asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps, if any, have been taken or are proposed in order to give effect to the recommendation of the Geddes Committee that an inquiry should he made into the pay of the fighting services, teachers, and police?

asked the Prime Minister, whether, seeing that the Geddes Committee suggested the appointment of a special committee or committees to inquire into the remuneration paid. to Government employés generally, such a committee has been appointed; and, if not, what are the intentions of the Government with respect to any future appointment?

The recommendation of the Geddes Committee was that a special investigation should be made into the pay of the fighting services, teachers and police. His Majesty's Government have carefully considered this recommendation. It appears to them, in view of the fact that Teachers and Police are employees of Local Authorities, that the pay of these services would more properly form the subject of separate inquiry, and that it would be desirable on the other hand to extend the scope of the recommendation of the Geddes Committee as applicable to State Servants so as to include the Civil Service as well as the Fighting Services. They have accordingly decided to set up an authoritative Committee to enquire into the present standard of remuneration and other conditions of employment of the various classes of State Servants employed in the Civil Service and in the three Fighting Services, and to make recommendations thereon. I am glad to be able to inform the House that the Government have been fortunate enough to secure the services for this purpose of the following gentlemen:

Sir Alan Garratt Anderson, K.B.E. (Chairman).

General the Hon. Sir Herbert Lawrence, K.C.B.

Sir W. Peter Rylands.

Will it be competent for this Committee, or the Committee which the right hon. Gentleman mentioned a few days ago, to deal with the question of initial salaries of temporary ex-service men appointed to permanent posts?

That will be within the competence of the Committee which I have just announced.

Will the Committee have power to consider the consolidation of the Civil Service pay and bonuses?

I could not answer that without notice.

Will this Committee, in the course of its inquiries, look into the pay of the Members of the Government and especially the pensions drawn by ex-Lord Chancellors and ex-Cabinet Ministers?

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the appointment of Sir Peter Rylands to this Committee is intended as a confirmation or support of the claim of the Federation of British Industries that they obtain representation on practically all Government Committees?

I think the experience of the gentlemen whose services we have secured will be sufficient.

Arising out of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary answer about the initial pay of temporary ex-service men, is he aware that he said it would be within the competence of the Committee, and will he say that it will be considered in fact? Will he also say. in view of the urgency of that particular question, that he will ask the Committee to address themselves to this question first?

The question of the pay must necessarily be considered, but I will take the request of my hon. Friend into consideration.

Will the Committee have power to recommend better treatment to the humbler grades of Civil servants if they think it necessary?

Am I right in assuming that the Government is not including teachers in this connection?

That is so.

May I have an answer to my question whether the Committee will have power to recommend better treatment for the humbler grades of Civil servants, if they consider it necessary?

I should say so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the aggregate number of investors of amounts of £100 and over in British war loan stocks, including the holders of war savings certificates?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain W. Benn) on the 6th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the present average per head of taxation, direct and indirect, in England, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States of America?

I will refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for East Lewisham (Lieut. - Colonel Assheton Pownall) and the Moseley Division (Mr. Hannon) on the 22nd and 27th February, respectively. These answers did not deal with the case of Germany. But estimates for that country taking account of recent changes in the value of the mark are not available.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed at the annual delegates' conference of the Association of Ex-Service Civil Servants, held at the Central Hall, Westminster, on the 21st March last, asking that effect should be given immediately to the promises made to ex-service men that they should have security of tenure in the Civil Service; and whether he can make any statement on the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 27th March to the hon. and gallant Member for Newbury (Brigadier-General Clifton Brown).

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the desirability of getting ex-service men in asylums back to their pre-War work, he will consult with the Minister of Pensions as to whether the disability of two men, at present inmates of Banstead Asylum, can be shown to be due in the first instance to a blow upon the head sustained during warfare or training; and, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or no such an origin can be traced, will he see that the said two men, C. E. Babbs and C. S. Norris by name, be submitted to X-ray test, seeing that the disability of which each complains is such as can be shown in numerous other instances to be traceable to head injury?

The Board of Control have been in correspondence with the medical superintendent in regard to the suggestion that Norris should be submitted to X-ray examination of the head, and although there is no sign of any wound or evidence of concussion and it does not seem likely that such an examination would be of value, the authorities are willing to undertake it if the friends so desire. The question is still under consideration. As to the other case, the Board of Control will make further inquiries and my right hon. Friend will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Undersecretary to the Scottish Board of Health what the Government intend to do for ex-service men in the Western Isles, where in Lewis alone there are over 5,000 without means of support, as none of these men are entitled to unemployment benefit owing to their pre-War occupations being fishing and crofting, which are not normally insurable under the Act?

In order to relieve distress in the Western Isles a contribution from public funds has been sanctioned towards the cost of a number of road works, two of which were mentioned in the reply given to the hon. Baronet's question on the 26th March. The position as to distress in Lewis has received special attention from the Board of Health during the past year, and from the information furnished by the Board my Noble Friend is satisfied that 5,000 is a greatly exaggerated estimate of the number of ex-service men in Lewis who are without means of support. So far as the men in question are crofters their previous occupation is available to them, and fishing contributes substantially to the subsistence of families in the Islands in spite of the existing depression in the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any inquiries have been made by the Commonwealth of Australia and the Dominion of New Zealand for an extension of privileges in regard to the importation of live stock similar to those extended to Canada?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Islington (Major-General Sir N. Moore) on 14th March in reply to a somewhat similar question. The position has been explained to the Government of New Zealand as well as to the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Is it the policy of the Government to admit Empire fat cattle freely into this country for breeding purposes?

I cannot add to what I have already said. The policy has been pretty generally stated.

asked the Undersecretary to the Scottish Board of Health the harbour or ship dues and other charges payable at the ports of Glasgow and Dundee, respectively, for vessels engaged in the Canadian cattle trade entering these ports, and also in respect of the Canadian livestock landed there, as compared with the corresponding dues and rates exacted at at English ports?

My Noble Friend is not in possession of the information desired by the hon. and learned Member.

Is it not the case that the Scottish Office have full information as to the dues payable at these ports, and, since this question which has arisen is one of great urgency, will the hon. Gentleman look into this matter, as the trade of Scotland is prejudiced?

All questions arising under the recent Importation of Animals Act, 1922, are under the control of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, and I would suggest that, if my hon. and learned Friend has any inquiries to make, they should be addressed to him.

Surely the Scottish Members are entitled to a reply on a matter which affects Scotland and Scottish dues?

Yes, and if my hon. and learned Friend will put down a question to the Minister whom I have mentioned, he will get the information as far as it is possible to give it.

Is it impossible, or do the officials at the Scottish Office not desire, to get this information for themselves and to know it?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if a recommendation has been made by the Board of Trade that the agricultural credits which it is proposed to provide shall be effected through co-operative societies; and, if so, whether, seeing that such a course would grant preferential terms to cue selected class over any other, he will refuse his sanction to such a proposal.?

I am not aware of any recommendation by the Board of Trade in regard to agricultural credits, but the recent Report of the Committee on this subject recommended the formation of agricultural co-operative credit societies, and provisions to give effect to this proposal will be included in the Bill which I hope to introduce shortly.

Do I understand from that reply that the policy of the Ministry will be to set up new credit societies and not to use the existing facilities?

I think that the hon. Member had better wait for the Bill, when this matter can be fully discussed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture when he expects the Report of the Committee inquiring into the economic condition of agriculture; whether this body is calling evidence; if so, how many witnesses have been heard to date, and what are the interests they have represented; whether it is receiving offers to give evidence or submit statements; whether any effect is given to these offers; and whether, in view of the present crisis in agriculture, he will expedite the deliberations of this Committee?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received any indication from the chairman of the Commission inquiring into the state of agriculture as to the probable date their Report. will be in the hands of the Government?

I understand that an Interim Report will be presented to the Prime Minister in the course of a few days. I am informed that many witnesses representing the- various interests involved have been called. The tribunal have received many offers to give evidence or submit statements and have. availed themselves of those offers as far as possible.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the number of questions now dependent on the Committee of Imperial Defence, the impending Imperial Conference, and that the last discussion appears to have taken place on 29th July, 1909, whether he will arrange for the discussion of the Vote to be taken before the Session is well advanced?

As my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, the choice of subjects for discussion on the Estimates does not rest with the Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether papers will be laid on the reasons for the decision to allow the annexation of Eastern Galicia by the Polish Republic; and what steps are being taken to safeguard the rights of majorities in that country?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The reasons for the decision whereby East Galicia has been incorporated in the Polish State and the position with regard to the extent of the rights to be enjoyed by the local population were explained in my answers on 27th March and 21st March to questions by the hon. and gallant Member and by the hon. Member for Acton (Sir H. Brittain) respectively.

May I have answer to the second part. of my question?

I said that the position with regard to the extent of the rights to be enjoyed by the local population had been explained.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the autonomy legislation has been passed by the Polish Diet., and in view of the interest taken in this question in this House will he secure. a copy of the legislation that has been passed, so that we may see what steps are being taken to protect the rights of these peoples?

That will probably be practical, and I shall certainly see if it can be done.

asked the Prime Minister, whether he can make any further statement on the conversations now proceeding in London on the terms of peace with Turkey; whether agreement has been reached between the Allies on these terms; and when and where the conference with the Turkish delegates is to he resumed?

Since putting clown this question, the hon. and gallant. Member will have seen the official statement. issued to the Press on the 27th instant With regard to the last part of the question, I can make no statement until the reply of the Allied Governments to the Turkish counter proposals shall have reached the representatives of the Angora Government, when it will be published in this country.

Do I understand from that that the whole of the proceedings behind closed doors here in London are going to be published shortly?

I cannot say whether a procés-verbal will be published; I do not know.

Will the relevant papers be published?

I would not like to make a statement on that at the present moment: I do not know.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has made any representations to the Reparation Commission that the Government is prepared to take large quantities of potash for the purposes of agriculture as payments on account of reparations?

I have been asked to reply, as the Treasury is responsible for all communications to the Reparation Commission. Certain quantities of potash salts were supplied by Germany in 1919 to enable her to obtain credits for foodstuffs, and were distributed on the advice of the Ministry of Agriculture. As the value involved in the quantities likely to be required by this country was small in comparison with the total of reparations, and there were considerable difficulties in operating a satisfactory method of distribution, no further quantities were taken. I am to add that it would not be consistent with the policy of His Majesty's Government on reparations to demand large additional deliveries in kind. On this point I would refer the hon. Member to Command Paper 1812, page 115 and page 173.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the question is not as to what relation the quantity received will hear to the total reparation, but whether the supply for agricultural purposes will be made more available for the agricultural industry of the country?

I think if the hon Gentleman reads my reply he will see that it deals with that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what nationalities compose the commission of five administering the Saar basin under the League of Nations; whether they are appointed for an indefinite period; and whether they are unanimous in desiring the present French garrison to remain?

The Governing Commission of the Saar consists of a citizen of France, a native inhabitant of the Saar Basin, not a citizen of France, and three persons belonging to countries other than France and Germany, who are at present of Belgian, Danish and Canadian nationality. These members of the Commission are appointed by the Council of the League of Nations for one year at. a time, but may be reappointed. I have no information as to the individual views of the Commissioners on any particular question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has been informed of the widespread opinion in the commercial world in favour of a fixed season for Easter, and especially of the attitude taken up towards this question at the meeting of the international chambers of commerce in Rome, and that His Holiness the Pope, His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, and other religious leaders have expressed themselves as not hostile to this proposal; and whether His Majesty's Government will consider a circular note to the Christian Powers inviting a conference on this subject?

I can add nothing to the answer given by the Prime Minister on the 28th February in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Foot).

asked the First Commissioner of Works who is responsible for the wholesale mutilation of the trees on Primrose Hill; and whether an assurance can be given that similar methods will not be employed in the Regent's Park,

The poplars on Primrose Hill were badly diseased, and the pruning was carried out after full consideration by experts as the only means of rendering them safe and healthy for many years. In Regent's Park the trees of this variety are few in number, but if found to be infected they will have to be treated similarly.

Is the right hon. Baronet aware that Primrose Hill now looks like a battle area on the Western front, and will he give an hour of his well-earned holiday to go and have a look at it?

Will the right hon. Baronet consider the advisability of placing some hard wood trees, such as plane trees, between the mutilated poplars on Primrose Hill, which I saw a few days ago?

I shall certainly consider the planes or, for the matter of that, ally other trees; but it is money of which we are short at the present time.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if lie will say, under the proposed scheme of a legislative council for Palestine, what would be the total number of votes available in the legislative council, including any casting or other vote or votes given, ex officio, to the High Commissioner; and what would be the respective percentage of voting power on the legislative council attainable by the electors of Palestine as compared with the voting power of the official element, including the casting vote of the High Commissioner?

I would refer the hon. Baronet to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Bath (Capt. Foxcroft) on the 21st March, which gave the information for which he asks.

asked the Under-Secretary of State, for the Colonies when the final proposals for the revision of the Constitution of Ceylon will be framed; and what opportunity will be given to this House to consider these proposals before they are embodied in an Order in Council?

Despatches on the subject of the revision of the Constitution have been laid before the Legislative Council of Ceylon and the matter will be further considered by the Secretary of State when he receives a report of the proceedings in the Council. It is not at present proposed that any special opportunity should be. given to the House to discuss these proposals, which can be discussed on the Colonial Office Estimates.

Seeing that three members of the Ceylon Legislative Assembly are in this country, will the hon. Gentleman or the Secretary of State receive a deputation from these gentlemen, with a view to them putting their views before the Secretary of State?

I shall be very glad to receive a deputation from the members of the Ceylon Legislative Council after the Easter holidays.

When does the hon. Gentleman expect the Report of the Legislative Council?

I do not know if the discussions are actually finished, but I expect to receive a cable in due course.

Are any of these proposals likely to be. operative before the Estimates are under discussion?

I do not know when the Opposition will ask for my Estimates.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether be can make inquiries from the authorities of the Irish Free State as to whether Mr. Gilbert. Francis Barrington, a British subject whose home is in 90, Mowbray Road, South Shields, who was arrested on 26th February in Ireland and has been lying since in Mountjoy prison, Dublin, without trial, can be allowed to see a solicitor and his brother who have so far been refused access to him?

I am informed that no application has been received for a visit from a solicitor to this prisoner. A solicitor will be allowed to interview him conditionally on such solicitor signing the prescribed declaration. Visits from friends or relatives are not allowed to prisoners.

Can the hon. Gentleman give the House any information regarding these deportees?

I am afraid I have no further information.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the strike of the sheet-metal workers employed at Wilson's gas-meter works, Stockport Road, Manchester; that unemployment benefit has been refused to ordinary labourers who, though personally uninterested in the dispute, have lost their jobs as a result, of this strike; and, if such refusal is wrong, will he see that the benefit is duly paid?

I am making inquiries locally and will communicate the result to my hon. and learned Friend.

asked the Minister of Health the prices of Portland cement per ton and of cast-iron pipes per ton at. July, 1914, December, 1921. and March, 1923; and whether the Committee on the price of building materials appointed by him will inquire into the cost of production of these articles, and ascertain whether the existing prices are due to the action of combines in those trades?

As the answer contains a tabular statement, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary for Health for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to state the decision of the Government with regard to the amount of the subsidy per house to be paid in Scotland?

The Government after full consideration of all the circumstances have decided that it is not practicable to differentiate the conditions of subsidy in the two countries and accordingly the same conditions will apply in Scotland and in England.

Does not even £6 a year represent a very large number of bawbees?

Is it not the fact that a strong case has been made out for a. larger subsidy in Scotland, in view of the higher cost of building, owing to the stringer roofs and higher walls. and to the fact that stone is much more employed in Scotland?

That is a matter for argument when the Bill comes up.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of telephone exchanges and party lines operating in rural areas, excluding burghs, in each county in Scotland, respectively?

Figures for individual counties are. not available, but there are in Scotland in rural areas 190 exchanges and 746 party lines in operation.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if the Government will be willing to grant loans on easy terms to fishermen in the Western Isles for the replacement of boats which they had to leave behind when they joined up during the War and found useless on their return?

In view of the necessity for restricting Government expenditure, my Noble Friend regrets that he can hold out no hope of such loans being made. I would remind the hon. Baronet that. fishermen in the position stated in the Question had opportunities in the years following on the Armistice of making application for assistance under schemes financed from the Development Fund and from the funds at the disposal of the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Department.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he is aware that there is a. wholesale liquor licence in Stornoway, which is a prohibition area; and whether immediate steps can be taken to withdraw such licence, as the benefits of prohibition are being annulled thereby?

I am aware that a "No Licence" resolution is in force in the Burgh of Stornoway, and I understand from Press reports that a wholesale excise licence is at present in force in Stornoway. The issue or withdrawal of such licences is not a matter in which the Secretary for Scotland has any powers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the approximate daily average number of officers using the Guards' mess at St. James's Palace for the year ending 31st December, 1922?

I am informed that the average number of dinners served was something less than nine a day.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if His Majesty's Government has considered the Report of the Committee dealing with the co-ordination of the technical services of the Navy, Army and Air Force; if so, will he state what action, if any, is proposed as a result; and what opportunity will be given for such proposals to be considered and discussed by the House?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and steps are being taken, particularly by the establishment of interdepartmental technical committees, to carry out the necessary detailed measures of co-ordination. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which my hon. Friend gave him on the 22nd March, to the effect that it was not proposed to publish the Report of the Committee.

Are we to understand that this most vital decision with regard to some technical questions is being already acted upon without any report being made to this House or any opportunity being given for its discussion?

Yes, Sir; it is a matter for the Cabinet.

Can the hon. Gentleman say why it was considered inadvisable to publish the particulars?

Because it is not usual in cases of this kind, and there is no intention of departing from what is usual.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the number of cases in which parcels addressed to the men of the Fleet stationed in Turkish waters fail to reach the addresses or are delayed for many weeks and whether he can take any steps to meet the difficulty?

Owing to lack of accommodation, parcels are not accepted for conveyance on the Simplon Orient express trains, and parcels for ships in Turkish waters have, therefore, to be sent by sea. There are three services a month from Marseilles to Constantinople, and one a month from the United Kingdom, and the time taken in transit is about a month. Opportunity is taken to forward parcels in any British warship proceeding to Turkish waters where a gain in time would result, and the Post Office is notified of such opportunities. I have no information as to the loss of any parcels in transit.

On a point of Order. Are we going over Questions a second time?

No; that is never allowed to late comers on these last days before the Recess.

is there any Standing Order which prevents us from asking questions up to a Quarter to Four?

No: original questions could be asked until that time, but, if the hon. Member will look at the precedents, he will see that it is not allowable to go Over them again. Otherwise, Members might deliberately stay away and, coming late, might come in on the second, third, fourth or fifth round. I could not allow that.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the statement in the Press, to the effect that the Master Builders' Association propose issuing lock-out Notices to the men engaged in the building trades: and whether his Department proposes to take any steps to prevent a stoppage in view of the serious consequences that would result to the nation, as a consequence of such stoppage in building at the present time?

I have been keeping in close touch with the situation indicated in the hon. Member's question, and shall continue to do so. I do not think I can usefully add more at the present moment.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the men are now working under a sliding scale based on the cost of living, and that they have already forfeited voluntarily 1½d. an hour to.which they are at present entitled; and is he also aware that the present action of the Master Builders' Federation is a direct breach of the existing agreement which they have signed?

All those are matters of argument, and I think that, in the present. state of the negotiations, it would be very much better not to discuss those, points on the Floor of the House.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the representatives of the men are very anxious again to meet the Master Builders' Federation, with a view to arriving at a settlement, if possible, and will he, in view of that fact, use his influence with the Master Builders' Federation to bring about such a meeting'?

I have already given the assurance that I shall keep.in very close touch with, the situation. I am sure that no one is more anxious than every Member of this House that some satisfactory solution should be arrived at.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the statements contained in the "Daily Express" of this morning, in which certain. definite Budget proposals are set forth on what purports to be his authority, and that a certain account is also given of alleged Cabinet Discussions on the proposals; if so what action he proposes to take in the matter.

I have not seen the article in question, but the hon. Member was good enough to speak to me as I was entering the House to-day, and showed me the article in question. There is not a syllable of truth in it from beginning to end. It. is pure invention and reflects great credit on the imagination of the author. The steps I propose to take are to introduce my Budget on 16th April.

In view of the fact that the principal owner of this journal, who is eking out a precarious livelihood by these disreputable meanings, is also. —[Interruption.]

If there is no syllable of truth in the report, how is it that great credit is due to the imagination of the man who wrote it?

The Chancellor's humour aid not penetrate the Scottish mind.