asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that since the withdrawal of free travelling facilities between Edinburgh and Rosyth for men engaged in the dockyard the net wage, after payment of fares, is only 32s. weekly, on which the majority of the men have families to maintain; that 11 of the men have been compelled to make application for assistance to the Edinburgh parish council; that the latter considers the wage to be much below what is necessary for maintenance under present conditions, and in one case has given help; and whether, in view of the fact that this is likely to impose a fresh burden on the ratepayers of Edinburgh, he will reconsider the decision regarding travelling facilities or authorise the payment of some special allowance?

As the hon. Member is aware, the labour requirements at Rosyth were formerly so great that it was necessary to employ large numbers of men for whom there was no housing accommodation locally. In those circumstances the Admiralty paid the railway fares between Edin- burgh and Rosyth. As it is not now necessary to employ men residing at Edinburgh, expenditure from Navy funds to defray travelling expenses is not considered justifiable, and I regret that further assistance cannot be given in travelling facilities or by payment of an allowance in augmentation of wages.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the aggregate of the annual tithe rentcharge under the general commutation of tithes in kind to money payments under the Tithe Act, 1836, was about £4,054,653; to what amount it has now been reduced by redemption, merger, and otherwise; whether the amount so stated represents its value on the £100 basis, or at the present standard of £109 3s.11d.; and if he can say what proportion of it, or about what proportion of it, is attached to benefices, so as to bring it within the scope of the rate relief granted from Parliamentary moneys by the Tithe Rent-charge (Rates) Act, 1899.

The total par value of the tithe rentcharge charged on lands under the Tithe Act is £4,054,406. This amount has been reduced by redemption, merger, and otherwise to £3,389,000, of which sum, probably about £2,000,000 is attached to benefices and, as such, is affected by the Tithe Rent-charge (Rates) Act, 1899; but no exact statistics on this point are available.

asked the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been called to the appointment of Mr. Stroud to be headmaster of the Mortlake Church of England School; if so, whether he will bring pressure to bear upon the local education authority so that the decision of the managers of the school can be upheld; and whether he is aware that Mr. Stroud has been senior assistant master in one of the largest Surrey County Council schools, and is at least as well qualified for the appointment as a man who has been for three years headmaster of a village school?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Under Section 29 (2) (c) of the Education Act, 1921, the consent of the local education authority is required to the appointment of teachers in non-provided schools, but that consent shall not be withheld except on educational grounds. The Board understand that the local education authority have refused their consent to the appointment on the ground that Mr. Stroud's previous experience is not sufficient for the purpose of his appointment to take charge of a school of the size of the Mortlake Church of England School. I am clear that this is an educational ground within the meaning of the Section, and, consequently, the Board have no authority to intervene in the matter.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, whether, in the official summary of the principal provisions of the Increase of Rent Act issued by his Department in 1920, or in any other way, any public notification was given that in order to raise rents within the limitation of the Act any further notice or step was necessary beyond giving the notice set out in the Schedule to the Act?

No, Sir. The legal interpretation of the Act is not within the province of my right hon. Friend's Department. As stated in the preface to the summary referred to, its object was to set out in general terms the main provisions of the Act, and it was expressly stated that the summary was not to be regarded as an authorita- tive exposition of the precise rights of landlords and tenants under the Act.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Minister of Health, if a decision has yet been reached with regard to a recommendation from the Housing Committee of the Hull City Council, sent to the Ministry on 20th November last, that the rents for certain houses built under the late Government's Housing Scheme should be reduced; and, if not, if it would be possible to expedite the decision, as continuance of these high rents is causing hardship to the occupants concerned?

The Council have been informed of the new rents which the Minister is prepared to adopt for the purpose of calculating Exchequer subsidy. They are substantially lower than those at present charged by the Council.

asked the Postmaster-General what is at present the annual salary, including all bonuses, allowances, increments, etc., of the postmaster of Cambridge, a senior sorter of over 14 years' standing at the General Post Office, E.C., and a junior sorter aged 18 at the same office, respectively?

The information is as follows:

Postmaster, Cambridge, £776 4s. a year.

London sorter: after 14 years' adult service, 110s. a week; at 18 years of age, 44s. 5d. a week.

The amounts will be reduced as from the 1st of March, when the next bonus revision falls due.