asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what system establishment is now given in the dockyard; whether the system has been changed; and whether the system of selection is to override that of long service?

A limited number of workmen are allowed to be established. At present the number on the established list is excessive, and, in order to reduce the excess, only one vacancy in eight is being filled. Nominations to fill the available vacancies are made by selection, with the main object of ensuring that the men established are those whose services are required to be retained in the interests of the service. In comparing claims on personal grounds, due regard is had to length of service on the hired list, and a degree of preference is given to those who have served their apprenticeship in the Dockyards.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the relative cost of the new arrangement of carting seamen's luggage at Chatham by dockyard labour, as compared with the old system of private contract; and whether he is aware that, although this change was made on the grounds of economy, the old system was at the same time cheaper and more efficient?

The carting of seamen's baggage at Chatham and other ports is now undertaken by service transport, as a very small fraction of the main transport work of the port for which service vehicles have to be provided, and the use of the vehicles for this purpose involves no additional out-of-pocket expense to the Admiralty beyond the trifling cost of the petrol consumed on the relatively short journeys. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will cause inquiry to be made into the claim of Lance-Corporal A. E. Golbourne, No. 6,448,829, late Royal Fusiliers, for arrears of pay approximating to £90, in view of the fact that Golbourne received his final discharge on 14th May, 1921, but in reply to his repeated applications the paymasters of the 1st Battalion and the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers state that his name cannot be found on their respective pay sheets?

Mr. Golbourne claimed arrears of pay as lance-corporal in November, 1921, and payment in this respect, amounting to £16 1s. 9d., was made to him on 6th December, 1921.

The Regimental Paymaster, Hounslow, has no trace of any subsequent correspondence with the man, but if the hon. and gallant Member will forward me particulars of the claim for arrears of pay of £90, I will have an investigation made.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether one or more of the London Territorial regiments is now short of officers; whether progress is being retarded by this shortage; and what is being done to obtain the necessary numbers?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the third part, every endeavour is being made to obtain the necessary officers.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of the deep feeling of regret amongst the textile workers of Peebles, Selkirk, and Gala-shiels at the proposal to link them up with the Edinburgh and Midlothian pension area; and will he reconsider the matter further in the light of these protests?

The staff in the South- East Scotland area has recently been amalgamated with that in the Lothians area. A whole-time office is being maintained at Galashiels, and I do not anticipate, therefore, that this change will occasion any inconvenience to ex-service men or their dependants in the district. The position is, however, being carefully watched and should difficulties arise which are due to the amalgamation the arrangements will be reviewed.