asked the Minister of Labour whether application has been made to his Department to procure skilled workers for the French Government or for work in the devastated areas of France; if so, what was the nature of the work to be done and what wages were to be paid to the different grades of workmen required; and whether these were to take the place of French artisans who have been sent to the Ruhr?

No application has yet been made to the Ministry of Labour for any workers for the French Government or for the devastated areas in France.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to state the date of the forthcoming Imperial Economic Conference and also the Dominion Governments who have so far accepted; and if the Crown Colonies will be represented?

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question has been anticipated by the announcement made in the House last Monday. As to the latter part of the question, I would refer him to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Dart-ford (Mr. Jarrett) on the 20th March.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, in view of the present controversy regarding the financial position of the railway companies and railway rates, there is at the Ministry of Transport a detailed record of the manner in which the payment of £60,000,000 to the railway companies in respect of war-time agreements was made up; and, if so, what are the leading items in the record, with the amounts allocated to each?

I am unable to add anything to the full statement made on the 28th June, 1921, by the then Minister of Transport during the Committee State of the Railways Bill in explanation of the scope of the lump-sum settlement.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he will furnish a return showing the present freight charges by rail for roofing slates and roofing tiles, respectively, with the corresponding pre-War charges?

I am not in a position to furnish the hon. Member with a return showing the actual freight charges for the carriage of common roofing slates and roofing tiles in operation before the War and at the present day. In view of the number of individual rates involved such a return would be very voluminous. The rates at present in operation for these traffics are the rates in force on the 14th of January, 1920, with an addition thereto of 75 per cent. plus a flat rate addition of 3d. per ton, with a maximum addition of 6s. per ton. No general percentage increase was made in goods rates prior to 14th January, 1920.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why officers of His Majesty's Army are no longer permitted to wear uniform when occupying the office of High Sheriff; and whether the uniform of a Deputy-Lieutenant is held to be a military uniform?

The duties of High Sheriff are purely civil, and the wearing of military uniform in connection with them would infringe the general rule that military uniform may not be worn by ex-officers or retired officers except on military occasions. Officers on the Active List are not eligible to be. High Sheriff. Deputy-Lieutenant's uniform, however, is not military, and may be worn by a Deputy-Lieutenant when discharging the duty of High Sheriff.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can give the percentage of recruits for the Army in 1922 and 1923 who were illiterate or not up to the standard of the third-class certificate?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give the number of soldiers who were sentenced to death by court-martial for desertion in the face of the enemy during the late War, and the number of cases in which the sentence was carried out?

Desertion in the face of the enemy is not the correct description of any offence under the Army Act, but it is assumed that what is referred to is desertion on Active Service. The number of cases in which the death sentence was carried out for desertion on Active Service during the late War is 264. The number of cases in which the death sentence was awarded for desertion on Active Service was approximately 2,450.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the amount of potash received from Germany for agricultural purposes since the Armistice:

The approximate percentage for 1922 was 10. That for 1923 is not yet available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the number of general courts martial, field-general courts martial, and district courts martial, respectively, held in the years ending 30th September, 1919, 1920, 1921, and 1922?

The following are the particulars:Number of general, field-general, and district courts martial, respectively, held in the years ending 30th September:what was its cost; and what price was paid for it by the farmers?

I have been asked to reply. The quantities and declared values of potassium salts largely but not wholly used for manurial purposes imported into the United Kingdom and registered as consigned from Germany during the years 1920, 1921 and 1922, were as follow:

asked the Minister of Agriculture the average amount of potash used by agriculturists in Great Britain for manurial purposes, and what is the average cost?

I have been asked to reply. No very reliable data exist of the extent to which potash is used by agriculturists, but in 1912 it was estimated that 80,000 tons were so employed in the United Kingdom. In 1922, the imports into Great Britain and Ireland of potassium compounds (excluding nitrate of potash) amounted to 200,357 tons of an average value of about 93s. per ton, hut my right hon. Friend cannot say how much of this was used for manurial purposes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, whether, in view of the very serious crisis with which the agricultural industry in this country is faced, the Government proposes to introduce immediately a Bin incorporating the recommendations contained in the Interim Report of the Agricultural Tribunal of Investigation?

have been asked to reply. In view of the short time since the Report was issued and the importance, financial and otherwise, of the question involved, the Government are not prepared to make any comprehensive statement at the present time. With regard to railway rates, the Government are of opinion that the railway companies are in a position to reduce rates drastically. The remedy, however, lies in the hands of the industry itself, which can make an application to the Railway Rates Tribunal established by Parliament for such cases. In this connection meetings between the parties are being arranged, and the Ministry of Agriculture has expressed its willingness to give any assistance in its power. With regard to hops, the Government does not adopt the recommendations of the tribunal. A little time will be necessary to ascertain what will be the probable future consumption of beer. The present control will continue till 1925. The Government recognises the claims of the hop-growers, and before the expiration of the control will deal with the question. With regard to local rates, it has been decided that the Road Fund surplus, amounting probably to over £1,250,000, should be devoted to relief of rates for the upkeep of rural roads. The Government also intends, pending proposals for dealing with the whole rates question, to introduce a Bill this Session to reduce the assessment of agricultural land from one-half to one-quarter, making good the difference by an Exchequer grant. This would be in addition to the proposal as to the Road Fund.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether any facilities given to Canada for the importation to Britain of breeding stock will be extended also to Australia and New Zealand?

I have been asked to reply. At the present stage my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture cannot usefully add anything to the reply which the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Islington (Sir N. Moore) on the 14th ultimo.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage in Surrey and in England and Wales devoted to the cultivation of lavender, peppermint, and camomile, giving each separately, in 1913, 1914, and the last year for which statistics are available, and also the quantities of each imported in each year for which the foregoing statistics are asked?

I have been asked to reply. Statistics are not collected of the acreage of lavender, peppermint, or camomile, and the imports of these commodities are not separately distinguished in the trade returns.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will be prepared to furnish a Return showing the replies received by county councils under Section 84 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Act relating to the development of rural industries, and the action taken by the Ministry in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend does not think that any useful purpose would be served by publishing the returns referred to. As I think my hon. Friend is aware, copies have already been sent to all interested bodies, such as the National Federation of Women's Institutes and the Village Clubs Association, as well as to the Rural Industries Intelligence Bureau, of which my hon. Friend is a trustee; and my eight hon. Friend is hopeful that a consideration of the reports by these and other bodies will lead to some useful results.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was the number of pensions cancelled during the 12 months ending 31st December, 1922, owing to change of diagnosis or change of entitlement on medical grounds, and what was the average duration of the pensions so cancelled?

Out of some 600,000 cases which came up for reassessment during 1922, it was found necessary to cancel entitlement to pension on medical grounds in less than one half of one per cent. I regret that I am not in a position to state the average duration of these pensions.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will consider the case of the widow of the late Private Heaton, No. 44,034, Durham Light Infantry, whose son has won a scholarship to the Hindley and Abram Grammar School, where he is now attending, but which imposes great hardship upon the mother to provide his maintenance; and whether, in view of these facts, he will authorise a grant to be made so that the boy could take full advantage of the opportunity he has secured by winning the scholarship in open competition?

The application for an education grant in this case has received careful consideration, but I regret that the facts do not justify an award under the regulations of the Special Grants Committee.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. Leslie Blair Glass, of 15, Cranbrook Road, Walthamstow, was ordered convalescent treatment, and was paid treatment allowance during the period of such treatment, from 14th September, 1921, to 28th February, 1922, by his local pensions committee that Mr. Glass has recently been informed that he owes the Ministry a sum of £121 8s. 8d., on the alleged ground that the local committee did not obtain the sanction of the district commissioner of medical services to pay treatment allowance; and that, certain sums have been deducted from the moneys due to Mr. Glass to meet the claim now made by the Ministry and whether he will order the claim made on Mr. Glass to be withdrawn and the money which has been deducted from him to be paid back to him (his identity number is 11 /M/124530)?

I am glad to inform the hon. Member that under arrangements which have recently been made further recovery of the amount over-issued in this case will be waived.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in the cases of men who have appealed to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal against the Ministry's decision that aggravation has passed away, and are successful in their appeal, the men are re-boarded by medical officers who had previously expressed the opinion that aggravation had passed away; whether, if these officers adhere to their previous decision, no award is made and the men do not receive further compensation for an injury or disability declared by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal to be present as a result of war service; and whether, in view of the discontent that exists, he would make provision for an independent board comprising a representative of the Ministry of Health, a representative of the Ministry of Labour, and a representative of the Ministry of Pensions, to assess what compensation should be awarded to a man who, in the opinion of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, is suffering from the effects of war service though the Ministry declines to make an award?

The hon. Member does not appear to be fully informed as to the practice of the Ministry in cases of the kind referred to. In the case of a successful appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal against a Ministry decision that aggravation has passed away, it is not usually necessary to re-board the man before acting on the tribunal's decision, because in most cases the rate of pension previously current is simply restored. Re-boarding is only necessary in the few cases where the Ministry had been medically advised not only that aggravation had passed away, but that there was no disablement. In these cases it is the usual practice of the Ministry to refer the man to a different board from that which previously examined him. I am taking steps to arrange that reference to a different board shall be the invariable practice in these cases. I am not prepared to accept the suggestion in the last part of the question.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. Douglas Gilchrist, of 54, East Main Street, Whit-burn, appealed against a final award of 20 per cent. to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, which appeal has been rejected; that the man has been examined by a doctor, who certifies him to be permanently unable to resume his work as a miner; that his former employers, William Dixon, Limited, who had given the man temporary employment, now state that he is unfit for any work in the mine; and whether, in view of the circumstances, he will reconsider the claim?

The final award was made in accordance with the finding of a special medical board which comprised a surgical specialist. This board found 20 per cent, disablement from the disability of the right arm and none from the wound of the left hand. This award has been confirmed on appeal by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal and the man is therefore entitled to a 20 per cent. pension for life.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether applications under Article 9 of the Warrant are now rejected unless the applicant can produce evidence of continuous medical treatment since the date of his discharge or demobilisation: and, if so, whether he has considered the hardship that is likely to arise from a man's inability to produce certificates covering a long period?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the nagative. While connection between the disability claimed and the man's military or naval service can obviously best be established by medical evidence covering the period between discharge and the date of the claim, full weight is always given to evidence of other kinds which is frequently found sufficient to establish a claim to pension.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of pensioners in receipt of pension assessed at 40 per cent. and below and at over 40 per cent. but under 50 per cent., respectively?

The approximate number of pensions in payment at the rate of 40 per cent. and under is 430,000. The number at 50 per cent. is about 60,000. There are about 300 assessments of 45 per cent. in payment but as regards these I would point out that assessments at percentages other than multiples of 10 are not made, except in certain cases of final awards.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the parent or dependent of a deceased ex-service man who is a widow with several young children and has to stay at home to attend to household duties is eligible for a pecuniary-need pension?

The grant of a need pension to a parent or dependant is conditional on the existence of personal incapacity for self-support on the part of the claimant. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind of the type indicated in the question, I should be glad if he would let me have particulars.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether in cases where the marriage certificates and birth certificates of the children of a pensioner have been seen and verified and the pension has been in issue for some years the present practice is to withhold the allowance for the wife and children pending re-verification; whether, since this is a hardship on the pensioner and his family, being the expenditure of money for birth certificates which may be required for food, there could be more correlation between the Pension Issue Office and the office making the award, and the withholding of the wife's and children's allowances cease?

When a marriage or birth certificate has once been produced it is not ordinarily again required by my Department. I should be glad if the hon. Member would let me have particulars of any case of the nature suggested in the first part of the question which has come to his notice.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that a grant recommended by the Glasgow War Pensions Committee of £120 to Mr. John Dickson, 1312, Shettleston Road, Glasgow, to enable him to develop his business has been refused by the chief area officer; whether it was reported to the committee that Mr. Dickson could have successfully improved his business by the introduction of certain machinery which he proposed to purchase; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter with a view to the committee's recommendation being given effect to?

I understand that the War Pensions Committee did not recommend in favour of the application. I am, however, having further inquiries made and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Pensions what were the main items which made up the £5 10s., the average cost of a single meeting of War Pensions Committees during December last?

The average cost is made up of £2 15s. travelling expenses; £1 5s. subsistence allowances and compensation for loss of time; and £1 10s. administrative and clerical expenses.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether chief area officers keep a record of all claims made under Article 9 of the Royal Warrant; whether his record contains particulars of those applications which are rejected on the grounds that they were made more than seven years after discharge; and, if so, will he furnish the number of claims that have been rejected in these circumstances?

No separate record is kept of applications which, for various reasons, are not proceeded with. To obtain the information desired by the hon. Member would therefore entail an examination of all the individual case papers in the local offices, a task which I should not be justified in imposing upon my staff.

asked the Minister of Pensions whet-her he is aware that at the Bellahouston Pensions Hospital, Glasgow, the nurses on night duty do 12 hours' duty each night with only half-an-hour break for meals, and that at the end of their night duty turn, sometimes extended to two months at the discretion of the matron, they get two nights off only; and whether he will give instructions at this hospital that nurses shall have the same rest-time as at other hospitals coming under the Regulations of his Department?

I am having inquiries made into this matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the report of the Sheffield school medical officer, in which he states that tulerculosis is a very frequent cause of ill-health among school children, and in which he further compares the rate of exclusion per 1,000 in the larger elementary schools, from which it appears that in schools where there is poverty the rate of exclusion shows an average in 1922 of nearly 15·0 per 1,000, and in schools where there is not poverty the rate is only 2· per 1,000; and whether these figures apply generally to schools throughout the country?

I have received the usual official copy of the report in ques- tion, and the figures relating to the incidence of tuberculosis among school children at Sheffield will be reviewed with other similar returns as usual in the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer to the Board. I am advised that the returns for Sheffield are not representative of the country as a whole. The hon. Member will find the subject discussed in the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer for 1920, published in August, 1921, pages 134–145.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can, by counties, give the numbers of free places in the secondary schools which have already been cut down as a result of the policy of economy now being practised by his Department?

Under Article 20 of the Regulations for Secondary Schools, the number of free places offered in any school year is considered in relation to the total number of pupils admitted in the previous year. The Board have not required the percentage to be reduced below the percentage awarded in the school year ending 31st July, 1922, and I do not propose to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Education if his Department has informed all educational authorities in receipt of public assistance that they must no longer give medical service free to those children whose parents are above the poverty line; how many children this decision is expected to affect; how the estimation of means is arrived at; and what steps are taken to effect that the medical attention is forthcoming when parents cannot, as they assert, pay for it?

I assume the hon. Member is referring to Circular 1300 issued on the 16th March last, a copy of which I am sending him. I regret I have no figures which would enable me to reply to the second part of the question. For the answer to the remaining points I would refer him to the contents of the Circular.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the statements made in the annual report of the medical officer of health for the borough of White-haven for 1922 to the effect that the physique of the school children shows that there has been an appreciable deterioration from the standard of 1921, and that this is due to the low wages earned by the miners, resulting in a deterioration of the quality and quantity of the food supplied to them; and whether he will take immediate steps, by the rigid administration of the Maternity and Child Welfare Acts and the Provision of Meals Act, to check any further development of this physical deterioration among the children in White-haven and district?

I have seen the report of the school medical officer, which is apparently the report referred to by the hon. Member The question whether meals should be provided by a local education authority to children attending public elementary schools in their area is one for the decision of the authority under Section 82 of the Education Act, 1921, and in the same way the administration of the Maternity and Child Welfare Act is primarily a matter for the local authority. I may say, however, that the scheme of the White-haven Town Council under the latter Act includes the provision of milk in necessitous cases, and I have approved their estimate for this purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has acted on the suggestion of the Colonial Office in issuing instructions as to the distinctive use of the expressions Colonial and Dominion; and, if not, will he do so?

I sympathise with my Noble Friend's object, and in the Board's Suggestions on the Teaching of Geography, which are now being revised, attention will be called to the point.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the delay in dealing with claims by business firms and others for damage done to their property by enemy action during the War and the hardship in- volved in many cases, he will take steps to hasten the work of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action, either by placing additional staff at its disposal for the investigation of the claims or in such other way as may be possible?

The Royal Commission is proceeding with the work as expeditiously as possible, and it is not considered that an increase of clerical staff would accelerate the investigation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether a Report was issued on wallpaper by a sectional committee of the Central Committee under the Profiteering Act; if so, when;(2) whether the Standing Committee on Trusts under the Profiteering Act issued the material collected by Mr. Ashley on trusts, trade associations, etc.; and, if so, when?

The answer to the first parts of both questions is in the negative, and the second parts do not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a Report was issued on light castings by a sectional committee of the Central Committee under the Profiteering Act; and, if so, when?

The Report was dated the 12th February, 1921, and was issued as a Command Paper (Cmd. 1200).

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in connection with the re-organisation of the mining inspectorate in the Northern Area caused by the death of the late Mr. J. R. R. Wilson, he will now consider the advisability of restoring to the iron-ore mining districts of West Cumberland an inspector with practical knowledge and experience of those mines such as they had for nearly a quarter of a century, in view of the absence from the present inspectorate of anyone with intimate personal knowledge of these mines?

The death of Mr. Wilson, while it has deprived us of a very valuable officer, does not alter the facts stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 19th February, to which, I am afraid, I have nothing to add.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give the figures for each of the years 1910 to 1915, and 1919 to 1922, of the Indian civil servants appointed of British and of Indian birth, respectively?

The appointments to the Indian Civil Service in the years 1910–1915 and 1919–1922 were as follow:

asked the Minister of Health if he will favourably consider allowing the building subsidy, provided for in his new Housing Bill, to be paid to public utility societies and bundling guilds on the same terms as to local authorities?

Perhaps I may refer the hon. Member to Clause 3 of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that certain local authorities are continuing building schemes; if so, what are the conditions, if any, under which he has given sanction for such schemes; and if any provision is made for levying any portion of the cost on local rates?

I am aware that a number of local authorities are proceeding with the erection of houses in anticipation of the new Housing Bill, and the fourth sub-clause of Clause 1 of the Bill provides that local authorities will not be prejudiced as regards the subsidy on account of their having so acted. Any loss on such schemes beyond the amount of the Government subsidy will, of course, fall on the local rates.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average number of patients in Poor Law infirmaries in this country; what is the average number of children boarded out and in children's homes; what is the actual number of Poor Law infirmaries visited by women inspectors last year as distinct from the number of visits paid; whether any Poor Law infirmaries were inspected by male inspectors; what are the qualifications required for the post of superintending woman inspector; and what is her basic salary?

I regret that I am unable to state the average numbers asked for in the first two parts of this question, but on the 1st January 1922 there were approximately 84,000 patients in infirmaries and in the sink-wards of other Poor Law institutions, there were 9,800 children boarded out and 32,000 children in Poor Law institutions provided wholly for the reception and maintenance of children. 206 infirmaries were visited by women inspectors last year, and the infirmaries are also inspected by the male general inspectors and by medical officers of my Department. The superintending woman inspector is selected from the women inspectors who are required to be fully trained nurses. Her basic salary is £400— £15—£450.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Treaty of 1884 between Great Britain and Abyssinia for the suppression of the slave trade is still operative; whether he is aware that this Treaty provides for the prohibition of the buying and selling of slaves within the Dominion of Abyssinia, the import and export of slaves, and for the protection of all liberated slaves, and the severe punishment of those who may attempt to reduce such manumitted slaves again to slavery; and whether His Majesty's Government proposes to make any representations to the Abyssinian Government under this Treaty, with regard to the reports, both official and unofficial, upon the existence of slave-owning and slave traffic, or whether it is proposed to await the results of the discussion of the subject by the League of Nations next September?

The Treaty of 1884 remains nominally operative, but is not practically possible to enforce the execution of those of its Articles, namely, 1, 2 and 3, which require to be carried out by the Abyssinian Government. In any case, the hon. Member will observe that the Negus only undertakes to carry them out "to the best of his ability "or to" the utmost of his power." The Treaty does not prohibit slave-owning; consequently, no representations about that practice can be based upon it. Representations have, however, been made under the Treaty in connection with the only authenticated case of export of slaves from Abyssinia in recent times, namely, in regard to those captured in a dhow in the Red Sea by H.M.S. "Cornflower" last year. The action suggested in the last part of the hon. Member's question has therefore been anticipated.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to a piratical attack on the British schooner "Marion Mosher," off the coast of Long Island, in January last; whether the schooner was carrying a cargo of 4,000 cases of liquor from Nassau, Bahamas, to St. John, New Brunswick, at the time of the attack; whether the whole of that cargo was removed by the pirates; whether any inquiries have been made into the case; and, if so, with what result?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the rest of the question therefore does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the new agreement signed between the American and Japanese Governments involves any extension of the principles of the Washington Agreement between the nine Powers; and whether His Majesty's Government welcome it as in accordance with the settled policy of the British Empire?

I am not aware of any new agreement having recently been signed between the United States and Japanese Governments.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what statistics he has in his possession showing the distribution of nationalities in Eastern Galicia; what percentage of non-Polish population, including Jews, these figures show; what is the source of these statistics; and whether the Council of Ambassadors had the figures of population before them when they advised the annexation of the province by Poland?

We have no more recent or more reliable figures than those given in the last Austrian census of religions. According to these statistics there are just under 3,000,000 Ruthenians, just over 1,000,000 Poles, and a little over 500,000 Jews. The Ambassadors' Conference were in possession of all the necessary data relating to this question before their decision was taken.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the German Government has recently undertaken to allow goods contracted for and ready for shipment before the French occupation to be shipped free of licence and duty provided that the French and Belgian Governments will grant like facilities; and if he will make representations to these two Governments with a view to their falling in with the proposals of the German Government so that goods which have been held up for months may be set free for export?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the President of the Board of Trade in his speech in this House on 28th March.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have any information to the effect that foodstuffs have been exported in bulk from Russia, where famine conditions still prevail over a large area?

The exports of grain from Russia for 1922 are believed to have been about 4,800 tons. No exact information is available as to exports during the current year; but it is probable that some cargoes have left Russia and the agents of the Russian Government estimate that from 150,000 to 350,000 tons will be sold abroad during 1923.

asked the Home Secretary the number of admissions to local prisons of males and females between the ages of 16 and 21 for the years 1922 and 1923 for the following classes: on remand for all causes; awaiting trial, quarter sessions or assizes; committed to prison until quarter sessions with a view to a sentence of detention in a Borstal institution; and after sentence to a term of imprisonment.?

I regret that I am unable to give these figures.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the number of staff employed at the Disposal Board on 12th March, 1923; and what is the number of staff employed by the Liquidation Commission, which has now taken over the work of the Disposal Board?

The headquarters staff of the Disposal and Liquidation Commission on the 12th March last numbered 749 and is now 694. I would explain that the Disposal Board was a body constituted under the Disposal and Liquidation Commission, and that the change which has taken place is that the Disposal Board and the Liquidation Board were dissolved on the 31st March last The supervision previously exercised by these Boards is now exercised by the Commission direct.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was the total amount expended during the three months ending 31st March, 1923, in respect of salaries to staff at Ministry headquarters, salaries to staff at regional headquarters, and salaries to staff at local area offices, respectively; and what was the amount expended under the same headings for the three months ending 31st March, 1920?

The amounts paid in salaries and wages during the periods named were:—

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in connection with the examinations for Eastern cadetships, no exception to the usual age limits of candidates is to be allowed on account of service with the forces; and, if so, the reason for this variation in what is now the accustomed practice in connection with Civil Service examinations?

I have been asked to reply. The case is as the hon. Member states it. Between 1919 and 1921 arrangements were made for recruiting a large number of ex-service men for the Far East with a very considerable range of age above the normal limit, so as to afford an opportunity to all ex-service men who would have been eligible to compete if examinations had been held during the War. Though the Governments concerned were glad to make the concession, the fact that many of the cadets so appointed were much over the usual age was a source of some embarrassment. As, however, the ages normally fixed provide for cadets to go out to the East at the time of life which is for a variety of reasons to the best advantage of their own careers as well as in the interests of the public service, it was considered desirable to revert to the usual age limits when competition was reintroduced. Comparison with the Home Service is inapplicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to act in accordance with the decision of the House of Lords in the case of Sutton v. The Attorney-General, and to recognise that the civil pay payable to civil servants while on active service in the late War includes the bonus current during the term of active service; and whether it is proposed to refund to such men who were single or widowers the bonus which was withheld from them while they were on active service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply on this subject given to a question by the Member for Central Edinburgh (Mr. W. Graham) on the 21st March.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will inform the House what is the amount of pension at present being paid the bailiff of Royal Parks; and out of what fund is such pension paid?

He is in receipt of Army retired pay at the, rate of £249 per annum chargeable to Army Votes.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can

give the names of the candidates at the last General Election who failed to obtain one-eighth of the votes recorded in the constituency they contested, and the names of the constituencies?

The following list gives the particulars asked for by the hon. Member:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will make better arrangements at Holyhead for the examination of passengers' luggage arriving from Ireland; whether he is aware that a form only 30 feet in length is provided for the examination of the luggage of several hundred passengers; and whether he will give instructions to the newly-appointed customs officials to conform to the practice of customs officials at other ports of the United Kingdom?

My hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that the railway company, whose business it is to provide accommodation for the examination of passengers' baggage, were required to improvise in some haste the best temporary arrangements they could to meet the changed conditions which arose on the 1st April. I understand that the provision of better permanent accommodation is being pressed forward.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Disposal Board has realised over £650,000,000 through the sale of war stores; that the national war debts were partially incurred by the capital expenditure involved in the manufacture of these war stores; and how much of this £650,000,000 has been applied in reduction of the capital of the war debts?

The amount of cash from Revenue applied to reduce debt from 1st April, 1919, up to 31st March, 1923, was £448,753,000 while the Exchequer receipts from Special Miscellaneous Revenue during the same period were £774,543,000. The hon. Member will remember that during the first year after the Armistice it was necessary to borrow -to the extent of £349,604,000 to meet the excess of expenditure over receipts, even after using the special receipts of that year amounting to £265 millions as revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate at which special taxes are levied on British visitors to Berlin; and whether he will consider the advisability of introducing in the coming Budget a similar tax on Germans visiting this country?

I am not aware of any special tax in Berlin directed against British visitors as such. As regards the second part of the question, I would ask the hon. Member to await the Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the holders of the 5 per cent. National War Bonds, maturing on 1st April, have availed themselves of the last opportunity given to them to convert into 4½ per cent. Treasury Bonds?

The nominal value of the 5 per cent. National War Bonds due 1st. April, 1923, converted into 4½ per cent. Treasury Bonds was £10,883,000. I may add that the effect of this operation was a saving of about £50,000 per annum in interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of gold recovered from the s.s. "Egypt" and the amount which it is hoped to recover?

I have not heard that any of the gold carried on the s.s. "Egypt" has been recovered, but I have no special information on the subject. None of the gold was carried on Government account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of Customs duty collected on sugar and tea imported from foreign countries and the Dominions, respectively, in the financial year 1922–23?

I regret I am unable to give my hon. Friend this information in advance of the Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give details of the recent arrangement entered into between the Bank of England and the Bank of France; and in what way it affects the British taxpayer?

I understand that negotiations between the Bank of England and Bank of France are still proceeding. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer to my answer to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on the 28th March.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the statements of the Marconi Company as to the delay on the part of the Post Office in granting to the company licences for the erection of wireless stations; and what is the cause of such delay?

The statements referred to in my hon. Friend's question are not correct. Immediately upon my appointment as Postmaster-General I reviewed the whole matter in consultation with the Chairman of the Imperial Communications Committee, and I addressed a letter to the Marconi Company on the 26th March, asking them to favour me with any proposals which they desired to make in connection with the recent decision of the Cabinet permitting private enterprise to take its full share of Imperial and international wireless work. On the 3rd April, a reply was received to this letter in which the Marconi Company pointed out that their proposals must depend on a closer knowledge of the Government's policy than they at present possessed, and they asked that I should meet their representatives in conference. This I propose to do in order that they may put before me any schemes or any proposals for any licence which they desire to obtain.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that his Department applied for and obtained the sanction of Parliament to spend £10,000 on the reconstruction of the Central Telegraph Office, in Roman Bath Street, E.C., a year ago, to enable the staff to carry out the work more efficiently under reasonably good conditions, he will say whether the work of reconstruction has been commenced; and, if not, whether he will take steps to have the work started at an early date?

would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 21st March by the First Commissioner of Works to a question put by the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Middleton).

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that an important and urgent envelope containing documents was posted at High Wycombe and stamped at 8.45 p.m., on 24th March, for Chesham, 11 miles away, but only reached its destination on 28th March; the reason for the delay; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence?

I have no means of identifying the case from the particulars given, but if the hon. Member will be good enough to send me the cover of the letter in question I will have inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether licences for the receipt of broadcasted matter are made to the occupants of licensed premises; and, if so, whether he has received any complaints against the regulation which permits of it?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. Representations have been made on the subject; but I am not in a position to refuse the grant of a wireless licence on the ground that the receiving apparatus is to be installed on licensed premises.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has considered representations from the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce urging the necessity of arranging that halfpenny postal packets, which frequently contain urgent commercial documents, such as advices, instructions, orders, invoices, &c., should not be in any way delayed, but should be dealt with in the ordinary post as in pre-War times; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

I have received the representations referred to. Under arrangements sanctioned by my predecessor the latest hour for posting halfpenny packets for the night mails at the Sheffield head post, office has been extended to 5.15 p.m. It would not be possible further to extend the time, without relinquishing very substantial savings and administrative benefits; nor would it be feasible to make a distinction, such as is suggested, between the various classes of halfpenny packets based on the particular nature of their contents.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he is aware that 18 marine firemen were sent to prison for 21 days at the Glasgow J.P. Court on a charge of having left the s.s. "Assyria" on sailing day; that these men were unaware that they had signed articles for a reduction of £per month in wages, and that, having made the discovery on sailing day, they refused to proceed on the ground that they had not been properly informed; that no facilities were provided for legal defence, and that the men were informed by an official in court that as the charge was a trifling one it would be desirable for them to plead guilty; and if, in the circumstances, he will consult the Secretary for Scotland with a view to the men's release, or, alternatively, a remission of the sentence?

My Noble Friend has called for an early report on this ease, and will inform the hon. Member of his decision as soon as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, what is the actual work of the contract purchasing department: who is the head of the same; how many officers are employed the number of assistants; and the annual cost of that department?

The work carried out by the Contract and Purchase Department is as follows:The purchase and conclusion of all contracts for ships and their equipment, ordnance, machinery, armour, torpedoes, mines and other munitions, food and clothing, fuel and stores of H.M. Naval and Marine Forces and Establishments and in connection therewith, but excluding the requirements of the Works Department, other than coal and timber imported direct.Contracts for the conveyance of stores by rail and lighter, hire of trucks, tank wagons and barges.In order to ensure uniformity of policy and co-ordination of the purchases made by all the fighting services, this Department maintains close touch with the other State Contracting Departments.Sale of old ships and old stores of every kind for all Admiralty Departments.Selection of firms to be placed on the Admiralty list of contractors.Examination of all questions relating to patents, inventions and improvements in trade methods.Technical costings for Admiralty and other Government Departments.Liquidation of work arising out of the War.It will be appreciated that this is, necessarily, only a brief summary of the activities of the Department.The Head of the Department is Mr. W. St. D. Jenkins, C.B., C.B.E. The staff employed numbers at present 166, exclusive of the staff, borne in the central Admiralty pool, for registry and copying work. Details of the staff are given in the Navy Estimates for 1923–24, pages 174–175. The numbers and grades employed are reviewed from time to time according to the work. The cost of the staff (excluding that employed on registry and copying work) is estimated, for 1923–24, to be £66,253 of which about 21,850 is recoverable in respect of work carried out for other Government Departments.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many floating docks does this country possess which, could dock the "Hood," including in his estimate such of the surrendered German floating docks as are capable of being made large enough for this purpose; and whether such docks can be sent through the Suez Canal?

There will be three floating docks capable of taking the "Hood" when the Southampton dock is completed, probably in the autumn of this year, and the two ex-German docks are lengthened, one of which is in hand. These docks could be passed through the Seuz Canal.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. David White, 84, West Main Street, Whit-burn, was refused unemployment benefit after having been dismissed by the manager of the Polkemet colliery, at Whitburn; that he applied to the Bath-gate Employment Exchange for leave to appeal and that the officials refused to give him an appeal form; and will he make inquiries into the matter?

I am making inquiries locally and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Mr. Frank Mullan, who was discharged from the steamship "Janeta," and who applied for unemployment benefit at the Bedford Street Employment Exchange, Glasgow, has been disqualified for a period of six weeks on the ground that the master of the vessel declined to report on his conduct during the voyage; whether it is the practice of the Department to disqualify seamen when they have beet actually discharged from a ship; and if any instructions have been issued to Employment Exchanges to this effect?

I am making inquiries locally, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.