asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, as the result of Circular 1245 of the Board of Education, blind and deaf children of five years of age and over are being kept from attendance at suitable schools, whereas for children who see and hear no alteration of the age of school attendance has been made; and, in view of the special needs of these children for educational training, what is the reason for this exceptional treatment as compared with sighted and hearing children?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Lieut.-Colonel J. Ward), and on 6th April to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications have been made for guaranteed advances under the Trade Facilities Act, 1921, and how many have been accepted and the actual terms concluded; what total sum has been definitely guaranteed under these concluded matters; what sum is involved in the incomplete applications; and what prospect is there of a speedy determination of these pending matters.

The total number of applications for guarantees received by the Advisory Committee appointed under the Trade Facilities Act is over 500. The Treasury have decided to give guarantees in respect of 15 cases representing in all a capital sum in excess of £15,000,000. It is impossible to set out the actual terms on which these guarantees have been given as it will be realised that these are of a very lengthy and complicated nature, but I am arranging for a statement to be presented to Parliament at an early date showing the names of the companies to whom the guarantees will be given and the amounts in each case.As regards the third part of the question, it is impossible to give a useful figure of the total sum of the incomplete applications as in a number of these cases modifications of the amount frequently take place while investigations are being pursued.With regard to the last part of the question, the Committee is doing everything in its power to complete its operations, but I am afraid I cannot give a definite date by which the guarantees in respect of the full amount of £25,000,000 will have been given. The Committee has already held over 50 meetings.I would refer my hon. Friend to the Paper which will be issued next Monday (House of Commons Paper 62). The Committee has held over 50 meetings, and has considered some 500 applications. My hon. Friend will realise that applications involving guarantees by the taxpayer require careful investigation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether persons who, under the recent decision of the House of Lords in the case of the Great Western Railway Company v. Bater, are entitled to be assessed for Income Tax under Schedule D but who have been wrongly and more highly assessed for 1921–2 under Schedule E, are now being refused redress on the ground that they did not appeal against their assessments within the statutory number of days permitted; and whether steps will now be taken to enable such persons to claim a return of the overcharges compulsorily paid, inasmuch as the assessments were made wrongfully under Schedule E?

The decision in the case to which my right hon. Friend refers has no bearing upon assessments which had become final and conclusive before the date of the judgment. The whole question of the basis of assessment of employés to Income Tax is receiving the careful consideration of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but he is not in a position to make any statement in the matter at the present stage.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the aggregate number of persons assessed to Income Tax in the United Kingdom; the number assessed at £5,000 and over; the number assessed at £10,000 and over; and the number assessed at £20,000 and over?

The number of individuals in Great Britain and Ireland with incomes above the exemption limit for the year 1921–22 is provisionally estimated at 5,000,000, divided as follows:—

Number actually paying In come Tax	2,400,000
Number whose incomes are covered by the personal allowances and deductions and reliefs	2,600,000
Total	5,000,000

The number of individuals liable to Super-tax for the year 1920–21 (based on the Income Tax income for the previous year 1919–20) on incomes of £5,000 and over and assessed thereto up to 28th February last was as follows:—

£5,000 and under £10,000	…	…	15,799
£10,000 and under £20,000	…	…	6,389
£20,000 and over	…	…	3,167

These numbers are not final, as further assessments to Super-tax for the year 1920–21 will still be made.Similar details for the year 1921–22 are not yet available.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any of the medical staff who served in hospital ship No. 10 have been awarded the 1914–15 star, and if the six civilian attendants who served in the Eastern Mediterranean in this ship are entitled to this star?

The naval medical staff who served in the hospital ship "Liberty" (H.S. No. 10) in the Mediterranean in 1915 have been awarded the 1914–15 star. The civilian attendants are ineligible for this decoration, the award of which is limited to the armed Forces of the Crown, but those who served at sea in the ship for 28 days during the War period will receive the British War Medal?

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the expected milk shortage caused by the differences between the farmers and distributors, he can take any steps to ensure at least sufficient supplies for the children and the sick, especially in industrial districts; and I whether, in case of need, arrangements could be made to enable local authorities to purchase supplies direct from the farmers, and collect and distribute these by motor lorry for the benefit of the children and the sick?

I have been asked to reply. I am advised that, though there is some restriction of supplies, there is no evidence of any general shortage such as would make it desirable for the Government to take measures of the nature suggested.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has received a copy of a report issued by a committee of the Trainees' National Guild; and, if so, whether it is his intention to accept any of the proposals contained therein?

I have received a copy of the report of the Trainees' National Guild, and the proposals contained therein are under consideration.