asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of making the retired pay of quartermasters in the Army the same as in the Royal Marines; and on what grounds there has been a differentiation of their retired pay?

The duties and responsibilities of quartermasters in the Army and those in the Royal Marines are not altogether comparable, and this difference is reflected in the relative rates of retired pay. I regret that I cannot see my way to making any change in the existing scale of retired pay for Army quartermasters.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Sapper Richard Bourne, No. 121,852, Royal Engineers, at present residing at 7, High Street, Abercarn, Monmouthshire, en listed on 16th September, 1915, and his physical condition was marked good on his enlistment sheet; that this man was twice drafted to France for service during the War, and finally discharged through disordered action of the heart on a 20 per cent, disability pension; that this small pension has now been stopped; that he alleges he is totally unable to work owing to infirmity brought on by service in France; that he is in a state of great privation with a wife and three children depending upon him; and will he have his case re-opened with a view to restoring to him his full disability pension?

This man, who served for 11½ months, suffered from heart trouble prior to enlistment. Aggravation by service was, however, admitted and pension was in payment from 1916 to 1920 when aggravation was found to have passed away. An appeal against that decision is now under consideration by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. I may add that when the man was examined by a Ministry Medical Appeal Board last January no appreciable disablement from disordered action of the heart could be found.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. J. H. Bibby, No. 13,943, late driver in the Royal Field Artillery, 1st Expeditionary Force, was invalided from France suffering from rheumatism; that this man appealed under Article 9 and went before a medical referee who certified that his disease was due to military service and assessed his disability at 20 per cent.; that this man went before a medical board and accepted treatment on inquiry if he would do so; that this decision was sent to Edinburgh for confirmation; that the medical authorities there decided against this decision although they had never seen this man; that Mr. Bibby was again taken ill in January, 1921, and lay in bed for four months, during which time no military doctor visited him, despite the fact that he appealed for treatment through the local war pensions office; that on three different occasions during the four months when he was confined to bed he received notice to appear before a medical board; the reason why no doctor was sent to examine this man during these four months, although word was sent by his own doctor to the Ministry that he was unable to attend the boards because of his confinement to bed; and whether he can see his way to re-open this case with a view to granting this man a pension together with arrears?

In the short time available I have not been able to complete my inquiries into this case. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions why, in the case of ex-Private H. Bullough, No. 130,345, of 19, Church, Radcliffe, on being ordered to undergo treatment owing to a recurrence, of his old complaint, his allowance has been stopped; and is he aware that he has a pension of only 20 per cent., or 8s. per week?

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

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will further investigate the case of Mr. G. B. Wright, late sergeant, No. 48,419, Royal Field Artillery, in view of the fact that the allowance he claimed for his wife and child has only been paid to him as from the 21st September, 1921, the date of his last medical board; and can these allowances be paid for the previous 76 weeks during which Mr. Wright received pension?

Allowances have been granted for the whole period of the awards. I am having a statement of account sent to the man which will make the position clear to him.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether lads whose parents have provided them with a rather better education and sent them to a technical engineering school, and kept them there up to the age of 16, are disqualified from becoming applicants for apprenticeship as fitters in the Navy as being too old; and, if so, whether, seeing that this is in practice handicaps the children of those who make sacrifices in order to give them a better education than those who leave school at the age of 14, he will remove this disqualification?

The ages for entry as artificer apprentice are 15 to 16 years, and experience shows that candidates do not leave school at as early an age as 14. To raise the limit of age above 16 would result in a corresponding postponement of the time at which successful candidates could become efficient members of a ship's company, and would diminish the amount of useful service which they render during their 12 years' engagement, which runs from the age of 18. The age limits of 15 to 16 have been settled as being the most suitable from every point of view, including economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why Mr. Sleeman, an ex-service man, who prior to the War had been in practice as an estate agent and surveyor for seven years, was not considered suitable to fill the post of surveyor's clerk shortly being vacated by a non-service man?

Mr. Sleeman's experience was in connection with land agency in British Columbia. He has no useful knowledge of quantity surveying, and it was not possible, therefore, to employ him as a quantity surveyor's clerk.

asked the Secretary of State for Air why Mr. Wicker was compulsorily transferred to the Post Office?

I have no information as to the reason for Mr. Wicker's assignment by the Civil Service Commission to the Post Office. As regards his non-retention in the Air Ministry, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 6th instant.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all civilian clerks in Army offices have now been replaced by ex-service men in accordance with Army Council Instructions of 1921?

Army Council Instruction 233 of 1921, to which I presume my hon. and gallant Friend refers, did not require that all non-ex-service clerks should be replaced by ex-service men, irrespective of the over-riding consideration of the efficiency of the service, a consideration present throughout the recommendations of the Lytton Committee. As shown in a footnote to Command Paper 1598, the clerical staffs in Army record offices, pay offices, etc., on 1st January totalled 9,224, which included (apart from boys) only 234 non-ex-service males entered since the outbreak of the War, or approximately 2.5 per cent, of the total staff. Those non-ex-service men are in general retained on account of their special experience; but their cases fall under constant review with a view to their discharge as reductions are effected, or to their replacement by suitable ex-service men where not detrimental to the interests of the service.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that numbers of partially trained ex-service men students are unable to find employment to enable them to complete their training or earn their livelihood; and, if so, whether it is proposed to adopt any measures whereby ex-service men may be thoroughly trained?

It is not quite clear from my hon. Friend's question to what students precisely he refers. The bulk of students who have been trained under the Appointments Department have been assisted to the extent of securing a higher professional qualification, by means of practical training, and care was taken not to train more applicants than the professions could absorb. Training under the Business Training Scheme and under Article 7, Royal Warrant, has only been granted conditionally upon a guarantee of employment at the conclusion of the training period. If the students to whom my hon. Friend refers will apply to the nearest office of the Appointments Department or to the Controller of the Department at 3, Clement's Inn, Strand, every endeavour will be made to assist in finding them suitable employment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether ex-service men now undergoing commercial training at Portsmouth are to be dismissed, even though their period of training is not completed?

Twenty-nine ex-service men are receiving training in the commercial course at Portsmouth. It is not proposed to terminate the training of any ex-service man in this class before the full period of training has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, as recommended by the Geddes Committee, it is proposed to postpone or abandon some of the heavy cost of the overhauling of vehicles by the makers?

After the present month, no further vehicles will be sent to either the makers or other firms for reconditioning.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. W. C. Doyle, who joined the Royal Irish Constabulary on the 12th October, 1920, was honourably discharged on the 24th October, 1921, unfit for service on account of wounds received on duty (ambushed at Kylebeg, County Tipperary, June, 1921); that he has been informed that he is only to receive six months' sick pay at pension rates, and that he will not be granted a pension, notwithstanding the fact that he had enlisted in the regular Royal Irish Constabulary and was not a temporary constable; that other men are now being disbanded with pensions, many of whom have had less service than Constable Doyle and were never in an action of any kind; and whether he can see his way to placing constables of the regular Royal Irish Constabulary who were discharged for wounds on the same footing as others who were not wounded, many of whom have had less service?

Constable Doyle's pension was granted for a period of six months, and is subject to re-assessment when that period has expired. It is not intended that the pension should then cease. The rate at which it will continue will, however, depend upon the degree of disability then found to exist.

asked the Chief Secretary why Chief Warder Mason, Kilkenny Prison, is being superannuated; if this officer will receive similar terms to those outlined in the Government of Ireland Act, 1920; why this officer has not been paid the arrears due to him under the assimilation scheme; whether he has been pensioned as a result of an inquiry into the escape of Sinn Fein prisoners; if he is aware that this chief was refused military or police assistance on the occasion of a recent disturbance when in charge; that his representations for additional staff were ignored by the General Prisons Board; why the temporary warders at Kilkenny were paid off without notice, and how many had been notified of their permanent appointment; whether they were dismissed on account of pressing for overtime payment; if he is aware that Warder Cody, of this prison, has been refused payment for certain overtime incurred when in charge of the office and has been also refused the higher rate of pay for carrying out those duties; and if this officer is still performing overtime duty without payment?

The orders given for the superannuation of Chief Warder Mason were subsequently cancelled, and he resumed duty on the 21st ultimo. The question whether arrears are due to him under the assimilation scheme is being investigated. It is certainly not the case that representations made by him at any time as to the need for additional assistance were ignored by the General Prisons Board, or by the other authorities responsible for the safety of the prison. The services of the temporary warders at Kilkenny Prison were dispensed with on the evacuation of that prison on the 10th December last. These men were employed on a day to day engagement, and were subject to discharge at any time at one day's notice. None of them had been promised a permanent appointment, and there is no truth in the suggestion that they were dismissed on account of their pressing for overtime payment. The official referred to in the last part of the question is a clerk and schoolmaster. The duties on which he is engaged are similar to those performed by other officers of his grade, and he is not entitled to overtime payment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there are a considerable number of the Royal Irish Constabulary still scattered throughout the South of Ireland; and whether he will take immediate steps to concentrate these men and to remove them from this area?

Concentration of the Royal Irish Constabulary in the South of Ireland, as a preliminary to demobilisation, is already complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether many Loyalists, Protestants, and Roman Catholics in the South of Ireland have, owing to the conditions prevailing for some time past, and still continuing, been reduced to an impecunious state, and are in constant fear of outrages being committed on their persons and property; and, in the event of their being compelled suddenly to flee to England for refuge, whether any provision has been made by His Majesty's Government to provide them with lodgings and maintenance in this country?

His Majesty's Government do not at present see any ground for anticipating the contingency contemplated in the latter part of the hon. and gallant Member's question, and no special steps have therefore been taken to meet it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that prior to the truce Sinn Fein boasted that the Irish Republican Army numbered upwards of 200,000 men; whether, seeing that under the terms of the Treaty the total Irish Army strength in the 26 southern counties cannot exceed 8,000 men, he can say whether armed volunteers are within the limitations imposed by the Treaty; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the terms of the Treaty shall be carried out in this respect?

I am not aware of the particular statements to which the hon. and gallant Member refers in the first part of his question, nor should I be prepared to accept without qualification the calculation which he has made in the second part. The forces of the Provisional Government are, however, at present well within the number stated. As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, there are, in addition to these forces, armed men in Ireland whose position is ambiguous; and I can only repeat, as regards these, what I have stated before, that the position of the Provisional Government in this transitional period is one of great difficulty, and must necessarily remain so until the result of the elections which will shortly take place. Pending the establishment of the Irish Free State the last part of the question is clearly premature.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a report in the Press of 18th February as to the holding of a republican court in Dublin, presided over by Mr. J. Creed Meredith; whether Mr. Meredith is a King's Counsel; whether he will make representations to the Provisional Government on the matter of the holding of these republican courts; and whether he can take any steps to prevent a King's Counsel from presiding over such courts?

The reply to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the fourth part in the negative. In reply to the third part, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave him on the 9th instant.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether married members of the Royal Irish Constabulary were informed that they were not eligible for the Palestine gendarmerie, but since that instruction was given married men have been accepted; and, if so, whether he will take steps to clear this matter up?

No, Sir. The conditions of service in Palestine are not regarded as altogether favourable to married life in the British section of the Palestine gendarmerie, and the officers responsible for recruiting the force were in consequence instructed to give preference to non-married applicants; but there has been no absolute bar against married men, and, indeed, the estimates of the force make provision for a proportion of married personnel.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that several explosions took place on 28th June, 1921, on the site of the National Filling Factory, Meiklewood Road, Cardonald; that five people were seriously injured, including a police sergeant, who had the thumb and forefinger of his right hand blown off, and a civilian who had his eyesight permanently injured; and that a close investigation was promised on 19th July, 1921, the results of which were to be communicated to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Maclean), whether, seeing that it has been admitted that no formal inquiry has been held, but only preliminary investigations, he can state if, at this preliminary investigation, the Govan Police were asked to submit a Report or whether any of the injured were invited to give evidence; if not, on what evidence a decision was arrived at; and whether, in view of the fact that several people were seriously injured owing to the carelessness of the responsible authorities, he will now consider the question of compensation to the injured?

I have been asked to answer this question. I understand that certain inquiries were conducted by the police at the instance of His Majesty's Inspector of Explosives, but I have no knowledge as to whether any statements were taken from any of the injured persons. While I must adhere to the opinion as to the legal liabilities involved, expressed in my answer to the hon. Member's question on the 9th February, I am prepared, on receipt of full particulars of the cases referred to by the hon. Member, to consider whether an ex gratia payment can be made in these cases in which no compensation has been received from any other source.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if, seeing that in Scotland fines for assaults on the police and fines imposed by a Court of Summary Jurisdiction for offences under the Licensing Acts are not being paid into the Police Fund, as is the case in England, with the result that there are fewer contributions to the Police Fund in Scotland than in Eng- land, and the call upon the rates in Scotland is thereby increased, he will take steps to remedy this?

The fines in question are, for the most part, paid into County or Burgh Funds, and are therefore available for the relief of rates. I see no sufficient reason for any alteration of the practice.

asked the Secretary for Scotland from what sources the income of the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Fund is derived; what is the annual income derived from each source; and how many teachers participated in the fund in each of the years 1919-20 and 1920–21?

The monies required to meet the charges under the Superannuation Scheme of 1919 for Scottish teachers are derived from: ( a ) Contributions from the Vote under Section 6 of the Education (Scotland) (Superannuation) Act, 1919. ( b ) Interest on the balance of the Superannuation Fund established under the original scheme. ( c ) Balance drawn from the Education (Scotland) Fund. For the year 1919–20 the amounts under ( a )£173,494 and ( b ) £85,120 more than sufficed to meet the total payments of £176,627, and the balance of £81,987 was paid into the Education (Scotland) Fund.

For the year 1920–21 the amounts were ( a ) £184,120, ( b ) £68,481, ( c ) £155,823.

The number of pensioners at 1st April, 1920, was 1,507, and at 1st April, 1921, 1,837. In addition, 19 death gratuities were awarded to teachers' representatives during 1919-20, and 119 during 1920–21.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a large number of teachers, formerly members of local education authorities' pensions schemes, exercised the option accorded to them by the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, of withdrawing therefrom and of transferring into the Government scheme on a non-contributory basis; and whether, now that that basis is to be altered with- out their consent, he will see that provision is made in the forthcoming amending Bill which will secure to such teachers as may no longer wish to remain in the Government scheme under the altered conditions the option of re-transferring upon equitable terms to the local pensions schemes to which they formerly belonged?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The point has not escaped my notice, but I cannot anticipate the provisions of the Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many education authorities to whom Scale III of the Burnham Report has been allocated are paying its uncertificated assistant mistresses a less maximum than that of the scale in operation in the area?

I understand the hon. Member to ask how many of the local education authorities to whose areas Scale III was allocated and who have adopted that scale for all their assistant certificated teachers, are paying all or some of their uncertificated assistant mistresses on a scale with a lower maximum than that of the Uncertificated Teachers Scale III. The answer is, one.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of tea lying in bond in the following English ports, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Hull, and Bristol Channel ports, on 31st January last?

The stock of tea in bonded warehouses on

Company. Directors. Remuneration per annum. £ British Cellulose and Chemical Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Sir W. Alexander, K. B. E., C. B., C. M. G., D. S. O. 500 Sir P. G. Henriques, K. B. E. 500 Home Crown Sugar, Ltd. Sir J. Martin 300. Anglo-Persian Oil Co. Sir E. H. Packe, K. B. E. 500 Lord Inchcape Has declined to draw the £500 per annum to which he is entitled.

All of the above surrender to the Exchequer any fees to which they may be

31st January, 1922, in the English ports referred to was as follows:— lbs. Manchester … … 14,608,000 Liverpool … … 1,599,000 Newcastle … … 136,000 Hull … … 22,000 Bristol … … 5,000 Cardiff … … 55,000 Newport … … 4,000 Swansea … … 87,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount covered by guarantees given by the Trade, Facilities Advisory Committee up to date; and whether, in order that the existence and functions of the Committee may be brought to public notice, he will consider the advisability of publishing an Interim Report of the work of the Committee up to date?

The total amount covered by guarantees under the Trade Facilities Act is approximately £8,500,000. Particulars will be given in due course in the quarterly statement to be presented under Section I (5) of the Act. I will consider whether the Committee could usefully be asked to make an Interim Report on their work, but I am inclined to doubt if this is desirable or necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number and names of the Government directors in the companies in which the Government have a financial interest, the terms of these appointments, and the remuneration paid to each; if in any case it is in addition to any other payment made out of public funds; and, if so, in which cases and of what amounts and for what services?

The Government directors receiving remuneration from public funds are as follow:

entitled as directors. None of them is in receipt of any other remuneration from public funds. The following directors receive no remuneration from public funds, but retain any directors' fees to

Company. Directors. Suez Canal Co. Mr. H. T. Anstruther. Sir Ian Z. Malcolm, K. C. M. G. British Dyestuffs Corporation Ltd. Sir H. Birchenough, Bart., K. C. M. G. Lord Ashfield. British American Nickel Corporation of Canada Sir Bobert Borden. Sir Eric Hambro. Munster Flax Development Co., Ltd. Mr. W. Brock. Turkish Petroleum Co. Mr. Hugh Lancelot Smith. *Standard Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Ltd. Lt. Col. L. O. Wilson, C. M. G., D. S. O., M. P. Sir A. W. Lawrence, Bart. Sir Oswyn Murray, K. C. B. *Messers. Edward Finch & Co. (1916), Ltd. Sir V. W. Baddeley, K. C. B. *The Chepstow Property Co., Ltd. Sir H. N. Bunpury, K. C. B. Mr. L. A. T. Shorto, C. B. E. *The companies are in process of liquidation: the duties are nominal and no fees are paid.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can give the number of employés, apart from the Navy, Army, and Air Services, whose services have been dispensed with during the past three months; how many of these were females; how many were receiving up to £2 per week; how many were drawing £3 per week; and how many from £3 to £5; and how many officials drawing from £500 to £1,000 per year are still retained in the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, the Agricultural Department, the Education Department, and the Office of Works?

Information is, I am afraid, not available precisely on the

— Permanent Officials. Temporary Officials. Number of these temporary Officials under notice. Board of Trade, including Shipping and Food Departments. 635 125 6 Ministry of Health … … … 465 84 48 Ministry of Labour … … … 587 135 43 Ministry of Agriculture … … … 193 41 8 Board of Education … … … 436 1 — Office of Works … … … 125 20 —

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the concessions made for the payment of Excess Profits Duty by quarterly instalments are intended to apply to solvent firms who have

which they may become entitled. In most cases, however, no such fees are paid.

lines asked for in the first two parts of the question. The net decrease in the total staffs employed in Government Departments, as shown in the Command Papers, during the period 1st December, 1921, to 1st March, 1922, amounted to approximately 7,150; of these about 4,700 were women. In the same period the number of employés in Government industrial establishments decreased by approximately 3,500. Information showing the rates of pay received by those officers whose services have been dispensed with cannot, I regret, be obtained except at very considerable expense. With regard to the last portion of the question, the following table shows the number of officials in the Departments referred to who are in receipt, inclusive of cost of living bonus, of salaries from £500 to £1,000 per annum:

been careful to husband their resources or whether it only applies to almost insolvent firms who have been improvident?

It is proposed that applications under the scheme referred to by my hon. Friend shall be admitted by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in any case, if they consider that the circumstances justify the contemplated extension of time for payment, and subject to such security being given as they may consider necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make inquiries into the case 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 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 would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on Tuesday to a question in similar terms by the hon. Member for Penistone (Mr. Gillis).

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the desirability of substituting yearly for half-yearly audits for union accounts as is the case with urban district council accounts?

As I have stated in reply to previous questions, I am pro- posing to introduce legislation for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Health if he will approach His Majesty's Treasury with a view to some modifications being made in the scale of audit stamp duties prescribed by the Audit Stamp Duty (Local Authorities) Order, 1921, which place an unfair burden upon local rates?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 6th instant to the hon. and gallant Member for Gateshead (Brigadier-General Surtees).

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the serious financial position of the West Ham Board of Guardians; that the overseers have stated that, in order to meet the deficit of their anticipated expenditure for the ensuing 26 weeks, they will require the sum of £1,000,000 for Poor Law purposes alone, equivalent to a rate of 6s. 1d. in the £ for the half-year, a further increase of 1s. 7d. in the £ as compared with the rate levied for the half-year now closing; that the board have before them a proposal to raise a loan to be spread over a period of five years for £300,000 at a high rate of interest, that the loan in question would relieve them but very little, as the numbers of persons in the union being relieved owing to unemployment are steadily increasing week by week, and there are no signs to lead the board to expect any diminution in these numbers; that such would only be a temporary palliative and leave the board at the end of the half-year, if not with an actual deficit to be raised by a further loan, with at least no funds at their disposal; and will he receive a deputation from the board and take action on the matter?

I am aware of the exceptional circumstances of the West Ham Union, and I have before me at present the application of the guardians for sanction to a loan of £300,000, the consideration of which, as an immediately practicable remedy, I will expedite as much as possible. I received a deputation from the guardians at the end of last September and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by receiving a further deputation at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health if the approved societies have offered to undertake to pay the cost of medical benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts out of the surpluses accumulated during the past years; and, if this is regularised by Act of Parliament, will the medical men under contract with insurance committees come in any way under the control of the approved societies?

I have nothing to add to the replies which I have already given to similar questions by the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall) yesterday, and the hon. and gallant Member for Torquay (Colonel Burn) to-day.

asked the Minister of Health whether the addresses of insured persons are regarded by approved societies as confidential to the extent of sheltering any such from prosecution for deserting their wives and children, or other criminal offences; and, if so, whether steps will be taken to amend any Regulations imposing secrecy in this respect?

There is no provision in the National Health Insurance Acts or the Regulations thereunder on the subject referred to by the hon. Member, but it has been laid down that information relating to insured persons which comes into possession of approved societies in the course of their administration of a State scheme of compulsory insurance should not, as a general rule, be used otherwise than for the purposes of such administration, except with the consent of the insured persons themselves, and societies have been advised accordingly. An exception to this general rule may, however, be made in special cases where the Department informs a society that it is necessary in the interests of justice in criminal proceedings that the information should be supplied.

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the Economy Committee's Report, any steps have been taken by the Ministry to consider the sale of houses constructed under Government housing schemes; and, if so, when the public may expect to hear of such conditions of sale as may be imposed?

Local authorities were requested by my Department some considerable time ago to prepare schemes for the sale of houses, and I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend copies of the instructions sent to the authorities. The question of what further steps are desirable is engaging my attention.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the strong feeling being evinced throughout the country on the part of women's organisations against the disbanding of the Metropolitan police women patrols; whether he will take into consideration the important duties being performed by these women police which, owing to their special female character, cannot be so efficiently performed by the male police; and whether, in these circumstances, rather than abolish this section of the police force altogether, he will recognise the necessity of maintaining at least a nucleus upon which to build up again when economic conditions improve?

I have received representations in the sense indicated in the first part of the question. Duties of a special female character will continue to be, as they always have been, performed by women. I am advised that if it were decided again to enrol women police such a nucleus would be of no value.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in any future legislation affecting the general early closing of shops and the permission to keep open an hour later on any day in the week, he will take into consideration representations made by traders and others that power should be given to local authorities to fix the later closing hour in the week on such evening as they think fit, according to local needs or other conditions?

Yes, Sir. This suggestion has already been noted for consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has yet received from the British Ambassador to the United States a Report as to whether the loss from alcoholic liquors has been counterbalanced by revenue derived from the increased sale of other dutiable commodities, and also as to the effects of prohibition on business and social conditions in America?

His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington has been requested to state whether the United States Government has published any Report on the working of the Prohibition Laws in the United States. Sir Auckland Geddes' reply has not been received. Sir A. Geddes has not been asked to express an opinion on the business and social conditions resulting from prohibition in the United States of America.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the amounts which have been paid away on various occasions by His Majesty's Government for the upkeep and maintenance of Assyrian, Armenian, Russian, and other refugees?

The total expenditure incurred in connection with Russian refugees is £1,108,336.

The total expenditure on Armenian refugees in Iraq is: £ Estimates, 1921/22 278,000 Previous to 1921/22, rupees 135 lakhs = (at par) 900,000 £1,178,000

It is regretted that, several Departments being concerned, it is not possible to give at once the total expenditure incurred up-to-date in respect of: (1) Assyrian refugees; (2) Armenian refugees other than those in Iraq; but the information is being obtained, and will be communicated to the hon. Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the British military authorities in Egypt have ordered Maitre Nagib-el-Gharably not to leave Tanta town and Al-Nokrashy not to return to Cairo, in view of the promise of the suspension of martial law made to the Sultan?

I have no information regarding either of the gentlemen mentioned in the question.

asked the Prime Minister what progress has been made in tabulating the detailed information obtained by the Census; when the special Reports dealing with foreign-born population, occupations and industries, housing, workplaces in relation to residence, and education will be published; how many persons are engaged on the task of compiling these statistics; and what is the estimated cost of compiling and publishing the Reports?

As stated in the Registrar-General's Preliminary Census Report, the substantive Reports will, in the first instance, be issued in county parts comprising for each county the bulk of the statistics referred to in the question relative to the area included. The residue will be issued in the form of subject volumes when the tabulation for the whole country is complete. Following upon the initial operations common to all the returns, work has been undertaken upon the County of London and the adjacent counties, and it is expected that the first Reports will be issued in the course of the next two or three months. A staff of 419 persons is at present employed at the Census Office, and it is estimated that for the whole period from the date of the Census the total cost of the staff required for tabulating the returns and compiling and preparing all the Reports will not exceed £110,000. No estimate can at present be given of the cost of printing the Reports, which will depend upon a number of future considerations not at present ascertainable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider if a scheme can be devised for prohibiting the export of worn-out horses for slaughter abroad without interfering with the legitimate export of horses for breeding or working purposes?

Only those horses which are in good working condition are allowed to be exported. The elimination of the unfit or worn-out horse has already been attained, and there would be no justification for interfering with the export of such horses as are now being shipped on the ground that they may ultimately be slaughtered for food.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks of Mr. Justice M'Cardie concerning the expenses of administration by the Public Trustee; and, if so, is he prepared to take such steps as shall be necessary to reduce such expenditure?

The Public Trustee Act, 1906, under which the office of Public Trustee is constituted, requires the fees to be so arranged as to produce an annual amount sufficient to discharge the salaries and other expenses incidental to the working of the Act. In the case under notice, the sum involved is £1,000. The beneficiaries are five children, the eldest of whom is 15 and the youngest 3. The trust, therefore, may be expected to last for 18 years, and during the whole of that time will require the most-detailed administration and care by the Public Trustee, and the exercise of considerable and difficult discretion. The total inclusive fee for all this work during all these years would be £75. This amount is barely sufficient to defray the cost incurred by the Public Trustee in the matter, and is in no way unduly high. I do not concur in the observations made by Mr. Justice McCardie.

asked the Minister of Labour whether any instructions have been issued to local employment committees in connection with the consideration of claims for the six weeks' extension of unemployment benefit; and, if so, will he state their nature?

A memorandum, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend has been issued to local employment committees setting out the conditions for the grant of the six weeks' extension of benefit. These conditions were summarised in the reply given to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough West (Mr. T. Thomson) on 17th February last.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the discontent prevailing among unmarried persons in connection with inquiries made into their private affairs and the administration of unemployment benefit for the additional six weeks; and whether he will inquire into the matter and take action to remove the causes of this discontent?

Under the authority contained in Section 3 of the second Unemployment Insurance Act, 1921, I have decided, in order to conserve the fund for those most in need of it, that the six weeks' extension of benefit should not be granted to single men and women who are maintained wholly or mainly by their relatives. It is accordingly necessary for inquiries to be made in respect of such applicants. I have no reason to suppose that these inquiries are made otherwise than with every care and consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that three aliens of Italian nationality named, respectively, Eugenio Zerbino, of 152, Alma Street, Abertillery, Vincent Thomas, Gilfach Cottages, Abertillery, and Albert Casta, 23, Givasted Terrace, Cwmtillery, have had their unemployment pay stopped on the ground that they are aliens; that these men have been employed at various collieries in South Wales from 11 years to 25 years, respectively; and that they paid their contributions to the unemployment insurance fund like other workmen up to the time they were unemployed through depression in trade; and will he therefore see that these contributors to the unemployment insurance fund are treated the same as other contributors who are unemployed through no fault of their own?

Under the authority contained in Section 3 of the second Unemployment Insurance Act of 1921, I have decided that benefit beyond 16 weeks should not be granted to aliens (other than British-born wives or widows of aliens) unless they have exhausted unemployment insurance contributions to their credit. I am having inquiry made into the three cases mentioned by my hon. Friend, and will communicate the result to him.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport what is the amount of money which is due from the Ministry to the North British Railway Company; and when is the company likely to receive it?

The question as to whether any, and, if so, what sum of money is payable to or by the company has not yet been settled. Upon this subject I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Bournemouth (Lieut.-Colonel Croft) on the 15th February last, a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware of the inconvenience that will be caused to the residents in and around Waltham Abbey by the removal of their telegraph office; and what economy will be effected by this proposed alteration?

There is no question of discontinuing telegraphic facilities altogether at the Waltham Abbey sub-post office. In view, however, of the small number of telegrams for delivery in the Waltham Abbey area it has been arranged, experimentally, to discontinue the messenger service at that office and to deliver the telegrams from the head office at Waltham Cross. The economy which would result from this alteration is estimated at about £30 a year, and it is not anticipated that any appreciable delay in the delivery of the telegrams at Waltham Abbey will result from this change.

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, when the Second Annual Report of the Forestry Commission will be published?

The Second Annual Report of the Forestry Commission will be laid before Parliament during the present Session.