asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will make inquiries into the case of Francis Richard Eggleston, No. 122,617, Royal Garrison Artillery, who was demobilised on 24th September, 1919, and died in March, 1920, from heart disease contracted while on active service; whether he is aware that his widow's pension was stopped without previous notice some six weeks ago; and whether, in view of the fact that she is destitute and has three children dependent on her, he will give directions for the hearing of her appeal without delay and for the payment of her pension until the appeal is heard?

This case is being further considered in connection with the widow's appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, and in the circumstances I have authorised resumption of the temporary advances which were being paid by the local War Pensions Committee.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when it is intended to revise the scale of fees paid by the Admiralty to surgeons and gents (Article 21, Clause 3), seeing that these fees are below those paid by other Departments and have not been revised for 35 years, notwithstanding the enormous increase in the cost of living?

A revised scale of fees is now under consideration, and it is hoped that a decision may be reached and promulgated very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for India what was the number of British battalions and cavalry regiments stationed in India before the War; and what is the present number?

:Before the War—9 British Cavalry Regiments; 51 British Infantry Battalions. Now—8 British Cavalry Regiments; 45 British Infantry Battalions. There are, in addition, to be 5 Companies of Armoured Cars.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the confusion in the public mind as to the nature of the various forces responsible for law and order in Ireland, he will circulate for the information of Members a statement showing the method of recruitment, organisation, and relation to other forces of the Black-and-Tans and the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary, respectively

As I have previously explained, the so-called Black-and-Tans are not a separate force, but are recruits to the permanent establishment of the Royal Irish Constabulary. The Auxiliary Division is also a part of the Royal Irish Constabulary, but consists altogether of ex-officers of the Army, Navy, or Air Force who have been recruited for temporary service only.

asked the Minister of Food whether provincial employes of the Ministry over 21 years of age have been given recently an increase of 5s. a week, and those under 21 years of age an increase of 2s. 6d. a week, such increase to be retrospective as from 1st July, 1920, although such increase was not asked for by the employes concerned; what the total cost of the increase will amount to; and whether such unsolicited increases in wages paid to Government employes are consistent with the need for public economy?

The increase of pay to which the hon. Member refers was the outcome of a claim on behalf of temporary clerical staffs generally made by their representatives on the Cost of Living Committee of the National Civil Service Whitley Council and was not therefore unsolicited. The total cost of applying it to the provincial staff of the Ministry of Food was approximately £12,000 in respect of arrears, and an increase at the rate of £2,000 per annum in the wages bill from January 1st, 1921, though the demobilisation of staff is causing a progressive reduction in the latter figure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is proposed to introduce the Fishery Bill which was promised in the King's Speech last year; and whether he is aware that the Report of the Sub-Committee of the Development Commission clearly indicates that without speedy legislation salmon fisheries are doomed?

In reply to the first part of the question I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in this House last night. With regard to the second part of the question, the report referred to clearly indicates the need for further legislation and it is because we recognise that need that we have caused to be prepared the Bill which is now under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General why Great Milton, three miles from Wheatley, four miles from Thame, and five miles from Oxford, has for its post town Wallingford, at a distance of 10 miles, in Berkshire?

The motor mail service, which serves Great Milton also serves a number of villages between Great Milton and Wallingford, and it is therefore more economical than the establishment of a separate service for Great Milton from any of the places named. If the hon. Member suggests that no place should receive its mails from a place in another county, his suggestion is not one which in practice can be invariably adopted, though I agree with it in principle.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will reconsider his intention to appoint one of His Majesty's judges as chairman of the Committee which is to be appointed to inquire into the alleged destruction of documents in the Ministry of Munitions; and whether, having in view the arrears of work to be dealt with in the Law Courts and the fact that it was not even possible to spare judges to go all the recent circuits, he will leave those overworked and underpaid officials to do their own work, and choose a chairman for the new Committee from some equally distinguished but less busy class?

I recognise the force of the considerations put forward in my hon. Friend's question, but I still think it would be desirable, if it can be arranged, to form the Committee in the way I indicated to the House.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that a number of boards of guardians have not applied to the Ministry for permission to avail themselves of the Act of 1920 enabling them to increase the pre-War pensions of their ex-employes; and whether he has issued any suggestions to them to adopt this policy?

An Order has been issued applying the Act of 1920 to all pensions paid under the Poor Law Officers Superannuation Act, 1896, and the terms of this Order have been communicated to all Poor Law authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider whether information regarding nutritious and economical foods can be circulated to local authorities, educational authorities, and the Press, in view of the present distress and the great amount of manufactured and semi-manufactured foods consumed by the people of this country?

I am considering whether it would be practicable to issue a pamphlet containing information on the lines suggested by the hon. Member. As the hon. Member is aware, it is difficult to make any general statements with regard to the values of food, which are not liable to be misconstrued. I am having certain researches conducted in the subject in collaboration with the Medical Research Council.

asked the Home Secretary down to what date the, indices of the registers of births, marriages, and deaths at Somerset House have been printed, and are available to the public?

Indices are available to the public at Somerset House either in printed or typewritten form for all registers to the end of September, 1919. As regards registers since that date, searches are made for the public by the staff of the General Register Office.