asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the promised inquiries into the sacking of Tuam in July last, with which he promised to deal, have taken place; and what action has been taken?

The facts regarding the outbreak on the part of the police in Tuam on the 19th July last have already been made public and are well known. Two constables were brutally murdered outside the town, and when their bodies were brought to the barracks shortly afterwards their comrades broke away from control and in a wild outburst of passion set fire to the Town Hall and destroyed a number of other buildings.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is yet in a position to make a statement as to who were the authors of the incendiary fires in Granard on the 4th November; and, if so, what action has been taken?

I regret that no further information has yet come to light which would enable the person by whom these outrages were committed to be identified.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received the Report of the Court of Inquiry asked for in this House on 1st December into the murder of William Gleeson outside his father's house at Moher, County Tipperary, on 25th October last; and what was the evidence and finding?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Mills) on the 3rd instant, in which I gave the finding of the Court of Inquiry held in this case.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has now received the result of the military inquiry, promised on 22nd November, into the shooting by Members of the Crown Forces of Charles Lynch, of Milton Malbay, on 24th October; and what was the evidence and the finding?

The finding of the Court of Inquiry, in lieu of inquest, was that this man's death was caused by a bullet fired by troops who went out to rescue a corporal of the Royal Scots, and who were firing at retiring Sinn Feiners. The evidence given at the inquiry was to the effect that the corporal in question was captured by a number of civilians. A party of his comrades were sent out to rescue him and were fired upon. They returned the fire, and Lynch, an old man of about 70 years of age, who was standing at the door of his house, was accidentally caught in the line of fire.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that there is a murder gang in the Black and Tan camp at Gormanstown, and that the murders at Ardee, Drogheda, and Balbriggan were organised there and carried out by armed bands which started from there in Government lorries; and whether any steps have been taken to trace the members of the gang?

No, Sir. I am satisfied that the grave allegation contained in this question is wholly without foundation.

asked the Chief Secretary whether on the night of the 22nd February two policemen visited the residence of Mr. T. Fox, of Donegal, a civil servant and ex-soldier who had served four years during the War on active service; whether these policemen burst in the door and, without allowing Mr. Fox time to speak, brutally assaulted him and rendered him unconscious; whether Mr. Fox was only spared further ill-treatment on the earnest appeal of his wife, who was confined to bed, having given birth to a baby only a couple of days previously, and who rushed to her husband's assistance and beseeched the police to spare him; and whether he will take steps to have these members of the force brought to justice?

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

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the conduct of the Crown forces in districts in County Mayo; whether on Tuesday, 15th February, the divisional police commission for Galway and Mayo visited Castlebar accompanied by an escort of Crown forces wearing police uniforms; whether on Wednesday, 16th February, part of the escort waited behind in Foxford freely regaling themselves with liquor which they ordered to be put down in De Valera's account book; whether they held up and brutally ill-treated two young men who were wearing total abstinence badges, and assaulted a local member of the Royal Irish Constabulary who came to his assistance; whether they then proceeded to Ballyvary, where they assaulted any men they met in the streets, and again refreshed themselves with drink at the expense of the local publicans, taking away with them parcels of whisky, brandy, and other goods; whether, on their return to Castlebar they gave another violent display, and broke into a house of a young motherless family of children, and assaulted a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary who protested; whether the local constabulary in these towns discharged their duty by reporting these acts to the authorities; and, if so, whether the authorities have punished, or intend to punish, the guilty parties for their lawless actions?

I am making inquiries into the allegations contained in this question of which I only received notice yesterday. If the hon. Member will repeat the question one day next week I hope then to be in a position to reply.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will make known the results of the investigations which were being made into the cases of the arrest on 10th December and detention of Thomas Pierce, James Dolan, John M'Allister, and John Carey, of Malahide, county Dublin?

Thomas Pierce has been released and the other three persons mentioned by the hon. Member have been interned under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulations 14B.

asked the Chief Secretary how many members of K company of the Auxiliary Cadet Force have been court-martialled and on what charges; what were the sentences inflicted; and will they be revised in view of the fact that they were mitigated by Colonel Latymer, who had himself merited suspension and arrest in connection with the conduct of this company in Cork?

Eight temporary cadets of this company have been courtmartialled. One was charged with and convicted of murder and was sentenced to be detained during His Majesty's pleasure. Four were convicted of assault and of being engaged in an unlawful raid. Fines of £30 were imposed in three of the cases and a fine of £15 in the fourth. The three remaining cadets were tried on charges of theft and acquitted. It is not proposed to revise the sentences in the five cases of conviction.

asked the Chief Secretary whether there is a virulent outbreak of skin disease in Ballykinlar; what steps are being taken to eradicate it; and has any inquiry been made into the origin of it?

From February 1st, 1921, there have been 36 cases of scabies at Ballykinlar Camp. The disease was introduced into the camp by internees, is most infectious and is difficult to stamp out. On admission and subsequently every seven days internees are medically inspected and all cases are isolated and treated. The outbreak has not been virulent and the number of cases now under treatment is 17.

asked the Chief Secretary the result of his inquiries into the case of a body of auxiliaries who, on the 30th January, accompanied by two sergeants of the Elphin Royal Irish Constabulary, surrounded Creeve Catholic Church, while mass was in progress, and planted a machine-gun in a field commanding the sacred edifice; that as the congregation left the church they were all, including women and children, searched, and a number of men were beaten with rifles, etc., in the course of an attempt to extort from them information as to persons on the run; that, in the act of striking a young man with a rifle, one of the auxiliaries missed his aim and smashed a church window; that the officiating priest was subjected to search, during the progress of which he was compelled to keep the sacred host, which was in his custody at the time, in his outstretched hand, in order to prevent desecration; that the church and sacristy were thoroughly searched, the priest being forced to open the tabernacle on the high altar; that even an empty ciborium, used for the custody of the sacred Communion wafers, was peered into; that a tabernacle on a side altar, for which the priest had no key, was broken open; and whether, in view of the enormity, in the eyes of the people, of this sacrilege, he will give instructions that such acts shall not be repeated?

According to the report which I have received with reference to this matter, a party of auxiliary police surrounded the Roman Catholic Church at Creeve on the morning of the 30th January while Mass was being celebrated and placed a machine gun in position in an adjoining field. Each member of the congregation was searched on leaving the church, the search of the female members of the congregation being conducted by a female searcher at the back of the church. The allegations of striking with rifles and other ill-treatment are denied, and it is stated that none of the police who were actually engaged in the search carried rifles, but sentries with rifles were posted at various places near the church. No complaint was made to the local police of a window having been broken in or any act of sacrilege having been committed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that on the Roehampton estate of the London County Council five-roomed houses are being erected at a cost of £1,700 per house; that the proposed rent of these houses is to be 18s. per week, and that the cost to the State will be £98 per annum per house; whether in September, 1919, he instructed the local authorities to make a survey of the housing conditions in their areas and to submit a statement of the number of houses actually needed; whether he has received the reports; if so, the result of such inquiries; and the number of contracts for new houses entered into during the last four weeks?

As regards the first part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question on the same subject on 23rd February. Roehampton is a very exceptional case, although the figure he mentions is certainly not warranted. A survey was obtained as stated, and according to the returns, some 500,000 dwellings are needed to meet the demand for additional accommodation, but this is probably an overestimate. Contracts for 5,200 houses were made during the four weeks ended the 5th instant; the total number of houses in signed contracts is 151,000.

asked the Minister of Health, if he will consider the introduction of legislation which will confer upon local authorities power to compulsorily acquire, either by purchase or hire, any house which is suitable for the housing of the people and has not been in the occupation of any occupier at any time during a period of at least three months immediately preceding; if he is aware that many houses for which subsidy has been paid in the Dartford area have been empty for months because the owner refuses to let; and whether he will consider the desirability of withholding the subsidy in such cases?

I propose to re-introduce the provision in the Bill of last Session enabling local authorities to hire compulsorily houses which have not been in occupation for three months. I do not think it would be practicable to withhold the subsidy from a private builder until he has let the house.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the total number to date of houses built under the Housing of the Working Classes Act which are occupied; and will he give the average cost of construction of these houses and the average net rent, excluding rates, which is being paid by their tenants?

Up to 1st February, the latest date for which complete returns are available, 27,751 houses had been com- pleted by local authorities and public utility societies, and under the Private Builders' Subsidy Scheme. I have no information as to the cost of the houses erected by private enterprise; in most cases the houses completed by local authorities and public utility societies form only part of a contract, and sufficient returns as to contracts wholly completed are not yet available to enable the average cost of the completed houses to be ascertained. Generally the rents agreed between the Ministry and local authorities vary from 5s. 6d. per week in rural villages for cottages containing living room and three bedrooms to 23s. per week in urban areas for houses containing two living rooms, scullery, and four bedrooms, in each case exclusive of rates.

asked the Minister of Health when it is proposed to close down the costly and unnecessary Department of the Director of Building Material Supplies; whether he is aware that this Department is threatening the existence of a very large number of old established and reputable firms engaged in the sale of building material; whether he will give particulars as to the number and cost of the staff engaged in this trading concern; and if he will state what useful purpose it serves at the present time?

Perhaps I may refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the replies given on the 22nd February to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. A. T. Davis) and on the 23rd February to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Ely (Captain Coote), of which I will send him copies.

asked the Minister of Health if he has now considered the Report of the Special Committee on Venereal Disease; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I am not able at present to add anything to the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on the 2nd instant.

asked the Minister of Health whether any and what steps are being taken to bring to the knowledge of the public the fact that vitamines, which constitute a necessary part of any sound diet, are essential to the diet of the young, and can be secured by utilising whole cereals and whole pulses, fruits, salads, and vegetables; and whether he will publish and disseminate as soon as possible a short practical leaflet which, without advocating any special system of diet, will draw attention to the value of these wholesome and economical foods?

As I stated in my reply to a question on the 25th ultimo, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy. I am considering whether it would be practicable to issue any statement on the subject. Any such pamphlet would, of course, contain as full a reference to the part played by vitamines in nutrition as the present state of knowledge of the subject would permit. The hon. and gallant Member may be interested in the treatment of this matter on pp. 177–184 of the Report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Board of Education, published in 1919 (Cmd. 420), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now state the Government's decision as to the preparing and publishing of the registers only once annually under the Representation of the People Act, 1918?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in accordance with the anticipation of the Lord Privy Seal in last November, any decision has yet been come to by the Government with regard to the possibility of providing that, for the next five years, there shall be only one register of electors in each year instead of two, so that expense may be saved to the national Exchequer and to ratepayers throughout the country?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether his approximate estimate of about £350,000, as the saving which would be effected by preparing one Parliamentary register yearly instead of two, is the saving to the expenditure of his Department; and, if so, whether there will be in addition a saving of a similar or larger amount to the local authorities who equally incur cost in getting out the registers?

I find that the estimated saving, after allowance is made for consequential matters, is in fact £250,000 per annum on the combined expenditure of the central government and local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the recent increase of deaths from cancer; whether he has any committee or officers in his Department who are making any inquiries into the cause of and cure for this disease; whether his Department makes any financial grants to any hospital or institution which is providing research work or special wards and treatment for this disease; and, if not, whether, in the interest of the community and the need of combating this scourge, he will favourably consider granting financial help to any such hospital or institution?

I very much regret to say that the number of deaths attributed to cancer continues to rise. My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that an extensive research into the causes of the disease has for some time past been undertaken by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, and the Medical Research Council are facilitating research into the possibilities of radio-therapy and have been the means of providing a substantial quantity of active radium salt for the purpose. Cancer research funds are relatively well supported from voluntary sources, and I do not think that the issues are sufficiently clear for me to recommend grants in aid of the cost of the treatment of this disease at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health what action a pensioner of a board of guardians should take who, having complied with the statutory conditions, has been refused an increase of pension under the Act of 1920, which has now been applied to all pensions paid under the Poor Law Officers' Superannuation Act, 1896?

If the hon. Member will send me particulars of any case he has in mind, I shall be glad to look into it and to communicate further with him.

asked the Minister of Health whether Regulations drawn up by his Department make it a condition of the granting of a pension under the Blind Persons Act, 1920, that the applicant must not only be totally blind, but also must have attended some school or institution for the blind; is he aware that this may work for hardship in particular cases, as, for example, that of Mrs. Culff, of Grays, Essex, aged 68 years, who has had both eyes removed, but yet is refused a pension under that Regulation; and will he inquire into this case?

The Regulations referred to were issued by the Board of Customs and Excise after consultation with my Department, and make no such requirement as is referred to in the question. In the case of Mrs. Culff, I understand that an appeal against the granting of a pension was lodged by mistake. The appeal has since been withdrawn and instructions given for the issue of a pensions book to the applicant.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in consequence of the number of men in this country who still suffer from malaria contracted abroad during the War and of the abundance of mosquitoes present in many parts of England, malaria is now occurring in the civil population; and what steps are taken to prevent the spread of this disease in mosquito-infested areas?

The matter referred to in the question has received the close attention of the medical officers of the Ministry. The action taken is fully described in two separately issued, "Reports and Papers on Malaria contracted in England," relating to 1917 and 1918, respectively, and in the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer for 1919–20. The policy of prevention is based primarily on securing the early detection of all cases and carriers of malaria, and arranging that they are thoroughly treated with quinine, thus removing, or greatly lessening, the risk of infection if they are bitten by mosquitoes which can spread the infection. Efforts are made at the same time to protect all such cases and carriers against mosquito bite as far as possible. Special supervision for these purposes has been arranged in the Isle of Sheppey, where most of the infection arising in England has occurred. The measures taken have greatly lessened the risk of spread. The total number of locally contracted cases reported among the civil population in England was only 32 in 1920, as compared with 93 in the previous year.

asked the Minister of Health what grants are made by his Department to local authorities towards the cost of maternity and child welfare work; and what proportion of the total expenditure is represented by those grants?

Grants amounting approximately to £855,000 will be made during the current financial year towards the expenditure of local authorities on maternity and child welfare. The grants represent less than ¼d. in the £ on the total sums voted by Parliament for the supply services of the country.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the women auditors employed in the audit of awards section are specially trained women who have been called upon to take charge in provinces at short notice; whether these women are under notice; if any of them are depen- dent upon their earnings; and, if so, what problem is being solved by their discharge?

The women who are employed on audit of awards are trained for that work, and they will not be replaced until men have been trained who can take their places. It is proposed to offer them employment in a woman's branch of the Ministry as soon as they are available for transfer. Notice of discharge has not been given to any of them.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his statement that a reduction of some £10,000,000 to £11,000,000 in the amount of pension money paid was hoped for means that pensions are to be reduced or that, owing to men recovering their health or other causes, less money will be required for pensions?

The suggestion contained in the latter part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is correct. No instructions to reduce pensions have ever been issued, and if a disabled man is awarded a lower pension on re-boarding it is because his health has improved and for no other reason.

asked the Minister of Pensions why attention has not been given to the claim of the widow of Private James Cunliffe, No. 23,623, 8th Border Regiment, ring paper No. W.B.M. 8/9/4, for remarriage gratuity which was made in November last; and will he see that this claim is settled at once?

I regret that certain inquiries have occasioned delay in this case. Instructions have now been given for the immediate issue of the gratuity.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Ernest de Hayes, recently demobilised after 12 years' service with the Army, and whose father has also served 14 years with the Royal Irish Fusiliers, made application for employment as a clerk in the employment exchange at Derby, but was refused on the ground only that his father happened to have been born in France; and whether, in view of the military record with the British Army of both Hayes and his father, his application for employment ought to receive equal consideration with those of other ex-service men?

The case to which my right hon. Friend refers has already received my personal attention, and I have caused inquiries to be made. I will communicate with my right hon. Friend as soon as these inquiries are completed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there are a number, of men who have been working at the Government general stores, Coventry, for a long time; that the management have decided to reduce the staff by about 100; that a number of the men who have been discharged in days gone by are being reinstated; and why one set of men should be discharged and the discharged men reinstated again?

I have been asked to answer this question. There are only 66 men employed at the three Coventry store depots under the control of the Ministry of Munitions. As the system of short time employment has been adopted at these depots no recent discharges have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers have been given commissions in the recently formed Army Educational Corps, and whether any Catholic officers; and, if so, how many have received commissions?

414 commissions have been given to officers in the Army Educational Corps, of whom 33 are Roman Catholics.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the 7th (S) Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were mentioned in Field Marshal Haig's despatch of 19th May, 1916; and, if so, are officers, non-com- missioned officers, and men who were then, or previous to that date, serving with the battalion entitled to wear palms on their Victory Ribbon?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative. The wearing of the emblem of an oak leaf on the riband of the Victory Medal is confined to those who have been personally mentioned in despatches.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office when S. J. James, late private, No. 142,402, 374th Home Service Labour Company, is to receive pay due to him at civil rates under Army Council Instructions 1,597, 1,815, 1,974, 707, and 2,160 of 1916, for his work as carpenter in the years 1916–17 at the Royal Engineers' Experimental Station, Porton, near Salisbury, under the Trench Warfare Department for the Ministry of Munitions; whether, inasmuch as soldiers while serving are not themselves allowed to approach the paymaster and all queries as to pay are discouraged by company officers, it is right to withhold this payment on the ground that this ex-soldier did not make formal application until his demobilisation and that the working papers are not now available; and whether steps will be taken forthwith to make a fair assessment of the money due to this ex-soldier with a view to a prompt and fair settlement?

It is provided in Article 7 of the Pay Warrant that if claims are not made within 12 months they become invalid. In this case 3½ years have elapsed, and there is no record now in existence to substantiate the claim. Section 43 of the Army Act expressly provides that a soldier who thinks himself wronged shall complain to his captain or superior officer, who shall cause the complaint to be inquired into, and I cannot accept the imputation on the conduct of company officers contained in the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in- asmuch as the Schoolmaster Branch, Royal Navy, is the only one in which there is no title to distinguish officers of commissioned rank, other than senior masters and headmasters, from those not holding commissions, if he will consider the desirability of introducing distinctive titles such as obtain in other branches?

The question of applying military titles to the Schoolmaster Branch was carefully considered as recently as May, 1920, and no reason is seen for altering the decision then arrived at, that scholastic titles should be retained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether intimation has been sent to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, drawing attention to the equal scales of pay up to now given to men and women employed on the scientific staff of the National Physical Laboratory, and suggesting that women appointed in the future to this staff shall receive lower pay than the men of the same ability and qualifications doing the same work; whether the Treasury is aware that this House passed a Resolution on 19th May last to the effect that women in the service of the Government should receive equal pay for equal work; and why has this Resolution been ignored?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware of the terms of the Resolution. It is the case that the Treasury have intimated that the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research should consider the scales of pay for future entrants to the scientific staff (women) of the National Physical Laboratory in the light of the principles adopted in the Report of the Re-organisation Committee of the National Whitley Council and approved by the Government, governing the relation of the pay of men and women in general Civil Service classes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue was derived from the duty on mechanical lighters from January to 31st December, 1920?

The approximate (net) revenue received from the duty on mechanical lighters during the year ended 31st December, 1920, was as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the Supplementary Estimates, amounting to some £108,000,000, will be balanced by savings on other services?

The total Supplementary Estimates presented since the Budget amount to £108,492,000. The Budget included provision for £20,000,000 for Supplementary Estimates; and reductions amounting to £8,600,000 were made on Revised Estimates, in particular for munitions, presented last summer. The excess of Votes in Supply over the Budget provision is thus £79,892,000. I do not like to make prophecies as to the actual out-turn of the year's expenditure, which depends on factors which are still uncertain, but I anticipate that approximately £60,000,000 of savings in existing Votes will be available to set against this £79,892,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to a report of a recent case at the Mansion House, before the Lord Mayor of London, when a manual worker earning over £600 a year was summoned for non-payment of his Income Tax, and the collector of taxes stated that this man could claim an allowance for expenses incurred in travelling to and from his work, a privilege which was only accorded to manual workers; and whether he will consider the possibility of extending these privileges to other workers?

I have no particulars of the case to which my hon. Friend refers, but, presumably it fell within the scope of the War-time con- cession which has repeatedly been brought under the notice of the House. Under that concession there is allowed as a deduction for Income Tax purposes the actual cost of travelling to and from the place of employment, where, owing to the present exceptional conditions mainly arising out of the War, a weekly wage-earner charged by quarterly assessment is employed at a considerable distance from his home, and necessarily incurs exceptional expenses in travelling daily to and from his employment. Although, in my view, the time is not yet ripe for the withdrawal of that concession, I do not see my way to extend it. In this connection I would remind my hon. Friend that the Royal Commission on the Income Tax expressed the opinion that a general allowance for travelling expenses would result in a very great inequity, and recommended that no such allowance be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the sum of £5,876,000, which was received for motor vehicle duties by the Treasury from 1st April, 1920, to 26th February, 1921, represents the amount of the new vehicle duties which were received after 1st January, 1921; what proportion, if any, of the same sum was received in payment of motor spirit duties for the period from 1st April to 31st December, 1920; and how much of the new duties was paid for yearly licences for motor vehicles as opposed to quarterly licences?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The sum of £5,876,000 paid into the Exchequer was (to the nearest thousand pounds) the total amount of motor-vehicle, horse-drawn-carriage and drivers' licences which had been collected by Registration Authorities from 1st January, 1921, up to and including 7th February and paid over by them to the Motor Tax account at the Bank of England. No part of this is in respect of motor spirit duties. Full returns have not yet been received from all the Registration Authorities, but from a preliminary examination, I estimate that approximately 3 per cent. of the total was in respect of quarterly licences, less than 1 per cent. drivers' licences and miscel- laneous receipts, and the balance in respect of annual licences for carriages and vehicles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of increases in salaries granted to members of Government Departments under the recent Departmental Committee presided over by the right hon. Member for Paisley (Mr. Asquith).

I am circulating a copy of the Report of the Committee over which my right hon. Friend the Member for Paisley presided. The net additional cost in respect of the posts included in the schedule to the Report, and of the posts referred to in the latter part of paragraph 2 of the Report, may be put approximately at £30,000 a year.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the French Government now grant visas on passports valid for one year?

Yes, Sir; I regret that through an oversight France was omitted from the list of countries given in the reply to the hon. Member on Monday, 21st February.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that British subjects abroad are anxiously awaiting some statement of the views of His Majesty's Government with regard to the recommendations made by the Foreign Office Committee on British communities abroad on various questions intimately affecting their welfare; when some statement will be made which will satisfy their justifiable interest in the question; whether the Committee proposed in the recommendations of the Report to act as a channel of communication between the British communities abroad and the Home Government has yet been formed; and, if not, whether it will be set up in the near future?

His Majesty's Government are fully alive to the interest which has been evoked among British communities abroad by the report of the Committee to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, and they hope to be able to issue a statement of the nature suggested before long. The Committee referred to in the last part of the question has not yet been set up, but I hope that a decision on this point, as well as on other important questions raised by the Committee in their report, may not now be long delayed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official or other information relating to the reported revolt of the sailors and workmen of Kronstadt and Petrograd against the Soviet power of Moscow; and, if so, what is the nature of such information?

From reports received by His Majesty's Representatives in the Baltic States, it appears that Kronstadt is completely in the power of the revolutionary sailors and the garrison under General Koslovsky. Some of the smaller forts are reported to have joined Kronstadt, while others are still holding out. The situation at Petrograd remains obscure. It appears that fighting is still in progress in the city, and that the attitude of the Red Army is uncertain. General Koslovsky is reported to be advancing on the capital, but it is not yet known whether he has established contact with the anti-Bolshevik workmen and soldiers inside the city.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the capture of Tiflis by the Bolsheviks is confirmed; whether he can give any information as to the safety of the British residents who are, or were recently, in the city; and whether he has any information as to whether Tiflis was given over to be sacked?

His Majesty's Representatives report that Tiflis was occupied by Armenian Bolshevik forces on 25th February. The whole of the British Colony, with the exception of a few who elected to remain, were evacuated to Batoum, where arrange- ments were made to convey them to Constantinople if necessary. His Majesty's Government have no authentic information as to whether Tiflis has been sacked or not.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any progress has been made in the matter of the consideration or payment of the claims of British subjects in Courtrai, Belgium, for loss and damage sustained by them owing to the German invasion of that country in 1914?

British claims for damages in Belgium are in the same position as similar British claims for damages in France, and in this connection I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Remer) on 23rd November last. At the request of His Majesty's Government the Belgian Government have appointed two Special Commissioners to assess British claims in the districts of Antwerp and Brussels, while Britih claims outside these districts will be assessed by the local Belgian Commissioners. The claims will eventually be put forward by His Majesty's Government together with all the other British claims.

asked the Secretary of (State for India how many Indian subjects of the King-Emperor are living in the respective Dominions, Crown Colonies, and Dependencies of the Empire?

I will have a Return prepared and send a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether forced compulsory labour for the natives, similar to that introduced in Kenya Colony, has been applied to any other Colonial territory under the Crown, either by the means of fresh ordinances or by the amendment of pre-existing instruments?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for south-west Hull (Major Entwistle) on the 15th December, containing a list of Ordinances dealing with the question of compulsory labour for limited periods and for public objects. Of the laws in that list those in the Uganda Protectorate and in Zanzibar contain provisions generally similar to those of the Kenya law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, during the passage of the New Guinea Act giving effect to the mandate conferred upon Australia for the administration of ex-German New Guinea, the Australian Government and Parliament passed an amendment to the clause of the mandate dealing with forced labour whereby no forced labour whatsoever is to be permitted in the territory whether for essential public works and services or otherwise; and whether, if this Amendment has been made by the Australian Parliament, it is within the competence of the British Parliament to make a similar Amendment to the mandate for Tanganyika territory?

The question of going further in the direction of prohibiting compulsory labour than is expressed in the mandate is not one of amending the mandate, but of local legislation. This has been found practicable in Australia, but whether the local conditions in the Tanganyika territory are at present such as to make similar action possible or desirable there I am unable to say without consulting the Governor, which I will do at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Poll Tax on natives of Kenya Colony has recently been increased from one-twelfth to one-sixth their estimated earning capacity; and, if so, will he explain why this has been done?

The maximum rate of Hut or Poll Tax has been raised from the figure of 5 rupees laid down in 1915 to 10 rupees. The actual rate has been settled for different areas according to the ability of the natives to pay, and the increased yield is expected to be 50 per cent. It is not correct, therefore, to say that the burden on the natives has been doubled, even if the value of their possessions or their earning capacity had remained constant. The increase was approved at the same time as the new Income Tax, in order to meet the increasing expenses of administration, but special services for the benefit of the native communities are contemplated, and will be introduced as soon as conditions permit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the admission of the Borneo Chartered Company that coolies are flogged for industrial offences, and of the company's assertion that no reforms are needed, he will call for a reform now, and for an annual Return in future of the number of floggings, by whom the coolies were medically examined, the industrial offences for which they were flogged, and the number of strokes inflicted on the coolies?

I understand that, except in grave cases of riot and public disturbance, there is no such penalty in North Borneo as enforced caning. That form of penalty can be selected by an offender as an alternative to other forms of punishment for industrial offences. Under the circumstances I do not think it necessary to call for the suggested Return.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies upon how many natives in Nigeria the sentence of death has been passed during the last year in courts in which European officials took an official part; and in how many of these cases the native was at liberty to employ counsel in his defence?

The information is not in the possession of the Colonial Office, but the Nigerian Government will be asked to supply it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the parish councils at Tempsford, Great Barford, Goldington, and Cranfield, together with others in the county of Bedford, have failed to obtain land for allotments for their parishioners, the bulk of whom are ex-service men; whether he is prepared to define as a precedent what is the period when local councils can be declared defaulters in this matter; and if instructions will be given to the county council or committee to immediately secure land at reasonable rents for spring cultivation in these parishes?

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a report which has been made by one of the Ministry's sub-commissioners with regard to the position as to the provision of land for allotments in the four parishes to which he refers. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given on the 2nd inst. to a similar question from the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Mills). In reply to the last part of the question, the Ministry is doubtful whether it will be possible to obtain land for cultivation this spring in view of the fact that such a course would involve charging the allotment holders with the payment of heavy compensation to sitting tenants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that allotment holders at Breeze Hill, Bootle, are being evicted for the purpose of utilisation of the land as a rubbish tip; whether he will have an inquiry into this case with the object of retaining the land for allotments; whether there is a demand for land for allotments at Bootle; and what steps are being taken by the council to satisfy this demand?

The Ministry understands that the allotment holders in question were served with notices to quit expiring on 28th January last, such notices being apparently in accordance with the terms of the agreement under which the land was let in allotments. It is understood that the dispossessed holders were invited to apply to the town council for plots which were being provided at Aintree Road. The Ministry will, however, arrange for one of its inspectors to make inquiry into the general position as regards the demand for allotments at Bootle, and the hon. Member will be informed of the result.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what provision is made for assisting, by loans or otherwise, ex-service men who are applicants for smallholdings; and, if so, whether such assistance will be afforded to T. Billington, of Tottenham, who has had considerable experience of farming and gardening, but was rejected by the Middlesex county council on the plea that he had no capital?

In accordance with Regulations made by the Treasury under Section 18 of the Land Settlement (Facilities) Act, 1919, the Ministry, a county council or the council of a county borough may guarantee an advance to any of their small-holding tenants or prospective tenants for the purchase of livestock, fruit trees, implements, seeds or fertilisers. The sum to be advanced must, however, be limited in each case so as not to exceed the amount of capital in cash or kind which the applicant is able to provide from other sources, and as the applicant to whom the hon. Member refers has no capital he is not eligible under the Regulations for a loan.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there is an unsatisfied demand for allotments at Chertsey and that the council have for a considerable time stated that they are negotiating for land; and whether he will impress upon the council the necessity of expediting the acquisition of land so that it may be made available for cultivation for the coming season?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Ministry will arrange for one of its inspectors to visit Chertsey in order to expedite, if possible, the acquisition of land for allotments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will reconsider the possibility of restoring the promised granting of about £22,000 in aid of a central institution for poultry instructors, seeing the very great importance to the country of the poultry-farming industry and the great benefit to national economy of the extension of this industry through the absorption by it in productive work of ex-service men and others?

The Minister is well aware of the national importance of the poultry industry and of its possibilities in the future when developed. He regards the establishment of a poultry institute as a most desirable step towards: the improvement and extension of the industry, but in view of the necessity for economy in public expenditure, he regrets that it is not possible to proceed in this matter at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the case of agricultural tenants vacating at Lady Day next under a year's notice to quit, who, by reason of the operation of the Agriculture Act, 1920, Section 10, which requires the notice to be given after 20th May next, coupled with the repeal of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1908, Section 11, will be deprived of their right to claim compensation for disturbance; and whether, seeing that these tenants will thus be deprived of the right to compensation for disturbance secured to them under the Act of 1908, he can introduce an amending Act to remove this injustice, and meanwhile to authorise the suspension of the settlement of Lady Day valuations?

Section 38 of the Interpretation Act, 1889, would seem to preserve any right to compensation under Section 10 of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1908, which was acquired before that Section was repealed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can state in a comparable form the values of the hay crop, the corn crop, meat, and poultry, produced in this country, and the proportionate amount of labour employed in each?

The values of the hay and corn (wheat, barley and oats) crops of the United Kingdom in 1920, based on the estimated production, and calculated at the average market prices since the time of harvest, are estimated at £81,000,000 and £118,000,000, respectively. The value of the meat produced in 1920 based on the number of livestock in June last, and on the average market prices throughout the year, is estimated at £176,000,000. A large proportion of the crops grown is retained by the grower for consumption on the farm, and the values indicated above do not represent actual sales of hay and corn for cash. With regard to poultry, no official statistics have been collected as to the value or extent of the produce since 1918, and then only in respect of holdings over one acre. No complete or up to date information is available therefore on which to base an estimate of production. It is not possible to state the proportionate amount of labour employed in each of the various forms of agricultural production.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can give any figures as to the estimated shortage of teachers and of the names and numbers of training colleges which are likely to close during the next Session unless aided by increased grants; and whether the number of applications for entrance into training colleges has increased or decreased?

It was estimated in 1919 that about 9,000 candidates at the preliminary stages are required annually to replace normal wastage in the number of certificated and uncertificated teachers in public elementary schools, without making any provision for improvement of staffing or developments under the Education Act, 1918. The present annual recruitment of such candidates is between 6,500 and 7,000. The existing accommodation in training colleges is sufficient to enable about 7,500 students to be admitted in each year. I have been informed by the authorities of the Hereford County Training College and of the Saltley Church of England Training College that it is their intention to close these colleges unless additional financial assistance is given by the Government. In the Estimates for 1921–22 Parliament will be asked to provide additional funds for increased grants to training colleges, and I hope to make an announcement on the subject shortly. I have no exact figures as to the number of applications for entrance into training colleges, but I understand that the number has considerably increased in the last year or two.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the acceptance of the Board of Education of the recommendation of two successive Burnham Commissions, involving considerable increases to the salaries of all elementary and secondary school teachers, it is the intention of the Board to secure also an adequate scale of salary for the staff of training colleges for teachers?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24th February to the hon. Member for Tottenham North (Major Prescott).

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that a grave situation has arisen in Derbyshire owing to the understaffing of the schools, particularly at Beighton, Killamarsh, Shirebrook, and other places, where many of the children are on what is called half-time, and consequently the amount of schooling they receive is so small as to be of little value; and whether he will cause immediate inquiry to be made into the matter with a view to remedying the existing deplorable state of affairs?

I am aware of the difficulties at Beighton and Shirebrook and am inquiring about Killmarsh. I am already in communication with the local education authority upon the question of the staffing of the public elementary schools in the county area.

asked the President of the Board of Education his estimated annual cost of the application of those Clauses in The Education Act, 1918, whose application has been postponed; and how much of this total sum would be expended upon additional teachers, schools, etc.

I am afraid that I cannot answer the hon. Member's question. I am not sure which are the Clauses to which he refers, and I must point out that, in any case, the giving of full effect to the Act must be a gradual process, and that the amount which would be expended would, therefore, depend on the rate at which the local education authorities were able to put their schemes into operation.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in the event of a local education authority refusing to adopt any of the scales of the Burnham Committee, the Board of Education is empowered to withhold their grant?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to-day to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. T. Davies).

asked the President of the Board of Education whether some of the recommendations of the Burnham Committee, with regard to teachers' salaries, are not covered by the provisions of the Education Acts or the Minutes of the Board of Education; and whether, in view of the doubts of some local education authorities as to whether the Board intend to compel them to accept all the Committee's recommendations, he will say if their acceptance is to be made a condition for receiving the Government grant?

I do not know what recommendations the hon. Member is referring to in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, the Burnham Committee is essentially a representative committee of which half the members were appointed by the Associations of Local Education Authorities, to which all local education authorities belong. It is, of course, possible, that the representatives of the local education authorities may agree with the representatives of the teachers, but that some local education authorities may disapprove of the action of their representatives. I do not think it is desirable that I should attempt to deal by way of anticipation with such a hypothetical situation.

asked the Prime Minister whether, under existing conditions, he will give a pledge that all Government contracts wherever possible shall be placed with British contractors and manufacturers; and whether he will cause searching inquiries to be made whereby recent contracts by Government Departments have been made in Italy for motor cars for India and for silk in Germany required for Post Office telephones?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 6th December last to a question on this subject put by the hon. and gallant Member for Bournemouth (Lieut.-Colonel Croft). I am causing inquiries to be made with regard to the points raised in the last part of the question, but questions as to Indian purchases should be addressed to the Secretary of State for India.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether foreign goods imported into this country have to bear the name of the country from which they are imported; and whether he is aware that certain goods imported from Germany and placed on the market in this country do not bear the mark of their country of origin?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a memorandum which sets out in detail the circumstances in which foreign goods are required to bear an indication of origin on their importation. Speaking broadly, this is only the case when they bear other marks which might give rise to a mistaken impression as to their origin. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Board; of Trade what, according to the latest annual figures, is the average value per head of the purchases of British goods by the people of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, British India, and Japan, respectively?

The following statistical statement gives the value of the exports of produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom registered during the year 1920 as consigned from this country to the undermentioned countries; and the average value of such exports per head of the population of each of those countries according to the latest available estimates of population:

asked the Minister of Trans-port if his attention has been called to the situation in Grimsby arising out of the refusal of the Great Central Railway Company to carry out the project for which they secured special office rents and dock dues known as the Great Central Railway (Grimsby Fish Docks) Act, 1912; whether they have been collecting these special dues since 1912; and upon what grounds they refuse to start this work, having regard to the large number of unemployed in that area?

I am aware of the project for building a new fish dock to which my hon. Friend no doubt alludes. The reason for not proceeding with it at present is a financial one. It is true that in 1912 the Great Central Railway Company obtained powers to levy certain increased charges when the work of extending the dock was begun and to apply certain further in-creases on its completion. The special charging powers have not, therefore, been exercised.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will publish his annual Roads Report, as promised when the Ministry of Transport Bill was going through Parliament?

The annual report on the administration of the Road Improvement Fund for the year ended 31st March, 1920, was presented to the House on 15th February last. I understand that copies will be available to-day in the Vote Office.

asked the Home Secretary (1) who is responsible for the publicity work of the special branch of the police;

There is no publicity work of the special branch of the Metropolitan Police. Like every other branch of the public service, it answers Press inquiries and gives information to the Press from time to time, which, of course, costs nothing.

asked the Home Secretary how many Russian subjects have been deported from this country since 1st January, 1921; what were their offences; whether their wives and families were likewise deported; and how many have been imprisoned pending deportation?

No Russian subjects have been deported since 1st January, 1921. The second and third parts of the question therefore do not arise. Thirty-six Russians have been in prison pending deportation, and of these 11 have been released temporarily until arrangements for their deportation can be made.

asked the Home Secretary the number of aliens who have been permitted to enter this country since the Armistice with Germany for the purpose of exhibit- ing performing animals or travelling menageries of animals?

No figures are available on this point, but I think I can safely say that the number is very small if indeed there be any such case.

asked the Home Secretary whether, to facilitate the settlement of the questions which have arisen on the draft Regulations under the Dangerous Drugs Act, he will appoint a small Committee, including one or two Members of this House and a representative of the Home Office, to advise him on the matter?

I have decided to appoint a small Committee on the lines suggested by the hon. Member to consider and report to me in cases in which we have not been able to come to an agreement with interested parties, what further modifications, if any, can safely and properly be made in the draft Regulations, having regard to the main principles on which the Regulations are based and which are essential in the public interest for safeguarding the use of the drugs.

asked the Home Secretary how many police authorities have appointed policewomen; in how many of these cases their pay has been standardised in accordance with the recommendations of the Report on the Employment of Women on Police Duties; and in how many they form an integral part of the police force?

Policewomen are employed in the Metropolitan Police and, according to the latest available information, by police authorities in seven counties and 35 boroughs. I have recently adopted for the Metropolitan policewomen the scales of pay recommended by the Committee, and approximately the same rates are paid in a few of the county and borough forces. In all the cases to which I refer, the policewomen form part of the force under the control of the Chief Constable.

asked the Home Secretary whether in view of Easter being this year only eight days before the date on which the Daylight Saving Bill comes into operation, he can see his way to put the date back to the 26th March, so that it would confer an inestimable boon on the holiday makers, who would greatly benefit by this alteration?

I fear it is impossible to alter the date which has been fixed for the commencement of Summer Time, and there are reasons which make it desirable to avoid taking Easter Day as the date on which to bring Summer Time into operation.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a petition for the reduction of the sentence of six months' hard labour imposed on Joseph Walter Wilkins at Hastings on 3rd February; and whether he will make a reply to the petition at an early date?

Having carefully considered the facts of this case, I regret that I have not felt able to recommend any reduction of the sentence, and I have so informed the petitioners.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephone subscribers in a locality which, in his opinion, justify him in establishing a local telephone exchange; and whether the number of subscribers in Levenshulme, Manchester, is sufficient to warrant the formation of a Levenshulme exchange?

Distance from existing exchanges, engineering and traffic considerations and other factors, equally with the probable number of prospective subscribers, have to be taken into account before a decision can be arrived at as regards the establishment of a telephone exchange. I am making inquiry as to the position at Levenshulme and I will communicate the result to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if the non-pensionable bonus and increase rent allowance have yet been granted to the police in Scotland; and, if not, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The question of the grant to the Scottish police of a non-pension- able bonus will be considered by the Police Council in Scotland which will meet on an early date. As regards the last part of my hon. Friend's question, rent allowances are now paid to the police by all Scottish police authorities where free quarters are not provided. No proposals for a general increase of these allowances have so far been submitted to me by police authorities.