asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the award by the Recorder of Cork of £134,250 compensation for the destruction of the municipal buildings by Forces of the Crown, over whom the ratepayers have no control, he will recommend the House to make good the destruction out of the public Treasury instead of out of the rates paid by the citizens whose property has been destroyed?

So far as I am aware the learned Recorder, in giving his award, made no statement such as the first part of the question would seem to suggest implicating the Crown Forces. In regard to the general question of compensation for malicious damage I am not at present in a position to add anything to what I have already said.

asked the Chief Secretary the result of the inquiry into the murders of the men named Lumley, Holycross, Thurles; Michael Ryan, Curraghduff; and William Gleeson, Upperchurch?

The verdict of the coroner's inquest on the death of Richard Lumley, of Holycross, was one of wilful murder against members (unnamed) of the police and military forces. The finding of the Court of Inquiry in the cases of Michael Ryan and William Gleeson was that these men were willfully murdered by persons unknown, and that there was no evidence before the Court as to the identity of the murderers or the circumstances of the murder.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Inver Co-operative Creamery and shop were completely destroyed by uniformed men on the 24th February; whether he has any report to make on the matter as to why the creamery was destroyed; and whether compensation will be paid by the State?

If the hon. Member will repeat this question, of which I only received notice yesterday, on Thursday of next week I hope then to be in a position to furnish him with a reply.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the two constables of the Royal Irish Constabulary who were arrested in connection with the damage done at Chapel Street, Elphin, were subsequently seen on duty; that they were afterwards removed to Strokestown, and that one of them was seen on duty last week; whether these two constables have been released; whether any disciplinary measures are to be taken; and, if not, the reason why?

I have called for a report with reference to the statement that these men have been returned to duty. Perhaps the hon. Member will repeat this question, of which I only received notice yesterday, one day next week.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Michael Barry, aged 20, brother of Kevin Barry, already executed, has been arrested and taken to an internment camp; whether the charges made against him are that there were two bullets in or near his home, that he had cut off a girl's hair, and that he had two volunteer caps in his possession; whether any inquiry has been made with regard to those charges; whether, in regard to the first charge, there is any evidence that Michael Barry knew of the existence of the two bullets; and whether the lock of hair found in the house was a lock belonging to his aunt, who, in accordance with custom, sent the lock home when she entered a religious order, and the two caps were boys' Scotch caps worn when the two brothers were children?

Michael Barry was tried by court-martial on the 24th day of January for keeping two rounds of ammunition contrary to Regulations 9 A.A. (D) Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulations. One bullet had the top cut off so that if used it would cause a more serious wound.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what was the acreage under flax in Ireland in 1913 as compared with 1920, their respective yields per acre, and selling price per stone; and how much flax was imported in 1913 as compared with 1920, and the approximate amount of flax in Ireland at present, both scutched and unscutched?

The area under flax in Ireland was 59,305 acres in 1913 and 127,198 acres in 1920. The quantity of flax imported in 1913 was 40,982 tons and in 1920, 9,858 tons. The average selling price for flax in 1913 was 7s. 2¼d. per stone, and in 1920, 39s. 5d. per stone. The yield in 1913 was at the rate of 34·1 stones per statute acre. It is not possible to estimate accurately the yield per acre for 1920, as less than half of last year's crop has as yet been marketed. It is not expected to average morn than 22 stones per acre. The Department of Agriculture are not in a position to state the approximate amount of flax at present in Ireland, as they have no information as to the quantities in manufacturing stores. The Irish crop of 1920 will, it is estimated, give a total yield of from 16,000 to 18,000 tons.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he is aware of the serious and precarious position of the linen trade in Ulster by reason of the decision of the farmers as a whole not to put any acreage under flax this year in the absence of a subsidy to secure them against actual loss in the prices for 1922; whether he is aware of the necessity for immediately dealing with this matter, as there is only a week or two until the sowing of this season's crop must be begun; and whether, considering the disaster that must result to the linen trade, employing over 100,000 workers, if flax is not sown, he is prepared to receive a deputation of the Farmers' Union to hear their views and make what arrangements are possible to deal with this important crisis?

My right hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture is fully aware of the difficulty of the linen trade in Ulster and of the hesitation of farmers, owing to the fall in price, to sow a large acreage of flax in 1921. The Department believe, however, that most farmers realising the importance of flax to the spinning industry and the probability of this crop being as remunerative as any other next year, will again sow a considerable acreage with this crop. The Department are quite prepared to receive a deputation from the Farmers' Union and hear their views on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary how many men have been killed in attempting to escape from the custody of the forces of the Crown in Ireland and how many have been wounded but subsequently have recovered since 1st January, 1919?

The number of persons who have been killed while attempting to escape from custody since 1st January, 1919, is 49 I am unable to give the number wounded.

asked the Chief Secretary how many Irish men and Irish women, respectively, are interned without charge or trial under Regulation 14B, Restoration of Order in Ireland Act; how many are undergoing penal servitude; how many are undergoing sentences of imprisonment with and without hard labour, respectively; and how many are under arrest?

The number of men interned in Ireland under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulations 14B is 2,079. No women have been so interned. The number of persons serving sentences of penal servitude or imprisonment imposed by courts in Ireland in respect of offences arising out of the disturbed state of the country is 953. The classification asked for by the hon. and gallant Member would cause an amount of additional labour which, in my opinion, the value of the return when obtained would not justify. This figure does not include persons convicted by military courts or summary courts in the martial law area. I regret that it is not possible to give the number of persons in arrest, but the hon. and gallant Member may be assured that the cases of all persons arrested on suspicion are investigated as speedily as possible with a view to their early release or internment or trial.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the union of Castlecomer was raided by Crown Forces during the progress of a meeting of the board of guardians and that a member of the Forces seated himself at the table with the guardians and amused himself by dodging a bomb and going through the motion of flinging it; and whether this form of intimidating public representatives has the sanction of the authorities?

I am informed that a party of Crown Forces visited the board room at Castlecomer in the martial law area on the 7th ultimo for the purpose of arresting several members of the board of guardians, who were wanted for serious offences, and might possibly have attended the meeting. Several documents of a seditious character were seized, but the allegation of intimidation in the manner described in the hon. Member's question is denied.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Constable Fleming, Royal Irish Constabulary, was killed in a motor lorry accident in which the lorry, filled with Royal Irish constables on active service, ran into a gate in the dark; whether the accident was in consequence of an order that no lights were to be carried and that the speed at which the lorry was driven was much in excess of what was safe without lights; whether the conditions existing at the moment of the constable's death were those of active service; whether the constable lost his life owing to circumstances arising out of the state of rebellion existing in Ireland to the same extent as though he had been killed by being shot; and whether therefore the widow of the constable can be granted the pension payable to a Royal Irish constable killed as the result of enemy action?

Mrs. Fleming has already been awarded the full statutory pension payable in cases where a constable (whether murdered or not) loses his life from the effect of an injury received in the execution of his duty.

asked the Minister of Food whether it is intended that with the closing of the Ministry of Food on the 31st March all orders and restrictions affecting freedom of trade for which that Ministry has been responsible shall automatically cease to be operative?

The Government's intentions were clearly announced in the reply given by the Prime Minister on 20th December last to the right hon. Member for Platting (Mr. Clynes), to which I would refer the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the price of fish landed at Grimsby, Aberdeen, and other fishing ports of the United Kingdom is 1s. 3d. a stone; if the same quality of fish is being retailed at 1s. 6d. per pound to the general consumer; and if so, will he explain the difference in the wholesale and retail price, and say how it is distributed?

The answers to the first and second parts of the question are in the negative. According to my information, the average price at the ports would appear to be much higher than 1s. 3d. a stone. The last part of the question therefore does not arise, but I would point out to the hon. Member that the average price of fish landed at the ports in general affords very insufficient evidence as to what may be regarded as fair retail prices. These vary for different qualities and different portions of the many varieties of fish; in many cases the retail price is that of a selected cut, whereas the landed price is the price of the whole fish, and, further, the retail price is affected by costs of ice, transport and packing, labour and distribution, all of which are now generally very high.

asked the Minister of Food whether the Royal Commission on Sugar Supplies has agreed with the British refiners to withhold delivery of their landed stocks of imported refined sugar for a period of six weeks; and whether he is aware that distributors of sugar will in consequence be unable to meet public requirements, pending the arrival of privately-imported Continental sugar, owing to the inability of English refiners to meet the demand?

As the British refiners hold no stocks of imported refined sugar, I assume that the hon. and gallant Member refers in his question to the Government's stock of refined sugar. The agreement concluded between the Government and the sugar refiners for the sale of all the Government's supplies of raw sugar contains a provision that Government stocks of refined sugar shall be sold only for delivery six weeks after the date of contract. The hon. and gallant Member will recognise the necessity for the exercise of the utmost caution during the first weeks following the abolition of control. Any sudden flooding of the market with Government stocks would tend to discourage, if not altogether to stop, private importation. I have no fear that the supply of sugar in the immediate future will prove inadequate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to certain awards for allotment land given by the Official Arbitrator at Boston; whether Mrs. Hartley, the owner of 5,459 acres of land on the Tattershall Road, previously let to a tenant for £35 per year, has been awarded £70 per year for a lease of 14 years, and that a further sum of £100 has been awarded to the late tenant as compensation for disturbance; whether Mrs. H. E. Barlow, owner of 7,583 acres of land on Fen Side Road, previously let at £32 per year, has been awarded £90 per year for a lease of 14 years, and that a further sum of £60 has been awarded to the late tenant as compensation for disturbance; and, with regard to the impossible rents that these awards will impose on allotment holders, will he institute an inquiry with a view to obtaining a reduction of these amounts?

Yes, Sir, the Ministry's attention has been drawn to the awards in question, but, as was stated in the reply given to the Hon. Member on the 28th ult., the decision of an official arbitrator on any question of fact is final and binding on the parties, and the Ministry has no jurisdiction in the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that there is a general desire throughout the country that the Bill for the consolidation and amendment of the existing Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Acts should be passed into law at the earliest possible moment; if it is the intention to introduce the Bill this Session; and, if not, can he say when the Bill will be introduced?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. and gallant Members for Torquay (Colonel Burn) and Kingston-upon-Hull (Major Entwistle) on the 24th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the wages fixed by the agricultural wages boards for youths employed on farms has had the effect of throwing out of employment a number of young men, farmers having found it impossible to pay the wages fixed to youths whom they are training to follow agricultural pursuits; how it is proposed to find skilled agricultural workers in future if these lads cannot be retained and properly trained; and whether he will issue instructions to agricultural wages boards that the wages of lads employed on farms should be settled on an economic basis?

The responsibility for fixing minimum rates of wages for persons employed in agriculture is placed by statute on the Agricultural Wages Board, and the Minister has no power to issue instructions on the subject.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many district wages boards exist; how many meetings have on the average been held per board during the six months ending 1st February last; and what is the average cost per meeting (exclusive of official salaries) in respect of members' expenses, fares, lost time, etc.?

The number of district wages committees established by the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales is 39. The number of meetings (excluding meetings of subcommittees) held during the six months in question averaged from three to four per committee, and the average cost per meeting for members expenses was £19 6s. 0d.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the average cost of each meeting of the Agricultural Wages Board, and how many meetings have been held in the past 12 months?

There have been 12 meetings of the Agricultural Wages Board during the past 12 months, and in connection therewith 31 meetings of committees have been held. The average cost of these 12 meetings (including committee meetings) was about £140.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the yearly cost of the agricultural wages district and central boards, exclusive of members' charges for attending meetings?

The estimated expenditure of the Agricultural Wages Board and the 39 district wages committees for the financial year 1920–21, excluding expenses of members in attending meetings, but including the cost of advertising the Orders, enforcing the provisions of the Act, and dealing with applications for exemption, is about £60,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, before the letting of Crown farms, there is any Regulation requiring that they shall be publicly advertised; if so, whether he is aware that a farm of 50 acres situated at Trelleck, in the county of Monmouth, was let before being advertised; whether he is aware of the feeling existing in this locality against this farm being let to a farmer who already occupies over 100 acres whilst local ex-service men are unable to obtain land; and whether, in view of the number of ex-service men still requiring land, he will consider the advisability of consulting the county agricultural committee, small holdings committee, or other local elective body as to the letting of Crown lands or farms?

(1) There is no Regulation requiring that before the letting of Crown farms they shall be publicly advertised.(2) The farm in question, however, was advertised before it was relet; and the Commissioner of Woods is unaware of any local feeling of the character referred to.(3) It is the usual practice, when Crown farms become available for reletting, to consult both the Ministry of Agriculture and the county council concerned, with a view to ascertaining whether or not the land is required for land settlement purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps have been taken for the reorganisation of the Military Accounts Department in India?

A new method of preparing pay bills and regimental accounts, which is referred to by the Esher Committee, has been introduced in the Military Accounts Department from 1st January last. The Government of India are considering certain further questions regarding the system of military accounts and organisation of the Military Accounts Department, but I am not yet aware of the nature of their recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will consider the question of the extension of the concession of form E to officers above the rank of captain when travelling by railway in India?

I have recently considered this matter, in communication with the Government of India, but regret that I am unable to accept the suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have recently ordered 115 motorcar chassis from Italy; and whether he will take steps to represent to that Government the desirability of supporting home markets, especially during a period of such grave industrial depression and unemployment as the present?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given yesterday to the hon. Member for Coventry (Mr. Manville), of which I will send him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the function of the electoral assembly of the Jews of Palestine; whether it has been officially recognised; and whether it works in any way in conjunction with the advisory council?

The function of the assembly in question, which was elected in April and May, 1920, is to look after the internal affairs of the Jewish community in Palestine. The administration of Palestine has recognised the assembly subject to the following conditions:—(1) That the authority of any mandate for the government of Palestine endorsed by the League of Nations is recognised, and that no proposals are adopted or submitted inconsistent with the terms of the mandate.(2) That in the future the assembly is found to retain its representative character by continuing to elicit at subsequent elections, as at its first election, the suffrages of a clear majority of the adult Jewish population.The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will lay upon the Table all Reports on the Easter riots at Jerusalem of last year?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall) on 21st December last. The considerations which, in the view of Sir H. Samuel and His Majesty's Government, made it inadvisable to publish the Report of the Commission of Inquiry, apply equally to the question of publishing any other reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many shares are held by the British, Australian, and New Zealand Governments in the phosphate deposits in Nauru and neighbouring Pacific islands; what has been the total net cost to the British Exchequer of the purchase of the rights formerly belonging to the British Phosphate Company; whether the Government is now working the phosphates; and what dividend the British taxpayer has received, or will receive, this year on the investment?

The phosphates are now being worked by the Commissioners appointed under Article 3 of the Nauru Island Agreement. The purchase money for the undertakings of the Pacific Phosphate Company in Nauru and Ocean Islands was paid by the British, Australian and New Zealand Governments in the proportion of 42 per cent., 42 per cent. and 16 per cent. respectively. The advances made from United Kingdom funds amount to £1,483,230 which it is proposed at present should be repaid in 30 years with interest at six per cent. The sum thus repayable half-yearly is computed to be £53,588 3s., but, owing to the need for working capital and difficulties in the way of fixing the price under Article 11 of the Agreement, I am unable as yet to say whether the whole of this sum can be paid in this financial year.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that James Robertson, 38, Myrtle Street, Bradford, late No. 266761, West Yorks Regiment, is refused out-of-work pay by the Ministry of Labour on the ground that he is unable to work; that the Ministry of Pensions refuses a pension or temporary relief because he is able to work; and that he has been certified by medical referees as unable to work and certified by special medical board as able to work; and if he will make inquiries into the case?

I have not yet been able to complete inquiries into this matter, but I will communicate with the hon. Member at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for War why the Report of the Directorate of Prisoners of War is not published; and whether, in view of the adverse criticisms often advanced, and never made good, against this Department, the Government will reconsider this decision?

As the hon. Member has already been informed, it was decided, after careful consideration, that it would not be desirable, nor in the public interest, to publish this Report. It is a compilation of detailed notes prepared for departmental use and reference, in the event of any future emergency. I am not prepared to reconsider the decision.

asked the Secretary of State for India what provision was made for the wives of officers who were sent back to India from Mesopotamia last autumn?

I have been asked to reply. The officers' wives have been accommodated and messed at Deolali under arrangements made by the Government of India. I am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that the cost of messing is about one-third the hotel charges.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in the opinion of recruiting sergeants, it would be an incentive to recruiting if the men serving with the Colours at home who are entitled to medals were able to wear them; and, seeing that numbers of men so entitled have not yet received their medals, whether he will expedite the distribution of medals, giving priority to men serving with the Colours in the United Kingdom?

It is realised that it would be most desirable for men now serving with the Colours to receive their medals forthwith, but I regret that to give priority of issue to them would only result in undue delay. It would be necessary to ascertain the names of those now serving; to locate them on the medal rolls on which their names were submitted—in many cases rolls of corps other than those in which the men are at present serving; to record the issue; and finally to despatch the medals piecemeal. Such an arrangement would seriously interfere with the smooth working of the "bulk" issues which it is essential to maintain when dealing with such very large numbers.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether manufacturers in this country who use duty-paid syrups and sugar are only allowed drawback on molasses intended for the feeding of stock at 5s. 8½d. per cwt., whereas, if they could export it, they would receive 11s. 8d. per cwt., provided the sweetening matter exceeded 50 per cent.; whether, owing to Government restrictions and abnormal trading conditions, the export trade in molasses has been paralysed, so that the only market for molasses is for feeding-stuff purposes; and whether sugar refiners working in bond, and therefore not requiring to ask for any drawback, are able to sell their molasses for feeding-stuff purposes at a price which puts the out-of-bond refiners at so great a disadvantage on their drawback, at the rate of 5s. 8½d. per cwt., as to put them entirely out of competition?

The rate of drawback on molasses used solely for the purpose of food for stock was fixed by reference to the fact that normally only low-grade molasses containing a comparatively small proportion of sweetening matter are used for this purpose. As regards the rate of drawback on export, I would point out that drawback at the rate of 11s. 8d. a cwt. is only paid in the case of molasses containing less than 70 per cent. and more than 50 per cent. of sweetening matter, the rate in the case of molasses containing less than 50 per cent. being 5s. 8½d., the same as is paid in the case of molasses used for food for stock. If my hon. and learned Friend will let me have particulars of any case or cases that he has in mind, I will gladly consider them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any information that the Cuban Government is contemplating imposing a retaliatory duty of 40 per cent. on all British Empire exports if the present duty on Havana cigars is maintained?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Mr. Hood) on the 23rd ultimo.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the motor fuel sub-committee of the Standing Committee on the Investigation of Prices has drawn special attention to the necessity, in the interest of consumers, of preventing the supply of power alcohol from becoming a monopoly of non-British oil companies similar to their present monopoly of petrol; and whether, therefore, he will take steps to ensure that the distribution of power alcohol will not placed under the control of any non-British company?

I have been asked to answer this question. I am aware of the recommendation to which my hon. Friend refers, and the whole matter is receiving the Government's consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of public funds paid to the Agricultural Organisation Society during the current financial year; what is the total expenditure of that society since 1st April, 1920, in respect of salaries and expenses of all employés, political propaganda and work on behalf of the Agricultural Wholesale Society; what is the total amount received by that society since 1st April, 1920, in affiliation fees from farmers, smallholders, and allotment holders; and what is the precise number of farmers, smallholders, and allotment holders who have paid affiliation fees since that date, each number being stated separately?

The amount of public funds paid to the Agricultural Organisation Society during the current financial year has been £26,000 from the Development Fund and £4,000 from the Small Holdings Account of the Ministry of Agriculture. I am informed that the total expenditure of the Society in respect of salaries and expenses of employés since 1st April, 1920, up to 28th February is £29,876. The Society does not engage in political propaganda, nor does it do work on behalf of the Agricultural Wholesale Society. The total amount received by the Society in affiliation fees from societies during the period 1st April, 1920, to 28th February, 1921, is £2,178, divided as follows:

Farmers' Societies £1,438 12s. 4d.

Allotments and Small Holdings Societies £739 7s. 8d.

It is understood that the greater portion of the Society's voluntary income is, however, received during the last month of the financial year. The Society does not draw affiliation fees from individual farmers, smallholders, or allotment holders.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the financial burden on the Treasury, he will consider the introduction of a graduated tax on advertisements on the same lines as is being carried out in France at present?

My predecessors and I have frequently considered proposals for a tax of this kind, but as I have already announced it is not my intention to introduce new forms of taxation in the forthcoming year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what purpose the form I.V.D. (B) is now being used; whether it causes parties who have deeds stamped at Somerset House a great deal of unnecessary expense and delay; whether the examination and filling of these forms involves the keeping of an unnecessary staff at Somerset House; and whether he can see his way to abolish the whole of this cumbrous procedure?

As regards the first two parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Thornbury (Mr. Rendall) on the 3rd of May last. I am causing a copy of that reply to be sent to him. As stated in my reply of the 17th February to the right hon. Member for Hammersmith, South (Sir W. Bull), I am not prepared to propose the repeal of the statutory provisions under which particulars of sales and leases of land have to be furnished to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the continued delay in the reorganisation of the Taxes Branch of the Inland Revenue Department is causing unnecessary hardship to a number of men still on pre-War scales of salary, in numerous cases less than £85 per annum, and whether, seeing that many of the men concerned are ex-service men who have returned to their positions on a pre War scale of salaries, whilst new-comers have been placed on the establishment on higher salaries, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to-day to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. T. Griffiths) in connection with a similar question. I would, however, remind him that the scales of salary to which he refers are in all cases subject to the addition of the full Civil Service war bonus.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in 1920 Whitley Councils decided upon the reorganisation of the Civil Service which included the raising of salaries throughout and placing each civil servant in a new grade according to his work; whether tax clerks in the Inland Revenue have had as yet no offer from the Treasury and are still being paid at the old rates despite the fact that their reorganisation dates back to 1st January, 1920; and whether he will take immediate steps to have this anomaly removed?

The clerical staff of the Tax Inspecting Branch of the Inland Revenue is a departmental class whose future organisation could not appropriately be taken up until after the proposals for reorganisation of the general Civil Service classes, which were approved early last year, had been adopted. A scheme for the tax clerks is now under consideration. While every effort will be made to expedite the matter, the hon. Member will realise that the settlement of a regrading scheme for a body so numerous and recruited so diversely as the tax clerks is necessarily a matter of much difficulty. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in thinking that the date upon which the reorganisation will take effect has been settled.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the average percentage increase to his salary enjoyed at the present moment by the Civil servant under the war bonus system; is it intended to continue to make his salary contingent on the cost of living; and can he give any total figure which represents the present cost to the taxpayer of the war bonus?

The Civil Service cost of living bonus represents at the present moment a percentage increase on basic salary varying from 165 per cent. in the case of officers and employés whose basic salary or wage does not exceed £91 5s. a year, or 35s. a week, to about 17 per cent. in the case of the head of a Department. The bonus will continue to fluctuate automatically with variations in the cost of living, e.g., the next revision of bonus will be due on 1st September, 1921, and will be based on the average cost of living figure for the six months preceding that date. The total cost of bonus approximates at the moment to something between £37,000,000 and £38,000,000 a year, but in view of the probable reduction in bonus on the occasion of the next half-yearly revision, it is estimated that the cost of bonus for the whole of the next financial year will be considerably less than this amount.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can make any statement to the House regarding the acquisition by the British Museum of the specimen of early Scottish art known as the Hilton-of-Cadboll stone; and whether, having regard to the fact that but for the War this stone would probably have been scheduled under the Ancient Monuments Protection Act, he can hold out any hopes that those concerned in the matter will permit it to remain in Scotland?

The trustees of the British Museum have been good enough at my request to postpone their decision as to the acceptance of the Hilton-of-Cadboll stone until I have had an opportunity of communicating with Captain Macleod of Cadboll, who is the owner of the stone. He has, I regret to say, been ill, but I hope that I may be able to discuss the matter with him at an early date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the number of work- men who have been summoned to the courts in Scotland for non-payment of Income Tax; whether such workmen are pleading want of employment as the cause for non-payment; whether the sheriffs, while granting decree for sums sued for, are granting time for payment; and whether, under these circumstances, he will issue instructions to Income Tax collectors to extend the time for payment and thus save the workmen expenses incurred in court proceedings?

I am aware that in Scotland, as in other parts of the United Kingdom, a number of manual wage-earners have been summoned for non-payment of Income Tax. It was realised that in some cases the default in payment of the tax would be due to want of employment, and instructions were issued some time ago to the local Inspectors of Taxes to use every effort to ascertain whether defaulters are out of employment or working short time before proceedings for recovery of the tax are authorised.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that two vessels from Scandinavia, holding 822 and 825 tons of pit props, respectively, were diverted from discharging their cargo at South Alloa and put into Grangemouth; whether the cause of this deflection was the shallow channel of the river which badly requires dredging; whether the Board of Trade will make representations to the Ministry of Transport, since the Ministry of Shipping is unable any longer to deal with such matters, or whether the reason was caused by the rail transit facilities being considered more convenient at Grangemouth; and, if so, why the trade of South Alloa is to suffer, thereby involving considerable increase in local unemployment?

I will make inquiries and communicate the result to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects any advance to be made on account of the sum of £5,000,000 to be paid by Germany towards reparation and used as a fund out of which ex gratia payments can be made to individuals whose claims are proved by a special commission to be appointed to examine them?

I cannot add anything to the answer I gave the hon. Member on the same subject on 23rd February.

asked the Minister of Health how much of the sum of £3,000,000 voted in December last for the purpose of assisting local authorities to carry out works for which a substantial number of unemployed persons could be engaged has been appropriated to the present time; why no grant can be made in respect of works commenced before the establishment of the Grants Committee; and why no grant is made in respect of labour engaged on works in progress subsequent to the establishment of the committee?

I am informed that the committee have already allocated to local authorities the sum of £640,000. The committee are empowered to make grants of 60 per cent. of the wages bill of additional men taken on for work on approved schemes. The funds at the disposal of the Committee are not intended to relieve local authorities from charges already undertaken but to increase the number of men employed. The committee have, as a matter of fact, made grants in aid of schemes commenced before their appointment (20th December, 1920) and in progress subsequent to that date, provided that additional men could be employed.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has yet made inquiries into the case of Joseph Walter Wilkins, who was recently sentenced to six months' hard labour at Hastings for fraudulently obtaining unemployment donation; and whether, in view of the whole of the circumstances of the case, he will consider the possibility of remitting the remainder of the sentence?

I have made inquiry. I regret that I should not be justified in recommending interference with the sentence.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in connection with the coming Census, he will arrange with the Ministry of Labour that persons out of employment shall be engaged through the employment exchanges in the same way that extra labour is engaged by the Post Office for the Christmas pressure; and that the managers of the employment exchanges be supplied with a copy of the form to be filled up with the object of explaining the nature of the work to approved candidates for employment?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on the 2nd instant to the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton), of which I will send him a copy. I have discussed the possible use of employment exchanges in connection with recruitment of staff for the Census with the Ministry of Labour, but it appeared that they could not be used with advantage because of the conditions explained in my previous answer which differentiates this case from that of the Post Office Christmas pressure to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary for Mines how many coal mines have been closed during the month of February, 1921, owned by or connected with the Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron and Coal Company; how many workpeople have been thrown out of employment in consequence of the closing of these mines; what are the prospects of a speedy resumption of work at these collieries; and if he can furnish any special reason for this company closing these mines after making over £2,000,000 profits during the last 18 months?

Eleven mines owned by or connected with the Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron and Coal Company, employing approximately 19,000 workpeople, were closed down during the month of February. I am advised that the company find it impracticable, to continue to work these pits during the present period of trade depression. I have no information which would enable me to confirm the hon. Member's estimate of the past profits of the company.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of trade boards now in operation, the number of officials engaged in connection therewith, and the total cost, including payment to members of the boards?

Forty-two trade boards have been established in Great Britain. The total staff, apart from minor clerical staff, engaged in connection therewith, including the inspectors and the secretarial staff attached to the various boards, is 49. In addition, a certain amount of trade board inspection is done part-time by Unemployment Insurance inspectors. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer, of which I am sending him a copy, which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Harborough (Sir K. Fraser) on 23rd February.

asked the Secretary for Mines what provision has been made for supplying the inhabitants of Blaina, Abertillry, and Abercarn with coal for domestic use in view of the closing down of the coal mines in these areas?

I would remind the hon. Member of the Government announcement made on 2nd February, that all control over price and distribution of coal would be abolished as from 1st March. Ordinary consumers therefore should now obtain supplies—as in pre-control times—through the ordinary channels of trade. I do not know if colliery companies are making any arrangements for the supply of coal to miners while the collieries are at a standstill.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that, owing to the removal of control, the price of anthracite washed coal for gas-producing purposes has been increased by £1 0s. 3d. per ton. whether this increase will severely handicap other industries and cause more unemployment; and can he take any steps to remedy this?

I have seen a statement in the Press to the effect that collieries in South Wales have decided to increase the price of anthracite nuts by 20s. per ton. The hon. Member will agree that there is no reason why the coal industry should be penalised, in favour of other industries, by being forced to sell coal at less than its cost of production. If the price charged is excessive, the remedy lies in proceedings under the Profiteering Act, under which coal is scheduled.

asked the Home Secretary whether it was with his cognisance and sanction that the special branch collaborated last autumn with certain Russians in the preparation of imitations of a Moscow newspaper for use as propaganda in Russia against the Russian Soviet Government; if not, who is responsible for the employment of public servants and the expenditure of public money on this work; and what measures he proposes to take to prevent the continuation of this and similar activities by officials under his control?

The matter is one of which I had no knowledge until a day or two ago. I find on inquiry that the facts are these. In Russia no newspapers are allowed except the official organs of the Soviet Government, which give a wholly false and misleading account of affairs and opinion in this and other foreign countries. Some Russians in this country were anxious to supply their fellow countrymen with a true statement of the facts, and the only way they could do this was by printing in this country and circulating in Russia an imitation of the official "Pravda," the only paper allowed by the Soviet Government to circulate to the public. They communicated in this matter with the Director of Intelligence, and he assisted them to the extent of arranging for the removal of the English printer's name from the newssheets and for their being forwarded to an address in one of the countries bordering on Russia. This was all that he did. I think his action was indiscreet, and had he referred to me I would not have sanctioned it; but it should be clearly understood that the paper was not propagandist except in so far as a statement of the true facts is propaganda, that there was no collaboration by the police in its production, and that no public money was expended.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a boy who left school for the Guards' training camp at Bushey before he was obliged to do so, in order to get as soon as possible to the War, but was prevented by the signing of the Armistice, and subsequently was gazetted to the Special Reserve, Guards, is or is not a privileged condidate for the diplomatic service; if he is, whether that privilege continues till he is of age to compete for the diplomatic service examination; or whether, if he does not reach the prescribed minimum age before a certain date, his privilege altogether lapses?

The special scheme for entrance to the diplomatic service in the period immediately after the War was designed for those who have actually performed military service, and does not apply to the case described by my hon. Friend. Such a candidate would presumably be within the limits of age for the competitive examinations under the new Regulations, which will come into effect in 1922.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the Egyptian people have made it clear to their delegates that they will not be satisfied with less than the abolition of the British protectorate and of the fact that the Milner Report does not exclude the possibility of this abolition, His Majesty's Government will be prepared to state their policy on this point?

His Majesty's Government have addressed the following invitation to the Sultan of Egypt:

"His Majesty's Government, after a study of the proposals made by Lord Milner, have arrived at the conclusion that the status of protectorate is not a satisfactory relation in which Egypt should continue to stand to Great Britain. While they have not reached final decisions with regard to Lord Milner's recommendations, they desire to confer regarding them with a delegation nominated by Your Highness with a view, if possible, to substitute for the protectorate a relationship which would, while securing the special interests of Great Britain and enabling her to offer adequate guarantees to foreign Powers, meet the legitimate aspirations of Egypt and the Egyptian people."

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the friction caused by the action of his Department, in interfering with the administration of the local police forces throughout the country by insisting, under threat of withdrawal of a grant, on a standard rate of increase of salaries, bonuses, and allowances for the forces, in addition to the recommendations contained in Lord Desborough's Report on police service; and whether he can see his way to leave this matter to Watch and Standing Joint Committees, especially in view of the fact that Parliament has no control over the administration of county and borough police forces?

I would refer the Noble Lord to the answer which I gave on Monday last to the hon. Member for the Salisbury Division (Mr. H. Morrison).

asked the Home Secretary why he will not receive a deputation from those primarily interested regarding the draft Regulations under the Dangerous Drugs Act; and whether he is aware of the general consternation and alarm felt at the prospect of the Regulation of the sale of drugs in the United Kingdom being dictated by gentlemen at Geneva having no knowledge of or special interest in the requirements of those needing and selling drugs in the United Kingdom?

The hon. Baronet is mistaken. I am perfectly willing to meet representatives of the different bodies interested and discuss the points which they raise on the draft Regulations with them. The Regulations have nothing to do with any gentlemen at Geneva; the Dangerous Drugs Act, under which they are framed, was passed in order to carry out our obligations under the Treaty of Versailles and the International Opium Convention of 1912.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the charges made at the Merthyr Tydvil Board of Guardians last Saturday by Mr. A. V. Marriot, namely, that the patients at the Glamorganshire County Asylums were herded together; and will he have inquiries made into this matter at once?

I am advised by the Board of Control that the expression to which the hon. Member refers is not justified by the facts. The reports on the institution which have been received do, however, indicate certain defects, and I am having the matter further investigated.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons have been executed in England and Wales since 1st January, 1919, in whose cases the juries made a recommendation to mercy?

Five.

asked the Prime Minister the gross amount expended by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) upon the acquisition of land, breweries, maltings, spirit stores, licensed and other properties (including licence values), and fixed plant in the years 1915–16, 1916–17, 1917–18, 1918–19, and 1919–20, respectively, together with the amount expended and outstanding during the current financial year in respect of such acquisitions?

The figures asked for in the first part of the question are given in Command Paper Cmd. 1018, published in November last, to which I would refer my hon. Friend. The corresponding figure for the current financial year 1920–21 will probably not exceed a total of £60,000, of which rather more than £50,000 has already been paid.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if the Liquor Control Board have recently acquired for purposes of licensed premises a house in London Road, Carlisle, thus incurring needless expense in consequence of its reduction of licences in the district; and if such purchase foreshadows the Licensing Bill which the Government has promised?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Leader of the House yesterday.

asked the Prime Minister what is the yearly cost of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), including capital expenditure?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the very full reply given on the 1st instant to a question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford (Mr. Wise), and to the Memorandum published last November (Cmd. 1018), which gives, I think, the information asked for in this question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions the net amount realised on sales for the past three months, exclusive of wool, by the Disposal Board; the amount paid in salaries and wages during the same period; and the amount paid for storage, transport, etc., during that period?

My hon. and gallant Friend will realise that with sales of surplus Government property taking place in India, Mesopotamia, Egypt, etc., it is impossible to give exact figures for the last three months. The approximate cash receipts on sales, excluding wool, for the three months ended 2nd February last was £i6,000,000. Owing to general trade depression and money stringency these receipts were exceptionally low. The approximate amount paid in salaries and wages during the same period was £470,000, and the total transport, storage, etc., charges were £770.000.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the danger of single-line railway working, as exemplified in the recent disaster, he will consider the advisability of taking measures to secure the laying of a double track wherever passenger trains are run?

I cannot accept as correct the suggestion that single-line working is dangerous, provided, of course, that the regulations governing such working are observed. It is quite impracticable to adopt the suggestion made by my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can give a rough estimate of the cost of the two electricity inquiries already held at Bristol and Liverpool; and whether the holding of further inquiries and consequent large expenditure might be postponed till a more convenient time?

The cost to the Electricity Commission of the two inquiries referred to has been about £150. The Commissioners have no knowledge of the amount of the costs incurred by other parties. For adequate reasons affecting the development of electricity undertakings it is undesirable to postpone the inquiries, which are an essential preliminary to the setting up of joint electricity authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that a local authority is not at present empowered to finance a joint electricity authority, he will explain why the Electricity Commissioners are holding local inquiries to consider schemes for the formation of such joint electricity authorities?

The Commissioners are holding local inquiries in pursuance of the duties placed upon them by the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, for bringing about an improvement in the organisation for the supply of electricity in various districts which they have provisionally determined. With regard to the further powers required by joint electricity authorities, I must refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given by the Minister to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Simm) on the 13th December last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether motor lorries used entirely for agriculture and horticulture for the purpose of carrying manure, vegetables, fruit, etc., are liable to the £6 duty for mechanically-propelled vehicles or the £25 duty?

I have been asked to reply to this question. At at present advised, the Minister is of opinion that the vehicles mentioned by my hon. Friend are liable to the higher rate of duty. The question, however, is a legal one, and I have no authority to decide questions of construction arising upon an Act of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Transport whether certain of the British railway companies are now seeking to place orders for steel rails in France and Belgium; and, if so, in view of the fact that, if these orders were placed with British manufacturers it would find work for many hundreds of men now out of employment in this industry, he will consider the possibility of making representations to the companies concerned on the matter?

I understand that tenders have been received by various companies for rails from Belgium at prices greatly below those offered by English firms. It is my right hon. Friend's consistent policy not to interfere with the prudent discretion of the companies in such matters, and when asked for his views by the companies he replied in that sense, but I am sure that in placing orders the companies will now, as in the past, take into consideration the importance of securing employment in this country and of assisting the prosperity of the districts which they serve. It is not, however, possible for the railway companies in placing orders for materials to disregard serious differences in the prices quoted, and it is upon the balance of these considerations that their decision must be based. The prices given at the time were: Home production, £23; Belgian f.o.b. British port, £12.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the question of considering the units for valuing the salaries of head postmasters has been under consideration since 1913; whether he has yet decided if this class of officer is to be paid anything for their work in connection with the issue of War Savings Certificates, National Savings stamps; Income Tax stamps, Entertainment Tax stamps, Army and Navy separation and pension allowances, and the Unemployment stamps; and from what date any credit is to be given?

The revision of the unit scale, which was suspended during the War, was carried out last year, except as regards the items mentioned; and I hope that credit for these items will be settled soon. The question of the date of applying the credit is under discussion, with the Association of Head Postmasters.

asked the Postmaster-General whether in September-October, 1919, March, 1920, October, 1920, and February, 1921, special countings of letters and parcels have been made at every Post Office; what useful purpose any of the figures obtained have served; whether in October, 1920, the counting was continued several days during the coal strike, and is proceeding during severe trade depression now; the expenditure upon stationery, and the amount of money paid as overtime and for special staff to deal with the work during the four periods?

Counts of correspondence have been taken as stated; their principal object is to provide a statistical basis for the calculation and check of staff requirements, but they are also used in connection with revisions of pay in cases where the volume of work is a factor in determining the rate of remuneration. It is the case that the counts taken in October last coincided with the miners' strike; they were discontinued as soon as it became clear that their value would be seriously impaired. It is obviously difficult to obtain representative figures during periods of fluctuation of trade, but the returns are nevertheless of value, and I do not think that there are sufficient grounds for suspending them altogether. Information is not available on the points raised in the last part of the question, but the work is largely done by reserve staff which during the rest of the year is employed on leave substitution.

asked the Postmaster-General whether in 1907 a Select Committee drew attention to the number of grades and classes into which the Post Office staff was divided; and whether he will appoint a committee to investigate the internal organisation of the Post Office with a view of eliminating unnecessary classifications of officers and securing efficiency by ensuring that the existing want of co-ordination between the postal telegraph and telephone systems should be modified, and matters of public utility receive sympathetic consideration?

Since 1907 many important changes have been made with a view to reducing the number of separate grades and classes, and improving the co-ordination between the different services. I do not think that there is now any necessity for the suggested investigation, which would moreover overlap to some extent the proposed inquiry by a Select Committee into the organisation and administration of the telephone service.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the character of the printed matter sent through the post to Members of Parliament and others by some persons whose names never appear; that a translated article from the "Die Tagliche Randschau," Berlin, 1st November, 1920, is being sent to Members of the House and 1,000 marks offered by the editor for the best translation of Henry Labouchere's poem entitled, "Where is the Flag of England"; and will he take steps to prevent such documents passing through the post?

I should be obliged if the hon. Member would send me the envelope in which the document in question was enclosed, when I shall be able to inform him whether it is practicable to interfere.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the overland mail from London to Constantinople takes six days; whether it is the case that deliveries of letters to the units representing His Majesty's Forces have to wait three to six weeks for their letters; what is the cause of the delay; and whether he is prepared to take steps to facilitate deliveries, and thereby enable the men on service to have more frequent and regular communication with their relatives in this country?

The overland mail from London to Constantinople by the Simplon Orient Express takes approximately six days in transit. During the latter part of December and the first part of January last, as a result of a misunderstanding by the French authorities in Paris, British mails for Constantinople were forwarded viâ. Brindisi with an approximate delay of a fortnight in transit. The matter has now been remedied and, since the end of January, letter mails from this country have been reaching Constantinople in about six days. Army mails on arrival at Constantinople are transferred to the Army authorities for delivery, and I have no information as to the subsequent treatment of those mails.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to a resolution of the Aberdare and District Chamber of Trade and telephone subscribers in the Aberdare district deprecating the action of the Department in submittng the new agreement, with its accompanying request for early completion, until a definite pronouncement is made by Parliament out of the inquiry which is being asked for throughout the country; and will he take this resolution into consideration?

A very full reply was given to this question by my right hon. Friend in the Debate which took place in this House on the 18th February.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to reintroduce the Housing Bill and the Tuberculosis Bill before Whitsuntide; and whether he proposes to introduce any other Bills affecting public health or local administration this Session?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am not at present able to give my hon. Friend an answer to the second part.

asked the Minister of Health whether the exposure and hard- ships to which large numbers of healthy men were subjected to on active service has resulted in an increase in the mortality from tuberculosis?

Although the conditions of active service no doubt increased the mortality from tuberculosis in weakly men and in those already suffering from tuberculosis, I am advised that there is no evidence to show that there has been any increase in mortality from this disease among men who were healthy on entering upon naval or military service. I am glad to say that the latest statistics indicate that there was in 1919 a very large decrease in the number of deaths from tuberculosis in England and Wales, including both pulmonary and non-pulmonary forms; the figures for 1919 being 46,312 as compared with 58,073 in 1918 and 55,934 in 1917. I am glad also to be able to say that the figures for 1920, so far as they are at present available, indicate another decrease.