asked the Secretary for Mines the dates on which the Garforth collieries were visited by the mines inspector during the six months ending 31st December last: which pit or seams were visited; and the time actually spent below ground in making the inspection?

Underground inspections at this group of three pits were made on 16 occasions during the six months ended 31st December. The seams visited were the Silkstone, Beeston and Flockton seams. No exact record was kept of the time actually spent below ground on each occasion, but the average was about four hours.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of mines working in the United Kingdom; the number of mine inspectors whose duty it is to inspect these mines; if all the mines were inspected during the year 1922; and what was the average number of times the mines were inspected during that year?

There were approximately 3,300 mines at work during 1922, and all of them were inspected during that year excepting two or three small and isolated mines and a few mines which were idle when the inspector called to inspect them. Eighty-six inspectors of mines were employed, and the average number of underground inspections per mine was approximately 4·6.

—				Profits (except where otherwise specified).
				Aggregate.	Rate per tone raised
				£	s.	d.
Year ended 31st March, 1913	…	…	…	16,900,000	1	3
Year ended 31st March, 1914	…	…	…	21,100,000	1	6
Year ended 31st March, 1915	…	…	…	13,900,000	1	1
Year ended 31st March, 1916	…	…	…	26,200,000	2	1
Year ended 31st March, 1917	…	…	…	39,800,000	3	1
Year ended 31st March, 1918	…	…	…	26,300,000	2	2
Year ended 31st March, 1919	…	…	…	22,300,000	2	0
Year ended 31st March, 1920	…	…	…	41,800,000	3	7
Year ended 31st March, 1921	…	…	…	3,100,000	3	7
Year ended 31st March, 1922	…	…	…	Loss 1,700,000	Loss	2½
6 months ended 30th September, 1922		…	…	2,900,000		6

I have not sufficient information to enable me to make an estimate of the fresh capital invested yearly for development work or of the capital invested in mines at the present time, but at the end of control the total capital employed was estimated at approximately £180,000,000, exclusive of whatever new money was invested in the industry during the year 1920–21.The above statement is subject to the following reservations:

asked the Secretary for Mines the annual aggregate profits. made in all the coal mines in Great Britain for the past 10 years; the estimated profit per ton raised during the same period; the amount of fresh capital invested for development work yearly; and the total amount of capital invested at the present time?

The following are the statistics for which the hon. Member asks:Bank interest has been deducted, but not debenture and other annual interest.(4) The figures of profits ignore charges for Excess Profits Duty, Income Tax and other taxation, and take no account of the payments to or by owners under the Coal Mines Control Agreement (Confirmation) Act, 1918, and the Coal Mines (Emergency) Acts, 1920 and 1921.

asked the Secretary for Mines what was the total sum contributed to the. Miners' Welfare Fund for Great Britain on the annual output of coal out of the levy of 1 d. per ton on output for each complete year since the said levy was first imposed: and what was the total sum granted in 1921 and in 1922 for the miners' welfare schemes approved of in each coalfield?

Contributions to the Miners' Welfare Fund in respect of the 6 months ended 31st December, 1920, amounted to £452,729, and in respect of the year 1921 to £675,711. The contributions for the year 1922 are now being collected. In regard to the second part of the question, no allocations were made by the Miners' Welfare Committee before February, 1922. The total amount allocated, up to 31st December, 1922, in respect of local welfare schemes in the districts was £509,440. I understand that the Miners' Welfare Committee will shortly be issuing a Report upon their work up to the end of last year.

asked the Secretary for Mines the result of the test arranged early last year throughout a colliery in South Wales of safety shot-firing appliances; and whether the Sub-committee appointed to advise on technical appliances generally has reported on this safety shot-firing appliance?

The Report of the Technical Appliances Committee is adverse. Tests have shown that when this appliance is used the operation of charging and stemming a shot hole takes more than twice the usual time to carry out, and that the appliance is liable through wear and tear to get out of order under pit conditions and so to introduce dangers which do not accompany the ordinary methods of charging and stemming. As I have previously pointed out, the vast majority of shot-firing accidents would not be prevented by the use of an appliance of this kind, and of the few accidents which it might prevent, nearly all would equally be avoided if the present requirements of the Explosives in Coal Mines Order were complied with.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the Safety in Mines Research Board, appointed to direct generally the research work of the Mines Department into the causes of mining dangers, have presented a final Report of their, findings and recommendations; whether it is the intention to publish the recommendations of the Board; and will copies be available for the Members of this House?

The results of the researches organised by the Board and carried out under its direction will be published from time to time, but there can be no finality in research work which has for its object the reduction of the dangers of coal mining, and the Board will, I hope, be a permanent body.

asked the Secretary for Mines what is the amount spent by his Department for the years 1921 and 1922 in connection with research as to increased safety in mines?

The expenditure of the Mines Department on research work in connection with safety in mines was £5,137 for the calendar year 1921 and £8,357 for the calendar year 1922. The latter figure includes about £4,000 provided by the Miners' Welfare Committee, and in the current year a very much larger sum will be available from this source.

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of fatal and other accidents occurring in coal mines for the year 1922?

The number of fatal accidents occurring in the year 1922 in mines under the Coal Mines Act was 1,020, resulting in the death of 1,100 persons employed at those mines. Complete particulars of non-fatal accidents are not yet available, but 4,509 serious non-fatal accidents, resulting in the injury of 4,724 persons, were reported during the year to His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the recent explosions in mines and admitted failure, contained in Reports of such explosions, to supply sufficient air to render the gases harmless, he has taken any steps to see that the provisions contained in the mining Regulations are strictly enforced?

The Mines Department and its Inspectors have done their utmost in the matter, and I need hardly assure the hon. Member that they will continue to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health when a decision as to the re-organisation of the Record Office, Edinburgh, is likely to be made; and when it is proposed to fill the vacancies on the staff of that office, the most recent of which occurred in 1919?

I am unable to say how soon a decision on this matter, which is linked up with the re-organisation of other Register House Departments, will be reached. In the meantime, as indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Maclean) on the 27th ultimo, it has been decided to fill the post of Curator.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if, in view of the fact that the, Inchcape Committee has recommended the cessation of the activities of his Department in India, he will again consider the abolition of the Department altogether?

I think that the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. So far as I am aware, the Inch-cape Committee has not made any such recommendation. The work of the representatives of the Department of Overseas Trade in India is entirely outside the scope of the Committee's inquiry.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government has considered the question of setting up a new Civil Service Arbitration Board; and with what result?

The Government see no reason for reversing the decision arrived at last year to bring to an end the special Arbitration Board for the Civil Service. I may remind the hon. and gallant Member that Whitley machinery has been elaborated and is continually in operation throughout the Civil Service, and that when circumstances make it desirable, resort is possible to the Industrial Court.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, as representing the Ministry of Health, the number of medical officers now employed in his Department and the salaries paid; and what was the number so employed, and salaries paid, in 1921?

The number of medical officers employed by the Ministry of Health is 56, and their salaries, including bonus, amount to £62,504. In addition there are 35 regional medical officers employed, whose salaries amount to £46,125, which sum is now recovered from the approved societies. In March, 1921, the medical staff of the Ministry, including the regional medical staff, was 101, whose salaries including bonus amounted to £130,630, the whole payable from Exchequer funds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount collected by way of duties under the Safeguarding of Industries Act up to and including the 1st March, 1923; and what proportions of the total amount have been collected from France, America, Germany, and Belgium?

The figures required by the hon. Member up to and including the 28th February—the latest date to which they are available—are given in the appended table:

Country whence the goods were consigned.	£
France	63,669
United States of America	89,911
Germany	402,130
Belgium	9,050
Other countries	73,799
	638,559

asked the Under-Secretary of State fur India whether any recommendations of the Inchcape Committee affect prejudicially the machinery for the promotion and assistance of Anglo-Indian trade?

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the recommendation of the Committee that it is not justifiable, in the present financial circumstances of the Government of India, to maintain a separate office in the City for the Indian Trade Commissioner. The Committee have proposed that the separate appointment of Trade Commissioner should be abolished and that the conduct of the necessary duties should be transferred to the High Commissioner. I understand that the question of giving effect to this recommendation, which aims at an economy of £7,700, is at present

Country whence consigned.							Unrefined.	Refined.	Total.
Foreign Countries—							Cwts.	Cwts.	Cwts.
Poland (including Dantzig)				…	…	…	2,142	69,073	71,215
Germany	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,195	3,077	4,272
Netherlands		…	…	…	…	…	9,507	1,144,727	1,154,234
Java	…	…	…	…	…	…	3,171,022	219,154	3,390,176
Dutch Guiana		…	…	…	…	…	78,075	—	78,075
Belgium	…	…	…	…	…	…	4,135	697,042	701,177
France	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,984	139,162	141,146
Portuguese East Africa			…	…	…	…	175,808	9	175,817
Italy	…	…	…	…	…	…	—	53,803	53,803
Czechoslovakia		…	…	…	…	…	—	989,376	989,376
United States of America				…	…	…	18,471	5,301,990	5,320,461
Cuba	…	…	…	…	…	…	12,733,529	90,904	12,824,433
San Domingo		…	…	…	…	…	644,073	—	644,073
Central American Republics				…	…	…	35,465	3,782	39,247
Peru	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,114,776	639	2,115,415
Brazil	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,143,185	27,233	2,170,418
Other South American Countries					…	…	35,143	69	35,212
Other Foreign Countries				…	…	…	394	3,052	3,446
Total from Foreign Countries					…	…	21,168,904	8,743,092	29,911,996
British Possessions—
Unionof South Africa			…	…	…	…	638,802	17,294	656,096
Mauritius and Dependencies				…	…	…	3,876,067	—	3,876,067
British India		…	…	…	…	…	57,601	83,402	141,003
Fiji Islands		…	…	…	…	…	59,190	—	59,190
Canada	…	…	…	…	…	…	25,150	1,651,169	1,676,319
British West India Islands				…	…	…	1,049,834	13	1,049,847
British Guiana		…	…	…	…	…	871,951	13	871,964
Other British Possessions				…	…	…	—	2,511	2,511
Total from British Possessions					…	…	6,578,595	1,754,402	8,332,997
GRAND TOTAL					…	…	27,747,499	10,497,494	38,244,993

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the precise meaning of the notice in the "Board of Trade Journal" of 8th February about licences for the importation of goods into Germany;

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will submit a Return to the House showing the amount of sugar imported into this country during 1922 from places within the Empire and from other countries?

The following statement shows the quantities of unrefined and refined sugar imported into the United Kingdom during the year 1922, specifying the countries whence consigned:whether such notice may be interpreted as a warning of the risk of confiscation of goods passing through the Ruhr into occupied Germany; whether his attention has been called to a statement by an official of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce that the inference to be drawn from the Board of Trade warning is clearly that goods passing through the Ruhr are in danger of being confiscated because they are not covered by a licence which is recognised; whether such inference is correct; whether he has any information that Manchester exporters are holding back goods because of the present uncertainty and risk; and what action, if any, the Board of Trade are taking in the matter?

The notice in question referred to trade between this country and occupied Germany, and was intended to warn British traders of the risk to goods passing through unoccupied Germany which were covered only by licences not recognised by the German Government. Full information with regard to the present import and export regulations in the occupied areas will be found in the "Board of Trade Journal" for 1st March (pages 276–7) and 8th March (page 313). I have not seen the statement referred to, which, as quoted, is incorrect. His Majesty's Government are aware of the dislocation of trade which is resulting from recent events, and if the hon. Member will send me full particulars of any case of difficulty which he has in mind, I will consider what action can he usefully taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government have considered any alternative scheme to the proposal to include the lace industry within the Safeguarding of Industries Act; if so, whether they have come to any conclusion in the matter; and what is the character of the alternative scheme?

The President of the Board of Trade is fully aware of the serious position of the lace industry, to which he has given anxious consideration. It is clear, however, that the position is due very largely to the great falling-off in the export trade, and not to any increase in the volume of imports retained for consumption in this country. The loss of foreign markets would not be remedied by a duty on imported lace. I have suggested to the lace industry the desirability of seeing whether the export credit facilities can he used to extend their export trade; and I shall always be glad to consider any suggestions which the trade are able to put forward.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many reparation claims are still outstanding; and when it is hoped to complete payment of them?

Effective claims in respect of all admissible categories of damage from some 16,000 persons remain to be considered by the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action. It is not possible at present to give any indication as to the time which will be required for the necessary investigation of the outstanding claims, which must take place before payment of awards can be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average price of wheat and wheat offals in Great Britain in January, 1914, and in January, 1923, respectively?

The average prices of wheat and wheat offals in England and Wales in January, 1914, and January, 1923, calculated from such records as are available, were as follows:

	Jan., 1914.		Jan., 1923.
	Per cwt.		Per cwt.
Wheat—	s.	d.	s.	d.
British	7	3	9	9
Australian	8	6	12	6
Argentine	8	5	11	8
Canadian No. 1
Manitoba	8	2	11	10
American, Red Winter	7	11	11	10

	Per ton.			Per ton.
Wheat Offals—	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Bran (British)	5	8	0	7	16	0
Middlings, coarse (British)	5	7	0	8	3	0
Middlings, fine (imported)	6	18	9	9	0	0

My Department does not collect statistics of the prices of agricultural produce in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will explain the grounds on which the much greater amount of assistance from public funds is given to the National Federation of Women's Institutes than to the Village Clubs Associations?

Parliament has confided to the Development Commission the discretion of dealing with applications submitted to them subject to the approval of the Treasury. I am therefore not in a position to deal with this question.

—								1914.	1922.
								Number	Number
Above 1 acres and not exceeding 5 acres					…	…	…	12,596	10,699
Above 5 acres and not exceeding 20 acres					…	…	…	14,975	16,319
Above 20 acres and not exceeding 50 acres					…	…	…	8,071	11,461
Above 50 acres and not exceeding 100 acres					…	…	…	5,624	9,709
Above 100 acres and not exceeding 150 acres					…	…	…	2,754	5,373
Above 150 acres and not exceeding 300 acres					…	…	…	3,322	6,468
above 300 acres	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,862	2,651
Total				…	…	…	…	49,204	62,680

A holding is taken to be mainly owned by the occupier when the area owned by him is more than half the total area of the holding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Report of the Agricultural Policy Sub-Committee of the Reconstruction Committee [Cd. 9079 of 1918] is out of print, and will he consider the desirability of reprinting it in a handy form with such appendices as may be necessary to bring the statistical information up to date or, alternatively, will he have a digest of the Report prepared and circulated in anticipation of the discussions that will arise on agricultural policy?

The Stationery Office have recently acquired a number of copies of the volume in question. If the demand for copies is considerable, the question of reprinting the volume will he considered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the number of occupying owners of farms in England and Wales in 1914; what was the number in 1922; and the number of such farms between 50 and 100, 100 to 200, 200 to 300, and over 300 acres, respectively?

I am unable to give the numbers of occupying owners, but the number of agricultural holdings of various size-groups owned or mainly owned by the occupiers in England and Wales as returned in June, 1914 and 1922, were, as follow:

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the Canadian Cattle Embargo Removal Act will be in full operation; if he is aware that only two ports have been approved for landing cattle, namely, Glasgow and Dundee; when other ports will be approved for landing cattle; if he is aware that unless other ports are known in time no adequate imports can be expected; and if he will take action in the matter?

The Importation of Animals Act, 1922, will come into operation on the 1st April next, by which date landing places at Birkenhead, Manchester, Glasgow, Dundee and Cardiff will have been approved. Bristol will be added to this list as soon as arrangements are completed, and I understand that proposals for the establishment of landing places are under consideration at the ports of Aberdeen, Leith, Newcastle, Hull, Harwich, London, Southampton and Falmouth. I do not think, therefore, that the facilities for landing Canadian cattle will be in any way inadequate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the evil caused by the excessive number of calves among Irish heifers imported into this country; and what steps he is taking to prevent it?

I understand my hon. and gallant Friend to refer to Irish heifers which are brought to this country for grazing purposes, and which, before the fattening process is complete, prove to be in calf. I am informed that certain stock-owners put heifers to the bull in the belief that an animal fattens quicker in the early stages of pregnancy, and that this often leads to objection on the part of the butcher. The Ministry has no information as to the number of such grazing heifers which pass through the ports, because without a minute examination the veterinary inspectors could not detect them, but. I shall he pleased to have inquiry made on the subject if

—						England.	Wales.	Scotland.	Great Britain.
						Acres.	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.
Total area (excluding water)				…	…	32,385,350	4,751,276	19,069,683	50,206,309
Arable land		…	…	…	…	10,583,258	727,257	3,338,068	14,648,583
Permanent grass		…	…	…	…	12,838,415	1,876,863	1,387,431	16,102,709
Mountain, heath, moor, down or other rough land used for grazing.						3,291,554	1,489,922	9,634,271	14,415,747
Woodlands	…	…	…	…	…	1,697,413	186,655	852,120	2,736,188
Balance (Holdings) of 1 acre or less private houses and gardens, buildings, roads, railways, waste land, etc.						3,974,710	470,579	3,857,793	8,303,082

There is no precise information as to the area of salt marsh or of the other categories mentioned in the question. Prolonged and searching investigation would be necessary to ascertain the area of land not now cultivated which is suitable for cultivation, or would be suitable after reclamation or improvement by draining.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state, as regards the county boroughs with a population of 200,000 and over, what is the percentage of absence from duty,

asked the Minister of Agriculture how much of the land of England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively, is considered suitable for cultivation; how much is now under cultivation; and how much is salt marsh, heath, peat, moss, moor, bog, estuary, and other lands suitable for reclamation or improvement by draining?

The following table shows the total area of land in England, Wales, and Scotland. with the acreage under crops and grass, mountain, heath, moor, down, and other rough land used for grazings on agricultural holdings of over one acre as ascertained on 3rd June, 1922, and the acreage of woodland as returned in June, 1913, in England and Wales, and in 1914 in Scotland:owing to sickness, in the case of head teachers and assistant teachers, respectively, for the years 1919, 1920, 1921, and 1922?

I am afraid I do not possess the information asked for by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has advised local education authorities to call on teachers to retire at the age of 60; and what is his attitude in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Generally speaking, I think it is desirable in the interests of the schools that the capacity of teachers for rendering effective service should be carefully reviewed at the pensionable age of 60, and that their retention beyond that age should depend on the authority being satisfied that they are able to perform their duties efficiently and to do full justice to their pupils. But I do not think that undiscriminating retirement of teachers at the- age of 60 is desirable.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed—men, women, boys and girls—registering at the Kidderminster Employment Exchanges for the week ending 3rd March; and can he specify the trades particularly affected?

The number of persons registered as unemployed at Kidder-minter Employment Exchange on 5th March, 1923, were:

Men	515
Boys	13
Women	114
Girls	3

The trades particularly affected were building, engineering, transport, and carpet manufacture.

asked the Minister of Labour the total number of unemployed —men, women, boys and girls—registered at the Kidderminster Employment Exchanges during the years 1921 and 1922, respectively; and the trades affected?

The total number of persons who registered for employment at tile Kidderminster Employment Exchange during 1921 and 1922 were:

	1921.	1922.*
Men	3,739	3,290
Women	1,710	850
Boys	182	100
Girls	283	60
	5,914	4,300
*Estimated figures.

The trades principally affected were building, engineering, carpet manufacture, and transport.

asked the Minister of Labour what unemployment benefit would be payable in the following cases of men out of work under the existing regulations, and under the alterations provided for in the new Unemployment Insurance Bill, assuming in all cases that the regulation re the waiting week had been satisfied: two days signed, two days' work, two days signed; three days signed, two days' work, one, day signed; one day signed, three days' work, two days signed; two days signed, one day's work, one day signed, one day's work, and one day signed?

Assuming that .the waiting period was satisfied immediately before the days of unemployment stated in the question and that the men were fully employed in the following week the following statement shows the position under the existing continuity rule, and under the proposed new rule respectively:—

Days given in Question	Number of days' benefit payable under existing rule.	Number of days' benefit payable under existing rule.
X X 0 0 X X	4	4
X X X 0 0 X	3	4
X 0 0 0 X X	1	3
X X 0 X 0 X	2	4
(X=day signed. 0=day worked.)

Under the proposed rule if there are at least three days of unemployment in the week the number of days payable does not depend on the extent or incidence of subsequent unemployment. Under the existing rule, however, the number of days payable as shown above might be increased owing to subsequent unemployment. For instance if each man was unemployed for the whole of the following week, the number of days payable in the above case under the existing rule would be 4, 4, 3 and 3 respectively.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether official pledges have been given by Turks and "Greeks that no military advance from the present frontiers of the Maritza is contemplated?

By article 13 of the Mudania convention the Turks have undertaken to maintain no army in Eastern Thace until peace is ratified. The Greek army is restricted to the west of the left bank -of the Maritza, by article two of the same convention, and General Harington obtained last month from the Greek commander in Thrace an assurance that the Greek troops near the Maritza would take no action which might be considered provocative.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any negotiations are now proceeding with a view to arrive at a settlement of the dispute which is depriving Newcastle-upon-Tyne of the services of the American Consulate?

This question was raised by the hon. Member for Newcastle, West (Mr. Adams) on the Motion for the Adjournment last Wednesday, and I then attempted to explain the successive steps in this unfortunate dispute and the grounds on which the Foreign Office had based their action. The latest notes exchanged between the. Secretary of State and the United States Ambassador on the subject were published in the Press on 3rd March. There is nothing that I can add.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether China has requested the cancellation of the 21 demands put forward in 1915 by Japan, taking advantage of the difficulties of the War, and also of the extension of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty; whether one of these demands includes the existence of the lease of the Liao Tung peninsula; whether these demands were discussed at the Washington Conference; and whether, seeing that under these circumstances seven Powers, apart from China and Japan, forming part of the nine-Power group, have a direct interest in the present negotiations, he is prepared to make any statement on the subject?

The so-called 21 demands were put forward by the Japanese Government in 1915. Some of the demands, including that for the extension of the lease of the Kwantung territory, were accepted in the 1915 Chino-Japanese Treaties. At Washington, the Japanese Delegation declined to allow these Treaties to be made a subject of discussion at the Conference; but they voluntarily made certain modifications in them, and also formally withdrew Group V of the original demands which had been postponed for further negotiation. It does not appear that any official action has recently been taken by the Chinese Government in this matter; but there seems to have been some discussion of the question in the Parliament at Peking. As regards the last part of the question, His Majesty's Government have no statement to make.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the defective binding of the last edition of the London Telephone Directory; and whether he will endeavour to rectify the defect in subsequent issues?

The London Telephone Directory is now being bound by machinery at a considerable saving in cost and a considerable gain in expedition, and while the result is generally very satisfactory, it is difficult to secure that every copy turned out is perfect. Any defective copies issued are, of course, replaced, and with further experience it is hoped to reduce such copies to a negligible quantity.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will table a list of town sub-offices between Holloway and Harriet, specially marking those offices which do not issue licences, pay telegraph money orders, accept cash on delivery parcels, pay telegraph savings bank withdrawals, accept telegrams for the Imperial cable, and issue wireless licences?

I will have the desired table prepared, and forwarded to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a Select Committee of the House of Commons reported in 1913 that the Post Office had admitted in evidence before it that the work performed at scale-payment sub-offices was inferior in quality and value to that performed at head and branch offices; whether he is aware that inferiority in public service has been increased by the practice of permitting one person to contract for a chain of offices over which no adequate supervision is possible, and that in the northern district of London, which is sadly lacking in branch post offices, this question of the right of an individual to own many town sub-offices has reached an acute stage owing to the number of firms who control three or more offices; and whether he will meet the pressing public demand by authorising the provision of at least one branch office, in every important area of the metropolis?

If the hon. Member will be good enough to let me know which sub-offices he has in mind and in which areas he thinks that a branch office should be provided, I will look into the matter. Speaking generally, experience does not confirm the contention that efficiency suffers when several sub-offices are controlled by one individual.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that two ounces of printed matter can be despatched to the United States for one halfpenny, and only one ounce can be conveyed at home for the same amount; and whether he proposes to take steps to correct the anomaly?

I regret that I am not at present in a position to make any statement as regards reductions of Inland Postage Rates.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what measures he is taking to prevent the pollution of the air supply to the House of Commons?

The air admitted to the Chamber of the House of Commons, after a complete test, has been found to be satisfactory, both from a chemical and bacteriological point of view. My Department, however, is investigating, with the assistance of the National Physical Laboratory, the possibility of devising means which will give improvements in the methods of inlet and outlet for air to the Chamber, and, it is hoped, promote improved circulation and diffusion of air. I am also proposing to seek scientific assistance to investigate the question of the possible physiological effect upon Members arising from the state of the air in the Chamber in regard to its vital or devitalised condition.

asked the First Commissioner of Works if he will have name indicators, such as exist in the Library, Smoking Rooms, etc, of the House of Commons, placed in the Members' and Ladies' Galleries for the convenience and interest of strangers attending the Debates?

I regret that it is not possible to adopt the Noble Lord's suggestion, on account of the noise caused by these annunciators.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Sheffield branch of the British War Graves Association has communicated with him desiring the continuance of the payment of a financial grant in order to assist the relatives of deceased soldiers killed in the Great War to visit the graves of their relations, and asking that the Government should grant those British subjects who so desire the right, already granted to the citizens of America and every other country, of bringing over to England the remains of their deceased relatives for burial in their own churchyards or cemeteries; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The request referred to has received most careful and sympathetic consideration, but I regret that it has not been found possible, consistently with essential economy, to continue the grant after the end of the present financial year. With reference to the second part of the question, in view of the large number of applications of this character which were received, the Imperial War Graves Commission some time ago carefully considered the matter, but came to the conclusion that the removal of remains of soldiers in special cases from their resting places in the War theatres was opposed to the policy of equality of treatment of the fallen which has been unanimously adopted, and which has received such strong support from the public. For this reason, and in view also of the practical difficulties involved in carrying out such removals, especially from the more distant theatres, the Commission, though with natural reluctance, decided that all such applications must be refused.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether ex-warrant officers of the Royal Navy or the Royal Naval Air Service are getting an equal share of promotion in the Royal Air Force; and whether those officers who are serving under special conditions, to complete time for pension, are barred from further promotion in the Royal Air Force?

The officers in question, nearly all of whom were non-pilot temporary warrant officers of the Royal Naval Air Service, were given temporary commissions on the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, and subsequently, when it was found that they could not return to the Navy, were offered special terms of service entitling them, after serving a specified period as commissioned officers, to retire on pension at a fixed rate. No prospects of promotion were held out to them, and no promotions have been made up to the present, although promotion is not definitely barred to them. It must be remembered that they have benefited by being paid as officers of the Royal Air Force on the General List, although the great majority are not qualified pilots, as well as by acquiring improved pension prospects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the rate of interest allowed to depositors in the special investment department of the Carlisle and North-Western Counties Savings Bank has been compulsorily reduced by direction of the National Debt Commissioners; and whether, in view of the fact that approximately 5 per cent. interest is being paid on national savings certificates, he will cause the savings bank in question to be given authority to increase the rate of interest allowable to depositors in the special investment department?

The National Debt Commissioners were given full powers of control of the special investment departments of trustee savings banks by the Trustee Savings Banks Act of 1918; and, in consequence of the reduced rates of interest at which the short-term loans available as investments for the funds of those departments have for some time past fallen to be placed or renewed, the Commissioners have recently deemed it necessary to direct that the maximum rate of interest allowed by any such Department to its depositors shall, until further notice, be 3 per cent. per annum. The rate of interest which, after providing for expenses of management, savings banks having special investment departments can safely allow upon moneys deposited in those departments, does not depend on the interest-yield of National Savings Certificates, which, however, are an investment open to savings bank depositors within the same limit as to other persons. Nor do the certificates now issued yield 5 per cent. I am not prepared to interfere in any way with the direction which the Commissioners have most properly given with regard to the rate of interest payable on the deposits referred to.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is in a position to disclose the amount of the offer or offers made to the Government for the Gretna factory; and whether the possibilities of utilising the property for State purposes have been considered?

With regard to the first part of the question, it is not in such cases considered desirable in the public interest to disclose offers received for Government property. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. It was decided, after very full consideration, that Government requirements were not such as would justify the retention of the factory.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the exhibition of indecent films in London; and will he explain why effective steps have not been taken to prevent such displays?

I have seen certain articles in a weekly newspaper to which the hon. Member presumably refers. It was stated in these articles that full particulars had been sent to Scotland Yard, but the Commissioner of Police informs me that no information could be obtained from the newspaper in question which was of the slightest value in leading to the detection of any exhibition of indecent films. The police are fully aware of the danger of such films being exhibited, and wig do all they can to provide against it.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the presiding officers of polling stations in the county of Cumberland have not yet received their fees for their services at the last General Election; and whether he will take steps to expedite payment?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 8th March to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Cape).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the cost of repatriated silver from West Africa; what amount was repatriated; and who pays the cost of running the West African Currency Board?

The repatriation of United Kingdom silver coins from West Africa began in 1913, when the West African Currency Board was first formed, and has continued with intervals ever since. The total amount so repatriated up to the end of 1922 was, approximately, £3,000,000. This coin is taken over at face value by the Royal Mint, but the cost of repatriation is borne by the Board. Freight, insurance, etc, cost about 25s. per £100, but there are other incidental charges (including loss of interest pending payment) which make the total cost about £5 per cent. In the last few years the Board have also repatriated a large amount of their own silver coins, amounting in all to the end of 1922, to about 3½ million pounds sterling. These coins are melted down and sold as bullion. Apart from incidental costs, the loss or profit on this operation depends upon the comparative prices of silver purchased for the minting of the coins and of silver bullion sold after melting. The cost of running the West African Currency Board is met from the profits arising out of their operations, the bulk of which consists of interest on the investments which they hold to guarantee the currency which they issue. Information as to the operations of the Board can be found in their Reports published annually, beginning with Cd. 7791.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the amount of gold the Indian Government has purchased in New York during 1922, and also in January and February, 1923; and if there is any reason why the gold is bought in New York instead of in London?

No gold purchases have been made by the Government of India in 1922 or 1923.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received from any public bodies requests that he should provide for the censorship of detailed Press reports of divorce cases; and, if so, whether he proposes to do anything in the matter?

I have received numerous petitions on this subject, but, as I stated on the 21st February, while I share the view that there should be more restraint in newspaper reports of these cases, any legislation imposing restrictions on such reports involves great difficulty, and I regret that I cannot give any promise to introduce such legislation.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that. France has lent recently 400,000,000 francs to Poland; and whether, in view of our own heavy financial obligations, he will consider the advisability of approaching the French Government with reference to the repayment of their debt to us?

As regards the first part of the question, I must refer the hon. Member to the reply which the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford (Mr. Wise) on the 7th instant. The question of the Allied debts to this country will be considered in due course.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will authorise the survey of the proposed Mid-Scotland Ship Canal (Direct Sea Level) and the preparation of estimates of cost for the information of the Government?

I have been asked to reply. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Prime Minister, on the 5th March, to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for West Renfrew (Mr. R. Murray). While the Government will be happy to examine a definite scheme submitted to them with estimates, it rests with the advocates of the canal to make such preliminary investigations as may be required to enable them to estimate its cost.

asked the Prime Minister what the German Ambassador's official reply was to the threat of the Allied Powers, on or about 5th May, 1921, to occupy the Ruhr Valley and to take all naval and military measures to enforce payment of £6,600,000,000 for war reparations?

The lull text of this reply was read to the House by the right hon. Member for Carnarvon Burghs (Mr. Lloyd George) on 11th May, 1921, and will be found in the OFFICIAL REPORT of that date.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the very high death rate which has prevailed in the Powick Mental Asylum, especially during the years 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, and 1922; and will he cause inquiries to be made as to whether the death rate in this institution is higher than in similar asylums throughout the country?

I am informed that the death rates for the years in question are as follow:

	Powick Mental Hospital.	All Country and borough Mental Hospitals.
	Per cent.	Per cent.
1916	11·2	12·5
1917	22·7	17·3
1918	32·6	20·2
1919	12·7	12·7
1922	6·7	9·0

It is seen that in only two years,

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether be has received any application from persons interested in the herring-fishing industry requesting the cancellation or suspension for the coming season of whaling licences issued by the Fishery Board for Scotland under the Whale Fisheries (Scotland) Act, 1907; whether he is aware that the failure to order such cancellation or suspension at an early date is likely to ruin the herring fishery in the Shetland waters; and whether he will take steps to order an immediate inquiry regarding the necessity for such action as contemplated by the Whale Fisheries (Scotland) Amendment Act, 1929?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the oral reply which I gave on Monday last to the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Harbord).

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he is aware that two corporation housing schemes (Mosspark and Sandy-hills) have been held up in Glasgow owing to the action of two contractors in reducing the wages of workers below the minimum recognised by the building industry and the Scottish Board of Health; and what action is contemplated to prevent a repetition of such conduct by the contractors?

I am informed that work on the two schemes named was held up for two days. The men then resumed work pending the result of a ballot which is being taken up by their union as to whether a proposed reduction in wages should be accepted. As regards the latter part of the question, it would rest with the Corporation to take action if they are of opinion that the terms of the Fair Wages Clause are not being implemented by any contractor employed by them.