asked the Minister of Agriculture whether crop reporters were employed before the War; if not, how was the information they collect obtained before the War and at what cost; if it was not, what are the fresh conditions to-day which make such information desirable which was unnecessary pre-War; and whether the Ministry has cut down its expenses in any other directions to meet this extra charge?

Crop reporters were employed for many years before the War, but the collection of the annual agricultural Returns, which is now one of the duties of the crop reporters, was before the War carried out by the officers of Customs and Excise. No information is now being collected which was not collected before the War either by the crop reporters or by the officers of Customs and Excise. The transfer of the work of collecting the agricultural Returns which took place in 1919 was made in consequence of the increased duties placed on the officers of Customs and Excise in other directions. The actual cost of the work before the War is not known, as it was not separately provided for in the Estimates, but it is not considered that the present cost is greater than if the Returns were still being collected by the officers of Customs and Excise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the diverse conditions of agricultural labour in various parts of the country, he will cause to be prepared a statement showing the rates of wages in the respective countries of Great Britain, indicating the additional payments in kind, on the lines of a statement prepared by the Department some years ago?

No precise details are available as to the rates of agricultural wages now being paid in different parts of the country, but the following statement prepared from such information as is at my disposal shows the average weekly cash rates of wages for ordinary agricultural labourers prevailing during last March in each county of England and Wales. A rate per hour is given when wages are usually paid on an hourly basis and no definite number of hours per week is specified. I am unable to say to what extent these rates are supplemented by payment in kind, and considerable investigation would be necessary to obtain particulars on this point. So far as my information goes, payments in kind are not very common except in the North of England and Wales. In some of these counties the wages shown below are subject to an agreed deduction for board and lodging.With regard to Scotland, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Millar) on the 15th December last:

	Wage.
County.	s.	d.
Bedford	25	0
Berkshire	25	0
Buckingham	27	0
Cambridge and Isle of Ely	0	6 per hour.
Cheshire	32	0
Cornwall	30	0
Cumberland	30	0
Derby	28	0
Devon	30	0
Dorset	27	0
Durham	35	0
Essex	0	6½ per hour.
Gloucester	25	0
Hampshire	0	6½ per hour.
Hereford	27	0
Hertford	0	6½ per hour.
Huntingdon	25	0
Kent	27	0
Lancaster:
Southern Area	35	0
Northern Area	35	0
Eastern Area	40	0*
Leicester:
Ashby Bosworth	31	0
Leicester	0	7 per hour.
Loughborough	30	0
Market Harborough	28	0
Melton Mowbray	30	0
Lincoln:
Holland	0	6¾ per hour.
Kesteven and Lindsey	28	0
Middlesex:
North	0	7½ per hour.
South	0	7½ per hour.
* This rate applies to teamsmen and stockmen only.

	Wage.
County.	s.	d.
Monmouth	30	0
Norfolk	0	6 per hour.
Northampton	28	0
Northumberland	32	0
Nottingham	30	0
Oxford	25	0
Peterborough, Soke of	26	0
Rutland	27	0
Salop	30	0
Somerset	27	0
Stafford	30	0
Suffolk	25	0
Surrey	29	2
Sussex	27	0
Warwick	25	0
Wight, Isle of	27	0
Westmorland	30	0
Wilts	27	0
Worcester	0	6½ per hour.
Yorkshire:
East Riding	30	0
North Riding	30	0
West Riding	30	0
Anglesey	28	0
Brecon	30	0
Cardigan	30	0
Carmarthen	30	0
Carnarvon	30	0
Denbigh	27	0
Flint	27	0
Glamorgan	30	0
Merioneth	28	0
Montgomery	28	0
Pembroke	28	0
Radnor	30	0

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Teviotdale Farmers' Club, which represents a large number of sheep breeders in Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire, has made representation to his Department to use its influence with local authorities in England to remove the double dipping regulations, as regards sheep from areas free from sheep scab, without result; and, if so, seeing that there can be no danger of introducing sheep scab from districts where no such disease exists, he will state what are the reasons of his Department for not acting as craved?

The reply to the first part is in the affirmative. Regulations made by local authorities under the Sheep Scab Order of 1920, governing the movement of sheep into their districts, are of a protective character. Many local authorities in England apply double dipping regulations to sheep moved into their district from any part of Scotland, and where this is the case such local authorities would doubtless hesitate to make any distinction in favour of Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire unless the local authorities of those counties themselves imposed similar regulations in respect of sheep moved thereto from any other county in Scotland. The matter is, however, primarily one for the consideration of local authorities, and the Ministry does not desire to interfere with the discretion of local authorities in this respect.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of the widow of Sapper Jeffrey, No. 160,129, Royal Engineers, who, after being wounded and discharged, died from septic poisoning, certified by his medical attendant as due to his wound; whether an appeal has been lodged by Mrs. Jeffrey; and has he been able to give same a favourable hearing?

The late soldier made no claim to pension during his lifetime, and died from acute tonsilitis and abscess of the tonsil and neck more than two years after leaving the Army. The widow's claim to pension has been very carefully considered by my medical advisers, but the Ministry were unable to accept the cause of death as being connected with the late soldier's military service, or with the wound in the knee, which he sustained in 1917. The widow's appeal against the decision of the Ministry will shortly be forwarded, together with all the evidence obtainable, to the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal for hearing.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that a pension of 6s. per week was paid to Robina Inglis, of Walkerburn, as the dependant of the late Private William Inglis, No. 12,960, Royal Scots; that this pension has now been stopped and a terminal gratuity of £4 11s. awarded, on the claim that she was not now in pecuniary need; that since the decision to terminate the pension the circumstances of the pensioner have altered; that she has lost three brothers in the late War; and is it possible, in view of all these circumstances, for this case to be reviewed, with a view to a permanent pension of continuance of the late pension being favourably considered?

Pension to a dependant, other than a parent, is only payable so long as the dependant is wholly or partly incapable of self-support and in pecuniary need. If, as in the case mentioned, these conditions cease to be fulfilled, the Warrant provides for the payment of a gratuity which is in full and final settlement of the State's liability. A subsequent change in the pensioner's circumstances would not enable a pension to be revived but, in view of the hon. Member's representations, I am having further enquiries made into this case.

asked the Minister of Pensions what leave is given to patients at the neurological hospital, Ewell, Surrey; whether, when a patient is given five days' leave, the weekly deduction of 19s. is made from the treatment allowances to cover cost of maintenance at the institution: and, if so, will he issue instructions that during the period a man is on leave from the institution no deduction shall be made in respect of the food he does not receive?

Leave is granted at Ewell Hospital under conditions similar to those obtaining at other Ministry institutions. When his condition permits, a man receiving long periods of treatment away from home may be given the opportunity of a few days' leave, during which his treatment allowances are continued without interruption. I am afraid that any other system of payment would not be practicable.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the present position in regard to the disabled officer, Captain Christopher Douglas Thompson, late of the 11th Royal Fusiliers, removed to Brookwood Asylum on 23rd December, 1922; and whether this man's case has been reheard, and with what result?

This officer's mental trouble has been accepted as attributable to service, and an award at the maximum rate of £210 a year, with effect from 22nd December, 1922, was authorised early last month. Captain Thompson was removed to Bethlem Mental Hospital on the 13th March last, and is receiving treatment there as an officer patient. In view of his condition, payment of retired pay is being made to his mother.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Private W. Fletcher, No. 86,509, late of the 17th London Regiment; is he aware that this man appealed successfully to the Appeals Tribunal, after which he was sent to be examined by another set of doctors at Chelsea, who now inform him that his disability has passed away, thus vitiating the result of an appeal to the final Tribunal set up by this House to deal with such cases; whether he is aware that the man is at present attending the National Heart Hospital for treatment; and what does he propose to do in this case?

The Tribunal set aside a final award made on an assessment of disablement of under 20 per cent. That decision did not imply that the Tribunal considered that the assessment was inadequate, but merely that, in their opinion, a final award should not have been made at the time. Following the Tribunal's decision, the man was examined by an entirely different medical board, comprising a cardiologist, in order that his condition then might be ascertained. The degree of disablement was, however, found to be less than on the occasion of the previous board, and a further award of compensation was not, therefore, admissible; but as a result of the Tribunal's decision the man has an opportunity of making application for increased compensation if he considers that the condition of his disability has become worse since he was last boarded.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Private H. F. Adams, No. 29,594, late of the Royal Field Artillery; whether he is aware that this man received injuries to his right hand while on leave at home from the Army in France during an air raid; that he is receiving a grant of 15s. a week from the Charity Organisation Society; and whether it is possible to place this man on the ordinary pension roll and enable him to receive the disability pension appropriate to his case?

Mr. Adams' claim was considered by the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal, who held that his disability was neither due to nor aggravated by his military service. As the decisions of the Tribunal are by Statute final, I regret that no further action can be taken by the Ministry. I may add that the injury was not received by Mr. Adams in the course of his duty, or by reason of his being a soldier, since when it occurred he was sleeping in his own house at home. The allowance of 15s. a week for life was granted by the Ministry of Health, under the Government scheme of compensation for dealing with civilian claims arising out of injuries by air raids in this country.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Private W. J. Hackett, No. 358,820, Royal Engineers, who is suffering from defective vision due to war service; and whether he will have this man's claim for pension considered and provision made for such treatment as is necessary for his eyes?

My medical advisers were unable to admit that the cause of defective vision in this case had any relation to service, and the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, after obtaining a report by a medical specialist, confirmed that finding, which thus became final. I regret that the man is not, therefore, eligible for compensation or treatment from my Department.

also asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. J. Dearle, of 31, Bayham Street, Camden Town, N.W.1, who enlisted in 1914 at the age of 47; whether he is aware that, after serving three years 172 days, part of the time in France, Mr. Dearle was discharged and given a gratuity of £55; that he became worse, was sent into hospital, and was awarded a pension; whether, some 14 months ago, an officer of his Department informed Mr. Dearle that the whole of his pension would be stopped until he had repaid the £55 plus £7 8s. 6d. treatment allowance, issued by the local war pensions committee; whether it is in accordance with his instructions that the whole of a man's pension should be withheld; and whether he will cause this man's pension to be issued?

I am looking into the facts of this case and will communicate with the hon. Member at an early date.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many pensions have been commuted?

Since October, 1919, about 40 men have had part of their disablement pensions commuted.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of pensioners who have been assisted by lump-sum grants to start businesses; whether any record is kept of their success or failure; and, if so, what does the record indicate?

Since November, 1921, some 4,500 final weekly allowances have, on the application of the man, been paid in lump sums. No special record is kept of these cases, but I may point out that, ordinarily, the applications are made either for the purpose of emigration or to assist in establishing a business, and that in the latter type of case the application is not granted unless it is clear from the report of the War Pensions Committee that the project is likely to be successful.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that John Ernest Taylor, Military Medal, late 8th City of London Post Office Rifles, son of Mr. Taylor, of 123, Pedro Street, Clapton, E.5, is at present in Ward R2, Mental Hospital, Claybury, suffering from shell shock; that when he, in a fit of depression, tore a bed sheet, he was placed in a small, shuttered, and darkened room with several lunatics, without sufficient clothing; that, when visited by his parents on the 8th and 9th of April, he was shivering and had developed a chill; and that the mother was informed on the 22nd of April by the doctor that her son had been vomiting and was not expected to recover; and whether he will take steps to have this patient removed to a shell-shock or convalescent home and institute inquiries into the conduct of the officials concerned at Claybury?

The Board of Control have seen the Medical Superintendent of Claybury and inquired fully into the circumstances of this case. The patient, James (not John) Ernest Taylor is suffering from dementia praecox. He is at times violently impulsive and destructive. On 5th April he destroyed a sheet and pillow cases and was placed in a side room which, for his own protection, had the shutters of the window closed. It is not a fact that other patients were in this side room with him, or that he was without sufficient clothing. The medical officer who has had charge of the case since December states that the patient has never suffered from a chill while under his care. The patient vomited on the 23rd and was seen by the medical officer, who prescribed for him, and on the following day he had recovered from this attack. Mrs. Taylor who visited her son on the 23rd April was informed that his mental prospects were poor; not that his general health was critical; he is, in fact, physically a strong and healthy man. My right hon. Friend is advised that the patient is not at present a suitable case to be treated outside a mental hospital. During his residence at Claybury he has attacked and seriously injured three attendants, one of whom was off duty for six weeks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number of candidates in the examination held in July, 1922, to qualify for permanent appointments in the clerical class of the Civil Service obtained 50 per cent. of the marks, and how many of these were ex-service men; and will he also state, seeing that only 750 candidates out of 9,346, or less than 8 per cent., were declared successful, what percentage of these were ex-service men, and what percentage of the total number of candidates who sat for the examination were ex-service men?

The pass mark for the limited competition of July, 1922, for appointment to the clerical class was not 50 per cent. but 61 per cent., as I stated in reply to the hon. Member on the 24th April. The number of candidates who obtained pass marks was 1840. The competition was confined to ex-service men. Of the 1,840 who qualified, 1,150 (including the 750 referred to in the question) have up to the present been made successful owing to the occurrence of further vacancies, and the balance of the qualified candidates will be made successful in due course subject to the occurrence of vacancies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the names of the shipping firms who are still due payments to the Government on account of reparation ships disposed of by the Shipping Liquidation Board; and whether he proposes to exact from these firms interest on the amounts still due?

I have been asked to reply. There are 19 firms who have not yet completed payment for ex-enemy vessels bought by them; in these cases the original terms of sale provide for payment of a portion of the purchase price in instalments, and in all cases except two provision is made in the original terms for the payment of interest on the outstanding balance of the purchase price. It is not usual to publish the names of the firms concerned in cases of this kind, and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by publishing them in this instance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the charge made by the Bank of England for management of the State banking account?

No charge is made by the Bank of England for managing the Public Accounts.

asked the Chancellor Of the Exchequer whether he is aware that over £40,000,000 must be paid to America and Cuba for sugar by consumers in the United Kingdom this year; and whether, in the circumstances, His Majesty's Government will consider seriously the desirability of developing the British sugar industry, so that the expenditure on sugar may pass into British hands and potential buyers of British goods?

I would remind the hon. Member that it has been the policy, both of the late Government and of the present Government, to encourage the development of the beet-sugar industry in this country, and that with this end in view considerable assistance has been given to Home-Grown Sugar, Limited, by the investment of public moneys in that undertaking, and to the industry in general by the remission of the Excise Duty on sugar manufactured from homegrown beet. I would also remind him that there is a preferential rebate of one-sixth of the duty on sugar of Empire growth and consignment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the legislation about to be introduced with the object of improving the scale of pensions granted to pre-War pensioners under the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1920, will comprise any adjustment of the grievances of ex-ranker officers; and whether the case of these officers will be included in the terms of reference to the Committee it is proposed to set up to work out the scheme?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on the 1st May to my hon. Friend the Member far South-East St. Pancras (Mr. Hopkins).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that he is not prepared to adopt the use of different coloured stamps to facilitate the sub-division of the Entertainments Duty into two sections, the one derived from all amusements given under cover and the other from all those given in the open air, he will state whether the objection is due to impossibility of execution by the Revenue authorities or the disinclination of the revenue authorities to make the distinction; whether he is aware that the Entertainment Duty as it stands, in respect of yield, give a most unfair view of the present position of the indoor entertainment industry; and whether, under the circumstances, the matter will further be considered to meet the legitimate desire of those immediately concerned?

The proposal of my hon. Friend would give much additional work, and I am not satisfied that it would lead to results of such practical value as to justify the extra expense involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that Scottish brewers warned publicans at the week-end previous to the introduction of the Budget that there would be a reduction of the Beer Duty; that in some cases the exact amount of the reduction was stated; and will he explain how the brewers were informed of the proposed changes in taxation before Members of Parliament?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. As respects the last part, I can add nothing to my previous statements on this subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in the case of the trial and execution of three non-commissioned officers in France in December, 1916, dealt with in the article by Mr. Rochester, he will say whether the Army Council held any formal investigation into the matter; whether he is aware that the French Cour de Cassation has continually reviewed sentences of death after they have been carried out and has quashed them, in many cases directing the officers concerned to be proceeded against according to the French military code; Whether he is aware of the grave irregularities that have transpired in the conduct of this trial; and whether, in view of the disquietude aroused by the publication of the circumstances of this case, he will set up an inquiry, under the powers of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act, 1921, to investigate the circumstances connected with the execution of these three noncommissioned officers?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I am generally aware that the French authorities have on occasion quashed death sentences after execution, but I do not know to what extent this has been done. The judicial system in the French Army is quite different from that in our own, but I am not aware that it is more favourable to prisoners accused or found guilty of capital offences. As regards the remainder of the question, I am not aware that any irregularities have transpired in the conduct of the trial referred to, and I do not think that any case has been made out for the inquiry suggested.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, whether he has received a resolution from the men discharged from Waltham Abbey powder works and Enfield Lock asking for employment or maintenance; whether he is aware that a very large number of these men have spent all their working lives in Government employment in these factories, that for this reason they are unfitted for other avocations, and that, owing to their inability to obtain employment, they are being forced to apply to the Poor Law guardians for Poor Law relief; and, whether he is in a position to render help of any kind to these men in their distress?

A resolution on this subject has recently been received from a local branch of a trade union. I much regret the necessity for the discharges that have taken place at these and other factories, but it is not possible to continue in employment men for whom no work is available. As regards men of long service, every possible preference has been given to them, and I am informed that a considerable number of those whom it has been necessary to discharge have received gratuities under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act 1887. I am not aware that the particular nature of their work under Government militates against their obtaining other employment. As regards the last part of the question, I fear that the War Office have no funds at their disposal from which any assistance towards maintenance could be given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been directed to the indignation meeting of the colonists of Fiji held relative to the failure of the Secretary of State to reassure them as to the safeguarding of their constitutional rights; whether he has received further information regarding the bargain between the late Secretary of State and Mr. Knox, of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, such as to modify his previously expressed view of the question; whether a reply has been sent to the Fiji Government conveying the required assurance; and what are the terms of that reply?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative. Having carefully reviewed all the facts, the Secretary of State is convinced that his predecessor had no reason to anticipate that when the requisite legislative sanction came to be sought objection would be taken to his action either as impairing the authority of the Legislative Council or as indicating that he claimed liberty to dispose of the revenue of the Colony at his discretion. The Secretary of State has no doubt that it was the earnest desire of his predecessor, as it certainly is his own, to work in the closest accord with the unofficial members of the Legislative Council in every endeavour to safeguard the interests and promote the welfare of the Colony. He sees nothing in the transactions of last summer which lend colour to any suggestion that the constitutional rights of the Legislative Council have been or will be infringed. The GOvernor has been informed accordingly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what the Indian Government is charged by the Bank of England for the management of their sterling debt?

Since 1906 the charges have been at the rates shown in the Home Accounts of the Government of India (vide page 81 of the Accounts for 1921, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy). In 1920 a new register for the transfer of stock by deed was opened. For this a supplementary charge will be payable, which remains to be fixed as experience is acquired of the additional cost entailed in maintaining the new register.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether instructions have been given to the Scottish Board of Agriculture that land settlement schemes are to be submitted by the Board to the Scottish Land and Property Federation, a society formed for the purpose of protecting the interests of landowners; if so, when and by whom were the instructions given, and with what statutory or other sanction; and whether steps will now be taken to cancel them?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the other parts, therefore, do not arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the large number of empty houses now held for sale, it will be possible, under the Housing (No. 2) Bill, for local authorities to make suggestions to owners as to practical and remunerative methods of conversion into flats or maisonettes; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of giving them at least such advisory power?

It will certainly be open to local authorities to make such suggestions to owners of houses, and the Bill proposes to enable local authorities, if they so desire, to grant assistance to persons undertaking provision of flats by the method indicated in Clause 5.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the hardship entailed on members of friendly societies who, on reaching the age of 65, may become permanently unemployed and are thereby prevented from maintaining the necessary payments; and whether he is prepared to introduce legislation exempting such members, on application, from contributing at the age of 65 while at the same time providing for a continuance of their medical benefits?

My right hon. Friend's attention has been called to the matter referred to by the hon. Member, and he has undertaken to give careful consideration to the question of the inclusion in the next Bill to amend the National Health Insurance Acts of a Clause to enable insured persons who cease employment between the ages of 65 and 70 to remain entitled to medical benefit on payment of a weekly contribution sufficient to cover the cost of that benefit.

asked the Minister of Health how many officers temporarily or permanently employed in his Department are in receipt of pensions or other allowances from the State exceeding the sum of £250 per year, and the salary such persons are receiving in the positions they at present occupy either as temporary or permanent officers?

There are five established officers and two un-established officers serving in the Ministry of Health in receipt of pensions or other allowances from the State exceeding the sum of £250 a year. The salaries of the established officers are as follows:—£675, £721, £800, £900, £1,300, respectively; and of the unestablished officers, £90 and £1,500.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he can give a table showing how many telegrams, cables, and wireless messages, taken together, were sent, and how many received, by the Foreign Office and Colonial Office, respectively, during each year from 1902 to 1922, inclusive, to and from foreign countries, and to and from the Dominions and Colonies taken together; what was in each case the total cost and average cost per message; and if he will state for each year the average number of such messages both inward and outward per day, and the average cost per day?

I am afraid that I am unable to give all the information asked for. As regards the Colonial Office, the numbers of telegrams received and sent during the 21 years in question and the daily averages are as follow:

Year.	Telegrams received.	Daily average.	Telegrams sent.	Daily average.
1902	4,629	12·7	4,429	12·1
1903	3,255	8·9	2,812	7·7
1904	2,869	7·8	2,788	7·6
1905	3,030	8·3	2,659	7·3
1906	3,500	9·6	2,729	7·5
1907	3,048	8·4	2,536	6·9
1908	3,152	8·6	2,672	7·3
1909	2,818	7·7	2,537	6·9
1910	3,537	9·7	3,383	9·2
1911	3,295	9·0	3,256	8·9
1912	2,981	8·2	2,809	7·7
1913	3,207	8·8	3,299	9·0
1914	6,637	18·2	10,309	28·2
1915	8,651	23·7	17,237	41·7
1916	8,114	22·2	10,412	28·4
1917	10,671	29·2	11,821	32·6
1918	11,945	32·7	11,691	32·0
1919	10,525	28·8	12,196	33·4
1920	8,437	23·0	9,083	24·8
1921	7,504	20·6	7,808	21·4
1922	7,191	19·7	6,719	18·4

No figures are available as to the cost of telegrams received, since such telegrams are paid for by the several Dominion or Colonial Governments who send them. The total sums charged to the Colonial Services Vote for telegrams during the financial years 1901–2 to 1922–23 are as follows:

Expenditure on Telegrams, 1901–1902 to 1922–1923.
Year.	Amount.
	£
1901–2	13,949
1902–3	19,738
1903–4	8,603
1904–5	8,827
1905–6	8,030
1906–7	9,065
1907–8	6,869
1908–9	8,126
1909–10	6,821
1910–11	9,842
1911–12	7,602
1912–13	6,931
1913–14	6,554
1914–15	36,370
1915–16	45,269
1916–17	24,888
1917–18	32,261
1918–19	49,841
1919–20	28,631
1920–21	21,977
1921–22	20,212
1922–23 (approximate)	10,500

Owing to the fact that these figures cover the financial years and not the calendar years it is not possible to give the statistics of average cost asked for.As regards the Foreign Office, the following table shows the cost of telegrams sent by and received at the Foreign Office during the following years:

	£
1902–3	50,763
1903–4	47,372
1904–5	42,996
1905–6	41,028
1906–7	32,182
1907–8	32,570
1908–9	36,680
1909–10	41,340
1910–11	33,155
1911–12	43,868
1912–13	42,459
1913–14	41,119
1914–15	239,787
1915–16	299,617
1916–17	261,773
1917–18	304,105
1918–19	384,775
1919–20	226,341
1920–21	132,818
1921–22	113,549

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the Wheal, Jewell, and Marytavy Mines, Limited, has received an advance under the Trade Facilities Act; and, if so, what is the security for the advance?

The Advisory Committee under the Trade Facilities Acts have recommended a guarantee of the principal and interest on a loan of £10,000 to be raised by the Wheal, Jewell and Marytavy Mines, Limited, subject to certain conditions, and the Treasury have expressed their willingness to give such a guarantee accordingly. The security for the loan will be a first charge on the whole assets of the undertaking. In addition to the considerable sum which has already been expended by the company, the company is under the obligation to spend on necessary works a further £10,000 which will rank behind the guaranteed loan, the whole of this £10,000 raised by the company to be expended before any part of the guaranteed loan is utilised.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amounts paid in pensions during the year 1922; and the number of pensioners participating in police, teachers, military, and naval service pensions, not including pensions granted on account of war injuries received during the European War?

Full statistics for the year 1922 are not yet available, but the total amount paid in pensions during that year was approximately £20,500,000, excluding Great War Injury Pensions, Old Age Pensions and Civil Service Pensions. The number of pensioners participating in police, teachers, Army, Air and Naval Service Pensions, exclusive of Great War Injury Pensions, was approximately 245,000. The amount paid for Old Age Pensions in 1922 was £22,125,841, excluding Ireland. As regards Civil Service Pensions, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 20th March last to a question asked by the hon. Member for Morpeth (Mr. Cairns).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the representative of the French Government on the Council of the League of Nations objected to the nomination of the British financial adviser to Albania; and what were the grounds of his objection?

The French representative objected to the candidate proposed by M. Wallenberg on the ground that the French Government had not been given sufficient time to examine the matter in all its bearings. The Council of the League have now agreed to the appointment of Mr. Hunger, a Dutch subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether steps will be taken by the Allied Governments in the course of negotiations now proceeding at Lausanne to secure the ultimate repatriation of Bulgarians to their homes in Western Thrace from which they have been expelled by Greek troops?

The Greek Government have already given an undertaking that these people will be repatriated so soon as normal conditions are restored.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that counsel's fees are treated as an honorarium and are not recoverable by the person who has paid them; that there are occasions when counsel have been paid their fees but do not attend the case for which the fee has been paid; that the litigant cannot bring any action for negligence nor for the return of the fees; and whether he will introduce legislation to put an end to this immunity of counsel?

Counsel's fees are in law an honorarium, and are not recoverable from the client. The occasions when counsel have neither attended a case nor provided a substitute must be very exceptional, and I do not think that any counsel would insist on retaining his fee in such circumstances. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Attorney-General whether, seeing that there is no means of discussing the conduct of judges on the bench except by means of an address to His Majesty praying for the removal of the judge, and that litigants have no remedy against irregular conduct by judge or counsel in the course of judicial proceedings, he will set up a committee consisting of Members of this House and of judicial members of the Privy Council before which litigants with causes of complaint against judges or counsel can lay their cases?

No, Sir.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the private litigant has no right of action against counsel for negligence or fraud in carrying out their professional duties, and that solicitors, architects, engineers, doctors, and other professional men are liable to their clients for negligence or fraud in the execution of their professional duties; and whether he will take steps to introduce legislation withdrawing the privileges of members of the bar so far as such privileges render them immune from actions for negligence or fraud?

I am not aware, and it is not the fact, that counsel are immune from actions for fraud. It is the fact that counsel are not liable to be sued for negligence, just as they are not entitled to sue for their fees. I do not think that an alteration of the law in this respect would be to the advantage either of clients or of the bar.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the release of Willie Morgan, Newport, on bail, with liability to appear at the Monmouth Assizes next June, is causing public apprehension in South Wales, having regard to his acquittal by the magistrates; and whether he will consider the desirability of entering a nolle prosequi in this case?

I see no ground for the existence of any such apprehension as is suggested in the first part of the question in view of the fact, as stated by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in answer to the hon. Member on the 26th of last month, that I have directed the entry of a nolle prosequi and that this man has been released from prison.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the very many cases where furnishings have been purchased by workpeople on the hire system, and consequent upon unemployment and inability to continue weekly or monthly payments those furnishings have been seized in many cases; and whether, in view of the hardship thus entailed on the people concerned, he will give favourable consideration to amending the law to prevent such hardship?

No, Sir; I have no information on the subject, and I do not think I could hold out any hope that it would be possible to add legislation on this subject to the Government programme.

asked the Home Secretary the number of factory and workshop inspectors; and how many factories and workshops were not visited by an inspector for each of the last three years?

The authorised staff, including the headquarters and technical staff, now numbers 205. The number of works not visited in 1920 was 110,324; in 1921, 108,735; and in 1922, 110,140, the great majority being workshops.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in considering applications for naturalisation, it is the policy of his Department to give specially favourable consideration to the cases of those who have lived here for many years, become householders, and built up businesses?

Facts such as those indicated would tell strongly in favour of an applicant; but weight might also have to be given to other considerations.

asked the Home Secretary the number of police authorities throughout the country who employ women police?

At the date of the last available returns (29th September last) women police were employed in the Metropolitan Police district, five counties, and 26 boroughs. Particulars are given in the Report of His Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary which has just been published.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the inefficiency in the management and the inadequacy of the arrangements made at Wembley on the occasion of the football cup final on Saturday last; whether it is necessary for the owners of the buildings to be licensed or the buildings approved for the purpose of athletic competitions by any authority; and, if so, whether, having regard to the experience of Saturday last, he will see that such licences are revoked or suspended until he is satisfied as to the efficiency of the management in future?

No licence from any authority was required—so far as I am aware—for the holding of the football match at the Stadium on Saturday last. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by me yesterday to questions on this subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that on Saturday last several trains from Marylebone to Wembley, crowded with passengers both sitting and standing, had no lighting facilities whatsoever in the carriages and that these trains were in some instances delayed for lengthy periods in dark tunnels; and whether, in order to avoid the danger of panic and of people being robbed under these conditions, he will take steps to compel the railway companies to have adequate lighting facilities in all carriages?

As my hon. Friend is aware, the conditions obtaining on Saturday last were somewhat exceptional, but I am inquiring into the matter and will communicate with him.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has received an application from the Surrey Education Committee for the recognition for purposes of grant of expenditure upon Henley Fort School camp, and also for the recognition of attendances thereat under Article 44 of the Code; the nature of the reply, if any, that has been made; and, if no reply has yet been made, when one may be expected?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board have acceded to both parts of the authority's application. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the correspondence.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the recent successful result obtained by the British Broadcasting Company in getting Mrs. Carr to the deathbed of her son, the broadcasting of emergency calls can be made a permanent feature?

I do not think it desirable, on the strength of the incident to which the hon. Member refers, to make any permanent arrangement of the kind suggested. The general question of the uses to which broadcasting should be put is, however, one of the matters which the Broadcasting Committee have been asked to consider.

asked the Postmaster-General how many ships are in receipt, and on what terms they are in receipt, of broadcast wireless sent from this country?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my written reply of the 2nd instant.

asked the Postmaster-General if a party of wireless experts were recently sent out by the British Government to carry out experiments between Vancouver and Fiji; if so, what is the object of the mission; and what is the estimated cost?

I understand that a small expedition recently left England under the direction of the Pacific Cable Board to undertake wireless research work on Vancouver Island and at Fiji. I am informed that the object of the mission is to undertake such research work.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will detail the circumstances that led his Department to decide that no compensation is liable for two parcels, numbered 25 and 26, addressed to the Eastern Trading Company, Bagdad, and two parcels, 32 and 33, addressed to the Pindi Sports Works, Rawalpindi, the property of Sunners, Brown, Limited, East Finchley, and lost on the steamship "Egypt"?

The Post Office does not pay compensation for the loss of an uninsured parcel sent abroad when the loss is due to a cause beyond control. The judgment of the Board of Trade inquiry decided that the loss of the "Egypt" was not caused by the wrongful act or default of the commander and officers, or any of them, and the loss must, therefore, be regarded as due to a cause beyond control. As no insurance fee appears to have been paid in respect of the parcels referred to, no claim to compensation can be admitted.