asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether each Department of State has qualified for inclusion in the King's Roll; and, if not, what Departments have failed to employ the necessary proportion of ex—service men?

Government Departments as a whole employed, on the 1st April last, 44,963 disabled ex-service men out of a total staff of 368,563, a percentage of 12–20 as compared with the general qualifying standard of 5 per cent. Twenty-eight small Departments or sub-Departments in Great Britain, with staff of only 1,566 persons all told (less than 0·3 per cent. of the total numbers employed), employ less than the 5 per cent. proportion of disablement. The entry of the name of His Majesty's Treasury on the Roll signifies the adherence to the national scheme of Government Departments as a whole, but it is not practicable for every individual Department, however small or specialised, to employ the minimum percentage.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give the number of blind ex-service men employed in Government Departments; whether the fact that the blind ex-service men in Government Departments are engaged only as temporary servants, and liable to a week's notice, is causing great uneasiness among these men; whether he can see his way to placing them on the permanent Civil Service staff, in view of the disability they have sustained in the service of their country; and, if this be not practicable, whether he will see that in the event of dismissal they are given a month's instead of a week's notice?

I have been asked to reply. I regret that I am unable, without circularising Departments, to state the number of blinded ex-service men employed in Government Departments. In accordance with the recommendation of Lord Lytton's Committee, in its Third interim Report, such men will, as far as possible, be retained in an unestablished capacity. The special consideration due to them is fully recognised. So far as I am aware, such men, in the event of their discharge being necessary, are given a month's notice with, wherever possible, a further month's warning.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the majority of the men appointed to the clerical class are over 26 years of age and, many of them with wives and families, are in receipt of a starting basic salary of £80 a year; that last year the National Joint Whitley Council agreed that the new entrants to the clerical class, if under the age of 26 years, should receive a salary equal to what they would have received had they entered the Civil Service at the age of 18 years, and if over 26 years of age the salary received by men of 26 years who entered the Civil Service at 18 years of age; why have the Lytton Committee, which was instituted to deal only with the arrangements for the admission of ex-service men into the Civil Service, made recommendations as to commencing salary, especially in view of the fact that the commencing salary affects non-service men as well as ex-service men; if the Government is satis- fied that the Lytton Committee's decision on the matter of salary at entry is the fairest that could be reached, why have newly appointed clerical officers been already appointed at the basic salary of £80 per annum, irrespective of the rates laid down according to the grade of each officer by the Lytton Committee; and whether he will arrange, pending the decision of the Government as to a more favourable rate of commencing salary for these officers, that the men in question receive in the interim at least the rates according to grade, as laid down by the Lytton Committee?

I am aware that a number of men now being appointed to the clerical class are over 26 years of age. No such agreement was reached at the National Whitley Council as is referred to in the second part of the question. As regards the third part, I beg to refer to the answer which I gave on the 26th July to the hon. Member for East Islington (Mr. Raper). As regards the fourth and last parts, instructions are about to issue giving effect to the recommendations of the Lytton Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken to see that ex-service men all over the country are warned that 30th September is the final date by which application to benefit under the industrial training scheme must be lodged, either with the local Employment Exchange or with the divisional director of industrial training; is he aware that there is almost total ignorance of this at present; and will he do all he can to help ex-service men in this way, such as by putting up notices in post offices and by issuing leaflets with ring papers?

Very complete arrangements have been made to secure that all men eligible under the Industrial Training Scheme shall receive adequate warning of the final date for application, namely, 30th September, 1921. The arrangements embrace a pamphlet, also poster and Press notices; and the Assistance of the Postmaster-General, the Minister of Pensions, and the British Legion has already been secured, in addition, of course, to that of the Employment Exchanges and the local committees connected therewith. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the pamphlet.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the urgency of the matter, he has decided to appoint a committee to inquire into the working and administration of the National Health Insurance Act; and whether, in the interim, steps will be taken to improve the medical services for panel patients?

As regards the first part of the question, I cannot at present add anything to the answer which I gave the hon. Member on the 10th instant. As regards the second part, insurance committees are required to investigate all specific complaints by Approved Societies or insured persons of alleged failure on the part of insurance practitioners to provide satisfactory service. Reports of all these investigations are forwarded to my Department, and, where necessary, disciplinary action is taken.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the remarks of the high chief ranger of the Ancient Order of Foresters suggesting a curtailment of the number of panel patients which may be allotted to one doctor; and whether the Department is satisfied that there are no cases in which any panel doctor has more patients than he can adequately and properly look after?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Members for Lincoln (Mr. Alfred T. Davies) and Kennington (Mr. Purchase) on the 10th inst. If the hon. Member has any information in regard to specific cases in which it is alleged that an insurance practitioner has a greater number of panel patients than he can adequately attend, I shall be glad to make inquiries.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the official admissions that there are a large number of insured persons who do not receive from the insurance doctors the care and attention to which they are entitled, he proposes to make representations to the British Medical Association, and also to take more drastic action by the removal of undesirable practitioners from the medical list; and whether he will give the number of medical men so removed since the Health Insurance Act came into operation?

In a medical service including a large proportion of all practitioners on the medical register, cases of unsatisfactory treatment will inevitably occur, but I do not see any advantage to be gained by making representations to the British Medical Association. In cases where it is proved at an inqiury that the continuance of a practitioner on the medical list would be prejudicial to the medical service of the insured, the practitioner is removed, and adequate machinery exists and is freely used for dealing with offences of a less serious character for which removal from the list would be too severe a penalty. Twenty-nine practitioners have been removed from the list since the Act came into operation.

asked the Minister of Heatlh whether there is no woman member on the board of control which supervises and inspects lunatic asylums; and, if so, whether he will take steps to remedy this deficiency?

There are at present two women members of the board of control.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the disquieting spread of small-pox, encephalitis lethargica, and ophthalmia, as evidenced in the report of his chief medical officer, he is able to state whether the occurrence of these maladies is attributable to effects of the War; and what was the yearly number of the cases of these three diseases for 1912, 1913, and 1914, and for 1918, 1919, and 1920?

I am advised that there is no reason to attribute the increases in the maladies named primarily to the effects of the War, although it is no doubt the case that the large and unusual movements of population which occurred during and since the War have influenced the spread and distribution of infectious diseases generally. This applies to small-pox and to gonorrhoea, to which latter disease ophthalmia neonatorum is mainly attributable. The notification of ophthalmia neonatorum throughout England and Wales was not required until the 1st April, 1914. Encephalitis lethargica was not recognised as a separate disease before 1918, and was first made notifiable in 1919. The notifications of small-pox for 1912, 1913, and 1914, were respectively, 121, 113, and 65; and for 1918, 1919, and 1920, were 63, 311, and 280. The other returns for which my hon. Friend asks will be found in the Report to which he refers.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether, in view of the impending reduction of staff at the Leavesden Asylum, King's Langley, he will arrange that single men shall be discharged on a basis of juniority and that where probationary nurses have served the qualifying period for the preliminary examination, and have been prevented by sickness at the time from sitting for it, they shall be afforded a chance of proving their capabilities before being liable to discharge;

(2) what steps he proposes to take in the case of Nurse Maclaren, of the Leavesden Asylum, a fully trained and certificated nurse, holding the diploma of the C.M.B., who, after more than 15 years' service at the Leavesden Asylum, has been given notice of dismissal on the ground that her post of superintendent nurse is to be abolished; and whether he will ensure that this nurse shall be retained in some suitable position?

These matters are within the discretion of the managers of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and I understand that the suggestions made by my hon. Friend are receiving their consideration.

asked the Minister of Health if the arrangements sanctioned by his Department regarding bacteriological examinations in the Manchester area, more particularly concerning the bacteriology of venereal diseases, are tending towards the creation of a monopoly in bacteriology in that city; whether he has received a request from at least one competent bacteriologist to make arrangements with the local authorities in that area to conduct the same examinations at lower rates than those paid to the main examining body in that city; and whether he is prepared to authorise bacteriologists in charge of approved laboratories in that area, already conducting the work for hospital clinics, to enter into arrangements with local authorities for the examination of material collected by doctors not attached to those hospitals, in view of the economy to be effected thereby?

I have received a request from the bacteriologist referred to, but I have not had any application from any local authority to enter into an agreement on the lines suggested. If any such application should be made on the expiration of the existing agreements it will receive full consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether, with a view to securing to ex-service men the rights to which they are entitled as private patients under Sections 72–74 of the Lunacy Act, he will take steps to provide that the next-of-kin to such patients shall be made acquainted with the privilege of directing discharge which is conferred upon them by the Act, and that similarly the petitioner in the case of every private civilian patient in an asylum shall be notified of their rights and duties in connection with the discharge of relatives?

I will refer the suggestion to the Board of Control for their consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the serious increase of maternal deaths, he can state the percentage of such deaths to the number of childbirths in each of the six years preceding the War; and whether, despite the improvement in midwifery, the percentage is now increasing rather than diminishing?

The figures referred to in the question are given on page 28 of the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health for 1920.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that it has been estimated that each question put to a Minister costs on an average £l 1s., and that the quota of three questions per Member per day for four days in the week involves an expenditure of £12 12s. at least per week for each Member exercising the privilege, and for a Session of 25 weeks £315 per Session; and whether means can be adopted to reduce this expenditure of public funds?

I am not aware of the basis of the estimate given by my hon. Friend, but it is no doubt true that considerable expenditure of time and money is involved in answering them. It would not, however, be in accordance with the wishes of the House, so far as I can judge them, that the Government should bake steps to curtail Members rights to question Ministers.

asked the Hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he is aware that the passenger lifts in this House are totally inadequate for the conveyance of the large number of Members serving on Committees and others engaged on the upper floors, and that much valuable time is wasted by Members and officials in waiting on the different floors; and will he cause a report to be made upon the matter with a view to increasing the number of lifts and the speed of those at present in use?

I will investigate the hon. Member's complaint, but the financial situation precludes any possibility of providing either new lifts or new motors to increase the speed of the existing lifts.

asked if the service lifts in the House of Commons kitchen and services are antiquated and frequently break down, causing considerable delay in the conveyance of food, etc., to the dining rooms, which makes it difficult for those responsible to render this service satisfactorily to members; and whether any improvement can be effected during the Vacation?

The lifts in question will be thoroughly overhauled during the Recess, but no funds are available for the installation of lifts of a more modern type.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the public desire for retrenchment in the Civil Service, the vacancies for posts are being kept down to a minimum, especially since dismissals of ex-service men are still taking place; whether the bonus is still held out as an inducement to candidates to come forward; and, if so, why, as these were not parties to any original bonus agreement, it is necessary to adopt this policy?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. It would not be possible or consistent with the terms of the Civil Service bonus scheme to withhold bonus from new entrants to the permanent grades.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of married women now employed on the temporary Civil Service staff; whether the Regulation entailing dismissal from the permanent Civil Service will still be enforced in the case of women who become married; and whether there are any known cases of the employment of both husband and wife in either the permanent or the temporary Civil Service staffs?

No central record is kept of the numbers of married women employed in temporary capacities in the Civil Service. But apart from cases in which women may have been exempted from substitution on grounds of hardship, because their husbands are disabled ex-service men, or because they have been deserted by their husbands, I should expect to find that the number is very small. In accordance with the policy of the Government, every case of the kind has to be most carefully scrutinised by the Department concerned, and continued employment is authorised only on the clearest grounds of public interest. I am aware of only one case in which the husband of a woman so retained in temporary employment is also employed in the Civil Service. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can place before the House particulars of the various facilities enjoyed by members of the other legislative chambers in the English-speaking world as compared with those which fall to the lot of Members of the British House of Commons?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I would refer my hon. Friend to the information circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 9th June, 1921, in reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for Exeter (Sir R. Newman).

asked the Prime Minister what is the objection to publishing, for the information of the House, the terms of the agreement under which the Minister of Transport received the sum of £50,000 from the North Eastern Railway Company, and which sum was eventually paid out of the taxation of this Country?

This transaction has been so repeatedly explained by the present and late Leader of the House that there is nothing for me to add.

asked the Minister of Transport if on a considerable number of roads maintained by district councils in various parts of the country the percentage of mechanical transport is as great as upon the average county council road; and whether, in view of this fact, he will consider the possibility of making some grant out of the sum raised from motor taxation to district councils responsible for the upkeep of such roads?

My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, appreciates the importance of the traffic carried on roads maintained by district councils, and in the distribution of grants no differentiation is made between district and county councils. Roads are classified in accordance with their importance nationally, and more than 5,000 miles of highways maintained by district councils have accordingly been included in the Classification Scheme as first and second class, ranking for maintenance grants from the Road Fund. In the case of district roads not so classified, a circular has been issued informing all local authorities that applications will be considered for grants towards expenditure proposed to be incurred in widenings and various other improvements. It is not, however, the intention at present to make grants towards the upkeep of district roads not classified as first or second class.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that six months have passed since the new form of taxation for motor vehicles was introduced, he is now able to give the House some information as to the methods in which the large sum of money obtained is being used in the development and improvement of the roads, and for other purposes?

The greater part of the net yield of the new taxation is being applied in grants under the Classification Scheme, whereby local authorities receive contributions towards their approved expenditure on roads ranking as first and second class. Local authorities were advised that a balance would be available for the purpose of various improvements, and they were invited to submit such schemes by the end of July last. These schemes are now under examination.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how far the Scottish Office is able to urge the claims of local authorities in Scotland on the Road Board of the Ministry of Transport, since that department cannot be expected to realise what are the peculiar conditions that exist in certain localities which urgently demand special consideration; how much of the £1,150,000 has actually been received by Scottish local authorities; and why should Scotland only get eleven-eightieths of the money collected from motor taxation, seeing how great is her contribution?

I am informed that the organisation of the Ministry of Transport includes a technical officer who is stationed in Edinburgh. I see no reason to suppose that the Ministry will have any difficulty in obtaining full information as to peculiar conditions as regards roads which may exist in any areas in Scotland or that it is likely to fail to give due weight to these conditions. So far as the remainder of the question is concerned I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Ministry of Transport.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the overcrowding on the District (Underground) Railway between Aldgate and Barking on mornings and evenings; whether he has taken any action in order to remedy this great grievance of the travelling public on this line; and will he travel from Westminster to Barking during the crush hours before vacating his position as Minister of Transport?

The improvement of services between the points named is of course a matter for the District and Midland Railway Companies and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, has been in constant touch with them regarding this matter. They have already made improvements, and the District Railway Company are at present carrying out certain alterations and new works which will enable them to run a heavier service in the autumn. The main difficulty, however, is due to the limited capacity of a portion of the line, to remedy which would entail considerable expenditure which the companies concerned are at present not in a position to undertake.

asked the Minister of Transport the cost to the Government of the recent London and Home Counties electricity inquiry; and if he can give any estimate of the costs and expenses in connection therewith incurred by local authorities and other bodies or persons?

The cost of the Electricity Commissioners of this inquiry has been about £160. This is not a charge on the Government, but will ultimately be recoverable from the industry as provided for by the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919. The Commissioners have no knowledge of the amount of the costs incurred by other parties.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that, just before the conclusion of the London and Home Counties Electricity Inquiry, the chairman of the Electricity Commissioners stated that he had every reason to believe that the Minister of Transport would re-introduce the Electricity Bill next Session, and endeavour to secure its passage into law, and added the Bill is not dropped; and whether the chairman had any, and what, authority from His Majesty's Government for these statements?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The answer is in the affirmative. The statement in question was made on the authority of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Ministry of Transport deducted from the North British Railway Company's claim against the Government for the month of December, 1920, the sum of £430,000 and that, upon the matter being referred to the Railway and Canal Commission, the Commission decided in favour of the company unanimously; and will he explain why the Ministry has refused to acknowledge this award?

I would refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Midlothian and Peebles (Sir D. Maclean) on 8th August, and to the hon. Member for Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 28th July, of which I am sending him copies, as well as to answers given to other hon. Members on previous occasions.

asked the Minister of Transport whether any proposal relating to the restriction of lights on motor vehicles are now before him; and, if so, whether he will ensure before any such proposals are brought into force that Parliament shall have an opportunity of discussing them?

I am informed that the draft of the 3rd Interim Report of the Departmental Committee on Lights on Vehicles is now in its final form. I understand that the adoption of any of the proposals for dealing with the matter would require legislation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether Mr. Albert Stewart, of 27, Robertson Street, Greenock, has been unable to obtain any gratuity in respect of his War service; and whether, in view of the fact that he was officially appointed by the Admiralty to a position for the duration of the War and signed an agreement therefor, he will take immediate steps to grant the usual gratuity?

I presume my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to Mr. Albert McGregor Stewart, who claimed to have served under the Admiralty in the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliaries "Aspen-leaf" and "Plumleaf" between the 15th June, 1916, and the 19th October, 1918. These vessels were employed under Board of Trade Articles, the officers and crew being regarded as civilians. The Naval War Gratuity is payable only to officers and men entered for general Naval service, and to Mercantile officers employed under the Admiralty in vessels commissioned for Naval service under a Naval agreement. As Mr. Stewart was not employed under either of these conditions, there is no authority under which a Naval War Gratuity can be paid to him.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any information, official or otherwise, has been received by His Majesty's Government as to the actual condition of the starving population in Russia; and how many can be roughly estimated to be affected in the various famine areas?

A report dated 11th August has been received from the British official agent in Moscow, giving information obtained from members of the Russian Famine Relief Committee and others, which confirms the extent and gravity of the famine in Russia. The population affected is reported to be constantly increasing and it is now estimated that relief is required for 35,000,000 people. Large masses of famine-stricken inhabitants are moving in different directions to escape starvation. Those who were evacuated from Poland during the War and settled later in the Volga region now see their only hope in returning to the former country; the direction taken by the remainder is mostly towards Turkestan and Siberia. The former cannot be accepted by Poland as the districts from which they were evacuated are still unfit for habitation; the latter must cross the Steppes where no food or shelter is available. Only some 20 per cent. of these migratory bands are reported to be able-bodied and nearly one-third of them consist of children, who are in a pitiable condition without food or clothing.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, following our acceptance of the offer of France in connection with the mutual abolition of the visa, His Majesty's Government have now had time to consider the suggestion and are prepared to make an offer to the Government of Italy for the mutual abolition of the visa between her nationals and those of Great Britain?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question on 10th August, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in any respect, the Licensing Bill gives the police greater or different powers from those they have exercised during the past 10 years; and, if so, in what respect and for what reasons?

In so far as the Bill alters the law which has been in force during the War in areas under the Central Control Board's Orders, or before the War under general Statute, it may be said that the powers and duties of the police are modified accordingly; but, speaking generally, the Bill does not confer on the police any greater or new powers.

asked the Home Secretary if there is considerable unrest and dissatisfaction existing among the workpeople engaged in the galvanising sheet trade in consequence of the Welfare Order that has been sanctioned for some considerable time and not yet put into force in this trade; if, as the period for a voluntary application of the Order has not brought about any good result, he will now take the necessary steps to enforce the Order; and, if the time is not now opportune for the carrying out of the Order for the erection of buildings, will he enforce that part of the Order which applies to the provision of clogs and protective overalls for the workpeople engaged in this industry?

As the hon. Member is aware, this Order, which is still only in draft, has been objected to by some of the employers affected, and the Home Office reluctantly came to the conclusion that, in view of the severe depression of trade in the industries concerned, it would be best to suspend further action in the matter until the situation had improved. The position will again be reviewed in the light of the conditions now obtaining in these industries, and, if circumstances permit, steps will be taken to bring the Order into operation without further delay. If, however, it should be found still inopportune to proceed with the Order as a whole, the adoption of the suggestion contained in last part of the question will be carefully considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, considering that Income Tax deducted at the source in respect of incomes of persons of small means is legally returned for a year from 5th April to 5th April, and in most cases for five or six months more, he can see his way to expedite the repayment of such overpaid tax to the persons entitled and so put an end to the great hardship suffered by numerous persons of straitened circumstances?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 9th instant to the hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. A. M. Samuel). I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can expedite the settlement of Excess Profits Duty returns to traders, as the want of money so due is crippling many traders in wool and also spinners and manufacturers, and in consequence is aggravating unemployment in the textile trade?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 24th May last to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Remer). I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of that reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the basis on which the index figure of the cost of living is arrived at; what particular articles are included in the calculation; and at what period of the month are prices taken?

I have been asked to reply. I am sending my hon. Friend a reprint of a statement which was published in the "Labour Gazette" for February last, giving full account of the scope and method of compilation of the statistics relating to the cost of living, which are prepared in the Ministry of Labour. From this statement my hon. Friend will see what articles are included in the calculation. The information as to prices ordinarily relates to the first day of each month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Dyestuffs Development Committee has now been appointed; whether any appointment has been made from the associations of chemists representing the technologists; and, if not, whether facilities may be given to the British Association of Chemists to put forward a representative for the Dyestuffs Development Commission on behalf of the chemists engaged in the dyestuffs making and using industries?

The appointment and membership of the Dyestuffs Development Committee was announced in the "Board of Trade Journal" of the 17th July. The President of the Board of Trade has not seen his way to make any appointments from individual technological associations, but the Committee includes two distinguished representatives of chemical science who have special knowledge of the conditions of the dyestuffs industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that under the Registration of Business Names Act, 1916, a business has been registered entitled the British Gotrian Steinweg Company; that that title only covers an agency for German pianos; and that, in the legal sense of the word, a company does not exist; if he appreciates the grave injury that may be done to British trade by the association of the word British with this and similar agencies for German goods; and if he is prepared to take steps to prevent the misuse of the word, either in companies founded under the Companies Consolidation Act, or in businesses which have to be registered under the Business Names Act, 1916?

The answer to the first part of this question is in the affirmative and to the second in the negative. On the information before the Board of Trade the business is that of a piano merchant, and belongs to a British subject. While the Registrar is bound to refuse to register a business name containing the word "British," if he is satisfied that the nationality of the owners of the business is such that the name is misleading, he has no jurisdiction to refuse in the case of a business owned by a British subject. I am not at present satisfied that an extension of the law would be advisable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the quantity and approximate value of American, Canadian, Danish, and Dutch bacon now in this country under Government control; whether his attention has been called to the very high prices being asked by dealers for this essential food; and whether it is proposed to take any steps to break these exorbitant prices by decontrolling and releasing stocks?

The only bacon now held by the Government is a limited quantity of American bacon, the amount of which is not such as can affect the market price. Bacon has been entirely de-controlled since March, and the sales of Government stocks have been limited only by trade demand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the great delay in the importation of books from Germany, presumably caused by the procedure instituted under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act; and whether, in view of the insignificant amount of money involved, he will consider the exemption of literature, at least of a scholarly, antiquarian, or scientific nature, from the provisions of the Act?

I am aware of the difficulties which were experienced when the Act first came into operation, but if my lion. Friend has any recent case of difficulty in his mind, and will furnish me with particulars, I will refer the matter to the Customs authorities for examination. The question of exempting books from the operation of the Act has been carefully considered, but I do not think it is possible to make a special exemption. I may add, however, that arrangements have been suggested by the Customs authorities to the librarians of certain universities, which, if adopted, would enable university libraries and similar institutions which import direct to obtain, with the minimum of delay, the German publications which they may import.

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) what is the total amount paid to the Miners' Welfare Fund, under Section 20 of the Mining Industry Act, 1920; and the amounts allocated to each district as defined by the Act:

(2) the amount allocated to Durham from the Miners' Welfare Fund, under Section 20 of the Mining Industry Act, 1920?

I have been asked to reply. The amount now standing to the credit of the Miners' Welfare Fund is £372,358, including interest upon investments. The following statutory allocations have so far been made:

These allocations will be increased as outstanding contributions enure to the Fund.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the Burnham Report on scales of salaries for teachers in secondary schools is being interpreted to the disadvantage of graduates from modern universities, in that educational authorities and school governors are recognising second-class degrees of Oxford and Cambridge and, in some instances, of London University for the purposes of the higher scale, and are refusing recognition of similar degrees of other universities; that this recognition is often irrespective of the work being done in the schools by teachers who are graduates of the respective universities, and that such interpretation of honours degrees is practically universal in independent schools where teachers have no right of appeal to the Burnham Reference Committee; and can he take any action in this matter?

The Report provides that a second-class honours degree shall not be recognised as a good honours degree unless the circumstances appear to merit such recognition. Under the Report the discrimination involved rests with the local education authority or, on appeal, with the Burnham Reference Committee. Local education authorities will have to satisfy me that they do not, financially speaking, make an extravagant use of their discretion. Beyond that, I do rot think that I could properly control its exercise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the local opposition aroused against the spending of £1,000,000 on the proposed Mabo-Trin-comalee Railway in Ceylon; and whether, in view of the need for economy in every possible direction, this scheme, locally opposed and condemned, will now be reconsidered?

The Maho-Trinco-malee-Batticaloa Railway extension was approved as a measure of urgent necessity in view of the importance of opening up large food-producing areas in the colony. I have received information of opposition to the scheme on the part of certain interests which do not expect to be directly benefited by it, but I understand that the scheme had the unanimous approval of the Ceylonese members of the Legislative Council when it was laid before them: I am satisfied that, in the circumstances adequate opportunity was given to local interests to express their views on the proposal, and I see no reason for reconsidering the matter at the present stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, under the recommendations of the Buxton Committee, providing minerals are at any time discovered in the lands reserved for the natives of Southern Rhodesia, the proposed committee of three will be entitled to claim the right to work such minerals, involving a further alienation of lands from the natives; whether these native reserves are also conditionally alienable for roads, railways, townships, and other purposes; and whether he proposes to take any steps to make the title to these native reserves more absolute?

The mineral rights in the reserves are the property of the British South Africa Company. Further the proposed land board was only intended by the Committee to deal with land available for sale, which is not the case with land in the reserves. The answer to the first part of the question, therefore, is in the negative. As regards the other parts of the question, the land comprised within the reserves has been formally and definitely vested in the High Commissioner for the use and occupation of the natives, by the Order in Council of the 9th November, 1920, published in Cmd. 1042. Apart from certain minor adjustments referred to in Section 3 of the Order, the Order prohibits the High Commissioner from alienating any land comprised within the reserves except for the purposes authorised by Section 2, namely, for the purpose of mineral development for railways and other public works and as sites for townships required for the development of important mineral discoveries. I would, however, emphasise that in all such cases other land must be assigned to the natives in exchange for the land alienated. The provisions of the Order, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, amply safeguard the native interests.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has now had an opportunity of considering the case of Edward Johnson, of Pound Street, Carshalton, the details of which were placed before him on the 23rd July; what compensation will be awarded this young man, having regard to the fact that in consequence of his being accepted for the Royal Irish Constabulary he gave up his permanent post with an industrial firm, and, subsequently, on applying to be attested, was told that he was no longer required for the Royal Irish Constabulary; and whether, in default of such compensation, he will see that this man is secured other suitable employment forthwith?

This case has been inquired into, and I have arranged for compensation to be made. I may say that inasmuch as this man had not been finally accepted for the police, he has no claim, and the compensation to which I refer is being paid as an act of grace.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether a definite agreement has been arrived at with Belgium with reference to the shipment of worn-out horses; and whether, before the House rises, he can assure it that old horses intended for food abroad shall be slaughtered on this side of the Channel?

As I have already stated, in replies to questions put on the 2nd instant by my hon. and learned Friends the Members for York (Sir J. Butcher and for Upton (Sir E. Wild), and on the 10th instant by my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Mr. Hood), I have recently had under careful con- sideration the means which can be adopted to encourage the conversion of the traffic in live horses which are exported for slaughter on the Continent into a trade in dead meat. I am informed that no objection is likely to be raised in Belgium to the importation of horse meat which has been inspected before shipment by veterinary officers nominated by the Ministry, and I have therefore intimated to the Belgian Government that the Ministry is prepared to appoint veterinary inspectors for the purpose of any of its laws governing the importation of meat. My hon. Friend will realise that it is impracticable to make a definite agreement which would have the effect of preventing the slaughter in Belgium of any horse exported from this country, but I am taking very thorough measures to ensure that the standard of fitness which is required of horses intended for export is such that the decrepit horse is now entirely eliminated.