asked the Home Secretary whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the operation of Order No. 959, factory and workshop welfare, in respect of the oil mill workers employed by Messrs. Lever Brothers, in the Birkenhead area; whether he is aware that a claim made on behalf of such workers for protective clothing by way of overalls, agreed upon by employers and workpeople in the industry, has been ignored by the firm in question; and whether he will take the matter up with the firm so that the Order may be carried out in every detail and according to the custom prevailing in that district?

I have no information at present in regard to the matter referred to in this question. Inquiries will be made and the result communicated to the hon. Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government will place on the agenda for the coming Imperial Conference a resolution embodying the desirability of promoting legislation in this country and in the Dominions to enforce the payment of affiliation orders made in this country on men who have gone to other parts of the Dominions and vice versa ?

The question has been carefully considered, but in all the circumstances it is not contemplated that the matter should be brought before the Imperial Conference or the Imperial Economic Conference, on behalf of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if, seeing that the use by the Rutenberg Company in Palestine of oil engines for producing the energy to develop electric current is a breach of their monopoly agreement, he will inquire into this matter, and, if necessary, cancel the concessions?

I am not aware that any breach of agreement has taken place. I do not think it possible or necessary to take the action suggested in the last part of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now state the composition of the Committee which is to inquire into the utilisation of private enterprise in the development of the African Colonies; whether such Committee will take evidence; if so, whether such evidence will be drawn both from this country and from the colonies concerned; and whether it will be unofficial as well as official?

The chairman of the Committee referred to by the hon. Member will be Lord Ronaldshay, and the following have accepted an invitation to serve as members: My hon. Friends the Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster and the hon. Member for the Exchange division of Manchester (Sir E. Stockton), Sir James Stevenson, G.C.M.G., who is Commercial Adviser to the Secretary of State, Sir William Mercer, and Mr. C. E. Gunther. I have not yet received replies from Sir William Acworth, Sir Frederick Lugard, and Mr. E. E. Peacock, of whom the two first-named are at present on the Continent. The answer to the second and third and last parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the case of railways or other public works being constructed departmentally, he will have a detailed estimate prepared in each case before the work is commenced, showing the estimated cost of each unit and a record kept of the actual cost as the work proceeds, for comparison with the estimate and with the cost of similar works carried out by contractors, so that this House can from time to time obtain information enabling it to check the expenditure of Colonies' money by the Colonial Office?

I think my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension in this matter. Detailed estimates of expenditure on public works are always prepared for the information of Colonial Governments before such works are undertaken and records are kept of actual expenditure. My right hon. Friend will readily furnish such information as is available in regard to expenditure on specified Colonial public works; but he cannot agree that a general practice of communicating estimates to this House rather than to the Colonial Legislatures immediately responsible would be practicable, while it would certainly tend to weaken the responsibility of the Colonial Governments and their officers for the detailed control of such expenditure.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what number of firms and local authorities are now upon the King's Roll; how many are there who are qualified to belong; and how many have and have not renewed their undertaking;

(2) in how many counties have county King's Roll committees been set up; and how soon does he expect that all counties will have such a committee?

The King's Roll National Council have recently made an interim report, which my right hon. Friend hopes to make available for hon. Members at an early date, in which they describe the present position of the King's Roll, and deal particularly with the question of enrolment of local authorities. I may mention that there are now 27,890 names on the Roll, of which 1,267 are those of local authorities. Invitations to form King's Roll committees have been confined so far to the large municipal areas. In 222 areas either a King's Roll committee or a subcommittee of the Local Employment Committee, with which the head of the local authority is closely associated, has been formed, and I have no reason to suppose that the ground is not covered in a satisfactory manner.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the position of representative of the British Clearing Office at Vienna was occupied until recently by an ex-service man; that this position has now been filled by the appointment of Mr. J. T. A. Haines, who is a non-service man; that Mr. Haines was, until his appointment at Vienna, regarded by the Board of Trade as indispensable in his then position of chief claims clerk at the Clearing Office (enemy debts); that the position of chief claims clerk has now been filled by Mr. H. J. Hickleton, who is also a non-service man; and that there are many ex-service men in the Clearing Office (enemy debts) who are competent for the posts to which Mr. Haines and Mr. Hickleton have been appointed as aforesaid; and why have the claims of ex-service men been disregarded in these cases?

I am aware of the facts stated in the first four parts of the question. The appointments referred to were made after the most careful consideration of the qualifications of possible candidates, having special regard to the prior claim of ex-service men. It was not found that there were any ex-service officials available who possessed either the experience in Clearing Office matters or the other qualifications regarded as essential for the posts in question. The position to which the first officer mentioned in the question has been promoted is of greater importance than that previously held by him, and it was necessary, in the interests of the Department, to transfer him to the more important post.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware of the sleeping, housing, working, and wage conditions of certain ex-service men emigrated to the province of Victoria, Australia; whether he is aware that great dissatisfaction exists among these men; whether he is aware that conditions are bad and the employment itself unsuitable for these men; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the matter and take steps so that the true facts may be brought to the notice of other intending emigrants?

The information which I have received does not bear out the statements contained in the hon. Member's question. I have every reason to think that the conditions of the new settlers in Victoria are satisfactory, except perhaps in isolated cases; but if the hon. Member has any special cases in mind, and will furnish me with particulars, I shall be happy to inquire into them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the total number of ex-service men who have for any cause left the holdings on which they were settled by the various county councils of England and Wales, and the percentage they form of the total number of ex-service men settled?

I regret that the Ministry has no detailed information available at present to supplement the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on the 16th inst. I am, however, obtaining at the present time the necessary particulars from all councils, and will arrange to send the hon. Member the information he requires shortly after the end of the present month.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that no retail prices of food commodities are printed in the July "Labour Gazette" for 1914 with the exception of bread; and will he include information making it possible for the wage-earners and others to compare the retail food prices for July, 1914, and July, 1923?

The average retail prices of food in July, 1914, as used for the cost of living statistics, have been printed in every month's issue of the "Labour Gazette" since April, 1919. In the present month's issue they appear on page 243.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the pessi- mistic reports on the trade outlook, he anticipates that the funds at the disposal of the National Unemployment Insurance Fund will be sufficient to meet all requirements prior to the re-assembling of Parliament in the late autumn?

Yes, Sir; I anticipate that the funds will be fully sufficient to provide all the benefit payable during the period mentioned.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed persons, showing men and women separately, who were

Employment Exchange Area. 18th December, 1922. 25th June, 1923. Men. Women. Men. Women. Richmond 1,512 154 1,125 169 Wimbledon 839 70 507 119 Guildford 506 47 285 50 Woking 339 34 207 30 Cranleigh 42 2 11 7 Godalming 188 9 59 7 Haslemere 58 7 33 1 Kingston-on-Thames 1,636 201 997 210 Weybridge 492 22 131 26 Redhill and Reigate 254 30 106 16 Dorking 104 5 34 7 Sutton 489 44 255 71 Epsom 69 8 81 15 Leatherhead 90 12 91 12 Camberley 243 6 182 11 Total for Surrey excluding Croydon and Caterham Valley 6,861 651 4,104 751 Owing to the fact that unemployed persons do not necessarily register at the same Exchanges as those from which their unemployment books were issued, it is not possible to give reliable percentages of unemployment for these small areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if it is proposed during the coming winter months to renew the grants for drainage work carried out to relieve unemployment?

The whole question of unemployment relief works for the coming winter, including those to which the hon. Member refers, is now under consideration by His Majesty's Government.

registered as unemployed in each of the local government areas of Surrey, excluding Croydon, on 31st December, 1922, and 30th June, 1923, respectively, and the percentage of unemployed males in the total number of male insured persons on both dates in each area?

The following table shows the number of men and women on the live registers of Employment Exchanges in the County of Surrey at the nearest available dates to those given in the question. It is not possible to give the figures for each local government area as these areas are not co-terminous with those of the Employment Exchanges.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if, for the purposes of the harvest, it will be possible temporarily to absorb any of the existing unemployment in the towns; and, if so, whether arrangements are being made for this to be carried out?

So far as I am aware, no shortage is anticipated in the supplies of labour for this year's harvest, and there consequently appears to be no occasion for the consideration of any such arrangements as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has any information that the French authorities are now releasing all goods consigned to British buyers from the Ruhr and seized by them in January last; and whether any compensation is to be paid to such British buyers for losses sustained by the detention?

I am informed that the issue of export licences for goods ordered in the Ruhr by British traders prior to 1st February, in cases where the purchaser made application for a licence not later than 30th June, is proceeding satisfactorily. So far as I am aware, the answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he has any information as to the respective amounts of British and American capital invested in Canada in land, agriculture, and industry; and, if so, can it be made available?

I have no official figures on this subject, and it is doubtful whether any are available. I am, however, asking His Majesty's Trade Commissioner in Montreal to furnish a report on British and American capital investments in Canada.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if the tower at Wembley is being proceeded with?

I understand that the project will not be proceeded with.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that no written confirmation has yet been received from M. Bratiano and/or His Excellency M. N. Titutesco respecting the arrangement about the trade debts due to British firms from Rumanian debtors; and will he request official confirmation from the Rumanian authorities responsible for the arrangements?

I understand that the representatives of the British creditors who have been discussing this question with M. Bratiano, have received asurances on the subject through the Rumanian Legation, and His Majesty's Minister at Bucharest has been instructed to obtain formal confirmation from the Rumanian Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information in regard to the new tariff changes in the Argentine Republic; and how they will affect British trade?

There have been no recent changes of importance in the Argentine customs tariff, but certain proposals for amending it are now before the Argentine Parliament. I am sending my hon. Friend a notice published on page 57 of the "Board of Trade Journal" for the 12th July, which contains the information in my possession.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of cotton bales imported into Great Britain in 1913 and 1922 from the United States of America and the number of cotton bales exported from this country to the United States of America?

I am unable to state the numbers of bales of cotton imported from or exported to the United States of America since, in order to secure uniformity in the records, quantities of raw cotton are required to be stated on importation or exportation in centals of 100 pounds. The registered imports and exports are as follow:

— Year 1913. Year 1922. Centals of 100 lbs. Centals of 100 lbs. Imports of Raw Cotton into the United Kingdom from the United States of America 15,847,695 9,130,396 Re-exports of Raw Cotton (Foreign and Colonial Merchandise) from the United Kingdom to the United States of America. 818,108 385,190

The figures for 1913 are inclusive and those for 1922 are exclusive, of linters and unmanufactured waste cotton. The total imports from all countries of these articles in 1922 amounted to 583,809 centals and the re-exports to 35,638 centals.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his Department has received, during the last six months, any instances of cancelled contracts between Chinese and British traders and Japanese and British traders; and, if so, what are the reasons in each case?

Three cases have been brought to my notice in which disputes have arisen between British and Chinese or Japanese firms. Such matters are reported to me in confidence, and I regret, therefore, that I cannot supply my hon. Friend with details of the points at issue.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the Report on the inquiry into the loss of the ss. "Trevessa"?

As the witnesses have not yet arrived in this country, it would be unsafe to estimate when the inquiry will be concluded, but there will be no avoidable delay.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the continuing nuisance and damage caused around the coasts by the discharge of oil into the sea; whether any steps are being taken by his Department to enforce the provisions of the Oil in Navigable Waters Act; and, if not, whether he will take immediate action to enforce the Act with a view to mitigating the damage to property and to the fishing industry?

Attention has been called to the nuisance caused by oil at certain places round the coast. Section 7 (4) of the Act indicates the authorities and persons who may institute proceedings under the Act, but it must be remembered that from the nature of the case it may not always be easy to obtain the necessary evidence. The Act is not one which is enforced by officers of the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount of new capital raised by the railway companies since the year 1918?

The net figures of capital expenditure and receipts of the railway companies of Great Britain for the years 1919 and 1922 were as. follows: Capital Expenditure. Capital Receipts. £ £ 1919 … … 1,914,210 284,643 1920 … … 5,218,719 428,541 1921 … … 5,106,690 97,754 1922 … … 3,575,405 4,883,012

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Lord Sumner's Commission in their first Report described the funds placed at their disposal for meeting reparation claims as inadequate; if £5,690,000 has been paid to the Exchequer by Germany, in addition to £223,000,000 paid for distribution between the Allies; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government will consider dealing more generously with these cases?

I am aware of the fact stated in the first part of the question; with regard to the second part of the question, Great Britain is debited in the accounts of the Reparation Commission as having received on reparation account, as at 31st December, 1922, 113,817,000 gold marks or, say, £5,690,000. The sums debited to the other Allies were 2,230,000,000 gold marks, or £111,500,000, of which some £72,000,000 went to Belgium for her priority. In reply to the last part of the question, I would refer to the reply which I gave on the 3rd May to the hon. Member for York (Sir J. Butcher).

asked the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that the working of the Pacific cable last year gave a credit balance of over £200,000, the profits of the undertaking are now sufficient to allow the reduction of cable rates provided for in the agreement between the four Governments concerned?

My right hon. Friend has no control over the Pacific Cable Board, which consists of representatives of the four Governments who are partners in the undertaking. He understands, however, that the cable is fully occupied, and could not carry the additional traffic which would be attracted by a reduction of rates; and that in these circumstances the Board consider it necessary in the first place to use the financial balances of the last few years in order to provide additional accommodation. He understands further that they propose to consider the question of a reduction of rates as soon as there is accommodation for a substantial increase of traffic.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to a proposal of the Italian Government for an international conference under the auspices of the League of Nations to consider the whole question of telegraphy and radio-telegraphy; and whether it is the intention of the Government, in view of the importance to British trade of the improvement and extension of all forms of communication, to associate itself with this movement and to notify the Council of the League of its willingness to co-operate?

My right hon. Friend's attention has been called to the proposal in question, which was considered last week by a conference of French, Italian and British specialists held under the auspices of the League of Nations. In view of proposals which had already been made by the French Government for the summoning of a general International Conference to cover the same ground, it was decided to postpone action until October, with a view to ascertaining whether there then appears to be a reasonable prospect of the Conference contemplated by the French Government being held in the first half of next year. If not, the French, Italian and British specialists will meet again in order to consider what action should be taken on the Italian proposals.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been directed to the result of the test case between his Department and the Liverpool Corporation (House of Lords, 22nd June), in which it was held that Post Office wires laid in close contiguity to corporation electric cables by his Department were so laid at his Department's risk in regard to possible damage; and whether a claim for damages under precisely similar circumstances against the Bradford Corporation of £59 9s. 3d., and paid by them under protest, will now be refunded?

The answer to the first portion of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part, a claim from the Bradford Corporation for refund- ment is receiving careful consideration, but my right hon. Friend cannot admit that the circumstances of the two cases were similar.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if he can make a statement as to how far the position of the Turkish Petroleum Company's concession has been affected by the Turkish Peace Treaty, in view of the more recent concession granted by the Turkish Government to Admiral Chester; and what is the present position?

There is no special provision dealing with the Turkish Petroleum Company's concession in the Turkish Peace Treaty, and its claims remain in exactly the same legal position as before the Lausanne Conference. The present position is that His Majesty's Government regard all the obligations undertaken by the Turkish Government in 1914 in regard to the Company's concession as binding on the Turkish Government in any territory remaining to Turkey as a result of the Peace Treaty.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that an English company, known as the Corporation for the Economic Development of Turkey, Limited, has been, or is to be, granted exclusive or monopoly rights over all Turkish exports and imports; and what effect, if any, will these arrangements have on the present position of the Ottoman debt?

I have no information beyond what has appeared in the Press, and am not in a position, therefore, to reply to the second part of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that 1,000 immigrants are at present detained in Ellis Island and in view of the great discomfort to passengers and the expense to which the shipping lines are being put, he will consider approaching the United States Government with the suggestion that it would be of the greatest advantage to all concerned if everyone to whom the American Consular Agents granted visas should be guaranteed admission to the United States and that the Consular Agents should be responsible that the monthly quotas were not exceeded?

His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Washington has already been instructed to ask the United States Government whether it is to be inferred, from a statement recently issued to the Press by the United States Consul-General in London, that the system suggested in the question will henceforth be adopted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the number of British subjects now detained at Ellis Island for trying to land in the United States; and whether the number shows an increase over previous figures?

I must refer my noble and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Richmond on the 9th inst.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any representative of His Majesty's Government in the Republic of Georgia; and, if not, what are the sources of information of His Majesty's Government on conditions in that country?

His Majesty's Government have no representative in Georgia, but they are in possession of trustworthy information as to the conditions prevailing there. The sources of such information are too numerous and varied to be exhaustively specified in answer to a question, especially as they are not always of equal value, and require to be carefully collated and analysed. They include statements by reliable persons who have recently been in the country or are in touch with residents there; and when a number of independent reports are found to be in agreement in recording the same occurrences, there is no reason to doubt their substantial accuracy.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to the attitude of King Fuad described in his statement on the 17th May, he is satisfied that the new Constitution will adequately protect Egyptian liberties?

Yes, Sir; and I welcome this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the statesmanship displayed by His Majesty during the political developments of the last few months.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has receied any information as to an alleged attack by Chinese pirates on the British steamer "Fuh-Wo" on the Yang-Tse-Kiang; whether he will communicate to the House any particulars he may have received; and what steps the Government proposes to take to protect British property and British nationals from the constant repetition of such outrages?

I have no confirmation of the alleged attack on a British steamer, but His Majesty's Minister at Peking has been asked for a report by telegraph.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the fact that a number of British subjects who, when resident in Russia, responded to the appeal of the British chaplain in Moscow and advanced money for the assistance of British prisoners detained in Russian prisons, are now unable to obtain from the Government repayment of the advances made by them, and are compelled, since their repatriation to this country, to apply to the guardians for relief consequent on the Government's delay in dealing with their cases; the number of persons who have thus been compelled to apply for such relief, and what steps he proposes to take to meet their present financial straits; whether the Government is now in a position to deal with these oases on similar lines to the judgment delivered in the Court of Appeal in Mr. Broadman's case; and what explanation is offered as to the delay in dealing with these cases?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the suffering caused to many British nationals who advanced money to the Reverend Frank North to feed the destitute British colony in Moscow, on the recognition of His Majesty's Government, and who are still awaiting reimbursement of the sums advanced, and of the recent decision given in the Courts of the rate of exchange then established; and if the remainder of the applicants can be recognised on similar terms?

I am aware that a number of British subjects (about 60 in all) provided funds which were employed by the British Chaplain at Moscow for relief purposes. Repayment of these rouble loans has been made in sterling in the majority of cases, and has been offered in all cases, but many of the lenders are not satisfied with the rates of exchange at which the sterling payments have been calculated. I have no information as to the number of those lenders who have been compelled to apply for relief. I am not in a position to deal with other cases on lines similar to the judgment delivered in the Court of Appeal in the case of Mr. Boardman. The grounds on which the appeal of His Majesty's Government flailed in that case were not such as to constitute an obligation to regard that case as a precedent governing other cases. It has now been possible to formulate a scale of rates of exchange for the period from May, 1919, to May, 1920 (during which period most of the loans were made), and an offer has already been made in some cases, and is about to be made in the remaining cases, to revise the payments already made by applying, where they are applicable, these rates of exchange, which are generally more favourable than those originally offered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether M. Rakowsky has been appointed head of the Russian Trade Delegation in London; and whether any guarantees have been given that he will abstain from active propaganda whilst so occupied in this country?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the undertaking given by the Soviet Government in the course of the correspondence recently laid before the House. I know of no form of guarantee for the observance of that undertaking that would be effective, but in the event of its violation, His Majesty's Government will be prepared to take appropriate action.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what precise events in the Pacific caused the Foreign Office in 1921 to represent to the Admiralty that a new naval base was required at Singapore?

No such representations were made.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether a period of grace will be given for 21 days after 18th July for all agricultural shows then held during that period, but which have not been able to obtain certificates of exemption from Entertainments Duty owing to the provision requiring 14 days' notice to be given after the passing of the Act on 18th July; and whether rebate will be made for any such duty paid during that period of grace?

The Commissioners of Customs and Excise are treating all applications for exemption made before the passing of the Finance Act in respect of shows to be held after the passing of the Act as valid applications for exemption under Section 11 of the Act, and are in no case refusing exemption merely because the application was made less than 14 days before the show. If Entertainments Duty be paid in respect of any show held on or after 18th July, 1923, which is shown to have been entitled to a grant of exemption under Section 11, the duty will be repaid, provided that application is made to the Commissioners not later than 8th August, 1923.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is in the position to state to the House when he proposes to consider the repeal or Amendment of Section 4 of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act?

The hon. Member probably refers to the proposal to amend the provisions of Section 62 of the Friendly Societies Act, 1896, in order to bring it into line with Section 4 (1) of the Industrial Assurance Act, 1923. It is hoped to introduce a Bill to this effect in the Autumn Session.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is now prepared to reconsider the refusal of the Board to allow as recognised service for the purposes of superannuation and salary the service of women teachers who left school for any of the auxiliary branches of war service with the permission of their authorities before the issue of Circular 1003 in June, 1917?

As far as superannuation is concerned, war service rendered by women teachers before the date in question is accepted as recognised service for the purposes of the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, subject to the conditions set out in the Rules made under that Act. With regard to the recognition for grant of salary expenditure, I may refer the hon. Member to Circular 1227, a copy of which I am sending him.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the reason for the delay in making an award, under the Teachers' Superannuation Act, in the case of Margaret Black (Pension No. 27191/23), who applied on the 6th September, 1922, reminded the Board on the 16th March last, and is still without settlement?

I much regret the delay in the settlement of Miss Black's claim. Unfortunately her case involved the consideration of several questions of principle, and pending the settlement of them it was impossible to proceed with her case. I am giving directions that the matter shall be now treated expeditiously, and I hope it will be possible to issue an award in the course of a few days.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will expedite the claim under the Teachers' Superannuation Act of James Newton, pension no. 01/1,241, who resigned 31st March last and can get no report from the Board on his case?

Mr. Newton's claim is on the point of settlement, and a communication will be sent to him in the course of a few days.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of physical instructors employed in the secondary and elementary schools throughout the country and how that number is made up, under the following headings: women, non-ex-service men, and ex-service men?

I regret I do not possess the figures referred to.

asked the President of the Board of Education to what secondary schools the children attending the elementary schools of Oldbury, Halesowen, and Stourbridge are entitled to go, and what conditions govern their admission?

There are grant-aided secondary schools in all the three places named; the numbers of pupils in these schools on the 1st October, 1922, were Boys. Girls. Total. Halesowen Grammar School 178 155 333 Oldbury Secondary School 129 191 320 Stourbridge Grammar School 391 — 391 Stourbridge Girls' Secondary School — 248 248

The general conditions of admission to grant-aided secondary schools as prescribed by the Board are set out in the Appendix to the Regulations for Secondary Schools, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many scholarships and maintenance grants for the sons and daughters of agricultural workmen and others were awarded last year in each of the three classes; and what were the occupations of the parents of the children receiving them?

Ninety scholarships were awarded last year under the scheme for establishing scholarships and maintenance grants for the sons and daughters of agricultural workmen and others. The allocation of the scholarships is as follows: Class I scholarships (for three and possibly four years) tenable at University departments of agriculture 7 Class II scholarships (for two years) tenable at agricultural colleges 10 Class III scholarships (for courses not exceeding one year) tenable at farm institutes and similar institutions 73

The occupations of the parents or guardians were as follows: Agricultural workmen 21 Working bailiffs 4 Smallholders 19 Market gardeners 3 Working gardeners 5 Other rural occupations, e.g., gamekeeper, thatcher, quarry worker, roadman, well sinker, saddler, village shopkeeper, etc. 13

The remaining 25 scholarship holders were themselves bona fide wage earners in the agricultural inustry whose parents were either dead, or, if alive, were comparable as regards financial circumstances to agricultural workers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider the necessity of revising the Regulation applying to the transport of cattle, including horses, on railways, with the view of reducing the time horses and cattle shall remain without food and water to a maximum of 12 hours when they are travelling by rail or in the care of railway companies during transit?

The Regulation in question has been carefully reviewed from time to time by the Ministry in conjunction with the railway companies with a view to ascertaining whether it would be advisable or practicable to frame a new regulation on the lines suggested by the hon. Member. In the case of cattle and sheep, the enforcement of feeding and watering within a period of 12 hours would involve untrucking and retrucking with a consequent serious delay on many journeys, and under these circumstances it is considered that the comfort of the animals would be lessened rather than furthered by such a regulation. As regards horses, however, I understand that in practice they are watered and fed at more frequent intervals than the maximum period now prescribed, but if the hon. Member can produce evidence to the contrary, I will consider making regulations reducing the maximum period during which horses may remain without food and water.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department has taken steps to insure a discontinuance of the illegal and dishonest practices of certain salesmen referred to in the Report of Lord Linlithgow's Committee; and, if not, will he consider the introduction of legislation to increase the penalties for such offences?

The practices referred to in the hon. and gallant Member's question are mainly such as to give the grower a right to take civil proceedings, and do not constitute any offence for which a prosecution could be instituted. The remedy for these practices, therefore, seems to lie with the grower who, when he considers he has ground for complaint, should take action either on his own account, or through a representative association. As I am at present advised, legislation to deal with such practices does not appear to me to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider the issue of a statement making it clear that it is the intention of his Department that part of the benefit to be derived by farmers as the result of the Agricultural Rating Act should be shared by their labourers in the form of increased wages?

I propose to deal with this matter in a circular letter to the conciliation committees.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to ascertain agricultural opinion on the further importation of Colonial cattle to be discussed at the forthcoming Imperial Conference?

In accordance with the announcement made in my reply to the hon. Member for Frome (Mr. Hurd) on the 14th ultimo, I have consulted the Statutory Agricultural Advisory Committee set up under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Act, 1919, with regard to agricultural questions which are expected to arise at the Imperial Economic Conference. This Committee has appointed for this purpose the following special Sub-Committee, which includes two members co-opted from agricultural Members of this House, namely: The Lord Bledisloe. Mr. Percy Hurd, M.P. Mr. J. T. McLaren. Captain the Right Honourable E. G. Pretyman, M.P. Mr. R. R. Robbins, C.B.E. Mr. W. R. Smith. Mr. C. D. Thompson. The sub-Committee has already held its first meeting, and I think my right hon. Friend may rest assured that agricultural opinion will be adequately expressed by this Committee on the subject referred to in his question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if certain county agricultural committees have drawn his attention to the defects in the laws affecting land drainage; and whether he will consider introducing legislation which will give powers to the county agricultural committees to compel, subject to an appeal to the Minister of Agriculture, the small minority of landowners to carry out the necessary drainage work promoted by such committees?

Yes, Sir, I am aware that certain county agricultural committees, who are particularly active in the matter of land drainage, are finding it impossible to carry out the policy they desire under the existing law. I am of opinion, however, that the promotion of private Acts to suit the circumstances of individual counties would, where this difficulty is especially acute, afford a better remedy at present than the initiation of general legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can give the aggregate profits or losses on the farm settlements from the commencement of operations to 31st March, 1923, and the result of the operations for the year ended 31st March, 1923?

The accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1923, are not yet completed. The latest available figures relate to the period from the commencement of operations to 31st March, 1922. During this period, and after taking into account the profits at certain settlements in certain years, losses were incurred amounting in the aggregate to £ ( a ) Farming accounts 153,626 ( b ) Estate accounts 95,916 Total £249,542

It may be added that the accounts are charged with interest on the advances made from the Exchequer for the purposes of the undertakings. The total under this head up to 31st March, 1922, amounted to £122,028. Charges in respect of headquarters administrative expenses, amounting to £30,566, are also included.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the proportion of the sum of £409,000 and accrued interest due to the Ministry from the purchases of the Ministry's flax production plant and stocks has been received; and what steps, if any are being taken to enforce payment of the outstanding amount?

The sum of £409,000 represented balances of purchase money owing in respect of three groups of factories, and was made up as follows, namely: £ Peterborough group … 331,000 Yeovil group … 30,000 Fife group … 48,000

In addition to the above sums, and to the interest that accrued thereon, there were owing to the Ministry in respect of expenditure incurred during periods of management on behalf of the respective purchasers the following amounts, namely: £ Peterborough group … 12,120 Yeovil group … 11,120 Fife group … 3,030

No further payment has been received in respect of the Peterborough group of factories, and only £4,500 in respect of the Yeovil group. The affairs of each of the two companies which purchased these groups are now in the hands of a receiver and manager acting for the debenture holders, in which category the Ministry is included. It is feared that only a comparatively small sum will be received in respect of the amounts outstanding in these two cases. The accrued interest on the unpaid purchase money in respect of the Peterborough and Yeovil groups is now approximately as follows, namely: £ Peterborough … … 52,000 Yeovil … … 2,000

The sum of £10,000 was accepted on 31st March last in full discharge of all sums due from the purchasers of the Fife group of factories, including accrued interest on purchase money amounting to approximately £5,440.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what interest the Government now holds in Wessex Flax Factories, Limited; what is the present position of that company; whether he is aware that the company owes a considerable sum to growers of flax; and whether he will do anything to enable them to obtain that sum?

The Government now holds £32,500 debentures in the Wessex Flax Factories, Limited, which was formed in 1920 to purchase seven flax factories established during the War in Somerset and Dorset by the Flax Production Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture, and the stock in hand. This sum represents the unredeemed portion of a sum of £37,000, being £30,000 balance of purchase money and £7,000 on account of expenditure incurred by the Ministry during a period of management on behalf of the purchasers. A further sum of £4,120 is due to the Ministry under the latter head. Interest on the debentures is unpaid since September, 1922, and amounts at the present time to approximately £2,000. The company's affairs are now in the hands of a receiver, and I understand that, in addition to the debt to the Ministry, it owes about £11,000 to bankers and £13,000 to growers of flax in addition to £3,500 to the Inland Revenue and £2,500 to general creditors. When the assets of the company are realised the Government will be prepared to review the situation and to consider whether some relief cannot be given to the growers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will give the number and rank of quartermasters employed at the War Office in January, 1914; and the number and rank of those employed at the present time?

The total numbers, including analogous posts such as commissaries of ordnance, were in 1914, 18; now 41. In 1914 the number of quartermasters employed in the War Office was 14, of whom 1 was an hon. major, 4 were hon. captains and 9 hon. lieutenants. In addition, and in the same category, were 4 other officers, of whom 2 were hon. captains and deputy-commissaries of ordnance, 1 was an hon. lieutenant and assistant commissary of ordnance, and 1 an hon. lieutenant and assistant paymaster, Army Pay Corps, making a total of 18. At the present time there are 30 quartermasters, of whom 2 are lieut.-colonels, 6 majors, 10 captains, and 12 lieutenants. In addition, and in the same category, there are 11 other officers as follows: 1 captain and deputy-commissionary of ordnance, 3 captains and assistant commissaries of ordnance, 2 captains (district officers) Royal Artillery, 2 lieutenants and inspectors of ordnance machinery, 1 lieutenant assistant inspector of Royal Engineers machinery, and 1 captain and 1 lieutenant (assistant paymaster) Army Pay Corps, making a total of 41.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under which sub-head of the Foreign Office Vote the cost of the wireless news bulletin circulated by his Department is accounted for?

Subhead KK (Telegrams) of the Vote for Diplomatic and Consular Services (Class V, Vote 1).

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the public disorder and riot occasioned in the town of Girvan, Ayrshire, by the conduct of officers of the Territorials, who, though in plain clothes, led some 200 or 300 soldiers in training at Girvan camp down to an open-air meeting of the Independent Labour party at the harbour; if he is aware that the platform was rushed, women jostled, and the chairman, Parish-Councillor Stoddart, a man between 50 and 60 years of age, and lame since boyhood, struck on the head with a trench tool; and if he will have an inquiry made and the guilty persons prosecuted?

My attention has been called to the matter by the hon. Member's question. The information at present in my possession does not indicate that the suggestions made are accurate, but I am awaiting a further report, and if the hon. Member will be good enough to repeat his question on Tuesday of next week, I shall be glad to deal with it fully.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the total sum paid to the City Corporation since his Department took possession of the Deptford cattle market; whether any portion of the premises has recently been released to the corporation, and to what extent; and, if so, the annual sum to be paid for the portion retained for the use of the Department?

As regards the first part of the question, rent at the rate of £10,000 a year has been paid since August, 1914. I am not aware of any other payment. The answer to the second part is in the negative, and the third part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the reason that is causing delay in the preparation of the Trade Union Bill, first suggested by the Government of India to the various provincial Governments in September, 1921; and if the Government of India has so far definitely accepted any proposals that would be a modification in the rights of the workers as enjoyed in Great Britain in respect of rights of organisation, strikes, picketing, and arbitration in disputes?

As stated in the reply given to the hon. Member's question on 16th July, the matter is still under consideration. The Secretary of State has not yet received the definite proposals of the Government of India on any points.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many orphaned British children in India have been adopted by natives and Eurasians during the years 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, and 1922, respectively?

The Government of India have been asked to supply any information available, but there has not yet been time for their reply to be received.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many persons have been arrested recently in India as Bolshevist agents; what action is usually taken by a person to fall in the category of a Bolshevist agent; how many such agents have been recently tried, sentenced, or discharged; and when are the remainder of those arrested, if any, to be tried?

Thirteen Indians have been arrested on charges of sedition, who are known to be Bolshevist agents. Nine have been tried, of whom one was acquitted, and eight convicted and sentenced. One was pardoned. Three are detained under the State Prisoners Regulation; it has not yet been decided whether they will be prosecuted. The men convicted had been trained in training places for Bolshevist agents, maintained by the Soviet Government at Tashkent and Moscow. They had been sent back to India, under the charge of Soviet officials, as far as the Russian border. The first to be convicted has since been again convicted for endeavouring to send from jail seditious communications to Indian revolutionaries across the border. The others had, it is believed, no opportunity to exercise in India the profession for which they had been trained. They were convicted, not of being Bolshevist agents, but of conspiring to overthrow the British Government in India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the attempts by certain native papers in India to oppose any use of the new area opened by the sanctioned Sukkur barrage for cotton growing in the interests of Lancashire; and whether, in case of need, steps will be taken to show the advantage of such cotton growing, both to India and to Lancashire, in order that at a later date there may be no hindrances created in India by this policy?

I have not seen the passages in the newspapers to which my hon. Friend refers. I do not think that newspaper articles will deter the cultivators from growing the crops that will pay them best. No doubt the Local Government will advise and assist them in growing the best-paying crops, so far as it may be necessary and expedient to do so.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Shia inhabitants of Bahrein are receiving adequate protection from the tribesmen of the mainland?

I have been asked to answer this question. So far as the British Government is concerned, all possible steps are taken to secure peace and justice for all communities in Bahrein, without distinction of race or religion, and there is every reason to hope that under the measures of reform recently introduced in the island these benefits will be secured to Shias as to others.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the system of pearl-diving at Bahrein has in recent years been improved from the point of view of the workers?

I have been asked to answer this question. I am afraid that I have no recent detailed information as to the methods employed in the actual diving operations, if it is to those that the hon. Member refers. But the whole question of the conditions of employment of these divers has been constantly kept in view by the British Political Officers concerned, and it is hoped that measures for the removel of abuses which have been impracticable hitherto may be found possible under the new régime recently instituted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what was the strength of the native Army in

Period. Highest Price. Lowest Price. A.3 type. B.3 type. A.3 type. B.3 type. £ £ £ £ 31st July, 1919, to 31st December, 1919 1,002 1,254 576 603 1st January, 1920, to 31st December, 1920 1,097 1,258 589 589 1st January, 1921, to 31st December, 1921 935 1,080 465 500 1st January, 1922, to 31st December, 1922 569 590 297 304 1st January, 1923, to 30th June, 1923 446 505 299 329

asked the Minister of Health what proportion materials bore

India in July, 1914; and what is the strength to-day?

A comparison of the total strength of the Indian Army, including administrative services and followers, is as follows: 1914 … … … … 215,935 1923 … … … … 222,051

Of these figures, the total strength of the fighting service is 1914 … … … … 154,437 1923 … … … … 144,617

asked the Minister of Health what was the highest and lowest contract price, exclusive of roads and sewers, approved for parlour and non-parlour houses, respectively, built under the Housing Act, 1919, within the following periods, respectively: 31st July, 1919, to 31st December, 1919; 1st January, 1920, to 31st December, 1920; 1st January, 1921, to 31st December, 1921; 1st January, 1922, to 31st December, 1922; and 1st January, 1923, to 30th June, 1923?

The following statement gives the highest and lowest average tender prices for A.3 and B.3 type of houses approved under the Housing Act, 1919, Assisted Scheme during the periods referred to. These tender prices have in most cases been subject to adjustment for fluctuation in costs of labour and material:

to labour in the cost of parlour and non-parlour houses, respectively, in September 1920, October 1920, December 1921, and March 1923; and what were the average contract prices for such houses at such periods?

The average tender prices for houses built under the Housing Act, 1919, Assisted Scheme for the months named by the hon. Member are given in the table below. The tender prices were in most cases subject to adjustment for fluctuations in the cost, labour and materials. There are no records which would enable exact figures to be given for the relation of the cost of labour to that of materials at the same dates. On the best estimate which can be formed, it would appear that the relation was approximately as given below, the materials in each case being represented by the figure 100 and the labour by the percentage of that figure.

Date. Type of House. Tender price. Percentage which labour cost bears to that of materials. £ Per cent. September, 1920 A 881 84 September, 1920 B 949 82 October, 1920 A 888 84 October, 1920 B 958 82 December, 1921 A 514 73 December, 1921 B 566 71 March, 1923 A 363 58 March, 1923 B 402 57

asked the Minister of Health how many houses were completed under the Housing Act, 1919, between the following periods: 31st July, 1919, to 31st December, 1919; 1st January, 1920, to 31st December, 1920; 1st January, 1921, to 31st December, 1921; 1st January, 1922, to 31st December, 1922, and 1st January, 1923 to 30th June, 1923, respectively, by local authorities and private builders?

The following in round numbers are the figures for houses completed: 31st July, 1919, to 31st December, 1919 100 1st January, 1920, to 31st December, 1920 15,700 1st January, 1921, to 31st December, 1921 86,700

1st January, 1922, to 31st December, 1922 88,900 1st January, 1923, to 30th June, 1923 11,000 202,400

asked the Minister of Health what was the annual mortality per million living from small-pox at ages under 15 years for the periods 1861–70, 1871–80, 1881–90, 1891–1900, 1901–10, and 1911–20?

These particulars are available only for the usual age groups for ages under 15, namely, 0–5, 5–10 and 10–15, and are shown in the following table: 0–5. 5–10. 10–15. 1861–70 … … 638 145 56 1871–80 … … 518 285 138 1881–90 … … 80 33 26 1891–1900 … … 29 10 3 1901–10 … … 22 7 6 1911–20 … … 0.57 0.32 0.11

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that calf lymph purchased by medical practitioners at a chemists may have been in stock for some weeks, he will consider the advisability of permitting qualified doctors to obtain and use Government calf lymph on condition that returns of the results of the vaccinations are submitted to the Ministry of Health?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on this subject on the 18th instant to my hon. Friend the Member for the Clayton Division (Mr. Flanagan).

asked the Minister of Health whether any of the patients at the Brockworth Aerodrome have actually died as a result of small-pox, and, if so, what were their ages; whether they were vaccinated either before or after reaching the aerodrome; and how long had they been at the aerodrome?

As far as I am aware, there have been three deaths among small-pox patients at the Brockworth Aerodrome. The first was an unvaccinated man 58 years of age who died, five days after admission, as a result of cerebral hæmorrhage and delirium tremens whilst suffering from a mild attack of small-pox. The second was an unvaccinated child six weeks of age who died from small-pox seven days after admission to hospital. The third was an unvaccinated child 10 months of age whose death, 12 days after admission to hospital, was due to small-pox complicated by enteritis and heart failure.

asked the Minister of Health whether he possesses any statistics concerning deaths from a complaint known as pernicious anæmia; if so,

DEATH RATE PER MILLION LIVING. Anæmia. Pernicious Anæmia. Other Forms. — Males. Females. Males. Females. Males. Females. 1911 … … … 48 60 — — — — 1912 … … … 49 63 — — — — 1913 … … … 54 65 — — — — 1914 … … … 56 72 — — — — 1915* … … … 69 75 — — — — 1916* … … … 69 74 — — — — 1917* … … … 74 74 — — — — 1918* … … … 69 60 — — — — 1919 … … … 57 71 — — — — 1920 … … … 61 71 55 62 6 9 1921 … … … 62 84 55 74 7 10 1922 … … … 68 84 61 74 7 10 * The figures for the years 1915–1918 are based on the civilian population.

asked the Minister of Health when the contract for the Maypole butter advertisement on the back of medical certificates under the National Health Insurance Act will expire; and whether he can give an assurance that it will not be renewed?

The contract for the advertisement on the back of Form Med. 40B related to a print of 20,000 copies of the form. A further supply of the form which has now been ordered from the Stationery Office will be printed without an advertisement.

whether he can state if the deaths arising from that complaint have considerably increased of late years; and whether a considerable number have occurred among ex-service men?

Separate figures in regard to pernicious anæmia are not available for years prior to 1920, but as the bulk of the deaths included under the heading anæmia are due to pernicious anæmia, the figures in the following table may be of use. Figures are not available for ex-service men as a whole, but I am informed by the Ministry of Pensions that, as regards ex-service men pensioned for injuries or disabilities, 152 out of a total of 60,000 deaths were due to pernicious anæmia:

asked the Minister of Health whether the Committee he has appointed to inquire into the use of preservatives and colouring matters in food can have the terms of reference widened to include the use of improvers in flour, which would not come under the description of either preservatives or colouring matters?

As at present advised I should hesitate to enlarge the terms of reference to this Committee, as the scope of their inquiry is already extensive. I may refer my hon. Friend to the Report issued by the Local Govern- ment Board in 1911 (Cd. 5613) on the bleaching of flour and the addition of so-called "improvers" to flour.

asked the hon. Member for Cheltenham, as representing the Kitchen and Refreshment Rooms Committee, whether he has received a copy of the luncheon and dinner menu in force at the County Hall for the use of members of the London County Council, their officials, and friends; and whether the Kitchen Committee has been able to consider and decide as to the practicability of adopting a similar menu and scale of prices in the Refreshment Rooms of this House?

I beg to thank the hon. Member for having sent me his copy of the menu of the London County Council referred to in his question; but I regret I cannot undertake to recommend it to the Kitchen Committee as a model either of suitability or economy. Moreover, I think our Committee will prefer to frame its own menus without the guidance, however kindly proffered, of outside institutions.

asked the First Commissioner of Works when it is intended to remove from Downing Street and Charles Street the wooden barricades which have for so many years disfigured Whitehall?

There is no intention at present to remove the barricades in question.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether, following the recent successful renovation of Westminster Hall, he will consider the desirability of installing a more effective system of artificial lighting which would display the beauties of its unique and historic roof?

I think we must have further experience of the new lighting arrangements before considering any change, involving considerable expense.