asked the Home Secretary whether the tribunal to deal with claims for compensation under the Restoration of Order in Ireland (Indemnity) Act has yet been appointed; and, if so, who are the members?

The Lord Chief Justice has appointed a tribunal consisting of

The Right Hon. Lord Justice Atkin.

Sir William Francis Kyffin Taylor, K.B.E., K.C., one of the Judges of the War Compensation Court; and

Sir Hugh Fraser, a Bencher of the Inner Temple.

I understand that in pursuance of the Restoration of Order in Ireland (Indemnity) Act the Treasury have designated the Treasury Solicitor or, in Scotland, the Lord Advocate as the person against whom any claim for compensation under the Act should be made.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if there is any reason why a private company cannot proceed at once to erect high-powered stations to form an Empire wireless chain: what is causing the delay to their being established; and will the Government undertake not to advance any public moneys for this purpose without having first obtained the consent of this House?

I have been asked to answer this question. Before the Marconi Company can proceed with the stations which they purpose to erect in this country for Empire communication, it is necessary that the conditions of the licence to be issued to them for the purpose should be settled. I am in negotiation with the company on this question, and I hope that a satisfactory agreement will shortly be arrived at. Orders for certain of the plant required for the Government station which it has also been decided to erect were placed some time ago; there is no intention of expending public money in excess of the amounts which have been or may be voted for this purpose on the Estimates.

asked the Postmaster-General the wages and hours of the assistants and the emoluments paid to the sub-postmasters at the following offices: Tottenham, High Cross; Wood Green. High Road; Lower Edmonton, the Green: Upper Holloway, 667, Holloway Road; Tottenham, White Hart Lane; Finchley Church End, near station; and Hoxton, New North Road; and whether, in order that these populous districts may be provided with the adequate and full postal facilities to which they are entitled, he will take steps to have these sub-offices converted into branch offices?

The emoluments of the seven officers named, exclusive of "cost of living" bonus, are respectively as follows: £737, £692, £597, £534, £537, £516, and £396. The wages of the assistants, including the estimated value of any board and lodgings provided, vary from 25s. to 50s. a week. The hours of duty vary within a maximum of 4S weekly. The existing arrangements in all these cases appear to meet public requirements reasonably, and the circumstances are not considered to be sufficiently exceptional to justify the expense of converting any of the officer into branch offices at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that the vessels owned by the Byron Steamship Company, of London, are entirely officered and manned by foreigners, although these vessels fly the British flag; whether this country gets any advantage from the fact that the company is registered in Great Britain commensurate with the value to the company of the protection of the British flag; whether, as a fact, the trade of these vessels is entirely foreign and carried on between foreign ports;

(2) whether he will make inquiries as to whether the s.s. "Maid of Mylos" has no port of registry painted on her stern; and seeing that such omission would be an infringement of the Merchant Shipping Act, whether he will make inquiries as to whether the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act with regard to officers, crews, life-saving apparatus, and accommodation are duly complied with;

(3) whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to amend the law so as to provide that steamers registered in Great Britain, which are trading between foreign ports or between home and foreign ports, shall be equally bound to sail under British commanders and officers and be subject to periodical inspection in order to ensure that the conditions on board in all respects comply with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act?

I am informed by the Byron Steamship Company that some of their vessels, which trade entirely between foreign ports, are completely officered and manned by foreigners. The "Maid of Milos" had the name of the port of registry—London—properly marked when she left this country in 1921, and, so far as the owners are aware, it is properly marked now; I have no reason to think that the requirements of the Merchant Shipping Act are not complied with. The question whether it is desirable to have on the British Register vessels which trade entirely, or almost entirely, between foreign ports, and are officered and manned by foreigners, raises broad considerations of policy, which cannot well be discussed by question and answer. It may be, on the whole, to the advantage of this country that foreign capital should be interested in the prosperity of these British vessels, and that in time of emergency they should be under British law and British control. It would not appear by any means to follow that if the owners were compelled to employ British officers and British crews, the ships would remain under the British flag. It is not improbable that they would in that case be transferred to foreign flags, and that British merchant officers and seamen would, accordingly, find no greater scope for employment than they have at present. In these circumstances, I do not think that it would be advantageous to introduce amending legislation of the kind indicated in the third of my hon. Friend's questions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Lords and others, Commissioners of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, are entitled to take into consideration the earnings of pensioners when regulating their pensions; and whether, since this is contrary to the policy of the Minister of Pensions, he will explain the reason for the Commissioners' attitude?

The earnings of pensioners are taken into consideration by the Chelsea Commissioners under certain circumstances, for instance, in authorising the increases allowed, in accordance with the Pensions Increase Act of 1920, to persons whose total income is below certain limits. I am not aware what precisely the hon. Member has in mind, but if he will give me particulars of any concrete case which is before him, I will communicate with him further.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the arrangement formerly existing for the War Office staff to take photographs of graves of soldiers who fell in distant countries has been discontinued; whether his Department is still receiving applications for such photographs from friends of fallen soldiers who have never received them: and whether he will take steps to oblige the latter in regard to their desire?

The work of supplying photographs of war graves was originally undertaken by the Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries, and promises of photographs were given in a number of cases. The photographs were taken by military personnel who were then available on the spot, and the material was provided at the expense of the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross and the Order of St. John. The military personnel which had at first been available for the work was, however, withdrawn before all the promises of photographs which had been officially given to individual applicants had been fulfilled. In these circumstances a contract was placed in October last, at the expense of Army funds, for the taking of 16,000 photographs in regard to which individual promises were outstanding. This contract, however, applied only to applications received before September, 1919. No promises have been given in reply to later applications, and no public funds are available to meet them. All applications received since September, 1919, have therefore necessarily been refused. I understand, however, that there are various organisations which undertake this class of work, and the Imperial War Graves Commission are accustomed to refer applicants to these organisations. In regard to the last part of the question, I regret that I cannot undertake to recommend that the public should be asked to pay for further photographs. I have every sympathy with the desire of relatives to obtain them, and every facility is given to enable them to do so, but I think that in present circumstances the relatives may reasonably be expected to bear the cost privately. The public contract was only placed in order to redeem existing undertakings given to individuals. The Commission has no power under its Charter to incur expenditure on this work.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many vaccinations or revaccinations, per thousand strength, were performed on British soldiers during each of the years 1914 to 1921, inclusive?

The ratio per 1,000 strength in 1921 was 250–10, but I regret that similar information for the earlier years is not available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that the weapons successfully used against the Zeppelins raiding London and district during the War were identical in principle with those described in the plans forwarded to the War Office by Mr. Bathgate, of Watten, Caithness, in the autumn of 1914, and that the failure to use those plans was largely responsible for the loss of life and property in London and district in Zeppelin raids, public inquiry can be made into this matter which involved loss of life and property to the public and injustice to the inventor; why Mr. Bathgate has been denied a public hearing of his claims before the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors; and how he should now proceed in order to secure a public hearing before the Commission?

I cannot admit the hon. and gallant Member's premise that loss of life or property in Zeppelin raids was due to the fact that Mr. Bathgate's plans were not used, and I do not think, therefore, that any special inquiry is called for. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer to my reply of 26th April last. It is, I presume, open to Mr. Bathgate to apply to the Commission for a reconsideration of his case, but I regret that I cannot undertake to recommend that course to the Commission.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Secretary of State for War has any power under regulations or otherwise to prevent a pensioned officer commuting his pension, and assigning his pension where such officer's age frees him from liability for future service; and does the answer apply equally to a pensioned Army chaplain?

The powers relating to the commutation of Army officers' pensions are administered by the Army Council under Article 515 of the Royal Warrant. The conditions are also printed in a pamphlet, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member. To guard against the possibility of an officer being left without any means of support, the Arm Council do not allow the whole of the pension to be commuted, and this rule applies equally to officers who are liable to recall and those whose liability has ceased. Under Section 141 of the Army Act the assignment of an officer's pension is void, except so far as it is made under special statutory authority or in pursuance of a Royal Warrant for the benefit of the officer's family. This answer applies to a pensioned Army chaplain equally with any other officer pensioned under the Royal Warrant.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. M. R. Moss, 18, Fryatt Road, Tottenham, late 3/7th Middlesex Regiment (regimental No. 3,873, pension No. S.D.V. 4,107), has been in receipt of a pension for tuberculosis of the lungs, attributed to war service, since 1915, and that his papers have recently been altered to aggravated by war service; and if he can explain upon whose authority and for what reason this alteration has been made?

Entitlement in this case has at no time been placed on a higher basis than aggravation, but it is only recently that the man was informed officially that the disability was not accepted as attributable to service. This notification was issued in order that, if he so desires, the man may appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal against the decision of the Ministry.

asked the Minister of Pensions what training, if any, is now available for ex-service men; what are the various occupations for which trainees may be trained: and what are the conditions attached to such training?

I have been asked to reply. With regard to the first and second parts, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Abertillery (Mr. G. Barker) on 9th May. With regard to the third part, the period and nature of training vary according to the trade concerned. Training may be given under maintenance in Government instructional factories or in educational institutions, or under part maintenance in employers' workshops.

asked the Chancellor ot the Exchequer when the Report of the Southborough Committee on the Lytton entrants will be published?

I have just received this Report, and have given directions for its publication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the following details concerning the revenue from spirits for the year ended 31st March, 1923; the number of proof gallons of home-made spirits retained for consumption; exported; exported as medical preparations; used for ships' stores, etc.; used in arts and manufactures; methylated; allowed as deficiencies; distilled in England, in Scotland, and in Northern Ireland, respectively; and the number of proof gallons of foreign spirits retained for consumption?

The required details concerning the revenue from spirits for the year ended 31st March, 1923, are as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the relief loan of £10,258,386 to Austria was all or partly paid off by the Austrian Government Guaranteed Loan, 1923–43?

The answer is in the negative. Under the arrangements agreed by all the countries concerned the charge on Austria for relief loans like that for Reparation is being, postponed for 20 years.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet instituted an inquiry into the question of the Regulations made under the Restoration of Order in Ireland Act?

Steps are being taken for the appointment of a Committee, but I regret I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Cabinet Committee on unemployment is still functioning; whether in that case it is making any arrangements for the coming winter; and whether it is open to receive any statistics on the condition of various severely-tried towns if these are forwarded through the accredited Ministerial channels?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the Committee have been collecting a large amount of evidence on the subject, but if my hon. Friend has any suggestions to make the Ministry of Labour would be glad to receive them for the consideration of the Committee.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will inquire into the circumstances affecting Daniel O'Shea, 31, Broad Street, Stratford, whose out door relief has been stopped by the West Ham Guardians and an order for the entry to the workhouse of himself, wife, and three children has been substituted, because O'Shea could not comply with Regulation 7 of the Ockenden Farm Colony, i.e. , colonists should take with them a change of shirts and flannels; and whether the Minister will ensure that poor people are not thus penalised?

I will make in quiries about this case, and communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that unemployed persons living at Abercynon have to walk a distance of five miles each way in order to register at the Exchange at Mountain Ash; and whether he will take action to remedy this state of affairs?

I understand that there are 10 claimants for unemployment benefit living at Abercynon, four residing at a distance of three miles from the Mountain Ash Exchange and the other six not more than four miles from the Exchange. The Regulations require claimants living between two and four miles from the Exchange to attend, in normal circumstances, on alternate days, but as claimants residing within two miles of Mountain Ash are at present required to attend only on four days in the week, it has been arranged that the Abercynon claimants shall for the time being be required to attend twice weekly only.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether among the alienated lands of the British South Africa Company, the value of which is to be deducted from the compensation due to the company, is a concession of 250,000 acres of Southern Rhodesia land to the Anglo-French Mashonaland Expedition; whether this grant was made by Dr. Jameson; and what was the nature of the consideration received "for the land?

This grant, which was made, I understand, in 1895 by the Administrator, Dr. Jameson, but which was of smaller area than that stated, is one of the numerous free grants made in the past to companies in Southern Rhodesia on condition that a certain sum of money was spent on mining and farming operations in the territory. The British South Africa Company's view is that they are not accountable to the Crown for such grants. As regards the general question of the determination of the amount to be deducted from the Cave Award, I cannot at present add anything to the reply given by the late Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Derby (Mr. C. Roberts) on the 15th February.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that the Public Trustee has offered for sale by public auction certain houses and land in Birch field Street, Castor Street, and Morant Street, Poplar: that the town clerk of Poplar informed the Public Trustee that the property offered for sale was a represented area under the Housing Acts; that the London County Council were at present considering the question of dealing with the area as a slum; that the only value of the property would be site value; that the London County Council made similar representations; and that the Public Trustee refused to inform possible purchasers that the area was a represented area: and if he will give the reason for such refusal?

The auction referred to was advertised for the 21st June. No definite scheme with respect to the property has yet been formulated under the Act, and no statutory notice has been given to the Public Trustee. On the 16th June the town clerk of Poplar, and on the 19th June, the valuer to the London County Council wrote to the Public Trustee, giving notice that the property was included in an area which was under consideration for purchase and clearance as a slum area. Acting on this information, and by the direction of the Public Trustee, the auctioneer stated in the auction room before the sale that the properties were marked down by the borough council under an improvement scheme, but that nothing definite had been done, and that the proposal had not yet been approved by the London County Council. The Public Trustee did not refuse to place the information before possible purchasers.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health the average rateable value of the area of 3,201 acres of land secured by local authorities for housing sites for which £778,421 was asked by the owners, as indicated on page 87 of the Fourth Annual Report of the Scottish Board of Health?

I regret that I am not in a position to give the information asked for, but I understand that, with some exceptions, the land referred to was used for agricultural purposes, and was presumably rated accordingly.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he is aware that municipal authorities are enforcing different conditions of tenancy on tenants occupying, or about to occupy, municipal houses; if all conditions, including questions of method of payment of rent, are submitted for the approval of the Board of Health; and if the Board have approved of some tenants having to pay rent in advance when the said principle does not apply to the majority of tenants of State-aided housing schemes?

I am not aware of the conditions of tenancy imposed on tenants of houses provided under the housing schemes of local authorities, as these conditions do not require the approval of the Scottish Board of Health. The matter is one entirely within the discretion of the local authorities.

asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of smallpox and the deaths from that disease, which have occurred in Germany in each of the years 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922?

The following statement gives the number of cases of small-pox and the number of deaths from that disease which have' occurred in Germany during each of the years in question. The figures for 1919 to 1922 are provisional, and the numbers of deaths in 1921 and 1922 are not yet available:

asked the Minister of Health the amount of local 'rates paid in England and Wales in 1914 and the latest year for which figures are available?

The amount of local ratest paid in England and Wales in 1913–14 was £71,276,000. It is estimated that the corresponding amount for the year 1922–23 was £159,000,000.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether Reports relative to trade and business in the overseas Dominions are regularly received from accredited agents or their Governments in those Dominions; whether such Reports received by the Overseas Trade Department contain details of the value of agricultural machinery and implements supplied to them by foreign manufacturers; and what are the returns in the several overseas Dominions for the five months ending 1st June instant?

The Department of Overseas Trade does not receive Reports of the nature suggested from Dominion Governments or their representatives; the second and third parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that the condition of the Harrow-Wealdstone Road, where it crosses the bridge at Wealdstone, is so bad that serious damage is being caused to the houses there situated and to the businesses carried on therein owing to the vibration from traffic due to the rough surface; and whether he will make representations to the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway Company, the owners of the road, with a view to having the road put into a proper condition?

I am making inquiries into the matter referred to by the hon. Member and will communicate with him on the subject in due course.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport how many rail-less trolley vehicle systems there are in this country; and whether, as a rule, they are answering satisfactorily?

According to the latest information available, there are at present 11 rail-less trolley vehicle systems open for traffic in Great Britain. In addition, in 19 cases the necessary statutory powers have been obtained, but have not been exercised, and in two other cases systems which were formerly worked have ceased working. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Return of Tramways and Light Railways (Street and Road) and Trackless Trolley Undertakings recently issued by the Ministry of Transport, which contains the latest published figures as to the financial results of working transport systems of this nature.