asked the Minister of Pensions the number of applications for pensions received from ex-soldiers suffering from tuberculosis; the number of awards conferred on cases of such disability certified as resulting from service with His Majesty's forces; and the number of cases of tuberculosis not so certified or accepted as being due to service during the War?

The records of the Ministry are not kept in such form as to enable a complete answer to be given to this question without a very considerable amount of research which my right hon. Friend is not prepared to impose on his staff. I can, however, inform my hon. Friend that during the past 18 months, 6,500 awards were made in respect of tuberculosis; but as rejections are not classified according to diseases, I am unable to state the number of claims in respect of tuberculosis which were not accepted during that period.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mrs. Butler, 50, Commerce Street, Glasgow, formerly the wife of the late Bombardier J. Lindsay, No. 10729, Royal Field Artillery, was awarded a pension and gratuity about the 21st September by Ministry headquarters (Parliamentary Secretary's Reference No. 34,514), but no payment has yet been made by the Pensions Issue Office; and whether he will take steps to expedite payment without further delay?

Inquiries which were necessary in this case have now been completed and payment of the amount due authorised.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mr. T. McDonald, 38, Nelson Street, Tradeston, Glasgow, formerly Private, No. 372949, Labour Corps, was awarded a 20 per cent. pension on 6th September by Scottish Region, under their number 1 MM 27505 A1 as from 15th February last; that no payment has yet been made by the Pensions Issue Office; and whether he will take steps to expedite payment without further delay?

Payment, with arrears, has now been authorised. I much regret the delay which has occurred.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Private James Hedger, No. 6390, 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, was called up from the Army Reserve in 1914, sent to France, wounded at the battle of Mons, was returned home to hospital, subsequently recovered and again drafted to the Dardanelles, was again wounded and returned home to hospital, where he remained until his discharge on the 4th July, 1916, as permanently unfit for any form of military service, when he was granted a pension of 9s. per week; that he was afterwards engaged at the prisoners-of-war camp, Bramley, on police duty, but compelled to relinquish this employment owing to his state of health; that he subsequently endeavoured to obtain employment as a farm carter, but after five weeks succumbed to an attack of pneumonia accelerated by his unfit condition; that prior to joining up in 1914 he was perfectly strong and healthy, and when discharged was a physical wreck due entirely to exposure and hardship on active service, and was unable to earn a proper living up to the time of his death; that his wife died a few days before his decease leaving two infant boys in the charge of their grandfather, 70 years of age, who cannot afford to keep them; that a pension of £l per week was actually granted these children for three weeks, discontinued for three weeks, again issued for a further three weeks, and then finally discontinued; and that in spite of repeated applications the Ministry of Pensions declines to renew any pension to these unfortunate children on the grounds that the father's death was not attributable to nor aggravated by active service; whether, in view of the fact that Private Hedger's death was aggravated by his weak condition, due entirely to active service, this case may be fully reviewed with a view to the issuing of a pension to the two children and so prevent their having to be removed to the workhouse; whether a special grant of £15, which has been promised to these children for the past six months to help to tide them over their maintenance difficulties, has not been paid, and why this is so; and whether he will issue instructions forthwith for payment to be effected?

The late soldier was discharged on account of a gunshot wound in the right hand, the resulting degree of disablement being first assessed at 25 per cent., and subsequently at 20 per cent. permanent. The Pensions Appeal Tribunal have confirmed the decision of the Ministry that the cause of his death had no connection with his service, which terminated nearly 2½ years earlier; and as decisions of the tribunal are final, my right hon. Friend has no power to reopen the matter. The grant of £15 mentioned was made from a voluntary source for the supply of clothing to the children. Half of it has already been expended for that purpose and the remainder will be disbursed as necessity arises.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it has been decided to continue in the service the Machine Gun Corps companies now serving overseas; and, if so, by what organisation is it intended to maintain and administer those units if the decision to abolish the Machine Gun Corps is adhered to?

There is only one Machine Gun Corps company now serving overseas, and it is anticipated that circumstances will admit of its early disbandment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that vessels travelling between the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield Lock, and the Royal Gunpowder Factory, Waltham Abbey, and vice versâ , pass over a portion of the River Lee Navigation at Rammey Marsh; that the War Department formerly paid tolls upon such vessels and the goods therein contained, and that applications for payment of such tolls have recently been refused by the Department; the reason for such refusal; and whether he will give instructions forthwith for the payment of tolls to be resumed and thus avoid the protracted and expensive litigation between the Department and a public authority which would follow his refusal?

My hon. and gallant Friend raises a matter with which it is difficult to deal by way of question and answer, and I must not be understood as accepting his statement of the circumstances. I can only say that the Department is advised that it is under no liability for the tolls in question. I regret therefore that I am unable to issue the instructions suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present cost per annum of the establishment division of the Food Department, the number of officers in this section in receipt of salaries ranging from £250 to £700 per annum; whether it is now possible to transfer these routine functions to the permanent department of the Board of Trade, and so dispense with the duplication of work; but, failing this, what steps, if any, have been taken to replace the non-service officials, consisting mainly of women in receipt of these high salaries, by ex-officers and men of His Majesty's forces who have served overseas, at salaries more in proportion to the value of the routine nature of the duties performed?

The cost of the Establishment Division, which includes all staff employed in typing, messengers, porters and cleaners, has been reduced in accordance with the fall in the numbers of the Food Department, and is now at the rate of£34,000 per annum. It will be further reduced in the course of this month by about£6,000 per annum. There are six temporary officers not yet under notice, two of whom are ex-service men, who are in receipt of salaries of£250 per annum and over, but the steady reduction in the staff of the Department should make it possible to dispense with all the temporary responsible officers who are not ex-service men at or about the end of the calendar year, certain of their duties, which are not of a routine character and are not duplicated, being absorbed by the headquarters Establishment Department.

asked the Prime Minister whether, by a decision of the Treasury of March, 1920, or thereabouts, no permanent or deputy head of department or principal establishment officer or principal financial officer can either be appointed or removed without the consent of the Prime Minister; whether this practice is an innovation; and whether it is continued?

Yes, Sir. The decision to which my right hon. Friend refers was taken by the Government to ensure that selection for the most responsible posts in the public service should not be arbitrarily restricted by purely departmental considerations. The decision regularised and extended the practice of informal consultation which had in some degree previously existed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants who were imprisoned owing to their refusal either to fight or to do war work are still retained in Government service?

I am not aware of any cases of civil servants retained in Government service who were imprisoned owing to their refusal either to fight or to do war work. In this connection I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for the Stratford division of West Ham (Sir W. Lane Mitchell) on 25th October.

asked the Prime Minister whether, to ensure prompt distribution of the relief sums granted by the Government, he will fix any date by which the allocation must be concluded?

I do not think a fixed date is in all cases practicable; but the Departments concerned will give preference to schemes of relief which can be brought into operation before the end of this calendar year.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the Bank Officers' Guild, which has a membership of 29,000 bank employés in England and Wales, is opposed to the scheme which has been submitted to him under the Unemployment Insurance Acts; that the Bank Officers' Guild offered to cooperate with the British Bankers' Association in working out and administering a scheme in the same way as the Guild of Insurance Officials has done; and what steps he will take to safeguard the claims of the Bank Officers' Guild to represent bank employés?

The facts are as stated in the first and second parts of the question. I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Clitheroe (Mr. A. Davies) on 25th October, in which it is stated that the question whether the constitution of the Association of Employers and Employés, by whom the scheme has been made, is such as to satisfy Section 18 of the Act is being considered. Should this question be answered in the affirmative, the scheme will be published, and it will be open to any persons interested to lodge objections.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can state approximately the number of unemployed workers normally employed in trades covered by the Unemployed Insurance Acts who will not be qualified to receive unemployment benefit during the approaching second special period?

The conditions for the receipt of benefit are such that practically all those who are normally employed in an insured trade will be

The foregoing figures include no provision for expenditure consequent upon the Unemployed Workers' Dependants Bill now before Parliament. The expenditure under this Bill is dealt with in the Report of the Government Actuary (Cmd. 1529) and in the Supplementary Estimate now before the House (H.C. 238). There are no items of the Ministry's expenditure not contained in

qualified for benefit, provided, of course, that they are available for work, unable to obtain suitable work, and otherwise satisfy the statutory requirements.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the total sums administered by his Department was over£70,000,000; whether the administration cost £4,950,000; what was the total sum actually administered by his Department from all sources for the year ending 31st March, 1921; what were the sources from which these sums were drawn; what were the principal items of expenditure; what is now the estimated expenditure of his Department from all sources in the year ending 31st March, 1922; and what are the items of that expenditure not contained in the Estimates and Supplementary Estimates?

The following table shows the total sums administered or to be administered by the Ministry of Labour in the financial years 1920–21 and 1921–22, respectively, with the principal items of the Ministry's expenditure, their sources, and the amounts included for administrative charges:

the Estimates, including this Supplementary Estimate, and the total so provided will, so far as can be judged, be adequate to finance the Ministry's present commitments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total expenditure for the Labour Department from all sources for the year ending 31st March, 1921; what are the principal items of that expenditure, including central and local administrative cost; what is the total number of beneficiaries; and what is the exact financial position of the Unemployment Insurance Fund?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to-day to the hon. Member for Oxford City (Mr. Marriott) which gives figures for 1920–21 and 1921–22. It is not possible to state the total number of beneficiaries during the year. The Unemployment Fund was, on the 22nd October, in debt to the Treasury to the extent of approximately £4,265,000 in respect of advances under Section 5 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1921, as

asked the Post master-General if, under an International Postal Agreement, the many thousands of printed circulars which are posted in Belgium and France every week are handled and delivered in this country by his Department without any payment being received; and whether, in the circumstances, he will consider if the rates for printed matter of light weight could be restored to one halfpenny?

With regard to the first part of this question, under the International Postal Convention each country retains the postage on matter posted in that country. As regards the second part of the question, I have already stated that I propose to consider the question of a reduction of the rates of postage as soon as that can be done without asking the Exchequer for a subsidy.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in stamping letters in Canada moral maxims are used by the authorities such as, "Help prevent forest fires"; and whether he can turn the idea to use in this country either by a similar employment of moral advice or by the advertisement of somebody's commodities?

amended by Section 4 of the Unemployment Insurance (No. 2) Act, 1921.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the salaries (including bonus and all other increments) of the postmaster of Cambridge, a sorter, aged 18, at the General Post Office, and a sorter of 14 years' standing at the General Post Office respectively, before and after the readjustment of bonus which came into operation in September?

The information is as follows:

I am aware of the practice of the Canadian Post Office to which the hon. Member refers, and am at present considering whether date stamps can with advantage be used for advertising purposes in this country.

asked the Minister of Health what policy he proposes to adopt with regard to grants of milk to necessitous mothers and children after the present financial year?

The policy to be adopted with regard to grants for milk to necessitous mothers and children after the present financial year is still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the obstacles placed in the way of the building of necessary houses at Yate, Gloucestershire; whether at that place the Disposal Board has had large areas of land partly covered with buildings and machinery out of occupation, and steadily deteriorating for years; whether the Chipping Sodbury Rural District Council have been trying to get, with the aid of the district valuer, two acres of this land at Yate for £400 from the Disposal Board for some time, and, in spite of the efforts of the land valuation department, the Disposal Board declines to sell this land, and has given only a bare acknowledgment of the last letter written to them by the land valuation department on 7th October; and will he endeavour to speed up this necessary housing scheme approved by his own Ministry?

I am making inquiries with regard to the scheme in question.

asked the Prime Minister whether the value of our trade with Russia from 1st January to 31st August, 1921, was £3,150,000; and whether he will state how this total is made up, giving both the value and character of the business transacted?

I have been asked to reply. The value of the goods purchased in this country between 1st January and 31st August of this year by the Russian Trade Delegation has been stated by that body to be £3,650,000. It will not be possible to identify in the accounts of the shipments made the whole of these purchases. Some of them have probably not yet been delivered while others may not have been consigned direct to Russia, and would, consequently, not be included in the figures of exports which were supplied on 20th October to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is intended to send a detachment of British troops to the United States to be present when the high British decoration is laid on the tomb of the American unknown warrior; and whether officers and men of the Royal Navy will be present at the ceremony?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether our representatives at the Washington Conference will be instructed to support any action that may be taken by the Government of the United States to bring the case of Korea before the Conference for discussion?

I am not sure that I fully understand what is the drift of my hon. and gallant Friend's question. It is in any case hypothetical, and I regret, therefore, that I am not in a position to answer it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the whole estimated cost of the delegation to Washington?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on the 26th October last to a similar question from the hon. Member for Barkston Ash (Mr. Lane-Fox). No estimate of the total amount can be given until it is known how long the Conference will continue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that a federal arbitration court award, which came into operation as from 1st January, 1921, fixed the rate of wages for fitters, turners, etc., at£6 2s. 10d. per week; that this rate was not paid by the Melbourne branch of the Royal Mint, but at a later date the wages were advanced to £5 12s. 9d.; whether the full rate is now being paid; if so, whether the arrears from 1st January have also been paid and, if not, whether, seeing that the Melbourne branch of the Royal Mint is controlled directly from Britain, he will give instructions that full effect from 1st January shall be given to the decision of the arbitration court?

I am not aware of the exact scope of the Australian arbitration court's award, but, as the hon. Member was informed on Tuesday last, minimum wage awards have already been applied to industrial classes at the Melbourne Branch Mint. This will take effect as from the date on which the award was applied to similar employés of the Commonwealth Government. I do not think any further instructions are needed.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the intention to proceed with the assimilation scheme of the Irish prison service with that service for England and Wales; as an early settlement was promised at the conference in April last, can he now say when the settlement will be made to affect artisans, trades instructors, hospital officers, and all other members of the staff; and is he aware that officers now on pension are seriously suffering financially owing to the very great delay in settling the scheme?

The grant of allowances to the classes mentioned in the Irish Prisons Service on the same lines as the allowances paid in England, when the conditions of the services are the same, is under consideration and will be dealt with as soon as the necessary data are obtained from the General Prisons Board. I am not aware that officers now on pension are suffering financially by reason of the delay, as the outstanding points of assimilation have little effect on the cases of officers who have retired on pension.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that, owing to the formalities and delays connected with the collection of various duties, the approximate time now required to obtain postal packets from the hands of the Foreign Parcel Post Department is 10 days; and whether he is prepared to revise the Regulations in order to permit a more rapid clearance?

The time normally required for the delivery of imported post parcels liable to duty is less than 10 days. As regards goods liable to the Reparation Levy, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 25th ultimo to a question by the hon. Member for West Bermondsey (Mr. Glanville).

asked the Home Secretary (1) the number of boys and the number of girls, respectively, who were committed to reforma- tory and industrial schools during the year ending 31st March, 1921; the number of children under eight years of age committed to industrial schools and the number boarded out from industrial schools during the same period;

(2) how many boys and girls whilst on licence from reformatory and industrial schools were, during the year ending 31st March, 1921, charged with fresh offences and returned to the schools?

I would refer my Noble Friend to the figures given to him in reply to his questions of the 15th March and the 28th July. The returns from reformatory and industrial schools are compiled for the calendar, not for the financial, year. I cannot add anything to the information already supplied for 1920. Similar figures for 1921 will not be available until after the end of the year.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the reductions in the cost of petrol since the existing taxi-cab fares were sanctioned, he will consider the desirability of proposing a downward revision of the latter at an early date, particularly since such a policy would increase the public patronage of these vehicles and thereby benefit the drivers?

The matter will receive consideration, but I am unable to recommend any alteration of the tariff at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the evidence taken before the Royal Commission on the Importation of Store Cattle will be published; and whether it will be published as a Command Paper so that Members of Parliament can obtain it at the Vote Office?

The evidence will be published in about a fortnight's time. It will be issued as a Command Paper, and will be available to Members on application at the Vote Office in the ordinary way.

asked the President of the Board of Education if the cost of education in Bradford in the year 1913–14 was £312,492 and the total number of scholars was 46,621, equivalent to about £6 10s. per scholar, yet the estimate for 1921–22 is £845,110, an increase of £532,618, although the number of scholars is only 42,953, or less by 3,668 than 1913–14, and the cost per scholar has gone up from £6 10s. to £19 10s.; and what is the estimated cost to the taxpayer for education in Bradford in 1921–22 as compared with 1913–14?

The question is understood to relate to the expenditure on education (elementary and higher) of the Bradford Local Education Authority. As regards the year 1913–14, the Board's information agrees approximately with the figure £312,492. The number of scholars (46,621) appears to represent the number on the books of elementary and secondary schools maintained by the authority, and to exclude the students at technical and other institutions. As regards 1921–22, the Board's latest information as to the number of scholars agrees approximately with the figure mentioned. The authority's estimate in April last of its gross expenditure in 1921–22 amounted to £759,754. Revised estimates are awaited; until they have been received and examined it is impossible to state the amount of grant that may be payable this year. The grants paid to the authority in 1913–14 amounted to £122,600.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commission, how many working foresters are employed by the Forestry Commission in Scotland, England, Wales, and Ireland, respectively; what is the total number of other persons employed under the Forestry Commission in each of these areas; what acreage of land has been acquired or agreed to be acquired by the Commission in Scotland and England, respectively; what acreage has now been planted; and how many of their employés or other persons have been settled by the Forestry Commission on land acquired by the Commission, and what acreage do such persons occupy?

The number of working foresters and foremen employed on 1st October by the Forestry Commission was 62 (Scotland 31, England and Wales 20, Ireland 11). The total number of other persons employed under the Forestry Commission on the same date was 662 (Scotland 287, England and Wales 256, Ireland 119). The area of land in Scotland and in England acquired by the Commission, to the middle of September last, was 61,241 and 26,475 acres respectively. Eight thousand and thirty-five acres have been planted in the United Kingdom (Scotland 2,527, England and Wales 4,887, Ireland 621). The settlement on land acquired by the Forestry Commission of persons other than their employés is not a duty of the Commission, but the Board of Agriculture for Scotland and the Commission are co-operating where practicable in the constitution of combined small holdings and afforestation schemes and have effected settlements of this kind at Borgie, Sutherlandshire (10 holdings), and at Haystoun, Peebles (15 holdings), while several others of a similar nature are under consideration. Apart from seasonal or permanent workers accommodated in bothies, 45 employés and their families occupy houses belonging to the Commission, while three employés have been settled on holdings aggregating 30 acres. In all possible cases provision is being made for the ultimate allocation of arable and grazing land where available to foresters and other employés, and the establishment of holdings or allotments will be carried out so soon as circumstances (that is, the termination of existing tenancies and the provision of accommodation) permit.