asked the Minister of Pensions (1) whether he has received a resolution of protest from various Poor Law unions, and, if so, from how many of them, concerning the recent action of the Ministry of Pensions in deciding to transfer to pauper lunatic asylums ex-service men whose condition is alleged not to be due to or worsened by the War; and whether he will reconsider the said decision in view of the burden cast upon the guardians by this decision, who are already overburdened by the demands made upon them through unemployment;

(2) whether he is now prepared to remove the stigma of pauperism which has been cast upon the pauper-lunatic-asylum ex-service men by placing the sole responsibility for caring for them upon the State as a national charge in discharge of our national duty?

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will reconsider his recent action of transferring to pauper lunatic asylums ex-service men whose condition is alleged not to be due to or worsened by the War, and thus relieve boards of guardians already unable to meet the demands made upon them through unemployment?

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave on the 15th February to the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury) and the hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. F. Roberts).

Could not the right hon. Gentleman take an opportunity to carry out the assurances he gave in his speech the other evening, that these individual cases of suffering should be included in his scheme for dealing with ex-service men in asylums?

I have already given a very full explanation to the House on the Motion for the Adjournment. These cases are also being gone through, and I am glad to say that since my answer of last Thursday another 17 cases have been admitted.

Would the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table a statement showing the number of men, the service rendered, and the category under which they were passed into the Army, so that the House may know all that there is to know about the men that have been treated as pauper lunatics?

I do not think a complete return could be given, because there are certainly 100 of these cases now before the Tribunal, and we cannot give the final results.

asked the Minister of Pensions why ex-service men who were graded A 1, served overseas, were invalided out of the Army, and are now in lunatic asylums, are deprived of their pensions?

I would refer the hon. Member to the full answer which I gave to him on the 28th November last, in which I stated that compensation from my Department is granted only if the disability, mental or other, is found to be due to or worsened by war service. I may add that each case is considered on its merits, full regard being given to the medical condition and other circumstances, including the nature and conditions of service.

asked the Prime Minister (1) if he will set up an immediate committee of inquiry to review the whole question of the employment of ex-service men in the Civil Service, and thus allay the unrest at present existing in the ranks of these men;

(2) If he is aware that over 200 ex-service temporary clerks discharged from the Ministry of Labour at Kew have been for the past two weeks daily blockading that Ministry in protest against the retention in Government offices of thousands of temporary women; has he been informed that the whole of the ex-service temporary civil servants are so incensed with the various injustices under which they consider they are suffering at the hands of the permanent highly-placed officials that they are about to send him personally their war decorations in bulk, and will he cause an inquiry to be made as to the allegations?

I am informed that a certain number of ex-service men who have recently, owing to reduction of work, been discharged from the Ministry of Labour at Kew are daily demonstrating outside that Office. With regard to the latter part of the question, I have not been so informed, and should greatly deplore any such proposal. I am satisfied that, in accordance with the recommendations of Lord Lytton's Committee, full regard is had to the just claims of ex-service men in the matter of employment in the Civil Service, as is indeed shown by the monthly returns of ex-service men employed in Government Departments, and I am not prepared to set up a fresh Committee of Inquiry further to review this question.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is true that, while ex-service men are being discharged, conscientious objectors are kept in employment in the Civil Service? [ Interruption. ] It is true.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that there are approximately 600 temporary women clerks in the Savings Bank and Money Order Departments of the General Post Office who are officially stated to be employed upon work proper to women, but who nevertheless are engaged in these Departments upon identical duties as the temporary ex-service clerks agreed to be carrying out male clerical class duties; and, in view of this, will he give instructions that a sufficient number of these women, who do not come under the category of hardship Cases, be replaced by the Kew discharged ex-service men?

In the Savings Bank Department practically all the temporary ex-service clerks are normally employed upon duties proper to men, although from time to time a few of them are utilised, when available, on duties proper to women on which temporary women clerks are also engaged. In the Money Order Department a considerable number of temporary ex-service men are employed on work proper to women; but while the right hon. Gentleman hopes that it will be possible to continue this concession for a time, he regrets that he does not see his way to agree to its extension.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in a recent Departmental test 155 women passed out of a total of 800 employed in the Inland Revenue, and that it has been decided that the majority of the women who failed in their examination are to be retained indefinitely; if he will explain why these women who have failed are being retained without any further examination, whilst many ex-service men who have put in several years' satisfactory service are being given notice to leave; and whether, in those cases where employment may be offered to ex-service men, such employment is contingent upon satisfaction at a Departmental examination?

My hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension. Certain ex-service temporary clerks who are redundant at the Head Office are being re-employed in the Taxes Branch, subject to a simple test of fitness required of all officers of that branch. The women who failed to qualify in the Departmental examination are not displacing these ex-service men and their retention is temporary only.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the numerous and increasing criticism of the working of his Department; and whether he can avail himself of some early opportunity to make a general statement on the subject to restore public confidence?

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask whether there is any foundation at all for the insinuations which this question contains?

I think that this question must have been put down before the Debate, in which I took the opportunity of giving, as far as I could, the information sought for in the question. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made during the Debate on Pensions Administration last Tuesday.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can now consider the question of the further decentralisation of issue; whether he regards the Scottish experience as satisfactory; and whether he is still receiving complaints as to the slowness of issue in this country?

The decentralised issues of pensions in Scotland is proceeding satisfactorily, but I am not prepared to agree to further decentralisation, as I am not satisfied that any real advantage would result, having regard to questions of accommodation and other difficulties. The number of complaints of delay which I receive or where failure can be attributed to the Issue Office is greatly reduced.

asked the Minister of Pensions the total number of deductions, by way of recovery of payments irregularly made, from pensions or allowances now being issued in connection with disability due to service in the late War; whether there are any cases and, if so, how many in which men thus owe the State money when they are receiving nothing from it, owing to their pensions and allowances having ceased; and what action he is taking in these cases?

I regret that I am not in a position to supply the figures asked for. It is not the practice to enforce recovery in the circumstances mentioned in the second part of the question, unless it is clear that the money has been improperly obtained by fraud or misrepresentation.

asked the Minister of Pensions why the pension of ex-Private Thomas Kelly, of 53, Raven Street, Bradford, and No. 35,620, Labour Company, discharged in 1918 suffering from shellshock, has been fixed by the Department at 7, Boar Lane, Leeds, on 23rd March, 1922 (Ref. 4/MK/2197) at only 80 per cent. of the full rate, in view of the fact that Kelly is totally incapacitated from work through his war services; and if he will look into the case with a view to a more generous allowance?

I am arranging for this man to be examined by a medical board with a view to further consideration of his case.

asked the Minister of Pensions if his attention has been called to the case of George N. Smith, an ex-service man who served in the Royal Engineers, No. 228,287, who was gassed at Cambrai in November, 1917, and as a result is now a physical wreck and cripple with a wife and four young children, obliged to accept Poor Law relief; was he previously in receipt of a 100 per cent. pension, this pension being stopped by a medical board at Canterbury in October, 1921, on the ground that the cause of disability had passed away; and whether, in view of all the circumstances connected with this case and the man s present disabilities, he will have the case further considered, with a view to a restoration of the man's pension?

This man's condition was, on his own statements, clearly of pre-War origin; but aggravation by service was conceded, and he was pensioned on that basis for asthma and bronchitis until November, 1921, when the effects of service on his disability were found to have passed away. There is no record that the man was at any time gassed. The decision of the Ministry has been confirmed on appeal by the independent tribunal, and is now, therefore, final.

I beg to give the right hon. Gentleman notice that I shall raise this and some other cases on the Motion for the Adjournment.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that James Edward Evans, No. 7,877, regimental quartermaster-sergeant, Worcester Regiment, was a time-serving soldier prior to 4th August, 1914; that, on that date, he was suffering from loss of voice due to service as an instructor; that his Army medical history proves this; that after the War he appealed for his discharge owing to this disability, which was granted after serving 16 years and 178 days; whether Evans was granted a permanent pension; and, if so, why was it stopped?

I am making inquiries into this case and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mrs. Oliver Harrison, widow of ex-Private Oliver Harrison, No. 265,231, who died on 22nd January, 1920, from gas poisoning, has been refused a pension for herself and child because it is alleged her husband was poisoned by gas on active service before he was married; that Mrs. Harrison received separation allowance for herself and child from the time of marriage until her husband was discharged from the Army, and she also received £1 per week for some time after her husband's death; and will he see that the widow of this soldier who died through serving his country has her pension restored to her?

In the short time available, I have not been able to complete my inquiries, but I am looking into this case, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Duncan Macqueen (L/c 5/40,377), Cameron Highlanders, was recommended by three medical referees to receive 10s. weekly for special diet for three different periods; that he was given a form by the Local War Pensions Committee to be filled in by his own private doctor with the special dietary required; and that he was also asked to supply the Local War Pensions Committee with the bills from the tradesmen supplying the goods; whether he is aware that this man was removed to Bellahouston hospital as an in-patient; that he was informed by an official of the Pensions Ministry that he was £44 10s. in debt for over-payment of special diet; that 10s. weekly was deducted from his wife's allowance during the time he was in hospital; that his State pension has been withheld; and that, although awarded a pension by his last board, this also has been withheld, and he has received a letter from the regional headquarters, Edinburgh, informing him his pension would be withheld as part payment; whether he is aware that this man is destitute; and whether he will take steps to pay the pension to Macqueen which has been awarded him?

I have inquired into the circumstances of this case, and find that special diet allowance, amounting to £44 10s., was irregularly paid to this man. In view, however, of his present condition, I have decided to waive further recovery of the amount over-issued.

Is the Ministry prepared to hand back some of the money which has been taken away from this man's wife while he was in hospital, and she was not in receipt of any allowance at all?

I will consider that point. I understand that the money was irregularly issued and should never have been issued, but we are waiving any further recovery.

In view of the reply that the right hon. Gentleman has just given to Question No. 5, is he not going to put that into operation in this case?

I cannot undertake to refund money which ought not to have been paid.

asked the Minister of Pensions under what circumstances, if any, it is possible for disabled ex-service men or their dependants to be heard with regard to a fresh application for pension or treatment allowance when they have once been turned down by the appeal tribunal?

asked the Minister of Pensions if any cases of ex-service men, on which a decision had been given by a pensions appeal tribunal, have been reopened for consideration; and, if so, how many cases have been dealt with in this manner, and on what grounds?

By the provisions of Section 8 of the War Pensions Act, 1919, the decision of a pensions appeal tribunal is final, and I am advised that it is not possible for appellants whose appeals have been rejected by a tribunal to have their cases heard again; nor, in fact, have any cases been so re-opened and re-heard. In a small number of wholly exceptional cases (not more than six or seven) the Treasury has made a special concession.

Is it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to consider the matter further, in the light of a suggestion, made in a Debate in the last House, that, where new matter arises, it might be possible, in certain exceptional circumstances and with due safeguards, to allow cases to be re-opened?

I shall, of course, consider that. We have been going into it fully, and have found great difficulties.

asked the Minister of Pensions if his attention has been called to the case of ex-Farrier Staff-Sergeant David Howell, Royal Field Artillery, Nelson Street, Chepstow, Monmouth shire who served upwards of three years in France, and who is now totally disabled from tuberculosis; whether he is aware that a medical board has stated that this attack had its onset in May, 1918; that in June, 1918, he was attended on the field for a short attack of pleurisy; that on the 22nd December, 1921, a report by a physician stated that the disease is attributable to his service in the Army; that this opinion is supported by three other doctors; that four Army officers declare that a miscarriage of justice has been done in this case by refusing a pension to this ex-sergeant; and whether, seeing that he has to obtain what nourishment he gets from the Chepstow Guardians, to the extent of 6s. per week, he will see that this case is reopened, and a full investigation made into it?

I am obtaining particulars of this case, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Eakins, wife of the late Ernest Henry Eakins, No. 163282, Company Quartermaster-sergeant of the 2nd/10th London Regiment, afterwards transferred to the Middlesex Regiment and then to a labour corps, whose death the local doctors maintain was caused through his war service; whether he is aware that this man was passed into the Army as A1, contracted various diseases while there, and passed away last June from the effects of these; and whether the Minister will make inquiries into the case?

After full consideration of all the available evidence the Ministry were unable to accept the cause of this man's death as being connected with his service. This decision has been confirmed on appeal by the independent tribunal, and is now, therefore, final.

asked the Minister of Pensions if his attention has been called to the case of Mr. D. Caton, who joined up in the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1914, was twice severely wounded, a gunshot wound in the left shoulder causing severe lung trouble, and who for a certain period received employment at the Post Office from which he has now been discharged; is he aware that before the War this man was employed by a well-known firm which certifies that he was never away from work through illness; that his doctor also certifies that his present condition is due to war service; and that his appeal for a pension has been dismissed with no reason given except that his present condition is not attributable or aggravated by war service; and whether, in the circumstances, he will order a thorough investigation into this case?

This man was invalided in April, 1919, on account of wounds, for which he is now receiving pension at the 30 per cent. rate. In June, 1922, he claimed pension for tuberculosis, but on examination no trace of that disease could be found, his condition being diagnosed as bronchitis. This further disability could not, however, be connected with the wound of the left arm or with service, and that decision, having been confirmed on appeal by the tribunal, is final.

asked the Minister of Pensions the total number of cases dealt with during the year 1922 in the South Wales and Monmouthshire area wherein the entitlement was attributable to war service; and the number of such cases which were altered by decision of the Ministry to aggravated by war service?

I regret that I have not the particulars desired for the area mentioned, but I have no reason to believe that the position there differs materially from that for the whole country, which I gave in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. D. Grenfell) on the 1st December last. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of that answer.

Is not an alteration from attributability to aggravation a practical admission, either of wrong designation to start with, or of the injustice of the second decision?

If the aggravation remains constant, that would make no difference to the pensioner, and I would remind the hon. Member that there is quite a number of cases in which it has been altered in the other direction, to attributability instead of aggravation, which is, of course, in favour of the man.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will at once issue instructions to his Department that, in all cases wherein the entitlement was attributable to war service and altered, by the decision of the Ministry, to aggravated by war service, the reasons for such alterations be endorsed at the time on the appellant précis?

An instruction in the sense desired by my hon. Friend has been in force for some time.

asked the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been drawn to the increase in fees demanded for 1923–24 at many of the teachers' training colleges, at a time when administrative costs are coming down; if the increases are countenanced or encouraged by the Board; and will he inquire into the reasons for the specially heavy increases at Bingley £30 to £105, Brighton £20 to £80, Sheffield £25 to £80, and Leeds £30 to £80?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on the 15th February last to the hon. Member for the Rothwell Division.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can give the names of the Departmental Committee which is to consider and review the position of training colleges, and the terms of reference to such Committee?

I will make a communication on the subject as soon as possible.

Shall I put a question down next week?

I am afraid I might disappoint the hon. Member again. When I am in a position to answer, I will let him know.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that, while the training colleges provided by local education authorities have been treated since 1919 as local institutions, the local authority having to find 50 per cent. of the net cost, these colleges are doing work similar in character and of equal national importance to those not provided by local education authorities, he will reinstate the substantive grants to training colleges maintained by the 16 local education authorities to enable them to continue the work of these colleges whilst the proposed Committee carries on its deliberations and reports thereon?

The difficulties of local education authorities who provide training colleges are, as I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Rothwell on the 15th February, partly and indeed largely due to the unwillingness of other local education authorities to co-operate with them or contribute, either directly or indirectly by aiding students who attend the colleges, to the cost. I was requested by the deputation representing the authorities providing colleges which I received on the 11th January to set up a Departmental Committee to review the whole position, and having agreed to do so I do not think I should be asked to anticipate their recommendations. I understand that the authorities concerned estimate that the cost of the hon. Member's suggestion to the Exchequer would be £65,000 a year.

Is it not a fact that the local authorities concerned regard the change in the Board's attitude as a distinct breach of faith, and they are put to a great increase of local expenditure in consequence?

I have seen that argument used on behalf of local education authorities, but it is not an argument I have ever thought was well founded.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the announcement that the financial support hitherto given by the War Office to the Cadet Force is to be withdrawn on 31st March, and having regard to the high educational value of the training given in the cadet organisations of the public secondary schools, he will consider the advisability of placing the grant on the Education Estimates?

I fully share the appreciation entertained by my hon. and gallant Friend for the work of the cadet corps in grant-aided secondary schools, but I regret that I am unable to give effect to his suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is in a position to render any financial assistance in connection with the rebuilding of the church schools, Moxley, Wednesbury; and, if not, what steps does he propose to take to ensure adequate accommodation for educating the children of the district?

The Board have no power to render any financial assistance towards the rebuilding of a voluntary school. I understand that the managers of the school in question are preparing proposals for the improvement of the premises.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether he can state the total cost of the meals provided by educational authorities during 1922 under the Feeding of Necessitous School Children Act;

(2) whether he can state the number of meals provided during 1922 under the Feeding of Necessitous School Children Act by the various education authorities throughout the country?

The total number of meals provided by local education authorities in England and Wales under the Education Act, 1921, during the calendar year 1922 was 20,522,519. As regards the cost of meals, the returns made to the Board are for the financial year; the net expenditure of local education authorities in England and Wales on provision of meals during the financial year 1922–23, as estimated by them in December last, is £338,123.

asked the President of the Board of Education what steps he proposes to take to deal with those school teachers who, as established civil servants and drawing the taxpayers' money, are engaged each Sunday in teaching at Socialist Sunday schools the ethics of revolution and anarchy to the young?

School teachers are not established civil servants, but are the servants of local education authorities or governing bodies who are responsible for their employment or dismissal. I have no statutory authority to require teachers to abstain from employing their leisure time in any manner which does not offend against the law, and no evidence has reached me that individual teachers employed in grant-aided schools are inculcating revolution and anarchy in Sunday schools. At the same time I recognise, as also does the teaching profession generally, that it is the duty of a teacher engaged in the public service of education so to exercise his own liberty of speech or action as not to prejudice the performance of his duty to the children in his charge or impair the confidence which parents generally should be able to feel in the teachers of their children, not forgetting that the majority of parents enjoy no choice of schools for their children.

Has the right hon. Gentleman made himself acquainted with the precepts which govern teaching in the Socialist Sunday schools, and can he say in what respect they conflict with the Sermon on the Mount?

I do not think I am called upon to enter upon a discussion on the relation of Socialism to the Sermon on the Mount. I merely attempt to answer as to the legal position.

In view of the fact that these teachers are paid out of public money and the children of parents of all creeds of politics go to these schools, is it not desirable that the teachers in their leisure time should avoid acute political questions as far as possible?

That is the question which has already been fully answered.

Would the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the teaching of the Socialist Sunday schools includes loving their school fellows, who will be their fellow workers in life, a love of learning—

The matter cannot now be debated.

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to carry the same attitude of mind into the action of civil servants who play golf and tennis on Sunday?

asked the President of the Board of Education how many applications by local education authorities have been made asking for the permission of the Board to take power under the Education Act of 1918 to raise the compulsory age to 15, thus enabling the local authorities to deal in some measure with the large numbers of unemployed children?

Previously to January, 1921, when Circular 1190 was issued, the Board received applications from nine local education authorities, and since that date applications from six authorities have been received.

Have the applications been granted, and if not, why not?

If my Noble Friend refers to the answer I gave a week ago, he will see the whole thing outlined at length.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the number of forms, letters, etc., which have to be filled up and written in order to secure exemption from the Entertainments Duty for a village school concert; and whether he will confer with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to secure absolute exemption for any national school entertainment where the proceeds of such entertainment go entirely to the athletic fund of the school?

I will communicate my hon. Friend's suggestion to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether bomb- ing has ever taken place in Iraq as a punishment for non-payment of taxes; and if every case of bombing is reported to the Air Ministry, so that the practice may be reviewed from time to time on documentary evidence?

I am glad to have the opportunity of explaining the position in regard to bombing operations in Iraq. There is no foundation for the suggestion that bombing has been carried out in Iraq or elsewhere to enforce payment of taxes or as punishment for the failure to pay them. The bombing operations which have taken place have been invariably for the purpose of putting down open revolt or armed defiance to the administration, or attacks upon the native police, and have always been undertaken at the request of the civil authority. They are in all cases reported to the Air Ministry. One of the fullest and most recent reports of this kind which I have read shows that bombing has been confined to cases in which tribal chiefs have been acting in armed co-operation with irregular Turkish bands or have been harbouring forces whose object was to raise the tribes against the British and the local Christians, or have been holding up caravans or firing upon the police. I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of this report and some other papers bearing on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is willing to carry out experiments over London or along the railways in fog dispersion, such as have been carried out with alleged success by the American Army Air Service with sand electrically charged from aeroplanes?

Full particulars of the experiments in America to which my hon and gallant Friend refers had already been called for by the Air Ministry, but have not yet been received. I may mention, however, that certain methods have been evolved for the dispersal of fog in a small confined space, but they do not appear to be as yet suitable for application on a large scale. I fully realise the importance of the question, which is being closely watched by my Department, and any method of fog-dispersal which promises to be effective will be carefully investigated and, unless the cost is prohibitive, given a practical trial.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the use of raw coal?

I do not think that question ought to be addressed to my Ministry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the uncertainty arising each year as to the date of the introduction of the Budget causes considerable dislocation to the various trades concerned in the manufacture, importation, and sale of dutiable articles; and whether, without detriment to the Treasury, it would be possible to arrive at a general agreement for a fixed date to apply each year for the introduction of the Budget?

I have carefully considered the proposal, but I fear that it is impracticable.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether this difficulty could be overcome by the announcement of the date of the Budget a considerable period beforehand each year?

If my hon. Friend will fix the date of Easter I will consider it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the date or dates on which the late Government undertook the liability of the loan from America; the proportion of that loan which went to France and Italy; and whether any protest against the desire of America that the United Kingdom should be responsible was made at the time by His Majesty's Government?

The certificates of indebtedness bear various dates between 26th April, 1917, and 25th June, 1919. No part of the advances went to France or Italy, those countries borrowing directly from the United States for their expenditure in America. The latter part of the question does not therefore seem to arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what our total indebtedness to the United States is; how much of that amount left the United States; and how much was expended in purchases in the States?

Our debt to the United States Government amounts to 4,604 million dollars, covered by the agreement now being made with America, and 61 million dollars still owing in respect of silver purchases; to which must be added market loans in the United States amounting to approximately $245,000,000. The amount spent by us in purchases in the United States or in maintaining the exchange with America was not less than the total of these debts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of our controlling interest in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, the Treasury exercised any supervision over the recent issue of ordinary shares at 3¾ when the market price was 4¼, and particularly in the unnecessary underwriting of that issue which resulted in a gain of at least £90,000 by the underwriters; and, if not, why the Treasury and those directors who represent the public allowed such financial loss to the company and to the public?

It should not be assumed that because the issue was oversubscribed, the cost of underwriting was a financial loss to the company and the public. Underwriting is generally regarded as a necessary measure of insurance against the risk of an unsuccessful issue, and is adopted in the case of practically every important issue of capital. The Treasury were, through the Government Director, in touch with the company. The difference between the market price of the old shares and the issue price of the new is partly accounted for by accrued dividend.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that when this company issued shares about a year and a half ago they were then oversubscribed enormously. In the present case they were oversubscribed eight times 15 minutes after the subscriptions had been opened, and that, unlike ordinary companies, they did not give any preference to the existing shareholder, the British taxpayer, to get an advantage out of the demand for these shares, with the result that the underwriters pocketed £90,000?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Income Tax on dividends and interest belonging to persons domiciled in Southern Ireland which is collected at the source in this country is being paid over to the Irish Free State; and whether he will retain such Income Tax for the benefit of the British Exchequer until the moneys due to the British Government from the Irish Free State have been paid?

The amount of the Inland Revenue duties collected in this country but attributable to the Irish Free State is being retained, and will be brought into account in the settlement of Customs and Excise duties collected in the Free State but attributable to this country.

asked the Prime Minister whether any reply has been received from the Irish Provisional Government or the Free State Government in answer to the letter to them of 26th July last from the British Government inquiring how they proposed to deal with the question of compensation to Irish Southern loyalists for injury to persons and property since the Truce; whether a copy of this reply will be laid upon the Table of the House; whether any legislation has been passed by the Free State Government for paying compensation for injury to persons and property before and since the Truce; and what steps are being taken by the Free State Government to have the damage sustained by Southern Irish loyalists assessed and paid?

I have been asked to answer this question. A reply was duly received to the letter referred to by the hon. and learned Member, but inasmuch as it was confined to stating that the Provisional Government had had the question of compensation under consideration, and had appointed a Committee to advise them thereon, it did not then, nor does it now, appear necessary to lay the reply upon the Table of the House. In reply to the third and fourth parts of the question, I understand that the Irish Government has introduced a Bill on this subject which received a Second Reading on the 8th instant and went into Committee on the 20th instant.

In view of the importance of this matter to these refugees from Ireland who have been ruined, and the great delay that has occurred, is there no means by which the hon. Member can accelerate the proceedings of the Free State Government and secure something for these men, many of whom are on the verge of starvation?

I am afraid that I cannot deal with a very big question of that kind by a reply to a supplementary question.

How is it that money is available for Russian refugees, and not for Irish refugees?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the British Government accepted German gold bonds in settlement of the Belgian debt to 11th November, 1918; if so, what is the amount; and if the interest is paid on the bonds?

This matter is regulated by Article 232 of the Treaty of Versailles and Article 10 of the Financial Agreement of 11th March, 1922 (Command Paper No. 1616). The amount of the debt falls to be determined by the Reparation Commission and the creditor nations receive bonds drawn from the general total of the bonds delivered by Germany under the provisions of the Schedule of Payments. The bonds have not yet been distributed by the Reparation Commission.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing the period provided for in Article 405 of the Treaty of Versailles during which the draft conventions and recommendations adopted by the third session of the International Labour Conference should be submitted to the competent authorities by the states members of the International Labour Organisation has expired, he will say what has been done, or will be done, on behalf of this nation in that matter?

I have been asked to reply. The texts of the draft conventions and recommendations adopted at Geneva in 1921 have been presented to Parliament as Command Paper No. 1612 of 1922. I am not yet in a position to name a day for discussion of the Government's policy respecting these draft conventions and recommendations. I would point out that under the Treaty there is an extended period, which does not expire until 19th May, 1923.

asked the Prime Minister whether he regards as binding upon the present Government the Vote of the last Parliament which authorised the then Government to refuse to accept the decision of the Washington International Labour Conference that all the countries adhering to the Versailles Treaty should adopt the eight hours' day; and whether he will be prepared to grant an early opportunity for this Parliament to reconsider the question of adhesion to the decision of the Conference?

I have been asked to reply. The late Government decided that they could not ratify the Washington Hours Convention in view of the difficulty of applying the rigid provisions relating to the limitation of the working day and to the limitation of overtime to the industries of this country, the working conditions in which were already covered in this country by voluntary agreements in respect of the majority of workers. They suggested, however, that the governing body of the International Labour Organisation should consider the advisability of reconsidering the whole question at a future conference with a view to drawing up a new Hours Convention adapted to meet the varying needs of the different industries in the respective countries. It is still the case that in almost all industrial undertakings a normal working week of 48 hours or less is in operation in this country, and I see no reason for departing from the attitude adopted by the late Government.

The right hon. Gentleman has said that the Government decided not to ratify the Convention, but does not the decision on this subject rest in the hands of the Legislature of this country?

That all depends on the question of the reference to the competent authority under Part 13 of the Peace Treaty. It has been discussed already in this House.

Does the right hon. Gentleman contend that the competent authority is not the Legislature?

The Attorney-General made a speech in this House and gave legal advice on the matter.

Is it not a fact that the limitation to 48 hours a week in industrial occupations under the Washington Convention is not applied to distributive trades, in which the period of 48 hours is extended?

It applies only to industrial undertakings, and not to the distributive trades.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make a statement as to the use by the French of the railways in the British zone?

His Majesty's Government have agreed in principle to the transit across the British zone of trains conveying French troops and supplies in numbers corresponding approximately to the requirements of the French troops north of Cologne before the beginning of the movement into the Ruhr.

Supposing that the railwaymen refuse to work, or there is disorder, whose business will it be to impose order?

I think it will be time enough to face that situation if and when we come to it.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the exercise of the powers given to it by paragraph 12 of Annex II of Part VIII of the Treaty of Versailles to interpret the provisions of that Part of the Treaty by an unanimous vote, the Reparation Commission has made any pronouncement as to the right of the French Government, under paragraph 18 of that Annex, to occupy the valley of the Ruhr?

The answer is in the negative. No application has in fact been made to the Commission by any of the Powers interested for a ruling as to the correct interpretation of paragraph 18, and I understand that even if such an application were made, the prior question would arise as to whether the powers of interpretation given to the Commission by paragraph 12 extend to matters which do not fall within the Commission's own sphere of action.

asked the Prime Minister whether the reparations received by France by means of the Ruhr occupation will be accounted for to the Reparation Commission?

I have no reason to suppose otherwise.

Has any arrangement been made by the French Government that it should be done?

I should like notice of that question.

Though the Government disapprove of the Ruhr occupation, are we to participate in the proceeds, if any?

( by Private Notice )asked the Prime Minister whether any statement can now be made on the present position of our negotiations with France on the Ruhr occupation and matters arising out of the occupation, and the relations between France and ourselves in regard to our occupied area?

No. I can make no statement further than that made in answer to a question.

asked the Prime Minister if he has received any com- munication from the German Government expressing its willingness to pay reparation on the scale contemplated by him at the Paris Conference, or has he received any offer from the German Government to pay any reparation whatsoever?

The answer to the first part is in the negative. With regard to the second part, an offer made in December, and rejected by the Allied Governments, will be included in the Papers to be presented to Parliament. I have received no offer since the December and January meetings. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, Germany has made considerable reparation payments, and the point at issue has been her capacity to continue to fulfil her engagements. Germany asked for a Moratorium in November last.

Is it not a fact that, in the early part of 1921, the German Government made an offer to the Government of the United States, which was substantially the same as that now put forward by His Majesty's Government?

The hon. Member should put that question down.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement as to the intention of the Government to introduce legislation during the present Session of Parliament with a view to the restoration of adequate powers to the other Chamber of Parliament?

No, Sir; I am not in a position to make any statement on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether the indulgence granted to ex-Cabinet Ministers to publish official documents, the property of His Majesty's Government, or copies thereof, is also extended to private Members who may have access to such sources of information?

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to his statement that the recent revelations made by an ex-Cabinet Minister in communications to the Press, which will subsequently form the basis of a book about to be published, is a breach of the oath taken by an ex-Minister as Privy Councillor, steps will be taken to prevent such an occurrence in future?

I can add nothing to the replies which I have made to questions on this subject.

Has not the time arrived when this sort of thing ought to be cleared up once and for all?

Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House, for the benefit of those who are in possession of Ministerial correspondence, either by testamentary disposition or otherwise, whether there are two laws on this matter—whether there is a law which applies to ex-Cabinet Ministers, and another which applies to the rest of mankind?

I think the law on this matter is fairly understood.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that an ex-Cabinet Minister has divulged War-time secrets in a publication for which money is paid; and, if so, will he consider the advisability of instructing the Law Officers of the Crown to institute legal proceedings in future against any persons using State papers that are presumably secret documents?

The remedy proposed does not appear to be practicable.

Is it not possible, on the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown, to apply for an injunction against the publication of the book when it comes out? These are merely newspaper articles.

Is it not a fact that a civil servant was prosecuted and sent to prison for divulging State secrets in 1876, when the late Lord Salisbury was head of the Foreign Office?

I have no recollection of that.

The right hon. Gentleman should look it up.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the publication of these documents has led to the defamation of very eminent soldiers and sailors, and is not that a cruel proceeding by a member of the Privy Council?

Is it not the fact that the case put forward by the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury) was one in which a temporarily employed clerk was prosecuted for purloining documents, and is it not the case that it has not been necessary to enforce the rule referred to in the Civil Service because civil servants have universally observed it?

rose —

The matter cannot now be debated.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government that the decontrol of the highest rented houses, recommended by the Departmental Committee on the Rents Act, shall be postponed until June, 1924?

The answer is in the affirmative.

Is it the policy of the Government that, in the event of there not being sufficient houses at the date of decontrol, this House may postpone that particular date and fix a future period?

I think that we had better wait until the Bill is introduced.

Will the Prime Minister see that in future announcements on public policy on this matter are made in this House and not on an election platform?

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman not been called to the statement of the Minister of Health on the question which I have just put, announcing his own view on the subject, and does he not think it advisable that a definite statement should be made on this matter, having regard to the apprehensions, and anxieties of so many people?

No. I do not consider that the subject should be discussed until the Bill is introduced.

May we take it that the Minister of Health, in giving a pledge to decontrol no houses until there are sufficient houses, was not expressing the policy of the Government, but his own view?

I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment of the House.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is intended that the Mission to the Vatican shall be permanent; and whether it is the intention of the Government to send similar missions to the heads of the large religious bodies throughout the world?

asked the Prime Minister how long diplomatic representation of this country at the Vatican is to be continued?

His Majesty's Government have no intention of recalling the Mission to the Vatican. The answer to the second part of Question No. 55 is in the negative.

Why should preferential treatment be given to the head of one religious body rather than another?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the profound indignation manifested by the Welsh people at the proposal of the Warrington Corporation to appropriate the Ceiriog Valley watershed; and whether, in view of similar proposals being made by other English authorities in the future, he will consider the advisability of setting up a water board for Wales for the purpose of protecting and controlling supplies and of ensuring their utilisation to the maximum advantage of the nation, having due regard to the preservation of Welsh associations and amenities?

The Warrington proposals are contained in a Private Bill, and will come before, and be decided by, Parliament. I do not consider that at the present time there would be any advantage in the appointment of a Water Board for Wales as suggested.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that chairmen of boards of guardians have so many important duties devolving upon them, including certification duties, he will consider the advisability of sanctioning their appointment as justices of the peace by virtue of their holding such office in the same way as chairmen of urban councils are now appointed?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. As I stated in reply to a similar question last Thursday, I propose to confer with the Lord Chancellor and the Minister of Health on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the present prison system fails in the main to reform or improve persons who are imprisoned, particularly the more youthful persons, he will bring in fresh legislation for the purpose of making our prison system more humane and reformative in character?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I am not aware what alterations of the law the hon. Gentleman has in mind for reforming or improving persons undergoing imprisonment. I receive various suggestions on this subject, but I do not at present contemplate proposing any legislation on the subject.

Will the request to appoint a Royal Commission to go into the whole matter receive the consideration of the right hon. Gentleman?

I have already answered that question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman organise a proper system of probation in order to keep people out of prison?

We are doing everything we can to try further experiments, and we realise that there is a very decided movement in favour of it.

asked the Prime Minister to whom questions ordinarily dealt with by the Lord Advocate are to be addressed; and if he can now make a statement with regard to the presence of the Lord Advocate in this House?

Questions in regard to Scottish affairs should be addressed to the Under-Secretary for Scotland. In regard to the last part of the question, I am not in a position to make any statement at present.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that the Lord Advocate will be present in the House before the Dissolution of this Parliament?

Who will answer Scottish legal questions, if they arise in discussion?

The hon. Member will see when they arise.

In view of the fact that the Bill to be discussed to-day is rendered necessary by a decision arising out of a Scottish case, and as Scottish conditions are peculiar and exceptional, will the Prime Minister postpone discussion of the Bill until the Lord Advocate is in the House?

I could not promise that. In the Government there is a Scottish lawyer who will be prepared to take part.

If the Lord Advocate should come back to the House, will the Prime Minister see that he makes an attempt to represent a Scottish constituency?

What about the Scotsmen who represent English constituencies?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that at Cardiff and in other parts of the country unemployment is being aggravated by the restrictions as to hours and conditions of labour imposed by certain trade unions; and will he appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the matter?

I have been asked to reply. My attention has not been drawn to any cases of the kind referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, but, if such cases exist, I have no reason to believe that the trade unions will not co-operate in taking all proper action for the purpose of increasing employment. With regard to the position at Cardiff, I propose, with the consent of the parties, to arrange, on Tuesday next, a conference of the employers' and workers' organisations concerned with the shipping of coal from the South Wales ports.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that an action is proceeding because a trade union has dismissed a man for working three-quarters of an hour overtime?

The original question related to Cardiff.

Is it not a fact that the hours of labour and the conditions prevailing in Cardiff are the result of a Board of Trade inquiry and a decision given by that body?

We cannot debate that matter now.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the average daily national expenditure during the six weeks ended Saturday, 10th February last?

Daily averages of expenditure taken over short periods of time are wholly misleading. The total expenditure from week to week is given in the Exchequer Returns published every week in the "London Gazette" and in the Press.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the same question was put a year ago and answered in this House?

I was not aware of that fact.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider a reduction in the salaries of Members with a view to issuing free railway passes to Members to their constituencies and so equalise the present anomaly by which the cost of attending Parliament falls more heavily upon Members from distant constituencies?