asked the Chief Secretary if, in view of the use that is made all over the world for propaganda purposes of questions on Ireland put in this House, he can state what percentage, or approximate percentage, of these questions prove on investigation to have any foundation in fact; and how many of them, unfortunately already disseminated broadcast, turn out to be false, and a libel on the forces of the Crown?

My right hon. Friend would be glad to be spared the invidious task of making these calculations, especially as I must assume that all questions, including very many which reproduce allegations that prove on enquiry to be wholly unfounded, are put with the sole object of eliciting the truth.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any representations have been made to the Government as to the inadequacy of the fees payable to superintendent-registrars and registrars of births, deaths, and marriages in Ire- land; whether these fees were fixed in 1863; and whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill during the present Session of Parliament to increase the fees?

There is a primâ facie case for giving some increase, but the Ministry of Health in England have refused to introduce a Bill. This matter is one with which the Irish Parliaments when constituted could deal.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether superintendent registrars of births, deaths, and marriages in Ireland have made representations to the Government as to the inadequacy of the fee fixed by the Treasury for indexing register books of births, deaths, and marriages; whether he is aware that the existing fee is 7s. per book of 500 names; whether the indexes have to be prepared and copied in strict alphabetical order; whether the clerical work involved requires from two to three days per book to accomplish; and whether it is proposed to increase the fee to such a figure as will allow reasonable remuneration to these public officials for performing this work?

No such representations have been made to the Treasury, but I understand that certain proposals have been submitted to the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to whom I would suggest a question might be addressed.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the result of the official inquiry into the murders of William Loughnane and Laurence Hickley and the attempted murder on the same occasion of men named Regan, Griffin, Leahy, and Lupton, all of Thurles?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to this question when put by the hon. Member for the Pontypool Division (Mr. T. Griffiths) on the 13th ultimo.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mr. Thomas M'Grath, a farmer, was killed by a party of the Crown forces at Glandree, County Limerick, on 25th April; whether an inquiry has been held; and with what results?

I have not yet received the report of the Court of Inquiry in lieu of Inquest in this case. If the hon. Member will repeat the question on Thursday of next week, I hope then to be in a position to furnish him with a reply.

asked the Prime Minister the functions and objects of the censorship of Press reports from Ireland?

There is no regular civil or military censorship of the Press in Ireland, but at the time of the Proclamation of Martial Law in December last, notice was given that the Press in the martial-law area would not be interfered with so long as nothing was published calculated to cause disaffection among His Majesty's subjects or to interfere with the enforcement of martial law.

asked the Chief Secretary the rank held by the police officer who ordered the destruction of property at Westport on 26th March; whether he is aware that the ambush for which this was a punishment took place four days previously; whether, in view of the fact that such collective punishments are not authorised outside the martial-law area, he has taken any disciplinary steps with regard to this officer's action in inflicting unauthorised punishments on his own responsibility when he had ample time to consult his superiors; and whether the customary court of inquiry has been held in this case?

I do not think that I can usefully add anything to the very full statement I made in reply to the right hon. Member's question on this subject on Thursday last. To disclose the rank of the police officer under whose orders the destruction of property was, carried out might result in revealing his identity with a certain consequence of exposing him to an even greater risk of murder than that to which is common with other police officers in Ireland he is at present subjected, and in these circumstances I feel sure that the right hon. Member will not press for this information. In view of the fact that his action, although not covered by his authority, was dictated solely by a sense of duty, it is not proposed that any disciplinary steps should be taken in regard to him beyond informing him that he is held to have been guilty of a very grave error of judgment, and this has already been done. The fact, however, that his action was taken four days after the ambush would appear to have no bearing upon it except to show that it was not prompted by an impulse of vengeance, and this circumstance was fully considered in the official inquiry which was held into the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that The Increase of Pensions Act, 1920, makes no special provision for reassessing the pensions of or granting an increase of pension to pensioners of the Irish police forces who retired before the War and joined His Majesty's forces and served during the War; and whether he will make representations to the Treasury with a view to remedying this omission by legislation?

The Pensions (Increase) Act contains no special Clauses dealing with the cases mentioned. These pensioners can apply in the ordinary way, and if they are eligible under the Act for increases of pension they will get them. There is no power to take their Army service into account in dealing with their Royal Irish Constabulary pensions.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of James Grace, an ex-constable, Royal Irish Constabulary, who received serious permanent injuries to his spine while on duty last July owing to the overturning of a Crossley tender, and is in consequence crippled for life and unable to do any work; whether this man received on his discharge from the force the same pension of £88 a year to which he would have been entitled if he had been discharged in the ordinary way; whether, if he had escaped this injury, he would now be a sergeant in receipt of £280 a year and would in nine years' time have been entitled to a pension of £195 a year; whether any grant or allow ance can be made to him in excess of his pension of £88 a year; and whether cases such as this will be adequately provided for in the Police Pensions Bill now before the House?

The facts of this case are substantially as stated in the question, except that in the opinion of the police surgeon the impairment of the ex-constable's earning capacity is not so serious as indicated. The pension of £88 based on length of service only is a provisional award, and is subject to review on the passing of Police Pensions Bill now before Parliament. This Bill, which provides special pensions for cases of this kind, does not apply to Ireland, but it is proposed when the Bill has passed to extend its pension terms to Irish police forces by Statutory Orders applicable to those forces.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware of the discontent in the Irish prison service in consequence of the policy of delay in dealing with the claims of the Prison Officers' Representative Council; whether this was pointed out at the recent conference; when the assimilation scheme is to be completed and the staff notified; and when it is proposed to pay the arrears of bonus due to temporary officers, male and female, under the Whitley Council scheme?

I must take exception to the suggestion in the question of the hon. Member that there is any policy of delay in settling the grievances of the prison officers. These officers themselves recognise the difficulties which arise in assimilating prison services which differ in essential points. The Departmental meeting which recently took place with the Prison Officers' Council has cleared up a large number of points, and it is hoped that the result of the communications now passing between the Treasury and the Irish Government will shortly be notified to the prison officers.

asked the Chief Secretary if the staff of His Majesty's asylum, Dundrum, County Dublin, has yet been put on the same basis as the Broadmoor asylum as regards general conditions of service; and whether the staff has yet been paid the full bonus under the Whitley Council scheme?

Some of the points at issue have not yet been settled, but it is hoped to do so at a very early date. The staff are being paid the full bonus under the Whitley Council scheme.

asked the Chief Secretary what was the total amount of compensation awarded for malicious injury in Ireland during the last year; how much has been paid to date by the local authorities and how much by the Treasury; how many claims for malicious damage have been made; how many of such claims have been dismissed; and how many are still pending?

The total amount of compensation awarded for criminal and malicious injuries in Ireland during the 18 months ended 31st December, 1920, was £2,260,696. Of this amount £2,182,110 was awarded against the counties and county boroughs of Southern Ireland, the county councils of which now refuse to make provision for the payment of criminal injury decrees. £56,351 was paid by these councils before they took up their present attitude, and £151,464 has been discharged out of the Local Taxation (Ireland) Account, and certain Parliamentary grants withheld under the provisions of the Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulations, leaving still unpaid a balance of £1,974,295. The amount awarded against the counties and county boroughs of Northern Ireland, all of whom are recognising their liabilities, was £78,586. This amount has been or will be duly paid by the county councils concerned, several of which, availing themselves of the provisions of Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Injuries (Ireland) Act, 1920, have applied and obtained orders spreading the payment of decrees over a period of five years. Information is at present not available as to the number of claims which are pending or have been dismissed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether on 8th April last the houses of N. Cuddihy, at Barnarone, and the house of N. Moroney, at Ballybunion, were burned down by order of the military governor as a reprisal for the murder by unknown persons of Constable N. Campbell, Royal Irish Constabulary, at Mullinahone; and the grounds on which houses not even in the village of Mullinahone were destroyed?

I am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that these houses were destroyed by order of the military governor in consequence of the murder of Constable Campbell. The houses were selected as being in the vicinity of Mullinahone, where the murder took place, and there was no doubt that the owners had been guilty of active participation in outrages.

asked the Chief Secretary whether two hotels and the shop of Mr. T. V. Honan, in or near Ennis, were destroyed by military on the 20th instant as a punishment for the murder of Sergeant Rue; whether it is believed that the inhabitants of these houses were concerned in or knew of the shooting; and, if not, whether these houses were selected as being owned by prominent Sinn Feiners?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second and third parts, I am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that the reason for the destruction of these houses was that the owners must have known of the preparations for the attack.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a minimum basis piece rate of 9d. per hour having been fixed by the trade board for the linen trade in Belfast, the employers are discharging employés who earn less, although they are working at a rate that is calculated to bring in 7½d. per hour only; that the employers are also threatening to close their works if other rates which have been decided upon are brought into effect; and whether he will take steps to counter this attempt to set at nought a year's work of the trade board?

A piece-work basis time-rate of 9d. per hour for female workers, as fixed by the Linen and Cotton Handkerchief, etc., Trade Board (Ireland), and confirmed by me after consultation with all parties affected, came into operation on 11th April, and my officers on the spot are at present investigating the adequacy of piece-rates actually being paid to meet this basis rate. Certain other minimum rates have recently been fixed by the trade board in question, and have been submitted to me for my confirmation. This matter is now receiving my most careful consideration, and I can assure my hon. Friend that I shall bear all the circumstances in mind in reaching my decision.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can give the latest information regarding the British-Afghan Treaty negotiations and those between Afghanistan and Turkey?

I regret that I cannot, consistently with the public interest, make a statement on either subject at present.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has now received the Report from the Government of India as to the percentage of Forest and Public Works Department European officers who had refused the new pension scheme; and what proportion of the number of such officers was represented by these refusals?

In a telegram received on 1st May, the Government of India stated that the percentage of officers of the Public Works Department with less than 20 years' service, who failed to exercise the option by the date specified, was 87; that officers of the Forest Department have been allowed to defer their declaration, but that only 16 per cent. have so far elected to come under the new rules.

asked the Secretary of State for India how many of the Punjab martial law prisoners are still in prison; how many have been released during this year; when is it contemplated the complete the Royal clemency so far as these culprits are concerned; and what has been done in the special cases of Bugga, of Amritsar, and Diwan Chand, of Kasur, both of whose convictions aroused so much doubt and protest?

In reply to a question in the Legislative Assembly on the 17th February, the Home Secretary stated that 86 Punjab martial law prisoners were still in confinement out of 1,779 originally convicted, and that the Government of India did not propose to exercise any further clemency in their cases beyond the commutations and reductions of sentences already made. Bugga, son of Paira Mal, of Amritsar, and Diwan, son of Kishna, of Kasur, are among the 86.

asked the Secretary of State for India what steps he proposes to take to improve the rates of pay and allowances at present issued to British officers of the British Army serving in India?

I presume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the effect of the fall in the exchange value of the rupee. As stated in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall) on the 13th April, I am at present in consultation with the Government of India on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to an article by Sir Valentine Chirol in which he blames the gerrymandering of the constituencies and franchise in the Punjab for the unrepresentative character of the Punjab Council; and will he press the Government of India to revise the rules and regulations for that province in accordance with British practice?

I have seen an article in which Sir Valentine Chirol gives his opinion as to the Legislative Council in the Punjab. The electoral rules can only be revised by Parliament, but I have no doubt that the Government of India and the local Governments will consider, in the light of the experience gained from the first elections, whether any alterations are necessary before the next general election.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether any decision has been made with regard to the appeal on behalf of retired officers of the Indian Civil Services who retired before the 23rd of July, 1913, for a revision of their pensions; is he aware that these pensions are at the present time worth about one-third of the sums they were granted on retirement; and as the revenues of India are in a flourishing condition, and there is therefore no financial obstacle, will he apply the better pensionary terms recom- mended by the Public Services Commission appointed in 1912 to all retired officers without any line being drawn, as was done recently in the case of retired Egyptian civil servants?

A deputation of Members of this House on this subject was received by me in Council on 6th April, and the Government of India have been asked if they have any observations to make on the representations of that deputation, but as at present advised I am not prepared to modify the decision already reached.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. K. M. B. Codrington, whose leg, having been broken at the Indian Army Cadet College, Wellington, in 1917, was so improperly and inefficiently treated at Wellington and Quetta, and subsequently at other places, that it gradually became worse, and finally was declared incurable, Mr. Codrington being permanently disabled and invalided from the service in 1920; and whether he will, having regard to the injury and loss Mr. Codrington has sustained, see his way to grant him a pension for life or, at all events, make a grant to enable him to continue his education at Cambridge in order to fit himself to earn his living in some walk of life other than the Army?

The accident to Mr. K. de B. Codrington took place before he was commissioned, but he was admitted to the Army and drew pay and leave pay as an officer for nearly three years in the hope that he would eventually recover his health. During the last year of his leave he was studying at Cambridge, and on being finally invalided from the Army in November last he was granted a gratuity of six months' pay according to precedent. In addition, he received £80 10s. 9d. in respect of the higher rates of leave pay recently sanctioned. I must not be understood as accepting the description given by the hon. Member of the medical treatment in India; but if, owing to his health, or for other sufficient reasons, Mr. Codrington's course at Cambridge has to be prolonged I shall be prepared to consider the question of granting some further gratuity.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state, with reference to the payment of £400,000,000 already made by Germany, how much of this has been expended upon the Armies of Occupation; how much upon supplies of food and raw materials to Germany; and how much has been distributed, and in what proportions, among the Powers entitled to reparation?

According to a provisional estimate by the Reparation Commission, as on 31st March, 1921, out of the maximum value of 8 milliard gold marks to be attributed to the payments and deliveries already made by Germany under Article 235 of the Treaty of Versailles, about 2¼ milliards were in respect of supplies of food and raw material to Germany and about one milliard was expended on the Armies of Occupation and Inter-Allied Commissions.

The Reparation Commission estimated the deliveries in kind already distributed on the same date at 2,840,000,000 gold marks, the distribution being as follows:—

The Saar Mines does not rank as a payment on account of the 20 milliard gold marks under Article 235.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has suggested to the Allied Governments the advisability of submitting to arbitration the question of how much Germany should pay as reparation; and, if not, will he make such a suggestion on the lines of the Memorandum of the League of Nations Union of 17th March?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the statement of the approaching visit of German delegates to this country with a view to influencing British public opinion against the Allied occupation of the Ruhr district; and whether he is taking any steps to prevent such interference with the national policy approved by this House while negotiations are at a delicate stage?

I am not aware of any foundation for the statement quoted in the question. No German can land in this country without the permission of the Home Secretary, and I understand that he has received no application for permission from any such delegate as is indicated in the question.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the wages of many thousands of workmen rise and fall with the cost of living, he will agree to the appointment of a Committee to investigate the methods whereby the Ministry of Labour determines the cost of living figures, in order that confidence may be inspired in the accuracy of the statements appearing in the "Labour Gazette"?

The arrangements under which the wages of workmen in many industries rise and fall, in accordance with the index number relating to cost of living, prepared by the Ministry of Labour, were adopted by voluntary agreement between representatives of the employers and workpeople concerned, and there is no evidence of lack of confidence in the figures among those employers and workpeople. The methods whereby the figures are determined were fully explained in an article published in the "Labour Gazette" for February last, a reprint of which is being sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister the number of men in the British Empire, including the Indian Empire, who joined the forces of the Crown during the Great War; the total casualties; and the number of those casualties who were killed, including in these latter figures the mercantile marine?

As the reply to this question is in tabular form, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give facilities this Session for the passage through all its stages of the Guardianship, Maintenance, and Custody of Infants Bill?

Pending the discussion of this measure on Friday next, it is premature to make any statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether Bolshevik propaganda, to a certain extent financed by German gold, has been carried on in this country since the Armistice; and, if so, what steps have been taken, or will be taken, to counteract this propaganda?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. There is no evidence that the money brought into this country for Bolshevik propaganda comes from Germany. Bolshevik propaganda is dealt with by the police when the evidence is sufficient, and the circumstances justify a prosecution.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take immediate steps to repeal Section 5 of the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919, as the way local authorities are applying this Section is greatly adding to unemployment, particularly in London?

As I indicated in the Debate on the Second Reading of the Housing Bill, I propose to introduce, in Committee on the Bill, a Clause repealing the enactment referred to.

asked the Minister of Health how many housing contracts or schemes are being carried out under the Ministry of Health form of contract known as No. 3?

There are 200 No. 3 contracts.

asked the Minister without Portfolio on what grounds he warned the public to be on their guard as to a possible change of housing policy, as reported in the London Press of the 26th April; whether his disquieting statement has unsettled many local authorities within the Metropolitan Police area in connection with the financial responsibilities they have incurred in the development of housing schemes; and whether or not the Government contemplate a change of housing policy which will raise the financial liability of a local authority above the limit of a 1d. rate?

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that there was nothing in the speech in question, or in any reports of it that I have seen, to cause unsettlement, nor have I heard of any that has arisen in consequence. It was explicitly stated that the Government contemplated no change of policy or departure from any obligations to local authorities and others that had been entered into, but it was pointed out that the redemption of slums in our towns would require sustained effort through a long series of years, and that a vigilant and an informed public opinion would be necessary if the work was to be persevered with.

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to announce the decision of the Departmental Committee appointed by his predecessor to inquire into the need of approved societies for an increased allowance for the expenses of administration of the National Health Insurance Act?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Edmonton (Sir A. Warren) yesterday.

asked the Minister of Health if he will take measures to secure the immediate compilation of an approximate occupational list as soon as the forthcoming census is taken in order that the division of the population between occupied and unoccupied persons, and the allocation of the occupied population amongst the industries may be known?

Special attention has already been paid to this subject in the census preparations. A full list and classification, both occupational and industrial, has been compiled on the best advice obtainable, and it is hoped that the steps taken will result in occupational and industrial statistics of great value being made available from the census returns.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, due to the present crisis in the coal industry, a large amount of distress has been caused throughout the country, and to meet the needs of the dependants of miners the education authorities by provision of meals, and boards of guardians by relief, have had to come to their assistance; and if it is the intention of the Government to meet this financial liability instead of it being entirely a charge upon the local rates?

It is not the intention of the Government to make any contribution to the boards of guardians in respect of the cost of relief. As regards the provision of meals by local education authorities under the Education (Provision of Meals) Acts, the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in Cornsay, county Durham, the Lanchester board of guardians have now instructed their relieving officer to stop all relief to able-bodied men, children over 14 years of age, and children between three and 14 years of age, on the ground that the first are able to work and that schoolchildren are already being fed; and whether, in view of the fact that in consequence of the stoppage of the mines the able-bodied men are unable to find work and the school children are only being fed on six days in a week, he will make representations to the guardians on this matter?

The information which I have received does, not correspond with that of the hon. Member. The guardians have reported that they are giving outdoor relief to 12,230 women and children at the present time.

asked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been called to the assertion, made on apparent authority in Scotland, that the mine-owners, in anticipation of decontrol, increased their stocks of stores, machinery, and plant; and whether, as during the period in which this alleged inflation took place the mines were under Government control, he can inform the House as to the truth or the reverse of the allegation?

Assertions of the kind to which the hon. Member refers have been made from time to time during control. The degree of truth which they contain cannot be ascertained until the audited accounts of the undertakings have been received, and examined by the Inland Revenue, who scrutinise the valuation of stocks, and determine the extent to which items of expenditure are a proper charge against profits under the provisions of the Coal Mines (Emergency) Act, 1920.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, taking the most reliable set of figures issued by either side in respect to the suggested wages of miners, he will issue, for the information both of the public and of the miners themselves, the exact scale of remuneration which would be paid in the different districts assuming the Government advance of £10,000,000 sterling and the proposed concessions by both the men and the mineowners; and whether, to avoid further misunderstanding and misrepresentations, he will do this without delay?

I have been asked to answer this question. I have made the best estimate that I can of the wages which would be payable during this month under the proposals put before the Miners' Federation by the Government, and I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT. They show the estimated earnings per shift of piece work coal-getters, the lowest rates of adults work- ing on the surface and the estimated average earnings of all adults. Comparable figures for June, 1914, are also given. The estimate assumes a uniform reduction of 3s. a shift in all districts,

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position to state the decision of the umpire with regard to the stoppage of out-of-work donation to unemployed workmen at Milford Haven?

The umpire has not yet given his decision, but I understand that it will be given to-day, and I will let my hon. Friend have a copy.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the wide-

since, until it is decided how (if at all) the federated area is to be sub-divided, it is impossible to say in which districts, and to what extent, the reduction would be less than that amount:—

spread unemployment at the present time and the fact that large numbers of industrial insurance policies may lapse, he is prepared to extend the present protection under the Emergency Powers Act, covering policies in existence two years previous to August, 1914, to all policies in existence for a period of six months and over?

Recommendations for dealing with hardship resulting from lapsed policies were made by Lord Par-moor's Committee on Industrial Assurance, and legislation on this subject is under consideration. The method suggested by the hon. Member is not, I think, desirable.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether a regulation has been issued to the effect that discharged ex-service men who suffer from diseases which do not develop within six months of discharge cannot claim that the disability is attributable to war service; and, if so, whether this regulation applies to tuberculosis?

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

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that ex-Rifleman A. R. Briant, No. 39,235, 9th London Regiment, reference number S. E. L. 21,215, has received no payment of pension since the 13th April; that he is informed at the High Street, Kensington, post office that it has no authority to continue payments; and whether he will take action in this case?

I regret the delay. Payment has, however, now been resumed, with all arrears due.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many members on the pensions medical boards are panel practitioners; what hours they are employed on these boards; and if it is in the interests of either the pensioners or the insured persons that these medical men should be so employed?

I regret that I have no information such as would enable me to answer the first part of the question. I may, however, inform the hon. and gallant Member that medical boards are constituted from a panel of 4,462 members, with the average weekly attendance of less than three hours for each member. I do not think that it would be either practicable or desirable to confine the selection of personnel of medical boards to doctors who have no panel practice.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that a man who is appealing to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal is entitled to no advances or allowances from his local war pensions committee, and if unable to work is forced to apply to the guardians pending the hearing of his appeal, it would be possible to reduce to a fixed minimum the time which elapses between the receipt of an appeal by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal and the date on which the man is called to state his case?

While it would not be practicable to arrange that all appeals should be disposed of within a fixed time, every step is being taken to expedite them at all stages of progress As my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General has recently informed the House, the number of courts is being largely increased, in order to overtake arrears and to shorten the interval before hearing. I may add that in cases where there is sufficient medical support to the appeal recoverable advances may be authorised, under certain defined conditions, pending decision by the tribunal.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the great delay in the hearing of cases by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, in some cases of over a year; and whether he will give the actual number of courts sitting, the number of arrears outstanding, and the period which it is anticipated must elapse before the cases in arrear will have been disposed of and the current appeals dealt with?

( for the Lord Chancellor ): As far as the Pensions Appeal Tribunals are concerned, the average period which elapses between the date an appeal is received by the tribunals and the date it is heard is at present ten weeks. All appeals received up to the beginning of February, 1921, have been dealt with, or will be dealt with, within the next two weeks. Twelve courts are at present sitting, and five additional courts will commence to sit this month. Others are in process of formation. There are approximately 9,200 cases outstanding, and 50 cases per court per week are listed for hearing. As it is not known what number of appeals may be expected each week in the future, it is impossible to reply to the latter part of the question, but it is hoped at an early date to be able to deal with at least 1,000 cases per week.

asked how many disabled officers and men have been appointed to serve on the existing Pensions Appeal Tribunals?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his former question of 28th April.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, during the financial years 1920–21, there was an approximate surplus in the Ministry's accounts of £10,000,000; how that surplus accumulated; and whether it is intended to use that surplus in part or whole by supplementary awards and special grants to the most deserving cases during the current year?

The figure referred to in this question represents merely the extent to which the actual expenditure of the Ministry during the year 1920–21 fell short of the Estimate. There is no accumulated surplus of £10,000,000 in the hands of my right hon. Friend, nor has he any such sum at his disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a large sum out of the profits made by Army and Navy canteens during the War is now being used to finance the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, which is a commercial concern to supply wines, etc., to regimental messes, and that this concern is running in competition with old-established firms which bitterly resent the use of these funds for such a purpose; and whether he intends to allow this continuance of Government trading?

As already stated in answer to previous questions on this subject, the question of the future capital required to finance the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes is at present under consideration by a small Committee consisting of Members of this House. The purpose for which the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes were established was the supply of institute facilities and messing requirements to all ranks and ratings of the three Services, together with their wives and families, and it is not proposed to make any alteration in the present system, which cannot properly be described as "Government trading."

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to entirely discontinue the printing of the Ordnance maps from engraved plates and to substitute production from drawings by photographic processes; and, if so, before confirming the discontinuance of the engraving process, he will investigate whether the slight cheapening in production will compensate for the loss or mutilation of thousands of pounds worth of engraved plates, or for the publication by the Department of a much inferior map?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Nothing is being done to diminish the beauty or accuracy of the Ordnance survey maps, nor is it intended to mutilate or destroy any copper plate. I may add that copper plate printing is not the principal agency employed in the reproduction of Ordnance survey maps.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the men employed as messengers in the Central Recruiting Depot, Great Scotland Yard, have applied through their society on numerous occasions for the terms and conditions of Agreement A 81, which was signed between the Treasury and the workers' union last year; that, contrary to the terms of this agreement, the messengers at the Central Recruiting Depot are being stopped 8d. per week from their wages to pay for a uniform which, under the agreement, should be provided free; and that they have not received the advance in wages then agreed upon or any of the retrospective pay; and whether he will have inquiries made into this matter with a view to these men being granted the same conditions as the rest of the messengers employed by the War Office?

I shall be happy to look into this matter, and will communicate to the hon. Member the results of my investigations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that A.W.O. No. 3263, of 1919, which says that indulgence passages cannot be granted either out or home to the families of officers or ratings relieved from serving in or appointed to seagoing ships abroad has not been amended or cancelled; and if he can take steps to alter this order so as to place naval officers on an equal footing in this respect with the Army and Air Force officer?

The Admiralty weekly order quoted which forbids the grant of indulgence passages to the wives and families of officers appointed to sea-going ships abroad, is a re-statement of a rule which has been in force for nearly thirty years. It has recently been considered, and it was decided not to alter it. Free or assisted passages are already provided for the wives and families of naval officers serving in shore appointments abroad under certain conditions, and, as I informed the hon. Member on 7th April, the position of the naval officer as regards indulgence passages is precisely the same as that of Army and Air Force officers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the number of naval writers who have passed and been recommended for promotion to warrant rank; and whether, in view of the present alleged shortage of junior accountant officers, promotions of naval writers can be re-opened?

Forty-seven naval writers have passed, and recommended for promotion to warrant rank. Further promotions to warrant writer are dependent on the post-War establishment of the accountant branch as a whole, and this is now under consideration. In the meantime no shortage of accountant officers exists.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if in June last the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty promised the Member for Portsmouth, North (Sir B. Falle) that no commissioned warrant officer who was seeking to make himself eligible for promotion to lieutenant by examination, and to whom time was of great importance as regards pension, would be prejudiced in any way by the delay; and if he can, and will, confirm this promise and maintain the same?

In reply to a supplementary question by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, North (Sir B. Falle) on the 16th June, 1920, the Secretary of the Admiralty stated that he did not think there would be any prejudicial effect on officers who had already passed the examination, or their pensions, in consequence of the delay in making selection for promotion. This statement is correct in that the time of passing will have no effect one way or the other upon the chances of candidates being chosen for promotion when the selection is made. It must not be inferred, however, that promotion to lieutenant or seniority as lieutenant will be dated back to the date of passing the examination or to any other date. This has never been the intention. To ante-date the appointments in this way would, in effect, defeat the object which the Admiralty had in delaying the promotions until all eligible candidates had had a chance of qualifying by giving an advantage to those who, owing to their serving at home, had had the opportunity of qualifying at an earlier date than other officers who had been serving at sea under more arduous conditions and had not the same advantages.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why established workmen in His Majesty's dockyards, who were established prior to the Superannuation Act, 1909, and who accepted the terms of that Act, are not being pensioned in accordance therewith?

All established workmen who accepted the provisions of the Super annuation Act, 1909, are being pensioned in accordance therewith. The hon. Member possibly has in mind the cases of men who have elected to receive their discharge on reduction of staff and has overlooked the fact that Section 6 (2) of the Act prescribes that, in the case of services terminated on abolition of employment, the terms of the Act are applicable only to persons who entered the service after the date of the passing of the Act. Other persons receive pensions assessed on the more favourable basis of the Act of 1859, but are not entitled to gratuities in addition, as under the Act of 1909.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the authoritative statement that Germany to-day can put a ton of steel in England at a price £5 cheaper than it costs England to make it; and whether his information shows that this is correct?

I do not know the authority for the statement quoted by my hon. Friend, but it would appear to have been substantially correct for a recent date. The position has, however, now been affected by the operation of the Reparation (Recovery) Act.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether, in view of the coming legislation, he will consider the desirability of laying before the House actual and authenticated statistics showing the effect on British trade of foreign imports which, owing to cheap labour and the low rate of exchange, can be sold at prices which defy competition?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state approximately the amount of wealth produced in the United Kingdom for the years 1913 and 1920, respectively, and the value of the goods exported and imported for the same two years?

I regret that the information available is insufficient to enable me to furnish the information asked for in the first part of the question. The particulars specified in the latter part are as follow:

I cannot undertake to lay a statistical statement, inasmuch as it would not be possible to give in that form information which would take due account of many important factors. Information on the matter will, however, be submitted to the House when the Ways and Means Resolutions are moved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether British traders wishing to take advantage of the Overseas Trade (Credits and Insurance) Act, 1920, are still asked to. conform to the conditions issued for 1920, although revised conditions for 1921 were promised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on behalf of the Government, several weeks ago; whether the 1920 conditions impose formidable obstacles to British traders wishing to take advantage of the scheme; whether orders are being lost in consequence and unemployment in this country is thus accentuated; and whether the new scheme promised for 1921 will be put into force without further delay?

I hope that it will be possible to put the new scheme into operation very shortly. The delay has been due to the necessity for full consultation with commercial interests, which has been impeded by difficulties of communication arising out of the industrial dispute. I am not aware of important orders having been lost owing to the delay, but I fully concur with the hon. Member as to the desirability of the new scheme being brought into operation as quickly as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that milk is being sold for 5d. per quart in Mid-Cheshire, in Leeds at 6d. per quart, and outside London the average price is 6d. per quart, yet the price in the London area remains at 8d. per quart; and whether, in view of these facts, the Government will immediately investigate the reason for the high price of milk in London and take such means as are in its power to reduce the price of milk and particularly for the benefit of those living in the poorer districts of London?

When the price of milk was controlled, a higher price was generally fixed for London than for the Provinces. I am not aware that the average retail price of milk outside London is as low as 6d. a quart. On the general question of fixing prices, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Baronet, the Member for East Ham, North (Sir J. Bethell) on the 8th April last, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the great hardship of thousands of aged and thrifty people who have paid into life assurance companies more than 33 years and get no free policy; and will he endeavour to get assurance companies to amend their rules and do justice by such old people?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. This matter is under consideration, and it is hoped to deal with it by a Bill based on the recommendations of Lord Par-moor's Committee.

asked the Home Secretary the number of factory inspectors, male and femle, at present employed under the Home Office, and the total of their salaries and bonuses; whether several vacancies for junior inspectors, male and female, are to be filled shortly at salaries of £200 rising to £350 and war bonuses in addition; what has occasioned those vacancies; and what is the number of them?

The number of inspectors at present employed is 206. The yearly total of their salaries and bonuses, if calculated at the present rates, would amount to £143,354 odd, but, as the hon. Member will be aware, the rate of the bonus varies with the cost of living, and is reviewed every six months. In September next a considerable reduction is to be anticipated. As regards the appointments referred to in the latter part of the question, there are about 30 vacancies to be filled shortly. These vacancies are due partly to deaths and retirements, and partly to the changes consequent on the re-organisation of the factory inspectorate, particulars of which were announced in the Press last August.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the National Whitley Council for the Civil Service will reconisder its decision in respect of the exclusion of the Congested Districts Board for Ireland, in view of the fact that the National Whitley Council has approved of a constitution for the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland, that none of the staff of that board (Intermediate Education Board for Ireland) are civil servants, and that their salaries are not voted by Parliament?

I understand that, in the view of the National Council, the staff of the Congested Districts Board for Ireland are the employés of the Board, and the Council has, therefore, held that any Whitley Council which is set up there could not appropriately form part of the system of Departmental Councils which have been established in relation to the National Council for the Civil Service. But, so far as I am aware, there is nothing to prevent the establishment of a Whitley Council for the Congested Districts Board outside that system.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state, with reference to the collection of the Entertainment Duty, how many persons were employed on the special staff at headquarters under the former arrangement; how many of them have been dismissed under the new arrangements; and whether any increase has taken place among local officers of Customs and Excise owing to this work being thrown on them?

It is assumed that the hon. and gallant Member refers to the decentralisation of Entertainment Duty work for provincial areas which took place in January last. The number of the special staff employed at headquarters on such work was 35, and their services have been dispensed with. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, despite the shortage of work in His Majesty's dockyards and the consequent discharge of large numbers of workmen, while others are placed on short time, there is no commensurate decrease in the administrative and clerical staffs; and the numbers employed on those staffs compared with the numbers in 1913–14, and the comparative cost thereof?

There has been a decrease in the administrative and clerical classes corresponding very closely indeed to the reductions that have taken place in the numbers of men employed in the outport establishments at home since the date of the Armistice. The numbers of the administrative and clerical classes at the home outport establishments in the year 1913–14 was 2,149 at a cost of £381,257. The total number of men employed then was 55,000. For the present year 4,055 of these classes are provided for in the Estimates, and the estimated cost, including War bonus, amounting to £584,510, is £1,295,791. The total number of men employed at the present time is 73,000.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that considerable anxiety is still felt by technical teachers in connection with the delay of the Burnham Committee in publishing its Report; and whether he is now able to give some assurance that in those cases in which local education authorities have given to the secondary school teachers the full and immediate carry-over from 1st September, 1923, the Board of Education will be prepared to support such education authorities in any steps necessary to ensure that the technical teachers are not penalised owing to their claims being considered later than those of other teachers?

The Standing Joint Committee on the Salaries of Teachers in Technical, etc., Schools will, I understand, shortly present a Report. If and so far as the subject of the hon. Member's question arises on the Report, it will be carefully considered.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the number of unemployed in Northamptonshire owing to the closing down of blast furnaces and the consequent unemployment in the ironstone pits, which is involving hardships on the children in that area; and, seeing that many are attending schools underfed, will he make representations to the county council to put into operation the powers relating to the feeding of necessitous school children?

I have no particular knowledge of the circumstances in this area, but I will ask the Local Education Authority to furnish me with information.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture if he is aware that the Parliamentary Borough of Portsmouth is an island; and will he take steps to discontinue the muzzling of dogs seeing that there has been no outbreak in the island?

The fact that the Borough of Portsmouth is situate on an island does not make Portsmouth inaccessible to a mad dog which is wandering at large. The Ministry, therefore, is not prepared to withdraw the Muzzling Order on that account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if anything further has been done by his Department as promised in the case of the cleansing tanks for the mussel industry at Lymp-stone; and if he is aware that any further delay in promptly dealing with this matter would cause considerable hardship to those engaged in this industry?

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been directed to the case of the Aberdeen boy who was recently sentenced to eight strokes of the birch, this being the third time his punishment has been inflicted upon the same boy; and whether, in view of the obvious futility of this punishment, he can devise some measure for substituting a more humane method of dealing with juvenile delinquents?

My right hon. Friend's attention has not been drawn to this case. If my hon. Friend will furnish the particulars, inquiry will be made into the case, but I may point out that other methods of dealing with juvenile delinquents are already provided by the Probation of Offenders Act, 1907, and the Children Act, 1908.

The plans of the proposed installation have been prepared, and tenders for the supply of material and machinery are now being received. I am fully alive to the urgency of the matter, and hope that the work may very shortly be begun.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what have been the receipts in respect of admission fees to Stonehenge and the number of visitors thereto for each year since it was handed over to his Department; the cost of safeguarding and maintaining the monument; and the sum handed over to the Red Cross Society in accordance with the undertaking given when the monument was handed over to the nation?

The details are as follow:

asked the Attorney-General whether, with reference to the salaries of judges of the High Court, he will say when the present scale was originally established?

The scale of salary payable to the Lord Chief Justice of England was determined in 1851 by 14 & 15 Viet. ch. 36. The scale of salary of the Puisne Judges was determined in 1832 by 2 & 3 Wm. IV. ch. 116. The salaries so fixed, however, were to be paid net, free and clear of all taxes or charges for or in respect of any land tax, or of any pension or other duty, rate or charge whatever.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that, owing to the rise in the cost of living and the present high taxation, judges of the High Court are finding it a matter of extreme difficulty to maintain the social duties necessitated by their official position, and if he contemplates an early revision of the present rates of emolument?

Yes, I understand that the facts are as stated in the question. The matter, I agree, is one of great importance, and is at present under consideration.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether his attention has been called to reports of continued massacres of Albanian women and children in the district of Kossovo by Yugo-Slav troops; and what steps His Majesty's Government is taking to ascertain the truth of these reports?

According to information received from His Majesty's Minister in Belgrade, a certain number of families belonging to comitadgis who have failed to surrender after due warning have been grouped in internment camps at Nish and Kragoujevats until work can be found for them. The reports of massacres of women and children, which appear almost daily in the local Turkish Press, are not to be trusted.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will inform the House of the exact nature of the new legislative proposals affecting by-law control of London traffic; and whether he proposes to introduce them into the House?

The proposals referred to by the hon. Member provide for the making of Regulations in regard to the breaking up of streets, the control of traffic, vehicles of special descriptions and to obstructions to traffic. I am unable to say whether they will be introduced into the House, but, as the hon. Member is aware, I am in consultation with the Members representing London constituencies on the matter generally.