asked the Chief Secretary whether he has yet completed his inquiries into the damaging of the cooperative creamery at Abbeydorney; and whether subsequently the dwellings of the manager and engineman of the creamery were burnt down?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for the Division of Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on the 2nd instant.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has yet received the result of the investigations promised on the 21st December into the raiding by auxiliaries and military of the creamery store at Ballintogher, and the carrying away of stores to the value of £150?

A thorough and careful inquiry was made into these allegations. The creamery was raided by a party of Auxiliary Police on the day on which this looting is alleged to have taken place, namely, the 7th December last, for the purpose of arresting the manager who was known to be an active member of the so-called Irish Republican Army. The officers in charge of the police party have submitted written reports denying that any looting took place. Moreover a careful search of the police quarters conducted shortly after these charges were made failed to elicit any trace of the articles alleged to have been stolen.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it is held that the documents published in the White Paper [Cmd. 1108] prove that there was a plot in 1918 to give Germany help in Ireland; and when the promised documents dealing with such a plot will be published?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has made the further inquiries promised on 29th November last into the shooting of T. C. Clune at Dublin Castle; and if he will make known the findings?

The Court of Inquiry into this case found that this man was shot by members of the forces of the Crown in self-defence, and in the execution of their duty in preventing the deceased, who was in their lawful custody, and who with violence attempted to escape, from so doing.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has yet received the result of the inquiries promised on 23rd December into the burning of two shops in Tipperary on 18th and 19th December; whether these burnings were an infringement of General Macready's Order of 16th December; and, if so, whether those responsible for the fires will be brought to trial?

I am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that the Court of Inquiry held into this matter was unable to find that the fire was caused by any soldiers, individually or collectively, but it was ascertained that certain men were out of barracks on the night in question without leave. Four men were tried by court-martial for breaking out of barracks, and were all four convicted. In two of the cases sentence of one year's detention was imposed, and in the other two sentence of six months' detention.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the case of the arrest and detention of Louis J. Walsh has yet been investigated; and what is the result of the investigation?

Mr. Louis J. Walsh has been interned under No. 14B of the Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulations. It is open to him to appeal against his internment to the Advisory Committee established for the purpose of hearing such appeals.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Regulations made under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Act, 1920, apply to England and Scotland; whether to British subjects born in England and. Scotland as well as to British subjects, born in Ireland; whether to British subjects with their domicile in England or Scotland and when actually in England or Scotland; and why these Regulations have been made to include the sending of money to the Republic of Finland?

Some of the Regulations apply in express terms to England and Scotland: others apply only to Ireland. In no case do they distinguish between British subjects on the ground of their place of birth or domicile. The Regulation referred to in the last part of the question reproduces a Regulation under the Defence of the Realm Act which is still in force in the United Kingdom, but which is, I understand, no longer operative in practice.

asked the Home Secretary if he is prepared to assist employers in regard to the cost of insurance of premises against risk caused by Irish Sein Fein outrages in this country; and if such premises have the most modern fire appliances installed, and are also properly inspected by watchmen at stated hours daily?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Waterson). As regards the second part, it is not the duty of the police to see that premises generally are provided with fire appliances and periodically inspected by watchmen, but if they received information that any particular premises were likely to be attacked they would no doubt warn the owners or take such other action as they considered suitable.

asked the Chief Secretary where the hon. Member for Cork City (Mr. J. Walsh) is now imprisoned; what is the state of his health; whether he is wearing convict garb; and whether he is allowed visitors and letters?

This prisoner is now in Shrewsbury Prison. His health is not good, but is not such as to justify any remission of the sentence. He is in hospital, and is treated in accordance with the Prison Rules in regard to dress, visits and letters.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the administration of the Omagh Employment Exchange has broken down owing to the fact that the manager has not sufficient funds to pay industrial claimants, whose benefit allowances have been withheld for several weeks past; and whether he will make inquiry into the matter and have this grievance remedied?

I have not yet been able to ascertain full particulars, but it appears that about 20 persons were not paid on Friday, the 4th March, owing to an underestimate locally of the numbers to be paid. Appropriate steps have been taken to provide the local officer with sufficient funds to make all payments up to date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated expenditure on the education of demobilised officers and men for the current financial year in England, Ireland, and Scotland, respectively?

The provision in the Estimates for the current financial year is:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiry into the subject of the application of the Seascale Parish Council, on 8th January, 1920, to the Cumberland County Council regarding compulsory powers, owing to their inability to obtain small holdings and land for allotments by agreement; that this matter has been the subject of correspondence for a whole year and is still not settled; and whether Amendments will be made to the Law to protect applicants for land, and especially ex-service men, against such procedure?

As promised in the reply given to the hon. Member on 21st February, the Ministry's District Commissioner has visited Seascale. He reports that there are about 18 applicants for allotments and one or two applicants for small holdings. The Commissioner has selected a piece of land which the chairman and clerk of the parish council consider suitable for allotments, and as a result of the Commissioner's interview with the owner, it is hoped that the parish council will be able to rent the land and let it for allotments without the intervention of the county council. The Ministry understands that the acquisition of this land will meet the present demand for allotments. With regard to the demand for small holdings, the Ministry is asking the county council, which is the small holdings authority, to deal with the applicants direct as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the attention of the Department has been drawn to the attempt to prevent ex-service men acquiring land for allotments in the parish of Ridgmont, Beds; whether he is aware that, after the Duke of Bedford had offered land which had been accepted by the parish council at an agreed rental and allotted to the men, two professional land valuers were subsequently employed by the local farmers and these fixed a sum of over £200 compensation for approximately 21 acres of some of the most badly cultivated land in this part of the country and demanded this sum, plus their professional fees, to be paid in a lump sum before these ex-soldiers could take up their plots; and what action the Ministry is prepared to take through the county council, or otherwise, to prevent the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act being rendered obsolete in this manner?

The Ministry has seen no evidence of any attempt to prevent ex-service men acquiring land for allotments as the hon. Member suggests. When the land in question was offered by the Duke of Bedford he made it a condition that the compensation to be paid to the sitting tenants should be based upon the amount which would have been payable had the land been hired compulsorily under the Small Holdings and Allotments Acts. The compensation was not fixed solely by the farmers' valuers but was agreed by the valuer acting on behalf of the parish council. In order to help the ex-service men, the tenants of the larger part of the land, though entitled to the compensation settled between the valuers, expressed their willingness to accept any reasonable offer, but the Ministry is informed that no offer of any kind has been made. As it would appear that the applicants are unwilling to pay the ordinary tenant right valuation due to outgoing tenants, it is difficult to see what further action the Ministry can take in the matter. Further inquiries will, however, be made and the result communicated to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the successful efforts made by local farmers to nullify the endeavours of the Duke of Bedford to provide land in Bedfordshire at low rental for ex-service men; whether this case, following upon the action of the Cambridgeshire County Council in raising the rents of the ex-tenants of the same landlord after acquiring his Thorney estate, points to the desirability of leaving to such landlords as the Duke of Bedford as much as possible of that control which they exercise in the interests of their tenants; and whether he will take such action as may be possible and desirable in this direction?

The Ministry has seen no evidence of any deliberate attempts on the part of tenant farmers in Bedfordshire to obstruct the provision of small holdings for ex-service men. In any case the powers of compulsory acquisition possessed by the county council are ample to render any attempts at obstruction nugatory. With regard to the second part of the question, no portion of the Thorney estate has been acquired by the Cambridgeshire County Council. In reply to the last part of the question, the Ministry is anxious that small holdings should be provided for ex-service men under the most favourable conditions and will always welcome any action which private landowners find themselves able to take in this direction.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is approximately the present establishment and cost of the Remounts Department; and will he consider the advisableness, in the interests of economy, of reducing that Department to its pre-War establishment?

The establishment of the Remount Department is 126 officers, of whom 118 are on the retired list, and 730 civilian subordinates. The approximate cost is £156,000 a year. There are ten Remount Depots, five of which are maintained solely in connection with the boarding-out scheme which did not exist before the War. Apart from the officers and personnel employed at the five depots referred to, the Remount Department has already been reduced below its pre-War establishment of officers and further reductions are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the cadre of the 1st Battalion Essex Regiment was ordered to Ireland in July, 1919, almost direct from Belgium, and that they have been since constantly on service in Ireland, operating there always in small detachments and never brigaded together as a battalion; and if he will consider the advisableness in this and other possible similar cases of arranging for their relief, in view of the probable effect on regimental efficiency of a protracted term of duty under such conditions?

The cadre of the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, returned from France early in May, 1919, and went to Ireland towards the end of August, 1919. I regret that prevailing conditions do not admit of the relief of any battalions at present in Ireland. When such reliefs are possible due consideration will be given to the circumstances mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that dissatisfaction is felt by the relatives of men who fell in the fighting at Shahraban, in Mesopotamia, in August last, at the meagre information that has been made public concerning these operations; whether any further inquiry has been held; and if he proposes to publish any further details concerning these operations?

I presume that the hon. and gallant Member refers to the occurrences at Shahraban in August last. I should be sorry to think that the feelings described in the question exist among the relatives of those that fell at Shahraban; but I see no advantage in publishing further details at present of what was only one incident in the campaign of last summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Committee has yet been appointed to con- sider the help to be given to civil aviation; and whether he will see if enough can be saved by economies in the Civil Aviation Vote to provide reasonable subsidies to companies willing to restart air services?

I have been asked to reply to this question. As announced in the Press, a Committee has been appointed and has already held several meetings with leading representatives of the aircraft transport and construction companies. With regard to the second part of the question, the possibilities which my hon. Friend suggests will not be overlooked.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the full assent of the Admiralty was obtained before it was decided to do away with airships; and whether the needs of a future war have been considered?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The decision was arrived at after full consultation between the two Departments, and after the probable needs of the future, as Well as those of the present, had been taken into account. I should, however, like to make it clear that the Admiralty as well as the Air Council, only came to this conclusion with much reluctance in consequence of the paramount need for economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what arrangements have been made for the future of the officers now engaged in airship work?

I have been asked to reply to this question. These officers will be absorbed in the organisation of the Royal Air Force according to their qualifications and abilities.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the total annual cost of the administration of the Ministry of Pensions divided into general and medical; the number of pensioners, exclusive of widows, children, and dependants, in receipt of disability pensions on 1st August, 1920, and on 1st February, 1921, and the sums paid to these disabled men at these dates; the annual expenditure incurred in respect of the medical boards for examining disabled pensioners, the amount of the salaries and fees paid to whole-time medical officers and part-time medical officers engaged on this duty; how many whole-time medical officers were employed by the Ministry on 1st August, 1920, and on 1st February, 1921; how many disabled men who were in receipt of disability pensions on 1st August, 1920, have now ceased to draw pensions by reason of death, being settled by gratuity or a final weekly allowance in lieu of pensions, and of their disability having become less than 20 per cent.; how many disabled men are in receipt of disability pensions of 20 per cent. and 30 per cent.; and what is the Parliamentary authority, if any, for the constitution of medical boards composed of three medical men?

The expected total annual cost of administration for the current year approximates to £6,500,000, £3,000,000 of that amount relating to general administration, £2,300,000 to medical services, and £1,200,000 to Local War Pensions Committees. The number of persons (excluding widows, children and dependants), in receipt of pensions at 1st August, 1920, was 1,117,000, and at 1st February, 1921, 1,060,000; and the respective annual cost thereof £61,598,000 and £60,484,000 approximately. The annual expenditure incurred in respect of medical boards is £1,712,000, the cost in salaries and fees to medical officers being £994,000. There were 565 whole-time medical officers employed on 1st August, 1920 (215 being engaged at institutions) and 592 employed on 1st February, 1921, of whom 267 were engaged at institutions. The number of disabled men who were in receipt of pensions at 1st August, 1920, and whose pensions have ceased for the reasons stated is 103,000. The number of 20 per cent. and 30 per cent. pensions in payment at 1st February, 1921, is 390,000 and 245,000 respectively. With regard to the last part of the question, my hon. and gallant Friend will no doubt recollect the agitation in Parliament and elsewhere which led to the formation of three-men Boards for National Service.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many appeals have been heard by the House of Lords Appeal Tribunal during the period 28th February, 1920, to 28th February, 1921; and how many of the tribunal decisions have been in favour of the applicants and how many against?

The number of appeals heard by the Pensions Appeal Tribunals during the period stated was 14,487. Of this number 4,384 were allowed and 10,103 rejected.

asked the Secretary of State for India what arrangements are to be made in future for the upkeep of regimental bands in the Indian Army; whether the Government subscription is to be limited to Rs. 100 per mensem as in the past; and whether the bandmaster's pay and housing, the cost of band instruments, music, etc., are to be still dependent on subscriptions deducted from the officers' pay?

I have not yet had a reply to the inquiry sent to the Government of India as a result of the question asked by my hon. and gallant Friend on the 9th December, but will communicate with him as soon as I hear from India.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any person in his Department was concerned in the transmission of the thousands of false copies of the Moscow Pravda at various times from this country to Finland or to other countries bordering on Russia; whether these papers were transmitted in bags made up at and despatched from the Admiralty; what is the cost per kilo of such transmission to Helsingfors; what was the total cost of the transmission of the bogus copies of the Pravda; and how was it defrayed?

Owing to the interrupted communications in the Baltic, the Director of Intelligence, Scotland House, requested the Admiralty to give facilities for the transmission of packages, the contents of which were not known. These packages were sent to the Admiralty and were forwarded by routine service to the Baltic. There is no charge on the public funds in connection with this matter

asked the Home Secretary who is the Director of Intelligence who assisted in arranging for the removal of the English printer's name from the imitation of the official "Pravda," the organ of the Soviet Government, and for supplies being forwarded to one of the countries bordering on Europe; and to what Vote his salary is charged?

The officer referred to is Sir Basil Thomson, K.C.B. His salary is borne partly on the Vote for Police (England and Wales), and partly on the Metropolitan Police Fund.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of Russian refugees who were evacuated from South Russia to Constantinople and adjoining territories by the British and other Allied Governments; what provision has been made for the support and maintenance of such refugees, and by whom; whether a large number of these refugees have applied to be allowed to return to Russia; whether the British and Allied Governments have made any arrangements to enable the refugees to return; and, if so, what is the nature of such arangements?

If my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the Russian refugees who were adherents of General Wrangel, the answer to the first part of the question is, according to the information in the possession of His Majesty's Government, that there are at present approximately 37,000 refugees in or near Constantinople, while there are 29,000 at Gallipoli and 20,000 at Chataldja, who have been evacuated by the Allied Governments. Of these, however, His Majesty's Government are only responsible for 180. With regard to the second part of the question, it is understood that the French Government are making some provision for the majority of these refugees, while the 180 under British control are being provided for by His Majesty's High Commissioner at Constantinople. The answers to the third and fourth parts of the question are in the negative, and the fifth does not therefore arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position in Persia; and whether the new Government has expressed its hostility to the proposed Anglo-Persian agreement?

The situation in Persia has not changed since my reply to the hon. and gallant Gentleman on Monday, 28th February. The new Persian Government have issued a proclamation containing a statement of policy in the course of which the Anglo-Persian Agreement concluded between their predecessors and His Majesty's Government on 9th August, 1919, is denounced by them.

asked the Minister of Food whether the Wheat Commission is selling any wheat to Germany; and, if so, what is the price and the term of credit of the latest transaction?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the traffic in worn-out horses to the Continent; and whether, in view of the growing volume of public opinion that the exportation of these animals alive should be stopped, he will consider the advisability of introducing a measure to enforce the humane slaughter before they leave the country of these animals intended for food?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Barnard Castle (Mr. Swan) on the 7th instant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that German-made clinical thermometers are being imported into the country, tested at the National Physical Laboratory, and sold by dealers without any possibility of the consumer being able to detect their foreign origin; whether it is now possible, in the interests alike of the consumer as well as the thermometer operatives (amongst which latter there is much unemployment), to make the Trade Marks Act work efficiently by insisting that every imported clinical thermometer shall have clearly etched upon it the words, Made abroad; whether Customs officials can be immediately instructed to retain possession of all imported thermometers until arrangements have been made for so marking them, seeing that there is no actual or scientific demand for them; whether the National Physical Laboratory is or is not still under Government control; and whether they could immediately undertake the marking referred to in the early part of this question, bearing in mind that there is no technical difficulty in carrying out this marking, and that it is customary for English makers to etch (namely, eat in with acid) their

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a circular was issued in consecutive years during the War by the

names on their own goods at a cost which is negligible?

I am aware of the fact that foreign-made clinical themometers do not always bear an indication of their origin when sold in this country. Under existing legislation there is no power to carry out the hon. Member's suggestions. I have already promised to introduce a Bill based on the Report of the Merchandise Marks Committee, but it would obviously be impossible to enact special legislation for each individual industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the quantities and values of the different kinds of completed and intermediate dyes and dyestuffs imported into the United Kingdom and exported therefrom in the year 1920, distinguishing in each case between the exports of British-made goods and the re-exports of imported goods?

Imports into and exports from the United Kingdom of dyes and dyestuffs (products of coal tar) registered during the year ended 31st December, 1920, were as follow:

directors of Farrow's Bank which claimed the authority of the Board of Trade as proving the financial stability of that bank; and whether the Board of Trade took any steps to prevent this deception?

I have made inquiries. So far as I am aware, no circular was issued by the directors of Farrow's Bank, Limited, in which reference was made to the Board of Trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury received Income Tax and Excess Profits Duty from Farrow's Bank during years when the bank is now proved to have lost money; whether such Income Tax and Excess Profits Duty were paid out of the depositors' money; and whether the Treasury will now return such money which was wrongly deducted from the funds of depositors?

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average cost per soverign of and incidental to the minting of gold as received by the Mint into gold coin during the period 1911 to 1913, inclusive, or for any typical year of that period?

The difference of 1½d. between the price of £3 17s. 10½ per oz. standard at which gold bullion is received at the Mint and the price of £3 17s. 9d. per oz. standard at which the Bank of England is required to buy gold bullion in exchange for notes may be taken as representing the average cost (including minting expenses and loss of interest) of converting bullion into sovereigns. This works out at something under ½d. per sovereign.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now the approximate cost, including freight and insurance, of transmitting gold between London and New York?

I understand that the approximate cost of transmitting gold from London to New York is 4s. 9d. to 5s. 3d. per cent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the OFFICIAL REPORT of the House of Commons Proceedings for 21st February last is now out of print; whether the Stationery Office have determined not to print further copies; and whether, in view of the importance of the Debate on Ireland there reported, he will issue instructions for a reprint?

The first edition of the OFFICIAL REPOET of the House of Commons Debates for the 21st February has been exhausted, owing to the exceptional demand for this issue. A reprint is in hand, and further copies will be available by Wednesday next, the 9th instant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give in detail a statement of claims of all the Allied Powers against Germany and a statement of payments in money and in kind which Germany has made to all the Allied Powers?

The Reparation Commission has published the following summary of claims under Annex I to Part VIII of the Treaty of Versailles received from the Allied Governments up to 12th February, 1921. (The Commission has to consider these claims and notify its findings to the German Government on or before 1st May, 1921. Inter alia, the Commission has to decide at what rate national currencies shall in each case be converted into gold marks):

France, 218,541,569,120 paper francs.

British Empire, £2,542,070,375 and 7,597,832,086 francs.

Italy, 33,086,836,000 lire, 37,926,130,395 francs and £128,000,000.

Belgium, 34,254,645,893 Belgian francs and 2,375,215,996 French francs.

Japan, 832,774,000 yen.

Serb-Croat Slovene State, 8,496,091,000 dinars and 19,219,700,112 francs.

Roumania, 31,099,400,188 gold francs.

Portugal, 1,944,261 contos.

Greece, 4,992,788,739 gold francs.

Brazil, £1,216,714 and 598,405 francs.

Czecho-Slovakia, 7,612,432,103 francs and 7,063,117,135 crowns.

Siam, 9,179,298 gold marks and 1,169,821 francs.

Bolivia, £16,000.

Peru, £56,236 and 107,389 francs.

Haiti, 80,000 dollars and 532,593 francs.

Cuba, 801,135 dollars.

Liberia, 3,977,135 dollars.

Poland, 21,913,269,740 francs and 500,000,000 gold marks.

European Commission of the Danube, 1,834,800 gold francs, 15,048 French paper francs and 488,851 lei.

In reply to the second part of the question I would refer my hon, and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke Newington (Mr. G. Jones) on the 28th ultimo.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give the value in sterling of the taxation per head of the population, which was given as 599 marks in Germany, 390 francs in France, and 200 lire in Italy, as compared with our £22 per head.

As stated in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a question put by my hon. Friend the Member for the Edge Hill Division of Liverpool (Sir W. Rutherford) on the 24th February, comparisons of this kind are really not valid with the internal and external values of currencies so variable and uncertain as they are to-day. On the basis of the exchange rates of 5th March the figures for which he asks are as follow:—

Germany—599 marks, £2 9s. 9d.

France—390 francs, £7 3s. 5d.

Italy—200 lire, £1 17s. 8d.

asked the Minister of Transport what the cost of Government traffic conveyed by the controlled railways of the United Kingdom, valued at £24,491,000 for the calendar year 1919, would amount to if charged at the rates and fares payable by civilians?

The amount of £24,491,000 shown on page 4 of Command Paper 1,160 represents the estimated value of all services rendered to the Government in 1919, and in so far as conveyance is concerned is based on the pre-War rates and fares, increased by the same percentages which have been applied to rates and fares payable by the general public. It is not possible to say what the cost to the Government would have been if its traffic had been charged at public rates and fares, without regard to the Government's rights under the Cheap Trains Act of 1883. It cannot properly be assumed that in the aggregate the revenue from Government traffic is less than the amount which would have been produced if the traffic had been carried under ordinary commercial conditions.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to abolish early-treatment centres and to adopt the practical and inexpensive suggestions made to his Ministry by the National Birth Rate Commission and the executive committee of the Society for Prevention of Disease?

If the hon. Member is referring to the 191 treatment centres which have been provided in this country for the treatment of persons suffering from venereal diseases, I may say that there is no intention of abolishing them. As regards the remainder of the question, I am not at present in a position to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for the St. Albans Division (Lieut.-Colonel Fremantle) on Wednesday last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any protests against paragraph ( d ) in Circular 182, which points out to local authorities that it must be clearly understood that in connection with schemes for the welfare of the blind he will find it very difficult to sanction expenditure on new buildngs, and the general tenor of which is such as to discourage local authorities in exercising their duties under the Blind Persons Act in a proper manner; and whether, in view of the inadequacy of voluntary help for the blind, which resulted in the Act being passed, he will revise the paragraph in question and encourage the local authorities to incur all necessary expenditure in the interests of these helpless people?

I have so far received only one protest of the kind indicated in the question. I see no reason to withdraw the reference to the welfare of the blind from the circular referred to, seeing that existing buildings can usually be adapted. I can assure the hon. Member that I am most anxious to promote the interests of the blind, and I feel sure that the schemes which local authorities are required under the Act to prepare and submit to me will be designed to that end.

asked the Home Secretary whether the draft regulations proposed to be issued under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1920, require all persons dealing in morphine, cocaine, ecgonine, and heroin to keep four separate and distinct poison books, to enter in such books from day to day particulars of drugs purchased and of drugs supplied, and to make returns to the Secretary of State from time to time, and as and when required, of drugs so purchased and stocks held; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of exempting duly qualified medical practitioners who dispense their own prescriptions from regulations which must necessarily prove irksome and oppressive and involve an intolerable tax upon their time?

I have received representations from the British Medical Association as to the records which would be required to be kept by medical practitioners who dispense their own prescriptions, and I have communicated to them certain modifications which I should be prepared to make in the Draft Regulations. The matter is still under consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether the draft regulations proposed to be issued under the Dangerous Drugs Act provide that any package or bottle containing certain specified, drugs shall have plainly marked upon it the name of the drug and the amount which it contains; whether the effect of this provision will be to give patients information which, in many cases, it is desirable that they should not possess; and, if so, whether he is prepared to exempt from its operation the prescriptions of duly qualified medical practitioners?

I have received representations from the British Medical Association on the point, and have informed them that I am willing to agree to the exception suggested.

asked the Home Secretary when the Police Pensions Bill will be introduced?

The Bill was introduced on Thursday. It has been circulated to-day.

asked the Home Secretary what is the position of British wives and dependants of Germans who were repatriated during the War and have not been heard of since; whether through the German consulate or other agency these men can be traced; if so, whether any agreement exists which would enable us to force them to support their families at present in this country; and, if they cannot be traced, what period must elapse before the presumption of death?

I am not aware of any agreement under which Germans repatriated during the War can be forced to support their families at present in this country, and His Majesty's Government cannot undertake to trace these men. The question raised in the last paragraph is a legal one on which I cannot advise.

asked the Home Secretary if he is now in a position to state when it is proposed to introduce a Bill to deal with workmen's compensation?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply to the question on this subject which was asked by the hon. Member on the 17th of last month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that on the 18th December, 1920, before Mr. G. Orme, at the magistracy, Hong Kong, a Chinese woman was charged for that she, with another person not in custody, did obtain by false pretences the sum of 30 dollars, and that Inspector Caygill, who had charge of the case, said the defendant represented her sister to be an unmarried woman and arranged for her sale to a man with whom the sister was to live as his concubine, the defendant receiving the price of 30 dollars, the charge being based on the fact that after two days the sister disappeared, and thereupon the defendant was arrested on the charge of obtaining money by false pretences; and is the sale of one woman by another for the purpose of becoming the concubine of a man recognised in a British court of justice and given sanction to by the British officials acting as the prosecutors?

I have seen an account of the charge in question, but I am not aware whether it was proceeded with or what view was taken by the magistrate. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the salary of white police servants in Ceylon is £100 per annum, together with a war bonus of £35, and that, taking into consideration the cost of living, this pay compares very unfavourably with the pay of the police force at home; and whether he will at once take steps to have the salaries raised or, alternatively, give instructions to the Salary Commission, which is about to proceed to Ceylon, to inquire into the salaries paid to all classes of Civil servants and to report, before they inquire into the conditions of other grades and classes of Civil servants, on the pay question generally of the white police force and send home an interim report so that any advice given for a rise may be immediately acted upon?

The Salaries Commission will report on the Salaries paid in all departments of the Ceylon service and will, no doubt, take into account all relevant considerations such as those mentioned by my hon. Friend, but I do not think it would be desirable to single out any particular department for special instructions.

asked the Postmaster-General when he anticipates that the supply of 2d. stamped envelopes will be equal to the demand; and when it will be possible to buy more than two or three at a time?

The supply has been substantially increased within the last week; and I hope it will now prove to be equal to the demand.