asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of aluminium hollow-ware imported from Germany in the years 1913 and 1921, respectively?

The quantity of domestic hollow-ware of aluminium

the two periods of six month sending 31st March, 1922, and 31st March, 1914?

The following statement shows the quantities (in certain cases) and values of various descriptions of scientific instruments registered during the six months ended 31st March, 1922, as imported into the United Kingdom, consigned from Germany. The figures are provisional and subject to slight amendment on final examination of the returns. Similar particulars for the corresponding period of 1913–14 are not available. It is not possible to show separately the quantities in values of spectacles or spectacle accessories.

imported into the United Kingdom during 1921 registered as consigned from Germany, was 659 tons, valued at;£130,828. Similar particulars for the year 1913 are not available from the United Kingdom trade returns for that year, but from returns published by the German Government it appears that the weight of "unspecified manufactures of alu- minium, in eluding aluminium foil "exported from that country to the United Kingdom in the year 1913, amounted to 220 tons: in that total aluminium hollow-ware is included.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount received to the most recent convenient date under Part I and Part II, respectively, of the Safeguarding of Industries Act?

The amount received up to the 4th May in respect of duties under Part I of the Safeguarding of Industries Act was £168,079. No Orders have yet been made under Part II, and consequently no duties have been collected under that Part.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost incurred by the Government in connection with the Inquiry re gas mantles.'

The arbitration in respect of gas mantles is not yet finally completed, and I am consequently not able to furnish the desired information at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to prevent the destruction of fish and birds and the pollution of harbours by waste oil released by vessels at sea?

A Bill has been prepared to deal with the discharge of oil in navigable waters, and I hope it will be possible to introduce it shortly.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what Regulations are in force in the Navy to prevent the destruction of fish and sea-birds and the pollution of harbours by the discharge of waste oil?

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Morpeth on the 31st May last, stringent Regulations have been issued from time to time by the Admiralty with a view to prevention of pollution of harbours, docks, and waterways and damage to fisheries by oil fuel, oily ballast water, etc. All complaints on this subject have been carefully investigated, and it has been clearly established on each occasion that the Regulations have been strictly complied with by His Majesty's ships. The Regulations, a copy of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Member, contain no reference to sea-birds, but it is presumed that there is no necessity for the issue of special supplementary Regulations dealing with their case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is permitted to export arms from Great Britain to Ireland if such arms are supplied by private firms to the order of the Governments of Southern or of Northern Ireland?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The removal of any firearms or ammunition from Great Britain to Ireland is prohibited unless such removal is authorised by the chief officer of police of the district from which the firearms or ammunition are to be removed. Before authority is given the applicant is required to produce a permit granted in Ireland under arrangements that have been made with the Governments concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the claims against the German Government of Mr. James Ritchie and other fishermen of Gourdon, Kincardineshire, for losses during the War have not yet been paid: and can he hold out hopes of an early settlement of the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part these claims, together with other similar claims, are being dealt with according to the procedure described by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 23rd February, 1922. In view of the large number of claims which have to be delat with, it is not possible to say at what date payment may be made of any ex-gratia awards of the Royal Commission.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the amount to date received under the German Reparations (Recovery) Act?

The amount received under the German Reparations (Recovery) Act up to the 5th instant, inclusive, is £4,350,000.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take the necessary steps to empower local authorities to levy rates upon houses held vacant for the purpose of sale?

As I have already stated more than once, after most careful examination I have found it, impossible to introduce legislation which would achieve this purpose.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has cancelled, or arranged to cancel, any contracts for bricks and other building materials; whether any and, if so, what sums have been paid, or agreed to be paid, in respect of such cancellations; and whether he considered the alternative of offering the bricks and other materials for sale in the open market?

A large number of contracts for bricks and other materials have been cancelled, and compensation amounting approximately to £220,000 has been paid, or been agreed to be paid, in respect of outstanding commitments under the contracts. So far as materials already manufactured and purchased are concerned, the Department has either arranged with the manufacturers to repurchase them at a valuation, or, if this has not for any reason been possible, has handed them over for sale to the Disposal and Liquidation Commission in accordance with the general arrangements for the disposal of surplus Government property.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the confusion which has arisen upon the construction of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Restriction Act, 1920, as to the validity of four-week notices given under that Act to increase the rent payable by the tenant in cases where a seven-day notice to quit has not been given, and of the fact that such confusion has resulted in claims by tenants to be reimbursed the rent paid by them where such seven-day notices have not been given, and that county court judges, whose decision is final in these cases, have given conflicting rulings, he will, in order to save further expense and individual hardship, introduce legislation to set these doubts at rest?

I think the hon. Member has been misinformed, as the question to which he refers appears to have been settled by the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Newell v. Crayford (38 T.L.R. 355; 57 L.J. 73; W.N. (1922) 72).

asked the Minister of Health what is the Government's attitude in reference to the inclusion of nurses in the Unemployment Insurance Bill?

I have been asked to reply. As my hon. and gallant Friend may be aware, an Amendment was moved to the Unemployment Insurance Act recently passed and accepted by the Government, the effect of which is that as from 1st July next Unemployment Insurance contributions are not payable in respect of employment as a female professional nurse for the sick, or as a female probationer undergoing training for such employment.

asked the President of the Board of Education what are the numbers of supplementary teachers in England and Wales engaged in teaching standards 1, 2, 3, 4, or higher, respectively; whether any men are included in these numbers; whether any of these teachers are employed in teaching children in the school leaving classes; and how many are engaged in teaching classes of 40 or more and classes of 50 or more, respectively?

I have no figures which show the numbers of supplementary teachers who are teaching particular "standards," or classes of particular sizes. Except in the case of those who were recognised by the Board before the 1st August, 1909, in schools for older children, the recognition of supplementary teachers is confined to infants' classes in rural schools, except that if the school is a rural school of not more than 100 scholars a supplementary teacher may teach the lowest class of older children. I have no figures which show how many of those recognised before 1st August, 1909, are employed in classes for older children. There are no male supplementary teachers. The total number of supplementary teachers on the 31st March, 1920, was 13,424.

asked the President of the Board of Education what authorities are seeking to engage supplementary teachers at £70 per annum; whether any authorities are seeking to engage them at less than £70 per annum; what are the number of these teachers now serving at less than £80 and £70 per annum, respectively; and whether the Board proposes to withhold grants from authorities engaging such teachers at less than £80 per annum, or less than £100 per annum?

On the 31st March, 1921 (the latest date for which figures are yet available), the number of supplementary teachers receiving less than £80 per annum was 3,406, and of these the number receiving less than £70 was 1,378. Seven county and 15 urban authorities then returned £70 per annum as their minimum salary for supplementary teachers; 29 county and 19 urban authorities named smaller sums. The Burnham Committee have made no recommendations for standardising the remuneration of these teachers, who are unqualified and whose service is essentially local. I do not propose to take the action suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is suggested that supplementary teachers should contribute five per cent, of their salaries to a superannuation fund; whether this applies to teachers in receipt of less than £100 per annum and to teachers in receipt of less than £80 per annum; and whether supplementaries will be entitled to superannuation benefit?

Supplementary teachers are not within the scope of the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, and it is not proposed to require them to contribute.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the rate of pay which is awarded as the basic rate of retired pay to a regular officer with insufficient qualifying service for the earning of retired pay in the normal way, and who is compulsorily retired on account of wounds or ill-health contracted on active service, and who may be in receipt of a permanent pension for such disability, is equal to one-half pay of his rank; and whether this assessment is based on the 1914 scale of pay?

Under the Warrant of the 1st August, 1917, the basic rate was the disability retired pay in the 1914 Pay Warrant, the minimum being the half-pay of the rank. Under the current Warrant of the 2nd July, 1920, the regulation is different; the basic rate is that shown in Part II of the First Schedule of that Warrant, and is on a scale graduated by service and rank, and is not a half-pay rate at all. Possibly the hon. and gallant Member is thinking of cases of officers with wound pensions, who may receive, as a reserved right, the disability retired pay on the 1914 scale (the minimum being the half-pay of that date) in addition to wound pension.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a temporary engineer of military age was engaged during the War as secretary to a Treasury official in the Ministry of Munitions on a salary of £500 a year, excluding bonus, and is still retained in that capacity and under the same Treasury official at Caxton House; and what total emoluments he is now drawing, and why an ex-service man has not been employed in his place since the Armistice?

This official, when beyond military age, joined the Ministry of Munitions in July, 1915, at a salary of £250 per annum, and his present total emoluments under the Disposal and Liquidation Commission are £425 per annum. At no time have they reached the sum of £500 per annum, nor has any bonus been payable. Owing to the long experience and qualifications of this official, his retention is in the public interest. The Departmental Substitution Committee, on which the ex-service men are represented, have agreed to his retention.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a Post Office clerk of military age, who was transferred to the Stores Department of the Ministry of Munitions during the War, was not sent back to his own Department after the Armistice, but was given another post at Earls Court under the Ministry when the work of the Stores Department came to an end, and was subsequently appointed establishment officer at Caxton House, where he is still employed; what total emoluments he is now drawing; what pay he was drawing in the Postal Department; and why an ex-service man was not employed to do the work he is now doing?

The official who appears to be referred to is an established civil servant serving in the Finance Branch of the Disposal and Liquidation Commission, who has never served in the Establishment Branch. The total emoluments, including bonus, of his present acting rank are £980 per annum. The pay he was receiving from the Post Office in February, 1916, when he joined the Ministry of Munitions, was £250 per annum, no bonus being payable at that time. As regards the last part of the question, may I remind my hon. Friend that the Government Substitution Scheme does not apply to established civil servants? The retention of this particular official in the Disposal and Liquidation Commission is essential in the interest of the public service.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a temporary clerk who was engaged during the War in the office of a Treasury official in the Ministry of Munitions on a salary of £2 10s. a week had his salary raised to £500 a year after the Armistice, when reductions were ordered to be made, and is still employed at Caxton House with two assistants under him; what the total emoluments of his two assistants amount to, one of whom is a young chartered accountant of no military service; and why ex-service men have not been employed on their work?

The official who appears to be referred to served in the Ministry of Munitions as a Volunteer (on subsistence allowance) from April, 1918, to January, 1920, and his salary since that date under the Ministry and the Disposal and Liquidation Commission has been as stated. His retention, whether on a full time or part time basis, will continue to be essential in the public interest until the work on which he is employed terminates, and the Departmental Substitution Committee on which the ex-service men are represented have agreed to his retention for the present. The only assistant serving under him is a chartered accountant who was disabled as a result of service overseas, and whose total emoluments are £600 per annum.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that Mrs. Rothery, a war widow dismissed from the service of the Admiralty on suspicion of having acted as a receiver of stolen property, was at the trial of the case discharged by the judge without a stain upon her character; and whether, in view of Mrs. Rothery's innocence having been established, he will take steps to secure her reinstatement?

Mrs. Rothery was discharged on reduction of staff. She had only been employed at the Admiralty for three months and her retention would have meant the dismissal of a woman with greater claims.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the number of Customs officials employed as at 31st March, 1921, and at 31st March, 1922?

The number of Customs and Excise officials employed on the dates specified were: 31st March, 1921 … … 11,945 31st March, 1922 … … 11,660

asked the Postmaster-General the number of years in which a note stating that the regrading of the stamp branch staff is under consideration has been attached to the details under that branch as set out in the Estimates for Revenue Departments: whether this staff has had no improvement in conditions since 1906, and that the senior officers have received no increase of salary for over 12 years; and whether he will set up a Committee of the Post Office Departmental Whitley Council to deal with the question in response to the requests of the staff concerned which were put forward in the early part of 1920?

The note mentioned first appeared in the Post Office Estimates for 1916–17. This staff was transferred to the Post Office in 1914, retaining its Inland Revenue grading and conditions of service for the time being; and its re-grading has not yet been settled. The suggestion in the last part of the question is under consideration by the Whitley Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed to abolish the Civil Service Arbitration Board and, if so, what are the reasons for so doing, and is it suggested that the work of the Board has in the past been inefficient or unsatisfactory, and in what respect; and whether he is aware that, if the Whitley system is to continue, confidence can only be ensured by the tribunal being wholly impartial, and that the abolition of the Arbitration Board will mean that Government Departments will become, and be, judges in their own cause?

The decision to discontinue the Civil Service Arbitration Board has already been announced and the reasons for this course were fully stated in the reply to a question put by the hon. Member for the Rushcliffe Division of Notts on the 22nd February last, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that mails used to be conveyed to Winchfield Post Office, Hampshire, by rail; that the railway facilities were excellent; that Winchfield Post Office is only 100 yards from the station and was specially constructed for the purpose of being the post town of the district of which it is the natural centre; that mails are now sent by motor van from Basingstoke, 10 miles distant; and whether, in the interests of economy and efficiency, lie will be prepared to revert to the former system?

The mails for Winch-field and places in the immediate neighbourhood were formerly conveyed to the Winchfield Post Office by rail and were sorted at that office. In order, however, to simplify administration, and, at the same time, to secure a substantial saving, the work of sorting the letters was, in 1916, transferred to the Basingstoke Post Office. The night mail letters, after being sorted at Basingstoke, are sent on by motor van in order that they may obtain earlier delivery than would be possible if they were held back for despatch by the train which calls at Winchfield at 7.26 a.m. It would not be in the interests of economy or efficiency to revert to the former system of sorting these letters at Winchfield.

asked the Postmaster-General when he proposes to reduce the present rates of postage; whether his attention has been drawn to the proposal to substitute 10 pennies for 12 pennies to the Is.; and, if adopted, will he state approximately what effect it would have upon Post Office revenue for 1922–23?

The reduction of postage rates, as I announced in my statement on the Post Office Estimates, will come into force at midnight on the 28th/29th May. My attention has been drawn to the proposal for a high-value penny, but I have no figures to show what would be the effect upon the Post Office revenue if it were adopted.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether all the stocks of the Food Department have been disposed of; and, if not, what stocks remain on hand?

I have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will furnish a statement showing all the industrial enterprises at home and abroad to which the British Government has contributed capital or for which it has guaranteed cither payment of interest, dividends, or capital, giving in each case the money advanced or invested and the commitments involved, and the annual payments received by the Government in each case in dividends, interest, or repayments?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Statement of Guarantees under the Trade Facilities Act (House of Commons Paper 62); to House of Commons Paper 250; and to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Wigan (Mr. Allen Parkinson) on the 20th February last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state, for each of the companies in which the Government are shareholders, what price was paid by the Government for their holdings?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to House of Commons Paper 250 of 10th November, 1921.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what has been for the last three financial years the yield of the new import duties imposed by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1915?

The yield for the years ended 31st March,:.920,1921, and 1922 of the new import duties imposed by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1915, amounted to £3,361,902, £5,480,950, and £1,698,056 respectively.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government have decided to adopt the recommendation of the Geddes Committee with regard to new charges to be made to friendly societies in connection with registering their annual returns and with the quinquennial valuations?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply to the question put by the hon. Member for Frome (Mr. Hurd) on the 1st instant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give the average gravity of the beer brewed in England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, in each of the quarters ended 31st March, 1920, 1921, and 1922, and in the United Kingdom in each of the years ended 31st March, 1920, 1921, and 1922?

The average gravity of the beer brewed by brewers for sale in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, respectively, in each of the quarters ended 31st March, 1920, 1921, and 1922 was as follows: Quarter ended 31st March. England and Wales. Scotland. Ireland. 1920 … … 1041.75 1042.47 1050.17 1921. … … 1042.40 1042.75 1051.70 11)22 … … 1043.25 1042.20 1049.41

The average gravity of the beer brewed by brewers for sale in the United Kingdom in each of the years ended 31st March, 1920, 1921, and 1922 was as follows: Year ended 31st March, 1920–1039.41 Year ended 31st March, 1921–1042.61 Year ended 31st March, 1922–1042.88

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Sir Philip Henriques and Sir William Alexander still represent His Majesty's Government on the board of directors of the British Cellulose Company; whether they are still drawing the salary of £500 each per annum from the Treasury; and, if so, whether he proposes to continue this payment?

The answer is in the affirmative. I may add that the arrangement with the Government directors provides for the payment by them to the Exchequer of any fees that may be received by them as directors of the company.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the disastrous results to the investors who invested their money in the British Cellulose Company on the grounds that His Majesty's Government were large shareholders and had two directors on the board, steps will be taken to dispense with the services of these two directors and for the Government to cease all connection with this concern?

The answer is in the negative. It is obviously undesirable to attempt at the present moment to sell so large a block of shares. It is hoped that the steps just taken may lead to an enhancement of the value of the Government asset.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that building societies are not trading companies and that their profits are kept at a minimum, they will be exempted from the Corporation Profits Tax?

Under the present law building societies are exempted from Corporation Profits Tax until the 31st December next. As regards the subsequent treatment of these societies, I have received representations from the; Building Societies Association and I will give them my consideration, but I cannot at the moment announce any decision on the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether under the proposed change in Income Tax law, it is intended that double Income Tax shall be exacted in any one year upon Government securities from which the Income Tax is not deducted at the source?

No, Sir. That is of course not the intention, and the legislation which I propose to introduce will be so framed as to avoid the possibility of any such result.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether machinery has yet been set up enabling Australians resident in Great Britain or English resident in Australia to pay single Income Tax: and, if so, whether he will cause full details to be published in order that applicants may be enabled to take prompt advantage of the recent agreement in regard to this matter published in the Press?

Under Section 27 of the Finance Act, 1920 (which applies for the year of assessment ended 5th April, 1921, and subsequent years), a person who has paid Dominion Income Tax in respect of a part of his income on which he is liable to United Kingdom Income Tax can obtain relief from the United Kingdom Income Tax at the rate of ( a ) the Dominion rate or tax, or ( b ) one-half his appropriate rate of United Kingdom tax (including Super-tax), whichever of the two rates ( a ) or ( b ) is the less. This relief, I think, is already well-known to taxpayers concerned: a reference to it is contained in the Income Tax return forms, and a memorandum giving particulars of the steps to be taken to claim it, etc., is issued on request by the Inland Revenue Department. The Commonwealth of Australia has this year introduced a provision granting a complementary relief from Commonwealth Income Tax in cases where the Australian rate of tax exceeds the rate of relief from United Kingdom Income Tax allowable under Section 27. In order to claim this relief the taxpayer may, I understand, be required to produce a certificate issued by or on behalf of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in the United Kingdom in evidence to show what is his appropriate rate of United Kingdom tax and what is the income in respect of which he is liable to both Commonwealth tax and United Kingdom tax, and arrangements are being made for the issue of such certificates to taxpayers requiring them. The publication of details as to the relief allowable from the Commonwealth tax and the steps to be taken to obtain it is, however, a matter for the Commonwealth Government, with whom the administration of the Commonwealth tax rests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the delay in meeting claims of residents near Whitworth Park, Manchester, for repayment of Income Tax; that in 1921 such claims were successively transferred four times to various district offices; and that this year they have again been transferred, after presentation, from Brazenose Street to Spring Gardens, Manchester, with an intimation that payment is likely to be delayed; and if he will expedite the process of repayment?

My hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension. There has been no general transfer this year from Brazenose Street to Spring Gardens, and I have ascertained that claims in the district alluded to, as elsewhere, are being expeditiously dealt with. If my hon. and gallant Friend has a particular case in mind and will give me the information necessary to identify it, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, owing to the reduction made by the Budget of 4d. per; lb. on tea, the public now expect this reduction to apply to all classes of tea; whether the duty on British Empire-grown tea, which comprises 90 per cent, of the consumption, is only being reduced by 3d. per lb;. whether he is aware that the popular unit of sale in tea being ¼ lb. it is difficult to secure that the full advantage at this figure is passed on to the consumer; and whether he will therefore reduce the duty on all classes of tea by 4d. per lb., or by a sum divisible by four, so that the full benefit may accrue to the small consumer?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer would refer the hon. Member to his Budget statement in which he pointed out that the reduction of 4d. per lb. in the Tea Duty did not apply to 90 per cent, of the tea consumed in this country, and in which ho expressed the opinion that the remission of duty would reach the consumer in full. He sees no reason to modify this opinion. It is well known that a large number of traders have already reduced retail prices by 4d. per lb.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Budget reduction of tea of 4d. per lb- is acting detrimentally to the sale of British Empire-grown teas and is already inducing the purchase of foreign teas; and whether, with a view to ensuring the advantages from the Budget accruing to British-grown teas in the same proportion as to foreign teas, he will arrange to increase the preference on British-grown teas from one-sixth to one-fourth, thus procuring a reduction of 4d. per lb. on all classes of tea whether British or foreign grown?

Although the effect of reducing the Tea Duty by one-third has been to reduce by ⅔d. per lb. the margin between the duties on Empire and non-Empire teas, there is no reason to believe that the commanding position occupied by Empire tea in the home market is in any way endangered. I am not prepared to agree to the proposal contained in the last part of the question, which, I may mention, would cost at least £1,000,000 in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether all persons who had not paid Super-tax by 5th April last were threatened with legal proceedings if the tax was not paid within seven days; whether these threats were made to all who were in default; and, if not, what discrimination was made?

No alteration has been made this year in the methods of collection of Super-tax. Where duty is not paid in response to the first demand, a reminding notice is issued, appropriate to the circumstances of the individual case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what method Henley Regatta is assessed for Entertainments Duty at nearly £600 a year, looking to the fact that the Regatta is practically open to the public without charge, and that the regatta is kept going at heavy expense to the club?

Henley Regatta is an entertainment within the meaning of Section 1 of the Finance (New Duties) Act, 1916, and, therefore, the payments made by persons for admission to enclosures, for the purpose of viewing the regatta, are liable to Entertainments Duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any information as to his intentions with regard to the Entertainments Duty?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer can add nothing to what he has already stated on this subject in the course of the Budget Debates.

asked the Prime Minister if a White Paper can and will be published before the Debate in the House setting out all the facts and considerations on which the Cabinet's decision to retain the embargo on Canadian cattle was based, and also showing what, place the encouragement of home-breeding of cattle occupies in the Government's agricultural policy?

The course suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend is a very unusual one, and I am not prepared to adopt it. The grounds for the decision of the Government were stated by the Minister of Agriculture on the 9th February last in reply to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Daventry (Captain Fitzroy), and if my hon. and gallant Friend requires further information T would refer him to the evidence given before the Royal Commission on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture.

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that drafts of British soldiers arriving in India from England are sent direct from Bombay to Drolali, and are kept at the latter place for over a month; that the accommodation at Drolali is inadequate for the large number of troops concentrated there, and that soldiers are therefore forced to live under canvas even in the hot period at the end of March and beginning of April; what arrangements are made at Drolali for the men's amusement and comfort or training; and whether, since it would be more economical and advantageous to the Army, arrangements can be made to send drafts direct from Bombay to their units instead of keeping them at a concentration camp for such long periods?

I have no information, but the Government of India have been asked for a Report.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the spring register of electors, which is published and comes into force on 15th April each year, is issued too late for the election of county, district, and parish councillors and boards of guardians and that consequently it is practically useless except for occasional by-elections that may occur; and whether, in view of this fact, he will introduce legislation to discontinue the preparation and printing of this register and effect a considerable saving of public money?

I am aware that the ordinary elections of the local authorities referred to are held before the Spring Register comes into force; but as that Register would apply to any general or by-election to this House which might be held during six months of the year, I cannot assent to the conclusion suggested by the hon. and gallant Member that the Register is useless.

asked the Home Secretary how many members of the Metropolitan police women patrols have already been dismissed; and how many have received notice of dismissal?

The services of 22 of the women patrols have been dispensed with and all the remainder are under notice to relinquish their posts. The notices expire (except in the case of two officers) when the patrols complete their current year's service, the dates ranging from 12th May to 27th December next.

asked the Home Secretary in what districts the women patrols have been already dispensed with?

In the Metropolitan Police District the women patrols are not regularly posted to particular districts, but employed where they can be of the greatest use for the time being, and this practice will be continued during the process of disbandment.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state on whom, after the disbandment of the women patrols, the duty will fall of making the statements of children and young persons in cases where they allege offences against them?

I would refer the bon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 6th April last to the hon. Member for the Erdington Division of Birmingham (Sir A. Steel-Maitland).

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Acting Warrant-Officer P. T. Tempest, No. 1,003, Royal Army Pay Corps, was reverted to his substantive rank of warrant officer, class 2, because he had proceeded on special furlough as authorised by the War Office on 9th July, 1919; that he sustained loss of pay on account thereof; and whether he will take suitable action to compensate P. T. Tempest on account thereof?

Acting Staff Sergeant-Major P. T. Tempest, Royal Army Pay Corps, was not reverted to his substantive rank of staff quartermaster-sergeant because he proceeded on special furlough, but in consequence of reduction of establishment and his reversion would have been carried out irrespective of whether he proceeded on furlough or not. The vacancy was not filled. No question of compensation arises.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the sum of £35,400 for new motor vehicles and the sum of £20,500 for reconditioning old vehicles, which sums the Geddes Committee recommended should not be spent, have been included in the Navy Estimates for 1922–23?

No, Sir. The figures in the Navy Estimates for 1922–23 are £13,100 for new motor vehicles and £10,250 for reconditioning old vehicles.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the Navy Estimates for the current year authorise an expenditure of £854,000 for coal and patent fuel for the Fleet, which amount at current prices will approximate to about 500,000 tons; if his attention has been called to the cost of inspection and fuelling, which aggregates £6,720; if the cost of inspection allowed by foreign contractors and States is one farthing per ton, or, approximately, one-fourteenth of the amount estimated by his Department; and whether, in view of the present need of exercising economy, he will take steps to-reduce the inspection costs to a level comparable with foreign States and contractors?

The hon. Member is incorrect in assuming that the whole of the £6,720 is for inspection, but as the reply is somewhat long I propose, with his permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The details are as follow:

The £6,720 includes the cost, of salaries of nine officers, of whom five have absolutely no concern with the inspection of coal, but are employed at the dockyard ports upon fuelling duties in connection with oil fuel as well as coal.

Only two officers—one engineer-commander and one engineer-lieutenant—are engaged on the inspection of the steam-vessel and patent fuel, provided for under Vole 8.2.K.1.

Of the remaining seven officers, two are employed in the Midlands, North of England, and in Scotland on the inspection of coal, coke, etc., required for dockyards and other Naval establishments, involving the purchase of a number of descriptions of fuel, e.g. , nuts, smithery, furnace, land engine coals, and foundry coke, provision for which is made under other Navy Votes. The officers have to travel over a wide area and are fully employed.

As a matter of convenience in accounting, the salaries of these officers are also charged under Vote 8/2/K, in order that the pay of inspectors of coal and fuelling officers may all be grouped together.

The other five officers are not inspecting officers, and have nothing whatever to do with the examination of coal in South Wales. They are employed at the dockyards on fleet fuelling duties in connection with the receipt, custody and issue of oil fuel as well as coal. Their work includes the oversight, maintenance and handling of fuelling craft of all descriptions, and the arrangements for fuelling His Majesty's ships and vessels at the various home ports.

Our naval officers, in addition to inspecting coal for the navy, are also engaged in the examination of coal for other Government Departments, e.g., 150,000 tons of coal have been purchased and inspected for the India Office since the 1st January last. The Admiralty are repaid for services of this nature and the receipts credited to naval funds.

It must also be borne in mind that the inspection of coal for ships of war is a much more important matter than that needed for supplies to locomotives and other land services, and involves, inter alia, the carrying out of laboratory tests at Cardiff.

The staff employed by the Admiralty is not more than that employed by foreign States, etc., and the cost compares favourably with these.

I am sending the hon. Member further details by letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will furnish a statement showing the pay and emoluments received by Air officers who are employed on the Board of Management, or any other capacity, in the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes; whether such pay and emoluments are borne from the public funds; and whether he will state the amount of such pay and emoluments paid by the public funds and the amount paid by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes?

The only Air Force officer on the Board of Management of the institutes is a squadron leader, whose emoluments are: Full pay of rank, paid out of Air Votes, £657. Allowances for lodging, fuel and light ration, servant, and Air Ministry allowance, paid by the Institutes, £322 10s. 2d.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has information that, following upon the evacuation by the Italians of the Meander Valley, the Greeks burned villages between Adalia and Egadir, seized certain Turks who returned under a safe conduct from the Allied Powers, condemned half the number to death, and imprisoned the remainder; and, if so, whether representations have been made to the Greek Government?

The district taken over by the Greeks from the Italians centres round Sokia and Skalanova and does not extend south of the Meander river. According to the information of His Majesty's Government there are no Greek troops within 60 miles of any point in the district between Adalia and Egadir. His Majesty's Government have no information regarding the seizure by the Greeks of any Turks holding safe-conducts from the Allied Powers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the speeches of His Royal Highness Prince Youssef Kamal and Morcos Hanna Bey, the leader of the Egyptian bar, which they were to deliver at the meeting which was convened by the Wafd under the presidency of Prince Youssef Kamal for 24th March last, which was prohibited at the last moment on the ground of preserving public order, were printed in pamphlet form; that 20,000 copies of these pamphlets were seized by the police at the printing office, and the printing office was closed afterwards by their order; whether the nature of these speeches was inflammatory; if so, why a trial of these two gentlemen was not ordered; and will he cause an inquiry into the incident to be held?

I understand that the facts are as stated in the first part of the question, and that copies of the pamphlet alluded to were seized by the Egyptian police. I have not, however, seen a copy and am not in a position to express an opinion upon its contents. As regards the last two parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on this subject on 12th April, and remind him that the responsibility for dealing with such incidents as these rests with the Egyptian Government.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport the frequency with which trains are now-run on the tube railways of London in business hours; whether, when the Select Committee on London Traffic reported, it was stated that trains were run with a frequency which reached the maximum capacity of the lines; and whether it is now quite common for five minutes or more to elapse between any two trains on the tube railways, even during the peak hours?

The booked intervals between trains on the Underground Railways during peak load hours vary from 1| to 2Jj minutes, and any greater interval is abnormal and due to delay to an individual train. I have not been able to trace the statement mentioned in the second part of the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he will institute an inquiry into the most economical methods of road construction from the standpoint of road traffic users; and whether he will consider the desirability of laying down experimental lengths of road constructed by various methods, and of different types of materials, with the object of ascertaining the effects upon them of the various kinds of road vehicles?

As I stated on 27th April, in reply to a question from the hon. and gallant Member for the Henley Division (Captain Terrell), committees of highway authority surveyors and engineers have been formed in each division of the country for an examination, in consultation with the divisional road engineers of the Ministry of Transport, of all questions bearing on economy in highway construction and maintenance. I should wish to await the results of the investigations of these committees before deciding whether a more formal inquiry is desirable. As regards the second part of the question, some valuable experiments of the kind indicated were carried out by the Road Board, but had to be discontinued in 1914 owing to the outbreak of War. Plans are in course of preparation for the resumption of definite experimental work of this nature under test conditions. I should add that a number of highway authorities make a practice of trying new methods of road surfacing and construction, and that the results of these experiments are closely watched by officers of the Ministry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if Lord St. David's Committee have considered the utility of sanctioning expenditure upon a connecting tunnel between Essex and Kent; and whether he is aware that the existing railway junctions serving great areas are so situated in the respective counties as to make this junction desirable both for efficiency in transport and general utility?

The question of constructing a tunnel under the Thames to connect the railways of Essex and Kent is one for the consideration of the railway companies concerned, and upon the information before me I am unable to express an opinion as to whether such a project can be justified. I am informed that Lord St. David's Committee has not been approached in the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, in the interests of the unemployed in the East of London and also in the interests of the pressing needs of prospective consumers in the district with regard to the question of the erection of the proposed electric generating station at Barking, he is now able to say whether the company's reply has been in the hands of the Commissioners since 1st March; and when the formal sanction of the Commissioners will be given?

I am informed by the Electricity Commissioners that they hope that it will be possible to issue the consent at an early date.