asked the Minister of Labour (1) whether an inquiry has been held into the loss of a considerable sum of public money and the absconding of the finance clerk from the Clapham Junction Employment Exchange in December last; the nature of such inquiry; whether he is satisfied that it was as complete and impartial as the serious circumstances warranted;

(2) whether any complaints concerning the management of the Clapham Junction Employment Exchange have been brought to his notice?

The inquiries with regard to the theft from the Clapham Junction Employment Exchange last December, so far as they involved the possibility of criminal proceedings, were placed in the hands of the police authorities. A full inquiry was made by the Department into the question whether any officers at the Exchange, not suspected of complicity in the theft, should be held officially responsible on account of negligence or disregard of instructions. This inquiry was carried out in accordance with the procedure prescribed for this purpose and all officers whose conduct came under review were given full opportunity to state their side of the matter. I am satisfied that the inquiry was complete and impartial. I do not know to what complaints the hon. Member refers in his second question concerning the management of the Clapham Junction Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour, if he is aware of the continued bad trade in the woollen district of Morley; and what the number of unemployed were signing at the Employment Exchange in May, 1921, 1922, and 1923, males and females, respectively?

The number of unemployed persons in the woollen industry registered at the Morley Exchange at the dates mentioned were as follows: — Males. Females. Total. May, 1921 1,096 1,747 2,843 May, 1922 884 912 1,796 May, 1923 241 210 451 These figures indicate a substantial improvement since 1921 of trade in the Morley district.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the award of the industrial court regarding railway shopmen has now been put into operation on all the railways in Great Britain?

I understand that Award 728 of the Industrial Court regarding railway shopmen, which was issued prior to the amalgamation of the railway companies into groups, has been put into operation by the 16 companies who were parties to the Award. Since that time certain of the other companies have voluntarily put the Award into operation, whilst others have not yet done so.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the new street, the construction of which in the urban district of Southall-Norwood, in the County of Middlesex, by private individuals, has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Health, does not conform with the local bye-laws; and on what grounds it has been sanctioned?

This matter formed the subject of appeals to my Department under Section 24 (2) of the Housing, Town Planning, etc. Act, 1919. My Department was satisfied that the plans and specifications would involve departures from the bye-laws only to the like extent as in the case of plans and specifications approved by my Department in the case of a road or roads constructed in pursuance of the housing scheme of the local authority. The appeal I was accordingly allowed.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the present congestion of traffic in London streets, he will consider whether the Commissioner of Police could be given powers to discriminate between fast and slow moving traffic, with a view to diverting the latter from the main thoroughfares; what measures are necessary to confer these powers on the Chief Commissioner; what difficulties or objections, if any, stand in the way of conferring these powers on the Chief Commissioner; and, in view of the general public complaints of the congestion in London streets, will he seek to accelerate the conferment of such powers on the Chief Commissioner, and empower him subsequently to submit a scheme for approval to the Home Department to ameliorate the conditions of traffic in the Metropolitan area or the most congested districts?

I have been asked to answer this question. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 2nd July to my hon. Friend the Member for Acton (Sir H. Brittain), of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation to compel all motor transport owners allowed to carry people by hire to insure them against third-party risks; what is the general custom in respect to the large road passenger-carrying companies; and whether he is aware that at the present time many passengers injured through no fault of their own are not able to recover damages because of the inability of those responsible for the accidents, and uninsured, to pay them?

I have been asked to reply to this question. The desirability of legislation on the lines indicated in the question is one of the points covered by the terms of reference to the Departmental Committee on the Regulation of Hackney Vehicles, and will be dealt with in their Report. I understand that the large road passenger carrying companies insure against third-party risks unless their undertakings are sufficiently extensive to justify them in bearing the risks themselves. I am not aware that many cases arise of injury to passengers, through no fault of their own, where compensation cannot be obtained, though one or two have been brought to my notice.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the introduction of legislation, if this be necessary, to prohibit the use of the national flag for advertising purposes?

I am afraid that, I cannot undertake to do this at the present time.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the conflicting interpretations of the law as affects Sunday trading in food, tobacco, sweets, and the like; whether any official advice on the subject, and, if so, of what nature, is tendered to the police authorities; and whether he will consider the desirability of an inquiry into the whole question?

The law on this subject has been authoritatively laid down by the High Court in the case of the London County Council v. Gainsborough, which was decided in the King's Bench Division in April last. Since that decision there have not been, so far as I am aware, any conflicting interpretations and no official advice has been tendered either to the local authorities or to the police. The suggestion in the last part of the question will be borne in mind, but I do not propose to institute any inquiry at the present time.

asked the Minister of Health the percentage of deaths to cases of small-pox in each of the last five years, showing separately the figures for those vaccinated and those who had never been vaccinated?

As the protection afforded by vaccination diminishes with lapse of time, I have divided the

PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS TO CASES OF SMALL-POX. Year. Vaccinated. Unvaccinated. 10 years and under. Over 10 and under 40. 40 and over. 1918 … … … … — 3.4 3.4 Nil. 1919 … … … … — 0.6 3.2 20.8 1920 … … … … — 1.5 8.3 13.8 1921 … … … … — — 1.0 1.5 1922 … … … … — 0.4 4.1 1.6

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the danger that mild cases of small-pox may not be recognised as such, he will consider the issue of a statement instructing parents and others how incipient small-pox may be distinguished from chicken-pox?

My right hon. Friend does not consider that the issue of such a statement would be of advantage. It is the function of the medical practitioner in attendance upon a patient to distinguish incipient small-pox from chickenpox, and the services of the medical officer of health are at his disposal in assisting in the diagnosis of doubtful cases.

asked the Minister of Health whether he has explored the practicability of utilsing the commodious and almost entirely unused barracks at Newport, Mon., to temporarily relieve the shortage of housing accommodation in that borough?

I have been asked to reply. Certain barracks, amongst which are those at Newport, are temporarily vacant because circumstances do not at the moment permit of all units being at their permanent peace stations. The question of the permanent location of such units is now under consideration, and it is necessary to keep Newport Barracks ready for reoccupation at short notice. I regret, therefore, that they cannot be made available for general housing purposes.

deaths of vaccinated persons into age groups.

The figures are as follow:

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the total Vote for the Army and Navy, respectively, for the year 1913–14; and what is the total Vote proposed for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, respectively, for the financial year 1923–24?

The net figures are as follow:— 1913–14. £ Army 28,220,000 Navy (including Supplementary Estimate) 48,809,300 Total 77,029,300 1923–24. £ Army 52,000,000 Navy 58,000,000 Air Force 12,011,000 Total 122,011,000

To the latter figure should be added £7,529,800 provided on the Middle Eastern Vote for troops and Air Force personnel in Iraq and Palestine.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is intended that the additional charges involved in the proposed expansion of the Air Force shall be met by corresponding reductions in the money voted for the other services?

It is the intention of His Majesty's Government to have regard to the expenditure on national defence as a whole, and it will continue to be their earnest endeavour to effect every possible reduction of that expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the Dominions, Colonies, and principal countries have an Income Tax; and what is, approximately, the amount of the Income Tax in each case?

I shall be glad to lend my hon. Friend a proof copy of a forthcoming Stationery Office publication prepared by the Inland Revenue, which shows the British Dominions, Colonies, etc., in which an Income Tax is imposed and the general scheme of the tax and rates in force. No similar recent compilation exists as respects foreign countries, and in view of the variety of the schemes of graduated rates in the principal countries, e.g., Austria, Belgium, Czecho-Slovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States of America, Brazil. Japan, etc., I fear that I cannot give details of them within the limits of a Parliamentary answer.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what amount has been paid into the Sinking Fund during the quarter ending 30th June, 1923, and in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year?

The payments from the Exchequer during the quarter ended 30th June, 1923, for services for which the £40,000,000 New Sinking Fund, 1923, proposed in the Finance Bill will be applicable amounted to £12,980,000. During the quarter ended 30th June, 1922, the payments for corresponding services amounted to £13,186,000.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what amount has been received from the Beer Duty during the quarter ending 30th June, 1923, and for the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year?

The net amount received from Beer Duty in Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the quarter ended 30th June, 1923, and for the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year was as follows: Quarter ending 30th June, Total. £ 1923* 21,143,000 1922 20,721,934 * Figures for 1923 are approximate, and include the duty in respect of beer imported from the Irish Free State.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many cases have already been brought to the attention of the Public Prosecutor where it is alleged that 5 per cent. War Bond policies have been issued and premiums collected by the Prudential Assurance Company under similar circumstances to the case recently tried at Hull County Court, where this company was found guilty of obtaining money as the result of fraudulent misrepresentations?

I am informed that the Director of Public Prosecutions is inquiring into the evidence with regard to 11 cases in which the facts are alleged to be similar to those in the case referred to in the question of the hon. Member. I should add, however, that the statement in the latter part of the hon. Member's question, that "the company were found guilty of obtaining money as a result of fraudulent misrepresentations," is misleading, the fact being that the company were held by the learned County Court Judge to be civilly liable to refund the sums paid by the plaintiff to the agents of the company on the ground of the fraudulent misrepresentations of such agents; there is no evidence that the representations in question were made with the authority of the directors of the company.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury who was the official responsible for the arrangement made in 1912 resulting in the fact that the only security held by the War Office against the large deposits made with Messrs. McGrigor in respect of the salaries of military officers was £5,000 (nominal) Consols, representing an actual value of £2,800?

I have been asked to reply. The arrangements of 1912 were a continuation of those made in 1891, in which year it was decided, after full consideration of the subject by the War Office and Treasury, that it was unnecessary to take security on the part of the Government, but that the security then offered by McGrigor and other agents should be accepted in the interests of officers. In the circumstances I have not made research into the question of what Ministers or officials of that period (32 years ago) could be considered responsible for these arrangements.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of cases referred to arbitration under the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919, for the years ending the 31st December, 1919, 1920, 1921, and 1922, respectively, and the number of special cases referred to the High Court on questions of law arising out of such arbitrations?

I have been asked to reply. The numbers in the order of the years mentioned are: Cases referred to official arbitrators, nil, 197, 140, and 100. Special Cases, in 1919, nil, and one in each succeeding year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether it is proposed to dismiss that portion of the staff of the Land Valuation Office which shall become redundant as a result of the repeal of Section 4 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, or whether it is proposed gradually to absorb such officers into other Departments;

(2) the numbers of temporary and technical staff employed in the Land Valuation Office and the amount of the provision of £69,000 provided for this office in the 1923–24 Estimates which will be spent in the quarter ended 30th June;

(3) the terms of employment of the 113 first-class valuers, the 115 second-class valuers, and the 133 third-class valuers shown in this year's Estimates for Revenue Departments as employed in the Land Valuation Office; and the number of such valuers likely to be affected by the repeal of Section 4 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910?

First-class, second-class, and third-class valuers in the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue Department are established civil servants, and the appointments are subject to the conditions applicable to civil servants generally. The temporary technical and clerical staff employed in the Valuation Office numbers 402, and the remuneration paid to this staff for the quarter ended the 30th June, 1923, was, approximately, £16,500. As regards the remaining questions, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements made by the Prime Minister and myself in the Debate last Tuesday.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether paragraph 121 of the Report of the Departmental Committee of 21st June, 1921, relative to the promotion of competent and qualified temporary employés, is being carried out; and whether any vacancies are being filled by other persons from other Departments?

In view of the opportunities for securing permanent posts provided for the temporary staff under the recommendations of the Lytton Committee, no exceptional provision has been made for the establishment of employés of this Ministry. A few vacancies have been filled by the transfer of permanent civil servants from other Departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government is aware of any recent negotiations with the object of stabilising the franc?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the concessions already announced affecting the assessments for Income Tax, Schedule A, and Inhabited House Duty of dwelling-houses of the annual value of £20 and upwards, only apply to approximately 20 per cent. of the dwelling-houses in this country; and whether, seeing that the cost of maintaning 10 houses with a total annual value of £100 is greater than that of maintaining one house of the annual value of £100, and that approximately 40 per cent. of the dwelling-houses in this country have an annual value of not more than £10 and 66 per cent. of less than £15, he will see whether concessions equivalent to those already extended can be made to govern the assessments for Income Tax, Schedule A, in respect of all houses of lower annual rental value than £20?

My hon. Friend will recall that until this year the flat-rate allowance for repairs granted in the Income Tax assessments on houses was one-sixth of the annual value and that the allowance in the case of houses of annual value not exceeding £40 is being increased for the current year 1923–24 from one-sixth to one-fourth of the

TABLE shewing under types of areas the Number and Percentage of Local Education Authorities who have not provided a school Dental Service. — Counties (63). County Boroughs (82). Boroughs (128). Urban Districts (44). Total (317). Number … … … 16 12 33 12 73 Percentage … … … 25 15 26 27 23

The Board fully recognise the value of the school dental service, and proposals for the extension of this service will receive sympathetic consideration by the Board. I may add that the number of authorities who have approved schemes for dental treatment has nearly doubled since 1914.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that of 62 applications reported to the Leeds Education Committee at its May meeting as desiring appointment

value, while in the case of houses from £40 up to £100 annual value the increase is from one-sixth to one-fifth. In the instance given, the deduction from the 10 similar houses of a total annual value of £100 would be £25, as against an allowance of £20 from the houses of the annual value of £100. Moreover, an owner can always claim relief from tax on any excess of the cost of repairs and maintenance (on a five years' average) over these increased allowances. In these circumstances I see no ground for any further concessions in the direction suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the number and percentage of education authorities, counties, county boroughs, boroughs, and urban districts, respectively, who have not provided a school dental service; and, in view of the proved value of this service, what steps he proposes to take to secure its provision in the areas in which it is not already provided?

The following table gives the information asked for in the first half of the question:

under the Leeds education authority as bursars, with a view to entering the teaching profession, only six were from boys: and whether he contemplates taking any action that would encourage a better proportion of boys to take up the teaching?

I have not received any communication from the Leeds Education Committee on the subject mentioned. Applications for the appointment of bursars are not now required to be submitted for the Board's approval. The evidence at my disposal does not suggest that the supply of male teachers is at present so inadequate to the demand as to make it advisable for me to take action in the direction suggested pending the report of the Departmental Committee, which will, I hope, advise me on the whole question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to cases of schoolmasters who, but for service with His Majesty's forces, would have been granted their certificates earlier than 1919, and who will be unable to complete 30 years of service, as required under Section 1 (1) ( a ) of The School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, in consequence of the delay; and whether he proposes to introduce an amending Bill to bring such schoolmasters within the provisions of The School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918?

My attention has been called to certain cases of the kind referred to. I have not been able to examine all these cases, but I cannot assume that they intended before the War to enter the teaching profession, or that their entrance into it was postponed by reason of their War service. In any case, the hon. Member will understand that, pending the Report of Lord Emmott's Committee, it would be difficult for me to enter into any undertaking with regard to amending legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Education if, in view of the cases of hardship which have arisen by the rigid interpretation of paragraph 3 (IV) of Circular 1227 owing to the exceptional circumstances which prevailed after the War, especially the difficulty of getting into training colleges, he will modify the two years' limit and extend the time in cases where it can be shown that there was a bona-fide intention to proceed to acquire the certificate, but where circumstances prevented that intention being carried out in the time limit laid down in the Circular; and will he give special attention to any particular case of hardship which is submitted to him?

The whole matter is at present receiving my personal attention, and the hon. Member may be assured that I am fully alive to the special hardships which some of these cases involve. I shall be very glad to receive any representations he may wish to make.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction existing in the Eastern Central District Office regarding promotion of postmen to assistant head postmen; the principle upon which such promotions rest at that office; whether he is aware that men are appointed to higher posts regardless of seniority, and that men formerly considered as not possessing the requisite qualifications for promotion have recently been appointed, to posts as assistant head postmen, while many men junior in service have secured overseerhips; and whether he will state the average number of men passed over by officers who have been promoted during the last 12 months?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. All vacancies for assistant head postmen in the London Postal Service, whether in the Eastern Central District or elsewhere, are filled by the promotion of postmen selected from the whole of London. Merit and not seniority is the deciding factor in the selection; and the postmen selected for promotion are those who are considered to be the best qualified for the duties of the higher post. It necessarily happens on occasions that men passed over as not being the best qualified are subsequently selected for promotion, either on account of improvement on their part or the removal of stronger competitors. The average number of postmen passed over on the occasion of promotion to the assistant head postmen's class is about 750 out of more than 11,000 on the class.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the general meeting of the West India and Panama Telegraph Company on 6th June, 1923; and if it is the intention of the Government to take over the lines of the above-stated company, or to instal a new and competitive service?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative: as regards the second part of the question the alternative of taking over the West Indian and Panama Telegraph Company's system has been considered, but His Majesty's Government are advised that it would not be possible to acquire that system without at the same time acquiring certain engagements by which in their opinion it is most undesirable to be hampered.

asked the Secretary for Mines whether the Committee recently appointed to investigate the resources of the Yorkshire coalfield will be empowered to put down trial borings in unproved ground; and whether he will consider the possibility of arrangements whereby the geological survey would undertake to advise on the position of such borings and supervise their conduct on behalf of private owners at a moderate fee?

I have been asked to reply to this question. It is impossible at this early stage of the Committee's work to give a definite answer to the first part of the question. The Committee, however, is working in close touch with the Geological Survey, one of the functions of which is to advise on the position of borings in unproved ground. The Geological Survey cannot undertake to "supervise their conduct on behalf of private owners."

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of pensioners who are receiving medical treatment; how many of these are in military hospitals; how many are in general hospitals; how many are receiving home treatment; and, of the total number, how many are undergoing treatment which prevents them being employed in any occupation?

There are approximately 76,500 officers and men receiving treatment at the cost of my Department, of whom about 41,600 are prevented by the treatment from following their occupations. Of the total mentioned, 18 are in military hospitals, 3,650 are in general hospitals, and 9,300 are receiving home treatment. These figures do not include men receiving treatment, without allowances, from their panel practitioners, of whom I have no record.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any decision has yet been made regarding the pensions of certain retired officers, whose number is believed to be about 70, who were Regulars before the War, but who did not come under the re-assessment in 1919, as they were invalided out of the Service before they had served a sufficient time to come under the ordinary category?

I gather that the question relates to the re-assessment of the retired pay of officers who were retired for disablement before the Great War and who rejoined and served during the War. No decision has yet been reached, but the matter is under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have been in communication with the Government of the Irish Free State as regards the position of licensees of patents taken out to cover the United Kingdom; and, if so, what conclusions have been arrived at between the two Governments?

I have been asked to reply. The Government are in communication with the Irish Free State as to the course to be adopted by the latter as regards the granting of patents in future. In the meantime, so far as I am aware, the position of licensees under patents granted with validity throughout the United Kingdom has not been affected.

asked the Home Secretary what formalities are required from British subjects resident in the Free State when asking for passports; and is he aware that when an application was recently submitted by a colonel in the British Army for passports for himself and his sister he received his passport immediately, but that for his sister, then resident in the Metropolitan district, was submitted to the Irish Free State Government, as she had disclosed the fact that she was born and permanently resided at Lifford, in County Donegal?

I have been asked to answer this question. At the present time passports are issued to British subjects, who are resident in the Irish Free State, by the Passport Office in London on the recommendation of the Free State authorities, to whom the application for a passport should be made in the first instance; if such persons apply direct to the Passport Office in London, it is necessary to refer their cases to the authorities in Dublin. I hope, however, that in the next few weeks the Free State Government will be in a position to issue passports in Dublin in the same way as passports are issued by the other Dominions' Governments. As regards the second part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question, I am aware of the case to which he refers. The difference in treatment between the lady and her brother was due to the fact that, prima facie, the lady was domiciled in the Irish Free State and, in such cases, it is the practice of His Majesty's Government to grant passports only after consultation with the competent authority of the Irish Free State, in accordance with the usual procedure which obtains in regard to persons domiciled in a Dominion and only temporarily resident in this country; her brother, however, was, apparently, domiciled in this country, and, therefore, received his passport without delay in the usual manner.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to an order of the Inter-Allied Rhineland Commission that entry into occupied territory in Germany is to be closed to German citizens; and whether the British Representative on the Commission agreed to this order?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The order covers a period of 14 days from 1st July. The British Representative abstained from taking any part in the decision.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to address direct invitations to France, Italy, and America for a conference on the limitation of air forces or whether America has indicated its willingness to call such a conference?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave on the 2nd instant to the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Morel), which applies equally to a conference limited to a few Powers. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give for Great Britain, France, Italy, and Germany the following particulars: the number of squadrons in the Air Force, and the average number of machines per squadron, distinguishing, if possible, the types of squadron, the number of civilian machines certified as airworthy, the amount of money voted for the air service in each of the last three financial years for which the information is available, and the total personnel of the air service, distinguishing between flying officers and other ranks and the remainder of the personnel?

Sir S. HOARE: Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany is prohibited from possessing an air force, and as regards Italy, the whole air force of that country is in a process of re-organisation. I am, therefore, obliged to confine my answer, except so far as concerns civil aviation, to Great Britain and France.

In reply to the first and fourth parts of the question, the figures for this country are as follow: Number of squadrons, 36⅔; number of machines per squadron, 10 to 12; the total number of officers in the Royal Air Force is 2,990, of whom by far the greater number may be classed as flying personnel. The number of airmen is 26,835.

As regards France, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to the right hon. Member for South Molton (Mr. Lambert) on the 28th February last and to the Noble Lord the Member for South Battersea (Viscount Curzon) on the 28th March last.

In reply to the second part of the question, the number of British registered aeroplanes possessing certificates of airworthiness is 100. No similar information is available as regards France, Italy or Germany.

As regards the third part of the question, as far as Great Britain is concerned, I would refer the hon. gallant Member to the Air Estimates As regards France, it is impossible to give the total figures voted on account of Air Services, as a great part of these are included in other Votes, from which it is impossible to extricate them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Ceylon Government discriminates against posts held under another government and penalises a pensioner for taking a non-pensionable government teaching post by suspending, wholly or in part, a pension earned in Ceylon, whereas the pension would be paid in full if the pensioner held a precisely similar post at, for example, a university; and whether the Secretary of State suggested a modification of the Colonial pensions regulations to obviate unfairness, which was accepted by most Colonies other than Ceylon?

The Ceylon Government makes no discrimination of this nature. The regulation whereby a pensioner who accepts further public employment is not allowed to draw pension in excess of an amount which, when added to his new emoluments equals his former emoluments in Ceylon is based on Section 20 of the Imperial Superannuation Act, 1834, which applies to similar cases in this country, and regulations to the same effect are to be found in the pension rules of most Colonial Governments. A suggestion was put forward and adopted by several Colonial Governments that the rule should be relaxed so that pensions based on pre-War salary should not be reduced unless the total of pension and new emoluments was in excess of the former emoluments, plus 50 per cent. The Government of Ceylon deferred consideration of the proposal pending the Report of a Commission then sitting, and is being invited to arrive at a decision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the proposal to close down the operations of the Fleetwood fishing steamers on the ground that prices have ceased to be remunerative; whether, during the past week, the average selling price was 1d. per lb. while the cost of catching the fish was 3d.; and whether he has any information showing the average retail prices to the public during this period?

I am aware that a few days ago the question of laying up a proportion of the vessels fishing from Fleetwood on the ground that their working was unremunerative was considered at a meeting of Fleetwood fishing vessel owners and managers. With regard to the second part, according to the returns collected by the Ministry, the average price of fish landed at Fleetwood in the week ending 30th June was 2.02d. per lb. I have no means of calculating the actual cost of catching this fish. With regard to the third part of the question, I regret that I have no information showing the average retail prices to the public during that week.