asked the President of the Board of Education the amount per head of the population spent out of public funds in the United States, Germany, France, and Great Britain, respectively, and the comparison of expenditure in 1913; and whether, in the foreign countries mentioned, the cost of meals and medical inspection is charged to educational expenditure?

It is impossible for me to answer the first part of the question, which relates to facts largely outside the field of education. As regards the second part of the question, the information at my disposal, which is not all complete or up to date, shows that there is considerable variety of practice, and no general statement can be safely made on the subject. But any information in the possession of the Board's office of special inquiries and reports as to the practice in foreign countries is entirely at the hon. Member's disposal.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many elementary class teachers in Leyton have more than 50 on the roll of their classes; what percentage this is of the total number in Leyton; and what steps are being taken to reduce those numbers which exceed 50?

The number of classes in public elementary schools in Leyton with 50 or more pupils on the register on the 31st March, 1920, was 136, or 27.5 per cent, of the total number of classes in those schools. No occasion for action of the kind suggested in the last part of the question appears to have arisen.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the approximate amount by which he estimates he will reduce the present educational charges on the Exchequer by carrying out the recommendations of the Committee on National Expenditure to transfer certain expenses from the National Exchequer to the local rates?

I would ask the hon. Member to await the presentation of the Estimates, but in the meantime I may perhaps refer him to the answer given yesterday by me, on behalf of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Midlothian and Peebles (Sir J. Hope).

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the cause of the delay in issuing 1914–15 stars; and whether there is any prospect of speeding up the distribution of these awards?

The issue of the 1914–15 star to ex-naval officers and men has been in progress since November last, and announcements inviting applications have been made from time to time in the Press. This course was necessary, as the present addresses are not in most cases available. Applications are dealt with promptly on receipt at the Admiralty.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the names of all Admirals whose pay, including all allowances, is £2,000 or more per year, and the amount of pay in each case?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I sent him on the 22nd February, in which the particulars he desires are given in complete detail.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) whether the Admiralty have delegated to the local naval authorities power to authorise the employment of service labour by the Navy, Army, and Air Force institutes;

(2) whether, seeing that it is contrary to the King's Regulations and Admiralty instructions to permit naval ratings to work for and be paid wages by a private trading company, he will take the necessary steps to bring this regulation to the notice of local naval authorities?

No special directions have been given, but the King's Regulations permit of the employment of Service labour by private individuals in exceptional cases at the discretion of the local naval authorities, and as a rule the cost of the pay and allowances of officers and men so employed is reclaimed under Articles 1591, Clause 3, and 1633.

asked the Secretary of State for War if a decision has been arrived at as to the system of remuneration of civilians in the Army Forms Stores; and if he will see that the promise made in August, 1918, that the transferees from Woolwich should thereby suffer no pecuniary loss, is carried out?

The new scheme of grading and remuneration for the subordinate employés at this depot, which provided for increased basic rates, plus the Civil Service bonus in place of the previous rates that were mainly based on Woolwich terms, was introduced on 19th January last, and gave immediate increases to all men employed. As regards the Woolwich transferees, I understand that the wages of all the men are higher than if the Woolwich rates remained, except in the case of three labourers. The cut in the bonus has, from the 1st March, given these men a total wage that falls below the Woolwich rates that they received before the 19th January, but against this they should benefit from the progressive scale that they did not previously enjoy.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state that the final details with regard to the post-War scales of pension are now settled, and that the pre-War disability pensioners who served during the War and were demobilised will shortly receive their pensions and arrears according to those scales?

The reply to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. The pensions of the men referred to are being re-assessed, and payment of the arrears due is being made.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Driver W. Horrocks, No. 53,134, Royal Field Artillery, of 113, Caroline Street, Wigan, who joined the Regular Army in November, 1908, lost his right eye in 1911 in the execution of his duties as a non-commissioned officer; that he was kept in the Army, and in August, 1914, was sent to serve in France, where he served for 3½ years, when he contracted adenitis, and was discharged on 6th May, 1918; that he was awarded a permanent pension for the loss of his eye of 10s. 6d. per week, which was stopped in June, 1921, because he was in receipt of a pension for disability through service in the Great War; and whether he will have this case looked into, with a view to this man, who served nine years and 163 days in the service, receiving a pension for the loss of his eye?

I am aware of the technical difficulty which has arisen in this and similar cases, and am at present in communication with the Service Departments who are responsible for claims arising in respect of injuries due to service in peace time. It is expected that a decision, which will enable suitable compensation to be granted in this case, will shortly be arrived at.

asked the Minister of Pensions why Mr. F. E. Quaterman, late corporal l/4th Battalion Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, of 11, Milner Road, Brighton, who is undergoing a course of treatment provided by the Ministry of Pensions which necessitates his daily attendance at hospital, and thus precludes him from obtaining employment, has notwithstanding this been refused treatment allowance?

I am having inquiries made and will communicate with my hon. Friend at an early date.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether a widow who has been awarded a pension in respect of her son, killed in action, who was her sole support, and who forfeits her pension on remarriage, is entitled, in the event of the death of her second husband, to have her pension renewed if she is then without means of support?

The answer is in the negative. In the event of the re-marriage of a parent who is in receipt of pension, a substantial lump sum gratuity is payable under the terms of the Royal Warrant, in final settlement of her claim upon the State.

asked the Minister of Pensions why the widow of late Private H. II. Stratford, Royal Army Pay Corps, number of certificate W.F.G. 87, reference number, R.A.P.C. (W.4), has been granted a widow's pension of 15s. a week only, with no allowance for her two children under 16; and will he have this pension revised and the amount granted to which she is entitled?

As the cause of the late soldier's death could not be regarded as connected with service a full widow's pension could not be granted. The award referred to has been made under Article 15 of the Royal Warrant which does not provide for allowances for children. The widow has a right of appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal against this decision which she may exercise at any time before the 19th August next through her Local War Pensions Committee.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if candidates submitted by the Joint Substitution Board have on certain occasions been interviewed and rejected at the Air Ministry by the very non-service men they were sent to substitute; whether he sanctioned this procedure; whether the men so rejected have been given another opportunity of being properly interviewed; and what steps he has taken that this procedure shall not be repeated?

I have been asked to answer this question. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I have just given to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Carr).

asked the Secretary of State for Air what has been the procedure adopted in his Department for interviewing candidates sent by the Joint Substitution Board to substitute non-service men; whether in many cases such candidates have been interviewed by officials well known to be hostile to substitution; whether, in view of the numbers of technical ex-service men who have been submitted by the Joint Substitution Board as suitable but rejected by officials in his Department as unsuitable, he will cause a Committee to be set up to interview all such applicants, such Committee to contain an ex-service representative; and whether, in view of the numerous non-service technical men still employed at Farnborough and at the Air Ministry headquarters, he will apply to the Joint Substitution Board for candidates to be resubmitted for all such posts?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the oral reply which I gave to-day to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Carr).

asked the Secretary of State for Air upon what paragraph of the Lytton Report he has based his refusal to substitute Mr. Noel Smith on the ground of personal selection; what are the reasons that this gentleman was not called up for military service; what are his special qualifications; what salary does ho receive; whether it is a fact that he was recently engaged in the finance branch, and has since he entered the Air Ministry or its pre-deceasing office occupied numerous positions, and how, in view of this, he can be held as indispensable; whether it is a fact that influential connections have not been the real cause of the failure of previous efforts to substitute him; whether it is claimed that the confidential nature of his present work renders him unsubstitutable; if so, whether it is inferred that a sufficiently trustworthy ex-service man cannot be found; and whether, in view of the intense indignation amongst ex-service men in his Department concerning this case, he will reconsider the whole matter?

I have dealt with the case of Mr. Noel Smith under paragraph 9 of the Third Lytton Report and, in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Woolwich on the 17th ultimo, I explained that personal qualifications and experience were of the first importance in filling a confidential post. It was the fact that Mr. Noel Smith possessed these qualifications and not, as suggested in the question, influential connections, which dictated his selection for the post of Private Secretary to the Controller-General of Civil Aviation. In reply to the last part of the question, I have already stated more than once that this case, in common with the others indicated, will be kept under constant review with reference to any changes which may take place in the requirements and circumstances of the Department. I adhere to that undertaking and cannot add anything to it. In justice to Mr. Noel Smith, I must add that no influence has been exercised on his behalf, and that he volunteered three times for military service, and both then and when called up under the Military Service Act, was rejected on medical grounds.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he has concurred in the decision of the Air Ministry that a Mr. Noel Smith, a non-technical non-service man who has passed no examination, is non-substitutable; whether the Treasury uses its influence to see that the Lytton Report is enforced or whether such matters are in fact left entirely to the discretion of the Department concerned; on what particular grounds the refusal to substitute this man are based; and if, in view of the present serious position among ex-service men, he will use his influence to insist that the provisions of the Lytton Report are carried out, both in letter and spirit, in his and similar cases?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given by me on the 6th instant to the hon. and gallant Member for Hackney (Sir R. Greene), and by the Secretary of State for Air on the 17th ultimo to the hon. and gallant Member for Woolwich (Captain Gee).

asked the Postmaster-General if the temporary sorters at the South Eastern district office, Borough, who were given to understand that their positions would be ultimately made permanent, will be placed on the permanent staff?

I understand the hon. Member to refer to certain disabled men, formerly professional soldiers, employed as sorters at the South Eastern District Office. It is the intention to offer these men posts as established postmen, in their turn with other men awaiting such permanent situations, as vacancies occur. The appointments will, of course, be subject to their obtaining Civil Service certificates of qualification, and it cannot at present be stated when their turn for consideration will arrive.

asked the Minister of Labour whether ex-service men discharged since December, 1921, will have the same facilities granted to them for going to the Colonies as have been granted to those who were discharged during 1920 and 1921?

I have been asked to reply. I invite the attention of my hon. Friend to the leaflet and circulars issued by the Oversea Settlement Committee. As is explained in those publications applications from ex-serviee men for free passages under the Government scheme must in ordinary circumstances have been submitted by the 31st December last, but in the case of those still serving, who enlisted before the 1st January, 1920, application may be made at any time within one year of release from service, provided that such service was not undertaken for a period exceeding three years.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is receiving representations on the improvement of the Consular Service, both as regards the employment of first-class men and their adequate payment; and whether the Foreign Office has considered the desirability of suggesting to British merchants abroad, particularly those in China who are practically free from taxation of any sort, that they might usefully make a contribution towards raising the standard of the Consular Service in their country?

A resolution has recently been received from the Association of British Chambers of Commerce urging a still further improvement in the Consular Service. It will not be possible, however, in the present state of the national finances to incur additional expenditure on the Consular Service. Entry into the Consular Service is by Civil Service examination preceded by an interview before a board on which business interests are represented. Successful candidates go through a course of instruction, including economics, before proceeding abroad. I am afraid that there are serious practical difficulties in the way of any system whereby British communities abroad should contribute towards the maintenance of British Consular establishments, otherwise than by the payment of the prescribed fees.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now been able to carry out his undertaking to close down the establishment division of the Food Department; whether the services of Miss Curtis, whom he stated was temporarily employed at a salary of £700 per annum, have been dispensed with or whether it is contemplated to transfer her to some other position in the Civil Service; and, if the transfer is contemplated, whether he will first consider the claims of ex-officers and men who fought in the War and have since had experience in Government Departments?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The salaried employment of the officer referred to terminated on the 18th February, but she is completing, on a part-time basis, certain work which her experience renders her specially qualified to perform. The claims of ex-officers and men who fought in the War have been, and will be, given every consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total cost per annum of the Civil Service Commission, the number of staff employed, and the approximate annual cost involved by holding examinations for Civil Service appointments; and whether he has considered the desirability of closing or curtailing this channel of entry until the claims of ex-service men have been fully met?

The cost of the Civil Service Commission for the current year is estimated at £71,086 gross and £58,586 net. These figures include the cost of Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and other examinations as well as of examinations for Civil Service appointments; I regret that it is not possible, without undue labour, to estimate what proportion of the cost is attributable to the latter class of examination alone. The present staff of the Department is 141. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative; radical changes have been made in the schemes of competitive examinations for Civil Service appointments to meet the circumstances of ex-service men, and wherever possible a preference, or even monopoly, of permanent appointments has been accorded to ex-service men.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether 500 or 600 first-class women clerks, some of them promoted 10 or 15 years ago from the second-class clerk grade and since promotion employed on supervisory or super-clerical duties, have been degraded to the lower clerical grade, which is the lowest clerical grade in the Service; whether any of these women have been employed on duties formerly performed by second division or intermediate men now graded executive; whether any male grade has been assimilated to a grade with a lower minimum and a lower age of entry than that out of which they have been promoted; and, since this grading is a breach of the promise made by the Chancellor on 5th August, 1921, that the three years before women had equal entry into the service should not be used to worsen the position of women, will he reconsider the matter?

First-class women clerks (a grade normally filled by promotion from the second class) have, subject to fitness, been assimilated to the clerical class, such assimilation being provisional in the case of any officers who will be allotted to higher posts on reorganisation. The duties of the clerical class include a measure of supervisory work, and a class whose previous maximum was £150 a year cannot be said to be degraded on being placed on an improved scale rising to £180. It is impracticable within the limits of this answer to cover the ground of individual duties of members of the class. As regards the third part of the question, there are a number of male classes (minor staff clerks, for example) who have been assimilated to the same class as has a grade previously inferior to themselves. There is therefore no foundation for the suggestion that the assimilation of first-class women clerks has been carried out in such a manner as to constitute a breach of the promise made by my right hon. Friend on the 5th August last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the abolition of the Civil Service Arbitration Board, the existing Whitley machinery of the Civil Service will be so strengthened as to take over all the functions exercised hitherto by this Board; and whether, in case of a direct difference of opinion between the official side and the staff side of the Civil Service when the numbers are equally balanced, there will be any right of appeal to anybody or any Minister?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, the official side of the National Whitley Council is responsible to the Government, and would naturally refer to Ministers for a definite ruling in the event of serious disagreement on the Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the International Trading Corporation held their first meeting in London last week; will he give the names of the persons who constitute the board, and which countries they represent; and is there any provision in the constitution of this consortium for any species of Governmental control, national or international?

The Organising Committee of the Central International and National Corporations met in London on the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th February. The Committee consisted of the following representatives: Lord Inverforth, Sir John Ferguson, K.B.E. (Great Britain). M. Eugène Schneider, M. Charles Sergent (France). Signor Guido Jung, Signor Guido Sagromoso (Italy). M. Félicien Cattier, M. Robert Bette (Belgium). Mr. T. Okubo (Japan). Her Bergmann, Herr Kempner (Germany). Mr. E. R. Gluckstadt (Denmark). Mr. J. Grant Forbes (Unofficially representing U.S.A.). Mr. B. H. Binder, Secretary.

The Committee drew up a report setting out their conclusions in regard to the constitution, formation and work of the International Corporation and the National Corporations. This report was communicated to the Press by the Committee, and appeared in the papers on the 28th February. The International Corporation and National Corporations have not yet been formed; and no Board of Directors has been appointed. The corporations will not be subject to Governmental control.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the imports of China tea in pounds avoirdupois for the eight years since 1914?

The answer can be given most conveniently in the form of a Table.

Statement showing for each of the years 1914 to 1921 inclusive the total imports of tea into the United Kingdom, consigned from China (including Hong Kong and Macao), and the quantity of such tea subject to duty retained for home consumption:

Year. Total Imports from (including Hong Kong and Macao). Quantity subject to Duty retained for Home Consumption.† Lb. Lb. 1914 … 21,771,714 13,007,329 1915 … 30,776,821 12,733,032 1910 … 19,877,195 8,696,972 1917 … 8,397,403 16,026,358 1918 … 1,587,053 812,092 1919 … 26,755,017 4,423,646 1920 … 15,928,282 3,577,338 1921 … 4,590,589* 4,780,720* * Provisional figures, subject to slight amendment on final examination of the returns. † Quantity charged to Duty, less duty-paid re-exports, and shipments, etc. on drawback.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Registrar of Friendly Societies has stated that he is unable to register any further thrift, loan, or other share-out clubs under the existing law unless they are for agricultural or horticultural purposes; and whether, having regard to the large number of poor people who are defrauded every year by bogus and unregistered share-out clubs, the discouragement this causes to habits of thrift, and the need for adequate protection for thrifty people, he can see his way to compelling all promoters of loan, thrift, sick, or other share-out clubs to register all such societies or clubs under the Friendly and Provident Societies Act?

I have been asked to reply. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The special authority under which loan societies were registered has been withdrawn except in the case of such societies when formed for the purpose of agriculture, arboriculture, and horticulture, because of the great abuses which had arisen in societies registered under that authority, but the type of society so registered was not the type of society which the hon. Member has in mind. The Registrar is perfectly prepared to register any thrift or share-out club, the purposes of which are within the Friendly Societies Act, 1896. As regards the second part of the question, I fear compulsory registration would not in itself enable the Registrar to prevent fraud and embezzlement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, on the Railway Rates Advisory Committee, representation will be granted to the Irish Farmers' Union, the Irish Pig Dealers' Association, and the Irish Cattle Traders' Association, whose interests are vitally concerned in the question of railway rates and charges?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The composition of the Rates Advisory Committee was determined by Section 21, Sub-section 1, of the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, and agricultural interests are represented thereon. The Railway Rates Tribunal, established by the Railways Act, 1921, now deals with all questions of rates and charges. The Advisory Committee is continued in existence by Section 29 of the Act for the purpose of determining the revised classification. The hon. Member, however, is no doubt aware that the provisions of the Railways Act do not apply to railways in Ireland either as regards rates and charges or as regards classification.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether through bookings of livestock from inland stations in Ireland to destinations in Great Britain have been discontinued since 1912; and whether, in accordance with his promise already given, he will now take action to have these through bookings resumed?

I have been asked to answer this question. I am aware that the through bookings applicable to livestock from inland stations in Ireland to England were suspended in 1914. The hon. Member will be aware that the Ministry has now no jurisdiction in the matter. I understand, however, that the railway companies have the question of the resumption of the through bookings at present under consideration, and it is hoped a definite statement will be made before long.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport what amount has been realised by taxes on motors in the county of Gloucester during the present year, and how much the Gloucester County Council have spent on their roads during the same period; and whether the roads in that county are steadily going from bad to worse?

The Road Fund to which the net proceeds of motor taxation accrue, is a national fund, and the collections from a particular area do not bear any relation to the highway expenditure in that area. Complete information as to the highway expenditure of the Gloucestershire County Council during the present year will not be available for some time. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. If the hon. Member will give me more precise information with regard to any particular roads in the county which he has in mind, I will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that the gates at Tidal Lane crossings have been closed by the Cheshire Lines Committee since 1st January, 1922; that previous to that date gatemen were provided to conduct traffic to and from the houses behind the crossings; that nine families, consisting of 32 persons, have now great difficulty in obtaining fuel, food, and other essentials of life; and that recently an accident happened in one of the houses and the injured man could not be removed to the infirmary in Warrington until a permit had been granted from Liverpool by the Cheshire Lines Committee to allow the ambulance to pass through the gates; and whether his Department will take steps to get this intolerable inconvenience removed by gatemen again being placed in charge of the gates?

My attention has not previously been called to this matter, but I am making inquiries, and will let the hon. Gentleman know the result.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he has been in communication with the railway companies with respect to a reduction in passenger fares; and, if so, whether any reduction is contemplated in the near future?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Rotherham (Major Kelly) on the 27th ultimo. I will advise the hon. Member of the result of my inquiries.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if he will state the amount of reduction in railway rates in England and Wales; and whether there has been any or a similar amount of reduction in railway rates in Scotland?

The percentage increase over pre-War railway rates has been reduced from 100 per cent. to 75 per cent. in respect of certain traffics, including coal and raw materials for the iron and steel industry. The statement appended gives particulars of the traffics referred to. Reductions in the appropriate flat rate addition have also been made.

England and Wales.

Iron ore, ironstone, limestone, for blast furnaces and steel works (reductions operative from 1st November, 1921).

Coal, coke and patent fuel; limestone for chemical works; lime in Class "B" for iron and steel-making purposes; iron and steel in Class "B" of General Railway Classification (reductions operative from 1st January, 1922).

The Scottish Companies generally have granted similar reductions in regard to:

Iron ore, ironstone, and limestone, for blast furnaces and steel works (reductions operative from 1st November, 1921),

while the Caledonian, Glasgow and South Western and North British Companies have also conceded similar reductions for:

Coal, coke and patent fuel for blast furnaces and steel works; lime in Class "B" for iron and steel-making purposes; basic material for steel works; and iron and steel in Class "B" of the General Railway Classification (reductions operative from 15th February, 1922).

It is understood that the reductions have been granted experimentally for a period of 12 months.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Sergeant Thomas Keighary, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, was shot dead by accident by the military on 1st December, 1910, at Kilcarn, county Meath; that, he was on duty at the time of his death; that he had 19 years service and was receiving £360 per annum; that he could have retired in a few years' time on a pension of £175 per annum; and that his widow is now receiving a pension of £41 10s. only for herself and child; and whether in a case like this compensation can be paid as in a case under the Malicious Injuries Act?

In view of the specially distressing circumstances of this case a pension of £80 per annum has been awarded to the widow of Sergeant Keighary, together with an annual allowance of £16 to her child until he attains the age of 16. It would not be possible to treat the case as one coming under the Criminal Injuries Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the exceptionally low rate of pension on which resident magistrates who have served in their office for many years, often in positions of great personal danger, are being retired; and, having regard to the dangers to which they have been exposed as compared with an ordinary civilian service, will he represent that they should be more generously dealt with?

Resident magistrates who have retired have, in common with all other classes of civil servants, received pensions calculated in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Superannuation Acts. Under Article 10 of the Treaty the Government of the Irish Free State has undertaken to pay fair compensation on terms not less favourable than those accorded by the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, to any resident magistrate who is discharged by it, or who retires in consequence of the change of Government.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can give the approximate number of modern fire-arms of all descriptions which by the orders of the Lord Lieutenant were surrendered by the civil population to the civil or military authorities in Ireland; is he aware that persons who hold receipts from these authorities for the arms they have surrendered are now informed that all these arms have been given to the Republican or Provisional Governments, and that they must look to one or other of these bodies to have them returned; and what action does he propose to take to endeavour to get such persons restored their lawful property?

I am unable at such short notice to furnish the information asked for in the first part of the question. With regard to the latter part, these arms have not been surrendered, as suggested in the question, and their early return to their owners is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the men who have been serving in Ireland as Black and Tans are being re-engaged for service in Egypt and India at £1 per day and a gratuity on completion of service, amounting to more than £200?

The answer is in the negative. If the hon. Member is referring to the British section of the Palestine Gendarmerie, which is being largely recruited from ex-members of the various police forces in Ireland, the rate of pay of constables of this force is 10s. a day, with rations and quarters, and a small gratuity if their services are dispensed with before they have earned a pension.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the statements attributed to Lord Rawlinson at a meeting with Indian newspaper correspondents as to the need for increasing the Indian Army; whether he has been in communication with Lord Rawlinson on the matter; and if he has any statement to make to the House?

My attention has been called to the statements attributed to Lord Rawlinson regarding the need for increasing the Indian Army. I have been in communication with the Government of India on the subject, and find that Lord Rawlinson made no such statement. He said that he had done his utmost to reduce the cost of the Army. He did not suggest either directly or indirectly that the present strength of the Army was insufficient. When questioned as to the possibility of further reductions, he pointed out that there was obviously a limit below which he, as Military Adviser to the Government, could not recommend a reduction.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, seeing that the recommendations of the Geddes Report, to the effect that it is unnecessary to re-survey 60 per cent. of the surface of the United Kingdom once in every 20 years and that the sale price of Ordnance maps should be increased, were also set out in the Third Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure of 1918, he will say why these recommendations were not acted upon before?

I have been asked to reply. The recommendations of the Select Committee on National Expenditure, 1918 (Third Report), that the standard period for revision of survey of certain areas of the United Kingdom should be extended, and that the sale prices of maps should be increased, were both acted upon within a few months of the issue of the Report. The Geddes Committee recommended a further reduction of the areas to be revised every 20 years, and a further increase in the prices of maps. Both of these recommendations are being put into force.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the national expenditure in the financial years of 1918–19, 1919–20, 1920–21, and 1921–22, respectively; and the amount by which the expenditure was reduced owing to the cessation of war services in the financial years 1919–20, 1920–21, and 1921–22 respectively?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Finance Accounts of the years in question, to the published statements of expenditure to date for the current year 1921–22, and to Command Paper 1304 of 1921.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the cost of printing and circulating Command Paper No. 1593, which was an explanatory note of the Air Supplementary Estimate for 1921–22, amounting to £10?

The cost of printing and paper for Command Paper No. 1593 was £1 6s. The circulation of this Paper by the Vote Office entailed no additional expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received representations from the cinematograph trade of the bad financial position into which the industry has been forced by the demands of the Entertainments Duty; is he aware that in all parts of the country cinemas are faced with ruin if the present conditions continue; and whether he can hold out any hope of a reduction or abolition of this duty in order to prevent the great amount of unemployment which will necessarily follow the closing of these places of amusement?

My right hon. Friend has received representations of the nature described, and they are receiving consideration. As regards the last part of the question, I am unable to anticipate the Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the widespread hardship caused by the operations of Sections 1, 2, and 3 of Clause 2, and many of the Sections of Clause 7 of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920; and, if so, whether he will introduce measures to modify these points so that in future pensioners need not reside in the British Isles, that pensioners need not have attained the age of 60 years, or, in the case of widows, 40 years, and that the pensioner need not have less than £150 a year if unmarried, or £200 if married?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The provisions referred to were the result of full consideration at the time when the Act was passed, and I am not prepared to propose any modification of them.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has considered the advisability of encouraging the building of houses by private enterprise by means of obtaining Treasury sanction for the exemption of the builder and the lender of money used in the construction of houses from Income Tax at the rate of 6s. in the pound upon all houses built during the forthcoming five years, the rentals of which would be under £30 per annum, and the type of house of a size containing from two apartments, with bathroom, built in tenements not exceeding four stories in height?

Proposals of this nature have been brought to my notice, and are now receiving my consideration.

asked the Minister of Health if not otherwise empowered, if he will at once introduce a short Bill on the letting of vacant houses, having regard to the great house shortage in the country; is he aware of the growing practice of certain property owners of declining to let vacant premises with a view of selling such premises with vacant possession at an enhanced price; and, as this is a source of unrest and creates animosity, will he take steps to compel such owners to let their premises within a reasonable time of their becoming vacant?

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the house shortage in the country at the present time, and having regard to the practice of certain property owners in declining to let vacant premises with a view to selling such premises with vacant possession at an enhanced price, he will take steps to compel such owners to let their premises within a reasonable time of their becoming vacant?

As I have previously stated, I cannot undertake to introduce legislation for the purpose suggested.

asked the Minister of Health the amount raised and disbursed from the local rates by local Poor Law authorities during 1921; the average weekly amount now being disbursed to relieve the present distress from unemployment and other causes; and the amount raised and disbursed during 1913–14?

In the financial year 1920–21 the amount of local rates received by Poor Law authorities to meet their own expenses was approximately £27,500,000. The corresponding amount for the year 1913–14 was £12,060,000. The average weekly amount of rates disbursed by the Poor Law authorities in relief of the poor in the present financial year (1921–22) is estimated at £686,000.

asked the Minister of Health the total amount raised in rates by all local authorities during 1913–14 and 1921–22?

The total amount of public rates raised in England and Wales in 1913–14 was £71,276,000. The amount for 1921–22 is estimated at £173,000,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Audit Stamp Duty (Local Authorities) Order, 1921, doubles and, in some cases, more than doubles the amount guardians and rural district councils have to pay by way of audit stamp as compared with the old scale; whether, in view of the general desire for economy, he can see his way to reduce this excessive imposition on the ratepayers; and whether he will consider the advisability of having an annual audit instead of one half-yearly and so reducing the cost of the audit to the ratepayers?

I am aware that the amount of Audit Stamp Duty payable under the new scale is, in most cases, more than that payable under the old scale, but this is necessary as the Finance Act definitely requires that the duty shall cover the whole cost of district auditors instead of part only as before. As regards the last part of the question, I have already stated that I am proposing to introduce a Bill to substitute yearly for half-yearly audits.

asked the Minister of Health whether the deaths in the county of Durham, where it was found by verdict of a coroner's jury that they were occasioned by starvation or accelerated by privation, were in the three years before the War, 1911–13, respectively 8, 10, and 8, while the total of such deaths outside London were in the same years 56, 54, and 43; whether the number for Durham is above the average for the provinces; and what was the number of deaths in the county of Durham from the above-mentioned causes, so found by a jury or by a coroner sitting without a jury, in the three years after the War, 1919–21?

The facts are as stated in the earlier part of the question. According to the returns made to the Registrar-General, there were no deaths from starvation or exposure in the County of Durham for 1919. There were five such deaths in 1920. Figures for 1921 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the position regarding the serious outbreak of diphtheria in the Metropolitan area; and whether adequate measures have been taken to meet the emergency?

I regret to say that there is still considerable prevalence of this disease in the Metropolis, the number of fresh cases notified during each week of the present year being over 300. This, however, represents a considerable improvement as compared with the last three months of 1921. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how long foot-and-mouth disease takes to develop in pigs and cattle coming in contact with affected animals; why it has taken since the 24th ultimo for the veterinary staff at Holyhead to diagnose the case of 30 pigs detained there; and whether he will guarantee in future that this system of holding up livestock from Ireland will be discontinued, having regard to the fact that Ireland has been declared immune from the disease, and that such delays can only result in increasing the price of meat to the working classes of Great Britain?

The period of incubation of foot-and-mouth disease is subject to many variations, and consideration must be given to the circumstances of individual cases. The consignment of pigs in question was subjected to a prolonged detention in consequence of the fact that after the animals had been released from a first period of detention, which had been rendered advisable on account of the presence of symptoms similar to those of foot-and-mouth disease in a number of pigs, fresh symptoms appeared in other pigs in the same consignment which it was very desirable to watch. The Ministry must continue to take every reasonable step to prevent the spread of infection. I am not prepared at present to give any guarantee of the nature referred to in the latter part of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the system by which cattle were allowed to be brought from King's Lynn market to the Brighton abattoir where one of them was found to be infected with foot-and-mouth disease is likely to spread disease, and that until this incursion of foreign cattle the County of Sussex was entirely free from disease, he will consider the desirability of prohibiting the transfer of cattle from a scheduled to an unscheduled area, even though for slaughter only, seeing that the Brighton abattoir is used and frequented by Sussex farmers, their servants, and horses in taking their livestock there for slaughter and must become possible carriers of the disease?

Discretionary powers were given to local authorities to authorise the movement of fat cattle for slaughter from one scheduled district to another in order not to interfere unduly with the normal food supply. It was not the intention of the Ministry that cattle should be moved through so long a distance as that in question, and the matter has been brought to the attention of the local authority. I understand that the movement of cattle from King's Lynn to Brighton abattoir was due to a strike among slaughtermen in the Metropolitan Cattle Market. No infection has been disseminated from the abattoir in question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the veterinary inspectors of the English Board of Agriculture at the port of Holyhead on the 24th February held up 30 Irish pigs, some of which were suspected of foot-and-mouth disease; that after consultation and inspection with the veterinary officers of the Irish Department, no disease was found to exist and the animals were actually loaded in trucks at Holyhead for consignment to Sheffield; that on a further instruction from the offices of the Ministry of Agriculture the animals were then taken back to the place of detention, where they have since been detained, although no disease has been confirmed; whether he can state who was responsible for this action; and whether the owner of the pigs will be compensated for the loss sustained due to depreciation in value caused by the delay?

The reply to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative. On the Ministry's instruction the pigs in question were detained under observation for a second period because a further number of them showed fresh symptoms of disease. Owners are not entitled to any compensation in the circumstances in question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the great danger of further increase of the price of meat, if he will forthwith introduce legislation to carry into force without delay or reservation the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Importation of Canadian Cattle, thereby redeeming the pledge given to the country during the Great War and effecting an additional bond between Great Britain and the Loyal Dominion of Canada; and will he strongly discountenance the efforts now being put forward by a section of the agricultural community of this country to induce the Government to render nugatory the findings of the Royal Commission?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now prepared to introduce legislation to carry into force without reservation the recommendations of the Royal Commission in respect to the importation of Canadian cattle, thereby effecting an additional bond between Great Britain and the loyal Dominion of Canada, seeing that the Government, in carrying out the recommendations of the Royal Commission, would thereby be redeeming the pledge given to the country during the War?

As I explained in answer to the hon. and gallant Member for Daventry (Captain Fitzroy) on the 9th February, the Government has fully considered the Report of the Royal Commission, and seeing that the Commission reported that the admission of Canadian stores would have little or no effect on the price of meat, the Government has decided not to introduce legislation for the removal of the present embargo.

asked the Minister of Agriculture in how many counties or divisions of counties in England have conciliation committees been set up under the Corn Production (Repeal) Act of 1921; in how many of these committees have agreements been arrived at; and how many of these agreements have been registered?

The number of conciliation committees is 51 in England and 10 in Wales. These cover the whole country. The number of agreements reached is 50, and of these 36 are in operation at the present time. Four agreements have been registered.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the disorganisation in the mail service between this country and New Zealand, and that on 20th December, 1921, five English mails arrived in Wellington, New Zealand, on the same date, though these had been dispatched on different days ranging from 28th October to 11th November; and whether, in view of the extreme inconvenience caused to traders by the uncertainty which now prevails, he will take steps to bring about a greater regularity of dispatch from the United Kingdom and also approach the Postal Department of New Zealand in order to effect a similar improvement in the service from that country?

During the period mentioned by the hon. Member mails for New Zealand were dispatched on the 3rd of November via Suez, on the 4th and the 7th of November, for conveyance, by the "Marama" from Vancouver, and on the 9th of November by the "Ruahine," via the Panama Canal. It is known that the "Marama" was three days late, and arrived at Wellington on the 20th of December; and it is not unlikely that the other two mails arrived about the same time. There is nothing remarkable in this, as they were dispatched within a week of each other by different routes. The mails for New Zealand are dispatched as regularly and as frequently as the existing opportunities will allow. The normal service is once a fortnight via Suez and once a fortnight via Vancouver or San Francisco, but the latter service is somewhat irregular. The homeward service is under the control of New Zealand; but I am having inquiry made of the New Zealand Post Office whether any improvement can be effected.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the hardship caused to sufferers from air raids in the recent War who have not yet received the balance of their claims; and whether he can give an approximate date for the final settlements?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given to a similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Hertford (Rear-Admiral Sueter) on the 27th ultimo.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if two unemployed miners, named Clifford Jayne, 4, Bridge Street, Abertillery, and Tom Edmunds, 73, Glandwr Street, Abertillery, have been arrested for non-payment of arrears of Income Tax on 28th February, 1922, and taken to Usk prison; and will he consider the possibility of taking new steps to prevent the arrest and imprisonment of unemployed and destitute men for a tax that they are utterly unable to pay?

I understand that the arrears of tax for which proceedings were taken in these two cases relate to the year 1919–20. It appears, moreover, that neither of these men took any action at all with reference to these arrears so that it was not known to the Revenue authorities that they were unemployed when the warrant for their arrest was executed. Further inquiry is being made in the matter and I will communicate the result to the hon. Member. As regards the latter part of his question, I would refer him to the answers (a copy of which I am sending him) given on the 8th November, 1921, in reply to questions on this subject by the hon. Member for the Rother Valley (Mr. Grundy).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any settlement has been made with the shareholders of the Rumanian Consolidated Oilfields?

The Petition of Right brought by the Rumanian Consolidated Oilfields, Limited, was decided in favour of the Crown by the Court of Appeal on 18th December, 1920. His Majesty's Government are therefore under no lia- bility towards the shareholders of the company. As regards the liability of the Rumanian Government to the company in respect of the destruction of their oilfields in 1916, I am informed that negotiations are now proceeding.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the scandal produced by actions in the courts in connection with the recovery of money paid by cheque in liquidation of betting debts; whether he has especially noticed the observations of the judges; and whether he is prepared to introduce immediate legislation to deal with the present state of the law?

The answer to the first two questions is in the affirmative to the third in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary the number of applications for naturalisation lodged in 1914 which are still pending, and when they are likely to be dealt with?

It is not possible to give the exact number of outstanding applications lodged in 1914 without prolonged search and inquiries; and I would refer the hon. Member to the full statement I made in my reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly on the 13th February.

asked the Home Secretary the date of the petition for naturalisation presented by one Henry Isadore Kernesr to the Home Office; is he aware that Kerner was born in Kracow and would have been a Polish subject within the meaning of the Treaty of Peace between this country and Austria; that consequent upon Kerner's residence outside of Austrian territory for 10 years and upwards he lost any rights, if any, as an Austrian subject under Austrian municipal law; that Kerner has stated in his petition for naturalisation that he has resided in this country since the year 1892 and has married an English wife and has two English children; that Mr. Harold Scott, writing on behalf of the Home Office, is using a printed form notifying applicants for information as to petitions for naturalisation tendered years since to the Home Office; that in existing conditions no statement can be made as to when it may be possible to proceed with the case; and if he proposes to make any, and what, change to accelerate the dealings with applications which have already stood over for an unreasonable length of time?

Kerner's memorial was received on the 15th August, 1914. In it he stated that he was born at Cracow and was a subject of Austria. I understand that he has now been recognised as a Pole by the Polish Authorities, and he is so registered under the Aliens Order. He stated, not in his memorial, but subsequently, that he had been in this country since 1892 and has a British-born wife and two British-born children. The Home Office letter referred to was properly sent in accordance with my directions. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer to my reply to a similar inquiry by the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. M. Jones) on the 13th ultimo.

asked the Home Secretary the number of cases since 1913 in which rewards have been paid to the police for apprehending deserters; and if, in order to promote public economy, he will, on his own initiative or in conjunction with the fighting services, take steps to secure the discontinuance of such rewards in respect of sailors, soldiers, and airmen who were posted as deserters during the War?

I have no information as to the number of cases, but I will consult the Admiralty, War Office, and Air Ministry on the point raised in the second part of the question.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that a gang of aliens, under various names, have committed a series of frauds upon Manchester merchants and shopkeepers; that one, under the name of Norman Kingsley, aged 21 years, was sentenced by Mr. Commissioner Tobin, at the Manchester Assizes, to 10 months' imprisonment for the fraud of £2,363; that he had been previously convicted at Quarter Sessions, being released in 1920 after serving a term of four months in the second division; and will he see that this man, being an undesirable alien, and others of his gang are deported from the country?

I have nothing before me indicating that Kingsley, or any other person associated with him in his recent offences is an alien. If the hon. Member has any evidence to that effect, I shall be glad to have it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to provide the sum of £25,000 for the purchase and maintenance of motor vehicles for the police force, as shown in the provisional Estimate for 1922–23, having regard to the fact that there are 3,173 motor vehicles held as maintenance and mobilisation reserves for the Army at home, and 1,187 motor vehicles surplus to the normal establishment of the Air Service at home?

The answer is in the affirmative. The estimate mentioned includes a small sum for the purchase of motor-bicycles, but with this exception the whole is required for the costs of maintenance and the wages of drivers. It is not anticipated that it will be necessary to purchase any motor-cars during the year.

asked the Home Secretary if two babies have been born recently in Armley Gaol, Leeds; and whether, in the interests of children unborn, he will take steps likely to prevent similar incidents happening in the future?

I understand there was one confinement among the female prisoners at Leeds last January and another last September. When a confinement takes place in prison, the patient receives better medical attention and nursing than in most cases she would receive outside. Sometimes when the confinement is likely to occur near the end of the sentence, the remainder of the sentence is remitted, but this is not a course which I could adopt in all cases.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether he has, or can obtain, any record of the number of cases tried before juries in the last two years where the defence of reasonable cause of belief under Sections 5 and 6 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885 (48 and 49 Vict., c. 69) was set up; what were the results of such trials;

(2) whether there is any record of the ages of the defendants charged in cases under Sections 5 and 6 of The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885, and tried before a jury where the defence of reasonable cause of belief was set up; if so, how many were under the age of 21 and how many under the age of 25; and, if not, will he have such record procured?

These particulars are not recorded and no accurate statistics with regard to them could be compiled.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the cost to the Government of the Unemployed Insurance since 1st January, 1922?

The cost to the Government of Unemployment Insurance, and of the Unemployed Workers Dependants' Grants Scheme from 1st January to 4th March, 1922, is about £2,250,000.

asked the Minister of Labour why unemployment pay is being withheld in the cases of both Thomas Geavey and J. R. Mansell, both of Hey-wood; and is he aware that these men have not received any pay since October last, and both are ex-service men having served over five years in the Army?

I have caused inquiries to be instituted in the cases referred to by my hon. Friend, and will let him know the result as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that James White, Caledonian Buildings, Lockerbie, was a permanent employé of the Caledonian Railway Company, and has paid his unemployment contribution regularly; whether Mr. White has signed on daily at the Employment Exchange as unemployed since 16th December, 1921, but has so far received no benefit; and whether arrangements have now been made with the railway companies concerned for paying the benefits due to those who were their permanent employés?

I am making inquiry with regard to the particular case mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend. The general position is that permanent employés of the Caledonian Railway Company with more than three years' service have recently been excepted from unemployment insurance. They are therefore not entitled to unemployment benefit, but will receive as soon as possible a refund of contributions paid.

asked the Minister of Labour the result of his inquiries into the position of workmen formerly employed either by private firms, or the County Council of Zetland, who have been disqualified for unemployment benefit because they were tenants of crofts, although they had paid the contributions laid down under the Unemployment Insurance Acts?

My inquiries are not yet complete. I understand that in certain cases claims have been allowed, while in others they have not been admitted, and I am awaiting a further report upon the latter.

asked the Attorney-General what steps the Government now propose to take to secure the trial and punishment of German War criminals?

The question of the steps to be taken to secure the trial and punishment of German War criminals rests with the Supreme Council, to whom the committee of lawyers has made a report.