asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether the schedule of standard charges which has to be submitted under the provisions of the Railways Act, 1921, to the rates tribunal will, in the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown, include charges for season tickets issued by railway companies?

I understand that the railway companies' proposals regarding the form of schedules of standard charges as submitted to the Railway Rates Tribunal do not provide for such charges in respect of season tickets, but under Sub-section 2 of Section 30 of the Railways Act, 1921, it is provided that the schedules shall be divided into such parts and shall be in such form as the tribunal may prescribe. The hon. Member will thus see that the question is one for the consideration of the tribunal itself.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he will consider the possibility of legislation reviving the obligation on all railway undertakings to run one Parliamentary passenger train daily each way over each part of their system at fares not exceeding a penny a mile, for the benefit of poor travellers and to demonstrate that such traffic is profitable?

The Railways Act, 1921, requires the Rates Tribunal to settle all railway rates and charges, including fares, and I see no reason for proposing the introduction of amending legislation on the lines suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport what sums have been paid to the various railway directors who retired on the amalgamation of the railway companies; and when it is expected that reasonable railway rates and fares will become operative, as foreshadowed by the Transport Minister on the passing of the Railways Act, 1921?

The amount to be paid to railway directors who have suffered loss by abolition of office consequent upon amalgamation of the railway companies is a matter for the shareholders, and so far as I am aware has not in all cases been determined. As regards the second part of the question, if the hon. Member refers to standard charges, I would remind him that these will operate from a day to be appointed by the Rates Tribunal in accordance with the provisions of Section 31 of the Railways Act, 1921. I would also remind the hon. Member of the provisions of Section 60 of that Act under which existing railway charges may be brought to the determination of the Rates Tribunal.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport what road schemes are now under construction: how long each undertaking has been under construction; and when it is expected that each scheme will be completed?

The number of road schemes which are at present under construction, and which are assisted by grants from the Road Fund, reaches a total of several hundreds, and I hope my hon. and gallant Friend will not press for a return containing the detailed information asked for in the question. If there are any particular schemes which he has in mind and if he will communicate with me on the subject, I shall be happy to give him all the information in my possession.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, when preparing legislation to deal with the lighting of road vehicles, he has considered the effectiveness of the latest form of improved red reflector for use on pedal bicycles; and whether he is aware that the majority of cyclists consider this method much more reliable than the rear lamp which it is found impossible to keep alight in a heavy wind on bad roads?

The point mentioned in the first part of the question is under consideration. I have received representations from the National Cyclists' Union and the Cyclists' Touring Club of the nature referred to in the second part of the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, in view of the fact that the complete annual reports of the railway companies are now being published by the companies themselves, he will reconsider the necessity of issuing from His Majesty's Stationery Office the monthly railway statistics?

The monthly statistics to which the hon. and gallant Member refers were made statutory as part of the new arrangements inaugurated by the Railways Act, 1921. They contain much information which is not given in the annual reports of the companies. Their publication is in my opinion not only useful to the railway companies themselves, but necessary to the work of the Rates Tribunal and as a means of enabling traders and the public generally to avail themselves of the rights in regard to railway charges conferred upon them by the Act.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he has received requests from municipalities and other public bodies as to the need for legislation or administrative action to prohibit vehicles passing tramcars while setting down or picking up passengers; and whether he will consider what steps can be taken to bring in such reform?

The question referred to has been raised by certain local and tramway authorities, some of whom unsuccessfully sought powers to make byelaws on the subject in Private Bills promoted by them in 1921. I am not aware of any general authority enabling the matter to be dealt with by administrative action and I am not prepared to introduce legislation for the purpose.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is in a position to states that the Ministry of Transport will not grant subsidies to local authorities who violate the fair wage clause or permit their subcontractors to do so; and whether he is now in a position to state that no money which was voted by Parliament for the relief of unemployment for roads has been expended in the employment of foreign quarrymen, while at the same time British quarrymen are receiving the unemployment pay?

A condition attached to every grant made from the Road Fund is that the Fair Wages Clauses shall be inserted in any contracts entered into in connection with the grant. As regards the second part of the question, the position is the same as I explained in the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on the 15th December last. In present circumstances the importation of a certain amount of material required for road construction and maintenance is unavoidable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, in view of the large and increasing number of accidents caused by motor vehicles, resulting, in many cases, in loss of life, it is proposed to introduce legislation to deal with the whole question of motor traffic?

The question of the introduction of such legislation is under consideration, though I am afraid it may not be possible to introduce a Bill dealing with the subject during the, present Session.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport what amount of money has accrued during the last 12 months from motor taxation; and whether he is able to recommend a reduction in taxation, or taxation in a different form, for the ensuing year?

The gross amount collected in the calendar year 1922, in respect of the duties on mechanically propelled vehicles, horse-drawn carriages and motor drivers' licences, etc., which are payable under the Roads Act, 1920, into the Road Fund was £11,496,869 17s. 9d. To obtain the net revenue available for grants a sum of rather more than £1,000,000 has to be deducted on account of payments to the Local Taxation Account, refunds, cost of collection, etc. In regard to the second part of the hon. Member's inquiry, I would remind him that the question whether, consistently with the maintenance of revenue, any more satisfactory method of taxation than that now in operation can be devised, or whether the present system can be modified or revised, is under the consideration of the Departmental Committee on Motor Taxation. The Committee is still hearing evidence from the objectors to the present system.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that many Chambers of Agriculture view with alarm the dangerous state of the main roads owing to the use of tar macadam and tar-spraying; and whether he can usefully take any action to ensure that the surface of the roads is rendered safe for all kinds of traffic?

I am aware of the views expressed by some of the Chambers of Agriculture, and have assisted from the Road Fund various experiments with different classes of road surface and special shoeing devices. Every development along these lines is being kept under careful observation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport why the Bishop's Castle Railway, in Shropshire, was excluded from the Railways Act, 1921; and whether, in view of the high rates charged on this line, to the serious disadvantage of sellers of agricultural and other produce, he will consider whether it would still be possible for this line to be absorbed by the Great Western Group under the new scheme?

The Bishop's Castle Railway is a short line of local importance which has been in the hands of a receiver for many years and was not taken under Government control with the other railways in 1914. In these circumstances it was not thought necessary to include it in the Railways Act, 1921, and, consequently, it cannot be absorbed under the new scheme or without further legislation. I am, however, bringing the Noble Lord's suggestion to the notice of the Great Western Railway Company.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport what progress has been made in the direction of introducing legislation concerning the lights to be carried by vehicles using public roads at night; and whether, in view of the importance of this question to all users of the road, he will take early steps to deal with the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which was given on 19th February to a question from the hon. Member for West Leicester (Mr. Hill), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Home Secretary whether further consideration has been given to the question of unhealthy overcrowding in the omnibuses and tramcars in the Metropolitan area; and whether he is now in a position to make any announcement on the subject?

I am not at present in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for South Poplar (Mr. March) on the 13th December.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can give the names of the candidates at the recent General Election who failed to obtain one-eighth of the votes recorded in the constituency they contested, and the names of these constituencies?

I have been asked to reply. As all the claims have not yet been received from the Returning Officers, it is not yet possible to give a complete return. As soon as all the claims are received my right hon. Friend will endeavour to give the information asked for.

asked the Home Secretary whether any funds were raised during the War on behalf of merchant seamen; whether such funds were registered under the War Charities Act; what was the total amount disbursed and the personnel of the committees in charge; and whether the accounts are available for the inspection of the public?

Funds were raised during the War for objects beneficial to merchant seamen. Such funds would not be required to be registered under the War Charities Act, 1916, unless the objects included a charitable purpose connected with the War. The Act does not make provision for the central collection of information from which the total amount disbursed could be ascertained. In the case of a particular war charity the amount disbursed should be ascertainable from the local registration authority concerned. The register kept under the Act is required to show in the case of each registered charity the names and addresses and descriptions of the chairman and two other members of the committee, and the Act provides that the accounts of charities registered under the Act shall be open to inspection by any person duly authorised by the registration authority or by the Charity Commissioners.

asked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that the time has arrived when the whole question of capital punishment should be reviewed, he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission or other body to inquire into the matter?

I am not aware of the existence at the present time of any special reasons for altering the law on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give the names of the medical referees appointed for the purposes of the Workmen's Compensation Act, also the names of the districts in which they act?

A list of the referees is kept by the Home Office for Departmental use, but is not published. I find that a similar request made by the hon. Member some years ago was met by placing copies of this list in the Library for reference, and I shall be happy to make the same arrangement now. The list has been under revision recently, but is now nearly complete, and copies of it corrected up to date will be available shortly.

asked the Home Secretary if in Courts of Law in Wales the oath may be taken in Welsh only through an interpreter, as for a foreign language; and, if that be so, will he take the necessary steps to remove this disability?

In the case of any person who does not speak English, it appears to be necessary that the statutory oath, which is in English, should be interpreted to him.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a deduction of £150 has been made from the grant to the Isle of Wight County Council because they had not paid a bonus to the police for the period from the 1st April to the 30th September, 1921, although no provision was made for such a payment in the adopted scale of pay; if there be any regulation or direction of the Home Office that such bonus should be paid; and if the authorities are required to pay a bonus in 1921 on account of increased cost of living, will they be authorised to make a reduction in the scale of pay corresponding to the fall in the cost of living from time to time?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The bonus scheme was not embodied in any formal Regulation, but was drawn up in 1920 by a Committee, in all essentials a Whitley Council, on which the police authorities and all ranks of the police service were represented, and the Secretary of State was entitled to expect effect to be given to the scheme. The deduction from the grant which has been made in the case of those authorities, now only three in number, who have not carried out the scheme is in conformity with the conditions laid down when the grant was instituted. As regards the last part of the question, a deduction from pay at the rate of 2½ per cent., and reductions in other emoluments have been made under Regulations of last March. These reductions are applicable to all forces alike.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the late Mrs. Thompson, recently executed for compliance in the murder of her husband, applied, previous to her execution, for the services of a minister of religion, and was refused; and on what grounds was the request denied her?

Mrs. Thompson was a member of the Church of England and was receiving the ministrations of the Church of England chaplain. When asked whether she wished to become a member of the Roman Catholic Church, she stated definitely that she did not. It was, therefore, impossible to allow Canon Palmer to visit her except as a friend, and this he had been allowed to do upon 6th January. Mrs. Thompson had not been acquainted with him previous to that visit, and was then unaware of the fact that he was a Catholic priest.

asked the Home Secretary if he is prepared to appoint a Committee, to consist in part of Members of this House, to inquire into and report on the working and reformative influence of the Borstal treatment for juvenile offenders?

I will consider this suggestion if the hon. Member will inform me of his reasons for thinking that such an inquiry is desirable at the present time.

asked the Home Secretary the number of former enemy aliens admitted into this country during the last three months who are remaining here; and to what extent persons remaining are identical with persons formerly resident here and who were deported or expelled following on the outbreak of hostilities?

Out of 3,389 former enemy aliens landed in this country in November, December, and January last, 24 newcomers may be said to be remaining here. Of these one is a German who was repatriated since the War. He had been given permission to return to his British-born family by the Committee set up under Section 10 (4) of the Aliens Restriction (Amendment) Act, 1919, but was not able to avail himself thereof at that time.

Of the 3,389 former enemy aliens allowed to land, 385 were persons still resident in the United Kingdom who were returning after short absences abroad; 181 were persons in transit to other countries; 2,405 were business and other visitors, who were all landed subject to a short time condition; 95 were diplomats and persons on foreign Government missions; and 299 were seamen under contract to join foreign ships in British waters, leaving a balance of 24 persons who did not come under any of the foregoing categories.

Of these 24 persons, 21 were females and three were males. Of the 21 females, 14 were the British-born wives or widows of former enemy aliens, three were domestic servants coming to a foreign Legation, one was a woman coming to marry a British subject, one was the newly-married wife of a German resident in the United Kingdom, one was a Bulgarian holding a Ministry of Labour permit to act as a companion, and one was an Ottoman permitted to join her brother, a merchant in this country. Of the three males, one was an Ottoman valet in the service of a British officer, one was a domestic servant coming to a foreign Legation, and one was the German mentioned above who was allowed to return to his British-born family.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of one Hans Meincke, a German ex-officer, who was fined 40s. for being drunk and £5 for assault upon a policeman at Richmond Police Court, on the 18th January last; and under what circumstances this man was allowed to take up residence in England?

This man is the son of a British-born mother who lost her husband and her other son in the War, and when in 1920 she wished to return to this country to join her aged parents he was allowed to accompany her in consideration of the state of his health due to serious wounds. In view of the incident referred to in the question, I directed that he should leave this country, and he did so on the 11th instant.

asked the Home Secretary the number of bankruptcies for each month of the year 1922?

The number of Receiving Orders gazetted during each month of the year 1922 are as follow:

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received complaints from Northern Ireland regarding delays in the postal service due to letters being sent by Kingstown; and whether, seeing that mail trains are frequently held up and burned, he will see that in future mails are sent by the safest and most expeditious route?

A few complaints have been received. All mails between Belfast and the surrounding district and Great Britain have for a considerable time past been sent by the northern routes, and the question how far mails for and from the rest of Northern Ireland can be similarly diverted from the Kingstown route without incurring undue delay is now under consideration with the Government of Northern Ireland.

asked the Postmaster-General the terms of the agreement between the British Broadcasting Company and the Post Office under which the British Broadcasting Company are paid 50 per cent. of the licence duty levied by the Post Office on holders of listening-in sets?

I will lay the agreement on the Table of the House.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is prepared to consider the giving of greater facilities to the public for the purchase of postage stamps by allowing a small discount to purchasers of large quantities, and permitting sale at legal rates to the public at places other than post offices, considering that such extended facilities, while-being of great advantage to the trading and general public, would result in a saving in postal staff and in financial advantage to His Majesty's Treasury?

I am not prepared to allow discount for the purchase of stamps in large quantities. Arrangements are made for the sale under licence of stamps at places other than post offices wherever the needs of a locality justify such a course, but no commission is allowed to persons who are granted such licences.

asked the Postmaster-General why it is forbidden to licensees to remove their broadcasting apparatus from place to place; and whether there is any condition in the terms of the licences which prevents them doing so?

A broadcast licence only covers the use of receiving apparatus at the address specified on the licence. I have no intention of prohibiting the removal of apparatus from one address to another, but, if the removal is other than temporary, the local post office from which the licence was obtained should be notified in order that the records may be amended.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress he can report in the development of the automatic telephone system; and what is the anticipated saving in administrative costs?

Sixteen automatic telephone exchanges are actually in operation. Six more are in course of construction and between 30 and 40 others have been authorised and will be installed when the necessary buildings have been provided for them. The savings to be anticipated depend on the proportion of local calls and other traffic conditions and no general statement on this point is practicable.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has under consideration any changes for the greater efficiency and cheapening of the telephone service; and whether he is able to give the House any information with regard to any suggested improvements?

The telephone service is under continuous review with the object of increasing the efficiency of existing plant and methods, and of introducing improvements wherever practicable. The question of reducing charges is receiving careful and sympathetic consideration, but I am not at present in a position to furnish any information.

asked the Postmaster-General how much public money has been spent upon the Imperial wireless project; and what commercial revenue has been obtained?

I am having a statement compiled, and I hope to send it to the hon. Member in the course of a few days.

asked the Postmaster-General if, seeing that his Department accepts boys and girls for service at 14 and 15 years of age, and that this practice places local education authorities in grave difficulties with their secondary school pupils who are ruled out of securing all such posts by the regulations of the Board of Education governing secondary schools, he will consult with the Minister of Education for the purpose of bringing the practice of his Department in line with the policy of the Board of Education?

The hon. Member has probably in mind boys and girls who become boy messengers and girl probationers in the Post Office. The maximum age limit for the appointment of boy messengers is 14½ and for girl probationers, 15. In order to keep the number of boys and girls passing through these classes at a minimum, and thus to ensure their absorption in adult situations, it is necessary that they should be recruited at a comparatively early age. It is found that candidates of a suitable type are forthcoming from the elementary schools. Boys and girls with a secondary school education are eligible to compete for a number of other situations in the Post Office and the Civil Service generally. The Post Office has acted in consultation with the Board of Education in this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General the maximum number of consecutive hours sub-postmasters of small country offices with telephone services are required to be on duty and the rate of remuneration per hour for this work?

Sub-postmasters are required to provide whatever attention is necessary, but are not required to give personal attendance. The minimum payment for telephone attendance at small offices is at present about £57 per annum including bonus, but at such offices the number of calls is usually small.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in certain tracts of Exmoor there was no postal delivery from Saturday, 23rd December, to Thursday, 28th December, 1922; and what reason prevented the normal functions of the Post Office in that area during that period?

I regret to find that the facts are as stated. The places concerned normally receive deliveries on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The delivery on Tuesday, the 26th December, was suspended throughout the Kingdom, but a delivery should have been afforded on Christmas Day. Certain places near Simonsbath were, however, omitted, owing to a local misunderstanding of which suitable notice is being taken.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that it is prohibitive to send small parcels of agricultural produce by post; and whether he will favourably consider a reduction of the parcel post rate so as to enable farm produce being sent direct from the farm to the consumer?

I have received a number of similar representations; but I regret that I cannot at present make any statement on the question of reducing parcel post rates.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made with the rehearing of awards of compensation for damage to property in the Irish Free State that occurred before 11th July, 1921; has he any Report on the work in the reassessing of such awards that is being carried out by the recently appointed assessors; and when is it expected that these gentlemen will have completed their work?

In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave on the 15th instant to a similar question addressed to me by the hon. and gallant Member for Armagh (Sir W. Allen). In reply to the second and third parts of the question, I am informed by the Commission that there are now 31 assessors at work and that they are making such progress that it is hoped that the work will be finished by the end of the next financial year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the total amount of compensation that has been paid by the Government, or the Government of the Irish Free State, in respect of malicious damage to property that occurred before 11th July, 1921; in respect of the above-mentioned period, what is the total amount of claims for compensation to property still outstanding; and of this total sum how much will be borne by the Free State taxpayer and how much by the taxpayer of Great Britain?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies in how many cases any payment has been made for pre-Truce damage or injury in Ireland on awards of the Wood-Renton Commissioners or defended awards made by county courts?

The total amount of compensation paid in respect of malicious damage to property in Ireland before 11th July, 1921, is £625,873 6s. 0d. made up as follows:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the decision of the Government in regard to the extension of representative government in the West Indies?

The discussions regarding the Windward Islands are now complete and the instruments necessary to provide for the introduction of elected representation in the Councils of the three Windward Islands are now being drafted. In Trinidad, British Honduras and Dominica the subject is still under consideration locally. No reply has yet been received from Jamaica regarding the constitutional changes proposed for that colony.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the amount raised from native taxation in each of the following Crown colonies, and what is the amount spent per head of the native population on education: Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, and Nyassaland?

The amounts estimated to be raised from direct native taxation in 1923, and in the case of Nyassaland and Tanganyika 1923–24, are £500,365, £382,075, £111,812 and approximately £389,000 in Kenya, Uganda, Nyassaland and Tanganyika. The amounts provided in the estimates for native education are respectively, £25,988, £14,108, £3,000 and £14,927. The native population of these dependencies is not known with any accuracy, but on such estimates as exist the annual expenditure per head works out at 2·5d., 1d., 0·4d., and 0·8d.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health how many applications for old age pensions were rejected in Scotland during the last financial year; and what were the grounds of rejection?

During the year ended 31st March, 1922, 3,232 claims to an old age pension were disallowed in Scotland, and 1,795 old age pensions were withdrawn. There are no separate detailed statistics for claims disallowed and pensions withdrawn, but, taking the two together, the grounds of disallowance and withdrawal were:

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if a decision has been taken to give up the cadet training ship "Empress" as a training ship for boys; and, if so, what arrangements will be made for the future employment of the ship's staff?

Owing to the largely reduced number of committals by the courts in recent years, there appears to be no justification for the continued maintenance of two industrial school ships in Scotland, and, after the fullest consideration, the Scottish Education Department have decided that the balance of advantage is in favour of retaining the "Mars." Every effort will, I am sure, be made to obviate hardship to individuals who may be prejudicially affected by the closing of the "Empress."

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he is aware of the unanimous opposition by procurator fiscals in Scotland to the proposed Treasury reorganisation scheme; and if before legislation is introduced the Association of Procurator Fiscals in Scotland will be consulted?

My Noble Friend is aware that the scheme promulgated by the Secretary for Scotland is not regarded as acceptable by the procurators-fiscal. As to the present position, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to a question by the hon. Member to the reply to a question by the hon. Member for Central Edinburgh (Mr. W. Graham) on the 15th instant.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether, in view of the serious difficulties under which many small landholders in Scotland are at present labouring, and of the high valuations at which they have had to take over their buildings, he is now prepared to review their position and to take steps to refer to the Scottish Land Court the question of the value of the buildings and the rent payable for the holdings?

I would refer the hon. Member to the latter part of the reply which I have just given to the hon. and gallant Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Sir A. Sinclair) on this subject.

asked the Under Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether the Lord Advocate proposes to prosecute those proprietors and house factors, under Sub-section (2) ( a ) and ( b ) of Section 12 of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act, 1920, who have continued to exact increases of rent from their tenants to whom notice to quit was not given, though the proprietors and house factors knew that their action was illegal after the decision was given in the House of Lords in the case of Kerr v. Bryde; and, if specific cases are brought to his notice, will he direct such prosecutions to be taken?

My right hon. Friend will be prepared to consider any case which is brought to his notice, in which it is alleged that a contravention of the Act has been committed. I would, however, draw the hon. Member's attention to the fact that Section 14 (2) of the Act, to which, instead of Section 12 (2), he doubtless intended to refer, penalises entries in rent books or similar documents as to arrears in respect of sums rendered irrecoverable by the Act, and not the exaction of such sums.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health the number of areas in Scotland in which alcoholic liquor is being at present supplied under the State management scheme initiated by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic); the number of premises in which such liquor is being supplied, giving the number of wholesale and retail premises, respectively, in each area; the number of breweries controlled by the State; the total amount of liquor sold during the past year or during the last period for which yearly accounts have been kept; and the net profits made on the sale of such liquor?

The number of areas in Scotland in which exciseable liquor is supplied under the State management scheme is two. The numbers of premises in which such liquor is supplied in the Cromarty Firth and Gretna districts respectively are 19 and 15. In all the premises the trade done is of the nature of retail trade, though in certain circumstances the transactions in two premises in the Cromarty Firth district and in one in the Gretna district may involve quantities in excess of the statutory limits of sale by retail. No breweries are conducted by the State in either of the Scottish districts. It would not be desirable to give details of trading such as are referred to in the last two parts of the question, but I may state that the profit accrued to the Exchequer for the year ended 31st March, 1922, from the Scottish State management scheme was approximately £5,900, after allowing for interest of approximately £8,300 on outstanding Exchequer issues.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health the number of prosecutions which have been instituted during the past year for illegal trawling round the coast of Scotland, the number of convictions obtained, the number of cases in which the offence charged was a first offence, or a second or more frequent offence, and the amount of the penalties imposed in each case?

The particulars asked for are as follow:

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if an appeal against dismissal has been lodged with the Scottish Education Department by three manual instructors, all ex-service men, employed by the Glasgow education authority; and, if so, or when such appeal is lodged, he will take steps to see that a very full investigation is made into all the circumstances?

The appeal to which the hon. Member refers has been lodged, and it will, of course, receive the most careful consideration, as required by Section 21 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the Spahlinger treatment for tuberculosis; and whether it is intended to make this available for ex-service patients?

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health is informed that no supplies of M. Spahlinger's remedies are yet available in this country. When they become available it will be open to the medical officers responsible for the treatment of ex-service men to utilise these remedies in the treatment of their patients if they consider it desirable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken, in accordance with official promise, to diffuse in the various provincial centres a general knowledge of the official proposals for assisted overseas emigration; whether official publicity offices are to be established; and, if so, whether any commencement has been made in any selected towns?

The only schemes under the Act at present relate to Australia, New Zealand and Ontario. Publicity regarding these schemes is effected as follows:

(1) by the Oversea Settlement Office through the Local Employment Exchanges, which are supplied with authentic literature for free distribution;

(2) by the Oversea Governments through their own local agents throughout the country;

(3) by the Organising and Publicity Officer of the Society for the Over-sea Settlement of British Women, who is holding conferences in various provincial centres;

(4) by means of special addresses which are being arranged by Australia House.

As soon as larger opportunities are available overseas, efforts will be made to provide increased publicity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that in regard to many of the ex-service men's small holdings the tenants are finding it impossible to pay the rents and rates demanded; that in many cases the rents charged are very much higher than the average rent for the district, and in some cases the small holdings have been loaded with unduly expensive buildings; and what action does he propose to take in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is not prepared to accept as correct the statement that any small holdings provided under the Land Settlement Scheme have been loaded with unduly expensive buildings, having regard to the date at which such buildings were erected, but, in any case, the rents fixed for the holdings were fair rents at the time the holdings were let and had no relation to the cost of either the land or buildings. He is, however, aware that ex-service small holders, in common with other occupants of agricultural land, are suffering as a result of the agricultural depression, and to meet this situation councils, with the Ministry's approval, have granted, and are granting, liberal abatements of rent, and in many cases holdings have been, and are being, re-valued and the rents reduced.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) how many King's Roll county and King's Roll county borough committees have been set up to help disabled ex-service men; whether any success has been achieved by them in helping to find them employment; and whether the King's Roll National Council has been set up;

(2) what steps have been taken by his Department in accordance with the recommendations of the Select Committee on the Employment of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers; whether the effect has been to strengthen the King's National Roll; and, if so, what improvements the latest figures show?

In pursuance of the recommendation of the Select Committee my right hon. Friend addressed a letter on 29th November to the heads of nearly 300 of the principal municipal authorities, inviting them to co-operate with the chairmen of the Local Employment Committees in setting up Local King's Roll Committees. In 124 cases such Committees have been formed or are being formed and some of them are already at work. In 52 cases, the mayor or other head of the local authority is co-operating in a special effort to be made through the agency of the existing Local Employment Committee. In most of the remaining cases the proposals are still under consideration and in only a small number of cases has it been definitely decided not to take action. The King's Roll National Council has been constituted under the chairmanship of Field-Marshal Earl Haig. My hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Fareham (Sir J. Davidson) has been good enough to consent to act as vice-chairman. The Council is holding its first meeting this afternoon. The House will realise that for unavoidable reasons the proposed arrangements are not yet fully in operation, and it is premature therefore as yet to ask for results. My right hon. Friend is confident, however, that the efforts of the Local King's Roll Committees, stimulated and guided by the National Council, will be of great assistance in finding employment for those disabled men who unfortunately are still unemployed.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that ex-Private Close, No. 6324, 2/4th Leicester Regiment, of 165, Doncaster Road, Goldthorpe, Rotherham, who enlisted on 29th March, 1915, was passed A1, and served until 21st June, 1916, when he was discharged under age; that he was called up on 21st May, 1917, and passed B1, and was drafted to various labour units, where he served until demobilised on 13th May, 1919, from the 477th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps, Lincolnshire, Regimental No. 455,998; that, although transferred to the Army Reserve as fit, he had in fact developed a chest trouble, which, due to unemployment for several months, caused less than the usual alarm; that later he emigrated to Canada in 1920 under the soldiers' settlement scheme, but was deported in 1921 because of his physical condition, tuberculosis, and on arrival in England was immediately sent to the Middleton Sanatorium, Yorkshire, where he was pronounced as a severe case which must have originated in 1917; and, seeing that the appeal for pension was disallowed and the evidence of the medical superintendent aforementioned was ignored, will he institute an inquiry into this and similar cases to ensure that legitimate cases receive every consideration and fair treatment?

In this case all the available evidence, including the medical opinion referred to by the hon. Member, was very fully considered by the medical advisers of the Ministry before the case was referred to the Appeal Tribunal and was before the Tribunal itself at the time the appeal was heard. The man's claim having been rejected in the light of all the facts of the case by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, my right hon. Friend has no power to re-open the case.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the case of the widow of the late Sergeant G. Lake, who died at Beechwood Hospital on 2nd April, 1922, is causing a great deal of local interest; that this widow's claim to a pension is supported by the local branch of the British Legion, who are of the opinion that a great wrong will be done to this widow if she is deprived of her pension; that her husband was a chronic victim to malaria, contracted while on foreign service, and that his death was greatly hastened by this disease; will he, therefore, have further investigations made into this case, so that justice will be done to the widow of this ex-service man; and will he give facilities for the widow to be fully represented at these investigations?

The decision of the Ministry rejecting this widow's claim to pension has been confirmed on appeal by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. My right hon. Friend is, therefore, not in a position to reopen the case.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of cases in which no pensions or allowances of any sort are made to widows whose husbands were in receipt of such up to the day of their death.

I regret that I am not in a position to supply this information.

asked the Minister of Pensions if those life pensioners of the Royal Navy who are also in receipt of a disability pension, that is to say, of a mixed pension, will be eligible for the Greenwich Hospital pension at the age of 55 or other age?

Greenwich Hospital pensions are a matter for the Admiralty. I understand that that Department have the question referred to, along with other matters affecting this class of pension, under consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of cases of terminated pensions in which the House of Lords Appeal Tribunal has accepted the direct reversal of the original medical diagnoses under which the pensions were originally granted?

Cases in which the original medical diagnoses is changed are very few indeed. I regret that I have no record of the number of such cases in which, on appeal, the Statutory Appeal Tribunals have either confirmed or rejected the finding of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether it is intended to retain the Burnham-on-Crouch Orthopœdie Clinic; how many patients are receiving treatment; what is the cost of such treatment; and whether the medical officer in charge is an orthopœdic specialist?

This clinic is under the control of the British Red Cross Society, and I am not aware of any proposal to close it. There are at present five pensioners under treatment at the clinic at a cost to the Ministry of 1s. 6d. per treatment, which is given under the supervision of a Deputy-Commissioner of Medical Services, specially selected for his orthopœdic knowledge.

asked the Minister of Pensions if, in view of so many men who were gassed during the War, and who, since leaving the Army, have developed tuberculosis and are now unable to get pensions, he will cause in inquiry to be made into the whole subject?

It has always been the practice of the Ministry to give specially sympathetic consideration to cases of tuberculosis. Any evidence of gassing during service is invariably taken into account, and full weight given to its possible bearing on the man's condition. My right hon. Friend does not consider that any useful purpose would be served by an inquiry such as that suggested, but if my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind any cases in which he considers justice has not been done, I shall be glad to inquire into them if he will let me have particulars.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the reply given to Item 53 of the Jerram Pay Committee, any departure from this principle is contemplated; and, if not, by whose authority were the naval pensioners employed in a civilian capacity in His Majesty's Mining School, Portsmouth, called upon to render a return of the amount of pension received by them?

The action alluded to has no bearing on the principle that pensions are not taken into account when naval pensioners enter Government employment. The information called for from the Mining School at Portsmouth, in common with other naval establishments, is required in connection with the necessary revision for the forthcoming Navy stimates of Appendix No. 6, appearing on page 274 of the current year's Estimates.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has received communications requesting that a local pensions officer shall attend for one day each week in the townships of Hindley and Westhoughton, respectively, to deal with the local business of the Ministry in those areas; whether he has been informed that the urban district councils for the two districts named are prepared to grant office accommodation free of charge for this purpose; and, if so, will he now state the attitude of the Ministry towards this request?

I have considered this matter, but in view of the very small number of cases in the districts referred to, and the near proximity and accessibility of the area offices at Wigan and Bolton, I understand that it is not necessary to take advantage of the district councils' offer.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the recently improved conditions of pay and service granted to naval schoolmasters, sufficient numbers of whom are available, the Admiralty are again forming a class of ex-dockyard apprentices for the important duties of naval schoolmasters; and why this is being done?

Yes, Sir. In view of the very satisfactory results obtained by the entry of ex-dockyard apprentices as naval schoolmasters in 1920, it has been decided, in the interests of the Service, to enter and train a small number during the present year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the post-War establishment of accountant officers has yet been fixed?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the officials in His Majesty's dockyard at Portland and at the Bincleaves torpedo range at Weymouth are empowered to give men employment without using the local Exchanges; whether recently at Weymouth a fitter already in employment was started, although there were four fitters who had previously worked at the range, and therefore had the necessary experience, walking about unemployed; and whether he will give instructions that when workmen are required use shall be made of the local Employment Exchanges?

Vacancies in the dockyards are filled through the Employment Exchanges, but the Admiralty retains the right to indicate to the Exchanges classes or individuals whom it considers most suitable. This was done in the case referred to.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Board has considered any plan for paying out of Navy funds a subsidy to an airship service?

Yes, Sir. The question has been under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the respective strength of the French, Jugo-Slav, Rumanian, and Bulgarian Armies?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any alteration in the King's Regulations reducing the minimum age of enlistment from 18 to 17 years has been effected; whether such Regulation requires the sanction of the House; and, if so, whether he will indicate the date on which such sanction was given by the House and became effective?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative; the third part therefore does not arise. I would, however, add that the assumption made in the question that the Regulations lay down 18 years as the absolute minimum age of enlistment is erroneous. Enlistment between 17 and 18 years is also permitted, subject to the parents' consent being obtained.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health what steps the Secretary for Scotland proposes to take to provide more adequate maintenance for the children of unemployed workmen; and whether 1s. a week is all that the present Government propose to contribute for this purpose?

The allowance under the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1922, in respect of each dependent child payable to a person in receipt of unemployment benefit is fixed by the Act at 1s. per week, and my Noble Friend has no discretion to vary that amount. Under the Poor Law Emergency Provisions (Scotland) Act, 1921, relief may be granted by a parish council to a destitute able-bodied unemployed person in respect of himself and his dependants. The amount to be granted is primarily a matter for the parish council to determine.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that William Hunter, of Edinburgh, one of the unemployed marchers from Scotland, is now in Winston Green Prison serving a term of imprisonment for an offence said to have been committed in Coventry; and whether, in view of the fact that this man and his friends were suffering privation, he will reconsider this sentence?

No facts have been brought to my notice which would justify any interference with the sentence passed in this case.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the fact that the fourth period of unemployment benefit expires on 7th April and that thereafter large numbers of the unemployed will receive no benefit till July; whether proposals will be made to deal with the situation; and, if so, whether these proposals will be introduced at an early date so that there may be adequate opportunities for discussion?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given last Thursday to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough West (Mr. T. Thomson) and to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on the same day during the Debate on the Address. The Bill will be introduced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that cases have occurred where a man has been sent a distance to apply for a registered vacancy, and on arrival has found that the vacancy has been filled, and that experiences of this kind render men who have no money to spare for railway fares disinclined to travel a distance on what may be a fruitless errand; and whether he will issue instructions to insurance officers that unless a guarantee can be given that work will be secured upon application no man is to be disqualified for benefit on account of refusing to spend money in travelling on a speculative mission or, alternatively, whether he will seek authority to provide the necessary railway fares in such cases?

So far as I am aware no cases of the kind referred to have occurred during the past year. Exchanges take all possible precautions before sending men to a distance and do, in fact, obtain an informal guarantee of work. It would not be practicable to go further than this.

asked the Minister of Labour how many schemes submitted by local authorities for recreational and educational centres for unemployed young people have been sanctioned; and whether any estimate can be made of the number of boys and girls who are being dealt with in these centres?

Sixty-seven local education authorities have submitted schemes and of these my right hon. Friend has already approved 41. The authorities concerned estimate the attendance at the centres included in the

asked the Minister of Labour how many ex-service men are registered as unemployed; and how many of them are disabled men?

The most recent statistics relate to 23rd October, 1922, but the figures at the present time are probably not markedly different from those then obtained. At 23rd October there were 414,810 ex-service men on the

approved schemes at 13,950–8,650 boys and 5,300 girls.

asked the Minister of Labour what the figures for unemployment are for each month from January, 1921, in Great Britain, in the North-Eastern area, and in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, respectively?

The following table gives the number of persons registered at Employment Exchanges as wholly unemployed in each month since January, 1921, in the areas mentioned:

live registers of Employment Exchanges, of whom 64,968 were in receipt of a disability pension.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that at Frongoch, North Cardiganshire, where the work of clearing the dumps from the old lead mines is being carried out as one of the schemes to relieve unemployment, an order has been issued that not more than 5s. 6d. per day be paid for labour, and that no man employed can be a member of a trade union for at least 12 months; and whether this is an order issued by his authority and is it a condition of the grant being given?

I have no information regarding the conditions attached to employment on the scheme referred to; they were not imposed by my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if it has yet been decided if schemes of land reclamation can be undertaken as unemployment relief works; and, if so, if the scheme submitted to him for the reclamation of land near Spurn Head, on the Humber, is still under consideration?

No decision has yet been reached on the general question of land reclamation as a means of alleviating unemployment. With regard to the second part, a preliminary investigation of the Humber scheme has recently been carried out and is now under consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Committee appointed to consider the possibility of modifying the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act disqualifying for benefit persons who have lost their work by reason of a trade dispute have yet reported; and, if so, when the Report will be published?

The Committee to which the hon. Member refers have not yet submitted a Report. I am informed that they are to hold a further meeting this week.

asked the Minister of Labour, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he is now in a position to supply the information regarding grants to local authorities from local taxation accounts and other sources, promised in his reply to a previous question on Monday, 4th December, 1922?

My right hon. Friend has furnished to the Noble Lord a statement containing the information desired, but in view of the length of the statement, I am afraid that it is not practicable to print it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Copies of the statement will, however, be neostyled and will be available at the Ministry of Health for hon. Members who may ask for them.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he proposes to introduce legislation to amend the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, so as to make the provisions for the feeding and clothing of necessitous children what education authorities supposed them to be previous to the interpretation of the Act laid down in Circular 51?

The whole subject is at present engaging the close attention of my Noble Friend the Secretary for Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the case of an assistant master at Nottingham High School who retired last August after 39 years' service in that school, and whose total income for himself and his wife is a sum of £120 granted by the Board of Education; whether he is aware that the governors of the Nottingham High School have voted this gentleman a pension of £100 from the school funds subject to the approval of the Board; and whether, having regard to the exceptional circumstances of this case and to the fact that no additional expense would be thrown upon either the rates or taxes by this pension, and to the desirability of supporting the views of the governors where possible, he will adopt the approval of the Board to the pension?

The Board are acquainted with the facts of this case and the matter is at present under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that pressure is being placed upon small tradesmen for immediate payment of Income Tax, and owing to the present deplorable Condition of trade in many cases payment at once is impossible; and whether he will instruct the local authorities to allow payments to be made by equal monthly payments?

As has been stated on more than one occasion by my right hon. Friend's predecessor, it is not the practice of the Board of Inland Revenue to refuse a reasonable postponement of the payment of taxes in individual cases of genuine and proved inability to meet the demands of the revenue at the dates prescribed by law. If the hon. Member has in mind any case in which a departure from this practice is alleged and will let my right hon. Friend have the necessary particulars, my right hon. Friend will gladly have the matter investigated and will communicate to him the result.

asked the Minister of Pensions why is the widow of a man who was killed or who died on service obliged to pay Income Tax on the pension granted to her, when an ex-soldier in receipt of a pension is allowed to omit the sum so obtained when filling in his declaration of income for the purpose of Income Tax computation?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension in supposing that there is a general exemption from Income Tax in favour of soldiers' pensions. The existing relief—which is given under the provisions of Section 16 of the Finance Act, 1919—is confined to wounds and disability pensions, that is, to payments of the nature of compensation for personal injury sustained by the recipient. The pension received by a widow is different in character. I would remind my hon. Friend that this matter has been frequently raised in this House, and that, as recently as the 27th June last, a proposal was made in the course of the Committee stage of the Finance Bill to give exemption from Income Tax in respect of pensions to widows of members of the naval, military or air forces of the Crown. After discussion the proposal was rejected on a Division.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the case of Miss E. E. Coles who, after 18 years' service as permanent woman clerk at the Post Office Savings Bank, was led to accept a temporary supervising post in the taxes service by the prospects of a permanent appointment, but was subsequently dismissed without adequate reason, and has been without any employment since September, 1920; whether he will cause full inquiry to be made into the circumstances of her dismissal from the taxes service; and whether he is now prepared to offer employment to this lady in view of the satisfactory character of her lifelong services to the State and her present lack of any means of subsistence?

The circumstances of this case were fully considered by the Treasury in September, 1920, and later in that year. I have before me a statement of the facts by the Board of Inland Revenue, and I am afraid I cannot modify the decision previously reached.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health what is the present staff of the Record Office, Edinburgh; what duties they perform; and why the vacancies recently created have not been filled?

The present staff of the Record Office consists of the Deputy Keeper of the Records, the chief clerk, one first-class clerk, three second-class clerks, two temporary clerks, three typists, and four indexers, besides cleaning and messenger staff. The duties of the office, which comprise the custody of the Records of Scotland (including historical records), issue of extracts, assistance in searching and indexing, are performed by the Deputy Keeper of the Records with the assistance of the staff above enumerated. The vacancies which have occurred have not been filled because a scheme of reorganisation, involving rearrangement of duties, is under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the number of civilians employed at the Admiralty on 1st January, 1914, and 1st January, 1923, respectively?

On the 1st January, 1923, 3,474 civilians were employed at the Admiralty. This number was further reduced by 36 during the month, and further reductions are in course of being made. I have only an approximate figure for the 1st January, 1914, but the figure for the 1st August, 1914, was 1,920. Both these figures include messengers and charwomen.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, who constitutes the standing Advisory Committee on the national water supply; by whom, and on whose advice, the members of the Committee were appointed; what are its functions; and what cases, if any, have been referred to it, together with the terms of reference?

The members of the Advisory Committee are:

Mr. C. S. Musgrave, Chairman of the Metropolitan Water Board.

Mr. A. R. Atkey, Chairman of the Nottingham Corporation Water Committee.

Mr. A. B. E. Blackburn, engineer and general manager of the Sunderland and South Shields Water Company.

Lieut. -Colonel J. R. Davidson, C.M.G., water engineer of the Liverpool Corporation.

Mr. F. W. Macaulay, chief engineer of the Birmingham Corporation Waterworks.

Mr. W. Terrey, general manager of the Sheffield Corporation Waterworks.

The members were appointed by my right hon. Friend after consultation with the British Waterworks Association and the Institute of Water Engineers. There are no specific terms of reference, but the purpose of the Committee is to afford advice on technical matters generally.

The responsibility for any reports to Parliament on Bills of course remains with my right hon. Friend's Department.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether, in view of the expiration of the agreements at the end of this year with doctors on the panel lists, he is taking any steps to review the present scheme of medical benefit with a view to rendering it more efficient and economical?

Yes, Sir. The existing arrangements for the medical treatment of insured persons are now being examined in detail by the Insurance Consultative Council of the Minister of Health.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Minister of Health, whether he is aware that at an inquiry held in Manchester recently in connection with the request for a loan to erect free municipal wash-houses, an inspector of the Ministry insisted that municipal wash-houses should be self-supporting; whether this view represents the attitude of the Ministry; and, if so, the reason for the difference between the treatment of municipal public baths and municipal wash-houses, which are in most cases in Manchester part of the same buildings, both of which are maintained out of the rates?

I understand that at Manchester there is an annual charge on the rates of over £70,000 for the public baths and wash-houses, mainly in respect of the baths, not the wash-houses. The inspector did not insist that either the baths or the wash-houses should be self-supporting, but, not unreasonably, suggested that efforts should be made to reduce the, charge on the rates.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether he has received a protest against the action of the Warrington Board of Guardians in dismissing four probationer nurses for attending a victory ball in their own time; and whether, in view of the fact that these nurses had from 18 months to two years' service to their credit and that no complaint had ever been made against them for dereliction of duty, he will approach the guardians on the matter?

My right hon. Friend has no authority to interfere with the decision taken by the guardians, but he has obtained a report from them, a copy of which he is sending to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of square yards of grey cloth exported from this country to Switzerland and to Germany, respectively, during 1921 and 1922?

The following statement shows the number of square yards of cottonpiece goods (grey, unbleached) of United Kingdom manufacture, registered in each of the years 1921 and 1922 as exported from the United Kingdom to Switzerland and Germany, respectively:

asked the Minister of Agriculture the nature of the arrangement securing the phosphate deposits of Nauru Island for the farmers of Great Britain and Ireland; at what price this can be delivered; what measures are being taken to have this artificial manure placed within reach of agriculturists; and will he undertake to see that no profiteering combine will handle it, to the furtherance of the sale of its own products, or exploit it at the expense of the farmer?