asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if non-service men were permitted to compete in the 1920 special clerical examination; and, if so, will he permit home service men to sit in the similar examination just announced to take place, as many of these men now employed as temporary clerks have given time and money in taking classes which would enable them to be successful in this forthcoming examination, and also they were home service, in the majority of cases, upon grounds over which they had no control?

The answer to the first part is in the affirmative; as regards the second part, ex-service men who served with His Majesty's Forces at home for a minimum period, and who satisfy the other conditions, are eligible to compete at the forthcoming examination.

asked the Postmaster-General why a conscientious objector is placed in charge of ex-service clerks, grade III, at the Studd Street depôt?

The officer in question is a member of the permanent staff of the Post Office Stores Department, and in ordinary course assists in the supervision of temporary clerks employed in the same section. No change is considered necessary, but as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, a Select Committee has been appointed to consider the position of conscientious objectors in the Civil Service generally.

asked the Postmaster-General why a temporary female clerk employed in the stamp section has been placed on a duty which was being carried out by an ex-service clerk, temporary grade III?

In connection with discharge of temporary clerks in the Post Office Stores Department certain rearrangements of personnel were necessary, including the exchange of a senior temporary female clerk with an ex-service male clerk employed on work proper to a woman. No ex-service clerk in the Stores Department has been discharged.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can state, in view of the general demand for economy in all Departments, whether, in the production of war medals, firms of expert medallists have been invited to tender for their production; if so, what proportion of the orders for the total number of medals produced have been awarded to such firms; what are the prices at which such orders have been placed, and what is their comparison with the cost of production at Woolwich; and whether an assurance can be given that, in all cases of future requirements of medals and medal clasps, the work will be placed out to tender by firms of medallists in com- petition with Woolwich Arsenal, so as to ensure the most economical production?

Firms of medallists have been invited to quote for a large proportion of the work required in connection with war medals, and have secured about 40 per cent, in money value of the total orders. The individual contract prices cannot be made public, but in the case of the Victory Medal, which is the only description of medal manufactured both by the trade and by Woolwich, the Woolwich cost for the latest period for which returns are completed is, I am informed, below the trade price. The question of obtaining tenders from the trade will not be lost sight of in the event of further medals being required.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many recruits have been enrolled for the Territorial Army in Devon and Cornwall; and how many more are required to complete the authorised establishment for those counties?

The answer to the first part of the question is 3,190, and to the second part 1,862.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much has been spent in the current financial year on advertising and other propaganda in connection with recruiting; and why he continues this expense, in view of the decision to reduce the strength of the Army?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes on the 7th instant, from which he will see that the amount spent this financial year on recruiting advertisements and posters up to the end of last month was £4,779. In regard to the second part, it happens that owing to the expiry during 1922–23 of numerous short-term engagements there will be an abnormal turnover of personnel, and the Army will require, notwithstanding the forthcoming reduc- tions, as many recruits as during the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for War the amount of money saved by the closing of the Royal Small Arms Factory Church, Enfield, and how that amount is arrived at; and the amount now being expended on altering the dining-hall at the factory, and the reason why this work has been undertaken?

The net saving due to the closing of the church is about £180 per annum, which is the sum of the late cost of the clergy and organist and of heating and lighting, etc., less the payment now made in respect of the attendance of the troops at another church. The estimated cost of altering the dining-hall is £375, and the reason for this expenditure is to adapt the hall to house the Small Arms Design Office, with resultant economy.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the fact that the claim made by the trustees of the late Mrs. Louisa Gorringe for compensation in respect of the occupation by the War Department of part of Holmbush Farm, near Kingston-by-Sea, Sussex, has not yet been settled by the War Claims Commission; and what is the reason for the delay?

The claim in question is a heavy one, relatively, to the value of the property, and needs careful examination. I regret that the miscarriage of a document has also caused some delay. The case will be dealt with with all possible expedition.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the answer given by the Under-Secretary for War to the Member for Haggerston on 23rd April, 1918, in regard to vaccination in the Army, still represents the position of soldiers who object to vaccination, or whether there has been any change in the conditions?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that Corporal George Cooper, No. 149044, Royal Engineers, residing at 9, Henry Pask Street, Ince, near Wigan, has not yet received the credits due to him, for service in India, amounting to nearly £100; and that a debtor balance is built up against him by a payment of 1,000 rupees, which he is supposed to have received in April, 1919, though he only arrived in India in May, 1919; and whether he will have inquiries made into this case and a proper account of this soldier's earnings and payments made out, showing how much he has been credited with since his arrival in India and how much he has received?

I have been asked to answer this question. The account of No. 149044 Corporal George Cooper, Royal Engineers, is in debt to the extent of £53 9s., and a copy of the account, including the period he was in India, will be forwarded to him by the regimental paymaster. The payment of rs.1,000 referred to is presumably the payment of rs.1,093 made on the 11th April, 1919, at Baghdad. This item appears in his pay book, and there can therefore be no doubt about its having been issued to him.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers not below the rank of lieutenant-colonel are now eligible for retirement on full pension; and how many now employed had previously retired but resumed duty for war service?

The information asked for in the first part of the question cannot be given without a laborious investigation, which I should be very reluctant to impose upon my Department at the present time. In regard to the second part, the number is four. This is exclusive of certain retired officers employed as such in the Remount, Recruiting, Records and Barrack Services.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department received an instruction from the Government in 1919 that the Army Estimates were to be framed on the assumption that no great war was to be anticipated within the next 10 years?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for War the annual average cost of a battery of Royal Field Artillery and of an infantry battalion, respectively?

The annual cost for which provision is made in Army Estimates 1921–22 is as follows: £ Battalion of infantry at home (693 all ranks) 157,500 Battery of Royal Field Artillery on the higher establishment at home (126 all ranks) 31,140

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the present estimated annual cost, respectively, of a battalion of infantry, a battery of artillery, and a regiment of cavalry in the Regular Army at home?

The annual cost for which provision is made in Army Estimates, 1921–22, is as follows: £ Battalion of infantry (693 all ranks) 157,500 Battery of Royal Field Artillery on the higher establishment (126 all ranks) 31,140 Regiment of cavalry of the line on the higher establishment (499 all ranks) 133,300

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the cuts in the Army, proposed as a result of the Geddes Committee, will affect in any way either the West India Regiment or the retention of a garrison of white British troops in Jamaica?

It is not at present proposed to reduce the West India Regiment below its present establishment of one battalion, or to abolish the white garrison of Jamaica.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is able to inform the House in what countries French military missions are employed; and what is, approximately, the total number of officers and other ranks in those missions?

I regret that I am unable to furnish this information.

asked the Secretary of State for War the approximately correct amount of money paid monthly to the Navy, Army, and Air Force institutes for rations, supplementary to those issued by the Government, supplied by the Navy, Army, and Air Force institutes to members of the Navy, Army, and Air Force serving in the United Kingdom, and the approximate tonnage represented by such money?

Under the existing system a portion of the daily ration of the Army, including a fixed quantity of bacon, together with cheese, jam and margarine, or their equivalents, to a total value of 3.7d. a head is supplied to the troops by the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes and a further cash allowance amounting to 3½d. a head daily, granted to Commanding Officers for the provision of additional messing supplies such as milk, vegetables, etc., for the men of their units, is expended at the institutes under the same regulations as were in force during the "tenant" system. Having regard to the fact that while the Royal Air Force have adopted a similar procedure the messing of the Royal Navy is conducted on different principles from the above, to the fluctuation in feeding strengths owing to the movement of troops, reductions, etc., and to the great latitude permitted to commanding officers in the choice of commodities on which the cash allowance may be expended, any figures given as representing the total expenditure or the weight of the commodities purchased in any particular month would be entirely misleading.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any foreign group has entered into negotiations for the purchase of the British airships; and, if so, from what country?

The answer to the first question is in the negative. The second does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that men who enlisted as boys are being discharged after 21 years' service and are not qualified for pension, as the years between the ages of 14 and 18 are not counted for pension although included in the years of service, he will arrange that in the case of such men they will be given the opportunity of serving for an additional term so as to qualify them for a pension?

My hon. Friend is mistaken in thinking that a man with a total service of 21 years is disqualified for pension by the fact of his service including service under 18 years of age. Boy service does not reckon as qualifying service for the purpose of computing the rate of pension, but a minimum qualifying service of 10 years will give a modified pension if the soldier has 21 years' total service. In the face of the reductions of establishment which are now taking place, I regret that I am not able to permit men to serve beyond 21 years' service in order to enable them to earn the same pension as they would have earned at 21 years' service, had the whole of their service been over the age of 18.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Private William Todd, No. 238,079, Yorkshire Light Infantry, who resides at 10, Canal Bank Warrington Lane, Wigan, has not been paid his war gratuity of £21, being classed as an absentee because he was home on furlough when the Armistice was signed and was under the impression that he would be demobilised in England; and whether he will have inquiries made into this case, with a view to the gratuity being paid?

I have been asked to answer this question. I am making inquiries into this ease and will communicate the result to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) how many ex-service men of the rank of private (pensioners) appealed to the House of Lords Appeal Tribunal during the period from 28th February, 1921, to 28th February, 1922; in how many cases were the appeals successful;

(2) how many commissioned officers (pensioners) appealed to the House of Lords Appeal Tribunal during the period from 28th February, 1921, to 28th February, 1922; in how many cases were the appeals successful;

(3) how many non-commissioned officers (pensioners) appealed to the House of Lords Appeal Tribunal during the period from 28th February, 1921, to 28th February, 1922; and in how many eases were the appeals successful?

I have been asked to reply. I cannot undertake to give the figures asked for. As I explained to the House on the Supplementary Vote for the appeal tribunals on Thursday last, these are judicial tribunals whose duty it is to decide each case that comes before them upon the evidence relevant to the appeal. There is no numerical standard or measure to which they ought, or can, conform. Such statistics as are asked for tend to render their work more difficult and embarrassing, and less judicial, by suggesting that their judgments ought to reach and produce some numerical result.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in approving relief works for the benefit of the unemployed, he will consider the special suitability of restarting local undertakings which for some reason or other are not able to continue operations at the present moment, but whose existence is vital to the local communities; and whether he can state instances in which this policy, if approved, has been followed?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am not sure what my hon. Friend has in mind, but grants have been given for many works of local necessity carried out by local authorities.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that John Bottrell, of Dunaby, Linkinhorne, Callington, who was discharged from the Army on 4th July, 1921, deposited his unemployment book duly stamped on 5th July, 1921, and signed the register continuously from that date till 3rd November, 1921, has not yet received any pay for that period from the local office at Liskeard, although he was notified from the Plymouth office in November last that he was entitled to 16 weeks' benefit; that John Bottrell has written four times to the Ministry, six times to the Plymouth office, and once to Kew, and, nevertheless, has received no payment of his acknowledged claim; and' whether he will take steps to pay this claim forthwith?

I am informed that payment of benefit in this case has now been authorised. I am having inquiries made into the cause of the delay.

asked the Minister of Labour why the unemployment benefit of Ethel Glover, 32, May Street, Golborne, has been stopped, seeing that she is entitled to a further six weeks' benefit, and that at least four women who were employed in the same place on similar work are receiving six weeks' extra benefit?

I am having inquiry made in this case and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend as early as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour if the Trade Board for the grocery trade have submitted to him rates of wages, etc., for confirmation; and, if so, is he now in a position to state when they will be brought into operation?

I would refer my right hon. Friend to my answers of 21st February to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) and of 22nd February to the hon. Member for Clithcroe (Mr. Alfred Davies), of which I am sending him copies.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain medical men in his Department are pressing boards of guardians to agree to the use of a new method of dealing with diphtheria which consists in testing workhouse children by means of the Schick test and inoculating those who react to the test with a preparation known as toxin antitoxin; whether qualified doctors have expressed their disapproval of the composition of the material used in the Schick test; whether the toxin antitoxin used for immunising purposes has had fatal results in several instances in America; and who is responsible for the introduction of this process, seeing that it has no scientific basis and may cause serious injury and possibly death to those subjected to it?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. Information as to the Schick test has been published by my Department, and a number of local authorities and boards of guardians have decided to take advantage of it, but no attempt has been made by the Department to press any boards of guardians or other local authorities to adopt it. I am informed that it has been stated that there were fatal cases in Texas, but I am unaware of the cause. Such accidents are always liable to occur with any form of treatment which is not properly carried out. I have urged the importance of seeing that when the test is carried out it should be under expert supervision. This method of diagnosis has been before the medical profession since 1913, and has been successfully applied on a large scale in this and other countries. It marks a great advance in our methods of prevention and control of diphtheria.

asked the Minister of Health whether members of the medical profession undertaking work under the National Health Insurance Acts are in future to be controlled by approved societies, and if he is aware of the strenuous objection of the medical profession to any control by approved societies?

Under Section 15 (1) of the National Insurance Act, 1911, the arrangements for the provision of medical benefit in any area have to be made between the Insurance Committee for the area and the medical practitioners in accordance with Regulations of the Minister of Health. It is not intended to modify in any way the provisions of this Sub-section in the Bill which I propose shortly to introduce.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has in his possession the figures of the small-pox cases and deaths occurring in the Philippines since those given by Dr. Bruce Low in his Report on Small-pox issued in 1918; and, if so, whether he will state them?

The following figures of the small-pox cases and deaths in the Philippines are taken from the Annual Reports of the Philippine Health Service, with the exception of the figures for 1921, which are compiled from returns received by the Ministry of Health from the British Consul General at Manila, as the Annual Report for that year has not yet been received: Cases. Deaths. 1915 6,265 216 1916 2,520 554 1917 542 255 1918 47,369 16,447 1919 65,180 44,408 1920 10,448 4,386 1921 1,823 790

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make inquiries into the ease of a young girl, E. S., admitted from Rochdale Infirmary to Prestwich Asylum on 6th June, 1919, owing to a nervous breakdown consequent upon the sudden shock of the death of the soldier to whom she was engaged and to her having, in the extremity of her grief, walked halfway into a pond and out again; is he aware that the union doctor gave as his opinion that she would be all right in a fortnight, but that in his absence on holiday she was committed to Prestwich contrary to the expressed wishes of her parents and in infringement of the provisions of Section 22 of the Lunacy Act; that her relatives have repeatedly applied to the visiting committee for her discharge under Section 79 of the Act, promising to accept all responsibility in regard to her, and that in spite of a circular relevant to this matter said to have been sent to this committee by the Lunacy Board these applications have, up to now, been callously refused; and that the atmosphere of Prestwich Asylum is not such as to conduce to hopefulness or reassurance in the case of one suffering from such adequate causes for depression; and will he take immediate steps to have her released to her relatives in accordance with the provisions of the Statute?

I will have this case investigated on the next occasion on which a Medical Commissioner of the Board of Control visits Prestwich Asylum, and will communicate later with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the mines and quarries in the Irish Free State are working under the Provisions of The Coal Mines Act, 1911, The Ministry of Mines Act, 1920, and The Metalliferous Mines Act, 1872, as applied to metalliferous mines and quarries; and, if not, will he see that the Provisional Government make some arrangement to have the said Acts enforced until the Free State Government has passed Acts for the safe working of mines and quarries within the State?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As soon as the Irish Free State (Agreement) Bill has become law, the powers and machinery provided by these, as by other Acts, will be transferred to the Provisional Government, under the provisions of Clause 1 (2) of the Bill.

asked the Attorney-General if he will inform the House whether, in the case of inhabitants, or a class of inhabitants, in Palestine, considering that they are suffering a grievance, and being dissatisfied with the decisions of the local Court, they have the right to appeal to His Majesty in Privy Council, or whether their proper recourse is to the International Court of Justice under the League of Nations; and would His Majesty's Government put any obstacles in the way of an appeal to the Privy Council to test the legality of certain administrative acts in Palestine?

In the draft Constitution for Palestine at present under consideration it is proposed that in civil suits, when the amount or value in dispute exceeds £E500, an appeal shall lie from the Supreme Court to His Majesty in Council. It is, moreover, proposed that if any religious community or considerable section of the population complain that the terms of the Mandate are not being fulfilled by the Government of Palestine, it shall be entitled to present a Memorandum through a member of the Legislative Council to the High Commissioner. Such Memorandum shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, for submission to the Council of the League of Nations, unless the High Commissioner give the petitioner his reasons in writing for not forwarding it. I see no necessity for any further right of appeal to the Privy Council.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Angora Government will be invited to the Genoa Conference; and, if not, whether there is reason to believe that Mustapha Kemal Pasha will accept any decisions at which such Conference may arrive?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part of the question, I have no information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, with reference to the transport strike which was called in Constantinople in the month of January, he will state what were the anti-strike measures taken by the authorities, what are the responsibilities of the British authorities in these measures, and whether among these measures was a stricter Press censorship; and whether this Press censorship is still in force in Constantinople?

I have no information with regard to the anti-strike measures taken in Constantinople last January, and inquiries will be made of His Majesty's High Commissioner.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been directed to an arbitration award made under the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919, on a reference between the Beckenham Urban District Council and a Mr. John Cator, by which the acquiring authority is to pay a rent of £150 per annum for 10.8 acres of allotment land; if he is aware that this land was leased until 1918 as a sports ground at a rental of £3 per acre, then rented for allotments by mutual agreement at £5 per acre, and that adjacent land has been recently leased for a sports ground at a rental less than half the rate per acre of the arbitrator's award; and whether, having regard to the grave discouragement to the allotments movement which must ensue from the fixation of

— — British West Indies. Italy. Cwts. Cwts. Citrate of Lime 1920 … 1,933 25,956 1921 … 4,122 6,360 Gallons. Gallons. Lime and lemon juice, unfermented, not containing added spirit or added sweetening matter, and not liable to duty as table water 1920 … 413,003 112,410 1921 … 406,780 46,638

exorbitant and uneconomic rents, he can take any action which will make it possible for the allotment holders concerned to continue occupation and cultivation of the land in question?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is informed by the Beckenham Urban District Council that the facts, as far as they are known to the council, are substantially as stated in the first two parts of the right hon. Member's question. The Minister of Agriculture has no jurisdiction with regard to an award by an official arbitrator under the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919, and, therefore, has no power to take any action in the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what were the quantities of concentrated lime juice, citrate of lime, or other products used by British manufacturers for the purpose of making citric acid imported into this country from the British Island of Dominica and Sicily, respectively, during the past two years; what is the estimated unsold stock of citrate now available in Sicily; and whether the question of including foreign-produced citrate in the Schedule of the Safeguarding of Industries Act with a view to assisting the British producer of citrate has yet been referred to the Advisory Committee?

Separate statistics of the importations from Dominica and Sicily of the commodities mentioned are not available, but the following statement shows the importations from the British West Indies and Italy respectively:—

I am not able to state what amounts of the importations under the second heading were for the manufacture of citric acid; and I have no information as to the present stocks of citrate in Sicily.

As regards the last part of the question, my hon. Friend appears to be under a misapprehension. Citrate as ordinarily used for making citric acid is not covered by any of the headings in the Schedule to Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, and no application in respect of it could be made under Part II of that Act.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Burnham Committee allocated Standard Scale IV as appropriate for Croydon; and whether the Board of Education have indicated their acceptance of the allocation for the purpose of the payment of grant to the Local Education Authority?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. By their general acceptance of the Committee's schedule of allocation the Board indicated that they did not for the purposes of the calculation of grant take exception to the payment of the Croydon teachers on Scale IV.

asked the President of the Board of Education what disabilities, if any, would be incurred by a local education authority which, in the interests of the taxpayers and ratepayers in its area, elected to adopt the recommendations of the Committee on National Expenditure relative to the cost of teaching where existing expenditure was regarded by such authority as excessive?

It is impossible for me to answer a hypothetical question of so general a character. It would always be the duty of the Board to see that provision was made by the local education authority to carry on the public service of education efficiently, and so as to yield an adequate return for the expenditure of public funds.

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

I regret that I am unable to offer an opinion on the point raised by my hon. and gallant Friend. The answer to his question depends upon the extent to which individual education authorities may be able and willing to effect such economies as may seem in the circumstances to be reasonable.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the decision of the Government that the attendance at school of children under six should be voluntary, he proposes to introduce a Bill amending Section 7 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908; and whether he will instruct local education authorities that they should make arrangements for the future on the presumption that the number of children under six attending school will be reduced?

I propose to take steps to have Section 7 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, amended as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I do not think it necessary to issue instructions to local education authorities on a matter which in present circumstances may safely be left to their discretion.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received any representations, in accordance with the provisions of Section 51 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889, that the parish councils having jurisdiction within the boundaries of the city of Glasgow should be combined into one parish within the limits of the city?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the actual cost of the new post office at Epping?

The final accounts have not yet been completed, but it is anticipated that the total cost, including demolition and furnishing, will not exceed £9,680.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that many British traders have their trade circulars printed in this country and send them over to the Continent for postage back to England and elsewhere, and that this costs them less than posting thorn here; and whether this serious loss to the revenue can be prevented by a reduction in the postal rates?

I beg to refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to several questions on the same subject on Tuesday last.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that four girl messengers, who are unqualified and untrained in telegraph work, have been recently employed temporarily in the Belfast telegraph department on duties proper to the class of sorting clerks and telegraphists; that the agreement between the Post Office and the Union of Post Office Workers for the employment of adult temporary labour was put forward by a responsible local officer in justification of the irregular introduction of child labour upon the work of this highly-skilled class; and whether, having regard to the resentment which has been aroused at this threat to the status of the sorting clerks and telegraphists and to the large number of adults unemployed, ex-service men and others, he will issue instructions prohibiting the employment of girl messengers on duties proper to the class of sorting clerks and telegraphists, even though the emergency may be of a temporary character?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he has any comment to make on the letter written to Dr. Kitchlew by the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood), for the sending of which the hon. and gallant Member has been denounced in India?

I have not seen the letter, and therefore cannot make any comment.

asked the Prime Minister whether the statement of policy published by the late Secretary of State for India, with the approval of the Viceroy, will be printed and laid upon the Table of the House?

As the telegram in question has already had only too much publicity, I see no reason for reprinting it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider, when drafting the Coroners Bill he has promised to introduce, the insertion therein of a Clause making the viewing of the dead body optional at the discretion of the coroner and not compulsory, as at present?

I will consider the proposal to make the view by the jury optional, except in cases where the coroner considers the jury should view. There are strong reasons for requiring view by the coroner. The whole question will be carefully considered before any provision on the subject is introduced.

asked the Home Secretary if the premises at Tipton, the scene of the recent unfortunate explosion, have at any time been inspected by the authorities?

I wish to take this opportunity of saying how greatly I deplore this accident, with its serious loss of life, and to express my sympathy with the families of those who have been killed. The answer to the question is that these premises had not been inspected by His Majesty's Inspectors of Explosives, as they were not aware of their existence. No licence, as required by the Explosives Act, had been applied for.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the serious explosion at Tipton, special arrangements and inspection have been always adopted by his Department to ensure the maximum amount of safety to workers engaged on the rehandling of explosives; and, if no such special precautions have been taken, whether he will now consider the whole matter?

Work of this kind can be lawfully carried on only by virtue of a licence under the Explosives Act, 1875. In the present case the occupier of the factory where the accident occurred had omitted to apply for the necessary licence, and no precautions against accident were being taken. Under suitable conditions, such as would be imposed by a licence and enforced by inspection, the work might have been carried on without danger.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the danger caused to the public by the emission of exhaust steam and small cinders from certain steam-driven vehicles; and whether action can be taken by the police to prevent this?

The police are unable to deal with the emission of smoke or visible vapour if it be due to temporary or accidental causes. The only present legal remedy for the emission of small cinders is under Section 13 of the Locomotives Act, 1861, for using a locomotive which causes a public or a private nuisance. The procedure is by indictment, and too cumbersome for casual offences. I understand that this question has been before the Ministry of Transport Committee on Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, under the Police, Factories, &c. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1916, a band desirous of playing hymns and carols at Christmastide to its supporters and friends is compelled to secure permission from the local authority, and to submit to that authority a balance sheet of the proceeds; and, if so, what steps is he prepared to take to remove this anomaly?

The Act mentioned empowers the local authority to make regulations as to the collection of money in the streets, and the band in question would only be subject to the regulations if money is collected in streets or public places. The making of regulations as regards such collections is a matter for the local authority, and there are no steps which I can take in the matter.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in connection with the sale of explosives, any inquiries are made by the Disposals Board as to the purchasers having suitable premises or as to their being able to make satisfactory arrangements for the safe handling of the materials?

I have ascertained that where the purchaser is not known to be authorised to break down, or has no previous experience, inquiries are made, and the contractor is warned that he must satisfy the Home Office, and obtain a licence from them before he can break down ammunition.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the cost to the country of the Royal Commission on the question of Canadian cattle, presided over by Lord Finlay, the Report of which has been rejected by the Cabinet?

The cost was about £3,100.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the arrears of the Excess Profits Duty?

The approximate amount of Excess Profits Duty (including Munitions Levy) in assessment, less sums shown due to be remitted, as at 7th March, 1922, was £295,00O,000. It will be understood that this amount does not represent a total of finally ascertained liabilities; considerable sums are subject to adjustment on appeal or otherwise, and it is anticipated that the duty to be ultimately received by the Exchequer will fall short of the amount now in assessment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the respective percentage rises in the rates of taxation on the following items, comparing the present year with the Budget introduced in April, 1914, tea, sugar, beer, and incomes?

The percentage increases in the duties on tea, sugar, and beer since April, 1914, are as follow: Full Rate. Preferential Rate. Increase per cent. Increase per cent. Tea … 140 100 Sugar … 1,300 1,066 Beer … 1,190 —

Description of Taxpayer. Income wholly Total Income. Effective Rate of Tax (Income Tax and Super-tax) per £ of actual income. Percentage Rise. Under Budget proposals of May, 1914. For 1921–22. £ s. d. s. d. Single person with no dependants. Earned 250 0 3.2 1 1.0 306 5000 6.3 2 5.2 363 1,000 0 9.0 3 11.0 422 2,500 1 2.0 5 2.7 348 5,000 1 7.7 6 10.9 321 Investment 250 0 5.8 1 4.5 184 500 0 11.2 3 0.4 225 1,000 1 4.0 4 6.2 239 2,500 1 4.0 5 8.5 328 5,000 1 7.7 7 1.8 335 Married persons, wife having no earned income, with three children. Earned 250 0 1.1 — -100 500 0 5.2 0 9.7 87 1,000 0 9.0 2 10.0 278 2,500 1 2.0 4 9.5 311 5,000 1 7.7 6 8.4 308 Investment 250 0 1.9 — -100 500 0 9.3 1 1.3 43 1,000 1 4.0 3 5.2 157 2,500 1 4.0 5 3.3 296 5,000 1 7.7 6 11.2 322

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date there came into operation an Order for the imposing of taxation on benefits given to professional footballers and others?

As I indicated in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on this subject on the 23rd February, the liability to Income Tax of professional players in respect of benefit money receivable under a contract of service is imposed by law. The Board of Inland Revenue found it desirable in November, 1920, to give their officers some general instructions as to the method of computing Income Tax (including Super-tax) is a progressive tax, and the effective rate of tax per £ of actual income varies with the total income, family responsibilities and other circumstances of the taxpayer. The following table shows for representative taxpayers and certain incomes the effective rate of tax under the proposals of the Budget introduced in May, 1914, and for 1921–22, together with the percentage rise in each case. The percentage rise takes no account of variations of income due to changes in the value of money.

the liability in cases in which the law requires an assessment to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the claim of Mr. F. G. Tomkins (C.I.C. 11,901/21) for repayment of Income Tax deducted by the tenant of property of which he was in receipt of rent as mortgages in possession has been disallowed by the Inland Revenue authorities so far as the amount of the tax deducted exceeds 6s. in the £ on the interest payable under the mortgage; whether there is any dispute that the full tax claimed was in fact deducted from his income; and for what reason the claim has been refused?

I am causing inquiry to be made into the facts of the case to which the hon. Member refers, and I will, in due course, communicate to him the result of that inquiry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the contract formerly existing between Messrs. Rose and Company and the Admiralty for the supply of British West Indian lime juice for the Navy is now terminated; whether this contract has been replaced by a contract for a similar supply of Italian lemon juice from Sicily; if so, for how many years this contract is to run; and whether the interests of British Colonial lime producers will be borne in mind before any further contract is entered into?

No long-period contracts are made for British West Indian lime juice or Italian lemon juice. The former is still purchased in quantities as required, and a considerable contract was, in fact, placed with Messrs. Rose and Company in January last. No lemon juice has been purchased since January, 1920, when a certain amount was obtained from Messrs. Rose for the purposes of an investigation into its anti-scorbutic properties. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the Department of Mines proposes to continue its experimental station; and, if so, whether the station can be removed to some central position such as Altofts, in South Yorkshire?

Yes, Sir. The Mining Dangers Research Board is at present actively engaged in working out a scheme for the reorganisation of the Mines Department experimental station. The Board is fully alive to the desirability of having the station in an accessible position central to the coalfields of the country. It is, however, proving a difficult matter to find a suitable site which possesses this advantage, and is at the same time sufficiently remote from habitations and public traffic to obviate risk of danger or nuisance from experimental explosions; and the Board will be glad to receive suggestions as to suitable sites. For various reasons Altofts is not, I am afraid, a suitable site.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the reversal of the Government's agricultural policy, he will consider the desirability of appointing a Commission to report upon what methods should be adopted in order to safeguard the nation's food supply in time of war?

I have been asked to reply. The question of the food supply in time of war was considered by a Royal Commission under the chairmanship of Lord Balfour of Burleigh in 1905, and, so far as home production is concerned, by a Departmental Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Milner in 1915. In view of the information obtained by those inquiries and of the experience gained during the War, the Government do not think it necessary to set up a fresh Commission to inquire into the question.