asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that British firms in the Argentine are again appointing their pre-War German agents, and that it is the expressed intention of German merchants in Argentina to work as much as possible for German account as soon as they can rely on regular supplies; and whether, under these circumstances, he will issue a warning to those British traders who think that German agents or representatives will build up a permanent British connection?

My attention has not been called to any cases in which British firms have reappointed their pre-War German agents in the Argentine. I shall be glad to receive any information which my hon. Friend can supply to me on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a member of the Amalgamated Marine Workers' Union, named Davies, of 11, St. Michael Street, Newport, was engaged as fireman for the as. "Frank Parish" on 2nd March; whether an official of the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union objected to this man signing articles; whether the Board of Trade's officer at Newport made any pro- test against this intimidation; and by what powers officials of the latter union have the right, on Board of Trade premises, to object to other union members being signed on?

I have no information about the case mentioned in the question, but I am making inquiries, and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received reports from any of his officers in the Marine Department that police are being used to prevent members of the Amalgamated Marine Workers' Union from proceeding on board ships to sign on; under what powers the police examine trade union cards of men proceeding to sign articles; whether he has made any representation to the authorities controlling the police in regard to these practices; and whether, to facilitate the non-abuse of the powers possessed by the police, he will instruct his officers to cease the practice of signing articles on board ship?

No reports of the kind referred to in the question have been received. If the hon. Member will be so good as to give me particulars of the incidents to which he refers, I will have inquiries made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to any cases where lives have been lost at sea by ships failing to receive messages from sinking ships owing to the fact that watchers, who were unable to receive messages, were employed instead of highly trained operators; and can he see his way to make Regulations for operators to be employed instead of watchers, especially as many highly skilled wireless operators are unemployed?

A case has been brought to the notice of the Board of Trade in which it is alleged that life was lost owing to failure to receive messages, and in that case it was alleged that the failure to receive the distress signal was due to the fact that the watcher had been taken from his wireless watch for other purposes. Legal proceedings have been instituted against the master in this instance. The question whether the existing Regulations relating to watchers should be altered was referred to the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee last year. Their report has now been received and is being considered by the Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the interests of the seamen and of the national health, he will at an early date take such steps as may be necessary to amend the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, Section 160, and the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, Section 34, so that British seamen suffering from venereal diseases shall not, incur the disabilities and penalties indicated in such Sections?

The Board of Trade propose to include a Clause amending Section 34 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, by deleting therefrom the reference to venereal disease, in the next general Merchant Shipping Bill that is introduced into Parliament. I am advised that Section 160 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, is not applicable in the case of seamen suffering from venereal disease.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if His Majesty's Government has made any advance to any civilian claimants in Turkey apart from those made to officials of His Majesty's Civil Service?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have in hand any funds belonging to the Ottoman Government?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the period within which the£100,000 allocated to be used for compensation to the sufferers from air raids during the War in the most necessitous cases will be distributed; and whether the case of Mr. Robert Pilgrim, nurseryman, of Brain-tree, Essex, whose premises were destroyed six years ago in an air raid, can now be favourably considered, the application having been made by Mr. Pilgrim to the Board of Trade Department shortly after injury and again on 20th May, 1920, in accordance with the promise made to this House by the Prime Minister that all suffering by air raids would be compensated?

The sum of£100,000 is the estimated amount required to meet awards by the Royal Commission, presided over by Lord Sumner, up to 31st March and a further sum of£4,900,000 is being provided for 1922–23. Individual cases are a matter for the Royal Commission.

asked the Financial Secretary the present position with regard to the winding-up of Wartime activities at Gretna?

No work is now being carried out at Gretna beyond the destruction of dangerous buildings and the preparation of assets for sale.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his Department has discontinued the annual grant of£500 in aid of the Refreshment Room in the House of Commons; whether this reduction has already taken effect or will be introduced in the coming Budget; and how long such grant has been in existence?

In view of the serious state of the national finances, directions have been given, after communication with the Kitchen Committee of the House, that provision should not be inserted in the Estimates for the coming year for the cash grants hitherto made towards the cost of refreshment facilities in the House. These grants will accordingly cease on the 31st instant. I have no information as to the exact date of the commencement of public assistance in cash, but a cash grant in some form has been paid at least since 1850.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institute, who are now running garrison theatres at military centres, are exempt from payment of the Entertainments Duty which is demanded from every other theatre in the kingdom; that where pictures are shown the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institute keep open their bars and sell intoxicating liquors, while other picture theatres are not allowed a licence; and whether he will take steps to remedy these anomalies?

As regards the first part of this question, exemption from Entertainments Duty is granted in respect of certain garrison theatres in military centres, subject to certain conditions, one of which is that the entertainments are not open to the general public. I am informed, however, that the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes propose to surrender the exemptions now in force and to pay Entertainments Duty on all payments for admission to garrison theatres. As regards the second part of the question, I would point out that the bars in question are in fact a part of the regimental or garrison institute, as the case may be, and that the sales conducted therein are governed by the regulations in force for such institutes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the decision to exempt from Income Tax assessment the proceeds of a public subscription or a collection made at a benefit match for a player, he will extend this same abatement to collections made in churches for the clergy?

The question whether the proceeds of a collection made in church for a clergyman are liable to Income Tax in the hands of the recipient depends upon the facts of the particular case. If my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the collection which is known as Easter Offerings, I would refer him to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Acton Division (Sir H. Brittain) on the 7th instant, a copy of which I am forwarding to him, and to the judgment of the House of Lords delivered in 1908 in the case of Cooper against Blakiston, when the law on this subject was denned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that in 1914, when the duty on China tea was 5d., the revenue was greater than now when the duty is 1s., he will consider the possibility of increasing the national income by lowering the duty and trusting to increased consumption?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is unable to anticipate his Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received from the guardians of the poor of the Thetford (Norfolk) Union a claim for a refund of the duty included in the price of tobacco consumed by the workhouse inmates; whether the Treasury will consider the remission of duty upon tobacco grown and manufactured in England by companies specially licensed for the purpose of handling only the home-grown crop; whether there are districts in the Eastern Counties specially suited for growing tobacco; whether such growth has been experimentally proved to be successful; and whether, in the interests of employment and the development of home trade, the Government can make the above-named concessions?

I can add nothing to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday to a question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for the Kirkcaldy District Burghs (Mr. Kennedy).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received resolutions from many clubs urging a reduction of the club tax on liquor; and whether he can make any statement on this subject?

Resolutions of the character referred to by the hon. and gallant Member have reached me from various clubs. The matter is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a consignment of bronze powder, which arrived at Tilbury on the ss. "Saphir," on the 24th February, and in respect of which the 26 per cent. German reparation levy was duly paid to His Majesty's Customs, has been detained by the Customs officials on the ground of liability to key industry duty, in spite of the fact that the question of imposing a duty on bronze powders is the subject at the present moment of a public inquiry by a Committee appointed under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, and that no Order has been made imposing a duty on such goods; whether he will give instructions for the consignment in question to be released immediately; and will he take steps to prevent a repetition of such detention which was adhered to in spite of urgent remonstrances?

The consignment in question was not detained owing to the Customs Officers being under a misapprehension that bronze powder as such was dutiable under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, but because there was reason for thinking that some constituent not normally found in bronze powder might be present and liable to Key Industry Duty. A sample was accordingly submitted for test, but meanwhile the importer obtained delivery of the goods on deposit of a sum to cover any liability to duty. The result of the test showed the goods to be free of duty, and the deposit has been refunded. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is not prepared to limit the discretion of the Customs Authorities in having goods analysed which they may suspect of being liable to duty.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the promise made by his predecessor in office, Sir A. Geddes, and confirmed by his immediate predecessor, now Chancellor of the Exchequer, that Government action would be taken for the preservation of the fabric glove industry, which provides employment in Essex and Devonshire, and other counties, for a large number of male and female British workers; the nature of the Report of the Committee appointed by the Board of Trade under the Safeguarding of Industries Act as to the inclusion of the fabric glove industry; whether that Report has recommended such inclusion; and whether an Order under Part II of the Act will be made and submitted at an early date to this House for confirmation by Resolution?

The statements to which my hon. Friend no doubt refers had reference to the Government's general proposals, as now embodied in the Safeguarding of Industries Act. As regards the remainder of the question, I would refer to the answers given to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain W. Benn) on the 9th March, and to the hon. Member for Chippenham (Mr. Terrell) on the 6th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount the Safeguarding of Industries Act has brought in in the last three months, and whether it has required a large increase of the customs staff?

The net amount of duty received under the Safeguarding of Industries Act during the period in question was£73,200. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dunfermline (Mr. Wallace) on the 20th ultimo.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent arrangements have been made with a view to speeding up the payments of sums due to this country and to our Allies from Germany under the Treaty of Versailles; and what means have been adopted to prevent delay in such payments?

This question was discussed by the Allied Finance Ministers during their recent Conference in Paris, and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer hopes in a few days to be in a position to lay papers on the Table of the House upon the subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the demand of the United States of America for reimbursement expenses for her Army of Occupation on the Rhine; and whether, as the United States of America is not a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles, the views of His Majesty's Government were first ascertained before that demand was addressed to the Reparations Commission of the Allies instead of to the German Government?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to-day to a question upon the same subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood).

asked the Secretary of State for War if the 1st Battalion Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) is to be disbanded; and if he is aware of the strong feeling which exists against disbandment owing to the historic relations existing between this regiment and Canada?

The reply to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. My right hon. Friend has received the representations made for the retention of the unit owing to its historic connection with Canada, but he cannot advise the King to reconsider the decision, which His Majesty approved with the deepest regret, to disband this distinguished battalion.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the parents of the soldiers who were drowned while crossing the Jordan on 4th February have not received any information of the circumstances of the tragedy; and whether he will see that such information is supplied to them?

Yes, Sir; if letters have not already been written by the Officer Commanding the unit to the next-of-kin, I will see that this is done.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to revise the Regulations of the Territorial Army, the last issue of which was in 1912; and, if so, when the new issue may be expected?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but I am not able at present to state when the next edition will be published.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, when the Irish Guards proceed to Constantinople on 22nd April, they will be accompanied by their band?

The drum and fife band and pipers will accompany the battalion, but not the regimental band.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the buildings occupied by the Navy, Army, and Air Force institutes rent free on Government ground are supplied by the Government establishments concerned with electric light on exceptionally favourable terms and that the extra charges of 25 per cent. levied on other users of electric light on Government ground, owing to increased cost of production, are specifically excused in the case of the Navy, Army, and Air Force institutes; and why the taxpayer is penalised in this manner for the benefit of a trading concern?

I would explain to my hon. Friend that the supply of light to regimental institute buildings is governed by the Allowance Regulations for the Army, the principle being that free lighting is provided for the rooms which are used solely for the purpose of the soldier's recreation, namely, reading, writing and billiard rooms, but that the tenant of the institute (in the present instance, the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes) pays for such light as is used in those rooms which are devoted exclusively to the sale of refreshments. The Navy, Army and Air Force institutes are charged rates based on the actual cost of production, and the taxpayer is consequently not penalised in any way, as is suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the negotiations for the settlement of the balance due from the Expeditionary Force canteens and Navy and Army Canteen Board to the United Services Fund have yet been completed; and, if not, when they will be completed?

The negotiations cannot be completed until certain inquiries as to the funds available are concluded. I hope this will be at an early date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what would be the approximate saving in expenditure if the recommendations in the Geddes Report with regard to Pembroke, Gibraltar, Rosyth, and Chatham Dockyards were carried out; and whether he proposes to act upon those recommendations?

The approximate saving in expenditure would be£560,000 a year, but owing to the fact that the existence of the whole community at Pembroke depends uniquely on the dockyard, which, in the present conditions of trade and employment, cannot be disposed of for commercial purposes, and to the fact that the other yards referred to are still considered necessary for repairs to the Fleet, it is not proposed to close them entirely, but to realise as much saving as possible by retaining them on a reduced basis.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether, having regard to the generosity of the State in respect of the salaries and bonuses of civil servants, he contemplates taking any steps to secure for naval officers the marriage allowance which is granted to other Services?

I regret that owing to the financial situation the answer must be in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is proposed to close the Biggin Hill Aerodrome; and, if not, whether it is intended to reduce materially the personnel now employed there?

The question of the future use of Biggin Hill Aerodrome is at present under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress has been made by the international agreement on the part of foreign countries possessing substantial wool textile industry towards putting into effect the compulsory treatment of certain scheduled wool and hair fibres?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. The compulsory disinfection of dangerous wool was considered at the International Labour Conference at Washington in 1919 by the Committee on Unhealthy Processes, who reported that international action was urgently required, and asked the Conference to intervene by means of a Convention. This Report was unanimously adopted by the Conference, but when the matter came up for further consideration at the International Labour Conference at Geneva last autumn, the Commission to which it was referred reported that while an important advance had been made by the British Government towards the solution of the problem of satisfactory disinfection, the question of universal compulsory disinfection had not yet been sufficiently studied to justify the conclusion of a Convention. The Commission therefore recommended that the Governing body of the International Labour Office should be requested to appoint representatives of the chief producing and manufacturing countries to serve on an advisory Committee, which should examine the question in all its bearings, and that the Committee present a report in time for consideration by the Conference in 1923, and that meanwhile the proposal for a Convention should be postponed. This recommendation was adopted by the Conference, and I am informed that at its last meeting the governing body agreed to the appointment of the proposed Committee, and that the necessary steps are being taken for this purpose. Acting on a suggestion of the Commission the governing body have invited the British Government to nominate the chairman of the Committee, and I understand the Committee will include representatives of the Dominions which are chiefly concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give particulars of the percentage rise or fall in the general level of wages and the cost of living since November, 1918?

As regards wages, I am afraid I have not sufficient information to enable mc to institute an exact comparison. And even if this were not so the far greater volume of unemployment to-day than in November, 1918, would, as regards actual earnings, make the comparison unreliable. As regards the cost of living index figure, it was about 120 per cent. above pre-War in November, 1918, and was, on 1st February, 88 per cent. above pre-War. The figure for let March will be published on Friday next.

asked the Home Secretary if he will cause inquiries to be made into the conditions of the sale of Government ammunition to contractors; whether the premises at Tipton which were recently destroyed, were suitable for this work; and whether, in view of the danger arising from work of this character, he will secure more stringent conditions of sale?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. F. Roberts). As regards the suitability of the premises at Tipton, I am unable to say anything further on that, in view of the inquiry announced yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, within the past month, two hospital probationers have been reported at inquests as found drowned, one in the Thames and one in the Clyde; and if he will have some inquiry made as to the conditions of service, hours of work, etc., at the hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, from which institution Miss Thyra Pound disappeared?

I have made inquiries from the hospital for sick children and find nothing to indicate that Miss Pound's death was in any way connected with her hours of work or the other conditions of service at the hospital. I have no information with regard to the Scottish case to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Minister of Health whether subscribers of old standing who emigrate automatically lose the benefit of all contributions, and if they return to this country and are in need of medical attendance they receive none at the expense of the State, although they have subscribed in times gone by sums of money from which they have received no benefit; and whether, if this be so, he will consider the desirability of altering this arrangement, which works very unfairly on individuals?

An insured person who leaves the United Kingdom ceases to be entitled to any benefits under the National Health Insurance Acts. If, however, he returns to the United Kingdom within one year his previous insurance is resumed, subject to arrears for the period of absence. If he returns when more than a year has elapsed he re-enters insurance on again becoming employed and becomes entitled at once to medical benefit. The transfer values of persons who cease to be insured, either by reason of emigration or otherwise, are carried to a reserve suspense fund out of which reserve values are provided to enable those who return to insurance to become entitled to the normal benefits at the ordinary rates of contribution.

asked the Minister of Health whether Dr. O'Brien has any official position on the staff of the Ministry of Health?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has been made aware that the hotels in Cromarty and Invergordon belonging to the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) have ceased to supply teas or sleeping accommodation and are now merely drinking shops, staffed by aliens, to the districts where they are located; that they have divided their valuation into public house and hotel portions, and refuse to pay rates on the latter although still furnished premises as in former years; and will he direct that the board pay their local rates in the same way and to the same extent as other traders?

One of the hotels at Cromarty and one at Invergordon have been closed so far as the residential portions of the premises are concerned. The other State-managed hotels in the two burghs can meet all the requirements in the way of sleeping accommodation and the supply of meals. Payments in lieu of rates for the current year have been made upon the basis of the entries in the valuation roll, which have been divided by the assessor in the manner stated in the second part of the question. A claim for a larger payment has recently been addressed to me by one of the town councils, and will be duly considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now give further information concerning the expenses of the mission to the Iman of Sana'a; the names of chiefs who received presents to the value of£2,155; and to whom, and for what, other sums amounting to£6,324 were paid?

The total cost of the mission of Colonel Jacob to the Iman of Sana'a was£9,975.

The following chiefs received presents to the total value of£2,155: Mahomed Abdulla Hasonali. Hason Mahomed Saleh Jaffer Bhagwandas Jadujee Mohamed Awad Mahairiz. Dawarkadas Kalidass. On the£6,324 the sum of£500 was spent as a present to Shaikh el Mashaikh Abu Hadi; a further sum of approximately£1,500 was spent on payments for rent, and to guards, guides, messengers, etc. No details of the balance of approximately£4,000 are available in London, but the whole of this expenditure has been audited and passed by the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the claims which may be brought before the Judicial Commission to be set up in Ireland include claims for the commandeering of property and premises; and whether it is open therefore to claimants who cannot reach an agreement with the British Government to press their claim before the new Commission?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why Messrs. A. Young, A. H. Phillips, F. J. Smith, and A. Winter-More, 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 these 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?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The answer to the first question is that the Joint Substitution Board were unable to find suitable substitutes; to the second, that Mr. Young has a special knowledge and long experience of chemistry and metallurgy, qualifications of great value for his work in a branch dealing with research on metal construction and the use of dopes; that Mr. Phillips and Mr. Smith are skilled instrument makers with special knowledge of aeronautical instruments, and that, as regards Mr. Winter-Moore's qualifications, the particulars required were given in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for East Woolwich (Captain Gee) on the 16th February last; the answer to the third question is that 36 candidates in all were submitted for these posts; to the fourth, that the candidates for Messrs. Young's, Phillips', and Smith's posts were interviewed by responsible officials who were themselves ex-service, or by an officer serving in the Air Force, and, as regards Mr. Winter-Moore's post, that I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 16th February already mentioned; the answer to the fifth question is in the affirmative. In answer to the sixth, one of the gentlemen is being dispensed with altogether and his post will not be filled. In the other cases, prolonged efforts have been made to obtain suitable candidates but without success; and, in the interests of the work of the Department and also, in I the second place, in justice to the indivi duals now in the posts, I have thought it right that there should be a definite limit to the uncertainty which has existed.

asked the Postmaster-General how many ex-service clerks (Grade III) in the Post Office Stores Department, London, sat for special examination in 1920-21; how many passed the examination and qualified, and how many failed; and how many were recommended by the Department to go before the investigation board in accordance with paragraph 37 of the Third Interim Report of the Lytton Committee?

Eleven ex-service men employed as temporary clerks in the Stores Department of the Post Office took part in the recent examinations for appointment to the clerical class. Of this number, three qualified and eight failed. Seven of the ex-service men who failed to qualify applied to have their cases considered by the Civil Service Investigating Board with a view to their special admission to the clerical class in accordance with paragraphs 36–39 of the Third Interim Report of the Lytton Committee, but as the men in question were not regarded as specially competent to perform all the duties of the clerical class, it was not possible to recommend them to appear before the Board.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Malta was for 10 days without a mail last month, though the pre-War service was six mails a week; will he take steps to improve the service; and whether the local airships can be turned to good account in this behalf?

I am aware that the mail service with Malta is at present irregular, but the Maltese Post Office is understood to have called for tenders for a contract with a view to improving sea communications with the island. I am not aware of any airship services in this locality which could be used.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the high cost in the postal rates have been the means of ruining the printing and other trades in the country; is he aware that the mass of the people are feeling these high rates; and whether he will consider at the earliest possible moment a reduction in the above rates?

I have received numerous representations on this subject. As I have already stated, the question of a reduction in postal charges is now under the consideration of the Government.

asked the Postmaster-General the estimated surplus to be realised on the current year's Post Office accounts; and whether the whole of this surplus will be available for reductions in postal, telegraphic, and telephonic charges, or whether it is suggested that part of the surplus should be. appropriated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

As I have repeatedly stated, there will be a deficit on Post Office working for the current financial year. For the year 1922–23 it is estimated that there will be a surplus of at least£8,000,000 if the present charges are maintained. The question of a reduction in charges is now under consideration by the Government.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is in a position to confirm the. statement made by a member of the Post Office Advisory Council that the postal rates are to be reduced on 1st April; and, if so, whether, in view of the large amount of publicity work being held up in anticipation of a reduction, and the immediate necessity for putting this work in hand, he can now state definitely what reductions are to be made?

The member of the Post Office Advisory Council referred to denied the accuracy of the report of the statement made by him. The question of reducing postal rates is being considered by the Government, and I am unable to make an announcement at present.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that can- didates for employment as sorting clerks are, if successful in the special Civil Service examination, required to pay a fee of two guineas for medical examination before they can be employed, and that this Regulation prevents otherwise suitable men being employed, he will inquire further into the matter?

No fee is charged for the medical examination in normal cases, but I understand that in any case of doubt or appeal which involves reference to a specialist the Civil Service Commissioners may require a candidate to pay a special fee of two guineas. The number of instances where special examinations are necessary is relatively small.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his statement in the House, on 16th March, 1921, that the policy to be followed with regard to the embargo on the importation of Canadian store cattle was a matter for the House of Commons to decide, an opportunity will be given to this House at an early date for consideration of this matter with a view to such a decision being arrived at?

In view of the great pressure upon Parliamentary time I think that the Estimates will provide the most suitable opportunity for this discussion, if it is desired.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what military staff is attached to the Embassy at Paris; what is the annual cost of the same; whether any military staff was attached before the War; and, if so, at what cost?

I have been asked to answer this question. The present staff consists of a military attaché, an assistant military attaché, and a clerk at a total annual cost of£4,334. Before the War there was one military attaché1 at£1,165. It should be stated, in explanation of the increase, that the greater part of the military attaché's time is at present taken up by his work as British Military Representative on the Allied Military Committee of the Supreme Council. The military attache1 is accredited to Madrid and Lisbon as well as to Paris.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that the owners of collieries working seams other than top-hard scams are threatening to set their collieries down unless a substantial reduction in wages is conceded off the basis rates of all classes of workers other than lads of 14 and 18 years of age; that the plea of these owners for such reduction is on account of the economic condition of the collieries; that the D. M. A. have suggested that the owners should make an application to the Eastern Area Board for a separate district; that the owners refuse to divulge any figures; and the average monthly profits in the aggregate for all seams other than top-hard for each separate month from July, 1921, to February, 1922?

I have no official information of the circumstances referred to in this question, but I am making inquiries, and if it appears that I can be of any assistance in promoting a settlement, I will take such steps as are possible. I am unable to give the information asked for in the last part of the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether arrangements have now been made to ensure the outstanding claims of the North British Railway Company against the Government a speedy settlement?

I must refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on 15th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Bournemouth (Lieut.-Colonel Croft), a copy of which I am sending him. Since that date I have met the Chairman and some of the directors and principal shareholders of the North British Railway and fully explained to them the position of the Government, but I have nothing to add to the answer referred to above.