asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Lieutenant A. E. Brown, M.C., 2nd/107th Pioneers, Indian Army, was admitted to hospital in Tripoli, Syria, on 16th December, 1918, suffering from enteric fever, was removed to the 19th General Hospital, Alexandria, on 12th January, 1919, and arrived at the 3rd London General Hospital on 6th March, 1919; that he was discharged from hospital on the 17th March, 1919; and that while on sick leave he contracted pneumonia in December, 1919; and whether, in the circumstances, he will consider the possibility of refunding from Army funds the expenses in respect of medical and nurs—ing fees then incurred by him?

I am not aware of this case, but the matter is being investigated, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Lord Privy Seal the approximate cost to the Exchequer which the Defence Force for the 90 days will be; and if all the cost of maintenance will be out of the National Exchequer or part out of the local rates?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer to the answer given by me on the 14th instant to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh (Mr. Hogge). The cost of the Defence Force will be borne by the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the essential public service rendered by those engaged in the retail distribution of food and provisions, he will take steps to exempt from service those Reservists engaged in this work and thus lessen the task of the Government in feeding the people if a general strike should take place?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 14th April to a question on this subject asked by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Torquay (Colonel Burn), to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that extra police have been sent to Abercarn; that this action is arousing indignation among the inhabitants; that members of the Abercarn urban district council have strongly protested against this action of the authorities; and will he therefore order the immediate withdrawal of the police?

I understand that extra police were moved to Abercarn by the Chief Constable as a precautionary measure and that a resolution of protest

PEACE EFFECTIVES OF ARMY Country. Total number laid down by law or Treaty; where not so laid down the total number under arms and paid for in the last available Budget of each Country. Austria … … … … 30,000 Belgium … … … … 105,000 Bulgaria … … … … 33,000 (Includes 10,000 Gendarmes and 3,000 frontier Guards.) Czecho-Slovakia … … … … 147,300 Denmark … … … … 15,400 Finland … … … … 35,000 France … … … … 809,652 Germany … … … … 100,000 Greece … … … … about 250,000 under arms Hungary … … … … 35,000 Italy … … … … 300,000 Netherlands … … … … 21,400 Norway … … … … 15,400 Poland … … … … about 600,000 under arms Portugal … … … … 30,000 Rumania … … … … 160,000 Spain … … … … 190,715 Sweden … … … … 56,200 Switzerland … … … … 200,000 (Includes 184,644 élite, who do a period of annual training for 8 years.) Serb-Croat-Slovene State … … 200,000

asked the Lord Privy Seal when it is proposed to take the further discussion of the Air Estimates, and which Vote is to be put down as a token for that purpose?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a definite statement.

has been passed by the urban district council. The Chief Constable, who is responsible for the maintenance of order in his area, must be free to move the police where he considers their services are most likely to be required, and' it would not be right for me to interfere with his discretion in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War the numbers of the armies of Continental countries?

The following statement shows the numbers of the armies of Continental countries:—

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Neath Board of Guardians have appointed as registrar and clerk two applicants of military age, but without War service; that the members of the Board were not notified that these appointments were to be made, with the result that several were absent from the meeting; and whether, in order that the claims of ex-service men may receive proper consideration, he will make representations to the Board as to the advisability of reconsidering these appointments?

I have already informed the Guardians that I am unable to approve of the salary of a clerk who has been appointed by them without previous advertisement of the vacancy, and requested them to advertise it in the usual course. As regards the registrarship, the Guardians have been pressed to give preference to an ex-service man, but I have no power of disallowing their appointment in this case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that unofficial reports of the disastrous effect on British export trade of the constant labour troubles are coming into this country; whether he has received any such reports; if so, of what nature; and whether he can arrange for the House to be reliably informed on all matters of this importance?

Indications of the injurious influence of industrial disturbances at home upon the demand for British goods in other countries are to be found in reports, both official and unofficial, on market conditions abroad. These reports show that commercial confidence is affected by the fear of future unsettlement, since purchasers naturally give preference, other things being equal, to a market where a stable outlook is assured. Full publicity is given by the Department of Overseas Trade to all important information bearing on the commercial situation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many thousand tons of pig iron were imported into this country of ordinary forget and foundry quality from Belgium and France; and how many blast furnaces have been put out of blast since January, 1921?

The quantity of forge and foundry pig iron imported into this country, consigned from Belgium and France, in 1921, was as follows: January, 13,469 tons; February, 26,478 tons; March, 35,209 tons. The number of furnaces in blast in the United Kingdom at the end of January, 1921, was 242; at the end of February, 193; and at the end of March, 109. By the 12th April this number was reduced to 30.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether an extraordinary general meeting has been called of the British Dyestuffs Corporation, Limited; and whether, if this meeting is held, any instructions will be given as to the casting of the Government votes with regard to the change in the managing directorate of the corporation?

I am informed that no such meeting has been called, and consequently the second part of the question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any advances have been made to the Government to purchase the next Australian wool clip; and whether he can assure the farmers that there is no chance of the re-imposition of wool control?

I have been asked to answer this question. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second part in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the effect of the restriction of the price of lager beer on the home and valuable export trade in that commodity; whether he is aware that lager is more costly to produce, although it has a less alcoholic content, than ordinary beer, and, as a result of the prices being fixed at the same figure, the lager beer trade is being extinguished at home, resulting in the extinction of the export trade which depends on a reasonable amount of home trade to reduce prices in competition with Germany; and whether he will free lager beer from restriction of price and enable the trade to be conducted on commercial lines?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. There are obvious disadvantages in the application of a flat rate based on gravity to beers of which the cost of manufacture varies according to the quality of materials used and the method of storage employed; but I am not clear that raising the permitted price of lager beer would tend to enhance its sale. As stated by the Prime Minister on 21st March, in answer to the hon. Members for East Nottingham (Sir J. D. Rees) and Devizes (Lieut.-Colonel Bell), the Government propose to deal with the whole subject at an early opportunity, when the points raised by my hon. and learned Friend will be duly weighed.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that, as a result of the operation of the German Reparation (Recovery) Act, spelter, sugar, timber, enamel and glass-ware, toys, dyes, and chemicals are no longer being imported from Germany and that supplies of these articles are being diverted to other countries?

I have been asked to reply. I have no detailed information as to the particular articles specified by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any intimation has been received that the German Government intend to repay their manufacturers the sums deducted by British purchasers of German goods under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act; what sums have been received by the Exchequer under that Act; and what is the quantity and/or value of British goods imported during the period since the Act has been in force, and the quantity and/or value of the goods imported from Germany for the corresponding period immediately preceding the Act?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. No part of the receipts has as yet been paid over to the Exchequer, the Act providing that they should be paid in the first instance to a special account. I do not understand the reference in the third part of the question to British goods imported. As regards good imported from Germany, the point which the hon. and gallant Member wishes to elucidate can best be answered by the figures given below. I am not in a position to give figures showing quantities nor yet figures of actual arrivals. The figures of value of imports registered as consigned from Germany to the United Kingdom during the 12 days from 20th to 31st March were £779,991. The corresponding figures for the first 12 days of April were £395,973.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps have been taken to dispose of the 337,000 discharged soldiers' suits which a contractor has failed to take in completion of his contract for 577,000 suits at 45s. per suit; what loss the Government is likely to incur by the contractor failing to fulfil his contractual obligations: whether any part of such loss will be borne by the contractor; and whether the £50,000 deposit, or any portion of it, will be forfeited partially to reimburse the Government for the loss they will sustain in the disposal of the suits?

I have been asked to answer this question. Negotiations on this subject have been proceeding for some time past, but I am not yet in a position to announce a settlement with the contractors.

asked the Prime Minister when a decision will be given as to the future of Upper Silesia as a result of the plebiscite?

The report of the Commission has not yet been received by the Allied Governments, and I can in consequence give no indication as to the date when it will be possible to give a decision.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Tsar, Duma, and Russian Soviet rouble notes held by His Majesty's subjects constitute a part of Russia's external obligations, and, if so, on what exchange basis expressed in English currency?

Rouble notes which do not carry any obligation for their payment in foreign currency clearly do not form part of Russia's external obligations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the names of all Russians who have been granted passport visas under Article 4 of the Russian Trade Agreement?

My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I stated, in answer to the hon. and gallant Member for the Finsbury division (Lieut.-Colonel Archer-Shee) on Thursday last that permission had been given for three Russians to come to the United Kingdom under the Article referred to. The names of these three are Mr. Koudich, Mr. Lomonosoff, and Mrs. Levidoff.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the figures of coal consumption in what is now France before the War and at the present time, stating its origin?

The quantity of coal available for consumption in France (as now defined territorially) in the year 1913 was 71,064,000 metric tons, and in the year 1920, 59,296,000 tons. The quantity of coal actually consumed in 1913 was 73,236,000 tons. The source of origin of these supplies, so far as particulars are available, was as follow: — Year 1913. Year 1920. Metric tons. Metric tons. Home production 43,140,000 23,374,000 Imported from:— Germany: Sarre District Rest of Germany. 11,460,000* 6,059,000 12,345,000 Belgium. 4,399,000 1,302,000 United Kingdom 11,270,000 12,640,000 United States of America. 20,000 2,660,000 * Including 4,608,000 toes imported into Alsace-Lorraine the bulk of which is assumed to have been derived from Germany.

For the purpose of the above statement lignite and coke have been converted to their equivalents in coal.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what expenditure the cost of maintaining the coal control up to 31st August would have involved the State?

I have been asked to reply. The cost to the State of continuing the Coal Mines (Emergency) Act to the 31st August must be conjectural, as it would have depended largely on the course of prices. If prices and costs had been maintained at the March level the cost would have been about £30,000,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of coal exported by the United States to Europe in the first three months of this year and the average price per ton?

The quantity of bituminous coal exported by the United States of America to Europe during January and February of this year amounted to 815,503 tons. The quantity of anthracite exported to Europe during the same period was 1,170 tons. During January the average declared value of the bituminous coal exported to Europe, so far as particulars have been reported, was 8.81 dollars per torn (or 44s. 10d. at current rate of exchange). I have no information regarding the value of the anthracite. I regret to add that no later particulars are available at present.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has completed his inquiries with regard to the Gorton Mount building estate, Manchester; and if he is now in a position to give the cost of these houses built by direct labour as compared with those built by private contract?

I have made further inquiries, and am informed that the local authority have not yet received completed costs of houses erected under contract, and that no houses have yet been finished under their direct labour scheme.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received the Reports of the Tonbridge Council and the Newbury Council on the result of their direct building scheme; and how much is claimed to have been saved on the contractors' estimate?

Preliminary reports have been received as to the cost of a certain number of completed houses. In the case of Tonbridge the reports indicate that there is a substantial saving as compared with similar houses built under contract, but until the accounts have been adjusted the precise figure cannot be stated. The reported cost of the first 20 houses of various types erected at New-bury ranges from £987 to £1,147, the latter figure relating to a large type of house. No houses are being built at Newbury by contract, but the tender submitted in November, 1919, by the Master Builders' Federation was £760 for an average parlour-type house. It must be remembered, however, that increases which have occurred since the date of the tender in cost of labour and materials would have considerably increased this figure.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in connection with the guild tender for the erection of houses under the Heywood Corporation,' he is aware that the price quoted has never been raised with the corporation, either by his Department or the Housing Commissioner; that the tender was £26,000 below that of the Heywood master builders and £16,000 less than that of the other contractor; and whether, in view of these facts, he will explain why the tender would not have been approved in any event?

It is the fact that the guild tender was appreciably lower than the other tenders, though I cannot check the figures given by the hon. Member. The fact remains that all the tenders were too high, and I am still of opinion that lower prices ought to be obtainable for these houses. Officers of my Department have been in communication with the corporation on this aspect of the question.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the delay in the erection of cottages at Ridgmont, Bedfordshire; whether the plans have been passed for the same by the rural district council; and, if so, will he instruct the local authority to speed up the erection of those decided upon, in view of the scarcity of cottage accommodation in that parish?

As a result of inquiries made, I understand that the council are at present concentrating their attention on the erection of houses in other parishes where the need is more urgent, and I am satisfied that this is the right course in the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health whether the General Nursing Council for Scotland has so far refused to consult with the English Council before making rules with respect to conditions of admission to the register, as required by the Scottish Act, Section 3, Sub-section (3); and, if so, whether he will insist on such a consultation so that the English Council may be in a position to present its rules for his approval and to open the register under conditions securing a uniform standard of qualification in all parts of the United Kingdom, as provided in the Nurses Registration Acts?

I understand that the Scottish Nursing Council have not re- fused to consult with the English Council, but that in view of the small number of outstanding points on the rules for the admission of existing nurses to the register, they have suggested that the Conference should be deferred until the draft rules for the admission of future nurses are ready for discussion. In any case, I have no jurisdiction over the Scottish Council, though I am entirely in agreement with the hon. Member as to the importance of securing a uniform standard of registration in all parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the greatly increased rates of interest now payable on Government securities as compared with those obtainable before the War, any increase will be made in the 2½ per cent, now payable on deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank so as to encourage small depositors to use these facilities rather than to be tempted by higher rates to put their money on deposit on more speculative conditions?

As has been frequently stated, it is not proposed to introduce legislation to raise the rate of interest payable to depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank. My hon. and gallant Friend will find some of the reasons against so doing in the Report of the Committee on War Loans for Small Investors (Cd. Paper 8179 of 1916).

asked the Prime Minister if, before the House adjourns for the week, he can make any statement as to the measures to be taken for ensuring the food supply of the community and also for the carriage of the mails?

All available means of transport will be utilised for the conveyance of mails subject to the prior requirements of food distribution.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will assist the Ecclesfield Parish Council in obtaining a Sunday delivery and despatch of letters for Ecclesfield, as at present there is neither, several applications having been made to the general postmaster at Sheffield without success?

If the Ecclesfield Parish Council pass a resolution in favour of a Sunday delivery and despatch of letters and furnish an assurance that the resolution represents the substantially unanimous desire of the inhabitants, I will consider the application, but I can give no pledge of compliance.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any consideration has been given to the effect on the health of young children as the result of the operation of the Daylight Saving Act: whether the earlier hours of attendance at school and the consequently prolonged day reducing their hours of sleep has had any injurious effect; and, if so, what steps does he propose to take in the matter?

I cannot add anything to the summary contained in Paragraphs 32 to 36 of the Report of the Summer Time Committee, 1917 [Cd. 8487]. I will, however, ask the local education authorities to make arrangements for observing the effect of the Summer Time Act on the health of the school children in their areas this year. But, as the hon. Member is aware, the matter is primarily one of parental supervision.

asked the Minister of Transport how many official motor vehicles have been exempted from the payment of taxation, differentiating between light and heavy vehicles, and stating, if possible, what extra sum would accrue if all exemption from taxation were withdrawn; and whether any estimate can be given of the approximate annual mileage covered by these vehicles?

The particulars asked for are not at present available, but I have caused returns to be called for from all registration authorities. I am sending a copy of the form of return to my Noble Friend, who will, perhaps, put down a further question on the subject in about a fortnight's time.

asked the Minister of Transport by what date will local authorities throughout Scotland be informed as to the final decision of the Ministry regarding the classification of roads in the various county and burgh areas; whether, in the event of a road in one county passing into another county area and being classified differently the Minister will consider the representations of county authorities; and whether all the money collected for the year 1919–20 has been distributed, and in what proportion did the road authorities in Scotland receive grants to those in England and Wales?

The provisional classification of roads in Scotland is completed and is in process of indication to the highway authorities concerned. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, no moneys on account of motor spirit-duties and carriage licences were paid to the Road Fund during 1919–20, as all collections up to 31st March, 1920, were retained by the Exchequer. The grants made during 1919–20 to local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland are summarised in the table on page 5 of the Tenth Annual Report of the Road Improvement Fund, House of Commons Paper, No. 10, 1921.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any information in regard to statements which have appeared in the Press reporting serious insubordination in a Sikh regiment at Amritsar, in consequence of- which the unit has been disbanded after 18 persons had been shot dead; and whether, if there is no truth in the statement, he will take steps to discover the source from which the report emanated?

I have received a telegram from the Government of India, which states that there is not the slightest foundation of fact for the report to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, and that no incident of this kind has occurred. As regards the last part of the question, the Government of India are already taking steps.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, in connection with an Income Tax appeal at Marlborough recently, where it was decided to have an account prepared from the bank pass books, the Inspector of Taxes insisted upon the account being prepared by a chartered accountant, although the solicitor in the case objected, and expressed the desire to employ an accountant who is a Fellow of the Central Association of Accountants (Incorporated); and whether, in view of the fact that the Income Tax Acts provide that such accounts shall be prepared by a member of an incorporated society, he will instruct the Inspector of Taxes that the services of a chartered accountant are not essential?

I am having inquiry made into the matter to which the hon. Member refers, and will communicate with him as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the alterations proposed in Clauses 7 to 18 of the Revenue Bill now before Parliament will mean an increase or a reduction in staff or cost of working; and, if so, what will be the estimated amount of such increase or decrease?

The Clauses in question will enable the clerical and routine work in connection with the administration of the Income Tax to be carried out in far more businesslike conditions than are now possible, and will for this reason not only increase the efficiency of the Income Tax machine, but also produce an economy in the Inland Revenue Vote, which, though small at first, will be progressive and ultimately very substantial.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of the grant to the Empire Parliamentary Association, and under what Vote it appears?

The annual grant of £5,000 to the Empire Parliamentary Association is provided on the Miscellaneous Expenses Vote, Civil Service Estimates, Class VI, Vote 5, Subhead J.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the net receipts for duties on imported cigars for the financial years 1918–19, 1919–20, and 1920–21, respectively?

The amount of the net receipts for duties on imported cigars for each of the financial years in question was:— Revenue. Financial year ended £ 31st March, 1919 594,000 31st March, 1920 859,000 31st March, 1921 325,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the value of the imports of cigars from Cuba for the three months ended 31st March, 1920, was £650,788, and for the three months ended 31st March, 1921, was only £17,625; and whether he can explain the enormous falling off in the imports?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the causes of the decline I would ask my hon. Friend to await the Budget discussions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he will publish the next issue of the annual Return of expenditure from rates and taxes under certain Acts of Parliament on various forms of public assistance (in continuance of Parliamentary Paper, No. 160, of Session 1920)?

I hope to publish the next issue of this Return towards the end of the current Session.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the next issue of the annual Return of expenditure from rates and taxes under certain Acts of Parliament on public assistance, in continuance of Parliamentary Paper, No. 160, of 1920, he will give estimates of future expenditure from rates and taxes under different Acts on the Schedule, the administrative expenditure for smaller districts than England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, of counties, county boroughs, and boroughs, so as to set up some standard of administrative cost, and the beneficiaries under these Acts by family units in certain typical districts, so as to show the receipts of families and the extent of overlapping?

I regret that it would not be possible to amplify this Return in the manner suggested without incurring disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the numerical strength of the official element in the Uganda Legislative Council and how many of these officials are Indians; what are the respective numbers of the European' and Indian communities in Uganda; and what are the relative contributions of the two communities to the revenue of the Protectorate; in whose hands is the bulk of the trade of the country; whether he will re-examine the respective interests of the two communities with a view of ascertaining how far the inferior representation offered to Indians in the Council was justified; and whether the refusal of the Indians to cooperate in the work of the Council on the lines laid down was due to the fact that those lines were unduly narrow and took no account of the numerical, financial, and commercial position of the Indian community?

There are three ex-officio members of the Legislative Council of Uganda, all Europeans, but the Secretary of State has not yet received the Governor's recommendations as to the appointment of nominated official members in addition to them. The latest figures of population in my possession are, Europeans, 847; Asiatics, 3,516. I am unable to state the relative contributions to the revenue of the country, or whether the bulk of the trade is in the hands of Europeans or Indians. While the European unofficial members have been selected from the point of view of their personal suitability, and not as representing particular interests, there can be no doubt that European interests are wider than those of Indians in character, especially as regards the planting and missionary interests, and in geographical distribution. I have no doubt that my hon. Friend has correctly described the grounds on which the Indians have refused to co-operate in the work of the Council, but, as has been previously explained, the Secretary of State is reluctant to carry the matter further until they have shown their willingness to avail themselves of the representation recommended by the Governor and adopted by his predecessor.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a statement of the Animal Defence and Anti-vivisection Society, dated! March, 1921, in which it is alleged that horses which have been exported to Belgium are killed in the most inhuman manner; and whether it is possible for him to communicate with the Belgian authorities with a view to adequate supervision being exercised or, in the alternative, to take steps to stop traffic in old horses altogether?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on the 12th instant to the hon. Members for York (Sir J. Butcher), South Kensington (Sir W. Davison), and Acton (Sir H. Brittain).