asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many women served in Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps as women clerks, overseas and on mobile and immobile home service work, respectively; whether any considerable proportion of other ranks were recruited from women normally unemployed as clerks; and how many of the women were discharged and demobilised between 1918 and October, 1920, and since that date, respectively?

I much regret that I am not in a position to furnish this information. It could only be obtained by prolonged research, the cost of which would not, I think, be justified.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) how the reduction of the personnel of the Army Educational Corps will affect non-commissioned officers enlisted into the Army as instructors as regards transfers to other units: whether they will be permitted to transfer to other technical corps such as the Army Bay Corps or the Royal Army Ordnance Corps;(2) whether, in view of the reduction of the Army Educational Corps and the fact that many of the non-commissioned officers transferred into it from other units were senior non-commissioned officers with every prospect of further promotion, being in possession of the Army first-class certificate of education, they will be allowed to transfer back to their own units; and, if so, if they will be allowed to retain their former rank, if higher than their present rank, their present rank, or the rank they would have attained if they had remained with their unit in their former rank?

No further reductions in the personnel of other ranks of the Army Educational Corps are at present anticipated, so that the question of transfer of personnel to other corps does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what gratuity, if any, was paid to Army Pay Corps and other non-combatant home service conscripts on demobilisation after one or two years' service respectively; what was their pay rate in 1918; and what additional provision was made for them by way of uniform, food, lodging, or fare facilities and family allowances, at that time?

The general rate of gratuities for home service on demobilisation was £5 for one year and £8 for two years for a private soldier, with higher rates for those of higher rank. The rate of pay for a private of the Army Pay Corps was 1s. 8d. a day, with an additional penny for each year of war service. It is not possible to state within the limits of a reply to a question the provision made for uniform, food and the other items mentioned; but they were the same for the Pay Corps as for the Army generally. If the hon. Member will inform me what point he has in mind, I -could, perhaps, answer it more directly.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the intentions of his Department with respect to the ex-German floating dock now in Portland Harbour, on which the work started in January of this year has now been brought to a standstill: whether he is aware that the whole value of this dock, together with the money already spent upon it, will be entirely wasted unless the necessary repair work is shortly carried out; and whether, in view of the great amount of unemployment in this district of men suitable for this class of work, he can see his way to an early resumption of this work?

The men who were engaged at Portland on the reconditioning of this floating dock were temporarily entered at that port under the scheme for the relief of unemployment, out of money available on Navy Estimates in the financial year now closed. We intend to resume this work as soon as practicable, but it will probably be necessary to transfer the dock to another yard, where the work can be done under more convenient and advantageous conditions. The value of the money already spent will not, as the hon. Member suggests, be wasted, as the dock will certainly be completed for service in due course.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reason why an established dockyard employé who sustained injuries whilst on duty which entailed the virtual loss of his left hand in the year 1921, and who was established at the time of the accident, is entitled to a disability pension on superannuation, whilst another established dockyard employé who met with a similar accident with identical consequences in the same year, but who was a hired man at the time of the accident, is only entitled to a bonus of £50 on leaving His Majesty's Dockyard at the age of 60 years?

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the cases of two men injured in t he year 1891 in regard to one of which he has already been in communication with me. In the case of injuries not involving total loss of earning capacity which occurred prior to 1st. July, 1.898, the date on which the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1897, commenced to operate, there is a difference in treatment due to the fact that such cases have to be dealt with under the Superannuation Act of 1887; and one of the provisions of the warrant regulating the awards under that Act is that men unestablished at the date of injury (other than "totally destroyed" cases) shall be granted a gratuity and not, as in the cases of established men, a pension.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that Army pensioners of the rank of sergeant used to be allowed to commute portions of their pensions beyond 30d. per day; that applications have been made to commute sums beyond that amount; that the applications have been refused and reasons given that only sums beyond 36d. can now be commuted; and will he be prepared to consider applications for commutation of sums beyond 30d. per day?

The capital sum paid for commutation of soldiers' pensions is charged directly upon the Vote for the Army in the year of payment, and the amount that can be found for this purpose out of the total of the Army Vote is necessarily limited. Applications to commute have been so numerous of late that it has been necessary for the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital to adopt some method of restricting their grants, and with the approval of the War Office they have temporarily increased the uncommutable minimum to 36d. a day. I cannot reduce that minimum until either more money is available or applications 'to commute are fewer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will arrange that when life service pensions are awarded in future the fact that they may be liable to cancellation will be stated on the face of the document, and that the authority under which they are granted may be stated so that the pensioner may be fully alive to the conditions of the award?

I am consulting the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital on these suggestions, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Financial secretary to the Admiralty whether any alteration has been recently made in the basic scale of pension due to officers and men of the coastguard service; and, if so, the nature of such alteration and the date when brought into operation?

There has been no recent alteration in the basic scale of retired pay and pension to officers and men of the late Coast Guard Service. They have recently been discharged with the retired pay or pension earned by their service and compensation for the curtailment of their naval careers.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Private James Mason, No. 741, Seaforth Highlanders, was in the Army from 30th June, 1911, to 26th July, 1915; that he is at present confined in Rosslynlee Asylum, Midlothian that the Ministry of Pensions accept no responsibility for his present condition; and will be prepared to reconsider this case with a view to the Ministry of Pensions accepting liability for this case?

The insanity in this case, for which the man was certified some 2½ years after final discharge from the Army in July, 1915, is a development of epilepsy from which he suffered while serving in India in 1913. His service during the Great War, which consisted of the performance of light duties at the base in France, was not of a character to be likely to aggravate this pre-War disability, and the epilepsy could not be regarded as either attributable to or aggravated by war service. On appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal that body confirmed the rejection of the epilepsy. This decision is by law final. The man is in, receipt of an award under pre-War Regulations for his epilepsy.

asked the 'Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the unsatisfactory position among the warders at Hampton Court Palace, he is willing to advise His Majesty's Office of Works to discuss with the representatives of the warders a readjustment of their wages which will bring them into line with the rates of pay of warders in the South Kensington Museums whose duties are similar?

The scale of pay of the warders at Hampton Court Palace was settled in February, 1921, after full consideration of the remuneration paid for similar duties elsewhere, and was accepted by the representatives of the staff as a full settlement of their claims. There has been no change in conditions of employment in similar service which in the opinion of my right hon. Friend would warrant any further adjustment in the wages of these men, and, in the circumstances, he is unable to see that any useful purpose would be served in reopening discussion with representatives of the staff.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will be in a position to inform the House of the extent of the financial support which the British Government are extending towards the Overseas Settlement Committee's work and migration generally and also the financial co-operation with the Dominion Governments for the opening up of undeveloped country?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on the 10th April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any estimate for 1922 of the cost of public assistance, including all Departments, so as to compare with the figure of £69,000,000 for 1910 in the Drage Return; and whether he will include with the figure the expenditure of this Labour Department, which has not hitherto been given in the Drage Return?

I am at present considering whether in the next issue of this Return of expenditure on certain public social services it may be possible to give not only the actual expenditure for the year ending 31st March, 1921, but an estimate for the year just completed. The expenditure on the Ministry of Labour under the Unemployment Insurance Acts has been included in previous Returns.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of arrears of Excess Profits Duty due on the 28th February, 1923, and the amount of claims for repayment which had been submitted but still remained unagreed on that date?

The approximate amount of Excess Profits Duty (including Munitions Levy) in assessment but unpaid at the 28th February, 1923, was £221,000,000. It will be understood that this figure does not represent finally ascertained liabilities large sums are subject to adjustment on appeal or otherwise and it is anticipated that the duty to be ultimately received by the Exchequer will fall far short of the amount stated. I regret that I am unable to state the amount of claims for repayment submitted but unagreed at that date. These claims arise and are examined in the first place locally. In a great many cases no precise figure is formulated until that examination is completed; in numerous other eases no relief is found to be due.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the saving in this year's Estimates due to the reduction in expenditure on services arising out of the War?

The reduction in Special Expenditure is £45,600,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to a dispute involving workers unemployed by the Stationery Office; whether any undertaking has been entered into as to work being performed by non-union labour; and whether any steps are being taken to deal with the matters in dispute?

My attention has been drawn to the matter referred to. I would remind the hon. Member that the conditions of employment in the Stationery Office are not in any way responsible for the dispute, and that the Office has been brought into the matter only on account of a dispute between a Trade Union and a private firm having a contract with the Department. I ought perhaps to add that the strike was entered upon without notice and was, I regret, contrary to an agreed resolution of the Departmental Industrial Council, Which provided that, in the event of dispute, the Industrial Council should meet before the employés in the Stationery Office works and warehouses were withdrawn. The matter has been the subject of exhaustive consideration at special meetings of the Departmental Industrial Council and every effort is being made to reach a settlement. In the circumstances I would prefer to make no further statement on the matter at the present time.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the duty paid messengers in he Admiralty are compelled to work 54 hours per week before overtime rates are paid, and that messengers' hours are regulated by a signed agreement with the Treasury on the basis of overtime rates of pay after 48 hours; and whether he will look into this matter and arrange to meet the men's representatives to discuss it, with a view to these duty pay messengers receiving the conditions laid down by agreement?

I have been asked to reply. The principle of a 48-hours week for unestablished messengers is generally accepted, but in the case of those in receipt of duty pay allowances, overtime is only paid for hours worked in excess of 54 per week, since the allowances are regarded as covering, if necessary, a certain amount of overtime duty. Special concessions in regard to overtime were made during the War period, but these were expressly limited to that period, and were made without prejudice to further consideration at the end of the War. The question of the pay- ment of overtime to messengers with duty pay allowances (the number of which is strictly limited) has already been the subject of discussion with the representatives of the men, and they have recently been informed that, should they so desire, the Admiralty will be prepared to receive a further deputation on the matter.

asked the Minister of Health (1) when it is proposed to re-organise the inspectorate of the Insurance Department in order to carry out Clause 2 of the Resolution of the House of Commons on 5th August, 1921, that women shall hold posts in the Civil Service under the same regulations as govern the classification and, in so far as regards status and authority, other conditions of service for men;(2) in what respect the duties of the women inspectors of the Insurance Department differ from those of the men inspectors other than that men and women deal mainly with workers of their own sex; and whether, seeing that the interests of the insured women of this country are adequately safeguarded by the present organisation of the women inspectorate, he will consider re-organising the male inspectorate on an equally economical basis, and thus saving the salaries of the men divisional inspectors?

The duties of the men inspectors are to secure compliance with the Insurance Acts, and to act within their districts as the local executive officers of the Insurance Department of the Ministry. The women inspectors are employed in the inspection of trades where women are mainly employed and in inquiries as to the benefits of insured women. The inspectorate is organised with strict regard to the requirements of the work, and it is not proposed to make any change in the organisation at the present time.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) if he will inform the House what the Treasury paid to the collector of Customs in Manchester and district prior to December, 1921; what has been paid to the collectors of taxes in Mincheater and district for the year ending December, 1922, for the same work;(2) whether the collectors of taxes in Manchester and district were forced to to take over the collection of D and E Income Tax under threat of losing their other collection and work if they refused it; and if he will explain why a collector was not allowed to decline it on learning the remuneration?

As from the 1st December, 1921, a commencement was made of the work of unifying the machinery of Income Tax collection in many large provincial centres where previously collectors appointed by the Board of Inland Revenue had been responsible for the collection of tax under Schedules A and B, and officers of the Customs and Excise Department had collected duty in the same areas under Schedules D and E. The maintenance of duplicate machinery within a single area was not conducive to economy, and it was decided to place the entire work in the hands of one set of officers. The change took place in Manchester and several other centres as from the 1st December, 1921, and, except in the case of Manchester, has been effected without friction. The policy adopted, with the knowledge and concurrence of the staff association representing assessors and collectors, has been to frame general collections covering the collection of Income Tax under all schedules and not to perpetuate the previously existing division of functions. In requesting collectors to take over the additional work this aspect of future policy was necessarily brought to their notice, but within the limits prescribed by a general application of this principle consideration was given to the circumstances and capacities of each individual collector. No collectors, in effect, refused to take the additional work, and no collector was deprived of his position by reason of his inability to manage the larger total collection than that which he had previously. The amount paid to collectors of taxes in Manchester for collection of Income Tax under Schedules A, B, D and E (other than tax payable by weekly wage-earners) for the year ending 30th November, 1922, was £17,676 (exclusive of bonus) as compared with £11,381 which they received for the year ending 30th November, 1921, for the collection of Schedules A and B only. The individual payments, totalling £17,076, were subject to revision in the light of experience. The additional awards resulting from that revision have been made. The collector of Customs and Excise performed the work of collection of tax under Schedules D and E as part of his duties as an officer of the Customs and Excise Department, and no part of his salary was specifically attributable to this work. In respect of services rendered to the Inland Revenue Department (including the collection of Income Tax in a large number of areas in the United Kingdom), the Department of Customs and Excise was credited for the year 1921–22 with the sum of. £88,300.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that collectors of taxes pay the entire expenses of their staff, office rents. etc., and guarantee bond out of their salary; and whether this procedure can he altered?

Collectors of taxes are paid remuneration on a statutory basis which covers necessary office expenses, including clerical assistance, office rent, etc., in addition to a reward for their personal work. The system of appointment and remuneration of collectors of taxes was examined by the Royal Commission on the Income Tax and when the time is opportune their recommendations will be carefully considered with a view to legislation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Consular Service falls within the ambit of the inquiry directed to be made by the Anderson Committee and, if so, whether their attention will be drawn to the relative numbers of service and non-service men appointed to Consular posts during the last two years?

Questions regarding the standard of remuneration and other conditions of employment of the Consular Service certainly fall within the terms of reference of the Committee referred to but those terms do not cover consideration by the Committee of the relative numbers of ex-service men and non-service men appointed to Consular posts.

asked the Minister of Labour under what recommendations of the Lytton Committee citizens of Richmond, who have become notorious for their attacks on the right to employment of his women employés, were invited to attend the recent confidential investigations into the private circumstances of the women concerned, while the latter have been refused the right of having a union representative on the investigation committee, such as is admitted in most other Departments?

Representations were made to me by the Richmond Local Employment Committee about the retention of women clerks at Kew, and it was suggested that some of them were no longer "hardship" cases. I decided accordingly to have a further investigation made by the Director of Establishments and a senior woman officer, and I gave an opportunity to members of the Local Employment Committee to attend the investigation though, of course, not to participate in it. No application has been made to me by the women concerned that a representative of their association should take part in the inquiry.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of working days lost by reasons of strikes in the coal industry during the month of March; the number of miners involved; and the average weekly output per miner in Great Britain during the period in question?

I have been asked to reply. The number of working days lost in the coal mining industry owing to trade disputes resulting in soppage of work during the month of March was.

approximately, 150,000; the number of workpeople involved in these disputes (including workpeople thrown out of work at the collieries where the disputes occurred, though not directly involved in the dispute) was, approximately, 24,000. The average weekly output per miner in Great Britain during the period in question was, approximately, five tons.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that during the last eight weeks the average number of cases relieved by the Sheffield and Ecclesall guardians has amounted to 11,460 per week and the average expenditure has amounted to £8,577 per week, or the equivalent of a penny rate, and that the two unions have expended up to the 7th April £1,542,964 upon unemployed relief; and what the Government propose to do in regard to the matter?

I understand that the facts are substantially as stated in the first two parts of the question The guardians have been authorised to raise loans amounting to £700,000 in the ease of Sheffield and £200,000 in the case of Ecclesall Birlow so as to relieve the immediate charge upon the ratepayers and I shall be prepared to consider further applications of this kind if the necessity should arise.

asked the Minister of Labour what the unemployed figures for the towns of Oldbury and Stourbridge were on 31st October, 1922; and what the figures were for those two towns on 31st March, 1923?

The numbers on the live registers of the Employment Exchanges at Oldbury and Stourbridge at the nearest dates available were as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour whether, having regard to the payment of unemployment benefit to the fishermen involved in the present trade dispute at Aberdeen, the same action can be taken by his Department in respect of the jute workers locked out in Dundee?

It has been held by the Umpire with whom the final decision rests that the trouble in the fishing trade at Aberdeen is not a trade dispute within the meaning of Section 8 (1) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, and in consequence unemployment benefit is payable. With regard to the cessation of work in the jute industry in Dundee, the Insurance Officer decided that it was a trade dispute within the meaning of the Act and disallowed benefit. This disallowance was confirmed by a Court of Referees and, subject to the result of any appeal that may be made to the Umpire, the disallowance stands. I have no power to give a decision.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) the names of the women members of the Darlaston Employment Committee who were summoned, if any, to attend rota or sub-committee meetings of the committee held between April, 1921, and February, 1923, and the number of times they were so summoned;(2) whether he is aware that the Darlaston Employment Exchange closed at 4 p.m. on Thursday, 29th March, until the following Tuesday; that part-time workers entitled to unemployment benefit did not cease work until 5 p.m. on Thursday; that they attended at the Employment Exchange and found it closed; and that they had to wait for payment until after the Easter holidays; and will he explain why no arrangements were made to meet the convenience of such applicants?

I am having local inquiries made into the points raised in questions 24 and 25, and will communicate the answers to the hon. Member as soon as the inquiries are completed.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of women workers unemployed on the average weekly registered at the Darlaston Employment Exchange between April, 1921. and February, 1923?

The average number of women on the live register of the Darlaston Employment Exchange during the period mentioned was 565.

asked the Minister of Labour why the payment of unemployment benefit has ceased to Mrs. Payton, of 1, Old Cross Street, Tipton?

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will be able to announce the names of the Committee to inquire into the carrying out of the Report of the Lytton Committee?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday on this subject to the hon. Member for Edinburgh East (Mr. Hogge).

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that J. W. Launders, 3/3, Newhall Road, Sheffield, was, prior to the War, engaged for some years as an erector; that this man is suffering from a gunshot wound in his right eye, causing impaired eyesight, and that although offered employment at his own trade, he was obliged to decline it owing to the risk; and why, under these circumstances, the Leeds district commissioner of medical services has stated that Launders is suffering from no appreciable disability and is fit to follow his pre-War occupation without diminution of earning capacity and has refused him training in some less hazardous occupation?

Mr. Launders suffered from a gunshot wound in the right eye; but the present defect in his eyesight, which is corrected by glasses, was found to be due to myopia. His disability pension ceased in January. 1922, and there has been no appeal. A medical re-examination, which was specially arranged for him on 14th February, 1923, confirmed that he was fit to follow his pre-War occupation as erector, without diminution of earning capacity. I fear, therefore, that he is not eligible to be trained by the Ministry of Labour for some other occupation.

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government has taken any action on the representation of the British Legion to secure extra funds for the completion of the village settlements at Papworth Hall, Cambridgeshire, and Barrowmore, in Cheshire, and for the establishment of further similar settlements?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to-day to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Reading (Major Cadogan).

asked the Minister of Health the terms on which local authorities may borrow for housing purposes a proportion of the proceeds of the National Saving Certificates subscribed in their areas: and the amount of such loans already contracted by local authorities?

Local authorities have, since October, 1920, been able to borrow from the Local Loans Fund the equivalent to one-half of the proceeds of sales of National Savings Certificates subscribed in their areas. The rate of interest for loans issued since 2nd October, 1922, has been 5 per cent. per annum. The total amount borrowed for housing purposes from 1st October, 1920, to 31st March, 1923, is approximately £1,650,000.

asked the Minister of Health what will be the policy of his Department towards those municipalities preferring to construct working-class houses of the parlour type; and whether they can be allowed to benefit in some way, provided that the liability of the State in respect of them is not greater than it would be in regard to any house of the non-parlour type.?

This question will be discussed in the Debate on the Housing Bill.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that disinfectants totally devoid of bactericidal action are sold to the public; and if he will see that disinfectants so sold and described must comply with a test similar to the one required for the Army and Navy and other Government Departments?

I have no evidence to show that disinfectants totally devoid of bactericidal action are sold to the public, but I am aware that, judged by certain tests, the disinfectants which are on sale may differ considerably in their bactericidal power. As at present advised, I do not propose to adopt the suggestion in the last part of the question. I understand that advice as to the choice of disinfectants for particular purposes can generally be obtained from the health officers of local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state, so far as the records in his own Department enable him to do so, the number of appointments of sanitary inspectors made since 1919 in which it has been included, as a condition of the appointment, that the officer was himself to defray his travelling, office expenses, or both?

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that in consequence of the present depression in trade resulting in unemployment, many people are being summoned for non-payment of Poor Rate; that many boards of guardians hold quantities of War Stock which, if sold, would tend to substantially reduce the rate, and so relieve the pressure on the ratepayers; and whether he will draw the attention of boards of guardians to the advisability of selling such Stock in order to reduce the rate and thus relieve the burden upon the ratepayers, who are now finding difficulty in meeting their obligations?

I am, of course, aware of the difficulties of many ratepayers at the present time. I doubt, however, if the War Stocks still held by guardians are sufficient to justify any general action of the kind suggested.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the representations of the Society of Medical Officers of Health, the British Medical Association, and others relative to the inadequate charges authorised by the Ministry for the bacteriological examination of the various grades of milk under Statutory Rules and Orders, 1922, No. 1332, Dairy England, and Circulars of Ministry of Health, No. 335, 28th August, 1922, and 356, 12th December, 1922, necessitating, as it does, the services of a skilled bacteriologist and the provision of the necessary material: and will he inquire into this?

I have received representations as to the fee proposed for the examinations of samples of milk which are required under the Orders referred to in the question. I am advised that the work in question is of a routine character and that the cost per sample should not exceed the amount which has been suggested where arrangements are made at a laboratory for dealing with the considerable volume of samples which may be expected to result from the scheme of milk grading.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the lack of water supply at Great Wigborough and Salcotcum-Virley, where the residents are solely dependent on ponds and rain water for their requirements; and what action he will take in the matter?

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the conditions in these parishes. I am in communication with the rural district council, and will inform my right hon. Friend of the result.

asked the Minister of Health if he is receiving resolutions from boards of guardians asking that the age limit for old age pensioners should be reduced to 65 years, and for the pension to be increased to 15s. weekly; and whether the Government propose introducing legislation to carry out the above objects?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I can add nothing to the answer given by me on the 27th March last to the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. W. A. Jenkins).

asked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of arable land laid down as permanent pasture during the years 1920, 1921, and 1922?

I have been asked to reply. The classification of agricultural land, as returned by occupiers of agricultural holdings exceeding one acre in extent, shows that the area of arable land in England and Wales in 1920 was 289,000 acres less than in 1919, and in the following two years the reductions were 401,000 acres and 308,000 acres respectively. It is not possible to state how much of these areas is now under grass, since both arable land and grass may be taken over for other than agricultural purposes. The increase in the area of permanent grass between 1919 and 1922 has been 276,000 acres, and in addition there was an increase of 175,000 acres in the area of land returned under the bead of rough grazings.

also asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, having regard to the fact that the Report of the Tribunal of Economists recommended compre- hensive measures of alleviation affecting both farmers and farm-workers, he will state the reasons why his proposals, based on that Report, while offering a small concession to the farmer, contain no provision for relief of the farm labourer?

I have been asked to reply. The announcement already issued as to the Government's proposals, based on the Economists' Report, indicated that this was only a first instalment and that the other recommendations of the Tribunal required further consideration. My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make a further statement at an early date as to the Government's intentions with regard to the remaining portions of this Report, and this announcement will include a decision as to the recommendation on the wages of farm labourers.

asked the Home Secretary the number of aliens from all countries who have registered for residential purposes in this country during the past year and also for the years 1920 and 1921?

At the end of last year the aliens registered under the Aliens Order in Great Britain and Northern Ireland numbered 273,868; similar figures for 1921 included aliens registered in Southern Ireland and totalled 278,191; there is no comparable figure for 1920 available.

asked the Home Secretary whether houses in the Enfield Lock State management district, in which intoxicating liquor has been sold under his authorisation, are now being disposed of; and whether applicants for a licence in respect of these premises will he required to take out a new justices' licence?

All the properties formerly owned by the State in the Enfield Lock State Management District have now been disposed of. In two of the five licensed premises acquired by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) in 1916, the sale of intoxicating liquor was discontinued by the latter Department, and these premises have been sold as unlicensed premises. The three other premises, where the sale of intoxicating liquor had been continued by the State, have been sold as licensed premises, and, as I understand, no question of applications for new licences has arisen.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that James White was fined £5 at the Bishop Auckland Police Court, County Durham, on 19th March, 1923, for driving a motor-cycle along a main street at Crook; and, seeing that this was a first offence., and 'in view of the evidence that he was not travelling at more than 8 or 10 miles an hour, and that he Was not in a financial position to appeal to a higher Court; will steps be taken to reduce this fine?

I had not previously heard of this conviction, but am making inquiry in the case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, at the forthcoming conference on Near Eastern peace at Lausanne, His Majesty's Government will take steps to secure from Turkey recognition of Greek and Armenian claims for compensation for property destroyed at Smyrna?

The whole question of the claims of Greece against Turkey forms part of the general question of reparation as between those two countries, the discussion of which is shortly to be resumed at Lausanne, and His Majesty's Government will exert such influence as they can with a view to obtain due recognition of legitimate claims on either side. As regards Armenian claims, while His Majesty's Government will continue to make every effort to obtain fair treatment for these unfortunate people, it must be borne in mind that, as the Armenians of Turkey will, under present arrangements, remain Ottoman subjects, the question of their claims against the Turkish Government is considered by that Government to be a matter of Turkish internal policy, in which the Allies have no legal right to intervene.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many complaints he had received from British firms as to the holding up of consignments to this country from the Ruhr and adjacent districts; and whether, in view of the unemployment thus caused, he will expedite an amicable settlement with the French of this serious hindrance to business?

I have been asked to reply. A large number of complaints is being received every day at the Board of Trade. His Majesty's Government are in communication with the French and Belgian Governments with a view to the removal of the hindrances to British trade which result from the present conditions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the camps for Russian refugees in Egypt, Cyprus, Serbia, Touzla, and Malta are still in existence; at whose expense are they still being maintained; and whether Great Britain is at present in any way contributing towards the Maintenance of Russian refugees, either directly through the League of Nations or through any other channel?

I cannot say whether the camps which the hon. Member mentions are still in existence or not, hut in any case His Majesty's Government have no longer any administrative and financial responsibility for Russian refugees. This responsibility was assumed by the League of Nations as from 1st May, 1922, and a grant of £150,000 was made by His Majesty's Government to the League in consideration of this fact.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether there is any expenditure in the Estimates this year for refugees from Russia in the East or elsewhere; and, if so, under what Vote it appears?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second does not therefore arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the Foreign Office has refused permission to unpaid civilians doing work for the Japanese Government to wear decorations conferred upon them by the Japanese Government when officers doing the same work and paid by the Japanese Government have been given permission, seeing that the services rendered without payment to the Japanese Government do not contravene paragraph 3 of the Regulations respecting foreign orders?

Under the Foreign Office Regulations British officers whose services are lent to, and paid by, foreign Governments are eligible for permission to accept and wear decorations conferred upon them by that Government in recognition of services rendered during the period of their being so unemployed. On the other hand, civilians rendering services to a foreign Government in the ordinary course of business and in the fulfilment of a Government contract are not eligible under the Regulations for permission to wear decorations conferred by the foreign Government in respect of such services.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that he has agreed to lay upon the Table the new licences which will shortly be issued to the cable companies, he will now lay copies of the licences which have already been issued?

I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by laying the licences which have expired. If there be any licence which my hon. Friend would like to see, I will arrange to show it to him.

asked the Postmaster-General on what date the agreement between the Post Office and the British Broadcasting Company was concluded; and by whom it was signed on behalf of the Government?

The agreement was executed on the 18th January last in the name of my predecessor.

asked the Postmaster-General why in the Post Office Commercial Accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1922, which has just been issued, there is no charge made in the accounts of the Post Office wireless services for the salaries, wages, and allowances of the engineering staff; to what extent the loss on these services would be increased if these charges were included, whether any figure appears on the expenditure side of these commercial accounts for the overhead charges of the Post Office, the use of the land lines, and for the collection and delivery of telegrams; and, if these items are not included, will he state what would be the proper sum, having regard particularly to the charges made against the private wireless and cable companies for the collection and delivery of telegrams?

Provision for the salaries, wages and allowances of the engineering staff engaged on Post Office wireless services is included in the relative commercial accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1022, under the heading "Maintenance of stations—salaries, wages and incidental expenses," and under the plant charges for interest and depreciation. The overhead charges are included under the headings "Administrative expenses" and "Pensions liability." The expenditure and revenue in respect of the collection and delivery of the telegrams and their landline transmission are excluded from the account, which relates solely to the wireless portion of the service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the footnote (b), page 66, namely, the regrading of the staff is under consideration, has appeared annually on the Estimates for the Post Office since 1917; and what progress has been made in settling the problem?

The regrading has been left in abeyance on account of the difficulty of reaching agreement with the staff on the matter. The whole question is under discussion by a Joint Committee of the two Post Office Whitley Councils.

asked the Postmaster-General the amount of revenue obtained from telegrams in the last financial year and also for the year 1913–14?

I am not yet in a position to state the exact revenue from telegrams for the last financial year, but the estimated amount is £5,500,000. The revenue from telegrams in 1913–14 was £3,071,000. The figures for the two years are not strictly comparable, as the revenue from inland telegrams originating in the Irish Free State are not included in the 1922–23 Estimate.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that as the result of the withdrawal of the Government subsidy it is now proposed to close the refreshment bar at King Edward building from 6.30 p.m. to 6 am., with the result that a large staff of postal employés on duty between these hours are unable to procure food or refreshment; the number of men who will be affected by the proposed change; and whether he will make representations to the Treasury with a view to the restoration of the Government grant?

It is a tact that the Refreshment Club Committee have decided to discontinue working during the hours in question, but it is hardly correct to say that the staff will be unable to procure refreshment, as there are liberal facilities for cooking food and heating water in the retiring rooms. The men affected number about. 1,000, of whom the maximum number requiring a meal at any one time is less than 250. The withdrawal of the subsidy from refreshment clubs in Government offices was decided on by the Treasury as a measure of national economy; and I know of no grounds for recommending exceptional treatment for the club in question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the British Cotton Growing Association have made any Report to the British Government with regard to the possibility of developing the cotton industry in Uganda; and, if so, what steps they propose to take in the matter?

No, Sir; but the development of the cotton industry in Uganda is engaging the attention of the Secretary of State far the Colonies and the Government of the Protectorate, and the Colonial Office keeps in close touch both with the British Cotton Growing Association and with the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation in the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he is aware that there is grave dissatisfaction at the delay in issuing an up-to-date Scottish education code, necessitated by the alterations brought about by the 1918 (Scotland) Education Act; and when the new education code will be issued and if, before it is issued, it has to receive the approval of this House?

A new code of Regulations for day schools and revised secondary school Regulations have already been prepared and will very shortly be issued in draft to education authorities for preliminary consideration. The Regulations will be laid before Parliament for approval in due course.