asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many women clerks are employed in the Royal Naval Signal School at Portsmouth either as shorthand and typist clerks or typist clerks; and what are the wages paid to each grade and the number of hours each day the services of the shorthand clerks are required for shorthand duties only?

At present 19 typists and shorthand-typists are employed at the signal school. Their scales of pay are 50s., increasing by 1s. a week per annum to 55s. a week inclusive of bonus, except for four who are under 21 years of age and are paid 45s. increasing by 1s. a week per annum to 50s. Two receive allowances of 5s. a week for supervising duties. The rates of pay for shorthand-typists and typists are at present the same and the present staff is employed without distinction on both duties. On an average the staff is employed for more than half-time on shorthand duties alone.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the provisions of Admiralty Monthly Order No. 4016, of January, 1919, are in abeyance; and whether the recent promotion to warrant rank of a rating who had not passed either professionally or educationally for warrant rank is to be regarded as establishing a precedent?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. In the wardmaster branch, however, arrange- ments have only recently been completed for holding the examination for promotion to warrant rank, and vacancies arising prior to the first examination, which was held in June last, have been filled without insisting upon a test of the professional and educational qualifications as laid down for the rank. The action taken does not establish a precedent for future cases.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of civilian clerks employed in the various officers of nval depots and when it is anticipated that they will be replaced by naval writers; and whether mixed office staffs of naval and civilian writers tends to efficient and smooth running, in view of the fact that by the Regulations naval writers are employed as many hours as considered necessary by the superior authority without any extra remuneration, but that the civilian clerks are paid overtime for all hours worked over 47 hours per week?

Portsmouth is the only naval depot in which civilian clerks are employed. There are at present 25 such clerks, but it is anticipated that they will shortly be replaced by naval writers. The Admiralty are aware of the objections referred to by the hon. Member, but earlier replacement has been impossible owing to the naval writers being engaged on other services.

asked the Secretary of State for War by what Department the operations of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institute, Imperial Court, Knights-bridge, are controlled; whether the institute hold considerable stocks of goods which are being offered, not to the established houses identified with the trades concerned, but to others not identified with these trades; and whether he can arrange that information as to the stocks to be disposed of shall be published for the benefit of intending buyers or, failing this, that established houses shall have the opportunity of purchasing them?

The business operations of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes, including the disposal of surplus stocks, are subject to the control of a Council, and a Board of Management. The Council consists of 12 members representing the three Services, and the Board of Management of one serving representative of each Service, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board being civilians of commercial experience appointed by the Council on the recommendations of the three Service Departments. I am informed that the Board of Management are taking every reasonable means to dispose, by private treaty or auction, of surplus stocks now left in their hands, but if the right hon. Gentleman has reason to think that suitable markets are being overlooked I shall be glad to bring the matter to the notice of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes. I would add that it is at all times open to anyone to obtain from the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes a list of the stocks available for disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the claim made by Mr. W. Riggs, of High Beech, Loughton, Essex, in December, 1920, for compensation in respect of loss of trade, etc., during the seasons 1918 and 1919, due to the occupation of his premises at Foxburrows Farm, Hainault, Essex, by the War Office, has now been adjusted; and when a settlement may be expected?

The Defence of the Realm Losses Royal Commission, by their Report dated 8th November, 1918, determined that payment ought to to be made to Mr. Riggs of the sum of £310 (three hundred and ten pounds) in respect of all claims arising out of the occupation other than that for reinstatement, which they reserved. Payment was made accordingly. The reinstatement claim was settled and paid on or about the 20th May, 1921.

Mr. Riggs has now submitted a further claim for loss due to the occupation of the same premises, but has not yet obtained the leave of the War Compensation Court which is required under Section 2 (3) of the Indemnity Act, 1920, before such claim can be made. Instructions have been issued for the necessary procedure to be pointed out to him, but so far no further communication has been received from him.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will inquire into the case of Jack Bailey, out of work from Apedale Footrails Colliery, and refused unemployment benefit?

I am informed that Jack Bailey was disqualified for the receipt of benefit up to the 4th July on the ground that he had lost his employment by reason of a stoppage of work, which was due to a trade dispute. As regards the period subsequent to that date it appeared at first that his continued unemployment was due to the same cause, but on the 26th July the employer reported that his services were no longer required, and accordingly benefit as from the 5th July was paid on the 29th July.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of ex-service men who have now been absorbed in the building trade under the Government scheme, giving the figures for England and Scotland separately?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave on Wednesday to the question on this subject asked by my Noble Friend the Member for South Battersea (Viscount Curzon) of which I am sending him a copy. I regret to say that until recently private employers in Scotland have been inactive in the matter, but I am hopeful that they will now follow the lead given by their English colleagues at the meeting of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers last week at Sheffield and will proceed at once to carry out their obligation to the unemployed ex-service men in Scotland who have come forward and asked for training.

asked the Minister of Pensions how it happens that, in default of any authority possessed by him to intervene in matters coming within the scope of the Lunacy Acts, a medical officer from pensions headquarters joins in the visits paid by the Lunacy Commissioners and is invited to report on the mental condition of service patients in county asylums; and, in view of the admitted irregularity of such procedure, will he take steps to put an end to unauthorised decisions emanating from pensions officials where such intervention is directed to the release of ex-service men from unjustified detention?

The medical inspector of my Department who, by the courtesy of the Board of Control, visits mental institutions in which ex-service men are under treatment, does not intervene in any way in matters coming withing the Lunacy Law, but acts solely in the interests of "service patients" as pensioners. On the particular occasion which I understand my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, it was known to the Board of Control that the Ministry inspector was about to visit the hospital and they took the opportunity of availing themselves of his opinion on the case. Such opinion was in no sense a decision nor was there any irregularity in the procedure of obtaining or furnishing it. I am satisfied that this arrangement for the visiting of asylums by a Ministry official is in the best interests of ex-service men, and is moreover one which was considered and approved by the recent Departmental Committee of Inquiry.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the urgent requests of local associations concerned for further Amendments to the War Pensions Bill which will secure to the various groups of persons specified in Clause 1, Sub-section 3 ( a ), ( b ), ( c ), ( d ), and ( e ), the right to nominate their representatives; and whether he will take the matter into consideration with a view to making provision for the representation of these parties as requested?

I would remind my hon. Friend that this question was fully discussed during the Committee stage of the Bill, when I gave an assurance that it was my intention, in forming the new Committees provided for by Clause 1 of the Bill, to follow the present practice of my Department and, wherever possible, to avail myself of the direct assistance of representative organisations in selecting the persons to serve as members. Provision for this will be made in the schemes constituting the Committees, but it is not practicable to embody this provision in the terms of the Bill, itself.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any information to give the House regarding labour troubles in Bengal and Assam?

The information I have received since I furnished the House at the end of June with a sum-of the communiqués issued by the Bengal and Assam Governments indicate that the exodus from the Assam tea gardens has ceased, and that the connected steamer and railway strikes are for the most part at an end. Last month, however, some unrest was reported from the Duars and Darjiling, and the Government of India telegraphed that an organised campaign appeared to exist in the tea districts of Assam to interfere with the food supplies of the labour force in European gardens. Later telegrams indicate, that the situation has improved, and that there is now little activity in Assam on the part of the non-co-operators.

asked the Attorney-General whether the proposals contained in the Law of Property Bill, 1921, are based on the recommendations of any independent commission other than the Royal Commission on the Land Transfer Acts, 1911; whether that Royal Commission reported that their terms of reference did not permit them to recommend the prohibition of legal estates in land other than estates in fee simple, and that consequently the proposals in Clause 1 of the Bill are based on no such recommendation; whether the Bill proposes to make other far-reaching changes in the law of real property which have never been examined and reported upon by any independent body with the authority of a Royal Commission; and whether, in view of these facts and the importance of the subject, he will propose the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine and report upon the proposals contained in the Bill before it is set down for Second Reading in this House?

The proposals contained in the Law of Property Bill are based on the recommendations contained in the Fourth Report (Cmd. 424) of the Acquisition of Land Committee, which specifically recommended the prohibition of legal estates in land other than estates in fee simple and terms of years absolute. This proposal went beyond the scope of the Royal Commission of 1911. In view of the above-mentioned Report, and the large number of bodies and experts who have voluntarily examined the Bill and made recommendations upon it, it is considered that it would be a waste of public money to appoint a Royal Commission to report on the proposals contained in the Bill, and this course is not proposed.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has considered the inconvenience and expense which will be occasioned to all existing legal tenants for life of real property by the procedure proposed by the Fifth Schedule of the Law of Property Bill for converting a legal estate for life into an equitable estate; and what advantage will be gained by prohibiting the creation of a, legal estate for life?

No inconvenience or expense will, I think, be occasioned to existing legal tenants for life by the procedure proposed by, the Fifth Schedule of the Law of Property Bill. The insignificant costs of executing a deed in Form No. 1 of the Ninth Schedule of the Bill, which does not attract any ad valorem stamp duty, are payable out of capital. Though all life estates, remainders, and other like interests under settlements (which, as in the case of stock, could take effect only in equity) are converted into equitable interests, the tenant for life acquires, as a trustee, the legal fee simple or absolute interest which under the existing law he has power to convey. Some of the advantages gained by prohibiting the creation of legal life estates, and the automatic shifting, without a conveyance, of legal estates from one person to another are: (1) That the title to land will consist of simple transfers by one person to another, and of probates or letters of administration; (2) that equitable interests can be kept off the title required to be shown to a purchaser; (3) that the costs of furnishing strict evidence of the automatic shifting are eliminated; and (4) that a purchaser can be freed from investigating charges for death duties unless a land charge is registered to protect the Inland Revenue. This question is discussed in the separate Memorandum to the Bill (Cmd. 1287). In this country many life estates are determinable previously to the death of the tenant for life. Hence follows a change of ownership otherwise than on death. This case has to be, and is expressly provided for, in the Bill.

asked the Home Secretary if certain men of the police force domiciled in police barracks, occupying separate sleeping cubicles, but sharing other rooms in common, are not admissible to the franchise as either resident or absent voters; and if he will consider the desirability of amending the Representation of the People Act, 1918, so as to include these persons in the franchise?

All persons who have resided in any premises in the constituency during the qualifying period are entitled to be registered as Parliamentary electors on the residence qualification. If any police officers residing in section houses have been omitted they should claim to have their names inserted in the new Register before 10th August.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the salaries paid to the Members of the Legislatures of Great Britain, France, Sweden, Italy, the German Empire, and the United States, respectively, and in which of these countries free postal and travelling facilities, or other emoluments and advantages, are granted to such Members; and will he state, for comparative purposes, the amounts of the salaries or emoluments paid in terms of £ sterling at the current rates of exchange?

No official returns have been compiled by His Majesty's Government on this subject since Command 5714 issued in 1911, but the following particulars (extracted partly from the Statesman's Year Book) may be assumed to be substantially correct:—

Great Britain.

£400 per annum to Members of Parliament.

France.

27,000 francs (£577 at current rate of exchange) per annum to Members of both Chambers. Free travelling on all railways by means of a small payment. Pensions for ex-Deputies or their widows and orphans. Pensions Fund supported by contributions from Deputies (deducted from their pay) as well as by gifts and legacies.

Sweden.

3,400 and 4,500 Kr. (£195 and £257 at current rate of exchange) for Members of both Chambers living in or outside the Capital for each ordinary session, besides travelling expenses. 24 or 32 kr. a day in case of extra session. Salary free of Income Tax.

Italy.

15,000 lire (£180 at current rate of exchange) per annum to Members of Lower House. Members of Both Houses travel gratis on railways.

Germany.

12,000 marks (£41 at current rate of exchange) per annum to Members of Reichstag, and allowance for travelling expenses.

United States of America.

Members of Congress. —7,500 dollars (£2,103 at current rate of exchange) per annum to Members of both Senate and House of Representatives or Delegate in Congress, with an allowance, based on distance, for travelling expenses.

State Legislatures. —150 to 1,500 dollars (£42 to £421 at current rate of exchange) per session for Members of both Houses, with an allowance for travelling expenses.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has now come to any decision with regard to compiling a Return of the average rates of remuneration paid before the War, and at the present time, to the leading officials of the principal industrial and commercial concerns in this country; and whether he is in a position to add to the information on this point given by him?

I am not in a position to add anything to the reply given to the hon. Member's question on the 21st ultimo.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received complaint from the Société Anonyme d'Armament d'Industrie de Commerce à Anvers as to the difficulty experienced consequent on the neglect of the trading-with-the-enemy branch of the Public Trustee Office to direct the London Joint City and Midland Bank, Limited, to make delivery of 2,830 share warrants, the property of the said Société; if he is aware that the Department referred to has made repeated promises to address corrected instructions to the London Joint City and Midland Bank which have not been observed; and if he will cause such directions to be dispatched?

The answer to the first two parts of this question is in the negative. I understand that on the 28th June the Public Trustee wrote to the Bank authorising the delivery of the 2,830 share warrants in the Société Anonyme d'Armament d'Industrie de Commerce à Anvers. On the 6th July at the request of the Agent for the Société the Public Trustee addressed a further letter to the Bank, and the matter is now one for settlement between the Belgian Company and the Bank.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a recent statement in the Press to the effect that a scheme is in contemplation whereby important Scottish steel interests will combine with similar English interests and receive Governmental financial assistance; and whether he has any statement to make or the matter?

I have seen a statement in the Press reporting that an amalgamation of large Scottish and English iron and steel interests is under consideration, but I am not aware of any proposal to grant Government financial assistance to such a scheme.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department which of the European Powers at present maintain a clearing office for Bulgarian debts?

I understand that of the Allied European Powers who were signatories to the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine, Belgium and Greece have adopted Section III of Part IX of this Treaty, and have accordingly instituted the clearing-office system for Bulgarian debts.