asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that his Department declines to send travelling expenses to disabled men by post, and that in many cases this causes pain and suffering to the men concerned; whether a man with an artificial leg is bound to proceed to the office of the local sub-committee before he can receive what he is entitled to; and whether, under the circumstances, he will give instructions for this Regulation to be amended so that this inconvenience may not be occasioned to the ex-service man, but that, on the other hand, the amounts due to him for approved expenses may in future be remitted by post when required?

In normal circumstances, the travelling expenses of a pensioner directed to attend at an office of the Ministry are paid in cash at the time of the visit. As regards local committees, the procedure varies in different localities and according to the conditions under which the travelling expenses are incurred. If my hon. and gallant Friend will let me have particulars of any case he has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Minister of Pensions for what reason the staff of the Ministry was added to during the month of September last by no fewer than 195 persons; and whether any steps were taken to see whether the existing staff could have been so re-arranged so as to prevent the necessity of further additions to the public burden?

During September, the administrative and clerical staffs employed in London and the Regions were reduced by 175. The staff of hospitals and institutions increased during the month by 370, thus creating a net increase of 195 to the staff of the Ministry A large hospital at Ashurst, with a staff of 218, was taken over during the month from the War Office and involved no extra charge on public funds. The balance of the increase (152) was composed of small additions to numerous other hospitals. Every opportunity is taken of effecting reduction in staff consistent with the efficient performance of the work of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, having regard to his statement to the effect that he did not contemplate putting a representative of non-commissioned officers or ex-service men on the departmental committee inquiring into the administration of the Pensions Ministry, for the reasons that it was for the ex-service men to bring charges and not to be judges, he will take care to substitute for the permanent secretary and the two assistant secretaries of the Ministry as members of such committee other and independent persons, in order that they may be in a position to give evidence in refutation of the charges brought against the administration of the Ministry, and not be the judges of their own cause?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will refer to the committee which has been formed for the purpose of inquiring into the whole subject of the administration of pensions the question of the grievances of the Ealing local war pensions committee against the administrative officers of the Ministry concerning the treatment of the com- mittee since January last, and in respect of which no charge or particulars of misconduct has yet been formulated?

I am not prepared to accept this suggestion. The purpose of the departmental committee is to inquire into the system of administration of pensions as a whole, and not to investigate individual grievances.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that no gratuity nor credits have been paid in respect of the late Private Cecil Wright, No. 241020, Norfolk Regiment; that the excuse given is that the father is still alive and the money cannot be paid to the mother; and that the former deserted his wife 18 years ago and has not been heard of since; and whether, as the father cannot be traced, the money will now be paid to the mother?

There is no balance due on the pay account of the late Private Cecil Wright. A War gratuity of £10 10s. is due to his estate, and, as he left no will, is the property of the soldier's father, if alive. If the latter can be assumed to be dead and to have predeceased the soldier, payment will be made to the mother, and steps are being taken in this direction.

asked the Secretary of State for War the outcome of the official recruiting effort for the Regular Army since the beginning of the year and the present strength of the Territorial Army?

The number of recruits and men re-enlisted for the Regular Army during the period 1st January, 1920, to 20th November, 1920, is 60,452. The number of enlistments into the Territorial Force to date is 69,843, and in addition 4,462 men have been registered but not yet enlisted.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the 10 Yeomanry regiments ear-marked as cavalry have all recruited up to their required strength; if any Yeomanry regiments, still anxious to remain cavalry, and so serving, though not ear-marked as such, have recruited up to their required numbers; and, if so, whether, in order to reward good recruiting, he will substitute as permanent Yeomanry cavalry those units anxious to remain as such in place of those who have had the chance and have not yet filled their ranks?

The only Yeomanry regiment which has so far recruited up to strength is the Northumberland Yeomanry. This regiment was selected for conversion to field artillery, but elected to be reconstituted as cavalry for a period of two years.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has yet been able to procure the information regarding the camp at Westbere, Kent, which he promised some time ago to obtain as speedily as possible?

I am informed that there are only two caretakers employed at Westbere Camp, and that they are responsible for the general service wagons and ordnance stores at present stored at the camp. Instructions have already been issued for three lines of stables to be cleared of all serviceable vehicles to enable these lines to be handed-over to the Disposal Board, but the remaining line of stables must be temporarily retained for housing mobilisation vehicles for which covered accommodation is essential.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Ordnance shoemakers working in France and Salonika received only 6d. per day corps pay, whereas Ordnance shoemakers in England received Is. per day working pay and a bonus, notwithstanding that Army Council Instruction No. 1150 of 1917 granted the latter sum to Army shoemakers and to Ordnance shoemakers at Woolwich and Aldershot; and whether he can see his way to authorise the payment to Ordnance shoemakers who served overseas of the difference between corps pay and working pay for the period of service?

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

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office whether the War Office has any control over the administration of soldiers' accounts on the Indian Establishment; and, if not, whether he can arrange for future questions in regard to such accounts to be answered by the India Office as being the responsible Government Department?

The War Office has no control over the administration of the accounts of soldiers on the Indian Establishment. With regard to the last part of the question, the hon. and gallant Member is presumably referring to the delay in the settlement of the accounts of demobilised soldiers owing to the non-receipt of last pay certificates from India. As these cases are, after communicating with India, finally settled by pay offices in this country, the questions relating to them have been answered by me.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reconsider the decision that the limited number of officers still serving in His Majesty's forces who, as a result of War service, are compelled to wear artificial limbs, are at the same time made to bear the cost of the necessary upkeep and repair; whether officers who suffered in the War arid who are capable of continuing to serve should have this extra burden of expense borne by the State since non-commissioned officers and men, although not allowed to continue in the service, have the cost of upkeep paid; and whether officers who are no longer serving are not called upon to bear the expense of the maintenance of the limbs and repair?

I have been asked to reply. The cost of adjustment of artificial limbs, necessitated by the shrinkage of the stump, is defrayed by the Ministry of Pensions. Repairs occasioned by breakage or necessitated by fair wear and tear are paid for by the officer until he is retired, after which the Ministry defrays the cost. This differentiation between serving and retired officers is made because the serving officer is entitled to full pay as well as wound pension.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Private Inman Phillips, No. 235455, 8th Yorkshire Regiment, now residing in Leeds, who has received notice to leave the Leeds technical schools instructional workshops without being found work; whether, in view of the promise made by the Minister to a deputation of Members of Parliament that the Ministry had power to increase the period of training by 25 per cent., and that this power would be used fully; and that the Ministry would, if necessary, get powers for a further period of training so long as the existing depression in trade continued, which made it difficult for them to place men, he will say what steps, if any, have been taken to ensure its fulfilment?

I will inquire into the case to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers and inform him of the result. I would add, however, that instructions have been issued during the past few days that no men, for whom improvership vacancies cannot be found, shall be discharged from any training centre for the time being.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed ex-service men in Ireland at present, and the proportion in receipt of the unemployment benefit?

At 19th November the number of unemployed ex-service men on the live register of Employment Exchanges in Ireland was 21,011, practically all of whom were in receipt of out-of-work donation. The total number unemployed was probably larger, but no figures are available except for those registered at Employment Exchanges.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty by what Order in Council or Regulation pensioned naval officers, when called up for the War, were deprived of their pensions while serving?

I regret that I am unable to supplement the information which I gave in reply to a similar question by my hon. and gallant Friend on the 24th ultimo. As he is no doubt aware, an Order in Council is necessary to determine the conditions under which particular emoluments may be paid to naval officers and ratings, and it is unnecessary to refer in such Order in Council to any emolument which has not been paid and which it is not intended to pay in the circumstances referred to in the Order.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reasons why the basis rate of Ireland for unskilled labour should be Is. per week less than one obtains in all the English dockyards; and if he can see his way clear to advance the Irish unskilled labourers in the dockyards an extra Is. per week to make the basis rates the same as in English yards?

The minimum pre-War rate for unskilled labourers employed in Haulbowline Dockyard was 23s. a week, while the corresponding rate in dockyards in England was 24s. a week; the reason for the difference was the generally lower level of wages for unskilled labourers in the neighbourhood of Queenstown to that prevailing in England. The pre-War rates are in both cases now augmented by War increases, amounting to 39s. 6d. a week, with 12j per cent, bonus on total earnings, i.e., English yards £3 11s. 5d., Haulbowline £3 10s. 4d., respectively. I am afraid I cannot give my hon. Friend any assurance as to the removal of the slight difference which now obtains in the total rates.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the disability claim of Mr. Allan Bryce, 35, Ardgowan Place, Glasgow, late M.M.R., H.M.S. "Chan-guinola," who signed a non-transferable agreement, T. 124, for the above ship on 10th February, 1915, has yet been decided; and, if not, whether steps can be taken to expedite a settlement?

This man's claim to compensation is at present under consideration by the medical authorities of the Admiralty, and the necessary investigation will be completed as quickly as practicable.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the condition of affairs existing in many districts in county Armagh; whether he is aware that in these districts armed Unionists are in the practice of waylaying Catholics and searching them along the roads in the rural areas; whether some time ago a young man named Hughes was stopped by a gang of these men, armed with revolvers and rifles, and searched; whether a few nights afterwards a young man named Devlin was also stopped and searched by a crowd of 12 armed men; whether a man named Donnelly was also stopped and a sum of £3 10s. taken from him; whether on the night of the 1st November a number of men coming from a concert in the City Hall, Armagh, were held up at different spots by these armed Unionists and searched; whether he is aware that these incidents are taking place in a countryside which has hitherto been quiet and peaceable; whether this conduct of armed Unionists have received official sanction; and whether he will take steps to put an end to this conduct which tends to create disturbance and breach of the peace in these districts?

I have inquired concerning the incidents mentioned in the hon. Member's question and am informed that the two men, Hughes and Devlin, were held up by armed men some time in the early part of October, but that on being recognised they were at once allowed to proceed and were not molested in any way. It is suggested that this action was the result of numerous raids for arms which had recently taken place in the County of Armagh. The police have no knowledge of the alleged holding up and robbing of a man named Donnelly, and have received no complaint in regard to this matter. I am glad to confirm the hon. Member's statement that the County of Armagh has been and still is generally quiet and peaceful, and I agree that the unauthorised assumption of police duties by any section of the civilian population is to be deprecated as likely to lead to disturbances.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on which lines or sections of lines in Ireland passenger or goods trains have now ceased to run; on what lines or sections of lines these services have been curtailed; and to what extent?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The position of the Irish railways in consequence of the refusal of the railwaymen to handle certain Government traffic grows increasingly acute. The list of sections of the various lines on which services have been suspended or modified is as follows:

Passenger and goods trains have ceased to run on the under-mentioned sections:

Great Southern and Western Railway. Limerick to Waterford. Limerick to Tralee. Ballingrane Junction to Foynes. Patrickswell to Charleville. Killonan to Nenagh. Birdhill to Killaloe. Clara to Banagher.

Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway. Kinsale Junction to Kinsale. Clonakilty Junction to Clonakilty.

Ballinascarthy and Timoleague Railway and Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Extension Railway.

Ballinascarthy to Courtmacsherry.

Great Northern (Ireland) Railway. Dundalk to Enniskillen. Inniskeen to Carrickmacross. Ballybay to Cootehill. Ballyhaise to Belturbet. Bundoran Junction to Bundoran.

Londonderry, Lough Swilly and Letter-kenny Railway and Burton-port and Garndonagh Extensions. Tooban Junction to Burtonport. Buncrane to Garndonagh.

Passenger services have ceased to run on the under-mentioned systems or sections, but a goods service is maintained, in almost every case a reduction from the normal and in some cases a reduction of considerable magnitude:

Great Southern and Western Railway. Roscrea to Nenagh. Kildate to Kilkenny, via Carlow. 1265 Limerick to Sligo. Wallow to Tralee.

Midland Great Western Railway. Athlone to Achill. Manulla Junction to Killala.

Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway. Drimoleague Junction to Bantry. Cork to Skibbereen.

Cork and Macroom Direct Railway.

Cork and Muskerry Light Railway and Donoughmore Extension.

Tralee and Dingle Railway.

West and South Glare Railways.

The following systems or sections have been affected, but a passenger and goods service has been maintained with varying degrees of reduction from the normal:

Great Southern and Western Railway. Tralee to Valentia Harbour. Roscrea to Birr. Maryboro' to Waterford. Sallins to Tullow. Mallow to Waterford. Waterford to Wexford and Rosslare Harbour. Wexford to Rosslare Harbour. Clonmel to Thurles. Kingsbridge to Cork.

Midland Great Western Railway. Broadstone to Clifden. Mullingar to Sligo. Inny Junction to Cavan. Clonsilla to Kingscourt. Edenderry Branch. Killeshandra Branch. Athboy Branch. Ballinrobe Branch.

Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway.

Londonderry to Buncrana.

Listowel and Ballybunion Railway.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the delay in announcing the proposed scheme for Burmese constitutional reforms, which delay is causing serious uneasiness in Burma?

I recognise the urgency of this matter, but I regret I cannot yet make an announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can now make a statement on the result of his telegraphic communication on the subject of the rice harvest in Burma which will be gathered in December of this year; and whether he has instructed the Government of India that, if the control of rice be continued, a committee, on which the cultivators and Burmese merchants have representation, should be appointed to advise the Rice Controller, and that export licences be issued to Burmese as well as to European merchants?

I can at present add nothing to the reply given on the 17th November to the question asked by my hon. Friend, as I have not yet received the proposals of the Government of India. I will telegraph this question to the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, considering that the official resolution of the Government of India expressing their reluctance to suppress crime is based on the grounds that they put their trust in the common sense of those who are not the criminals, he will state what steps have been taken by the Government of India to consult those to whom they credit common sense as to whether or not they approve of this attitude of prolonged quiescence?

I do not accept as accurate my hon. and gallant Friend's description of the Resolution to which he refers, and therefore' am not in a position to deal with the assumption he bases on it.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what pay and allowances are being drawn by each of the British delegates to the League of Nations assembly; and what is the total weekly cost of their attendance?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 25th November to a similar question by the hon. Member for Acton (Sir H. Brittain).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it has been proved that the visa is no obstacle to the entry into this country of undesirable aliens who have obtained passports; whether to the ordinary travelling public it is a source of considerable expense and inconvenience, with no corresponding advantages; whether it has now ceased to serve any useful purpose; and whether the visa system will be terminated at an early date?

The visa system has been proved to be a serious obstacle to the entry of undesirable aliens into this country, and without it the immigration officers would experience the greatest difficulty in dealing with such cases. The system affords intending travellers an opportunity of ascertaining in advance whether they comply with the immigration regulations of the various countries they propose to visit, and thus frequently saves them the expense and inconvenience of undertaking a journey only to be refused admission to a country on arrival at its frontier. To bona fide travellers, on the other hand, a visa ensures a far more rapid and easier passage across a frontier than would be possible if the entire burden of control rested on the frontier officials. There is no intention at present of bringing the visa system to an end.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed at a national conference on old age pensions or whether his attention has been drawn to the same; and whether, in view of the present lamentable plight of the aged poor, he can state if the Government proposes to take any steps to enable applicants for and. recipients of old age pensions to derive the full benefit of their thrift and personal provision for old age?

A copy of the resolution referred to has been forwarded to me. His Majesty's Government are not prepared to reopen the settlement of this question embodied in the Old Age Pensions Act passed last December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the German firm which makes the Bosch magneto is one of the German engineering combines of many firms which controls practically the whole of the German engineering output; whether he is aware that these firms pool their profits and losses, and attack in detail by underselling British industries, the combine bearing the loss until the particular industry is extinguished in Britain, when the loss is recouped to the German combine by the raising of prices; and, in view of the congested state of business in the House and the unlikelihood of being able to legislate until the British magneto businesses are out of commission and their operatives emigrated, he will make use of the emergency powers residing in the Government and act upon the Final Report of the Committee on Commercial and Industrial Policy after the War (Cmd. 9035), 1918, which recommended that there shall be total prohibition of German magnetos for five years, subject to licence, that an import duty of 331/3 per cent, be imposed on all imports of magnetos, and that the Government Departments shall specify British magnetos for all their requirements?

I am aware of the reports regarding the combines to which my hon. Friend refers, but my information is not sufficiently authenticated to enable me to confirm his statement as to the policy of the combine. If my hon. Friend has any definite information, I should be glad to receive it. The Government have not the emergency powers referred to in the last part of the question, but, as already announced, the Government intend to introduce legislation at the beginning of next Session. Wherever practicable, Government Departments specify British magnetos for their requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total cost of the liquidation of the Deutsche Bank up to the present time; how many of the staff are still retained; and whether any efforts are being made to absorb the English staff, so that when the liquidation is completed they may not be thrown on the world?

The cost of winding up the business of the London Agency of the Deutsche Bank between the 15th July, 1918, the date of the appointment of the Official Receiver as Controller, and the 30th October, 1920, in respect of salaries, rent, rates, office and general expenses, but excluding the fees of the Official Receiver, amounts to £67,016 7s. 5d. Nineteen members of the staff of the bank are still being retained by the Official Receiver. Before terminating the services of any member of the English staff he has given ample notice that their services would not be required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to an agreement reached between the German commissary for imports and exports and representatives of the German iron and steel industries for preventing dumping by the adoption of minimum export prices; and, if so, what are the principal heads of the agreement?

The practice of fixing higher prices for exports than those ruling for home consumption has for some time prevailed very generally in Germany. I have seen a statement in the Press that an arrangement has recently been come to as to the prices to be charged for exported iron and steel, and I have taken steps to obtain particulars of the arrangement. I will have information published on the subject, when it is available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the firm of Messrs. W. M. Hillas and Company are attempting to throw back on to the Government a large portion of their purchases made in the early part of this year in lieu of payment for same; whether he is aware that the market price has recently fallen very considerably for these goods; and whether he will insist that payment shall be made and not a return of the timber?

I have received no indication that Messrs. Hillas & Company desire to avoid completion of their contract for the purchase of timber from the Department. I am aware that the market price of timber has fallen, but in the settlement of the account it is not intended to accept the return of any of the goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the rules of the Timber Trade Federation and kindred associations make the terms of credit in the timber trade cash in 30 days less 2½ per cent., or four months' bill less two months' interest from date of sale; why, under these circumstances, did the imported timber disposal section of the Board of Trade give to the firm of Messrs. W. M. Hillas and Company, Limited, open and unsecured credit to the amount of £600,000; what is the reason that 10 months after the date of sale these accounts have not been liquidated; and whether, in view of the several discreditable aspects of this sale which have been disclosed, he will now consent to a complete inquiry into the working of Mr. Meyer's department?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As already indicated in replies which I have given to the hon. Member, it was not possible to effect large sales on a cash basis, but Messrs. Hillas have paid off approximately 90 per cent, of the total amount of the credit given to them and are being charged interest on the balance due to the Department from time to time. I am not prepared to accept the suggestion in the last part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any further statement to make relating to the publication of the Report of the Uniform Clothing Committee of the Profiteering Act Department; and whether he can say when the Report of the Committee is to be published?

I have asked the Committee to consider certain facts which have been brought to my notice in connection with the matters on which they have reported, and I propose to await their observations before publishing the Report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the ex-enemy steamers which were allotted by the Reparations Commission to Great Britain have been sold; and how many of those sold have been sold to foreigners, or foreign steamship companies, or British steamship companies, the majority of whose shares are either owned or controlled by foreigners?

I have been asked to reply. I am informed that 85 ex-German steamers allotted to Great Britain for final ownership have been sold. The sale is open only to British buyers, and the vessels have all been sold to British steamship companies.

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to instruct the railway companies to apply definitely to the supervisors, foremen, and inspectors controlling men who are in the 12A per cent, bonus or workshop section of railways the terms of the agreement now applying to the supervisors over the men in the conciliation section of railways?

The supervisory staff in railway shops have already been granted revised scales of pay comparable with the agreed scales applicable to the other supervisory staff employed by the railway companies, and the companies would be prepared, if desired, to consider any proposals for a revision of conditions of service that might be presented jointly by agreement among the several bodies who claim to represent these men.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has had it brought to his notice that the increased fares of the London traffic combine are pressing very hardly on working people who have to travel from their homes to their work; whether he has observed that a considerable portion of the traffic combine's earnings are being expended in hiring columns, and in some cases full pages, of the London Press, and publishing therein remonstrances with the public for objecting to the increases; and, in view of such expenditure, is he fully advised as to the opinions of the public on the matter of his consenting to the various increases of fares?

I am not aware that any undue hardship has been occasioned by the recent increase in fares on the underground and tube railways and tramway undertakings forming part of the London traffic combine. These fares were the subject of inquiry by the Rates Advisory Committee, and the Tramway Charges Advisory Committee respectively, which, after very careful consideration of the evidence tendered, recommended that the amended fares now in operation should be approved. I think the amount of expenditure to be incurred in the dissemination of information as to alterations in the fares must be regarded as one primarily for the discretion of the companies. The fares charged by the omnibus companies are not subject to the Minister's control.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the time and labour of 25 per cent, of the workers in the London traffic combine is being wasted owing to the working of the continuous shift instead of the split shift, or men coming on duty at the morning and evening rush; that the extra cost of the continuous shift is still about £1,000,000 per annum over that of the split shift; and, seeing that he has now consented to the raising of the fares and the reason for the combines not refusing to consent to the continuous shift no longer holds good, will he take steps to restore the split shift, that the labour so released may be employed usefully in increased facilities to the overcrowded travelling public?

I am unable to accept as substantially accurate the figures given in this question. In any case, as already explained in reply to previous questions, the present arrangements are governed by agreements come to with the union representing the men concerned, and the revision of those agreements does not rest merely on the consent of the combine, but also on the acceptance by the unions of an increased number of split shifts.

asked the Minister of Food the reason why the price of eggs is still controlled; and whether there is any object in continuing this restriction, which is the cause of much annoyance and irritation to small poultry keepers?

The Eggs (Prices) Order was reimposed with effect from the 25th October last, with the object of providing that the prices of eggs during the period of short supply should not exceed a reasonable limit, based on the cost of production or import.

asked the Minister of Food whether, as a step to counteract the keeping up of prices and to prevent wastage, the Government will consider the advantage to the consumer of their assuming control of all surplus foodstuffs in store?

No action of the nature indicated in the question is at present contemplated.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is the policy of the Government to allow free imports of butter from Ireland; and, if not, will he state the reason for this policy?

The policy of the Government has been to allow free imports of butter from Ireland since 1st April, 1920. All supplies of foreign butter are at present diverted by the Government to Great Britain where a minimum supply at a fixed price to the consumer is secured. The production of butter in Ireland is almost entirely seasonal, and to provide some corresponding protection to the Irish consumer it has been found necessary, in the present period of short supply, to control exports of butter from Ireland by licences issued by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Food.

asked the Minister of Food whether butter which was bought and placed in store in June at, or about, 285s. per cwt. is now being sold to the shopkeepers for 490s. per cwt.; and, if so, will he state how the difference is accounted for?

The price charged to retailers for Government butter is 336s. per cwt. I have no knowledge of the prices paid for free butter now held in store, but in view of the increased rate of distribution of Government butter I see no reason why retailers should pay 490s. per cwt. for such free butter.

asked the Minister of Food the amount of butter at present in store on the Government account and private account, giving the figures in each case separately?

The quantity of Government butter in store on 30th November was approximately 8,800 tons. Monthly returns are obtained by the Ministry of the total quantity of butter held at ports in cold stores and in importers' and wholesalers' warehouses in the United Kingdom. The last return, taken at the 1st November, showed the quantity of such butter to be 15,800 tons, of which not less than 12,200 tons was Government butter.

asked the Minister of Food what is the quantity of wheat held by the Government at the present time, the date and price per quarter of the last purchase, and the amount of commission paid per quarter?

So long as the British Government remains in the position of a buyer of wheat on various markets, it is considered undesirable to publish figures relating to its total stocks or the price paid by it on any particular market; any such public announcement might easily prejudice its position as a buyer to the detriment of His Majesty's Exchequer. As regards the last part of the question, no separate rate of commission is paid by the Government to buying agents, any charge of this nature being included in the purchase price.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether any representation has recently been received from the Canadian Government regarding the exclusion of Canadian store cattle from Great Britain?

Correspondence took place in January of this year between the Minister and the High Commissioner for Canada on the question of the admission of Canadian store cattle. Beyond a reference to this correspondence in a communication from the Canadian Government in February with regard to the landing of cattle for slaughter, no further representation had been made by the Canadian Government.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, as from 1st December next, the Irish mails despatched from Euston at 8.50 p.m. will arrive at Kingstown at 5.50 o'clock next morning; whether the northern portion of the mails will not reach Belfast until 9.50 a.m., though the train journey is only 120 miles; and whether arrangements can be made to have an earlier despatch of the northern mails from Kingstown so as to ensure delivery before mid-day in Belfast?

The mails will be due to arrive at Kingstown at the time stated by the hon. Member. But experience shows that the actual time of arrival must vary according to the conditions both of the land and sea journey, and of the transfers at Holyhead and Kingstown. It is, as yet, too soon to arrive at the average actual time of arrival. But after Christmas the question whether an earlier arrival at Belfast can be arranged without additional expenditure will be reviewed.

asked the Postmaster-General when it is expected to have the Baudot system of high-speed telegraphy made operative between London and Belfast; how long this proposal has been under consideration; and whether there have been numerous complaints as to heavy delays in telegraphic communication between London and Belfast?

It was proposed to equip a London-Belfast circuit with Baudot apparatus early this year, but all available Baudot apparatus was then required to meet the serious difficulties which existed in maintaining adequate telegraphic communication with the Continent. Those difficulties have now been surmounted, and arrangements are being made to establish Baudot working with Belfast at as early a date as possible. The delays in regard to which complaints have been received have been due primarily to interruptions in the cables. Under normal conditions an adequate service is provided.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the seriously deteriorated condition of the telegraph cables between Great Britain and Ireland due to impossibility of overhauls and repairs during the War; what steps have been taken since the termination of the War to restore the efficiency of the service in this respect; what is the average number of telegraph lines during the past two years that have not been regularly in use; what are the causes of their not being available; how many cables are at present unavailable; and when it is expected to have the total lines available for public use?

The maintenance of the cables between Great Britain and Ireland was not neglected during the War, 15 repairs having been effected during that period. Thirteen repairs have since been carried out, and every possible step has been taken to ensure the efficiency of the cables. There are in all 10 telegraph cables, containing 43 circuits, and the average number of circuits not regularly in use during the past two years was three. The maximum number interrupted at one time was seven. At present six of the circuits are out of action, four having become interrupted yesterday. The Post Office cable ship is about to take up the work of repairing the cables affected and, unless her operations are hampered by bad weather, the circuits should be restored to use at an early date.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the possibility of continuing to carry a letter from Dover to Calais for 2½d., seeing that the postage from London to Australia is only 2d.?

The postage rates for foreign countries will be fixed in accordance with the Convention signed at the Postal Union Congress at Madrid, which has just concluded. I regret I am not in a position to make any statement on the question at present.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that injured workmen now on light employment are prevented from applying for compensation in consequence of the wages paid for such employment being higher than the wages received in the highest grade of employment before the War; and will he take steps to amend the Act so as to remove this disability and thus enable them to be put in the same relative position to men in their former grade of employment as they were immediately after the accident?

Yes, Sir; I am aware of this grievance and I would draw the attention of the hon. Member to the remedy proposed in paragraph 69 of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Workmen's Compensation. The matter will be brought under the consideration of the Government when the Bill to carry out the Committee's recommendations is settled.

asked the Home Secretary the average cost of maintenance of prisoners in September, 1914, and September, 1920?

These statistics are compiled at the end of each financial year; hence figures are not available for September, 1914, and September, 1920. The nearest information that can be given is the average annual charge per inmate in local prisons, convict prisons, and preventive detention prisons. These annual charges are £ s. d. 1913–1914 37 15 8 1914–1915 43 4 6 1919–1920 105 4 8

When the value of labour and incidental receipts have been deducted the net cost is £ s. d. 1913–1914 27 10 11 1914–1915 30 15 10 1919–1920 95 9 11

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the appointment of Mr. Alwin Robinson Dickinson as Commissioner of Nauru Island has been submitted to and approved by the League of Nations?

No, Sir. Possibly my hon. Friend is confusing the appointment of a Commissioner under Article 3 of the Nauru Agreement, whose duties are purely commercial, with that of Administrator under Article 1, which has not yet been made; but in neither case is there any obligation to submit the name of the person selected to the League of Nations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the duties on imported cigarettes into Malta have recently been materially increased, whilst the duty on leaf tobacco has not been increased at all, thus discriminating in favour of the local tobacco manufacturer; whether the preference of one-seventh in favour of tobacco goods of British Empire origin has recently been abolished; and whether that is the considered policy of the Colonial Office with regard to Malta?

As regards the first part of the question, the Customs Revision Ordinance has not yet reached me in its final form, but I am aware that it was intended to increase the duties on manufactured tobacco in a greater proportion than those on unmanufactured" tobacco. A proposal for granting preference on goods imported from the British Empire was recently before the Council, but was not favoured by the Elected Members, and was not proceeded with. The Secretary of State is not prepared to intervene in either matter, in view particularly of the fact that under the new Constitution the people of Malta will have full power to frame their own fiscal policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether certain grades in the Civil Service have obtained increases of their salaries by means of a departmentally controlled index figure of the cost of living; whether the Civil Servants so benefited are thus enabled to escape their share of the burden of War costs and taxation, and why such privileges should be continued?

Civil Servants have been granted a bonus on a sliding scale which is based on the official index figure of cost of living, but I should explain that a bonus equivalent to the full cost of living increase is payable only to Civil Servants in receipt of remuneration of 35s. a week or less. With regard to the latter part of the question, these and other Civil Servants, equally with the members of the community, are required to bear their appropriate share of taxation, and I see no reason for discontinuing the present bonus system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a White Paper giving a Return of the number of persons appointed to purely advisory posts during the last two years, the Return to show the salaries paid?

I am not aware of any appointments to salaried posts which could be correctly described as purely advisory with no other functions attaching to them.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed to introduce legislation for the purpose of carrying out the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the Dentists Act, 1878?

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government proposes to introduce legislation during the present Session of Parliament for the purpose of carrying out the recom- mendations of the Departmental Committee on the Dentists Act, 1878; and, if so, when a Bill on the subject is likely to be presented?

I will answer these questions together. I regret that I am not in a position to state the date on which the Bill will be introduced, but in accordance with the promise which I made to a number of Members on behalf of the Lord Privy Seal, it is hoped to introduce this Bill before the end of the Session in sufficient time for it to be printed and circulated to the hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the desire that legislation should be introduced during the present Session of Parliament for the purpose of carrying out the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on the Dentists Act, 1878; and, if so, whether he can state what action the Government proposes to take on the matter and when legislation is likely to be introduced?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given to-day to similar questions asked by the hon. Members for Leigh (Mr. Raffan) and Oldham (Mr. B. Denniss), of which I will send him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health the conditions under which boards of guardians are now distributing or awarding relief in cash in their areas; whether pressure has been brought to bear on the guardians by borough councils or other local authorities to make this cash distribution on a scale agreed between the local Labour party and the borough councils; and what precautions are taken to safeguard the interests of the ratepayers?

I have sent the hon. and gallant Member a copy of the Regulations governing the grant of relief by boards of guardians. I have no information in regard to pressure of the kind suggested in the second part of the question. The amount of relief given in any case is within the discretion of the boards of guardians, who are the elected representatives of the ratepayers, but their accounts are, of course, subject to Government audit.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Wisbech board of guardians have declined to grant Award 102 to their officers or to submit the matter to arbitration; and what action he proposes to take?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the correspondence with the guardians on this subject, I am afraid there is no further action that I can take.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any communications regarding the case of Mr. and Mrs. Lelliott, who were until recently in the service of the Guildford guardians; and, if so, will he state what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received a letter in regard to this case from the Poor Law Workers' Trade Union, and will communicate with the guardians in regard to it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there is a separate legal adviser to the Trade Board's office, or whether all proposed prosecutions under the Trade Boards Act have to be referred to the Legal Department of the Ministry of Labour?

As I have stated in my previous reply to my hon. and gallant Friend, there are now 60 independent and autonomous trade boards, 41 in Great Britain and 19 in Ireland. The primary duty of these Boards is to fix minimum rates of wages, and if in the course of discharging this duty a trade board should require legal assistance the services of my legal advisers are always at its disposal. There is no separate legal adviser to the Boards. I am responsible to Parliament for the efficient and economical administration of the Trade Boards Acts, and legal pro- ceedings for the enforcement of minimum rates fixed by a Trade Board, and confirmed by me, are instituted on my authority after the opinion of my legal advisers has been taken.

asked the Minister of Labour how many trade boards have been established to date, and what are highest and lowest of the minima fixed by these boards for adult women and men?

The number of trade boards established to date is 60; 41 in Great Britain and 19 in Ireland. With regard to the second part of the question, the highest general minimum time rates at present in operation for adult workers are:

Males and females, 2s. per hour for workers engaged in surgical work in the boot and shoe-repairing trade in Great Britain.

The lowest minima time rates in operation for adult workers are:

Males, Is. per hour (for packers with less than one year's experience), fixed by the Coffin, Furniture and Cerement-making Trade Board (Great Britain).

Females, 4½d. per hour, fixed by the Linen and Cotton Embroidery Trade Board (Ireland).

asked the Minister of Labour how many inspectors have been appointed for the purposes of the Trade Boards Act; and what is the average number of complaints of infractions of the Act received each month?

The number of inspectors specially appointed for noncompliance work in Great Britain under the Trade Boards Acts is now 17. I have also made arrangements by which the general non-compliance staff at my disposal can be trained and utilised for trade board work, and I have authorised 67 officers on this staff to assist in the enforcement of the Trade Boards Acts in Great Britain. There are, in addition, 4 inspectors appointed for work in Ireland. I regret that it is impossible to give the figure asked for in the second part of the question, as a large proportion of complaints is made verbally to individual inspectors and to the local officers of the Department, and many others are of a general nature. I am always ready to receive definite complaints of infraction, as the work of inspection is thereby appreciably assisted. Every endeavour is made to give early attention to all definite complaints.

asked the Minister of Labour at what date this year unemployment in the United Kingdom began to increase; at what date a Cabinet Committee was appointed to inquire into the question; and whether, at the present time, any schemes are in operation which have absorbed unemployed men or women?

Employment remained good till the end of August. It was not until the close of that month that any marked increase in the number unemployed began to take place, and even at the end of August the trade union percentage was 1.6 per cent., a figure much below the normal. A Committee was appointed by the Cabinet to consider the question of unemployment on August 13th, and its appointment was announced to the House on 16th August.

As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made to the House by the Prime Minister on the 19th October, which indicated the measures which the Government has in immediate prospect. Operations are actually in progress on 12 Arterial Road schemes. Moreover, the Ministry of Transport and the local authorities are co-operating in a large number of important road maintenance schemes, both in London and the provinces. In addition, measures have been taken by the Ministry of Health with a view to securing that road and sewer work in connection with housing schemes and various other public works shall be expedited.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in a Government publication, entitled "The Future," issued in September, 1919, an announcement was made of the Government's programme for that year; whether he is aware that the first two items on that programme are a national maximum 48-hours' week and a living wage for all workers; and if he can say when these pledges will be redeemed?

As far as regards legislation on the subject of a 48-hours' week, the exact form of the Bill has been continuously under discussion with the Provisional Joint Committee of the National Industrial Conference in the hope of arriving at an agreement with that Committee on the precise form which that legislation should take. In addition, it has been necessary to consider the Washington Hours Convention and also the proposals discussed at the International Labour Conference at Genoa in regard to the hours of employment of seamen. The Government fully intend to carry through the necessary legislation. As regards wages, I would remind my hon. Friend that much of the area of the wage field is now covered, and is being further covered by the development of the Trade Board policy, and by arriving at settlement by agreement either through discussions at Joint Industrial Councils or otherwise.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the month of October 567,000 workpeople are stated in the "Labour Gazette" to have obtained rises in wages under sliding scales; will he say whether the rise was due to the rise in the cost of living as ascertained by his Department or to the effect of other arrangements; whether the rise in the cost of living so ascertained and compensated for by increased wages included the extra cost of railway fares, tobacco, and newspapers, as compared with 1914; and were these items included in the original inquiry into selected working-class family budgets conducted in 1904 and on which the present monthly comparisons are based?

Of the total of 567,000 workpeople referred to, about 465,000 received increases in wages under sliding scale arrangements dependent on the fluctuations in the level of retail prices and rents, as published in the "Labour Gazette." The remaining 102,000 workpeople received increases under sliding scale agreements whereby wages are varied in accordance with the selling price of iron or steel. Railway fares, tobacco, and newspapers are included in the "Labour Gazette" statistics relating to the increase in the cost of living. Expenditure on these items was not separately distinguished in the family budgets collected in 1904.

asked the Secretary for Mines, whether he is aware that, under directions issued by his Department on the 8th November, coal for foreign-going vessels in Lancashire ports can only be brought by sea from South Wales, whereas Glasgow and Hull can use local coal; and whether he has considered the representations made by the Manchester and Liverpool steamship Owners' Association as to supplying bunker coal to those ports from pits in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and North Wales?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question on the 30th November to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Kirkdale (Mr. Pennefather).

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the present deplorable condition of the lead and zinc mining industry in the country; and if anything is being done to carry out the recommendation of the Non-Ferrous Mining Departmental Committee in so far as it affects the proposed completion of the Halkyn sea-level tunnel, North Wales?

I am aware of the position referred to by the hon. Member, and am in communication with the companies concerned in the hope of arriving at a scheme for the completion of the Halkyn sea-level tunnel.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that in a Government publication entitled the "Future," issued in September, 1919, the State purchase of mineral rights was promised as part of the autumn programme of that year; and whether he can say when the pledge will be carried out?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to a similar question answered by the Prime Minister on the 1st November last. My right hon. Friend then expressed the hope that it may be possible to introduce a Bill early next Session.

asked the First Commissioner of Works of how many flats Latymer House, Piccadilly, is composed; whether these flats are of the value of £400 per annum each, and what is the rent at present being paid for the same; and when he expects Latymer House to be vacated?

Latymer House is capable of conversion into 20 residential flats, the rental value of which I do not consider to be £400 per annum. The amount of compensation now being paid under the award of the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission is £2,400 per annum, exclusive of rates and taxes. I am not yet in a position to state when the premises will be vacated.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he can arrange for the surrender of the allotments in and alongside Kensington Gardens at an earlier date than 28th February next and take immediate steps for the restoration of the ground to normal conditions?

As the notices to the allotment holders do not expire until the 28th February, I am unable to arrange for the surrender of the allotments before that date.

asked the Attorney-General whether, seeing that Sir George Murray's Committee recommended that on general grounds they were in favour of extending the offices of the Public Trustee to other provincial towns except Manchester, and that the Public Trustee has been considering this matter, he can now state whether it has been decided to set up such an office in Cardiff for the convenience of the people of Wales, and thus relieve persons of the heavy expense now incurred by having to travel to London to attend to business of this kind?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a similar question on the 20th April last. I understand that no decision has yet been made.

asked the Minister of Health ( on Tuesday, 30th November ) what is the number of employés and salaries officers employed by the six Metropolitan borough councils (Bethnal Green, Camberwell, Deptford, Fulham, Hampstead, and Islington) referred to in the Memorandum on the increase in the amount of local rates per pound of assessable value on 31st July, 1914, and 31st July, 1920, respectively.

The following is the statement which Dr. Addison then promised, as stated in the OFFICIAL REPORT ( col. 1143):—

According to information furnished to me by the Metropolitan borough councils mentioned in the question, the number of employés and salaried officers employed by them on the dates specified was as follows:— — 31st July. 1914. 1920. Bethnal Green 375 485 Camberwell 903 1,163 Deptford 335 481 Fulham 655 842 Hampstead 794 748 Islington 1,080 1,193

As regards Camberwell, it is stated that of the 1,163 persons employed on the 31st July, 1920, 191 were employed on special work, for which the Ministry of Transport are making a grant.