asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has received during the last 10 years reports which confirm the existence of widespread and growing slave-trading in Abyssinia; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of publishing the most recent of these reports in the form of a Blue Book?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; but I am not sure that the best method of dealing with the matter would be the publication of papers at the present stage.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the published statement that slaves are employed in the British Legation in Abyssinia; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

No slaves are employed by the Legation, but some of the Abyssinian servants at the Legation possess slaves. I am making inquiries into this matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that service at Rosyth is classified as home service, steps will be taken to limit the period of service at that base to one year, except in the case of volunteers?

In view of the large reductions contemplated at Rosyth it is probable that volunteers will be sufficient to meet all requirements. Should this prove not to be the case, the matter will be considered.

Is it a fact that men who return from sea service are being sent to Rosyth, and is that not a hardship on them?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the vacancy which existed in Division II pay office of the Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth, for a commissioned or warrant writer has been filled by the appointment of a senior paymaster lieutenant-commander to that division; and, in view of the fact that the accountant officers now borne for duty in Division II of the Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth, are one paymaster captain, two paymaster lieutenant-commanders, and one paymaster lieutenant, will he state the reasons for such an appointment?

A paymaster lieutenant-commander has been appointed temporarily in this vacancy, but he will be replaced in the near future by either a commissioned or warrant writer or a paymaster-lieutenant promoted from warrant rank. Such an officer is not for the moment available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is yet in a position to make any statement with reference to the promotion of lieutenant-commanders to commanders, and with reference to the special scheme of retirement for officers of the Royal Navy surplus to requirement?

I regret I am not yet in a position to make the statements referred to.

When will the hon. Gentleman be in a position to make some announcement about this matter, which is doing great harm to the Navy and causing great anxiety throughout the Service?

I am anxious to make a statement as soon as possible.

In view of the fact that some considerable time has elapsed since the hon. Gentleman previously expressed a desire to make a statement, can he not inform the House as to when it will be made? [HON. MEMBERS: "Do it now."]

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Commander-in-Chiefs yachts "Surprise" and "Alacrity" are still in commission; if not, when they were paid off; what is the annual cost of these yachts in full commission, including pay of crew and depreciation; and what they are costing at present if not in commission?

These vessels are at present in commission, but in the interests of economy they are to be paid off and disposed of as soon as practicable. The "Surprise" will be paid off before the end of the month, but it may take somewhat longer to make arrangements for the "Alacrity," which is on the China Station. Allowing for the fall in prices since my reply to the hon. and gallant Member, on the 2nd August last, the approximate cost during the current financial year, including depreciation, is £53,400 for "Alacrity" and £45,700 for "Surprise." The previous figures did not include depreciation.

What justification is there for keeping these non-fighting ships in commission when there are not sufficient destroyers in commission to give proper training to officers and crews?

Is it not a fact that these Vessels have done very useful service, and have saved large sums of money by being employed instead of larger vessels?

That is a fact. In reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Ken-worthy), these vessels have been in constant use for various purposes, and in their absence it might have been necessary to use more expensive and larger vessels. I hope, in each case, they will be replaced in future by sloops which will probably cost less.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is proposed, in accordance with the recommendation of the Geddes Committee, to reduce the surplus of executive officers over pre-War numbers, in view of the fact that the Navy is now smaller than before the War?

Yes, Sir, the number of executive officers will be reduced to a total considerably below the pre-War figure.

Are we to understand from the hon. Gentleman's reply that the method of reduction recommended by the Geddes Committee is to be adopted?

No, Sir, certainly not.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the distribution of prize money in April next will follow precedent and be given in the first place to active ratings and given on application or automatically?

The exact order in which the final distribution of prize money will be effected has not yet been fixed, but it is hoped to begin the distribution to those no longer in the Service concurrently with the issue to the Fleet. Notice will be given in the Press in due course as to the arrangements generally, and the order in which applications from those demobilised can be received.

Does that mean these men will be supplied first?

No, Sir. That does not necessarily follow.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any indication as to what the amount of each share is likely to be?

I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the "Marsa," an Admiralty minesweeper, was sunk at Harwich Harbour in November, 1917, by collision with another of His Majesty's ships; that the Admiralty remained responsible for this wreck until 27th August, 1919, when they gave notice of abandonment to the Harwick Harbour Board; that the Admiralty had meantime attempted to raise the vessel and during these operations had broken her back, causing her to become deeply embedded in the shingle and sand; that the Admiralty had also during this period removed all the more valuable fittings by divers; that When, for the safe navigation of the harbour, the harbour board were obliged to remove this wreck at a cost of £1,650, the Admiralty refused to reimburse the harbour board for this outlay, sheltering themselves under the prerogative of the Crown; and will he say why they have departed in this case from the normal practice in making equivalent payment for services rendered as an act of grace?

As the reply is a lengthy one, I propose to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Cannot the hon. Gentleman give us the nature of the reply, as this is a matter of public importance?

Should the House desire, I will read the reply.

Circulate it.

The following is the reply proposed:

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Notice of the abandonment of the wreck by the Admiralty was given to the Harbour Board on the 27th August, 1919, till when the Admiralty retained their rights as owners. Certain salvage work had been carried out by the Admiralty prior to that date, and some valuable stores and fittings were salved. We have no information at the Admiralty to the effect that the vessel's back was broken during these operations. It may be agreed that the prerogative of the Crown was herein exercised in the sense that any objections to these salvage operations that might have been raised against a private owner by the Harbour Board would not have been permitted. In abandoning the wreck on the 27th August, 1919, however, the Admiralty were exercising the right of any ship owner, and were under no legal liability to contribute to the expense incurred by the Harbour Board for its removal. The question of legal liability does not here depend upon the prerogative. With regard to the last part of the question, the Ad- miralty cannot admit that the Harbour Board were rendering any service to them in removing the wreck, and therefore the question of any equivalent ex gratia grant such as is generally made in collision cases does not arise. In view, however, of the particular circumstances of the relations between the Crown and the Harbour Board, both in connection with this incident and otherwise during the War, His Majesty's Government would have been prepared to make some ex gratia contribution had not this connection on the whole been financially favourable to the Harbour Commissioners. My hon. Friend understands, of course, that the Admiralty have no power of themselves to make ex gratia grants.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty 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, 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?

151 temporary ex-service men serving in the Admiralty who failed at the November-December examinations, 1920, were recommended by their immediate superiors as specially competent to carry out the whole of the duties likely to be required of members of the clerical class. Of these, 37 were regarded by the Board of Admiralty as fulfilling all the conditions of paragraphs 36–39 of the Third Interim Report of the Lytton Committee, and were accordingly recommended to the Investigating Board. I regret that the other figures asked for by the hon. Member are not immediately available and their compilation would involve an unjustifiable expenditure of time and labour.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Committee appointed under the presidency of Captain E. Martin Bennett, C.B.E., R.N., to consider the question of resettlement of naval men on return to civil life has finished its deliberations, and, if so, when the Report will be published?

The Report of the Resettlement Committee is now under consideration, and I hope shortly to be in a position to make public the decision of the Admiralty in the matter. It is not proposed to publish the Report itself.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the case of ex-Sergeant G. Parsonage, of 18, Dundee Street, Lancaster; whether he is aware that this man was employed as an investigating officer in the military service (Civil Liabilities Department) of the Ministry of Labour, 21st June, 1920, to 8th July, 1921; that he registered his name with the Joint Substitution Board on their invitation on 4th April, 1921; that he was informed by the Board on 13th January, 1922, that his case had been transferred to the Employment Department, Manchester; that he was informed by the Employment Department, Manchester, on 2nd February, 1922, that his case had been transferred to the Labour Exchange, Lancaster; that he has subsequently been informed at the Labour Exchange, Lancaster, that there are no vacancies for him; and whether he is able to take any further action in the matter?

Mr. Parsonage was discharged in July last owing to diminution in the work of the Civil Liabilities Department. The Joint Substitution Board was notified in April, 1921, of his impending discharge, but, having no suitable administrative vacancy, endeavoured through its local agencies at Manchester and Lancaster to find him a clerical post. He was unfortunately unsuccessful in connection with one or two posts for which he was considered locally. Efforts are still being made, and will be continued on his behalf.

asked the Minister of Health how many ex-service men are under notice of dismissal; and whether the Lytton Report recommenda- tions have been carried out as regards these discharges, especially in regard to technical classes?

There are 302 ex-service men under notice of discharge in the Ministry of Health, due to curtailment of work and consequent reduction of staff. The recommendations in the Lytton Report have been carried out. With regard to the technical classes, I would refer to the answer given by me on Monday last to the hon. and gallant Member for Hertford (Rear-Admiral Sueter).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that disabled men have received notice to leave the Mechanical Transport Depots Royal Army Service Corps, Deptford, while home service men are still being retained; and will he see that the provisions of the Lytton Report are observed in this case?

The only cases in which disabled men have been discharged from this depot, whilst home service men were retained, have been eases whore this course was necessary in order to secure the efficiency of the establishment. When large reductions, in the interests of essential economy, are being necessarily made, this procedure is inevitable. Paragraph 17 of the Report of the Lytton Committee of 19th August, 1920, makes it clear that they regarded efficiency as an over-riding consideration throughout.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Estimates for 1922–23 have been formed in accordance with the Cabinet Instruction of 1919 on the assumption that no great war is to be anticipated within the next 10 years?

The answer is in the affirmative.

If that is so how does he reconcile it with the fact that we have far more officials at the Admiralty than before the War?

I do not think I can go into that now, but the House will probably debate the matter on the Estimates.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated cost to the national and local authorities of making two electoral registers per annum; whether one was considered necessary before the War; and what would be the saving if the pre-War plan was adopted?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The total cost per annum to national and local authorities of the two six-monthly electoral registers for Great Britain is approximately £1,000,000. A single annual register was in force prior to the Representation of the People Act, 1918, when the change was made in pursuance of the recommendations of the Speaker's Conference on electoral reform. It is estimated that the yearly saving that would result from having only an annual register would probably not exceed £250,000 in all.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of making this saving of a quarter of a million pounds?

That is at present under consideration.

When will a decision be arrived at? It has been under consideration for 18 months.

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that it has not been under consideration for anything like that time. It has been under mine for only a very short time.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to dispense with all publicity activities abroad, as proposed by the Geddes Committee; and, if so, whether the decision has been arrived at in consultation with all the competent authorities?

I am not aware that the Committee recommended that any publicity activities abroad should be dispensed with. The Committee recommended that special provision for the Foreign Office News Department abroad should cease, and that the necessary work should be performed by the regular diplomatic staff.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether a large increase has been made in the number of the civil posts in the Admiralty; why there are three private assistant secretaries at from £1,200 to £1,500 a year, plus war bonus, in 1921 as compared with one in 1914; why there are eight assistant secretaries in 1921 at £1,000 to £1,200, plus war bonus, as compared with six in 1914; and why there are 15 principal clerks at £700 to £900 a year, plus war bonus, in 1921 as compared with nine in 1914?

All the facts in connection with this reorganisation of the higher civil staff of the Admiralty were given to the House in my answer to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Hull Central on 15th June last, to which I would refer the hon. Member. I explained in that reply that the changes made were not special to the Admiralty, but were in pursuance of a scheme of reorganisation adopted for all the more important Government Departments, with a view to more efficient financial control, and particularly to carry out the Government's decision that the Permanent Secretary and his staff are to be charged with enlarged duties and responsibilities in regard to such control. The precise number of higher civil posts required is settled by the Treasury from time to time with reference to the needs of the Department, and when the heavy administrative work attendant upon the reduction of the fleet and its establishments to the scale rendered possible by the Washington Conference is completed, the number of these posts will be reduced.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any persons engaged on the work of the Trade Board Section are under notice, and, if so, whether he will state the number of such persons and the reasons which have led him to this action in view of the inadequacy of the existing staff and of the fact that the whole question of Trade Boards is still under review by the Committee of Inquiry set up under the chairmanship of Viscount Cave?

Of a total temporary staff numbering 34, engaged upon inspection, investigation, and administrative duties connected with Trade Boards, 15 are under notice to leave on 31st March. The net reduction of the staff of Trade Boards, however, will be 12, owing to the transfer of three officers from another branch of the Ministry. The whole staff position of the Trade Board Division will be reviewed upon receipt of the Report of the Cave Committee.

Is it not rather an expense to get rid of these trained inspectors until you know what will be the outcome of the Cave Committee's deliberations? It is very expensive training.

Yes, but in my judgment it is not possible to keep officers unless there is work for them.

Suppose the Cave Committee decides that the Trade Boards are good and wants to apply them to other people, there will then be plenty of work for them, and is it not expensive to get rid of these trained inspectors until you know the result?

I should like to agree with my Noble Friend, but it is quite improper for me, or for anybody else, if I may say so with respect, to anticipate the decision of the Cave Committee.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the still large number of unemployed, he will make careful inquiries before altering the constitution of the Department of Overseas Trade, and thus reducing the chances of increased work for the masses?

Careful inquiries have been made by the Government in this case, as in the case of the other recom- mendations of the Committee on National Expenditure, and my hon. Friend may rest assured that the considerations mentioned in the question have not been overlooked.

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?

Lord Lytton's Committee, which last year gave careful consideration to the question of the employment of ex-service men in the Civil Service, did not recommend that temporary employees who had applied for, but were refused, permission to join His Majesty's forces during the War should, in considering discharges from Government Departments, be regarded as being in the same category as ex-service personnel. I see no reason to modify the decision which has been reached on this matter.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a number of men who made repeated application for permission to enlist in the Army during the War; that that permission was refused by the Government, and that some of them are now being discharged by the same Government on the ground that they are not ex-service men?

I should say that the real answer to the Noble Lord is that the preference which is given to ex-service men is not given primarily as a reward but as an approach to compensation for an interrupted career. The career of the men who stayed behind was not interrupted in the same way.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the number of officials in the Office of Works in 1913 and 1921 respectively, and the total amount of salaries paid in each of these two years?

The administrative, professional, and clerical staff employed in this Department in 1913 and at the end of 1921 numbered 674 and 1,920 respectively. The cost of the staff in 1913 was £149,660, while the estimated cost of the staff for the current financial year is £665,050, £80,500 of this sum being recoverable from local authorities in respect of services rendered by this Department in connection with housing schemes and other services.

Does not the hon. Member think there is room for economy there?

No!

asked the Minister of Labour whether a man receiving unemployment benefit and who marries while in receipt of it is entitled to the 5s. for his wife; and, if so, whether payment for any children his wife may have had before marriage to him will be made?

In accordance with the terms of the Dependants' Grants Act, a grant would be payable in respect of the wife. A grant would also be payable in respect of the children if they are the applicant's children or have been adopted by him: are wholly or mainly maintained at his cost: and are under the age of 14, or under the ago of 16 and under full-time instruction in a day school.

Are we to understand that a man who receives unemployment benefit and marries is entitled to these payments?

How many men out of employment have married under these conditions?

I cannot say.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a married woman doing part-time domestic work and earning 10s. per week thereat will receive the 5s. unemployment benefit if and because her husband is out of work if she gives up her employment though offered a continuance of it?

Under the Dependants' Grants Act, a grant is not payable in respect of a wife if she is in regular wage-earning employment. Whether the grant would be payable in the circumstances described in the question would depend on all the circumstances of the case. If, however, the employment is given up merely in order that the grant may be claimed, that would be a matter which the Local Employment Committee would take into consideration, and would be a proper ground for refusing a grant.

asked the Minister of Labour if the priniple has been definitely established that a nurse, unemployed because she is waiting for a case, is not automatically entitled, although a regular weekly payer under the National Insurance Act, to unemployment relief; whether he is aware that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction on the point among nurses; and whether he will now make a definite declaration of official policy?

The question whether a nurse waiting for a case is eligible for benefit depends on the circumstances, and will be determined, in any case of doubt, by the machinery provided by the Act, namely, the insurance officer, with the right of appeal to the Court of Referees and the Umpire. If dissatisfaction is felt with any decision of the insurance officer the proper course is to appeal to the Court of Referees. The Department will afford every facility for such an appeal and will arrange for a further appeal to the Umpire if this appears to be necessary or desirable.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it highly unsatisfactory that a nurse who is waiting for a case should be deprived of relief? Is it not highly improper to take this money from nurses who are ill-paid?

If the nurse is in receipt of an annual salary and is merely waiting for a case, but is not unemployed in the sense that she is receiving assistance, I do not think she is rightly eligible to unemployment benefit, but if in fact she is waiting for a case and out of unem- ployment and not receiving any retaining fee or salary or income of any sort, then she is entitled to benefit.

asked the Minister of Labour in how many cases unemployment relief has been refused to nurses waiting for cases; and in how many cases it has been granted?

I am unable to give this information, which could not, I am afraid, be extracted from the records without considerable expense.

asked the Minister of Labour if he can inform the House whether the case decided by the High Court which excluded caretakers from benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act, to which they had been contributing since its enactment, was initiated by his Department?

In accordance with Proviso (ii) of Section 10 (1) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, I referred to the High Court for decision certain test cases of persons employed as cleaners and caretakers whom I had previously held to be insurable. I took this course because my decision with regard to a similar type of employment, which I had held to be insurable, had been reversed in the High Court. I would add that counsel on my behalf argued that such persons should be held to be insurable, but this contention was rejected by the Court.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why it has taken so long to find out whether this particular class of people is insurable or not?

The question was not raised until the action in the Courts.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has received representations, supported both by miners and mine-owners in the Somerset and other coalfields, urging that the continuity rule under the Unemployment Insurance Acts brings hardship to the miner and inconvenience to the owner in that the best system of short-time working in the mining industry is one day on and one day off; and what steps he proposes to take?

The continuity rule, which cannot be altered without fresh legislation, has occasionally been criticised but no practicable alternative has so far been suggested. In particular, I should mention that I do not think I should be justified in present circumstances in recommending an Amendment of the rule in order to enable benefit to be paid to persons working on alternate days.

asked the Minister of Health whether it is possible to arrange for the housing subsidy for new houses which is given to local authorities to be extended to 1924, so as to place England and Wales on the same footing as Scotland?

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government is prepared to grant to English and Welsh local authorities exactly the same terms and conditions as regards the extended period during which houses must be completed in order to qualify for financial assistance as those specified in the Scottish Board of Health Order, No. 944, issued on 6th May, 1921?

I am satisfied that Article III of the Local Authorities (Assisted Housing Scheme) Regulations, 1919, administered in the light of the assurances which I have already given, will have the same effect as the Scottish Regulations referred to, and that the issue of further Regulations is unnecessary.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last part of my question, where it is specifically asked whether the conditions of Order No. 944, which gives the Scottish local authorities the right to extend the period till 1924, without the option of the Minister intervening, will apply to English local authorities, so that they will not be dependent on the option of the Minister?

I have already stated repeatedly, in reply to questions of this character, that the English authorities will be treated on similar lines to the Scottish authorities, but I see no reason for adopting the Scottish formula for the English administration.

Do I understand that the English authorities will have the right under any circumstances to have the period extended till 1924, as the Scottish authorities have?

No. The English authorities will have the right to have the period extended if they can show that it is not due to their fault that they have not completed their programmes by the date on which they ought to be completed. I do not propose to give extensions if the authorities have been negligent in going on and carrying out their work.

Is not this differentiation due to the fact that the Scottish local authorities have been better able to look after their own business?

asked the Minister of Health how many tons of roofing slates have yet to be taken delivery of by the Department of Building Material Supplies, Edinburgh, and of this tonnage how much has already been paid for by this Department; what is the total tonnage contracted for since the 1st October, 1921; when is it proposed to close the Slate and Tile Section of the Department of Building Material Supplies, Edinburgh; and whether he is aware that the present practice of this Department of forcing the building authorities to use slates supplied by the Department at prices much above market prices is causing great dissatisfaction?

There are 2,274 tons of slates which have been paid for by the Department, but not yet delivered, and of these all but 265 tons have been allocated to particular housing schemes. With regard to slates which have been ordered by the Department on behalf of local authorities, but have not been paid for, I am unable to give an exact figure of the undelivered balance, because, under the arrangements which have been made to facilitate the closing of the Department, these slates are invoiced direct to the local authorities. There are 1,300 tons of these slates which have not been allocated to particular schemes. No slates were contracted for since the 1st October, or indeed for some months before that date. It is proposed to close the Department on the 31st March next, but I am afraid I cannot give a date by which the whole of the slates will have been delivered. As I have already stated, I am taking steps to secure that the Department's commitments are liquidated at the earliest possible moment in order that the local authorities may be left free to make their own arrangements. With regard to the last part of the question, as these slates were ordered for local authorities building schemes, and as the Government has to bear the extra cost, the local authority being only liable for a penny rate, the working-off of these stocks seems to me the most practical course to assume.

Is there a fixed price for some of these slates?

No, the slates are debited to the scheme for what they cost us.

asked the Minister of Health if it is proposed to close down at the end of March next the office of the Housing Commissioner for Wales and Monmouthshire which, since its establishment, has been attached to the Welsh Board of Health at Cardiff, and has during a very difficult period carried out with success the onerous duties connected with the Government housing scheme in Wales; is he aware that this alleged proposal is strongly resented and is viewed as a retrograde step which would seriously impair the work of the Ministry in relation to housing, and would not result in any real saving of public money owing to the extra time and trouble involved in all negotiations having to be carried on through London and the expenses of deputations visiting the Ministry of Health in London instead of interviewing the Commissioners at Cardiff; and will he advise the Government to reconsider its decision?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 27th February to the hon. Member for the Pontypool Division of Monmouthshire (Mr. T. Griffiths).

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, as to re-considering the decision of the Government?

If my hon. Friend will refer to the answer which I gave, he will find that all these points have been, considered.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the increased profiteering caused by the buying up of cottages and the letting of them furnished at exorbitant rents, particularly in view of the value and nature of the furniture; whether his Department is aware that ordinary tenants of unfurnished houses are being expropriated to permit reletting of houses furnished on these lines; and whether his Department can take any steps to restrict this growing abuse which is weighing as a heavy burden upon tenants, particularly in industrial districts?

I have no information as to the first two parts of the question. So far as I am aware, tenants are amply protected against improper expropriation by the provisions of the Increase of Rent (Restrictions) Act, 1920.

asked the Minister of Health the total numbers of building operatives employed on the various local authorities' housing schemes on the following dates: 1st October, 1st November, 1st December, 1st January, and 1st February?

The total numbers of men employed on housing schemes of local authorities and public utility societies on the dates mentioned were as follow:

These figures are exclusive of the men employed on houses being built with the aid of the private builders' subsidy. The hon. Member must bear in mind that during winter months it must be expected that the volume of employment in the building trade will ordinarily be reduced.

Seeing that those figures clearly show that all available labour for building houses is not being utilised, will the right hon. Gentleman sanction the application of local authorities for further houses to be built where labour is available, and thus redeem the Prime Minister's pledge that not a single house less would be built owing to the change he was making?

I am at the present time sanctioning more houses in various localities where it can be shown to me that the necessity exists, and prices are reasonable. I am glad to find that local authorities are assisting me very much in the policy of trying to get prices reduced by not asking for any large number of houses to be built.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government have decided to take prompt measures to sell, where possible, at under cost, the houses recently erected under the Housing Acts and Regulations, so as to cut losses as far as may be?

I have always encouraged the sale of houses by local authorities, and am considering what further steps in this direction are practicable.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the evasion of the Rent Restriction Act, whereby landlords or lessors of flats charge a premium for possession by placing a fictitious value on fixtures and fittings in the premises, and making the purchase of the fixtures and fittings a necessary condition of the bargain; and whether he will take power to deal with such cases?

I have no information as to the first part of the question, but I am advised that if a premium forbidden by Section 8 of the Act is demanded and paid it can be recovered by the person paying it, who can also, if he wishes, institute a prosecution of the person by whom it is received.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the present system of local rating is inequitable both in form and incidence; and when he proposes to introduce the Government's Bill to deal with this question, which was foreshadowed by his predecessor in office?

I agree with the hon. Member that the existing system of rating and valuation is in need of reform, but I cannot at present say whether it will be practicable to introduce legislation on this subject during the current Session.

How soon will it be practicable to introduce this long-promised reform?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it will be possible to introduce the Bill for the purpose of having it printed and brought to the notice of the public, even if it is not probable that it can be proceeded with before the end of this Session?

I will consider both those suggestions, but the Bill is not yet drafted.

asked the Minister of Health whether certain officials have recently been appointed to inspect and supervise the work of district auditors; what is the reason for their appointment; and whether the cost of their services entails or will entail additional Stamp Duty under the Stamp Duty (Local Authorities) Order of 1921?

The five inspectors of audit who were appointed a year ago were chosen from the existing audit staff. They continue as auditors, undertake special audits, and, in addition, supervise and co-ordinate the work of the district auditors, bring about greater uniformity of practice, and assist the auditors in the many difficult questions which are now arising. No addition to the Stamp Duty will be necessary, as the salaries of these officers were taken into account when the present scale was fixed. I am satisfied that the results have fully justified these appointments, and that if they had not been made, the increase in the work of audit could not have been met without increasing the existing staff.

Is it not a fact that there is considerable duplication between the national and local audit? Is it not possible to save a considerable sum of money?

I have been going into that, and I have been trying to do what I can in order to avoid it.

asked the Minister of Health how many persons are engaged on schemes of borough extensions in the Ministry of Health; how many have been so engaged and what has been the cost to the taxpayers during the last 12 months; and whether, in the interest of economy in local rates as well as in national expenditure, he will consider the desirability of dispensing with this section of his Department and suspending further consideration of such extension schemes for the next five years until the matter, as it concerns the whole country, has been inquired into by a Royal Commission?

The examination of borough extension proposals forms part of the general work of one of the Departments of the Ministry, and there are no officers exclusively engaged on this work. In reply to the last part of the question, I am advised that I have no power to refuse, on general grounds, to entertain an application for the extension of its boundary properly made by the council of any borough.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that the time of these officials, which has been devoted to a considerable extent during the last few months, at any rate, to these extension schemes, would be better employed in helping smaller local authorities to improve their administration, rather than assisting or encouraging larger towns to absorb their smaller neighbours?

It is the duty of my Department to examine these schemes, and the duty of my officials to go into them, both from the point of view of the larger and the smaller authorities, and the smaller authorities are just as much safeguarded by that examination as the larger ones.

If the right hon. Gentleman is considering economy in local rates, will he take steps to see that economy is taken into account in this matter of borough extension costs?

I have no power to interfere with borough extensions, or to stop local authorities from fighting their cases in the Committee rooms upstairs.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the bad German salt which has recently been arriving in both England and Ireland in large quantities, and to the fact that instructions have been issued by the authorities in Washington to analyse all imported salt in view of the serious impurities found in the salt at present being exported from Germany; and what action he is taking in this matter?

I have made inquiries, and I find that very little salt is being imported into this country from Germany for purposes of food. There is no evidence that this salt is in such a condition as to involve any danger to health, but further investigations are being made.

asked the Minister of Health if he will review for the purposes of alteration the Union Assessment Committee Acts to allow applicants to the Assessment Committee the opportunities which the changed conditions since the enactment of such Acts require?

If my hon. Friend will let me know what alterations he proposes, I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take in conjunction and co-operation with the Minister of Education in respect to the care, general education, and training for industry of defective children of the Parliamentary Division of Royton, Lancashire, where at present no facilities obtain and where urgency is essential?

I am not aware of the circumstances affecting the hon. Member's constituency, but the Lancashire Asylums Board have recently provided accommodation for over 2,000 mental defectives at the Calderstones Institution, Whalley, where facilities exist for dealing with all the children for whom it is the duty of the local authority, under the Mental Deficiency Act, to provide. This should contribute to meeting the needs of the hon. Member's constituency, as well as those of the rest of Lancashire.

What provision is made, not necessarily for mentally defective children, but for physically defective children?

I am afraid I cannot give an answer to that question without notice.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the advisabiliy of at once setting up, in consultation with the Minister of Agriculture, a small Committee to consider, in the light of the present financial position of the country and of the agricultural industry in particular, the simplest means of ensuring the cleanliness and purity of the milk supply of urban areas, with a view to the necessary amendment of the Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915, before that Act is brought into operation?

I am in continual consultation with the Minister of Agriculture on this subject, as well as with other persons well qualified to express opinions, and I am considering now the introduction of legislation to deal with the question.

Is it a fact that if this Act comes into force without amendment, it is very liable to paralyse the milk supply of this country?

Is it not true that the Minister of Health has received representations from influential producers and distributors of milk that if these proposals were put into an Act, towns would be able to adopt model Clauses, which would enable them to improve the milk supply at very little cost to the taxpayer, and great gain to the infant welfare of the country?

Will my right hon. Friend see that this new Bill entails no extra charge on the unfortunate ratepayer?

I will certainly bear in mind what my hon. Friend (Sir J. D. Rees) says. With regard to the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth (Viscountess Astor), I have been in consultation with a number of local authorities, and a Bill is now being prepared, which, I think, will meet the general view, and will lead to amendment and modification of the Act of 1915, which is rather difficult to administer under present circumstances.

Are we given to understand by that reply that it is a question of money in preference to children's health?

The hon. Gentleman has no right to make such a statement. I am preparing a Bill to improve the supply of milk. I said I would see, if possible, that it should cast no burden on the ratepayers.

asked the Minister of Health if full opportunities have been given to the agents' unions in respect of consultation as to the proposed legislation on industrial insurance; and if he will choose the chief executive officials to operate the same from amongst experienced insurance companies conditionally that such service is supplied without cost to the Ministry of Health?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I received recently a deputation on which the agents' unions were represented, and I am at all times ready to consider any representations they may put before me. The second part of the question seems to be based upon a misconception of the legislation proposed. I do not understand what functions the hon. Member thinks could be assigned to the officials referred to.

I will give the right hon. Gentleman details.

Thank you.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has seen the suggestion of M. Franklin Bouillon that a suitable solution of the Anglo-French detente over Turkey could be arrived at by the cession of Cyprus to Greece; and whether His Majesty's Government have considered that the restoration of Tunis to Turkey would also facilitate the desirable restoration of universal amity?

Neither suggestion commends itself to His Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the rejection of the principle of nationality at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the concept thereof, as applicable to Eastern and Western European countries and those of Asia and America, was examined by any and what Department under His Majesty's Government prior to its adoption in the Treaties of Peace with the Central Powers engaged in the late War; and whether he will lay upon the Table of this House any Report prepared or presented thereon for the information of the Foreign Office?

The question how far the principle of nationality was applicable to the different problems which would be presented to the Peace Conference and the methods by which it could be applied were, of course, the subject of the most careful consideration in the Foreign Office. In answer to the second part of the question, it does not seem desirable to publish any of the numerous reports and memoranda which were prepared.

asked the Prime Minister what other countries maintain an Air Force and Air Ministry as a distinct department of government on similar lines as that existing in this country; whether he is aware that the Air Departments of other countries are chiefly concerned with civil aviation and the design and supply of aircraft of all kinds to the order of the naval and military departments as well as for civil purposes; and whether the Government have asked for or obtained the opinion of the General Staff and the Board of Admiralty as to whether greater efficiency and economy might result from an alteration of the existing system?

So far as I am aware no other country maintains an Air Force as a service separate and additional to the Army and Navy or a separate Air Ministry as a distinct Department of State. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the third part that the Government are fully aware of the views of the General Staff and Board of Admiralty.

Are there any reports available to Parliament as to the opinion in this matter of the Committee of Imperial Defence?

I do not think that the reports of the Committee of Imperial Defence are ever published; they are necessarily of a highly confidential kind.

asked the Prime Minister if the attention of His Majesty's Government has been called to a recent speech of M. Pasic, made during the investigation of the Commission of the League of Nations in Albania, in which he stated that Yugo-Slavia should assert her rights in Albania by force of arms; and if His Majesty's Government is in agreement with this policy?

I have received full summaries of a number of statements about Albania made by M. Pasic in the course of a Debate in the Serbian Chamber on 25th. and 27th January. None of these statements contains any trace of a menace of the kind quoted. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Prime Minister if he will specify the duties in connection with the League of Nations which are entrusted to the Cabinet Secretariat?

The Cabinet Secretariat is the channel of communication between His Majesty's Government and the League of Nations. It receives and is responsible for distributing to the Members of the Government and Departments concerned all communications emanating from the League; prepares coordinated answers thereto when necessary after consulting the respective Departments; and, generally, sees that the British representatives on the Council and at the Assembly are kept informed of all phases of the League's activities. In addition, the official in charge of this Section accompanies the British representatives to meetings of the Council and Assembly, and acts as secretary of a Cabinet Committee, which deals with questions relating to the League of Nations.

Is not the larger portion of the work of the League of Nations in this country carried out by the Foreign Office, and is not, therefore, the Cabinet Secretariat the fifth wheel in the coach?

Is the cost of this Secretariat debited to the League of Nations, the Foreign Office, or under what head is it?

It is debited—I speak without opportunity for reference, but certainly I think—debited to the Vote for the Cabinet Secretariat. In answer to my hon. and gallant Friend opposite I have correctly described the position, and have given him the correct information on the points put on the Paper. As to the exact amount of work which this involves on each of the Cabinet Departments, I certainly could not speak, nor do I think the inquiry very valuable. The work of the League very often affects the work of several Departments. The Cabinet Secretariat is the channel of communication, and is responsible for seeing that each Department gets, and contributes, the necessary information.

asked the Prime Minister whether the agents of the Provisional Government, to whom the British Government are turning over stores and property ostensibly for safe custody, belong to the Irish Republican Army; and, if so, whether the Government can give any assurance that they have been handed over to men who acknowledge the authority of the Provisional Government?

As I stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Kirkdale on the 16th February last, I am prepared to assume that the personnel of the force which the Provisional Government is creating, as well as the headquarters staff engaged in equipping and training it, will be largely drawn from those who, during the period of conflict, constituted what was known as the Irish Republican Army, and it would be impossible for His Majesty's Government to refuse to have dealings with such persons on that account; but all such dealings will be with such persons in their individual capacity as accredited agents of the Provisional Government.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any sort of answer to the last part of the question?

When the right hon. Gentleman replies, will he explain how, if such reliance can be placed on the Provisional Government, he accounts for the fact that 30,000 rounds of ammunition and a large amount of stores have been stolen by the Irish Republican Army at Clonmel?

I should say that the amount of ammunition and stores is larger than that stated by my hon. Friend—

I always like to be within the mark.

It has been stolen by a portion of the Irish Republican Army which is in open defiance of the Provisional Government, and only a week ago shot one of the officers of the Provisional Government. So far as the question of my Noble Friend is concerned, we are not handing over stores of any kind to persons who do not acknowledge the authority of the Provisional Government.

No, they are taking them!

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that no further ammunition or stores are handed over to the Provisional Government till he is satisfied their authority is more assured?

No, Sir; on the contrary, I am continuing to equip the Provisional Government, in order to enable them to carry out their part of the Treaty.

Is the right hon. Gentleman certain that none of the arms and stores which have been handed over to the Provisional Government are now in the hands of the rebels, and are being used by them?

I am certain that the very limited quantity of arms handed over to the Provisional Government for the purpose of equipping their forces has been used for the purpose, and is in the hands of persons who obey the orders of the Provisional Government.

Has the Provisional Government any greater legal status than the rebellious part of the Irish Republican Army?

At the present moment the Provisional Government has only provisional status. When the Bill of which Parliament will resume consideration to-morrow is passed into law, and receives the Royal Assent, it will be fully accredited, and have the force of law.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can give the total valuation at which the Crown lands at the Curragh, in County Kildare, and the huts, buildings, and other military stores in Newbridge and Curragh camps, have been handed over to the Provisional Government of the Free State; and will he give the total acreage involved?

The lands, buildings and huts referred to have been handed over to the Provisional Government for safe custody, and it is not yet known whether they desire to acquire them. The question of valuation does not therefore, as yet, arise. As regards the stores, inventories of these have been signed by accredited representatives of the. Provisional Government, and the valuation will be agreed at a later date. The area of the land involved is 146 acres, of which 45 acres are subject to a fee farm rent.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that only two days ago General Mulcahy and his staff went down and took over the huts, after expressing great approval of them?

I took the trouble to make a special inquiry from the military authorities in Ireland, and I have read the answer from General Macready.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiries as to whether or not General Mulcahy took over these places officially?

Well, Sir, I accept the information, which I have received from General Macready this morning, as correct and up to date. I have no doubt some time in the future stores, lands and huts will be handed over to the Provisional Government—to the Irish Free State Government.

In the meantime, who owns these huts?

I am afraid that, according to the information I received only a quarter of an hour ago, no land or huts at the Curragh or Newbridge have yet been handed over to the Provisional Government.

asked the Prime Minister what is the estimated value of the property of all sorts, including land, that has been transferred from the British Government to the Provisional Government in Ireland; whether there is any security for the payment of any money as the price of such property, except a verbal agreement with individual members of the Provisional Government; and whether, in the event of such verbal agreement being violated or of its repudiation by whatever Government, Republican or otherwise, may succeed the Provisional Government, the British taxpayer will have any redress for the loss of valuable property?