asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that officers of the Indian Medical Service now stationed in Persia have been in that country for over five years without leave; and whether steps will be taken to replace these officers without further delay?

I am not quite clear from the hon. and gallant Member's question whether he refers to leave to the United Kingdom or to India. It is possible that a certain number of officers of the Indian Medical Service in Mesopotamia and Persia have not had leave to the United Kingdom during the period mentioned. Everything possible is still being done to relieve officers who have served for lengthened periods without leave but, owing to the shortage of officers of the Indian Medical Service and to the greatly increased number of officers of that Service required for duty in garrisons other than India, it is regretted that no promise can be given to relieve any particular officer. The granting of leave to India is a matter for the authorities under whom the officer may be serving, and I am sure that they are doing all that is possible in the matter having regard to the prevailing conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the annual national conference of Burmese associations has resolved not to participate in the coming elections to the Council of State and Legislative Assembly as a protest against the delay in granting constitutional reform to Burma; and whether he will postpone these elections in Burma pending the introduction of reforms?

I have received a telegram from the Conference conveying a resolution of this intention. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any Acts or Regulations are in force in India, or any part thereof, giving powers of search; and, if so, what are these Acts and Regulations, and what is their nature?

Such powers exist under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, the Excise Laws, and the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919. If the hon. Member wishes for a complete list, and for a summary of the several Acts, which are all published, I must ask for longer notice.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any Acts or Regulations are in force in India or any part thereof regulating the holding of public meetings; and, if so, what are these Acts and Regulations, and what is their nature?

The Seditious Meetings Act (X. of 1911) contains the provisions for dealing with meetings in areas which have been specially proclaimed. The Police Acts of the several provinces, which differ in detail, give the police, under directions of a magistrate, certain powers of regulating public meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any Acts or Regulations are in force in India, or any part thereof, affecting printing and publishing; and, if so, what are these Acts and Regulations, and what is their nature?

The Acts in force are "the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867" (XXV. of 1867), and "the Indian Press Act, 1910" (I. of 1910), to which I would beg to refer the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any Acts or Regulations are in force in India, or any part thereof, providing for imprisonment without trial; and, if so, what are these Acts and Regulations, and what is their nature?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer just given to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Kenyon).

asked the Secretary of State for War on what days gun salutes are fired in London; what are the usual number of rounds fired; can he state approximately what is the cost of such salutes; and whether, in the interests of economy, it is possible to restrict the use of such salutes for only very special events?

Salutes are fired on the following occasions:The Anniversary of His Majesty's Birthday (3rd June);The Anniversary of His Majesty's Accession to the Throne (6th May);The Anniversary of Their Majesties' Coronation (22nd June);The Anniversary of Queen Mary's Birthday (26th May);The Anniversary of Queen Alexandra's Birthday (1st December);The Opening, Proroguing, or Dissolving of Parliament;Such other special occasions as may be ordered.The number of rounds fired is 41; and the approximate cost of the blank ammunition is 5s. 3d. per round. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's question, I do not think any further restriction of the occasions on which salutes are fired is called for.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether there is any special reason why no result has followed from the six personal applications of the hon. Member for Frome to the Accounts Complaints Department of the War Office, and the two letters addressed to himself as Financial Secretary on 12th October last and subsequently, respecting the claim for a final settlement of arrears of working pay dating from 20th January, 1917, of Private E. C. Sutton, No. 142555, 374 H.S. Labour Company, now of Frome; and when a settlement will be made?

Considerable difficulty was found in investigating the facts of this case; and it was only possible on 3rd November to issue instructions for a payment of £25 to Private Sutton in settlement of his claim.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Ordnance shoemakers who served overseas received only 6d. per day corps pay in addition to their ordinary Army pay, whilst Ordnance shoemakers employed in England received 1s. per day working pay and a bonus in addition to their ordinary Army pay; whether it is intended that this difference or any other that existed be made up to the soldiers who served abroad, so that they may be put on an equal footing with those who were retained in the workshops at home under the Ordnance command; and, if not, how the Department justifies this preferential treatment?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 3rd August last to a question on this subject pub by the hon. Member for Welling-borough (Mr. W. R. Smith).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has concluded his inquiries into the case of Rifle-man M. H. Stoker, No. 40470, 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade, as promised on 5th November last; and what is the result?

I regret that the enquiries into this case are not yet complete, but I will let the hon. Member know as soon as a report is received.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that repeated applications have been made without result to the Fixed Centre Disbursing Officer, Division 2, Poona, for the last pay certificate of Sergeant H. L. Bates, late No. 890026, Royal Field Artillery, Territorial Force, without which the bounty with interest, due to this man on re-engagement after completion of five years' service in 1916, cannot be paid; and whether he will state what reason, at this date, exists for the procrastination which still characterises the work of the Poona office?

The Fixed Centre Disbursing Officer, Poona, was specially requested by cable on 10th instant to expedite the despatch of the last pay certificate of 890026 Sergeant H. L. Bates, which had previously been applied for by letter. The balance of bounty with interest due under Army Order 209 of 1916, amounting to £11 15s., has been credited to the soldier's account by the Regimental Paymaster, but this has been reserved pending the receipt from India of the last pay certificate, as it may possibly disclose a debtor balance.

asked the Secretary of State for War to state the number of unidentified soldiers who have lost their reason at present in mental hospital in this country; and whether he will consider the advisability of publishing the photographs of all such persons for inspection by the relatives of missing soldiers?

As I stated in reply to a question on 26th October, there is no unidentified soldier in the mental hospitals under the control of the War Office, and, so far as the Department is aware, there is no unidentified soldier in any other mental hospital.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office what portion of the increase recently made to the pay and retired pay of Lieutenant-Colonels of the British Army was given to compensate them for the extra cost of living; and what portion was granted in order to attract to the service men who have no private means?

The pay cannot be dissected into the components indicated by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War when and how the grant for the full-dress uniforms for officers in the Brigade of Guards is to be paid: and whether he is aware that these uniforms have now been purchased by the officers?

An Army Order on the subject will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. F. Davis, D.S.O., late of the South Stafford Regiment, whose application for a full pension has recently been refused; whether he is aware that Mr. Davis served in the Army as a Regular soldier from 23rd August, 1898, until May, 1911, when he went to Section D, Army Reserve, for a period of five years; that on 4th August, 1914, he was recalled to the colours, and on 4th May, 1916, completed his five years' service with the Army Reserve; that he elected to remain with the colours for the duration of the War and was twice wounded; that in January, 1918, he applied for a temporary commission in the Regular Army, but was granted a commission in the Special Reserve, during the holding of which he was wounded a third time, awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and was mentioned in despatches; that on 10th November, 1919, he was demobilised, having thus completed 21 years and eight days' service; that this man's application for a pension was at first refused, but that ultimately a pension of 2s. 3d. per day was awarded to him, and that this pension is based only upon a part of his service prior to taking a commission; that this pension entirely ignores three years of his service in the Army Reserve and his entire commissioned service; and if he will immediately take steps to ensure that, whether Army Order No. 159 be made retrospective or not, the period of Mr. Davis's service in the Army Reserve and in the commissioned ranks be at least added to his previous service in the computation of his pension?

Mr. Davis had no claim to a pension until the issue of Army Order 446 at the end of October. This enabled his total service, including his Reserve and Commissioned service, to be counted for entitlement to pension. But in fixing the rate, Deserve service does not count, nor does the Commissioned time for which he was awarded a gratuity under Article 497 (b) of the Pay Warrant, which is not given to officers who are counting time for retired pay or pension. Army Order 159 is not, in any case, applicable to an officer of the Special Reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there are any expenses arising out of the garrisoning of Constantinople which fall on any Vote other than that of the War Office; and, if so, what is the Vote in question?

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether there are any expenses arising out of the garrisoning of Egypt which fall on any Vote other than that of the War Office; and, if so, what is the Vote in question;

I will answer these questions together. In addition to the War Office expenditure, there is in each case a charge on Air Force Votes.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many persons were engaged in the year 1913–1914 in the compilation of the Army List or in work connected therewith; and what was the cost involved?

The number of persons engaged was nine. The cost of this staff was approximately £2,000 per annum.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether, according to the latest Returns of the Ministry, there are tens of thousands of applicant ex-service man still awaiting land on which to settle?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave to him on Monday, the 15th instant.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state if applications for free passages for ex-service men to other parts of the Empire must be sent in by the end of the current year, or whether a further prolongation of the term within which applications can be received will be granted, in view of the absence of shipping facilities hitherto and the preoccupation of the Dominion Governments with the resettlement of their own ex-service men?

The period during which applications may be made for free passages under the Government free passage scheme has been extended for one year, i.e., from the 31st of December next to the 31st December, 1921. Those who apply before the 31st of December, 1921, and are approved, will be allowed to avail themselves of the privilege of a free passage at any time before the 31st of December. 1922.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish all papers concerning the negotiations which have taken place at Lord Carnarvon's house and elsewhere between British representatives and Mr. Arthur Griffiths and other members of the Sinn Fein organisation;

I have never heard of those alleged negotiations.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a number of prison officers in Ireland have been called on to retire in accordance with the terms of The Superannuation Act, 1919; whether a number of officers in the trades department, and who have reached the age limit under the same Act, are being retained; whether the Act has been applied without exception to all classes and ranks in the English service as specified in the Order in Council; will he now say why exception has now been made in the case of the trades' officers in Irish prisons; and will he take steps to have those officers retired without further delay or withdraw the notices already issued to the discipline and clerical ranks?

Under the Superannuation (Prison Officers) Act, 1919, prison officers over 60 are liable to compulsory retirement subject to the provisions of Clause 15 of the Order in Council of 10th January, 1910. The General Prisons Board have recommended under the provisions of this Clause that four officers who are artizans should be retained on the grounds that their retirement would be detrimental to the public service, their special knowledge being of great value, and their replacement impossible at present.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Brian O'Rourke, of Inniskeen, county Monaghan, who was taken from his home by armed forces of the Crown on Saturday, 23rd October, at 11 p.m.; whether Mr. O'Rourke has since that date been imprisoned in Belfast gaol without trial; and whether he is aware that Mr. O'Rourke is engaged extensively as corn merchant and miller, and also in the Belleek pottery trade, and that during his confinement in prison his business is being seriously interfered with; whether he will state on what charge this gentleman has been arrested; and will he take steps to order his release or see that he is brought to an early trial?

Mr. O'Rourke was arrested on the 23rd October. I understand that his occupation is that of a millowner and general merchant. After investigation of the case, it was decided not to take further proceedings, and Mr. O'Rourke was released on the 11th instant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether German embroideries are being imported into this country at 1s. 7d. a yard, at which price it is impossible to produce similar goods in England whether this unfair competition is caused by the depreciation of the German currency; and what immediate steps the Government propose to take to remedy a state of affairs which is depriving British working men of employment?

Representations have been made to me by the trade that German embroideries are being imported into this country at the price specified by my Noble Friend. It will be realised that the effect of collapsed exchanges, which is a most difficult question, is of wide application, and cannot be dealt with in relation to any single trade. His Majesty's Government are fully alive to the situation, and, as I have stated in reply to a number of similar inquiries, the question as a whole is engaging our earnest consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there are 14,000 magneto workers in Great Britain who were specially trained during the War to make magnetos for aeroplanes and other Government purposes; that a Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade sat in 1915, and decided that the making of magnetos was a key industry, and that this was confirmed by a Committee of Commercial and Industrial Policy in 1919, who both reported accordingly; that, owing to the exchange, German magnetos are being dumped at a figure below the cost of material to the British manufacturer; that in consequence one half of 7,000 of the employés are out of work and the rest are on half time; and that, over and above the favourable handicap of the exchange, the German Bosch manufacturer is selling below cost, as he did prior to the War, to exterminate the British trader, as he did in pre-War days; and will he cause prohibition of such imports until trade and exchanges are normal, and so cherish a key industry?

I am unable to state the actual number of magneto workers trained during the War, nor the proportion of these who are now out of work or on half time. The industry is undoubtedly depressed; and this depression is partly due to the fact that German magnetos are being offered at low prices, but I have no reason to believe that they are being sold below the selling price in Germany. My hon. Friend is correct in stating that the Committees referred to recommended that magnetos should be treated as a key industry. There is no power at present to prohibit their importation. As my hon. Friend is aware, the Government has undertaken to introduce legislation dealing with key industries at the beginning of next Session.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the serious unemployment which exists in the cane and willow furniture and basket industry, owing to the import of these goods into this country at prices at which they cannot be produced here; and whether he is aware that the workers allege that the employers are taking advantage of this by buying and selling these goods as English-made articles?

I understand that employment in this industry is not good. As regards the latter portion of his questions, I would refer my Noble Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to a question by the hon. Member for West Nottingham (Mr. Hayday).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any understanding, written or implied, exists between the Government and the Railway Brick Works Colliery Company, Oldbury, Birmingham, under which any sum or part of a sum paid by that company as compensation to any person or firm whose property is damaged or destroyed through subsidence of mines belonging to that company is subsequently recoverable by it from His Majesty's Government?

No, Sir. No such understanding exists between the Government and the Railway Brick Works Colliery.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many barrels of beer were brewed in the United Kingdom in the 12 months ending the 30th September, 1920?

The quantity of home-made beer charged with duty in the United Kingdom in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1920, was 27,187,921 standard barrels.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the case of Isodore Kon v. Leech, in which it has been shown that several hundreds of thousands of pounds have been paid out by the British Government in the past few years for purposes of political propaganda, subsidising banks in Russia, and by other means obtaining control of the Russian workers' labour power; and what is the total sum of money so expended?

My attention has been called to the case referred to, but the purpose of the payments as described by the hon. Member is wholly misleading. I explained in the discussion on the Supplementary Estimates on August 2nd the reasons for which His Majesty's Government endeavoured to afford financial assistance to those Russian forces which were still opposing the Central Powers in the winter of 1917–1918. The total expenditure in this connection and for the purpose of forestalling the schemes of the Germans to obtain control of the Russian banks amounted to approximately £2,000,000.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the case of the plebiscites held in Slesvig-Holstein, Dantzig, and elsewhere, troops of the Allied Powers were, present in the plebiscite areas to protect freedom of voting; and whether this precedent will be followed in Montenegro during the voting for the constituent assembly, in view of the fact that the country is occupied and administered by foreigners interested in the result of the elections and in a position to coerce and intimidate the voters?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative: that to the second is in the negative. There is no analogy between the plebiscites held under the auspices of the Allied Governments in virtue of powers specially conferred upon them by the Treaties of Peace and the elections in Montenegro for a Constituent Assembly.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will say, in view of the fact that Montenegro is full of Serbian officials and soldiers, many of them in Montenegrin uniforms, what precautions are being taken that only bonâ fide Montenegrins shall vote in the elections for a Constituent Assembly; what are the qualifications required of those entitled to vote; will the voting be by ballot; and, in view of the fact that many prominent Montenegrins have been executed for refusing an oath of allegiance to the King of Serbia and that many others are imprisoned on various pretexts, what steps are being taken to ensure that the elections shall be a true expression of uncoerced Montenegrin opinion?

As regards the first three parts of the question, the electoral law provides that only such persons as were resident in Montenegro up to 1st December, 1918, may vote in that country. Subject to this condition, the voting is open to all males of over twenty-one years of age, and will be secret and by ballot. As regards the last part of the question, His Majesty's Government are obviously not in a position to conduct or control elections in a foreign country. All they can do is to obtain independent evidence as to the reliability of the electoral results, and base their future decisions on the evidence so received.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is necessary that there should be concealment as to the steps being taken by the Government to obtain independent and reliable evidence regarding the conduct of the elections to a Constituent Assembly in Montenegro, and the identity of the agents employed for that purpose; if not, will he say who are being employed for the purpose; what are their qualifications for the task; and what means are at their disposal for ascertaining the extent to which the electors will be free from coercion or intimidation by the Serbian soldiery and officials occupying Montenegro?

His Majesty's Government had originally intended that the British Military Attaché in Jugo Slavia should have been present in Montenegro during these elections. This officer has, however, been incapacitated by illness, and an endeavour is being made to find an adequate substitute.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a number of East Indian store clerks formerly resident in the Philippine Islands have, on returning from visits to India, been denied by the American customs officials at Manilla permission to land at that port; and, seeing that no allegations have been made against the character and conduct of these people, whether he will make such inquiries and representations on the subject as he may think necessary?

I have received no information on this subject.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the British representatives on the Assembly of the League of Nations have been instructed to support the request of the Albanian Government for the admission of Albania to membership of the League?

The instructions suggested in the question have not been given.

asked the Minister of Food whether he will now agree to an impartial accountancy inquiry into the serious losses alleged by all operators in bacon to have been incurred since the re-control of bacon since August, 1919?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 9th November to the hon. Member for Kirkdale (Mr. Pennefather). All the accounts of the Ministry of Food are examined, audited and reported upon by the Comptroller and Auditor-General, and his report is reviewed by the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons. There is, therefore, no reason for holding any such enquiry as is suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the statement of Lord Beaverbrook, a former Member of this House, that based upon current prices of wheat the quartern loaf in this country should cost 1s. only, and to the further statement that the price of bread is not reduced because the Government bought wheat at high prices and refuses to sell at the current market price; and whether he has any statement to make on the matter?

The attention of the Minister of Food has been directed to this statement, which contains several inaccuracies. As I explained to my hon. Friend in reply to his question of 10th November, the replacement cost of wheat delivered to the miller taken at American prices on 9th November was higher than the price of issue by the Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies to the miller. On 10th November, however, a further fall in America brought the replacement cost slightly below the issue price. There have since then been fluctuations in the world price of wheat, and this morning the American price is 1s. 6d. below the subsidy level, i.e., the cost of buying to-day in America wheat to be available for milling here in five to six weeks' time is 1s. 6d. less than the present issue price of 116s. 6d., basis No. Northern Manitoba.The question of a periodical revision of prices is now under consideration, and the Food Controller hopes to make an announcement shortly as regards this. The suggestion contained in the statement referred to, that the Wheat Commission has the monopoly of imported wheat and flour, is unfounded. In fact, except for certain restrictions in the case of controlled millers, any person is free to import wheat or flour from any source and at any price which he pleases, subject to his giving the Commission particulars as to such imports in order that they may know how the country's stocks stand. It is prudent to remind the House that the wheat crops of South America and Australia, though promising, are not yet harvested, and it is impossible to predict with certainty the course of prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quan- tity of wheat, if any, has been purchased by the Imperial Government and still remains unshipped in Australia; if such wheat is paid for; and if there remains any wheat owned by the Imperial Government lying in Australia not paid for?

I have been asked to reply. Contracts for wheat shortly to be harvested in Australia have, recently been made on c.i.f. terms for United Kingdom account. This wheat, of course, awaits shipment, and has not been paid for. All the wheat bought by Great Britain on f.o.b. terms has been shipped, with the exception of certain small parcels in adjustment of outstanding contracts.

asked the Minister of Food what quantity of hops was imported into the United Kingdom in the 12 months ending the 30th September, 1920?

The quantity of hops imported into the United Kingdom in the 12 months ended 30th September, 1920, was 533,448 cwts.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he is aware that considerable difficulties are likely to be experienced in connection with certificates under Section 5 (1) (ii) of the Rent and Mortgage Restriction Act, 1920, to be issued by the recently constituted county agricultural committees, the Act containing no power for the committees to delegate their powers of granting certificates to sub-committees, and frequent meetings of large committees may be required entailing great expense, there being no provision in the Act for proof of a certificate issued by a committee as evidence in a Court of Law; whether, in these circumstances, he proposes to issue a circular to committees as to their powers under the section; and what steps he proposes to take by initiating legislation, or otherwise, to obviate the difficulties at present arising in practice?

The attention of the Ministry has been called to the difficulty referred to, and I will communicate on the subject with the Ministry of Health, which is more directly concerned with the procedure of county councils and their committees.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have now been commenced by local authorites; and what proportion of their estimated cost has been raised by these authorities?

The number of houses commenced by local authorities is 52,857, the total of loans raised for housing purposes being £86,500,000. With regard to the analysis of these, figures perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will address a further question to me. These figures are exclusive of those relating to the schemes of public utility societies and under the subsidy, which amount to about a further 28,000 houses.

asked the Minister of Health what sums of money have been advanced to local authorities for housing purposes by the Public Works Loans Commissioners; and what is the average rate of interest charged on these advances?

Since the passing of the Housing Act, 1919, the loans granted by the Public Works Loans Commissioners to Local Authorities for Housing amount to £.34,844,441, of which £12,398,353 has been actually advanced. The rate of interest is 6½ per cent. For earlier advances I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the published Reports of the Commissioners.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has decided to appoint a committee to inquire into the high cost of building in connection with Government housing schemes; whether the terms of reference have been settled; what were the terms of reference to the profiteering committees which have been investigating the cost of building materials for more than nine months; and what arrangements will be, made to pre- vent overlapping between these committees and the waste of public money which would be thereby involved?

I propose to appoint a Committee as indicated, but the terms of reference have not been finally settled. I will send the hon. Member a statement showing the terms of reference to the Building Materials Sub-committee, appointed under the Board of Trade, and the Sectional Committees appointed by that Sub-committee. Arrangements have been made with a view to avoid over lapping between those committees.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is a fact that on housing schemes in the city of Birmingham there was recently a shortage of 63 painters and that unemployed painters were refused work when applying for the vacancies?

I understand that painting work on housing schemes at Birmingham is being held up owing to the acute shortage of men in the attendant trades. Owing to this shortage it has not been possible to employ more painters, but if it is overcome, and attempts are being made to overcome it, work will be available for 60 additional painters.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the serious delay in obtaining sanction to proceed with cottages in the area of the Lymington rural district council; whether contracts for cottage building at New Milton, Pilley, Brockenhurst, and Sway were submitted to the Housing Commissioner a month ago upon the assurance that sanction would be given within two days of their receipt; whether all the contracts were sent up within three days of the request being made for them; whether, as a matter of fact, the sanction to proceed was not received until 4th November; whether the example quoted is exceptional or general; and whether, in view of the enormous waste of time which has taken place in complying with the various formalities, he will see his way to decentralise some of the routine work of his department?

I have made inquiries into the question of the housing schemes of the Lymington rural district council at New Milton, Pilley, Brockenhurst, and Sway. The tenders were approved by the Housing Commissioner on the 18th August last, and the letter of approval requested the council to enter into the necessary contracts forthwith. Early in October an inspector from the Housing Commissioner's office urged on the council that the contracts should be submitted at an early date, and stated that he would endeavour to secure approval within a day or two. By some mistake the draft contracts for New Milton and Pilley did not reach the, Housing Commissioner till the October, although the letter enclosing the contracts was in fact dated 8th October. The two contracts in question were approved by the Housing Commissioner on 2nd November. The draft contracts for Brockenhurst and Sway have not yet been submitted for the approval of the Housing Commissioner. The delay in approving the new contracts for New Milton and Pilley is abnormal and to some extent was due to pressure in the Housing Commissioner's office.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of officials employed by local authorities, county and municipal, throughout England and Wales; what was the total number in April, 1914; and how many of these officials have been appointed to administer the scheme introduced by the Ministry of Health and the Board of Education since January, 1919?

The latest complete figures are contained in a table on page XVII of Vol. X (Part I) of the Census for 1911. This shows that the total number of persons employed in any capacity by local authorities in England and Wales was 588,951. The information asked for in the last part of the question is not available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that priority is being given to cabled messages by cable companies on payment of a premium; whether this is in accordance with the cable regulations; whether cables sent through the General Post Office are subject to delays unless a premium is paid for priority; and whether he will state if he has any control over cable companies to prevent such unsatisfactory customs creeping into our cable system?

Priority of transmission is given to urgent telegrams paid for at triple rates for and from all places abroad except those served by the North Atlantic Cable Companies. The arrangement is in accordance with the regulations of the International Telegraph Convention. The proportion of urgent telegrams is small, and their prior transmission does not appreciably prejudice that of telegrams paid for at ordinary rates. If the urgent service were withdrawn, British merchants would be at a disadvantage as compared with their competitors in foreign countries to whom the urgent service would still be available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the hon. Member for Portsmouth (North) sent a cable to Hong Kong in February last; that such cable was never delivered; that, notwithstanding that the date of sending and the office from which the cable was sent has been given, no trace of the cable can be found; and, if in view of such a state of things, he will make it obligatory for the lines over which he has control to give receipts?

Special inquiry has been made as regards the telegram to which the hon. Member refers, but no record of it can be found. Receipts for telegrams handed in at Post Offices can always be obtained on payment of a fee of 1d.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the repeated statements that the telephone difficulty is caused by the shortage of materials and that one of the materials short is silk, and also of the denials by Macclesfield and Congleton silk manufacturers that there is any shortage of this silk required, he will appoint a business committee to inquire into the whole question?

The situation as regards silk is now more favourable; but the past shortages of silk have undoubtedly retarded the production of switchboard cables and other material required for the telephone service. I am satisfied that all possible means have been employed to overcome the difficulties of production and that no advantage would accrue from the appointment of such a committee as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the issue of 1914–15 Star to officers and men of the Royal Navy has yet commenced; if not, what is the cause of the delay; and when will such issue be made, in view of the fact that other of His Majesty's Forces have already received this recognition of their services?

The issue of the 1914–15 Stars to officers and men of the Royal Navy who are still serving began in June last and is now nearly completed. The Stars for those demobilised will be issued with the British War and Victory Medals, which are in course of preparation, and it is hoped to commence the distribution early in the spring of next year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what staff was employed at the London offices of the Admiralty in the year 1913–14, and what was the cost?

The number of employés engaged in the London offices of the Admiralty in 1913–14 was 1,924. The expenditure on the staff in question amounted approximately to £463,602.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping whether he is aware that many British owners are desirous of selling some of their older steamers to foreigners; and will he consider the removal of any restrictions that may exist to prevent this and so enable owners to build new steamers, and thus create employment in the shipbuilding yards of the United Kingdom?

I am aware that some shipowners desire to sell ships to foreign flags. Under the British Ships (Transfer Restriction) Acts, which remain in force for three years after the end of the War, no ship can be transferred to a foreign flag without permission. Each application for permission to transfer is and will be carefully considered on its merits.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping, with reference to the last voyage of the ss. "Patricia" from Bombay to Liverpool, whether he is aware that medical officers state that there was insufficient air space in the cabins, that many of the first-class passengers were put in third-class accommodation on E deck, that many passengers were unable to obtain fresh water to wash in, that there was no fresh water to wash clothes in, that very little notice appears to have been taken of a report submitted on the defects in sanitation, with some suggestions for improvement, that the ship continued in a most insanitary condition, especially on the troop decks, and that no ice was obtainable throughout the Red Sea, there being only a little on board for very serious cases, so that the ordinary sick could have none?

An exhaustive inquiry has been held in regard to the question of the homeward voyage of the "Patricia." It is not correct that there was insufficient air space in the cabins. The accommodation in "E" deck is not third-class accommodation, but second-class; it is true that many of the first-class passengers were berthed on "E" deck, owing to the fact that the Government authorities at Bombay decided that no women of any class should be berthed in "E" deck, and consequently a number of officers had to be berthed there. It is true that no ice was obtainable through the Red Sea, except for hospital purposes. The supply taken at Bombay was considered ample to supply all needs as far as Egypt, but owing to the length of the voyage, and the fact that the refrigerator was out of order, the supply put on board at Bombay was not sufficient, and consequently the five tons remaining when the ship arrived at Aden had to be reserved entirely for medical purposes. With regard to the other points, I would refer to my reply of the 8th November to the hon. and gallant Member for Clackmannan.

asked the Minister of Labour what qualifications are necessary for appointment as investigator under the Trade Boards Acts?

As my hon. Friend is perhaps aware, I have decided, as a measure of economy, to amalgamate the Inspectors appointed under the Trade Boards Acts and the Inspectors appointed under the Unemployment Insurance Act. This process is not complete, but a number of Inspectors of the latter class are already engaged in, Trade Board inspection. Trade Board Inspectors have, since the passing of the original Act of 1909, been appointed by selection, on the basis of general educational qualifications. The Unemployment Insurance Inspectors are recruited by promotion from the general Employment Exchange service. The future method of recruitment of both classes is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women, respectively, are now employed in the Trade Board Section of the Ministry of Labour?

The numbers of men and women now employed in the Trade Boards Section of the Ministry of Labour are 121 and 69, respectively. Of these, 41 men and 16 women are permanent. I would remind my hon. Friend that since the Armistice the number of Trade Boards has been increased from 13 to 59, and the number of workpeople covered from about 500,000 to about 3,000,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether gamekeepers are included within the purview of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920; whether agricultural labourers, foresters, horticulturists, personal servants, and domestic servants are exempted from the provisions of the Act; if so, on what grounds are gamekeepers included; and whether he has power to make Regulations excluding gamekeepers?

The question, whether gamekeepers are insurable under the Act has been submitted for determination under Section 10, and a decision will be given at an early date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that certain boat-building firms in Yorkshire, and particularly the Sheffield and South Yorks Company, are paying their workpeople a rate which is in excess of the district boat-building and ship-building rate by authority or discretion of the Canal Controller; whether he was consulted before such authorisation took place; and whether it is desirable that different rates should be paid in boat-building yards in the same district?

I presume that my hon. Friend's question refers to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Company. I understand that authority was given to this company by the Chairman of the Canal Control Committee, to pay building trade rates to certain men engaged upon boat-building. I was not consulted and I do not know what were the circumstances under which the authority was given.

asked the Prime-Minister whether the Government has any record of sales of glebe land by clergymen; whether he is aware that these private sales are often not in the interests either of the clergymen or of the tenants, since in the former case local feeling is aroused and in the latter there is often unfortunate disturbance of the lessees; whether such sales could be controlled by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners; and whether, in view of the importance of the matter, he will ascertain whether any remedial steps can be taken without delay?

Sales of glebe by incumbents of benefices are, under the authority of several Acts of Parliament, carried out with the sanction of the Ministry of Agriculture or the Ecclesiastical Commissioners or the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty; records would exist in these offices; sales are sanctioned for the permanent benefit of the benefices concerned and do not cause other or greater disturbance of tenants than sales by other landowners; such sales are already under the control of the authorities named, and there appears to be no need for the provision of other control.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is a fact that a letter was addressed by one of the associations to the Civil Service Commissioners on the second day of the special examination for temporary clerks asking that some allowance should be made to the candidates taking the examination at the Crystal Palace, in view of the absence of heating and the multiplicity of noises; whether he is aware that a petition has been signed by 400 candidates protesting against the conditions that prevailed; and whether he can now give an assurance, in view of the great importance of the examination, that some extra consideration will be shown to these candidates as to other candidates at other centres?

A letter was addressed from the Federation of Temporary Staff Associations to the Civil Service Commissioners on 2nd November respecting the conditions of the examination held at the Crystal Palace on the 26th, 27th and 28th October, and the Commissioners saw a deputation of candidates and representatives of associations on the 4th November about the matters mentioned in the letter. They have, however, no knowledge of the petition referred to. Absolute equality of conditions is unattainable when an examination is held at several centres, but in valuing the work of candidates at the examination in question the Commissioners would have regard to the conditions that prevailed at the various examination halls.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total cost per cent. of the recent issue of Treasury bonds; and what is the amount subscribed?

The amount subscribed to Treasury Bonds, First Series, was £11,955,000, and the cost of the issue, including commission and advertising, was, approximately, 16s. 6d. per £100.

asked the Secretary of Mines whether he will consider, under the powers of the Mines Act, 1920, the reopening of the Parys Copper Mine, Anglesey, which gave employment formerly to 1,500 people, seeing that the lode is rich and far from being exhausted and that profitable employment could be found for hundreds of unemployed men?

The question of Government assistance in this matter has been several times carefully considered. The Parys mine has been frequently examined by experts in recent years above the adit level, but although wide bodies of low-grade ore have been found in the faces of the old stopes, the results of such investigations have not been sufficiently encouraging to enable money to be found to pump out the water from the mines below adit level and to sample the lodes at the bottom. In these circumstances the Government is not prepared to take action.

asked the Secretary for Mines what are the numbers of the personnel of the Mines Department and also any recent appointments to it, giving the salaries paid to the officials appointed?

The present number of the staff of the Mines Department is 418. But the organisation of the Department is not complete; the functions of the Home Office Mines Division have not yet been transferred. The chief appointments already made in the Department are those of the Permanent Under- Secretary for Mines and the Chief Labour Adviser at salaries of £1,800 and £l,500 per annum respectively (exclusive of bonus), and of the Financial Adviser (temporary) at a salary of £1,500 a year (inclusive of bonus).

asked the Home Secretary whether ex-Chief Warder Miller, Dartmoor Prison, has retired with a pension of £10 10s. 2d. less than that of ex-Principal Warder Baldwin, Parkhurst Prison, and £34 8s. 8d. less in gratuity than the latter officer; can he account for what appears to be an injustice, in view of the fact that Mr. Miller was superior in rank and senior in service to the other officer; and what action he intends taking in the matter?

The matter of these pensions is entirely one for the Treasury and is now under their Lordships' consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce at an early date the Bill to amend the Workmen's Compensation Acts; and whether, in drafting the Bill, regard will be had to the present position of men who are totally incapacitated through accident?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a similar question last Monday. The point referred to in the second part of the question will be carefully considered.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give consideration to the remuneration of borough coroners, which is still calculated upon the same basis as before the War; and whether, in view of increases having been granted to many county coroners with the approval of the Home Office, he is prepared to amend the present statute so that increased fees may be paid to borough coroners?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a similar question on the 11th instant.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, under the proposed constitution of Malta, the Government of Malta will have any power of conferring privileges on a particular church or denomination which are not enjoyed by other Christian churches or denominations, or to subject the clergy or agents of any religious body to restrictions which are not of general application?

Clause 56 of the Draft Constitution for Malta provides that all persons inhabiting the Colony shall have full liberty of conscience and the free exercise of their respective modes of religious worship, and that no person shall be subjected to any disability or excluded from holding any office by reason of his religious profession. Subject to this proviso the people of Malta will be entirely self-governing in matters of religion and will not be precluded from giving special recognition in education or otherwise to the religion of the overwhelming majority of the population.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies when the connection between the Shire Highland Railway and Lake Nyassa will be begun, and in what time he calculates it can be completed?

Correspondence with the Governor of Nyasaland on this subject is still in progress, and I regret that I am unable to make any statement as to the date on which construction will be begun.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the average length of life after retirement of West African officials; whether it is proposed to increase the length of service before retirement on pension; and whether it is proposed to revise the leave regulations and, if so, in what manner?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative, as statistics have not been kept. The matters referred to in the other part of the. question are now under consideration, but no final decision has yet been arrived at with regard to them. Certain changes have been proposed in the existing leave and pension regulations, in the mutual interest of Government and officials. While it is hoped to secure a more efficient administration by changes in certain directions, it is proposed to make liberal concessions to officials in others. In any case, it is not proposed that the new arrangements should be applied to officers who joined the Service before 1919, except by their own wish.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many men and women, respectively, were employed by his Department in November 1918, and what the numbers are at the present time?

1,800 men and 450 women were employed by my Department in November, 1918, and the numbers employed at present are 2,254 men and 409 women. The increase in the number of men is due chiefly to the work in connection with housing which we are carrying out for the Ministry of Health.

asked the First Commissioner of Works which of the temporary buildings in the London parks will be removed in the near future?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to state when it will be possible to remove any of the temporary buildings in the Royal Parks.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the recent Greenwood case the accused man was detained in prison awaiting trial for the period of four and a half months; and whether he proposes to take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

Yes; I understand that the fact is substantially as stated in the first part of the question, though I have no doubt that, if the accused had applied for the removal of the case to the Central Criminal Court, his application would have been granted. The question how best to expedite the trial of criminal eases-is under consideration.

asked the hon. Member for Greenock, as representing the Charity Commissioners, if he will state what sums of money were, in the last completed year, paid by the City Parochial Foundation under Schedule VII of the scheme of 1891 made under the City of London Parochial Charities Act, 1883, for the maintenance, of the fabrics and the maintenance of public worship in churches within the City of London; whether public worship is maintained in all such City churches; and with what body it rests to sec that the sums so paid by the City Parochial Foundation are devoted to the purposes set out in the schedule aforesaid?

During the year ended 31st December, 1919, payments amounting in the aggregate to £15,139 were made by the Central Governing Body out of the income of the City Church Fund for the maintenance of fabrics and services of churches named in the VII Schedule to the Central Scheme. So far as I have been able to ascertain, public worship was maintained during the same year in all the churches in respect of which such payments were made, with the possible exception of St. Katherine Coleman.In answer to the last part of the question, the Central Scheme contains no provision imposing any such responsibility upon any body of persons. The minister and churchwardens of any church to whom any payments are made for the purposes mentioned in the VII Schedule are accountable for the due application of the sums so received in accordance with the general law affecting the administration of charitable trusts. If the attention of the Charity Commissioners is drawn to any alleged diversion they will be prepared to deal with the matter under their statutory powers.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, as a result of the Burnham scale of salaries for teachers in England being considerably more generous than the scale of salaries for teachers in Scotland, Scottish teachers are now emigrating to England, attracted by the better salaries; whether the supply of teachers in Scotland, particularly male teachers, is even now unequal to the demand; whether a greater diminution of the teachers of Scotland will prejudice the education of Scottish pupils; how the emigration of Scottish teachers indicated may be prevented; and whether he intends to take any steps to do so?

It is true that the Burn-ham scales of salaries are more generous in some, though not in all, respects as regards qualified teachers than those obtaining in Scotland. But it is important to note that the Burnham scales contemplate the continued employment of a very considerable number of teachers who in Scotland would be regarded as unqualified. These are paid on much lower scales of salaries than the qualified teachers. The number of these unqualified teachers in England and Wales, according to our latest information, is 35,596, whereas in Scotland the corresponding number is only 439. These few are not allowed to reckon as part of the school staff except in very special circumstances.The transfer of teachers from the one country to the other, and particularly from Scotland to England, has been a practice of long standing which the Department have no desire to restrict. But they have no reason to believe that it is at present on a scale much in excess of the normal, particularly as regards male teachers. The supply of male teachers in Scotland for general purposes is believed to be at least as adequate as in England in proportion to the population. But the proportion of pupils attending secondary schools is much higher in Scotland, and there is at present a shortage of teachers, particularly of male teachers, with the qualifications required for the special work of these schools. It is hoped that the higher scales of remuneration of such teachers compared with those of teachers of primary schools will in time do something to remedy this.As to the other parts of the question, the Department, as already indicated, have no intention of erecting artificial barriers to check migration of teachers from one country to another, and it rests with the education authorities, collectively or individually, to take such steps as they may think fit in the circumstances of their district, and with due regard to its resources, to maintain a sufficient supply of teachers for the service of their schools. Many, if not most, of these authorities already offer terms of remuneration in excess of the requirements of the minimum national scale.