asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the growing practice of employers in incorporating in their employés' pension fund schemes a clause, which each person participating in the scheme has to accept, declaring that he is not and will not be, whilst a member of the fund, a member of any society which has for its objects the modification of wages or conditions of service by collective action, or of a registered trade union; and whether, in view of the character of this clause, he can take any action in the matter?

I am not aware of the practice referred to by the hon. Member, and, in any case, I have no power to take action in such a matter.

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the strike of workers at the Co-operative Workers in the Wholesale Co-operative Society; what are the causes of this strike; is he aware that the trade unions are seeking to make the Co-operative Society pay higher rates of pay than are paid by other similar trades; and will he take steps to mediate in this dispute?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day to the hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. A. M. Samuel), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour how many working days have been lost through industrial disputes for the years 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922?

The number of working days lost through industrial disputes in Great Britain and Northern Ireland was approximately 34,966,000 in 1919, 26,535,000 in 1920, 85,872,000 in 1921, and 19,918,000 in 1922. These figures include days lost by workpeople on strike or locked out and by other workpeople rendered idle at the establishments where the dispute occurred. Disputes involving less than 10 workpeople and those lasting less than one day are not included in these figures unless the aggregate duration ( i.e., the number of workpeople involved, multiplied by the number of working days) exceeds 100 days. No statistics are available as to the number of working days lost, owing to disputes, at establishments other than those directly affected by the disputes.

asked the Minister of Health whether his Department has sanctioned the appointment of the two newly-elected relieving officers for the Bicester district; and whether, in view of the long delay in filling the vacancies, he will expedite his decision?

I am at present awaiting a communication from the guardians in this matter, but I hope to be able to give my decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that there is a practice common among the vendors of bread of accepting from customers unused bread in exchange for fresh bread; that such practice provides a means of spreading infection; and whether he will introduce legislation to make this practice illegal?

I am not aware of the extent to which the practice referred to prevails, or of any case in which the spread of infectious disease has been attributed to it, but I shall be glad to receive any particulars which my Noble Friend has in mind.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the medical boards for ex-officers are held at regional headquarters; whether treatment is provided by regional medical officers; and whether it is proposed to transfer the officers' awards to the regional awards sections?

Medical boards for ex-officers are held at regional headquarters and other convenient centres in the provinces. Arrangements for providing treatment for ex-officers in the provinces are made by regional medical officers. It is not proposed to transfer the officers' awards to the regional offices. The Departmental Committee over which my right hon. Friend presided in 1920 recommended the continuance of the centralised system of officers' awards.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty for what purpose a lightship is maintained at the public expense on the Swarte Bank; and whether, in the interests of economy, he will withdraw this vessel from service?

The Swarte Bank light vessel was established in 1912 to meet naval requirements as a result of the North Sea hydrographic survey. In view of the altered circumstances and the urgent need for economy, it has already been decided to withdraw this light vessel, the future arrangements being on a basis that will render re-establishment possible at short notice.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether hard-lying money has been granted to the officers and men employed in the ships stationed on the Murmansk coast?

I have, so far, nothing to add to my reply of the 6th June to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Buckrose (Sir G. Gaunt).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, to obviate the possibility of any further discharges in the naval dockyards becoming necessary, he will consider if reversion might be made, as an emergency measure, to the system in vogue in 1921 whereby established men of any age were given the option of taking their discharge and their pension pro rata; whether he is aware that many established men would be willing to leave but cannot do so under the present arrangements, as they would thereby forfeit all their pension to which they have contributed; and is he aware that such a measure would reduce unemployment in the dockyard towns and tend to economy?

Under the Superannuation Acts pensions may, subject to certain conditions, be awarded to established workmen who may be discharged on account of redundancy; but even when reductions are necessary, established workmen cannot be discharged on reduction whilst workmen of the same class are continued to be employed in a hired or temporary capacity. The system referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend as in vogue in 1921 was adopted in connection with the working of short time, and although the suggestions contained in the last part of the question may be correct, it is not possible to re-adopt such a system in the present circumstances.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reason for the recent alteration in officers' rank in the Sea Cadet Corps; whether he is aware that the reduction in status and additional expense put upon enthusiastic voluntary workers in a valuable national cause is seriously discouraging the movement in the Newport (Mon.) corps: and, if the Admiralty place any value upon this branch of the Service, can he give any statement of assurance on the subject, including an amendment to the recently altered Regulations?

Until recently officers in sea cadet units officially recognised by the Admiralty were given honorary commissions in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and were Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve uniform. These units are, however, not part of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and it was felt that the holding of Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve rank and the wearing of the corresponding uniform was not appropriate and was liable to give rise to misapprehension. It was, therefore, decided that sea cadet officers should receive Admiralty appointments as such and wear a distinctive uniform. No reason is seen why the change should discourage the movement as the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and sea cadets are distinct organisations. Extra expense need not be involved as sea cadet officers in possession of the old pattern uniform are allowed to continue to wear it till 1st June, 1926.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what sums, and for what objects, and firms have credits been advanced, with the approval of the Treasury, since the passing of the Trade Facilities Act?

My hon. Friend will find the particulars of the guarantees given under the Trade Facilities Acts in the quarterly statements laid in pursuance of Section (1) (5) of the Act of 1921, the last of which is House of Commons Paper 49.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated taxation per head, premising that the present financial proposals of the Government are adopted, of Great Britain, the United States, France, Italy and Germany, converting foreign currencies into sterling at the current rate of exchange?

The following is the proposed taxation per head for the current or next financial year for the countries named, with the exception of Germany:

I feel bound however, to repeat the warnings given on more than one occasion that these international comparisons, unless subject to many qualifications, are extremely misleading. This is particularly the case if the results are converted into sterling at the chance rate of the day. In the case of Germany, owing to the fluctuations of the currency, any statement of the amount of taxation per head would be devoid of any significance.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any officials of the Civil Service submitted any claims against Turkey for loss of property or damage arising out of the Great War; and, if so, were such claims submitted for assessment to the Commissioner sent out to Constantinople as assessor; and was any payment made to these officials, and, if so, what amount?

Claims in respect of damage to property against Turkey lodged by officials of the Civil Service are among the claims investigated by the Special Commissioner who was sent to Turkey for the purpose. These claims are being dealt with under direction of the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action, but no payments in respect of them has so far been made out of the £5,000,000 compensation fund. If the hon. Member will mention the name of any particular person whom he has in mind, I will have enquiries made.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his Department has taken over a disused coal mine for experimental purposes with safety appliances; and, if not, will he consider the advisability of doing so with a view to reducing the number of runaway trains below ground and also cage accidents?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I am somewhat doubtful of the advantages of this method of experiment, but I will certainly consider the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement as to any proposed action by the Government to assist British traders who are suffering owing to the present disturbed state of China?

His Majesty's Diplomatic and Consular representative in China are ready at all times to take such steps as they properly can to assist British traders in that country. As regards proposed measures for the better protection of foreigners in China, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 11th instant on this subject.

asked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the recent outrage on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway has shown that travel outside the Treaty Ports in China is increasingly unsafe, and that unless drastic action is taken promptly trade in China will soon be impossible; and what steps the British Government propose to take to secure the lives of British subjects there?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 11th instant on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received from the Newcastle City Council a resolution to the effect that, in the interest of the trade, commerce, and business facilities of the port, the Government should secure the reopening of the United States Consulate forthwith; and, if so, what steps the Government propose in connection therewith?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to-day to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for the Central Division of New-castle-on-Tyne (Mr. Trevelyan).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact that the through-sleeping accommodation hitherto provided on the international train services, both between London and Berlin and Paris and Berlin, has recently been withdrawn; whether he is aware that such withdrawal is due to the fact that Germany will not sanction its continuance; and whether he will bring pressure to bear upon the German Government to facilitate instead of to hinder the continuance of a through-sleeping accommodation which, by rendering the journey easier for business men, has done much to encourage the resumption of trade relations between the countries involved?

His Majesty's Government are aware that, on the Berlin-Paris-Ostend route, through-sleeping accommodation has been withdrawn, for the reason stated by the hon. Member. The matter is receiving careful consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that a Mr. C. Hughes, of 26, Strode Road, Forest Gate, accidentally destroyed a part of a Treasury note, and, that, although the destroyed portion bore the index and serial numbers, the General Post Office refuses to reimburse the man; and, as there is a statutory time limit in which recoveries of lost notes may be made, will he make the necessary inquiries, and reimburse the man?

The value of the destroyed note was remitted to Mr. Hughes on the 5th instant.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the inadequacy of the existing post office at Walsall, its unsuitability to meet the demands of the population and industries, its inconvenience to the public, and its subversiveness of the efficiency and comfort of the staff, he can modify the decision of his Department not to proceed with the erection of a new post office during the present financial year?

The inadequacy of the present post office at Walsall is recognised, and, although no guarantee can yet be given as to its final inclusion, the case has been inserted provisionally in the draft Revenue Buildings Estimates for 1924–25. As provision for this work cannot be made in the Estimates for 1923–24, which have already been submitted to the House, there are no funds available for a start to be made in this financial year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the promised building operations at Mount Pleasant have not commenced yet; and when the work will be started?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to his question of the 27th February last. The Revenue Buildings Estimates have yet to receive the approval of Parliament, and it is not at present possible to say when the Vote will be taken.

asked the Home Secretary the number of factories in Great Britain where morphia and heroin are made; the amount of these drugs manufactured last year (1922); and the quantity sent abroad?

The number of factories licensed at the present time for the manufacture of morphine and heroin is two. The amount of morphine made in 1922 was 315,342 oz., of which, however, 173,010 was converted into codeine or heroin, leaving a net total of 142,332 oz. The amount exported was 115,465 oz. The amount of heroin made in 1922 was 31,673 oz., and the amount exported 25,911 oz.