asked the Secretary of State for India if he will lay upon the Table of the House the full text of the Resolutions of which notice has been given during the current Session of the Council of State and of the Legislative Assembly of India?

I have not the materials for a complete statement, but have telegraphed to the Government of India asking for it, and will place a copy in the Library as soon as I receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the obligatory linguistic tests for British officers of the Indian Army have recently been altered; and whether the result has been to lower the standards prescribed in this regard?

In view of the fact that the standard of knowledge of the vernaculars attained by junior officers of the Indian Army had been for some time recognised to be inadequate, the language regulations have recently been revised and brought generally into line with the tests prescribed by the War Office. The only obligatory test for retention in the Indian Army is now a preliminary examination in Urdu. It is probable that the Government of India will continue the system recently adopted, of marking of unseen translations with less severity, but, for the reason which I have already given, the general standard of the examination has not been lowered.

Is the present knowledge of young officers adequate or inadequate?

It is inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the fact that revised rates of pay of Imperial Services in India hardly allow British civil and military officers to marry early in life is duly made known in quarters whence applicants appear, in order to prevent disappointment on the part of those now about to embark upon a career in India?

I am not quite clear what my hon. Friend suggests. The rates of pay are known: it would be difficult to dogmatise as to their general sufficiency or insufficiency for marriage.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the pay is generally considered to be insufficient at present. It was to ascertain that that I put down the question.

What my hon. Friend is suggesting is that I should argue the question in a circular to be issued to applicants for the service. That would be very difficult.

asked the Secretary of State for India (1) whether he will give a return showing the number of political prisoners at present in prison or interned in India; in what gaols and in what category they are confined;

(2) whether his attention has been drawn to the restriction on the rights of travel inflicted upon Indians in the mandated territory of Tanganyika; "whether the removal of the ban was effected on his representations; and whether he has asked for disciplinary action against the official guilty of making these invidious distinctions?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answers given to him on the 22nd. Those answers appeared in the OFFICIAL REPORT of that date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries and supply the returns that are asked for, and, in particular, say whether it is not a fact that Sir George Lloyd, in Bombay, managed to do without the imprisonment of these particular persons?

I shall be happy to make inquiries to get my hon. and gallant Friend any information which he requires.

I want to know the number of political arrests in each of the major provinces.

Immediately an attempt is made to get the information, there is always a difficulty in describing exactly what are "political arrests."

I think that the right hon. Gentleman knows what are political arrests.

asked the Secretary of State for India what reply has been given by the Government to the request, made six months ago by the Indian Legislative Assembly, that an examination should be held into the Indian Constitution?

I presume that the Noble Lord refers to the Resolution passed by the Assembly at the end of September asking the Government of India to convey to the Secretary of State the view of the Assembly "That the progress made by India on the path of responsible government warrants a reexamination and revision of the constitution at an earlier date than 1929." I propose to send a despatch in reply following generally the lines I indicated on this subject in my statement to the House on the 14th February.

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that to grant the demand of the Legislative Assembly would have a very great effect on public opinion in India?

I think that the Noble Lord is under a misapprehension as to the wishes of the Legislature. Under the Act, a re-examination will be necessary in 1929.

Is it, not the case that many in India are persuaded that the only course of safety is a firm adherence to the decision with regard to the provision of the reforms which he has already announced?

Is my right hon. Friend going to grant a re-examination before 1929?

It is rather too early yet to say. The year 1929 is a long way off.

—

This is becoming a Debate.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received a resolution on this subject from the Labour party?

May I have an answer to the question which I asked before the hon. Member for Nottingham (Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck) intervened?

We must not allow these questions and answers to develop-into a Debate.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any official confirmation of the report that the Ameer of Afghanistan has sent a mis- sion to Angora saying he had urged the British to refrain from assisting the Greeks?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Army Estimates are still prepared under the pre-War Vote headings, whilst Appropriation Accounts are prepared under the heading of units and establishments; and if he will take steps to see that both sets of figures are prepared on the same basis?

No, Sir. The Army Estimates are now prepared in the new form approved on the recommendation of the National Expenditure Committee of 1917, and the Accounts follow the form of the Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for War the reasons for which the Royal Small Arms Factory church, Enfield Lock, has been closed?

As adequate and suitable provision for religious ministrations to the small number of soldiers at Enfield could be made more economically by arranging for their attendance at an ordinary church in the neighbourhood, I did not think that the expense of keeping the factory church open, involving the payment of an officiating clergyman, salary of organist, lighting, heating, etc., was justified.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Bishop of Willesden has offered to defray the entire cost of running this church and to rent the premises from the Government? If he finds that to be the case, will he alter his decision?

I will certainly consider any offer of that sort.

Am I right in understanding that the sole reason of the Government for shutting down these premises is economy?

Yes.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that workmen who took their discharges from the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, on 25th February, have been informed by the representatives of their Departments that their gratuities on discharge shall not include their War bonus; and whether he can confirm this, in view of the statements now being made in the public Press that these men are only to be paid on the basis of their ordinary gratuity?

I think there must have been some misunderstanding. The hon. Member for Silvertown sent me a Paper, but it did not bear any name or any question, and I am afraid that he must have done the same in the case of the Minister.

I sent in three copies of this question.

The Minister, I am sure, would have been present had he received notice of the question. I myself received a document which had neither signature nor heading. There was something about a question, but no question was enclosed. It was not until the hon. Member rose a minute or two ago that I was able to send round to inquire what it was that he wished to ask, and I am afraid that the Minister must be in the same position.

I will raise the question to-morrow.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many ex-service men employed in a temporary capacity competed at the recent examinations for the clerical class; how many passed, qualified, or failed; what number of those who failed applied to appear before the Investigating Board under paragraphs 36–39 of the Lytton Committee's Third Interim Report: and how many were recommended?

The number of ex-service men employed by the War Department in a temporary capacity and recommended, notwithstanding failure in the qualifying examination, as "specially competent," under paragraph 37 of the Lytton Report, was 295. These men were selected as the result of careful sifting of all the applications by their respective superiors in Army offices throughout the country, but I regret that I am not in a position to state the total number of applicants, or to furnish the other particulars asked for in the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many ex-service men employed in a temporary capacity competed at the recent examinations for the clerical class; how many passed, qualified, or failed; what number of those who failed applied to appear before the Investigating Board, under paragraphs 36–39 of the Lytton Committee's Third Interim Report, and how many were recommended?

Nineteen ex-service men competed, of whom none passed and two qualified. Of the 17 who failed, 15 applied to appear before the Investigating Board, and nine were recommended.

asked the Home Secretary how many ex-service men employed in a temporary capacity competed at the recent examinations for the clerical class; how many passed, qualified, or failed; what number of those who failed applied to appear before the Investigating Board under paragraphs 36–39 of the Lytton Committee's Third Interim Report; and how many were recommended?

Twenty-seven ex-service men employed in the Home Office competed, and of these none were then successful; two qualified and have since been declared successful; and 25 failed to qualify. Of the latter, 22 applied to appear before the Board and six were recommended.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many ex-service men employed in a temporary capacity competed at the recent examinations for the clerical class; how many passed, qualified, and failed; what number of those who failed applied to appear before the Investigating Board under paragraphs 36–39 of the Lytton Committee's Third Interim Report; and how many were recommended?

The number of ex-service men who are employed in a temporary capacity in Departments for which I am responsible, and who competed at the recent examinations for the clerical class, was 90. Of these, 18 passed, 8 qualified, and 64 failed. Of those who failed, 30 applied to the, head of their respective Departments to be recommended for consideration by the Investigating Board, and 19 were so recommended.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give instructions that those men who made personal application for permission to join the Army during the War, but who were refused permission by the Government on the ground that their services were elsewhere required, shall for all purposes of discharge now from Government establishments be reckoned as being in the same category as ex-service men?

I am sorry that there has been some mistake about my Noble Friend's question, which I understood was to have been answered by the Treasury.

I will put it down to-morrow.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to a recent resolution of the York Board of Guardians which was adopted at the Central Conference of the Poor Law Guardians of England and Wales on 14th February, in which they referred to the large proportion of disabled ex-service men among the applicants for Poor Law relief, and urged the desirability of granting full disability pensions to all disabled ex-service men while unemployed, in view of the fact that they are doubly handicapped in an overcrowded labour market by reason of the disability arising from war service; and whether he will take steps to give effect to this resolution?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Abertillery (Mr. G. Barker) on the 9th February, of which I am sending him a copy, and to which I have nothing to add.

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman cannot concede the whole of this demand, will he consider the desirability of conceding, at any rate, part of it?

If my hon. and learned Friend will refer to the answer given by the Minister of Pensions, he will see that he is not prepared to accede to this demand. He will also see from the supplementary answer why, in his opinion, it is not in the interests of the ex-service men themselves.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that in December last the total staff of his Department numbered 23,813, of which over 12,000 constituted non-service labour, of which number there were over 4,000 substitutable positions; and, in view of the large number of dismissals in other Departments of ex-service clerks, will he undertake that all substitutable non-service labour, as defined by the Lytton Report, shall be replaced by ex-service officers and men who served with His Majesty's forces in the War?

The question of the substitution of non-service personnel in the Ministry was fully considered by the Lytton Committee, and is dealt with in paragraphs 18 and 19 of the third report of that Committee. My right hon. Friend is at present adjusting his staff in order to carry out the recommendations of that Committee by the 31st prox.

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many ex-service men employed in a temporary capacity competed at the recent examina- tions for the clerical class; how many passed, qualified, or failed; what number of those who failed applied to appear before the investigating board under paragraphs 36–39 of the Lytton Committee's third Interim Report; and how many were recommended?

The numbers required are:

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-service men employed in a temporary capacity competed at the recent examinations for the clerical class; how many passed, qualified, or failed, respectively; what number of those who failed applied to appear before the investigating board under paragraphs 36–39 of the Lytton Committee's third Interim Report; and how many were recommended?

2,873 temporary ex-service men employed in the Ministry of Labour competed at the examinations in question. Of these 170 were successful, while a further 279 (all of whom have subsequently been declared successful) reached the qualifying standard. Of the 2,424 who failed to qualify, about 1,500 applied, either verbally or in writing, for the concession provided in the Lytton Committee's Report; 277 were recommended for special consideration; and, after careful inquiries by a Departmental Committee, 84 have been finally recommended to the Civil Service Commission for permanent appointment.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if it is proposed to appoint female writing assistants to a small block of work in the Inland Revenue Department, this not being in accordance with the Reorganisation Report of the National Whitley Council; if, in view of the grave hardship to ex-service men, he will suspend appointments to this class for a period of one year, at the end of which time the matter be reconsidered; and will he employ instead those ex-service men who would otherwise be dismissed as redundant, treating the Civil Service as a whole?

Nine writing assistants are at present employed, and have for some time been employed, mainly upon sorting duties in the statistical branch of the Board of Inland Revenue. The employment of these permanent officers upon this work is in accordance with the principles of the Reorganisation Report of the National Whitley Council, and their appointment did not, of course, entail the discharge of any ex-service men. Having regard to the nature of the duties and the qualities required for their performance, I have been unable, after very careful consideration, to approve the extended employment of ex-service men upon routine and mechanical work of this character, to which, as experience has shown, they do not readily take.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will indicate what attitude is being adopted by His Majesty's Government towards ex-service temporary Civil Service Clerks who in all probability will be thrown out of employment consequent on reductions in the staffs of Government offices; and whether he can give an assurance that no ex-service temporary clerk will be discharged until all positions held by non-service men and women have been filled from among competent ex-service clerks?

In effecting discharges of temporary personnel, preference for retention is accorded to ex-service men and women, and Departments are required to arrange, wherever possible, for the absorption of ex-service temporary personnel, for whom work is no longer available in one branch, by the discharge of temporary non-service personnel from another. When posts are not available in the same Department every effort is made to place efficient ex-service personnel in temporary posts in other Departments. As regards the latter part of the question I would refer to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewisham on the 20th instant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any annual Report on the colony of St. Lucia, one of the Windward Islands of the British West Indies, has yet been received since that for 1915–16; and, if not, whether further steps, in addition to the reminder promised in an answer given on 6th July of last year, will be taken to ensure more prompt publication of this and other Colonial Reports?

My right hon. Friend regrets to say that the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. He is taking special steps to secure the early publication of an up-to-date report on St. Lucia. As regards other Colonies, Governors are reminded from time to time of the necessity of prompt publication, but Colonial Administrations have several difficulties to contend with in this matter, among them being the great pressure of public business during the last two or three years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has under consideration the proposals of the municipality of Colombo for the levy of local taxation on the capital value of the undeveloped land on the lines adopted in Singapore; and, if so, what action he has taken or proposes to take in the matter?

The Governor of Ceylon recently informed my right hon. Friend of a proposal to introduce into the Legislative Council a Bill embodying the proposals of the Municipal Council of Colombo with regard to the assessment of land values for local taxation. After submitting the draft Bill for the observations of the Ministry of Health, my right hon. Friend in- formed the Governor that he had no objection to its introduction in the Council. Pending the receipt of the Ordinance as passed by the Council, my right hon. Friend does not propose to take any action. He would be reluctant to interfere with the discretion of the Legislative Council in such a matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make any further statement as to the murders of Lieutenant Genochio, Royal Engineers, Lieutenant Meade, Royal Army Service Corps, and Quartermaster-Sergeant Cunliffe; whether, in the latter case, these soldiers were armed; whether there is any news of the murderers; and whether the Irish Provisional Government have made any communication with respect to these atrocities, or expressed any regret for them officially or sympathy with the relatives?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not yet in a position to make any further statement in regard to these cases except to state that all efforts to trace and apprehend the murderers have up to the present proved unavailing. The Provisional Government have conveyed to His Majesty's Government an expression of their abhorrence of these crimes and of their determination to take all possible measures for bringing the perpetrators to justice.

When will the hon. Gentleman be in a position to state that further information has been received?

The Noble Lord knows quite well that I am not now in possession of the information.

On a point of Order. This question was put down a week ago on behalf of the parents and relatives of these two officers. This is the day upon which the Secretary of State for the Colonies is supposed to answer questions. Is it not rather discourteous to the House that the Secretary of State should not be in his place?

We are all liable to fail at times.

I will put the question down again for this day week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether all the special constables and others kidnapped, captured, or in any other way illegally detained by the Irish Republican forces have now been released?

All the special constables and other persons kidnapped by the Irish Republican Army during the recent border disturbances have now been released, with the exception of the special constables arrested in Clones Station on the 11th instant, and the question of the continued detention of these constables is being considered at the present moment.

Have any representations been made to the Provisional Government about the illegal detention of these special constables? What is the view of the Government about it?

My Noble Friend knows that I am not in a position to answer. I believe representations have been made with regard to this matter.

Is it not a fact that when Mr. Griffith was here he arranged to have these men returned?

asked the Prime Minister whether the British Government have, under the new system of government in Southern Ireland, any right of inspection of cattle in Southern Ireland, with a view to ascertaining the existence of cattle disease in that country; and whether, in order to protect the herds of this country from the danger and immense losses consequent on outbreaks of disease, he will, as a condition of permitting the importation of live cattle into this country, demand from the Government of Southern Ireland adequate rights of inspection of cattle in Southern Ireland?

I apologise for my absence earlier. The uncertainties of traffic must be my excuse.

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative. The inspection of cattle in Ireland is carried out with efficiency and success by qualified inspectors of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, and I see no reason for assuming that under the new Governmental system which is being set up, there will be any relaxation of the precautions hitherto taken against all kinds of infectious disease. It is obviously in Ireland's own interests to maintain those precautions. The Board of Agriculture will of course retain the power it now possesses of prohibiting or restricting the importation into this country of cattle from Ireland as from any other of the Dominions.

Is it not the case that as soon as the Provisional Government is legalised, inspectors from this country will have no jurisdiction in Southern Ireland?

Is it not a fact that they have no jurisdiction now?

And is it not a fact that there is no infection of cattle in Ireland and that any diseases in Ireland are brought over from this country?

( by Private Notice ) the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a raid has been made by a party of the Irish Republican Army upon the Clonmel Police Barracks; whether a considerable number of motors, rifles and a large amount of ammunition has been stolen and, if so, how much; whether this raid is to be considered as being a breach of the Truce; whether any representations have been made to the Irish Provisional Government; and whether steps are being taken by them to deal with those responsible for it and to return the stores and gear stolen?

Notice of this question has not reached me. But I can see by the way that the raid has been reported in the newspapers, that it appears to have been a serious affair. There is no doubt whatever that it is hostile, directly hostile, to the Provisional Government of Ireland. They have no need to raid for rifles, because they have only to ask the Imperial Government, and they can have rifles supplied to them—[An HON. MEMBER: "As many as they like?"] As many as are reasonable to equip the force and prevent raids of this character. I know the Provisional Government are very anxious about the state of affairs in Tipperary. That is one of the parts of the country where the Irish Republican Army have mutinied against the general authority of the Provisional Government, and I have been in communication with them to know what steps they are taking to assert their authority in that part of Ireland.

Are we to understand that this raid was made by the Irish Republican Army; we were told the other day that that Army acted on behalf of the Provisional Government?

Out of 26 counties in Ireland there are three or four districts, including Tipperary, part of Cork and Limerick, where the Provisional Government have been defied by the Irish Republican Army. In the case of Limerick the Provisional Government have turned the men out and put in their own men; and Tipperary will have to be treated in the same way.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that the Irish Republican Army is one body, and in some cases acts for the Provisional Government, and in other cases it acts against them? The right hon. Gentleman is now handing over arms and ammunition; how can he be assured that those handed over to one part of the Army will not be used by the other?

I think there is no difficulty at all in understanding the position. The Irish Republican Army as a whole—nine-tenths of it—is obeying the orders of the Provisional Government: perhaps the other tenth—or one-twentieth —is contumacious and is adhering to the Republican section of the Dail. Steps are being taken to secure the authority of the Provisional Government over the whole.

Is the Conservative party one body, with some acting one way and some another?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any actuarial calculations were made as to the cost, now and here- after, prior to its introduction, of the Police Pensions Act, 1921; and, if so, whether he will state the results of such calculations?

I think my hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension as to the effect of the Police Pensions Act of last Session. The main provisions of the scheme of police pensions were laid down, not by that Act, but by the Police Act of 1890, and various amending Statutes of later date. The operation of the scheme was the subject of exhaustive actuarial investigation in 1913. The Act of last Session was an Act to consolidate previous Statutes and embody various Amendments recommended by the Desborough Committee and, though these recommendations were not submitted for actuarial investigation, there were ample data for concluding that their net effect will be in the long run to effect a considerable reduction in the cost of police pensions.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the strong objection felt by the great majority of pedal-cyclists to any re-imposition of compulsory rear lights on ordinary pedal-bicycles, as in their opinion there has been no increase in the number of bicycle accidents which have taken place since the rear-light order lapsed; and can he give any statistics to the contrary effect?

I have been asked to answer this question. The views of pedal - cyclist organisations have been fully laid before me. No definite statistics of accidents are available. Representations have, however, been received from Police Watch Committees, Coroners and others as to accidents alleged to have been occasioned by the omission on the part of pedal-cyclists to carry red rear lights.

In the absence of statistics, will my hon. Friend have regard to the opinion of those chiefly concerned, the pedal-cyclists, namely, that the presence of a rear light makes for scorching on the part of motorists?

Is it not true that the Northampton Coroner, in investigating a fatal accident recently, stated that a lady's life would have been saved if she had carried a rear light?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question may I ask—

Questions of detail had better be put on the Paper.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Departmental Committee which was appointed in 1916 to inquire into the social and economic results of The Summer Time Act, 1916, suggested that a very large majority of farmers were in favour of the renewal of the Act, whereas to-day the council of the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales and the National Farmers' Union of Scotland are resolutely opposed to such renewal; and whether he will cause a further inquiry to be instituted into the working of the scheme in the light of the fuller experience acquired?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The views of the farmers' unions have been very fully placed before the Government and have been carefully considered. I do not think that any further inquiry into the working of the system is necessary.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that there are 10 gentlemen who are Commissioners on the Board of Control and only two ladies, one of whom is an honorary member; and whether he will take steps to secure that there are sufficient lady Commissioners on the Board of Control to ensure that all female lunatics can be inspected by women instead of by men?

The facts are as stated in the question except that there are at present only nine men Commissioners. My right hon. Friend does not think it would be desirable to vary the number of Commissioners in the manner suggested.

Will the hon. Gentleman say why he has not been invited to any of the wedding festivities to-day?

I have been invited.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a campaign is being carried out by Mormons in this country to secure mainly women converts to a religion which secretly practises polygamy while officially denying it; whether one of the objects of this campaign is to induce such converts to emigrate to a foreign State; and, if so, whether these people can be deported as undesirable aliens, in the interest of the public, to secure their own safety and prevent civil disturbance?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the activities of Mormon agents in this country?

The activities of the Mormon missionaries are being carefully watched. If the Noble Lord has evidence to support the suggestions made in his question, I shall be glad to have it.

Has the hon. Gentleman investigated the so-called creed of the Mormons, entitled "Doctrine and Covenant," and, if so, has he studied clauses 48 and 49 of the creed?

I would like to see that question on the Paper. The Noble Lord is going into details which ought to be included in a printed question.

On a point of Order. I should find it difficult to put the details on the Paper.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the hardships suffered by common jurors in the discharge of their duties and of the comments thereon that are constantly being made by His Majesty's judges; and whether he will introduce legislation em- bodying the recommendations of the Mersey Departmental Committee, or at any rate that part of them that has reference to the payment of common jurors' out-of-pocket expenses?

I have seen some complaints and comments on this subject. My right hon. Friend would be glad if he could give effect to the recommendation of Lord Mersey's Committee; but it is not possible, as matters stand at present, to propose legislation to impose a new charge on public funds.

asked the Home Secretary the amount of saving that it is estimated the closing of Usk Prison will effect; the amount of additional cost that the conveyance of prisoners to and from Cardiff to the Monmouth Assizes and to the Usk Quarter Sessions will entail; and how it is proposed to deal with remand cases?

The estimated saving is £3,420 a year, against which must be put £870 for increased cost of conveyance and separation allowances to officers, leaving a net saving of £2,550 a year. Remand cases will be sent to Cardiff or Gloucester prisons, except in cases where suitable police cells can be used. Cases for trial at Usk will be accommodated in the prison during the trial.

asked the Home Secretary whether any representations have been made to him about retaining Usk Prison (Mon.), since the recommendation to abolish the same has been made; is he aware of the great expense recently incurred in improving and bringing up to date this building, and also the provision of new accommodation for warders and other officials; is he aware of the convenience and consequent low charges of removing prisoners, etc., seeing that the quarter sessions are held in this town and the assize court near by; is he aware that the people of Cardiff are anxious to get rid of their prison; and will he give time for representation and full consideration to be given to both of these points before coming to a final decision?

Representations have been received from two urban distriet councils. In selecting prisons to be closed, consideration has to be given to the position of surrounding prisons and the Courts which commit to them, and the inconvenience which will be caused by the closing of Usk Prison is not so great as to justify any alteration in the decision. Considerable saving will be effected, as shown in my reply to the hon. Member, for the Monmouth Division. Five bungalow quarters have been provided for the staff during the present and previous financial years; but, apart from this, no exceptional expense has been incurred on this prison. No desire for the closing of Cardiff Prison has been expressed to the Home Secretary, and the Prison Commissioners are of opinion that it would, in any ease, be impossible to close it at the present time.

asked the Home Secretary if he has considered the numerous resolutions passed by labour organisations asking for the release or mitigation of the sentence of hard labour now being served by Albert Inkpin, the secretary of the British Communist party; and whether, in view of the political nature of the charge on which Inkpin was convicted and the fact that the state of his health makes his sentence one of solitary confinement, any steps are contemplated to give effect to the resolutions referred to?

The hard labour has already been remitted. Inkpin is in hospital, and it is a mistake to speak of him as in solitary confinement.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of Roman Catholic schools transferred to education authorities in Scotland under the Education (Scotland) Act, 1918; the number of Episcopal schools similarly transferred; the total cost, respectively, of the school buildings and furniture of such schools as have been purchased by education authorities in Scotland; the yearly rental being paid by education authorities in Scotland to the Roman Catholic Church and to the Episcopal Church for school buildings and furniture leased from these churches; and the total sum paid in 1921 in respect of salaries in the transferred schools in Scotland?

The number of Roman Catholic and Episcopal Schools transferred to education authorities in terms of Section 18 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1918, is 226 and 50 respectively. The further information asked for could only be obtained by calling upon the education authorities to make a special return and would, moreover, necessarily be incomplete, since negotiations as to terms of transfer are still proceeding between education authorities and the managers of a number of schools.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether Scotland is getting a proportionate share of grants for unemployment schemes as compared with England; and will he publish figures illustrating the matter?

Most of the schemes in question are being administered not by Departments under my charge, but by Departments or Committees whose operations cover Great Britain, and I have not the information necessary to enable me to answer the question so far as the activities of these bodies are concerned. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland are administering funds for the relief of unemployment by works in agricultural districts. The sum available for this purpose represents eleven-eightieths of the corresponding funds administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that heather burning will generally be illegal after 10th April next; and whether the Government intend to adopt the recommendations of the Committee which reported recently on this subjects?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part, I hope to make an announcement at an early date.

How long is it until "an early date."

My hon. and gallant Friend can construe the phrase just as well as I can.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he has received any communication from parish councils in Scotland that if some assistance is not given by the Treasury the parish councils in industrial areas will be unable to continue giving relief to able-bodied destitute unemployed persons; and if he is prepared to recommend that a grant be given for this purpose?

I have received a copy of a letter addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by the Parish Councils Association requesting that grants be made. I understand that the Chancellor is arranging to see a small deputation from the association next week.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the definite pledges given at the last General Election that the Government would remove all existing inequalities of the law as between men and women, he will consider the desirability of passing this Session an amending Act whereby women are entitled to the vote on the same terms as men?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on the 13th February in reply to similar questions.

Is it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to reconsider this matter, in view of the great disappointment caused in many quarters?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the public disquietude caused by the allegations of the existence of secret military stores and training of personnel in Germany, he will publish as a White Paper the Reports of the British section of the Allied Control Commission that have been made from time to time?

I have been asked to answer this question. The chief of the British Delegation is in close and constant touch with the War Office on this matter, and it would not be to the public interest to publish this confidential correspondence. The Reports of the Inter-Allied Military Commission of Control, of which the British section forms a part, are similarly confidential. They are rendered to the Allied Military Committee at Versailles, who are responsible for initiating any necessary action.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Germany is to have a forced loan; and if the Reparation Committee can insist on part of this loan being in foreign currency, so that those people in Germany who have placed their securities abroad would have to sell or hand them over against the forced loan?

I understand that proposals for a forced loan have been considered by the German Government, but, so far as I am aware, no decision upon the matter has been reached. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to set up the Departmental Committees to make minute and detailed investigation of expenditure in certain Departments, recommended by the Geddes Report?

I would ask the hon. and gallant Member to await the announcement which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes to make to-morrow.

( by Private Notice ) asked the Leader of the House whether he will permit the discussion on the Geddes Report to be taken on a substantive Motion instead of on the Adjournment of the House?

I think that the most convenient course will be to take to-morrow's discussion, which must necessarily be of a general character, on the Motion for Adjournment, as proposed by me last week.

Will not that be somewhat unsatisfactory, since we shall have no opportunity of expressing our approval or disapproval of the Report as a whole?

I do not quite see that a Motion for the approval or disapproval of the Report as a whole would be a useful discussion. I think it would be a much more effective discussion when we come to examine and deal with the Estimates for the various Services.

asked the Prime Minister on what grounds the Government in 1919 rejected the advice of Sir Reginald Wingate, which Lord Milner's Commission now declare to be fully justified by the sequel, while regretting that Sir Reginald Wingate did not urge his views with greater insistency; and whether, in view of this opinion, the Government will publish the correspondence?

The advice given by Sir R. Wingate in November, 1918, to which reference is made in the Report of Lord Milner's Mission, was that two Egyptian Ministers should come to London in order to discuss the future of their country. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and other leading Members of His Majesty's Government were at that time about to proceed to the Peace Conference in Paris, and it was therefore necessary to postpone the proposed visit. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer returned by the Leader of the House to the hon. and gallant Member for Bury St. Edmunds on the 22nd February.

Is it not the case that the advice given by Sir Reginald Wingate extended much further than the hon. Gentleman has indicated? Has he any objection to letting us see that advice which Lord Milner's Commission pronounced to be well grounded, but which they thought Sir Reginald Wingate should have urged with greater insistence?

I do not think at this stage of affairs in Egypt it would be desirable to publish the correspondence.

How can this House judge the matter if the Foreign Office is not frank enough to lay the papers before us?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, in the opinion of a great many people outside this House, a most distinguished officer has been put under an undeserved slur by the action of the Government, and will he approach his chief with a view to the whole question being re-opened and the whole correspondence being published?

I am quite sure that no injustice has been done to this very distinguished officer. Regarding the publication of the correspondence, I have nothing to add to the answers already given.

Is it not a fact that officials, and those who have knowledge of the circumstances, argue very strongly that the greatest injustice has been done to this officer who has been deprived of his office?

I cannot accept the language of my right hon. Friend.

In order that the hon. Gentleman may be prepared with his answer, I desire to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the adjournment of the House at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he can now name a date for the introduction of the Bill relating to allotment holders; if it will condition provisions for the compulsory acquisition of unused land by local authorities; and if there will be a separate Bill for Scotland?

No date has yet been fixed for the introduction of this Bill. Pending its introduction, I regret that I am not in a position to make any statement in regard to it. The question of similar legislation for Scotland is under consideration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the growth of the allotment movement was one of the most important material and moral consequences of the War?

This is not the time for copy-book maxims.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an English Bill would be unworkable in Scotland?

I cannot say more than that the question is still under consideration, and that sometimes Scotland is dealt with by special Clauses in a Bill common to both countries, and sometimes it requires a Bill to itself. I do not know what will be required in this case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the necessity of issuing instructions to municipal and local governing councils that, whilst paying interest on local loans, if capital assets are properly and efficiently in over-proportion to liabilities and show a large surplus, such municipal and local governing councils be allowed to adjust to longer periods the payments to sinking funds, thus relieving heavy and sometimes oppressive local rates?

The payments to the Sinking Funds are determined by the Statute or other authority for the raising of the loan, and cannot be varied by the issue of instructions as suggested.

asked the Prime Minister what is the total War debt owing to this country by France, Italy, Russia, Roumania, the Balkan States, and the Dominions; if the interest on such debts is regularly paid; and what is the total sum already paid in interest and capital?

In reply to the first part of the question, the total amount of War loans to Dominions and Allies and relief loans outstanding at 31st March last was £1,963,353,492 15s. 9d. The hon. Member will find a detailed statement showing how this amount is made up on page 93 of the Finance Accounts, 1920–21 (House of Commons Paper 146). The interest on these loans is being regularly paid in the case of loans to the Dominions, Relief Bonds (with certain minor exceptions), the Belgian Reconstruction Loan of £9,000,000, the loan to the Belgian Congo, and certain special loans to Greece and Portugal and the loan of £2,000,000 to Czecho-Slovakia. In the case of other War loans to the Allies, as a general rule no interest is being paid, the amount due in respect of interest being added to the capital of the debt outstanding. In certain cases, however, sums due by this country are set off against the amount due in respect of interest or capital on loans made by this country. In the case of the loans to Russia (since the Bolshevik revolution, owing to the absence of any representative of the Russian Government authorised to sign additional Treasury Bills), Serbia, Montenegro and Armenia, the amount due in respect of interest has not, up to the present, been added to the amount of the capital shown as outstanding. In reply to the third part of the question, the total amount paid up to the 31st March last in interest and repayment of capital is £65,318,905. For details of such repayments I would refer the hon. Member to the Annual Finance Accounts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the rates of Customs duty on rum in the financial years 1913, 1919, 1920 and 1921, respectively; and what was the revenue derived from this source in each of those years?

As the answer is in tabular form, I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend's permission to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The rates of Customs duties on rum in the financial years ended 31st March, 1913, 1919, 1920, and 1921, respectively, were as follow: —

Description. Year ended 31st March. Rates of Duty. Full. Preferential. Imported in cask. Imported in bottle. Imported in cask. Imported in bottle. The proof gallon. The proof gallon. The proof gallon. The proof gallon. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Rum 1913 0 15 1 0 16 1 — — Rum (if warehoused 3 years or more*). 1919 1 Apr., 1918 to 22 Apr., 1918. 0 15 1 0 16 1 — — 23 Apr., 1918 to 31 Mar., 1919. 1 10 4 1 11 4 — — 1920 1 Apr., 1919 to 30 Apr., 1919. 1 10 4 1 11 4 — — 1 May to 31 Aug. 2 10 4 2 11 4 — — 1 Sept. to 31 Mar., 1920. 2 12 10 2 13 10 2 10 4 2 11 4 1921 1 Apr., 1920 to 19 Apr., 1920. 2 12 10 2 13 10 2 10 4 2 11 4 20 Apr., to 31 Mar., 1921. 3 15 4 3 16 4 3 12 10 3 13 10 Imitation Rum, if warehoused 3 years or more. — The above rates are increased by one penny the proof gallon. * Since 18th May, 1915, an additional Customs duty of 1s. per proof gallon has been chargeable where the Rum has been warehoused for a period of two years and less than three years; and 1s. 6d. per proof gallon where it has not been warehoused, or has been warehoused for a period of loss than two years. The net Revenue derived from the Customs duties on rum in the years referred to was as follows:— — Rum. Imitation Rum. Total. £ £ £ Year ended 31st March, 1913 … … 2,381,298 6,823 2,388,121 Year ended 31st March, 1919 … … 2,971,147 3,199 2,974,346 Year ended 31st March, 1920 … … 9,181,584 6,717 9,188,301 Year ended 31st March, 1921 … … 9,961,927 3,116 9,965,043

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reconsider the period at present required for notice to be given by societies and Sunday schools for exemption from Entertainments Duty, the present period causing inconvenience and loss to both societies and Sunday schools; and will he accept the decision of local unpaid commissioners as to which are charitable socials, etc., entertainments and exempt from tax?

As regards the first part of the question, I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the statutory rule that claims for exemption from Entertainments Duty shall be made not less than 14 days before the date of the entertainment. It is in the interests of the public as well as the revenue authorities to have the question of liability settled before the entertainment takes place, and experience shows that a fortnight is by no means an excessive period to require for the proper investigation of claims. As regards the second part, the responsibility for dealing with claims for exemption from Entertainments Duty is by Statute vested in the Commissioners of Customs and Excise who determine them in accordance with the provision of the law, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is therefore unable to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he would appoint an unpaid committee to consider the representations of Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Nonconformist churches upon the working of the Entertainments Duty over all parts of the country in respect of these sections of the Christian Church?

I shall be glad to consider any representations that may be made to me, but I do not think that a committee would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to be able to lay upon the Table the Annual Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for the year ended 31st March, 1921; and when the White Paper, Taxes and Imports, for the year ended 31st March, 1921, is likely to be published?

The Customs and Excise Report will probably be ready for issue in April. The Taxes and Imports Return was only ordered by the House on the 15th instant. It will be issued as soon as, possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the name of the agent who undertook to pay £9,900 for the advertisement on the census papers; whether this money has now been paid; whether the agent in question was one of the recognised advertising agents; if not, what inquiries as to his financial standing were made before he was given this large credit; and, if the money has not been paid, what steps he is taking to recover it?

The advertisement contract in question was awarded to the Houston Advertising Agency. This firm was a recognised advertising agency, and the fourth part of the question does not therefore arise. The sum due under the contract has not yet been paid, and proceedings have been instituted by the Treasury solicitor with a view to its recovery.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of the security against the £2,000,000 Austrian loan?

From the nature of the case, it is impossible to name any exact figure as the value of such an unique work of art as the Gobelin tapestries in question, but it is estimated to be very considerably in excess of the amount of the loan.

Is not another foreign loan secured upon the same Gobelin tapestries?

What about the Bottomley tapestries?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money has been advanced to Austria by this country since the Armistice?

The loans made to Austria by this country since the Armistice amount to a total of approximately £12,000,000.

What is the security against that loan?

I am afraid I should require notice to be able to give figures as to the security.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the salaries of Mr. Young and his staff in Austria are paid out of the loan to Austria or out of the British Exchequer?

By Mr. Young's desire, he is receiving no salary for his services in connection with the loan to Austria. No staff will be attached to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how I much of the £10,000,000 loan to Austria has already been paid; the dates on which the various instalments were paid; and if any interest has yet been received by this country?

The sum of £10,000,000 was voted for relief of Austria and Poland in 1920–21, and the estimated balance undrawn at the end of that financial year, namely, £4,000,000, was revoted this year. Payments have been made from the Vote at various dates in 1920–21 and 1921–22 to cover relief supplies, of which details are given up to 31st August last in the first Report of the Royal Commission on Wheat Supplies (Command Paper 1544, page 84).

The recent loan to Austria was made out of the balance available after the completion of these relief supplies.

In pursuance of the proposals for the postponement of Austria's obligations in respect of Separation and Belief Bonds which were communicated to the House by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on 17th March last, no interest has been received on the Belief Bond covering these relief supplies. Interest will, however, be payable on the recent £2,000,000 loan.

In view of the fact that interest is not being received, would it not be more, accurate for the Treasury officials to refer to that dole as a gift rather than as a loan?

Will my hon. Friend consider the propriety of issuing a White Paper, or of making some general statement, as regards our dealings with Austria, as to which the House seems to be very much in the dark?

For what length of time is the loan, and when will the first instalment be paid back?

I shall have to ask for notice as to the details of this last loan of £2,000,000. I could not mention the dates out of my own head, or at least I could not do so with accuracy. As regards the question of the hon. Baronet the Member for East Nottingham (Sir J. D. Rees), I think he will find that in this and similar answers—I am afraid of undue length—which I have given to questions on this subject lately, all essential information is already conveyed.

Are we not getting the securities that were prevised in the arrangements drawn up by Sir William Goode, namely, the Customs and the monopolies?

There, again, I am afraid, if the hon. and gallant Member is referring to some specific arrangement of a byegone day, I should certainly require notice in order to see how that relates to the present arrangement.