asked the Minister of Pensions the amount of administrative expenses of local war pensions committees for the year ending 31st December, 1918, and 31st December, 1920?

inquired as to the number of persons employed on the staff of the Pensions Ministry on 31st December, 1918, and 31st December, 1920; and the number of persons receiving salaries of £500 per annum or over, including bonuses, on 31st December, 1918, and 31st December, 1920?

asked the Minister of Pensions how many officials in his Depart- ment at present receive a salary of £l,000, including war bonus, or over; and how many received a salary of £1,000, or over, in June, 1914?

There can be no just comparison between 1918 and 1920. From 1918 onwards the work of War Pensions Committees was, as my hon. Friend knows, largely increased. Further, the staff of local committees which in 1918 was mainly voluntary is now employed on a salaried basis. In 1918, before the extension of the work due to demobilisation and other causes, the approximate amount of the administrative expenses of local committees was £500,000. In 1920 it was £1,200,000. This increasing expenditure was one of the reasons which actuated my right hon. Friend in appointing the Departmental Committee of Inquiry, over which I preside. As regards the staff in the direct employ of the Ministry, the numbers on the dates mentioned in 1918 and 1920 were 9,036 and 17,804 respectively, exclusive of hospital staff. The present number of officials (including 151 medical officers employed on a temporary basis) who are in receipt of salaries of £1,000 a year or more, including bonuses, is 184. The number receiving £500 a year, or over, including bonuses at the dates mentioned in 1918 and 1920, were respectively 268 (including 160 medical officers) and 880 (including 642 medical officers).

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is a plain example of the superficial interest taken by the hon. Member for Dartford—who put down Question No. 11—in the ex-service man, as he evidently does not know that the, Ministry of Pensions is a product of the War?

It apparently is the case that the hon. Member for Dartford is not aware of the fact that in 1914 there was no Pensions Ministry.

asked the Minister of Labour how many officials in his Department at present receive a salary of £1,000, including War bonus, or over; and how many received a salary of £1,000, or over, in June, 1914?

The Ministry of Labour was not established until the end of 1916, and the comparative statement asked for by the hon. Member cannot therefore be made. The cost of living bonus payable to civil servants is a fluctuating quantity, and varies with the cost of living index figures. The bonus rate is due for revision on the 1st September next. It is not therefore possible to state with precision the number of officers who will receive a total remuneration, inclusive of bonus, of £1,000 or over in the present financial year. The number of officers whose rate of remuneration, exclusive of bonus, reaches or exceeds £1,000 a year at the present time is 37.

asked the Postmaster-General the approximate number of his headquarters' and local staff who are entitled to an annual holiday of over four weeks' duration?

In the Post Office service as a whole the number is approximately 9,000. Of these the vast majority are entitled to 27 working days' leave.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether any official is entitled to the four weeks, and, if so, is he compelled to take the holiday, whether he wants it or not?

I have not discovered any case where men do not want to take the holiday. I should like to have particulars. The vast majority are entitled to 27 working days' leave.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of pensions awarded by each region during the six months ending 31st December, 1920, and the administrative expenses of each regional headquarters during the same period?

In view of the number of figures involved, I am circulating the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT. But I may say briefly that 574,299 applications were considered during the period mentioned, 532,659 awards were made, and 41,640 claims rejected. The total expenditure for the regions incurred in administration during that period was £689,728.

The figures are as follow: 1ST JULY—31ST DECEMBER, 1920. Region No. of Awards made.* Total Expenditure incurred in Administration. † Scotland 51,883 70,200 Northern 34,932 38,094 North Western 56,796 82,999 Yorkshire 51,552 59,859 Wales 31,772 49,838 West Midlands 47,708 56,532 East Midlands 37,027 38,921 South-Western 38,611 48,455 London 151,538 185,297 Ulster 12,542 24,043 South Ireland 18,298 35,490 Totals 532,659 689,728 * In addition 41,640 claims were examined and rejected. † Including Regional Administration expenses for medical treatment, local administration, etc.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the present practice of deducting the whole amount of pension issuable in respect of a child when it is obliged to enter a rate-aided institution bears very hardly on the mother where there is more than one child; and whether he will adopt the procedure which prevailed, with regard to separation allowances, during the War and pool the children's allowances, one share of the pool being deducted in respect of each child who has to enter an infirmary or other rate-aided institution?

Recent investigations showed that of the children mentioned approximately 70 per cent. are younger children. I am afraid, therefore, that my hon. Friend's proposal would, in general, prove to be disadvantageous to the mother, and my right hon. Friend is not prepared to accept it.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Mr. Colivet is at present interned without charge at Spike Island; and whether permission was refused for him to visit his dying wife?

Owing to the sentiments expressed by internees that parole given to a British officer was not binding and to the incitement by a well-known public man, himself interned, encouraging his fellow internees to break their parole, it has been necessary to prohibit parole altogether. One man Francis O'Donnell, actually failed to keep his word, and all internees have been informed that this man is directly responsible for the withdrawal of the privilege. Mr. Colivet applied for parole after the death of his wife, but no exception could be made in his case. He is at present in Spike Island.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think the reasons he has advanced sufficient to prevent this man —a Member of this House—having permission to go on parole to visit his dying wife?

The application, as I understand, was made after the lady's death.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the resolution passed by the Limerick Town Council on the subject, drawing attention to the full facts of the case?

No, Sir.

asked the Chief Secretary if single officers in Irish prisons are still denied the domestic facilities and lodging allowances conceded in England, and will he take steps to have the assimilation scheme carried out without the usual delay; is he aware that many of the smaller prisons are understaffed, resulting in long hours of duty and discontent among the staff; and will he call for a Report from the governors on the matter?

The concessions to single officers in Ireland in the matter of sub- sistence and detention allowances are not as extensive as in England, although they are so framed as to prevent any financial loss to such officers. The question of assimilating allowances generally is, however, being considered. I am aware that the prison officers throughout the Irish prisons service are working cheerfully under difficult conditions, but I am not aware of any special grievance in any prison which can be attributed to shortage of staff.

asked the Chief Secretary (1) whether a woman named Mrs. Foley, aged nearly 80, was shot at Carriglea, near Dungarvan, by a man in a military or police lorry while she was gathering sticks by the riverside; whether an inquiry has been held; and what reason is given for the killing of this woman;

(2) whether he is aware that a; woman named Mrs. Foley, aged nearly 80, was shot at Carriglea, near Dungarvan, by a man in a military or police lorry while she was gathering sticks by the riverside; whether an inquiry has been held; and what reason is given for the killing of this inoffensive woman?

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the shooting by the forces of the Crown, on 28th May, of Mrs. Mary Foley of Garryroe, near Dungarvan, County Waterford; whether he is aware that this woman was 70 years of age; that at the time of her being shot she was standing in a field near her home with no other companions than two small children; and that after she had been shot, at about 3 p.m., no medical assistance was rendered by the military authorities until 9 p.m., by which time Mrs. Foley was dead; and whether he is prepared to make any statement on the subject?

I am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that while Mrs. Foley with her two children were engaged in picking up sticks in a field near her home a military patrol operating in the district was fired at from the direction of the field in which this unfortunate woman was standing. The fire was returned and Mrs. Foley was accidentally wounded. This happened at 3.15 in the afternoon and the officer in command summoned civilians to help the wounded woman and then continued the pursuit of the rebels. Help was at hand within ten minutes, but a doctor sent for by the civilians did not arrive until 6.40 p.m. a quarter of an hour after Mrs. Foley had died.

asked the Chief Secretary whether an inquiry has yet been held into the killing of three men named Ryan, Ahern, and Flynn, at Carigtwohill, County Cork, on the 17th May, while in custody of a party of military; and if so, what is its finding?

The Court of Inquiry found that these men were shot by Crown forces in the exercise of their duty and that no blame attached to any member of the Crown forces concerned. Ryan and Ahern were shot in an attempt to escape from military escort after being warned that in the event of any such attempt they would be fired on. In the case of Richard Flynn a military party which had been sent to arrest him was fired on from the house and Flynn himself was shot while running out from the back door. His son Timothy Flynn who attempted to ecape with Ryan and Ahern was wounded.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the destruction of houses at Kingswilliamstown, County Kerry, destroyed on the 29th January, was carried out by order of an officer and, if so, of what rank; and whether any disciplinary action has been taken in view of his exceeding his powers on that occasion?

The circumstances of this case were fully described in my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's reply to the hon. Member last Thursday. The officer who was in charge of the auxiliary police on this occasion has since been murdered.

asked the Chief Secretary whether an inquiry has been held into the death of Patrick Hickey, of Inniskeen, County Cork, who was shot dead on 25th May; and whether any arrests have been made?

The Court of Inquiry in lieu of inquest in the case of Patrick Hickey, Laravotta, County Cork, found that the deceased was accidentally shot by the military during a conflict with rebels who had refused to halt when called upon and were endeavouring to escape-across the bog where the unfortunate man was turf cutting.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the result of the inquiry into the killing of John Quinn and wounding of Patrick Walsh, at Kilmanagh, County Kilkenny, on the 21st May last?

I have not yet received the finding of the Court of Inquiry in the case of Quinn, but according to the police report he and Walsh formed part of a rebel force 300 strong which occupied the village of Kilmanagh on 12th May. On the following day, that is, 13th May, Crown forces came into contact with a portion of this column. The rebels opened fire, which was replied to by the Crown forces, with the result that Quinn was killed and Walsh, who had been recently released after serving a sentence of imprisonment, was wounded.

asked the Chief Secretary whether an inquiry has been held into the death of John Sheehan, of Collee, Listowel, stated to have been shot dead by members of the Crown forces on the 25th May; and what is its finding?

I have not yet received the report of the Court of Inquiry in this case, but according to the police report Sheehan was shot by Crown forces after refusing to halt when challenged. In his possession were found a fully-loaded revolver, 15 rounds of flat-nosed revolver ammunition, a railway ticket for London, and a number of London addresses.

asked the Chief Secretary whether an inquiry has been held into the death of Michael Mullooly, said to have been shot by members of the Crown forces on 24th March at Kiltrustan, County Roscommon; and with what result?

The Court of Inquiry in this ease found that deceased was shot by a member of the Crown forces in the execution of his duty.

asked the Chief Secretary whether arrests have yet been made in connection with the death of Michael Ryan, of Kilfeakle, County Tipperary, who was found dead on the road on the 19th February?

No arrest has been made in this case. The Court of Inquiry found that Ryan had been wilfully murdered by some person or persons unknown.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to, the murder of John Murphy, B.A., national school teacher, at Ballinalee, County Longford; whether he is aware that in the early hours of Thursday, 26th May, six masked and armed men, wearing light raincoats and rubber-soled shoes, came to his home and dragged him away, despite the protestations of his wife and himself, and shot him dead a little distance from his home; whether at the military inquiry next day the widow stated that the murderers spoke with a marked English accent. that she could identify some of them, and that she was prepared to swear that they were members of the auxiliary forces stationed at Ballinalee Barracks, about half a mile from the scene of the murder; whether relatives of the widow state that they saw members of the auxiliary forces on the morning after the murder carefully erasing all traces of footprints when they came with the county inspector to investigate the crime; whether he is aware that there was no charge made against the late Mr. Murphy and that he had no connection with politics; whether he can state who was responsible for censoring the evidence at the inquiry and deleting that portion of the evidence which pointed to the crime having been committed by the Crown forces; and what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?

I have asked the Commander-in-Chief to have inquiry made into the very grave allegations contained in the hon. Member's question which I hope he will repeat at a later date. In the meantime it would be of material assistance to me if he could see his way to put me in possession of the evidence on which these allegations are based.

Certainly. You can get that immediately.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the murder of two brothers, Patrick and John Watters, in Dundalk, on Saturday last, 18th June; whether about 2 o'clock on that morning a party of armed men entered the licensed premises in Barrack Street, Dundalk, occupied by Mrs. Watters, her three sons, and two daughters; whether they proceeded to the bedrooms occupied by Patrick and John, and despite the appeals of their mother and sisters, took the boys out of the house, barefooted, and clad only in shirts and trousers; whether they marched the boys in single file before them along the streets; whether Mrs. Watters states that as her sons walked along they were shot at several times and fell on the footpath; whether Patrick was then placed against a wall and shot dead, after which the other boy was taken about 20 yards further and also shot dead: and whether the Government intend to take any action to find the murderers and bring them to justice?

I have not received the result of the Court of Inquiry in lieu of inquest on these men, but according to the police report they were taken from their beds at 2 a.m. last Saturday by two armed men who are stated to have worn caps and trench coats and were subsequently shot in the street a few yards from their house. Another brother was looked for by the murderers but succeeded in getting away. The police are pursuing their enquiries, but up to the present have made no arrests.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has yet received the further Report with regard to the charge brought against two cadets of intimidation at the fire brigade station, at Balls-bridge, Dublin?

I have nothing to add to the reply which was given to the hon. Member on 9th June.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the 4th June the Chief Secretary stated that a Report would be called for? Has that Report been received, and will it be communicated to the House?

Yes, Sir, and if my hon. Friend will refer to the answer, he will find that the matter has been gone into.

I have not seen the Report.

asked the Prime Minister whether the question of compensation for the destruction of property where the victims are innocent has been considered by the Cabinet?

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to a question on this subject asked by the hon. and gallant Member on the 16th instant.

In view of the constant assurances we have had that this question of compensation to innocent victims is being considered, may I ask the Leader of the House when we may expect a decision?

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman had my work to do, he would understand my difficulty in fixing a definite date.

Has this question ever been brought before the Cabinet at all?

I do not know that I am called upon to answer questions as to what has or what has not been brought before the Cabinet, and there certainly are many occasions on which I should decline to do so. Being, however, always desirous of satisfying curiosity where I can, I may tell the hon. Member that the answer to his question is in the affirmative.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it has been constantly stated in this House that this question is receiving Cabinet attention, and, as the matter merits something more than a flippant reference, can the right hon. Gentleman give me an answer.

Since the right hon. Gentleman has been generous enough to give me an answer in the affirmative, may I ask what has been the decision of the Cabinet in this matter, and when that decision will be announced to the House?

The decision of the Cabinet was that the time has not arrived to take a decision upon the question.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the state of unrest existing in Ireland, he will consider the desirability of making it obligatory on all persons entering and leaving Ireland to be in possession of passports?

Yes, Sir. This question will be considered by the Government.

asked the Chief Secretary what report he has received as regards the wounding of John Mase, a boy aged four, at Thurles, County Tipperary, on the 10th April?

The Commander-in-Chief informs me that careful inquiries have been made into the wounding of this child, but that no definite information is forthcoming. There were no Crown forces in the neighbourhood on that day, and it can only be presumed that the boy was accidentally shot by rebels, who were said to have been in the locality on the date of the occurrence.

Does the right hon. Gentleman believe any further inquiry will be instituted in this matter?

Yes; the police will continue their inquiries, and try to elicit further information.

I will put a further question down next week.

asked the Chief Secretary how many police are under arrest for the beating of prisoners, which was admitted at two separate courts-martial at Limerick lately; and when are they to be put on trial?

The Court of Inquiry which is being held to obtain evidence has not yet reported.

When may we expect that report?

Very shortly.

Has not a promise already been given by the Chief Secretary that when hon. Members put down questions and they are told a report is not forthcoming, a copy will be sent to them, and whether that course will be pursued in future?

I am not aware that my right hon. Friend made a promise, but I will look it up and consult him. If he did, it will be adhered to.

What action was taken, in the case referred to, of the man who beat the two prisoners who were tried at Limerick and were condemned by the words of the Judge Advocate?

They were not condemned by the words of the Judge Advocate. They will be tried in the ordinary way.

When will they be tried?

The trial is proceeding at present.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any investigation was made at the Court of Inquiry into the killing of three men at Castle Connell into the charge that dum-dum bullets were used by the police on that occasion?

No evidence in regard to the alleged use of dum-dum bullets by members of the Crown forces at Castle Connell was given at the Court of Inquiry, but this matter has since been carefully inquired into by the Commander-in-Chief, who is satisfied, as a result of his investigations, that the allegation is entirely unfounded.

Is it not a fact that the Government refused to take the evidence of a well-known London surgeon, who had it in his possession?

The well-known London surgeon was not prepared to go to Ireland.

Was the well-known London surgeon prevented from going for fear of being murdered by the forces of the Crown?

asked the Chief Secretary whether any inquiry has been held into the shooting of James Kane, in Belfast, on the 7th March; and whether any arrests have been made?

An inquest was held in this case and the verdict returned was one of suicide during temporary insanity.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the closing of creameries is a punishment for the cutting up of roads and damage to bridges; if so, whether he is aware that such damage is usually believed to be the work of so-called flying columns; and whether, since the action of compulsory closing is severe and calculated to lead to disaffection through the penalisation of persons innocent of offence and is an injury to the economic position of the district affected, he will reconsider this policy?

The circumstances in which creameries are temporarily closed in the martial law area were fully stated in my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's reply to the hon. Member for Leith on 30th May. Before taking such action the military governor gives very careful consideration to all the local conditions.

In taking that action, is any preferential treatment given between one creamery and another in the same area, and if cases be brought before his notice, will he see into the matter.

No preferential treatment is given. The creameries are not closed indiscriminately, but according as to whether they are used as meeting places for rebels.

Is any opportunity given to those in charge of the creameries to get rid of the stocks they may have in hand rather than let them perish?

I must ask for notice.

asked the Chief Secretary how many creameries have now been closed by official order; how many of these are inside and outside the martial law area, respectively; and, in the latter case, by what authority the closing is, carried out?

I am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that the number of creameries which have been closed by order of the military authority is 33. Fourteen of these are still under restriction, the remainder having been allowed to reopen. All these creameries are in the martial law area.

Could not the authorities in Ireland put someone in charge of the creameries to prevent, as he says, their being made a meeting place for anyone, so that the industry itself could be carried on?

It would involve a considerable military force, because the result would be that the places would probably be surrounded by a large number of rebels, and if there were only a few men in charge they might all be murdered. But I will submit the suggestion.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of withdrawing the military from these areas where the creameries exist?

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware of the affidavit of Major Wake, of the Auxiliary Division, summarised in the Press of 24th May, to the effect that immediately prior to his dismissal an inquiry was held by him into the Trim looting case; and whether it is to be understood that no such inquiry was in fact carried out by this officer?

I have nothing to add to the reply given last Thursday to the hon. and gallant Member.

Is not an inquiry going to be made into the very serious statements made by this officer?

The trial of these men has taken place, a number having been convicted and a number acquitted. The court before which it took place could call for any documents it wished, arid they were supplied to it.

That is not the question I asked. My question is about Major Wake and not about anyone who is under trial.

The question I am asked is with reference to Major Wake in connection with the Trim looting case. It was the Trim looting case that was tried before a court martial and very fully investigated. Major Wake did not tender himself as a witness and the court did not call for any statement from him.

asked the Chief Secretary how many of the five cadets arrested by General Crozier to stand trial in connection with the looting near Trim have now been released and how many of the 26 whose services were dispensed with by him have now been reinstated; and whether sentence has yet been promulgated on any of those who were tried?

The five cadets who were originally placed under close arrest have now been tried. One of them was acquitted and released and the other four are awaiting promulgation of sentence. Eighteen of the cadets whose services were dispensed with by General Crozier have been reinstated. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether on 23rd March, at an investigation into the looting at Trim, a statement was signed by General Crozier to the effect that certain documents and exhibits collected by him at his first investigation were then missing, in particular a declaration extracted at the point of the revolver from one of the victims of the looting; whether this statement of General Crozier's is still in existence; and, if not, whether he will have searching investigations made into its loss?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to a similar question by him on Thursday last. I cannot undertake to discuss the details of that evidence or to add anything to what he has already said on the subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the answer I got last Thursday did not deal with this question at all and that is why I have repeated it to-day? May I not have an answer?

I have informed the hon. and gallant Gentleman that the case has already been disposed of by the Court. A subpoena was served on General Crozier to attend, but he sent a medical certificate that he was unable to attend.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise the serious allegation contained in this question, that certain material evidence was destroyed?

No material evidence was destroyed and no such allegation was made.

How can the right hon. Gentleman make that statement when he refuses to examine General Crozier on the point?

There was no refusal to examine General Crozier. It was General Crozier's own refusal.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to say General Crozier's statement was never in existence?

As far as my information extends, it was not.

asked the Chief Secretary in how many counties in Ireland is the use of bicycles now prohibited; whether this prohibition affects all the inhabitants or merely those who are suspected of having Sinn Fein sympathies; and whether the same prohibition applies to the use of motor cars in the districts concerned?

The use of motor cars, motor cycles, and pedal cycles between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. in the martial law area was forbidden by a Proclamation on the 7th January last, and in certain districts cycles have been prohibited entirely. As regards counties outside the martial law area, the use of motor cars, motor cycles, and pedal cycles is forbidden during curfew hours in Carlow, Queen's County, Westmeath, Roscommon, Longford, Leitrim, Sligo, and the Dunlavin district of Wicklow. Similar prohibition is now to be enforced around Athlone. Pedal bicycles are totally prohibited in King's County and within a radius of 10 miles from Westport, Castle-bar, Foxford, and Gort.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Southern Parliament of Ireland has been summoned by Proclamation for the 28th June; whether he is aware that more than half the elected representatives belonging to that Assembly are either in prison or on the run from Government agents; whether the Act setting up the Southern Parliament provides that, unless half the elected representatives comply with specified formalities and take their seats on the convocation of this Parliament, Crown Colony government will be substituted; whether, as the action of the Government in detaining in prison and otherwise inhibiting the majority of the Members elected to the Southern Parliament precludes the possibility of its meeting in accordance with the provisions of the Government of Ireland Act, he will take steps to revoke the Proclamation summoning the Southern Parliament; and, if not, what action the Government propose to take in the circumstances?

My right hon. Friend is in Ireland to-day, and the question raised by the hon. Member is now being considered by him on the spot. The hon. Member can rest assured that the arrangements for the meeting of the Southern Parliament will be communicated to this House without delay, and that the aspect of the case put forward by the hon. Member has not been lost sight of by His Majesty's Government.

Does the right hon. Gentleman seriously tell the House and the country that they intend to summon a Parliament to meet, half of the Members of which are either in prison or being hounded by the Government, and is he going to call a Parliament together with the Senators elected by the peers refusing to act, and will he tell the House and the country when we shall have an end of this tragic farce?

If any of the Gentlemen who are in prison through their own fault, and not that of the Government, will communicate to my right hon. Friend (the Chief Secretary) their wish to attend, I am sure he will make arrangements to enable them to do so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House the steps he proposes to take to deal with the Senators of this Parliament who have absolutely declined to go there, and have so stated it to him, to the Prime Minister, and to all his other right hon. Friends.

Is it not a fact that the gentlemen who have been elected to the Southern Senate have only said that they will not go to Parliament if the Members of the Lower House do not go there?

Would you like to go?

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to a raid carried out on Friday last, 17th June, by the Ulster special police; whether he is aware that the houses of practically all the Catholics in Ballymena were raided, the system being to place in each house at about 4 o'clock a.m. two or three special constables who, in most cases, separated the men and women in different rooms and kept them there until an officer arrived to carry out a search, which meant that in many cases people were kept in this position from 4 o'clock up to 9 or 10 o'clock; that in most cases the special constables adopted a very aggresive and provocative attitude; that in the case of one leading merchant the officer in charge took the keys from the assistant manager at his residence and, accompanied by two constables, entered the business premises, which contained valuable goods and securities, and remained there for almost a half hour without informing the owner that any raid was intended and unaccompanied by any representative of the owner; that in the case of a local hotel special constables who were not accompanied by an officer burst in the door and went through the hotel holding up every one in the house at the point of the revolver, and entered the room of an old lady about 80 years of age, a confirmed invalid, and ordered her to get out of bed; whether he can state who was responsible for this raid and for what purpose it was carried out; whether the instructions issued by the Government are that the district inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary, as executive officer for the district, should be consulted prior to such raids; whether the district inspector in Ballymena was consulted about this raid; whether there has been a clear breach of discipline; and whether he will cause a full and searching inquiry to be made into the matter with a view to ascertaining who were the parties responsible for this attack on the liberties and rights of the Catholic population of Ballymena?

I am having inquiry made into these allegations. I have had very short notice of the question, and shall be glad if the hon. Member will postpone it to a later date.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention: has been called to the burning of the village of Knockcroghery, county Ros- common, on Monday night last, 20th June; whether a force of armed and masked men arrived in the village in motor cars, and without giving the occupants of the houses an opportunity of dressing or removing any of their property, proceeded to burn the building; whether a fusillade of rifle and revolver firing was carried on during the operations, the inhabitants having to fly from their burning homes into the fields in their night attire; whether only three houses in the village escaped destruction; and what steps have been taken to bring to justice those responsible for this barbarous outrage?

According to a police report which I have received, a party of armed and disguised men invaded the village of Knockcroghery about 1 a.m. on the 21st instant, and proceeded to burn a number of houses in the village. The occupiers of the houses were turned out in their night attire, and were not given any opportunity of saving any part of their property. The report does not state that a fusillade of fire was carried on during the destruction, but mentions that one man was fired upon though not injured. The inhabitants of the village are not able to identify any of the persons who committed these outrages, but the matter is being carefully investigated by the police and military authorities.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman inform the House what is the character of investigation that is taking place into this outrage?

Inquiry has been made through the Royal Irish Constabulary and the military authorities in reference to this matter. The Royal Irish Constabulary are very actively engaged in trying to trace the perpetrators.

As we have not the slightest hope that anything will come out of this investigation, may I ask, as he has now admitted, that a whole village has been practically destroyed by armed men in the dead of the night, whether he will appoint an impartial inquiry to investigate this matter and try and get at the truth about something in Ireland?

Were there any of these assassinations or murders in the neighbourhood just before this occurred?

No, not in that neighbourhood. General Lambert was murdered about 10 miles away, on the other side of Lough Ree.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman take steps to have some impartial tribunal appointed to inquire into this wholesale destruction of an Irish village? We have not been able to find the malefactors guilty of any of these crimes by these tribunals which he sets up, and we want to get at the truth about something in Ireland.

It will be necessary to try and ascertain the perpetrators before there can be any question of an inquiry.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Council of the League of Nations has approved a Budget for 1922 of expenditure of £1,388,000; and what will be the liability of Great Britain in this respect?

The League's Budget for 1922 forms one of the items on the agenda of the Council Meeting now being held at Geneva, but I have no information as to whether the item has yet been taken. As pointed out, however, to the hon. and gallant Member in answer to his question of the 8th instant, the expenditure of the League is decided by the Assembly and not by the Council, and the Budget for 1922 would not, therefore, in any case, become operative until it had received the approval of the Assembly.

asked the Prime Minister if he has received a resolution from the Liverpool City Branch of the League of Nations Union expressing the opinion that the Conventions adopted at the International Labour Conference of the League of Nations should be submitted to Parliament as a competent authority; and whether he is in a position to announce a favourable reply?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has received the resolution referred to. The point raised in the question was dealt with fully by my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General in his speech of the 27th May, to which I would refer my hon. Friend. As I stated yesterday, we hope to arrange for a further discussion on the subject of these Conventions on Friday in next week.

May I at this point say what I ought to have said at once, that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister asked me to express to the House his regret that he is not present to answer these questions himself to-day. He has thought it right, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, to meet the King on his arrival at Euston.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to a condition of legalised lawlessness now prevalent in the coal-mining areas of Great Britain, which condition is made possible by the Trades Disputes Act, 1906; and, for the welfare and safety of the community, will the Government repeal or amend the Act in question?

Nothing has so far occurred which would justify so drastic and provocative a remedy.

Where is this legalised lawlessness in Britain, and what is it?

Is amending an Act a very extreme form of action?

asked the Prime Minister if he will direct an inquiry as to the total payments to miners in Glamorganshire from public sources in respect of unemployment pay, parish relief, feeding of children, or otherwise?

No such payments are made to miners who are unemployed in consequence of the coal stoppage.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the present average pit-head price of coal in the chief coal producing countries of the world apart from our own?

As the answer is long, and involves a number of figures, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the answer: —

The available information regarding the pit-head price of coal in other countries is not sufficient to enable average prices for all coal raised to be determined, but the particulars below give some representative price quotations for U.S.A., France, Belgium, and Germany. It should be borne in mind that published market prices cover a great variety of grades, the relative importance of which is not fully known, and such prices do not usually include coal actually delivered under contract.

The various currencies are converted at the average rate of exchange in London for the period concerned.

United States of America. April, 1921.

Anthracite, stove, f.o.r. mine, 37s. 9d. to 41s. 6d. per ton.

Bituminous "run of mine," f.o.r. mine, Fairmont, West Virginia, 9s. 6d. to 11s. 6d. per ton.

(From "Commerce Monthly" issued by New York National Bank of Commerce.)

France. June, 1921.

Prices in the Nord and Pas de Calais districts, free on wagon at mine, are given at from 30s. to 60s. per ton avoirdupois, according to grade. A representative "run of mine" variety is quoted at 38s. —("Le Bulletin" newspaper, 12th Jane, 1921.)

Belgium. June, 1921.

Prices in the Mons district range from 28s. 6d. to 51s. per ton avoirdupois, according to grade. A representative "run of mine" variety "40 per cent. large" is quoted at 39s.—("L'exportateur Beige," 19th June, 1921.)

Germany. May, 1921.

The official maximum prices prescribed by the National Coal Union include for the Rhenish Westphalian district:

Anthracite best nuts, 21s. 6d. per ton avoirdupois.

Gas coal, 21s. 6d. per ton avoirdupois. Factory coal, 23s. 8d. per ton avoirdupois.

These prices include coal tax on turnover. It is understood that an increase in the rate of the coal tax above that in force when the report was made from which this information is derived has now been announced.

For the purpose of conversion to sterling the mark has been taken at 260 to the £.—(German "Official Gazette.")

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the percentage by which the wages of coal miners exceed those paid in 1914 to the same workers in Germany, France, Belgium, and the United States?

The latest statistics cover underground workers only, and the record ends with 1920. Obviously no useful comparisons can be drawn from, these figures unless they are viewed in close relation to the corresponding increases in the cost of living in the various countries. In Germany the increase in the wages of underground miners from 1914 to 1920, as given in the "Official Gazette" for 14th April, 1921, was 980 per cent. For France, there are no official statistics available. The French coalowners stated in November, 1920, that the wages of underground workers had risen by 363 per cent.; but the men appear to put the advance no higher than 267 per cent. In Belgium, the increase is stated in the Bulletin on the Economic Situation to be 381 per cent. The United States "Monthly Labour Review" in June, 1920, declared that the wages of miners of bituminous coal had risen by 98 per cent.

In the case of the German miners does not the increase depend to some extent on the rate of exchange?

Yes, and also, I understand, on the corresponding increase in the cost of living in these countries. Both must be taken into account.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that three items amounting to £11s. 7d., part of the expense incurred by the local authority of the burgh of Maxwelltown in connection with the Coal Controller's emergency reserve stocks, have been disallowed; and whether, seeing that the Coal Mines Department promised the local authority to pay all expenses of the emergency coal storage, he can explain why this undertaking has not been fulfilled?

I have looked into this matter, and am satisfied that the claim was properly disallowed, and that there is no question of a breach of the undertaking to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. I shall be glad to supply him, if ho so desires, with particulars of the items comprised in the claim and the reasons for their disallowance.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the town council of the Borough of Maxwelltown were compelled to enter into the purchase and storage of the emergency coal, and that the Coal Controller's divisional officer informed the borough officer that all expenses incurred by the local authority in connection with the storage would be paid?

Yes, I am quite aware of all that, but I think the best thing would be if my hon. and gallant Friend would allow me to show him the actual details of the transaction.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the £10,000,000 offered by the Government to the coalmining industry under certain conditions would have been devoted to assisting the coalowners to repair the damage done to the pits by the stoppage, or in what way would the money have been spent: and if he can make any statement thereon?

I need hardly assure my hon. and gallant Friend that there is no truth whatever in the suggestion referred to. The whole of the subvention offered by the Government would have been devoted to increasing wages above the rates at which they would otherwise have been payable. Not a penny of it would have gone into the pockets of the owners.

Is it not a fact that during the period when the mines would be re-opened the deficit on the industry would be made good out of the £10,000,000?

The £10,000,000 would have been used only in those cases where the rate of wages would have been below that decided upon for the whole industry.

Is it not a fact that in ascertaining whether wages should be below or not, all costs of material, timber, clearing of falls and water would be taken into account, and would be shown in the balance sheet for the period?

If there had been anything more in one period it would have been made good in the next, under that arrangement.

asked the Secretary for Mines what sum of money the country has received from the coal mines since August, 1914?

The Excess Profits Duty from the coal mining industry since August, 1914, is not expected to exceed £25,000,000, after deduction of repayments and discharges. But, as stated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich on 11th April, the net cost of control to the State is estimated at £16,250,000. The net benefit to the State is, therefore, less than £9,000,000.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government has received a resolution passed by a meeting of British witnesses recently returned from the Leipzig trials, protesting against the manner in which their evidence was dealt with; and does he propose to make any representation to the German Government on the subject?

I have been asked to reply. Certain representations have been received from some of the witnesses referred to, and from other quarters. It is proposed, as has been more than once stated, to consider, in conference with the other Powers concerned, so soon as the present series of trials at Leipzig is concluded and full information is available, what further action shall be taken with reference to the War criminals. Meantime it is not proposed to make separate representations upon the matter to the German Government.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman say, as he was present at the trials, whether he agreed to those representations?

Personally, I have not seen them.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the Report furnished by the Solicitor-General respecting the Leipzig trials of alleged War criminals; and whether, having regard to the fact that the first British list, after allowing for those who have been permitted to escape, has been disposed of, he will afford the House an opportunity of expressing its opinion upon the results of the trials of the persons comprised in such list?

I have been asked to reply. It is not proposed to lay upon the Table the memorandum referred to, which was prepared for the information of the Cabinet. When the present series of trials at Leipzig has been concluded, and further information concerning them is available, this House will be afforded an opportunity of discussion, if that be the generally expressed desire of hon. Members. But it seems a little important that premature expressions of opinion should be avoided, especially, perhaps, in a matter in which the Allies are acting in common.

In the meantime will any further British list be sent to Leipzig for trial?

No further list will be sent, because, until the Allies in conference have decided what action they shall take, the list that has already been sent is, for this purpose, final.

Can the hon. and learned Gentleman state when we may expect the decision of the Allies as to further action, in view of the derisory character of the sentences which have already been passed?

I have more than once said that, from the point of view of those who were in court, the sentences did not appear to be derisory. I must also say that, until the French cases have been tried—and they are awaiting trial—it is obvious that no meeting of the Allies would serve any useful purpose. I am not quite certain on what date the French cases will be tried, but I think it will be on the 29th of this month.

Could the hon. and learned Gentleman say how soon the report of the evidence and judgments in the Leipzig trials will be translated and made available for Members of the House?

As I have already said, I want to get that report as soon as possible, and I can assure my hon. and learned Friend that as soon as it is available—and all steps are being taken to make it available—it shall be obtained and translated.

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman think that the present series of trials will be concluded in time for a Debate to take place in this House before it adjourns?

The French cases are part of the present series, and they ought to be taken, as I hope, by the 29th of this month. I assume, therefore, that there will be an opportunity for discussion.

Could the reports of the evidence and judgments in the British cases be translated, without waiting for the conclusion of the French cases?

I cannot say when the reports will be received, but I do not see why, in the British cases, the translation should be delayed until the French cases are tried, and I hope it will not be.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount that has been received from Germany as reparation under all headings; whether in money or material; and how much more is outstanding?

In the I Approximate Statement by the Repara- tion Commission of deliveries made by Germany on Separation account as at 31st March, 1921, the estimated value of deliveries and cessions is given as rather over 6 milliards of gold marks. The figures for many items are, of course, provisional and subject to qualification. Further deliveries have since been made. Germany has also, in accordance with Article 5 of the Schedule of Payments, prescribed by the Reparation Commission and accepted by her, paid partly in cash and partly in three months' bills the 1 milliard gold marks therein provided for as the first two quarterly payments of the fixed sum of 2 milliards a year to be paid by her under Article 4 (1). The total Reparation debt was fixed by the Reparation Commission at 132 milliards of gold marks. The precise amount outstanding depends upon the Commission's decisions as to the value to be credited to Germany in respect of the deliveries and cessions made.

Does the figure given include the value of all the ships handed over to this country?

It does not include the value of any ships that have not been sold. It includes only the value of ships actually sold. There is a certain number of ships which have not been sold.

How do we get at the value of ships that have not been sold?

The value is not included in these figures. The value of the ships that have been sold but have not been paid for is not included. I do not pretend to put a value upon the ships that have not been sold. I should be very rash if I did, in the present condition of the shipping market.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if his attention has been drawn to statements which are being made to the effect that Members of this House can get round the decision of Parliament and evade Income Tax by claiming that their entire salary has gone in expenses; that this will throw a burden of over £200,000 on the taxpayer; that the Government has invited Members to claim a refund of Income Tax paid by them during the last three years, and that Members of this House are therefore being given an unfair advantage over other taxpayers; whether all or any of these statements are based on misconceptions; and, if so, will he make a statement explaining the nature of the misconceptions?

These statements are, I presume, based on a misapprehension of the law, for they are altogether incorrect. There has been no suggestion that the decision of Parliament should be evaded or that Members should be relieved of any liability to Income Tax lawfully due under the provisions of the Income Tax Acts. The exact reverse is the case. The decision was that Members should be left to establish individually their claims for the Income Tax allowances for expenses (in excess of the flat rate deduction of £100) in the ordinary legal course. Any person assessable under Schedule E in respect of the emoluments of an office or employment of profit is entitled to a deduction for expenses incurred and defrayed out of the emoluments of the office wholly, exclusively, and necessarily in the performance of the duties of the office. Members' salaries fall within this general principle of the law. In the second place any taxpayer may claim a refund in respect of such expenses or other legal rebates and allowances retrospectively for a period not exceeding three years. It is therefore the exact reverse of the truth to state that Members are being given a privilege not known to the law and not enjoyed by other taxpayers in like circumstances. On the contrary, Members of this House are being treated strictly in accordance with the law, and are receiving no privilege or right not conferred by law on all taxpayers similarly situated. In the past Members have often voluntarily forgone the exercise of their statutory rights and the Revenue has therefore received more than the law declared to be due. If they now exercise their rights the Revenue will receive all to which it is entitled under the law.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any explanation of this complete hostility to any advantage being given to the poorer Members of the House by the wealthy Members?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman has entirely miscon- ceived the intention of my hon. Friend who put this question. It was not an attack upon his fellow Members but a desire to correct an aspersion upon Parliament which is wholly without foundation and which affects the honour of us all, rich or poor alike, and which is as mischievous as it is misinformed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what statutory authority assessing authorities, in computing liability to United Kingdom Income Tax under the rules of cases 4 and 5 of Schedule D of the Income Tax Act of 1918, convert the income from foreign securities at the mean rate of exchange for the year, in view of the fact that the rates of exchange have been fluctuating between very wide values; and whether he can introduce provisions in this year's Finance Bill to convert moneys received abroad at a more equitable and accurate exchange by converting amounts at the average rate for the month in which they are received instead of the average rate for the year?

As was explained in the answer to my hon. and gallant Friend's question on this subject on the 14th instant it is understood to be the general practice of the assessing authorities in cases of the kind to which he refers to convert into sterling at the mean rate of exchange for the year. The Income Tax Acts do not give express directions in such matters of detail and the assessing authorities are not, of course, precluded from adopting some other basis for conversion into sterling where the facts of any particular case warrant a modification of the general practice. Moreover, any taxpayer who is dissatisfied with the Income Tax assessment upon him can appeal to the appropriate body of Income Tax Commissioners.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman see that with the tremendous fluctuations of exchange to take an average over the whole year is very unfair to individual Income Tax payers, and that it will be more fair to take the average every month, and in order to do so regularly, would it not be right to introduce some provision in the Finance Bill in order to give effect to it by statutory authority instead of following the rule-of-thumb method which at present exists?

My hon. and gallant Friend will understand that the authorities are in the service of the Commissioners and not of the Inland Revenue. Accordingly, I cannot control what they do; but it is always competent for any Income Tax payer to appeal to the Commissioners to have this conversion made at the rate of exchange by the month if he thinks it is better for him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated period it will take to dispose of the stock at end of period, amounting to £579,699 7s., under the heading of Total breaking-down statement for the year ended 31st March, 1920, appearing on page 14 of Ministry of Munitions Appropriation Account, 1919–20 (White Paper No. 102); and, in view of the fact that only £10,705 4s. was received for sales under this heading during the previous year, will he state what steps have been taken to effect more rapid sales?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given yesterday in which full explanation was made of the two figures referred to. The local receipts of £10,705 4s. were quite apart from the larger sales effected by the Disposal Board of which the stock mentioned formed part. Every effort has, of course, been made to effect rapid sales and expedite realisation.

If the sales during this period amounted to only £10,000, how long will it take to dispose of the whole lot?

That is subject to conditions which we cannot possibly foresee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the item of £426,003 19s. 4d., described as balance transferred to the Ministry of Munitions account, being net cost of deliveries during the year, in the Ministry of Munitions Appropriation Account, 1919–20 (White Paper No. 102), and appearing in the total production statement of national factories, page 14 thereof, is a portion of the loss in operating national factories?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given yesterday, in which it was pointed out that the statement referred to is not a trading account, and the item mentioned is not a trading loss, but is the net cost of deliveries taken by the Ministry after charging contractors and other Government Departments for materials supplied.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the sum of £350,900 per annum has been received to date from the Soudan Government in respect of the guarantee given by the British Government under the Soudan Loan Act, 1919, or whether any charge in respect of guaranteed interest has fallen on the British Treasury; whether it is now anticipated that, owing to the under-estimation of the cost of the Blue Nile dam and Gezira schemes, the contingent liability of the British taxpayer will become an actual one; and, if so, to what extent?