asked the Secretary of State for India whether the 80th Carnatic Infantry is now being disbanded; if so, considering that this regiment, which was raised in 1777, is the only infantry regiment of the Indian Army that has the honour of carrying a third colour, to mark its capture in action, for what reason has it been selected for disbandment; whether the orders for the disbandment of the regiment by 10th September can be modified; and, if not, what arrangements are being made about the officers and men now serving in the regiment?

The 80th Carnatic Infantry is one of the units earmarked for disbandment, and I understand that the regiment will probably be disbanded by 10th September. One cannot but view with regret the passing of a regiment whose historical associations extend so far back and whose colours bear the battle honours "Sholinghur," "Carnatic," "Mysore," and "Seringapatam,'' but as I stated in this House on 31st May, when replying to the hon. and gallant Member for the Melton Mowbray division, the decision as to which particular units should be disbanded on becoming surplus to requirements is a question which must be left to the Government of India, who, without doubt, appreciate to the full the services of the regiment. The disposal of the officers and men of this and any other units that may be affected is receiving the careful consideration of the Government of India. I am not at present in a position to inform my hon. Friend what arrangements will finally be made for the officers, but the Indian ranks who are surplus to requirements will receive mustering-out concessions according to the terms of their enlistment.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, considering the objections to the imposition of a surcharge on goods rates on Indian railways, and the necessity of substituting for it a revised scale of rates which would provide the State and the railways alike with a much needed addition to their resources, and, seeing that a revised scale of charges has now been completed and approved of, but is not to be brought into operation until April, 1922, instead of in September next as was originally contemplated, notwithstanding the assurance given in March last that the surcharge was only temporary and would cease when the new rates were ready to be brought into operation, will he accelerate the coming into force of the new rates?

I am alive to the objections and am in correspondence with the Government of India on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether speakers with pro-Indian sympathies and personal knowledge are delivering addresses all over this country asserting that the situation in India has very much changed for the worse within the past year; whether this is so; and, if so, what is the explanation in view of the introduction of the reforms?

I do not know what speeches my hon. Friend is referring to. I hope we are all pro-Indians. It is common knowledge that the situation in India has given cause for anxiety during the past year and that this has been mainly due to the activities of persons who had expressed their intention of not taking advantage of the Act of 1919. But I hope the situation is improving. The world is restless, India not more so than many other countries, perhaps, because of the reform scheme which is working successfully.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many regular and temporary officers, respectively, are at present employed on staff duties not concerned with the actual training and administration of troops; what number are employed in Europe on work concerning the Peace Treaty; what number are employed at home; and how do these figures compare with those of June, 1914?

I regret that this information is not readily available and would involve much time and labour to prepare. If my hon. and gallant Friend will put it down again I will see whether I can give some approximate figures.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the total number of men who have joined the Defence Force with over a 50 per cent. disability pension; what number of the Defence Force on its demobilisation have stated their intention of joining the Regular forces or the Territorial Army, respectively, and what percentage is this figure of the total strength of the Defence Force; and how many men so offering themselves have been rejected by the inspecting medical officers?

Provided the ex-soldier was medically fit for Home service it was not necessary to ascertain whether or not he was in receipt of a disability pension. No official inquiries were therefore made, and consequently no records were kept. Up to 25th June, 428 men had enlisted into the Regular Army from the Defence Force, and further enlistments were expected on the dispersal of the force. Complete figures have not yet been received, as enlistments are still proceeding. No information is available as to the numbers who, while serving in the Defence Force, expressed their intention of joining the Territorial Army, but provision has been made for ex-members of the Territorial Army, on being dispersed from the Defence Force, to rejoin the Territorial Army and for their service in the latter force to count as continuous from the date of their original Territorial enlistment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to disband or to expel from the Territorial Force, of which it was an original member, the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps; and, if so, whether, in view of the long history of that corps, its invaluable war services, and the unique character of its connection with the legal profession, he will take steps to prevent such disbandment and expulsion, and to preserve the corps as a unit of the Territorial Force, or to defer any alteration in its status until the corps has had time to recover its full strength?

There is no intention of disbanding the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps, provided they are willing to fulfil a useful role in the military organisation of the forces of the Crown. As the Inns of Court are unable to raise a whole battalion, they have been given the opportunity of amalgamating with another battalion which was also an Officers' Training Corps unit during the War, with a view to forming a Territorial combatant battalion. Under this proposal the identity of the old units would be continued by each representative half of the amalgamated battalion being allowed to wear their distinctive badges. In the event of the Inns of Court being unwilling to amalgamate as suggested so as to form a full unit with a place in the Territorial Army organisation, they have been offered the alternative of becoming an Officers' Training Corps unit. The splendid work done by this unit during the War is fully appreciated, but I would remind my hon. and learned Friend that the unit was then an Officers' Training Corps unit under the General Staff and that it would continue to serve in such a capacity under the second alternative which I have mentioned. I may add that personal consultations are now taking place with regard to this matter, and it is hoped that a satisfactory solution will be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consult general officers and regimental commanding-officers as to their willingness to co-operate with ships and establishments of the Royal Navy and units of the Royal Air Force in a scheme by which the flags upon the Cenotaph in Whitehall shall be renewed as required, with due ceremony, at stated intervals and at the cost of the organisation whose turn it is to undertake their duty; whether such a scheme would have the support of the Government; and whether the War Office would be willing to assist in carrying out these proposals?

The arrangements for renewing the silk flags on the Cenotaph are in the hands of my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works. I will consider my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion with regard to holding a ceremony.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether Mr. A. W. Waller, late No. 554,726, Labour Corps, formerly a corporal in the 3rd Dragoon Guards, and now resident at 57, Charteris Park, Finsbury Park, was sent before a medical referee on 14th May and was put back on disability pension and ordered a certain appliance for immediate use on his legs; whether he is aware that Mr. Waller has applied more than once to his local war pensions committee without getting a reply in regard to the referee's award, and that his disability is becoming worse from want of the appliance ordered; and if he will give instructions for the immediate carrying out of the award, both as regards pension and appliance?

There has been no further application for pension in this case. The recent examination by the medical referee was in connection with an application for elastic stockings, the supply of which has now been authorised.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what compensation, if any, has been granted to Mr. Allan Sweeney, of 16, Market Street, Greenock, who lost the sight of an eye and is suffering from other disabilities contracted while on active service; and will he cause inquiries to be made regarding this matter?

As Mr. Sweeney was an able seaman serving under Agreement T 124, his case has been dealt with under the Injuries in War Compensation Acts. He was awarded an allowance at the rate of £62 5s. per annum as from the 11th January, 1915 (the day following his discharge from Admiralty employment), up to the 4th April, 1915, during which period it was certified that he was incapacitated through sickness aggravated by the Service. In October, 1917, September, 1919, July, 1920, and October, 1920, he applied for further compensation, and as awards in such cases are only payable in respect of loss of earning capacity, he was on each occasion requested to furnish medical evidence showing that, since 4th April, 1915, he has been incapacitated as a result of disability due to the Service and to give particulars of his employment since that date. He has not, however, furnished the information required, and therefore it has not been possible to consider a further award.

asked the Chief Secretary when it is proposed to promulgate the assimilation scheme for the Irish prison service; how many officers have been retained above the retiring limit of 60 years of age; and whether, in view of a large amount of unemployment, he can state when it is proposed that these officers will be superannuated?

The assimilation scheme as authorised has now been promulgated. Five male officers with special qualifications as engineers or artisans and one female officer, the superintendent of female prison at Cork, have been retained after the age of 60. Sanction for their retention expires on 31st August next.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the posters placarded in Dublin and elsewhere warning all persons against having any dealings with the three Northern banks carrying on business in Southern Ireland; whether already, in many instances, cheques drawn on these banks have been seized in transit and customers of the banks intimidated; and whether, in view of these illegal acts, he intends to take any and, if so, what steps to protect the customers of the banks in question in the exercise of their lawful rights?

These matters are receiving careful consideration, and my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that every possible measure will be taken for the protection of customers of the banks in the exercise of their lawful rights.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Alfred Blake, temporary cadet, and Harry Hawking, temporary constable, Royal Irish Constabulary, were sentenced to five years' penal servitude each for robbery; and how many of these forces have now been convicted of this crime?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second part, the number of members of the police forces in Ireland who have been tried and convicted of robbery since the 1st January, 1919, is 42.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, subsequent to the shooting of Constable Budd, at Kildysart, the houses of Mrs. Macnamara and Mr. Cusack and other houses in the neighbourhood were wrecked on about the 3rd instant; whether this was an official reprisal; and on what grounds the houses of these persons were selected?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for West Middlesbrough (Mr. T. Thomson) on the 23rd ultimo. The only houses destroyed were the two mentioned in that question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether J. J. Walsh, M.P. for Cork City, now serving five years' servitude in Shrewsbury Prison for a speech he made two years ago, is forced to wear convict clothes, his own clothes being taken away from him; whether any agreement was made in 1917 that such prisoners should be treated as political prisoners; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into this case?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The statement issued by the Irish Government on the subject of the treatment to be accorded to prisoners con- victed of certain offences, to which it is presumed reference is intended in the second part of the question, expressly excludes prisoners sentenced to penal servitude.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a Mr. T. H. Lewis was engaged by the Congested Districts Board, on 5th May, 1919, at a salary of £5 per week; whether he was employed under conditions which made him eligible for the bonus to civil servants granted in June, 1920; whether it was paid to him; what was the amount of the said bonus to civil servants; and whether from Mr. Lewis's wages there were deducted contributions due under the National Health Insurance Acts?

Mr. T. H. Lewis was engaged temporarily on the 5th May, 1919, as a machine knitter by the Congested Districts Board at a wage of £5 a week. This rate was fixed having regard to the increased cost of living. No bonus or increased wage is therefore payable. He is a tradesman and not a civil servant. His wage was increased to £5 5s. on the 28th June, 1920, but no payment by way of bonus was made to him. If he had been a civil servant on a pre-War wage of £5 a week his bonus would during the period of his employment have been £2 4s. to £5 2s. 10d. a week more, according to variable rates of bonus allowed. The usual deductions in respect of National Health and Unemployment Insurance were made in the manner prescribed by law. The temporary engagement of Mr. Lewis was terminated on the 31st May, 1921.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before he enters into any parley with accredited leaders of the Irish Republican party, he will make it a condition that loyal citizens of the county of Cork who have been kidnapped shall be restored to their homes unharmed?

I trust that the House will allow me not to answer questions suggesting conditions for the meeting to which the Government have invited Mr. de Valera and Sir James Craig. I cannot think that it would be in the public interest that such questions should be put or answered at this moment.

asked the Prime Minister if it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation this Session to give effect to the recommendations as outlined in the Report of the Committee that inquired into the question of workmen's compensation?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Home Secretary to the similar question asked by the hon. Member for the Normanton Division (Mr. F. Hall) on Tuesday last. I will send him a copy.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, for the work done in the Department's own workshops, the percentage allowed for overhead charges is the same as that on housing schemes carried out by the Department for local authorities?

The overhead charges for maintenance work in the Department's shops are not the same as those on housing schemes executed for local authorities. The two classes of work cannot in any sense be regarded as comparable. I fear therefore it is impossible for me to give comparable data to the hon. Member.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the number of persons receiving an annual salary of £500 or more, including bonus, employed in the building, engineering, and supplies sections, respectively, of the Office of Works, and the number of such persons appointed or promoted to this scale since October, 1918?

195 officers in the Architects' Division, 37 officers in the Engineering Division, and 18 officers in the Supplies Division of this Department are at present in receipt of salaries of £500 a year or more (inclusive of War bonus). The number of officers in these Divisions appointed or promoted to posts carrying salaries of and above this figure (inclusive of War bonus) since October, 1918, is 174, 23, and 14, respectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Civil Service Arbitration Board have sanctioned any increases of salaries or wages since 1st January; and in that case what sum represents the additional liability entailed by these increases to the nation?

Four awards have been issued by the Civil Service Arbitration Board and four agreements, reached after claims had been heard by the Board, have been countersigned by them since the 1st January, 1921. The additional liability imposed on public funds by the provisions of these awards and agreements is estimated at £12,500 in respect of lump sum payments and £2,000 a year in respect of recurrent payments.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give the names of the members who at present constitute the Treasury National Whitley Council, specifying the number which represents the employer and which the employed; and whether, as in this instance the employer is the taxpayer, he will see that none of those representing the taxpayer are themselves civil servants?

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the members of the official and staff side respectively of the Civil Service National Whitley Council. There are 27 members on each side, I am not prepared to adopt the suggestion contained in the latter part of the question. The highly-placed civil servants on the official side of the Council are in no way affected by any agreement of the Council that has been reached or may in future be reached in matters of remuneration, and in their capacity as members of the official side they are responsible to, and act under the authority of, Ministers.

The following is the statement promised:

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Official Side.

Sir Malcolm G. Ramsay, K.C.B. ( Chairman ).

Miss J. Buchanan, O.B.E.

George W. Chrystal, Esq., C.B.

J. H. McC. Craig, Esq.

Sir Herbert J. Creedy, K.C.B., C.V.O.

Sir James Dodds, K.C.B.

Sir Lionel Earle, K.C.B., C.M.G.

Sir H. P. Hamilton, K.C.B.

S. W. Harris, Esq., C.B., C.V.O.

Sir F. C. Kenyon, K.C.B.

The Hon. Maude Lawrence.

Sir Stanley Leathes, K.C.B.

The Rt. Hon. James MacMahon.

Ewan Macpherson, Esq., C.B.

W. F. Nicholson, Esq., C.B.

H. A. Payne, Esq., C.B.

E. Raven, Esq., C.B.

Sir W. A. Robinson, K.C.B., C.B.E.

Sir Claud Schuster, K.C.B., C.V.O., K.C.

R. R. Scott, Esq., C.B., C.S.I.

Sir J. E. Masterton Smith, K.C.B.

Sir George A. Stevenson, K.C.B., C.V.O.

Sir Percy Thompson, K.B.E., C.B.

P. E. Watkins, Esq.

H. J. Wilson, Esq., C.B., C.B.E.

Sir A. Woodgate, C.B.E.

P. P. Robinson, Esq. ( Secretary ).

Staff Side.

G. H. Stuart Bunning, Esq., O.B.E. ( Vice Chairman ).

H. E. R. Alefounder, Esq.

R. McC. Beamish, Esq.

J. W. Bowen, Esq.

W. J. Brown, Esq.

J. Fielding, Esq.

G. A. Finch, Esq.

G. E. Foot, Esq., O.B.E.

J. H. Macrae Gibson, Esq.

A. B. Hall, Esq.

A. E. Howell, Esq.

Miss E. Howse

G. T. Jervis, Esq.

W. E. Llewellyn, Esq., O,B.E.

A. S. Lupton, Esq.

Miss C. Maguire.

G. Middleton, Esq.

C. H. V. Pate, Esq.

J. H. Salmon, Esq.

H. E. Seccombe, Esq.

H. E. G. Shayler, Esq.

C. H. Smith, Esq.

W. Thomas, Esq.

A. P. Watson, Esq.

G. E. Wilson, Esq.

G. Chase, Esq., A.M.I.N.A.; and A. C. Winyard, Esq. ( Secretaries ).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many standard gauge railway saloon coaches built for ambulance trains are still on the Government's hands; and what steps have been taken to sell these to the railway companies?

The answer to the first part of the question is 254. Of these, 101 are under negotiation for sale to the railway companies, 43 are being retained by the Army authorities, and 110 are still to be dealt with by the Disposal and Liquidation Commission, which have already sold 217 coaches.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether railway wagons marked "Ministry of Munitions Home Ore Supply" are Government property; if so, what Department is responsible for them; and what steps are being taken to dispose of them?

The home ore wagons referred to are Government property. They are at present being hired out under arrangements made by the Disposal and Liquidation Commission. Arrangements for their early disposal are now under consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, before the House rises, he will make a statement showing whether, in response to the national demand, any departmental economies have been effected this year since the introduction of the Budget?

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated on the 30th June, in answer to the hon. Member for Kirkdale (Mr. Pennefather), he will take an opportunity before the House rises to make a statement on this subject and on the general financial position of the country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he anticipates the necessity of the introduction of any further Supplementary Estimates other than those already announced during the present Session?

I cannot yet state precisely what Supplementary Estimates will be presented in July. It will, in any case, be necessary to make provision for meeting further charges in connection with the coal stoppage as well as the payments due under the Railways Bill and the Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Bill, if the House approves of those Measures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an application for exemption from the Entertainment Duty has been made by the council of Bembridge School in connection with an exhibition held at the school of photographs and maps, illustrating the history of the Isle of Wight; whether the application has been refused; and, if so, on what grounds, seeing that the exhibition strictly complies with the conditions under which school entertainments are exempted from the duty and with the conditions under which an entertainment of a wholly educational character is exempted from the duty?

In view of further information which has been furnished in respect of this exhibition, exemption from Entertainments Duty has now been granted.

asked the Postmaster-General on what grounds the increase in salary granted to the assistant-superintendent at Colchester post office was dated back for 12 months upon his promotion to assistant-superintendent, new grade, consequent upon the revision of the supervising classes; whether any further such promotions, with their pre-dated salaries, are contemplated; and, if so, the approximate total cost of these appointments?

The promotion referred to was part of a general reorganisation of the supervising staff of provincial post offices, the greater part of which was carried out in 1919. The grading of a small number of posts, of which that referred to in the question was one, presented certain difficulties which resulted in a delay in the final decision. It was part of the scheme that all the promotions should take effect, as far as possible, from the same date. There are a few more such cases, but they form a very small fraction of the revision.

asked the Postmaster General whether the independent Committee appointed to consider the administration of the postal organisation as a properly-conducted business concern has begun work; what is the method and manner of its investigation; how often is it meeting weekly; when may its recommendations be expected; and when will they be communicated to this House?

The Post Office Advisory Council was appointed to advise me on the business aspect of questions of Post Office policy. At present it meets fortnightly. The Council has appointed a number of Sub-committees to deal with the position of the telegraph service; the effect of reduced charges on Post Office revenue; and the possibility of securing increased revenue from advertisements. The recommendations of the Council will be made to me and will not formally be communicated to the House.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the provisions of the Shops (Early Closing) Act, 1920, expire on 31st December, 1921; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take to extend the provisions of the Act beyond that date?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply by the Parliamentary Undersecretary of the Home Office to the hon. Member for South East Leeds (Captain O'Grady) on 21st June, as regards legislation to continue the existing arrangements. Any such legislation would extend to Scotland.

asked the Minister of Labour the rates of wages in the grocery trade recently agreed on by a board of representatives of those engaged in and employed in this trade; how these rates of wages compare with those enjoyed at any convenient date before the War; are the hours and conditions of service the same; and what effect is it probable that the agreement arrived at will have on the cost of living to the general public?

In accordance with my decision announced yesterday in an answer to a question on this matter, of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy, I have referred these rates back to the Board for reconsideration. The present position is that there are. no statutory rates for this trade in operation, and therefore no question can arise at this stage as to their comparison with pre-War rates or their effect upon the cost of living. In any event, no information is available as to the rates of wages, hours and conditions of service obtaining generally in the grocery trade before the War.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has now been able to ascertain the facts concerning the posi- tion of allotment holders at Westfield Park, Balby, Doncaster, who have received notice to quit?

As a result of inquiries by the Ministry, it is understood that the notices to quit served on the allotment holders at Westfield Park, Doncaster, will be withdrawn. The Ministry proposes to retain possession of the land for allotments until 1923, unless any portion is required earlier for building, roads, etc.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what increase in Departmental, as apart from private party, work has taken place in the duties of the Patronage Secretaries since 1914?

Since 1914, the work of the House of Commons has very greatly increased, and, in consequence, the Departmental duties of the Patronage Secretaries have also become greater and more onerous than in the year mentioned. I would, however, refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mr. G. Locker-Lampson), and to my speeches in the House on this subject on 13th and 23rd June.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give late information as to the average wage-cost at the pit's mouth per ton of coal produced in Germany, estimating the wage-cost on the basis of the present value of the pound sterling, and also the approximate comparative figures relating to the cost of coal in the United Kingdom?

I regret that I have no recent information as to the wage-cost of German coal, but I will try to obtain it.