asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to be able to announce a decision regarding the promotion, pay, and pensions of the officers of the Royal Malta Artillery?

The rates of pay for officers of the Royal Malta Artillery were published in Army Order 288 of 1920. Promotion will depend largely on the rules for age and voluntary retirement and these are not yet settled. I cannot give an exact date for the publication of the new rules.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to a speech delivered by General Sir Ivor Maxse, in York, in which he expressed certain views on the League of Nations; and whether it is permissible for a general officer commander-in-chief to use his official position to express opinions on matters of policy?

I am informed that Sir Ivor Maxse's speech was misquoted in the Press and that he did not make the statement, regarding the League of Nations which was attributed to him.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what was the total figure recorded in the War Office books as at 21st March, 1921, as contingent claims against Russia or the Baltic State for anti-Bolshevist intervention; and in respect of what services is this claim made?

The answer to the first part of the question, taking stores at their full nominal value, is £67,983,819 (see page 212 of the Army Appropriation Account, 1920–21). The services in respect of which the claim is made are enumerated in the Statement presented to Parliament on 16th July, 1920 (Command Paper 772). They are: Expense of Army Contingents, Sea Transport, Cash Advances to Provisional Governments, Food and Supplies for Russian Troops, Munitions and Stores for Russians (marketable and non-marketable). It will be observed that in Command Paper 772 the stores were included, not at their full nominal value, but at their approximate actual value.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the reason for the delay-in publishing the statistics of small-pox eases and deaths recorded in the British Army during the years of the War, Seeing that three and a half years have elapsed since the signing of the Armistice and a special Department has been at work on the Army disease statistics during that time"

The delay is due to the volume of work involved. The statistics have to be compiled from the hospital cards on which the individual cases were recorded, and the number of such cards to be dealt with is about 30 millions.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many naval officers have been trained as pilots or observers by the Royal Air Force in the last 12 months; and whether any of them have completed their flying training and become qualified pilots?

No naval officers have been trained as pilots during the last 12 months. Eleven naval officers have been trained as observers.

asked the Minister of Pensions if the widow of a deceased soldier who dies seven years after receipt of his wound or pension is disentitled to pension even although it can be clearly shown that the previously pensionable wound was the immediate or proximate cause of death?

The answer is in the negative. These widows can be considered for an award of pension under Article 17 of the Royal Warrant.

asked the Minister of Pensions if grants made to the children of a deceased soldier to enable them to have a secondary school education are being withdrawn before the children have completed their education; and what are the reasons prompting this apparent reversal of policy?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Mills) on 19th instant.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the American Shipping Board made a contract with the South Wales coal owners to supply them with 500,000 tons of coal; whether the Welsh coal has been increased by 2s. per ton in consequence; and whether the Welsh coal and iron shares have appreciably advanced in consequence of the contract made?

It is true that orders from America have led to an increase in the price of certain classes of coal and to an appreciation of certain colliery shares, but I have no knowledge of any contract entered into by the American Shipping Board, nor, so far as my information goes, do the orders from America placed up to the present in South Wales amount to anything like the figure stated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps the Government intend to take to assist. British subjects whose business in Turkey has suffered as a result of the war between Greece and the Turkish Nationals: whether Sir Adam Block, the delegate of the English and Dutch bondholders on the council of the Ottoman public Debt committee, has reported to the Government upon the economic conditions of Turkey; and whether he has made any recommendations on this subject?

Pending the conclusion of a general Treaty of Peace with Turkey, I am unable to make any statement on the subject referred to in the first part of the question. I am not aware of any recent report by Sir Adam Block of the nature referred to in the second part.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a petition from the British colony of Smyrna, signed by 144 persons, has been received by the Foreign Office in regard to the claims of British subjects for property seized by the Turks, for which no compensation has yet been received what reply has been sent to the British Chamber of Commerce at Smyrna in reply to this petition; and whether the Government intend to take any steps actively to assist British nationals in the recovery of, or compensation for, their sequestrated property?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In regard to the second part, the representative in Smyrna of His Majesty's High Commissioner at Constantinople was instructed on 24th August, 1912, to communicate to the local British community a short memorandum explaining the exact position in regard to British claims against the Turkish Government and Turkish nationals. Copies of this memorandum were also sent to the London Chamber of Commerce and to other interested bodies. I am prepared to send the hon. Member a copy.In regard to the third part of the question, the competent Departments of His Majesty's Government are considering this matter sympathetically, and a Royal Commission has recently been set up to secure that such action as may be possible is taken without any avoidable delay in respect of the claims of really necessitous British subjects who have suffered damage and loss through enemy action in various countries. Claims of British residents in Turkey are filed with the Reparation Commission and are being dealt with as quickly as circumstances permit, but it is clearly impossible to accord them preferential treatment over those of British subjects in other countries. It must, moreover, be borne in mind that the funds available fun the settlement even of the most urgent claims are extremely limited.

asked the Minister of Labour if adults residing with parents owing to unemployment are disqualified from receiving either covenanted or uncovenanted benefit; and, if they are not, the questions such persons have first to answer before their claims are considered?

Single persons, whether adult or juvenile, residing with their parents are, generally, disqualified from receiving uncovenanted benefit unless they are able to show that when in employment they are dependent on their own earnings, and that when not in employment they cannot reasonably look to their parents for support having regard to all the circumstances. Local employment committees are empowered to question applicants in order to see whether these conditions are satisfied. The conditions do not apply to applicants claiming covenanted benefit. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the instructions issued.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered, or will consider, for the purposes of any future modification in the working of unemployment insurance, the obligation on all short-time workers to pay at the full rate of contribution incumbent on those in full employment; and what is the principle at present acted on, excluding any differentiation?

Any attempt to vary the rate of contribution according to the amount of time worked during the particular week would, I am afraid, be impracticable owing to the complications and difficulties which it would cause. I will note my hon. Friend's point for consideration, but I cannot hold out any hope that it will be practicable to make any change in the existing practice in this respect.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that J. M'Dermott, of Cornway Durham, who was a miner and spare-time school caretaker with the assistance of his family, has had his claim for unemployment benefit turned down by the court of referees; and, seeing that this man has been off work over 17 weeks since the colliery was laid idle, and that he was maintained, not by the salary as school caretaker, hut, by the wages earned as a miner, will he inquire into his case?

I am making inquiries locally in this case, and will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health the duties and powers of the rents tribunal; how the tribunal is composed; and how it was appointed?

The tribunal has been appointed under the provisions, inserted at the instance of local authorities, in the Local Authorities Assisted Housing Scheme Regulations, 1919 and 1921, The Regulations provide that in connection with determination of Exchequer subsidy, payable to a local authority, any difference of opinion arising between the Minister and the authority regarding deficiency of income due to insufficiency of rents charged, or failure to secure due economy in the carrying out or administration of the scheme, shall be referred to a tribunal, whose decision shall be final and conclusive; and that such tribunal shall consist of two members nominated by the Minister, one member nominated by the Association of Municipal Corporations, and two members (of whom one only shall be entitled to act in any particular case) nominated by the Urban District Councils' Association and the Rural District Councils' Association, jointly, and of a Chairman, to be appointed by the members so nominated.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses built by the Oakdale Colliery Company under the subsidy scheme: the amount of such subsidy per house: the number of houses built by the Markham Colliery Company at their Markham village, under the subsidy scheme; and the amount of such subsidy per house?

69 houses have been built by the Oakdale Colliery Company in respect of which subsidy has been paid, the amount of subsidy per house being £190 for 4 houses, £210 for 4 houses, £240 for 34 houses, and £260 for 27 houses. Subsidy has also been paid in respect of 69 houses built by the Markham Colliery Company, the amount per house being £240 for 18 houses and £260 for 51 houses.

asked the Minister of Health how many State subsidised houses have been sanctioned since the beginning of the current year and in what districts; what is the maximum price for any house contract and what is the minimum; whether of the number of houses originally sanctioned, but not built, there remain any still disposable; and, if so, how many?

During the current, year 144 local authorities in various parts of the country have been authorised to obtain tenders covering 4,169 houses. The maximum and minimum price per house approved during the year was £696 and £299 respectively; the highest price sanctioned since the operation of the State assisted scheme was £1,240. 1,432 houses have not yet been definitely allocated under the scheme.

asked the Minister of Health whether Sir Wilmot Herringham, who was appointed a member of the General Nursing Council, is a registered medical practitioner; if so, whether he is aware that the vacancy which this gentleman was appointed to fill was caused by the resignation of a nominee of the Privy Council; that in the provisions of the Schedule to the Nurses Registration Act the nominee of the Privy Council may not be a registered medical practitioner; and, in view of this infringement of the Act, what action he proposes to take?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, Sir Wilmot Herringham was appointed by the Board of Education, and the last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many cases per week are reported to him by the Poplar Board of Guardians as receiving out-relief in excess of the Mond scale; what steps, if any, are taken by the officers of his Department to investigate such cases;(2) whether he has taken any and, if so, what steps upon the information given in Mr. Cooper's Report on Poplar Poor Law administration; and what effect has followed upon any action that he may have taken?

I sent a copy of Mr. Cooper's Report to the Poplar Board—of Guardians together with a letter, a copy of which I will send my hon. Friend. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the guardians' response to my letter, I issued the Order to which I referred in the reply which I gave my hon. Friend on the 17th July. 1,829 departures from the provisions of this Order have been reported by the guardians in respect of the first week of its operation. These departures have been carefully scrutinised in my Department, and a considerable proportion of them have been disapproved.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that at a meeting of the Rotherham Board of Guardians it was stated that the hank refused to allow an overdraft for emergency relief, which is now £140,000; that the clerk of the guardians had asked the Minister of Health to sanction a further £10,000; and if he will take action to enable the time for repayment to be extended?

I am not aware of any refusal on the part of the bank. I have authorised borrowing to the extent of £140,000, and am informed by the guardians that the actual overdraft on the 20th instant was £86,911. I have received an application for an extension of the guardians' borrowing powers and am thoroughly investigating their financial position in order to afford any additional assistance which may be required.

asked the Minister of Health whether complaints have been received by him from boards of guardians with reference to the leakage of public funds through the lack of a system of co-ordination between the guardians and the Departments dealing with national health insurance, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and war pensions; and whether the Government are now dealing with the matter, or propose to deal with it, in the near future?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 17th instant by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Carmarthen.

asked the President, of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Alfred Harvey, of Roper House, Tansley, near Matlock, who enlisted in September, 1914, serving overseas for three and a half years, and who had a total military service of nearly five years; whether Mr. Harvey was to have sat for his certificate examination in December, 1914, but which he was prevented from taking owing to his enlistment; whether, after demobilisation in February, 1919, he immediately entered a training college and passed the full examination required, afterwards taking up a position at Attleborough Church of England School, Nuneaton, the education authority of which paid him within £25 a year of the amount he would have been entitled to had he not joined the Army, until the Board of Education ordered that no further payment should be made on this scale; whether Mr. Harvey is now employed under the Derbyshire education authority at Tansley schools, his salary there being £60 a year less than he would have received had he not joined the Army in September, 1914, but had waited till the Military Service Act became law; whether Mr. Harvey's patriotism will result in a total loss to him of over £1,200; and whether he will take such steps as will remedy what is considered to be an injustice by every education authority in the country?

My attention had not previously been called to this case. The recognition of war service in the calculation of salaries in public elementary schools is governed by Circular 1227, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. Mr. Harvey, who, previously to his enlistment, was an uncertificated teacher for more than three years, apparently does not fulfil the conditions of paragraph 3 (iv) of the Circular.

asked the President of the Board of Education, whether he has received from the Surrey County Education Committee a request to purchase a site and to erect an elementary school in Langley Bottom, Epsom Downs, a place at present without educational facilities; whether he is aware that there are at that place 136 children of, or approaching, school age, and that these children at present have to be conveyed at a great expense along exposed hilly roads to a school at Ashstead; whether he has received strong representations from the Epsom Urban District Council, the local sanitary authority for the district, supporting the proposal on the grounds of its urgent necessity; and whether he will now give his sanction to the proposal so that the expense and inconvenience and delay of conveying the children during the coming winter may be avoided?

The facts, speaking generally, are as given in the question, except that, on the information before the Board, the number of children at present being conveyed to Ashstead is 64. The notices of the proposal necessary under Section 8 of the Education Act, 1902, were issued on 24th June last, and the Board's decision cannot be given until the statutory period of three months has expired, during which time an appeal may be made against the proposal.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether both panels of the Burnham Committee nominated members to confer with officers of the Board upon the question of the remuneration of teachers in central schools as referred to in paragraph 6 of his letter to Lord Burnham of the 28th June, 1921; if so, with what result; whether, with the approval of the Board, the Colchester local education authority established a central school after conferring with the Board and with His Majesty's inspector for the district On the question of staffing; whether the head master was selected by the local education authority on account of his experience, coupled with the fact that he is a graduate of London University; whether at the time of appointment the head master was in charge of a Grade V school, and had he remained would have been entitled under the Burnham allocation of scales to reach a maximum salary of at least £570; whether the local education authority had actually fixed the maximum salary of the head master at £660, but has recently been informed that the Board will be prepared to recognise expenditure of an allowance of the appropriate amount as specified in paragraph 2 (b) (i) of Circular 1254 in the case of the heart master referred to, and that such allowance may be continued beyond the maximum of the allocated standard scale, in accordance with which scale the central school teachers' salaries should be calculated; whether, under this decision of the Board, the head master would he entitled to reach a maximum salary of £524, thus possibly entailing a loss to him of £46, or a loss, upon the basis adopted by the local education authority, of £136; and what does he propose to do to remedy such an unfair decision with regard to central schools?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but the problem was complicated by existing financial circumstances and no definite conclusion was arrived at. The facts of the particular case are as stated. It is governed, as the hon. Member points out, by paragraph 2 (b) (i) of Circular 1254, which represents the furthest limit of concession to which the Board were able to go for the year 1921–22. I am now considering what arrangements can he made for the current year, but I do not think it likely that the expenditure which the local education authority propose to incur in this case could be recognised by the Board.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether loans raised in the City of London have recently been granted to the succession States of Austria and to Jugo-Slavia; what is the amount of those loans; and whether a measure of disarmament has been a condition upon which the issue of those loans has been approved by His Majesty's Government?

I am not aware of any loan having been raised here recently by any of the Governments of the States mentioned, with the exception of the loan of £2,800,000 raised by the Government of Czecho-Slovakia in April last. The approval of His Majesty's Government is not required for the raising of loans in this country.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether there are non-Service officials employed in the Publicity Departments of the various State Departments; if he will explain why they are retained to the detriment of ex-Services officers and men who have fought in His Majesty's forces in the War; and whether consideration will be given to any such applicants who have had similar experience in other Government Departments with a view to immediate substitution?

Four non-Service temporary officials are employed upon publicity work in connection with the War Office, Post Office, and Ministry of Pensions. The cases of these officials have been most carefully considered by the Ministers respectively responsible for those Departments, who are satisfied that the retention of those non-Service men is in the public interest. The fullest consideration is always given to the qualifications of ex-Service applicants for such posts.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it has been decided by the Ministry that disabled ex-soldiers who have been employed for a number of years as temporary clerks and, as a consequence of proved ability and conscientious service promoted to Grade II clerkships, have carried out their duties efficiently since 1920, now reduced to Grade III clerkships, with a consequent reduction of wages; and whether, if this be not the policy of the Ministry, he will inquire into the matter?

No general question of policy here arises. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the number of temporary clerks employed in a particular grade must depend on the volume of the work and on the extent to which permanent officers become available for supervisory duties. The staff of the Ministry has fallen during the last six months from 23,302 to 18,212, with the result that the number of supervisory posts for temporary clerks has been automatically reduced. The Department has therefore no option but either to terminate the appointment of the redundant supervisory temporary officer or to offer him a post on a lower grade.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether since the Armistice the War Office, the Disposals Board, or any other Government Department, has sold any regimental tartan cloth to any firm; and, if so, the number of yards of each regimental tartan sold; the selling price per yard; and how this price compares with the original cost?

Sales of such regimental tartan have been made since the Armistice, but the preparation of the return required by my hon. and gallant Friend would involve considerable clerical labour, involving expense which, with the depleted staffs now available, could not be justified. No sales have been made direct by the War Office, who have transferred all their surplus cloth to the Disposal and Liquidation Commission.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if Charles W. Maguire, an ex-sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary, was awarded £1,700 compensation for injuries received in an ambush in 1921 while on patrol in the town of Letterkenny; whether £1,350 of this has been paid, and that Sergeant Maguire has been informed that £80 or £90 would be deducted from the balance for medical expenses; and whether he will see that, as the injuries from which Sergeant Maguire suffered were received in the exercise of his duty, the medical expenses rendered necessary by these injuries shall be borne by the Crown, and that no portion a the sum awarded to him shall be, deducted?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement on this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will give the numbers of calves slaughtered for each month of the present year?

The collection of monthly returns of the numbers of calves slaughtered, which was instituted as a War measure, has been discontinued. I am unable, therefore, to furnish the information desired by the hon. Member.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what progress has been made up to date with regard to the concentration of the staffs of Government offices to the standard of 80 square feet per head, which, when effected, was estimated to result in a saving of nearly £200,000 a year?

Up to the present time the activities of the Office of Works staff have been mainly concentrated on the work connected with the transfer of staffs incidental to securing the release of surplus accommodation arising from the reduction of Government staffs generally. Until, however, Departmental staffs approach more closely to their ultimate post-War level, difficulty will be experienced in securing the general application of the 80 square feet standard. This difficulty was pointed out to and appreciated by the Committee on National Expenditure in recommending that the concentration should be secured at the earliest possible date. It is estimated that the application of the principle of concentration has resulted so far in a saving of approximately £33,000 per annum on rentals, and every effort will be made to effect further economies under this head.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give the names of the firms licensed to transmit broadcast wireless; what revenue, if any, has been guaranteed by the Government to firms who receive such a licence; whether applications for this privilege were freely invited; and, if not, what conditions were imposed?

asked the Postmaster-General how he proposes to enforce the conditions he imposes as to the all-British character of wireless receiving sets; has he an adequate staff of inspectors; if not, does he propose to increase their numbers; and at what cost?

asked the Postmaster-General what is the intention towards traders and private persons who have purchased imported wireless receiving sets; and will they be allowed to use or sell them?

asked the Postmaster-General whether for wireless reception he intends to issue licences only for instruments conforming to an official specification?

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether an amateur who has constructed his own wireless receiving set will be permitted to use it on payment of the licence fee, or will he, if he uses it, be subject to prosecution;(2) what is the meaning of the condition that only apparatus manufactured in Great Britain will be licensed for wireless reception; and will the existence of any imported part in the apparatus cause it to be classified as non-British?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has reason to believe that broadcasting wireless would be undertaken if permitted by firms asking no money guarantee or payment and willing to submit to such control as the Government might wish to impose?

No licences have yet been issued to establish broadcasting stations, but I understand that the principal manufacturers of wireless, apparatus in Great Britain will combine to form a company or companies to provide broadcasting services. Any bonâ fide manufacturer in this country will be admitted to membership of any company so formed, and the companies will make themselves responsible for raising the necessary capital and maintaining efficient services. It is proposed that the receiving apparatus which may be used under the licence shall be limited to types submitted by members of the broadcasting companies, and that it should conform to certain technical standards.I have been informed that the broadcasting companies, when formed, will probably desire to impose upon their members the condition that British-made apparatus only shall be sold by them, and I have intimated that I will assent to this condition for a period of two years. It will rest with membership of the companies to determine to what extent this condition shall apply to the component parts of the apparatus.The functions of the Post Office will be limited to approving types of apparatus submitted by members of the company, and inspection of individual sets will not be necessary. Provision will be made under which amateurs who construct their own receiving sets and licencees who have already purchased imported receiving sets will be allowed to use them.The revenue required for providing the services will be derived partly from a contribution by the manufacturers to the company upon each set sold by them, and partly by a proportion of the annual licence fee which I shall propose to the House shall be paid to the companies financing the services. The cost of erecting the stations and providing these services is likely to he considerable, and I have received no intimation from any firm that they are willing to undertake it without guarantee or payment.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he proposes to take to meet the statements of the Select Committee on his Departmental Estimates with regard to the payment of excessive salaries?

I hope that I shall have an opportunity to discuss these statements in the course of the Debate on the Reports of the Select Committee on the Estimates on Tuesday.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is a rule of his Department to regulate the frequency of postal deliveries by the relative cost of the service in the various areas; if he is aware that in the Exmoor area houses within four miles of a post office get deliveries on three days a week only, and that perishable goods contained in parcels are frequently rendered valueless in consequence; and will he state the figures of the costs of the present service and of an increased service in the area on which the refusal to provide more frequent deliveries is based?

The frequency of postal deliveries in thinly populated districts must necessarily bear some relation to the volume of correspondence and to the cost of providing the services. I am aware that places in the Exmoor area have only three deliveries weekly. I will ascertain the figures of cost and communicate later with the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed, by an Order-in-Council, to make alterations in the places at which assizes in the future are to be held; and whether he will give an undertaking that before any changes are made the matter shall be brought before Parliament in order that this House may have an opportunity of expressing an opinion thereon?

I understand that the whole question of the arrangements of Circuits is under consideration by a Committee appointed by the Lord Chancellor. Until that Committee reports and proposals are formulated, it is not possible to give an answer to the second part of the question.

asked the Home Secretary whether the practice of his Department is to discriminate against the application for naturalisation on the part of men of Polish nationality, including those of long residence in and domiciled in this country; and whether, seeing that such discrimination is harmful to this country's interests, he proposes to take ally, and what, steps to remove the grievance referred to and to expedite the examination of applications which have stood over for years?

I am not prepared to make any such statement as is asked for in regard to my method of discharging the duty vested in me by Statute of giving or withholding certificates of naturalisation, without assigning any reason, as I think most conducive to the public good.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, though no action is now being taken by the military authorities against Russians who did not join up for military service under the Russo-British Military Convention, 1917, such action is still being taken by the police, who have been instructed to ask for a recommendation for deportation in every case where a defendant is a foreigner; and whether he will issue instructions that such applications should neither he made by the police nor granted by the magistrate in the absence of inquiry as to the character of the defendant and the sufficiency of the grounds for making it?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. All aliens found by the police to be disregarding the provisions of the Aliens Order are liable to be charged with that offence before a court, and there is no reason why individuals caught by the police should be let off because they have also been deserters or absentees from military service. It is proper that the attention of the court should be drawn to the fact that the alien is liable to be recommended for deportation. The making of such a recommendation is entirely within the discretion of the court on the facts before it, and I have no power to issue any directions in regard thereto; nor am I prepared to assent to such a reflection on the actions of the courts in this connection, as is suggested in the last part of the question.

asked the Home Secretary whether Martin Szumskis, who was recently sentenced at the Thames police court to one month's hard labour, coupled with a recommendation for deportation, on the ground of his alleged plea of guilty to the offence of having neglected to register his intended change of address, has been refused the right of appeal; and whether, in view of the one week's hard labour suffered by the defendant under his conviction and his good record as a law-abiding citizen in this country for upwards of 20 years, he will now recommend the remission of the remainder of the sentence, and direct that the recommendation for deportation shall not be acted upon?

The hon. and gallant Member asked, and I answered, a question to the same effect as this one last week—on 20th July. I have nothing to add to my answer.

asked the Home Secretary the result of the conference at Scotland Yard on 3rd July on the subject of taxicab fares; what comments were made by the police authorities on the evidence then laid before them; and what decision has been arrived at in the matter?

The Commissioner of Police informs me that the views put forward at the conference are still under consideration. The matter, which is complicated and technical, requires inquiry in many directions.

asked the Home Secretary whether accidents to motor hackney carriages in which passengers are killed or injured have to be reported to any authority; if so, to what authority; and what powers has any Government Department or local authority to take action against the owners if negligence can be proved?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, though the police naturally become informed of accidents of a serious nature. It is the duty of the police to take action in respect of offences against the Motor Car Acts or in respect of criminal negligence. I may add that reports are also received from the divisional road engineers on road accidents of a serious character, though the Minister of Transport has no statutory authority to institute inquiries into accidents of this nature. On the general question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to paragraphs 198 to 203 of the Second Interim Report of the Departmental Committee on the Regulation of Road Vehicles, which are attached.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether the relaying of tramlines and tramway setts comes within the scope of the circular issued by his Department on the subject of assistance from the Road Fund to road construction and reconstruction; and, if so, whether this point has been made clear to the local authorities concerned?

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative, and the second part does not therefore arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether any recommendations of any sort, made either by the Select Committee of the House or by the Advisory Committee on London Traffic, both of which were presided over by the late Mr. Kennedy Jones, have been yet carried out; and whether there is any hope of the whole problem being seriously taken in hand?

Yes, Sir. A number of the detailed suggestions made by both Committees have since been brought into effect and the work of co-ordinating and improving existing forms of London traffic through powers already in existence which formed part of the duties of the Advisory Committee is being continued by a Committee which still meets at the Ministry and includes representatives of the police authorities and the principal traffic agencies. The Committees, for instance, called attention to

"(i) The need for more arterial roads: As the hon. Member is aware, the Ministry of Transport, and the local authorities, with the assistance of grants from the Road Fund, are at present carrying out a number of important arterial road works in the metropolitan area on an unprecedented scale and making provision for their future extension.

(ii) The lack of proper arrangements for stopping places and routeing for omnibuses; the existence of unnecessary obstructions to street traffic, etc.: Difficulties under these heads have been greatly alleviated as the result of the work of the Advisory Committee and constant revision in the light of experience is still being made by the Sub-Committee which was appointed for the purpose.

(iii) The absence of direct contributions from omnibuses towards the maintenance of the roads: Substantial contributions are now being made through the new motor taxation introduced by the Finance Act, 1920.

(iv) The Advisory Committee also drew attention to the necessity for new tube railways and the electrification of the suburban lines: Work under both these headings is in progress or preparation."

It was not thought desirable to ask Parliament to pass legislation setting up the suggested traffic authority because of the expense entailed, and as this question is closely connected with the general problem of London government I think it better to await the Report of the Royal Commission now sitting.

asked the Prime Minister if there is a demand for all kinds of agricultural implements in Russia in consequence of more land being under cultivation; and whether, if no offer is being made to supply the Russian Government with traction engines, ploughs, and other agricultural implements, he will take action in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the speeches made in the Debate yesterday by myself and my hon. Friends, in which the attitude of His Majesty's Government in relation to the whole Russian position, including the possibilities of credit, was fully explained.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) the number of Chinese students now in factories in France for the purpose of technical training; how this total similarly compares with the number of Chinese students in this country for any purpose and of those in British factories here, respectively;(2) the exact amount of money devoted in France to bringing over students from China for purposes of study in France on French lines of commerce and culture; and whether he can give any indication of the number of such students now in France as compared with the number in this country?

I regret that I have no definite information on these points.