asked the Secretary of State for War whether ordinary leave pay for the current year having been given to certain clerical classes at the Woolwich Arsenal, including temporary, permanent, and non-Treasury classes, he will authorise an equivalent extension to all draughtsmen on corresponding scales of pay?

The question is being considered in consultation with other Government Departments concerned. I will inform the hon. Member of the decision, which I hope will be reached very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War upon what grounds Sergeant H. A. Blackmore, 5th (R) Battalion Manchester Regiment, lecturer in chemistry and dyes, the Laboratory, Thornhill, Aldershot, is retained in the service; and when will he be demobilised?

Educational personnel serving on a temporary basis are not retained in the service against their will; their demobilisation can be carried out forthwith if they so desire. I am not aware of the grounds on which Sergeant Blackmore is being retained, but enquiries are being made and I will inform the hon. and gallant Member of the result.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what are the Government's intentions regarding the National Projectile Factory, Lancaster; what was the number of persons (men, women, boys, and girls) employed at this factory at the time of the conclusion of the Armistice with Germany in November, 1918; what is the number of persons (men, women, boys, and girls) employed at this factory at the present time; and whether this factory might be more extensively utilised for wagon repairing and for other work of urgent national importance, particularly in connection with transport and house building, with a view to providing useful employment for the large number of ex-service men and disabled ex-service men in the locality?

I have been asked to reply. The number of workpeople employed at this factory on 11th November, 1918, was 4,366 men, 318 boys, and 4,212 women. The number employed at present is 506 men, 38 boys, and 17 women. The question of the future of the factory and the work to be undertaken there is now receiving careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the rules under which ex-officers with war service may obtain commissions in the Regular Army are now definitely laid down; whether he is aware that the future careers of a large number of eligible candidates who are still awaiting information are being prejudiced by the delay; and what steps he can take to supplement his statement of 21st June last?

Some 300 regular commissions in the infantry and cavalry are new being offered. All officers of the Special Reserve, Territorial Force, New Armies, Royal Naval Division and Overseas Contingents were eligible for consideration, and this eligibility was not affected by the fact that an officer had been demobilised. Fitness for General Service and service of not less than 6 months in a theatre of war prior to 11th November, 1918, were necessary conditions, and the age limits imposed were—Second-Lieutenants to be under 25; Lieutenants under 30; Captains under 35.Candidates have been selected solely on their war records, and to ensure a fair and impartial selection, a system of marking candidates was adopted.Thus, for example, 5 marks a month were given for service overseas, I mark a month for service at home. 250 marks were given for each 6 months in command of a battalion or quivalent formation in a theatre of war, 125 marks for each similar period of command in a garrison or at home. 250 marks were given for a Victoria Cross, and proportionate marks to other decorations, bars carrying the same marks as the original award. 15 marks were given for each wound stripe.Qualified candidates have been marked on this system, and those with the highest marks are now being invited to accept regular commissions.Selected candidates will be credited, for purposes of seniority, with all their previous commissioned service between 4th August, 1914, and 11th November, 1918, less the following periods:—

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers and men who were compelled to serve continuously in India throughout the whole of the War are entitled to the general service medal?

Yes, Sir. European officers and soldiers who served overseas (e.g., in India) between 5th August, 1914, and 11th November, 1918, are eligible for the award of the British War Medal.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the substantial increase in rents sanctioned by Parliament, ranging from 2s. a week and upwards, it is proposed to increase the scale of pensions for soldiers and their dependants?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Leader of the House to the Hon. Member for the Western Division of Derbyshire (Mr. C. White) on the 16th June, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of pensions whether he is aware that there are at least 50 pensioners awaiting concurrent treatment and training in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; what local facilities exist in Newcastle for the men who are awaiting concurrent treatment and training; and, if such facilities are non-existent or inadequate, will he take prompt steps to provide adequate facilities?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to-day to the hon. and gallant Member for the Eastern Division of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Major Barnes), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can now make any detailed statement as to the intentions of the Government with regard to the out-of-work donation to the ex-Service men after 31st July; how many will be receiving it at this date and what is the cost; and whether some steps can be taken to expedite the absorption of this vast amount of unutilised labour?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the 29th July to the hon. and gallant Member for Fylde (Colonel Ashley), of which I am sending him a copy. The answer to the second part of the question is that approximately 143,000 ex-Service men were in receipt of donation on the 31st July last, on which date the weekly cost amounted to approximately £168,000. In regard to the third part of the question, continuous endeavours are being made, and will continue to be made, by the Ministry of Labour to place ex-Service men in employment. The problem, which I recognise as of the most urgent and serious character, is constantly before us.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that J. Moran, 138, Hardybutts, Wigan, who is a member of the Hibernian Approved Society, was off work sick from 11th March, 1920, to 21st May, 1920, and received National Health Insurance certificates each week from his doctor, is unable to secure the payment of his benefits from the above-named approved society; that he has written to the Controller, Ministry of Health Insurance Department, Buckingham Gate, London, S.W.1, placing the whole case before him for his consideration, the reply being (Ref. 16,809/20) that he would receive a communication from his society in due course, instead of which he has received a postal draft from the Ministry of Health, 29, Queen Anne's Gate, London, S.W.1, for the sum of £1 4s. in payment for two weeks and three days; and will he have this case further inquired into and the full benefits paid to Moran at an early date?

I am in communication with the Ancient Order of Hibernians Approved Society with reference to this case, and will see that Mr. Moran receives the full amount of benefit to which he is entitled. The payment of the sum of £l 4s. was made by the Ministry of Health as Mr. Moran had previously been a deposit contributor, and it was not clear at the time whether he had been admitted to membership of the Society prior to the date from which benefit was claimed.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, with regard to the alleged reprisals by members of the Royal Irish Constabulary at Tuam?

I have called for a report, and, when it has been received, will take appropriate action.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the revised police pensions scale now under consideration will be applied to the police pensioners in Ireland who have had to retire through ill-health after between 15 and 25 years' service, irrespective of the date of their retirement?

The matter is before the Treasury, and it is hoped that a decision will be arrived at within the next few days.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, if it is proposed to grant the staff of the criminal lunatic asylum, Dun-drum, County Dublin, the same scales of pay and bonus as are granted to the State asylum staff at Broadmoor?

Steps are being taken to submit proposals to the Treasury with a view to the scales of salary at Dundrum Asylum being fixed on a similar basis to those now in force at Broadmoor.

asked the Prime Minister, if there has been any change in the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards Archbishop Mannix; and whether, in view of recent events, notably the declaration of Mr. Hughes, the Prime Minister of Australia, he can give the assurance that the archbishop will not only be prevented from landing in Ireland but that he will be refused asylum in England, and will be compelled to return to the United States without being permitted to land in this country?

I have nothing to add to the previous replies on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether there is any minimum for attendance fixed by the various local education authorities in England and Wales before voluntary evening classes are opened for any particular subject; if such classes are closed down if the attendance falls below such limit; what such limit is: and whether there is any variation as between town and country districts?

I understand that many local education authorities have made a regulation of the nature described by the hon. Member, but the limits, both for the opening and for the closing down of classes, vary in different areas. I am afraid I cannot summarise the practice of the authorities in these matters.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has formed any estimate of the extra charge which will be thrown upon the Estimates for his Department for the continuation schools to be established under and by virtue of the provisions of the Education Act, 1918?

In March, 1918, I roughly estimated at £8,750,000 a year the total cost of the continuation school provisions of the Education Bill to be borne by the Exchequer and the funds of local education authorities. At the time I made that estimate those provisions applied to all young persons between the ages of 14 and 18, but as the hon. Member will recall, their operation was at a later stage deferred for a period of seven years as regards young persons between 16 and 18, and this would, of course, as regards the next seven years, have involved a substantial modification of the figure which I mentioned. It must, however, be remembered that if the devaluation of money persists, earlier estimates of cost will need to be increased, though on the other hand the process of establishing a complete system of continuation schools will, I fear, inevitably be slower. These circumstances render it extremely difficult to anticipate the charges which will have to be met in the Estimates in the next few years. I shall, of course, have in the autumn to form an estimate of the expenditure likely to fall to be met from the Vote of the Board of Education next financial year.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the recent advance in teachers' salaries is attracting a sufficient supply of teachers of both sexes, or whether he is faced with a shortage which renders the carrying out of the scheme of development under the Education Act of 1918 somewhat precarious?

It is as yet too-early to say whether the recent improvement in the remuneration of teachers is proving effective in attracting a sufficient supply of teachers of both sexes. There are some indications of an increase in the number of young persons desiring to enter the profession, but I am not satisfied that this increase will be sufficient to provide all the developments contemplated by Education Act of 1918.

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the prejudicial effects of the recent rise in railway fares upon the cured-fish industry; and if he can see his way to grant to coopers and gutters privileges in this respect similar to those enjoyed by fruit pickers?

I cannot recognise any special circumstances which would justify preferential treatment being given to these workers, at the expense of other-users of the railways.

asked the Minister of Transport the quantity of rolling stock still remaining overseas; if any of. the stock in France was sold to that country; and what is the comparison between our pre-War rolling stock and our present?

Of British railway-owned wagons sent to France and Belgium about 2,000 remain to be returned. These are being traced and returned by the military authorities, but it must necessarily be a matter of some difficulty to ascertain the whereabouts of them all. The second part of the question should be addressed to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to a somewhat similar question by the hon. Member for Kennington (Mr. Purchase) on the 2nd of August, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to a report, of a meeting of the Dawley (Salop) Urban Council, at which a representative of the Ministry attended with a view to urging the Council to take prompt action in respect of housing; whether the Council, in view of their financial position, declined to proceed with any housing scheme until they were assured that all expenditure above the sum to be raised by a penny rate would be promptly met By the State; and whether, as the attitude adopted by the Dawley Urban Council is expected by other local authorities in many parts of the country, he can give the necessary assurance, namely, that without any embarrassing delay the difference between the amount raised by a penny rate and the cost of any housing scheme will be defrayed out of the National Exchequer?

Yes, Sir; I have received a report of the meeting referred to, but there is no ground for the local authority's apprehensions. Subject to their compliance with the Regulations, the deficit on their Housing (Assisted Schemes) Account during the progress of the scheme and the estimated average annual deficit after the scheme has been completed will be borne by the Exchequer, after credit has been given for the proceeds of a penny rate and local authorities have been informed that payment will be made by two half-yearly instalments during the financial year in which their charges fall due. The Housing Commissioner is taking the matter up with the Dawley Urban District Council with a view to removing any misunderstanding which exists.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of the transfer of the Prison Medical Service to the Ministry of Health and of prison education to the Board of Education?

The arrangements for maintaining the health of prisoners and providing means of education are intimately bound up with general questions of prison administration, and it is most undesirable that the responsibility for this should be divided among three separate Departments of Government.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the body of evidence adduced in the recently published Report of the Penal Reform League to show that under the prison system youths who enter in a condition which gives hope of their reformation are converted by contract with their fellow prisoners and the system under which they live into the most hardened criminals; and whether the Government proposes to introduce legislation to remedy this state of affairs?

My attention has been drawn to the Report. The records show that the charges against the present system are greatly exaggerated.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the increase in the number of cases of criminal or indecent assaults upon children; and whether, in view of the seriousness of the offence, he will consider the advisability of taking steps so that the sentences which can be imposed under summary jurisdiction should be increased, or that all such cases should be tried before a superior court?

No evidence of any general increase in the number of assaults on children has been brought to my notice. If the hon. Member will let me have any evidence on this point that she may have in her possession, I will consider the matter further.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Government will consider the establishment of a Commission to secure the effective carrying out of probation throughout the country?

Legislation would be required to establish a Commission, and that is not at present practicable, but I have already had the question of what steps should be taken to secure the effective carrying out of the probation system under consideration, and I am considering the appointment of a Committee at an early date.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of the transfer of reformatory schools and industrial schools from private control to the Home Office and Board of Education, respectively?

Reformatory and Industrial schools are already under inspection by officers of the Home Office the Board of Education; but there is no intention at present on the part of the Government to take over the management of these schools

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the bishops and clergy of the Anglican Church in Nigeria are forbidden by the Government to preach Christianity in the northern provinces of Nigeria, whilst the priests of the Moslem religion have full liberty to propagate the tenets of their faith anywhere in these districts; and will he take such measures forthwith as will give ministers of Christianity and Christians generally the same religious freedom as that enjoyed by Mohammedans?

In the Moslem emirates of the Northern Provinces it has not been found possible to allow Christian missions to operate freely The policy which has been adopted by the Nigerian Government in this matter is one which, in the opinion of the offcers of greatest, experience in the administration of the country, is necessary in the interests of peace, order, and good government; and it is justified by the complete loyalty shown by the Moslem population during the War. It is not, however, the case that the preaching of Christianity in the Northern Provinces of Nigeria is forbidden. There is an ample field for missionary work for many years to come in the extensive pagan districts as well as in the non-European reservations in the townships.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that Mr. E. Parry, of 127, Kirkhall Lane, Leigh, whose pension was stopped early in February pending consideration on the question of income, is still waiting a decision; whether the pensions officer did not inform the local pensions committee until the end of April; whether the delay is entirely that of the pensions officer; and, if not, who else is responsible for keeping old age pensioners waiting over six months for a decision concerning pensions?

As the hon. Member was informed by the Ministry of Health on the 5th instant, it has already been decided that the appropriate rate of pension is 4s. a week. Payment at that rate will be made at once as from February last. The rate was determined by the central pensions authority on an appeal by the pensions officer against a decision of the local pensions committee raising the pension from 5s. to 10s. It is regretted that the officer, misapprehending his standing instructions, suspended the pension book at 5s. due in February last pending consideration of the question whether the pensioner was not receiving an excessive pension, but I may explain that in April he offered to deliver a book at that rate, subject to subsequent adjustment, but the pensioner declined to accept it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the cost to many boards of guardians because of the inadequacy of payment in cases of injured workpeople, when he proposes to introduce legislation in accordance with the recommendations of the Select Committee on compensation for injuries?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I regret I can add nothing to the answers I gave to similar questions on Thursday in last week and on the 27th of last month. Legislation will be introduced as soon as practicable, but it is not possible at present to fix a date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now supply the particulars of the settlement arrived at in connection with the Crown's claim to the foreshore at Seaview, Isle of Wight?

The settlement arrived at in this case was to the effect that the defendants recognised the right of the Crown to the foreshore between ordinary high and low water mark along the coasts of the Isle of Wight between Ferniclose Brook in Sea Grove Bay on the south-east and Springvale on the north-west. The remaining terms of the settlement related to costs and to assurances given by the Crown with regard to possible claims arising out of covenants entered into by the predecessors in title of the defendants.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions how much surplus hay of last year's crop is in the possession of or under the control of the Disposal Board; and whether, in view of the shortage of old hay in this country, and of the desirability of realising stores, and especially perishable stores, as early as possible, he will give directions that this hay shall be at once put up for sale by auction, and that, so far as possible, it be put up in lots convenient for the requirements of private purchasers?

I have been asked to reply. In view of the deficient hay crop in 1919, steps were taken by the Board of Trade to create reserves in certain industrial centres to meet any serious shortage. These reserves are, and have been for some time past, in process of disposal by the Central Council, Forage Department, both by auction in small lots and by tender.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he can publish a statement showing the financial results of agricultural operations undertaken by county agricultural committees during the period from the passing of The Corn Production Act, 191V, down to 31st March, 1920?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the farming operations undertaken by Agricultural Executive Committees on land of which possession was taken under the Defence of the Realm Regulations on the ground that it had not been properly cultivated. An account has been prepared for the period from 1st April, 1917, to 30th September, 1919, which shows that the total payments and liabilities amounted to £653,890 and the total receipts and assets to £552,989, leaving a deficit of £100,901. The total area of which possession was taken amounted to 64,000 acres, but the commitees have withdrawn from possession of a considerable proportion, and the area which is still being farmed by the committees amounts to approximately 20,000 acres. Much of the work of the committees consisted of reclaiming practically derelict land and in such cases a heavy initial outlay had to be incurred which could not be recouped in full in the first two or three years. I am sending to my hon. Friend a copy of a leaflet which describes the work done by the committees in several cases