asked the Home Secretary whether it is still necessary for aliens who remain in this country for more than two months to secure identification cards; whether notification of this Regulation is made clear to them, and is generally observed; and what punishment, if any, is visited upon delinquents?

Assuming that by "identification cards" the hon. Member means certificates of registration with the police, the answer to the first two parts to the question is in the affirmative. The penalty for non-compliance with the law is a fine not exceeding £100, or imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a term not exceeding six months. The Court may also, if it think fit, recommend that the off ender be deported.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the unemployment in this country, and also of the increasing exodus from Russia owing to the famine, he is exercising the greatest care in restricting destitute alien immigration; and whether he has suggested to the Foreign Office the desirability of advising our consuls abroad to issue most sparingly passport visas to this class?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; and refusal of visas in accordance with instructions agreed between the Foreign Office and my Department is one of the means adopted for the purpose.

asked the Home Secretary whether, under the Licensing Bill, the local justices will have the power to fix hours other than those which may be unanimously desired by the trade; and whether he proposes to issue any general instructions to the benches of licensing magistrates as to the way in which they should treat applications for the fixing of hours generally in their districts?

If the hours unanimously desired by the trade be not those best adapted in the opinion of the licensing justices to the needs of the district, the justices in exercising the powers vested in them by the Bill, will not be bound to adopt them. In answer to the last paragraph of the question, I can add nothing to the answer which I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member last Thursday.

asked the Home Secretary whether a letter was written on 17th January, 1921, by Sir Edward Troup to the late Sir George Savage, with reference to the case of L. S. C, who has been since about May, 1920, an inmate of Broadmoor Asylum, stating that if the patient's friends found a suitable registered hospital willing to receive him under the Criminal Lunacy Act and could make arrangements for his maintenance the Home Office and Dr. Sullivan would do what was necessary to authorise his transfer; and, in view of the promise herein made, whether there is anything to prevent the aforesaid arrangements being made at once?

I am prepared to authorise this gentleman's discharge from Broadmoor as soon as his friends have made arrangements for him to be placed under proper care in some other institution.

asked the Home Secretary whether the Central Control Board is closing down the old-established Maryport Brewery; what is the reason for this step; and, seeing that this policy of closing down accentuates unemployment, how many breweries and public houses the Control Board has closed during the last six months?

On the completion of certain necessary alterations now in progress at the Board's brewery at Carlisle, it will be possible to close the brewery at Maryport, and to use the premises as a bottling and distribution centre—a step which, although it may involve a reduction in the number of employes, is desirable on grounds of efficiency and economy. No breweries or public-houses have been closed by the Board in the last six months.

asked the Minister of Health the total number of men engaged on the building of houses under the various schemes sanctioned by his Department in England and Wales?

The total number of men engaged on housing schemes of local authorities and public utility societies in England and Wales was on the 1st August 148,026, comprising 79,619 skilled, and 68,407 unskilled men. I have no information as to the number of men employed on houses being erected by private builders under the subsidy scheme.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether the arbitrator awarded the sum of £736 as the purchase price of TOOO acres compulsorily acquired at Farnborough by the Bromley Rural District Council for the purposes of a housing scheme; and what was the rateable value of that land previous to acquisition or, if it formed part of a larger subject, the amount by which the rateable value of that subject has been reduced owing to severance;

(2) whether the arbitrator awarded the sum of £4,880 as the purchase price of 30'5 acres compulsorily acquired at Firwood by the Bolton County Borough for the purposes of a housing scheme; and what was the rateable value of that land previous to acquisition or, if it formed part of a larger subject, the amount by which the rateable value of that subject has been reduced owing to severance;

(3) whether the arbitrator awarded the sum of £13,100 as the purchase price of 28'620 acres compulsorily acquired at Orrell No. 2 by the Bootle County Borough for the purposes of a housing scheme; and what was the rateable value of that land previous to acquisition, or if it formed part of a larger subject, the amount by which the rateable value of that subject has been reduced owing to severance?

The facts as stated in the first part of each of the hon. Member's questions are correct. As regards the last part, I am obtaining the information asked for and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether the arbitrator awarded the sum of £9,292 as the purchase price of 65–212 acres compulsorily acquired at Lowfield Street by the Dart-ford Urban District Council for the purposes of a housing scheme; what was the rateable value of that land previous to acquisition, or, if it formed part of a larger subject, the amount by which the rateable value of that subject has been reduced owing to severance;

(2) whether the arbitrator awarded the sum of £1,200 as the purchase price of 4 acres compulsorily acquired at Chorleywood Bottom by the Chorleywood Urban District Council for the purposes of a housing scheme; and what was the rateable value of that land previous to acquisition, or, if it formed part of a larger subject, the amount by which the rateable value of that subject has been reduced owing to severance?

:The facts as stated in the first part of each question are correct. I am informed that the rateable value of the land at Lowfield Street, Dartford, previous to its acquisition by the local authority for housing purposes, was £86. In the case of the site at Chorleywood, this land formed part of a larger area the rateable value of which was £15 per annum. This rateable value has not so far been reduced owing to severance.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a petition from the inhabitants of Weston Favell, Northampton, requesting the abolition of the temporary system of sewage disposal, which at present is to a large extent responsible for much ill-health, and the replacing it by an up-to-date permanent system; what his Department is prepared to do; and, seeing that unemployment is great in that area, he will expedite a decision in the interests of good health and as a means of finding work for some of the unemployed?

local inquiry was held yesterday into an application for sanction to a loan for the sewerage of this place. I will see that decision in the case is expedited.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will amend the circular he has recently issued warning mothers of the danger of the contamination of food by dirt and dust so as to indicate how this may be done in the thousands of cases where there is only one room available for living, sleeping, and all domestic purposes?

The circular referred to is addressed to local authorities, and suggests, among other things, that their medical officers, health visitors, and nurses should during the hot weather draw the attention of mothers of young children to the methods of preserving and storing milk and other food and protecting it from flies. I realise the difficulties of protecting food effectively in overcrowded dwellings, but I hope that the advice given by the officers mentioned may help to secure this in many cases.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government intend to bring in a Bill for an amendment of the Union Assessment Committee Acts with a view to securing that before any objector, who has complied with all the conditions precedent which he has to perform, is permitted to appeal to quarter sessions or special sessions on the ground that he has failed to obtain relief from an assessment committee he should, on the request of such committee, be compelled to furnish evidence in support of his objection on oath; and if he will take action in the matter?

The hon. Member's suggestion shall be consideredin connection with any proposals for amending the law of valuation.

asked (1) the Minister of Health what is the total number of approved societies in England and Wales administering National Health Insurance; whether the valuation of all these societies is now complete; if so, what are the numbers of societies disclosing a surplus and deficiency, respectively; what is the proportion of the total insured population in each group;

(2) the Secretary for Scotland what is the total number of approved societies in Scotland administering National Health Insurance; whether the valuation of all these societies is now complete; if so, what are the numbers of societies disclosing a surplus and deficiency, respectively; and what is the proportion of the total insured population in each group?

As the valuation arrangements of approved societies are supervised by the National Health Insurance Joint Committee, I propose to answer these questions together. There are, approximately, 10,000 approved societies administering National Health Insurance in England and Wales and Scotland. A few valuations of approved societies have still to be completed. As soon as this work is finished, the Government Actuary will put in hand the preparation of a report summarising the results of the whole of the valuations, and this will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the inadequacy of the Board of Control's suggestion of circularising visiting committees re the importance of paying attention to the provisions contained in Section 79 of the Lunacy Act, 1890, he will direct that the said Section shall be posted up in the waiting rooms of asylums to the intent that the friends and relations of patients may have first-hand knowledge of the rights which it is the intention of the Act to secure to them in the matter of pauper patients unnecessarily detained upon the rates in public asylums; and if he will take steps to notify the next-of-kin to every service patient that it rests in his hands, according to Sections 72–74 of the Lunacy Act, to direct the discharge of any service patient who cannot be proved to be dangerous and unfit to be at large?

I am not able to accept the statement that the Circular issued by the Board of Control in regard to Section 79 of the Lunacy Act, 1890, has been ineffective, but I will refer to them the suggestion that the Section should be posted up in the waiting rooms. The Board of Control have already been asked to consider whether anything further should be done to make the effect of Sections 72–74 more widely known.

asked the Minister of Health if he will at the earliest possible date introduce legislation making it compulsory for all individuals who have been in contact with small-pox cases, and who have not been vaccinated within five years, to submit themselves to vaccination?

I cannot undertake to introduce legislation for the purpose suggested.

asked the Minister of Health the number of beds per 1,000 of the population for the treatment of tuberculous patients in 1914 and 1920, respectively?

The number of beds in institutions approved by my Department for the treatment of tuberculosis increased from 8,888 (or '258 bed per 1,000 of the population) in August, 1914, to 16,396 (or 470 bed per 1,000 of the population) in August, 1920.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it has been brought to his notice that the language examinations for junior officers in India have lately been made much more difficult, and that there is a widespread belief that these examinations are being used as a means to get rid of surplus officers without paying them their customary gratuities; and will he suggest to the Government of India that special consideration in the matter of these examinations should be shown to young officers of the Indian Army who were sent on active service directly after leaving Quetta College and have been almost continuously on service ever since, and who, although they have acquired a good colloquial knowledge of the language, have not had the opportunity of working up their books that has been enjoyed by others not employed on active service, with a view of saving officers who served with credit from being forced out of the service against their will?

I was not aware that the examinations have been made more difficult. I am sure that my hon. and gallant Friend will agree with me that there can be no sort of foundation for the rumour which he brings to my notice. I will invite the special attention of the Government of India to his question.

asked the Secretary of State for India how long vaccination has been compulsory in the cities of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras; and how many small-pox cases and deaths, respectively, occurred in each of those cities during the 10 years 1911–20?

The following are the dates on which compulsory vaccination was introduced in the cities in question:—

The following are the figures for deaths so far as they are available. (No statistics of the numbers of cases are available) —

Indian sanitary authorities admit that compulsory vaccination has never been very rigorously carried out. The hon. Member will understand that the zenana system creates difficulties unknown in the West.

asked the Secrtary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the large number of cases of and deaths from small-pox which occurred amongst Europeans and Indian troops in India during the year 1918, as follows: European troops 117 cases with 18 deaths; European officers, women, and children 33 cases with 5 deaths; Indian troops 329 cases with 46 deaths; making a total of 479 cases with 69 deaths; and what explanation the Army medical officers have to offer of the failure of vaccination and re-vaccination to protect these cases?

I have been asked to reply. I have been unable to verify the figures given for European officers, women and children, but have no doubt the hon. Member is correct. The other statistics agree with those in my possession. I have no information to show how many of the cases had been vaccinated. I will call for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the question of the promotion of officers of the Royal Malta Artillery has now been decided; and, if so, what steps have been taken in the matter?

This question is now before the Army Council, and I hope that a decision will be reached very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is any present intention of disbanding further regular cavalry regiments beyond those recently announced?

There is no present intention of disbanding further cavalry regiments beyond those already announced.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of officers at present holding temporary commissions in the Royal Corps of Signals in the United Kingdom and Egypt, respectively?

The number of non-regular officers serving with the Royal Corps of Signals in the United Kingdom is 67 and in Egypt five.

asked the Secretary of State for War, having regard to the importance of wireless telegraphy as applied during the late War by the naval, military, and air forces of the Allies, what steps have been taken to ascertain from our late enemies how this method of communication was employed by them; and, if so, what are the names, rank, and qualifications of the officers appointed by Great Britain who are responsible for this duty?

Detailed information regarding wireless methods and organisation employed by the enemy during the War is in the possession of the General Staff, but I regret it would not be in the public interest to give the particulars asked for in my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether No. 4 Training School, Royal Air Force, was sent out to a disused camp in the desert 12 miles from Ismailia, in June last, at the beginning of the hottest weather, without mattresses, mosquito nets, and other common necessaries; that there is no provision for wives of officers or men, and that the few wives who accompanied their husbands have only tents to live in, and no furniture or equipment of any kind; and what necessity there is for subjecting this unit to war conditions at the present time?

No. 4 Training School is a new unit which, on formation, has occupied the site referred to. This station was provided during the War with buildings for two squadrons, but I am aware that the present accommodation for married quarters is insufficient, and measures are being taken to improve it. As regards the provision of mattresses and other equipment, I have called for a report from Egypt, and will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as it is received.

asked the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been called to an advertisement which appeared in local Press for a school attendance officer for the sub-district of Maldon, Essex, and which contained a clause which stated that applications from ex-service men would receive special consideration; whether several ex-service men applied for the position; whether any of them were accorded an interview by the selection committee; whether in the result an ex-service man was appointed; if not, whether he has examined personally into the reason against the selection of an ex-service man as promised in the advertisement; and whether those reasons are regarded1 by 'him as satisfactory to his Department?

I have no knowledge of this matter. The appointment of school attendance officers is a matter within the discretion of the local education authority, and I could not undertake to inquire into the grounds on which a local education authority selected, or did not select, a particular candidate for appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there are still in the military hospitals in this country wounded soldiers under regular treatment who wear civilian dress and have no distinguishing marks of identification; and whether, if this be so, such men could be empowered to wear some special badge so that they might be recognised by the public and benefit by the privilege of free or reduced rates of admission to places of interest or entertainment?

Ex-soldiers under treatment in military hospitals wear the ordinary blue hospital clothing with their civilian caps when they are allowed out. As regards ex-soldiers in hospitals under the Ministry of Pensions, I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) the latest figures as to how many ex-soldiers have applied for small holdings in Huntingdonshire; how many have been settled upon the land; what number remain to be settled; how many men still await interview;

(2) how many acres of land have been acquired for small holdings in Huntingdonshire since the peace; and what further amounts will be required to complete the applications received?

The total number of applications received on or before 1st December, 1920, from ex-service men in the county of Huntingdonshire was 1,151. 758 ex-service men have been settled on the land. 127 ex-service applicants have been approved as suitable, and have not yet been provided with holdings; but it is expected that the land already acquired will provide for 45 of these. 72 ex-service men who applied before 1st December, 1920, are still awaiting interview. 6,497 acres have been acquired since 1st January, 1919. As it is probable that some of the approved applicants and those awaiting interview will not persist in their applications, it is not possible to state exactly what additional area of land will have to be acquired by the council.

asked the Minister of Pensions if his attention has been called to the difficulty experienced in cashing cheques received from his Department; is he aware that in certain cases pawnbrokers have charged as much as £l 10s. for cashing a cheque for £60; and will he consider the desirability of adopting some other method of making these payments?

The payment of sums in excess of £20 is effected by Payable Order drawn on the Paymaster-General. The payee is informed that the order must be cashed through a banking account, and that if he does not possess one it can be paid into a Post Office Savings Bank account which can, if necessary, be Opened specially for the purpose. There should thus be no difficulty in the matter, but should any arise in the mind of the pensioner he can always consult his Local Committee.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty whether any decision has yet been made with reference to the retired pay withheld from retired Naval officers who served during the War?

Under the provisions of Order in Council of the 5th March, 1910, retired Naval Officers who were called up for service during the War received the full pay of their rank on the retired list, instead of the retired pay drawn by them on the retired list, plus a bonus of 25 per cent. of such full pay in lieu of counting the additional service towards increase of retired pay. No alteration of this arrangement is contemplated.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty whether it is now intended to close the store at Tower Bridge, established as a War measure, for the supply of certain articles of Naval equipment to men of His Majesty's Fleet; what has been the cost of running this store; and whether it has resulted in a profit or a loss to the Exchequer?

I have been asked to answer this question. As there is no naval store at Tower Bridge, it is not quite clear what promises my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, but I think he is referring to the premises belonging to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, either at Tooley Street or Tower Bridge Road. The former premises are used by the organisation as a permanent central warehouse for canteen stores of all descriptions, and the latter, which were used mainly as offices, have been closed for some time, except for the purpose of the disposal of surplus stocks by auction. All expenses in connection with these buildings are defrayed by the canteen organisation, and public funds are in no way concerned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty, whether the Admiralty have reached any decision as yet arising out of the Report of Captain Battan's Committee on stewards and cooks?

As promulgated to the Fleet in Orders on 15th July last, it has been decided to extend continuous service to the officers' steward and cook branches. Details of the scheme for transfer of men. now serving, to the new conditions, are in course of preparation and will be issued as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty whether, in the case of Coast Guard ratings employed in Ireland who have been awarded compensation, the full amount is paid forthwith on award by the Admiralty, or wrether these ratings have to await the payment of the levy, in cases where this is necessary, upon the rates of the locality?

The payment of compensation awarded in the Civil Courts to Coast Guard ratings in respect of the malicious destruction of their property is being made by Dublin Castle out of moneys withheld from the local authorities under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulations. Substantial advances sufficient to meet the present needs of the claimants have already been made in most cases. The usual compensatory allowance paid by the Admiralty to ratings not provided with quarters has, however, been credited to the men without delay and in the ordinary course whenever they have been dispossessed. These payments are not levied upon the rates of the locality

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty whether he can make a detailed statement of the allocations of all new constructional work for the Navy sanctioned by the House; and whether the Department has taken into consideration the claims of the private yards?

The new minelayer and submarine are to be built in His Majesty's dockyards at Devonport and Chatham respectively. All firms capable of building modern capital ships will be invited to tender for the construction of the four to be laid down this financial year. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty whether officers and warrant officers of the Royal Navy are being supplied with articles of clothing, hosiery, and underwear at approximately cost price through the accountant officers of His Majesty's ships and naval establishments; is he aware that this procedure has occasioned serious hardship to tradesmen, who are taxpayers, in dockyard and naval ports, and has been the means of causing unemployment; and whether he will give instructions that the system shall not be extended?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my predecessor's reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Sir R. Hall), on 10th November last. The arrangements mentioned therein are now in operation. The Admiralty are not aware that these facilities have caused hardship and unemployment, as stated in the second part of the question. There is no intention of extending the scheme at present.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of highly-rated necessitous areas; if he is now in a position to state whether the highly-rated areas will receive 50 per cent. of the expenditure on elementary education in excess of a rate of 3s. 4d. in the £ and if he will take action in the matter?

The number of highly-rated areas for the current financial year is estimated at 18. The local education authorities' estimates have been examined, and it is found that with the "prescribed rate'" standing at 48d. (as in the draft Regulations), the claims for additional grant will absorb the whole sum at the disposal of the Board for that purpose. I am sending the hon. Member a copy pf a letter addressed to the local education authorities concerned on the 16th July, to which only a minority of the authorities have yet replied.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the increased facilities provided by the Board of Education, he can form any estimate as to the acquisition of a higher standard of educational efficiency as evidenced by Civil Service examinations or by any other means?

I am informed that the Civil Service Commissioners have found it necessary to adjust their examinations both in scope and character to a continuous improvement in the educational quality of the candidates.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Consul in Iceland is an Icelandic subject; and whether he will consider appointing a British subject to this important post and to arrange for the patrolling of the Icelandic coast by one of His Majesty's ships, in view of the serious and difficult questions which frequently arise in connection with the fishing in territorial waters?

As regards the first two points, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply on the same subject on 18th July to the hon. and gallant Member for Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy), of which I am sending him a copy. As regards the third point, the matter is one which concerns primarily the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Admiralty, but I have no information to show that such arrangements are necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the official review of the Canadian Government of the great trade possibilities in China; and whether the value of such trade to our Dominions as well as to ourselves is fully considered in maintaining the principle of the open door and equal opportunity in all the Chinese markets?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the second part in the affirmative.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now publish the correspondence which has passed between His Majesty's Government and the French Government on the subject of the Safeguarding of Industries Bill?

His Majesty's Government do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by the publication of this correspondence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether an international institute of commerce has been established at the Palais d'Egmont, Brussels, to collect and publish statistics and1 information relating to commercial laws and treaties; whether this institute had its origin in a meeting held before the War in Brussels at which the British Minister to Belgium signified the adherence of his country to the scheme; and whether the United Kingdom has made any, and what, contribution to the institute, which is to be opened by His Majesty the King of the Belgians on 4th October?

By an International Convention signed at Brussels on 31st December, 1913, it was arranged to establish an International Bureau of Commercial Statistics, and a contribution to the expenses of this bureau was undertaken on behalf of His Majesty's Government. The institute to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers had its origin in a meeting of the International Parliamentary Conference at Paris in 1919, and is not the result of any International Convention. His Majesty's Government have not undertaken any obligation to contribute to the expenses of this institute.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the provisions of the Fordney Bill which is now before the United States Parliament, and especially to the effect that it will have in extinguishing the export of high-speed steel from this country by imposing a prohibitive duty of £197 per ton; and whether he is taking any, and what, steps to avert this menace to British trade?

I am aware of the Tariff proposals now before the United States Senate and the views of the manufacturers of high-speed steel have been laid before my Department by representatives of the industry. The Board of Trade are in communication with the Foreign Office on questions affecting British trade arising out of the proposed new American tariff, but I cannot state as yet whether any, and, if so, what representations it may be deemed advisable to make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, upon a British ship visiting Australian ports to load cargo, the following taxes are imposed, namely, a Federal Income Tax of 2s. 8d. in the £ on 10 per cent. of the gross freight loaded, a further State Income Tax on 5 per cent. of the gross freight, as follows £400 at 5d. in the £, £300 at 7d. in the £, £300 at 9d. in the £, and on anything above that at Is. 2d. in the £, and, in addition to the foregoing, a Super-tax of 25 per cent. on the amount recoverable under the State Income Tax, in other words, on a freight of £46,106 8s. 7d. earned by a steamer of a gross tonnage of 4,647, taxes amounting to £745 6s. 5d. are imposed; that Australian federal steamers visiting this country are not subject to taxation; whether any representations have been made to the Australian Government in regard to this matter; and, if not, whether he will make such representations with a view to bringing about a more equitable basis upon which trading may be carried on?

"to consider questions arising in connection with the liability of Dominion and foreign Governments and of such bodies as the League of Nations and the Reparation Commission to United Kingdom taxation in respect of profits, property, or otherwise, whether such liability arises directly or indirectly, and the like liability of representatives, or employés of such Governments, etc., and to report what alterations of long practice are necessary or desirable."

Pending the Report of this Committee and the Government's decisions upon that Report, the question of charging United Kingdom Income Tax in respect of the profits of the business carried on in this country by the Commonwealth line of steamships is necessarily in abeyance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how large is the fund available to make grants to members of the mercantile marine permanently incapacitated as a result of war service in the danger zone; what sum has hitherto been allotted; how many applications have been received and how many refused; and what is the machinery of adjudication?

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the War Risks Compensation Scheme, out of which pensions and allowances are payable in the case of members of the mercantile marine who were killed or injured through war risks, and I will send him such information as is available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has called a conference of employers and workers, as promised, to consider the question of employe és thrown out of work as a result of a dispute, and who in consequence are not now entitled to benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act; and, if so, with what result?

I wrote to the organisation representing employers on 6th July suggesting an early appointment for the preliminary discussion of this matter. I found, however, that it was not possible to arrange an appointment owing to the absence from London of representative employers whose attendance it was desired to obtain. I have not, therefore, been in a position to call a conference up to the present, but my hon. Friend may be assured that I have not overlooked the matter and that the conference will be called as soon as the parties are available.

asked the Minister of Labour if there are vacancies for many thousands of domestic servants, although his Department is paying unemployment benefits to over 50,000 unemployed domestic servants; whether the Employment Exchanges take any steps to put domestic servants on the unemployed lists into communication with the people advertising for servants and with the recognised registry offices; and what other steps, if any, the Exchanges adopt to fill the vacancies?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to previous replies which I have given on this subject. I am well aware that there are vacancies for thousands of domestic servants, but the majority of these are for qualified persons to take up private resident domestic service. My hon. Friend is mistaken in saying that unemployment benefit is being paid to over 50,000 domestic servants. The returns show that 54,000 women are registered for employment in various domestic categories which include charwomen, laundry workers, day servants, etc., of whom only 14,000 are in receipt of unemployment benefit. As I have already explained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Acton (Sir H. Brittain), there is no difficulty in placing qualified and experienced domestics in the large number of vacancies notified to the Employment Exchanges. Every effort is also made to place inexperienced women in this employment if they have been judged capable and available for it by the Local Employment Committees attached to the Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in order to illustrate the relative cost of living in Germany compared to the cost of living in this country by basing his calculations on the figures published by the Board of Trade on 29th July of this year, in which it was shown that the real retail selling price of sugar and milk in the two countries in question were, respectively, sugar, Great Britain, 8¾d. per lb., Germany (controlled), 3½d. per lb., and milk, Great Britain, 8½d. per quart, Germany (controlled), 2½. per quart, he will state how much, approximately, of each of these two essential foodstuffs a German sending 1,000. marks to England would be able to purchase here, at the rate of exchange prevailing when the above-mentioned calculations published on 29th July were made, compared with the quantity of each he could himself buy with the same sum in marks at home in Germany?

In the month to which the Board of Trade figures cited by my hon. Friend are applicable (namely, May, 1921), a German who had sent 1,000 marks to England could have obtained for the £4 1s. 4d., representing the English equivalent of that sum (at the average rate of exchange for that month), either 118 quarts of milk or 122 lbs. of sugar. In Germany, where both articles are scarce and, therefore, rationed, the same German would not have been able to purchase more than his appointed household ration of either of these articles at the controlled price.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the position of the tele- phone post at Burnham-on-Crouch which obstructs the memorial erected by public subscription to the men from that district who have fallen in the War; whether his Department have estimated the cost of removal at £23, and have promised some months ago to effect the removal, and, incidentally, to change the position of the telephone exchange; whether the memorial was completed in its position in view of that promise; whether the Department has now abandoned its intention of moving the telephone exchange; and whether, in view of these circumstances, the Department will now proceed to move the telephone post so as to enable the memorial to stand in all honour and free from a blighting obstruction?

I am making inquiry, and will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Post-master-General when he expects to be able to fulfil the long-standing demands for telephonic communication in the Lazonby and Kirkoswald district of Cumberland?

In order to open call offices at Lazonby and Kirkoswald, it would be necessary to adapt the existing telegraph circuit for telephone working. The cost of this work would be considerable, and a guarantee would be required. When the amount of the guarantee is settled, the terms will be quoted to the applicants.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether during the month of July, 1921, more than 25 per cent. of the telegrams delivered from a sub-office in the South of England cost 1s. or more to deliver; and whether, seeing the important bearing that the cost of delivery has upon the financial situation in the telegraph service, he will cause a general return to be taken and lay the facts before the House?

If the hon. Member will let me know the sub-office to which he refers, I shall be glad to make inquiries. According to a recent calculation, the estimated average cost of delivering a telegram in England and Wales is about 4 ¾., and this cost should be reduced after the 1st proximo, as a consequence of the pending fall in the cost-of-living bonus. Apart from such reduction, new arrangements have recently been introduced at many offices which will, I hope, result in considerable economy, without loss of efficiency.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether it is still proposed to spend the sum of £305,000 this year on the erection of premises at Acton?

The answer is in the affirmative, and it is anticipated that the building, which is already partly occupied, will be completed early next year.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty in what Departments the number of officials at headquarters surplus to the 1914 establishments are employed and their number in each case; and in which Departments it is anticipated that it will be possible to secure reduction before the close of the financial year and, if possible, the extent of the estimated reductions, differentiating, if possible, between men and women and between ex-service men and the remainder in each case?

The following statement gives the pre-War staff of each Department, the staff employed on the 1st August, and the reductions to be effected by 1st November. It is not yet possible to give the respective numbers of ex-service men and non-service men and women who will be affected by these reductions, but the order of priority announced in my reply of the 11th instant to the hon. and gallant Member for East Hertfordshire (Rear-Admiral Sueter) will be followed

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will favourably consider having the audits of the work of his Ministry throughout the country done by outside professional accountants instead of employing one set of officials to audit the work of other officials, and thereby assist in keeping down the number of pensionable officials?

The internal audit work of the Ministry is concerned, not merely with the accuracy of the accounts, but also with the regularity under the Warrants of awards of pensions and allowances, and, in the interests of public finance, I do not consider that such an audit can properly be carried out by officers who are not continuously engaged upon this work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total sum now being paid out monthly in salaries in each of the following offices, respectively, how much in expenses, and how much by way of War bonus; Admiralty, War Office, Home Office, Colonial Office, India Office, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Food, Ministry of Shipping, Board of Trade, Board of Education, Ministry of Labour, Scottish Office, Irish Office, Board of Agriculture, Office of Works, and Post Office; and what the corresponding figure in each case was for 1913–14?

The average monthly payments for salaries, bonus, and expenses in the offices named in the present year and in 1913–14 respectively are appoximately as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the interests of economy, it is proposed in the near future to terminate the services of a large number of non-service temporary clerks who were engaged in Government offices during the War; whether a considerable number of these clerks are of an advanced age, and will consequently experience great difficulty in obtaining fresh employment; whether the Government propose, in the event of their discharge, to award them a gratuity based on Clause 4, Sub-section (c), of the Superannuation Act, 1887 (50 and 51 Vic, c. 67); and, if not, what steps it is proposed to take in order to avoid the distress which will occur amongst this class of official?

The termination of the work upon which they are employed will clearly necessitate the discharge of con- siderable numbers of temporary clerks taken on by Government Departments during the War. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. Appropriate notice of the termination of their services will be given to the individual employés concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any of the temporary officials connected with the Ministry of Munitions have been transferred to any other Department; and what proportion of these have received notices of the termination of their employment?

The number of temporary headquarters staff transferred from the Ministry of Munitions to the Disposal and Liquidation Commission on the 1st April was 1,866. Of this number 310 have since received notice of termination of employment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there has been a dificit on the last year's working of the Public Trustee Office; if so, what the amount was and on what Vote of this House such a loss will be carried; what was the turnover of this Department during the last year; and whether, in view of these large figures, the fees can be rearranged so that no charge for working this Department shall fall on public funds?

As stated in the Public Trustee's Report recently issued there was a deficnt of £114,890 for the year 1920–21. The method under which this figure is arrived at is shown in Schedule I of the Report. To the extent that the items of expenditure in this balance sheet represent actual disbursements and not an estimate of accruing liability, they are provided for under the Vote for the Public Trustee, and the other Votes detailed on the Estimate for that Vote. The actual expenditure out of the Public Trustee's Vote, 1920–21, was more than covered by the receipts under the Public Trustee Act and the Trading with the Enemy Acts. I am not clear as to exactly what my hon. Friend means by turnover in this connection, but the new trusts accepted in 1920–21 had an aggregate value of over £15,000,000, bringing the total trusts under the Department's administration to about £143,000,000. A substantial increase has been made last year in the fees charged, and I think it would be unwise to raise them still further until more experience has been gained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the Memorandum on the work of the Land Valuation of Inland Revenue, published in Command Paper, No. 918, 1920; and what progress has been made with the delegation of valuation work of other Government Departments to the land valuation department of the Inland Revenue, and the numbers of civil servants consequently dispensed with from such land valuation branches in other departments?

The answer to the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second part, His Majesty's Government have accepted the principle of the delegation of the valuation work of other Government Departments to the Inland Revenue, and with certain exceptions such work is being increasingly concentrated in that Department. The extension to all Departments must be a matter of time:

asked the Secretary for Scotland if objection has been taken by several of the larger boroughs in Scotland to the draft regulations framed by the General Nursing Council for Scotland under Section 3 (1) and (2) of the Nurses' Registration (Scotland) Act, 1919; and whether he is prepared to withdraw the draft rules pending further consideration or until the scheme for the future training of nurses and the conditions with which hospitals must comply before receiving approval as teaching centres are published?

My right hon. Friend is aware that objection has been taken to the rules referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend. My right hon. Friend considers it most desirable that the registration of existing nurses in Scotland should not be delayed, and, as the rules have been carefully adjusted with a view to securing reciprocity of registration with other parts of the kingdom, and as they in no way prejudice the rules that may be made for future nurses, he is not prepared to withdraw them.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the statement in Mr. James Scott's Minority Report of the Game and Heather-Burning (Scotland) Committee, on page 23, that one alien formed into a deer forest within recent years about 200,000 acres of land, stretching across Scotland from sea to sea; where this deer forest is, what is it named, when it was formed, and who was the alien that formed it?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The statement appears to have been copied from a passage in the Report for 1916 of the Scottish Land Court descriptive of conditions existing before 1883. The deer forest referred to was formed before that date by an American citizen, who leased a large tract of land for this purpose. I believe that it has long ceased to exist as a single entity.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the total Exchequer grant to universities in Scotland for the years 1890, 1900, 1910, and 1920, respectively?

I have been asked to answer this question. In the financial year 1890–91, the Exchequer grant was £42,000; in 1900–01, £42,000; in 1910–11, £63,000; in 1919–20, £225,500, of which £165,000 was described as recurrent and £60,500 non-recurrent.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the hardship inflicted on a retired member of the Indian Civil Service who originally placed his savings in that country, having them taxed as foreign investments, and who subsequently sold out his stocks and reinvested the money in War Loan, but in spite of this, because he retains an investment in India bringing in £8 a year, has been charged Income Tax upon the average of his foreign income during the three preceding years; whether this is in accordance with the present regulations; and, if so, whether he will consider having them altered in the next Budget?

Inquiry is being made into the case to which I understand my hon. Friend refers, and I will communicate with him as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, owing to the general industrial position, the Inland Revenue Department is willing to give rather more time than is usual to small Income Tax payers to pay the second half of their annual assessments?

I am not in a position to sanction any general postponement of the payment of Income Tax on the grounds suggested by my hon. Friend. The tax to which my hon. Friend refers was due on the 1st July last, and it is the practice of the Board of Inland Revenue to acquiesce in a reasonable postponement of the payment of taxes in individual cases of genuine and proved inability to meet the demands of the revenue at the dates prescribed by law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of delayed collection of foreign coupons, Income Tax is chargeable on the sterling equivalent at the date of the coupons, or on the sterling equivalent at the date of collection?

I am not clear as to the precise circumstances which my hon. Friend has in mind, but I may state that a banker or other person in the United Kingdom collecting on behalf of a person resident here coupons payable abroad, is required to deduct Income Tax from the proceeds of the coupons at the rate of tax in force at the date of collection. If my hon. Friend will give me the facts of any particular case to which he may be referring, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any contracts, for war stores entered into before the-Armistice were cancelled in consequence of the cessation of hostilities; if so, whether he can give an estimate of the saving thereby effected after compensation, if any, had been paid to the contractors; and whether any contracts for such stores had to be placed after the Armistice?

Contracts to the value of approximately £338,000,000 were cancelled as the result of the Armistice, the saving effected being approximately £173,000,000. Since then some few new contracts for war stores have been placed to meet the needs of the service as they arose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state, in tonnage or in value, the quantity of stores, taken over by the Disposal Board since, the Armistice; what proportion of these stores were already manufactured by that date; and whether any were wholly manufactured subsequently?

I am advised that the information called for would necessitate reference to the different Government Departments who still hold in storage a proportion of the stocks notified to the Disposal Board for sale. The manufacture of a small proportion was completed after the Armistice, and in certain other cases it was deemed advisable to take advantage of contract break clauses and obtain delivery of the partly manufactured articles. My hon. Friend will therefore appreciate the difficulty and labour involved in the preparation of a statement such as is called for by his question, and I hope that he will not press the matter. A perusal of Command Papers 850 of 1920 and 1412 of 1921 will explain the general policy and practice of the Disposal Board.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the serious effect of the recent curtailment of the train service on the Heacham to Wells branch of the Great Eastern Railway; and will he see that steps are taken without delay to remedy this and so enable business to be carried on effectively by the inhabitants of this important agricultural district?

The attention of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has not previously been drawn to this matter, but if my hon. Friend has failed to obtain satisfaction from the railway company after representation and will forward the correspondence, my right hon. Friend will "be glad to take such action as is open to him under the altered circumstances of decontrol of railways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the names of the unofficial members of the Legislative Council of Trinidad; and the names and occupations of those of them who were appointed on the nomination of the Governor of Trinidad?

All the unofficial members of the Legislative Council of Trinidad are appointed on the nomination of the Governor. Their names and occupations are:

Sir H. A. Alcazar, K.C., barrister.

William Gemmell Kay, O.B.E., engineer.

Stephen M. Lawrence, M.D., medical practitioner.

Alexander Fraser, engaged in commerce.

Arthur Henry Wight, engaged in commerce.

H. Sydney Fuller, attorney to an oil mining firm.

Albert H. Cipriani, M.B.E., merchant and planter.

Maurice Rostant, planter.

Emmanuel Mzumbo Lazare, solicitor and planter.

The Reverend C. D. Lalla, Minister of Religion.

Sir Norman Lamont, Bart., planter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Ordinance No. 10, 1920, for Trinidad and Tobago gives the governor in executive council power to prohibit the importation of seditious publications; and the names of the publications in respect of which a Proclamation has been made under this ordinance?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The publications in respect of which a Proclamation has been made under the Ordinance are the "Negro World," the "Crusader" and the "Messenger."

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies with reference to Section 57 (2) of the new constitution for Malta, whether the Colonial Department has approved of the Report of Mr. Bruce, the expert on education, as to the impropriety of teaching simultaneously English and Italian to young children in addition to their own Maltese language; whether the teaching of both languages simultaneously was stopped, restarted, and again discontinued for some time and, if so, when this was done; whether the failure of that system of education produced ignorance in Malta; and whether the meaning accepted by the Under Secretary for the Colonies for priority of choice, in Section 57 (2), coincides with the interpretation that students who give priority to English cannot be expected to pass examinations in Italian?

Mr. Bruce's report and the questions arising out of it will be considered by the new Government of Malta and I do not feel called upon to express any opinion with regard to it. In view of the recent constitutional change in Malta by which education, within the provisions of the Letters Patent, will be a matter for the new Maltese Government, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by discussing the past history of education in Malta. As I stated in reply to the right hon. Gentleman on the 3rd August, the Governor will have the power, if such definition is shown to be necessary or in general accord with Maltese wishes, to define by proclamation the meaning of Section 57 (2), but, subject to this, the question whether a student who elects to receive instruction in one language first should be required to learn the other must be left to the discretion of the local Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether, apart from Silesia, there are any other points of interpretation of the Versailles Treaty on which Allied difference of opinion has arisen, or which, owing to potential difference of opinion, still remain unsettled?

I am not aware of any question as yet unsettled about which there is a dispute as to the interpretation of the Versailles Treaty.

asked the Attorney-General how many briefs have been distributed to Members of the present House of Commons by the present Government; and how many Members have been so briefed directly or indirectly?

In the period of two years and eight months to which the question refers, the number of Members of this House, being also members of the Bar, who have been nominated to appear for the Crown in particular cases is, I believe, eleven. I cannot state the precise number of briefs involved, but I know that it is small.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether legal proceedings are now being taken at the instance of the Admiralty, the War Office, the Air Ministry, or other Government Department per Messrs. Holt and Company, bankers, to recover alleged over-payments to officers during their service with the Crown forces; if so, who were responsible for such over-payments; what is the total amount which it is sought to recover; and what is the largest claim against an individual officer?

It is not the practice of Government Departments to take legal proceedings against their officers through their agents. The second and succeeding parts of this question do not therefore arise. My hon. Friend may be referring to cases in which the agents have been surcharged in respect of over-payments to officers. It is possible that the agents have taken independent proceedings to recover from the officers concerned, but, if so, I have no information as to such proceedings.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he can give any information as to the composition of this country's delegation to the Washington Conference; and the probable date of its meeting?

The United States Government has fixed 11th November as the date of meeting. No decision has been arrived at as to the British Delegation.