asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of the tax revenue contributed, respectively, during the financial year 1922–23 by England, excluding Monmouthshire, Scotland, and Wales, including Monmouthshire, and in each case the amount per head of the population thus contributed, and the rate per £ such taxation amounts to upon the income assessed under Schedules A, B, D, and E in the respective countries?

I regret that these statistics are not available. In particular the necessary data to estimate the true contribution of Wales is wholly lacking.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total assessment to Income Tax in Ireland for the financial years 1913–14 and 1921–22 under Schedules A, B, D, and E, respectively?

The actual income assessed to Income Tax in the years 1913–14 and 1920–21 in Ireland under the respective Schedules was as follows:

"Actual Income" means the statutory income of the taxpayer estimated in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Acts, after deduction of that portion of the income of individuals below the exemption limit (£160 in 1913–14 and £135 assessable income in 1920–21, which is equivalent to £150 of earned income or £135 of investment income), which comes under the review of the Inland Revenue Department, and also after deduction of adjustments made in respect of repairs, to lands, houses, etc., empty property, wear and tear of machinery, overcharges, repayments, etc.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual value of the property and profits assessed to Income Tax in the year ending 5th April, 1914, and for the year ending 5th April, 1923, in England, Scotland, and Wales (including Monmouthshire), respectively, showing separately the amounts under each of the five Schedules A, B, C, D, and E?

The statistics for the year 1913–14 are published in the 58th Report of the Com- missioners of Inland Revenue (Command Paper 8116). Like statistics for the year 1922–23 will not be available until the autumn of next year. Separate statistics are not collected for Wales.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what percentage of taxation collected has been direct, and what has been indirect, for each year since 1913–14?

The figures are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange that the Assessor of Taxes will be instructed to give on the new notices of assessment the allowance that is deductable fox Land Tax, etc.; whether he is aware that many people who receive assessment notices do not realise their right of counter claim; and whether he can take steps to see that these people, through the lack of information on the notice, are not prejudiced in their right of appeal?

The amount allowed for Land Tax does appear on the notices of assessment of annual value now being issued. A space was also provided on the return forms for the purpose of claiming the appropriate deduction, and so far as practicable comparison has been made with the Land Tax assessments in order to ensure that any deduction due is allowed in the assessment, whether claimed or not. Correct allowances should therefore have been made in all cases, but if my Noble and gallant Friend has any specific cases in mind, I will gladly have inquiry made if he will give me particulars.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that under the Income Tax Act the General Commissioners, in the case of an appeal, may direct the person who appeals to cause a valuation to be made of the house or property by a skilled person appointed by them, such valuation to be final, and the costs and charges of such valuation to be at the discretion of the Commissioners, and having regard to the difficulties of the present reassessment, and particularly in the case of owner-occupiers, he will give instructions that it shall be the duty of the inspector of taxes to prove any increase that is appealed against, and that the Commissioners shall not put the person who appeals to any expense by the method described?

In the case of an appeal to the General Commissioners against an assessment, it will be the duty of both the inspector of taxes and the appellant to give all the evidence they have as to the annual value of the property in question, and it will be for the Commissioners to decide the matter. In the great majority of appeals the Commissioners find no difficulty in arriving at a fair determination of the annual value of the property. In the comparatively rare instances where a valuation is caused to be made under the provisions of Section 138 of the Income Tax Act, 1918, the Commissioners are empowered to determine whether the expenses of such valuation shall fall upon the appellant or upon the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, and I regret I am unable to interfere with their jurisdiction in this matter, as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that inspectors and surveyors of Income Tax, although appointed by the Treasury, are servants of the Commissioners, he is aware of complaints that the inspector is, in the present re-assessment under Schedule A, assuming authority and doing work which is alone within the province of the local Commissioners of Income Tax; if he is aware that Parliament has refused to allow such usurpation of power on several occasions; and will he give the necessary instructions to prevent the decision of Parliament being overruled?

My hon. and gallant Friend is under a misapprehension if he intends to imply that the inspectors of taxes are the servants of the local Income Tax Commissioners. The inspector of taxes is an officer of the Board of Inland Revenue, under whose authority and directions he acts. I do not for a moment accept the suggestion that inspectors are assuming authority or doing work which is alone within the province of the local Commissioners. I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend in this connection to the reply which I gave him on the 29th May, and to the further reply given to him yesterday by the Prime Minister.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the depot at Audruicq has recently been sold; if so, what price was obtained; and to whom has it been sold?

As my right hon. Friend stated on 12th December, 1922, the depot at Audruicq with three other depots in France were sold by the Disposal Board to Messrs. Aldridge and Hughes in December, 1920. This firm are still the purchasers, but owing to difficulties in carrying out the original terms of the contract, there have been further negotiations with the firm which have resulted in a definitive agreement.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what Government Departments are, when the expenditure of public money is concerned, solely placing orders for British or Overseas produced food?

As stated in my answer of the 31st May to my hon. Friend the Member for the Wells Division of Somerset (Mr. Bruford), Government Departments give a preference to home and Imperial over foreign products whenever this is practicable and would not involve inordinate additional expenditure. I am informed that while none of the Departments concerned are able to dispense entirely with the purchase of foreign foodstuffs, such purchases are trifling in proportion to their total orders.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total cost to the Government of the oil-boring experiments at or near Hardstoft, in the County of Derby; and whether the work has now been abandoned?

I have been asked to reply. The estimated net cost of the seven bore-holes in Derbyshire, after making allowances for the sale of plant and material and of the oil produced at Hardstoft, was approximately £300,000. All the work undertaken for the Government under the Pearson Agreement has been brought to an end, but the Hardstoft well has been taken over by the Duke of Devonshire, the owner of the land, to whom a licence has been issued under the Petroleum Production Act. The remaining six bore-holes in Derbyshire have been plugged and abandoned.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Treasury prescribe the conditions governing the entry to and retirement from the Government service; what is the age limit for permanent and temporary officers in posts equivalent to that of principal clerk and above; and, if there is no such limit, will the Treasury consider the issue of instructions to prevent persons who have been retired on account of age and awarded pension up to £1,000 a year for service in one Department from taking up whole-time posts with full salary in another Department?

Conditions with regard to entry into Government service are prescribed by the Civil Service Commissioners with the approval of the Treasury, except in the case of certain temporary situations. The age limit fixed for the compulsory retirement of permanent civil servants by Clause 15 of the Order in Council of the 10th January, 1910, is 65, provided that in special cases the Treasury may at the instance of the head of a Department extend an officer's employment for a further period not exceeding five years on being satisfied that such officer's retirement at 65 would be detrimental to the interests of the public service. Temporary officers of the Civil Service are discharged when their services are no longer required. They are not subject to the age limits prescribed for the permanent Civil Service, but to such limits as may be laid down for particular cases or classes of cases. I do not think that it would be in the interest of the public service to vary retiring age limits according to the private circumstances of individuals. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 8th May to the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury).

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been drawn to the case of J. H. Sills, clerk of the works on the staff of the Director of Works and Buildings, stationed at Steventon; whether he is aware that this man, after 23 years' service, has received notice of discharge, to take effect on the 18th instant, and that if the man be discharged on that date he will not be entitled to any bonus, whereas if he be retained until November he will be entitled to a small sum; and whether, in view of the hardship that will be caused to this man who has given good and long service, he will have the notice of discharge withdrawn?

Mr. Sills is being discharged this month because he has attained the age limit of 65 years, and there are no exceptional circumstances to justify making an exception from the ordinary rule in his case. The hon. Member has been misinformed as regards Mr. Sills becoming eligible for a bonus if he were retained until November next; he received his superannuation gratuity in 1919, when he left the War Office service, and he is not now, and would not be in November, entitled to any additional gratuity or bonus.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total amount of money disbursed, directly or indirectly, during the last financial year by the Ministry of Labour; and whether the Treasury Office of Accounts is proposing to effect improvements in the organisation and administration of this Department?

The total amount of money disbursed directly or indirectly by the Ministry of Labour during the last financial year was approximately as follows:

NOTES.—(1) A sum of £12,300,000 was paid from the Vote for the Ministry of Labour as the State contribution to the Unemployment Fund; and this sum together with the unemployment contribu- tions paid by employers and employed (£34,000,000) was applied to payment of benefit and other expenses chargeable on the Unemployment Fund.

(2) Of the total expenditure on administration shown above (£5,700,000) £4,800,000 represented the whole cost of administering unemployment insurance (including the cost of Employment Exchanges so far as attributable to unemployment insurance) and was recovered in full from the Unemployment Fund.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will afford facilities to barrack wardens to submit their claim for re-assessment of pensions under Army Order 325/19 to a Committee, on the same lines as granted to secretaries of Territorial Associations?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for North Camberwell (Mr. Ammon) on 7th June.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the necessity of altering the anomaly whereby Army pensioners who were commissioned during the late War are only pensioned at warrant or non-commissioned officers' rate, of approximately £75 per annum, with no status as officers, and on death widows and children receive no pension, as compared to the Marines warrant or non-commissioned officers who were commissioned and pensioned at officer rates, i.e., £250 per annum, plus £6 for each year of commissioned service, and on death widows receive approximately £80 per annum, and each child approximately £30, and both rank and service held count for pension; and whether, as the number of officers concerned is only about 1,000 and as the pension list automatically diminishes each year, he will consider granting the same scale of pensions to the Army pensioners referred to?

This question has already been very fully considered. The pensioners in question were given tem- porary commissions and like temporary officers in general were not given officers' service pensions on demobilisation. But they drew their Army pensions in addition to full officers' pay while serving, they received the temporary officers' gratuity which was much in excess of that given to the regular officer, and their pre-War pensions have been reassessed on the new scale. The number of Marine officers concerned was very small, but while the number of Army pensioners affected is not exactly known it is estimated to be in the neighbourhood of 3,000 and the total cost of pensions on the Marine scale would be some 4 millions. I am afraid that I cannot, with due regard to the interests of the taxpayer, recognise the claim, at such large cost, of these individuals to a minimum life pension of £250, with the other benefits mentioned in the question, in return for perhaps one or two years' total service as an officer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give the numbers of cases of men who served throughout the War with a previous military record who, since the Armistice, have developed insanity not attributable to or aggravated by the War; whether, in these cases, any service pension due to each man concerned is appropriated for his upkeep in the asylum; and whether he will inform the House what allocation in each of these cases the widow usually receives?

I am not in a position, without undue research, to give the figures asked for. The general rule laid down in Article 1075 of the Pay Warrant is that the pension of an insane pensioner may be paid to the person responsible for his maintenance, but if not claimed, or not wholly required, for that purpose, the pension or balance of pension may be paid to his wife or other dependants. In using the word "widow" my hon. Friend is a little previous.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is prepared to reconsider the decision not to make a grant in respect of the grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Ray, Old Toll House, King's Hill, Wednesbury, having regard to the fact that both the parents of the children are dead, and the father, Private William Harris, No. 16226, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, was in receipt of a war pension at the time of his death?

I regret that as the tribunal has confirmed the finding of the Ministry that the soldier's death was not connected with his military service, his children are not eligible for a grant from my Department.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the criticisms which are often made into the working of the pensions' system, he will consider the suggestion of selecting one district of the country and investigating complaints, and the reasons for them, by a small special investigating body on which both the Ministry and the ex-service men will be represented, thus obtaining guidance as to local opinion and matters of administrative policy?

There already exists, in the form of the War Pensions Committee, a body which is specially entrusted with the duty of hearing complaints and making recommendations as to the administration of War pensions in its area, and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to supplement this provision by a special body such as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Lord Sumner's Committee has yet reported on the admissibility for treatment under the War compensation scheme of applications which may have been sent in after the official date had been advertised that such applications would no longer be entertained; and, if not, whether he can expedite the official decision, in view of the large number of cases which are involved and awaiting treatment?

It is proposed to act as recommended in paragraph 17 of the Report of the Royal Commission on Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action which has already been published.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that an explosion occurred on the British s.s. "Hampshire" off the coast of France in January of this year; the cause of the explosion; how many men were injured and the nature of their injuries; whether they received compensation during their confinement in hospital in Rouen; whether those who have returned to this country disabled are receiving the benefits of the Workmen's Compensation Acts; and, if not, will he call the attention of the employers to this neglect?

The explosion on the "Hampshire," which was reported to the Board of Trade in due course, was caused by gas which had accumulated in the storeroom being ignited when the steward struck a match to light his lamp. Two men were injured by burns, the mate and the steward. I am informed by the owners that the steward has received 35s. per week, and this will continue for another two or three months, while the mate was paid 35s. per week from 4th February to 1st April, on which date he signed off.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is aware that many British firms trading with Canada have placed their agencies in the United States of America; and will the Department consider taking any steps in order to encourage British firms in placing their agencies in the Dominion?

I am aware that a certain number of firms trading with Canada have placed their agencies in the United States of America, but I understand that the number tends to decrease. The matter has already engaged the attention of the Department of Overseas Trade, which has been in correspondence on the subject with many of the firms concerned, and has consistently advocated the appointment of agents within the Dominion.

asked the Minister of Health the number of houses whose rents are controlled under each of the Restriction Acts?

It is impossible to estimate with any accuracy the number of houses protected by the various Acts, as many houses, although within the rental limits, are, for different reasons, not so protected. But taking all the houses within the rental limits of the three Acts, whether protected or not, the number of houses is approximately 7,300,000 under the Act of 1915, 700,000 under the Act of 1919, and 150,000 under the Act of 1920.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the special intermediate certificates (Form Med. 40b) have printed on the reverse side advertisements for the Maypole Company's butter and tea; and, so as to save any misunderstanding between doctor and patient, can he see his way clear to utilise the space so used by giving information regarding National Health Insurance questions?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 16th May to the right hon. Member for Derby (Mr. J. H. Thomas). The revision of the medical certificate forms is now under consideration, and the suggestion in the second part of the question will be borne in mind in any revision.

asked the Minister of Health whether, seeing that there is no provision in the Health Insurance Act for medical benefit to mothers and wives of insured persons who are acting solely as housekeepers to their family, he will introduce legislation in order to provide such benefit?

As the provision of medical benefit for these dependants of insured persons would necessitate a substantial increase in the present weekly contributions, my right hon. Friend does not think the present time opportune for the introduction of legislation to the effect suggested.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that there is a boarding school in Wei-Hai-Wei for sons of British residents in China, founded in the year 1904, with the encouragement and assistance of the local Government, which will have to close down when Wei-Hai-Wei is handed back to China, and that the proprietor and head-master has petitioned for compensation and that his petition is supported by local officials at Wei-Hai-Wei and Pekin; and whether compensation will be paid?

The case of the Wei-Hai-Wei School is under consideration by the Departments concerned.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland whether he is aware that James Rooney, 33, Hamilton Street, Govan, refused permission to the Glasgow educational authority to draw the teeth of his youngest child, and appeared by request at their office in Bath Street to give his reasons; that Rooney was arrested at 9 a.m. on 29th May and taken to the County Buildings, Glasgow, lodged in a cell for two hours, and then appeared before the sheriff, who fined him £5 or 10 days' imprisonment; that no summons was issued to Rooney and no opportunity given to have any legal defence arranged; and whether, in view of the fact that Rooney has been unemployed for two years, he will consider favourably quashing the conviction or remitting the fine?

My Noble Friend has made inquiry into this case. The child referred to was recommended by the school medical officer for dental treatment as the condition of his teeth was such as to cause injury to his health. Notices were sent to Rooney by the education authority requesting him on two occasions to bring the child to the dental clinic, but these notices were not complied with. Thereafter Rooney attended at the education offices and was warned that unless he took steps to have the child's teeth attended to, a charge would be preferred against him, and this course was ultimately taken. Rooney was accordingly arrested and brought before the sheriff when he pleaded guilty. As regards the statement that no opportunity was given to have any legal defence arranged, an agent appeared along with Rooney. It was open to him to have applied for an adjournment in order to prepare a defence, but no such application was made. An extension of time for payment of the fine imposed has since been granted by the sheriff who tried the case. In the circumstances, my Noble Friend sees no sufficient reason to advise interference with the conviction or sentence.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Kent education authority has excluded a deaf child, named Caroline Bradford, from the Royal School for Deaf Children, Margate, on the ground that its parent had strong conscientious conviction against vaccination and therefore refused to allow her to be vaccinated; and whether he will take steps to protect the right of this child to be properly educated by this authority?

I will inquire into the case of Caroline Bradford, which has not previously been brought to the notice of the Board. I may add that the Royal School for Deaf and Dumb Children, Margate, is a voluntary institution, and the exclusion if a child from the school, therefore, would rest with the managers, and not with any local education authority.

asked the Attorney-General, whether any consideration has been given of late to the fees charged in the Court of Chancery; whether he is aware that frequently these fees are out of all proportion to the sum of money involved, thus inflicting hardship on people who are compelled to get a deci- sion on a point of law; and, whether this matter will be inquired into with a view to securing some reduction?

The fees payable in the Chancery Division of the High Court were settled in December, 1921, by the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Chief Justice, Master of the Rolls and the President of the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division, after a long and exhaustive examination by a highly skilled Committee presided over by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for the County of Londonderry (Sir M. Macnaghton). The Lord Chancellor is satisfied that the fees are not such as to inflict hardship upon litigants. He has, however, requested the Committee referred to, to consider the matter afresh in the light of experience gained since the fees were last settled, and any recommendations made by the Committee will, of course, receive careful consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware of any roads which have been closed owing to their being unsuitable for municipal motor omnibus services; and, if so, where such roads are situated?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on the 15th of May, the latter part of which applies equally to municipal as to private motor omnibus services.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport when the last monthly operating returns for the railways were published, and the month to which they referred?

The submission of statistics by the railway companies has been delayed by the amalgamations, and the returns for January last were not rendered by one of the groups until last week. Every effort will be made to issue the monthly figures in future without delay. Meanwhile, my hon. Friend may be interested in the provisional figures showing the tonnage conveyed by freight train in Great Britain during January,

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the great increase in fatal accidents in London streets; and if he will appoint a Committee to inquire into the causes and make recommendations for a reform of the traffic system, which will tend to reduce dangers now incurred?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) on 26th April, 1922. I may add, that since that date the matter has been further dealt with in the Report of the Royal Commission on London Government. In the circumstances, no further inquiry seems to be necessary at present.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state, in view of the greatly varying efficiency in traffic control in various counties, whether members of the police force have definite training in this responsible and difficult work?

I am aware that there has been some diversity in the signals used for this purpose in different forces, and steps have recently been taken to secure greater uniformity by the issue of instructions, embodying a standard set of signals, to all police forces.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if he is aware that no workmen's tickets are available for men travelling to work from Blackhill to High Westwood; that the full single fare is 5½d., whereas if the men take tickets to

1923, and the corresponding figures for the same month in the three previous years. They are as follow:

Ebchester, the station before Westwood, the fare is only 3d., and the excess fare between Ebchester and High Westwood is only 1½d., and the men thereby save 1d. on the single journey; and that the stationmaster at Westwood has had instructions to put a stop to this; and whether, in view of the fact that no workmen's tickets are available, he will make representations to the railway company on this matter?

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware I have no control over railway charges, but I am having inquiry made on the points which he raises and will advise him of the result.

asked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking in regard to the Empire Conference; and whether any Memoranda will be laid before the House indicating the lines along which it is proposed to proceed?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 9th April in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for the Central Division of Wandsworth (Sir J. Norton-Griffiths). I do not think that I can usefully add anything to that answer at present, except that an announcement explaining the scope of the Economic Conference was published in the Press on the 23rd April.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons prosecuted and convicted for indecent assault on girls under the age of 16 for the years 1912, 1913, 1914, 1920, and 1921?

As indecent assault on a girl under 16 is not classified as a separate offence complete figures cannot be given, but I will send the hon. Member figures extracted from the Judicial Statistics for the years he mentions which bear on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1918, the wives of persons occupying or residing in colleges and other premises by virtue of office or employment and single women resident in colleges or other premises by virtue of office or employment otherwise qualified are not eligible for the inclusion of their names upon the register of either Parliamentary or local government electors; and whether facilities can be given for the progress of amending legislation?

I have no information that women are being omitted from the register in the circumstances mentioned, but I will make inquiry in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary if he can now make a statement as to what are the practical results of the meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Opium Traffic at Geneva, more especially in regard to the manufacture and distribution of drugs?

The main results of the meeting, I understand, were (1) that an agreement was reached with the delegation from the United States Government which will, it is hoped, have the effect of securing co-operation between that Government and the States which are members of the League in the work of giving full effect to the International Convention of 1912; and (2) that the Advisory Committee decided to make recommendations for the adoption, by agreement between the Powers interested, of measures for securing a more effective application of Part II of the Convention which relates to the suppression of the use of opium for smoking, and a limitation of the manufacture of morphine, heroin and cocaine and of the production for export of the raw material from which the drugs are made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary of State will take steps to secure the adhesion to the 1921 Convention for the suppression of the traffic in women and children of all the mandated territories in which the British Government exercises control; and, if in any case such action is not proposed, whether he will state the reasons for non-adherence?

The traffic in women and children does not exist in the Cameroons, Togoland and Tanganyika territory; so that there is no need for adhesion to the Convention. If any signs of such traffic appear, legislation will be passed to deal with it, and adherence would then present less difficulty. As to Palestine, though I have no evidence that such traffic exists, the necessary legislation will be passed, but probably not until peace is concluded with Turkey. It will then be possible for Palestine to adhere to the Convention.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that passengers travelling by river steamer from Basra to Bagdad are subject to quarantine examination on transshipment from ocean steamer at Basra, and again to a further examination at Bagdad before landing, while passengers travelling by railway from Basra to Bagdad are not subject to these quarantine regulations; and what is the reason for such discrimination in treatment between the river and railway services?

I have no knowledge of the facts as stated in the question, but I will enquire.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that an assessor of the Irish Compensation Commission has made an offer of £2,000 to Lord Langford, if he refuses to rebuild, as compensation for the malicious burning of his mansion at Summerhill for which he received an award from the County Court Judge of £65,119 2s. 3d., and that as the burning took place on 4th February, 1921, consequently before the Treaty, this liability fell upon the British Exchequer; and if he can state the reason for the great difference between the amount offered and that awarded by the County Court Judge?

I have been in communication with the Commission regarding this case and am informed that the sum of £2,000 was put forward by the assessors of Lord Langford's solicitors as being the difference (apart from any question of compensation for loss of furniture, which was separately dealt with) between the value of the building before and after the fire, and that the solicitors estimated this difference at £5,000. A valuation of this difference is an essential element in the assessment of compensation, but it is not the case that the sum of £2,000 was put forward as a final offer. On the contrary the case is still under investigation, and not only has the Commission not yet issued its award, but the assessors have not yet reported to the Commission. The hon. and gallant Member is mistaken in thinking that liability for all damage prior to the truce falls upon the British Exchequer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the total amount of the current estimate of revenue for Kenya and the approximate amount in direct and indirect taxation attributable, respectively, to the British, Indian, and African populations, and the number of children of school age of the three populations and the sums voted, respectively, for their education?

The estimated revenue of Kenya for 1923 (excluding railway revenue) is £1,784,662. Roughly the contributions of the various communities to taxation and Customs revenue in 1922 are taken to be

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the total estimated revenue for the current year, both direct and indirect, attribute able to the African population of Kenya, and the total amount voted to be expended in the native reserves on medical, educational, and economic objects for the benefit of the African population?

The total estimated revenue for the current year attributable to the African population of Kenya is approximately as follows:

economic services which is attributable to native purposes.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give a comparative statement showing approximately the British and Indian populations of Kenya in 1901, 1911, and 1921; if there has been an increase or decrease in both or either during the last two years; and what is the total number of adult male British settlers resident on the land, and of British officials?

No figures are available for the population of Kenya in 1901. British Europeans were 2,736 in 1911 and 9,025 in 1921. Indians, including both British subjects and British protected persons, were 11,886 in 1911 and 22,731 in 1921. There is no information as to the change in the British population in the last two years, but after the great influx of settlers immediately after the War the population has probably been fairly stationary. According to information supplied by the Colonial Government, the Indian population diminished by 1,800 in the 12 months ended March, 1922, and increased by 2,888 in the ensuing nine months. As regards the last part of the question, there is no information later than the census of 1921, when 1,805 adult male Europeans were recorded as "settlers or farmers."

asked the Postmaster-General how much money was invested by the inhabitants of Southern Ireland in the Post Office Savings Bank at the beginning of the present year; and what proportion of this sum has been since transferred to the Free State Government?

The amount standing in the books of the British Post Office Savings Bank to the credit of depositors' accounts in offices in Southern Ireland was approximately £9,580,000 on the 31st of December last. Since that date about £138,000 has been transferred, on the application of depositors, to accounts in the Post Office Savings Bank of the Irish Free State. Withdrawals from the British Post Office Savings Bank in the Irish Free State between the 1st of January and the 31st of May amounted to about £1,600,000. I have no means of knowing if any of this money was withdrawn for deposit in the Irish Free State Post Office Savings Bank.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that in many parts of the districts of Sinnington, Kirbymoorside, and Helmsley, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, letters are delivered as late as between 10 and 12 a.m.; that the mail bags for those places reach Pickering between 5 and 6 o'clock, and that pre-War these bags were forwarded by road to these towns; and whether, having regard to the great inconvenience caused by such late delivery, he will restore the pre-War arrangements, thereby obtaining an early delivery in the morning and a later despatch in the evening?

I am having enquiry made, and will conmunicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the demand there is for rural telephone facilities in the Highlands; whether he is aware that, as many districts are sparsely populated, it is often impossible to guarantee the minimum of eight subscribers; and whether in such districts (such as Nigg, Tarbat, and Geanies, in Ross-shire) he can see his way to accept four or, at most, six subscribers as the minimum?

Extensions of the telephone system to sparsely populated rural districts are costly and the reduced rates introduced last year entail a considerable annual loss. I regret I cannot at present reduce the minimum of eight subscribers which is at present required.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is his intention to restore the mail sorting van which accompanied the train from Inverness to the North; and will he arrange for it to go as far as Wick or, in any case, as far as Helmsdale?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that before the War a mail sorting van for letters was attached to the passenger train from Inverness to the North; that it was taken off during the War, and that this has caused great inconvenience to, and dissatisfaction among, the commercial and agricultural community; and will this pre-War facility be restored at once in the interests of efficiency and of the public?

The expediency of restoring this sorting carriage is under detailed examination. I am unable to announce a decision at present.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Dominion of New Zealand is reinstituting penny postage; whether he can see his way to suggest that this example be followed by the Mother Country; and, if not, whether the subject is one which it is intended to bring up at the Imperial Conference this autumn?

I have seen reports in the Press that penny postage is being restored in New Zealand, and I am anxious to see it restored in this country also. But I cannot at present anticipate any reductions of postal rates other than those which were brought into operation on 14th May last. Until we can adopt a 1d. rate for inland postage we are not in a good position to suggest a 1d. rate for Imperial postage.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the sending of code telegrams to Rumania from this country is generally prohibited by the Rumanian Post Office authorities, but that a large shipping company has special permission to send such code telegrams; and what steps he proposes to take to arrange that the general prohibition shall be rescinded in the interests of the business community in this country?

The Rumanian Telegraph Administration have prohibited the use of code in telegrams sent from any other country to Rumania. Representations have been made to them on several occasions drawing attention to the inconvenience caused to firms in this country, but they have not removed the prohibition. I am not aware that any shipping company has special permission to send code telegrams to Rumania; but if particulars can be furnished, I will look into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the Post Office wireless station at Cairo is costing the British taxpayer £4,000 a month whilst the revenue from commercial and Government traffic only amounts to £600 a month; how long has this station been in operation; if the receipts show any tendency to increase; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to avoid this unnecessary expenditure?

The average monthly expenditure and revenue quoted by the hon. Member are approximately correct. The Cairo Station was opened on the 1st May, 1922. The revenue is increasing and will no doubt continue to do as the service develops, and as communication is established between Cairo and other stations.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the Post Office wireless stations at Cairo, Leafield, Northolt, and Stonehaven are all worked at a very heavy loss, he will say how much the Post Office contemplates spending on its proposed new wireless station; what are the estimates of revenue and expenditure; and what reason there is to expect that it will be any more successfully managed than the present stations now under Post Office management?

It is not the fact that the Post Office wireless stations at Leafield and Northolt are being worked at a heavy loss. On the contrary, these stations are practically paying their way. The services carried on by the four stations in question are comparatively new, and the receipts are increasing. If my hon. Friend has access to the accounts of other similar stations, whether owned privately or by other Governments, I think he will find that in their earlier stages no services of this kind are fully remunerative. The size of the new Government station and the services which will be conducted from it have not yet been definitely settled, and I am not, therefore, in a position to give estimates of revenue or expenditure. I may, however, point out that the decision to erect this station was arrived at on strategic as well as on commercial grounds.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that, in consequence of the transfer of staff and work from the Western Central District Post Office, large numbers of letters posted by business firms in that area suffer several hours' delay through being dealt with at the Eastern Central District Post Office; and what is the estimated financial gain to the Department by this transfer?

The alteration to which the hon. Member refers was introduced in March last, partly to relieve acute congestion at the Western Central District Office and partly to bring the sorting arrangements of the Western Central District into line with those of the Eastern Central District. Country letters posted in the Western Central District are now collected direct to the Mount Pleasant Post Office (not to the Eastern Central District Post Office) in the same way that similar letters from the Eastern Central District have been collected for the last 20 years. As in the City, the posting boxes are specially labelled for "Country" letters and for letters for "London and Abroad." If the country letters are posted in time, and in the proper receptacles, there should be no delay. The estimated financial gain is about £30,000 a year, apart from a large sum which it would have been necessary to spend in providing additional accommodation at the Western Central District Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown, which are one district under the same local authority, have for postal purposes been made subordinate to Warrington, five miles distant, and that these places have a population numbering 20,000 and several very important industrial concerns are situate in them; and whether, for the sake of the district, and in the interests of economy and administration, he will appoint a postmaster responsible for Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown and their sub-districts instead of the present arrangement, which is opposed by their local authority?

The change was made four years ago on grounds of economy. The facilities afforded to the public were not affected; and I see no grounds for reversing the action taken.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give the total number of exchange telephones for each year since 1912?

The total number of telephones connected with the Post Office exchange system at the 31st March of each year since 1912 was:

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that great hardship is being inflicted upon numbers of men in Birkenhead who, having been discharged from the firm of Messrs. Cammell, Laird, and Company, for causes over which they have no control, and having found bona-fide employment elsewhere in the same occupation, are refused benefit on the ground that there is no clear definition as to what constitutes bona-fide employment within the meaning of Section 8 of the Act; and if he will define what does constitute bona-fide employment elsewhere in the same occupation?

The only way of settling this point authoratively is by means of test cases decided by the Umpire on appeal from the courts of referees. The hearing of test cases for this purpose is being expedited.