asked the Minister of Pensions whether statistical returns are regularly prepared by chief area officers and forwarded to the Ministry; whether these officers are aware of the number of men in their areas under treatment; and, if so, will he state the nature of the difficulty which prevents them from giving the number of such cases that are those of pensioners who have been notified of final awards?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. I am considering whether by an adaptation of the standard form of return the particulars to which the hon. Member refers can be made readily available in future.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was the number of whole-time and part-time sub-offices closed in the county of Durham during the 12 months ending 31st December, 1922; whether he is aware that the regional advisory council was informed at the time they were considering the reorganisation proposals that sub-offices necessary for the convenience of pensioners would be retained; and what facilities exist at the present time in the colliery and rural villages situate some miles from the area offices for pensioners requiring treatment or desiring to submit claims for consideration.

When the new organisation was introduced last May there were in the county of Durham 19 sub-offices and 32 part-time pay stations. An extension of the postal draft system of payment enabled the pay stations to be dispensed with, and the sub-offices were gradually closed down where the volume of the work no longer justified their retention, until the present organisation, consisting of eight area offices, two whole-time sub-offices, and seven part-time sub-offices, was arrived at. These arrangements, with the assistance of voluntary workers, of whom there are already 280, have been found to meet all reasonable requirements of pensioners in the district.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the difficulties in the way of pensioners desiring to submit claims, because of the distances involved and the lack of travelling facilities and will he consider the last part of my question?

I shall be happy to consider any case where the hon. Member can show me that difficulties have arisen in the working of the new system, as we are anxious to watch how it goes and make any improvement which may prove to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of widows who have been refused pensions on the ground that the marriage had taken place after the pensioner had left the Army?

No separate record is kept of these cases; nor would such a record be of any value, as it would only indicate the extent to which claimants were unaware of the express provisions of the Royal Warrant.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that hundreds of these women have had to resort to the Poor Law; and does he not think it time the Royal Warrant was amended to make provision for them?

The Ministry is, by the action of the House, limited to compensation for anything which arises out of the War, and I am not prepared to make such an alteration as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many applications for widows' pensions were made in the 12 months ending 31st March 1923; and how many were refused owing to the death of the pensioner not being accepted as due to a disability incurred on war service, or owing to the pensioner dying more than seven years after the first removal from duty?

During the period stated 9,725 applications for widows' pension were considered by the Department, and in 4,540 cases full pension was granted under Article 11, while of the cases which had to be rejected, on various grounds, under that Article, 340 were found to be eligible for a smaller pension under some other provision of the Warrant.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the hon. Member's question. How many were refused because of the death, due to disability, occurring seven years after removal from duty?

I do not think that is asked for separately in the question, but we can give that answer if it be asked for specifically.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many confidential instructions have been issued by the Secretariat of the Ministry; whether any of them amend and alter the interpretation of the clauses of Royal Warrants and Ministry regulations; whether these instructions before being issued are submitted for consideration to the Central Advisory Committee; and whether, as the Minister responsible to Parliament for carrying out the provisions of the Royal Warrants, he will in future lay instructions upon the Table of the House before they are issued?

I do not know what particular instructions the hon. Member has in view. In accordance with the customary practice of all public Departments, instructions to subordinate officers are issued on my behalf, as from time to time may be found necessary, on all branches of the work of my Department. No instruction affecting the existing interpretation of the Royal Warrants is issued without my concurrence, and it has been my policy and that of my predecessor to seek the advice of the Advisory Committee freely on proposals of sufficient magnitude or difficulty. I could not accept the suggestion in the last part of the question, which would be impracticable.

Is it a fact that the instructions so issued have in any way altered the interpretation previosuly put upon the Clauses of the Royal Warrant and the Regulations?

I must have notice of any particular point the hon. Member wishes to raise, but I wish to make it perfectly clear that no instructions have been issued in any way to prejudice the decisions of the medical boards as against the men.

That is not an answer to my question, of which I gave notice, and which appears on the Paper. Do any of these confidential instructions, in fact, alter the interpretation of the Clauses of the Royal Warrant and the Ministry's Regulations? I submit I should have an answer to that question.

It is quite clear that we are governed by the Warrant and we carry out the Warrant.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that there are a number of men in the Borough of Gateshead who are in receipt of home treatment without allowances; that most of them are totally incapacitated and unable to work; that their pensions, often only 8s. a week, are insufficient to live upon; and whether he will either give instructions that these men shall receive full treatment allowances or arrange for them to be boarded so that their degree of assessment will afford fuller compensation for periods of sickness than is the case at present?

In the absence of information as to the cases which the hon. Member has in view, I am unable to say what can be done; but if he will furnish particulars they shall be fully inquired into.

asked the Minister of Pensions what provision is made in the case of men suffering from bronchitis and/or asthma who appeal on the grounds that they are under-assessed; and whether men suffering from these disabilities, on home treatment without allowances, can have the same privilege extended to them as is given to the men on in-patient treatment with allowances, i.e., that they may be reboarded when ill and not, as at present, have to wait until they have recovered from the attack of sickness that incapacitates them from work before the appeal to the Medical Appeal Board is considered?

The right of application for reconsideration of a conditional assessment applies equally to all disabilities and the instructions do not, as the hon. Member appears to think, preclude applications of this nature being dealt with when the man is undergoing home treatment without allowances.

asked the Minister of Pensions in how many cases an increase in the current rate of pension has been made when a final award was given in a four-year case; and what reduction in the expenditure for pensions it is estimated will occur as a result of the granting of final weekly allowances in lieu of conditional pensions and the issue of a final award at a lower percentage than that current when the pensioner was before the Board for final award?

In some 4,000 cases the final award has been at a higher rate than the previous conditional award. The amount of the payment is, and always has been, decided by the extent of the disablement. I am unable to estimate that any decrease in the expenditure on pensions (as distinct from administration) will arise from making final awards.

Will the Minister kindly answer the third paragraph in the question, regarding the reduction of pensions and number which have been reduced?

I went carefully through the hon. and gallant Member's question, and I think I have answered it fully. He is mistaken in thinking that making final awards involves economy, except in administration.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the hardship inflicted in many cases by his refusal to continue to their dependants the issue of pensions granted to ex-service men for disabilities incurred during war service when their subsequent death happens to occur more than seven years after the date of the casualty responsible for their disability; and will he take steps to amend the Royal Warrant so that such pensions may be continued?

I am not quite clear what the hon. Member has in mind, but I may point out that I have no authority in any circumstances to continue pensions awarded to disabled to their dependants.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was the total number of educational grants made by the Special Grants Committee in the 12 months ending 31st March, 1923; what was the number of cases in which grants were renewed and how many current grants were cancelled; what was the number of new applications for educational grants recommended by the War Pensions Committee, and in how many cases were grants made; whether he is aware that grave dissatisfaction exists among members of war pensions committees at the refusal of grants for the education of the orphan children of deceased ex-service men; and whether he will take action to ensure that applications for educational grants receive sympathetic consideration?

During the period mentioned the number of new educational grants made for the children of non-commissioned officers and men was 1,622, the number renewed was 4,724, while 457 were withdrawn. About 3,500 new applications were received, but I am afraid that without considerable research I could not say how many of these were recommended by the War Pensions Committee. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that applications of this nature are given full and sympathetic consideration.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of W. E. Picton Hughes, of the Factory House, Llandovery, a trainee at the Prince of Wales' convalescent centre, Barry, who, on the 29th March last, was given leave to visit his family, and who has been refused readmission to the convalescent centre owing to an outbreak of scarlet fever in his home; is he aware that the treatment allowance has been suspended and that the family have no means of subsistence; and whether, in view of the fact that the man is prevented from returning to the convalescent home by circumstances over which he has no control, steps will be taken to pay the home treatment allowance during the man's enforced detention at home?

I am having the circumstances of this case inquired into and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of students who have left training colleges for teachers since the summer of 1922; what proportion of this number is made up of ex-service men who have undergone intensive training; and how many of these men who have undergone intensive training have obtained employment as certificated teachers?

The number of students who finished their courses at training colleges of all descriptions after the end of the session 1921–22 is 980. The total number of ex-service men who have left the special training colleges conducted by the Ministry of Labour is 915, but this figure includes 150 who left before the end of the session 1921–22. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour tells me that 585 of these men are known to be employed as teachers and 495 are fully certificated. I should add that 300 of the ex-service students in question did not complete their course until February and April this year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether there is a system under which Government grants are made to ex-soldiers to assist them to purchase their own homes; and if, in that case, he can state what this system is and the extent to which recourse is being made to it by ex-service men?

I am not quite clear what system the hon. Member has in mind. Unless he is thinking of the land settlement schemes—as to which he will be able to obtain information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Board of Agriculture for Scotland—I am not aware of any system of the nature described.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the great difficulty experienced by ex-service men, temporary civil servants, who are discharged as redundant, in obtaining other employment; whether representations have been made by the association representing these men that, in view of the fact that the nature of their work in the Civil Service does not qualify them for posts in civil employment, and that there is a prejudice in commercial circles against employing them as clerks, they should be given a month's pay for each year's service where the officer discharged as redundant has been at least four years in the Civil Service; and whether action will be taken to give the ex-service men and women discharged as redundant a gratuity on discharge if they have completed four years or more satisfactory service as temporary civil servants?

It is largely in view of the difficulty of obtaining private employment in present circumstances that a special body has been set up with the duty of seeing that, where ever possible, alternative employment in other Government Departments is offered to ex-service men who have been engaged in temporary capacies in a Department in which their services are no longer required. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The Treasury have no power to grant retiring gratuities in these cases.

Seeing that female telegraphists and other women civil servants are granted a gratuity upon leaving the Service, could not the Department reconsider the matter with a view to extending the same principle to ex-service men and women when they leave the Service on redundancy?

I have already said that we have no power in this matter.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the late regional director of the Northern Region was transferred to the South-Western Region at his own request; whether his removal expenses were paid; whether the present regional director, Northern Region, was transferred from Nottingham to Newcastle to fill the vacancy, as the regional headquarters at Nottingham were being closed; whether his removal expenses have been, or will be, paid; and, if so, will he state why the lower grade clerical staff cannot receive the same privileges on transfer as regional directors with a salary of £875 per annum, who have, in addition, service pensions?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative and that to the second part in the affirmative. When the transfer of a particular officer to a new station is necessitated by the public interest, removal expenses may be paid. This rule applies to all ranks, permanent or temporary.

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the position of the clerks who are redundant at Nottingham, in view of the fact that their salaries are only £3 per week and it is well nigh impossible for them to take up appointments in Birmingham unless assisted by the payment of removal expenses?

I am afraid I cannot give any undertaking such as the hon. Member asks for. If any of them are removed by our wish, as being essential for our requirements, then it will be open to them to claim payment.

Was not a promise given that the redundant servants at Nottingham would be allotted to vacancies at Birmingham; and if these vacancies are offered and accepted and the removal takes place, will not the Department consider the payment of the removal expenses, as they do in the case of the higher paid permanent officials?

It is not a case of whether they are higher paid or not. When we send a man, whatever his rank, from one place to another, by our orders his removal expenses are paid—not otherwise.

If in consequence of the removal of the Department from Nottingham to Birmingham, these men take vacancies in Birmingham, whether at the request of the Department or not, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to pay removal expenses?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the higher officials who got removal expenses has £900 a year in addition to £1,000 pension?

I am not prepared to go beyond what I have said.

Does it not appear that it is a farce to say you will find vacancies for £3 a week clerks if you make it impossible for them to accept the vacancies?

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in the case of discharges of temporary officers on the ground of redundancy, priority of retention is accorded as follows: disabled ex-service men, overseas ex-service men, other ex-service men, and non-service men; whether the non-service men in his Department are mainly permanent civil servants; and whether, before discharging a temporary ex-service man as redundant, he will consider the question of reverting a permanent civil servant, non-service, to the Department whence he was transferred to the Ministry of Pensions?

Subject to the overriding consideration of efficiency, the answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The suggestion made in the concluding paragraph is impracticable; the permanent posts formerly held by these officers have naturally been filled. In any case, their reversion would not be in the public interests, nor would it add to the total number of ex-service men in the employ of the State.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the name and salary of the principal officer in each region; whether some of these officers are permanent civil servants and some temporary civil servants; and whether, seeing that, though performing duties of equal importance and responsibility, the

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any of the various Committees which are being set up will be able to inquire into the desirability of modifying or retaining the present pensionable age of the various classes of public servants; and whether, seeing that considerations have arisen since those ages were originally fixed which may modify their retention, he will, in the interests of the general taxpayer, consider in any case the desirability of such investigation?

A Special Committee of the National Whitley Council for the Civil Service has been set up to deal with questions of superannuation. It would be open to that Committee to examine the particular question referred to in the hon. Member's question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in the arrangement between the Treasury and the Corps of Commissionaires

As the answer is a lengthy one, I am circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

As stated in answer to previous questions, no arrangement exists between the Treasury and the Corps of Commissionaires in regard to the commissionaires in the British Museum. Any postponement in the presentation of the commissionaires' case to the Civil Service Arbitration Board was due to the commissionaires' own action, and there is no reason to suppose that their case was prejudiced thereby. On the contrary, they benefited, inasmuch as they received an improvement in their rate of remuneration in the intervening period, and were relieved of certain payments to the Corps of Commissionaires for which they had been previously liable. The question of grading has already been fully considered, and I am not aware that the decision reached on this point, is in any way affected by the hours worked by the commissionaires.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the average deduction made in the wages of the 4,667 persons receiving not more than £3 per week employed at the Inland Revenue Office since the last increment was granted?

I regret that it is impossible to calculate the suggested average figures without undue expenditure of time and labour. A wage of £3 8s. 4d. a year ago is now represented by £3, as the result of the revision by reference to cost of living, to which the remuneration of all civil servants is subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Vice-Regal Commission on the Reorganisation and Pay of the Irish Police Forces, the Chairman of which was the right hon. Sir John Ross, one of the judges of the High Court of Justice in Ireland, unanimously recommended, in December, 1919, that the Royal Irish Constabulary Force Fund (Benefit Branch) should be wound up as soon as possible; and whether, in view of the fact that there have been no entrants into this fund since 1883 and that the Royal Irish Constabulary has now been disbanded, he will consider the advisability of giving effect without further delay to the above recommendation of the Vice-Regal Commission?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to a question on this subject addressed to him on the 19th February last by my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast South (Mr. Moles), of which I am sending him a copy.

Will my hon. Friend reconsider this question, as the conditions are constantly changing, and there is now a large surplus in this Fund?

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that all the ex-Royal Irish Constabulary men in this country are anxious that this Fund should be wound up?

I will convey those questions to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the statement made by Thomas McGlynn, who was deported to Ireland and subsequently released, to the effect that his release was in no way due to reasons of ill-health, and that he gave no undertaking not to involve himself in future activities against the Irish Free State, as he has never previously taken action hostile to the Free State; and whether he will make further inquiry into the reason of McGlynn's release?

I would refer to the reply given to a similar question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for the Central Division of Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on the 26th ultimo.

asked the Home Secretary in what place in His Majesty's Dominions Joseph Sweeney, of 378, Windmill Hill, Motherwell, deported to Ireland on or about 10th March last, is at present lodged; and whether he can give any indication as to when this man will be permitted to return to the land of his birth and to his own home?

Joseph Sweeney is at present interned in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Can the hon. and learned Gentleman give any indication when these people, who were deported many months ago, are going to have any trial, or whether they are going to have any justice meted out to them at all?

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether the Metropolitan Police, when accepting duty on premises to which the public have not access, such as Wembley Park and other places, accept responsibility for the preservation of order; if so, whether they decide the strength of the force required and make provision for available reserves;

(2) whether he will institute an inquiry, in the interests of the Metropolitan Police, into the arrangements made in connection with the final of the English Cup at Wembley, the failure to make reasonable provision for the safety of spectators, and the inability to cope with the serious and dangerous situation which arose as a result;

(3) whether he will take steps to prevent the user of the Stadium at Wembley Park for any large gathering till such time as the entrances and exits to and from the structures and ground have been replanned and rebuilt to make them reasonably safe for the public; and whether he will consider the advisability of initiating legislation requiring all grounds and buildings to which the public are invited in large numbers to be licensed only after the appropriate licensing authority has satisfied itself as to the proper planning and construction of the premises for the purposes proposed, and under conditions and regulations requiring good management and control?

As regards the first, two questions, I can add nothing to the answer given by my right hon. Friend yesterday. As regards the third question, if some form of Committee is appointed to consider the question in all its aspects, the adequacy of existing powers in relation to grounds and buildings of the kind would be one of the matters for inquiry.

Will the hon. Gentleman also include in the scope of the inquiry some of the football fields around Oxford?

asked the President of the Board of Education how many children attended free elementary schools, and the numbers of teachers employed in these schools, at 31st March, 1914 and 1922, respectively?

As the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Education the amount of loans raised for purposes of elementary education by the education authorities of England and Wales for the years 1919, 1920 and 1921?

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the President of the Board of Education if there are any statistics available showing the number of local authorities who make marriage a disqualification for employment as certificated teachers?

I regret that I possess no official statistics on this point.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very important law case on this point in London at the present time between the London County Council and the teachers?

asked the President of the Board of Education if there are any statistics available showing the number of certificated teachers who are employed at the rate of pay of uncertificated teachers?

I regret that I do not possess the information asked for.

Is the President of the Board of Education aware that there has been an increase in the number of certificated teachers who are being employed at uncertificated rates of pay, and is that the general tendency throughout the country?

No, I do not think so, but am not possession of sufficient information to say definitely.

Will the right hon. Gentleman get that information and make it available to the House.

I cannot do that without imposing elaborate labour on the local authorities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the question could be put to the local authorities and they could give the answer immediately?

asked the Prime Minister whether Sir Percy Cox, on leaving Iraq, has been authorised to make any further announcement of policy; if so, what; and whether such policy has been discussed with, and agreed by, King Feisal and the Arab Government?

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have received an authentic report of a speech delivered by Sir Percy Cox on his return to Bagdad; and whether he had authority for saying that the British would no doubt remain in Iraq for many years, until Iraq could stand alone, or that perhaps in four years' time British responsibility in that country would end?

The answer to the first part of the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Sir T. Bennett) is that I have received no such Report.

An announcement has been made to-day by Sir Percy Cox in Bagdad, with the authority of His Majesty's Government, and with the full approval of King Feisal and his Government. The announcement was as follows:

"It will be remembered that in the autumn of last year after a lengthy exchange of views, it was decided between the Governments of His Britannic Majesty and His Majesty King Feisal that a Treaty of Alliance should be entered into between His Britannic Majesty and His Majesty the King of Iraq. This Treaty, which was signed on the 10th October, 1922, and the term of which was to be 20 years (subject to periodical revision at the desire of either party) provided for the establishment of an independent constitutional Government in Iraq, enjoying a certain measure of advice and assistance from Great Britain of the nature and extent indicated in the text of the Treaty itself and of subsidiary Agreements which were to be made there-under.

"Since then the Iraq Government has made great strides along the path of independent and stable existence, and has been able successfully to assume administrative responsibility, and both parties being equally anxious that the commitments and responsibilities of His Majesty's Government in respect of Iraq should be terminated as soon as possible, it is considered that the period of the Treaty in its present form can conveniently be shortened. In order to obviate the inconvenience of introducing Amendments into the body of a Treaty already signed, it has been decided to bring about the necessary modifications by means of a protocol which, like the Treaty itself, will be subject to ratification by the Constituent Assembly.

"Accordingly a protocol has now been signed by the parties in the following terms:—

'It is understood between the High Contracting Parties that, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 18, the present Treaty shall terminate upon Iraq becoming a member of the League of Nations, and in any case not later than four years from the ratification of peace with Turkey. Nothing in this Protocol shall prevent a fresh agreement from being concluded with a view to regulate the subsequent relations between the High Contracting Parties; and negotiations for that object shall be entered into between them before the expiration of the above period.'

"It will be noticed that under this protocol the Treaty in its present form is to terminate on the entry of Iraq into the League of Nations, or in four years, whichever may be earlier.

"The position of Oraq as regards the League is that when the Treaty has been ratified, His Britannic Majesty will be bound under Article 6 to use his good offices to secure the admission of Iraq to membership of the League of Nations as soon as possible. His Majesty's Government will be in a position to take this step on the fulfilment of the two following essential conditions, namely, the delimitation of the frontiers of Iraq and the establishment of a stable Government in accordance with the Organic Law.

"There is every reason to hope that both these conditions will be fulfilled at no distant date."

The effect of these arrangements is that, if the conditions are fulfilled, His Majesty's Government will be in a position to support an application by Iraq for membership of the League of Nations, which implies full and complete independence, at any time within a maximum of four years from the ratification of peace with Turkey.

I should like to take this opportunity of expressing the deep appreciation of His Majesty's Government for the distinguished and devoted services of Sir Percy Cox and all the officers who have so loyally co-operated with him in circumstances of great difficulty, and in some cases in the past of personal danger. I feel sure that the House will agree that the step which has been taken to-day is a fitting culmination of the great work which Sir Percy Cox has performed during 39 years in the service of the Crown.

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate the date at which the long-deferred meeting of the Constituent Assembly of Iraq is to take place, at which this Treaty is to be ratified?

I am afraid I could not answer that question without notice, and I think it might be better, in view of the many issues involved, if this matter could be debated in the usual way in the House. That opportunity will arise whenever the Middle Eastern services are taken, for which there will be ample time before Whitsuntide, if the House so desires.

Are we to understand that this Constituent Assembly in Iraq is given the privilege of ratifying this Treaty, when this ancient Parliament is not to have the opportunity of saying "yea" or "nay"?

Is it not a fact that the Prime Minister has announced to the House that the ratification of this House will be invited for this Treaty?

If he announced that, of course, that will be the case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether commercial motor vehicles exempted from the payment of Import Duty are liable to periodical inspection to prevent their use by subsequent purchasers for the conveyance of passengers; and whether a register of vehicles and parts imported free of duty is kept for the purpose of such inspection?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question a register is kept of commercial vehicles imported free of duty if capable of being put to dutiable use. Motor car parts are only allowed to be imported free of duty if the Commissioners of Customs and Excise are satisfied that they are either incapable of use in a dutiable vehicle, or, if not incapable of such use, are actually used in the manufacture or repair of an exempt vehicle.

Are any steps being taken to check the use of such vehicles on importation?

If my Noble Friend requires exact information, he had better put a question down.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated number of persons liable to Super-tax during the financial year ended 31st March last; and what was the estimated total income of these persons for Super-tax purposes?

Complete figures in respect of the year 1922–23 are not yet available; but it is provisionally anticipated that the total number of persons liable to Super-tax for that year will be about 80,000, with an estimated total income of £470,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated number of persons with incomes of above £5,000 a year during the financial year ended 31st March last; and what was the estimated total income of these persons?

Statistics for the year 1922–23 will not be available for some months. For the year 1921–22 it is estimated that there were 28,800 persons with incomes exceeding £5,000 with an estimated total income of £367,000,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give estimated figures for the financial year ended 31st March last showing the gross income brought under review for Income Tax and Super-tax, the estimated income liable to tax before deduction of personal allowances, etc., and the estimated total net income on which Income Tax was paid?

Final estimates of the income dealt with for Income Tax purposes will not be available for some considerable time, but the following provisional estimates have been made:

	Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
	£
Gross income	2,900,000,000
Actual income liable to tax before deduction of personal or family allowances and reliefs	2,250,000,000
Total taxable income on which tax was paid	1,250,000,000

The total income assessable to Super-tax for the same year is provisionally estimated at £470,000,000.