asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when the award of the Civil Service Arbitration Board with respect to the commissionaire-warders of the British Museum (Bloomsbury and South Kensington) will be issued?

I understand that the award will be issued at an early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the number of civil servants in the department of the Secretary to the Admiralty whose salary exceeds£3,000 per annum; the number whose salary exceeds£2,000 per annum but is not more than£3,000 per annum; and the number receiving between£1,500 and£2,000 per annum, inclusive of bonus in each case?

The numbers in each category are as follow: Salary and Bonus. Exceeding£3,000 Nil. Exceeding£2,000, but not exceeding£3,000 2 Between£1,500 and£2,000 3

asked the Minister of Labour whether a site in Quebec Street, Leeds, has been purchased for an Employment Exchange; if so, what was the price paid; and what is the estimated cost of the building to be erected?

A site in Quebec Street, Leeds, was purchased in July, 1920, at a cost of£37,000. It was originally proposed to erect a permanent building for the Employment Exchange on this site, but in view of the undertaking given by me last year in the House not to proceed with permanent buildings, it was decided to erect a hut only. The cost of this hut is£11,050, and the work is now in progress. The decision to erect this hut was arrived at only after it was found impossible to obtain suitable accommodation by any other means. The number covered by unemployment insurance in Leeds is 133,000, arid the number of men fully unemployed on the 28th February was 13,778; in addition, 2,506 were on short-time work. These men are being dealt with at the present time in three separate sets of premises, none of which are suitable for dealing properly and efficiently with large crowds of applicants. This arrangement is very uneconomical, both as regards the numbers of staff who are required to deal with the applicants and as regards effective supervision by the manager to secure an adequate check of the payment of benefit and the testing of the willingness of the applicants to accept such employment as may be available. When the hut is completed it will be possible to concentrate the work in one set of premises, and to save£2,030 per annum in rent alone. It will also be possible to effect further economies by reducing staff, and there will also be a reduction in the cost of heating, lighting and cleaning. At the same time closer supervision of the staff and applicants for benefit—and improved efficiency—will be possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the statement of Sir William Acworth that the Regulation of the Board preventing the cross-examination of witnesses by counsel before the Committees of Inquiry under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act is a great disadvantage to those inquiries; and whether, having regard to the difficulty of eliciting facts in the absence of cross-examination, he will consider the advisability of rescinding the Regulation?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the statement made by Sir Arthur Colfax, K.C., at the proceedings under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, to reconsider the imposing of a duty of 33⅓ per cent. on imported glass-ware, that he knew of no procedure less likely to obtain the true facts appertaining to the proposal before the Committee than the procedure under which they were working; and, if so, is the President now prepared to consider the revising of the rules so as to enable the true facts to be obtained?

The reply to the first part of each question is in the affirmative; and, as to the rest, I would refer to the answer which I gave on Monday last to the hon. Member for North Lambeth (Mr. Briant).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the practice of giving evidence in camera before Committees sitting under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act renders it impossible for the different parties to ascertain what case they have to meet and, in consequence, to furnish the Committees with material evidence; and whether he will give instructions that the evidence shall be made public save in special and exceptional circumstances?

I understand that evidence given in camera has normally been confined to such matters as the costings of individual firms or similar confidential figures, and I see, no reason to doubt that the Committees have fully in mind the considerations to which the hon. and gallant Member alludes. The decision whether any particular evidence is of a confidential character rests, in accordance with the proviso to Sub-section (3) of Section 7 of the Act, with the Committee, and, in view of the terms of that Subsection, I see no reason to give any further directions to the Committees.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether witnesses representing the ordinary consumer would be allowed to give evidence before the Board of Trade Committee under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act as to the effect of these duties imposed on prices?

Broadly speaking the terms of reference to Committees are determined by Section 2 of the Act and accordingly they cover the following questions: ( a ) whether the conditions specified in Section 2, Sub-section (1) of the Act are fulfilled; ( b ) the effect which the imposition of a duty would exert on employment in any other industry being an industry using goods of the class or description concerned as material; and ( c ) whether production in the industry manufacturing similar goods in the United Kingdom is being carried on with reasonable efficiency and economy. As the Statutory Rules of Procedure give full discretion to Committees with regard to receiving evidence, it is for the Committee to determine in any particular case whether evidence from an ordinary consumer regarding the effect of duties on prices would or would not be relevant to the matters covered by the terms of reference.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a complaint regarding the imposing of a duty of 33⅓ per cent. on imported sugar of milk; the date when this complaint was received; and whether he can give any approximate idea of whether it is likely to be dealt with in the near future?

The complaint mentioned was made originally on the 29th September last; the detailed statement of grounds of complaint was received on the 3rd December, and a further statement called for by the Referee was furnished on the 26th January. The case has now been heard by the Referee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Committee appointed by the Board under the Safeguarding of Industries Act has given its decision as to the inclusion of the fabric glove industry; when such decision was given; whether the Board intend to take any action to give effect to Part II of the Act; and can he give the reason for the delay?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to questions asked by him on the 13th February and by the hon. Member for East Nottingham (Sir J. D. Rees) on the 20th February, of which I am sending him copies. The Committee referred to reported on 26th January, 1922. I may point out that the Committee's terms of reference require them to report whether certain conditions set out in the Act are fulfilled, and not to give a decision as to whether an Order should or should not be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the dissatisfaction existing in connection with the many refusals of the Dye Advisory Committee to permit certain essential dyes to be imported, he is prepared to consider the appointing of a referee to whom dissatisfied persons could appeal on lines similar to those under the Safeguarding of Industries Act?

No, Sir. The constitution of the Advisory Licensing Committee is prescribed by the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act, and the Committee includes three independent members, one of whom is Chairman. The appointment of a referee would be a serious and unwarranted reflection upon the impartiality and competence of these gentlemen. If dissatisfaction is felt in any case, it is open to applicants to appeal to the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present stock of tea in the United Kingdom, and how much of this stock is lying in Scottish bonds; and what are the quantities in the principal ports such as Glasgow, Greenock, Leith, and Dundee?

The quantity of tea remaining in the bonded warehouses of the United Kingdom, or entered to be warehoused therein, on the 31st January, 1922, was 216,117,320 pounds. Of this stock 2,916,343 pounds were lying in Scottish bonds, principally in the following ports: Pounds. Aberdeen … … 211,386 Dundee … … 11,162 Glasgow … … 1,023,723 Greenock … … 512,966 Leith … … 1,152,803

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in making his inquiries into the price of beer, he will extend them to the State manufacture of beer under the Carlisle scheme; if so, whether he will inform the House as to the comparative cost of manufacture as between private and State managed brewers; and whether, and when, he will publish the result of his inquiries?

In reply to the hon. and gallant Member, I would point out that, considering the various qualities and kinds of beer and their different costs of production, which, moreover, vary at different centres, and considering further the varying conditions under which beer is sold, it is not possible to make a simple straightforward comparison between the cost of beer as brewed by private brewers and its cost as made at Carlisle under control conditions. To enable a comparison to be made that would be fair to all parties a comprehensive inquiry would have to be instituted, for which the Board of Trade has neither the necessary compulsory powers nor the requisite staff; an additional charge on the Board of Trade Vote would also be involved, which is not desirable at the present moment. All that I can do, with the staff available, is to make a very broad survey of the chief factors in beer production and the reliability and utility of the results will have to be considered very carefully before any public statement based upon them is made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the total amount realised by the sale of German shipping is; what the costs incurred, including repairs and all other payments, have been; what the net surplus is; how much of it has been received in cash; how much remains to be paid, and over what period; and how the cash in hand has been applied?

The amount realised by the sale of German ships is£20,067,912, of which£15,869,036 has been received. The balance will, for the most part, be paid within two years. The expenditure incurred on repairs, expenses of delivery, etc., is estimated at about£5,000,000. Of the cash received,£5½ million has been appropriated by Parliament in aid of the Vote for advances to Germany for foodstuffs in respect of German coal deliveries and the balance has been paid to the Exchequer as Miscellaneous Revenue.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total amount realised by the disposal of war assets by the Ministry of Food, the Wheat Commission, and the Sugar Commission; what the costs incurred on dispersal have been; what the net surplus is; and how it has been applied?

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer informed the House last Wednesday, the total amount realised by the disposal of foodstuffs since the Armistice is approximately£1,080,000,000. The administrative cost during the period of disposal was approximately£3,000,000. Any net surplus that emerges when the Trading Acounts of the Departments are completed will enure to the benefit of the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Trade Facilities Advisory Committee have yet decided to grant or to refuse the Greek Government's request for the guarantee of a loan under the Trade Facilities Act; if the decision be in favour of granting a loan, the amount and the nature of the security offered by the Greek Government; whether the Government will, before approving the Advisory Committee's Report, obtain the opinion of the International Financial Commission in Athens; the sum at present owing by the Greek Government to Canada; whether the Canadian Government's views have been ascertained as to the desirability of further increasing Greece's external debts; and the names of the firms to whom the orders of the Greek Government will be allotted, the sum of money each individual firm will receive, and the material each firm will supply?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Eastern Division of Leyton (Mr. Malone) on the 27th ultimo. The sum at present owing by the Greek Government to Canada is, I understand, about 6,738,000 Canadian dollars. The remaining parts of the question do not arise.

asked the Chief Secretary how many members of the Auxiliary Division, Royal Irish Constabulary, sentenced to terms of imprisonment, are still in prison; and whether these men are to be detained, though Sinn Fein prisoners imprisoned for similar offences have been released?

There is only one late member of the Auxiliary Division in prison. This man was convicted after the Truce for having falsified accounts with intent to defraud and for having obtained money by false pretences. He is now undergoing sentence for those offences. He has submitted a memorial which is at the present time under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Auxiliary Cadets whose contracts are incompleted are only being paid their pay; and, if so, why certain allowances to which they were entitled have not been paid to them in addition?

Allowances are payable in respect of services rendered; thus a cadet, while actually in command of a company receives command pay, but ceases to do so immediately he vacates his command. As no services have been required from cadets since dispersal, it is obvious that no claims for allowances can be entertained.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any decision has yet been arrived at with reference to the case of several hundred auxiliary cadets who were invited to re-engage in June, 1921, who did so re-engage, and whose contracts were subsequently repudiated by the Government?

A statement giving the full particulars of the circumstances in connection with offers of re-engagement made to members of the Auxiliary Division will, as already promised, shortly be laid before the House. I cannot accept the view that there has been any repudiation of contracts properly entered into with members of the Division. I fully endorse the action of the Chief of Police in declining to confirm applications for re-engagements made by cadets who could not, by any reasonable interpretation of the Order, be described as nearing the termination of their original engagements.

asked the Chief Secretary whether members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who are suffering severe physical disability, attributable entirely to their service in the Royal Irish Constabulary, are eligible for disability pensions?

A member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, if incapacitated for the performance of his duty by infirmity of mind or body occasioned by an injury received in the execution of his duty without his own default, is entitled, on a medical certificate, to retire and receive a special pension for life. Such special pensions are the only disability pensions for which members of the Royal Irish Constabulary or of any British police force are eligible.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mr. W. R. Gilmartin, late Auxiliary Division, Royal Irish Constabulary, who was recommended for a pension by a medical board on the 27th November, 1921, on the ground that his disability was due to Royal Irish Constabulary service, has been refused a pension by the Pensions Board on the ground that his case was not covered by regulation; and, if this be the case, what steps are being taken to make these cases pensionable?

Mr. Gilmartin was discharged from the Auxiliary Division suffering from kidney troubles, which were not the outcome of an injury received in the execution of his duty in the Division. He was therefore ineligible for a pension and no recommendation for a pension was made.

asked the Chief Secretary what were the qualifications of Engineer-warder Newman that he was specially selected for transfer from Kilkenny to Belfast for urgent building work on 1st June, 1921; in view of the injuries that he had previously received in the discharge of his duty, why was he transferred for this heavy manual work; what were the reasons for Newman's two reductions in rank after his accident; what proposals have been made to compensate this officer for his injuries and loss of pay; what was the reason for placing this officer in the lowest-paid rank of the Irish Prison Service after he had given satisfactory service in a superior post for almost the entire period of his service; had Newman satisfactorily performed the duties of engineer from May, 1920, to July, 1921; if not, why was the annual increment granted to him; why has this officer's application for a sworn inquiry into his case been refused; and will steps be taken to hold such an inquiry before the prison staffs are handed over to the new Government in Ireland?

Warder Newman was accidentally injured in the discharge of his duty as tradesman warder and was, in consequence, pensioned from the Service in the year 1916. He did not suffer two reductions in rank after his accident, but was discharged on pension in consequence of that accident. In the following year he was taken back to the Prison Service, at his own request, as an ordinary warder, his physical condition having improved in the meantime. His service was approved from May, 1920, to June, 1921. In the general re-grading of the Service, which occurred at that time, it was considered that he was fit for the post of engineer warder, and he was so graded as from May, 1920. He was sent on temporary duty to Belfast in 1921, in the ordinary course, to assist in works which were being carried out there. Soon afterwards he was found medically unfit to carry out the duties of his trade, and the Board allowed him to revert to the lighter duties of an ordinary warder. The alternative would have been to retire him on pension.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether passports will be required by British residents desirous of entering the Irish Free State when constituted and for residents in that State desirous of entering this country; and whether the Irish Free State will issue its own passports to its residents who desire to proceed to foreign countries, or if such passports will continue to be issued by the British Foreign Office as at present?

As regards the first part of the question, it will be within the discretion of the Free State Government as of any Dominion to determine in what circumstances persons entering or leaving their territory should be required to be in possession of passports; as regards the second part, I would point out that the Foreign Office does not normally issue passports on behalf of the other Dominions in the British Empire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any other Government than that of the Free State will be permitted in Southern Ireland; and what steps the Government propose to take should the Irish electorate declare for a Republic?

His Majesty's Government have already made it abundantly clear that, in their opinion, the Treaty represents the utmost limit to which any Government could go in endeavouring to meet the aspirations of the Irish people, and I have nothing to add to what has already been said on this point. The second part of the question is hypothetical, but I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that, should the contingency to which he refers arise. His Majesty's Government will not be found entirely without resources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty the King's head on British stamps, to the value of about£250,000, has been defaced by being printed over by the Irish Provisional Government; whether this action has been approved by His Majesty's Government; and what, if any, payment has been made by the Provisional Government in respect of the stamps so defaced?

The British postage stamps supplied to the Post Office in Southern Ireland have been overprinted pending the issue of stamps of a new design when that administration takes over the control of its own Post Office under the terms of the Treaty. It is the usual practice, in a period of transition, to overprint postage stamps; and the present arrangement has been agreed to by His Majesty's Government. The revenue resulting from the sale of overprinted stamps is being brought to credit in the accounts of the Post Office in the normal way.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the contents of a Memorandum, dated 18th December, 1921, issued by the envoy plenipotentiary of the Far Eastern Republic in Moscow with respect to the actions of the Japanese in Siberia; and whether, in view of the allegations made and of the pledges given by Japan at the Washington Conference, representations will be made to Japan to evacuate her troops without further delay?

A copy of the Memorandum referred to by the right hon. Gentleman has been brought to the attention of His Majesty's Government. His Majesty's Government are confident that the Japanese Government will fulfil their pledges in regard to the evacuation of Eastern Siberia by their troops.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the total quantity of aeroplanes and the number of each type which have been bought for delivery from this country on behalf of the Russian Soviet Government since the signing of the economic Agreement; and whether any guarantees have been asked for and/or given regarding the uses to which these machines will be put?

There is no obligation on firms to obtain permission before exporting to Russia aircraft unarmed and not fitted to take armament. But if the aircraft to which my hon. Friend refers are armed or fitted to take armament, an export licence will be required, and this would only be granted by the Board of Trade after reference to the Foreign Office. Particulars of any such export licences already granted could be obtained from the Board of Trade.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, simultaneously with the British Government's declaration of a desire to come to an understanding with the Egyptian people, it was announced to send Zaghlul Pasha and his colleagues, representatives of the Egyptian nation, to Seychelles Islands; and, since this action is likely to widen the gulf of misunderstanding between Egypt and England, can this decision be reconsidered?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper laid on the 28th February. As regards the latter part, the reply is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact of the systematic oppression of the Hungarians by the Rumanian Government; and whether Great Britain has consuls established in the annexed territories?

As regards the first part of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply returned to my hon. Friend on the 18th March of last year. As my hon. Friend is doubtless aware, the stipulations regarding the protection of racial minorities in Rumania were, under the Treaty of 9th December, 1919, placed under the guarantee of the League of Nations. As regards the second part, there are at present consular officers at Cluj and Czernowitz, and the appointment of a third officer to reside at Temeswara has also been authorised.

asked the Prime Minister if, in the coming conference on the Near East, the case of Bulgaria will be considered?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 22nd February to the hon. and gallant Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Lieut.-Colonel Guinness).

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that, by the Treaty of Sèvres, Bulgaria is cut off from the Ægean Sea, and that her commerce is compelled to follow the long and costly route of the Black Sea, entailing additional expense to the British taxpayer; and will he see what can be done to remove these hindrances to trade?

No, Sir; the Treaty of Sèvres deals with Turkish and not with Bulgarian territory. It was by Article 48 of the Treaty of Neuilly, which has been ratified after discussion in this House, that Western Thrace was taken from Bulgaria. Full provision for the economic access of Bulgaria to the Ægean was made in the subsequent Treaty between Greece and the principal allied Powers signed on 10th August, 1920. I hope that so soon as this latter Treaty has been ratified the economic outlets of Bulgaria will be fully secured.

asked the Prime Minister whether he contemplates concluding peace with Turkey at an early date?

It is the constant desire of His Majesty's Government to bring about peace with Turkey, and they hope that the forthcoming meeting at Paris will contribute materially towards the attainment of that object.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, despite numerous applications, the Corporation of Dover is unable to obtain a settlement of an account for electric current, which account has been running on for a very considerable period, and about which there does not appear to be any question in dispute; and the cause of this delay?

A settlement of this outstanding question which has necessitated lengthy investigation will probably be reached at an early date. I may add that pending such settlement advances on account have already been made, the last of which, amounting to£600, was paid on the 22nd February.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether any settled policy exists in the matter of giving preference to food and manufactured commodities of home production required for consumption by naval forces at home stations?

It is the policy of the Admiralty to accord a definite preference in price to products of the British Empire in contracts for the commodities mentioned in the question, except in the case of certain articles where the use of foreign material is entirely excluded.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty the average age of petty officers promoted to the ranks of gunner, gunner (T), and boatswain; and how does this compare with the average age of chief writers promoted to warrant rank?

No promotions to gunner, gunner (T), and boatswain have been made since 1918, but if promotions were resumed now it is anticipated that the average age of promotion would be about 32 in the case of gunners, 29 to 30 in the case of gunners (T), and 34 in the case of boatswains. The average age of promotion of chief writer to warrant writer would be 39 to 40, if promotion were resumed now. There can, however, be no comparison between the ages in the former cases and in that of chief writers, since if a candidate for gunner or boatswain reaches the age of 35 before being selected, he is removed from the roster, while a chief writer remains on it until he is pensioned.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether two pensioner chief sick berth petty officers are included in the total of 41 of this rank allowed to the Portsmouth Port Division; and, if so, whether, in view of the curtailment of promotion of active service sick berth petty officers caused by the inclusion of such pensioners, steps will be taken to bear such pensioners as supernumerary to the establishment?

Only one of the two chief sick berth stewards borne is in lieu of an active service sick berth chief petty officer. The other is borne in lieu of a sick berth petty officer. Both are in His Majesty's Yacht "Victoria and Albert," and while so serving must be in lieu of active service ratings.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why, if it was considered necessary owing to the drastic reductions of the Fleet not to fill the vacancies which occurred in June, November, and December of 1921, for paymaster lieutenants promoted from commissioned writers, and also because the post-War complement of accountant officers has not yet been fixed, six paymaster commanders were promoted to the rank of paymaster captain on the 31st December, 1921, and 1st January, 1922, respectively, observing that the paymaster captains list is now overborne by three on an immediate pre-War basis?

The number of paymaster captains allowed before the War was admittedly very low with regard to the proportion of officers of this rank allowed in other branches, and one of the recommendations of the Halsey Committee was that the number should be increased. This and other questions relating to the accountant branch have been for some time under the consideration of the Board, and as a temporary arrangement until the whole matter has been settled, it has been decided to retain the pre-War number of paymaster captains, together with three supernumerary posts which were instituted during the War. Full scope exists for the employment of this number of officers of this rank.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will inquire into the accounts of Mr. Henry Cooper, late private, No. 89601, Royal Army Medical Corps; whether, in spite of this man's repeated efforts, he has been unable to get his statement of accounts from India and he has to take for granted the paymaster's statement that he is£10 17s. 3d. in debt; and when the account from India will be forthcoming?

A statement of accounts for Mr. Cooper was obtained from India and was sent on 27th May, 1921, to the Organising Secretary, Midland Division, National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, through whom his inquiry had been received, for transmission to Mr. Cooper. A copy will now be sent to Mr. Cooper through the regimental paymaster.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any settled policy exists in the matter of giving preference to food and manufactured commodities of home production required for consumption by troops serving at home?

The policy of the War Office is to give a preference to home production, but in the case of food supplies, the production of which at home is inadequate to meet the needs of the population, it is not possible to carry out this policy in its entirety.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that ex-service men being provided with hospital treatment in Belfast have been ejected from hospital because they are Roman Catholics; and what action he proposes to take to provide the necessary hospital treatment for these men?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Falls Division of Belfast (Mr. Devlin) on the 1st March, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the complaints against his Department of threatening ex-service men suffering from slight nervous breakdown with the forfeiture of a part, or the whole, of their allowance if they will not consent to remain in asylums or other mental institutions, or if their relatives insist on directing their discharge under Section 72 of the Lunacy Act; whether it was for this purpose that Dr. Forwood, a pensions medical officer recently intervened in the case of C. S. Norris, a harmless young ex-airman confined in Banstead Asylum, whose wife wishes to detain him there, drawing his and her allowance, although his parents have offered to give him a comfortable home and unremitting attention; and if he will indicate what steps he proposes to take that ex-service men should be no longer subjected to unjustified disability of this nature?

The personal and family allowances and other privileges granted under Article 6 of the Royal Warrant are in all cases conditional on the acceptance of the course of medical treatment which is considered necessary by the medical advisers of the Ministry. My right hon. Friend has necessarily to consider whether they can be continued at their full rate where a course of treatment is interrupted against definite medical advice, to the clear detriment of the man's condition. I am not aware that any complaint has arisen in regard to this rule. In the particular case referred to the man was examined last July by a medical inspector of the Ministry, who, on medical grounds and in the direct interests of the patient, was unable to recommend his discharge from institutional treatment.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Thomas Edwin Gilks, late No. 47,963, lance-bombardier, Royal Field Artillery, and later No. 223,309, gunner 25th A Aircraft Company, Royal Garrison Artillery; is he aware that Mr. Gilks had finished his colour service in 1914, went to France 16th August, 1914, and was invalided home in 1918 and discharged; that his pension was stopped in April, 1921, and that as lately as February, 1922, he was asked to join Section D, Army Reserve, but failed to pass owing to his medical disability; and will he inquire into this case and see that this man's pension is paid with arrears from April, 1921?

On each occasion on which this man was examined by a medical board his disablement was assessed at less than 20 per cent., and he was not therefore entitled to disability pension, but only to the final weekly allowance, which expired in May, 1921. I have no information as regards the man's rejection for service in the Reserve, but I would point out that the fact of rejection for further military service would not necessarily imply that the man was entitled to further compensation for disablement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that there are in the country a large number of bridges, particularly over canals and rivers, which are not adapted to the requirements of heavy motor commercial traffic; that such traffic is prohibited from crossing such bridges to the great general inconvenience of the public; whether the Ministry can take action or give any advice in regard to remodelling these structures to adapt them to modern requirements; and whether the Road Board has made any grants in aid and, if so, to what extent towards such structural reconstruction?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. Assistance is being given from the Road Fund, as far as moneys are available, towards the reconstruction of such bridges. I may point out that it was not till the passing of the Roads Act, 1920, that power was conferred on the Minister of Transport to make advances, in conjunction with a highway authority, in respect of the reconstruction of bridges maintainable by canal or railway companies. Grants to a total of£215,850 have been allocated during the current financial year towards the maintenance, repair, widening, and reconstruction of bridges in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to a patent that prevents the ignition of woods and crops by sparks of engines; and, if this patent is efficient, will legislation be introduced to make it compulsory in all areas where conflagrations may occur?

I have been asked to reply to this question. My information is that no completely satisfactory spark arrestor for railway locomotives has been devised which does not mitigate against draught and increase firing difficulties. If the hon. Member has any particular appliance in mind, I should be happy to obtain the views of the railway companies thereon.

asked the Postmaster-General the totals of all grades of the personnel of the General Post Office for the periods 1913–14, 1920–21, and 1921–22, engaged in the collection and delivery of letters, postcards, printed papers, and newspapers?

The total number of staff employed on the collection and delivery of postal packets, including parcels, on the 31st March, 1914, was approximately 84,000, and the corresponding number on the 1st February, 1922, was 80,500. Comparable figures for 1920–21 are not available.

asked the Postmaster-General what he accepts as equivalent training to that of a graduate in physics or electrical engineering in the case of naval and military experts in wireless telegraphy; and whether he appointed to the post of assistant inspector of wireless telegraphy an ex-naval officer who retired from the Navy with a gratuity and pension?

I have already informed the hon. Member that the naval officer recently appointed to the post of assistant inspector of wireless telegraphy possesses, in my opinion, all the qualifications necessary for the post, and I have nothing to add to this answer. The officer referred to received a gratuity on his retirement from the Navy, but is not in receipt of a pension.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that the cable companies are still charging triple rates for urgent cables, although this extra charge was instituted during the War and was understood to be a War measure only; and will he make representations to the cable companies urging them to revert to pre-war charges and conditions?

I have been asked to answer this question. As I explained to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle East (Major Barnes) on the 21st February in answer to a similar question, the "urgent" service was introduced as the result of representations from the commercial community; and while the delay remains abnormal and an urgent service is available in foreign countries I do not think it would be in the interests of British cable users to abolish it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of land purchased by the Government for forestry purposes in England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively; and what proportion of the land has been found unfit for afforestation in each of these countries?

I have been asked to answer this question. The acreage of land purchased by the Forestry Commissioners for forestry purposes is as follows, namely: Plantable. Unplantable. England … 9,743 623 Scotland … 10,563 19,284 Wales … nil nil

The acreage of land acquired by purchase, lease, or feu is as follows, namely: Plantable. Unplantable. England … 35,222 707 Scotland … 42,869 45,598 Wales … 10,562 750

The unplantable land includes a small area which is suitable for agriculture, but the greater part is either too elevated or too poor to be useful for any purpose except sport and summer grazing by sheep.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what sum of money has been paid to the farmers in respect of crops of wheat and oats under the Acts of 1917–20, and the amount that has been paid in the county of Lancashire; and whether he is aware that farmers have made repeated claims for same in the Ormskirk area and up to the present have no knowledge as to whether their claims are to be accepted?

The total amount paid in England and Wales to the 4th of March inclusive was£13,972,038 of which£404,273 was in respect of crops grown in Lancashire. As regards the latter part of the question, I am not aware of any cases of the kind, but if the hon. Member will give me the names and addresses of the farmers in question I will have enquiry made.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the conspicuous success of the Geddes Economy Committee, he will see his way to appoint forthwith a committee to re-organise the whole of British education on sound practical and economical lines; and whether he would consider appointing to this committee Members of this House who are experts in education and representatives of the Head Masters' Conference, Head Masters' Association, Assistant Masters' Association, and National Union of Teachers, with a business man of repute as chairman?

I have considered the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion, but I doubt whether the appointment of such a committee would be really helpful.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the closing of the elementary school at Warnford, Hampshire, by the Hampshire County Education Authority; whether the school was closed without any inquiry being held locally; whether the Board of Education were in any way consulted about the closing of the school; whether he is aware of the strong feeling of the parents and ratepayers of Warnford in the matter; and if he will have the question thoroughly investigated?

The answer to the two first parts of the question are in the affirmative. The school, which had only 13 children on the books, was closed by the Local Education Authority on the 31st January, 1921, and the Board, after consideration of the circumstances, consented to its closure under Section 18 of the Elementary Education Act, 1870. The Board have received no protests against the closure, except from one local ratepayer. I see no ground for re-opening the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education how much public money has been spent on teachers' pensions since the 1st April, 1919; and what the amount would have been had the Act of 1918 been retrospective in its operation?

For the period 1st April, 1919, to 31st December, 1921, the total amount of the benefits awarded under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, is£2,279,952. I am afraid that it is impossible to give even an approximate answer to the second part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the full-time post of instructor in antique and life drawing and anatomy at the Royal College of Art is to be abolished; if so, what new arrangement is contemplated for the teaching of this subject; and what economy will be effected thereby?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is contemplated that the teaching of antique and life drawing and anatomy should be carried out by part-time instructors appointed, as are many other members of the staff, on a sessional basis. The replacement of a full-time pensionable instructor by part-time unpensionable instructors will result in a saving to the Exchequer. It is not possible to state at present the exact amount of the saving.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that Section 49 of the Lunacy Act constitutes the only efficient check upon the action of a petitioner who has kept his wife confined in Camberwell Asylum for 13 years, and that this Section empowers anyone (whether relative or not) to take the initiative in appealing for an order to have her examined by two independent medical practitioners, he is aware that the Lunacy Board, having apparently accepted the practitioners named in the application, subsequently changed their minds and substituted for them two mental specialists, nominees of the husband, who is desirous of her continued incarceration, thus rendering wholly nugatory the intention of Section 49 of the Act; and will he take steps to see that the present situation in regard to this lady is rectified and that the Board in future do not use their powers in such a manner as to play into the hands of possibly unfair petitioners or to put fees into the pockets of mental specialists by the practice of substituting their names for those of medical practitioners as prescribed in the wording of the Act?

It is not the fact that Section 49 of the Lunacy Act, 1890, constitutes the only efficient check against the improper detention of persons in asylums. The Act contains a number of safeguards. The provisions of the Section referred to are permissive, and as to the practice of the board of control in regard to it, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 13th of last month.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to state the result of his communication with the Knighton guardians on the subject of the scale of wages paid to masters and matrons of workhouses?

I am informed by the guardians that 28 married couples applied for the post of master and matron at the Knighton institution; that the officers appointed have had considerable experience of the management of Poor Law institutions; and that the guardians are not, at present, disposed to increase the salaries offered by them.

asked the Minister of Health the value of rateable property in England and Wales in the year 1920 and 1921?

The totals for the two years are as follow: Value. April, 1920. April, 1921. (1) Rateable value of rateable hereditaments: £ £ i. Agricultural land 24,736,662 25,326,493 ii. Other rateable hereditaments. 208,590,479 218,762,373 (2) Annual value of non-rateable Government property. 2,697,297 2,594,882 Total 236,024,438 246,683,748

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he can see his way to approach His Majesty's Treasury with a view to obtaining some modification being made in the scale of audit stamp duties prescribed by the Audit Stamp Duty (Local Authorities) Order, 1921, which duties bear heavily upon local rates;

(2) whether, having regard to the increased charges for stamp duty under the Audit Stamp Duty (Local Authorities) Order, 1921, he will consider the desirability of substituting yearly for half-yearly accounts, as in the case of urban district council accounts?

The new scale of Audit Stamp Duty was fixed by the Treasury in accordance with the requirement of Section 61 (1) of the Finance Act, 1921, that the duties levied shall be sufficient to cover the whole coats of District Auditors. I have already given notice of a Bill to substitute yearly for half-yearly audits where these are at present required, and if this proposal is accepted by Parliament, it would have the effect of reducing the stamp duty payable in these cases.

asked the Minister of Health if he can make any definite statement as to whether the Government intend to introduce a Bill dealing with the milk supply this Session?

No, Sir. I am not yet in a position to make any statement, and the question is still under consideration.

asked the Home Secretary whether any settled policy exists in the matter of giving preference to food and manufactured commodities of home production required for consumption in institutions administered by his Department?

Food and manufactured commodities required for use in prisons and Borstal institutions are obtained by tender from firms in Great Britain and Ireland whose names, after inquiry, have been placed on an official list of tenderers. No stipulation is made on the contract form that the commodities are to be of home production.

asked the Home Secretary what annual charge would be involved in compensation and pensions to women patrols if that force were disbanded?

There will be no such charge.

asked the Home Secretary if he can give any figures for comparable periods showing the number of women prisoners detained on short sentences in Holloway prison before and after the institution of the women patrols?

Women patrols were introduced in December, 1918. The total number of women received into Holloway Prison on conviction for short sentences has been as follows:— Year ending 31st March. Sentenced to Total. One month and over two weeks. Two weeks and less. 1915–16 2,521 3,889 6,410 1916–17 2,305 2,328 4,633 1917–18 1,716 1,238 2,954 1918–19 1,162 753 1,915 1919–20 1,361 1,096 2,457 1920–21 1,690 1,349 3,039

asked the Home Secretary whether it is customary to send a woman as escort to female prisoners in custody; by whom this work is at present performed and at what cost; and what would be the method and cost involved if the women patrols were abolished?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In the Metropolitan Police the escorts are provided either by the women patrols or by the matrons who are employed specially to attend to female prisoners at police stations. Before the institution of the women patrols the duty was performed by the matrons and will be again performed by them when the women patrols have been disbanded. Owing to the lower rates of allowances paid to the matrons the change will effect a saving, but it is not possible to give any estimate of the amount.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will issue a Report dealing with the work of the women patrols and particularly stating how many persons have been cautioned, and for what reason, by them; and what other duties they have performed during the present year?

The Commissioner of Police will in due course include in his annual report for the current year a statement as to the work of the women patrols.

asked the Home Secretary what is the number of mounted policemen; what is the annual cost of each, including pay and maintenance of horses and equipment; and what is the annual comparable cost of a dismounted man and of a woman patrol?

The present strength of the mounted branch of the Metropolitan Police is 281. The annual cost of a constable, taking the initial rate of pay, and allowing for rent aid, clothing, incidentals, and the value of his pension, is approximately£264; that of a horse, including charges for forage, farriery, saddlery, stabling, veterinary attendance, and depreciation, is, at present prices, about£136 making the total annual cost of a mounted constable£400. The annual cost of a woman patrol, at the initial rate of pay, and allowing for clothing, the value of free quarters, as supplied to the majority, and incidentals, with the same percentage charge for pension as in the case of a constable, is approximately£231.

asked the Home Secretary whether any cases have occurred in which the police have insisted, despite protests, on taking finger prints of prisoners before conviction?

I am not aware of any.

asked the Home Secretary how many reformatory and industrial schools are being closed; how many superintendents and trades instructors are being consequently dismissed; and whether any help is being given to those dismissed to find new work?

About 25 reformatory and industrial schools have recently been closed or will shortly be closed for reasons of economy, and about the same number of superintendents and trade instructors respectively are affected. In some cases the officers are being transferred to other schools, and in other cases the schools are being used for other purposes and the staff retained. Where it has been necessary to dispense with the services of the staff the managers of the closing schools will, I am sure, do what they can to help the officers concerned to obtain other work.

asked the Home Secretary if an application for the grant of a certificate of naturalisation was submitted in September, 1914, by Mr. Morris Syrup, who was born in Jaroslau, Galicia, and has resided in this country continuously since 1891; and, if the application has been refused on the ground that the case comes under the disability imposed upon ex-enemy aliens by Section 3 (2) of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1918, will he reconsider the refusal in view of the fact that the applicant is not of ex-enemy nationality or sympathies?

An application for the grant of a certificate of naturalisation was submitted in 1914 by Mr. Morris Syrup, who at that time described himself as a subject of Austrian nationality. Solicitors acting for Mr. Syrup have recently called attention to the application, and the question of his eligibility for a certificate is now the subject of correspondence with them. It is contrary to practice to discuss or disclose the reasons for decisions in these cases, but I may say that there is no evidence before me at present that the applicant is not of former enemy nationality.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it has been decided to abolish the Indian Army Reserve of Officers at an early date?

No such proposal has been made. A scheme for its reconstitution has been sanctioned.