asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed persons residing at Aberfan, in the Merthyr area, are obliged to walk to Treharris, a distance of six miles out and back, for the purpose of signing the unemployed register; that some of the men are ex-service men still suffering from the effects of wounds; and whether, in the circumstances, he will consider arrangements to enable these unemployed persons to sign the register in Aberfan?

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

asked the Secretary for Mines if he can give the number of miners and the number of cokemen unemployed in the County of Durham?

I have been asked to reply. The number of persons in the coal mining industry (including shale miners) whose unemployment books were lodged at Employment Exchanges in the County of Durham on 26th March last was 7,137. The figure for workers at coke ovens, by-product plant, etc., at the same date was 383.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the possibility of a reduction in the charge for private box facilities?

This question is already under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the assistant dispenser at the General Post Office has been performing the duties of the dispenser for a lengthy period without extra remuneration; and whether he will consider the matter with a view to granting a special allowance for the extra responsibility?

The assistant dispenser has been performing the duties of the chief dispenser since the 8th of January. His pay is equal to the minimum of the chief dispenser's scale, and in the circumstances no increase is possible under the standing rules of the Service.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that county education committees are receiving applications from handicraft centres connected with elementary and secondary schools for permission to construct and erect the necessary wireless apparatus for listening-in, such work to be carried out by the boys attending the centres as part of their instruction; and if, having regard to the educational value of such work, he is prepared to grant licences for such installations under favourable conditions?

Applications for the use of wireless apparatus in schools of all kinds for educational purposes are favourably considered; but I am unable to grant licences in such cases on more favourable conditions than those applicable to other licensees.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the extra cost per house involved in erecting 12 houses to the acre, as compared with 20 houses to the acre, in cases where the frontages of the sites are the same in both lay-outs?

The extra cost will vary according to the relative price of land and costs of road and sewer works, and I do not think it would be possible to give an average figure.

asked the Minister of Health if he will arrange for a model of a two-storied house, reproducing the dimensions prescribed in Clause 1, Subsection (2), of the Housing Bill, to be erected within easy access of the House, so that Members may be able to visualise the provision which the Bill proposes to make for the accommodation of the house-less poor?

I scarcely think that I should be justified in adopting this suggestion, as hon. Members can see houses of these types on the housing estates of almost every local authority.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the unfair position created between the two groups of tenants of municipal property built since the War, namely, the tenants who live in the houses built in 1920–21 who are paying from 21s. to 24s. per week, inclusive of rates, and the prospective tenants of municipal houses of the same character now being built alongside the former class, and of which the rents will be considerably lower; and will he consider the possibility of relieving those working-class houses which are so highly rented from their present liability to Inhabited House Duty?

I do not think that the anomaly suggested by the hon. Member will arise. The rents of houses erected under the assisted scheme are based not on capital cost, but on the rents of comparable houses in the district, and I do not contemplate that local authorities will adopt any other basis in the case of further houses erected by them.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the scheme for the provision of housing accommodation for women clerks at Acton, which was recently submitted to the Public Works Loan Board and approved by the Acton Urban Council, was refused assistance from the Local Loans Fund under the Housing of the Working Classes Acts on the ground that those Acts were not intended to provide houses or flats for single women?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to the hon. Members for the Moss Side Division of Manchester (Mr. Gerald Hurst) and Wednesbury (Mr. Short).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he has received a joint request from the Borough Council of Deptford and Greenwich that he should receive a deputation desirous of urging the re-opening of the Deptford cattle market either for the purposes for which it was originally established or for shipping, manufacturing, or warehousing purposes, in order that it may be put to full commercial advantage, thereby relieving unemployment in Deptford and Greenwich; and whether he will give favourable consideration to the councils' request to receive a deputation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I shall naturally be happy to consider the question of receiving a deputation if it be found to be necessary, but, the Army Council are already fully alive to the desirability of giving up the eastern part of the area, and the matter is now under active consideration in conjunction with the landlords. There is no doubt that the western part of the area is still required. In the circumstances I am not sure that the reception of a deputation at the present time would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Ordnance Department of the War Office received from Mr. T. D. Bathgate, of Watten, Caithness, in the autumn of 1914, plans and specifications of the tracer or anti-Zeppelin bullet to be fired from rifles or machine guns mounted in aeroplanes and of an anti-Zeppelin trailing bomb which were, to be used against Zeppelins in the air defence of London; whether the War Office withheld Mr. Bathgate's name when other claimants for these inventions had awards made; and why claimants for an award in respect of anti-Zeppelin bullets were heard by the Royal Commission on Awards at London in July, 1921, in secret, before a single member of the Royal Commission instead of by the whole Commission?

The War Office received from Mr. Bathgate in the autumn of 1914 certain diagrams or plans relating to anti-Zeppelin devices. These plans, however, were returned to him at his own request in March, 1915, and it is not now possible to state whether they were of the nature indicated in the question. In any event, they were not in any way utilised by the Department. The War Office did not withhold Mr. Bathgate's name when other claims were under consideration; on the contrary, he has had full opportunities of presenting claims, and has, in fact, presented them both to the War Office, the Ministry of Munitions, the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors and the War Compensation Court. In regard to the last part of the question, claims addressed to the Royal Commission on Awards are heard in the first instance by an Investigating Committee (which consisted in Mr. Bath-gate's case of Mr. Justice Sargant and the Secretary), and cases which are shown by this preliminary investigation to have no reasonable chance of success are not heard by the full Commission. The object of this arrangement is to accelerate business.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the number of temporary officers still on establishment in the Ordnance Department in Egypt?

Four temporary officers are still so employed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the date upon which Red Barracks, Woolwich, was vacated by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps; for what purpose the building has been utilised since that date; whether it is the intention of the War Office to ensure that the building shall be used to its fullest capacity in the near future; and, if not, whether, in the interests of economy, he will consider the possibility of handing it over to the Commissioner of Works to accommodate Civil Service staffs at present occupying temporary premises at costly rentals?

Red Barracks, Woolwich, was vacated by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on 21st October, 1921. Since that date it has been used as lecture rooms and laboratories for the Artillery College, and is still so utilised to its fullest capacity. As far as can be foreseen, the buildings will continue to be utilised in this manner.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what arrangements, if any, were made for the absorption into civilian clerical employment in his Department of men demobilised from His Majesty's forces (clerical home-service units) from 1918 to October 1920?

No special arrangements have been made in favour of men belonging to clerical home-service units. As regards ex-service men in general, and disabled ex-service men in particular, the War Office has always fully complied with the letter and spirit of the instructions of His Majesty's Government, issued through the Treasury, regarding the preferential treatment of these men.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office when it is anticipated approval will be given to carry into effect the recommendations of the Chetwode Committee; and whether the approval of His Majesty's Treasury has been secured for the scheme?

I understand the hon. Member is referring to the Interdepartmental Committee on the Employment of Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen after Discharge. The deliberations of this Committee are not at present sufficiently advanced for any definite application to be made to the Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the decision of the House of Lords in the case of Sutton v. Attorney-General, dealing with the inclusion of war bonuses as part of full civil pay to be granted in addition to military pay while on active service, and affecting, in this case, certain grades of Post Office servants; what will be the cost of giving effect to this decision in the Post Office; whether it will govern the case of other Government Departments, as the judgment appears to indicate; and, if so, what is the approximate number of civil servants likely to be affected?

I answered this question on Monday, the 23rd April.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what arrangements, if any, were made for the absorption into civilian clerical employment of a temporary nature in his Department of women demobilised from His Majesty's forces, clerical units overseas or at home, from 1918 to October, 1920?

No special arrangements were made. Women could not have been engaged without detriment to the interests of disabled and other ex-service men, who had, it was considered, a stronger claim.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether recently the number of women given as the highest figure reached in the employment of his Department prior to 1920 included subordinates with various home-service military units; and, if not, what was the number thus employed?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The figures given were for the War Office only. As regards the last part, I regret that no figures are available, and the preparation of even approximate figures would entail much labour, the cost of which would not, I think, be justified.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the greater number of those dependants interested in the work of the Imperial War Graves Commission are women; and on what grounds War widows have been dismissed from his Department who were employed on work dealing with the graves while non-combatant home-service men are still employed by the Commission?

The point raised in the first part of the question is necessarily a matter of opinion. In regard to the last part, the hon. Member is aware that it is the general policy of His Majesty's Government to replace female and other non-service staff by ex-service personnel. I understand that, so far as the Imperial War Graves Commission is concerned, only two War widows have recently left. One of these resigned voluntarily on being warned that she would eventually be replaced by an ex-service man, and the other, who has a pension of £180 a year, was replaced by an ex-service man after review of her case by the Joint Substitution Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what arrangements, if any, were made for the absorption into civilian clerical employment of a temporary nature in his Department of women demobilised from His Majesty's Forces, clerical units overseas or at home, from 1918 to October, 1920?

Reduction of establishments and of expenditure made the absorption of the demobilised women on any large scale impracticable, but a fairly considerable number were retained temporarily as civilian clerks at the units from which they had been demobilised as Women's Royal Air Force clerks.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what was the highest number of women employed in his Department as civilian subordinates attached to outstations reached prior to October, 1920?

So far as can be ascertained, the highest number of women employed as civilian subordinates at Air Ministry out-stations prior to October, 1920, was 2,895.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what proportion of the ex-service temporary civil servants employed in his Department on clerical duties are home service and overseas, respectively; and how many are men who did not sit for the recent special establishment examinations?

Apart from 17 temporary civil servants who qualified at the recent special establishment examinations and are awaiting establishment, there are 117 temporary civil servants employed. Of these 15, or nearly 13 per cent., are home service, and 102, or over 87 per cent., are overseas. Fourteen are men who did not sit for the examinations. Of these, three are home service and 11 are overseas.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportions of his women temporary employés contribute to the support of others; whether he is aware that the majority of these have to look after elderly parents who require personal attention after office hours; and that the substitution committee of many Departments have found that this is the case with a high proportion of those women hitherto exempted from substitution on the groud of hardship, but who have been recently or are about to be demobilised on account of shrinkage of work; and whether he appreciates the fact that the necessity for looking after aged parents renders resident employment undesirable for such women, and the consequent necessity, if they are not to draw for long unemployment benefit, for providing them with commercial and other trainings to compensate them for the loss of commercial experience which they might have gained had it not been that they gave up several years to the service of the State during the War?

Apart from the Claims and Record Office at Kew, I have no detailed information as to what proportion of the temporary women employés of the Ministry (1,799 in all, excluding cleaners and women staff employed in industrial establishments) contribute to the support of others. Of the 430 women at present temporarily employed at Kew, 163 have been found, in the course of the recent investigation at that office, so to contribute, and there is no present intention of discharging any of these women. I have no information as to the results of inquiries by the various Departmental Substitution Committees as to the personal circumstances of the women temporarily employed in those Departments. I am afraid the prospect of employment for additional women in commercial work at the present time is not such as to justify us in incurring the expense of training new entrants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no representative of the wage-earning classes has been appointed to the Committee to be presided over by Sir Alan Garrett Anderson; and whether the Government will provide the House with an opportunity of debating the terms of reference to, and the composition of, the Committee before it is asked to commence its duties?

The members of this Committee were selected on the ground of their special fitness for the work, and in no sense as representatives of any particular interest; the appointment of members to serve on such a Committee in a representative capacity would, in my judgment, have been open to the strongest objection. With regard to the second part of the question, I have already made a full announcement to the House, and the Committee is already set up.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the Lytton Report expressed the opinion of a number of members of the Committee to the effect that appointments of ex-service men and women might be made to the writing-assistant class, such appointments have in effect been made; and whether, seeing that the writing assistant class is therefore legitimately meriting inclusion in the scope of the inquiry of the new Committee, he proposes to ensure that this is done?

No appointments of ex-service men have been made to the writing-assistant class. I am unable to say how many of the women appointed to this class are ex-service. With regard to the later part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 17th April to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Hogge).

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many men are employed at the Inland Revenue Office receiving £3 per week or less?

The full-time male staff of the Inland Revenue Department includes 4,667 persons, receiving not more than £3 per week.

asked the Minister of Pensions what degree of redundancy is expected amongst temporary officials above Grade I in the case of men and women, respectively, during the coming winter?

I regret that it is not possible at present to forecast the extent to which temporary officials may become redundant next winter; but I can assure the hon. Member that the position will be carefully watched with a view to adjusting the numbers of staff to the requirements of the work.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of temporary women employés who sat for the special clerical class examination in 1920 and took over half marks, but have not been so far regarded as eligible for establishment, as writing assistants?

As the hon. Member will see from the table of results of the examination in question, which is obtainable from the Stationery Office, there were 2,380 candidates who obtained more than half marks, but less than the 525 marks which have hitherto been regarded as the minimum qualification for appointment as a writing assistant. It has not been possible in the time available to make the detailed inquiry necessary to ascertain which of the 2,380 are members of the staff of the Ministry of Pensions.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the average length of service of the women employed in the Pensions Issue Office in a temporary capacity; whether over a thousand of these will be discharged during this winter; and whether any assistance will be made by the Department to assist them after demobilisation?

The majority of the temporary women staff employed in Pension Issue Office were appointed in 1918, and the average length of service of those still on the staff may be taken as five years. It will be necessary to demobilise during the current year a considerable number of these. The women affected will, of course, be eligible for unemployment insurance benefit, but I am afraid that there are no funds at my disposal from which any special assistance could be given to them.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the average Grade 3 woman clerk had reached the maximum rate of pay for her grade based on increments not on any subsequent bonus by December, 1920?

The answer is in the negative. The maximum pay of a Grade 3 clerk is reached after three years, and the majority of the temporary women clerks had not completed that period of service by December, 1920.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the increasing difficulty found by women writing assistants and others on the established staff of his Department in finding local accommodation within their means and that consequently many of those concerned are getting into debt or are not eating sufficiently; and whether he will endeavour to persuade the local council to encourage schemes for the provision of suitable housing accommodation for these badly-paid women workers?

Women writing assistants and clerical officers at the minimum of the scale are at present paid at the rate of 39s. 8d. a week and £144 a year respectively if 18 years of age or over. I am in sympathy with any practicable proposal for providing housing accommodation, but I am not in a position to press the local council to give preference to Government employés; the matter is, of course, one primarily for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the average woman promoted to a rank above that of Grade 3 in his Department prior to December, 1921, was junior or senior in length of service to the average Grade 3 clerk who remained in that grade?

The promotion of temporary clerks from one grade to another has been made entirely on grounds of merit and without reference to length of service. I am afraid, therefore, that I cannot without prolonged investigation supply information on the precise point raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what share the British Government intends to take in the relief of the remnants of Koltchak's army, now scattered over Northern Manchuria, especially Kirin Province, and who are now dependent on the relief they receive from the American Red Cross and the direct charity of the Chinese Government?

While His Majesty's Government sympathise with the plight of political refugees, whether in Eastern Europe or in Asia, they cannot undertake any fresh financial burden for the purpose of relief. His Majesty's Consul at Harbin has, however, been authorised to lend his good offices for the purpose of securing the return to their homes of a portion of the refugees at present in Manchuria.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any further information as to the conditions under which Osman Digna is living in captivity; whether Osman Digna has been offered his freedom; and, if so, whether he refused the offer?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. I have no information in regard to the second and last parts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Sir Auckland Geddes, His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington, assured the United States Admiral Chester that Great Britain would not object to the United States endeavouring to secure oil concessions in Turkey; and what action has been taken by His Majesty's Government in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Noble Lord the Member for South Battersea (Viscount Curzon) yesterday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to check gambling in sugar and reduce its price by introducing legislation to restrict dealing in sugar futures as has been done in America; and whether he is able to state that similar speculation is not threatened in tea?

I am not quite clear to what legislation in the United States my hon. and gallant Friend refers. According to my present information, the primary cause in the rise of sugar prices appears to have been the report of a prospective diminution in supplies from Cuba. The course of tea prices mainly depends upon labour and weather conditions in India and Ceylon. The

(a) COMPLETE MOTOR-CARS.
Year.				Exports (United Kingdom Manufacture)		Net Imports (Imports less re-exports).
				Number.	Declared Value.	Number.	Declared Value.
					£		£
1911	…	…	…	4,536	1,804,419	5,731	1,409,414
1912	…	…	…	5,277	2,023,715	6,274	1,468,474
1913	…	…	…	7,595	2,396,369	5,581	1,386,908
1920	…	…	…	5,309	3,936,865	32,968	10,296,731
1921	…	…	…	2,721	2,325,611	5,422	996,963
1922	…	…	…	1,931	1,301,416	13,951	2,369,738
(b) MOTOR-CAR CHASSIS.
1911	…	…	…	735	296,689	6,178	1,571,154
1912	…	…	…	1,180	437,224	6,890	1,727,042
1913	…	…	…	1,234	465,283	7,412	1,749,803
1920	…	…	…	3,124	2,467,680	11,945	4,159,065
1921	…	…	…	1,041	957,253	3,695	976,461
1922	…	…	…	1,152	654,592	8,453	1,508,387

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the very large increase of seals in the Wash; that in consequence the destruction of fish is so great that the fishing industry in this area is seriously menaced; and whether his Department will take steps to effect the destruction of these pests?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the numbers and values of British motor-cars exported, and the numbers and values of foreign motor-cars imported for each year 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1920, 1921, 1922, respectively?

The following statement shows for each of the years specified the number and declared value of complete motor-cars and of motor-car chassis, respectively, of British manufacture exported from the United Kingdom together with corresponding particulars regarding the net imports of cars and chassis in the same years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that an unusually large number of seals have recently appeared in the Wash and are seriously depleting the fish in those waters; and will he take steps to deal with the situation without delay?

I am aware than an increase of the number of seals in the Wash has been reported by the Chief Fishery Officer of the Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee, and there is no doubt that they destroy large quantities of fish. My Department has neither funds nor staff available for the destruction of seals, but I hope that, as a result of a suggestion made by the Ministry's fishery officer in the district, arrangements may be made locally for dealing with this pest.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the annual cost of the veterinary inspection of cattle, sheep and pigs at the Birkenhead (Woodside) and Wallasey lairages, and the estimated annual income to be derived from the inspection charge of 6d. per head for cattle and 1d. per head for sheep and pigs?

Estimates of the kind in question must at the moment be very approximate, but when the new organisation at Birkenhead and Wallasey is complete the annual cost of the veterinary staff in salaries and expenses will probably amount to £4,500. It is difficult, at this stage, in view of the uncertainties of this trade, to form any reliable estimate of the annual income from these fees, but it is hoped that it will cover the estimated expenditure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he has received complaints from Norfolk farmers and Irish cattle importers relating to restrictions at Norwich in the matter of lairs for cattle the night before market; and whether, seeing that these restrictions impose unnecessary expense and loss on those using this market, he can take any action by way of remedy?

The reply to the first part is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I do not agree that the detention of cattle in an approved lairage imposes unnecessary expense and loss on those using Norwich market. The whole object of the provision of authorised lairages was to meet the convenience of the trade. They enable imported cattle to be brought to an inland authorised market prior to the date of sale and held there under the supervision of the local authority. I am unable under the provisions of the schedule to the Importation of Animals Act, 1922, to allow free movement until the statutory period of detention for six days, which is stated in the licence authorising movement of such cattle from the port, has expired.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether, in the event of the 10s. duty on imported malting being accepted, he proposes to set up any authority for dealing with agricultural wages in Scotland where conciliation committees are not in existence?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the replies which I gave to the hon. and learned Member for East Fife (Mr. Millar) on the 13th and 20th of March. In view of the attitude of the Farm Servants' Union and of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland, my noble Friend does not propose that any further action should be taken at present under Section 4 (1) of the Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Act, 1921, or otherwise.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he is aware that thousands of acres of good cultivable land are lost to agriculture through the annual flooding in the Kelvin Valley; if he has had representations from local branches of the Farmers' Union drawing attention to this waste of national resources; if the annual flooding is caused largely by a barrage at a disused mill near Maryhill, and if such barrage were removed the Kelvin would have a fall of 15 feet; and if he will have inquiries made into the question?

I understand that a considerable area of land in the Kelvin Valley cannot be put to the best agricultural use owing to liability to flooding. My Noble Friend has received a copy of a letter from a branch of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland conveying a suggestion made at a meeting of the branch that if the river Kelvin were dredged or widened many acres of land would be fit for cultivation. He understands that the obstruction mentioned in the third part of the question is partly responsible for the flooding, and that if it were removed there would be a fall in the river, but that this is not the only contributory factor. Any action in the matter can only be taken by the riparian owners concerned, and my Noble Friend does not think that any sufficient purpose would be served by making further inquiries.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he is aware that the harvest in Caithness and Sutherland was extraordinarily late last season, with the result that there is in both counties a considerable scarcity of suitable seed for sowing this year's crop; that this difficulty is particularly felt among the smallholders around the coasts of both counties; and whether, if applications for grants for the purpose of providing suitable seed potatoes and seed oats should be made under the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act of 1897, Section 4 (b), to the Board of Agriculture by representative crofters in the districts affected, seed oats and seed potatoes will be supplied as on former occasions when had harvests have occurred?

I understand that owing to the late harvest last year there is a scarcity of locally-produced seed in Caithness and Sutherland this season. A large number of applications has been received by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland from smallholders in this and other counties for financial aid towards the supply of seed oats and seed potatoes. These applications have not been acceded to because the Board do not consider that the circumstances justify the expenditure which would be involved. My Noble Friend cannot undertake to modify this decision.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of Annual Reports of Public Departments, and other Parliamentary Papers lately distributed to Members, which are now not so distributed, being merely placed on sale by the Stationery Office; whether he will circulate a list of such Papers, with the prices at which they may now be obtained by Members; and whether, in view of the very small expense involved by a few additional copies, he will allow such of these Papers as may be specially asked for by Members, as being required by them in connection with their public duties, to be supplied to them without charge?

Under the revision of Government publications made in 1921, approximately 200 publications in all have been transferred to the category of Stationery Office publications. I will circulate a list as requested, when the hon. Member will see that it is comprised mainly of such publications as colonial and foreign Reports, statistical publications, and Reports of local or sectional interest not usually required by hon. Members. If, however, hon. Members consider that any particular publications in the list are necessary for the discharge of their Parliamentary duties, I shall be glad to arrange for them to be supplied on special application to the Controller of the Stationery Office, as, indeed, has already been done in certain cases.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the method of disposal of stores at the Kantara depot, and the actual value of the stores transferred to the disposal board on ordnance rates; the actual amount received by the disposal board on completion of sales; and the difference, if any, between the estimated value and the amount received?

Of the surplus stores handed over by the Army at Kantara, a large quantity were transferred to the Palestine Government at a valuation, and the remainder were disposed of in the ordinary course of auction, tender, etc. To obtain information as to the value of these stores at Ordnance rates, and to separate the realisations on sales at Kantara from the general sales account for the Egyptian Command, would involve a large amount of clerical labour, which I regret it is not feasible to undertake with the present depleted staffs.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that two night watchmen, employed at the Bradley disposal works, one receiving £3 5s. and the other £3 per week, were notified in February, 1922, that their wages would be reduced by 5s. per week; that four days later they were notified that their wages would be reduced by another 10s. per week; that the watchman in receipt of £3 per week subsequently had his wages reduced to £2 5s. for a 51½-hours week, whilst the other watchman suffered a reduction of only 2s. 6d. per week; and that the former was off duty through sickness in February, 1922, and was not paid his wages for that period in accordance with his terms of service; and whether he will make inquiries into this matter and, in the event of these reductions and stoppages not having been sanctioned, give instructions for a refund?

I am having inquiry made into this matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the proposed further reduction of the amounts to be paid by occupiers of agricultural land in respect of the local rates assessed, he will make provision for bringing up to date the basis, now 27 years old, upon which the Exchequer contributions payable in respect of the relief given to such occupiers under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, have ever since been calculated, inasmuch as the existing basis represents only a small fraction and is entirely disproportionate to the loss sustained by the other ratepayers in consequence of their having to make good the difference between the Exchequer contributions and the actual half of the rates assessed upon occupiers of agricultural land?

The answer is in the negative. The Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, was intended to correct to some extent the inequality in the distribution of local burdens between the occupiers of agricultural land and other ratepayers. A grant was given at the same time to prevent an immediate increase in the poundage of the rates as a result of the relief given to these occupiers, but subsequent increases of rates have been levied on the more equitable basis of assessment laid down in the Act and I can see no ground in this for an increase in the original grant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated cost of providing old age pensions at the present rates to all persons who reach the age of 60 years and the number of persons who would benefit thereby?

There are no means of estimating the number of persons between the ages of 60 and 70 who would be disqualified on the ground of means, or entitled to reduced pensions only on the same ground, if the pension age were reduced to 60. If it be assumed that the cost of pensions to persons over 70 affords a reliable index to the effect of these limitations in respect of people over 60, the full cost would be about £58,000,000 and the number of recipients over 2,300,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage of contributions in the case of both National Health and Unemployed Insurances which are expended on administration charges?

The total cost of administration (central and local) of the Unemployment Insurance Scheme for 1923–24 is estimated to amount to 8·3 per cent. of the total contributions by the employers, employed and the State. The Health Insurance Scheme is on a somewhat different footing as the State grant is paid as a proportion of expenditure and not as a proportion of the contributions. For the year 1922 the total cost of administration of this scheme (central and local) amounted to about 13 per cent. of the total income from all sources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total yield of the Excess Profits Duty since its inception; what is the amount of the rebates made to date; and whether he can give, any estimate of the amount of the further probable rebates?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Merthyr (Mr. Wallhead) on the 6th March. I am sending him a copy of that reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the detailed figures on which he bases his statement that, during the War, the direct taxpayer was called upon to pay 80 per cent. of the revenue raised?

The hon. Member will find that of the tax revenue of £1,400 millions in the two years 1917–18 and 1918–19, £1,134 millions, or over 80 per cent., was raised by direct taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that pure water bottled at the spring is now dutiable under the term table water at 8d. per gallon; and whether, in order that pure water should be free of tax, he will consider altering the description table waters to aerated or manufactured table water?

I am advised that natural waters are liable to Table Water Duty if sold in bottle, provided that they are not solely used as a medicine. I regret that I am unable to adopt the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will, under the new circumstances, withdraw his Budget concession to the mineral water industry; and, if so, how he intends to use the funds thus saved?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement made on the 23rd April by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Jones' West Monmouth schoolboys performed the "Bohemian Girl" in December last, the orchestra consisting of one master and a few old boys over 18 years of age, the balance of the takings being devoted to improve the dramatic work of the society; that the Entertainments Duty was imposed because of the fact that boys over 18 years of age were included in the orchestra; and whether he will reconsider the decision given by his Department, in view of the educational nature of these performances?

Section 12 of the Finance Act, 1916, as amended by Section 8 of the Finance Act, 1921, authorises the grant of exemption from Entertainments Duty for school entertainments under certain conditions, one of which is that all the performers are persons under the age of 18 years who have received or are receiving instruction in the school. The entertainment in question was therefore not entitled to exemption under this provision and there is no other provision of the law under which exemption could be allowed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the desirability of removing the burden of Entertainments Duty for any organisation promoted entirely for charitable purposes?

I presume that the hon. Member refers to the statutory provision which limits the grant of relief from Entertainments Duty in respect of entertainments promoted to raise money for philanthropic or charitable purposes to cases where the expenses do not exceed 30 per cent. of the receipts. The percentage was raised from 20 to 30 last year, and, as at present advised, I see no reason for any further alteration of the law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of Entertainments Duty collected up to the end of March for each month since 1st September last; whether he will consider the use of different coloured stamps to facilitate the subdivision of this branch of revenue into two sections, the one derived from all amusements given under cover and all those given in the open air; and, seeing that such sub-division would alone indicate how the duty bears on different forms of entertainment, will he instruct his Department to see if this reform can be carried out?

The receipts from the Entertainments Duty in Great Britain for each month, from September, 1922, to January, 1923, were stated in my reply to my hon. Friend's question of the 22nd February last. The corresponding figures for February and March, 1923, are £803,138 and £896,014, respectively. I have carefully considered the proposal contained in the remaining parts of the question, but I am not prepared to adopt it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the unprecedented demand from certain foreign countries for Scotch whiskey, he will consider the imposition of an export duty on British spirits and the consequential remission of some of the duty paid by British consumers?

I regret that I am unable to adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the following details concerning the revenue from spirits for the year ended 31st March, 1923; the number of proof gallons of home-made spirits retained for consumption; exported; exported as medical preparations; used for ships' stores, etc.; used in arts and manufactures; methylated; allowed as deficiencies; distilled in England, in Scotland, and in Northern Ireland, respectively; and the number of proof gallons of foreign spirits retained for consumption?

The figures asked for will not be available until the middle of next month, when, perhaps, my noble and gallant Friend will repeat his question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the possibility of the Budget showing an appreciable surplus at the end of the financial year after deduction of the amount to be applied to the reduction of the National Debt, he will consider the advisability of inserting in the Finance Act of this year special provisions for applying any such surplus in excess of £5,000,000 to the relief of agriculture, the development of roads, new housing schemes, the reduction of taxation, or to any other purpose of social reform which the Government may consider advisable?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total sum of money paid in allowances to methylators of power and industrial methylated spirits from 31st March, 1922, to 31st March, 1923?

The amount paid in allowances to methylators of power and industrial methylated spirits for the year ended 31st March, 1923, was £102,240 approximately.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many distilleries were working on 31st March, 1923, and silent, in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, respectively?

The number of the distilleries at work, and silent respectively, on the 31st March, 1923, are not available. Those in respect of the year ended 30th September, 1922, are as follow:—

	Distilleries.
	Working.	Silent.
England	7	—
Scotland	129	10
Northern Ireland	6	6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total amounts collected from beer, tobacco, and spirits, respectively, for each year 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1920, 1921, 1922?

The amounts collected in the United Kingdom from duties on beer, tobacco, and spirits respectively, in each of the financial years 1911, 1912, 1913, and 1920, 1921, 1922, were as follow:—

Year ended 31st March.	Beer.	Tobacco.	Spirits.
	£	£	£
1911*	12,790,305	17,182,178	23,049,690
1912	13,355,843	17,352,588	22,727,137
1913	13,227,832	17,277,818	22,599,287
1920	71,278,301	60,871,059	58,802,652
1921	123,406,257	55,531,984	71,034,847
1922	121,864,865	55,208,466	62,818,868
* Net receipts in the year 1910–11 include the following arrears of duty from 1909–10:—
Tobacco, £105,397, and Spirits, £320,507.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Special Commissioners of Income Tax are entitled to assess Super-tax for the year 1922–23 on sources of income, e.g., dividends, received in the year 1920–21 and no longer existing in the year 1921–22, thereby assessing the taxpayer far 1922–23 not on his income of 1921–22, as duly returned by him, but on his income of 1920–21, i.e., on a return of two years and not one year back?

The basis of assessment to Super-tax is the statutory income of the individual, as computed for Income Tax purposes, for the year preceding the year of Super-tax assessment, and I do not understand the suggestion contained in my hon. Friend's question. If, however, he cares to send me the particulars of any case which he has in mind, I will gladly have the matter investigated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the desirability of charging a flat rate of 2s. 6d. per gallon on black beer which is a non-intoxicant, irrespective of gravity; is he aware that the duty on ordinary ale is reduced approximately 28 per cent., whereas that on black beer is only 4½ per cent.; whether he is aware that this commodity was sold retail before the War at 7d. a pint, whereas to-day the lowest selling price is 3s. per pint, 1s. 6d. of this being duty; and whether he will consider if further relief is possible to this article?

I have had representations made to me in the sense mentioned by my hon. Friend, and these are receiving careful consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts accrued to the Treasury as a result of the duties on tea, sugar, coffee, cocoa, fruit, marmalade and jam, and various grades of condensed milk during the financial year 1922–23; and whether it is the intention and general policy of his Majesty's Government to reduce such duties as opportunity arises?

The net amounts of duty collected in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the financial year 1922–1923 on the articles in question were:—

Articles.		Net amount of duty collected.
		£
Tea		11,555,000
Sugar		40,191,000
(Includes the duty collected in respect of the sugar content of the following articles:—
Marmalade and Jam	£14,000
Condensed
Milk	£937,000
	£951,000)
Coffee		416,000
Cocoa		1,290,000
Dried Fruits		841,000
		£54,293,000

As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements made on behalf of the Government during the Debates on the Budget Resolutions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an appeal to holders of War Loan of £50,000 and over to reduce voluntarily their rate of interest, so as to help the nation to reduce the heavy burden of interest charges and thus give industry a chance to recover?

I do not see why holders of particular amounts of War Loan should be expected to act differently from other stockholders or from taxpayers generally. It is well known that anyone who wishes to make a special contribution for the reduction of debt can do so by communicating with the Treasury.

asked the Prime Minister whether the proposed legislation to improve the scale of pension increases granted to pre-War pensioners under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, will include police pensioners; whether the special Committee of the Cabinet to deal with this matter will take evidence from the National Association of Retired Police Officers; and whether the Committee will consider and report upon the position of widows of pre-September, 1918, pensioners?

The Committee will consider the position of police pensioners. I cannot say what evidence, if any, it will decide to take from outside bodies or individuals. As regards the third part of the question, if the hon. Member is referring to cases of widows who were not in receipt of pensions when the Pensions (Increase) Act came into force, and who are therefore outside the scope of that Act, the matter would appear to be one arising under the Police Pension Acts, rather than under the Pensions (Increase) Act, and is therefore not within the scope of the Committee's inquiry.

asked the Prime Minister whether the special Committee of the Cabinet on pre-War pensioners will be empowered to consider and report upon the pensioners of the Royal Trish Con stabulary, many of whom are in serious difficulties in their old age?

The Committee will consider the case of Royal Irish Constabulary pensioners.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any instructions have been issued with reference to a continuous medical history in Article Nine claims; whether there is a schedule of diseases set forth, with periods during which a definite manifestation of the disease after cessation of service must have appeared to render the claim eligible; if so, what are the diseases; and what is the period in respect of each disease?

In support of a claim made long after a man's discharge that a disability from which he is suffering is connected with his service, the best evidence is, for obvious reasons, evidence, whether medical or other, sufficient to establish the existence of the disability since discharge. But while this has always been pointed out by the Ministry in its instructions as an ordinary (though not by any means an absolute) requirement, it has been clearly laid down that there must be cases of latent disease which may not manifest themselves until very long after discharge, but which may nevertheless be reasonably held to have been present before that date. The diseases referred to by the hon. Member are of this class, and the list was drawn up on the advice of the highest independent medical authorities with the object of indicating that in the case of these diseases, specially long periods (ranging up to two years) after discharge could be allowed for the first known manifestation of the disease in order to establish a continuous history of it since discharge.The following is a list of the diseases:

Pulmonary tuberculosis	12 months
General paralysis of the insane	18 months
Sub-acute infective endocarditis	2 years
Diabetes	6 months
Aneurism	1 year
Chronic granular kidney occurring in a man under 45 years of age	2 years

asked the Minister of Pensions what are the duties of regional directors; whether he is aware that these duties are in three regions being performed by the commissioner of medical services; whether the medical services in the regions are in any way impaired as a result of the dual duties; and whether the respective commissioners of medical services possess the special experience necessary for a successful performance of the duties of a regional director?

Regional directors are responsible to me for the proper administration of all matters relating to War pensions performed in their regions. In two of the smaller regions the duties of regional director are combined with those of commissioner of medical services, and in a third the commissioner of medical services is temporarily acting as regional director in consequence of a vacancy which occurred on the 23rd instant. I am quite satisfied with the manner in which these commissioners are performing the dual function.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that an allowance of 13s. 9d. per week has been made to the widow of the late Private Joseph Green, Vauxhall Road, Wigan, to support her and five children under working age; and, seeing that this man was in receipt of a 100 per cent. pension up to the time of his death, which occurred seven years and two months after his discharge, will he reconsider his decision with a view to making better provision for the late soldier's dependants?

I am personally looking into the facts of this case with my Medical advisers and I am hopeful that it may be found possible to make a higher award under the amended provisions of the Warrant.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the case of the late William Cavender, No. 13,363, 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, has been before the Regional Director, Cardiff, since October, 1922; and will he take the necessary steps to help the Regional Director to arrive at a decision a little earlier in such cases?

This case presented unusual difficulty, and the rather long time which it has taken to arrive at a decision has been occupied in an endeavour to establish connection between the fatal disability and service, which terminated 3½ years before the soldier's death. The claim has now, however, been decided, and I regret that it has not been found possible, after exhaustive inquiries, to admit entitlement to pension. The applicant has been informed of the right of appeal to the tribunal against the decision.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the case of Richard Davies, No. 67,431, Royal Engineers, 9, Gosher Street, Rhymney, is not yet settled by the regional board, Cardiff, although the last medical examination took place on the 24th January, 1923; is he aware that this medical examination on the 24th January, 1923, was held as the result of the decision of the medical board being overruled by the appeals tribunal; and will he take steps to speed up these decisions, so that pensioners shall not be kept unduly long waiting for the payments due to them?

I regret that, owing to a technical difficulty, some delay occurred in this case. A letter has, however, now been sent to the man explaining the position to him.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will consider the desirability of again publishing, and in compact form, for the information of all ex-service men, a popularly drafted statement of the steps to be taken to secure a pension?

I do not consider that a further publication of this nature is required. The object desired by the hon. Member is already attained by the Ministry under the present system of local administration, whereby any ex-service man who claims to be entitled to a pension can invoke the assistance and advice, according to his individual needs and circumstances, both of the members and voluntary workers of his War Pensions Committee, and of the officials stationed in the local offices of the Ministry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that many of the second and third-class carriages on the suburban lines of the London and North Eastern Railway are not kept in a condition of reasonable cleanliness, and that representations on the matter from local public bodies and from private individuals and organisations have failed to secure any marked improvement; and whether his Department has any power to secure reasonable comfort and cleanliness for passengers on this railway?

I am not aware of the circumstances referred to in this question, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of his complaint I will have inquiries made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport the average daily number of passengers carried on the railways and the average receipts from passenger traffic in the quarter before the last reduction of fares and in the latest period available since then; and whether he has any information to show that a further reduction of passenger fares will be effected this year?

I have not yet been supplied with complete returns for any period subsequent to the 1st Jaunary, 1923, from which date the last general reductions in fares took effect. The average daily number of passengers (excluding season ticket holders) carried on the railways in Great Britain during the preceding quarter was 3,101,744. The corresponding receipts were £164,547. Similar figures for a subsequent period will be communicated to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as the returns are complete. I am not aware whether the railway companies intend to make any further reductions in passenger fares during the present year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what are the principles which govern the distribution of official advertisements to newspapers in Crown Colonies; whether he is aware that the. Government of Ceylon has, in certain cases, differentiated between newspapers which approve of its policy and others which criticise it adversely; and whether, in view of the fact that such advertisements are paid for out of the public revenues, he will issue instructions to the authorities concerned that publicity should be given to official notifications without regard to the political opinions expressed by particular newspapers?

No general instructions have been given on this subject, which is one which the Secretary of State would naturally leave to the discretion of the Governor in each case. I have no information as to the reported action of the Governor of Ceylon.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether official approval has been given to all the methods under which the Tanganyika Government proposes to raise revenue, including the proposals to introduce a 4 per cent. tax on profits retrospective to 1st April, 1922, and to give the Government entire liberty to regulate or close all businesses?

As I explained in reply to questions by the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir R. Hamilton) on the 11th and 23rd of this month, the raising of revenue by means of a 4 per cent. profit tax is no novelty in Tanganyika Territory. The Germans introduced the system in 1908, and revenue has been raised under it ever since. The Ordinance which replaced the German law was approved by the Secretary of State. Neither that Ordinance nor the Trades Licensing Ordinance can fairly be described as giving the Government entire liberty to regulate or close all businesses. If the provisions of the laws are complied with, the Government cannot interfere in any way. It is true that the Trade Licensing Ordinance empowers the Governor by Proclamation to prohibit, restrict or regulate trading in a particular area to be specified in the Proclamation, but it is understood that this provision would only be required in very exceptional circumstances.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what area of coffee plantation is under the direct control of native producers in Kenya Colony; and what steps the Government of that colony is taking, or proposes to take, in order to encourage native production of the berry?

Practically no coffee has been or is grown by natives in Kenya Colony and there is no indication of a desire to grow it. Production of native crops on a large scale is now being strongly encouraged, notably maize and oil seeds and arrangements for the transport, marketing and improvement of such crops in the native interest are being made by the Government. The distribution of the native population and the natural conditions in the bulk of the native reserves make it very probable that the production of annual crops, such as maize, is more likely at present to be of economic benefit to the native population than a permanent crop such as coffee, which needs highly expert cultivation and preparation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the cost to the British taxpayer up to the present of the territories formerly held by Germany and Turkey, respectively, mandated to Great Britain and administered under the direct authority, giving the revenue and the expenditure for each mandated area?

So far as the British spheres of Togoland and the Cameroons are concerned no cost in respect of administration has fallen upon this country. It is not possible to give exact separate figures of revenue and expenditure as these territories are administered as integral parts of the adjoining portions of the Gold Coast and Nigeria, but in both the local expenditure exceeds the local revenue. In Tanganyika Territory from 1920–21 to 1922–23 inclusive, £2,044,000 has been provided by His Majesty's Government in loans or grants in aid. The total local revenue and expenditure for the same period (taking estimated figures for 1922–23) is £3,134,150 and £5,206,718 respectively. In the case of Nauru for which the British Empire as a whole is mandatory, no cost has fallen upon the British taxpayer as any deficit in the administration of the territory is met out of the profits of the Phosphate Commission. With regard to the territories formerly included in the Turkish Empire, and now held under mandate, the expenditure incurred from Imperial funds has been approximately as follows:

1919–20	…	…	…	£75,000,000
1920–21	…	…	…	£40,000,000
1921–22	…	…	…	£26,695,367
1922–23	…	…	…	£10,818,500

The revised estimates of local revenue and expenditure for the year 1922–23 are:

Iraq:
			Rupees.
Revenue	…	…	5,06,37,314
Expenditure	…	…	5,44,02,034
Palestine:
			£E.
Revenue	…	…	2,062,192
Expenditure	…	…	1,819,151

The figures for Imperial expenditure in 1919–20 and 1920–21 are only approximate, and include the cost of demobilisation and of other services arising out of the War.

asked the Home Secretary whether any other localities have followed the example of Bradford, where for many years past the licensing justices have so exercised their powers that no off-licence has been bought by or leased to a brewer?

My right hon. Friend has no information on this point.

asked the President of the Board of Education the percentage of the total cost of the London County Council educational services provided by the National Exchequer; and the similar figure for the educational services provided by the Glasgow Education Authority?

Subject to the exclusion of expenditure on services not falling within the purview of the Board of Education or of any expenditure not recognised by the Board, one-half of the expenditure of the London County Council on education is met by grants from the Board. The second part of the question should be addressed to the Scottish Office.