asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give the most recent information he has with regard to the situation in Eastern Siberia and the maritime province; what Government is in power at Vladivostock and the surrounding country; how much of the country is in the occupation of Japanese troops; and whether these troops are in process of withdrawal?

Apart from the fact that Baron Ungern Sternberg's forces have captured Verknie Udinsk and occupied certain territory in the neighbourhood of Lake Baikal, the situation has not changed materially since the replies which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on June 8th and July 6th. There are Japanese troops at Vladivostock and in the surrounding country, at Nicolaievsk and in Northern Saghalien. The troops are not at present being withdrawn.

Is the hon. Gentleman able to tell me if Baron Sternberg is receiving the support of the Japanese or the Chinese?

I should think that is very improbable, but my hon. and gallant Friend knows that the situation is very obscure, and our information very imperfect.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to the effect that the Anti-saloon League which organised the dry campaign in America is now organising a similar campaign against cigarette smoking?

I have received no official information on this subject.

Is it not the fact that in at least one State of the Union cigarette smoking is absolutely prohibited?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the necessity of cancelling the old commercial limitations in China, which are expressed by the formula of treaty ports, his attention has been called to suggestions made before the Commercial Committee of the House that a 5- or 10-miles trading zone be created along all railways and rivers, in which zone foreigners shall have the legal right to reside and open factories and warehouses under Chinese police supervision and local taxation and without surrender of the principle of extra-territoriality; and whether, in view of the objectionable developments which the application of the zone idea has brought about in the case of the Manchurian railways, he will ensure that the extension of this principle shall be acceptable to China?

No such suggestion has been brought to the notice of the Foreign Office. But in any case the adoption of such a scheme could not be agreed to without the most careful consideration from every point of view, and would obviously require the concurrence of the Chinese Government.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in considering the suggested application of the British unpaid share of the Boxer indemnity towards the promotion of Chinese education on British lines, he will take into consideration British opinion in China, which is unanimously in favour of the step being taken; and whether the Foreign Office has withheld its approval of this proposal or whether the matter is now solely one for the Treasury?

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to organised movements in France and Japan to divert future Boxer indemnity payments to Chinese education, as has long been done by the United States of America; and whether, seeing that Britain cannot lag behind in international generosity, His Majesty's Government will consider the creation of a British-Chinese education fund from future payments from which to create scholarships in England for Chinese men and women alike, besides subsidising from the fund working institutions such as the Peking Government University, which is now educating several thousands of the sons of the official and mercantile classes of the new China?

The whole question has been receiving the most careful attention, but the hon. Members will realise that it is beset with peculiar difficulties at this time of urgent national economy. It is proposed to appoint a Committee to deal with the subject in the near future.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether, in view of the importance of the matter to the Lancashire cotton trade, the Powers, and, if so, what Powers, have agreed to the abolition of the open door in Manchuria; what such abolition exactly means; how the agreement of this country to the said abolition was conveyed to Japan and in what terms; whether the Chinese government has been officially notified of this decision of the Powers;

(2) whether, in view of the importance of the matter to the Lancashire cotton trade and in view of the Japanese report that the Powers have abandoned the principle of the open door in Manchuria, he can state exactly what the boundaries of the territory are in which this abandonment takes effect; and why this moment is chosen by the Powers to make this announcement?

I am unaware to what report the hon. Member refers in his second question. The remaining parts of these two questions do not, therefore, arise.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the efforts which are being made to arrange for the transport of food and clothing to the starving population of Russia, he can inform the House what steps are being taken to ensure that all assistance reaches those for whom it is intended, and by the most rapid method possible?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Prime Minister yesterday to the House, to which I cannot add anything.

asked the. Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can make any statement as to the names chosen for the new battle cruisers; and by whom, and how, the nomenclature of His Majesty's ships is suggested and decided?

No decision has yet been reached as to the names to be given to these ships. Names for the more important of His Majesty's ships are chosen by His Majesty the King on the recommendation of the First Lord of the Admiralty.

Will the hon. Gentleman make public as soon as possible the names chosen for these battleships?

Yes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the increase of pay to naval schoolmasters; whether he is aware that this question was under consideration in November of last year and that since that date increases of pay have been granted to civil servants; and can he give any reason for the delay in the adjustment of the pay of naval schoolmasters?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, inasmuch as officers of the schoolmaster branch of the Royal Navy are still being paid at rates varying from 23 per cent. to 53 per cent. below other naval officers of the same rank and seniority, he is able now to state that the long-promised revised scheme of pay and promotion of officers of this branch will be promulgated in the near future?

I regret that I am still not in a position to make any statement on the subject of the pay and other conditions of service of the schoolmaster branch. The matter, apart from the financial considerations, is a very complicated one, involving comparisons with the rates payable in civil life, which have only recently been standardised, as well as considerations inseparable from the position of these officers as naval officers. Hon. Members, however, may rest assured that the question is being dealt with as quickly as possible.

Is it not the fact that this matter has been under consideration for the last 12 months, and is it not possible to come to some conclusion in that period as to what this pay should be?

As I have said in my answer, the position in civil life has just been standardised. The matter is not standing still; we are pushing ahead with it as rapidly as we can.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that much inconvenience and expense is occasioned to many rating in His Majesty's Navy by sending men returning from foreign service to naval stations other than their home depot, as, for example, sending them to Chatham while their home depot is Devonport; whether this can be avoided; and, if not, whether the extra cost to the men involved can be met by privilege tickets being issued by his Department?

I do not understand how any grievance of the kind stated can arise. It frequently happens that men returning from abroad are landed at other than their own depots by the transport which brings them, but in all such cases they would not be sent on leave from that depot, but would be first sent to their own depot at Government expense.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether engine-room artificers get certificate allowances amounting to 2s. per day; whether on promotion they lose the 2s. per day; what is the reason for the reduction; and will he consider the advisability of continuing the allowances and granting an additional Is. per day on promotion to encourage and reward ability among all officers promoted from the engine-room artificer class?

As the answer is rather long I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the answer:

Certificate allowances are payable to engine-room artificers and chief engine-room artificers as follows—

(1) 1s. a day to engine-room artificers on obtaining the certificate of capability of taking charge of a watch in the engine room of a small ship.

(2) An additional Is. a day to chief engine-room artificers on obtaining the certificate of capability of taking charge of the engines of a small ship, but not to be paid until attainment of the rating of chief engine-room artificer 2.

On promotion to warrant rank, a chief engine-room artificer or engine-room artificer enters the scale of pay laid down for warrant engineers, the allowances referred to above lapsing. The general question of an allowance for warrant engineers and officers promoted therefrom was exhaustively considered last year, in connection with the letter of the 21st May, 1920, from the Dockyard and Naval Parliamentary Committee. The possibility of continuing on promotion the allowance on account of certificates granted to engine-room artificers was one of the alternatives then considered, but in view of the fact that certificate allowances were at one time granted to certain classes of warrant officers, but were abolished as a result of the recommendations of the Hyde-Parker Committee of 1918, the Board of Admiralty considered it out of the question to institute such allowances in the engineering branch. The possibility of introducing a small allowance for engineering duties was also considered as an alternative, but the Admiralty were unable to obtain the necessary authority, and this proposal was finally dropped in favour of the arrangement laid down in Monthly Order 3335/20, under which special rates of pay are granted to warrant officers whose promotion entails or has entailed pecuniary loss. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of this Order. Having regard to this concession, the Admiralty do not consider that they would be justified in the present financial circumstances in pressing the claim for a special allowance in addition. Under the present arrangements, warrant engineers have derived more benefit from the scheme in proportion to their total number than have warrant officers of any other branch.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will inquire whether the messing arrangements at Portsmouth and Devonport barracks are of a satisfactory nature; and whether he will satisfy himself that there is plenty of room for making decent arrangements for messing and bathing?

The messing arrangements at all shore establishments have recently been investigated by a Committee. Steps are being taken to provide separate rooms for messing men at Devonport, but action at the other ports is awaiting experience as to the working of the scheme at Devonport. Improvements in messing and general accommodation for chief petty officers and petty officers have been approved for the barracks at Portsmouth, Devonport, and Chatham. The question of bathing accommodation is also being considered by the same Committee.

asked the Minister of Transport why the secretary and solicitor of the headquarters establishment gets a salary of £3,466, plus £500 disturbance allowance, a total about £1,000 in excess of the salaries of the chief officers of other Government Departments?

The figure given by my hon. Friend is not strictly correct; the exact position is set out in this year's Estimates. The present secretary and solicitor is on loan from the North Eastern Railway Company, and receives his railway salary, together with a disturbance allowance to cover his additional expenditure during his temporary employment in London. The Ministry is shortly losing his valuable services, as he is again taking up his duties with the railway company. His great ability and specialised knowledge have been of very great value to the State. His employment has been an economy, as his post has not been filled by the railway company during his period of service, and the loan of his services avoided an additional appointment.

asked the Minister of Transport why the chief railway inspecting officer gets £1,400 as his salary this year compared with £1,150 last year, in addition to a bonus in both years?

There has been no alteration in the scale of salary of this post since it was settled over 20 years ago. In accordance with the provisions of the; Retired Officers (Civil Employment) Act, 1919, a deduction of £200 per annum pre- viously made in respect of Army retired pay of the present occupant is not now made. The other £50 is accounted for by the grant of an ordinary annual increment, bringing the officer to his maximum salary.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what are the positions occupied at the Admiralty by civil servants whose salaries with bonus amount to £1,500 or more per annum; which of these positions have been created since 1914; and what were the salaries paid in 1914 to officials holding such of these positions as were then in existence?

There are at present 54 such posts, but as a result of the reductions in war bonus which have been announced the number will be reduced to 16 on 1st September, as all salaries which do not at present exceed £1,847 per annum, including bonus, will then fall below £1,500 per annum with bonus. A statement giving in detail the information asked for by the Noble and gallant Member is being circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the detailed statement to be circulated answer the last two points of my question?

Yes.

The following is the statement:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the whole fourth floor of Cecil Chambers has been leased from the Cecil Hotel as offices for a portion of the Admiralty staff; when were these premises acquired; what rent is paid; how long is it contemplated that they will be required; whether space in the Admiralty buildings or annexes is available; and, if so, why it is not utilised?

The fourth floor of Cecil Chambers is held on lease for seven years from 12th August, 1919, at a rent of £2,500 per annum, exclusive of rates and taxes. The floor has been occupied by an Admiralty staff since April of this year. The length of time for which the premises are likely to be required is dependent upon the rate of reduction of Government staffs, but it is unlikely that they will be available for other purposes for a considerable time owing to the necessity for evacuating temporary buildings in the Royal Parks and other open spaces. Space is not available ins the Admiralty buildings or annexes.

Does that mean that we are bound to pay-that rent for seven years for these offices, whether they are required or not, and even if we evacuate them we could not in any way get out of the contract?

If a contract is entered into by the Government it must be adhered to.

May I ask how it was that anyone made a contract for seven years for very expensive offices after the date of the famous Treasury Circular commanding reductions?

The Government are like other people; they have to make the best possible bargain they can.

Has the responsibility been brought home to the official who made the contract—taking the most expensive premises that could possibly be found; and have his services as an arranger of contracts been dispensed with as from the present time?

Would it not be possible to make reductions in the Admiralty staff that would enable the Admiralty to vacate their premises forthwith?

As regards that question, that is not a matter in which I am directly concerned; that is a matter of policy for the Admiralty. In respect to the question of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Scottish Universities (Sir H. Craik), I accept full responsibility for the decision taken by a subordinate. The matter will be very carefully inquired into.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state the amounts of the issues of paper money in Germany, France, Italy, and Great Britain, for purposes other than replacement, since 1st January, 1920?

I will refer my hon. Friend to Table XXII of the Monthly Bulletin of Statistics (Vol. II, No. 6), which is published by His Majesty's Stationery Office.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the great delay in the payment of unemployment benefit to members of the National Union of General Workers in the Wirksworth district of Derbyshire, owing to the refusal or neglect of the officials at the Central Employment Exchange for the district to give sanction for such payment; that Thomas Holloway and Henry Fearn, of Middleton-by-Wirksworth, have been entitled to unemployment pay since 24th March last, and 'have not received a penny; that these cases are typical of a large number of other who regularly register at the Wirksworth Employment Exchange; and that these men and their families are suffering great privations; and whether he will at once take such steps as will ensure these men being paid the money due to them?

No record can be found of any application for unemployment benefit having been made by the two members in question prior to July last. On the 18th of that month their cases were brought to the notice of the manager of the Derby Employment Exchange by the district secretary of their union. Formal claims to benefit were subsequently taken, and authority for payment of the benefit due to the members has now been sent to the district secretary. There has, I am afraid, been a certain amount of delay in dealing with claims to benefit at Wirksworth; mainly due to the abnormal number of current claims and to the additional work temporarily caused by the last Unemployment Insurance Act.

May I take it that of the 97 on the books from this village there are no unemployment arrears?

I hope not. I have taken special steps to see that they are paid.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Employment Exchanges refuse to register applications of mistresses requiring domestic servants unless they undertake to observe such conditions of service as to wages, hours, and other matters as may be prescribed by the officials of the Department; whether a similar practice is followed as regards other grades of employment; and whether, in view of the financial drain on the country's resources, due to the operation of the Unemployment Fund and the abuse of the Fund by persons who regard the Government payment as a permanent source of income, and who are assisted in their efforts to avoid work by the conditions imposed on employers by the officials of the Ministry, he will cause a strict inquiry to be made into the whole question and a Report made to the House thereon?

In no circumstances are the officials of the Ministry of Labour authorised to refuse to register applications of mistresses requiring domestic servants. As regards the use of the phrase "Government Dole," I would point out that Unemployment Benefit is provided by means of a contributory scheme, under which contributions are paid by employers, employed, and the State—the State's share being the addition of one-fourth to the combined contributions of the other parties.

As to the statement that persons making claims upon the Fund are assisted in their efforts to avoid work by the conditions imposed on employers by the officials of the Ministry, I should be very glad indeed if my hon. and gallant Friend or any other responsible person will give me evidence in support of that statement. I can assure him it will be promptly enquired into and dealt with. As against that suggestion I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a list of the number of cases in which claims for benefit have been suspended and referred to the Court of Referees and the Umpire.

Is it not the case that Regulations have been made by the Labour Department that girls under the age of 18 who require service in families as domestic servants are not registered if they are going to be asked to work after 5.30 and if they are to be asked to do work of any description after 9.30?

The Central Advisory Committee for giving assistance to girls under 18 did set out conditions of that sort. My officers have to consider whether the post offered is suitable under the terms of the Insurance Act.

Is it true that many of these girls are not fit to be domestic servants, and that nobody would take them if they were? Is it not just as wrong to refuse the contributory insurance to those girls as it is to refuse it to a bricklayer who, when he cannot get employment at his trade, refuses to go on the land? In this case you do not refuse the bricklayer unemployment benefit. Are you or are you not getting tired of these questions?

asked the Minister of Labour how many training schools in the London area for domestic servants are maintained by his Department and how many servants have been trained up till now; and if he proposes to increase the number of such schools in view of the great demand for domestic servants at the present time?

The Ministry of Labour does not maintain any training schools for domestic servants in the London area. If my hon. Friend is referring to the Homecraft Training Centres set up by the Central Committee, to the cost of which the Ministry of Labour contributes in the proportion of £1 out of every £3 of expenditure, I understand that 10 Homecraft Training Centres have been established in London, and that the number of women and girls passed into the Centres is 850. No information is available at the present time as to the intentions of the Central Committee towards the establishment of further Centres, but, in any event, we cannot make any further contribution beyond our present commitment.

Has there been a single case in the country in which an employer of labour has taken on an extra hand because of the Employment Exchange?

asked the Minister of Labour, whether, in view of the difficulty experienced by his Department in the placing of resident domestic servants, he is prepared, in the interests of economy, to forgo the attempt and to leave the matter to agencies carried on by private enterprise and to the columns of the daily press?

Difficulty is not experienced in placing qualified and experienced resident domestic servants, for whom the demand is greatly in excess of the supply. The majority of the unemployed women available are, however, unskilled and inexperienced, and on this account do not fulfil the requirements of employers, whilst others are precluded by reason of their domestic ties from undertaking resident work. Inasmuch as domestic service offers a possible avenue of employment for unemployed women, I am not prepared to discontinue dealing with this class of work.

Will the right hon. Gentleman do away with regulations regarding girls under 18 in order that these young girls may enter service and be trained as kitchen maids?

That question has been replied to already.

asked the Minister of Labour whether local Employment Exchanges take credit in their returns of placings for vacancies filled by other agencies than themselves?of for posts secured on their own initiative by persons registered with the Exchanges as unemployed?

Employment Exchanges only take credit in their returns for placings which have been effected when a registered applicant has been submitted by an Exchange to an employer and engaged by him for a vacancy notified to the Exchange. Before such a transaction is counted as a placing, the Exchange is required to possess satisfactory evidence (as a rule, a signed statement from the employer) that the applicant has been engaged. Vacancies filled in the manner described in the question are not counted as placings by Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister, of Labour whether he can state the hours at which the Employment Exchanges are open; whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists with reference to the fact that the Employment Exchanges are closed when the men go to work in the morning, they are closed during the meal hour, in the middle of the day, and they are closed when the men leave work in the evening, and the only course for the people to obtain their unemployment books for the unemployment insurance is to lose time in order to arrive during an hour in which the Employment Exchange is open; whether he is aware that the fact of the Employment Exchanges being closed in the early morning means that men have to lose all chance of obtaining work on that day if they have to attend at the Employment Exchange; and whether he can see his way to opening the Exchanges at an earlier hour in the morning, closing them during the afternoon, and again opening them in the evening?

As my hon. and gallant Friend's question requires a detailed reply, I propose, with his permission, to circulate my answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will that reply give us the satisfaction of knowing that the officials of the Employment Exchanges are there to suit the convenience of the public, rather than their own convenience, in view of the fact that soldiers and policemen have to work extraordinary hours?

I think my hon. Friend will find, when he reads the answer, that these points are dealt with

The following is the answer:

The normal hours during which Employment Exchanges are open to the public are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays inclusive, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays. These hours can be, and where necessary are, adjusted to meet special local conditions.

Claimants to Unemployment Insurance Benefit require to furnish evidence of unemployment by signing the Unemployed Register at an Exchange or Branch Office between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 noon, or 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays). These hours have been fixed in order to minimise the possibility of the Unemployed Register being signed by employed persons. Apart from the signing of the register and the payment of benefit, the facilities at Exchanges are available continuously between the hours of opening and closing. The Exchanges are not closed at midday. The late hour for closing on Friday evenings was fixed to meet the require- ments of employed persons who require to visit the Exchanges to receive benefit due to them in respect of periods of unemployment prior to their obtaining work, or to obtain Unemployment Books on becoming insured persons for the first time. Persons requiring the return of Unemployment Books, lodged during a period of unemployment, do not require to attend at the Exchange. By posting to the Exchange the receipts which they hold in the form of a franked postcard, their Unemployment Books are promptly returned by post.

I am always willing to consider proposals made by local employment committees to meet local conditions, but where additional facilities have been tried, the use made of them by the public has rarely justified their continuance.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the average sum granted to ex-service men by the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Department in order to assist them in re-starting in business?

The average sum granted during the last six months is about £60. This does not include the grants for tools, the average sum in that case being about £6. The total number of grants paid, exclusive of tools, is 103,756, at a cost of some £3,120,000 between March, 1919, and 31st July last. It may be of interest to state that as a result of an investigation made into 400 cases taken at random, over 80 per cent. were doing w ell as a result of grants from this Department.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is proposed to wind up the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Department at the end of this year; and, if so, in what way it is proposed to help those ex-service men who are still in hospital and who may require help in order to restart in business when they are discharged from hospital?

The Civil Liabilities Department is no longer a separate Department but a section of the Appointments and Civil Liabilities Department. As a matter of prudent administration there is a steady reduction in the staff corresponding with the diminishing volume of work. But so long as applications are being received and investigated, a small section must be retained to deal with them, and I do not anticipate that this work will be completed till next year. My hon. Friend may, however, be assured that the interests of men detained in hospital and not yet discharged will be specially safeguarded.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the average cost of training an ex-service man under the Government scheme for that purpose.

The average cost of training an ex-service man under the Government scheme of industrial training is £290. This includes maintenance, living away from home, dependants, travelling, lodging allowances to trainees, and provision for the supply of tools to trainees at the end of training.

Has the right hon. Gentleman similar figures to those which he has just supplied as to the success of the training under this scheme?

I am afraid I have not, but I may say that before the industrial depression began these men were doing very well.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the continued delay of the Board of Education in granting to ex-service-teachers annual increments of salary upon the basis that their certificates are ante-dated to the dates on which their qualifications would have been certified but for their War service; whether he is aware of the Government's pledges on this matter to ex-service teachers; and if he will personally see that they are fully kept?

The Prime Minister has asked me to-reply to this question. I am quite alive to the importance of the matter, which is under my immediate consideration. I will make a statement as soon as I possibly can.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is the third time I have put this question, and the third time I have had a similar reply? Can he say definitely whether the pledges will be kept or not?

As this matter involves expenditure, obviously the consent of the Chancellor of the Exchequer must be obtained. I am considering the matter in conjunction with my right hon. Friend (Sir R. Horne).

asked the Minister of Labour whether it has been decided to set up a trade board for women employed in the catering trade; and, if not, when a decision as to this may be expected?

Investigations are still in progress into conditions in this trade, including inquiries into the special cases of alleged bad conditions which have been brought to my attention. I am not yet in a position to come to a final decision, but I shall expedite the consideration of the matter as far as possible.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the position is one of considerable urgency, because many of these women are compelled to work in this trade at no wage at all and they have to depend on tips?

I am having this question investigated in Newcastle, but until I get a reply, I cannot answer this question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also investigate the conditions under which women are compelled to work in many catering establishments in London, and will it not help to expedite matters if he confines his investigations to that?

Has the right hon. Gentleman investigated the conditions in Newcastle?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have sent him the figures, that he has all the figures in his possession already—two volumes of them—and is not that enough to set up a trade board?

I sent an investigator on Monday to Newcastle, and immediately I get his report I will deal with the matter. It is true that my hon. Friend (Mr. Doyle) made his statement last Thursday week in the Debate on the Estimates for the Ministry of Labour, and it is also true that the hon. Member for Plymouth (Viscountess Astor) sent certain statement to me, and that does not make those statements correct. I will examine those statements.

If the facts as regards Newcastle be as stated, surely it is necessary that an investigation should take place with as little delay as possible, and the facts ascertained, in order to see whether what has been described as an appalling state of things be true or not?

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is now prepared to appoint a committee of inquiry into the cost of living index figures; and, if so, how the committee will be composed?

In answer to a similar question by my hon. Friend last week I replied that I would prefer not to make any statement in this matter until I have fully considered the results of the examination of the statistics contained in the Report of the Labour Joint Committee on Cost of Living. It has been found necessary to communicate with the Secretary of that Committee in regard to certain important points arising out of consideration of the Report, and I am awaiting a reply before proceeding further.

As this is the last occasion for several months on which I shall be able to ask questions in this House, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will take care in regard to any Committee that is set up that it is fully representative, not only of labour, but also of consumers and employers, who have as much interest in this question as labour?

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that 260 conscientious objectors have been taken back into the Civil Service, Mr. John S. Archer, late lieutenant Royal Air Force, will be restored to the establishment as a higher grade clerk in the Ministry of Labour, in which be was refused reinstatement in December, 1918, on the ground that he had rejoined His Majesty's Forces without permission; and whether he is aware that Mr. Archer, who had had a long and honourable Army career, both as a pre-War regular and during the recent War, had applied to the head of his department for permission to rejoin on being instructed to report to the Royal Air Force, and only rejoined without permission because he had been unable to obtain any answer to his application?

It is the case that Mr. John S. Archer, late Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, was refused reinstatement as a permanent officer in the Ministry of Labour in the circumstances stated in reply to a question on the 6th June, 1921, by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Moss Side. Careful consideration was given to all the circumstances of Mr. Archer's case, and I regret that it is not possible to vary the previous decision. My information is that, so far from obtaining no answer to his application, Mr. Archer was twice refused permission before rejoining as an equipment officer in the Royal Air Force.

Is it a fact that, of the 260 conscientious objectors referred to in the question as having been reinstated, some have received back pay and bonus, which they earned when serving a sentence in prison? Does not Mr. Archer deserve better treatment, in view of the fact that his offence was due to patriotism, and not to a "cautious conscience"?

I know nothing about the number of conscientious objectors.

Will the right hon. Gentleman find out?

I think the allegation is not true, but I know little about it. I shall be very glad indeed to place in my hon. Friend's hands full particulars as to the case of Mr. Archer, and to consult with him as to whether we can do anything more.

Have any conscientious objectors been re-instated in the Labour Ministry?

Is it not a fact that many public servants, including Army and Navy men, who have from patriotic motives broken regulations, have been re-instated? Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman make an exception in this case?

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's denial, which may have been due to a misunderstanding, may I say it was the Secretary to the Treasury who stated that 260 conscientious objectors had been re-instated?

I am not responsible for other Departments. My reply to my hon. and gallant Friend's question was that I did not know.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that conscientious objectors are given no position whatever under the Government?

asked the Ministry of Labour if his attention has been called to the resolutions numerously passed by meetings of ex-service men protesting against the action of the Government in allowing conscientious objectors to go back to their jobs in the Civil Service, whilst there are over 500,000 ex-service men who cannot obtain employment; and whether any distinction is made as regards the resumption of employment in the Civil Service between conscientious objectors and men who have served in the War?

I have been asked to reply. I am aware that objection has been taken by certain ex-service men's associations to the reinstatement of conscientious objectors in the Civil Service. As, however, I have already explained in reply to a previous question, the only civil servants who have so been reinstated are those who had proved that they had a bonâ fide conscientious objection to military service, and who had complied with all the requirements of the law. The period during which the employment of these conscientious objectors in the Civil Service was interrupted does not count for Civil Service purposes, such as increment and pension, whereas the period of absence of a civil servant with the Forces does so reckon.

Is the House to understand that the considered policy of the Government is to re-instate conscientious objectors in Government employ, while refusing to re-instate ex-service men who from patriotic motives have technically broken the regulations, and have broken them in no other way?

If I may say so, the considered policy of the Government in this matter is not to inflict a penalty upon conscientious objectors in addition to, or otherwise than, that imposed by an Act passed by this House.

In view of the fact that 99 per cent. of opinion in the country and of the Government's own supporters in this House is opposed to conscientious objectors being taken back, will the hon. Gentleman approach the Prime Minister, and ask him to reconsider the whole question.

May I ask whether or not conscience is of any use in the Government service, or is it wished to have people without it?

I will certainly bring the matter to the notice of the Prime Minister, as requested by the hon. and gallant Member for Bury St. Edmunds.

With reference to the hon. Member's reply just now, may I ask if there is any reference in any Act passed by this House which imposes an obligation to penalise men for their patriotism?

Is it a fact that back pay and bonus have been paid to any of these men?

No.

asked the Minister of Health whether the London County Council initiated or associated itself with the action of his Department in placing a veto upon the proposed charters for Leyton and Walthamstow; and in what respects does the Acton scheme differ from those of Leyton and Walthamstow?

I did not receive any communication from the London County Council on the matter. As I have already explained, the decision in the Acton case was arrived at before the proposal to institute an inquiry into the local government of Greater London was considered by the Government.

Is it to be expected that the delightful and peaceful resorts of Leyton and Walthamstow can hope to keep up with so aggressive and virile a centre as Acton?

asked the Minister of Health whether the proposal to institute an inquiry into certain aspects of local government of Greater London arose out of a. deputation of the London County Council to the Prime Minister on the 9th of December last; whether the deputation confined themselves to the question of the co-ordination of local government services in Greater London only, and disclaimed any intention or desire for absorption of neighbouring authorities or interference with their boundaries; and why does his Department seek to extend the reference to the proposed inquiry beyond that sought?

I am not sure whether my hon. Friend means to suggest that the Government were not at liberty to recommend such terms of reference as they themselves considered most appropriate. It would obviously not be practicable to ask the Commission to devise a scheme for co-ordinating local government services and at the same time to exclude from the scope of the inquiry one of the means by which such co-ordination might be effected.

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that the terms of reference to the Royal Commission on the Government of London make no mention of any town plan, he will consider the advisability of authorising forthwith the preparation of such a plan, providing for the future development of London and the surrounding districts, including the lines of main roads and the general allocation of different areas for the purposes for which they are best adapted?

I will consider how far it may be practicable to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the success of a State butcher's shop opened in Sydney at the end of May last which made a profit of £30 in three days and reduced the price of meat by 4d. per lb.; and whether legislation will be required to enable English municipalities to undertake similar enterprise?

I have no information as to the first part of the question. Legislation would be necessary before local authorities in this country could legally exercise the powers referred to.

asked the Minister of health if he will state generally what methods he proposes to adopt with the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund in order to give relief of rating to the borough councils of London; can he state approximately what amount in the £ in relief of rates the London higher rated boroughs may expect under his proposals; and when the same will come into effect?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a Memorandum, which was agreed with representatives of the London Boards of Guardians, showing the precise scheme for the future administration of the Fund. This scheme will apply to expenditure incurred since 30th September, 1920. I am not at present in a position to give approximate figures as to the relief which the scheme will afford to particular places.

asked the Prime Minister what agreement has been arrived at between the Allies in regard to the trial of the alleged German War criminals; and what steps are being taken to secure that none of the untried persons shall escape from Germany?

I have been asked to reply. An Inter-Allied Commission has been appointed to advise upon the matter, both past and future, with a view to common action. The answer to the second part of the question is that no steps of the kind have been found to be practicable.

When will the oft-repeated promise to publish the full report of the proceedings at Leipzig be carried out, and the papers placed in the possession of Members?

I had hoped that these papers would be available to Members to-day. I am disappointed that they are not. I understand that they will be available to-morrow.

Does the answer to the second part of my question mean that when the Commission, or whatever it is, has come to a conclusion as to the remainder of the trials, it is quite possible that we may find that not a single alleged War criminal is in Germany?

No, Sir; it does not mean that.

It must mean that.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Inter-Allied Commission has expelled the German reserve officer, Tessmar, from Treves; whether Tessmar is on the Bulgarian list of war criminals for having directed' the shooting of 120 unarmed civilians in Belgium; and whether, as it has now become clear that the German Government does not intend to carry out its obligations as regards the punishment of war criminals, steps can be taken to apprehend these persons in cases in which their whereabouts are known, with a view to the countries concerned taking their punishment in hand themselves?

I have been asked to reply. I have no information as to whether the officer named has been expelled, as suggested in the question. If it be the fact that this officer is upon the list of war criminals drawn up by the Belgians, any action to be taken in respect of him would have to be taken upon the initiative of the Belgian authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the financial position of the Metropolitan Borough of Poplar owing to the council not making the necessary calls upon the ratepayers for the usual services and, through no fault of their own, the ratepayers will be called upon to make extra efforts to meet the increased demands, and in the present condition of the borough it will inflict great hardship upon the small tradespeople, house owners, and ratepayers generally; if so, what steps does he propose to take at once to put an end to such a state of local government; and, when the calls are made and the money paid that is long overdue, will he so arrange the calls as not to inflict greater hardship upon the people who have never refused to pay whenever the demands have been made upon them?

I regret that I have no power to relieve the ratepayers of Poplar from the consequences of the action which has been, unfortunately, taken by the borough council.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Poplar is not bankrupt and has never refused to pay her rates; and what step does he propose to take to put an end to this iniquitous government which is running the show in Poplar, in order that the borough may not be bankrupt before steps have to be taken from this House? Can I have an answer? The matter is too serious for fooling.

If the hon. Member thinks that I am responsible for the faults of the local authority and of the electors in Poplar, who are responsible for electing their council, I should like him to put that question on the Paper, so that I may go carefully into the question whether I have any powers to deal with the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Poplar has never refused to pay its money? What are we going to do in Poplar if some steps are not taken and these men go to prison? That will not release the ratepayers from their obligation. Who is to collect the money when they have gone? Has the right hon. Gentleman's Department no power at all, or is the whole of local government in London fro be held up to ridicule in the eyes of the world?

Is the right hon. Gentleman taking any steps at all, in view of these unfortunate occurrences at Poplar, to enforce the law and have constitutional local government in Poplar?

The hon. Member assumes that there is some law of which I am not aware giving me power to act in the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bring in a short Act giving full powers to the Ministry of Health?

That is not for me.

asked the Prime Minister why the far-reaching offer to Sinn Fein, including a form of government for Ireland never yet sanctioned by Parliament and the country, was communicated to the Press before being given to the House of Commons, more especially as repeated requests for this information had been made in the House of Commons?

The correspondence was only complete late on Saturday. It was published as a Command Paper and in the Press on Monday morning. This was at once the quickest and most convenient form in which information could be given to Members of the House.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider it a proper precedent that vital changes in the Constitution should be made public in the Press in this way without ever referring the question to Parliament before such a statement was made?

I think there were reasons, which everyone will appreciate, for the earliest possible publication. As I have said, the correspondence was only complete on Saturday. The alternative would have been to keep it secret until the House met on Monday, and then to read it to the House; but I submit to hon. Members that, although that might have borne an air of respect for the House, it really would not have served their convenience, and that no Member could have weighed the import of correspondence of that kind when he had merely heard it read at the Table of the House. Accordingly, we thought it best to publish it in the morning papers, and at the same time to lay it as a Command Paper, which is available in the Vote Office of the House.

Why was it necessary to have any secrecy at all about this offer, in view of the fact that, now that it is published, everyone can see that there was no necessity for secrecy, and why was not this House informed, as we have frequently asked to be?

In this matter the Government have been guided by their conception, on the information available to them, of what would be most conducive to a peaceful settlement. They were advised, and thought they were advised on good grounds, that the publication of the correspondence piecemeal and incomplete would not be conducive to peace, and accordingly they refrained from publishing their original proposal until they had received the reply of Mr. de Valera and had sent to him their answer.

While appreciating the reasons given by the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask him whether he does not think that it is an unfortunate precedent that the policy of this House should be reversed; or, in other words, how are we to be sure that any morning we may not read in the newspapers that a Republic has been given to India, or some complete change of Government to Egypt?

That is a matter of argument.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give an undertaking that no further reductions of the military forces of the Crown will take place in the United Kingdom or India until the House of Commons has given its assent?

It would not be possible for the Government to give the undertaking mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend.

In view of the fact that on several occasions recently reductions have been made in the Forces of the Crown without previously inquiring from Parliament whether Parliament desired that the reductions should be made, has not the time come when, before further reductions take place, we should be consulted, seeing that defence is a question of prime importance to this House?

That question should be put on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether his attention has been drawn to statements made recently at a public meeting in Nairobi that, since the issue of the compulsory labour circulars, numbers of women and girls have been forced to work on the plantations, and that this has led to serious immorality; and what steps does he propose to take in the matter.

I am not aware to what statements the hon. Member refers. Women and children have never been forced by the Government to work on plantations. The limitations under which such labour may be employed are laid down clearly in Labour Circular No. 3; they are only to be encouraged to perform such labour as they can on neighbouring farms and are to ' return to their homes in the evening, unless the husband is employed and living on the plantation.

Will the hon. Gentleman make inquiries, in view of the fact that statements were made at a public meeting in the district that these things were happening, whether that is so, and, if it should be so, will he have an end put to it?

Why is Africa supposed to be an exception to the rule that idleness rather than occupation promotes immorality?

I would rather not discuss the ethical question raised by the hon. Member for East Nottingham (Sir J. D. Rees). With regard to the supplementary question put by the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Raffan), I asked the Governor, it so happens, this morning if he knew of any such statements, and it was on his information that I said I had no information as to them. As I mentioned yesterday, my right hon. Friend is at this moment discussing the whole matter that is raised by this question with the Governor, and hopes soon to be in a position to make a statement on the whole policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a petition from representatives of the 70,000 inhabitants of St. Lucia, irrespective of colour, class, or creed, praying for more representative government and especially for a voice in the expenditure of public money; and what reply he has made to these requests?

The petition has been received, and is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has received representations from a delegate from the colony of Grenada, who is now in London, supported by Resolutions of the Representative Government Association of the island, expressing dissatisfaction with the recent change in the constitution, and especially the limitation of the number of elected members of the legislative council to four in a body of 14 members; and whether he can see his way to increase the number and thus secure a more adequate expression of public opinion?

I received the delegate referred to in the question yesterday morning, and he made representations in regard to the number of the elected members and other matters connected with the proposed change in the constitution of the island of Grenada. The Secretary of State must consult the Governor before he can express any opinion on the points raised.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the principal drawings and documents regarding a War invention by Mr. Heane, of Ash Vale, Surrey, for synchronising gear by which a bullet was timed to pass through the propeller of an aeroplane without damaging the blades, were lost or destroyed by officials at the Air Ministry; that the Sopwith Company received an award of £3,500 for a similar invention, although they did not introduce it till 12 months after Mr. Heane had submitted his idea; and why Mr. Heane's claim was heard in secret and was not brought before the Royal Commission on War Inventions?

I am aware that Mr. Heane has made allegations against the Air Ministry regarding the loss of drawings and documents, but the Department's records do not bear out his assertion that these drawings and documents were ever received. An award has been made to the Sopwith Aviation Company, Ltd., in connection with their invention. Mr. Heane's claim for an award in respect of his alleged invention was rejected by the Department on the ground that his submissions of the idea of a synchronising gear was subsequent to the development and use of synchronising gears by the Air Services, and that his proposals had not contributed in any way to their further development. He appealed to the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors and the claim on examination by the Investigating Committee of the Commission was found not suitable for hearing by the Commission as a whole, and was rejected.

Is not the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the Department has already admitted that the documents in question were either lost or unintentionally destroyed, and does he think it is in accord with public policy that this man' should rest under a sense of grievance, and will he see the man if he comes to see him personally?

Yes, certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has had brought to his notice a pamphlet by Albert Close, dated 24th January, 1921, entitled "A Canadian's Appeal"; and whether a reply has been made to the charges against the Government and the Royal Commission on War Inventions contained therein?

The pamphlet referred to is in the possession of the Department of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to which Mr. Close has submitted his complaints. Replies have been sent dealing with the cases of Messrs. Close and Heane, and skippers Stewart, Souter, and McKenzie.

Have any representations been received from the Prime Minister of Canada on this point, and has anything taken place to prevent the publication of this document, either in Canada or in England?

Will the hon. Gentleman look into the question again?

As to the first question, I am afraid I could not say without notice whether any communications have been received from the source referred to. As to the second two cases mentioned, they have never been submitted to the Royal Commission. As regards the case of Close, it has come before the full Commission and been dismissed. The other cases already referred to in a previous question were heard by the Secretary and Chairman of the Commission, who decided that they had no reasonable prospect of success.

If I give the hon. Gentleman details with regard to these statements, will he look into them at the earliest moment?

Certainly.

Is there any appeal to any other authority from the decision of the Royal Commission on War Inventions?

No; there is no appeal, I believe.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the coroner's verdict at the inquest held upon the late H. G. Hawker, which attributed the cause of the accident to the physical disability of the deceased and of the long history of tubercular caries of the spine disclosed by the postmortem examination, he can state if these physical defects were ascertained at the medical examination at the Air Ministry which took place on the 31st December, 1920; and, if not, will he state what further precautions are being taken to prevent the issue of class B pilots' licences to persons suffering from physical defects likely to be prejudicial to the safety of air navigation?

The fact that Mr. Hawker had had tuberculosis was known at the Air Ministry, but at the examination in December, 1920, in the opinion of the medical officer his state of health warranted the renewal of the licence. This licence expired at the end of June, 1921, and at the time of his death Mr. Hawker was flying without a licence. In all cases, both for the original grant of a "B" licence and for its renewal, a most careful medical examination is carried out, and it is unlikely that a person suffering from physical defects likely to interfere with his qualifications as a pilot would successfully pass this examination.

Do I understand that it would have been impossible for Mr. Hawker to take up a passenger?