member the result of the inquiries we are making. As regards the issue of certificates of death to the relatives of the deceased men, it is not possible to issue the statutory certificates owing to legal difficulties arising out of the fact that the Newfoundland Ship building Company, which was the owner of the vessel, is in liquidation; but I will have an official statement given which, I hope, will meet the needs of the relatives.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will obtain and supply further details relating to the numbers using the workmen's trains from Enfield town in 1913 and in 1919 beyond the particulars given for selected hours in the Report of the Rates Advisory Committee, page 7, giving the dates of the enumeration and the numbers travelling at the various times at the various workmen's and cheap fares in the following form: Time of train from Enfield town; Number at each fare (2d.), (3d.), (7½d)?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the report of the proceedings of the Rates Advisory Committee on the 23rd July (of which I am sending him a copy) where, on page 277 full details are given of the numbers of passengers conveyed from Enfield by workmen's and other cheap trains.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he agrees with the statement by Mr. Childers, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his Budget speech of 1883, and with the Report of the Royal Commission on Housing of the Working Classes, 1885, that under the Cheap Trains Act, 1883, a bargain was struck between the nation And the railway companies; whether he is aware that the housing scheme of the London County Council for the erection of 29,000 houses on the outskirts of London has been initiated with this bargain as an essential basis; and whether, in any increase of fares that he may sanction, he will ensure that the bargain is maintained and the general relation between cheap early fares and usual day fares continued?

This question is fully-dealt with in the Report of the Rates Advisory Committee (Cmd. Paper 857, page 5). There is no general relationship to-day between ordinary fares and workmen's fares, as the latter are on no clearly defined basis. The final part of the question, therefore, docs not arise.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the serious complaints by fruit importers in Hull at the delays in transporting fruit to the inland towns and markets; if he is aware of the fact that, although full passenger rate is charged, fruit trucks are not attached to passenger trains; that fruit arriving at the, riverside quay at 8 a.m. does not leave till 8 p.m. the same day, and that fruit trucks are frequently left standing in the sun for 12 hours; and whether goods at passenger rates can be carried by actual passenger trains and a schedule goods service run to the more important centres?

I understand that the Fruit Trade Association have forwarded particulars of their complaints to the railway company direct, who are carefully investigating them. I will inform the hon. and gallant Member of the result of these investigations as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a large number of soldiers still in hospital at a distance from their homes are without the necessary means to enable them on occasion to visit their families, and that the members of their families for the same reason are unable to visit the hospitals; and whether he will consider the possibility of these men or their families being granted travelling facilities at cheap rates?

I have every sympathy with the case of soldiers still in hospital and their desire to see their families. I am not, however, in favour of piecemeal concessions. The treatment of disabled soldiers and sailors must be regarded as a whole, and I do not think any portion of the cost should in an indirect way be borne by the Railway Agreements Vote. It is a matter for the War Office, Minister of Labour, or Minister of Pensions, not for the Minister of Transport.

asked the Minister of Transport whether lady clerks employed by the railway companies have received any increases in salary; and, if not, will he state the reason?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given last Thursday to a similar question on this subject which was asked by the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Waterson).

asked the Minister of Transport the number of gold and silver railway passes that have been issued to Ministers and officers of the Ministry of Transport, to whom they were allotted, the names of the railways, and the date they were issued?

Railway passes have been provided by all the principal railway companies to the ten senior officers of the Ministry, in accordance with the practice of the companies of issuing passes to their own principal officers and directors. The passes were provided at various dates, beginning on April 9th, 1920. Passes were also provided for the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary, but, as I stated in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member on July 5th, it was decided not to issue them, and they were not issued.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Tramways Charges Advisory Committee has given notice, dated 23rd July, of a public inquiry on the 10th August next in respect of the applications of the Metropolitan Electric Tramways, Limited, and the London United Tramways, Limited, for Orders under the Statutory Undertakings (Temporary Increases of Charges) Act, 1918, the Tramways (Temporary Increases of Charges) Act, 1920, authorising increased charges on the tramway undertakings of those Companies; that on application being made by the Middlesex County Council to the London United Tramways, Limited, in accordance with the Company's notice of the inquiry, for detailed information as to the existing statutory powers of charge, and of the charges as proposed to be revised, the Company's representatives stated that they were unable to supply copies of the detailed information referred to above; whether, in view of the short notice of the inquiry, that a large number of persons interested will be absent from London on holidays, that all local authorities concerned will be in vacation, and that the existing interim Order of the Ministry will not expire until the 18th December next, the difficulty in obtaining detailed information from the London United Tramways, Limited, as to the proposed charges, that the existing Order has only been in force for a period of about six weeks, and that it is, consequently, impossible in so short a period to form any adequate opinion as to the effect of the increasd charges authorised by the interim Order, the holding of the proposed inquiry at such an early and inconvenient date is premature and undesirable; and whether he will give directions for the inquiry to be postponed to a later date to enable those representing the public to adequately prepare and present the case in opposition to the Companies' proposals?

I would refer the hon Member to the answer given to a similar question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Tottenham North (Major Prescott) on the 5th instant, a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture when the Bill to consolidate and amend the existing Salmon and Fresh Water Fish Acts which was foreshadowed in His Majesty's Speech from the Throne will be introduced; and whether, if the time of the House of Commons is already too fully mortgaged, this Bill could be advantageously introduced in another place?

As regards the first part of the question, I regret that I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for South West Hull (Major Entwistle) on the 26th April last. As regards the second part of the question, I am afraid that it is not possible for me to say at present whether the Bill could be more advantageously introduced in another place.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he will give the information and statistics upon which is based the statement that the steam-trawler fleets are not generally being run at a loss; whether the Grimsby, Hull, Aberdeen and Fleetwood vessels have been paying their way this summer; and, if so, will he state the figures upon which he bases this fact?

The answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Buckingham (Captain Bowyer) on the 19th ult., referred to Admiralty trawlers, and not to the steam-trawler fleets generally, and was based upon the accounts received from the managers. I have not access to the accounts of private owners, and cannot, therefore, say whether privately owned vessels fishing from Grimsby, Hull, Aberdeen and Fleetwood have paid their way or not.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether over-production has taken place in the boot and shoe trade; whether the home demand has been outrun and little foreign demand exists at present prices; and, if so, what action the Government is taking, in view of the probability of widespread unemployment in the trade in question?

The recent decline in the activity of the boot and shoe trade appears to be duo to a slackening in the home demand and to the fact that the exports, though in excess of those of last year, are still very far short of the pre-War level. As regards the last part of the question, the whole unemployment question is receiving the close attention of the Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Bill which is now being drafted for dealing with trusts carries into effect any of the recommendations made in the addendum to the Report of the Committee on Trusts, or only the recommendations made unanimously in the body of the Report?

As the hon. Member is aware, the demands on Parliamentary time do not permit the passing of legislation of the nature referred to in the question at present, and in those circumstances I would prefer not to make any statement concerning the provisions of the proposed measure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Patent Office will pay special attention to the number of applications for letters patent in respect of admixtures of such bodies as alcohol, ether, kerosene, benzol, and toluol as motor fuels, in which applications no element of novelty, discovery, or invention appears to be disclosed; and if he will give instructions to the Patent Office to be especially careful not to hamper or prejudice the production or utilisation of new motor fuels by the creation of ground for litigation in respect of alleged master patents?

Full and proper consideration will be given to all applications for patents in respect of inventions relating to new motor fuels before the patent is granted. The Comptroller of the Patent Office, in considering what is a proper subject of a patent, is, of course, bound by the provisions of the Patents and Designs Acts, in accordance with which he must act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to present the Return of investments and holdings of His Majesty's Government in limited companies and corporations?

I much regret the delay, but I hope to issue the Return this week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of petrol on which duty at full rate and half rate, respectively, was paid for each of the months of June and July, 1920?

The figures for June are as follow:—

				Gallons.
Full rate	…	…	…	9,495,000
Half rate	…	…	…	6,569,000

Those for July are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what subsidies will be in existence after the railway and bread subsidies have been abolished; and whether he can offer any approximate date as to when these remaining subsidies will also be abolished?

I am not aware of any other grants of the nature mentioned except those under the Housing and Land Settlement Acts of last Session. The main Exchequer grants for housing and land settlement schemes will be payable for many years. The subsidy to private builders is limited to a period ending in December, 1921.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the £150 grant made under the Housing Bill of this Session to those who erect houses is subject to Income Tax?

The grants referred to by my right hon. Friend would not be chargeable to Income Tax, except so far as they form part of the profits of a builder.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now able to state that no coloured or other foreign troops have been used by the Polish Government on the Russo-Polish front?

I have made inquiries with regard to the report which appeared in the Bolshevik Wireless and was reproduced in the Press on 7th July to the effect that the Polish Government had employed coloured troops in their operations against Russia. The report appeared to me at the time to be fantastic and I am now in a position to state that it is without any foundation. I may add that in their operations against Russia, the Poles are relying entirely on their own Polish troops.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the conditions under which nursing probationers in many London hospitals at present work, especially with regard to housing accommodation and hours and conditions of duty; and whether he will consider recommending reforms in these connections to all hospitals in receipt of State grants for the benefit both of probationers and of the nursing profession generally?

I am fully aware of the unsatisfactory conditions under which many probationer nurses are at present employed, and any steps which the General Nursing Council may propose to remedy this state of affairs will have my sympathetic consideration. State grants, however, are only paid in respect of the treatment of certain specified diseases, and I do not think it would be practicable to attach to them conditions such as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Minister of Health if he is yet in a position to make a statement of the position in regard to the convention drawn up at Washington in respect to maternity?

As my right hen. Friend is aware, this matter has been receiving close attention, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement in regard to it.