asked the President of the Board of Trade what circumstances are now accepted by the Public Trustee as sufficient to establish the loss of original nationality and present stateless condition of persons formerly of German, Austrian, Bulgarian, and Turkish nationality, respectively, so as to enable him to release property belonging to them which was seized during the War?

The circumstances depend upon the law of the country of which the person was a national, and it is difficult to summarise them in an answer. Stated shortly, they are, in the case of Germany, a formal discharge by the German Government or uninterrupted residence out of Germany for 10 years without registration at a German Consulate. Applications for the release of the property on the grounds referred to should, where the applicant was formerly of German nationality, be made to the Public Trustee. Other applications should be addressed to the Administrator of Austrian, Hungarian, and Bulgarian Property. Pending the ratification of a Treaty of Peace with Turkey, no statement can be made regarding the property of Turkish nationals.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the circumstances of claimants for compensation for suffering and damage by enemy action are being inquired into by representatives of the Charity Organisation Society, acting on behalf of the Royal Commission appointed to deal with this matter; whether he is aware that claimants resent being visited and catechised by the irresponsible officials of this society; and if steps can be taken to have any necessary inquiries conducted in future by persons of responsibility acting on behalf of some public authority?

The hon. Member no doubt refers to the inquiries which have to be made in order to ascertain whether particular cases should be given priority of consideration on the ground of the specially necessitous circumstances of the claimants. For this purpose it is necessary to make use of any suitable assistance that may be available, including, where possible, that of local authorities, and in a number of cases the Charity Organisation Society have kindly given their help.

Will the Commission consider any evidence supplied which might conflict with the information supplied by the Charity Organisation Society?

I assume that when an investigation is made, evidence will be taken from either party.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the 56,000-ton liner "Bismarck," which is about to be named "Majestic," has been sold to the White Star Shipping Company, and that the ship in question is about to be surrendered to Great Britain in accordance with the Treaty arrangements; if he can state what the White Star Company paid for the liner; if he is aware that if a ship of the same tonnage was built in one of the British shipyards it would have found employment for thousands of men; and if he will take action in the matter?

The statements in the first part of the question are correct. The total amount realised by the sale of ex-German ships has been published, but it is not desirable to state the prices paid for individual ships. It is most unsafe to assume that if this ship had not been delivered to Great Britain under the Peace Treaty a vessel of this character would have been laid down here.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as a consequence of the very large amount of tonnage taken from Germany under the Peace Treaty, thousands of our ship-building workers have been deprived of employment?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that no sane ship-owner would place an order for such a vessel under present circumstances and at present prices; and, further, is it not the case that this vessel is giving employment to a vast number of sea-faring men who would otherwise probably be out of employment?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will consult the Governments of Australia and New Zealand before agreeing with any proposal to hand over to Greece the Gallipoli Peninsula, a locality hallowed by the graves of so many gallant members of the British Empire, but more particularly from the Dominions of Australia and New Zealand?

As my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Stafford was informed on 30th March, His Majesty's Government fully recognise the special interest of Australia and New Zealand in the Gallipoli Peninsula, but the arrangement whereby the peninsula was to be handed over to Greece forms part of the Treaty of Sèvres, which was signed on behalf of the two Governments. The proposals put forward by the Allied Foreign Ministers at Paris in March will not, if adopted, vary this arrangement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Turks have intimated their acceptance of the settlement now proposed; and, if not, to which provision thereof they take exception?

No answer has been received from Turkey.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the proposed terms of peace in the Near East were arrived at independently by the three foreign Ministers, or whether this settlement, which is vital to the well-being of Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, was discussed with the representatives of those countries?

I would refer the hon. Member to the first paragraph of the official communiqué issued by the Conference at Paris on 26th March, where it is stated that conversations took place with the representatives both of Greece and Turkey. As the Bulgarian Treaty was not under discussion, no representative of Bulgaria was consulted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the average yearly value of our manufactured exports during 1911, 1912, and 1913; and the average yearly percentage of the same which went to Russia?

During the years specified in the question the average declared value of commodities (the produce and manufacture of the United Kingdom) registered as exported yearly to all destinations, which were classed in our Trade Accounts as wholly or mainly manufactured, amounted to £386,206,000. Of this aggregate amount the goods consigned to Russia (the former Russian Empire) amounted to £8,990,000, or 2·3 per cent. of the total.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of exports during the years 1913 and 1921 from the United Kingdom to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, respectively, giving the amount per head of the estimated population of those Dominions severally; and similar figures of the value

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the fact that, in order to facilitate entry into certain markets, German firms are establishing depots under Dutch names at different centres in Holland to which German-made goods are consigned for the purpose of re-export as Dutch goods; and whether he will make friendly representations to the Dutch Government urging that in such cases a declaration as to the country of origin should be clearly indicated?

I am aware that German goods are often consigned to this country by firms established in Holland, and it is not unlikely that some of these firms are connected with German houses, but I have not had any evidence that such

The answer involves a Table of figures which, with the permission of the House, I will have printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May I send the right hon. Gentleman one or two illustrations on this point?

I shall be very pleased to receive them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether bleached flour is still being imported into the United Kingdom from the United States; whether by law in the United States bleached flour is prohibited for human consumption; will he state the quantity of wheat and flour, respectively, imported from the United States into the United Kingdom during 1920 or 1921 (if the latter figure be available); and is he aware that in New Zealand bleached flour may not be used in the manufacture of bread?

With regard to the first, second and fourth parts of the question, I have no definite information, but will make inquiry. As to the third part, the quantities of wheat, and of wheat meal and flour, imported into the United Kingdom, registered in 1921, as consigned from the United States, were 36,065,000 cwts. and 7,900,000 cwts. respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the commercial classes of this country always receive the earliest possible warning of tariff changes contemplated by other countries so that, if any countervailing representations can be made, they shall be made before such tariffs have practically reached completion; and, if not, will he ensure this being done in future?

Our missions abroad are under instructions to report at once particulars of all contemplated tariff changes, and any important information which is received from this and other sources is published as soon as it is received in the "Board of Trade Journal."

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Timber Department established during the War has yet been wound up and closed down; if not, the reason for the delay and what staff is at present employed; and if he can give any date approximately when this Department will be finished with?

The answer to the first part pi the question is in the negative. The Department is engaged in disposing of the remaining stocks and equipment, settling claims, and liquidating outstanding debts; but, owing to adverse trade conditions, the work of winding it up has been delayed. The number of staff at present employed is 109, of whom 15 are under notice of discharge; and, in addition, there is at present an industrial staff numbering 224. It is, anticipated that the work of the Department will substantially be finished during the present year.

Is it really necessary to keep over 300 people employed in disposing of timber which has already been paid for, which is lying on the ground and which will settle itself when trade revives?

Will the right hon. Gentleman fix a date which he thinks a reasonable date for the winding-up of the Department, and see that date is kept?

The answer to both these supplementary questions is that the situation is constantly under review, and for the moment I can give no better forecast than I have given in reply to the question.

May I ask why really 300 are now required to look after this moribund Department?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will do me the honour to come to see me at the Board of Trade, I will show him.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the sale of stocks of Government bacon was completed in July, and that the last delivery was made on the 5th November, he can state if any staff is still employed on the bacon section of the food department of the Board of Trade; if so, what is the number; and what salaries are being paid?

An expert staff is still employed in the liquidation of the accounts of the bacon section, and in dealing with the complicated claims, involving many millions of pounds, still outstanding. This staff is 60 in number, the salaries paid amounting to £l,303 per month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of commissioners and sub-commissioners of agriculture at present employed by the Government, where they are respectively stationed, the nature of their duties, and their total cost last year in salaries and allowances?

As the answer to this question is long, I will arrange for it to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is it the intention of the Government to discontinue the service of these people?

The hon. Member had better wait till he sees the answer.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Board of Education as at present constituted is obsolete, redundant, and is never summoned to transact business; and whether, having regard to the great sum of money expended by the taxpayer and ratepayer on public education, he will cause to be created a Board of Education charged with the duty of seeing that the money devoted to free education is spent in the best possible manner to obtain the results aimed at?

Legislation would be required to alter the constitution of the Board, and if legislation be undertaken, the precedents point in the direction of the substitution of a Ministry for a Board.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there are over 2,000 commodities liable to duty under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act which are not manufactured in the United Kingdom; and whether, in view of the heavy burden this entails upon industries that depend on these commodities as their raw material, he will take steps to have them removed from the dutiable list?

It has been repeatedly pointed out, both during the passage of the Safeguarding of Industries Act through this House and in reply to questions since, that the object of Part I of the Act was to encourage the development of the industries to which it relates, and the extension of their range of production to varieties of goods not previously produced in this country. I am satisfied that that extension is taking place, particularly in respect of the products of the chemical industry comprised within that heading of the Schedule to the Act which the hon. Member appears to have especially in mind; and accordingly I see no reason to take the course proposed.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that any industry is being safeguarded by the exclusion of these commodities; and is he not prepared to suspend the Act in regard to these commodities until the manufacture is started in this country? [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]

That is a matter for debate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state what other commodities of an analogous character will be deleted from the list of dutiable articles under the Safeguarding of Industries Act following the decision of the Referee in respect of cream of tartar, tartaric and citric acids, which were held to have been improperly inserted in the list?

A list will be issued in the course of this week.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in a position to say why the Referee has decided that the calculating machine known as the Loga is liable for duty under the Safeguarding of Industries Act whilst other calculating apparatus are not so dutiable; and whether he will consider the desirability of either bringing all calculating apparatus under the tax or having them all excluded?

The Referee decided that calculating cylinders, of which the Loga-Calculator is only one particular type, are properly included under the heading of scientific instruments in the Schedule to the Act. I have no power to exclude from the operation of the Act any commodities covered by the headings of the Schedule, but if the hon. Member thinks that any types of calculating apparatus which are properly dutiable have been omitted from the list issued by the Board of Trade, and will furnish me with details, I shall be glad to consider the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, after exhaustive hearings before the Referee under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, it is admitted by his Department, manufacturers, merchants, and scientists that the term in the Schedule, all other fine chemicals, cannot be interpreted; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to rectify the matter or whether he proposes to continue to endeavour to enforce the Act?

I am unable to accept the proposition laid down in the first part of the question. The doubts which have arisen relate to only a limited number of cases, which are of a border line character, and provision for dealing with these is made in the Act itself. No further action appears necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the judgments already signed in respect of santonine, cream of tartar, tartaric acid, citric acid, and lactose by Mr. Cyril Atkinson, K.C., the Referee appointed by the Lord Chan cellor to arbitrate in disputes arising with the Board of Trade under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, and to the reports of the Committees appointed by him under Part II of the same Act to investigate the complaints made by British toy manufacturers and by the gold beaters that unemployment is being caused in their industries by reason of the collapse of the German exchange; and whether, in view of these facts, he is prepared to repeal the Act, which places a heavy burden of administrative difficulty upon the Board of Trade and His Majesty's Customs, and which satisfies neither manufacturers nor distributors, while avowedly increasing prices to the consumer?

I am aware of the decisions to which the hon. Member refers, but I do not accept his conclusion from them, and I am not prepared to take the course suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that very large sums of money have been paid as duty under the Safeguarding of Industries Act on imports of sugar of milk, which was improperly included in the Board of Trade's list; and whether this sum, now shown to have been improperly demanded and paid, will be returned to the importers, who have suffered considerable pecuniary loss by the Board of Trade's wrongful inclusion of this foodstuff in the list of fine chemicals?

I am aware that certain sums have been paid as duty as stated, As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the concluding portion of Subsection (5) of Section 1 of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921.

Not having that reference before me, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether these duties, will be returned in the same way as the Land Value Duties were returned?

I am advised that under this provision of the Sub-section an Amendment of this kind, under such circumstances as those referred to, does not affect the validity of anything that was done before the Amendment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called by the London Chamber of Commerce to the holding up of a consignment of a well-known brand of pills on the ground that the containers in which the pills are placed are made of glass and as such liable for duty as being lamp-blown; and whether, seeing that the Safeguarding of Industries. Act was not intended to apply to boxes and containers, he is prepared to consider the advisability of introducing a Bill for the amending of the Safeguarding of Industries Act to prevent such anomalies?

The particular case referred to in the first part of the question has not been brought to the notice of my Department, but lamp-blown glass containers are liable to duty as falling under the general heading of "lamp-blown ware" in the Schedule to the Act. Boxes and containers other than lamp-blown glassware are not within the scope of the Act, and as at present advised I see no need for legislation of the kind suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state if any alterations are being adopted by the Committees under the Safeguarding of Industries Act to shorten the proceedings; and whether he is prepared to adopt the suggestion made by Sir Arthur Colefax, K.C., that examination and cross-examination by witnesses should be permitted in preference to allowing statements to be made, upon which witnesses cannot be examined, and the postponement of meetings of the Committee to enable rebutting evidence to be collected, which often entails a delay of many days and involves heavy expenses on the parties interested?

I am satisfied that the Committees are fully alive to the importance of completing their inquiries as rapidly as is consistent with a full examination of the questions referred to them, and I doubt very much whether the adoption of the suggestion referred to in the second part of the question would operate in the direction of reducing expense or of shortening the proceedings before the Committees.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that when a witness makes a statement that this necessitates a delay, very often of one or two weeks, to enable rebutting evidence to be brought forward to contradict the statement made, whereas counsel could put questions and get the information on the spot?

I think, as a general rule, that if you omit "weeks" and substitute "days," that would be a correct statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the dates when application was made to him with respect to the imposition of a duty of 33⅓ per cent., under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, on brush ware, lace goods, silk goods, and glass bottles; and if he is aware that the prolonged time occupied by his Department in either accepting or refusing such applications are injurious to the trades concerned, as in most cases the articles are raw materials for other trades, for which estimates and prices have to be quoted months in advance; if he appreciates the difficult position which many firms are placed in owing to the uncertainties as to whether a tariff will be imposed or not on these raw materials;

(2) whether, in view of the uncertainty prevailing in trade circles as to decisions which are likely to be arrived at in connection with applications made for the imposition of a duty of 33⅓ per cent. under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, Part II, he will announce that, when a decision is actually arrived at, either by himself in rejecting the application or by a Committee who may report unfavourably on an application, such decision shall be immediately announced; and whether, when an application has been made and has been rejected as primâ facie unsatisfactory, longer time shall not be required to elapse before such application can again be considered, in order to prevent the unnecessary continuance of trade uncertainty which prevents contracts being made and thus hinders the revival of trade?

I think there are objections to giving information with regard to complaints which may or may not have been received by the Board of Trade pending the decision to refer such complaints to a Committee. All complaints are dealt with as expeditiously as possible, and I have fully in mind the considerations to which the hon. Gentleman refers. With regard to the second question, it is proposed to announce without delay the effect of the findings of a Committee who report in a sense adverse to the application. I doubt, however, the desirability of making a similar announcement where the Board Trade find that no primâ facie case has been made out, nor do I think it would be practicable to lay down any rule on the lines suggested in the last part of the question.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the fact that when an application is made, that it is known to the industry, and that if he declines or refuses the application, that that is not made public; and, therefore, a certain amount of feeling is created?

I do not agree with my hon. Friend.

When will the right hon. Gentleman make his statement in regard to the action in the cases where the Committee has advised as to the action he proposed to take?

I must have notice of that question.

Is it a fact that the permanent officials have absolute power to decide whether or not a primâ facie case has been made out for an application?

The only person who has ultimate authority is myself.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the sum collected under the Safeguarding of Industries Act for the six months just expired amounts only to £134,000; that to collect this amount it has entailed the detention and examination of enormous quantities of imported goods to the estimated value of many millions of pounds; and that in addition to the inconvenience caused by the delay this has added immensely to the costs known as breaking-in, breaking-out, demurrage, clearance charges, etc., all of which charges have to be incurred not alone on the dutiable goods but on all goods so detained; and whether, in view of the smallness of the amount realised, he is prepared to consider the amending or repealing of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, even if that course involves the granting of a subsidy to any commodity that may be considered essential for the safety of the Empire?

I have been asked to reply. The amount of duty collected is £141,000, but I would remind the hon. Member that the raising of revenue was not the primary object of the Act. As regards the second part of the question, in any case where liability to duty cannot be immediately determined, delivery can always be obtained on deposit of the amount of duty to which the goods may be liable. I must point out, however, that imported goods are always liable to examination by Customs, and I am advised that the more detailed examination of certain classes of goods made necessary by the Safeguarding of Industries Act has no consequences at all commensurate with those suggested by the hon. Member. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that more than half the money referred to is exacted from those who were our Allies during the Great War?

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the findings of the Gold Leaf Committee set up under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, Part II, which he has stated were received by him on 21st February, were not communicated to the parties concerned until the last week in March?

This report, with others, was under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that acetone for industrial purposes is manufactured by two distinct processes, namely, from acetate of lime and by fermentation process; that both materials are identical; that they test on analysis exactly the same, and that it is impossible to tell the one from the other; that the former is not liable on importation to duty under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act and that the latter is liable; and whether he can state how the liability to duty of such material when imported is determined?

I am aware that acetone, as sold, may be made by either of the two processes mentioned. The practicability of determinative tests of origin is under consideration, but should these be shown to be non-existent, the liability or non-liability of imported acetone to duty must be determined by such declaration by the importer as the Customs may deem sufficient.

asked the Prime Minister what contribution His Majesty's Government have actually made up to the present towards the needs of the starving peasants of South-East Russia: to what extent the contribution has been made up of stores; what form the stores have taken; and the several channels through which the contribution has been made?

The contribution made by His Majesty's Government towards famine relief in Russia consists wholly of stores to the present-day value of £200,000, as explained to the House of Commons in the two Supplementary Estimates presented respectively on 27th October, 1921, and on 23rd February, 1922. The stores consist mainly of foodstuffs, about £180,000 worth being food and the rest medical stores. The stores have been, or are being, handed over to the British Red Cross to be distributed by their agents in Russia in conjunction with the Russian Famine Relief Fund, the Society of Friends, and the Save the Children Fund for the relief of the, victims of the famine.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that mobilisation on an extensive scale has been planned in Russia to take place before the summer; that all men born between 1891 and 1898 and in 1902 and 1903 are to be called to the colours, making 10 new classes of conscripts; that all ex-officers of the Russian army have been notified to be ready for immediate mobilisation; that such action is a grave menace to the states bordering on Soviet Russia: and whether he will represent to them that such action conflicts with Resolution A, paragraph 6, proposed by him and accepted by the Allies at Cannes?

No information is available to the effect that mobilisation on an extensive scale has been planned in Russia to take place before the summer. As regards the last part of the question, any representations on the subject would appear to be a matter for the Conference at Genoa.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Genoa Conference will take into consideration the continued depreciation of the Russian currency; whether he is aware that the Soviet printing presses are working day and night turning out paper money; and that, although truck-loads of notes are being sent away to new-destinations, it is found impossible to meet the existing demand?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the second and third, I fear I have no information as to the arrangements adopted by the Soviet authorities.

Will the Prime Minister, when he takes into consideration proposals for promoting trade with Russia, bear in mind the great possibilities of the British printing press makers?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the export trade of this country to Old Russia in 1913 amounted to £18,100,000 in value, whereas in 1920 it amounted, approximately, to £12,000,000, or two-thirds of the pre-War trade in value; that this export trade in 1913 formed an insignificant portion of our total export-trade, namely, approximately 3 per cent.; whether he is aware that our imports from Old Russia in 1913 were £38,100,000, and in 1920 £31,200,000; that these imports in 1913 only constituted slightly over 5 per cent. of our total import trade; and, in view of the fact that we are now exporting to those countries of Old Russia which are free from Soviet rule two-thirds of the amount we formerly exported to the whole of Russia, and that we are importing from these countries about four-fifths of the amount that we imported from Old Russia, if he can state in what manner, and to what extent, he anticipates that our trade with Soviet Russia will increase by giving their Government official recognition?

I do not think that the conclusions suggested in the question necessarily follow from the figures given. My hon. and gallant Friend appears to have overlooked the difference between the purchasing power of the £ in 1013 and in 1920 in respect of goods exported or goods imported.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to say that the political recognition of Russia-will increase our trade? Is he aware that, although we have refused to recognise Mexico, our trade with that country has gone up enormously?

These are questions which are matters for the Debate this afternoon rather than for answers to questions. With regard to the earlier part of the supplementary question, it would puzzle even my hon. and gallant Friend to derive that inference from anything I have said.

asked the Prime Minister what guarantees it is proposed should be demanded from the Russian Government before the question of their recognition is discussed at the Genoa Conference, in view of the fact that, although the Russian Trade Agreement between this country and Russia was only signed one year ago, in which the Russian Government agreed to refrain from any propaganda directed against the British Empire, the Agreement has been broken on many occasions, to one of which the Foreign Secretary drew attention in his speech of 26th July, 1921, when he stated that the Soviet Minister at Teheran had since his arrival pursued the familiar Bolshevist methods, the exercise of ceaseless political propaganda: and, in view of these proofs of the worthlessness of any signed agreements with the Russians, can he give an assurance that the ultimate recognition of the Bolshevist Government will not be supported by the British Delegates except under a proviso that there shall be a probationary period of at least five years, during which any agreements come to with them are to be carried out without equivocation?

I would ask my hon. and gallant Friend to await the Prime Minister's statement this afternoon.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the number of British officers and men now serving on board the "Lenin," ice-breaker, or other Soviet vessels in the Baltic; whether any of them are still connected with the British Service; and whether any efforts have been made to discourage the entry of British subjects into the Soviet Navy during the continuance of the existing relations between Great Britain and Russia?

I am informed that most of the 125 officers and men serving on the "Lenin" are British subjects. None are now connected with His Majesty's Service. The behaviour of some of them at various ports in the Baltic has been highly discreditable in many respects. I am glad to have this opportunity of stating that His Majesty's Government have no responsibility of any kind for them and no means of influencing them. I have no information as to the officers and crews of other Soviet vessels in the Baltic

Is it part of the duty of the British Government to discourage British subjects from entering into this service or not?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will advise me how that can best be done.

Do any of these men hold British passports?

I could not say.

asked the President of the Board of Education what, up to the present, is the total amount of the lump sums, additional to pension, paid to teachers who have retired under the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, since it began to operate on 1st April, 1919; and what is the number of the teachers who have received these additional lump sums?

Up to the 31st December, 1921, the total amount of the "lump sums" awarded under the Act of 1918 is £1,569,286; and the number of teachers concerned, 6,241.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether all teachers who served under the Superannuation Acts of 1898 and 1912 had the right, on approaching the retiring age, 65, to make application for extension of service and to have it submitted to and considered by the Board of Education; how many such applications made by teachers during the year ended 31st March, 1918, and that of 31st March, 1919, were; not submitted to or considered by the Board of Education, with the result that the applicants were compulsorily retired at 65 on a pension of about £40, average amount; how many similar applications, made during the same years by teachers similarly circumstanced, were submitted to and considered by the Board, with the result that the applicants had extension granted them and were thus made eligible for and admitted to the benefits of the 1918 Act; and what compensation he proposes to make to those teachers who have sustained heavy loss in consequence of the withholding of their applications for extension from the consideration of the Board of Education?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to Section 1 (2, a) of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898. It has been the practice of the Board not to entertain applications for extension unless they are supported by the local education authorities or managers in whose service the teachers concerned are employed. I cannot undertake the laborious investigation which would be required for the whole of England and Wales to enable me to answer the second and third parts of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Education the estimated initial and continuing cost of giving administrative effect to the recommendations of the Geddes Committee for putting teachers pensions on a contributory basis?

I presume the hon. Member refers to the cost of the additional staff that would be required for administering a superannuation scheme on a contributory basis. It is impossible to estimate what staff would be necessary for this purpose except in relation to the terms of any Measure which receives the approval of Parliament.