asked the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can inform the House why the Royal Marine schoolmasters are excluded from the operation of A.F.O. 1982/22, which granted improved conditions of pay, promotion, and pension to Royal Naval schoolmasters, on the ground that Royal Marine schoolmasters do not go to sea, in view of the fact that other Royal Marine warrant officers who are not called upon for sea service do not suffer any reduction in their naval rates of pay, etc.?

The Royal Marine school masters are entered as warrant officers and cannot be compared with other Royal Marine warrant officers who have all worked their way up through the ranks, and have served at sea either as warrant officers or prior to promotion to warrant rank.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reason for incurring expenditure in the laying out of entirely new plant for charts and maps at Cricklewood when the work could be done at the Ordnance Survey at Southampton, where ample facilities exist for coping with work of this description; whether he is aware that during the War the Ordnance Survey coped, not only with Admiralty work, but with War Office and Air requirements; and whether he will make careful inquiries as to the Southampton facilities before proceeding further with the work at Cricklewood?

The hon. Member was informed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 7th March of the reasons why the work could not be done at Southampton. The only work done for the Admiralty at Southampton during the War was some confidential lithographic work which could not be given out to contract. We hope to begin operations at the Cricklewood factory, which is practically finished, by the end of next month.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty in how many cases birching has been administered in the Royal Navy during the last year; whether it is still only given for certain offences; what these offences are; and whether it is proposed to abolish this form of punishment?

There were no cases of birching in 1922, and none have been reported in the present year. As I have already stated in this House, birching can be inflicted only by sentence of court martial for unnatural crime, and the Admiralty consider that it is preferable, as a deterrent, to imprisonment or dismissal from the Service as being less likely to make habitual criminals of ratings not fully adult.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is anticipated the post-War complements of accountant officers will be announced; and whether, in view of the reorganisation of His Majesty's coastguard service, any reductions are contemplated in the number of paymaster captains allowed or otherwise?

The post-War establishments of officers of the Accountant Branch are still under discussion, and I am unable to give a definite date as to when they will be fixed. The number of paymaster captains is not affected by the reorganisation of the Coast Guard, with whom no accountant officers of this rank arc serving.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that there is no such branch in the Royal Navy now as ship's police, he will

Area.					Place of Sitting.					Entitlement Tribunals.	Assessment Tribunals.
Northern	…	…	…	…	Newcastle-upon-Tyne				…	1	2
Yorkshire	…	…	…	…	Leeds	…	…	…	…	1	1
North Western	…	…			Manchester	…	…			1	2
					Liverpool	…	…
East Midland	…	…	…		Nottingham	…	…	…		2	2
West Midland	…	…	…		Birmingham	…	…	…		2	1
Wales	…	…	…		Cardiff…	…	…			1	2
					Wrexham	…	…
London and Home Counties	…				London	…	…	…		2	7
South Western	…	…			Bristol…	…	…	…		2	1
					Exeter	…	…

asked the Under Secretary of State for War if he is aware that Mr. Flannery, of Brynmawr, an old Crimean soldier, 95 years of age, has been informed that the authorities of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, are going to deduct 6s. per week from his old age pension and 1s. 2d. per week from his Army pension from the 1st April, 1923; and, seeing the age of this veteran and

The amended descriptions referred to in the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend on 19th February are being included in the revised complements of the general depots which are at present in course of preparation.

asked the Attorney-General if he will give a list of pensions appeal tribunals and state the area to which each one of the appeal tribunals has been allocated, and the names and addresses of its members?

There are at present 12 entitlement and 18 assessment tribunals for men. Officers' appeals are heard in London and sittings are arranged as required. The distribution of the men's tribunals varies from time to time according to the number of appeals received from each area. The tribunals are at present distributed as follow:the hardship it will entail on him, will he take steps to prevent these reductions being made?

Mr. Flannery had an income of about £70 a year from all sources, which, during the lifetime of his wife, was within the limit permissible for a married couple. On the death of his wife, it was in excess of the limit permissible for a single man, and the reduction has been effected, partly by the Chelsea Commissioners on his disability pension and partly by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise on his old age pension, in the way most advantageous to Mr. Flannery. He is left with an income of £52 a year for himself alone. I regret that under the circumstances there is no ground for any intervention.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will give the explanation of the disparity between the official figure of 371 airplanes possessed by Great Britain and the existence of 34 squadrons of 12 airplanes each; and, if the explanation is that some of the squadrons are below their proper strength, whether those squadrons are home squadrons?

The 371 aeroplanes to which I referred in my speech on 14th March are first line machines of formed squadrons and did not include the aeroplanes of the two squadrons which are being formed as part of the new expansion scheme, and which my hon. and gallant Friend will see from my statement were included in the total of 34 squadrons. It must further be remembered that a few squadrons have an establishment of 10 or 11 instead of 12 aeroplanes. The apparent discrepancy is explainable upon these grounds and not upon that of any squadrons being below strength.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what are the prospects, in the near future, of the Royal Hibernian Military School; is it proposed to Anglicise this institution or is it intended to repatriate it at an early date; and, in this latter event, will the war memorials of its distinguished alumni also be transferred to its new home?

With regard to the first two parts of the question, in view of the urgent necessity for economy and also of the fact that the disbandment of the Southern Irish regiments would much reduce the number of boys with claims to enter the school, the Army Council have reluctantly decided that they cannot accept any further charge on Army Votes for the permanent upkeep of this institution. They have, however, under consideration arrangements for the education of the boys already entered, who are now at Shorn-cliffe, and of such candidates already registered as would have entered the school had it continued on the old basis. With regard to the last part, the question of the future of the charity, including the memorials and other property, gives rise to difficult legal questions which are engaging attention.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many medical officers are employed at the War Office; and are some of these doing ordinary secretarial work?

Eleven medical officers arc employed at the War Office. None is doing ordinary secretarial work.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in contravention of the Civil Service rule that an officer who has issued his electoral address as a candidate for Parliament ipso facto relinquishes his post as a Crown employé, it is proposed to reinstate Major R. G. Roberts as regional director of the Wales region of the Ministry of Pensions or to appoint him to any other post in the Ministry?

I have been asked to reply. I regret that the considerations referred to in the first part of the question make it impossible for me to offer re-employment to Major Roberts.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there are cases of ex-service men who are at present in training under the disabled ex-service men's scheme, such training having been granted from the 30th November, 1921 to the 29th May, 1923, who have now been informed that such period of training is to be curtailed by three months; and whether, in view of the fact that the training was promised for the full period of 78 weeks, and that these last three months being spent in the practical application of the knowledge acquired are very vital to the training, he will see that the necessary steps are taken to allow of the completion of the full period of 78 weeks' training?

I understand that the question relates to certain men who are receiving training in watch and clock repairing at the Government Instructional Factory, Pendleton, Manchester, and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to a similar question which I gave to the, hon. Member for Motherwell on the 7th March, a copy of which I have sent him. As there explained, the course of training has not been shortened, but the last six months are given in an employer's workshop instead of a training centre.

asked the Minister of Pensions if it is his intention, when reductions are being made in the temporary clerical staff of the Ministry of Pensions, to retain the services of disabled men, where efficient, in preference to non-disabled men, in view of the disadvantage disabled men would be in the labour market with the present chaotic conditions now obtaining?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the council for the Borough of Greenwich has informed the tenants' association occupying State-assisted houses that it has received a Circular from the Ministry requesting the council to establish an economic rent for those houses; whether he will place a copy of that Circular upon the Table of the House; whether he is aware that an economic rent for such houses is about 300 to 400 per cent. above the rent for similar accommodation in 1914; and whether, in view of the prohibitive charge of an economic rent to the average tenant, he can make a statement on the subject?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative. The Circular mentioned is one which was issued by my Department at the inception of the assisted housing scheme in 1919. I am sending a copy of it to the hon. Member, but I do not think it necessary now to publish it further. I understand that there is no question of increasing the rents which are being charged by the borough council.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a great impetus to house building has been given in New York as a result of legislation for rating and taxation of land values; and if he will introduce similar legislation here, as requested by several municipal authorities in this country?

I am not aware that house building in New York has received an impetus in consequence of the imposition of a tax on land values. As regards the second point, I can only refer to the reply given by the Prime Minister last week to a question by the hon. Member for North Dorset (Mr. Emlyn Jones).

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received the report of the Inquiry held recently in Sheffield by the Ministry of Health at which application was made for the demolition of certain houses in Oborne Street described by the medical officer of health as being unfit for habitation, damp, structurally defective, and not fit to live in nor yet to die in; and what decision has been arrived at?

The inspectors report has now been received, and I have decided to confirm the Order in respect of the area to which the hon. Member refers. The confirming Order will be issued at an early date.

asked the Minister of Health if he can give the cost to date to the State of the entire number of houses subsidised under the proposals of the late Government; whether all of them have now been built; if not, how many remain in an unfinished state and for what reason; and whether he can give any idea of the annual charge in respect to these houses and their rents which the State may have to shoulder throughout the entire period during which any liability continues?

Of the 176,000 houses to which the Local Authorities' and Public Utility Societies' Scheme was limited 157,235 had been completed on the 1st March, and 10,810 were in course of building. Tenders had been approved for 3,864 houses, but work had not commenced, and in the case of 4,091 houses tenders were either under consideration or had not been submitted for approval. The 39,164 houses built under the Private Builders' Subsidy Scheme were completed before August, 1922. The total cost to the Exchequer to date is £9,500,000 in capital subsidies to private builders, £10,700,000 in annual subsidies to local authorities and public utility societies. It is estimated that the annual charge on the Exchequer under the Assisted Scheme will amount to nearly £9,000,000 in the early years. It is hoped that a reduction will be secured on this charge in later years as loans are reborrowed at lower rates of interest.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether, in view of the representations made by the Scottish Consultative Committee appointed to advise on housing questions as to the high cost of building in Scotland, he is prepared to give further consideration to the proposals of the Committee, with a view to increasing the £6 per house subsidy in cases where this sum would prove inadequate?

My Noble Friend is giving consideration to the proposals of the Committee.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to state from the Reports of the 1921 Census the total number of males and females returned as occupied on Census day, 1921, and the number of such persons actually unemployed on that date?

Statistics as to the number of males and females returned at the recent Census as following some occupation are being compiled county by county for publication in the county series of reports, and the figures for England and Wales as a whole will not be available till all the county tabulations are completed. With regard to the second part of the question, the Census Schedule was not designed to provide statistics of unemployment, and no such statistics can accordingly be included in the Census Reports.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider the advisability of taking steps to amend the Poor Law Orders as to the tenure of office of all principal officers, so that the guardians shall have power to dispense with their services when they decide by a majority of the members of the board present at the meeting that the retention of such officers in their position is undesirable?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question on the 28th February, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he proposes to make any alteration this year in the provision for the feeding of necessitous school children; and whether any special grant is to be made in relief of the cost of education in necessitous areas?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Following the practice of former years an additional grant will be payable in respect of highly-rated areas.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can give any information as to the. date the Departmental Committee's Report on Teachers' Pensions will be published?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of children attending public elementary schools who are under the age of six years?

The total number of children under six years of age on the registers of public elementary schools on the 31st March, 1921—the latest date for which I possess full figures—was 677,373.

ENGLAND AND WALES.
Public Elementary Schools maintained by Local Education Authorities.
—					Average Attendance.	Number of College-trained Certificated Teachers.
1920–1921	…	…	…	…	5,205,542	3lst March, 1921	…	79,375
1921–1922	…	…	…	…	5,181,379 (approximate).	31st March, 1922	…	81,130

The figures given for college-trained certificated teachers on the 31st March, 1921, are not wholly comparable with those for the 31st March, 1922, as the latter include practical instruction centres; moreover, the latter have not yet been corrected in the light of the later returns and therefore must be taken with reserve.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health how many mothers and infants have been medically certified in Glasgow within the past three months as requiring a free supply of milk for reasons of health; how many infants were suffering from debility, under-weight, and kindred ailments as a result of malnutrition due to poverty; and what action, if any, does the Government propose to undertake to restore the grant for the feeding of mothers and children under the child-welfare scheme?

The number of mothers medically certified in Glasgow during the 13 weeks ended 10th March, 1923, as requiring additional nourishment on grounds of health was 2,261; the number of infants similarly certified was 5,871, or 8,132 cases in all. Of these 7,787 were granted free supplies after investigation, 193 were granted supplies

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the total number of children in attendance at the elementary schools of England and Wales in 1921 and 1922, respectively; and what was the total number of trained teachers serving in these schools during each of the two years?

The following is the information asked for:on part payment, and 152 were refused— mainly on the ground that the family income was adequate to provide additional supplies. As regards the second part of the question, 70 of the infants were certified as suffering from malnutrition and 5,202 from debility, under-weight and kindred ailments. It is not possible to say how far, if at all, these conditions were the result of poverty, and how far due to congenital causes or to improper feeding. As regards the third part of the question, the Government have not withdrawn the grant for feeding of mothers and children under schemes of maternity service and child welfare, but have limited it. The amount of the reduced grant is sufficient for the normal requirements of the scheme the primary purpose of which is the prevention and treatment of illness and the instruction of mothers, and not the relief of distress. I am unable to hold out any hope that it will be possible to increase the amount available under this head for the current year.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health when it is expected that a Report upon Scottish Church Endowments will be received from Viscount Haldane's Committee; and whether it will be issued in time for full consideration by all interested before the meeting of the General Assembly of the Church in May?

It is not yet possible to answer the question with certainty. The Scottish Church Endowment Committee is far advanced with its work, and has a Report in draft for final consideration. Whether this will be finally adopted depends on the consideration of legal questions which will, it is hoped, be disposed of after a meeting which is likely to be held shortly. The utmost expedition practicable is being aimed at.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health what is the total expenditure of Scottish local authorities on unemployed relief work schemes; how much of this is represented by State grant, and how much will have to be borne by the rates; what is the total sum borrowed by the local authorities in respect of these schemes; and what is the amount to be repaid in respect of same?

The total expenditure incurred or to be incurred by local authorities in Scotland on unemployment relief work schemes approved by the Unemployment Grants Committee in the period of two years down to the 15th March, 1923, is approximately £3,719,000. Of this, £1,512,000 represents schemes financed out of revenue towards which a contribution of approximately £300,000 is payable by the State. £2,206,000 represents schemes financed by loans. As regards schemes, amounting to a total of £1,816,000, the Government contribution will be a payment of 65 per cent. of interest and sinking fund charges for 15 years, or half the term of the loan. On the remaining schemes, amounting to £390,000, the contribution will be a payment of 50 per cent. of the interest charges for five years. Grants from the Road Fund have been promised to Scottish local authorities in connection with road schemes which have been expedited during the year 1922–23, in view of the presence of unemployment, up to an amount of £372,000, the total estimated cost of such schemes being £773,000. Having regard to the varying conditions with respect to the grants—and more particularly in the case of loan schemes—it is not practicable to furnish at this date a reliable estimate of the probable charge on the rates in respect of the schemes. The money required for the purpose of financing loan schemes is raised by the local authorities from time to time as the work proceeds, and it is not possible to state the exact amount borrowed at this date, but the information given as to the estimated expenditure on the schemes will, it is hoped, be sufficient for the hon. Member's purpose.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the hardship inflicted on workmen who are deprived of unemployment benefit by reason of the employers having given prolonged holidays; and whether any time limit is set to these holidays before workmen are entitled to benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act?

The rule as laid down by the Umpire in cases of suspension is that, subject to the operation of the rule as to a waiting week, benefit is paid for the period of suspension except for any days of customary holiday occurring within the period of suspension. If, however, the suspension covers 12 consecutive working days exclusive of the customary holidays, the holidays also are taken into account for the purpose of benefit (or of the waiting week where this has not already been served).

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total amount paid by this country since the end of the War for the relief of unemployment?

As stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to a question on 9th March, it is estimated that the total expenditure for the relief of unemployment between 1st April, 1919, and 3rd March, 1923, by the State and local authorities, including existing commitments, is £400,000,000.

asked the Minister of Labour if he has made any arrangements with the French Government to supply British unemployed workmen to work in France; and, if so, what those arrangements are; how many persons are likely to be employed in this connection; and what are the conditions of employment?

This matter is still under discussion with the French authorities, and I cannot at the present stage give any detailed information. I may mention, however, that my attention had been drawn to possible opportunities for employment in France, particularly in the devastated areas. Accordingly I sent officers to investigate the matter in co-operation with His Majesty's Ambassador, and the French authorities, and as a result, I hope it may be found possible to offer a certain number of vacancies for the consideration of persons not in employment in this country.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the scheme to add an additional storey to the Central Telegraph Office building has been abandoned; and under what circumstances the sum of over £10,000 voted by the House to be used for the building scheme during the year 1922–3 is withdrawn from the purpose for which it was intended?

The scheme for the provision of an additional storey is not being proceeded with. In order to avoid capital expenditure, consideration is being given to alternative proposals, and the matter is now under discussion with the Post Office. The sum of £10,000 has, therefore, been surrendered.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Post Office Regulations provide that old age pensioners, whose pensions are payable on Friday, cannot draw them until the Saturday after Good Friday; and whether he will arrange that these pensions shall be payable at the Post Office on the Thursday before Good Friday this year and in future?

Arrangements have been made to pay old age pensions due on Good Friday on the preceding Thursday at offices which will be closed on the following Saturday, and also at offices which will be open on Saturday where earlier payment is justified by special circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that our exports to Mexico last year were valued at 19,000,000 dollars as against 350,000,000 of exports from the United States of America to Mexico; whether he is aware that this disparity is due to fear of ill-treatment of British goods and capital, based on past experience; and what steps he proposes to take to remove the apprehensions of British exporters that they may again be subjected to loss by the action of the Mexican authorities?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I am not aware that British exporters are subjected to worse treatment in Mexico than United States exporters; the reasons for the greater volume of the American exports are to be sought rather in geographical and general economic causes. As regards the third part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to him on Monday, the 19th instant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the second payment on account, supplementing the instalment made on 15th January last, will be disbursed to British claimants in respect of the judgments given in their favour by the Anglo-German Mixed Arbitral Tribunal for their claims under Article 297 (e) of the Treaty of Peace?

It is not possible to name a definite date for the payment of a further dividend in respect of the claims referred to. As my hon. Friend is aware, the matter depends upon the progress made in the realisation of German property in this country, and he may rest assured that as soon as the requisite funds are available a further dividend will be paid.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of officials at the Clearing Office for Enemy Debts, Cornwall House, Stamford Street, S.E.I; what the number was for the corresponding period of last year; and if the numbers and expenses can be reduced, in view of the fact that the cost of the Clearing Office falls upon British claimants and not upon the Treasury?

The staff employed at present by the Clearing Office (Enemy Debts), including the Departments for the administration of Austrian, Bulgarian and Hungarian property and the accredited representatives of those Departments in Berlin, Vienna and Budapest and their respective staffs, numbers 1,006. The number for the corresponding period of last year was 1,278. The staff and expenses of the office are constantly under review and further reductions in numbers and cost will be effected as and when circumstances permit.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement as to the decisions arrived at by the Ambassadors' Conference as to the frontiers of Poland?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given yesterday by the Prime Minister in reply to a question on this subject by the right hon. Member for Spen Valley (Sir J. Simon).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the representative of His Majesty's Government on the Council of the Ambassadors was a party to the decision whereby Eastern Galicia, despite the protest of its inhabitants, has been incorporated in the Polish State; whether a pledge was given by the Foreign Secretary last year that their representations would be heard and considered before a decision was reached; whether His Majesty's Government were aware that leading Americans had been engaged to argue the case for the inhabitants of Eastern Galicia; and what racial affinity can be urged to justify the disposal of 4,000,000 people to alien rule?

His Majesty's Government were represented at the Ambassadors' Conference when the decision to incorporate Eastern Galicia in the Polish State was taken. Although it is true that a protest against this decision has been lodged by certain individuals, there is no reason to believe that these persons were expressing the sentiments of the inhabitants as a whole. With regard to the second part of the question, I am not aware of any pledge given last year to the effect mentioned. The answer to the third part is in the negative. As regards the last part of the question, although the result of the decision will not be as described by the hon. Member, Polish sovereignty over Eastern Galicia has been conceded in view of Poland's recognition of the fact that the ethnographical conditions prevailing necessitate a régime of autonomy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the composition, duties, and cost of the Naval Mission in Paris; and what it was in 1913?

There is no Naval Mission in Paris, and there was none in 1913. If my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the Naval Section attached to the Conference of Ambassadors, that was closed over a year ago.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the major-general who is acting as Military Attaché in Paris draws the pay of his appointment or rank, and what allowances he receives; and the duties and pay of the other officers in Paris?

The major-general who combines the functions of Military Attaché and British representative on the Allied Military Committee of Versailles draws £4 10s. a day, which is the pay of a major-general not in command of troops, £500 a year table money, and £1 5s. a day in lieu of all allowances. The Assistant Military Attaché draws pay at £2 1s. 6d. a day. and £2 10s, a day foreign allowance. The officers on the staff of the Committee draw £2 1s. 6d. and £1 8s. with £1 5s. a day if married and 17s. 6d. if unmarried in lieu of all allowances. With regard to duties, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answers which I gave on 6th March and 27th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Loughborough (Brigadier-General Spears).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is usual for the Secretary of State or the Under-Secretary to receive the representatives in London of Foreign Slates when requested by them to do so; whether there have been any cases of refusal to receive such representative during the present reign except in the recent case of the Russian representative; if so, what were they; and what were the circumstances?

The Russian representative to whom the hon. and gallant Member refers was not the accredited representative in England of a foreign State. He was the head of the Russian Trade Delegation to this country. Although there have been cases in which the representatives of foreign States have not been received, the analogy, which is suggested by the question, does not therefore arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any representations from His Majesty's Consul at Vardo as to the alleged harsh treatment of the crew of the British steam trawler "Quercia," by the Norwegian authorities; and, if not, whether he will instruct His Majesty's Consul to investigate the matter?

No such reports have reached His Majesty's Government, but if the hon. and gallant Member will furnish details in support of the allegation, a report from the British Vice-Consul at Vardö will be called for.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the independence of Montenegro has ever been extinguished by any legal international process; whether the people of Montenegro have ever been given a full and fair opportunity of expressing their wishes as to the fate of their country; whether he is aware that they are being slowly starved out and destroyed by the Serbian troops of occupation; and whether, in view of the fact that the independence of Montenegro was recognised by the Treaty of London, 1915, His Majesty's Government will suggest to the. League of Nations that action should be taken by the League for the purpose of investigating the conditions now prevailing in Montenegro and of taking steps to prevent the extermination of the people of that country?

His Majesty's Government have no information to the effect that the people of Montenegro are being starved out, or destroyed. As regards the rest of the hon. Member's question, I would refer him to the answer I gave him on the 29th of November, 1922.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether his attention has been called to the statement of the chairman of the Midsomer Norton Urban District Council that the council's account had been overspent on the district roads estimate by hundreds of pounds and that to put their district roads in a good state of repair would mean an expenditure equal to a rate of 4s. to 5s. in the £, largely owing to the wear and tear of heavy motor vehicles; and what proposals are in view to meet the heavy new burden thrown upon ratepayers in such areas by reason of the development of motor traffic?

I have no information as to the statement referred to in the question. If particulars can be furnished of the works which are required to put these roads in a good state of repair, I will see whether it is possible to render or obtain any assistance.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport the number of applications made to the Railway Rates Tribunal for a revision of rates; by Whom the applications were made; and the result of such applications?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Second Schedule to the First Annual Report of the Railway Rates Tribunal, which was presented to Parliament on the 19th instant.

asked the Secretary for Mines what are the total contributions of

—			South Yorks.			Notts.			Derbyshire.
			£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Contributions	…	…	149,065	19	9	70,954	6	4	78,878	15	9
Local Allocations	…	…	109,308	0	0	81,935	19	11	72,265	8	6

The Act requires that four-fifths of the total contributions paid by the several districts shall be allocated for local purposes. In the eases of Notts and Derby the allocation figures include certain sums provisionally allocated in advance on account of future contributions, with the object of allowing certain of the larger schemes to be commenced immediately. The purposes for which the money has been allocated vary, but they are mainly for the provision of recreation and sports grounds and institutes. Allocations for local purposes are, as a general rule, made upon the recommendation of Joint District Welfare Committees, and the actual payment of the sums allocated is made as and when it is required by the persons responsible for carrying out the scheme.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can inform the House the full capacity of industrial schools and reformatories in England and the extent of the present demand upon such capacity; and whether the information justifies the closing of certain of these institutions?

Approximately, 86 per cent. of the available accommodation in reformatory schools, and 84 per cent. the South Yorkshire, Notts and Derby coalfields, respectively, to the Miners' Welfare Fund; what sums have been allocated from the fund for betterment purposes in those areas; what is the character of the purposes for which the money has been allocated; and what is the reason for the failure to distribute more of the fund?

The total contributions paid to the Miners' Welfare Fund by these districts up to 28th February last, and the amounts allocated by the committee for local purposes up to the same date, are as follow:of the available accommodation in industrial schools, is used. As nearly 50 schools have been closed since 1919, and committals show a tendency to increase, I do not think it advisable to close more schools at present, but the question is being watched. It must be remembered that the system as a whole is a denominational one, and the schools are divided into Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish schools in accordance with the intentions of the Children Act, 1908. Moreover, it is the policy of the Home Office to discourage the practice of sending children too far from their homes. These considerations make it necessary to maintain a larger margin of vacancies than would otherwise be required.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the very full and detailed reports of recent divorce proceedings, involving great risk to the rising generation and much mental suffering to relatives and friends of persons concerned, he will consider the advisability of adopting the practice which obtains in France, whereby only the names of the parties and the result of the trial may, by law. be circulated in the Press?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for South-west Bethnal Green (Mr. Harris).