asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether all Admiralty orders, battle orders, fighting instructions, signals, and official reports, bearing on the Battle of Jutland, including the Report of the Harper Committee on that action, have been made available for officer-students and their instructors at the Royal Naval Staff College; and whether similar details and information on other actions and strategical movements in the late War have also been made available?

Every care is taken to ensure that the Staff College is provided with the necessary official material for the naval study of the War. The Instructors also have access to original documents as necessary for their official duties. It is not considered desirable to enter into further detail on this matter.

Why cannot the hon. and gallant Gentleman answer me Yes or No? Why cannot he inform the House whether this vital information upon which the founding of our future policy has to be decided is available for the Naval Staff College?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend cannot complain as to the courtesy of my replies. The matter is one of considerable delicacy, but what information is considered by the authority to be necessary for the Staff College will be imparted.

I have never complained of discourtesy on the part of the hon. and gallant Gentleman or any other Minister, but is he aware that it is absolutely necessary, quite apart from any feelings of delicacy on the part of the higher command at the Admiralty, that all this information should be available for this confidential work? Will he give the matter his careful consideration?

I think, if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will reflect, he will see it is a matter of who is to decide what is necessary, and I think the Admiralty are in a position to decide.

Is my hon. and gallant Friend rot aware that battle orders, and the details set out in the question, are not matters of delicacy, but matters of fact, and why cannot they be issued to officers who require them for their mental training?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend will have to be satisfied with the answer I have given to the hon. and gallant Gentleman opposite

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, when the Report of the Battle of Jutland is published, he will arrange to include the charts which accompanied the Harper Report and which show the plotted positions of the various units during the different phases of the battle?

The Jutland papers will, as promised by the Prime Minister, consist of the original reports and documents, without any official interpretation. It follows that Captain Harper's diagrams, which are in the nature of official interpretation of the evidence, will not be included. But there will be a large number of original track-charts published, including those drawn up by the British and German Commanders-in-Chief.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what has been the total expenditure on the Navy since the Armistice, exclusive of expenses of demobilisation, and showing separately, where possible, the expenditure on separate areas?

I apprehend that the hon. Member's question is directed towards ascertaining the expenditure on the maintenance of the Navy after making allowance, not only for demobilisation expenses, but for the liquidation of charges relating to the war period between the date of the Armistice and the present time. On this basis, the figure may be taken, on a rough approximation, as £154,000,000. I regret that, as the accounts of expenditure are kept under Services and not under areas, it would not be possible to allocate the figure over separate areas without an expenditure of time and labour which, under the present conditions of pressure at the Admiralty, would not be justified.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it has been decided to give compensation to naval officers who were prisoners of war in Turkey in respect of the high cost of living which they had to meet owing to depreciated currency and to the fact that they were given no rations or other assistance by the Turkish Government; and, if so, when such compensation will be paid?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative As regards the second part, payments are being made with all possible speed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, in view of the need of economy and the cost of paper and printing whether he is aware that the Statistical Report of the Health of the Navy in 1914 was only issued on 27th October or a few weeks ago; whether he will consider what action shall be taken in regard to Reports for subsequent years; whether a brief Report covering the whole of the war years will meet the needs of the situation; and whether similar action can be taken in regard to any other belated Reports?

The Admiralty are advised that a break in the continuity of the statistical information contained in this Report would to a great extent destroy the value of the whole series. The comparative statistics published in these Reports form a basis on which preventive measures and effects of treatment in important diseases are estimated. Hardly any economy will be effected by the course suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend, but if the House will be satisfied not to have these Reports issued as Command Papers, they could be produced as Stationery Office Publications at a saving of about 20 per cent, on the present cost. The publication would then cost about £100 per annum.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the estimated value of the salvage work performed by the engineering and carpenter officers and men in saving H.M.S. "Vimiera" after she was in collision with H.M.S. "Delhi" and badly holed; and what awards have been made to the officers and men concerned?

The work done by officers and ratings on H.M.S. "Vimiera" was not properly salvage, but consisted in effecting temporary repairs. Consequently the question of salvage awards does not arise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty will consider the advisability of granting to men on foreign service 15 days' leave for each completed six months of foreign service so as to bring foreign service leave more into line with the amount of leave now given to men in ships in home waters?

To increase the scale of foreign service leave as suggested would entail an addition of about 1,100 ratings to the present strength of the Royal Navy—at an estimated cost of £220,000 per annum. At present ratings receive ten days' drafting leave before proceeding on foreign service, and on return are granted seven days' leave for each completed six months of such service. As all ratings receive uniform shares of home and foreign service, no reason is seen for granting leave on the same scale for the two varieties of service.

Would it not be possible to hold over the residue of leave to these men returning from long distances abroad, and give it to them later, when they are stationed in home service ships, and give it in, addition to ordinary annual leave?

I will certainly have inquiry made into that suggestion.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether any cabins in small ships are now occupied by officers' servants; if so, what are their duties and status; whether engineers in charge of the propelling and other important machinery in His Majesty's ships should have priority in the use of these cabins before the personal servants of officers, etc.; and whether, where the fourth cabin is used continuously as a store room, arrangements can be made for their use by the engineer-in-charge?

As far as is known, none of the cabins in small ships are occupied by officers' servants. This is only the case in large ships where certain chief stewards and cooks are allotted cabins. In all large vessels the engineer officer in charge has a cabin; this part of the question does not, therefore, arise. Cabins are never permanently used as store rooms, and since my reply to the hon. Member's question of the 24th ultimo I have ascertained that no case has been reported in which cabins have even temporarily been used as store rooms.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many admirals are now flying their flags in the ships of the Reserve Fleet; whether in all cases these officers have full staffs; what were the dates of their appointment; and in how many cases have they been to sea in their flagships since hoisting their flags?

The Reserve Fleet is under the command of a Vice-Admiral with four Rear-Admirals under him for the administration of the Reserve ships at the various ports. These officers are allowed special reduced staffs.

The dates of their appointments were as follows:— Vice-Admiral Commanding Reserve Fleet, 14th September, 1920. Rear-Admiral Reserve Fleet, the Nore, 17th March, 1920. Rear-Admiral Reserve Fleet, Portsmouth, 23rd April, 1920. Rear-Admiral Reserve Fleet, Devon-port, 9th April, 1920. Rear-Admiral Reserve Fleet, Rosyth, 1st May, 1920. The Vice-Admiral has been to sea in his flagship, but the Rear-Admirals have not been required to proceed to sea.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the serious explosion of a mine on the South Coast, near Sandgate, on Sunday morning last, which resulted in the death of two coast-guardsmen and in the destruction of property in the neighbourhood to the estimated value of several thousands of pounds; and whether his Department is prepared to pay compensation to the relatives of those who lost their lives and to those whose property was destroyed?

My attention has been called to the explosion referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, which resulted in the regrettable death of two Coast Guard ratings and in the destruction of certain property. The Coast Guard ratings appear to have lost their lives in the course of the performance of their duty, and the claims of dependent relatives will be dealt with by the Ministry of Pensions. The Admiralty cannot admit any liability for damage done to surrounding property by the explosion of mines washed ashore. The full report of the circumstances, however, is not yet to hand, but I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as it is received.

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman give any assurance that this matter will be pressed forward as soon as possible, because many of the sufferers in this explosion are placed in a position of complete ruin?

A report has already been asked for, and I do not anticipate any delay; but as the Admiralty cannot undertake any steps in connection with loss to the civil population, perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will put a question down to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give the findings of the committee which recently visited Devonport to inquire into the accommodation of the sick berth staff at the Royal Naval Hospital?

This Committee, which is dealing with a large number of other shore establishments in addition to the Royal Naval Hospital at Plymouth, has not yet made its report.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state what capital ships are now in course of construction in the Royal yards and in private yards, respectively; and when it is expected the work on these ships will be completed?

There are no capital ships now in course of construction for His Majesty's Navy in the Royal yards or by private firms.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give the House any information regarding the Naval construction programmes of the United States of America and Japan, specifying in each case the number of ships laid down and the class to which they belong?

As the answer is a long one, perhaps the hon. Gentleman will allow me to publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following answer is supplied :

As regards the United States of America, in 1916 the United States Congress authorised a three years' programme —also in 1917, 250 destroyers and 30 submarines were authorised as a war measure.

The ships authorised by both measures are as under:— Battleships 10 Battle Cruisers 6 Light Cruisers 10 Destroyers 300 Submarines about 97

Of the above the following are now under construction, together with one battleship belonging to the 1915 programme, the remainder having been completed:— Battleships 11 Battle Cruisers 6 Light Cruisers 10 Destroyers 63 Submarines 54 Gunboats 1

Japan has on hand ( a ) the balance of an old programme due for completion in 1923–24, and ( b ) a new programme due for completion in 1927–28.

( a ) The residue of the old programme is:— Battleships 4 Battle Cruisers 4 Light Cruisers 11 Destroyers 41

( b ) The new programme provides for:— Battleships 4 Battle Cruisers 4 Light Cruisers 12 Destroyers 30 to 40

The number of ships laid down, including those completing, in so far as is reported, is: — Battleships 4 Battle Cruisers Nil Light Cruisers 5 Destroyers (at least) 8

With regard to submarines, there is no official information available.

The figures in both cases are those reported up to the end of September, 1920.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether cadets from the training ships "Conway" and "Worcester" are allowed first-class return railway tickets at single fares for the purpose of travelling to and from their homes, whereas the privilege of reduced fares for boys of the Lancashire and National Sea Training Homes at Liscard, Cheshire, has been withdrawn; if this withdrawal has his approval; on what grounds, if any, such distinction is allowed; and whether the privilege can be restored?

The cheap travelling concessions granted in the War for leave were withdrawn, so far as they depended on the Admiralty's recommendation, from the training ships "Conway" and "Worcester," the National Sea Training Homes, Liscard, and other mercantile training homes at the end of June last, so that no distinction such as is suggested in the question is in operation, unless arrangements have been made privately by the institutions concerned with the railway companies. It was decided, when the whole question of travelling concessions was under consideration, that it was not possible for the Admiralty to recommend the continuance of War concessions to establishments not under Admiralty control, and it is regretted that the Admiralty are not in a position to press for the restoration of such privileges to persons not in the Naval Service.

Is it not the fact that these boys are to a certain extent under the control of the Board of Education, who pay a £10 grant for their education; that these boys are poor, and that the withdrawal of this concession makes it difficult for them to visit their homes?

My hon. and gallant Friend will recognise the fact that the withdrawal of this concession throughout the country is imposing a hardship upon the poorer classes of the community; but this particular case is not under the Admiralty.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if his attention has been drawn to a definite statement in the local Press to the effect that there are five Admiralty Departments still housed in the Royal Liver Buildings in Liverpool and that the rentals of these offices and the staffs employed are large; and will he make a full statement on the matter, giving the names and purposes of the Departments, the rents paid for offices, and the number and total salaries of the staffs?

As the answer is rather a long one I will, with the hon. Gentle man's permission, have it published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The answer is as follows: —

My attention has been drawn to the statement in question. Although some of the facts of the matter have already been stated in answer to recent questions, the following statement covers the whole of the present question: The Departments occupying offices in the Royal Liver Buildings are: the Defensive Equipment of Merchant Ships Department, the Director of Naval Construction, the Admiral Superintendent (Reconditioning), the Civil Engineer-in-Chief. The Defensive Equipment of Merchant Ships Department is engaged in the reconditioning of merchant vessels equipped during the War with gun armament (of which there were 4,300 at the time of the Armistice), and with paravanes (of which there were 2,964). Two rooms are occupied by a staff of 15, drawing a total annual salary of £5,106. As regards the Director of Naval Construction Department, Liverpool is the headquarters of a very large district. The Warship Production Superintendent at Liverpool and his staff are in charge of all vessels, warships and auxiliaries, trawlers and drifters, building in the whole of North-West district of England, including Barrow and Ireland. They are also overseers for all shipbuilding material purchased for the Naval Service throughout the same area, which for this purpose includes Birmingham, Manchester, and surrounding districts. They further deal with all questions involved in the settlement of the contracts for all ships built in the district during the War, whether completed, cancelled, or transferred in an incomplete condition to the Royal Dockyards, including the financial questions involved. The disposal of surplus material resulting from the cancellation of Admiralty vessels which were building in many yards, small and large, throughout the districts, also the settlement of claims resulting from an enormous number of broken sub-contracts, involves a great volume of work, more particularly as this Department is settling up all the remainder of the ship constructive and material questions left by the various Departments—now disbanded—set up by the Controller of the Navy during the War to provide the enormous Fleet required. When the temporary work is done there will remain a permanent staff to deal with the ordinary overseering work for Naval Supplies. This staff will be less than that engaged on this work for many years before the War.

The staff at Liverpool itself numbers nine officers, drawing a total annual salary of about £4,000. They occupy two offices (converted into three rooms). Other offices have now been found for this Department at a rent of £60 a year, and it is hoped that they will be ready for occupation in February next. The Admiral Superintendent (Reconditioning) with his staff (16 in all) is engaged in closing accounts in connection with armed merchant cruisers reconditioned. The Belfast district is included. He occupies six rooms. Three of these will be vacated in a few days' time, and the remainder, it is hoped, in March, when the Liverpool office will be closed. The total salaries amount to £4,800 a year.

For the Liverpool district, the civil engineer-in-chief has an officer in charge of works (with a foreman of works and a typist) occupying one room. His duties are now connected with the surrender and reconditioning of property taken over for war purposes. This work is nearing an end, and the office will be closed in March next. The salaries amount to £777 a year. As regards the general question of rent, the total amount cannot be given. The offices were requisitioned, and, with the exception of three rooms, for which a payment of £12 10s. a month is made, the rental value is still under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has received any further communication from the High Commissioner in Mesopotamia regarding the progress being made by the new Arab Government which he can communicate to the House; what progress is being made in the drafting of the organic law; and whether conditions in Mesopotamia now permit of the reopening of trade on the railways and by river?

Various communications which I have lately received from the High Commissioner on matters of detail show that the Council of State has entered upon its administrative duties, but I do not think that I can yet make any definite statement of progress in reply to the first two parts of the question. With regard to the third part, I am not aware that trade has ever been discontinued by river; railway connection between Baghdad and Basra has not yet been re-established.

Will my right hon. Friend say when the transfer of Mesopotamia to this Department, as suggested in his speech of yesterday, is likely to take place?

I cannot say, but I hope soon.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, having regard to the constant raids into the North-west Frontier Province of India extending to the murder and capture of British officers, the Government of India has formulated any definite and permanent policy for dealing with the frontier; and, if so, when it may be hoped that these raids will cease?

As a result of the Afghan War, and of the part played in it by some of the tribes, military operations have been undertaken against the Mahsuds and Wazirs with complete success. The Mahsuds have taken contracts for road-making, and considerable numbers of them are now engaged in that peaceful occupation. The Wazirs have accepted the terms imposed by the Government of India. A railway is being constructed in the Kyber. The frontier militias have been re arranged and the distribution of regular troops re-arranged. And other measures have been, and are being, taken with the object of securing more stable conditions on the frontier. It may be hoped that the combined effect of these measures will eventually be to reduce, if not to prevent entirely, the number of raids, but I can, of course, name no date.

Has the railway actually been commenced through the Khyber, and is the policy of railways and roads to be extended to other parts of the frontier as opportunity offers?

Road-making is the best security, I think, against raids. I am not quite sure whether the railway has actually been commenced, but I think it has. I am informed that it was to be commenced last month. Perhaps the hon. Member will put down another question.

asked the Secretary of State for India what general increases in salaries and what war bonuses have been granted to the staffs at the India Stores, Belvedere Road, S.E., since 1914; whether the pensioned and unpensioned staff are treated on quite a different basis as regards war bonus; whether he is aware that there is discontent amongst the staff employed there, and can his Department inquire into the complaints of the staff with a view of placing all men who are doing the same kind of work on the same basis as regards pay, war bonus, and pensions?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will have published in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement of the general increases in salaries.

War bonuses for pensionable staff are in accordance with decisions of His Majesty's Treasury based on the recommendations of the National Whitley Council for the Civil Service. For the non-pensionable staff, they are in accordance with Government awards made by the Industrial Court from time to time for the Government employés concerned. At present the war bonus is 41s. a week on the pre-War wage of 25s. 6d., in addition to which 12 ½ per cent. is added to the total of wages and bonus. The only evidences of discontent that have been brought to my notice are a request from the labourers to be placed on the pensionable establishment, and a petition from the inspectors for an improvement in their salaries. All complaints from the staff are dealt with under the Whitley procedure as applied to Government Departments. These matters are at pre sent engaging the earnest attention of the High Commissioner for India.

Is it not quite usual to make a distinction between the pensioned and unpensioned staffs?

I should not like to endorse any generalisations.

May I ask whether there are any English or Christian members of the staff left?

I do not know to what the hon. Member refers. I have no knowledge of the religious belief of any of these people, but I am given to understand that they are nearly all English.

The following is the statement referred to:

General increases in salaries have been as follow:

Supervisors. 1914.—£250, rising to £500. 1920.—£325, rising to £600.

Assistant Inspectors. 1914.—£150, rising to £250. 1920.—£170, rising to £250.

Sub-Inspectors. 1914.—48s. a week, rising to 54s. a week. 1920.—£150, rising to £165.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the systematic propaganda which is being carried on, obviously on behalf of interested parties, in the newspapers and elsewhere, against the proposed Minesweepers' Trawling Society with a view to persuading fishermen not to support and so lose the advantage of the scheme which was devised for their benefit; and whether he proposes to take any steps to counteract it?

I have been asked to reply to this question. My attention has been drawn to a campaign against the Minesweepers' Trawling Society, but I do not think that any steps are necessary to counteract it. As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Hull on the 15th ultimo, various matters in connection with the society are under consideration. A further pronouncement will be made when they have been duly considered.

May I ask the hon. and gallant Gentleman if he will cultivate that unusual Ministerial attribute of candour and let the House and the country know definitely and explicitly whether or not it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to burke this excellent scheme in the interests of a gang of profiteering fishmongers?

My hon. Friend will recognise that his right hon. Friend the Member for Platting (Mr. Clynes) is Chairman, or, at any rate, acting in connection with the scheme; he may, therefore, rest assured that the interests of which he is speaking at the moment will be well looked after by the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state under what authority he intervenes in the internal dissensions of the baking business, whether relating to the sexes of the bakers or the manner, method, and times in, and at, which they bake?

The authority would be the Industrial Courts Act, 1919. If my hon. Friend, however, is referring to the Scottish baking dispute, I have not yet intervened, and should not do so as long as the Joint Industrial Council is dealing with the matter.

Is it not the object of the right hon. Gentleman and the object of the Government to keep out of the baking business, and out of all business, except that of governing

My hon. Friend misunderstands the situation. I am not "in the baking business." There is a dispute, and, while I have a very strong prejudice about people minding their own business, it is my duty under the Industrial Courts Act, Part I, Section 2, Sub-section (2), to intervene if I think I ought to do so in the public interest.

Without any application?

Yes, in the bulk of cases I receive an application. Occasionally I do not. If I do not, I hold a court of inquiry under Part II.

Does the right hon. Member know what once happened to the chief baker?

Will the Government continue to be a party to disputes of this character for an indefinite period?

Perhaps my hon. Friend had better read the Act!

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to circulate to the Press a list showing the number of ex-service men unemployed in each borough in London; whether the borough council is on the King's Roll or not; how many ex-service men are employed in each case; whether any special appeal has been addressed to them on the matter; and, if so, with what result?

asked the Minister of Labour which Metropolitan borough Councils have, and which have not, given their names to the King's Roll?

To give the figures for each Metropolitan borough is very difficult, as the areas are not coterminous with the Labour Exchange areas. As regards the second part of the question, 23 of the 28 borough councils are on the King's Roll—a comparatively good record. I am continuing my appeal to the other five, and I hope I may secure their favourable response.

Would the right hon. Gentleman indicate the names of the five abstaining boroughs?

No, I would rather not at the moment. It may very well be that some of these five boroughs, the views of which are before me, are already employing the requisite number, but are not on the list. I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that I will not give them any rest in the matter.

May I repeat my question to-day week as to the five?

As to the date, I will discuss it with my hon. and gallant Friend.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that within a reasonable period he will publish a complete list of these borough councils who have not supported the Government plan?

Surely the right hon. Gentleman can ascertain in seven days whether or not these five boroughs are employing a sufficient number of men to entitle them to be on the roll?

Compared with local authorities over the country, I think we have done very well—23 out of 28— as the average figures will show. I will do my best for the men; I hope I may not fail.

asked the Minister of Labour why, when there are 18,072 places in the instructional factories, only 8,000 men have been selected for training at the end of the second year after the Armistice; what is the cause of the delay; why these places cannot be immediately filled, in view of the number of candidates; what is the average cost of the training of each man in Government factories, including the charge for interest or depreciation on capital assets; what is the accountancy staff now employed in connection with such factories; and whether he is aware of the public criticisms to the effect that the whole administration of these factories tends to be slow, costly, and thus relatively ineffective?

I cannot accept the implication that there has been a two years' delay in filling the Government instructional factories that have been set up by the Ministry of Labour. It was not until August, 1919, that, this Ministry took over the full administration of these schemes, and such was the difficulty of obtaining suitable premises that many months elapsed before it was found possible to acquire sufficient accommodation. When the buildings had been acquired, extensive adaptations and the installation of elaborate equipment were necessary in many cases. The average cost of training a man in a Government instructional factory is £25 per month, including his allowance and a proper charge for depreciation on capital assets. The Accountancy Staff now employed at such factories is 229, and the cost is 2 per cent, of the expenditure of the factories. Since I took up my work at the Ministry of Labour I have visited many training centres in different parts of the country, and I am satisfied that they are carrying out well the requitement of the profound obligation under which we rest to the men being trained in them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure us that there shall be no stint in these factories of the necessary appliances and the necessary upkeep expenses of training these men?

We shall certainly have regard to the prudent expenditure of public money. Subject to that, as far as I am concerned, these men will get in training all we can give them.

asked the Minister of Labour if all unemployed sailors, soldiers, and airmen have now been dealt with by having had suitable employment offered to them; if he will state the numbers of these men who have not been able to accept such offers by reason of the un-suitability of employment offered, considering either their lack of training, physical incapacity, or labour regulations; and what steps he proposes to take to enable all such fighting men to overcome these various handicaps and obtain employment?

I certainly could not say that all unemployed ex-service men have been dealt with by having suitable employment offered to them, though I can say that no effort has been spared by the Employment Exchanges to find suitable employment. And in that endeavour my hon. Friend will realise that our difficulties have been greatly increased by the recent fall in the employment barometer. As regards disabled men, my hon. Friend is familiar with our training system for disabled men. And as regards the case of the men whose disabilities are of such a character as to make it extremely unlikely that they can ever effectively compete in the industrial market, I appointed on 22nd September an Inter-Departmental Committee, including representatives of the Ministry of Pensions and of the Ministry of Labour to consider the cases of these men and report to me as to whether it may be necessary for us to make further provision in their behalf.

Are there any powers with which this House can endow the right hon. Gentleman that he requires in order to enable him to deal effectively with this problem?

As regards these disabled men I shall in due course receive the report to which I have referred and it will be considered, and then I shall make the necessary representations to the Government.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea when the Departmental Committee will report on this very urgent matter?

The Parliamentary Secretary, to whom I am greatly indebted in regard to this question, has promised to report, if possible, before the close of the year.

I wish to ask whether the negotiations with the building trade unions are yet complete, in order that these 50,000 men can be employed?

We are awaiting the Government decision as to the proposals which we may or may not put to the building trade. Until that decision is taken the whole thing is marking time. No arrangements can be made with the building trade at the moment until the decision of the Government has been arrived at. I hope that decision will be taken at an early date and then proposals will be put to the trade, and I hope they will help us by coming to a decision one way or the other.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on this question the Government have been marking time for 16 months since July, 1919, and is it not high time that we knew whether the fault is with the building trade or the Government? The negotiations should be brought to an end one way or the other and these men should be found employment by Christmas.

My hon. Friend has called my attention to the intermittent discussions which have gone on since July last year. I have already agreed that it is high time we got a decision in this matter and we shall do our best.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what will be the position unless a decision is arrived at between the Government and the building trade?

I do not think that I need contemplate that for a moment. I am endeavouring to find an agreement without raising alternative or ulterior propositions until I have failed to get an agreement.

asked the Minister of Health (1), how many discharged sailors and soldiers who are suffering from loss of memory or other nervous disability are at present in pauper lunatic asylums;

(2), how many discharged sailors and soldiers who are suffering from loss of memory or other nervous disability are at present in Poor Law institutions?

I have made such inquiries as have been possible within the short time since my hon. Friend first asked this question, and, so far as I can ascertain, the number of discharged sailors and soldiers suffering from nervous disabilities who are at present in Poor Law institutions must be inconsiderable. No such cases would be admitted to lunatic asylums unless certified as insane. Poor Law authorities have been instructed to report all cases of discharged disabled sailors and soldiers who apply to them for relief to the Pensions Authorities.

I may add that, although I have used the word "inconsiderable," there does not appear to be definite evidence as to any.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to deal with the tuberculous ex-service men; and whether the Tuberculosis Bill will be passed through all its stages this Session?

Considerable additions have been and are being made to the available accommodation for the sanatorium treatment of tuberculous ex-service men, and to the facilities available for the concurrent treatment and training of these men. Provision is made in the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Bill for the establishment of village settlements and employment colonies for the benefit of tuberculous patients and their families, but I regret to say that owing to the pressure of Parliamentary business it will not be possible to pass the Bill this Session.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication as to whether it will be introduced at any early date next Session?

I think my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House has already replied to that question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware of the increasing dissatisfaction among ex-service men by reason of the delays in the settlement of their injury and other claims; and if he will explain why the hon. Member for Frome has for six weeks been without more than a bald acknowledgment of his detailed and reiterated statement of the claims of his constituent, Charles E. Wheeler, Styles Hill Cottage, Rodden, Frome, late regimental tailor, 2/1st North Somerset Yeomanry, registered No. 25, injuries, 6043 (F3)?

I regret that it has been impossible so far to amplify the answer given to the hon. Member in October last. Wheeler was not enlisted and has therefore no claim to any soldier's pension in respect of the disability from which he is suffering. Endeavours have been made to discover on what precise footing he was engaged by the 2/lst Battalion, North Somerset Yeomanry, as it is not usual for civilian employés to be allowed to wear uniform. The fact, however, that he may have been allowed to wear uniform does not alter the position and he is apparently only entitled to be treated as a civilian under the Workmen's Compensation Act or otherwise. For the reasons which have already been given to the hon. Member I am at present unable to authorise any payment under the Workmen's Compensation Act. His case would appear to fall under the National Health Insurance Act, and in such cases there is no liability upon Army Funds.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any departmental inquiries have been held into the minimum wage question since the proposal to introduce a Minimum Wage Commission Bill was first announced, whether any persons have been specially engaged for the purpose of these inquiries; and when the Bill will be introduced?

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is intended to introduce the Minimum Wage Commission Bill?

I will answer these questions together. With regard to the question when it may be possible to proceed with the Minimum Wage Commission Bill, I can only refer to the reply given on 8th November last by the Prime Minister to the hon. Members for White-chapel and Derbyshire (West), a copy of which is being sent to my hon. Friends. No special departmental inquiries have been held into the Minimum Wage question, and no special staff has been engaged for the purpose of such inquiries. That question has, however, been kept in view during the continuous inquiries which have been in progress in connection with the establishment of new Trade Boards, which, as my hon. Friends are aware, are representative bodies charged with the duty of fixing minimum rates of wages in their respective trades.

How soon will the right hon. Gentleman be able to give a more definite reply seeing that last night the House had to adjourn because we had no work to do?

I cannot give any undertaking that it will be proceeded with this Session. I must point out, however, that the substance of the thing has been arrived at by the development of the trade boards and the system of wages agreements either through the instrumentality of the Joint Industrial Council or otherwise. It is a matter which is not being allowed to rest.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that the minimum wage will be established by the trade board without regard to the wages which may be fixed by the Industrial Council?

It must not be taken that nothing has been done. Much has been done by the rapid development of the trade board system and agreements which have been arrived at by the Joint Industrial Council.

asked the Minister of Labour in how many industries wages have been reduced since the lapsing of the provisions of the Industrial Courts Act which stabilised war wages; and what have been the reductions in question?

asked the Minister of Labour whether strikes have been threatened in any industries owing to the announcement by employers of forthcoming reductions in wages; if so, what are the industries in question; and whether the Government proposed to take any action?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information showing that wages are about to be reduced in any industries; and, if so, what are the industries and what are the proposed reductions?

As far as I am aware, there have been since the lapse of the Wages (Temporary Regulation) Acts no general reductions of wages affecting either a whole industry or a substantial branch of an industry. A few isolated cases have come to my notice where particular firms have reduced wages, including some instances where the higher rates payable to women under the special munitions of war orders have been replaced by rates approximating to those fixed by the appropriate Trade Boards. I am not aware of any threatened general reductions of wages, except that the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation has announced its intention of withdrawing an increase of wages of 12s. a week given last April to joiners employed by members of the Federation. The action of the Government in disputes arising from these causes would be on the lines laid down in the Industrial Courts Act, 1919.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he is now in a position to state whether it is correct that in January, 1919, £1,583,000 was paid to the ex-Kaiser as King of Prussia, in August, 1919, £802,600, in October, 1919, £701,600, and since that date £1,150,000; whether, if the statement is correct, some steps can be taken to secure for the victims of the ex-Kaiser's policy some assistance from these vast private funds;

(2) whether the attention of the Government has been called to the official admission in the Reichstag that large sums of money amounting already to a great deal more than 100,000,000 marks have already been smuggled out of the country, and that in these illegal proceedings some members of the Hohenzollern family are involved; and whether, seeing that the necessary reparation has not yet been made, the Entente Powers can assist in any way the German Government to prevent this smuggling by the members of the ex-Kaiser's family?

I understand that a sum of some 50,000,000 marks has been paid to the ex-Emperor since January, 1919. The greater part of this sum appears to have been paid in connection with the purchase of a house in Holland and the sale of certain property in Berlin. The attention of the Reparation Commission, who are charged with the execution of the Reparation Clauses of the Treaty, has been drawn to these payments.

Should not that money have been handed over as payment of the indemnity?

The Reparations Commissioners have been appointed for the purpose of dealing with that matter. We have drawn their attention to it, and I am sure they will deal with it.

Is the money recoverable or not?

It is not easy to recover money which has been smuggled out of Germany into another country.

Have the Allies taken precautions that money like this paid to the ex-Kaiser shall not be used for the purpose of bringing the Hohenzollerns back to Berlin?

The Allies do consider it their duty to keep an eye on what is being done in that direction.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the erection of permanent iron gates to close in when necessary the approaches to Government buildings in Whitehall; and whether such safeguards would be more effective, more dignified, and in the long run considerably cheaper than a continued series of wooden barricades?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Office of Works, at the request of the Government, are making arrangements for the future replacement of the temporary wooden barriers by simple iron railings. An iron screen for the Park end of King Charles Street, designed in connection with the now public buildings, has been constructed, and will shortly be erected.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the ever-increasing risks to the police force of this country, he will again consider the advisability of arming that body with something more efficient than truncheons?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Cabinet will consider the advisability of supplying the police of this country with adequate means of defence against Sinn Fein gunmen?

In the Metropolitan Police any constable engaged on dangerous duty is supplied with a revolver if he desires, subject to proper precautions as to his training in handling it and instructions as to when it may be used. Other police authorities have discretion to supply their men with firearms under like conditions.

May I ask if the high respect in which the British police are held is not due to the fact that they are not armed and do not go about bristling with weapons like the Prussian police?

Is there any reason why we should not safeguard our splendid police force in the same way as is done in every other country?

That is why they are killed in Dublin.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government possesses sufficient powers to deal swiftly and effectively with Sinn Fein outrages in this country; and, if not, whether he will seek them from Parliament?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I think the existing powers, including those under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, arc sufficient. When the Defence of the Realm Act expires, it may be necessary to come to Parliament for further powers.

asked the Prime Minister whether the passport system is being enforced in the case of all Irish wishing to visit this country?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether all steps have been taken to prohibit the entrance into Ireland of all aliens unless there are very special reasons for their admission?

I have been asked to reply to these questions. My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary has had these matters constantly in mind, but; he has not hitherto felt it necessary to take any special steps for the purpose indicated.

asked the Prime Minister whether draft mandates for Palestine and Mesopotamia will be published before their submission to the Council of the League of Nations, as requested in the Washington Note to His Majesty's Government on the Mesopotamian oil agreement?

The note from the United States Government is under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister if the representatives of Parliament attending the League of Nations Conference have powers to conclude agreements with the other representatives without reporting the proposals first to both Houses of Parliament, or will the whole of the agreements concluded be subject to confirmation by the contracting Powers represented there?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether instructions have been issued by His Majesty's Government to the principal British representatives on the assembly of the League of Nations as to how their votes are to be cast on each question which appears on the agenda of the assembly; if not, whether they will be given such instructions before the several questions are put to the vote; and whether instructions will be issued after a conference between the Cabinet and the British representatives?

As I have already stated in answer to a previous question, the representatives at the League of Nations Conference must have a certain latitude, but they will, of course, communicate with the Government in matters of consequence.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to a Sinn Fein pamphlet entitled, "The Unanimous Declaration of the Episcopate of Ireland," which purports to be signed or issued with the authority of Cardinal Logue, the Catholic Archbishops of Dublin, Cashel, and Tuam, and 25 Irish Roman Catholic Bishops; whether, without making any allusion to Sinn Fein murders and other crimes, the said pamphlet charges the British Government with having established a reign of terror in Ireland, of being responsible for the assassination of guiltless persons, and generally of having organised atrocities similar to the atrocities of the Turkish terror, or the excesses of the Bed Bolshevik armies in Russia, while at the same time the Press has been gagged and public meetings suppressed; whether he is aware that this pamphlet is being largely circulated in Belgium, France, and other foreign countries and in the Colonies; whether he has ascertained whether Cardinal Logue and the other Roman Catholic Archbishops and Bishops have admitted their responsibility for the statements contained in the pamphlet; and whether our representative at the Vatican has made representations on the matter to the Pope, and with what result?

I have no information in regard to the pamphlet. I am applying to the Irish Office for information about it.

Assuming that the facts are as stated, will the right hon. Gentleman see that representations are made to the Vatican as stated in the last part of the question?

I hardly think it is necessary to make such representations. I should like to see the document first.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he now has information as to whether, on the 25th October last, a band of armed men, who described themselves as secret service agents, entered the house of William Gleeson, Moher, County Tipperary, in search of his son, James, whom they stated they had come to kill; whether they threatened the father with death, and, on his son, William, offering his life for his father, they took him, the son, outside the house and murdered him; whether any form of inquiry has taken place; and what was the evidence and finding?

I have not yet received the report of the court of inquiry in this case, and regret that I am, therefore, not yet in a position to deal with the hon. Member's question.

Why, after well over a month, has information not yet arrived about these murders, and may we be assured that the murder of an Irish peasant or his son is not of such small account that the Government do not bestir themselves to trace the perpetrator?

Every effort is being made by the military to carry out their duties, but necessarily their duties are rather varied and dangerous.

Is not this case so horrible, on the face of it, as to have caused some extra steps to be taken to find out the murderer and to prevent the recurrence of such crimes?

I regret to say that, if horror is the test, every case would present the same aspect.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say, seeing that these murders took place on the 25th October, whether an inquiry has in fact yet been held, and, if not, why not?

I have already stated that the report has not been received. It is the absence of the report that prevents the giving of the information.

Has an inquiry actually been held?

I have said so. It is the absence of the report of the inquiry that prevents the giving of an answer.

Is not a report sent immediately to the Chief Secretary after an inquiry? Is not this a matter in which it is important to have a report at once?

Very often the inquiry has to be adjourned for the purpose of trying to discover other things.

Is it not a fact that questions such as those which have been put by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull are really encouraging murders on the other side?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can now state whether two ex-soldiers, named Blake and O'Neill, were court martialled recently on the charge of murdering Constable Walter Oakley in Limerick last July; whether they were acquitted; whether they were returning to their homes by motor on the night of the 20th November when they were stopped by armed men, who asked for them by name and then murdered O'Neill and the brother of Blake; whether the murderers have been placed under arrest; what is the Government theory for the crime; and whether Blake and O'Neill were married and leave families?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. In regard to the remaining parts of the question, I regret to state that James O'Neill, one of the prisoners, and Michael Blake, the brother of the other prisoner, were murdered on the date mentioned and in the circumstances described. All efforts to trace the perpetrators of the crime have, unfortunately, been unsuccessful, and the Government have no information which would enable them to form any theory in the matter. James O'Neill was unmarried, but Michael Blake was married and leaves four children.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it has been stated in the Press that Government motor lorries were near the scene of this tragedy, and is it quite impossible to find out anything about it? Is it possible at night in Ireland for men to be held up and shot like this and for the Government to know nothing whatever about it?

Yes, Sir; and also by day.

May I ask if one of these men was not an ex-soldier who fought with gallantry in the War, and are the Government taking no further steps to find out the perpetrators?

May I ask whether any inquiry has been held in this case yet?

Oh, it does not matter; it is only an ex-service man!

I should require notice of that question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to an outbreak on the part of the Crown forces at Ballylongford, County Kerry, on Monday night last; whether he is aware that the Crown Forces descended upon the village discharging firearms; whether they totally destroyed by fire the premises of Mr. John Collins, and also set fire to the schoolhouse and the residence of Mr. Daniel O'Rorke, school teacher, who sought safety in flight; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have called for, but have not yet received, a report with re- ference to this matter. Perhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to repeat this question, of which I only received notice yesterday, one day next week.

Would it not be well to tell the military authorities, when they murder people, to send a report to the Chief Secretary?

( by Private Notice ) asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, as stated by the special correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian," almost every night for the last ten days members of the Crown forces police have set on fire one or more buildings in the City of Cork; whether several of the larger shops of the city have thus been destroyed, and whether attempts by the fire brigade to put down the fires have been prevented by shots from the forces of the Crown or by cutting the hoses; whether, after a raid by military and police in motor cars on houses at Ardee, County Louth, two young men named Kearney or Tearney, and a man named John O'Carroll, were taken out and killed by the forces of the Crown; for further particulars with regard to the raid on the offices of the "Irish Times," the chief Unionist organ m Dublin; whether it is true that the entire staff was gathered into a large room by a body of raiders armed and masked by handkerchiefs or some other form of covering; whether these raiders plunged revolvers into the faces of the staff; whether Mrs. Colman O'Connell and her two daughters were trapped in an upper floor of the building of the "Freeman's Journal" when the raid took place upon it, and whether they were rescued with great difficulty from the incendiary fire by a fire escape; and whether a considerable amount of property belonging to the newspaper was destroyed.

I am informed that fires have broken out in Cork City on several nights during the past fortnight and that a number of large shops have been destroyed. The fire brigade allege that they were fired upon on one occasion and that the fire hoses have been maliciously damaged. The perpetrators of these incendiary outrages are unknown to the police, who have done everything in their power to assist in putting out the fires and to prevent looting. In consequence of the allegation referred to, special police protection has since been given to the fire brigade while on duty. I am unable to make any statement in regard to the murders in Ardee pending the result of the military court of inquiry which is being held. The reply on the various points raised in the rest of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative.

In regard to the outrages upon these two newspapers, one the leading Unionist journal in Dublin, what do you propose to do in the matter?

We propose to catch the perpetrators, if possible, but it is exceedingly difficult to do so, and, seeing that one of the newspapers is Unionist, and the other is not, the persons who perpetrated these atrocities seem to be perfectly impartial.

Do not these events illustrate the hopeless breakdown of your Government in Ireland?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these two outrages occurred after curfew was in operation and when ordinary citizens were not allowed outside their houses; and is not this a clear case that these outrages were done by the servants of the Crown in Ireland, and is not that the reason why the perpetrators have not been caught?

I do not draw that inference.

Can you draw any inference from anything?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of police officers and men, if any, kidnapped in Ireland since the 1st January last; the number escaped or restored to liberty; and the number whose fate or whereabouts is unknown?

No officers of the police forces in Ireland were kidnapped during the period mentioned. The number of men kidnapped is 24. Of these, 18 have been released, and the fate and whereabouts of the remaining six are unknown.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men and officers kidnapped in Ireland since 1st January last; the number escaped or restored to liberty; and the number whose whereabouts or fate is unknown?

The number of officers and other ranks of the Army kidnapped since 1st January last is ten. One has escaped; two have been restored to liberty; one was subsequently found murdered: and the whereabouts or fate of six is unknown.

Is there any reason to believe that any of these may have deserted?

I think that is a most insulting suggestion in reference to gallant British officers whose present whereabouts and safety must be the cause of the most poignant anxiety to their relatives.

asked the Prime Minister if he can make any statement as to the possibility of postponing the operation of the Education Act until the finances of the nation bear a better proportion to the cost of the Act than they do at present?

The Finance Committee of the Cabinet have this, as well as any other possible means of curtailing expenditure, now under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give the latest details of the means being used to punish the late German Emperor, the German princes, the late Austrian Emperor, and all other War criminals; and if he desires any support from the Houses of Parliament to assist him in his endeavour to press for immediate judgment on all the persons concerned?

As to the first part of the question, I have nothing to add to answers recently given to a series of questions. As to the second part, as was stated recently in answer to a similar question, we have every reason to expect that the German Government will proceed with these trials without undue delay.

asked the Prime Minister if arrangements have yet been made whereby British creditors of German debtors, whose debts were contracted in Germany prior to August, 1914, will be paid in full at the pre-War rate of exchange?

I have been asked to reply. Yes, Sir, this is so in cases where both creditor and debtor were residing in their respective countries on 10th January last, the date of the ratification of the Peace Treaty with Germany, and debts to the amount of some ten millions sterling have been paid already.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the fact that sums paid into German banks or German branches of British banks to the credit of British customers shortly after the outbreak of War, which were sequestrated by the German Government, are being now paid over at the post-War rate of exchange, the British debtors thus losing the greater proportion of their capital; and if he will say if any action in the matter is contemplated?

I have been asked to reply. I am not aware of the fact, and I hope that the circumstances of any such case will be at once communicated to the British Clearing Office. Payment of moneys belonging to British nationals sequestrated by the German Government during the War is claimed by the British Clearing Office at pre-War rate of exchange.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the position is anomalous, inasmuch as a German debt which was contracted prior to 1914 is paid in full, whereas if that same debt was paid to a German bank or the German branch of a British bank after the outbreak of War it was only paid at the post-War rate of exchange—or something like one-tenth of the debt? If so, will the hon. Gentleman take any steps in the matter?

I am not quite sure I follow the hon. Member's point. I think he is under a misapprehension. Debts which were due from a German to a British national arising either before the War or during the War out of transactions entered into before the War are both payable at pre-War rates.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government, as signatories of the Treaty of Versailles, undertook by Article 405 of the treaty to bring the draft conventions adopted by the International Labour Conference before Parliament within the period of one year at most from, the closing of the session of the conference; whether the International Conference at Washington adopted a draft convention concerning the employment of women before and after childbirth; and whether, in view of the fact that the year from the closing of the conference expires on 27th January, 1921, he will assure the House that the Government intend to carry out their treaty obligations by introducing a Bill to give effect to this draft convention before 27th January next?

I can only refer my noble Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Fife (Mr. A damson) on the 25th November, of which I will send him a copy.

asked the Prime Minister if the Liquor Control (Temporary Provisions) Bill is to be withdrawn; if so, will he take immediate steps to have the whole of the regulations annulled which have been made by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic); is he aware that the general opinion of the country, including those interested in the trade and the management of clubs, is in favour of a reduction of hours of sale from the pre-War period; will he consult representatives of the trade and of clubs to obtain their views as to the limitation of the hours of sale; and is he aware that a Bill with this object only is likely to secure general acceptance

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make any statement as to the Government intentions with respect to the Liquor Control (Temporary Provisions) Bill?

I shall answer these questions together. The Government had introduced the Temporary Provisions Bill in the hope that it would be non-controversial and give a longer time in which to deal with the whole question by legislation. It is now evident that there would be a certain measure of controversy in connection with the Bill, and as it is essential that this Session should not be unduly prolonged the Government do not propose to proceed with it, and will prepare a comprehensive Bill as soon as possible.