asked the Postmaster-General when the promised examination of ex-temporary postal sorters will take place; what are the conditions governing it; if he is aware that six months have elapsed, that no news has been heard, and that many of the ex-temporary postal sorters are unemployed and are kept in suspense awaiting the examination; and if he will take action in the matter?

The examinations in question will take place on the 29th and 30th of September next; and full particulars were announced to the staff in the Post Office Circular of the 28th ultimo. Eligible candidates who have left Post Office employment are being communicated with, in cases where their addresses are known.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is yet in a position to report the result of his inquiries into the possibility of providing facilities for transacting ordinary post office business at the Station Street branch office, Leicester?

The maintenance of the branch office which is situated about 560 yards from the head office was double fully justifiable before the War, and in view of the need for economy it is certainly not justifiable now. There is no longer any sufficient reason for accepting parcels at the Station Street office, and as the counter space is needed for sorting purposes, the office will at an early date be closed to the public so far as all counter work is concerned.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called by Bradford business interests to the delay in the delivery of telegrams; and whether he has been able to detect the causes and take steps to effect an improvement?

The Bradford Chamber of Commerce has drawn attention to delay in the delivery of telegrams at Bradford. The complaint relates primarily to two telegrams, one of which was unfortunately not delivered in proper turn, while the other was delayed through pressure of telegraph business. The circumstances are still the subject of inquiry, and a reply will be sent to the Chamber of Commerce as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the total sum that has been voted for Imperial Delhi; how much has been expended and how much has the expenditure exceeded the Estimates; how many of the Government offices have been constructed, and what is the date when it is contemplated that the Government of India can be established in the new city; when will the new Viceregal lodge be completed; and is more money to be expended on unnecessary structures such as the new triumphal arch?

The sanctioned Estimate stands at present at 9 crores 28 lakhs, but I understand that a revised Estimate is under preparation which is expected to amount to 12 crores 92 lakhs. The actual expenditure up to 31st March, 1921, was 4 crores 33 lakhs. None of the Government offices has, so far as I am aware, been completed yet. The earliest date at which it is expected that the work on the new city, including the Viceregal residence and the Secretariat buildings, will be completed is 1926. Until I have received the revised Estimates from the Government of India I cannot say what additional works will be proposed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now make his promised statement with regard to the reduction of the bonus now being paid to the Civil Service?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes to make a statement on the subject of the Civil Service bonus in the course of tomorrow's Debate on the Treasury Vote.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount paid in bonus to the staff of the Cabinet secretariat in the year 1920-21, and the amount estimated to be paid in the-present financial year and the numbers of the staff in those years respectively to-whom, the bonus is payable?

The amount paid in bonus in 1920–21 was £5,696 to a staff of 51. The estimate for the year 1921–22 is £12,060 for a staff of 80.

asked the Secretary of State for War if a number of skilled engineering draughtsmen who, from the nature of their occupation, were debarred from joining His Majesty's forces during the, War, are being dismissed from the Department of Tank Design and Experiment, and substituted by draughtsmen who have been on His Majesty's service; and if he will issue instructions which will prevent this unfair substitution taking place?

It is the fact that certain draughtsmen at the establishment mentioned, who entered since the outbreak of the War, are being discharged with a view to their replacement by men who have served with the forces. I regard this procedure as in accordance with the policy of the Government to afford the maximum amount of employment to ex-service men.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that the original official re-organisation scheme for the pensions issue office gave the proportion of writing-assistants to clerks as approximately three to two, approximately three-fifths of the present issue office staff are now engaged on writing-assistants' duties?

The official reorganisation scheme for the Pensions Issue Office is still in a provisional form, and was designed for the estimated permanent requirements of the office. Much of the work now being performed there is of a temporary nature, and as I informed the hon. Member for Nottingham West (Mr. Hayday) on the 27th ultimo, a proportion is of the character assignable to writing assistants.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether only about 60 per cent. of the doctors employed by the Ministry or under its control have had overseas experience; and whether, seeing that such experience enhances the competency of doctors in their work for the Ministry in dealing with ex-service men, preference will in future be given in making appointments to those medical men who have had overseas experience?

I am unable to state the exact percentage of the total medical staff, whole-time and part-time, who have had overseas experience, but I have ascertained that it is considerably more than 60 per cent. As I informed my hon. Friend in answer to his question of the 15th Jane, preference is given wherever possible to medical men who served overseas; but other important qualifications, such as experience in special classes of disease must often be taken into consideration.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons are employed in the Roads Department of the Ministry of Transport, and what is the total amount of the salaries payable in respect of their services for the current financial year; to what extent has the staff been increased during the past three months, and are any further appointments contemplated; how many members of the existing staff are in receipt of salaries of £1,000 a year or more; what is the total amount payable to these officers during the current financial year; how many persons were employed by the Road Board for the financial year 1913–14, and what was the total amount paid to them in salaries; how many members of the Road Board staff were transferred to the Roads Department of the Ministry; what were their salaries; and to what extent have those salaries been increased or reduced since the transfer?

The reply to the first part of the question is 108 and £57,887; to the second part seven and certain further appointments are contemplated; to the third part seven including the Director-General and five engineers, the cost this year is £12,053. In reply to the last part the staff was 26 at an annual cost of £10,447. Forty members were transferred, the average basic salaries of those remaining with the Ministry was £355 in 1914 and is now £441. The duties of the Road Board are not comparable with those of the Roads Department.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the total balance which stood to the credit of the canteen fund when the same was wound up; how much of this money has so far been expended; and in what manner?

My hon. Friend will find detailed information on all these points in the Report of the Committee presided over by the hon. Baronet the Member for the Ecclesall Division (Sir S. Roberts), which I hope will shortly be circulated.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that sufficient notice is not being given to housing committees and local authorities with regard to the action and advice of the Government in the matter of dealing with tenders, future purchase of sites, &c.; and will he arrange that earlier and more detailed information of the Government's policy on these matters should be communicated by the Housing Commissioners in future?

I regret that any inconvenience should have been caused to local authorities, and I will certainly see what can be done to meet the point raised by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health what will be the position of local authorities as regards liability for the costs already incurred in schemes that may have to be abandoned through the action of the Ministry?

Any reasonable and necessary expenditure incurred with the approval of the Ministry will be charged to the Assisted Scheme Housing Accounts of the local authority, and the annual deficit over and above the proceeds of Id. rate will be recouped by the Exchequer in the manner laid down in the Regulations.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the shortage of housing accommodation for the working classes in Hastings and the total inadequacy of the local council's housing schemes, especially in view of the need for clearance of unhealthy areas and the increase of tubercular cases; whether he will cause a public inquiry to be held in Hastings and invite the public to give evidence; and, if the council fail to carry out the recommendations of the Minister of Health after such inquiry, whether he will exercise his powers in regard to the matter?

I am aware of the housing position at Hastings, and do not think that there would be any advantage in holding a public inquiry.

asked the Minister of Health whether there is a considerable number of ex-service men who purchased houses during the War and on demobilisation who are unable to obtain possession of their houses; and whether he will introduce legislation to remove this injustice in cases of ex-service men who purchased such houses not less than two years since?

The Increase of Rent Act contains special provisions in favour of ex-service landlords, and I am afraid that I cannot undertake to introduce further legislation on this subject. I will send my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the provisions.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a representation from the Medical Officers of Health of the country asking that the Infant Life Protection Section of the Children Act, 1908, shall be amended so as to secure that where a maternity and child welfare scheme is being carried out by a local authority to the satisfaction of the Ministry, that such local authority shall be made responsible for the administration of Part I of the Children Act of 1908; and whether, in view of the fact that this request has emanated from public health experts and of the recent disclosures as to baby farming in Margate, he proposes to take the steps necessary to meet such request?

I have received from the Society of Medical Officers of Health a resolution to the effect stated in the question. The matter will certainly be considered when legislation be practicable.

asked whether there has been an epidemic of fever in the Metropolitan area during the past month; whether there are approximately 2,000 more cases than at this period last year in the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board; to what is the epidemic attributed; and what steps have been taken by the Ministry in this matter?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. Epidemics of scarlet fever such as the present tend to recur at intervals of about seven years. The causes of this periodicity are being closely studied, but have not yet been fully elucidated. My Department are in constant touch with the local authorities in London, and I am advised that the preventive measures taken by these bodies are satisfactory, and that hospital accommodation has been provided by the Metropolitan Asylums Board for the large majority of the cases which have occurred.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will cause statistics to be prepared regarding the increase in tuberculosis throughout the country gene- rally with a view to immediate action being taken by the Government to prevent the spread of this scourge?

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Wignall), particulars of the numbers of cases of tuberculosis notified in England and Wales during each of the years 1914 to 1920. These figures show that there has been a considerable reduction in the number of notified cases during the past two years, and this has been accompanied by a substantial decline in the mortality from this disease, the number of deaths having fallen from 58,073 in 1918 to 46,312 in 1919 and 42,545 in 1920. Although the incidence of tuberculosis in this country is still high, the considerable decrease in the figures of incidence and mortality which has occurred indicates that the steps which have been and are being taken to deal with this disease have not been without effect.

asked the Minister of Health whether on Friday, 1st July, a member of the Hastings Borough Council addressed a number of questions to the public health committee regarding the increase in the number of cases of tuberculosis in the town and the information was refused; and whether he will cause immediate steps to be taken to secure a report on the increases in that borough from June, 1912, to June, 1921, inclusive, with a view to the Ministry suggesting measures to secure a substantial decrease in the figures in future?

I have no information as to the first part of the question. As regards the second part, the number of cases of all forms of tuberculosis notified in the borough of Hastings for each of the years 1913 to 1920 is as follows:

of notified cases during the past three years as compared with 1917. On the information at present before me, I see no necessity for obtaining any special report upon the incidence of tuberculosis in this borough.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of tuberculosis for the years 1914–20, giving each year separately?

The number of cases of tuberculosis notified in England and Wales in each of the years 1914 to 1920 is as follows:—

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that large numbers of private schools are held in private residences, that many of these residences are unsuitable for such purposes, and that overcrowded conditions inimical to health exist, he will consider the advisability of amending the law so as to enable the medical officers of health to present a regular report to their authorities as to the sanitary conditions of such schools, and the local authority to take necessary proceedings to remedy sanitary defects or the existence of overcrowding in such schools?

Local authorities and their medical officers of health have the same powers with regard to overcrowding and sanitary defects in schools as in other dwelling houses. I am not sure that further powers are required, but the point shall be considered when the Public Health Acts are amended.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that paragraph 30 of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Approved Societies' Administration Allowance practically states that when the cost of living was 176 per cent. above the cost in 1914 approved societies were entitled to an administration allowance of 5s. per member per annum, and that when it fell to 133 per cent. they were entitled to 4s. 10d., and that, if arithmetical calculation shows that if 176 per cent. justifies an increase of 7d., 133 per cent. justifies an increase slightly above 5d., he will, having regard to paragraph 30 of the Report, explain how the increased postal rates were allowed for in the 5d. increase recommended?

On the basis that 5s. was the correct amount to which the pre-War administration allowance of 3s. 5d. should have been increased on a cost of living index-figure of 176, the corresponding amount for an index-figure of 133 would be slightly less than 4s. 7½d. The amount of 4s. l0d. recommended by the Departmental Committee therefore makes a generous allowance for the effect of the increased postal rates. I would remind the hon. Member that the increase of the allowance to 4s. 5d. was granted at a time when the cost of living index-figure was 130.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a stack of hay belonging to Mr. A. J. Byrne, of Newcastle West, County Limerick, was burned by members of the police force on the 11th December last, and that he himself suffered personal injuries; whether this was proved at the Limerick Quarter Sessions last January and compensation of £165 awarded; and whether he intends to take steps to pay compensation from public funds for the injuries thus inflicted by members of the Crown forces?

I am aware that Mr. Byrne was awarded compensation to the amount stated. I have no evidence to lead me to suppose that this stack was destroyed by members of the police force. In regard to the remainder of the question I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies previously given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary on the 2nd and 16th June.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Private William Dick, 10th battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who joined up on 31st March, 1915, served in France up till the Armistice, and has since broken down in health; and whether his long and severe service in France now earns him a pension when his health has broken down and he is unable to do mining work as before?

Private Dick claimed pension, some 18 months after demobilisation, in respect of general debility which was considered by the Ministry to be unconnected with service. He subsequently appealed to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal against the rejection of his claim and his appeal was disallowed. As the verdict of the Tribunal is final, I am not in a position to reconsider the case.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the reports in the Press that the question of renewing the Anglo-Japanese Treaty will be referred to a referendum of the people of Canada and Australia; whether this report is accurate; and whether the people of this country will be given a similar opportunity of expressing themselves on this Treaty before it is renewed or ratified?

His Majesty's Government have no information in regard to the first part of the hon. Member's question. The answer to the last part is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister whether, to allay the uneasiness among supporters of the League of Nations and also in view of the representations which Members are receiving on the subject, he will state whether the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in any form will conflict with the precepts of the League or throw any obstacle in the way of some measure of general military and naval disarmament?

The principle that the Anglo-Japanese Agreement can only be continued in a form not inconsistent with the Covenant of the League of Nations has already been recognised in a declaration to the League last July. In regard to the latter part of the question, I would venture again to deprecate a discussion by question and answer of an important matter of high policy that is now engaging the earnest consideration of His Majesty's Government and of the Prime Ministers and other representatives of His Majesty's Dominions.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the urgent need for the strictest economy in the national expenditure, the recommendations of the Imperial Wireless Telegraphy Committee's Report (Cmd. 777) were adopted by the Cabinet without previously consulting the Indian or the Colonial or Dominion Governments, or with the War Office and Air Ministry; and, seeing that the Report has been severely criticised by the Government of India, and that this criticism has been endorsed by the Admiralty, by the War Office, and Air Ministry on strategical grounds and that the proposals of the Committee's Report upon the Imperial wireless scheme would, if carried into effect, result in an estimated annual loss for a number of years, what steps, if any, have been taken to review the situation now created in the light of these criticisms and the necessity for the strictest economy, and the presence of the Dominion Prime Ministers now in this country?

The recommendations of the Imperial Wireless Telegraphy Committee were generally agreed to last year by His Majesty's Government. At the same time it was decided to communicate with the Governments of the self-governing Dominions and India regarding their co-operation in the proposed scheme; and a small Commission of experts was specially appointed to plan the stations for the scheme recommended. The whole subject of Imperial communications is now under consideration by a Committee of the Imperial Conference, and further action must be dependent on the decisions of the Conference, when it has received and considered the report of its Committee.

asked the Prime Minister whether, since by refusing Bulgaria a port on the Ægean and consequently raising all freights on Bulgarian cargoes, Great Britain is, against her own interests, increasing the price of commodities that are necessary to her, he will reconsider this policy?

No, Sir. So far from wishing to exclude Bulgaria from an economic access to the Ægean, the principal Allied Powers elaborated, as my hon. Friend is well aware, a special treaty guaranteeing this outlet to Bulgaria. I would add that the Black Sea ports of Bulgaria are more suitable and have always been more extensively used than others for the export of Bulgarian produce.

asked the Prime Minister whether Bulgarian property in England is being confiscated; whether the expenditure in connection with the receiver and his staff is justified by the financial result; whether this expense is paid by the Bulgarian Government; and whether, seeing that such treatment will be detrimental to British trade with Bulgaria, he will reconsider this policy?

I have been asked to reply. Bulgarian property is not being confiscated, but in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Peace, it has been charged with the payment of pre-War debts owing to British nationals and claims arising out of the treatment of British property in Bulgaria during the War. The property is being realised, and it is anticipated that from the proceeds a substantial dividend will be paid on claims and debts which cannot be recovered direct. The expenses of the operation will be deducted from the proceeds. I am unable to hold out any hope of the general release of Bulgarian property, although small sums may be released on the ground of the necessitous circumstances of the owner, as in the case of German property. The Bulgarian Government has undertaken under the treaty to compensate its nationals whose property is retained and liquidated.

asked the Prime Minister how many Statutory Rules and Orders of a public and general nature were issued by Government Departments in 1890, 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, and 1913; how many of these were laid upon the Table of the House; how many of such Orders were challenged by either House; and how many of those challenged were consequently withdrawn or modified?

The answer to the first part of the question is: 1890, 168; 1895, 222; 1900, 192; 1905, 185; 1910, 257; 1913, 444. The information asked for in the remaining parts of the question is not available, and could only be given after a systematic examination of the journals of the House for the years in question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue authorities at Somerset House are justified in refusing to allow to parochial incumbents and to other ministers of religion similarly situated, as expenses against their taxable earned income, any part of the expenses beyond the mere rental value necessarily incurred in the upkeep of the professional study?

I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the provisions of Rule 2 of the General Rules in the Income Tax Act, 1918. Under this Rule, where a clergyman pays rent for a dwelling-house, or is in the occupation of a dwelling-house but pays no rent therefore, and uses any part of such house mainly and substantially for the purposes of his duty as a clergyman, he may claim as an expense for Income Tax purposes a corresponding part of the rent or annual value of the house, not exceeding one-eighth. This is the maximum deduction provided by the law, and there is no provision under which a clergyman can in respect of his study be granted an allowance for expenses in excess of this amount.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet made representations to the Mexican authorities of such a kind as may remind them that the British Government cannot regard with unconcern the loss of large sums of British money entrusted by investors to Mexican Governments prior to the revolutions from 1913 onwards?

The reply is in the affirmative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will consider the possibility of abolishing altogether the punishment of birching in the Royal Navy and of substituting for it the commitment of offenders of this class to a Borstal institute, in view of the greater efficacy of this form of treatment and the rare and serious crimes now punished by birching in the Navy?

The Borstal system of treatment is not considered a suitable means of dealing with the rare cases which, under present conditions, are punished by birching.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the-number employed by the Admiralty in outport establishments; the numbers engaged at the Admiralty itself in July, 1914, and latest available date, respectively; the wage bill for each class at each period; and the personnel of the Navy in July, 1914, and latest available date?

The number of persons employed at the Admiralty outport establishments in July, 1914, was approximately 58,000. The present corresponding number is approximately 78,000. The numbers engaged at the Admiralty itself in July, 1914, and at the latest available date respectively were 2,072 and 5,259. The bill for salaries and wages for the outport establishments in July, 1914, was at the rate of £5,094,400 per annum, and at the present date the corresponding expenditure is at the rate of £15,204,448 per annum; the bill for salaries and wages for persons employed at the Admiralty in July, 1914, was at the rate of £514,356 per annum, and the corresponding expenditure at the latest available date was £1,899,132. The personnel of the Navy in July, 1914, numbered 146,047, and on the 15th May, the latest available date, it was 144,700, or 123,576, if the Reserves specially mobilised on that date are omitted.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to make

asked the Attorney-General when he proposes to introduce a Bill incorporating the recommendations of the recent conference on the revisal of licensing restrictions?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. He hopes that the Bill may be introduced at the earliest possible moment, but it is not possible at present to be more definite.

any statement with regard to the case of schoolmasters, Royal Navy?

I regret I am still not in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the annual cost of maintaining in full commission the latest type of battleship, battle cruiser, light cruiser, torpedo boat destroyer, and submarine, respectively?

The detailed figures are given in the following tabular statement:

asked the Home Secretary whether, when fixing the new hours of opening for licensed houses, ho will direct the local magistrates to consult in their respective localities the appointed representative of the trade who are, by their intimate local knowledge, best able to judge of the requirements of their own districts?

I am afraid I cannot anticipate the provisions of the Bill, which I hope will shortly be introduced.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), whether a deputation representing hotels and restaurants was received by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) on 9th June last; whether the Board approved certain suggested modifications in the hours of sale and promised an immediate issue of an amended Order; and whether, considering that upwards of three weeks have elapsed, any action is to be taken to carry out that promise?

I promised to consider the possibility of meeting the suggestions courteously drawn up by the deputation at my request, but I certainly did not promise an immediate issue of an amending Order. I foreshadowed the possibility of a Bill being introduced to deal with this and other licensing questions at an early date, and I have every reason to think that this anticipation will be realised.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Committee appointed to consider outstanding objections to the draft Regulations issued under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1920, after considering the claim that prohibition of retailing by pharmacists is ultra vires in view of Section 7 (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act and observing that the point can be settled only by a competent judicial authority, proceeded with their inquiry as if the contentions were not well founded; and whether he has since obtained, or proposes to obtain, the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown on this contention of the pharmacists?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative; to the second, in the negative.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic), whether and, if so, why an application by the Wolstanton Bowling Club for extension of hours, 2.30 to 6 p.m., on 2nd, 16th, and 23rd July has been refused, in view of the occasions for which the facilities were requested?

The Board felt unable to accede to this application because, after full consideration, the occasion did not appear to fall within the Regulations and practice in such matters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a circular issued by the Food Department to local authorities urging them to pay attention to communications they have already received from the Ministry of Health in the establishing of national kitchens, promising them equipment, such as stoves, mincing machines, and crockery, from the Disposal Board, and informing them that the Scarab Oil Burning Company can convert coal ovens to oil ovens at a cost of £50, and that Messrs. Joseph Baker and Son, of Kingsway, W.C., are also giving special attention to fittings for oil fuel; whether this circular is signed by a brigadier-general; and is it issued with his knowledge?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The circular was issued during the recent emergency by the Divisional Officer for London and the Home Counties with the approval of the Emergency Kitchens Committee. It was designed to give local authorities information as to possible arrangements for communal cooking in case supplies of coal ran short.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that hardware importers are experiencing difficulty and long delays in getting their German goods cleared through the Custom House; whether the Customs authorities indemnify them for shipping charges, demurrage, etc.; whether the Customs authorities demand cash and refuse cheques; and whether there is considerable danger to traders who carry large sums of money and have to wait in queues to clear their goods?

The procedure in regard to the clearance through the Customs of German hardware liable to the Reparation Levy is similar to that required in the case of goods liable to ad valorem duties, and I am not aware that it involves any special difficulty or delay. If, however, the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars of any case he may have in mind, I will have inquiry made. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. In regard to the third part, the practice of the Customs, in accordance with their ordinary procedure, is to accept as cash cheques guaranteed by the banks on whom they are drawn, while in the case of cheques not so guaranteed it is customary not to pass the entry until the cheque has been realised, but this involves a delay not exceeding three days; in these circumstances I see no ground for the apprehension expressed in the fourth part of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will cause inquiry to be made into the suggested increases in the rents of old small holdings in the Potton district of Bedfordshire, where it is alleged in the local Press that such increases are to range from 75 to 125 per cent.; and, if some of this land was purchased by the county council at £24 per acre, will he issue instructions that the increase be cancelled as unwarranted under the circumstances?

I will have inquiries made, in order to ascertain whether the facts are as stated by the hon. Member, but as regards the general question of the review of rents of pre-War small holdings in Bedfordshire, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. T. Griffiths) on the 4th instant.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements have been made by the Government to assist the Committee of the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops at Nottingham to reopen; and whether, in view of the importance of the training formerly given in this workshop to disabled men, he will take such steps as will ensure its continuance?

I am in communication with the Central Committee of the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops in regard to the possibility of granting them financial aid to enable them to keep open their centres for the employment of disabled men. As I stated on 23rd June, the question of giving some temporary assistance, not exceeding £25 a man, for a limited number of men, has been under consideration, and an offer on these lines has been made to the workshops. It is conditional generally on the latter obtaining sufficient public support to secure financial solvency.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops; where they are situate; and how many have been closed?

I am informed that the total number of Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops is 14, situate at the following places:—

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the fact that the statistical branch women have so far not been substituted by ex-service men is due to the fact that the work on which they are engaged is of a nature as might well be graded as writing assistants' work if the branch were on an established basis?

The reason why substitution has not been effected in the statistical office is that the work upon which the bulk of the staff is employed is in connection with the operating of tabulating machinery, which experience has shown is more suitable for women than men.

asked the Minister of Health whether attempts were made in the recent taking of the Census to employ as many ex-service men as possible; is he aware that in many places no ex-service men were in fact employed; and will he in future give any such employment, where possible, primarily to ex-service men?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies of the late Minister of Health to the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) and the hon. Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Charles Edwards) on the 2nd and 3rd March last, respectively, and to my reply of the 29th ultimo to the Noble Lord the Member for Battersea South (Viscount Curzon). I am sending the hon. and gallant Member copies of these replies.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the weekly cost of the Government instruction factory at New Basford; what are the objects and reasons; and how long it is proposed to continue present expenditure on existing lines?

The average weekly cost of running the Government Instructional Factory at New Basford for the 12 months ended 31st March, 1921, was £331. This sum includes charges for rent and maintenance of buildings paid by His Majesty's Office of Works, and for depreciation of plant and machinery. It does not include the cost of maintenance allowances to trainees, the average of which for that period was £663 per week. In addition, there was a charge of about £23 per week running costs and about £60 per week wages for completing the training of certain War apprentices handed over to the Ministry of Labour by the Ministry of Munitions. The object of establishing the factory is to carry out the industrial training of disabled ex-service men, an object in which it has been most successful. The number of these men now in training is 303. Owing to the reduction in the volume of training which has taken place, it will shortly be possible to close this factory and to transfer the remaining class3s elsewhere with as little inconvenience to the ex-service men as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is in a position to state the result of the detailed analysis of the live registers at the Manchester, Newton Heath, and Middleton Employment Exchanges in connection with people in the localities having to travel some distance to the nearest Employment Exchange; and whether he can now see his way to establish an exchange in the Harpurhey district?

In accordance with the promise made to my hon. Friend in this House on the 22nd of last month, I have made further inquiry into the question of providing additional local office facilities for the North Manchester district, and am of opinion that the opening of an office at Harpurhey would not be justified. I may add that I have already addressed a communication to my hon. Friend to this effect.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Shoreditch Employment Exchange (Women's Section) has become infected with vermin; that the staff requests for the removal of a carpet alleged to be infected and for disinfection of the exchange have been met with the reply that the girls should not let the creatures crawl over them; and whether he will now follow the example of the Pensions Ministry under similar circumstances, and have the office thoroughly disinfected during the week-ends?

On inquiry I find that certain complaints of the kind referred to have recently been current in the office in question, but had not reached the officers responsible for remedying any cause for complaint which may have existed. I have, however, asked the Office of Works to investigate the matter at once, and to proceed with disinfection if and where necessary.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the custom which prevails in the Clyde district that workers who are unemployed and who go on holiday with their families to Clyde holiday resorts where no Employment Exchange exists, are given vacant tickets, which are signed in the post offices at these holiday resorts; that the Employment Exchanges have now withdrawn this privilege; and whether, in view of the hardship which this will mean to many families in the Clyde district within the next few weeks, he will issue instructions for the continuation of this custom?

It has not, so far as I am aware, been customary to use vacant tickets in the manner described in the first part of the question. Vacant tickets are issued for the convenience of workpeople wishing to seek work at a distance. I should add, that workpeople who go to a holiday resort on holiday are not for the time being available for work and not seeking work, and are, therefore, not entitled to unemployment benefit. It is, therefore, an abuse of such tickets to take them out for the purpose of going on holiday, and when the hon. Member speaks of the withdrawal of a privilege, he is, presumably, referring to an instruction recently issued in order to prevent this abuse.

asked the Minister of Labour whether unemployment insurance benefit will be payable to miners who cannot obtain work owing to damage and flooding of coal mines during the dispute; and whether it will be payable to men thrown idle through permanent closing of unprofitable pits or permanent reduction in the numbers employed?

In accordance with the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Acts, miners who became unemployed by reason of the stoppage due to the recent trade dispute in the industry will in general remain disqualified for unemployment benefit until the stoppage is at an end, that is, until the particular pit at which they were employed is again ready for complete resumption of work. In the case of permanent closing of pits not arising from the stoppage the miners would in general be entitled to benefit if unemployed. In this connection I would refer also to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Clackmannan (Major Glyn) on 8th June, a copy of which I am sending my hon. Friend. There are the usual rights of appeal to the Courts of Referees and the Umpire in cases where benefit is disallowed.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that on the 10th of June, 1921, there were 468,022 women drawing unemployment benefit and 304,022 women on short time, that there is no record of how many of these women are married, that the possession of private means is not a disqualification for the receipt of unemployment benefit, and that no inquiries are made as to a claimant's means, the Government will consider the advisability of amending the law with a view to excluding persons possessed of private means from unemployment benefit?

I have been asked to reply. Under Section 6 of the Unemployment Insurance Act which became law on 1st July, contributors who have paid less than 20 contributions since the beginning of the last preceding insurance year can only become entitled to benefit by proving that they are normally in insurable employment, are genuinely seeking full-time employment, and are unable to obtain such employment. The effect of this provision is to limit the receipt of benefit to persons following wage-earning employment, and this would appear to be substantially what my hon. Friend has in mind. As to inquiring into claimants' means, this is not legal. But my hon. Friend will, of course, know that the scheme contained in the Unemployment Insurance Acts is designed to provide for persons who are dependent on their earnings for their livelihood. For example, persons with a private income of £26 a year, and persons, including married women, who are ordinarily and mainly dependent for their livelihood on some other person, are entitled to exemption. Moreover, non-manual workers earning more than £250 a year are entirely excluded from the Unemployment Insurance Scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a Trade Board was established for the grocery and provision trades (England and Wales) nearly 12 months ago; whether the Board has decided to reaffirm rates of pay agreed upon last September; and, if so, when it is proposed to take action to make these rates operative?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second and third parts, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer, of which I am sending him a copy, given on Monday to a question on this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the provisions of the Trade Board Acts in connection with the fixing of rates in the tailoring trade, particularly for non-union women workers in the retail bespoke branch, are being disregarded by a number of employers in Bristol; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made in the interests of the workers concerned?

Complaints to this effect have been made to me, and I am taking steps to have them investigated.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) if in any district in which Government aid is necessary it is required that the profits should be pooled for the period during which the Government aid is given, if the profits of the richer collieries in that district will be used during that period to assist the poorer collieries in the same district before any Government assistance is given; what machinery is to be devised for carrying out that pooling process;

(2) if in any district in which a reduction of wages takes place under the coal mines settlement recently made the surplus profits of that district as a whole will be pooled, the surplus profits of the richer collieries being used to make up the deficiency of the poorer collieries, and so minimise the reduction of wages that will be required; and what machinery is to be set up to carry out this pooling process?

The terms of settlement of the recent coal dispute involve no pooling of profits.

asked the Secretary for Mines on what date the Government were made aware that there were special circumstances in the case of the export districts justifying a subsidy to them after decontrol?

The Government became aware of the facts justifying temporary financial assistance in subvention of wages as soon as they had had an opportunity themselves of fully investigating the position as a wages question. It will be remembered that during the negotiations between the owners and miners' representatives which terminated at the end of March, the miners' representatives, in spite of the request of the Government, refused to consider any question of wages apart from their demand for a system of pooling profits.

asked the Secretary of Mines whether the profit-sharing scheme is a permanent part of the coal settlement; whether it involves the pooling of all the profits in a district; and whether surplus profits can arise in individual collieries or only on the striking of a profit-and-loss account for a district as a whole?

The profit-sharing scheme will continue as long as the present agreement remains in operation, and I hope it will prove so successful as to justify its permanence. It does not involve any pooling of profits. The operation of the scheme is to fix the level of wages in the district from time to time, having regard to the ascertained financial position of the industry over the whole district. Individual collieries will retain any profits that they are able to make at the level of wages so fixed.

asked the Secretary for Mines what were the difficulties which at the last ballot prevented the period during which the guaranteed standard should operate lasting beyond 30th June, 1922; and in what respect the circumstances had changed now, enabling it to continue till 31st December, 1922?

The guaranteed percentage on standard wage was negotiated entirely between the coalowners' and the miners' representatives without the intervention of the Government. I understand, however, that the difficulty which the owners felt in regard to giving any such guarantee was that many pits might thereby be prevented from being able to continue working; that no change took place in the coalowners' views on this point, and that the extension of the guarantee from June, 1922, to December, 1922, was agreed to merely as a concession to assist in securing a settlement of the dispute.

asked the Secretary for Mines what offers, if any, of Government aid were made on the date of decontrol to carry the mining industry for a temporary period through the difficulties of a peculiar character which had arisen out of the special conditions of the industry during the war period, and during the control period which followed the War?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer already given to him this afternoon.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, taking into consideration the ever-increasing use of the roads for motor traffic and the fact that the majority of accidents occur through lack of skill on the part of the drivers, he will advise the reconsideration of the present system of granting driving licences?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bromley (Lieut.-Colonel James) on 17th March, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the great number of street accidents from motors and the fact that unless negligent driving is proved no compensation is payable to the injured, he will consider the advisability of promoting legislation to provide that a motorist's licence shall only be issued on condition that the applicant is adequately insured in an approved society which undertakes to compensate any person injured by him when motoring, and that the compensation for such accidents shall be on the same scale as under the Workmen's Compensation Act and be payable upon simple proof of accident?

I am afraid my hon. Friend's suggestion is an impracticable one. I will take steps, however, to bring it to the notice of the Departmental Committee on the Regulation of Road Vehicles, which is considering, among other things, the question of the issue of drivers' licences.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Woking and adjoining Surrey benches of magistrates make it a practice to summon and convict motorists for exceeding the speed limit on the evidence of a constable who judges the speed at which they are alleged to be travelling by the naked eye and without the usual apparatus of stop watches and measured distances; whether he is aware of the grave abuse to which a method of such as this may lead; and will he represent to these Surrey benches the propriety of returning to the more usual method of obtaining money from motorists using the roads in their districts?

I have no knowledge of the matter in question and no authority to instruct magistrates as to the evidence they ought to require before convicting. I have no intention of insulting the Surrey Justices by suggesting that they convict in order to "obtain money."

asked the Minister of Transport whether the use of oil fuel on the railways has been a success, having regard to cost and efficiency?

As stated in the reply given on the 27th June to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Percy), sufficient experience has not yet been acquired to enable accurate comparisons to be effected in respect of costs and efficiency as between the use of oil fuel and coal on the British railways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the practice to compile for each of the Crown Colonies an annual general Report to be presented to Parliament containing official particulars of the trade, revenue, vital statistics, and general information relating to the colony during the year; whether these Reports are frequently issued so long after the period with which they deal as to be almost useless for the purpose for which they are intended; whether, in the case of St. Lucia, one of the Windward Islands of the British West Indies, no annual Report has been published since that for the year 1915–16; and what steps he proposes to take to secure greater promptness in the preparation of these Reports, which for many persons provide the only accessible means of obtaining essential information?

An annual general Report containing the information referred to is complied by the Administration of each Colony, and it has been the practice hitherto to present the Reports to Parliament. In the interests of economy, howler, it has been decided to issue these Reports as Stationery Office publications in future. It is a fact that in the case of St. Lucia no annual Report has been published since that for the year 1915–16. A review of the dates on which the reports of various colonies had been received was recently made in the Colonial Office, and reminders were sent to the governors of all colonies and protectorates from which Reports were overdue. It is hoped that these reminders will have the effect of expediting the preparation and transmission of the Reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the estimated net sum due to be paid by the Crown to the British South Africa Company on the determination of their administrative functions in Southern Rhodesia under the award of the Cave Commission, including the sum due for public buildings less the value of certain alienated lands; and whether this sum is regarded by His Majesty's Government as a legal debt due to the British South Africa Company?

It will be seen from the correspondence in Appendix IV to the First Report of Lord Buxton's Committee (Cmd. 1273) that the sum which will be payable to the British South Africa Company when its administration is terminated is estimated at about £1,200,000 and that the remainder of the accumulated deficits will be charged against the proceeds of sale of the un- alienated lands. This figure can, however, only be taken as a rough estimate since the sum to be paid in respect of the public works and buildings which may be taken over ultimately by the new administration will have to be decided later in accordance with the terms of Article 33 of the company's Charter. The sum which will have to be deducted from the Cave Commission's award in respect of the lands appropriated by the company and lands and rights alienated for considerations other than cash, cannot yet be stated.

As regards the second part of the question, the position is that under the terms of the Report of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the Southern Rhodesia land case the British South Africa Company, on the determination of their administration, will have the right to look to the Crown to secure to it, either out of the proceeds of further sales of the lands by whomsoever made or, if the Crown should grant away these lands or proceeds to others, from public funds, the due reimbursement of any outstanding balance of aggregated advances made by it for necessary and proper expenditure upon the administration of Southern Rhodesia.

The sum which would have been due in accordance with this judgment, if the company's administration had been determined on the 31st March, 1918, has been settled by the award of Lord Cave's Commission, whose decision His Majesty's Government are pledged to accept as final.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any part of the Uganda cotton crop of 1919–20 is still unsold by the growers; what quantity of the 1920–21 crop has been sold by the growers and what is the estimated balance of this crop; and can he make any estimate as to the likelihood of the growers being unable to sell this balance?

So far as I am aware, no part of the Uganda cotton crop of 1919–20 remained unsold by the native growers, though there has been, and still is, some difficulty on the part of those who purchased from the natives, in disposing of that crop in this country. According to the latest information in my possession, about 52,000 bales of the 1920–21 crop have already been sold by the native growers. I have no exact information what is the balance of the crop, but there appears reason to hope that the whole of the crop will be sold.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the fact that on pages 271 and 286 of the Returns from Universities and University Colleges in Receipt of Treasury Grants, 1919–20 [Cmd. 1263], it is stated that the universities of Glasgow and St. Andrew's receive no grants from local authorities, and that in the statements of accounts, on pages 274 and 288 of the same publication, it is shown that Glasgow University receives £8,700 and St. Andrew's University receives £4,500 in grants from local authorities; which of these statements is correct; and exactly from what source these sums of £8,700 and £4,500 are derived?

The headings on pages 274 and 288 of the Return referred to are in my judgment somewhat misleading. In point of fact there are no grants made to the universities of Glasgow and St. Andrew's from local rates. The sums mentioned by my hon. Friend are annual payments made from the Local Taxation (Scotland) Account under the Education and Local Taxation Account (Scotland) Act, 1892, out of the Scottish share of moneys made available by Statute for relief of local taxation in the different parts of the United Kingdom. These payments to the Scottish universities reduce the amount which might otherwise be distributed among local authorities in Scotland in relief of local rates, and, therefore, might be said to represent indirect contributions from the rates to the universities.