asked the Secretary of State for War how many persons are employed in the Army Remount Department, exclusive of War Office staff; what is the total amount of salaries payable for the current financial year; and the total amount of salaries for the financial year 1913?

In 1913 the establishment of the Remount Department consisted of 33 officers, 74 other ranks, and 192 civilians. The annual cost at the rates of pay and prices then ruling was about £37,000. Since that date the organisation of the Remount Department has been re-cast; we have the Territorial boarding-out scheme which did not then exist, and we have entirely new commitments abroad on the Rhine, in Egypt, Constantinople, and Mesopotamia. The present numbers in all theatres are 144 officers, 117 other ranks, and 1,278 civilians and native followers. The annual cost of these numbers is estimated at £227,000. Reductions are in progress, following automatically with the reduction of garrisons.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the total cost for the construction, maintenance, housing, personnel, staff, and overhead charges of airships since the date when the control of airships passed to the Air Ministry?

The total estimated cost for the period from 22nd October, 1919, on which date the airships were taken over from the Admiralty, to the present date, is, approximately, £2,266,000.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that, in spite of the large acreage of available ground, and the need of the patients for gardening exercise and training, no steps have been taken to grow any produce for the consumption of the hospital; whether contracts are still being given out for vegetable produce, etc., which could be grown in the Orpington grounds; and how does this large pensions institution compare in this respect with many of the London County Council institutions and asylums, many of which are almost self-supporting as far as regards vegetable produce?

Two instructors are employed at this hospital to give lessons in gardening to those patients for whom that form of occupation has been recommended as part of the treatment for their disabilities. A large quantity of the garden produce required for the hospital is thus obtained from the grounds. London County County institutions are for the most part Poor Law institutions, and the inmates work in the gardens and so contribute to their own support. I do not propose to impose such a condition on ex-service men, except in so far as it is considered necessary as part of their treatment.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that at Orpington at one time the proportion was one staff for one patient; and whether this is in accord with the policy of his Department?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any complaints have reached his Department as to the administration of the pensions hospital at Orpington;;and whether the financial experts of the Ministry have reported favourably?

I am not aware that there has been any complaint regarding the administration of Orpington Hospital, or that the number of staff has ever been equal to the number of patients, except possibly in its early days when staff was necessarily stationed there in readiness to receive the patients. The policy of the Department is to keep hospital staff at the lowest point compatible with efficiency, and this policy is enforced by constant scrutiny of the requirements of the various hospitals belonging to the Ministry. I may add that the present cost of the administration of this hospital compares favourably with the average cost for all Ministry hospitals.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether a medical man trained as a psychotherapist by the Ministry of Pensions, and refused work as a neurological specialist, will be accepted for work on the neurological boards in London in place of one of the untrained ordinary members or neurological members of such board, or whether, in the interests of the pensioners, such training is to be allowed to go to waste?

The scheme of training medical men in psychotherapy was instituted by my Department to meet the urgent need for this particular form of treatment, and until the demand in the different areas has been fully met, the question of employing them on medical boards does not arise.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the medical course of training in psychotherapy, according to the Ministry of Pensions methods and as carried out by its institutional medical officers, is still being continued; whether the results are commensurate with the costs of the course; whether the medical men so trained are to take precedence and have preference of employment in the various clinics and institutions in the different regions to those medical men not so trained, and, if not, why not; whether such trained men are still available for this work in London and other regions, and are unemployed, while the untrained medical men continue in employment; and whether trained men are being sent to outlying clinics on limited sessional work while untrained men are being employed almost full-time in London?

The answer to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the remainder in the negative.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is approximately the total number of pensioners now receiving treatment for war neurosis and other shell-shock conditions; and what is the number and proportion of these cases who have yet had no treatment or are awaiting treatment?

There are now approximately 3,400 men under treatment in institutions for disabilities of this nature. About 900 are awaiting admission, and, if unable to work, are receiving treatment allowances. I may add that there are a large number of cases in which out-patient treatment is found to be sufficient.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to state what steps have been taken to improve the accommodation for the sick-berth staff at the Royal Navy Hospital, Plymouth?

The question is being investigated, but I am afraid I am not in a position to make a statement at present.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to give the decision of the Admiralty with regard to Lieutenant-Wardmasters being appointed as secretaries to the three home hospitals; to commissioned Wardmasters being borne in the small hospitals in the three general depots; and to one additional Warrant Wardmaster being appointed to each of the three home port hospitals?

The establishment of the Wardmaster Branch is under consideration, and an announcement on the matter will be made shortly.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can give the House an assurance before the Recess that the heads of all Civil Service Departments will receive instructions that no temporary civil servant who is an ex-service man, and who is suitable for employment, shall be dismissed from the public service whilst there remain in employment any temporary civil servants who are not ex-service men?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer cannot guarantee continued employment, irrespective of the requirements of the work, to any temporary employé, but instructions have been issued to all Departments that when reductions in staff are effected, preferential treatment must be accorded to ex-service personnel.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when he proposes to set up the investigating boards recommended by Lord Lytton's Committee to consider the cases of those ex-service temporary clerks who failed to qualify in the late examinations; and if he will see that such investigating boards will have representatives from the ex-service men's association concerned?

The investigating board will be set up when reports have been received from heads of Departments upon those ex-service candidates whose cases are in point. The suggestion contained in the latter part of the hon. Member's question is not, I think, a practicable one.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether established civil servants are permitted to engage in work for personal gain with private firms outside their hours of duty; and, if so, what conditions, if any, are imposed upon such civil servants?

Established civil servants are prohibited, under Clause 19 of the Order in Council of the 10th January, 1910, from accepting any part of the management of any society, or any trading, commercial, industrial, or financial firm or company which would require the attendance of such officers at any time between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. There are no further general regulations governing the use by civil servants of their leisure hours; but in practice they are precluded from other activities which would in any way tend to impair their usefulness as public servants. Action in such cases is left to the discretion of heads of Departments. Special rules are in force in particular Departments; thus, officers of the Post Office are not allowed to hold certain appointments or to engage in certain specified businesses, besides being liable to be called on at any time to relinquish any appointment or occupation other than those expressly for bidden, if it is found to interfere with the proper discharge of their Post Office duties.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now give to the 32 regional medical officers on £1,400 a year notice to determine their engagements on the earliest occasion permissible under their contracts?

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension as to the amount of the salaries paid to the 32 regional medical officers; 15 of them are established officers and receive salaries on a scale of £l,000–£ 1,400 inclusive. With regard to the suggestion that their engagements should be determined, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on the 6th instant, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Minister of Pensions the total number of medical referees employed locally and centrally on pensions work; what is the total cost to the country; what fees are now paid for this work; what is the average per claimant pensioner; and whether all the appointments are part time?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Hemsworth (Mr. Guest) on the 16th June, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the appointments of medical referees are now reviewed every six months as originally decided; how many of these appointments have been considered vacant on review and changed; and whether the opinion of the local pensions committee is ever asked or considered in these appointments?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hemsworth (Mr. Guest) on the 16th June, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health the names of the successful applicants for the posts of assistant inspectors and health insurance officers; their previous occupation or the Government office in which they have already served; and their Army service?

The required information is contained in the following Table:

asked the Chief Secretary whether a Whitley Council Commission sat at Upper Merrion Street, Dublin, on the 28th February, 1920, and took evidence relative to abolishing the age limit of 60 years in the case of shipping inspectors at the North Wall, Dublin, and issued two reports, a majority and a minority report; and what was the recommendation of the majority report

The retiring age for ship inspectors employed under the Department of Agriculturre and Technical Instruction has not been the subject of inquiry by a Commission such as that referred to in the question. Representations on the subject were made last year to the Departmental Whitley Council following which the matter was duly considered by the Department and the Treasury but it was not found practicable to alter the age limit.

asked the Misister of Labour the percentage of unemployment in June, 1921, in England, France, Belgium, Germany, and the United States?

According to the official returns, 17.8 per cent, of persons belonging to insured industries in the United Kingdom were out of work at the end of June. The available figures for certain other countries are given monthly in the "Labour Gazette," of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. I would call my hon. Friend's attention, however, to the fact that, as stated in the note which precedes these figures in the "Labour Gazette," the percentages, owing to the different nature of the returns on which they are based, cannot properly be used to compare the actual level of employment in the United Kingdom with that in other countries.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received a resolution from the National Joint Industrial Council of the hosiery trade protesting against the new Unemployment Insurance Act on the ground that the opportunity of contracting out is indefinitely postponed, against the increased contributions fixed both for employers and employés for the reason that the contributions of the workpeople constitute a serious tax on them for which they obtain no commensurate return, while those of the employer will prove a heavy charge on industry, and regretting that he has ignored the suggestion that he should consult industrial councils in regard to a problem so vital to industry, with the result that their opportuntities of usefulness are further restricted in a sphere essentially their own; and, if he has received such resolution, what action he proposes to take upon it?

I have received this resolution, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply which I have sent to the Industrial Council. It is not within my power to alter the provision in the recent Unemployment Insurance Act which temporarily suspended the power to form special schemes. I would add that, owing to the heavy incidence of unemployment in recent months, the workpeople in the hosiery trade have drawn out of the unemployment fund by way of benefit much larger sums than they have contributed to it, and in these circumstances it would not have been possible in any event to approve a special scheme for that trade at the present time.

asked the Minister of Labour if workmen in employment who are over 70 years of age, and who prefer to work as long as they are physically capable, are refused unemployment benefit, though compelled to pay their quota when employed intermittently; and whether this practice is in accordance with the Regulations made under the Unemployment Insurance Act?

Provided that they satisfy the usual conditions, one of which is that they should be capable of work, workmen over 70 are in no way disqualified for unemployment benefit, unless they are in receipt of an old age pension. Old age pensioners are not entitled to unemployment benefit, and are not required to pay unemployment insurance contributions. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to inquire into it on receiving details.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that in some European countries, and in some Dominions and Colonies of the British Empire, special cheap travelling facilities are granted to university students; and whether he will consider the advisability of granting concessions on similar lines to students in this country?

I accept the facts as stated in my hon. Friend's question, but I have no detailed knowledge as to the practice. The granting of travelling facilities at reduced fares in this country is left to the commercial discretion of the railway companies' responsible managers.

asked the Minister of Transport under what circumstances the Ministry have debited the North British Railway Company with a sum of £430,000, notwithstanding the unanimous verdict of the Court of Session in favour of the company; whether he is aware of the serious and embarrassing position thereby created for the railway company; and whether he will arrange to pay over the said money in accordance with the judgment of the Court of Session provided he receives an undertaking from the company to refund to the Government any moneys found on appeal from the judgment of the court to be due from the railway company to the State?

In answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question, I would refer him to Command Paper 1162, wherein the circumstances are set out in detail. It is not the fact that there has been a unanimous decision of the Court of Session in favour of the company. A decision in their favour was given by the Railway and Canal Commission. It in no way settles the point at issue, however, but merely decides that an interim payment on account is to be made. An appeal against this decision is now before the Court of Session. As to the remainder of my hon. Friend's question, I regret that for the reasons already explained to the House on several occasions, my right hon. Friend is unable to take the course suggested. To do so would effect a preferential concession in favour of one individual railway company. The contention of the Government is that this company has very largely overspent public funds on the improvement of its rolling stock and that until they can justify that expenditure the Government ought not to make further calls upon the Exchequer. The amount alleged to be overspent is about £2,000,000, and only about one-half of this sum has been so far withheld.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has seen the circular by the North British Railway Company to their shareholders, dated the 21st July, 1921; and, if so, can he see his way to meet, or in some way to mitigate, the hardship that is being felt by shareholders, and particularly by those small shareholders who are relying upon a dividend for their daily needs?

My right hon. Friend has seen the circular referred to in the first part of the question, but it must not be taken that he assents to the statements therein made. As to the second part of my hon. Friend's question I regret- that, for reasons already stated, he is unable to take the course suggested.

asked the Postmaster-General whether an official from London visited South Wales in 1920, and visited Hereford, Ross, Ferndale, Lydney, Chepstow, Cardiff, Haverfordwest, Swansea, and other towns; whether he has perused the reports of the local medical officers on the sanitation of these offices; and if the complaints made by such officers regarding sanitation and ventilation at least six months ago, and in several instances over longer periods, have been rectified?

The post office buildings in most of the towns mentioned were visited by an officer from headquarters in 1920. The reports of the local medical officers on these offices have been carefully considered; and in every case in which defects brought to notice have not already been rectified, steps are being taken, wherever practicable, to effect improvements.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that no special expense has been incurred in the training of ex-service men for Post Office employment, he will state whether ex-service men are almost invariably given time to be trained as postmen; whether during this period wages are paid; whether ex-service telegraphists have been taken on for indoor duties, and during their period of training have received wages; the amount of money so expended; and if the Ministry of Pensions has reimbursed the Post Office?

Ex-service men, like other men appointed postmen, are given instruction in their duties and receive wages during the period of instruction which does not extend over more than a few days. A few ex-service telegraphists have been appointed telegraphists in the post office, but these men received training in telegraphy while in the Army. The actual amount of wages paid to ex-service men while under instruction for their post office duties cannot be stated. As stated in reply to the hon. Member's previous question, no special expense has been incurred in this connection. The same instruction would have been necessary for other candidates if ex-service men had not been appointed, and no claim has been made by the Post Office on the Ministry of Pensions in the matter.

asked the Minister of Health why the State-aided houses recently completed at Thunderidge, in the area of the Ware Rural District, are still unoccupied; and if he will consider the expediency of giving priority to housing schemes in overcrowded urban areas in view of the fact that new houses in rural areas are remaining untenanted on account of high rents?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension, as I am informed that none of the houses at Thunderidge are yet ready for occupation. I have already laid down the principle of priority in urban areas, as I understand that in some rural districts there is difficulty in obtaining reasonable rents.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that the Guildford Rural District Council, which is the authority charged with the duty of providing cottages under the Act for an area comprising some 17 rural parishes, prepared a scheme for building 266 cottages, distributed throughout the villages of the rural district; that, the sanction of the Ministry having been obtained, the land for these houses has been acquired; that the plans of the cottages have been sanctioned and that 92 of the houses situated in six of the parishes in the western area of the district have been completed or are in course of completion; that the only reason why the building of the remainder of the 266 houses was not put in hand six months ago was the decision of the Ministry that there would be greater economy in the utilisation of the building labour available if the various districts were taken in rotation; and whether, seeing that ,very considerable anxiety is expressed by the remaining parishes that the scheme, so far as it affects them, is to be abandoned and the urgency of their claims ignored, he will reconsider his decision;

(2) whether the need for cottages in the villages of the Guildford rural district, especially in the parishes of Ripley, West Horsley, and Shere, is relatively much greater than in large towns, in view of the fact that there is much less elasticity of accommodation; and, seeing that the agricultural industry is injured by reason of the fact that labourers cannot get cottages near their work and the consequent overcrowding is a serious menace to health, will he allow the scheme already sanctioned to be proceeded with?

I am aware of the position as regards housing in the Guildford rural district. The question whether any additional contracts can be entered into in this case will be considered in connection with other cases.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Cabinet has considered or will consider in the future, when prices have substantially fallen, the desirability of again granting subsidies to housing enterprise?

I can at present add nothing to the statement of the policy of the Government made in this House on the 21st instant. Any further statement at this stage might have the effect of retarding the fall in prices which is so desirable, not merely from the point of view of the taxpayer, but for the increase of house building on reasonable terms in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether there are less children on the rolls of the elementary schools at present than there were in 1913–14; and, if so, whether this is owing to lack of accommodation for children who are thus shut out of school after they have reached the age at which they are usually required to attend?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have no reason to suppose that the suggestion contained in the second part of the question has been a material factor.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the results of the inquiry now being conducted into the effect of summer time on the health and educational progress of school children will be available before the Summer Time Bill has passed through all its stages; and, if not, whether steps can be taken to expedite the transmission of the information required, in view of the importance, of the evidence to be furnished by medical officers and educational experts?

As stated by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on 26th July, it is not proposed to proceed now with the Summer Time Bill. As far as practicable, the results of the inquiry addressed by the Board to local education authorities will be summarised in the forthcoming annual report of the Board's chief medical officer.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to an accident which happened on the 19th instant at the cross roads of Peterborough Hill and Tyburn Lane, at Harrow-on-the-Hill; whether this is the second accident that has occurred at this spot within five days; whether he is aware that the measures recommended by the Commissioner of Police for the prevention of accidents at this spot have been carried out; and whether, in view of the proved inadequacy of these measures, he will again bring the question before the Commissioner of Police for the Metro Polis?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that a collision occurred at these cross roads as stated in the question. It was the ordinary type of collision which may occur at any cross roads, and does not modify his view as to what precautions should be taken at the spot referred to. He informs me that a slight improvement has been effected at the corner by trimming two of the hedges, but apart from this none of the measures recommended by him have been carried out.

asked the Home Secretary what is the composition and terms of reference of the fresh Committee which he has promised to appoint to examine the recent further evidence as to the results obtained with leadless paints?

I am not in a position yet to announce the composition and terms of reference of this Committee, but I hope to do so shortly.

asked the Home Secretary if he will expedite the issue of draft regulations dealing with the treatment and storage of cinematograph films, in view of the dangers existing at present?

Regulations for the manufacture of celluloid and celluloid articles in factories and workshops are under consideration, and it is hoped to issue them shortly; but Regulations for the treatment and storage of cinematograph films in the premises of film renters and other places which are not within the scope of the Factory and Workshop Act will involve legislation. A Bill on this subject is under consideration, but I regret that legislation is not practicable this Session.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state, for the year 1920, the number of children and young persons brought before the juvenile courts; the number of boys sentenced by the juvenile courts to be birched; the number of boys and girls, respectively, between the ages of 14 and 16 who were sent to prison either under sentence or on remand or to await removal to other institutions; the number of juvenile adults, boys and girls, respectively, sent to prison; the number of juvenile adults, boys and girls, respectively, committed to prison for a period of one month or under; and the number of boys and girls who, having been committed to reformatories or industrial schools, were charged during the year with fresh offences, either on absconding from the schools or when placed out on licence?

The number of children under 14 and young persons between 14 and 16 who were brought before juvenile courts in England and Wales during the calendar year 1920 was 19,505 and 16,560, respectively, and the number of boys sentenced by such courts to be birched was 1,323. The following figures are in respect of the year 1st April, 1920, to 31st March, 1921. The number of boys and girls between 14 and 16 who were sent to prison either under sentence, or awaiting trial or on remand, or awaiting removal to other institutions, was 49–48 boys and 1 girl; the number of juvenile adults (between 16 and 21) received in prison on conviction was 4,211 males and 743 females; and the number of juvenile adults committed to prison with sentences of one month and under was 1,831 males and 453 females. I can give the information asked for in the last part of the question only as regards persons convicted and sent to prison. The number of persons who, having previously been committed to reformatory and industrial schools, were reported to the Home Office as having been received in prison during the calendar year 1920 for fresh offences and while still liable to supervision by the managers of the schools (that is, up to the age of 19 in the case of reformatories, up to 18 in the case of industrial schools), was 135.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the estimated cost of the proposed new two-berthed wharf at the port of Kilindini; what is the estimated revenue from it; and what is the estimated amount of tonnage to be dealt with?

The contract for the Kilindini wharf has been placed at the price of £1,018,010. An estimate made in March, 1920, showed a probable total revenue of £120,000 a year, on a total tonnage of 250,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the policy of the Colonial Office to give pre- ference to the employment of British experts in connection with engineering or other undertakings in the Crown Colonies; and, if so, will the Colonial Office give an undertaking that in all such cases the first step to be taken by them shall be to ascertain whether a competent expert can be obtained from Great Britain?

It is the settled policy of the Colonial Office as far as practicable to give preference to the employment of British experts, but it is not possible to lay down the hard and fast rule suggested in the question, which would not infrequently have the effect of unduly hampering Colonial Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the latest statistics as regards infantile mortality in the Colony of British Guiana, and give figures showing the population to-day in comparison with recent years; whether the lack of population can be in any way attributed to defective sanitary administration which, owing to the low-lying nature of the coast line, is imperatively necessary: whether the present insanitary conditions are due to the lack of proper administration on the part of the executive, or to a lack of proper sanitary laws on the part of the legislature; in either case, will he use his influence to see that sanitary conditions are improved and maintained; and, in view of the need of population and the approaching conference as to Indian labour, whether Chinese labour would be admitted, should any be obtainable?

In British Guiana the rate of mortality of infants under one year was 223 per 1,000 in 1918 and 185 per 1,000 in 1919. The returns for 1920 have not yet been received, but may be expected shortly. The figures for 1918 were adversely affected by shortage of food caused by the War. The population was 278,000 at the census of 1891, 296,000 at the census of 1911, and was estimated at 306,000 in 1919. Sanitary work in the coast strip is heavily handicapped by natural conditions, as the cost of good drainage is often prohibitive. Improvement in sanitary conditions, which will continue to engage my careful attention, depends, in my judgment, principally upon the general development of the Colony—with regard to which, as I told my hon. Friend on 26th July, I am in consultation with the Governor. There is no restriction as regards the nationality of foreign immigrants other than ex-enemies.

asked the Chief Secretary whether there is any Treasury or other Regulation under which pensioners of the Royal Irish Constabulary forfeit their pension on emigrating to some part of the Empire outside the United Kingdom; and, if there be such Regulation, whether, in view of the great hardships under which such pensioners now live and the impossibility of their getting employment in the South and West of Ireland, such Regulation will in proper cases be waived?

The reply is in the negative. The increase of pension granted under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, is, however, payable only to a pensioner resident in the British Islands, and this is in accordance with the provisions of that Act.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, although one of the causes of the rising in Egypt in 1919 was the compulsory obtaining of signatures, seals, and thumb prints to contracts of voluntary service or sale of crops, the same methods are now being used to produce an appearance of support for the present Cabinet?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to-day to the hon. Member for Rothwell (Mr. Lunn).

asked tie Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the serious impediment to the success of agricultural shows which is involved in the ruling that the hiring of a band brings the show under the Entertainments Duty;, and whether, in view of the declared policy of His Majesty's Government to encourage home production by every available means, he will make an exception in the case of shows solely designed to promote agricultural and horticultural progress?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer regrets that, for reasons which he gave in Debate on the Report stage' of the Finance Bill on the 18th instant, he is unable to adopt my hon. Friend's proposal.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will include in next year's legislative programme the Bill to abolish night baking, which embodied the views of the Royal Commission of 1919, and which was introduced as a Government Bill last year but afterwards dropped?

I am afraid it is not possible to mortgage, so long in advance, the time of the House during the next Session.