asked the Minister of Pensions what arrangements have been made for ex-service men rendered deaf during the recent War; what is the number receiving treatment and financial benefits; whether he is aware that Earl Haig is making public appeals, and that collections are being made nightly in places of amusement in the London area to aid in the treatment and care of ex-service men suffering from such deafness; whether the position of such ex-service men has been considered: and what are the results?

Ear affections are pensionable under the Royal Warrant according to the degree of disablement found to exist, the rate of 70 per cent. being fixed for complete deafness. In addition, skilled medical and surgical treatment appropriate to the individual circumstances is provided in ear hospitals or at special aural clinics established by my Department. At the present time approximately 5,500 men are receiving treatment for some form of aural disease, and those who are prevented by their treatment from working are drawing the usual allowances. Facilities for acquiring proficiency in lip-reading are also provided in suitable cases. I have no information as regards the public appeals referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the award of a general service medal to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the pre-War Territorial Force who were employed on coast defence duties during the War, and who, in spite of their having signed the Imperial service obligation before the War, were expressly kept at home by the War Office?

As I have previously stated, the question of the award of a Home Service medal is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the competition to which traders are subjected who are tenants of the War Office at Tidworth, and who were induced to establish businesses for the convenience of the troops in garrison, by the competition of the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes, whose premises (originally established as canteens) are now general stores for the supply of all classes of goods; and whether he will consider the return to pre-war conditions as regards trading in the barracks?

The Navy, Army and Air Force institutes conduct regimental and garrison institutes at the present day in a precisely similar manner to that which prevailed in the days of the canteen contractors: with this difference that, whereas canteen contractors were enabled to carry on civilian trade outside War Department precincts, the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes are limited to sales to members of the forces and to trading on War Department land only.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what the value of the assets of the Navy and Army Canteen Board was at the 31st December, 1920; the amount of those assets which falls to the lot of the Navy; whether this amount will be handed over to the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust, observing that the men of the Royal Navy expressed their wish by ballot not to participate in the United Services Fund; and, if it is intended to use any of this money in financing the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes, will the Admiralty consider the advisability of ascertaining the views of the men as to the post-war organisation?

I understand that the value of the assets of the Navy and Army Canteen Board as at 31st December, 1920, has not yet been finally ascertained; this being due to the difficulties explained in the Report of the Committee on Canteen "Profits (Command Paper 1280). The amount of the profits, therefore, which falls to the lot of the Navy cannot at present be stated. Until the amount has been ascertained and a decision has been arrived at on other recommendations of the Committee on Canteen Profits, which I understand are still under consideration at the War Office, I am not in a position to deal with the question of its disposal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will extend the period for which parents are allowed the option of withdrawing a boy from the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, with a grant of £300, beyond the date originally fixed, 15th July, 1920, as no one could anticipate the decision to be arrived at by the Washington Conference, by which the personnel of the Navy was so greatly reduced?

Owing to the small number of entries into Dartmouth during the last three years, it will not be necessary to make further reductions in the number of cadets.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the sum of £3,740 for the repair of the tug "Ulysses" was paid to the repairers, while the owner of the tug had already been paid for such repairs; how these repairs came to be paid for twice over; who was responsible for the mistake; and what action has been taken in the matter?

The sum of £3,740, representing part of the cost of repairing damage to the tug "Ulysses" sustained in collision with a submarine, was paid in error to the repairers, the claim of the tug owners having been settled separately on the usual basis of a limited liability of £8 a ton on the tonnage of the submarine. The error in paying any money at all to the repairers was due mainly to a mistake on the part of a temporary clerk, who has since left the Department. Legal action was taken to effect recovery of the erroneous payment, and on the 23rd February the Crown obtained judgment for the amount reclaimed, with costs.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the purpose of the progress branch; and what is the staff employed and the monthly cost?

There is no separate progress branch, but the duties of the Visiting Inspectors of the Contract Department include ensuring the prompt delivery of stores which are not subject to inspection by technical officers during manufacture. Other duties are the inspection of premises of firms who desire to be invited to tender for Admiralty contracts, investigation of wages disputes, revision of certain contract specifications, and arrangements for exhibition of patterns to firms tendering. There are five Visiting Inspectors and three clerical assistants, the total expense monthly being about £325.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can give a definite date for the abolition of compulsory overtime in the Savings Bank Department; and, if not, whether he will consider the appointment of a competent organiser to prepare a scheme which will fix a limit to this wasteful method of dealing with war-time arrears?

I have been asked to reply to this question. It is not possible to mention a date for the cessation of the overtime; but no efforts will be spared to bring it to an end as soon as possible. I have full confidence in the abilities of the controlling staff of the Savings Bank Department to deal with the problem.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the piecework overtime performed by the women clerks in the Savings Bank Department during January and February has not yet been paid for; and the reason for the delay and when these women may expect payment?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am aware that payment for the overtime has not been made, pending the result of a discussion with the staff on a Whitley Committee as to the rates of payment. I hope that the discussion will result in a settlement in the near future.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport how many of the 25 staff officers employed by his Department on 1st March, 1922, were established civil servants before appointment to his Ministry?

Ten of the officers in question were established civil servants transferred to the Ministry from the Board of Trade and other Departments, and one was an established officer of the Road Board. Of the remainder, 12 are experts transferred from the railway companies under Section 7 of the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, and of these 11 are established.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when will the retrospective grant made to hospital principal warders and Class 1 trade instructors of the Irish Prison Service, as notified in Treasury Circular, dated 31st December, 1921, be paid to equivalent ranks in the Central State Asylum, Dundrum, County Dublin, in accordance with the assimilation of the asylum with the Irish Prison Service?

The question of extending the allowances paid in the Irish Prison Service in the case of Class 1 trade instructors and hospital warders to attendants performing analogous duties in Dundrum Central Lunatic Asylum is understood to be under consideration by the Provisional Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps the Government are taking to provide for the migration of loyalists from the South of Ireland to other parts of the Empire; and what assistance it is intended to give them if they desire to move?

His Majesty's Government is not taking any steps to provide for migration from the South of Ireland to other parts of the Empire.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the statement in Parliament that nearly 200 children, including many urgent cases of cripples, mentally defective, tubercular, and delicate boys and girls, are waiting for admission to the special school recently built by the Barking education authority; and whether, in view of the fact that the Board of Education refuses to allow this school to be used to its full capacity, the Ministry of Health are taking any action to secure that these children shall receive the care and attention which their condition requires?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative; the matter referred to in the second part of the question is one solely within the jurisdiction of the Board of Education.

asked the President of the Board of Education to what extent the Board will continue to make-grants to such non-provided secondary schools as receive grants-in-aid from a local education authority; whether he is aware how greatly the Board's grant of £5,000 a year has contributed to the successful work of the Manchester High School for Girls; and whether ho can give any assurance as to the continuation of this grant?

I presume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the recommendation on page 115 of the first Interim Report of the Committee on National Expenditure, that where a school receives financial assistance from a local authority, the direct grant from the Board should cease and no further grant should be made to that school except through the supporting local authority as an intermediary. While accepting the recommendation in principle, the Government have decided to spread its application as regards existing schools and arrangements over a period of five years. It will, of course, be understood that no extension of such arrangements will be permitted. The Board will issue a circular on the subject as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government proposals with regard to education will increase or decrease materially that part of the cost of education which is borne by local rates?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The gradual removal of the anomaly under which the State contributes an excessive proportion of the cost of maintaining non-provided secondary schools will involve some relatively inconsiderable transfer of cost from taxes to rates. But a great deal will depend on the extent to which local education authorities adjust their own expenditure to the total amounts which are available for grants under the provision made in the Estimates, a process in which they will, I hope, be greatly assisted by the fall in prices.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of his announcement that attendance at school of children under six should be voluntary, he proposes to introduce a Bill amending Section 8 (1) of the Education Act, 1918, and Section 7 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908: and whether, until this Bill is passed into law, local education authorities will be instructed not to insist on the attendance at school of children under six contrary to the wishes of their parents?

A Bill to give effect in England and Wales to the decision of the Government will be introduced as soon as possible; but, pending an alteration of the law, I have no authority to issue instructions to local education' authorities to disregard it. As regards Scotland, the hon. and gallant Member's question should be addressed to the Secretary of State.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the £46,647,615 received by the Treasury on account of German reparations includes the British share of the £50,000,000 paid by Germany in August last?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what instalments are at present being paid by Germany on account of indemnity to the Allies; has a moratorium been granted to the German Government; and what sums have been demanded in cash and kind for the year 1922?

The Reparation Commission reached the following decision on 13th January when the Conference of Cannes broke up after the resignation of Monsieur BriandThe Reparation Commission decides to grant to the German Government a provisional postponement of the instalments due on the 15th of January and the 15th of February, 1922 (in so far as they are not covered by cash payments already made or which may be made, and by deliveries in kind and receipts under the Reparation Recovery Acts received or which may be received up to the respective duo dates) subject to the following conditions: — ( a ) During the period of provisional postponement the German Government shall pay, in approved foreign currencies, the amount of 31 millions of gold marks every ten days, the first payment being upon the 18th of January, 1922. ( b )The German Government shall, within a period of 15 days, submit to the Commission a scheme of budget and currency reform, with appropriate guarantees, as well as a complete programme of cash payments and deliveries in kind for the year 1922. ( c ) The period of provisional postponement shall end as soon as the Commission or the Allied Governments have taken a decision with regard to the scheme and programme indicated in paragraph b. Except and so far as may be otherwise provided in this decision, the difference between the amounts actually paid during the period of the provisional postponement and the sums due during the same period under the Schedule of Payments shall become due and payable within 15 days from the decision of the Reparation Commission or the Allied Governments, as the case may be. When the scheme and programme referred to above have been received by the Reparation Commission, they will be immediately transmitted by the Commission to the Allied Governments, who will thus be in a position either to deal with the matter themselves or to refer it back to the Commission to be dealt with by the latter. The payments referred to in paragraph ( a )have been regularly made by the German Government. A Note was addressed by the German Government to the Reparation Commission on 28th January in pursuance of paragraph ( b ) and was immediately transmitted by the Commission to the Allied Governments. The further action to be taken is at present being considered by a Conference of Allied Finance Ministers in Paris.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether an arrangement has been concluded between the German Atlantic and the German South American Telegraph Companies; whether, as a result, the German companies will be enabled to resume cable traffic; and whether the signatories to the Treaty of Versailles, including Great Britain, have been consulted in this matter?

I have no information that any arrangement has been concluded by the German cable companies mentioned for the resumption of cable communications between Germany and South America. The existing cables of the German South American Cable Company could not be used, for that purpose, because they were all ceded to the Allied and Associated Governments by the Treaty of Versailles.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the present financial condition of the country and the opinions expressed by certain leading military authorities and supported by several chambers of commerce and other bodies, he is prepared to suspend the activities of the Imperial War Museum for a period of 20 years?

I would refer the hon. Member to the relevant passages in the Third Report of the Committee on National Expenditure. From these it will be seen that the expenditure incurred on the maintenance of the Imperial War Museum has been very carefully reviewed and substantially reduced in each of the last three financial years. No appreciable saving of public money would result from the proposal to suspend the activities of this museum for a period of 20 years. Provision must in any case be made for the proper custody and arrangement of the valuable collections of exhibits, pictures, etc., which have been purchased, presented or loaned for the special purposes of this museum by Allied Powers, the Colonies, the naval and military forces of the Crown, and by distinguished individual artists and war workers. The only result therefore of closing this museum for a period of years would be to deprive the public and students of the use of these collections, which have been very largely visited by all sections of the public since the formal opening of the museum by His Majesty in June, 1920. The possibility of effecting further economies by arrangements to accommodate the collections, as now reduced for purposes of permanent retention, in some more accessible and economical building than the Crystal Palace is engaging the attention of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the names, with the annual amounts received, of ex-Cabinet Ministers in receipt of political pensions; if any ex-Ministers have voluntarily surrendered such pensions; what is the total amount already drawn by them; and if and when the payment of such pensions are reviewed?

The ex-Cabinet Ministers at present in receipt of political pensions are:— Per annum. The Right Hon. Lord George Hamilton £2,000 The Right Hon. Lord Chaplin £1,200

The total amounts drawn by them are £42,206 9s. 3d. and £23,727 2s. 1d. respectively. In addition, pensions were granted to the following ex-Ministers, but have been resigned by them, namely:—

The Right Hon. J. A. Pease (now Lord Gainford), £1,200 per annum. (Resigned on 5th January, 1916, after drawing £553 0s. 5d.)

The Right Hon. G. W. Balfour, £1,200 per annum. (Resigned on 5th January, 1911, after drawing £6,084 15s. 8d.)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of prosecutions of defaulting Income Tax payers assessed on a quarterly basis during the period since the adoption of the last Budget; and whether the authorities before initiating them take into consideration the present circumstances of the debtors who may be unemployed?

The information asked for in the first part of the question can only be obtained by a special investigation which, in view of the time and expense involved, I am not prepared to authorise. With regard to the second part of the question, I would remind my hon. Friend that as has been repeatedly stated in this House, it is the practice under existing instructions not to proceed for the recovery of arrears of Income Tax in summary proceedings in the case of taxpayers who are known to be out of employment and in consequence unable to pay the sums due.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate taxation per head in our Dominions, Empire of India, and important Colonies and Dependencies?

An approximate statement of the taxation per head (including indirect taxation) in the undermentioned Colonies and Protectorates is:— £ s. d. Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States 4 7 5 Hong Kong 2 6 0 British Guiana 3 1 0 Trinidad 3 18 8 Jamaica 1 7 8 Mauritius 2 8 0 Gold Coast 1 0 0 Ceylon 13 0 Kenya 12 6 Uganda 4 10 Nigeria 3 8½

These figures are, of course, subject to qualifications which it would take too long to state in detail, and I only give them as a rough estimate. I am not in a position to give figures for the Dominions or India.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of our Dominion, Empire of India, and important Colonies and Dependencies balance their Budgets?

I am not in a position to supply anything like an adequate answer so far as the self-governing Dominions of India are concerned. The financial year varies in different Colonies and Protectorates, but generally I may say that the more important Colonies and Protectorates may be said to have balanced their Budgets for the ensuing year in so far as deficits will be met from the accumulated reserves of the Colonies concerned, although in several cases expenditure for the current or coming financial year is expected to exceed revenue. Generally speaking there has been an excess of revenue over expenditure for the last financial year, for which I have completed figures.

asked the Home Secretary if the Monmouthshire County Council have passed a resolution in favour of the introduction of a Bill to amend the existing law regulating Sunday trading and that the Urban District Council of Abertillery is in agreement with the resolution of the Monmouthshire County Council; and will he introduce legislation on this question at an early date in accordance with the wishes of these bodies?

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to, but I am not in a position to promise any legislation on this question.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in addition to the local advisory committees authorised by the Licensing Act of 1921, he has appointed an advisory council or committee at the Home Office to deal with questions of State management; if so, what are the names of the members of such council or committee; and what are their functions and responsibilities collectively and personally?

Yes, Sir: and the members of the council are the Secretary for Scotland and myself, the two Depart- mental representatives (namely, Sir John Pedder and Mr. P. J. Rose), and four others, Mr. Waters Butler, Mr. S. O. Nevile, Sir John Sykes, and Sir William Towle. Their functions are, collectively and personally, to assist the Secretary for Scotland and myself in the administration of the State management districts for which we have become responsible under the Licensing Act of last year.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in pursuance of the recommendations of the Committee on National Expenditure, he will now take steps to hand over all the property and stocks held under the State management schemes to the Disposal Board for immediate realisation, and so secure to the public Exchequer the revenue arising from Income Tax and Excess Profits Duty which has been withheld by the State management; and whether he will give effect to the Committee's recommendation that no further expenditure on new purchases should be incurred?

The hon. Member's question appears to be founded on a misconception. So far from the taxes specified being withheld from the State, the whole of the profits of these schemes accrue to the State, including, of course, such sums as would represent the taxes in question if there were any object in calculating them. I do not read the Report of the Committee on National Expenditure as recommending that these properties should be handed over to the Disposals Board for immediate realisation —a course of action which would lead to a substantial loss of revenue to the Exchequer. The recommendation referred to in the last paragraph of the question is receiving attention in the framing of the revised Estimates.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is prepared to investigate the application made by Mr. Goldstein, who has resided in England for 37 years and whose wife and family are British born; and, if he will not do so now, can he undertake to do so during the present year?

There are 53 outstanding applications for naturalisation from persons called Goldstein, and even if I could identify the case, the hon. Member has in mind, I fear I could only refer him to my reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. M. Jones) on the 13th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to a proposed large-scale power farming display by agricultural engineers in the coming autumn; and whether such proposal will have the cooperation of the Ministry?

I presume that this question relates to a demonstration of tractors and harvesting machinery which is now being arranged by the University of Leeds and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The proposal was discussed at an early stage with the Ministry, who will co-operate in every way possible to ensure its success.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the Hampshire Down Sheep Breeders' Association protesting against the excessive freights now charged on live stock exported from this country to all foreign ports; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Yes, Sir, and I am already in communication with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on the subject. At the same time, my Noble Friend will be aware that shipping companies are under no statutory obligations with regard to the freights charged, and I have no power to intervene directly in the matter. It would appear that the most important freights are those on cattle exported to the Argentine, and in this connection I would refer my Noble Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Trade to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Sir A. Holbrook) on 1st March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the smallholders in the neighbourhood of Moordown, Bournemouth, hold the view that the rent of £4 per acre in that area is not a fair rent; and whether, since this land was previously let to a farmer for 30s. per acre he will cause inquiry to be made into these rents, in view of the difficulty of the smallholder to compete with produce grown on neighbouring farms at very much lower rents?

As I explained on the 17th February last, in reply to the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. T. Griffiths), the rents of the civilian smallholders referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend were revised a year ago so as to accord with the rents payable by the adjoining ex-service tenants. Rents for small holdings are necessarily higher than rents of large farms owing to the large proportion of equipment required on a small holding. With regard to the small holdings in question, I have been in communication with the Hampshire County Council, and understand the matter will be considered by the Small Holdings Committee at their next meeting, but until agricultural conditions are more stabilised, I am not prepared to agree to permanent reductions of rent, but only to temporary abatements.

asked the Minister of Health why the National League of the Blind have not been granted representations on the advisory committee set up to deal with the after care of the blind?

The National League have been informed on more than one occasion that so long as they refuse to obey the decision of the Charity Commissioners as to registration under Section 3 of the Blind Persons Act, no question of representation on the advisory committee can be entertained, I understand that the League is still an unregistered body.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the admitted need of reduction in expenditure out of rates as well as out of taxes, he will consider the substitution of a yearly instead of a half-yearly audit of the accounts of local authorities, and thus save the increased burden upon the rates imposed by his recent decision that local authorities should bear the whole cost of this audit?

As I have previously stated, I propose to introduce a Bill to substitute yearly for half-yearly audits, and, if this proposal is accepted by Parliament, it would have the effect of reducing the Stamp Duty payable in these cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the stock of tea, amounting to 216,000,000

(Quantities expressed in Tons of 2,240 1bs. avoirdupois.) — Germany. Austria-Hungary. Russia (including Asiatic Russia). Imports. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. Exports. Coal 10,370,675 34,042,363 13,469,149 697,002 7,638,909 95,992* Lignite 6,874,773 59,375 32,575 6,903,839 — — Iron and Steel: Crude and Semi-Manu factured. 160,330 3,126,340 202,943 72,360 82,853 8,875 Manufactures 448,428 3,271,590 73,216 70,830 133,829 43,196 Total Iron and Steel 608,758 6,397,930 276,159 143,190 216,682 52,071 Wheat† 2,505,041 529,697 18,804 18,804 128,276 3,278,318 * Including a small quantity of Coke. † The figures are exclusive of the equivalent of any wheat flour imported or exported.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average monthly amount of milk products imported into this country; what is the

lbs., given in the January Board of Trade Returns as lying in the United Kingdom, is warehoused in Irish bonds; and what are the actual quantities lying in bond in Dublin and Belfast?

I have been asked to reply. The stock of tea in bonded warehouses, or entered to be warehoused, on the 31st January, 1922, in Ireland was 3,166,121 lbs., of which stock there were in Dublin 1,639,993 lbs., and in Belfast 438,960 lbs. The stock of tea in Dublin is partly estimated, the records being incomplete owing to the fire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the export and import figures, in tons, of coal, iron, and wheat in 1913 for the German, Austrian, and Russian empires, respectively?

The following statement shows the quantity of the undermentioned articles imported into and exported from Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia in the year 1913, according to the official statistics issued by those countries:

value of these imports; and from what countries they are received?

The reply can be given most conveniently in the form of a statistical table.

STATEMENT showing the monthly average quantities and values of milk products imported into the United Kingdom during the years 1920 and 1921 so far as particulars are available. Description of Product and unit of quantity. 1920. 1921. Principal countries from which consigned.* Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Cwts. £ Cwts. £ Butter 141,850 2,043,229 293,666 3,544,033 Denmark, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina Netherlands. Cheese (except margarine cheese). 229,188 1,719,496 234,315 1,450,036 New Zealand, Canada. Milk: Condensed, not sweetened. 22,419 114,705 51,078 207,094 United States. Condensed, sweetened, whole. 103,405 663,970 58,368 319,339 United States, Canada. Condensed, separated or skimmed. 38,715 206,015 72,957 304,852 Netherlands, Powder, not sweetened 5,036 32,859 † † Australia, New Zealand, United States. Powder, sweetened 1 7 † † — Preserved, other kinds, not sweetened. 7,691 72,751 † † New Zealand. Tons. Casein 315 26,393 † † France, New Zealand. * The particulars in this column relate to imports in 1920 and 1921 in the case of butter and cheese and to 1920 in the case of other milk products, information with regard to the countries from which those other products were consigned not being available. † Figures not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to improve the present system of the international code of signals with a view to preventing vessels using signals of distress when merely requiring a pilot, or for other non-distress purposes; and whether shipowners and masters may be urged to dissuade passengers and crews in jeopardy of shipwreck from taking to their own boats when it is definitely known that a lifeboat is actually on the way, seeing that loss of life is constantly due to the premature launching of ship s boats under such circumstances?

If the hon. and gallant Member will be good enough to forward to me particulars of the cases he has in mind I will inquire into them, but I would point out at once that Section 434 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, already provides a remedy for the improper use of distress signals. If a master of a vessel uses any signal of distress except in the case of a vessel being in distress, he is liable to pay com- pensation for any labour undertaken, risk incurred, or loss sustained in consequence of that signal having been supposed to be a signal of distress. As regards the second suggestion, the master of the ship must decide what is the best action to take in case of shipwreck, having regard to the circumstances of the case, and the Board would be most reluctant to interfere in any way with his discretion.

asked the Minister of Labour what will be the purchasing power of the average wage in the shipbuilding industry compared to the pre-War wage supposing the proposed two cuts in the wage come into operation?

Wages and earnings in the shipbuilding industry vary in different occupations and districts, and the information at my disposal does not enable me to make with accuracy the comparison requested by my Noble Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether there is disagreement between the Borough Council of New-castle-under-Lyme and its officials concerning the arbitrary reduction recently made in the remuneration of the officials; and whether, in the interests of efficient administration, he will take effective steps to induce the authority to agree to the difference with the officials being referred to arbitration under the Industrial Courts Act, 1919?

My attention was drawn by representatives of the officials in October, 1921, to a difference between the Borough Council of Newcastle-under-Lyme and its official staffs concerning a proposed reduction in the remuneration of those staffs. The Department asked the borough council whether, in the event of failure to reach a settlement by mutual negotiation, they would be prepared to concur in the reference of the matter to arbitration. The town clerk informed the Department on 7th November, 1921, that the corporation had decided to carry into effect the proposed reduction and would not be prepared to refer the matter to arbitration. It is understood, however, that the corporation on 7th December, 1921, decided to review the matter and neither of the parties has since communicated with the Department on the matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed workpeople in certain parts of Lancashire live a distance of about five miles from the Employment Exchange where they are required to register for benefit; that the cost of travelling three times per week to register amounts in some cases to as much as one-third the amount of benefit received; and, if so, whether he will take steps to remove this anomaly?

A claimant for benefit residing more than four and not more than six miles from the Employment Exchange is not required to attend more than once a week. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of cases he has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has been able to give consideration to the proposals made for an especially low rate of postage for the conveyance of home-grown foods, in order to give a stimulus to food production in country districts and to ensure for town workers an increased supply of wholesome foods at reasonable prices?

I have several times considered similar proposals. The present rate of postage on parcels is estimated to be insufficient to cover the cost of dealing with a parcel in the post, and there is already a loss on the parcel rate as a whole. I am afraid that, other considerations apart, I could not entertain any suggestion of granting a special rate for parcels of homegrown food, though I fully sympathise with the object in view. A preferential rate of this kind would immediately elicit demands for similar treatment from other industries to which cheap transport is of no less importance, and I know of no ground or> which equality of treatment could be refused.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware of a complaint that in the execution of a contract' for his Department Messrs. Macfarlane, Limited, are not observing the conditions of the Fair Wages Clause, and in an attempt to circumvent the trade union concerned have advertised for non-society upholsterers; whether steps are being taken to secure compliance with the Fair Wages Clause; and whether this firm is on the Roll of Honour?

The complaint has been received and is being investigated under the Fair Wages Clause of the contract. The number of men employed by the firm in question is not sufficient to qualify them for entry on the King's Roll.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that members of the Indian Civil Service are required to pay no contribution to the Indian Civil Service Family Pension Fund after retirement on pension, while officers of the Indian Army retiring on pension have to continue their contributions to the Indian Military Service Family Pension Fund to the date of their death, he will take steps to place the military officer on the same footing as the civil officer in this respect?

The decision to discontinue contributions from retired members of the Indian Civil Service was arrived at as the result of representations made by members of that Service, the cost being met from the realised surplus of subscriptions over liabilities. The method of disposal of the surplus of the Indian Military Service Family Pension scheme is now under consideration, and the question of utilising it to abolish subscriptions after retirement will be considered. No representations have, however, yet been received which indicate that this form of benefit would be desired by subscribers if, as is probable, it will involve the total or partial abolition of the reduction of subscriptions and increase of pensions which they at present enjoy.