asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give details of average pithead and merchant's prices per ton of coal, as follows, for the month of March, 1921: Cost of cutting in seam (including wages and materials), loading and haulage in the pit, hoisting to pithead, screening and washing, loading into wagons, shunting and haulage of wagons per mile, unloading of wagons (in typical cases), stacking, loading into carts, and cartage and delivery to consumer per mile (in typical cases)?

The price of coal was decontrolled on the 1st of March last, and the Mines Department has no means of obtaining the information about price for which the hon. and gallant Member asks. As regards cost of production, I regret that I am not in a position to give him any more detailed information than is contained in the White Paper (Cmd. 1262).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether instructions can be given that farmers shall have some measure of preference in the distribution of coal for thrashing and cultivating purposes immediately the mines are working?

I do not think it is necessary or desirable, when there is a general resumption of work at the mines, to give preferences to particular consumers. Indeed, when the emergency is declared at an end, the Government will not be in a position to give such instructions.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that certain Government Departments in the neighbourhood of Salisbury Plain are employing labour at very high rates; that, attracted by these rates, men are leaving firms by whom they have been employed for many years to enter Government Departments; and whether, when readjustment of wages is taking place, he will consider the advisability of reducing the wages in all Government Departments correspondingly to the reductions proposed in civil establishments?

As far as I am aware, the principles of the Fair Wages Resolution are being observed in this area. Readjustments of wages are now taking place in the building trade generally, and the wages of Government employés will conform to these readjustments.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether at a special meeting of the Manchester City Council on Wednesday last a resolution was carried urging the Government to suspend the increase of rent due to commence in July under the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act until the industrial situation in the country becomes more normal and unemployment less acute; and whether he will take steps to give effect to the expressed opinion of this important local authority?

Yes, Sir; I have seen the resolution referred to, but I can- not add anything to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 26th May in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Ken-worthy).

asked the Minister of Health when the Ministry will carry out the undertaking given by the Minister of Health on 26th May last, that housing loans for similar purposes in the adjacent boroughs of Buckingham and Brackley should be treated in the same way?

I am taking steps to have the matter referred to adjusted.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give the number of architects originally employed by the Watford Urban District Council in the preparation of lay-out plans for the council's housing scheme; and on what grounds their services were dispensed with and the amount of compensation paid in each case?

The lay-out plans were prepared by one architect. For the house plans a supervising architect and a panel of five architects were employed by the council. The Ministry came to the conclusion, after a certain amount of work had been done, that this arrangement was not going to prove an economical one, and it was discontinued. I have no information of the sums actually paid to the several architects, but I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the letter forwarded to the council on the 27th January of last year, setting out the terms on which payments were to be made.

asked the Minister of Health whether under the Rent Restriction Act owners of certain houses in Bournemouth are not allowed to receive sufficient in rent to cover ground rent, rates, taxes, cost of renewals, repairs, etc., to the property; and whether, in such cases where an actual annual loss is shown, steps can in future be taken to compel the superior landlord on taking possession of the property at the expiration of the lease to pay for the buildings and improvements which he takes over at valuation?

The hon. and gallant Member's suggestion would require legislation, which I cannot undertake to introduce.

asked the Minister of Health if he has any statistics showing the number of insured under the National Health Insurance Act who are already in arrears with the maximum total of unpaid subscriptions, which, unless met before October, will debar them from medical benefits in 1922?

All insured persons remain entitled to medical benefit as long as they continue in insurance, and there is no suspension of that benefit on account of arrears of contributions.

asked the Minister of Transport whether a Supplementary Estimate will be needed in connection with the increased deficit on the railways owing to the industrial disturbance?

Yes, Sir; a Supplementary Estimate has already been presented to Parliament.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the old ferry boat service between North and South Blyth, Northumberland, has been discontinued; that the harbour commissioners have substituted a small motor boat, which is inconvenient; that in this populous district there is much discontent expressed; and can he have the old service re-established?

I have no information in regard to this matter, and I do not appear to have any power to require the re-establishment of the ferry service referred to.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the public inconvenience caused by the failure of the North British Railway Company to provide reasonable facilities for the carriage of passengers, goods, and vehicles over the Burntisland-Granton and Queensferry ferry services; that the last daily sailings are from Granton at 3.35 p.m., from Burntisland at 4.20 p.m., from North Queensferry at 6 p.m., and from South Queensferry at 6.30 p.m.; and that on account of the prohibitive increase of charges for the conveyance of bicycles, motor cycles, and motor cars the use of the main means of road communication between Edinburgh and Fifeshire has been practically closed; and whether he is in a position to cause steps to be taken in the direction of having the services mentioned put under public control, taking into consideration the difference between the Forth ferry services controlled by the North British Railway Company and the Tay ferry service controlled by the Dundee Harbour Commissioners?

In regard to the first and second parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on the 12th April last. I have nothing to add to that reply, and do not feel justified in taking further action in the matter. In regard to the third part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain W. Benn) on the 1st instant, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company have intimated that, on the 14th August next, they will close their carrying business over their own system and any canals connected therewith, also over the River Mersey between Ellesmere Port, Liverpool, Birkenhead, or any upper Mersey ports, and also between their canal and the railway systems via Calverley; that many of the places and districts served by the canal system are not accessible by rail, and the cessation of the service therefore amounts to a withdrawal of reasonable facilities in accordance with Section 2 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1854; whether the Shropshire Union system is leased in perpetuity to the London and North Western Railway Com- pany, Limited; and whether he can take steps to provide that canals owned or controlled by railway companies shall be transferred to bodies controlling water ways or groups of waterways only?

I am aware that the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company, whose undertaking is leased in perpetuity to the. London and North Western Railway, have intimated that they will close their canal carrying business after the 31st August next. They state that they are incurring heavy loss in connection with the operation of their carrying business, and that they are advised that they are under no legal obligation to act as carriers. The canal itself will remain open for navigation by suitable boats subject to the payment of tolls. The suggestion contained in the last sentence of the question raises the problem of the future ownership and administration of the inland waterways of this country, upon which I have very recently received an interim Report from the Committee presided over by the hon. Member himself. I am not yet in a position to express any opinion on that Report.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the sum of £30,220,000, embodied in the total original net estimate, 1921–22, for railway and canal (War) agreements liquidation, will be entirely absorbed in meeting the deficiency in net receipts of the railway companies owing to the coal stoppage and to increased trade depression; whether the £9,000,000 asked for in Supplementary Estimate, No. 129, dated 2nd June, 1921, will be similarly absorbed; and whether the £30,000,000, payable under the railway and canal agreements liquidation for the current year in respect of abnormal wear and tear, etc., must be provided by a further Supplementary Estimate?

As explained in Part III. of the Supplementary Estimate 129, the whole of the original provision and of the supplementary sum is estimated to be required to meet deficiencies in net receipts of the railway agreements and other claims, including the liquidation of the canal agreements. If, in the latter part of the question the hon. Member has in mind the payment proposed in Clause 10 of the Railways Bill, I would refer him to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 15th June to a somewhat similar question by the hon. Member for Islington East (Mr. Raper), a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that during the destruction of the property of Miss Madge Daly, near Limerick, on 9th April, a statement was read by an officer that this destruction was ordered because she did not give notice of an ambush in John Street, Limerick, the previous day; that no accusation was made in that Proclamation that the house was a haunt of rebels; and that Miss Madge Daly was absent in Dublin when both the ambush and the destruction took place?

I am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that the Daly family are well known to be extremists, and that their record for sedition is bad. If Miss Madge Daly, the person named by the officer who read the official communication, was away from home at the time, her sister, Miss Una Daly, was present, and the military authorities have not the slightest doubt that she had knowledge of the murderous attack on Crown forces, planned and carried out in the vicinity. The Commander-in-Chief is satisfied that the military governor was entirely justified in selecting the Daly's house for destruction.

asked the Chief Secretary whether orders have been issued that the conveying of foodstuffs in trawlers from Derry to West Donegal is to cease; and whether West Donegal is dependent on supplies so conveyed since the railway has been closed down?

In order to prevent the shipment of arms into Donegal the sailing of certain trawlers from Londonderry to Donegal has been stopped. Where it has not been destroyed by the inhabitants, Donegal has a good railway system by which supplies can be conveyed.

asked the Chief Secretary in which counties in Ireland is the holding of fairs and markets now prohibited; how many of these are outside the martial law area; and by what authority are they prohibited in such counties?

Fairs and markets are closed outside the martial law area on the order of a competent military authority acting under the powers conferred on him by the Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulation. The area affected and the period of restriction imposed vary at the discretion of the competent military authority and may affect whole counties or a few parishes only. It is not therefore possible to give any exact report as to what counties or parts of counties are under an embargo at any one time. The restrictions are being constantly ordered and removed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a farmer named John Cosgrove was shot dead after being taken from his house at Camlough, county Armagh, on the 13th instant; and whether any arrests have been made?

I have not yet received the finding of the court of inquiry in this case, but from the police report the facts appear to be as stated. Police inquiries are proceeding, but no arrest has yet been reported.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, since the White Paper, entitled "Intercourse between Bolshevism and Sinn Fein," contains only the proposed draft of a treaty drawn up by certain unaccredited Russians in America, a point which is made by President de Valera in a memorandum also published in the White Paper, and since the Russian Government have denied the existence of such a treaty and describe it as an invention, he can say when the White Paper promised by Mr. Attorney-General for Ireland, containing evidence of a connection between the Dail Eireann and the Russian Soviet republic, will be published?

When my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General, in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on the 21st April last, undertook to place a White Paper before the House on the question of intercourse between Bolshevism and Sinn Fein, he was referring to the documents which have since been published in Command Paper 1326.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any political prisoners are detained in Victoria military barracks, Belfast, and for how long have they been there; whether some were detained for four weeks and some for eight weeks without being allowed to exercise or even to attend religious service; and whether he will have searching and independent inquiry made as to the accommodation available and as to the treatment of prisoners?

I am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that there are at present 23 prisoners in Victoria Barracks, Belfast. None of them have been confined there from a date earlier than 14th May last and many of them for much shorter periods. They are accommodated in huts surrounded by a wire enclosure in which they are free to take exercise whenever they wish. On one occasion only have they been required to forgo church service, which was due to the fact that no escort could be spared. Their general accommodation is good, and they are very well treated.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the trial of an officer by general court martial at Chelsea Barracks on charges of dishonesty on 14th June; whether he is aware that the prosecution proved, after finding, that the accused had already been cashiered by general court martial in 1916; whether His Majesty was advised to grant this officer a commission a second time; and whether the former sentence was brought to His Majesty's notice when such advice was given?

I have seen a report of the case in the Press, but the proceedings of the court martial have not yet reached the War Office. I have ascertained that the individual was formerly convicted by general court martial and that when recommended a second time for appointment to a commission he was described by a different name and initial and was consequently not identified.

asked the Secretary of State for War the total annual cost of the Pay Department of the War Office; the total annual cost of the Finance Department; and whether the latter includes the former?

The Royal Army Pay Corps is a part of the Army, not a Department of the War Office; its estimated cost in the current financial year is shown on page 11 of Army Estimates at £499,000. The cost of the Corps of Military Accountants at home and abroad is £423,000; it is also a part of the Army and not a Department of the War Office. The estimated annual cost of the Finance Department of the War Office as at 1st April, 1921, including the Local Audit Staff, is shown on page 100 of the Estimates at £562,930, but this is to be reduced by a proportion of the £276,000 there deducted for reductions of staff in the War Office generally in the course of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many officials in his Department at present receive a salary of £1,000 or over; and how many received such salaries in June, 1914?

The answer to the first part of the question is 21, which includes officials serving in the Middle Eastern Department and the Overseas Settlement Office, which are new additions. The answer to the second part is 12.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the statement of the chairman of the Somerset agricultural instruction committee to the effect that the Ministry of Agriculture has replaced one livestock officer at Bristol by five official inspectors; and what is the reason for this increase?

My attention has been drawn to the statement in question. The district of the livestock officer stationed at Bristol originally comprised the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, Gloucestershire, Hereford and Worcester. As the Ministry's livestock scheme developed, it was found impossible for one livestock officer to deal with the work and the district was accordingly divided, in 1920, into three districts, namely, Somerset and Dorset, in which there is one livestock officer; Gloucester and Wilts, in which there is one livestock officer and an assistant; Hereford, Worcester and Warwick, in which there is also one livestock officer and one assistant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether salaries and bonuses of the Civil Service are not regulated by Statute and alterations in them do not require legislative sanction, and that increases can be voted by the different Departments without prior sanction for them being obtained from the House in the form of Estimates; whether, if this be the case, the Government will undertake not to vote further increases in salaries or bonuses without first submitting to the House Estimates making provision therefor; and whether, in submitting such Estimates, each Department will be requested to notify specifically to the House the proportion of such Estimates which are needed for recommended increases in salaries or bonuses?

When Parliament has voted on the Estimates a round sum for the salaries and expenses of a Department, the Executive have power to deal with the rate of those salaries (not being statutory salaries), and to increase them so long as savings are available on the Department's Vote. If savings are not available, then the excess, like any other excess, requires a Supplementary Vote. In the rare case where a salary is statutory, any increase (whether bonus or permanent) requires specific Parliamentary authority, either by a new statute, or, as a temporary measure, by specific provision of an "extra statu- tory" grant on an Estimate. The present form of Estimates shows bonus separately in one lump, and a comparison (as given in the original Estimate) shows the increased provision for each class of salaries. I do not consider that a change is warranted in this form.

asked the Minister of Transport how many officials in his Department are at present receiving salaries of £1,000 or over; how many of these were taken over from other Government Departments; and what were their salaries in 1914?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Estimates for the current financial year, in which all the posts in the Ministry of Transport are fully set out and from which he will observe that notwithstanding additional appointments which have necessarily been made in connection with the distribution of the new motor taxation, six fewer posts of £1,000 and over are shown than in the Estimates for the preceding financial year. Five officers now receiving £1,000 and over were transferred with their work from other Government Departments, and in addition two others are filling posts of £1,000 and upwards which were on the Road Board Establishment before the transfer of the work of that Department to this Ministry. The salaries of each of the five transferred officers were £1,000 or over in 1914. The reorganisation of the staff of the Ministry will appropriately come up for consideration after railway control ends.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the statement recently made by the Japanese Ambassador in Constantinople to the effect that his Government would be willing to undertake the transport of General Wrangel's troops to the Far East to enable them to assist in the reactionary coup in Vladivostock; and whether he has any information that any other form of assistance has been received by General Verzhbitzky from the Japanese Government?

So far as His Majesty's Government are aware, the Japanese High Commissioner at Constantinople has made no statement with regard to the transportation of General Wrangel's troops to the Far East. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the Trade Agreement made with Russia, the claims will be recognised of English investors in the Russian Internal War Loan of 1916, such investments having been made to help the Allied cause; and, if so, whether the Government would be willing to make loans to British subjects who prove their claims, on the security of the Internal War Loan Bonds, until Russia is in a position to meet its financial liabilities?

With regard to the claims of English subjects against Russia I must refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Declaration of Recognition of Claims which is attached to the Russian Trade Agreement (Command Paper 1207). The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if a British Consul-General has been gazetted to Smyrna and, in that case, to what Government he is accredited; and whether any other consular appointments, and, if so, of what nature, have been made in any part of the former Ottoman Empire?

Sir Harry Lamb has been appointed His Majesty's Consul-General at Smyrna, and Consuls-General have also been appointed at Constantinople and Beyrout. Consuls have been appointed at Aleppo and Damascus, and at Adana, Erzerum, and Trebizond. The officers designated to these last three places are at present employed elsewhere. A Vice-Consul has been appointed to Jeddah. No application has been made to any Government for an exequatur in favour of these officers, and, pending a final settlement of the present situation, they will act as local representatives of His Majesty's High Commissioner at Constantinople.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is giving any assistance, directly or indirectly, to the Greeks in their campaign against the Turks?

I must refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given by the Leader of the House last Thursday.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has caused any admonition to be conveyed to the Greek authorities with reference to the recently reported atrocities?

Representations were made to the Greek Government on receipt of the first report; now that the full reports are in the hands of His Majesty's Government, the French and Italian Governments are being consulted as to any further Allied action.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade why the question of the payment of debts owing by German banks to British nationals in respect to credit balances has not yet been settled by a prompt trial of the proposed test case before the mixed arbitral tribunal; and will he take immediate steps to protect British nationals from being deprived of their property held by German banks during the War?

As indicated in the reply given to my hon. Friend on the 15th instant, an endeavour was first made to settle the question without resort to the mixed arbitral tribunal, but without success. A test case will be brought before the tribunal at the earliest possible date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reference to his answer of 4th May, 1920, as to German reparations, whether the receipts allocated to the Exchequer of the United Kingdom include the amounts collected under the German Reparation Recovery Act; whether a special commission has been appointed to examine claims upon this fund and to make awards out of it pro-ceding on the basis of the strength of the case for compensation, rather than on the amount at which the damage may be assessed: whether any money is available for urgent cases; and to whom immediate application should be made?

No receipts from Germany have as yet been allocated to the Exchequer of the United Kingdom on account of reparation from Germany, and a prior claim in respect of the costs of the British Army of occupation is at present outstanding. It is not expected that any receipts on account of reparation will actually reach the Exchequer until about the end of this year. The hon. and gallant Member will remember that under the arrangement arrived at in May, 1921, the payments made by Germany, including the amounts collected under the Reparation Recovery Act, are allocated to the service of certain series of German bonds. The question of the distribution of these bonds among the participant Powers is now under consideration. No money is therefore available as yet for ex-gratia grants to private individuals, but steps are being taken with a view to setting up the special commission referred to in the statement of the Lord Privy Seal on 4th May, 1920, in order that a beginning may be made with the examination of claims.

asked the Prime Minister whether any. person connected with the German submarine naval command is to be brought to trial for the issue of orders to submarine commanders to sink hospital ships; and, if not, is the British Government a party to this; arrangement?

I have been asked to reply to this question. As already stated, the trials which have taken place, and are to take place immediately, are of cases upon the Allies' preliminary list. It is not in the interest of further proceedings to reply specifically to the first part of the question. No such arrangement as suggested has been entered into

asked the Minister of Pensions why the pension of R. Dickenson, No. 32500, late corporal, Royal Engineers, has been withdrawn, seeing that on medical re-examination his defect was certified as 50 per cent. aggravation by military service; will he say if Dickenson has any right of appeal; and, if so, to what authority?

Corporal Dickenson has already exercised his right of appeal against the decision of the Ministry, and I understand that the case will be heard by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal on the 29th June. In the absence of the papers with the tribunal, I am not in a position to answer the first part of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total revenue

DETAILS OF CHARGES TRANSFERRED FROM LOCAL TO IMPERIAL FUNDS, ETC. Scotland. 1913–14. 1919–20. 1. Charged on Consolidated Fund. £ £ PAYMENTS TO LOCAL TAXATION ACCOUNTS: Increased Agricultural Grant under Section 1 of the Local Taxation Account (Scotland) Act, 1898 (61 and 62 Vict. c. 56) 98,233 98,428 Under Section 17, Finance Act, 1907, Section 88, Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and Sections 17 and 18. Revenue Act, 1911: (1) Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Duties: Equivalent of the proceeds in 1908–9 152,248 152,248 (2) Local Taxation Licence Duties: Equivalent of the proceeds of the Duties on Licences for the sale of intoxicating liquor in 1908–9 189,424 189,424 Equivalent of the proceeds of the Duties on Carriage Licences in 1908–9 64,002 64,002 Other Local Taxation Licences 129,242 137,800 (3) Estate, etc., Duties: Under Finance Act, 1894, in relief of rates generally 349,986 459,392 Under Agricultural Rates Acts and consequential Acts 182,181 181,986 Total charged on the Consolidated Fund 1,165,316 1,283,280 2. Charged on Votes. RATES ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY: Payments and Contributions in lieu 41,838 106,611 Rates on Telegraph Wires, etc. 27,767 32,757 MEDICAL RELIEF: Supply of Vaccine Lymph — 30

received during April and May, 1921; and the total national expenditure during the same period?

As shown in the weekly statement published in the "London Gazette," the Exchequer receipts from 1st April to 28th May were £143,564,421, and the Exchequer issues £159,226,631. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, neither revenue nor expenditure are equally distributed throughout the year, and no reliable inferences can be drawn from figures covering the short period in question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give, in the form of that part of Appendix C of the Return of Public Income and Expenditure, 1908, which related to Scotland, the figures for the years 1913–14 and 1919–20 of the charges transferred from local to imperial funds?

Yes, Sir. The figures are as follow:

Scotland. 1913–14. 1919–20. PAUPER LUNATICS: £ £ Contribution in aid of maintenance* 3 42 (Repayment). (Repayment). CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS—SCOTLAND: Sheriffs' Accounts and Criminal Prosecutions, etc., in Sheriffs' Courts 12,418 15,970 Procurators Fiscal—Salaries 29,203 39,432 PRISONS, REFORMATORIES, ETC.: Prisons transferred to the Government by 40 and 41 Vict. c. 53 exclusive of the cost of the Prison Commissioners Office, but including cost of County Prisoners confined in Perth General Prison, the cost of removal of Convicts from Local Prisons and the maintenance of State Inebriate Reformatories (net) 95,000 136,000 Inebriate Reformatories Pensions 8,000 12,300 Inebriate Reformatories Stationery 800 750 Contributions to Certified Inebriate Reformatories 953 390 Maintenance of children in Reformatory Schools (net) 11,652 16,004 Maintenance of children in Industrial Schools (net) 52,151 106,323 SHERIFF COURT HOUSES: One half of cost of erecting or improving (exclusive of Grants for Maintenance) 4,016 — DISEASES OF ANIMALS: Grant in aid under 53 and 54 Vict. c. 14, and 57 and 58 Vict. c. 57 5,172 4,908 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS AND PESTS: Grants to Local Authorities in aid of the provision of Local Officers working under the general supervision of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland for the purposes of the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts, 1877 and 1907 191 150 Total Charged on Votes 289,158 471,583 TOTAL—SCOTLAND 1,454,474 1,754,863 *These charges were transferred from the Exchequer to the Local Taxation Accounts under the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889 (52–3 Vict. c. 50).

This statement has been prepared on the same basis as Appendix C. of H.C. 258 of 1908. It does not include the various charges which have been imposed on Imperial Funds since 1908, for example:—

Payments to Police Authorities (£718,619 in 1919–20 to make up Local Taxation Grants to-one-half of this expenditure).

Payments to Local Authorities by the General Board of Control for Scotland.

Grants for Highlands and Islands Medical Service (£42,000) and other new grants from Vote-for Scottish Board of Health.

Payments under the Insurance Acts.

Payments under the Old Age Pension Acts.

Payments through the Road Fund under the Roads Act.

Grants for Education.

Grants towards the cost of Registration of Parliamentary Electors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the serious delays existing in repayment of Income Tax; and can repayment be accelerated?

I would invite my hon. and gallant Friend's attention to the reply which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on the 13th June. I am sending him a copy of that reply.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will make inquiries into the reason why the Treasury have refused to exempt from Income Tax the disability pension awarded to Captain (retired) D. A. Hosford, late of the Cavalry Command Depot, Eastbourne; whether he is aware that this officer was, owing to an injury received on duty in India, retired in 1909 with a pension of 3s. 2d. per day payable from British funds, to which was subsequently added an injury pension of £50 per annum payable by the India Office; that in 1914 this officer was recalled to his regiment and served till 1918; that in 1918, owing to a breakdown as a result of his work, this officer was again retired; and that his pension of 3s. 2d. per day was increased to 7s. 4d. per day on the report of his medical board; and on what grounds the disability retired pay of this officer is made liable for Income Tax?

The Income Tax assessment to which my hon. Friend refers would be made, not by the Treasury, but by the Income Tax Commissioners for the Paymaster-General's Department, upon particulars furnished by the Ministry of Pensions. I would refer my hon. Friend to the proviso to Sub-section 2 of Section 16 of the Finance Act, 1919, under whichwhere the amount of any retired pay or pension to which this Section applies is not solely attributable to disablement or disability, the relief conferred by this Section shall extend only to such part as is certified by the Minister of Pensions, after consultation with the appropriate Government Department, to be attributable to disablement or disability. I gather that the question of Captain Hosford's Income Tax liability in respect of his pension is being looked into, and that, if it is found possible to afford him any further relief under the provisions of the law, the appropriate adjustment or repayment of tax will be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the option to any firm desiring to take stock on 30th June in lieu of 31st August provided they agree to make their claim for the return of Excess Profits Duty on that date, 30th June, as a final claim, for the reason that the date of 31st August is very inconvenient for those engaged in the wholesale drapery trade, as the autumn season orders are sent out in August and early September, and consequently the stocks are very heavy at that date?

My right hon. Friend is not prepared to adopt the suggestion made by the hon. Member, which would represent a serious departure from the principle on which the proposals contained in Part I of the First Schedule of the Finance Bill are based.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the subject of the trial, at Pontefract, of Mr. C. T. Woodhead, for making seditious speeches, at which he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment in default of payment; whether he is aware that no one, except Mrs. Woodhead, was allowed to see the prisoner, so that he was unable to instruct counsel for the defence; and that two of the prisoner's friends attended the court to give evidence, but were informed that they would not be allowed to go into the court as witnesses?

I have made inquiries in this case. I find that the statement that Mrs. Woodhead only was allowed to see the prisoner is incorrect, and that he made no application to instruct a solicitor or counsel; had such an application been made, facilities would have been given. The prisoner stated in court that he did not desire to give evidence or to call witnesses.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received representations in reference to the sentence passed on a girl named Roberts convicted of the murder of her infant child at Hinckley; and whether, in view of the feeling aroused by the passing of the death sentence in such cases, he can see his way to introduce into the House of Commons a Bill giving discretionary powers to the judge to pass a sentence other than death?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I will send the hon. Member the draft of a Bill dealing with this matter, which Was agreed to by the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Attorney-general in 1910. If a Bill on those lines were introduced and proved to be uncontroversial, I think it might be passed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a Return is available—if not, whether it will be prepared—showing the contribution in personnel made by native races in the Dependencies during the War, whether as military or labour units, with the casualties suffered by these forces?

Material is being collected which will eventually give what the hon. Member desires, but, in order to provide accurate particulars, further time is required. It is presumed that the question only refers to the Colonies and Protectorates under the Colonial Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government have decided to increase the yearly grant to the British Cotton-Growing Association from £50,000 to £100,000; whether the House will have an opportunity of discussing this decision; and whether this decision was made without the consent of the House?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on Monday last about the proposals of the Government in this matter. The House will have an opportunity of discussing these proposals before they are brought into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for India what amount of the loan of £7,500,000 sterling raised in this country for the Indian Government to be spent in Great Britain on railway material has yet been spent?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. S. Roberts) on 9th June, in which I stated that about £900,000 had been spent on Indian railway capital account in this country in May last. As funds used for railway capital expenditure are derived from various sources, it is not at this moment possible to earmark particular items as chargeable against particular receipts, though, in view of the statement in the prospectus of the recent loan, I have arranged for the preparation of an account of expenditure on railway material in this country for Indian railway purposes. It may interest the hon. Member to know that the total expenditure on Indian railway capital account to be financed by the India Office in 1921–22 is estimated at about £14,000,000.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to statements reported in the public Press that the Board of Education have decided that a local education authority has no legal power to require a child to remain at school till the end of the school term in which it attains the age of 14; whether the Board of Education have given such decision; and, if so, on what grounds?

My attention has been called to statements of this nature. The Board of Education have given no such decision and are aware of no decision by the Courts to that effect. The matter is governed by Section 9 of the Education Act, 1918, which provides that if a child who is attending a public elementary school attains any year of age during the school term he shall not, for the purpose of any enactment or byelaw relating to school attendance, be deemed to have attained that year of age until the end of the term.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now able to state on what date the Government will introduce the Bill to deal with the recommendations of Lord Parmoor's Committee on Industrial Insurance?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. The question is under consideration and I hope to be able to make a statement at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether an application has been received from the British Association of Chemists, as representing the technical chemists employed in the dyestuffs making and using industries, for representation on the Development Committee to be set up under the provisions of the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act, 1920; and, if the answer is in the affirmative, why no appointment has been made, seeing that such representation is in the public interest?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. My object has been to secure a Committee which shall be fully representative for the purposes in view, but this does not imply (and I cannot undertake) that a representative of each individual association shall be appointed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to set up the Development Committee under the provisions of the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act, 1920, observing that no announcement has been made of any appointments to this Committee?

Satisfactory progress has been made in the constitution of this Committee, and I hope to be able to make an announcement on the subject at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the nature of the investigation which took place to determine the causes of the losses of stores, amounting to £474,221, which took place at 163 store depots, according to the statement on page 9 of the Ministry of Munitions Appropriation Account, 1919–20?

I have been asked to answer this question. The deficiencies were disclosed on Departmental Audit by the Ministry of Munitions, and were due to the fact that the ledger balances were unreliable owing to War conditions. I may say that surpluses amounting to £459,883 were disclosed on the same audit, and that it is not considered that any actual losses of appreciable amount have been incurred.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that a Grimsby firm of trawlers is purchasing a Dutch fleet of motor fishing vessels, and that they intend running them under a foreign flag with a foreign crew, or crews; and can he take any steps to protect British fishermen from such action?

I have been asked to reply. The Board of Trade have received no information about the transaction to which the hon. Member refers, and, so far as I am aware, there is no power to interfere with transactions of this kind.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the new rates of wages submitted to him by the Grocery and Provision Trade Board were approved by a majority of only three votes, 28 voting for and 25 against the proposed increase; that when these rates were so approved the cost of living was 175 per cent. above 1914 whereas at this time the cost has fallen to 128 per cent. above 1914; and that should these rates be confirmed it would not only mean an immediate increase in the cost of food to the public but would add to the unemployment difficulty: and whether, in the circumstances, he will consider the desirability of not confirming the rates but will refer them back to the Board for reconsideration?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers, of which I am sending him copies, given on 8th and 14th June to questions on this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) if he is aware that the West Ham Board of Guardians view with alarm the proposals to reduce the rate of unemployment benefit to 15s. per week for men and 12s. for women, in view of their knowledge of the large increase in out-door relief such a reduction would involve; that up to the present time the guardians have been called upon to expend a sum of £147,710 in relief and wages to the unemployed; that at the present time the cost of out-relief in the union to all classes is exceeding £9,000 per week or at a rate of very nearly £500,000 per annum; and that if the guardians in deciding upon the amount of relief to be given in each particular case deduct the amount of insurance benefit received, the reduction in such benefit will mean an increase in the out-relief by the amount of such reduction and will mean relief to the Unemployment Fund at the expense of the local rates; if he will take action in the matter;

(2) If he is aware that about 1,500 branches belonging to the National Union of General Workers have protested against the proposals to reduce the rate of unemployment pay to 15s. for men and 12s. for women; that members belonging to other trade unions view with alarm the proposals of the Government; and if he will take action in the matter?

For the reasons stated by my right hon. Friend on the Second Reading of the Unemployment Insurance Bill on Wednesday last, we can hold out no hope of maintaining the existing rates of unemployment benefit.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, to enable the public to keep in touch with the many changes which are constantly being made, he will, in future, devote one of the earlier pages in the Telephone Directory to a resumé of the chief postal and telegraphic rates then prevailing, so that householders can preserve it in a compact and accessible form?

I doubt whether the inclusion of this information in the Telephone Directory would be of much value to the public or whether the Directory would be generally consulted for this purpose. The next issue of the Directory will not take place until October, when the public should be well accustomed to the alterations of rate which have recently been introduced. Full information as to postal and telegraph charges generally is contained in the Post Office Guide.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, having regard to the increasing number, he will consider the desirability of reverting to the practice of circulating once a week with the Papers a list of the Rules, Orders, &c., which have been presented during the Session and are required by Statute to lie upon the Table of the House for an appointed number of days which is still unexpired; and, in the event of his seeing fit to comply with this request, that each list shall state that such Rules and Orders can be obtained in the Vote Office if printed and in the Library if in manuscript?

This list, which was previously circulated to Members, was, in the interest of economy, placed on the pink paper during the War. It is accordingly available to any Member who asks for it at the Vote Office. It is suggested that the additional expense involved in making this list of general circulation is hardly justified at the present moment. The Orders comprised in the list, like all other Parliamentary Papers, can be seen in the Library and, when printed, obtained at the Vote Office.