asked the Minister of Pensions what steps should be taken by an ex-service man who is able to produce new medical evidence in support of a claim which has been rejected by the House of Lords Appeal Tribunal in order to secure a rehearing of his case?

As I informed the hon. Member on the 22nd February, decisions of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal are, by Section 8 of the War Pensions Act, 1919, final.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean that every avenue is closed under any of the circumstances which he foreshadowed in the Debate last Session?

I have already informed the hon. Member that, under the Statute, there really is no right of appeal.

Are we to understand that, if the right hon. Gentleman is given evidence showing that a miscarriage of justice has taken place, he is not going to take steps to remedy that undoubted injustice?

The hon. Gentleman must be well aware that decisions of this House are as binding on the Minister, as upon anyone else.

May I have an answer to my question? Is the right hon. Gentleman, if shown that injustice has been done, not going to take any steps whatever to right the wrong?

I can add nothing to the reply which I have given. The decision of the tribunal is final, and the matter is out of my hands.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the South Shields, Jarrow, and Dis- trict War Pensions Committee, expressing the opinion that should a man in receipt of a final weekly allowance die prior to the expiration of the award, any balance outstanding should be paid to the man's estate; and whether he proposes to amend the regulation so that the widow and orphans may receive the balance of an award made by the State in final settlement of the claim to a man suffering from a disability due to war service?

My attention has not been drawn to the resolution referred to. But on the general question, perhaps I may refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Bromwich on the 29th March last, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the Ministry's hospital at Gretna consists of a wooden hut of a very unsatisfactory kind for the purpose of which it is used; whether he is aware that there is at Gretna an empty brick, steam-heated hospital, now in the hands of the Disposals Department, which would serve the. purposes of the Ministry; and whether he will take steps to secure this building for use as the Ministry of Pensions' hospital?

This matter is at present under consideration

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Walter John Churchouse, late Stoker, Royal Navy, No. S.S./116,834, 23, Wilmot Place, Hanwell, W.7, was discharged from the Royal Navy on 12th November, 1919, contracted pulmonary tuberculosis, and died on 6th October, 1922, and that application had been made for pension, and finally, on the 2nd February, 1923, the Pensions Appeal Tribunal issued Form P.A.T.I. (Allowed), intimating that the case (Ministry of Pensions, No. 11/N/15,195, Tribunal Case, No. 6/5,329) had been decided as the disease being attributable to war service and the appeal allowed; and, in view of the fact that Mrs. Walter John Churchouse is left a widow with three children, aged, respectively, five, three, and two years, and no pension has yet been received, will he take steps to secure that the decision of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal is carried out and instruct the Ealing War Pensions Committee accordingly?

I regret that exceptional circumstances occasioned delay in this case, but an award in respect of the widow's claim is now being authorised, and will be put into payment as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the compulsory age of retirement for civil servants employed in the Post Office is 60 years; and whether, seeing that General Kelly, who has recently been transferred from the regional office, Nottingham, to the regional office, Newcastle, is 64 year's of age and in receipt of a service pension of £1,000 a year, and in view of the distressed financial circum stances of many ex-officers of high rank in the services, he will terminate the appointment of General Kelly and appoint an ex-service man in his stead who is not in receipt of a service pension?

The age limit fixed for the compulsory retirement of Civil Servants by Clause 15 of the Order-in-Council of the 10th January, 1910 is 65. This regulation does not necessarily apply to staff employed temporarily like General Kelly, and I do not consider that it would be in the interests of the work of the Ministry now to dispense with his services.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many of the staff of the Ministry employed at the regional office, Nottingham, have been offered employment at the regional office, Birmingham; in how many cases will removal expenses be paid; in those cases where officers pay their own removal expenses will any guarantee of employment be given; if so, for what period; whether the female staff will be offered employment at Birmingham; whether, on transfer, the members of the staff will lose seniority or increment; whether the date of transfer will be considered the incremental date; and whether, since this would result in an officer who has completed nine months out of 12 having to serve 21 months before he received an increment normally due at the end of 12 months, he will issue instructions that officers transferred shall retain their normal date of increment and, on transfer, shall be paid at the scale rate that they would have received had they been employed at the regional office, Birmingham, during the whole of their service?

As the reply is somewhat long and detailed, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer :

All full-time staff at Nottingham have been given the opportunity of offering themselves for transfer to Birmingham or London and all who have accepted will be so transferred. The number entitled to removal expenses cannot yet be stated, but will be small. Employment in Birmingham or London will be on the usual temporary basis and, as its continuance will depend upon the requirements of the work, no guarantee for any definite period can be given. The female staff comprises 16 typists and seven part-time cleaners; the typists have been offered transfer. Transfer is offered as the alternative to discharge, and in such circumstances an officer transferred from a lower to a higher scale receives the minimum of the new scale or carries his existing pay with the immediate addition of the proportion of increment which has accrued, the date of transfer becoming the future date of increment. The regulations dealing with the question of pay on transfer are of general application throughout the Civil Service.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the habitual working of overtime without pay in the finance section of the regional offices; whether he is aware that, despite the decrease in the volume of work and the decentralisation of finance duties from Ministry headquarters to the regions, the staff in the finance branch at headquarters has been increased in the higher grades; and whether he will consider the transfer of officers from the finance branch to assist the regional finance officers and deputies to carry out their duties without overtime?

There is no evidence at headquarters of the working of continuous overtime in the finance sections of the regions, nor have any representations been received that the staff in those sections is overworked. Assistance is always provided when necessary. The finance staff at headquarters was, before the additions to the higher grades, inadequate for the proper performance of the work required, and that staff is now fully employed.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that under reference MS. Memo, to Regions, No. 389, an instruction has been issued from the medical branch at Ministry headquarters to the effect that it had been decided that cases of less than 20 per cent., where the entitlement to pension had been accepted by the Ministry as aggravated, shall be included as A documents and the men will not be told their assessments, he will say what are A documents; and what is the reason for not informing pensioners of their degree of disablement in these cases?

An instruction has been issued in the sense indicated. The instruction is entirely in the interests of the pensioners and is intended to secure that in cases of aggravation which are necessarily difficult to decide, and of special importance to the man, an under 20 per cent, award shall not be made without further consideration, and, if necessary, with specialist advice as to the probable future of the case. Cases classed as "A" are those which medical boards are instructed to refer for consideration by medical assessors and specialists before a finding as to assessment is announced. Perhaps I may again remind the hon. Member that the final decision as to rate of assessment always rests with a medical board which has examined the man.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question, as to the reasons for not informing these pensioners of their degree of disablement?

The reason is that we do not wish to inform the man of the decision because it is not yet arrived at. The matter was fully inquired into. It is of great importance in these particular cases to come to a right decision. If we call in special help, we naturally wait until we have that special help before informing the man.

Is it quite proper to fix the figure? Is it not the fact that from 15 to 19 per cent. is not definite at all? Is it the fact a man cannot be employed at all if his assessment is under 20 per cent.?

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of men on home treatment without allowances in the Northern region on 30th April, 1923; whether many of these men are totally incapacitated and others are unable to follow their normal employment; and whether he will issue instructions that men incapable of following their employment as a result of sickness duo to a service disability shall receive full treatment allowances in accordance with Article 6 of the Royal Warrant?

Home treatment is ordinarily obtained by the man from his panel doctor under the National Health Insurance Scheme without the intervention of the Ministry, and there is. therefore, no record in my Department of the information asked for. I would point out that the Royal Warrant permits the grant of treatment allowances only when the requirements of a definite course of treatment approved by the Ministry prevent the man from providing for the support of himself and his family. In other cases the position is met by the j pension or other compensation awarded for disablement.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of pensioners in the Borough of Gateshead incapacitated for work and receiving home treatment from the panel doctor who are not in receipt of treatment allowances?

I regret that I have not this information. Home treatment is ordinarily obtained by the man from his panel doctor under the National Health Insurance Acts, without the intervention of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that when a man commits a minor breach of discipline in a Ministry institution he is fined one to three days' allowances; that in addition he is sometimes discharged from the institution; that in these cases, in addition to being fined, the man forfeits any accumulation of unpaid treatment allowances; and will he inquire into the matter?

Allowances during treatment are payable subject to the condition that the officer or man accepts and carries through the course of treatment prescribed for him, and that during the treatment he does not conduct himself in a manner that is likely to prejudice either his own recovery or that of other patients. Broaches of discipline on the part of an in-patient are subject to penalties of the nature referred to, but in all cases the allowance forfeited is the personal allowance to the man only, and never the allowances for his wife and family.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the amount of disability retired pay appropriate to an assessment of 35 per cent. in the case of a lieutenant-colonel?

The officer will receive £105 a year, or, if he be in receipt of service retired pay or service pension, a disablement addition of £52 10s. a year.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether any deduction is made in the amount of disability retired pay awarded to officers who, prior to August, 1914, held pre-War pensions for service in the rank and file; if so, will he furnish particulars of the Clause of the Royal Warrant under which these deductions are made; and whether in some cases the deduction amounts to over 50 per cent.?

The disability retired pay of the officers in question is governed by Article 1 (2) ( a ) of the Royal Warrant of the 2nd July, 1920, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. No "deduction" is made, reckoned on a percentage basis or otherwise; but the amount added to the service pension is on a modified scale, as recommended by the Select Committee on Pensions. The Regulation further assures to such an officer, if his service was continuous, the permanent pension he would have received had he not been promoted to a commission.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the Gates-head Local War Pensions Committee has signified its approval of the proposed amalgamation of the Gateshead, Chester-le-Street, and district area with the Consett area; and, if not, whether it is proposed to take any further action in the matter?

The views of the Gateshead Committee, which are unfavourable to this suggestion, have been received, but not those of the other Committee concerned. A decision on the proposed amalgamation has not, therefore, yet been taken.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that, following a complaint by the Newcastle, Hexham, and District War Pensions Committee, the Deputy Regional Director of the Northern region gave instructions that inquiry officers when inquiring as to the income of persons in receipt of pecuniary-need pensions should not ask for particulars of occasional hospitality and should not estimate the value of odd meals at the houses of relatives and friends; whether he sanctioned this instruction; and, if so, will he issue general instructions that the receipt of occasional hospitality shall not be considered a source of income?

Inquiry officers, investigating claims to dependants' pension, are not required to ask for particulars of occasional hospitality, and where, on the occasion referred to, it was found that the instructions had been exceeded, action was taken to prevent a recurrence. I would add that, while casual gifts of the nature indicated by the hon. Member are disregarded in assessing the means of a claimant to need pension, account must necessarily be taken of benefits in kind of a regular and reasonably permanent nature.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there have been other complaints apart from this, and will he not issue a general instruction?

I shall be very happy to be told of other cases wherever this has occurred. We have checked it in the cases of which we know, and if the hon. Member will give me any other cases, I shall be happy to inquire into them.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he can state what are the fees payable to members of the tribunal courts for their services; what was the total amount paid in fees last year; and what was the average amount per member?

(Treasurer of the Household): The members of Pensions Appeal Tribunals are for the most part whole-time salaried officers paid at the following yearly rates:

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of ex-service men who have failed to secure employment in the trades for which, they have been trained under the Government scheme?

I have been asked to reply. Precise information is not available, but an investigation made at the end of April showed that not more than 7 per cent, of the men trained under the Industrial Training Scheme were then unemployed.

May I ask whether all these men are employed in the trades for which they were trained?

Largely that is so. I was asked a similar question to this some time ago, and I then answered, as far as my recollection goes, that it was impossible, without a great deal of research, to give a definite answer, but certainly the larger proportion of the men employed are in the trades in which they were trained.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether it is proposed to establish in Scotland an institution similar to that at Ewell, in Surrey; and whether he is aware that the recovery of pensioners from Scotland, in-patients at Ewell, is greatly retarded by their being in an institution several hundred miles away from their homes and relatives?

There are, I am glad to say, very few men whom it is necessary to bring from Scotland to Ewell for the special form of treatment provided there, and, as the number is likely to decline, the establishment of a separate institution of this special nature in Scotland could not be justified. As a general rule, I am averse to sending men long distances from their homes for treatment when that course can be avoided, though in some cases it has proved a distinct advantage to the success of the treatment.

Will the right hon. Gentle man not consider the advisability of taking over the place now in the hands of the Disposal Board at Georgetown as suitable for this purpose?

I will consider any suggestion put forward by the hon. Member. But there are only seven of these cases at Ewell, and it would not be practicable to start a separate institution for them.

May I ask whether, in cases where a man is sent hundreds of miles from his home and his relations, steps are taken to keep the relatives fully informed as to the actual state of the man from time to time?

I will bear that in mind. I quite apreciate the value of the suggestion.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the scale of diet at the Ministry of Pensions hospital, Ewell; whether he is aware that the patients are not allowed sugar in their tea; that on the 18th of May patients were unable to eat the sausage meat supplied for breakfast as it was sour; that on certain days of the week only bread and margarine are supplied for tea; and whether, in view of the nature of the disability which the patients at that institution suffer, he will arrange that the food supplied shall be of good quality and varied as often as possible?

The diet provided at Ewell Neurological Hospital is identical with that at other Ministry hospitals, and, as the hon. Member will see from the specimen diet sheet for a recent week, which I am sending him, it is of a suitable and varied character. Moreover, in view of the nature of the disabilities under treatment, unusual latitude is allowed as regards the dietary scale at Ewell. I can find no foundation whatever for the complaints mentioned in the question, and can only assume that the hon. Member has been completely misinformed.

Is it not the case that the supplies for this institution are obtained, not from the district in which it is situated but from London, and would that not account for the sourness of the item of food referred to in the question? Will the right hon. Gentleman not consider the advisability, in the cases of men on the border line like this, of securing that their diet is of the very best?

Cannot my right hon. Friend make arrangements for Members of this House interested in this problem to visit Ewell?

I am obliged to my right hon. Friend. I shall be most happy to do so, if any hon. Member wish to visit the institution. I have done so myself. I have seen the food, and was satisfied with it. Hon. Members will appreciate that men who are in this nervous condition are not always accurate in their complaints. So far from there being no sugar, I find, as a matter of fact, that there is an exceptional allowance in the case of this institution.

But are not supplies to it sent out from a central depot in London? Does that make for freshness of diet?

I see no objection to supplying a place so near to London as Ewell from a central depot. I will, however, make inquiry into the matter.

Is sausage meat recommended for these patients by the medical man in charge? It does not appear to me the kind of thing for a patient to eat at any time?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce leglislation or issue instructions to prevent meetings or demonstrations being held in Trafalgar Square or other such thoroughfares, in view of the obstruction and confusion caused to traffic and pedestrians thereby, and seeing that the public parks can always be used for the purpose?

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask whether he will, alternatively, consider advising the democratisation of his own party, by making similar use of this locality in preference to the Carlton Club or the Hotel Cecil?

I do not think that that question arises out of the question on the Paper.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Regulations under which meetings can be held in Trafalgar Square. These Regulations seem to me to provide against improper use of the Square.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the sentence of six months' imprisonment passed upon two Hungarian refugees, Isaven and Gaesa, at the Thames Police Court, for landing without permission; and whether he will have the case and sentence inquired into with a view to revision?

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that two Hungarian refugees were prosecuted before a London magistrate for failing to register as aliens, and as a result were sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour, after serving which an order for deportation has also been made; and whether steps can be taken to have these sentences reviewed?

I have made inquiry into this case, but I find no ground for advising any interference with the sentences imposed on the two men by the magistrate, after giving every opportunity for the hearing of anything that could be said on their behalf.

Did not the magistrate, in inflicting the sentence, show, by his long lecture on the evils of Socialism, an obvious bias against the political views of the prisoners he was sentencing?

I understand that they landed without proper authority to land. They came from the ship and landed without any authority, and the sentences must be severe in order to prevent aliens from landing in this country against the law.

May I ask whether these are not two couriers employed by Bolshevist sympathisers to bring information to this country, and whether they are not two of the people who make it so difficult for the Soviet Government to keep the trade regulations?

I am not fully informed of those facts. My answer was based on the knowledge that these men were acting against the Aliens Act, and that, I consider, is quite enough to justify the magistrate in his sentence.

Can I have an answer to my question as to whether the magistrate did not show a distinct bias when he gave a lecture on the evils of Socialism before sentencing these two Socialists?

I do not know what the magistrate said in his lecture to which the hon. and gallant Member refers.

It is in the papers.

They are not always correct.

If I submit to the right hon. Gentleman an account of of what this magistrate at the Thames Police Court said before sentencing these men, will he consider the bias shown by that statement in reconsidering the sentence?

I do not think he can be accused of any bias. These men were remanded in order that those who wished to speak in their favour might do so if they could, and no one appeared to speak on their behalf.

Will they get an indemnity?

asked the Home Secretary if there is a regulation preventing a prisoner writing or receiving letters or receiving visits during the first two months after his conviction; whether this regulation applies to all prisoners; and whether this regulation can now be modified?

All prisoners are allowed to write and receive a letter immediately after conviction. The period which must elapse before a visit can be allowed under the statutory rules depends on conduct and industry and the classification of the prisoner. In the case of an offender of the first division, the period is a fortnight; an offender of the second division a month, and of an offender of the third division, or sentenced to hard labour, two months. In the case of a prisoner sentenced to penal servitude, the period is four months.

May I have an answer to the latter part of my question, as to whether the right hon. Gentleman will consider the modification of that regulation which makes an ordinary prisoner wait for two months before he can receive a letter?

I have indicated in my answer that an ordinary prisoner can receive a letter immediately after conviction, but, although I do not feel in a position to take any action, I am quite ready to consider any suggestion.

asked the Home Secretary how many cases of drunken ness due to drinking methylated spirit have been reported during the past year; what proportion of these cases were amongst women; whether the figures indicate an increase in the habit of drinking methylated spirit on the part of women; what steps he is taking, or proposing to take, to stop this practice, either by increasing the difficulty of procuring methylated spirits, or by the addition of some other ingredient which would more effectually prevent its use for this purpose?

The number of oases in England and Wales in the year 1922 in which the condition of the person convicted of drunkenness is reported to have been due to the drinking of methylated spirits is 516–250 males and 266 females. These figures are higher for both males and females than similar figures for the previous two years, and the greater rate of increase is shown by the males. The figures have been collected for only three years yet; and some part of the increase may be due to improvement in reporting. I am watching the matter carefully, but at present I have nothing to add, as regards the possibility of further preventive measures, to the answer I gave on the 14th March to the hon. Member for North Lambeth (Mr. Briant).

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that he has sufficient evidence now to move in this matter?

No, Sir. I do not think that the figures for three years really give one a certain line. As I have said, the reporting has probably been better and more accurate in the last year, and, therefore, I cannot be quite certain that the increase is what it appears to be from the figures. I think a little longer time is needed, and, what is more, it is, as I have said, very difficult to know what the remedy would be.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the cause of the increase in the drinking of methylated spirit is the excessive price of whisky?

In view of the figures which the right hon. Gentleman has quoted, does not his Department think the time has now arrived for the further de-naturing of all alcohol used for industrial purposes, so as to prevent drinking?

That process is being considered all the time, but extreme difficulty appears to be found in making the spirit unpalatable. To my idea it is sufficiently unpalatable, but it does not seem to be so to these 516 persons.

Is it not a fact that in America and in France unlimited denaturing is allowed, but that in this country, owing to stupid regulations, the de-naturing elements are confined to a few?

I should like to see that question on paper.

asked the Home Secretary how many probation officers are attached to the London Police Courts, and how many are males and females; if any of them are specially attached to the Children's Courts; if the cost of these officers is borne by the police funds; and, if not, Who bears the cost of probation officers and who appoints them?

The number of probation officers attached to the Metropolitan Police Courts is 54, of whom 20 are men and 34 are women. Twelve of the women are specially attached to the Juvenile Courts, and their salaries are paid out of the Metropolitan Police Fund. Nearly all the others are engaged in missionary work at the Courts as well as in probation work, and in these oases two-thirds of the salaries and expenses are paid out of the Metropolitan Police Fund, and the remainder is paid by the Police Court Mission or other society to which the officers belong. All probation officers in London are appointed by the Secretary of State.

asked the Home Secretary the number and sexes of persons between the ages of 16 and 21 who were sent to prison for a first offence from the police courts in the Metropolitan police area in the year 1922; and how many of that number went to prison in default of payment of a fine?

The figures are not available. Statistics of committals in default of paying fines do not distinguish persons of various ages or show whether convictions are first convictions.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons, their sexes, and ages, who were placed on probation from the Metropolitan police courts and children's courts in the year 1922?

I can only give this information as regards all the police courts and petty sessional courts (including juvenile courts) in the Metropolitan police district. As the answer contains a number of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The answer is as follows:

Persons placed on probation by Courts of Summary Jurisdiction in the Metropolitan police district during the year 1922:

asked the Home Secretary how many revolver licences were issued in 1913, 1914, 1921, and 1922, respectively?

Prior to the Firearms Act, 1920, no permits were required for revolvers, but a purchaser had to produce a gun licence. Since the Act of 1920, a firearm certificate has been necessary to cover the possession of a revolver, but no figures are available to show how many certificates have been issued in respect of revolvers as distinct from other firearms in the years 1921 and 1922. Such figures, if obtained, would be useless for the purpose of comparison with pre-War years.

Has the right hon. Gentleman no idea of the number of revolvers which are licensed and in use at the moment?

No. The figures would be of no use for the purposes of comparison, though they might be of use for other purposes.

Has the Act not been comparatively useless for the prevention of crime, as I prophesied it would be?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman's prophecies are very often justified, but this is a serious question, and one which might very well be pursued further.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, having regard to the fact that there is an approximate shortage of 12,500 school places in special schools for mentally-defective children and of about 95,000 places in special schools for physically-defective children, what steps he is taking to encourage local education authorities to supply this deficiency in suitable accommodation at the earliest possible moment?

I can assure the hon. Member that the subject is receiving my most careful and indeed, I may say, anxious consideration. I hope that within the limits imposed by the Board's Estimates room will be found for considerable development of this branch of educational work, especially if any reduction in the cost of maintaining special schools can be secured.

Will the right hon. Gentleman go further, and say that he will not discourage local authorities who are anxious to do this work?

I said in my answer I hope room will be found for considerable development. It is evident considerable development will not be possible unless I encourage local authorities.

Will the right hon. Gentleman press on the Government that there are 5,000 blind children and 6,300 crippled children for whom no provision is made at all?

I had intended to use those same figures myself in the Debate this evening.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board has decided that the heads of training colleges for teachers should not be paid at a higher rate than the heads of secondary schools of the same size under the Burnham scale; and, seeing that the duties and responsibilities of the head of a -residential training college with 200 students over the age of 18 are more onerous than those of the head of a secondary day school with £ pupils under the age of 18, will be reconsider the matter?

Representations have been made to me on the question of the salaries which should be paid to the heads of training colleges for teachers as compared with the salaries of heads of secondary schools, and the matter is now receiving my consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education upon what basis supplementary grants will this year be awarded to training colleges conducted by local education authorities; and what is the estimated total value of these supplementary grants?

Over and above the ordinary expenditure grant, the additional grants payable to local education authorities maintaining training colleges in 1923–24 will be on a capitation basis, at rates differing for resident and non-resident students and also for local and non-local students. The grants will be limited to a total of £70,000. The draft Regulations will be issued very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the system of superannuation for teachers in England differs from that in force in Scotland in that the English teacher promoted to the Board's inspectorate is not allowed to count his teaching and inspecting service as continuous for pension purposes, whereas a Scottish teacher becoming an inspector may; whether this subject is within the terms of reference of the Departmental Committee inquiring into the English Teachers' Superannuation Acts; if so, has any evidence on the point been tendered or invited; if not, will the terms of reference be so widened as to include this subject within their scope: and will he see that this topic receives the consideration of the Departmental Committee?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that Lord Emmott's Committee have taken evidence on the point raised by the hon. Member?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the provisions of the Burnham scale of salaries for teachers at present administered by the Board of Education provide that an extra £25 per annum shall be paid to teachers in secondary schools who have obtained a good honours degree; and, seeing that the present usage is that many teachers who have taken a second class in the Cambridge final triposes are receiving this bonus, but no teachers who have taken a second class in Oxford final honour schools, whether he will take measures to correct this anomaly?

My hon. Friend is, I think, misinformed in thinking that no teachers who obtained degrees with second class honours at Oxford are receiving the extra payments. I recognise, however, that the arrangements in this respect made by the Burnham Committee are open to criticism, and the Board have already expressed the hope that they will be reconsidered when the Scales next come under review.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the effect of Section 138 of The Education Act, 1921, in throwing on the labour market at a few fixed dates a large number of young people and so rendering it difficult for them to obtain employment; and whether he is prepared to consider such an amendment of the Act as would allow children to leave school on attaining the age of 14, provided the local education authority is satisfied that the child is obtaining a suitable situation?

I may refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave on the 1st March to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Norfolk (Major Hay).

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will increase the grant given to university training departments in respect to graduates in honours who are taking a fourth-year course under the regulations for the training of teachers?

I regret that I am not able to entertain the hon. Member's suggestion, especially in view of the fact that the arrangements for the training of teachers are now under review by a Departmental Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Education why it is necessary to employ more teachers now than before the War, seeing that there are less children to educate?

A full statement in reply to the hon. Member's question would, I fear, take me beyond the proper limits of question and answer. I may, however, remind him that in a considerable number of areas the staffing of schools before the War was inadequate, and it would be a mistake to assume that a reduction in the number of classes proportionate to a reduction in the aggregate number of children is practicable, particularly in small schools. Further, the number of children in school who are over 14 years old has increased nearly four-fold compared with pre-War years, and a higher proportion of teachers is required for their advanced instruction.

Is it not a fact that the reason for the increase of teachers is that the classes now are smaller?

Is it not also a fact that in spite of there being fewer children in the aggregate there are still some thousands of classes which are far above the average, which is 44?

I think the last supplementary answers the first.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can now make a public announcement as to whether any agreement has been reached between the Cardiganshire education authority and the teachers in its employ; and, if so, what are the terms of settlement, and on what date will work be fully resumed with the secondary schools affected by the dispute?

No agreement has yet been reached in the settlement of this dispute, but as the outcome of a conference held a few days ago on my invitation at the office of the Board of Education, I have addressed a communication to all the parties, which, I trust, may afford an opportunity of bringing the dispute to an end.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has yet seen the terms of the Aviation Convention between the French and Czechoslovakia Governments, under which the market is reserved for French aeroplane manufacturers; and what steps are being taken to preserve the rights of British aeroplane manufacturers in that market?

The terms of the Convention have not yet been made public, but I am assured that they do not impair the interests of Great Britain or other countries in regard to the construction of aeroplanes nor restrict the right of the Czechoslovakian Government to select types of aircraft from different countries. I am also assured that the Convention leaves to the Czechoslovakian authorities a free hand to negotiate with British or other companies in regard to the establishment of aerial routes. These assurances are satisfactory as far as they go, but I am continuing to make representations with a view to securing a statement of a more comprehensive character from the Czechoslovakian Government.

Is the right hon. Baronet considering the question of having more air attaches in Europe to watch cases of this sort?

Yes, I am considering that point at present.

Has the right hon. Baronet information to show that it is intended to register and publish this Convention with the League of Nations?

No, I have not; but I cannot imagine that the Czechoslovakian Government will take any other than the usual course.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether any further progress has been made with the helicopter system of flying; and whether the experiments are continuing?

Satisfactory progress has been made with the Air Ministry experiments and indoor trials of the machine have been and are being carried out.

Has this helicopter yet managed to get up from the ground?

The answer to the Noble Lord's question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether consideration has been given in allotting £1,250,000 from the Road Fund in relief of agriculture to the advisability of capitalising some portion of this money in order to secure the adequate reconstruction of rural roads:

(2) how the estimated Road Fund surplus, amounting probably to over £1,250,000, which it is proposed to devote to relief of rates for the upkeep of rural roads, is arrived at; whether the existence of this surplus means that the proceeds of the taxation of motor vehicles are more than sufficient for road requirements over a normal year; and, on the assumption that rate relief in aid of the expenditure on rural roads is a temporary expedient, is a reduction in the burden of motor taxation under consideration?

The amount of £1,250,000, which it is proposed to devote to rural roads, is not a surplus in excess of the road requirements for a normal year, but becomes available because the receipts for 1923–24 are estimated to be sufficient to admit of this special allocation, after provision has been made for the normal contributions to Class I and Class II roads, and certain other specific purposes which the Road Fund has hitherto aided. All grants from the Road Fund may be said to have the effect of relieving rates, inasmuch as road expenditure, which would otherwise fall in its entirety upon rates, is partly met from the Fund. In this sense only can it be said that the £1,250,000, which will wholly be expended on the reconstruction and improvement of rural roads, is a rate relief. The Noble Lord will appreciate the need for considerable improvements in the more important roads in rural areas, and the new programme of expenditure will enable wider and more substantial assistance to be given to such schemes. I do not think that in present circumstances it is desirable or necessary to borrow money, as suggested by the Noble Lord.

Has the Minister considered the making of special roads for those people who ignore the rules and regulations of the road?

Those people must make their own roads.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now consent to receive a deputation which would include leading members of all the Christian churches, of the teaching and medical professions, and of women's organisations, who desire to ask him whether the Government will grant facilities for the early passage of the Intoxicating Liquor (Sale to Persons under Eighteen) Bill?

The pressure upon my time is so great that I regret I cannot find time at present to receive such a deputation. As the hon. Member is aware, the Report stage of this Bill is down for second Order on Friday the 8th June, and it would seem desirable to defer further consideration of this question until the time allotted for private Members has lapsed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as far as the Opposition is concerned, it is quite willing to help the Government as far as it can in giving facilities for this Bill?

I had that in my mind when I had my answer prepared. I have no doubt in my own mind that it will be taken on the 8th June.

May we understand that if on the 8th June we are not able to pass-through the necessary stages of the Bill, I may put the question again?

After Report, if he has time, will the Prime Minister see this very influential deputation?

I think it would be best for the Noble Lady to wait. I shall be glad if the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Foot) will repeat his question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that there will be any use in the passage of this Bill, in view of the Amendments that have taken place?

Did not the right hon. Gentleman find time to meet the brewers and distillers when their trade was concerned? There is no answer to that.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government has reached any decision respecting the con- tinuance of the Ministry of Pensions as a separate Department; and, if so, whether it is proposed to introduce a Bill during the present Session of Parliament?

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the clerical staff in the Law Officers' Department is in receipt of any remuneration beyond that appearing in the Civil Service Estimates, Class 3, Vote I;

(2) whether he can inform the House of the nature of the services rendered to the State in respect of the allowances made for personal clerks in the Law Officers' Department, and the nature of the services of the personal assistants in the same Department?

I have been asked to reply. The remuneration of the personal clerks to the Law Officers of the Crown is fixed by Treasury Minute. In addition to the allowances which appear in the Estimates, they receive the ordinary scale of fees payable to a clerk of a King's Counsel. Their duties mainly consist in arranging and regulating the legal work of the Law Officers of the Crown. The gentleman described in the Estimates as a "personal assistant" is a King's Counsel, who is engaged in editing the volumes of the Law Officers' opinions, and dealing with matters connected with courts martial.

May I ask why the personal clerk should have two remunerations—one from the State?

The answer is that he does not have two remunerations.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the importance of the Cotton Industry Bill, he will consider giving early facilities for the further stages of the Bill?

The Government fully appreciate the necessity for this Bill. I understand that it is an agreed Measure, and I trust that it will be passed as such; but, if necessary, facilities will be afforded for its passage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the reason for the higher supply services' expenditure in the first five weeks of the present financial year as compared with last year?

No inference can properly be drawn from a variation in the Exchequer issues for Supply services of about £3½ millions over a period of five weeks as compared with last year. The difference is purely casual.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the Income Tax collectors at Folkestone refuse to allow a rebate for a child which has to be maintained by its mother who divorced her husband, the reason given being that the mother is not a widow; and will he state whether this is done in accordance with the instructions of the Department?

If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of the case to which he refers, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the issue of an enlarged form of No. 79D for Income Tax, Schedule B, which some farmers are required to complete; whether he is aware that on this enlarged form in the debtor and creditor account for the year a farmer has now to complete 24 columns instead of formerly six columns; and whether he would be prepared to withdraw the enlarged form and revert to the smaller form previously in operation?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply made to a similar question on 27th April, 1922, of which I am sending him a copy. The smaller form to which he refers was found to be inconvenient both to the taxpayer and to the taxing authorities, and he will see that the enlarged form was drawn up in consultation with bodies representative of the farmers' interests.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the figures for the years ending 5th April, 1921, 1922, and 1923, showing the gross amount of income brought under review for the purpose of Income Tax under Schedules A, B, C, D, and E, the deductions necessary to reduce the gross income to

The figures for 1920–21 are final; those for the other two years are provisional estimates.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether there is in existence an official list of certain associations and other bodies who have made special arrangements with the Board of Inland Revenue with regard to trade subscriptions which are allowed as expenses for Income Tax purposes; whether he is aware that a taxpayer who wishes to know whether an association has or has not come to an agreement in this matter with the Board of Inland Revenue has to write to the inspector of taxes for the district in which the association is situated, which, in the case of a lawyer or chartered accountant, may involve correspondence with a large number of inspectors; and whether he will consider the publication of such a list, so as to avoid unnecessary correspondence with inspectors of taxes?

A list of the associations referred to is furnished the actual income liable to tax for exemptions, repairs to property, wear and tear of machinery, overcharges in assessment, actual income liable to tax before reduction of personal allowances and reliefs, total income on which tax was received, total net produce, normal rate in the £, and produce for each penny in the normal rate?

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

Following is the answer :

by the Board of Inland Revenue to all inspectors of taxes, and a question whether a particular association is or is not on such list can normally be answered by any inspector. I hardly think it necessary to publish the list.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the recent re-assessment for Income Tax under Schedule A, any increases have been made in the case of farms which have shown a loss during the last three years; and, if so, on what basis the increased assessment has been made?

The broad object of the present re-assessment is to secure tax in respect of the income derived from the ownership of property. Where agricultural land is let at rack rent, the assessment is based upon the amount of the rent. Where land is not so let, the assessment is based upon the rent at which the land is worth to be let. The liability of the farming occupier to Income Tax is dealt with in the Income Tax Acts separately from the liability of the owner. The Acts include a provision for relief to the occupier in the event of loss being incurred in the occupation of lands for the purposes of husbandry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that inspectors or surveyors of income are assuming in connection with the present re-assessment of property duties which properly belong to the Commissioners of Taxes, and that consequently the right of the assessed person to be heard personally by an impartial tribunal is in danger; and will he cause to be affixed to church doors and other places a notice setting out the right of an assessed person to take his case before the Commissioners, together with the names of the Commissioners for the district in question?

In reply to the first part of the question I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply made to him on 29th May. In reply to the second part, the general notices intimating the right of the taxpayer to appeal to the Commissioners of Taxes signed by their respective clerks have already been exhibited as required by law.

Will the right hon. Gentleman read the report of the Royal Commission on the subject?

Certainly.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how the inspectors arrive at their conclusion? Is he aware that they have put £10 on my assessment without any reason?

The hon. Member must give me notice of any particular assessment. I have made very careful inquiries, and I find that those responsible for these assessments have done them personally, and have taken very great care in regard to them. They have received no general order to do it by rule of thumb.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that nobody called at my house to make inquiries before they put up my assessment?

It is quite possible that they may have known the value of the houses in the neighbourhood, and thought the hon. Member's house could be dealt with accordingly.

Can a person inspect the record on other property than his own?

No one is allowed to inspect the records other than those in regard to his own property.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when people appeal to the Surveyor of Taxes, the Surveyor asks why the revaluation should not take place? Does he not think that it is the duty of the Surveyor of Taxes to say why he is increasing the valuation?

It seems to me that it is a difference between the way in which the question is put. If the Surveyor of Taxes asks why the valuation should not take place, it is really the same thing as the hon. Member suggests. The Surveyor is bound to receive any information which the taxpayer chooses to give him, and he cannot in any way interfere, and does not do so, with the right of the taxpayer to appeal to the Commissioners.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that if the Surveyor of Taxes explained why the assessment was increased, the person appealing would be able to make out a better case than if the Surveyor put the question to him?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the confusion and inconvenience caused by the fact that the divisions of the country for the purposes of Income Tax are the original divisions for purposes of Land Tax; and, in view of the many appeals to the Commissioners which are now being lodged, can he see his way to make the area for local government the division for purposes of Income Tax so that appeals can be heard with the minimum of inconvenience and expense to both Commissioners and appellants?

I do not think that the need exists for action on the lines Suggested by my hon. and gallant Friend. I anticipate that, as on the occasions of previous re-assessments of property for Income Tax purposes, the local Commissioners will arrange to hold meetings at convenient centres in order that appeals may be heard with the least inconvenience and expense to everybody concerned.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at present a person living at Dunstable has got to go to Leighton Buzzard in another division to have his case heard?

Dunstable is not far from Leighton Buzzard, but if there be any real grievance I will see whether it is possible to have it remedied.

In view of the number of appeals pending, and the confusion that is likely to arise, will the right hon. Gentleman see his way to grant an inquiry into the whole subject of reassessment?

I have already answered that the number of appeals is not very much larger than the normal number whenever there have been re-assessments.

It will be.

It has not been so up to the present. Therefore the need for an inquiry is not so great as the hon. Member suggests. Further than that I cannot say, save that I am making myself fully acquainted with the whole subject, and that I am prepared to receive representations on the subject from any Member.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of the poorer people do not know how to go about sending in appeals? Would he give some instruction to enable these people to put in appeals?

I have already arranged to send as many officials as possible from the Department to the districts to help people who desire to appeal. If there is anything further I can do to facilitate them I should be glad to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Land Valuation Department, which has been entrusted with the quinquennial re-assessing of property for the purposes of Income Tax, had any instructions as to how the revaluation was to be carried out; and, in the case of houses, were instructions given that no increase in the assessment should be made without a personal inspection of the house in question and after careful consideration of its fair letting value, the present artificial and temporary shortage of houses being allowed for?

On the general question of the issue by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue of instructions to their officers I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to an answer given on the 11th May to the hon. Member for Penrith and Cockermouth and as regards the legal basis of assessment of land and houses for Income Tax purposes I would refer him to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for East Surrey on the 3rd May. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend copies of these answers.

Is it a fact that the Land Valuation Department, the old Land Tax Department, have given the information to the inspectors who have been carrying out this valuation?

I think that it is. I think that some of the information received by the Land Valuation Department has been put into the hands of the inspectors, and quite rightly.

Is it a fact that in the case of every property valued at over £100 a year, the Land Valuation Department has been consulted, and the assessment made on the basis settled by the Department?

I am sorry that I cannot answer that definite question, but I will do so if the- hon. Member puts down a question.

Did the assessors invite the Land Valuation Department to supply the actual figures which were paid for the purchase of these houses?

I do not know, but I can see nothing wrong in it. If a Government Department have information it would be quite within their power, and I think that it would be their duty, to give it to anyone who had to make the assessment, and had to find out the value.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman see that the prices paid for houses in recent years have no relation to their present value?