asked the Secretary of State for War whether many members of the clerical staff of Woolwich Arsenal have recently been dismissed and deprived of the gratuity to which they are entitled after seven years' service: and, if so, why?

My hon. and gallant Friend is presumably referring to the compassionate gratuity under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1887. No person is entitled to a gratuity under that Section, and it is not considered that temporary clerks engaged in connection with the War, who happen to have been retained as long as seven years, can properly be regarded as coming within the category of non-pensionable employment to which the Act was intended to apply.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the conditions of the War Office circular letter 35/Gen., No./2,455 (A.G.I.R.), dated 24th December, 1920, are not being carried out, in consequence of which disabled officers have been discharged from several record offices and their duties are now being carried on by Regular officers: and will he take steps to stop this practice?

No, Sir; I am not aware that any disabled officers have been replaced in record offices by officers who are fit for return to their regiments. The only assistant officers now serving in record offices who do not come under the provisions of the circular letter referred to are seven supernumerary quartermasters, w-ho were appointed before the date of the circular, and who are being retained in the record offices pending the occurrence of regimental vacancies into which they can be absorbed.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any other battalions of the Regiments of Guards, besides the Irish Guards, are likely to be sent abroad; and, if so, which and for what period of time?

There is no immediate prospect of sending abroad any battalion of the Regiments of Guards other than the Irish Guards.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will inquire into the case of Private Phillip Zivin, No. 62,670, G Company, 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, a British subject of alien extraction, who was arrested on the 29th April, 1922, as a deserter from the Army more than three years ago and is now a prisoner in the Tower; and whether, in view of the fact that he enlisted under the age of 18 years without his parent's consent and served in the Army for about four months, when he came home on leave from Ireland and did not return, it will be considered a case in which a trial by court-martial may be dispensed with and the man's discharge effected immediately?

Yes, Sir; I will make inquiries and communicate further with the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to continue exemption from Corporation Profits Tax to statutory companies which engage in competitive business outside of their primary duty?

As stated in his Budget speech, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes that the existing exemption shall be extended for a further period of three years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of passing, at the earliest possible opportunity consistent with the financial position of the country, a Bill for giving effect to the recommendations of the Minority Report of the Committee on Old Age Pensions for increasing the means limit for old age pensioners?

I am not prepared to reopen the settlement embodied in the Old Age Pensions Act, 1919.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that the expenditure of the Law Courts exceeded the receipts by £144,405 for the year 1921, although there had been a balance in hand for more than 30 years previously, any steps will be taken to avoid deficits in the future?

It is not quite accurate to say that the receipts from the Supreme Court have, except in 1921, always exceeded the expenditure as is implied in the question. Deficits have arisen in other years, particularly in the post-War period, due to conditions arising out of the War. It is hoped that the new scale of fees approved as the result of the recent Committee (Cmd. 1,865), combined with the close review of expenditure which has been and will continue to be exercised, will restore the pre-War position.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the British Cellulose Company owed the British Government £1,450,000 in 1920; whether this debt was secured by mortgage debentures; when the Government accepted preference shares in lieu of mortgage debentures; and on whoso advice was this arrangement made?

The sum mentioned represented the advances made by the Government during the War towards the cost of the buildings and plant required for the undertaking. It was secured by mortgage; but the whole assets of the company after the War, when it was proposed to embark on the manufacture of artificial silk, would if sold have realised only a small part of the sums advanced for other purposes. It was accordingly decided, in order to assist the company in the new venture and to enhance the value of the Government's asset, to accept preference shares of the nominal value of the sums advanced in lieu of the existing mortgage and debentures, thereby saving the company from going into liquidation. This action was taken on the advice of the Minister of Munitions and of his technical advisers.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the British Government holds £1,450,000 preference shares in the British Cellulose and Chemical Manufacturing Company; whether this company has lost over £1,000,000 during the last two years; whether a scheme for the reconstruction of the company has been submitted providing for a holding company with £500,000 capital running the business; whether the British Government has agreed to assist this scheme by giving the new company £750,000 preference shares; whether the market price of those shares when this arrangement was made was £166,250; and whether, seeing that this action has been agreed upon without consulting this House, its consent will be asked for before those shares belonging to the British Government are given away for nothing to a private company?

The answers to the first four parts of the question are in the affirmative. For a full statement of the position I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the chairman of the company at their general meeting on Monday last. As regards the fifth part the shares, except in very small numbers, were practically of no realisable value at the time of the agreement to surrender a part of them to the parties furnishing the additional capital required to prevent, the company going into liquidation. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can now state the definite terms of the loan guaranteed by the Government to the underground railway companies of London; whether one of the conditions is the provision of an annual sinking fund for repayment of the loan; if so, can he state details of the same; and were any conditions imposed on the companies as regards charging reasonable fares to passengers, and also providing efficient and sufficient services for the passengers on the tube railways which are to be improved and extended?

The definite terms of the loan guaranteed by the Government to the underground railway companies have not yet been settled, and I therefore cannot say whether or not one of the conditions will be that an annual sinking fund should be provided for the repayment of the loan, but in any case the repayment will be an unconditional obligation of the companies. As regards the last part of the question, no special conditions were imposed: but the companies are, of course, amenable to the existing provisions of the law in this respect. One of the results of the guarantee will be that the accommodation on the City and South London Railway will be very considerably improved, and the comfort of travelling public there by increased.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government has any interest in the English Beet Sugar Corporation?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can make a statement as to the nationality of the present holders in the English Sugar Beet Corporation?

I have no information on the subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether ex-service men, appointed to the permanent clerical class on the result of the recent Civil Service examination, have been appointed at the salary appropriate, according to scale, to civil servants of that class at the age of 18; and, if so, whether some modification can be made in view of the fact that ex-service men thus appointed have lost several years' seniority by reason of their war service?

I would refer to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Buckingham (Captain Bowyer).

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that ex-service men before being accepted for training are asked to sign a form of agreement that their training may be terminated at any time by the Minister of Labour without any cause assigned; and if he will consider the withdrawal of this condition, in view of the likelihood that it would repel the better type of trainee, who would naturally expect that his training should extend over an agreed period which would not be liable to interruption?

The form of agreement to which my hon. Friend refers is in the following termsI understand and agree that my training may be terminated at any time by the Minister of Labour without any cause assigned. It is necessary to have the declaration in order to enable the Department to reconsider the trainee's position in certain cases, e.g., where it has become clear that the trainee is not capable of gaining any benefit from the training. It has not been found that trainees have raised any objections to signing this declaration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, until recently, disabled ex-soldiers were given preference to posts on the established staff and afterwards ex-service men, without distinction between those who joined for the duration of the War and those who were termed professional soldiers; whether these arrangements have been altered at the request of the War Office and the professional soldier is being given preference over those who fought in the Great War only; and, if so, the reasons for this discrimination?

There has been no recent change of practice. All vacancies for postmen available for ex-service candi- dates are given to disabled men whenever possible. But among both disabled and able-bodied men preference is given to the long-service professional soldiers. I feel bound to give this preference, in view of the long-standing arrangement under which a proportion of postmen's vacancies has been reserved for professional soldiers. The prospect of obtaining an appointment in the Post Office was one of the advantages offered on enlistment.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the women clerks in the Savings Bank Department have been compelled to do overtime almost continuously for nearly seven years; that the amount of sick leave is in consequence excessive; and that, except in short periods of seasonal pressure, the male clerks are not compelled to do overtime; and whether, in the interest of efficiency and economy, he will arrange that the overtime caused by war-time arrears shall, by a fair division of overtime duties, be overtaken by utilising the services of the male as well as the female staff?

It is the case that the women clerks in the Savings Bank have been required to perform overtime, with intervals of relief, during the period mentioned, owing to pressure of work during the War and in order to overtake arrears accumulated in that period. Their total weekly attendance, including overtime and intervals for meals, does not exceed 44½ hours; and there is no reason to suppose that the amount of sick leave, though higher than it was before the War, is attributable to the hours of duty. The overtime arises on work which is proper to the women's branches, but assistance in overtaking the arrears has been given by junior male clerical officers for the past two years, and from a more recent date by temporary officers employed on part time.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will explain how employés engaged in sub-post offices are paid whose duties during a portion of the day are on post office work and during the other portion are on the regular commercial work of the sub-postmaster; whether a definite remuneration for post office work is laid down in these cases; and whether the employé signs for the post office wage apart from payment for other work?

These matters are arranged by the sub-postmasters who employ the assistants. No definite remuneration for post office work is laid down.

asked the Postmaster-General whether assistant superintendents of traffic in the London telephone service appointed as a result of the examination held by the Civil Service Commissioners in December, 1921, have yet had the revision of pay promised in the Commissioners' announcement of the examination; and, if not, when it may be expected?

asked the Postmaster-General whether the pay of assistant superintendents of traffic, London Telephone Service, is under revision; whether such a revision was stated, in the Post Office Circular in September, 1920, to be under consideration; whether the statement was repeated in the Circular in September, 1921; and when the terms of the revision are likely to be announced?

Further consideration of the revision of the scales of pay of assistant superintendents of traffic in the London Telephone Service, which was referred to in announcements in the Post Office Circular, has had to be postponed pending a decision on various other questions which have been under consideration. I hope that it may be possible to proceed with the matter soon.

asked the Post-master-General whether an assistant inspector of wireless telegraphy is being sent from London to Abu Zabul wireless station, Cairo, for a lengthy period; and whether it is proposed to fill the consequent vacancy in London by the promotion of an officer from the existing wireless establishment?

An assistant inspector of wireless telegraphy is being sent from London to Abu Zabul, and he will probably remain there for a lengthy period. No decision has yet been reached as regards the selection of an officer to act in his place in London; but the hon. Member may rest assured that the claims of officers on the existing wireless establishment will not be overlooked.

asked the President of the Board of Education the amount paid last year in the form of increased grants to highly-rated areas for educational services, and to how many authorities; the average amount so paid for the previous three years, and the amount he estimates will be paid this year, and to how many authorities; and whether he can see his way to reduce the prescribed amount of the local education rate required to qualify for this grant from 4s. to some lower figure so as to spread this relief over a larger area?

The amount of increased grant to highly-rated areas for the year 1921–22 cannot be determined until the accounts of that year shall have been completed, and audited and examined. On the data at present available it is estimated at about £180,000, payable to 15 authorities, and it is expected that, approximately, the same figures will apply to the current year. The amount payable for the two previous years was: 1919–20, £191,487; 1920–21, £207,301. Comparison with earlier years would be misleading, because of the change in the grant system dating from the 1st April, 1919, whereby the greater part of the assistance previously given to the highly-rated areas by way of special addition was from the 1st April, 1919, forward included in the ordinary grant payable under the revised formula. I regret that I do not see my way to reduce the prescribed amount.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether His Majesty's Government intend to introduce legislation to place the membership of women at Cambridge University on the same footing as men?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 1st of this month to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain W. Benn).

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware of the education committees complaining about the action of the Board of Education in withholding grants authorised by Parliament, such as grants to scholars in central schools, also in respect to grants to send children to courses in secondary schools, also refusing to provide grants for children in public elementary schools between 14 years and 16 years of age, also to give to holders of such scholarship allowances for maintenance; and, if so, will he restore such grants?

I presume the hon. Member is referring to Circular 1,238, which states that new expenditure on maintenance allowances for children in attendance at public elementary schools, whether central schools or ordinary schools, cannot, be recognised for grant, and to Circular 1,243, which warned authorities not to incur fresh commitments on maintenance allowances for children attending places of higher education pending the issue of the. Regulations for 1922–23. Subject to observance of the over-riding limitations on the expenditure which can be recognised for grant for elementary education, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer now concurs in the withdrawal of Circular 1,238 and the recognition of expenditure in 1922–23, not exceeding in the total that of 1921–22, in respect of children over 14 years of age on certain new conditions which will be embodied in the Regulations, and, subject to the same over-riding limitation as regards expenditure for higher education, new expenditure for the purpose mentioned in Circular 1,243 can also be recognised for grant.

asked the President of the Board of Education on what basis and for what reason payments are made to local educational authorities who make extra payments in respect of second-class degrees under the discretion they possess in this behalf; and will he explain what amount of public money was spent in this manner in the year ending 31st March,1922?

The Report of the Standing Joint Committee on Scales of Salaries for Teachers in Secondary Schools provides that an addition of £25 may be made to the minimum of a teacher's salary and an addition of £50 to the maximum if the teacher has obtained a good Honours Degree. The Report also provides that a second-class Honours Degree shall not be recognised as a good Honours Degree unless the circumstances appear to merit such recognition. I regret that the information at present available is not sufficient to enable me to state the amount spent during the year ending the 31st March, 1922, in making such payments to teachers holding second-class Honours Degrees. It will be seen, however, from Circular 1,253, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Baronet, that the Board of Education have taken steps to limit the expenditure on such payments which they will take into account for purposes of grant.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received representations from county education committees to the effect that the local education authorities, quâ such, have never been consulted in the matter of the new form in which education accounts are to be submitted for audit, and that owing to the fact that demands for the accounts to ho presented in this new form arrived almost at the end, rather than at the beginning, of the financial year, he will suspend the putting into effect this new form of accountancy, and cause inquiries to be made as to the additional administrative expenditure incurred thereby before putting it into force?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the full reply which was given on Monday last by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Education, to a question on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the advisability of postponing the instructions laid down in the Education Accounts (Annual Statement) Order, 1921, dated 13th December, 1921, in view of the fact that the carrying out of these instructions will involve a large amount of additional administrative work and necessitate the employment of an additional staff of clerks with consequent additional expense?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the previous replies which have been given on this subject and particularly to the reply given on Monday last by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Education.

asked the Minister of Health how many county, county borough, and borough councils have adopted the immediate self-disinfection policy of the Society for the Prevention of Venereal Disease?

Since grant is not payable in respect of measures in pursuance of the policy mentioned by my hon. Friend I have no special information as to the extent to which that policy has been adopted, but so far as I am aware it has never even been claimed that more than an extremely small proportion of the local authorities concerned have adopted it.

asked the Minister of Health if he is prepared to recommend that power be given to Parliamentary Committees in the case of Bills and to the Ministry in the case of inquiries under Section 54 of the Local Government Act, 1888, to order that promoters of abortive extension schemes should pay the costs incurred in opposing them?

As regards private Bills, where the Committee on the Bill decide that the preamble is not proved and report unanimously that the opponents have been unreasonably and vexatiously put to expense in defending their rights, the opponents are entitled to recover their costs or such portion of them as the Committee think fit from the promoters. Any extension of these powers would require legislation. As regards local inquiries, there is already power to order the pay- ment of the costs of one party by another. I will send the hon. Member a copy of a Circular Letter sent to local authorities last year in which this is stated.

asked the Minister of Health the number of applications for the extension of local boundaries by local authorities for the years 1910 to 1914, inclusive, and the years 1921 and 1922; and the total cost to the authorities involved?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to applications for the extension of boroughs made to my Department. Forty-two such applications were made during 1910 to 1914, and 17 during 1920 and 1921. I regret that I have not the information to enable me to reply to the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Health if detailed balance-sheets showing the total expenditure for the current year are published by county councils, urban district, borough councils, and boards of guardians, and, if so, can such balance-sheets be got upon application by the local ratepayers individually, or by the secretary of local ratepayers' associations; and will he state how and where such balance-sheets can be secured?

The local authorities referred to are not required to publish detailed estimates of their current expenditure, but in some cases the rate demand notes contain information on the subject. As regards the past year's accounts, there is provision requiring that the abstract of accounts shall be published or that facilities shall be given to ratepayers to inspect the accounts.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. J. Hughes, late Welsh Fusiliers, who served from 1915 to 1920; is he aware that Mr. Hughes is a boot repairer, with a wife and two children, who has worked up a connection and now lives at Castlethorpe, Bucks; that he was allowed to rent a condemned cottage as a workshop and now has had to move into the condemned cottage as he has been turned out of his house; will he inquire what can be done to help Mr. Hughes, as there is no other house available, as an ejectment order is being issued now to turn him out of the condemned house, and as the only alternative left to Mr. Hughes appear to be the road or the workhouse; and will he at least stop the enforcement of the ejectment order until Mr. Hughes can get alternative accommodation?

My attention has not previously been drawn to this case. Subject to the restrictions contained in the Acts, the question of the ejectment order is entirely one for the determination of the court to which the order is submitted, and I have no authority to interfere. I am, however, making inquiries with regard to the case, and will communicate further with the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the house at No. 14, Grove Lane, Thurso, has been reported on by the local sanitary inspector as neither wind-nor water-tight; that the rent of this house was raised without official notice under the Rent Restriction Act, 1920, being given; whether any instructions have been issued by the local council to the owner of this house to put it in proper repair; and, if not, what reason the local council gives for its inaction?

I am informed that the sanitary inspector reported that this house was not in a reasonable state of repair, and that the Town Council, as sanitary authority, thereupon issued a certificate to this effect in terms of Subsection (2) of Section 2 of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920. I do not know whether the rent of the house has, or has not, been raised, but I assume from the fact that a certificate was applied for that the necessary notice was given of an intention to raise the rent. I understand that the Town Council have not issued any instructions to the owner of the house to put it in proper repair, and I am not aware that they have any power to issue such instructions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the Trade Returns for 1913 to 1921 of trade between Great Britain and the British Dominions, Colonies, and Dependencies, and between Great Britain and European countries?

— Imports of Merchandise (Foreign and Colonial Produce) consigned from Exports of Merchandise (United Kingdom Produce) consigned to Exports of Merchandise (Foreign and Colonial Produce) consigned to British Dominions, Colonies and Protectorates. Europe. British Dominions, Colonies and Protectorates. Europe. British Dominions, Colonies and Protectorates. Europe. (1) (2) (1) (2) (1) (2) 1,000 £. 1,000 £. 1,000 £. 1,000 £. 1,000 £. 1,000 £. 1913 … 191,516 309,467 195,311 178,646 13,611 60,927 1914 … 187,802 248,056 171,629 140,987 12,258 49,519 1915 … 250,034 188,389 140,367 153,854 11,861 52,262 1916 … 276,067 190,408 174,951 210,466 13,916 46,826 1917 … 326,547 161.452 157,865 243,062 7,188 32,850 1918 … 368,884 175,275 156,160 204,882 4,909 20,092 1919 … 521,900 247,881 186,217 430,671 8,814 118,822 1920 … 490,605 450,976 457,827 490,859 24,278 136,095 1921 … 304,165 305,079 279,941 215,872 12,659 70,173

NOTES.—(1) Egypt has been excluded from British Possessions throughout. The figures for 1921 include trade with Palestine, Mesopotamia, and former German Possessions now under British control.

(2) Greenland has been included amongst European countries, and British Possessions in Europe have not been included with Europe.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the present import duty on motor parts and accessories in America, France, and Germany, and show how these duties compare with those of 1914?

A statement has been prepared which I will send to the hon. Member. It is rather too long to print in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is proposed to give effect to the recommendation of the Colonial Office Committee which reported in 1916, viz., that the Food and Drugs Act should be so amended as to allow the addition of the words "British-made" to the word "margarine" on the statutory wrapper?

The following statement shows the value of the trade between the United Kingdom and ( a ) British Dominions, Colonies and Protectorates, and ( b ) Europe, during the years 1913 to 1921 inclusive:

[Compiled from the Annual and Monthly Trade Returns of the United Kingdom.]

I have been asked to reply. The answer is in the negative. I am advised that, apart from the objections to which such an Amendment would be open, it appears to be unnecessary, as under the existing law the seller of British-made margarine can advertise, label and mark his margarine "British-made" in a variety of ways, including the printing of the words "British-made" on the receptacle containing the margarine and on any wrapper, except the statutory wrapper referred to in Section 6 of the Margarine Act, 1887, and in Sub-section (2) of Section 6 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made with the promised Merchandise Marks Bill; whether he is aware that the firm of Hubscher and Com- pany, of Vienna, have issued a catalogue, dated March, 1922, offering for sale in this country glove buttons marked Comet, English make; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The Merchandise Marks Bill is now being considered in another place. As regards the remainder of the question, my attention has not been drawn to the particular case mentioned by my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a statement to the effect that the leading French dyestuffs company, La Compagnie Nationale de Matières Colorantes et de Produits Chimiques, has come to an arrangement with the German dye trust, the Interessen Gemeinschaft, whereby, in return for the disclosure of German dye secrets and technical assistance, the French company undertakes to confine their sales to French Dominions and to pay to Germany half of their profits; and whether a similar arrangement is contemplated between the German company and British Dyes, Limited?

I have been asked to reply. As regards the first part of the question, I would refer to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Aberdeen Central (Major M. Wood) on the 26th April. As regards the second part, I have no reason to suppose that an arrangement between the British Dye-stuffs Corporation and the Interessen Gemeinschaft of the kind indicated is contemplated by the former.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can furnish a list of the Reports, with dates, which he has received from committees under the Safeguarding of Industries Act recommending the imposition of duties under Part II; and whether copies of such Reports can now be furnished to Members?

I am sending my hon. Friend a list of the Reports so far re- ceived from committees, together with their dates. It is proposed to present the Reports to Parliament and to publish them in the ordinary course, and in the meanwhile I do not think it desirable to make any general statement regarding their nature or contents.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the weight of aluminium hollow-ware imported from Germany into this country during the month of March last; what was the average monthly importation of similar goods during the year 1913; and when the decision of the Board of Trade upon the application of the British Aluminium Hollow-ware Manufacturers' Association under Part II of the Safeguarding of Industries Act will be announced?

The quantity of aluminium domestic hollow-ware registered during March, 1922, as imported into the United Kingdom, consigned from Germany, was 172 tons. Particulars with regard to the importation of such goods in 1913 are not available from British official records, but according to the German official trade returns, which do not show hollow-ware separately, the average monthly weight of "unspecified manufactures of aluminium, including aluminium foil" exported to the United Kingdom in 1913 was about 19 tons; in that total aluminium hollow-ware is included. As regards the last part of the question, I hope to be able to make a statement at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any settlement has yet been made regarding the Crown rights to the foreshore at Seaview, Isle of Wight; and, if not, will he explain the reason for the delay in the settlement of a case which has been under consideration for many years?

A settlement was reached in July, 1920, and the terms were given in this House in reply to a question by the late Member for the Westhoughton Division of Lancashire (Mr. T. Wilson) on the 10th August, 1920. As stated in that reply, the effect of the settlement was that the defendants recognised the right of the Crown to the foreshore between ordinary high and low water mark along the coasts of the Isle of Wight between Ferniclose Brook in Sea Grove Bay on the south-east and Springvale on the north-west.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the case of J. Garner, under the Farnworth Employment Exchange, his unemployment allowance has been stopped for a period of nine weeks owing to his having, in ignorance, drawn the health insurance allowance and the unemployment allowance at the same time, and that in consequence he is receiving outdoor relief in kind from the guardians; and can he say why the pay is still being withheld?

Unemployment benefit has not been paid to Mr. J. Garner since it was discovered about the 10th March that he was obtaining unemployment benefit by means of an untrue statement that he was not in receipt of health insurance benefit. The question of the prosecution of Mr. Garner is under consideration. The Minister is not satisfied that it is expedient in the public interest that Mr. Garner should be allowed to receive benefit, and he cannot under the Act authorise the payment of benefit except where he is so satisfied.

asked the Minister of Labour whether Mrs. K. Crozier was refused unemployment benefit by the local unemployment committee, Berwick-on-Tweed, on the ground that she was separated from her husband and living with her parents; whether her card was clear; and whether a local committee has powers to refuse benefit on such grounds?

I am having inquiries made into this case and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mrs. Young, Berwick-on-Tweed, made application to the local Exchange for unemployment benefit; that this woman has to earn her own living owing to her hus- band's desertion 10 years ago, and that the local employment committee refused her benefit and told her to make application to the guardians, who would find her husband; and whether local committees have power to refuse benefits which have been paid for on such grounds?

I understand that benefit was disallowed in this case as the Committee were not satisfied that the applicant was genuinely seeking whole-time employment. This is an essential condition for the receipt of uncovenanted benefit. I am informed that the fact that the applicant was separated from her husband was not considered by the Committee.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing in Berwick and Spittal-on-Tweed over the decisions of the local employment committees; that numbers of people complain that, although they are out of employment, they have to sign on for several weeks during which time they receive no benefit, and then they have to appear before a committee which refuses them the benefits they have been paying for; and what steps he proposes to take?

I am informed that this Committee gives very careful consideration to all applications for unemployment benefit, and that no avoidable delay occurs before the hearing of cases by the Committee. I am satisfied that in general the recommendations of the Committee are in accordance with the statutory provisions and the directions issued for their guidance.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will institute an inquiry into the abuse of the unemployment pay by women and girls, who, accustomed to domestic service, now refuse to re-enter it; whether he can state the weekly sum paid to unemployed women; whether there is still a serious shortage of servants; and what steps he is taking to reduce the public outlay in this respect?

The matter to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is occupying our continuous attention. £130,000 is estimated to have been paid to unemployed women in the week ended 22nd April; but private domestic servants as such are not insurable under the Act, and the women who received the above benefit are therefore those normally engaged in other occupations. Any claims for benefit by women normally engaged in private domestic service would be disallowed. There are many vacancies for properly trained resident domestic Servants, and the local employment committees are doing all in their power to ensure that benefit is not paid to any woman for whom domestic service can be regarded as suitable employment.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has received a Report from the Drogheda Employers' Association notifying him of a dispute between themselves and their workmen, and that, as a consequence, the men were refused unemployment benefit on 13th April; is he aware that in fact there was no dispute but simply a threatened reduction in wages which was the subject of negotiation; and is it the practice of representatives of the Ministry of Labour to act on such notification without first ascertaining the actual facts from the workmen's side?

The administration of the Unemployment Insurance Acts in Southern Ireland was transferred on 1st April last to the Provisional Government. I have therefore no information respecting the case to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to grant a Return showing the amounts spent by boards of guardians in relieving unemployed persons; and whether he is aware that boards of guardians are anxious to furnish him with the necessary information for such a Return?

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a Circular Letter which I recently issued to boards of guardians asking for particulars, and when the replies have been received I shall be happy to furnish information on the subject.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has any statistics to show the extent to which females are still replacing men in work done by the latter before the War; if he is aware that the substitution is a cause of male unemployment; and that the work done by females before the War is now not at all or imperfectly done, although their sex is the best fitted to do it?

I regret that there are no statistics showing the extent to which females are still replacing men in work done by the latter before the War. It seems probable, however, that in some occupations—for example, among clerks and shop assistants—the proportion of females employed is appreciably greater than before the War.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the facts that a Government grant of £30,000 a year has been made to five London hospitals where clinical units have been set up, that a Government grant of £16,000 has been promised this year to the London Hospital, in which is included £3,000 from the University Grants Committee, and that the last-named hospital now excludes women medical students altogether, and of the remaining four, one only admits them without restrictions, it is the intention of the Government to intervene in any way so that those who accept public money do not discriminate against one section of the public which contributes the money?

The question of the admission of students to university institutions is essentially for the discretion of the university authorities, with whose autonomy the Government desire to interfere as little as possible. As my right hon. Friend explained in his reply on the 2nd April to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Wands-worth (Lieut.-Colonel Sir J. Norton-Griffiths), the Government have no information indicating that the facilities for university education in medicine of qualified women are inadequate. I would remind the hon. Member that admission to the London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine, which is also grant-aided, is wholly confined to women.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will see that British troops are withdrawn, as the American troops have been, from the occupied territory in Germany if the French Government takes any steps to extend that occupied territory by sanctions of which His Majesty's Government has not definitely expressed its approval?

The hon. and gallant Member founds his question on an assumption which is incorrect, for ho will have seen by this morning's papers that the American troops have not been withdrawn, and then asks me what His Majesty's Government will do in a contingency which is doubly hypothetical. I cannot at this stage answer such a question.

asked the Prime Minister when His Majesty's Government discovered that a treaty or agreement has been come to between Italy and the Angora Government; and whether His Majesty's Government is aware of all the clauses and carrying letters in connection with this agreement?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. T. P. O'Connor). As regards the second part, I have made further inquiries, and I am informed that the statements made by the Italian Ambassador are entirely inconsistent with the possibility that any subsidiary letters affecting the agreement are in existence.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the report in the Press of a conversation with His Highness the Agha Khan in Paris; and whether His Majesty's Government will take into account the views of this chief representative of the Indian Mahommedans in bringing to a conclusion their negotiations with Turkey and Greece?

I have seen the newspaper report to which the hon. Member no doubt refers, but I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House to the Noble Lord the Member for Battersea South on 26th April.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the charges of cruelty which are being made against the Greeks in connection with the evacuation of Turkish territory in Ionia; and whether any representations have been made, or are likely to be made, to the Greek Government in this behalf?

The hon. Member is presumably referring to Italian evacuation of the Meander Valley and its occupation by Greek forces. The only charges of cruelty in this connection are contained in a Note from the Angora Government to the Allied Governments, dated 22nd April, where they are adduced as an argument to support the demand that Greek evacuation of the Smyrna district should precede Turkish acceptance of the Allied peace proposals. This suggestion involves a repudiation of the Paris programme and is inacceptable. The charges are in no way confirmed by the information of the British or Italian authorities in Constantinople, and it does not appear to be materially possible for the Angora Government to have had cognisance of the state of the district in question at the time of the despatch of their Note. On the other hand, T have heard officially that, after the Italian evacuation of the Meander Valley and before the arrival of Greek troops, some hundreds of Greek civilians, men and women, were driven off by the Turks as hostages.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps, if any, have been taken to restore Zaghloul Pasha to his home; whether he is aware that the medical report is a very alarming one; and upon what grounds is he still exiled from Egypt?

As regards the first and third parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement of the Leader of the House on the 14th March. No steps of the nature indicated have been taken. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Barnard Castle (Mr. Swan).

asked the Minister of Agriculture what grants are available for the improvement of the various breeds of horses?

Grants to the total value of £22,700 will be available in the current year for the improvement of horse breeding, as follow: £ 60 King's (and super) premiums to thoroughbred stallions for the service of half-bred mares 15,300 15 Ministry's premiums to thorough-bred stallions (including two Cleveland bay stallions) for the service of half-bred mares 3,400 Premiums to pony stallions as follow for the service of mares of their particular breed: Riding ponies (five premiums) 800 Welsh cob (including Welsh roadsters), 22 premiums 2,100 Dales ponies (four premiums) 350 Fell ponies (five premiums) 425 New Forest ponies (10 premiums) 50 Welsh mountain ponies (44 premiums) 275 Total £22,700

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the prosecution of two ser- vants of the Ministry who were convicted and fined £20 at Nottingham last week for the brutal and cruel way they carried out the destruction of a herd of 20 beasts at Thrumpton on 24th March, when they used the poleaxe, wounding several that broke away, and afterwards chasing them into the corner of the field and shooting at them with a gun, one of the defendants admitting to a police constable that he fired at one beast six times before he brought it down on its knees, and after being stopped by the police they went the next day and killed the remainder by shooting them; will he give most definite and strict instructions that in future animals must be destroyed in the most humane way; and will he ensure that those men who were responsible for this action are removed from the possibility of repeating the performance elsewhere?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member for Kincardine and Western (Lieut.-Colonel A. Murray) on the 1st instant, and to the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Betterton) yesterday.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the date has been fixed when the twopences illegally deducted from the price of milk sold by Somerset farmers are to be returned to them; and what is the amount involved?

I have been asked to reply, and would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 9th March last to the hon. Member for Wood Green (Mr. G. Locker-Lampson). The amount involved is approximately £250,000.