asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the East Riding Constabulary have secured their pension under Section 6 (3) of the Police Pensions Act, 1921; whether these officers are being given a non-pensionable addition to their pay in order to retain them; and how many ex-service men who joined the force since 1918 have been discharged during the current year?

I am informed that one member of the East Riding Constabulary has had his pension secured under Section 6 (1) of the Police Pensions Act, 1921, and has been granted a non-pensionable allowance of £26 a year under Section 6 (3). Ten others have had their pensions secured under earlier Acts, and receive similar allowances. Five ex-service men, who joined the force since 1918, have left it during the current year—one resigned, one was dismissed for drunkenness, and three were discharged as unlikely to become efficient constables.

If these time-expired men, who by reason of length of service have earned the right to retire on pension, took their pensions, would the necessity for discharging the ex-service men throughout the country arise?

There is absolutely no connection between the two actions.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has given any instructions to police authorities as to the measures to be adopted in reducing the strength of the forces; and, if so, whether in any future instructions which might be issued, he would request police authorities to effect such reductions by retiring officers who have completed 30 years' service rather than by discharging ex-service men engaged since 1918?

In connection with the measures for securing economy in police expenditure, I have suggested to police authorities that a reduction in strength should be secured by leaving vacancies unfilled. I have no information which would suggest the need for a general instruction in the terms suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the conditions of life of children living on canal boats and in caravans; if he is aware that probably more than half receive no education whatever and the remainder only the most intermittent education; and if legislation can be introduced which will prevent the continuation of a mode of life which is inimical to the health, education, and general wellbeing of those who at present have no permanent dwelling except in canal boats and caravans?

The matter has been engaging the attention of the Government, but it is not practicable to propose legislation at the present time.

Is it not possible to propose legislation for next Session? As this has been considered for the last 20 or 30 years, and nothing has been done, is it not time that something was done?

I was answering about the present time. The matter is under consideration.

Is it not the duty of the local authorities' officials to visit these places continuously?

That is a question which should be addressed to the Minister of Education.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of officials and the cost of their establishments in Kenya Colony for the years 1914 and 1921?

I have not sufficient materials for answering my hon. and gallant Friend's questions as regards native and Asiatic officials, or as regards the total cost to the Government of the European officials. In 1914, there were 1,036 European officials (including military and railway), costing in salaries and house allowance, £301,547. In 1921, there were 1,441 officials, costing in salaries and house allowance, 2713,847. The increase in numbers was due to the closer administration of certain districts owing to the advent of European settlers, and to the expansion of certain services of the first importance. Apart from the increased numbers, the increased charge for salaries is due to the same causes which have led to the higher cost of personal services everywhere, and, in addition, to the fact that before the War the scale of salaries in East Africa was admittedly lower than in other parts of the Empire. The increase is specially marked in the case of the lowest-paid Europeans. The figures are based on the Estimates, and in 1921 establishments in many departments were below the strength shown on the Estimates. Drastic retrenchment has been effected in 1922.

Is this colony self-supporting?

Yes.

Will there be anything to meet the interest on the debt, without a Grant-in-Aid?

I think that is a very unnecessary suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the proceedings in the mandated area of South-West Africa, which include the bombing of Hottentot villages containing women and children, and of one 'plane dropping from a low altitude no less than 40 bombs and spraying with 2,000 rounds of ammunition a party of 500 Hottentots, involving heavy losses; and whether His Majesty's Government propose to take any steps to put a stop to these proceedings?

I am aware that the Administration of South-West Africa have found it necessary to take military action against one of the native tribes. As regards the second part of the question, I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that the Mandate for South-West Africa is held by the Government of the Union of South Africa.

Will the Government holding the Mandate make a report to the League of Nations on these occurrences in South-West Africa?

It is surely not a matter in which I am concerned. The Government of the Union of South Africa hold the Mandate, and they are responsible to the League of Nations. There is no locus either for me or for the hon. and gallant Member to interfere in the matter.

Is there no locus standi in the matter by reason of the fact that we are members of the League of Nations?

I hope we shall find something better to do on the League of Nations than attack our own Dominions.

Is not any member of the League of Nations entitled to address inquiries on reports of this sort to a fellow member of the League, without any question of interference?

That cannot be dealt with by a supplementary question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that during the great War the Christian burghers of Rehoboth, South-West Africa, refused to join the German forces in fighting British troops; that they were then attacked by a German force, against which they fought victorious engagements in spite of heavy losses; and that the relations of this republic with Germany were regularised by a Treaty giving them independence, under which they have built up a successful State with its own Parliament; and whether His Majesty's Government, in the event of the Rehoboth Christians becoming involved in present hostilities, will consider what, if any, steps can be taken to restore peace to this community of British subjects?

I understand that the facts are substantially as stated in the first two parts of the question, and I am also aware that a Treaty was concluded between the Rehoboth Bastards and Germany in 1885. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer to my reply to the previous question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take steps at the earliest possible moment to take advantage of the suggestion of the Irish Provisional Government and arrange for a joint inquiry into all the circumstances attending the murders of British officers and men at Macroom, Cork, Dublin, and elsewhere since that Government came into being?

I think that my Noble Friend will agree that the question of a joint inquiry is not a practical one at the present moment, but I can assure him that the British Government have no intention of remitting their exertions to secure the apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators of these crimes.

While I quite realise that at the present moment it is impossible to have an inquiry, will the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that at the earliest moment that may be possible—we hope it will not be very long—a real inquiry will be instituted into all the circumstances leading up to these and similar outrages?

I think I had better adhere to what I have said. We have no intention of neglecting any exertions which we can make to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give me some sort of assurance that there will be an inquiry? The Free State Government has suggested a joint inquiry, and cannot the right hon. Gentleman say that at the earliest possible moment he will have an inquiry?

The country is still in the hands of the insurgent forces. The Free State is not yet established in that area, and I should prefer to review the circumstances afresh, when the Free State Government are in full control of the territory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, contrary to the terms of the Treaty, district and parish Republican courts are still operating in Southern Ireland and even in Dublin, that their proceedings are reported in the newspapers, and that they impose fines and other penalties; whether he will inquire of the Provisional Government whether this is done with their sanction; and whether he will represent to that Government the necessity of stopping such proceedings at the earliest possible opportunity?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply which I gave, on the 14th June last, to the hon. and gallant Member for Bath (Captain Foxcroft), and would, at the same time, paint out to him that, as I have previously stated, there is no provision in the Treaty prescribing what courts may or may not function within the area under the jurisdiction of the Provisional Government.

is it in accordance with the terms arranged with the Free State Government that Republican courts should function in Dublin, impose fines, and have their orders carried out?

No, Sir, and the position of the Free State Government has been made abundantly clear. At this particular period of transition there is a certain amount of duality, as I have explained before, and there is a dual set of courts existing. That is a very unsatisfactory state of things to the people of Ireland, but we have every reason to believe that it will be put an end to.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Free State Government that they should put an end to this dual system of courts, including rebel courts, at the earliest possible moment?

No one has a greater interest than they.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the market value of palm kernels to-day at Lagos, Nigeria, and the percentage of export duty, excluding the differential duty upon kernels shipped to a foreign port?

The latest information which I possess is that in May the average price of palm kernels at Lagos was about £11 a ton. The export duty is £2 a ton; so the export duty was about 18 per cent. of the then average Lagos price.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what amount of revenue remained uncollected at the close of the year 1921 in the Dependencies of Kenya, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast and Nigeria?

I regret that I am unable to supply the hon. Member with this information, as it. is not in my possession.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the mandated area of the Cameroons is a cocoa-producing area; and whether any export duty has been placed upon cocoa?

Cocoa is produced On a considerable scale in the British sphere of the Cameroons, and there is an Export Duty of £2 6s. 8d. a ton on cocoa, as in Nigeria.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a service of motor omnibuses has been established between Bagdad and Aleppo; whether this service is expected to be self-supporting and, if not, how will the deficit be met; who is providing the original capital; whether the Arabs along the proposed route are to be paid a subsidy so long as they do not attack these vehicles; what is the amount; and who is finding this money?

I have seen a statement in the Press to the effect mentioned in the first part of the question, but I have received no Report from the High Commissioner for Iraq on the subject. The Hon. and Gallant Member may take it that any project of the kind that may be contemplated is a purely private venture, and that no financial responsibility will be incurred by His Majesty's Government. I understand that more than one private group has been considering the question of linking up Iraq by motor transport, either with Syria or with Palestine.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that postal communications bearing a halfpenny stamp posted in London after 3.30 p.m. are not delivered to London addresses the following day; and if he can see his way to expedite such delay?

Halfpenny packets posted after 3.30 p.m. in London should ordinarily be delivered in London the following day. If the hon. Member will furnish particulars of any cases of delay, with covers of the packets, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men lodged in institutions conducted by his ministry who are certifiable under the Lunacy Acts, but who have not been certified; and if these men are lodged in the same institutions as non-certifiable patients?

When the mental condition of a patient in one of the Ministry neurological hospitals unhappily deteriorates towards insanity he is kept apart from the other patients, and every approved means of cure known to modern science is tried. Should the treatment fail to arrest the development of the malady before the stage at which certification is required by law, the necessary steps are at once taken for the patient's removal to a mental institution approved by the Board of Control.

asked the Minister of Pensions the greatest sum that the widow of a deceased private soldier may receive under the alternative pensions scheme, and the greatest sum that a widow whose son, her sole support, was killed in the War may receive under any Government scheme?

The answer to the first part of the question is 66s. 8d., and to the second part 26s. 8d. a week.

Is the Minister contemplating any action to remove the obvious anomaly disclosed in his answer?

I am not prepared to say the compensation due to the wife of a professional man who may have been earning a considerable salary is identical with that to a parent who loses a son.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will make inquiries into the case of Mr. James Lindsay, of Shropham, Norfolk, whose pension was stopped on the death of his son. Private Albert Edward Lindsay, No. 3279, Royal Fusiliers, he being in the battle of the Somme, 1916; and, seeing that this man is 74 years of age, has only his old age pension, and is only able to do very little work through suffering from a chronic disease, will he take steps to have the pension restored?

I am glad to inform my hon. Friend that it has been found possible to make a further award of pension to Mr. Lindsay.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Private James Deas, No. 20166, Machine Gun Corps, was transferred to Class W of the Army Reserve on the 23rd November, 1916, for work in the mines; that he received notice to join the Army for permanent service in April, 1918; that he subsequently received a notice to report at Grantham for permanent service, which he did; that while on service at Grantham allowances were paid in respect of his child Mary; that his claim in respect of this child and also his child John has now been disallowed, on the ground that they were born 280 days after the date of his transfer to Class W of the Army Reserve; and if he will explain why the date of his transfer to the Army Reserve, in consequence of demobilisation, has been ignored in deciding the question of his eligibility for allowance in respect of his two children mentioned?

The facts are substantially as stated. As, however, the man rendered no effective Army service after November, 1916, he is not eligible for allowance for children born more than nine months after that date.

Is it not the case that, this man was recalled to the Colours for permanent service on the second occasion, and the matter of his effective service should not interfere with his eligibility for allowance?

My information is that he did not perform any effective service. If the hon. Member is in possession of any information to the contrary, I shall be happy to consider it.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the frequent rejection of claims to pension, made by either a man or widow, on the ground that removal from duty was not due to the disability on which the claim was based and/or that no continuous medical history was shown; whether he is aware that the latter fact was due in many cases to men refusing to report sick until absolutely compelled; that in respect to widows' claims the number of cases where low vitality caused by war service disability prevented resistance to a secondary disability, and that widows are thereby precluded from pensions rights; whether he has received any protests from pensions committees as to the injustice and hardship following on such decisions; and whether he can take steps to secure any necessary powers which will enable such claims to be met?

I gather that my hon. Friend has in mind two classes of case in which claims to pension are now made for the first time, namely, claims from demobilised men and claims from widows of ex-service men who have died without themselves making a claim to pension during their lifetime. My hon. Friend will appreciate that in the case of claims thus made for the first time more than three and a-half years after the termination of hostilities, the Ministry are bound, before they pay compensation, to be satisfied on very clear evidence that the disability or death was, in fact, the consequence of the man's war service, and the two criteria to which my hon. Friend refers in the first part of his question are simply indications of the kind of evidence which, in the nature of the case, must be sought in order to establish connection with service. In the case, however, of a man claiming on the ground of war disability, removal from duty during his war service is not by any means a rigid condition of the admissibility of his claim; it is only one of the kinds of evidence which the Ministry desire in order to connect the disability with service.

asked the Minister of Pensions the numbers of the staff engaged in the Pensions Issue Office, distinguishing ex-service men, non-service staff and women staff?

Excluding typists, messengers and cleaners, the total staff of Pension Issue Office is 4,497, of whom 359 are ex-service men, 13 non-service men and 4,125 women. I may add that the number of women occupying substitutable posts in the Ministry as a whole has been reduced to the limit recommended by the Lytton Committee and that the large majority are employed in Pension Issue Office.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether temporary non-service officers who have become substitutable in one branch of the Ministry of Pensions have been transferred to another branch; whether the regional finance officer, who has been sent to the North of Ireland under the Ministry of Pensions, is a non-service man who was removed from Newcastle owing to being substituted by an ex-service man; if so, if he will explain why this procedure is being permitted in his Department; and if he will undertake to have all such non-service officials substituted by ex-officers or men who have fought in His Majesty's forces during the War, as recommended by the Lytton Committee?

It is not the practice to transfer temporary non-service men from one branch of the Ministry to another. The services of the regional finance officer in the Ulster region have been temporarily lent to the Government. of Northern Ireland and provision has been made for his absence by the temporary loan of an established civil servant from the East Midlands region. During the last 12 months the number of non-service men in posts covered by the Reports of the Lytton Committee has been reduced from 287 to 83 and of the temporary male staff of the Ministry 99 per cent. are ex-service men.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any applications have been made by air transport lines to operate an aeroplane service on the London to India route; and, if so, what action is being taken?

As I informed my hon. Friend on the 12th of this month, the answer to the first question is in the negative, and the second does not, therefore, arise. We are aware, however, that certain firms are watching this question and its possibilities, and I anticipate that something definite may be put forward after the publication of the Civil Aviation Advisory Board Report, which is approaching its final form. I have hopes that it will be signed and submitted to me this week.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he has been able to consult the Lord Chamberlain as to the possibility of reopening the State apartments at Kensington Palace to the public on Sunday afternoons in the event of it not being possible, on grounds of expense, to open them to the public throughout the week?

No funds are at present available to meet any expenditure incidental to reopening the State apartments at Kensington Palace, but the First Commissioner is consulting the Lord Chamberlain as to the possibility of making provision in next year's Estimates. Meanwhile I would remind the hon. Member that the majority of the objects of interest which formerly attracted visitors to Kensington Palace have since been transferred to the London Museum at Lancaster House.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, for what purpose a but is now being erected on the Horse Guards Parade; and what it is expected to cost?

No but is being erected upon the Parade. Hoardings are, however, being erected in connect-ion with certain works of underpinning required to safeguard the west wall of the Horse Guards building.

Is the hoarding to which the hon. and gallant Gentleman refers at the north-east corner of the Parade, close to the Admiralty?

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the total personnel of the Royal Air Service, male and female, respectively; how many of these are considered to be available to act as pilots and observers in the air, respectively, when required for active service, and not including personnel under training; and how many of these latter are allocated for service with the Royal Navy?

According to the latest returns available, the answer to the first question is 28,906 and 46 respectively, the latter figure representing the personnel of the Royal Air Force Nursing Service; to the second, 1,714 fully trained pilots and 109 observers, excluding those under flying training. It would be difficult to assess the proportion of this number of pilots and observers who can be said to be employed on naval duties, but there are 373 first line aeroplanes in service units without counting training or reserves, and these are manned by 461 pilots and 92 observers, of which 84 pilots and 35 observers work with the Navy, namely, about 20 per cent. Of the remaining 1,253 pilots, the proportion employed on work with the Navy is probably about the same.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it very anomalous that, with a very big Navy and a comparatively small Army, only 20 per cent. of the available pilots are attached to the Senior Service?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman forgets that two-thirds of the Royal Air Force is stationed oversea.

Have we not got numerous Fleets overseas, and ought not they to have their proper proportion of plots?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give details as to the experimental Royal Air Force torpedo school at Gosport and as to the work carried on there."

The Air Force establishment referred to at Gosport is not a torpedo training school: it is a flight maintained for experiments with the running of torpedoes from aircraft and for the study of modifications to aircraft fittings and to torpedoes in connection with such work. In this work the Naval Torpedo School, described as H.M.S. "Vernon," closely co-operate. The flight consists of three machines, with an establishment of 4 officers, one of whom is attached from the Navy, 18 other ranks, and 3 civilian assistants.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to certain criticisms of the prison and Borstal system contained in a Report on prisons recently issued; and, in view of the nature of the criticisms and the fact that the Committee responsible was unable to obtain evidence from prison officers, if he will appoint a Committee to inquire into the whole of the penal system now in force?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for the Central Division of Portsmouth on the 11th instant.

It will not take the right hon. Gentleman long to say, yes or no, whether a Committee is going to be appointed.

I have nothing to add to what I said on the 11th instant.

asked the Minister of Health the number of persons in receipt of outdoor relief and indoor relief on 1st January, 1921, 1st July, 1921, 1st. January, 1922, and 1st July, 192.2, respectively?

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a tabular statement containing the information desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the Home. Secretary whether he will consider introducing legislation in order to prevent the granting of licences to drive motor cars and other motor vehicles to persons who are unsuitable and who cannot pass a simple test?

I have been asked to answer this question. I would refer the hon. Member to the Second -Interim Report of the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles, and, for the reasons therein stated, I am -unable to propose legislation.

asked the Prime. Minister whether he can state, approximately, the amount of the taxation per head in Great Britain and Germany, respectively, in British sterling; whether many wealthy Germans are removing their securities and moneys in large amounts from Germany to neutral countries to evade taxation; whether the German Government is spending large sums of public money in developing the railways, canals, public works, and the industrial resources of Germany; and whether he can make any statement as to the evasion by Germany of her obligations to make reparations under the Treaty of Versailles?

With regard to taxation per head, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for the Moseley Division of Birmingham on the 15th June. But I should point out that all such estimates are profoundly affected not only by the rapid movements in the exchange but also by the future effects of the depreciation of the mark on the yield of taxation, effects which it is impossible to foretell. The question of taxation in Germany, and the questions referred to in the second and third parts of the question, are primarily matters for the Reparation Commission, which is dealing with them on the Report of the Guarantees Commission at this very moment, and I would ask my hon. and learned Friend to excuse me making any fresh statement on this aspect of the reparation problem at present.

Cannot the hon. Gentleman give me an answer on the question of fact raised by the second and third parts of the question, namely, as to wealthy Germans removing their securities from Germany and as to the German expenditure on the development of their own resources in evasion of their payment of reparations?

I am afraid it would be difficult within the possible limits of an answer to a question to give fuller information than my right hon. Friend has given in the course of this answer.

Has the Government really no information at all upon this very important question of fact?

Has not the right hon. Gentleman some means of ascertaining whether there is this large movement of German capital in the way suggested by my hon. Friend?

Did not the Chancellor of the Exchequer tell me that these specific questions were being referred to the Reparation Commission for the information of His Majesty's Government, and can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any reply has been received?

I am not in a position to answer the hon. Member for Frome (Mr. Hurd). As to the question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Bournemouth (Lieut.-Colonel Croft) it is extremely difficult to get information of statistical accuracy in regard to this matter of the exportation of capital. It is a current that runs below the surface, and it is only possible to obtain information by means of indirect indications, almost, I might say, hints.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that only four out of the seven German war criminals, whose names were submitted by the British Government for trial at Leipzig, were brought to trial; that one of these men, Commander Karl Neumann, was proved to have deliberately torpedoed and sunk the British hospital ship "Dover Castle," carrying wounded British soldiers, but was acquitted on the pretext that he acted under superior orders; that three others were convicted of acts of extreme brutality against British prisoners and were sentenced to only 10 months' or six months' imprisonment; and that Lieutenant Dittmar and Lieutenant Boldst were proved to have murdered some of the survivors of the torpedoed British hospital ship "Llandovery Castle," and were sentenced to only four years' imprisonment; whether any of these convicted criminals have since escaped from their German prisons; and whether, in view of these facts, he will urge on the Supreme Council the necessity of trying, in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles, the numerous other German war criminals?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government are now satisfied as to the inadequacy of the sentences inflicted by the German Courts on the German war criminals specially selected for trial to ascertain whether adequate justice would be meted out by the German authorities in respect of the crimes perpetrated by Germans during the War in connection wills the sinking of hospital ships and otherwise; and whether a demand will now be made for the surrender of the other war criminals, hitherto untried, to the Allies, so that their cases may be tried before an international court and adequate sentences inflicted on all persons found guilty of the crimes charged against them?

The facts as to the number of war criminals tried on the British list, and the results of the trials, are set out in the White Paper presented to this House on the 8th August, 1921. Lieutenants Boldst and Dittmar escaped from their German prisons, and very strong protests have been made by the British Government to the German Government upon this most regrettable and disquieting result. The whole question of the trials of war criminals under the Articles of the Treaty of Versailles is awaiting consideration by the Supreme Council and it would be premature, to make any statement until the completion of the discussions which are now in progress between the Allied Governments.

Does the right non. Gentleman realise the disastrous results that would follow if immunity is given to these German War criminals, against whom there is evidence of the most atrocious crimes?

Has the Leader of the House considered that the forthcoming marriage of the Kaiser of Germany is regarded as sufficient punishment?

Will the right hon. Gentleman urge upon the Supreme Council the advisability of investigating whether some people implicated in the escape of these Hun officers are the same-group who are responsible for the murder of Herr Rathenau?

I should have thought that was a matter for the German Government rather that: for ourselves. It is sufficient for the Allies to consider their own, without taking into account any additional cases which tie German Government may have against these men. I would ask the House to excuse me from making a statement about the attitude of the British Government on matters which must come before the Supreme Council and which are the subject of consideration between the Allied Governments.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the British Government are satisfied with what most of us think are very inadequate sentences? Surely he can say whether or not the Government are satisfied.

I see no public advantage to be gained by a statement on that subject.

In view of the fact that this matter has been hanging fire, without anything effective being done since the Treaty of Versailles, will the right hon. Gentleman bring the matter before the Supreme Council and urge upon them the necessity of dealing with the matter?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who are the members of the Allied Committee of Guarantees dealing with Germany; whether the Committee has any powers beyond the right of inspection; if so, what powers and what means of enforcing them; and whether it is proposed to call into counsel again the leading bankers of Europe and of the United States?

The members of the Committee of Guarantees which is appointed by and responsible to the Reparation Commission are Monsieur Nauclére (France), Signor d'Amelio (Italy), Monsieur Bemelmans (Belgium), and Mr. Kemball-Cook (Great Britain), with Colonel Logan (United States of America) as Unofficial American Representatives. The powers of the Committee, are set out in sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph 12 (a) added to Annex II to Part VIII of the Treaty of Versailles by the Protocol signed at London on the 5th May, 1921. (The Protocol printed as Command Paper, Command 1349 of 1921.) In reply to the last part of the question, the reconvening of the Committee of Bankers is a matter for the Reparation Commission by whom it was appointed.

asked the Prime Minister (1) what will be the number of each of the classes of which the new Upper House is to be composed;

Both the matters to which the hon. and gallant Member refers will no doubt be discussed while the Debate on the Resolutions is proceeding in the House of Lords, and it would be premature for me to attempt to deal with either of them at the present stage by question and answer.

Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman answer the simple specific Question 47—whether the Cabinet have made up their mind about this?

The Government have invited the House of Lords to co-operate with them in the reform of that House. I do not think we can enter into negotiations with success, and produce a cut-and-dried scheme, without reference to the discussion which is proceeding.

Does not the Prime Minister think that the House of Commons might be asked to co-operate, too?

In due course it will be asked.

Is it fair to ask the House of Lords to co-operate in committing suicide?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the Government's refusal to accept the definition of a necessitous area for the purposes of a special grant recently submitted on behalf of certain local authorities, he will state what further steps the Government propose to take to prevent the bankruptcy of these necessitous areas, due to increasing unemployment, and to whom the relief afforded by the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act is quite inadequate?

As at present advised, I have no reason to suppose that the needs of the situation are not adequately met by the arrangements under which local authorities can, with my sanction, contract loans to carry them over the present difficult times, the Government itself lending in certain cases of exceptional stress. I might add that the hon. Member's suggestion that unemployment is increasing is incorrect. The amount of unemployment has fortunately been steadily decreasing since the beginning of the year.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, although the total amount of unemployment is decreasing, in certain industrial areas it is increasing steadily, and is nothing to be done before the House rises to meet the problem which will arise there in the autumn?

The problem arising in the autumn cannot be dealt with at present.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government has considered the advisability of appointing among its representatives or substitute representatives on the Assembly of the League of Nations, to be held in Geneva in September, some person or persons who may be considered representative of the wage-earners and the women of the country; and who these persons or person are to be?

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated yesterday, this subject is now being considered in all its bearings, and he hopes to make an announcement before the House rises.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when that announcement will be made?

I cannot say anything more definite than that he hopes to make a statement before the House rises.

Has the Government favourably considered the device very successfully adopted by France of substitute representation, thus giving representation on all important committees?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guarantees the Treasury have stated their willingness to give under the Trade Facilities Act, 1921, since the date, 30th June when the last list was published?

The Treasury has agreed, since the 30th June to guarantee one further loan, amounting to £10,000, to be raised by the Levant Tin Mines.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Return of Total Expenditure under certain Acts of Parliament is to be brought up to date for 1921; and, if so, when the Return will be presented to the House?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Return is now ready for print, but as yet I cannot give the date on which it will be ready for presentation.

Has it been represented to my right hon. Friend that the existing form has given rise to a good deal of misrepresentation and exaggeration, and can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Return will be in exactly the same form as last year?

Representations have not been made to me, but: I shall be glad to consider any suggestion which my hon. Friend may make.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the names of the members of the Departmental Committee who are to consider the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, in accordance with the terms of the reference already announced?

The following have been invited, and hay, consented, to serve on the Committee to which the hon. Member refers:

• The Right Hon. Lord Emmett, G.C.M.G., G.E.E. (Chairman).
• Lord Kenyon, K.C.V.O.
• Sir Albert Hobson.
• Sir Michael Sadler, C.B.
• Sir J. Struthers, K.C.B.
• Sir A. W. Watson, K.C.B.
• Miss S. M. Fry.
• Duncan Fraser, Esq.
• W. L. Hichens, Esq.
• Hugh R. Rathbone, Esq.
• H. J. Simmonds, Esq., C.B., C.B.E.
• G. C. Upcott, Esq., C.B

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any and, if so, how many are officials of the Board of Education?

I do not think any of them are officials of the Board of Education, but Sir J. Struthers has long served in the Scottish Office.

asked the President of the Board of Education the amounts paid by the Government in each of the last two years in the way of pensions to teachers in elementary schools, in secondary schools, and in technical and other schools and the amounts which he estimates he should receive in each of the next two years from a contribution of 5 per cent. on the salaries then payable to teachers in elementary, in secondary, and in technical and other schools?

The amounts spent on superannuation of teachers during the last two years are as follow:—

Do not those figures show a considerable balance in excess of the amount paid out to the teachers?

The expenditure on pensions will grow from year to year. If my memory serves me rightly, the cost will amount to between £4,000,000 and £5,000,000 in 1929, and will amount to from £9,000,000 to £10,000,000, ultimately. Therefore there is no reason for limiting the contribution in the earlier years to the actual cost.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the effects of unemployment on apprentices in the skilled trades; whether he is aware that apprentices are in many cases losing the knowledge and experience they have already gained, with disastrous results to themselves and to the community as a whole; and whether he will, in conjunction with the Minister of Labour, secure for unemployed apprentices opportunities for technical instruction?

My right hon. Friend has not received any representations on this point, but he will discuss with the Minister of Labour the question whether, in present circumstances, the suggestion of the hon. Member is practicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of interest has so far been charged on our debt to the United States of America; and whether, in view of cheaper money, this rate will now be reduced pending funding?

The demand obligations by which this debt is at present represented carry interest at five per cent. The point raised in the second part of the question will be one of those for discussion in the negotiations regarding funding.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give details of the commodities imported from Germany upon which the sum of £107,000 has been collected under the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and can he also give similar details concerning the £46,000 duty collected on imports from the United States and the £35,000 from France?

The information desired cannot be obtained without considerable labour and consequent expense, which I regret I am unable to sanction.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that many persons in the Borough of Deptford, whose houses were wrecked as a result of the air raid in 1015, have as yet received no compensation for such damage; whether any money is now available for the payment of such compensation and, if so, can he state when the claims of these sufferers are likely to be met?

Apart from the grants made in 1915 by the Air Raid Compensation Committee, the sum of £5,000,000 has been provided in the Estimates for grants to be made on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action, presided over by Lord Sumner. The Royal Commission has already dealt with numerous cases, and is dealing as rapidly as possible with the remainder of the very large number of cases submitted to it.

Is not the hon. Gentleman conscious of the real hardship indicted upon working class people by their claims remaining unrecognised for seven years, and can he see his way to expedite these small claims?

The aspect of the matter to which my right hon. Friend has called attention is present, not only to myself but to members of the Royal Commission who are administering the grant. I am confidently assured that they are pressing forward with all possible haste the rather difficult inquiries in many cases, and they are dealing with the cases in the order of emergency, so that they will deal first with those cases which are most urgent.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in one particular case the parents lost their lives, while the owners of the property are still without redress?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any vessels have been, or are intended to be, sunk when condemned as obsolete instead of being broken up for scrap purposes?

The hon. Member no doubt has in mind the vessels to be scrapped under the Washington Treaty. No decision has yet been made regarding the method of disposing of these ships but the hon. Member may rest assured that every effort is being made to secure such benefit to the National Exchequer and assistance to employment as is consistent with the fulfilment of the Treaty. I may mention that the Admiralty have discussed the question in detail with the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers and this body, at the suggestion of the Admiralty, is at present negotiating with the ship breakers. One battleship is being used as a target for gunnery and bombing experiments.

Is it a fact that 10 large ships, including the "Lion," are being sent over to Germany in order to be broken up there? Could not they be broken up in this country and thus afford employment?

If it is posssible to get ships broken up in this country we endeavour to do so.

How many are going to Germany?

Perhaps the hon. Member will give me notice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will clear up misunderstandings by stating the reasons why young officers were not forthcoming when the Air Ministry asked if 400 could be seconded from the Royal Navy?

There is no record at the Admiralty of the Air Ministry having asked for a definite number of officers (400) to be seconded to the Royal Air Force. Early in 1920, however, the Air Ministry asked that a certain number might be seconded for training as pilots, and, after discussion, a Fleet Order was issued in July, 1920, inviting officers to volunteer. The response to this invitation was very unsatisfactory, in spite of senior officers having been asked to bring the matter to the notice of young officers, and only seven names were received, these seven starting training in. Spetember, 1920. During the winter of 1920–21 further discussion took place with the Air Ministry with a view to the seconding of a further number of officers, the ultimate, total aimed at being 100, but the conditions, which the Admiralty thought were necessary to secure enough volunteers to make the scheme a success, were found to be unacceptable to the Air Ministry. As there appeared to be no possibility of agreement, the matter dropped, the Air Ministry taking steps to find from other sources all the pilots required. The Admiralty have, of course, no power to second an officer to another service without his consent.

Will the offer be repeated?

I am willing to discuss the matter with the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the policy of the Government on the subject of the relief of agriculture from local taxation; and whether there is any expectation of legislation being introduced at an early date to deal with the matter?

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture is not in a position to make any statement on this object at the present time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether indications have reached him within recent times showing the economic embarrassment of farmers, due to inability to complete the purchase of their farms and to pay the interest on mortgages; whether he is aware that in many cases they were compelled to make these purchases by finding their farms sold over their heads; whether, to avoid their getting into the hands of moneylenders and selling stock wanted on the farms, he will consider and recommend to the Cabinet the policy of hiring out money at a cheap rate to farmers thus embarrassed and whether, if further information is needed, he will at once institute an inquiry into the whole subject?

My right hon. Friend is well aware of the difficult situation of many farmers who, owing to the breaking-up of estates, had to borrow money for the purchase of their farms in order to avoid dispossession from their holdings. He understands that an inquiry into the matter has recently been made by the National Farmers' Union and that proposals will be submitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject, but he is not in a position at present to make any statement on the subject on behalf of the Government.

Will the Government consider the alternative suggestion of guaranteeing farmers for a period, so as to prevent mortgagees from foreclosing?

Will the Government guarantee the working men?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, although normally the annually revised local valuation rolls in Scotland are adopted as the basis for taxation under Schedule A of the Income Tax, and must by statute generally be, so adopted, arrangements have been made whereby recent annual valuations in Scotland have been ignored by the Inland Revenue, the 1919–20 valuations being taken as the basis for that and succeeding years until the proposed reassessment for Schedule A in England and Wales becomes operative; and by whom, and at whose instance, were such arrangements made?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. Under the law the Valuation Roll does not fall to be adopted for the purposes of Income Tax, Schedule A, for any year for which the previous year's values are expressly continued under the provisions of the Finance Act. For the rest, I would refer the hon. Member to a reply given on the 22nd March, 1921, to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for East Fife. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that reply.

May I ask the Lord Privy Seal whether any papers in regard to the Hague Conference will he circulated to Members in time for to-morrow's Debate?

Yes, Sir. A Command Paper has been laid, and copies are now available in the Vote Office. Full circulation will be made to-morrow. The Paper could not be got ready for circulation this morning, and, therefore, copies have been placed in the Vote Office, to give Members an opportunity of earlier perusal if they wish it.

Will there be a preliminary statement by a spokesman of the Government in the Debate?

Yes, Sir. My hon. Friend the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department will open the Debate with a general statement.

Will the Prime Minister speak to-morrow?

The Prime Minister may be tempted to break his silence.

I wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, to repair an omission in the Division List of last night. For years I have taken a very strong interest in the question of the Canadian cattle embargo. I voted yesterday in the "Aye" Lobby. Through some inadvertence my name does not appear in the. Division List. I wish it to be known publicly that I carried out my promise to my constituents.

I will see that the error is corrected. Perhaps the hon. Member himself will go to the Public Bill Office and speak about the matter. H may be able to get it attended to earlier than I can.