asked the Home Secretary whether the property found on the Irish deportees when arrested has been restored to those who were unconditionally released; whether he is aware that many of these persons state that property only of value to themselves is being detained by the police authorities; and will he inquire into the matter so as to ensure that all those who have been deemed innocent shall have their property returned to them forthwith?

In accordance with instructions, the police have already in proper cases complied with applications for the return of articles seized on the occasion of the arrests in March last. Property or documents which have a bearing on the criminal proceedings now pending cannot be returned.

asked the Post master-General whether his attention has been called to the statement made last week, at the annual general meeting of the National Association for Employment of Regular Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen, that employment offered by the Post Office to ex-soldiers had recently fallen off very materially; and whether he can give the figures of the employment in the last two years of ex-service men?

I have seen statements to this effect which were evidently made under a misapprehension of the facts. The number of ex-service men appointed as postmen in the Post Office in 1921 and 1922 is 6,098. During the three years 1911 to 1913 the average annual number was. 1,714, or 59·66 per cent. of the total number of appointments; whereas during the three years 1920 to 1922 the average was 3,163, or 83·69 per cent. of the total number of appointments. For these appointments preference is given to disabled men for all posts for which the applicants are physically fit.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is intended to close down any Government instructional factories at the end of the financial year; and, if so, how many and where situated?

The factories at Derby, Wimbledon and Hereford will be closed during the next two months, the total number of trainees not justifying the continuance of establishments at these places. It will be necessary to close some others before next April, but it is not possible to give details at present. In each case, care is taken to make adequate provision elsewhere for the trainees.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that at Frating, Essex, the last collection of letters takes place at 6.10 p.m., while the incoming mail only reaches the post office at 6 p.m. and has to be called for, thus leaving no possibility of reply on the same day; and whether he will arrange for the late mail leaving Clacton-on-Sea by road, and which passes through Frating, to collect there?

I am having inquiry made, and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that married women, whose husbands are in employment, are being employed as charwomen at the Bradford post office; that representations have been made by the staff asking that when employing charwomen discrimination may be made in favour of widows and single women, and that the Post Office has replied that the chief factors in filling vacancies for part-time charwomen are suitability and character; and whether he will cause instructions to be issued with a view to employment being given where it is most needed?

I am having inquiry made in the matter, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to the decision of the judges at Quarter Sessions for the County of London in the appeal case of Messrs. Arthur Nice and Frederick Hurley, who had been convicted as vagrants and neglecting to maintain their families owing to a refusal to accept work at less than the trade union rates; and will he, under the circumstances, issue a circular letter to boards of guardians and other local authorities informing them if men are competent of doing a fair day's work on a relief scheme they must, under all circumstances, be paid the trade union rates?

I understand that a case is being stated for the consideration of the High Court, and, pending a decision on the appeal, I do not propose to take any action.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received resolutions from local authorities in Monmouthshire protesting against bakers and others who deliver bread taking it back again in a day or so in exchange for fresh loaves, a practice which in their opinion is not in the interest of the health of the people; and what steps he intends to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to my Noble Friend the Member for Newark (Marquess of Titchfield) on the 13th instant.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the somewhat common practice amongst vendors of bread of accepting from customers unused loaves of bread in exchange for fresh: and, as this practice provides a means of spreading contagion and infection and is prejudicial to the health of the community, will he take steps to make it illegal?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on this subject on the 13th instant to my Noble and gallant Friend the Member for the Newark Division (Marquess of Titchfield).

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the provisions of the maternity and child-welfare Acts have ceased to function at Cleator Moor, Cumberland, and that the trained midwife who gave free service to poor women has been removed; and whether, having regard to the serious position of Cleator Moor in regard to infantile mortality and the effects of the long continued depression in all the local industries, he will direct the immediate restoration of the free midwifery service at Cleator Moor, and have the other provisions of the Act conferred upon the poor in that district?

I understand that the midwifery services of the West Cumberland County Nursing Association, hitherto available in Cleator Moor, have been discontinued, and that the county council propose to appoint temporarily a whole-time midwife pending a satisfactory adjustment of the health service. I am in communication with the county council and the nursing association on the subject.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a large number of patients are discharged from the fever hospitals in the Metropolitan area suffering from severe nasal catarrh, causing them to be deaf and otherwise defective; that these patients are a source of danger by frequently carrying infection to the community, entailing much needless expenditure; and that this condition can be dealt with by proper training in personal hygiene; and if he proposes to take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I am informed that the rule in force in the fever hospitals belonging to the Metropolitan Asylums Board is that, unless in quite exceptional cases, no patient who has suffered from a nasal discharge is allowed to leave the hospital until the discharge has ceased, and that to ensure the observance of this rule, every patient convalescing from scarlet fever is medically examined immediately before leaving the hospital. The other parts of the question do not, therefore, arise, but I may say that the London County Council have for some time past encouraged the teaching of personal hygiene in schools.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that a voluntary boarder in a licensed house or registered mental hospital run for profit is absolutely at the mercy of the manager of the institution, he will cause strict inquiry to be made through the agency of the Board of Control into the number of cases where the manager of such an institution has infringed Section 35 (2) of the Lunacy Act, and by obtaining the authorisation of a relative has taken upon himself to summon two doctors in the vicinity, together with a magistrate, in order to have the boarder certified without his knowledge?

The Board of Control have no evidence to show that the provisions of Section 35 (2) of the Lunacy Act, 1890, have been infringed; or that there is any foundation for the suggestion that, for the sake of profit, voluntary boarders have been certified. If the hon. Member will give me any specific instance in support of the general allegation in his question, I will have the facts examined.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received representations from local authorities and other bodies alleging that house building is being impeded owing to artificial high prices for material demanded by combines and trusts; and, if so, will he make a statement on the subject?

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to published statements to the effect that the Government subsidies proposed to be given in order to encourage house building are likely to be nullified by the action of rings or combinations in putting up the prices of the necessary materials; and can he make any statement on the matter?

I have received representations of the nature referred to, and the matter is under consideration by the Committee on the Cost of Building Materials which is now sitting. I do not think that I can usefully make a statement on the subject until I have received a report from that Committee.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the warning of the London County Council against the increased prices in the building trade; whether he is aware that private building firms of standing are asserting that these advanced prices will prove a very serious hindrance to any form of building under his Bill; and whether he will consider the urgent need of legislation to ensure that the subsidy reaches those builders of houses for whom it was intended?

I have seen notices in the Press in regard to the statement made by the Chairman of the London County Council Housing Committee on the subject of the increased prices in the building trade. The Committee which is now sitting is investigating the whole question of prices, and on receipt of their Report I will consider what action, if any, is necessary.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will introduce a Clause into the Housing Bill at present passing through this House prohibiting any person occupying, either by means of purchase or rent, two or more houses until such time as the present severe housing shortage has been overcome and homes are available for all who need them?

No, Sir.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the heavy initial charges in respect of law costs, tithe rent charges, and pavement making by local authorities in connection with the purchase of houses by working men for their own occupation, often amounting to £40; and whether he will consider the possibility of cheapening this outlay to stimulate small house-owner occupation?

I am anxious that local authorities should facilitate the erection of houses by private persons in every possible way, and I will bring the suggestions of my hon. Friend to their notice in suitable cases.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can yet make any statement as to whether hard-lying money is to be paid to the officers and men employed in ships serving off the Murmansk coast?

It has been ruled that the grant of hard-lying money is not applicable to the conditions of the service in question, but further consideration is being given to the question of how these officers and men can be recompensed for the hardships undergone.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the Admiralty Director of Navigation has refused the claim for pilotage money of Mr. W. H. Stephens, ex-lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve, on the ground that this officer's claim was not made in accordance within the time limit laid down in King's Regulations, notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Stephens, owing to absence abroad and lack of information, was not cognisant of such Regulations; and whether he will now give the necessary instructions for a sympathetic reconsideration of the claim?

Pilotage claims by commissioned officers should have been rendered in accordance with and within the time limit laid down by King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, Article 993, Clauses 4, 10 and 11. Royal Naval Reserve officers who complied with the Regulations and were paid numbered nearly 500, from which I think it may be inferred that the Regulations were generally known. The Board have carefully considered Mr. Stephens' claim, which was only made last month, but have decided that it is impracticable to entertain a claim for pilotage services rendered over four years ago. The statement that Mr. Stephens was not cognisant of the Regulations owing to absence abroad is not in accordance with fact, as the vessel in which he was serving was in home waters for at least 12 months before proceeding abroad. I may also add that local pilots were employed and paid at some of the ports at which Mr. Stephens claims to have performed his own pilotage.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if facilities will be given to the men of the Fleet whose homes are in the towns situated round Torbay to visit their relatives while the Fleet is stationed in Torbay?

The grant of leave in such circumstances is a matter entirely at the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief, and I have no doubt that all such facilities for leave as are possible will be granted.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the large number of men discharged from Portsmouth Dockyard and now unemployed, he will make arrangements to absorb these men in the work on His Majesty's ship "Victory," rather than having the work done by men already employed in the dockyard?

The restoration work on the "Victory" has only just been commenced, and it is not yet fully manned. No undertaking can be given such as that asked for, but consideration will be given to the question of entering additional men for this work as it proceeds.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether consideration can now be given to the enrolment in Class A of the Royal Fleet Reserve of pensioner ratings of the naval cook branch, observing that pensioners of this branch are always the first called up for service in case of emergency?

All naval pensioners are liable to service in case of emergency. The enrolment of pensioners in Class A of the Royal Fleet Reserve is governed by Service requirements, and I am afraid the Admiralty can hold out no hope that Class A will be opened to cooks.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the large number of absent naval voters in the Northern constituency of Portsmouth, he will authorise the naval drafting authorities at Portsmouth to co-operate with the local registration officer in keeping correctly posted in the absent voters' register the whereabouts of the absent naval voters concerned?

This suggestion would not, I fear, secure the object in view. The matter of the procedure to be adopted in future in connection with naval absent voters is. however, under consideration and I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend when a decision is arrived at.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has recently been directed to the serious state of affairs in parts of China outside the Treaty ports; whether he is aware that since the outrage on the Pukow Railway on 6th May last, when a British subject was murdered and 26 Europeans and Americans were captured, travel and residence for foreigners in China have become increasingly dangerous; that this state of affairs is seriously impeding the business of British firms in China; whether representations from bodies, including over 60 leading British firms, have been received on this state of affairs; and what is being done to remedy it?

His Majesty's Government are fully alive to the disturbed state of affairs now existing in China and deplore the interference with trade resulting therefrom. Representations from a number of British firms have been received on the subject, and as was stated in reply to a question on the 11th instant, His Majesty's Minister at Peking is in consultation with his colleagues regarding the measures to be taken for the better protection of foreigners in China. He has been authorised in particular to press for the establishment of a railway police force under foreign officers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received a syllabus of the subjects I to be discussed by the international con- gress on prohibition to be held under the auspices of the Royal Danish Government?

The Danish Minister has furnished His Majesty's Government with a provisional list of the subjects proposed for discussion at the seventeenth international anti-alcohol congress to be held at Copenhagen on 20th-24th August. I will place a copy in the Library of the House for the information of hon. Members.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the result of his inquiries regarding the reduction in the wages of men employed at the Deptford stores who have been transferred to the stores department at Feltham, Middlesex?

Certain information has been obtained and the question has been discussed further with some of the trade unions concerned. The matter is still under consideration, but I hope that a decision will be reached shortly, and I will then communicate further with the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any department of the Government made any suggestion to Poor Law valuers as to what percentage should be added to assessments and deduction allowance for repairs since 1918; and will he give instructions to Poor Law authorities to inform the ratepayers of such gross assessment, and thus afford the ratepayers an opportunity of appeal?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the latter part of the question, the existing law requires that the valuation lists must show the gross estimated rental and the rateable value ( i.e., the gross estimated rental less the average annual cost of repairs, insurance, and other expenses necessary to maintain the property) of each hereditament. The valuation lists are open to inspection, and any ratepayer may object as regards his assessment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of debts and/or of reparations now due to this country by the following countries: France, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Rumania, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Jugo-Slavia?

The following amounts were outstanding on the 31st March last from the countries in question on account of War loans, Relief, Reconstruction, and other loans:

As regards reparations, the British share of the capital obligations of the ex-enemy Powers on the existing basis, as determined by Inter-Allied agreements, is 29 milliard gold marks (say £1,450 millions), to which approximately 2,200,000,000 (two thousand two hundred millions) gold marks (say, £110 millions) must be added in respect of reimbursement of the Belgian War debt to Great Britain, the liability for which was transferred to Germany. These figures are subject to adjustment on the one hand on account of sums already received, and on the other, in respect of interest in arrear, but these adjustments are not sufficiently important in amount appreciably to modify the total figures.

Figures are not given separately for Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria, which are included in the figures given above.

The Treaty with Turkey has not yet been signed, and I am, therefore, unable to reply to the part of the question dealing with that Power.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the British Government was allotted £3,118,900 out of £14,000,000 Austrian Government guaranteed loan, 1923–1943; if the British Government obtained the loan at 80; and if they propose selling the allotment owing to the big premium?

His Majesty's Government have funded in the guaranteed loan advances of £2,250,000, plus accrued interest made by them to the Austrian Government in 1922. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative; and to the third that it is clearly not in the public interest to give the information.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that protests continue to be made at public meetings and in the Press all over the country against the Schedule A assessment; and whether he can inform the House of the number of appeals of which notice has actually been given?

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the statement which I made on the 18th June on the subject of the Schedule A assessment.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the inconvenience caused to the travelling public by the continued refusal of the railway companies to issue season tickets for periods other than full months; and whether, in view of the fact that holiday periods rarely fit in with the dates necessitated by the railway rules, he will press for the issue of season tickets for any period between one month minimum and three months' maximum?

I have no control over the conditions under which the railway companies issue season tickets, but the Railway Rates Tribunal appointed under the Railways Act of 1921 have recently had under consideration the form of Schedule of Standard Charges for Season Tickets when the question of an allowance to be made in the case of sickness or holidays was raised. The Tribunal have requested the railway companies to publish so soon as possible the general conditions under which season tickets will be issued in order that they may be taken into consideration when the fixing of the charge to be paid by the public is determined.

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of parents, or other dependants, of men who lost their lives during the War who have been in receipt of allowances or pensions and who are now receiving reduced allowances or pensions or have been struck off the list because of assistance received from friends in the form of a regular weekly meal or assistance in other ways?

I regret that the information at my disposal does not enable me to differentiate between the different grounds on which reductions or cancellations are made. On the general question of the extent to which assistance given by friends or relatives is taken into account, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to him on the 7th instant.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether in the dismissal of the staff at the Pensions Issue Office the primary consideration is relative efficiency, hardship, or war service?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8th May last to the hon. Member for Cambridge University (Mr. Rawlinson) which dealt fully with this question. I have only to add that no ex-service women, who reach a satisfactory standard of efficiency will be effected by the demobilisation now proceeding in my Department.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, seeing that no information has been received by the Department of contracts entered into with Germans, French, or Italians during the three months ending 1st June for the supply of agricultural implements to British overseas Dominions, as announced on 11th June, his Department will now seek such information in view of its high importance to British competitors with foreign firms?

If my hon. Friend will be good enough to supply me with any information in his possession on this subject, I shall be glad to consider the practicability of making the inquiry suggested by him.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies the cost of building each of the various railways in British West Africa, and also the cost per mile; and whether they were in each case built by private enterprise or departmentally?

I annex statements giving the total capital costs of all railways in the several West African Colonies, together with statements of the actual cost of certain sections of the lines when handed over for the running of trains. In comparing relative costs regard must be paid (1) to the different rates of wages and cost of materials in different Colonies and at different times (the cost of both have materially increased since the War); (2) to the degree of completeness of the several sections when handed over; (3) to the physical character of the country through which the lines were constructed.

Nigeria.

Total capital cost of all open lines on 3st March, 1922, £12,030,197 or £10,685 per mile.

Separate cost of certain portions when completed. The Lagos-Jebba section (307 miles) was built between 1902 and 1910. The capital outlay at the end of 1910 was £2,910,000 or £9,478 per mile. The Jebba-Minna section (160 miles) was built between 1910 and 1912. The capital outlay on the whole line Lagos to Minna (467 miles) at the end of 1912 was £4,300,820, or £9,209 per mile. The Baro-Kano Railway (356 miles), commenced August, 1907, reached Kano in 1911. The capital expenditure at the end of 1912 was £1,390,251, or £3,905 per mile. The Bauchi Light Railway, commenced in February, 1911, reached Rahama (88½ miles) in March, 1912. The capital cost at the end of 1912 was £175,931, or £1,977 per mile. These railways were amalgamated in 1912, and at the end of 1913 the total mileage was 924, and the capital cost £6,045,812, or £6,543 per mile. The Eastern Railway from Port Harcourt commenced in 1913, reached Udi (151 miles) in 1916. A branch of four miles to the colliery was completed in 1917. The capital cost of the Eastern Railway at the end of 1917 was £1,988,426, or £12,828 per mile.

The railway from Lagos to Minna was constructed in sections between 1902 and 1912 by staffs specially engaged by and working under the supervision of consulting engineers in this country. That system was dispensed with in the case of the Baro-Kano Railway, the construction of which was done directly by the Government. The staff consisted mainly of experienced railway officers from South Africa and a detachment of officers and men from the Royal Engineers specially lent by the War Office. The Bauchi Light Railway and the Eastern Railway were also built directly by the Government. Experienced officers are lent from the open lines for the purpose of construction and additional officers specially engaged as required.

Gold Coast.

1. Total capital cost of all open lines as at 31st December, 1921, £6,081,000, or about £20,000 a mile.

2. Separate cost of certain portions when first completed:

( a ) Sekondi-Kumasi (168 miles—3 feet 6 inch gauge).

Work commenced August, 1898, interrupted by Ashanti War, 1900–1901—completed April, 1904. Cost, £10,700 per mile.

Constructed by Government under advice of consulting engineers.

( b ) Tarkwa Prestea Broomassie branch. 26½ miles—3 feet 6 inch gauge.

Commenced summer, 1908, completed spring, 1910. Cost, £6,100 per mile.

Constructed by Government under advice of consulting engineers.

( c ) Accra to Akwapim.

Constructed for Government under Government by Mr. Murphy, January, 1909-April, 1912. Length, 36 miles. Cost, £353,000, or £9,860 per mile.

Sierra Leone.

1. Total capital cost of all open lines as on 31st December, 1921, £1,694,564.

Length of line, 337 miles, 2 feet 6 inches gauge. Cost per mile, £5,020.

2. Cost of certain portions when first handed over.

( a ) Main line, Freetown to Baima, 221 miles, £1,015,000, £4,590 per mile.

( b ) Mountain line, Freetown to Hill Station, 5¾ miles. Cost, £31,963, £5,550 per mile.

All lines in Sierra Leone have been constructed by Government.