asked the Prime Minister whether any of the six Conventions agreed upon at the Washington Labour Conference, 1919, have yet been ratified and, if not, what is the reason?

A full explanation of the policy of His Majesty's Government in this matter will be made in the course of the Debate to-day.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that there is a keen demand for allotments at West Hartlepool; whether local authorities are proposing to acquire land on terms which are considered onerous; whether these terms will provide for seven days' notice of dispossession, without compensation, being given to holders at any time; whether the holders will be called upon to meet considerable expenditure for a fence and for the turf; and whether he will cause an investigation to be made into this matter with a view to the prompt provision of land on reasonable conditions?

The Ministry is aware that the West Hartlepool Town Council have had under consideration the acquisition of certain land at Park Road for allotments. In view of the claims for compensation received from the owner and occupier the council's allotment committee decided to consult the representatives of the applicants. As a result it was decided not to take any further action. The acquisition of land is a matter for the decision of the council, and as, according to the Ministry's information, the applicants themselves voted against proceeding further with the compulsory acquisition of this land it does not seem that the Ministry can usefully take any further action.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that in a letter from his Department, dated 13th April, referring to the provision of allotments to members of the March and District Allotments and Small Holdings Association, the statement that at a recent meeting of the March Urban District Council it was agreed between the council and representatives of the association that it is not at present possible to hire suitable land and let it at a rent sufficiently low to make an allotment profitable is inaccurate, and that in fact no such agreement was reached; and whether, in these circumstances, he will make further inquiries into the matter with a view to securing for the members of the association, some of whom are ex-service men and have been waiting for allotments for two years, the possession of the necessary land?

The statement referred to was based on a letter received from the clerk of the March Urban District Council, but in view of the hon. Member's representations further inquiries will be made as to the possibility of satisfying the demand for allotments in the district.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the total yearly cost of the working of the Agricultural Wages Board (Ireland), including salaries and expenses and the cost of district wages committees?

The total cost of the Agricultural Wages Board for Ireland, including salaries and war bonus and expenses, as well as the cost of 20 district wages committees, was £13,018 for the year ended 31st March, 1921. This figure is exclusive of the salaries of one officer of the Department of Agriculture who acts as chairman and one officer seconded from the Local Government Board.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Admiralty has now considered the medical and other evidence submitted on behalf of Mrs. Kane, of 93, Welbeck Street, Manchester, as to her ill-health and the necessity of her husband's release to civil life; and whether, in view of such evidence, Stoker John Kane, of Submarine U 126, Portsmouth, may be discharged upon compassionate grounds?

Instructions have already been issued for this man to be granted a free discharge on compassionate grounds as a special case.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to give the decision of the Admiralty with regard to the new rates of pay to the schoolmasters of the Royal Navy, and, if not, when he expects to be able to make a statement on the subject?

I regret that I am unable to add anything to my previous replies upon this question. I cannot yet say when I shall be in a position to announce a decision upon the subject, but I can assure the hon. Member that there is no intention of shelving the question.

asked (1) the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether contracts on behalf of the Admiralty have been entered into with the Cape Asbestos Company, Barking whether he has received communications from the Joint Industrial Council for the Asbestos Trade to the effect that the council desires that the attention of the Admiralty shall be drawn to the rate of wages paid by this firm, with the view of determining whether the wages paid by this firm satisfy the provisions of the fair wages clause; what action he proposes to take;

(2) the Minister of Labour, whether he is aware that the Joint Industrial Council for the Asbestos Trade resolved at their meeting on 21st March that a letter should be sent to the Ministry of Labour drawing attention to the low rate of wages paid by the Cape Asbestos Company, Barking, and asking that the attention of the Admiralty should be drawn to this question with the view of determining whether the wages paid by this firm satisfy the provisions of the fair-wages clause and what action has been taken?

My reply to the first question covers the points raised in the second question, which I have been asked to answer. The answer to the first and second parts of the former question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part, the Admiralty is inquiring into the matter, and is asking the company for particulars as to the rates paid to the various classes of employés.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what facilities exist in civil life to enable pensioner chief writers, victualling naval cooks, regulating branch, sick berth and artisan ratings, to keep their naval professional knowledge up to date to render them efficient in the discharge of their service duties on being called up for naval service in an emergency?

The hon. Member will realise that there are many occupations in civil life in which the classes referred to would naturally find employment on discharge to pension sufficiently similar to their work in the Service to enable them to maintain their professional efficiency for service purposes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether those artisans who joined the Navy prior to November, 1918, in which month the uniform for artisans was altered from Class II to Class III with- out any outfit gratuity, will be eligible for the £17 clothing grant on promotion to chief petty officer?

Artisans were allowed to change from Class II to Class III uniform at their own request, and at their own expense. On subsequent promotion to chief petty officer no material change of uniform is required, and therefore the clothing gratuity in question is not payable.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make a Return of the submarine craft at present built or building by the various Powers?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The particulars are as follow:

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will instruct the Pensions Issue Office to expedite the settlement of the case of Albert Edward Bailey, formerly No. WR/175462, Lance-Corporal, Royal Engineers?

Inquiries have been necessary in this case, but the matter has now been settled by payment of the treatment allowances claimed.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the library of the Board of Education still occupies rooms provided for the Dyce and Forster Bequests in the Victoria and Albert Museum; that there is no public entrance to or exit from the eastern part of the Art Library; and, if so, whether he can require that these defects shall be remedied without further delay?

I am aware that the Board of Education library still occupies rooms previously allocated to the collections mentioned. As regards the third part of the question, I hope that it may be possible to arrange at an early date for the return of the library of the Board of Education to the main building in Whitehall. It is not proposed to provide entrances at both ends of the Art Library. There is already one entrance at the western end, and the provision of a second entrance is undesirable in the interests both of economy of staff and of security.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that 20,000 tons of coal have been supplied to Peterborough yards for the purpose of carrying on brick-making in that centre, he would arrange with the railway companies to distribute coal for brick-making purposes in other areas, especially in view of the fact that bricks for housing purposes are in great demand and the coal used for burning bricks is not suitable for domestic purposes?

I am not aware of the facts alleged. As stated in the latter part of my reply to the question of the hon. Member of the 11th May, while the Government are fully alive to the importance of the production of bricks for housing purposes, they are not prepared, in view of the seriousness of the present situation, to ensure supplies of coal to any industries other than those vital to the life of the community.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the accounts relating to the trade of foreign countries dealing with the imports of Japan include the imports of Government stores such as, for instance, armour plate, steel plates, and machinery used for building warships?

None of the commodities specified in the question are separately enumerated in the official Japanese import returns, but the following classes of commodities are definitely stated to be excluded therefrom, namely:

( a ) Articles for Imperial use.

( b ) Arms, ammunition and explosives imported by the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy.

( c ) Mineral oils, for use as fuel, imported by the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy.

( d ) War vessels.

( e ) Articles for the use of foreign Embassies, Legations and Consulates.

( f ) Aquatic products caught or gathered by vessels which set out for the purpose from Japan.

The returns referred to furnish no information as to whether imports on Government account of warship materials, such as armour plate, steel plates and machinery, are included under categories ( b ) and ( d ) above. Further, the Japanese import returns do not indicate whether such commodities, if imported on private account by individual firms or persons engaged in the construction of warships for the Imperial Japanese Government, are included in or excluded from the returns.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to recommend that property of British-born women resident in this country now retained by the Controller of Enemy Debts should be released in view of the recent decision of Mr. Justice Russell that people who have lost their German nationality without acquiring another must be regarded as stateless?

The hon. Member no doubt refers to the question of British-born women married to German subjects or the widows of German subjects. The judgment given by Mr. Justice Russell in the case of Stoeck would have no application to their case.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the proposed discontinuance of the Sunday postal services will result in a reduction of the amount at present expended in wages; and, if so, how much does he expect to be able to save by the alteration?

Remuneration for Sunday labour in the Post Office is paid at special overtime rates approved by Committees of the House of Commons, and is not included in wages. The amount so payable on postal, as distinct from telegraph and telephone services may be put at about £900,000 for the current financial year. I hope that a saving of all but a small proportion of this sum will prove to be immediately realisable.