asked the Secretary of State for Air whether it is the practice in the Air Ministry, in the event of a complaint being made by members of the staff which necessitates an inquiry being held, to appoint an official involved in the complaint to hold the inquiry and to report thereon?

The answer is in the negative. An official involved in a complaint made by persons serving under him would certainly be asked to make a report on the matter, but obviously he could not conduct a, disciplinary inquiry into his own actions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what are the additional duties which have necessitated an increase in the Military Secretary's Department from three staff officers in 1913 to eight staff officers in 1923: and when a return to pre-War establishment may be anticipated?

The number of staff officers and officer clerks, who perform similar duties to staff officers, in the Military Secretary's Department is now 16 as compared with nine in 1913–14. The increase is due to permanent additions to the work of the Department caused by transfer from other sections of the War Office, increased work arising from the reorganisation and reduction of the Army, and temporary work due to the War which is only gradually diminishing. It is difficult to say when a reduction to pre-War establishment will take place, but the question is constantly under consideration and every effort is being made to effect reductions compatible with efficiency.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the urgent need for economy, he is prepared to abolish the post of Chief Labour Adviser, which carries a salary of £3,000 per annum?

The post of Chief Labour Adviser was created as a result of the experience of successive Ministers of Labour, and, in my opinion, it would be detrimental to the public interest to abolish the post. The pressure of work at the Ministry of Labour is such (and is likely to continue to be such) as to make a post of the kind essential. Apart from advising the Minister on matters of general Labour policy, including particularly questions concerning the relations between employers and employed, the Chief Labour Adviser is consulted by all Departments of the Ministry on matters involving negotiations, as well as on questions of policy affecting employment and Unemployment Insurance, wages and hours, disputes, Trade Boards, Joint Industrial Councils, and industrial organisation generally. In addition, he undertakes very onerous responsibilities in connection with the protracted negotiations that are necessary from time to time with a, view to the avoidance of industrial disputes. I may add that an undertaking has already been given that the post will be reconsidered on the occurrence of a vacancy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why the Regulation made at the Hague Conference of 1899, on the proposition of Great Britain, prohibiting the use of projectiles and explosives from aircraft is not now acted upon by Great Britain, at least in cases where the enemy does not employ aircraft?

I have been asked to reply. The Hague Declaration of 1907, which replaced the expired Declaration of 1899, prohibits the discharge of projectiles and explosives from balloons or by other new methods of a similar nature, but it applies only to wars in which parties to the Declaration are alone engaged; and very few Powers have in fact ratified it. The fact that a State does not itself em- ploy aircraft in no way affects the right to use against it projectiles and explosives dropped from aircraft.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the, widespread interest in the matter, he will now agree to the reappointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the finances of the Navy and Army Canteen Board?

As I informed the hon. Members for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) and Salisbury (Mr. H. Morrison) yesterday, steps will be taken to reappoint this Committee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the dental service of the Army has been overhauled since the War; and whether, on mobilisation, the Army would be as well provided in this direction as the Dominions and United States Armies were during the late War?

The Army Dental Corps was formed under Army Order 4 of 1921, and will be able to provide an efficient dental service for the Expeditionary Force on mobilisation. The answer to the second part of the question is, therefore, generally in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the circumstances under which No. 1,421,480, Farrier Frank Roscoe, Royal Garrison Artillery, of 395, Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, Wigan, was drowned at Gibraltar when embarking for the East nearly six months ago; and whether any pension has been recommended for the widow and child of this soldier?

The hon. Member is mistaken in thinking that Farrier Roscoe was drowned at Gibraltar when embarking. He was with his unit at Malta, under orders to move to the Near East, but the move did not take place till 10 days later, and on the night of his death he was quartered in barracks. He was last seen alive sitting outside his hut about 10 p.m. on the 10th September. He was missing next morning; his bed had not been slept in, and his body was discovered by the police in the harbour on the following afternoon. An inquest was held, but no evidence was forthcoming as to how he got into the water, and the verdict was one of "Found Drowned." It appears clear that Farrier Roscoe's unfortunate death was in no way connected with any military duty, and in these circumstances I much regret that I am not in a position to recommend the award of a pension for his family.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will recommend that the Royal Army Medical Corps roster for foreign service shall include all serving officers; and will he recommend that one of the qualifications for promotion to higher rank should be a due proportion of foreign service?

All serving officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps are already included in the roster for foreign service in their respective ranks, and a due proportion of 'Foreign service is a factor in selecting officers for promotion.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many local war pensions committees and sub-committees, respectively, there were in 1920 in Great Britain; how many area officers there are in Great Britain at the present time; and what is the number of sub-offices under their charge?

On the 31st December, 1920, there were 305 local war pensions committees and 898 district or local subcommittees in England, Scotland and Wales. There are now 162 area offices each of which is in charge of a chief area officer. There are also 375 sub-offices.

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) how many of his Advisory Committee are members of the Local (Wales) War Pensions Committee and are qualified to deal with local administration;(2) who are the representatives representing Wales on his Advisory Committee?

Section 3 of the War Pensions Act, 1921, under which the Central Advisory Committee is constituted, does not provide for the appointment of members as representatives of particular parts of the Kingdom, but as representing particular aspects of pensions administration. One member, however, Miss G. J. Trubshaw, C.B.E., resides in Wales and is a member of the South West Wales War Pensions Committee. She was also, until recently, a member of the Wales Regional Advisory Council and has had an extensive and valuable experience of local pensions administration.

asked the Minister of Pensions the total amount of pensions paid during 1922 to, and the number of, parents or relatives, other than widows, in receipt of war pensions on account of loss of friends or relatives during the European War?

The average number of pensions in payment by my Department during the year 1922 to dependants, other than widows, but including motherless children, was approximately 385,000. The total expenditure on these awards during the same year was about £9,300,000.

asked the Minister of Pensions to what extent the recommendations of the Williamson Committee have been acted upon in connection with the supply of light metal limbs to pensioners?

The recommendations of the Williamson Committee with regard to the supply of light metal limbs to pensioners were accepted by my predecessor some 18 months ago and have since been acted upon by my Department. Up to the 1st June last 1,123 metal limbs were supplied, and since that date an average of 315 a month have been issued. I am as anxious as my hon. and gallant Friend that every limbless man should have a limb which is satisfactory to him, and where a metal limb is desired and considered suitable and necessary by the limb-fitting surgeon it is supplied. I may add that in order to remove misconception, I recently caused a summary of the official Regulations of the Ministry regarding the supply. I understand that my hon. and gallant. Friend is in possession of a copy of this.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the Ministry supply artificial limbs free of charge to men in need of the same, but do not supply boots.for such men; and, if not, why the distinction is made?

Artificial limbs are supplied at the cost of the Ministry to all pensioners who need them for a disability due to service, and where an artificial limb requires a special boot to be worn the Ministry accepts responsibility for the supply. I may explain, however, that in the large majority of cases ordinary boots can be comfortably worn with artificial limbs and, although a pair of ordinary hoots is supplied when an artificial limb is first issued, my right hon. Friend sees no reason why the repair and renewal of these boots should be undertaken at the cost of the State.

asked the Minister of Pensions the figures showing the number of final awards made up to the 31st December, 1922, as follows, final awards of less than 20 per cent, including nil awards, and final awards of more than 20 per cent.?

The number of awards which have become final awards up to the date mentioned is approximately as follows: Nil and less than 20 per cent. awards, 153,000; awards of 20 per cent. and over, 40,000.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of appeals to the Assessment Appeals Tribunal up to 31st December, 1922, showing the number allowed by the tribunal and the number disallowed by the tribunal?

Approximately 13,050 appeals against final awards were decided by the tribunal up to 31st December, 1922. Of these about 62 per cent. had the final award confirmed unaltered; 19 per cent. had the final award confirmed at a higher assessment, and 19 per cent were set aside by the tribunal.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many ex-service men have died from pneumonia or bronchitis, owing to a weak heart caused by War service, whose widows have been refused a pension?

My right hon. Friend has no record of any case such as that suggested in the question.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his, attention has been directed to the case of the late Private Harold Haigh, No. 28798, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, who attested in 1915, was gassed in France in November, 1917, and, after six weeks' hospital treatment and 12 months' home service, was sent again to France in a labour battalion, where he broke down again and was sent to hospital suffering from eye weakness and cough, and who, after demobilisation in March, 1919, suffered continually from a cough that grew steadily worse until he contracted bronchial pneumonia and died; whether he is aware that the widow, who is in a weak state of health and has to provide for a child aged five, has been denied a pension under Article 11 of the Royal Warrant and granted only 5s. a week under Article 17; and whether he will have the matter inquired into?

The medical advisers to the Ministry were unable to accept the acute illness from which this man died as being 'connected with his service, and that decision, having been confirmed on appeal by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, is now final. I regret, therefore, that the widow cannot be given an increased award of pension.

asked the Attorney-General, respecting the Pensions Appeal Tribunals, if he will give the names and state the qualifications of the 12 entitlement and the 18 assessment tribunals?

The qualifications of entitlement tribunals are set out in the Schedule to the War Pen- sions (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1919:

(1) Chairman—A barrister or solicitor of not less than seven years' standing;

(2) A disabled officer who has retired or been demobilised from His Majesty's forces during the present War whilst suffering impairment, or a disabled man who has similarly been discharged or demobilised; and

(3) A duly qualified medical practitioner.

The War Pensions Act, 1921, Section 4, Sub-section 3, proviso B, provides that for assessment tribunals

asked the Attorney-General if, in view of the complaints with the decisions of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals, he is prepared to appoint a special committee to inquire into the procedure and method of arriving at decisions of those tribunals, such committee to be comprised of representatives of the various ex-service men's associations, of the trade unions, and of the Ministry of Pensions, so that it may command the confidence of the working class?

No complaints have reached me of the procedure of Pensions Appeal Tribunals. The procedure is regulated by rules made by the Lord Chancellor under the Statute. He will at any time be ready to consider any recommendations that may be made for its improvement. The methods are the same as those adopted by all tribunals in this country which have to arrive at conclusions of fact, and it does not appear to me that any inquiry into those methods is necessary. I do not accept the suggestion that there is any general complaint against the decisions. The fact that an unsuccessful appellant expresses dissatisfaction cannot be accepted as evidence that a decision is unjust, and the British Legion have, on more than one occasion, indicated the confidence of themselves and those whom they represent in the tribunals.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that John Edward Williams, who was admitted to the North Wales Asylum in 1916, shortly after his discharge from the Army, and maintained there at the cost of the Ministry of Pensions until September last, has now been transferred to the guardians; and the reasons for this step?

This man's disability is congenital, and in the opinion of the medical advisers to the Ministry was not affected by his short period of home service. The Ministry's decision is now final, having been confirmed on appeal by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. It was, however, possible to defray the cost of maintenance and treatment for the period of the War and 12 months afterwards under the temporary compassionate provision made under Article 7 of the Royal Warrant, but this special authority expired finally on the 30th September last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 5,000 permanent male civil servants who entered the Government's employ by examination are now in receipt of less than £3 weekly; and what number of these are men with families?

The entering salaries of men appointed to the clerical class from the limited competitions open to temporary staff are fixed in accordance with the recommendations of Lord Lytton's Committee and vary according to the rate of remuneration drawn as a temporary officer and the locality to which the officer is permanently assigned. A substantial proportion of the total number of persons concerned enter at salaries exceeding £3 a week, but detailed information is not available under this head. I have no information in regard to the latter part of the question.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many men are being employed on the work being done to the bed of the lake in St. James's Park; how many of these are ex-service men and does the Office of Works stipulate in all contracts that any and, if so, what percentage of men employed should be ex-service men?

The number of all grades is 295, of whom it is estimated that between 60 and 70 per cent. are ex-service men. It is not possible to take an actual census of ex-service men as the men object to the question being put to them. The only possible stipulation with regard to this point in Office of Works contracts is that the contractors shall be on the King's Roll.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, by agreement between the skilled unions and the South Wales and Monmouthshire Steelmakers' Association, employing over 1,000 skilled mechanics, the general rate of pay for skilled workers is to continue at £3 2s. 6d. plus cheap coal till 30th September, 1923; that the Powell-Duffryn Steam Coal Company, Tredomen Works, employing about 150 skilled men, pay a much smaller rate whether this company recently borrowed money and obtained a subsidy from the Government to build workmen's houses; and whether they will be removed from the list of Government contractors until they pay the recognised trade union rate in common with their competitors in the area covered by the agreements entered into by the members of the association?

I have been asked to reply. The matter is now being investigated.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give the total number of coastguards to be borne on the Naval Estimates for the next financial year as compared with the number of coastguards in the year 1914?

The total number of coastguards voted for 1923–24 is as shown in Navy Estimates, namely, 1,142, to be reduced to 69 during the year. There are also 352 coastguards employed in shore stations and included in Part I of Vote A. The total number of coastguards voted in 1914–15 was 3,130.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now give the permission asked for on 12th January last for the publication of the Memorandum drawn up by him last December with reference to the disfranchisement of naval and absent voters in the Central Division of Portsmouth at the recent election; if he is unable to do so, will he state the reasons for the withholding of the Memorandum; and is he aware that the continued absence of any public ex-phi ration as to the disfranchisement of the naval absent voters is causing great dissatisfaction among the electors of Portsmouth?

The Memorandum referred to is a summary of reports received from the Portsmouth Naval Command, and represents the position from the naval point of view of the circumstances leading up to the disfranchisement of certain naval ratings. It is desired, however, to suspend publication of this Memorandum pending the completion of inquiries by the Home Office as to the procedure of registration officers. It is understood that the delay in investigation is due to the pressure upon the registration officer concerned by the preparation of the new register. On receipt from him of the necessary particulars, the investigation will be completed by the Home Office and a statement for publication will be issued by the two Departments jointly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what proportion of the £11,000,000, estimated to be spent on providing accommodation for British battleships at Singapore, will be spent. on British labour and materials, and how much on foreign labour and materials?

Of the estimate of £11,000,000, it is anticipated that approximately one-half will he expended on materials, which will be obtained from sources within the British Empire where such a course is practicable and economical. The balance of the estimate will be expended in payment of labour and supervising staff. It is probable that foremen and higher grades of supervising staff will be British or Colonial. Workmen, and staff grades below foremen, will be recruited locally if possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether Indian loans, issued since the establishment of the Indian Constitution, are guaranteed by the British Government.?

The passage of the Government of India Act of 1919, to which I presume my hon. and gallant Friend refers, has not in any way affected the legal status of the sterling loans issued by the Secretary of State under the East India Loans Acts. I would, further, refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer on this subject given by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Hillhead Division of Glasgow (Sir R. Horne) to the then Member for the Elland Division of York (Mr. Ranasden) on the 31st May last.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether there is at present any censorship on letters to or from or within India; and, if so, what is the nature of this censorship?

I have no doubt that the Governments in India use, when necessary, the powers with which they are vested by Section 26 of the Indian Post Office Act of 1898 in the case of dangerous conspirators and other persons whose activities seriously threaten the public safety or tranquillity. But there is no other form of censorship in force in India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in the case of the little girl, Doris Hawker, who was emigrated to Madras for adoption, he will ask the Madras Government to arrange for her immediate return to England, in view of the fact that her passage money is guaranteed and that several offers of adoption in this country have already been received?

Subject to satisfactory arrangements being made for the provision of passage money, the Government of Madras will be requested to make arrangements for Doris Hawker to be sent home without further delay. I shall be grateful if the hon. and gallant Member can supply me with any definite information as to the guarantee which is said to have been given for the passage money.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in a position to state the volume of sales by distributive co-operative societies during the past year's trading, and the proportion of such sales returned to them as made to non-members?

I have been asked to reply. The annual returns of co-operative societies (which are made to the Registry of Friendly Societies) are not due, in respect of the past year, till the 31st of this month. For the year 1921 the sales by distributive co-operative societies amounted to £219,000,000. No information is available as to the proportion of such sales made to nonmembers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can confirm the information which he obtained from the British Commercial Mission at Moscow, and conveyed to the Fishery Board for Scotland for publication in the newspapers, that 250,000 barrels of British herrings are to be purchased through Arcos by the Bolshevik Government in Russia; from what source the British Commercial Mission at Moscow derived their information; and whether, seeing the interest that is taken in this matter by the fishing industry, and the serious state of depression prevailing in the industry, he will ascertain when these orders are likely to be placed?

The information was derived from an article on the fishing industry contained in the "Pravda" newspaper of the 11th February last. I am causing inquiry to be made on the subject and will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as any further information is received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of imported agricultural produce re-exported during the years 1920, 1921, and 1922?

The values of the re-exports from the -United Kingdom of imported food, drink and tobacco during the years specified were as follow:

				£
1920	…	…	…	46,094,000
1921	…	…	…	30,221,000
1922	…	…	…	21,777,000

The articles comprised in the group of food, drink and tobacco do not include some commodities (

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the quantity and value of carbon black imported into this country during the past 10 years, with the amount and value of such imports from Holland, Germany, Austria, and America, respectively; and what amount during the same period was re-exported and to which countries?

Carbon black was not separately distinguished in the trade returns before the year 1920 and, consequently, it is only possible to furnish particulars of imports for the three years 1920, 1921 and 1922. The figures are as follow:

asked the President of the Board of Trade the Returns of the exports from the United Kingdom to Russia, and of the imports from Russia into this country during 1922?

The declared value of exports from the United Kingdom during the year 1922, registered as consigned to Russia, amounted to £4,716,998, including re-exports of foreign and colonial merchandise valued at £1,038,473. The value of imports into the United Kingdom, registered as consigned from Russia, amounted to £8,176,002 during the same period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the principal ports in Great Britain for the importation of colonial produce, with the names of the owners of each?

The following is a list of the more important ports for the importation of Colonial produce. The name of the administrative authority is shown in each case:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the event of a reduction of taxation in respect of certain popular articles of consumption, he will consider the advisability of fixing the wholesale and retail prices of such articles so that both retailers and consumers may, in fact, participate in the benefit of the reduction in taxation?

I have been asked to reply. The course suggested would involve the establishment of a system of State control of wholesale and retail prices and distribution, which His Majesty's Government are not prepared to undertake.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the imports and exports of gold during 1922, stating the countries who received or sent the gold, and also for the months of January and February, 1923?

The total imports and exports of gold bullion and coin into and from the United Kingdom during the periods specified were as follow:

		Imports.	Exports.
		£	£
Year 1922	…	34,543,591	44,851,917
January,1923	…	4,836,805	7,179,572
February, 1923	…	3,370,585	3,318,958

Details of the countries from which the imports were received and to which the exports were sent during 1922 are shown on pages 222–227 of the Monthly Accounts of Trade and Navigation for December, 1922; and corresponding details for January and February, 1923, on pages 150–154 and 222–227, respectively, of the accounts for those months.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any representations from British traders with regard to any of the proposals in the new Free State tariff; and whether, under this tariff, any products manufactured in this country are submitted to duties on export to Ireland when Irish products of an analogous nature are imported to this country without any duty whatever?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; in the absence of any information regarding the proposals of the Free State Government, I am not in a position to answer the second part.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the Stevenson Committee, set up by the Colonial Office to consider the future of the plantation rubber industry, was composed of three Government officials and five planters, all of whom were known to be in favour of compulsory restriction of output by legislation; and if he will now agree to the appointment of a committee more representative of all parties interested in the rubber industry, manufacturing as well as planting?

I cannot accept the hon. Member's view that the Committee appointed by the late Secretary of State in October, 1921, was composed of members who were all in favour of compulsory restriction of rubber exports. As regards the last part of the question, my Noble Friend has set up a Committee representative of the planting, manufacturing and other interests in the industry to advise him on matters connected with the Exports Restriction Scheme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is yet in a position to give the result of the Government's consideration of the effect of the recent House of Lords' decision in the ease of the Crown v. Sutton?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount and value of opium, morphia, and cocaine imported into Great Britain in the years 1920, 1921 and 1922, respectively, indicating the countries from which these drugs were imported and the amounts and values thereof, respectively?

I have been asked to reply. The particulars are as follow: For 1920, the only figures available are the Customs Returns, which are not complete as they do not include imports by parcel post. For 1921, the figures collected by the Home Office from the importers are available. These may be taken as complete, but information as to value, which is not collected, cannot be given. For 1922, the statistics are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the charge of one-third value for imported touring cars under the provisions of the Finance Act, 1915, there is a great activity in the British motor car industry and employment has been well maintained, whereas in the case of the British commercial vehicle industry, on account of the unrestricted importation of commercial vehicles from abroad, there has been a serious decline; and is a proposal to abolish the exemption from import duty and the imposition of the same import duty on imported commercial vehicles as on foreign touring cars under consideration?

I am aware that statements have been made in the sense suggested. As regards the last part of the question, I must ask my hon. Friend to await the Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of Income Tax received during the last financial year from manual workers, from individuals whose incomes are under £400 per annum, and from those whose incomes are less than £500 per annum?

It is estimated that the approximate amount of the gross receipt. of Income Tax in the present financial year 1922–23 from manual wage earners assessed quarterly will amount to about £2,200,000; a small part of this tax has been or will be repaid, but the existing system of graduation of the tax does not enable me to estimate the amount so repaid. I regret that owing to the changes in the law effected by the Finance Act, 1920, it is not possible to furnish the information asked for in the last two parts of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many farmers actually paid Income Tax on double rental in the years 1919 to 1922, inclusive; and how many paid Income Tax on the basis of profits during the same period?

I regret that the system of assessment and collection of Income Tax would not permit of the ascertainment of this information except at a prohibitive cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the £25,000,000 set aside in the last Budget for contingent expenses has actually been expended, and in what ways?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Supplementary Estimate, dated the 13th of last month (H.C. 2 of 1923), which gives, on page 3, a complete list of the Supplementary Estimates for the current year, amounting to £18,831,300 out of the provisional figure of £25,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the amounts of war indebtedness, internal and external, as at the 31st March or 5th April, 1922, whichever date may be more suitable: and what were the separate total amounts of War Loans, War Bonds, War Savings Certificates, etc., issued against the same and as at that date?

My hon. Friend will find the information he requires in the Internal Debt Return, House of Commons Paper No. 21, of 1922, and the External Debt Return, Command Paper 1648, of 1922.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will inform the House of Commons of the exact amounts of the debts owed by foreign Governments to Great Britain incurred since August, 1914; what amounts of principal and interest have been repaid by the various Governments; what amount of interest has been charged in respect of the loans; whether any payments have been made to these foreign Governments by Great Britain notwithstanding the existence of these debts and the date of such payments and to which Governments they were made: whether any of those Governments have defaulted in the payment of the interest and the capital sums due; what was the date of the last communication by the British Government to such Governments concerning their liabilities; and if he will lay any correspondence with foreign Governments concerning debts owed to Breat Britain upon the Table of the House of Commons'?

The amount of the sums owed by foreign Governments to this country on account of War Loans and Loans for Relief and Reconstruction as on 31st March, 1922, was £2,017,219,253 10s. 4d. Details will be found on page 96 of the Finance Accounts of the United Kingdom, 1921–22. (House of Commons Paper No. 88.) The amounts of principal and interest repaid each year are also shown in the Annual Finance Accounts,e.g., on pages 24 and 34 of die Finance Accounts for 1921–22. Since March, 1919, in the case of France and since June, 1919, in the case of other Allied Governments, sums due by Great Britain to Allied Governments which are themselves indebted to this country have not been paid in cash but set-off against the debts due to this country. As regards the greater part of the debt interest as it fell due has been added to capital and additional bonds obtained. Apart from Russia, (including Armenia), no Government has actually defaulted, though correspondence is proceeding with Serbia and Poland as regards non-delivery of bonds. No special communication on the subject of Russian Government debts has been made by His Majesty's Government. Although, as the hon. Member is aware, the matter was discussed at the Genoa Conference. The Note addressed to the Allies on 1st August last on the subject of Inter-Allied Debts (the "Balfour Note ") and the Proceedings of the Conferences on Reparation and Inter-Allied Debt held in December and January last have already been laid before the House; there has been no other recent correspondence of a general nature.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the German internal debt?

I have no special information on this matter. The last published statement of German floating debt (discounted Treasury bills) was on the 10th March and showed 4,345,266 millions of marks. The last published statement of the funded debt related to September, 1922, and showed 75,705 millions of marks. The floating debt is growing so quickly that the figure given above has only a very transitory interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what subsidies the German Republic are paying at the present time?

In the absence of a revised Budget, taking account of recent changes in the value of the mark, it is impossible, to say to what extent Government undertakings are being run at a loss made good by the State or whether food is subsidised.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that old people are being deprived of an old age pension on the ground that the value of their housing accommodation places them outside the scope of the Old Age Pension Act, though their actual income was nil, and that in one case in Devonshire it necessitated an old lady of about 85 years of age being removed from a comfortable home to the workhouse; and whether he will propose some form of legislation which would exclude the value of the housing accommodation afforded to these old people. being taken into account in assessing their income for the purpose of obtaining an old age pension?

In calculating means for old age pension purposes the law requires the value of free housing accommodation to be taken into account, but this does not prevent the recipient from obtaining an old age pension unless such value (together with the other means, if any) exceeds the statutory limit for a pension. I am not prepared to introduce legislation to the effect suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary the number of cases of old age pensioners proceeded against for offences under the Old Age Pensions Acts during 1922, and the number of cases of deaths from starvation of persons over 70 years of age, showing the number of old age pensioners separately during the year 1922?

The numbers of persons prosecuted for offences against the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, are as follow:

1919	…	…	112
1920	…	…	112
1921	…	…	134

The figures for 1922 are not yet available. I have no information in regard to the other points.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply has been given by the Channel Islands authorities to his request for a contribution towards the Revenue?

The matter is being seriously considered by the Island authorities, and I expect a reply in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of individual holders of Government Stock and Savings Certificates?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain W. Benn) on the 6th March, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in connection with the appointment of sanitary inspectors, he will state the number of cases since 1910 in which it has been included as a condition of the appointment that the officer was himself to defray his travelling expenses or office expenses or both?

The records in my Department do not enable me to supply the information desired.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in connection with the appointment of sanitary inspectors, any cases have occurred where the Ministry have taken exception to the amount of salary offered and have suggested a reduction?

Yes, Sir; there have been cases in which local authorities have proposed what have been regarded by the Ministry as excessive salaries and in these cases a reduction has been suggested.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in sanctioning the appointment of a qualified sanitary inspector at Bodmin Rural District Council, where there is a population of 10,165, at a salary of £98 per annum, to include travelling expenses and office accommodation he made it a condition of giving his sanction that the inspector should give an undertaking in writing to refrain from practising his profession as architect and surveyor?

The undertaking which was required from this inspector is that prescribed by Article 18 of the Sanitary Officers Order, 1922, and is that he shall abstain wholly in his private business from any work arising out of or in any way connected with the discharge of his duties as sanitary inspector.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that Mr. Humphrey John Griffiths is chairman of the Islington Board of Guardians and a shareholder and manager of the Farmers' and Cleveland Dairy Company, Limited, which firm holds the milk contract with the said board of guardians; that Mr. Humphrey spoke at a meeting of the board held on 14th September, 1922, and advised the board to postpone their decision on the letting of the milk contract to a subsequent meeting; and that at that meeting the contract was given to the chairman's firm although their tender was not the lowest sent in and what action the Ministry intend taking in this matter, in view of Section 46 of the Local Government Act. 1894?

I have received a complaint with regard to the subject of this question. I am not empowered to take any action under the enactment referred to in the last part of the question, but I am making inquiries into the matter.

asked the Minister of Health whether any Regulations have been issued at any time for the guidance of local authorities when dealing with reductions of the war bonuses on the salaries of the officials employed by the local authorities, or whether this is a matter on which each local authority must act for itself?

No Regulations have been issued on this subject, but local authorities have been informed from time to time of the scale of bonus authorised for 3ivil servants, and of the alterations made in that scale, and where the sanction of the Minister is required to the salary paid to a local authority's officer, general sanction has been given to the payment to that officer of bonus within the Civil Service scale. It is for the local authority to decide in each case what bonus, if any, they shall pay.

asked the Minister of Health the number of boards of guardians who have adopted the system of separate cottages for aged deserving porn, giving the number of cottages, the average cost per annum in maintenance (luring the year 1922, and the average cost per person per annum for food and clothing?

I regret that this information is not available. Where boards of guardians have provided separate dwellings for some of the aged poor in their institutions, the dwellings are regarded, for statistical and accounting purposes, as part of the institution.

asked the Minister of Health whether, having regard to the possibility of trusts and combines in building materials putting up prices on account of the Government's housing subsidy, he will cake powers to withhold payment of the grant unless he is satisfied that no such variations in price have taken place?

It would not be practicable to withhold the grant from a local authority in respect of houses to which the authority was already committed. But I should certainly suspend sanction of new grants if any such enhancement of prices as occurred in 1920 were to take place again.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the policies of the Light Castings Association, the Cement Makers' Federation, the Greystone Limeburners' Association, Limited, and the North Wales Slate Quarries Association, all operate to raise the price of their products against the consumer; and what practical steps he proposes to take to bring the operations of such combinations under the direct surveillance of some Department of State, as recommended by the Standing Committee on Trusts, 1921, and so protect from exploitation the subsidies for house building which he proposes to make?

The effects of such combinations as those to which the hon. Member refers will be matters for inquiry by the Committee which I am proposing to appoint. If it should be found to be necessary, the Government will consider the preparation of legislation on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the price of building materials hardened immediately after his announcement concerning the proposed subsidy to be adminstered through local authorities; and whether be is prepared to make any proposals to deal with combines taking undue advantage of assistance afforded by the Government towards facilitating the resumption of building operations?

I am not aware that prices have hardened, as my hon. Friend suggests. As regards the last part of his question, I would refer him to the reply I gave on Monday last to the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Turner).

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the introduction of immediate legislation making it a criminal offence, punishable by six months' hard labour, for any two or more persons to agree together to form any ring or combine with the object of restricting, prejudicing, or in any way interfering with the fair and legitimate public or private, sale of any property, merchandise, article, or thing connected with the building trade?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on Monday last in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Batley and Morley (Mr. Turner).

asked the Minister of Health the percentage increase since 1914 in the cost of best stock bricks, cement, sanitary fittings, and laths, respectively?

The general percentage increases since 1914 of the materials mentioned are as follow:

Best stock bricks	125 per cent.
Cement	57 per cent
Sanitary fittings (sinks)	100 Per cent.
Laths	230 Per cent

asked the Minister of Health whether there is any record in his Department of suspected evidence that rings of manufacturers of building materials were partly responsible for the loss of £882,000 involved in liquidating the Department of Building Materials Supply; and, if so, whether his officials have any considered plan to prevent the continuance of such profiteering during the progress of house building with State aid in the future?

The loss involved in liquidating the Department of Building Materials Supply is attributable mainly to payment of compensation for cancellation of non-completed contracts and to forced realisation of stocks of certain materials that had been purchased under completed or partly completed contracts in anticipation of the requirements of the Government housing programme and the Department have no evidence to show that rings of manufacturers were responsible for any part of this loss. When the housing schemes were curtailed in the spring of 1921 a fall in prices occurred and the stocks purchased by the Department of Building Materials Supply could only be realised at a loss. As regards the second part of the question, a Committee is now being set up to keep in close touch with the prices of materials, and they will keep the Department fully informed of the position.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in connection with the housing proposals of the Government, he can give some idea as to the amount of money which would be required for carrying out the erection of 500,000 houses; whether he is recommending to the local authorities any special policy in respect to financing the housing schemes; and whether these authorities will all have to borrow in the money market on competitive lines?

I understand the hon. Member's question to relate to the extent of the financial burden to be borne by the local authorities. This will depend on the extent to which they build directly or engage private enterprise to build, and pending actual experience, I can make no statement as to the proportions in which these alternative methods of procedure will he applied. As at present advised, I do not think it necessary to recommend any special financial policy to the local authorities. The smaller authorities can have recourse to the Local Loans Fund if necessary. The large authorities would borrow through the usual market channels.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health the number of houses erected since the War for the use of farm workers in Scotland by local authorities under the Housing, Town Planning, etc. (Scotland) Act, 1919, and other housing statutes, and under the private builders' subsidy scheme?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer given yesterday to a similar question put to me by the hon. Member for Forfarshire (Mr. Falconer), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether the announcement made by him in Edinburgh on Friday last as to a State subsidy to local authorities of £7 per house as contrasted with the £6 subsidy already announced for England represents the fixed policy now adopted by the Government. for Scotland?

My hon. and learned Friend is under a misapprehension. My hon. and gallant Friend on the occasion referred to did not announce that the subsidy in Scotland was to be £7 per house. On the contrary, he made it. clear that no decision had been reached upon the subject.

asked the Minister of Health how many calves were used for the purpose of producing lymph for vaccination, at the Hendon establishment, in the periods 1st January to 30th June, 1906, 1st January to 30th June, 1920, 1st January to 30th June, 1921, 1st July to 30th December, 1921, 1st January to 30th June, 1922, 1st July to 31st December, 1922, and January and February, 1923?

The numbers of calves vaccinated at the Government lymph establishment during the periods in question were as follow:

Period.		Number of Calves.
1st January to 30th June, 1906	…	256
1st January to 30th June, 1920	…	242
1st January to 30th June, 1921	…	144
1st July to 30th December, 1921	…	93
1st January to 30th June, 1922	…	48
1st July to 31st December, 1922	…	177
January and February, 1923	…	161
Total		1,121

asked the Minister of Health the number of children of school age who are blind or partially blind?

The latest estimates which I have received from local education authorities in England and Wales of the number of children of school age in their areas who are blind or partially blind relate to the year 1920 and give a total of 5,800.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department has any accurate information as to the number of agriculturists who are in grave financial difficulties, and of the number of bankruptcies during 1922?

The answer to the first part is in the negative. The number of receiving orders made against various classes of agriculturists in 1922 was 327.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department, has in its possession copies of any detailed household budgets of agricultural workers based on retail prices in 1922; and, if so, for what part of the country?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what instructions, if any, have been issued by his Department for the purpose of preventing the importation of fat Canadian cattle as store animals?

Veterinary inspectors at the ports are being instructed not to license out of the ports cattle which, in their opinion, are not "store cattle" within the meaning of the definition in Section 1 (8) of the Importation of Animals Act, 1922.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the rate of interest proposed to be charged for agricultural credits is to be on a 5½ per cent. basis plus a I per cent. sinking fund, thus making 6½ per cent. in all; and whether he will consider fixing such interest at a lower rate, so that these agricultural credits may be of real assistance to farmers?

The Report of the Committee on Agricultural Credit contemplated the advance of money at a rate of 5½ per cent. plus amortisation over a period of 40 years to those farmers who purchased their holdings within certain specified dates. My hon. Friend may rest assured that the terms prescribed for these loans on the lines recommended will be the most favourable that can be arranged on an economic basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the funds of the Public Works Loan Commissioners will be available to enable the Farmers' Land Purchase Company to make loans to farmers who have purchased their holdings between 1917 and 1921, provided the company assents to limitation of dividends and such other conditions as may be required by the Treasury?

My hon. Friend will understand that I cannot, at this stage, usefully add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Blundell) on the 26th instant.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the importation of labour from Cambridgeshire into the county of Norfolk is gravely prejudicing the chances of settlement of the agricultural dispute between the farmers and labourers; and will he take steps to discourage such importation?

I have seen reports on this subject in the Press, but the hon. Member will realise that I have no power to take any action in the matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state the number of changed tenancies in the farming industry in the past two years; if he has any information as to the actual number of persons who have bought farms of which they had previously been tenants during the same. period; and will he state the number of farms that are. at the present time to let.?

I regret that I am unable to furnish the information desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he can give details showing how the present average cost of the 4 lb. loaf of bread at 9d. is made up, as compared with the cost of the 4 lb. loaf at 5½d. in 1914?

Prices of wheat are now 28 to 36 per cent. higher than they were at this date in 1914. Millers' and bakers' costs have. also, I am informed, increased substantially, but I am unable to give details of these costs. I am afraid that I cannot add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Bennett) on the 19th instant. The Committee recently appointed by me to inquire into the distribution and prices of agricultural produce in Great Britain will investigate the subject of wheat and bread prices.

asked the President. of the Board of Education whether he has received a copy of the memorandum issued by a joint committee of the County Councils Association, the Association of Municipal Corporations, and the Association of Education Committees on the subject of the training colleges provided by local education authorities; whether he admits the accuracy of the statements contained in that memorandum and, if not, to which of them he demurs; and what steps he proposes to take to relieve those authorities, pending Government action as a result. of the report. of the proposed Departmental Committee on Training Colleges, from the inequitable financial position in which they have been placed in consequence of the Board's action in differentiating between training colleges provided by local authorities and denominational training colleges by withdrawing from the former the grant of approximately 85 per cent. hitherto given to them (and on the faith of which such colleges were established and requiring them to he regarded as local institutions towards the cost of which a 50 per cent. grant only is payable?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. and I may refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply I gave on the 22nd February last to the Noble Lord the Member for South Nottingham (Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck). The statements in the Memorandum and the question itself include a large element. of argument and opinion with which it is scarcely possible to deal within the limits of question and answer.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is the intention of the Government to reduce the salaries of the elementary teachers who have rendered service in Ireland or the Colonies on 1st April next by disregarding services rendered in schools outside Great Britain; whether teachers are not to be allowed to count service rendered outside England towards their pensions; and whether, to avoid injustice to teachers whose actual service, both as regards standard and term of years, entitles them to the benefits of the salaries and pensions schemes, he will reconsider the matter?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The Burnham Committee have never recommended to the Board for the purposes of Section 9 of their Report the acceptance of service in Ireland or in the Dominions and Colonies for the calculation of increments under the standard scales. The Board have acted upon the recommendations of the Committee in the interpretation of that Section, and no variation in their practice will take place on the 1st April next. With regard to the second part of the question, service outside England and Wales could not be treated as recognised service for the purposes of the School Teachers (Superannuation) Acts without amending legislation. The whole question of equivalence of service in different. parts of the Empire is to be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the Imperial Education Conference.

asked the President. of the Board of Education whether instructions have been issued to local education authorities to further increase the number of children in the classes; and whether, seeing that there is so much unemployment in the teaching profession, he will counteract this order?

The Board's view of the need for economy in the staffing of public Elementary Schools is stated in the Prefatory Memorandum to the Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools, paragraph 3, to which I am drawing the attention of those local education authorities who appear to be concerned. This action is necessary under present conditions, but every case will be considered upon its merits, and I have no intention either of asking for or agreeing to reductions which would seriously impair the efficiency of the schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that inspectors in Wales are suggesting in schools visited by them that the staff is too large and could be reduced; whether this is part of their duty; and whether any orders have been issued by the Board instructing them to do so?

I may refer the hon. Member to the answer I have just given to the last question. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, I may refer him to the answer I gave on the 22nd March to the hon. Member for West Rhondda (Mr. John).

asked the President of the Board of Education whether instructions have been sent out to the effect that head masters in schools where there are less than 250 children should be responsible for one class in addition to supervising the whole school; and whether, seeing there is so much unemployment in this profession, he will take steps to counteract this decision?

The Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools contains in Article 8 (b) the provision that the head teacher should take a definite and substantial share in the actual instruction, and that the local education authority should consider whether, in a school or department with an average attendance less than 250, it is not practicable to give the head teacher charge of a class. And in the Prefatory Memorandum to the Code the Board have stated that, where the head teacher of such a school is not in direct charge of a class, they will consider whether reasonable economy has been used in the staffing of the school as a whole. I do not propose to depart from this position.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the effect of the decision of the Board of Education not to contribute the grant towards the increment of salary for the period of war service rendered by women teachers; whether he is aware that in certain cases this decision results in ladies who so served during the War being penalised in salary to-day, as compared with those who remained to exercise their profession, to the extent of about£70per annum; and whether, in view of the hardship so inflicted, he will reconsider the decision?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the Board's Circular?227, which defines the conditions under which war service can be recognised for the calculation of grant upon teachers' salaries. This circular, which was issued after very careful consideration of all the circumstances, represents the furthest limit to which the Board have authority to go, and I regret I cannot re-open the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in consequence of the Wilts County Council reducing its yearly grant to Bristol University by the sum of £1,000 in 1923, a similar amount will he stopped from the Exchequer grant?

While I should regret any reduction of the University grants by this or any other county council at a time when universities in general are in great need of local support, I should not propose in the circumstances of this particular case to make a corresponding reduction in the annual Treasury grant.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health what were the amounts of the grants paid to Scottish education authorities last year; with the amounts shown in the Civil Service Estimates, what will be the amount available for distribution this year; and what, all other things remaining as last year, will be the average increase per £ on the rates as the result of the reduced grants?

The amount of grant payable to Scottish education authorities for the year 1922–23 is, approximately, £5,978,000. My Noble Friend is not at present in a position to give the precise figure for the coming year, but it is anticipated that there will be a reduction of, at most, £500,000, which, on the assumption that there is no corresponding reduction in expenditure, would represent an average rate of 2½85d. in the £ on the gross valuation.

asked the First Commissioner of Works the number of admissions to the National Gallery during the past year, showing how many of such admissions were free and how many were subject to payment?

I have Seen asked to reply to this question. The total number of admissions to the National Gallery during 1929 was 629,243, made up as follow:

Free days (two per week)	362,959
Paying days (four per week)	175,078
Sundays	91,206
	629,243

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will consider the enlargement of the post office in this House, in view of the congestion arising from the increased volume of daily Votes and Proceedings now handed to the post office for distribution?

I have recently added a room to the accommodation available for the post office, and I am afraid that is the utmost I can do. The question of the method of distribution of the Votes and Proceedings does not fall within the province of my Department.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether it is proposed to discharge any cleaners at present engaged in the work of cleansing the House of Commons; if so, how many; the last occasion on which this staff was reduced, and the number dispensed with; and whether, before discharging or removing any of the lower-paid men and women from service in the House of Commons, he will give the House an opportunity of discussing the matter?