asked the Postmaster-General whether it is proposed to reduce postal rates in the coming financial year; and whether such change will take place as from 1st April or whether this matter has yet reached the stage of discussion and consideration?

The question of a reduction of postage rates in the coming financial year is under consideration by the Government, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can now hold out any likelihood of the postal, telegraphic, and telephone charges being reduced; if he is aware that the present charges greatly handicap the revival of trade; what is the anticipated surplus in the Post Office accounts during the present financial year; and whether reductions in the salaries paid in the Post Office on the sliding scale are expected to still further increase such surplus?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the grave effect upon employment in the printing trade of the increased postal charges and of the urgent necessity of a statement of policy as to the reduction of the charges in order that the trade may be in a position to make contracts and to recover as much as possible of the business which has gone to foreign printers?

It is estimated that the Post Office commercial accounts for the current year will show a deficit of about £2,000,000, which is mainly due to the high costs prevailing in the early months of the year combined with trade depression, and the fact that the increased charges were not in operation for the full year. A further substantial reduction of the war bonus will take effect on the 1st March, and for next year a surplus of over £8,000,000 is anticipated. The question of a reduction of postal charges is under the consideration of the Government.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the efficiency bar for women clerks has been applied much more stringently in the accountants' office, Edinburgh, than in the accountants' office, Dublin, eight of the 32 women at the bar in Edinburgh having been stopped, whereas all the women in Dublin have been passed; and what steps he proposes to take?

The same standard has been applied at both offices, and I am satisfied after inquiry that the decisions in question were properly arrived at. In connection with a recent review of these cases it has been possible to allow three of the women to pass the efficiency bar as from the 1st January last in view of the improvement they have shown. The remaining cases will be further reviewed periodically in accordance with the usual practice.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a naval officer who has had a special course in wireless telegraphy of nine weeks' duration is considered to have had the equivalent training to that of a graduate in physics or electrical engineering, as required by the terms of the advertisement of the last vacancy for an assistant inspector of wireless telegraphy?

The officer referred to, besides having taken the special course in wireless telegraphy, had long experience in naval wireless telegraphy and also in electrical engineering. As I have already informed the hon. Member, this officer was the best qualified candidate for the post and possesses all the necessary qualifications.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will state the emoluments paid to the sub-postmaster of the South Kensington station post office; and whether, having regard to the importance of the office and to the large amount of business which is transacted, he will take steps to create a branch post office in place of the present combination of coal order office and second-hand bookshop?

The basic payments actually in force are a little over £500, with a bonus amounting at present to, approximately, £300; but the payments are in excess of the amount warranted by the normal scale, that amount being less than £500 (excluding bonus). It is not the practice to convert London offices to branch office status where the basic payment warranted by the scale is less than £500, and I know of no reason for treating this office exceptionally.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephones and extensions which have been discontinued since the increased telephone charges were imposed and the number of new subscribers for the same period, and the sums, respectively, lost and gained to the Revenue?

The number of telephone subscribers who have discontinued since the increased charges were imposed is 61,500 and the number of extensions surrendered is 55,000. More than half of these were due to normal causes, such as removals, death or bankruptcy. The number of new subscribers connected during the same period was 67,300 and the number of extensions fitted 60,000. The Revenue lost and gained respectively cannot be stated exactly, but on the basis of the average revenue per station at the new rates (so far as it can be estimated at present) there is a net gain of about £158,000.

asked the Postmaster-General on how many occasions the Business Committee appointed to advise his Department has met; whether any and, if so, what recommendations have been made; and if those recommendations, or any of them, have been put into practice?

There have been 8 meetings of the full Advisory Council of Business Men and a considerable number of meetings of sub-committees of that body. The recommendations of the Council are made to me in confidence, and have been numerous and valuable. A number have been put into practice.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in consequence of the discontinuance of the carrying of mails to and from Ireland on Sundays, there has been any reduction in the contract price; and, if so, to what extent?

If the hon. Member is referring to the contract for the Holy-head and Kingstown Packet Service, the answer is that the contract remuneration has been reduced by £10,150 a year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in 1921 it was promised that the structural alterations needed to conform with the criticism passed by the medical officer at Lydney Post Office would be done early in 1922; if they have been commenced; and, if not, what is the reason for the delay?

In accordance with the promise made in December last, a tender for the work of alteration has been accepted, and the work is due to be completed before Easter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the methods of selection for promotion at Cardiff continue to give grave dissatisfaction; that a junior officer has recently been promoted to the rank of assistant inspector of postmen after a very brief experience of the duties, apparently on the ground that he had for years worked in close association with the local inspector; that the officers who are being passed over are thoroughly efficient and have performed all the duties proper to the rank of assistant inspector, whilst the man selected was employed continuously upon duties of a preferential character; whether any further steps are being taken to prepare two junior postmen for prospective appointments of a higher rank by placing them in the inspector's office; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to the methods which are adopted at Cardiff with such unsatisfactory results?

I am not aware that grave dissatisfaction exists at Cardiff in connection with the methods of promotion. The officer in question was promoted because I was satisfied after full inquiry that he was the best qualified of all the eligible candidates. I regret that it should have been necessary to pass over a number of men senior to him; but it was essential that the class of assistant inspectors should be strengthened, and I am assured that this result has been attained. It is not the case that two junior postmen are being prepared for prospective promotion, but the duties in the inspector's office must be given to men with the necessary clerical ability, and the selections were made with this object.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the National Federation of Postal and Telegraph Clerks was founded by employés of his Department who were forced to leave the Union of Post Office Workers because that organisation had identified itself with the advocacy of Sovietism and revolution; whether the National Federation of Postal and Telegraph Clerks is refused by him official recognition whilst the Union of Post Office Workers is granted official recognition; and whether, in the best interests of the country, this position will be reversed and the trade union which is loyal to the constitution granted official recognition?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The National Federation of Postal and Telegraph Clerks does not at present represent a majority of the members of any class of Post Office servants; and under these circumstances I see no reason for transferring to them the official recognition which has for some years been enjoyed by the Union of Post Office Workers. But I have authorised the acceptance of local representations from branches of the federation at certain offices in London.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is in a position to state the result of his inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the recent unsatisfactory promotion in the Birmingham Post Office; and whether, having regard to the intensity of the feeling which has been aroused in that district, he will do everything possible to expedite the decision?

I have made inquiries into the circumstances of the recent promotions at Birmingham, and in particular of the one referred to in the hon. Member's question of the 15th December. I am satisfied that in each case the promotion was made solely in the interests of the service without regard to any other considerations, and that the prospects of the men who had been on active service were not in any way prejudiced on that account.

asked the Secretary for Scotland (1) whether a Report has been received from the sheriff-substitute of Dumbartonshire with respect to the granting a club licence in the burgh of Kirkintilloch; if so, whether it will be Published; if not, will he institute a public inquiry into the circumstances connected with the granting of this licence;(2) whether he is aware that a club licence has been granted in the burgh of Kirkintilloch by the sheriff-substitute of Dumbartonshire, nothwithstanding that objections had been lodged by the magistrates and town council of the burgh against the granting of this licence; and will he state whether, since the magistrates and town council have a statutory right to lodge objections to the granting of such a licence, why the sheriff-substitute granted this licence without giving the magistrates and town council an opportunity of submitting evidence in support of their objections;(3) whether he is aware that the electors of the burgh of Kirkintilloch, at a poll held under the provisions of the Scottish Temperance Act, decided by a very considerable majority in favour of no licences being granted within that area; and, if so, will he undertake to secure the carrying out of their decision?

I am aware that a "no-licence" resolution was carried in the burgh of Kirkintilloch,(that the sheriff recently authorised the registration of a club in that area, and that the magistrates and town council lodged objections to the application. The sheriff-substitute has furnished me with a full report, from which I am satisfied that the procedure followed was entirely regular, and that there is no necessity for the inquiry suggested.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has any official information showing that the parish council of Broxburn has made grants out of public funds to workers employed by Scottish Oils, Limited, which is controlled by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, in which His Majesty's Government is financially interested, and on the board of which it is represented; what steps he proposes to take if the Broxburn Parish Council is subsidising the wages paid by Scottish Oils, Limited; and whether he has any information showing that other Poor Law authorities have given public assistance to workers because their wages were insufficient to obtain for them the necessities of life?

I am informed that in no case have the parish council at Broxburn given relief to any worker who is working full time, whether employed by Scottish Oils, Limited, or by any other employers. In the case of workers on part time, it has been the practice of this and other parish councils to give some relief in necessitous cases in respect of the days on which the workers are unemployed, but in no case, so far as I am aware, does any parish council give relief to any worker on full time. I see no reason to take any action in the matter.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will give the latest available figures as regards the progress made under the Government's various housing schemes, showing the total number of houses finished and occupied, the number of houses in course of erection, the number of houses sanctioned but not started, and the lowest prices recently obtained for houses; what further number of houses are the Government prepared to sanction in order to complete the number declared by Members of the Government to be necessary in 1919; and what further number they will sanction to replace the houses which have already been condemned by local authorities as unfit for human habitation?

As at 31st December last, the Scottish Board of Health had approved tenders for the erection by local authorities and public utility societies in Scotland of 21,344 houses, and 5,272 of these had been completed, 4,963 had been occupied, 11,849 were in course of erection, and 4,223 were not commenced. In addition, 3,167 certificates of approval of houses under the private builders' subsidy scheme had been issued, and 1,221 of these houses had been completed. At the same date, 106 certificates of approval of houses under the crofters' subsidy scheme had been issued, and one house had been completed. As few tenders have been submitted since July last, I have little information as to current prices for houses, but in one recent case tenders were received for three-apartment flatted houses at £634 per house. An addition of 1,050 houses has been made to the limits announced for Scotland last Session, and in present circumstances the Government cannot undertake to extend this further. As already announced, an annual grant of £30,000 towards the improvement of slum areas will be available for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses now actually completed under the facilities provided by the Housing Acts of 1920, and the number of houses in course of erection?

The number of houses completed by local authorities and private builders up to the 1st February was 111,833. In addition 3,174 other dwellings have been provided by the conversion of houses into flats, or by the conversion of huts and hostels. The number of houses in course of erection is 79,208.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the great shortage of dwelling-houses in Nottinghamshire; whether he is aware that owners of dwelling-houses in the county have houses which are purposely kept vacant with the object of selling them at inflated prices; and whether, as these houses are not rated, he will take some measures to amend this reprehensible practice?

Nearly 3,000 houses have been, or are in course of being, erected in the county of Nottingham under the assisted housing scheme. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave last Thursday to the hon. Member for the Heywood and Radcliffe Division (Mr. Halls).

asked the Minister of Health on what grounds the Ministry refuses to grant a loan towards the erection of houses, as applied for by the urban council of East Dereham; and whether such refusal may be modified having regard to the great shortage of houses and the extreme unemployment existing in that town?

According to the original survey made by this local authority, 12 houses were needed to meet overcrowding, apart from replacement of de- festive houses, and a scheme for building 10 houses has been larried out. In view of the limitation of the housing scheme preference must clearly be given to places where the need is more acute than it is here, and I regret that I cannot authorise an extension of the existing scheme.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will explain the action of his Department in issuing certificates A and B to certain persons in respect of bungalows built by them in the Bakewell rural district, notwithstanding the local authorities' refusal to issue such certificates and their expressed opinion that certificates ought not to be issued in respect of converted Army huts, they believing that it was not the intention of the Legislature to give grants from the public purse towards such class of building, erected in many instances as weekend houses only and by people in good circumstances; and whether, under the circumstances, he will cause the matter to be further investigated?

I have already had this matter investigated. The scheme under which subsidies were granted to private persons specifically provided that timber houses built according to a standard specification shall be eligible for grants on a reduced scale. The representations made by the district council in respect of certain houses have been carefully considered and the houses have been inspected and found to comply with the regulations, and certificates have been issued accordingly. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, this scheme is being brought to an end and subsidies are payable only in respect of houses begun before 25th August last.

asked the Minister of Health whether an approved society under the National Health Insurance Acts is liable for the payment of maternity benefit under the said Acts from the husband's insurance on the confinement of his wife, notwithstanding that his wife is living in adultery and that he is not the father of the child; whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Divisional Court on the stated case arising out of the appeal in Elizabeth Scott v. the Northumberland and Durham Miners' Permanent Relief Fund Approved Society; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to so amend the National Insurance Acts, 1911 to 1921, as to relieve the husband's approved society from the liability for payment of maternity benefit in similar circumstances to those referred to?

I am aware of the decision of the Court in the case referred to by the hon. Member, which was to the effect that maternity benefit is payable in respect of the confinement of the wife of an insured person irrespective of any question as to the paternity of the child. I cannot contemplate the introduction of legislation which would necessitate inquiries being made as to the paternity of all children born to the wives of insured persons, and I understand that approved societies generally concur in this view.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the printing and posting by the Poplar Borough Council to every householder, lodger, and ratepayer in the borough of a pamphlet entitled Poplar's Victory, showing the supposed result of the action of the Council in withholding payment of the precepts of central authorities; and whether he will direct the auditor to surcharge the expenditure thus incurred?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is for the District Auditor to decide what action he will take in regard to any expenditure coming under his review at the audit, and I have no power to give him any direction in the matter. Any ratepayer or owner of property in the borough may object at the audit to any charge in the Council's accounts or may appeal to me against the allowance of any item by the District Auditor.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Poplar borough council is allowing the telephone at the town hall to be used free of charge by the chairman and secretary of the unemployed organisation; and whether the auditor will surcharge the councillors in respect of the Post Office charges for such use?

My attention had not previously been drawn to this matter. As I have explained in reply to another question addressed to me by my hon. Friend to-day, it is for the district auditor to decide what action he will take in regard to any expenditure coming under his review at the audit.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the Committee appointed to consider the administration of the lunatic asylums is predominantly representative of medical superintendents, the inefficiency of whose administration is the question to be inquired into, he will favourably consider strengthening the Committee by the addition of representatives of the general public and of the Asylum Workers' Union?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The Committee in question is appointed to consider charges made by Dr. Lomax and not the general question of asylum administration. Neither of the medical members of the Committee has ever been associated with an asylum provided by a local authority. It would merely prolong the inquiry to add persons with no previous experience of asylum administration, and as regards the Asylum Workers' Union, while I regret their refusal to give evidence, I am unable to regard this as a reason for appointing to the Committee a representative of a class directly incriminated by Dr. Lomax's charges.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether civil servants withdrawn from Southern Ireland are to be pensioned or absorbed in the British Civil Service?

The Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland provide for the payment of special terms of compensation to civil servants employed on Irish services who are discharged or retire in consequence of the establishment of the Irish Free State. The possibility of providing for the transfer of some such officers to Government employment in Great Britain has not been overlooked, but my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate the difficulty of making arrangements of this kind at the present time, when the establishments of the Civil Service are in process of contraction. It would not be possible in any event to provide for transfer in more than a very few isolated cases; and I am afraid that at this stage I could not give an undertaking even to accomplish so much as that.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps have been taken to safeguard the interests of loyal Post Office officials in Southern Ireland who do not wish to continue to serve under the Irish Free State; and whether in such cases, when officials seek retirement from the Post Office, a certain number of years may be added to their service, in order to enhance their pensions as in the case of the Royal Irish Constabulary?

Arrangements are in hand for facilitating the transfer from Ireland to Great Britain of officers borne on classes common to the whole Civil Service; and in addition efforts will be made to transfer such of the Post Office staff in Southern Ireland as are considered to have special claims to transfer on account of the circumstances of their appointment. No general offer of transfer can, however, be made to the Post Office staff as a whole. The inquiry in the second part of this question should more properly be addressed to the Treasury, but my right hon. Friend asks me to refer the hon. and gallant Member to paragraph 10 of the Treaty scheduled to the Irish Free State Agreement Bill now before this House, which deals with compensation allowances.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what officials are responsible to the Irish Board of Agriculture for discovering and reporting cases of cattle disease; whether these duties were until lately carried out by the Royal Irish Constabulary; if he can state the number of cases reported by the Royal Irish Constabulary during the last six months; and if there was any case of foot-and-mouth disease reported to the Board?

Owners or persons in charge of affected animals in Ireland are required to notify the disease to the veterinary inspectors of local authorities, or to the police whose duty it is to report the information without delay to the Department of Agriculture. The Department's veterinary inspectors at the ports also report as to the existence of any suspicious symptoms in the case of an animal which is being exported. The number of cases of cattle disease reported by the Royal Irish Constabulary during the six months ended the 31st January, 1922, was 347, but none of these were cases of foot-and-mouth disease. Seven suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease were, however, reported during the same period by the veterinary inspectors of local authorities or by the inspectors of the Department of Agriculture, but in none of these cases was the existence of the disease confirmed.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the new rates of pay sanctioned for officers of the Indian Army lieutenant-colonels commanding infantry regiments have been given the cost of upkeep of the charger they have to maintain without any deduction from their pay, while lieutenant-colonels commanding cavalry regiments have had the cost of the upkeep of the two chargers they have to maintain deducted from their pay, with the result that the infantry commanding officer gets maintenance for his charger on the same pay as before while the cavalry commanding officer gets maintenance for two chargers but loses Rs. 100 per mensem despite the recommendation in paragraph 14 (5), Part V, Section 1, of the Esher Committee's Report, that no reduction should be made in the pay of officers of the Indian Army in consideration of Government relieving them of the cost of providing and maintaining chargers; that in addition to this loss of pay the Government have failed to provide mounted officers free of charge with the authorised number of chargers as recommended in paragraph 14 (1), Part V, Section 1, of the same Report; and what steps it is proposed to take in the matter?

I am aware that a Cavalry Commandant now draws the same rate of pay as an Infantry Commandant, whereas previously he drew Rs. 100 per mensem more. This is in accordance with the recommendations of the Esher Committee in paragraph 24, Part V, which should be read in connection with paragraph 14 (5). The previous difference between the two branches existed mainly on account of the heavier liability incurred by the Cavalry Commandant in respect of maintaining chargers. The obligatory number of chargers is now maintained by Government in each case, and the pay has therefore been fixed at the same rate. The Esher Committee's recommendation as to the free provision of chargers was not accepted, as it was considered sufficient to allow officers to purchase chargers at concessional rates.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he can now state the recommendations of the Government of India regarding the adjustment of the pay and pensions of those officers of the Indian Army who were retained in the Army on account of the War beyond the date on which they became due to be placed on the retired list; and what decision has been arrived at?

I have not yet received the views of the Government of India on the question.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the British Government has still any control over the production or export of opium and its derivatives; whether he can state the acreage and yield of opium in India in the years 1920 and 1921, and the amount exported therefrom to various countries, and particularly to Hong Kong; and whether the amount exported to Hong Kong bears any relation to the legitimate medical requirements of the island?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the area under poppy cultivation in British India was 143,750 acres in 1920, producing 1,209,600 lbs. of raw opium. The following amounts of raw opium were exported from British India in that year:

		Lbs.
Straits Settlements	…	432,600
Dutch East Indies	…	406,000
Siam	…	238,000
British North Borneo	…	24,640
Ceylon	…	8,400
Japan	…	126,000
Mauritius	…	4,900
French Indo-China	…	133,000
Hong Kong	…	99,540

The amount exported to Hong Kong included the requirements of the Portuguese Colony of Macao. Figures are not yet available in respect of the year 1921. The third part of the question is a matter for the Colonial Office.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that Royal Engineer lieutenant-colonels serving on continuous service in India have to serve sometimes 27 or 27½ years for promotion to lieutenant-colonel, owing to the system of seniority prevailing in the Royal Engineers, whereas an Indian Army officer gets his promotion to lieutenant-colonel on 26 years' service, and that consequently under the new pension rules a Royal Engineer lieutenant-colonel after 30 years' service is only entitled to a pension of £755 compared with an Indian Army lieutenant-colonel's pension of £800; and will he consider the question of allowing Royal Engineer officers eligible for Indian pensions to count their rank element for pension from 26 years' service if their promotion by seniority is over that time?

The question of the application of the revised rates of Indian Army pensions to Royal Engineer officers serving in India is now under reference to the Government of India, and when their recommendations are received will be carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the India Office declines to allow varnish manufacturing firms in the North of England to register their names on the list of contractors, and restricts competition to firms close to London only; and if he will take steps to abolish this undue preference at once?

I have referred this matter to the High Commissioner for India, who is now directly responsible to the Government of India for the purchase of stores for that Government. He informs me that the fact is not as suggested in the question. There are upwards of 50 firms on the Store Department list for varnishes, including firms at

• Birmingham,
• Ripon,
• Wolverhampton,
• Liverpool,
• Hull,
• Sheffield,
• Bristol.

In one case a firm in Northumberland has been excluded from the list because of the remoteness of its works, which makes it impracticable without undue inconvenience and loss of time to carry out the approved procedure for test and inspection of varnish—matters which are of special importance in connection with supplies for use in India. No question of undue preference is therefore involved.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a decision has been arrived at with regard to the Royal Munster Fusiliers, the Dublin Fusiliers, the Leinster Regiment, and other regiments of cavalry and infantry bearing Irish titles; and whether the removal of the depots of these regiments to this country means that under another name these regiments will be kept on the Army List?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for the Shettleston Division of Glasgow (Rear-Admiral Adair) on the 10th February. In so far as the second part of the question refers to regiments which have been selected for disbandment, the reply to that part is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is now proposed to re-clothe any other units in scarlet or other full-dress uniforms; and whether the War Office has lately placed contracts for socks, blankets and underwear at prices as high, or higher, than those for which the Disposals Board sold similar military stores?

A general re-introduction of full dress is not at present proposed. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will permit officers of disbanded cavalry regiments and other disbanded units, who are serving in other units, to use the full dress uniform of their former unit for levees and court ceremonies rather than have to hey the full dress uniform of the unit in which they are now serving for such court ceremonies?

My hon. and gallant Friend will readily understand that an officer serving in one unit or branch of the Service cannot be permitted to appear in the uniform of another. Such an officer, however, except in the case of the Guards, is permitted to wear on ceremonial occasions the service dress of his present unit when he does not possess its full dress, which he is not obliged to buy. In case of retired officers the uniform of a disbanded regiment may be worn.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that despite numerous applications for payment the Corporation of Dover cannot obtain a settlement of an account for water supplied to the Oil Mills barracks, which it is understood is admitted and why the account has not been settled as promised in reply to a previous question on the same subject?

Instructions for payment have now been issued. In regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 11th July last.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many men are employed in the accountant's section of the Stores Branch, Royal Air Force; how many of this total quantity have been pilots and/or observers; how many are non-service men; and whether it would have been possible to have filled all vacancies in this section with ex-pilots and/or ex-observers?

It is assumed that the question refers to officers granted commissions in the Stores Branch of the Royal Air Force for accountant duties; the men employed in this work are ordinary enlisted clerks of the Royal Air Force. On this assumption, the answer to the first question asked is 99 officers, to the second, 10 officers, and to the third, none. With regard to the last question, it was not considered desirable, in view of the need for obtaining officers with the best accountant experience in the interests of economy and efficiency, to restrict entry to ex-pilots and ex-observers, to the exclusion of other candidates from the three Services who possessed the necessary qualifications.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether H.M.S. "Furious," undergoing extensive repairs at Rosyth, is to be removed elsewhere for the repairs to be completed; if so, whether he is aware that this will involve making the ship seaworthy and then stripping it again, and that the material for the repairs at Rosyth will also have to be removed; and whether, in the interests of economy, the work now commenced at Rosyth will be completed there?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. H.M.S. "Furious" is, however, in hand for reconstruction as well as for repairs. Only such work as is necessary for her safe removal will be carried out. The cost of this work will be small in comparison with the additional expense which would be necessary to complete the work at Rosyth in a reasonable time. The latter course would involve maintaining that dockyard on a scale which would absorb most of the savings resulting from the contemplated reduction of the establishment. It is solely in the interests of economy that the vessel is being removed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many ex-service men with their families have been assisted with monetary grants and the offer of land have gone to Canada, to Australia, and New Zealand, and to other parts of the British Empire during the last six months of 1921; and what steps have been taken to call attention to the great possibilities offered to prospective emigrants in South and West Africa?

The number of ex-service men (including a few ex-service women) assisted with monetary grants in the shape of free passages during the last six months of 1921 is 5,958, or, including their families, 11,158. Of these 5,958, 882 proceeded to Canada, 3,427 to Australia, 859 to New Zealand, and 790 to other destinations. Most of these persons proceeded overseas with a view to work on the land, but comparatively few had the experience or the capital to enable them to settle upon land of their own on arrival. Full particulars as to opportunities in the Union of South Africa are obtainable through the Oversea Settlement Office, the Office of the High Commissioner for the Union, and the 1820 Memorial Settlers' Association; but there are few openings in the Union at the present time except for persons possessing capital. There are no openings in West Africa for settlement in the ordinary sense.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the great depression in agricultural prices, he will grant permission to the Norfolk County Council immediately to proceed to the reduction of the rents of land farmed by ex-service holders before numbers of these men are financially ruined?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for South West Norfolk (Sir R. Winfrey).

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the cost of the Inquiry into the question of the importation of Canadian cattle?

I am informed that the cost of the Inquiry was £3,100.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that many ex-service men subject to malaria attributable to military service are unable to obtain any pension whilst suffering from this disease because it is intermittent in character, and has usually disappeared before the man can be sent to a medical board; and whether, in order that justice may be done to these men, arrangements will be made whereby the certificate of the man's local doctor will be accepted as evidence of his disability?

In awarding pension for disabilities of an intermittent character, regard is paid to the probable course of the disease during the period of the award. My right hon. Friend is aware that in dealing with claims to pension for malaria difficulty sometimes arises in establishing the existence of the disease owing to the fact that it is active at long intervals only and for very short periods. He is, however, considering what better arrangements, consistent with his powers under the Royal Pension Warrants, can be made to meet this difficulty.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of the Departmental Committee on Allotments and its recommendation that the Regulations as to acquiring the use of land for allotments made under the Defence of the Realm Act should, with modifications, be reenacted; and, in view of the amount of short time now being worked, whether he will take the necessary steps in this direction?

I have been asked to reply. As indicated in the King's Speech, the Government propose to intro- duce during the present Session a Bill following on the Report of the Departmental Committee to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, and the recommendations of that Committee are receiving careful consideration in the preparation of the Bill.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in order to reduce expenditure in lighting, he will consider the suggestion that during this Session the House should sit during the daylight hours?

I do not think that my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion would meet the general desire of the House, or be in the public interest.

asked the Prime Minister whether the approval of the third International Labour Conference and of the governing body was obtained for the substitution of the hon. Member for Salford, South, for Sir Malcolm Delevingne as the British Government representative or the governing body of the International Labour Office, as laid down in Article 393 of the Treaty of Versailles, which says in paragraph (b) that the period of office of the members of the governing body will be three years, and the method of filling vacancies and other similar questions may he determined by the governing body subject to the approval of the Conference?

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the question of allowing substitutes for the appointed members of the governing body was discussed by the committee of selection of the third International Labour Conference; that this committee made certain recommendations in this connection upon which delegates will be asked to vote at the next session of the Conference; and whether, in these circumstances, the appointment of the hon. Member for South Salford as substitute for Sir Malcolm Delevingne is valid?

His Majesty's Government, in accordance with the Treaty, has a right to representation on the governing body of the International Labour Organisation, and selects from time to time its representative on that body. In fact, no objection was raised, nor could it be so raised, upon the governing body to the nomination by His Majesty's Government of my hon. Friend the Member for Salford South, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, to that body, nor was any objection offered by the Conference. The hon. Member for Salford South is duly appointed representative of the British Government, and was never a substitute to Sir Malcolm Delevingne, as suggested in the second question. The further points raised therein, therefore, do not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he has any information to the effect that Herr Hugo Stinnes, the German industrial magnate, has offered the Dutch East Indian Government a loan of £10,000,000 at 6 per cent. on condition that the Dutch authorities place their 1922 contracts with his combine; and whether, if this is correct, facts of this nature are taken into consideration in assessing the ability of Germany to meet her obligations under the Versailles Treaty?

Reports of the nature indicated by the hon. Member have reached me from several quarters, but I have been unable to obtain any definite confirmation either of an offer by Herr Stinnes of a loan to the Netherlands East Indian Government or of his participation in a Dutch Colonial loan. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the congestion at the British Museum, Bloomsbury, he will consider the advisability of amending the law to enable some of the objects to be loaned to various museums in the country which would be glad to have them, and thus relieve the pressure?

Steps have been taken to ascertain the views of the trustees on this proposal. The trustees consider that the utility of the Museum would be greatly impaired by introducing the practice of making loans to local museums. If exhibition were the only object of the Museum, it would be possible to dispense with a part of the collections, but the Museum exists at least as much for the sake of study and research; and for the purpose of students the concentration of a large number of specimens in one place is of the first importance.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the public have to pay 1s. per copy for the OFFICIAL REPORT of the proceedings of the House of Commons; and if he will consider the reduction of this charge?

The price of the OFFICIAL REPORT of Debates of the House of Commons was raised to 1s. from the 14th December last. The Reports had previously been sold at a considerable loss, and in view of the need for economy it was decided to raise the price so as to bring it nearer to the cost of production. A reduction in price can only be considered when production costs have fallen substantially.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the large increase in the price of the OFFICIAL REPORT precludes the working classes and small labour clubs from purchasing it; if he will state the reason of the increase; and whether he proposes to take any action to reduce the same?

In reply to the first part of the question, I am advised that it is too soon to estimate the permanent effect on sales to the public of the recent increase in the price of the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the second and third parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to-day on the same subject to the hon. and gallant Member for Torquay (Colonel Burn).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of duties collected under the Safeguarding of Industries Act during the months of October, November, December, and January; and can he say what proportion of this amount was collected on goods from France, America, Belgium, Italy, and Japan?

The total amount of duty collected under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, during the months in question was £88,138. Of this amount £12,524; £12,017; £1,466; £3,423 and £617 was collected in respect of goods consigned from France, United States of America, Belgium, Italy, and Japan respectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, despite his assurance that extra staff, larger premises, and extra facilities would be forthcoming, there is still considerable delay in the clearance of parcels from Germany owing to the collection of duties; is he aware that a parcel containing two watches arrived in London on 21st December, and were advised from Mount Pleasant on the 24th, and an amount of £2 12s. 3d. demanded for clearance which was duly forwarded; that on 2nd January a letter was received from the Customs stating that there was a further amount of £3 7s. due under the Finance Act of 1915, which amount was forwarded on the 4th January with forms duly signed and certified by the officer of Customs and Excise at Northampton; and that on 14th January a receipt for the £2 12s. 3d. was received from the Customs but no acknowledgment of the £3 7s.; and can he take action to ensure this parcel being despatched to the consignee without further delay?

Excepting for a brief period following on the Christmas pressure, I understand that the delay in the delivery of post parcels from Germany due to the collection of the Reparation Levy and Customs duties has now been reduced to a minimum. In the particular case referred to, the two watches were forwarded, not by parcel post, but by registered letter post, the use of which for the transmission of dutiable articles is prohibited by international agreement. The watches were, therefore, in strictness liable to seizure, but in the circumstances of the case the Commissioners of Customs and Excise allowed delivery on payment of the Customs duty, etc., involved subject to assay as required by law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amounts subscribed to each of the various war loans at home and abroad, respectively, the issue price of such loans, the dates of issue of such loans, and the date on which in each case interest became payable, the amount of each loan transferred to subsequent loans, the amount of each loan now outstanding, the total amount of war saving certificates purchased, and the amount now in the hands of the public?

Owing to the numerous conversions from one loan into another, and possible subsequently into a third or even a fourth, figures in the form asked for by the hon. Member are not readily available. Much of the information will, however, be found in the Annual Finance Accounts and in the National Debt Returns, particularly on page 16 of Command Paper No. 1438 recently issued, which gives the figures as on 31st March last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received protests against the provisions of the Old Age Pensions Act whereby people who have been thrifty are barred from receiving the full benefit of the State pension; and whether he can state if it is the intention of the Government to take any action to remove the disabilities associated with old age pensions?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second part I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Consett Division of Durham (Mr. A. Williams) yesterday.

asked the Home Secretary what action he is taking, in view of the failure of the local police to trace the murderers in the Leicester outrage, known as the green bicycle case, and the Bournemouth murder, to secure the best available detective ability immediately any murder takes place; and whether he has opened up communications with the provincial watch committees to secure more effective control by the Home Office of local police?

The fact that the two murderers in question have up to now escaped detection does not in my opinion prove that the best means available have not been employed for detecting them, nor do I feel able to affirm that an extension of the powers of the Home Office over county and borough police would, in fact, increase their efficiency in this respect. It is well known to all police authorities that they can have the assistance of one of the best detectives in Scotland Yard in a murder case if it is asked for at once, and no charge is made for his services. The question of securing more effective co-operation is under consideration.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the prices at which beer is retailed; and if he will say what is the cost of production per bulk barrel of beer produced under the State scheme at Carlisle, what is the price at which it is charged to the State's retail establishments in Carlisle, and what is the price at which it is retailed to the public in Carlisle?

The price at which beer is retailed to the public outside the limits of the State management districts is a matter over which I have no control. The price for draft ale and beer as retailed to the public in the State-owned premises in the Carlisle district ranges from 6d. to 9d. per pint. I am not prepared to state the price at which the beer is charged to the retailed premises or the cost of production.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the National Union of Shop Assistants has written to him several times drawing his attention to the action of the Nottingham magistrates in December last in dismissing a number of summonses against shopkeepers for infringing the Shops Acts, although the offence in each case was clearly proved; that no answer has been given to these communications beyond an acknowledgment of their receipt; and whether he proposes to take any action, legislative or otherwise, to secure strict compliance with the law?

I received the letters referred to, and after the observations of the magistrates had been obtained and considered, a reply was sent to the union last week. The enforcement of the Shops Acts is a statutory duty of the local authorities, who are required to institute any proceedings necessary for the purpose. The magistrates, however, have full discretion to dismiss any case in which, having regard to the trivial nature of the offence or extenuating circumstances, they consider it inexpedient to inflict any punishment, and it appears that in each of the cases at Nottingham referred to in the correspondence the justices were of opinion that the particular circumstances justified them in exercising this discretion. I do not think I can usefully take any further action in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state the amount received in premiums by the insurance companies in respect of employers' liability insurance for the year 1920; the amount paid in compensation owing to accident or disability covered by such premiums, together with the respective percentages paid as compensation; the percentage cost of administration, with medical and legal expenses; and the percentage of profit available after such charges have been met?

I am informed that, according to the Returns furnished to the Board of Trade, which have not yet been published, the income of the companies for the year 1920 from premiums and interest on reserves was £9,047,559, Out of this, £2,980,755 was expended in payments under policies, and £1,532,847 was transferred to the reserves to meet unexpired risks and outstanding claims. These two amounts represent between 49 and 50 per cent. of the income. Payments under policies, however, include legal and medical expenses incurred in connection with claims, and the per- centage of income actually devoted to provision of compensation must be taken to be somewhat less than this. The cost of administration, including payments for commission but excluding legal and medical expenses, was 32·3 per cent., and the amount distributed as profits was 18·44 per cent.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that in some main thoroughfares in the Metropolitan area, owing to differentiation in the hours of closing, public-houses on the one side of the street are open while on the other they are closed; and whether he will consider the desirability of taking steps, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent such differences of treatment?

As long as there are different hours on the two sides of a boundary the condition indicated in the first paragraph of the question must inevitably arise; and it has existed ever since different hours were fixed by Parliament in 1872 for different districts in London and elsewhere. The problem has been complicated now by the different hours fixed by Justices in different licensing districts of the Metropolis; but it is too soon to say that the evil effects, if any, are such that Parliament ought to reconsider the provisions settled last year enabling the varying needs and wishes of different districts to be met in this way.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether his attention has been called to the remarks made by the learned judge at the trial of the men Hogan, Cooley, and Roche, convicted of larceny of machine guns and rifles from barracks at Chelsea and Windsor; whether His Majesty's Government regard the crime as non-political; whether he will say why Roche's second and more complete confession was not included with his original statement in the police court depositions;(2) whether two men named Fitzgerald were implicated in the confession made by Sergeant Roche in the Windsor arms case, one of whom was believed to be a Sinn Fein leader; whether any steps were taken to secure his arrest; whether one of these men, Francis Fitzgerald, was discharged by the magistrate; if he can state why this man was not re-arrested in view of the fresh charges arising out of the crime and Sergeant Roche's confession; and whether it is possible to frame such charges in view of the fact that he is alleged to be the organiser of the whole proceeding?

Only one Fitzgerald was implicated—Francis Fitzgerald. He was arrested and charged, but the magistrate held that the evidence against him was insufficient and discharged him. There was no fresh evidence to justify his rearrest. I understand that at the trial the judge remarked that he did not understand why Fitzgerald had been discharged at the police court, but a day or two later he re-considered his view and agreed that the proper course had been taken. I am not prepared to say how far the crimes were political and how far influenced by other motives. The first written confession which Roche made was given in evidence against him; the second added nothing as regards himself, and as regards Fitzgerald it was inadmissible as evidence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Committee appointed in 1914 to inquire into the mortality among merchant seamen, which was suspended during the War, has since been revived; and, if not, why not?

The Committee to which the hon. Member refers has not been revived, and I am afraid that the complete statistical investigation which was contemplated in 1914 is one of the things which we must defer owing to pressure of work and need for economy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any progress has been made in deciding the reparation claims of merchant seamen torpedoed at sea; and if he can hold out any prospect of early payment?

These claims are being dealt with by the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action, under the chairman-shop of Lord Sumner, which was appointed in August last. The sums received by this country from Germany up to the present are insufficient to cover the cost of the British Army of Occupation, which is a charge prior to reparation. But, in spite of this fact, the Government propose to ask Parliament to vote the sum of £5,000,000 to be paid in grants to individuals recommended by the Royal Commission. The Commission expect to be in a position to recommend certain grants in cases of special hardship up to a total of £100,000 during the current financial year, and a Supplementary Estimate for this amount is being presented. A further amount will be included in the Estimates for 1922/23.

asked the Minister of Labour, in view of the fact that the Waste Trade Board first met in September, 1920; that a minimum rate of wages for female workers was fixed on 11th March, 1921; that he wrote on 7th April to the effect that the rate should be reconsidered by the Board; that on the 16th May the Board wrote again to ask that the rates as fixed might be confirmed to become effective as soon as possible; that he replied finally on the 19th July refusing to confirm the rates, but stating that if, having regard to the facts, the Board would desire to review the position, he would take steps to ensure that, so far as the length of the period which must elapse under the Acts before any revised proposals could become operative, depended upon his action, it would be as short as possible; and that the Board in consequence fixed a rate on 24th November and forwarded this for confirmation; whether he will say if the rate has been confirmed; and, if not, will he state the reasons?

My right hon. Friend has made an Order, dated 25th January, confirming the minimum rates of wages fixed by the General Waste Materials Reclamation Trade Board and specifying 1st March as the date from which the rates shall become effective.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the fact that in Liverpool the casually employed dock labourer is compelled to present himself twice each day to sign the unemployment register, many of them having to pay tram fares for long distances, while other casually employed men, such as shipyard workers, only present themselves twice during the week, and casual carters and warehousemen once each day; if he is aware that, though the casual docker may be idle five days in any given week, should he secure employment on the Monday of the following week, is unemployed on the Tuesday, and again employed on the Wednesday, though he may be unemployed for the remaining portion of the second week, he forfeits the five days of the first week as part of his qualifying period; and if he has further considered means by which this hardship may be removed?

There are two calls each day, except Saturday, at the Liverpool Docks, and as dock labourers cannot obtain work unless they attend the place of call, I do not think any serious hardship is caused by requiring them to register at the neighbouring office immediately after each call as evidence that they are unemployed but genuinely seeking work. As regards the latter part of the question, my hon. Friend's example is correct in the special circumstances mentioned. We have asked the National Joint Council for Port Labour to nominate representatives to consider the operation of the continuity rule, but have not yet received all their nominations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give the number of Chinese, Japanese, and Indians who settled in Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada during 1921; and to what extent, if any, such Alien Restriction Acts are resented by the countries first named?

I am not in a position to furnish the information desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Germans are being, or have been, supplied with phospates from Ocean Island; if so, on what terms the phosphates are being, or have been, supplied; in what form is payment made by Germany; and what is the nationality of the ships conveying the phosphates to Germany?

Since the phosphate industry in Ocean Island and Nauru came under the control of the Commissioners appointed under the Nauru Island Agreement, several cargoes of phosphate have been shipped from those islands to Germany in British or Japanese vessels. I am informed that these cargoes were sold at the best price obtainable, in accordance with the terms of Article 11 of the Agreement, through agents in London who have arranged and guaranteed payment therefor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has considered a scheme, submitted for his approval, whereby British private capital would be encouraged to aid in the necessary development of various Crown Colonies and Protectorates in carrying out works that, in the opinion of the local governments concerned, are essential for the development of trade and commerce in these territories, the decision as to which schemes be given preference being decided by the British Governments up to a total capital of £25,000,000, in return for which the Government would guarantee interest, and in conjunction with the local governments provide adequate securities; and, if this scheme be not approved, on what grounds is it rejected?

Various schemes have been brought to my notice involving a guarantee of capital or interest by His Majesty's Government, but no definite scheme of the nature suggested has been submitted.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport on how many of the new arterial, circular, and by-pass roads near London, under construction by his Department, has work actually been commenced; where and when such work was commenced; what progress has been made; how many persons are now employed on the work; what has been the cost of this work to date; what proportion of the road fund allocated for this work is still held in reserve; and if such reserve is invested in Government securities?

The particulars asked for in respect of the new arterial, circular

SCHEDULE.
Road.	Work commenced on:—	No. of men employed on 9th February 1922.	Progress at 9th February, 1922.
Eastern Avenue	13th June, 1921	546	Two-thirds completed.
East Ham and Barking By-Pass	13th June, 1921	472	Two-thirds completed, excluding the bridges.
Eltham By-Pass (Section in Kent).	8th August, 1921	168	Half completed.
Shooter's Hill By-Pass (Section in Kent).	8th September, 1921	31	Half completed.
London-Southend Road, Contract No. 1.	8th December, 1921	1,260	Excavation commenced on Section 1 (7 miles).
Contract No. 2 (Last mile at Southend).	12th December, 1921	95	Setting out and preliminary works.
London-Tilbury Road, including Rainham and Purfleet By-Passes.	5tb December, 1921	304	Excavation commenced.
Woodford—Ilford Road	10th January 1922	151	Excavation and filling commenced along practically entire route.
Dartford—Erith Road Improvement.	5th December, 1921	188	About 1 mile in hand.
Dartford—Gravesend Road Improvement.	2nd December, 1921	195	About 1 mile in hand.
Gravesend—Strood Road Improvement.	2nd December, 1921	54	About ½ mile in hand.
Watling Street from Dartford to Strood.	12th December, 1921	402	About 1¼ miles in hand.
Sidcup—Farningham Road Improvement, with By-Pass at Farningham.	6th January, 1922	201	About ½ mile in hand.
Farningham — Wrotham Road Improvement, with By-Pass at Wrotham.	9th January, 1922	2	Offices erected, 4 miles' surveying in hand.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware of the large numbers of miners, their wives and children who are suffering severe privation from lack of food and clothing consequent upon the large reductions in wages, the lack of employment, and the still high cost of living in many of the mining areas; and, if so, will he say what steps, if any, the Government propose to take to remedy this serious state of affairs?

I am aware of the present condition of the mining industry, and I regret to say that it is true that in many districts there is great distress amongst the mining population. The remedy can lie only in an improvement in the trade of the country and a reduction in the cost of living.