asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the payment of tropical allowance to cook ratings employed in ships' bakeries is not general; and whether steps will be taken to amplify the existing Regulations so as to include such work in the provisions of Article 1476, King's Regulations?

As stated in my reply of the 6th June to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for North Portsmouth (Sir B. Falle), the Regulations will be altered to make the point quite clear.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the small number of warrant mechanicians now authorised and the great difference in the period of qualifying service required for engine-room artificers and mechanicians, candidates for warrant rank, he will give consideration to the matter of abolishing or reducing the Clause requiring that candidates for warrant mechanician must serve not less than five years as mechanician?

The qualifying period of five years required in the case of candidates for warrant mechanician is considered to be the minimum necessary to secure the efficiency of this branch, and the Board are not prepared to abolish this Regulation or to reduce the period prescribed.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether in the first annual Report of the Minister of Pensions it is stated that in respect of tuberculosis it was agreed, following the French system, that the general presumption should be that the disease was in some way connected with the man's service, unless there was evidence to the contrary; whether the acceptance of presumption in cases of other disabilities due to war service is a matter of departmental regulation; and whether he will issue instructions that disabilities shall be accepted as due to war service, unless the Ministry is able to prove the contrary?

In the case of men invalided from service, it is an express rule of my Department that there is a primâfacie presumption that the invaliding disability is due to or aggravated by the man's service. In the case of demobilised men, I have, in accordance with the advice of the highest independent medical authorities in the kingdom, directed, in the case of certain diseases, of which the first overt symptoms may not appear for some time after the original causation of the disability, that even though such symptoms do not manifest themselves until a year (in the case of tuberculosis) or, in the case of certain other diseases, even two years after the man's discharge from service, the disease may, subject to proper diagnosis of the man's condition be accepted as having originated in or existed during service, without further evidence on the point. I am medically advised, however, that these principles could not apply to any and every complaint from which an ex-service man may suffer for the rest of his life, for the reasons which I gave in my answer to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Bennett) on the 19th April, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

also asked the Minister of Pensions what final award is given in cases where the degree of disablement is 19 per cent. of indeterminate duration; whether, where the degree of disablement is 20 per cent., a permanent pension is awarded; and whether medical officers in the employ of the Ministry are able to make such an accurate diagnosis as would enable them to distinguish between 19 per cent. and 20 per cent. in cases where the condition is one of indeterminate duration?

When disablement is assessed at 20 per cent. or over pension is awarded on either a temporary or a permanent basis, according to the condition of the disability. It is not the practice to give assessment of 19 per cent., and accordingly neither the first nor the last parts of the question arise.

asked the Minister of Pensions at what date the Director of Statistics (acting) was made an established civil servant; what was his occupation prior to August, 1914; whether he was for a short period director of local organisation; and what special qualification the Director of Statistics (acting) has that justified his appointment to the permanent Civil Service?

The Director of Statistics (acting) was appointed to the established Civil Service on the 9th February, 1922. His profession before August, 1914, was that of architect. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative. As I informed the hon. Member for Camberwell North (Mr. Ammon) on the 4th April, 1922, for 18 months before his appointment of the Ministry of Pensions the Director of Statistics was the Chief Recorder of the Ministry of National Ser- vice—a post for which he was specially selected on account of his proved capacity for handling statistics.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a second division clerk employed in the Inland Revenue, on being notified that there was an adverse report, the effect of which was to exclude him from admission to the executive grade to which the vast majority of his colleagues had been transferred, was refused permission to see the report or the evidence on which it was alleged to have been based, whereby he has been absolutely precluded from replying to and refuting the specific grounds of complaint on appeal from the decision of the departmental chief; and whether the system of the War Office will be applied to the Civil Service and these reports communicated to the person affected?

The Civil Service practice with regard to the communication of adverse reports is that where a report reflects adversely on the character or efficiency of any officer in the performance of his duties, he is informed of the defects attributed to him. This procedure, which is in accordance with that agreed by the Civil Service National Whitley Council, was followed in the case of the officer to whom my hon. and learned Friend refers.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the present expenditure of His Majesty's Stationery Office; whether he is aware that this Department is constantly undertaking work without giving private firms the opportunity to compete; and whether he proposes to accept the suggestion of the Master Printers' Federation that an inquiry should be held into the work of His Majesty's Stationery Office?

The expenditure of the Stationery Office, like that of other Departments, is constantly under review by the Treasury, and the allocation of printing work for Government purposes to Government printing establishments or private firms is made in pursuance of general Treasury instructions. As I have already announced, the whole question of maintaining Government printing establishments is shortly to be investigated by a Departmental Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the figures for the years ended 5th April, 1921, 1922, and 1923, showing under each Schedule A, B,

Detailed estimates are not yet available for the year 1922–23. Gross income means the income brought under the review of the Inland Revenue Department before adjustments are made in respect of repairs to lands, houses, etc., empty property, wear and tear of machinery, overcharges in the assessments, etc. It includes certain income belonging to individuals whose total income is below the effective exemption limit. Actual income means the statutory income of the taxpayer, estimated in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Acts, after deduction of the income of individuals below the effective exemption limit and of the adjustments referred to under the definition of gross income.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received any firm offers for the Gretna factory; and whether, if offers have been received which are not satisfactory, he will state the price and terms that will be accepted?

In regard to the first part of the question, I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member by the Chancellor of the

C, D, and E the gross amount of Income Tax brought under review for Income Tax purposes?

The gross and actual income under the various Schedules of the Income Tax were as follows, for the United Kingdom, namely:

Exchequer on the 19th February last. It is not considered desirable in the public interest to give the information asked for in the latter part of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether reports have been received as to appeals or protests against the reassessments of Income Tax, Schedule A, from His Majesty's inspectors or other district authorities; what, approximately, is the number of appeals made to the Commissioners; and what procedure to meet the hearing of the increased appeals is to be adopted?

In some areas the issue of the necessary notices of assessment is not yet complete, and in others appeals are still being received. No satisfactory estimate of the total number can therefore at present be given. I anticipate that, as on previous occasions, the great bulk will be settled by agreement without the necessity of a personal appeal to the local Commissioners of Taxes, and I learn that already about one-third of the objections received have thus been disposed of to the satisfaction of the taxpayer. The Commissioners will in the usual course arrange to meet at centres convenient to taxpayers to determine the appeals which eventually require to be heard by them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Reparation Commission approved of the shipment by Germany of 30,000,000 gold marks to New York; and what is the reason of this shipment?

As the Reichsbank is an institution independent of the German Government, the Reparation Commission has no official knowledge of its proceedings, and I am unable to answer the last part of the question.

asked the Prime Minister what are the total war claims of the United States of America against Germany?

I have no special information on this matter; but in a report by the State Department recently published in the American Press American war claims against Germany are stated as $1,407,064,313, of which the United States Government claims $336,113,000 (including the costs of the American Army of Occupation), and private individuals the remainder.

asked the Prime Minister if the British Government has received the text of the latest German offer on reparations; and whether it is replying direct and independently, or in conjunction with the Allies?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the remainder of the question, I can make no statement at present.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the exact nature of the reply of the United States to the protest of the British Government against the prohibition of any intoxicants on board British vessels within American territorial waters; and whether, since the new United States law is coming into force at once, the Government is giving any advice to British shipowners as to the policy they should adopt?

The full text of the United States reply has not yet been received, but I understand it to be to the effect that the prohibition law has been authoritatively interpreted by the Supreme Court of the United States and can be modified only by Congress, which will not normally meet again until December. British ship-owners have not asked the Government for advice, but the Departments concerned are in touch with the steamship lines and are watching the operation of the new Regulations so far as regards British ships.

asked the Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing frequency with which British citizens on arrival in the United States are sent to Ellis Island; whether, in particular, his attention has been drawn to the latest case of an English captain; and whether he can make any statement upon it?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that the frequency of these cases within recent weeks is due to the fact that the quota of British immigrants for the year ending 30th June is now exhausted. The Secretary of State has received no report with regard to the particular case to which my Noble and gallant Friend refers. This is no doubt due to the fact that, according to the Press, the British subject concerned was promptly released and professes no reason to complain of his treatment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that four more trawlers, owned by British subjects, have been seized in the White Sea by the Soviet Government of Russia or by individuals under that dominion; and whether such outrages will be tolerated by His Majesty's Government whilst negotiations as to the trading agreement are progressing?

I have no confirmation of the reports to this effect, which appeared some days ago. In any event, no British trawlers have, so far as I am aware, been fishing in the White Sea. The last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs the exact terms of the arrangement made with the Turkish Government which will govern the conditions under which foreigners will be able to trade in the Turkish Dominions in the near future?

I regret that I can make no statement on this subject while negotiations are still proceeding at Lausanne.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a number of men of Southampton, members of the Boilermakers' Society and the National Union of General Workers, have been refused unemployment benefit on the ground that their unemployment is due to a dispute between the boilermakers and the firms by whom they were employed, namely, Messrs. Harland and Woolf and Messrs. J. I. Thornycroft and Company, Limited; that some of these men hold discharge papers certifying that they were discharged through slackness of work; and that the work upon which the men were engaged was finished at the time of their discharge; and whether he will make immediate inquiries into the non-payment of benefit?

A number of men at Southampton and elsewhere have been refused unemployment benefit by the Insurance Officer under Section 8 (1) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, because they are held to have lost employment by reason of a stoppage of work which was due to the boilermakers' dispute at the premises at which they were employed. Full particulars of the circumstances of termination of employment were obtained and considered by the Insurance Officer before he gave his decision. A number of appeals in test cases have been considered by the Court of Referees, who have in all cases upheld the disallowance. In a few special oases the information received regarding termination of employment was such that the Insurance Officer allowed benefit. I have no power to modify these decisions, but it is open to the association to appeal to the Umpire.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider including, in the guarantee to Messrs. Harland and Woolf under the trade facilities scheme, a condition that the proposed work be undertaken in shipbuilding yards in English and Scottish industrial centres where a large amount of unemployment exists?

The Advisory Committee under the Trade Facilities Act, 1921, must be satisfied before recommending a loan for guarantee that the proposed application of the loan is calculated to promote employment in the United Kingdom. The proceeds of the loan guaranteed by the British Treasury will be spent exclusively in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that Alfred Mitchell, Military Medal and bar, of 97, Chesnut Road, Tottenham, a disabled soldier, commenced a three years' course of training in electrical fitting at Hackney Marshes Instructional Factory on 19th May, 1920, which terminated in November, 1921, since which date he has been unemployed, except for a period of four months as an improver with the Medway Safety Lift Company; and, as only one year and nine months has been occupied in training and the Hackney Marshes Instructional Factory is now closed, whether Mitchell can be allowed to complete his course of training at the Government Instructional Factory at Ponders End?

Training in electrical fitting, under the Industrial Training Scheme, consists of a period of institutional training in a training centre, followed by a period as an improver in an employer's workshop. Mr. Mitchell had the full period allowed in the training centre, and I have no power to give him further institutional training. There has been great difficulty in finding openings for improvers in the electrical engineering trade, but every effort is being made to place Mr. Mitchell for a continued improvership at the earliest possible date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of scholarships granted to date to the sons and daughters of agricultural workers?

Ninety scholarships have been granted to date under the scheme for establishing scholarships and maintenance grants for the sons and daughters of agricultural workmen and others, which was framed to give effect to Section 3 of the Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Act, 1921. The allocation of the scholarships is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture what decision, if any, was arrived at by the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture after the Conference with representatives of the Ouse Drainage Board on the occasion of their visit to Cambridge last month; and whether he is aware that the interests of many thousands of persons are involved in this matter, and that if the rates continue to be levied on the same scale as in the past large tracts of the land in the Fen district may have to go out of cultivation?

The general conclusions arrived at, as the result of the Conference to which my hon. Friend refers, were set out in a notice sent to the Ouse Board for distribution and publication as they considered desirable. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, and I can assure him that I am fully aware of the large interests involved in this matter. A fuller Report dealing with the matter in detail is being prepared, and will be issued as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the fact that there is no representation of labour on the Departmental Committee on Distribution and Prices of Agricultural Produce; whether he is aware that up to the present no evidence has been taken from labour sources; and will he take steps to remedy both these complaints?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. Mr. A. W. Ashby was appointed a member of the Departmental Committee as a representative of labour, on the nomination of the Leader of the Opposition in this House, and a considerable amount of valuable evidence has been received from the representatives of the industrial co-operative movement, who are in close touch with labour organisations. In addition, the Committee has been in communication with the Social Democratic Federation and the unions representing agricultural workers, but they have not, as yet, considered it necessary to submit any evidence to the Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, taking the financial years of 1913, 1914, 1920, 1921, and 1922, he will state for each year the total amount of losses returned by the farming community under Section 34 of the Income Act of 1918, and also the respective totals of repaid Income Tax of which proof was produced to the satisfaction of the Commissioners?

I regret that the information for which the hon. Member asks is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what action has been taken during the last three years by his Department to assist in cancer research; and what public funds have been expended for this purpose?

I would refer to the answer given on this subject to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. A. T. Davies) on the 4th instant, to which I may add that the average amount devoted by the Medical Research Council to direct cancer research has been approximately £5,000 during the last three years.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Leyton Urban District Council have resolved to call upon the teachers in their service to refund a portion of the salaries received by them during 1921–22; whether, seeing that this demand is consequent upon a letter from the Board to the local education authority, dated 27th January, 1922 (when nearly 10 months of the financial year 1921–22 had elapsed), he is prepared to contribute to a conciliatory termination of this unfortunate dispute by favourably considering the recognition for grant purposes of payments in excess of the correct position for that year; whether he has any knowledge of the action taken by the local education authority consequent upon the letter above referred to; whether such action had the approval of the Department; whether, seeing that the authority is also demanding the return of portions of the salaries received by teachers during 1922–23 as soon as the Board has determined the grant allowance for that year, it will be possible to expedite the ordinary examination of the authority's expenditure so that the financial relationship between the authority and its teachers may be made definite; and whether any reference in the code of Regulations to teachers' salary agreements not being liable to variation owing to reduction of Government grants has any bearing on the present position between Leyton teachers and the local education authority?

I may refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on Tuesday, the 5th June, to the hon. Member for West Leyton (Mr. Cassels), and on Thursday, the 7th June, to the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Short). I regret that I am not in a position to accede to the suggestion made in the second part of the question. With regard to the third and fourth parts, I am aware that the authority have proposed to recover from the teachers that proportion of the excess payments which would have been met by grants from the Board if they could have recognised the expenditure; a similar arrangement formed the basis of an agreement in another area. On the fifth part of the question, I have already promised to endeavour to accelerate the consideration of the expenditure in 1922–23. The answer to the last part is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that some thousands of farm labourers have been obtained from Great Britain and Northern Europe to assist Canadian farmers in carrying on their operations; and whether, in view of the effect of the Empire Settlement Act upon rural depopulation in this country, the Government is now prepared to grant accredited representation to agricultural interests on the Overseas Settlement Committee?

As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend in replying to a similar question on the 1st May, I do not consider that it is necessary to adopt his suggestion. The Oversea Settlement Committee is already in close touch with the Ministry of Agriculture, and includes members who may be relied on to ensure that due consideration is given to agricultural interests in this country in connection with the administration of the Empire Settlement Act. I may add that the only scheme under the Act which assists farm labourers to proceed to Canada is the Ontario scheme, covering a maximum of 2,000 single men. About 1,000 men have, up to the present, been assisted under this scheme.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether information has been received of contracts entered into with German, French, or Italian firms during the three months ending 1st June for the supply of agricultural implements to British Overseas Dominions; and what, approximately, was the number, nature, and value of these foreign products supplied under such contracts?

I have received no information as to any such contracts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the total sums remitted to India through the Kenya Colony post office for each of the years 1920, 1921, and 1922?

I regret that the information asked for is not available, and would not now be easy to obtain.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that several coloured seamen, the victims of German submarines, are in Liverpool awaiting awards; and that these cases include those whose claims have been admitted but await satisfaction pending inquiries in the dependencies; and whether he can take any steps to expedite the payment of the awards to these men?

I am not aware of the precise facts, but if the hon. Member can give me the names of the men inquiries will be made. I am already in communication with Colonial Governments as to the possibility of funds being voted for the purpose of meeting the claims of such persons as are found to belong to the Colonies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total sum actually paid by the British Government and by the Government of the Irish Free State, respectively, in respect of pre-truce claims for criminal and malicious injuries which arose between January, 1919, and 11th July, 1921, the date of the Treaty, estimated at approximately £10,000,000; and what is the total sum actually paid by the Free State Government in respect of post-truce claims estimated to amount to over £60,000,000 sterling, with regard to which His Majesty's Government have admitted responsibility for seeing that adequate compensation is paid?

With regard to the first part of the question, I have received no later figures than those given by me in reply to the hon. Member for Finchley (Colonel Newman) on 28th May, but the Free State Government confidently hope to make payment for awards made by the Wood Renton Commission up to May by the end of this month. As regards repayments due by the British Government under the arrangement referred to on page 4 of the Memorandum presented to Parliament in April (Cmd. 1844), no claim has yet been received from the Free State Government and no payment has therefore been made. I am expecting a claim shortly, and understand that after 1st July it is expected that we may receive fortnightly reports of payments in respect of Wood Renton awards. In reply to the last part of the question, the new Damage to Property (Compensation) Act has only received the Royal Assent in the last few days, so no awards have yet been made or paid. I have no means of ascertaining whether the estimate of sixty millions is correct.

asked the Home Secretary what was the total expense to the country last year of sending lads from Borstal institutions to camp; and what is the probable expense this year?

The cost was £158 last year. It is proposed that the whole cost this year shall be borne by voluntary contributions.

asked the Home Secretary (1) if he is aware that persons are prosecuted for playing a game known as backing the squares, which consists in throwing bronze coins on a chequered sheet of linoleum and whether, in view of the skill required by the player to play the game successfully, he will give instructions to the Metropolitan police not to institute such prosecutions in future;

(2) if he is aware that the game of house, or box and numbers, was allowed to be played in the Army during the War, and is an innocent form of recreation; that when played on race-courses and elsewhere in this country it is treated as gambling; and whether, in view of the precedent set by the Army and of the enjoyable nature of the game, he will instruct the Metropoitan police not to prosecute persons playing it?

I am inquiring as to the nature of the games to which the hon. Member refers, and will communicate with him later.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the experience of the Football Association, as representing the largest national sport in the country, in dealing with large crowds, he proposes to invite an official of that body to serve on the Committee that is to inquire into this subject?

The Committee has now been constituted, and I will circulate the name and terms of reference in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I do not propose to include any official of the Football Association, but no doubt the Committee will be glad to hear the views of that body in evidence.

Following are the names and terms of reference:

Members of Committee:

The Right Hon. Edward Shortt, K.C. ( Chairman ).

Mr. H. Hughes-Onslow, C. B. E.

Mr. H. P. P. Lane, C. B. E., M. V. O., Chief Constable of Lancashire.

Mr. Frank Pick, Assistant Managing Director, Metropolitan District Railway.

Mr. C. D. Carew Robinson, of the Home Office, and

Mr. F. C. Toone, Secretary, Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Terms of Reference:

In inquire into the arrangements made to deal with abnormally large attendances on special occasions, especially attendances at athletic grounds, and to consider, in view of the increased facility and rapidity of transport, what further steps, if any, should be taken to ensure the safety of the public.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that a sub-inspector of mines has been recently appointed for South Wales who has no knowledge of the Welsh language; and whether he will in future appoint mines inspectors for Wales who have a knowledge of Welsh, it being an essential qualification to effectively carry out the provisions of the Coal Mines Regulation Act?

I have been asked to reply. I presume the hon Member refers to the recent transfer of a senior inspector to South Wales in place of one promoted from that division. In making that transfer, full regard was paid to Section 97 of the Coal Mines Act, which provides that "in the appointment of inspectors of mines in Wales and Monmouthshire, among candidates otherwise equally qualified, persons having a knowledge of the Welsh language shall be preferred." To carry out the hon. Member's suggestion would be to go beyond the requirements of the Act and might militate against the efficiency of the inspectorate.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway, the London and North Eastern Railway, and the Southern Railway Companies have not yet established group line and central conferences for the police in their employ, in accordance with the railway police force federation scheme, which is based on Section 67 of the Railways Act, 1921; and whether it is proposed to take any action in the matter?

I have been asked to reply. I understand that the amalgamation of the railway companies into groups has entailed considerable internal reorganisation, but, as far as I am aware, there is no reason to suppose that there will be undue delay in setting up the conferences for railway police referred to by my hon. Friend. I am informed that, in the meantime, the conference established last year for the individual companies, which have now been formed into groups, are continuing to function.