asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many persons are at present employed at Gretna; what proportion are ex-service men; whether they are producing anything or merely guarding the State property pending sale; and whether any change in policy is contemplated?

The staff at Gretna, including Longtown, at present numbers 237 and of this number 61 per cent. are ex-service men. In addition, 15 casual workers are engaged from week to week for stores movements. The duties at the factory include despatching of stores and materials after sale, dismantling plant, destruction of cordite, traffic working and general maintenance, etc. A considerable amount of work is being done by this staff in dismantling etc., for contractors on a repayment basis. The policy is still to dispose of the property and stores as rapidly as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the annual cost of the Corps of Military Accountants; and whether it is intended that this corps shall be a permanent addition to the military forces of the Crown?

The annual cost for 1923\24 is £236,900, as shown on page 25 of the Army Estamites. In answer to the second part of the question, the Corps of Military Accountants was instituted to carry out the recommendations of the National Expenditure Committee of this House in 1918, and I am not at present in a position to say whether that system of accounting will be continued or not.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any decision has yet been arrived at with the object of improving the audibility of the Edinburgh 1 o'clock gun?

No actual decision has yet been given, but I understand that a sufficiently loud report can probably be obtained by increasing the charge, and as soon as the technical details are settled, the Edinburgh Corporation, who bear the expenses, will be consulted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if, taking the various types of medals granted during the War, he will state the number of each type issued to date, and the number of eventual recipients who have not yet received them?

The number of medals issued to date from the War Office is 5,541,385 silver, and 7,608,221 bronze. With the hon. and gallant Member's permission, I will circulate details of these issues in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The issues to individual men are made from the Record Offices, and I regret that I am not in a position to give figures for these, or to say how many eventual recipients have not yet received their medals. Supplementary medal rolls, especially for native troops, are still being received. Generally speaking, however, the bulk issues of medals for white troops have been nearly completed.

Following are the details referred to:

Number of medals issued for the Great War up to 20th July, 1923:

Silver. Designation. Number issued. British War Medals 5,349,316 Distinguished Conduct Medals (Imperial) 33,066 Meritorious Service Medals 29,199 Military Medals 129,802 Total 5,541,383

Bronze. Designation. Number issued British War Medals 111,736 Victory Medals 5,046,084 1914 Stars 363,810 1914–15 Stars 2,057,437 Territorial War Medals 29,154 Total 7,608,221

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether Lord Weir's Committee has made any recommendations with regard to the pay of other ranks in the Army; and whether, before any alteration is made, an opportunity will be afforded for discussion in the House of such proposed changes?

With regard to the first part of the question, the question of pay was not within the reference of Lord Weir's Committee. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the action against the purchasers of Richborough for performance of the contract has been commenced; if the receiver appointed by the Court has disposed of any portion of the property; if so, for what amount; and if any deposit on the transaction is in the possession of the Treasury?

On the 18th July an offer to rescind the contract subject to certain conditions was made on behalf of the Crown by my hon. Friend the Solicitor-General and the question is still before the Court. The Receiver has disposed of property so far amounting to £228,732 18s. 10d. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that several printing firms in the country have received notice terminating their contracts for the printing of prison calendars; and is it intended that fresh tenders shall be invited or is this work to be transferred to the State printing works at Harrow without competitive prices being obtained?

The only case in which a contract for printing prison calendars is under notice of termination is that of Cardiff. Tenders for this work have been invited.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether allowances under the war risks compensation scheme are being reduced because of the recent reduction in wages of seamen; whether these allowances are determined by wages ruling in the industry; and whether there is any statutory authority for this procedure?

Under the war risks compensation scheme compensation is payable in respect of loss of earning capacity. In cases where a seaman is employed, the rate of pay for the time being in force apply in assessing the amount of compensation based on half the difference between the amount which he is now earning and the amount which he could have earned had he been fully employed at sea in his former capacity. The numerous rules of the scheme are not embodied in any statute, the scheme as a whole being first sanctioned by the Government War Obligations Act, 1915, and being now provided for in the estimates of the year subject to the control of the Treasury.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any estimate of the actual losses in perishable food caused by the dockers' strike?

I am not able to form any estimate of the losses. In the first place, it would be difficult to obtain exact figures, and, moreover, there are considerable consignments in which progressive deterioration must be taking place.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the cut recently made in foreign motor tyres due to depreciated exchanges; and whether he will hold an inquiry with a view to scheduling foreign motor tyres under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, and to prevent the ruining of this home industry?

Country Year 1921. Year 1922. Jan.-March 1923. Total Imports therefrom: £ £ £ Czecho-Slovakia 5,703,149 5.226,264 1,850,557 Hungary 87,653 409,535 204,748 Austria 703,039 1,582,404 418,572 Roumania 3,390,567 1,695,481 495,404 Greece 4,034,230 4,012,911 1,138,229 *Serb-Croat-Slovene State 764,851 643,952 206,870 Bulgaria 126,916 50,253 1,325 Exports thereto: ( a ) U.K. Produce and Manufactures: Czechoslovakia 1,317,696 744,457 133,567 Hungary 300,393 204,982 46,131 Austria 1,734,041 1 038,288 236,463 Roumania 5,798,593 2,636,449 615,661 Greece 5,876,761 3,795,658 838,090 *Serb-Croat-Slovene State 1,048,439 665,634 188,312 Bulgaria 1,047,091 848,550 331,466 ( b ) Foreign and Colonial Merchandise: Czecho-Slovakia 1,415,794 304,185 27,528 Hungary 26,761 27,518 6,897 Austria 407,857 412,207 58,290 Roumania 129,742 52,021 18,000 Greece 261,307 67,271 32,351 *Serb-Croat-Slovene State 27,640 18,796 2,039 Bulgaria 31,475 22,475 2,834 *Including Montenegro in 1923.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister to questions on the subject addressed to him on the 18th July.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give any statistics showing the value of trade done by this country in 1920, 1921, 1922, and the first half of this year with Czech-slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Rumania, Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria?

Particulars of the trade of the United Kingdom with the countries specified in the question as now constituted are not available for the year 1920. Particulars for the years 1921 and 1922 and the first quarter of 1923 are given below. Those for the second quarter of the current year are not yet available, but they will be shown in the accounts relating to trade and navigation of the United kingdom for July, which will be published on or about the 13th August. In comparing the values for the different periods, the considerable changes in prices of goods should not be overlooked.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state approximately the proportion of the goods valued at £1,836,281 imported into this country by parcels post during the six months ended 30th June, 1923, which consisted of firearms or parts of firearms?

The answer is in the negative, and I would draw the attention of my hon. Friend to my answer on the 17th July to his question on the subject of the importation of firearms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the exports of rubber in sterling and tons from Great Britain to the United States of America for 1922, and for the six months to the 30th June, 1923?

The following statement shows the quantity and value of crude rubber (foreign and Colonial produce) exported from the United Kingdom to the United States of America during the year 1922 and the six months ended 30th June, 1923.

Period. Quantity. Value. Tons. £ Year ended 31st December, 1922. 22,511 2,021,331 Six months ended 30th June, 1923. 25,235 3,872,533

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the menace to the British fancy leather goods industry in view of the imports into this country of similar goods manufactured in Germany which, by reason of the adverse exchange, can be sold at prices far below those at which British goods can be placed on the market; and whether he will take any steps to protect this industry from the abnormal competition with which it is faced and which, if it continues, will result in the unemployment of-numbers of workpeople?

I have received general representations as to the effect of the competition of imported German goods on the fancy leather industry in this country, but I have no suggestion before me as to any specific action which could be taken by the Government.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that the General Electric Company of Sweden has received important orders for electric generators for Canada; whether tenders for these supplies were placed in this country for the consideration of British manufacturers; and whether the Overseas Trade Department is kept informed of these contracts from British Overseas Dominions to foreign firms?

I am aware that this Swedish company, which had an active organisation in Canada, secured through its Toronto office an order for generators, transformers and a switchboard, forming part of the electrical equipment required in connection with the Quinze River Development Scheme. The Department of Overseas Trade drew the attention of a large number of United Kingdom manufacturers to the opportunity of competing for this contract. The Department normally receives information when such contracts are open to tender and of their eventual allocation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport what results have been shown by the experiments relating to road surfaces, particularly with regard to slippery roads and the problem of improved shoeing devices for the safety of horses; and whether he is going to issue recommendations arising from the report of these experiments?

In October, 1921, a report was presented to the Minister of Transport on the findings of an expert committee, appointed at the Minister's request by the President of the County Surveyors' Society, to consider the question of slippery roads from the point of view of horse traffic. The committee carried out exhaustive experiments with various kinds of shoeing devices and on different types of road surface. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the report, and after reading it I think he will agree that the conclusions are not sufficiently definite to warrant the issue of specific recommendations.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is now in a position to state the exact figures of the railway operating returns for January last?

The delay which has occurred in issuing these returns has been due to the grouping of the railways, but the January figures will be issued at once and I hope that those for subsequent months will become available in published form at short intervals until the arrears are overtaken.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in many of the larger provincial towns the police officers employed on point duty to regulate traffic wear white overalls; that at night this wearing of white overalls in streets which are badly lit is of great assistance to drivers and makes for the better regulation of traffic; and whether he will consider whether experiments can be made in this direction in the Metropolitan Police Area?

My right hon. Friend is aware that white overalls are used in some provincial towns. The question of their adoption in the Metropolitan Police District has been repeatedly considered, but the Commissioner has decided that they are unnecessary and unsuitable under the conditions in the Metropolis.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of disabled ex-service men unemployed in Liverpool on 31st December, 31st March, and 30th June, respectively; and the number of Liverpool employers on the King's Roll on each of those dates?

The number of disabled ex-service men registered as unemployed in Liverpool on 30th June, 1923, was 1,090. I regret that I have no figures for the earlier dates mentioned which can be accurately compared. The number of Liverpool firms on the King's Roll on the 31st December, 1922, was 369, on 31st March, 1923, 372, and on 30th June, 1923, 494. These figures do not include some 300 branch establishments in Liverpool of firms who are on the Roll but whose headquarters are situated in other areas.

asked the Minister of Labour whether the actuarial basis on which the National Unemployment Act exists takes into consideration payment for unemployment contingent on, but not directly connected with, labour troubles; and, if not, whether such payment if made would entail wholesale remodelling of the Act?

Under Section 8 (1) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, the fact that an unemployed person has been thrown out of work owing to a trade dispute occurring elsewhere than at his last place of employment is not a disqualification for unemployment benefit. If it were proposed to introduce legislation authorising the payment of benefit in other cases indirectly affected by a trade dispute it would no doubt be necessary to take actuarial advice as to the probable cost.

asked the Minister of Health if Returns of unemployment have been furnished to the Ministry of Labour by the following trades unions: carpenters, bricklayers, masons, slaters, plasterers, painters and plumbers; if so, for what years; and what figures have been returned?

I have been asked to reply. Statistical reports have been regularly received for many years past from trades unions of carpenters and plumbers, and these are embodied in the table of trade union percentages of unemployed published in the"Ministry of Labour Gazette"each month. In addition, many returns, statistical and narrative, are received from branch secretaries of the various trade unions for the occupations mentioned by the hon. Member, and these are used in the compilation of the article on employment in the building and construction of works industries which also appears in the"' Gazette."

asked the Minister of Labour the number of carpenters, bricklayers, masons, slaters, plasterers,

Occupation Estimated No. of insured men employed. No. of Unemployment books lodged at 21st May, 1923 Percentage unemployed. Carpenters … 123,820 8,795 7.1 Bricklayers … 58,540 3,050 1.2 Masons … 23,010 1,183 5.1 Slaters … 5,190 552 10.6 Plasterers … 16,290 1,517 9.3 Painters … 109,800 8,048 7.4 Plumbers … 33,090 3,820 11.5 Labourers of above occupations … 257,180 43,748 17.0 All others … 88,630 13,981 15.8 Total (Building Trade) … 715,550 84,694 11.8

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what amounts have been advanced under the Trade Facilities Act to British businesses up to 30th June?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford (Mr. Wise) on the 10th July.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that instructions have been issued to ex-service Deputy Commissioners of Medical Services terminating their temporary engagements at the end of September and that non-service doctors are being retained; and whether, in view of his expressed intention of giving preference in every case to the ex-service claims, he will arrange that preference is given to ex-service doctors in this connection?

It has been found I necessary to give notice of termination of painters, and plumbers insured and the number of such men unemployed on the last date for which the numbers are available?

The following statement shows for Great Britain the number of insured men engaged in building trade occupations, together with the number of unemployment books lodged at 21st May, 1923:

employment to 36 out of the 88 Deputy Commissioners of Medical Services employed on a six months' contract. Of those now under notice 30 are ex-service, and six non-service. There will then remain only four non-service Deputy Commissioners employed on a six months' contract, and these medical officers are being retained in the interests of the pensioner in consequence of their special experience and qualifications.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can ascertain how many of the entrants at Newnham and Girton Colleges during the past three years were at any time educated in a public elementary school, and how many were at any time educated in rate-aided secondary schools; and what proportion these two classes of entrants bear to the total entrants?

The colleges do not receive grants from the Board, and I have no authority to ask for the information. I will, however, send a copy of the hon. Member's question to the college authorities, and if they are good enough to furnish me with any information on the subject, I will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the Surrey County Council purchased some time ago nine acres of land near Dorking Road, Epsom, for educational purposes, including the provision of Secondary, central and infants' schools; that approximately one acre of the site was reserved for an infant school to replace the existing West Hill council infants' school which has more than once been the subject of severe criticism by the local sanitary authority; and whether he will he prepared to sanction the erection of an infants' school on the site in question?

I find that in November, 1920, the Board approved the local education authority's proposal for the purchase of nine acres of land for the provision of a new secondary school, with playing fields, a central school and an elementary school. The proposal did not include any allocation of portions of the site for the different purposes I have mentioned. On the 18th of this month I received from the local education authority a letter proposing the provision of an infants' department on the site. This matter is now under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the advertisement recently issued inviting teachers to apply for assistant inspectorships stated that persons accepted would have to commence at the minimum salary, irrespective of their years of teaching service, and that the decision to restrict the appointments to persons willing to accept the minimum salary has led to head teachers of long experience declining, on interview, to proceed with their applications; and whether, with a view to recruiting the best possible personnel for the inspecting staff, he will issue amended Regulations whereby teachers of experience may be attracted to the inspecting staff?

I am aware that some of the candidates for posts of assistant inspector who were recently interviewed withdrew their applications because their existing salaries as teachers were in excess of the emoluments of an assistant inspector at the minimum of the scale. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on 19th July.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the increasing number of accidents, he will say what steps are taken to inculcate the doctrine of safety first in the elementary schools of the country?

I understand that several local education authorities, including London, have brought to the notice of their teachers the aims of the Safety First Council, and the Board have themselves drawn the attention of local education authorities to the number of accidents caused by children improperly riding upon vehicles. I have every reason to believe that teachers in all parts of the country are alive to the importance of this matter and have warned the children of the dangers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Post Office receives a credit of 3 ½d. per word from the Foreign Office for broadcasting the Foreign Office propaganda; and whether this payment is made when the Leafield Station is unable to secure communication with India and other parts of the Empire?

The Post Office receives payment at the rate of 3 ½d. a word in respect of the transmission of the Foreign Office news bulletins. When the service was instituted, it was not supposed that Leafield could be heard reliably beyond 3,000 or 4,000 miles at the outside; but as a matter of fact the Foreign Office messages sent out at 8 p.m. and midnight are received with a fair degree of regularity in India and South Africa, while the 8 p.m. message can be copied with reliability in Australia, except when the receiving conditions are abnormally unfavourable.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that wireless news service between Leafield and India has been suspended since 1st June owing to atmospheric difficulties; whether this service is transmitted from Leafield by way of Cairo, Aden, and Karachi; and whether, in view of the failure of this station to secure communication with India, in spite of the fact that it has been able to utilise as a relay several intervening stations, he will say if it is proposed to continue Leafield as a link in the Empire wireless chain?

The Leafield station was never intended to secure direct communication with India; but in view of the extent to which its signals were heard in that country, the Indian Government and certain Indian newspapers suggested that the unilateral news service to which my hon. Friend refers should be instituted for the transmission of short news messages of special interest and urgency. The messages are sent direct from Leafield to Karachi, but to ensure reception they are repeated from Cairo. Aden does not take part in the service. The service was avowedly experimental; but it has now been used regularly for nearly 12 months. It has not been suspended since 1st June. It is intended to continue to use Leafield for its primary purpose of direct communication with Egypt, and for the other purposes (e.g., the broadcasting of news messages, and the transmission of a news service to Halifax, Nova Scotia) for which it is now being employed.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that samples of either new cuttings or rags of any description are not permitted by his Department to be delivered in this country, but are being destroyed for alleged hygienic reasons, whilst at the same time the importation of rags is permitted; and what is the reason for preventing the samples of rags in a small paper bag coming from the Continent and yet allowing bales of rags without any hindrance whatever?

It is the case that the importation of rags through the post is prohibited, while their importation otherwise than through the post is allowed. There are special circumstances which render the use of the post undesirable, but the whole matter is being reviewed, and I will communicate further with the hon. Member when a final decision is reached.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is in a position to state what progress has been made towards the building of the new post office for Wandsworth to replace the present hutment?

A scheme has recently been sanctioned and will be put in hand as soon as funds are available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is yet in a position to state whether the sorting van will be restored on the mail train between Inverness and Wick?

Arrangements are being made to restore the sorting carriage service next month as far as Helmsdale.

asked the Postmaster-General if the question of the employment of women in the cable department, which has been under consideration for about two years, is now settled; and what is the decision?

I am not proposing to make any immediate change.

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of Councillor John Nield, of Kirkdale, Liverpool; and, if so, whether he has investigated, or will investigate, his complaints in regard to his indoor and outdoor relief?

Yes, Sir. I have, however, no power to direct that relief, or relief in any particular form, shall be given in any case by the guardians.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that it was ascertained by inquest that in 1921 a woman died of starvation in the union of Winchester, in the County of Hants; whether his Department has taken any and, if so, what steps to prevent similar deaths; whether any and, if so, how many deaths in that county in 1922 were found by inquest to have been due to starvation or accelerated by privation; can he supply particulars as to age, sex, date of inquest, and union concerned; whether any and, if so, what Poor Law officers were examined at the inquest; whether any of the persons so dying in either year were tramps or homeless; and whether any and, if so, what casual wards in that union are closed?

I am aware of the case mentioned in the first part of the question. The woman referred to appears to have been a homeless person. As regards the second part of the question, it is the duty of boards of guardians and of their officers to afford immediate relief in any case of sudden or urgent necessity if application is made to them, and I do not see what further steps are open to me. In the year 1922 no deaths in the county were found by inquest to have been due to starvation or exposure. All the casual wards in the county are open.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in case any society or company, as provided for in Section 3 of the Housing Bill now before Parliament, shall secure from the Public Works Loan Board a loan not exceeding 75 per cent. of the total value for the erection of houses as provided in the Bill, such society or company, to enable them to raise the remaining 25 per cent., will be allowed to capitalise the Government subsidy of £6 per house; whether the Government will arrange accordingly; and, failing that, will such society or company be allowed to make private arrangements for such capitalisation if found possible?

The normal limit for loans by the Public Works Loan Board is 662/3 per cent. of the value of the property, but the Board may advance up to 75 per cent. on the provision of such further security as they may think fit. The Housing Bill does not provide for the payment of any capitalised security by the Government. If assistance in this form is desired, application must be made to the appropriate local authority under Clause 2, whose proposals would be considered by the Ministry with all relevant circumstances.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for photographs to be taken of half-a-dozen of the most representative cases of small-pox at the Gloucester Aerodrome, so that medical officers can be made familiar with the symptoms of the disease that is diagnosed as small-pox to-day?

I understand that photographs of some of these cases have already been taken, but I am advised that a study of such photographs would not be of much assistance to medical men in the differentiation of symptoms of small-pox.

asked the Under-Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health if he is aware that the ex-service men at Saltburn, Invergordon, built a recreation club, which has been a great boon to the place; that it is held on a feu under perpetual feu charter, and that it is claimed to be situated within the boundary of the village; that, notwithstanding that, a local body of four, called the water trustees, have refused to grant a water supply to the club; and, as such a supply is a necessity to the club, and as resentment is caused locally by the action of the trustees, will he make inquiries into the supply of water to the village of Saltburn as a whole, and into the control and regulation of that supply, so that the health of the community may be safeguarded?

I am informed that the facts regarding the refusal to grant a water supply to the recreation club at Saltburn are as stated by the right hon. Member. The question at issue between the water trustees and the committee of the club does not appear to be one which my Noble Friend has juris- diction to decide. I am further informed that the village of Saltburn as a whole is well supplied with water, and that no application for the formation of a special water supply district has been made to the local authority. This aspect of the case does not appear, therefore, to call for the institution of any special inquiries.