asked the Postmaster-General whether he can now make any statement with regard to the alleged displacement of women in the cable room, Central Telegraph Office, by youths and boys who have not served in the. Army: and whether, if the facts are as alleged, he can explain the reason for this policy?

The introduction of women into the cable room was a War-time expedient, and was governed by the general pledges given to the Post Office staff as to reversion to pre-War practice. It is in pursuance of these pledges that the female staff in the cable room have been gradually withdrawn. My right hon. Friend proposes to discuss with the male staff con- cerned the introduction of a proportion of women as a permanent arrangement.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider having a. Sunday collection of letters in country towns, owing to the inconvenience to business caused by the present arrangements?

I can only refer the hon. Member to the reply on this subject given to the hon. and gallant Member for Barnstaple (Captain Tudor-Rees) on the 1st of March.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that the present night letter service is of limited utility owing to the restricted number of night telegraph offices between which such messages may be sent; and whether he can arrange for the offices at West Strand and the Citadel Station, Carlisle, to be placed on the list of offices from and to which night letters may be dispatched?

The low rate of 1s. for 36 words charged for night telegraph letters was justified because the messages are forwarded after midnight between towns in which the telegraph offices are open always and dealt with entirely by Post Office staff when there is little traffic. If the service were extended to railway stations additional charges would be incurred, and the existing tariff could not be maintained. It would not therefore be possible to include the Citadel Station, Carlisle, in the list of offices from and to which night letters may be despatched. I have arranged for night telegraph letters to be accepted at the West Strand Branch Post Office, which is open always.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the accusation of favouritism which has been made in an organ of the Post Office workers against the Post Office administration at Brighton; and whether, having regard to the dissatisfaction which continues to exist in the Brighton office in reference to the whole of the recent promotions, he will institute a rigorous inquiry?

I am aware that charges of favouritism have been made in connection with the selection of officers for promotion in the Brighton Post Office. All recommendations for promotion are subject to careful scrutiny at headquarters before they are approved. I have no reason to believe that these charges have any foundation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the distribution through the Post Office of a German circular libelling the Prime Minister and M. Briand; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

There are standing instructions to withhold from delivery copies of the leaflet of which my Noble Friend has been good enough to send a specimen. I regret that in this particular instance the nature of the contents of the packet escaped notice in the post.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that 22 lbs. is the regulation maximum weight for parcels by post in China, also in the United States of America, he will so alter the Regulations to permit parcels up to 22 lbs. weight being forwarded from this country to China by parcel post?

An increase of the maximum weight of parcels transmissible by post to places abroad is under consideration; but the question presents serious practical difficulties, and I fear that it will not be possible to reach a definite decision for some time.

asked the Secretary for Scotland as to the number of civilian and ex-service men, respectively, registered as smallholders on the estates owned by Lord Lovat in the county of Inverness since 1912; and the number of such men placed on other than Crown property on any part of the mainland of the county since 1916?

I am not aware that any men have been registered as smallholders on estates owned by Lord Lovat in the county of Inverness since 1912. Since 1916 three civilians have been placed on new holdings and 49 civilians and one ex-service man have obtained enlargements of existing holdings under schemes promoted by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland on the mainland of Inverness on land which is not Crown property.

further asked the Secretary for Scotland as to the number of ex-service men placed by the Board of Agriculture on new holdings up to 28th February, 1922; the total number of such men registered as smallholders, giving the total numbers placed and registered, respectively, on lands purchased and acquired by the Board since 1916, lands purchased and acquired by the Forestry Commission since its inception, all other landed property of the Crown in Scotland, and lands of all other proprietors in Scotland; and the total number of ex-service men registered as new holders who have received a sum exceeding £200 on loan for equipment?

The number of ex-service men placed on new holdings by the Board up to the 28th ultimo was 900, of whom 74 are registered as smallholders. On lands acquired by the Board since 1916 557 have been placed, of whom one is registered. On lands acquired by the Forestry Commission the Board have not so far placed any holders. On other Crown property 39 have been placed, of whom six are registered. The numbers of those placed and registered on other lands are 304 and 67, respectively. Nine ex-service men registered as holders have received equipment loans exceeding £200. Similar loans have been given to 221 ex-service who have signed bonds and agreed to become registered as holders, and offers of similar loans have been made to 305 ex-service men.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether any attempt has been made to procure land from the Scottish Land and Property Federation; whether ho has requested any members of the federation to place land at his disposal for ex-service men; whether the federation has been able to help him in any way; whether any schemes for settlement are at the moment delayed until the federation is in a position to reply; and, if so, what such schemes are?

Conversations have recently taken place between the Board and the Scottish Land and Property Federation as to the possibility of securing their assistance in obtaining suitable lands for settlement. I am hopeful that advantage may result from this course. No schemes of settlement are being delayed by the negotiations with the federation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether smallholders at Hillingdon, several of whom are ex-service men, have been served with notice to quit by the Middlesex County Council; how many holders are affected; for what reason the notice has been issued: whether the smallholders in question resent the allegations of bad cultivation by the council; whether a promise was made by the council that dwellings should be erected on the land; whether this promise has been kept; and whether he will have an immediate inquiry instituted into the whole circumstances of this case?

I am aware that eight smallholders at Hillingdon have been served with notices to quit by the Middlesex County Council. I understand from the council that the land in question was acquired on annual tenancy, and it was expected that local ex-service applicants would be forthcoming to take the land without equipment. This expectation was not realised, and the land was let to applicants living some distance away, who asked the council to erect houses and buildings. Such building operations would have been expensive and unjustifiable from the point of view of the taxpayer owing to the insecurity of the council's tenure, and the letting of the land in most cases has proved most unsatisfactory as regards proper cultivation. The council, therefore, decided to wind up the scheme and to offer all the tenants who were cultivating their land satisfactorily holdings on the council's small holdings estates elsewhere. I am informed by the council that no definite promise was made to any tenant that a house would be erected for him. The whole circumstances have been fully enquired into by the Ministry's District Commissioner, and I see no reason to institute an inquiry such as is suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will indi- cate the principle on which is based, and the authority who decides upon, the order of the dismissals of ex-service men employed in his Department; and whether, in view of the impending reductions of employés, he can promise that preference will be shown to married men?

The general principles governing the order of discharge of temporary ex-service men in the Ministry of Labour were agreed with representatives of the staff on the Departmental Whitley Council. I am forwarding my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the Departmental instructions on the subject, from which he will see that, other considerations being equal, preference in the matter of retention may be given to members of the temporary staff whose discharge would in the opinion of the Department involve exceptional hardship. It is, of course, the practice, other things being equal, to give preference for retention to married men. I may add that no temporary ex-service man leaves the service of the Ministry without my personal sanction.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why Mr. F. E. Cowlin and Mr. J. H. Robertson, non-service men employed at the Air Ministry, have been declared unsubstitutable by the Joint Substitution Board; what are their precise qualifications; how many candidates, if any, have been submitted by the Joint Substitution Board for their posts; how were the candidates interviewed at the Air Ministry; whether he is satisfied that the candidates put forward were in fact unsuitable; and whether, in view of the large numbers of technical ex-service men now available, he will give instructions that further candidates be submitted for these posts?

The qualifications required for the post held by Mr. Cowling, who is an Honours graduate, are a high degree of mathematical knowledge and experience in calculating stress and strain work of aeroplanes. During a period of six months the Joint Substitution Board submitted three candidates for the post, none of whom were found suitable. The officer of the Air Ministry responsible for reporting on their qualifications was a senior officer, himself a disabled overseas ex-service man. In view of the fact that suitable candidates were not forth- coming over this long period, the Joint Substitution Board informed the Air Ministry that they would not press for the substitution of the officer in question. Mr. Robertson, the facts of whose case are similar, tendered his resignation on the 31st December last to take effect on the 31st instant. It is not proposed to fill the vacancy so caused. On the general points raised in the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 9th instant by the Secretary of State for Air to a similar question by the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Carr).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why Mr. A. E. Hayward, Mr. H. B. Howard, Mr. J. S. Andrew, Mr. C. E. R. Osman, Mr. Ireland, and Mr. W. Launchberry, non-service men employed at the Air Ministry, have been declared unsubstitutable by the Joint Substitution Board: what are their precise qualifications; how many candidates, if any, have been submitted by the Joint Substitution Board for their posts; how were these candidates interviewed at the Air Ministry; whether he is satisfied that the candidates put forward were in fact unsuitable; and whether, in view of the larger numbers of technical ex-service men now available, he will give instructions that further candidates be submitted for these posts?

As regards the second and third parts of the question, fully qualified aeronautical engineers with a detailed and specialised knowledge of the design of particular types or parts of aeroplanes are required for the posts held by these officers. For the whole of the six posts, the Joint Substitution Board were able to submit eight candidates only over a period of many months. With regard to the other parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by me to-day to the hon. Member for Royton and the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air on the 9th instant to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Carr).

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any arrangements have been made for the payment of special pensions to pensioners who have undergone treatment in a sanatorium for tuberculosis; and, if so, what are the conditions under which such pensions are payable?

Men who, on conclusion of treatment in a sanatorium, undergo a prescribed course of extended treatment combined with training in a training colony, are awarded pension at the 100 per cent, rate for six months from the date of leaving the colony, and subsequently at not less than the 50 per cent, rate for a further period of two years. These awards are conditional on the pensioner attending for medical examination when so required and on his carrying out any further treatment recommended.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, to alleviate the uneasiness felt among ex-service men in receipt of pensions, he can give an assurance that his Department is not, particularly in cases of alleged aggravation of ailments, keying up the decisions of his various advisers with the object of saving public money?

I am glad to have the opportunity of repeating the assurance which my right hon. Friend has already given. The instructions he has issued are that all types of case, including those involving question of aggravation, shall be carefully and sympathetically considered and all possible steps taken to ensure that full justice is done to all claimants.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has now been able to come to some arrangement with the board of guardians, Hammersmith, in order that the Orthopædic Hospital, Shepherd's Bush, shall remain as a hospital for disabled men?

asked the Minister of Pensions if his attention has been drawn to a statement published on 3rd March by the consulting physician to the Shepherd's Bush Hospital for ex-service men to the effect that, owing to a difference between the Ministry and the guardians as to rent, it is proposed to remove the patients to huts, and that the surgical staff are unanimously of opinion that such removal would be detrimental to the patients; if so, what net saving would be effected if these removals are made; and if he will consider, in any case, whether the difference with the guardians in regard to rent could be adjusted by arbitration and the disadvantages of removal avoided?

My right hon. Friend has intimated to the guardians that his offer of an increased rent of £12,000 a year for these premises is still open. He has also intimated his willingness that the views of the Ministry should be explained at a conference with the guardians, at which he would welcome the presence of a representative of the Ministry of Health.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the Director-General of Awards wrote on the 29th August, 1921, to Mr. G. B. Wright, of 34, St. Mary's Street, New Bradwell, Bucks (late sergeant, No. 43419, Royal Field Artillery), saying that his claim for allowances for his wife and child was under consideration and that he would be notified as to the result in due course; and that on 9th November, 1921, and 3rd January and 14th February, 1922, this statement was repeated; and will he expedite the settlement of this claim?

Payment of these allowances has now been authorised. I regret the delay which has occurred.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Private Samuel Johnson, No. 15490, 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers, Salonika, present address 57, Plex Street, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, who was discharged as no longer physically fit for war after two years and 261 days with the colours and in the Army Reserve, place, Hounslow, date, 12th October, 1917, conduct very satisfactory; whether he is aware that he has a blind wife and four children, the eldest just over 13 years of age, pension 19s. 1d., and the medical board certified him incapacitated 50 per cent, degree; that he has lately been discharged from hospital at Hednesford as incurable; and whether he will inquire further respecting this case with a view to the allowances being increased to meet the necessities of this ex-soldier, his blind wife, and their young children?

I am having immediate steps taken to have this man examined by a medical board, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Private Thomas Henry Cotton, No. 4,442, 2nd North Staffordshire Regiment, present address, 25, Goodfellow Street, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, 12 years and 34 days with the colours, 10 years and 188 days abroad, served in Dublin, Egypt, India, and the Soudan; medals: Soudan, 1896, Queen's clasp (Hafer), Khedive's 1896; re-engaged for Section O, Army Reserve, on 27th April, 1906, and was discharged on 26th April, 1910; re-enlisted for the late War on 25th September, 1914, as Private T. H. Cotton, No. 9,841, North Staffs Regiment, and joined the North Staffs Regiment in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force; medals: 1914–15 star, service, and Victory; was invalided home through illness, and discharged on 27th June as no longer physically fit for War service with a temporary disablement pension of 8s. per week: whether he is aware that Cotton is totally incapacitated and unable to follow his employment; and whether he will inquire into the matter with a view to increasing the disablement pension, and granting this ex-soldier an additional pension for his previous long service with the colours?

The pension of 8s a week represents the extent of disablement as assessed by a medical board last December. If the man considers that his condition has since become materially worse he may apply through his local committee for the re-consideration of his case on that ground. I regret that his period of service is not sufficient to qualify him for an additional award in respect of service.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the changes that he has announced with reference to parents' War pensions will be authorised by a new Royal Warrant; and whether the House will have the opportunity of discussing those changes before they are brought into effect?

The changes referred to do not require the authority of a Royal Warrant. They are based on the decision of the Government to adopt the recommendation of the Select Committee of this House on Pensions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when it is anticipated that a reply will be given to Item 74 of the 1919 general requests of the Welfare Committee?

The system of issuing clothing, soap and tobacco for cash has now been in force for some time at the Royal naval depots and has been adopted as the standard procedure at those establishments. Trials of the system have also been made afloat, but the reports received so far have not been such as to warrant the extension of the arrangement to seagoing ships generally, and further reports are being awaited before coming to a decision on this point.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, as reported in the Press, the number of employés at Gibraltar naval dockyard has been reduced by 50 per cent,; how many of these are British; and whether he can give any figures in respect of reductions, actual or impending, at other naval dockyards?

The number of dockyard workmen at Gibraltar is being reduced from 1,750 at the-commencement of 1922 to 1,100. A proportion of the men discharged will be British, but it cannot at present be stated how many will be local British workmen and how many Spanish. At dockyards at home discharges are now-taking place at the rate of 380 a week:

Rosyth … … 200 Portsmouth … … 90 Devonport … … 50 Chatham … … 20 Sheerness … … 20

About 300 men have to be discharged from naval work at Pembroke during the financial year 1922–23, and probably a further 300 from repayment work from the same yard. The service under the Admiralty of all the remaining men at Haulbowline will be terminated as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if a decision has yet been arrived at concerning the opening of Class A of the Royal Fleet Reserve to all branches?

In the present financial situation the Admiralty do not consider justifiable the expense which would be involved in opening the Royal Fleet Reserve to any branches not already eligible for enrolment. Further, as pointed out to the hon. Member in answer to his questions of the 9th May, 26th May and 9th June last, there would be no justification for enrolling in Class A pensioners who have opportunities in civil life of maintaining their professional efficiency in the branches to which they belong.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it has now been decided that two of the four capital ships, projected before the Washington Conference, are to be built; and, if so, the names of the firms concerned?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply of the 22nd February to the hon. Member for Moseley (Mr. Hannon). As regards the second part, contracts have not yet been placed for the two 35,000 ton ships to be laid down under the Washington Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the flights from Egypt to Mesopotamia are the only routine flights carrying mails, etc., undertaken by the Air Ministry; whether this work was organised by the department of the Chief of the Air Staff or of the Controller-General of Civil Aviation; and which Department now controls this service, and why?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the rest of the question, the carrying of mails is, at present, incidental to flights by service machines undertaken for training or for passing machines to Iraq by air in pre- ference to the more expensive sea route. The responsibility accordingly rests with the service branch of the Air Ministry. I look forward to the future organisation of regular air mail services on this route by commercial air enterprise.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is intended to hold, a State competition for helicopters; what prizes are offered; what are the conditions; and when will the competition take place?

The Air Ministry have decided to offer a prize of £50,000. The conditions under which entries will be received will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Air Ministry have been following the experiments made by helicopters in various countries; what conclusions have been arrived at by his experts as to the practicability of helicopters for war or civil purposes; and whether he intends to make any practical experiments with helicopters in his Department?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative; to the second, that the advantages of a practicable helicopter for both military and civil purposes are considered sufficiently important to warrant investigation and experiment; to the third, that such experiments are already in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will publish the audited statement of accounts, balance sheet, and report of the auditors, Sir Maxwell Hicks and Company, and the Report of the Controller, Sir Alexander Prince, in connection with the Expeditionary Force canteens trading?

The audited statement of accounts, balance sheet and auditor's report of the Expeditionary Force canteens, from its inception to the end of 1917, were published as Army Council Instruction 487 of August, 1919. As I have previously explained, the final trading accounts of the organisation are now in course of preparation and will be published in due course.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what positions were held by the three men alleged to be members of the Royal Irish Constabulary arrested in connection with the Tipperary ambush on the 2nd instant; and were these men members of the regular Royal Irish Constabulary or members of the Black - and - Tans recruited in Great Britain?

Two of the men arrested are permanent constables of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the third man is a temporary constable in that force. All three were recruited in Great Britain.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Section 55 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, applies in its entirety to existing Irish civil servants under the Free State Government; whether the Imperial Government still remains, after the setting up of the Free State Government, the guarantors of the tenure of office, salaries, superannuation, and conditions generally of those existing civil servants; and whether the Civil Service Committee will be set up in accordance with Section 56 of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 19th December last by the Leader of the House to a question addressed to him by the hon. and learned Member for York (Sir J. Butcher), in which it was stated that His Majesty's Government will be the guarantor of the pensions for which provision i3 made in Article 10 of the Treaty. That Article supersedes, so far as officers transferred to the Free State are concerned, the provisions contained in the Government of Ireland Act, but it provides specifically that those officers who are discharged or retire in consequence of the change of Government shall be given fair compensation on terms not less favourable than those accorded by the Act. It is proposed to discuss the whole matter with representatives of the Provisional Government prior to the establishment of the Free State.

asked the Chief Secretary what provision has been made for the payment of superannuation allowances to Poor Law and rural district council officers and officers of other local authorities in Ireland, whose scale of pensions has been sanctioned by the Local Government Board for Ireland prior to the Treaty; what is to be done in the case of recalcitrant local authorities who have declined or failed to recognise the sealed orders of the Irish Local Government Board, and consequently have left these ex-officers without any means of existence for themselves and their families; and whether he will see that these officers will at once be paid out of the local Grants-in-Aid the amounts due to them to date as superannuation allowances?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement on this subject made by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland in the course of the Debate on Supplementary Estimates on the 24th February last and also to the reply which I gave to the hon. and learned Member for York (Sir J. Butcher) on the 14th February last on the subject of rate-collectors. Suitable arrangements are being made for the payment of pensions to the persons referred to in the hon. and gallant Member's question; but I am not in a position to furnish more precise information at present.

asked the Home Secretary if the case for compensation of Mrs. McNeil, widow of Horace McNeil, shot at Hammersmith by Sinn Fein gunmen, has been considered by the Government, and with what result?

This case has been carefully considered, but I am sorry to say His Majesty's Government are unable to make any compensation from public funds to Mr. McNeil's widow.

asked the Chief Secretary whether some distinguished and efficient officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary were compulsorily retired from the force in June, 1920, before their time for retirement had come, without compensation and in breach of their contract of service; whether he has received a claim on behalf of these officers for compensation for the serious loss which they sustained by such premature compulsory retirement: and what steps he proposes to take to compensate them for such loss?

A number of officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary were retired in June, 1920, some because they had reached the age limit, others because they were not considered equal to the heavy strain then devolving on all members of the force owing to the disturbed state of the country. These retirements were, made under statutory powers. The officers concerned received the full pensions to which they were entitled, and no case for extra compensation arises.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the overloading of trains, omnibuses, and tramcars in the London area and the danger of accident from the overloading of such vehicles, the unhygienic results of such overloading, the creation of unemployment by the use of less vehicles than the amount of traffic warrants, and the hardships suffered by the attendants of such vehicles; and whether he will take the necessary steps to remove the cause of these complaints?

I have no authority with regard to railways, but I am informed by the Ministry of Transport that such overcrowding as occurs on the railways takes place during peak load periods, and arises almost entirely from the physical impossibility of operating more trains over certain congested portions of the lines, and not from lack of rolling stock. The railway companies realise, of course, the undesirability of overcrowding, but considerable expenditure is involved to increase the capacity of the lines by electrification or other means. With regard to omnibuses and trams, the question whether the concession in respect of carrying excess passengers should cease or not is now under the consideration of the Commissioner of Police.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether the plates designed for motor care running under trade numbers are unsuited for the purpose; whether, in consequence, the blue licence is frequently detached and lost, and that when the licence is lost it is necessary to return the plates before a duplicate is issued; and whether he can see his way to improve the design of the plates and to modify the regulations so as to make it unnecessary to return the plates before a duplicate is issued?

A number of complaints were received in the early part of 1921 to the effect that the front general identification mark plate for motor cars was of a depth which rendered it difficult to attach to small cars of low clearance without obscuring to a considerable extent the cooling surface of the radiator. Special arrangements were made to meet this difficulty, and I am not aware that there is now any substantial cause for complaint with regard to the construction of the plates in question. The replacement of the old plates by new ones on the loss of a licence is necessary as a protection against fraud. The simple issue of a duplicate licence, where a licence was fraudulently represented as being lost, might lead to the simultaneous use of both the motor car and motor cycle sets of plates. For this reason, I am not prepared to modify the instructions in the sense desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, in view of the substantial reductions effected in wages, consideration will be given to the possibility of securing a reduction in workmen's fares?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 27th February to a somewhat similar question by the hon. and gallant Member for Kensington North (Lieut.-Colonel Burgoyne) of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is yet in a position to make any statement regarding the revision of the existing Regulations governing the licensing of motor-taxi hackney carriages in the Metropolitan area; and what steps it is intended to take to encourage the development of such carriages on terms favourable to those owners who endeavour to provide a reliable and modern form of cab?

The information received from other countries is now being considered, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether it is his intention to sanction1 the proposed Bill for the repeal of the Indian Press Acts now said to be in a Select Committee of the Indian Legislature?

Assent has already been given to the introduction of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the resolution passed by the Bengal Legislative Council recommending the Government to withdraw the notifications under the Seditious Meetings Act, the Criminal Law Amendment Act, and other measures, and the immediate release of all prisoners convicted and sentenced under those provisions; and what steps are being taken by the Bengal Government to enforce its authority and maintain law and order?

My attention has been called to the resolution. There has been no indication that the Bengal Government have acted upon it. They are, therefore, in possession of all the authority given them by the ordinary law and the two special acts mentioned, and there is no reason to suppose that the powers are not being exercised.

asked the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been called to the representations to the Assam Government from those concerned in the tea garden industry in that province requesing protection from the Gandhi volunteers, who are breaking up and looting the markets, and boycotting and intimidating the Government servants and tea garden employés; and what steps have been taken to protect those threatened from not and revolution?

The Government of Assam have proclaimed the volunteer associations as unlawful. The worst offenders have been prosecuted. Guards of the local military forces have been posted at places most requiring them. The strength of the Assam Rifles in the most disturbed areas is being increased, and route marches have been made as demonstrations. The Seditious Meetings Act has been extended to seven districts; and additional police have been and are being posted wherever necessary. In the Assam Valley the latest report indicates that there has been some improvement in most districts, and interference with markets is diminishing. Attempts to boycott Government servants appear to have ceased. The local Government have ample force to stop effectively anw widespread rioting, and are taking all possible steps for the protection of life and property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any Report has yet been received from the Committee appointed last October' to investigate the rubber situation in British Colonies and Protectorates, and to advise him as to what measures should be taken to bring about an improvement?

The Committee submitted, an Interim Report in November, as a result of which discussions have taken place, and are still proceeding, between the Colonial authorities in British Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if there is to-day no official means of checking the measurement of leather sold on a superficial area basis, and that accordingly buyers of leather have no redress for under-measurement other than a civil action; and whether the Government will consider the advisability of setting up an official centre for checking measurements of superficial area?

I would call the attention of my hon. and gallant Friend to the Weights and Measures (Leather Measurement) Act, 1919, a copy of which, together with the Regulations made thereunder, I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability of issuing a Regulation insisting on the stamping of imported eggs with the name of the country of their origin, in view of the fact that so many ex-service men have put their savings into poultry farming and are now suffering as the result of competition?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 7th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Basingstoke (Sir A. Holbrook).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if lie is aware that the hosiery manufacturers in Leicestershire are quite unable to bear the heavy taxation which absorbs all liquid capital reserve, and thereby prevents renewals and installation of modern machinery; that hosiery machinery, being of a delicate and intricate nature, needs to be frequently replenished, and that unless taxation is reduced the position of the hosiery industry in Leicestershire will be seriously compromised and will not be able to compete successfully with foreign manufacturers; and does he propose to take any steps in the matter?

My hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that the Government are giving careful attention to the incidence of taxation on industry. With regard to the second part of the question, I would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that, under the provisions of the Acts relating to Income Tax and Excess Profits Duty, deductions are admissible on account of wear and tear of plant and machinery and, in determining the basis on which such deductions are to be calculated in the case of a particular industry, regard is had to the conditions prevailing in that industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, before setting up any more committees under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, he will carefully consider the Board of Trade Returns for the year 1921, which show a reduction of 50 per cent, in our total imports for that year, and also the Board of Trade Returns for the months of January and February, 1922, which show a further decline against those of the year 1921, so that the time and money expended in holding these inquiries might be more usefully and profitably spent?

I am unable to accept the figures as stated by the hon. Member. Though it is true that the money values of imports as shown in the trade accounts are much below those recorded a year ago, the volume of trade in recent months has shown little, if any, falling off from that of a year earlier. The premises on which the hon. Member's suggestion would appear to be based are accordingly unsound.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, during an inquiry in regard to the toy trade under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, it was stated on behalf of the complainants that 30,000 to 40,000 toy-makers were out of employment, while, according to the figures of the Ministry of Labour, the number unemployed in the making of toys, fishing tackle, games, &c, amounted to 2,500; whether, in this case, the Board took any action to verify the grounds of the application as to unemployment; and whether, in view of the great disturbance and expense which these inquiries cause to traders, he will see that there is a primâ facie Case before referring any application to a committee?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, except that the Ministry of Labour figures are subject to the qualifications stated by the Minister of Labour, in reply to the hon. Member for Whitechapel (Mr. Kiley) on the 2nd March. As regards the remainder of the question, no application is referred to a Committee unless the Board are satisfied that a primâ facie case exists, and in this particular case it appeared to the Board that there was substantial unemployment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether the Committee which sat in December and January last to hear evidence under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, in connection with domestic, illuminating, and mounting glassware, has yet completed its inquiry; whether its findings have been embodied in a Report; if so, whether the Report was unanimous or not; when it was received by him; whether he proposes to make an order imposing an Import Duty;

(2) whether the Committee recently appointed under the Safeguarding of Industries Act (Part II) in connection with a complaint referring to gold leaf imported from Germany has made its Report; if so, whether he will disclose to the House the nature of that Report;, whether he has yet considered it; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

Both the Committees to which the hon. and gallant Member refers have submitted their Reports, and it is proposed to present these and other Reports to Parliament and publish them in the ordinary course. In the meanwhile, I do not think it is desirable to make any statement regarding their nature or contents or regarding any action which it may be proposed to take The Glassware Committee reported on the 18th February, 1922.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost to his Department of the verbatim shorthand reports of the proceedings in the recent Safeguarding of Industries Act, Part II, glass-ware inquiry, hollow-ware and baths inquiry, and toy inquiry, respectively; whether the charges in respect of these reports are according to Treasury scale, and what is the Treasury scale for such reports; and, in view of the fact that the Government has recently dismissed a large number of expert lady typists, why were their services not retained in connection with the verbatim reports required for these committees, and a largo saving been thereby effected?

Of the 29 meetings reported in connection with the three inquiries referred to, 11 were reported by a member of the Staff of the Treasury, and the rest by outside reporters. I cannot give any estimate of the cost of the work of the Treasury staff, but the 18 meetings reported by outside firms cost £190. The charges for the services of an outside reporter are in accordance with the Treasury scale, namely, one guinea per day for attendance, and 8d. per folio for transcribing. The Treasury instituted a pool of reporters some few months ago, and the Board of Trade, in common with other Departments, make use of this pool when possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in the inquiry under the Safeguarding of Industries Act in regard to baths the applicants stated that they did not allege that unemployment was then existing; if so, what justification there was for referring the complaint to a committee in view of the heavy costs imposed upon those who opposed the application; and whether, in cases of unjustified applications, the committee will receive power to make an order for costs against the unsuccessful applicants?

I understand that in this particular complaint unemployment was alleged by witnesses for the applicants on several occasions, though it was admitted by some of the witnesses that the British baths displaced by recent German imports would have provided employment for a comparatively small number of persons. Neither the Board of Trade nor the committees have power to make orders regarding costs, and I would remind my hon. Friend that under the terms of the Act prospective, as well as actual, effect on employment is a matter which has to be taken into account.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government proposes to introduce a Bill to give effect to the recommendations of the Water Power Resources Committee, or whether any other Departmental action will be taken with the same object?

The Government do not see their way at present to introduce legislation dealing with the control of water power developments or constituting a Water Commission, as proposed by the Water Power Resources Committee, but the Minister of Health has taken certain administrative measures and is setting up an Inter-Departmental Committee, as recommended by the Committee, to coordinate the work of the several Departments responsible for the different water interests. The minor recommendations of the Committee cover a very wide field, and the manner in which it is proposed to deal with the various suggestions cannot easily be explained in an answer to a Parliamentary question. Perhaps the hon. Member will communicate with me as regards the points which he has more particularly in mind.

asked the Home Secretary how many officials are employed in the work of alien registration in the Metropolitan area at New Scotland Yard, Bow Street, and Commercial Street, respectively; the total annual expense of this system; and the amount received in fees?

The number of officials employed in connection with the work of alien registration in the Metropolitan Police District at New Scotland Yard is 15, at Bow Street 24, and at Commercial Street 18. The total annual expense is estimated at about £21,400, and the amount received in fees at about £900.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that his Department has recently issued an instruction reducing the rates of pay of the clerical and typing staff employed by the London local committees, and that the instruction ordered a full week's deduction to be made on the 10th February, 1922, though only dated the 9th February and received in the local offices on the 10th February, in view of the hardship to the staff of reducing their pay without any notice, he will take steps to rectify such a proceeding?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Penistone (Mr. Gillis) on the 16th February, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the rule governing retirement in the Civil Service at the ago of 60 is being strictly observed; whether any applications for the relaxation of the rule have been received and considered since the appointment of the Committee on National Expenditure; and, if so, with what result, indicating the Departments and officials who have applied and the extension, if any, granted in each case?

The first part of the question appears to be based on a misapprehension, as the normal age for compulsory retirement in the Civil Service is 65 and not 60. It is within the discretion of heads of Departments to call on an officer to retire at any time after reaching the age of 60, and I could not give details without much research of the manner in which heads of Departments exercise this discretion.

asked the Chancellor of of Exchequer how many munition factories and similar works, owned and controlled by the Government, are still undisposed of; how many people are employed and how much money is annually spent in the upkeep of such places; what steps are taken to dispose of such places in the open market; how many have been disposed of by private treaty; and how much has been realised thereby during the last 12 months?

There are 63 properties which are still undisposed of, and which were at one time used as munitions factories and similar works. Thirty-four of these are now used as storehouses for surplus Government stores. The remainder are, pending sale, looked after by caretakers. The total number of people employed at these places is approximately 2,200, and of these about 1,500 are engaged on the care and handling of surplus stores. The remaining staff is in the main engaged on the demolition of danger buildings and in cleaning, etc., poison gas factories and other buildings in which explosives were made. Apart from the expenses incurred on the care, etc., of surplus stores, the total amount spent annually on these premises is at present approximately £100,000, but this will largely decrease in the future. All factories available for disposal are widely advertised in the London and provincial Press and in appropriate trade journals, and in cases where there is likely to be competition for the purchase of a property, the possibility of sale by auction is always taken into account. The total number of factories and similar works which have been disposed of by private treaty since the inception of the Disposal Board is 525. Of these, 93 have been sold during the 12 months ending 31st January, 1922, the total figure realised by the sales during that period being £2,921,549 4s. 9d.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that military transport motor vehicles in Ireland, to the number of about 2,000, have recently been declared surplus and disposed of to a firm of the name of Bennett and Company without reference to the manufacturers of the vehicles in question; whether these vehicles come under the terms of the contract with the Slough Trading Company, whereby all vehicles declared surplus up to April next become their property, and, if not, does he know if Messrs. Bennett and Company are connected with the Slough Trading Company?

I have been asked to answer this question. Motor transport vehicles to the number of about 470 have been passed to the Disposal Board as surplus to military requirements in Ireland, and all these vehicles have been handed over by the Disposal Board to the Slough Trading Company in accordance with the provisions of their contract dated 7th April, 1920.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if it is pro- posed to make any special compensation grant to the relatives of the killed or those suffering, caused by the recent explosion at Tipton of materials purchased from the Disposal Board?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what increase has become payable from public funds to the late Lord Chief Justice in consequence of his tenure of that position?

The pension payable under statute to the late Lord Chief Justice is £4,000 a year. Had he not held the office of Lord Chief Justice, his pension as an ex-judge of the High Court would have been £3,500 a year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been decided to be the British share of the £50,000,000 paid by Germany in August last; and whether this amount has been paid over or is still in the hands of the Reparation Commission?

The amount of 450,000,000 gold marks was provisionally taken as the amount due to this country on account of the cost of the British Army of Occupation prior to 1st May, 1921, out of the amount of 1,000,000,000 gold marks (not £50,000,000 sterling) paid by Germany in August last. The final allocation of this latter amount is not yet decided, but the sum of £29,453,895, being the equivalent of 450,000,000 gold marks, has been paid over to the Treasury as Miscellaneous Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give the estimated annual cost, including salaries, expenses, and rent of offices, of the Reparations Commission; and whether this is a charge on the British Exchequer?

I am informed that the estimated annual cost of the Reparation Commission and of the Committee of Guarantees amounts to about £700,000. This sum covers the expenses of both the national delegations and the international organisation in relation to Germany, Austria, and Hungary, and includes the cost of offices at Paris, Berlin, Essen, Wiesbaden, and Budapesth. It also includes the expenses of the work of disposing of German war material, a task accepted by the Commission in addition to its Treaty duties at the request of the Allied Governments. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The costs of the restitution and reparation work of the Commission are paid by Germany, Austria, and Hungary, and the costs of disposing of war material are met out of the proceeds of the sales.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the receipt from the Entertainments Duty during the first nine months of the present financial year and during the corresponding period of last year?

The receipts of Entertainments Duty for the United Kingdom in the nine months ended 31st December, 1920, and 31st December, 1921, were respectively £8,509,361 and £7,620,271.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to serious complaints from proprietors of cinemas respecting the heavy Entertainments Duty; that the duty is additional to all other forms of taxation they are called upon to bear; that the duty has to be paid whether the business makes a profit or a loss; that one firm in particular gave figures to show that, while using the premises, machinery, etc., and capital value £15,000 last year, they paid £3,500 in Entertainments Duty, and suffered a loss for the same period of £650, and complain that the trade is being taxed out of existence; and whether, in view of these effects of the duty, he will consider the request to abolish the duty altogether.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second and third parts, I would point out that the incidence of the Entertainments Duty in no way differs from that of any other indirect tax. For the rest, I am unable to anticipate the Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the original cost of the steam-yacht "Vigilant," now used by the Board of Customs and Excise, the cost of adapting her for present service, the number of ship's company, the annual cost of running her, and for what duties is she kept in commission?

The Customs Revenue vessel "Vigilant" was formerly an Admiralty trawler, and was transferred from the Admiralty at a nominal charge of £6,500. The cost of adapting her for Customs service was £2,120. The number of ship's company is 17 officers and men; the annual cost of running and maintaining her is £6,800 (including the crew's pay); and, except for occasional port to port inspections, she is employed in the prevention of smuggling and in boarding and searching vessels for contraband in the estuarial waters of the Thames, which present special dangers to the Customs Revenue. The work of the "Vigilant" and other Customs vessels was specifically investigated by the Geddes Committee, and the Committee reported against any reduction of that work.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer up to what date holders of the 5 per cent. National War Bonds, maturing on the 1st October, 1922, have the right to exercise the option of converting their holdings into 5 per cent. War Loan (1929–47)?

The latest date on which notice to convert can be received will be the 15th April, 1922.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Government have arrived at any decision, on the recommendation of the Committee on National Expenditure, that the scheme of State scholarships tenable at universities should cease?

The Government have decided that no new awards of State scholarships shall be made in the financial years 1922–23 and 1923–24, but that the question shall be reviewed at the end of two years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that Miss Cole, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, has reported that during one month last winter 2,122 English horses landed at Antwerp were slaughtered at 89 different places in Belgium; whether, during this winter, about 200 partly worn-out horses have been exported every week; and whether anything is being done to stop the growth of this trade?

My attention has been drawn to the statements in question. With regard to the first part of the question, I have repeatedly stated that the system of veterinary inspection of horses exported to the Continent was entirely reorganised in the spring of 1921, and that no horses are allowed to be shipped unless' they come fully up to the standard laid down by the Exportation of Horses Acts of 1910 and 1914, namely, fit to travel and fit to work. The average weekly export of such horses to Holland and Belgium in the period from 1st October, 1921, to the end of February, 1922, was approximately 300. The weekly export to Antwerp in the same period was approximately 150. With regard to the last part of the question, no relaxation of the high standard of inspection has been or will be allowed. This inspection prevents the shipment of any but fit horses in good working condition. The Ministry would not be justified in interfering with a perfectly legitimate trade so long as it is carried out under conditions such as ensure that the animals are conveyed without avoidable suffering. The Ministry has no responsibility for the treatment of animals after their arrival on the Continent, but it is assured by the responsible officials in both Holland and Belgium that the further transit of the animals is carefully regulated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the scheme for a national poultry institute and research stations is to be proceeded with; and, if so, under what financial arrangements?

I may refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to-day to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South East Essex (Lieut. -Colonel Hilder). The financial arrangements proposed (subject to the approval of the Treasury and Development Commission) are explained in a Memorandum submitted last January to the National Poultry Council, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the present need of opening up all avenues of employment, he will cause the Report of Lord Finlay's Commission on the Importation of Canadian Cattle to be reconsidered by the Cabinet, since the embargo prevents employment in shipping, landing, feeding, and tending these cattle?

I have been asked to reply. The answer is in the negative. Any increase in employment in the direction suggested as a result of removing the embargo would be at the expense of employment in other parts of this country, and such action would not contribute to the solution of the unemployment problem, but rather the reverse.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before the Cabinet resolved to take no action on the Report of Lord Finlay's Commission on the Importation into this country of Canadian Store Cattle, the views of the Canadian Government on the embargo were invited and considered?

In considering the Report of the Commission, His Majesty's Government were fully cognisant of the views of the Canadian Government.

asked the Home Secretary why a British visa or permission to land in England has been refused to the American citizen Max Eastman?

On the information before me I decided that this man is an alien whom it is not desirable to have in this country at the present time.

asked the Home Secretary if the application for naturalisation of Charles Yewdatt, first made in July, 1916, has been considered and finally settled; and, if so, with what result?

There is some uncertainty as to the name and the date given by the right hon. Member, but I think he probably refers to the case of Charles Yewdall, who submitted an application in February, 1920. That case has not been finally settled, and I fear I can only repeat that, as the applicant has already been informed, it is not possible for me to say when it can be taken up.

asked the Home Secretary whether Ids attention has been called to the number of crimes in which the use of poison is involved; and whether the law regulating the sale of poisons is sufficiently strong at present to restrict all improper sales?

I believe that the use of poison for a criminal purpose has always been of rare occurrence in this country, and, notwithstanding two or three recent cases, I do not think it can be alleged that it has become commoner than it used to be. I doubt if it is possible by law to ensure that there will be no improper sales, especially in the case of poisonous substances that are commonly used for legitimate purposes, but the matter is receiving consideration.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the Resolution recently passed by the Tynemouth Union to the effect that, their attention having been called to the fact that the lowest paid grade of colliery employé has been cut to a point below subsistence level, they desire to press earnestly upon the Government the urgent need that some provision should be made to increase the wages of the men in question, and that, if necessary, this should be done by Government grant as an alternative preferable to the re-establishment of any system of subsidising wages from the Poor Law; if he is aware that similar cases have been brought before the notice of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Union; and if he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. I have seen the Resolution to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. The rate of wages of the men in question is settled by the Joint District Wages Board for the coal mining industry in the district in accordance with the national settlement of last July, and it is not possible for the Government to vary these arrangements or to make any grant in augmentation of their wages. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that it is only in very exceptional cases that guardians would grant relief to men who are in employment or that such action would be countenanced by his Department.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the recommendation to charge a fee of 10s. on the returns of friendly societies would fall most unfairly on societies with many branches as compared with centralised societies; and whether there is any precedent for demanding a fee when calling for a compulsory return?

I have been asked to reply. As I have already stated, the imposition of a fee is under consideration. In reply to the first part of the question, the work done by the Friendly Societies Registry in dealing with a branch return is normally as great as that involved in dealing with a society return, and, in fact, many branches are larger and wealthier than many independent societies. As to the last part of the question, the answer is "Yes." The annual return of joint stock companies is compulsory, but a fee has to be paid on it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received any protest from friendly societies with reference to the proposal made by the Committee on National Expenditure to make a charge of 10s. for registering the annual returns of each branch of these societies; and whether, as this proposal trespasses upon the privileges conferred by the Friendly Societies Act, he can give any assurance that the proposal will not be put into effect?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply to the questions put by the hon. Member for West Houghton (Mr. Rhys Davies) and the hon. Member for Clitheroe (Mr. Alfred Davies) on the 9th instant.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give a compara-

ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS. — 1913. Latest available figures. Number. Rate per 10,000. Year. Number. Rate per 10,000. Total live Births. Total live Births. England and Wales … … 37,909 430 1920 44,947 469 Scotland … … 8,548 709 1920 10,204 747 France … … 65,568 879 —— — Belgium … … 10,975 641 — — — Holland … … 3,591 207 1920 4,112 213 Norway … … 4,360 714 1917 4,466 699 Sweden … … 20,160 1,548 1916 18,126 1,490 Denmark … … 8,313 1,147 1919 7,170 1,043 Italy … … 52,219 465 1916 36,884 418

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Aden is now completely transferred, both as regards revenue and administration, from the control of India to the Colonial Office; what is the estimated revenue and expenditure of the Aden Protectorate for the current financial year; and whether it is now proposed to reduce the strength of the garrison at Aden?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The whole matter is still under consideration. The estimated revenue of Aden for the current financial year is 10 lakhs, i.e., about £66,000.

tive statement showing the statistics of illegitimacy for the years 1913 and 1920 in England, Scotland, United States of America, France, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Italy?

The statement below gives the figures for 1913 asked for by the hon. Member, except for the United States of America, where there is no general birth registration system, and where the information as to illegitimacy is only partial, even in States in which birth registration is in force. Figures for 1920 are available for Great Britain and Holland only, but in the case of the other countries named by the hon. Member the figures given are for the latest years for which I have information, with the exception of France and Belgium, for which I have no information for years later than 1913.

The estimated expenditure is as follows:— Civil expenditure (including public works).—11 lakhs, i.e., about £73,000. Military expenditure.—70 lakhs, i.e., about £470,000.

It is impossible to state without reference to India whether there has been any substantial departure, from these figures in the course of the year. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any date has yet been fixed for the evacuation of Wei-hai-wai; and whether the arrangements to that end are in progress?

No, Sir; no date has yet been fixed. The negotiations with the Chinese Government are a matter for the Foreign Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present monthly cost of the British and Indian garrisons in Iraq; and what was the corresponding cost of such garrisons in March, 1920 and 1921, respectively?

I regret that it has not been found possible to work out the figures in time to reply to the hon. Member's question. If he will put this question again a little later on, I will supply him with the information required.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether time will be afforded during the present Session for the discussion of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1896, in view of the Report of Lord Finlay's Commission?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 27th February to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Forfar (Mr. W. Shaw).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Hull trawler "St. Hubert" was illegally arrested by the Russian Government when 10½ miles distant from the shore of Murmansk; and whether, in view of this event, and the recent illegal arrest and loss of the "Magneta," he will reconsider the advisability of sending a British gunboat to those waters or, if not, what steps the British Government proposes to take to guard against a repetition of such events, and to protect the interests of the British fishing industry in those waters?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my answer to the hon. and gallant Member for North West Hull (Colonel L. Ward). As regards the second part of the question, the British agent at Moscow will demand from the Soviet Government an assurance that British shipping will not be interfered with in future. If this assurance is not forthcoming, His Majesty's Government will take whatever steps may be necessary to protect British shipping.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what has been the total cost for the year ended 31st March, 1922, of the Imperial War Museum, including staff, buildings, and maintenance; and whether it is proposed to continue this exhibition?

The total sum provided in the Estimates for the current financial year is £68,350, of which £22,970 is for staff and £27,680 for rent and maintenance, but it is not yet possible to state the actual expenditure. I may add that it is expected that the Estimates for 1922–23 will show a large reduction. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative, though the Trustees of the Museum propose to curtail the number and scale of exhibits.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the Government were making arrangements to acquire any particular building, and, if so, which, for the purpose of housing the Imperial War Museum in a more economical and accessible spot than the Crystal Palace?

It is not proposed to acquire or to erect a building for the Imperial War Museum now housed at the Crystal Palace, the lease of which terminates in April, 1924. The Office of Works, however, has been enquiring into the possibility of housing the Museum in space shortly to be vacated by the Science Museum and in a portion of the galleries of the Imperial Institute. As soon as a decision is reached I propose to make an announcement to the House.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, when the alterations to buildings at the north-eastern end of the Mall, in connection with the Queen Victoria Memorial, will be completed and the unsightly advertising hoardings now occupying the site removed?

The Office of Works is not responsible for carrying out the alterations referred to, but as far as I am able to ascertain at the moment, it is hoped that work can be begun in about two months' time, and if everything proceed normally, the buildings should be completed in 14 months.

asked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been called to the statement that there are 10,000 fabric glove makers out of employment; and the number of unemployed fabric glove makers who were receiving unemployment pay during February?

It is impracticable from the statistics of unemployment received in the Ministry of Labour to separate fabric from other glove makers. At 28th February there were 609 glove makers registered at Employment Exchanges as totally unemployed, and 507 as working systematic short time.

asked the Secretary for Scotland (1) whether, since the Committee on National Expenditure recommended that the number of judges in the Court of Session should be reduced, he will say why the recent vacancy on the bench has been filled up;

(2) the number of cases in the Court of Session in the year 1921; the number of final judgments pronounced during the year; the number of cases remaining undisposed of at the end of the year; the number of cases tried in the High Court of Justiciary in the same year; and whether he can give the corresponding figures for the average of the five pre-War years 1909–13?

It is not the case that the Committee recommended that the number of judges should be reduced. They drew attention to the fact that the number of judges in the Court of Session was higher in proportion to the population of Scotland than the number of judges in the High Court of England compared with the population of England and Wales. The Committee state that this disparity is apparently due to the fact that the Masters who perform minor judicial functions in the English Supreme Court have, broadly speaking, no counterpart in Scotland, and they suggest that an inquiry should be made as to the possibility of economics by the adoption of similar judicial arrangements in Scotland. A similar proposal was considered in 1870 by a Royal Commission of a very representative character which contained eminent English lawyers. The Commission were unanimously of opinion that the adoption of the proposal would inevitably entail great additional expense. Since the date when the Commission reported the population of Scotland has increased by 45 per cent., and I see no reason to suppose that a change of the nature suggested would now make for economy.

The latest year for which I have the figures is 1920. In that year the number of cases in the Court of Session was as follows: In the Outer House, 2,899; in the Bill Chamber, 80; and in the Inner House, 920. The number of final judgments pronounced in the Outer House was 1,771, and in the Inner House, 475. At the end of the year there remained undisposed of 908 cases in the Outer House and 287 in the Inner House. The number of criminal cases tried in the High Court of Justiciary in the same year was 153. The corresponding figures for the average of the years 1909–13 are: Cases in the Outer House, 2,319; in the Bill Chamber, 199, and in the Inner House. 922. Final judgments pronounced in the Outer House, 1,470, and in the Inner House, 488. Cases undisposed of in the Outer House, 634, and in the Inner House, 221. Criminal cases tried in the High Court of Justiciary, 135.