asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what has been the cost of the Don Cadet School since it came under British control to date; and why financial aid is given to these refugees, in view of the fact that no financial aid was given by any British Government to the refugees from Czarist tyranny?

:Is it in order to describe as Czarist tyranny the Government of our friend and ally the late Emperor of Russia which preceded the present dispensation?

:Is it not a fact that this House designated it in that way?

:It is a doubtful point, but I would ask hon. Members not to put any insinuations of their own in their questions, and to confine themselves to questions of fact.

:The Don Cadet School was not dealt with as a separate unit till June, 1920, and the cadets were included with the other refugees at Tel-el-Kebir. No figures are, therefore, available from February to June, 1920. From 5th June, 1920, to 2nd July, 1921, the total cost of the school, inclusive of all staff and administration, was £23,680, equivalent to 2s. 9d per head per day. As the House is aware, His Majesty's Government assumed a certain responsibility for the refugees now under British control.

:What are the plans for the future of the school?

:We hope to repatriate all the members of this school, together with all the other refugees, as soon as possible, or else to establish them in Serbia.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that scores of thousands of Russian refugees, principally women and children, in Constantinople are starving and homeless; and whether any action is being taken to disperse this vast indigent population?

:I am well aware of the destitute condition of the Russian refugees in Constantinople. In view of the condition of these unfortunate people, both in Constantinople and elsewhere, the League of Nations are considering a scheme for the solution of this problem.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that General Baron Wrangel has an office and headquarters in Constantinople, and enjoys the assistance, protection, and countenance of the British authorities in that city; that the officers and other persons acting in General Wrangel's interests and using these offices are openly plotting against the Government of Russia; and whether the British authorities in Constantinople propose to suppress this organisation in view of the signing of the trade agreement with Russia on 16th March last?

:There is no foundation whatever for any of the hon. and gallant Member's allegations.

:Does the hon. Gentleman deny that this officer, Wrangel, has an office in Constantinople in which his partisans work? Why is that permitted in a city which is under our police jurisdiction?

:I think that the hon. and gallant Gentleman may accept my information which is to the effect that there is no foundation for any of these statements.

:Will the hon. Gentleman make further inquiries?

:If the hon. and gallant Gentleman has any information perhaps he will impart it to me.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state what information he has with regard to reports in the newspapers to the effect that the Japanese Government intend to enforce the use of Japanese currency in South Manchuria; whether representations have been received from the Chinese Government on this matter; and if the Japanese Government has explained the position to His Majesty's Government?

:The Japanese Government of the Kwantung leased territory have issued a notice requiring the use of a gold standard for all transactions on the Dairen Staple Produce Exchange. I have no other information on the subject and no communication has been received from the Japanese Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the present facilities given under the Peace Treaty for access to the sea; what use has Bulgaria made of such facilities; and has he any information indicating that the policy of the Greek Government will be to frustrate Bulgaria in having a fair and recognised use of the ports by which Bulgarian goods find exit on the Ægean?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the reply returned to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull on 31st May last. Under Article 48 of the Treaty of Peace with Bulgaria, the Powers undertook to ensure the economic outlet of Bulgaria to the Ægean Sea. The conditions of this guarantee were elaborated in a subsequent Treaty signed at Sevres on 10th August, 1920, which, although it is, like the Treaty of Peace, with Turkey also signed at Sevres, not yet ratified, I am prepared to lay on the Table of the House. As regards the second part of the question, I understand that the Bulgarian Government have as yet made no serious effort to avail themselves of the facilities offered. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

:May we take that there is no real ground for the complaint that Bulgarian goods cannot find an exit on the Ægean?

:I understand that to be the case.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the increasing interest in and anxiety of all sections of the community for the widespread application of the labour clauses of the Peace Treaty, what steps are being taken to secure the appointment of experienced labour representatives on the British ambassadorial staffs and in consular offices; and if he will say if there is one such representative at the present moment?

:His Majesty's representatives and Consular officers abroad, and their staffs, are entrusted with the duty of watching and reporting on all industrial and labour questions, and I should hot feel justified, especially in view of the vital need for economy at the present time, in recommending the appointment of officers exclusively for this purpose. In this connection I would also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a question which he asked on 7th August, 1919.

:Is the income qualification for the appointment of these officers still in force?

:There are no such officers, but the income obligation would not exist if they were appointed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Mandate for the French to occupy Syria will be in substantially the same form as our Mandate to occupy Palestine, and neither country will have more onerous conditions imposed upon it than upon the other?

:The proposed French Mandate for Syria has not, I understand, been published. But the conditions of Palestine are in some respects so different from those of Syria that this difference will doubtless be reflected in the terms of the two Mandates. As to which will involve the more onerous responsibility, I should hesitate to pronounce.

asked the Prime Minister if he is now able to inform the House whether the French Government has withdrawn its representatives from Leipzig, owing to the farcical sentences passed on the war criminals?

:Yes, Sir. The French Government have taken the action indicated in the question.

:Is it the intention of the British Government to take joint action with the French Government, and to insist upon these war criminals being tried before an Allied Court, in view of sentences that are so farcically inadequate?

:Before that question is answered, does the hon. Gentleman concur in the description of the last part of the question as to sentences being "farcical"?

:That is an argumentative adjective which ought not to have appeared in the question.

:I think due notice should be given of that question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

:But the same question was asked two or three days ago!

:Is my hon. Friend aware of a very strong public feeling in the direction indicated by the question, that the British Government, in consonance with its own dignity, should take some steps to prevent a recurrence of sentences of this kind?

:I think a question of that sort should be put down.

:Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that this question has been repeatedly asked and that no satisfactory reply has yet been given?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the weight of colouring matter and synthetic dyestuffs received from Germany under the Reparation Clauses of the Treaty of Versailles up to 30th June, 1921, and at what value these were credited to Germany; and will he say what is the weight distributed to consumers and the total amount charged therefor?

:The total quantity of synthetic dyestuffs and colouring matter received from Germany under the Reparation Clauses of the Treaty of Versailles up to the 30th June, 1921, was 4,053 tons; the value credited to Germany up to the 31st March, beyond which date figures have not yet been furnished by the Reparation Commission, was approximately 110,000,000 paper marks, to which must be added cost of carriage, storage and distribution. The total sales, including those to India and the Dominions, amount to about 1,068 tons, of a value of £710,643.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the Hull trawler "Chalcedony," skipper Joseph Lowery, D.S.C., was arrested on 21st June by an Icelandic gunboat whilst fishing eight nautical miles off the coast of Iceland and taken captive into Reykjavik; that the skipper protested, but was advised by His Britannic Majesty's consul at Reykjavik to plead guilty as he would be more lightly dealt with by the court; and that the trawler was fined 10,000 kronen and her gear and catch confiscated; whether the British consul is an Icelander; why no British subject has been appointed consul; whether any representations have been made to the royal Danish Government with regard to this harsh treatment of a British vessel and of a skipper who served with distinction in the War; and what steps are being taken to protect British fishing vessels engaged on their lawful occasions off the coast of Iceland in future?

:The trawler "Chalcedony" was arrested exactly on the three mile limit line, and was charged with having fished within that line. At the time of his arrest the skipper signed a declaration that he had been fishing for three hours, and could not show that he was outside territorial waters. He admitted to the British vice-consul that he might have been fishing, though unintentionally, within the limit. As the evidence against him appeared very clear, the vice-consul pointed out to him that, if he pleaded guilty, he would probably receive the lowest penalty under the Icelandic trawling law, whereas, if he let the case go to trial, he risked the infliction of a heavier fine and delay to his ship. The skipper acted on this advice and received the lowest fine. Of two German trawlers arrested at the same time on a similar charge, one, which pleaded guilty, received the same penalty as the "Chalcedony," while the other, which let the case go to trial, was found guilty and had to pay an additional 5,000 kroner. No case would seem to arise from this incident for representations to the Danish Government.

:What is the nationality of the British consul?

:I understand that the present British consul in Iceland is an unsalaried official, and is a native of Iceland.

:Why not take steps to employ an English consul to look after our interests?

:That does not arise out of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any request from the Mexican authorities for the recognition of the present Mexican Government; and, if not, whether he has, without that request having been received, intimated to the Mexican authorities the terms on which Britain will be prepared to offer recognition?

:No direct request for recognition has been received from the present Mexican Government, who are understood to take the view that their recognition cannot properly be made the subject of a bargain. There is no reason to believe that they are under any misapprehension as to the attitude of His Majesty's Government in the matter. May I appeal to hon. Members to exercise some restraint in putting questions on this very delicate matter? I am afraid that this constant exchange of question and answer can do no good, and may do real harm.

:Has an intimation been given to the Mexican Government that the British Government are prepared to recognise it as soon as the Mexican Government recognises its liabilities?

:Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman would put down a question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps are being taken to secure British participation in the new issue of debentures to be issued by the Chinese Eastern Railway?

:It is not yet possible to judge whether any special steps would be practicable or desirable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the cost of maintaining a capital ship in full commission in home waters?

:I would refer the Noble and gallant Mem- ber to the detailed information given in the reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull on the 6th July.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what will be the annual saving represented by the abolition of the South-East Coast of America squadron; was the withdrawal of this squadron recommended by the naval staff; and, if so, on what grounds?

:The withdrawal of the South America squadron will effect a net annual saving of about £775,000. The net saving in the current financial year during which this change is being effected is expected to be in the neighbourhood of approximately £760,000. With regard to the remainder of the question, the Board of Admiralty acquiesced with reluctance in the Measure which was dictated entirely by financial stringency.

:Are we to understand that the withdrawal of the squadron was dictated solely by financial stringency and not by the needs of the Empire?

:No. In view of the great financial stringency the thing that involves the least strategical disadvantage is done.

:Is the Empire likely to suffer owing to the withdrawal of this squadron?

:That is not a question to be answered at question time.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will guarantee the payment of compensation for the loss of crab-pots occasioned by the Fleet during the forthcoming manœuvres of the Fleet in Torbay?

:The Admiralty are unable to admit any liability to meet claims due to alleged damage to crab-pots by His Majesty's ships, but it is customary to give careful consideration to such claims and to judge them on their merits.

:Does my hon. Friend realise that July is the best month for this class of fishing, and that this is a serious matter, considering the present state of the fishing industry? These men have to pay for the crab-pots which are lost.

:I fully realise that, and I hope my answer did not suggest that consideration could not be given to claims. I do not go further than to say we do not admit formal liability.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether there is any intention to break up H.M.S. "Victory."

:I assure the right hon. and gallant Member that the Admiralty have no intention of breaking up H.M.S. " Victory." I am glad to have this opportunity of stating that there is no foundation for the rumours which have been circulating that this historic ship is in immediate danger of sinking at her moorings, through deterioration of the structure. At the same time, her condition it at present engaging the careful consideration of the Admiralty, in order that all necessary steps may be taken to preserve her.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many officials at the Admiralty are in receipt of over £1,000 per annum, including War bonus; how many naval officers actually employed at the Admiralty, not including those serving in outside appointments, are in receipt of over £1,000 per annum; and what were the respective numbers in 1914?

:The numbers are as follow:

:Can the hon. Gentleman account for this enormous increase as compared with 1914?

:I think that my hon. and gallant Friend will realise that before 1914 there was a large number of officers and salaried men just below the £1,000 limit, who are now above it.

:Does not the answer indicate that a false answer was given by the Admiralty in a recent communication to a certain hon. Member on the same subject?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the approximate numbers engaged in his Department who are entitled to the following annual holidays, exclusive of Bank and other holidays: four weeks' annual leave and over 28 working days' annual leave?

:The approximate numbers are as follow:

Civilian officers.

583 entitled to 24–28 days' annual leave.

808 entitled to over 28 days' annual leave.

Naval officers.

338 entitled to 42 days' annual leave.

:Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in commercial circles the customary holiday is a fortnight or, sometimes, three weeks, and will be explain why, in the Civil Service, so much longer holidays are customarily granted?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will consider the reconstitution of the Whitley Councils dealing with Civil Service wages and salaries in order that the councils shall not consist alone of civil servants, but shall comprise a number of independent business men, if possible employers of labour, who will represent the taxpayers' interests?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) how the taxpayer is represented on the Civil Service National Council:

(2) if he is aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction with the present composition of the National Whitley Council of the Civil Service on the grounds that divergent interests, including that of the taxpayer, are not adequately represented; and if he will consider the advisability of setting up a Committee to inquire and report on this question?

:Since the questions addressed by the hon. and gallant Member for East Bradford bear on the same subject, I should be glad if I might be allowed to reply to them at the same time. I could not accept the suggestion that the interest of the taxpayer is not represented by the official side of the Civil Service Whitley Council, as now constituted, nor could I agree that the official side, whatever its composition, should act otherwise than under the directions of the Government and as a body responsible to the Government, who are themselves responsible to this House. Whilst I see no occasion for the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the matter, I should be prepared to give careful consideration to the question of including in the official side a certain number of Members who are not civil servants.

:Does the hon. Gentleman not think it would be a better arrangement if the taxpayer were represented by a certain number of Members of this House, rather than by permanent officials, who, with all respect to them, have really a direct interest in the matters which they recommend?

:In reply to that, all I can say at the moment is that the same careful consideration which is given to the major issue will be given to my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion as to the details.

:Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the lavish bonuses paid to civil servants were a factor in the determined resistance of the miners, and that this is a matter of the very utmost importance?

asked the Minister of Labour whether six points in the increase in the cost of living index figure for June of 119 is caused by the increased taxation of commodities; and whether, seeing that the effect of taking for purposes of bonus for the Civil Service the figure 119 instead of 113 is to relieve civil servants from the increase in indirect taxation, which other consumers have to pay, this question can be reconsidered?

:I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part I would refer to my reply on the 29th June to the hon. and gallant Member for the Henley Division of Oxfordshire in which I stated that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes to take an early opportunity of making a statement on the question of Civil Service bonus.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has had any inquiries made as to the way in which the Dominions, the principal Continental countries, and the United States of America have dealt with the increased cost of living in so far as it affected Civil Service wages and salaries; if so, will he give the information so obtained to the House; and, if such information is not in the possession of his Ministry, will he take steps to obtain and circulate it?

:I have not made the inquiries referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend. As regards the last part of the question, I am making preliminary inquiries of the kind referred to, and if the information required is readily available or can be collected without undue cost, I shall be happy to communicate it to my hon. and gallant Friend.

:Does my right hon. Friend expect to have it before the end of the Session?

:I should hope so.

asked the Minister of Labour what extra duties are involved in the elevation of a divisional officer to the position of Divisional Controller of the south-western area; whether the original salary of £400 is now £1,690; whether the expenses of administration in this area have been further added to by two officers at a salary of £900 and £700 respectively, both of which are filled by military men; and whether these men have any industrial experience for these responsible positions?

:With the permission of the hon. Member, I will circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the answer:

As I explained in reply to the question put to me on 29th June by my hon. Friend the Member for the Central Division of Bristol the salaries of all the nine Divisional Controllers in Great Britain have during the last year been raised from a scale of £850–£950 a year to £1,000 a year exclusive of bonus, and at the moment the salary plus bonus is at the rate of £1,690 per annum. The salary of these officers was on a scale of £400–£600 for two years subsequent to the inception of employment exchanges in 1910 when the exchanges were in their infancy and there was no unemployment insurance. The recent revision of salaries has been consequent on the great increase of work and responsibility resulting from the extension of unemployment insurance. No additional appointments of the nature suggested have been made in the southwestern or other Divisions, but for the reasons indicated above the salaries of the Deputy Divisional Controllers and the 1st Class Inspectors in the nine Divisions have been increased from £650–£750 to £700–£800 and from £500–£600 to £600–£700 respectively. It happens that all three of the officers referred to in this Division have had military service. All are experienced civil servants and have been in the service of this and other Departments for 11, 19, and 11 years respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total cost of administration of the Ministry in the years 1913, 1916, 1919, and in the present year, as estimated; and what were the totals of the number of employés in the Ministry in those years, respectively.

:I have been asked to reply. The total cost of the administration of the Ministry in the years referred to, including salaries, travelling, office expenses, accommodation, etc., was £212,760, £213,567, £673,619, respectively, and in the present year as estimated, £941,373. The totals of the number of employés in the Ministry in these years were 640, 830, 2,106, and 2,023, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons taken over from the respective Departments of Food Control, Shipping, and Munitions have been dismissed between 1st April and 1st July; how many are still in his Department; and how many part-time servants so taken over still remain under him?

:The staffs of the Food Department and the late Ministry of Shipping were reduced between 1st April and 1st July by 313 persons. These two Departments at present employ 1,853 persons, of whom 9, employed in the Food Department, are part-time officers. Questions regarding the staff of the late Ministry of Munitions should be addressed to the Treasury.

:Is it not the fact that a considerable number of experienced men were cleared out of the Ministry of Food and their places taken by inexperienced civil servants from other Departments?

:I do not think so.

:Does not the reply leave out that part of the question which asks as to the number of persons taken over from these respective Departments?

:I think it refers to the part-time civil servants taken over to the number of nine.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, by his direction, a court of referees has been formed to decide as to whether an unemployed person who is offered work of a domestic nature is entitled to refuse the same and to continue to draw unemployment benefit; if so, will he say if this court consists of an equal number representing employers' associations, such as the Private Domestic Employers' Association, and those who can represent persons who are eligible for or desirous of undertaking domestic work, with an independent chairman; and will he give the names of members at present forming such court or courts?

:Before the right hon. Gentleman replies to that, may I ask him also to state, in regard to the first part of the question, if there is any Regulation in regard to the maximum number of hours per day, and number of days per week and the minimum wage, which would justify the refusal of an individual to accept an occupation and would justify the Minister in continuing to grant benefit in that case?

:May I have an answer to my question?

:Ninety-five courts of referees have been set up in the United Kingdom under Section 13 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920. The courts cover defined geographical areas and deal with all cases arising in these areas. Courts have not been set up to deal exclusively with particular occupations. In accordance with the terms of the Act, each court consists of an impartial chairman and two persons representing employers and insured persons respectively, drawn from panels appointed for this purpose upon the recommendation of local employment committees. I am not aware that any local employment committee has recommended for appointment a representative of the association referred to in the question.

:Does that mean that domestic service will be put on the same level as any ordinary occupation?

:Certainly.

:Are we going to have a Trade Board for domestic servants?

:My hon. and gallant Friend is mistaken. The court of referees has nothing to do with the Trade Boards at all.

:It is a half-way house.

:May I have a reply to my question regarding the hours and the minimum wage?

:That is a question which should be put on the Paper.

:It arises out of the first part of the question already put to the right hon. Gentleman.

:It is argumentative.

:Is it not a fact that if these people get unemployment benefit at the present time they are fully entitled to it, after getting past these committees, and that it is miraculous— [HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order!"]

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in addition to the action taken by advisory committees of Employment Exchanges with regard to the conditions of employment of young persons, officials of Employment Exchanges lay down conditions of service when answering mistresses of households who may have applied for domestic help; and will he say if this course is pursued with his sanction?

:As explained to my hon. and gallant Friend on 4th July, officials of Employment Exchanges do not lay down conditions of service. Their action in this connection is confined to giving effect to the conditions (if any) formulated by the Juvenile Advisory Committee with regard to boys and girls under 18.

:Does that mean that if the person be above 18 no condition whatever is made?

:That is so.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that several firms in London are in the habit, when short of work, of suspending their employés for an indefinite period, while retaining their unemployment insurance cards, thus preventing them from claiming unemployment benefit; and whether, if he is satisfied that such is the case, he will, if necessary, introduce legislation to prevent this practice, which places employés in a very difficult position in so far as claiming unemployment benefit is concerned?

:I will make inquiry at once if my hon. Friend will supply me with sufficient particulars.

asked the Minister of Health if it was with his consent that the official notice relating to the change of dates issued with the Census papers in some areas, and signed by the Registrar-General, was utilised on the reverse side for advertising a Sunday paper; and whether His Majesty's Government will consider the propriety of official communications being so utilised, especially when, as in the present case, the subject-matter is a cause of offence to the consciences of many of His Majesty's subjects?

:I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my previous replies to questions on the same subject by the hon. Member for the Rother Valley (Mr. Grundy) and the Noble Lord the Member for Battersea, South (Viscount Curzon) on the 16th and 21st ultimo respectively.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman please reply to the latter part of my question?

:If the hon. and gallant Member will read the reply I have already given, he will find the question is fully covered.

:May I ask for a reply to the latter part of my question?

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he gave me an answer on this subject—

:I dealt with the last part of the hon. and gallant Member's question.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in his answer to me, which has already been alluded to, reference was not made to any question of conscience whatever?

:Is the privilege of advertising upon papers of this kind offered for public tender and did others have the opportunity of tendering for it?

:Certainly.

asked the Minister of Health how many new workmen's houses have been erected during the last three months in the area known as Greater London and in the area outside Greater London; what is the relative increase over, say, a similar period in 1914; and what is the cause of the serious delay in building such houses?

:During the three months ended the 1st July, 3,565 houses were completed in the Greater London area under the Housing Acts of 1919, and 19,014 houses were completed in the rest of England and Wales. I have no data to show how these figures compare with the same period in 1914. Delay in the building of new houses has been due to a variety of causes, chief among which has been the scarcity of skilled labour.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has decided to reverse the policy of his predecessor in making provision for 300,000 new houses as a contribution towards the estimated shortage of at least 500,000 in 1919; and, if so, what is the maximum number he is prepared to sanction under the Government's various Housing Acts?

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government has decided to make no further grants for housing purposes either to local authorities or private individuals after 1st July; and, if so, if he will state why this decision was arrived at without reference to this House?

:In reply to these questions I have to say that I hope to make a general statement to-morrow on the housing policy of the Government.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman now say what day is going to be set apart for discussing that statement, in accordance with the offer made by the Leader of the House yesterday?

:I am afraid I cannot say. That is a question for the Leader of the House.

:Do we understand that the Colonial Office Vote is not to be taken to-morrow?

:No. I propose to make a statement in reply to a question tomorrow. The question as to what day the Debate takes place is, I understand, the subject of negotiations through the usual channels.

asked the Minister of Health in how many housing schemes or portions of schemes upon which any money has been spent, either in the purchase of land, preparation of lay-out, plans, engagement of architects, or agreements as to raising money, has he given instructions to stop or contemplate giving such instructions; in how many of such cases has the land been purchased; what is the amount of the money paid for the land; how many tenants have had to be compensated; what amount has been paid for such compensation; what does he propose to do, or advise local authorities to do, with the land; in how many of such cases has expense been incurred in the engagement of architects, or in the preparation of plans of lay-out or otherwise; what is the amount of such expense; in how many cases included in such schemes have local authorities made arrangements for raising the necessary funds; what will be the cost of breaking such arrangements; in how many such cases has he given instructions, or contemplates giving instructions, for contracts for roads, and sewers, or building, or other work on the site to be broken; what is the estimated cost of work already done thereon by the contractors, and the estimated amount of compensation which will be payable to such contractors whose contracts are broken; and will he, in order to ascertain the extent to which there is a demand for houses by ex-service men or ex-service women, or the widows of ex-service men, publicly invite every such person who is married and has not a permanent home to send him a postcard indicating that he or she is in need of a house?

:I am afraid that the detailed information asked for by the hon. Member is not immediately available and, as regards the Government's housing policy generally, I would ask the hon. Member to await the full statement which I have promised to make tomorrow.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that many housing authorities are going to be left with large liabilities consequent upon his preventing them going forward with their building operations?

:I am not aware of anything of the kind, and if the hon. Member will wait till to-morrow, he will find that that is not the case.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that the new Order shall not be acted upon until the sense of the House has been expressed?

:That is the same question.

asked the Minister of Health if he will reconsider the decision of his Department regarding the purchase of slum property in Dartmouth; and will he give the town council authority to purchase this site for the erection of flats, for which plans have already been prepared and a deposit already paid?

:As the whole question of dealing with slums in undergoing review, I am unable under the present circumstances to modify the decision conveyed to the local authority.

:Does the right hon. Gentleman think that is a wise decision, because a considerable amount of money has already been spent on the preparations for these houses, and surely, when he remembers that no place is more in need of houses than Dartmouth, he will go on with this?

:I am afraid there are a good many places all in need of houses.

:None worse than Dartmouth.

:If the town council in question wishes to buy this site, why should the national taxpayer be called upon to pay for it?

:Are we to understand that the Government are going to stop the removal of all slum property?

:Not at all. If my hon. Friend will wait till to-morrow, he will see it is quite the reverse.

asked the Minister of Health how many people in Great Britain are living in overcrowded conditions?

:The particulars asked for cannot be given until the results of the recent Census have been tabulated and the necessary statistics compiled therefrom by the Registrar-General.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his predecessor in office said about two years ago that there were over 2,000,000 people living in overcrowded conditions, and will the Government bear this fact in mind in formulating their policy?

:I am not aware of those figures.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has definitely informed the London County Council, in connection with their housing scheme on the Becontree Estate, that they are not to contemplate any further scheme for drainage or building beyond the Ilford section or involve themselves in any commitments of any kind beyond such as are essential to the development of the portion of the scheme confined to that restricted area?

:I have informed the London County Council that it will not be possible to develop the Becontree Estate to the extent contemplated by the Council, and that in consequence a sewerage scheme for the whole estate could not be allowed to rank for financial assistance from the Exchequer. The extent to which development of this and other housing schemes of the London County Council can proceed will be considered in relation to the decision of the Government on general housing policy, which I hope to announce in the House to-morrow.

asked the, Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that there are quantities of Dutch strawberries coming into England, most of them with added preservative to make them travel and keep on the journey; whether London jam makers are using a great quantity of these, and refusing to buy the English little scarlet strawberry which costs the English grower 3d. per lb. to pick, paid to the English unemployed; and whether the existing powers of the Ministry of Health or of the Home Office are sufficient to compel this, foreign adulterated fruit to be sold as such when made into jam in the same way as foreign meat and margarine are declared as such to the consumer?

:I have ascertained that Dutch strawberries are being imported, and I am making inquiries as to the presence of preservatives. Any imported food which is found to be unwholesome or unfit for human consumption is liable to be seized at the ports. I have no power to require that jam made from imported fruit should be distinctively labelled.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Ministry of Agriculture on representations made by the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. E. Gwynne) and myself, are inquiring into this whole matter of the price paid for fruit, and will he communicate with the Ministry in question to ascertain from them the information they have already received, with a view to finding out whether the allegation that there is a combine is true or not?

:I shall be delighted to do so.

:Has the right hon. Gentleman taken the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown as to whether or not this adulterated fruit may be sold, while there is a restriction upon margarine and meat as regards the description that must be given at the time of sale?

:I have no evidence to suggest that there is any adulteration.

asked the Minister of Health how much has been spent under the Insurance Act since July, 1912, in the treatment of tuberculosis?

:I assume that my hon. Friend refers only to expenditure on the provision of Sanatorium Benefit for insured persons under the Insurance Acts. The amount spent in England and Wales upon the provision of Sanatorium Benefit for insured persons under the Insurance Acts from July, 1912, to the 30th April, 1921, the date on which the benefit terminated, was approximately £6,380,000.

:Does this amount include the value of services rendered for domiciliary treatment as well as sanatorium treatment?

:I think not.

:Does not this large expenditure largely arise from the overcrowded conditions under which people live?

asked the Minister of Health whether the latest reports received by his Department show any increase of sickness, and, if so, of what nature, due to the sustained-drought and excessive heat; and whether medical officers of health generally have, by circular or otherwise, been warned as to the need of precautionary measures against any outbreak of infectious diseases, even including, in case of need, the free distribution of disinfectants?

:I have received no such reports as are referred to in the question. I am issuing a circular to local authorities and their medical officers of health as to the danger to young children of epidemic diarrhoea in present weather conditions, and I will send the hon. Member a copy of this circular.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to warn the public against the common misconception that throwing disinfectants down the drain is an advisable thing, seeing that it often stops the septic processes on which the treatment of sewage depends?

asked the Prime Minister what the grant for the Government Entertainment Fund amounts to; and how is it allocated?

:£200,000 was voted in 1919–20 for Government Hospitality. No vote was taken this year as the unexpended balance on 31st March last was £97,000, after £35,000 had been surrendered to the Treasury. The funds are allocated as required by the First Commissioner of Works in consultation with the Minister concerned in each case and subject to Treasury control. Thus the entertainment of those attending the recent Conference was settled in con- junction with the Foreign Office; while moneys being spent on the Conferences now sitting have been determined in conjunction with the Colonial Office and India Office respectively.

:Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say what the comparable figure to £200,000 was for the last year before the War?

:Not without notice.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Kent Education Authority has amended its by-laws so as to permit children under 10 years of age to work with their parents in the hop fields, and children of school age to work in fruit fields for periods longer than five hours per day on any week-day on which schools are not in session; whether this was done at the instance of the Ministry of Health; if so, what are the reasons for the Ministry's action; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence of the Ministry with the Kent County Council and its education committee in the matter of the modifications in the by-laws made during this year?

:I have been asked to reply to this question. The by-laws made by the Kent Education Authority under the Employment of Children Act and confirmed by the Home Secretary in March last, allow children under 12 to be employed by their parents in hop picking during the holidays. In the by-laws as first published the exemption was, at the instance of the Home Office, restricted to children between 10 and 12 employed for five hours a day, but strong representations were made by persons interested in the welfare of hop pickers to the effect that hop picking was very beneficial to the families engaged in it, that the employment of young children was of a very light character, and that if the by-laws were confirmed as drafted they would prevent women from going to the hop fields or of taking their children with them. After careful consideration of these representations and consultation with the Ministry of Health, who con- curred in this view, the Home Secretary agreed to confirm the by-laws as amended by the education authority to meet these objections. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative, but I shall be glad to show the correspondence to the hon. Member if he wishes to see it

:Is it not a fact that this limitation of these restrictions is asked for by practically the entire population engaged in hop picking?

:I think the thing is all put right now.

:Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is an immense number of children who do not come under the Kent Education Authority at all, but who go to the hop fields in the hop picking season, and will these by-laws affect them?

:These by-laws affect the children working in those districts.

:Is it not a fact that these children coming from these outside districts benefit enormously by this employment?

:Yes. I think that anyone who has seen hop picking in progress will agree with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Health what is the present cost of preparing the two half-yearly Parliamentary Registers in Great Britain; and, in view of the need for economy, whether he will consider the advisability of a return to the annual revision and publication of the Register?

:I have been asked to reply. I regret that I can add nothing to the reply given to the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. Haydn Jones) on the 14th June, a copy of which I will send to my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister if the Government have any information from the Meteorological Office or from other sources that bears on the question of a downfall of rain being produced by the action of explosions in the air, gun-firing, or any other methods; and if, in view of the disastrous nature of the present drought to agriculture and to the food supply generally, the Government will be prepared to initiate any tentative experiments of this nature which might possibly have the effect of precipitating a downpour of rain?

:I have been asked to answer this question. Experiments on the lines suggested in the first part of the question have been carried out from time to time in various countries, but the meteorologists who reported on such experiments were of opinion that the results did not justify the suggestion that meteorological conditions are in any way influenced by the explosions. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

:Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give the House any idea as to the results of the great experiment carried out last night?

:The results are quite obvious!

asked the Minister of Health, (1) when it is proposed to appoint the Committee that is to inquire into the question of Greater London government; and, if the inquiry is not held this year, can he state if it is intended to act upon its findings during the life of the present Parliament;

(2) if, having regard to the importance of the fact that the ratepayers of districts that have received the honour of incorporation take a greater interest in public affairs, he proposes to withdraw his objections to the incorporation of Walthamstow in the event of the inquiry into the government of Greater London not being held this year?

:As has already been stated in reply to previous questions the Government are considering the question of instituting an inquiry into the local government of London and Greater London. Until a decision has been reached I am unable to add anything to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on the 6th July with regard to the incorporation of Walthamstow.

:Is it, or is it not, certain that this Committee will be appointed this year?

:The matter is now before the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether each section of the Ministry producing publications edits its own papers; if so, what are the exact duties carried out by the Central Editing Section; and whether this section is presided over by an Air Vice-Marshal?

:The editing of books in the Air Ministry is normally conducted in the section concerned. At the present time, owing to the comparatively recent creation of the Royal Air Force, an abnormally large number of new books and publications is in preparation. The Central Editing Section has been instituted as a temporary measure to secure proper co-ordination of this work, more particularly in cases in which two or more Departments are jointly concerned in the preparation of a single book, since it was found that without some such central machinery cases were occurring of overlapping or inconsistent treatment of the same subject from different aspects. The section is also charged with the actual drafting of certain books dealing with air strategy and tactics and Royal Air Force administration. The answer to the third part is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why the Publicity Section, known as the Information or Press Section, is still retained; and whether the duties of this Department, consisting of issuing notices to airmen and ground engineers, could more easily be carried out by the Departments which prepare them?

:The Publicity and Propaganda Section, which was established at the Air Ministry during the latter part of the War, was disbanded shortly after the Armistice. As I in- formed my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Fylde on 5th July, one official of the Department is responsible, amongst other duties, for the issue of official information to the Press. This conforms to the normal pre-War practice of Government Departments of having one channel for dealings with the Press, and is both economical and convenient. With regard to the latter part of the hon. Member's question, it is usually best to centralise, so far as possible, the work of editing and issuing Departmental publications, and I believe it to be so in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the total number of parachutes owned by the Royal Air Force in England; and what percentage of the Royal Air Force aeroplanes and balloons, respectively, in this country are equipped with parachutes?

:The answer to the first part of the question is 1,943. Owing to difficulties encountered in designing satisfactory harness, it has not yet been possible to equip more than a small number of aeroplanes with parachutes, but experiments are proceeding, and satisfactory results are expected shortly. The necessary arrangements have been made so that no avoidable delay may occur. There is only one balloon in service at present, and this is equipped with parachutes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is intended to use Nieuport Nighthawks now in store for the equipment of scout quadrons in the Royal Air Force; if so, when these machines were built and by whom; how long they have been in store and where; whether they were built under war emergency conditions and of war emergency material; with what engines they are fitted; and whether these engines are reliable, and who will be responsible if such machines prove a failure?

:The machines in question were built in 1919 and the early part of 1920 by the Nieuport and General Company and by Messrs. Cauldron, and have been in store at Leuchars for varying periods beginning with August, 1919. They were constructed under war emergency conditions of the best war emer- gency material and are fitted to take an engine, which has not, so far, proved satisfactory. Trials are being carried out with other engines, and, if the results are satisfactory, it is intended to use the machines now in store.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these machines are practically identical in design with the machine on which that very gallant airman was killed yesterday; and, further, is he aware that this particular engine has never been considered a success?

:I think what the hon. Member has stated rather bears out the policy of the Ministry. They may be of great service until we can get a more suitable engine.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what was the total cost of R.36; whether the dismantling of this airship will be postponed pending a possibly favourable decision from the Dominion Prime Ministers' conference regarding the desirability of expending £4,000 to £6,000 in order to repair this airship; whether the Zeppelin L.64 was irretrievably wrecked in order to make room in the shed at Pulham for the damaged R.36; how much money has so far been expended on the construction of R.37; how much more is required to complete this airship; and whether he will consider the possibility of utilising the £20,000 allocated in the Estimates for a mooring mast in Egypt as a grant-in-aid for the repair of R.36, and the continued construction of R.37?

:The total cost of the R.36 was approximately £350,000; she is not being dismantled at present. The L.64 was broken up in order to clear a berth for and save the damaged R.36. £325,000 has been spent in the R.37, and it is estimated that £25,000 would be necessary to complete her. In reply to the last part, the whole question of what is best to do with the money available in the very short period which remains before the offer expires has naturally received anxious consideration, and I have not felt justified in authorising the repair of the R.36 or the completion of the R.37.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is quite unnecessary to expend any more money on mooring masts in Egypt, as natural mooring masts already exist in the Pyramids, to which a swivel could be attached for a very few pounds?

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the great increase in the users of Wimbledon Common since the War by footballers in winter and by little cricketers in summer, and that many games of cricket are now played every evening and on Saturday afternoon in dangerous proximity to one another, largely owing to the fact that so much of the common is still diverted from its proper use under the War Measures; if he will insist that the whole War remains of old camps and huts and the allotments, which occupy so much land and so disfigure the common, should be cleared away and the common sown with grass and returned to its proper use for the free enjoyment of the public; and if he can take any steps to help the public to recover possession of the large tracts of the common, of which they have been deprived for about six years?