asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that on 20th March Colonel Shaheen, of the Egyptian Cavalry, entered, with his men, Wadinnil School, Cairo, and went to the dormitories; that he and his men dragged the students into the grounds and then flogged them, bound them, and took them to prison; and whether these acts are committed in the name of martial law maintained by His Majesty's Government who are responsible for the status quo in Egypt?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the other parts do not, therefore, arise.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of this man's military history, and, if not, will he take notice of a few incidents in his career if I send them to him?

I shall be very glad to read them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire whether he is aware that on 18th March a demontration in tramcars started from the Abbaseya quarter in Cairo; that on their arrival at Station Square they were met by Colonel Shaheen and his cavalrymen; that these officers forced the demonstrators to get out of the cars; that they then tied four of the demonstrators to the horses and dragged them at a trot to the police station; and that they there had them flogged; and whether this was done in the name of martial law, for which His Majesty's Government is responsible?

The incidents mentioned in the question have not been reported to me.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that for four days last month One officer and four armed soldiers were posted at Madame Zaghloul's house in Cairo, and that many others occupied the streets leading to the house, and that Madame Zaghloul was, during that period, kept a prisoner in her house, and no man, woman, or child was allowed in; whether the armed guard were acting on instructions from the British military authorities; and, if so, if he will say on what ground this action was taken against Madame Zaghloul?

The only information on this incident I have is that, as a precautionary measure on the part of the police responsible for public order, a guard was placed on Zaghloul Pasha's house from the 20th March to 23rd March to prevent unauthorised persons from entering.

Will the hon. Gentleman answer that part of the question which asks why Madame Zaghloul was kept in the house, and not allowed to leave?

I am quite prepared to leave these matters to the Egyptian Government.

Is it not a fact that this guard was put on this house at the request of the members of this gentleman's family and for the safety of the family?

I have no information further than that which I have already given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a meeting was convened by the Egyptian delegation under the presidency of His Highness Prince Youssef Kamal for 24th March to meet at the house of the late Sayed Abu Bakr Ratch Pasha: that more than 3,000 invitations to influential Egyptians and Europeans from all over Egypt were issued; that the object of the meeting was to discuss the Egyptian situation after the latest British declaration; that Prince Youssef Kamal was approached by the authorities with a view to inducing him not to preside over the meeting; that he refused to abandon the meeting; and that the authorities at the last moment prohibited the meeting; whether a political meeting in the form of a dinner, held at the Continental Hotel, Cairo, on 26th March, was allowed to take place; whether the Members of the Cabinet with other officials attended and Sarwat Pasha himself made a long political speech; and, if so, why some Egyptians are permitted to express their views on the political situation of their country and others prohibited from doing so?

I understand that the meeting mentioned in the first part of the question was prohibited by order of the Egyptian Prime Minister. It is for the Egyptian Government to decide what meetings may be held without detriment to public order.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that representations to Egypt have been made by Sudanese to include them in the coming elections for an Egyptian Assembly on the ground that the Nile Valley is indivisible, and that the Sudan is part of Egypt; and whether the wishes of the Sudanese will be taken into consideration?

I have no official information as to the first part of the question. It is well-known that the majority of the Sudanese people do not desire incorporation in the Egyptian State.

Can my hon. Friend say wherein this request conflicts with the suggestion of independence in the recent Treaty?

I have no information on the subject whatever.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now say if a decision has been come to as to the date of laying down the new battleships; and whether he can give a promise that one of these ships shall be built in Devonport dock yard?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the new battleships will be built in the royal yards or in private yards; and, if in royal yards, will he give consideration to the claims of the Devonport dockyard?

No decision has yet been reached as to the date for laying down the new battleships. Although the length of the new ships will be less than that of those projected before the Washington Conference, the width is approximately the same, and this would necessitate very extensive alterations to the slip if one of these ships were built in any of the royal yards. Under present circumstances such large additional expenditure cannot be considered.

In view of the fact that there are so many unemployed in Devonport, would it not be a useful scheme to enlarge one of these slips so as to give employment to these men now out of work?

Will the hon. Gentleman have regard to the fact that a vast amount of national capital is sunk in the dockyard which ought to be utilised, but cannot properly be utilised until this small expenditure is incurred?

I fully realise both of these considerations, but, in connection with the question previously raised, I think I made it clear that, in present circumstances, it would not be desirable to incur that expenditure.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can say why the extra increase of bonus to 75 per cent. is applied only to established men and hired men discharged from the Royal dockyards since March, 1920; whether he is aware that the concession has been made retrospective for established men from March, 1915, but not for hired men; and can he explain why this distinction was made?

The two cases referred to by my hon. Friend are not alike. A pensioned established employé is still connected with the Service. This is not so, however, in the case of a hired employé, whose contract is definitely terminated when he is discharged with a gratuity.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the invention of a process for manufacturing a non-inflammable gas, of approximately the same lift as hydrogen, called currenium; and, in view of the fact that it is reported that this gas can be produced much more cheaply than helium, will the Admiralty take the necessary steps to obtain full information, in view of the greatly increased value that the practical application of such a gas would make to airship development?

The Admiralty is watching progress in experiments with non-inflammable substitutes for hydrogen as a filling for airships, but the active pursuit of this question will no doubt be considered by the Secretary of State for Air, should he decide to re-establish an airship service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is satisfied that the Air Ministry have provided for the requirements of the Navy suitable machines for flying on and off the decks of the aircraft carriers, and whether a sufficient number of machines have been ordered by the Air Ministry to meet all reasonable naval requirements?

The problem of flying aircraft from and on to carriers is still in its infancy. Consequently, of the aircraft supplied up to the present by the Air Ministry, some types have been more successful than others. So far as the larger types are concerned, the matter is still in the experimental stage, but it is hoped that the new machines now under construction by the Air Ministry will prove suitable. With regard to the second part of the question, the provision of aircraft to meet naval needs which was originally agreed on between the two Departments for this financial year, has recently been considerably reduced as the result of the further economies required of the Air Ministry by His Majesty's Government.

Will the Navy secure enough aeroplanes for the carriers now under construction?

That would come into the Estimates for subsequent years.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, whether he is aware that, owing to the withdrawal of the reduced rate charges for men of the forces in uniform by the railway companies, many men, especially married men with families, stationed at Rosyth, will be unable to take advantage of their Easter leave; and what action the Admiralty propose to take?

I regret the hardship involved, but I have nothing to add at present to my reply of the 10th April to the hon. and gallant Member for Portsmouth.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the serious discontent which exists among the men in regard to this matter?

I am quite aware there is discontent.

Is the hon. Gentleman also aware that a Motion which I put down the other night—an Amendment to the Railway Bill—was ruled out of order by Mr. Speaker; and will he kindly communicate to the railway companies that decision of Mr. Speaker, and endeavour to persuade them to give these men proper facilities?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now state the date when it is proposed to commence the second distribution of prize money and the method of distribution to be adopted; whether he can ensure that the first distribution will be made to those officers and men who are entitled and have been demobilised; and can he yet state the amount of one share?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to make a definite statement as to when the distribution of prize money will take place?

Payment of the final distribution of prize money will begin before the end of the current month. The method of distribution will be the same as in the first distribution, except that payments to the Fleet and to demobilised officers and men will take place at the same time. The amount of a share is not yet known.

Can the hon. Gentleman give us a date?

Yes; before the and of the month.

That was the answer given on the last occasion. What I want to know is the actual day.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Admiralty had decided to substitute weekly payment for monthly payment in the coastguard on 1st April, 1922; whether this decision has been altered; whether he is aware of the very great inconvenience and hardship caused to many of the men, who are in some cases left without any money, having relied on the promise of the Admiralty; and whether he can make any statement?

Owing to the re-organisation of the Home Commands in the near future, it has been found necessary to postpone the commencement of the general system of weekly payments. Orders to this effect were promulgated to the coastguard on the 1st April, and there appears to be no reason why any inconvenience or hardship should result.

Are we to understand this arrangement is only postponed and that it will be adopted?

Yes, it will be adopted?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the projected airship service to Australia and the Far East; and, in view of the value of such a fleet of airships with bases throughout the Empire as an auxiliary reconnaissance force in time of war, what is the attitude of the Admiralty to this scheme?

The Admiralty view on the question of the airship service has already been given in this House. We viewed with regret the decision, for financial reasons, to abandon the existing airship service. That airships, if available in sufficient numbers, would be of great value in naval warfare is undoubted, and the possession in any future war of a considerable number of these craft would certainly be of importance to the Empire. Any development, therefore, of airships for commercial purposes would be welcomed by the Admiralty. The exact manner in which they would be used in war would depend on the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the action of the D.P. Battery Company, Bakewell, who, when discharging men from their employ, almost invariably make complaints against them to the Employment Exchanges of misconduct; whether, in all these cases, the charges have been found by the court of referees to be quite unfounded; and whether, as in these cases a considerable amount of expense is incurred by the State, he will take such steps as are necessary to put an end to this practice?

The complaints referred to are, I presume, the replies made by the firm to the inquiry which is invariably made by my Department as to the reason why an applicant for benefit lost his last employment, and which is an essential step for safeguarding the Unemployment Fund. I have no reason to suppose that these replies have been given by the firm otherwise than in good faith. In certain cases on which an appeal from the insurance officer's decision was made to the court of referees, but not in all, the decision of the court was that the ground of discharge was not such as to disqualify the applicant for benefit.

In the majority of the cases was that so?

Speaking quite offhand, I think it was five or six out of eight.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the report that the authorities of the London Hospital propose to restrict their medical teaching to men students; whether the hospital receives any assistance by way of grant from the public funds; whether such grant is made with or without conditions as to its employment; and whether, seeing that the restriction of medical teaching to male students is neither beneficial to the public health nor in agreement with the principle upon which grants from public funds to quasi-private organisations are made, he will say whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The only payments made to the London Hospital from the Ministry of Health Vote are in respect of the treatment of specific diseases. No part of the grant made by the Voluntary Hospitals Commission is applicable to the expenditure of the Medical School. I understand that in the opinion of the University Grants Committee, who make certain grants to the medical school, the question of requiring a particular school to admit women students would only arise if facilities for university education in medicine of qualified women students were inadequate. This situation has not arisen in London University.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the recent decision in the High Court in the ease of Nye v . Davis; whether he is aware that this decision will adversely affect thousands of occupants of London flats who, for the convenience of the owners of the flat, have to receive the services of an employé of the owners for such purposes as carrying up coals, etc.; that in many cases owners, believing that henceforth their flats are in consequence of these services excluded from the operations of the Rent Restrictions Act, have already threatened to increase rents; and if he can yet say whether he will introduce a Bill amending the Act to protect the occupants of such flats from the effects of the High Court judgment?

My right hon. Friend cannot add anything to the answer which he gave the hon. Member on Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he cabled to the Prime Minister of Australia a few days ago accepting responsibility on behalf of His Majesty's Government for a proportion of the interest upon a loan to be raised by the, Australian Government for the settlement of British persons in that Dominion; whether he will say what the amount of the loan will be, and the proportion of interest payable by the Imperial Government; and whether he will give a short description of the terms of the scheme and to what State or States in Australia it will be applicable?

The question of financial co-operation in schemes of settlement and migration is under discussion with the Commonwealth Authorities, but no decision has yet been taken. I hope to give a full explanation of the policy of His Majesty's Government as regards cooperation with the Oversea Government in this matter on the Second Reading of the Empire Settlement Bill.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that legislation is contemplated, or has been passed, in Germany which declares that where debts are owed by a company in Germany which is controlled by Allied interests outside Germany, and the same are paid under Article 296 of the Treaty of Peace, the full difference of the exchange shall be charged to that company; whether a German company controlled in Germany is exempt from such charge; and whether, since this measure is a direct infringement of Article 276 ( c ) of the Treaty, which states that Germany must not subject Allied nationals to any charge other or higher than those imposed on her own nationals, representations will be made to the German Government on the subject?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part of the question, the German Government contend that the valorisation of their debts is an obligation imposed upon debtors by the Treaty, and is not, therefore, an infringement of the Article referred to.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Peace Treaty makes any provision for compensation or reparation of Allied nationals who made contracts with Germans before the War in cases where, those contracts being dissolved by Article 299 of the Treaty, the German contracting party is now free to compete with the Allied national even to the extent of using the firm name or any other advantages which result from the contract?

I have been asked to reply. I am not certain that I understand exactly the circumstances to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, but where a contract between an Allied national or German national is dissolved in accordance with Article 299 of the Treaty, the German would appear to have lost any right which he might have had under the contract to use the name of the Allied national.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Boundary Commission now considering the frontier between Rumania and Hungary have received recently any fresh instructions from the Allied Governments; whether the conditions laid down in the letter of M. Millerand to the Hungarian Government in the early part of 1920 still holds; and whether the Boundary Commission are precluded from, or have decided against, considering the retrocession of any of the three towns of Arad, Nagyvarad, and Szatmarnementi to Hungary, of which the populations are said to be overwhelmingly Hungarian?

The latest general instructions to the Hungarian Boundary Commissioners were issued in August, last. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the retrocession to Hungary of the three towns named would be quite inconsistent with the Treaty of Peace, and cannot therefore be entertained.

Are the Boundary Commissioners unable to consider a modification of the boundary which would involve that change by reason of specific instructions being given to them; and, if so, will those instructions be presented to the House, so that the House may have an opportunity of considering them?

I will inquire into the latter point. My recollection is that in M. Millerand's letter it was not contemplated that so large a rectification would take place as that mentioned by my Noble Friend.

Is not that a matter for the Boundary Commissioners themselves to consider whether it comes in the terms of M. Millerand's letter, and not that fresh instructions should be given by the Allies in regard to this matter?

I will have that point considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can explain why parcels advised by the officers of His Majesty's Customs at Grimsby under Customs No. B28/34, 23/46, etc., on which reparation duties were paid to his collector on the 24th March last, have not been delivered; and, if so, in view of the impediment to business caused by these delays, will he take steps either to increase the staff or to improve the system and so prevent these delays and losses to the business community?

I am causing inquiries to be made into this matter, and will communicate to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state the total assets realised by the liquidation and sequestration of property of German nationals in this country; the total amount of the claims made by British nationals in respect of their property in enemy territory; whether these claims have yet been met; if not, will he state the reason for the delay; and whether, in view of the fact that no claims by British nations for reparation can be met until the cost of the British Armies of Occupation has been discharged, the surplus, if any, of the fund first mentioned will be devoted to meeting reparation claims?

I have been asked to reply. The total net proceeds realised by the liquidation and sequestration of German property in this country up to date are£31,030,886. With regard to the second, third and fourth parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 21st March to the hon. Member for Wimbledon. With regard to the last part, there is not at present any surplus.

asked the Prime Minister whether the reply received from the American Government to the Allied representations regarding the ex-German African colonies has been communicated to the Secretary General of the League of Nations; whether the British Government propose to accept the modifications in the draft mandates suggested by the American Government; and whether the reply of the American Government may be published forthwith?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Note is now under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to reply to the second and third parts of the question.

asked the Lord Privy Seal who has been appointed as Minister of Transport?

I have to-day received His Majesty's gracious approval of the appointment of my Noble Friend Earl Crawford as Minister of Transport, in addition to his post as First Commissioner of Works. As Minister of Transport he will draw no salary.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what are now the duties and emoluments of the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and whether, now that the Irish Free State is in existence, it is proposed to discontinue the office?

asked the Prime Minister whether the office of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is still in existence; if not, what office is now held by the right hon. and gallant Member for Sunderland; whether he is drawing any salary; and, if so, on what Vote is it charged?

The office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is still in existence, and my right hon. Friend is still Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, and is drawing the salary normally appropriated to his office which is charged on the Irish Office Vote, Class II, 42. The duties of the Lord Lieutenant and the Chief Secretary respectively were enumerated in the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies to my Noble Friend the Member for Battersea (Viscount Curzon) on the 13th February, and by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Kenyon) on the 9th February. The duties falling to be performed by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary are still too onerous to permit of the office being discontinued at present, but reference to the Estimates will show that provision has been made for its continu- ance during not more than six months of the present financial year.

Does that apply to the Lord Lieutenant too? Can he not be dispensed with?

Oh, no. The Crown must be represented in Ireland.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether beneficiaries having funds in the hands of the Public Trustee in Ireland have had or will have an opportunity of transferring their property to the Public Trustee in London before the responsibility of the British Government for such funds comes to an end?

This matter will receive due consideration. For the present, the Public Trustee, Ireland, has not been transferred to the Irish Government.

Does the hon. Gentleman remember that he told me the matter was receiving consideration? Can he give me any idea when it will be finally considered, and dealt with?

It is impossible to make final arrangements until the question of transfer to the Irish Government arises, but I can assure the hon. and learned Member when that time does come, the considerations which he advances will, of course, be regarded as most important.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how much money and what quantity of arms and ammunition have been handed over or sold by the British Government to the Irish Provisional Government; whether any further payments or delivery of arms have been promised; whether any condition has been made with the Irish Provisional Government that they shall restore law and order in Southern Ireland within any given time;. and whether the British Government are taking any, and what, steps to recover the arms and ammunition recently stolen from one of their vessels on the coast of Cork?

In reply to the first part of the question, 4,000 rifles, 2,200 revolvers, and 6 machine guns, to- gether with corresponding amounts of ammunition have been handed over by the British Government to the Provisional Government. I have, with the approval of the Cabinet, given authority for further issues to be made as required. The reply to the second and third parts of the question is in the negative. In reply to the last part of the question, I have no doubt that the Provisional Government, who are far more nearly concerned in this matter than the British Government, are taking all possible steps to recover these arms. I am informed that since the Treaty was signed 60 rifles of those handed over to the Provisional Government have been lost by them, about 600 taken from the Royal Irish Constabulary and 380 from the Admiralty.

Do these figures include the armoured cars which were turned over to the Provisional Government?

One of the armoured cars which was lent to the Provisional Government in connection with the Limerick disorders has passed out of its control. It is in the hands of people who are in a mutinous attitude towards the properly constituted authority in the country. But it has been dismantled and the essential parts of the mechanism removed.

I did not ask the right hon. Gentleman about the Provisional Government, but as to what steps the British Government were taking to recover their property taken from Cork?

We certainly are not going to take measures in the interior of Ireland to recover these goods.

Is anybody doing it for us? Are the armies of the Provisional Government?

The Provisional Government are, naturally, trying to secure in their own hands and in the hands of their adherents all the weapons loose in Ireland at the present time. We must leave it to them.

Are they doing anything to get back the property stolen from our Government? What is the Provisional Government doing?

As a matter of fact, the Provisional Government have, I think, certain grounds of complaint against us for having allowed, no doubt under very difficult circumstances, these things to pass out of the hands of the British Government into the hands of those who are, at least, as much enemies of the Provisional Government as they are of the British Government.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the total number of war pensions committee staff taken over by the Ministry in April, 1922; how many of these are ex-service and how many non-service; and how many on typing duties?

No members of the staffs of local war pensions committees have as yet been taken over by the Ministry. The actual transfers will be spread over several months, and will be effected as the new area offices are set up and the new committees appointed. My right hon. Friend will, of course, continue his present policy of giving preference to efficient ex-service men.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give the average shares in the retail cost of a pint of beer which are taken respectively by the Excise, the publican, and the brewer; and which of these three parties is the profiteer?

I have been asked to reply. For beer of the average gravity brewed in the early months of the current year and sold at 7d. a pint, the Excise Duty represents 3⅓d. per pint. The inquiries made in my Department lead to the conclusion that the division of the remainder is, approximately, 2d. for brewers' costs and profits and 1⅔d. for retailing expenses and profits. These proportions represent average conditions, not the charges on every kind of beer. I am unable to assist my hon. and gallant Friend in providing an answer to the last part of his question.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the brewer gets less than a half-penny a pint and the publican a little more than a half-penny, and therefore how is it possible to reduce it a penny a pint to the public without very great loss?

I think my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in answer to a question on Monday, made an approximate calculation that a penny a pint represented£30,000,000.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, owing to reductions being made in the Employment Department, the result is that there are or will be a number of senior permanent civil servants redundant; will he state the number; and what is the intention in regard to these officials, in view of the fact that other Departments are also being reduced?

In pursuance of the policy of securing the utmost degree of economy in administration, I have recently been able to reduce the number of administrative areas of the Employment Department in Great Britain from nine to seven, and as a result a certain number of permanent officers will be rendered available for other duty. This change has only recently been effected and it is not possible to state, at the. moment, the precise number of permanent officers who will be released. My intention is, however, to see that every officer who is released is appropriately employed on other duties in the Ministry—whether in a permanent or a temporary Department—and my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that, in order that this end may be secured, it will be necessary for me to terminate the appointments of a number of temporary officers.

Can my right hon. Friend say in how much jeopardy those who are employed in the temporary Departments now stand, especially as regards the Appointments Branch and the Civil Liabilities Branch?

I have not quite followed my hon. and gallant Friend's question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman going to appoint these surplus officers to take over the work of those in the temporary Departments?

Not take over, but it may very well be that some of my redundant officers may take the places of some of those in any Departments, temporary or otherwise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether his Department has received any protests from South Yorkshire local authorities or manufacturing interests against the Electricity Bill; and what progress has been made in preparing schemes for centralising the electricity supplies of that district?

The answer to the first portion of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second portion of the question, a scheme for the re-organisation of supply in the North-East Midlands electricity district, which includes the southern portion of Yorkshire, was submitted to the Electricity Commissioners at the end of June last year. A local Inquiry was fixed by the Commissioners for November last, but was deferred at the request of the promoters of the scheme.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that the London and South Western Railway Company have refused to accept an agreement entered into with other railway companies that vans with shelves should be provided for the transport of small packages of strawberries and other soft fruit; and whether, in view of the fact that this fruit when packed in tiers arrives in the market in a damaged condition owing to the oscillation of the train, he will approach the company in question and endeavour to get some arrangement made prior to the season commencing?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to an almost identical question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Basingstoke (Colonel Sir A. Holbrook), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether a proposal for a Greek loan is again before the Trades Facilities Committee; and whether any Government guarantee of financial assistance, direct or indirect, to the Greek Government is contemplated, other than the release of certain Greek revenues as security for a Greek loan which has already been granted?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and consequently the remainder of the question docs not arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what securities have been assigned or promised to the Greek Government during the past two years?

I do not understand the hon. Member's question. No securities have been assigned or promised by His Majesty's Government to the Greek Government.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what securities have been released?

I should require notice before I could give particulars.

Does the hon. Gentleman say that certain securities have been released by the British Government in order to enable the Greek Government to borrow upon them?

Certainly. I say the Greek Government has agreed with the British Government for the release of their lien over certain assets of the Greek Government in order to facilitate the borrowing operations of the Greek Government; but I shall require notice before I can give particulars of the extent or nature of those assets.

Before these loans were released, did we make any inquiries as to what the money would be required for, or did we make any stipulations?

To the best of my knowledge the only understanding was that as much as possible of the money the Greek Government was to obtain from private members on the London market was to be spent in this country, but, as hon. Members know, these negotiations were a failure.

Can the hon. Gentleman indicate why what was apparently so exceptional a favour was shown to the Greek Government?

Was it definitely said that this money was not to be used to fight the enemy, the Turk, or anyone else?

I think I have given the whole understanding arising out of the matter.

Can I ask my hon. Friend, in view of the very well-known established rule of international law that a neutral country must not lend money to one of two belligerents, whether precautions were taken that this money was not to be used for warlike purposes?

Was this decision the decision of the British Government alone, or taken in conjunction with our Allies?

I shall require notice of that question

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when the Government consented to the release of certain securities for the purpose of facilitating the raising of a loan by the Greek Government in this country, any information was before it as to the purposes to which the loan would be applied; and, if so, if he will say what they were?

The only understanding was that, if the Greek Government raised a loan on the London market, as large a proportion as possible would be spent on the purchase of British goods.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when the appeal by the pension officer at Abertillery against the Local Pension Committee's decision to grant a pension to Elizabeth Rigby, No. 1,719 in the pension officer's register, will be heard and the decision given; and what are the grounds for the great delay in this case, seeing that the claimant was 70 years of age on 23rd September, 1921, and her claim was sanctioned on 21st February, 1922?

The papers relating to this appeal have been referred back to the Local Pension Committee, and it is hoped that it may be practicable to give a decision very shortly after their return.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, with reference to the terms and conditions of grants to voluntary hospitals as approved by His Majesty's Treasury, he will modify the conditions of paragraph 7, which stipulates that grants made by the commission are to be applied wholly to maintenance and in no case to capital expenditure, so that hospitals in course of erection and whose authorities are in financial difficulties may be able to appeal to the commission for financial assistance to complete the work they have in hand?

The Government decided against the proposal of Lord Cave's Committee for a grant in aid of capital expenditure on hospitals on the ground that the hospitals were not paying their way on the existing buildings and that it was unwise to build while costs were so high. I can hold out no hope of reconsideration of this decision in present financial conditions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the decisions of the Referee that a number of chemicals and other articles have been improperly placed in the lists of dutiable articles under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, he will take steps to reimburse the complainants the costs to which they have been subjected in establishing the fact that the responsible officers of the Board of Trade acted improperly in placing such articles on the list?

The machinery set up by the Act for testing the correctness of the lists issued by the Board of Trade was specially designed with the view of eliminating unnecessary expense, and the rules of procedure laid down by the Referee were framed with a similar view. Complainants, who incurred heavy expenses, did so on their own initiative, and I am therefore not prepared to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

But does the Board of Trade realise that only those cases where expert legal assistance was forthcoming have been rescinded, while other cases where legal and expert assistance had not been sought have been retained?

That is fully realised, but that does not affect the answer that I gave, that the process of adjudication was designed so as to inflict the minimum of expense on applicants, and the Board of Trade have themselves consistently throughout followed that rule, for instance, by the employment only of junior counsel, instead of senior.

But as the Board of Trade improperly put them on this list, why should the trader be penalised for the mistakes that the Board of Trade have made?

There is a subsequent question dealing with that point.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that trade is being handicapped by the delays and damage caused by the examination and sampling of goods by the Customs authorities to ascertain whether such goods are liable to duty under the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and whether, to facilitate trade, he will take steps to ensure that the shipping documents and, if necessary, a sworn declaration by the importer shall be sufficient proof to enable the Customs authorities to give a quick release and delivery?

As I have frequently stated, pending the final decision, immediate delivery of goods may be obtained on a deposit being made with the Customs Department to secure any duty which may prove to be chargeable, and I am not prepared to adopt the suggestion contained in the latter part of the question. It must not be assumed that I accept the allegation contained in the opening part of the question.

Is it not a fact that this system of deposit increases the amount of capital required to carry on business, and is not that a bad system, in view of the scarcity of capital to-day?

Undoubtedly the necessity of making a deposit may in some cases—I do not think in all—increase the amount of capital required in business. On the other hand, it is a very convenient method of dealing with the situation.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in one case no less than£600 was required as a deposit, and it took the applicant four months to get his money back?

I am always willing to investigate any case if the hon. Member will give particulars.

Did he get interest in that case?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, when collecting duties on commodities liable to duty, His Majesty's Customs demand duty on the casks, barrels, and other containers as well as on the commodities themselves; and can he state if the duty levied is at the same rate on the cask as it is on the contents?

No duty is charged on casks, barrels or other containers as such, but in the case of goods dutied on an ad valorem , basis the statutory value for duty is the price which an importer would give for the goods delivered, freight and insurance paid, in bond at the port of importation. This price would include the cost of packing and of the containers, if any.

On what ground is duty levied on the cask when there is no separate duty levied on the article?

On the interpretation of the Statute.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can explain on what grounds His Majesty's Customs make a charge for opening packages to ascertain whether the goods are liable to duty; and on what bases these charges are made?

No such charge is made by the Customs Department.

If I bring a case to the notice of the hon. Gentleman will he reconsider it?

I should be most happy to do so, though I imagine the hon. Member is very likely to find that these charges have been made by the Port and Harbour Authorities concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Post Office Authorities are now levying a fee of 6d., in addition to ordinary charges, upon every post parcel which passes through their hands on which the Customs authorities collect duty, and that in many cases the duty only amounts to two or three pence; and whether he will seek powers to exempt from these delays and costs all packages on which the amount of duty to be collected does not exceed 1s.?

I have been asked to answer this question. The amount of duty raised on a parcel affords no indication of the cost to the Post Office of clearing it through the Customs; and as the fee of 6d. does not cover the average cost of the services performed by the Post Office on behalf of the addressees in clearing dutiable parcels through the Customs and collecting the duty, I regret that I can find no justification for the concession for which the hon. Member asks.

Do I understand from that reply that if there is an amount of duty to be collected the Post Office charge 6d. for their trouble?

I am not quite sure whether the hon. Gentleman desires the remission of the Customs duty or the Post Office fee. As mentioned in my reply, the amount received in fees does not cover the cost of the service.

By what power do you make this charge over and above the ordinary postage? Are you entitled to do it?

Yes, certainly; but I must ask for notice of the question in order that I may give an exact answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the principal calico printers in this country cannot maintain their export trade unless they can buy high-grade dyes essential for their products at prices at least approximately as low as the prices paid by their competitors abroad; and whether he will see that the prices at which dyes received by the Government in payment of reparation are sold in this country are not higher than the prices at which similar dyes can be obtained by dye-users in Germany, America, and other countries?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would point out that the cost of dyes is only one element, and, in most cases, not the principal element, and in the cost of producing the goods referred to, the prices at which German reparation dyes are sold are fixed after consultation with the manufacturing and consuming interests concerned, and approximate as closely as practicable to current market values. The suggestion, however, contained in the second part of the question would not be practicable.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he has seen a report of the proceedings of the Abertillery Urban District Council for 27th March, 1922, in which it was stated in the Gas Committee's report that the cost of repairing leakages during the month caused by subsidence was£33 0s. 11d., besides a large quantity of gas being lost; that a councillor stated that during the past year repairs to his house caused by subsidence had cost him over£60 for damage, over which he had no control and no legal remedy, and that during the past 10 years he believed it had cost the council over£10,000 for damage to their buildings, water and gas mains, and the breaking up of the roads, and that at the beginning of that council's term of office no less a sum than£500 was put in the estimates to deal with subsidence; that the council's accountant estimated that but for subsidence they could have reduced the price of gas 2s. 6d. per 1,000 cubic feet; that in Glandwr Street, Abertillery, some of the houses, through subsidence, have the appearance of having been subjected to shell fire; will he, therefore, send a representative of His Majesty's Government to this district to investigate the conditions and report; and will he bring in the Bill long overdue to remedy this deplorable state of things arising from subsidence as a result of mining operations?

The Report referred to in this question has not previously been brought to my notice. My Department are in consultation with the Ministry of Health on the possibility of introducing any legislation to deal with surface damage from mining operations, but I am unable at present to say when such legislation is likely to be introduced or what form it might take.

The hon. Gentleman has not answered one part of my question. Will he send someone representing the Government down to this district to investigate the conditions?

That is a question which should be asked of the Minister of Health, as the point arises out of the local authorities' position, and has nothing to do with me.

Will the hon. Gentleman consult with the Minister in reference to that? It is very important.

I have just said in my answer that I am doing so.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that Danish and Norwegian trawlers frequently fish in the Moray Firth, in defiance of the Order prohibiting such fishing, and that no prosecution of such foreign trawlers has been made; that native trawlers axe subjected to heavy penalties for this offence; and will he take steps to have the law enforced against foreign as well as native fishermen?

My right hon Friend is aware that foreign trawlers occasionally visit the Moray Firth, but none of Norwegian or Danish nationality have been observed for some years. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. Owing to international considerations, the course proposed by my hon. and learned Friend presents grave difficulties, and my right hon. Friend is not in a position to give the undertaking which he desires.

Was not one of those foreign skippers convicted and imprisoned, and had to be released owing to representations made by the Foreign Office?

It is quite true that some years ago there was a conviction in the Scottish Courts.

Have the Government been in consultation with the Foreign Office with regard to the whole question of the Moray Firth?

I understand so.

Is it not the case that if the German trawlers catch fish in the Moray Firth they can land it in this country free?

The answer is in the negative, if fishing within prohibited waters under the Statute of 1909.

May fishermen fish in the Moray Firth in the meantime?

Is there a special mark on the fish which is caught in German waters?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government have bought, or are contemplating buying, any licensed houses in the Control Board area of the Carlisle district?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answers which I have lately given on this subject, the effect of which is that no acquisitions of licensed premises in this area have been made recently, and none is in immediate contemplation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer approximately the amount of Income Tax, Super-tax, and Corporation Profits Tax, respectively due to be paid for the last financial year, but which remained unpaid on 1st April?

The approximate amounts of Income Tax and Super-tax estimated to be due to be paid but not paid by 31st March, 1922, are: Income Tax (excluding the instalment due on 1st July, 1922),£110,000,000. Super-tax,£24,000,000. The amount of Corporation Profits Tax in assessment but unpaid (less sums shown due to be remitted) at 31st March, 1922, is approximately£12,000,000.

Before putting this question, may I ask, on a point of Order, why it is that questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer come on the Order Paper so long after the questions to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and in future will you say, Sir, whether it is better to put down questions to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in order to have an answer at an earlier stage of the proceedings?

If the hon. Member will be good enough to look at the list in the "No" Lobby, he will see the order in which questions are arranged.

My hon. Friend will appreciate that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer cannot anticipate the Budget statement. He must not, however, be taken as admitting either that the transfer duty of 1 per cent, is a serious deterrent to business, or that the reduction of the duty would necessarily of itself lead to an increase of business.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the interests of trade and the formation of new business enterprises, which are essential to the maintenance and development of Great Britain and her Empire, he will consider the desirability of reducing the present heavy Company Registration Fee, now standing at 1 per cent, of the capital?

My hon. Friend may rest assured that the Stamp Duty on the capital of companies will be considered along with other taxes in connection with the forthcoming Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any ex-service women who have received injuries in the War have been refused the right of approach to the Investigation Board set up to consider the claims of ex-service men in a similar position who failed in the examination by reason of their disability?

The Investigating Board can only deal with cases submitted to it by heads of Departments under paragraphs 36–39 of the Third Report of Lord Lytton's Committee; but its procedure applies equally to ex-service men and ex-service women, and I am aware of no discrimination between ex-service personnel on grounds of sex.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a disabled overseas ex-service woman in the Ministry of Labour has been informed by the Civil Service Commissioners that she may not sit for the forthcoming special establishment examination for ex-service persons under the Lytton Report, and that other ex-service women have been similarly informed that this examination is for men only; and whether, in view of the fact that the Lytton Committee Report distinctly lays down that ex-service men and women should be treated on an absolutely equal footing, and that the Government has adopted that Report, he can see his way to allowing the women concerned to sit for the ex-service men's examination in April, or to announce an early date for the further examination for women referred to in the Lytton Report for entry into the clerical class, so that these women may not be treated worse than home-service men?

The competition recently announced is for men only. Ex-service women who are similarly situated to the men for whom this competition is intended will be eligible to compete at the examination for the clerical class to be held, in accordance with the recommendations of paragraph 35 of the Third Interim Report of the Lytton Committee, for women who have been employed in posts above that of a Grade I temporary clerk. The regulations for this competition are at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the recent ministerial crisis in Bagdad is now over; whether the vacant portfolios have been filled; whether the situation on the South-Western Euphrates frontier is still disturbed; and whether attacks on the shiah holy city of Kerbela and Nejef are threatening?

The High Commissioner has not yet reported that the vacant portfolios have been filled. I expect to receive further information very shortly. The reply to the third and fourth parts of this question is in the negative.