asked the Minister of Pensions whether a decision has yet been come to on the application of Mrs. M'Donnell, mother of Leo M'Donnell, No. 137157, Royal Garrison Artillery, which was before the Dublin office within the last month?

Pension under Article 21 (1) (a) of the Royal Warrant has been awarded to Mrs. M'Donnell.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the hardship inflicted upon discharged disabled soldiers when they are compelled to apply for Poor Law relief whilst awaiting the decision of a pensions appeal tribunal as to whether their disability is due to or aggravated by military service; and whether the Minister will authorise local war pensions committees to administer grants in such cases?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Pontypridd (Mr. T. Lewis) on the 29th July last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether pensioners who are in receipt of provisional pensions are called up for re-examination for medical examination one month before their pensions expire; whether he is aware that three or four months elapse before these pensioners know whether their pensions are to continue, and during which time they experience great hardship by receiving no payment; and whether he will consider an earlier examination or other arrangement to remove this grievance?

As a statement of the general practice of the Ministry in regard to the renewal of conditional awards of pensions, the procedure described in my hon. Friend's question is not correct. With the direct object of preventing a break in the issue of pension, pensioners are called up for medical re-examination some time before the expiry of the current award, but normally the new-award is notified within 14 days of the examination. In exceptional circumcumstances when a pensioner does not receive notification of the new award a week before his current pension is due to expire, he is entitled to communicate with his Local War Pensions Committee, who are authorised to continue the pension at the former rate pending notification of the new award.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the greatly increased number of complaints as to delay in paying arrears of pension and allowances; whether he has ascertained to what cause this increase of delay is due; and what steps he proposes to take to secure greater efficiency?

My right hon. Friend is well aware that in a number of cases arrears of pension have not been promptly paid, but I am glad to say that the position in this respect is not, as suggested by my hon. Friend, growing worst but is, on the contrary, steadily improving. The whole question has for some time past been receiving the close attention of my right hon. Friend who is at present considering certain modifications of the existing procedure with a view to eliminating all avoidable delays. My right hon. Friend is appointing a committee of enquiry into the local administration and machinery of the Ministry, and the arrangements for the issue of pensions will form part of the enquiry.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has received Resolutions from associations of ex-service men in favour of all alternative pension claims being filed at local pension offices instead of, as at present, at the enquiry office; and, if so, will he comply with the request?

I have not received Resolutions from associations of ex-service men in the terms mentioned, and I would point out to my hon. Friend that all claims to alternative pension are already made through the Local War Pensions Committee by whom the case is referred to the Ministry Headquarters of the region concerned for investigation by official inquiry officers. The decision arrived at by the Ministry is duly notified to the applicant and to the Local War Pensions Committee, and all the relative papers are then filed at the regional headquarters.

asked the Minister of Health the number of ex-service officers or men who have been admitted into the poorhouse since the Armistice, the number now in receipt of Poor Law relief, and the number of their dependants?

I am afraid I have not this information. I have no reason to believe that there are many of such cases.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he is aware that an ex-service man named G. Tilsley, late 12th South Staffordshire Regiment, the tenant of a small holding of 21½ acres at Black Hough Farm, Haughton, Staffordshire, who was demobilised from the Army during the progress of the War by the Board of Agriculture to cultivate his holding and whose small holding was until recently the property of the Commissioners of Queen Anne's Bounty, has received notice to quit from a recent purchaser of the holding, who is not an ex-service man, by 25th March, 1921; whether, if this eviction is allowed to proceed, the Board of Agriculture will find Mr. Tilsley an alternative small holding; and whether in the new Agricultural Bill eviction can be stayed till Michaelmas, 1920, and what compensation is payable to Mr. Tilsley?

I have no information regarding this case, but so far as I am able to judge the notice to quit will not be affected by the passing of the Agriculture Bill. The tenant appears to be entitled to compensation under the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1908–14, and if the Bill becomes law before the determination of the tenancy, Mr. Tilsley may become entitled to further compensation. As regards an alternative holding, I would suggest that Mr. Tilsley should apply at once to the Staffordshire County Council for a small holding under the Government Land Settlement scheme, when I feel sure that his application will receive careful consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether Regular soldiers serving at the outbreak of the War are excluded from the benefits of the civil liabilities re-settlement scheme?

I have been asked to reply. Regular soldiers serving at the outbreak of the War are not included in the benefits of the civil liabilities resettlement scheme. This scheme, as its name suggests, was designed to deal with the hardships inflicted on civilians whose careers were seriously affected by military service. The reason which led the Government to distinguish between ex-Regulars and the men who interrupted their civilian occupations to join the Colours was, broadly, that in the case of the first class of men the War did not affect or break into their normal career.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the National Council of the Pottery Industry, Stoke-on-Trent, urgently requesting that, in view of the general increase in the cost of living, the scale of allowances to trainees be proportionately increased both by employers and the State, and urging him to give the matter early and favourable consideration, and that the scale of allowances shall from time to time be reviewed in connection with the index of average increases in the cost of living as compiled by the Ministry of Labour; and whether he can give an assurance that the matter will be dealt with on the lines suggested at an early date?

The resolution to which my hon. Friend refers has been brought to my notice. My hon. Friend will be aware that the present scale of training allowances is based on the maximum disability pension, and it is not possible to increase the former with-out making a corresponding alteration in the latter. This question was very fully dealt with by the Leader of the House in his reply to the hon. Member for West Derbyshire on 16th June, and the decision then announced that no alteration in the scale of pensions could be made still stands. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply referred to.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether members of interviewing boards and interviewing officers in connection with the training-grant scheme for ex-officers were instructed to advise all applicants to refrain in every possible way from consuming their gratuities, and should apply for immediate appointments, temporary or otherwise, in Government offices during the period of waiting for training;(2) whether, in consequence of ex-officers taking up temporary salaried appointments in Government offices during the period of waiting for instructions to start training, the interviewing boards were forbidden to touch their cases or to advise the men to give up their appointments in order to qualify for training;(3) whether his attention has been called to the great hardship experienced by ex-officers who, not understanding the meaning of the training grant scheme, accepted appointments in Government Departments and now, owing to the closing down of such Departments, find themselves out of date for training in any profession or other career; and whether consideration can be given to such cases for special treatment?

No such instructions as my hon. and gallant Friend describes were issued to members of interviewing Boards or to interviewing officers. I have not had any reason to think that hardship has been caused to ex-officers owing to any misunderstanding of the Maintenance and Training Grant Scheme. This scheme has been widely advertised in the Press, and by means of Army circulars to all units at home and abroad, and I am satisfied that all possible steps have been taken to make known its existence and scope to all ex-service men. Provided that an applicant lodged a formal application for that training under the Training Grants Scheme within the time limit following his demobilisation, no delay in starting training, due to inability to secure a suitable training vacancy, has prejudiced his case. Whenever, owing to his inability to secure such vacancy, an applicant has taken up temporary employment with the knowledge of his local directorate, his prospects of securing a training grant, when such vacancy is found, are not affected. From the moment when the applicant has lodged his formal application for training, his local directorate would be engaged in assisting him in every way to find a suitable training vacancy, and, when found, the case is brought without delay before the appropriate interviewing board. I may add, moreover, that the Regulation of the scheme provide that where ignorance of the existence of the scheme can be proved, the time limit rule may be waived. The Grants Committee have in numerous cases accepted the plea of ignorance and waived the rule in question.

asked the Minister of Health what steps have been made by the Government, if any, to provide for the maintenance of fatherless children by the introduction of a scheme for widows' pensions?

As I have pointed out in reply to previous questions, the cost of such a scheme makes it impracticable at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed to proceed with the Milk and Dairies Bill?

I am not yet in a position to say when the Second Reading of the Milk and Dairies Bill will be taken.

asked the Minister of Health whether the King's Lynn Board of Guardians have refused to pay their servants in accordance with the terms of Bonus Award No. 102, and have also refused to receive a deputation on the subject; whether he will use his influence with the Board on this matter; and whether, in order to deal effectively with such cases, he will consider the advisability of making the awards compulsory?

I addressed last week a letter to the Guardians, again pressing them to refer this question to arbitration. I do not think the course suggested in the last part of the question desirable.

asked the Minister of Health what is the aggregate of the different Government grants to local authorities and the cost of the Government Departments set up to administer them?

Exact figures for the total Government grants to local authorities, including receipts from local taxation licence duties, are not available for a later year than 1916–17 for which particulars are given in Part I of the Ministry of Health Report for 1919–20, but on the basis of the Civil Service Estimates for the current financial year, it is estimated that, including grants from the Local Taxation Account and the Road Improvement Fund and the proceeds of Local Licence Duties, the total for the year for England and Wales will be about £70,000,000. My hon. Friend may care also to refer to the Return of the Total Expenditure under certain Acts of Parliament recently presented (House of Commons Paper 160). The Civil Service Estimates give figures of the cost of the various Government Departments concerned in the administration of grants, but in most cases such administration is only a part, sometimes an insignificant part, of the functions of the Department. An allocation of expenditure between the administration of grants and other activities is not possible.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the advisability of recommending an amendment of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, with the view to requiring owners of house property to reduce their demands upon tenants to a precisely similar amount in the event, whether contingent or remote, of local authorities finding themselves in the position to reduce the rates in their localities?

No amendment of the Act appears to be necessary. The amount by which rent may be increased on account of an increase in the rates payable by the landlord is not to exceed the increase in the sum for the time being payable by the landlord in respect of rates as compared with 1914. Hence, if the rent is increased on account of an increase of rates and the rates are reduced in a subsequent rating period the rent must be correspondingly reduced.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the representations which he has received from the Rural District Councils' Association, and the resoluton which was passed at the last annual conference of rural district councils of England and Wales as to the inadequacy of the extra remuneration authorised by the General Housing Memorandum, No 17, to be paid by rural district councils to their clerical staff for services in connection with housing schemes, and the unsatisfactory nature of the provisions of that Memorandum, he will at once take into consideration the desirability of substantially increasing the sum of £100 per annum authorised by that Memorandum and of extending the period of one year from the date of the inception of a housing scheme during which such extra remuneration is payable?

I am not of opinion that the maximum of £100 allowed by the Memorandum in question is in any way inadequate in normal cases, but I am willing to consider the question of increasing this sum in exceptional circumstances. I am also prepared to entertain applications for a continuance of allowances for a further period beyond the first year in cases where the additional work justifies such an application.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to a resolution from the County-Borough Council, Stoke-on-Trent, expressing alarm at the increasing hardships that obtain in the borough owing to the shortage of houses, which is very largely due to the increase in the cost of building materials and the shortage of skilled labour, and calling upon the Government to release the large stocks of timber and other building materials now being held up, and to control the price thereof, and also to release from the Army all skilled labour of every trade in connection with house-building; and whether he will give the same favourable consideration and effect?

I have received representations from local authorities with regard to the high cost of building and the shortage of skilled labour. The cost of materials has been under investigation by a Committee appointed under the Profiteering Act, and reports on timber and bricks have now been issued. Reports on cement and mortar are expected at any early date. With regard to the shortage of skilled labour, I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the Prime Minister's statement last Tuesday. I do not think that any question now arises of the release of skilled men from the Army, inasmuch as the Army is now composed entirely of voluntarily enlisted men.

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been, and is being, made in Liverpool in connection with housing?

The Corporation of Liverpool have scheduled 1,220 acres of land for housing schemes. Contracts have been let for 6,160 houses. 160 houses have been completed and occupied, and operations have been commenced on another 1,430 houses. About 3,000 men are engaged on this work; there is sufficient land and materials available to employ double this number of men, but at the moment the Corporation are held back by shortage of bricklayers and plasterers. The Corporation have also converted 380 military huts at Knotty Ash Camp into temporary dwelling houses, all of which are tenanted. An additional 100 huts will be completed in a month's time

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that the proprietors of houses erected after April, 1919, and whose rents are fixed at a high rate owing to the increased cost of building, are asking the tenants to pay the increase of rent allowed under The Rent Restriction Act, 1920, and to sign an agreement to come voluntarily under that Act, or leave their house at Whitsuntide; and will he take steps to protect the tenants against the proprietors' demand?

I am not aware of any cases of the kind mentioned by my hon. Friend. The Increase of Rent, etc. Act, 1920, does not apply to houses erected after, or in course of erection on, the 2nd April, 1919. Proprietors of such houses—subject to the conditions of let in each case—are not debarred from demanding an increased rent, even although the rent they have already secured is fair or economic. I have no power to take action in such cases as suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture (1) whether any arrangement exists between his Ministry and the Disposal Board whereby Army huts may be obtained at special rates for the use of small-holders settled under the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act in remote districts or districts where housing accommodation is insufficient:(2) whether county councils who apply to his Ministry with a view to the purchase of Army huts suitable for conversion into dwelling-houses can be supplied with them; and, if not, to whom application should be made?

No such arrangement as that suggested by the hon. and gallant Member exists. In view of the fact that the whole of any losses incurred on land settlement schemes falls to be met from public funds, there would not appear to be any object in allowing county councils to acquire huts for this purpose at a reduced price. An informal arrangement exists between the Ministry and the Disposal Board whereby the Board will reserve from sale any Army huts specifically required by a county council for land settlement schemes, but in these cases the average market price is payable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of cases in which punishment by imprisonment has been imposed upon profiteering offenders in all the scheduled trades since the original Profiteering Act, and its subsequent amendments have been in force up to the 30th September, 1920?

I have been asked to reply. In no case has a sentence to imprisonment been imposed on conviction for an offence against the Profiteering Acts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present position with regard to the Subcommittee appointed to investigate the costs of wool tops?

The meetings of this Subcommittee have been suspended pending a subsidiary investigation by the Costings Advisory Subcommittee and Chief Accountant of the Central Committee into the balance sheets, trading and profit and loss accounts of certain representative firms. It is hoped that the Sub-committee will be in a position to resume its investigations at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average weekly wages paid prior to the strike to men, women, and boys engaged in the coal-mining industry on the basis of a five-day week and a seven-hour day and taking into account, as far as possible, the value of coal supplied free or below market value?

The average weekly wage paid prior to the strike to men, women, and boys engaged in the coalmining industry on the basis of a five-day week and a seven-hour day was 82s. 7d. In the absence of information as to the market value of coal of the kind supplied to miners, an exact allowance for miners' coal cannot be made, but it may be estimated to amount to about 2s. 6d. per week per person.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the certain forms of glass manufacturing which the Government has recognised as a key industry; what are the measures which it is taking to protect the growth of this industry in Great Britain; and whether he will explain the need for such protection, in view of the shortage and demand for all kinds of glass?

I hope to introduce, in the course of the present Session, legislation to give effect to the policy of His Majesty's Government in respect of key industries, and I am sure the hon. Member will appreciate that it is impracticable to discuss the details of that measure in advance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the very serious condition that has been brought about in the fabric glove industry by the unrestricted importation into this country of fabric gloves manufactured in Germany and sold at prices which puts the English-made article entirely out of the market; and will he take steps to remedy this evil?

I am aware that the position of the fabric glove industry in this country is not satisfactory but I hardly think this can be due, as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests, to unrestricted importation, as the total recorded imports of these gloves have only amounted to 259,000 dozen pairs during the first nine months of this year, as against 888,000 dozen pairs in the corresponding period of last year, and over 2,000,000 dozen pairs in the first nine months of 1913.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the factors in the hosiery trade in Leicester have during the last few months given few orders to the manufacturers, anticipating a fall in prices, with the result that many factories are only employing their factory hands three days in the week; is he aware that German hosieries are sold in this country without being marked made in Germany; and, as this is conducive to more unemployment in the hosiery trade, will be take steps to remedy it?

I regret that the position is substantially as stated by my hon. and gallant Friend. There is no power to require that all imported hosiery should bear an indication of the country of origin. The question of amending the existing law has, however, been considered and reported upon by the Merchandise Marks Committee, and a Bill is being drafted to give effect to the Committee's recommendations.

asked (1) the President of the Board of Trade what action, if any, has been taken with reference to the joint deputation of employés and employers that waited upon him before the Recess regarding the dumping of American motor tyres into this country; if he is aware that, despite the present position of the exchange, the importation of these American motor tyres is still going on; that, as a consequence, thousands of additional rubber workers have been discharged by the principal tyre manufacturers of this country, and that these discharged workers are now swelling the ranks of the unemployed; if he is aware that last month alone 90,000 motor tyres were imported into this country, chiefly from the United States of America, where this trade is temporarily stagnant, and that, allowing 210,000 vehicles for the consumption of these tyres and a life of 5,000 miles for each tyre, this importation, if maintained, would totally destroy the British tyre industry owing to the country not being able to absorb these importations alone; whether he proposes to take any further action in this matter; and, if so, what;(2) the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the unemployment that is being caused by the dumping of motor tyres, chemical ware and other goods into this country, chiefly from America and Germany; and whether, having regard to the fact that unemployment pay is now a charge upon the State, the employés and the employers, it is proposed to take any steps to prevent the workers employed in these and other industries being thrown out of employment owing to this unnecessary unfair foreign competition?

The position of the industries to which my hon. Friend refers is receiving the constant attention of His Majesty's Government as regards both foreign competition and the extent of unemployment, and, as the House has already been informed, it is hoped to introduce in the present Session legislation dealing with key industries and the prevention of dumping.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury have declined to sanction the continuance of the daily steamer service between Stornoway and the mainland beyond the 31st October; whether he is aware that there has been a daily service on this route for about 40 years and that the business and trade of the community have increased enormously during that period; that the principal herring fishing season takes place during the winter and that the reduction of the postal and passenger services will be a serious handicap to that industry; and whether, with a view to averting a serious blow to the economic life of the town and island, he will take steps to ensure that the daily service be continued all the year round as in previous years?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The answer to the first part is in the affirmative. After full consideration of all the circumstances, I did not feel justified in authorising an addition of some £7,000 per annum to the present large subsidy for the Hebridean mail services in order to provide a six-days-a-week instead of a three-days service to Stornoway during the winter months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the estimate of the yield of the Excess Profits Duty for the year 1920–21 at £220,000,000, given by him on the 7th June, 1920, still holds good; and, if not, what is now the estimated yield for that year?

The original estimate of £220,000,000 must be reduced to £215,000,000 in consequence of concessions which were proposed after the introduction of the Budget and embodied in the Finance Act. Until the outbreak of the coal strike, I saw no reason to revise this figure. What the effect of the coal strike may be upon Budget estimates, both of revenue and expenditure, cannot yet be stated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the approximate estimates of the aggregate net excess profits which have been, or will be, assessed on business liable to Excess Profits Duty, given by him on the 15th July, 1920, still hold good; if not, what corrections are required in them; and whether he can now give a similar estimate for the financial year ending 31st March, 1920?.

The estimates given on the 15th July last relating to accounting periods ended not later than the 31st March, 1920, still hold good. As regards accounting periods ending in the current financial year (to which I presume the last part of the question relates) the figure of £300,000,000 which appeared in my Budget estimate as the anticipated yield of the Excess Profits Duty levied at 60 per cent. for a full year assumed (upon the basis of such data as were then available) that the amount of excess profits yielding duty in such a year might be estimated as in the neighbourhood of £500,000,000. I cannot now say whether this estimate will be realised.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping what is the present position of the national shipbuilding yards and have they been transferred wholly to private enterprise; if not, what work is now being done by the Government; and what is the number of men employed and the weekly wage bill?

The present position of the national shipyards is that the yards and houses at Chepstow, together with a portion of the houses at Beachley have been sold. In addition the greater portion of the surplus plant and machinery, including the platers shed at Beachley, have been sold, and the Portbury shipyard has been completely handed over to the Disposals Board. None of the yards are now being operated as shipbuilding yards by the Government. The expenditure which is still being borne by the Government relates to the completion of the housing scheme; the Chepstow water work scheme; the operation of the Beachley power house in accordance with the terms of the contract for the sale of the Chepstow yards; the sale of surplus stores and other unsold properties; and the re-instatement of the Portishoad Dock in accordance with the terms under which this property was taken over by the Government. There are at present about 460 men employed at all the yards, including 117 on clearing the housing sites, and 191 on the disposal and clearance of surplus stores both at Beachley and Chepstow, and the weekly wage bill is about £2,250. It is expected that the major portion of this expenditure will cease at the close of the current year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that Arthur W. Paxton, a driller employed in His Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth, and sent to work temporarily on board His Majesty's Ship "Royal Oak," at Rosyth, was on the 18th March, 1919, injured by being struck in the left eye by a piece of a rivet, whereby the sight was permanently affected; that he was paid in respect of such injury a sum of £7 13s. 7d., such amount being calculated under the injuries in war compensation scheme from the 18th March, 1919, to 29th April, 1919, at the rate of £1 5s. per week, instead of which Paxton should have been placed on the hurt list under the provisions of the scheme of compensation (No. 133) in case of injury to workmen in Government establishments, and under such scheme received hurt pay at the rate of half his average weekly earnings during the 12 months preceding the date of the injury; that application was made on the 3rd June last to the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty for payment of hurt pay under the Government scheme of compensation (No. 133), and that up to the present no definite reply to that request has been received notwithstanding numerous further requests that the matter shall be dealt with; that the extraordinary delay in dealing with this and other similar claims in His Majesty's dockyards is causing great dissatisfaction amongst the men employed in these establishments; and if he will give immediate instructions that this and other claims which are pending shall be dealt with without further delay?

As stated by the hon. Member, Arthur W. Paxton was injured while employed on board H.M.S. "Royal Oak," and compensation has already been paid under the Injuries in War (Compensation) Scheme, which is applicable to civilians employed afloat by the Admiralty in connection with warlike operations. There was no undue delay in settling the case on this basis, and the position was fully explained to the man. The application for payment of hurt pay under the Scheme of Compensation No. 133, raises a legal question which is at present under the consideration of the legal advisors of the Crown, and it is hoped that it will be possible to arrive at a decision on the point at issue at an early date. As regards the last part of the question, steps have recently been taken which, it is hoped, will obviate any undue delay in future in settling ordinary claims to compensation for injury.

asked the Minister of Food whether James Corbett, of 77, Waverley Road, Redland, Bristol, is, or was, in the employ of the Ministry, and in what capacity, and for how long; what salary he received and if his engagement is terminated; when this was and for what reason; and what duties he had to perform which brought him into contact with Mr. Upton, the secretary of the Bristol Food Committee?

Mr. James Corbett was appointed as an Enforcement Officer in the South Western Division on 6th January last at a salary of £250 per annum. His appointment has not been terminated, but in view of the reduction of local organisation which is being effected, he has been informed that his services may shortly be terminated. Mr. Corbett has recently been engaged in inspection work at Bristol, where Mr. Upton is District Food Officer.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the difficulty of householders in certain parts of North London in getting bread on 16th October last; if there is any ground for suspecting that bakers were holding up supplies until higher prices were in operation; and, if so, why no steps were taken by the Government to prevent this annoyance and hardship to the public?

Owing to the fact that the price of bread was to be raised on Monday, 18th October, there was early on the preceding Saturday an abnormal demand for bread which resulted in individual cases of shortage by the evening. There is no ground for believing that bakers were holding up supplies until higher prices were in operation, as all flour purchased by them from 19th September onwards was charged at the higher wholesale price and they were entitled to claim compensation only on flour actually disposed of by them, either as flour or bread, on or before 16th October. The third part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Food the price paid to the British farmer for wheat; and what is the price paid for imported wheat of a comparable quality at a British port, including cost, freight, and insurance?

The Gazette price for home-grown wheat for the week ended 16th October, was 90s. 8d. per quarter of 480 lbs. The quotation on 23rd October for United States spot wheat shipment from the Gulf, was 226 cents per bushel. At the present rates of freight and insurance this wheat, which is of smaller moisture content than the home crop, could be landed in the United Kingdom at a total cost of 89s. 1d. per quarter of 480 lbs., if exchanges were normal. The loss on the adverse rate of exchange at the present time raises the landed price to 119s. 6d. per quarter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he has received a petition from the parish council of Haughton, Staffordshire, passed unanimously by all the members of the council and signed by practically every voter in the parish, asking for orders to enclose Allimore Green and Dale Common in that parish in view of existing nuisances thereon and of the present waste character of the land which is agriculturally valuable; whether he is aware of the strong local feeling that these plots of land should be brought under proper cultivation or rendered available for objects of public utility, such as a village recreation ground; and whether he will grant an Order under the Act of 1876 in accordance with the wishes of the parish?

Yes, Sir. A petition from the parish council in question has been received. It was not, however, clear that the application was a valid one for the purposes of the Commons Act, 1876, and the Council were accordingly instructed as to the form in which such application should be made and as to what information was necessary. When a fresh application is received it shall be carefully considered, but the Ministry will require to be satisfied that the enclosure is in the general interests of the neighbourhood, and that those interests would not be equally well served by keeping the Commons open under Regulation. In any case, an Order under the Commons Act, 1876, is subject to confirmation by Parliament.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the new scheme of pay and bonus dating from 1st March last for the Irish Prison Service has yet been applied; if the scheme is to be put into operation at the State asylum at Dundrum, County Dublin, without further delay; and whether in many Irish prisons the staffs are kept on duty on three Sundays out of four as compared with two in four in other prison services?

The new scheme of payment has not yet been applied in detail pending the settlement of certain points relative to the assimilation of the Irish to the English services. In the meantime substantial advances have been made on account both to the prisons staff and the staff of the Dundrum Asylum. In regard to the concluding portion of the question, the staffs are normally on duty two Sundays out of four. At times of pressure Sunday duty is required more frequently, but in that event a day off in lieu is allowed during the week.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the strength of the various police forces now operating in Ireland; and what is the monthly rate of expenditure, including the supplies of hand grenades, incendiary bombs, and other appliances for the destruction of lives and property?

The present total strength of the various police forces now operating in Ireland is 12,967, made up as follows:—

Royal Irish Constabulary, Regular Force	11,056
Royal Irish Constabulary, Auxiliary Division	770
Dublin Metropolitan Police	1,141

It is not in the public interest to give supplies of hand grenades and other munitions. There are no incendiary bombs issued. All the munitions of the police and soldiers in Ireland are for the suppression of outrage and the protection of the lives and properties of persons not in arms against the Government.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what progress has been made in the settlement of smallholders on lands in North and South Uist, other than on those farms which have been raided?

Since the 1st April, 1912, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland have constituted 81 new holdings and 35 enlargements of existing holdings in North and South Uist on farms other than those which have been raided.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether all the money allocated for small holdings under the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act has been expended; if so, whether any money has been borrowed on the properties purchased; and, if no money has been borrowed, whether he will consider the advisability of mortgaging the properties already purchased so as to increase the resources available for land settlement in Scotland?

All the money allocated for land settlement purposes has not been expended, but it is practically all earmarked. The purchased properties under the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act, 1919, were acquired with moneys borrowed from the Public Works Loan Commissioners in terms of Section 26 of the Act, and no mortgageable interest remains at the disposal of the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that officers of British cavalry regiments stationed in India are compelled by regulations to buy chargers necessary for military purposes only and pay for their keep; and whether he is aware that this is a very serious expense to put on cavalry officers, and why the system of hire of chargers now in force in the United Kingdom is not in force in India?

A recommendation on the matter has been made by the Army in India Committee, and is now under consideration by the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for India in how many cases indemnities have been imposed on towns or villages concerned in the Punjab disturbances last year, the amount of such indemnity in each case, and the manner in which such indemnity has been levied?

Indemnities were imposed in 12 or 14 cases. The principal amounts were imposed as follows:—Amritsar city, Rs.19 lakhs; Gujranwala town, Rs. 2½ lakhs; Kasur town, Rs.1¼ lakhs; Wazirabad, Rs.66,000; Sheikhpura sub-division, Rs. 27,000; the remainder, Rs.3,000 and under. In the case of Amritsar, special measures are being taken to effect recovery through advances to the municipality by the Local Government. In the other eases recovery is being made under section 15A of the Police Act.

asked the Secretary of State for India the total amount of compensation awarded by the Government to the Europeans wounded and the relatives of the Europeans killed during the Amritsar disturbances in April, 1919, and the highest and lowest amounts awarded in each case; and the total amount of the grants made to the sufferers and the relatives of the killed during the shooting on the crowd at the Jallianwala Bagh on 13th April, 1919, and the highest and lowest amounts awarded in each case?

The information has been telegraphed for, and I will inform the hon. Member when it is received.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the appointment of Sir Rajagopala Chari as president of the Madras Legislative Council is being criticised very strongly on the ground that he has no Parliamentary experience; and whether, in the interest of the smooth working of the reforms, he can select some appointee with the desired qualification?

I have received a telegram from a non-Brahman conference in India criticising this appointment (of which I have had no official intimation) on the ground stated. With reference to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 6 of the Joint Select Committee's Second Report on the draft rules.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Government purchase of the properties of the Direct United States Cable Company is designed to remove the barrier of high rates which now obstruct newspaper and family communications with Canada and other Dominions; and what other steps are being taken in conjunction with Dominion Governments to secure cheaper and quicker telegraphic and mail services?

The Direct United States Cable has been acquired by the Government for the purpose of duplicating the Imperial cable between this country and Canada and accelerating the service. With costs at their present level, I doubt if any early reduction of rates by this route will be practicable, but I may point out that it is the only route by which "deferred" telegrams can be sent to Canada and the West Indies at rates not exceeding half the charge for ordinary telegrams. Telegrams at deferred rates can also be forwarded for Australasia. Overseas mail services are gradually improving as ships become available, but there is no prospect of an immediate return to pre-War speeds or costs.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an envelope addressed to John G. Bellas, 60, Howden Road, North Shields, which was posted by the Independent Labour Party Information Committee on 14th October, 1920, was delivered to the addressee with its contents missing and the Post Office stamp, "Prohibited enclosure," on the, back of the envelope: which of the enclosures in the envelope, namely, the "Weekly Notes for Speakers," regularly issued by the Independent Labour Party Information Committee, or the four leaflets on peace with Russia, issued by the National Council of Action, were prohibited; on whose authority such matter is prohibited; what is the size and cost of the staff engaged in searching the mails for prohibited enclosures; and whether the instructions given to such censors and the list of prohibited enclosures will be laid upon the Table?

I shall be obliged if the hon. Member will let me see the envelope in question. In its absence all that I can tell him is that such an impression as he describes indicates that the enclosure in question is something not allowed to be sent at the rate at which the envelope is prepaid.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in certain cases of Metropolitan police becoming entitled to the long service and good conduct increase of pay, their records of attendance at police courts are inquired into, and that instances have occurred in which men have been informed that, in the event of their non-attendance at police courts from time to time, this long service increase will be unfavourably reported upon; whether this procedure has the endorsement of the Home Secretary; and, if not, whether he will take such steps as will prevent its recurrence?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police that the records of a police officer's attendance at court are not taken into account in deciding whether he should be granted an additional increment of pay for long service and efficiency, and that he would be strongly opposed to any such test. He asks me to obtain from the hon. Member particulars of the cases to which he refers.

asked the Home Secretary whether the committee that was appointed to inquire into the question of women and young persons working two shifts has completed its deliberations; and, if so, when will the Report be circulated?

The Committee have not yet presented their Report, but I understand that they hope to be able to do so in the course of the next fortnight.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the conditions prevailing in certain tea shops in the City, where the girl assistants are paid a total wage of about 12s. 6d. per week; and, if so, why these tea shops are allowed to keep open?

I have been asked to reply. The attention of this Department has been called to the alleged low wages prevailing in certain branches of the catering trade, and investigations are proceeding at present with a view to setting up a Trade Board or Boards for this trade with as little delay as possible. As my hon. Friend is aware, the Trade Board or Boards when established will have the duty of fixing minimum rates of wages for workers in tea shops and other catering establishments.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will name an early date when the Music Hall rooms at Shrewsbury will be vacated by the Army Pay Department; is he aware that the need of this building is much felt in the town, as it contains the only large room suitable for concerts and other meetings on a large scale and that other accommodation for the few clerks now employed there could easily be found elsewhere?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The possibility of releasing the Music Hall at Shrewsbury is already receiving attention. I am informed there is no alternative accommodation in the town; and a proposal to erect huts for the purpose is at present being considered.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what arrangements have been made in connection with the unveiling of the Cenotaph; and whether arrangements have been made for as many relatives and ex-service men as may wish to do so to pass the Cenotaph as soon as possible after the ceremony has taken place?

I would refer the Noble and gallant Viscount to the statement by Lord Curzon, which appears in the Press to-day, regarding the programme proposed by the Cabinet Committee appointed to deal with the unveiling of the Cenotaph. Arrangements will be made for as many as possible to pass the Cenotaph immediately after the ceremony.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that the British Museum is still closed to the public on Sundays, although the Tate Gallery and the National Gallery have long since been re-opened; and whether he will inform the House of the reasons for the delay in re-opening the British Museum to the public on Sundays, and state when it will be re-opened?

It was the intention of His Majesty's Government that the British Museum as well as the galleries mentioned in my hon. Friend's question should be opened to the public on Sundays as soon as practicable. In the ease of the British Museum certain difficulties have been encountered in making satisfactory arrangements for policing the collections on Sundays. These, however, have now been overcome and arrangements are being made by which the British Museum will be open to the public on Sundays early in next month.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that many teachers between 55 and 65 years of age who are serving in the elementary schools under the Northamptonshire County Council are not yet receiving their maximum salaries; whether the amount of a teacher's pension is calculated upon his average salary for the five years previous to retirement; if so, whether he is aware that it is impossible under present conditions for some of these veterans to attain to their maximum pensions; whether he considers this to be one of the teachers' grievances which are adversely affecting recruiting for the teaching profession; and whether be will consider the advisability of revising the existing regulations in order to grant teachers their maximum pensions upon optional retirement at 60 years of age or upon compulsory retirement at 65?

I understand that there are in Northamptonshire a number of teachers between the ages of 55 and 65 who are not yet in receipt of the maximum of the provisional minimum scale recommended by Lord Burnham's Committee. The hon. Member will be aware that the process of bringing teachers to their correct position on that scale was to be spread over a period of years. The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the affirmative, but legislation would be required to give effect to the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the statements made by the Bishop of Zanzibar and other responsible British subjects connected with East Africa with reference to the evils of the system of forced labour in Kenya Colony; and what steps the Government propose to take to remedy the unsatisfactory state of affairs?

My hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that there is no question of compulsory labour except to the extent that natives not otherwise employed may be called upon to work for the Government or for the benefit of the Reserve to which they belong. The general policy as regards native labour in Kenya Colony is set forth in Cmd. 873, to which I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend. It was only adopted after the most careful consideration, and I am not prepared to accept the description of that policy as given in the Bishop of Zanzibar's pamphlet as in any sense a correct description of the situation. I can, however, assure my hon. and gallant Friend that any definite representations as to abuses or evil effects actually resulting which may be made by the Bishop of Zanzibar or others will be immediately investigated and the necessary measures taken to prevent their recurrence.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that persons who live some distance from an Employment Exchange have difficulty in ascertaining their rights or liabilties in connection with the regulations as to unemployment insurance which come into I force on the 8th November next, owing to the fact that many post offices are only supplied with a single copy of the explanatory leaflets; and if he will take steps to provide every post office with a sufficient number of copies of these explanatory leaflets to enable them to be issued to applicants who desire to study them more carefully than can be done on the premises of a post office?

I have been in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General on this point. Arrangements are being made for supplies of explanatory leaflets to be available at sub-post offices in rural centres which are distant from any local office of the Ministry of Labour.