asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if, owing to the Ministry of Mines having withheld the second moiety of a sum of £5,000, the Glendalough lead mine has had to dismiss some of its workers and will, at the end of this month, be compelled to dismiss those now remaining, thus causing serious unemployment; that this mine has already produced over 40,000 tons of dressed lead ore and about 83 per cent. of the total Irish lead production of the past 60 years, and that during this month good ore was being found; and, in view of the desirability of encouraging this Irish industry and not causing further unemployment and unrest, will he consider whether there is no fund applicable to Irish needs upon which he can draw in order to keep this small but genuine industry alive?

I am not aware that the withholding of the second moiety under the terms of the agreement made between the Ministry of Munitions and the Glendalough Mines is the cause of the closing of their mine. I understand that not only in the United Kingdom but in other lead-producing countries work in lead mines has recently stopped owing to economic factors of which the low price of lead and the high cost of production are the chief. If my hon. Friend desires to obtain further information in regard to this matter, I would suggest that he should communicate with my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines.

asked the Chief Secretary whether three members of the forces of the Crown in Ireland have been arrested and charged with the murder of James Murphy and Patrick Kennedy, while forming an escort to these men from Dublin Castle to their homes in Dublin; how many members of the forces of the Crown formed the remainder of this escort; and why they were not arrested?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, in reply to previous question, I am unable to make any statement bearing on the facts of this case, which is at present sub judice . Three men have been arrested, and are awaiting trial for murder.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received the finding of the military inquiry on the death of John M'Cabe in Dundalk prison; whether evidence was given by a head constable that on arrival at the barracks no trace of wound could be found on him; whether the prison surgeon gave evidence that death was caused by septic peritonitis due to a small punctured wound in deceased's side caused by some sharp instrument; and what was the result of the inquiry?

The finding of the Court was that M'Cabe died of general peritonitis caused by penetration of a sharp instrument into the abdomen. The evidence showed that the deceased, having murdered one man and wounded another at Clones, barricaded himself in his house. On breaking in, the police found him in a room with the blinds down, armed with a pitchfork, with which he savagely attacked them. A severe struggle took place, but in the darkness of the room it was impossible for the police to see everything that occurred. When M'Cabe was overpowered and disarmed he walked without any difficulty to the barracks. At the barracks he stated that he had been wounded in the leg; but no trace of any wound other than a scratch on the thigh could be found on his legs. On arrival at the prison next day he was stripped, examined, and bathed. The wound was then discovered. He was immediately taken to hospital, where he died the next day.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Captain J. L. Hardy was recently arrested, placed in a cell in Dublin Castle, and is now under open arrest; whether Major King, lately commanding F Company of the auxiliary division of the Royal Irish Constabulary, is under arrest in connection with the deaths of two men named R. McKee and P. Clancy; and whether these officers are to be brought to trial?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to a similar question put to me on Thursday last by the hon. Member for the Abertillery Division (Mr. Barker). As I then explained, as a court martial has been ordered I am unable for the present to make any statement bearing on the case.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mr. Le Fluffy, accountant in Messrs. Beamish and Crawford's brewery, Cork, was arrested some weeks ago and tried for being in possession of a loaded revolver; whether he is now at liberty; and why has the law not been enforced in his case?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Court convicted the accused, and fined him £10. Having paid the fine, he is now at liberty.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware of the conditions obtaining in the Irish prisons service consequent on the depletion of the permanent staff of discipline officers, which is considerably less than it was in pre-War days, and the responsibility thrown on the permanent staff by the employment of a number of temporary officers; and whether he will see to it that the permanent staff is increased to the complement of pre-War days?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Rothwell Division of Yorks West Riding (Mr. Lunn) on the 24th ultimo. The subject referred to in the present question will be considered at the forthcoming conference with the Prison Officers Representative Council.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can consider the possibility of closing the banks on the Saturday following Good Friday?

I am not prepared to propose an extra Bank Holiday on Easter Saturday.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government hold voting control over the Anglo-Persian Oil Company; what proportion of the ordinary shares stand in the name of His Majesty's Government, and what proportion of the preference shares with voting power stand in their name, including the share of the present issue; and, if they are at present in voting control, will they see that that control is not allowed to lapse?

The answer to the first and last parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question His Majesty's Government hold two-thirds of the ordinary shares, and 1,000 preference shares out of a total of 8,500,000. The ordinary shares carry two votes each. The preference shares carry one vote to five shares.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that, in consequence of the 50 per cent. ad valorem duty imposed on Havana cigars, cigar merchants can no longer derive any profit from the importation of cigars; and whether the Revenue has derived any benefit from this tax?

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on the 8th instant on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a joint request from the manufacturers of cigars and the workmen employed in this industry for an interview to place before him the present condition of the trade, which has resulted in more than 50 per cent. of the workmen being thrown out of employment, and to submit certain proposals regarding the incidence of taxation, which would be of temporary relief to the industry and of no disadvantage to the Exchequer; and whether, in view of the excessive unemployment referred to, he will receive the deputation and give consideration to their proposals?

The British manufacturers of cigars and their workpeople applied to me to receive a deputation as stated in the question. I asked them in view of the pressure on my time to state their case in writing. This they have now done. Briefly their desire is to see the 50 per cent. ad valorem duty retained. I shall give full consideration to these views when considering the matter in connection with the Budget.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many square yards of oilcloth were exported to Russia from this country during 1920?

In the trade returns of the year 1920, Russia is taken as including all the territory of the former Russian Empire. The quantity of oilcloth of British manufacture exported from the United Kingdom, consigned to Russia during 1920, amounted to 304,600 square yards, and that of foreign and Colonial manufacture 206 square yards. In addition, 124,300 square yards of linoleum of British manufacture were consigned from the United Kingdom to Russia during this period. The great bulk of these goods were in fact exported to the Baltic States.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if a number of chemical glassware manufacturers have been keeping their works open relying upon the hope of a Key Industries Bill being introduced as a first measure of this Session, and are now greatly discouraged by the delay in introducing such a Bill; and whether he can give an assurance that the Bill will be pushed forward as soon as the pressure of financial business permits of time for dealing with legislation?

I am aware of the serious position of manufacturers of chemical glassware. As regards the second part of the question, I would remind my hon. Friend of the statement recently made on behalf of the Government in this House that the Bill for the safeguarding of industries will be introduced and proceeded with as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is intended to hold a conference of members of the Central Profiteering Committee to consider the value or otherwise of the middlemen; whether the various Committees on profiteering have found that the retail traders of this country are in very few cases the culprits; and whether he can give an undertaking that retail traders will not be harassed and interfered with further by his Department?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Kincardine (Lieut.-Colonel A. Murray) on the 21st February, a copy of which I am sending him. Upon the whole, Committees established under the Profiteering Acts have not found profiteering prevalent either amongst wholesalers or retailers, but I believe that the suggestion that retail traders have been harassed and interfered with is greatly exaggerated.

asked the First Commissioner of Works why, if the work of of his Department has increased 200 per cent., it is necessary to increase his staff by 300 per cent.?

I do not understand on what basis the hon. Member has made his calculations, as if he will refer to my answer to his question on the 24th February he will see that the staff has increased by 162·16 per cent. instead of 300 per cent., as suggested.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that the temporary huts, especially those round the statues of Sir Bartle Frere, General Outram, and Professor Tyndall, that were built in 1915 over the ground on the Embankment, formerly used for public flower gardens of exceptional beauty, are now occupied by very few assistants, whose work appears negligible; and, in view of these huts being one of the most unsightly objects in London, scarcely used and a source of waste, will he give directions for their immediate removal with a view to the Embankment gardens being restored for the use and enjoyment of the public?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question addressed to me on the 8th instant by the Noble and gallant Viscount the Member for Battersea South (Viscount Curzon), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of the staff now employed at the Board of Trade, including the Mines Department and Bankruptcy Department; whether there has been any increase in the number since 1st January last; and, if so, to what causes this increase is attributable?

The staff employed at 1st March was 5,503. This figure shows a decrease of 48 on the number employed at 1st January last. But for the expansion of the work and staff of the Clearing Office for Enemy Debts the reduction would be much larger.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will exercise his over-riding authority under the Lytton Report to rule that no disturbance of existing staffs takes place in the audit sections, in view of the excellent record of the present staff; that they are dependent upon earnings; and that the substitution committee concerned expressed considerable hesitation about the advisability of such substitution?

My right hon. Friend is not prepared to retain women on this work. As I informed the hon. Member on the 9th instant, I propose to offer to the women who are now doing the work employment in a woman's branch of the Ministry as men become qualified to take their places.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many medical officers are employed by his Department; what their daily hours of work are; how many equipped beds the Ministry have in hospitals; the number now occupied; and what the total annual cost per bed is, inclusive of all charges?

There are 325 whole-time administrative medical officers, whose hours are 44 per week, and 274 whole-time institutional medical officers who are employed upon no fixed hours, being liable for duty at any time. There are also 251 part-time medical officers whose hours of employment average twelve weekly. Members of medical boards are drawn from a panel of 4,462 doctors, who are employed, as required, on a sessional basis. The Ministry also make use of specialists and medical referees, numbering 3,616, who are paid by fee for examination and report. The number of equipped beds in hospitals is 12,976, of which 10,995 were occupied at the date of the last return. The total annual cost per bed averages £175.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is the case that the services of the woman adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture are about to be dispensed with; what are the reasons for this step; and whether this is the only woman on the administrative side of the Ministry of Agriculture, which has to deal with matters affecting the well-being of many hundreds of thousands of women workers?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirma- tive. The post is being abolished in the interests of economy and because the greater part of the work on which the woman adviser has been engaged during the past year has come to an end. I may add that the Select Committee on National Expenditure in their Seventh Report recommended that the post should not be continued after the present financial year. With regard to the last part of the question, I may point out that there are at least two women members on each County Agricultural Committee in England and Wales, and that, while the Ministry would have been glad to retain the services of a woman adviser at headquarters, there is no reason to suppose that the welfare of women land workers will not be safeguarded by the women members of the County Committees. I may add that women are also represented on the Councils of Agriculture for England and Wales and on the Agricultural Advisory Committee set up under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Act.

asked the Minister of Labour in what trades and departments of trade, retail and wholesale, he is at the present time considering the establishment of new trade boards, and how far the preliminary proceedings for such establishment have progressed in each case; what are the grounds upon which, in each case, it is proposed to establish such a board; what additional officials the establishment of such boards will involve; and what will be the total additional expenditure of public money resulting therefrom?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the replies given to the hon. and gallant Member for Hulme (Major Nall) and the hon. Member for Islington South (Mr. Higham) on 2nd March and 9th March, respectively. The matter is under consideration, and I hope to send my hon. and learned Friend the list and information he asks for in a day or two's time. In any case, any additional expenditure possibly involved would be comparatively small.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the long delays in forwarding the authorisation of association claims to the unions concerned; and, in view of the present trade depression, will he consider the advisability of increasing the staff to deal with the extra work involved and so obviate any delay in issuing authorisation of these claims?

My hon. Friend has drawn attention to three specific cases of alleged delay in forwarding authorisation of claims made by members of his association. The claims were made on 6th December. Authority was sent to the association in two of the cases on 15th December, and in the third case on 23rd December. I am aware that there was a certain amount of delay during the extremely heavy pressure which followed the commencement of the Unemployment Insurance Act of last Session. I am very anxious that no avoidable delay shall occur, and I hope that the steps which have been taken to prevent it will be effective.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give a comparative statement, based on the latest returns available, of the state of unemployment in France, in America, in Italy, and in the United Kingdom?

Existing official computations for measuring the volume of unemployment differ too much in scope and method to permit of their being combined in a comparative statement intended to exhibit the relative intensity of the present industrial crisis in different countries.

The following statement, however, shows the most recent authoritative figures available for each of the countries named by my hon. and gallant Friend:

1. United Kingdom .

On the 25th February there were in the United Kingdom 1,223,000 persons registered at the employment exchanges as totally unemployed, and 740,000 were drawing benefit in respect of short time under the Unemployment Insurance Act.

In industries employing about 12,000,000 workpeople covered by the Unemployment Insurance Act, the proportion totally unemployed at 28th January was 8·2 per cent.

2. France .

In France there are no complete statistics of unemployment. On 11th February, during a sitting of the Chamber, the Minister of Labour, M. Daniel Vincent, estimated the number of totally unemployed persons in the whole country as being from 100,000 to 120,000. Figures relating to partial unemployment are not obtainable.

It may be observed that in France the work of reconstruction in the devastated provinces, the existence of a large standing army, and the large number of small holdings and peasant proprietors would tend to reduce the volume of unemployed industrial workers.

3. Italy .

The most recent figure published by the Italian Ministry of Labour with reference to the number of totally unemployed workers relates to the end of October, 1920, and is given in the Official Journal " Mercato del Lavoro ," issued on 31st December, 1920.

It is computed from returns furnished to the National Employment Department, under the Italian Unemployment Insurance Law, and is as low as 100,758.

4. United States .

The Department of Labour has calculated the decrease since January, 1920, in the number of persons employed in "Mechanical Industry" in 35 States at, approximately, 3,500,000, or 36·9 per cent. In the State of Massachusetts the proportion of trade unionists returned as unemployed at the end of December was 28·9 per cent.—the highest ever recorded.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the detailed returns of unemployment for the area covered by the East Barnet Valley Urban District Council for the years 1913, 1914, 1919, 1920, and for the last available period this year?

I regret that figures are not available for the year 1913 and 1914, and for the later years statistics are available only for the Barnet branch office of the Finchley Employment Exchange, the area of which is not coterminous with that of the East Barnet Valley Urban District Council. The number of men and women on the live registers of this branch office at quarterly intervals for the period 1919–1921 is as under:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of Excess Profits Duty in assessment but unpaid at 1st January, 1921?

The amount of Excess Profits Duty (including munitions levy) in assessment, less sums shown due to be remitted, at 31st December, 1920, was £295,000,000. But duty in assessment is a technical term, and I must warn the hon. Member against supposing that it is the same thing as the amount of tax due or likely to become due on the accounts in question. Part of this sum was not then due. Part is being collected by instalments, and payment of a considerable portion is in suspense, pending the settlement of appeals and other questions which cannot yet be determined, and it must be anticipated that upon the final adjustment of liabilities the total figure in assessment will be very substantially reduced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the Excess Profits Duty that has been paid since its imposition in 1915 and up to January, 1921?

The amount of Excess Profits Duty (including munitions levy) paid into the Exchequer from its imposition in 1915 up to the 12th February last is £1,121,602,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds the Government appropriated moneys in the hands of Messrs. Schroder before Bulgaria entered the war for payments due on Bulgarian 4½ per cent. 1909 loan before Bulgaria entered the war; and whether such dividends will now be paid with interest to date to all British nationals?

It is a well recognised principle of law that the assets of a belligerent State found in the territory of its adversary at the outbreak of war is forfeit to the adversary State and the money in question accordingly became forfeit to the Crown on the declaration of war by Bulgaria. British holders of bonds of the Bulgarian loans entitled to claim payment of coupons should communicate with the Administrator of Bulgarian property, Cornwall House, Stamford Street, S.E.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses for the working classes have been built, respectively, by municipal authorities, by private persons under the subsidy, and by the Office of Works on behalf of the municipal authorities; and, in addition, how many are in course of erection and in respect of how many have contracts been entered into under each of the headings, respectively?

Up to the 1st March, the latest date for which complete figures are available, 33,282 houses had been completed, of which 21,503 had been built by local authorities and public utility societies, 902 by the Office of Works on behalf of local authorities, and 10,877 by private builders under the subsidy scheme. In addition 64,141 municipal houses were in various stages of construction, of which 1,284 were being erected by the Office of Works. A further 65,442 houses were included in signed contracts, of which 3,345 were being executed by the Office of Works. As regards houses under the subsidy scheme, 19,849 have received provisional approval in addition to those completed, but I cannot say definitely how many of these are actually in course of erection.

asked the Minister of Health if the Haslingden guardians applied for sanction to an increase of salary to Mrs. M. E. Smith, assistant relieving officer, lady visitor, etc., of £20 per annum, which they had granted her on the 5th May, 1920; and whether such sanction was sought and given with any qualifications relating to payment of war bonus awards?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative; but I understand that the guardians contend that the increase of salary was intended to anticipate a new bonus award.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can give the House any information as to the modification of the Sevres Treaty; and whether the India Office has been consulted respecting this modification?

The proposed modifications were submitted to the Turkish and Greek delegations on Saturday and have already been published. The British delegates were in full possession of the views of India on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in a number of cases German manufacturers have demanded from importers in this country irrevocable credit before delivery of goods; and whether, in order to protect from loss English merchants and importers who have paid for German goods not yet delivered, the proposed 50 per cent. charges on German exports will only operate for new business and not for contracts already made?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the text of the Bill which is down for Second Reading to-day, and especially to Sub-clause 5 of Clause 3, where provision is made to meet the case raised.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the undertaking of the Turkish Government as to the return of prisoners includes girls and women carried away by Turks and placed in harems; and whether in fact all such captured women have now been returned to their own people?

I am not aware to what undertaking the hon. Member refers. Negotiations are proceeding with the Turkish Government as to the exchange of prisoners of war, and it is hoped that they will lead to a practical result. But I am not at present in a position to make a more definite statement

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether we are still paying any sums for the maintenance of Russian refugees at Constantinople or elsewhere?

I am unable to add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for East Nottingham (Sir J. D. Rees) on 24th, February.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has received representations from the Manchester Guardian Society for the Protection of Trade protesting against the proposed railway classification to be submitted by the railway companies to the Rates Advisory Committee; is he aware that merchants and manufacturers do not approve of the proposed classification; and will he take evidence from representative organisations of trades as to the effects it will have upon trade and commerce?

I have not received the representations referred to. Such representations should be sent not to me, but to the statutory body appointed by Parliament, namely, the Rates Advisory Committee, which will forward any complaints received in regard to the proposed classification to the railway companies. It is understood that meetings will then be arranged, if necessary, by the companies with representative organisations of the trade concerned. If by this means agreement cannot be reached, the matter will be brought forward at the public inquiry which will be held by the Rates Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the refusal of the directors of the South Eastern Railway to reopen stations within the metropolitan area, closed during the War period through shortage of labour, which has inflicted considerable inconvenience upon large numbers of traders and workpeople, has recently been considered by his Department; whether the control exercised by the Ministry over the railways is nominal rather than actual; and whether he is prepared to make further representations to the directors with a view to the stations in question being reopened?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The powers of control are laid down in the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, and within the limits therein laid down are actual and not nominal. The possible reopening of the stations referred to has been very fully considered, and I beg to refer my right hon. Friend to an answer given on this matter to the hon. and learned Member for Rotherhithe (Mr. Lort-Williams) on the 22nd December last, of which I am sending him a copy. The real crux of the position is that neither the London County Council nor the South Eastern Railway Company wish, especially at the present time, to undertake unremunerative services, and I believe I am interpreting the view not only of the Government, but of this House and the country in not pressing them to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the Joint Roads Board still holds the lease of any stone quarry or quarries in Dorset; whether the large stock of stone obtained therefrom has been disposed of; and, if so, the prices obtained for it?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to a quarry in Dorsetshire taken over by the military authorities towards the close of 1918. This property was, I believe, returned to the owners early in 1919, before the Ministry of Transport took over the functions of the Joint Roads Committee. For any information with regard to the terms made with the owners I would refer my hon. Friend to the Secretary of State for War.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if black currant trees are being imported from Holland; and, if so, are they being inspected for big-bud, and have any been found to be infected?

Considerable importations of black currant bushes come to this country from Holland. Up to the present no measures have been taken to inspect living plants coming to the United Kingdom from other countries, but the Ministry has under consideration the issue of an Order under which the entry of stock affected by disease could be checked. The urgency for economy at the present time must largely determine the action of the Ministry in this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by residents at Clipstone, near Market Harborough, to secure small holdings and allotments; whether, seeing that the local councils have had the matter under consideration for some considerable time and that the Commission has visited the place and investigated, he can now give a decision; and whether, as the land in question, unless it is immediately available, can be of little service this season, he will expedite the granting of the same?

As a result of the Ministry's representations, a Sub-committee of the Small Holdings Committee of the Northampton County Council recently held an interview at Clipstone with regard to the demand for land in that parish, and the report of the Sub-committee will be discussed at the next meeting of the Small Holdings Committee. The Ministry has instructed the District Commissioner to press for this meeting to be held at once. The decisions arrived at will be communicated to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will consult with the Belgian Government in a joint attempt to humanise the preventable cruelties now associated with the export of worn-out horses?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Barnard Castle (Mr. Swan) on the 7h inst. In considering how the conditions under which the trade is conducted can be improved, the hon. Member's suggestion of a consultation with the Belgian Government will be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if any seed potatoes of Arran Victory are to be sent to Australia; if so, from where; and who is arranging the shipment?

The Ministry was asked by a firm of seed growers in Australia to send supplies of Arran Victory potatoes, and endeavoured to make the necessary arrangements. Owing, however, to the stringent regulations governing the importation of living plants into Australia, it was not found possible to give a certificate of health for potatoes grown in any part of the United Kingdom which would comply with these regulations, and consequently the export could not be made.

asked the Ministry of Pensions if he is aware that the mother of Joseph Barber, No. 681246 1/22nd London Regiment, who enlisted in April, 1915, and was so seriously wounded that he was detained in hospital for two and a half years, and was only discharged on 11th August, 1920, was deprived of supplementary allowance granted to her under Part II of the Regulations of the Special Grants Committee as from 30th June, 1020; on what grounds the family of a man who has suffered so severely from war service was deprived of assistance, which has since been reissued to families of men still in hospital; and whether he is aware that assistance had to be given from private sources?

In view of the substantial increases in Army pay and allowances, the Government decided that supplementary allowances to the wives and families of serving soldiers were to be discontinued after 30th June, 1920. At a later date, subsequent to this man's discharge, the allowances were resumed for certain cases, but without retrospective effect, and I regret, therefore, that I cannot authorise their issue for the period of six weeks from 30th June until discharge.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the case of the two ex-service men about to be discharged from the Stationery Office has been referred to the Joint Substitution Board; and, if so, what recommendation has been made by that Board?

The decision to discharge the two ex-service men referred to, the grounds for which were fully explained to my right hon. Friend in my reply to his question on the 10th instant, was not one on which it was necessary to consult the Joint Substitution Board, as the particular question involved did not fall within the jurisdiction of that body. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, with a view to the provision of additional employment in the permanent Civil Service for young men discharged from the forces at the conclusion of the late War, the Treasury have yet in contemplation the granting to any existing member of the permanent Civil Service facilities for voluntary retirement before attaining the age of 60 on such superannuation allowance as would have accrued were his retirement solely due to abolition of office; and, if not, whether advantage will now be taken of such an exceptional opportunity of making permanent provision for an increasing number of highly deserving ex-service men and thus help still further to lessen the volume of unemployment still existing?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Such an arrangement could not be adopted without amending the Superannuation Acts, and in view of the increase of non-effective expenditure which would be involved the Treasury is unable to contemplate the introduction of legislation for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men in receipt of disability pensions are being refused re-enlistment into corps such as the Army Pay Corps, the Navy and Army Canteen Board, etc., although passed physically fit for such occupation, unless they consent to forego their pensions; whether, in view of the constant appeals made to employers to employ discharged disabled men, it is not desirable that the Government should set the example of doing so itself whenever practicable; and whether he will give instructions that the enlistment of men for sedentary occupations should depend solely on their physical fitness for the work for which they are required without regard to any pension earned through war service?

It has been decided, after very careful consideration, that men in receipt of disability pensions cannot be accepted for re-enlistment into the Army, and the hon. Member is misinformed in suggesting that such men are being accepted provided they consent to forego their pension.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the present pay for members of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service is at the rate of £60 to £65 for a staff nurse and £75 to £85 for a sister; and whether he will consider the desirability of revising this scale of pay, with a view to continuing to attract the type of woman required if the high standard of this branch of the service is to be maintained?

The scales of pay and other emoluments of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service were revised in August last after very full consideration and I am not aware of any new grounds for re-opening the question at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a certain number of Englishmen, who came back to this country to serve in 1914 have not been reimbursed their out-of-pocket travelling expenses because they omitted to read or obtain certain Army orders limiting the date of application for refund; and if he will consider these cases?

The conditions under which such refunds were granted were published and re-published in Army Orders. Cases such as those referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend have received the fullest consideration, and I regret that no further extension of the published conditions can be sanctioned.

asked the Prime Minister whether the reinforcement of troops for the Army of Occupation in Germany which has recently been decided on will add to the Army Estimates?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to the oral reply to-day to a question on this subject put by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy).

asked the Prime Minister the total cost of the Army of Occupation in Germany and the amount received from Germany on this account?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. The total cost of the Army of Occupation in Germany, up to the 31st December, 1920, was approximately £51,900,000. The amount received by the War Office from Germany on this account is 376,000,000 marks in supplies of local currency for the current needs of the force. As to any other receipts, I must refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give an approximate date when the remaining portion of that part of Wimbledon Common which is used as a military camp will be evacuated, and the common restored to the public?

It is hoped to move during the spring one of the battalions of Guards at present accommodated at Wimbledon Common. The move of the other battalion is dependent on the completion of the reconstruction and renovation of Wellington Barracks, and it is anticipated that this will take about two years.

asked the Secretary of State for War what were the strengths of the senior ten yeomanry regiments, selected to remain as cavalry, on 1st December, 1920?

The strengths (excluding permanent staff) on 1st December, 1920, of the ten yeomanry regiments referred to were:

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, before the Navy Estimates are introduced, a table can be made available to Members showing the comparative strength of the navies of the United States of America, Japan, and the British Empire, to-day, in 1924, and 1925, in ships of all kinds, sub-divided into the various classes and distinguishing between ships embodying the lessons of the War and those built or designed prior to this period if the present programmes are carried to completion, and allotting to them a figure showing the comparative value of each where battleships and battle cruisers are concerned?

As I promised my Noble and gallant Friend in reply to his question on the 9th instant, a table showing the comparative strengths of the navies of the principal naval Powers at the present time is subjoined. In this table A denotes ships which, owing to their date, may be considered to embody lessons of the War. B indicates ships built or designed prior to this period. For battleships and battle cruisers B is divided into B1, Dreadnoughts; and B2, pre-Dreadnoughts.

I would again point out that it is not possible to forecast the relative strength in 1924–1925, as this depends not only on the progress made in the respective building programmes, but also upon the removal of older ships from the effective list.

As regards the latter part of the question, it is not considered desirable in the public interest to attempt to give an estimate of comparative values as suggested.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if, in view of the fact that a certain rating of the Portsmouth Division, without any assistance from the service, has been successful in passing the required examination of the Pharmaceutical Society, and that such ratings would be of material assistance in the dispensaries of the various home hospitals that are notoriously understaffed, and could, at very little expense, attend the classes at the local municipal colleges, their Lord- ships will consider the advisability of allowing selected sick-berth ratings, as recommended by the Welfare Committee of 1919, opportunities to educate themselves with a view to qualifying as pharmacists?

It was decided, on a request to this effect made to the Welfare Committee, that the proposal is impracticable. The matter has again been considered, and no reason is seen at present to depart from that decision. I am afraid that I cannot accept the suggestion in the question that the home hospital dispensaries are understaffed.