asked the Prime Minister when he will be able to say that this country will be at peace with all other countries within the meaning of the Termination of the War Act; and with how many countries the Government is at war at the present time, having regard to the meaning of the said Act?

The Termination of the Present War (Definition) Act, 1918, provides that the date of the termination of the War shall be as nearly as possible the date of the deposit of ratifications of the last Treaty of Peace. The Treaties of Peace with Hungary and Turkey have not yet come into force, but all possible steps are being taken to expedite their ratification. Until this has been effected the date of the termination of the War within the meaning of the Act cannot be fixed. Hungary and Turkey are therefore the only two countries to whom, and that in a technical sense only, the concluding remark of the hon. Member applies.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Colonial Office now deals with Dominions, Protectorates, mandated territories, as well as Colonies, he will consider the desirability of changing the name of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to Secretary of State for Imperial Administration; and whether he will place under such Secretary of State the proposed unified Department to deal with the Middle East to be formed by the transfer of existing staff from the India Office and other Departments hitherto engaged in promoting rival policies in Arabia?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the last part, I cannot at present add anything to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend in last Wednesday's Debate.

asked the Prime Minister whether the question of the future boundaries for Palestine has been settled; whether any agreement has been entered into with France on the subject; and, if so, what settlement has been arrived at with regard to the western basin of the Litania, the Jordan sources, and the Hauzan?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a similar question on Thursday last.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that men engaged in the discharging and loading of steamers at Newry are being held up and molested by servants of the Crown while proceeding to and from their work; that the men in consequence, for fear of injury, are afraid to proceed to work; that these men have asked for protection from these interferences; and if he will take the necessary steps to enable these men to follow their ordinary vocation as transport workers which they are anxious to perform?

There has been no molestation of transport workers or other people by servants of the Crown at Newry. The hon. Member s question presumably arises out of an incident which occurred on the 11th instant when a number of persons including probably some transport workers on their way to work were held up and searched by a party of military and special constabulary who were engaged in searching the district for suspects. None of the persons held up were molested in any way. The police have received no complaints or requests for protection, and I understand that the transport workers and all other workers in the town are going about their business as usual.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. J. F. O'Reilly, a railway clerk, was wrongfully arrested by the military between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on the 7st instant at his home, No. 3, Wellesley Place, Jones Road, Dublin, on a charge of concealing fire-arms or ammunition, although a thorough search of the premises, during which floors were ripped up and ceilings pulled down, failed to disclose fire-arms or ammunition; and whether he will take steps immediately to have this man liberated from detention at Collinstown Camp and reinstated in his employment on the Great Northern (Ireland) Railway?

An internment order has been made against Mr. O'Reilly under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulations, 14B. In the circumstances, I am not prepared to give directions for Mr. O'Reilly's release at the present time.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that a body of Ulster special constables arrived in Newry on Tuesday, 7th December, being the first to take up duty; whether on Friday night, 10th instant, they carried out a number of raids on houses in the town; whether at one house the door was battered in and a bullet fired through one of the windows; whether pedestrians were held up, and where any person attempted to get away he was fired on; whether late on Sunday night, the 12th instant, there was a repetition of this conduct on the part of these special constables, who again held up and searched pedestrians, rifles and revolvers being freely discharged in the streets; whether a club-house was bombed and set on fire, the building and an adjoining newsagent's shop being destroyed; and what he proposes to do in this matter?

According to a report which I have received, a party of Special Constabulary arrived in Newry on the 7th instant, and assisted the military in searching a number of houses there on the dates mentioned. One of the occupants would not open his door, and it was therefore forced. On the night of the 10th instant a cordon was drawn round one district and persons within it were searched. One man attempted to escape, and, on his failing to halt when called upon, a bullet was discharged over his head, and apparently struck a window of a neighbouring building. On the 12th instant shots were fired over the heads of three other men who attempted to escape when challenged. No person was hit, and no property was injured by this firing. The Sinn Fein Hall and a stationer's shop adjoining were burned down on the latter night by unknown, persons while the military and special constables were proceeding to the relief of Camlough Barrack, which was being attacked. No member of the Crown Forces was concerned in the burning of these two buildings. Every effort is being made to trace the person by whom they were committed.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what are the conditions of recruitment, pay, allowances, length of service, and discharge gratuity, if any, of the auxiliary forces of the police and military special services in Ireland?

Apart from the Special Constabulary, there are two Auxiliary Police Forces in the Auxiliary Division recruited from ex-officers and from veteran ex-soldiers of 35 years of age and upwards. The former are recruited for six months' or a year's service, and are paid 21s. a day. The latter are recruited for a year's service and are paid 10s. a day and a gratuity of £25 on completion of a year's service. Both classes are paid the boot rent and separation allowances ordinarily payable to members of regular police. These allowances are: Boot, 1s. 6d. a week rent, up to £30 a year; separation, 2s. a night. Rent and separation allowances are payable only to married men. Separation allowance is payable only when the man is unable owing to his duties to reside with his family.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Report of the board of visitors to the National Museum and Botanical Gardens of Dublin, for the year ending 31st March, 1920, has been received by the President of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction of Ireland; on what date was it signed; and when will it be paid upon the Table of the House as directed by Act of Parliament?

The Report in question was received in May last by the Department, which has since been in correspondence with the board of visitors with a view to the modification of the Report in certain particulars some of which are of a misleading nature, while the publication of others in their present form would, in the Department's view, be injurious to the public interest.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the attempt by two armed men in uniform on Tuesday night, 14th December, to rob the premises of Mr. Denis P. Mordaunt, grocer and provision merchant, St. Alban's Road, Dublin; whether these uniformed men secured admission to the premises on the pretence that they were searching for deserters; whether, while one of the men held up Mr. Mordaunt with a revolver, the other proceeded to rob the place; whether Mr. Mordaunt attacked them, and succeeded in disarming one of them, who appealed for mercy and gave up nearly £40 of the grocer's money in silver and notes; whether Mr. Mordaunt, although it was then after curfew hour, marched his prisoner to Newmarket police station and handed him over to the custody of the police; what action does he propose to take in this matter; and what steps will he take to safeguard peaceful citizens from this and similar outrages?

My attention has been drawn to this case, but as one of the men accused is now in custody awaiting trial, I am unable to make any statement as to the truth of the facts alleged.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of business premises, public buildings, and dwelling-houses involved in the recent fires in Cork?

On the 11th to the 12th December, i.e., last week-end, the following were destroyed by fire in Cork:

52 business houses.

3 private houses.

1 hotel.

2 public buildings and 3 other buildings.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any and what steps have been taken to provide at the Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport, a permanent chief and engine-room artificers' mess upon similar lines to those which for many years have existed at Portsmouth and Chatham Naval Barracks?

The supernumerary chief and engine-room artificers at Portsmouth are employed and accommodated in the Mechanical Training Establishment (H.M.S. " Fisgard"). At Chatham they are accommodated in Royal Naval Barracks, as the Mechanical Training Establishment forms part of that establishment. It has now been decided to revert to the pre-War practice of employing supernumerary chief and engine-room artificers in the Mechanical Training Establishment at Devonport (H.M.S. "Indus"). The reply to the hon. Member's question is, therefore, in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Admiralty has purchased a large anthracite coal property in the Groundhog district of British Columbia; and, if so, whether it is proposed to connect the same by means of a railway with the coast or with the existing railway system?

No, Sir, and there is no intention of doing so. The last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the Special Grants Committee award education grants for the education,of children at private schools which are recognised neither by the Board of Education nor by the local education authority, and that before making grants in respect of the education of children at such schools the Special Grants Committee do not arrange for inspection by a qualified inspector; the number of children in respect of whom education grants have been made for education at such schools; and whether he will give directions that in future public money is not to be expended by the Special Grants Committee in respect of the education of children at private schools which have not been recognised either by the Board of Education or the local education authority, or inspected by some qualified inspector on behalf of the Special Grants Committee?

In a few cases education grants have been made by the Special Grants Committee under their Regulations to schools not previously recognised by the Board of Education, but, before doing so, it is the practice of the Committee to secure inspection of the school, if it is a boarding school, by the Board of Education, as a condition either of the original grant or, in the case of urgency, of the continuance of the grant. I understand that the number of children in respect of whom education grants have been made towards the cost of education in such schools is not immediately available. The Special Grants Committee are alive to the desirability of confining their education grants to children in schools already approved by the education authorities, but, in exceptional cases,' in order to meet the convenience of the parents and the children, they hold themselves free to make such grants in respect of education in other schools where they are satisfied that the educational arrangements are adequate. If my hon. Friend has in mind any instance in which he has evidence that the grant has been made in respect of education in an establishment which he has reason to consider unsatisfactory, perhaps he would communicate with me.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any special facilities are to be given to ex-service men who are now being treated in sanatoria and other institutions as will enable them to visit their homes and friends during the Christmas holidays?

The answer is in the affirmative. Men in Ministry convalescent centres for concurrent treatment and training will get a week's leave, and men under treatment in other institutions will get such leave as, in the discretion of the medical superintendent, is suitable to their condition. In either case allowances will be paid during leave at home treatment rates instead of the somewhat lower institutional rates.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the allowance paid to Mrs. Ellen Robertson, 10, Field Row, Belper, in respect of the death of her son, Sapper Herbert Robinson, No. 100866, Royal Engineers, has been reduced; that the payment of her State pension has been discontinued, although she is seventy-six years of age and in poor circumstances; and why this has been done?

The pension awarded by my Department to Mrs. Robertson is based on pecuniary need, and, as such, is subject to review from time to time. On the last review of the case it was found that the claimant's circumstances did not permit continuance of the existing award, and pension was therefore renewed at a lower rate. I am informed that Mrs. Robertson's old age pension is under suspension in recovery of an overpayment which she had obtained as a result of an incorrect statement made by her regarding her means. I understand that recovery of this overpayment will be completed on 21st January, and that, if Mrs. Robertson continues eligible for the current old age pension, she will be allowed to resume payment on the 28th January.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the application of Driver Edwin Tantum, No. 37192, Machine Gun Corps, for a grant from the civil liabilities fund of the Derbyshire local war pensions committee, made last March, has not been acceded to, although his training in boot and shoe repairing terminated on 27th July last?

I have been asked to reply. It would appear that an application was despatched by the Derbyshire local committee on the 27th August last on behalf of Edward Tantum of The Croft, Morley, near Derby, to the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Commissioner at Nottingham, who, unfortunately, did not receive this application. A copy was subsequently supplied by the committee, which was received on the 15th November last. Certain additional information which was required was received on the 24th November, and a grant for the sum of £65 was despatched to the committee on behalf of the applicant on the 15th inst. towards the purchase of tools, leather, machine, and stock for a boot making and repairing business. I regret the inadvertent delay.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of the hardships imposed upon blind persons applying for pensions by the official regulations; that if such persons are recognised by some society for the blind their applications are more easily dealt with, but that the great majority of blind people do not belong to a society; and that in some cases, when the local committee grants a pension and the applicant receives an official form of notification that the pension of 10s. is payable at a certain post office, he is told at the post office that he cannot have it as an appeal has been lodged against him; and if he is prepared to recommend that the pension be allowed after any known public or substantial person certifies that to their knowledge the applicant is blind?

The arrangements whereby evidence from an Approved Society for the Blind may be advanced in support of an application for a blind pension were made with a view to lessening the claimants' burden in furnishing proof in support of their claims. A number of claimants, however, are unknown to any such society, and are not totally blind, and in many such cases special knowledge and experience are indispensable in order to determine whether the claimant fulfils the statutory condition for receipt of a pension. The present regulations have been framed with a view to providing, where necessary, for the special investigation of such cases, and it is not considered practicable at present to alter the regulations in the manner suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the excess profits of the Canteens Control Board have now been dealt with; and, if so, how they have been applied?

I hope to make a statement on this subject during the present week.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any arrangement has been made between Great Britain and the United States by which the former has restored the cable connection between New York and Emden, Germany; whether one of the American trans-Atlantic cables between England and Canada has been transferred to Great Britain; whether Great Britain is seeking to obtain operating control of the German cable which is now operating; and whether he can make a statement on the present position of international cable communications?

The whole question of the disposal of the cables formerly owned by Germany has recently been discussed at a conference held at Washington. No general agreement on the questions involved has yet been reached, and the conference has therefore been adjourned to permit of the delegates consulting with their respective Governments. The British delegates are now on their way home for this purpose.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been directed to the statement of the Austrian Chancellor that the stocks of food in Austria will not last beyond the month of December; whether there are grounds for believing the statement to be correct; whether His Majesty's Government is taking any action in the matter; and, if so, what is its nature?

The latest statement I have seen by the Austrian Chancellor was to the effect that stocks in hand would last until the middle of January. Further stocks purchased would not be available till about 1st March, and 60,000 tons of grain would be required to bridge over the interval. I have since learnt that the purchase of 57,000 tons has been arranged. In these circumstances it does not appear to be necessary for His Majesty's Government to make any immediate decision.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what number of banks have closed in the United States as a result of the fall in the price of wheat and the refusal of the farmers to sell wheat to liquidate their loans?

I am not at present in a position to give particulars on this question, but am making inquiries.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can state the present staff employed in his Department in London and in the country, and the number of buildings necessary to house this staff in London; whether he can forecast any reduction of .this staff in the near future; and whether he has any statistics which would enable him to state by how much the present annual cost of pensions payable by his Department may be reduced within the next three or five years?

Apart from institutions and hospitals which are concerned with the care and treatment of the disabled, the staff employed by the Ministry on the 1st December was 11,966 in London and 5,881 in the country. During the last three months, this staff has been reduced by 566, and further reductions, which cannot for the moment be accurately estimated, are anticipated. The actual number of buildings occupied in London is 17. Having regard to the provision in the Warrants for re-adjustment of rates in 1923, and annually thereafter, according to the cost of living, it is scarcely possible under present conditions to make any accurate forecast of the future trend of the cost of war pensions.

asked the Prime Minister the result of his promised conference with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject of a committee of inquiry into the staffing of all Government offices in London and the country, with power to abolish all unnecessary posts?

I have carefully considered, in conjunction with my right hon. Friend, the suggestion that a Select Committee should be appointed to enquire into the staffing of Government offices, but we feel that at this juncture the appointment of such a Committee would not be likely to achieve the object desired. Reductions of staffs can only be secured after laborious and detailed investigations, and experience has shown that such investigations are more likely to be effective if conducted along the lines already in force, either Departmentally under pressure by the Treasury, or by very small committees appointed specially as occasion may require.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the papers of the temporary women clerks who sat for the October establishment examination have been marked, he will arrange for the announcement of the results in January, and so shorten the suspense of the demobilised candidates who can obtain neither training nor employment before these results are made known?

The Civil Service Commissioners are making all speed with the valuation of the work of the candidates referred to, and expect to be able to announce the result about the middle of January.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture what steps are being taken to supply the ex-service applicants with land and holdings in the following parishes in Norfolk: Lyng, Whissonsett, Shipdham, Litcham, Rougham, Guist, Boughton, Ashill, Bawdeswell, and Billingford; and whether, seeing that all these applications were made at least 15 months ago, and some two years ago, there is a reasonable prospect of land in these parishes being secured for occupation next Ladyday?

I am informed by the Norfolk County Council that all the approved applicants in the parishes of Litcham and Ashill have now been settled and that land has been acquired to meet the needs of the Boughton approved applicants. Offers of suitable land have been refused by the two approved applicants at Shipdham, and by two of the five approved applicants at Whissonsett. It will not be possible, in present circumstances, to take any further steps as regards these four men. As regards the other parishes, there are 40 approved applicants waiting for holdings. Although I am satisfied that the Norfolk County Council are taking every step possible to acquire suitable land to meet their requirements, I cannot give an assurance that land will be available in the parishes mentioned for occupation next Lady Day.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware that the Building Trades Federation have made various suggestions with regard to proposals for adults, apprenticeship, and employment of ex-service men in the building trade; whether the Government have refused to give any guarantee to building trades against unemployment if they accept additional men by apprenticeship to the building trades; munication had been received by the secretary to the Building Trades Federation about a future meeting; and who is responsible for the delay?

The invitation to the building trade unions to meet representatives of the Government to-day on the question of admitting ex-service men —to which my hon. Friend the Minister referred in his answer on Wednesday last to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison)—has not been accepted, the unions having asked that a statement of the proposals of the Government shall first be sent to them. This statement, which has been arrived at after very full consideration of the whole circumstances, has been forwarded to the federations, with a request for a reply by the end of the year. My right hon. Friend will seek an opportunity to inform the House of the text of the Government's proposals in Debate tomorrow, and will lay the correspondence here referred to.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle and District Grocers' Association and the North Stafford Wholesale Grocers' Association calling attention to the unrest and confusion caused to consumers and traders by the price fluctuations brought about by hasty announcements of price reductions unaccompanied by adequate notice to the public and the traders concerned, that, whilst welcoming the Controller's endeavour to prepare the way for handing back to the trading community their functions and responsibilities in supplying the country with food-stuff, would point out that de-control should proceed upon lines which, whilst reducing the cost of living, should not inflict ruinous results upon the distributors of such essential foods as sugar, flour, meat, bacon and butter: that retailers are bound to carry stocks to meet the consumers' demands; that delays in transport render it very difficult to regulate stocks to prevent losses unless adequate notice is given of reductions in wholesale and retail prices, requesting that when conditions permit of de-control the policy to be adopted be discussed and agreed with the traders concerned to protect the taxpayer and trader alike from losses in the realisation of stocks, that revised prices be not publicly announced until such agreement has been secured, complaining of the losses on stocks caused by the announcement of reductions in sugar and flour prices made on the 27th ult., and protesting that, as food distributors during the War were unsparing in their efforts to help the Government's endeavours to supply the people with food, they are entitled to better consideration than they have lately received; and whether he will take the matter into consideration with a view to meeting the desires of the parties concerned?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Food Controller has already expressed his appreciation of the services rendered by the food traders of this country, and he realises fully the difficult conditions under which they now have to conduct business. The risks, however, of trading on a falling market are not confined to controlled foodstuffs, and it would be out of the question for the Government to guarantee any group against all loss on a falling market. The conditions of the world market in most cases render it impracticable to give notice of changes in controlled prices, and in any case opinion as to the wisdom of . giving such notice is by no means unanimous in the trades concerned.

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been drawn to a shortage of imported mutton in Glasgow; what is the position as to the supply of exported mutton; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter of the shortage in Glasgow?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In the second part, I presume that the reference should be to imported mutton. The latter part of the question appears to be founded on the assumption that the Ministry is still responsible for the provision and distribution of meat supplies generally. This is no longer the case in the full sense of the term. The Ministry is now only engaged in the liquidation of existing Government commitments in regard to imported meat, and these at present constitute only about one-fourth of the total supplies "of imported meat. All Government meat is now passing direct into consumption as fast as it arrives.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture why the Ministry have sanctioned the confirmation of the Methwold and Feltwell Drainage Order without submitting it to the approval of Parliament, as provided in the Drainage Act, 1918, seeing that a petition within time was presented to the Ministry by 20 owners of land within the area concerned, representing one-fifth of the total provided under paragraphs (3) and (4) of Part I. of the First Schedule to the said Act; and on what legal or other grounds was this not considered an effective memorial

A memorial against the Drainage Order to which my hon. Friend refers was presented within the prescribed time by owners of 1,776 acres of the 4,689 acres comprised in the district. Subsequently, however, eight of the signatories, being owners of 1,414 acres, withdrew their concurrence in the memorial, and the interests of the remaining signatories are in respect of less than one-tenth of the area affected, and therefore insufficient to necessitate confirmation of the Order by Parliament. No other memori1al against the Order was received within the prescribed time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture if it is proposed to introduce legislation dealing with, diseases of bees; if so, how many inspectors he proposes to appoint; at what salary; and whether Treasury sanction has yet been obtained for this expenditure; what steps have been taken to ascertain the views of experienced bee-keepers outside those organisations that are directly or indirectly connected with the Ministry; has he such knowledge of preventive or remedial measures with regard to diseases of bees as would justify this expenditure of public money at the present time; if the introduction of similar legislation in the United States and Canada has met with no success; and whether it is proposed to give unlimited powers to the Ministry regarding the importation, exportation, movement, or destruction of bees in this country without further reference to Parliament?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but it is not proposed to appoint any additional inspectors for the purpose. A meeting of all the Beekeepers' Associations was held in February last, and it was agreed by a majority of 99–1 thai legislation on the lines proposed was necessary. It is not proposed to make any orders regarding diseases of which the Ministry does not possess accurate knowledge for their effective treatment. According to the information I have received, it is not the case that similar legislation has been unsuccessful in other countries. In reply to the last part of the question, no action of the kind suggested can be taken until the necessary legislation has been passed by Parliament.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether a Muzzling Order has been made in respect of all areas in which there is any reason for suspecting the existence of rabies; whether it is the fact that the movement of dogs from some areas in which no Muzzling Order is in force is prohibited; and, if so, why and how long such prohibition without muzzling will be continued?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The only area out of which the movement of dogs is prohibited where no Muzzling Order is in force, is that which includes the County of London and portions of Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Surrey. The reason for this prohibition is the absence of definite information as to the origin of the case of rabies confirmed at Acton on the 8th December. If the dog which infected the Acton dog penetrated into London, other cases of the disease in the London area must be looked for, and might be the means of a widespread distribution of rabies to other districts unless the move- ment of dogs out of London was in the meantime prohibited. Every effort is being made to obtain definite particulars as to the history of the dog which was responsible for the Acton case. On the information at present available, however, the imposition of a general Muzzling Order over the whole of the metropolitan area is not considered justified. The position will be reviewed about the middle of January, unless the necessary information has been received in the meantime.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether he can give any information about the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease near Gloucester, both with regard to its origin and the methods of dealing with it?

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease near Gloucester, confirmed on the 16th instant, appeared amongst animals which had been purchased from a dealer of Ledbury, Herefordshire, who had on his premises shortly before that date cattle concerned in the outbreak at Mordiford, Hereford. The methods of dealing with the outbreak are similar to those taken in every case, that is, the slaughter of all affected animals or of animals in direct contact therewith, the prohibition of movement of animals in and out of the infected places, and the enforcement of stringent Regulations regarding the disinfection of attendants attending the animals, and of all buildings, etc. The inspectors of the Ministry proceed to the scheduled area in order to trace and examine animals which have been in direct or indirect contact with stock on the premises concerned and to isolate any suspected cases.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture what is the approximate number of persons employed on the land during each month of this year as compared with the numbers employed in 1913 and 1919, respectively?

asked the Minister of Labour a similar question.

I regret that I have no information which would enable me to supply the figures asked for by the hon. Member. No monthly returns are collected of the number of persons employed on the land.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can obtain from India and place in the Library of the House the report of the speech stated in the Press of the 23rd ultimo to have been delivered at Peshawar by the hon. Member for Newcastle - under - Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood).

The Indian papers containing a report of the speech were due to reach this country by the mail now arriving. I have received no report, but I have no doubt that copies of them will be accessible to hon. Members who are interested.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state what decision, if any, has been come to by himself in Council and by the Council of India regarding the proposals contained in Part V of the Report of the Army in India Committee; whether there is any prospect that the official approval of the requisite authorities can be obtained and published by the 1st January, 1921, in view of the need that exists for carrying these reforms into effect; and can any reservations regarding the improved conditions of service of Indian Army officers and Reserve of Officers serving in areas under War Office control be settled later, rather than hold up the sanction of the proposals regarding service in India?

I regret that the answer to the first two parts of the question must be in the negative. These proposals must be considered in India first. As regards the third part, many of the proposals, if adopted, will necessarily have to be applied to Indian Army officers employed by the War Office and paid by them. But the decision will not be delayed to any extent on this account.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what contracts have been entered into by His Majesty's Office of Works on behalf of local authorities; whether there is any difference between such contracts and those entered into by builders; and whether he is prepared to place a specimen copy of a contract upon the Table of the House?

No contracts are entered into by my Department direct " with local authorities, the financial arrangements being carried out by the Ministry of Health, on whose behalf my Department is acting. There is, therefore, no comparison between this arrangement and contracts entered into by builders. The last part of the question does not arise.

asked the First Commisioner of Works whether any contracts have been entered into by His Majesty's Office of Works on behalf of any local authorities; if so, whether the Office of Works are paying more than the district rate of wages and are offering indirect attractions by way of bonus and other allowances; and whether he will place a copy of the contract upon the Table of the House?

As regards the first and last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given to-day to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Winchester (Major Hennessy), of which I enclose a copy. The answer to the second part is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses sanctioned by him to be built by local authorities in each separate month, and the average cost, actual or estimated, of the houses sanctioned in each month to be built by local authorities; and if he will give similar information regarding houses approved for a subsidy, including all the houses sanctioned by him under the Housing Acts of the present Parliament?

I will send my hon. Friend a statement giving the information for which he asks.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether the allotment holders in Greenwich Park have received notice to vacate their holdings in February next; whether these allotments are situated in a portion of the park which has not been used to a great extent by the general public, and they would not, therefore, be appreciably prejudiced if the continued use of the plots were allowed; whether any communication has been received from the plot holders, or from the Mayor of Greenwich, asking for an extension of tenure, and that a deputation should be received on the matter; and whether, in view of the fact that the portion of land used by the plot holders is comparatively very small, he will favourably consider the extension of tenure, or receive a deputation on the subject?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I cannot agree to the suggestion contained in the second part, as the whole of the park has always been used for the recreation of the general public. As regards the remainder of the question, I may say that in July, 1919, I received a deputation of representatives of all the allotment holders in the Royal parks, and after full consideration I agreed to allow the allotments to remain until the 28th February, 1921, in order to allow the tenants ample time to compensate themselves for the labour and money expended on their allotments. It was clearly understood when I made this concession that the question could not be re-opened.

asked the Minister of Health if he will furnish the names of the various substitutes for salvarsan and neo-salvarsan, the use of which has been approved by his Department; and whether his Department guarantees that the substitutes are exactly similar to the German salvarsan and neo-salvarsan?

The following substitutes for salvarsan and neo-salvarsan have been approved: Kharsivan, Neo-Khar-sivan, Arsenobillon, Lovarsenobillon, Diarsenol, Neo-diarsenol, Galyl, and Salvarsan (manufactured by an English firm of chemists). No guarantee of the kind suggested can be given, but there is good reason to believe that all these drugs, with the exception of Galyl, correspond in general chemical constitution to the respective German preparations. They are all officially tested for toxicity before being placed on sale.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give the names of his Departmental physiologists that hon. Members and the public may be able to appreciate the value of their opinions, as compared with the opinions of others competent to advise upon controversial questions regarding food and drink and their respective effects upon the average human constitution?

I would refer the hon. Baronet to the answer which I gave on the 13th instant to the hon. and gallant Member for Basingstoke (Sir A. Hol-brook). The gentlemen in question are not officers pf the Board of Education or of any other Government Department.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether an application has been received on more than one occasion from Mr. J. Poole, Holmleigh," Weeping Cross, Stafford, for a pension under the Teachers' Superannuation Act, 1918; whether the application is receiving attention; and, if it has been refused, on what grounds it has been refused?

Mr. Poole, who is only 33 years old, has not applied for a pension under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, but for forms on which to give particulars of his teaching service for the purposes of that Act. The appropriate forms have been sent to Mr. Poole.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what is the total amount estimated to be payable by the local rates for education in Scotland during the financial year ending 31st March, 1921?

The financial year of both Education and Rating Authorities in Scotland ends on 15th May, not 31st March. In the year ending 15th May next the net total of the amounts intimated to the rating bodies by the education authorities, to be met from rates, is £5,409,717.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government still propose to give effect to the remaining recommendations of the Royal Commission on Income Tax; and, if so, when?

It is obviously impossible for me to introduce legislation this Session, and it is too early to give the programme for next Session.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to make any statement about the continuance or otherwise of the Excess Profits Duty before the Prorogation?

No, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of debt fall due for payment to Great Britain from various foreign countries and from Great Britain to various foreign countries in each of the next five years?

The following sums mature for payment abroad by His Majesty's Government during the next five years. Payment is due to the public of these countries unless specifically shown as due to a foreign Government:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantities of silver have been purchased by the Government during 1920; what prices were paid for such purchases; and what the price of silver is to-day?

The Mint has bought silver bullion in the market in the calendar year 1920, to the extent of 200,588 standard oz. for coinage, and 1,511,220 standard oz. for medals, at an average price of about 56d. per ounce. The present price of silver is 41d. per standard oz. It would not of course have been possible to delay purchases urgently required in the earlier part of the year for coinage and war medals until the recent heavy fall in silver prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Federation of British Industries are prepared, in the interests of economy in Government expenditure, to agree to a small committee considering, with the Government Departments concerned, claims of their members against the State which are the subject of dispute; and what is the total sum involved in these claims?

I have not received any such proposal from the Federation, nor do I think it desirable to make the suggestion to them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it has been decided to abandon the present stock of war savings certificate books on the ground that war savings certificates have now been replaced by national savings certificates; what is the reason for this waste of public money; and whether it would be a better policy to substitute national for war by means of a rubber stamp?

The reason for replacing certificates bearing the obsolete title before the stocks were exhausted was that it was represented by the National Savings Committee that the continued use of the word " war " militated against the sale of certificates. Stocks were reduced in anticipation of the change. It would have been far more expensive, in view of the very large number of post offices concerned, to adopt the suggestion in the last paragraph of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the hindrance to the export business to Australia on account of the inability of Australian merchants to send remittances to this country; whether the large purchases made by the Government of wool and other commodities in Australia have any relation to this difficulty; and whether he will take up with the Australian Government the question of remedying the state of affairs at an early date?

I am well aware of the present difficulties of Australian exchange. Exchange banks have been forced to charge a considerable premium for sterling owing to the unfavourable balance of Australian trade, in part due to the cessation of the large payments made in the last year or so in advance for staple Australian products such as wool. I have discussed certain remedial measures with the Commonwealth Government, but it must rest with that Government to decide on the action to be taken.

asked the Financial Secetary to the Treasury how many pre-War pensioners who were in all the Departments of the Civil Service, and including the Education Department and the police but excluding those in the Admiralty and War Office establishments, have died since the 1st April last; the number who were entitled to the increased pension; the number who have received it; the number not entitled to the increase of pension owing to the income limit as fixed by the Government; and the total cost of the increased pensions for the current year?

I regret that I am unable to give the whole of the figures desired by the hon. Member. In particular, I have no information in regard to police pensioners in England and Scotland. So far as Government pensioners are concerned, including teachers and Irish police but excluding those in Admiralty and War Office establishments, increases of pension have already been awarded in about 17,600 cases, and there are rather less than 3,500 applications still under consideration. About 1,550 applications have been rejected on account of the means limit, and, in addition, a considerable number of application forms have not been returned presumably on the same account. The cost of the increases payable in respect of the above Government pensioners during the current financial year is expected to be in the neighbourhood of £350,000.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that at Weymouth the pay offered to temporary postmen for the Christmas season is 1s. 3d. per hour for week-days and 1s. 9d. per hour for Sunday work; that the rate of pay for ordinary labourers in the same locality is 1s. 7d. per hour; and will he take action to bring the pay of the post-men up to a living wage?

The temporary postmen engaged at Weymouth for the Christmas season are being paid at the rates mentioned by the hon. Member. The rate for week-day duty is equivalent to 60s. a week for a full duty of 48 hours, which is the recognised rate for temporary postmen employed at Weymouth. I am making further inquiries as regards the rate paid for Sunday work.

asked the Postmaster-General when a telephone is likely to be installed at 19, Norfolk Street, Mayfair, London, in view of the fact that the present occupier, Mrs. Wynn Chapman, applied for an instrument and number over nine months ago; and, although the house has already been wired, why nothing has yet been done in the matter?

The provision of facilities for Mrs. Wynn Chapman is dependent on the completion of a relief exchange to be known as Langham, and, if no unforeseen difficulty arises, the line should be installed by the end of March. No additional subscribers can meantime be connected with the Mayfair Exchange.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will inquire into the delay in the installation of the telephone to an ex-service man, Mr. Burch, 69, Highgate Road, N., whose pre-War number was Hampstead 4,952, and whose business of motor carrier is seriously impeded by the delay?

The delay in providing facilities for Mr. Burch is due to the lack of underground plant, and it is not at present possible to say when this difficulty can be overcome. I am making further inquiries in the matter. The telephone number mentioned by the hon. Member is that of a subscriber who was connected in April, 1914, and is still connected.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the irregularity of the postal service between London and Geneva, and to the fact that letters often take three or even four days in transmission between the two places: whether the Geneva mail is despatched by the train leaving Victoria at 8.20 a.m. for Paris, via Boulogne; if not, by what routes and trains it is sent; whether there is a through service between London and Geneva, via Paris, in connection with the train mentioned, with communication by the Ceinture Railway between the Gare du Nord and the Gare de Lyon in Paris; whether the train from Boulogne arrives at the Gare du Nord more than four hours before the mail train leaves the Gare de Lyon for Geneva; whether there is in these circumstances ample time for the transit between the two Paris stations; whether, in case the Geneva mail is despatched from London at 8.20 a.m., it should arrive at Geneva at 9.47 a.m. (10.47 Swiss time) the next morning; and whether he will inquire how, in these circumstances, the delay in the transit of letters is caused, and in what country it occurs?

My attention has not hitherto been drawn to any irregularity or undue delay in the transmission of letters between this country and Geneva. Letter mails for Geneva are forwarded by way of Calais and Paris by the train leaving Victoria at the time stated in the question, and also by the night mail train leaving Cannon Street Station at 9 p.m. I am causing inquiry to be made of the French Postal Administration as to the onward transmission of the mails, and will communicate the result of the inquiry to the hon. and gallant Gentleman by letter.

asked the Post-master-General if the German Post Office retains the full sum collected in Germany on postages of letters to the United Kingdom, and the British Post Office retains the full sum collected in the United Kingdom on postages to Germany, irrespective of any calculations as to numbers or weights; and, if so, is this the universal custom with all countries?

The postal service between the United Kingdom and Germany is carried on in accordance with the Regulations of the Universal Postal Uuion, to which all the postal administrations of the world, with very few exceptions, are parties. Under those Regulations no country receives payment from another for delivering letters, but a country which handles letters in transit between the country of origin and the country of destination receives payment for its services from the country of origin. Thus, in the case of a letter posted in the United Kingdom for delivery in Germany, the United Kingdom, 'which receives the postage, pays nothing to Germany, but makes an appropriate payment to Belgium, through which the letter passes in transit; and so in the reverse direction.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in connection with unemployment relief works in Scotland, it is proposed in any way to use the resources of the distress committees under the Unemployed Workmen Act of 1905; whether in any event it is proposed to make additional grants towards the work of these distress committees; and, if they are to be continued, what will be the general policy of the Government in connection with their work?

The intention of the Government is to deal with unemployment in co-operation with the local authorities, and grants are being made to such authorities to aid them in providing work for the unemployed. If necessary, the assistance of distress committees under the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, will be invoked, but it is not intended to take this course meantime.

asked the Postmaster General whether, in the event of the, threatened discharge of many men temporarily emplayed in the Post Office being unavoidable, it will be possible to postpone their ultimate discharge to a later period by putting them on half-time now; and, if so, whether he will consider this?

I do not anticipate that discharges will take place till after the Christmas pressure. In the meantime, I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a Central Fund to enable local authorities to finance schemes to deal with unemployment has been or will be set up for London; and, if so, will the districts of outer London be included in the scheme?

My right hon. Friend the Minister is much obliged to my hon. and gallant Friend for having postponed till to-day this question which he originally desired to ask by Private Notice last Thursday. The Minister will seek an opportunity to deal with the unemployment problem in Debate tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest available figures of unemployment; how many of the persons concerned are in London and the provinces, respectively; what proposals are being adopted for the relief of unemployment in provincial centres; whether, in the view of his Department, any substantial increase in unemployment may be expected in the remaining winter months; whether the proposed schemes are of such a nature as to deal adequately with such increased unemployment; and whether he will consider the advisability of holding conferences in various groups of counties in order to bring home to the municipal authorities throughout the country their responsibilities and duties with reference to this acute problem?

The number of persons registered as unemployed on the 10th December at the Employment Exchanges in the United Kingdom was 591,074. This figure was made up of 413,880 men, 21,885 boys, 131,328.women, and 23,981 girls; of the total number, 141,533 were registered at exchanges in the London area. With regard to the other points in the question, they entail somewhat lengthy answers, and my right hon. Friend hopes to be able to deal with them in the course of the Debate tomorrow on unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the strong disapproval of the manager and staff of the National, Provincial, and Union Bank of England at the inclusion of their employés in the scheme of unemployment insurance; and if he will take steps whereby banks and bank employes shall be exempted, as otherwise there is an invitation to bank directors to depart from the long established custom of giving permanent and regular employment to their staffs?

As has already been stated, I have no power to exclude bank employés from the Unemployment Insurance Act unless they are entitled to rights in a superannuation fund established by or in pursuance of an Act of Parliament, and unless, in addition, the employed person is not subject to dismissal except for misconduct, neglect, or unfitness, and generally if conditions of employment make it unnecessary that he should be insured. In any case, bank clerks earning over £250 a year do not come within the Act. I should add that an Amendment for excluding bank employes was negatived in Committee on the Unemployment Insurance Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport how many ex-service men from Edmonton and Tottenham are now employed in the construction of the new arterial roads; and if he will give the respective numbers for the North Circular Road and the New Cambridge Road?

Work at Edmonton on a section of the North Circular Road has recently begun, and up to the present 22 unemployed ex-service men have been taken on. In Tottenham a start has not yet been made. Procedure under the Unemployment (Relief Works) Act for obtaining possession of the land required for the New Cambridge Road is being pressed forward as rapidly as possible, and the necessary order will be made as soon as it can be.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the cost of tobacco is included in the figure for the cost of living on which Civil Service War bonus is based; and whether, seeing that the high price of tobacco is chiefly caused by taxation, the fixing of War bonus on the figure of the Ministry of Labour gives the Civil Service an indemnity, not merely against the rise in the cost of living, but also against increases in taxation as compared with that payable before the War?

Tobacco is included in the index number relating to the cost of living on which the Civil Service bonus is based, but as the increase in the price of this item has been considerably less than the average increase in the prices of other commodities, its exclusion from the calculations would have the effect of raising slightly the final index number. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 1st December to a question on the same subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Penryn and Falmouth (Sir E. Nicholl).

asked the Minister of Labour whether the figure for the cost of living on which Civil Service War bonuses are now founded is arrived at after taking into consideration changes in consumption, as suggested in the Report of Lord Sumner's Committee in 1918, or whether their figures are still merely an uncorrected measurement of the changes in prices for working-class Budgets on a pre-War basis; and what check is exercised over the preparation of this figure which now involves such important changes in the pay of civil servants?

asked the Minister of Labour whether the index number indicating the rise or fall of the cost of living is computed by officials of the Ministry of Labour; what check there is on such computation; and, if none, whether he can suggest a method of submitting such computation to competent criticism before it is published?

The index number used for the purpose of determining Civil Service bonuses is that compiled by the Ministry of Labour, which indicates the average increase in the cost of maintaining unchanged the pre-War standard of living in working-class families. Changes in consumption, whether by way of raising or lowering the standard of living, are not taken into account in the calculations. The preparation of the index number is under the direction and supervision of the officers responsible for the statistical work of the Ministry of Labour.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the commodities and other services upon which the index figure of the cost of living is based?

The commodities and other services upon which the index figure of the cost of living is based were described in the " Labour Gazette " for March last, a copy of which was sent to my hon. and gallant Friend on 1st November.

asked the Minister for Mines what was the average tonnage raised per person employed in the Somerset coal mines for each quarter of the present year as compared with the corresponding periods of 1913?

During the present year the average tonnage of coal raised in the Somerset mines was 40 tons per person employed in the first quarter, 39 tons in the second quarter, and 41| tons per person in the third quarter. In 1913 the average tonnage of coal raised during the third quarter was 48amp;#x00BE tons per person employed. The figures of the tonnage raised during the first and second quarters are hot available.

asked the Minister for Mines whether the demand for British exported coal to any foreign country usually drawing its supplies from us can yet be said to be satisfied; whether the prices obtained for export coal are very remunerative to all the vendors; whether the increase of the amount of export is of the greatest value to the State; whether, in view of the ample supplies of industrial coal, he can stimulate export; and whether, in that case, he can sanction the restarting of exportation from the Humber ports?

There has been a marked falling off in the demand for British coal from certain importing countries, notably France and Scandinavia, where there are at present large' stocks, as a result of heavy importation from other countries. Export prices have fallen accordingly, and I am not prepared to say that they are very remunerative to all the vendors at the present moment. Increased export would undoubtedly be of the greatest value to the country; but it is not possible to stimulate export at the expense of home consumers, and I have dealt with the question of Humber exports in my reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for South-West Hull (Major Entwistle).

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that people have to stand and wait outside the railway station at Ashington, Northumberland, for a considerable time till someone opens a door to let them on to the platform; that those people waiting have return tickets; and that if the door was open the passengers would get into a waiting-room where there is a fire; and if he will make inquiries with a view of making some reform of this waiting outside, where people are exposed to the cold unnecessarily?

Inquiry is being made into this matter, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give facilities for the quicker transport of vegetable produce to Scotland from Bedfordshire and other market garden districts by the reinstatement of the Scottish express goods train that ran before the War, or by some similar train service?

The provision of an express goods train service for this traffic has already received very careful consideration, and it has been found that there is not nearly sufficient traffic to justify the running of a special high speed train. In these circumstances, I am unable to press the railway companies concerned to give the service asked for, as it would not pay.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the question of the application of the salary classification of female clerks on Irish railways has now passed out of the hands of the Irish railway managers and the Irish section of the Ministry of Transport, and only awaits ratification and authorisation for payment by the Ministry in London; and whether, having regard to the fact that this matter has been in abeyance since August, 1919, he will take steps to have all arrears paid to the Irish female railway clerks before Christmas?

A report as to the advisability of applying the principles of the British agreement to the female railway clerical staff in Ireland has now been received, but it will not be possible to arrive at a definite decision in the matter before Christmas. I cannot accept as correct the statement that the matter has been in abeyance since August, 1919.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the canals of the country are in a worse condition for the conveyance of traffic than they were in the middle of last century; that the canal carriers and canal-owning companies have suffered severely owing to the withdrawal of subsidies while the subsidy is continued to railway companies, so that a large number of canal carriers have given up business, with the probability that, owing to the loss of toll income, many of the canal companies must let their waterways still further deteriorate; and that less traffic is being carried by canal than before the War and whether any and, if so, what steps have been taken by the Ministry of Transport to arrest the decay of or to develop what was once in this country and is increasingly so in Continental countries, an important factor in the transport facilities for commerce?

I am fully aware of the difficulties under which the canals of this country are working, but I would point out that when the subsidies were withdrawn at the end of August last, the undertakings were authorised to increase their tolls and charges by percentages varying from 100 per cent. to 150 per cent. The data available since these increases took place indicate that there has been no appreciable reduction in traffic. It is with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner the inland waterways can be economically used as part of the transport system of the country that I have appointed a Committee presided over by my hon. Friend the Member for the Ladywood Division of Birmingham (Mr. Chamberlain). I must not be taken to agree with the comparisons given by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he proposes to take any and, if so, what action in consequence of the recent judgment given by Lord Sands in the case North British Railway Company and others versus the Steel Company of Scotland, Limited, in which it was held that whilst the Ministry of Transport had a right to increase charges for demurrage under the Order of January yet the Minister had no right to curtail the free period in force before the War?

I am informed that the railway company concerned has appealed against the decision as being wrong in law, and I do not therefore propose to take any action in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the production of cotton in Egypt this year; and what is the estimated decrease in production which will result from the proposed restriction of the area to be planted with cotton next year?

I believe that the Egyptian Government provisionally estimate this year's crop at about 6,180,000 kantars. As regards the second part of the question I regret that I can add nothing to the answer given to the hon. Member for Moss Side (Lieut.-Colonel Hurst) on 14th December.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Charles Edson, aged 79, residing at 19, The Charterhouse, Charterhouse Lane, Hull, paid premiums on an insurance policy for a period of 53 years and 3 months; that he has now been notified by the United National Friendly Assurance Society, of 8, Peter Street, Manchester, that the original policy has lapsed, and a new assurance for £1 14s. issued to him in place of the original sum of £12, as stated on his policy; in view of the fact that all the premiums have been regularly paid, will he instruct the Registrar to make inquiries into this case, and see that justice is done; and whether this society is paying all claims as they become due?

This case is at present being investigated by the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, but I regret to say that the facts would appear to be as stated. As regards the last part of the question, I am informed that recently two executions for judgment debts due on policies were issued against the society and were in each case returned marked " No good." Numerous other complaints have been made by persons unable to obtain payment of their claims.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any representations have been sought or received from the industrial life assurance companies regarding the promised Bill to be based upon recommendations of the committee of inquiry into industrial insurance; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that the interests of insurance agents will probably be vitally affected by any proposed legislation, he will grant a similar opportunity to the agents to make known their views on the Government's proposals?

The industrial assurance companies have requested permission to make representations in regard to the recommendations of Lord Parmoor's Committee, and these when received will be duly considered by the Government before legislative proposals are placed before Parliament. The Government are equally prepared to consider any representations made on behalf of insurance agents.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping if he will state, for Britain and each of the other chief maritime nations, the tonnage of merchant ships owned in July, 1914, and at the present time, or at the latest dates for which figures are available?

The following are the figures, as given by Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions how many firms, controlled or otherwise, have claims against the Government under their contracts for munitions of war; what is the aggregate amount claimed by these firms up to the end of 1919; what is the earliest date from which sums are claimed; what is the aggregate amount claimed by the Government against contractors for munitions of war by reason of non-fulfilment of contracts or otherwise up to the end of 1919; what steps have been taken to enforce payment; in how many cases have the Government taken proceedings at law against contractors for payment of claims; in how many cases successfully; and what proportion of the sums claimed has been awarded by the courts?

I am afraid that to compile information in the form asked for would be impracticable at a time when a greatly reduced staff are fully employed in completing the final liquidation of the Ministry's war commitments, but I think that the hon. Member will find substantially the information which he requires if he will refer to Cmd. Paper 1055, pages 12 to 13.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to statements which have appeared in the Press that the Home Office are appointing as probation officers paid officials at the expense of the rates in place of representatives of police court missions and similar associations; and what is the ground for this action?

I have seen one or two statements in the Press to this effect. There is no foundation for them, so far as the metropolitan police district is concerned, where the Home Secretary is responsible for the appointment of probation officers. Outside London the appointment of probation officers rests with the Justices of the petty sessional courts, and the question of remuneration is one for the local authorities. I may add, however, that the Home Secretary is anxious to promote the appointment of properly qualified persons as probation officers whether they are missionaries or not, as I believe good probation officers are often successful in saving many persons—both children and adults—from entering upon a life of crime and from becoming a burden both to themselves as "well as to the country. With this object in view, a Committee has been appointed recently to advise on the methods of training, appointing and paying probation officers. It is not proposed to make any change in the existing system until the Committee have reported.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Liverpool Watch Committee have power to re-instate the police officers who participated in the police strike in 1919, in view of the provisions of the Police Act and Regulations made thereunder, or whether the power is vested in the Home Secretary?

Subject to the general control of the Home Secretary with regard to efficiency, the power is vested in the local authority.

asked the Under-Secretay of State for the Colonies whether the Joint Court under the Anglo-French Administration in the New Hebrides has suspended its work since 1914, except to try breaches of local Liquor Regulations, which average about three a month; whether the salaries paid to the Condominium officials amount to over £5,000 per annum; and whether this expense is considered to be justified in the present condition of national finances?

In December, 1914, the two Governments agreed that it was necessary to suspend registration of land claims, but the New Hebrides Joint Court continued to perform its other functions. The number of police cases coming before it has been approximately that stated, about half being in respect of breaches of the Liquor Regulations. The actual expenditure on salaries to Joint Court officials for 1919 was 112,575 francs, which included the salaries of the Judges of the National Courts. At present no charge falls on British funds, as the revenue of the Condominium exceeds the expenditure.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a Resolution carried unanimously at a meeting of the Sanitary Board in Hong Kong in May, 1919, calling for bye-laws prohibiting the employment of children under the age of 14 in factories or workshops for more than 10 hours in any one day, except with the special permission of the board, and prohibiting the employment of children and young persons under 13 in factories and workshops in any occupation which might be injurious to life, health, or limb, was thrown out by the Legislative Council of the colony; and whether this matter can be reconsidered?

I am aware of the Resolution referred to, which has been under the consideration of the Colonial Government. The Governor is being asked to state what measures, if any, are in contemplation and to report generally on the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a case in the colony of Hong Kong, reported in the " South China Morning Post " in April last, in which children were found to be carrying weights up the Peak far beyond their strength; whether the examining magistrate observed that these sights were a daily occurrence and that the only thing that could be done to prevent children in the colony from being misused was through the Legislature; and whether he can take any action in the matter?

I have read a report of the case in question. The Governor is being asked what action he considers can be taken in the matter.