asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials formerly employed in the Ministry of Munitions are now employed in the Treasury?

The headquarters staff of the Disposal and Liquidation Commission which is engaged, under the Treasury, on winding up the commitments of the late Ministry of Munitions, now numbers 1,715.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the respective numbers of married and unmarried ex-service men over 30 years of age who qualified for posts in the permanent Civil Service at the examination held in November last?

:I regret to state that the information asked for is not in my possession.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Standing Advisory Committee on Substitution in his Department makes recommendations as to the order of dismissals of ex-service men; and, if not, who decides upon the order of their dismissals?

:It is not one of the functions of the Standing Advisory Committee on Substitution in the Ministry of Labour to make recommendations as to the order of dismissal of ex-service men. The procedure as to the order of discharge of such men has been laid down by me personally, and executive action in accordance with this procedure is taken by the appropriate officers of the establishments department; or (in the case of the local officers of the employment and insurance department) by divisional controllers, who are responsible for control of staff in these offices.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the total number of consular posts in Switzerland; and what number of ex-officers are employed in that capacity?

:There are in Switzerland four salaried consular posts and eight unsalaried. The four salaried posts are held by established members of the regular consular service. They are not ex-officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Consul at Basle speaks no German; that constantly a Pro-Consul is necessary; and that the Pro-Consul, who is a Swiss youth, speaks no English; and will he consider the appointment to this position of one out of the number of ex-officers who speak both German, French, and English?

:His Majesty's Consul at Basle was Vice-Consul at Bremerhaven from 1906 till the outbreak of war, and knows German well. The Pro-Consul is not a member of the regular Consular Service, but is a clerk engaged locally. I cannot say whether he does or does not know English, but I will inquire. I doubt, however, whether such salary as His Majesty's Consul is in a position to offer to an assistant would be likely to attract an ex-officer.

asked the Secretary of State for India what is the maximum annual holiday, exclusive of public holidays, to which the junior permanent staff are entitled; and whether any members between 20 and 30 years of age are entitled to six weeks' holiday in the year?

:The maximum annual holiday, exclusive of public holidays, to which the junior permanent staff of the establishment of the Secretary of State for India are entitled under the recent scheme of re-organisation, is 36 days. Some of them, however, who were appointed as junior clerks, first division, before the re-organisation, retain their title to the previous maximum of 48 days. Six weeks is now the sanctioned annual leave for entrants to the junior administrative and lower executive grades, and some of these are between 20 and 30 years of age.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the position of men who deserted during the War; and whether any general amnesty to them will be granted?

:It is not proposed to grant an amnesty to any class of deserter. If war-time deserters wish to be safe from arrest and free from the inconvenience of not being able to show their naval papers, they should surrender and take their chance of punishment, and (if their engagement still runs), of being claimed for further naval service.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government adheres to the naval programme announced on the presentation of the Navy Estimates; and, if not, what are the changes and the reason for those changes?

:I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the very full answer given by the Prime Minister on Thursday last in reply to questions on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister if the German Republic has handed the £600,000,000 gold bonds, with coupons attached, to the Reparation Committee; and what are the months that the coupons are due for payment?

:I am informed that the Reparation Commission received on the 1st July a German Government Bond for 12 milliard gold marks ( i. e., £600,000,000 gold). The Bond bears interest at 5 per cent. per annum as from 1st May, 1921, payable in half-yearly instalments on the 1st November and 1st May of each year, and for the first time on the 1st November next; and it is redeemable by instalments at the rate of 1 per cent. on the full nominal value, the redemption instalments being payable on the 1st May of each year, and for the first time on the 1st May, 1922. The Reparation Commission has taken power to require the exchange of this Bond for smaller Bonds, in the coupons attached, as and when desired by it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any settlement has yet been reached with regard to the modification of the Treaty of Sèvres; and whether, as there now seems to be no likelihood of that Treaty affording a satisfactory basis of agreement as between the conflicting claims of Turkey and Greece, he will state if the Allies propose to abandon the Sèvres arrangement altogether and to hold over any further attempt to settle the question until the state of hostilities now existing between the two countries concerned comes to an end?

:No definite decision has been reached with regard to the modification of the Treaty of Sevres, but I am not aware of any proposal on the part of the Allies, as suggested in the question, altogether to abandon it.

asked the Under-Secretary, of State for Foreign Affairs whether at the Washington Conference each Power represented will be entitled to bring forward matters of policy on which it deems an understanding essential to the peace of the Far East?

:The scope of the Conference is at present under consideration, and no useful purpose would be served by discussing such matters of detail at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware of the harm that will ensue to the colonies of Ceylon and Malaya by the passage of the legislation by the Government of India under which free emigration of emigrants from India to those colonies may be prohibited; and whether, in view of these circumstances and the fact that this immigration has always in the past been conducted on a perfectly free and satisfactory basis, he will communicate with the Government of India, inviting them to postpone this legislation pending a full inquiry into the whole matter?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. A. Shaw) on the 28th June, in which I stated that, pending further examination of the question, the Government of India propose to ask the Legislature provisionally to approve the present system of emigration to Ceylon and the Straits Settlements.

asked the Secretary of State for India when the Government of India proposes to publish the new scale of pay for the Indian police?

:The new scale which I circulated with the OFFICIAL REPORT of the 21st July, in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Melton (Sir C. Yate) either has been, or is on the point of being published in India.

asked the Postmaster-General how many temporary postal sorters were engaged during the War in substitution; when their services were dispensed with; whether an undertaking was given them that they should have an opportunity to sit for a special Civil Service examination; whether a considerable number of such ex-postal servants prepared for such examination; and, if so, when an opportunity will be given to them to sit for such an examination?

:The actual number of temporary sorters who were engaged during the War to substitute men on active service or withdrawn for special duties cannot now be stated, but, during the years 1919 and 1920, about 9,750 women and 2,000 men who had been employed in that capacity were discharged, as with the return of the regular staff their services were no longer required. Arrangements have been made to hold special examinations on the 29th and 30th September next at which ex-members of the temporary manipulative staff employed before the Armistice will be allowed to compete, on certain conditions, for appointment as female sorting assistant (London) or as male sorter (London) or male sorting clerk and telegraphist (on the postal side of divided offices in the Provinces).

asked the Postmaster-General whether the General Post Office state they will only supply coin boxes to subscribers' instruments at a rent of 30s. a year for the box and 2d. a call for connection with local subscribers; why, since the rate of 2d. per call is an increase of 25 per cent. upon the rate agreed upon .between the subscribers and the Postmaster-General, is a sum of 30s. rent to be charged for an addition to a subscriber's line which presumably would greatly reduce the operating costs of exchanges; and whether he will have an inquiry made into this matter and arrange that coin instruments be supplied to subscribers who so desire that attachment at a rent not exceeding 5s. a year, and that such coin boxes shall be of a type to take 1d. and ½d. in accordance with the rates at present in force?

:The hon. and gallant Member is mistaken in assuming that the cost of operating these coin-box circuits is less than the cost of operating an ordinary subscriber's circuit. As I explained on the 19th of April to the hon. and gallant Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Lieut.-Colonel Guinness), the check exercised by the telephonist at the exchange as the coins are dropped into the box adds considerably to the cost of operating the calls. The annual rent of 30s. is required to cover the annual cost of the provision and upkeep of the coin-box, and I am not prepared to reduce it.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the criticisms of certain aspects of the War Pensions Bill which affect the future machinery of the Department, he will at once issue a reply to the concerted representations of the war pensions committees, so that both they and Members of Parliament will know the validity of the objections and the extent to which they can be met?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the OFFICIAL REPORT of the proceedings in Committee on this Bill on the 19th and 20th July. All the representations of any substance received from war pensions committees were brought forward and dealt with in Committee.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what special arrangements are being made by the Scottish Board of Health to consider and sanction schemes for house-building in those districts where there is a genuine house shortage and where special arrangements can be made with the building trade locally, in order to ensure that schemes may be approved within the new time limit?

:The Scottish Board of Health is aware of the circumstances of the various districts. No special arrangements appear to be necessary in order to secure that due regard shall be paid to these.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has been made aware of the demand of ratepayers that on every local authority there shall be a properly-constituted finance committee to whom any proposed expenditure beyond a certain figure shall be referred; and what effective powers over expenditure are possessed by the finance committee of a borough council with regard to charges for municipal services?

:I have received representations both for and against the proposal referred to in the first part of the question. As regards the latter part of the question, borough councils in London are required by statute to appoint a finance committee for regulating and controlling the finance of the council. A recommendation of the finance committee is required before orders for payment are made by the council, and an estimate of the committee is necessary before any cost, debt or liability exceeding £50 is incurred by the council. These provisions are not applicable to town councils outside London, and in the case of those bodies the powers to be given to the finance committee are within the discretion of the council itself.

asked the Minister of Health the number of employés and salaried officials employed by each metro- politan borough council on 31st July, 1914, 31st October, 1919, and 30th June, 1921, respectively; and the amount of salaries and wages paid by each borough council at the said dates?

:The information asked for is not at present available, but I will endeavour to obtain it for my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health the number of Poor Law children in separate Poor Law institutions for the sick, in separate Poor Law institutions for the mentally deficient, and in non-Poor Law institutions on 1st January, 1921?

:The numbers on 1st January, 1921, were as follow:

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any proportion of the salaries of secretaries and directors of education is accounted for under the Education Estimate; if so, what is an average salary, including war bonus, of a secretary or director of education; how does this salary compare with that of an inspector in his department; and, if he has no control over the amount of the salaries so paid, will he consider the advisability of obtaining same?

:The expenditure of local education authorities upon the salaries of their directors and secretaries ranks for grant from the Board at the rate of 20 per cent. in so far as it is attributable to elementary education, and, in areas which are eligible for deficiency grant for higher education, at the rate of 50 per cent. in so far as it is attributable to higher education. I cannot state the average salary of these officials, who do not in all cases give their whole time to the work. Their functions do not correspond with those of the Board's inspectors, and a comparison of their salaries would be misleading. The Board have power, if occasion arises, to refuse to recognise for the calculation of grant expenditure which is unreasonable or excessive, and I see no reason to ask for further powers in this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that land at Burras House, Bradford Road, Westgate, Otley, belonging to a Mr. A. Marshall, was originally used for grazing purposes, that this land was acquired three years ago, under the Cultivation of Lands Orders, by Otley urban district council for allotments; whether Mr. Marshall, in spite of the great need for food production, declined to enter into any agreement respecting this land and has ever since endeavoured to secure the return of the land; that Mr. Marshall had an interview with an official of the Ministry, following which the Ministry instructed the Otley council to issue notices to quit to the allotment holders; that this land is not required for building or for any purpose of national importance; and that the allotment association has not agreed to give up the land and no one has any authority to make such offer on its behalf; whether he will submit all the facts and circumstances purporting to substantiate any claim by Mr. Marshall for injurious affection; whether there is power to retain this land for allotments for a period of two years from the official termination of the War; and whether he will take immediate steps to have these notices to quit rescinded?

:The land in question, comprising three acres lying immediately at the back of Burras House and grounds, Mr. Marshall's residence, was entered on by the Urban District Council for allotments under Regulation 2 L of the Defence of the Realm Regulations on the 12th March, 1918. An application was made by Mr. Marshall in November last for the whole of the land to be returned to him. In view of all the circumstances, and having regard to the fact that Mr. Marshall might have been able to substantiate a considerable claim for compensation for injurious affection, which would have fallen on the Ministry, an arrangement was arrived at in the interests of national economy, with the knowledge and the concurrence of the chairman of the allotments committee of the council that approximately 1 acre, 1 rood, 14 poles of the land would be given up at the end of February, 1922, and the remainder oh the 25th March, 1923. As the hon. Member is perhaps aware, the Ministry has decided to withdraw from possession of all allotments held under Defence of the Realm Regulations on the 25th March, 1923, but the Ministry's withdrawal is no reason why the land in question should not be acquired by the council under the Small Holdings and Allotments Acts, 1908–1919, if they consider it desirable and can frame an economic scheme for continuing the land as allotments.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Government are prepared to take the opinion of the House on the desirability of the House of Commons rising at an early date and resuming its sittings in the Autumn?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I have made this afternoon in reference to the business of the House.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is prepared to give the House an opportunity of considering the policy of the War Office in proposing to disband Territorial battalions at full strength that may have grounds for objecting to be amalgamated with other battalions?

asked the Lord Privy Seal when an opportunity will occur for the House to discuss and decide by a vote the question of principle upon which the War Office has decided to retain some Territorial battalions while disbanding or amalgamating others of greater strength, particularly in reference to the destruction of the identity of the 7th Royal Scots?

:No, Sir. This subject has already been discussed on the Motion for Adjournment on the 11th July, and in the present state of Parliamentary business it is impossible to allocate further time for it, apart from the opportunity which may be afforded by the Consolidated Fund Bill.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the resignation of the provisional joint industrial committee, and of the fact that the Government has not appointed the Minimum Wage Commission unanimously recommended by the provisional joint committee, he will publish the material in the possession of his Department relating to minimum wages and minimum wage legislation?

:While the Ministry of Labour is in possession of much information relating to minimum wages and minimum wage legislation, the information is by no means complete, and I feel that to collect and publish what is in the possession of the Department at the present moment would serve no really useful public purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the method by which the calculations are made as to the cost of living which govern the rise or fall in salaries and wages under the various agreements in which the Government is concerned; and whether there has been any change in the basis or method of such calculation since the agreements were arrived at?

:I have been asked to reply. I am sending my hon. Friend a reprint of a statement which was published in the "Labour Gazette" for February last, giving a full account of the method of compilation of the statistics relating to cost of living, prepared by the Ministry of Labour. There has been no change in the basis or method of calculation since the agreements referred to were arrived at.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether, with reference to the new constitution of Malta, His Majesty's Government is able to give an assurance that the making of appointments, except those of lieutenant-governor, legal adviser, and colonial aide-de-camp, will be in accordance with the recommendations of responsible Ministers as in other dominions and states of the Empire;

(2) whether, with reference to the new constitution of Malta, the relations of the naval or military governor with the cabinet and the executive council will be the same as in other dominions or states, except in regard to the matters specially reserved under the constitution?

:The reply to both my hon. Friend's questions is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a newspaper in Malta called the "Chronicle" has been publishing the news transmitted by wireless to the naval authorities; whether other newspapers in Malta receive equal consideration in obtaining such news; and whether an inquiry will be instituted as to what payment may have been made within the last three years by the "Daily Malta Chronicle" to obtain such news directly or indirectly?

:I have no information on this subject, but will ask the Government of Malta for a report as to the facts, and communicate further with my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to South and to North Rhodesia, whether he will state approximately in square miles the area of land which has been alienated to Europeans; reserved for natives; and so far unappropriated?

:In Southern Rhodesia the amount of land alienated as at the 31st March last was 65,000 square miles. The native reserves contain 30,000 square miles, and the unalienated land amounts to 57,000 square miles. In Northern Rhodesia the amount of land alienated at the same date was 14,000 square miles out of a total estimated area of 290,000 square miles. There are no reserves in Northern Rhodesia in the sense in which the word is used in Southern Rhodesia, but in Barotseland an area amounting to 63,000 square miles is closed to European settlement. The above figures must be regarded as only approximate, since a large area of Southern Rhodesia and the greater portion of Northern Rhodesia have not yet been surveyed.