asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the abolition of the office of historical adviser to the Foreign Office is included in the list of economies which his Department proposes to make in reply to the Treasury Circular?

The answer is in the negative. I explained the need for this appointment at the present time in my reply to the hon. Member for Wood Green on the 20th ultimo, and it would in my opinion be false economy to fail to provide for it.

Do the Foreign Office also appoint a geographical adviser?

No, not specially.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the staff of the Admiralty headquarters office will be down to the pre-War standard if the proposed rate of reduction is adhered to?

I hope that by the end of 1922–23 all temporary staff will have been reduced, except that engaged on the issue of prize money, war medals and clasps. As regards the permanent staff, I do not think that in the interests of efficiency a reduction to the actual pre-War figures would be possible. Apart from the expansion of the naval staff, the development of all technical and experimental services due to the introduction of new weapons and forms of defence has involved an increase at headquarters which inevitably in all branches reflects the increasing complexity of modern warfare.

Are we to understand it is necessary to retain thousands of temporary officials in the Admiralty until the end of 1922 or 1923?

No, Sir. Answers I have given during the last two days have shown that we are reducing the staff by a thousand in the course of this year, and 15 per cent, of the residue will be reduced before the end of the next financial year. What I said was that practically the whole of the temporary staff will be gone before the end of 1922–23.

Is it the definite policy of the Admiralty to maintain permanently a larger headquarter staff at the Admiralty than in 1914?

I have explained that the much greater complexity of the work and its expansion does necessitate that.

Have we not won the War?

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated capital value of the sites and buildings now used by the Government for Employment Exchanges; and what is the total annual cost in respect of staff and maintenance charges of such exchanges?

As the reply is necessarily lengthy, perhaps my hon. Friend will permit me to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I will also, if I may, deal with the question of employment exchange staff in the discussion on the Ministry of Labour Estimates tomorrow.

May I ask whether, in view of the improvement in employment, the right hon. Gentleman has been able to reduce the staff and get rid of any of the buildings?

I am making out a detailed statement to-morrow, but meantime I may say the peak unemployment figure was reached on the 30th June, and since then it has declined. I took staff on on a weekly basis. In this month I have reduced 3,000, and I hope to get rid of several thousand more before the end of the month.

Will this mean a diminution of the temporary buildings?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will read my reply. I am making a further statement to-morrow.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to-morrow to make a statement as to what reduction he is proposing generally in reply to the Circular?

I have already said I have reduced 3,000 in one month as a result of the fall in unemployment. I am making a further statement to-morrow.

The following is the answer:

I have consulted the First Commissioner of Works, who informs me that it is not practicable to give the estimated capital value of the sites and buildings now used for Employment Exchanges. The great majority of the buildings are hired or leased. This applies to the buildings taken for the purposes of the Labour Exchanges Act, 1909, and to the large number of temporary premises which have been taken to meet the requirements arising out of the Unemployment Insurance Acts. The abnormal unemployment which has been prevalent since the Unemployment Insurance Act of 1920 came into operation has rendered it necessary to take many sets of premises over and above estimated normal requirements for the purposes of the Unemployment Insurance Acts. These additional temporary hirings are being given up as employment improves. The total amount of rent payable during the current financial year in respect of buildings used for employment exchange purposes in Great Britain is estimated at £190,000. This estimate includes rent payable for buildings specially hired in connection with the increased unemployment resulting from the coal stoppage and the general industrial depression. It does not, however, include the rental value of certain Crown buildings which are utilised for employment exchange work. The estimated cost of maintenance of all employment exchange buildings in Great Britain for the current financial year is £80,000.

I have not been able, in the time at my disposal, to obtain comparable figures in respect of employment exchange buildings in Ireland. The provision made in the Estimates for 1921–22 for the staff of the Employment Exchange Service (Divisional Offices and Exchanges) was £2,499,442, the provision for Great Britain being £2,309,641, and for Ireland £189,801. In addition, a Supplementary Estimate for this service of £850,000 has been presented to the House for extra staff found to be necessary to administer unemployment benefit during the past months to the unprecedented number of persons unemployed owing to the coal stoppage and the industrial depression generally. As is indicated in the Supplementary Estimate referred to, approximately £24,000,000 was disbursed in unemployment benefit—to persons entitled thereto by Statute—from 1st April to 21st July, 1921, in excess of the normal. As my hon. Friend is doubtless aware, however, the Exchequer receives an Appropriation in Aid from the Unemployment Fund each year in pursuance of the Unemployment Insurance Acts towards the cost of administering unemployment insurance. In 1921–22 it is estimated that this sum will be £3,250,000.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the fact that Section 68 of the Report of the Civil Service National Whitley Council recommended that special efforts should be made to utilise the abilities of women already in the service in the recruitment of women for the administrative and executive classes, the Government will undertake to reject the policy suggested in Section VI (35) of the third interim Report of the Lytton Committee that women who have been serving as junior administrative assistants shall be offered only an opportunity to compete for the lower clerical posts, especially as these women have been led to believe for the past 18 months that they would have a chance of entering the higher classes?

Paragraph 35 of the Third Interim Report of Lord Lytton's Committee does not conflict with paragraph 68 of the Report of the Reorganisation Committee of the Civil Service National Whitley Council. It provides that certain women who omitted to compete in the last clerical class competition should have a further opportunity of so competing; but they will still be eligible to compete for such vacancies in higher posts as may subsequently be available to be filled under the draft Regulations (Command Paper 1116).

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the staff of the Overseas Settlement Office has increased from 81, costing £21,430, last year, to 91, costing £25,575, this year, exclusive of bonus?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The increase in the staff of the Overseas Settlement Office was necessitated by the increase in the work connected with the Government schemes for assisting settlement overseas. I invite my hon. Friend's attention to Part II of the Report of the Overseas Settlement Committee for the year ended 31st December, 1920 (Cmd. 1134). Of the increased expenditure of £4,145, £1,050 is accounted for by the transfer of the salary of the vice-chairman, one of the assistant secretaries of the Colonial Office, from sub-head A of the Vote for the Colonial Office to the sub-head C.1 (Overseas Settlement) of the Vote. The real increase of expenditure is, therefore, only £3,095.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there has been less oversea travel, fewer schemes and less assistance to men, and therefore less work for the Department, although the staff has been increased?

I cannot agree with that conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the date when Air Vice-Marshal J. F. A. Higgins, C. B., D. S. O., A. F. C., was put in charge of the central editing section; the cost to the country since the institution of the office; and whether some more suitable and more onerous duties could be found for the officer in charge?

Air Vice-Marshal Higgins was placed in charge of the central editing section on the 17th January, 1921, and the cost of the section, since its institution, is about £1,350. My right hon. Friend cannot admit the implication contained in the last part of the question. The production of training and other text books, embodying the principles of air warfare as evolved during the War, is a work of great importance and responsibility. A list of the books already produced, and those in preparation, will be sent to the hon. Member.

What are the exact qualifications the Air Vice-Marshal has for this position?

I am afraid I cannot supply the hon. Member with that information. Perhaps he will put a question down.

Where is the Air Minister, to whom this question is addressed?

I cannot say where he is, but I have no doubt he is engaged on urgent business of importance.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether important reductions in his Department have recently been made or are contemplated; what is their nature; how far do they meet the recommendations of the recent Departmental Committee; and whether there is any intention to publish the Report of that Committee?

I have been asked to reply. Proposals are under consideration involving a very substantial reduction on the provision made in the current Estimates for the headquarters staff of the Department. The reduction would be secured by a re-organisation of certain branches of the work, coupled with a substantial decrease in the number of officers in the various grades. The scheme has been formulated after consultation with the Advisory Committee of the Department and in conformity with their recommendations. As regards the last part of the question, I woud refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith on the 25th July.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government retained a sum of money representing the price of the two Turkish Dreadnoughts requisitioned by this country; and, if so, what is the exact sum of money and what is being done with the same?

I must apologise to the hon. Member. This question has been transferred from another Department, and I fear that there has been some gap in the communications.

supplied the following answer: Owing to the outbreak of war between Turkey and this country no payment was made to the Turkish Government in respect of the two warships in question; certain sums were, however, paid by His Majesty's Government to the contractors and to holders of Turkish Treasury Bills issued to pay for the ships. The amount which would have been payable to the Turkish Government if Turkey had remained at peace with this country would have been a matter for negotiation between His Majesty's Government and the Turkish Government. As the sums which would have been paid to Turkey were never issued from the Exchequer, the last part of the question does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the French Government have already voted a sum of money to be used in making advances to French subjects who have claims against the Turkish Government; and, if so, what is the amount so voted?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part of the question consequently does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his Majesty's Government has not adopted the clearing office scheme with Bulgaria pursuant to Section 3 of the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine, and has instead referred holders of Bulgarian securities to the Bulgarian Government for the settlement of all claims; what assistance is given by His Majesty's Government to such holders for the enforcement of their claims for arrears of interest; whether an arrangement made by the Council of Foreign Bondholders for the liquidation of such arrears and of drawn bonds in French francs is binding on all English holders; and whether this arrangement represents the maximum which English holders can expect to recover?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Under the Treaty of Peace with Bulgaria the property, rights, and interests in this country of Bulgarian nationals are charged with payments of amounts due in respect of claims by British nationals with regard to their property, rights, and interests in Bulgaria or debts owing to them by Bulgarian nationals. Amounts due in respect of interest and capital in Bulgarian Government loans are not entitled to the benefit of this charge. His Majesty's Government are ready to give such assistance as lies in their power to holders of Bulgarian Government securities, and His Majesty's Minister in Sofia has, in fact, assisted the Council of Foreign Bondholders in their negotiations with the Bulgarian authorities. I am not aware what are the terms of the arrangement between the Council and the Bulgarian Government and consequently am not in a position to advise as regards the last two parts of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many seamen and others who have lodged claims through the Reparation Claims Department are in a state of penury and distress; whether a sum of £198,000 has been received under the German Reparation Recovery Act up to 18th July, 1921; and, if so, whether a beginning can be made in the payment of grants to those who had been led to believe that the first moneys received from the German Government would be placed to the claims of seamen who had been torpedoed or injured during the War?

A number of claims in respect of loss or damage caused by enemy action have been lodged with the Reparation Claims Department by applicants who are stated to be in financial straits. As regards the rest of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on the 20th June. I am sending him a copy.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these men carried on in war amid unprecedented danger, and repeatedly volunteered for service after being torpedoed, and is it fair that they should suffer now in the days of peace? Is he also aware that the Prime Minister said in reply to a deputation that the claims of these men must come before any indemnity is paid for war expenses?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Government received millions of pounds for German reparation steamers, and will he not ask the Treasury to grant a proportion of that money to satisfy the claims of these sailors who did such work during the War?

Most of the points in the two supplementary questions have been answered in the answer given by the Treasury to which I have referred. In so far as they are not covered a fresh question should be addressed to the Treasury and not to the Board of Trade.

Is it not a fact that the answer given to me stated that not even the money which is in our hands could be made available for people suffering distress owing to the action of the enemy during the War?

If my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the answer, I do not think that he will find that that is so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state approximately the amount of reduction anticipated in the forthcoming year in the Estimates of his Department; and what reply he has sent to the Treasury inquiries on this point?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether a reply has been sent to the Treasury Circular asking for a reduction in the Estimates for the next financial year; and to what extent it has been found possible to promise reductions?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, following the lines of the recent Treasury Order, he can give any indication as to a contemplated reduction of the staff of his Department during the next 12 months; and whether he is able to state roughly the number which it may be possible to dispense with, together with the approximate saving of cost to the country?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, following the lines of the recent Treasury Order, he can give any indication as to a contemplated reduction of the staff of his Department during the next 12 months; and whether he is able to state roughly the number which it may be possible to dispense with, together with the approximate saving of cost to the country?

asked the Minister of Labour what economies are contemplated in the Estimates for his Department for 1922–23?

asked the Minister of Health whether, following the lines of the recent Treasury Order, he can give any indication as to a contemplated reduction of the staff of his Department 3uring the next 12 months; whether he is able to state roughly the number which it may be possible to dispense with, together with the approximate saving of cost to the country?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a reply has been sent to the Treasury Circular; and, if so, in what terms?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has been able to comply with the request of the Treasury Circular asking for a reduction in the Estimates for the forthcoming year?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether a reply has been sent to the Treasury circular; and, if so, in what terms?

asked the Attorney-General whether a reply has been sent to the Treasury Circular asking for a reduction in the Estimates for the next financial year; and to what extent it has been found possible to promise reductions?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can state approximately the amount of reduction anticipated in the forthcoming year in the Estimates in his Department; and what reply he has sent to the Treasury's inquiries on this point?

asked the Minister of Transport whether a reply has been sent to the Treasury Circular asking for a reduction in the Estimates for the next financial year; and to what extent it has been found possible to promise reductions?

With the permission of the hon. Members concerned, I will reply at the same time to all these questions. I regret that I am not in a position to add anything to the answers which I gave yesterday and on Monday to questions on the same subject.

Can my hon. Friend state a date on which he will be able to give us this information?

I am afraid that I cannot foretell at this moment.

Can the hon. Gentleman promise to issue a return during the Prorogation of Parliament, so that we may have some information on this subject before Parliament meets?

That has clearly a bearing on the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and if any further answer is required a specific question should be put to my right hon. Friend.

Am I to understand from the answer that in the case of all these Departments no replies have yet been received, and that it is not possible to indicate which of them are able to make a reply?

Oh, no! The Noble Lord would be quite wrong to understand that. I do not think that any of these questions relate to the business of any particular Department, but if any particular Department is in the Noble Lord's mind, I should be glad to reply to that.

Are we to understand that the hon. Gentleman has taken upon himself to answer for all these Departments, and that none of them has yet sent any reply?

No, Sir, not at all. The great majority of them have replied; in fact all have but a very few.

Is it not possible to make those replies public?

No, Sir, for the reasons I have already given.

Are we to take it that the pledge still stands that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will make a statement before the House rises?

I have nothing to add to the answers given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in regard to that.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to the effect that the new republic in the district of Vladivostock and the non-Russian population generally have requested the Japanese Government to indefinitely postpone their evacuation of that area, owing to apprehensions that if the Japanese retire the territory will be overrun by the Bolshevik forces and security for life and property destroyed?

His Majesty's Government are not aware that any party in Eastern Siberia has requested the Japanese Government to postpone the evacuation of its troops from that country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government can give any information as to the position of opium in China at the present time; whether the Chinese Government undertook to put down the cultivation of opium in China when we gave up the export from India; whether it is the fact that great cultivation is being carried on in many Chinese provinces and that smuggling of native opium into Shanghai and Hong Kong is taking place; and what does the Government propose to do to get China to carry out her treaty obligations?

Papers are now being prepared for submission to Parliament showing the present position of opium cultivation in China. It is the case that China undertook to put down cultivation as the condition on which the export of opium from India was stopped. At that time opium growing in China seemed to have been satisfactorily suppressed, but I regret to say that recent reports indicate a marked revival in certain provinces, and there is evidence of smuggling of Chinese opium into Hong Kong on a considerable scale. No doubt it is also smuggled into Shanghai. Strong protests have been repeatedly addressed to the Chinese Government, but have hitherto remained entirely unheeded. The hon. Member is doubtless aware that the League of Nations are now actively interesting themselves in the whole opium question.

Now that the real facts are known, is it not time to consider a revision of our policy rather than run the risk of irritating China by trying to force her to carry out what she is obviously unable to carry out?

I hope the policy will not be changed.

Will the question be referred to the Government of India?

It is in the hands of the League of Nations, and I think that is very satisfactory.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now state how much the contractors claim to have spent on work upon the three sister ships of His Majesty's Ship "Hood," the construction of which was begun, and which was afterwards stopped?

The following amounts have so far been claimed by the contractors for the three ships of the "Hood" class:

The final claims for H.M.S. "Anson" have not yet been received from the contractors. The figures given relate only to the main contracts for hulls, machinery, and electrical gear.

Would it be possible for the hon. Gentleman to inform me, when I say contractors, as to the other outstanding amounts, apart from the sums he has mentioned?

The hon. and gallant gentleman had better give me notice of that question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any further consideration has been given by the Board of Admiralty to the question of providing a marriage allowance for naval officers, commissioned and warrant; and, if so, what decision, if any, has been arrived at?

I would ask the hon. and gallant Member to await the statement which I hope to make on this subject during the discussion on the Navy Estimates this afternoon.

Can the hon. Gentleman inform me whether in the case of married officers any compensation will be paid on account of the fact that the children's allowance was arbitrarily taken away in 1919?

I will consider that point.

Shall we have an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon that subject?

Yes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty on whose expert advice a factory is to be erected in Dorsetshire for bleaching cotton for cordite manufacture, and will he give separately the amounts proposed to be expended on land, water rights, buildings, and plant; will he state the quantity of water available and whether it has been analysed, and if so, the percentage of hardness and also the average weight of cotton per day proposed to be treated; and will he say if he is aware that with existing plants an absolute guarantee can be given to extract every particle of foreign matter from the cotton?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rossendale on the 20th July. No expenditure on land or water rights is involved. The estimated expenditure on buildings is £46,000 and on plant £48,000. Two million gallons of water a day are available; this can be increased to 3,000,000 gallons if necessary, and is ample for all purposes. It has been frequently analysed, the degree of hardness being 26 parts per 100,000. The amount of cotton to be treated per day will vary according to the requirements of the factory, the output being regulated, together with that of other raw materials, to produce the amount of cordite that may be required. Although the cotton may leave the mill clean it is impossible, without considerable further expenditure, to ensure that it reaches the factory at Holton Heath in precisely the same condition; and, as pointed out in the reply to the hon. Member for Moss Side on the 27th July, the essential advantage which will be gained from the plant at Holton Heath is that final purification will take place immediately before nitration, so that the cotton will not be handled in transit subsequent to the cleansing process.

Is it not a fact that the policy of the Admiralty was really brought about by the disasters in the Navy to the "Bulwark," the "Temaraire," and the "Vanguard"?

Yes, that is so.

Is there any reason why the bleaching plant should not have been established in Lancashire, nearer the source of supply of the raw material?

That question was answered the other day.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why the Accountant-General of the Navy does not reply to communications addressed to him by important bodies in the country; is he aware that he has received four separate letters from the Port and Harbour Commissioners of Great Yarmouth in the course of the past year, and to not one of them has he replied or even acknowledged; and what is the explanation of this want of businesslike methods?

The original claim of the Great Yarmouth Port and Haven Commissioners was received in the Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy in August last, but it was necessary to refer it to another Department of the Admiralty to obtain reports from the Fleet on the subject-matter of the claim. It is regretted that the subsequent letters from the Commissioners were not acknowledged, as is the ordinary business rule, and steps are being taken to prevent any such oversight in the future. It is unfortunately the case that the papers containing the claim have been mislaid, thus delaying a settlement, but steps are now being taken to obtain a duplicate in order that the case may be reconstructed and disposed of.

May I now report that answers will be given within a reasonable time?

I certainly hope so. I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delays.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many boy artificers are appointed to the Navy yearly; what are the conditions for such appointments or nominations; if any places are given to the public elementary schools of the country, or if they are reserved for secondary or other schools; and if he will say how many vacancies are allotted to the London Education Committee for the schools of London?

The number of artificer apprentices of all classes entered each year is at present 214. The conditions of entry are contained in a pamphlet, which I am sending to the hon. Member. The answer to the last part of the question is, that no places are given to, and no vacancies are reserved for, any particular description of school; neither are any vacancies allotted to any education committee for the schools of their area.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. Jackson, who served for 12 years in the South Staffordshire Regiment before the late War, and also from 1915 to 1919 in the Royal Engineers, being once wounded, having a wife and large family dependent on him, obtained employment as a slater's assistant with Messrs. Butler Brothers, builders and contractors, of Wolverhampton, on the Oswestry housing scheme; that the bricklayers employed on the scheme objected to his employment, as he had to use a trowel, and threatened to go on strike; and that the employers, as the scheme was nearly finished, gave way and dismissed Mr. Jackson; if so, whether the Ministry of Labour took any steps in the matter, either to obtain employment for this man elsewhere or to settle the dispute, and with what result; and what is) the present position of Mr. Jackson?

I am informed that Mr. Jackson is not enrolled under any of the Government training schemes for ex-service men. He was employed on the Oswestry housing scheme as a slater's labourer, and at one stage of the operations was put on with another workman to do work which the bricklayers claimed should be done by craftsmen, according to the rules of the trade union. On their objecting to Mr. Jackson being engaged on this work, employment was found for him on the scheme by the employers as a labourer, and he continued to be so employed until the completion of the job on which he was engaged. I have reason to believe that since then Mr. Jackson has found further employment. I do not understand that there was any discimination against Mr. Jackson on the ground of his being an ex-soldier.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is yet in a position to state when the Report of the Committee on the Employment of Disabled Ex-soldiers will be presented to the House?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any definite statement with regard to the publication of the Report of the Committee on the Employment of Severely Disabled Ex-Service Men. I would, however, refer my Noble Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for the Rushcliffe Division on the 6th July, from which it will be seen that the Government is prepared, under certain conditions, to give assistance to the Central Committee of the Lord Roberts' Memorial Workshops so as to enable them to keep open their centres for the employment of disabled ex-service men. An instalment of grant has already, in fact, been made.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Report was presented to him many months ago? Why is he holding it up?

I have said I am not yet in a position to say what I propose to do with it. In the meantime I have, with the sanction of the Government, approached Lord Roberts' Workshop people and have made a grant to them.

But why are you holding up a Report which was presented to you some months ago?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is in a position to state what is the present position of the ex-service man generally under the Government scheme for their employment in the building trade; and whether any steps are being taken to train more men as plasterers and bricklayers in view of the prevailing shortage in these trades?

21,355 ex-service men have now applied for training, and the number at work is increasing, though very slowly. I am glad to say that the National Federation of Building Trades Employers at their meeting last week at Sheffield re-affirmed their obligation to these unemployed ex-service men who have come forward, and decided to proceed forthwith to put into operation the arrangements which they have made. These arrangements will apply to the training both of plasterers and bricklayers as well as of slaters and tilers.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the report recently issued with regard to the conditions of boy labour in the docks at Liverpool, which has brought to light the conditions under which boy scalers are employed, the Government proposes to take any action with a view to effecting some improvement in the conditions at present existing?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. As I promised the Noble Lord in replying to his previous question of the 31st May on this subject, I have had' inquiries made into the conditions under which boys are employed in this work at the ports, and the reports which I have received show that, on account of the nature of the work, there is great need of provisions for securing the health and welfare of the boys. The work lies mainly outside the present limits of the Factory Act, and the necessary legislation is under consideration.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman been considering for many years the necessity for an alteration of the Factory Acts? How much longer are we to wait for an improvement in the Acts?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet news as to the position of the 100 men formerly at work at the Jamage Pit who have been refused unemployment benefit?

The position as regards these workpeople is that the appeal which was lodged on their behalf has been referred to a Court of Referees which sat yesterday. The Court has recommended that the claim should be disallowed on the ground that the workpeople are still unemployed by reason of a stoppage of work due to a trade dispute. It is, of course, open to the association of which the applicants are members to appeal to the Umpire if they so desire.

Is it not the fact that these seams are closed down permanently and not as the result of the strike? In that case, are these people not entitled to the unemployment benefit?

The hon. and gallant Member is really arguing the case. The machinery laid down provides that each case shall be dealt with in the first instance by the Insurance Officer, who may refer it to the Referees, and, finally, it may go to the Umpire. I have no discretion. I can simply follow the Act.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these people have now been out of work for a month? How much longer will it be before they get the Umpire's decision?

I will do all I can to expedite the decision

Then there is no hope for these people.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of ironstone miners who worked at Brymbo stone collieries near Newcastle, Staffs, have been left unemployed and are yet refused unemployment benefit; that these men are in their own union, not the Miners' Federation; and that they had no connection with the dispute in that industry: and will he have inquiries made so that they may obtain justice?

I am informed that certain ironstone miners, formerly employed at the Brymbo stone collieries, ceased work on the 31st March in sympathy with the miners; and their claims to unemployment benefit were disallowed in respect of the period prior to 4th July, on the ground that up to this date they were unemployed by reason of a stoppage of work due to this dispute. The Insurance officer held, however, that the disqualification ceased to apply as from 4th July, and benefit is being paid accordingly.

asked the Minister of Labour how many men are now unemployed in the building trades; whether he can state how many of these are ex-service men; and what is the cause of the above unemployment?

At 15th July, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of men in all branches of the building trades whose unemployment books were lodged at the Employ- ment Exchanges on account of unemployment was 132,271. Of these, about 42,000 were skilled, about 69,000 were unskilled, and the remainder were operatives, skilled and unskilled, of subsidiary trades. The total number of bricklayers included in these figures was 3,428, of plasterers 440, and of slaters and tilers 542. I am unable to state how many ex-service men are included. I am not aware that this unemployment is attributable to any specific cause other than the continued slackness of trade during July.

Does slackness of trade mean lack of orders for house building, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Health has informed us that the building trade is fully occupied for two years?

It has nothing to do with housing. It is partly due to lack of material, and is further partly due to the fact that all over the country we have little groups of men who have finished a job and have not gone on to another.

Are we to understand that these men are drawing unemployment pay, and would it not be better to have them employed in housing?

If they are entitled under the Act to unemployment pay they are drawing it.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a circular emanating from his Ministry has been sent to business firms in London again reminding them that the body responsible for the circular have a number of girls who are seeking employment and whom they desire to place as clerks or in similar capacities; and whether, in view of the large number of disabled ex-service men who are looking for work and the scarcity of female domestic help, the circular in question was issued with his approval?

My hon. and gallant Friend refers to a letter which has been circulated by the secretary of the Employment Committee of Headmistresses of Secondary Schools. This committee, which consists of delegates from the Association of Headmistresses, works in co-operation with the London (Central) Advisory Committee for Juvenile Employment, by assisting that committee to give advice and assistance on questions of employment to such girls between 14 and 18 years of age as have attended secondary schools. The Headmistresses Employment Committee has instructed its officers to put before employers, verbally and by letter, the special qualifications for employment possessed by secondary school girls. There is no evidence to support the suggestion that the introduction of these girls to clerical vacancies has in any way conflicted with the policy of doing everything possible to obtain employment for ex-service men. As regards the question of the scarcity of domestic servants, the girls who apply to this committee are not, I imagine, usually available for this occupation.

Is it not a fact that this Association of Headmistresses, whoever they are, send out their circulars from a hotel in the Strand which is in the occupation of the Ministry of Labour?

I have the letter here, and I see that it is headed "Ministry of Labour." Without going into the merits of this particular document—I need not express any opinion upon it—I may say that the moment I saw it, I gave orders that no document must go out headed "Ministry of Labour" which I or my responsible officers do not see.

Does it follow that the public bear the expense of all this work?

I cannot answer that. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will put a question down.

asked the Minister of Labour the names of the three principal trades in which there is the greatest unemployment for males and females in the London metropolitan area; and what steps his Department are taking in order to reduce these figures?

The three trades in which there is greatest unemployment amongst males in the London metropolitan area are building trades, engineering and ironfounding, and dock labour. Amongst females the greatest unemployment is in hotel, boarding house, and restaurant service; in dressmaking, millinery, shirt and blouse trades; and in the wholesale and retail distributive trades. Every possible endeavour is being made through the Employment Exchanges and other branches of the Ministry to find work for as many as possible. During the last month for which figures are available—that ending on 3rd June—I am glad to say that over 10,000 persons in the London area were placed in employment.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say why these girls who are unemployed in hotel and restaurant service do not go into domestic service, where there is a great demand?

I think my hon. and learned Friend knows that I have had a list prepared of the women on the register of unemployed who seem to be available and suitable for domestic service. When they come along for unemployment benefit their attention is called to these vacancies, and if they unreasonably refuse to take them their case is referred to the Referee, and then to the Umpire, to see whether or not they are entitled to benefit.

How many cases are there where women have actually refused domestic service who are fitted for it, and have had their unemployment pay stopped?

If a woman has no encumbrances—and my hon. and learned Friend would not wish that we should press domestic service on women with little children to look after—broadly speaking, if she has no encumbrances, and refuses to take a suitable vacancy in domestic service, she is not entitled to benefit.

Does the same state of things exist in the building trade in other parts of the country as in London?

Perhaps my hon. Friend will refer to the answer which I gave earlier about the total number of unemployed in the building trade.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there has been any reduction in unemployment in London since the settlement of the coal dispute both for male and female workers; and will he give the highest figures recorded in his Department for London during recent weeks, and the comparable figures for to-day?

The live register of employment exchanges reached its highest point at 27th May with 133,678 males and 63,890 females in the London County Council area; and 197,777 males and 94,834 females in the Greater London area. At 22nd July, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 132,293 males and 41,701 females on the live registers in the London County Council area and 192,992 males and 63,492 females in the Greater London area. As regards a reduction in unemployment since the settlement of the coal dispute, my hon. Friend will be glad to know that there has been a decrease of 12,735 in the London County Council area, and of 19,681 in the Greater London area, since 30th June.

asked the Minister of Health whether, as stated in the Press, a monster book is in preparation in his Department explaining the nature of the occupations entered by the public on their Census papers?

No, Sir. A series of notes upon occupations is in course of preparation at the request of the Registrar-General, by the Ministry of Labour in co-operation with the Home Office and other Departments and authorities possessing the requisite technical knowledge, to assist the Census staff in classifying the descriptions, technical and otherwise, under which the occupations are returned on the Census Schedules. A saving of the expense of the vast number of special inquiries that would otherwise have to be made is thereby effected.

asked the Minister of Health for what reason he is giving a precedence to large industrial areas over rural areas in the Government housing scheme, seeing that an increase of the rural population would ensure a greater supply of home produced food being available for the inhabitants of Great Britain?

A limitation having been put on the number of houses to be provided under the Government housing scheme, it has been necessary to consider the relative claims of rural and industrial areas to the limited house provision at my disposal. I think it will be generally recognised that more overcrowding prevails, and that other health conditions are more unfavourable in large industrial areas than in rural areas, and, while I am aware that there is a deficiency of houses in rural areas, I have had, under the circumstances, to decide to give precedence to industrial areas.

Why is it confined to industrial areas, when houses are required in rural districts? If houses were provided in the rural districts, would it not withdraw the population from the industrial districts?

I have only a limited number of houses, and must give precedence to those places where overcrowding is worst.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Ministry pays 90 per cent. on account of bricks in stock awaiting delivery; whether he is aware that, in Nottinghamshire, bricks are bought by the Ministry at a price which is substantially higher than the price paid by private builders; and whether the Ministry will discontinue a policy which tends to maintain the price of bricks at a higher level than they would be were large purchases of bricks not made by the Government at a higher price than that ruling in the market?

The answer to the first part of the qeustion is in the affirmative. In certain cases, owing to prices having fallen since the contracts were made, such cases as the Noble Lord refers to may arise. No fresh contracts have been made for some time past, and it is not the intention to enter into any new commitments, but I am endeavouring to reduce existing commitments as far as possible.

asked the Minister of Health why the State aided houses abutting on White Hart Lane, Tottenham, which were completed months ago, are still unoccupied j whether he is aware that these houses have cost over £1,300 each, and that a more commodious and substantial house was built in that region at an inclusive price of £200 in pre-War days; and if the local authority have notified the Ministry that they are unable to accept a considerable number of ex-service men as tenants owing to the high rents demanded by the Ministry?

I am informed that none of the houses being erected by the Tottenham Urban District Council at White Hart Lane are yet ready for occupation. I am unable to say what the final cost of the houses will be when completed, but on the information at present available it will not, I hope, be so high as £1,300 a house. The rents which the council propose to Charge are, in my opinion, too low, but this should not delay the letting of the houses at rents which the council think proper, as provision is made for any difference of opinion in the matter of rents to be referred to an independent tribunal.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that on 15th July there were registered as unemployed at the Employment Exchanges 23,923 building trade employés, including bricklayers, joiners, and plasterers; and whether he will reconsider the desirability of sanctioning further housing schemes to use their labour rather than pay unemployment benefit?

I have seen the figures of unemployment mentioned by the hon. Member, but note that the figures to which he refers are not confined to building trade employés. Even if all these men belonged to the building trade I would remind the hon. Member that, in addition to houses building under the scheme of subsidy to private builders, there are 76,000 houses now under construction by local authorities and public utility societies and about 50,000 additional houses contracted for but not even commenced. There is here an ample field for the employment of surplus labour, and there is no point in multiplying approvals for further houses, to say nothing of the effect of such a policy on prices. I would add, with regard to the 440 plasterers said to be unemployed, that at the date of the last housing return no less than 1,922 plasterers were wanted for housing schemes actually in hand.

Is the right hon. Baronet aware of the impossibility of moving labour from one part of the country to another owing to the absence of houses, and that it would be more economical to employ these men where they are rather than pay them unemployment benefit, and will he therefore reconsider sanctioning the building of houses in those districts where there is material available and men are out of work rather than pay them unemployment benefit?

I cannot agree that labour cannot be moved. If labour wanted to move it would move. I do not think it would pay us to put up houses at a very big loss in rent simply to provide employment.

How can labour move if there are no houses for it to move into?

Labour has always been able, in the building trade particularly, to find temporary lodging, and I do not believe there is any shortage of lodging accommodation.

asked the Prime Minister what action he will take on the Report of Lord Crewe's Committee, appointed by him in November, 1919, to inquire into the position to be assigned to the language, literature, and history of Ancient Greece and Rome in the educational system of the United Kingdom, and to advise as to the means by which the proper study of these subjects may be maintained and improved?

The Prime Minister has asked the President of the Board of Education and the Secretary for Scotland to consider the Report.

Will this Report be made available for those Members—probably many—who highly appreciate the action taken in this behalf?

I am under the impression that the Report is available to Members.

It is not on the Pink Paper.

I will make inquiries; I thought it was.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that an honourable place is given to the language of the ancient Britons?

asked the Lord Privy Seal if his attention has been called to the statement that news telegrams are sent out by the British Foreign Office for circulation among Norwegian newspapers; if this is the case, by whom is the news selected, by whose authority is it transmitted, and on what Vote is the cost borne; and is there anything to indicate to the receiver or reader of these messages the source from which they are derived?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland on 1st August, to which I have nothing to add.

Does any responsible official of the hon. Gentleman's Department revise the text of the messages before they are sent out?

No, I think not. The parties in charge are very trusted officials of the Foreign Office. I do not think the messages are subjected to any higher criticism before they go out.

Has the hon. Gentleman seen the suggestion that this information ought to be sent out by an agent independent of all Government control?

I have seen that.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Imperial Conference has now approved of an Amendment of the nationality law so as to provide for the acquisition of British nationality by persons of British descent of the second and subsequent generations born abroad, subject to registration at birth and a renewal of such registration as a British subject at majority, he can assure the House that the necessary uncontentious legislation to give effect to the above decision of the Imperial Conference will be introduced at the beginning of next Session?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The Imperial Conference has agreed to recommend the proposal to the Governments of the Overseas Dominions, and, as I indicated on 21st July, an agreement on this subject ought to be come to with the Overseas Governments of the Empire before legislation is introduced in this House. Steps are being taken to obtain agreement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very strong feeling on this subject with regard to Britons resident abroad, and will he do everything to expedite the Conference between this country and the Dominions so as to be able to introduce legislation at the beginning of next Session which practically non-contentious?

I will endeavour to do so.

Are there any other questions affecting the law of nationality which have been brought before the Imperial Conference?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether any approximate date has yet been fixed for the Washington Conference; and whether Great Britain and Japan are urging a postponement of the gathering till the spring?

No date has yet been fixed for the Conference, and no question of postponement has been raised.

Have the British representatives at the Conference yet been chosen, and who will they be?

No. Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the extreme urgency for local treatment of patients, a sanction given by the Ministry to the Holland County Council to purchase Norton House, Boston, for the purpose of a tuberculosis hospital was afterwards withdrawn; whether he will give the reason for the Ministry's action; whether the contract for the purchase was conpleted after the approval conveyed by the Ministry's letter of the 10th May last; whether, in consequence, the council is legally bound to go on with the purchase; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take in these circumstances?

In view of the general instructions of the Government as to economy in public expenditure, my Department has been compelled to suspend various public health schemes involving capital expenditure where an authority was not definitely committed. In the particular case referred to, sanction to a purchase which had previously been given was withdrawn, because, on the information in the possession of the Department, it appeared that the authority was not definitely committed to the purchase. It has now been ascertained that the authority is committed, and the purchase will accordingly be completed.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to a publication by Dr. Montague Lomax, containing grave charges of inhumanity in the administration of our asylums; and, as these charges are specific, and the alleged inhumanity was inferred rather than witnessed by Dr. Lomax, will he cause inquiries to be made as to the truth of these allegations, in order to relieve the anxiety of many of the public who have relatives confined in these institutions?

My attention has been called to the statements contained in this book, and the visiting committee of the asylum at which Dr. Lomax was employed as locum tenens, and to which he evidently refers, have already been asked by the Board of Control for their observations. As soon as these have been received, I will consider what further action is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the threatened collapse of the local government system in the Borough of Poplar, the obstinate refusal to levy the rates for central purposes, and the likelihood of the finance of the borough being still more embarrassed, what steps he proposes to take to set the machinery of rate collection again in motion in the Poplar Borough Council?

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on this subject yesterday to the hon. Member for Dartford.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, with reference to a statement made on education in Malta, it is recognised that language is a reserved matter under the constitution, and that the responsibility of declaring what was meant by priority in which the languages shall be taught in Clause 57 still rests with the Secretary of State; and whether, in the circumstances, children of dockyard workers will receive the protection of an early, certain, and workable definition of priority?

Sub-section 6 of Section 41 of the Letters Patent prescribes that alteration of the Sections relating to language is outside the powers of the new Malta Legislature. The answer to the first part of the question is therefore in the affirmative. I think the use of the word "priority" in Section 57 (2) is clear, but if any further definition of that Section is shown to be necessary or is generally desired by the Maltese people, the Governor will, under Section 67 of Letters Patent, be able to make the required amendment by proclamation.

asked the Secretary of State for Air the approximate yearly rate of expenditure on lighter-than-air airships establishments during the present year up till 1st August last; and what has, been the yearly rate of expenditure on direct assistance to civil aviation, excluding expenditure on lighter-than-air airships, to date during the present year?

The approximate expenditure at airship establishments during the four months ended 31st ultimo was £94,000, excluding the cost of work on R.38. The yearly rate of expenditure based on this figure would therefore be £282,000. The expenditure on subsidies to civil aerial transport companies during the same period of four months was £23,000. Owing to the impending change in the method of subsidy, the yearly rate of expenditure cannot be deduced from this figure.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction amongst the members of the defence forces of those Crown Colonies and Protectorates which are not defined as a theatre of war Army Order XX of 1918 and Army Order 301 of 1919 at the non-award of a war medal; whether it is a question of expense which is delaying a decision in the matter and, if so, whether he is aware that the Governments of the Crown Colonies and Protectorates concerned would be unlikely to raise any opposition to defraying the cost of these medals; whether the defence forces in India during the War have already received war medals; and, in any case, whether he can now state whether a decision has been reached in the matter and what it is?

As I have already stated it has been decided that, with certain specified exceptions, a war medal should not be granted for home service in the United Kingdom, and in these circumstances it would obviously be inequitable to grant what would be a home service medal to members of the defence forces of Crown Colonies and Protectorates. I am not quite clear as to what defence forces in India my hon. Friend has in mind, but so far as I am aware no members of any volunteer defence forces have received war medals unless they entered a theatre of war.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men were not only volunteers, but were called up and embodied, and had to go out and do actual service under service conditions?

I am quite aware of that, but their service was home service.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men have been enlisted into the reconstituted militia; how many militia battalions are at present in existence; and how many it is proposed to raise?

No enlistments have as yet been made into the reconstituted Militia. The 101 pre-War Special Reserve battalions are still technically in existence, and the number of battalions to be reconstituted is under consideration.

Is it not much more important to reconstitute these Militia regiments than to raise Territorial regiments?

It is of great importance.

Is there any considerable difference in the cost?