asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when a decision will be given as to the post-War staffs in the storehouses of His Majesty's Dockyard Naval Store Establishments; when a decision will be given regarding the appointment of those men who qualified at the last Civil Service examination; and what is the intention of the Admiralty with regard to men over 60 years of age who are employed as store-housemen, foremen, and inspectors?

The post-War complement of the storehouse staff is still under consideration, but I hope that a decision will be reached in the near future. Further consideration of the appointment of men qualified at the last Civil Service examination is dependent on the settlement of the post-War complement. As regards established storehousemen, foremen and inspectors attaining the age of 60, the ordinary regulations will apply, i.e ., they will be superannuated excepting where it is in the interests of the Service to make a departure from this rule and retain them for a further period.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is intended to issue the order for post-War complement of pensioner clerks and timekeepers in His Majesty's Dockyards, seeing that although the men consider the scale of salaries inadequate they accepted the proposals; and will he explain the reason for this lengthy delay in promulgating the order?

The final stage of the settlement of the new conditions of service of pensioner clerks has now been reached, and it is hoped to promulgate the orders in the course of the next few days. The delay has been caused by the settlement of certain outstanding points affecting the interests of the staffs.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Investigating and Substitution Committees introduced into His Majesty's dockyard under the Lytton arrangements have power to recommend inter-departmental substitution of ex-service temporary clerks on the strength of seniority or any other reason; if not, what are the terms of reference and functions of this Committee; what is the composition of the Committee; how are the members appointed; and what purpose does the Committee serve?

The Dockyard Substitution Committee has full power to recommend the substitution of non-service temporary staff in any Department of the dockyard by ex-service men, and should it see fit, the substitution of one ex-service man for another or the transfer of any ex-service man from one Department to another within the terms of the Lytton Committee Report.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the number of questions which are constantly arising relating to officers of warrant rank and officers commissioned therefrom, he will consider the early appointment of a Welfare Committee similar to that already in existence dealing with welfare matters of the lower deck ratings?

Questions affecting warrant officers and officers promoted therefrom receive consideration in the same manner as those relating to other classes of officers, and the appointment of a Welfare Committee to deal with them is not considered necessary.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why stoker ratings of the Royal Navy serving in the coastguard old force recently compulsorily discharged to the shore on the abolition of the coastguard service are not allowed to join Class A of the Royal Fleet Reserve; and whether Clause 6 of Article 1934 of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions is still in force?

"For men and boys entered in the Royal Navy in the seaman and stoker classes on and after 1st March, 1901, one of the conditions of the award of Long Service Pension will be that the pensioner shall serve in the Royal Fleet Reserve up to the age of 50 years if his services should be required. For men recommended and fit for enrolment, this condition is not to be waived without the special sanction of the Admiralty."

With regard to the first part of the question, the Admiralty did not need the services of these stoker ratings in the Royal Fleet Reserve Class A, and in this connection attention is invited to Article 6 of the Royal Fleet Reserve Regulations, which states that no man, whether a pensioner or otherwise, has any claim to join any class of reserve as of right.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Lord Weir's Committee has yet presented a Report; and, if so, when the recommendations of the Committee will be laid before the House?

I presume the hon. and gallant Member refers to the Committee on Establishments, to which I alluded in the Course of my statement on the Army Estimates on 15th March last. The Committee have presented their Report, but no decisions on it have yet been taken, and it is not at present in contemplation to publish it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what was the total cost of printing the volume giving statistics of our military effort during the War, published last year at 10s. 6d.; whether there has been any estimate made as to the cost of preparation of this volume; how many copies in all have been printed; how many have been sold; how many have been given away; how many have been retained for official use; and how many are in stock?

The volume is a compilation of various statistics prepared for Departmental purposes. I regret that no record is available of the original cost, and I do not think the work involved in ascertaining that cost would be justified at the present time. The cost of printing the volume for sale, from the original type which was still standing, was £510. The number of copies so printed was 1,250, of which, up to date 196 have been sold, 10 given away, 306 issued for official use and 738 are at present in stock. The work is still in demand.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state who was responsible for the suggestion to use air-nets as a protection against enemy aircraft; whether any compensation has been paid to the person or persons responsible; and whether he is aware that, in September, 1917, Mr. G. Heighton, of Bradford, submitted definite proposals for the use of air-nets, that the nets were brought into use in February, 1918, and that the receipt of his suggestion was acknowledged, but that he has not received any compensation?

A large number of suggestions were received, but the general idea of the use of such means of protections was already well known, and the only persons who have been paid rewards for specific inventions in the matter are Messrs. Prassone, Avorio and Willows. I regret that no record of a communication from Mr. Heighton can be traced by the War Office, but the Royal Commission of Awards to Inventors is still in existence and it is open to Mr. Heighton to submit his case to them should he so desire.

asked the Minister of Pensions how many persons were prosecuted in the 12 months ending 31st March, 1923, for drawing pensions issued to other persons; whether he is aware that M.P. Certificate 27 (Special Identification Form) contains 18 questions, many involving dates and information that are already in the possession of the Ministry: whether payment of pension is liable to suspension if the questions are not answered satisfactorily; why is it considered necessary to ask questions as to pre-enlistment and present employment; how often has this form to be completed by a pensioner; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing some simpler form, particularly for men receiving life pensions, which, while securing identification, will reduce the difficulties experienced by many pensioners in completing this form?

There were five such prosecutions during the period mentioned. The form to which the hon. Member refers is a special form which is not required to be completed more frequently than once in five years, and is similar to that generally adopted by other pension-paying Departments. This procedure is considered most important and necessary by the Public Accounts Committee of this House. Its object is to guard against impersonation, and I am not prepared to abandon this proper safeguard.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the provisions of the War Pensions Act, 1921, are operative in the Irish Free State; whether the War Pensions Committees Regulations, 1922, apply to war pensions committees established in that State; and, if not, what Regulations, if any, prescribe the present procedure of local war pensions committees set up under previous Acts and still functioning in that country?

The provisions of the War Pensions Act 1921, as of other War Pension Acts, so far as concerns my powers and duties in the administration of pensions are legally operative in the case of pensioners in the Irish Free State as elsewhere. The Regulations made under the War Pensions Acts, 1918 and 1921 (subject to proper safeguards in connection with the disposal of public funds), apply respectively to the committees of the old and new type constituted in the area of the Free State.

asked the Minister of Pensions if it is intended to transfer the Yorkshire regional headquarters of the Ministry of Pensions from Leeds to Newcastle, to amalgamate it there with the northern regional headquarters; and, if so, the reasons actuating such a policy, especially in view of the fact that the area administered by the Yorkshire regional headquarters is nearly double that administered by the northern regional headquarters at Newcastle?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to-day to the hon. Member for Hillsborough (Mr. A. V. Alexander), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that J. H. Sills, clerk of works, Works and Buildings Department, has been discharged after 23 years' service with the War Department and Air Ministry without reason given; on what grounds the discharge from service took place; whether, seeing such discharge is not consonant with Air Ministry Regulations, Article 96 (C and D), and especially Article 98, he will reconsider the matter; and what position F. G. C. Young holds, and on whose authority he sent the letter signed by him?

As regards the first and second parts of the question dealing with the grounds for Mr. Sills' discharge, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for West Nottingham (Mr. Hayday) on 12th June. As regards the third part of the question, according to the information which Mr. Sills gave when entering War Office service, where he remained 19 years, he was born in 1858, and not in 1862, as he now alleges, and his discharge is therefore in accordance with the Regulation referred to. Regulation 98 does not affect his case. The Regulation applicable is Regulation 151, a copy of which I have sent to the hon. Member. As regards the last part of the question, Mr. Young is a principal in the Secretariat of the Air Ministry, and signed the letter addressed to Mr. Sills under the general authority of the Air Council.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether there are any military and naval officers employed by his Department; if so, how many are in receipt of salaries over £500 and £1,000 a year, respectively; whether a bonus is paid in addition; how many are drawing military or naval pensions; and what is the amount of such pension in each case?

Including officers on the retired list and on the reserve of officers, the answer to the first part of the question is five; the answer to the second part is three and one, respectively. Four of these salaries carry bonus, and a service pension of £180 a year is paid on one.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the headmaster of Gipton Council School, Leeds, has had his salary reduced substantially owing to the refusal of the Board to recognise for grant salaries in excess of the Burnham scales in the case of schools which exceed the Burnham limits of attendance, so that the salary after deduction of five per cent, for superannuation is only 37 per cent, above the pre-War figure; and whether he will reconsider the decision which has entailed such reductions on this headmaster and others similarly circumstanced?

For the purpose of head teachers' salaries the Burnham Report graded schools according to the number of children in average attendance. The highest grade was for schools with over 500 children. The Gipton Council School, Leeds, falls into this grade. I understand that in 1920 the local authority adopted a special system of grading under which some teachers received salaries greater than those applicable under the Burnham Reports. I regret that I cannot undertake to reconsider the Board's decision not to recognise for grant the payment of salaries at rates in excess of those applicable under the Burnham scales.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Association of Education Committees, at a conference recently held in London, urging that, in view of the fact that widespread unemployment makes it specially undesirable that young persons should be thrown into the labour market at the present moment, the Board should sanction by-laws raising the age of compulsory full-time attendance at school to 15 and to a similar resolution passed by a conference of local education authorities, training colleges, and teachers' associations held at Leeds; and what steps he proposes to take to give effect to the policy proposed in these resolutions?

My attention has been drawn to the resolutions referred to by the hon. Member. The question is dealt with in my reply of the 1st March last to the noble Lord the Member for South Nottingham (Sir H. Cavendish-Bentinck) and more fully in a letter addressed to the Carlisle Local Education Authority on the 6th March, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention is being called to cases where parents are prosecuted for taking away from school, just before the close of the term, their children who may have reached the age of 14 during the term; whether the regulation which compels the attendance of such children till the end of the term is recorded as working satisfactorily in practice; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of amending legislation?

I may refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on the 21st June to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Sir W. de Frece). I see no reason for undertaking legislation on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that Mrs. K. E. Taylor, with over 20 years' service and just 2½ years short of her pension, is being discharged by the Staffordshire Education Authority because she is a married woman, and this in spite of the fact that her husband, owing to being gassed in the Minnie pit, is an invalid unable to work; whether the Board of Education can, by circular or otherwise, check this and similar dismissals of married women teachers when it is shown that the husband is dependent on the wife and not the wife on the husband; and whether, in particular, he will obtain a Report as to this special case?

My attention had not previously been drawn to this case. I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that I have no authority to prevent local education authorities from exercising their discretion in the matter, but I have no reason to suppose that they do not exercise it with discrimination and humanity. I will, however, draw the attention of the local education authority to the hon. and gallant Member's question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether in the case of owner-occupiers whose houses have been reassessed since 1919–20 without any individual valuation, contrary to the Halifax judgment, and which have subsequently been reduced on objection, it is proposed to make any provision that any sums demanded and paid since 1919–20 in excess of the sum payable as fixed on objection shall be refunded?

I have been asked to reply. Where an assessment to local rates has been reduced in consequence of an objection to the valuation list, the ratepayer is, under the existing law, entitled to repayment of the excess amount paid by him in respect of the rate current at the date of the objection and any subsequent rate.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that the Disposal and Liquidation Commission have repeatedly declined to entertain private negotiations for the sale of goods on the ground that the custom of Government Departments has been to maintain the principle of public tender, he can state why this principle was departed from, with the approval of the Treasury, in the case of the contracts arranged with Messrs. George Cohen, Sons, and Company, of London, and W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth, and Company, Limited; who initiated the proposals made to the Board by each of these firms; and whether any other firms had the opportunity of making proposals?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for North Dorset (Mr. Emlyn-Jones) on the 5th June. I may add that the preliminary proposals to the Disposal and Liquidation Commission were made by accredited representatives of the firms in question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of individual forms received by Somerset House in connection with the sale of land under Section 4 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, in each or any of the last four financial years?

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of individual forms received by Somerset House in connection with the sale of land under Section 4 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, in each or any of the last four financial years?

The number of documents stamped with the Particulars Delivered Stamp during the last four years is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount and also the amount per annum, collected in respect of the 26 per cent, reparation duty on goods imported from Germany?

The amounts collected by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise under the provisions of the German Reparation (Recovery) Act as follow:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the total amount of the United States loan is held by the American Government; and, if not, will he give details of the outstanding amount held by American investors?

The hon. Member will find details of the debts due to the United States Government and to ordinary investors in the United States respectively in Table IV attached to the Financial Statement of this year.

asked the Prime Minister whether the attention of the Government has been called to the fact that the action of the French authorities in the Ruhr Valley, in cutting off the necessary supplies of coal and coke and thus preventing the blast furnaces in that district operating, while having disastrous results on the trade of this1 country and most seriously prejudicing the industrial interests of the Dominions, is creating a social crisis which will have serious effects not only in Germany but throughout Europe generally; and whether the Government are prepared to make representations to the French Government with a view to having the position relieved?

My hon. and gallant Friend can hardly suppose that His Majesty's Government is not fully informed of everything of importance that occurs in the Ruhr, and he may rest assured that if and when it appears that representations to the French or any other foreign Government will be likely to lead to an improvement in the international situation, such representations will be made.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the state trial now proceeding at Munich, Germany, in which certain important Bavarian citizens are charged with conspiring with the French Government to create a separate Bavarian state; whether he has seen allegations current in France that His Majesty's Government are supporting the French Government in their attempt to dismem- ber the German empire; and whether he proposes to make any statement on this matter?

The answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative, but the allegations referred to in the second part of the question are entirely without foundation.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the provisions of the Shops (Early Closing) Act, with respect to the prohibition of the sale of cigars, tobacco, and cigarettes after eight o'clock, have been disregarded by sections of the public; that the law is openly evaded both in shops and in places of refreshment and pubic entertainment; and whether it is proposed either to enforce the law or to extend the hours of sale, as in the case of sweets and other confectionery, to meet public convenience?

I have no information which would bear out the allegations in the first two parts of the question, but, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the responsibility for the enforcement of the Act rests with the local authorities, and not with the Horne Office. As regards the last part, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question on this point asked by the hon. and gallant Member for the Basingstoke Division (Sir A. Holbrook) on the 20th instant.

asked the Home Secretary whether a coroner has in present practice absolute or only qualified authority to dispense with a jury when an inquest is held; whether according to pre-War practices a jury was always summoned in such cases; and whether, in the interests of the subject, it is now possible to revert to pre-War safeguards?

A coroner's authority to dispense with a jury is not absolute but is limited by the provisions of Section 7 of the Juries Act, 1918. Before this Act a coroner had no power to dispense with a jury, but I am advised that experience of the provisions has shown them to be generally beneficial.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now able to consider the appeal of European Government servants in India for a partial redress of their grievances pending the issue of the Report of the Royal Commission; whether he is aware that the level of prices in India has risen since 1914 by about 95 per cent., and that the cost of a return passage to England is now about 150 per cent, higher than in 1920; whether, subject to claims for full compensation on the issue of the Royal Commission Report, he can see his way to agree to half of the salaries of these officials being paid in terms of two shillings equal one rupee, to aid them in meeting the fall in the value of the rupee; and also, as passenger rates between Bombay and London have increased by 150 per cent,, will he grant one free return passage, including railway expenses to and from the port of embarkation, to every European Government servant of three completed years' standing and upwards, with a similar concession for his family?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answers given to similar questions put by the hon. Member for Darwen (Sir F. Sanderson) on the 18th instant, and the hon. and gallant Member for Melton (Sir C. Yate) on the 25th instant to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether a decision has yet been arrived at with the Government of India on the subject of the revision of the scale of pensions of departmental officers and warrant officers of the India unattached list; and, if not, when a decision will be arrived at?

The Government of India have reported that the question of revising the scale of pensions of departmental officers and warrant officers of the India unattached list is still under consideration. My Noble Friend regrets the delay and is pressing for an early answer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) the area of Crown lands in Kenya Colony hitherto alienated to individuals; the number of grants made; the number of individuals who have benefited by these grants; the conditions under which the grants have been made;

(2) the area of Crown lands in Kenya Colony still remaining in Government ownership; whether it is intended to alienate these lands; and, if so, on what conditions?

The answer to the hon. Member's two questions is in the negative. There has not yet been sufficient time for replies to be received to the despatches sent to the Governor on the 17th of May.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any notice on behalf of the medical profession refusing to make use of medical certificates containing advertisements of foods which they do not recommend; and whether, in the circumstances, he will agree to withdraw them?

The answer to the first question is in the negative. I may refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to a number of questions on this matter on the 13th June.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the fact that the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General for 1921–22 shows that the vouchers relating to payments of unemployment benefit and out-of-work donation at the Lerwick Branch Employment Office were destroyed by fire and that a partial examination proved that a considerable portion of the payments had been irregular, any prosecution was instituted; and, in that case, since there was a loss of many hundreds of pounds, he will give further details as to the whole affair?

No prosecution was instituted. These irregular payments were not of a fraudulent character, but resulted from the inability of the officer in temporary charge of this remote office to cope with an overwhelming increase of work following upon the new Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920. Suitable disciplinary action was taken. The fire occurred some days subsequent to the date on which this clerk left Lerwick. Some details are given at the end of the Ministry's Appropriation Account for 1921–22, which is contained in the Volume of Appropriation Accounts already presented to the House. This account is now before the Public Accounts Committee for consideration.

asked the Minister of Labour when the Report of the Departmental Committee inquiring into the question of unemployment pay being allowed to persons locked out consequent upon a dispute in a Department with which they are not directly connected will be ready and made public?

The Committee still have the matter before them under active consideration, and are holding a further meeting on 29th June. I am unable to say when they will be in a position to submit a report.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can now see his way to abolish the phrase restriction, which limits the five words permitted on a picture postcard sent at the halfpenny rate of postage to phrases of courtesy or convention; and whether he is aware of the harassing nature of this restriction, which, without any clear official definition, is not understood by the general public, nor even by many postmasters who act as censors?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer on this subject which I gave to the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on the 26th of June.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused by the present restriction of the night telegraph letter service to places only where the telegraph office is open all night; and whether this facility can now be extended to any place with a telegraph office?

Night telegraph letters at the existing low tariff are accepted only at those offices where staff is on duty at night. The hon. Member's request, if I understand it correctly, will entail keeping all telegraph offices open at night, which I regret is impracticable.

asked the Postmaster-General the wages and hours of the assistants at Pontygwaith, Rogart, Blaengwynfi, and Haverton Hill sub-post offices?

At Rogart and Haverton Hill the assistants are relatives of the sub-postmasters, and the remuneration and attendances are a family arrangement. This applies also to one of the assistants at Blaengwynfi. The particulars as regarding the remaining assistants (all female) are understood to be as follow:

Pontygwaith .

One assistant at 40s. (48½ hours a week), with free tea each day.

One junior assistant (under 21 years) at 30s. (49 hours a week), with free tea several days in the week.

One learner and messenger (under 21 years) at 10s. for 54 hours weekly.

Blaengwynfi .

One assistant at 15s. 4d. for 46 hours weekly, with free board and lodging.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Hop Controller has recently issued to all hop growers a notice threatening to close the market against any grower who grows more than the crop stipulated by the Controller; if so, whether the Hop Controller is acting within his powers; and whether these powers will be reviewed?

The hon. Member's question refers, I presume, to an intima- tion of the Hop Controller to the effect that, in the case of any grower who produces and picks hops in such excess of the quantity assigned to him, as to indicate that he has deliberately neglected to restrict his production in accordance with the recommendation issued early this year, the Hop Controller reserves to himself the right to refuse to take into control either the whole or any part of the crop produced by that grower. The position was explained to grovers in January last, when a notice was issued by the Ministry advising hop growers to restrict their production of hops during the current season, since, if an average crop were grown and picked on the then acreage, a surplus of hops would result which the Hop Controller would be unable to take up. The Hop Controller acts in this matter in consultation with a committee, on which the growers are represented, and it appears that he has acted within his powers, and that those powers do not require to be reviewed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the exaggerated profits to retailers dwelt upon in the Second Interim Report of Lord Linlithgow's Committee, and in view of the desirability of encouraging farmers to organise in co-operative associations, he will consider the possibility of arranging that special low freights should be charged for agricultural produce consigned to a co-operative distributive organisation of producers?

I have consulted my hon. Friend the Minister of Transport as to this proposition, and he points out that the Government has no control over the charges made by railway companies. The companies are at liberty to make such reductions as they think fit, and the Railway Rates Tribunal have power to determine any question as to rates submitted to them under the provisions of Section 60 of the Railways Act, 1921. Railway companies already give special and reduced rates to agricultural and horticultural produce and requisites consigned in specified quantities, and by forming themselves into co-operative societies farmers would be in a position to take the fullest advantage of this arrangement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the rents of ex-service smallholders in England have been reduced; and, if so, to what extent?

Permanent reductions in the rents of small holdings provided by local authorities in England, amounting to £25,123 per annum, have been approved by the Ministry up to the 1st instant, representing about 14 per cent, of the rents originally fixed for the holdings concerned. Further reductions are under consideration in a number of counties, and holdings are being inspected for this purpose at the present time. All the holdings where rents have been or are being reduced are, with a few exceptions, occupied by ex-service men.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is intended to act upon the recommendation of the tribunal of economists by refusing the importation of potatoes into this country except under licence, so that home production may be encouraged?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Ely (Lieut.-Colonel Coates) on the 25th inst.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Michael Flint, 128, Holland Park Avenue, a master tailor who came to this country from Galicia in 1896; whether he is aware that the Department for the administration of Austrian property seeks to attach Flint's freehold house under the Reparations Clause of the Peace Treaties; and whether, in view of the fact that this man has been domiciled in this country for 27 years, that all his children are British born, and that according to Austrian law he ceased to be an Austrian many years ago, he will see that this man's property is not attached?

I am advised that, on the evidence furnished, Mr. Flint did not lose his Austrian nationality under the law of Austria by his absence from that country, and that his property is subject to the charge established under the Treaty of Peace. An application by him for release on the ground of necessitous circumstances has been before Lord Justice Younger's Committee, and on their recommendation a large part of the property has been released to him, but I regret that the claim that the remainder is not subject to retention cannot be accepted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of men certified as suffering from pitch cancer by those engaged in the manufacture of pitch and patent fuel during the past five years; how many have died of this disease during the same period; and how many employed in those industries have died in the same period from other forms of cancer; and whether, in view of the growth of this disease, he will make it obligatory on the manufacturers of these commodities to use mechanical appliances in the handling of pitch wherever possible?

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend to reply to this question. The numbers of men reported to the Factory Department as suffering from this disease during the five years 1918 to 1922 were as follow: In 1918, 23; in 1919, 10; in 1920, 25; in 1921, 18, and in 1922, 15. No fatal cases were reported in 1918 to 1920; two were reported in 1921, and one in 1922. Before 1920 the disease was not compulsorily notifiable under the Factory Act, but cases were notified under a voluntary arrangement. As the hon. Member will observe, the figures do not indicate any growth in the incidence of this disease. I regret that no information is available to show the number of deaths in these industries during the period in question from other forms of cancer. As regards mechanical appliances, I understand that these are generally used where practicable, but that they can only be used in a few operations. I am advised that the most effective precautions against this disease are great attention to personal cleanliness and periodic medical examination, and that' facilities to enable the worker to take these precautions have been arranged for at the instance of the Factory Department at all the works concerned.