asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that John Morris Jones enlisted in the Loyal Regiment on 8th June, 1922, at Ashbourne Street, Bolton; that he was then under 18 years of age and therefore ineligible under the, King's Regulations and the terms stated in recruiting posters to enlist without his father's consent that his father asked for his release on 10th June and has done so repeatedly since; that he has failed to receive any satisfactory reply to his communications on the subject; and whether, under the circumstances, the lad will be immediately released?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. A man who succeeds in enlisting by mis-stating his age may be held to serve if he is between 17 and 18 years of age, and discharge is ordinarily only carried out in such cases when there are grounds of compassion which warrant it. In the present case, which has been carefully investigated, no such grounds have been found to exist, and Mr. Jones was informed accordingly on 10th July last.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of men returned as missing during the War who are, rightly or wrongly, officially recorded as deserters?

The returns of men recorded as missing during the War did not include deserters. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the shares of the War canteen profits have been paid to the Overseas Military Forces of Canada, the Australian Imperial Forces, the South African Expeditionary Force, and the United States of America Expe- ditionary Force; and, if not, how much is due in each case?

Interim payments on account of War Canteen profits have already been made to the Forces named in the question as follows:

• Overseas Military Forces of Canada, £320,651 17s. 4d.
• Australian Imperial Forces, £242,630 5s. 10d.
• South African Expeditionary Force, £15,545.

Steps are now being taken to verify the final allocation of the balances due to each of these forces. In the case of the United States Expeditionary Force, a final settlement has already been effected, amounting to £11,572.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, although the Board of Customs have decided, after prolonged investigation, that toy musical birds are not liable to duty as musical instruments, the case W.P.S. 7,600, ex s.s. "Swale" from Paris containing four toy musical birds, is now being detained by Customs officers, on the ground that these toy birds are adorned with feathers, which come within the definition of prohibited plumage; and, if so, whether he will give instructions to the Customs staff that the plumage regulations were never intended to apply to toy articles of this description?

If the hon. Member will furnish information as to the date and place of arrival of the s.s. "Swale," I will have inquiries made, and will communicate with him on the subject. I should, however, observe that it will not be possible to admit any extra statutory exceptions to the Regulations referred to.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Disposal Board has recently sold any regimental tartan cloth to Messrs. Barker, of Kensington; and, if so, how many yards of each regimental tartan were sold?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the list and amounts of grants or guarantees given under the Trade Facilities Act which will help unemployment in London and the Greater London area; and whether further applications from these areas are still under consideration?

The Treasury have guaranteed, or have expressed their willingness, to give guarantees in respect of the following schemes in the London area:

	£
Harland and Wolff, Ltd.	1,200,000
James Powell and Sons (White-friars), Ltd.	50,000
Underground Railways	6,458,000
South Eastern and Chatham Railways	6,500,000
Merton Board Mill, Ltd.	100,000
Pickerdite and Co., Ltd.	17,500
Lee Conservancy Board	100,000
	£114,425,500

The whole of the above amounts will not be expended on labour in London, as some of the money will be used for the purchase of machinery and materials manufactured in other parts of the country. On the other hand, it is probable that, as a result of other guarantees, a certain number of contracts will be placed in London.In view of the fact that employment is net necessarily provided only in the vicinity of the site of the works, it is not possible to give a list of the applications at present under consideration which would affect the employment position in London.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Disposals Commission have yet furnished to negotiators, desirous of purchasing Gretna factory and property en bloc, any statement of what subjects will be included in such an overhead sale; and, if not, whether he will say in what way offers should be framed?

Full particulars of the assets offered for sale with the factory in one lot are available for examination by prospective purchasers. With regard to the way in which offers should be framed, I may say that it is usual in the case of private treaty sales for purchasers to put forward their own proposals in the first instance.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, notwithstanding his assurance that the Government desired an overhead offer for Gretna, large sales of non-perishable subjects have recently been held there; whether more such sales are intended; and whether he is aware that such action by the Disposals Commission prejudices the chances of overhead offers for Gretna factory and property being received?

The answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative, a sum of £27,500 having been realised last month by the sale of plant and machinery. As regards the last part, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply of the 23rd May last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the Board of Inland Revenue, the principle has been adopted that three years' post-War service at the date of review is to be considered an indispensable condition of promotion in all cases; and, if so, whether he will take action to remove this condition, which is contrary to the promises of the Government?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on the 31st July.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) what are the arrangements being made by the Board of Inland Revenue which will result in every allowance being made in respect of war service; whether an assurance can be given that those of the 425 appellants against the Board's application on this basis of promotion because they were passed over solely on account of military service, and who are ultimately promoted, will be treated in all respects as if they had appeared in the original list;(2) whether he can offer an explanation of the fact that, in making the recent promotions to the rank of tax officer in the taxes clerical establishment of the Inland Revenue Department, officers who resumed their civil duties after April, 1919, were in no cases given the full promotion, inasmuch as they failed to fulfil the condition of three years' post-War service; and whether be is aware that junior officers have been promoted over the heads of many senior officers who have demonstrated their fitness for promotion by passing the Departmental test for promotion, and have been certified by their superiors as fitted for promotion?

I fear that a considerable amount of misapprehension has arisen in this matter. I am not yet in a position to make a detailed statement, but as I previously said, every allowance will he made in respect of War service and the Board of Inland Revenue hope, in a few days, to communicate to their staff the arrangements to that end.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Board of Inland Revenue is taking steps to review, at an early date, the claims to promotion of those officers who were not promoted owing to the interruption of their services by military service, and who have now fulfilled the requirement of three years' post-War service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I am giving to-day to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) upon this subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the reply of the manager of a Scottish Employment Exchange, in answer to a question by an ex-soldier inquiring as to conditions for a passage for himself and family to New Zealand under the overseas settlement scheme, to the effect that the matter was for the present not being dealt with, but might be reopened in near future; whether, if the above answer was given with official authority, he will state the cause for even temporarily closing down the scheme; and, if given without official authority, whether he will publish an official statement on the subject?

My hon. and gallant Friend appears to be under some misapprehension in this matter. The Government scheme for the grant of free passages to ex-service men who wish to settle, in the Oversea Dominions was closed to new applications on the 31st, December last, although persons who applied before that date and are subsequently approved may sail during 1922.

asked the Minister of Health whether the scheme for employing 50,000 ex-service men by the building trade employers with a view to their admission into the skilled ranks after a two years' training has proved a success; and if the whole of the 50,000 are now so employed?

Representatives of the employers advised me that on account of the continued and widespread depression in the building trades, it was not possible to make progress with this scheme. After consultation with them, and with the representatives of the operatives, it was decided to concentrate upon the training of disabled ex-service men for the building trade. In the result, the National Trade Advisory Committee for the building trades have recently agreed to pass further disabled men for training in the building trades. I hope with the aid of this decision to bring the total number of disabled ex-service men passed for training in the building trade up to 10,000—an addition of about 3,000 to the number already admitted to training.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether an examination for appointment of male clerks in the Employment Department of the Ministry of Labour was held in December, 1919; whether there was an age limit for competitors; whether the examination was held under the reconstruction scheme which superseded pre-War arrangements for such appointments; whether there were 500 vacancies; if so, were successful candidates at various examinations held in 1913 and 1914 under the auspices of the Board of Trade for the staffing of Departments in connection with Health and Unemployent Insurance, and whose appointments were not effected owing to the War, given consideration; whether applications for consideration for certain of such candidates on return from the War have been refused on the grounds of non-compliance in respect of age; and whether he is prepared to give an assurance that au appointment to establishment will be given to such candidates?

I have been asked to reply. An examination for the appointment of male clerks in the Employment Department of the Ministry of Labour was held in December, 1919; the age limits for competitors were 19 and 24 and the examination was held under the reconstruction scheme, and so was limited to ex-service men Five hundred vacancies in Great Britain were announced by the Civil Service Commissioners Candidates who had already satisfied the Commissioners in 1913 or 1914 as to their qualifications under the scheme of recruitment by interview and examination, formerly in force for the Employment Department, were not debarred from sitting for the December, 1919, examination if they were otherwise eligible under the Regulations laid down for this examination. All the ex-service candidates referred to above had an opportunity of entering for one of the periodic examinations for the Treasury clerical class recently held by the Civil Service Commissioners, provided that they had served in a Government Department in a temporary capacity and that their combined service in a Government Department and in His Majesty's Forces totalled one year. No upper age limit was fixed in connection with these examinations. I would point out to my hon. and gallant Friend that, although these men were classified as suitable for appointment in 1913 and 1914, no guarantee of appointment was given to them. Their names were simply placed on a waiting list from which vacancies could he filled as they arose. As a matter of fact, the number of vacancies which had arisen was insufficient to cover all the qualified candidates mentioned above at the time when recruitment was suspended at the outbreak of war, and the scheme of recruitment under which these men qualified is no longer in force.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that whereas the lowest London minimum rate for Civil Service temporary women clerks in 1914–15 was 21s. 2d. a week, under the present Treasury proposals for reductions based upon a sliding scale the new basic minimum adult women's rate for London for similar work works out at 19s. 6d. a week, while the basic rate for temporary male clerks on similar work comes to 31s. 2d. a week; what is the justification for such differentiation in view of the carrying out by the Government of the Lytton Committee Reports involving, as this does, the dismissal of women who do not contribute to the support of others; and whether he will consider revising these proposals or whether he will allow the women's case to go to the Industrial Court before imposing the Treasury scheme?

Under the Treasury proposals the minimum rate payable to an adult Grade 3 temporary male clerk employed in London would be reduced to 57s. 9d. a week; the corresponding revised minimum for an adult Grade 3 temporary woman clerk would be 44s. 3d. a week. These rates are consolidated rates and do not consist of a specific basic element plus a specific bonus element. With regard to the last part of the question, it has been decided, after full consideration, that the case is not one which could suitably be referred to arbitration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of taxation, in English sterling, per head in the following countries, differentiating between direct and indirect taxation: United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Dominion of Canada, the

TAXATION PER HEAD.
			1921 or 1921–22.			1922 or 1922–23.
			Direct Taxation.	Indirect Taxation.	Total.	Direct Taxation.	Indirect Taxation.	Total.
United Kingdom	…	£	11·0	6·9	17·9	10·7	6·4	17·1
United States of America		$	18·8	13·8	32·6	16·6	11·2	26·8
France	…	Francs	273·6	174·9	448·5	238·5	278·1	516·6
Germany	…	Marks	854·9	601·3	1456·2	—	—	2245·0*
Belgium	…	Francs	99·8	79·2	179·0	81·9	126·8	208·7
Italy	…	Lire	104·4	177·3	281·7	71·5	166·5	238·0
Canada	…	$	(Particulars not at present available)
Australia	…	£	3·7	4·8	8·5	—	—	—
South Africa	…	£	1·2	1·3	2·5	—	—	—
* Excluding Forced Loan which is to yield 70 milliards or 1167 per head.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the abolition of local pensions committees will cause great trouble, inconvenience, and expense to ex-service men; that the abolition of these committees is strongly resented by the ex-service men in Monmouthshire; and will he take steps to get the Act amended, or the particular provision repealed, that enforces the abolition of the local pensions committees?

The scheme made under the War Pensions Act, 1921, for the re-organisation of local areas and committees in Wales was arrived at after the fullest consideration of local conditions, and was approved by the Regional Advisory Council for Wales, which contains representatives of Members of this House, of local war pensions committees in Wales, and of ex-service men. The hon. Member may rest assured that the working of the new arrangements will be carefully watched with a view to meeting any inconvenience that may arise.

The following Table gives the information desired:

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of missing soldiers to whose dependants any pension or allowance has been refused on the ground that the said soldiers are, rightly or wrongly, officially classed as deserters?

Until a man's death has been established or officially presumed by the Service Department concerned, no claim to widow's or dependant's pension arises under the Royal Pension Warrants.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has arrived at a decision for dealing with the case of pensions for widows of ex-service men who died more than seven years after their discharge from the Army, and whose death is alleged to be owing to War service?

This question was dealt with at some length on the Motion for the Second Beading of the Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) Bill on the 2nd instant, and I have nothing to add to the statement then made by my hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether Army doctors only are now recognised by the Ministry in the examination of war pensioners; and whether there are any, and, if so, what objections to the appointment of medical men not connected with the Army to deal with these cases or to assist in dealing with them, considering the prejudice which has arisen against panels composed entirely of practitioners in the service of the Army?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Subject to the over-riding considerations of medical qualifications and experience—specialist or other—preference is given to medical practitioners who have seen service in the Great War. I may add that by far the greater number of medical men in the employ of the Ministry have had no connection with Army service other than their temporary service in the late War.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that two ex-service men, J. Wickenden at Long Grove, and C. S. Norris at Ban-stead, are being detained in these two asylums, respectively, while their parents in each instance are exceedingly desirous to undertake complete responsibility in regard to them and to give them comfortable, homes and every care; that the wife of each, for reasons of her own, refuses their release; that the wives' refusal is backed up by the medical official of the Pensions Ministry, who has decided that they must remain where they are and continue to be treated as lunatics on pain of loss of dependants' allowance; that the Board of Control has referred the case of these two private patients to the visiting committee, which has by the Act no power over the discharge of private patients; that the attempt to bar their discharge is inoperative, since the medical superintendent has failed to prove (in accordance with Section 74 of the Lunacy Act) that they are dangerous and unfit to be at large; that the delegation of powers of intervention to the Pensions Ministry is contrary to the provisions of the Lunacy Act; that, in the case of C. S. Norris, the decision of two independent doctors under Section 49 has been over-ridden by illegal reference of his case to a visiting committee, whose function is restricted to dealing with paupers; and, in view of the indignity thus perpetrated on ex-service men, will he take steps to see that they are not any longer deprived of liberty, and that they are indemnified for the injury done them by a lump sum to enable them upon immediate discharge to find their way back to a self-supporting position in life.

I am fully acquainted with the facts of these two cases. The Ministry of Pensions are empowered to pay an allowance to the wives while the husbands are detained under institutional care. But if the patients are discharged contrary to medical advice, that allowance would cease. The visiting committee has power in regard to the discharge of all patients, whether private or public, by virtue of Section 77 of the Lunacy Act, 1890; there has been no occasion for the issue of a certificate under Section 74 of the Act, because no application for the discharge of the patients has been made by the person entitled to do so under Section 72 (2) of the Act. The recommendation of one of the doctors who examined the patient Norris, under Section 49 of the Lunacy Act, was that he should be given leave of absence on trial. This was properly referred to the visiting committee, in whom rests the power to permit such leave of absence under Section 55 of the Act. I cannot concur in the view that any indignity has been perpetrated on these ex-service men, and the hon. Member is in error in regard to his interpretation of the legal points. I am satisfied that the patients are, at present, properly detained, but their cases will be kept under careful observation.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give particulars of the total amount spent in outdoor and indoor relief, and the cost of its administration during the last two years?

The following statement gives particulars of the expenditure of hoards of guardians and other Poor Law authorities in England and Wales for the last two years for which complete figures are at present available:—

Items.	Year 1919–20.	Year 1920–21.
	£	£
Maintenance in institutions:—
(a) In institutions provided by Poor Law authorities ("in-maintenance").	5,462,747	6,734,395
(b) In institutions not provided by Poor Law authorities (other than asylums, etc., for lunatics).	439,999	607,248
Domiciliary relief ("out-relief ")	4,109,278	5,793,383
Maintenance of lunatics in county and borough asylums, registered hospitals, and licensed houses.	4,252,078	6,315,638
Salaries and other remuneration and superannuation allowances of union officers and servants.	5,699,980	7,642,962
Buildings and repairs, furniture, rents, rates, taxes and insurance.	1,990,013	3,100,201
Loan charges (principal repaid and interest)	987,949	994,448
Other expenses directly connected with relief	1,089,340	1,446,567
Totals	24,031,384	32,634,842
Deduct:
Amounts included twice in the above totals	530,143	709,888
Net totals	23,501,241	31,924,954

asked the Minister of Health whether the Committee on the operation of the Rent Restrictions Act will investigate the question of overcrowding connected with certain aspects of this Measure and how, in that case, it is proposed that evidence should be presented on the point?

I have no doubt that the Committee will consider any question that is relevant to their inquiry, and I am sure that they would welcome any suggestions which my hon. Friend has to make in regard to evidence upon the point to which he refers.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Committee dealing with the Rent Restrictions Act will make arrangements to consider representations which may be laid before them by Members of Parliament who are receiving communications on the subject from their constituents?

I understand that a considerable number of letters which have been addressed to hon. Members on this subject are already being passed on by them to the Committee, and I have no doubt that the Committee will be glad to consider any representations which hon. Members may desire to make.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland o nether in October of last year a Return of the overtime performed by the clerks and schoolmasters in the Irish Prisons Service, which had not been paid for by time off in lieu, was called for by the Government then functioning in Ireland and, seeing that the overtime so performed was performed under most exceptional circumstances and has not yet been paid for, will payment now be made of this outstanding British Government liability?

Prison officers of the grade of clerk and schoolmaster are not entitled to be paid additional remuneration for overtime duty performed by them in an emergency or during periods of pressure. A claim to be accorded exceptional treatment in this respect was made last year by a number of officers of this grade of the Irish Prisons Service, and after very careful consideration it was decided that the claim could not be admitted. It was recognised that under the conditions then existing the prisons staffs, in common with many other Irish civil servants, were subjected to a heavy strain, and were required to work long hours, but it would not have been possible to grant special monetary rewards outside the terms of their service to one particular grade without injustice to the public servants in other grades and in other Departments who had responded with equal loyalty and readiness to every demand made upon them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what are the conditions of the contract let by the Board of Works, acting on behalf of the Imperial Government, for the completion of the houses for ex-service men at Killester, county Dublin; how many tenders were. received, and from whom, and the amount and conditions of each tender; whether the contract now let is on a lump sum basis, and, if so, the amount of same and, if on a time and material basis, the percentage allowed for completion; if there is any condition imposed on the contractor to employ ex-se: vice men, when such men are available and suitable; how many ex-service men have been dismissed from the Killester works since 27th April last; and how many men are now employed, distinguishing the number of ex-service men and civilians?

The contract is a lump sum contract with the usual conditions except that it contains special provisions for the employment of ex-service men. Those provisions required the contractor to take over the whole of the workmen, both skilled and unskilled, who were employed on the work at the date on which the contract took effect, or such of them as the architect might direct, and imposed upon him the further obligation to continue to employ ex-service men during the completion of the work to the extent of not less than 50 per cent. of the total number of men actually employed or such greater proportion as the architect might from time to time decide. Four tenders were received, the conditions of each being practically the same. The tender accepted was that of Mr. James A. Campbell, who undertook to complete the work for a lump sum payment of £102,408 11s. 6d. It is, for obvious reasons, impossible for me to divulge the names of the contractors whose tenders were not accepted. I have no definite information as to the number of ex-service men who have been discharged since the commencement of the contract; but I have no reason to believe that any man has been dismissed on account of his being an ex-service man The number of men at present employed is about 560, and the condition which binds the contractor to employ ex-service men to the extent of at least one-half of the total number of men employed is being scrupulously observed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the case of Paul Nicklas, of 3, School Street, Aintree, Liverpool, a Polish subject residing in this country since 1888, whose life savings of £104 has been confiscated by the Government for the payment of enemies war debts; that this man was not a native of an enemy country, but of Poland, and received his identity papers previous to the signing of the Peace Treaty acquired by virtue of Poland being recognised as a friendly nation; and if, under such circumstances, he will undertake to refund the amount confiscated?

I have been asked to reply. Inquiries have been made, but at present it has not been possible to trace the property of Paul Nicklas. If the hon. Member will furnish mo with the name and address of the person by whom that property was held and the nature of the property, the matter shall receive careful consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons have, during the past 12 months, sat for the examination for the second mate's certificate for the mercantile marine and how many have passed the examination; and what are the respective figures for the several examination centres throughout the country?

The following table shows the number of examinations for certificates of competency as second mate at the various ports during the year ended 30th June, 1922, and the number of successes at each port.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any indication of the proportion of the world's cotton crop for 1922 which will be produced in all parts of the British Empire?

The most reliable estimates of the world's cotton crop for 1922 at present available indicate that approximately 17 per cent. of the total will be grown in the British Empire, including nearly 16½ per cent. grown in India.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the actual reductions in the price of gas within the last six months in the Metropolitan district; whether he will give the percentages of reductions as well as state the number of therms reduced; and whether he will consider the possibility of compelling the companies to attach to the gas demand notes some simple definition of therms, to enable the public to understand exactly what the gas charges are, the more so as the new system of reckoning has entailed large increases of cost?

The reductions which have been made by the Metropolitan gas companies during the current year in the charge for gas are as follow:

• Gas Light and Cake Company.—1s. 1d. per therm to the end of June; 11d. per therm at the present time.
• South Metropolitan Gas Company.— 11½d. per therm to the end of June; 10d. per therm at the present time.
• Commercial Gas Company.—1s. 1d. per therm to the end of March; 1s. per therm thence to the end of June; 10d. per therm at the present time.

The total percentage reductions are respectively 15·38, 13·04 and 23·08. The two first-named companies are now under statutory obligation to supply an increased rather than a reduced number of therms per thousand cubic feet of gas as compared with the period prior to the middle of June, the increase being from 4·75 therms to 5 in the case of the Gas Light and Coke Company, and from 5·5 therms to 5·6 in the case of the South Metropolitan Gas Company. The statutory obligation in this respect of the remaining company remains unaltered. I am advised that it is already the custom of the gas companies concerned to explain on the account the nature of the charge on the therm basis, and with regard to the increase of cost of gas, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given him on the 3rd of May last, in reply to a question on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government intends entering into arrangements, or has already done so, for subsidising the zinc smelting industry with Australian ores at less than cost; and whether he is aware that this would be to the prejudice of the zinc mining industry in this country, and consequently increasing unemployment at home?

As has already been stated, with a view to enabling zinc smelting works in this country to resume operations, and as a temporary measure, certain quantities of zinc concentrates are being supplied to them at special terms. As regards the second part of the question, I am aware of the 'position as regards zinc-mining companies in this country, but as they were unable to supply at prices which zinc smelters could pay in view of the low market price for spelter, the choice appearea to lie between unemployment in two industries or in only one.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what charges, including transport in Australia, loading, freight, insurance, discharging, commission to agents, agents' fees, and expenses, brokerage, etc., were incurred by the Government on the zinc concentrates purchased in Australia and sold for smelting in this country during the six months ended 30th June; what was the total cost: and how much per ton of concentrates these charges amounted to?

It is not possible so soon after 30th June last to furnish the details asked for, as the usual returns have not yet been received from Australia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of the loss per ton on Australian zinc concentrates, including first cost and all charges, delivered in this country and, separately, on the Continent during the six months ended 30th June?

The estimated amount of the loss per ton on Australian zinc concentrates delivered in this country during the six months ended 30th June last was £3 14s. 8d. No deliveries were made on the Continent during that period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of imports of German goods to this country during the year ending 30th June last; and what was the value of British goods exported to Germany during the same period?

The declared value of imports into the United Kingdom registered as consigned from Germany during the twelve months ended 30th June, 1922, was £20,794,000. During the same period the value of exports of United Kingdom produce and manufacturers, consigned to Germany, amounted to £25,104,000.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if postal officers who have risen in the Department to be postmasters-general have had their salaries retrenched and their prospects diminished, while members of the Indian Civil Service who hold appointments as postmasters-general have been given special higher rates of pay, notwithstanding the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Public Services in India to the contrary; and will he inquire into this matter?

Amemorial on this point has been submitted on behalf of the officers concerned to the Government of India for transmission to the Secretary of State. When it has been received with the observations of the Government of India, the Secretary of State will consider the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government are aware that accusations of atrocities against women and children in Asia Minor are being made by the Greeks against the Turks, with counter-accusations by the Turks against the Greeks; and whether, in view of the serious nature of these allegations, the Government will propose to the League of Nations to send a commission of inquiry to investigate these charges?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The suggestion that the League of Nations should be requested to participate in the inquiry was carefully considered by His Majesty's Government when the inquiry was first proposed, but was found to be impracticable. The whole question is, however, engaging the earnest attention of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the debt, if any, that the Government of the Sudan owes to Great Britain and the Government of Egypt, respectively; what are the powers of the financial adviser to the Government of Sudan; what control, if any, has the British Government, through the Treasury, to supervise the expenditure of public money raised in Great Britain for the benefit of the Sudan; what was the estimated cost in 1914 of public works in the Sudan that were approved; what was the nature at these works and what have they each separately cost up to date; and how much more is it estimated they will cost before completion?

Under the Sudan Guaranteed Loan of 1919, the Sudan Government has incurred debt in Great Britain to the extent of £6,380,000. The amount of the Sudan's indebtedness to Egypt has not been definitely fixed.The head of the Finance Department in the Sudan is the Financial Secretary, an administrative official, who is a member of the Governor-General's Council by which the Sudan Government Budget is passed.As regards the third part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the statement on this subject of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 5th April, and as regards the remainder of the question, to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Stafford on 20th June, 1921.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the financial adviser to the Sudan Government is now in this Country, he will take the opportunity of reassuring those who have invested their money in previous Sudan loans, guaranteed by the British Government as to interest, that not only is their investment safe and secured by the recent declarations of policy as to the future government and administration of the Sudan, but that the Government and those British interests concerned in the future development of the Sudan have come to such an arrangement for the provision of immediate funds to complete the dame now under construction, that they and other members of the public can be assured that the financial position of the Sudan is finally secured?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the communiqué issued to the Press after Lord Balfour's meeting with the Empire Cotton Growing Association on 5th July, which I trust will give him the assurance he desires.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state what was the total actual cost of constructing the port and harbour of Port Sudan; how was this money found, and upon what security; what is the annual upkeep and maintenance expenditure of this port; what is the annual income from export and import dues what is the capacity of the port; and what was the actual number of vessels, and their tonnage, using the port in 1914, 1919, and 1921, respectively?

The total cost of constructing the port and harbour of Port Sudan was approximately £E,915,000. The money was found by the Egyptian Government, whose security doubtless lay in the fact that anything which tended to develop the resources of the Sudan would reduce the necessity for that Government to contribute towards the Sudan. I am causing enquiries to be made as to the figures and statistics required by the hon. and gallant Member in the remainder of his question, and will forward them to him in due course.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the rates charged by the Sudan State railways are such as to encourage development of cotton and other produce; whether the railways have to pay a proportion of their revenue to meet some of the interest upon loans raised by the Sudan Government in the past for purposes other than railroad development; and whether, in view of the urgent importance of freeing the Sudan railways from all such obligations, so as to devote their surplus revenue over annual expenditure towards reducing rates and making the necessary improvements and extensions to assist in the rapid development of the country, it is proposed to take necessary action?

The Sudan Government railways are managed in the general interests of the administration and development of the country, and special rates are given, when found desirable, in order to encourage any particular form of development. The answer to the next part of the question is in the negative; the last part does not therefore arise.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the fact that there are over 30,000 women patients of unsound mind in borough and county mental hospitals which have, no women members of the visiting committees of those asylums, the Government will consider the advisability of granting facilities during the Autumn Session for the passing of the Lunacy (Visiting Committees) Bill, which purposes to remedy this defect; or, if unable to grant this, the Government will themselves undertake to pass a Measure of their own having the same object in view?

The Ministry of Health is preparing a Bill which will deal, among other things, with the subject referred to in the question.

asked the Prime Minister to what percentage of her entire. Budget has the yearly cost of the upkeep of the various commissions imposed upon Bulgaria under the Treaty of Neuilly amounted?

I have not the information required to answer this question, but I am inquiring of the British delegate on the Inter-Allied Commission and will communicate again with the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister whether Bulgaria has promptly and honestly fulfilled all her onerous obligations under the Treaty of Neuilly; and, if not, with what exception?

The Bulgarian Government has not complied with its obligation under Paragraph 10 of the Annex to Section IV of Part IX of the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine to deliver to His Majesty's Government, by the 9th February, 1921, the securities and other matters referred to in that paragraph. No securities, etc., have been handed over. The Clearing Office procedure does not apply between Great Britain and Bulgaria, but the Bulgarian Government is responsible for its own debts, which are a matter for direct settlement between that Government and its British creditors. An arrangement for the settlement of these debts was concluded between the Bulgarian Government and the British holders of Bulgarian Government bonds. The Bulgarian Government has not fulfilled its obligations under Article 177 (h) (2) to pay over the proceeds of the property rights and interests and cash assets of British nationals immediately on the ratification of the Treaty On the 9th August, 1920, to His Majesty's Government, or, so far as is known, to the British owners. With regard to the Military Clauses of the Treaty of Neuilly, Bulgaria has fulfilled all her obligations with the exception that she has not yet handed over all arms and ammunition, and consequently at present possesses more than the maximum allowed in Table V, Part IV, Section I. From time to time hidden dumps of arms and ammunition are found in the country, and these are then disposed of by the Organ of Liquidation. With the approval of the Allied Military Committee of Versailles, and with the object of maintaining order on her frontiers, she also still retains about 3,000 conscript Frontier Guards as a temporary measure, up to 15th November, 1922. The position with regard to the financial obligations of Bulgaria is as stated in the reply given to my hon. Friend on the 2nd instant by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

asked the Prime Minister what is the value of the gold, if any, now in Great Britain deposited by previous Russian Governments; and is His Majesty's Government now prepared to hand any such gold over to the Soviet Government without further delay?

No gold is in this country, deposited by previous Russian Governments, so far as I know. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the non-Russian Powers represented at The Hague brought the Conference to a close without waiting for a reply to the formula which the Russian delegates offered to transmit to their Government, and which was described by the British representatives as a great advance on the previous attitude of the former, whether the British representatives officially requested the Russian delegates to transmit Moscow's reply direct to His Majesty's Government, or whether His Majesty's Government has in any other way officially requested a reply to the formula from the Russian Government?

The resolution passed by the non-Russian Commission, given in paragraph 7 of their Report—Command Paper 1724—was based on the assumption that the proposals formulated by the Russian Delegation at The Hague would be accepted by the Russian Government. It is assumed that due consideration will be given to these proposals by the Russian Government and that they will communicate their reply to His Majesty's Government through the usual channels.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the importance of the matter to British trade, he will submit to the various chambers of commerce, especially those within industrial districts, the Report of Sir John Jordan's Committee on the Education of Chinese Students in this Country.

I think that it would be premature to take the action suggested until the Question, which is now under consideration, of the attitude to be adopted towards the resumption of the Boxer Indemnity payments due next December, has been decided by His Majesty's Government and the other Powers concerned.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that accused persons who are committed to prison awaiting trial are not allowed to be shaved in readiness for their trial except at their own expense: and will he have this Regulation altered, having regard to the disadvantage which an accused person may suffer in this respect?

A prisoner, of course, cannot be allowed to alter his facial appearance while awaiting trial if any question of identity has arisen or is likely to arise, but subject to this all prisoners will, I hope, under the Regulations recently issued, be able to be shaved if they wish.

asked the Home Secretary the number of accused persons who, during the past year, have been accorded the benefit of the Poor Prisoners Defence Act, and the cost to which the Government has been put in this respect?

I regret I am not able to furnish this information.

asked the Home Secretary whether the arrangements allowing occasional lectures and entertainments to be given to the inmates have now been adopted in all His Majesty's prisons?

Yes; the arrangements apply to all prisons.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the case of Professor Jones, who has served for some time as appointed member on the Stamped or Pressed Metal Wares Trade Board; why he appointed Professor Jones in that capacity; why he has decided not to reappoint Professor Jones as appointed member of the board: whether he has been memorialised by the employers and workers on the Trade Board, who have expressed their opinion as to the high ability and competence of Professor Jones; whether the board were consulted before his decision was come to; if not, why he did not consult the board; and whether, in the light of the representations which have been made to him, he will take steps with a view to the reinstatement of Professor Jones at the earliest possible moment as a member of tits board?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply, of which I am sending him a copy, given yesterday to the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Wignall) on this matter.

asked the Minister of Labour on what grounds the local unemployment committee refused to grant unemployment relief to Mr. Robert Roberts, School House, Penmon, Beaumaris, in view of the fact that he is genuinely unemployed and has complied with the conditions of the Unemployment Act?

I am making inquiries into this case and will communicate the result to my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed receiving unemployment benefit during the week

Months in the first quarter of the financial year 1922–23.		Persons insured under the Unemployment Insurance Acts (whether in receipts of unemployment benefit or not) and the wives and dependent children of those persons.	Other persons ordinarily engaged in some regular occupation but not so insured, and the wives and dependent children of those persons.
		Average number of above-mentioned persons and the wives and dependent children of those persons in receipt of Poor Law relief in their own homes—
April	…	912,323	65,281
May	…	961,153	63,512
June	…	1,090,488	62,760
		Amount of Poor Law relief given in their own homes to the above-mentioned persons, and the wives and dependent children of those persons—
		£	£
April (4 weeks)	…	867,940	82,671
May (4 weeks)	…	906,391	78,412
June (5 weeks)	…	1,486,839	98,076
Totals for quarter		3,261,170	259,159

My hon. Friend will see that I cannot to-day say how many people will be drawing unemployment benefit during the week ending 11th November. But as my hon. Friend knows, I made provision in the Act of last April for a maximum of 22 weeks' benefit to run from 2nd November next.

asked the Minister of Labour the total sums disbursed as unemployment benefit and the total costs of its administration for the last two years?

The amount of unemployment benefit (including since November, 1921, dependants' grants) disbursed in the last two financial years was approximately £77,000,000. The total administrative cost in the Ministry of Labour and all other Departments, attributable to unemployment insurance for these two years was about £7,692,000, or rather less than 10 per cent. of the amount disbursed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he can now give the House figures as to relief given by boards of guardians to unemployed persons for the 13 weeks ending 1st July last?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Minister of Labour if he can now state whether any formula has been reached defining a necessitous area; and, if not, whether he will expedite agreement with the object of showing that all these areas benefit primarily, and especially under the schemes of Government assistance to relief works?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I would refer to my answer to a question by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. T. Thomson) on the 25th July, and would add that the Government have in mind a programme of relief works under subsidy which should be of material assistance.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if he will give the list and amounts his Department has granted to London and Greater London road authorities for the purposes of helping unemployment during the last 12 months; and state if any further applications are under consideration?

During the past 12 months, grants to the amount of £2,281,321 have been made from the Road Fund towards the cost of important works of road construction or improvement in the Metropolitan area with a view to providing useful work for the unemployed. I am forwarding to my hon. Friend a detailed list of the grants in question. Local authorities were recently invited to submit particulars of further schemes which could be taken in hand during the coming winter. A number of proposals have been received from highway authorities in the area of Greater London, and these are now under consideration. The works and the grants referred to in this answer are additional to the ordinary programmes of highway authorities for road maintenance and improvement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (1) whether his Ministry has now reached a decision as to whether a case affecting the fares on the underground railways exists for reference to the Rates Advisory Committee for inquiry; whether, during the Recess, he will continue to represent to all the companies concerned the need for a reduction of fares:(2) whether, if no reduction is made by the underground railways of London in their fares, he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation in the coming autumn to reduce them, particularly in respect of the statutory charge for distance travelled?

As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Central Southwark (Mr. Gilbert) on Thursday, 27th July, the Rates Advisory Committee have been asked to advise on this subject and, in accordance with the provisions of the London Electric Railways (Fares, etc.) Act, 1920, I am unable to take any action pending the receipt of their Report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether the reductions in charges now in contemplation will apply to the carriage of caged birds?

Live birds in cages are conveyed by passenger trains and the recent reductions in railway charges apply only to merchandise conveyed by freight trains.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that no conditions of tenancy have yet been signed or agreed upon by several of the smallholders at Locharwoods; and that the dates and periods for separation and outgoing are in these cases still unfixed and the repairs, etc., promised by the Scottish Board of Agriculture not executed; and whether he will direct the early attention of the Board to these matters?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. I understand that all the new holdings which have so far been constituted at Locharwoods were let at Whitsunday, 1920, as then equipped at yearly rents for lands and holdings. The necessary agreements were signed by the holders and the dates of outgoing are those normally fixed in the case of smallholders, namely, Whitsunday or Martinmas. Arrangements in connection with the sub-division of the whole property, including the Central Farm, are in progress. As soon as these have been carried through the holders will be offered landholder's tenure. The equipment of the holdings which, with the exception of a few minor details, has already been provided will thereafter be completed. I see no reason to take any action in the matter.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in the case of persons kept in custody on suspicion of being connected with a crime, any reparation is made to them when proved to be innocent; if so, what reparation is being offered to the two men, Duncan Carmichael and David Drummond, detained in prison for three months in connection with the Tranent murder on 11th April, and who were released, after withdrawal of the charge, as not guilty, on 20th July; and, if no reparation is due, will he introduce legislation to remedy this hardship?

According to the general practice in such cases, no compensation is awarded. I see no sufficient reason to make an exception in the case mentioned by my hon. and learned Friend, nor do I think that legislation is required.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, what arrangements have been made for unveiling the Houses of Parliament memorial to Its Members and officers who fell in the War?

This is a matter for the Memorial Committee, but understand that the unveiling will probably take place in the autumn.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, as the result of the permission which has been given to the Marconi Company to instal a land line and wireless service between London and Paris, nearly 1,000 telegrams per day are being dealt with by the experimental route; that despite an increase in the volume of traffic handled by the Government cables from the Stock Exchange a very heavy net decrease of commercial work has been experienced, whilst the proportion of triple rate to ordinary rate work under the Post Office is 15 per cent., as compared with 70 per cent. in the case of the Marconi Company; that, as a result of the policy pursued by the Marconi Company of allotting a proportion of their shares to the Government, concerned, important concessions have been secured in Austria and Spain, so that the Government cable service is being subjected to a very dangerous attack, with the consent of the British Post Office authorities; and whether, having regard to the importance of maintaining the cable services, which are owned and controlled by the British Government, he will reconsider his decision to grant the Marconi Company the power to continue and extend this service.

I am aware that a considerable number of telegrams are being transmitted by the Marconi Company's wireless service between London and Paris, and that there has recently been a small decrease in the cable traffic; but, although the Marconi service has no doubt withdrawn some traffic from the cables, the decrease is mainly attributable to trade depression, and I do not think it necessary to withdraw the permission accorded to the Marconi Company.

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements were made to meet the heavy telegraph traffic during the Goodwood race meeting; whether he is aware that all telegrams accepted by his representatives in the enclosure were subject to consider- able and unjustifiable delay; and whether he will state what arrangements will be made to prevent a recurrence of this serious difficulty.

Special arrangements were made at the Chichester head office for dealing with the telegraph traffic during the Goodwood race meeting. I am not aware of the occurrence of delay as suggested by the hon. Member, but I am making enquiries on the subject, and will communicate the result to him in writing.

asked the Secretary of State for Air, whether, in any increase of the establishment of the Air Force, he will give prior consideration to officers of the Regular Army and the Navy who are qualified, and have been recommended, for appointments necessitating transfer to the Royal Air Force?

In granting any short service commissions to provide for the increase in the size of the Royal Air Force recently approved by the Government, special consideration be given to applications from young officers who have been retired from the Navy or Army under the reduction schemes id these services. I hope also that it may be possible to arrange with the Admiralty and the War Office for a considerable number of serving officers of the Navy and Army to be seconded to the Royal Air Force, thus avoiding the immediate cost to the Crown necessitated by the premature retirement of a corresponding number of naval and military officers.