asked the Secretary of State for War whether Territorial battalions are to be permitted to carry on their colours the whole of the honours borne by the regular and militia battalions of their regiments?

This matter will be dealt with in connection with the general question of battle honours which is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the nature of the difficulties experienced in coming to a decision as to the disposal of the Expeditionary Force Canteens and Navy and Army Canteen Board assets; how many officials are employed in this Department in overcoming them; whether it is their whole-time occupation; and whether the situation is becoming clearer or otherwise?

The first part of the question cannot be dealt with within the limits of an answer in Parliament, but I hope to be in a position to make a statement on the subject shortly. With regard to the last part, no staff is specially assigned to the subject. The questions involved affect different Departments, and are not the whole-time occupation of any official. The situation is becoming clearer.

asked the Secretary of State for War if any decision has now been come to with regard to the granting of meritorious service medals to ex-soldiers who had qualified for the medal but for the fact that they had transferred to the Royal Air Force?

The ex-soldier who had re-engaged to complete time for pension prior to transfer to the Air Force will be dealt with in respect of the award of the Meritorious Service Medal in precisely the same manner and under the same conditions as would have applied had he remained in his parent service.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty under what regulation it is competent for a commanding officer to punish a chief petty officer of the Royal Navy for refusing to obey the order of a petty officer of the Royal Navy?

As an incident in which this issue has been raised is under consideration by the Board of Admiralty in their judicial capacity, on a question raised as to the validity of a summary punishment which has been suspended pending Admiralty decision on the point, the hon. Member will, I am sure, agree that it is undesirable that the matter should be dealt with meanwhile by Question and Answer.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether wounded or disabled men who are in receipt of treatment allowances are debarred from receiving such allowances for any period during which they are, through illness not directly attributable to their service disability, prevented from attending to receive treatment; and whether he is willing to relax this regulation when it can be shown that the illness is not due to any wilful fault or misconduct on the part of the man?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall) on the 1st May, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions if a special medical examination was made on 15th February, 1922, of Private Walter Power, late of the 17th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, and now residing at 54, Railway Street, Llanhilleth, Monmouthshire; if so, what is the finding of the board; if he is aware that Power was discharged on 14th December, 1918, after three years' service in France; that his medical doctor certifies him as unable to work owing to myalgia; that his pension allowance is only 20 per cent. of full pension; that he claims eight weeks' treatment allowance at £1 8s. and two weeks at £1 12s.; and that he asks that his pension shall be considerably increased to enable him to live; and will he give favourable consideration to this urgent case?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my previous answer of the 2nd March. I understand that the man has this week made a fresh application to his local committee for treatment, and a medical examination is accordingly being arranged.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the parent's pension awarded to Mrs. Wordsworth, of 123, Blackburn Street, Plantation, Glasgow, on account of her son, Lance-Corporal Patrick Wordsworth, No. 10858, Highland Light Infantry, has been stopped since the month of March; that this woman is 60 years of age and totally unable to earn her livelihood, and has no other source of income than this pension; and whether he will take steps to see that this pension is renewed?

I am looking into this case, and will communicate with my hon. Friend at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade who has been responsible for the direction and business of the Overseas Trade Department during the absence of the Parliamentary Secretary and other important employés in the Department for the past month; and what progress has been made in winding up the Department during the past four months?

As the Department of Overseas Trade is a joint Department of the Foreign Office and the Board of Trade, the ultimate responsibility for its direction rests at all times with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the President of the Board. During the absence of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Department, and of the Comptroller-General, at Genoa, Sir Frederick Butler, the Deputy-Comptroller-General, has been the chief permanent official responsible to the Secretary of State and the President. In regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in this House by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 1st March. It will be seen that there is no question of winding up the Department, but steps have already been taken to carry out the reductions in administrative costs foreshadowed in that statement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the Board of Arbitration in the Post Office has been abolished; and whether the Government will replace the board which has been abolished by another independent body to which union appeals as well as Whitley agreements can be submitted?

The reasons for the discontinuance of the Civil Service Arbitration Board were fully stated in the reply to a question put by the hon. Member for the Rushcliffe Division of Nottinghamshire (Mr. Betterton) on the 22nd February last, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade under what circumstances the Board of Trade suspended the Regulations governing the number and qualification of wireless operators to be carried on board ships; whether his attention has been drawn to the unrest that such action is causing amongst seafarers generally; and why the Board of Trade does not put into force the Regulations drafted under the Merchant Service Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1919?

After full consideration the Board of Trade decided that in the general interests of the country's trade it was inadvisable, during the recent strike of wireless operators, to detain oversea ships. The strike is now over and the ordinary Regulations are in force. I am not aware that this decision has caused unrest. A similar decision was reached in connection with the strike that occurred in 1920.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Martin Feeney, of 24, Queen Street, Govan, was thrown idle on 17th March, 1922; that he placed his unemployment book in the Employment Exchange on the 18th and signed until the 31st March, when he was told by the Exchange officials that his claim had been refused, and he has not been permitted to sign the employment book since; that this man, on his dismissal, received a certificate signed by his foreman to the effect that the bearer was paid off through shortage of work; and whether, in view of these facts, he will issue instructions to the Exchange to have this man's claim met?

I am having inquiries made, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will inquire into the case of Mr. R. E. Roberts, Serial No. 20,533, Local Employment Exchange, Watford; is he aware that, although this man signed on at the Watford Exchange on the 1st April, he has drawn no unemployment benefit at all, owing to two men having been given the same number; and will he cause the benefit to be paid without delay?

I am having inquiries made, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the fact that a large number of women workers, formerly domestic servants, who temporarily entered other occupations during the War and are being now displaced, are subsisting upon the dole rather than return to their permanent work; and whether he proposes to take any steps to obviate this waste of public money?

As was stated in the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend on 4th May, only those women who are normally engaged otherwise than in domestic service are entitled to unemployment benefit. Women for whom domestic service is suitable employment and who refuse offers of employment in that occupation are not allowed benefit. Special steps have for a long time past been taken to enforce this rule, and I have reason to know that it is being effectively carried out. If my hon. and gallant Friend will supply me with particulars of any case in which he considers that it is not carried out I shall be glad to inquire into it. My hon. and gallant Friend will be interested to know that during 1921, 143,000 vacancies for domestic servants, resident and nonresident, were filled by the Employment Exchange; further, another 74,000 vacancies in other occupations for women were also filled.

asked the Minister of Labour when, if at all, it is proposed to establish the Meat Trades Board which was announced by the Ministry of Labour as about to be established over 12 months ago?

As I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Bromley (Lieut.-Colonel James) yesterday, the Government contemplate introducing legislation following upon the Report of the Committee appointed under the Chairmanship of Lord Cave. In these circumstances I should propose for the present to defer proceeding with the establishment of new Boards.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that detachments of Red sailors are being organised at Archangel for vessels intended to be used in the Murmansk district against British fishermen, and that two transports armed with guns and munitions have been despatched from Petrograd for this purpose; and, if so, what steps do the British Government propose to take in the matter?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave him on this subject yesterday.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he would give a complete list of all Commissions which have been appointed under the four Peace Treaties, and, approximately, the cost of each Commission to date, adding information as to the source from which the cost is to be defrayed?

The following is a list of the various Commissions appointed under the Treaties of Versailles, St. Germain, Trianon and Neuilly. The source from which the cost of each Commission is to be defrayed is indicated in each case. It is, however, impossible to estimate the cost of these Commissions to date. Figures relating to the British section of each Commission might be collected, but in the absence of corresponding information relating to the other Allied sections, there would be no reliable guide as to the total cost.

Treaty of Versailles. Allenstein Plebiscite Commission—Expenditure charged on local revenues. Marienwerder Plebiscite Commission—Expenditure charged on local revenues. Slesvig Plebiscite Commission—One-half paid by Germany, one-half by Denmark. Upper Silesia Plebiscite Commission—Expenditure to be charged in the area. Rhineland High Commission—Cost falls on Germany. Danzig Administration—Cost defrayed out of local revenues. Reparation Commission—Cost falls on Germany. 2400 Military, Naval, and Aeronautical Commissions of Control—Cost falls on Germany. Germany-Poland Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case. Germany-Belgium Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case. Slesvig Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case. Saar Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case. Saar Governing Commission—Salaries charged on local revenues. International Commission of the Elbe—Expenses borne by the States represented. International Commission of the Oder—Expenses borne by the States represented. Central Commission of the Rhine—Expenses borne by the States represented.

Treaty of St. Germain. Klagenfurt Plebiscite Commission—Cost borne by Austria and S.H.S. State. Reparation Commission (Austria)—Cost falls on Austria. Military, Naval, and Aeronautical Commissions of Control—Cost falls on Austria. Austria-Italy Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case. Austria-Czechoslovakia Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case. Austria-Jugoslavia Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case. Commission for Repartition of Austrian Rolling-stock—Cost to be borne by States receiving rolling-stock, in proportion to the amount each receives.

Treaty of Trianon. Reparation Commission (Hungary)—Cost falls on Hungary. Military, Naval, and Aeronautical Commissions of Control—Cost falls on Hungary. Hungary-Czechoslovakia Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case. 2401 Hungary-Jugoslavia Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case. Hungary-Roumania Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case. Hungary-Austria Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case.

Treaty of Neuilly. Reparation Commission (Bulgaria)—Cost falls on Bulgaria. Military, Naval, and Aeronautical Commissions of Control—Cost falls on Bulgaria. Bulgaria-Jugoslavia Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case. Bulgaria-Greece Boundary Commission—Cost divided between two interested States in each case.

International Danube Commission.

Expenses borne by the States represented.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the report of the discovery of a large store of arms concealed in a house at Smargendorf, Germany; and whether, in view of this breach of the disarmament Clauses of the Versailles Treaty, he will say what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I have been asked to answer this question. The answer to the first part is in the affirmative. In regard to the second part, the stores in question will be destroyed and the German authorities will no doubt proceed against the parties responsible. The seriousness of such cases is fully realised by the Inter-Allied Military Commission of Control and it may be safely assumed that they will watch and follow up the matter as may be necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the possibility of issuing each quarter of the financial year an authoritative statement showing whether the Departments, as a whole, are adhering strictly to the financial limits prescribed for them, so that the public may know not only if the utmost economy is being practised, but the source of wastefulness if it exists?

Expenditure varies so much at different times of the year that detailed returns over short periods are apt to cause misleading inferences. The total issues for Supply Services as compared with the Estimate are already published weekly in the Gazette and in the Press. I will, however, consider my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion in connection with the quarterly return at the end of June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any financial assistance, by way of grant or loan or remission or diversion of Excess Profits Duty, has been given since 1914 to any of the firms engaged in the production of safety lamps for use in coal mines for the purpose of putting down or extending their plant for the manufacture of such lamps; and, if so, to which firms and to what amount?

No financial assistance by way of grant or loan has been given to such firms, and as regards Excess Profits Duty only such allowances have been given as are authorised by the statutes relating to that duty which are applicable to trades and businesses in general, including those to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. The Commissioners of Inland Revenue are precluded by statute from disclosing information relating to the taxation of particular taxpayers.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will state for each financial year since the conclusion of the War the amount of money realised by the sale of War stores?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given yesterday to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison).

asked the Home Secretary if it is the intention of His Majesty's Government during the present Session of Parliament to promote legislation to carry into effect the recommendations of the Departmental Committee appointed by him to consider the question of the regulation of street trading in the Metropolitan Police district?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave in this matter on the 4th instant.

asked the Home Secretary the number of serious and fatal accidents, respectively, which have occurred during the last 12 months as a result of the practice of pillion-riding on motor bicycles?

The figures are not available, and I am afraid it would not be possible to obtain them.

asked the President of the Board of Education what steps are being taken to protect the professional interests of Irish council school teachers who took service in England prior to the reconstruction of Ireland as a Free State Dominion, having regard to the fact that the service in Ireland of such teachers has been recognised throughout up to the present time; and when this will receive attention, having regard especially to the cases where reductions have been made by the Surrey Education Committee in the salaries agreed to be paid to teachers?

On the general question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave on 20th February and 2nd March to the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. O'Connor). I do not see my way to give exceptional treatment to Irish teachers who entered English service before the adoption of the standard scales.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Kent Education Authority have reduced from 170 to 60 the number of students to be sent up to a training college this year; and whether, in view of the hardship which this involves to a large number of young persons who, under a contract enforceable by a penalty, have undergone their preliminary training as pupil teachers preparatory to their college career, and seeing that the interests of education will materially suffer from a measure which must result in reducing the supply of teachers in the near future, he can give an assurance that there shall be no further steps taken which are calculated to restrict and discourage recruitment?

I have no information as to the action referred to by the hon. Member, but I assume from the terms of the question that the Kent Education Authority have this year reduced the number of maintenance allowances which they offer to students proposing to enter a training college. I have no authority to prescribe the number of such maintenance allowances which a local education authority shall provide.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, owing to the high postal rates for parcels, private firms are organising their own deliveries at a saving of, approximately, 30 per cent.; and what steps he proposes to take to recover this revenue for the Department?

I should be glad if I could make the parcel post more attractive to traders generally, but as I explained in an answer to the hon. Member for Exeter (Sir R. Newman) on the 2nd of May, the parcel post rates are not remunerative, and I cannot see my way to reduce them at present.

asked the Postmaster-General whether wireless telephone receiving instruments installed under the new scheme in Northern Ireland will be within reach of any of the broadcasting stations in Great Britain; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to enable the public in Northern Ireland to take advantage of the facilities recently announced, in view of the fact that the Post Office in Northern Ireland is still administered wholly by the Imperial Government?

If a broadcasting station were erected at Glasgow under the new scheme, it could no doubt be heard in Northern Ireland, but better results would probably be obtained if a station were eventually erected in that area. In view of the present position in Northern Ireland, licences are not at present being issued, but when the situation becomes more normal the claims of that area will not be overlooked.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the coming Brazilian centenary exhibition this autumn, he will, in the interests of British traders and potential exhibitors who may not know the facts, represent to the Foreign Office for submission to the proper quarters at Rio the desirability of some effort being made, as a prior step, to clear off the existing defaulted liabilities of the Brazilian authorities to traders and financiers in this country?

I have given careful consideration to my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I do not think it would be expedient for His Majesty's Government to take action on the lines indicated.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Committee, with functions similar to those of the Committer lately presided over by Sir Eric Geddes, in order to inquire and to recommend how and to what extent economies are practicable in the administration and expenditure of local bodies within the United Kingdom?

The expenditure of local bodies is primarily a question for the local ratepayers, and it is for their representatives to take the necessary steps to overhaul their expenditure. I will send my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of a circular issued by my Department in February of last year, in which I drew the attention of local authorities to the necessity for economy in local administration and urged them to review their commitments. It is within my knowledge that local authorities generally have made considerable efforts to reduce their expenditure, and, as my hon. and gallant Friend will see from the White Paper (Cmd. 1,633), which I recently issued, a reduction in the amount of rates has already occurred in many localities.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is of opinion that it would reduce the number of appeals to his Department under the Old Age Pensions Acts and the Blind Persons Act, or smooth the administration of those Acts, by rendering possible a greater measure of uniformity between, on the one side, the recommendations of the pension officers appointed by His Majesty's Treasury and, on the other side, the decisions of the local pensions committees and the Minister of Health, if he were to communicate to His Majesty's Treasury and the pensions committees all, or the more important of, the juridical rulings which have been recorded by his predecessors (the Local Government Board) and himself for their and his guidance in determining such appeals, and which have not been so communicated; if so, whether he will so communicate such rulings now and in future; whether he has received from any pensions committees any suggestions for such communications; and, if so, from how many such committees?

I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion, but as the decisions upon these appeals depend so often upon the particular circumstances of individual cases, I am doubtful whether the circulation of these decisions would be of much assistance to the committees. Only one committee has suggested that this should be done.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has yet received any reply from the Irish Provisional Government to his communica- tions in regard to the evictions of British subjects in Southern Ireland who have been terrorised into surrendering their lands and homes; and, if so, what is the nature of the reply?

The communications to which the hon. Member refers consisted of representations in regard to a number of individual cases of alleged terrorism and intimidation. I have received assurances in every case that the matter will be investigated without delay, and in certain of the cases, it has since come to my knowledge that the measures taken by the Provisional Government have had the result of preventing threatened evictions.

asked the Lord Privy Seal, whether the present Captain of Deal Castle is in receipt of a political pension; the amount of that pension; whether his appointment as Captain of Deal Castle provides him with free apartments; and whether such provision can be looked upon as emoluments of this office and thereby preclude the recipient from drawing a political pension?

The present Captain of Deal Castle is in receipt of a political pension of £2,000 per annum. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part of the question, the answer is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the quantity and value of potable spirits imported into India during the year 1920–21, and the amount of revenue derived therefrom; and what were the countries from which the spirits imported into India were exported?

The following statement gives the information asked for:

1. IMPORTS into India during, 1920–21, of potable spirits distinguishing country of origin.

2. REVENUE from potable spirits.

Articles and Countries of Consignment. Quantity Values.* BRANDY. Galls. £ United Kingdom 49,724 111,108 France 407,405 704,768 Holland 17,834 20,358 Germany 1,608 1,956 Java 9,560 2,663 Spain 1,831 1,813 Other Countries 3,183 5,666 Total 491,145 848,332 GIN. United Kingdom 85,912 112,770 Holland 14,841 15,362 Other Countries 939 943 Total 101,692 129,075 LIQUEURS. United Kingdom 11,924 32,406 Denmark 1,070 2,498 Holland 1,363 3,358 France 16,771 38,147 Other Countries 2,818 6,325 Total 33,946 82,734 RUM. United Kingdom 11,076 15,397 Straits Settlements (including Labuan). 4,314 467 Natal 5,500 1,596 Java 156,757 29,998 Other Countries 3,060 3,142 Total 180,707 50,510 WHISKEY. United Kingdom 721,911 1,231,658 Canada 2,276 3,995 Holland 5,180 4,991 Java 976 311 United States of America 3,281 3,612 Other Countries 2,282 3,357 Total 735,906 1,247,924 OTHER POTABLE SPIRITS. United Kingdom 25,541 107,620 Ceylon 27,918 7,980 Straits Settlements 4,033 3,728 Hong Kong 23,259 14,329 Java 306,371 48,252 China 9,210 6,739 Other Countries 1,677 5,396 Total 398,009 194,044 Grand Total, Potable Spirit. 1,942,465 2,552,619 Net revenue from spirits and liquors, £1,673,860 * NOTE.—Rupees 10=£1.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the net excise revenue of India for the years 1918–19, 1919–20 and 1920–21, respectively; what was the recorded consumption of country spirits in each of those years in Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Sind, Bihar and Orissa, the United Provinces, the Punjab,

Net Excise Revenue of India. 1918–19. 1919–20. 1920–21. Percentage of Excise to Total Revenue in 1920–21. Rs. 17,13,22,860. Rs. 18,99,53,568. Rs. 20,14,28,862. Recorded consumption of country spirits. * Proof gallons. Proof gallons. Proof gallons. Bengal 796,972 755,285 766,572 22.3 Madras 1,672,492 1,988,688 1,723,868 27.6 Bombay 2,492,128 2,665,227 2,592,174 39.8 Sind 200,934 215,948 222:375 Bihar and Orissa 1,272,937 1,367,842 Not available. 26.7 United Provinces 1,468,020 1,115,934 1,138,030 15.7 Punjab 456,837 545,271 514,350 10.8 Central Provinces and Berar 1,221,137 1,469,877 1,011,849 32.0 Assam 225,571 286,599 304,572 39.8 Burma 97,607 124,409 Not available. 3.2 * Excluding outstill areas, for which statistics of consumption are not available.

1 2. 3. 4. Province. Provincial revenue for 1920–21. Excise receipts accruing to Provincial revenues for 1920–21. Percentage of col. 3 to col. 2. Lakhs of Rupees. Lakhs of Rupees. Madras … 986.4 271.8 27.6 Bombay (including Sindh) … 1158.3 460.7 39.8 Bengal … 863 .9 196.7 22.8 United Provinces … 862.7 135.4 15.7 Punjab … 683.0 74.0 10.8 Burma … 1597.0 51.8 3.2* Bihar and Orissa … 372.3 99.3 26.7 Central Provinces and Berar … 339.7 108.8 32.0 Assam … 189.2 75.3 39.8 * (The very low percentage for Burma is due to the inclusion in the year's revenue of a large special receipt (nearly 9 crores) on account of profits from the Rice Scheme.)

asked the Secretary of State for India what was the cost of the telegram from the Viceroy to the Secretary of State, dated 9th February, 1922, giving a general appreciation of the situation as regards non-co-operation?

In round figures £120.

the Central Provinces and Berar, Assam and Burma, respectively; and what was the percentage of excise revenue to the total amount accruing to the provincial Government in each case for the year 1920–21?

Statements containing the information asked for are appended:

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as representing the Forestry Commissioners, the area of land that has been denuded of trees since 1914 in the county of Durham; what steps are being taken to replant by seedlings; what grants have been made to landowners in the county of Durham under the afforestation programme; and to whom and what the separate grants are?

The Forestry Commissioners have no in formation as to the area of privately-owned land that has been denuded of trees since 1914; their general information is to the effect that replanting is proceeding very slowly. They are, however, making a survey of woodlands in Great Britain, and this will be completed by 1925, when accurate information will be available. The Forestry Commissioners have no land in the county of Durham, but in the Commissioners of Woods' Chopwell area 125 acres have been cleared since 1914, of which 100 acres have been replanted to date. Applications by the following landowners in the county of Durham for grants in respect of afforestation in relief of unemployment (Forestry Act, 1921) have been approved by the Commissioners on the basis of £3 an acre, but until the area actually planted has been ascertained by inspection it is not possible to state what grants will be made: Name. Estate. Acreage. Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Heighington 15¼ Dean and Chapter of Durham. Shincliffe 8 Rt. Hon. Lord Barnard Raby 2 Consett Iron Co., Ltd. Consett 48½ Mr. F. Fenwick Wolsingham Park. 68 Total 141¾