asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Private William Armour, No. 2288, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, at present residing at 13, Bearhope Street, Greenock, has had his pension reduced to 40 per cent; is he aware that Private Armour's disablement, a severe gunshot wound in the chest, prevents him from following his usual occupation; and will he cause full inquiries to be made regarding this matter?

The examining medical Boards of April, 1921, and May, 1922, both assessed the degree of disablement at 40 per cent, and pension at that rate has been in payment since July, 1921. If, however, the condition of the disability has grown materially worse since the last medical board, it is open to the man to make application on that ground for increased pension through the local office of the Ministry at Greenock.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that ex-Service men have to travel from Golborne to Earlestown, Lancashire, a distance of nearly five miles, at a cost of lid the return fare; that many of the men cannot afford this outlay; and whether he can make arrangements either to refund this expense or in other ways obviate it in view of the discomfort in tramping that distance during the approaching winter?

There is not sufficient work at Golborne to justify a separate office there and that district is therefore being administered from Earlestown. All payments of grants and allowances to pensioners at Golborne are made by postal draft and (apart from journeys necessitated by medical examination for which the expenses are already paid), the occasions on which an ex-Service man would desire to consult in person the local office at Earlestown should be quite exceptional.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of disability cases originally held to be attributable to war service but which have since been certified as suffering from causes aggravated by such service; and whether he has received numerous complaints against this alteration?

I regret that complete figures are not readily available, but I can inform the hon. Member that the percentage of the total number of cases coming up for re-assessment of pension in which entitlement is changed from "attributable" to "aggravated" is very small. On the figures for the last six months, during which period some 300,000 men were re-examined, the percentage is something less than one per cent. I would also point out that in a considerable number of cases a previous decision of aggravation is changed, in the man's favour, to one of attributability. No change of entitlement is made unless, after the fullest medical consideration, it is determined that the original decision was erroneous; and in every case the man is notified of his right of appeal against the decision to the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal.

asked the Minister of Pensions what progress has been made in the erection of village settlements for tubercular ex-service men and their families?

The general question of village settlements for the tuberculous, like the allied question of training, is primarily a matter for the Minister of Health. I am informed that some additional accommodation has been provided at the settlements at Papworth and Preston Hall, which, together, now have accommodation for about 100 families. In view, however, of the fact that the settlements which have at present been started by voluntary enterprise must still be regarded as in the experimental stage, and of the uncertainty as to the men's willingness generally to live premanently in such settlements, I understand that the late Government decided that they would not, under present financial circumstances, be justified in incurring large expenditure in the provision and maintenance of village settlements by the State. In the meantime, the existing experiments in this direction are being watched sympathetically.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps are stationed in Great Britain with Regular or Territorial units or otherwise; and whether these officers perform any duties for the Ministry of Pensions?

The total number of Regular officers, Royal Army Medical Corps, serving in Great Britain is 413. Of these, 13 are serving with Territorial Army units and 31 are quartermasters. There is a mutual arrangement between the Ministry of Pensions and the Army under which the Ministry treat soldiers in their hospitals where there is no military hospital and pensioners are treated in military hospitals where there are no Ministry of Pensions Hospitals. At present there are 51 pensioners being treated in military hospitals in Great Britain and 14 receiving out-door treatment. There are eight soldiers being treated in Ministry of Pensions Hospitals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether those responsible for the disposal of war stores have furnished any estimate as to the value of the stores which have yet to be sold; and, if so, whether he can stat e the amount?

The estimated value of War surpluses, including lands, buildings and factories, in the hands of the Disposal Board and still unsold is approximately £20,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing the loss made by the printing departments of His Majesty's Stationery Office last year, it is his intention to close down the Government printing works at Harrow?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 27th November to the hon. and gallant Member for Tonbridge (Lieut.-Colonel Spender Clay) on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has yet announced its policy with regard to the recommendations in the Report of the Fiscal Commission, presided over by Sir Ibrahim Rahimtulla; and whether His Majesty's Government is offering any advice, and, if so, of what nature, to the Indian Government in connection with its consideration of the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Government of India will in the ordinary course address the Secretary of State when they have fully considered the Report, and in the meantime it is not proposed to make any communication to them.