asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Treaty between the United States of America, the British Empire, France, and Japan definitely excludes the Northern portion of Saghalin from Japanese sovereignty and postulates the relinquishment by Japan of the maritime province?

There is no mention of Northern Saghalin in the Treaty. With regard to the second part of the question, the scope of the Treaty does not extend to the maritime province.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health the total number of houses in Glasgow built, building, or sanctioned, respectively, for which subsidies to private builders have been paid or approved?

As at 28th April, 113 houses out of a sanctioned total of 171 had been built in Glasgow under the private builders' subsidy scheme. No information is available to show how many of the remaining 58 are actually being built.

asked the Prime Minister whether, simultaneously with the introduction of legislation to give effect in England to certain of the proposals of the Geddes Committee, it is intended to introduce separate legislation on the same subjects for Scotland?

I cannot say at present to what extent it will be necessary to have separate legislation for Scotland.

asked the Prime Minister what agreements have been entered into by various nations since November, 1918, give dates of such agreements, and names of nations subscribing thereto?

An exhaustive return would comprise some hundreds of agreements and entail much laborious research; and I could not guarantee its completeness in respect to agreements to which this country is not a party. I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the "Treaty Series" issued by the League of Nations, with whom all international agreements concluded by members of the League have now to be registered forthwith, and by whom all such agreements have to be published as soon as possible after registration. A new volume of "British and Foreign State Papers" covering the year 1919 is on the point of being published, in which the texts of all the more important international agreements are printed; and the hon. Member will also find two unofficial lists (1919–20 and 1920–21), which may be sufficiently complete for his purpose, in the first two volumes of the "British Year Book of International Law."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that, as a result of the men and boys in the Navy having to pay full railway fare to their homes when on leave instead of single fare as previously, a good many (especially boys) are unable to get home, and are thereby compelled to stay at the port for their leave; and, in view of this condition of affairs, will he renew the practice "of paying part, if not the whole, of the fare to all such hands to their homes?

No details of the number of men who were unable to take their leave have been received, but it is unfortunately probable that the lack of cheap travelling facilities is resulting in hardship. Much as the Admiralty regret this, they fear they cannot adopt the suggestion in the second part of the question. As the hon. Member is, no doubt, aware, the pre-War facilities were afforded by the railway companies, and as I stated in my reply of the 10th April to the hon. and gallant Member for Portsmouth (Sir B. Falle), the companies have been pressed to revert to the pre-War arrangements. Xo reply has yet been received from them. I am pleased to say, however, that the Great Western Railway Company did grant excursion fare rates to men proceeding on Easter leave from Devonport.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the conditions under which the diagnosis of the English Government experts, with regard to disease found in Canadian cattle, was made, and the result of such diagnosis?

In October, 1892, certain farmers of Fifeshire and Forfarshire reported to the police that they suspected recently imported Canadian store cattle to be affected with contagious pleuro-pneumonia. Veterinary inspectors of the local authorities concerned reported to the Board of Agriculture that they also suspected the animals to be affected with the disease. They were, accordingly, instructed to kill the suspected animals and to send their lungs to the Royal Veterinary College, London, where they were examined by Sir George Brown, M.R.C.V.S., of the Royal Veterinary College, and Director of the Veterinary Department of the Board of Agriculture, and other pathologists, who diagnosed the lesions present to be those of contagious pleuro-pneumonia. The Board accepted the correctness of this diagnosis, and prohibited the entry of live animals into the interior of Great Britain, but still permitted Canadian cattle to be imported for slaughter at the ports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the great loss sustained by farmers on account of the restrictions on the removal of cattle; whether he will inquire into the case of Mr. John Lockett, of Ambaston Grange, Derby, who has been prevented from removing 100 head of cattle from Ambaston Grange, whore his tenancy ceased on 25th March, to Yeldersley, in Derbyshire, as a consequence of which he has sustained very serious loss by deterioration in the cattle owing to lack of foodstuffs; and whether any compensation can be paid in cases such as this?

I am aware that the restrictions on the removal of cattle unfortunately involve farmers in certain cases in considerable loss. I am informed that Ambaston Grange is situated in an infected district, out of which the movement of animals is prohibited, two outbreaks of disease having occurred in the district as recently as the 25th ultimo. The Ministry has no authority to pay compensation for loss in cases such as this.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Lieut. T. Vincent Prior, of 9, Morton Terrace, Greenock, late No. A.N. 12,589, although prevented from following his usual occupation of navigating officer through his disability, has not yet received settlement of his retired pay and pension; and will he cause inquiries to be made into this matter?

This officer is in receipt of retired pay at the 70 per cent, rate for neurasthenia. A further claim in respect of an impaired arm is under consideration, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Education the total number of public elementary school places in England and Wales; the average number of these per thousand of the population; and the proportion of such places to the population in the following school areas: Birmingham, Bournemouth, East Ham, Eastbourne, Swansea and Southport?

The answer to the hon. Member's question is as follows: (i) Total number of public elementary school places in England and Wales on 31st March, 1921 7,091,972 (ii) Average number of public elementary school places per 1,000 of the population (census of 1921) 187.196 (iii) Average number of public elementary school places per 1,000 of the population in Birmingham 162.43 Bournemouth 111.71 East Ham 196.90 Eastbourne 108.42 Southport 113.90 Swansea 195.32

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of men and of women, respectively, holding administrative positions at the Board of Education, the nature of the positions held by the women members, and the names of the present holders of such positions?

There are 77 men and two women holding administrative posts in the Board of Education. Of the two women one—Miss I. A. Dickson—is an assistant secretary; the other—Miss K. W. Elliott—is a temporary examiner.

asked the President of the Board of Education if Circulars 1227 and 1244, though specifying only men teachers, are intended to include women teachers; and if the Board, while prepared to recognise for the calculation of grant additional expenditure incurred by local education authorities who desire to treat periods of War service with the forces as qualifying men assistant teachers for increments on the appropriate scales, is prepared to recognise that the War service of women teachers be also treated as teaching service for salary purposes in the same way that the War services of men are recognised in Circulars 1227 and 1244?

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether German firms or firms of which German subjects are partners or directors are now allowed to trade under the same conditions as are applicable to British subjects in British possessions overseas?

Generally speaking the answer is in the affirmative. In this respect Colonial and Protectorate Governments follow the practice of His Majesty's Government. The importation of German dyes and dyestuffs is usually prohibited and certain articles may not be exported to foreign destinations, but these restrictions apply to all traders alike, and no restriction is imposed on German firms as such trading with the Colonies and Protectorates. There are also certain restrictions as to the payment of pre-War debts and similar matters imposed in virtue of the Peace Treaty. For the present, German individuals are not allowed to enter Colonies and Protectorates except under special permit from the Colonial Government, but any Germans, to whom such a special permit is granted, are permitted to trade in the same way as other residents in the Colony.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, although thousands of tons of metal at the Gretna factory have been sold, the purchasers cannot get it away quickly on account of the refusal of the management at the factory to allow the employment of further labour; and whether, in view of the distress existing amongst the community which has been dependent upon employment in the factory, he will take steps to remove this embargo on the employment of additional labour?

I am advised by the Disposal and Liquidation Commission that the management of Gretna factory have never refused to call in necessary labour, and that no complaints have been received from contractors that would appear to justify the suggestion made by the hon. Member.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the gratuities already recommended by the Secretary of State for War for temporary employés at Woolwich Arsenal, who have completed seven years' continuous service in conformity with Rule 61 of the Rules and Regulations of the Ordnance Factories, have been paid to manual employés but withheld from non-manual employés, namely, draughtsmen, &c.?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave on this subject to the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall) on the 17th August last, and to the hon. Member for West Ham (Mr. W. Thorne) on the 16th December last, of which I am sending him copies. The Treasury is in communication with the Departments concerned as to the position of draughtsmen in this connection, and I will communicate with the hon. Member in the matter at an early date.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what amount of the capital of Home Grown Sugar, Limited, is held by the Government; and what guarantees as to the interest have been given?

The position remains as stated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for the Hulme Division (Lieut.-Colonel Nail) on the 13th May, 1921.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in connection with the claim of Messrs. Woodhead Brothers, Leeds, against the Ministry of Munitions, he is aware that the firm did not voluntarily agree to accept the sum of £1,000 in full settlement of the claim, and only signed the receipt under pressure and in order to obtain some part of the debt; and whether he will have this question further inquired into, with a view to the payment of the balance owing to this firm?

There is no foundation for the suggestion contained in the first part of the question. The payment to Messrs. Woodhead Brothers was made "ex gratia," and in view of the careful investigation which the case received I regret that I am not prepared to consider any further grant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the British taxpayers' holding of £750,000 preference shares in the British Cellulose Company is to be given away in order to increase the value of the ordinary shares in this company held by certain favoured individuals; and whether Parliament will have an opportunity of discussing and voting on this proposal before public money is given away in this manner?

The present position of the British Cellulose Company was fully explained by the chairman at the general meeting of the company, held yesterday, 1st May. The Government decided to surrender 750,000 preference shares as it was indispensable to the company to have further working capital unless they were to go into liquidation, and the Government arrived at the conclusion that it would be preferable to relinquish these shares rather than permit liquidation or contribute further capital, with the knowledge that by so doing there was a reasonable probability of the position of the company materially improving, and thus increasing the value of the shares retained by the Government. It was a condition of the surrender that the investors and certain other parties interested in the undertaking should enter into agreements of considerable advantage to the company. The shares surrendered were practically of no realisable value. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what dividends have been received to date on account of the Government's investments of the taxpayers' money in dyes, dope, and Nauru guano, respectively?

The total amount received to date by way of the dividends on the Government's investments in the British Dyestuffs Corporation is £133,025 4s. 5d. A payment of £54,600 on account in respect of interest and sinking fund for the year ended the 30th June last has been made by the British Phosphate Commissions to the Exchequer. No return has been obtained from the investments in the British Cellulose Company.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many shares the Government own in the Hoffman Ballbearing Company; whether they have appointed any directors to this company, and, if so, who, and at what salaries, and for how long; whether the Government shares in this concern have been offered for sale; whether any offers have been received; and, if so, why no offer has been accepted?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to the hon. Member for Wigan (Mr. Allen Parkinson) on the 15th February last.

asked the Home Secretary the date of the introduction of the Industrial Assurance Bill?

I am not yet able to state a date, but I hope the introduction of the Bill will not be long delayed.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to stop the use of bells on motor cars, excepting only motor ambulances and fire brigade cars?

I have been asked to answer this question. The standardisation of means of giving audible warning of approach by various classes of mechanically propelled vehicles was considered by the Departmental Committee on the Regulation of Road Vehicles, but they did not make any recommendations on the subject in their recently issued Report. Bells are in fact very seldom used on motor vehicles other than ambulances and fire engines, and I do not consider it necessary to take any steps in the direction indicated in my hon. Friend's question.