asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on what authority the police in Listowel, Co. Kerry, have ordered all shopkeepers in that town to withdraw or delete all signboards containing names in the Irish language?

It is not the case that the police in Listowel have ordered all shopkeepers to withdraw or delete all signboards containing names in the Irish language, but where owners of licensed premises, have their names in Irish characters only over their premises, they have been ordered to affix their names in English in compliance with Section 25 of the Excise Licenses Act, 1825, and Section 11 of the Licensing Act, 1872. I may add that repeated efforts have been made in Listowel by persons styling themselves the Irish Republican police to compel shopkeepers to put up their names in Irish, that some who refused to do so had their signboards tarred, and that local painters were prevented from removing the tar stains.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will have laid upon the Table of the House a copy of each of the Weekly Summaries, issued from the police headquarters to barracks in Ireland, from the 13th August to date?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the provision already made in the Estimate for the Royal Irish Constabulary will be sufficient to cover the men employed?

It is more than probable that it will be necessary to seek a further Supplementary Vote to cover Royal Irish Constabulary expenditure in the current financial year.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the number of pensioners in the Royal Irish Constabulary who had to retire through ill-health after a service of 15 to 25 years previous to 1st April, 1919, and the average rate of pension in such cases?

The figures for which my hon. and learned Friend asks cannot be supplied without an exhaustive examination of the pension books of the Royal Irish Constabulary. I am not prepared under present conditions to ask the staff of the Royal Irish Constabulary Office to undertake this task.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Treasury has yet decided on the revised pension scale for these disability pensioners; and is he aware that their present pensions are entirely inadequate to supply the means of living?

The pensions to which my hon. and learned Friend referred in the question just answered are being revised in accordance with the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act recently passed. That Act prescribes the conditions under which increased pensions may be granted and the extent of the increase. In regard to the latter part of the question, which raises a point that was fully considered before the recent Bill became law, it must be borne in mind that the vast majority of the pensioners who retire from the Royal Irish Contabu-larly through ill-health are not incapacitated for ordinary life. Special pensions are of course provided for persons disabled by injury received in the execution of their duty.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a young man named Francis Armstrong, of Tullycullion, Dungannon, was tried recently by court-martial in Belfast on the charge of having a revolver in his possession and also a bullet; whether he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour; whether it is a fact that the revolver which he had was of no use and the bullet would not fit it: whether men from Belfast who were charged with being in possession of automatic revolvers, and who openly declared they would use them, were fined only £1; and why there is such discrimination in these sentences?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, the revolver which was found on the accused was of an old pattern, but it was not useless, and the cartridge, which, as stated, did not fit the revolver, contained an expanding bullet. With regard to the last part of the question, the sentences imposed by Courts must obviously vary according to the circumstances, and I cannot admit that there has been any improper discrimination.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether a deputation from British universities which waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer and himself towards the end of last Session were informed by the spokesman of the Government that universities throughout the country were expanding beyond their means, and that they had been more anxious to extend their buildings than to pay adequately their existing staffs whose salaries were much too low; and whether, under these circumstances, he will refrain from exerting further pressure on behalf of the Government on the University of London to issue an appeal for funds for the erection of new university buildings until such time as provision has been made for the payment of adequate salaries to its teachers?

The deputation was warned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer against the danger of attempting extensions into new fields of work unwarranted by their financial position. The question of new buildings for the University of London is, however, one of providing adequate accommodation for the existing activities of the university, and the Government do not consider that delay in a matter so seriously affecting the efficient organisation of its work would be in the best interests of the university. I have no evidence that the university is neglecting the important question of the adequate remuneration of the teachers in its employment.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of local education authorities which have fixed an appointed day in their areas for the establishment and maintenance of continuation classes under Section 3 (1) of the Education Act, 1918?

Under Section 52 (3) of the Education Act, 1918, it is for the Board of Education, not the local education authority, to fix appointed days. The appointed day for Section 3 (1) of the Act is the 1st August, 1919, and this applies to all areas in England and Wales. The Section which makes provision for obligatory attendance at continuation schools is, however, Section 10, and the Board have fixed appointed days for the purposes of that Section for London, Birmingham, West Ham, and Southend-on-Sea County Boroughs, for the Borough of Stratford-on-Avon, and the Urban District of Rugby in Warwickshire, for the Borough of Swindon in Wiltshire, and, finally, for young persons resident in Kent but employed in London, who will attend London Schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of local education authorities, county and urban, who have submitted to the Board of Education schemes under Sections 1–4 of the Education Act, 1918, in accordance with Circulars 1096 and 1119 of the Board?

Schemes or instalments of schemes have been submitted by 11 county, 11 county borough, and 20 non-county borough and urban district local education authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any steps have now been taken to increase the scale of pay to supplementary teachers; and, if so, at what date will it take effect?

The remuneration of supplementary teachers was not dealt with by the Burnham Committee. The Board have no statistics of the salaries now paid to this class of teacher, but they have reason to believe that their remuneration has been considerably improved, at any rate in many areas.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Government contemplate the appointment of a Commission on the lines of the recent Burnham Commission to ascertain what salaries university teachers ought to receive under present circumstances?

The answer is in the negative. The Committees over which Lord Burnham presides are not Commissions appointed by the Government, but are Joint Committees established by agreement between associations of local education authorities on the one side and associations of teachers on the other.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether H.M.S. "Vindictive" has been offered to the Belgian Government; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of offering in her place, as a tribute to the Belgian people, some object other than one which is of little interest or value to any nation other than ours?

The "Vindictive" was offered to and accepted by the Belgian Government, and was formally handed over on the 11th November.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is proposed that the naval prize money shall be paid out?

It is anticipated that the present issue of prize money will be practically completed early in 1921.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether further consideration has been given to the question of charging officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines the service rate of Income Tax only, or, alternatively, increasing the rates of pay so as to meet the burden of the full rate of Income Tax as recommended in the Jerram and Halsey Committee's Reports?

The Admiralty decision that civil rates of Income Tax should be applicable to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines remains in force. The pay of officers and men continues to receive the close attention of the Board.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that recently a list was published of persons who were held by the Treasury Warrant to attest for life certificates; that pensioners are often put to inconvenience owing to the fact that they are often unable to get their life certificates signed by the class of person mentioned on the list; that in a number of cases the members of the borough council and the war pensions committee are more accessible to the family circumstances of the pensioners than those persons shown on the list; that a number of local war pensions committees have passed resolutions in favour of including in the lists aldermen, councillors, and members of the war pensions committee; and if he will take action in the matter?

The list of persons authorised to attest life certificates recently published by my Department comprises some twenty different classes, including officials of local committees, head teachers of schools, clergymen, doctors, employers, postmasters, and certain police officers. My right hon. Friend does not consider that any real inconvenience can arise when such a wide selection is available, and ho is not prepared to recommend any extension of the existing Treasury Warrant.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that no alterations have been made in the fees payable to full-time clerks to the local old age pensions committees since the commencement of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908; and if he can see his way to make a strong representation to the Treasury for an increase of the fees payable to such officers in view of the high cost of living?

After very careful consideration of this matter, I have reached the conclusion that there is no justification for an increase of the fees in question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture what is the total number to date of ex-service men who have applied to the Ministry and to the county councils for small holdings; what is the number approved; what is the area actually acquired; what additional area is under consideration; and what is the number of ex-service men actually in occupation of their holdings?

The total number of ex-service men who have applied to the Ministry and to county councils and councils of county boroughs is 44,229. Up to the present 25,038 have been approved and about 7,700 are awaiting interview as to their qualifications. The area acquired since the 1st January, 1919, is 260,553 acres, and proposals for the acquisition of a further 30,000 are at present under consideration by the Ministry. The number of men actually settled is 10,487, of whom 9,042 are ex-service men, and it is estimated that the land acquired and not yet let will provide holdings for a further 8,000 men as soon as the additional cottages and buildings can be erected.

asked the Minister of Health if steps will be taken so as to remove from lunatic asylums and Poor Law institutions all discharged soldiers and sailors suffering from temporary loss of memory attributable to the War and place them in homes suitable for their case and compatible with the service they have rendered to the State?

I am advised that no discharged soldiers or sailors are known to be in asylums who are there because they suffer merely from temporary loss of memory attributable to the War. There are, of course, many ex-service men suffering from various forms of certifiable insanity in which loss or impairment of memory may form one of the symptoms. Such men are kept as private patients under satisfactory conditions. To remove them to separate homes or institutions would be neither economical nor in the interests of the patients themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the general officer commanding in Mesopotamia, when providing recently for the removal from that country of the wives of officers and men, exempted from the order the wives of officers and officials holding positions of a permanent character in Baghdad and Basra; whether an order issued by the War Office has refused to sanction this exemption; whether a distinction may reasonably be drawn between the wives of men in fighting units whose period of service in Mesopotamia is short and the wives of staff officers and officials of departments who will probably remain for years in the country; and, in view of the improvement in the condition of the country, whether he will now permit the latter to retain their wives and thus remove what is regarded as a serious hardship by men whose service in Mesopotamia is likely to be prolonged?

Although the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, in submitting his proposals for the evacuation of military families from Mesopotamia, recommended that the families of officers and other ranks employed on staff and departmental duties should be allowed to remain, it was considered preferable, owing to the situation, not to allow any exception to be made. It is not proposed to depart from this decision at present, but it will again be reviewed when the situation in that country becomes more stable. I would add that it is not proposed that there shall be any difference in the tours of service in Mesopotamia as between units, staffs and departments.

asked the Secretary of State for War what amount of the outlay in Mesopotamia is paid by this country, and what amount by India?

No part of the military expenditure in Mesopotamia during the current year falls on Indian revenues.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office the date up to which the accounts of the Navy and Army Canteen Board have been audited, and by whom the audit was carried out; whether the auditors were able to obtain all the information that they desired; and whether they have made any adverse comments on the accounts submitted to them?

The accounts of the Navy and Army Canteen Board have been audited up to the 30th June, 1919, and the audit to the end of 1919 is nearly completed. Messrs. Deloitte, Plender, Griffiths, and Company have carried out the audit, and I am informed that they state that all the information that they desired has been supplied to them. In the covering letters sent by them to the Board with the certified accounts some recommendations have been made, such as are customary in letters of this nature.

asked the Secretary of State for War what staff was employed at the War Office headquarters, including outlying branches, in the year 1913„14, and what was the cost?

In the year 1913–14 the staff of the War Office numbered 1,637 and the expenditure was £442,283. This sum does not include certain important items which form part of the total cost as shown in Estimates for the current year, namely, office accommodation, printing, stationery, books, cablegrams, travelling and other miscellaneous expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for India when it is proposed to give British married officers of the Indian Army the same allowances that have been granted to married officers of the British Service?

The present interim rates of Indian Army pay were framed with reference to the new British Service rates which came into force from 1st July, 1919. It was not practicable at the time to introduce a scheme following the War Office system in detail, but the interim rates were on the whole such as to secure the same average benefits, due regard being paid to the claims of Indian Service. When revised rates are being worked out it will be considered whether differentiation between married and unmarried officers should be adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for India for what reason the Government of India have refused the grant of land to British officers of the Indian Army who have served in the War in the same manner as land is being granted to Indian officers and soldiers?

I will have published in the OFFICIAL REPORT the Government of India's reply to the inquiry I made at the end of last year, as promised to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps have been taken to improve the pay and conditions of service of Indian schoolmasters in the regiments of the Indian Army?

Proposals for the formation of an Indian Army Education Corps are under the consideration of the Government of India.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government grant will be paid in respect of houses with thatched roofs?

Grants under Section 1 of the Housing (Additional Powers) Act will be paid in respect of approved houses with thatched roofs.

asked the Minister of Health what are the amounts paid out of moneys provided by Parliament in each of the last two years in respect of the one-half so payable of registration expenses under the Representation of the People Act, 1918; and whether any further expense is incurred by the National Exchequer in connection with such registration, either through the Stationery Office or otherwise?

The amounts are as follow:—

Financial Year.	Expenditure incurred by H.M. Stationery Office.	Other Expenditure.	Total.
	£	£	£
1918–19	458,800	102,532	561,332
1919–20	663,600	381,277	1,044,877

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the inadequate contributions to the Poor Law unions through county councils, based on the Local Government Act, 1888, due to various factors, such as increased cost of materials, and increased bonuses and salaries to officers and officials of Poor Law unions; and if he will take steps to increase the allowance to such an extent as to refund the amount paid in full which is paid in increased salaries and bonuses and increased cost of living?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply given on the 21st ultimo to a similar question.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give some indication of the nature of the trading undertakings referred to in item 5, page 11, of the memorandum issued by his Department, entitled, Memorandum on the Increase in the Amount of Local Rates per pound of Assessable Value?

The Returns furnished to the Department in connection with the memorandum referred to show that by far the largest part of the amounts entered as "losses on certain trading undertakings" consists of deficiencies in the accounts of water supply undertakings. The Returns also show deficiencies in connection with certain tramway and electricity supply undertakings, baths and wash-houses, and cemeteries.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government consider themselves bound to introduce legislation to give effect to the Washington Convention concerning the employment of women before and after childbirth?

I can only refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for the Gorbals Division (Mr. G. Barnes) on the 9th instant.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can give an approximate estimate of the total yearly addition to the rates in the event of the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Bill becoming law in its present shape?

A White Paper will be circulated explaining fully the provisions of the Bill and giving an estimate of the additional charge on rates and taxes consequent on the Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether the wife of a member of the Paddington board of guardians, in consequence of illness, has become a patient in the infirmary; and what action he is taking with regard to the effect of this fact upon the husband's qualification as a member of the board?

My attention has been called to this case, but I have no authority to determine the question which has arisen as to the husband's qualification.

asked the Prime Minister why it is necessary to await the ratification of the last treaty of peace with the smallest of the Powers which have been engaged in the late War before the date of the end of the War can be determined; and if he has considered, amongst other reasons for an early peace, the question of the commons and parks and public gardens which continue to be occupied with camps, enclosures, allotments, and buildings which deprive the public and the commoners of their rights of user and cause hardship and detriment to the health and well-being of the community?

I would remind my hon. Friend that the time of the termination of the War was fixed by Act of Parliament.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet telegraphed to the British representative in Buda Pesth with reference to the allegation that there are some 300,000 men under arms in Hungary at the present time; and, if so, what is the reply?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Report from His Majesty's representative has not yet been received.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government intends to send a diplomatic representative to Munich; and, if so, what is the reason, in view of the fact that Bavaria is not a Sovereign State?

There is no such intention. A Consul-General, drawn from the Diplomatic Service, has been appointed, and will shortly take up his duties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps, if any, have been taken by his Department to remove the present prohibitive duties on all classes of mixed alcohol fuels, having regard to the admitted shortage of petrol and the effect of this shortage upon the motor industries of this country?

The Board of Trade have for some time past been in communication with the Commissioners of Customs and Excise with regard to the duties on power alcohol, and the matter is still the subject of correspondence with that Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the United States Treasury, which, like the Governments of South Africa, Kenya Colony, India, and Australia, permits the importation and use of industrial alcohol, have adopted three formulas for denaturing fuels made from alcohol; that either of these formulas may be used by the producers of industrial alcohol; and could the British Treasury adopt the same formulas?

I am informed that various formulas have been adopted by the United States Government. As I have already pointed out to the hon. Member, the question of a suitable denaturant for power methylated spirits is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average output per head per shift of the German mines in 1913 and 1920, respectively?

The output per man per shift in the Ruhr mines in 1913 was 883 kilogrammes and in Upper Silesia 1,144 kilogrammes or 17⅓ cwts. and 22½ cwts. respectively. I have no figures for 1920 for the Ruhr mines; for Upper Silesia the information available points to the output per man per shift in the first quarter of 1920 being about 620 kilogrammes or 12¼ cwts. I am endeavouring to get more precise information and shall be glad to supply the hon. Member with any further figures that I may be able to obtain.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether under the appeals from Government circles to capture German trade the silk manufac- turers in this country increased their machinery, enlarged their buildings and plant, and trained numerous workmen and workwomen in the highly skilled art of silk manufacture; whether, unless something is done quickly to meet this competition owing to the depreciated mark, this machinery will be idle and the workpeople either out of work or working short time; whether German manufactured silk goods are being imported freely at nearly half the English price; and what steps he proposes to take to protect these workpeople in their threatened difficulties?

I am aware that silk manufacturers took steps to devlop their trade after the outbreak of war, but I am not aware of any special appeals which were made to them by the Government. As regards the present position, I am receiving a deputation from the Joint Industrial Council of the industry on Wednesday next (17th November), when the general situation and possible measures to deal with it will doubtless be discussed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the enormous fall in the price of raw cotton and also the wholesale price of tea, and that no corresponding reduction has taken place in retail prices; and whether he can hold out a hope of an immediate prospective reduction in these prices?

The reduction in the price of raw cotton has already been reflected in a considerable fall in the wholesale price of cotton cloth. In some instances there have been reductions in the retail price of cotton goods. These reductions are not yet general, nor are they proportionate to the fall in wholesale prices. I certainly hope that retail prices will be further reduced. As regards tea, I would refer to the answer given by the Secretary to the Ministry of Food on 1st November to the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Clough), a copy of which I am sending to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, notwithstanding the expressed desire of manufacturers to export napthalene, permission is refused by the Customs authorities; if so, under what powers export is prohibited; and why this hindrance is placed in the way of one means of assisting the rectification of the balance of trade and the stabilisation of the foreign exchange?

The export of napthalene, except under licence, is prohibited under the provision contained in the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1879, the Exportation of Arms Act, 1900, the Customs (Exportation Prohibition) Act, 1914. Powers were taken to restrict the export of napthalene in the past, in order to conserve supplies for use for dyestuffs in the United Kingdom, but there is now a surplus available for export, and licences have been freely granted for some weeks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Germans have reduced their price of all-over net embroidered with artificial silk delivered carriage paid at Nottingham from 2s. 4d. to 1s. 7d. per yard, while it costs to produce this article in Nottingham 2s. 9d. a yard, and that large orders for the German product are being placed, while 75 per cent. of the embroidery machines in Nottingham are standing idle; and whether legislation dealing with this competition will be introduced at an early date, and the operation of recent and new Acts, putting further burdens upon the already overburdened British manufacturer, will be suspended, to give him and those he employs a chance of recovery?

The facts mentioned by my hon. Friend in the first part of his question have been brought to my notice by the trade. The steps that may be taken to meet the situation created by the importation of low-priced goods in consequence of the exchange positions are under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a prospectus of the British Dyestuffs Corporation, Limited, was issued on 18th July, 1919; whether that prospectus contained unusual inducements to the investing public; whether these inducements were in the nature of a Government guarantee; if so, what was that guarantee; if part of the said guarantee included a Government proclamation; if so, what was the proclamation; whether the Government appointed a director on the board; if so, for what purpose: what amount of money was subscribed for the issue; whether the terms of the prospectus have been carried out; if not, if subscribers are to receive compensation for the breach thereof; if the prospectus contained a statement by him as of 15th May; and whether the promises contained in that statement have been fulfilled?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given on the subject by the Prime Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, and myself, on the 11th, 10th and 1st November respectively. I am sending him copies of these answers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether coated papers are now arriving in large and increasing quantities from Germany and Belgium; that in the month of September alone there were importations from Belgium amounting to 143 tons, and from Germany amounting to 60 tons; that the rate of exchange assists these countries in underselling British manufacturers; and whether this trade was introduced into this country during the War, and that this unfair competition is having a serious effect upon the trade, which, even without this competition, is not in a good state?

During the month of October there was a very considerable decline in the imports of coated paper from Germany and Belgium. As regards the second part of my hon. Friend's question, the figures quoted relate, so far as I can judge, only to a portion of this trade, and I should not like to say that the statements made, in the last part of the question apply to the whole of this trade The situation arising from the state of certain of the exchanges is, as I have already said on several occasions, engaging earnest attention.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can furnish a statement showing the character, quantities and values of the goods, wholly or mainly manufactured, exported from the United Kingdom to Germany during the nine months ended 30th September, 1920?

The following statement gives the particulars which, in my answer to the hon. Member's question on

EXPORTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM TO GERMANY OF GOODS, WHOLLY OR MAINLY MANUFACTURED, REGISTERED DURING THE NINE MONTHS ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1920, DISTINGUISHING THE PRINCIPAL ARTICLES.
(A) Exports of Manufactures of the United Kingdom.
Description.								Unit of Quantity.	Quantity.	Value.
										£
Cotton: Yarns			…	…	…	…	…	Lbs.	4,348,700	1,984,585
Manufactures				…	…	…	…	—	—	1,335,384
Wool tops		…	…	…	…	…	…	Centals of 100 lbs.	51,495	958,516
Woollen and worsted: Yarns					…	…	…	Lbs.	3,554,100	1,389,293
Manufactures						…	…	—	—	1,683,101
Pig iron		…	…	…	…	…	…	Tons.	17,487	254,327
Spiegeleisen and other ferro-alloys						…	…	Tons.	5,083	195,602
Tinned plates			…	…	…	…	…	Tons.	1,800	81,140
Nickel manufactures				…	…	…	…	Tons.	219	52,953
Machinery and parts				…	…	…	…	—	—	119,164
Boots and shoes of leather					…	…	…	Doz. prs.	31,208	236,784
Sodium compounds				…	…	…	…	Cwts.	85,601	118,539
Lubricating oil			…	…	…	…	…	Gallons.	303,575	50,850
Soap	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	Cwts.	92,289	381,799
Leather, dressed or undressed					…	…	…	Cwts.	16,682	380,197
Rubber tyres and tubes				…	…	…	…	Nos.	66,045	136,974
Matches		…	…	…	…	…	…	10,000 Matches.	190,738	64,515
Other articles			…	…	…	…	…	—	—	1,207,676
Total articles wholly or mainly manufactured								—	—	10,640,399

(B) Exports of Foreign or Colonial Manufactures.
Description.							Unit of Quantity.	Quantity.	Value.
									£
Tin, in blocks, ingots, bars and slabs					…	…	Tons	1,071	340,290
Sodium nitrate		…	…	…	…	…	Cwts.	260,544	306,500
Petroleum:
Motor spirit		…	…	…	…	…	Gallons	3,376,940	388,243
Lamp oil	…	…	…	…	…	…	Gallons	865,553	79,361
Lubricating oil		…	…	…	…	…	Gallons	2,183,223	308,189
Leather undressed		…	…	…	…	…	Cwts.	9,025	198,965
Other articles		…	…	…	…	…	—	—	690,457
Total articles wholly or mainly manufactured							—	—	2,312,005

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the names of the officials of the imported timber disposal section who reported that the 470 standards of flooring sold to Messrs. Hillas at £31 per standard were 8th November, I promised to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as they had been prepared:of inferior quality; and whether he is aware that practical timber experts who inspected the parcel say there was nothing defective about the parcel?

I am not prepared to state the name of the official or officials on whose advice the 470 standards of flooring boards were sold to Messrs. Billas at £31 per standard. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the severe hardship upon British timber merchants growing home timber by being refused any rebate for the transportation of pit-props from the North to the coalfields; whether pit-props can be considered as raw material for the coal industry as manure in bulk is for agriculture; and whether, since 50 per cent. plus 6d. per ton with a maximum rate of 4s. per ton is allowed for the latter, Scottish and other timber merchants who are encouraging home-grown timber have been fairly dealt with?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. Members for Forfar (Mr. W. Shaw) and Renfrew East (Mr. Johnstone) on the 8th instant, of which I am sending him a copy. The concession which has been made in the rates for the carriage of manure was granted in the interest of agriculture within the United Kingdom, and it is not practicable to extend it to the timber trade.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is a fact that the Rates Advisory Committee granted a concession to the Actors' Association on the ground that the theatrical business had made contracts on the old railway rates, and that if the proposed increases had been adhered to the theatrical profession would have made serious losses on their contracts; whether he is aware that the timber merchants in the North of Scotland are, as regards contracts, in a similar position to the theatrical people; and whether, under these circumstances, he will reconsider his decision and instruct the Rates Advisory Committee to consider a revision of rates for home-grown timber?

The special fares granted to theatrical touring companies in pre-War days were, not withdrawn during the War, and in view of the general representations made as to the hardship which would be caused to the profession, the Rates Advisory Committee recommended that the matter be held in abeyance until they were able to report on this and other cases in which fares below the ordinary are charged. I adopted their recommendation.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the advisability of diverting a portion of the money allocated for the erection of new bridges to the building of chambered dams for future installations of water power plant for the generation and transmission of electricity; and whether it is now possible to substitute a chambered dam for the proposed new bridge on the Linghor estuary connecting Glamorganshire and Carmarthenshire, to cost £60,000, having regard to the economic circumstance that electricity could be supplied at 40 per cent. less cost by water power than by coal, apart from the natural advantage of supplying neighbouring towns and industries with a cheap electrical supply?

The only funds in the hands of the Minister of Transport available for contributions towards the cost of construction of bridges form part of the Road Improvement Fund, and it would not be competent to him to supply any part of this Fund to meet the increased cost incurred in order that a structure required as a road bridge should also serve as a dam. No application for a grant for such a purpose has been received from any public authority or undertaking. A grant from the Road Fund has been indicated towards the cost of construction of the bridge referred to in the second part of the question. A suggestion received from a private individual that the structure should include chambered dams has been carefully considered, but I am advised that the suggestion, from an engineering point of view, is fundamentally unsound.

asked the Minister of Transport the names of those constituting the Committee of Inquiry which is investigating the financial agreements entered into between the Government and various railway companies; and whether independent witnesses who are recognised authorities on railway finance will be called to give evidence?

A statement giving the names of the members of the Committee was issued on 6th October, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy. The evidence to be called for by the Committee is a matter for their discretion. If my hon. Friend will suggest two or three names of gentlemen with the qualifications he indicates, I will pass thorn to the Committee in case they may require further assistance. Sir Hardman Lever, whose qualifications in this connection are pre-eminently recognised, is already a member of the Committee.

asked (1) the President of the Board of Trade the exports of china clay from the port of Fowey to the United States in 1913 and in 1919; whether the demand is greater than the supply owing to the failure of the Great Western Railway Company to complete the loading facilities commenced at Fowey before the War; whether he can induce the railway company to press forward the completion of this work, having regard to the monopoly which Fowey possesses as an exporting port for china clay;(2) the Minister of Transport whether there is a real desire on the part of American companies to import china clay from Cornwall owing to its superiority to the local product; whether about 90 per cent, is shipped at Fowey, where the docks and loading facilities are owned by the Great Western Railway Company; and whether, having regard to the fact that while one of the jetties with an electric tip can deal with 1,500 tons a day the remaining six jetties have practically no loading facilities, he will use his good offices to induce the railway company rapidly to complete the eighth jetty, which was commenced before the War and is designed to deal with 3,500 tons a day, and so help the trade of the country?

As the facilities at Fowey have been receiving the close attention of the Ministry of Transport for a considerable time, I have been asked to reply to these questions. The exports of china clay (including Cornish or china stone) from Fowey to the United States were as follow:—

1913	162,311 tons, value	£188,632.
1919	167,680 tons, value	£414,731.

I am informed that the shipments from Fowey represent some 90 per cent. of the total exports of clay to the United States. The Great Western Railway Company own the loading facilities at Fowey, consisting at present of seven jetties, one of which has an electric belt conveyor; the remaining six jetties are equipped with cranes for handling clay in bags or casks and general inwards traffic. An eighth jetty, which was commenced before the War, is being equipped with an electric belt conveyor. The railway company are fully alive to the situation, and are pressing forward the work of construction, which they hope to have completed by May, 1921.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the delay in issuing Regulations to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee set up to inquire into the determination of a standard for condensed milks facilitates the importation of condensed milk with low standards of cream, to the detriment of consumers who mainly consist of the labouring classes and include a large number of infants, and in view of the fact, also, that this delay causes damage to the British industry for producing the article in this country, and has resulted in a considerable reduction in production here, urgent consideration will be given to the question?

The preparation of Regulations of this nature is a matter which necessarily takes time, but they are now in an advanced state, and I can assure the hon. Member that it is being proceeded with without any avoidable delay.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the price of raw sugar has fallen from £75 to £30 per ton, or from about 9d. to 3½d. per 1b.; and, if so, how many months it will be before the benefit of this reduction reaches the consumer?

I have been asked to reply. The price of raw sugars in New York has varied during the past year from 22½ cents per lb. to the present quotation of 5.50 cents. The equivalent of the higher price was never paid by the consumer in this country. As regards the second part of the question, I must refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 1st November to the hon. Member for Grimsby.

asked the Minister of Food what is the price of the 4-lb. loaf in Burnley, Blackburn, Blackpool, Clitheroe, Southport, Alnwick, and Elgin, North Britain?

The price of the 4-lb. loaf in all these towns is 1s. 6d. The Food Controller has already directed that local costings investigations should be made into the price of bread in certain areas, and these investigations are proceeding as rapidly as is possible with the present reduced numbers of staff. It should be borne in mind that the price of bread has at all times varied throughout the country, and I may say that in some, at least, of the localities named by the hon. and gallant Member the recent increase in price is not incommensurate with the general increase throughout the country consequent upon the reduction of the subsidy.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the percentage of decline in the acreage of wheat in Scotland for 1920 as compared with 1919; and can he give any explanation of the decline?

The decline in the acreage of wheat in Scotland in 1920 as compared with 1919 was 31·4 per cent. It is explained partly by the extremely unfavourable weather that prevailed during November and December, 1919 (especially in the principal wheat-growing areas) and partly also by the higher prices obtainable for other crops.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture the progress already made with the Minesweepers' Trawling Association; how many vessels are engaged in fishing under this scheme; how much capital has been subscribed; how many persons are employed by the association afloat and ashore, respectively; and whether the association is experiencing any difficulty in obtaining coal, ice, and stores for its members?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The society has supplied the following information. The Minesweepers' Trawling Society has issued its prospectus and has held meetings at the principal trawling ports to explain the scheme to ex-service men and to enrol members. It has not yet undertaken fishing operations. Other matters, including the provision of working capital, are at present under consideration. The society does not anticipate any difficulty in obtaining coal and stores for its members, and as regard supply of ice will, no doubt, receive its fair share of the ice supply at the ports from which it operates.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if his attention has been drawn to the discharges from the Central Stores Department, Liverpool; whether he is aware that men who volunteered for Army service but were rejected on medical grounds, who are married and have family responsibilities, are being discharged whilst single men are being retained; whether due consideration is given to the merits of each case; and whether he will have inquiries made into the matter?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether his attention has been drawn to the correspondence that has been sent to his Department dealing with the discharges of men from His Majesty's Stores, Wallis Road, Hackney Wick; whether he is aware that these discharges appear to be taking place without any definite policy being laid down, inasmuch as other men are placed in the jobs so made vacant; why this is so; and what steps are being taken to stop these unnecessary discharges?

I am making inquiries into these matters, and will write to the hon. Members.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether portions of the Government's holding of wool have recently been offered for sale and withdrawn unsold because the reserve prices were not reached; whether, as those reserves are now shown by events to have been fixed at prices which were several points per pound above the market prices at the moment of offering, he will say what good purpose is served by going to the trouble and expense of putting up Government wool for sale and having to withdraw it unsold because the reserve price fixed by the Government Department concerned is above the price at which wool of similar type can without difficulty be obtained in the overseas markets?

The experience at the Government auctions is in no way different from that at private auctions of wool in England and in Australia, and in every case a considerable proportion of the wool offered does not find buyers. It is expected that the present transition stage will very soon be safely got over and a level of values arrived at which will permit of the resumption of business on a full scale. The question of reserve prices for Government wool is the subject of frequent consultation with the Australian and New Zealand authorities who have an important interest in the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what quantity and what value of stores have recently been handed over by the Secretary of State for War to his Department; and will he state the date on which these stores were handed over?

The War Office have recently furnished the Disposal Board with a statement showing in general terms the quantities of surplus army stores which they would be gradually throwing up for disposal. The items of this list are very numerous, and the stores are in process of being reported in detail, and as so reported they will be valued.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total cost for each of the past two financial years and the estimated cost for the current financial year of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), excluding the four districts under direct control, for which separate statements of account are presented to Parliament?

For 1918 to 1919 the cost charged to the Vote of Credit was £23,966 16s. 6d., and for 1919 to 1920 the cost charged to the Vote of the Central Control Board was £19,044 8s. 11d. As regards the estimate for the current year, the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education on the 9th instant remains applicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, apart from any question of imposing, or otherwise, a corporation tax upon co-operative societies and recognising, as he does, that there is no desire on the part of co-operative societies to evade contributing their just and fair share towards the burden of taxation borne by the country, he will consider the best means of inquiring into the whole financial position of co-operative societies and receiving suggestions as to the manner in which they can give, without damaging the whole policy on which their business is built, their financial assistance to the needs of the country?

If the co-operative societies desire an inquiry into the method by which they can best make a fair contribution to the Revenue, I shall be glad to confer with any representatives whom they may appoint to discuss the matter with me.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has been invited to intervene in a dispute which has been pending for several weeks between the Shop Assistants' Union and a firm in Wolverhampton regarding labour condi- tions; whether any action has been taken; and, if so, with what result?

At the request of the Shop Assistants' Union, the Department have endeavoured to bring about a settlement of a protracted dispute with a firm in Wolverhampton. The firm in question have, however, refused offers of intervention and regard the dispute as ended.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the growing numbers of unemployed in the London boroughs; whether he will extend the Treasury grant of 50 per cent. for the construction of arterial roads to any approved schemes for employing labour upon useful work undertaken by the borough councils; and, if so, whether he will request the borough councils at once to prepare such schemes and to put them into operation without further delay?

I am well aware of the position to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. With regard to road improvement work in London, I am informed by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, that all the local authorities in London know that his department is willing to consider any application which may be made to it for grants or loans for the paving, resurfacing or improvement of (important) roads, and that department is in a position to make grants towards the cost of such schemes as the Minister of Transport can approve. Other schemes of public work that might be put in hand by local authorities to relieve the present position are at present engaging the attention of the Cabinet Committee on Unemployment, and until that Committee is able to present a further report, I am of course unable to indicate the extent to which it may be able to recommend the making of Government grants.

asked the Home Secetary whether police officers who forfeited leave during the War have received, or will receive, monetary compensation for this loss; and, if so, will this compensation be extended to those of the police strikers who forfeited their leave under the same conditions?

I am asked to reply on behalf of the Home Secretary. Constables who lost weekly rest days during part of the War have no right to compensation: but many police authorities have in their discretion given either money compensation or extra leave. No such compensation can be given to men who have been dismissed for refusing duty.