asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department why, on the occasion of the recent request for tenders for the supply of railway material to the Danish Government, no translation of the pertinent documents was made when the latter were exhibited at that Department?

It has been decided, with the concurrence of the Advisory Committee to the Department, that, in the interests of economy, and in view of the cost of the staff involved, the Department should not undertake translations of lengthy specifications, such as those referred to by my hon. Friend. In such cases an estimate of the cost of translating the documents is obtained, and any firm interested can procure a translation on payment of a fee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Portuguese Government have fixed the rate of exchange with this country at 4d. per escudo; that the rate obtainable at present as around 3¾d. or a loss of about six per cent. to eight per cent.; that as a result of this decree merchants in this country are unable to obtain payment in sterling for goods; that this is going to prevent business between this country and Portugal; and if he proposes to take any steps to deal with this situation?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Keighley Division (Sir R. Clough) on 1st August, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated storage capacity in Great Britain for refined spirit and for crude oil; and whether, seeing that if the consumer is to obtain either of these products at reasonable prices the provision of adequate storage is a necessity, and that until such storage is provided the existing high prices are likely to continue in spite of petrol being available c.i.f. a British port at 1s. 3½d he will look into this matter?

Storage tanks can be utilised interchangeably for various grades of oil, but it is estimated that about 120 million gallons capacity is at present reserved for motor spirit. There is no consumption in this country of crude oil, but if my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to fuel oil, it is estimated that accommodation for nearly 1,000,000 tons in commercial tankage is available in Great Britain. There seems no reason to suppose that the present provision is inadequate or that special steps to increase it are necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the British trade with Tangier zone amounted in 1920 to approximately 18,600,000 francs out of a total of approximately 101,000,000 francs, and that these figures are nearly double those of the previous year; whether he is aware of the campaign which is being carried on in the French Press urging that Tangier should be completely controlled by France; that it is the considered opinion of the great majority of merchants at present engaged in this trade that it would be most detrimental to this trade and its development if such control were allowed; and whether the Government will give an assurance that nothing will be agreed to which will in any way jeopardise the maintenance and expansion of this trade?

The answer to the two first parts of the question is in the affirmative. For the rest., I can assure the Noble Lord that the consideration mentioned in the third and fourth parts will be carefully borne in mind by the representatives of His Majesty's Government, at the forthcoming conference on Tangier.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Crown agents are still endeavouring to ensure that, so far as possible, all requirements of the Crown Colonies are placed with manufacturers in this country; and whether he will state the nature of all contracts over £5,000 in amount which, within the last year, have not been placed in this country, assigning in each case the reason for external preference and the name of the colony concerned?

The practice of the Crown Agents for the Colonies in giving preference to British firms remains as stated in the first part of the question. During the last year only two small contracts for manufactured goods were placed outside the United Kingdom, namely: Dump cars for the Harbour Works, Gold Coast, value £11,227, ordered from a Canadian firm by the desire of the Consulting Engineers for the works. Neosalvarsan for Ceylon, value £7,687, ordered from Germany at the express request of the Ceylon Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether further economies of £385,000 must be effected before the 1923 Budget of Kenya Colony can be reduced to £1,200,000, the figure necessary for financial stability; and whether he can hold out any hope of this being done?

I have seen these figures in the newspaper report of a public speech made by a member of the Governor's Economy Committee. I cannot vouch for their accuracy, but I have received no indication from the Governor that a balance between revenue and expenditure is unlikely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that James Northrop, a British subject and an ex-sergeant-major in the Royal Army Service Corps, against whom a charge of fraudulent conversion was made, of which he was subsequently acquitted, was detained in prison for 18 days at. Acre that Northrop was confined with prisoners of all sorts, including native Bedouin and Russian Jews, in a common cell with as many, at times, as 38 prisoners, of whom Northrop was the only white man; that the manager of one of the biggest British firms in Palestine offered to stand bail for him, which was refused; and whether he is able to make any statement on this incident which will allay the feelings of the British Colony in Palestine?

I regret that I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on the 26th July, as the High Commissioner's report has not yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the terms of his reply to the unofficial members of the Federal Council of the Malay States with regard to the substitution in 1911 of the title of Chief Secretary, and their recommendation of a return to the earlier title of Resident General?

The reply given to the unofficial members of the Federal Council was to the effect that I considered that the conclusion reached by Lord Crewe, after long and careful consideration, had been justified by the history of the past decade, and that the unity of responsibility and control which had been thus secured was more than ever necessary in view of the requirements of the present time for very close co-operation in matters, both economic and financial, between the Federated Malay States and the Straits Settlements; that I regretted that. I could not see my way to reversing the policy then deliberately decided upon with the full consent of the Sultans and their Residents and since pursued: and that I observed that the High Commissioner was prepared to carry out a policy of decentralisation and closer co-operation with the Chief Secretary without change in the present unity of control and responsibility, a policy of which I expressed my approval.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received the Report of the Committee under the Safeguarding of Industries Act in respect of gas mantles; if so, what were the findings of the Committee; and whether he has decided to make any Order in respect of gas mantles?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The remaining parts accordingly do not arise.

asked the Prime Minister if he will indicate the measures the Government propose to take to effect the prompt removal of the Canadian cattle embargo; and when they will be submitted to Parliament?

asked the Prime Minister if it is intended to introduce legislation during the Autumn Session to give effect to the decision of the House as to the removal of the embargo on Canadian cattle?

I cannot at present add anything to the answers given by the Prime Minister on this subject on Thursday last.

asked the Prime Minister whether any steps are being taken, or are in contemplation, with a view to establishing closer and more effective co-ordination of the Navy, Army and Air Force, and to obtain collective responsibility in these three Services in regard to the tendering of expert advice?

These questions are now under the consideration of the Committee of Imperial Defence.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will refuse their consent to the occupation of neutral waters by the Greek Fleet, as they have refused their consent to the invasion of neutral territory by the Greek Army?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Ken-worthy) on 21st. June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any official information to the effect that the Inter-Allied Commission of Reparations in Bulgaria has failed to come to an agreement with the Bulgarian Government regarding the amount of the annual payments on account of reparations, and that, failing such agreement, the Commission has demanded the payment of the entire sum due up to date under the Treaty of Neuilly, namely, 112,500,000 gold francs, a sum equal to this year's total Budget; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

The answer is in the affirmative. Such action was the necessary outcome of the refusal of the Bulgarian Government to ratify the Convention proposed to them by the Commission as a condition for a further postponement. of their Treaty obligations. The matter now comes before the Allied Governments for consideration. I am not in a position to make any statement at the moment beyond saying that I trust that, even at this late hour, the Bulgarian Government will realise the serious results which must follow from continued refusal to meet the very reasonable requirements of the Inter-Allied Commission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the state of the negotiations over the demand of the Government of the United States of America for the payment of the cost of the American army of occupation in Germany; whether any of the money received from Germany has been paid to the United States of America; and whether it is intended to pay over any of this money received?

I am not in a position to add anything to precious statements on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that most of the ironworks in and around Glasgow have been idle since the coal strike, and that ort4 a few of the employés thereof have been working occasional shifts, some as much as nine shifts per month, at a wage of 10s. per shift or an average of a little over £1 per week of wage, and that the receipt of such pay has enabled these. men to avoid coming on the parish and to refrain from claiming unemployment pay; that, notwithstanding that such pay is insufficient for the barest maintenance, the collector of Inland Revenue for Springburn has arrested the wages of 50 out of the 60 men occasionally employed at the Blochairn ironworks for arrears of Income Tax recovering a less sum than £18 which was of small value after paying expenses to the revenue, but the loss of which caused great hardship to men already reduced below the subsistence level; whether he will issue instructions to the collector in Springburn to loose his arrestments against the Blochairn men and to the Inland Revenue generally not to insist on payment of arrears from those whose wages are unable to permit payment thereof; and whether, before the next Finance Act, he will adopt a stamp system, such as the system of collection of the Insurance Act, and so prevent arrears being accumulated at the time when wages are normal and then exacted when there are practically no wages to pay such arrears?

I am causing inquiry to he made into the cases to which my hon. Friend refers, and will communicate the result to him in due course. As regards the last part of the question, I would point out that arrangements are already in force by which, in the case of taxpayers to whom the system of quarterly assessment applies, an option is given, where the amount of tax due in any quarter exceeds 6s., to pay weekly by means of Income Tax stamps to be affixed to cards.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much gold has been salved out of the "Laurentic"; and whether salvage operations are still being carried on?

To date, £1,600,000 has been salved. Salvage operations are being continued.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to make any change in the principle of State contributions to local authorities before the Report of the Committee dealing with the subject is issued?

While no fresh changes of importance are in contemplation, I would rather not say anything to prejudice the revision of national expenditure now being carried out by Committees of the Cabinet.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, with a view to economy and convenience, he will in future have the Scottish Estimates, which are now included in the books of English Estimates and which form only a very small proportion of those books, printed separately?

In the volume of Civil Estimates, Scottish Services are shown separately as far as possible, but it would be incorrect to suppose that the Estimates identified as Scottish comprise the whole of the Scottish Services, and their separation in published form would present a misleading picture of Scottish expenditure. A number of Estimates to which the hon. Member refers as English relate, in fact, to Great Britain or the United Kingdom. I might remind the hon. Member that the Civil Estimates are already obtainable in eight separate sections, and it is not necessary, therefore, to purchase the whole volume in order to refer to a particular Estimate or class of Estimate. It would not be economical to introduce a further sub-division for publication.

asked the Minister of Labour if, before the House rises for the Recess, he will indicate what further measures of economy in the administration of his Department he has in preparation for the current year?

Any large economy must be dependent on a reduction in the unemployment figures. But I propose to continue without intermission my efforts to realise every additional administrative economy that becomes possible. Since I replied to my hon. Friend on the 19th July, the staff of the Ministry has been further reduced by 140, representing an annual saving of approximately £22,500, making, with the sum of 2350,000 mentioned in the previous reply, a total annual saving at the rate of £372,500. In other directions economies have been effected on the administrative side by closing a number of offices and concentrating effort in a smaller number of establishments. On the 19th July, I expressed my willingness to place fully before my hon. Friend the nature of these steps.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in carrying out the recommendations contained in the Report of the Reorganisation Committee of the National Whitley Council, the same principle as regards staffing has been applied equally to all Government Departments and Sub-De- partments; and especially whether, with a view to securing equality of opportunity and the same prospects of advancement to civil servants generally, the proportion of higher executive posts to training grade executive posts and of higher clerical posts to lower clerical posts is substantially the same in all Departments?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second, higher posts are fixed according to the requirements of the work in each case, and not on any fixed proportion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the numbers of staff admitted to the Civil Service as a result of competitive examinations in the years 1912, 1913, 1914, 1919, 1920 and 1921?

The following statement shows the number of persons for whose appointment to posts in the Civil Service certificates of qualification, including special recommendations issued under the Order in Council of 22nd March, 1918, were issued in certain years on the result of competitive examinations:—

Year.	Number of certificates.
1912	7,284
1913	6,926
1914	6,432
1919	3,679
1920	7,462
1921	7,517

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what amount has been paid out of the Exchequer in respect to steamship subsidies for foreign and colonial services for the years ending 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The payments made to steamship companies under contract with the Post Office for the conveyance of foreign and colonial mails during the years in question are as follow:—

	£
1919	305,000
1920	318,000
1921	351,000
1922	513,000

The payment for 1922 includes certain adjustments in respect of the two previous years.

asked the Minister of Health whether all domestic servants in the employ of the late management districts, or in the employ of managers of public-houses under the scheme, are subject to the health insurance as regards payment, as in the case of domestic servants not in Government employ?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether there are any means by which the guardians of a Poor Law union can obtain repayment of the cost of the maintenance in their hospital of a destitute person without dependants, in respect of whom health insurance benefit would be payable upon his discharge from the institution, but in whose case there is no prospect of discharge from the institution?

There is no way in which, under existing legislation, a repayment can be obtained by the guardians in the case put. In the event of the death of an inmate, however, it is open to the guardians to make a claim upon any sum which may be due to his estate.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the case of James Daly, of 18, Moffat Road, Aintree, Liverpool, whose wife has been refused maternity benefit on the grounds that only 29 contributions had been paid during 1921; that Mrs. Daly herself, being a working woman, had actually paid 46 contributions up to 15th May last; and if the Prudential Assurance Company Approved Society, to which the woman belonged, is justified in withholding such benefit?

I am informed by the Prudential Approved Society that the payment of maternity benefit to Mrs. Daly was withheld because only 7 (seven) contributions were credited to her for the contribution year ended 3rd July, 1921. The society have acted in accordance with the Regulations, and I regret, therefore, that no payment can be made in respect of Mrs. Daly's confinement in addition to the maternity benefit which, I understand, has been received from her husband's insurance.

asked the Minister of Health whether he: intends to reduce the grant given by the Ministry of Health to the Brondesbury and West Hampstead Crêche by the amount of £50, being half the special grant of £100 given last year by the Hampstead Borough Council to enable the crêche to reopen; and whether he is aware that the crêche may have to close if the grant be thus reduced?

I should much regret the closure of this crêche, but since the total State grant payable in aid of voluntary maternity and child welfare agencies, including the grant payable to a local authority in aid of contributions to such agencies, is limited to half the net expenditure, I am bound to reduce the direct grant to the crêche by the amount of the grant payable on the borough council's contributions to it.

asked the Minister of Health if he has received a letter from the clerk of the Melford Rural District Council drawing attention to the housing conditions at Lawshall, in Suffolk, and requesting him to allow the district council to lower the rents of some houses erected by the district council so that they may be occupied by agricultural labourers; whether applications have been made for these houses by persons acting on behalf of the Royal Irish Constabulary; if so, whether similar applications have been made to councils in other areas: whet-her these applications have been made at the suggestion of officials of the Ministry of Health: and whether he is prepared to sanction the letting of these houses to members of the Royal Irish Constabulary or to lower the rents so that they may be occupied by bonâ fide inhabitants of the district?

The rents of houses built under the Assisted Scheme in the parish of Lawshall have been fixed by the district council at 4s. and 5s. a week, and the houses are at present largely occupied by farm labourers. These rents are below the average which the Ministry have approved for the whole area of the district council and, as at present advised, I am unable to agree to any reduction. I understand that out of 20 houses under the scheme in the parish, four were recently vacant, and that applications for these houses have been made on behalf of late members of the Royal Irish Constabulary. I do not propose to interfere with the local authority in their selection of tenants, a matter for which they are solely responsible. I have, however, given to those acting for the late members of the Royal Irish Constabulary the names of two or three authorities who. I under stand, have some difficulty in finding tenants for their houses.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty when the warships detailed for Brazil are expected to reach Rio; and how long it is intended that they shall remain?

H.M.S. "Hood" and "Repulse" are expected to arrive at Rio de Janeiro on the 3rd September, and remain there until the filth September.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that soldiers on service in Ireland have to pay the full return fares when they come home on leave; that in consequence of such fares amounting to several pounds a large number of men, some of whom have been in Ireland for more than two years, have been unable to visit their friends in Great Britain; and whether he will take steps to alleviate this hardship by arranging for reduced fares for men going on leave?

Yes, Sir; I am aware that full fares have now to be paid by these soldiers when going home on furlough. The concessions under which such private travelling was previously permitted at the public expense have had to be withdrawn in the interests of essential economy, and I much regret that I do not see my way to re-introduce them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether an Army Order has been issued providing for the compulsory discharge of all short service men; whether the allowance to such men on their discharge is £2 10s. for each complete year of service on their present engagement; and, seeing that in the case of the compulsory retirement of officers the allowance made is £600 for a lieutenant with one year's service and £1,000 for four years' service, while a captain receives a minimum allowance of £1,000 and a maximum allowance of £2,500, and that there is no justification for such great discrepancies between the various ranks affected, will the matter be further considered?

In effecting the necessary reductions in the Army, men serving on engagements for less than the normal period have been selected for discharge in preference to those who had enlisted for the full term of Army service. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Order defining the compensation given. He will find that the terms for men are very much more liberal than he has been led to suppose. In making comparison with the compensation given to officers, he will remember that while the soldier, generally speaking, enlists for seven years with the Colours as a maximum, the regular officer (to whom alone the compensation terms apply) enters the Army as his life's career.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the cause of the delay in the delivery of the British War Medal and the Victory Medal due to John Stokes, No. 464, late company-sergeant-major, 6th Battalion Leinster Regiment; and whether he will see that these medals are sent to Stokes as soon as possible?

The British War Medal and the Victory Medal for this ex-warrant officer here issued to the officer in charge, South Irish Records, Warwick, on 25th January, 1922. If Mr. Stokes will write to that officer, stating his present address, I hope he will receive the medals in the course of a few days.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now arrived at a decision re the granting of a gratuity to civilian acting-paymasters upon discharge from their service as Army paymasters during the War?

Yes, Sir; civilian paymasters, like other civilians in all Army Departments, are ineligible for the War gratuity.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the appointment of a Select Committee of this House to inquire into the affairs of the Navy and Army Canteen Board, the Report on the same subject of the Departmental Committee, of which Lord Forres was chairman in 1920, will now be published; and if he will ensure publication at the earliest possible date?

I am having some copies of this Report put in the Library, but unless there is a real demand for it I should be glad to avoid the expense of publication. The Report does not deal with the subject-matter before the Select Committee, but with the question of the future organisation of service canteens.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the net cost per barrel of the draught beer sold in the canteens of the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes, the percentage of profit realised by the sale of this beer, and also the percentage of surplusable profit additional on such sale?

No, Sir: I am not in a position to give these particulars. The details of the trading of the Navy, Army and Air Force institutes are a matter for the Board of Management, and I could only intervene in such matters if there were complaints by the troops on the score of quality or price.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether an atempt is being made by an all-English seaplane to fly round the world; and whether, if he be satisfied as to the genuineness of the attempt, assistance will be given by the Air Ministry?

I understand that a proposal is on foot to carry out next year a world flight, as mentioned in my hon. and gallant Friend's question. The participators in the enterprise have approached the Air Ministry, and we have satisfied ourselves that their proposed scheme is sound and has a reasonable chance of success. The Air Ministry will assist the scheme so far as is possible when the time comes. I understand that the Air League of the British Empire is also going to help.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to the fact that of 980 persons employed at the headquarters of the Navy. Army, and Air Force Institutes in London 675 are non-service men and women as against 301 ex-service men and women; and whether he will take any action in this matter?

I understand that the policy of the Board is to employ ex-service personnel as far as practicable, but I am told that it has hitherto been found impossible to secure a larger number of ex-service men possessing the requisite qualifications. Much of the work at the headquarters of a business of this nature is obviously of a skilled and special character, but representations will be made to the Board as to the apparent disparity in numbers to which my hon. and gallant Friend calls attention.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of permanent established officers of the Ministry with the status of principal clerks and above, and the percentage of the same who served with the Colours during the War and at present engaged on the staff of the headquarters of the Ministry?

The number of established officers at the headquarters of the Ministry of the rank of principal clerk and above is 47. Of these, 6.4 per cent. served with the Colours, the remainder having been civil servants with long service who were above military age, or were found unfit for military service, or were compulsorily retained in the interests of public administration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of ex-service men who entered the last examination for ex-service temporary civil servants; their average age; the number who passed or qualified; the number of failures; and the number who have since been accepted by the investigating board for permanent positions?

The number of ex-service men at the special examination for the clerical class held in November-December, 1920, and March, 1921, was 16,660, of whom 3,522 qualified for permanent appointment. Of the remainder, who failed, 716 have since been accepted by the investigating board. Scrutiny of the forms of all the candidates would be necessary in Order to ascertain their average age. Another special examination for the clerical class (including departmental classes), which is restricted to ex-service men, is now being held, and is being attended by approximately 15,000 candidates.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the question of placing ex-service adult men entering the postal service on a point in the wage scale above that for new entrants or at 21 years of age?

Exceptional starting pay is already granted to late entrants to the postmen's class at the majority of provincial post offices.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he proposes to make any further changes in the issue of treatment allowances to disabled men or their dependants; and whether he will agree to lay upon the Table of the House all future proposals for varying the conditions under which pensions or allowances may be claimed before such changes take effect?

The payment of allowances under Article 6 of the Royal Warrant is subject to the conditions determined by the Minister of Pensions, and the conditions laid down are fully set out in the Regulations published from time to time. I am afraid that my right hon. Friend is not prepared to give such an undertaking as that suggested, which could not be carried out without serious delay in the work of the Department.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that persons residing in the Hemsworth, Yorks, area and appealing to the Lords Appeal Tribunal, held at Leeds, are in many cases called upon to travel 20 miles or more by road or rail; that this means a whole day away from home; that the only provision made by the Ministry for their welfare is a railway warrant for the journey; and that many of the appellants are weak and ill and require company on the journey and subsistence while in Leeds, which their circumstances will not permit; and if he will provide a larger allowance for the journey and also arrange for appeals to be heard at Doncaster and Wakefield?

I have been asked to reply. Arrangements are made for Pensions Appeal Tribunals to sit at centres which experience has shown are most suitable, having in view economy and the convenience of the majority of the appellants. The work of the past three years has shown that for the Yorkshire area Leeds is the most convenient centre. The Regulations made for the procedure of the Tribunals provide, inter alia, that there shall be paid to the appellant or to his next-of-kin, or other near relative, or guardian, if summoned before the Tribunal, and to any person accompanying an appellant who is certified by the Chairman of the Tribunal, the Pensions Appeal Tribunals (Central Office), the Area Office, or the Officers' Branch of the Ministry of Pensions, as the case may be, to be unfit to travel alone, such travelling and subsistence allowances, and in the case of a successful appeal by a man or his widow, such compensation for loss of time, as may be allowed in accordance with any rules for the time being in force in respect of the matter, and as may be certified by the Chairman to have been properly expended or incurred. Particulars as to the travelling expenses and subsistence allowance which may be claimed are shown on the back of the Notice of Hearing issued to each appellant not less than five clear days before his or her case is heard.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of dependants' pensions that have been increased and altered since the introduction of the new needs scale?

I regret that the figures asked for by my hon. Friend are not available, but I understand that while a certain number of pensions have been decreased, others have been increased since the new scheme, based on the recommendations of the Select. Committee on Pensions, has been in operation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what progress, if any, has been made in the adjustment of winter milk prices as between producers and distributors; and whether he will advise the distributors to take representatives of the producers into consultation at this stage, so as to avoid a repetition of the friction which arose over the fixing of spring prices, and necessitated the intervention of the Ministry?

I am not aware whether any discussions have yet taken place between representatives of the producers and of the wholesale milk trade in regard to the prices to be paid for milk next winter. I feel assured, however, that both parties fully appreciate the advantage of consultation on the matter, and I do not consider that it would be desirable, at any rate at the present time, for me to take any steps to bring the parties together.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give the approximate date when the twopences will be repaid to Somerset farmers; and if he is aware that, owing to the adverse market conditions, it is of the utmost importance to many of these farmers to receive this sum, of which they have been illegally deprived, as speedily as possible?

As I stated in reply to a question my my hon. Friend on the 24th ultimo, the Government propose to accept the judicial decision of the House of Lords as regards the licence fee of 2d. per gallon imposed on milk distributors of the four south-western counties. The charges levied under the Milk Order are accordingly excepted from the operation of the War Charges (Validity) Bill, and repayment will be made as soon as the assent of Parliament is received to this proposal. The question whether the amount of the licence fee should be paid to the milk producers is a matter which must be settled by agreement between the producers and the distributors, as the Government have no power to compel the exporters to make any such payment.

asked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that under Section 1 of the indemnity Act, 1920, difficulties have arisen and are likely to arise whereby parties having claims against the Government may lose their rights through delay beyond the 31st August in the issue by the Attorney-General of his fiat giving permission to institute proceedings by a petition of right which has been lodged on or before the 31st August, being one year after the War, with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, steps can be taken either for the issue of the Attorney-General's fiat by the 31st August on all petitions lodged with the Secretary of State for the Home Department by that date, or to treat all petitions left or lodged with that Department by the 31st August as the presentation of the petition within the meaning of the Indemnity Act, 1920?

The question appears to be based upon a misconception. No difficulties have arisen or are likely to arise. Under Section 1 (1, b) of the indemnity Act a petition of right can be instituted within one year from the termination of the War, and Section 1, Subsection 2, of the Act provides that a petition shall be deemed to be instituted "at the date on which it is presented" that is, at the Home Office for the purpose of the fiat being granted—not on the date when the fiat is granted.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation dealing with matters affecting the position of coroners during the Autumn Session?

It is hoped that it will be found possible to do so.

asked the Home Secretary what quantity of morphia was manufactured in England in 1920; how much of this was used for home consumption: and how the residue was disposed of?

643,985 ozs. of morphine were made in 1920. No statistics of the amount used for home consumption are available. According to the returns supplied by the Customs, 322,464 ozs. of morphine and heroin were exported, but these figures do not include amounts exported by post or the amounts exported in the form of preparations.

asked the Home Secretary whether the output of morphia in this country is at present controlled under the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1920, by means of licences to manufacturers or by any other method; and, if not, why this course has not been adopted?

Yes, the manufacture of morphine in this country can only now be carried on under Home Office licence.

asked the Home Secretary whether 96,000 lbs. of special medical opium were sent by the Indian Government to the Secretary of the Revenue and Statistics Department, London; and, if so, whether he will say to whom, and for what purpose, was it subsequently sold?

I am not sure to what date the question refers; but it is the case that, owing to the stoppage of supplies of Turkish and Persian opium, Indian opium was imported into this country during the War for the manufacture of morphia required for the British and Allied Armies. It was sold to the manufacturers in this country. The balance of the stocks was reshipped to India early in 1920, and Indian opium is not at present being used by British morphia manufacturers.

asked the Home Secretary if a constable is entitled to pay for the day on which he is ordered to parade for his discharge and to hand over his uniform?

If the constable does not perform police duty on the day in question, I think the answer is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the serious danger to motorists, motor cyclists, and cyclists by reason of boulders and bricks being left on the public highway after being used for scotching vehicles on hills; and if he will consider issuing an Order or instruction dealing with the matter?

My right hon. Friend's attention has not been drawn to the matter, nor has he power to issue any Order respecting it, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which European countries allow British nationals to visit their respective lands without the formality of a visa; and whether the British Government are in communication with other countries with a view to enlarging this list?

The Swiss Government allow British subjects, except those who are seeking employment, to enter Swiss territory without a visa. Arrangements have been concluded with the French and Belgian Governments for the admission of British subjects into France and Belgium without a visa on a reciprocal basis. The question of extending these arrangements to certain other countries of Western Europe is under consideration.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the, fact that the Local Government and other Officers' Superannuation Bill has passed all its stages in both Houses and now needs only the consideration by the Commons of drafting Amendments made in another place, he can see his way to place the Bill on the Statute Book before the Adjournment?

I propose to make a statement on this subject at the close of questions.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the right of reproducing the pictures on the walls of the House is vested in outside firms which deal only for private profit; what, in that case, are the pictures so affected; and whether steps can be taken whereby the State should hold the copyright of these pictures for its own benefit?

I understand that the artists of some of the pictures in question have disposed of their copyright to publishing firms. As regards the last part of the question, I regret that the Government cannot contemplate the allocation of public funds for the purchase of the copyright of these pictures.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether, under existing conditions, every teacher must have taught for at least 10 years in grant-earning schools before he, or she, can be entitled to a pension;(2) whether, in the event of the teachers' pension scheme being put on a contributory basis, the Clause making 10 years' pensionable service in a grant-aided school an essential qualification would be modified or, if not, what steps would be taken to remedy the hardship of levying a tax of 5 per cent. upon the salaries of teachers who, for any cause, would be unable to complete the necessary years of pensionable and qualifying service?

The School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, requires that, in order to obtain a pension, a teacher must have served for 10 years in recognised service, as defined in Section 18 of the Act. Provision is made in Clause 2 of the Bill now before Parliament for the repayment of contributions to teachers who fail to qualify for a pension under the principal Act.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can give any later figures than those which he furnished on the 30th May, showing how the estimated expenditure of local educational authorities for elementary and higher education compares with the expenditure assumed for the purposes of the Board's Estimates for 1922–23; and whether he is satisfied with the economies which have been made?

The aggregate estimated expenditure for 1922–23 of local education authorities on elementary education is, according to the latest figures in my possession, £61,800,177, as compared with an assumed expenditure of £62,450,000. The aggregate estimated expenditure on higher education is £12,927,916, as compared with an assumed expenditure of £13,000,000. These figures show that local education authorities generally have made serious endeavours to effect such economies as are possible consistently with maintaining the efficiency of the public system of education. The result of these economies, so far as concerns the sufficiency of the Board's Estimates for 1922–23 is reassuring, though the increasing expenditure on superannuation of teachers, owing to an accelerated rate of retirement, introduces an element of uncertainty. I, of course, assume that the amounts of their several estimates will be adhered to by the local authorities, and they must not expect that expenditure in excess of them will be recognised for the calculation of grant. But there are some authorities whose Estimates for 1922–23, as compared with those for 1921–22, show an expansion which I must ask them to explain and justify before I can accept their proposed expenditure for the calculation of grant. I hope that the local education authorities will continue their efforts to effect economies, not only to meet the financial difficulties of the current year, but in order to carry the educational service, for the local administration of which they are responsible, successfully through the difficulties which may confront us next year.

asked the President of the Board of Education under what provision of the Nurses Registration Act of 1919 he appointed Sir Wilmot Herring-ham to the General Nursing Council for England and Wales, considering the fact that the two nominees of the Board of Education, the Hon. Mrs. Eustace Hills and Miss Steele, are still members of the Council, and that, according to the Act, the Board are only entitled to make two nominations; and why, if changes have been made in the Board's nominees, the General Nursing Council have received no intimation of the fact?

The appointment was made under Section 2 of the Schedule to the Act. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that Mrs. Hills is now a nominee of the Board; she occupies her seat on the Council on the nomination of the Privy Council. The failure to inform the General Nursing Council of the changes in the Board's nominations was due to a misunderstanding, which I regret.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the allegations in the Partap newspaper in regard to the treatment of prisoners in the Andamans, resulting in a communiqué issued by the Government of India giving an uncompromising denial to the statements made; and what steps are to be taken against the editor and printer of this newspaper and of other newspapers making similar false allegations?

I have seen the communiqué referred to. I do not know whether a prosecution is intended in this particular case. But in reply to an inquiry made about a year ago by the then Secretary of State the Government of India reported that prosecutions are generally instituted as frequently as is practicable and desirable.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the workmen of Preston Colliery worked 30 days and lost 15 days from 3rd April to 27th May; and, if so, with a view to help these men, will he consider new legislation to assist workmen who lose odd days, especially when they are so frequent?

The question whether the existing provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Scheme should be modified in order to deal with cases of this kind is under consideration. No change could be made, however, without legislation, and I can give no undertaking at present with regard to such legislation.

asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the fact that. in the employment chart issued by the Ministry of Labour the amount of unemployment amongst the 12,000,000 workpeople employed in the insured trades was reduced 3 per cent. between 1st January and the end of June, whilst in the 1,000,000 people who are members of trade unions making returns the amount of unemployment only fell 1 per cent. in the same period?

The unemployment percentage for the insured trades relates to the total number of workpeople, numbering about 12,000,000, insured against unemployment, while the trade union percentage relates to the membership, now about 1,400,000, of the unions making returns. It is, therefore, not surprising that the two percentages should show some divergence, although, in fact, they have hitherto been broadly similar. The divergence to which my hon. Friend calls attention is largely accounted for by the fact that workpeople in the engineering and shipbuilding industries, in which the percentage unemployed is much above the general average for other industries and shows little change as compared with January last, form a larger proportion of those represented in the trade union returns than of the insured workers. I may add that, while the percentage unemployed among insured workpeople provides at present the better measure of the volume of total unemployment, this figure is not available on its present extended basis for any date prior to November, 1920, and the trade union figures are therefore of special value in that they provide the only long record of comparable data available as to the relative level and course of unemployment over a series of years.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a number of refugees from Belfast are now residing in Govan; whether a number of them were expelled from the shipyard because they were Roman Catholics, owing to the action taken by their fellow workers; whether their claims, for unemployment benefit have been disallowed on the grounds that they are not looking for employment or that they were not formally employed; and whether he will have some investigations made into their claims, as some of these people have been signing for nine weeks and have received no benefit during that time?

I am having inquiry made into these cases, and will communicate the results to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in compiling the index of the cost of living, there is any indication in the price coffee that there was a substantial reduction of duty last April; whether he is aware that in the popular places of refreshment there has been no reduction in the charge for a cup of coffee; and whether he can, for the benefit of students of his index, throw any light on the reasons for this fact?

Coffee is not one of the items included in the Ministry of Labour cost of living index number, but such information as is available shows that many retail grocers have reduced their prices for coffee in correspondence with the recent reduction in duty. No information is collected by the Ministry of Labour as to the prices charged for cups of coffee in popular places of refreshment.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the discontent which has arisen in certain districts by a decision of the Milk and Dairies Trade Board that the wages of distributors of 21 years and over must not be less than 54s. 6d. per week as compared with an agricultural worker in the dairy farm, whose wages are only 36s. per week; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The minimum rate of wages of adult milk distributors in rural areas and small towns is 46s. 6d. per week of 48 hours; the rate of 54s. 6d. operates only in provincial towns of 10,000 inhabitants and over. These became operative on 2nd July. The fixing of these rates is entirely within the discretion of the Milk Distributive Trade Board, an autonomous body representative of employers and workers in the trade.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of working days lost through industrial disputes for each year since the Armistice and up to the latest available date?

The aggregate number of working days lost through industrial disputes in this country, both by workpeople directly involved in the disputes and by workpeople thrown out of work in consequence of the disputes at the establishments where the disputes occurred as shown by the statistics compiled by the Ministry of Labour, have been approximately as shown below:

Year.	Days lost.
1919	34,900,000
1920	27,100,000
1921	86,000,000
1922 (January to June)	18,800,000

Disputes involving less than 10 workpeople and those lasting less than one day are not included in the statistics unless the aggregate duration, i.e., the number of workpeople involved multiplied by the number of working days, exceeds 100 days. No statistics are available as to the, number of working days lost, owing to disputes, at establishments other than those, directly affected by the disputes.

asked the Minister of Labour why in the July issue of the Labour Gazette there are such few trades recorded under the head of Summary of Employers' Returns compared with previous issues; if he is aware that the figures have been highly appreciated as well as being helpful; and will he see that in future a full list of trades will be recorded as hitherto?

The decision to discontinue the collection and publication of the statistics and detailed reports relating to certain industries was taken, after careful consideration, with the object of reducing expenditure on the Ministry of Labour Gazette and on the statistical work generally of the Ministry. In view of the need for economy I am not prepared to resume this work. Such information of a general character as is still available as to the state of employment in these industries, however, is incorporated in the general article on employment on page 292 of the Ministry of Labour Gazette for July.