asked the Secretary of State for India if he has now received and considered the opinion of the Government of India on certain points regarding proportionate pensions for those members of the civil services of India to whom service under the reform scheme is not congenial but who cannot apply for permission to retire till they know the conditions of retirement that will be open to them; and, if so, can he state what decision he has arrived at?

:I have not yet received the reply of the Government of India on certain points of detail, but hope that it may be possible shortly to publish the definite terms.

asked the Secretary of State for India which of the pre-War infantry battalions of the Indian Army have been earmarked for disbandment; whether these disbanded battalions are to be replaced by fresh battalions, and, if so, how they are to be constituted; and, if these disbanded battalions are not to be replaced, whether this reduction will reduce the number of battalions below the 132 which he assured the House were to be maintained?

:Under the latest proposals of the Government of India, the following eight pre-War battalions will be disbanded:—

44fh Merwara Infantry.

80th Carnatic Infantry.

3rd Brahmans.

5th Light Infantry.

42nd Deoli Regiment.

43rd Erinpura Regiment.

63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry.

88th Carnatic Infantry.

These will be replaced by eight battalions, namely, four battalions of Burma Rifles (composed of Burmans, Karens, Shans, Kachins, and Chins), two battalions of Kumaonis, an additional battalion of Carhwalis, and a battalion composed half of Christians and half of Mahars. At the risk of disappointing the hon. and gallant Member, I have to assure him that these proposals involve no breach of my undertaking.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has yet received full reports as to the situation on the North-West Frontier and the causes and the results of the recent fighting there?

:Owing to the attitude of the Waziristan tribes towards us during the Afghan War, and the repeated raids which they carried out against the peaceful inhabitants of our frontier districts, in 1919 punitive operations were undertaken in Waziristan. These operations, after some severe fighting, led to the occupation of the country by our forces and the nominal submission of the tribes to the terms imposed upon them by us; but it could scarcely be expected that independent and warlike tribesmen, occupying a mountainous district roughly half the size of Switzerland, would be subdued and become peaceful cultivators and traders within a short space of time. In such a country it is to be expected that for some time certain sections will prove recalcitrant, refusing to comply with our terms and maintaining hostilities against us, in the hope of tiring us out and inducing us to withdraw before the terms of submission have been fully complied with. Their intimate knowledge of the intricate country in which they live, and through which our long lines of communication pass, favour such activities on their part. Moreover, there are various influences, such as the activities of Afghan adventurers, at work, instigating hostility and resistance; and the tribesmen, as a whole, cannot but be influenced by their anticipations regarding the outcome of the negotiations of our mission now in Kabul.

But in considering the pacification of Waziristan, the problem may conveniently be dealt with under three tribal headings—the Tochi Waziris, the Mahsuds, and the Wana Waziris; remembering that of these the Mahsuds are the most turbulent, and that, therefore, their attitude influences largely the demeanour of the tribesmen as a whole.

As soon as the expedition sent against them in 1919 had reached Datta Khel the Tochi Waziris tendered their submission. The terms imposed upon them were complied with in part, but on the withdrawal of our force from Datta Khel these tribesmen failed to complete the payment of the fines levied upon them or to hand in the balance of the rifles demanded. Their action may be attributed to their desire to await the result of the Kabul negotiations, and it is to be expected that raids by the Tochi Waziris will continue until Datta Khel is re-occupied by us, a proposal which is now being considered.

As the result of our past operations in 1919–1920, all the Mahsuds have submitted to our terms except three sections of the tribe. These sections amount to between 2,000–3,000 fighting men out of a total Mahsud strength of 20,000, and, as they live in the more remote valleys, and have not yet received adequate punishment, they continue their raids and attacks upon convoys, though the fact that we have a brigade in the heart of the Mahsud country within shelling distance of Makin, their most important village, has already had the effect of bringing about an almost entire cessation of raids by Mahsuds in the Zhob and Dera Ismail Khan districts, which in the past were the cause of so much loss to the peaceful inhabitants of those areas.

Attacks by these recalcitrant sections upon our posts have almost invariably been unsuccessful, and their efforts are now chiefly confined to attempts against convoys, which offer greater prospect of success. A convoy moving through a mountainous country with its long line of animal transports is vulnerable and not easy to protect; but it is hoped that this difficulty will be greatly decreased when the road now being built to Ladha is complete, enabling mechanical transport to replace the long convoys of animals.

The Abdullais, the most truculent of these three recalcitrant sections of the Mahsuds, have, since our brigade near Makin shelled that place, sent in to ask for a truce, and there are indications that they too are awaiting events in the hope that something to their benefit may result from the Kabul negotiations. Both the Tochi and Wana Waziris fear the Mahsuds, and, in addition to awaiting the outcome of events at Kabul, are reluctant to make any definite move until they see what our policy towards the Mahsuds is to be.

These tribesmen submitted to our terms without a punitive expedition being necessary, but owing to the intrigues of Afghan adventurers and recalcitrants amongst their own folk the peace party was over-ruled and operations against them had to be undertaken in December, 1920.

The fines then imposed upon them have been paid up in full, but many rifles yet remain to be handed in, and it is clear that they too are watching events at Kabul. At the same time it should be noted that their country was taken over by us at their own request in 1894 and the bulk of the tribe would be greatly averse to our withdrawal, and consequently they showed little activity against us.

In brief it may be stated that our present disposition in Waziristan gives us a good hold upon the country in general and that as communications improve that hold will become more firm, until in time the recalcitrant minority will see that their guerilla tactics are of no avail, the majority who are peacefully inclined will find employment in increasing numbers as Khassadars and Escorts and on road making, and eventually, it is hoped, the district will become peaceful and prosperous. In no circumstances could such a result be expected immediately after our punitive operations and under existing conditions the eventual pacification of the country has undoubtedly been delayed by the uncertainty of our position vis-à-vis Afghanistan and by the activities of Afghan adventurers.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to a declaration made by Ghandi to the effect that he can clearly see the time coming when he must refuse obedience to every single state-made law, even though there may be certainty of bloodshed; whether this statement is equivalent to a declaration of open rebellion; whether the same individual is directly or indirectly responsible for most of the revolutionary disturbances which have taken place in India during the last few years; and, if so, what action he now proposes to take?

:I have seen the Press extracts to which the question refers. I would call the noble Lord's attention to the answer I gave him on the 6th April and the 12th July, and also to my answers to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gwynne), on the 17th and 24th November last with regard to the last part of the question. I will send the noble Lord copies of these replies.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can now state how many British officers of each rank of the Indian Army it is estimated will have to be discharged as surplus to requirements owing to the proposed reductions; and what provision is to be made for these officers to enable them to start life afresh?

:I am afraid not. The Government of India have only just received a telegraphic summary of the recently published terms to be given to surplus British Service Cavalry officers. They will no doubt wish to take these into consideration before submitting their own proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that Japan is now spending 514 per cent. of the gross revenue of the country on national defence, while India, according to the latest Indian papers, is only spending 31·4 per cent. of her gross revenues for defence purposes, or just 1·4 per cent. more than her pre-War expenditure for this purpose, and that the Indian Army is being reduced far below the strength of the 340,000 men that were required to defend the country from invasion in 1919, while the military dangers now facing India are said to be far greater than they were during any year prior to 1914, he will call the attention of the Government of India to the in-advisability of proceeding with the reductions sanctioned by him on 23rd March, pending full consideration of the situation by the Sub-committee of Imperial Defence?

:I am confident that the Government of India and their military advisers are fully alive to all relevant considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the various provincial legislative councils in India vote the salaries of ministers in charge of transferred subjects; and, if so, whether the Bengal legislative council has in this respect the same powers and the same practice as the other provincial councils?

:The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that cases have occurred in which the sale and distribution of newspapers published in British India have been prohibited from entry into the territory of a native state without any further action being taken against those newspapers, he will state what the law is at present in British India on the subject; and, if not strong enough for action to be taken against such papers, will he- have the necessary measures taken to strengthen the law?

:My hon. and gallant Friend will find the law on the subject laid down in several Indian Acts which cannot easily be summarised. I would refer him to my answer to his former question on the 21st June, to which I need add only that in any revision of the law which is undertaken I have no doubt full attention will be directed to the desirability of fixing personal responsibility for scandalous statements as well as to removing restrictions which are held to impede the expression of fair and honest opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he has now considered the question of reducing the minimum pay of Rs.3,000 to Rs.2,500 per mensem as a condition for granting an additional pension of £100 a year to Army officers who have held high civil appointments in India; and, if so, what decision he has arrived at?

:I have considered the point raised by my hon. and gallant Friend, but do not consider it necessary to take any further action. Rs 3,000 per mensem is, generally speaking, the lower limit of salary in those civil appointments held by military officers which are above the ordinary line and only held by selected officers. Rs.2,500 is in some cases within the time scale, and does not in any service represent what may be attained by the most meritorious officers. To reach it cannot be taken as an indication of special merit.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a police inspector, recently retired from the Hereford Police Force with a pension of £4 10s. per week, has been appointed superintendent of the Rotherwas munition works watchmen at a salary of £3 10s. per week, with house, lights, etc.; and why, considering the large number of men, ex-officers and others, who are at present in urgent need of employment, he prefers to appoint a police pensioner?

:The appointment of Superintendent of Police at the Rotherwas Factory, Hereford, was made by the War Office with the assistance of the local Labour Exchanges and the Appointments Branch of the Ministry of Labour. Very careful consideration was given to applications from ex-service men, many of whom were examined locally, and one selected for interview at the War Office, but it is regretted that none of these applicants held the necessary qualifications, which include a thorough knowledge of police and fire brigade duties. I am not aware of the amount of any pension earned by the official who secured the post.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the Cadet Force, which is now approximately 120,000 strong, is a force primarily for the development of lads into good citizens, especially by means of games and competitions, rather tһan to train them as soldiers, he will now consider the question of introducing legislation early next Session making it obligatory on all lads of 14 to join the Cadet Force and not limit its good effects solely to those who volunteer?

:I cannot hold out any hope that legislation of this character will be introduced next Session.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Frederick William Smith was convicted by a field general court-martial on 15th July, 1921, for desertion and theft and was sentenced, with hard labour, for two years and is now carrying out his sentence in Mountjoy Gaol, Dublin; that this lad is under age, having wrongfully given his age, upon attestation on 6th September, as 18 years 44 clays, whereas his true age was 16 years 44 days; and whether, in view of the fact that his birth certificate has been produced to the commanding officer, 1st battalion the Cameronians, Curragh, he will take steps to order the early release of this lad?

:I am making inquiries into this case and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to absorb or amalgamate the 8th City of London battalion, Post Office Rifles, with the 7th City of London battalion, Royal Fusiliers; and whether, the former being a rifle battalion and being solely recruited from the Post Office workers and being the second strongest battalion in the 2nd London Infantry Brigade, there are any grounds for amalgamating these two battalions since, by so doing, the Post Office Rifles would lose their distinctive position?

:The amalgamation of the 7th and 8th Battalions of the City of London Regiment was recommended by the Association for the City of London, and the proposal was accepted by the Army Council. In this, as in other similar cases, there will be no objection to that half of the amalgam- ated battalion which represents the 7th or 8th Battalion continuing to wear their present badge and uniform should they so desire. At the time the recommendation was made the 8th Battalion was the weakest infantry battalion in London.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any means exist in his Department of tracing a soldier who joined up in his own name in 1914, but whose unit and regimental number are unknown?

:By circulating among officers in charge of records the soldier's name and any other available particulars, such as the address of the next-of-kin, the place of attestation (if known), etc., it may be possible to trace the man. If my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with details of any specific case he has in mind I shall be happy to make inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware, as regards the masters, officers, and men of vessels owned by the War Department, that during the War these vessels were in the performance of important public services, in frequent risk of submarine attack, sinking by mines, and other war dangers in operating outside harbours and between ports on the coast; whether any recognition has yet been given to the gallant services of these men; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of instituting a suitable form of recognition by the granting of medals in this case, as has already been done for others who took part in the War?

:The crews of the War Department sea-going steamers will be treated in the same manner, as regards medals, as the Mercantile Marine, and will receive the British War Medal and the Mercantile Marine War Medal if they served at sea for not less than six months between 4th August, 1914, and 11th November, 1918.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received complaints of the shallow cutting of the names and inscriptions on the headstones being erected on the graves of our sol- diers in France; and whether a better system of cutting these inscriptions can be adopted with a view to greater permanence?

:This question is receiving the careful attention of the Imperial War Graves Commission, who are having it closely watched. They have instructed the most expert authority on the subject to visit the cemeteries in France shortly, to report to them any possible improvement in the cutting of the inscriptions. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, newly-cut inscriptions on any monument are difficult to read until

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the probability of inclement weather in September, authority will be granted for the issue of tent boards and a third blanket to Territorial units under canvas; and whether these articles are available at Didcot?

:It is provided in the Equipment Regulations that tent bottoms and extra blankets for camps may be issued under the orders of the General Officer Commanding on the certificate of the Deputy-Director of Medical Services of the command that they are essential for the health of the troops. Sufficient quantities of these articles should be available locally in command ordnance depots. The depot at Didcot does not supply the whole of the United Kingdom.

their legibility has been increased by weathering, and all the complaints that have reached the Commission officially have referred to these newly-cut inscriptions.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the effective strength of each Territorial division at 1st August?

:The following statement shows the strength of Territorial divisions, etc., on 1st August, 1921 (exclusive of permanent staff):

asked the Secretary of State for War how many cavalry regiments will be disbanded under the present scheme of reduction; how many yeomanry regiments have been disbanded; and how many Indian cavalry units have been disbanded?

:As already announced, it has been decided to disband four British cavalry regiments. As regards the yeomanry, one regiment has been disbanded, 31 regiments have been converted into other arms, and nine other regiments are to be converted by 31st March next. As regards the Indian cavalry, I must refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for India.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will make inquiry into the case of J. R. Gore-Brown, discharged from the Army in March, 1919, and awarded 40 per cent. disability by a medical board in Edinburgh; is he aware that in consequence of the severity of his symptoms due to gas poisoning he was awarded by Dr. Parker, of the Pensions Ministry, £2 a week in September, 1919; that this sum was reduced in March, 1920, to 25s. a week, subsequently cut down to 16s. a week, and finally stopped altogether in July, 1921, without reason given; and since this ex-soldier is still unfit for work through continuance of said severe symptoms, will he say for what reason the sum awarded was reduced and why was it stopped, and take steps to have the pension restored to him as awarded in September, 1919?

:The award has expired in this case. The man was twice summoned to appear before a medical board with a view to a renewal award, but he failed to attend. It has now, however, been ascertained that he has changed his address, and a further board is being arranged. On receipt of the medical report, the case will, be at once dealt with.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the claim for a pension of Mr. E. C. F. Weight, late lance-corporal, 6th Reserve Cavalry Regiment, registered No. D/14767, has been dismissed by the Central Appeal Tribunal; that the tribunal had before them a précis of material medical facts purporting to be the findings of a medical board; and that subsequently it was admitted that the findings were not by a medical board, but the opinions stated in the précis of material medical facts were the result of a domiciliary visit; whether, as a matter of fact, Mr. Weight has never been medically examined with regard to his claim for a pension; and, in view of the serious injustice in this case, whether he will take steps to have the matter re-opened?

:The appeal of Mr. R. C. F. Weight, Case No. 4/2281, was duly considered by the tribunal deputed to hear it, and after careful consideration of the whole of the evidence adduced, the tribunal came to the conclusion that the disability on the grounds of which the claim was made namely, "pulmonary tuberculosis," was neither attributable to nor aggravated by the appellant's service during the Great War. During the hearing, the tribunal found that what is described on the précis as a "medical board" ought to have been described as a "domiciliary visit." By the provisions of Section 8 of the War Pensions (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1919, the decision of a tribunal is final.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he has yet issued new regulations in respect to the allocation of allowances to disabled ex-service men separated from their wives?

:This matter is still under consideration, and I am not at present in a position to make any announcement.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to reports of the meeting of the Yorkshire Regional Advisory Council, held in Leeds on the 15th instant, wherein the regional director is reported to have refused members of the council the right to ask questions relating to pensions administration within the area; is he aware that he also refused to place on the agenda important resolutions which had been sent in by members, and that, as a result, the meeting broke up without doing any business; and whether the attitude adopted by the regional director has the approval of the Minister, or can he take steps to see that such pension committees will meet more regularly in the future and deal with any business relating to local pensions administration?

:This matter has just been brought to my notice, and I am giving it my personal consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Major Claude Wallace, late D.A.D.L., 10th Corps, and G.S.O. 3, 32nd Division, having been accepted for service on 8th January, 1915, and released on 26th March, 1918, for the purpose of assisting the French Government to build a railway in the Congo Français, has been refused a War gratuity; why this recognition is denied to an officer who, at the age of 42, threw up an excellent berth in order to offer his services to his country, and who was informed before retirement that he would be entitled to all the privileges of his rank?

:Major Wallace's firm (Messrs. Lever Brothers) asked in February, 1918, for his release from the Army in connection with their business interests in West Africa, and to accompany, as their representative, a contemplated mission by the French Government to the Congo. Major Wallace submitted an application in March, 1918, and was allowed to resign his commission. Under the Regulations governing the issue of gratuity, the gratuity was not admissible for officers who voluntarily resigned their commissions before the expiration of the emergency. Major Wallace's claim has been carefully considered, and it was decided that no exception from the rule could be made in his case.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of patients at the Pensions Hospital at Chepstow; the number of medical officers attached to the staff of this hospital; and if any reduction in the number of these medical officers is contemplated?

:The number of patients at present in this hospital is 167, and the staff comprises five medical officers, including the medical superintendent. The hospital is for neurasthenic patients. I am now considering carefully the reduction of the medical staff in this hospital and in others.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, considering the universality of complaints of rather severe adjudication, he will consider the desirability of so tabulating his records that he can classify the cases of widows or dependants who have been refused pensions or allowances on the ground that the maladies for which the various ex-service bread winners succumbed had no connection with, or were not aggravated by, Army service?

:To classify all past and future claims on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend would, I am afraid, involve additional staff and expense which would not be commensurate with the value of the results obtained.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty why the messing allowance of 2s. a day, in addition to full pay, granted to officers of the Supplementary List of the Royal Navy has been abolished?

:Prior to the new rates of pay coming into force in 1919, a messing allowance of 2s. a. day in addition to full pay was granted to lieutenants on the Supplementary List, as well as to lieutenants, Royal Naval Reserve. Both these allowances, together with a number of allowances to other classes of officers, were abolished on the recommendation of the Jerram-Halsey Committee, the new rates of pay being considered sufficient.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty whether any officers of the Supplementary List of the Royal Navy will be considered for promotion to the rank of commander, equally with officers of the General List, when within the promotion zone?

:The reply is in the negative. Order in Council of the 7th March, 1913, which lays down the Regulations under which these Officers were entered, provides that they shall be promoted to the rank of Commander on the Active List only in exceptional cases at Admiralty discretion.

:asked the Chief Secretary if, in spite of the Government's support of the eight-hour day, the fitter at the Dundrum State Asylum, county Dublin, is employed nearly 70 hours per week; and, as the pay and general conditions of service of the staff of this institution are being assimilated with those of the Broadmoor State Asylum, will he issue instructions that this fitter be placed under the same conditions of service as the engineer at Broadmoor?

:The weekly hours of duty of the fitter at Dundrum Asylum have averaged less than 60 and not nearly 70, as stated by the Noble Lord. Instructions have been given to make arrangements so that the average hours of duty should not exceed the average hours of duty of a tradesman attendant.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in assimilating the Irish prison service with the English prison service, an officer at Mountjoy prison who was promoted storekeeper 33 years ago has been classified on the minimum pay of a clerk and schoolmaster, which rank is usually attained in England after about five years' and sometimes two years' service; and if, in appointing future members of the General Prisons Board for Ireland, he will pay due regard to the need of a practical knowledge of prison administration?

:I would refer the Noble Lord to the reply given by me to the hon. Member for St. Helen's (Mr. Sexton) on the 27th ultimo. In regard to the latter part of the question I have every confidence in the present members of the General Prisons Board, and the Lord-Lieutenant in making appointments to that Board has regard to the special qualifications required for these important posts. Such qualifications must necessarily be wider than a mere knowledge of prison routine.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. R. Hodgson and the British Mission have arrived at Moscow in connection with the furtherance of Anglo-Russian trade; and, if so, in view of the reported famine in that country, and the conflicting accounts received, whether they may be requested to supply a detailed report on the position with the least possible delay?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Acton (Sir H. Brittain) on the 15th instant, and to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the attention of the Government has been called to the large quantities of morphia now being smuggled into Japan for the purposes of distribution in China, where it is having more serious effects on the population even than opium; and, since a considerable quantity of the drug is exported from this country, what steps the Government is taking to suppress or control this evil?

:Reports have been received pointing to the smuggling of opium and its products into China from Japan. Licences are granted only for the export to Japan of opium, morphia, cocaine, and similar drugs from the United Kingdom on production of a certificate from the Japanese Government that the consignment is required exclusively for legitimate medicinal or scientific purposes and will not be re-exported.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the principle of the open door in China is compatible with any attempt to force a foreign currency on any section of Chinese territory?

:The answer is in the negative. As far as territory under immediate Chinese jurisdiction is concerned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that variations have been made, or are being considered, by the allied and associated Powers in the Treaty of Versailles, and notably in the Treaty of Sevres, and that a covenant of the League of Nations, which is a portion of the Versailles Treaty, is not actually in process of revision, he will, under these circumstances, say whether there will be any bar to the Washington Conference considering, if it deems it essential, the revision of the Shantung Clauses of the Versailles Treaty?

:The initiative as regards the subjects to be discussed at the Washington Conference must lie with the American Government, by whom the Conference has been summoned. In the circumstances, it is clearly inopportune to express any opinion on the matter raised in the last part of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made with regard to delivery of rolling stock and locomotives by Germany to Poland under the terms of the agreement?

:I have no other information than that which I gave recently to the hon. and gallant Member. Further inquiries are being made, and I will communicate the results to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has caused inquiries to be made into the case of the steam trawler "Chalcedony," which was recently arrested by a Danish cruiser on a charge of fishing in prohibited waters, with the result that the skipper was convicted and fined 10,000 kr. and his gear, stores and catch confiscated; whether it appears, as a result of inquiries, that the position given by the commander of the Danish fishery cruiser as the place at which the vessel was arrested was at least two miles outside the limit of the prohibited area; and whether, in view of the fact that a mistake as to the vessel's position has apparently been made, the Secretary of State will take steps to approach the Icelandic Government with a view to the conviction being quashed and the amount of the fine and the value of the gear being refunded to the owners of the vessel?

:I have been informed that a mistake is believed to have been made as to the position of the trawler at the time of arrest. The matter is being carefully considered

asked the Minister of Health if the Government still adhere to their statement that not a single house the less will be built owing to their revised housing policy; and, if so, will they refuse to sanction the sale by local authorities of any land acquired for housing schemes, as this will be required if the full number of houses originally estimated as necessary are to be erected?

:The hon. Member is mistaken. The Government have never stated or suggested that the revised housing policy will not involve a reduction in the total number of houses to be built under the present scheme. What they have stated is that their policy will not reduce the number of houses which, with the present resources of material and labour, could be built within the next 18 months, and the Government adhere to this view. I am not prepared to refuse sanction if a local authority desire to dispose of land which is not likely to be required by them for housing purposes in the near future.

asked the Minister of Health whether his negotiations with the Central London Schools, the owners of the huts in Framfield Road, Hanwell, Middlesex, as to whether these huts can be made available for the families of ex-service men, have yet led to any result?

:As my hon. Friend is aware, I have offered to assist the local authority in negotiating with the Central London Schools and I have proposed that, in the first instance, officers of my Department should confer with the local authority as to the best method of utilising these buildings as temporary accommodation. I am renewing this invitation to the local authority.

asked the Prime Minister whether many householders have fallen into arrears of rent during the recent and continuing industrial crisis and are now threatened with eviction; and whether it is proposed to take any steps to delay eviction proceedings in such cases?

:I have been asked to reply. I have no information as to the first part of the question. As regards the second part, Sub-section (2) of Section 5 of the Increase of Kent, etc., Act gives the Court before which any application is made express power to stay or suspend proceedings, on such conditions (if any) as it thinks fit.

asked the Minister of Health if he can give the name of the Chairman and the membership of the Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London?

:I regret that I am not yet in a position to announce the name of the Chairman of the Royal Commission, as it has not yet been submitted to 'the King. The Government will issue letters of invitation to the proposed members of the Commission forthwith.

asked the Minister of Health if, taking all the boroughs in the Greater London area, he will state the numbers of men and women in receipt of Poor Law Relief on 1st August, 1921, giving in each case the average weekly allowance to cases of complete destitution?

:I am having a statement prepared giving such information on the subject as is available, and I hope to be able to send it to my hon. Friend within ix few days.

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue a circular to the various boards of guardians inviting returns of the number of unpensioned widows and children of ex-service men who are now in their institutions or in receipt of Poor Law relief, with the object of affording correct information to allay the many reports current to the effect that the totals are very large?

:I will consider the question of obtaining information on this subject in connection with the next Annual Return of the number of persons in receipt of relief.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is provided in Article 6 of the Statutory Rules and Orders, 1920, No. 61, that in the calculation of deficiency grant the Board shall exclude expenditure not recognised by the Board as expenditure in aid of which Parliamentary grants should be made; and whether, seeing that the payment of deficiency grant in respect of children under the age of 10 in attendance at a secondary school is a violation of the said rule, the Board will discontinue such payments after the close of the current financial year?

:The payment of deficiency grant in respect of pupils under the age of 10 in attendance at a secondary school does not constitute a violation of the rule in question, inasmuch as the Board have not decided that expenditure of local education authorities on the education of such pupils in secondary schools is expenditure in aid of which Parliamentary grants should not be made.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the advance in the cost of education, measured in rates and taxes, from £31,800,186 in 1913–14 to £84,685,116 in 1921–22, he will state how much of this advance represents increases in teachers' salaries and how much is covered by continuation schools?

:Expenditure on teachers' salaries in schools provided or maintained by local education authorities has increased between 1913–14 and 1921–22 by approximately £31,250,000. Part of the increase in the total expenditure (£84,685,116) is due to the increase in salaries of teachers in schools which are aided, but not provided or maintained, by local education authorities. Figures for those schools are not available for 1921–22. As regards expenditure on day continuation schools in 1921–22—the whole of which represents an increase over 1913–14—I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Twickenham on the 11th July last.

asked the Home Secretary whether the hours of duty of a police sergeant in charge of a county town station are, under the Police Regulations of August, 1920, limited to eight hours a day; and whether, in the event of the routine duties the sergeant is required to perform extending the period on duty to more than nine hours a day and the exigencies of duty not permitting of him to be granted time off, the sergeant is entitled, under Regulation 57, to the non-pensionable allowance of 2s. per hour for overtime?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The answer to the second part is in the affirmative, subject to the qualifications specified in Regulation 38.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that a year has elapsed since the Police Regulations of August, 1920, were made, he can say in how many police forces the examination qualifying for promotion has been held; and whether the chief constables of those large forces which have not so far held the examinations have been reminded of their obligations under Regulation 29, as there may be some doubt as to which forces are required to hold the prescribed examination once in each year?

:I have not got the information asked for in the first part of the question. I have no doubt that His Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary have kept the matter in view in the course of their inspections, but I am drawing their attention to the point.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that an alarming and increasing number of accidents is being caused by pillion-riding on motor-bicycles and that juries are con- stantly protesting against the practice; whether he has power to prevent it; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of stopping a practice which is dangerous both to those who engage in it and others who use the roads?

:I have been asked to answer this question. No, Sir, I am not aware that accidents attributed to the caused mentioned in the question are increasing. The matter has been carefully considered by the Departmental Committee on the Regulation of Road Vehicles, who unanimously arrived at the conclusion that on the information before them no case had been made out sufficiently strong as to justify the prohibition of the practice.

asked the Home Secretary whether the provisions in the Lunacy Acts for the release of an inmate of an asylum apply equally in the case of a Belgian incarcerated in this country, or whether any additional steps are necessary?

:I have been asked to reply. The provisions for the discharge from the institution are the same in the case of an alien, but where it is proposed to remove an alien lunatic to his native country the procedure to be adopted is; laid down in Section 71 of the Lunacy Act, 1890.

asked the Home Secretary how many county lunatic asylums there are where women are inmates and who have no woman on the visiting committee; and whether the Government propose to amend the Lunacy Law so as to enable county councils to co-opt women as members of those committees in the cases where no women are members of the council?

:The Board of Control have not the information necessary to answer the first part of the question. In regard to the second part of the question, I may refer to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on Tuesday last.

asked the Minister of Health for what reason the Lunacy Board of Control have refused the application of J. G. B., made on 6th August, 1921, for copies of the medical certificates under which he was detained in Berkshire County Asylum, while forwarding to him a copy of the reception order made by one magistrate on his ceasing, after expiration of his sentence, to be classified as a criminal lunatic; and, in view of the fact that the Home Secretary distinguishes between a prisoner certified while in prison and a person found insane by verdict of a jury on evidence, and states that the former on expiration of his sentence is dealt with under the ordinary provisions of the Lunacy Act, an essential item of which is certification by a doctor, will he take steps to secure to this ex-service man his legal claim, under Section 82 of the Lunacy Act, to a copy of the medical certificate as well as of the reception order under which it was committed?

:The case referred to was a criminal lunatic, and he was transferred to the Berkshire Asylum in pursuance of a warrant of the Secretary of State issued under the Criminal Lunatic Act, 1884. If a copy of this warrant is required application should be made to the Home Office. No medical certificate is required to be furnished to the Board of Control in these cases.

asked the Home Secretary whether the chief lady inspector has been compulsorily retired, after 27 years' service, but at least three years before the date at which such service might have been expected to terminate; and, if so, will the retired official receive the full pension to which she would have been entitled had she been permitted to complete her ordinary term of office?

:It was arranged in connection with the recent re-organisation of the Factory Department that the principal lady inspector, whose post was being abolished, should retire at the date when the new arrangements came into force. This was somewhat-less than three years before the time at which in the ordinary course she might have been required to retire on the ground of age. The Treasury have informed me that they are precluded by formal undertakings given to Parliament from awarding in cases of abolition of office, more favourable terms than are prescribed in the Superannuation Acts for an officer retiring before his time on grounds of ill health, and it was only possible therefore to grant her an allowance based on her actual years of service. She has been granted the highest allowance to which her service would entitle her.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give the figures for each Government Department, showing in which particular sub-Department in each case the numbers to-day exceed those for 1914, giving the number in each case; whether it can be stated in which Department and sub-Department it will be possible to secure a reduction of staff before the end of the financial year and, if possible, the estimated extent of such reductions; if in all cases the figures for ex-service men and women, respectively, and non-service men and women, respectively, can be shown; and if the total amount likely to be saved in pay, war bonus, etc., as a result of these reductions can be stated approximately?

:My hon. and gallant Friend will obtain the information desired in the first part of his question for the Civil Service in general and the larger Government Departments individually by a comparison of the particulars given in Command Paper 1304 with those given in the White Papers on Government staffs periodically laid before Parliament. The Government have under their consideration the economies to be effected in Government services, and I am not in a position to give a detailed statement on the lines suggested in the remaining parts of the question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will obtain from the Civil Service Commissioners the respective numbers of married and unmarried ex-service men of 30 years of age and over who qualified for posts in the permanent Civil Service at the examination held in November last?

:As I implied in my reply of the 26th ultimo, the information is not in the possession of the Civil Service Commissioners.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in connection with a coming flower show organised by the Burntisland and District Agricultural and Industrial Society, the local inspector of Customs and Excise has declared that the function will be subject to Entertainments Duty on the ground that a band is to be employed to give a few selections; whether the Board of Customs and Excise have received a letter from the organisation concerned asking for exemption from the duty in view of the fact that the sole object of the show is the promotion of agriculture and horticulture; end whether, in the circumstances, exemption will be allowed?

:One of the conditions for the grant of exemption from Entertainments Duty under Section 7 of the Finance Act, 1921, is that the entertainment must consist solely of an exhibition of the products of the agricultural industry (including horticulture and livestock breeding) or the manufacturing industry, or materials, machinery, appliances, or foodstuffs used in the production of those products, or of articles which are of material interest in connection with questions relating to the public health. The inclusion in the proceedings of a band or any other extraneous attraction thus constitutes a bar to the grant of exemption, and the Commissioners of Customs and Excise have so informed the society in question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before the House rises, he can inform the House of the extent to which, so far as can be estimated row, his Budget anticipations will be realised?

:I cannot add anything to the statement which I made on Tuesday evening last, and on the 29th July on the Third Reading of the Finance Bill.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government can give an assurance that, during next Session, a Bill consolidating the various Acts affecting agriculture will be introduced, in view of the great complexity of the various Acts recently passed and the great difficulty involved to all agriculturists thereby?

:I have been asked to reply. The Minister of Agriculture will be glad to consider the introduction of a Bill next Session to consolidate the enactments relating to agricultural holdings, but he is not in a position to give a definite assurance on the subject at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been directed to public statements in connection with the worn-out horse traffic, notably, one to the effect that recently six days elapsed between the shipping of horses at Leith and their unshipping at Antwerp, and seven days before they were examined; that during that time they were fed and watered once; that one was killed in delirium; that two collapsed and were bled for food; and whether, having regard to the widespread opposition to this traffic, he can make a definite statement as to the steps to be taken before Parliament rises?

:Yes, Sir; the attention of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture has been drawn to the statements in question. I am informed that in April last, before the improved system of inspection by the Ministry's veterinary officers was introduced, three casualties occurred among a cargo of 24 horses consigned to Antwerp. Twelve were embarked on 1st April and 12 on 2nd April, but the vessel was delayed in starting and did not put to sea until midnight of 3rd April. On arrival at Antwerp the horses were detained on board until 2 p.m. on 6th April, pending the visit of a veterinary inspector. I am informed that there was sufficient food and water on board for the protracted voyage, and that the horses were tended by the consignors until the time of sailing, and were fed and watered by the crew while at sea. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to replies given to the questions put on the 2nd instant by my hon. and learned Friends the Members for York (Sir J. Butcher) and for Upton (Sir E. Wild), and on the 10th instant by my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Mr. Hood).

asked the Postmaster-General whether district managers of Post Office telephones are instructed to raise the charge for local calls within a limited radius from 1½d. to 2d. in a case where the subscriber rents coinboxes from the Department at an annual rental of 30s. each; and, if so, under what authority this instruction is given?

:As explained on the 26th July to the hon. and gallant Member for Clackmannan and Eastern (Major Glyn), the check exercised by the telephonists at the exchange as the coins are dropped into the box adds considerably to the cost of operating coin-box circuits. The charges are as stated and were fixed by the Postmaster-General in pursuance of the powers conferred by the Telegraph Acts, who is not prepared to reduce them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether British subjects who know Italian are under any, and if so what, disability if they claim to be tried in English in Malta; whether any practical standard of examination in Italian can be devised to enforce such disabilities; whether the Government of Malta will, under Section 67 of the constitution, make the choice of trial in English unfettered; whether it is intended that the English-speaking jury under Clause 57 shall be merely a selection of jurymen with an Italian education but having a knowledge of English; whether all jurymen who are not familiar with Italian are now excluded from the jury lists; and whether he will cause a Report to be made as to the number of jurymen who are familiar with Italian and familiar with both languages and the number that could be added to the list if the above restriction were eliminated and separate jury lists formed for trials in English?

:Italian being the official language of record of the Courts in Malta, a British subject or any other person who, although knowing English, is unable to swear that he has not sufficient knowledge of Italian fully to understand and follow all the proceedings if conducted in that language, is tried in Italian, and I do not see that any disability attaches to a person tried in a language with which he is familiar. I am unable to forecast the action of the Government of Malta in amending the new Letters Patent by proclamation under Section 67.

With regard to the latter parts of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply returned to him on the 8th of August, and would point out to him that the present law does in practice provide separate lists for English and Italian-speaking jurors, those who speak English but not Italian forming the special jurors and the Italian speaking the ordinary jurors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, the six chief countries importing manufactured or semi-manufactured goods into the British Isles during the past six months; the comparison, in each case, of the value of the total imports as compared with the corresponding totals for the similar periods in 1920 and 1919; and the types of goods thus mainly imported.

:A complete survey of the trade between the United Kingdom and each foreign country and British Dominion and possessions is made only for calendar years. The nature of the trade with individual countries, except in the cases in which, on account of its importance, it is separately specified in the "Monthly Accounts of Trade and Navigation," could only be stated for the past six months and for corresponding periods of last year and of 1919 as the result of a very large amount of clerical work, the results of which would not, I think, justify the expense involved. Particulars for the year 1920 are in course of being printed.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will state, according to the latest returns available, the approximate number of unemployed persons in Germany and the approximate number of unemployed in Great Britain; the number of trade unionists unemployed in Great Britain and in Germany, respectively, and the percentage of unemployment in relation to the total number of trade unionists in each country?

:The most recent official returns of unemployment in Germany relate to the position at the end of June and the beginning of July, and are summarised at page 418 of the "Labour Gazette" for August, of which a copy is being sent to my hon. Friend. For Great Britain, the most recent returns of unemployment available relate to persons on the live register of the Employment Exchanges. These numbered 1,614,040 on 5th August. The returns for unemployment amongst trade union members do not permit of a distinction being made between Great Britain and the rest of the United Kingdom, and as regards this part of his question, I can only refer my hon. Friend to page 402 of the August "Labour Gazette," where he will find the most recent figure for the United Kingdom as a whole. I would, however, invite his particular attention to the fact that, as stated in the note at the head of page 410 of that issue, the figures quoted for other countries, owing to the different nature of the returns on which they are based, cannot properly be used to compare the actual level of employment in the United Kingdom with that in other countries.

asked the Attorney-General if, in view of the fact that there were in 1913 39,823 inquiries, including registrations, under the Land Charges Registration and Searches Act, 1888, and in 1920 76,623 inquiries, including registrations, he will state how many of these, respectively, were inquiries and how many registrations, and also the different headings under which the registrations were effected; can he differentiate these searches and registrations between London and the provinces; and what was the amount of the war bonus paid to the staff employed in the year 1920?

:The answer to the first part of the question is, I understand, as follows:

I understand that it is not possible to differentiate between searches and registrations relating to London and the Provinces respectively.

asked the Attorney-General how many letters of administration there were granted in respect of cases of intestacy in England and Wales for the years 1913 and 1920, respectively, where the effects of the persons dying were under £1,000 in value, under £1,500, under £2,000, and over £2,000?

:I understand that the total number of grants of letters of administration in England and Wales for the year 1913 was 21,718, and for the year 1920, 32,799. These grants are not classified in respect of the amount of the estate for which they issue, and, in order to answer the question fully, such classification would have to be made specially, and would, I am told, involve an amount of labour out of proportion to its possible value, as the records of about 150,000 grants would have to be inspected and divisions made of the grants of administration.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases there were in England and Wales in the years 1913 and 1920, respectively, of the sales of properties in which particulars were delivered for the purposes of enabling the necessary stamps to be impressed under Section 4 of the Finance Act (1909–10), 1910, or any subsisting statutory modification thereof; and can he differentiate in this respect between London and the Provinces?

:For the year ended 31st March, 1914, the particulars delivered stamp was impressed in England and Wales in 188,290 cases, of which 19,763 related to properties in the Administrative County of London. The corresponding figures for the year ended 31st March, 1921, were 540,094 and 46,300.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the resolution of the Imperial Conference in favour of the nomination of Cabinet Ministers to represent the Dominion Cabinets in consultation with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, any Dominion Prime Minister has expressed the intention of making this nomination, and, if so, when?

:I have not up to the present been informed of any such intention.