asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Sapper James Micklin, No. 12,105, Royal Engineers, has since May, 1918, been under treatment for tuberculosis at the Moxley sanatorium, Wednesbury; that he has been in receipt of full allowance until 8th June last; that he has now been informed by the regional director that a final allowance of £1 per week will be made for a further six weeks only; and that he is so ill as to be unable to work; and will he have a thorough investigation made into this case?

I regret that in the short time available I have not been able to obtain the full facts of this case from the Birmingham regional office, but I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that H. Ballard, of 37, Lydford Road, Paddington, late of the Royal Garrison Artillery, lost a leg above the knee during the War; that Ballard, who is still unable to take employment, is in receipt of 24s. a week, upon which he is entirely dependent for his livelihood; and that, although this man has been medically certified as unfit to work for the present, his treatment allowance has just been stopped; and if he will inquire into this case?

This man re-received treatment and allowances for the eight weeks ending 23rd June, when it was medically certified that no further treatment was necessary, and payment of pension at the scheduled rate appropriate to his disablement was accordingly resumed. Treatment allowances can only be paid under the Warrant while treatment continues and while the man is, in consequence of the treatment, unable to work.

To what amount would this poor man have been entitled if, instead of going to the War, he had stayed at home, and earned the wages that were applicable in his case? What unemployment benefit would he have had?

That is a question for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour. I have stated the full amount.

He would have done a great deal better by staying at home.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any, and, if so, how many additional appeal tribunals have been set up in the London region since the 28th February last; what is now the average number of appeals being heard each week; and what is the usual period which at present elapses between the date on which an appeal is received by the tribunal and the date on which it is listed for hearing?

I have been asked to reply. There are at present eight Pension Appeal Tribunals sitting in London, dealing with approximately 400 cases each week. The average period elapsing between the date a London area appeal is received by the tribunal and the date on which it is listed for hearing is about seven weeks. The number of waiting appeals in this area have been considerably reduced since March last.

Cannot steps be taken to set up additional tribunals, in order that this work can be expedited?

I will communicate that suggestion to my right hon. and learned Friend.

That is practically the purport of the question. In order that there may be some improvement, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman take steps to see that that is done?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many officials in his Department at present receive a salary, including war bonus, of £1,000 or over, and how many received a salary of £1,000 or over in June, 1914.

The number of officials in the Chief Secretary's Office (which includes the Belfast Branch and the Irish Office in London) who are paid from the Vote for that Department and are in receipt of salaries in excess of £1,000 per annum apart from war bonus is two, in addition there are six officials whose salaries, together with war bonus at the current rate, exceed £1,000 per annum, or who are paid inclusive salaries in excess of that amount. The corresponding number in June, 1914, was two.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the public demand for a reduction in the cost of the Civil Service, he will follow the precedent of one at least of the State Governments of Australia and cause to be set up an impartial Committee which, dealing with the higher salaried officials of each Government Department, will examine each official and decide whether his experience and capability is adequate and, where adequate, necessary to the efficient working of the Department, and the decision of the Committee in each case to be final and not subject to the concurrence of the Minister in charge of the Department?

My hon. and gallant Friend's proposal runs counter to the whole principle of the responsibility of Ministers to this House for the efficient and economical administration of the Departments under their control; and I fear, therefore, that I cannot agree to his suggestion.

Can the right hon. Gentleman get into communication with the: representative of New South Wales in this country and ask him how the Government of New South Wales Government dealt with their officials?

I am afraid New South Wales could not possibly teach us how a committee can discover the adequacy of an official for a particular post as well as the Minister in charge of the Department.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in New South Wales, a committee did it successfully?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as stated in the Press, boys of 17 years of age in the Civil Service receive salaries and bonus equal to £212 per annum, and that boys of 15 years of age in the Ministry of Health receive 35s. a week?

Boys of 17 years of age if employed in the clerical class would at the present rates of bonus, receive, in London, total remuneration at the rate of£159 a year, which will be reduced to £135 a year from the 1st September next on the revision of bonus. Few, if any, boys of this age are at present employed in this class. The total remuneration of boys of 17 in other classes of employment is considerably less and varies with the grade down to about 31s. 6d., which figure will likewise be reduced by the revision of bonus. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Islington, on the 14th June.

How can the hon. Gentleman tell the exact amount on 1st September next, seeing that an average is taken on the first of each month?

Of course it must be an estimate.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the officials in his Department, who have had business experience in the export and import trades and who have studied trade conditions overseas, in the Dominions, and foreign countries, are members of the permanent Civil Service or ex-service men who have been brought in; if so, in what proportion; and whether in any contemplated reductions of staff the claims of ex-service men who have such knowledge will be specially considered?

Of the 48 market and trade officers, who have had business experience of import and export trade, 11 were members of the permanent Civil Service before their appointment to this grade, 12 were appointed to permanent posts from outside the Service, whilst 25 are temporary officers. Of this total of 48 officers, 30 have had service in the Army or Navy. As regards the market and trade officers and directing staff who have studied trade conditions overseas, 19 were employed as permanent Civil servants before their transfer to the Department, 10 now permanently employed had not been in the Civil Service before their appointment to the Department, whilst 33 are temporary officers. Of this total of 62 officers, 37 have had service in the Army and Navy. The hon. Member may rest assured that, in making reductions of staff, the fullest consideration will be given to those who have served in His Majesty's forces.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the approximate number of his headquarters and local staff who are entitled to an annual holiday of four weeks' duration, and the number who are entitled to an annual holiday exceeding 28 working days, exclusive of Bank holidays and other public holidays?

Approximately, 3,400 are entitled to 24 working days annual leave and 1,500 to annual leave in excess of 28 working days, in all cases exclusive of Bank and other public holidays.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give the present salary, with or without war bonus, now drawn by a sorter, a postman who delivers and collects letters, a telephone exchange clerk, and a telegraphist in the London area, and the salary that was drawn by an official employed on the same kind and grade of work in August, 1914, or other convenient pre-War date?

As the particulars are in tabular form perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is now in a position to make a statement with reference to the raid in Ballymena carried out by the Ulster special constables on Friday, 17th June; whether the houses of a number of Catholics in the town 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 into 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 until 9 or 10 o'clock; whether in most cases the special constables adopted a very aggressive and provocative attitude; whether 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 special constables, entered the business premises, which contained valuable goods and securities, and remained there for an half hour without informing the owner that any raid was intended, and unaccompanied by any representative of the owner; whether in the case of a hotel in the town special constables who were not under the control of an officer burst in the door, went through the hotel holding up everyone 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; why was the raid directed against Catholics alone, as was evident from the questions asked some of the residents; 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?

A search was carried out in Ballymena on 17th June, following the receipt of important information of local rebel activities contained in captured documents. The number of houses visited was 21. The picketing of these houses prior to the arrival of the actual search party under an officer was a necessary precaution, and there have been no complaints of an aggressive or provocative attitude on the part of the men employed on this duty, all of whom were Class A special constables.

As regards the visit to the business premises of a leading merchant, I am informed that a few of this gentleman's employés were among those to be searched. On learning that they worked at a store, the officer conducting the search considered it advisable to search their place of business, and obtain the keys for the purpose. He visited the premises at 8 a.m. accompanied by one non-commissioned officer, but finding that no one was yet in attendance, he left immediately without conducting a search.

In the case of the hotel, the door was broken in, because of the delay in complying with a demand for admission. For their own protection the constables held up the inmates with their revolvers There were five males on the premises, and these were placed in one room. This was the only case in which men and women were separated. The invalid lady referred to was not ordered to get out of bed; her daughter was left in the same room with her while the house was searched.

The general outlines of this operation had the approval of the responsible police officials, and the inquiry which has been made discloses no breach of discipline. I understand that the occupants of the houses searched, without exception, signed a certificate that nothing had been taken, and that in the majority of cases they expressed their thanks for the courteous manner in which the search was carried out.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state what justification there was for this raiding of the houses of a number of respectable citizens of Ballymena?

I have said it was the receipt of important information of local rebel activities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is quite a customary thing for anonymous letters to be written to the authorities in order to have these outrages committed on the persons and homes of innocent people?

I get hundreds of anonymous letters weekly myself, but this was not based on an anonymous letter.

On what was it based?

I do not think it is in the public interest to say.

I must demand the information, because this was one of the most disgraceful outrages committed. These people were supporters of mine, and that is why the right hon. Gentleman's servants attacked them, including an old woman of 80 years, in the middle of the night.

That is a speech, not a question.

What redress are these people to have? They were not guilty of any offence. An old lady of 80 was dragged out of her bed.

The hon. Member received an answer to his question.

Is there any redress to be given to these people? They live in the midst of a hostile Unionist majority, and they are marked now among the members of the community. There is no redress for them. No documents were found on them.

The hon. Member will please put on the Paper the question about redress.

Is there no limit to the outrages on these people? That is what I want to know.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a report as to the wounding of Mr. M. Leahy, who was shot by one of three men at Wren's Hotel, Cork, on 18th June; whether Leahy had been previously, arrested and only released from prison that morning; and whether his attackers have yet been traced?

This place is in the martial law area, and I have therefore asked the Commander-in-Chief for a report. Perhaps the hon. Member will repeat the question (of which I received notice only yesterday) on one day next week.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has yet received a report on the further investigations stated on 21st April and 13th May to be still proceeding into the death of Mr. John Geoghegan, who was said to have been shot by uniformed men at Meycullen on 20th February; and, since nearly five months have now passed since his death, whether it is yet possible to state if his murderers have been identified?

I regret to say that no further information has come to light in this case.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether an inquiry has yet been held into the death of a man named Reilly, of Birr, and another named Cunningham, of Belmart, both in King's County, stated to have been taken from their homes and shot on the 17th and 18th instant, respectively?

The finding of the Court of Inquiry in lieu of inquest held in each of these cases was that the deceased was murdered by some person or persons unknown. Both the murdered men were ex-soldiers, and were on very friendly terms with the troops stationed in the vicinity of their homes. This was probably the reason for their murder. Reilly leaves a widow and five children, and Cunningham a widow and three children.

asked the Chief Secretary if he has any information with reference to the murder of Constable Patrick Clarke, of Cliffoney, County Sligo; of Constable Shanley, murdered, and Sergeant Ryan, wounded, when returning from mass at Kildorrery, County Cork, and with reference to the murder of an ex-soldier, Patrick Maher, at Moonkeena, County Tipperary, on Sunday 26th June?

I have called for a full report on each of these cases, and shall be glad if the hon. Member will repeat the question, of which I only received notice yesterday, on Thursday of next week.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a new Lord Chancellor has been appointed in Ireland in succession to Sir James Campbell; and what are the reasons for the change which involves a pension of £4,000 a year in addition to the pension of a like amount to another Irish ex-Chancellor?

Section 44 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, has now been brought into operation and a new Lord Chancellor has been appointed under the altered conditions attaching to the office which include the transfer of the custody of the Great Seal of Ireland to the Lord Lieutenant. It is not intended to fill the vacancy in the Chancery Division of the High Court which has been caused by the new appointment and this and other economies in contemplation will more than counter-balance the pension of the retiring Lord Chancellor.

Why was Sir James Campbell removed, and an old gentleman of nearly 70 years put in his place?

The Lord Chancellor who has just retired was 70 years of age.

Was he asked to retire?

His distinguished successor is a younger man. For all matters in Ireland I am responsible, and I take responsibility.

That is not an answer to the question.

Was any pressure put upon Sir James Campbell to retire, and, if so, why was pressure put upon him?

The retiring Lord Chancellor is a member of His Majesty's Government. I do not intend—I hope the House will support me—to say anything further than that the retiring Lord Chancellor goes with the usual pension, and that as a reward for his distinguished services His Majesty the King has been pleased to offer him a peerage, which he has accepted.

Pursuing our inquiries into this most disgraceful job—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]—may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if Sir James Campbell, a man of the greatest professional ability, was forced, against his will, out of this place which he held with distinction, in order to make way for another gentleman? May I ask secondly, with regard to this other gentleman, who has been described by the right hon. Gentleman as being the same age as Sir James Campbell, whether he was not too ill even to open the psuedo Parliament in Dublin on the day after his appointment? Finally, is it true that Sir James Campbell first learned of his dismissal from office when he read it in the newspapers?

In the statement contained in the last part of the question, I am glad to say there is absolutely no truth. As to the rest of the question, I decline to add anything to what I have already said.

May I ask the Prime Minister what justification he is prepared to offer to the House and to the country for the appointment of a gentleman of 68 years of age, who is too ill to perform his duties, as a substitute for a gentleman who was in the best of health and spirits, had high legal attainments, and was the right-hand man of Lord Carson in the Provisional Government? Why he is now dismissed in favour of an old gentleman who is not fit to perform the duties of the office, while the State has imposed upon it an extra cost of £4,000 a year for this most disgraceful job? Why is this done while Dr. Addison, a decent man, is dismissed from office—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order!"]

Am I in order in asking the right hon. Gentleman—

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can give any information as to the procedure adopted by the military authority in Ireland when orders are issued for the closing down of a creamery; how much notice is given to those responsible for the creamery; whether any opportunity is given to dispose of the perishable stocks of foodstuffs; and what arrangements are made by the authorities for the utilisation of the milk which farmers cannot dispose of owing to the closing down of such creameries?

The reasons for the closing down of a creamery and the duration of the restriction are notified by the Military Governor by Proclamation or through the Press. The Commander-in-Chief informs me that usually the creamery manager is handed a copy of the Proclamation, and that the length of notice given varies from one to four days at the Military Governor's discretion. It is not possible in such cases to make arrangements of the kind suggested in the last part of the question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some cases when notice has been handed to a creamery to close on a certain date, that the closing order has been applied two or three days before the date fixed. Will he answer the last part of my question, as to what steps are being taken by the authorities for utilising the milk which farmers cannot dispose of to the creameries?

No steps.

Are we to take it that in the case where a particular creamery is closed down, 6,000 gallons of milk a day are wasted?

No, Sir. As a matter of fact, most creameries are not for the sale of milk at all, but are for the sale of milk products like butter and cheese, and the shutting down of the creamery is no hardship to the people of the locality so far as milk is concerned, although it is a hardship as far as the trade in products is concerned.

But is not the right hon. Gentleman well aware that before the products of the creamery can be realised, milk must be secured? Seeing that the creameries are closed down, what is he doing with the milk?

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Tournafulla Co-operative Creamery, Limited, Tournafulla, County Limerick, has been closed by an order of the military; whether the closure was carried out on the 12th, although the proclamation was dated 16th June; whether the military on the 19th instant took away practically all the essential books of the society; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of such proceedings, which fail to achieve their object and inflict hardship and injustice upon innocent persons?

The Commander-in-Chief informs me that the Tournafulla Co-operative Creamery was closed for 14 days by proclamation of the military governor dated 16th June, on account of road cutting in the neighbourhood. The local military authority, however, misinterpreted his orders and closed the premises four days before the date decided upon. He also had the books removed, but this was remedied as soon as possible and the books returned. I am informed that necessary steps have been taken to ensure that the orders of the military governor are in future more precisely transmitted.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Ballyclough co-operative creamery has been closed by an order of the military; whether the Ballyclough Co-operative Society has been warned by a military officer that the creamery would be continued to be closed for a month unless the society cleared the roads; whether in the same district Messrs. Cleeve's proprietary creamery has been allowed to remain open; and on what grounds the distinction is made between a co-operative creamery and a proprietary creamery?

I am informed by the Commander-in-Chief that Ballyclough co-operative creamery was closed for 14 days from 16th May by order of the Military Governor as a punishment to the inhabitants for allowing malicious damage to roads and failure to repair these roads voluntarily. A warning was embodied in the Proclamation to the effect that the question of extending the period of restriction would depend upon the compliance or other of the inhabitants in keeping the roads in their locality in a serviceable condition. As has already been stated it was laid down that not more than three creameries in any one area were to be closed at one time. In this instance these creameries were selected which were in each case close to where roads had been trenched or blocked. The fact that the creameries were proprietary or co-operative did not in any way affect the selection.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that this proprietary creamery is within a distance of 400 yards of the co-operative creamery? How can the right hon. Gentleman expect the managers of creameries and their staffs to maintain roads when according to the law as applied in Ireland it is an illegal practice to possess the necessary arms in order to protect themselves? Seeing that these roads have been in many cases cut up by the armed forces of the Crown, does not the right hon. Gentleman regard the closing down of the creameries as a severe injustice?

That is why he does it.

The right hon. Gentleman states that he closes down the creameries in order to punish the inhabitants of the district. Will he not bear in mind the fact that in punishing the inhabitants he is also punishing the people of this country by preventing them receiving the food products which they would otherwise get from these creameries?

The right hon. Gentleman does not care about that.

asked the Chief Secretary how many Irish civilians, men and women respectively, are at present serving sentences of penal servitude, of imprisonment with hard labour, and of imprisonment without hard labour, respectively, for offences arising out of the political condition of the country; how many are awaiting trial for such offences; how many are interned on suspicion; and whether he is ready to provide a monthly return giving these details, together with the convictions and arrests occurring in the month?

The number of men convicted in Ireland of offences arising out of the disturbed state of that country and at present undergoing sentences of penal servitude, imprisonment with hard labour, and imprisonment without hard labour is respectively 376, 706, and 145. The similar figures for women—two, two, and eight, respectively. The number of men in custody and awaiting trial or where cases have not yet been investigated is 1,553, and of women 26. The number of men interned under the provisions of the Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulation 14B is 3,311. There are no women interned. As regards the last part of the question, I think that the most convenient and economical method of complying with the hon. Member's request will be that he should at reasonable intervals of time put down a question on the subject.

Has law and order been re-established after all this?

Yes, in many parts of the country, and especially in that part from which the hon. Member comes.

I am not an adventurer from Canada.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Ireland made a very large contribution to the medical and nursing staff of the nation during the War, and that the skill of those serving was to a large extent acquired in the voluntary hospitals of Ireland; if he will explain why Ireland was excluded from the reference to the Committee appointed by the late Minister of Health, and is in consequence excluded from the grant of £500,000 about to be made to the voluntary hospitals of the United Kingdom other than those of Ireland; and if Ireland will be granted a sum at least proportioned to her taxation as part of the United Kingdom?

I am aware that Ireland made a large contribution to the medical and nursing staff of the nation during the War. The British Government already makes an annual grant of over £16,000 to Irish hospitals. Under present conditions the Government does not see its way clear to ask the House to increase that grant. Lord Cave's Committee did not consider the condition of Irish hospitals on the ground that, under the Government of Ireland Act, hospitals in Ireland come under the provisions of the two Parliaments.

Is it a case of "live horse, and you will get grass." I am sure we have the right hon. Gentleman's sympathy and we ask for its exercise in favour of our hospitals.

Are there equivalent grants in England or Scotland to hospitals from public funds?

I think similar grants are not made to hospitals in England or in Scotland, but exclusively to Ireland. As the hon. Gentleman says, I am fully sympathetic, but I regret from the point of view of Ireland that the people of this country have taken the view, and indeed it is the view under the Government of Ireland Act, that matters that come under the two Parliaments of Ireland can no longer be treated by this House, especially in face of the financial grants.

Is there to be no contribution until the Irish Parliaments function concurrently? If so, we may have to wait indefinitely.

Is it not the fact that one of these Parliaments has postponed its deliberations till September and that the other does not propose to meet at all; and, in the meantime, while the hospitals are suffering and are in debt because of these political events, are they to be denied the advantages of this grant from the public Exchequer, to which Ireland pays its fair share? Answer that with all your sympathy.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many airships are now in the possession of his Department and where they are housed; how many are of British construction and how many have been surrendered by the Germans; if his Department still have any further airships under construction; and, if so, how many, and what is the estimated cost of same?

There are six airships in possession of the Air Ministry. The R.80 is at Howden; the R.33, the R.36, and the L.71 are at Pulham; and the R.37 and the R.38 are at Cardington, the last-named having been built for the United States. Of the six, five are of British construction and one, the L.71, was surrendered by the Germans along with another vessel, the L.64, which has been dismantled. There are no further airships under construction. The terms of the Government offer to dispose of the airships were issued as an Air Ministry Communiqué, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform us which airship was floating over the House as hon. Members came in this afternoon?

I think it was R.33.

May we take it that in another month's time we shall have finally disposed of these costly productions?

Yes, Sir. The final date is the 1st August.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British officers have resigned their posts in Upper Silesia since the beginning of March; and for what reasons?

According to the latest information in my possession, five officers have resigned their posts in Upper Silesia. Three of these resigned on grounds of ill-health, and two for private or family reasons.

asked the Prime Minister what steps His Majesty's Government have taken to give effect to the third resolution proposed by the Commission on International Trade at the Brussels International Financial Conference in 1920, and unanimously adopted by the Conference, in which it is recommended that each country should aim at the progressive restoration of freedom of commerce; and whether the declaration of the Supreme Council on 8th March, 1920, which stated that the States enlarged as a result of the War should at once arrange for the unrestricted interchange of commodities, is still adhered to by His Majesty's Government?

His Majesty's Government have by the progressive removal of the controls established in war time, consistently followed the course advocated by the Brussels Conference. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

Is it not a fact that the Bill which is to be discussed this afternoon is in direct contradiction to the proposals of this very distinguished Conference?

No, Sir. I do not think it is the least in conflict with these proposals. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman is not aware that of the 39 countries represented at the Conference, all, I think, except this country, had protective tariffs.

We had better not discuss that until the proper time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which of the various powers have signified their willingness to suspend their liens on Austria, so that Austrian assets may be released for raising foreign credits; and for what number of years are their liens to be suspended?

Great Britain, France, Belgium, Japan, Siam, Czecho-Slovakia, Greece, and Poland have accepted the principle of the suspension of their liens on account of reparations for 20 years. Great Britain, Denmark, and Sweden have agreed to a similar suspension for the same period in respect of relief credits granted to Austria.

asked the Prime Minister what action is contemplated with regard to the reply of the Greek Government to the recent Allied representations; and what steps are being taken to end the hostilities between Greece and Turkey or to limit their scope and area?

His Majesty's Government have not yet received the full text of the Greek reply nor considered what, if any, action it may require on their part.

Will the House be informed when the final reply is received and the action to be taken indicated?

Yes, Sir. Of course, no action will be taken without consultation with our Allies.

Will the House be informed?

Yes. If a question is put down in the course of the next few days, I may be able to communicate something about it.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will forthwith lay upon the Table a copy of the Report of the inter-Allied Commission which inquired into the recent alleged massacre of Turks by Greeks?

It is proposed to lay upon the Table of the House the Report of the Inter-Allied Commission upon alleged Greek atrocities. The conclusions are summarised thus in the first paragraph of the Report: Credible evidence has been produced as to crimes committed during the last twelve months by both Greeks and Turks. There is no doubt that there have been a large number of atrocities in the Ismid Peninsula, and it appears that those on the part of the Turks have been more considerable and ferocious than those on the part of the Greeks.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House when we may expect this Report?

We only saw it this morning ourselves, and it has yet to be printed. As soon as these processes are gone through it will be laid on the Table of the House.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any fresh information with regard to the situation on the Ismid Peninsula; whether the 14,000 refugees are being removed to Constantinople; whether the Soviet Commissar Chicherin has arrived at Angora and is encouraging the Kemalists to defy the Entente; and, further, whether he has any information as to negotiations taking place between the Bulgarians and the Kemalists.

I have no fresh information regarding the situation in Ismid except that the town was occupied by the Trukish forces on the morning of 28th June. I do not know the numbers of the refugees, nor what steps are being taken to deal with them. We have heard from Constantinople that M. Chicherin is believed to be at Angora, but have no other information. In regard to the last part of the question, His Majesty's Government have received from several sources indications which point to a desire on the part of the Angora Government to establish close relations with certain elements in Bulgaria.

Is there any truth in the report to-day that the Allies have arrested 100 Russian Bolsheviks in Constantinople, including three Jewish commissaries?

No, I have no official information to that effect.

Has the hon. Gentleman any idea as to the cost per head of the unemployed persons in Constantinople and in Cyprus?

asked the Prime Minister how it is pro posed to inform the House of Commons of the results of, and conclusions arrived at, the Imperial Conference now sitting; whether an agreed report of the proceedings will be issued; and, in particular, whether he will make a statement of the Government's decision with regard to the renewal or otherwise of the Anglo-Japanese alliance?

The Conference itself will decide what part of its proceedings shall be published. The House will be informed of the Government's decision in regard to the Anglo-Japanese Treaty as soon as it is possible to make a statement upon the subject.

Are we to be given an opportunity of discussing this matter?

I would prefer that such a question should be put to the Leader of the House.

May we be quite certain that the House will not be faced with anything like an accomplished fact?

The House will be kept fully informed of the progress of events. This is a matter of first class policy.

asked the Prime Minister whether the matters relating to the Imperial Navy which are being dealt with at the Imperial Conference will be settled and the results made known to Parliament in time for them to be considered in conjunction with Votes 8, 9, and 12 of the Navy Estimates; and whether a day will be allotted for this after the decisions of the Imperial Conference have been completed?

I cannot at present add anything to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend by the Leader of the House on Monday last.

Is it really intended that it should be left to a small minority of this House to decide whether or not these important questions are to be discussed?

No.

asked the Prime Minister what is the amount of grant being made, or proposed to be made, either as a capital sum or annually, to Oxford University in respect of the new single centre of training in forestry; how much is being contributed by India or Australia or other Dominions towards the expense of the centre; and whether the House of Commons will have an opportunity of discussing or voting upon this question before any grant is finally made?

This question was answered yesterday, and appears in the OFFICIAL REPORT of that date.

May I not have an answer to the latter part of the question?

I would feel obliged if hon. Members put questions relating to the business of the House to the Leader of the House.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the free postage facilities granted to soldiers serving abroad have been withdrawn except in the case of the forces in Mesopotamia; if so, will he state the reasons for this step; and why a distinction is drawn in favour of the Mesopotamian troops as against those serving in Palestine, Silesia, and elsewhere abroad?

I have been asked to answer this question. The facts are as stated in the question. The reason for the distinction is that troops in Mesopotamia are still regarded by the military authorities as serving under active service conditions.

If they are serving under active service conditions, does my right hon. Friend not think that, in like manner, the men in Silesia and Palestine are serving under active service conditions?

That is a point which I am not in a position to determine. I must be guided by the military authorities.

Has the right hon. Gentleman been in communication with the Secretary of State for War upon this matter, and, if not, will he communicate as early as possible with the War Office in order that there may be no hardship placed upon soldiers serving in these spheres of, what has been termed, active service?

I have been in communication with the Secretary of State for War on the subject, and I shall continue to be in communication with him.

I beg to give Notice that I shall put the same question to the Secretary of State for War on this day week.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the great irregularity, both in arrival and despatch, of the Australian mails; and whether, if the pre-War weekly service is not possible, arrangements can be made with the Peninsular and Oriental and the Orient lines that each of them shall run a mail steamer once every four weeks to give a fortnightly service at regular intervals?

The recent irregularity in the Australian mail service has been due to the difficulty experienced in obtaining coal for the mail ships, which have thus been unable to maintain their scheduled dates of departure. I hope that it will be possible at an early date to make the arrangements suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether every picture postcard with a five-word message has to be read by a member of his staff to discover whether the message is purely congratulatory or conveys information; and, if so, seeing that an immense amount of public time is being wasted and paid for while officials are so employed to the detriment of their proper work, will he see that the practice of surcharging shall be discontinued?

If this Regulation were in fact so troublesome to carry out as the hon. Member suggests, I fear that I should have no option but to prohibit any words at all. But I am happy to assure him that the trouble given in applying this Regulation (which is not a new one, but dates at least from 1903) has in practice proved negligible.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that experiments are being made at the present time in sending their various forms of code messages and messages on the border between questions and statements, and that the result of the examination of them by those putting them through is that some are fined an extra penny and those who are not fined an extra penny are not divided from the other kind by any reasonable line? May I also point out—

Order, order! This information ought to be given to the right hon. Gentleman in the Lobby.

Is there not an equally obvious way of putting an end to this trouble by abolishing the extra halfpenny on picture postcards?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a number of telegrams were sent from the Ascot grand stand telegraph office on behalf of Viscount Churchill on the evening of Wednesday, the 15th instant; whether these telegrams referred to the issue of vouchers for the grand stand, and were sent On His Majesty's Service; whether he will state the number of telegrams so transmitted, the total cost to the State, and the name of the Department by which the expenditure will be borne; and, having regard to the grave necessity for economy, will he issue instructions that official telegrams of this character shall not be transmitted at the public expense?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the conditions in industry, commerce, trade,. and agriculture during the last three months have been such as to warrant a revision of estimates of revenue as calculated on 31st March last; and, if so, what occasion does he propose to take in order that the nation may realise that its financial position is getting worse and worse, and the consequent necessity, not only for less expenditure, but also for more and cheaper production to secure larger exports?

I am not in a position as yet to supplement the Budget statement. The main consideration affecting the estimates of revenue for the current year is the condition of industry, commerce, and finance in the quarter from January to March, 1922, which I cannot, of course, forecast accurately now. I do not think it probable, therefore, that I shall be able to give the House any revised figures of estimated revenue during the current Session. As regards expenditure, I certainly intend to take a suitable opportunity towards the end of the Session to make a statement on the general financial position.

Does my right hon. Friend really think that the estimated revenue as anticipated by the Leader of the House in his Budget statement will be realised?

Oh, no; of course I do not; no sane man would.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ex-Lord Chancellors in Great Britain and Ireland are receiving pensions, the amount of each pension, and the length of service in the office by each recipient?

With my right hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate the desired particulars, which are in tabular form, in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Do these gentleman serve the State at the present time, although they are pensioned?

Yes, I think probably all do upon occasion, although two of them seldom now exercise any function apart from the performance of the ordinary duties of the House.

Is the list so long that it must be circulated, and not read to the House?

No, it is not—

Would you please give it, then?

It consists of a very large number of figures which, I am certain, that not even the most intelligent body could follow.

Following are the particulars promised:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government are at present negotiating a loan to Portugal; and, if so, what is the amount of such loan, the security, and the proposed terms of interest and repayment?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. There is no question of ah additional Government loan to Portugal, but the outstanding balance amounting to £1,500,000 of a loan made to Portugal early in 1916 has now been consolidated with other war advances to Portugal.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give us particulars of the basis on which the balance of the old loans have been amalgamated?

I am afraid I must ask for notice of that. I could not tell at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a meeting of the Irish Self-Determination League was held in Trafalgar Square on Sunday, 26th June, and that the flag of the so-called Irish Republic was carried through the streets of London under police protection; and whether he-will give instructions that in future, if permission is granted for a political demonstration, it will only be granted on the express understanding that no rebel emblems shall be carried in the procession?

I am aware of the facts mentioned in the question. No permission is required for these demonstrations; it is only necessary that the rules for Trafalgar Square should be observed and order maintained. Nor can flags of any particular colours be prohibited; action can only be taken if they are used as an incitement to sedition or disorder.

Does my right hon. Friend think that it is a good thing to allow the colours of people who are in rebellion at the present time to be carried through the streets of London; is he aware that, naturally, it is an outrage on the feelings of loyal people in this country?

I doubt whether many people knew what the flag was.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a great deal of injury has been done to the feelings of these unfortunate fathers, mothers, and relations of the police and soldiers of this country who have been murdered in Ireland? Is he aware that this matter, if persisted in, is likely to lead to a most serious breach of the peace in London?

I am not aware of those things.

Will the right hon. Gentleman allow me to send him some information on the subject that will tell him something about Ireland that he does not know?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give permission for an anti-Sinn Fein meeting to be held in Trafalgar Square at the same time and place?

Cannot the hon. and gallant Gentleman hold a meeting anywhere he likes?

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a display of rebel flags on the Nelson monument during a recent Irish republican demonstration in Trafalgar Square; whether he is aware of the great irritation thereby occasioned to loyal citizens, and that another demonstration of a similar character has been arranged to be held in Trafalgar Square on 2nd July; and whether he will take steps to ensure that that demonstration shall not be of such a character as may lead to any breach of order?

I am aware that flags were displayed on this occasion, but I understand that the general public treated them with indifference. I am informed that a meeting to advocate peace with Ireland is to be held in Trafalgar Square on the 2nd July. No disorder is anticipated. If any should occur the police will deal with it.

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman has been asked to give permission for this meeting to be held?

In the first place application for permission was not made to me. In any case, as long as the Regulations are complied with people are entitled to meet there.

Has any action been taken to prevent these intolerable demonstrations being held in London?

asked the Home Secretary the number of the Metropolitan police force who were employed during the Epsom Derby race week and the Ascot race week; who paid the charge for the men so employed; if any part of the charge for attending these race meetings falls on the Metropolitan police fund; and, if so, how much?

The number of Metropolitan police employed on the course at Epsom was 855, and at Ascot 524. All these were paid for. A large number of Metropolitan police were, of course, employed on the roads in the ordinary police duties of regulating traffic. I cannot give the exact number. Their cost falls, like that of other police employed elsewhere in similar duties, on the Metropolitan Police Fund.

How do these numbers compare with the numbers of police set apart for the protection of people engaged in a much more mischievous function last Saturday at the League of Nations demonstration at Hyde Park?

asked the Home Secretary whether, as a result of a deputation that waited on him recently from the City of London complaining of thefts of goods in transit through the docks and on import and export steamships, he appointed a committee to consider the matter; if this committee has yet reported; if so, what are their recommendations; and whether his Department proposes to act on the same?

A committee was appointed by the Commissioner of Police before I saw the deputation, and that committee has submitted a report. The committee recommends the addition of a small detective staff to the Thames Division, and effect is being given to that proposal. The other recommendations deal with matters outside the powers of the Home Office, and I am not in a position to make any statement with regard to them at present.

Is that report going to be published?

That is under consideration; I think probably not.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as Chairman of the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), whether the Board still exercise the power to veto the issue of Excise licences for the retail sale of wines and spirits to be held in conjunction with, the wholesale licences for those liquors as provided for in Section 111 of the Licence (Consolidation) Act, 1910; if so, whether this veto is exercised only in the case of licences under which retail sales are made to the public, or if it is also exercised in the case of licences for sales to licensed traders for the purpose of their trade; and if in the latter case whether, in view of the inconvenience caused to small traders who require for the purpose of their trade quantities of less than two gallons of particular wines or spirits, he will consider the advisability of not exercising this veto when the sales are to licensed traders for the purpose of their trade?

The Board retain the power to veto the issue of new Excise licences which are not granted on the authority of a Justices' licence, but for some time past they have exercised this power only in the case of retail licences. Such licences when once obtained would be available for sales both to the public and to other licensed traders, and small traders of the type mentioned in the question should experience no difficulty in obtaining the quantities which they require through the existing trade channels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Salary Commission has yet reported on the pay and allowances of the various grades of the British personnel of the Ceylon Civil Service; and, if so, if he will state what their recommendations are in the case of the white police force?

The Salaries Commission has only recently begun its work, and its recommendations cannot be received for some time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the fact that the overcrowding in the single men's quarters of the white police force in Ceylon is such as to constitute a menace to health; whether he is aware that there is an instance of nine men sleeping in one room and six in another; and whether, having regard to the fact that the climate is a tropical one, he will at once take steps to provide better accommodation?

I have no information, but I will ask the Governor for a report.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend in giving those instructions ask what steps have been taken to interview the committee properly appointed to represent these men, with a view to considering the very serious grievance which they consider they are suffering from at the present time?

I shall be glad to put my Noble Friend's point before the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any further information from the Governors of Nigeria and the Gold Coast showing that the delegation from the National Congress of West Africa, which was recently in this country, was really representative of the native communities, and that it was not repudiated by the most authoritative exponents of native public opinion; and, if so, whether the representations made by the delegation will have consideration in the light of this further information?

No, Sir. All the information received tends in the opposite direction.