asked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider the wording of Army Order 133 of April, 1922, paragraph 4, and alter the same so as to preserve the identity of certain squadrons of composite regiments by altering the proposed names of these squadrons from the 6th Dragoon Guards Squadron, 3rd/6th Dragoon Guards, and the 6th Dragoon Squadron, 5th/6th Dragoons, as proposed, to the Carabiniers Squadron, 3rd/6th Dragoon Guards, and the Inniskilling Squadron, 5th/6th Dragoons, and so meet the unanimous desire of all ranks, both past and present, of the regiments concerned?

Yes, Sir; these changes of title have been approved, and will he promulgated in the next issue of Army Orders.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that two brevet-lieutenant-colonels, promoted specially for War services, who have acted in high administrative appointments of that rank in the field, have recently been passed over for substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel; that majors in the Indian Army who have held brevet-lieutenant-colonel rank for four years have been promoted to the rank of full colonel; and why brevet-lieutenant-colonels in their twenty-fifth year of service are passed over for only the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps?

Promotion to the substantive rank of lieut.-colonel is made on the recommendation of the Selection Board, after most careful consideration of all reports and records of service, and whilst I do not know what particular cases, either in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps or other branches, my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind, I am aware that officers with such records as he indicates are liable on occasion to be superseded, for the reason that other officers are found to be better qualified. Promotion in the Indian Army is not a matter for the War Office.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is a were that Mrs. H. Sharkey, widow of Edward Sharkey, No. 863,761, Labour Corps, has been allowed a pension of 5s. per week for herself and four children; whether Edward Sharkey was discharged from the Army on account of gunshot wounds; whether the wounds so reduced his vitality as to render it impossible for him to successfully resist the disease from which he died; and whether he will have this case reviewed in order to give a more satisfactory allowance to this woman and her children?

This man died more than three years after discharge from an acute attack of pneumonia lasting four days. After full consideration of all the circumstances the Ministry were unable to accept the fatal illness as being connected with service; and, as this decision has been confirmed by the independent. Pensions Appeal Tribunal, I regret that the ease cannot be reviewed.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that John M'Cutcheon, No. 12,323, Seaforth Highlanders, has had his claim disallowed: that this man suffers from a wound in the head for which he was operated on in Bellahouston Hospital; that the wound is still running and he requires to wear a plate to protect the head wound; that this man has been in several hospitals for insanity since he left the hospital, and at the present time he is not considered responsible for his actions; and whether he is prepared to order this case to be reconsidered?

No evidence can he obtained in support of the alleged wound in the head during service. The mental condition which led to this man's discharge from the Army in April, l918, was accepted by the Ministry as having been aggravated by service. In April last, however, when a Medical Appeal Board reported that there was no remaining disablement from the condition, the Ministry decided that aggravation had passed away. That decision has since been confirmed and thus made final by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Roderick M'Beth, No. 33389, Royal Field Artillery, has had his claim turned down by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, on the ground that his disability, pulmonary tuberculosis, is neither due to nor aggravated by his service during the War: that this man served in the South African War, and that his whole prewar medical history attests him of having been in first—class health when be joined; that this man was gassed during his service, and served four years and four months of his total service of four years and nine months with the Army in France; that this man is at present undergoing treatment at Bridge of Weir sanatorium; and whether he will take steps to have this case reconsidered?

This man first claimed pension for tuberculosis more than two years after demobilisation, The disability was regarded as constitutional and in no way related to military service, and the decision of the Ministry rejecting the claim having been confirmed by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, I regret that the case cannot be reopened.

asked the Minister of Pensions what are the Regulations governing need pensions to the dependants of soldiers and sailors who fell in the War?

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of a leaflet which has been issued containing the information he requires.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the income from the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster for last year and an estimate of the probable income for the, current year?

As regards the year-ended 31st December, 1921, I beg to refer the hon. Member to the published accounts of the. Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster which have been presented to Parliament. As regards probable income for the year 1922, I am informed that the estimated receipts of the Duchy of Cornwall are £191,022, but that the estimated figure for the Duchy of Lancaster is not vet available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many associations are affiliated to the National Savings Committee; how many of these were responsible for collecting money during 1922: the number of organisers employed by the National Savings Committee and the minimum and maximum salaries paid; what is the percentage of saving certificates issued through the associations affiliated: and whether he will consider the advisability of transferring the control and work of this Committee to the Post Office Department?

The number of active savings associations in England and Wales is approximately 20,000, and it is estimated that about 30 per cent. of the total sales of single certificates, amounting to many millions a year, are made on the instalment plan worked by these associations. Apart from this, the associations indirectly affect the purchase of certificates not paid for by instalments. The operations of the associations are carried on by many thousands of voluntary workers. The number of organisers employed by the National Savings Committee, which is directly under the Treasury, is 54, of whom 40 receive not exceeding £400 per annum, and the remaining 14 from £500 a year to £700 a year plus bonus. I do not think this work can with advantage be transferred to the Post Office, whose functions are limited to the sale of certificates outright over the counter, making repayments and accounting, and do not include organising.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the total annual amounts of the war bonuses and similar increases of emoluments, excluding ordinary increments and superannuation, which are being paid to persons employed in the different services of the State?

The following figures will perhaps supply the information which the hon. Member desires:

• Officers, approx.-£11¼ millions, including about £5 millions due to increased rates of pay.
• Men, approx—£24¾ millions, including about £14½ millions due to increased rates of pay.
• In the case of officers of the fighting Services, 20 per cent, of the rates of pay introduced in 1919 is subject to review in 1924 with reference to the trend of the cost of living figure. On the basis of present numbers, 20 per cent, of the pay of office on full pay- represents about 2¼millions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a farmer, who is an occupying owner and who has paid Land Tax before his farm year is completed and who finds at the end of the farm year that he is not assessable for Income Tax, and therefore not liable to pay Land Tax, can claim recovery of the Land Tax he has paid; and, if not, whether legislation is necessary to put this matter right or whether it can be arranged administratively?

The reliefs from Land Tax to which my hon. Friend refers are by law claimable by reference to the amount of the total income as proved for any financial year before the Land Tax for that year is paid. The Land Tax is payable on or before the first day of January in the year of assessment, and there is no provision for repayment in the circumstances suggested in the question. As at present advised, I am not prepared to propose an alteration of the law which would be necessary to enable repayment of Land Tax to be claimed by reference to a reduction of the statutory income for Income Tax purposes obtained at the end J the year of assessment or at some later date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that public opinion, on the whole, is opposed to the granting of pensions in perpetuity to the descendants of distinguished persons to whom these grants were made, he will take steps to consult the descendants of those individuals, five in number, of which two cease on the death of the present holders, in order to come to some mutual arrangement for the liquidation of this annual payment?

The Treasury are always ready to commute perpetual pensions where terms can be arranged which are satisfactory from the taxpayer's standpoint. I will consider whether any action can be taken on the lines suggested by the hon. and gallant Member in regard to those of the pensions in question which are really perpetual.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any steps can be taken to commute the State pension granted to the heirs of the Duke of Schomberg, which was transferred from the gross revenue in 1857; whether, of the original pension of £2,880 net, £720 was commuted in 1855, £1,080 in 1876, £96 in 1877, £264 in 1883, and £360 as from the 26th November, 1915; whether the time has now come to consult with the heirs of this German nobleman with a view of winding up this pension; and who are the present heirs?

The facts are as stated in the question. The last recipient of this pension died in April last, and I have no information, as yet, as to any successor in title. The Treasury are, as always, ready to commute this pension if terms satisfactory to the interests of the taxpayer can he agreed upon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of duty collected on materials used in gas mantles since the decision announced by the Referee on 3rd December up to 1st July?

The amount of Key Industry Duty collected up to the 1st July in respect of dutiable ingredients in incandescent gas mantles is £232. I would point out that the award of the Referee in this matter was not signed until the 17th May last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if His Majesty's officers of Customs at Newcastle refused delivery of some vacuum flasks without payment of 33⅓ per cent. duty under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, which duty had to be paid against receipt No. 23,041 of the 20th June; why this duty was demanded, seeing that vacuum flasks have been exempted by the Board of Trade from duty; and whether it would be possible for him to give clear instructions to his officers as to what articles are dutiable, so as to save delays and costs which are now incurred?

It appears that through inadvertence the goods had been held to be liable to duty, but the necessary instructions to enable the duty to be repaid were issued on the 10th instant. The last part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the amount collected by His Majesty's Board of Customs under the Safeguarding of Industries Act represented the duty collected on children's toys, such as dolls' eyes, magnetised wire for children's games, children's bead necklets, Christmas tree toys, etc.?

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the Board of Trade are advertising for sale a directory of British manufacturers at a price of 2s. 6d., he will state the number of these books which he had printed, the cost of their production, and the number of the staff engaged in the selling of the book in question; and what is the charge per page for advertising material?

The hon. Member's question would appear to refer to the catalogue of the British Industries Fair, organised annually by the Department of Overseas Trade at the end of February. The catalogue, which contains the names of the exhibitors and a classification of their products and is, therefore, an essential item in the organisation of the fair, is distributed free to buyers visiting the fair. A charge of 2s. 6d. is made to other persons who may wish to acquire copies, and after the close of the fair a circular letter was issued to the firms who had been invited to visit it, informing them that a number of the catalogues were still available at that price. I am glad to say that, as a result of the circular, over 1,700 have been disposed of. The total number of catalogues printed was 40,000; of these, about 23,000 were distributed to trade buyers at the fair; about 11,000 have so far been distributed to trade buyers abroad, and about 2,000 have been sold. The cost involved in the preparation and printing etc. of the catalogue is met, like the other expenses of the fair, out of the sums received in rent from the exhibitors.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that there are a large number of working men in various industrial centres of Scotland unable to obtain suitable housing accommodation and unable to pay the rent required for the majority of houses recently constructed of the approved Board of Health type; and whether he will consider the possibility of constructing modern up-to-date tenement buildings of reinforced concrete, containing three-room flats, by encouraging speculative builders to submit schemes which will assist to relieve unemployment and provide additional houses?

While the position may be as stated in the firs part of the question, the scarcity of housing in Scotland is being relieved, and will be further relieved when the numerous housing schemes in the industrial centres have been completed. I may remind my hon. and gallant Friend that, in connection with proposals for the clearance of slum areas, the Scottish Board of Health are prepared to assist financially schemes submitted by local authorities for the erection of houses smaller than have hitherto been approved and capable of being let at lower rentals. With regard to the second part of the question, the Government, during the past two years, have been encouraging private enterprise by means of subsidy, and under their scheme it was open to private builders to provide houses in tenements of three storeys.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Committee to deal with questions arising under the Rent Restriction Acts has yet been constituted; and, if so, the names of the members of the Committee and the Terms of Reference?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Spen Valley (Mr. Myers).

asked the Minister of Health whether three chief or other officials of the housing branch of the Ministry of Health are about to pay a visit to the United States on behalf of the Ministry; and, if so, for what purpose the visit is to be made?

The answer is in the negative. I may add that two officials of the housing branch of the Ministry have been recently in the United States, but the expenses of their visit were defrayed entirely out of private funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Federated Malay States revenue for 1921–22 is anticipated to meet the expenditure; and, if not, whether it is the intention of the Government to take steps to assist the Government of the Malay States to develop schemes which are thought to be practical methods of improving the revenue and developing industry, and thereby prove the gratitude of the British Empire for the great assistance rendered by the Malay States during the War?

I regret that the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The great efforts made by the Federated Malay States to assist His Majesty's Government during the War and the substantial assistance they contributed to the common cause have frequently been acknowledged and will not readily be forgotten. I am happy to say that the. Federated Malay States Government, in conjunction with the Government of the Straits Settlements, have recently successfully raised a considerable loan in the London market, from which development works are being carried out. I may add that, as my hon. and gallant Friend, of course, knows, the present financial difficulties of Malaya are principally due to the unfavourable position of the world market of her chief products, and he is no doubt aware of the efforts which I am making to improve the outlook for the rubber industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps should he taken by persons who have suffered exceptional hardship through losses in Ireland to obtain advances of compensation from Imperial funds?

All applications for advances of compensation in cases of exceptional hardship should, in the first instance, be addressed to the Secretary, Irish Distress Committee, 9, Queen Anne's Gate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a decree for malicious injury in Ireland, awarded after strong opposition from a district council at the hearing, has to be considered by Lord Shaw's Committee?

If the hon. Member will refer to the Warrant of Appointment of Lord Shaw's Commission, he will see that only undefended cases come within the terms of reference, and that undefended cases are defined as cases in which the council of the county or county borough, in whose area the destruction or injury occurred, did not appear by counsel or solicitor in opposition to the claim. Opposition by a district council only, therefore, does not take a case out of the jurisdiction of the Commission.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what progress has been made by the Government in their efforts to dispose of house property not required for direct Government. Employés?

Negotiations for the sale of certain housing estates are in progress, but it would be inadvisable at this stage to give particulars of them.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what economies have been found possible in the warding staff and regular police at the museums and galleries, as recommended in the Geddes Report?

The number of policemen, warders and attendants employed in museums and galleries has been reduced by 26, and in addition two night watchmen have been substituted for police constables. This reduction has been effected although the area to be warded has in certain instances increased. The question is still being investigated, and I am not without hope that further economies may be found possible in the near future.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what reductions it has been found possible to effect in the number of night watchmen employed by his Department, which was shown in the Geddes Report as being 280 now compared with 17 in August, 1914, supplemented then by 44 commissionaires?

Since the Geddes Report was issued the number of night watchmen has been reduced from 280 to 213. The actual decrease is 93, as 26 of the men now included are engaged in this building and at the Record Office where Metropolitan police constables were previously employed.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the total amount of the average quarterly payments made to the representative of the Tottenham district council for the past three years on the local employment committee in connection with the Employment and Insurance Department at the Tottenham branch of the Ministry of Labour?

The representative of the Tottenham District Council on the Tottenham Local Employment Committee attended 508 meetings during the period 31st March, 1919, to 20th October, 1921, and received allowances in respect of loss of wages, subsistence and travelling expenses in accordance with the scale approved by the Treasury. The amount paid averaged £56 a quarter, of which about £40 represented loss of wages due to his attendances.

asked the Minister of Labour if the Unemployment Grants Committee are adhering strictly, so far as their aid is concerned, to road construction and reconstruction, or whether they are open to consider other schemes of relief work, especially in industrial and populous districts, where the prescribed form of enterpise is too costly or restricted?

The Unemployment Grants Committee consider any schemes for works of definite public utility, and a large number of schemes in addition to road works have, in fact, been passed by them for grant.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport how the purely agricultural districts where road reconstruction is most needed, in view of the heavy motor traffic passing over them to other places, will benefit under the Road Fund scheme for assisted enterprises of this nature, particularly since they are, as a rule, not sufficiently well enough off to raise any rate equivalent to the official contribution?

Experience goes to show that highway authorities in agricultural areas have not been backward in applying for assistance from the Road Fund, and that the financial difficulties envisaged by my hon. and gallant Friend have usually been found to be capable of solution.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he is yet in a position to name a day for the presentation of conventions and recommendations arising out of the last International Conference?

The texts of the draft conventions and recommendations have been presented to Parliament as a Command Paper No. 1612 of 1922. I am not yet in a position to name a day for discussion of the Government's policy respecting these draft conventions and recommendations. As stated, however, by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Thursday last, in reply to the hon. Member for West Houghton (Mr. Rhys Davies), the period within which action must be taken does not expire until 19th May next.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Regulation that letters bearing a halfpenny stamp, if not posted before 4 o'clock p.m., are not sent forward until the following day is inimical to the furtherance of trade; and will he consider the desirability of abolishing such Regulation?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. A. T. Davies) on the 6th of July.