asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if, in view of the fact that his statement that the Black and Tans are a disciplined force and the upholders of law and order is not accepted by the Press of many countries hitherto friendly to us, and that this disbelief is calculated to diminish our prestige, he will consequently appoint an impartial inquiry to investigate the alleged outrages of the forces of the Crown in Ireland?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has any information concerning the identity of the two armed and masked men who killed a man named M. Whellan and wounded his father-in-law, who interfered on his behalf, after breaking into licensed premises in the village of Ballyroan on 29th December last; whether he has any information concerning the identity of the armed men who assassinated a man named Lawless in his home at Maryborough on 22nd January last; whether this man had served four and a half years in France: whether random shots were discharged from two police lorries in the village of Lixnaw on the 3rd of January last, as a result of which a man named Michael M'Auliffe was wounded and subsequently died, whether there was any reason for these shots; and whether the victim was guilty of any offence against the law?

Two constables of the Royal Irish Constabulary were arrested in connection with the death of M. Whellan, and one is at present awaiting trial for murder. The other constable escaped from military custody and has not yet been re-arrested. Another constable is awaiting trial for the murder of Mr. Lawless. As these cases are now sub judice, I am unable to make any further statement with regard to them at present. I have not yet received the report of the Court of Inquiry into the death of Michael McAuliffe, but, according to a police report which I have re- ceived, this man died on the 10th January last from the effects of wounds which were not sustained in the manner described in the hon. Member's question, but were sustained in an ambush of a party of police at Causeway, County Kerry, on the 10th November.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the murder of Alderman Thomas Halpin and Mr. John Meran, two highly respected citizens of Drogheda; whether these men were taken from their houses on the night of Tuesday, 8th February, by armed men, speaking with an English accent, and were brought to a lonely road outside the town, where they were shot dead; and whether he will institute a full and searching public inquiry into the circumstances with a view to bringing the murderers to justice?

I am at present awaiting the report of the Court of Inquiry into the deaths of these men, and am therefore not yet in a position to deal with the hon. Member's question. I have asked for the Court of Inquiry report to be expedited.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the burning and destruction of 11 houses in the village of Abbeydorney, County Kerry, on the night of Wednesday, 9th February, following the wounding of a policeman; whether the residents were turned out of their houses, many of them only in night attire, and forced to flee into the country for safety; and what steps he proposes to take to bring the offenders to justice?

Inquiry is at present being made into the alleged connection of certain members of the Crown forces with these burnings, but I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any further statement in this matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the mysterious shooting of Messrs. Patrick Kennedy and James Murphy, at Drumcondra, Dublin, on the night of Wednesday, 9th February; whether these two young men were arrested by Auxiliary forces in Talbot Street and taken to Dublin Castle, nothing more being heard of them until after 11 o'clock that night a police- man discovered them lying inside a wall at Clonturk Park, Drumcondra, Kennedy being dead and Murphy suffering from wounds to which he has since succumbed; whether in an official statement issued from Dublin Castle it was stated that these men had been discharged from the Castle, after inquiry, at 9.45 p.m. that night and told to go home; whether this statement is at distinct variance with the evidence of a number of parties who stated positively that the men were not arrested in Talbot Street until that hour; and whether he will institute a full public inquiry into all the circumstances in connection with this affair?

Yes, Sir, immediately after this event an inquiry was instituted. Two members of the Auxiliry Division and one other person have been arrested and will be charged with murder.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether there is any possibility of imposing an Order for the total restriction of the sale of all spirits in Ireland until a better condition of affairs exists; and whether he has any information to the effect that, to some extent, drink is responsible for the increase of crime in Ireland?

I am not aware that there is any evidence in support of the suggestion in the last part of the question, and in the circumstances it is not proposed to make such an Order. It is always within the competence of the competent military authority to make such an Order if the circumstances in his opinion demand it.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether after repeated efforts the parish council of Kincardine O'Neil failed to obtain by agreement ground at Annesley for the Torphins allotment holders; whether, as a result of the failure of these negotiations, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, in terms of the Allotments (Gompulsory Leasing) Regulations, 1920, prepared an Order in respect of the ground at Annesley desired by the parish council for allot- ments; whether he is aware that the parish council has been put to considerable expense in connection with the Order; and whether it is proposed to issue a compulsory Order in respect of the ground at Annesley?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland have offered to refund to the parish council the cost of advertising the proposed Order. As regards the last part of the question, as the estate has offered immediate lease of alternative ground which in the opinion of the district agricultural committee and the Board's inspector is suitable, the Board do not feel justified in issuing a compulsory Order.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has information to the effect that trawlers have been conducting operations inside the three-mile limit off the Kincardineshire coast; and, if so, whether he will take such steps as are necessary to prevent this from happening?

Two vessels, alleged to Lave been trawling within the three-mile limit off Kincardineshire coast, were detected during January, and the cases have been referred to the Procurator Fiscal. Apart from these, no complaints of illegal trawling on this part of the coast have been received by the Fishery Board for Scotland for a considerable time. An efficient patrol is being maintained by the Board's vessels and no further steps appear necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War the conditions under which soldiers may purchase their discharge from the Army; whether the payments demanded are greater in some cases than in others; and, if so, the reasons why there should be any difference in payment?

The conditions governing discharge from the Army by purchase are contained in the Royal War- rant for Pay, etc., of the Army and in the King's Regulations. The amounts of the purchase money are laid down in Army Order 180 of 1920, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member. The amount of the purchase money varies in some relation to the cost to the public of the soldier's training.

asked the Secretary of State for War, seeing that prolonged inquiries have failed to discover any Ordnance shoemaker employed at home command workshops who received other than working pay, 1s per day and bonus, while Ordnance shoemakers employed overseas received only 6d. per day corps pay without bonus, why this distinction was made; and, in view of the injustice involved in men employed overseas during the War being paid at a much lower rate without bonus than those employed on similar duties at home, he will now remedy this to some extent by granting to Ordnance shoemakers employed overseas at least a sum equivalent to the difference between 6d. per day corps pay and 1s. per day working pay from the date on which A.C.I. 1,150, authorising payment at the rate of 1s. per day, with bonus, for Army shoemakers was put into operation until the men concerned were demobilised or discharged?

This question has already been very carefully considered, and I regret that I am not prepared to reopen the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that it has been reported to the Wiltshire Agricultural Committee that considerable damage is being done in that county by the excessive number of rats on War Office lands; and whether he will give orders for their destruction?

I am not aware of the facts stated, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of the precise properties concerned I will have any necessary instructions issued on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the facts relating to the ss. "Warstag," which was loaded by the Inland Waterways and Docks Department at Salonika and consigned to Constantinople in August, 1919; is he aware that a court of inquiry was held in October, 1919, as to the methods of loading this steamer; that it was found that the methods resulted in a loss of £30,000 to the public, and that the court of inquiry found that this loss had been caused by the incompetence and negligence of the officers concerned and that they should be personally surcharged for this amount; and what further action he intends to take?

I am not aware of the circumstances stated in the hon. Member's question, but I have called for a report from the military authorities at Constantinople.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps the Government are taking to enable discharged soldiers to enter the building trade?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Prime Minister on February 17th in the Debate on the Address. I am not at present in the position to make a further statement.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of workers in the engineering industry who are unemployed and on short time, respectively?

At 4th February, the latest date for which detailed figures are available, the number of unemployment books in the engineering and ironfounding industry lodged at Employment Exchanges was 135,737 in respect of total unemployment and 35,675 in respect of short-time working.

asked the Prime Minister what sum has been disbursed to local authorities by Lord St. David's committee for the carrying out of works of public utility to relieve the necessities of the unemployed?

Grants to local authorities, amounting approximately to £470,000, have been sanctioned by Lord St. David's Committee for assisting them in carrying out works of public utility to relieve unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received a communication signed by the Nottingham Chamber of Commerce, the Nottingham Lace and Net Finishers' Association, and the Nottingham Home Workers' League, requesting him to promote legislation to empower the Lace Finishing Trade Board to fix minimum rates of remuneration for middle men and middle women; whether both sides of the Lace Finishing Trade Board, and the appointed members thereon, are unanimous in this question, and have expressed the opinion that the evil to the trade resulting from the under-payment of middle women would be largely mitigated by the legislation suggested; and whether, therefore, he will forthwith introduce a measure embodying the united wish of employers and workers in the trade?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part, the position of middle men and middle women in the lace trade is receiving our careful consideration. A proposal, however, to empower a Trade Board to fix not only minimum rates of wages for workers, but also minimum rates of commission or of other remuneration to persons who are not employés but independent contractors, raises a novel question of principle affecting this and other trades, and in these circumstances I am afraid I can hold out no hope of legislation on this matter being carried through during this Session.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the many criticisms passed upon the figures issued periodically from his Department purporting to show the cost of living, and of the far-reaching results dependent upon the acceptance of these figures, he will state fully the methods of investigation and calculation employed in arriving at these figures?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend an extract from the "Labour Gazette" for March, 1920, which gives a very detailed account of the methods of investigation and calculation employed in preparing the statistics relating to the changes in the cost of living. In view of the interest attaching to these statistics, I have arranged that this account shall be reprinted in this month's issue of the "Labour Gazette," which is now being printed off.

asked the Prime Minister whether Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth, and Company have signed a contract with the Russian trade delegation for the repair of over 20 Russian locomotives a month, conditional upon the signature of the Russian Trade Agreement; whether it is estimated that this contract would employ 3,000 of the men at present unemployed on Tyneside; and whether, in view of the increasing burden upon the taxpayer of the cost of the unemployment benefit, he can give any hope that the Russian Trade Agreement will be concluded shortly?

I have been asked to reply. As regards the first two parts of the question, I understand that the facts are generally as stated by the hon. Member. As regards the last part, I may refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. Raper) on the 17th instant.

asked the Prime Minister whether the proposed Trade Agreement with the Russian Soviet Government will contain a Clause specifically providing for the repayment of the large sums which have been advanced by the Government of this country to Russia?

I have been asked to answer the question. The Draft Trade Agreement as proposed by this country contain a Declaration by both the British Government and the Soviet Government that claims by the one on the other shall be equitably dealt with in a formal general Treaty, by which the economic and political relations will be regulated when such a Treaty is made. This is in accordance with the offer made by the British Government in June last, as to the conditions on which it was prepared to make a Trading Agreement with the Soviet Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the event of any trade agreement being arrived at with the Russian Soviet Government, the claims of holders of Russian Government bonds in this country will be duly safeguarded?

I have been asked to answer this question. I would refer the hon. Member to the Declaration on Recognition of Claims contained at the end of the draft Agreement, submitted by the British Government to Russia, which has been published in the Press.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he has under consideration the extension to temporary accountant clerks of the bonus, based on the cost of living, granted to the permanent staff and subsequently extended to clerks, typists, etc.; and, if so, whether he is now in a position to announce a decision?

Temporary accountant clerks, entered before the War, receive war bonus like other civil servants. Those entered during the War, on inclusive rates of pay, do not receive the bonus. The matter is, however, receiving consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many public halls and buildings requisitioned during the War are still retained by the War Office and, if so, for what reason; and is he aware that Shrewsbury, a town of considerable size, is still awaiting the release of its music hall for their own enjoyment and to relieve the distress in the theatrical profession?

The information asked for in the first part of the question is not available in the War Office, and returns are being obtained from the commands. As regards the latter part, alternative accommodation is now being provided, and the music hall will be vacated at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Department of Director of Building Material Supplies entails considerable expense and a large staff; whether it is necessary, as all public bodies, builders, and contractors know where to purchase material quite as well as Government officials; whether the Department is a trading concern, buying goods and selling them for profit under the heading of commission; whether it is proposed in the interests of economy to abolish this Department; and whether the date for its cessation has yet been fixed?

I have no doubt that the establishment of this Department by the Ministry of Munitions shortly after the Armistice served a useful purpose in stimulating production and securing a sufficient supply of building materials at reasonable prices. In view, however, of the changed conditions I have decided that no further orders for materials shall be given by the Department unless a clear public necessity dictates a departure from this course, but I am not yet in a position to say when it will be practicable to abolish the Department, as there is a great mass of accounts and other business to be dealt with. I may add that the materials purchased are not sold at a profit, but under the terms of the Estimates approved by Parliament the Department is required to recover the whole cost, including overhead charges.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take to secure adequate representation of working women on the advisory council, in view of the resignation of the representatives nominated in April, 1919, who have expressed the opinion that the council is useless?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. T. Griffiths), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that sub-office assistants in the Upper Edmonton district are receiving £1 17s. per week, with a war bonus of 6s. 4d. per month, and £1 11s. per week, with a war bonus of 5s. 5d. per month; whether these wages are the sole remuneration for the whole of the Post Office work which these women are called upon to perform; and whether he will issue instructions for a fair rate of pay to be given to the assistants concerned?

I will have inquiry made on the subject if the hon. Member will furnish me with the full name of the office which he has in mind.

asked the Postmaster-General the wages paid by good employers in the Bristol district which he regards as a criterion; whether the work of the sub-office assistant is similar in character to that performed by a female sorting clerk and telegraphist at a branch office; and whether, having regard to the similarity of the work, the disparity between the rates of pay, and the failure to maintain his own standard, so far as a comparison with the Bristol Co-operative Society is concerned, he will cause immediate inquiries to be made into the wages at present paid to the sub-office assistants in the Bristol area?

The district under the control of the Postmaster of Bristol covers localities of widely differing character, and it is not possible to lay down a standard rate of wages for sub-office assistants which would be applicable to the whole of the district. The work of a sub-office assistant is not, as a rule, either so exacting or so responsible as that of a female sorting clerk and telegraphist. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any individual case in which he considers that the assistants are underpaid, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the expediency, in the interest of English traders, of modifying the regulations in connection with the cash-on-delivery system as applied to foreign parcels post so as to allow the senders of parcels to procure the delivery of the same to a person substituted for the original addressee on payment of postal fees and Customs charges only, without regard to the sum which would have been demanded from the original addressee?

In the cash-on-delivery service formerly maintained between the United Kingdom and certain British possessions the sender of a cash-on-delivery parcel had the option of cancelling or reducing the trade charge after the parcel was posted. As the option was seldom exercised, comparatively little use was made of the special machinery which it was necessary to set up for dealing with such cases; and, with the concurrence of the Foreign and Colonial Postal Administrations concerned, it was decided that the maintenance or this exceptional procedure in the simplified and extended cash-on-delivery service which was introduced on the 1st of January, 1920, could not be justified.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, as a result of the fact that £1 sterling will purchase 240 marks' worth of German postage stamps, it is possible for persons in the United Kingdom desiring to transmit large quantities of circulars, &c., through the post to addresses in this country to effect considerable savings by shipping the circulars in bulk to a German port to be stamped and posted there; whether he has power to prevent this; if so, will he exercise that power; and, if not, will he apply to Parliament at an early date for such extended powers as may be necessary to prevent such saving being effected at the expense of the British Post Office and to the benefit of the German Post Office?

It would no doubt be possible, as the hon. Member suggests, to effect a saving by transmitting circulars to Germany in bulk, to be posted thence to this country. I have no power either to prevent the despatch of unaddressed circulars in bulk to Germany or to fix rates of postage in that country; nor do I see how I could obtain or exercise extended powers in the sense suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, before putting the proposed new telephone rates into operation, he will be prepared to set up a Committee to consider the question of expenditure on the telephone system, with a view to possible economies in working, and the possibility of local authorities in suitable areas taking over control of the system by lease or purchase?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Debate which took place in this House on Friday last.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the average wage paid to telephone operatives by the National Telephone Company and by the Post Office before the War; what is the present wage paid, and for how many hours' work a week; what was the average cost per instrument under the National Telephone Company; what is the present cost per instrument under the Post Office; and what is the present cost per instrument at Hull?

The National Telephone Company in 1911 were paying their telephone operators wages varying from 6s. to 20s. a week. At that time Post Office telephonists were paid wages varying from 10s. to 28s.; they are now paid from 14s. to 36s., together with War Bonus on a sliding scale, which for wages under 35s. at present amounts to 155 per cent. on wages. The gross weekly working hours were 50 under the company and 48 under the Post Office; but the actual working hours were, with a few exceptions, identical under both administrations. The hours now worked by the Post Office telephonists are the same as before the War. The average working cost of the National Telephone Company's system in 1911 was £3 14s. 11d. per telephone. The corresponding cost for the Post Office system in 1918–19—the last year for which separate accounts for the exchange and trunk services were prepared—was £5 8s 6d. per telephone, including the civil pay of the staff on military service equivalent to 7s. 2d. per telephone. The cost of the Hull system in 1919–20 was £4 2s. 1d. per telephone.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Income Tax has been paid in recent years upon supposed profits earned by Farrow's Bank; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of returning any amount so paid for the benefit of the creditors of the bank?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 17th instant to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Rotherham (Major F. Kelly).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, in view of the great depression in trade, the continuance of the three years' average in connection with Income Tax will, in many cases, operate very oppressively; and whether he is therefore prepared, in the next Budget, to adopt the recommendations of the recent Royal Commission and levy Income Tax on each year's profits instead of on the average?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to his question yesterday.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that he has decided to repeal the Excess Profits Duty, if he will also repeal the tax on earned incomes below £500 per annum, so that earners of small incomes may be afforded some relief from the present direct and indirect taxation?

I am not able to adopt this suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a person paying income tax is entitled to any rebate if he marries during any period of the financial year; and, if not, whether he can take any steps to remove this anomaly?

A taxpayer marrying in the course of the Income Tax year of assessment is entitled to claim for that year the increased personal allowance of £225 applicable in the case of a married man.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the agitation in favour of the abolition of the means limit of old age pensions; how much State outlay would be incurred approximately by the grant of old age pensions at the present rate to all irrespective of financial position; and how much saving would be effected by the abandonment of all the existing machinery for the examination of the means of applicants?

The total annual expenditure that would be involved if there were no means limit was estimated at £41,000,000 by the Departmental Committee on Old Age Pensions which reported in 1919, as will be seen in Table 6 appended to their Report (Cd. 410–1919). No precise estimate is available of the savings in cost of administration which could be effected by the abolition of the means limit, but as compared with the cost the saving would be infinitesimal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, taking into consideration the depressed condition of industry throughout the country, he will see his way to recommend a reduction in the bank rate, thereby providing cheaper money for industrial purposes; and whether the continuous borrowing of the Government necessitates a continuance of the present high rate?

The control of the bank rate rests with the Bank of England. As regards the second part of the question, Government borrowings have for the last year been solely for the purpose of meeting maturing debt, and the rate of interest is that which is found necessary to secure the renewal of so much of the maturing debt as cannot be met out of surplus revenue, without more than temporary resort to methods involving new credit manufacture by the Government. Borrowing by Government and other public authorities is, of course, one of the factors making for high money rates, but the originating cause of the present high rates is the destruction of capital during the War, and the financial expedients to which the War forced our own and other nations to resort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the arrears, if any, of the Excess Profits Duty for the years ending 1918 and 1919; whether there has been any interest charged on the arrears; and, if charged, how much has been received?

No detailed analysis according to years has been prepared of the arrears of Excess Profits Duty, and in view of the time and labour involved I cannot undertake to authorise the preparation of this information. No interest is chargeable on arrears of Excess Profits Duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount which has been received this year in respect of Excess Profits Duty; the amount which has been paid in respect of reclaims; and an estimate of the outstanding liability for reclaims?

After providing some £10,100,000 for refunds and some £950,000 for interest on prepayment, the net amount of Excess Profits Duty paid into the Exchequer from 1st April, 1920, to 19th February, 1921, was £191,194,000. I am not yet in a position to forecast either the total amount of refunds still to be made or the aggregate net amount of duty still remaining to be received by the Exchequer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposals as to the valuation of stocks for the purpose of Excess Profits Duty contained in the White Paper (Cd. 8623) issued in 1917 by which a period will be allowed in which to ascertain by actual realisation the value of the stock appearing in the accounts at the end of the last accounting period and an allowance made from the profits of that period for any difference between the valuation and the amount realised are to be acted upon; and, if so, whether the period proposed will be two years from the 31st December, 1920, for all businesses?

As at present advised I intend to put forward in due course proposals for giving effect to the principle of the concession set out in the White Paper and referred to by the hon. Member, but I do not wish to commit myself as to details at the present time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture the number of heifer calves slaughtered during the month of January, 1921?

The number of heifer calves slaughtered is not known, but it is estimated that the total number of calves of all kinds slaughtered in Great Britain in the four weeks ended January last is 54,000. This is the latest date for which the figures are available. The figures for the corresponding, period in 1919–20 were 73,000. I may add that it is believed that more calves are now being reared than has been the case in the past two years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture under what Order or under what authority a new rate of 6d. has been and is being levied on the people of Molesey and East Molesey for the dredging, draining, etc., of the rivers Mole and Meber?

Under an Order confirmed by the Ministry on the 20th November, 1919, under the Land Drainage Act, 1918, a Drainage Board was established having jurisdiction over about 11,000 acres, including certain land in the parishes of East Molesey and West Molesey. Under this Order the Drainage Board have the power to levy a rate to enable them to cleanse and improve the water courses in their area, and the rate to which the hon. and gallant Member refers is one levied in pursuance of the Board's powers.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, in giving evidence before the Rates Advisory Committee on the 12th October last, Sir William Plender stated that the amount of each class of stock and shares of the railway companies and the separate market or Stock Exchange values at the mean of the highest and lowest prices during the three years to 31st December, 1913, of each such class of stock and shares amounted in the aggregate to £1,120,867,965 and £1,131,636,697, respectively; how these aggregate sums have been arrived at, giving the particulars as respects each company; whether he is aware of the discrepancy between Sir William Plender's statement of the net revenues of the railway companies for the years 1912 and 1913 and the statement of these revenues in the railway returns published by the Board of Trade in 1915; and whether he can explain this discrepancy?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to questions asked by the hon. Members for Bedwelty (Mr. Charles Edwards) and Middlesbrough West (Mr. T. Thomson) on 23rd and 24th November last respectively, regarding the difference between Sir W. Plender's figures and those in Cmd. 8038. The railway returns for 1919 will be issued very shortly, and will show full details of the capital and dividends of each company in that year.

asked the Home Secretary how many of the governors of His Majesty's prisons had experience of the prison service before taking up their present appointments; and in what capacity they had such experience?

Out of the total of 54 prison governors, 30 had previous prison experience—two as prison medical officers, 27 in subordinate ranks in the English prison service, and one in a Colonial prison service.

asked the Home Secretary the number of chaplains of the Church of England and priests of the Roman Catholic Church on the regular staff of His Majesty's prisons who are employed part-time only and the names of the prisons at which they are employed?

Part-time chaplains are employed at Swansea, Lincoln, Northampton, Leicester, Northallerton, Bedford, Gloucester, Worcester, Norwich, Shepton Mallet, Exeter, Cardiff, Shrewsbury, Portsmouth, Hull, Carlisle, Plymouth, Ipswich, Dorchester, Carmarthen, Carnarvon, Usk and Oxford—23 in all. Part-time Roman Catholic priests are employed at the Borstal Institutions at Aylesbury, Borstal, and Feltham, at Parkhurst and Camp Hill Prisons (one priest), Bedford, Birmingham, Bristol, Brixton, Canterbury, Cardiff, Carlisle, Carmarthen, Carnarvon, Dorchester, Durham, Exeter, Gloucester, Holloway and Pentonville (one priest), Hull, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, Maidstone, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Shepton Mallet, Shrewsbury, Swansea Usk, Wandsworth, Winchester and Worcester—37 in all.

asked the Home Secretary if he will supply a copy of the educational scheme or syllabus now in operation in local and in convict prisons?

I have supplied a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary the number of prisoners eligible for instruction during the year ended 31st March, 1920, and their classification under the different standards on reception?

No figures are available for the year ended 31st March, 1920. A Statement giving the above information is in course of preparation for the year ending 31st March, 1921.

asked the Home Secretary whether the non-tariff offices are desirous of having a representative on the Royal Commission to inquire into fire losses; and if, considering the importance of these organisations, he can see his way to grant this request?

I regret that, owing to the need of keeping the numbers of the Commission within due limits, I cannot advise His Majesty to appoint any further representative of insurance interests. The non-tariff offices will, of course, be given full opportunity of laying their views before the Commission in evidence.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the action of the Erith education authority, in dismissing from his position as teacher Mr. Walter R. Davids because he refused to join the National Union of Teachers, or any union, was taken under a standing regulation of the Erith Council applicable to all employés, and that the National Union of Teachers had nothing whatever to do with the matter, either by suggesting the regulation or its application in this case?

The answer is in the affirmative. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given by me to-day to the hon. Member for the Springburn Division of Glasgow.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the action of the Erith Education Committee in dismissing from his position as teacher at Brook Street School, Erith, Mr. Walter R. Davids, for the reason that Mr. Davids, owing to conscientious scruples, refused to join the National Union of Teachers or any union; whether Mr. Davids is now 52 years of age and has had a career of 33 years as a teacher; whether, in respect that teaching is a profession and not a trade, he will introduce legislation to forbid teachers forming themselves into unions or associations which impose conditions upon a learned profession which have no relation to either learning, character, or professional skill, and which lead to the denial of liberty of conscience to its members; and what provision does he in the meantime propose to make for Mr. Davids in respect of the wrong which has been inflicted upon him?

I am aware of this deplorable case. The statements in the question as to Mr. Davids' age and length of service are apparently correct. So far as I am aware the action of the Erith Local Education Authority in dismissing Mr. Davids was not taken in consequence of any pressure or suggestion emanating from the National Union of Teachers, and was not countenanced by that Union. It was taken under a resolution of the Erith Urban District Council, which provides that all employés of the Council must be in possession of a current financial trades union card or be requested to hand in their resignation within 28 days. While, therefore, I am strongly of opinion that a teacher should have full liberty to join or not to join any union or association of teachers as he thinks best, it is clear that in this case the particular measure of legislation which the hon. Member suggests would be misdirected.

asked the Secretary of State for India what decision has been arrived at on the subject of the additional pensions of £200 and £100 a year which it was stated in the India Office memorandum of the 3rd June, 1920, would be granted to military officers of the Indian Army on the supernumerary list who, had held certain high civil appointments?

I regret that I cannot yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the despatch received from the governor of Hong Kong in November or October last relating to the representation of the British community in the legislative council has been considered; and, in view of the pressing necessity of the purely British attitude upon the question of slavery and the employment of young children being represented upon the governing body, he can make an early statement upon the subject?

It has been decided to make no change in the numbers or mode of selection of the Legislative Council. The present European members are fully able to represent the British attitude on all social questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of possible military and commercial developments in the Eastern Pacific, he has considered the advisability of acting upon the suggestion contained in a despatch from the office administering the government of Hong Kong, on 25th April, 1919, to construct a high-power wireless telegraph station at Hong Kong; and whether, seeing that the present political situation in the Far East make this request of those responsible for the government of the Colony an urgent necessity, apart from the larger scheme of the Imperial Wireless Telegraph Committee, he will take immediate steps in this direction?

The Governor has not expressed any desire to proceed with this scheme separately from that of the Imperial Wireless Telegraph Committee, and it is intended to await his views before considering further steps in the matter.