asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the practice in Belfast of keeping houses vacant in order to secure to the landlords a higher rent and freedom from rates is becoming so widespread as to cause grave discontent; and whether, in view of the present shortage of housing accommodation, steps can be taken to stop the practice of keeping houses vacant in order to obtain a higher rent than is allowed by law?

I have no evidence of the existence of the alleged practice. Out of a total of 81,500 houses in Belfast, only 535 are vacant, some, no doubt, with a view to sale, but few, if any, for the reasons stated in the question. Loss in rents more than counterbalances any saving in rates, and the Rent Restrictions Act prevents demands for excessive rents in most cases. In these circumstances, the second part of the question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the subject of a householder in Brixton, who applied under the provisions of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act to the sanitary authority of Lambeth for a certificate that his house was not in a reasonable state of repair, and paid 1s. for the same, which has been retained, and that the sanitary authority has refused to give the certificate, although at the Lambeth County Court in December last the householder was awarded damages and costs on account of the house being unfit for human habitation; whether upon application to the Ministry of Health the householder was informed that it is not necessary for the sanitary authority to issue such certificates; and whether, in view of the provisions of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, he will issue a notice to the sanitary authorities advising them not to place obstacles in the way of tenants obtaining such certificates, so that the repairs they are paying for in their increase of rent shall be carried out?

I am informed by the borough council that an inspection of the house to which the hon. Member refers was made on the 13th June last, that the house was at that time, in the opinion of the sanitary inspector, in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation, and that, consequently, the inspector could not give a certificate under Section 2 (2) of the Act. I am assured by the borough council that no obstacles are placed in the way of tenants obtaining certificates under the Section.

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to circu- late to all the local authorities interested in the housing question an exact statement of the reasons which have compelled the modification in the Government policy affecting housing subsidies, the more so since as much publicity as possible is desired in view of the number of people who have been recently buying plots of land in advance?

I propose to issue a circular to local authorities in the course of a few days, embodying the statement which I made on behalf of the Government last Thursday.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will authorise municipal milk depots to extend their operations in the event of a milk shortage, or what steps he is taking to assure, by a priority system or otherwise, that a healthy and sufficient supply of milk shall be available for children if the drought continues?

Local authorities are supplying milk in considerable quantities to children under five, subject to conditions sanctioned by me under the Maternity and Child Welfare Act. Where liquid milk cannot readily be obtained for this purpose dried milk is provided. I have not, however, received evidence of such a shortage of liquid milk as to render necessary such further action as is suggested.

asked the Minister of Health what attitude is taken up by his Department with regard to the demand by the Approved Societies for an increase in administration allowance of 5s. instead of 4s. 10d.?

I am not in a position to sanction an increase of the administration allowance for Approved Societies beyond the figure of 4s. 10d. recommended by the Departmental Committee which investigated the matter, which is the subject of the National Health Insurance Bill which has already passed this House.

asked the Chief Secretary the number of ex-service men employed at skilled trades in the Irish prison service without the usual trade allowance; whether a works officer has been transferred from Kilkenny to Belfast Prison for temporary duty and a similar officer sent from Mount joy to Kilkenny Prison to fill the temporary vacancy; and, in view of the present need for economy, why one transfer would not have met the case?

On 1st June last a warder was transferred from Kilkenny Prison to Belfast Prison for temporary duty for urgent building work for which he was specially qualified. On 17th June it was found necessary to send a warder from Mountjoy to Kilkenny Prison to carry out a specific work there. He was not sent to fill the temporary vacancy. Hitherto sanction for the payment of a trade's allowance to temporary warders has only covered Belfast Prison, where extensive repairs are being effected, but sanction has now been obtained to this concession being applied to other prisons. The 10 ex-service men, who have not previously drawn the allowance, will now receive it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether for over eight months Sligo Prison has been without a chief warder and any clerical staff, and that these duties are being performed by officers' of lower rank without any extra pay; whether any steps are being taken to fill these necessary appointments; and whether the assimilation scheme is to apply to the artisan, hospital, and cooking staffs?

The facts as regards the chief wardership and the clerical staff at Sligo Prison are as stated. The duties of chief warder are being discharged by a principal warder owing to an officer of the former rank being unfit for duty through illness. The clerical staff will be assigned when the general re-grading of the clerical classes is completed. The question of special allowances, payable under assimilation, is not yet finally settled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of money spent by the Government in its publicity campaign against the miners during the recent stoppage?

No publicity campaign against the miners was conducted by the Government, but, for the amount spent on Government publicity during the recent coal industry dispute, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain W. Benn) on the 21st June last.

asked the Minister for Agriculture whether any allowance will be made to farmers who have been unable to thresh their wheat owing to the coal dispute, in order to compensate them for the fall in prices which have taken place during the continuance of the stoppage?

Many classes of the community have suffered losses owing to the coal stoppage for which no compensation can be paid out of public funds, and I am not prepared to make an exception in the case of the farmers referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any awards have yet been made to private individuals who have claimed compensation for loss and damage sustained by them in the War out of the sum of £5,000,000 set aside out of the first receipts on account of reparation allocated to the Exchequer of the United Kingdom?

No, Sir, but my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is taking steps to 6et up the Commission promised by his predecessor in May of last year to make recommendations for ex gratiâ awards within a total of £5,000,000. Nothing has yet been received by the United Kingdom in respect of reparation, the prior charges on all receipts from Germany for the costs of the Army of Occupation and the repayment of the coal advances having not yet been satisfied.

asked the Prime Minister why, in view of the fact that the customs barrier on the right bank of the Rhine was set up in order to secure the acceptance by Germany of the Allies' reparation terms, the said customs barrier is still maintained after those terms have been accepted?

The question of the withdrawal of the sanctions will be fully considered at the forthcoming meeting of the Supreme Council. Meanwhile no useful purpose would be served by discussing it by way of question and answer in this House.

asked the Prime Minister whether Germany was given to understand, after the ultimatum had been accepted and signed unconditionally, that the sanctions would be withdrawn; how long it is intended to continue the sanctions; and when does the policy of their continuance again come under review by the Allies?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The question of the continuance of the sanctions will doubtless be discussed at the next meeting of the Supreme Council of the Allies.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has any information regarding the alleged German boycott of Allied goods; and whether he will compile and supply to British firms a list of German traders publicly avowing their intention to adopt this policy?

I am aware that some propaganda was initiated in Germany a few months ago in the Press and among certain trade associations and commercial bodies in favour of a boycott of goods from allied countries. This action was taken in order to prevent the enforcement of reparations; and as subsequent events proved it failed in its object. As regards the last part of the question, I doubt if it would be practicable to supply such a list as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the loss caused to the Indian Treasury on reverse council bills in 1919–20 has been estimated by the Financial Minister in India at £17,500,000; why reverse bills were not sold by competitive tender but allotted to favoured groups of financiers; whether the effect of this policy has been to enrich the financiers in question by £29,000,000 and to contribute materially to the present fall of the exchange; and whether he will take active steps to fix the responsibility for these disasters?

I presume my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the statement in the Indian Finance Member's Budget speech that a loss of 17 crores resulted in 1920–21 from the realisation of sterling securities in the paper currency reserved to meet reverse councils.

The sale of reverse councils was not, however, the real cause of this loss, which would have been incurred whether they had been sold or not, in consequence of the decision based on the Currency Committee's Report that the sterling securities in the Paper Currency Reserve, originally valued on a 1s. 4d. basis, should be revalued on a 2s. basis. The loss resulting from the sale of reverse councils at rates other than 2s. after the adoption of the Currency Committee's recommendations in February, 1920, is about 7¾ crores. The policy of selling reverse drafts at fixed rates based on 2s. gold and not on the basis of competitive tender, was adopted in accordance with the recommendations in paragraph 62 of the Currency Committee's Report, though at a later stage it was considered expedient to base the sales on 2s. sterling, which was done with effect from 24th June to 28th September, 1920, when the sales were discontinued. I do not understand the allegation that reverse drafts were only allotted to favoured groups of financiers, or the figure cited in Clause 3 of the question. While I deplore the failure so far to make the Currency Committee's policy effective, I would remind my hon. Friend of the abnormal situation prevailing last year which resulted in an adverse balance of trade against India exceeding 75 crores. I am unable to accept the view that the sale of reverse drafts has contributed materially to the present fall in exchange; indeed, it would be only natural to infer that the sales which in 1920 aggregated £55,000,000 sterling, must have tended substantially to check the fall. I can assure my hon. Friend that the question of Indian Exchange is a matter of constant watchfulness by myself and the Government of India.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now make a statement with regard to the Government's policy in the matter of lengthening and widening the slips at Devon-port; and will he say what time it will take to make the alterations necessary, and when it is proposed to make a start?

Although it is fully realised that the advantages of altering the slips at the Royal yards make the scheme most desirable, the expense that would be incurred is not justifiable in the present state of the finances of the country, nor can I say definitely when the Board of Admiralty will be in a position to devote funds to embark on the scheme. The time necessary to alter the slip at Devonport would be two years from the date of commencing work.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether about eight months ago an offer was made to the University of Liverpool by the Admiralty of certain wireless telegraphy sets, ex German submarines, on the understanding that the cost of removal should be borne by the University; whether the bill now sent in by the Admiralty for removal amounts to £80; and whether he will undertake that the charge will be reduced from £80 to £10 as representing the actual value of services rendered?

The answers to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative. With regard to the third part of the question, the sum of £80 includes the cost of packing the apparatus for despatch as well as the cost of its removal. Owing to the structure of the submarine, the work of removing the apparatus was attended with unusual difficulties. The amount claimed is considered to be reasonable, and is, moreover, no greater than that paid by another university for similar services.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has issued instructions authorising the closing of schools, or their earlier opening, during exceptionally hot weather?

The answer is in the negative. The earlier opening of schools is a matter which may safely be left to the discretion of the local education authority.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the estimated cost of the education of a child of 12 years old per day at an elementary school in a rural and an urban district?

The estimated annual cost per scholar in public elementary schools in England and Wales in 1920-21 was: In county areas (excluding London) £9 19s. 9d.; in urban areas (including London), £12 1s. 6d. Dividing these amounts by 365, the result is, approximately, 6½d. and 8d. per day.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in the standard scales of salaries for teachers in public elementary schools recommended by the Burnham Committee, Grimsby is placed in scale 3 and Yarmouth in scale 2, Crewe in scale 3, and Lincoln and Shrewsbury in scale 2; whether Grimsby and Yarmouth and Crewe, Lincoln and Shrewsbury are respectively similar as to educational needs, local industries, environment, and cost of living; by what method have the scales in these instances been arrived at; and whether it is possible for the scales of places like Yarmouth, Lincoln, and Shrewsbury to be revised so that they may be placed in a higher scale suitable to the local needs?

I think this question must have been placed upon the Paper in error. A question in identical terms from the same hon. Member was answered by my right hon. Friend on Wednesday last, the 13th July.

asked the President of the Board of Education the methods by which the granting of certificates to intending school teachers is regulated; whether certificates are granted to all candidates who succeed in passing the necessary qualifying examination; and, if not, what are the factors taken into consideration before the certificates are awarded?

I may refer the hon. and gallant Member to Chapter viii of the Regulations for the Training of Teachers, and the Syllabus for the Board's Certificate Examination, in which the conditions of certification are set out. Generally speaking, the Board's Certificate is granted to all candidates who succeed in passing the necessary qualifying examination, provided that the Board are satisfied as to their physical fitness and character.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of those members of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade who enlisted at 4s. per day and were paid at the rate of only 1s. 6d. per day, he will give instructions for the arrears to be paid without further delay?

All such men who enlisted at 4s. a day have been paid at that rate. Authority has also been given for that rate of pay to be issued to a certain number of men who were erroneously promised it on enlisting at Devonport early in August, 1914, and who are presumably the men referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for War when the annual return of the Territorial Army, in continuation of the last return of the Territorial Force for 1913 and bringing information up to 30th September last, will be available?

The return is now in proof, and I hope will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the average strength of the Territorial battalions which are being retained in Scotland, and the strength in detail of the 21 battalions it is proposed to disband or amalgamate?

There are in Scotland 17 battalions of the Territorial Army unaffected by the proposed scheme of amalgamation, and the average strength of these on 25th March last (the date of the last complete returns) was 17 officers and 369 other ranks. It will, of course, be understood that many more battalions than the 21 surplus battalions will be affected by the scheme, and until a final decision has been reached by the county associations as to the course they recommend it is not possible to give in detail the further figures asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason of the undue delay in publishing the Report of the War Office Departmental Committee appointed early in 1920, in reference to the Navy and Army Canteen Board, before which evidence on behalf of chambers of commerce and trade organisations was submitted; and will he ensure the early publication of the Report?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the written reply on Friday last to my hon. Friend the Member for East Nottingham (Sir J. D. Rees).

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason why no balance sheets and trading accounts of the Navy and Army Canteen Board for the two years 1919 and 1920 have yet been published; and will he give instructions for these balance sheets and accounts to be printed and laid before the House immediately?

The report of the Committee on Canteen Profits which was published on 11th July (Command Paper 1280) recommends the preparation of certain accounts, and these will be prepared as and when possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reason why no balance sheets and trading accounts of the Navy and Army Canteen Board for the two years 1919 and 1920 have not yet been published; and will he give instructions for these balance sheets and accounts to be printed and laid before the House immediately?

The Report of the Committee on Canteen Profits which was published on 11th July (Command Paper 1280) recommends the preparation of certain accounts, and these will be prepared as and when possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mrs. G. Jones, widow of the late Private Jones, No. 31,715, 19th Welsh Regiment, to whom a temporary pension of 15s. a week was granted on the death of her husband, and upon whom two children are dependent; whether the late Private Jones had never lost a day's work through illness prior to joining the forces, and was discharged after contracting a chill whilst serving; whether her appeal for a higher pension has been refused on the ground that her husband did not die from a disability contracted whilst serving; and, if so, whether he will give instructions that the Regulations as to pension be interpreted in a manner more generous and sympathetic?

This widow's claim to a full pension under Article 11 of the Royal Warrant has been rejected by the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal, whose decisions are, by statute, final and binding on both the appellant and the Ministry. I regret, therefore, that I am precluded from reconsidering this case.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether Mr. James Lewis, of 45, Grosvenor Road, Aldershot, late No 4,404, colour-sergeant, Manchester Regiment, a disability pensioner of former wars, who re-enlisted and served through the whole period of the late War, is still receiving the same rate of pension as granted to him in 1911 , and whether, in view of the fact that all service pensioners who served during the late War have had their pensions reassessed, the same consideration will be given to pre-War disability pensioners who rejoined for service in 1914?

Mr. Lewis is not eligible for increase of his pre-War disability pension under the Royal Warrant relating to former wars, as he is not now suffering from any disablement in respect of the disability for which he was originally admitted to pension in 1911, and it has not been possible to grant him any increase on the pre-War pension under the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, as Mr. Lewis' income exceeds the limits laid down in that Act. It has recently been decided that pre-War disability pensioners with over 14 years' service who re-enlisted during the Great War and were again invalided shall be eligible for the new scale of service allowances announced in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for the Fylde Division of Lancashire (Colonel Ashley) on 4th May, 1920. But this concession only applies to men who had re-engaged to complete 21 years' service, and who were prevented from completing that term in consequence of being discharged as medically unfit. Mr. Lewis was not invalided from his pre-War service, but took his discharge at his own request after 15 years, 292 days' service. I regret that in these circumstances he is not eligible f r any increase of his pre-War pension of 33d. a day.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of horse-drawn vehicles of every description that have been disposed of by the War Office, either by way of replacements or otherwise, since the let of October last, and the total value realised in respect of such vehicles?

The number of horse-drawn vehicles reported to the Disposal and Liquidation Commission by the War Office since 1st October last, is 39,292. As regards the sum realised in respect of such vehicles, this is a matter for the Commission, and questions on the subject should be addressed to my hon. and gallant Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what weight of wolfram and other tungsten ores the Government had under their control at the Armistice; and whether they have sold them since, and at what price?

I have been asked to answer this question. Approximately 10,000 tons of wolfram and allied ores have been disposed of since the Armistice by the Disposal Board. It is not considered desirable to disclose the price obtained. The balance remaining unsold of wolfram and allied ores is approximately 200 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether duties leviable under the Finance Act on certain articles would be imposed on their value as defined in Clause 10 of the Safeguarding of Industries Bill, or whether they will be imposed on the value of the goods plus any duties leviable under that Bill; and what is the maximum aggregate duty which could be imposed on an article subject to duty under the Finance Act and Parts I and II of the Safeguarding of Industries Bill?

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the ad valorem duties leviable under the Finance Act No. 2 of 1915. The definition of value for the purposes of that Act as practically identical with that adopted in the Safeguarding of Industries Bill and the duties thereunder are leviable on the value of the goods delivered in bond, which therefore does not include any Customs duties leviable as the result of the passage of the Safeguarding of Industries Bill or otherwise. Goods on which duties of 33⅓ per cent. ad valorem are leviable under that Finance Act will not be subject to any further duty under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Bill, but may be made the subject of an Order under Part II, in which event a further 33⅓ per cent. would be leviable, making 66f per cent. in all.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Dominions and dependencies have been communicated with; and, if so, with what results, as recommended on page 36 of the Report of the Departmental Committee [Cd. 9073]?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The Report of the Departmental Committee to consider the position of the engineering trades after the War was communicated, on publication, to the Governments of the self-governing Dominions, but I have not heard of any action being taken on the recommendations on page 36.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will lay before the House an account of the proceedings which took place at the Mansion House on 7th June, 1920, when an appeal was made for funds in connection with the British Empire Exhibition, together with a statement of the estimated success of this appeal?

I have obtained from the exhibition authorities, and am sending to the hon. and gallant Member, a report of the meeting held at the Mansion House on the 7th June, 1920. As I stated in my reply on the 4th July, no general appeal for the guarantee fund of the exhibition has yet been sent out.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the price of New Zealand butter has been advanced by the Government from 196s. per cwt. to 220s. per cwt.; if the price of Danish, Dutch, and Irish butter has been advanced in price; and, if so, how much?

The reply to first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. The prices of Danish, Dutch, and Irish butter vary from day to day for the different qualities, but the price fixed for Government butter may be taken as following the trend of current market prices.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if 80,000 cwt. of butter was sold by the Government during the week ending 2nd July, 1921, prior to the advance in price; if not, how much, and to whom was it sold;

(2) whether the butter sold by the Government prior to the advance in price is being stored or is going into consumption?

The sales during the week ending 2nd July amounted to 58,000 cwts., and were made to first hand buyers who are not retaining the butter in store.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is intended to invite Parliament to amend Clause 34 of the Merchant Shipping Act, where it applies to seafarers suffering from venereal diseases, in such a way as to bring that portion of the Act into harmony with the Government policy for combating these diseases; and whether this will be done during the present Session?

As stated in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for North Dorset (Major Colfox) on the 14th July, a Clause dealing with this matter will be included in the next general Merchant Shipping Bill that is introduced, but I am afraid it is not possible to introduce legislation this Session.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how long it is proposed to keep in force the Regulation, made during the War, compelling butchers to make monthly slaughterhouse returns; what is the approximate cost to the country of the operation of this Regulation; and what is the number of officials engaged in dealing with the returns so made; and whether, in view of the supply of meat available, the Regulation can now be withdrawn?

I cannot give a definite reply at present to the first part of the question; the answer to the second is, about £2,000 a year for salaries, together with a sum, for stationery and postage, which there has not been time to estimate closely since the question was put down. This inquiry does not form the exclusive occupation of all those engaged in it, but the whole time of eight or nine persons would be required to deal with the work. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 11th July to the right hon. Member for the South Molton Division (Mr. G. Lambert).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been made so that adequate supplies of monasite sand at reasonable prices are available to British manufacturers?

Certain British manufacturers are directly associated with companies owning deposits of monasite sand, and in addition the Travancore Minerals Company is bound by the terms of its concession to sell monasite sand direct and at a fair price to any bonâ fide British firm that may desire to purchase the material in reasonable quantities and for purposes of manufacture, and has further undertaken to charge the same price for all purchases of lots of 10 tons and upwards.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any, and, if so, what, arrangements have been entered into with the Governments of India and the Dominions to secure the supply of tungsten ores to the Empire producers of tungsten powder and ferrotungsten?

No, Sir; but my hon. Friend is no doubt aware that some producers in this country themselves own wolfram mines within the Empire.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a statement by Mr. Carl Stetteur, at an annual meeting of the Jewish Board of Deputies, to the effect that no immigrant who knows his way in does not get in, and there is the opportunity of some 170,000 immigrants per annum entering without risk of being stopped whatever their condition; whether this statement is correct; and, if so, what steps he intends to take to prevent the immigration of undesirable aliens?

I have not seen the statement referred to, but if it was made, it is wholly erroneous. The provisions of the Aliens Restriction Act and the Aliens Restriction Order are strictly enforced at the ports; and if here and there an undesirable alien succeeds in evading them, he is liable to immediate deportation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what staff is maintained at the public expense in connection with propaganda work for War Savings Certificates and other flotations connected with the funds; and what is the present cost per week of such staff, if any?

The great bulk of the propaganda work in connection with National Savings Certificates is performed by the officers of the Savings Committees and Associations which are spread throughout the Kingdom, all of whom— some 200,000 in number—serve in an honorary capacity. No paid staff is maintained solely for propaganda work in connection with either National Savings Certificates or other forms of Government loans.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of companies that have, during the last two years, transferred their domicile from this country to our Colonies and other places in order to avoid paying Income Tax here; what loss to the Revenue has arisen from such action; and whether, in the interest of the taxpayer, any means can be devised so as to prevent such loss?

I am unable to state the precise number of companies which have removed their seat of control from this country for the reason stated in the question. The hon. Member may rest assured, however, that the number is small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can do anything to hasten the returns of Income Tax for which forms have been duly filled in and sent to the Department months ago; and is he aware that the extraordinary delay is pressing very hard on widows and spinsters with very limited incomes, and that the delay is very much in excess of that of previous years?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 13th ultimo to the hon. Member for Kensington South (Sir W. Davison). I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of that reply, and may renew the assurance that every effort is made to accelerate repayment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a company, entitled Aramayo Francke Mines, Limited, has just changed its domicile from this country to Switzerland and is now registered as La Compagnie Aramayo de Mines ou Bolivie, and that from 1902 to 1919 this company has paid British taxation on total net profits amounting to nearly £3,000,000; whether the reason for the transfer to Switzerland was to avoid paying Income Tax here; and whether, in the interest of the Revenue, he will make a comprehensive review of our existing taxing policy with a view to preventing such loss of revenue?

I am aware of the case to which the hon. Member refers, and I understand that one of the reasons given for the transfer of the business of the company in question to a company formed for the purpose in Switzerland was to avoid the incidence of United Kingdom Income Tax. On the general question of the taxation of British controlled concerns trading abroad, I would refer the hon. Member to Section 2 of Part I of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Income Tax. It will be seen that the Royal Commission who made a comprehensive review of our taxing policy in this matter recommended "that there should be no change in the present law which renders British resident persons or companies liable to be assessed on the whole of their trading profits irrespective of what proportion of their profits arises abroad, and irrespective (in the case of companies) of the nationality or residence of their shareholders."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the co-operative societies were afforded immunity under Schedules C and D of the Income Tax law as a matter of administrative expediency, in that it was anticipated that so many applications would be made by individual members for repayment that the cost of collection was calculated to exceed the receipts, or whether this concession is intended as an encouragement to the co-operative movement?

The statutory provisions relating to co-operative societies and their Income Tax liability are of long standing. The Section of the Income Tax Act, 1918, to which I referred in the answer given to the hon. Member on this subject on the 12th July, reproduced a similar provision in the Industrial and Provident Societies Act of 1893, which was itself the last of a series of enactments dealing with this matter, and extending back to the year 1852. While it is undoubtedly the case that the present law does, as suggested by the hon. Member, obviate the necessity for a vast number of repayment claims, the extant records of this very old provision are not sufficient to indicate the motives which led to its original adoption. The hon. Member may care to refer to the account of this subject contained at page 952 of Volume V of the Minutes of Evidence of the Royal Commission on the Income Tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the great inconvenience and loss of time now experienced by members of the public in obtaining repayment in respect of unused entertainment stamps purchased in excess of the number required . that an individual who recently applied for repayment in respect of unused stamps at the post office where the same had been issued was referred to Somerset House, and was there sent to no less than ten different rooms, in the tenth of which the applicant was informed that it would be necessary for him to go to the Custom House, in Lower Thames Street, City, and apply there, and, accordingly, after the greater part of the day had been wasted, the applicant applied by letter to the Secretary of the' Board of Customs and Excise, Lower 'Thames Street, from whom, after a week's delay, a form on which to make a claim was forwarded, from which it appeared that a written declaration with regard to the said stamps had to be made before a Justice of the Peace or other authorised person; and whether he will take immediate steps to protect the public from being harassed and inconvenienced in the manner above indicated by arranging for the refund of the value of unused entertainment stamps at the post office where the same were issued to the person who organised the entertainment?

I have been unable to trace the case to which my hon. Friend refers, but if he will furnish me with particulars I will have the matter carefully investigated and communicate with him further.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that certain goods were consigned from Germany on 11th June to Messrs. Furness and Voyce, Manchester; that the firm received notification of their arrival on 30th June; that the duty payable under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act was paid the same day (reference numbers 171/3 and 172/1); that the goods are still lying in London and have not yet been delivered; that the imports in question are fashionable goods and if not released and sold now will not be disposed of, and if kept till next summer will probably be out of date; and whether steps will be taken to remove these difficulties in the way of trade?

I am informed that the cheque for the reparation payment on the goods in question was received at the Custom House on the 4th instant. In accordance with the usual practice in the case of cheques not guaranteed by a banker, it could not be brought to account until it had been realised on the 8th instant. On the following day the official receipt was issued, and authority sent to the parcel post depot where the goods were lying for the release of the parcels to the postal authorities for delivery to the addressee in the course of post.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will request the Mexican authorities to give their reasons for the continued default upon British-owned Mexican Government securities or railway bonds bearing the guarantee of that Government?

I understand that the delay in the resumption of payments is attributed to the difficulties caused by the disturbances which have occurred in Mexico during the past few years. I doubt whether an inquiry on the lines suggested would be productive of useful results.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the medical officer for Glasgow will be requested to inquire into those cases of small-pox classified by him in 1920 as unvaccinated, as he did in the small-pox outbreak in Glasgow in 1903–4, when he discovered that a number of the alleged unvaccinated cases had been vaccinated in infancy?

The answer is in the negative. The inquiry suggested would not affect the validity of the statistics, nor afford any information commensurate with the trouble and expense involved to the local authority.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether any of the cases classified as unvaccinated of those occurring in the Glasgow outbreak of smallpox in 1920 had been vaccinated at any time in their lives; and, if so, what were the ages of such cases and what was the interval between vaccination and the development of small-pox?

No case in the list of unvaccinated persons had been vaccinated before exposure to infection. Of the 128 cases classified as unvaccinated, 19, who were contacts with previous cases, were vaccinated during the outbreak but after exposure to infection.

The ages of the 19 cases were:—

The intervals between date of vaccination and commencement of attack were:—

asked the Minister of Health if he has received any reports indicating stagnation in the building trade; and, if so, the districts concerned and the reasons for such depression?

Although employment in the building trades has shown some decline in recent months, largely due to shortage of materials occasioned by the coal stoppage, it was good with plasterers and fairly good with bricklayers, carpenters, slaters, and tilers. With masons, plumbers, and painters, however, it was slack, as also with labourers. The districts in which unemployment showed the highest percentage rates at 1st July were Ireland, London, and the West Midlands.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in the case of a woman who follows a regular occupation and is temporarily unemployed, it is in accordance with the Regulations that she shall be liable to be disqualified for unemployment benefit on the ground that she has refused an offer of employment in domestic service; whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Louisa H. Gardner (serial No. 6,091, Tooting), who was employed as a laundry worker, had paid her contributions since the commencement of the Act, became unemployed on the 28th April, received one week's benefit, which was afterwards stopped on the ground that she had refused employment in domestic service, and whose reasons for refusal was that, having regard to her future, she wished to continue in the laundry business; whether the woman has now obtained employment in a laundry, thus proving her bonâ fides; whether, in disallowing her appeal, the Court of Referees were governed by any Regulations which provide that, notwithstanding the nature of an applicant's customary employment, she must accept employment in domestic service if it is offered; and whether, in the circumstances, this woman's claim will be reconsidered?

It is one of the statutory conditions for the receipt of unemployment benefit that the applicant must be available for work but unable to obtain suitable employment. Apart from the provisions of the Act itself, there are no Regulations which limit the statutory discretion of the Court of Referees in this matter. The action of the Department in this connection is confined to issuing, for the guidance of the Courts of Referees, memoranda setting out the effect of decisions given by the Umpire, who is the final authority with regard to disputed claims to benefit. In the case to which my hon. Friend refers the Court reached their decision after hearing the applicant, and I have no power to reopen the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of ex-officers and others were then registered in the Appointments Department on 31st January, 28th February, 31st March, 30th April, 31st May, and 30th June?

The number of ex-officers and others registered for employment with the Appointments Department on the dates mentioned was as follows:

These numbers are exclusive of those at present undergoing or awaiting training, but include a considerable number of re-registrations by men for whom the Department had already secured employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what success has attended schemes organised with the aid or approval of his Department for training women for domestic service in South Yorkshire; and whether any of the training centres are still open in that area?

At the end of 1919 and the beginning of 1920 the Ministry of Labour organised one scheme in cookery and one in general domestic work at Sheffield, and one scheme in cookery at Leeds for unemployed women. 192 women in all were trained. The courses were very successful. The demand for the women was greater than the supply, and, with one or two exceptions, due to health or domestic circumstances, all the women entered employment after training. I am informed that the Central Committee for Women's Training and Employment have started a scheme in home craft for 90 women in Sheffield. The course will finish in September.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state, in terms of percentage of the £ sterling at the present rate of exchange, the comparative cost of inland postage of ordinary letters in Great Britain, the United States, France, and Germany, respectively?

The postage on an ordinary inland letter in the countries indicated is as follows:

Great Britain, 2d. for 3 ounces.

United States of America, 2 cents = l·32d. for 1 ounce.

France, 25 centimes = 1·28d. for 20 grammes =0·7 ounce.

Germany, 60 pfennigs = 0·51d. for 20 grammes = 0·7 ounce.

I have for convenience stated the amounts in pence instead of percentages of £l.

asked the Postmaster-General the number who received and the amount paid as bonus to the staff of the Post Office in the year 1920–21; and the amount estimated to be paid and the numbers who will receive bonus in the current financial year?

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the officials and the clerical staff of the India Office have recently received an increase in their pensions; what is the average percentage of increase; and what is the maximum and minimum percentage of increase of such pensions?

Under the Government of India Act the pensions of the permanent staff of the India Office are the same as those prescribed by the Superannuation Acts, and by Treasury Circular relating to bonus, for civil servants in other Government Departments in this country. The pension is based on salary plus 75 per cent. of the bonus applicable. No exceptional treatment has been or can be accorded to the India Office staff. The provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, have been applied to such of the pensions as satisfy the conditions of the Act, the maximum increase being 50 per cent., 40 per cent. or 30 per cent. according to the amount of pension, and subject in every case to the total income not exceeding £200 a year.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the cost separately of each of the branches of the Ministry of Labour for the years 1920–21, and 1921–22; what is the cost estimated for 1922–23; what was the size of the staff employed in each branch for those years; how many of these are employed outside London; and what is the cost of temporary office accommodation?

No figures can yet be furnished regarding 1922–23. The following table show:

( a ) The actual expenditure on staff (including war bonus) for 1920–21;

Owing to the unprecedented amount of unemployment since last autumn the cost of temporary staff for the administration of Unemployment Insurance has necessarily been considerably greater than that provided for in the printed Estimates for 1921–22, for which figures are quoted in

( b ) the estimate for staff (including war bonus) for 1921–22 as already presented to the House;

( c ) the number of staff on 30th June, 1920;

( d ) the number of staff on 30th June, 1921.

the table. No reliable forecast for the whole year can yet be made. The very heavy pressure of the last few months of exceptional unemployment has been met almost entirely by the engagement of additional staff on a "casual" (week to week) basis, so that the numbers can be readily reduced as opportunity offers. A proportion of the casual staff is in fact already being dispensed with.

I should add that the cost of administering Unemployment Insurance is met in large part out of the unemployment fund by an appropriation in aid not exceeding 10 per cent. of the annual income of that fund. In the printed Estimates for 1921– 22, this appropriation in aid was put at £2,500,000; in consequence of the increase in the rate of contributions effected by the Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Act, 1921, this sum will be increased to approximately £3,250,000 for the year 1921–22.

In reply to the last part of the question the cost of the temporary office accommodation taken to meet emergency conditions due to trade depression is approximately at the rate of £65,000 per annum. This will similarly be reduced as unemployment falls.

asked the Minister of Labour how many of the 11 officers of the Civil Liabilities Department who have been transferred to other branches of the Ministry of Labour are ex-service men; and how many of these served overseas or afloat during the War?

It is assumed that the officers in question are the 11 officers of the Civil Liabilities Department referred to in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member's question on 14th July, 1921. On this assumption, the reply to the present question is that all the 11 officers of the Civil Liabilities Department who have been transferred to other branches of the Ministry of Labour are ex-service men, and, with one exception, served overseas or afloat during the War

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the greatly increased cost of traders' contract railway passes, whereby one of these tickets, as an instance, which cost before the War for 12 months £60 to £65 for travelling on portions of the Great Northern, North Eastern, Great Central, and Great Eastern Railways, now costs £241 14s. 9d.; and the reasons for such disproportionate increases as compared with those in force in other branches of railway travel?

The increase which was made in the price of traders' tickets on the 6th August last was in accordance with the recommendation of the Rates Advisory Committee, after very careful consideration of evidence tendered to them at a public inquiry. I may say, however, that the Committee have been requested to consider the matter further. The pre-War charges for big traders were very low, and under existing circumstances their continuance would have meant the small user or passenger bearing an undue burden for the benefit of the big trader.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is in a position to report the findings of the Commissioners of Electricity Supply in London and the Home Counties area?

The local inquiry with regard to the London and Home Counties Electricity District is not yet concluded, and some time must necessarily elapse before the Commissioners will be in a position to issue their findings.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the reason for the increase of over 10 per cent. this year in the estimate for Holyhead Harbour; and if steps can be taken to reduce the loss of over £7,000 per annum shown on this Vote?

The reason for the increase in the estimate for Holyhead Harbour is the necessity of overtaking arrears of maintenance work which accumulated during the War, particularly in regard to the structure of the mail boat jetty and to filling holes in the harbour bed which were becoming a danger to the jetty. As regards the second part of the question, I have already taken steps which will, I hope, reduce very materially the loss in future years.

asked the Home Secretary whether any person is at present at liberty to take out a licence to drive a private motor car irrespective of such physical disabilities as defective sight, deafness, epilepsy, or mental weakness: and, if so, whether he will consider the desirableness of making the production of a medical certificate of fitness a condition of the granting of such licences?

I have been asked to answer this question. I have nothing to add to the answer given on 17th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Bromley (Lieut.-Colonel James), of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the Regulations for bathing in the Serpentine have been altered since the summer of 1915; and whether he will increase the facilities which were much appreciated by the poorer children of London?

No change has been made since 1915. The usual facilities will be provided this summer during the school holidays.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether allotment societies in the borough of Wandsworth have asked the borough council to put into operation its statutory power to co-opt representatives of allotment holders on the allotment committee of the council with a view to assisting in the provision and administration of allotments in the borough; whether the borough council has declined; for what reason has it so declined; and whether he will make representations to the Wandsworth Council with a view to their accepting the assistance by co-option of the allotment holders?

The Ministry is informed by the Wandsworth Borough Council that requests have been received on behalf of allotment holders, asking for representatives to be co-opted on the cultivation committee of the council dealing with allotments. The council have no power to co-opt non-members of the council on a committee of the council, and though the council could appoint such persons as allotment managers under Section 29 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, this course does not appear to the council to be desirable, nor would it fully carry out what is desired by the allotment holders.