asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the dredgers from Southampton discharge dock dredgings in the Solent; that this action pollutes the water in the Solent; that in pre-War days these vessels discharged their dredgings outside the Needles, but are not now required to proceed further out to sea than a line joining Hurst Fort and Cliff End Fort; that the ebb tide, which strikes Heaton point, is turned inwards and eddies into Totland and Colwell Bays, Isle of Wight; and whether he will give instructions for the dredgers to discharge as in pre-War days?

:As the answer is rather long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

My information is not in complete accord with that of the hon. Member. The present arrangements were made after an inquiry in February last at which the interests concerned were represented, are temporary and are subject to review next September. They have been made primarily in the interest of navigation and fisheries. The allegation that pollution is caused is disputed by the depositing authorities, but if the hon. Member will submit definite evidence of this nature between now and September I shall be happy to consider it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, since British patents are not now current in the Irish Free State, there is any intention of reducing the fees in proportion to the extent of protection lost by the exclusion of the Irish Free State?

:It is not proposed to reduce the fees payable in respect of the grant of patents in the United Kingdom. The question of the position of British patents in the Irish Free State is at present under consideration. I am advised that the Patents and Designs Acts of 1907 and 1919 are still in force in the Free State, and all patents hitherto granted are still current, so far as I am aware.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman get into communication with the Irish Free State authorities and try to make this arrangement as easy as possible on both sides of the Channel?

:I am already in communication with them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that British patents covering a population of about 45,000,000 cost £131 in fees for 16 years, and that the fees of patents in the United States of America covering a population of 110,000,000 for 17 years are only about £7 10s., he will consider whether it will be possible, in the interests of British patentees, to reduce the fees chargeable to a figure more comparable with the American fees?

:It is impossible to establish a fair basis of comparison between British and American fees owing to difference in practice with regard to the permissible scope of a single patent and other considerations. I am afraid it is not practicable to reduce the British scale of fees at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Convention of European and American Governments stipulates that an application for a foreign patent must be made within 12 months of the filing of the complete Specification in England; whether the British Patent Office frequently delays the acceptance of a British patent for nine months, after which time two months are allowed for public objection after the publication of acceptance in the Gazette; and whether he can take steps to expedite still further the work of dealing with applications for British patents?

:As the answer is somewhat long, perhaps the hon. Member will permit me to have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The hon. Member is no doubt referring to Article 4 of the International Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, which provides inter alia that any person who has duly applied for a patent in one of the contracting countries shall enjoy, for the purposes of registration in other countries, a right of priority within 12 months from the date of the original application. This right arises as soon as an application is filed in the United Kingdom and is not dependent upon the acceptance of the complete Specification. It is not essential to have the result of the search made by the Patent Office before filing foreign applications though no doubt it may be an advantage to applicants. As regards the delay in dealing with applications for patents in this country, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his previous question on the 8th May. Since that date, the arrears have been still further reduced by 300 cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has caused any investigations to be made into the experimental gas plant erected at Newark-upon-Trent, wherein it is claimed that a non-poisonous gas has been produced; and whether there is any probability of such a gas being generally available for commercial and domestic purposes at a price that would not be disadvantageous to the consumer?

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1)whether his attention has been drawn to the description in the Press of a method of treating gas by a Mr. Tully whereby, so it is alleged, the percentage of carbon-monoxide is very greatly reduced; whether he has any information as to the practicability of producing such a gas upon a commercial scale;

(2)whether the so-called Tully gas is in fact non-poisonous, as has been alleged, or whether, as has also been stated, it is a gas obtained from the complete gasification of Coal which contains about 30 per cent, of carbon-monoxide?

:The latest analysis which I have seen of gas produced by Tully plant at present in industrial use, which was published on the 16th May in the "Gas Journal," gives the carbon-monoxide content as 37 per cent., but I observe that in a prospectus just issued, which my hon. Friends have no doubt seen, it is stated that by means of a new converter the carbon-monoxide content can be reduced to a negligible quantity. I am not in a position to express an authoritative opinion as to the practicability of producing town gas on a commercial scale by the new process. The matter is, however, being carefully watched by the Government Departments concerned.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the inventor has taken, and is taking, orders to supply this gas, with a guarantee as to the amount of carbon-monoxide?

:I have given in my answer all the facts of which I am aware. If any experiments are carried out, they will be very closely watched with great interest.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the figures of the quantity and value of honey imported into this country during each of the last three years; and whether he can state the quantity and value of honey produced in the United Kingdom during each of the last three years, or, if those figures are not available, during any of the war years?

:The answer involves a statistical table, which, with the permission of the House. I will have circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

:Am I to understand that the right hon. Gentleman cannot give me the figures?

:I cannot give the figures of English bee production, but I am giving the best figures I can.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me where I can get the figures? Will the Ministry of Agriculture have them?

:I have made very full inquiry, and I understand that even the voluntary societies interested in bee-keeping are not in a position to state what is the average production of the British bee.

The table promised is as follows:

The following statement shows, for each of the years specified, the net imports ( i.e. , imports less re-exports) of honey into the United Kingdom:

^* Excess of quantity re-exported over quantity imported.

I regret that I have been unable to obtain any information with regard to the quantity or value of honey produced in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the quantity of grey cotton cloth exported increased by 50 percent., whereas the printed and coloured woven cloth decreased by 38 per cent., in 1922 as compared with 1920; that the opinion of the cotton trade is that the cause of this is the prevention by the Government of dyers getting their dye-wares at the cheapest world prices; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the decline of the important cotton dyeing and printing industry?

:I am aware that as between the two years quoted there was a large percentage increase in the exports of grey cotton cloth, and a substantial, though smaller, percentage decrease in the exports of dyed and printed cloth; but I am not prepared to accept the view that this is due mainly to the prices of dyestuffs. As regards the last part of the question, I may point out that, but for the action taken by the Government to promote the dye-making industry, the British textile trades would at the present time be very gravely embarrassed.

:Can the hon. Gentleman tell us what is the proportion of dyes produced in America?

:The hon. Member must give notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether aware that one of the largest importers of textiles in the United States of America, in asking for quotations for a large quantity of Bradford textiles, demanded prices both dyed and undyed, on the ground that the cost of guaranteed fast dyes is very much higher in England than in the United States; and what steps the Board of Trade proposes to take to prevent Bradford losing the dyeing of these goods through the cause above stated?

:If the hon. Member will send me more detailed information, particularly as to the nature and quality of the goods, and the quotations for both dyed and undyed goods which were furnished, I will look into the matter.

:Is it possible for the President of the Board of Trade to appeal to the Bradford Dyers' Association and other large syndicates to reduce their prices to manufacturers, having regard to the immense profits they have made in the last 12 months?

:I think that that is a matter which had best be dealt with between the two industries concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on the 8th of March, 1923, an application was made to import one ton each of rosazeine B extra and rhodamine B extra; whether permission was refused and the dye user referred to British dyemakers; whether the British price quoted was £1,736 more for the two tons of dyeware; and whether, in view of the large amount of unemployment caused in the dyeing trade by dear dye-wares, he will state what steps he proposes to take to remedy this evil?

:The applications to which the hon. Member refers were, I understand, made by the British Cotton and Wool Dyers' Association. They were refused by the Dyestuffs' Advisory Licensing Committee after full consideration of all the circumstances relating to the particular consignments in question, and I do not propose to take any action in the matter. I am unable to assent to the proposition that the establishment of a dye-making industry in this country is injurious to employment in the dyeing industry. The former is, on the contrary, essential to the security of the latter.

:Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that putting a burden of £1,700 on two tons of dye-stuffs is one very important cause of unemployment in the dyeing trade?

:No, I do not. That is not a fair way of putting the case. As I understand, the matter was decided by the Advisory Committee, on which the dye makers are in a minority, and this was a job lot which was sent in at dumped prices. I am certain that if we had not taken effective steps to establish a dye industry in this country the results would have been deplorable.

:Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that when these job lots are selling openly in Italy and France at such low prices, it would be far better for the English dye users to have the advantage of these low prices than to give the advantage to the dye users in Italy and France?

:That is a matter for debate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on the 15th of February, 1923, an application was made to import a ton of fine colour, indanthrene blue and indanthrene red, the value of which dye was about £870, and that a licence to import was refused, and the dye user was compelled to buy British dyes at £364 more; and whether he will inquire into the matter?

:I have made inquiries into this matter, and am satisfied that the Dyestuffs Advisory Licensing Committee took all the circumstances of the case into consideration in arriving at their decision, with which I do not propose to interfere.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many times the Committee to watch the operations of trusts has met; how many cases of trade combinations it has investigated; and whether the Government are still satisfied that they have all the powers they require to deal adequately with this matter?

:The Committee and its Sub-committees have held six meetings. It has been principally engaged on the general survey of prices with particular regard to increases in the price of certain light castings. There is no evidence as yet that the Committee require further powers.

:Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that if building costs rise they can be adequately dealt with by the powers in the hands of the Committee?

:We must await the Report of the Committee before deciding that question.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health whether he is aware that, in connection with the latest instalment of the South Queensferry housing scheme, the architect to the scheme is insisting on the use of Dougall's Winch-burgh bricks, costing substantially more than the price at which perfectly suitable bricks made locally can be purchased, which action tends to encourage the brickmakers to maintain high prices, to discourage competition amongst brick-makers, and to hamper contractors in producing lower building costs; and What steps he proposes to take in the matter?

:As the result of inquiries made through the local authority, I am informed that the architect states that he does not insist on the use of Dougall's Winchburgh bricks, but only that the bricks used shall conform to the specification which requires "hard-burned" bricks. The local bricks referred to in the question are' presumably those made by the British Brick Company, Limited, at Philipstoun. These bricks, which are made by a process new to Scotland, cannot be described as "hard-burned, "but the Scottish Board of Health are aware that they have been used on other housing schemes and, so far, no complaints regarding them have reached the Board. In the circumstances of the present case, I do not feel warranted in interfering with the discretion of the architect, who would appear to be entitled to insist upon compliance- with the terms of the specification. The Board are, however, taking steps with a view to ensuring that in future cases the terms of specifications may not be such as to exclude the use of any type of suitable brick whatever may be the process of manufacture.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give instructions that in any cases of litigation arising out of contracts entered into between the Board of Trade and private individuals or concerns the Board of Trade will not rely upon or take advantage of any privileges relating to procedure or otherwise which derive from the position of the Crown and are not available to ordinary litigants?

:I am unable to give such instructions as my hon. Friend suggests. The Board of Trade is a Department of the Crown, and the practice and procedure relating to the Crown must apply to proceedings in which the Board is concerned. I would remind my hon. Friend that the whole question of procedure by and against the Crown is at present being considered by a Committee presided over by the Lord Chief Justice of England.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is now in a position to state the names of those who will constitute the Royal Commission which will consider the question of subsidence due to mining operations: and what are the terms of reference to such Commission?

:The following gentlemen have agreed to serve on this Commission:—

Chairman.

Viscount Chelmsford.

Members.

The right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Fife (Mr. W. Adamson).

Mr. Hugh Reid Buchanan.

My hon. Friend the Member for Wakefield (Mr. R. G. Ellis).

The hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. V. Hartshorn).

Mr. Harold Jevons.

Lieut.-Colonel George Alfred Lewis.

Professor Henry Louis.

Mr. Montague Francis Maclean.

Mr. Robert Forster McSwinney.

Sir Walter Powell Nicholas.

Mr. Frank Bradley Varley.

Mr. John David Wallis.

My hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Faversham (Major Wheler).

The Terms of Reference will be as follows:—

"To consider the operation of the law relating to the support of the surface of the land, and of buildings or works on or under the surface, by underlying or adjacent minerals; to enquire into the extent and gravity of the damage caused by subsidence owing to the extraction of minerals and the incidence of the resulting liability; and to report what steps should be taken, by legislation or otherwise, to remedy, equitably to all persons concerned, any defects or hardships that may be found to arise in existing conditions."

:Will the Report be called for before the passage of the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Bill?

:I hope that that Bill will shortly become an Act, but the Commission will require a great deal longer time to consider this serious question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, since the Ruhr occupation coal prices have increased at South Wales ports from 27s. 6d. to 47s. 6d. per ton, he can state the cause of the increase; and whether any portion of the enhanced profits is being paid to the miners in wages?

:Only a small proportion of the total quantity of coal exported from South Wales ports has been sold at anything like 47s. 6d. per ton. The average f.o.b. value per ton of all classes of coal exported shows an increase of only 3s. 4d. in April, 1923, as compared with January, 1923. The higher prices were due to the increase in the home and foreign demand. Under the current Wages Agreement, 83 per cent, of all Proceeds in excess of the amount required for wages and profits at the agreed minimum rates must be devoted to increasing wages, but the improvement in the South Wales trading results in January and February, on which present rates of wages are based, fell just short of giving proceeds in excess of that amount. On the 1st July wages will be adjusted in accordance with the trading results of March and April, which will certainly show an improvement on those of January and February.

:When the hon. and gallant Gentleman refers to the small quantity of coal sold at these high prices, can he state into whose pockets the additional profit is going?

:I should think it goes to the seller of the coal. The amount of this coal is small.

:Is it not a fact that there is only a very small quantity of coal sold at these high prices—something like 15 per cent.?

:Is robbery a question of degree?

:Is it not a fact that this small quantity is machine-made and washed coal, which costs a very much larger sum to produce?

:Yes I think that is so.

:Is it a fact that these increased prices go into the pockets of the agents appointed by the mine owners, and not to the mine owners themselves?

:On what grounds does the hon. Member make the assertion that the Association of Mine Owners appoint agents? The Mine Owners' Association do not appoint agents for the sale of coal.

:The two hon. Members must settle that question between themselves.

asked the Secretary for Mines if he is in a position to state the result of the special inquiry into the working hours and conditions of animals employed underground?

:This inquiry is not yet completed, but so far the Inspectors of Mines have specially investigated the hours of work of about 37,000 horses, or 60 per cent, of the total number employed in mines. Approximately half of these work six shifts of seven hours each per week. Of the horses working longer hours the physical condition of a few indicated overwork, and action was taken to get their hours lessened; but the general result of the inquiry has been to show that pit ponies are not overworked, and that their condition is satisfactory.

:Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman intend to do anything with regard to limiting the hours of work of pit ponies; is he aware that an outside society has been conducting an inquiry, and that of a very large number of replies received the majority show that the ponies are working double shifts in a large number of cases?

:We certainly welcome any outside inquiries such as that to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but I would point out that the cases which have been given so far have not been brought to us in any specific form. Any definite information which is brought to us will be at once dealt with, but in view of the results of the inspection there seems no reason at present to limit the hours. I should be very glad, however, to hear of any cases if the hon. Gentleman will bring them before me.

:Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in many collieries two ponies serve three shifts of men, and that it is quite common?

:The hon. Member is now imparting information, instead of seeking to receive it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is taking any steps to inform holders, or former holders, of War Bond policies that the two insurance companies concerned are open to receive representations from these holders or former holders, and will endeavour to meet hard cases; or whether he has ascertained if the companies are taking any steps to make this known?

:The Prudential Assurance Company, Limited, is the only company which issued War Loan policies in its industrial branch. That company has promised to submit for my consideration a notice to be issued to the Press agencies embodying the statement referred to by the Solicitor-General that the company is still prepared to consider cases of alleged hardship on their merits where policies issued in the industrial branch have been in existence for less than two years at the date of lapsing. I am informed by the Pearl Assurance Company, Limited, that all the War Loan policies were issued in the ordinary branch and that the premiums on such policies are payable not more frequently than quarterly.

:Do I understand that the Pearl are not going to be as just and generous as the Prudential in this matter?

:Is my right hon. Friend aware that as regards the second company named there has been no complaint, and no disputes have arisen in connection with their policies?

:The two cases are correctly put. The Prudential Company have a very large number of these policies in their industrial branch, and these can be dealt with in the ordinary way by notices in the Press. The Pearl Company, as I understand, never issued that kind of policy. I believe that it is correct, so far as I know, that there are no complaints outstanding in respect of other classes of policies, and this makes advertisements in the Press unnecessary, but that if any cases are brought to their notice they are ready to investigate them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that it has been officially stated on behalf of the German Government that no refund of the 26 per cent. English reparation duty will be made in the case of goods exported from the area under French military occupation; that such notification appeared in Issue No. 5, 10th March, 1923, of the "Deutscher Aussenhandel"; that, even although no specific case has been brought to his notice of such refusal, until English merchants have an assurance that the German Government will refund the 26 per cent, or that, pending their refusal to do so, the English Government will suspend the collection thereof from the English merchants it is entirely unreasonable to expect that English merchants should take the risk of importing their goods; that the inter-Allied Commission at Ems has declared itself unable to offer any suggestions to English inquirers; and whether he will make some statement in regard to the matter which will enable English merchants to import their goods free from the doubt and risk which the present unsatisfactory position has occasioned?

:Although I have not seen the particular issue of the German paper to which the hon. Member refers, I am aware that statements of the kind referred to have appeared. I have, however, no information to show that any official pronouncement on the subject was ever issued by the German Government. Moreover, since the date in question the German Government, by a decree issued on 26th April, have authorised firms in the occupied territory to deliver to representatives of United Kingdom firms goods ordered by them prior to 20th February.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War when an interim Report will be presented during the summer by Lord Haldane's Committee which is inquiring into the system of entering officers for the Army; and whether the Government, before taking any steps to abolish or modify the present system of open competition, will afford the House of Commons an opportunity of considering the question?

:I understand that the Committee expect to report during the summer. There is no present intention of abolishing the system of open competition. The last part of the question therefore does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the unsatisfactory manner in which our soldiers' graves at Givenchy are kept and that now, after a lapse of eight years, no headstones are provided whilst the little wooden crosses have become very dilapidated and the names in some cases are hardly legible; that certain parents who wished to erect at their own expense a headstone to the memory of their sons, and who agreed to erect the plain official pattern, have been refused permission to do so; and will he give immediate instructions for the removal of this restriction?

:There are 12 cemeteries at or near Givenchy, but I am not aware that any of them are kept in an unsatisfactory manner. Constructional work has been in progress for some time in these cemeteries and necessarily detracts somewhat from their appearance, but the latest reports show that the graves are in excellent order, sown with grass and planted with flowers and trees. With reference to the wish of certain parents to erect their own headstones, this is not allowed, as, among other reasons, headstones in each row are fixed in a common foundation which has to be specially prepared. Separate work of this kind would also destroy the planting of the cemeteries on each occasion and spoil their general appearance which is maintained with great care until such time as at any rate most of the headstones are ready for erection.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many graves there are on the various fronts identified and unidentified, respectively; how many identified graves there are which have now the appropriate tombstone; and how long does he anticipate it will take to supply the appropriate memorials?

:In reply to the first part of the question, the figures at present are, identified 527,150; not identified 152,756. I propose to circulate full details as to the various fronts in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The total number of headstones so far erected is 124,379, of which all but some 2,200 are on identified graves. As regards the last part of the question, it was estimated in 1918 that the work would take 10 years to complete, and there is no reason to think that this estimate will be exceeded.

Following are the details:

The figures are not final and are affected by the result of investigations continuously proceeding.

For various reasons, registration is far from complete in Turkey, Iraq, East Africa, and some other countries.

In Great Britain there are many graves of men who died after discharge, and when the numbers of war graves among these are known the figures will be affected accordingly.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can arrange with the Scottish Educational Department to allow the local inspector of education at Stirling to inspect and report on the educational side of the Queen Victoria school, Dumblane; and will he see that at least some part of the educational staff is Scotch?

:Standing authority for periodical inspection could not be given, but I shall be glad to ask the Scottish Education Department to send a representative to visit the school. With regard to the last part of the question, I am informed that several members of the educational staff are Scots.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will arrange that the barracks in the Castle of Edinburgh are occupied by a detachment of Scottish troops, and that these troops are in possession of full-dress uniform?

:The barracks in Edinburgh Castle have been evacuated, but the unit at Redford barracks, at present the Highland Light Infantry, will provide a daily guard. I regret that full-dress uniform for this guard cannot be authorised.

:Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman not understand that the feeling in Scotland is very strong on this matter, and that people think that the barracks in the Castle of Edinburgh should be occupied by Scottish troops?

:Is there not another feeling in Scotland that this is a complete waste of good Scottish money?

:It is not "Scottish money!"

:I quite share the wish of the hon. and gallant Gentleman to have full dress, but, unfortunately, it is out of the question at present, owing to the expense. It would not be possible to make this concession for Scottish troops and to withhold it from British troops.

:Can the hon. and gallan Gentleman tell us the difference in price?

:I will, if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put down a question.

:Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman not think that, as the Brigade of Guards has got full dress for the capital of England, we should have full dress for the capital of Scotland?

:Is it the question of the cost of putting the barracks at Edinburgh Castle into a proper state of repair that has caused the action of the War Office and has given rise to a great deal of dissatisfaction in Scotland?

:No. The question of expense is the only question in connection with the provision of full dress. As between England and Scotland, Scotland gets her share of the advantage of full dress in connection with the Scots Guards, just as Ireland and Wales get it in the full dress which is given to the Irish and the Welsh Guards.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state why the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army on the Rhine has ordered the closing down of the Young Men's Christian Association centres in Cologne, in the Mulheim Barracks (West Yorks), Marienburg Barracks (5th Fusiliers), Riehl Barracks (Royal Field Artillery), Deiltz Barracks (14th Hussars and Royal Garrison Artillery), in the Rhine Army train (Royal Army Service Corps), Eifel Tor (R.A.S.D.), and in the 25th General Hospital; and whether, in view of the unanimous testimonies of commanding officers to the great value of these social centres in keeping troops in barracks, he will have inquiries made as to the desirability of allowing these centres to be reopened?

:It is understood that the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine, acting within his competence, has decided that the Y.M.C.A. branches trading within the precincts of barracks shall be closed, though every encouragement will continue to be given to the social side of their work within the barracks as well as outside, and the Commander-in-Chief is trying to make arrangements for Y.M.C.A. and Church Army ladies to help commanding officers in this respect. The value of the work carried out by these organisations is indisputable, and the Commander-in-Chief is prepared to give encouragement to their central establishments in the City of Cologne and to branches in the suburbs, where they can and do afford a very valuable counter-attraction to certain undesirable features of life in that city. There is no intention on the part of the Commander-in-Chief to disturb the central branches of the organisations. In this matter the Commander-in-Chief must be held to be the most competent judge of what is best in the interests of the troops under his command, and I am not prepared, therefore, to institute the inquiries suggested by the hon. Member.

:Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether it is due to the Army desiring the profits for the Canteen Board that this particular branch of Y.M.C.A. work has been cut down? If they are to carry on the social work, would it not be far better to leave the trading work also in their hands?

:I do not think it would be possible to admit that, unless they were prepared to accept the same liability as is accepted by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, namely, to supply the amenities in the bad stations as well as the good. It would be impossible for these outside bodies to operate where they can make a great profit, paying only three per cent, over to the regiment, against the eight per cent, paid by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, and to refuse to trade, as they would be inclined to do, under present arrangements, in the less profitable areas.

:Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the answer he has given to-day is directly contrary to an answer which he gave to me a few weeks ago, on misinformation which he had received? Is he also aware that the Young Men's Christian Association and the Church Army attach great importance to having their huts and canteens in the barracks? Will he say that merely for the sake of trade they are not to be put out?

:There is no question of putting these organisations out of the barracks for social work. It happens that I have just seen the Commander-in-Chief of the Rhine Army, and he is most anxious to come to an arrangement to get these ladies into social gatherings, classes, and so on in the barracks. As to the question to which I gave an answer the other day, I was not aware then of what had happened, and I understood the hon. Member's question to apply to the closing of institutes generally, which has never been done.

:Is it not true that the Y.M.C.A. has also to make some profit in order to afford to keep these social workers? Has the Army not to consider the moral welfare of the men as well as the financial welfare of a regiment?

:The Y.M.C.A. obtains large sums in the way of contributions from outside, whereas the Army canteens have to depend entirely on their profits from trading.

:The Y.M.C.A. has not enough money to do the work.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a number of military police are still kept on duty at London railway stations and in certain London streets; what is the object of having these men on duty; whether it was the custom to have military police on duty in London in pre-War days; and whether it is proposed to continue this practice?

:Military police have been on duty at certain London railway stations for more than 20 years, and I am not aware of any special reasons for discontinuing the practice. They are employed in supervising the conduct of the large numbers of troops who are constantly visiting or passing through London.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there is a full complement of Territorial officers at the present time; and, if not, whether he will inform the House of the present deficiency?

:Apart from 89 colonels and 322 chaplains for whom there is no fixed establishment, the figures at present are establishment 7,969, strength 6,127.

:Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman give the figures for the City of Oxford, showing what has been done in this respect?

:I shall be very glad to do so if a question be put down.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the number of unemployed men in the Durrington district, he will instruct the military authorities to give fair consideration to their claims for employment when labour is wanted?

:Labour required by the military authorities is always engaged locally as far as possible, and I am not aware, therefore, that any special instructions are required. If, however, the hon. Member will give me the particulars of any case which he may have in mind, I will make inquiries, and communicate with him further.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he can give any information in regard to the disposal of Georgetown, Scotland; and whether the Board of Agriculture has examined this land with a view to its being utilised for small holdings?

:I am informed that the Disposal and Liquidation Commission have sold the area on which the Georgetown factory is situated on certain terms, which include conditions for the continued use of the houses under the control of the Office of Works. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. The area does not, however, appear to offer good prospects for a small holdings scheme, as the land is largely occupied by buildings and foundations.

:Is it not a fact that this land is being used as a game farm, and that a good deal of the land, where there are roads and a water supply, would be useful for small holdings.

:That is the question which I have just answered. We examined it from the point of view of small holdings, and found it unsuitable.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if he is aware that on several occasions the Great Western Railway Company have been approached regarding the erection of a footbridge at the Aberysychan and Pontnewynydd Stations, respectively; that in December,1920, two persons were killed and one injured at the Pontnewynydd crossing, and at the inquest the coroner recommended the erection of a footbridge; and whether, in view of the danger to the general public at these crossings, he will make representations to the company concerned on the matter?

:I have been in communication with the railway company in regard to this matter, and I understand that they intend to erect footbridges at both the stations referred to.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport what specific action he took when his attention was drawn to the recent very serious traffic congestion in the Strand, Holborn, Oxford Street, St. Paul's Churchyard, and Blackfriars; and whether he made any representation to the local authorities concerned?

:As already explained in previous replies, my Department possesses neither powers nor staff enabling a detailed time-table to be imposed on highway authorities' operations in London or elsewhere. In the particular cases referred to by my Noble and gallant Friend, a member of the Ministry's staff was, previous to the inception of these works, in communication with officers of the Boroughs of Holborn and Westminster, but it was then found that no alteration in the programme was practicable.

:Are we to understand that the Government are going to do something, or are we to understand that, while the congestion may get worse and worse, the Government propose to do nothing?

:The Noble Lord must not assume that the Government intend to do nothing. The matter is receiving my very serious consideration, and I hope it may be possible to introduce legislation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (1) whether, in allocating the reported surplus on the Road Fund to the relief of rates for the upkeep of rural roads, it is proposed to make block grants to the appropriate local authorities, or whether roads will be classified or selected in order that they may he improved or more efficiently maintained, thereby becoming more suitable to carry motor traffic;

(2)whether in carrying into effect the Government decision to allocate certain moneys from the Road Fund to the relief of rates for the upkeep of rural roads, it is proposed to classify roads at present unclassified; and whether he will give an undertaking that only definitely specified roads, which carry a substantial volume of motor traffic, shall obtain the benefit of the proposed financial assistance?

:The amount 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. The grants will be made in areas essentially rural in character in respect of improvement of classified or selected highways in order to enable these to support the heavy motor traffic now upon them. The present policy of classifying additional roads where the volume and importance of the. traffic justify that course will be continued.

:Will there be an opportunity for consultation with the principal road authorities before the allocation is made?

:We have been in consultation with the various authorities and we shall, very shortly, send out communications to all the local authorities on this subject.

:By how much has this surplus been depleted by spending money on the construction of new roads?

:Nothing has been depleted. This money will be available in this financial year.

:Has the hon. and gallant Gentleman answered the second part of Question No. 35, in reference to the classification and selection of roads?

:Yes. I have answered it, as the Noble Lord will see, if he reads my reply.

:Does the Minister propose to make provision for a continuation of this grant in ensuing years?

:I must answer that with the phrase, "Wait and see."

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he can give the amount of the grants made from the Road Fund to the City of London and each of the various other road authorities within the County of London area?

:As the figures are too long to read out, I propose, with my Noble Friend's permission to circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The City of London has not up to now applied for grants towards the maintenance of roads and bridges.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport whether, in connection with

:In the interests of rapid transport, will a special grant be made to Battersea?

Following are the figures referred to:

The following statement shows the grants made from the Road Fund to the various road authorities within the County of London area during the year ended 31st March, 1923. Information as to the grants made in previous years to these authorities is shown in the annual report on the administration of the Road Fund and the Road Improvement Fund:

the reconstruction of the road at Moor Hill, Fovant, leading from Fovant to Tisbury, he will sanction the full agricultural rate of wages being paid to the men employed there, and not 75 per cent. of the rate in the district, as laid down in his letter to the Wilton Rural District Council?

:I have already informed the Wilton Rural District Council that the men engaged upon the works at Moor Hill, Fovant, on the road from Fovant to Tisbury, may in the special circumstances of the case be paid the labourers' rate for the district.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport the total mileage of new roads in London and the country which has been arranged for by his Department; how many miles have already been open for public use; how many miles are expected to be opened this year; and if he will state, approximately, when the whole programme of new roads in hand will be completed?

:With regard to the United Kingdom as a whole, I regret that the information is not yet available, but I propose to publish it in the annual Report on the administration of the Road Fund for the year 1922–23. As regards Greater London, the total mileage of new arterial roads in progress or about to be begun is 141 miles, of which 108 miles are entirely new, while 33 miles are widened and improved highways. Of this total length 20 miles have already been made available for traffic. I hope that in the course of this year a further length of nearly 14 miles may be opened, and it is expected that the whole programme, comprising 141 miles, will be completed within two years.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the need for economy, he will consider the desirability of suspending, at all events for the time being, the preparation of a second register of electors each year; and whether he has received any representations on the subject from the great self-governing bodies of the country?

:I have been asked to reply. After full consideration, the Government have decided not to introduce legislation on the subject. A few local authorities support the proposal, but there is also strong opposition to it.

asked the Prime Minister if he can now make any further statement as to the settlement of the claims of British subjects for damages at the hands of the Turkish Government arising out of the War; whether the British Government has in hand a sum of money which ought legitimately to be applied to the settlement of their substantiated claims; whether this fact was made clear at the recent Lausanne Conference; and whether the Government will agree to guarantee some percentage of the unpaid claims if the banks will advance the money, thus giving a stimulus to British trade in the Near East?

:I am unable to make a statement in this matter, pending the conclusion of the Lausanne Conference.

(1) asked the Prime Minister if the Government has considered the serious condition of things revealed in a Return just issued by the Post Office of the high-power wireless stations possessed by the United States, France, Germany, and Great Britain; whether, in view of the danger to the British Empire arising from the backward condition of Great Britain in high-power wireless telegraphy, he will say what action the Government proposes to take;

(2)asked the Postmaster-General what action the Government has taken to give effect to the previously announced decision that licences should be issued to permit private enterprise to conduct wireless telegraph services with the Dominions, Colonies, and foreign countries?

:I have been asked to answer Question No. 49 addressed to the Prime Minister, and I will, with the hon. Member's permission, answer his question, No. 81 at the same time. The conditions of the licences for which the Marconi Company have applied are being discussed with the Company; and no time will be lost, so far as the Post Office is concerned, in arriving at a settlement. Meanwhile the manufacture of the masts for the proposed Government high-power station is being proceeded with, and orders for the rest of the plant will be placed as quickly as possible.

:May I have an answer to No. 49?

:I have already answered it.

:I did not recognise it. Arising out of the answer, may I ask whether, in view of the enormous imports of wireless telegraphy to the British Empire the right hon. Gentleman cannot hold out some hope that in the very near future we may be put on approximately the same basis as France and the United States of America which to-day possess the most powerful wireless outfits in the world?

:If my hon. Friend does me the kindness of reading my answer he may recognise it. I may inform him that, so far as the Post Office is concerned, there will be no delay in coming to a conclusion to enable us to proceed with wireless?

:Can the right hon. Gentleman give any tentative idea of the date when this decision will be made?

:No. It is a very important decision.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the difficulty of equitably assessing house property during the period of control exercised by rents legislation, he will postpone the operation of the new assessments on house property for the purposes of Income Tax and the Inhabited House Duty until after the 24th June, 1925, the proposed date for the decontrol of house rents?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Richmond (Mr. Becker) on the 8th May. I am sending him a copy of that reply.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that is not an answer; and is he aware that if the new assessment of house property is persisted in, it will have a prejudicial effect on new houses?

:It is very difficult to answer a supplementary question based on a reply which is not a reply. I can only say to the hon. Member that I think the reply was perfectly sound. The general question of reassessment of house property has been very carefully considered and a full statement—which would be impossible by way of question and answer—will be made on the Finance Bill next week.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the universal and deep-rooted discontent caused by this new assessment?

:I am quite aware that there is no universal discontent, and that discontent in the provinces is practically nil. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh, oh!"]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Note II on the back of the form notice of assessment of annual value of property for the year ended 5th April, 1923, regarding deductions admissible for repairs in arriving at the net value of houses and buildings, is incomplete in respect of allowances for repairs under the Rent Restrictions Acts; and whether he will have it altered so as to state these allowances completely?

:My hon. Friend appears to be under some misapprehension. The note to which he refers contains a complete summary of the provisions relating to allowances for repairs, maintenance, etc., under the Income Tax Acts, and it is these Acts which determine the admissible deductions in the assessment of houses and land for Income Tax purposes.

:In the case of a house, the annual value of which exceeds £48, will only one-sixth of the annual value be allowed?

:That is the present position.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Estate Duty is levied by the British Treasury on personal property in a Crown Colony forming part of the estate of a deceased person domiciled in Great Britain, and if, in such Colony, Estate Duty is levied also under Colonial law?

I would like to point out that the word "and" in the question has been inserted by the printer.

:Personal property situate out of Great Britain which forms part of the estate of a person dying domiciled in Great Britain is liable to Estate Duty under the Finance Act, 1894. The question whether an Estate Duty is also levied by the Crown Colony, in which the property is situate, depends on the system of Death Duty taxation which obtains in that particular Colony. I would, however, remind the hon. Member of the provisions of Section 20 of the Finance Act, 1894, which are designed to limit dual taxation within the Empire.

:Perhaps the insertion in the question of the word "and" may have misled the right hon. Gentleman. My object was to know whether Estate Duty is levied both in Great Britain and a Crown Colony.

:Under Section 20 of the Finance Act, 1894, if a Colony levies a Death Duty, it is allowed for on payment of Estate Duty in this country. There is no dual levy.

:Is not my right hon. Friend under a misapprehension, because in the Province of Quebec, if Estate Duty be levied there and in England, no duty is recoverable for Legacy Duty in this country?

:May I remind my hon. Friend that the question related to Crown Colonies?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to state if the sale of the munition depot at Dee-side, Chester, to the Anglo-Scottish Finance Corporation was effected by private treaty or public auction; what was the price at which the buildings were disposed of; and the original cost of the same?