asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Weymouth Board of Guardians, in granting outdoor relief to unemployed persons, are taking into account the full amount of unemployment benefit, in contravention of Section 27 of the Unemployment Insurance Act; that the attention of the guardians has been drawn to this provision without effect; and whether he will make representations to them on this matter?

My attention has not previously been called to this matter, but I will make inquiries. I would, however, direct the notice of my hon. Friend to the proposed suspension of the operation of this section under the Unemployed Workers' Dependants Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Weymouth Board of Guardians have refused to grant outdoor relief to an unemployed person solely on the ground that the applicant owns the house in which he lives; that before coming to a decision the guardians asked for the opinion of the Ministry of Health on the case; that in response the Department stated that no reply could be given which would legalise the amount granted but must leave the matter to the discretion of the Board; and that this reply was interpreted to mean that if relief was granted the guardians would be surcharged; whether this is a correct interpretation of the Department's reply; if so, will he explain on what ground it is decided that a man who had practised sufficient thrift to become the owner of his house should be debarred from outdoor relief, although he has no means of livelihood; and, if the interpretation placed upon the reply is not correct, whether he will inform the guardians accordingly?

The guardians were informed that the granting of relief in any particular case is a question for them to decide. It is impossible for the Minister to undertake the duties of the board of guardians, who have all the facts before them, but the general rule is, that it is unlawful to grant relief to a person who has other means sufficient for his subsistence. Whether this is such a case or not it is for the guardians to decide.

asked the Minister of Labour how many shipbuilding and engineering employés are unemployed in the port of Liverpool; whether all reductions of wages to these workers have taken place as in other parts of the country; whether, in spite of that fact, Liverpool shipowners are sending their vessels from that port to the continent to be reconditioned and repaired, thus accentuating the distress caused by unemployment; and whether the Government can bring any pressure to bear on the shipowners to have such work done in British ports?

On the 14th October there were 6,269 workpeople in shipbuilding, and 3,764 workpeople in engineering unemployed in Liverpool. According to my information all the employers in the engineering and shipbuilding industry in Liverpool have put into operation the reductions in wages which have been made in other parts of the country. There is no power to require repairs to be carried out in British ports, but I hope that shipowners will do their part in relieving the depression in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry by placing their orders in this country so far as possible. If there are any preventable causes which are causing ships to be sent abroad for repairs, I think the matter should be investigated by the shipowners, ship-repairing employers, and the trade unions.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, owing to the working week ending on Friday and the insurance week beginning on Monday and ending on Saturday, the casual dock labourer has double deductions for unemployment insurance in the one week: and if he will, after making the necessary inquiries, make arrangements to prevent this in future?

Only one contribution is payable for unemployment insurance in respect of a calendar week, no matter when the working or pay week may end. Possibly my hon. Friend has in mind the case of a man who, say, starts work on Friday in a week (not having been previously employed in that week), the working week ending on the following Friday. In such a case a contribution would be due for the calendar week in which the work commenced and another contribution for the following week.

(Clitheroe) asked the Minister of Labour whether a special scheme under the Unemployment Insurance Act relating to banking has yet received his consideration; and whether he will examine the bonâ fides of the internal associations which are said to be representative of the employés in English and Welsh banks?

Consideration is now being given to proposals for a special scheme of unemployment insurance in respect of the banking industry. The question whether the constitution of the Association of Employers and Employés by whom the scheme has been made is such as to satisfy the requirements of Section 18 of the Act is among the matters which are being considered in connection with these proposals.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether those conscientious objectors who served terms of imprisonment for their views have yet been reinstated; if so, to what extent; and whether it is proposed to reinstate them, in view of the large numbers of ex-service men out of employment?

The only conscientious objectors who served terms of imprisonment for their views, and who have been reinstated, are some few who were imprisoned pending the final settlement of their cases, and who were ultimately exempted, or required to take up work of national importance under the Brace Committee, and who complied with the requirement. Persons who refused to serve although they were not exempted or who otherwise, failed to fulfil the requirements of the Act have been discharged from the Service. It is not proposed to vary the decision that such men should not be reinstated.

asked the Home Secretary what is the present pay and emoluments of Class I Civil Service clerks in the English prisons service; whether those officers have recently been granted an increase in permanent pay; if so, the amount of increase and from what date it is effective; whether they are in possession of free quarters as part of their emoluments; and what is the pensionable value of their emoluments?

These clerks have been assimilated to the Junior Grade of the Clerical Class of the Civil Service. The assimilation took effect on 1st January, 1921, and an increase of pay of £25 was granted in each case. They do not enjoy free quarters as part of their emoluments. In common with other civil servants, they are in receipt of a war bonus, of which 75 per cent, is reckoned for pensionable purposes.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to a circular letter issued and sent to Members by constituents who are ex-service men occupying for the most part temporary posts in the various Departments of Government; whether he has considered the statements which are made in such circular; whether he is prepared to challenge the accuracy of any, and which, of them; and whether his Department has approved the retention in temporary posts of any conscientious objector or woman without dependants, so long as any competent ex-service man is out of employment and is willing to work?

I have received copies of the circular letter issued by the Association of ex-Service Civil Servants, and have read the statement with care. So far as they concern the Civil Service as a whole, my hon. and learned Friend should, I think, address any question to the Treasury; and as regards the retention of women in the Pensions Ministry that again is a question for the Minister in charge. As regards my Department, I can assure my hon. and learned Friend that no women without dependants are being retained in temporary posts on duties which would otherwise be performed by ex-service men. And it may interest my hon. and learned Friend to know that of the whole staff of the Ministry of Labour, London and provincial, permanent and temporary, male and female (excluding only the cleaners and girls under 18), at the present time 62·44 per cent. are ex-service men, and 22·60 per cent, are disabled ex-service men.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the congestion and delays in the clearance of parcels containing German goods from the parcels post office in the Borough, S.E.; that, despite his repeated assurances that action would be taken to improve conditions, matters have become worse; and is he prepared to take action to increase the staff and to obtain larger premises?

A certain amount of delay between importation and delivery of post parcels is unavoidable owing to the necessity for correspondence with the addressee and the remittance by the latter of the amount of the levy with the necessary declaration of value. Every effort is being made to obviate avoidable delay in dealing with such parcels, and arrangements have been made and will shortly be in operation, both in regard to staff and premises, which it is hoped will materially facilitate clearance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount received from Germany under the reparation provisions of the Treaty and subsequent agreements; the amount expended in providing food and raw materials for Germany; the cost of the Armies of Occupation; and the allocation of the balance between the Allied Governments?

The total amount to be credited to Germany by the Reparation Commission (including cash payments, deliveries in kind, cessions of State property, etc.) up to 30th September, 1921, may be approximately estimated at £400,000,000. The amount advanced to Germany for the provision of food, etc., under the Spa Coal Deliveries Agreement is about £26,000,000; and the cost of the Armies of Occupation (excluding about £67,000,000 for the American Army of Occupation) is about £144,000,000. (For convenience 15 gold marks are taken as equal to £l.) The amount credited to Germany consists partly of the value of non-liquid assets ( e.g . State property in Danzig and Poland, for which no payment has yet been received). In so far as the balance of the amount credited is available for distribution, it will be allocated between the Allied Governments entitled to reparation in the percentages agreed upon in the Spa Agreement, subject to the provisions of that Agreement and of the Schedule of Payments, including those dealing with the Belgian Priority and the Belgian War Debt. The arrangements required to give effect to this allocation were discussed by the Allied Finance Ministers in Paris in August last, but as the French Government has not yet ratified the Agreement then signed, I am not in a position to make any further statement on the subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount received under the German Reparations (Recovery) Act?

The receipts under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act, 1921, up to and including the 22nd instant, amount to £1,330,677.

asked the Prime Minister whether the British Government is still bound by the secret agreement entered into with Japan which dictated its policy at Paris in respect to Shantung; and whether the changed circumstances have modified the British attitude on the matter?

As far as His Majesty's Government are concerned, the Shantung question was settled by the decision embodied in the Treaty of Versailles.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the statement that the claim of Messrs. Craig, of Londonderry, for munitions taken over by the Government nearly three years ago would be dealt with as soon as possible, anything has been done in reference to this case in the meantime, and, if so, what; when may Messrs. Craig expect a reply to their letters on the subject; and what is the explanation for the delay of nearly three years which has occurred in settling this claim?

In accordance with the general policy of His Majesty's Government the munitions referred to were seized by the military authorities in the public interest in consequence of an apprehension that they might fall into the hands of evil disposed persons. They will be returned to Messrs. Craig as soon as that course is considered safe. There is no evidence that Messrs. Craig have been at any loss by reason of the retention of the articles in question, and they are being notified this week that in the circumstances no payment of compensation can be made.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can make any statement as to the changes made, or in contemplation, in the personnel of the Board of Agriculture?

The vacancy in the Chairmanship of the Board has been filled by the appointment of Sir Robert Greig, M.C., LL.D., who has been a member of the Board since 1912. The question of appointments to fill the other vacancies on the Board is receiving the careful consideration of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has appointed a Chairman of the Scottish Board of Agriculture; and, if so, who has been appointed?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which has been given to-day to a similar question addressed to me by the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Dr. Murray).

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether any schemes have been presented to the Scottish Board of Health for the demolition of slum areas for which a special grant was offered by the Government in the current year?

Two local authorities have submitted schemes which, if approved, will participate in the Government grant of £30,000 per annum for the clearance and improvement of slum areas.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can make a statement as to the number of houses completed under the Housing (Scotland) Acts and the number still in course of construction?

As at 30th September last 2,961 permanent houses and 604 temporary houses had been completed, while 11,989 permanent and 58 temporary houses were under construction in terms of schemes approved by the Scottish Board of Health under the Housing, Town Planning, etc. (Scotland) Act, 1919. In addition, 952 houses have been completed by private persons under the provisions of the Housing (Additional Powers) Act, 1919, and certificates of approval of houses to be erected under that Act have been issued for a further 2,132 houses.

asked the Secretary for Scotland when he intends to publish the Report of the Deer Forest Commission?

I am informed that the final Draft Report of the Committee is now under consideration, and it is hoped that the Report may be completed before the end of next month.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether ex-service men who re-enlisted in May, 1919, for a period of three years with the Colours are entitled to any leave and to any bounty; whether those who actually commenced military duties in May, 1919, and were sent to India, will be discharged on the date on which their engagement expires; and, if so, will those in India leave for this country in time to reach it before the expiry of their engagement?

A discharged man who re-enlisted from civil life in May, 1919, for three years, is not entitled to any bounty or special furlough, and if in India at the date of the expiration of his period of service is liable, under Section 87 (1) of the Army Act, to be kept with the Colours for a further period not exceeding 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of deaths among the Iraq command during the past year; and whether all possible steps have been taken to protect the troops from heat?

The total number of deaths from all causes during the year ending 30th September, 1921, is 163. Of these, 30 were due to the effects of heat. Measures, such as the installation of ice plants, electric fans, heatstroke centres, etc., have throughout been taken to protect the troops against heat.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of Madras has intervened in the situation arising from the endeavour of the students of Trivandrum College to intimidate the Travancore Durbar into increasing the very large proportion, 13 per cent., of the total revenue already spent upon education; and whether the agitators at the back of the students have been discovered and deported from the State?

I have seen in the newspapers reports of recent disturbances at Trivandrum in connection with an agitation for the reduction of fees at the college, but I have no official information on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in all cases where, owing to the closing of schools in villages, children have to travel more than a mile to school, he will arrange that discretionary powers shall be given to the parents of children to enable them to keep the child away from school if wet weather should render this advisable?

Children are not required to attend school if there is a reasonable excuse for non-attendance, and I have no doubt that local education authorities in administering the law of school attendance have due regard to the circumstances, including weather conditions, which might render attendance at school prejudicial or dangerous to the health of children.

asked the President of the Board of Education if the West Ham education authority have reduced their net expenditure on education by £18,180; the number of highly crated necessitous areas; whether the highly-rated areas will receive 50 per cent, of the expenditure on elementary education in excess of the rate of 3s. 4d. in the £; and if he will take action in the matter?

The Board have been informed of the reduction in the estimates of the West Ham Local Education Authority for 1921–22. It is probable that 18 areas will qualify for grant under Article 6 of the Regulations as "highly-rated areas." The sum at the Board's disposal for additional grants in highly-rated areas is strictly limited, and I can hold out no prospect of being able to alter Article 6 of the Regulations for this year so as to give special assistance to areas with a rate lower than 48 pence in the £.

asked the Post master-General whether he is aware of the inconvenience and loss to industry caused by the late delivery of business letters on Mondays; and whether he will take steps to ensure the delivery by the first post on Monday of all letters posted on Saturday before 5 p.m.?

Letters posted in time for the night mail collections of Saturday, which in most towns are made later than 5 p.m. are sent forward on Saturday night and should be delivered by first post on Monday, except in districts remote from the place of posting. In order to assure the delivery of all such letters first thing on Monday morning it would be necessary to restore the organisation for the despatch and conveyance of mails on Sunday, and to this, as the hon. and gallant Member is aware, there are, at present, financial objections.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the serious inconvenience to traders in provincial towns created by the omission of a Sunday collection of letters; and whether he can see his way to institute a collection of letters in provincial towns on Sundays in time for delivery in London on Monday mornings?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a question by the hon. Member for the Keighley Division. (Sir R. Clough) on the 20th instant.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the restoration of the Sunday collection and receipt of letters in the country should the users of the posts on Sunday be prepared to pay the extra cost, assuming this is necessary?

I am afraid the hon. Member's suggestion is impracticable. At present almost all sorting offices are entirely closed on Sunday and the road and railway mail services have ceased. The restoration of the Sunday collection and receipt of letters in the country would entail the general resumption of work on a scale which would render prohibitive any attempt to recover the cost from particular users of the post on Sundays.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the claims put forward by Japan that she must find room for expansion for her growing population, he can give any accurate and reliable statistics tending to show the extent to which the Japanese have settled in the most recent Japanese acquisitions of Korea, Formosa, Saghalien, and the Luchow Islands?

From the most recent figures at the disposal of the Foreign Office which come from Japanese sources and are believed to be approximately accurate, the position is as follows:

In Korea , until 1905, Japanese settlers did not exceed 50,000, but after that date the Japanese population has increased steadily until, by 1918, it amounted to 336,000. In Formosa , Japanese immigration commenced after the acquisition of the island in 1895, and the Japanese population in 1918 was 148,000. In the Japanese portion of Saghalien , immigration for permanent settlers began after the acquisition in 1905; the Japanese population in 1920 was 105,000. The Luchu Islands are a small group densely populated by a semi-Japanese race of islanders; they offer no facility for immigration from Japan proper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost of the visits of ministers, officials, and others to Gairloch and Inverness during the Prime Minister's visit to the Highlands?

Absolute accuracy of detail is impossible at such short notice, but the sum expended should not in any case exceed £550.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the mint of the Commonwealth of Australia is controlled directly from England; if so, who is responsible for giving effect to the awards of the federal arbitration court in relation to the wages of fitters, turners, &c, employed in the Melbourne branch of His Majesty's Mint; and whether, in the event of the Home authorities being responsible, instructions will be sent to Melbourne that wages decisions of the arbitration court are to be recognised and put into operation?

There is no Commonwealth Mint, and I assume the hon. Member has in mind the branches of the Royal Mint at Melbourne, Sidney, and Perth. I understand that the minimum wage awards of the federal arbitration court have already been applied to the industrial classes in the Melbourne Branch Mint.

asked the Home Secretary if he can give the date when the 75 per cent, given to injured workmen under the Workmen's Compensation Act will cease; whether it is the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill to give effect to the Holman Gregory Report on this matter; and, if not, how and when they propose to deal with it?

Provision has been made in the Expiring Laws (Continuance) Act of this Session for the continuance of the War addition until 31st December, 1922. As regards the latter part of the question, the Government will consider very carefully whether it will be possible and advisable to deal with the matter during the next Session of Parliament.

asked the Home Secretary whether, as the giving of venereal disease by a husband to a wife, or vice versâ , cannot be made the subject of an action for damages or the sole ground of an application for a separation or a divorce, the Government will propose legislation to amend the law in these respects?

I regret that I cannot hold out any hope of legislation on this subject at present.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a Tottenham magistrate informed an applicant at his Court during August that he had yet to learn that is was legal for a woman to marry her deceased husband's brother; and whether he can circularise magistrates to the effect that the Act making this legal received the Royal Assent on 28th July last?

I have made inquiry, and find that the incident occurred be fore there had been time for the Bang's printers to circulate copies of the Act to Justices' clerks. The Act was circulated some time ago, and no further action is now required to bring the Act to their notice.

asked the Minister of Health the amount of the outstanding debt and the interest paid thereon of the local authorities of England and Wales for the last financial year for which returns are available or in respect of which an approximate estimate can be made?

It is estimated that the interest paid by local authorities in England and Wales in respect of loans amounted in the financial year 1919–20 to £20,400,000, and that the gross amount of their outstanding loan debt at the end of that year was £556,000,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the agricultural portion of the Bedgebury Estate, near Goudhurst, Kent, which was bought by the Crown early in the War for working timber supplies, is now practically derelict, the mansion house having been sold for a girls' school; whether there is a very strong feeling among the residents on the estate that the condition of affairs should be brought to the notice of the proper authorities; and whether, in order to avoid further waste in connection with it, he will consider offering it for sale in lots, as there is reasonable cause to believe that many of the residents would buy?

No agricultural land on the Bedgebury Estate is lying waste or derelict. Certain woodland areas which were felled during the War have not been replanted pending their being taken over by the Forestry Commissioner, with whom negotiations are proceeding. Certain residential tenants on the estate might be willing to purchase their holdings, but it is not known that the tenants of the farms and small holdings on the estate either desire or are in a position to buy their holdings.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the countries in respect of which credits have been granted under the export credits scheme, with the amount in each case, and the value of each class of goods for the export of which credits have been granted?

The following statistical table gives the particulars for which the hon. Member asks:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to give some encouragement to manufacturers to provide employment, he will consider the desirability of withholding from the market all surplus materials offered by the Disposals Board; and whether, by stopping the sale of these materials for a year or two, better prices would be obtained, to the advantage of the national Exchequer?

Heavy charges on public funds would be entailed by the retention of these stores as suggested, and it is considered that the present policy of disposing of surplus materials as rapidly as possible is likely to assist rather than to retard the revival of industry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether in September, 1920, railway rates were increased and fixed so that a deficiency in revenue covering a period of 16 months was to be made good in 11 months; whether the excessive rates are still in operation; whether the increase in rates then made was greater by 25 per cent, on agricultural produce than on any other merchandise; whether this greater increase was made by reason of the Agriculture Act, 1920, having just then been passed; whether, having regard to the fact that the Agriculture Act is now repealed and that the prices of foodstuffs produced by English farmers are now not more than half what they were in September, 1920, and very little above pre-War figures, and the cost of living upon which the railway men's wages are based thereby reduced, he will cause an immediate inquiry to be made by the Rates Tribunal to find out whether the excessive rates and charges on agricultural produce can be brought down to bear the same relation to pre-War rates that prices of agricultural produce now bear to pre-War figures?

In the general increase in railway rates which took effect in January, 1920, certain classes of fertilisers and agricultural produce were either exempted from increase or subjected to a lower rate of increase than other traffic, in accordance with the advice of the Rates Advisory Committee. On reviewing the rates in July, 1920, the same Committee did not see their way to recommend the continuance of these concessions to agriculturists, and the charges on agricultural produce were, therefore, increased in September, 1920, by the same percentages over 1919 rates as applied to other merchandise in the same classification, with the exception that the increase on specified manures was limited to 50 per cent. My hon. Friend is mistaken in suggesting that the provisions of the Agricultural Act, 1920, had any bearing on the matter. As he indicates, the increased rates of September, 1920, were intended to secure sufficient additional revenue in eleven months to produce financial equilibrium over the last 16 months of control, but the depression in trade and the coal stoppage largely defeated this aim and rendered any general reduction in rates before the end of Government possession impracticable. It will, however, be open to the agricultural interests to make application to the Rates Tribunal under Section 60 of the Railways Act, 1921, for a reduction in existing rates if they so desire.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether a disability conceded by the Ministry as attributable to service can be subsequently changed to aggravation, thereby reducing the pensioner's status in respect of such disablement, as the aggravation may at any time be certified to have passed away, thus causing extreme hardship where the pensioner concerned is incapacitated from work by reason of such disability?

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Paddington South (Sir H. Harris) on the 16th December last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been called to the accident at the Queen's Colliery, Pemberton, Lancashire, caused by the breaking of the winding rope on 27th September, by which both cages were precipitated to the bottom of the shaft, the damage being such that 1,000 men have been unemployed and are likely to be for some time; if he has had any Re-port from the mine inspectors as to safety appliances which would prevent such accidents attended by loss of life on some occasions; and if he is prepared to advise the general use of such appliances at all mines?

I am aware of this accident, which seems to have been caused not by the breaking of the winding ropes but through failure of the cappings of the ropes, following a collision of the cages in the shaft. The collision itself seems to have been due to two of the steel rail guides getting out of position. The number of men thrown out of employment was about 420. The pit is now practically ready to start again, but I understand that resumption of work is likely to be delayed by lack of trade. As regards the use of safety appliances for preventing cages from falling down shafts, I cannot at present add anything to the reply which was given to the question put by my hon. Friend on 20th July last. I do not think that any such appliance working on the guides would have prevented this accident.