asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to appoint a consular official in Iraq to safeguard the interests of British traders in that country?

Consular functions in Iraq are at present undertaken by the High Commissioner. The appointment of a consular representative at Basrah is under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present political situation in Iraq; and when it is proposed to hold the elections?

The Secretary of State was recently informed by the High Commissioner that the Iraq Government considered the political situation to be such as to admit of the elections being held at an early date. I understand that preliminary measures are now being taken, but I am unable to state on what date the elections will actually be held?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the full available facts regarding the recent seizure at Hong Kong of eight tons of smuggled Persian opium; and whether, seeing that Sir John Jordan stated at the Geneva meeting of the Advisory Committee on Traffic in Opium that he knew the company which had shipped the opium and the name of the vessel which had conveyed it, he will say what action the British Government has taken in the whole matter?

The facts, as reported by the Governor of Hong Kong, are as follow: On the 17th of January the Hong Kong police received information that a fishing boat lying at anchor near a small island in the waters of the Colony had a quantity of arms and ammunition on board, and that the occupants were acting as watchmen on a cave where opium was concealed. Acting on this information, the police proceeded to the island, arrested the occupants of the boat, in which were found two mauser pistols, some ammunition, and a pair of binoculars, and then searched the island. They discovered 8½ tons of raw Persian opium packed in flour bags each containing eight parcels of 5 lbs. This is the ordinary packing for retail purposes. No information has yet been obtained as to the persons responsible for the importation of the opium, and police proceedings against the persons in charge of the boat failed to obtain a conviction so far as charges connected with the opium were concerned, although one of these persons was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of five years on a charge of being in illegal possession of arms. His Majesty's Government has at present no evidence of the name of the company which shipped the opium, or of the vessel which had conveyed it, and is not, therefore, in a position to take action against any firm; and I understand that no information has been supplied by Sir J. Jordan. The traffic in opium between the Persian Gulf and the Far East has been engaging the attention of the Hong Kong Government and the Imperial Government for a considerable time, as it has frequently been carried on under the cover of bogus declarations of clearance from foreign ports to Singapore and Hong Kong. Endeavours are being made to cope with this traffic, and suggestions have been made to the Hong Kong Government for strengthening the local law on the subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if any private tenders were received to build the Sekondi-Kumassi Railway at a lower rate than that at which the line was constructed departmentally; and whether he can inform the House what action, if any, was taken in respect to such private offers?

Such examination as I have been able to make of the papers on this subject, now over a quarter of a century old, do not reveal that anything in the nature of a tender for the construction of the Sekondi-Kumassi line was received. Various tentative offers for the construction of railways in that part of the Colony were made, and the reason for rejecting them appears to have been that they involved conditions which were inadmissible, such as extensive land grants, guarantees of interest, or mileage bonuses from the Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether a scheme for Imperial preference has been elaborated by His Majesty's Government for presentation to the Imperial Conference or the Imperial Economic Conference; and, if so, whether it will first be laid before Parliament?

No, Sir; but, as has already been announced, preference will be one of the subjects of discussion at the Conference. It is not possible for me to make any statement on the subject in advance of the Conference.

asked the Prime Minister whether any information was given to exprisoners from Ruhleben in regard to the possibility of obtaining compensation for illegal detention; on what principle grants were made; why certain individuals who had been prisoners at Ruhleben from 1914 to 1918 received no grants; whether it is proposed to make grants to those who have been overlooked; and whether he can say out of what funds grants were made and what is the total amount of money that has been paid to ex-prisoners who were detained in Germany during the War?

I have been asked to reply. Detention in Germany during hostilities is not one of the grounds on which compensation can be claimed under the Peace Treaty; maltreatment during internment, however, and being forced to work without just remuneration are grounds for compensation. I am not aware that ex-prisoners from Ruhleben, or any other British subjects, were individually informed about the possibility of making claims. The principles on which grants were made are set forth in the First Report of the Royal Commission on Compensa- tion for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action, and in a statement by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Birmingham (Mr. A. Chamberlain) in an answer given on 4th May, 1920, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a claim for compensation was lodged at the end of 1919 in respect of the fishing boat "Maggie Smith," of Arbroath, sunk by enemy action on 8th February, 1918; whether this claim has been, along with others, transferred from one Department of State to another but without any settlement having been made; and whether, having regard to the hardship imposed upon the owner of this vessel, he can cause this and other claims to be considered without further loss of time?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Royal Commission was appointed in August, 1921, and delivered its Interim Report on Life and Health Claims in January of this year. It is now dealing with property claims, of which there are some 12,000, and every effort is being made to expedite its further Report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any special exemption is made in this country in the case of former enemy nationals who are also British subjects, in deference to the judgment of the Lord Chancellor in the recent case of Kram v. the Attorney-General?

Any application for the release of property belonging to former enemy nationals who are also British subjects, which the House of Lords decided, in the case of Kramer v. the Attorney-General, was subject to the charge under the Peace Treaties, will receive consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the limits of the powers conferred upon the Necessitous Aliens Committee in recommending the exemptions from the charge imposed by the Peace Treaties upon the properties, rights, and interests of former enemy nationals in this country; and whether any other exempting authority has been constituted?

Under their terms of reference, the Committee are authorised to recommend the release of property, subject to the charge, to the following limits: (1) In the case of an ex-enemy national now resident in the United Kingdom, property to the value of £1,999. (2) Where such ex-enemy national was the owner of a business carried on in this country before the War which was wound up under the Trading with the Enemy Acts, and such owner is now resident in this country, the Committee may recommend the release of a sum not exceeding £5,000 if the Committee are satisfied that it is desirable in the national interest that the owner should resume business. (3) To German nationals formerly resident in the United Kingdom but now resident elsewhere, property to the value of £500. (4) To other ex-enemy nationals formerly resident in the United Kingdom but now resident elsewhere, property to the value of £200.

In addition to the property referred to, the Committee are authorised to recommend the release of income up to a reasonable amount.

No other authority has been constituted to recommend the release of the property of ex-enemy nationals in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any and, if so, what exemptions have been granted by the United States and/or Belgium from the charges imposed by the Peace Treaty upon the property, rights, and interests of former enemy nationals within their respective territories; whether any such exemption extends to American or Belgian women subjects who had become enemy nationals only by reason of marriage; and whether any similar exemption has been granted in this country in favour of British-born women in the same case?

I understand that in the case of the United States the property of former enemy nationals is being released up to an amount of $10,000 in each case. The property of an American-born woman to which she is entitled in her own right is, I understand, also being released where her marriage to an ex-enemy national took place before the 6th April, 1917. In the case of Belgium, the property of a Belgian-born woman to which she is entitled in her own right is being released where the marriage to a former enemy national took place before the 4th August, 1914. It is the practice to release the property of British-born women, formerly married to ex-enemy nationals, who as widows or divorcees have been re-naturalised as British subjects.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the Government instructional factory at Wimbledon is being closed on 30th July, 1923; and what arrangements have been made to dispose of the foundry, which forms part of the instructional plant?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The foundry, together with the buildings, will, as in other similar cases, be handed over to His Majesty's Office of Works for disposal.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the resident engineer responsible for the reconstruction of the City and South London tube railway, upon which work has been stopped as a result of a dispute, recently applied for the services of a gang of men to enable him to keep the tunnel in a safe condition; whether his Department has inquired into the cause of the dispute; and, if not, will he take immediate steps to endeavour to bring about a settlement in the interest of the travelling public and of the workmen involved in the dispute?

I understand that the Civil Engineering Construction Conciliation Board has considered the position and is prepared to give a hearing to the representatives of the men concerned, and to consider their case provided that work is resumed. My right hon. Friend does not think, therefore, that it is desir- able that he should take any action in the matter. With regard to the first part of the question, I should refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 28th June by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport to the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. McEntee).

asked the Minister of Labour what steps have been taken by his Department to bring to an end the dispute between the contractor and the men who were doing the work of reconstruction on the City and South London tube railway; whether he is aware that the men's representatives are willing to meet the contractors to discuss the matters in dispute with a view to arriving at a settlement if possible; and whether he will take steps if possible; and whether he will take steps to induce the contractors to agree to this offer so that an effort may be made to bring the dispute to a close?

I understand that the Civil Engineering Construction Conciliation Board has considered the position, and is prepared to give a hearing to the representatives of the men concerned, and to consider their case provided that work is resumed. I do not think, therefore, it is desirable that I should take any action in the matter.

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of men in receipt of pensions in Northern Ireland; what is the number of men in receipt of treatment with allowances; whether there is only one war pensions committee in the region; whether there is a chief area officer; whether there is an acting regional director who is also commissioner of medical services; whether there is a regional awards officer and a regional finance officer, whose duty it is to report on any excessive expenditure on administration; whether he has submitted any report on the cost of administering this one area, and, if so, has any action been taken on the report; what is the cost of administration in the Northern Ireland region, and what is the cost per year per pensioner; and whether the sickness grants to the widows and orphans of deceased service men are to be discontinued in the region?

Approximately 15,000 men are in receipt of pensions in the region administering Northern Ireland, about 980 of whom are at present receiving treatment with allowances. The answer to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the seventh part, no special report has been received, but the question of effecting economy in administration is constantly under review in the light of periodical returns of cost. The approximate annual cost of administration is £56,000, which is equal to about 20s. for each beneficiary under the Royal Warrant, of whom there are some 52,000. As regards the last part of the question, the position as regards Northern Ireland does not differ from that elsewhere.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that, by the Government of Burma Financial Department Notification No. 24, of 25th March, 1920, a special Burma allowance for 10 years, from 20th March, 1920, was sanctioned by the Secretary of State for officers of departments not recruited in Burma to meet the extra cost of living in Burma, and that this allowance has only been paid to officers of the Burma military police from 1st October, 1922; and if he will communicate with the Government of India or the local Government with a view to securing the payment of the allowance to officers of the Burma military police, as to officers of other departments, from the date from which it was sanctioned?

Having made inquiry, as promised in my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend on the 3rd August last, I have ascertained that the grant of Burma allowances to British officers of the Burma military police had effect as stated from the 1st October last. The local Government, acting within their financial powers, considered whether the allowances should be granted from an earlier date, but were unable to do so owing to the heavy expenditure which this would have involved. My Noble Friend is communicating further with the Government of India.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in connection with the projected expansion of the Royal Air Force, it is intended to make use of stations developed during the War and subsequently closed down?

The location of the new home defence squadrons is at present being carefully considered, and wherever it is more economical to do so, those War stations, which are still suited to the requirement of the Air Force, will be reopened. I am not, however, at present in a position to give particulars.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will grant a return showing the total strength of the Army, the number of vaccinations or revaccinations performed on soldiers, and the number of vaccinations or revaccinations performed per 1,000 strength, for each year from 1914 to 1922; and the number of vaccinations and revaccinations performed on soldiers outside the British Isles?

I regret that figures cannot be given for 1914–1920, and those for 1922 are not yet available. The figures for 1921 are: Total strength of the Army 239,525 Number of vaccinations or revaccinations performed on soldiers 59,906 Number of vaccinations or revaccinations performed per 1,000 strength 250.10 Number of revaccinations and revaccinations performed on soldiers outside the British Isles 19,369

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proportion of the proceeds of the British Government loan to the Czarist Government was despatched to Russia up to 7th November, 1917; what was the value of the proceeds of the loan in the form of warlike or non-warlike stores taken over by the Disposal Board after 7th November, 1917; what was the value of the proceeds of the loan in the form of warlike and non-warlike stores despatched to Koltchak, Yudenitch, and Wrangel; has the debt against the Russian Government been reduced by the value of the proceeds of the loan taken over by the Disposal Board and the value of all stores sent to Koltchak, Yudenitch, Denekin, and Wrangel; and for what proportion of the loan does His Majesty's Government hold the Soviet Government responsible?

As regards the first part of the question, I regret that I cannot add anything to the information contained in a reply given to the hon. Member on the 12th March last; the value of stores taken over by the Disposal Board was £24,239,135, which has been credited to Russia; no part of the loan to the Imperial Government was used to finance the supply of stores to Koltchak, Yudenitch, Denekin or Wrangel, and consequently no reduction in the debt is required in respect of such stores. His Majesty's Government hold that the full amount of the loans to the late Imperial Government is a liability of the present, as it is of any future Russian Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Commissioner who was sent out to Constantinople has completed his task; if so, what is the total sum which ranks as pre-War claims and how are they to be settled; what is the total amount of claims which rank under Annex I to Part VIII of the Treaty of Versailles and for which Germany is responsible; can payment be made forthwith to claimants under this head; what is the total which ranks against Turkey alone; and will His Majesty's Government, taking into consideration the hardships and financial condition of British claimants which have existed since November, 1914, proceed forthwith to make payments out of the amount due by the Government for the two Dreadnoughts belonging to Turkey and seized in August, 1914?

I have been asked to reply. With regard to the first part of the question, the Commissioner has not yet completed his task, and I cannot yet give the information asked for in the second, third and fifth parts. As regards the fourth part, claims in respect of personal injury in Turkish territory are covered by the First Report of the Royal Commission, and awards in these cases have already been paid, or will be paid shortly. Claims in respect of damage to property are being dealt with as indicated in my answer to the hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr. R. Morrison) on 18th June, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. It will not be possible to make any payments in advance unless a claimant proves that he is in necessitous circumstances. As regards the last part I would refer to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for Deritend (Mr. Smedley Crooke) on 25th June, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement on the position of the negotiations for peace with Turkey at Lausanne?

No. Sir. I must adhere for the present to the reply given to the hon. Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. D. Somerville) on the 2nd of May.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that last week a local tradesman applied to the Grimsby County Court Office for the necessary form that an application might be made for a judgment summons, and the officials informed him that the stock of these forms was exhausted and that they were not now allowed to obtain these from their local printers, but an order to the Stationery Office had been sent some time ago; and, in view of the fact that, owing to the inability to obtain the forms, the case cannot come up until September, can steps be taken to allow the County Court officials throughout the country to order their forms as hitherto from private firms?

It is the fact that on the 25th July the supply of printed forms of præcipe for judgment had run short at the Grimsby Court. This was clue, I am informed, not to the alteration in the method of supplying forms, but to an unexpected increase in the work of the Court. The incident caused no delay. It would have been possible, had any necessity existed, to supply a typewritten form, but the return day for July was already overcrowded. There are no August sittings, and September was the earliest possible date for dealing with the matter. The present system of supplying printed forms for use in County Courts throughout the country, which provides for the issue of stocks at short notice, works satisfactorily and effects very considerable economy, and I see no reason for making the change suggested in the question.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the statement published by him on Tuesday, 19th June, showing the basis on which house property is assessed to Schedule A, applies equally to the assessment to Schedule A of agricultural land both where the land is let and where it is occupied by the owner; and, if so, will the surveyors of taxes be instructed accordingly?

The principles explained in the statement referred to are applicable equally to land and to house property; this is made clear in the instructions which have already been issued to the inspectors of taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of revenue obtained through the instrumentality of the Entertainments Duty in 1922–23 from charges of admission not exceeding 3s.?

Exact information is not available, but the amount is estimated at about £8,600,00.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has received any communications from Poor Law guardians or other bodies or persons respecting the acceptance or otherwise of panel doctors' certificates for Poor Law relief cases; and whether he will issue such instructions to Poor Law authorities that panel doctors' certificates may be accepted?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative, and, as at present advised, I see no occasion for the revision of the existing Regulations on this subject.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, at the present time, many medical practitioners still employ the arm-to-arm method

— 1920. 1921. 1922. Amounts paid in benefits— £ £ £ In England … … … 17,570,000 20,099,000 20,513,000 In Scotland … … … 2,371,000 2,832,000 2,794,000 In wales … … … … 1,239,000 1,463,000 1,479,000 Cost of administration— In England … … … 4,178,000 4,472,000 4,012,000 In Scotland … … … 543,000 587,000 547,000 In Wales … … … … 325,000 360,000 322,000

Information in more detail is contained in the annual Reports of the several Departments already published and the forthcoming Report of the Ministry of Health for 1922–23.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average cost of materials employed in the construction of a house, within the limits of size and type laid down in the Housing (No. 2) Bill, for the years 1929, 1921, 1922, and at the present time?

of vaccination in private practice; and whether, in view of the serious risks attending that practice, he will consider the desirability of making representations to the medical profession on the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. My information is that comparatively few medical practitioners now employ this method of vaccination, and I scarcely think it necessary to make representations to the medical profession on the matter.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state, in regard to the amounts of income and expenditure in England, Scotland and Wales on behalf of National Health Insurance for the last three years, the actual amounts paid in benefits in each country named, and the actual cost of administration of the fund in each country named?

The particulars asked for are given in round figures in the following statement:

The prices submitted by local authorities do not distinguish between the cost of labour, materials, overhead charges, etc., and general average costs are not, therefore, available. It may, however, be estimated that if the costs of the material in a cottage in September, 1929, be taken as 100, the costs at subsequent periods may be compared as follow: September, 1920 100.0 June, 1921 84.3 March, 1922 64.2 February, 1923 59.1

asked the Minister of Health if, having regard to the increasing prevalence of and mortality from cancer in the British Isles, he will consider the advisability of initiating in every local area under his control special machinery to investigate and, if possible, discover its cause and cure, the expenses of such machinery to be defrayed by a local rate?

I am giving attention to the increasing prevalence of and mortality from cancer, and the action which central or local public health authorities may be able to take in the investigation of the cause and cure of this disease. As at present advised, however, I do not consider that the establishment in every area of special machinery financed out of local rates, as suggested in the question, would be desirable.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the total capital expenditure in connection with the Post Office wireless stations at Leafield, Cairo, Stonehaven, and Northolt, respectively?

The capital expenditure in connection with the wireless stations in question is, pared as follow: £ Leafield 115,000 Cairo 136,000 Northolt 43,000 Stonehaven 31,000

asked the Home Secretary in what manner young persons between the ages of 16 and 21 who were committed for trial at the assizes in 1921 were dealt with during the interval between their charging and trial?

Some would, no doubt, be admitted to bail during the whole or part of the time that the charge against them was pending, and the rest would be necessarily committed to prison, but I have no figures which I could give.