asked the Chief Secretary on what occasions members of the Crown Forces at present in Ireland are allowed to appear in mufti?

Members of the Crown Forces in Ireland operate in plain clothes only when engaged on duties similar to those in which police in plain clothes would be employed in this country.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the officer commanding the martial law area has seized all Press reports handed in at the post office which gave accounts of the efforts to secure reprieves for the four Irish soldiers recently shot in Cork gaol; whether he has censored all reports describing the feeling in the city in connection with their death and has threatened with expulsion from the martial law area journalists who send out reports which reflect upon the Forces of the Crown; and, if so, whether it is the policy of the Government to prevent the people of England from receiving information as to the events and opinions in Ireland?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for the Harrow Division (Mr. Mosley) on the 5th instant, and to my reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for the Leith Division (Captain W. Benn) on the 2nd idem.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the result of the court of inquiry into the death of Mr. Thomas Shannon, of Magasta, County Clare, on 13th March; whether a statement was issued from Dublin Castle prior to this inquiry stating that Mr. Shannon had been a Sinn Fein magistrate but had retired, and had shortly before his death refused to pay rates to Sinn Fein; whether these statements have been denied in, the Press by his wife, Mrs. Brigid Shannon; and whether Mrs. Shannon's evidence was taken before the court of inquiry?

The court of inquiry in lieu of inquest, found that Mr. Shannon, was murdered by some person or persons unknown. The answer to the second part of the question, is in the affirmative. This statement was based on information which had come into the possession of the police. My attention has not been drawn to any letter in the Press by Mrs. Shannon denying its accuracy; but I am inquiring as to this. Mrs. Shannon made no reference to these matters in her evidence at the court of inquiry, but stated that she had no idea who the murderers of her husband were and could think of no motive for the crime.

asked the Secretary of State for India the present position of affairs on the North-West Frontier of India; how many military operations there have been since the beginning of 1919; what have been our casualties; and what have been, and more especially what are, the causes of the constant tribal aggression against our troops?

The present position on the North-West Frontier is that no military operations are now being carried out except in Waziristan, where the Wana-Wazirs have so far refused to submit to the terms imposed upon them by the Government of India, and certain recalcitrant Mahsuds are also showing renewed activity. The answer to the second part is three. Firstly, the third Afghan War of 1919 and the concurrent Waziristan operations; secondly, the Waziristan operations of November, 1919, to May, 1920; and, thirdly, the minor operations now in progress in Waziristan against the Wana-Wazirs and other recalcitrant tribesmen. With the hon. Members permission, I will circulate the details of our casualties with the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given in this House on May 4th to the hon. and gallant Member for the Melton Division of Leicestershire (Sir C. Yate), of which I will send him a copy.

Following are the details promised :—

The casualties from 2nd January, 1919, to 30th April, 1920, the period which covers the major operations mentioned above, amounted to:

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the dissatisfaction that has been created in Sheffield in consequence of there being so many men and women out of employment and having to wait a long time before they get paid; if he has seen a report in one of the Sheffield newspapers about the matter, which points out the hardship inflicted upon the unemployed; and if he will take action in the matter?

Owing to the rapid increase in unemployment, it is not possible to avoid occasional congestion and consequent delays. The difficulties at Sheffield have recently been increased owing to the Drill Hall, which was previously used for payment of benefit, being required for military purposes. I have seen the newspaper report referred to, which, I am informed, is exaggerated, but I am making further inquiry.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the case of Emily Newman, of 99, Mint Street, E., a common lodging house, who was a witness at the Tower police court on the 3rd instant in a case of an assault in which several women of doubtful character were concerned, the witness stating on oath that she was by occupation a domestic servant, but had been drawing 16s. a week out-of-work donation since Easter; will he make inquiries into the case; and will he ascertain the opinion of the metropolitan stipendiary magistrates as to the extent to which this dole is in practice but a subsidy for many women who carry on an irregular and immoral life?

I have ascertained that Emily Newman, who had previously been employed as kitchen-maid at a restaurant, made a claim to unemployment benefit, but did not receive any payment. She has been interviewed and admits that her statement to the contrary was inaccurate. As regards the general position I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on the 4th May.

asked the Minister of Pensions when the new post-War scale disability pension will be in operation?

The question of increasing the pre-War life disability pensions of men who served again, and were invalided in the Great War, has been favourably considered, and if my hon. Friend will put his question down again immediately after the Whitsun Recess, I hope to be able to give him a satisfactory reply. I have assumed that my hon. friend is referring to men who were invalided in the War. For men not so invalided, the post-War scale of pensions is a matter for the Service Departments.

asked the Prime Minister what is the position as regards substitution of women living apart from their husbands and receiving no allowance from them; whether they are to be considered as single women or widows for the purposes of substitution; and whether he will lay it down that they shall be allowed to compete in the examinations?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Sutton Division (Viscountess Astor) on the 10th March last.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will ask the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) to consider the removal of the injustice which prevents off-licence holders from canvassing or receiving orders in restricted areas: whether it is the case that in some districts, in which for instance a town is divided by a river, restrictions exist on one side and not on the other; and whether, as the further retention of the managers of stores in their positions depends on an early decision being forthcoming, he will see that the matter is at once attended to?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. This question falls within the scope of the answer which I gave to a number of questions on 28th April, and I have nothing to add to that answer.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Devon Standing Joint Committee have refused to supplement the pension of ex-constable R. A. Johns; and whether in view of this fact, he will make further representations to this committee with a view of their putting into operation the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, and so enable this pensioner to obtain the relief intended by the provisions of this Act?

I had not been informed of the result of the Standing Joint Committee's reconstruction of the ease. I am communicating with the Committee again on the question generally, but I should point out that the police authorities have a discretion as to the application of the Act in individual cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether claims for deductions and relief from Income Tax should be made on one return or on each of the returns required to be made when a taxpayer's income is derived from more than one locality; whether the taxpayer can elect the return on which to make his claims; and whether, if he be liable to Super-tax, he can elect to make all claims on his Super-tax return rather than make a separate statement of total income to each one of the several assessors who demand returns?

It is not necessary that a taxpayer who is in receipt of income from various sources, and who accordingly receives in the same year several Income Tax forms of return, should furnish on each of such forms a statement of his total income and particulars of his claim to Income Tax allowances and deductions. It is sufficient if he make his complete return and claim on one form, e.g., on the return furnished from his principal business address, and states that he has done so when returning other forms, and showing thereon the amounts of the particular sources of income to which they relate. The Income Tax allowances cannot be claimed on the Super-tax return, but in the case of a taxpayer liable to Super-tax, it is sufficient if he merely states on the Income Tax form on which he claims his Income Tax allowances and deductions that he has already made a return of total income for Super-tax purposes. He will not then be required to make a further return of total income in order to obtain his Income Tax allowances.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the rates to be collected in the City of Westminster for 1920–22 show an increase of £541,650 over the figures for 1920–21, of which increase education accounts for £257,046, and that the city council's expenditure shows a decrease of £106,139, which is nullified by increased demands made by other authorities for no less than £647,789; and whether drastic steps will be taken to bring the expenditure of the other authorities within reasonable limits?

I find on inquiry that the facts are as stated in the first part of the question. As regards the increase in the amounts called for by other authorities from Westminster, I understand that a considerable portion is due not to an increase in expenditure but to an increase in the assessable value of Westminster, I am doing what I can to induce local authorities to curtail their expenditure, but I may point out that only a small part of the increase in these calls is in respect of expenditure on services over which; I have direct control.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the ambulance service in connection with the Leith fire brigade has been discontinued; whether his attention has been called to two recent accidents, one by fire and the other in the docks, in which delays occurred in consequence of the discontinuance of this ambulance; and whether he will make representations to the Edinburgh town council asking them to reinstitute this public safeguard?

I am informed that it has been decided to discontinue the use for accident cases of the two-horse ambulances which were under the charge of the Leith Fire Brigade. These ambulances were horsed by horses used also for fire brigade purposes, and as the fire establishment for the extended city is equipped with motor vehicles, the expense of keeping horses for ambulance work only would not be justified. The Edinburgh police motor ambulances are available for the whole of the extended city, but pending inquiries as to the St. Andrew's ambulance taking over the duty of attending to the removal of private medical cases to hospital, one of the horse ambulances in Leith is still being retained. I have made inquiry in regard to the accidents referred to, and. I understand that ill both cases a motor ambulance was dispatched with all possible promptitude. It is considered by the Town Council that the motor ambulances, although they have to travel from Edinburgh, are more likely to secure the rapid removal of injured persons than would be the case with horse ambulances proceeding from the Leith fire station, but the stationing of a motor ambulance at Leith is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether there have been at least 18 cases of rabies in England since January last as against only three cases for the same period in the previous year; whether a dog infected from rabies had been found 70 miles from its home; whether dogs who had developed the disease after being watched were in confinement for 7½ months; and, if so, is he satisfied that the present Regulations are sufficiently stringent to stamp out the disease?

(1) The number of cases of rabies confirmed in Great Britain since the 1st January last is 17, but three of these refer to dogs which had died in the previous year. The actual number of cases this year is, therefore, 14, compared with four during the corresponding period of last year.

(2) Dogs suffering from rabies have been known to wander for 70 miles from their homes, but the longest distance which a mad dog has wandered recently in this country is approximately 50 miles.

(3) In one case only in this country during recent outbreaks has the disease taken 7½ months to develop. The average period of incubation for the series has been 2½ months, and no case has arisen in a dog after its release from quarantine for the prescribed period of six months. The Ministry is satisfied that the existing Regulations are adequate.

asked the Postmaster-General when the final proof of the Lon- don Telephone Directory, April, 1921, was passed and ordered to be printed; if the final proofs of different portions of the directory were passed on different dates; and when the different portions were finally passed?

The final proof of the, list of subscribers was passed for press in several portions between the 14th and 26th of February, but additional entries were forwarded to the printers up to 18th March. The final proof of the rest of the Directory was passed for press on 1st March.

asked the Secretary of State for War in what circumstances the Command Paymaster, Western Command, dismissed from his employment as civilian clerk Mr. J. Astbury, an ex-service man of four years' fighting service with His Majesty's forces in the Dardanelles, Italy, France, and Belgium; whether the paymaster is justified in stating that Mr. Astbury's discharge was necessitated by reduction of staff; and, if so, why several clerks who did not serve in the forces are still being retained in their employment at this particular office?

I am making inquiries into this case, and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Polish advance on Upper Silesia may, as is reported, be expected at any moment; and what steps the Inter-Allied Commission is taking to maintain peace and order in that region?

An insurrection of Polish elements has in fact broken out in Upper Silesia. The Inter-Allied Commission are exerting themselves to suppress the revolt and to restore order.