asked the Secretary of State for India what instructions he has issued to give effect to his assurance on the 23rd March that no further reductions would be made in the Indian Army pending the result of the inquiry by the Committee of Imperial Defence, and on what date these instructions were issued?

:The answer is in the negative. The necessary instructions were issued, and as a consequence not only have my assurances been fulfilled, but at the present time the number of units in the Indian Army is in excess of the number which I assured the House would be maintained pending the result of the inquiry by the Committee of Imperial Defence.

:Is the Committee of Imperial Defence sitting on this matter? If so, when does the right hon. Gentleman expect to have a Report from it?

:The Committee of Imperial Defence has been waiting for material, which is coming from a Committee sitting at Simla under the Presidency of Lord Rawlinson. I think that the Committee of Imperial Defence will meet very soon.

:Is this question going to the whole Committee, or is it to be considered by a Sub-committee?

:I am sorry if I used a loose phrase. It is a Sub-committee.

:Will the result of the Report of the Committee in India be published in this country?

:I am not sure. I will consult the Viceroy on the point.

:I think there is a précis in the papers this morning, and if the right hon. Gentleman will publish the full report, it will be a very good thing.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, considering that the blue serge frock with trousers can now be worn as mess dress by officers of the British service up to December, 1922, he will consider the question of making this the permanent; mess dress of the officers of the Indian Army?

:The permission referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend has been granted as a temporary measure to officers who do not possess ordinary pre-War mess dress. Reports of Committees recently held in England and in India on the question of uniform for future wear strongly advocate the continuance of pre-War pattern of mess dress.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can say anything as to the settlement of the Madras strike?

:I have received no further information beyond that communicated to the House last week regarding this strike, which is still in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he will present a Return showing the questions on which lieutenant-governors of the eight major provinces of India have found it necessary to overrule, or veto, or modify decisions of their legislative councils during the present year?

:Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will confer with me as to the form of the Return for which he asks, so that I may take the necessary steps to present it.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is now able to make his promised statement with regard to the decision of the Army Council on the claim of the Devon Territorials to the 1914–15 Star?

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can now announce the decision of the Army Council regarding the claim of the Wessex Territorials to the 1914–15 Star, based upon the explicit promise of the late Lord Kitchener?

asked whether, as a result of the inquiries during the last Autumn Session of the War Office Committee presided over by General Lord Cavan, any decision has yet been come to as to the eligibility of the Devon and other Territorial battalions of the Wessex Division for the 1914–15 Star?

:After the fullest consideration, it has been decided that the 1914–15 Star cannot be awarded to the 1st Wessex Division who went to India in 1914, as they do not come within the terms of Army Order 20 of 1919.

:Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the decision just announced is a violation of the solemn pledge given by Lord Kitchener to these Territorials before they left for India, and was it not a fact that they left for India instead of for France by reason of that pledge?

:I do not think so. The words of the pledge that was given were

"You will get your chance. I promise that you shall lose nothing of honours or awards."

Obviously, that could not have meant that all honours and awards would be given to that division, whether it had served in a theatre of war or not. No one would claim, for example, an award for Gallipoli who was not there, and, reasonably interpreted, I do not think that this decision is a breach of any pledge.

:Was it not to these men who were not going to the front immediately that this pledge was given by Lord Kitchener that they should lose none of the honours which they would gain by going to the war fronts immediately>

:Is it not the case that everyone of these men, as far as we can see, went to India with the belief that he had got that specific promise, and that they are now asking that it shall be fulfilled?

:Is it not a fact that when a regiment is ordered to India it is not up to them to say whether they will go or not, and that if they are ordered, irrespective of whether there are any honours or not, it is the duty of these men to go?

:Is it not a fact that they were part of the fighting Army of 1914–15, and ready to go to any place and do their duty, and that it is really not fair to them, when they were sent by the Government to India, that they should not get the same star?

:Has the right hon. Gentleman consulted the General Officer Commanding that particular Wessex Division, and what was his impression of the pledge given by Lord Kitchener?

:I have had a great many consultations on what is admittedly a most difficult question. This regiment was ready, of course, to go wherever it was ordered, but the 1915 Star has been granted only to certain regiments who dis. embarked in a theatre of War prior to 31st December, 1915, and this Division does not come within that category.

:Owing to the unsatisfactory answer of the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Adjournment to-morrow.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any designs or dies have yet been submitted for the Territorial War Medal; how long it is since the ribbon for this medal was approved; and when the design of the medal itself is likely to be approved?

:The design for the Territorial Force War Medal has now been approved. The riband for the medal was approved in July, 1920.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the strength of the Norfolk units of the 54th East Anglian Division; what is the total strength of the division, and of each brigade in that division; and what is the cost for pay and allowances for the upkeep of the staffs of the division, brigades, and units comprising them?

:As the answer to this question involves a detailed statement of figures, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the answer:

The cost per annum, for pay and allowances, of the staff of the 54th (East Anglian) Division and its units on 1st April was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the duties of the Army Remount Department and the Veterinary Department, respectively; and whether economy could be effected by the Veterinary Department taking over the work of the Army Remount Department?

:Broadly speaking, the duties of the Army Remount Department are concerned with questions of purchase, provision, transfer, maintenance, castings, mobilisation, and the general welfare of horses; and the duties of the Veterinary Department with technical advice relating to the health, shoeing, and casting for disease of animals in the Army, also the custody of sick animals and the general administration of the Army Veterinary Service. The suggestion in the latter part of the question will be considered.

:Is it a fact that the remount depots have been increased from 4 in 1913 to 10 at the present time?

:That is not the question on the Paper. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put it down.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been directed to the case of Private Robert McHaffie, No. 3,710, Highland Light Infantry, who has been refused a service pension, notwithstanding the fact that he holds parchment certificates for a total service of 21 years and 57 days; the certificates being, the first, 12 years and 193 days from 16th August, 1890, to 20th February, 1903, Highland Light Infantry (the 193 days included in this certificate having been awarded as a bonus or gratuity for service during the South African War), the second, 4 years from 3rd October, 1902, to 3rd October, 1906, Class D, First Class Reserve, and the third, 4 years and 229 days, from 4th September, 1914, to 11th November, 1918, Royal Scots, when he was discharged on account of ill-health; if he is aware that it is now proposed to regard only 53 days of the gratuity award as valid for pension, on the ground that the second term of service commenced within the period covered by the gratuity award, the effect of which is to reduce the certificate of service by 140 days, with consequent total loss of pension; and will he reconsider this case in order that the soldier may get the benefit of the full period of his gratuity award, either by adding the 193 days to his certificates at dates not covered by other service, or by regarding them, simply as an addition to service without reference to dates?

:As explained to my hon. Friend in the correspondence he has had with the War Office on this case, the claim to pension rests on the fact that a period of 140 days is shown in the man's documents as counting twice over in the total of his service. Making the necessary correction for this, the time actually served by the calendar was less than the 21 years necessary to qualify for pension. It is not possible to alter the historical facts of this man's military history as my hon. Friend suggests, and I am therefore afraid I cannot hold out any hope of an award of pension.

:Does not the hon. and gallant Gentleman think it a very mean Regulation that, because he is a few days short of this enormous period of service, this man should be deprived of a pension?

:These are the Regulations, and we must abide by them. The man was nearly six months short of the qualifying period.

:What is the object of giving a gratuity for service if it is not to count?

:That was done many years ago, at the time of the South African War. I cannot say why it was done

asked the Secretary of State for War what rent is paid for Deptford Market; what staff are maintained there; and at what cost?

:The rent paid for Deptford Market is £10,000 a year. The total number of persons employed at the depots, including the directing staff, is 1,252, and the annual cost is approximately £249,000; the numbers, of course, fluctuate according to the requirements of the depots. In addition to being the Supply Reserve Depot for the Army, Deptford is also the Mechanical Transport Stores Depot.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now see his way to give up Deptford Meat Market, in view of the pledge given by the late Leader of the House a year ago that, if substantial shipments could be promised from Canada, the wharf would be freed so that animals could be landed and slaughtered there?

:I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 14th July to the hon. and gallant Member for Leeds, South-East Division.

:Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that all the conditions laid down by the late Leader of the House, on the occasion when I had the privilege of introducing to him a large and representative deputation, have been fulfilled adequately, and that nothing has since been done to fulfil the pledges given?

:I do not think they have been fulfilled. I met a deputation on the matter, and I cannot agree that the conditions laid down were fulfilled.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is at Aldershot in the Royal Army Service Corps lines a carefully-selected collection of captured German motor vehicles; whether they are standing in the open and deteriorating rapidly; whether within two miles there are a large number of empty sheds and shops belonging to the southern aircraft repair depôt of the Royal Flying Depôt, which are unused; and could the German motor vehicles be stored there?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Until covered accommodation in the vicinity of the mechanical transport shops is available, it is necessary for the vehicles to be parked in the open, but in the meantime every precaution is being taken to prevent deterioration. I am informed that there are no vacant sheds at the disposal of the military authorities at the southern aircraft repair depôt, and if further sheds were handed over I am afraid it would not be possible to adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion. The expense involved in removing the vehicles would be considerable and the site is considered unsuitable owing to the distance from the mechanical transport workshops where all the examination and experiments connected with the vehicles have to be conducted.

:What is to be done with these vehicles? Are they to be used, or eventually sold, scrapped or what?

:As a matter of fact, I think they are being used for experimental purposes, but I will make inquiries.

:Would it not be much better to sell them?

:It may well be that there are lessons to be learned from examination of the actual type of vehicle, but after that they ought to be scrapped.

:Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that, after three years, the War Office has not decided what is to be done with these vehicles?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of private soldiers and non-commissioned officers who, since the Armistice, have married German wives; and whether the sanction of their commanding officers was required and obtained to such marriages?

:Up to the end of 1920, 138 non-commissioned officers and men serving with the Army on the Rhine had married German women since the commencement of the occupation. It is necessary for a soldier who wishes to marry a German woman to inform his commanding officer; and the arrangements made with the German Government require that he should furnish his commanding officer with a copy of his birth certificate and a statutory declaration as to his legal capacity to marry, for the purpose of being forwarded to the competent German registrar. As I have previously explained to the hon. Member, it is not the policy of the War Office to encourage such marriages, but the War Office has no power to prevent them.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a number of these German wives are now located in married quarters in barracks over here, and that their presence is very strongly resented by decent British soldiers who are brought into contact with them?

:I did not know that.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to see that similar regulations are applied to Members of Parliament who keep foreign women?

:In view of the surplus of women in this country, is not this state of affairs an additional reason for getting the troops back from the Rhine as soon as possible?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether secretaries of Territorial Associations will, on retirement after 10 years' service, be entitled to two months' leave on full pay?

:Subject to the ordinary rules, such as that debarring two men from drawing the pay of one post simultaneously, the leave granted to secretaries of Territorial Associations is regulated by the associations at their own discretion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is now in a position to say if men of the Royal Army Pay Corps who were asked during 1919 to defer demobilisation for six months or more, and who, on the completion of such extended service, were engaged as civilian clerks, will be placed in the same position as other pay office clerks and allowed to count their service in the Royal Army Pay Corps for increments?

:This matter is still under consideration, but I hope that a decision will be reached shortly, which I will communicate to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the buildings, land, etc., at Catterick Bridge aerodrome are rapidly depreciating in value; and if he will state what is to be the future of this encampment?

:I have been asked to reply. The future of this aerodrome has not yet been finally settled, but in all probability it will be required for a mechanical transport training school, and for storage of a certain number of vehicles.

:May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether anything is being done in order to keep this large aerodrome from depreciating in value, and whether he has any idea at all of the waste of money that has been going on for two or three years now owing to that depreciation?

:Is it not a fact that all round the east coast of this country there are these aerodromes rapidly depreciating, and cannot something be done to put them to some useful purpose?

:I cannot answer for aerodromes generally, because that does not come within my province, but this particular one has been set aside for a mechanical transport training school and for storing, and it will probably be used very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, under paragraph 3 of Army Order of 11th March, 1919, an officer who has been gazetted out of the Army with permission to retain higher rank than the temporary or substantive rank held by him at the date of the termination of his service is entitled to gratuity on the basis of such higher rank?

:The Army Order quoted by the hon. Gentleman refers only to "acting" rank. An officer, who was gazetted out with permission to retain higher rank than his temporary or substantive rank by virtue of having held "acting" rank, was entitled to gratuity assessed on the basis of that higher rank.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware of an organisation of regimental journals called the Association of Regimental Newspapers; and if he can see his way to help both this useful organisation and the recruiting of the Army by advertising in the regimental journals belonging to this association?

:My attention has been called to the association to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. War Office advertisements are available for publication in the journals included in the association, in so far as these journals are likely to serve the purposes for which such advertisements are issued.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that many regiments of His Majesty's Army publish periodical journals which contain current news of the various units of the regiment at Home and abroad; that these journals are not run for individual profit and therefore are published at practically cost price; that they serve a useful purpose as a recruiting agency for the Army throughout the country; and that owing to the increased cost of postage it is difficult to continue these publications; and whether he can see his way to amend the conditions of registration of newspapers to allow such bonâ fide journals to be registered as newspapers although they do not publish oftener than once a month or once a quarter?

:The suggestion that particular classes of periodicals, though published at intervals of more than seven days, should be allowed to pass at the Inland newspaper rate has often been considered and rejected. Such an extension could not be restricted to the journals in which the hon. and gallant Member is interested, but would have to include practically any kind of publication. The newspaper rate is already unremunerative and I do not feel justified in proposing to Parliament a Measure which would considerably increase the existing loss by extending its scope.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the total estimated cost of the work undertaken by the Imperial War Graves Commission?

:If the Noble Lord is asking for the cost of the work undertaken by the Imperial War. Graves Commission up to date, I would refer him to the answer given on 6th July to the hon. Member for St. George's, and to the annual report of the Commission for 1919–20, issued as a Command Paper (Cmd. 1076). If it is desired to know the total estimated cost of the work when finally completed, I regret that it is not yet possible to give any reliable estimate.

:Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to say that the Government have embarked upon this huge undertaking without having the least idea of what it will cost?

:That is not at all what I meant to say. I refer my Noble Lord to the answer I have given. He will see that I did not say what he suggests.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have asked for only the estimated cost of the work? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman supply even an estimate?

:That is exactly the question I have already answered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the officials of the Colonial Office receiving over £1,000 a year, including bonus, number 37 this year as against 27 last year; and what is the explanation of this increase?

:The actual numbers are 37 last year and 44 this year. This increase is due first to the transfer of 5 officers already serving in other De- partments and services to form the new Middle East Department; secondly, to decision taken last year by my predecessor to provide the necessary staff to deal with the German Colonies, which are a new service; and, thirdly, to increased bonuses-granted in 1920.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why there is an extra Assistant Under-Secretary in his Department as compared with 1914; and why this official's salary has been increased from £1,500 last year to £2,200 this year, a rise of £700 apart from bonus?

:The increase in the work of the Department due to the development of the Colonies and Protectorates and to the assumption of responsibility for certain former German Colonies has made an increase in the number of administrative officers inevitable. The appointment of an additional Under-Secretary of State is, however, a reversion to the arrangement in force prior to 1911 when the number of these officers was reduced. The increased salary mentioned is paid, not to the additional Under-Secretary in question, but to the senior Under-Secretary as Deputy to the Permanent Under-Secretary in accordance with the rate recognised for Deputy Heads of 1st Class Departments in the Public Service.

:Is it not the case that this extra £700 has nothing whatever to do with the bonus, but is the result of the assimilation which was reported upon by a Committee composed wholly of Civil Servants?

:No, I am not aware of that. In considering all these salaries it is necessary to bear in mind that the purchasing power of money has been reduced by approximately one half.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman give an instance in which the salaries of higher officials have been reduced?

:No, I cannot. I am strongly of opinion that the salaries which were paid before the War to the heads of great Departments of the Civil Service were inadequate to afford the proper quantity of men of that capacity, and I am very glad to find that that view was taken by a Parliamentary Committee.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the incomes of the majority of people have been largely reduced? Why should civil servants be exempt?

:Is there any unemployment in the Civil Service?

:I think it is a very poor and cheap thing to sneer at the Civil Service.

:Have the salaries been paid already?

:The subject will be discussed later.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to abolish the Mines Department of the Board of Trade now that the mines are decontrolled; and, if not, what are the duties that Department will carry out, the number of staff employed, and the annual cost to the country?

:The Mines Department was not set up to control the coal industry: the process of decontrol had already begun. Apart altogether from any question of control, the concentration in a single Department of the functions of Government in relation to mines and minerals previously exercised by the Home Office and other Departments had been recommended by various committees of inquiry, and it was one of the few points on which the members of the Coal Industry Commission of 1919 were unanimous. The duties of the Department consist primarily of the administration of Acts of Parliament relating to mines and minerals and the safety of the persons engaged in the industry, such as the Coal Mines Acts, 1887–1919, the Metalliferous Mines Acts, 1872 and 1875, the Quarries Act, 1894, and the Mining Industry Act, 1920. The staff at present numbers 404. The expenditure of the Department is limited by statute to £250,000 a year; the amount provided in this year's Estimates is £211,910.

:When do the Government intend to abolish all these Ministries and Departments which were created in connection with the War?

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, when he announces the business of the House for the rest of the Session, he will say when the day promised for the discussion of the Civil Service Regulations will be given?

:Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will await the statement which I propose to make after questions in regard to the business of the House for the rest of the Session.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of staff employed by the Shipping Department of the Board of Trade, and their annual cost to the country?

:I presume the hon. Member refers to the staff retained for the present from the former Ministry of Shipping. The total number of this staff, including headquarters and outport, at the present date is 677, and the estimated cost of the salaries of such staff for the financial year 1921–1922 is £140,100.

:How long does the Board of Trade intend to be in winding-up the Department of Shipping?

:Before the hon. Gentleman answers that question, may I ask whether the Ministry of Shipping was not an outstanding instance of a Government Department that has paid a good dividend?

:I think there is no doubt that the officials at present engaged are paying their way, and more than paying their way. I am afraid that it is a little difficult to forecast how long the work of liquidation will take.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether seeing that the National Whitley Council is the proper body to discuss matters of remuneration of civil servants, he will say why consideration of the initial salary of those entering the Civil Service has been referred to the Lytton Committee; (2) whether the recommendations as to salaries are within the terms of reference of Lord Lytton's Committee; and whether that Committee heard evidence on the subject of the initial salary of ex-service men entering the clerical grades from the ex-servicemen's organisations?

:Lord Lytton's Committee was constituted to consider the existing arrangements for the appointment of ex-service men to posts, whether permanent or temporary, in His Majesty's Civil Service. The question of the initial salary of persons appointed to posts in the clerical class could not be separated from the general question of arrangements for appointment, and was therefore certainly within its terms of reference. The Committee received oral evidence, and carefully considered written representations from ex-service organisations before submitting its recommendations on this point.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the delay in settling the question of the number of women to be admitted to the higher ranks of the permanent Civil Service is causing injustice to temporary higher grade women in the Government service, in view of the fact that the women eventually appointed must enter their new permanent grade at the minimum of the scale, that temporary service is not to be counted for the purpose of increments and pension, and that no consideration is to be given to special qualifications or experience; and can he see his way to revising the conditions of service in these respects?

:Pending the approval of the draft Regulations for the recruitment of women to the higher grades of the Civil Service which have been laid before Parliament (Command Paper 1116) and the holding of a competition there under, it would be premature to consider special concessions as regards entering salary of successful candidates.

:When will these Regulations be approved and when will the House have an opportunity of discussing them?

:That question should be addressed to the Leader of the House.

:Perhaps I may address the question to the Leader of the House: When will these Civil Service Regulations for women be discussed here?

:I think that was answered by an earlier question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that one of the chief reasons for the post-War increase in the personnel of Departments rests with the multiplication of inspectors, commissioners, and such like officials, and the added clerical work which their reports throw on the clerical staffs; and is he able to say that, with the slowing down of the State housing policy, the repeal of the Corn Production Act, and the general decontrol of industry, a very substantial saving to the taxpayer can be anticipated before the close of the financial year in this respect?

:I am not aware that the number of inspectors, commissioners, etc., of Government Departments has been increased except in cases where additional duties have been imposed arising out of the War or post-War legislation. I anticipate a substantial reduction of staffs and consequent saving in salaries before the end of the present financial year from the measures now being taken by the Government which are referred to in my hon. and gallant Friend's question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colony of British Guiana has for long suffered from a condition of stagnation so that little or no development has been made in it for many years past; whether it suffers from an obsolete form of government working under an old Dutch charter; and whether any steps can be taken to bring the Colony under a more progressive type of representative government, ensuring representation to all elements of the population, or under some efficient form of Crown Colony administration, whereby capital might possibly be attached to the Colony with a view to developing its industries and of utilising its hinterland which has many unexploited possibilities?

:I am well aware that the interior of British Guiana is undeveloped, but my hon. Friend will realise that the Colony lacks population, and that development and the introduction of capital are impossible without increased population. I am glad to say that, as I have already informed the House, a deputation from India will shortly visit the Colony to report on its suitability for Indian settlers, and I propose to discuss the question of development generally with the Governor, who is now on leave in this country. I cannot accept the suggestion that the present form of constitution does not afford equal possibilities of representation to all sections of the population, but before any change in the existing constitution could be made, the pledge given on the capitulation in 1802 would involve reference to the inhabitants of the Colony through their elected representatives in the Legislature.

:In view of the fact that representations have been made several times, and that there has been no change for the last hundred years, will this matter be kept in mind?

:How will the deputation be formed? Will it be a deputation sent by the Government of India, or an unofficial deputation?

:It is a deputation under the auspices of the Government of India—so I am informed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the local committee of Chinese for the improvement of the condition of mui tsai in Hong Kong was appointed; was the appointment published; who are the members; and have they taken any action or made any report with regard to mui tsai?

:The managing committee of the Po Leung Kuk, which exists for the protection of women and girls, is elected annually in March. The Governor recently reported that he was appointing a committee of Chinese ladies to assist that committee in dealing with mui tsai. The Governor has also recently appointed a commission to advise what measures of regulation of child labour were desirable and feasible. I am not sure to which of these the hon. and gallant Member refers, but if he will let me know I will enquire further into the matter and endeavour to let him have the names.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the "Hong Kong Daily Press" describes this official committee as so much official whitewash of this very serious and distressing subject?

:No, Sir, I am not aware of that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he has seen the statement of Sir George Perley, High Commissioner for Canada, as to agreement between the British and Dominion Governments regarding land settlement schemes overseas; will he inform the House of the nature of this agreement;

(2) if he has seen the statement from Sydney, Australia, that the British and Australian Governments have agreed upon a comprehensive colonisation scheme upon the basis of a joint fund of £30,000,000 to be raised as required and used in the settlement of unoccupied Australian land; and will he give the details of the agreement?

:The question of State-aided settlement within the Empire has been, and still is, under the consideration of the Conference of Prime Ministers, but no conclusion has yet been arrived at. Any decision reached at by the Conference on this subject will, of course, be made public.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman pressing upon the Imperial Conference the desirability of such emigration for those who prefer to emigrate rather than remain unemployed for two or three years?

:Yes, Sir, and I think very satisfactory results have been reached. These results have yet to be confirmed by the full Conference. I hope to be able to make a statement to the House before Parliament rises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can supply pith helmets and a lighter tunic to the Metropolitan police during the hot weather and use for this purpose the surplus khaki drill and sun helmets ordered for the use of troops in hot climates during the War; will he say why the concession allowing the police to wear their chin-straps inside the helmet has been abolished; and whether he can see his way to renew that concession at any rate during the summer months?

:A lighter pattern of helmet for summer wear has been on trial, and is now been issued to the Metropolitan police. Each member of the force is supplied with a light, unlined serge jacket, which is worn for day duty on all ordinary occasions during the summer and sometimes also at night. In these circumstances, I do not think the issue of additional garments is necessary. Permission was given last summer for chin-straps to be placed inside the helmet, but so few members of the force took advantage of it that this year it was necessary to secure uniformity by reverting to the usual practice.

:Has the right hon. Gentleman received representations from the police in regard to the wearing of the chin-strap inside the helmet, and pointing out the great inconvenience caused under the present regulation?

:No, Sir.

:Is notice being taken of the fact that last summer was cold and this summer is hot?

asked the Home Secretary why, on the occasion of the unveiling of the King Edward VII. statue, it was necessary to prohibit all vehicular traffic south of Jermyn Street, causing thereby great inconvenience to vehicles driving to premises in the area north of Pall Mall; and whether it can be arranged that when on similar occasions in future it becomes necessary to restrict vehicular traffic it can be so arranged that the minimum of inconvenience is caused thereby?

:The Commissioner of Police informs me that vehicular traffic south of Jermyn Street was not prohibited. It was allowed to run through Charles Street and St. James's Square during the whole of the ceremony without any check whatever, as well as north and south in Lower Regent Street. Traffic arrangements are always made with the object of causing the minimum of inconvenience consistent with the requirements of the occasion.

:Is the hon. Gentleman aware that those were not, in fact, the orders issued to the police actually employed on the occasion in question?

:I can only say that the orders were as I have given them to my Noble Friend.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Edith Roberts, of Hinckley, who was sentenced to death for the alleged murder of her newly-born child, and who is now undergoing a sentence of penal servitude for life; and whether any action can be taken to serve a remission of the sentence?

:I can add nothing to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Silvertown Division on the 5th instant. It is too soon to consider the question of further remission.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, where concrete houses are being built upon small holdings instead of brick or stone houses, the Board of Agriculture for Scotland requires that the smallholder should repay his annuity on the house within a period of 50 years; and what, if any, additional annual charges fall upon the tenant under this arrangement, seeing that in the case of brick or stone houses the period of repayment extends to 80 years?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part therefore does not arise.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that British manufacturers and traders are now posting trade circulars and price lists in France addressed to customers in this country, thereby saving 50 per cent. of the postal charges; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in view of this loss of revenue to the Post Office?

:I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answers given on Tuesday and Wednesday last to questions on this subject.

:May I have an answer to the last part of the question. What action has been taken to bring these offenders to justice?

:That is not in the question on the Paper.

:Has the right hon. Gentleman prosecuted anybody for this breach of the law?

:There is no breach of the law. If any breaches of the law-be brought to our notice, action will be taken.

:But there is a breach of the law. [HON. MEMBERS: "No, no!"]

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been drawn to the illegible condition of a number of telegrams sent on behalf of the textile workers, Accrington, to Members of this House last Wednesday; what steps he proposes to take in order to prevent any future repetition of such an inefficient method; and will he cause the cost of these useless telegrams to be returned to the senders?

:I much regret the unsatisfactory state in which a number of the telegrams in question were delivered. Special attention has been called to the matter with a view to prevent a repetition of the occurrence. I think, however, that the telegrams were not so illegible as to render them abortive, and a refundment of the charges does not in the circumstances appear to be called for.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps have been taken during the present year to improve the trunk telephone service between Hull and other large cities; and what steps are in contemplation?

:Since last summer an additional circuit has been provided from Hull to London, and two from Hull to Newcastle-on-Tyne. During June calls to London, Birmingham, and other large cities were generally put through within 10 minutes, even in the busier hours of the day. Work is proceeding on the main underground cables affecting the Hull trunk service, referred to in previous replies to the hon. and gallant Member. I hope the Hull-Grimsby cable will be ready for use before the end of the financial year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state the result of the increased price upon the number of trunk telephone calls up to 50 and over 50 miles respectively from London?

:The information is not available in the form specified, but the number of calls passing through the London Trunk Exchange from the 1st April, when the new charges came into force, up to the 30th June, shows a decrease of between 13 and 14 per cent., whilst the revenue derived from these calls shows an increase of 47 per cent. as compared with the corresponding period of last year. The decrease in the number of calls is probably due in some degree to the adverse trade conditions.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that to certain sections of the country trunk calls have been considerably expedited. Is that because fewer people can now afford this method of communication or because of an increased efficiency in the system?

:Both factors contribute, but the principal contributing factor is the depression in trade.

asked the Postmaster-General the cost of the clerical work involved in the revision of contract rates for the telephones; the number of telegraphists engaged upon this work throughout the country; and whether the charge is debited to the telegraph or telephone service?

:The actual cost of the clerical work involved in the revision of the telephone tariff is not readily ascertainable, but an approximate estimate indicates that the cost of the temporary staff engaged, together with the overtime incurred, has been £51,000. These figures give the total expenditure up to the 16th July, and are equivalent to a cost of 1s. 1d. per station. On a similar basis it is estimated that the maximum number of sorting clerks and telegraphists employed at any one time was 400. The telephone service bears the cost.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the wages, including bonus, of a senior sorter at the General Post Office amount at the present moment to £7 10s. a week, or about £390 for the past year?

:The amounts stated represent the present rate of remuneration of a sorter in receipt of the maximum of the scale which is reached after 14 years' service. This rate has been payable since the 1st of March last, when the last cost-of-living bonus increase was granted; it was 15s. a week less during the period 1st July to 31st October, 1920, and 5s. a week less during the period 1st November to 28th February. The payments will be substantially reduced from the 1st September next, when the next bonus revision falls due.

:Does the right hon. Gentleman consider it right, in the present financial condition of the realm, that the senior sorters of the General Post Office should be receiving salaries considerably over those received by the demonstrators and lecturers in the English universities?

:My hon. Friend's attention is directed to the cost-of-living bonus. Taking the basic wage, I do not think the figure is unreasonable.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the English universities have received no bonuses at all?

:They are not worth it.

:Is it not—

:This is anticipating the Debate of the evening.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the great loss and inconvenience suffered by the public through the present postal arrangements, whereby there is no delivery or despatch of letters on Sundays, and of the consequent uselessness of the Saturday evening collection, he can see his way to substitute a general Sunday evening collection and despatch of letters and mails for the Saturday evening collection and despatch?

:This proposal was considered when the abolition of the Sunday post was under discussion, and I have since gone into the question afresh, but I regret that the substitution of a Sunday evening collection and despatch of letters for the Saturday evening collection and despatch would absorb a considerable part of the financial saving secured by the abolition of Sunday mail services, and I cannot, therefore, adopt it.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that very large areas of the country cannot get a Monday newspaper at all and that Monday, one of the most important days of the week, is a dies non, and does he not think the commercial value of a Monday delivery that has not lain in the post for 36 hours is of more value than the saving of even a few hundred thousand pounds?

:That is precisely the difficulty with which every proposal for economy is met in this House. There is a saving here of nearly half a million, and in the present financial condition of the country I cannot agree to sacrifice that saving.

:May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the high salaries given to the Post Office officials, they could not do a little more work for their money?

:I think my right hon. Friend cannot be aware that the Post Office to-day has a smaller staff than it had in 1914 and is doing a much larger volume of work.

:Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that a living wage for the agricultural labourer is as necessary as a Monday newspaper?

:May I ask, arising out of that—

:If we debate every question, it does not give other hon. Members a chance.

asked the Postmaster-General whether 19 telegrams which were forwarded from the Ascot grand stand telegraph office on behalf of Viscount Churchill on the evening of Wednesday the 15th June were franked on behalf of a Government Department; and whether he will state who will be called upon to pay for them at the rate applicable to ordinary telegrams?

:The telegrams in question were franked as Government telegrams owing to a misapprehension. They are being paid for at ordinary rates, and no part of the cost falls on the taxpayer.

asked the Prime Minister, owing to the alterations in currency since Lord Cunliffe's Committee's recommendations were made, if he will appoint a committee to report on the new position, and if the terms of reference can include establishing a Active unit of monetary exchange with international co-operation; and whether silver might be the possible unit?

:I am not prepared to admit that there are any new developments since December, 1919, when the final Report of the Cunliffe Committee was signed, necessitating the appointment of a new committee to go over the same ground. I may remind my hon. Friend that the conclusions of the Cunliffe Committee were endorsed and re-affirmed by the International Financial Committee which met at Brussels in September, 1920.

asked the Prime Minister whether a further meeting of the Supreme Council of the Allies will be held before Parliament rises to consider the action to be taken having regard to the results of the trials at Liepzig of the German war criminals and other questions with respect +o which the German Government has failed to carry out its obligations under the Treaty of Versailles, as endorsed by its subsequent undertaking?

:I am not in a position at this stage to say what matters will be discussed at the next meeting of the Supreme Council.

:In view of the unsatisfactory state of affairs existing in regard to the Leipzig trials, can it be stated when a discussion on the subject is going to take place?

:I have told my hon. Friend I am not in a position to say what subjects will come under consideration at the next meeting of the Supreme Council. If I were in a position to say, I should gladly do so.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman give consideration to this matter, in view of its great importance?

:Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether the Allies are empowered to re-try those whom they consider to have received inadequate sentences in German Courts and to conduct the re-trials in Allied Courts?

:That does not arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use has been made of the moneys recovered to date under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act, 1920; and when the promised compensation to seamen of the Mercantile Marine who suffered in the War from submarine action, or to the widows of the seamen who have since died, will me made?

:The moneys received under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act, 1921, have been paid into an account opened in the books of the Paymaster-General entitled the German Reparation (Recovery) Act Account, in accordance with the Treasury Minute dated 24th, March, 1921 (Command Paper 1251). In reply to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain W. Benn) on the 20th ultimo.

:Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister faithfully promised that the first moneys recovered would go to the compensation of the relatives of these men who were lost in the merchant service in the War, and why has that not been done?

:If my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to the answer to which I refer here, he will see that no moneys available for this payment to which he refers are likely to be received, so far as it is possible to foresee, before the end of the year.

:But are we not to understand that over £180,000 in cash has so far been collected, and why is not that available for the purpose?

asked the Prime Minister whether at any time the Sinn Fein flag has been recognised and saluted by His Majesty's forces?

:No, Sir.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the dissatisfaction in our Crown Colonies and Protectorates at the very short time allocated in this House to the discussion of their affairs and welfare for which this House is responsible, he will consider the desirability of allotting more time in future for that purpose?

:I have no information to show that the facts are as stated in the first part of the question, nor do I think that my hon. Friend can be correct in suggesting that any doubt exists as to the importance and value which this House attaches to the affairs and welfare of the Crown colonies and protectorates.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of my question in which I ask whether more time will be allocated in future for the purpose of discussing these matters?

:At the present moment I have sufficient to do in allocating the business of this Session, without forecasting what may be the business of future Sessions.

:Will it be possible to discuss, on any Vote or otherwise, these colonial affairs during this Session?

:Not on any Vote this Session.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of many cases of claims being disallowed by the pensions appeal tribunal, in which the decision has not been in accordance with the medical evidence or has been based on inaccurate and insufficient evidence or a faulty record of the medical history or record of service of the claimant; and whether any machinery exists or can be created through which cases of hardship arising on any of the grounds indicated can be re-opened and reviewed?

:The pensions appeal tribunals are independent statutory bodies under the control of the Lord Chancellor, and it is not competent to my right hon. Friend to review their decisions, which are final and binding on both the man and the Ministry. I may, however, inform my hon. Friend that it is the practice to furnish the men with a précis of the evidence, if he so desires, thus giving him an opportunity of calling attention to any omission which he considers may be prejudicial to his claim. My right hon. Friend is now arranging to give effect to the Departmental Committee's recommendation that two copies of the précis, as sent to the tribunal, shall be given to the man in all cases without application.

:Is not the Minister in a position to reopen and review cases such as are described in this question?

:My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. All these cases have been considered three times already, the third time being the final decision of the tribunal set up by this House to be final and binding on the Ministry and on the man.