asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that David Jenkins, BZ/500, Royal Naval Division, was discharged from the Navy on 27th January, 1916, to a mental asylum; that he has been in the asylum continuously from that date but, although the tribunal have decided that his disability is aggravated by service, pension has only been granted by the Ministry from 22nd August; and whether he will take steps to see that this man is compensated for the whole of the time he has been incapacitated as a result of a disability admitted to be aggravated by war service?

Although the relatives were informed in 1917 and again in 1921 that the invaliding disabilty was not considered to be connected with service, no appeal was lodged until August, 1922. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to agree to the man's admission to the full benefits of the Warrant from any earlier date. I would point out, however, that the entire cost of his maintenance and treatment in the asylum has been paid by my Department since April, 1917.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the amount of the final weekly allowance given in respect of the various assessments made at or under 20 per cent.; and whether, if a man is assessed at 15 to 19 per cent., he is awarded a permanent pension?

The scale of final weekly allowances is published in the War Pensions (Final Awards) Regulations, 1922, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions what award is made when the medical board assess the degree of disablement at 15 to 19 per cent. conditional; whether the man is again examined at the end of 12 months; and whether, if the assessment is again 15 to 19 per cent., an award of a final weekly allowance is made, and of what amount?

In the circumstances stated in the first part of the question the award made, in the case of a private, is a conditional weekly allowance of 7s. 6d. a week for the period recommended by the board. Towards the end of that period the man is again examined, and, if the finding of the board is the same, a similar award is made.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has issued instructions that in future no change of diagnosis is to be made in those cases where a man has been in receipt of a pension for several years for an accepted disability?

No such instructions have been issued, and I would remind the hon. Member that a change of diagnosis is not always to the detriment of the man's pension. I may, perhaps, refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. F. Roberts) on the 17th May, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Wesley Barrett, of 44, South Street, Torre, Torquay, who appealed against a decision of the pensions committee to the House of Lords tribunal, which appeal was heard on 31st May and allowed; and whether he will explain why since this award Mr. Barrett has received a notification to the effect that his pension of 8s. a week will be continued conditionally until 13th May, 1924?

The man appealed to the tribunal against a final award of 20 per cent., and the tribunal set aside the finality of the award on the ground that such a finding was premature. This decision, however, in no way affected the assessment for pension, which has been continued at that rate on a conditional basis, and is open to reconsideration if the man claims that his condition has become worse since he was last examined by a medical board. The man will be re-examined in due course with a view to a renewal of the current award.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the amount available for grants to ex-service men and their dependants in the voluntary fund at his disposal; how many grants were made in the 12 months ending 31st March, 1923; and what was the number of beneficiaries during the same period?

During the year ending 31st March last about £15,000 was expended in grants to some 500 beneficiaries. The present value of the voluntary funds at my disposal is approximately £90,000.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that ex-service men who apply for treatment are told that treatment is necessary, but that their panel doctor will prescribe for them; and will he make arrangements so that when treatment is necessary it can be given under the pensions scheme, and that it should carry with it treatment allowance?

Under the terms of the Royal Warrant, my Department is only empowered to defray the expenses in respect of treatment which is not otherwise provided. Whether treatment is provided at the direct cost of the Ministry or whether it is provided by the man's insurance practitioner, treatment allowances are paid if it is certified that the man, as a consequence of having to under- go treatment, will, during treatment, be unable to work at a remunerative occupation.

asked the Minister of Pensions where there is any provision in any Royal Pay Warrant whereby authority may be given for the payment to a disabled officer or man for private treatment received from a doctor while the officer's or man's case is still under consideration by the Ministry of Pensions; and, if so, in how many cases such treatment has been paid for by the Ministry of Pensions?

The Royal Pension Warrants provide only for the payment of the expenses of treatment certified by the Ministry for a disability already accepted as due to or aggravated by service. It is, however, the practice of my Department, in special cases, to pay or to refund expenses necessarily incurred by an officer or man in obtaining emergency treatment in advance of the settlement of the claim where the claim to pension is considered to be well-founded. I regret that I am not in a position to state the precise number of cases in which such payments have been made.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has considered the question of paying the travelling expenses of members of War Pensions Committees and other voluntary workers who act as pensioners' friends in cases heard by the appeal tribunals; and whether a concession in this matter will be granted at an early date?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough West (Mr. T. Thomson) on the 29th March last.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is now in a position to state how many of the 700 disabled ex-service men suffering from mental disability, into whose cases he has been inquiring, the Ministry intends to leave to the care of Poor Law authorities for detention in pauper lunatic asylums?

There is still a small number of these cases undecided, but I do not anticipate that the estimate of 750 given in my answer to the hon. Member of the 15th February last will be exceeded by more than 30.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the widow of Henry George Shirley Davis, lance-corporal, No. 324,609, Labour Corps, together with her children, are in a state of destitution owing to the death of her husband, who, up to November, 1922, was in receipt of a pension, after which date he was admitted to the Orpington war pensions hospital, where he died; that, since his death, no further allowance has been made to the widow; and will he make inquiries as to whether it is possible to grant Mrs. Davis a rehearing of her case, seeing that her late husband was both gassed and wounded while serving in France, and that previous to serving in the Army he bore an excellent character and was in good health?

The Pensions Appeal Tribunal having confirmed the decision of the Ministry that the cause of death had no relation to service, I regret that the case cannot be reconsidered.

asked the Minister of Pensions if he can make the pension of Mrs. Margaret Pierce, of 7, West Road, Mortlake, S.W.14, a life one; if he is aware that her pension is now reduced to 6s. 7d. per week; and can this sum be augmented seeing that this is a hardship case, as her husband is an invalid?

The award of 6s. 7d. a week was made in error. The corrected award, which is now in payment, is at the rate of 8s. 2d. a week, representing the extent of dependence on the late soldier. This is the highest award admissible in the present circumstances of the case. Pensions of this nature are subject to the conditions of Articles 10 and 23 of the Royal Warrant and cannot, therefore, be granted for life.

asked the Minister of Pensions what was the cost of the printing and issue of the book of 408 pages containing Ministry of Pensions Instructions Nos. 201 to 300; the total amount spent on printing instructions, forms, etc., in his Department during the 12 months ending 31st March, 1923; and what is the estimated reduction in the cost of printing for the current financial year?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is £150; to the second part, £69,000, including the cost of the paper used. The estimated reduction in the cost of printing this year is £19,000, including the estimated reduction in the cost of the paper to be used.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the pay of the clerical and orderly staff in Ministry institutions has been reduced following the reduction in the cost-of-living figures; and, if so, whether any reduction has been made during the last 12 months in the charge for board and lodging supplied to the resident staff or other officials who have meals supplied in an institution?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the charges for board and lodging were fixed in 1919, and were not increased when the cost of living subsequently rose. They could not be reduced at present without loss to public funds.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, when an official is on leave from a Ministry institution, a charge for lodging allowance is made as though the officer were present; and, if so, whether he will issue instructions that no such charge shall be made for any period an officer is absent on official leave?

When an officer from a Ministry institution is on leave, he is charged the rent for his quarters if he reserves them while he is away. If, however, he gives proper notice of his intended absence, such absence being for a period of not less than one week, the charge is remitted, provided that the quarters actually become available for use by another officer if required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there is a discrepancy of £11,000,000 in the amounts of Income Tax estimated to be due to be paid but not paid on 31st March, 1922, as stated last Session and recently; and what is the explanation of the difference?

Estimates of the amount of Income Tax due to be paid but not paid by any date, can, in the nature of things, only be approximate, and subject to revision from time to time in the light of later information. The discrepancy referred to is due mainly to such a revision but partly to the inclusion in the earlier estimate and the exclusion from the later one of arrears of tax in the Irish Free State.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether whisky which is exported is liable for duty in this country and, if so, at what rate per gallon; is there a bonus of three pence per gallon given to exporters and, if so, why; which are the six export firms exporting the largest quantities of whisky; what are the total amounts of bonuses or allowances given to these firms; and what are the total allowances given to all exporters of whisky?

Whisky is not charged with duty on exportation from this country. An allowance is given to exporters of all home-made spirits as compensation for the enhanced cost of production due to Revenue restrictions; the allowance in the case of whisky is 3d. per proof gallon. The information requested in the third part of the question is not available. The amount of the total allowances in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the financial year ended 31st March, 1923, on exported plain British spirits (in which category whisky is included) were £63,428.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he could give the House an estimate of the immediate and prospective loss to the Revenue if dried and preserved fruits from the Dominions were admitted to the United Kingdom free of Customs duty?

The net amount of duty received in the financial year ending 31st March, 1923, from the duties charged on dried and preserved fruit of Empire origin, apart from the duty on any sugar contained therewith, was about £75,000. If such fruit were exempted from duty, the loss of revenue would exceed that figure by the amount to which Empire produce displaced dried and preserved fruit of foreign origin.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who fixed the terms upon which the Austrian loan was issued; and whether the Government is satisfied that they are the best which could have been obtained on behalf of the guaranteeing nations?

The terms were fixed by the Austrian Government with the consent of the Committee of Control on which the guaranteeing nations are represented. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative. It is a matter for satisfaction that this large and complicated international operation has been successfully carried out.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that a factory built by the Ministry of Munitions, situated at Queensferry, near Chester, has been sold to the Anglo-Scotch Finance Company; what was the original cost of this factory, including equipment; the price for which it has been sold; and the purpose for which it is now to be used?

The Queens-ferry factory, the original cost of which was approximately £4,000,000, has not been sold and, with the exception of the electric power plant, is still for sale. The remainder of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, before granting the loan to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, steps were taken to secure the whole of the work being done in Great Britain; and if he will take such steps as to secure that at least two of the ships will yet be completely built in this country?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The Treasury have no power under the Trade Facilities Acts to grant loans, but only to guarantee them. The loan will be raised by the company and to the extent to which it is guaranteed by the Treasury spent by the company wholly in this country, thereby promoting employment here. I am not prepared to risk losing that employment by attempting to interfere with the company's discretion in the selection of the yard at which the ships are to be built.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the establishment of a normal annual value of property for assessment under Schedule A of the Income Tax Acts with the obligation upon the landlord to declare and pay in respect of any excess of rent received beyond the normal annual value so established, and with the corresponding right to recover any excess paid in respect of the normal annual value where the actual amount of rent payable in respect of the property is less than such normal annual value?

My hon. Friend's suggestion would involve difficulties of such a serious nature as to preclude the possibility of its adoption at the present juncture.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can make any statement showing the number of appeals which have been received against reassessment under Schedule A, and the number which have been disposed of?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for Lincoln (Mr. A. T. Davies) on the 11th instant. I am sending him a copy of that reply.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the different official declarations of inspectors of taxes and district valuers regarding the relation of the gross Income Tax assessment to the gross Poor Rate assessment; whether, for the guidance of the public, he can state whether any specific guidance from headquarters on this point has been issued to the officials of his Department throughout the country, and, if so, of what nature; and whether there is, from the point of view of his Department, any relation between the two assessments, and, if so, how this can be, and is, defined?

The Income Tax assessments outside London are made on a uniform basis of annual value as defined in the Income Tax Acts, that is, broadly, the rent at which the property is let or worth to be let. The existing Poor Rate values have in some areas been fixed recently on a basis comparable to the Income Tax basis, but in other areas such values have not been revised for a considerable time and do not necessarily represent the present rental values of the properties affected.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what steps he has taken, in the absence of quotations from contractors, to ensure that the price at which the State printing works intend to produce the "London Gazette" is an economical one?

Comparison is made with the cost of carrying out similar work under competitive contract.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will furnish a Return showing the number of workpeople engaged in the mining and quarrying of slate in the United Kingdom at the end of each of the years 1919, 1920, 1921, and 1922?

The numbers of workpeople, including salaried employés, engaged in the mining and quarrying of slate were 6,604 in 1919; 8,304 in 1920; 9,520 in 1921; and 9,523 in 1922. The figures for 1922 exclude Ireland, but the output of slate in that country is negligible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in connection with the problem of unemployment among certificated officers of the British merchant service, the Marine Department of the Board of Trade has under consideration the suspension, or partial suspension, of the examination for certificates of competency until the number of qualified officers is brought within the limits of merchant service requirements; and, if so, will he lay his proposals upon the Table for the information of hon. Members of this House?

A proposal has been made to the Board of Trade, with the object of reducing unemployment, that the present qualifying examination for officers' certificates should be used for the purpose of regulating the supply of junior officers in the mercantile marine. This proposal has been carefully considered, but, apart from other objections, it involves the very controversial principle that a Government Department should regulate the number of persons permitted to enter an industry, and I fear I cannot give it my support.

asked the Minister of Labour if it is in accordance with regulations that unemployment benefit is refused to a man who has been dismissed from his employment because he refused to be vaccinated and, if not, will he reconsider the case of Edward J. Hull, local office, Shoreditch, serial No. 123,097, who has been refused benefit in such circumstances; whether it has been the practice of some umpires to allow benefit in such cases; is he aware that in this particular case the insurance officer was so dissatisfied with the decision of the court of referees that he insisted upon the matter going to the umpire; and will he so amend the regulations that there may be uniformity of practice in the cases of this nature?

The question whether a person who has been dismissed from his employment because he refuses to be vaccinated is entitled to unemployment benefit depends on the interpretation of the general provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Acts, and not upon any Regulations made by the Ministry of Labour. The final decision rests with the umpire (who is a single individual), and who has sometimes allowed and sometimes disallowed benefit, according to the circumstances of the particular case. In Mr. Hull's case, benefit was disallowed by the insurance officer originally, and by the court of referees on appeal. In order to obtain a final decision, the insurance officer formally disagreed with the recommendation of the court, and referred the matter to the umpire. The umpire disallowed the claim, stating that the applicant had not satisfied him that the reason for refusing to be vaccinated was either that the applicant had a conscientious objection or that he had a genuine fear of serious suffering as a consequence. I have no authority to intervene.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he can give a Return showing the number of hours worked on piece-work in the various industries of this country during the past three months as compared with the amount of work done by the hour and the day?

I regret that statistics are not available as to the number of hours worked on piece-work and time-work, respectively, in the various industries of this country.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he has received a number of applications from persons anxious to become tenants of the houses at Polruan, Cornwall, recently left vacant on the reorganisation of the coastguard service; and whether, having regard to the serious shortage of houses in the locality, he can arrange for the applications to be dealt with forthwith?

I presume the hon. Member refers to the coastguard station at Fowey. The coastguard properties were only recently transferred to my Department to manage on behalf of the Board of Trade, and I am not yet in a position to deal with the very large number of applications for houses all over the country. In effecting re-lettings of vacant houses, so far as the exigencies of the public service will permit, regard will be had to the consideration mentioned in the latter part of the question.

asked the Minister of Health whether any housing contracts have been entrusted to the Guild Housing, Limited, of Acton Vale, W.?

My right hon. Friend is not aware that the Guild Housing, Limited, of Acton Vale, have entered into any contracts for the erection of State-assisted houses.

asked the Minister of Health whether, when the Housing, etc. (No. 2) Bill has received the Royal Assent, he proposes to issue any circular to local authorities, inviting them to submit schemes of their own, or, alternatively or coincidently, to apply on behalf of the private building enterprise, or whether he intends to leave such authorities to take such action as they may choose without any direct stimulus thereto?

A circular was issued on the 27th April last to local authorities, explaining the provisions of the Housing Bill, and inviting them to submit schemes for the erection of houses both by private enterprise and by the local authorities themselves. I will send the hon. Member a copy of this circular.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that the provisions of the Housing, etc. Bill (No. 2) are conditionally and retrospectively operative, he can state the number of local authority housing schemes which have been submitted to, and passed by, his Department as coming within its scope; whether any applications on behalf of private building enterprise have been received through local authorities; and whether, in that case, any of these have been approved?

Proposals submitted by 100 local authorities have been provisionally approved as coming within the scope of the Housing, etc. (No. 2) Bill, 1923. 11 of these proposals relate wholly or partly to the erection of houses by private enterprise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any representations or information tending to show the anxiety of private building enterprise to commence operations under the Housing, etc. (No. 2) Bill; and whether, as the procedure of local government is often slow, he is counselling such enterprise to begin at once on the understanding that its plans, if in conformity with the conditions imposed, will be ultimately passed and the subsidy paid?

No general representations or information have been received on the point referred to by the hon. Member, but individual applications relating to building by private enterprise are being dealt with as they arise. Under the scheme in the Housing Bill private builders come in through the local authorities, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a circular issued on the 27th of April to local authorities as to bringing them in.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mrs. Harriet Mary Francis, who was admitted to the mental ward of the guardians' institution at Brighton on 3rd January last, and discharged on 24th January; whether he is aware that two or three days after admission Mrs. Francis was transferred to the infirmary; that she was visited by relatives on 21st January, who were told by the nurse in charge that Mrs. Francis was quite well and should be discharged to the care of her husband, failing which she would be removed to A block as an able-bodied pauper; that the relatives protested against this, but in consequence of the threat to treat her as an able-bodied pauper her husband consented under protest to take his wife away, and that Mrs. Francis was accordingly dis- charged, and 11 days afterwards committed suicide; that the board of guardians have refused to conduct a thorough inquiry into the circumstances; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he will order a full inquiry into the matter with a view to preventing similar cases in future?

My right hon. Friend has obtained a report from the guardians in regard to this case, and he will send a copy of it to the hon. Member. The hon. Member will see that it has not yet been possible to verify whether the statement alleged to have been made by the nurse to a relative of the deceased was in fact so made, as this relative has since become an inmate of a mental hospital. In these circumstances, my right hon. Friend doubts whether there would be any advantage in holding a further inquiry.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that it was ascertained by inquest that in 1921 a woman aged 61 and a man aged 57 years, respectively, died of starvation in the unions of Frome and Long Ashton, in the county of Somerset; whether his Department has taken any and, if so, what steps to prevent similar deaths; how many persons died of starvation or exposure in that county in 1922, and, if any, will he supply particulars as to age, sex, date of inquest, and the union concerned; whether any of the persons so dying in either year were

tramps or homeless; whether any and, if so, which of the casual wards in that county have been closed; and, if so, will he give instructions that they be re-opened?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As has been stated in reply to previous similar questions, it is the duty of boards of guardians and of their officers to afford immediate relief in any case of sudden or urgent necessity if application is made to them. There were no deaths returned as deaths from starvation or exposure in Somerset in 1922. The man referred to in the first part of the question appears to have been a tramp, but the woman died at a private address, presumably her home. The casual wards at Keynsham, Long Ashton and Clutton have been closed and my right hon. Friend is taking steps with a view to securing the reopening of the Clutton wards. As at present advised he sees no grounds for action as regards the Keynsham and Long Ashton wards.

asked the Minister of Health the number of children over three years of age who on 1st January, 1923, were being maintained in workhouses, workhouse infirmaries, sick wards of workhouses, wards for mental deficients and other wards, respectively?

The figures are as follows:

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government intends to take any action on the resolution respecting pre-War pensions passed by this House on the 16th May last?

The Government are awaiting the recommendations of the Cabinet Committee which was appointed to consider the question of pre-War pensions and will shortly be submitting its report.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the full discussions allowed in Dominion Parliaments on the subject of Empire policy and of the coming conference, he will give similar opportunities for discussion in this House?

In view of the state of public business I do not think it will be possible to grant special facilities for this discussion. There will, however, be opportunities for discussion on the various Votes and on the Consolidated Fund Bill.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the experimental legislation now being passed, he will consider the desirability of instituting official reports at the end of a reasonable period, such as three years, as to the effect which such legislation has produced in actual practice both as a guide for the future and as an indication of the way in which expectations have been fulfilled?

In view of the amount of labour and expense which would be involved in carrying out my hon. Friend's suggestion, I cannot see my way to adopt it.

asked the Prime Minister whether, before any revision is made in the terms and duties of doctors on the panel lists, an opportunity will be afforded to the House of discussing the matter?

The Government cannot at this stage undertake that, when a settlement has been reached with the doctors, an opportunity will be given for the discussion of the new agreement, before it comes into operation, but even if no express legislation is necessary, Parliament will have an early opportunity for reviewing the terms of the agreement next Session on the Vote on Account.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to Form Med. 40 B (revised), which has printed on the reverse side an advertisement for margarine; and if he has received any complaints from medical practitioners expressing objection to acting as advertisement distributing agents?

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies to similar questions by the hon. Member for West Leicester (Mr. Hill) on the 12th June, and by the hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Bruford) yesterday.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received a communication from the Association of Approved Societies stating that the minimum sum for administration allowance which will permit small societies to effectively administer the National Health Insurance Act is 4s. 10d.; and whether he will give further consideration to this matter?

The Minister has received a letter from the association mentioned by my hon. Friend to the effect that 4s. 10d. is the minimum sum on which approved societies can effectively carry on their work. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. W. Thorne) on the 31st May.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mr. Percy Williams, 37, Avon Street, Glynneath, Glamorganshire, has been refused seven weeks' payment whilst ill, and also a maternity benefit, by the Welsh Commissioners, Board of Health, Cardiff, on the grounds that his cards were not received in time, and that the record and insurance card was sent at the right time to the superintendent of the Pearl Assurance Company, at Quaker's Yard, where he had previously lived, and that six months later, when the claim for benefit was made, they denied receiving the same, although they afterwards sent the cards to the Commissioners, who decided that he was not entitled to benefit because the cards were not received in time; and will he inquire into this case and take steps to have the matter put right?

My right hon. Friend is having inquiries made into this case, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary the number and nationalities of foreigners employed in the hotels and restaurants in London at the present time?

The information desired is not available, but I may say that the allegations sometimes made that alien waiters and hotel servants are being recruited freely from abroad are without foundation. I would refer for the law governing the point to my answer to the hon. and gallant Member for the Reigate Division (Brigadier-General Cockerill).

asked the Home Secretary if, in view of the many cases of hardship and cruelty inflicted on children by persons adopting them, he will promote legislation making it compulsory for satisfactory references being provided by such persons and for the formal adoption to be sanctioned by a magistrate or other authorised person or body?

I regret that I am unable to propose legislation on this subject at the present time, but the con- siderations referred to by the hon. Member will not be lost sight of.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to a case which came before the Chesterfield justices, where a man was prosecuted for having bitten his four-months'-old baby in the face, pinched its body, and blackened his eyes, and where, although the chairman of the bench is reported to have stated that they believed the injury was wilful, the prisoner was only bound over for 12 months in the sum of £5; and if, in view of the repeated cases where the sentences for gross assaults and cruelty to children are in striking contrast to those given for offences against property, he can, by circular or otherwise, call the attention of justices to the totally inadequate penalties inflicted in such cases?

I have made inquiries, and find that the facts are not as suggested in the question. The Justices were strongly of opinion that the bruises were not caused wilfully; that the defendant's conduct was solely due to his occasional mental fits caused by malaria contracted during his war service; and that it was a case for sympathy, and not one for punishment. In view of the fact that he was given a good character by the local police, that he was a steady, sober man, and had not been in trouble before, they were of the opinion that the case could be dealt with under the Probation of Offenders Act. The case is quite exceptional, and affords no grounds for the issue of a Circular.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a pamphlet recently distributed amongst Members of the House, entitled The Alternative to a Treaty, Document No. 2, by Eamon de Valera; and, as the publisher's name is not imprinted thereon, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have seen a copy of this, but find no sufficient ground for action on my part in regard to it.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the largely increasing number of engine drivers who fail at the eye-sight test, thereby losing their employment, he will consider the possibility of including, at an early date, such disability under the Workmen's Compensation Act?

I shall be glad to consider any representations which may be submitted, but unless the disability referred to can be shown to be due to the nature of the employment and distinguishable from ordinary cases of failing eyesight, it would not be possible to schedule it as an industrial disease under the Act.

asked the Home Secretary whether a French subject desirous of obtaining employment in an English family to teach French to the children requires any special permit to land and remain in this country; and, if so, to whom should the application for a permit be addressed, where can the Regulations on the subject be found, and under what statutory authority have they been framed?

Under Article 1 (3) ( b ) of the Aliens Order, 1920, made in pursuance of the Aliens Restriction Acts, 1914 and 1919, leave to land has to be refused to an alien desirous of entering the service of an employer in the United Kingdom unless he produces a permit in writing for his engagement issued to the employer by the Minister of Labour.

asked the Solicitor-General if representations have been received from the friendly societies most affected, calling attention to the necessity for an amendment to the Friendly Societies Act to bring it in conformity with the terms of the Industrial Assurance Bill recently before the House, in respect of the insurable limit of children between three years and 10 years of age; when it is proposed to introduce the necessary Bill foreshadowed by him; and whether he can give an assurance that all steps possible will be taken to enable the proposed amending Act to become operative on the 1st January, 1924?

I am fully aware of the position, but I can hold out no prospect of our being able to introduce legislation on this matter before the Recess.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether, in view of the pending Russo-Turkish agreement, the British Government can use its good offices to ensure humane treatment of the Russian refugees who have for some time past been living in Constantinople?

It is not clear to what agreement the hon. Member refers. An assurance was given in January last by the first Turkish Delegate at the Lausanne Conference that the Russians in Constantinople would neither be molested nor expelled by the Turks after the evacuation of the city by the Allies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, when selecting the delegates to attend the International Congress against Alcoholism at the invitation of the Royal Danish Government, due consideration will be given to the different schools of thought on this problem, and invitations specially restricted to persons of moderate rather than extreme views; and whether, as soon as the delegation is complete, he will furnish the House with a list of the names?

Mr. Raymond Parr, First Secretary of His Majesty's Legation at Copenhagen, has been appointed to attend the Congress on behalf of the British Government. He has received instructions to follow the proceedings of the Congress with attention and sympathy, but to refrain from any expression of opinion as to the desirability or otherwise of the use of alcohol from the standpoint of medicine or of public health. The hon. and gallant Member will appreciate the moderation of these views.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that British traders in Cologne are gravely hampered in their business transactions by the French authorities; that goods destined for England are not allowed to be transported from Cologne; that articles bearing the names of the customers in England are also held up, although useless for sale to a third party; that the Inter-Allied Rhineland Commission at Coblentz delay in the matter of export licences to British traders; and that the French authorities ignore protests made to them by British traders; and whether His Majesty's Government will take immediate steps to remedy the above matter?

I have been asked to reply. So far as I am aware no serious difficulties are now being encountered by British traders in the Cologne area who seek to export to this country goods the subject of contracts concluded before the French occupation of the Ruhr. There have been difficulties in regard to procuring licences for the exportation of goods under old contracts from the Ruhr area, but, as the result of representations which His Majesty's Government have made in Paris, these obstacles will, I trust, be shortly overcome.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the widespread objection felt in this country to any declaration on the part of His Majesty's Government which would imply approval of the Franco-Belgian occupation of the Ruhr district; whether any such declaration is contemplated; and, if so, whether this House will have an opportunity of discussing the question before any such declaration is made?

The views of His Majesty's Government with regard to the Franco-Belgian occupation of the Ruhr remain unchanged, and it is not in contemplation to make any declaration of the nature indicated in the question.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of education authorities who, to find openings for unemployed male teachers, have discharged their married female employés; and how many such employés are thus affected to date?

I regret that I possess no official statistics on this point. The only information at my disposal is that which has appeared from time to time in the newspapers, from which I gather that in some 87 areas the Education Committee has recommended to the Council that married women teachers should not be employed, or should cease to be employed. These resolutions, however, are usually subject to exceptions and qualifications, and it certainly cannot be assumed that any action taken was designed to find openings for unemployed male teachers.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. A. Dennison, headmaster of Granby Street Council School, Liverpool, who served for 11 years as headmaster of North Corporation Council School, and upon the closing of that school was employed as an assistant for one year, and who by the decision of the Board is now treated for increment purposes as having no service as a head teacher prior to his tenure of his present post; and whether he can see his way to bring Mr. Dennison's increments into correspondence with the facts of his past service?

The decision of the Board in this case was in accordance with the principle stated in paragraph 3 ( b ) of Circular 1234, which gives effect to the Burnham Committee's interpretation of their own Report. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Circular. I am, however, looking into the case further in order to see whether it presents such special features as would justify a review of the decision.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1) if he is aware that to many parents the fact that some children can leave school immediately the qualifying age is reached while others may have to continue to attend school four months after this age is reached appears to be unjust and is causing great irritation; if he will cause the Act to be amended so as to secure equal treatment for all concerned;

(2) if Section 138 of the Education Act, 1921, which provides that children shall not leave elementary schools until the end of the term in which they reach the qualifying age, has succeeded in avoiding broken terms; in view of the risk to the child of a period of unemployment which is entailed by releasing a large number of children for employment at the same moment, if he will have this provision reconsidered;

(3) if he is aware that local authorities are in some instances exercising absolute power to fix for their own area the number of school terms per annum, whilst in other cases the approval of the Board of Education is being required; why he compels some authorities to obtain the Board's consent and not others; and will he give instructions that all local authorities knowing local needs and circumstances have such absolute power without reference to his Department?

I may refer to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for South Norfolk (Major Hay) on the 1st March, in which I stated that I did not believe that any case could be made out on general grounds for a repeal of the provisions of Section 138 (1) of the Education Act, 1921; but even if it could, such a step would, in view of the prevalence of juvenile unemployment, in my opinion be most inopportune at the present time. The hon. Member is probably aware that I have been strongly pressed to raise the age of obligatory school attendance to 15. I believe that in the country as a whole the observance of this provision of the Act has resulted in avoiding or greatly reducing the educational mischiefs of broken terms. As regards the Board's administration, I may refer the hon. Member to Circular 1123, of which I am sending him a copy. Recent inquiries have shown that the number of authorities who have adopted more than three or four terms is very small indeed. The Board have not required the submission of the authorities' arrangements in this respect for formal approval, but where they have found that the arrange- ments defeat the obvious purpose of the Act they have felt bound to call the attention of the authority to the fact that the payment of grant is conditional upon the authority performing their duties under the Education Acts. I have no doubt that in the interests of the schools and children generally the provision embodied in the Act is beneficial, and I have reason to believe that this is the view taken by local education authorities generally, with very few exceptions, even in the areas of the textile industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the recent construction of a fighting plane with a speed of some 30 to 40 miles faster than any machine now in use; and whether he can assure the House that we are maintaining our lead in quality in the air if not in quantity?

It is undesirable to publish comparisons between the relative performances of British and foreign fighting aircraft. My advisers have every confidence that the superiority in quality of British aircraft is being maintained.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in many cases telephone subscribers have been required to pay increased deposits as security for the payment of their telephone accounts; and will he state the general grounds upon which these increased deposits have been demanded and the total amount now held by his Department under this head?

The deposit usually represents approximately two-thirds of the credit given for calls and has therefore to be increased on further user of the service. The present system of payment is more favourable to subscribers than the previous arrangement under which all local calls were paid for in advance, and trunk calls, against which a deposit was held, monthly in arrear. Deposits are required not merely as security but in order to finance the service during the period for which credit is given. The total amount held on deposit at 31st March, 1923, was £1,677,426.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Treasury Circular 22,552/20, No. 29–30, of 19th May, 1920, instructed departments that the Saturday before Whit Sunday had been appointed as the King's birthday holiday in the Civil Service; that a day in lieu was to be allowed to officers required to be on duty on that day; that the usual Saturday half-holiday was to be replaced by a half-holiday on the previous Friday; and that shorthand typists in local offices of his Department were prevented this year from enjoying such holiday, although other clerks working in the same offices were able to leave work early on the Friday before Whitsun; and whether he will make such arrangements in future as will enable these women to enjoy the general holiday granted in honour of the King's birthday as well as the substituted half-holiday?

The Treasury regulations concerning privilege holidays apply generally to administrative and clerical offices which can be wholly or partially closed on the days set apart for such holidays. Postmasters' offices are not closed wholly or partially on these days and the regulations give no right to typists and shorthand typists to holidays which are not allowed to the remainder of the staff of those offices.

asked the Postmaster-General why shorthand typists and typists in certain local offices of his Department are not allowed to celebrate the King's birthday with the usual holiday enjoyed by other members of the typing classes; and whether he would consider granting these women the same privilege holidays as are granted to other members of their class and to all members of the Treasury classes who work in the same office?

The Treasury Regulations concerning privilege holidays apply generally to administrative and clerical offices which can be wholly or partially closed on the days set apart for such holidays. Different conditions obtain in postmasters' offices; and I cannot interpret the Regulations as conferring on typists and shorthand typists a right to holidays which are not allowed to the remainder of the staff at those offices.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the railway extension in East Africa, he will state the approximate initial cost of building the Uganda railway from the day of the inception of the schemes to the running of the first train?

Public trains ran over the first 100 miles of the Uganda Railway in 1897 and over the full 584 miles in 1902, before the final alignment was completed in all parts of the line. The cost to various dates is shown below:

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give a list of the areas in which agreements arrived at by the Conciliation Committees on agricultural workers' wages are in operation, with the rate of weekly wage in each case and the date from which the current agreement has operated; whether there is a guaranteed week in each case; and will he give a list of those areas in which no agreement is at present in operation?

The following statement shows the current position in regard to agreements by the Conciliation Committees in agriculture:

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state, with reference to the Agricultural Credits Bill, what will be the method of valuation of farms for the purpose of mortgages under the Bill; whether it is intended that local valuers will be appointed; and, if so, by whom these valuers will be appointed?

This matter is under consideration at present, and I am not yet in a position to state the method of valuation that will be prescribed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the reduction in railway rates on agricultural produce as from 1st May, 1923, railway carriage rates for potatoes and other vegetables are still more than the price received by the farmer for his produce, and in some instances nearly double; and, seeing that no other class of merchandise is burdened with such heavy railway rates in proportion to its value, will he make representations to the railway companies on the matter?

I am not aware of what is stated by the hon Member, nor have I any control over the railway companies' charges, but I am arranging for a copy of the hon. Member's question to be forwarded to the railway companies. If the reductions granted by the railway companies in May are considered to be inadequate, it is open to the industry to apply to the Railway Rates Tribunal, who have power to determine the rates.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he proposes to exercise his powers to secure a reduction of railway rates and fares?

I would remind the hon. Member that the Minister has now no power to direct the railway companies to reduce their charges. The Railways Act, 1921, established the Railway Rates Tribunal as the determining authority for railway charges, and applications for reduction of existing rates and fares may be made to the tribunals under Sections 60 and 78 of that Act. The Railways Act also requires the Rates Tribunal themselves to fix standard charges to operate from a day to be appointed, and subsequently periodically to review these charges.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fines imposed upon omnibus drivers employed by the Northern Omnibus Company operating in the North of England; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the question?

The answer is in the negative, but if the hon. Member cares to send me any particulars, I will certainly consider them.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the case of a motor cyclist who was recently convicted and fined 20s. and costs for not sounding his horn continuously whilst rounding a curve on the Meliden Road at a speed of 15 miles an hour, and that the magistrate's clerk ruled that it was necessary for the horn to be sounded every 20 feet; and, having regard to the facts that there was no charge of excessive speed and the nuisance to the public which would arise from such frequent blowing of the horn, will he review the case?

The defendant applied to me to intervene in this case, but, in view of the facts, I have not seen my way to take action. It was open to the defendant to have appealed.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the prosecution of drivers of omnibuses arising out of the competition in the metropolitan area, and the double punishment inflicted upon these men by, first, their being fined by the magistrate, and, secondly, the suspension of their licences by Scotland Yard; and what steps he proposes taking with a view to preventing this procedure?

I am aware that the competition of omnibuses has led to some serious offences, and the offenders after conviction have had their licences suspended. The Commissioner is required by statute to satisfy himself as to the suitability of drivers and is responsible that only suitable persons are licensed to drive. The fact that a penalty has been imposed by a magistrate does not absolve the commissioner from the duty of considering the fitness of the man to hold a licence. It is open to him to cancel the offender's licence, but in suitable cases he takes the more lenient course of suspending it for a time. The object of the commissioner's action in such cases is not to punish the man, but to protect the public; and in the interests of public safety I cannot relax the present rules.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware of a Serbian Government decree authorising Serbian debtors to discharge pre-War obligations to foreign creditors by payment at the rate of exchange of 26·10 dinars to the pound sterling; whether such decree, if effective, would involve hardship on British creditors; and what action His Majesty's Government proposes to take in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given to-day to the hon. Member for West Salford (Lieut.-Commander Astbury) on this subject.